Russia's Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila divorce

[Boethius]

Vasilisa is not a male.  Probably why I understand her.

[Ooooops]

I had to Google what "obfuscation" is.       I can offer another big word that describes quote in question - "coquettish".   

[Boethius]

Hmm, coquettish, to me, connotes some sort of flirtation.  I didn't read that in the post either.

[Boethius]

Now, that post is a nice segue back to Vasilisa's thread on the differences in dating in the US and Russia.  Vasilisa, do you care to update that thread, in general terms?

[Anotherkiwi]

Vasilisa is not a male.  Probably why I understand her.

...and why she doesn't understand me!

[Vasilisa]

Maybe, but the standard male inference would be:  "I don't come from Kazan!" 

I wouldn't say so, it was the question "what made you think so", because many cities  in Russia have this.

[Vasilisa]

Now, that post is a nice segue back to Vasilisa's thread on the differences in dating in the US and Russia.  Vasilisa, do you care to update that thread, in general terms?

What will the update sound like?!
Well, I persuaded a friend of mine to make a run around the city today instead if the gym, it was actually pretty entertaining and made me pay attention to the details I hadn't paid attention to before.
For those who are interested the update of the thread about what modern Russia looks like.
Started with the playgrounds.
Looks like many schools , even in the suburbs have improved backyards with playing fields and new surface for joggers is put.
I have seen many signs in English in downtown and in subway, the train station has been improved and there are separate lanes for the buses with "A" marked on them.
One of the picture is taken inside of a trolley-bus.

[Vasilisa]

Some pictures of downtown

[Vasilisa]

Pictures of some big and medium sized stores, including Ashan (the second picture) where we normally buy food, poor people have no idea they are going to be dead within a week's time, die from expired food poisoning,and some apartment buildings. I didn't pick them on purpose, we took a trolley-bus that goes to downtown so we took some pictures on the way.
Btw, the 2 white buses in the second picture are the free buses that belong to the shopping mall, a couple of big shopping malls started having free buses that go around the city, so more people , especially people with low income and young people could afford going there.

[Vasilisa]

Didn't like Lukashenko much?   Or vise versa?

Ooops, why to look for any political explanations?!
My parents got retired and decided to move to Kazan because we have many close relatives there, so we  could have more family reunions and help each other in the dachas. I guess it's important when you retire. I got many friends there when I was a student so I didn't complain either.

[Vasilisa]

We also have a young and short but a very cosy subway, too, the first stations were opened in 2005 and the last 3 when I was here, in May, 2013, I tested the last 3  on their  first working day-it was the Victory Day. I haven't taken pictures of it yet but you can see them here.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_Metro

The sign I took the picture of was the sign in Prospect Pobedy station.
They are going to open more stations soon, they mentioned the plans in the article.
I have no idea how some people can call this Soviet propaganda, we obviously live better since Putin became the President.

[Gator]

Vasilisa,  Good weather!  I am jealous after tropical storms here.

[lonedrake]

Vasilisa,

 Thank you for taking all the pictures and posting them

[Ooooops]

Vasilisa, very nice pics!   But still - so deserted!..   No people, no cars...   I would really like to see photo traffic on Sunday night when whole population of Kazan rolls back into town from their "dacha"s!   

[ML]

 Kazan ranks 174th (highest in Russia) in Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan

So here is the story.  All that Vasilisa has told us about recent advances and modern life in Kazan is true.

However,  this only applies to Kazan.
The rest of Russia is total crap.









Sorry Vasilisa, just an attempt at humor that I couldn't resist.   

[OlgaH]

Vasilisa, very nice pics!   But still - so deserted!..   No people, no cars...   I would really like to see photo traffic on Sunday night when whole population of Kazan rolls back into town from their "dacha"s!   

Ooooops, they are all in Ashan trying to save standing in the lines 

[OlgaH]

Kazan ranks 174th (highest in Russia) in Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan

So here is the story.  All that Vasilisa has told us about recent advances and modern life in Kazan is true.

However,  this only applies to Kazan.
The rest of Russia is total crap.

Sorry Vasilisa, just an attempt at humor that I couldn't resist.   

ML, you know there's a grain of truth in every joke.  There is also a big difference in life between  the cities that are the administrative centers of regions and the small regional towns, not just between the capitals and the rest 

There is a saying: who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet. But in some situation the saying makes more sense sounding "who has never tasted sweet, knows not what is bitter"     

[Misha]

ML, you know there's a grain of truth in every joke.  There is also a big difference in life between  the cities that are the administrative centers of regions and the small regional towns, not just between the capitals and the rest 

Yes, and let us not forget those cities that have are important centers for the oil and/or gas industry who do get a bit more of the Russian economic pie as opposed to those who do not.

[Ooooops]

Ooooops, they are all in Ashan trying to save standing in the lines 

Meanie!      But yes, photo of Ashan did show quite a lot of cars at the parking lot. 

[Ooooops]

So this "Auchan" is something like Walmart or K-Mart? 


http://www.auchan.ru/ru/product_groups

[lonedrake]

So this "Auchan" is something like Walmart or K-Mart? 

No....Better

[OlgaH]

Yes, and let us not forget those cities that have are important centers for the oil and/or gas industry who do get a bit more of the Russian economic pie as opposed to those who do not.

Misha, problem is when all these industries are officially registered for example in Moscow the centers where they operate lose the money, because money goes to Moscow, as I mentioned before and gave the link to the article.

http://newsland.com/news/detail/id/900464/

For example, Gazprom pays to Moscow budget about 160 billion rubles per year because Gazprom officially registered in Moscow though operates in other regions. Just 18% of Moscow budget consists of money from the big Russian companies like Lukoil and Rosneft, again because almost all big Russian companies are registered in Moscow though they do not operate in the Moscow region. Since 2006 Omsk "Sibneft" has been registered in Saint Petersburg, it means the Omsk region lost 6 billion rub per year, it is 35% of the region budget.

Plus... to all indirect revenue add direct subvention and subsidy taken from the Federal budget for Moscow, for so called "fulfilment of the Russian capital needs." In 2011 it was 161 billion rub.

[Misha]

Misha, problem is when all these industries are officially registered for example in Moscow the centers where they operate lose the money, because money goes to Moscow, as I mentioned before and gave the link to the article.

True, but there is a bit more money that trickles down in the oil towns. I would have to check to see where Tatneft is registered though.

[OlgaH]

So this "Auchan" is something like Walmart or K-Mart? 


http://www.auchan.ru/ru/product_groups

Exactly as you mentioned the link before  But I think Walmart manages the lines better 

"The masses crowd into Ashan and Metro and the other megastores to brave the hordes looking to save a kopek or two. The elites, able to avoid the madness of those places and the poor quality of their products... "  http://russiaprofile.org/blogs/57497.html?start=15

[Ooooops]

No....Better

I didn't use Walmart or K-mart names in derogatory way, I think both are fine mega stores for buying some stuff at good prices.