Windows to Russia

Hello,

It’s Svet. I just got home after see off Kyle. Everything is OK here, we moved and finally got Internet working (one day later than we were promised). As you remember Kyle was leaving tonight for a visa trip to Kiev and we got Internet just 5 minutes before we left for the train. I promised Kyle to write a tiny post and tell you how we are doing. He told he would try to post something from Ukraine if it’s possible. He is going to be back in Moscow on Friday. So now all what we need a little more patience… and in few days we’ll see him again!

Best wishes for everyone!

Svet

Hello,

This will be the last post for about two days. On Monday the new internet service is turned on at the new place. This is just an update post for all the readers and to let everyone know that we are not going to disappear for very long. Lets have a look at some pictures of the mess called moving…

Found a four leaf clover today – That means good luck (right?)…

We travel by surface train now to get to Moscow…

Boxes and plastic bags and plastic bags and…

The pile just gets bigger and bigger…

PS: Anyone wanna help?

Auchan to push ahead with Russian expansion:
Leading international retailer, France based Auchan, says it is not planning to pare its Russian expansion plans with another 6 stores to open this year. RT spoke with Board Member of Auchan Russia, Ludovic Holinier.

New Bulava missile test results in failure – Russian military:
A scheduled test of Russia’s new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on July 15 was a failure, the Defense Ministry’s press service said on Thursday.

What the Russian papers say:
MOSCOW, July 16 (RIA Novosti)Russia tells OSCE not to mix Stalinism with Nazism / CSTO force could be deployed in south Kyrgyzstan / Georgia to withdraw from CIS this August / Stroytransgaz could sell stake in Algerian project to Rosneft

President Medvedev defends his European security proposal:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday described as a mistake the attempts to detect “foul play” in Russia’s proposals for a new European security treaty.

Strasbourg court orders Russia to compensate Chechen family:
The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ordered Russia to pay 50,000 euros ($70,200) in compensation to the relatives of a Chechen who was abducted in 2003.

Medvedev says Russia not jealous of Nabucco:
Russia is not jealous of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project, President Dmitry Medvedev said at a joint news conference after talks with the German leader on Thursday.

Miss Moscow beauty pageant crowns winner:
Yelena Obraztsova, 25, took the crown at the Miss Moscow 2009 beauty pageant on July 15, beating fellow contestants who included school and university students, as well as graduates.

Russia air carrier hopes to win U.S. military cargo transit tender:
The Volga-Dnepr Group, Russia’s largest heavy air freight carrier, is planning to take part in the transit of U.S. military supplies to Afghanistan, the company said on Thursday.

Human rights activist’s murderers will be found – Medvedev:
The murder of Russian human rights activist, Natalya Estemirova, cast a shadow over the Russian-German talks. However, President Dmitry Medvedev said he is sure the murderers will be found.

Fines and plastic bullets await Georgian protesters:
Protesting against the ruling political regime in Georgia has become harder as the country’s parliament has adopted new legislation imposing tougher penalties and stronger bans on rallies.

ROAR: Medvedev reaches out to Muslims:
The Russian president has promised Muslim leaders to assist in developing Islamic education and building a mosque in Sochi and asked them to help in fighting extremism.

President of Russia Medvedev made a strong statement a week after Obama showed up and gave his disaster of a speech of change and what Russia needs to do! (Oops, I realize that Western press ranked Obama’s speech right up there with the 10 commandments of the bible for importance, but it really showed a lack of forethought.)

Medvedev gives his answer by going to South Ossetia: Russia supports South Ossetia and and will not change her mind. This meeting was to have been a Putin event but in lieu of Obama’s lackluster attempt at a speech in Russia. Medvedev made a surprise visit and sent waves of shock through out Georgia. Sassy the president of Georgia came out of his hole and proclaimed that Medvedev was really a bad dude for doing that. 🙂

“The political meaning of the visit was to demonstrate the firmness of Russia’s positions in the strategically important region,” said Oksana Goncharenko, expert at the Center of Political Conjuncture of Russia. It was also said that “Georgia will not have territorial integrity even if Obama says this 25 times,” by Markedonov, Head of Department at the Institute of Political and Military Analysis.

Obama repeated numerous times about what Russia should change: Maybe Medvedev is telling Obama to look at America first and make changes before he spouts off about other countries and their problems.

Obama, Russia does not heed Washington’s Antics!

Is that what Medvedev is saying?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: Sideline issue that contributes to whole picture:
Obama forgot (again) the most important part of visiting a foreign country. Learn ahead of time what is proper etiquette. That will create a better relationship than all the words in the world. Actions speak louder than words! Obama’s actions told Russians that they were not important enough.

When Obama and wife visited Medvedev’s for dinner, Medvedev and wife had gifts for the Obama’s. The Obama’s brought nothing not even flowers. (Flowers in Russia are very important, so important you can find flowers for sale on every corner – literally)

In Russia the guest never forgets to bring a gift for the host. NEVER!

(Obama’s advisers should and do know this, as well as Obama should know this)

In Russia evening meals are never turned down if invited. These meals are important political and business meetings as well as a cultural event for special guests. Obama turned down such meals to go out on the town with his wife…

That was a no, no… Obama was here on business not a vacation!

Oops!

Unemployment in the US has reached almost 10%, The 2009 budget is already plus 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) in the hole with plenty of time to sink deeper. With the jobless rate going to reach much higher levels the debt level is going to reach new heights this year. No job no money to pay taxes… (It is a viscous circle!)

Yet while the country is being crushed under a burden of debt, “the nation’s capital seems to be doing just fine with its traffic jams, packed restaurants and busy people rushing in all directions. Some even think that Washington hasn’t noticed how much the rest of country is suffering.” (Link – Watch the video by Russia Today.)

Washington DC is one the main benefactor of bailout money. So while the people of America are losing their jobs and houses at the fastest pace in know history. Washington DC our nations capital seems to be rock and rolling. Maybe the bailout money should have been sent to the people first and not to the politicians!

Here is a couple of quotes for you to stew over:

“In the Soviet Union, capitalism triumphed over communism. In America, capitalism triumphed over democracy.” by Fran Lebowitz

What do you get, when you win the chess tournament at Dortmund for the ninth time?

You get a spot in the – Guinness Book of World Records.

Vladimir Kramnik, a Russian grand master, is getting his name in the world record book after accomplishing the near impossible.

Congratulations Vladimir Kramnik…

Windows to Russia!

comments always welcome.

I Russia when I get not feeling very good it is Svet’s turn to cook. She makes two things that she considers get well food. 1st food is Chicken noodle soup and the 2nd is Pelmeni. Pelmeni is a traditional Russian food that dates back a long time ago. I can attest to the fact that they are delicious. Today we will talk about making Pelmeni:

Simple Pelmeni recipe:

Ingredients:

Dough:
3 cups sifted flour,
1 tsp. salt,
3 egg yolks, (no egg whites)
1/2 cup water.

Filling:
1 lb. high quality ground beef. (low fat and raw)
1 lg. well chopped onion, (minced)
salt & pepper to taste,
1/4 cup of ice.

Lets start:

Make dough: Toss all dough ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Cover with a clean cotton cloth and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before use. (important)

Make filling:
Take all filling ingredients and put in a mixing bowl. Blend well and add ice toward the end. Mix very thoroughly.

Lets put them together:
Roll out dough and roll it thin as a dime. (otherwise little thicker than paper thin, if possible) cut into about 3 inch circles using a round cookie cutter or I use a tin can of the correct size. Place circle of dough to the side and scoop about 1 tsp. of filling onto one side of the circle and fold other side over the top of the filling. Then crimp it shut with pinches of your fingers.. Repeat this until all dough is used up. (They are kinda half moon shaped.)

Freeze:
Place Pelmeni in freezer on a flat pan not touching each other and freeze until solid. (This is a must do before cooking step.)

Cooking:
Place 10 – 15 frozen Pelmeni into a pot of salted boiling water. When the Pelmeni floats it is ready to serve. (Do not forget the most important ingredient sour cream on top of them! :))

Yummy!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.