Mishah told me this story today, out of the blue:
When he was 9 or 10, in the third grade, sometime in 1978 or 1979, he and his twin brother Max (fraternal, but they do look alike a lot) got featured in the national children's newspaper, Pionerskaya Pravda: the story was about them playing chess, competing and all on the kids' level. Like, isn't it cute, twins playing chess...
The newspaper's name translates as The Pioneer's Truth, and there were local versions of it, too, but the one Mishah's talking about was quite a big deal... Pioneers were something like boy scouts, with a communist twist; we've all been pioneers, and we all had to subscribe to this paper... I don't remember much about its contents because I was a very scatterbrained kid and I only started following the news and stuff seriously when I was 21 or so...
Anyway, after that story about them was published, they started receiving letters from kids from all over the Soviet Union. The kids, most likely urged by their parents and teachers, must have been writing to tell how much they admired Mishah and Max, the usual thing then, more of an exercise in writing and making friends than anything else. And one kid wrote from Beslan (or a place near Beslan), wrote with an accent (e.g. many typos), Mishah says.
And he thought about that letter today - what if that kid (who's now probably in his mid-30s) was a hostage, what if this kid's kid was a hostage... Or perhaps - hopefully - he had moved elsewhere, at some point in the past 13 years, as many many people here did. Maybe he even lives here in St. Pete, for all we know...
For the past few years Mishah's been playing chess with the computer; he can't get beyond the most elementary level - and that causes him to curse A LOT.
Me, I've never heard about the town of Beslan until four days ago.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
I'm sorry if this offends anyone - but I do feel like posting a picture of myself here, on Sept. 1st, twenty-two years ago. School uniform and astras/asters I mentioned before.
The reason I feel like apologizing is... fuck, i don't know. I just do - and I don't. There is so much pain where there shouldn't be any. And it's never gonna go away.
The reason I feel like apologizing is... fuck, i don't know. I just do - and I don't. There is so much pain where there shouldn't be any. And it's never gonna go away.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
at least 600 dead - but that's not what the officials say.
they say it's 322.
Gazeta.ru journalists have talked to doctors in two of the hospitals where the wounded are. These doctors (no names, which is understandable) are saying that they are not allowed out of the hospital, that their cell phones have been taken away in order to keep them from spilling some info to the relatives and to the journalists. The relatives are not being let inside the hospitals - only to identify the dead. Just like after the theater siege, when I was talking to a woman by the hospital who didn't know her husband's fate more than 24 hours after the failed rescue operation. Only it was terribly cold then, and now it's warm.
Putin flew to Beslan this morning. So fucking what? As one of our Spanish friends calls him, Hijo de puta, hijo de putin.
they say it's 322.
Gazeta.ru journalists have talked to doctors in two of the hospitals where the wounded are. These doctors (no names, which is understandable) are saying that they are not allowed out of the hospital, that their cell phones have been taken away in order to keep them from spilling some info to the relatives and to the journalists. The relatives are not being let inside the hospitals - only to identify the dead. Just like after the theater siege, when I was talking to a woman by the hospital who didn't know her husband's fate more than 24 hours after the failed rescue operation. Only it was terribly cold then, and now it's warm.
Putin flew to Beslan this morning. So fucking what? As one of our Spanish friends calls him, Hijo de puta, hijo de putin.
Sept. 1 is a holiday.
All kids bring flowers for the teachers - usually it's what we call the astras, I don't know what they're called in english - I used to be sort of allergic to them because I was so sick of school, but then, maybe five years ago, I started getting really nostalgic on seeing these flowers, and now I do buy them... They are fall flowers... (Edited in: they are called asters.)
Every school holds a celebration before classes begin: everyone - kids, their families, teachers - gather in front of the school, usually on a basketball court, and there are speeches, which the kids rarely listen to - because they are really excited to see each other after the long summer break, they are full of stories and impressions. And then there is something called The First Bell - when one of the boys for whom it's the last year of school, carries a girl on his shoulder, a first-grader, cute, giggling, proud, and she holds this large bell with a ribbon on it - and she rings the bell as he carries her around the court - and that means the school year has officially started. It was like this well before I started school, and it was so while I was in school, from 1981 to 1991, and it's still like this.
There's another school holiday, The Last Bell, the last day of classes. It takes place around May 25 and the procedure is very similar to Sept. 1, only the kids who are about to graduate are in the center of everyone's attention: two or three more weeks, and they'll be done with their exams, and they'll be adults. It's funny how now, when the school uniform is different from what we had to wear, there are still many girls who dress like we did on this day: brown dress and white apron - and those crazy white bows on their hair, and the white golfs (is that the word for the long socks?), which I never wore. Their older sisters or perhaps even their mamas have kept those old uniforms from their school days - because you wouldn't find any of it in the stores now (for every day, you had a black apron; the white one was only for the holidays). And after this celebration, all the last-graders walk around the city, drinking beer and having fun, and they're so happy, it's contagious. I took some pictures of these kids in Kyiv this past May - I'll try to find one to post it here.
All kids bring flowers for the teachers - usually it's what we call the astras, I don't know what they're called in english - I used to be sort of allergic to them because I was so sick of school, but then, maybe five years ago, I started getting really nostalgic on seeing these flowers, and now I do buy them... They are fall flowers... (Edited in: they are called asters.)
Every school holds a celebration before classes begin: everyone - kids, their families, teachers - gather in front of the school, usually on a basketball court, and there are speeches, which the kids rarely listen to - because they are really excited to see each other after the long summer break, they are full of stories and impressions. And then there is something called The First Bell - when one of the boys for whom it's the last year of school, carries a girl on his shoulder, a first-grader, cute, giggling, proud, and she holds this large bell with a ribbon on it - and she rings the bell as he carries her around the court - and that means the school year has officially started. It was like this well before I started school, and it was so while I was in school, from 1981 to 1991, and it's still like this.
There's another school holiday, The Last Bell, the last day of classes. It takes place around May 25 and the procedure is very similar to Sept. 1, only the kids who are about to graduate are in the center of everyone's attention: two or three more weeks, and they'll be done with their exams, and they'll be adults. It's funny how now, when the school uniform is different from what we had to wear, there are still many girls who dress like we did on this day: brown dress and white apron - and those crazy white bows on their hair, and the white golfs (is that the word for the long socks?), which I never wore. Their older sisters or perhaps even their mamas have kept those old uniforms from their school days - because you wouldn't find any of it in the stores now (for every day, you had a black apron; the white one was only for the holidays). And after this celebration, all the last-graders walk around the city, drinking beer and having fun, and they're so happy, it's contagious. I took some pictures of these kids in Kyiv this past May - I'll try to find one to post it here.
I love Die Hard. But I think it's so fucking insensitive to be showing it today, with its happy end and all...
The latest report from the health officials says more than 200 people have died. Just think of it: 200 people plus some more. And it's not final yet.
And Putin's vanished. And tomorrow he'll say some general bullshit, and will pretend that he's grieving and is in control of the situation.
Technically, Russia is not "my" country. I am a Ukrainian citizen. Ukraine is a different country - we have our own assholes (and the presidential election a week before the one in the States). But it's not a "foreign" country, either, because of all the common past, plus, we do live here now, have lived here on and off for the past few years. So yeah, in a way, it is "my" country...
The latest report from the health officials says more than 200 people have died. Just think of it: 200 people plus some more. And it's not final yet.
And Putin's vanished. And tomorrow he'll say some general bullshit, and will pretend that he's grieving and is in control of the situation.
Technically, Russia is not "my" country. I am a Ukrainian citizen. Ukraine is a different country - we have our own assholes (and the presidential election a week before the one in the States). But it's not a "foreign" country, either, because of all the common past, plus, we do live here now, have lived here on and off for the past few years. So yeah, in a way, it is "my" country...
Friday, September 03, 2004
This is what I've just posted on my photo page:
Where is President Putin?
Screenshot of President Putin's Official Website - Kremlin.Ru
10:52 pm, Moscow time, nearly ten hours after the first explosions sounded inside the school in Beslan, South Ossetia.
President Vladimir Putin hasn't made a TV appearance yet, hasn't addressed the nation, hasn't made any statements. Not a single word from him yet.
His official website hasn't been updated since Thursday, Sept. 2. The latest statement quoted on the website is from Mr. Putin's speech at a meeting with Abdullah II, King of Jordan, yesterday.
What you see in the left-hand corner of the site - "The President -- To School-Age Citizens" - is NOT related to the tragedy in the Beslan school.
More about the Beslan hostage crisis and its horrible aftermath can be found through just about any news outlet in the world. Well, except for the Russian Channel 1 (ORT) - they are currently showing Die Hard I.
Where is President Putin?
Screenshot of President Putin's Official Website - Kremlin.Ru
10:52 pm, Moscow time, nearly ten hours after the first explosions sounded inside the school in Beslan, South Ossetia.
President Vladimir Putin hasn't made a TV appearance yet, hasn't addressed the nation, hasn't made any statements. Not a single word from him yet.
His official website hasn't been updated since Thursday, Sept. 2. The latest statement quoted on the website is from Mr. Putin's speech at a meeting with Abdullah II, King of Jordan, yesterday.
What you see in the left-hand corner of the site - "The President -- To School-Age Citizens" - is NOT related to the tragedy in the Beslan school.
More about the Beslan hostage crisis and its horrible aftermath can be found through just about any news outlet in the world. Well, except for the Russian Channel 1 (ORT) - they are currently showing Die Hard I.
there's so much going on, still. but i'm too tired to write and to try to make sense of all the info that's coming our way.
just one thing:
Putin, the president, hasn't yet made any address or statement. Nothing. Not a single fucking word.
It's almost 11 pm here now. In two hours it'll be 12 hours since the beginning of the hell.
just one thing:
Putin, the president, hasn't yet made any address or statement. Nothing. Not a single fucking word.
It's almost 11 pm here now. In two hours it'll be 12 hours since the beginning of the hell.
NTV is still doing more or less live coverage. NTV is watched by a lot of people - but their signal doesn't reach as many places as that of the other two - Channel 1 (ORT) and RTR.
Channel 1 has another Soviet comedy on - when I switched over to them there was a scene involving a big black submarine being evacuated - very surreal, you know...
RTR has commercials - Twix, Pantene shampoo, etc. - and then a preview of a documentary about General Pugo - the only 1991 coup guy who committed a suicide after they got busted - very weird because i just mentioned 1991 here - and I've always felt almost sorry for this Pugo guy - if he hadn't killed himself, he'd be totally safe and comfortable now, maybe even still in politics - Mishah told me a few days ago that Pugo probably was the only person with conscience out of that evil bunch - i don't remember why we were talking about him... Still, it's weird that a state channel is planning to show something about the 1991 coup - what's happening today is so much worse but probably has the same significance, the same implications for Putin as 1991 had for Gorbachev. Or maybe not - it's highly unlikely anything will change now.
on NTV a shirtless boy of about 13 - cute cute cute - is telling (in Russian with an accent) how he was breaking the windows in the gym to make it easier to get out - his hand is bandaged, it could've been worse, he says, but the windows are plastic... two younger boys next to him are also trying to contribute some information, trying to be helpful... they do look shocked, in a childish way, without tears, just their eyes, huge and black... it's me who's beginning to cry, i wouldn't be able to be a journalist...
also, journalists seem to be getting in the way of the rescuers, all the time
4:10 - NTV live news is over. CNN is still on, a BBC reporter is wearing a helmet.
Channel 1 has another Soviet comedy on - when I switched over to them there was a scene involving a big black submarine being evacuated - very surreal, you know...
RTR has commercials - Twix, Pantene shampoo, etc. - and then a preview of a documentary about General Pugo - the only 1991 coup guy who committed a suicide after they got busted - very weird because i just mentioned 1991 here - and I've always felt almost sorry for this Pugo guy - if he hadn't killed himself, he'd be totally safe and comfortable now, maybe even still in politics - Mishah told me a few days ago that Pugo probably was the only person with conscience out of that evil bunch - i don't remember why we were talking about him... Still, it's weird that a state channel is planning to show something about the 1991 coup - what's happening today is so much worse but probably has the same significance, the same implications for Putin as 1991 had for Gorbachev. Or maybe not - it's highly unlikely anything will change now.
on NTV a shirtless boy of about 13 - cute cute cute - is telling (in Russian with an accent) how he was breaking the windows in the gym to make it easier to get out - his hand is bandaged, it could've been worse, he says, but the windows are plastic... two younger boys next to him are also trying to contribute some information, trying to be helpful... they do look shocked, in a childish way, without tears, just their eyes, huge and black... it's me who's beginning to cry, i wouldn't be able to be a journalist...
also, journalists seem to be getting in the way of the rescuers, all the time
4:10 - NTV live news is over. CNN is still on, a BBC reporter is wearing a helmet.
if i say here that i hate this fucking country, you'll misunderstand me
i mean it and i don't - i do mean it right now but later i'll be able to argue with myself - and counter-argue again - and on and on and on
putin has to go - but he won't
also, i don't have the slightest idea who could be an alternative to him
it'll also be quite disgusting to see the fat rich guys fighting for power after what's happened and people going out in the streets and being shot at - just to help some new fat ass onto the presidential throne
this whole note-taking thing is reminding me of august 1991 - when i was trying to listen to the bbc radio - which was still being jammed heavily - and i was taking notes and then i was giving reports to my mama and my aunt - they didn't have much on the tv then - compared to 1991, even channel 1 deserves a pulitzer now
i mean it and i don't - i do mean it right now but later i'll be able to argue with myself - and counter-argue again - and on and on and on
putin has to go - but he won't
also, i don't have the slightest idea who could be an alternative to him
it'll also be quite disgusting to see the fat rich guys fighting for power after what's happened and people going out in the streets and being shot at - just to help some new fat ass onto the presidential throne
this whole note-taking thing is reminding me of august 1991 - when i was trying to listen to the bbc radio - which was still being jammed heavily - and i was taking notes and then i was giving reports to my mama and my aunt - they didn't have much on the tv then - compared to 1991, even channel 1 deserves a pulitzer now
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