Windows to Russia

Russia to decide on purchase of French warship by October:
Technical discussions between Russia and France on buying a Mistral class amphibious assault ship should be completed soon, with a decision on the purchase to follow from Moscow.

Georgia outraged by Abkhazia joining world business organization:
A Georgian opposition MP threatened Abkhazia with sanctions on Monday following the former Georgian republic’s move to join the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Russian PM Putin to visit France in November:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin intends to visit France in November, he said at a meeting with his French counterpart Francois Fillon on Monday.

Russia, Venezuela to invest $20 billion in Junin 6 oil field:
Venezuela and a consortium of Russian oil companies intend to invest $20 billion into the development of the Junin 6 oil deposit in the Orinoco River Basin.

Russian economy still needs modernization:
Russia must continue work to modernize the economy, despite the current need to channel resources into anti-crisis and pension programs, a deputy premier said on Monday.

Medvedev says global dominance is illusion, welcomes criticism:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that the idea of global dominance must be abandoned in world politics, and more intelligent policies adopted.

Russia Gives Up Mass Army:
Leading Russian military expert Vitaly Shlykov spoke during one of the sessions of the Valdai Discussion Club last week about the sweeping reform of the country’s armed forces, which begins in December and will cut the number of tanks from 20,000 to 2,000 and reduce the number or reservists to just 100,000. The reform, which Shlykov described as nothing short of a revolution, will significantly affect the Kremlin’s approach to the composition of and future cuts to the country’s military arsenal.

India keen to expand nuclear cooperation with Russia:
India is ready to cooperate with Russia not only on completing the Kudankulam nuclear power plant but on the construction of a new station, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Monday.

North Korean leader sends birthday greetings to Russia’s Medvedev:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il congratulated Russian President Dmitry on his 44th birthday on Monday, Pyongyang’s official news agency said.

Hello,

I walk the dog everyday 3 to 4 times because the dog needs it and I need it for my heart. If you read our blog, then you know that I like to post pictures of my walks with the dog (Boza). So today is no different and I thought that I would show you what I see on a 45 minute walk with the dog…

Above – That is a picture on the side of a utility building. That is a standard Russian washing machine. That is a cool picture and I just wish that kids would not write other things on top of such fantastic paintings….

Above – That is a huge section of Flats and is just about half of the part we live in…

Above – A sidewalk near our Flat…

Above – Just a road leading to our Flat…

Above – This is the woods that we walk in and is part of a huge Hospital…

Above – More boring sidewalk that Boza and I walk on…

Above – All kinds of shops and businesses line the bottom floor of our buildings with the Flats…

Above – Playgrounds everywhere in Moscow…

Above – This is the playground outside our Flat. Like I said playgrounds everywhere…

Above – To the left is our front door and the handicap ramp. All new buildings have this type of ramp now…

That is all for today and hope everyone has a wonderful week…

Kyle and Svet
Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The Western press have gone bananas over a statement that Putin made at the Valdai Discussion Club. I would expect the Russian press to do this but I really expect the main Western press to use reliable sources and not scrounge in the dirt for things…

So here I printed the real story…

MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he and President Dmitry Medvedev would come to an agreement before the 2012 presidential polls and would not compete with each other.

“There will be no competition. We will reach an agreement because we are of the same blood and of the same political outlook,” Putin said, answering a question from Nikolai Zlobin, a member of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Medvedev, Putin’s hand-picked successor, was inaugurated in May 2008, and the former president became prime minister a day later, with the pair pledging to run the country in “tandem.”

Medvedev later proposed introducing Constitutional amendments to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms to six and five years, respectively. He signed them into law last December, after they were approved by the lower and upper houses of parliament.

“Putin said he felt comfortable with the amount of power he has as prime minister. He is in no competition with President Medvedev,” Zlobin said.

Good grief you would think that the world came to an end and Russia just exploded with all the turmoil that Putin has just caused by say a few words of truth…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The EU can prove more useful in cooperation with Russia:
Alexandre Adler, a well-known French historian and columnist at Le Figaro and France Culture, for the first time participates in the Valdai Club Summit and shares his thoughts on the topics discussed this year.

Putin ‘optimistic’ about Obama relations:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a favorable impression of U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration, a leading U.S. academic said Friday.

Russia switching vector of interest to Asia:
The vector of Russian interest is switching from Europe and the United States to Asia, a Canadian analyst said after a meeting with the Russian premier on Friday.

What the Russian papers say:
MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) Medvedev rallies public support to change Putin’s development model / Venezuela’s Chavez recognizes Abkhazia, S.Ossetia / Moscow may help Washington deal with global challenges / New Opel owners to coordinate their plans with GM.

Russian Church commemorates Beheading of John the Baptist:
Russia is commemorating on Friday the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church held a liturgy in the cathedral in the Volga city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Kanaeva wins fifth gold medal at gymnastic world championships:
Russia’s Evgeniya Kanaeva won her fifth gold medal in the individual all-around event at the rhythmic gymnastic world championships in Japan on Friday.

Russia to call tender for foreign helicopter carrier:
Russia plans to hold an international tender for the purchase of a helicopter carrier, involving France, Spain and the Netherlands, the country’s Navy chief said on Friday.

Putin to reach agreement with Medvedev ahead of 2012 presidential polls:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he and President Dmitry Medvedev would come to an agreement before the 2012 presidential polls and would not compete with each other.

Putin offers condolences on anniversary of September 11 attacks:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin conveyed a message of condolences on Friday to the United States on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“Initially, GM had serious reservations about Magna’s offer and seemed to favor a rival bid by the Belgian-based investor, RHJ International. One GM official said RHJ’s offer was “simple and elegant.” In particular, GM was uncomfortable with a Russian company getting its hands on Opel’s technical expertise and patents!“

I have followed this story from the beginning and have posted these articles on the subject:

http://kylekeeton.com/2009/05/opel-is-officially-sold-to-russia-and.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2009/08/is-gm-dragging-feet-because-russia-is.html

I waited to print this article even though it was splashed all over the Eastern Press. I am learning that many people can not accept any press but the Western press. (Sad but true!)

So finally the end is in sight for this transaction between GM and Magna – Sberbank! Germany had to push way too hard for this deal to happen and it just proved to Germany that the American Government could care less what is best for Germany! This had nothing to do with what is best for America or GM it was a anti-Russian situation plain and simple. 

GM retains a 35% holding in the Opel company and hopefully that will become 0% in a few years…

On Thursday, GM said the Magna-Sberbank group would acquire 55% of Opel. Employees will hold 10% of the German automaker, leaving GM with a 35% stake. (Link)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Lets have some facts about the World Trade Center reconstruction:

1. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, with the ruins of the World Trade Center still smoldering, political leaders from New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to President George W. Bush vowed to quickly rebuild the site, bigger and better than before.

2. Eight years later, the site known as Ground Zero remains mostly a giant hole in the ground. (How Come?)

3. A projected completion date has been pushed back years, if not decades. The project has been beset by repeated delays, changing designs, billions of dollars in cost overruns, and feuding among the various parties involved in the complex undertaking.

4. A 2005 design called for a spiraling glass skyscraper, named Freedom Tower, that would rise a symbolic 1,776 feet in the air. But after the design was unveiled, the New York Police Department said the new building would be too vulnerable to truck-bomb attacks and sent the architects back to the drawing board. A redesign moved the tower back from the street and placed it atop an impregnable 200-foot steel-and-concrete base.

5. This year, the name was changed to World Trade Center One, out of concern that Freedom Tower would become too tempting a target for terrorism.

6. By some estimates, the entire project involves more than a dozen government agencies and at least 100 construction companies and subcontractors.

7. The projected costs have soared far above the $15 billion budget, construction is years behind schedule, and Larry Silverstein, the developer of three towers, is locked in a dispute over financing with the Port Authority.

8. The ambitious plan now calls for four office towers, including World Trade Center One, with a memorial and two tree-lined reflecting pools standing on the footprints where the old twin towers stood. Cascading waterfalls lead down to a museum, 70 feet below ground level. The plan also includes a massive futuristic-looking transportation hub to rival Grand Central Terminal…. (What is wrong with just a beautiful memorial?)

9. What Ever….. This is a bad sign of the times for America! 8 years and they have a hole in the ground. Even Russia gave a beautiful memorial to America for 911…
http://kylekeeton.com/2009/03/from-russia-memorial-to-9-11-terrorist.html

Sad…

Please remember the dead at this tragic event and do not allow our memories to become like the government bureaucracy that has mired this project into oblivion.

The air waves lit up in Russia today:

Mr Chavez made the announcement during his visit to Russia today. He said that Venezuela will recognise the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia!

That makes Venezuela the third country to support the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, after Russia and Nicargaua.

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russian bombers complete routine Arctic patrol mission:
Two Russian Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers have carried out a routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean.

Russia approves new ISS crew:
A special commission has announced the composition of the main and backup crews for the next mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Russian labor chief plays down mass redundancy fears:
Russians will not face mass redundancies this fall, with unemployment figures expected to rise only slightly more than the usual seasonal increase, the labor service said on Thursday.

Russian Far East students hold protest over accommodation:
Students in the Russian Far East held a demonstration at their music school on Thursday after they were left without accommodation.

Kazakh, Azeri, Turkmen and Russian leaders to meet Sat:
The leaders of Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan and Tukmenistan will discuss regional security at a meeting set for September 12 in the Kazakh Caspian coast town of Aktau, the Russian presidential aide said on Thursday.

Venezuela’s Chavez to meet Russian president, PM in Moscow:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is set to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday and Friday in Moscow.

Maltese investigators expected on board Arctic Sea soon:
Maltese investigators are expected on board the Arctic Sea cargo vessel as part of the ongoing probe into the disappearance and seizure of the ship, Russia’s foreign ministry said.

PACE rejects proposal to deprive Russia of voting rights:
PACE’s monitoring committee failed to back a Georgian proposal to deprive Russia of the right to vote at the September session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a senior legislator said.

City of London and Moscow mayors hold talks:
The Lord Mayor of the City of London Ian Luder met with his Moscow counterpart Yury Luzhkov in Russia to discuss the economic situation and how the recession has affected the capital, RIA Novosti reported.

In 2007 Alexander Ponosov was fined 5,000 rubles — about $200, or half his monthly wage — last year when a local court found him guilty of installing unlicensed Microsoft Windows and Office software on computers used by students at his school. The local courts were being manipulated by hungry prosecutors to prove that Russia is serious about catching Pirates of software!

Alexander Ponosov says the software was installed on the computers when they were purchased by the school & delivered by a subcontractor. He did not know that the licenses were faked. (Link to Article)

So Finally Today:

Teacher Wins $8,000 in Pirated Windows Lawsuit
09 September 2009
The Moscow Times

A Perm court on Wednesday ordered the government to pay 250,000 rubles ($8,000) in damages to a village schoolteacher for falsely accusing him of using pirated Windows software. Interfax reported.

Alexander Ponosov, who was the school’s principal at the time of his arrest, was convicted in 2007 and fined 5,000 rubles, or half of his monthly salary. Prosecutors said he had caused 266,000 rubles in damages to Microsoft.

Ponosov maintained his innocence in two years of subsequent appeals, saying the software had been installed on the computers when they were delivered by a subcontractor and that he had not known that it was pirated.

Ponosov had sought 300,000 rubles in damages, and the Vereshchaginky District Court initially agreed to award 75,000 rubles. It raised the amount to 250,000 rubles on Wednesday.

This is fantastic. I have followed this case from the beginning and this man (Alexander Ponosov) has refused to give up. That is the way it should be when you are right and the system is wrong…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The Arctic Sea Freighter was hijacked in the Baltic Sea in late July after leaving a Finnish port. Russian naval vessels intercepted the ship weeks later off Cape Verde, thousands of kilometers from the Algerian port where it was supposed to deliver a load of timber. (It really did have timber on it.)

I have kept quiet about this because I have watched what Russia has been saying about the situation. I have also watched the Western press analyze what was on that freighter. I have seen so far: lumber, illegal music CD’s, illegal DVD’s, drugs, small arm weapons, nuclear weapons, anti aircraft weapons and the favorite word is clandestine cargo! That is a big word that many people have never used. (Why not just say secret cargo?)

Now on top of all things that have been mentioned, the Western press says it is possible that S-300 surface-to-air missiles destined for Iran or Syria were on the freighter. (We no longer have clandestine cargo but overt cargo…)

But Lavrov said “the presence of S-300s on board the Arctic Sea cargo ship is a complete lie,” RIA-Novosti reported.

I believe him: The Arctic Sea Freighter did not have anything but lumber on it and I really do not think that it was carrying anything else. After looking over all the information I would say that the Arctic Sea Freighter was a decoy ship that was used to cover up the real situation and shipping of “what ever” was shipped. Other words: While the Arctic Sea Freighter was being played as a carrier of deadly cargo, the real cargo has been shipped and delivered long ago…

(This tactic is used in American Football all the time and called a fake! The play fake is the most effective way to confuse a defense. It sucks defenders in by making them anticipate a running play, which results in less coverage against your receivers.)

The Western press needed something to play games with and Russia gave it too them – this has been a couple of weeks of good anti Russian propaganda to toss on the airwaves…

What do you think?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.