Unlike many foreigners who live in Moscow, I ride buses daily. I like in a section of the city where the metro is not in walking distance and I do no own a car. I am a foreigner who lives...can you believe this? Like a Russian. So, I have I a lot of time to think about Russian buses, I regularly have to wait for 20 minutes or more for a bus, and often ride buses for 15-20 minutes each way to get to the metro, depending on traffic jams. I have begun to see the Moscow land transport system as an allegory for the problems of the city itself, maybe I spend too much time thinking about such things, but here it goes:
Firstly, buses have schedules which are not followed, or badly planned. I live near a bus depot and from what I can tell, the drivers stand around eating sunflower seeds, playing cards or dominos and smoking cigarettes, and then jump in the buses and all leave at once. I am 3 stops away from the depot, there is no traffic, but I will often stand there for a long time with no buses, and then suddenly 4 buses come and go, then again no buses. This is a common problem in Russia, there is no shortage of rules and plans, just no one follows them.
Then there are the Marshrutkas. For those who may not know there are the mini-buses or vans that are privately owned, and run the routes of the buses, they suggest that they solve problems in the bus system with a capitalist solution, but actually they are not a solution, but a stop gap and one that actually leads to problems in the bus system. Marshrutka drivers will wait at the beginning of the bus routes, wait for the bus drivers to ready themselves or leave, and then travel just ahead of them to maximize the frustrated customers who are sick of waiting for the bus. Therefore all they really do is take money paying customers from the buses and leave the public bus system to transport senior citizens, teenagers with their grandmother's card, people who duck the turnstiles, and me: one of the few people who buy a monthly bus pass. By lowering the paying bus ridership they give the statistical impression that the buses aren't needed, increase the need to increase the bus fare, as well as get in the way at bus stops and intersections by picking up and dropping off riders wherever they damn well please. These Marshrutkas represent the for profit business that exist only because of informal state support. These bus companies are owned by well connected people, they use the bus stops maintained by the city, but have 100% full fair paying riders, at the expense of the existing system.
Then there are the buses themselves. Ever see the huge clouds of black smoke coming from the back of the bus? This apparently because these buses are made to use bad quality fuel, which damages then engines, and instead of repairing or rebuilding the engines they are run until they die. When the engine is damaged and begins to run inefficiently, it produces large clouds of smoke that are quite frankly, bad for the health of the people near by, not to mention the people inside the bus, often times the access doors to the engine compartment from the inside of the bus are damaged, or badly fitting, and excessive amounts of fumes come into the cabin of the bus. Because these poorly running motors need maximum cooling the heating systems, which take their heat from the engine of the bus, are allowed to operate in summer, when temperatures are already unbearable, raising the internal temperature of the bus several degrees. In this, the don't do anything until something badly breaks attitude that we see in Russian society is highlighted.
Also just like the growing inequity of different regions of the cities, there seems to be a different quality in public transport service and availability in different regions of the city. When I am near Leninsky Prospect, I see lots of tramvai, running every 5 minutes, and they're never crowded, because people who live in this area prefer to use their own cars to get around. but in my less prestigious neighborhood, there are only buses, dirty old buses, that run badly. This shows how neighborhoods are becoming more segregated, and better services provided in better parts of the city.
So,here is the point where I should write some clever tie-in, like Russia will mill the modernization bus, or something like that, but I just can't even joke about it anymore. Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it, right, so, here are a few suggestions: The government is going to great lengths to promote the Russian GPS system, to stop Russia's reliance on the US based system. Here is a perfect opportunity. equip these buses with GPS and use the information to track the buses whereabouts, to check if they are leaving on schedule, and to give passengers information as to when buses will arrive at stops. Stop using low quality diesel which destroys the buses engine, makes them run improperly, and produce excessive smoke. This will help the air quality of the city, and be an important step in using cleaner burning diesel in all of Russia, and requiring it's use, improving the air quality, instantly. Regulate Marshrutka operation so that they can not block the bus stops, and so that they can take on and drop off passengers in designated areas only. Improve the quality and safety standards of the bus itself, which will help the health and safety of the passengers. Just like the larger problems of Russia these problems aren't impossible to overcome, but they will take effort, creativity and a realization that things aren't that much harder to do right, then they are to do wrong.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Russian Sidewalks
Brick sidewalks are the surest sign of an oppressive city government. They make no sense, however they are considered a good idea by a few people who want to push construction of them through. It always ends in the same way, concrete sidewalks may not be as pretty, but they are better in most other ways. I'm talking to you Portsmouth NH, and now we can add Moscow Russia.
I'm gonna talk about Moscow's new city government, and sidewalks, it's not just about bricks, yes they're poorly set, and the city's aggressive snow and ice removal will soon lay waste to these new brick paths. In particular I'd like to mention the large square traction assisting paving stones that have been installed in sidewalks throughout Moscow, over the course of year, but now, along with the bricking, their installation has been stepped up as part of this sidewalk program.
The problem is this: I estimate that about 80-90 % of them are installed incorrectly, the few that are installed correctly being coincidental. Let me see if I can describe this. These stones are the square ones that are installed for added traction where sidewalks are lowered to meet the street level, at crosswalks and street corners. The blocks are square and have paralell ribs on the tops, and the biggest problem is they are installed with the ribs facing the wrong way, paralell to the direction that the pedestrian would be walking when they cross them.
Don't believe it? All my Moscow friends can test it for yourself. Walk up to one of them and put your foot on the ribs when they are parallel to your foot, then putting a bit less than half of your weight on that foot try and slide your foot along the stone taking not of how much force you had to exert to make your foot slip. Then rotate your foot so that it's perpendicular to the the ribs, so your foot crosses several of the ribs and try the same thing, it takes a lot more force to make your foot slide, if at all. Now take note of which direction your are facing, 80-90 percent of the time, the answer is NO with the flow of pedestrian traffic.
That this mistake and add to the fact that the ribs are angled downward to the lower surface, and it goes from being traction to a slide. Then add a sloppy coat of yellow enamel paint to make them more slippery, then add a light coat of snow, and they just become something that is not only not helpful to a pedestrian, but more likely to cause a fall.
Then. for even more fun, some of them are installed so that they are recessed into the pavement, giving that ice and snow and water a nice little place to collect.
So, I explain this to some of my friends, but I can never really communicate this to anyone who knows anyone to make some sort of difference, I can't tell the people laying the stones, because of course they don't care one way or the other, and now I'm writing about it in English, so I guess no one who have the ability to do anything about this will be reading this, but I just had to tell someone, so I'm telling you.
It's it possible that no one who is involved really cares? Yes, but also since they are so consistently installed incorrectly someone must have told someone that this is the way it must be done. Maybe this teaches larger lessons about Russian bureaucracy, autocracy, nihilism, or any other symptom of Russia's problems. Take your pick, draw your own conclusion.
I'm gonna talk about Moscow's new city government, and sidewalks, it's not just about bricks, yes they're poorly set, and the city's aggressive snow and ice removal will soon lay waste to these new brick paths. In particular I'd like to mention the large square traction assisting paving stones that have been installed in sidewalks throughout Moscow, over the course of year, but now, along with the bricking, their installation has been stepped up as part of this sidewalk program.
The problem is this: I estimate that about 80-90 % of them are installed incorrectly, the few that are installed correctly being coincidental. Let me see if I can describe this. These stones are the square ones that are installed for added traction where sidewalks are lowered to meet the street level, at crosswalks and street corners. The blocks are square and have paralell ribs on the tops, and the biggest problem is they are installed with the ribs facing the wrong way, paralell to the direction that the pedestrian would be walking when they cross them.
Don't believe it? All my Moscow friends can test it for yourself. Walk up to one of them and put your foot on the ribs when they are parallel to your foot, then putting a bit less than half of your weight on that foot try and slide your foot along the stone taking not of how much force you had to exert to make your foot slip. Then rotate your foot so that it's perpendicular to the the ribs, so your foot crosses several of the ribs and try the same thing, it takes a lot more force to make your foot slide, if at all. Now take note of which direction your are facing, 80-90 percent of the time, the answer is NO with the flow of pedestrian traffic.
That this mistake and add to the fact that the ribs are angled downward to the lower surface, and it goes from being traction to a slide. Then add a sloppy coat of yellow enamel paint to make them more slippery, then add a light coat of snow, and they just become something that is not only not helpful to a pedestrian, but more likely to cause a fall.
Then. for even more fun, some of them are installed so that they are recessed into the pavement, giving that ice and snow and water a nice little place to collect.
So, I explain this to some of my friends, but I can never really communicate this to anyone who knows anyone to make some sort of difference, I can't tell the people laying the stones, because of course they don't care one way or the other, and now I'm writing about it in English, so I guess no one who have the ability to do anything about this will be reading this, but I just had to tell someone, so I'm telling you.
It's it possible that no one who is involved really cares? Yes, but also since they are so consistently installed incorrectly someone must have told someone that this is the way it must be done. Maybe this teaches larger lessons about Russian bureaucracy, autocracy, nihilism, or any other symptom of Russia's problems. Take your pick, draw your own conclusion.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Straight Vegatable Oil vs. Bio Diesel
So I converted my 1981 Mecedes Diesel to run on waste vegetable oil Last summer. I wanted to do it years ago but I didn’t, largely due to the advice given by the JourneytoTomorrow.org web site. The site looks very informative and thoughtful, however I am now of the opinion that it’s “facts” are presented in a highly biased and opinionated manor, that ended up bullying me into not doing a dual tank SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) system by presenting it as some sort of very bad idea. It’s not a bad idea, it might just be a good idea. In their web site they refute other’s claims that it’s not a bad idea. I’m going to take time to refute some of their assertion. Journey to tomorrow’s authors makes bio-diesel, and they feel they have to criticize any competing ideas.
Also I believe that running some striaight diesel, or better yet Kerosene in one tank is preferable. Even though you don't use much of it, it's a solvent, and it helps to stop build-ups in your filters, lines, and inside the motor too.
They present the idea that making a Mercedes diesel run on SVO is “a terrible thing to do to a great engine.” This is based on a fallacy that these cars are somehow indestructible. Well, firstly, screw you I’ll do whatever I want to do with my property and it’s not your right to judge it. If you can get a couple of years of lower pollution, low cost fuel use out of one of these cars then you’re ahead of the game. The biggest mistake is getting an old car and somehow worshiping it. If you’re gonna use a car daily it won’t be a show car, and don’t expect that if you baby it will work forever. Old cars are a good way to waste a lot of money. Never pay a lot for an old car, get your use out of it, and know when to cut loose and get another one. The fact that these cars last so long was an unintended consequence of making them so well. Mercedes has reportedly fixed this “problem” and they cars are not being make differently. They were not designed to last 20 years, they rust and wear out. An old car can be dangerous as well as expensive, don’t get attached, it’s not a person, it’s a car.
Yes, the engine last a very long time, but the automatic transmissions die regularly, the cars rust and wear out just like any other car, these cars are not meant to last forever. A 20 year old Mercedes was a thing of beauty, but now most are inefficient, oil burning, rusty, cars that if you get a decent one, should give you a few more years of service. The argument that they present that using SVO in this car can take 20,000-50,000 miles off the engine life falls short mostly because the engines don’t up and die, but rust, electrical problem, transmission and suspension parts failure will stop these cars years before the engine dies . I have owned 4 old Mercedes in the usual so-so condition that you find most 20+ year old cars, and they all did from transmission problems. These cars are so heavy that the real shame is to run them on petroleum diesel, getting almost 50% of the mileage of a smaller lighter more efficient VW diesel.
They only recommend “a professional” (read as “expensive”) one tank system as the only way to burn SVO. I believe this is a bad idea. The beauty of a two tank system is it’s easily un-doable, and easy to switch to regular diesel if you experience any problems on the road. If you use waste SVO it can be un-relyable, and having a back up fuel system is a great idea. The lower cost of a dual tank system makes it more affordable for more people to try it out, and once again “investing” good money in an old car is never a good investment, so a dual tank system is ideal for an older car. Everything in the system can be easily removed, and put into the next used car.
So they had me convinced that making bio diesel was the only way to go, but now I’m not so sure. Making bio diesel is an involved process, especially for something you intend to burn. Making bio diesel requires a dangerous chemical, methanol (aka rocket fuel). Absorption of methanol through human skin can cause blindness and possibly even death. In making bio diesel, you produce Glycerin. Glycerin, a key component in explosives, is also dangerous and highly flammable. Accidents do happen, and I believe if you can avoid dealing with these dangerous chemicals you should, even if you agree with some that it’s not the best way to get every last mile out of a 25 year old engine.
The 1981 has been going for more then a year a year and saved me over $1000, and is saving it's current owner much more, he commutes. This summer I converted a 1984 300D and it’s running fine. All in all I've burnt hundreds of gallons of waste vegetable oil successfully, and I recommend it to anyone interested.
Also I believe that running some striaight diesel, or better yet Kerosene in one tank is preferable. Even though you don't use much of it, it's a solvent, and it helps to stop build-ups in your filters, lines, and inside the motor too.
They present the idea that making a Mercedes diesel run on SVO is “a terrible thing to do to a great engine.” This is based on a fallacy that these cars are somehow indestructible. Well, firstly, screw you I’ll do whatever I want to do with my property and it’s not your right to judge it. If you can get a couple of years of lower pollution, low cost fuel use out of one of these cars then you’re ahead of the game. The biggest mistake is getting an old car and somehow worshiping it. If you’re gonna use a car daily it won’t be a show car, and don’t expect that if you baby it will work forever. Old cars are a good way to waste a lot of money. Never pay a lot for an old car, get your use out of it, and know when to cut loose and get another one. The fact that these cars last so long was an unintended consequence of making them so well. Mercedes has reportedly fixed this “problem” and they cars are not being make differently. They were not designed to last 20 years, they rust and wear out. An old car can be dangerous as well as expensive, don’t get attached, it’s not a person, it’s a car.
Yes, the engine last a very long time, but the automatic transmissions die regularly, the cars rust and wear out just like any other car, these cars are not meant to last forever. A 20 year old Mercedes was a thing of beauty, but now most are inefficient, oil burning, rusty, cars that if you get a decent one, should give you a few more years of service. The argument that they present that using SVO in this car can take 20,000-50,000 miles off the engine life falls short mostly because the engines don’t up and die, but rust, electrical problem, transmission and suspension parts failure will stop these cars years before the engine dies . I have owned 4 old Mercedes in the usual so-so condition that you find most 20+ year old cars, and they all did from transmission problems. These cars are so heavy that the real shame is to run them on petroleum diesel, getting almost 50% of the mileage of a smaller lighter more efficient VW diesel.
They only recommend “a professional” (read as “expensive”) one tank system as the only way to burn SVO. I believe this is a bad idea. The beauty of a two tank system is it’s easily un-doable, and easy to switch to regular diesel if you experience any problems on the road. If you use waste SVO it can be un-relyable, and having a back up fuel system is a great idea. The lower cost of a dual tank system makes it more affordable for more people to try it out, and once again “investing” good money in an old car is never a good investment, so a dual tank system is ideal for an older car. Everything in the system can be easily removed, and put into the next used car.
So they had me convinced that making bio diesel was the only way to go, but now I’m not so sure. Making bio diesel is an involved process, especially for something you intend to burn. Making bio diesel requires a dangerous chemical, methanol (aka rocket fuel). Absorption of methanol through human skin can cause blindness and possibly even death. In making bio diesel, you produce Glycerin. Glycerin, a key component in explosives, is also dangerous and highly flammable. Accidents do happen, and I believe if you can avoid dealing with these dangerous chemicals you should, even if you agree with some that it’s not the best way to get every last mile out of a 25 year old engine.
The 1981 has been going for more then a year a year and saved me over $1000, and is saving it's current owner much more, he commutes. This summer I converted a 1984 300D and it’s running fine. All in all I've burnt hundreds of gallons of waste vegetable oil successfully, and I recommend it to anyone interested.
What I'll Be Doing On Election Day 2008
What will I be doing on Election day? I will spend most of the day at home, and I will not be going to work. Why? Because I live in Russia, and in Russia, it's a holiday. That's right, over here in the EVIL EMPIRE they get our election day off, but Americans have to juggle going to work, driving the kids around, and going to the poles. Voting becomes another thing on our already long to do list. In Russia it happens to be: "Day of National Unity."
Every year it is said that such a small percentage of Americans vote, and it's some sort of shame, but every year voting just gets harder, not easier. Have you been erased from the rolls? Will you have to fight for the right that men and women have died so that you can have? Do you have the proper ID if your state requires it, do you have to lie up at the booth and then again to get your vote into the computerized reader? Did you successfully fill in the ballot? Are you chads hanging?
Every year some or other wack-o proposes the following crazy idea of solving the problem, this year I am that wack-o. Election day should be a national holiday. This will leave everyone plenty of time to vote, and stand in line if necessary, and defend their rights, and even jump through the hoops required. Then celebrate this right! Have parties, make pumpkin pies out of old Halloween pumpkins, help those who can't easily get out to vote do that. Volunteer at the poles, most election workers are retirees, because only they have that day to volunteer. It makes more sense in every way. For those who think adding one more holiday to the calendar is not good, we can take one away, Presidents Day for example, isn't it more important to elect a President then go shopping for a car? And with that rhetorical question I think I just hit on something, some would say the answer is NO, especially if your job is selling cars. The fact is the people in charge of creating this voting holiday are the same people who it may not benefit.
I'm not talking about Republicans OR Democrats, I'm taking about Republicans AND Democrats. The people in power make the election rules, and they aren't about to do something that's not in their own interest. More turn out at the poles would change the fragile balance of the American political system. What would it do, I don't think that anyone can really tell, but what is for sure is a lot of people who ordinarily don't vote would vote, and it wouldn't be 51/49 anymore. Some people would say SHHHH... you don't really want those people voting anyway, they'll vote against your interests. I give Americans more credit, I think that it could open the door to a third party, more independent candidates, and all sorts of new opportunities in democracy. As I said I am writing this from Russia. Where they get their election day off, as well as ours. They have a one party majority, we have just one more choice. Here in Moscow, the Moscow Times reported a quote from the Chechen president on the eve of his re-election saying "I expected very high turn out, 100% maybe even more." We can easily look at their one party majority that they have carved for themselves and say that it's unfair, but honestly our two party system is just one step away from that. I believe a national holiday for elections can help save our democracy. Making the day a holiday will give it the reverence we need to really teach civic responsibility, the importance of the vote and voter education.
Also it will up turn out on non Presidential or Congressional election years. These are the times when people who try to slip the crookedest ballot legislation past us, once again low turn out give them their power to do this. And like any other holiday we can gather with family and friends, or we can go out drinking, or it would be a great day for football, of course it's too early to make for a bowl game for the day, but and election day double header would be a very American way to celebrate such a day. Lets face it, our fall holidays as they are now kinda suck. There's Thanksgiving, also known as get in a fight with your drunk uncle day, and Halloween which is fine if you're a kid, or your an adult who wants to dress as a Nazi or prostitute one day a year, but it's not a real celebration of anything, just an excuse to eat candy or get drunk.
Where will I be on election day? I'll be in bed. Maybe I'll wonder if my absentee ballot was ever received maybe not, and most likely I won't even get the results until the next day. So when you're rushing around trying to get everything done and somehow vote, or if you're like millions of Americans who intend to vote but just don't do it because there not enough time, remember me being oppressed over here in the pseudo-democracy with all the time in the world on November 4th.
Every year it is said that such a small percentage of Americans vote, and it's some sort of shame, but every year voting just gets harder, not easier. Have you been erased from the rolls? Will you have to fight for the right that men and women have died so that you can have? Do you have the proper ID if your state requires it, do you have to lie up at the booth and then again to get your vote into the computerized reader? Did you successfully fill in the ballot? Are you chads hanging?
Every year some or other wack-o proposes the following crazy idea of solving the problem, this year I am that wack-o. Election day should be a national holiday. This will leave everyone plenty of time to vote, and stand in line if necessary, and defend their rights, and even jump through the hoops required. Then celebrate this right! Have parties, make pumpkin pies out of old Halloween pumpkins, help those who can't easily get out to vote do that. Volunteer at the poles, most election workers are retirees, because only they have that day to volunteer. It makes more sense in every way. For those who think adding one more holiday to the calendar is not good, we can take one away, Presidents Day for example, isn't it more important to elect a President then go shopping for a car? And with that rhetorical question I think I just hit on something, some would say the answer is NO, especially if your job is selling cars. The fact is the people in charge of creating this voting holiday are the same people who it may not benefit.
I'm not talking about Republicans OR Democrats, I'm taking about Republicans AND Democrats. The people in power make the election rules, and they aren't about to do something that's not in their own interest. More turn out at the poles would change the fragile balance of the American political system. What would it do, I don't think that anyone can really tell, but what is for sure is a lot of people who ordinarily don't vote would vote, and it wouldn't be 51/49 anymore. Some people would say SHHHH... you don't really want those people voting anyway, they'll vote against your interests. I give Americans more credit, I think that it could open the door to a third party, more independent candidates, and all sorts of new opportunities in democracy. As I said I am writing this from Russia. Where they get their election day off, as well as ours. They have a one party majority, we have just one more choice. Here in Moscow, the Moscow Times reported a quote from the Chechen president on the eve of his re-election saying "I expected very high turn out, 100% maybe even more." We can easily look at their one party majority that they have carved for themselves and say that it's unfair, but honestly our two party system is just one step away from that. I believe a national holiday for elections can help save our democracy. Making the day a holiday will give it the reverence we need to really teach civic responsibility, the importance of the vote and voter education.
Also it will up turn out on non Presidential or Congressional election years. These are the times when people who try to slip the crookedest ballot legislation past us, once again low turn out give them their power to do this. And like any other holiday we can gather with family and friends, or we can go out drinking, or it would be a great day for football, of course it's too early to make for a bowl game for the day, but and election day double header would be a very American way to celebrate such a day. Lets face it, our fall holidays as they are now kinda suck. There's Thanksgiving, also known as get in a fight with your drunk uncle day, and Halloween which is fine if you're a kid, or your an adult who wants to dress as a Nazi or prostitute one day a year, but it's not a real celebration of anything, just an excuse to eat candy or get drunk.
Where will I be on election day? I'll be in bed. Maybe I'll wonder if my absentee ballot was ever received maybe not, and most likely I won't even get the results until the next day. So when you're rushing around trying to get everything done and somehow vote, or if you're like millions of Americans who intend to vote but just don't do it because there not enough time, remember me being oppressed over here in the pseudo-democracy with all the time in the world on November 4th.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bleenglish
Bleengish
Commonly referred to as Russish, Russian English has developed into it’s own unique version of English. This brand of English is generally not limited to just Russia, but to most of the former Soviet Union, and finds its roots in the Soviet time. I have coined the term Bleenglish from the words blin (pronounded as bleen), the beloved Russian pancake, (translated by Russians as pancake but rather actually a crape) and English. Blin is also a very light curse in Russian, sort of like shucks or darn in English, that people commonly say in frustration, so the word Bleenglish also reflects the frustration that Russians commonly express in communicating in English, or listening to English.
The existence of one’s own brand of English in and of itself is not a bad thing; English has many distinct versions all over the world as both a first language and second language. Speakers of English are used to hearing many different versions of English, even in their own country. However the goal of studying English is to be as understandable as possible, so it is necessary to shake some of the old habits of Bleenglish in the further study of English for Russians.
The evolution of Bleenglish can be found in the isolation of the Soviet Union, especially during the period known as the Cold War. I will identify four causes for this:
- During this time of isolation foreigners were discouraged from visiting Russia and Russians were discouraged from visiting abroad. So Russians practiced speaking English with Russians, and often repeated or learnt each other's mistakes.
- To prevent propaganda, or other unofficial information in this period, all text books were to be written by Russians, even those about speaking English. As well, in the Soviet time there was standardization of textbooks, meaning everyone all over the Soviet Union learned from the same textbook. This made it so only a few people were the English experts for a nation, and often they would pass their unique version, as well as mistakes, on to the entire nation. It's a simple case of "grapevine", or "telephone line" as the Russians call it, one person tells someone who tells someone who tells someone, and soon the message is completely different.
- Russian is essentially a phonetic language. It is largely written and spoken the same. Of course there are exceptions, but they are in comparison with other languages few. English is written and spoken in very different ways, with sound a-likes that are spelled different, look a-likes that are pronounced different, and many other complications that are conceptually unusual for Russians to handle. Russians tend to read English with an often too phonetic approach, or some learn to read well, but can’t pronounce the words properly.
For this and many more reasons the Russian English has developed. As I mentioned above simply having your own take on English is not necessarily wrong, as long as it doesn't interfere with communication. In recent years it has become common for foreign textbooks to be used and there are more native speaker teachers in Russia and Eastern Europe than ever. Why is this important? Firstly with globalization English has increasingly become the language of business, and secondly because English has become the unofficial language of the internet, and with that, the passing of information. The need for English in people's work, and daily life is increasing, and all signs point to that trend increasing.
Other then lexical and pronunciation shortcomings in Bleenglish, there is another effect that is the most difficult to deal with: A language gap or barrier that Russians feel when they converse in English. This has also lead to a lack of confidence and a shyness to speak on the part of Russians who speak English. The use of the Grammar-Translation method in education, along with an emphasis on memorization has left Russia with a huge number of people who know some English but can't converse.
This may sound daunting for Russians learning English; however the news is not all bad. Luckily for Russians their years of isolation have lead to a love of all things foreign, including foreign languages. Russians have become concerned with learning English and even re-learning English in order to improve the opportunities in their lives. Also a positive remnant of the Soviet educational system has left an emphasis on the study of humanities, whereas in North America and Western Europe the emphasis is changing to specialty education. This emphasis will expose more Russians to the study of English and benefit in the improvement of Russian.
Friday, November 09, 2007
How Feminism Saved the American Man
Feminism saved men in America. In order to understand how, you must get your mind around the fact. Some considered the rise of feminism to be the undoing of men, an end to men acting like men. Some would say that men had it easy for thousands of years, by being the dominant gender, men were able to dictate gender roles, to some extent, and to many men's eyes that worked just fine. The rise of gender equality brought on by the feminist moment, and other related movements, was thought of some to bed the undoing of the American man, however it has given the man more not less.
First we can examine the idea of gender roles. There is a very strong argument that it was "natural" and "necessary" for humans as well as animals. All members of the animal kingdom have developed some sort of gender roles, humans too, and with some notable exceptions they follow pattern. Men: hunters, protectors and women: nurturers. In most animals this is imprinted in the instincts of that animal, and it's not necessary for each generation to work out their own arrangements, thus the feeling that this is a "natural" thing. As humans formed complex societies, these roles were imprinted there as well. Societal institutions were based on it.
Let’s fast forward to the 20th century in America. Along came the ideas of "feminist" and equality, and many resisted. Some of the resistance was just because it was against tradition, and some would even argue instinct. Some of it came out of selfishness, mostly on the part of men, although men had in some ways taken on the more physically and physiologically demanding societal roles, they also had the most interesting ones.
So, by now at least some readers will have said, so what. Where's the proof that this has somehow, "saved the American man." Well, we can make that judgment by comparison, but not by comparing the American man of today to 100 years ago, but by comparing the American man with a modern day counterpart, one from a similar society, but where the idea of feminist didn't quite catch on. That's a tall order, because we also consider equal rights to be part of a developed modern society. So if we look to other societies with similar development, they also have taken on similar ideals of equality, except.. Except as I have found under the vacuum of 20th century communism, particularly in Russia. In Russia's rejection of capitalism, was also a rejection of the idea of gender equality. Today Russia finds itself mirroring the west much more, but still not in gender equality. This provides the insight that is needed to understand how this "old fashioned" life would fit into the 21st century.
Not only do gender roles make men and women different in modern Russia, in general Russian men and women behave as if they weren't raised side by side. Men enjoy manliness, for lack of a better word: cars, womanizing, sports, hunting, the classic man stuff. The big huh occurs here: The skill sets in woman's traditional gender roles are more advantageous to 21st century professional life. Now working in a bank is the place to be. Women would go through higher education, a big waste of time in the soviet period, a classical education with lots of humanities. Also in the work place women were relegated to clerical jobs, typing, filing, keeping track of things. In the 21st century workplace these skills, that were previously considered second rate and burdened upon females, are now the key skill sets to being successful.
In the modern work place we’ve all become typists and filers, even the most basic of the decent paying jobs require some sort of higher education, and in Russia, women have easily transitioned into the new work, and men, men are being left behind.
So what are the men doing? Well, they’re doing “man” things. Military service, factory work, security guards, police, all honorable, manly, jobs, but not high paying and not highly valued in the 21st century.
Of course these gender lines are flexible, but in general, the non-feminist society is experiencing a wider gender gap, and women are gaining something far more valuable then equality, superiority.
First we can examine the idea of gender roles. There is a very strong argument that it was "natural" and "necessary" for humans as well as animals. All members of the animal kingdom have developed some sort of gender roles, humans too, and with some notable exceptions they follow pattern. Men: hunters, protectors and women: nurturers. In most animals this is imprinted in the instincts of that animal, and it's not necessary for each generation to work out their own arrangements, thus the feeling that this is a "natural" thing. As humans formed complex societies, these roles were imprinted there as well. Societal institutions were based on it.
Let’s fast forward to the 20th century in America. Along came the ideas of "feminist" and equality, and many resisted. Some of the resistance was just because it was against tradition, and some would even argue instinct. Some of it came out of selfishness, mostly on the part of men, although men had in some ways taken on the more physically and physiologically demanding societal roles, they also had the most interesting ones.
So, by now at least some readers will have said, so what. Where's the proof that this has somehow, "saved the American man." Well, we can make that judgment by comparison, but not by comparing the American man of today to 100 years ago, but by comparing the American man with a modern day counterpart, one from a similar society, but where the idea of feminist didn't quite catch on. That's a tall order, because we also consider equal rights to be part of a developed modern society. So if we look to other societies with similar development, they also have taken on similar ideals of equality, except.. Except as I have found under the vacuum of 20th century communism, particularly in Russia. In Russia's rejection of capitalism, was also a rejection of the idea of gender equality. Today Russia finds itself mirroring the west much more, but still not in gender equality. This provides the insight that is needed to understand how this "old fashioned" life would fit into the 21st century.
Not only do gender roles make men and women different in modern Russia, in general Russian men and women behave as if they weren't raised side by side. Men enjoy manliness, for lack of a better word: cars, womanizing, sports, hunting, the classic man stuff. The big huh occurs here: The skill sets in woman's traditional gender roles are more advantageous to 21st century professional life. Now working in a bank is the place to be. Women would go through higher education, a big waste of time in the soviet period, a classical education with lots of humanities. Also in the work place women were relegated to clerical jobs, typing, filing, keeping track of things. In the 21st century workplace these skills, that were previously considered second rate and burdened upon females, are now the key skill sets to being successful.
In the modern work place we’ve all become typists and filers, even the most basic of the decent paying jobs require some sort of higher education, and in Russia, women have easily transitioned into the new work, and men, men are being left behind.
So what are the men doing? Well, they’re doing “man” things. Military service, factory work, security guards, police, all honorable, manly, jobs, but not high paying and not highly valued in the 21st century.
Of course these gender lines are flexible, but in general, the non-feminist society is experiencing a wider gender gap, and women are gaining something far more valuable then equality, superiority.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
My Vegetable Oil (SVO) Conversion
I was hesitant to do the dual tank system due to the fact I’m always driving oil Mercedes Diesels that usually only last a few years. The $1000 kit and subsequent installation costs were daunting, since that’s usually in keeping with the average value of my cars.
A few nights ago I said, damn it, I’m doing it, and I’m doing it myself. No kit, I’m going to invent and install my own low cost system.
Here are my materials cost:
6 and ½ gallon plastic tank – in need of modification $9.99
10 feet of 3/8 copper tubing – for the heater coil for inside the tank $11.92
6 feet of Plastic flex hose 5.70
10 feet of 3/8 fuel line $11.25
30 feet of coolant hose $30.00
(2) boxes of 10 hose clamps 7.00 each $13.00
¾ ounce tube of adhesive- for tank conversion
Small generic fuel pump - to keep the pressure from the rear of the car 31.30
In-line filter 7.50
Marine cartrage style fuel filter $29.99
(3) 3/8 break lines for fuel line 15.00
Momentary switch on-off-on $ 6.50
On-off switch $2.99
Misc adapters and unions 24.00
Misc pre-existing suppies (bolts, nuts, rivets, etc) app $14.00
Used fuel tank switch from Ford 1983 F-250 (donated) estimated value $40
Total out of pocket costs $202.13
+ existing and donated parts 54.00 (estimate)
Total cost = 256.13
instalation was most of a day for two guys including head scratching. This project would have been much more time consuming if I didn't have access to a lift.
A few nights ago I said, damn it, I’m doing it, and I’m doing it myself. No kit, I’m going to invent and install my own low cost system.
Here are my materials cost:
6 and ½ gallon plastic tank – in need of modification $9.99
10 feet of 3/8 copper tubing – for the heater coil for inside the tank $11.92
6 feet of Plastic flex hose 5.70
10 feet of 3/8 fuel line $11.25
30 feet of coolant hose $30.00
(2) boxes of 10 hose clamps 7.00 each $13.00
¾ ounce tube of adhesive- for tank conversion
Small generic fuel pump - to keep the pressure from the rear of the car 31.30
In-line filter 7.50
Marine cartrage style fuel filter $29.99
(3) 3/8 break lines for fuel line 15.00
Momentary switch on-off-on $ 6.50
On-off switch $2.99
Misc adapters and unions 24.00
Misc pre-existing suppies (bolts, nuts, rivets, etc) app $14.00
Used fuel tank switch from Ford 1983 F-250 (donated) estimated value $40
Total out of pocket costs $202.13
+ existing and donated parts 54.00 (estimate)
Total cost = 256.13
instalation was most of a day for two guys including head scratching. This project would have been much more time consuming if I didn't have access to a lift.
Friday, September 28, 2007
How I Know Netflix Is Ripping Me Off
So, have you ever thought that your Netflix movies are coming a little slower then they should but had no proof that they were. Well, I finally got proof, accidentally.
First it's important to know that the US Mail travels all day 365 days a year, Sunday, holidays, all their deliveries take the same about of time with no effect of "working days."
So I sent a Movie that should have arrived on Friday or Saturday of a particular week, I was hoping to get their "we got your movie today" notice on Saturday. It didn't' come, and then I got the "we got your movie today" notice on Monday. Except, that Monday was a holiday, and there was no mail that day, which means they were sitting on it, perhaps literally, since at least Saturday.
When I first got the Netflix service it was 7 years ago, and I got the movies fast to and from Boston. Usually 2 days. Now I get them from Manchester, a closer city, and it take longer. One day I sent three on the same day, and they all were "received" on different days, 2 days apart. I know, most people would say blame it on the US Post Office, they're a bunch of crazy Vietnam vets that can crack at any minute, but that's just not true, they are in general very dependable, especially when the mail will go directly to the destination distribution center, not jump around the country.
So, I am convinced that Netflix drags their feet on purpose to maximize their profit. I have dropped there service several times over the years, and am currently thinking of dropping it again.
First it's important to know that the US Mail travels all day 365 days a year, Sunday, holidays, all their deliveries take the same about of time with no effect of "working days."
So I sent a Movie that should have arrived on Friday or Saturday of a particular week, I was hoping to get their "we got your movie today" notice on Saturday. It didn't' come, and then I got the "we got your movie today" notice on Monday. Except, that Monday was a holiday, and there was no mail that day, which means they were sitting on it, perhaps literally, since at least Saturday.
When I first got the Netflix service it was 7 years ago, and I got the movies fast to and from Boston. Usually 2 days. Now I get them from Manchester, a closer city, and it take longer. One day I sent three on the same day, and they all were "received" on different days, 2 days apart. I know, most people would say blame it on the US Post Office, they're a bunch of crazy Vietnam vets that can crack at any minute, but that's just not true, they are in general very dependable, especially when the mail will go directly to the destination distribution center, not jump around the country.
So, I am convinced that Netflix drags their feet on purpose to maximize their profit. I have dropped there service several times over the years, and am currently thinking of dropping it again.
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