Which Way is St Peterburg?

No matter what they say, it isn’t Moscow St. Petersburg Times, November 6, 1998 Will Liberal St. Petersburg Go With Russia’s Flow? By Brian Whitmore St. Petersburg, everyone will tell you,is different. It is more cosmopolitan than Russia’s sleepy provinces, yet more sedate than the Babylonian free-for-all of Moscow. Culturally,…

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Where am I again? Oh, yeah…

Another week in the life of a man in Moscow He ain’t going nowhere! Sometimes I get confused as to where I am working cuz I’ve worked at so many desks in my office building! Friday I wrote this in the midst of an office move. We are not moving…

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I Love Me Some Vodka

The elixir of Russia! HELLO RUSSIA Cultural Hints: Russian Vodka Let’s talk about vodka, which is an important product in Russian culture. There are 1,8 million officially recognized alcoholics and over 10 million Alkashy (people who drink at first opportunity) in Russia. Teetotaler may look like a black sheep at…

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It’s a Gosorg Halloween

If you are around, and you are down, you are at the GOSORG HALLOWEEN BLOWOUT I brought the Baltika 9! Last Saturday, North Americans (Canadians take note), all over the globe celebrated a pagan ritual that has ingrained itself in our modern culture: Halloween Night. In America, the kids (and…

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Hunger Comes to Us All

Every winter everybody is scared of famine! Los Angeles Times October 20, 1998 Hunger in Russia’s Heartland Devastating summer drought caused worst grain harvest since 1953. Despite official reassurances, many in impoverished regions fear winter will bring starvation. By John-Thor Dahlburg PALLASOVKA, Russia–In July the wheat crop failed, roasted alive…

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