Hello from Russia!

[Kenny Shovel]

You know, most of our Russian customs people are much better businessmen than the average lot, really. The problem is their "business" is a very special one. (I plan to try to write a book about our customs and its role in Russian life someday, it is impossible to explain without lengthy descriptions). They use their power to get some black money in bribes for black governmental purposes, and, of course, for their own needs.

Yes I understand about this, I have had customs at Odessa airport trying to get their ‘palms greased (with money)’, but I wasn’t interested in playing their game so they got bored and let me go on my way.

And as to camping in Crimea... .. I do not think the customs would have been the only problem needed to be solved there. There are some grave problems there - several people get killed on the Sea shore every year, some other crimes (wow, they spell alike) are quite common there... Why, I was myself robbed there once, and had to sell some of my things to buy a ticket to Moscow. And when you offer people a tourist service - such problems could be a serious obstacles...

There were a number of problems, from both sides, and yes safety of tourists, or at least them feeling they would be safe, was one of them.
Problems with customs/officials put me off another idea I had which involved a friend of mine who is Indian. In India there seems to be a better culture for a business to survive, which may be why that country is seen to be a future economic super-power, this really should be the case for Russia as well, but you would have a better idea of how well equipped your country is for economic growth than me!

And as to customs problems - for a person who specialises in solving such, it is not too difficult, as customs really want that all problems were solved to their profit, but they cannot get into negotiations with everybody naturally, out of fear to be compromised. So these customs problems with your Crimea project could surely be solved - but the right person is needed to be found for that.

In my case it was not so much customs that would be a problem for tourists, for the other idea yes, but other factors also get in the way.

People keep calling our chiefs of state names sometimes not because chiefs are bad, but because people do not like results of those chiefs' decisions... For example, very many Russians do not like Gorbachev for exactly the same reason that the West prises him - that he "demolished the USSR". And both are mistaken, as Gorbachev has never done that thing, and never really intended to do so. What he wanted - was to adjust Communist ideology and practice to new circumstances of life. He wanted to make Communism stronger, but as it was impossible to change it - it just crushed down, against intentions of Gorbachev.

This was the impression I got of Gorbachev. I knew he was not so popular with Russians and I have always suspected that he began a process which started to move under its own weight and ended up going to somewhere he did not intend. He seems however, to be very adaptable and is quite happy for people, in west, to believe this was his plan all alone. I seem to remember that he now makes a lot of money from giving speeches in the West to this effect.

Yeltsin is despised by our people for his decision to allow Baltic states, Byelorussia, Ukraina etc. to get independence. But it is obvious that it was not possible not to allow that - it would mean a bloodshed obviously, with the far worse results...

Sure this was a painful thing for many of your people, but of course also inevitable. It still seems to be a source of anger and concern for many now, I remember that the first day the Baltic states joined Nato, Nato planes flew patrols over them, and very close to Russia, and this was not received well in your country. Now of course the Ukraine wants to join, and Russian generals as invited to Nato meeting to try and calm fears. A very different world to the one I remember 20 years ago!

It is a custom for our prominebt businessmen to seek some near-government functions - just in case... Abramovich is a Deputate from Chukotka, a region to the far North of Russia. It was said that to get elected he spent a lot of money, mostly on foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages... But some on schools and foodstuffs shops too...

I remembered that it was some remote region of Russia, but not exactly where. I’m not sure how he can do this job as he seems to live in England now. Certainly he is at every Chelsea game.

Yep, I see. Though I cannot see myself that somebody making money is bad, if Russia gets its percent, people get paid and ecology is not spoilt. It is better to work for a westerner, than not to work at all.

Sure, but yours is a proud people, if it feels like your country is being bought piece by piece they won’t like it, no one would. I am not saying this is happening just that it can be the impression.

 

[Sergo]

Yes I understand about this, I have had customs at Odessa airport trying to get their ‘palms greased (with money)’, but I wasn’t interested in playing their game so they got bored and let me go on my way.

= It is quite easy not to pay bribes for your personal pass through customs, especially when you have done nothing seriously wrong. But it is a very different story if you have to deliver goods and customs delays everything that is possible to delay as long as it possible. So usually you pay them, and problems are over. If you know the procedure and are ready to pay - the problems usually do not begin. =

...In India there seems to be a better culture for a business to survive, which may be why that country is seen to be a future economic super-power, this really should be the case for Russia as well, but you would have a better idea of how well equipped your country is for economic growth than me!

= The more I see Putin, the more he reminds me of Brejnev, Ustinov, even Khrushcev. When he starts to tell us that the government shall see to it that all the poor are fed, all the homeless are given homes, that the pensioners should receive additionally 50 Roubles - no, that's not enough, says the great man - 200 Roubles (that's really $8 - you will pay more for 20 underground journes, even if you pay for ten of them - that's cheeper). And the samenes doesn't end here - nothing is done now exactly as nothing had been done then. Because it is impossible for a government to solve all the people's problems - especially our government. As I see it - the only way for a person to prospere - is to depend on oneself only, not on the government or else. In this case any help, if it is to come, would be welcomed, but not crucial to the success. And our government, trying to make people believe that it is the only source they can depend on - makes Russia a bear's service, as we call it.

So I must confirm that our country is not enough equipped for the economic growth at the moment, and now even less, than several years ago.
Of course I hope. But if Putin's policy is not changed - I doubt that changes for the better for Russians are near. =

This was the impression I got of Gorbachev. I knew he was not so popular with Russians and I have always suspected that he began a process which started to move under its own weight and ended up going to somewhere he did not intend. He seems however, to be very adaptable and is quite happy for people, in west, to believe this was his plan all alone. I seem to remember that he now makes a lot of money from giving speeches in the West to this effect.

= You know, this is an interesting psychological phenomena. One doesn't have to try hard to look good sometimes. Most people are really optimists, and they like to think that such - and - such a nice high placed person does a good thing. The only thing that person really needs to do to confirm the people's impression - is to speak common phrases, smile and shake hands.
When Gorbatchev spoke at some or other TV show not long ago - he outright confirmed exactly what I've written above. Because he will never have people here think of him in that fashion, as it is thought of him in the West, he doesn't afraid to say so, and, btw, the majority of people here resent the fall of the USSR, so it is better to be remembered as one failed to reconstruct, not the one succeeded to destroy it. And he doesn't fear that the West will know what he said here - first of all, not many in the West could be interested in some second-rate TV show in the God forgotten Russia, and second - he could always claim that he was misunderstood, misinterpreted etc., as politics always mix in their speeches some words, that could be used to change meaning of the phrases. =

Sure this was a painful thing for many of your people, but of course also inevitable. It still seems to be a source of anger and concern for many now, I remember that the first day the Baltic states joined Nato, Nato planes flew patrols over them, and very close to Russia, and this was not received well in your country. Now of course the Ukraine wants to join, and Russian generals as invited to Nato meeting to try and calm fears. A very different world to the one I remember 20 years ago!

= Really, I do not think it is time for Ukraine to enter NATO. Their military are of the worst USSR type with the added faults of new Russia. It is enough to remember their rocket hit our plane several years ago, and every authority there strongly denied that until USA produced proof of that, and then the same authorities just go mute, that's all.
I imagine that maybe other European countries will help Ukraine to understand reality, but so far I cannot see this with Latvia...
And, of course, this is a high policy - to chiesel away Russian neighbours chip by chip. OK, that could be not so bad a thing for our own future, taking into consideration what I mentioned before... =

I remembered that it was some remote region of Russia, but not exactly where. I’m not sure how he can do this job as he seems to live in England now. Certainly he is at every Chelsea game.

= He doesn't need to do anything really - they have their deer in the Chukotka, and that was enough for them during centuries. I think that they should be left alone - with possibilities to enter the common society, of course, to educate and get medical help, and to get some financial help. I do not think the Chukchas will use much the named possibilities save for the last one. Russia have taken their children to be taught in cities by force, tried to change their Shamans for doctors, sold them vodka in amazing quantities - but they are still about the same - not too educated, not using medical help often, not leaving North regions for the warmer ones, just tendering their deer and hunting the wite bear... =

Sure, but yours is a proud people, if it feels like your country is being bought piece by piece they won’t like it, no one would. I am not saying this is happening just that it can be the impression.

= I am not sure everybody choosing not to work for any reason should be called proud. I worked for several Turkish firms as the customs specialist, then as a free-lancer for even more Turkish firms, I delivered Italian furniture to some small kishlak in Azerbayjan for relatives of a well-known Moscow criminal, I delivered goods for Armenians, Americans, Yugoslavs, Germans, Indians, Arabs... I personally organised delivery and customs cleared all the materials and equipment for the new building of Gorbachev Fund, I delivered and cleared all the goods and equipment fo Yeltsin's country residence in Zavidovo, and for a country house of the wife of our Major of Moscow. Before that I worked as a translator, and even sold things on the market. But I never considered myself poor - not when we had not money enough for tomorrow food even. And all the money I spent were money I earned. So I am proud of that. And I doubt that young and healthy Russians all over our country, who choose not to work for "New Russians" or others, and live in poverty, could be considered proud. As to selling the country out... It is not for the ordinary citizens to do, so they hardly could take part in that or in preventing that.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

It is quite easy not to pay bribes for your personal pass through customs, especially when you have done nothing seriously wrong. But it is a very different story if you have to deliver goods and customs delays everything ...

Sure, it’s difficult to fully appreciate this if you come from a country were this isn’t so much ingrained as part of life. I’m not sure that this is a new thing for Russia either as I seem to remember references to such things in 19th century literature, but you would know better about this.

The more I see Putin, the more he reminds me of Brejnev, Ustinov, even Khrushcev.

To British people Ustinov is the name of a famous British (with Russian blood) writer/actor/director called Peter Ustinov. I’m not sure who you are referring too when you use this name, but am interested.

When he starts to tell us that the government shall see to it that all the poor are fed, all the homeless are given homes, that the pensioners should receive additionally 50 Roubles - no, that's not enough, says the great man - 200 Roubles (that's really $8 - you will pay more for 20 underground journeys, even if you pay for ten of them - that's cheaper). And the sameness doesn't end here - nothing is done now exactly as nothing had been done then. Because it is impossible for a government to solve all the people's problems - especially our government.

Interesting, when you compare this to Bresneyev etc are you saying that Putin is trying to deceive the people with these claims, deceive himself, or are they both the same in your eyes?

As I see it - the only way for a person to prosper - is to depend on oneself only, not on the government or else. In this case any help, if it is to come, would be welcomed, but not crucial to the success. And our government, trying to make people believe that it is the only source they can depend on - makes Russia a bear's service, as we call it.

Oh I think I can see what you are saying, but can you explain ‘bears service’, you’ve lost me there.

So I must confirm that our country is not enough equipped for the economic growth at the moment, and now even less, than several years ago.
Of course I hope. But if Putin's policy is not changed - I doubt that changes for the better for Russians are near.

Can I ask why you don’t think Russia is in a good position and worse than before?

You know, this is an interesting psychological phenomenon. One doesn't have to try hard to look good sometimes. Most people are really optimists, and they like to think that such - and - such a nice high placed person does a good thing. The only thing that person really needs to do to confirm the people's impression - is to speak common phrases, smile and shake hands...

I would guess that what you are saying about Gorbatchev is accepted amongst Western political thinkers but he is seen as having a pretty straightforward ‘good guy’ image amongst people at large. For example he has sometimes appeared on ‘chat shows’ in Britain and he is always treated with the utmost respect. Of course often the image of a famous politician is very different in other countries than in their own. It seems that Margaret Thatcher for example is much more respected outside of Britain. But I know a number of people here who look forward to the day they can dance on her grave. Not me of course, I would not do such a thing. For a start there will already have been people shitting on it, and I’m not dancing in that.

Really, I do not think it is time for Ukraine to enter NATO. Their military are of the worst USSR type with the added faults of new Russia. It is enough to remember their rocket hit our plane several years ago, and every authority there strongly denied that until USA produced proof of that, and then the same authorities just go mute, that's all.

Yes I remember this incident, I think they were testing this missile at the time but denied everything. Similar in a way to how the tragedy with the ‘Kursk’ submarine was handled I think.

I imagine that maybe other European countries will help Ukraine to understand reality, but so far I cannot see this with Latvia...

I must being having a ‘bad brain’ day today, can you explain what you mean by this?

And, of course, this is a high policy - to chisel away Russian neighbours chip by chip. OK, that could be not so bad a thing for our own future, taking into consideration what I mentioned before...

Yes I agree that this is a definite policy, and I think a fairly transparent one in the case of the Ukrainian elections last year.

BTW tomorrow is my birthday and also the first day that the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” film is being shown in Britain, I’ll let you know what it is like.

Regards,

KS

 

[Sergo]

Sure, it’s difficult to fully appreciate this if you come from a country were this isn’t so much ingrained as part of life. I’m not sure that this is a new thing for Russia either as I seem to remember references to such things in 19th century literature, but you would know better about this.

= Exactly. It seems we have a very long history of bribing. But if I remember correctly, Stanislaw Lem have mentioned the same thing in Poland. So maybe we are not alone there... =

To British people Ustinov is the name of a famous British (with Russian blood) writer/actor/director called Peter Ustinov. I’m not sure who you are referring too when you use this name, but am interested.

= Yep, who doesn't know Peter Ustinov... And I've mentioned Dmitry Fedorovich Ustinov - who had been Secretary of Central Committee of CPSU once, and then became Minister of Defence in 1976. He remained in that office until his death in 1984. I remember him because he wisited the construction site, on which I worked as night shift engineer-superviser then. Before his visit they cleaned everything for 8 hours, constructed additional fences to eliminate ufavorable sights, brought new rolls of grass (thing unheard of until very recently here). And the man had not said a thing anybody remembered when he was finished. =

Interesting, when you compare this to Bresneyev etc are you saying that Putin is trying to deceive the people with these claims, deceive himself, or are they both the same in your eyes?

= I think all three are right to some measure. He cannot know that his words are not true, as he nor anybody around him does anything to make his words real. He is deceived himself, as he does not get full and real information about situation in Russia, as is our custom. So it is easy to believe that you are a great man, powerful enough to order an ocean to depart. And they are the same in the sense that what they mostly do is just speaches. =

Oh I think I can see what you are saying, but can you explain ‘bears service’, you’ve lost me there.

= Bear's service = "medvejiya usluga", we say so when we mean that somebody tryed to do better, but does much worse instead. =

Can I ask why you don’t think Russia is in a good position and worse than before?

= Because it seems to me that our government gets stronger day by day, and tryes to control people more thoroughful. And if our government gets strong enough - private enterprize will be confined to those oligarchs who will get approval of the goverment for such activities. Kind of Chinese "Communism", if I understand it right. =

I would guess that what you are saying about Gorbatchev is accepted amongst Western political thinkers but he is seen as having a pretty straightforward ‘good guy’ image amongst people at large. For example he has sometimes appeared on ‘chat shows’ in Britain and he is always treated with the utmost respect. Of course often the image of a famous politician is very different in other countries than in their own. It seems that Margaret Thatcher for example is much more respected outside of Britain. But I know a number of people here who look forward to the day they can dance on her grave. Not me of course, I would not do such a thing. For a start there will already have been people shitting on it, and I’m not dancing in that.

= Yep, exactly: to be considered a good guy one doesn't really have to be one. Though I rather liked Gorbachev when I learned about his love to his wife, and I sympathised very much with him when she died... He is not bad. He just a failed communist, not a Great Demolisher of Communism.
Yes, M. Tatcher is known here as "The Iron Lady", and our people are known to love iron people ruling us.
By the way, it would be very much interesting for me to learn more about UK, as you see it. Some details, maybe, that are important to you. =

Yes I remember this incident, I think they were testing this missile at the time but denied everything. Similar in a way to how the tragedy with the ‘Kursk’ submarine was handled I think.

= Yes, to some extent: Kursk had been a military submarine, about which secrecy seems to be more natural, then about a stray rocket to struck a civilian flight... By the way, we grossly disliked here Putin's attitude about Kursk: how he had smiled at some reporter who asked what's the matter with Kursk. "Oh, it has sank", said the Prez with a polite smile. =

I must being having a ‘bad brain’ day today, can you explain what you mean by this?

= I was trying to say again about Latvijan fascists and rights of Russian nationals there. =

Yes I agree that this is a definite policy, and I think a fairly transparent one in the case of the Ukrainian elections last year.

= Yep, and maybe it would be better for us to have democratic and prosperous neighbors. =

BTW tomorrow is my birthday and also the first day that the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” film is being shown in Britain, I’ll let you know what it is like.

= Wow, great, I wish you all the best! Too bad we cannot drink a beer or two tomorrow.
Yep, I am very much interested. I do not think it was possible earlier - to make such a film would have been an overwhelming task for anybody until recently. And Adams was a great writer. TOOOOOOOOOOOO bad he will never write anything new... =

Regards,

KS

Thanks and regards,
Sergey.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Exactly. It seems we have a very long history of bribing. But if I remember correctly, Stanislaw Lem have mentioned the same thing in Poland. So maybe we are not alone there...

One of my friends in the Ukraine complained they had to bribe a driving examiner as the first time she took the test she was failed even though she was ‘a good driver.’ Since passing this ‘good driver’ has managed to drive a motorbike into a wall and a car into a truck!

Yep, who doesn't know Peter Ustinov...

Good, I suspected you might know him as I had read that he had interviewed Russian President (Gorby I think) on Russian TV.

Dmitry Fedorovich Ustinov - who had been Secretary of Central Committee of CPSU once, and then became Minister of Defence in 1976. He remained in that office until his death in 1984

And then for several years after that?

…..Before his visit they cleaned everything for 8 hours, constructed additional fences to eliminate unfavourable sights, brought new rolls of grass…

We have a similar thing here, that’s why the Queen thinks everything smells of fresh paint.

I think all three are right to some measure. He cannot know that his words are not true, as he nor anybody around him does anything to make his words real. He is deceived himself, as he does not get full and real information about situation in Russia, as is our custom.

No one wants to speak the truth in case the messenger is killed?

Bear's service = "medvejiya usluga", we say so when we mean that somebody tried to do better, but does much worse instead.

Thanks, I should have checked on Wikipedia (internet encyclopaedia), I seem to remember they have a list of Russian sayings like this.

Because it seems to me that our government gets stronger day by day, and tries to control people more thoroughful. And if our government gets strong enough - private enterprise will be confined to those oligarchs who will get approval of the government for such activities. Kind of Chinese "Communism", if I understand it right.

I see, I remember you mentioning discussions on Russian forums as to the wisdom of following the path taken by China.

Yes, M. Thatcher is known here as "The Iron Lady"

Yes, we had a few names for her as well…

and our people are known to love iron people ruling us.

Yes, that is a strange theme that reoccurs throughout Russian History. I suspect it may be that Russians see a strong ruler as meaning a strong Russia.

By the way, it would be very much interesting for me to learn more about UK, as you see it. Some details, maybe, that are important to you.

That is a wide subject; can you narrow down what interests you? History, politics, everyday life?

Yes, to some extent: Kursk had been a military submarine, about which secrecy seems to be more natural, then about a stray rocket to struck a civilian flight... By the way, we grossly disliked here Putin's attitude about Kursk: how he had smiled at some reporter who asked what's the matter with Kursk. "Oh, it has sank", said the Prez with a polite smile.

I was in Ukraine just after this happened, and there was much sadness and anger about this. I remember that this was an example of Putin showing that he is still ex-KGB and has not learnt that he must act more like a western politician. He was on holiday at this time, and did not come back straight way; he would never be allowed to do that in the West, the media would destroy him for it. I also remember this story from that time which again is very strange to western eyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/897467.stm

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Yep, I am very much interested. I do not think it was possible earlier - to make such a film would have been an overwhelming task for anybody until recently. And Adams was a great writer. TOOOOOOOOOOOO bad he will never write anything new...

Well, I’m not sure if you know the history of the books but they started out as a Radio series, and later became books, a TV series, a couple of CD’s, and I think a stage play. I come from a different point of view to you, in that I was introduced to THHGTTG by the TV series when I was a child. Despite being made in 1981 and on a limited budget, the special effects were pretty good and the series, 6 - 30 minute shows, were excellent. Although I seem to remember that Adams had a big argument with the BBC over them, refused to make anymore and disowned the ones that were made. Anyway, I mention this as I, and I suspect many others, will compare the film to the TV shows, rather than the books themselves.

Basically I thought the film was good but not brilliant, and it does differ from the other versions more than you would want. This is because in trying to make the story into a film you are ‘trying to put a square peg in a round hole.’ If you look at Adams writing it is basically a series of jokes and ideas, there isn’t a plot in the way you would find in a film. The main character Arthur Dent, doesn’t move the story forward by doing things, instead thing happen to him and he is swept along with it.

So in making this into a film, new things have to be added. A love interest between Arther and Trillion, which isn’t convincing and doesn’t work. Also extra plot has had to be added, I won’t spoil it for you by going into details. That is fair enough, it had to be done, and I think Adams probably lived long enough to have been involved in that.
Unfortunaly to make way for that some important things have been lost. I feel sorry for the actor playing Arthor Dent as he loses a lot of the funny things he says in the book, which leaves him playing a character that doesn’t do much. Also there are some things which in the TV series are explained fully, like how the improbability drive works, that in the film they only half explain. I’m not sure that someone new to THHGTTG would fully understand what is going on.

However, it’s still worth going to see and if you haven’t seen the TV series there is a lot for you to look forward too. The special effects are very good, in particular the scene were Slartiblartfast is taking Arthur to where they build the custom made planets, that is stunning. They have also used the convention used by the TV series for the guide itself. There is a voice over that reads from the book and you get to see the text and animation from the book entries themselves. They have also put in quite a few in-jokes. Arthur and Marvin from the TV series make brief appearances which perhaps won’t mean much to you but it got a cheer in my cinema!
Also whenever the improbability drive is used the ship turns into various objects (fruit, a flower etc) before it disappears or re-appears. At the very end this happens and one of the images that appears, very quickly is a mans face, which I’m guessing is Adams himself.

Anyway, it was better than I feared but worse than I hoped. See what you make of it, and if you can try and got hold of the DVD of the BBC TV version, I think it captures the story much better.

I should really post a better review than this but beer is getting the better of me tonight!

 

[Sergo]

One of my friends in the Ukraine complained they had to bribe a driving examiner as the first time she took the test she was failed even though she was ‘a good driver.’ Since passing this ‘good driver’ has managed to drive a motorbike into a wall and a car into a truck!

= Yes, we have exactly the same situation here. It is two-fold: first, the militia examenators are really trying to scare their student-drivers into buying "good natured" examination. Second - of course there are people to lazy to learn, so they can always pay several times what almost everybody pays for the exam, and buy a document without an hour spent on learning. My wife had paid for her exam - it was $50 or $100, and for 6 or 7 years has not made any collision herself. And it would be a real disaster for the wictim, as she is driving for 5 years already a Grand Vitara - not too big a car, but with every possible additional enforcement steel detail, covering every vulnerable part of the Vitara.

Btw, the last several days my daughter has to pass her 8 grade exams. She is not the best in her class, but somewhat better than average. So: her English was 5/5 (Best/Best in Russia), then came her Russian - and it was 3... The same was the case with several more of "better then average", and with some of the best even... But some of girls & boys who usually got no more then 3 during the year, quite unexpectedly got 4 and 5... Mothers of those who got worse marks then expected (my wife has not been between them) started their own investigation, and naturally found out that some of examinators were paid, some of them were privately teaching some pupils during the year, and naturally were expected not to let down them on the exams. So... It had been a great shock for all of us, and most of all for the pupils - as they think now their friends of yesterday to be traitors of some kind... And I think that really it is a fault of the school, as parents are always interested in their children's good results, and teachers should have been more... errr... honest, not to spend time on searching for the right word...
And our school is one of the best in MOscow...

The last exam - History of medieval Russia - brought us 4. All of pupils who got better than earned marks on Russian, for History got 3 or even 2, and some of them may be expelled from the class because of that... =

Good, I suspected you might know him as I had read that he had interviewed Russian President (Gorby I think) on Russian TV.

= I liked Ustinov - I believe I had seen him as Puarot in some of Agatha Christie movie, and then in some more... =

And then for several years after that?

= Yes, that's a good joke. Nobody would have found that something is missed in our Defence surely. =

We have a similar thing here, that’s why the Queen thinks everything smells of fresh paint.

= Yep, but the Queen is a tradition - and I think a good one. (And bringing some additional income in tourist money, btw). And it is very bad for a country when some people supposedly elected by the people to work for the people start to behave as if they were of noble origins. =

No one wants to speak the truth in case the messenger is killed?

= Kind of. You know, it is difficult to expect a rise in your carier (wow, I forgot the spelling!), if you repeatedly tell your chief of results worse than expected... That could mean that you cannot work in your office properly... =


Thanks, I should have checked on Wikipedia (internet encyclopaedia), I seem to remember they have a list of Russian sayings like this.

= Never mind. I would gladly try to explain anything I could. =

Yes, that is a strange theme that reoccurs throughout Russian History. I suspect it may be that Russians see a strong ruler as meaning a strong Russia.

= Yes, I think you are right. =

That is a wide subject; can you narrow down what interests you? History, politics, everyday life?

= Maybe everyday life, as onsider sees it. History & politics data are somewhat easier to obtain. But that could be interesting too - from insider's point of view again... =

I was in Ukraine just after this happened, and there was much sadness and anger about this. I remember that this was an example of Putin showing that he is still ex-KGB and has not learnt that he must act more like a western politician. He was on holiday at this time, and did not come back straight way; he would never be allowed to do that in the West, the media would destroy him for it. I also remember this story from that time which again is very strange to western eyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/897467.stm

= and I had not heard about this case at all.
By the way, one of my stepfather friends was in the Naval General Headquarters once (sorry, I do not know the right name for that again - the highest office of naval officers), and close to some circles there even after he received his pension. He told us the true story of Kursk about a week or so after the disaster. It took our government several years to tell us that... =

So, what about the Hitchhiker's movie? Is it toooo bad even to mention it?

You know, yesterday we had one of three greatest holydays in Russia. We call it Pahs-ha. So now we can eat products of animal origin... After 40 days of eating grass...

 

[Sergo]

= Wow! I somehow overlooked this until I had my reply to your previous letter posted... =

Well, I’m not sure if you know the history of the books but they started out as a Radio series, and later became books, a TV series, a couple of CD’s, and I think a stage play. I come from a different point of view to you, in that I was introduced to THHGTTG by the TV series when I was a child. Despite being made in 1981 and on a limited budget, the special effects were pretty good and the series, 6 - 30 minute shows, were excellent. Although I seem to remember that Adams had a big argument with the BBC over them, refused to make anymore and disowned the ones that were made. Anyway, I mention this as I, and I suspect many others, will compare the film to the TV shows, rather than the books themselves.

= Really, the first time I heard of the HitchHiker's Guide was on the Russian BBC service I cannot remember when. They read some parts of the book then.
I have read history of "the Guide", and my colleague from USA presented me a posthumous book of Adams works - "Salmon of Doubt", which was packed with histories of "The Guide" and Adams himself. =

Basically I thought the film was good but not brilliant, and it does differ from the other versions more than you would want. This is because in trying to make the story into a film you are ‘trying to put a square peg in a round hole.’ If you look at Adams writing it is basically a series of jokes and ideas, there isn’t a plot in the way you would find in a film. The main character Arthur Dent, doesn’t move the story forward by doing things, instead thing happen to him and he is swept along with it.

So in making this into a film, new things have to be added. A love interest between Arther and Trillion, which isn’t convincing and doesn’t work. Also extra plot has had to be added, I won’t spoil it for you by going into details. That is fair enough, it had to be done, and I think Adams probably lived long enough to have been involved in that.
Unfortunaly to make way for that some important things have been lost. I feel sorry for the actor playing Arthor Dent as he loses a lot of the funny things he says in the book, which leaves him playing a character that doesn’t do much. Also there are some things which in the TV series are explained fully, like how the improbability drive works, that in the film they only half explain. I’m not sure that someone new to THHGTTG would fully understand what is going on.

However, it’s still worth going to see and if you haven’t seen the TV series there is a lot for you to look forward too. The special effects are very good, in particular the scene were Slartiblartfast is taking Arthur to where they build the custom made planets, that is stunning. They have also used the convention used by the TV series for the guide itself. There is a voice over that reads from the book and you get to see the text and animation from the book entries themselves. They have also put in quite a few in-jokes. Arthur and Marvin from the TV series make brief appearances which perhaps won’t mean much to you but it got a cheer in my cinema!
Also whenever the improbability drive is used the ship turns into various objects (fruit, a flower etc) before it disappears or re-appears. At the very end this happens and one of the images that appears, very quickly is a mans face, which I’m guessing is Adams himself.

Anyway, it was better than I feared but worse than I hoped. See what you make of it, and if you can try and got hold of the DVD of the BBC TV version, I think it captures the story much better.

I should really post a better review than this but beer is getting the better of me tonight!

= I see. OK, I hope we will have the film here soon enough - it is not too long after anything appeared in the West until we have it here - but I doubt that our people will like it very much, as Adams' works are not too wellknown here, and to like the film one has to like the story, I imagine. As to BBC TV version - I'd never seen it here, but I'll try to find it.

Really, I hadn't thought of "the Guide" as of a story without a plot. And some haphazardness of the plot makes it more like real life, where not everything you plan ahead have to be necessary come true.

I remember that a story of Arthur Dent having his home demolished without a proper notice only some hours before the whole Earth demolished without a proper notice and for exactly the same reason - construction of a highway - made me to like the story greatly. I do not know where the secret is - but Adam's books, being so unpretentious, are utterly entrancing: having read one it was absolutely impossible for me to stop and not to look for the following one.

As to the beer... Yesterday was filled with BQing our sashliks and drinking all kinds of wines... Too bad tomorrow I decided to go to my office and try to work...

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Yes, we have exactly the same situation here. It is two-fold: first, the militia examiners are really trying to scare their student-drivers into buying "good natured" examination. Second - of course there are people to lazy to learn, so they can always pay several times what almost everybody pays for the exam, and buy a document without an hour spent on learning.

Yes, this was my understanding; that the force that drives this corruption comes from both sides. I think you will often find this happens in places where the need for people to earn more money overcomes their professional pride. I find it hard to be too critical of people who do not earn large wages and use this as a means to increase their income. However it is a part of your society that will need to change if you are to move towards increased ‘standard of living’.

Btw, the last several days my daughter has to pass her 8 grade exams. She is not the best in her class, but somewhat better than average. So: her English was 5/5 (Best/Best in Russia), then came her Russian - and it was 3...

Congratulations, it sounds like she doesn’t need lessons in London to me!

But some of girls & boys who usually got no more then 3 during the year, quite unexpectedly got 4 and 5... Mothers of those who got worse marks then expected (my wife has not been between them) started their own investigation, and naturally found out that some of examiners were paid, some of them were privately teaching some pupils during the year, and naturally were expected not to let down them on the exams. So... It had been a great shock for all of us, and most of all for the pupils - as they think now their friends of yesterday to be traitors of some kind... And I think that really it is a fault of the school, as parents are always interested in their children's good results, and teachers should have been more... err... honest, not to spend time on searching for the right word...
And our school is one of the best in Moscow...

Mmm, that is very bad. I assume that the motivation of the teachers was money rather than a need to be seen to have pupils with high grades? I’m asking this as I am unsure if the teachers and examiners are the same people.

I liked Ustinov - I believe I had seen him as Puarot in some of Agatha Christie movie, and then in some more...

He played this role a few times, most famously in a film version of “Death on the Nile”. My favourite role of his though is in the Roman Epic “Spartacus”.

Yep, but the Queen is a tradition - and I think a good one. (And bringing some additional income in tourist money, btw). And it is very bad for a country when some people supposedly elected by the people to work for the people start to behave as if they were of noble origins.

I read an interview with Vladimir Voinovich were he said that he could see a time when the monarchy would return to Russia and he could see this as a job Putin would want! But as I have said before I never know if Voinovich is serious or not. I do know that one of the minor members of the British Royal family (Prince Michael of Kent) has business interests in Russia and one of the reasons for this is that he looks exactly like the last Tsar, and this seems to ‘open doors’ for him. Of course the British, German and Russian Royal families were all inter bred anyway!

Maybe everyday life, as insider sees it. History & politics data are somewhat easier to obtain. But that could be interesting too - from insider's point of view again...

It is probably best that comes naturally from conversation; if I try and sit down to say everything I’ll probably give a wrong impression.
I can remember some of the impressions my Ukrainian friend had when staying here: “The children are beautiful, but they get fat”, “The Sea here is brown!”, “People say please, thank you and sorry for everything, even when they don’t need too”.

…one of my stepfather friends was in the Naval General Headquarters … He told us the true story of Kursk about a week or so after the disaster. It took our government several years to tell us that...

Yes, the initial story was that it had been hit by a Nato (I think they claimed British) submarine. I can’t remember what the final conclusion was but I can remember seeing a BBC documentary where they said it was a problem with an unstable missile on the Kursk. They gave an example of a British submarine that had sunk in similar circumstances many years ago.

Really, the first time I heard of the HitchHiker's Guide was on the Russian BBC service I cannot remember when. They read some parts of the book then.
I have read history of "the Guide", and my colleague from USA presented me a posthumous book of Adams works - "Salmon of Doubt", which was packed with histories of "The Guide" and Adams himself.

I’ve not read the “Salmon of Doubt” but I believe it was bits and pieces of writing that they found on the hard drive of his computer after he died.

I see. OK, I hope we will have the film here soon enough - it is not too long after anything appeared in the West until we have it here - but I doubt that our people will like it very much, as Adams' works are not too wellknown here, and to like the film one has to like the story, I imagine. As to BBC TV version - I'd never seen it here, but I'll try to find it.

I think you will enjoy the chance to see a visual interpretation of Adams’s ideas.

Really, I hadn't thought of "the Guide" as of a story without a plot. And some haphazardness of the plot makes it more like real life, where not everything you plan ahead have to be necessary come true.

It doesn’t have a plot in the same way as a film has, with a hero that drives the story forward. Things just happen to Dent and the story often stops while the book explains the interesting ideas that Adams had.

I remember that a story of Arthur Dent having his home demolished without a proper notice only some hours before the whole Earth demolished without a proper notice and for exactly the same reason - construction of a highway - made me to like the story greatly.

I think you can trace this idea back to a sketch he wrote a few years before with a guy called Graham Chapman for another BBC show called “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”; it has a similar theme of pointless bureaucracy.
Unfortunately, in the film part of this scene is missing, particularly the “I found it at the bottom of a locked filing cabinet, in a dark room, behind a door with a sign saying ‘Beware of the Leopard’”.

I do not know where the secret is - but Adam's books, being so unpretentious, are utterly entrancing: having read one it was absolutely impossible for me to stop and not to look for the following one.

Have you read any of his Dirk Gently books?

 

[Sergo]

Yes, this was my understanding; that the force that drives this corruption comes from both sides. I think you will often find this happens in places where the need for people to earn more money overcomes their professional pride. I find it hard to be too critical of people who do not earn large wages and use this as a means to increase their income. However it is a part of your society that will need to change if you are to move towards increased ‘standard of living’.

= The problem is the absolute majority of our people are underpaid. And it became so natural to cut expences, that almost nobody understood they are doing the wrong thing. For example, when I was driven somewhere once, we talked with the driver about our life. (It's the most usual thing in Russia. I expect it isn't so in the UK?) And when the driver told me how bad it was for Hodorkovsky not to pay all the necessary taxes, I asked him if he himself paid anything as taxes from his additional income of taxi services. Why should I? - was the logical responce. The person couldn't understand that Hodorkovsky had done essentially the same thing, of course on bigger scale, but he really paid huge sums, and most of our people just pay nothing and are quite sure they are right. =

Congratulations, it sounds like she doesn’t need lessons in London to me!

= Thanks, but sure she needs it, as it is impossible to harm knowledge by additional learning and experience, I think. So we need to start preparations... Will try to remember to have my wife do it... =

Mmm, that is very bad. I assume that the motivation of the teachers was money rather than a need to be seen to have pupils with high grades? I’m asking this as I am unsure if the teachers and examiners are the same people.

= Some do it for a bottle of a good cognac, some - for several hundred US dollars, some - free, as additional service for pupils who take private courses from the teacher... I think it equally disgusting.
And the question of high grades is valid too, as the higher the results - the higher bonus the teacher may get... But in the case at hands not all pupils were getting higher marks, but only those with poorer knowledge, which led to disproportions...
And yes, examiners are usually teachers from the same school, but from other classes...=

I read an interview with Vladimir Voinovich were he said that he could see a time when the monarchy would return to Russia and he could see this as a job Putin would want! But as I have said before I never know if Voinovich is serious or not.

= Yep, that's a problem with Voinovich. But I think VVP (Mr. Putin) would be immensely glad to be crowned. Though I hope never to see that. =

I do know that one of the minor members of the British Royal family (Prince Michael of Kent) has business interests in Russia and one of the reasons for this is that he looks exactly like the last Tsar, and this seems to ‘open doors’ for him. Of course the British, German and Russian Royal families were all inter bred anyway!

= Yes, the Prince Michael is very much like Nikolas the 2nd. (Maybe he even does that on purpose - his beard does the trick mostly) I've seen Mikhael on TV today - he is trying to rise some money for the Russian poor...=

It is probably best that comes naturally from conversation; if I try and sit down to say everything I’ll probably give a wrong impression.
I can remember some of the impressions my Ukrainian friend had when staying here: “The children are beautiful, but they get fat”, “The Sea here is brown!”, “People say please, thank you and sorry for everything, even when they don’t need too”.

= Yep, I see. You are right, I think. =


Yes, the initial story was that it had been hit by a Nato (I think they claimed British) submarine. I can’t remember what the final conclusion was but I can remember seeing a BBC documentary where they said it was a problem with an unstable missile on the Kursk. They gave an example of a British submarine that had sunk in similar circumstances many years ago.

= The problem was (if I remember correctly) a torpedo, which got stuck in the tube, and couldn't be prevented from exploding. It was a new type of a torpedo, somehow not yet fully ready for using.
And the story about other submarine was foolish, but was repeated once and again for many times, with that meaning that the western military tried to kill the best Russian submarine... Pfui...=

I’ve not read the “Salmon of Doubt” but I believe it was bits and pieces of writing that they found on the hard drive of his computer after he died.

= Yes, exactly. And there were lots of facts about Adams in the book too. =

I think you will enjoy the chance to see a visual interpretation of Adams’s ideas.

= I surely will. I just cannot wait to see it... =

It doesn’t have a plot in the same way as a film has, with a hero that drives the story forward. Things just happen to Dent and the story often stops while the book explains the interesting ideas that Adams had.

= Yes, I think that's what life is. You often build a perfect plan, than something moves nearby, and your perfect structure is swept away, and it is a wise thing not to get killed by it and keep living. So I think Arthur Dent is a perfect story hero - he is a very ordinary person, who manages to swim, when it is very much possible to drown. =

I think you can trace this idea back to a sketch he wrote a few years before with a guy called Graham Chapman for another BBC show called “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”; it has a similar theme of pointless bureaucracy.
Unfortunately, in the film part of this scene is missing, particularly the “I found it at the bottom of a locked filing cabinet, in a dark room, behind a door with a sign saying ‘Beware of the Leopard’”.

= Wow, too bad. How is it possible to manage without that? (the question is purely rhetorical). =

Have you read any of his Dirk Gently books?

= Yes, "The hollistic agency" and "The long dark tea". I believe that makes all of them... They are strange, but I liked them. They gave a very curious impression... Too bad there will never be another one of them... =

 

[Kenny Shovel]

The problem is the absolute majority of our people are underpaid. And it became so natural to cut expences that almost nobody understood they are doing the wrong thing.

Sure, that was what I was trying to say.

For example …when the driver told me how bad it was for Hodorkovsky not to pay all the necessary taxes, I asked him if he himself paid anything as taxes from his additional income of taxi services. Why should I? - was the logical response. The person couldn't understand that Hodorkovsky had done essentially the same thing, of course on bigger scale, but he really paid huge sums, and most of our people just pay nothing and are quite sure they are right.

Well everyone wants somebody else to pay tax I guess. But sure I understand what you are saying. Is this part of the reason Putin is going after the oligarchs? Or is that more to do with the political manoeuvres we discussed before than trying to set an example from the top down?

Some do it for a bottle of a good cognac

Ah yes, Russians love their Brandy.

some - for several hundred US dollars, some - free, as additional service for pupils who take private courses from the teacher... I think it equally disgusting.

Sure, the principle of broken trust is the same whatever their reward.

And the question of high grades is valid too, as the higher the results - the higher bonus the teacher may get... But in the case at hands not all pupils were getting higher marks, but only those with poorer knowledge, which led to disproportions...
And yes, examiners are usually teachers from the same school, but from other classes…

Many people in Britain complain that school exams are easier to obtain good grades in than in the past. Today’s pupils of course, so not agree.

But I think VVP (Mr. Putin) would be immensely glad to be crowned. Though I hope never to see that.

I’m sure this will be restricted to his dreams.

Yes, the Prince Michael is very much like Nikolas the 2nd. (Maybe he even does that on purpose - his beard does the trick mostly) I've seen Mikhael on TV today - he is trying to rise some money for the Russian poor...

I think he’s had the beard a long time and the resemblance is because they are related. In Britain his wife is more famous, but not very popular, perhaps because her father was a German SS officer! No, I’m not joking.

The problem was (if I remember correctly) a torpedo, which got stuck in the tube, and couldn't be prevented from exploding. It was a new type of a torpedo, somehow not yet fully ready for using.

Right, I checked and this seems to be the same theory as the BBC documentary.

And the story about other submarine was foolish, but was repeated once and again for many times, with that meaning that the western military tried to kill the best Russian submarine...

Again this is people thinking like it is still the cold war. Although I think there was a British and two American submarines in the area at the time, so it would by an easy cover story to use. I also never understood why it took so long, perhaps two days, for the British mini-sub and Norwegian divers to get to the scene. For some reason they had to come part of the way by sea rather than be flown all the way. I wondered if part of this was bureaucracy because the Russian Navy did not like the world to see other people had equipment they did not. But perhaps I am being too suspicious in this.

Yes, I think that's what life is. You often build a perfect plan, than something moves nearby, and your perfect structure is swept away, and it is a wise thing not to get killed by it and keep living. So I think Arthur Dent is a perfect story hero - he is a very ordinary person, who manages to swim, when it is very much possible to drown.

Sure life is like this, and in a strange way so was Adams work; but Hollywood films are not. They have a certain structure that executives need to see in place before they will finance such a film.

Wow, too bad. How is it possible to manage without that? (the question is purely rhetorical).

I’ll answer anyway. It still does but not as well and it is not as funny.

Yes, "The hollistic agency" and "The long dark tea". I believe that makes all of them... They are strange, but I liked them. They gave a very curious impression... Too bad there will never be another one of them...

I’m struggling to think of similar things. Some people would say Terry Pratchet, but I’ve not read him. The only things I can think of in a similar vein are British comedies like Monty Python or Red Dwarf.

 

[Sergo]

...Is this part of the reason Putin is going after the oligarchs? Or is that more to do with the political manoeuvres we discussed before than trying to set an example from the top down?

= You know, when one fights every evil in sight - he is a hero. When one fights only the evil one can easily defeat - he is possibly a wise man. But if one chooses to fight one evil in a hundred, or maybe in a hundred thousand - he must be pursuing his own interests rather then fighting evil. In his case fighting this particular evil isn't a proof that he does a right thing. And there are lots of people around like Hodorkovsky, Berezovsky and Gusinsky, who never choose to oppose the State and feel perfectly safe, while having maybe more and dirtier skeletons in their cupboards... =

I think he’s had the beard a long time and the resemblance is because they are related. In Britain his wife is more famous, but not very popular, perhaps because her father was a German SS officer! No, I’m not joking.

= I believe both the Georges V & VI had much the same faces - but one had the wrong type of beard, and another had none at all. So they seemed less like Nickolas the 2nd, at least to my eye. While in Mickhael's case everything slips in place...
Wow... I hadn't known about SS officer. It could be used to show that children cannot be blamed for the fathers' sins. That could be a good PR if played right. =

I also never understood why it took so long, perhaps two days, for the British mini-sub and Norwegian divers to get to the scene. For some reason they had to come part of the way by sea rather than be flown all the way. I wondered if part of this was bureaucracy because the Russian Navy did not like the world to see other people had equipment they did not. But perhaps I am being too suspicious in this.

= You know, our military are very much made fun of because of their strange approaches in life. Almost everyone of us has some military experience - from several month in military camps to several years in the war, but the stories we tell of our colonels and majors are very much alike, as if it were the same people giving orders to all of us. They think in some special way. One of these characteristical points is that laymen must know as little as possible about internal military affairs. So they can do really a lot in order not to give out information they suppose could be harmful to them in any slightest way. It is OK for them to tell 100% lies (remember the Ukrainian rocket?) if they think they have at least some chances to get away with it. =

I’m struggling to think of similar things. Some people would say Terry Pratchet, but I’ve not read him. The only things I can think of in a similar vein are British comedies like Monty Python or Red Dwarf.

= I've never read Pratched as well (really, today is the first day in two and a half weeks that I opened a book - as I read only in our underground, and sometimes I have some home design or gardening magazines to read...), I've heard about Monty Python, but not of Red Dwarf...

By the way, I've found out that Russian premiere of the HHGTTG will be in a month and a half ahead. Yestrday I downloaded some trailers - wow... it really grabs... Some colleagues who dropped in on me today while I was at it are also desperate to see the film now...

 

[Kenny Shovel]

You know, when one fights every evil in sight - he is a hero. When one fights only the evil one can easily defeat - he is possibly a wise man. But if one chooses to fight one evil in a hundred, or maybe in a hundred thousand - he must be pursuing his own interests rather then fighting evil. In his case fighting this particular evil isn't a proof that he does a right thing. And there are lots of people around like Hodorkovsky, Berezovsky and Gusinsky, who never choose to oppose the State and feel perfectly safe, while having maybe more and dirtier skeletons in their cupboards...

Ok, I see. Putin can pick and choose who he pursues and use tax avoidance etc as a mask to legitimize it. Of course all this makes me wonder who actually does pay tax in Russia? And how will you maintain and re-build services without this uncollected money!

I believe both the Georges V & VI had much the same faces - but one had the wrong type of beard, and another had none at all. So they seemed less like Nickolas the 2nd, at least to my eye. While in Michael’s case everything slips in place...

Yes, the likeness is very close, almost like a twin. The same is true if you see a picture of myself as a child and my father at a similar age, although that is more understandable.

Wow... I hadn't known about SS officer. It could be used to show that children cannot be blamed for the fathers' sins. That could be a good PR if played right.

I’m not sure about that, her PR is pretty bad already, in Britain she is known as “Princess Pushy” and is perceived as a person most motivated by her own self-interest.

You know, our military are very much made fun of because of their strange approaches in life. Almost everyone of us has some military experience - from several month in military camps to several years in the war, but the stories we tell of our colonels and majors are very much alike, as if it were the same people giving orders to all of us. They think in some special way. One of these characteristical points is that laymen must know as little as possible about internal military affairs. So they can do really a lot in order not to give out information they suppose could be harmful to them in any slightest way. It is OK for them to tell 100% lies (remember the Ukrainian rocket?) if they think they have at least some chances to get away with it.

Again this is an old cold war/communist attitude, “this is how things are, we do not have to explain”. The world has moved on by they have not.

I've never read Pratchett as well (really, today is the first day in two and a half weeks that I opened a book - as I read only in our underground, and sometimes I have some home design or gardening magazines to read...)

Yes, I go through phases with my reading. At the moment I’m not reading any books either, then I can go through a spurt at read 4 or 5 in a fortnight.

I've heard about Monty Python, but not of Red Dwarf...

Read Dwarf, is another sci-fi comedy from the BBC, but there many more episodes made other a number of years. The humour is a little less sophisticated but still funny, and they do subvert some of the conventions of sci-fi & Time-Travel. It also has a large cult following.
There is more info at this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf

By the way, I've found out that Russian premiere of the HHGTTG will be in a month and a half ahead. Yesterday I downloaded some trailers - wow... it really grabs... Some colleagues who dropped in on me today while I was at it are also desperate to see the film now...

I think in general you will like it, certainly like the opportunity to see Adams’s ideas coming to life. I think the film has been No.1 in Britain and America on it’s first week of release so it may be successful enough for them to make more; the first film finishes just as they are leaving for the “Restaurant at the end of the universe”…

 

[Sergo]

Hi Kenny:

It seems I have some time for several answers before I leave for home...

Ok, I see. Putin can pick and choose who he pursues and use tax avoidance etc as a mask to legitimize it. Of course all this makes me wonder who actually does pay tax in Russia? And how will you maintain and re-build services without this uncollected money!

= Exactly. Things in Russia are organized in such a fashion so everybody could be found guilty anytime of something. Because of this it is quite simple to have businessmen or politicians to behave themselves as the State wishes. At least I see it this way.
Who pays taxes here... Absolute majority of individuals pays almost nothing. The companyes pay quite a lot for the workers and different other taxes. Legally rich people pay real or almost real taxes from their personal incomes - but there are not too many of those. For example, most of our politicians declare their income at about $400 per month, and Mr. Putin had been one of those, while everybody understands that to lead a decent life here one has to spend ten times that. There are some more ways for government to get money from, but the most money comes from the customs - for export & import taxes. =

I’m not sure about that, her PR is pretty bad already, in Britain she is known as “Princess Pushy” and is perceived as a person most motivated by her own self-interest.

= Too bad... No SS father would be able to help her out of it... =

Again this is an old cold war/communist attitude, “this is how things are, we do not have to explain”. The world has moved on by they have not.

= BTW, are your military not like ours? =

Yes, I go through phases with my reading. At the moment I’m not reading any books either, then I can go through a spurt at read 4 or 5 in a fortnight.

= You know, it is difficult for me to read in Russian, as I often think that I kill the precious time I could have spent much better. (it's foolish, of course, I have to take care of that). And when reading in English - I can always pretend it's good for my language practice...
And there are only several good shops selling English books in Moscow, none of them near my home or office... =

Read Dwarf, is another sci-fi comedy from the BBC, but there many more episodes made other a number of years. The humour is a little less sophisticated but still funny, and they do subvert some of the conventions of sci-fi & Time-Travel. It also has a large cult following.
There is more info at this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf

= I see. Thanks, I will check. =

…

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Exactly. Things in Russia are organized in such a fashion so everybody could be found guilty anytime of something. Because of this it is quite simple to have businessmen or politicians to behave themselves as the State wishes. At least I see it this way.

That almost sounds like a Russian Tradition as well!

Who pays taxes here... Absolute majority of individuals pays almost nothing. The companies pay quite a lot for the workers and different other taxes.

Do you mean the workers income is taxed before they receive it, this is the system in England, or that the company has to pay tax for having employees?

… most of our politicians declare their income at about $400 per month, and Mr. Putin had been one of those

Perhaps he is telling the truth, which would explain why he never smiles.

.. but the most money comes from the customs - for export & import taxes…

This doesn’t sound like the best way to stimulate the economy!
In Britain the main tax a person pays is income tax which comes directly out of your pay-packet and before you receive it. The percentage you pay depends on what you earn. There is first a ‘Personnal allowance’, an amount of money you can earn that is not taxed, for me that is the first four and a half thousand or so. The rest is taxed at differing levels, 23% up until about £26,500, and anything over that is taxed at 40%. There is also VAT (value added tax) which is added to the cost of certain goods, and fuel in Britain is heavily taxed. A litre of Petrol costs about 80-85 pence and most of that goes to the government. In general we pay quite a lot in tax, but we have traditionally had a “Welfare State” to pay for. Meaning you get money from the state if you are unemployed, or have children, pensions etc…

BTW, are your military not like ours?

To a certain extent all militaries are the same and try to deal with things internally. In Britain there is a scandal with one of our military training centres, there have been soldiers commit suicide with suggestions that the recruits are subject to bullying and even rape. As is often the case when something like this happens and families complain an internal Army investigation is set up rather than an external one. There is a similar, but smaller scale, case in Germany also; I’m not sure how the German army is dealing with it.

You know, it is difficult for me to read in Russian, as I often think that I kill the precious time I could have spent much better.

Looking at young girls on the Metro you mean?

And there are only several good shops selling English books in Moscow, none of them near my home or office...

That is still several more than there are good Russian book shops in London.

 

[Sergo]

Do you mean the workers income is taxed before they receive it, this is the system in England, or that the company has to pay tax for having employees?

= Every employee pays income taxes (and the "childless tax", if one doesn't have them). How many percent - I do not exactly remember, I think 12% for ordinary sums, and progressive for bigger money. But officially I am paid 4000 Roubles per month - about $120 or so. I pay twice that for my mobile calls every month. My real monthly payment at our Company is $3000 or $4000 per month - I have to check my balance with the Company, they should have rised it last month. But most money I do on my customers... So you see, it really doesn't matter how many percent our income tax is.

Every employer pays many different taxes, maybe fifteen of them - only our accountants know that, I think. One of the taxes is the tax for employees - the more people are employed at a company, the more the company pays. So, naturally, employers tend to cheat - to pay some penny officially, and a pound - under the table. That's a common practice, and those who do not do so could be easilly counted on fingers of several people. =

Perhaps he is telling the truth, which would explain why he never smiles.

= And they say English humor is different! You know, my wife rearely leaves a shop until she spend at least $100 - 200 on foodstuffs only. Moscow is quite an expensive city, not like London of course, but not like Kiev too. So it is absolute bullshit about sobebody in the politics earning $400 a month. Why, their suits cost many times that, and they could die hungry or were killed by their wives if they tried to feed their families on $400 per month... =

This doesn’t sound like the best way to stimulate the economy!

= And it doesn't intend to do so. It only gives money to the State, and the money comes from the wealthy, not the ordinary people - so people could have thought that honest, if they had thought about it. =


In Britain the main tax a person pays is income tax which comes directly out of your pay-packet and before you receive it. The percentage you pay depends on what you earn. There is first a ‘Personnal allowance’, an amount of money you can earn that is not taxed, for me that is the first four and a half thousand or so. The rest is taxed at differing levels, 23% up until about £26,500, and anything over that is taxed at 40%. There is also VAT (value added tax) which is added to the cost of certain goods, and fuel in Britain is heavily taxed. A litre of Petrol costs about 80-85 pence and most of that goes to the government. In general we pay quite a lot in tax, but we have traditionally had a “Welfare State” to pay for. Meaning you get money from the state if you are unemployed, or have children, pensions etc…

= I see. I hope I will find time to tell you more about our "Wellfare" soon. =


To a certain extent all militaries are the same and try to deal with things internally. In Britain there is a scandal with one of our military training centres, there have been soldiers commit suicide with suggestions that the recruits are subject to bullying and even rape. As is often the case when something like this happens and families complain an internal Army investigation is set up rather than an external one. There is a similar, but smaller scale, case in Germany also; I’m not sure how the German army is dealing with it.

= Yep. And I hoped that other countries' armies are somewhat beter than our in accordance to their soldiers... Our are killed or commit suicides almost every week. =

Looking at young girls on the Metro you mean?

= Ha-Ha. I like this joke. But really it's quite hard to remain a honest husband, spending two hours a day in our Metro... =

That is still several more than there are good Russian book shops in London.

= So... We may come to London this July, if our daughter will go to her courses... My wife just called me to tell that she was offered three or four alternatives, and for Euro5000 per month (including visa & tickets) it is possible to arrange the study...
So if we come - we may bring you some books - they are impossibly cheap here, and you still have a lot of time to choose...

Bye, I will go now to meet some customs man - we arranged to discuss a new scheme of not too legal deliveries with him...

 

[Kenny Shovel]

officially I am paid 4000 Roubles per month… But most money I do on my customers... So you see, it really doesn't matter how many percent our income tax is.

Yeah, I think I get the general idea of how it works. Obviously in Britain things work differently, with high accountancy/audit standards and stiff penalties for failing to comply. Although those who earn the most can afford expensive accountants who can ‘minimize the pain’ for you.

Every employer pays many different taxes, maybe fifteen of them - only our accountants know that, I think. One of the taxes is the tax for employees - the more people are employed at a company, the more the company pays. So, naturally, employers tend to cheat - to pay some penny officially, and a pound - under the table. That's a common practice, and those who do not do so could be easily counted on fingers of several people.

Well, there is a ‘black market economy’ in Britain too, but on a smaller scale; it often involves illegal workers from other countries. There was a case a year or two ago with Chinese workers collecting shellfish on a beach during the hours of the morning before light, they did not know the tides in the same way the British workers did so they were there when it was dangerous, the tide came in quickly, and about 15-20 were swept out to sea and killed. Because they were illegal workers it was very difficult to identify who they were.
This BBC page gives details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4238209.stm

And they say English humour is different!

Perhaps it is, but there is a dark side to some of it which may be similar to Russian humour.

You know, my wife rarely leaves a shop until she spends at least $100 - 200 on foodstuffs only.

I feel your pain…

Moscow is quite an expensive city, not like London of course, but not like Kiev too.

I think I read somewhere that London, Moscow and Tokyo are the most expensive cities in the world. I’m not sure how ordinary people or say students are supposed to survive in Moscow if that is true!

So it is absolute bullshit about somebody in the politics earning $400 a month. Why, their suits cost many times that, and they could die hungry or were killed by their wives if they tried to feed their families on $400 per month...

Well again, this would not happen in a country like Britain, the press would finish a politician for this.
One of our leading politicians was accused of ‘corruption’ last year. The crime he was accused of committing was to give a couple of Government paid train tickets to a woman he was having an affair with, these tickets are only supposed to be for his wife (he is not married, although she was). Also she had a maid working for her who needed her visa extending, as this was work done in his department he was accused of asking for its processing to be speeded up. Not for it to be granted, just for a Yes or No to be given more quickly. The press here got very hot under the collar about it, the fact this was happening at the same time we were seeing pictures of Victor Yeshenko’s poisoned face on TV didn’t seem to put this man’s ‘crimes’ into perspective!

And it doesn't intend to do so. It only gives money to the State, and the money comes from the wealthy, not the ordinary people

When you get the full effects of Capitalism you will see that the opposite becomes true.

I see. I hope I will find time to tell you more about our "Welfare" soon.

Sure, I suspect a different history to mine.

Yep. And I hoped that other countries' armies are somewhat better than our in accordance to their soldiers... Or are killed or commit suicides almost every week.

As I said, I think this happens in all armies, it is the ‘nature of the beast’; but again, as with many things, it will be to differing degrees. It sounds like the Russian experience is quite bad, I found this in the BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3756866.stm

Ha-Ha. I like this joke. But really it's quite hard to remain an honest husband, spending two hours a day in our Metro...

But a book can hide your thoughts…if left in your lap..

... We may come to London this July, if our daughter will go to her courses... My wife just called me to tell that she was offered three or four alternatives, and for Euro5000 per month (including visa & tickets) it is possible to arrange the study...

Wow, that seems a lot! Is this for all three of you though?

So if we come - we may bring you some books - they are impossibly cheap here, and you still have a lot of time to choose...

That’s very kind but I have a pile of 40+ unread books already! And if you mean Russian Language editions, my Russian is not up to that, I can read Cyrillic letters and pronounce the words, but I only really have 2-300 Russian word Vocabulary…all I can really say is a few basic greetings, order a beer and say “Klassnaya Popka” to pretty girls when I’ve had too much to drink. All the Russian I’ve ever needed really…

And I must also go, the polling is about to finish in our Elections, which means all the comedy shows will start and make fun of everything that has happened during the campaign.

 

[Sergo]

Yeah, I think I get the general idea of how it works. Obviously in Britain things work differently, with high accountancy/audit standards and stiff penalties for failing to comply. Although those who earn the most can afford expensive accountants who can ‘minimize the pain’ for you.

= You see, how better we live here: anybody can "minimize the pain" for oneself. =

Well, there is a ‘black market economy’ in Britain too, but on a smaller scale; it often involves illegal workers from other countries. There was a case a year or two ago with Chinese workers collecting shellfish on a beach during the hours of the morning before light, they did not know the tides in the same way the British workers did so they were there when it was dangerous, the tide came in quickly, and about 15-20 were swept out to sea and killed. Because they were illegal workers it was very difficult to identify who they were.
This BBC page gives details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4238209.stm

= We have very many illegal workers too - almost all of our construction sites are full of them. =

I feel your pain…

= Really, I am glad that she can spend what she wants. =

I think I read somewhere that London, Moscow and Tokyo are the most expensive cities in the world. I’m not sure how ordinary people or say students are supposed to survive in Moscow if that is true!

= Yes, London is quite expensive even for me. Our average people would not be able to live for a week on the money they spend here in a month. I do not know if there is slighly cheeper level of life in the UK. In Russia it is exactly so: there are places where one could eat for a fraction of what could be spent for a decent meal in a restaurant. I remember how my friend told me once that Czech Republic is a very cheap country, many times cheaper, than Moscow. When we finally came there - OK, it is not too expensive there, but not outstandingly cheap, as that friend of mine said. Imagine that he happened to be in Prague then (he bought a flat there really), so I asked him to explain himself. And he invited us to a place where the food was very cheap. The food was not too good, really, so it was natural to expect it should be cheaper. We have lots and lots of such places in Moscow, with cheaper meals even. But that friend of mine was a wealthy man, so he has never eaten in such places in Moscow... =

Well again, this would not happen in a country like Britain, the press would finish a politician for this.
One of our leading politicians was accused of ‘corruption’ last year. The crime he was accused of committing was to give a couple of Government paid train tickets to a woman he was having an affair with, these tickets are only supposed to be for his wife (he is not married, although she was). Also she had a maid working for her who needed her visa extending, as this was work done in his department he was accused of asking for its processing to be speeded up. Not for it to be granted, just for a Yes or No to be given more quickly. The press here got very hot under the collar about it, the fact this was happening at the same time we were seeing pictures of Victor Yeshenko’s poisoned face on TV didn’t seem to put this man’s ‘crimes’ into perspective!

= I think that maybe too much. But even it is better than what we have now. To get there we need many years, as if we tried that right now - economy would have collapsed without "greasing", as to live per owr laws is impossible - they are too strict. =


When you get the full effects of Capitalism you will see that the opposite becomes true.

= Maybe. I would like to. =

Sure, I suspect a different history to mine.

= Very different. =

But a book can hide your thoughts…if left in your lap..

= Exactly. Too bad I prefer to stand in our Metro - it is much more suitable for standing in it, than the London one. =

Wow, that seems a lot! Is this for all three of you though?

= Sorry, I did not understand that - really wife told me about 3000. And then they decided that our daughter will come only for two weeks = tht would be only Euro1800... As to us - I think we will come for a week or 10 days, I do not know how much it would be this time. Last time we lived in a four star hotel near Kensington Garden - the street was named... Lancaster... Lancastershire... Cannot remember. I may like to rent a good flat - but I imagine that too much fuss. =

That’s very kind but I have a pile of 40+ unread books already! And if you mean Russian Language editions, my Russian is not up to that, I can read Cyrillic letters and pronounce the words, but I only really have 2-300 Russian word Vocabulary…all I can really say is a few basic greetings, order a beer and say “Klassnaya Popka” to pretty girls when I’ve had too much to drink. All the Russian I’ve ever needed really…

= Wow... I doubt if I have 40 unread books in our house... You must like reading very much, to store so many...
I thought of translations, but really I do not know the situation with the Russian books in English. OK, if you do not need them - the better, we even have an appropriate saying for that... But if you have any second thoughts - I will try to help.=

And I must also go, the polling is about to finish in our Elections, which means all the comedy shows will start and make fun of everything that has happened during the campaign.

And we leave to the city of Suzdahl tomorrow early in the morning. I.e. in 7 hours... Then - to several other old Russian cities. We plan to go there by our car, walk there, eat somewhere, and move to anotger city... After two or three days we will return to our dacha...

See you then.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

You see, how better we live here: anybody can "minimize the pain" for oneself.

The American founding farther Benjamin Franklin once said that “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It appears that in the modern Russian era one of these perils has been eliminated and your society is therefore half-way to perfection. My congratulations, I await the invention of Russian immortality with eager anticipation!

We have very many illegal workers too - almost all of our construction sites are full of them.

There are probably filling the places left by Russians now working on British construction sites.

Yes, London is quite expensive even for me. Our average people would not be able to live for a week on the money they spend here in a month. I do not know if there is slightly cheaper level of life in the UK.

London is the most expensive place to live in Britain, which causes problems in trying to get people to fill low-paid jobs. In general however London jobs pay more to overcome this, this is called ‘London Weighting’, meaning a company will pay an extra amount to someone doing the same job in London as in an office elsewhere. This is supposed to compensate for the extra cost of housing if you live in London or the cost of commuting if you live outside. For example where I live it is about 45-50 minutes from London by Train, and the annual cost of the tickets is abut £3,000.
Still commuting could be worse, a friend of mine was going back to India after 5 years working in England, and one of the things he wasn’t looking forward to was the commuting by train into his nearest big city Mumbai (previously called Bombay). He showed me some pictures on the internet of people hanging on to the outside of open train doors and explained how the only way to get a seat on these packed trains was to run along side them and jump on board before they stopped at your station. I asked him if this was as dangerous as it sounded and he just laughed and said ‘A few people are killed every year!’

I remember how my friend told me once that Czech Republic is a very cheap country, many times cheaper, than Moscow. When we finally came there - OK, it is not too expensive there, but not outstandingly cheap, as that friend of mine said.

Prague is very popular with British tourists for weekend breaks away, one of the reasons is that the beer is good and compared to Britain very reasonably priced.
BTW many years ago on Holiday in Malta a guy gave me an excellent piece of advice, he told me to always say that something is ‘reasonably priced’, as ‘cheap’ can also mean that something is not worth much.

I imagine that he happened to be in Prague then (he bought a flat there really)

About six or seven years ago I wanted to buy a flat in Prague or Riga as an investment, but at the time I did not have the money, now the same kind of property is worth up to 4 or 5 times what it was then. Truly you need to have money to make money sometimes!

I think that maybe too much. But even it is better than what we have now. To get there we need many years, as if we tried that right now - economy would have collapsed without "greasing", as to live per own laws is impossible - they are too strict.

Sure, I can see that. But somehow you have to find a way through this current anarchic system to one to moves you country forward more quickly. People cannot keep living on the promise of tomorrow will be better.

Wow, that seems a lot! Is this for all three of you though?

Sorry, I did not understand that - really wife told me about 3000. And then they decided that our daughter will come only for two weeks = that would be only Euro1800...

And I in turn didn’t quite understand that, anyway it’s none of my business, let’s move on.

. Last time we lived in a four star hotel near Kensington Garden - the street was named... Lancaster... Lancastershire... Cannot remember. I may like to rent a good flat - but I imagine that too much fuss.

There are lots of roads named Lancaster in London, but you could mean near Lancaster Gate Tube station perhaps? BTW I tend to prefer to stay in apartments to hotels when I travel but you’re right it is a fuss, and no late night bar!

Wow... I doubt if I have 40 unread books in our house... You must like reading very much, to store so many...

I tend to go though phases of reading lots and then reading nothing much, but my book buying habit is fairly constant. At one point I was up to 70+ unread but I’ve pulled that back a bit since!

 

[Sergo]

The American founding farther Benjamin Franklin once said that “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It appears that in the modern Russian era one of these perils has been eliminated and your society is therefore half-way to perfection. My congratulations, I await the invention of Russian immortality with eager anticipation!

= Mmmmm... Russian immortality... My grandfather died on the brink of 90 years old, having lost his leg in 1945 after going as a sergeant through almost all of the War (sometimes I think that he had to enlist (is it the right word for "going military"?) in my age... I think that for a mature man in a way it is more difficult than for a young man of 25 - 30). After the War they lived in the basement of a house opposite the USA embassy. They even had not had a lavatory, so they had to use a bucket they had near the door, which they emptied then into the public trash bins outside their doors. So when my mother, who was a girl then, wanted to invite some friend - she was ashamed of that. In the times I speak of it was very hard to find a fat Russian - everyone tended to be lean, as there was not enough food for all of us. I remember that we never have bought meat on the market, as that was very expensive for us, and in shops it appeared several times a months and never of a good quality. (But it was much better in Moscow then in other cities: my uncle, who fought in the War with our former head of State Mr. Andropov, had the rank of colonel of KGB (that's more than a general in our ordinary army) had to come to Moscow several times a year to buy meat and "kolbasa" - big sausages. In the city of Sarathov, were my uncle lived, it had been much worse with foodstuffs, even for the heroes of the War).
Yes, I tried to tell about my grandfather Nikita... (That's not a woman's name here, BTW) So, after my grandmother died, ded Nikita got partly paralized - and his only leg was paralized as well. But he tried to learn to walk again just the same, and almost succeded in that. Ded Nikita died about 6 years after my babushka, of flu - he too much liked to sleep outdoors on his dacha...
So, what I wanted to tell - we are nearer to immortality than some of more well-to do people. Given more chance, we may be there by now...
(that's a joke) =

There are probably filling the places left by Russians now working on British construction sites.

= Oh, I had not known you have many Russian construction workers... I often wondered lately, where are all those skillful workers with whom I had worked on Moscow construction sites - it seems only unskilled guys from far away are working on Moscow sites now... =

London is the most expensive place to live in Britain, which causes problems in trying to get people to fill low-paid jobs. In general however London jobs pay more to overcome this, this is called ‘London Weighting’, meaning a company will pay an extra amount to someone doing the same job in London as in an office elsewhere. This is supposed to compensate for the extra cost of housing if you live in London or the cost of commuting if you live outside. For example where I live it is about 45-50 minutes from London by Train, and the annual cost of the tickets is abut £3,000.
Still commuting could be worse, a friend of mine was going back to India after 5 years working in England, and one of the things he wasn’t looking forward to was the commuting by train into his nearest big city Mumbai (previously called Bombay). He showed me some pictures on the internet of people hanging on to the outside of open train doors and explained how the only way to get a seat on these packed trains was to run along side them and jump on board before they stopped at your station. I asked him if this was as dangerous as it sounded and he just laughed and said ‘A few people are killed every year!’

= I see. So, how much do I spent on transport? Metro is 105 Roubles per 10 trips. That's about 5000 Roubles a year... I almost never use a bus or a trolleybus here, and very rarely - a tram... OK, half a thousand more... And maybe $100 or so a month on taxi... So, all in all - not more than $1400 a year... =

Prague is very popular with British tourists for weekend breaks away, one of the reasons is that the beer is good and compared to Britain very reasonably priced.
BTW many years ago on Holiday in Malta a guy gave me an excellent piece of advice, he told me to always say that something is ‘reasonably priced’, as ‘cheap’ can also mean that something is not worth much.

= Thanks, I was in doubt when writing that whether I should use "cheap" or not - I am aware of its meanings. But sometimes to use phrases like "reasonably priced" changes impression one would like to convey... OK, I will try to comply.=

About six or seven years ago I wanted to buy a flat in Prague or Riga as an investment, but at the time I did not have the money, now the same kind of property is worth up to 4 or 5 times what it was then. Truly you need to have money to make money sometimes!

= Luckily, I do not have much money to spare - we spend most of what we get. When some time before we found out that we have about $100.000 we do not really need - we spent the money on a new flat. So, now we have before us much easier projects than planting money to rise money - we have to make the flat livable (they sell it only with windows and radiators - bare walls & floors, nothing else), to buy furniture... My wife has already spent a lot of time trying to get a Minotti kitchen furniture designed for us - that's not easy, as our kitchen should not be big, according to my wife project. (All the flat is near 100 sq.m. really - rather tiny by our standards for a bought flat). =


Sure, I can see that. But somehow you have to find a way through this current anarchic system to one to moves you country forward more quickly. People cannot keep living on the promise of tomorrow will be better.

= And I am mostly sure we will, until our State succeeds in doing something I especially do not like. Then I am in doubt for some time. But I am an optimist, so in the end I start to believe again... =

And I in turn didn’t quite understand that, anyway it’s none of my business, let’s move on.

= I think that's my faulty language again. It turns out that to send our daughter to these courses for two weeks will cost us about Euro1800 - with the visa, tickets and staying in some campus. We plan to come too, but only for a week or 10 days tops. It will depend on our visas - we may be not granted them, as though my wife had been to UK twice and I - once, it is the first time all of our family will be in the UK simultaneously. =

There are lots of roads named Lancaster in London, but you could mean near Lancaster Gate Tube station perhaps? BTW I tend to prefer to stay in apartments to hotels when I travel but you’re right it is a fuss, and no late night bar!

= Yep, that Tube station was not too far away from where we lived, and the hotel was just three minutes' walk from the Kensington Gardens fence.

So we visited several old Russian cities, most of them for the first time: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl'-Zalesskiy, Yuriev-Polskiy, Suzdal and Vladimir - I was very glad we have done that at last (we planned to do so for many years already), but to name these cities "The Golden Ring" - is by far too much. The roads are awful, and sometimes they turn from passable tarmack to tracks in the dirt in the matter of seconds. We got our weel punctured by a piece of some ancient peasant's instrument of an inch length somewhere there. Some of old churches and castles are in not too bad shape, but others may crush any moment...
But the food is good and very reasonably priced - five of us could eat full dinner with alcoholic drinks for $30 - 40. Paintings of local painters could be bought for $10 - 150, and are very good to my taste. And life is very much different from that of contemporary Moscow, and quite interesting because of that. And, really, all these ancient churches and monasteries... Yes, I am very glad we came there. =