Humpty,carefull what you say on the internet. Putin's control is magnified by crushing all opposition. I had high hopes for the Russian people and Russia when he was elected but it didn't happen. Maybe some of the oil wealth will help the common people. There is absolutely no reason why these people cannot have the same standard of living as the US or western Europe. Politics and corruption ruins that hope. My wife read today that in Moscow the banks no longer change dollars to rubles because of the dropping value of the dollar. I enjoy reading humpty dumpty's and Geno's posts. Especially when it concerns gun and hunting experiences in former USSR nations. My wife is from Vitebsk,Belarus. Not to far south of you Geno. I had a nice trip there 4 years ago. I hope to return sometime but with the dollar falling it may not happen to soon. If I get the chance to visit St Petersburg I'll have to visit you.
