It has snowed a little bit then it melted. It would snow a little more then it would melt. Then it would snow again and melt again. Finally it has snowed, snowed and snowed. Now the first small snows were a happiness for the Russian people. They do not get a lot of snow that they can make snowmen out of. So we were blessed with days and days of snowmen all over the city. You must understand that in a normal year it snows, but it is so bitterly cold, that the snow is unpackable into balls and such…
This year has been different, until now! Now it is snowing, snowing, snowing and it is cold outside…
I hear from friends in America that the weather has been the same up North also. Rains and more rains for Christmas…
I have to admit though that the snowmen everywhere were really cool and there was some really good snowmen and snow women. Though the little kids seemed to take just as much pleasure out of kicking a snowman to the ground when he was done, as making them…
For awhile Windows to Russia is going to have to run as light as possible. The volume of traffic is just way to high and we are going to have to give and take to keep her online. The servers are not able to keep up when she is fully dressed and I look at the situation like this: “The data is more important than the bling, so nothing extra and photos will be going to a minimum…”
Shear volume knocked Windows to Russia off line for a few hours today and until I get get all the pieces in place for plan C, it looks like we will have some hard bumps in the road. Plane C is what I have been trying to keep from doing and that is a dedicated or VPS server. The cost is outrageous but it looks like a shared server host can not handle the site no longer…
This is a sweet and sour situation, as we are right on that cusps of too big, but too small at the same time…
It looks like comments are going away until I can get the new server situation set up. The extra PHP functions are tearing up the server. I have brought them back and have been happy, but the load on the sever is too great. Comments always are accepted by dropping them off in contact e-mail in the above menu bar… đ
I will also be stripping as much code as I can out and still leave a front of a site…
I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thought to myself how many of you know that the National tree in Russia is the White Birch? I looked over some pictures that I took and found a few good ones with birches in them…
Here is an old article about these birches…
My path yesterday took me into a beautiful White Birch forest. It was peaceful and the breeze whispered through the leaves. I had my camera so I stopped and took a picture. The Russians Love their White Birch!
The Russians drink the sap from the Birch at certain times of the year. You can find the sap being sold along the byways. The trees also produce a fruit and these fruit have been once used as the major food of the Incas. I have never had the sap yet but my Wife says that it is delicious. (Update: Yes I have had the sap now after a lot of years in Russia and it is very good. We enjoy it when the season is right!)
So this is the main tree in Russia. I can tell you that they are everywhere. When we take a trip the byways are lined with these trees.
I enjoyed my time amongst the talking Birch trees.
January 2012 marks the aboriginal ceremony of the alpha of the Arab Spring, a attenuate beachcomber of political upheavals across-the-board beyond the Arab world, which stretches from North Africa to West Asia.
Four countries underwent aberrant administration changes, and one country was plunged into absolute civilian war, which led to adopted advancing intervention. Added Arab states witnessed anti-government protests of assorted scales.
It is already 2012, but the Arab Spring is still over extension and expanding, arch to ascent agitation in the Arab world.
At present, the world’s absorption is focused on Syria, which is in a awful alarming position, accustomed the afterlife of added than 5,000 people, connected blood-soaked clashes, the Syrian opposition’s able assurance to appropriate power, Arab League’s advancing intervention, and Western powers’ edgeless abnegation to admit the angary of the absolute Syrian government.
In the accomplished picture, this massive “earthquake” that appearance administration change of Arab republic countries will apparent appear to an end in Damascus. Then, its accomplished advance will acknowledgment to the apogee of acceptable geopolitical conflicts, the accomplishments agitated out by the four acceptable armament of the Arabia, Persia, Jews and Turkey will accomplish new waves, and the Iran nuclear crisis will accomplish the Middle East face a new accident of war.
Looking at Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen which accept completed their administration changes as able-bodied as countries of Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco which accept about completed their administration changes, you will see that their turbulence’s still accept not disappeared.
The new ability holders and abeyance ability holders are all adverse accepted capacity of stabilizing the political situation, ambidextrous with political enemies, rebuilding the candor and amends and convalescent people’s sedimentation and the economy.
All these capacity are added difficult and circuitous than arch followers to abolish a government. If the transformations will not be bland or even fail, the Arab association which has beggared from the absolutist backroom and entered the “dwarf era” may abatement into a “democratic chaos” featuring accepted administration changes and abeyant amusing and bread-and-butter development.
An abrupt affecting aftereffect of the Arab about-face is that: assorted Islamic political armament which accept been beneath oppressions for a continued aeon are getting pushed to the acme of the ability through open, acknowledged and autonomous procedures.
It has afflicted the capital blush of the Arab political bearings and formed a baroque “green” arena which worries or even scares the West. In fact, that is not a “backward” in Arab’s addition and secularization course, but a axis aback from the abiding boundless secularization and secularization of the regimes baffled or a acknowledgment to the acceptable culture. It is as well the accepted aspiration of the people.
Of course, all the Islamic countries accept to attending for new anchorage and acquisition new modes that could accommodate both avant-garde and acceptable elements, both the east and west and accords with their own developments. And the apple should accept a added and added absolute apperception to accord best wishes to these countries. After all, it is Arab people’s own choice.
Paul Wen: a simple Chinese that wants to say something to you Amerikas. Pardon my English and hope enjoy is in the books?
Windows to Russia!
The views of the above author are not strictly only the views of Windows to Russia. They are an independent view from an outside source that brings a better light on the world in general and Windows to Russia is pleased to have Paul Wen’s thoughts on its pages today and in the future. Content is only changed to correct a few spellings if possible as per the owner of the article. â Kyle Keeton
I had an article awhile back that expressed what was to become a forward momentum of countries switching currencies to do business with each other with. China and Russia are working with their currencies instead of $ dollars and now it is official:
Tehran has accepted Moscowâs proposal to use the ruble instead of the dollar in mutual trade payments in response to tighter U.S. sanctions imposed in January, the Asia Times newspaper reports. Breaking the news on Tuesday, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sajadi said that President Dmitry Medvedev had made the offer to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when they met during the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last summer…
The West forced this to happen because of the ridiculous sanctions that they keep imposing against Iran. Sanctions that are for something that Iran is not doing….
Russia is smiling because this is what Russia wants. It has not been new news for along time, that Russia wants to be a world currency and have rubles used for oil. That dream is starting to happen because of patience and a Western world that is collapsing…
Medvedev has tried to make back up with Iran after he trusted the US and past deals. This has not been an easy thing to do because Medvedev really messed up. But it looks like amends are in the works and I am starting to hear about the missile defense that was to be sold to Iran coming back on the table again…
Russia is also starting to develop a strategic reserves of oil and gas. This is the same as gold, money, silver and other currencies. Russia has figured out that oil is money just like gold and silver is. It is a finite product that has tremendous demand and that demand will only go up in the long term. Oil ultimately will become worth its “weight in gold”, as we say…
Other words oil can be bartered with…
One thing that has to happen to keep this world safe from Western aggression is that the Eastern countries have got to start realizing that they have to stick together and form a reliance to counter the West. The West will try to take the world with it as it collapses…
Boza and I like to walk and when it snows it is extra special for us. I love the crisp clean air as it is snowing and Boza loves to stick his nose into the snow until he gives himself a brain freeze. I call Boza my little doofus…
One thing that I love in Russia is the fact that all the moms run their kids around in sleds. Look at the third picture from the left. These sleds are everywhere and the kids are captive usually strapped down and can hardly move. The look on some of the kids faces are priceless because mom just is literally running at full speed and the kid is like a battering ram for the mom. So Boza and I stay out of their way… đ
Today it is snowing like crazy and the temperate is plummeting. But I decided to take some pictures as we walked today because I have not done that for awhile…
Like I said the last picture is of Boza with his nose buried in the snow. He does this so much that after awhile he starts shaking his head trying to unfreeze his brain. But just like we humans eat ice cream and get a brain freeze, Boza does not learn either…
I guess there is just too many good smells under that snow…
This morning over a cup of wonderful coffee and some thinking’s, I realized that America has become much worse than what I found in Russia as a police state years ago. In fact it seems that Russia has now become much less of a police state and is drifting steadily to the better everyday…
6 (six) years ago when I came to Russia I was startled by the heavily armed police everywhere. It was common place to see traffic cops with machine guns and other heavy equipment to assist in controlling traffic. I was appalled and told everyone that America would never become that bad of a police state. I was adamant that this type of existence, was just wrong and we should never have to go through conditions like this. I said you people (Russians) need to change somethings… đ
Well Russia has changed things and to the better…
But, it looks like I was very wrong about my freedoms and the police state issues in America, now we (USA) top the cake with the icing…
On New Year’s Eve, President Obama signed into law a bill that eliminates one of the fundamental protections of the U.S. Constitution…
I wish that I could say that the above photos are from Russia, but that would be a lie. These pictures and thousands more available, are plastered all over the Internet of the USA police state. America has become a police state of huge proportions and everyone living in America now lives under a police state that makes what I found in Russia 6 years ago, pale in comparison…
We in America like to point fingers at Russia, China and many other countries but we have a tendency to ignore what is happening under our very nose. I am here to tell you that if you believe that you are freer in America than anywhere else in the world, then you need to do some rethinking and studying of facts. Maybe it is time to think and look outside of the border…
No there is no pay involved, but you have a chance to get what you have to say out to a huge network of readers. Windows to Russia is looking for a person from China that has a desire to voice an opinion about world, American, Asian and Chinese issues be they political or not…
We have a writer from Pakistan and he is using Windows to Russia as a sounding board to help get his message across to a wider American audience. Windows to Russia is looking to add writers from all over the world, but China is the next step in the growth process. Iran is the third step and that will be asked for next…
One step at a time is my motto and I do not want to bite off more than I can chew at one time… đ
Anyone interested in writing from China please leave a message at windowstorussia@37.com care of Kyle Keeton…
The world needs peace in Afghanistan (which of course starts with a US troop withdrawal). Americaâs Vice President Joe Biden recently stated â âThe Taliban per se is not the enemyâ. This is a step towards peace, which should be welcomed by everybody. The âGood Americanâ Vice President Joe Biden has always been known for his upright character and forthright views. Even after 9/11, during Bush Administration, and Dick Cheneyâs blustering, Joe Biden voiced his independent views. Among Americaâs elderly statesmen, he hopefully understands Afghanistanâs need for Peace. The World also needs to hear some Common Sense if not Geopolitical Sense from others in Washington!
Ironically Bidenâs statement was assailed from a number of quarters within USA. The Washington Post was skeptical, others were critical.â Biden Does It Againâ was Fox News. (Anyone who speaks the truth or logic or preaches peace is to be ridiculed by American Globalist Media, even if it is Vice President of USA!) War lovers termed it asâ Bidenâs Jaw Dropping Gaffeâ. The Times of India was perplexed by Bidenâs Olive Branch to Taliban! (Delhi had earlier absurdly convinced itself of Washingtonâsâ perpetual animosity for Taliban and was now amazed by its perfidy. Delhi has yet to learn Real Politik American Style!). US official sources soon clarified the contents implying Biden meant something else, even as Jay Carney defended it from the White House! Karzai from Kabul welcomed Bidensâ pragmatic statement, clarifying the need for ending the feud with Taliban.
The fact of the matter is that if Taliban are to be constantly demonized (A propaganda requirement after 9/11) and are undefeated, how does US Army withdraw from Kabul? (And also save face) If American troops do not leave (they cannot win anyway, even if they do not lose Dien Bien Phu fashion) the war gets protracted. As long as US troops remain, the Talibans resist. (The rest of NATO European Troops do not even count in Taliban Calculations) Not only Afghanistan is tragically destroyed by war (First Soviets now Americans) but Pakistan is destabilized. US- Pakistan relations have nosedived from âunstinting supportâ to going conflictual. With Iran âA Point Of No Returnâ according to the Atlantic and numerous other world views (Including this scribeâs âNext War Iranâ published in Pravda Ru.) The region is boiling!
In Afghanistan the Strategic Grand Climactic (Turning point) has been reached. Washingtonâs choice is to relent or escalate. Relent in Afghanistan preferably by negotiated settlement with Taliban, and Pakistan on board. The war weary American Public, with over 70% people want US troops pull out from Afghanistan. (Americaâs longest War in history). In Germany over 80% Germans want their military involvement finished in Kabul. Culturally rich and peace loving Germans, living affluent lives have no reason to prolong an endless and meaningless conflict.
Time in any case is against US â NATO. Not only does economic decline in USA and financial malaise in EU warrant an end to the Afghanistan War. The element of time is on the side of the Taliban. As Russian Asurenipal reminded the quote of stoic mountain warriors (Of Afghanistan) âaddressing NATO ââYou have the Watches, We have the Time!
Vice President Joe Biden was right that the Taliban were not the enemy. Then the good people of USA would ask â why are we fighting the Taliban, if it is not the enemy?
The simple answer â Time for Geopolitics of Peace. A negotiated Peace Agreement in Kabul to which Pakistan is a party and the Indians are not invited!
Americaâs soldiers should come home. Young American boys and girls should not die or be maimed anymore, in the treacherous mountains of Afghanistan. Nor Kill innocent Afghans or Pakistanis. The War has gone long enough. Are Ten Years not enough to prove that the American Soldiers are brave? How much more revenge does US seek for 9/11? But itâs also proven that the Taliban are even more tough and full of valor. Honoring a brave enemy is no dishonor (even if the Age of Chivalry is past âbut not dead).
To end the confusion, who is Americaâs enemy? Those who attack America and those who drag USA into senseless – useless wars. After Osama Bin Ladenâs killing by American Forces, 50-100 Al Qaeda operatives are estimated by US forces in Afghanistan and they are already decimated in Pakistan. Once the American Forces leave, peace will return, or strife will reduce in Afghanistan.
Now the news Mullah Omerâs name has been removed from the terrorist (FBI) list is even more welcome. The Afghan Taliban are heroic, frugal warriors, fighting a War of National Liberation (In their own perception). Departing US Troops have nothing to fear from the honorable Taliban. In any event after a decade long horrific war the Taliban also need peace. Yet the Globalists are disappointed. The liberal puppets of the region are pissing in their pants (due to indicators of US â Taliban peace prospects) and so called Regional Aspirant Delhi will learn an unforgettable lesson, if it tries to invade Afghanistan.
Vice President Joe Biden is now a Good American! Good Americans are those who are willing to move in the direction of peace. Bad Americans âNeocons, Globalists etc want to again conquer the world (and ruin USA!)The Good Afghans want peace, and exit of foreign forces (a prerequisite for peace). Good Taliban are basically freedom fighters, living their own lives, as per time honored culture and traditions. Good Pakistanis want freedom from their own treacherous and corrupt elite and withdrawal of US forces from Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Good Pakistanis do not want extremism in any form) Peace at home, peace abroad. Bad Afghans and Bad Pakistanis are those who support foreign wars for their own petty ends. (A minority of liberal puppets living on alien dole) It is time for Geopolitics of Peace. Status quo or stalemate is past. The choice is US Exit Afghanistan for Peace or a Larger Regional War. The American Choice-leave Afghanistan now or lose both Pakistan and Afghanistan later. Only the demented (Indian funded) would choose the latter!
All sane, smart men and women would opt for Global Peace. The world needs Good Americans who withdraw all US Forces from Afghanistan, to usher an era of peace followed by prosperity. Peace in Afghanistan and Good Americans are now synonyms!
(Geopolitics of Peace is an endeavor by Nadir Mir)
Geopolitics of Peace: by Nadir Mir. Author of the book âGwadar on the Global Chessboardâ Blog: Pakistan and Geopolitics wwwpakistangeopolitics.blogspot.com/ The author is a retired Brigadier of the Pakistan Army.
Windows to Russia!
The views of the above author are not strictly only the views of Windows to Russia. They are an independent view from an outside source that brings a better light on the world in general and Windows to Russia is pleased to have Nadir Mirâs thoughts on its pages today and in the future. So take a look at his site and read a few articles. â Kyle Keeton
Finally got some sleep after the last few days of recovering from another major attempt to destroy Windows to Russia. This time Sveta was deep in the middle of it because she is on Winter holiday in Russia. So Sveta got an eye full of the destruction that is being swarmed against us. Yesterday after the initial attack the day before, while Sveta was working on the site, she got involved in a “Brute Force Attack” and that lasted about 8 hours before all the involved parties gave up…
Sveta had her eyes opened at what I face everyday and she looked at me and said, “We have to change somethings!” I kinda looked at her with that, “Yea Duh!” look and kept quiet…
Info time: Brute Force Attack – In cryptography, a brute-force attack, or exhaustive key search, is a strategy that can, in theory, be used against any encrypted data. Such an attack might be utilized when it is not possible to take advantage of other weaknesses in an encryption system (if any exist) that would make the task easier. It involves systematically checking all possible keys until the correct key is found. In the worst case, this would involve traversing the entire search space…
This is just one of the common occurrences that I deal with everyday. The attacks are based from America 99% of the time. I hate to tell Washington DC this but I keep backups of all my data on a daily basis now. Taking the site down in an attempt to erase data will only stop me for a few days. Very soon we will have a mirror system completed and then that few days will not happen. Just last night I downloaded a 2.4 gig file of data to back up all the web sites on Windows to Russia. While I might loose a few posts now and then, that will be it…
Sveta is a programmer and has taken to PHP and MYSQL like a fish to water. She loves dealing with it and she calls herself my system administrator now… đ
Well my thinking’s are not all CSS, HTML and PHP they also drift towards the fact that we just ended our Orthodox Christmas here in Russia. Also I got a pleasant e-mail from a friend in America and he is traveling to Russia this March. I am hoping that he will be able to stay with us a few days. He travels to Russia about every three years and you can see it in his eyes that he would love to live here one day and retire. As he mentions in passing several times before, Before the work pace in America kills him…
Sveta is sleeping in this morning and Boza and I have walked about an hour in the freezing cold. Ice is coated on everything and the air is so crisp and fresh. I love it when walks are like that. Boza loves walks anytime and anywhere…
I am going to have another cup of coffee chicory and wait for my sweetie to wake up. After all the work she did on Windows to Russia she deserves to sleep in this morning. She was a good system administrator… đ
It has snowed a little bit then it melted. It would snow a little more then it would melt. Then it would snow again and melt again. Finally it has snowed, snowed and snowed. Now the first small snows were a happiness for the Russian people. They do not get a lot of snow that they can make snowmen out of. So we were blessed with days and days of snowmen all over the city. You must understand that in a normal year it snows, but it is so bitterly cold, that the snow is unpackable into balls and such…
