tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105264742009-04-13T08:31:16.970+01:00Kristina's blogKristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-32992030185130876642009-03-18T06:34:00.012Z2009-03-19T03:56:11.551Z

Today, I was visiting a shelter for boys - some of them are orphans, others had abusive parents. I was expecting fairly miserable conditions, and that was exactly what I found. 31 little creatures and a handful of teachers living in a two storey bungalow with no garden or playground. Iron furniture - double-deck beds and chest-high closets - cramming their tiny rooms. There's not enough of even

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-73549896034778855622009-03-11T07:37:00.008Z2009-03-19T03:57:03.958Z

Yesterday, I was at another big Indian wedding here in Malaysia, and I was talking to one of the girls about charity. She is carving out time in her busy work schedule to do some charity work, and add purpose to her life. She confessed that, in the beginning, it was not easy to talk publicly about her charity work. Even now, most people would ask: "Why are you wasting your time?"Angelina Jolie is

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-8704361245677614722009-03-10T03:40:00.014Z2009-03-19T03:57:49.172Z

I've been donating 5% of my income every month. Well, since I started having an income. It does feel amazing. But this is not what I was going to share.From day one, when I decided to give away X amount of money to make this world a better place, I bumped into the question: "Who do I give the money to?" When you only have a little to share, you want to be sure that even this little bit is going

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-39671045054060603942008-11-05T09:56:00.010Z2008-11-05T16:13:05.089Z

I have always believed in America, despite all the shame and criticism it has been facing over the past years. Listen, guys, we've all had our bad leaders! The previous president of Estonia, Mr Rüütel, was not in too much favour. And sometimes, we re-elect our bad leaders - Mr Rüütel used to be comrade Rüütel and head the Communist Party of Estonia when it was still a part of the USSR.What amazes

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-39362590633041232752007-12-16T15:38:00.001Z2009-03-19T03:58:24.684Z

I'm not following the news too much these days, but once in a while, I do come across the news on Russian TV channels. Predictably, they all start with Putin's 10 minutes on how good has life become in Russia, but here I'm risking to drift away... I was actually going to write about Ukraine.Since Ukraine has chosen to start "westernising", particularly, since the latest turmoils didn't end up in

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-80115123267724966912007-10-02T21:13:00.002+01:002009-03-19T04:01:20.949Z

The news from Russia today were all predictable and familiar like deja vu - flexing the oil-muscle (this time for Ukraine) and scheming to eternalise Putin's power. BBC's correspondent says that Putin's announcement came as a shock. I think a twist like that was predictable. Putin announced that he might aim for the post of prime minister of Russia after his presidential term. Will Russia become

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-27410751814419648112007-09-17T08:31:00.001+01:002009-03-19T04:00:51.891Z

I do follow Russian news to some extent – to be aware of “another” opinion – but there are limits to how much nonsense one can take. With years, Russian news experience has become increasingly painful. I’m talking about the kind of pain one feels watching people embarrassing themselves.Today, I managed to sit through the weekly summary news on the main Russian TV channel, the ORT. The amount of

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-84996289807828938612007-07-13T12:26:00.000+01:002007-07-13T12:51:12.071+01:00

Actually, I am faithful like a dog. At least, I have been very true to my profile picture. It has served me since the beginning of digital age, or at least, since the day it was digitalised from an ordinary film. The truth is, it was so long ago, I do not dare to admit its age.Time goes on, we grow older, with all the good that comes out of it - in other words - we change. With this in mind, I

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-34319521211861833802007-07-11T07:33:00.000+01:002007-07-11T07:39:28.693+01:00

"There will be no splendid revolutionary breakthrough with oranges, tulips or roses in Russia... Our revolution, if it comes, will be red, because the Communists are almost the most democratic force in the country, and because it will be bloody." - Anna Politkovskaya, in her las book A Russian Diary. She was murdered in October 2006.

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-68383444559980716582007-06-15T07:22:00.000+01:002007-06-15T12:52:38.563+01:00

Thirty eight percent of Russians believe that nobody but Putin can manage leadership of their country. A quarter of all Russians don't see anybody at all who can manage Russia. (Ненадежные люди) This is the result of persistent extermination of democracy in Russia throughout the Putin-era.I have finally got my hands on "A Russian Diary" by Anna Politkovskaya - the book I've been itching to read.

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-56903962674016435612007-06-07T09:46:00.000+01:002007-06-07T10:30:45.682+01:00

I am a political optimist. I instinctively believe that humankind can only move towards a better world order.I was born in the Soviet Union. My baby flus I spent at home watching funerals of Soviet leaders, who passed their reign postmortem, like good monarchs, to yet another life-long head of state.My childhood years were spiced by the thrills and excitement of Gorbachev-era novelties -

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-82704022071331304622007-05-26T01:19:00.000+01:002007-05-26T01:54:57.196+01:00

Sergei Matvienko, the son of the mayor of St. Petersburg, announced today that he is giving up his Estonian residency, withdrawing all his business interest and selling off his property in Estonia (Демонтаж Сергея Матвиенко). The announcement comes one month after the Bronze Soldier events, which apparently triggered his decision. What was he waiting for so long? Call me a realist, but I have

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-11917959153442364622007-05-22T00:26:00.000+01:002007-05-23T20:57:53.436+01:00

A few illustrations to Russian anti-Estonian propaganda. This time, it is neither official, political or media originated fury - this is every-day life for you.The sign on the shop door says: "Attention! There are no products from Estonia, and there will never be any again!"The sign on the restaurant door says: "No entry for Estonians"The billboard shows a road sign to Estonia being crossed over

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-19138883908081575392007-05-02T20:40:00.000+01:002007-05-02T21:00:19.372+01:00

BBC news irk me - inadequate, Russian-minded, inaccurate. I had to look for the new channels of information on the events in Estonia. Actually, the focus is slowly shifting to Moscow where Estonian embassy has been literally sieged by young Russian activists. Today, Estonian and Swedish ambassadors were attacked physically.Lately, I have turned to the Estonian news channels for my daily dose of

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-72510035323985772582007-05-01T23:56:00.000+01:002007-05-23T22:21:18.902+01:00

For the last couple of days, I have been reading BBC news holding my breath, and then noisily exhaling and chanting: “this must be an objective unbiased view.” But it is not! BBC is neither objective nor unbiased in their portrayal of the recent events in Estonia.BBC predominantly quotes Russian officials, who do not spare energy pouring dirt over our government and spreading the most despicable

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-83478720421174764362007-04-26T22:49:00.000+01:002007-04-26T23:32:27.646+01:00

When I found Estonia on the front page of BBC news, I was surprised; when I read the news, I was shocked. I checked with our Estonian news site Delfi, and I was horrified.Mad, angry, vandalising crowds are taking over my town - breaking windows, overturning cars, looting shops and even burning smaller houses. I always thought of Estonians as highly civilised and reasonable people.In the end of

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-32374607466821342072007-04-20T19:37:00.000+01:002007-04-20T20:31:18.441+01:00

If you ever thought that my husband Vishen was straightforward... you were damn right! Check him out starring on Malaysian reality TV.MindValley guys were asked to judge a contestant in a reality TV show Nestcafe KickStart. This was a round 3 of an Apprentice-like Malaysian show - now, guess if the kid got through to round 4.

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-76975090836428987942007-04-11T21:37:00.000+01:002007-04-11T22:33:17.217+01:00

I stumbled upon an extract from this book in a random magazine carelessly left by one of my flat-mates on a kitchen table. I started reading to entertain myself during a solitary breakfast. The breakfast was long finished, I reached the last line, and I was impatient to read more. The little I have seen of the last book by the brilliant Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya "A Russian Diary", so

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-91427483512039555762007-04-02T22:32:00.000+01:002007-04-02T22:50:14.730+01:00

I found this guy in the middle of Estonia. Imagine my surprise - a bit of Scotland near my home!I suspect this is also the first photo from my mobile phone to land on the internet.PS. I was actually planning to write about my first day at work, but ended up with this. My work, btw., is not very much related to cows - it is on arms trade, civil wars and development in Africa.

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-17703303993356495162007-04-01T16:46:00.000+01:002007-04-01T17:04:34.785+01:00

I was Skyping and catching up with Mike today when he called me existentialist. I guess I should thank him. “Existentialism” certainly sounds better than any of those medical terms we use on each other in times of hyper-moodiness. It sounds a bit academic and nihilistically cool.Actually, I should blame my philosophical bouts on walking around Oxford – the perfect university town. Isn’t it

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-76167052013781258122007-03-30T22:21:00.000+01:002007-03-30T22:51:25.185+01:00

This evening, I found myself in a new place again, not knowing what will happen next. I feel like a complete mess hidden behind apparently calm surface. I feel excited, a little scared, a little happy, very tired and somewhat irritated. Why do I do this? Why do I always say that I want a routine in my life, and then pack up my things and move to a new, crazy, unreasonable adventure?The other

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-31582922885437920512007-03-20T09:35:00.000Z2007-03-20T09:57:19.912Z

There is only one bad thing about Malaysia, which every Malaysian will willingly admit, without arguing - the traffic jams - notorious, despicable, infuriating traffic jams. I am used to hearing excuses like: "oh, it's because of the Friday prayers, everybody's rushing", or "school holidays have started today", or "long weekend - people 'balik kampung' (go back to their villages)". These days,

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-79657184063321208932007-03-12T06:12:00.000Z2007-03-12T11:40:00.075Z

As much as I disrespect Malaysian public media, I have to get my daily dose of news, so I have picked one of the less disturbing papers to go through in the mornings. You can judge the paper by its editorials, and the first editorial I read in the New Straits Times made me suspicious. But I stuck - when the choice is limited, even half-a-step closer to the truth is better than nothing.Today's NST

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-26915613763388853312007-03-05T06:24:00.000Z2007-03-05T06:39:03.102Z

I was looking forward to the news this morning. Estonia had its parliamentary elections yesterday and the news would be published today. This time, however, I was looking forward to the rest of the news as much as to the election results.The thing is that we had our first online parliamentary voting, that is, of course, in addition to the regular ballot-casting at polling stations. The news

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10526474.post-59328430980690422512007-03-04T04:41:00.000Z2007-03-04T04:49:41.365Z

While reading morning papers after breakfast today, a random thought entered my head. I wonder if the way a nation is gaining its independence determines its future success.To make it more visual. If a nation has to fight for its independence, not necessarily in a bloody war, but risking to be prosecuted and punished for the pro-independence movement, will it put more effort into proving later

Kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357845205974798997noreply@blogger.com2