Friday, July 24, 2009
Europe Explained
Found this on the web. It was initally posted in Jan 09. I find it funny:
http://noquedanblogs.com/me-hizo-reir/europa-explicado/.
For comments on the map go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphadesigner/3192055736
http://noquedanblogs.com/me-hizo-reir/europa-explicado/.
For comments on the map go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphadesigner/3192055736
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Traffic light talk
We are going through a summer heat wave. The temperature is around 35 C these days.
With such heat walking Igor to the park over asphalt melting streets in the early afternoon is not fun. Once we reach the park we cool a bit. Shadows of leafy treetops offer some relief. But than we have to walk asphalt melting streets back home.
At the cross road Igor and me stop and wait for a green light. Next to us stands a Caucasian looking guy. He looks Georgian but he also could be from one of Stans countries. He talks on his mobile. He speak Russian. His conversation goes something like this: “So how is there? Hot? Very hot? Oh… No, here in Kiev it is not hot. There is some wind. It cools down a bit…”.
I look at the guy in disbelief. I am clammy from the heat. My head is boiling. Have I heard this man talks about some wind right now? Where is this refreshing wind to cool me?
I am at the point of asking. But the heat makes me too weak. The traffic light turns green.
I guess I’ll miss the wind.
Earlier this week at the same crossroad an old Ukrainian lady wanted to pass the street while it was still red. She stepped out. At that moment a car passed. She stepped back and noticed Igor sits still. The lady turned and said: “If such a nice dog waits for a green light perhaps I should too”.
A standard small talk about Igor continued: ”Boy or girl? How old? What’s his name?”
I noticed the lady is in her 70ties. Only two golden teeth sparkling when she speaks.
The lady noticed my accent. She asked where I am from.
I answered:” From Holland.”
"From Holland?" she asked with disbelief.
“Yes, I came from Holland”
“What are you doing here?”
“ I work”
“You came here to work? You could not find work in Holland?” Her disbelief was growing.
“Yes, I came here to work”.
“You must be really mad to come here. I read Holland is a such wonderful country. Here we have an ecological disaster. Have you heard about Chernobyl? Do you know how many people die from cancer in Ukraine?”
“Yes, I heard”.
“Is the doggy from Holland?”
“Yes, he is”.
The lady looked at me and with stern voice said: "You must be really mad to come here. You must be bad not to be able to find work in Holland." Than she looked at Igor. Her voice soften a bit and through her two golden teeth she said "I just feel so sorry for your lovely dog”.
At that she turned towards the ice cream stand and bought herself an ice cream.
With such heat walking Igor to the park over asphalt melting streets in the early afternoon is not fun. Once we reach the park we cool a bit. Shadows of leafy treetops offer some relief. But than we have to walk asphalt melting streets back home.
At the cross road Igor and me stop and wait for a green light. Next to us stands a Caucasian looking guy. He looks Georgian but he also could be from one of Stans countries. He talks on his mobile. He speak Russian. His conversation goes something like this: “So how is there? Hot? Very hot? Oh… No, here in Kiev it is not hot. There is some wind. It cools down a bit…”.
I look at the guy in disbelief. I am clammy from the heat. My head is boiling. Have I heard this man talks about some wind right now? Where is this refreshing wind to cool me?
I am at the point of asking. But the heat makes me too weak. The traffic light turns green.
I guess I’ll miss the wind.
Earlier this week at the same crossroad an old Ukrainian lady wanted to pass the street while it was still red. She stepped out. At that moment a car passed. She stepped back and noticed Igor sits still. The lady turned and said: “If such a nice dog waits for a green light perhaps I should too”.
A standard small talk about Igor continued: ”Boy or girl? How old? What’s his name?”
I noticed the lady is in her 70ties. Only two golden teeth sparkling when she speaks.
The lady noticed my accent. She asked where I am from.
I answered:” From Holland.”
"From Holland?" she asked with disbelief.
“Yes, I came from Holland”
“What are you doing here?”
“ I work”
“You came here to work? You could not find work in Holland?” Her disbelief was growing.
“Yes, I came here to work”.
“You must be really mad to come here. I read Holland is a such wonderful country. Here we have an ecological disaster. Have you heard about Chernobyl? Do you know how many people die from cancer in Ukraine?”
“Yes, I heard”.
“Is the doggy from Holland?”
“Yes, he is”.
The lady looked at me and with stern voice said: "You must be really mad to come here. You must be bad not to be able to find work in Holland." Than she looked at Igor. Her voice soften a bit and through her two golden teeth she said "I just feel so sorry for your lovely dog”.
At that she turned towards the ice cream stand and bought herself an ice cream.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Babushke sing Britney
I find this video ad irresistible. It advertises language courses at an institute in St Pete.
The ladies are simply charming. The slogan at the end says "English - budet kak' rodnoi" or in translation "English - as native (language)". At the end of the spot one of ladies drops a vodka glass. The other says "Uzhas (Horribble!)" as this in Slavic tradition is a sign of bad luck.
Hope you will enjoy the video.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/old-russian-ladies-learn-english-with-britney
The ladies are simply charming. The slogan at the end says "English - budet kak' rodnoi" or in translation "English - as native (language)". At the end of the spot one of ladies drops a vodka glass. The other says "Uzhas (Horribble!)" as this in Slavic tradition is a sign of bad luck.
Hope you will enjoy the video.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/old-russian-ladies-learn-english-with-britney
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Igor's Playmates II
I wanted to post these photos of Igor and his playmates some time ago. Some photos are about two months old (after April 26th). At that time Igor was still with his full coat. As photos show he is not shy. And he loves to play with big girls. His favourite girl is a black lab Bony. If Bony is not around he loves to play with Dana - a gentle bulldog. Igor has quite a reputation in the park. They ask me: How is our macho today? Owner of Bony told me the other day: "Igor so thouroughly kissed Bony's ears we do not need to pet her for a week". Hmmm.
If there is a new girl in the park (and we always meet new girls) he has to sniff her. But Bony remains his favourite.
Most of dogs in the park are girls but occasionally we encounter a "dogie boy". If a "new boy" comes to play along with other girls Igor is fearless in chasing him away. The small matter of size does not stop him. http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/IgorSPlaymates?authkey=Gv1sRgCMTg2q3b2qLZYQ&feat=directlink
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Demolished Lenin
Read how the Ukrainian Nationalist Congress party smashed the Lenin statue in the center of Kiev because Lenin is symbol of totalitarism:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/01/lenin-statue-vandalised-kiev
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8133076.stm
http://photo.unian.net/eng/themes/13469
Photo is downloaded from unian site.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Summer Scandals
For weeks media implicate that on June 16, 2009, the Member of the Parliament and a member of Yulia Tymoshenko's party - Mr. Lozynsky, together with the regional prosecutor Mr. Hrebenko and Rayon police chief Mr. Kovalsky - killed a 53 year old man.
Read more at: http://tap-the-talent.blogspot.com/2009/06/land-baronmp-viktor-lozynsky-byut.html and http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/06/25/186353
Few days ago a news appeared that the President's son was involved in a shooting incident http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/06/30/186793. Seems the Prez's son was involved in a shooting incident also in May 2006. This incident is mentioned in the Prez's son profile: http://www.kyivpost.com/profiles/people/dossie/yushchenko_andrey
If intrigued to read more about young Yushchenko see old Russian "Pravda" article: http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/16-12-2008/106837-Andrei_Yushchenko-0
Read more at: http://tap-the-talent.blogspot.com/2009/06/land-baronmp-viktor-lozynsky-byut.html and http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/06/25/186353
Few days ago a news appeared that the President's son was involved in a shooting incident http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/06/30/186793. Seems the Prez's son was involved in a shooting incident also in May 2006. This incident is mentioned in the Prez's son profile: http://www.kyivpost.com/profiles/people/dossie/yushchenko_andrey
If intrigued to read more about young Yushchenko see old Russian "Pravda" article: http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/16-12-2008/106837-Andrei_Yushchenko-0
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Update
I am still in Kiev. Currently enjoying summer. Last two months the work kept me busy and exhausted.
How bad the work is one can deduce from today’s 1H 09 GDP report which shows the economy contracted by 20.3% YoY. This is the first time since Jan 2009 that the government made any data available. PM Julia banned distribution of data concerning the economy and finance in Feb 2009. The GDP data were published today only because IMF insisted. Actually IMF put an ultimatum – either Julia allows data to be published or USD 7 bn might not be available. Listening to our clients I wonder if actual data about economy contraction might be even worse. I worry what will happen in August and September- another devaluation? sovereign default?
As work lacks the fun element for some time, I continue to travel to re-charge.
Beginning of May I have been two weeks in Croatia. It was fantastic to be with my family although the situation with my dad’s health was not always relaxing. My mum is doing fantastic job taking care of him. On her insistence my dad is now on less medication and lately he appears to be better. My mum also changed a doctor which makes a big difference too. As usual I walked with her the hills around my parent’s house.
End of May I went for a long weekend to A’dam. I enjoyed my house and a swan family which lives in front of it. The proud parents show off their fabulous offspring. The seven signets are just great!
Last week I went to New York with my school friend Eli. Eli’s husband and her three boys have not objected she joins me to have “girlfriends” time. I have been to NY few times but last time it was in 2001. Eli lived in NY about 20 years ago and visited it regularly since than. It was great to have her around. During the day we were either sightseeing or shopping. In the evening we enjoyed Broadway. We saw "Lion King" and "The God of Carnage". We also sang and danced with Juan Louis Guerra. We both filled our empty suitcases and were sad leaving the great city.
Now back in Kiev I continue to dream about NY.
I will add links for more photos later.
How bad the work is one can deduce from today’s 1H 09 GDP report which shows the economy contracted by 20.3% YoY. This is the first time since Jan 2009 that the government made any data available. PM Julia banned distribution of data concerning the economy and finance in Feb 2009. The GDP data were published today only because IMF insisted. Actually IMF put an ultimatum – either Julia allows data to be published or USD 7 bn might not be available. Listening to our clients I wonder if actual data about economy contraction might be even worse. I worry what will happen in August and September- another devaluation? sovereign default?
As work lacks the fun element for some time, I continue to travel to re-charge.
Beginning of May I have been two weeks in Croatia. It was fantastic to be with my family although the situation with my dad’s health was not always relaxing. My mum is doing fantastic job taking care of him. On her insistence my dad is now on less medication and lately he appears to be better. My mum also changed a doctor which makes a big difference too. As usual I walked with her the hills around my parent’s house.
End of May I went for a long weekend to A’dam. I enjoyed my house and a swan family which lives in front of it. The proud parents show off their fabulous offspring. The seven signets are just great!
Last week I went to New York with my school friend Eli. Eli’s husband and her three boys have not objected she joins me to have “girlfriends” time. I have been to NY few times but last time it was in 2001. Eli lived in NY about 20 years ago and visited it regularly since than. It was great to have her around. During the day we were either sightseeing or shopping. In the evening we enjoyed Broadway. We saw "Lion King" and "The God of Carnage". We also sang and danced with Juan Louis Guerra. We both filled our empty suitcases and were sad leaving the great city.
Now back in Kiev I continue to dream about NY.
I will add links for more photos later.
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