Windows to Russia

Hello,

The last 4 parts of this tale have expressed 1. Wallet Stolen, 2. Police Experience, 3. American Embassy, and the 4. Peace Corps. This 5th part is about finally coming home. After going through all that happened I decided to write these articles to let someone know what you might have to go through to deal with a theft circumstances.

Lets recap what is important.
1. Never keep all documents easily assessable to sticky fingers. Keep those documents in deep hidden pockets.
2. Never keep all documents located together in the same area such as one wallet. A loss of one document is easy to overcome compared to 10 documents.
3. Do not expect the police to help – Repeat – Do not expect any help from the police!
4. Do contact your Embassy as soon as possible. Do not delay! (Time matters)
5. Leave you hotel and phone numbers with all people you talk to about the theft.
6. Your hotel is a resource for help in these circumstances. (If nothing else a language translation help)
7. Keep a copy of your passport separate from your passport. That is the number one life saver factor to do. That copy of my passport was all I needed to get a new passport.
8. If you have a wallet stolen – Remember do not panick and if you have to, stop and think a minute. Remember it is not the end of the world! I know. 🙂

At this point in the Ukraine visa trip I was now able to get my visa for Russia from the Kiev Consulate. But my hurdles to overcome were not quit over…

In the Russian Consulate they had word that I had found my passport and immediately let me know when I arrived on their doorstep. (They know me well now by sight every three months.) Somehow the consulates have a really good grapevine system that interconnects between themselves for purpose of communication exchange. So what one consulate knew the other did also.

I explained that I had picked it up and had my old passport…. (This is where the fun started!)

Russia wanted to place the visa in my old passport because that is what my telex invitation had as a passport number. They said I can not use the new passport because I had the old one now. I explained that the old passport is null and void and the American government made sure that I knew that. This conversation was carried on for about 15 minutes…

To make a long story short, I had to involve the man in charge of the department. I had already talked to him over the phone before coming to the Consulate. I wanted to have all my t’s crossed and i’s dotted.

Walla Walla Bing Bang – I got my visa that afternoon by 3pm. 🙂 I was on the earliest train I could get and was home to see my Sweetie by Monday.

So to wrap up the series on “Pickpocket: We All Think That It Will Not Happen To Us!” I am going to quote one of our good readers.

“All is Well That Ends well!”

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

As the insults fly and the lies come forth from Georgia again! Sassy’s mouth is reiterating all the false expressions that he made since he attacked South Ossetia one year ago!

Yes, since he attacked South Ossetia – While they slept and after a promise of peace over the airwaves just hours before the onslaught.

We at Windows to Russia do not forget what happened and have many posts on the subject of the brutal attack that Georgia assaulted South Ossetia with.

One year and lets hope Georgia stays away from South Ossetia…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Link to South Ossetia Articles….

Global swine flu cases reach 200,000:
The number of people infected with swine flu in the world has exceeded 199,000, Russia’s consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Monday quoting the data of a World Health Organization regional bureau.

Russia continues investigation into South Ossetia ‘genocide’:
The criminal investigation into the alleged genocide and mass murder of civilians during the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war has been extended until February 2010, an official spokesperson said on Friday.

EU must hold talks with ex-Georgian republics – Russian envoy:
The European Union can not turn its back on direct dialogue with the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia’s envoy to the EU said.

Putin vows to develop Russian ties ‘with both parts of Cyrpus’:
Russia will try to strengthen economic ties with both the Greek and the Turkish areas of Cyprus, which should help resolve the division of the island, Russia’s prime minister said on Thursday.

Russia signs deal to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant:
The prime ministers of Russia and Turkey signed an agreement Thursday on the two countries’ nuclear cooperation and Russian firms’ participation in the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

After his visit to Ukraine, Patriarch Cyril is ready to take dual citizenship:
Patriarch Cyril completed a ten day tour of Ukraine which journalists called “unprecedented.” Upon his arrival at a Moscow airport, the patriarch told journalists what overwhelmed him about the country.

Central Russia’s Kaluga Region to host Kalatozov film festival:
A film festival dedicated to Soviet filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov will open on August 8 in the Kaluga Region, central Russia, a spokesman for the regional culture ministry said.

Adopted American boy gives playground to Siberian hospital:
A teenager adopted as a child and taken to the US has returned to Russia bearing gifts for his former neighborhood. After raising $60,000 online, Alex Griffith is building a park in his former hometown in Siberia.

S.Ossetia remembers Georgian sneak attack:
A minute of silence will be held in South Ossetia on the eve of the anniversary of last year’s war. On August 8 last year, as the world’s eyes were turned to the Beijing Olympics, Georgia launched its sneak attack.

“The main problem of the South Caucasus is Georgia’s revanchist policy”:
This week’s briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko was devoted to the Ossetian war and the consequences it brought upon the region and international community.

Hey Everyone,

As the day gets closer to the audit of the FED in America happening. We are staring to get some crazy excuses from the FED.

Like now the word is out that America can not account for 1.5 Trillion dollars!

So at a time of sever financial crisis in the United States, bordering on depression and after a nearly $800 billion stimulus package was passed this year plus $700 billion in bailout money passed in 2008 – “Americans are wondering where all the money has gone!” (In the Banks and Wall Street pockets – That is where it has gone…)

I hope Ron Paul gets that bill passed. The FED needs to be audited, just like any other business…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

In Russia this is a common food recipe and it is considered a fast type food (home food) so it is not served in many restaurants in Russia. Even though there are about 300,000,000 different variations of this food, I am going to give you a version that is easy to make. You can also buy these in any Russian grocery store and they are OK, but as always they are much better when you make them yourself. 🙂

Russian word is “kotleta” Lets make some Cutlets!

Ingredients:

* A mix of equal parts of ground pork and ground beef – (about a Kilo total)
* 1 large egg
* 1 big onion (white or yellow)
* two to three slices of white bread ground up thoroughly.
* Half a cup of milk
* Salt, pepper, grasses and other spices – to taste
* fresh crushed garlic – to taste

Mixing:

In a large mixing bowl put the ground meat and well minced onion.
Then add the egg and any and all spices that you desire.
Then on top of that add the diced and shredded bread.
Then add half cup of milk and if desired throw in some crushed fresh garlic.
(At this point add anything that you feel like. I like crushed red pepper!)

Mix ingredients by hand and make sure to really use your hands (wash first please). Squeeze the mix between the fingers until all items are blended very well. (If product seems to be a little wet add more bread.)

Making cutlet:

Now we need to make the patties. I take a small hand full of the mix and form a very thick oval shaped patty. You can make them how ever you are happy doing. (Some love to make squares.)

Cooking:

In a large non stick skillet with a good layer of veggy oil place the cutlets non touching to fry in the hot oil. Medium heat is good for non stick. (If using old cast iron skillet then increase heat to help stop sticking problems.) Fry about 7-9 minutes per side if very thick. (Due to use of pork make sure cutlet is well done.) Cover skillet for deep cooking the meat.

Serve:

Served as a main dish with pan-fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, pasta and or rice are some of the many side dishes. I like them dipped in sour cream.

Yummy!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Notes: You can use ground chicken or turkey also as the meat.

Russian nuclear Arsenal total 3,906 warheads:
The Defense Ministry has revealed that Russian armed forces have 3,906 nuclear warheads and 811 delivery systems at the moment.

Russia strengthens India’s defenses with nuclear subs:
India has become the sixth country in the world to build a nuclear-powered submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles. Moscow played a key role in the construction of the current sub, and has agreed to lease another.

Take a bus trip – put your life at stake:
After a series of minibus crashes, taking a ride in Moscow is becoming a game of Russian roulette. The authorities are blaming bad driving, but the operators say it is because they cannot get qualified staff.

Ukraine, Georgia’s accession to NATO “hypothetical”:
Ukraine and Georgia are not ready to become NATO members, and their accession at the moment is only “hypothetical”, the new NATO Secretary General said.

South Ossetian village shelled in another Georgian violation:
The South Ossetian Ministry of Defense says the village of Otrev, near the South Ossetian capital Tskhinval, was shelled on Monday evening.

Rising NPL’s cast pall over banking sector:
Russia’s Central Bank says the level of non performing loans in the banking sector reached 4.5% in the first half. But many it’s likely to get worse as the Russian economy approaches the anniversary of the crisis.

Jack Sparrow to rescue Russian children?:
“Pirates of the Caribbean” star, Hollywood beau Johnny Depp, has reportedly agreed to star in a Russian film aimed at children.

Man busted for wearing too much underwear:
Belarus’ customs have caught an unlucky smuggler, who tried to cross the border from Ukraine wearing 16 pairs of briefs.

Russian bikers on a ride to South Ossetian capital:
Moscow’s bikers have set off on a peace drive to mark the first anniversary of the war in South Ossetia. They will link Moscow and Tskhinval covering, over 6,000 kilometers.

Octogenarian man of muscle:
For most 80-year-olds, their athletic days are over. But one grandfather in the Russian republic of Dagestan is making a name for himself as a record-breaking strong-man.

Kokoity Wants Unity With Russia:
A year after Russia and Georgia fought a war over South Ossetia, the leader of the rebel enclave said he wanted to unite his people with Russia and called on the Kremlin to deploy more troops and weapons.

New Raid Worries Market Vendors:
Police said Monday that they had interrupted a major smuggling operation at the Sevastopol market in southern Moscow, raising concerns among foreign merchants that many legitimate import businesses would be caught up in a crackdown on counterfeiting.

Sberbank grants Transneft $382.6 million loan:
Russia’s state savings bank Sberbank has issued a 11.9 billion ruble ($382.6 million) loan to oil pipeline monopoly Transneft, the bank said Monday.

Russia to tighten border controls amid Chinese plague outbreak:
Russia will tighten its borders following an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the Chinese Qinghai Province, Russia’s Chief State Health Inspector Gennady Onishchenko said on Monday.

Around 50 journalists killed worldwide in 2009:
At least 46 journalists have been killed in 21 countries since the beginning of 2009, the International News Safety Institute (INSI) report said.

Patriarch Kirill urges Ukrainian priests to accept everyone:
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on a 10-day visit to Ukraine, has called on Orthodox priests to accept everyone with love.

Russian Communist Party to protest U.S. stance on S.Ossetia:
Russia’s Communist Party will hold protests outside the U.S. embassy in Moscow on Friday to mark Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia, Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said.

Putin got to play around in a deep diving submarine. He took advantage of the occasion to inspect potentially valuable gas crystals at the bottom of Lake Baikal.

“I haven’t seen anything like that in my whole life. This is a very special feeling,” Putin told reporters upon emerging, looking pale and a bit dizzy after spending more than 4 1/2 hours underwater. Asked if he planned to travel in space after his supersonic flight and deep-sea dive, Putin, dressed in blue overalls, said, “No, there is enough work here on earth.”

Scientists estimate that Baikal hydrates contain over 1 trillion cubic meters of gas, an amount comparable with the world’s largest discovered gas fields.

How come he gets to do all the neat stuff in life anyway?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.