What makes the FSU so interesting?

[mendeleyev]

Yes, what a waste of a prize.

[Misha]

The old wedding custom was placing a new padlock under a front door threshold and keeping it there as a symbol of "locked down" happiness and fidelity. To be honest, I am not certain whether this custom is a thing of the past or not.

The "hooked padlock" tradition is believed to have been derived from a book written by Federico Moccia. His characters attached a padlock onto a lamp-post on Ponte Milvio, sealed their love with a kiss and showed their commitment by throwing the key away.

That would make sense. I have only begun seeing padlocks on bridges in the last few years.

[mendeleyev]

Yes, I saw that film about Irena on TV here in USA; PBS carried it I believe.

Good story and production.  I recommend it.

Thanks, ML. I'd love to find it...perhaps Amazon or possibly even YouTube.

[SANDRO43]

Israel's Holocaust museum awarded her the title of "Righteous Among the Nations."

A somewhat similar story involved Giorgio Perlasca (1910–1992), an Italian who posed as the Spanish Consul-General to Hungary in the winter of 1944 and saved 5,018 Jews (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Perlasca).

Perlasca's bust in Budapest - TV drama Perlasca, un Eroe Italiano, 2002

Perlasca at age 80 - At Yad Vashem, 1989

After WWII, Perlasca returned to Italy, and didn't reveal his actions to anyone, including his family, until he was found again in 1987 by a group of Hungarian Jews.

[Faux Pas]

Yes, what a waste of a prize.

The irony of it to me was, Irena was on her deathbed when the announcement was made. She had lived most of her life a very humble woman actually doing good in the world and here comes Gore with his witchcraft science and saps the last moments of a true humanitarian. Of course they gave one to Barack Obama all in the same breath so that pretty much explains it

[mendeleyev]

Sandro, thanks for sharing that story of Giorgio Perlasca. Is the TV series available with English subtitles?

[SANDRO43]

Sandro, thanks for sharing that story of Giorgio Perlasca. Is the TV series available with English subtitles?

I'm afraid not. Youtube offers it with Spanish subtitles, if that's of any help .





However, I also found a couple of sites where apparently one can download its English subtitles:

- http://www.podnapisi.net/en/perlasca-un-eroe-italiano-2002-subtitles-p1391139
- http://subscene.com/subtitles/perlasca-un-eroe-italiano?filmId=64565

[mendeleyev]

In the Mendeleyev Journal...

Middle Eastern Christians are grateful to Russia for vetoing the USA-led resolution In the United Nations for tougher measures against Syria. From Bosnia and Serbia to Iraq and Egypt, UN efforts to topple governments have led to displacement, torture and murder of minority Christian populations as is happening now in Egypt. More and more one can see cartoons and posters like the one below.




Below: the funeral of Syrian Defense Minister Daoud Rajhi in the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus July 20, 2012. He was part of the minority Christian population in Syria, predominately a Muslim nation.




The Syrian Church still uses the oldest surviving liturgy in Christianity, composed by the Apostle James late in his life. It is conducted in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic spoken by Jesus Christ and his Apostles, as its official and liturgical language. The church is led by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

Russia may be a big country but it will be a very busy place this Saturday. 1 September (1 Сентября), is the traditional Первый звонок ("First Bell/Call") and День Знании ("Day of Knowledge") to begin the school year, and as Saturday is considered a work day on the calendar the first day of school across the former Soviet Union will be September 1 as per tradition.



From Russia to Ukraine to Georgia and all across the region, the first day of school is widely celebrated as a holiday in the Russian speaking world and traditionally celebrated on the first of September, except Sunday.



The children get to bring parents to school on this day and one of the first things you'll notice are flowers, tons of flowers, as giving flowers to teachers is a time honoured tradition. Of course will be a speech given by the school director/principal and some light skits, singing of songs and recitations of poetry.



Первый Звонок (“First Bell”) is used often for primary and middle school students and День Знаний (“Day of Knowledge) for high school and college students.

On of the most revered traditions of the " first bell/first call" tradition is the outside school courtyard event in which a young first grade student, typically a girl, is hoisted up onto the shoulders of an older male pupil and all the kids fall in line to ring in the first day of school. In the classroom seats are assigned, parents meet teachers and all in all the first day is more fun than study.



Many schools require uniforms for students. (photo: Oleg Shel)

Students in many schools wear uniforms and everyone dresses up for the first day of school. Little boys in ties and little girls with bows and ribbons make it a delightful day. Russian students generally attend the same school for all 11 years as most schools are smaller with just a few hundred students and designed as neighborhood schools as opposed to the mega school district concepts in the West.

Academics are generally rigorous and include required numbers of science, math and language units before graduation. A national test is administered at the end of each school year and successful passage is required in order to move to the next grade level or graduate.

Generally the first day isn't for intense academics, rather a celebration of the idea that education is important and it changes lives. Russians have an adage, “Азбука – наука, а ребятам бука!” (Alphabet is a science, but a bogyman for children!)

This year the first day will be very short for some students. Moscow is celebrating her annual city day or "Day of Moscow" and being the 865th birthday, a hearty celebration is in order! School officials have planned very short activities for Moscow students so that they and parents can spend the bulk of the weekend celebrating Moscow's birthday. (http://www.educom.ru/ru/official/detail/?ID=38457)


Shortened school festivities are also planned in Novosibirsk where citywide celebrations with educational themes are being observed. More on the calendar of events in Novosibirsk at this link: http://www.novo-sibirsk.ru/articles/novosibirsk/den-znanij-2012/


In northern Russia, school children will have a full day in the Arkhangelsk (Архангельск) region. For that schedule, see this link: http://www.arhcity.ru/?page=0/22427


Universities in Russia and most of Europe and Asia begin on the first of September as well. Study in a University setting is naturally more rigorous and the Russians have a saying for that too, “Корень ученья горек, да плод его сладок” (The roots of learning are bitter, but the fruit is sweet)

1September also marks the official end of summer and the beginning of autumn.



   

[mendeleyev]

In the "good ole days" of Moscow Internet, Mrs. Mendeleyev and I would walk our small dog around the neighborhood several times a day. We still do, but it was so much fun back then as Internet was new and so thrilling for us and the dog.

Yes, Internet was exciting for the dog too. You see, he'd stop at every tree and sniff for the scent of other dogs. To us, it was a sure sign that he was reading doggie emails so we'd chuckle and ask if he was keeping in social contact with his friends? He'd bark, and of course that means "yes" and I know that because he is my doggie son and we understand each other.

At some point during our walks he'd raise a hind leg and show us how fast he could "stream" which as you can imagine made us very happy. Doggy Internet "streaming" had come to Russia! We were such proud parents.

In those days we'd meander back to our high rise apartment because there was no real hurry since the FREE internet provided by the city of Moscow didn't start until midnight. We had dial up for day emergencies and my office had what was considered high speed at the time, but frankly there were days when the doggie "stream" was faster than the Internet streams at work. We'd enjoy a nice dinner and relax with tea and read, you do remember how people used to read before Internet came along, right?

When the clock struck midnight we, and thousands of other Muscovite's would crowd around our tall desktop, similar to my childhood days with those big over-sized radios found in most homes, and we'd "log on." For those of you who grew up after the advent of today's high speed, in the olden days one had to start up the computer and log onto the internet. If only a few thousand in our part of town was on, you could stay logged in, but if things got congested the system would bump you off after a while, forcing you to either give up and go to bed or log on all over again. But after midnight it was free, so who cared?!

Today we're happy to announce that the Internet has and continues to spread nicely across Russia and neighboring countries like Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Georgia, etc. Shoot, even old grandma's, we call them babushki here, are getting online!




The Russian answer to Facebook is vk.com

Not to be left behind in the wave to technology advancements such as the popular doggie "streams" even cats are enjoying the benefits of a high speed Internet connection.



Russian cats use Meow recognition software.

Oh, and yes the doggie steams are still a part of life as technology keeps us moving forward.

Statistics:

Belarus: 4,436,800 Internet users as of Jun/10, 46.3% penetration

Moldova: 1,429,154 Internet users as of Dec/11, 33.1% penetration

Russia: 61,472,011 Internet users as of Dec/2011, 44.3% penetration

Turkey: 35,000,000 Internet users as of Jun/10, 44.4% penetration

Ukraine: 15,300,000 Internet users as of Jun/10, 33.9% penetration
                       

[Eduard]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

Russia may be a big country but it will be a very busy place this Saturday. 1 September (1 Сентября), is the traditional Первый звонок ("First Bell/Call") and День Знании ("Day of Knowledge") to begin the school year, and as Saturday is considered a work day on the calendar the first day of school across the former Soviet Union will be September 1 as per tradition.



From Russia to Ukraine to Georgia and all across the region, the first day of school is widely celebrated as a holiday in the Russian speaking world and traditionally celebrated on the first of September, except Sunday.



The children get to bring parents to school on this day and one of the first things you'll notice are flowers, tons of flowers, as giving flowers to teachers is a time honoured tradition. Of course will be a speech given by the school director/principal and some light skits, singing of songs and recitations of poetry.



Первый Звонок (“First Bell”) is used often for primary and middle school students and День Знаний (“Day of Knowledge) for high school and college students.

On of the most revered traditions of the " first bell/first call" tradition is the outside school courtyard event in which a young first grade student, typically a girl, is hoisted up onto the shoulders of an older male pupil and all the kids fall in line to ring in the first day of school. In the classroom seats are assigned, parents meet teachers and all in all the first day is more fun than study.



Many schools require uniforms for students. (photo: Oleg Shel)

Students in many schools wear uniforms and everyone dresses up for the first day of school. Little boys in ties and little girls with bows and ribbons make it a delightful day. Russian students generally attend the same school for all 11 years as most schools are smaller with just a few hundred students and designed as neighborhood schools as opposed to the mega school district concepts in the West.

Academics are generally rigorous and include required numbers of science, math and language units before graduation. A national test is administered at the end of each school year and successful passage is required in order to move to the next grade level or graduate.

Generally the first day isn't for intense academics, rather a celebration of the idea that education is important and it changes lives. Russians have an adage, “Азбука – наука, а ребятам бука!” (Alphabet is a science, but a bogyman for children!)

This year the first day will be very short for some students. Moscow is celebrating her annual city day or "Day of Moscow" and being the 865th birthday, a hearty celebration is in order! School officials have planned very short activities for Moscow students so that they and parents can spend the bulk of the weekend celebrating Moscow's birthday. (http://www.educom.ru/ru/official/detail/?ID=38457)


Shortened school festivities are also planned in Novosibirsk where citywide celebrations with educational themes are being observed. More on the calendar of events in Novosibirsk at this link: http://www.novo-sibirsk.ru/articles/novosibirsk/den-znanij-2012/


In northern Russia, school children will have a full day in the Arkhangelsk (Архангельск) region. For that schedule, see this link: http://www.arhcity.ru/?page=0/22427


Universities in Russia and most of Europe and Asia begin on the first of September as well. Study in a University setting is naturally more rigorous and the Russians have a saying for that too, “Корень ученья горек, да плод его сладок” (The roots of learning are bitter, but the fruit is sweet)

1September also marks the official end of summer and the beginning of autumn.



   

My older daughter started 1st grade on August 20th. Funny how my mom called and was asking me whethern she will be all dressed up and if we were bringing flowers to school! Old habits die hard!

[mendeleyev]

My older daughter started 1st grade on August 20th. Funny how my mom called and was asking me whethern she will be all dressed up and if we were bringing flowers to school! Old habits die hard!

Well we still send "first bell" greetings to your daughter and symbolic flowers to her teacher. This entire tradition would be good for some Western countries to adopt as it sets the stage in teaching the child that school is a big deal and it means something for the future. I believe that while in general most USA schools are more modern in appearance and equipment, FSU schools have the advantage of attitude. Not that they are perfect as they aren't, but there is much more of a belief that school is important in the Eastern world.

[mendeleyev]

If you have a friend or relative in the FSU that has a child beginning school on 1 September, it would be nice to send them a free Internet card to celebrate what is called the "Day of Knowledge" and "First Bell."

It is all the same day, but can be called different terms: 1 September (1 Сентября), is the traditional Первый звонок ("First Bell/Call") and День Знании ("Day of Knowledge").

Even on Saturday, 1 September is the first day of school this year across the FSU. So here is the link for sending a card: http://www.badi.ru/eng/events-125.htm


If you have a friend in Moscow, 1 September is this year's celebration of the "Day of Moscow" marking Moscow's 865th birthday. A card is appropriate for that also. Moscow is combining school and city events this year so that students show up at school but are released early to enjoy the city celebrations.

Universities across the FSU also open on 1 September.

   

[Eduard]

Well we still send "first bell" greetings to your daughter and symbolic flowers to her teacher. This entire tradition would be good for some Western countries to adopt as it sets the stage in teaching the child that school is a big deal and it means something for the future. I believe that while in general most USA schools are more modern in appearance and equipment, FSU schools have the advantage of attitude. Not that they are perfect as they aren't, but there is much more of a believe that school is important in the Eastern world.

Thanks, Jim!

[mendeleyev]

Ed, this is the first year in decades that we haven't had a child headed to another year of school. The last one was graduated the past school Spring from Moscow State (MGU) and it felt sort of odd this year not to be making those preparations.

However we're preparing for another wedding, yet another tour of ZAGS and then an Orthodox ceremony so life moves forward. 

[Eduard]

Ed, this is the first year in decades that we haven't had a child headed to another year of school. The last one was graduated the past school Spring from Moscow State (MGU) and it felt sort of odd this year not to be making those preparations.

However we're preparing for another wedding, yet another tour of ZAGS and then an Orthodox ceremony so life moves forward. 

Life goes on...  I'm taking my daughters to karate first, then we'll go to YMCA, then back home. We have to get ready for tomorrow's baby shower. We have friends (a Russian couple) that live in a small apartment, so we offered that we do a baby shower for them at our place since we have plenty of room for a big party here. Funny how things work - now that I have little kids my whole set of friends changed. All our friends now are couples with little kids!    OK now, I better wake up!

[mendeleyev]

In the Mendeleyev Journal today...


День Москвы! (Day of Moscow). 865 is an impressive number for a lady who like a fine wine, grows better and more beautiful with age. Happy birthday, Moscow!




Saturday was the day to mark her birthday at 865 years and a variety of events from open air shows, fireworks, street fairs, talent exhibits and church services ushered in the weekend festivities. Last year the premier was an impressive light show up on the hill at Moscow State University but this year the focus was on historic Red Square.



Red Square, Day of Moscow 2012.In addition to speeches, international military bands took part in an annual festival, reenacting some of the key events of Moscow's long and turbulent history.

This year's theme of "Best City in the World" was taken from the old Soviet song by Муслима Магомаева - "Лучший город земли"! As the song dates back to 1964 and other than the similarity to Elvis Presley, one has to wonder if this was done to please Vladimir Putin.





Not to be outdone, today's generation has re-cast the idea just a bit and while the production is good, maybe the Elvis-like sound isn't that bad after all. 





Speaking of President Putin, he and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin did get out and about. These days however there is a security noticeable space between the people and their leader effectively enforced by the Presidential Protective Service. The crowd gathered at Red Square were carefully vetted and security was high.




Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, President Vladimir Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.President Putin and Mayor Sobyanin delivered remarks to the crowd that had been vetted by special invitation on Red Square.





Admission to many museums and art exhibits across the city were free. School began also on 1 September and many of the city day activities were designed to include the history of the city and interesting exhibits for children.

1 September is also the "Day of Knowledge" or "First Bell" across Russia as the opening day for schools and universities. President Putin and Mayor Sobyanin visited Gymnasium (school) number 1519 where they sat in on a history class.




President Putin and Mayor Sobyanin visited Gymnasium (school) number 1519.Later Mr. Putin joined Olympic champion gymnast Anastasia Grishina in a lecture to students about physical education.




President Putin spoke to a PE class.

Moscow has grown into Europe's largest city and rivaling London in modernity.



The Kremlin bell towers at one time were the tallest structures in the city. No longer.



Moscow nights are beautiful whether in summer or winter.

Conspicuously absent from public observances was Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana. On Thursday he chaired a meeting on programmes for orphans and children with disabilities. His official calendar only lists him as on holiday through the weekend.

[mendeleyev]

Racism in Russia and the former Soviet Union, today in the Mendeleyev Journal...

A few years back I remember several female neighbors warning me to be careful of the black men who lived on the 6th floor of my Moscow apartment. I lived a couple floors lower and wasn't really sure why we were supposed to be careful as they hadn't bothered to explain that part. I did wonder who it could be as in my view, Russia was very white for the most part and I had seen only a very few truly black folk in Moscow. Eventually I figured out that they were referring to a household of Chechen guys who lived upstairs. It was a stretch in my mind to figure them as "black" because back home in Southern California and Arizona I'd have recognized more of a light brown skin tone, closer to Hispanics in the American southwest.

Of course Russia and the FSU is racist and we're not going to try and paper over that fact. When Mr. Obama was elected president the Russian internet went viral with cartoons that were blatantly offensive, and people who knew I was a resident wanted to know how in the world a great country like the USA could allow a black man to be president? From university students to co-workers I was asked if the military was planning to step in and restore order, etc.

If nothing else it was an opportunity to talk about the meaning of free elections. During the 50s-60s-70s in Russia there were billboards, postcards, TV shows and newspaper reports of "African throngs" in the streets of America, supposedly burning the place to the ground. Newspaper cartoons showed burned out schools and hospitals with the clear message that America had "allowed the black man to go too far" and that with proper vigilance such would never be allowed in the Soviet Union.

So in 2008 and following, I understood such questions especially when top leaders in Russia were mocking Obama on Russian TV at almost every turn. To me it is amazing that Russia has actually grown up quickly and a good many people have attempted to put that behind them.



 

One ice cream company, and Russians love ice cream almost as much as vodka, came out with a new product titled "Chocolate in Vanilla.' Ads for the product proclaimed "The flavour of the week--Black in White!" Some Russians thought it cool to combine black and white, but others rushed to tell grocers who carried the product that customers would find new venues to shop if the item remained in store coolers.

Of course few can forget the reaction on national television network REN when this news anchor gave Mr.Obama the "finger" on national TV:


Just this week Igor Panarin, dean the Russian Foreign Ministry School for future diplomats, predicted that President Obama will announce martial law by the end of 2012 in order to stay in power should he lose the election. During the Russian presidential election in March 2012 nationalist youth printed banners showing Obama surrounded by a black staff and in the other frame was Putin with a white staff, the obvious message that if one failed to vote for Putin then "terrible things" like blacks coming to power could happen to Russia.

Quality instruction at cheap prices however continues to attract black students from primarily African countries to live and study in Russia. Black students say that if they band together, the promise of an education outweighs the danger. But still, there are risks for non-whites living in Russia.





Next door in Ukraine professional football soccer players from Nigeria tell of spectators who attend games armed with bananas and monkey chants. Some players say they try to make a joke of the fruit landing on the field by eating the fruit. In an interview with the European Press Association, they tell of having learned to avoid the random beatings, pepper spray muggings and insults these players as well as African students in Ukraine by leaving their campus for home before dark, seldom going into the city centre unless in a group and staying away from gangs of men.

Authorities in Ukraine don't seem to be interested and most claim that stories of beatings and brutality are exaggerated in order to make Ukraine look bad.

While the USA has for decades elected black officials and a black president to lead the country, Russian voters waited until 2010 for a black person to be elected to public office. A country which traces its roots to over a 1,000 years ago, only elected a black regional council representative as the first black person ever to hold any sort of public office in Russia in 2010.





Yet even in this vast land there remains the possibility of change. The 2010 census revealed that there are between 40,000 and 70,000 Russians of full or mixed-African heritage who live in Russia now. Normally racist Russians are colour blind when it comes to the most famous African-Russian, the "father of Russian literature." Aleksandr Pushkin, Russia's premier literary genius was the great-grandson of an African brought to St. Petersburg under Peter the Great in the early 18th century.



(Aleksandr Pushkin apparently gets a pass.)

As Michelle Goldhaber wrote in the Kyiv Post in May, "Pluralism and diversity are your assets, not liabilities and it's time to come to terms with your history, and your present, and to stop allowing hate crimes and discrimination to be culturally accepted."

[mendeleyev]

Unless there is urgent breaking news, the Mendeleyev Journal will take a few days break this week to marry off our youngest daughter. While specific details will remain private, she will be married in a civil ceremony at ZAGS and then an Orthodox ceremony in Moscow with a party afterward to gather with close friends and relatives and share toasts and congratulations over a menu of delicious Russian salads and fish.

Mrs. Mendeleyeva and I are excited for her and of course I was thrilled at her recent decision to pursue a career in journalism/radio. Perhaps I had a hand in that or at least so she says. So, yet another young lady leaves the warmth and comfort of the Mendeleyev home печь to venture out into the world. This is number three so we're used to the last minute hustle and bustle and plan to gently release her like doves as we did the first two, with the encouragement that together they soar as eagles--as far as the jet streams will carry.

Godspeed my beautiful child. I love you, ксения.

Welcome to the family, Виктор, and may God grant you both many years!

[mendeleyev]

In the Mendeleyev Journal...

(11 September 2012; Moscow) Fresh from their summer recess, the Russian Duma (parliament) is pressing for passage of a total ban on alcohol when driving. The bill had passed the lower Duma prior to the summer break but still needs approval of the upper assembly, the Federation Council, and when signed by President Putin will replace existing rules which allow low alcohol levels for drivers on Russian roads.

The State Duma speaker's office reported that recent laws tightening the screws on drunk driving had proved effective, citing statistics from 2010 when new rules slowed "the number of car accidents caused by drink drivers by 11% and the number of those killed in such accidents dropped 35%." The current law provides penalties that suspend drivers' licenses along with 15 days in jail.



(Russian ambulances are often called to respond to emergencies.)

The new law will also allow drunk driving convictions based on traffic video cameras but the penalties for convictions based on video evidence will be less than those whose convictions were obtained by direct intervention of Russian traffic police. Current fines average around 3,000 rubles, the equivalent of $95 US dollars. The new law would raise video related fines to 5,000 rubles, or $158 US dollars.

Russian news service RIANovosti reported that an amendment has been added to the bill envisioning that people making illegal U-turns will from now on be punished by the suspension of their driver's licenses for up to 6 months. Under current laws U-Turn offenders are fined up to 1,500 rubles but licenses are not suspended.
   

[Anotherkiwi]

In the Mendeleyev Journal...

(11 September 2012; Moscow) Fresh from their summer recess, the Russian Duma (parliament) is pressing for passage of a total ban on alcohol when driving.

mendy, do you mean that at the moment it's legal to be swigging from a vodka bottle while you drive? 

[mendeleyev]

No, what the new law when passed will mean is a zero tolerance policy, not just in blood alcohol levels but in how an officer determines the effect that even a low amount is having on a driver.

The flip side is that the penalties for drunk driving still remain low even with the adjustments in the new law.

[Eduard]

Hey Jim,
how would you describe the attitudes of Russians around you toward Putin these days? He used to enjoy popularity, but now more and more I hear the voice of discontent with his power grab "for life", and some people are even talking of the possibility of civil war. It's probably "just talking" but still...

[mendeleyev]

Ed, I'll try to answer that question over in the "Reforming Russia" thread in this section. 
   

[mendeleyev]

It will be interesting to see if there is any reaction over the DNC convention's use of Russian battleship photos. While retired Adm. John Nathman, a former commander of Fleet Forces Command, was on stage to honour American men and women in uniform, the screen behind him was filled with the sight of battleships.

He couldn't see the screen but those at the convention and television viewers could. The battleships displayed were Russian.

http://www.navytimes.com/mobile/news/2012/09/navy-russian-warships-displayed-dnc-veterans-tribute-091112