Hey World,

I would like to ask a question of the Western Press. Why does the Western Press not say a word about this contract killing in Moscow, Russia?

(Link to video of killing)

MOSCOW, July 31 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow police are conducting a manhunt for the killer of a top manager at one of Russia’s largest defense firms, Almaz-Antei, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Fact is that if it was a journalist or Human Rights Activist murdered the Western Press would be all over it like a fly on stink. But since it is not important to the World of journalism called the Western Press, they could care less. (Anyone say double standards?)

Russia has had it all over their news just like any other murder that happens. They have had videos and all the trimmings.

My big beef about this is that there are huge double standards. A contract killing is a contract killing no matter who dies. If a journalist is killed and everyone goes bananas then where is the banana cases over this killing?

Oh – I forget only report when it hurts Russia…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Hello,

It seems that Australia is upset with Russia. It seems that Russia buys 70% of all exported Kangaroo meat produced by Australia and Russia is citing a sanitation issue that has not been solved by the Australian government. So Russia will stop importation of Kangaroo meat as of August 1st 2009.

It seems that Russia’s ban on kangaroo meat imports will destroy certain rural communities in Australia, and will lead to a possible dangerous rise in kangaroo populations. According to farming lobby groups in Australia.

Australia’s Weekly Times stated on Friday as saying kangaroo harvesting and exporting would become non-functioning without the Russian market.

Did you know that Russians eat Kangaroo?
Did you know that Russia buys 70% of all Kangaroo meat produced by Australia?

We do now!

I have never in three years in Russia have seen Kangaroo meat for sale…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Hey Everyone,

I was drinking my morning cup of wonderful coffee here in Russia and thinking about Part 3 of my Visa Trip to Ukraine.

As you know Part 2 left me less than enchanted with the police of Ukraine and at that point I had decided to get some rest and start the new day at the American Embassy. So that is what I did…

Now this visit to the Embassy was exceptionally fun and fruitful. This was the turning point of the trip from hell – into the trip with the light at the end of the tunnel. I have no complaints about the service that I got from the American Embassy and the day spent with them was a good reminder of American Bureaucracy. (Can anyone say Headache Time!) I got to converse with multiples of Americans and meet some new friends for future adventures. One friend in particular was an 80 year old professor that was a shear joy to talk with and exchange information…

The American Embassy in Ukraine was a whole different world than the American Embassy in Russia. I wrote an article about the American Embassy in Russia. (Article)

Can we say Night and Day? There is a huge difference between the Embassies. In the American Embassy in Ukraine we (America) have gone all out to make sure that Ukraine knows that America has money and is a heavy fortified Embassy. We have lots of money spending, show and tell in the American Embassy in Ukraine.

In Russia the American Embassy is 180 degrees the opposite direction. Give me the Russian Embassy any time. Low profile and less flash is an attribute. The same job is accomplished with a whole lot less overhead.

One thing that stood out to me was the political undertones from the American Embassy in Ukraine that infiltrated into the Ukraine Governmental section. America is and has been buying the Ukraine government for some time now. Biden just bought and paid for Ukraine’s help to rearm Georgia. That is a No – No and should be stopped. American politics need to stay out of Ukraine or any other country for that matter…

The American Embassy was very nice and in the usual governmental grind of gears, they accomplished all that I needed to have accomplished and all that they in their power could accomplish. I got a new passport, so at least I could get a visa and get home to Russia.

I had two choices of what I could do.

1. I could apply for a new passport from America and wait at least 10 days before I would get it. (Cost $100.00)
(Or)
2. I could get an Emergency Passport and make my way back to Russia and deal with the new passport with the Moscow American Embassy. (Cost $100.00 and no fee in Moscow for another new passport)

Lets put it this way: If I had chosen choice one (1), I would still be in Ukraine, twiddling my thumbs.

So my second day in Ukraine was winding down as I left the American Embassy in Ukraine with another passport that made it a little easier to transverse the streets of Kiev…

Note: Remember – When you apply for a new passport the old passport is null and void even if you find it later. Next article Part 4 – I get a phone call from the Ukraine Embassy…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Moscow police hunt killer of manager at Russian defense firm:
Moscow police are conducting a manhunt for the killer of a top manager at one of Russia’s largest defense firms, Almaz-Antei, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Russian monetary base down 0.6% in week to $130 bln:
Russia’s Central Bank said Friday the country’s narrowly defined money supply (M1) was 4 trillion 59.6 million rubles ($130 billion at the current exchange rate) as of July 27, down 0.6% in the week since July 20.

South Ossetia to make territorial claim on Georgian gorge:
South Ossetia intends to demand the return of its former territory, the Truso Gorge, which is currently a part of Georgia, the former Georgian republic’s president said on Friday.

Gazprom posts 40.8% net profit drop in 1H09 under RAS:
Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Friday its net profits calculated under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) decreased 40.8% year-on-year in January-June 2009 to 169 billion rubles ($5.3 billion).

Russia’s Norilsk Nickel posts net profit of $1.7 bln for Q2:
Russia’s Norilsk Nickel announced on Friday a net profit of 52.1 billion rubles ($1.65 billion) according to Russian Accounting Standards for the second quarter of this year.

Ukrainian diplomat expelled from Russia named:
One of the Ukrainian diplomats to be expelled by Russia as part of the tit-for-tat row has been named as Igor Berezkin, a source in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry was cited by the UNIAN news agency as saying on Friday.

Russian energy minister to visit Iraq in early August:
Russia’s energy minister Sergei Shmatko said on Friday he would pay a visit to Iraq in early August to discuss oil and energy cooperation.

Russia’s Nerpa nuclear sub starts sea trials in Far East:
Russia’s Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, damaged in a fatal accident during tests in November last year, started on Friday the second stage of new sea trials, a source involved in the tests said.

Russia dismisses NATO membership suggestions:
Moscow dismissed on Thursday comments by a U.S. administration official suggesting that Russia could become a member of NATO.

This recipe is as easy and simple. The idea for showing this recipe came from a good reader of ours Blackseabrew. He was just in Ukraine and looks to me like he had some of these fantastic pancakes. So since Blackseabrew suggested it, I present – Syrniki or Curd Pancakes!

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup of well drained cottage cheese
1 large egg
2-3 tbs of sugar
1/2 cup flour

Mix:
Put all the ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl. Mix until the consistency is that of a bread dough and even lumpy in appearance. Add a pinch more flour if it seems to be to thin.

Make and Fry:
I use my fingers and dust them with flour. I pinch off a large spoonful size chunk of dough and roll in a ball. On a floured surface I flatten the ball into a flat pancake. Make sure that you flip dough and coat both sides with flour.

In a preheated (medium heat) non stick skillet with a layer of veggy oil in the bottom. Lay the pancakes one at a time into the oil. (Careful do not splash)

Fry until first side is golden brown (or even darker like we like them). Turn the pancake over and fry until the second side is golden brown.

Eat:
Syrniki taste great with sour cream, jam, jelly, preserves, molasses, sorghum, maple syrup and they are great just plain… Yummy!

Notes: They are best made with farmers cheese, goat cheese, Syrniki are many times made with a mixture of pot cheese (similar to cottage cheese but is drained longer and therefore has a slightly drier texture). Hense the need to drain cottage cheese very thoroughly in America.

(singular syrnik; in Russian, сырник[и])

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.