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Communist Smurf · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 330 Location: San Francisco

There is going to be an Election Day party at the US Embassy in Moscow. All Americans *and their guests* are invited. Free food and stuff from 8 am till noon on November 3rd.

CS

zaneth · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:46 pm Post subject:

Sounds cool! Though those are the wackiest hours for a party I ever heard of.

Though haven't you guys been warning us to avoid concentrations of Americans in Moscow for security reasons?

Hey, I just realized that Election day is my wedding anniversary.

I might not be able to make, but thanks for the invite (announcement). Always depend on The Smurf for the inside scoop.

zaneth · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:47 pm Post subject:

Oh, duh, those hours would correspond to election evening in the states, eh?

Communist Smurf · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 330 Location: San Francisco

Точно. I think the new president is supposed to be announced during this time.

Congrats (is that what you say for anniversary?)! It's a minor coincidence that my "honeymoon" will be on that day also. On the occasion of getting married, embassy employees are granted three days off and the party falls on those days.

Well, considering it's in the morning, you're probably ok to slip out a few hours...? I know I plan on going even though it's my "honeymoon."

CS

PS The Embassy will probably be the safest place in Moscow, regarding your question of concentrations of Americans.

zaneth · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:13 pm Post subject:

Yes, I suppose congrats would be what you'd say if we weren't already seperated. Though I still plan on doing something nice for her on that day. Being the mother of my child and all.

Congratulations to you. And my wish for you is that at least half of your friends and family will spell 'Congratulations' without a 'd'. I was shocked at the education level of my circle of associates. Btw, how does Putin the dog feel about her?

The anniversary isn't the conflict (though I know my hastily written note implies that). I have other commitments on the third (that's wednesday right?). But I might try to rearrange things. Being at the embassy when the president is announced sounds hard to pass up. It just seems fitting somehow. Not quite poetic or anything, but seems like a nice reason for a party.

I hope there won't be any fisticuffs. Can you imagine how embarassing that would be on Russian news? Oh, the humiliation.

Communist Smurf · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 330 Location: San Francisco

Russian women... Yeah, there are certain complications that come with being married to one and I can sympathize with you. I hope things work out ok.

Putin likes her more than he likes me. Well, actually we ended-up giving him another home because I'm headed back to the states soon and not taking him with me. I'll miss the mutt. I should have made it a condition for the transfer of ownership that they not be allowed to change his name...

The party is Wednesday morning. I'll PM you my cell number if you want to give me a call when you get here. Don't forget your passport, if you make it.

If there was an incident during the party, no Russian news agency would ever find out about it. People have been fired because of concerns that they might bring embarrassment to the embassy.

CS

zaneth · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:35 pm Post subject:

Ah, but will my parents find out about it? Now there's a party guarantee that would be worth something!

Going back to the states for good? Maybe you could work at the Russian Embassy?

Communist Smurf · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 330 Location: San Francisco

Work at the Russian Embassy? And make $200 per month? I think Putin *officially* makes $250 per month. I think he gets free food, but that might be a rumor.

I landed a temp job at the Foreign Service Institute, in Washington. I'm sure I'll be back eventually. I was thinking about doing grad school at МГИМО. I might get my CELTA when I head back.

CS

Castro · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 57 Location: still Russia

CS wrote: I think Putin *officially* makes $250 per month.

Officially His ZARPLATA is $ 2250 Cool

http://www.ntm-tv.ru/news/region/print/PUTIN_ZARP.html

Thanks for the info! Wink

That was nice party Smile

Except for dissapointed Kerry suppoorters leaving the Embassy Sad

I guess they were 90 % of all guests Shocked

zaneth · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

Sorry I missed the party. Rearranged my schedule but had something last night I couldn't get out of so the 3:30 am bus was my only option for getting there on time. I decided I wasn't so gung ho on Moscow, or embassies, or politics, or parties in general to get up so early for it.

But sorry I missed the chance to meet some of you folks.

A lot of folks at the party deciding to renew their contracts and stay on in Russia?

Communist Smurf · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 330 Location: San Francisco

I was starting to get a little bit nervous myself. All the American guests around me kept saying how f'ed up they thought it was that Kerry was losing and seemed to just assume I was a democrat. I felt compelled, in the name of peace, to just nod my head and smile.

Thanks for the info on Putin. I'd only heard $250 word of mouth. $2250? I still make more than him. Twisted Evil

I remember early on, someone came (whom I recognized) and changed the channel from ABC to NBC. Some people got upset that he changed it. After he walked away, some guests started whispering that they should change the channel back to ABC.

I timidly asked them if they knew who he was. Some guy responded, "I dunno, some guy with grey hair." (I don't know why, he doesn't actually have grey hair)

I said, "He was the Ambassador." I didn't hear another word about changing the channel. Embarassed

CS

bobs12 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Saint Petersburg

CS, if you're leaving, can I have your job? Do you get free food?

What's the score with the election? Seems like an agricultural/industrial standoff. Bizarre.

Can anyone fill me in on how the number of votes each state gets is calculated? Is it based on population or something more sinister?

Castro · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 57 Location: still Russia

I guess the number of votes each state gets is calculated by population! Smile

Have a look at this http://www.fec.gov/pages/elecvote.htm

CA has got 55 votes and the population is about 35 million
Texas got 34 votes for about 22 million

There are 15 votes in New Jersey, Georgia and North Carolina as well They each have a population of about 8 million

There are 20 key votes from Ohio (11,5 million)

But I still cannot get the reason why Texas doesn't have 40 votes if there are two times more people than in Ohio? Shocked

bobs12 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Saint Petersburg

Yeah... I tried a quick calculation of sorts but couldn't get much sense out of the numbers. Proportional representation and all that was always one of my problem areas. Never understood the argument against just adding all the actual votes together. Call me a dumbass... Rolling Eyes

zaneth · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:28 pm Post subject:

Dumbass!!

Sorry, couldn't resist. end of my long day.

I recently read that the number of electoral votes equals the number of representatives in congress?

but if there's a tie, then the state house of representatives votes as a block with one vote per state.

The number of representatives in congress is based on population data taken during the census I believe.

The reason they don't just add up the votes is that the popular election is a fiction. The electoral college was instituted in the days of horse and carriage and bad roads (yes, at one point America's roads were worse than Russia's). But also, from what I've heard, the founding fathers did not believe in direct democracy. It seems that really, it's our representatives that choose the president, decide how the electoral votes are apportioned.