solongsuckers.com

So one thought I would be spewing politics from this sight, but mostly it's to keep you all updated on my life here in Moscow. But it's been boring lately, so I turn to politics. Very simple. The western press really is harsh against Putin and Russia. But you know, everybody can piss off, because the Russian populace genuinely like and support him. He's been good for the country and that's it. Simple. So all this news about Putin being a authoritarian is bullshit and western propaganda to undermine Russia's resurgence in the world. The west is just pissed that their multinational corporations (Exxon-Mobil and BP) can't rape and pillage Russian resources for their profit while Russian people don't get any of it. If he is an authoritarian, then he is one by the people's consent. Better then a "democracy" where there is no consent. Hail to the chief!

So I was on an excursion with a couple of chicks when this stray dog became partial to us. Although we gave her no food (because we had none), she followed us for about an hour for over 2 miles or so, keeping by our side. She even crossed the street to a grassy area to take a crap (because on our side of the street, it was all concrete) but then recrossed the street to continue with us. At some point we wandered into a dog pack's territory and the pack came out to chase the intruder (our dog), but luckily they let her pass. (see video in movies section) As she continued to follow us she almost got ran over when we crossed the street, but she was lucky and barely missed getting creamed. So finally after all that we went to a local supermarket to get some sausages to feed her. Hopefully she had a very happy moment in her day. We lost her when we stepped into a restaurant to eat. She was gone by the time we came out of the restaurant.

You know, I'm an advocate of universal connections between all peoples and cultures. I truly believe that we're more alike then not. But every now and then I question that. Like for instance, In the advert below at the local perfumery. I don't know what the marketing ploy is for this perfume, but you have to ask what the fuck could it be? In any culture, how the fuck are you going to explain this to me. But then again, a bad concept is a bad concept anywhere.

It's been kind of slow with work with me lately and I've just about seen everybody in town. So yesterday I decided to take a pro-active approach to getting some work by contacting some of the magazines I already meet. And almost instantly I was booked for a shoot of a portrait of a heavy weight Russian boxer named, Oleg Maskaev for Men's Health magazine. But typical of jobs that pop up, it's for the next day and without much information. "Just be there at this time." Anyway, I show up and nobody is there. I wait for about an hour outside on the street. Then they finally arrive and it's a circus. Turns out that I'm not just the only photographer there to shoot him, but another 2 photographers and a film crew too. After waiting another hour and a half, I had 3 minutes to shoot him for about 8 shots. Here's one of the 8 shots: