Windows to Russia

Seriously? I have looked for Mexican food in Russia and now here it is…

Mexican food? I take what I can get… Russian style most likely…

A special fan zone for Mexican and Russian fans will be open 24 hours a day at the Izmailovsky Kremlin compound from 14 June through 15 July.From 14 June through 15 July, the Izmailovsky Kremlin will host a special fan zone for fans from Russia and Mexico. Apart from enjoying Mexican cuisine, visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with the culture and arts of Mexico, the cradle of ancient civilizations.Free tastings will be available each day. The Mexican chefs will prepare nachos with guacamole

Source: Burritos and guacamole: Mexican food at the 2018 World Cup / News / Moscow City Web Site

Maybe this will be the start of more Mexican food in Russia…

I can dream…

WtR

And…well this morning it was freezing outside. It always amazes me how cold summer can be in Moscow, Russia…

Just some images as I walk around the town…

One thing you will never see is a fire hydrant as you are use to in America. Or at least I am use to. The connections are made if needed and this is what they look like when connected. I think the sever cold has something to do with such an arrangement. Water pipes are buried very deep here in Russian Land…

A few weeks ago the stump shown was just a stump and then all of a sudden, it became a ecosystem for a whole new world. The biology side of me cannot pass such things up and I am always taking images of such happenings. If you knock on the stump it is literally solid still, yet it has life bursting out of it. Now that is so cool and so wonderful…

Therefore, I will have a second cup of coffee and look at the pictures I took. Just posted some to let you see Russia and its life all around…

Russia is so much more than you are told…

Have a nice day…

WtR

International relations have entered a very difficult period, and Russia once again finds itself at the crossroads of key trends that determine the vector of future global development.

Many different opinions have been expressed in this connection including the fear that we have a distorted view of the international situation and Russia’s international standing. I perceive this as an echo of the eternal dispute between pro-Western liberals and the advocates of Russia’s unique path. There are also those, both in Russia and outside of it, who believe that Russia is doomed to drag behind, trying to catch up with the West and forced to bend to other players’ rules, and hence will be unable to claim its rightful place in international affairs. I’d like to use this opportunity to express some of my views and to back them with examples from history and historical parallels.

It is an established fact that a substantiated policy is impossible without reliance on history. This reference to history is absolutely justified, especially considering recent celebrations. In 2015, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Victory in WWII, and in 2014, we marked a century since the start of WWI. In 2012, we marked 200 years of the Battle of Borodino and 400 years of Moscow’s liberation from the Polish invaders. If we look at these events carefully, we’ll see that they clearly point to Russia’s special role in European and global history.

History doesn’t confirm the widespread belief that Russia has always camped in Europe’s backyard and has been Europe’s political outsider. I’d like to remind you that the adoption of Christianity in Russia in 988 – we marked 1025 years of that event quite recently – boosted the development of state institutions, social relations and culture and eventually made Kievan Rus a full member of the European community. At that time, dynastic marriages were the best gauge of a country’s role in the system of international relations. In the 11th century, three daughters of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise became the queens of Norway and Denmark, Hungary and France. Yaroslav’s sister married the Polish king and granddaughter the German emperor.

Numerous scientific investigations bear witness to the high cultural and spiritual level of Rus of those days, a level that was frequently higher than in western European states. Many prominent Western thinkers recognized that Rus was part of the European context. At the same time, Russian people possessed a cultural matrix of their own and an original type of spirituality and never merged with the West. It is instructive to recall in this connection what was for my people a tragic and in many respects critical epoch of the Mongolian invasion. The great Russian poet and writer Alexander Pushkin wrote: “The barbarians did not dare to leave an enslaved Rus in their rear and returned to their Eastern steppes. Christian enlightenment was saved by a ravaged and dying Russia.” We also know an alternative view offered by prominent historian and ethnologist Lev Gumilyov, who believed that the Mongolian invasion had prompted the emergence of a new Russian ethnos and that the Great Steppe had given us an additional impetus for development.

However that may be, it is clear that the said period was extremely important for the assertion of the Russian State’s independent role in Eurasia. Let us recall in this connection the policy pursued by Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, who opted to temporarily submit to Golden Horde rulers, who were tolerant of Christianity, in order to uphold the Russians’ right to have a faith of their own and to decide their fate, despite the European West’s attempts to put Russian lands under full control and to deprive Russians of their identity. I am confident that this wise and forward-looking policy is in our genes.

Rus bent under but was not broken by the heavy Mongolian yoke, and managed to emerge from this dire trial as a single state, which was later regarded by both the West and the East as the successor to the Byzantine Empire that ceased to exist in 1453. An imposing country stretching along what was practically the entire eastern perimeter of Europe, Russia began a natural expansion towards the Urals and Siberia, absorbing their huge territories. Already then it was a powerful balancing factor in European political combinations, including the well-known Thirty Years’ War that gave birth to the Westphalian system of international relations, whose principles, primarily respect for state sovereignty, are of importance even today.

At this point we are approaching a dilemma that has been evident for several centuries. While the rapidly developing Moscow state naturally played an increasing role in European affairs, the European countries had apprehensions about the nascent giant in the East and tried to isolate it whenever possible and prevent it from taking part in Europe’s most important affairs.

The seeming contradiction between the traditional social……(Keep reading link below…)

Source: Sergey Lavrov’s article “Russia’s Foreign Policy: Historical Background” for “Russia in Global Affairs” magazine, March 3, 2016 – News – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Maybe humans need the money to better our world and not blow up things all over the place….last post of May, 2018 and this kinda just hits the spot with me…

When will we wake up as humans and get the world out of the control of just a few?

WtR

India and Iran avoiding the USA sanctions…

Under the deal, the payments for oil will be made through India’s state-run UCO Bank, which has no US exposure. The countries are also discussing the barter-like system to avoid US sanctions, Sputnik reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is on a visit to India this week, where he has met with Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj. “During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on a further expansion of ties in banking, energy, trade, insurance, shipping, use of national currencies, Chaba

Source: India & Iran drop dollar in oil trade to bypass US sanctions – report — RT Business News

Good job…

WtR

FLIPPY | Miso Robotics from Miso Robotics on Vimeo.

Being in food service as a career, Flippy looks like a good employee and once trained will shine and shine…

It is the future…

You may decide that also when you realize that humans do very bad things to your food, just because they are humans…

WtR

Being a Biology Major, the article below is something I have been following for years now and it looks like China is at the breakthrough point in development…

QINGDAO, May 28 (Xinhua) — Researchers Monday expanded the testing of rice growing with saline-alkali soil across China to choose breeds with quality and optimum yield.According to Zhang Guodong, deputy director of Qingdao’s saline-alkali tolerant rice research and development center,in eastern Shandong Province, the new tests almost cover all major types of saline-alkali soil in China. The six testing bases are located across Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the provinces of Heilongjiang, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shaanxi.”The tests will examine the performance, yield, taste, and cost of saline-alkali tolerant rice on different types of saline soil,” said Zhang.A section of land at each testing base will be used for soil amelioration using a technique created by the Qingdao center. It is expected to transform the saline land into arable land within two to three years.Yuan Longping, China’s “Father of Hybrid Rice” who helped found the Qingdao center, said that if 100 million mu (6.7 million hectares) of saline land can be used to grow saline-alkali tolerant rice, the country could produce an extra of 30 billion kg of rice if production per mu reaches 300 kg.On Monday, the center also announced the completion of yield test of its first batch of drought-resistant rice varieties in Dubai. The rice breed can produce more than 500 kg per mu.

Source: Chinese researchers expand test of saline soil rice – Xinhua | English.news.cn

I follow the developments of science in China. It reminds me so much of the old days in America…

This is a serious help for the future, long term albeit, but we have to look far in the future and try to help ourselves long term…

Could you even imagine if we can develop rice that grows in salt water even?

WtR

(Tehran Times May 23): http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/423870/Iran-s-12-preconditions-for-negotiating-with-U-S

1. Full nuclear disarmament of the United States, and the destruction of its nuclear weapons, with the presence of international supervisors.
2. Stopping the construction of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the United States, and the destruction of the available missile under the supervision of arm control experts.
3- Full recognition of 20% industrial Uranium enrichment in Iran
4. Agreeing with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the international circles for the full nuclear disarmament of the Zionist regime and the regime’s join to the NPT
5. U.S. thorough withdrawal from the Persian Gulf and the closure of U.S. military bases in the region.
6. The closure of all U.S. military bases in the neighboring countries of Iran, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent
Note: The U.S. diplomatic presence in neighboring countries of Iran is subject to the lack of interference in the internal affairs of Iran.
7. The release of all blocked property and confiscated property of Iran in the United States, with full payout of their maintenance since 1977
8. Official apologizing the Iranian people for the coup of August 19, 1953, and paying for the 25-year presence of the Pahlavi regime since then (by forming a joint committee between Iran and the United States)
9. Admitting full responsibility for supporting Saddam Hussein during the imposed war on Iran, apologizing the Iranian people and calculating and paying for the losses incurred by the imposed war on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
10. Accepting full legal responsibility for the shot down of Iran’s civilian passenger flight from Tehran to Dubai, number 655, by an SM-2MR surface-to-air missile fired from USS Vincennes, a guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy (which took place on July 3, 1988), providing compensation to its survivors, and apologizing the Iranian nation (in the form of a Declaration read by the President and U.S. Secretary of State)

Apart from the widespread criticism that has been raised in Iran and the international system (and even among the United States’ allies) against the Pompeo’s remarks, “12 prerequisites” can be given to the United States and the Trump’s government merely for letting them negotiate with Iranian authorities.It is to be noted here that the following prerequisites shouldn’t be taken as Iran’s terms and conditions for reaching an “agreement with the United States”, but those are merely preconditions for setting up a negotiating table with the United States and the Trump government:

Source: Iran’s 12 preconditions for negotiating with U.S. – Tehran Times

WtR

I watched a restaurant send food out to the homeless! I watched people who have no food, getting food at the back door of a restaurant. I watched a truck picking up garbage for hogs. Yes this is Russia, where I saw this…

You better not do that in America anymore and or at least get caught and or told on…

I remember when I use to give all leftovers to the homeless shelters and all garbage of food items to the local farmers. Yes this was America, but that has all changed…

I remember when there was no waste of food in my kitchens and that my friend is very important…

But not anymore is it important…

I remember when I was visited by 8 law enforcement personnel. I was arrested for refusing to stop giving homeless people food. Food from out my back door. Food that I personally handed them. Food that was perfectly fine and safe. Food that would be wasted otherwise…

I remember three officers with weapons drawn as they entered my cafe and presented me with warrant for my arrest and warrant to search my cafe. Wanna know why? I donated free food to Veterans Club and did not have it okay-ed with the local jurisdiction. My food crossed county lines… (Oh My!)

I also remember when I was arrested for refusing to stop giving food to a homeless shelter. I would give them leftover food, in  throwaway type trays and people who had nothing, could eat a good hot meal…

I was taken to court for refusing to stop giving food garbage to the farmers. Farmers would take the left over garbage (Just food!) and cook it and then feed the hogs. I spent 2 weeks in jail for that…

I got to where I wanted to greet every cop with the middle finger, because they were all worthless and could not think for themselves! They seemed to have a mind set of a Zombie and that was that…

I spent years fighting the system in America, trying to help people who needed food and received food through a soup kitchen system…

I remember when I had to stop buying raw milk in food service! I remember when I had to stop buying real tomatoes in food service! I remember a whole bunch and none of it was beneficial for you or I…

Now I watch the world in Russia and watch the local restaurant get milk from the farmer. I watch veggies purchased for customer consumption being bought at the farmers market across the street. I see employees taken leftover food home to feed families, at no cost to them! Literally, I see the world that America was when America was smart, but this is not America that I live in! It is Russia…

What made me express what I am thinking today? Good question and it centers around the fact that everyday, I see another article from America and it is trying to stifle people from helping other people. Like this article…

A woman in Philadelphia is facing a fine for feeding hungry children. Angela Prattis was threatened with a $600 fine for every day she handed out free food.

The local government has tried to get citizens to quit feeding the hungry, hoping that doing so will force the poor into shelters.

Prattis distributes meals every day from the gazebo in her yard. She believes the government has more important things to worry about.

“You have houses here, the roofs are falling in, and they could be focused on a lot of more serious issues than me feeding children,” Prattis said.

“How is feeding kids a bad thing?” she asked. “I’m doing this from my heart because I love children. And these kids are hungry. Last Friday, I had 20 children walk to my house in the pouring rain for lunch, and at 2 p.m., they came back for a snack. Tell me this program is not needed.”

But Township Council Chairman Stanley Kester says that rules have to be followed.

“She wants us to bypass or exonerate her from the zoning hearing. She just doesn’t want to pay to do things the right way. We can’t just start exempting everyone from our laws. If you do one, you’ve got to do everybody,” Kester said.

Prattis will have to pay $1,000 to continue her program.

But Kyle how do you know that this is true?

Did you read above? I have been arrested for fighting the system and trying to not waste food. But in America we waste enough food to feed the hungry of the whole world every year…

There are nearly one billion malnourished people in the world, but the approximately 40 million tonnes of food wasted by US households, retailers and food services each year would be enough to satisfy the hunger of every one of them.

I have been around awhile and I have fought the system. Unlike you who have hidden behind your door. I watched years and years ago all of our rights being taken away and I guess I finally got fed up with it all…

For now I am in Russia and I can buy homemade sauerkraut, meat from the back of a truck, veggies from a babushka grown in her garden, raw butter and raw milk from a truck on the street and if I want to bad enough, I can set up a lemonade stand on the street corner and the cops will walk by and not even look at me. This is in one of the largest cities in the world (Moscow, Russia), not a tiny village on a river bank, that has two cows and 5 babushkas…

In America I have been arrested for standing up for what I believe is correct! I have been arrested for trying to feed people who were starved. I tried to not waste perfectly good food. I was arrested to keep a farmer from getting good slop for his hogs…

I know all about America, I have been there done that and one day you will do that too…

WtR

The construction of the longest tunnel in Georgia was completed on May 27, laying foundation for the future operation of the whole line. The project will be an indispensable part of the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway route under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is expected to be accomplished in 2020. It will reduce travel time to three hours and twenty minutes from Tbilisi to the country’s second-largest city Batumi.

Yessiree Bob… Europe here it comes…yes it comes through Russia….for Europe…

One Belt One Road Initiative…

WtR