Windows to Russia

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.

Russian boxer Nikolai Valuev records rap track with Chelsea star:
Russian boxing giant Nikolai Valuev has recorded a hip-hop track with a member of the Moscow-based pop group Chelsea, Russian media said on Tuesday.

Senior militant killed in special operation in south Russia:
A senior militant was killed in a special operation in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan on Tuesday, a deputy interior minister said.

Second Mars-500 flight simulation experiment to end in Moscow:
A 105-day experiment to simulate a flight to Mars will be concluded on Tuesday at the Institute of Medical and Biological Studies in Moscow.

Two nuclear submarines delivered to Zvezda plant for scrapping:
The Transshelf semi-submersible open dock vessel has delivered two decommissioned Victor III class nuclear submarines from a Russian Pacific Fleet base in Kamchatka to the Zvezda shipyard in the town of Bolshoi Kamen in Russia’s Far East for scrapping.

Russian military confirms test-launch of Sineva ballistic missile:
Russia has successfully test-launched a Sineva sea-based ballistic missile, a source in the Defense Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.

President Dmitry Medvedev visits South Ossetia:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in South Ossetia on Monday on his first visit to the former Georgian republic, recognized as independent by Russia last August.

Three militants, one officer killed in Daghestan:
Three militants and a special unit officer were killed in an operation in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Nagorny Karabakh deserves international recognition – president:
The international community should recognize Nagorny Karabakh as an independent state, the president of the disputed region said Monday in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.

Russian Cabinet favors moderate economic development scenario:
The Russian government approved on Monday three economic development scenarios for 2010-12, accepting the moderate scenario as the basis for budget forecasts for the next three years.

Israel, Palestinians must settle conflict alone:
Israelis and Palestinians do not need any outside help to end their conflict, which will be resolved only if the two sides are left alone, a Russian expert on the Middle East said on Monday.

Without Russia, Europe has no reliable source of gas:
“There has been no change on the gas supply market.” In the past few months, this phrase has brought for the EU, Ukraine and Russia more anxiety than calm, because no change means that the question over the supply of Russian natural gas to the EU this coming winter has not been settled.

July 13, 2009,
Tskhinval

Beginning of Meeting with President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA EDUARD KOKOITY: Mr President,

We are very happy to welcome you here, to South Ossetia. The people of South Ossetia are grateful to you for your support, for the recognition of our state sovereignty and, as you already heard from the Ossetian elders, we are grateful and appreciative to you for saving our nation from physical extermination.

Today, our entire republic and all of our people are celebrating your arrival. Thank you very much. We welcome you.

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Thank you.

I am really grateful for inviting me to visit your newly born nation, your new state – South Ossetia – which emerged as a result of difficult and dramatic events, and which was indeed supported by the Russian people in the hardest moments. I feel that today’s first brief working visit by the President of the Russian Federation will lay the foundation for our future contacts and for our friendship.

Our nations not only share a great common history, but have also developed a solid regulatory framework for a common future. I am referring to several treaties between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia.

We have launched a number of projects aimed to restore the economy and social services of your republic, and we will certainly progress with their implementation as there is still a great deal to be done. And you should show me where your greatest priorities lie for our efforts to be focused there.

We must maintain our defense cooperation, as we have a corresponding treaty.

Thus, I think that during today’s talks and my brief visit to South Ossetia, we will be able to discuss bilateral contacts, to review general matters, to explore ways to develop our relations, as these, I am sure, are the tasks for us to address.

I would like to thank you once again for your invitation.

I awoke this morning to a slew of e-mails and comments. That is nothing new but today one of them caused me to stop and think. This was a comment from someone who has never commented before and is an American who married a Russian.

So as I was drinking my morning cup of coffee, I decided to write a post about this comment that appeared last night…

Ж Р Эшли

News From Russia:

India to assemble Russian “flying tanks”:
In July India is to begin assembly of Russia’s main battle tank, the T-90. Up to now the country has bought only fully assembled tanks, but now it will build them with parts supplied by Russia.

Georgian opposition plans to expand protests:
Georgia’s opposition has announced plans to extend protests against President Mikheil Saakashvili across the South Caucasus state, an opposition leader said on Thursday.

Chief suspect in Ingush president assassination attempt named:
The assassination attempt on the President of Ingushetia was organized by the leader of a militant group Magomed Yevloev, the Chechen republic’s Interior Minister has said.

Did nano-thermite take down the WTC?:
Could the most audacious terrorist attack in history be a “sophisticated masterpiece of demolition”?

What the Russian papers say:
MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) Russia, U.S. see the ‘reset’ differently / Japan views Russian desire to mend relations as sign of weakness / Moscow patriarchy to participate in lawmaking / Duties on GPS devices may increase 10 times

Fifth anniversary of jouranalist’s murder:
Russian American journalist Paul Klebnikov remembered five years after he was shot in Moscow. The case remains unsolved, but new hopes emerged as U.S. and Russian authorities agreed to cooperate.

Russian Air Force denies spy drone missions over Georgia:
Russia’s Air Force chief dismissed on Thursday Georgian claims that Russia was spying on its territory using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Russian chess legends Karpov, Kasparov to clash in Spain:
Russian chess legends Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov are to renew their rivalry in a showdown in Valencia in late September.

First Thai Orthodox priest ordained in Moscow:
Father Daniil, born Danay Vanna, has completed his studies in the seminary. Soon he will be heading to Thailand where he is to become the country’s first Thai Orthodox priest.

G8 leaders support Russia-U.S. agreement on arms reduction:
Participants in the G8 summit in Italy have unanimously backed recent Russian and U.S. agreements to conclude a new strategic arms reduction deal by the end of the year, a Russian deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.

PACE move to deny Russia vote causes surprise in Moscow:
Moscow is confused over an initiative by some PACE members to try and deny Russia the right to vote during assembly sessions, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Russia’s broad monetary base up 5.4% in June – Central Bank:
Russia’s broadly defined monetary base expanded 5.4% to 4.968 trillion rubles ($155.25 bln) as of July 1 from 4.712 trillion rubles ($147.25 bln) on June 1, the Central Bank reported on Thursday.

Moscow wants OSCE to look into Russian-language issue in Ukraine:
Moscow hopes that the OSCE’s High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek will look into issues relating to the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.