Windows to Russia

Hello,

It seems that Australia is upset with Russia. It seems that Russia buys 70% of all exported Kangaroo meat produced by Australia and Russia is citing a sanitation issue that has not been solved by the Australian government. So Russia will stop importation of Kangaroo meat as of August 1st 2009.

It seems that Russia’s ban on kangaroo meat imports will destroy certain rural communities in Australia, and will lead to a possible dangerous rise in kangaroo populations. According to farming lobby groups in Australia.

Australia’s Weekly Times stated on Friday as saying kangaroo harvesting and exporting would become non-functioning without the Russian market.

Did you know that Russians eat Kangaroo?
Did you know that Russia buys 70% of all Kangaroo meat produced by Australia?

We do now!

I have never in three years in Russia have seen Kangaroo meat for sale…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Moscow police hunt killer of manager at Russian defense firm:
Moscow police are conducting a manhunt for the killer of a top manager at one of Russia’s largest defense firms, Almaz-Antei, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Russian monetary base down 0.6% in week to $130 bln:
Russia’s Central Bank said Friday the country’s narrowly defined money supply (M1) was 4 trillion 59.6 million rubles ($130 billion at the current exchange rate) as of July 27, down 0.6% in the week since July 20.

South Ossetia to make territorial claim on Georgian gorge:
South Ossetia intends to demand the return of its former territory, the Truso Gorge, which is currently a part of Georgia, the former Georgian republic’s president said on Friday.

Gazprom posts 40.8% net profit drop in 1H09 under RAS:
Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Friday its net profits calculated under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) decreased 40.8% year-on-year in January-June 2009 to 169 billion rubles ($5.3 billion).

Russia’s Norilsk Nickel posts net profit of $1.7 bln for Q2:
Russia’s Norilsk Nickel announced on Friday a net profit of 52.1 billion rubles ($1.65 billion) according to Russian Accounting Standards for the second quarter of this year.

Ukrainian diplomat expelled from Russia named:
One of the Ukrainian diplomats to be expelled by Russia as part of the tit-for-tat row has been named as Igor Berezkin, a source in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry was cited by the UNIAN news agency as saying on Friday.

Russian energy minister to visit Iraq in early August:
Russia’s energy minister Sergei Shmatko said on Friday he would pay a visit to Iraq in early August to discuss oil and energy cooperation.

Russia’s Nerpa nuclear sub starts sea trials in Far East:
Russia’s Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, damaged in a fatal accident during tests in November last year, started on Friday the second stage of new sea trials, a source involved in the tests said.

Russia dismisses NATO membership suggestions:
Moscow dismissed on Thursday comments by a U.S. administration official suggesting that Russia could become a member of NATO.

This recipe is as easy and simple. The idea for showing this recipe came from a good reader of ours Blackseabrew. He was just in Ukraine and looks to me like he had some of these fantastic pancakes. So since Blackseabrew suggested it, I present – Syrniki or Curd Pancakes!

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup of well drained cottage cheese
1 large egg
2-3 tbs of sugar
1/2 cup flour

Mix:
Put all the ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl. Mix until the consistency is that of a bread dough and even lumpy in appearance. Add a pinch more flour if it seems to be to thin.

Make and Fry:
I use my fingers and dust them with flour. I pinch off a large spoonful size chunk of dough and roll in a ball. On a floured surface I flatten the ball into a flat pancake. Make sure that you flip dough and coat both sides with flour.

In a preheated (medium heat) non stick skillet with a layer of veggy oil in the bottom. Lay the pancakes one at a time into the oil. (Careful do not splash)

Fry until first side is golden brown (or even darker like we like them). Turn the pancake over and fry until the second side is golden brown.

Eat:
Syrniki taste great with sour cream, jam, jelly, preserves, molasses, sorghum, maple syrup and they are great just plain… Yummy!

Notes: They are best made with farmers cheese, goat cheese, Syrniki are many times made with a mixture of pot cheese (similar to cottage cheese but is drained longer and therefore has a slightly drier texture). Hense the need to drain cottage cheese very thoroughly in America.

(singular syrnik; in Russian, сырник[и])

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday I started a series of posts about the Visa trip that I just made to Ukraine. (Part 1) Today we will have Part 2 of that series. Today lets talk about what the first thing that you should do after having something stolen from you in Ukraine.

Being from America and even with my experience in Moscow, Russia. You call the police or as they say here in this part of the world – Militsiya! I reported the incident within 5 minutes of it happening and this started a whole day of total Stupidity! (With a capital S)

I reported it to the Metro Police at the station: That got about as far as give us 1000 hryvnia and we will try to help. (“Try” he said and 1000 hryvnia is way over a hundred dollars) The next was cops on the streets of Ukraine. They were the nicest and directed to a precinct to report such cases. (Never found the precinct though, but the street cops showed real concern and really it was not their jurisdiction.) I then tried the next metro station police and got the – This is not our problem look – Then I went to my hotel and got directions to another precinct – There I got the – get away because we are busy attitude – (I looked around and they were busy alright – eating donuts and cookies – sound familiar to us Americans) Then I called the American Embassy and talked to a nice gentleman about the situation – He directed me to another precinct and said that they can help me. (By the way The American Vice President, Joe Biden was in Ukraine. This caused me huge delays and issues trying to get things done. The Embassy was closed while he was there… ???) – I went to where the American Embassy directed me to the police – You guessed it – Do Not Bother Us, We Are Busy, How About Bribe Money? We Could Try With The Correct Incentive!

Since I am a anti-incentive sort of guy when it comes to my and Svet’s money. I gave up on trying to do the correct thing.

I decided to do it my way! 🙂 I realized that the Ukraine police would and could not solve any issues. I will say with all honesty that they (Ukraine Militsiya) make the Russian Militsiya look fantastic!

I proceeded back to the hotel get some rest and good food – then proceed at 6 am the next morning to tackle the issues one step at a time.

Part 3 is a continuation of what happened next when I go to the American Embassy in Ukraine…

PS: One important fact – When you are pick-pocketed you had something stolen not robbed. Report correctly because they get bent out of shape if reported wrong. Robbed is by weapon and stolen is like theft. (I myself felt robbed, stolen, violated, and insulted)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

I see a lot more upper military starting to step forward and express their opinions on what is happening in America.

Very good video from Russia Today!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

While I was in Ukraine, I had the unfortunate blessing of being in Ukraine at the same time as the U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden. As Biden flapped his mouth with all earnest in Georgia and Ukraine. The Obama administration learned what kind of reject that Biden is or did they?

Seems that any administration that throws their full support behind the two presidents of Ukraine and Georgia has no problem allowing Biden to flap his same mindset jaws and stir up issues in this part of the world. I am starting to understand that the American Administration of the USA has a real lack of abilities to see past a cold war attitude or any attitude for that matter…

Of course Hillary Clinton came out quickly and said “Washington views Russia, as a great country.” Now if Russia had done something wrong in Americas eyes then they would have expressed that dissatisfaction 14,000 times and hour. But when the Vice President makes statements in Ukraine and Georgia against Russia. Causing issues that have negating effects to any and all work that Obama tried to accomplish in Russia. We get one – Hillary expression of wisdom.

Then this is when I realize that the American political system has reached the lowest levels obtainable for a government. (It is called the gutter and sewer)

I want you to realize and think that while Americans are losing their jobs left and right. That while the government is bailing out Wall street at every drop of the dollar.

Our government has just made sure that Georgia is going to be rearmed with more modern weapons to the tune of 1.4 billion and that Ukraine has been given billions (2) in military concessions to help Georgia and election money for the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine.

Since when did the American people become less important than countries like Georgia and Ukraine? Those billions are needed back home to care for the homeless and starving…

On any given night in all of America, anywhere up to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

On any given night in just New York City, an estimated 36,000 American children and adults will sleep in homeless shelters. Untold others sleep in the streets and parks and darkest corners of the American dream.

So lets build the military up in Georgia and Ukraine….

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: Biden just said the truth about real feelings from the Administration. Biden is more trust worthy than the rest at least he tells it like it is. Nothing worse than a politician that smiles and says Hi – when he means “Go to Hell!”

Hey Everyone,

I was drinking that wonderful cup of coffee this morning and really was happy to be back in Moscow, Russia.

Today I am going to start talking about the arrival part of my Ukraine Visa trip. (Part 1) (Part 2)

We are going to start with having our wallet stolen…

I had just traveled all night on a train from Moscow to Kiev. I had a suit case in one hand and a computer case in the other hand. I had a pouch that held my passport around my waist.

I squeezed into a very crowded metro, (subway) car that was packed like sardines. That is when I got pick pocketed. I stepped off the car with about 30 other people and rushed with the crowd to the station exit. As I was exiting the station I always have a habit of reaching down and feeling for my pouch. As I did the worst feeling in the world came over me. My wallet was gone.

I felt like a fool. I had been taken by one of the oldest professions around. The pickpocket-er!

I was lucky – I have learned over the years to travel with important documents kept separate. Like keep your passport separate from your drivers license. Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original passport. Keep credit cards separate from money. Otherwise do not put all eggs in the same basket…

So I had my passport stolen, the migration card (that is so important when you cross the Ukraine border), pictures of my kids and my sweetie (Svet) and some cash.

After regrouping and checking out the damages, I realized that it could have been much worse. I had a copy of my passport in my computer case. (That got me into the hotel with no problems) My credit cards are in another wallet in the suitcase. (That was the money issue solved.)

I went to the metro police and reported it immediately, (but that is tomorrows story).

This was just the start of a long week of very interesting escapades. My motto became “Just take it one day at a time!”

Stay tuned because it gets interesting…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Hey everyone I am back and ready to start posting again. Over the next few days I am going to be posting a few articles on some information that has to do with visas and other important issues that can happen while you are traipsing around the world.

But today the main thing is for me to get the house organized and my laptop set up so that I can post again with comfort. As you know we have just moved and I never had a chance to organize or even unpack the house. In fact this is the first – real time – that I have been able to use the new internet at the house and it seems to be working fantastic.

Ukraine as always is an interesting place and this time it was no exception. I have some interesting tales and facts to tell. So stay tuned while I get organized today…

Thanks as always.

Kyle and Svet

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Ouch this hurt big time in Obama land – Kyrgyzstan’s president has won reelection with 76.4% of the vote, the Central Asian country’s electoral authority said on Monday, citing final results from Thursday’s disputed election. In Ukraine this was one of the big deals. This was a sure win for the Obama administration according to Ukraine. In fact this was a huge issue at the American Embassy in Ukraine. Oops… 🙂

Russia’s Alrosa aims at $2 bln in diamond sales for 2009:
The new president of Russia’s largest diamond producer, Alrosa, confirmed on Monday the company plans to sell diamonds worth a total of $2 billion in 2009.

Russia celebrates Navy Day:
On July 26, Russia celebrated Navy Day. I will tell you that this wound up Ukraine in the city of Sevastopol in the Crimea!

Russian patriarch arrives in Ukraine on 10-day visit:
Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Church, arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Monday for what he called a “pilgrimage” to the birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy.

Russia reports 24.6% gold output growth in 1H09:
Gold output in Russia grew 24.6%, year-on-year, in January-June 2009 to 77.3 metric tons (2.5 million troy ounces), the Union of Russian Gold Miners said on Monday.

GM-AvtoVAZ plant in south Russia resumes work after holiday:
A GM-AvtoVAZ plant, which produces the Chevrolet Niva off-road model, resumed production on Monday following a two-week summer holiday, a company spokesperson said.

Russian Navy ends first stage of Nerpa sub trials in Far East:
The first stage of new sea trials of Russia’s Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, which was damaged in a fatal accident in previous tests, has been successfully completed, the Amur shipyard said on Monday.

Sometimes you understand…

Sometimes when everything is going wrong you understand how little you can plan in your life.
Sometimes when you’ve done as much as you could but things are still going wrong you understand how little depends on you in the life.
Sometimes when Life wants you to get a new experience you can not say “No” and it does not matter if you want such experience or not.

With best wishes,
Svet
(Windows to Russia)