The State of Affairs in Russia

[Tamas]

If that is true, shouldn`t there be a huge scandal of it?

[alfred russel]

If that is true, shouldn`t there be a huge scandal of it?

No. In the grand scheme of things, leaving a shower on all day is wasteful, but not that big of a deal.

[alfred russel]

This is funny in how it slipped out, but this is also very serious.  Who knows how many foreign sources FSB will recruit once they finish going through all the hotel room footage?

I bet there isn't any hotel room footage. For domestic reasons, the government is probably very focused on making sure that any criticism by the foreign press is shown as anti Russian and a conspiracy against them rather than legitimate. He probably made this stuff up as defense against the criticism they are getting, without thinking through the implications.

[grumbler]

... For domestic reasons, the government is probably very focused on making sure that any criticism by the foreign press is shown as anti Russian and a conspiracy against them rather than legitimate. He probably made this stuff up as defense against the criticism they are getting, without thinking through the implications.

Exactly.  In fact, this is the Russian government engaging in a bizarre version of the ad hom.  Just as Spicey reverts to the ad hom when he is intellectually bankrupt, so does the Russian government.  They are just intellectually bankrupt more often than he is.

[Malthus]

This is nice:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304680904579366712107461956.html

SOCHI, Russia—Rooms without doorknobs, locks or heat, dysfunctional toilets, surprise early-morning fire alarms and a Welcome Wagon of stray dogs: These are the initial images of the 2014 Winter Olympics that foreign journalists have blasted around the world from their officially assigned hotels—and the wave of criticism has rankled Russian officials.

Dmitry Kozak, the deputy prime minister responsible for the Olympic preparations, reflected the view held among many Russian officials that some Western visitors are deliberately trying to sabotage Sochi's big debut out of bias against Russia. "We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day," he said. An aide then pulled a reporter away before Mr. Kozak could be questioned further on surveillance in hotel rooms. "We're doing a tour of the media center," the aide said.

Just kind of slipped out, I guess.

Can the "best of Sochi shower footage" tapes be far behind? 

[alfred russel]

Can the "best of Sochi shower footage" tapes be far behind? 

Please please please tell me they are surveilling the Olympic Village and not just the journalist area.

[The Brain]

Can the "best of Sochi shower footage" tapes be far behind? 

Please please please tell me they are surveilling the Olympic Village and not just the journalist area.

Gay.

[derspiess]

... For domestic reasons, the government is probably very focused on making sure that any criticism by the foreign press is shown as anti Russian and a conspiracy against them rather than legitimate. He probably made this stuff up as defense against the criticism they are getting, without thinking through the implications.

Exactly.  In fact, this is the Russian government engaging in a bizarre version of the ad hom.  Just as Spicey reverts to the ad hom when he is intellectually bankrupt, so does the Russian government.  They are just intellectually bankrupt more often than he is.

Stop stalking me, creepy old man.

[Alcibiades]

Awesome

[garbon]

Can the "best of Sochi shower footage" tapes be far behind? 

Please please please tell me they are surveilling the Olympic Village and not just the journalist area.

Gay.

[derspiess]

[derspiess]

[Valmy]

50 Billions dollars doesn't buy you much in Russia.

[derspiess]

If I were Kevin Bishop, that framed Putin picture would sooo be going home with me.  And maybe the calendar, too.

[alfred russel]

50 Billions dollars doesn't buy you much in Russia.

Hold off on that judgment: no one is tweeting pictures of the contractors' dachas.