Hello from Russia!

[Sergo]

I know nothing about Popov, but the BBC film on Luzhkov said he was now going to stand as Putin’s man. Is this still happening?

Of course I am not aware of the politics behind it, but as far as I understand Mr. Luzhkov - he has in him more of a wise man, than of a really good one. So he needs his power and all the money he can lay his hands on, but he understands that to have that the people must like him. So he does many things we need, and tries not to look too bad. But democracy or justice or something like these are more words than reality for him, only tools to get at his aims, if he must use them.
But to have what he needs the people's love is not enough as long as he is not a Russian president, so he naturally position himself as the president's man too, at lest when the president allows that. But in his heart he is his own man, not Putin's.

The bigger and more powerful you are, the more people look at you, the more they look, the more they see. Pick the most friendly race you can think of, give them Americas power and you’d see the same result, more or less.

Exactly my thoughts.
And every mighty (real or just self-imaging) nation in history behaved in the same way.

And yet the Ukraine seems to be getting it’s vodka for only three quarters price. They negoiated a good deal from what I can see, the brinkmanship appears to be from both sides not just one.

Really, I haven't followed the details closely enough of late. But my imression is that Ukraine gets a mixture of Russian and other gas, with Russian gas costing $230 and other - what it costs Russia, or only slightly more. So as the Russian gas is about 25% (or even less) in the mixture - total price is much less than that.

Have you never heard of bartering? I suspect the deal they ended up with is one they would have been happy to take on day one.

Yes, I surely had: a big part of our stolen and lost money were connected with barters. But it seems barters are our past rather than the future, is it not the same everywhere?

That’s not made the news over here yet. If and when the reciprocal Basil’s cathedral appears in Trafalgar square it will…

K-S

I see. It seems in your weather that possibility is quite thin. It is more than +10C now in London, yes?
And it is -5C here at the moment...

 

[Sergo]

From memory this wasn’t exactly subtle either was it? Perhaps I say that because it was always reported in Britain that Russian was involved in that?

I think it has been meant as subtle (not as subtle as eliminating somebody with an umbrella or a ball pen, of course) as an assault by a small group of Spetcnaz could be. It went slightly wrong and got louder than it had been meant, but Spetcnaz guys were really cool - so the result has been achieved, though with much more people killed.

I don’t know, there was plenty of ‘under the table things’ regarding Russian and British involvement in Afghanistan during the 19th century; what the British at the time called “The Great Game”.

Sure. I have tried to insert this smile: there, but something went wrong.

I’d say current circumstances and chances of a better future both figure. Perhaps in Russia the here and now is slightly more important; we’ve talked before about Russians sometimes not planning things, like holidays, because of an attitude that things in the future may not happen.

Yes, we are lazy to the point of being wise.

I’ve only every seen collected works of Lenin in bookshops, although I guess that would cover the book you are talking about.

You do not even know how much you lost. I've spent many hours discussing Lenin's works with all the pretty girls on the komsomol meetings...

Of course it is difficult to live in another country with a very different culture. Although the example you give can apply to the difficulties a rural Russian could find in any big city to a degree. Don’t students from the countryside studying at MSU have problems adjusting, as well as finding the money to survive?

Yes, though one of the girls that I know came to the same Institute I went to from the fartherst possible derevnia, and now she is the Commerce Director of the GlavMosStroy - the biggest construction company in Russia. And she married a guy from our group, who works now hundreds of levels lower than she does. So her position is only her own achievement, not result of some bed-sharing...

I’m really not sure what this has to do with the price of gas but there you go…
At the moment there are tens, probably hundreds, of thousands of Poles and other Eastern European workers in Britain. Some are doctors and builders who are doing the same jobs they had in Poland, but for better money. Some are unskilled or perhaps university educated but doing manual work over here for minimum wage, but still far more than they would get in Poland. I don’t think it’s a case of coming here to live, as ones I have talk too, a couple work for my uncle, seem to see their time in Britain as an opportunity to save up some money before returning home to an improved life there. Of course that may or may not happen.

I really went from the gaz problem to the problem of Ukraine entering the western society, "going West", as I put it. If I remember my intention correctly, I wanted to show that it is not easy to come to the Western type of life, and not everybody would adjust to it, or like it, after some time passed.

You are probably right about this, but mis-management of the Ukrainian economy since independence does not mean that people their will be looking at Russia with envy, they are just as likely to look at Poland, Czech Republic and the Baltics and see a better way.

Maybe, but again - Western life is not only freer and potentially richer, but also harder and more effort-consuming, as I see it. Emotionally depressing in many cases too, as one cannot be sure of tomorrow. And that has been the first proclaimed principle of our Socialist past.

Perhaps for the rural population yes, but they are not the most mobile members of the population are they.

It depends on consequences: in Uzbekistan, for example, it seems "the immobile rural population" tends to become extinct, as it is too difficult to live there without some family members working abroad and bringing home money and goods. The same could come true for some of Russian and Ukrainean rural regions...

Sure, although any lifting of visa restrictions for Ukrainians to the EU may see a change in that. Something that the Ukrainian Government has made a priority, it will be interesting to see if and when that happens.

I think you are right and they would come to the West. That is, if there are enough working places for them.

Of course Ukrainians will always be close to Russia, in a way, geography apart, Australia will always be close to Britain. But they can have other alliances too, and choose their own path; every child has to leave home eventually.

Yes, sure.

Yes, I worked out later what you meant. The impression that Russia needed the Ukrainian breadbasket; well, you’d think Stalin would have taught them a lesson about that in the 30’s.

Yep. Stalin killed more Ukraineans in 30's for no obvious reason than Chechens or Ingushes in 40's, who were accused of helping the Nazis.

What, like the British Commonwealth? That’s just a symbolic thing Sergo, learn from it. Countries formally under your control will want to be totally free of you, there is no going back, however much you want it.

Maybe - I do not think we have much of our own experience here.

Who would have said in 1980?

Oh, in 1980 it could be more easily imagined than 20 years before. Though "more easily" is not exactly the suitable term... "Not as difficult" would be better.

The price I saw quoted for Turkmenistan gas was more like $45-50.

Will try to check - am not sure right now.

I’ve told you several times that I understand Russia’s complains that Ukrainian gas companies can buy Russian gas for $45 and then sell it on for $200+ to other countries in Europe are legitimate complains. My disagreement is with her negotiation technique.

OK. But the other negotiation technique got us nothing until now, as nobody noticed or cared about it, with the Ukrainian leaders being sure that they would always use the "independence threat" card to their advantage, or what their reason for not caring was...

Quite possibly, but hopefully they were Yushenko’s moves in the first place.

Oh, one could almost never be sure of such a thing in a political leader.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

I think it has been meant as subtle (not as subtle as eliminating somebody with an umbrella or a ball pen, of course) as an assault by a small group of Spetcnaz could be. It went slightly wrong and got louder than it had been meant, but Spetcnaz guys were really cool - so the result has been achieved, though with much more people killed.

The T-72’s rolling over the boarder may have tipped some people off.

Yes, we are lazy to the point of being wise.

An interesting theory, it may explain why Steven Hawking never gets out of that damn chair…

You do not even know how much you lost. I've spent many hours discussing Lenin's works with all the pretty girls on the komsomol meetings...

Russia is such a wonderfully different country; discussing political & socio-economic theory never gets you laid in Britain…and we’re a poorer country for that I can tell you…

I really went from the gas problem to the problem of Ukraine entering the western society, "going West", as I put it. If I remember my intention correctly, I wanted to show that it is not easy to come to the Western type of life, and not everybody would adjust to it, or like it, after some time passed.

No, of course not, especially amongst older member of society, but I’ve never said or imagined that such a change in direction would be an easy option, readily embraced by all.

Maybe, but again - Western life is not only freer and potentially richer, but also harder and more effort-consuming, as I see it. Emotionally depressing in many cases too, as one cannot be sure of tomorrow. And that has been the first proclaimed principle of our Socialist past.

A free-market economy often comes hand-in-hand with a lack of the kind of social safety net provided under your ‘socialist past’. But they do not always have to be mutually exclusive; Finland is an example of a country which has a highly successful economy but also a ‘cradle to the grave’ approach to social welfare provision. Of course there is a price to pay for that, in Finland’s case very high levels of taxation.

It depends on consequences: in Uzbekistan, for example, it seems "the immobile rural population" tends to become extinct, as it is too difficult to live there without some family members working abroad and bringing home money and goods. The same could come true for some of Russian and Ukrainean rural regions...

Then your country needs to develop policies to address this problem. Improved infrastructure to rural areas making it easier for business to survive there for example, but I seem to remember you saying that such schemes suffer from corruption and are not fully realised.

I think you are right and they would come to the West. That is, if there are enough working places for them.

That’s a fair point, as workers from Eastern Europe seem to be edging out illegal workers from China etc since the expansion of the EU. Although I suspect there will always to some capacity, as my friends in Odessa know several people who have already worked in Britain illegally.

Yep. Stalin killed more Ukraineans in 30's for no obvious reason than Chechens or Ingushes in 40's, who were accused of helping the Nazis.

Yes, that’s what I was referring too.

Maybe - I do not think we have much of our own experience here.

Oh, I think you’re starting to see countries like Poland feel more confidant and less worried about displeasing you.

Oh, in 1980 it could be more easily imagined than 20 years before. Though "more easily" is not exactly the suitable term... "Not as difficult" would be better.

I’m sure you are right. That’s probably the difference in perception between living in Russia at that time and being a schoolchild in England.

Oh, one could almost never be sure of such a thing in a political leader.

Agreed, only they know exactly what their agenda is…

Of course I am not aware of the politics behind it, but as far as I understand Mr. Luzhkov - he has in him more of a wise man, than of a really good one. So he needs his power and all the money he can lay his hands on, but he understands that to have that the people must like him. So he does many things we need, and tries not to look too bad. But democracy or justice or something like these are more words than reality for him, only tools to get at his aims, if he must use them.

Which leads to an interesting question. Is it better to have a leader who is competent but not trustworthy or to have a good man who is not so skilled?

But to have what he needs the people's love is not enough as long as he is not a Russian president, so he naturally position himself as the president's man too, at lest when the president allows that. But in his heart he is his own man, not Putin's.

I guess you have to decide if you are happy with the compromises he must be making with Putin.

Exactly my thoughts. And every mighty (real or just self-imaging) nation in history behaved in the same way.

Sure, we look back at the days of Rome and praise their inventions and the spectical of the city itself but choose to forget they enslaved half of Europe and North Africa to pay for it all. It’s always easier to judge what is happening now, before your eyes.

Really, I haven't followed the details closely enough of late. But my imression is that Ukraine gets a mixture of Russian and other gas, with Russian gas costing $230 and other - what it costs Russia, or only slightly more. So as the Russian gas is about 25% (or even less) in the mixture - total price is much less than that.

Yes, that’s pretty much my understanding too.

Yes, I surely had: a big part of our stolen and lost money were connected with barters. But it seems barters are our past rather than the future, is it not the same everywhere?

I meant bartering in the sense of starting out by asking for more than you expect and working towards a position in the middle both sides can except.

I see. It seems in your weather that possibility is quite thin. It is more than +10C now in London, yes?
And it is -5C here at the moment...

It isn’t cold enough in London for Ice statues, they would last a day or two at most.

 

[Sergo]

The T-72’s rolling over the boarder may have tipped some people off.

Oh, T-72 came slightly later: the operation was meant to topple Hafizulla Amin, and to install Babrak Karmal, who had to invite the Russian army to enter Afganistan on the far wider scale.

Russia is such a wonderfully different country; discussing political & socio-economic theory never gets you laid in Britain…and we’re a poorer country for that I can tell you…

Too bad that is in the past now...

A free-market economy often comes hand-in-hand with a lack of the kind of social safety net provided under your ‘socialist past’. But they do not always have to be mutually exclusive; Finland is an example of a country which has a highly successful economy but also a ‘cradle to the grave’ approach to social welfare provision. Of course there is a price to pay for that, in Finland’s case very high levels of taxation.

Eh, Finland... The manager we work with regularly says how much money she has left until the next payday... Why, I would have felt myself naked in Moscow with these sums in my pocket now... Their taxes are more than 30%, who would care for the rich retirement, if it is difficult to get rich until then... Oh, it seems it is too late in the night for me to say sense...

Then your country needs to develop policies to address this problem. Improved infrastructure to rural areas making it easier for business to survive there for example, but I seem to remember you saying that such schemes suffer from corruption and are not fully realised.

Yep, I've heard myself our Finance Minister to say that to invest our money into infrastracturing will make the inflation skyrocketing: why, the workers will receive the wages ang go with them to do shopping, but roads do not rise immediate products, so there will be large sums of money against the same volume of goods. I am sure this is a very wrong approach, but he is the minister, and who am I?

Oh, I think you’re starting to see countries like Poland feel more confidant and less worried about displeasing you.

Oh, Poles have every right to, with Russia ruling them for a long time, trading them in to the Nazis, killing their officers in Siberia and near Babiy Yar... It would seem they are immediately the next nation after Russians to suffer second most because of Russian rulers.

Which leads to an interesting question. Is it better to have a leader who is competent but not trustworthy or to have a good man who is not so skilled?

It seems in our case the competent is better than trustworthy. Though we usually have both uncompetent and not trustworthy, or sometimes competent but maniacal...

I guess you have to decide if you are happy with the compromises he must be making with Putin.

Oh, I am Russian and not too young: it is the way of life that everything is not what it looks. It is OK with me that people are showing what they are so long as they behave as they should.

Sure, we look back at the days of Rome and praise their inventions and the spectical of the city itself but choose to forget they enslaved half of Europe and North Africa to pay for it all. It’s always easier to judge what is happening now, before your eyes.

Wow. Excellent example.

I meant bartering in the sense of starting out by asking for more than you expect and working towards a position in the middle both sides can except.

And I thought about paying with one type of goods for goods of another type.

It isn’t cold enough in London for Ice statues, they would last a day or two at most.

Too bad. I would have gladly lent you a month or two of real Russian cold in return for at least a week or two of additional good British weather in autumn or spring... Barter of a kind...

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Oh, T-72 came slightly later

Ha! I knew you'd spot that…After I posted that remark I thought to myself, hang on the 62 would be the main battle tank at that time the 72 didn’t come on-line in large numbers till the mid-80’s and I bet that bloody Russian and his RC Tiger tank will point it out!

the operation was meant to topple Hafizulla Amin, and to install Babrak Karmal, who had to invite the Russian army to enter Afghanistan on the far wider scale.

Ah yes, the invitation to enter a sovereign country and help ‘stabilise the situation’, America and Britain have had lots of them too… they always sound as convincing as ‘our dog ate my homework’…

Too bad that is in the past now...

That’s wives for you, always suppressing legitimate political discussion…

Eh, Finland... The manager we work with regularly says how much money she has left until the next payday... Why, I would have felt myself naked in Moscow with these sums in my pocket now... Their taxes are more than 30%, who would care for the rich retirement, if it is difficult to get rich until then... Oh, it seems it is too late in the night for me to say sense...

Oh, I think taxes can be much higher than 30%, more like 50% for some. Did you know that at one time in Britain, the 1970’s, the highest rate was 98%? How do you like those apples?

Yep, I've heard myself our Finance Minister to say that to invest our money into infrastructure will make the inflation skyrocketing: why, the workers will receive the wages and go with them to do shopping, but roads do not rise immediate products, so there will be large sums of money against the same volume of goods. I am sure this is a very wrong approach, but he is the minister, and who am I?

Well, I’m no LSE graduate, so that sounds like an argument that has some merit. But I’m sure it’s a problem that can be got round, and he’s using it as an excuse.

Oh, Poles have every right to, with Russia ruling them for a long time, trading them in to the Nazis, killing their officers in Siberia and near Babiy Yar... It would seem they are immediately the next nation after Russians to suffer second most because of Russian rulers.

I think you may have meant Katyn when you said Babi Yar. He said playing the correction game…

It seems in our case the competent is better than trustworthy. Though we usually have both uncompetent and not trustworthy, or sometimes competent but maniacal...

Well all countries have these kinds of leaders at certain times, but to be honest there’s not many that can do ‘competent but maniacal’ on the same scale as Russia…

Wow. Excellent example.

I’m not just making this crap up off the top of my head you know…oh hang on…

Too bad. I would have gladly lent you a month or two of real Russian cold in return for at least a week or two of additional good British weather in autumn or spring... Barter of a kind...

I see you are learning, make sure your initial offer is an unrealistic one, then move towards what you’ll settle for; a January that doesn’t freeze your nuts off…

Greetings from tropical England,

K-S

 

[Flowerdk4]

Hi Sergo and Kenny

I have done some searching about learning russian. I think I may start by buying a book and maybe some cds, then I can attend a course in the autumn.
Talked to a guy at work, he speaks like 200 words or so of russian, and he said it would be best if I learned the alphabet first. Then I could learn the sounds and start on a beginners book. Listen to the film I am still waiting for (The idiot in russian) read russian papers etc etc.

Any ideas?

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Any ideas?

Whichever course you take you'll almost certainly start with the Russian Alphabet, and you really do need to learn it. It's not as difficult as you may imagine, plus it impresses none Russian speakers.

You will probably be faced with the choice of whether to just learn the printed version of the alphabet or to learn the written form as well. I only bothered with the printed version as that was mainly what I would encounter, as well as both versions seeming to be a bit overwhelming for a beginner. I always thought I could return to it, although that is yet to happen.

K-S

 

[Stewart]

Flowerdk, that book you posted by Nick Brown is very good. I have it also. The only thing lacking, really, is a nice tape to hear the pronounciation. The exercises build well, also, although I never did get past Exercise 4, if I remember correctly.

You'd probably be best to get a book on Russian verbs because some you would just never guess.

 

[Flowerdk4]

Flowerdk, that book you posted by Nick Brown is very good. I have it also. The only thing lacking, really, is a nice tape to hear the pronounciation. The exercises build well, also, although I never did get past Exercise 4, if I remember correctly.

You'd probably be best to get a book on Russian verbs because some you would just never guess.

Thanks Stewart! Didnt know you knew a little russian too!

I have found a good exercise cd set but its in danish, so I did not want to talk about it. There I can tape my own voice of the words and then listen to how I prounounce the words compaired to how it should be done. You can also tape where you got it in the exercises and then when you get back you dont have to do it all over again. I thought that was neat.
I can post the link even though its in danish, maybe you can find similar types of learning cds. They cost like 90 us dollars.
http://www.transmedia.dk/shop/default.asp?ProductID=3452Russisk

I shall get the book first then see how I get along and then start with the cds.

Flower

 

[Sergo]

Ha! I knew you'd spot that…After I posted that remark I thought to myself, hang on the 62 would be the main battle tank at that time the 72 didn’t come on-line in large numbers till the mid-80’s and I bet that bloody Russian and his RC Tiger tank will point it out!

Oh, thanks, though I am not nearly that good to know all the military history...

Ah yes, the invitation to enter a sovereign country and help ‘stabilise the situation’, America and Britain have had lots of them too… they always sound as convincing as ‘our dog ate my homework’…

Yep. I remember the Baltic States too - we should have discussed that already...

That’s wives for you, always suppressing legitimate political discussion…

Oh, I think taxes can be much higher than 30%, more like 50% for some. Did you know that at one time in Britain, the 1970’s, the highest rate was 98%? How do you like those apples?

I do not like them at all. I think those rates apply to people with really huge incomes, though. No wonder the rich always seek for places like Monaco...

Well, I’m no LSE graduate, so that sounds like an argument that has some merit. But I’m sure it’s a problem that can be got round, and he’s using it as an excuse.

I think the excuse is lame and intended to be used on the people absolutely ignorant in such matters. It seems even to me that it is better to invest money in future production, or infrastructure (helping production again) than just having money under one's own ass. Some of our people here say Americans pay him to do this harm on Russia.

I think you may have meant Katyn when you said Babi Yar. He said playing the correction game…

Yes, sure. Shame on me - I must have had a difficult day then (oh... and keep at that still). Haven't I told you one of my relatives served under Rokossovsky as a military advisor to after-war Polish socialist government? He had the rank of a Polish Army Ludowa colonel. So I learned from him too much of Polish - Russian problems for my own good.

Well all countries have these kinds of leaders at certain times, but to be honest there’s not many that can do ‘competent but maniacal’ on the same scale as Russia…

I would have liked to say different... But cannot.

I’m not just making this crap up off the top of my head you know…oh hang on…

I see you are learning, make sure your initial offer is an unrealistic one, then move towards what you’ll settle for; a January that doesn’t freeze your nuts off…

It seems I had to start with the more realistic offer: we had -35C the night before the last... But last night it was only -30C, so the worse seems to be passing.

Greetings from tropical England,

K-S

Thanks - from Polar Russia.

 

[Sergo]

Hi Sergo and Kenny

I have done some searching about learning russian. I think I may start by buying a book and maybe some cds, then I can attend a course in the autumn.
Talked to a guy at work, he speaks like 200 words or so of russian, and he said it would be best if I learned the alphabet first. Then I could learn the sounds and start on a beginners book. Listen to the film I am still waiting for (The idiot in russian) read russian papers etc etc.

Any ideas?

Russian is a cool language. Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, Nekrasov... Lenin, Stalin, Brejnev... myself... All these people, and many-many others used Russian to express themselves.
But... What would I have done about my life if I hadn't have learned small bit of English that I know...

 

[Flowerdk4]

Russian is a cool language. Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, Nekrasov... Lenin, Stalin, Brejnev... myself... All these people, and many-many others used Russian to express themselves.
But... What would I have done about my life if I hadn't have learned small bit of English that I know...

You forgot one import person, Dostojevksy or should I say Dastaevski?

I am for one glad that you learned english

Flower

 

[Sergo]

You forgot one import person, Dostojevksy or should I say Dastaevski?

I am for one glad that you learned english

Flower

Oh, if I decided to mention all the important people that have spoken Russian - I would have still been at it until now, I think. Not many of them got popular in the West - but it is not because they were not as good as Dostoevsky, Nabokov or Soljhenitsyn. People are interested in things that are considered fashionable, and only a fraction of writers got fashionable for one or another reason.

Thanks.
You know, books are good, but to learn of other places and get to know other people is no less interesting than to find a new book to read.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Yep. I remember the Baltic States too - we should have discussed that already...

I think we did didn’t we?

I do not like them at all. I think those rates apply to people with really huge incomes, though. No wonder the rich always seek for places like Monaco...

Ireland and the Channel Islands like Guernsey are favoured tax havens for Rich Britons. I think for some of the Channel Islands you have to be a millionaire to move there from the mainland.

I think the excuse is lame and intended to be used on the people absolutely ignorant in such matters. It seems even to me that it is better to invest money in future production, or infrastructure (helping production again) than just having money under one's own ass.

I certainly doesn’t seem a hygienic way of looking after your money…

Some of our people here say Americans pay him to do this harm on Russia.

Really? Wow, one papier-mâché rock and everyone turns into “Paranoid Peter”…

Haven't I told you one of my relatives served under Rokossovsky as a military advisor to after-war Polish socialist government? He had the rank of a Polish Army Ludowa colonel. So I learned from him too much of Polish - Russian problems for my own good.

Erm, I can’t remember…

I would have liked to say different... But cannot.

To be fair Hitler, Chairman Mao, Pol Pot and a few others put in a lot of work to take the “World’s leading nut job” title away from Stalin…

It seems I had to start with the more realistic offer: we had -35C the night before the last... But last night it was only -30C, so the worse seems to be passing.

Still cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey though…

 

[Poppy1]

3. Why is that some people are rich, and other are poor? Who is better? (There is a common opinion in Russia that the rich are uncultured and tend to theft, and the poor are cultured and truthworthy).

Hi Sergo. I have just been reading all your replies and having a giggle - I like your humour. I tend to agree with thiis Russian view, not so sure about the cultured bit but I think very rich people have often got that way by less than honest and moral means. I have found in my life, that the most generous people usually have the least.

 

[Sergo]

I think we did didn’t we?

Yes, we surely did.

Ireland and the Channel Islands like Guernsey are favoured tax havens for Rich Britons. I think for some of the Channel Islands you have to be a millionaire to move there from the mainland.

Wow, I see. I remember that guy from Top Gear mentioning some of the islands... It seems one of his cars had Man's plate...

To be fair Hitler, Chairman Mao, Pol Pot and a few others put in a lot of work to take the “World’s leading nut job” title away from Stalin…

Yep. But only we succeeded at producing so much of such interesting personalities throughout centuries...

Still cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey though…

Our dacha record this winter is -40C. Our Grand Vitara refused to start, and some guys helped us by dragging our car a mile or so, finally failing to get up the slope from some low land, so they had to use their battery to start and warm our car, then get it back to their car and start it, then switch batteries while their engine kept working, and get our battery charged on their engine, than switched the batteries again and started again our car on our own battery... I gave them $100 for three hours on -38C or so, but they refused at first and offered to take $10 instead... After I made them to give in, they left absolutely happy... You see, with all these intricacies life here must be quite different...

 

[Sergo]

3. Why is that some people are rich, and other are poor? Who is better? (There is a common opinion in Russia that the rich are uncultured and tend to theft, and the poor are cultured and truthworthy).

Hi Sergo. I have just been reading all your replies and having a giggle - I like your humour. I tend to agree with thiis Russian view, not so sure about the cultured bit but I think very rich people have often got that way by less than honest and moral means. I have found in my life, that the most generous people usually have the least.

Hi Poppy!

Thanks for your attention, I will return soon to answer you.

BTW, I have started to write a book... I doubt it very much that something useful will be the result, but so far I devised a character who wanted to emigrate to New Zealand as soon as he collected enough money to live there comfortably... I believe I was told one could buy NZ citizenship for $20K or something like that, is it really so?
Too bad that character had to be killed already - I would have liked him to get to NZ alive...

 

[Poppy1]

Sorry Sergo, I know of no way that you can become a N.Z. citizen for $20K.
No scams or corrupt immigration officers or anything to make your novel juicy. In 2003 it cost $460 for an adult to become a citizen, probably be a bit more now. Of course to gain residency is a whole different ball game.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

I remember that guy from Top Gear mentioning some of the islands... It seems one of his cars had Man's plate...

That was probably the tall one who front's the show (Jeremy Clarkson) because he owns a lighthouse there, I have no idea why.
The Isle of Mann's on odd place, most famous for it's motorbike racing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_TT
Although I won't speed there at normal times as this guy used to be a special constable there, not much chance of out running him...

Yep. But only we succeeded at producing so much of such interesting personalities throughout centuries...

No need to brag...

Our dacha record this winter is -40C. Our Grand Vitara refused to start...

So do I in temperatures like that...

BTW have you been watching the new versions of "The First Circle" & "Doctor Zhivago"? on TV?

 

[Sergo]

That was probably the tall one who front's the show (Jeremy Clarkson) because he owns a lighthouse there, I have no idea why.
The Isle of Mann's on odd place, most famous for it's motorbike racing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_TT
Although I won't speed there at normal times as this guy used to be a special constable there, not much chance of out running him...

Oh, thanks, you are always full of all the interesting information... It is difficult to imagine you could not know something...

No need to brag...

Yep, I always forget it looks foolish...

BTW have you been watching the new versions of "The First Circle" & "Doctor Zhivago"? on TV?

Yes, I've seen part of "The First Circle" and liked it very much. Too bad I've lost some of it - I've programmed my satellite receiver to record every serie, but something glucked there, and several series were not recorded... But I imagine it would be possible to buy a disc with the full film after some time.
I haven't seen "Doctor Zhivago". Have you?

BTW, that truck of ours is now completely lost for us.