Once again it is Christmas and here in Russia is is snowing and blowing. The actual temperature is going to rise a whole bunch and we will get to have Christmas near 0c. That means snow and snow and snow and more snow…
Sveta, Boza and I will be glad for a break in the cold, as it was around -30c last night. So a little Bahama weather will be just right, after the last few weeks of record cold…
Have a nice Christmas and be safe…
Kyle, Sveta and Boza…
Windows to Russia…
Success…
No matter how hard the West has tried to diminish what North Korea did and no matter how hard the West tries to spin the tales of terror about North Korea. The fact is that beyond a shadow of a doubt, North Korea put a satellite in orbit and if they can get that satellite under control, it will be in sky a long time. Even if they can’t get it under control, I hear that it will last several years anyway. Now that just pisses America off… 🙂
I am so proud of North Korea for doing something that only a small part of the world can do. It really is an accomplishment that we should embrace and not degrade…
I remember all the years that we in America praised ourselves for having such a wonderful space program and how important for country moral it is to have successful rocket launches. I remember well…
Why I remember how important it was for the Soviet Union to do the same thing as they raced against America for space dominance…
So why should we play games against North Korea for striving to do what we did and used as propaganda for the masses to make us all feel good. North Korea has every right to strive for the same things that we have always reached for and I see it as a plus in the world…
North Korea has a right to thump her chest and dance in the streets. For they have a satellite going around and around the earth, that they personally put there…
Equality is correct on this planet and I believe that I have discovered a scared and jealous Western world that wants all power in her hands and no one else…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and while I have remembered Christmas, I have also forgotten Christmas! So I am going to remember Christmas this day, right now! For we do not have Christmas on the same day here in Russia and I have become very Russian as the time goes by. That is what is going through my head as I sip that wonderful cup of coffee this morning…
“Home is where the heart is” and that makes Russia definitely my home. It is hard to imagine being anywhere else anymore and this morning when I woke up after a restless night of sleep, I remember thinking that Sveta is going to have to work today! I remember being woke several times last night by phone calls that the servers at the Gazprom Bank where down and no one could get them back up again. That means Sveta has to work today on a Sunday…
Sveta is the computer guru of Gazprom Bank in the Moscow area. She is responsible for the IBM servers that are installed at Gazprom bank and when something happens, she has to go…
I will hear about all what happened later today and will I enjoy the conversation, as Sveta and I have hot tea/coffee with the discussion. I joked with Sveta as she left the flat, as she told me that the power is down to the servers. I said, “Probably the cleaning lady pulled the plug as she mopped the floors…”
Sveta frowned at me as she knew that was very probable and most likely the exculpate. Maybe not the exact reason, but most likely the issue is related to human incompetency and she could not get the night help to understand what to do, to correct the problem. So in to work she goes…
What does all this have to do with “Home is where the heart is?”
Well it is my life and my 7th Christmas and that makes Russia and Sveta my home, not home away from home, but home…
I was asked by a friend in America, “When you coming home!”
I thought about that a few days and then I responded to him, “I most likely will not come back to America! I have found my spot in the world and have no desire to leave this place that I have discovered truly by chance and accident. Sveta is my soul mate and where she resides is where I will reside. For she is my light and pivot in this uncertain world…”
Oh by the way, Svet (свет) is Pronunciation: [svyet] – Part of speech: noun (masculine noun) and I add an (a) to the end to make it more female. Her name is Svetlana, but I shortened it when I first met her and she never minded…
свет: Meaning: light, electricity, radiance, world, earth, society, people…
That meaning really fits my sweetie and the best Christmas gift is just having Sveta in my life…
“Home is where the heart is…”
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
“End of the World: In 4 or 5 billion years the world will end. The ‘sun reactor’, so to speak, is going to exhaust its fuel and life is going to end. So if you look at it from this point of view…I’m not frightened by that.” Putin…
So I went to bed and was sleeping peacefully because Putin told me that everything was okay. I have to say that the news in Russia today is full of this quote…
Example: Update: End of the world cancelled by Putin with 15 hours left – Read More >>>
One thing that I was glad to see was that Putin is feeling better and looking good. He had a rough past month and as all of us who are getting older, feel the pains of life many times…
Oh and yes – The world did not end…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
On Khodorkovsky jail term reduction:
“I have never influenced activities of the law enforcement agencies.
We do not have any personal persecution here [Khodorkovsky case]. It’s a purely economic crime. Have a look at US. They sentence people to 99 years of imprisonment or even 100 years. Head of one of the funds: he committed suicide and his members as well. It’s the same with us: we should not politicize these issues.
If everything was fine, Khodorkovsky would be free.”
Putin may meet Georgia’s PM Ivanishvili:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced he didn’t rule out the possibility that he might meet with Georgia’s PM Bidzina Ivanishvili.
There’s been no official invitation so far, the Russian leader told reporters at the big press conference Thursday.
President Vladimir Putin has vowed that Russia will deliver on its promise to allow Georgian imports, a ban it was forced to revisit in exchange for the WTO membership.
Georgia’s Targamadze caught on tape instructing opposition activists; this objective evidence requires legal assessment – Putin
President Putin has accused a top Georgian politician, Givi Targamadze, of trying to rally Russians against the government and inciting terrorist attacks.
As much has been proven by a video tape that has fallen into hands of the Investigation Committee, he said during the Thursday press conference.
“Without the Magnitsky case, the US would have found another pretext for anti-Russia sanctions” – Putin
Putin does not link the falling ratings of the government with corruption scandals or the Dima Yakovlev bill.
Russia to boost shipping along Northern Sea Route:
Russia is going to boost shipping along the Northern Sea Route, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Moscow press conference Thursday.
The Russian leader underscored that the Northern Sea Route was much more profitable than any other shipping lane.
Putin says that he would like to write a book but he lacks the time and strength even to dictate the material.
Crime rates still high in Russia:
President Putin has called to reduce Russia’s high crime rates through better education, positive media propaganda and boosting the prestige of police.
Mr. Putin confirmed that crime rates are still at a high in Russia and urged to fight crime in all spheres.
He also proposed to improve laws and make punishment “unavoidable,” instead of “indefinitely increasing jail terms.”
Protesting shouldn’t be punished with jail terms, but attacks on police officers are inadmissible – Putin
President Putin has denounced jail terms for political protests as excessive but stressed attacks on riot police were inadmissible.
“I don’t think that participation in a mass rally – even an illegal one – should be punished with real prison terms,” Putin said at today’s press conference.
“But it’s equally inadmissible to assault police officers,” he added.
Putin condemns political speculations about Pres. Kaczyński’s death:
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has criticized attempts made by some people to politicize the death of Polish President Lech Kaczyński.
He also vowed the Russian investigation committee would answer all questions the public might have about the crash of the presidential plane near Smolensk.
“We must offer objective answers to any questions that will be posed by our and Polish public. It’s a task for the Investigation Committee and I’m going to talk to them about it,” the president said.
The Tu-154 plane carrying President Lech Kaczyński and many Polish high-ranking officials crashed near Russia’s Smolensk on April 10, 2010, killing eight crew members and 88 passengers, including the president and the first lady.
Putin offers strategies to curb capital flight:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to curb capital flight to offshore tax havens with “civilized” methods.
Speaking at the huge press conference on Thursday, Mr. Putin stressed the importance of making offshore zones disclose information on tax evaders. He added that agreements to that effect had already been enforced on offshore tax havens and end-beneficiaries like offshore companies by many European countries.
The Russian leader added that, in order to attract investors to the country, it needed to have a positive investment climate.
“We have developed a plan on how to improve the country’s investment climate,” Mr. Putin said. “It’s worth noting that we are doing well in some aspects. For instance, we have moved up by 30 notches in tax administration, which is higher than that of the US,” he added.
“On average, our [Russian] tax burden is even less than in other European countries.”
“We must pay more attention to the territorial development, regional development. We cannot extend Moscow for good.”
Russia’s parliament initially approved a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans on Wednesday in reprisal for a U.S. law punishing alleged Russian human rights violators in a row that has strained bilateral relations.
Despite criticism of the measure by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, pro-Kremlin lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for the proposal and for another that would bar Russian non-profit groups which receive funds from the United States.
Only 15 of 450 deputies in the lower house, the State Duma, opposed the proposals.
The bills, expected to pass its final reading on Friday, still needs President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law.
I read that Putin understands why they (Duma) want to do these bills and it will be an interesting time to see what he does about the Duma and these bills. I will tell you that this has caused a stir in American politics and it looks to be just the beginning of Russian backlash for American attempts at games… (Update: Putin backs the Duma…)
Looks like the day of ignoring the insults and slaps in the face are over. Bullies only can get away with it so long and people fight back. I just think that using children as a tool is a little bit out of line, but what can I say? I came from a society that uses children politically all the time, so no one in America should be offended by Russia’s actions…
Interesting…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
PS: The day of American NGO’s running a-muck in Russia looks to be over…
Update: The Western press has been trying to tell the world that Putin valued relations with the US too much to jeopardize those relations. 🙂
Belgium is not the only possible destination for tax exile Gerard Depardieu who is renouncing his French citizenship in search of a better financial future. “Putin has already sent me a passport!” the actor announced. Depardieu reportedly mentioned three countries are ready to receive him. Belgium, where he has just bought a house, Montenegro, where he has friends and some businesses, and Russia: “Putin has already sent me a passport!” Le Monde has quoted Depardieu as saying. Russia boasts a flat 13% income tax rate and could become a tax haven for the Academy-award nominated actor… 🙂
Darn! I wish Putin would send me a passport…
I guess I am not rich or important enough!
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
I had to go back today and take a picture of what I found the workmen doing yesterday. It looks like they took a day off today and that is a good idea. The humidity is in the 90% and the temperature is way below -20, with a fair breeze around 8km per hour. Other words, “It is colder than a – Blue-Belly Hell!”
So Boza and I went and looked over what they had done and I am here to tell you that the ground is frozen like solid rock and the holes they dug, were dug by hand and with a steel bar and shovel…
I find it interesting that Russians do the same in Winter as they do in Summer and I guess the fact that Winter is over at least half of the year, that has a lot to do with the reasoning…
I just wish that I was a kid and could play at this playground. I would have loved to have had a playground like this when I was little. Freezing weather or not…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
Statement by Konstantin Dolgov, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, at PACE International Conference “Human Rights and Foreign Policy”(Turin, December 13, 2012)
Dear colleagues!
The Russian Federation pays utmost attention to the promotion of human rights. Fundamental human rights norms and standards are guaranteed by the Constitution of our country. Russia is a party to basic international agreements and conventions on human rights. We carefully analyze the Russian legislation and prepare recommendations concerning its improvement and bringing it into line with principles and norms of international law.
At the same time, our country has never hidden from constructive criticism on humanitarian and human rights issues. We believe that for the good of our society it is necessary to keep striving for improvement.
However, the way human rights matters are used by some of our international partners against Russia can hardly satisfy us, as it would hardly satisfy anyone in a similar situation. Some members of the international community are trying to take full control of the human rights agenda while they do not have, frankly speaking, any right to do so. As a result of their efforts, we are witnessing a rapid politicization of human rights as they turn into a leverage and tool of the promotion of these countries’ selfish interests.
On December 5 a report on the human rights situation in the European Union was released. That document based on reliable information from reputable international and national sources put together pieces of extensive factual data on many problems, including systemic, the international community is facing now in the promotion of human rights. The report has reaffirmed our conclusion that no country is perfect as far as human rights promotion is concerned.
The situation in the European Union in the sphere of the protection of human rights is far from perfect. A lot of respected human rights activists and international human rights associations are reporting that in recent years the situation in EU Member States as far as the protection of human rights, freedoms and democratic standards is concerned has deteriorated.
It is very alarming and not understandable that certain EU countries, though verbally supporting the international human rights norms and standards, decide not to assume responsibilities even under basic multilateral treaties on human rights. And if they do assume such responsibilities, these are often accompanied by strange neutralizing reservations.
In this context, it becomes clear that the existing system of protection of human rights and freedoms in the EU is not flawless. Neither the EU judicial mechanisms, the EU ombudsman who receives complaints about the activities of supranational institutions, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights acting as a consultant for the EU institutions, nor the newly created post of the EU Special Representative for human rights do not cover all the systemic challenges in the area of human rights faced by the European Union. (more…)
