Windows to Russia (WtR) wishes all a Merry Christmas…
WtR
In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas wasn’t celebrated very noticeably, but it was still celebrated even if silently. New Year was the necessary time for enjoyment. Currently Christmas in Russia is widely known normally to be on January seventh. The date is completely different as a result of the Russian Orthodox church uses the previous “Julian” calendar for non secular celebration days. The Orthodox Church conjointly celebrates Advent. However it’s normal dates, beginning on twenty eighth November and planning to the sixth January, therefore it’s forty days long…
The official Christmas and New Year holidays in Russia lasts from thirty first of December to the tenth of January. The Russian Christmas greeting is “S Rozhdestvom!”…
Some Russians fast (don’t eat anything) on Christmas Eve, till the primary star has appeared within the sky. Folks then eat sochivo or kutia a porridge made of wheat or rice served with honey, poppy seeds, fruit (especially berries and dried fruit like raisins), chopped walnuts or typically even fruit jellies!
Kutia is usually eaten from one common bowl, this symbolizes unity. within the past, some families prefer to throw a spoonful of sochivo up on the ceiling. If it stuck to the ceiling, some folks thought it meant they might have sensible luck and would have an honest harvest!
The Russian word for Christmas Eve “sochelnik,”, comes from the word “sochivo”…
Some Orthodox Christian Russian conjointly do not eat any meat or fish throughout the Christmas Eve meal/feast…
Other fashionable Christmas Eve foods embody beetroot soup (borsch) or vegan potluck (solyanka) served with individual vegetable pies (often created with cabbage, potato, or mushroom); salads usually made of vegetables like gherkins, mushrooms or tomatoes, and conjointly potato or different root vegetable salads…
Sauerkraut is main dish within the Christmas Eve meal. It may be served with cranberries, shredded carrot and onion. It would be followed by additional pies or porridge dishes like buckwheat with fried onions and fried mushrooms…
Dessert is usually things like fruit pies, gingerbread and honey bread cookies and fresh / dried fruit with additional nuts…
A drink called Vzvar – (meaning ‘boil-up’) is usually the toast of the meal. It is a sweet drink made of dried fruit and honey, boiled in water. Vzvar is historically at the birth of a toddler, therefore at Christmas it symbolizes the birth of the baby Jesus…
Дед Мороз & Snegurochka
Following the meal, prayers may well be said and folks then visit the midnight Church services. They usually do not wash the dishes till they get home from Church – typically not till 4am or 5am!
The New Year celebrations are very important to Russians (considered as a Christmas)…
This is when – when ‘Father Frost’ (known in Russian as “Ded Moroz” or “Дед Мороз”) brings presents to kids. He’s invariably in the company of his Granddaughter (Snegurochka). On New Year’s eve kids hold hands, create a circle round the Christmas tree. They await the magic to see the star and different lights on the Christmas tree light up!
The standard greeting for Happy New Year is “S Novym Godom.”
WtR
3a – PDF download for your records…
Memorandum of Conversation. Subject: Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
Date
Sep 16, 2005
DescriptionPutin meets the U.S. President in the Oval Office for a plenary that covers mainly issues of nonproliferation and U.S.-Russian cooperation on Iran and North Korea. The conversation shows impressively close positions on Iran and North Korea, with Putin presenting himself as an eager and supportive partner. Bush tells Putin “we don’t need a lot of religious nuts with nuclear weapons” referring to Iran. Putin gives Bush an extended presentation of the Russian understanding and concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as well as reasons Russia is engaged in the Bushehr reactor project. Putin asks Bush if the U.S. is developing a small nuclear weapon. After Rumsfeld’s detailed explanation of actual discussions of such a design, Bush says “Rumsfeld just gave away all our secrets.” Putin says he read all of them on the internet. Usual banter as seen in most Putin-Bush conversations. Moving to North Korea, Putin describes his recent visit to the country and suddenly gives Bush an insight into his own past commitment to communist ideology: “I used to be a member of the Communist Party. I believed in the ideas of communism. I was prepared to die for them. It’s a long road to inner transformation. People are limited to the cubicle they live in. And many are sincere in what they believe.”
Source – National Security Archive FOIA lawsuit, George W. Bush Library
WtR
PS:
READ THE Documents
Document 1
Source
National Security Archive FOIA lawsuit, George W. Bush Library
In this first personal meeting at the Brno Castle in Slovenia Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush express respect for each other and desire to establish a close relationship. Putin tells Bush about his religious beliefs and the story of his cross that survived a fire at his dacha. In a short one-on-one meeting they cover all the most important issues of U.S.-Russian relations such as strategic stability, ABM treaty, nonproliferation, Iran, North Korea and NATO expansion. Bush tells his Russian counterpart that he believes Russia is part of the West and not an enemy, but raises a question about Putin’s treatment of a free press and military actions in Chechnya.
Putin prefers to talk about the need to combat terrorism and security threats. He is assertive and dominates the conversation, deflecting Bush’s question on press restrictions. He gives Bush a brief history lecture on (his interpretation) of the breakup of the Soviet Union: “What really happened? Soviet good will changed the world, voluntarily. And Russians gave up thousands of square kilometers of territory, voluntarily. Unheard of. Ukraine, part of Russia for centuries, given away. Kazakhstan, given away. The Caucasus, too. Hard to imagine, and done by party bosses.” Putin raises a question of Russian NATO membership and says Russia feels “left out.”
Document 2
Source
National Security Archive FOIA lawsuit, George W. Bush Library
Putin meets the U.S. President in the Oval Office for a plenary that covers mainly issues of nonproliferation and U.S.-Russian cooperation on Iran and North Korea. The conversation shows impressively close positions on Iran and North Korea, with Putin presenting himself as an eager and supportive partner. Bush tells Putin “we don’t need a lot of religious nuts with nuclear weapons” referring to Iran. Putin gives Bush an extended presentation of the Russian understanding and concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as well as reasons Russia is engaged in the Bushehr reactor project. Putin asks Bush if the U.S. is developing a small nuclear weapon. After Rumsfeld’s detailed explanation of actual discussions of such a design, Bush says “Rumsfeld just gave away all our secrets.” Putin says he read all of them on the internet. Usual banter as seen in most Putin-Bush conversations. Moving to North Korea, Putin describes his recent visit to the country and suddenly gives Bush an insight into his own past commitment to communist ideology: “I used to be a member of the Communist Party. I believed in the ideas of communism. I was prepared to die for them. It’s a long road to inner transformation. People are limited to the cubicle they live in. And many are sincere in what they believe.”
Document 3
Source
National Security Archive FOIA lawsuit, George W. Bush Library
This is the last meeting between Putin and Bush, taking place at Putin’s residence in Bocharov Ruchei in Sochi on the Black Sea. The tone is strikingly different from the early conversations, where both presidents pledged cooperation on all issues and expressed commitment to strong personal relationship. This meeting takes place right after the NATO summit in Bucharest where tensions flared about the U.S. campaign for an invitation to Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO. Putin is a gracious host and Bush is a polite guest, but they cannot avoid disagreements. Still it is impressive how they are still able to discuss substantive issues in a constructive manner. Putin gives a good explanation of the Russian perspective of missile defense deployments in Poland and the Czech Republic. Bush hears the Russian concerns but would not change his position. Turning to conversations in Bucharest, Putin states his strong opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia and says that Russia would be relying on anti-NATO forces in Ukraine and “creating problems” in Ukraine “all the time,” because it is concerned about “threat of military bases and new military systems being deployed in the proximity of Russia.” Surprisingly, in response, Bush expresses his admiration for the Russian president’s ability to present his case: “One of the things I admire about you is you weren’t afraid to say it to NATO. That’s very admirable. People listened carefully and had no doubt about your position. It was a good performance.”
Last time I was here my kids came. This time I got business done…
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- Airport
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- Left my room going home
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- New room to rent being built
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- Church
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- Church
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- Every morning she sweeps with her homemade broom
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- Drove wire through my foot
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- Stopped bleeding and got supplies
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- Let me get back to walking
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- Neat
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- I call it Yerevan Seeping – 5 am
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- Invasion of bears
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- Mt. Ararat
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- Little Ararat (left) and Greater Ararat (right)
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- More bears
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- More of mountains
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- Beautiful morning
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- Christmas time
***
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Big fireworks display downtown Yerevan… (video)
So a week in Armenia and now back home in Russia…
So nice to get home to my SweetPea…
WtR
That answers that and that is all she wrote…
It is called retirement for a reason and truthfully, I have so damn much stuff to do that I cannot just worry about your inability to comprehend simple truth and facts anymore. So many plebs are as useless as a screen door on a submarine…
Besides, it is time to finish all my books and write more. I have written a whole bunch of amazing if not stinking stuff and I desire to start selling that stuff to plebs. I am hoping that they are as dumb as I think they are and will buy my books…
Hmm…
WtR
Years back I was thinking…
***
Then lately…
The transformative event I have been waiting for has finally occurred, and my wish to share a cup of coffee with you and explore what Russia has to offer is fulfilled. I have arrived at a moment that declares, “My life has transformed, and what once was is now in the past!”
Since I do not have a desire to see Western based people destroy what I see as a beautiful world in the East. Not a perfect world, but full of beauty that somehow has been removed from the West. Removed both physically and mentally…
I do not want those in the West to think Russia is a safe haven and my wish is for 90% of Western people to stay put, hide, rot away and please stay away from the real world…
So I have decided to do one of the below…
1. Stop blogging completely?
2. Keep blogging like I am doing?
3. Write 3 or 4 long posts a month about Russia?
4. Write 3 or 4 long posts a month about tech work I do?
5. Write whatever I feel like and rename the blog?
6. Rebranding?
***
Ceasing to blog after two decades frequently signifies a transition from the original, personal web to the intricate digital environment we see today. This shift is influenced by the emergence of new platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the increasing presence of AI, the fatigue stemming from algorithmic demands, or simply changes in life circumstances such as family commitments and reduced online engagement. Although some perceive blogging as ‘dead’ due to an oversaturation of content, numerous trailblazers and emerging creators continue to thrive by embracing multimedia, prioritizing authentic expression, and incorporating AI. This indicates a transformation rather than a conclusion for meaningful online writing…
Numerous individuals who have moved away from conventional blogging are transitioning to alternative formats such as newsletters (like Substack), podcasts, or short-form videos, allowing them to express their voice in different ways. The fundamental urge to share, connect, and foster community persists, despite the significant evolution of platforms and methods over the past twenty years…
***
Why blog? Twenty years or more and yes, so many said you will fail and never keep going at blogging…
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When I started my first blogging venture, my main goal was to earn money, and without a doubt, I did not achieve that…
Nevertheless, during that time, I gained many insights that later became valuable…
1. Solving problems.
2. Tackling challenges.
3. Management abilities.
4. Helping others.
5. Building world wide connections.
6. Broadened my personal skill set.
There are numerous lessons to learn from any blogging journey. Blogging is a growth tool…
Blogging is fundamentally centered on solving problems. Be they personal and or worldly…
I have acquired a wealth of knowledge that exceeds what I gained in both school and college. Even if all my monetization strategies were to fail, I would still persist and did persist with blogging. This is due to the fact that blogging has turned into an addiction—an addiction to finding solutions and passing information…
I can assure you that if you commit to blogging for a year or more, it will be almost impossible for you to step away from it. My step away is due to life changes and that Y in the road’s decision moments…
Blogging fosters personal development…
Blogging represents love of life, beauty and truth…
And trust me, if your aim is to tackle a problem, blogging will always be there for you…
***
So what is it?
4. Write 3 or 4 long posts a month about tech work I do?
Tech should be redefined in my case as being what ever I do with my hands and or mind. Such as my desire to start building an AI computer, the work I do on Sammy the Volga, my rebuilding fences and Russian Village Homes, and my escapades with Windows 11…
Still kinda thinking and you Western Plebes need to remember, ~~ “Russia is full of baby eating Orks!” ~~
So glad I moved to Russia…
WtR
I have decided that I have done enough massive blogging and I am looking at my options for what I have done since 2006 and almost 14,000 posts, 700 posts a year. (Though, I admit that it was a slow start and I thought 100 posts was a milestone.) Yes, that is 20 years of Windows to Russia and it has been a rough ride for the most part. Let’s look at what I am thinking next and then I will contemplate…
1. Stop blogging completely?
2. Keep blogging like I am doing?
3. Write 3 or 4 long posts a month about Russia?
4. Write 3 or 4 long posts a month about tech work I do?
5. Write whatever I feel like and rename the blog?
6. Rebranding?
This is actually about the gist of things. Now, the next post is what I am going to do…
🎄oh it is almost Christmas Time…
WtR
In both Europe and the USA, I have observed that the significant issues, often referred to as the ‘elephant in the room,’ are frequently overlooked and disregarded, much like the metaphorical ‘800-pound gorilla.’ I do not take pleasure in the inevitability that the existence of these pressing matters will eventually need to be recognized. The longer this acknowledgment is delayed, the more severe the consequences will be. Many individuals I encounter in the West may face an existential crisis, where the prospect of death appears to be a more feasible conclusion than they might comprehend. – kKEETON…
WtR
https://tass.com/world/2053359
WASHINGTON, December 4. /TASS/. The Ukrainian leadership should have agreed to a settlement of the conflict earlier, as the current situation is now largely turning against them, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House.
“I said ‘You have no cards’,” the American president said, referring to his February meeting with Vladimir Zelensky at the White House. “That was the time to settle. I thought that would have been a much better time to settle… They have a lot of things against them right now,” he added.
At that February meeting, the US president warned Zelensky that Washington would withdraw its support if Kiev failed to pursue a settlement. The White House chief stressed at the time that Ukraine had no leverage in the conflict.
Talk about psychopaths realizing that screwed up and the Bear is pissed…
If the crazy EU does steal frozen Russian assets for a “reparations loan,” we may view it as a casus belli with all the relevant implications for Brussels & Co. Then, these funds may have to be returned, not in court but as real reparations paid in kind by Russia’s fallen foes. – Medvedev
WtR