Windows to Russia!

Just Israel Pictures!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:54:00 -0500

Bus Station

Russia: The Israel Trip 4

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:36:00 -0500

Hello,

My Sweetie (Svet) looking great as always. We have arrived at the Dead Sea!

This is our hotel: The Dead Sea Gardens Hotel.

The first site of the Dead Sea Beach.

Me floating and soaking up the sunshine.

Svet and I explored the Beach and found salt, salt, salt, salt, salt and more salt!

The Hotels are in a Oasis like area.

The great American Tourist.

Mountains (faint background), more salt and the Dead Sea.

First Burger King in over two years for me, first ever for Svet.

Holiday time again (Sukkot) in Israel!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and there will be more. We are having a blast and Svet says that it is the best ever vacation. I agree!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: The Israel Trip 3

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:46:00 -0500

Hello,

We are still running around Israel. Svet and I are at the Dead Sea today. It is fabulous, fantastic and wonderful, all rolled up together!

So after a good night sleep and a float (hard to swim) in the Dead Sea. I plan on posting an article with pictures and all. We are staying at the Garden hotel and plan on staying 3 nights here.

So stay tuned for a good post tomorrow....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: The Israel Trip 2

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:25:00 -0500

Hello,

We have arrived in Israel just in time for Yom Kipper a very important Jewish holiday.

Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq.

The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, I mentioned the “books” in which G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.

So today is a total day of rest and fasting in Israel. Which means we are goofing off. :) No cars or any motorized transport runs at all, including Airlines or busses. Here is a video done by friends of ours in Israel. Chelita is taking the movie, starting from left to right we have Chelita's Mother, Svet, Kyle and Misha! We just got done with traditional feast the day before Yom Kipper. Now comes the 25 hour fasting.

We are having a blast in Israel and are taking lots of pictures.

That is all for today...

Kyle & Svet

link to Chelita's Blog
http://thegelady.blogspot.com/
http://thegelady.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-post_9095.html

comments always welcome.

I survived the Georgian war. Here's what I saw.

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:37:00 -0500

We want to thank Blackseabrew for finding this article for us. It is a first hand account of the war that was waged on South Ossetia....

By Lira Tskhovrebova
from the October 8, 2008 edition
Tskhinvali, South Ossetia - In a speech before the United Nations last month, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili implored world leaders to set up an international investigation to find out the truth about the war in South Ossetia.
I couldn't agree more. But I think the results of an honest investigation would reveal a very different "truth" than what President Saakashvili claims.
I know this because I was in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, on Aug. 7 when Georgian troops marched into the city and killed my friends and neighbors. I huddled with my family in terror for three nights while Saakashvili's tanks and rockets destroyed hundreds of our homes, desecrated cemeteries, gutted schools and hospitals.
I also have good reason not to trust what Saakashvili says. For three days before the attack I had been getting calls from many Georgian friends warning me to get out. They said Saakashvili was planning an attack. Most of the Georgians living in South Ossetia left because they knew what was coming.
On the night of Aug. 7, Saakashvili went on television and assured the frightened civilian population of South Ossetia that he would not attack us. This was long after the time Saakashvili now claims Russians had begun "invading" Georgia.
Ossetians went to bed relieved and thankful for a peaceful night.
Less than two hours later, according to credible international accounts, his artillery, bombers, and three brigades of ground troops unleashed what I can only describe as a fierce hell on our city. In the moment, we knew only our fear as we hid. Afterward I spoke with hundreds of Ossetians to find out what was done to us.
My friend's elderly father tried to douse the flames set by Georgian fire on the home he had built with his hands. His leg was severed by shrapnel from Georgian weapons. He bled to death while his disabled wife crawled from their burning home.
Ossetians saw Georgian tanks firing into basements where women and children hid for safety They saw fleeing families shot down by Georgian snipers. We learned that the Georgian military had used Grad rocket systems and cluster bombs against Tskhinvali.
Yes, I would very much like to see an international commission investigate the truth of what happened.
When I came out from hiding, thanking God that the Russians had saved our lives, I was dismayed by the reaction of the international media to what had happened. There was nothing about Ossetian deaths and the unprovoked horrors inflicted by Saakashvili's military. It made my heart sick.
The truth has been crushed by Georgia's powerful public relations machine as mercilessly as Georgian tanks rolled over the defenseless civilians of Tskhinvali.
I know that Americans are a generous and fair people. But Americans haven't been told the truth about what happened to us. Americans don't understand that Ossetians are an independent, Christian Orthodox people with a deep history in our land. The world talks only about Georgian freedom. What of freedom for my people? Does our suffering, do our voices, mean nothing?
I don't blame the Georgian people for what happened to us. The vast number of Ossetians and Georgians want to live in peace. I blame Georgia's leaders.
Saakashvili has persuaded the world that he is a "beacon" of democracy and openness. But he won't even tell his own people the truth. My Georgian friends weren't allowed to see any Russian news sites during the conflict because all of those sites were blocked by Saakashvili's government.
I know we are a small people, and I make no claim to understanding the experts in geopolitics with their theories and pronouncements about the great powers. But I have fought for women's rights in Ossetia for 12 years and I believe in the truth.
In a recent article, Saakashvili cynically dismissed Ossetian suffering and deaths because, he said, Russia had "lied" about how many of my people were killed by the Georgian military.
It breaks my heart to even engage in this discussion. No one – including Saakashvili – knows how many Ossetians were killed by his Army. I have friends who buried loved ones in their backyards because there were no alternatives. Many people are still missing.
Does Saakashvili believe his vicious attack on a civilian city was justified if he only killed a few hundred rather than a few thousand? Do Americans realize that a military trained and equipped by the US government attacked a civilian population as they slept in their beds? Can they justify sending another billion dollars to Georgia and nothing for those Georgia attacked?
I have made an urgent appeal to the world for humanitarian relief for our people at the website helpossetianow.org. I beg the United States and the world to find out the truth. Please hear our voices.
• Lira Tskhovrebova is the founder of the Association of South Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights and has worked for more than a decade to improve relations between people of Georgian and Ossetian descent in the Caucasus.

Find this article at:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1008/p09s02-coop.html

Russia: The Israel Trip 1

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:26:00 -0500

Hello,

The first day in Israel was a mixture of emotions. First off we were so tired that we had to sleep for about 13 hours. It was that stressful fighting with the airports. To make a long trip short, we flew from Moscow Russia to Zürich Switzerland. Ran (literally) across one of the biggest airports we have ever seen. Then caught our transfer with about 1 min. extra, to Tel Aviv, Israel. Then found a taxi and made it to home for the next few days.

After sleeping forever: We went to the Russian Consulate in Israel and started the visa dance that is so much fun in this world. That is enough stress that you want to scream.

After being told about (the and what) thousands of things that we have to get together for the next visit tomorrow, we went to eat some delicious Israeli food. Yummy!

Then we took a walk and Svet went swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Svet had a blast!

Palm Trees Everywhere!

One thing first noticed is every pole has a bike chained to it!

Not every bike is safe though!

The water was warm and the breeze is cool and gentle.

The beach is lined with every big name Hotel on Earth!

Beach is better than looking at Hotels! :)

Found some neat art work at a culture building on our walk! See the fake shadows on the building!

So the first day was interesting and tomorrow we have to go dance the visa waltz again!

Everyone have a good day and we will post again soon....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: We made It To Israel!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:03:00 -0500

Hello,

We made it and just got up from 13 hours of sleep. I think that the jet trips are hard on people.

We will have a bigger post tonight about our first day in Israel....

Gotta go get my visa done, then we play.

Kyle & Svet

Russia: Commemorate Parliament siege victims!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:15:00 -0500

Around 1500 people gathered in central Moscow on Saturday to commemorate those who died during a confrontation between the Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Parliament in October 1993.

It's 15 years since the constitutional crisis almost led to civil war.

Around 150 people died, including civilians as well as servicemen. Many died during clashes with police and when the Ostankino TV center was stormed.

The conflict ended when the then Parliament building - the White House - was shelled by tanks by forces loyal to the president. That forced the legislators who had impeached president Boris Yeltsin to surrender.

The events changed the political face of Russia - a new Constitution adopted after the crisis gave the Russian president increased powers.

Russia: The Kremlin Cup!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:38:00 -0500

Russia’s No.1 tennis tournament – the Kremlin Cup – starts on Saturday, featuring a moderately strong men’s draw and a women’s line-up that’s as strong than as many Grand Slam tournaments and inferior only to the seasons finals, with 16 players from the top 20 of WTA’s ranking participating.

Many of the world's top players have already arrived in Moscow to have time to prepare for the tournament at the Olympisky Arena. Their number includes Amelie Mauresmo, who got all the way to the final back in 2003 when she lost to home favourite Anastasia Myskina.

For many, Russia is identified with the “Evil Empire”, the Soviet Union.

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:53:00 -0500

Interviewed by Aleksey Leonov, Osetinfo.ru, Ossetia-war.com

The third day of the PACE session was marked by severe criticism of and even insults to Russia. In an interview with Osetinfo.ru, Aleksandr Brod, the chief of the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights comments on the delegates’ speeches and shares his views on the further development of the Russia-Western relationships.

Osetinfo.ru: How strong is the criticism of Russia?

Aleksandr Brod: Some speeches were extremely severe. Russia was accused, sometimes inappropriately. Some statements were like “the Russian Bear should be stopped”, “Russian tanks entered Georgia and Georgia lies in ruins”, “The tanks are not only in Georgia, but in this very hall, and in Europe”. It was said the Russian occupational forces invaded a sovereign state, amid allegations of mass rape and looting by Russian servicemen. Similarities were drawn with the Rwanda tragedy and the topic of the USSR’s invasion of Czechoslovakia was stirred again.

The Kremlin was accused of fearing democracy. Russia was called an “Empire of Evil”, while a Georgian delegate spoke about the low corruption level in his country and about Russia’s attempts to disrupt the peaceful process of democratisation in Georgia.

The question of issuing the passports of a foreign country to local residents was raised again. It was said that the Russian passports thus issued were forged.
Even those who admitted Georgia’s injustice accused Russia of “insufficient actions to prevent the invasion of South Ossetia”.
Some Western officials even made the absurd statement that Russia had sent its ships to South Ossetia’s shores, which meant they were not at all aware where South Ossetia was actually located.

O: Were there any positive statements about Russia?

AB: Oh, yes. For instance the representative from Greece spoke in support of Russia. He said that some delegates were trying to veer from the truth, and he insisted that it was Georgia that started the war, thus violating all the norms of international law. He also said it was now necessary to forget about the Soviet path and to stop identifying modern Russia with the Soviet Union.
One of European delegates made the following statement: “Georgia admits it has done something wrong.” Within the current session this statement is rather positive. It was also said that Russia was becoming a big and powerful state that must be taken into account.

Two statements were made on behalf of Great Britain. One of them was saturated with criticism of Russia, while the second one was aimed at investigating the objective causes of the tragedy. Ukraine’s representative also had good words for Russia. He was rather strict in his support of Russia and appealed for Georgia’s actions to be denounced.

O: Is it possible to convince the European colleagues and change their negative attitude towards Russia?

AB: I think it is, although not so fast. The West shows that the clichés about Russia are so deeply rooted in people’s minds that they are virtually unchangeable. For many, Russia is identified with the “Evil Empire”, the Soviet Union. As to what has happened in the past 20 years, it is terra incognita for many.

I think an unbiased investigation of the situation should be carried out. The investigators’ group must be comprised of representatives from different countries. It is possible that after such an investigation, the PACE delegates could be influenced on their stance.

Russian news: October 3rd, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:21:00 -0500

RBC, 03.10.2008, Astrakhan 13:30:52.In light of the global financial crisis, many international regulations may be revised, Russian Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina told a Caspian Sea summit in Astrakhan, a major city in southern European Russia. International financial architecture as a whole will inevitably change, Nabiullina asserted, and the role of traditional financial investment institutions, financial organizations, and separate currencies will be reconsidered.

RBC, 03.10.2008, Moscow 12:21:59.The State Duma approved the bill outlining additional measures to support Russia's financial system in the first reading. According to Vladislav Reznik, chairman of the Duma committee for the financial market, the bill will grant Vnesheconombank the right to extend foreign-currency loans to both banks and non-financial companies to enable them to pay off and service their foreign loans obtained before September 25, 2008.

RBC, 03.10.2008, Kemerovo 11:04:01.The global financial crisis will not seriously affect the development of the Russian mortgage market, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told journalists in Kemerovo, a Russian industrial city east-northeast of Novosibirsk. Granted, the market will probably be developing more slowly than it has during the past two weeks, but it will still move in a positive direction.

RBC, 03.10.2008, Moscow 10:25:38.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan on October 9-10, the leader's press office reported today. On October 10, he is scheduled to take part in meetings of the CIS Council of the Heads of State and the intergovernmental council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

RBC, 02.10.2008, Moscow 19:59:21.Russia and Ukraine have agreed on a memorandum on cooperation in the gas industry, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced during Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental negotiations today. The document will serve as a basis for a formal agreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine, which will stipulate all further details.

RBC, 02.10.2008, St. Petersburg 19:42:40.Trade between Russia and Germany could reach a new all-time high level of around $60bn, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in St. Petersburg today. He added that Russia was intent on actively contributing to its further growth.

RBC, 02.10.2008, Moscow 18:42:17.Russia and Germany may collaborate in the creation of alternative global financial centers, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at the opening of Russian-German consultations in St. Petersburg today. The Russian leadership believes that the country managed to accumulate sufficient financial reserves before the global crisis erupted, Medvedev maintained. However, he did not rule out the possibility of Russian-German mutual financial assistance. The president also added that he expected Germany to cooperate with Russia in reforming international financial institutions, along with the global financial and economic system as a whole.

Russia: The World Forgot to Save For a Rainy Day!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:24:00 -0500

Hello,

Just a thought today while drinking my morning cup of coffee.

For twelve days Japan has pumped a trillion yen into its financial markets, Europe has pumped billions of pounds and euros into its financial markets, Russia has pumped billions of rubles into its financial markets, Asia has pumped billions of ? (what ever currency they use) into their financial markets and America has pumped billions upon billions (Exceeding a trillion) dollars into its financial system. So the global market has in the last couple of weeks, an injection exceeding trillions of dollars of cash pumped into it and it seems to be just verily holding together.

I am starting to wonder if the patient (Financial System) might die!

What gets me more than these stupid humongous financial numbers that are floating around the world, is the fact that we still talk about aid to the poor in the terms of millions of dollars. We allow people to starve all over the world, they survive on pennies a day. Then we got a corporation and its shareholders crying about its loses. We have people dying everyday from hunger and curable diseases and we have Governments tossing trillions of dollars down the drain to save businesses and banks that have no right to stay in business if they can not manage their money.

I can remember when you never thought in terms of billions of dollars. I remember when a millionaire was rich. I remember. - But somewhere somehow profits became billions of dollars per quarter for companies like General Motors and Ford and now they are broke.

How can you be broke making billions of dollars in profit per quarter?

My Grandma would have said: "You must save money for a rainy day!"

It sure is a stormy rainy day. Did you save your money?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: As The Winds Do Change! (Part 6)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:05:00 -0500

Hello,

Did I mention that Ukraine was doing some extracurricular things with tanks? Oh yes! I did! Once or twice...
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/09/russia-pirate-escapade-is-getting.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/09/russia-as-winds-do-change-part-5.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/09/russia-stock-markets-crash-new.html

Now the games begin:
The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Timoshenko, says her government has information that Ukraine is involved in the illegal arms trade. The statement came after conflicting reports about the final destination of ‘Faina’, the cargo ship that was transporting Ukrainian T-72 tanks to either Kenya or Sudan when it was captured by pirates.

"We pass all the information we have to a special investigative commission which was established in the Rada [Ukrainian parliament] in order to probe the illegal arms trade, in which Ukraine is unfortunately involved today," Timoshenko said. (Link)

Looks like it is going to get real interesting before we get the truth about Ukraine and her T-72 Tank Games.

I see a big storm brewing up over this issue and I think it is going to spread....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Windows To Russia is Redirecting To Google! - Windows To Russia!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:10:00 -0500

From Blogger:

Some users are seeing that their custom domains are forwarding to www.google.com. We are working to resolve the issue.

Blogs on custom domains were intermittently unviewable tonight.

So if all you get is Google then Windows to Russia then Google then Windows to Russia.....

Sorry, it is beyond our control! Posting will be suspended for Wednesday Oct. 1st, 2008. It took 1 and a half hours to get this posted.

This is affecting all our blogs on all domains.

Kyle & Svet

PS: All fixed after 12 hours. Cross your fingers! (Yea)

Russia: The Pirate Escapade is getting Interesting!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:13:00 -0500

Hello,

Seems to be an interesting issue that American warships have taken a huge interest in this pirate escapade.....

Several American warships from the 5th Fleet joined the USS Howard, which is blocking the Faina, a Belize-registered cargo ship with a $35-million load of weapons, which was seized by Somali pirates last week. Several European warships are also remaining in the area and the Russian Neustrashimy is heading to the scene from the Baltic Fleet. The American ships have so far restricted their actions to calling on the pirates not to touch the cargo, but their admonitions have gone unheeded. (Link)

But you have to remember that America is behind this whole escapade, so they are there trying to cover up another mess up. Russia is steaming in to put pressure on the American ships and try to expose the game. Pretty neat, Huh....

1st article on this pirate escapade! (Link)

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

PS: Update, It seems that everyone is confused - It was said by Ukraine that the tanks are going to Kenya then the USA says, "NO they are going to Sudan." Then Kenya said that they were for them and at the same time Sudan said that they are theirs. Then the pirates were fighting among each other, but that changed also to the Pirates are celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr despite being surrounded by American warships and helicopters. The Pirates say that they are having a good time and wish the world all peace and happiness.......

Russian news: September 30th, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:16:00 -0500

Moscow, Seoul to Become Strategic Partners:
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who is in Moscow now, had a meeting with Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday, September 29, 2008. The key result of that get-together was the agreement to proceed to another level in bilateral relations, the one of strategic partnership.

Russian nuclear submarine makes 30-day trip under Arctic ice:
A Russian Delta-III class ballistic missile submarine has successfully sailed from a naval base in northern Russia to the Pacific Ocean under the Arctic ice floe, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday. Ryazan is a Project 667BDR Delta III class strategic nuclear submarine, which entered service with Russia's Northern Fleet in 1982. It has a crew of 130 and can travel underwater without coming to the surface for up to 90 days.The submarine is armed with 16 R-29RM (SS-N-23 Skiff) ballistic missiles with a range of 8,000 km (about 5,000 miles).

Medvedev pledges further economic, security assistance for Abkhazia:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has pledged to continue security and economic assistance for Abkhazia, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday.

Opinion poll says only 31% of Russians use Internet:
A poll conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center has shown that two-thirds of Russians do not use the Internet.

Over 100 in hospital with meningitis in northern Russia:
A total of 101 people have been hospitalized with suspected aseptic meningitis in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk, the local emergencies department said Tuesday.

Lavrov Calls for New European Security Treaty:
Russia advocates negotiating a new treaty on European and Atlantic security that will cover NATO, the EU, OSCE as well as the security structures of the post-Soviet territory, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced at the news conference in New York.

Belarus Parliament without Opposition:
The preliminary results of the Belarusian parliamentary elections were announced yesterday. Contrary to expectations, no representatives of the opposition were elected to the body. Observers from the OSCE severely criticized the elections. The recent warming of relations between Minsk and the West now looks problematic, but Moscow should be happy with the new parliament, which it expects to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia: Gorby Starts a New Political Party!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:43:00 -0500

Hello,

On TV in Russia tonight it was announced:

Mikhail Gorbachev has said that he is planning to create a new political party in Russia. His partner is a Russian banker Alexander Lebedev.

The new organization will be called "the Independent democratic party of Russia", Its founders want it to take part in 2011 parliamentary elections and challenge the ruling party United Russia.

Go Gorby!

Kyle & Svet

From Russia: The USA - Bailout Failed! Hallelujah!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:29:00 -0500

Thank Goodness the bailout was stopped for now.....

Hallelujah
Posted by Lew Rockwell at September 29, 2008 01:12 PM

What a heroic day! The people rose up against a coalition of every evil group in America: the central bank, Wall Street plutocrats, politicians, banksters, think tanks (including the pseudo-libertarian sort), big media, big academia, and big business, and won. Today we got a taste of what things may look like when the regime is finally toppled, and its theft and killing stopped. The Austrian economists are vindicated again, as is Rothbard's political analysis, and our pizza party for Mises's birthday today look on an especially festive air. The bad guys may yet beat us, but how sweet to see the CNBC types running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Now let's get to work to defend the free market and sound money, and finger the Fed and all who support it as the culprits. Oh, and by the way, congratulations, Ron Paul. (Link)

Update:

The US House of Representatives has passed a $700bn (£380bn) government plan to rescue the US financial sector.

The 263-171 vote was the second in a week, following its shock rejection of an earlier version on Monday.

The package is aimed at buying up the bad debts of failing financial institutions on Wall Street.

US President George W Bush praised lawmakers for their "spirit of co-operation" before signing the bill into law later on Friday.

The House adopted the new version after the Senate added about $100bn

Russia: South Ossetia taking Matters in its Own Hands!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:30:00 -0500

Hello,

I was drinking my second cup of coffee and thinking about what South Ossatia is doing.

South Ossetian authorities are planning to put Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili on an international wanted list. The South Ossetian Prosecutor General's Office will complete all necessary procedures next week.

"The South Ossetian Prosecutor General's Office is drawing up charges against Saakashvili, who will be declared wanted internationally soon," South Ossetia's Prosecutor General Taimuraz Khugayev told Interfax on Monday.

"A warrant for entering the Georgian president on an international wanted list will be handed to the corresponding agencies of the states, which have recognized South Ossetia's independence," Khugayev said. (Link)

Some things make me smile and I was just thinking that Saakashvili will never ever go to South Ossetia and show his face again. :)

I wonder if they put his picture up on the post office wall like they do in America. Maybe they should put up his picture of eating a tie - That has to be a crime also....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Visa Time - Soon Onward To Israel!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:40:00 -0500

Hello,

This weekend (Sunday - Oct.5th) we leave for Israel. The tickets are bought, the dog has a sitter to spend a few weeks with. We are packing and getting all the mandatory necessities in order. The biggest necessity for me is to have about one month supply of my prescriptions for my heart. It is fun crossing the border with a small pharmacy! :) You have to explain to the whole world: I have heart problems and these pills are necessary.

They (not me) usually get nervous and get me on through when they realize that they do not want to do all the paper work involved with someone having a heart attack due to stress at the border crossing. I always say "Thank God for Nitro!" :)

Svet is so excited, this is one of the few countries that allow Russians to cross with out a visa. I think that is fantastic and truth is, any country that lets Americans in without a visa should let Russians in without a visa. Vietnam is close to no visa for Russians, so that looks like a good place to travel in the future. we have decided that visa restrictions are a factor in our travels. If the country has visa issues about Russia, then they really do not need our money. This visa issues are what keep us from traveling to Finland and Norway. Both countries treat Svet like she is second class person. :(

So when we get back from Israel we will be writing about getting my visa from the Russian Embassy in Israel!

This time we are going to cut cds of our pictures and also save the pictures on flash drives. We are not going to lose these pictures. (Knock on Wood!)

We will keep you updated before we leave...

Kyle & Svet

Russia: Help with Iran Means the USA gets Priorities Straight!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:43:00 -0500

Hello,

I saw an interesting article while drinking my coffee that Russia will only communicate about Iran if the USA gets their attitude straight about Georgia. I guess we will see how important Georgia is to the USA.....

The UN Security Council held its latest meeting on Saturday. Due to Russia’s efforts, no new sanctions will be imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Formally, Moscow wants to maintain the possibility for a diplomatic solution to the crisis around Iran’s enrichment of uranium. The Russian leadership had made it clear in advance, however, that it would be willing to come to an agreement on Iran only after the United States changes it position on Georgia.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin introduced the current document on Iran, saying that a resolution was needed that “would give wind to the political process” on Iran. The document urges Iran to follow all IAEA Guidelines and all previous Security Council resolutions demanding that Iran stop work on uranium enrichment. No mention is made of new sanctions in the resolution.

The Group of Six that is working on the Iranian crisis (Russia, the U.S., Great Britain, China, France and Germany) had planned to pass a much more pointed resolution on Iran that included sanctions during the UN General Assembly session in New York last week, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it known to a narrow circle that the U.S. would not be able to “punish” Russia for its actions in the Caucasus and work with it on Iran at the same time. It was then announced that Lavrov’s schedule did not permit him to meet with the group’s other foreign ministers.

Also on Saturday, Lavrov stated from the podium of the UN General Assembly that the majority of the world’s problems today stem from the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. “Under the false pretense of fighting terror and the spread of nuclear arms, international law was broken and a global crisis was artificially created that still has not yet been completely overcome,” Lavrov told the General Assembly. (Link)

I find this interesting because the USA has cried wolf in everyone's backyards and now for once they are being sent home spanked.

Russia does not see the urgency about Iran that the USA does and I do not see the urgency either. But then I never saw the urgency in Iraq, Just like I never saw the urgency in Afghanistan, Just like the urgency to develop a terrorist black list, Just like the urgency of missiles in Poland, Just like we must build a wall against Mexico, Just like we must oppress the people speaking out at the Democratic and Republican conventions, Just like the urgency of Home Land Security and so on and so on and so on. The urgency of the situation is part of the crying wolf syndrome.

The last statement of Lavrov is very true and accurate. The USA has been playing crying wolf for a long time now. How does the world know what is truth or lies anymore?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

PS: Crying Wolf - Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth.