'Seeing Through the Data — The Second Act'. Preface to a Novel. Also: "River of Truth" — English cover for the iconic DDT song "It has been for so long..." (ДДТ - Долго...)
A new novel and a new song from the new album, by IVIM - on YouTube, Spotify and elsewhere
Update (May 21, 2026):
The long-awaited album of songs by censored Russian rock groups, titled Rock Without Borders, has now been officially released. The album features “River of Truth” — a new song by Dmitry Gorodnichy (IVIM), inspired by the iconic work of the Russian rock band DDT. The album is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube with the full official lyrics.
A promotional video for “River of Truth” has also now been completed and released in two versions: the official Spotify version available on the Divya Trikona YouTube channel, and an extended hard-rock version with a more prominent ending message, released on the IVIM YouTube channel. Enjoy and keep listening and reading!
Original version:
Extended (hard rock) version, featuring Divya Trikona:
Main article (Feb 5, 2026):
Over the next few days, I will be sharing a new series of episodes written in the form of a novel under the title:
Seeing Through the Data — The Second Act
Subtitle: A saga of a public service data scientist seeking the truth and the ways to defend it
The first act happened in 2022, when I decided not to take the second shot, was denied a religious exemption and was placed in LWOP as a result, leading to starting of a new career as an independent data scientist and blogger. There the focus was technical: seminars, tools, data extraction, visualization, collaboration.
The second act begins where that chapter ended.
It is the story of what happened afterward — the decisions that followed, the consequences that unfolded, and the path that led to the hearing scheduled for February 18–20.
This series is not separate from that hearing.
It is part of my preparation for it.
What you will read and hear here is the same story I intend to tell there.
Names of individuals have been modified, but the events and essential details are presented as they occurred and as I understand them.
I hope the story will be interesting.
At moments, perhaps even entertaining.
But above all, I hope it will be constructive.
Tone and Intention
Before we begin, I would like to set the tone.
This series is not about fighting one another.
It is about standing together in defense of transparency, integrity, and democratic foundations.
Public discourse easily drifts into hostility.
That does not strengthen institutions — it weakens them.
If you choose to comment, whether on Substack, YouTube, or elsewhere, I ask that you do so in a spirit of clarity and respect. Productive dialogue advances understanding; reactive exchanges do not.
Many of us have witnessed how easily narratives can be distorted or selectively framed. The most durable response to that reality is not anger, but steadiness.
The way forward is not escalation.
It is example.
A Shared Responsibility
Each of us occupies a different place in society.
Each of us has different skills, responsibilities, and opportunities.
No single template defines civic engagement.
No single instruction fits all.
A society built on democratic foundations relies on diverse contributions — technical, artistic, legal, educational, personal.
If this series does anything, I hope it encourages you to contribute where your own strengths are most effective.
Looking Ahead
After the hearing concludes, I plan to turn to another project that has quietly accompanied this period of reflection.
Over the past three months, I have been working on English adaptations of several songs by Russian rock musicians now living in exile. Those songs were written in response to political and social realities in their own country, yet many of their themes resonate far beyond that context.
In fact, I found them to express remarkably well the feelings and emotions that many Canadians — myself included — have experienced since what I see as a serious erosion of fundamental rights that began with the declaration of the pandemic. I wanted these songs to be reinterpreted in English so that Canadians and Americans can appreciate them, and perhaps even sing them with me.
Music often captures what prose cannot.
Once the hearing is complete, I intend to release those interpretations on Spotify and other platforms. For now, I will be sharing with you the links to the original versions of those songs so that you may hear them in their native language and form your own impressions. When the English versions are released, you can decide whether the interpretation reflects what you sensed in the originals.
The first song is from the legendary group called DDT (ДДТ) and it is called Долго..., which means “It has been for so long…”.
Enjoy! And thank you for following this new chapter of the series and of my life:
Seeing Through the Data — The Second Act begins here.
And here’s a sneak preview of the first episode of the series:
Support This Work Across All Channels
If you believe in open dialogue, informed choice, and exploring underreported perspectives, help keep the conversation going—like and share this article on your preferred platform. I write these articles on my own time as a contribution to my community—especially for those seeking truth and guidance in these increasingly censored times. Your support—through follows, likes, and shares—makes a real difference. You can follow me here: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter/X | YouTube (@Dr.Dmitry.Gorodnichy) | YouTube (@IVIM)
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