Windows to Russia

I understand that Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy portrayed Russians as a brooding, complicated people, and ethnographers have confirmed that Russians tend to focus on dark feelings and memories more than Westerners do. But that may not be all bad after the results of a study released finds that even though Russians tend to brood, they are less likely than Americans to feel as depressed as a result. It seems that the University of Michigan conducted a survey, actually two surveys completed in the US and in Russia between 2007 and 2008. The studies examined 171 and 168 students, respectively. All respondents were around 21 years old…

The reports on the outcomes of two separate studies conducted with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health. In one study, the researchers examined the prevalence of self-reflection and depression among 85 U.S. students and 83 Russian students. Participants completed tests designed to measure their levels of brooding, and their level of depressive symptoms. The researchers found that Russians were more likely to brood, but that doing so was associated with fewer depressive symptoms than the Americans.

In the second study, 86 U.S. and 76 Russian students were asked to recall and analyze their “deepest thoughts and feelings” about a recent unpleasant interpersonal experience. The researchers measured their level of distress after this exercise. Then participants were asked to indicate the extent to which they adopted a self-immersed perspective (seeing the event replay through their own eyes as if they were right there) versus a self-distanced perspective (watching the event unfold as an observer, in which they could see themselves from afar) while analyzing their feelings.

Compared to the Americans, the Russians showed less distress after recalling the experience, and were less likely to blame the other person in their analysis of the experience. Importantly, Russians also indicated that they were more likely than Americans to spontaneously distance themselves from their experience while analyzing their feelings. And this tendency to self-distance was linked with lower levels of distress and blame.

But according to these surveys it was found out that even though Russians look like the biggest grumpy people on earth that they are happier than Americans…

But we are talking about 21 year olds…

Windows to Russia!

• Brooding Russians: Less distressed than Americans (eurekalert.org)
• Brooding Russians are happier than they look (theglobeandmail.com)
• “Study: Russians Gloomier but Less Depressed” and related posts (robertamsterdam.com)
• Gloomy Russians less depressed than cheerful Americans – research (rt.com)
• Brooding Russians: Less distressed than Americans (esciencenews.com)
• Brooding Russians: Less distressed than Americans (physorg.com)

Hello,

One of the ex-Soviet countries that I really like was Moldova. Moldova was very poor. The villages collapsing. The only thing about Moldova, that was modern was the capital. Funny thing that was the part about Moldova I did not like (the Capital).

As I drove the roads of Moldova, I noticed the people. They worked hard and kept to their tasks. The people worked the grapevine fields. That seemed to me the largest farm crop by far. I do not drink, but if I did, I bet that Moldova Wine is good, if how hard the people work is indicator.

I enjoyed the villages that I saw and the food was good. The byways were never without a good well full of cold water, close by the roadside. This impressed me. You could be 20 km from a village and have a good clean well to get a drink from. That is something that you do not find in Russia or the Ukraine.

The roads had very few signs, But then again there was hardly any roads. 🙂 But the roads in Moldova were not in bad shape. Actually the roads in Moldova were good until we got to the Capital of Moldova called Chisinau. Then the roads got terrible.

All in all I thought Moldova was a beautiful and exciting place to visit. The farm fields were well taken care of, the drive was pleasant, the people friendly, The country was inviting to me. I would like to live there. The county of Moldova would be good for your soul.

Kyle

Comments welcome

• Last Night The Wail of the Train Could Be Heard… (windowstorussia.com)
• Russia and Her Dacha Craze… (windowstorussia.com)
• Russians Have Lost It Over Heat Wave… (windowstorussia.com)
• A Fish: a Russian Animated Film… (windowstorussia.com)
• Russia: Model 24 Volga! (windowstorussia.com)
• Ukraine Getting Jitters About South Stream… (windowstorussia.com)
• The FSB Has More Power Now and Other Thoughts… (windowstorussia.com)
• ROAR: Russia makes position on Moldova & Transdniester clear (rt.com)

Russia is having a field day with this information:

You know you’ve reached stardom when you become a doll. The world’s favorite sexy Russian spy may be banned from the U.S. and England forever, but not all is lost: Anna Chapman is now an action figure for all of us to buy and own and pose however we like for just $29.95. Yes just $29.95, why you could buy 3 or 4 at that price and give them to all your friends… 🙂

Get the doll at:

Windows to Russia!

• Russian Spy Gets Her Own Action Figure (cbsnews.com)
• Russian Girl Doll (patspapers.com)
• Own Your Own Russian Spy: Anna Chapman Gets Her Own Action Figure (abcnews.go.com)

Wanna see some Russians having fun in the sun?

The heat is on and when the kids can get to a place that has water flowing freely. They take advantage and go crazy…

Link to another video from Russian Videos From Russia…

Windows to Russia!

• Russians Have Lost It Over Heat Wave… (windowstorussia.com)
• Russia heat wave kills fish, crops (cbc.ca)
• Windows to Russia: Over 2000 Posts and 3 Years Old… (windowstorussia.com)
• Last Night The Wail of the Train Could Be Heard… (windowstorussia.com)
• Windows to Russia: Vacation Pictures in Israel – Final! (windowstorussia.com)

I really try to ignore what America does because it is not good for my heart to read about all the stupidity that we allow our government to do…

But when I read information like this coming from Georgia, my blood boils! On this side of the world you get to hear about all the millions and millions and billions that America gives to countries all over the world as financial aid. This aid goes for weapons, police protection, building new military complexes but very very rarely helps a desperate person that needs food…

Today the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri said that USD 20.5 million of U.S. financial aid will be directed at the needs of the law enforcement structures of the country of Georgia – according to Business-Gruzia.68.5 million dollars more will be spent on improving living conditions of refugees from Abkhazia. Plus $133.5 million more, on various economic projects all over the country.

Previously last week the Ministry of Finance of Georgia reported the USA intended to allocate the republic USD 242 mln in the nearest time.

I really wonder how many of you understand that your tax money is paying for Saakashvili (President of Georgia) to have a wonderful and fruitful lifestyle of the rich and famous..

No seriously! You pay your hard earned money, so that Sassy can live the “Life of Riley”.

I have a right to be upset because I have paid taxes just like you have all my work career. I never thought in the past much about where all the money went but I am here to tell you that billions and billions and billions (add a bunch more billions) go to leaders of these little countries and they squirrel it away for the day that they get kicked out of power… (This I have discovered after living over seas…)

{Just like the last past president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko do you think he lives in poverty after the billions that he stole from Ukraine?}

Oh I forgot! You don’t care that we waste our money on Georgia. We have lots of money and can just print more…

Hummmm…

Windows to Russia!

Now I think that all countries should have their own Operating System (OS) that they run everything on in the government. It just makes sense and the cost would be tremendously cheaper after the initial set up. It seems that Russia has been busy trying to implement a Russian OS that would allow them to be free of the overhead of the licensing nightmare that accompanies outside software usage…

Russia’s Communications and Mass Media Ministry is determined to create a Russian National Operating System (OS).  The first Russian OS version may appear as early as 2011. It will not be built from scratch, however; it will be derived 90 percent from Linux. Then later on, the ministry expects the share of domestic contributions to increase. In early 2011, the government will stage a tender for a contract to build a full-fledged national operating system, which may appear around 2013. It is presumed that the operating system will be deployed in ministries and governmental agencies, but they will still have a choice whether to use the national OS or a foreign one.

I have been hearing rumors about this for several years. It started out as a 100% Linux project to remove any issues with Windows OS legalities.

But Microsoft has been giving base code to Russia over the last few years. There has been some concern from the Western side of the world but as Microsoft has stated, all code has been protected and is properly managed…

Does that mean that Microsoft is trying to get more of their code involved in this development? Does Russia have a right to use Microsoft code as they see fit?

There has been issues in the past that have not fared well for Microsoft in Russia and most people say just kick it out of the system…

In fact, it has been reported that a program is underway and is replacing Microsoft OS with Linux software at Russian schools across the country. This became a huge issue after a case that involved a teacher in Russia using unlicensed Windows OS on school computers. Even though Microsoft was not the instigator of said issues and wished that all would have stayed buried. Microsoft got the raw end of the deal in Russia…

Since incidents like that, Microsoft has been very cooperative with Russia and transfer of source code data has happened several times…

I find it interesting the things that transpire in the world and we really know very little about what is really going on behind those closed doors…

Windows to Russia!