17 July 2011. A Photo Essay. Russia Mourns the Dead of the “Bulgariya” Sinking

At the funeral of Captain Ostrovsky, the master of the Bulgariya.

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By the gravesite of Captain Ostrovsky.

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Floral tributes to Captain Ostrovsky.

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Flags flew at half-staff on 12 July, an all-Russia Day of Mourning for the victims of the sinking.

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People toss flowers into the Volga at the Kazan river port at a secular memorial service.

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Two religious ceremonies were held, firstly, there was an Orthodox Pannikhida at Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral; then, everyone went to a service at the oldest mosque in Kazan… that’s proper; that’s the way things are SUPPOSED to be. No one was left out… there was a secular service… there was a Christian service… there was a Muslim service. Death affects all of us, both believers and seculars… therefore, no can be left out, full stop. Grief knows no boundaries.

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President Dmitri Medvedev (1965- ) lights a candle for the souls of the dead of the Bulgariya tragedy.

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17 July 2011. It’s the 93rd Anniversary of the Murder of the Imperial Family

A Portrait of Tsar St Nikolai Aleksandrovich

Valentin Serov

1900

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Today is the 93rd anniversary of the tragedy in the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. However, we shouldn’t we led astray by rightwing haters. Present-day communists had NOTHING to do with this judicial murder. NOTHING. Our focus should be on mourning those unjustly and foully killed… the perps have gone to their heavenly judgement… we can add nothing to THAT. It’s time for all good Whites and Reds to come together for the common welfare of the Rodina. That’s good and god-pleasing. Beware of the Vlasovtsy who use this as an excuse to favour the most retrograde rightwing elements in American and Canadian politics. THAT besmirches the memory of the Martyrs.

Ask for their prayers… and don’t forget… Tsar Nicky was a gentle and forgiving man… do as he would do, and DON’T HATE.

BMD

17 July 2011. A Point to Ponder… The New GOP ISN’T Against THIS…

Billions for air conditioners… NOTHING for education… millions for congressional junkets… NOTHING for the unemployed… what’s WRONG with that picture?

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A bizarre figure recently uncovered by independent journalist Dave Lindorff is worth quoting in this context. The United States military is spending 20.2 billion USD (568 billion Roubles. 14.3 billion Euros. 12.5 billion UK Pounds) a year just to provide air-conditioning for its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. 20.2 billion USD is more than the entire budget of the state of North Carolina. It’s about 25 percent of the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s 2.5 times the size the budget of the federal Head Start programme of early childhood education. According to Lindorff, it could probably fund the school budget deficit in almost all the school districts in the nation.

Marc Saint-Upéry

http://en.rian.ru/columnists/20110712/165158478.html

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THIS is why we can’t address the budget shortfall. The New GOP not only refuses to rein in the Pentagon… look at this. There’s no money for unemployment extension, but there’s billions for air conditioning for the troops. There’s no money for Medicare, but there’s millions for Tomahawk cruise missiles to toss at Libya. There’s no money for Social Security, but there’s millions for congressmen to go on junkets (by the way… Michelle Bachmann is just as greedy as all the rest are). We can’t have single-payer health insurance, but there’s millions for the Congress’ own generous healthcare coverage. I seem to see a pattern here. You KNOW what to do next November. Vote “NO” to the Ayn Rand Memorial ticket that the New GOP’s gonna put up. It’s that, or, hand everything over to the country club set. You have to carry their clubs for them…

BMD

A Russian POV… Republican Sheriff in Florida Refuses to Issue Male Prisoners Underwear as Cost-Cutting Measure

“Yas’m… we’re makin’ inmates pay for their undies. I’s got a new bass boat to pay fer… it’s a pretty lil’ number”. How low can you go? What’s he gonna do next, put in pay toilets? 

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UPI reported that the Polk County Jail in Florida would stop issuing male prisoners free underwear. As announced by Sheriff Grady Judd, the county took this decision on the pretext of “economy”. He claims that this move would cut the jail’s annual budget by 45,000 USD (1.265 million Roubles. 32,000 Euros. 28,000 UK Pounds), Lenta.ru reported. Inmates can buy underwear from the jail with their own money. One pair of briefs will cost them 2.50 to 4.50 USD (70 to 125 Roubles. 1.80 to 3.20 Euros. 1.50 to 2.80 UK Pounds), depending on the sort. Those who refuse to (or can’t) buy underwear from the jail would be forced to go without it. This is due to the fact that the rules don’t allow the inmates to wear the underwear that they were wearing when they arrived. The sheriff claims that it takes too much time for guards to inspect such items for contraband. Due to reasons of hygiene, the new rule doesn’t affect female prisoners. This isn’t the first time that Sheriff Judd found a way to economise on jail costs on the backs of the prisoners. For example, several years ago, he banned peanut butter, corn bread, coffee, fruit juices, fresh milk, and some other products from the menu at the Polk County Jail mess hall. Then, the sheriff announced that the authorities had an obligation to provide prisoners nutritious food, but they didn’t need to provide tasty food. According to Sheriff Judd, if criminals want to have these things, they should stop breaking the law.

17 July 2011

Voice of Russia World Service

http://rus.ruvr.ru/2011/07/17/53328191.html

Editor’s Note:

If you needed proof that the New GOP protects cretinous Neanderthals, this item proves it. The sheriff bans “outside” underwear, then, he forces prisoners to buy it from him at inflated prices. In short, he one’s corrupt mutha! The New Republicans and Internationalist Democrats scream about rampant corruption in Russia, the Ukraine, and Byelorussia. I’d say that they’d better look MUCH closer to home (Blago Yago anyone?). I’ll say this… Rocky, FDR, Ma Richards, and Ike wouldn’t have done this… this is a naked Boss Hogg-style rake-off, done with a pious look on his face, no doubt. I’ll bet you that this Sheriff Judd is a “born-again” slimmer… this is the sort of smarmy thing that they do to cover over their sinful greed. Let’s see, I’ll bet you that at least half of the “savings” is going to end up in the sheriff’s pocket (and he’ll spread some of it amongst his GOP buddies on the County Board, no doubt). In short, they’re profiting on those who can’t fight back… brave folks, aren’t they? It’s a fallen world, kids, and here’s one more proof of it…

BMD