Russia and Her Traumatic Pistols!


The Traumatic Pistol...

I came upon an article today that opened my eyes to a weapon that would seem like a toy (by American standards) but has killed several times here lately. This is a weapon that anyone 18 or older can buy and posses.

MOSCOW, March 19 (Itar-Tass) — A policeman, who was shooting from a traumatic pistol in the Moscow metro on Thursday evening, protected himself from an attack and shot for self-defence, the press centre of the Russian Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass on Friday.

I read the article and at first thought that they translated the words traumatic pistol in correctly, so I went looking for what it really should be called. I was thinking pneumatic pistol as in BB Gun. I found out that this is a real type of pistol and here is a little bit about what one is:

This particular pistol is called “Leader” and is a non-barreled pistol of a traumatic action, which is destined for use as a civilian self-defence weapon and allows shooting with the cartridges of the caliber 10х32Т equipped with rubber bullets.

This pistol is developed on the basis of the famous pistol of Tokarev’s system “ТТ” patterned by those of the years 1930 and 1933. “Leader” is a self-loading pistol. The automatic reloading of the pistol is done due to the stock kick.

The automatic cycle includes:
– extracting and ejecting the used case;
– cocking the firing mechanism;
– chambering the next cartridge.

I was intrigued by non-barreled and what the traumatic cartridge is about. This weapon looks and feels like the real thing. I have seen them and held them before. I had a typical, just a air gun (BB gun) attitude. Boy was I wrong! This is what I found on the cartridge:

Abstract:The invention relates to cartridges for a portable barrelless weapon for self-defence. Said weapon can be used by civil persons for self-defence by shooting with traumatic elements. The inventive cartridge comprises a cartridge case, a powder charge, an ignition element embodied in the form of an electrical ignition fuse and a gas generator pressed into the cartridge case, in addition to a traumatic element embodied in the form of a rubber bullet provided with a metallic core which prevents the extraction of the bullet. The bullet is rolled inside the body of the gas generator. The electrical ignition fuse and the gas generator can be embodied in the form of a single part or be embodied separately. The cartridge case can be made of a high resistant aluminium alloy or reinforced plastic material. The inventive traumatic element for a barrelless weapon is made of a flexible metal and embodied in the form of a bullet provided with a metallic core which prevents the extraction of the bullet. The bullet consists of two parts, i.e. the head part and the tail part connected to each other with the aid of a strap. The tail part of the bullet has an external diameter which is less than the diameter of the head part. The bullet can be made of rubber. The invention excludes the possibility of bad wounding by the cartridge and the bullet at a distance equal to or greater than 1 meter and ensures a stopping effect at a distance equal to or less than 10 meters.

That answers all my questions so I examined several articles of incidents in Russia that involve this type of gun. This gun seems tame in comparison to normal weapons that use gunpowder to expel the projectile, but it seems that they are not so tame…

Several cases have taken place in Russia recently, when traumatic pistols were used for settling scores in the road conflicts and household quarrels. Several incidents that took place on this New Years Eve. One when a policeman was injured from a traumatic pistol and two a snowplough operator was injured by a traumatic pistol. The snowplough operator died of bleeding to death, was very highly publicised.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has expressed discontent at the situation with traumatic guns, which are actually sold without any control. “No one knows what happens with this pistol in the future, where it is used and with what consequences. It is sold to everybody – to people, who have previous convictions and who are already brought to criminal responsibility, and to people, who have mental disorders,” the president elaborated.

Medvedev demanded from Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev to draft new tougher regulations to handle the traumatic guns. “Other types of weapons are subject to special regulation, and this dangerous type of weapons, which often cause injuries and death, is insufficiently regulated in our country,” Medvedev stressed. “It is necessary to put the situation in order, work out proposals and report to me within ten days,” the president ordered.

According to the Interior Ministry’s statistics, about 1,500 crimes with the use of traumatic guns have been committed for the last five years. More than 60 people were killed, and other 600 people were injured in these crimes.

These pistols seem to have an ability to kill…
Windows to Russia!

In Russia: Old Man Winter Extended His Lease on March!



Spring has been trying to move in, but Old Man Winter has decided to extend his lease on March and looks like he will stay for a few weeks more.
It is snowing to “beat the band” right now and looks like snow for the next two or three days. You can see Boza and his fur is being blown by a wind that is bitter cold. (I am sure he is thinking that we are crazy for being out in this stuff.) If you expand the picture with Boza in it by clicking on it, you will see a mother and her kid in the background. They are going to play no matter what the weather is. 🙂 I just wish that my cellphone camera would do justice for how hard it is really snowing. Lets put it this way, my eyes are stinging from snow hitting them.
So it is March 19th and we do not fly kites here in Moscow! We put on the fur coats and get our business done…
Windows to Russia!

World War Two Artillery Shells Found In Moscow By Steam / Water Pipe Workers!


MOSCOW, March 17 (Itar-Tass) — A total of 260 World War II artillery shells have been unearthed in Moscow’s Marshal Zhukov avenue on Wednesday, the officer on duty at the Moscow police force public relations department, Anatoly Lastovetsky, told Itar-Tass.

“The work on the site of the incident is in progress. The area has been fenced off by police. Experts say that up to 1,500 shells are underground at this particular place.”

This is direct from the news source and they say that they find about 200 to 300 shells year but it has been a long time since they have found a cache this large. Everyone has been evacuated and it seems that the shells were found while a work crew was digging and working on water lines…
Makes you wonder what all is buried in a city as old as Moscow?
Windows to Russia!

Three Times You Are Out of Here!


The first warning was given awhile back and now the second issuance of that warning has been given! For Russia’s President Medvedev that will be the last warning he gives…

If you follow this blog, then you know that I have stated from the beginning of Medvedev’s term that he is a nice guy but heed what he says!

What are we talking about? That is a good question and the answer is: Medvedev gives orders of things to be done to members of the government and heads of regions. He is not giving orders just to hear himself talk out loud. He is giving orders as the president of Russia and he means it…

So when these officials get back to his questions he gets a variety of answers that really amount to a bunch of lazy worthless officials!

Medvedev made a statement during a huge video conference that included these officials from all over Russia and Medvedev said that the reports that government and organizations send to him are “Not always substantial.” Plus he is quoted as saying, “Quite often they simply give runarounds.” Then he said, “In order to meet the deadlines, our dear colleagues report that such and such has been done. However, in reality – when a case is examined – it reveals that nothing was done.”

Medvedev has made it clear that the third time is the charm…

Windows to Russia!

Does the world really need leaders like Sassy? (Saakashvili)


We already talked about the fact a few days ago, that Georgia got itself in the headlines again by pulling a doozy of a political stunt by pro-government Imedi TV, that will probably cause repercussions that will haunt Georgia for quite awhile.

That political stunt is starting to roll over Georgia like a snowball rolling down a mountain and it is getting bigger all the time. There now has come out into the public eye, several recorded phone conversations between various upper level people including the Georgian president himself…
A good reader sent me a link to this article about how Britain was involved in the fiasco and Britain never asked to be a star of this lie!

First BBC News: “I wish to make clear that neither I, nor the UK government had any involvement in or foreknowledge of an irresponsible programme that unnecessarily caused deep concern amongst the Georgian public,” Mr Keefe said.

“I consider Imedi TV’s misuse of this footage to be a discourtesy to me as ambassador of the United Kingdom in Georgia, reflecting badly on Georgia’s reputation for responsible and independent media.”

He urged the station to “make clear as soon as possible, on air… that this footage was not genuine and that it was used without my consent or knowledge”.

Then this article – the EU: After a scandalous “special report” of Imedi about the alleged “Russian invasion” and subsequent real panic all over the country, the EUMM decided to reinforce control at the borders.

Then this article – the scandal over the program shown on Imedi TV is gathering pace. Media found out a recorded telephone conversation featuring a person whose voice sounds like Georgy Arveladze, the TV company’s director general confirming that the idea to simulate invasion of the Russian troops was coordinated with president of Georgia.

There are numerous reports on the media now and that snowball is getting bigger so this far from over and looks as though it has slapped Sassy (Saakashvili) in the face, but Sassy does not care because all he wants is to create trouble, even if his people suffer from that trouble…
Does the world really need leaders like Sassy?
Windows to Russia!

Black Bread is : Oh So Good!


Black Bread in Russia is fantastic and the way that I make it is really easy. This recipe is not by any means as authentic as a Russian would make it but it is a good black bread. Once again Russia probably has more recipes for black bread than people living there…

Lets make some black bread the nearest way to Russian that I can. This is a recipe that I made up in chef school and the coffee grounds impart a unique flavor enhancement…

This will make one loaf of bread…

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water (around 110 degrees F.)
1/2 cup dark corn syrup (Light will work but color of bread changes slightly)
4 to 5 cups rye flour (dark unless no other choice)
At least a half (.5) ounce active dry yeast
2 teaspoon non heaping instant coffee granules. (For color and flavor)
2 teaspoons salt (I add a pinch more to the recipe, then toss a pinch over my shoulder for good luck)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, put the warm water and corn syrup, and coffee, mix with spoon until combined…

Add the yeast to mixture and do not mix just yet, let stand until foamy, about 6 to 7 minutes…

Add 3 cups of the rye flour to the yeast mixture, and spoon mix until smooth. Stir in the salt…

Set the bowl covered with a cloth in a warm place. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes…

At this point you mix in more flour half a cup at a time…

When the dough is starting to get slightly stiff. Take the dough out of the bowl and lay on a floured surface and knead in more flour by hand as needed to form a really stiff dough and starting to be non sticky. (I like to knead the dough until it tries to stick to my hand but leaves no residue.)

This process will use a varied amount of flour…

Form dough into a ball, I make sure that the ball is non sticky on the outside by rolling it in the flour that is on the counter surface. (Not kneaded in but on the surface so non sticky.)

Then Lightly grease a large mixing bowl – the same as the one you just used is fine…

Place the dough in the greased bowl, and cover with a towel. Place in a warm place to rise, as long as 2 hours. (The dough should at least double in size.)

Once again put the dough onto a floured surface, and knead out the built up bubbles…

Then roll dough into a loaf shape, and place into a greased 8.5 X 5.5 inch loaf pan…

Cover the pan with a cloth, and let rise for the third and last time in a warm place until doubled in size. (This takes about 1 to two hours.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F…

Then remove cloth and bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven. On center rack or where you know best to bake in your oven…

A fully baked loaf of bread will have an internal temperature of about 200F, so just insert a thermometer into the center of the loaf and check the temp. If not quite there bake a few more minutes…

This bread will not brown very much because it is brown! 🙂

Yummy with real butter…

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Inside is What Counts!


When I was 6 years old my grandpa who loved bananas, explained to me about bananas. It was something like this:

Grandpa looked at bananas three different ways.
First is when they are green. You know in your mind what a banana tastes like and you always try to eat them a little bit green. They just are not good green and grandpa said they were actually bad for you at this stage. 🙁
Second is when they are yellow all over, look perfect and taste great. This is the way most people like them. Grandpa said that they still were not good for you at this stage.
Third is when the skin has turned almost black and they are unbelievably sweet and delicious!
Grandpa was the third type of guy. That banana was no good until the skin was black and the banana was ripe.
He explained that a banana was not correct to eat until it had properly ripened and to eat it before that point was a crime. 🙂
Grandpa said that bananas were like people and you have to look below the surface.
I took his word on all this and sat on his lap many years eating those black bananas. I was always amazed when he would peel the banana and it was virtually perfect inside. (maybe a few brown spots) He would give me half and he took half. Those were bananas that made life…
It was not until later in my life that I realized that most people around me could not muster up the courage to eat a banana that was very ripe. They just turned their head and went yuck!
They never knew that a banana could be so wonderful and sweet! Oh they knew that bananas were good and that they loved bananas, but they never could get past the over ripe look and outward appearance.
Seems that is a common state of affairs in the world. If it does meet the social, physical and political standards then it is bad. So bad that we can not attempt to try it…
Why have I brought this up? That is a good question and you betcha that it has to do with Russia!
Russia has been painted to have that same brown and black skin that a overripe banana has. The Western press has successfully made sure that you have an altered view of Russia that might as well be a black banana sitting on the table.
Now a ripe banana has good uses and one of them is banana bread or muffins. But this is just par with Russia because all that does is put a facade on a delicious ripe banana so that you will eat it.
No one in the West is going to enjoy the banana at its best, except a handful of people that are capable of seeing below the surface…
I am glad that I am one of those people!
Windows to Russia

Russia is Ahead in Medal Counts at the 2010 Paralympics!


This widget will update as the medal counts changes…

Paralympic Games 2010:

When I was in the states years ago, I became a big sponsor of the Paralympics and also of the Special Olympics. I have had the pleasure to cook, organize and feed multiples of thousands of these Olympic contestants in my time. One of the most memorial times for me was the paralympics after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia. Right Now the Paralympics is going on in Vancouver Canada…

The Paralympic Games are held every four years, following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Paralympic Games are sometimes confused with the Special Olympics World Games, which are only for people with intellectual disabilities. (Link)

I have always been impressed by the organizations but have always been dismayed by the lack of public attention that everyone gives to these two wonderful programs for disabled people.

I was shocked as I turned my attention to the Paralympics and saw that Russia has excelled in the medal counts so far…
Go Russia!
Windows to Russia!
PS: (Look at Ukraine also!)

Russia: Village Or Towns?


Hello,

This is some Videos of what the Villages and Towns in Russia look like from the main Highways! This was taken on one of our trips to Northern Russia and we were in our old model 2410 Volga!



Towns will extend along ways on the length of a road, but not go very far from the road. Villages many times will be located several km from the paved roads on dirt trails. (this is my observation and I am sure Russians look at it differently)

Some towns have paved roads, where I have yet to see a village with paved roads. I get very confused what is a town and what is a village. (My Wife Knows)

Now you have seen a little more about Russia!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia, They Shop Till They Drop!



Hello, (repost)

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and was thinking about Russians and Shopping!

Last night my Wife and I went to the local Walmart type store in Moscow. Ашан: pronounced Auchong, for Americans.

My wife took pictures with her new camera that we just bought her. (no one is safe any more) They are good pictures. It shows how Moscow, Russia people look. It shows the typical cigarette ads that are everywhere. It shows the volume of people that you find everywhere. It shows the two of the most favorite eating out places. It also shows the largest retail dealer in Russia.

That mass of humanity extends all the way to the back of the store. I know because we just left there.

Now I will not say we, because my Wife is petite in structure and she is Russian! So, she evades the attacking Babushkas with no problem. Not me, I am a big bear and ill trained at cart fighting. I was hit by no less than 100 shopping carts, I was pushed out of the way by the same 100 Babushkas. I also, made the mistake of venturing off alone and was trapped for 10 minutes by a wall of carts and Ladies speeding faster than a Nascar race on the street outside. I was not safe and I did not have my Wife to protect me. :))

I did an article months ago. Link: Babushkas!

A shopping trip to Aшан, is an experience you will never forget. I know that it is my favorite store and have fun when we go, beside I always get to eat at McDonald’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken, inside the mall. Yummy!

Kyle

comments always welcome.