Salmon and Potato Salad… (mimoza)


My up bringing on a farm in the Midwest of America did not include a lot of salmon. In fact salmon in my life was canned and labeled pink or red. It was always mixed with bread n eggs and became a cheap meal. Sveta looks at me funny when I mention buying salmon in that form. 90% of the salmon in Russia is fresh and we are talking about tons of salmon everywhere. While not  sea food you would think it is by the fact that many stores in Moscow carry fresh salmon. If you can not find fresh salmon you will find it in a sealed see through pack. It comes smoked many times and salted…

It still amazes me after all these years to see huge isles of salmon at the chain supermarkets. It is not uncommon to see people carrying huge 10 to 20 kilo whole fish out the door to have a feast at home. In fact I think that I am stifling Sveta’s desire for salmon because it does not cross my mind as a normal food item. But to a Russian it is as normal as caviar…

So lets do a few salmon recipes over the next month. It is only fair, because Russians love salmon…

Lets try: Salmon and Potato Salad

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs (boiled hard sliced or diced)
  • 4 potatoes (cooked, peeled, shredded, cubed or diced)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 onion (diced and chopped)
  • 16 (1 lb) ounces of salmon raw or cooked (I prefer cooked and you can use canned also. Just drain well! Cut raw into thin strips.)
  • 1 to 2 cup mayonnaise or as needed
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or mint as a garnish if you desire. (Russians say grasses)
Directions

  1. Put eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil for 10 to 12 minutes or use your method of hard boiled eggs. Remove from hot water, cool, and peel.
  2. While the eggs are cooking, place the diced potatoes in a saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside to cool.
  3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, and saute until lightly browned and translucent, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  4. Flake (lay) salmon and spread it over the bottom of a glass baking dish or serving dish. Spread the sauteed onions over the salmon. Gently spread a little bit of the mayonnaise over the onion layer. Top with potatoes, and spread enough mayonnaise just to add moisture to the layer. Finally, slice the eggs, and cover the layer of potatoes. Spread mayonnaise over the eggs, and garnish with chopped parsley or what ever grass you like. If you wish, you can reserve some of the egg to chop and sprinkle over the top as well. Chill for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Sveta loves a salad made at the near by store that follows this same pattern. This is not a hot dish at all and is served cold and is considered a salad.The onions do not have to be cooked if you love raw onions,. I also see this dish with a layer of shredded cooked beets on top, carrots in it, corn in it and you can dice the eggs and I find that I like it better as a warm dish and that is most likely the German/American Midwesterner in me… 🙂

Remember as always that there are as many recipes of this salad as there are Russians. This is a true Russian favorite…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

Is Political Rhetoric in Russia Being Stirred by the West?


Mikhail Gorbachev does what he does best and what he is paid by the West to do: Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader, has called for a removal of Russia’s leadership and criticized the United Russia party as a “worse version of the Soviet Communist party”…

I guess Gorby has to pay back for that elaborate birthday party that Europe threw him this year. This is also a sign that elections are coming in Russia. Gorbachev has to keep the rhetoric up to earn his Western salary…

There is a joke told from the old days of Soviet Union and it was even presented in the Western presses then and now:

“And one man turned in the queue (line) to his neighbour and said: ‘I’m fed up with this, I blame Gorbachev, I’m going to kill Gorbachev,’ and off he went. He came back two days later and the people in the queue (line) said: ‘Did you kill Gorbachev?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘The queue (line) to kill Gorbachev was just too long’.”

Did not seem funny to me but the Western press ate it up at one time and still use it. Sometimes joke are truth and that is why they are jokes instead of reality…

So the Western press plays up the rhetoric and the games of politics continue. But what everyone should be doing is looking at their home front and realize that the cards are collapsing…

Windows to Russia!

Coffee and Comments and that Blockage…


I was savoring that cup of coffee this morning. It was a delight and made the mood better as I finished up some issues that were dragging Windows to Russia down…

Most readers do not realize that it is just not readers that stop by a web site. There is a whole array of trashy spambots, spam robots, automated commenting and dozens of other pain in the butt type things that destroy a websites peace and tranquility…

After over 30,000 automated comments in about two days and that is on top of the millions that I have received over the years. I have destroyed the comment system in the WordPress system that we have. It is history, kaput, exiled, stomped in the ground and removed from the coding…

Comments have always been an issue and the increase in spam was exponentially growing faster than the systems can keep ahead of it. So two days ago I made the move. It has been so quiet in back of the house on the blog, that it echoed. No spam, no automated comments and no trash at all. No unnecessary load on the servers and no drop in page counts. For quite awhile I have been blocking spam and just sending it to the trash immediately. I knew that real comments have been hurt by this but it was so overwhelming that there was nothing else to do about it…

Now it is all on a outside server and not on mine anymore. Livefyre.com is the new system and it is fairly basic and not a lot of bells and whistles. It is easy to use Twitter, Facebook, Google and Link-in to sign in with. If you want to spam it, then spam it because you are on their server not mine anymore…

Sometimes that spam was so bad that it would affect the operation of Windows to Russia. It would slow things down and on a shared server that is not good. WordPress is referred to as a spam magnet and I can vouch for that…

I just turned off the magnet…

Now lets talk about the Ukraine Blockage issue. Progress is being made and my hosting company is a little bit perturbed by the issue. I have recruited a hosting company in Ukraine to help and we are trying to pin point what is happening. Right now it is just not my site that is blocked but has been extended to the whole server that Windows to Russia resides on. This situation is blocking some large websites and news websites. I expect it to be cleared up, but the desire to find out who and how it is being done has become a priority. What started out being just my site blocked three weeks ago has now become a server of 300+ websites. All blocked in Ukraine…

This issues is not good and I have been happy to see that Ukrainian server hosts are dead set against what has happened. I have been offered to set up a mirror in Ukraine to get around the issue. Many Ukrainian hosts are non USA based and they are proud of that fact. That is something that we will have to see about later. We were ranked very high in Ukraine before this happened on Alexa. Alexa had us ranked at 9000 in Ukraine and that ranking is being lost now..

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

Getting a Russian Visa from Ukraine…


As always getting a Visa to Russia from Ukraine, entails an interesting trip.This trip was no different and I am still dealing with the percussion’s of said trip. Windows to Russia got blocked by a software system that has origins outside of Ukraine… (But this article is about visas not censorship!)

Getting a visa for Russia has the same basic requirements.
1. you need two Russian sized passport pictures. (3.5cms X 4.5cms)
2. You need a telex of your invitation.
3. You need two fully completed and signed applications.
4. You must have a copy of your migration card that you received at the border.
5. A clear readable copy of your passport. (black and white is fine)
6. $250 American dollars.

Unless you are getting a work permit visa. You do not need an HIV certificate. I saw two individuals denied a visa this time because they hand carried a invitation into the consulate. It was explained to me again after an inquiry, that telex is the only surefire way of no invitation issues. Any reputable company that gives out invitations from Russia will know all about telex and you let them do their job. Hand carrying a invitation into the consulate seems to be a no no the last few times I have been there…

(If you desire a name of a company that is reputable for invitations ask in a e-mail and we will give you the info.)

The big change at the Ukraine consulate is that no one but no one gets a next day, three day or any quick processed visa. If you do not have residency in Ukraine then you must wait about two full business weeks (10 business days). You will be stuck in Kiev without a passport for two weeks of fun and joy… 🙂

As always the cheapest place to spend you days of fun and joy in Kiev is the hotel that I always go to. It is called the Slavutich Hotel. It runs about $30 dollars a day (254 hrv) and they really are a great place to stay. You must ask for economy and make reservations by Internet to get a good rate. It is cheaper than trying to rent a whole flat in Kiev…

Links to past posts about Visa runs to Kiev Ukraine: We have way too many links to list…
http://windowstorussia.com/new-russian-visa-dance-for-americans-is-in-the-works.html
http://windowstorussia.com/russian-visa-what-you-need.html
http://windowstorussia.com/russia-needs-to-change-and-correct-the-visa-issues.html
Search Link on Windows to Russia for Visa…

Of course this is all different if you are from another country and if it is your first visa. I am American and have received many visas. So this article is for seasoned people who do this all the time. If you are American then your first visa will be obtained in America. The regulations are slightly different. The need for a HIV is one of those differences I believe…

As always with obtaining a Russian visa, nothing is say in stone and I always say call the consulate to find out any issues that have changed. But then again in the day it takes you to travel to get your visa, all the rules may have changed again… 🙂

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

Libya, NATO and a Deadline Coming Up…


Obama, Cameron and Sarkozy are in a pickle for this war to finish by the end of this month of August. You see Nato’s extended deadline expires before you know it and is possibly not to be renewed. So it will leave them totally out in left field as they continue their interfering in a Libyan civil war…

We will see in the next couple of weeks a significant increase in the military activities of NATO led nations, more missiles will fly, more armament will be parachuted in across borders to the rebels…

This will ultimately achieve the one lone objective. Kill Gaddafi (or drive him away at least), but to achieve this we will  have destroyed Libya, killed many thousands and will see more death as the rebels show their true side to Gaddafi supporters and anyone else they don’t like. This will end up as a disintegrating chaotic country with its infrastructure put back decades if not more.

Cameron of Britain has shown how shallow his thought process is, this was supposed to be his crowning military adventure but as he said to those in the military who criticized him  — You do the fighting I’ll do the talking!

Obama showed a lack of understanding on Libyan war; The war will last days, not weeks.  (A video)

And Sarkozy decided that killing Libyans by the West is a much better fate than dying by their own people in a civil war: “Today we are intervening in Libya under the UN mandate with our partners and notably our Arab partners. We are doing it to protect the civilian population from the murderous madness of a regime that in killing its own people has lost all legitimacy.”
— Nicolas Sarkozy (protect? Did he really say protect as we bomb Libya into the stone age?)

You all (Cameron, Obama and Sarkozy) look kinda silly and hence when politicians look silly they do dangerous things. Hence the total lies being bred about the situation in Libya…

Will NATO keep up this senseless killing and bombing?

Windows to Russia!

Ukraine is Blocking Windows to Russia on a Permanent Basis – (Tuesday, August 16, 2011)


Update (7pm, 8-16-2011): I am working on this issue and there will be a complete updated article to explain what is happening. My grandma use to say, “Sometimes you have to be that damn squeaky wheel to get the oil!”

Does anyone realize the implications of what Ukraine is doing?
Does anyone care?
Will it only become an issue when more sites are blocked?

Ukraine has permanently blocked Windows to Russia! At least that is how I see it. You should be worried and care…

This is how it starts. Block a few and if the masses could care less then block some more. Once it becomes habit to block sites and everyone starts to worry, it is too late at that point…

The picture is proof of the pudding and it has been this way now for over a week. I got it released before, but this time no one admits that it is blocked…

The image is of a website that checks your site and its up time. Ukraine has totally blocked http://windowstorussia.com and really it is hard to understand why? 99% of my articles about Ukraine are very pro Ukraine. I have always been a supporter of Ukraine and promote betterment for Ukraine. Back when I had a few articles that downed Ukraine, that was a different era and a much different president…

I miss out on the headcount that is being blocked and Ukraine before the blockage had reached number 4 of the countries as a reader on Windows to Russia. I had a huge following and now they are being censored from Windows to Russia! Anyone around the world who knows people in Ukraine. Tell them to try to reach Windows to Russia! They won’t make it. Then tell them to use a proxy. They will get the site then…

I know what is happening and I am going to be patient for the time being. Ukraine needs to unblock Windows to Russia. I am going to exploit all options that I have available to counter this atrocity. But with Britain talking about blocking Twitter and Facebook for security reasons. It looks like Europe as well as America will be following suit with Ukraine and blocking sites that do not fit their agendas…

That means your site and your sites that you read will be blocked if they express views that do not coincide with the Status Quo. There will not be much left to read after that, except government controlled media…

I have heard for years about the terrible government of China and that she blocks sites that do not conform. Looks like Ukraine blocks sites also…

Stay tuned, I am being nice right now and writing letters to all the hosts involved with blocking. ABCname – GiperHost – ITQua – HostLife – ITL – Hvosting – Qlayer.net are the ones that have shown time and time again as the blocked areas. It is time for explanations as to why Windows to Russia is blocked in Ukraine. Would not hurt my feelings at all if a reader decided to inquire also why Windows to Russia is blocked in Ukraine. You can disagree with things I say. But you should dislike your freedoms being destroyed much more than a dislike for me…

Time to wake up and smell the coffee…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

PS: As we approach the truths so shall the implications against you be increase to try to squelch truth. For no one squelches lies, but we can see through them with time…

Conversational English and a Cup of Coffee…


This is definitely a better day than I had yesterday. The coffee is really good and makes writing this article a joy. So lets jot down some of what I am thinking this morning with a great cup of coffee…

Boza and I took a long walk this morning. We passed by a group of guys playing chess under the trees in the shade. There was about 9 of them all together. As Boza and I passed I heard the term Americana or something similar like that. I stopped and looked over at them and they were all looking at me…

The first thing that went through my mind was, “Oh Oh” and even though I was the opposite direction from my rage explosion a couple of days ago. It crossed my mind that I might be in trouble. Then they all smiled and waved me over. Boza and I walked near and one of them asked in his best English, “Are you American?” After an affirmative from me they all got excited and proceeded to tell each other, “See I told you so – type talking’s!”…

(I am amazed at how many people know that I am American and they have never seen me before. They just have heard that I live here somewhere. They most likely heard me talking to Boza and put two and two together. Boza is a bilingual dog who is fluent in both English and Russian…)

Now as on the train and many other places that I find Russians or Ukrainians for that fact, that want to communicate. They want to talk in English. It is strange because they always want to know if their English is any good and can I understand them as they talk to me. As the conversation progresses their English becomes better and better. This is due to the fact that almost everyone in Russia has many years of English taught to them in grade-school era and up. They have all the basics of English but have never used it…

So I find that Russians leap at the chance to show that they can speak English and in this instance I had nine guys who tried to out do the others with their English skills. Out of the nine, three spoke very good English, four spoke some and two literally none. This is a common ratio and hold true in most cases. I hate to be mean to Russians but I find Ukrainians have a better understanding of English than Russians…

The conversation centered around, What am I doing in a place like this?  to, Do I play chess? One of the biggest questions that is asked to me over the years is about guns. Do Americans really all own guns? Are Americans gun crazy? 🙂 I always say, “No not everyone owns guns but the ones that do have enough guns and ammo for everyone to have a gun if it is needed. So you don’t want to invade America” The response is always something like, “wow!” and a shake of the head. Then this time they asked me did I own guns and always truthful as the best policy. I responded yes and at one time I had 76 weapons…

Now if that isn’t a conversation stirrer nothing is…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

OMG – Libya Fired a Scud Missile at the Scuds…


Gaddafi forces ‘fire scud missile’ : has been repeated a hundred times today. You would think that he had fired a missile of demon possession and the chances are that the world will die from its explosion. I guess that all the Scud missiles that have struck Israel by Saddam are still in memory of the human race. Looks like now we need to put a missile shield up to protect the world from Libyan Scuds… (They say that there are 100 to 200 Scuds with a range up too 800km in Libya!)

I guess this is a good excuse to increase the killing of Libyans by NATO and or start a ground war by NATO…

We will see and oh, it looks like another guy defected from Libya to save his skin. That is the idea of what NATO is doing. Bomb the hell out of everything and force the people to turn on Gaddafi. As you can tell he was so hated by his people that they turned on him in a few days… (around 6 months and counting)

They say the rebels are advancing. Well I guess so with all the missiles that we have tossed at Libya and billions of dollars spent, someone better be getting the advantage.

I keep saying that payback is hell…

Windows to Russia!

 

 

There are Limits…


I tolerate a lot in the world and being in a country not of my origin keeps me more tolerant than in my past. Yesterday though something happened that exceeded my limitations and I saw red for the first time in Russia. Seeing red is the ultimate stage of being pissed off for me and that is detrimental to any situation…

Sveat and I were walking to the market. It was a beautiful day and we needed to stock up on veggies and fruits. This time of the year produce is cheap and plentiful. So we were just strolling along minding our own business when something caught the corner of my eye in the bushes and trees off to our left. A man had knock a woman to the ground by slugging her and then proceeded to kick her across the head…

This was a common sight back in America in the inner cities, but this was the first time I had come across it in Russia. Needless to say I was raised that you never hit a woman no matter what the circumstances. I realized that this was a carbon copy of what I was use to in America. It was either a pimp beating down one of his girls or a drug dealer beating down one of his clients…

I am very tolerant of things in life but when I watched this man kick this woman across the head and she was screaming bloody murder. About a hundred deep set memories from a time past exploded. All I saw was one of my men kicking to death a human that simply was just that, a human that deserved better in life…

Time stopped and I transversed the space between us and them and when time restarted, I exploded in a rage. I have not expressed rage in a long time. I know four men right now, that wish that they had never met me. They were sick disgusting individuals that reminded me of so many back home. Just lost, worthless burned out souls, that have no morals in life…

I realized after it was over, that inside of me is a bottled up person that keeps the past hidden from view. I have seen so many innocent people abused by other people who look down upon them. Then I wonder what has happened to humans. We are suppose to be getting better but it seems that all in all, we just stay the same…

I looked through an old photo albums that I have and found a few pictures of my past…

I shake my head in dismantlement at the fact that we have not progressed at all in my life time. In fact it seems that we are getting worse. I found a picture of me standing next to a Lance Missile. A nuclear tipped missile and a tear came to my eye with he realization of what I was at one time. I thank God that I decimated that past by coming to Russia…

So today I struggle with my inner demons…

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell… (Buddha)

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!