Thread: Post-USSR Nationality Confusion (plus different off-topics)

Someone might find this interesting: About RAF Menwith Hill which is an old American cold war spy station in England: Now it is used used to intercept European phone, fax, email and web traffic on behalf of the US. It's apparently used for industrial espionage too. Article is old (Sunday Times) but things have only got worse since it was written:

http://jya.com/nsa-f83.htm

9-11 was the best thing that ever happened to Western intelligence services... It gave them "carte blanche" to shout "terrorist!" and spy and harrass whoever they want, including people who are clearly not terrorists.

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The way that the peadophilia framing works is simple: Either somebody calls in an anonymous tip against a person just to create nuisance for him.

Or their wireless network can very easily be intercepted so that "their" IT address gets picked up on sleasy sites that the intruder visits, which are under monitoring by the police.. The person can leave messages on forums etc, using the name of the person that they are trying to frame.

They can be emailed lots of pictures which they open to see what it is... That means the picture gets saved in the cache on the persons' hard drive. Voila, he has "stored" indecent pictures of children on his hard drive.

Some people who were framed had "normal" porn on their computers, but some of the actresses happened to be only 15 (classed as child) therefore the photo qualifies as peadophile material EVEN though the person had believed he was watching normal porn.

Nothing good comes of these framings for the person set up. Sometimes the police finds something ELSE illegal on their computer and they are caught for that instead, even though they did not in fact have pictures of children.

This seems to happen to 1) politicians 2) Headmasters of schools.

You need about one braincell to realise that the REAL peadophiles are laughing in-disturbed in some dark spot of the internet while innocent people have their lives torn apart and exposed in media.

I think it's a sensible precaution to use a proxy server online, like Ramil does. You never know.... I wouldn't want anyone to have a record of my internet usage even though it is legal. Besides, I use bittorrent, so that saves me the risk of being sued for copyright crimes.

Also, what if one is just curious about what some extremist groups thinks? Even if one does not actually sympathise with them...? For example: If I lived in Russia and wanted to visit this site: http://www.kavkazcenter.com/russ/ I'd be very careful... It seems reasonable that the site is under surveillance, so I wouldn't then want my real IP address logged there..

(I only know about this site because it's hosted in Sweden and Russia asked for it to be closed down on the grounds that it is run by anti-russia Caucasian terrorists... It was in the news.)

Originally Posted by Ramil

@starrysky: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

I was terrible at Latin when we studied it at the uni but I've got a handy dictionary of Latin sayings so I looked it up...

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Check this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_care_s ... e_hysteria

Фуй. Кошмар.

Thanks for the explanations, everyone. I guess I'm now somewhere in the middle on this issue as it is a very tricky one. Imprisoning people on false allegations is quite disgusting... It does seem as though Russia is actually more 'normal' in this respect and the US is way out of line... I ultimately believe in the 'common sense' and 'clear conscience' and 'truth will out' but it's better to be one your guard...

We have strayed very far from the topic, havent' we?

Originally Posted by starrysky

...We have strayed very far from the topic, havent' we?

Not anymore.

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by Johanna

Gary Kasparov is Azerbadjani by ethnicity and background -- but now he is a Russian politician!

I saw one of his interviews on TV where he said that he always considered USSR as his homeland and Moscow as the capital; Baku and Azerbaijan, to him, are like, say, Penza region and its administrative center Penza to someone who was born there, but now lives in Moscow.

Interesting to hear that this is his view.
I used to be a *serious* admirer of his when I was my teens.

Later I was totally gutted when he was beaten by Deep Blue - it was inconceivable that a legend like him could be beaten by a poxy machine.

I know he is now a politician but I have no idea what he supports and whether he is successful/appreciated.

Originally Posted by Johanna

I know he is now a politician but I have no idea what he supports and whether he is successful/appreciated.

The police broke the rally into several groups but activists eventually forced their way through police cordons and the march spilled onto Nevsky Prospekt.

Other Russia, an anti-Putin alliance, held a similar but smaller event in Moscow in December. Other Russia was created with an eye to the 2008 presidential elections when it hopes to put forward a strong alternative to Kremlin-backed candidates.

The umbrella group incorporates, among others, Garry Kasparov’s United Civil Front, Mikhail Kasyanov’s People’s Democratic Union and Eduard Limonov’s National Bolshevik Party.

The police estimated the number of protesters at Saturday’s march at “more than 2,000.”

Kasparov, one of the leaders of Other Russia, said the number of protesters exceeded 6,000.

The demonstration was by far the largest that Putin’s home town has seen in recent years, with numerous independent eye-witnesses at the demonstration putting the number of participants at around 5,000. During the last five years opposition gatherings have typically managed to draw no more than a few hundred supporters.

http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_ ... y_id=20875

[b]
Saturday, November 24, 2007

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has been arrested along with other opposition leaders after leading protests against current Russian president Vladimir Putin. Kasparov, a prominent critic of Putin, founded the United Civil Front and named the Other Russia umbrella of opposition parties after retiring from chess.

The protest began peacefully, after a legal rally held by Kasparov and the other opposition leaders to protest what they see as unfair election practices including the barring of Other Russia candidates from running in the upcoming election. After the initial rally some of the demonstrators tried to march to the offices of the election commission.

Kasparov said that the government's response showed that the "the only language they can use with their own people is the language of violence, truncheons and riot police."

The ruling party United Russia has broad popular support and the state-controlled media have paid little attention to the opposition parties.

Others arrested included Maria Gaidar, daughter of former prime minister Yegor Gaidar and human-rights activist Lev Ponomaryov.
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Chess_grand ... er_protest

A man who certainly knows a thing or two about protesting for freedom is Russian chess champion Gary Kasparov.

Vladimir Putin has no greater foe in Russia than Kasparov. He’s been arrested too many times to count for leading marches in Russia against the authoritarian regime that Putin has created.

If Kasparov were not famous the world over, he would have been killed long ago. His fame is the only thing that has kept him alive under a regime that routinely murders journalists and jails people who speak out against the government.

Therefore, when Kasparov speaks out on issues like the protests in Iran he has a certain amount of credibility.

In today’s Wall Street Journal, Kasparov has an excellent Op-Ed about the protests in Iran and offers an interesting perspective.

Mr. Putin has a great deal riding on the outcome in Iran. With the Russian economy teetering, he needs a steep increase in oil prices to stave off the collapse of his government. So he has been working to increase tension in the Middle East and now sees the Iranian crisis as potentially helpful — if Ahmadinejad comes out on top.

…For Mr. Putin, the unknown factor in all of this is how the West will respond to what’s happening in Iran. It could give him pause if Iran faces penalties of real significance for using lethal force against nonviolent protestors. Surprisingly, European leaders are showing unusual assertiveness in condemning the Iranian regime.

Kasparov goes on to say that president Obama is wrong to sit on the sidelines while everything plays out.

http://www.thehotjoints.com/2009/06/25/ ... rotesters/


I talked my wife out of marching with Kasparov by my residence near Metro Vostania, on the day where he was arrested by police and charged with fighting with another party leader, before the march. I did not think it a good idea for her at the time to participate because I did not have enough money to get her out of jail or for doctor bills. Previously, at the last march, 300 marchers were clubbed and taken to jail. Anyone holding the smallest piece of paper no matter what sex or how old was clubbed by police and dragged off.

Originally Posted by Johanna

I know he is now a politician but I have no idea what he supports and whether he is successful/appreciated.

I can tell you a secret - only people in the West know he's a politician now. The overwhelming majority of Russian people have no idea about that. The more ridiculous sounds the idea about him as a possible President of Russia, as some people outside Russia see him.

I can tell you a secret - only people in the West know he's a politician now.

Well, a lot of people admire him... It seems DDTs wife has heard of his political party.

But I agree with you that he could not be president! I don't think he has the right personality and he is probably too much of an idealist!

Regarding DDTs post: Disgusting that people get beaten up in prison. Apparently today, a regular person in Tomsk was killed by the police after they picked him up when he was drunk on town.

I think it's a disgrace for Russia that the police cannot be made to behave in a civilised way towards citizens. People should not have to fear for their lives while in police custody!

But I do not believe that Putin is egging on the troubles in Iran to increase oil prices.

Originally Posted by Johanna

I can tell you a secret - only people in the West know he's a politician now.

Well, a lot of people admire him... It seems DDTs wife has heard of his political party.

But I agree with you that he could not be president! I don't think he has the right personality and he is probably too much of an idealist!

It's an interesting point. I've never thought of him as an idealist, though you are probably right. Not that that's a good thing.

You can find a few opinions on Kasparov and his political activity in this topic:
Kasparov to run for Russian presidency

Originally Posted by Johanna

I know he is now a politician but I have no idea what he supports and whether he is successful/appreciated.

He is just an adrenaline addict. When he became too old for the top-level chess, he went to extremal sports in politics and social activity.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Gary Kasparov is Azerbadjani by ethnicity and background

He is a Jew. Initially his name was Weinstein.

Originally Posted by Wowik

Originally Posted by Johanna

Gary Kasparov is Azerbadjani by ethnicity and background

He is a Jew. Initially his name was Weinstein.

Haha, why am I not surprised to hear that...

I will always admire him for his accomplishments in chess no matter how bad a politician he might be.

It was so sad when he was beaten by the "Deep Blue" chess computer. Does anyone remember that Kasparov himself said that he suspected the computer was reprogrammed by top players while the game was in progress --- which would not have been fair play. I certainly wouldn't put that past IBM which had a lot at stake and a lot to gain by having their computer beat Kasparov. I think he started to gradually lose interest in playing after that.

I know about Kasparov's political activities but only because I read it once in "Moscow News" which is paper printed in Russia in English -- not widely read. I seem to remember he was protesting against Khodorkovsky's imprisonment.

I've watched an item on Euronews today about a demonstration in London against tightening security measures. All people were taking photos with their cameras and cell phones and some were wearing sort of tablets on their backs that said "I'm a photographer, not a terrorist." Apparently, there's a law now that prohibits taking pictures of some buildings. Which is really annoying. Suppose I came to London -- of course, I'd be taking lots of pics. How am I supposed to know which places it is prohibited to take photos of? How are mlns of foreigners supposed to know that such a law even exists?

Originally Posted by Johanna

Originally Posted by Wowik

Originally Posted by Johanna

Gary Kasparov is Azerbadjani by ethnicity and background

He is a Jew. Initially his name was Weinstein.

Haha, why am I not surprised to hear that...

I will always admire him for his accomplishments in chess no matter how bad a politician he might be.

It was so sad when he was beaten by the "Deep Blue" chess computer. Does anyone remember that Kasparov himself said that he suspected the computer was reprogrammed by top players while the game was in progress --- which would not have been fair play. I certainly wouldn't put that past IBM which had a lot at stake and a lot to gain by having their computer beat Kasparov. I think he started to gradually lose interest in playing after that.

Hell yea ! I exactly remember those times,i've watched it.It was more than a trick than a fair play.But it showed that he was like unbeatable and immortail chess.However,having beaten by a computer,he seemed to discouraged from playing it.

Originally Posted by Starrysky

I've watched an item on Euronews today about a demonstration in London against tightening security measures

England is getting totally out of control. Here is an example of the craziness of the UK: I am starting a new job after a break, and as part of the hiring process, the company has a security vetting company that will check the following:

Criminal record
Tax record
Credit check
Check my passport
Bank statements for 6 months (!!!!)
Employment history for 5 years
University and school records
I need to sign a paper that says they can contact my doctor to get my complete medical history (consent form) !!!
Statement about why I took time off work, signed by witness.
Do a medical check which they can see.


This is NORMAL nowadays. Based on this, they will determine whether it's suitable to hire me (in reality I will start working there before this check can realistically be completed). But this gives this multinational corporation full disclosure of everything about my life. Unless everything checks out in full, they have carte blanche to sack me any time.

I seriously doubt whether people in the USSR were checked up on to this degree by the notorious "KGB" organisation!!!!

Perhaps I should submit a report about my sexual preferences and political views while I am at it!

If you are reading this and live in a different country, is this happening in your country?

Originally Posted by Орчун

Hell yea ! I exactly remember those times,i've watched it.It was more than a trick than a fair play.But it showed that he was like unbeatable and immortail chess.However,having beaten by a computer,he seemed to discouraged from playing it.

I just checked this in Wikipedia. According to Wiki:
Kasparov asked to see the log files but this was declined. Why would anyone with a CLEAR conscience deny access to the log files? If they were fine, then it would have further supported their case. The reason they didn't do it was clearly because their had been human interaction with the computer during the game.

Secondly, Kasparov asked for a re-match which they declined. Again, obvious: In a rematch there would be an observer checking what was happening with the computer, and the computer would have had to play with pure processing power ONLY, instead of maximum processing power PLUS the best dishonest elite chess player that IBMs money can buy....

No wonder he became disillusioned when he realised he'd been scr*d over with no way of proving it, and no way to get a rematch.

Nobody who is a lover of chess or admires Kasparov ought to buy anything from IBM!