Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Expense Fraud at KPMG
Amazing fraud at KPMG : http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/blogs/gina-dyer/team-blog/expenses-scandal-blame-missus
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Still No Hot Water
I wrote few times I do not have hot water during summer. Some of you thought that’s a joke. I wish it is. Especially given the rent paid for the apartment.
But lack of hot water during summer months is part of socialist heritage. In ex-socialist countries heat and hot water are connected and provided centrally. The state decides - through a very complicated formula - when it will start heating and when it will stop it.
When the state stops heating in warmer months hot water is also not provided. The reason given for lack of hot water is annual maintenance of water pipes. Why in all other countries maintenance of hot water pipes can be done without having hot water supply disconnected remains a mystery to me.
Due to annual pipes maintenance my building had hot water switched off since end of June. Maintainance of pipes was to be finished by August 5th. But something happened and switching on was postponed for August 13th. The notes about hot water not being available are visibly put on the communal board. Than on Aug 13th I found a note with 13 being changed to 20th. That’s the photo above.
In my apartment I have a small boiler but it does not work properly. So I enjoy lukewarm showers.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
It's summer. I am without hot water.But so are others...
Watch young Ukrainian ladies protest because the hot water is (as customary in UA) switched off... http://en.rian.ru/video/20090615/155250830.html
Patriarch Kirill in Kiev, Madonna in St Pete
Orthodox Patriarch Kirill arrived to Kiev last week. The Guard of Honor – consisting also of beautiful police ladies in official uniforms - mini skirts and high heels - comes to attention as the Patriarch Kirill walks down the red carpet.
The dress of the Guard of Honor is in contrast with a ladies dress policy when visiting an orthodox church. I am happy to see the Patriarch had an opportunity to appreciate work of God's hands in form of sexy legs. Perhaps he will intorduce more flexible dress code for ladies.
If Biden had the same Guard of Honor two weeks ago, no wonder he was full of compliments about beautiful Ukrainian ladies.
The photo is taken from "Focus" magazine published this week. Full credit to the photographer
and Focus magazine.
Patriarch Kirill gave in Kiev a speech about virtues of asceticism. According to UA local VIP magazine the patriarch wears EUR 30,000 wristwatch Breguet Classic. Thus Patriarch Kirill obviously does not follow what he preaches: http://vip.glavred.info/?/articles/2009/07/28/181000-0.
Tomorrow Madonna has a concert in St Pete. The city’s communists have a song request: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090728/155652873.html
I wonder how will Material Girl respond.
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.
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