Windows to Russia

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV:

Colleagues,

First of all, I want to thank this summit’s host, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has received us all today for this informal meeting.

Experience shows that these kinds of informal meetings are extremely useful. They give us the chance to discuss all kinds of issues without being bound by protocol and formalities. This way, we can talk things over openly and sometimes obtain some very good results, make real breakthroughs, and come up with good ideas that we then carry out.

One example is the idea we came up with a year ago to establish an economic support fund, the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund. I think, given the situation, we set it up quite rapidly. The whole ratification process is now complete and the fund has started work. This is the sort of direct result that these kinds of informal meetings produce. We should not forget that the idea of creating the EurAsEC itself arose at one of these informal meetings.

We do not have a set agenda today, although, three of our countries, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, agreed during the meeting in Minsk to meet again at the end of the year in Kazakhstan to discuss our plans for building the common economic area between our countries. This follows on from the recent signing of a separate agreement on creating a common customs zone that will apply in our countries. We are therefore here today to discuss these and other matters of interest to our colleagues.

Indeed, all sorts of things are happening around the world today. I can share with you my impressions from the recent climate summit in Copenhagen. There are results, but they are modest. The working process turned out to be very difficult, unfortunately, but we did finally manage to put together a declaration reflecting the different countries’ views on what we should do to improve the planet’s environment, and what steps we can take to prevent adverse effects of climate change.

There are also other issues of concern that we always examine: the economic situation, the regional problems our countries face, above all challenges such as terrorism, drugs trafficking, and organised crime. We are working actively on countering these threats through the regional organisations in which we take part, on a bilateral basis and in other forms.

This meeting, like our last meeting in Kazakhstan, is part of what has become a good tradition. I am sure that we will be able to exchange views on all different issues today. I think, if our partners have no objection, we will discuss the Single Economic Space, and will look together for answers to the complex problems our countries have faced over this difficult year.

I therefore thank you once again, Mr Nazarbayev, for inviting us here and organising this informal meeting. As a rule, we come away with good results.

Sometimes the world is cruel and inhumane! I have followed this story from the beginning and have been silent about it because I have been thinking! Thinking how cruel the world can be to children and or people – at times. Be it the past or present…

This x-ray of a young boy (2 1/2 years old) in Brazil shows (31) sewing needles that have been stuck in his body. Not just stuck in a little ways but inserted into his lungs, heart, liver, neck all over his body! This was done by his stepfather and a new girlfriend. His stepfather is 30-year-old Roberto Carlos Magalhaes and has been arrested and confessed to putting the needles in the boy’s body at the behest of his lover who said the act would help the two to stay together and enact revenge on his past wife. He also said that over a one month period the needles were put into the child body.

Maybe this is a case of do unto others as they have done to others. How would that stepfather like having needles stuck in his body over a month? (Sorry but things like this just upset me!)

I hope the boy recovers…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: I realize that many things like this happen all the time, but I can not write about them all. There is not enough bandwidth in the world. Sad is it not?

Somewhere around a thousand years ago someone in Russia who liked cold water. Founded the tradition of diving into freezing cold water. This act was to cleanses himself of all his sins.

The idea has stuck over the years, and nowadays people all across Russia gather to plunge into sub-zero waters just for fun? Just watch the video if you do not believe me and be on the look out for the brave reporter in the video…

They call themselves “morzhi”, which means walruses, and say that the practice is good for the health. This tradition is done all over the world and in America we use to do this on New Years day and called our selves polar bears! Of course it was never -20 degrees Centigrade (-4 F.) below zero in Missouri where I lived at that time. 🙂

You going to be ice swimming this year?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: I read that some people seem to think that hot tubs does a better job of cleaning the sins????

In America we have a stuffed egg called “deviled eggs” In Russia they have sorta the same thing. When I first tried these stuffed eggs, I was taken back by the fact that they were cooked again after preparation! Then I found out that they are delicious and when you eat one you will be grabbing another one, real quick…

Now lets remember that Russians also make stuffed eggs like the deviled eggs and there is about one trillion stuffed egg recipes. This recipe is picked to give you a different flare than what you may have encountered before. All I can tell you is that these are really good!

So lets make “Stuffed Eggs”:

Ingredients:
8 to 10 eggs already hard boiled
2 to 3 tbsp fresh parsley and fresh dill chopped into very fine pieces
1/2 cup real cream
1/2 cup white or yellow cheese grated to a very fine texture
3 tbsp real butter (margarine for Americans)
mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
salt (to taste)
fresh parsley not chopped but destemmed

Lets Cook:
Cut eggs in half.
Take yolks out. (put yolks in a bowl)
Thoroughly mix yolks with butter, chopped parsley and dill, salt and fresh cream in the bowl.
Put the filling back into the halves.
Put two halves together to make a whole egg again. (You can leave them apart if you so desire)
Then put eggs in a baking dish.
Sprinkle with grated cheese. (I butter the sides of the baking dish before putting the eggs in)
Bake in the oven at 300 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes.
Before serving pour mayonnaise over top of the eggs and decorate with parsley.

Yummy Lets Eat……..

Notes – I let cool 10 minutes before putting the Mayo on top that way it does not melt and run off… In America Miracle Whip could be substituted but remember that is not real Mayo and the taste will change!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

When I find a good Russian UFO story – I post it. I found this video on You Tube that is pretty cool. Just watch it. At first you will say that is just a reflection but then you keep watching and find out that it is not…

The rumor is that this is what caused the super cold that we have been going through because the cold happened at the same time. 🙂

The rumor is also that this same object has just appeared above Moscow today in broad daylight! According to rumors this is like the 4th or 5th appearance since the 9th of December?

Anyone have more information on this strange occurrence?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: Picture from daylight spotting!

Russian cities are cold, even colder than usual:
The last time Russia saw exceptionally low temperatures was in the winter of 1997. It dropped as low as 28 degrees below zero Celsius in the early hours of December 15 and 16. Similar temperatures were recorded last week.

Russia approves construction of its leg of Nord Stream:
Russia’s environmental regulator approved on Friday the construction of its leg of the Nord Stream gas pipeline to be built in the country’s Baltic Sea waters, the project operator said.

What the Russian papers say:
NATO chief rejects Russia’s idea of European security treaty/ Russia to benefit from global warming/ Russia to limit foreign weapons and components purchases/ Russia revisits its largest Soviet-era nuclear missile program.

Russia to launch ESPO pipeline in last week of December:
The first tanker with 100,000 metric tons of oil will arrive at a Russian Far East port in the last week of December, symbolizing the launch of a major new pipeline, the pipeline operator said on Friday.

Iran to launch new-generation uranium centrifuges in 2011:
Iran plans to start using a new generation of uranium-enrichment centrifuges by March 2011, the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Friday.

Daimler in talks to buy another 6% in Kamaz truck maker:
Auto giant Daimler AG is in talks with KamAZ to purchase another 5-6% stake in Russia’s largest truck maker, a Russian shareholder said on Friday.

Sapsan, Russia’s fastest train:
Sapsan, Russia’s first train capable of traveling at a speed of 250 kmph (155 mph), made its first commercial run between Russia’s two largest cities in a record time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Russia sets the terms for coming in from the cold:
The latest buzzword in Moscow is modernization. Everyone in Russia’s chattering classes is using it, from President Dmitry Medvedev to assorted economists, commentators, bankers and businesspeople.

All week long I have heard nothing but how wonderful the relationship is between NATO and Russia. I have heard major press releases about the helicopters and shipping weapons through Russia. I have heard about how Russia is warming up to NATO…

Then it all fell apart:

Nato fails on Russian Afghan aid: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been unsuccessful to benefit from any joining with Russia and assistance to win the fight opposite the Taliban insurgency.

On Wednesday Mr Rasmussen asked Moscow to yield helicopters to Afghanistan and additionally requested Russian assistance in training the Afghan air force.

But he told the BBC he had perceived no certain reply from the Kremlin.

And…… what did he expect?

Because what you may not know is that his answer he wanted had conditions that he was put on the spot about:

“NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also said on Thursday the Western military bloc was not prepared to compromise with Russia on Georgia.”

OK – NATO you want help?

Lets not forget: Russia Plays Chess – NATO (America) Plays Checkers!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The realization that main stream media has hoodwinked the American society has sunk into my head over the last few years as being not just a know commodity but a fact! I watch a video like this one that Russia Today has just aired and then I sit and ponder what has become of the America that I knew?

I then, while drinking my cup of coffee realize that America has not changed but I have!

So when I see a man like Bernanke the chairman of the US Federal Reserve and then I see a man like Jorge Munoz who is a school bus driver by day, but by night, Munoz cares for his community and his own personal home has become a kitchen for food prepared non-stop for hungry strangers.

The Munoz’s of the world are the “Real Persons of the Year” and we all know a Munoz somewhere…

I now know that Time Magazine’s Person of the Year award is the biggest farce on earth next to the Nobel Peace Prize that was just given to Obama.

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS:

“When you hand a meal to somebody who didn’t eat in the last eighteen hours and you see their smile, you see God right there,” Munoz says.

“Two years ago, it was sixty guys. Now, some nights I’ve got 150-155 people. I’ve seen people of 18 different nationalities lining up to eat,” Munoz says.

If you have been reading this blog for awhile then you know how much I love videos about Putin. One of my favorites is a video about Putin and “Who Wants to be President?“

This video just posted above touches on all the rumors, facts and fallacies that surround Putin.

“Vova”, commonly known as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, is a superhero according to Ukrainian band Dress Code, who have released a song devoted to the merits of the James Bond-defying, child-saving, universally adored Russian. Banned in Ukraine, the video is causing quite a stir. (Read More)

Thanks to Blackseabrew for putting a copy of this video on Facebook (He beat me to posting this particular video!) and I hope that all of you enjoy watching, Putin (Vova) the Super Hero!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.