h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Solnushka
Thought I'd break out from the aftermath of the party for a quieter chat.
I suddenly had the thought that knowing that you didn't know about the Smiths (if you get my meaning) was pretty impressive for a Russian, so I came back here to check my bearings.
I've now reminded myself (that is, if I ever realised in the first place) that you're an ex-pat over there, though I'm still not sure where you're ex-pat from. British, I guess. Has to be. Or, if American, New England. Right?
I also took a look in your Journal and was reminded of the TV station story. We never heard the resolution here - what happened? A colleague of mine keeps going to Russia (not sure where, but I think Siberia. Novolipetsk, maybe? Something like that...). Anyway, they're talking with a consortium including Gazprom about building a steel mill to produce linepipe. Sounds like odd people to be running a TV station, even in Russia.
Not that I know Russia. Apologies if I already told you, but my nearest experience is one day in (then) Lenigrad via the train out of Imatra, Finland, and a couple of excursions a mile over the border in Karelia into Svetogorsk. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure that bit is Russia any more.
I'll probably be back in Finland for a brief visit before the year's out. The locals (around Raahe, right in the armpit of the Gulf of Bothnia) quite often mistake me for a Russian. Most of their foreign visitors are Russian (or Swedes, and I'm obviously not Swedish). I've always thought that this might be a bit of a slight on my dress-sense, but maybe I'm being unfair.
Anyhow, it's always nice to get your visits, so do please keep them up. It's great here. I have a lot to thank you for, because but for that first welcome I might well have just wandered off. Glad I didn't. (Not sure the Weddell would agree, though...)
Yours
Pinniped

Oh yes, ex-pat all the way. British would be entirely correct. I's entirely possible I didn't say, but then I try to keep the Russian references to a suitable minimum most of the time, as I think it must be a bit irritatating to have me begin every sentence with "In Russia...". I probably cut loose with you for some reason

NTV. Oh yes. I was a bit gung ho with that journal. Not as black and white as I painted it, but was still a shameful bit of coercion. What I didn't mention was the fact that the savage critisism of the war and Putin was probably a bit of blackmail ie, if you cancel our debts, we'll tone down the coverage. At the time, Putin was on an anti oligarch kick. But it was noticable that the oligarchs he was kicking were the ones who were giving him gyp...

Umm. The reason why Gazprom was involved in the first place? Now there I get a bit hazy, but Russia is really feudal. After the revolution an awful lot of formally state assests were quietly sold off very very cheaply to various people who as a consequence are now hugely powerful, especially the ones with oil, gas and what have you concessions. These are the oligarchs. Huge pull on the corridors of power, with whom most of the time they work more or less hand in glove (or do those in political power work for them? And then sometimes, like Chubias when he was in government, they are one and the same). Like I said, Putin was pretending to have a pop at them, but in fact he was bringing recalcitrant ones into line. Gazprom, then would be belonging to a freindly oligarch. Or is it partly owned by the state? Can't remember now. Gosh, that was quite scurrilous. Perfectly true though.

What happened in the aftermouth of my journal was that after a bit of a collapse in the united front, with all sorts of bitchy infighting going on, accusations, counter claims and the defection to the enemy of a couple of my favourite reporters (scabs), they stopped broadcasting pictures of their building.

Whereupon the new management moved in, changed the locks and kicked all the workers out.

However, since one of the other oligarchs who the Kremlin was hassling owned another TV station, he took them in. It's not nationwide like MTV was, but still. Course they had to, er, relocate the people working there at the time, but still.

And to be fair, NTV hasn't turned into quite the mouthpeice of god, though the extremely critical tone went. But I'm a bit wary of saying that as my Russian isn't good enough to catch the nuances. The people at TV6 are a bit quieter too, but that is probably cos the scope of their channel limits them somewhat.

Actually, though, the main justificvatyion for the takeover was the fact that gazprom wanted to collect on its debts. To make the station and related holdings pay. Which it has conspicuously failed to do. So now, having silences the traitors, there are noises that Gazprom wants to sell its share.

I'm not sure why everyone thinks you are Russian in Finland, but then, if you're obviously not Swedish... Maybe it is your capacity for vodka? Obviously, I never get mistaken for a Russian. One, because Russian women are very well turned out, and two, well, I open my mouth. Somebody did think I was a Serbian the other day though, which does suggest my pron is improving!

And I'm gladf you stayed too. 'Tis a great place like you say, and it's nice to have a bit of counter culture to snigger at...

Deary me. Now it seems that TV6 is under threat. Can't imagine why...

Hi Solnushka!
Is it really? Oops...
Sorry I've been AWOL a while. By the way, I just got my first Guide Entry taken up by the Sub-Editors (whatever the right term for that is, I forget).
I'll write more when I've time
Take Care
P.

Fantastic news, well done! The one about steel-making? Ah, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist...