Russian Fashionistas await Moscow Fashion Week

Stylish women around the world have one indulgence in common...they simply cannot wait to see what exciting new fashion is unveiled during Fashion Week. Most people think of the major fashion capitals as being New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London and Milan, but many forget about the largest fashion week in Eastern Europe; Moscow Fashion Week attracts some 50,000 guests!! Top Russian designer Slava Zaitsev is set to open the week, which starts March 29th, with his collection that is dedicated to the 100th year anniversary of Dyagilev’s Seasons in Paris. If his new collection is anything like 2008's, then guests are sure to be mesmerized. I posted a picture of a look from Zaitsev's show last year, so take a look and hold your breath for whatever fantastic haute couture is revealed March 29th...

Click here for a full press release on Moscow Fashion Week 2009

http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/newsroom/news_view.phtml?news_id=2785

Is America doomed?

Apparently Igor Panarin has analyzed the current global situation and feels that America is basically screwed. The scholar at the Foreign Ministry school in Moscow is of the opinion that Russia and China are soon to be the world's next super powers. SCARY THOUGHT. All of this is predicted to happen in a rather timely fashion as well, by 2011 or even 2010. Might I add that part of his reasoning for our demise are the overly crowded prisons and gay men? Panarin didn't seem to worry about sounding offensive. However it is food for though, is our current situation partially a result of a country that has gone morally bankrupt? America has always gone through phases where we were not doing so hot, but is Panarin on to something? Have we hit such a low economically and morally that we cannot find our way back out of this hole? Below is Panarin speaking on the issue, watch the video!!

Russian Roulette...I mean journalism

When you think of being a journalist here in the states, you think of an exciting life filled with traveling, investigative reporting and hopefully winning a pulitzer prize some day. Go to Russia to become a journalist and you get all of that, plus an added bonus! A bullet in the head if you cross the government. Even better, you might wind up fighting an illness that mysteriously no one can explain or cure. Sounds like a great job, eh?

This other link takes you to a page that discusses the issue of Russian journalism as a human rights crisis, which it pretty much is considering the lack of protection for the media.

WARNING

1.2 million was stolen from a bank courier right out of his car while on the highway. The oh-soo clever men were dressed as traffic police. Note to travelers carrying cash: if you go to russia and rent a car keep the doors locked AND possibly request bullet proof windows AND avoid traffic police.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/22/Armed_robbers_heist_12M_in_Russia/UPI-33461235341789/

waiting...waiting...waiting

Will Russia close the Manas military base in Kyrgyzstan? Currently keeping NATO guessing, Russia is slow to make a decision about a crucial American military base and the possibility of shutting it down. There is great uncertainty regarding Obama's plans for rebuilding a positive relationship with Russia and because of that no one is sure what will happen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/weekinreview/22levy.html

What freedom of the press??

As a jumping off point for my journey into the curious world of the Russian media, I found an article about the irony of people claiming that there is no longer free press in Russia.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Russia-s-Free-Press-Hoax-by-William-Dunkerley-090215-778.html According to media analyst William Dunkerley, when was there ever freedom of the press under Russia's government? Media there has always been financed by corporations and political figures, creating very little independence for the media to report honest news but rather open avenues to push agendas. Dunkerley seems to think that Western news outlets have been painting untruths regarding journalism under Putin's government. Having investigated the death of Alexander Litvinenko, Dunkerley feels it is quite apparent that the lack of knowledge on Russia's media is rampant among Western writers. Like his article questions, is it all a big hoax?