 |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 409 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 989964 |
| Visitors Out: 1115 |
| Total Visitors Out: 1115 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Royal Academy of Arts, From Russia Exhibit |
| 2008-01-29 11:52:00 |
The exhibit that almost wasn't. The Royal Academy of Arts exhibit titled From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings 1870–1925 from Moscow and St Petersburg opened last weekend and runs through April 18th. Demand for tickets has been very high, and many of the planned events are already sold out. Despite the recent controveries between the UK and Russian Federation, the unprecedented exhibit opened with few complications, and has outstanding reviews, as it brings together some of the great paintings of the late 19th and early 20th century. From the RA website:This landmark exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts presents modern masterpieces dra...
|
| |
|
|
|
| Lenin at the South Pole |
| 2008-01-05 15:11:00 |
Michael Field of Fairfax Media in Australia/New Zealand has the story of a group of scientists traversing Antarctica that were surprised to discover a Soviet artifact left behind at the most remote location on the most remote continent - A large plastic bust of Lenin.In the middle of no-where – literally the point on Antarctica furthest from the sea – an imposing bust of revolutionary Bolshevik Vladimir Lenin peers out onto the polar emptiness.The Inaccessibility Pole marks the point on Antarctica that is furthest from the ocean. At 3,718 metres above sea-level it is in the Australian zone and seldom visited.The (Norwegian-US) Scientific Traverse this week made it to the Inaccessibility Pole for New Year's Day and found a one time Soviet Union base buried under the ice. The g
...
|
| |
|
| Nigerian Energy Security, Russian-Style |
| 2008-01-05 11:47:00 |
It appears that Gazprom truly have it in their hearts and minds to be more than just the Russian national natural gas company, and to strengthen their own "energy security" as much as possible with every year. According to the Financial Times (and via the Associated Press) Gazprom is making an all-out effort to secure Nigerian gas deposits.Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom is reportedly eyeing a "mindboggling" stake in Nigeria's energy reserves in a bid to trump US, Chinese and Indian interests.In a dispatch from Abuja and Moscow, the Financial Times quoted a senior Nigerian oil industry official as saying Gazprom was offering to invest in energy infrastructure in return for access to the country's vast gas deposits...
|
| |
|
| Pauper or Oligarch - The Strange Case of Putin's Wealth |
| 2008-01-04 11:55:00 |
As Putin seeks to move from the role of President to Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, we've witnessed a possible inside look into the financial windfall he may have amassed during his time as President.According to the Central Election Committee, President Putin declares the following assets:77.7 square meter apartment in St. Petersburg150 square meter land parcel in the Moscow region2 Volgas registered in his name (1960 and 1965 vintage)230 Shares of St. Petersburg Bank StockR3,700,300 ($151,409) in total savings (3 bank accounts)R2,011,611 2006 annual earnings of ($82,311)It was widely reported at the time of a European Union summit in October that this declared income and assets would make Vladimir Putin among the poorest of the developed world's leaders. There was also some ca...
|
| |
|
| Bishkek Press Club Annual Awards |
| 2007-12-27 09:35:00 |
The Bishkek Press Club is holding their annual awards ceremony on January 4, 2008. Among the award-winners is photojournalist/blogger Elena Skochilo, who will receive an award for "Most Interesting Perspective" for her photojournalism work in 2007.Congratulations to Elena for her award and here's hoping for more achievements in 2008! Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| Putin Announced as Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" |
| 2007-12-19 08:10:00 |
Perhaps not-so-surprising announcement regarding Time Magazine naming Vladimir Putin as their "Man of the Year" for 2007. Reuters has the story of one of the more negative sounding pronouncements of "Man of the Year" in recent memory.Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2007 on Wednesday for bringing his country "roaring back to the table of world power." "He's not a good guy, but he's done extraordinary things," said Time managing editor Richard Stengel, who announced Putin's selection on NBC's "Today Show.""He's a new tsar of Russia and he's dangerous in the sense that he doesn't care about civil liberties; he doesn't care about free speech; he cares about stability
...
|
| |
|
| Putin Ready to Be Medvedev's Prime Minister |
| 2007-12-17 08:52:00 |
Like Batman and Robin, Bush and Cheney, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Sancho Panza and Don Quixote, Festus and Marshal Dillon, Burns and Allen, chocolate and peanut butter, and, well you get the idea. Medvedev and Putin are part of a team."If Russian citizens express their confidence in Dmitry Medvedev and elect him as the country's president, I will be ready to head the government," Putin told a congress of his United Russia party held near Moscow's Red Square."(We) shouldn't be ashamed or afraid of transferring the key powers of the country, the destiny of Russia to the hands of such a man," he added.Of course, the real reason that Putin nominated Medvedev has nothing to do with all the speculated political intrigues and loyalties. The real reason is Medvedev is the only man in the Kr
...
|
| |
|
| Hey - Doesn't Bush Have a Beer Named After Him? |
| 2007-12-17 08:35:00 |
Seems to be a really successful President of the Russian Federation, you need a vodka named after you!I can hear the slogan now - "It takes a big man to make a pure vodka..."Interesting side bar: whenever I see Putin walk, I can't help but think of George Jefferson. Really more like a one-armed George Jefferson - he only swings his left arm. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| Preved, Medved! |
| 2007-12-10 09:33:00 |
Well ... ain't that a kick in the pants. Turns out the man Putin wants to succeed him is the guy we were all talking about a year ago. All these machinations, promotions of Ivanov, analysts timing the minutes Medvedev and Ivanov appear on television, and other speculations were merely to throw us off the scent.Dmitry Medvedev is the man.So what does this mean? I very much doubt it will affect any change in the direction of Russia, Inc. In fact, Medvedev's strong business experience and persona lend itself to Russia as the emerging corporate state, a nation that is run like a business. Most analysts tend to cast Medvedev as a liberal - I think this is a mistake. He simply isn't the sort of Russian man who shoots his mouth off to show what a real man he truly is. He's another sort. I also di...
|
| |
|
| Reluctant Democracy? |
| 2007-12-02 11:56:00 |
Spiegel Online has an long and interesting article titled Portrait of a Reluctant Democracy. On the eve of the carefully orchestrated Duma elections, Spiegel provides a sort of cross-section of opinions and the political times in Russia. Their case study involves a series of cities across Russia, and by god, for once it doesn't include Moscow. Ivanovo, Magnitogorsk, Tyumen, Bedime, and Vladivostok are chosen as representative of the successes and failures of Putin's tenure as President of the Russian Federation.Some of the more interesting tidbits from the article:Vladimir Ryzhkov (whose Republican Party was dissolved in May by the Russian Supreme Court and after 14 years will no longer be part of the Russian Duma): "This is not an election, it's a f...
|
| |
|
| Apology |
| 2007-11-29 11:49:00 |
I apologize for doing so little serious writing lately on this blog. Since my 2-week+ case of pneumonia, I've been playing catch-up at work. I have three large articles that I'm trying to clean up and post to the blog. I promise something more interesting in the next few days and that momentum should carry into next week and through the holidays. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| Putin: Mein Plan |
| 2007-11-26 13:10:00 |
I have some larger articles in the works for this week, but wanted to pass along this image from volodymir_k, via a conversation with Megan Case.Along this line, there is something weirdly insecure about a President who enjoys 60% to 70% approval ratings in his country, pointing the finger at other nation's ghostly support of political fringe candidates in Russia. Is he really so out of touch with reality as to suggest that a "color revolution" might be in the works in Russia?The Presidentially election isn't until March, but Dr. Case (inside joke) observes that Russians are already suffering election fatigue from Plan Putina. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| American Pizza Success in Siberia |
| 2007-11-07 20:20:00 |
Nice little Reuters story about American mini-garch Eric Shogren, owner of the New York Pizza chain (30 restaurants, $15 million in sales in 2005, and going strong) and various other business interests in Novosibirsk. Eric Shogren went into business in 1996 in Novosibirsk, with a modest investment of $150,000. Shogren tells a story of great success in the face of skeptics and the economic crash of the late 90s. These days his biggest headache seems to be a shortage of cheese - he needs over 20 metric tons of cheese a month for his pizza chain."I'm out here selling Russians pizza left and right. I've got people packed in my bar every night dancing to Chuck Berry music, and there's people going 'Do you think this'll work?...
|
| |
|
| Of Gorbachev, Louis Vuitton, and Litvinenko |
| 2007-11-06 08:14:00 |
Some rumors started circulating among a few blogs several days ago, regarding a hidden message in Gorbachev's photo sessions with Annie Liebovitz, used as advertising for Louis Vuitton. In the images, Gorbachev is passing some remaining portion of the Berlin Wall while riding in a limosine with a Louis Vuitton bag. It seems some sharp-eyed individual took a closer look at the magazines that Gorbachev is carrying in his Louis Vuitton bag. The New York Times and a few other newspapers picked up on it yesterday, calling it "subversive text."And lo and behold, what did their wondering eyes see? Perhaps a secret message?The headline on the magazine says (approximately) in Russian: "Litvinenko's murder: They wanted to give up the suspect for $7,000." Wa
...
|
| |
|
| "We're against everything. We're patriots" |
| 2007-11-05 10:36:00 |
Spiegel Online has a story today about the neo-Nazi National Unity Day march in Moscow at Kutosovsky Prospect yesterday. An estimated 2,000 people participated in the march and rally. The Spiegel article attempts to capture the stupidity and shallowness of the Russian neo-Nazi movement, and to explain the Kremlin and other government officials apparent tolerance of far-right nationalism, as contrasted with complete intolerance of the liberal left. This was the 3rd annual such march in Moscow. While last years march resulted in many arrests, this year Moscow police issued a march permit for a relatively low-traffic area of the city. The march included the cowboy hat wearing Preston Wiginton, a white supremacist from Texas. Wiginton spoke to the crowd, cheering "Glory to Russia," with th...
|
| |
|
| Most Beautiful Bottom in the World Competition |
| 2007-11-02 07:53:00 |
What you goin' do with all that junk?All that junk inside your trunk?I'ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,Get you love drunk off my hump.Sloggi International, makers of fine, fine underwear recently sponsored a "Most Beautiful Bottom in the World" or World Backside Championships competition. And yes, my writing and commenting on it is pandering to the masses. Probably sexist too. Hell, it isn't even a Russia or former Soviet Union topic.But it's fun, so I'm rolling with it.Approximately 15,000 people entered photos of themselves for the competition on Sloggi's website, which drew over five million people (aka perverts). 130,000 people registered to vote for their favorites. From that bottomless field, 42 finalists fr
...
|
| |
|
| Putin Grows a Heart? |
| 2007-11-01 08:26:00 |
Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day.Earlier this week, Vladimir Putin did something even more unexpected than kissing a boy on the belly. Even more daring than fishing without a shirt. Even more sensitive than remarks about the Israeli President.He honored those murdered during Stalin's purges.Reuters has the story of his appearance and comments at Butovo, a facility near Moscow where tens of thousands were murdered under Stalin's Operational Order No. 00447. The victims included priests and royalists but also huge numbers of people who were simply caught up in an indiscriminate spiral of killing. This year Russia marks the 70th anniversary of the bloodiest period of the purges. Putin attended a memorial service with Patriarch Alexiy II, head ...
|
| |
|
| FYI |
| 2007-10-20 10:44:00 |
I haven't been wimping out on writing - just caught a nasty case of pneumonia while on my Texas trip. Sleep and antibiotics are all I have time for right now. Hope to be making a recovery in the next few days.PS ~ You would be right to wonder if my pneumonia was a result of crazed drunken debauchery while in Texas for the Patriots vs. Cowboys football game. After all, you get four Shedd men together in one place and all sorts of wild things might happen.Alas, no. I, as well as my brothers, were well behaved throughout the weekend. We had a few beers and likely ate too much, but generally behaved in a civilized fashion. So I can't blame my pneumonia on a weakened immune system due to drunken binge drinking. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| Hey, Where You Been? |
| 2007-10-11 09:11:00 |
Seems I was quiet the last two plus weeks - just goes to show that time flies when you're having fun.Work and home have been hectic recently and I've not had much of a chance to post on the blog. Never fear, I'll soon be back in the swing of things. We drove Sergei and Natalia to JFK airport on Saturday October 6th for their return flight home. Their month long vacation went rather well, they seemed impressed with our region of the United States. Without a doubt, we gave them the full cultural program (although, sadly we were unable to attend a Boston Red Sox game and had to settle for televised version). There will be more postings on that topic. At least, I hope there will be. Ðадежда умирает поÑледней. I know ...
|
| |
|
| The Puff Pastry Opposition |
| 2007-09-24 21:48:00 |
David Remnick of The New Yorker has a god-awful lengthy 12-page article on Garry Kasparov titled "The Tsar's Opponent". Apparently it isn't cool to compare Putin to Stalin anymore - he's a Tsar. I've seen a steady increase in these references in the past month or so.Anyway, the article is pretty much standard issue diatribe against Putin, with plenty of no-brainer references to the K.G.B/F.S.B., siloviki, oligarchs, and perceived thievery by the government. How strange is it for American capitalists to now be accusing the Russian government of exploitation and thievery of profits? There are also references to how, due to the chaos of the 90's, the word demokratia is now dermokratia or “shit-ocracy.â€It bothers me with all the substantive criticism that could be aimed at Puti...
|
| |
|
| The Italian |
| 2007-09-22 21:14:00 |
The Italian (ИтальÑнец) by director Andrei Kravchuk (Ðндрей Кравчук) is one of the best and most overlooked Russian films of recent years. Overshadowed by other Russian films of 2005, such as the heavily advertised 9th Company (9 РОТÐ), this modest movie accomplishes great things through its understated drama, unexpected turns, and sincerity. The film is cited as having been insprired by true events, and Kravchuk takes these factual details and spins a modern-day Dickensian tale. Combined with a brilliant performance by young Kolya Spiridonov (ÐšÐ¾Ð»Ñ Ð¡Ð¿Ð¸Ñ€Ð¸Ð´Ð¾Ð½Ð¾Ð²) as Vanya Solntsev, he's crafted a real gem of a film.The official website describes the movie as follows:A ...
|
| |
|
| Suzy Sells Spaceships by the Seashore |
| 2007-09-20 11:02:00 |
Suzy's Russian Space Blog has posted an entry on the Russian Space Program's Mars-500 simulation. The simulation is designed to test problems and long-term crowded space/deprivation conditions for a period of over 500 days, such as what would be undertaken by cosmonauts on a real Mars Mission. Spiegel likens it to a "Big Brother" experiment.Today the North Pole! Tomorrow, Mars!Suzy provides all the interesting details in a fashion that I simply couldn't, including the involvement of Russian cosmonaut Sergei Ryazanskii, who is divorced as a result of the experiment. I get the impression he's a well-known Russki hunk from Suzy's reaction. The most interesting Russian-touch to the living environment is the wooden paneled living quarters, to provide a homey-feel. Rather like living in a banya
...
|
| |
|
| Tasty Mango |
| 2007-09-20 09:59:00 |
If you're interested in learning Russian or some other language, Mango might be worth a try.Advantages? It's free. And it's also free. Mango is in beta version currently and the sign-up is very easy. There are 100 Russian lessons with literally thousands of slides and sound files.Languages include Mandarin Chinese, Greek, and even Pig Latin. Troductioninay otay Igpay Atinlay. See how it just rolls off the tongue?Even the language-challenged should be able to master that. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| A Few Blogs of Interest |
| 2007-09-19 09:25:00 |
I've recently been expanding my blogroll, trying to include some not only russo-centric blogs but other topics and writing that I find interesting. I have a few moments this morning, so I've decided to provide some links to some of the most interesting.First up is Trey Ratcliff's Stuck in Customs photography/travel blog. Most of Trey's images appear to be HDR, as well as (I presume) some other processes which provide a painting-like effect. Trey is also the owner/founder of John Galt Games, a video gaming company. I'm not sure what Ayn Rand has to do with video games, but hey - that's his business.Next up is Dr. R. J. Hillhouse's The Spy Who Billed Me blog (subtitled "Outsourcing the War on Terror"). From Dr. Hillhouse's glowing mini-autobiography: The Wall Street Journal has called RJ Hil...
|
| |
|
| Thawing Mammoth Dung and Global Warming |
| 2007-09-18 10:36:00 |
Moscow Times has an article on Sergei Zimov of Russian Academy of Sciences' Northeast Science Station in Cherskii, Russia. His studies of the permafrost and climate change in Northeastern Russia for the past 30 years lead him to believe that warming Arctic temperatures are unlocking a Pandora's box of - ancient mammoth dung. Sergei Zimov bends down, picks up a handful of mud and holds it up to his nose. It smells like a cow patty, but he knows better. "It smells like mammoth dung," he says.For millennia, layers of animal waste and other organic matter left behind by the creatures that used to roam the Arctic tundra have been sealed inside the frozen permafrost. Now, climate change is thawing the permafrost and lifting this prehistoric ooze from suspended animation.But Zimov, chief scientis...
|
| |
|
| Lugovoi for President |
| 2007-09-17 13:07:00 |
In a further development of the Litvinenko murder and the farce that surrounds it, Andrei Lugovoi is running for parliament and possibly the Presidency of the Russian Federation.Sure. Anyone who dresses so sharp should be president. And Alexander Pichushkin can be his Prime Minister. Vladimir Zhirinovsky for foreign minister, perhaps. He'd be a real hit around the world.Of course, this is all about parliamentary politics and showmanship as Zhirinovsky and the LDPR are using Lugovoi in hopes of garnering enough votes to get above the 7% vote limit to be included as part of parliament. The same sorts of people that ask Lugovoi for an autograph might be persuaded to vote LDPR.Then again, they likely already vote for crazy Zhirinovsky and his circle. Update...
|
| |
|
| More Movie Geekery |
| 2007-09-17 09:35:00 |
As long as I am playing movie geek today, I thought I'd pass along this little tidbit regarding Viggo Mortensen's work on Eastern Promises (another film that I'm hoping to see).The 43 tattoos Viggo Mortensen displays on his body in new film "Eastern Promises" were so authentic, Russians really thought he was a Mafia heavyweight. The Lord of The Rings star, who plays a Russian mobster in the new thriller, spent four hours in the make-up chair having the skin art applied and he realised it was worth it when he saw the looks of terror on Soviet youths he met in a London pub. He recalls, "They were looking at my hands and suddenly stopped talking. "It was right when the (Alexander) Litvinenko (former lieutenant colonel of the Russian Federation's Federal Securi...
|
| |
|
| Cool, But Off Topic |
| 2007-09-17 09:11:00 |
I am so looking forward to this movie. I was worried that Iron Man was going to be a dog, ala Fantastic Four - but the teaser is very promising.You can also see the trailer in Russian.It is true, I am both a movie and comic book geek. Save to del.icio.us
...
|
| |
|
| Putin's Hudsucker Proxy - Zubkov Nominated for Prime Minister |
| 2007-09-12 09:27:00 |
Recent news reports have Vladimir Putin accepting the resignation of Minister">Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov today and nominating virtual unknown financial monitor Victor Zubkov for Prime Minister. State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov says the lower house could vote on Zubkov for PM as soon as this Friday.Speculation has been that Putin's annointed choice for the next elected President would be nominated as Prime Minister first. This would indicate a path to the presidency that Putin traveled, as he was similarly nominated as Prime Minister by Boris Yeltsin. With the recent resignation of Fradkov, rampant speculation was either Sergei Ivanov or Dmitri Medvedev would be nominated.However, I had been pointing out in other forum...
|
| |
|
| Picture Says 1,000 Words |
| 2007-09-12 07:48:00 |
"Hmmm ... I think this photo isn't quite sinister enough. It needs something ..."
"Hey, how about this, boss?"
"Not bad, but too subtle. Too many people in the U.S. don't know who Hitler is anymore."
"Oh, ya, now you're getting there - very sinister, just the impression we need with this piece. Maybe you can pump it up a bit more?"
"Great! Now THIS is a photo we can use to demonstrate how...
|
| |
|
| Batman by Dostoevsky |
| 2007-09-11 12:58:00 |
Brian Hughes of Again With The Comics blog has an interesting take on Batman, if written by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский).
It makes for a hilarious intersection of American pop culture and Russian literature.
This fits very well with a thread on Sean's Russia Blog. Scroll down to the discussion of Russian characters in the Super-hero comic book genre. (hint: if...
|
| |
|
| 9/11 - Russian Words Are Not Enough |
| 2007-09-11 08:12:00 |
Statement from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, via ITAR-TASS, commemorating September 11: The Russian people "sincerely mourn, as nobody else, with the American people and are in sympathy with them on this sorrowful day", says a message by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to participants in the annual service for the dead in Moscow at the St. Great Martyr Catherine, devoted to the...
|
| |
|
| Back from NYC |
| 2007-09-09 21:16:00 |
Katja and I have returned from NYC with her parents, Sergei and Natalia. Was a tiring but fun weekend. I had to laugh at S & N's reactions to American food at a typical restaurant (we went to the 99 Restaurant in Portsmouth this evening) - TOO MUCH!! This led to an interesting discussion about restaurants, creating consumer loyalty, portion control, and how the role of eating at restaurants in...
|
| |
|
| Sweet Love Story |
| 2007-09-08 20:07:00 |
Katja and I are traveling this weekend, so haven't a great deal of time for writing. We'll have more on that later. The Accidental Russophile will be presenting another project for the next month (at least).
However, I came upon a sweet story on BizzyBlog, regarding Ivan Byvshikh and Lisa Waldhelm, two young lovers from Russia and Germany who were separated for more than 60 years.
Save to...
|
| |
|
| The Wake of Dmitri Prigov |
| 2007-09-05 19:52:00 |
Approximately 50 people, including members of the Voina (War) Performance Group marked the 40th night since Dmitri Aleksandrovich Prigov's (Дмитрий Александрович Пригов) passing last week by holding a wake (or Поминки - Pominki, although the organizers called it a pir, meaning feast)... on the Circle Line of the Moscow Metro. Prigov died July 16th, a few weeks after he succumbed to a heart attack...
|
| |
|
| Wine Terroirs: Zakuski and Vodka |
| 2007-08-29 16:32:00 |
Bert at Wine Terroirs has another excellent Russocentric topic today - zakuski and vodka! This story takes place in a small restaurant named рюмка (Riomka), on Trekhprudny pereulok, near mamonovskii and right under Tverskaya Boulevard in the heart of Moscow, south of the Mayakovskaya subway station.Ah, yes - all the usual suspects are gathered at the scene of the crime. Vodka, zakuski, friends ....
|
| |
|
| Litvinenko murder suspects to speak to British journalists |
| 2007-08-28 15:08:00 |
Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, Scotland Yard's key suspects in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko will speak to British journalists through a radio program to be aired live Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
The radio news conference is jointly organized by Moscow Radio and RIA Novosti and will be broadcast live on Ekho Moskvy Radio at 3 p.m. Moscow time (11 a.m. GMT, 7 a.m. EDT) according to RIA...
|
| |
|
| BLDGBLOG Interview with Michael Cook |
| 2007-08-27 18:29:00 |
This post isn't about Russia at all, but it does connect with a previous posting that I had on Russos and his livejournal of Moscow subsurface photography. (By the way, Russos currently has some nice images from MAKS 2007 on LJ.)
Geoff Manaugh of Bldg Blog has an interview with Michael Cook, "writer, photographer, and urban explorer based in Toronto". Should make for an interesting read for...
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
 |
