tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post6864301614402638381..comments2024-02-25T08:16:25.546-08:00Comments on Exurban Nation: I see clever peopleRob Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-20288741131377278532007-03-03T20:40:00.000-08:002007-03-03T20:40:00.000-08:00I was supposed to attend Christmas services this y...I was supposed to attend Christmas services this year at the largest Orthodox cathedral east of the Urals, but a friend of mine got sick, so I didn't go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-86212215074476436852007-03-03T14:44:00.000-08:002007-03-03T14:44:00.000-08:00Cased!: I'd never heard that, although I'd expect ...Cased!: I'd never heard that, although I'd expect more protestants out of western Ukraine. <BR/><BR/>Most Orthodox in Russia are not exactly fanatics, and those that are quite religious "tend their own gardens", as it were. They get their prayer on, get their fast on, and leave you alone.<BR/><BR/>This is another trait of Orthodoxy - the Orthodox try to focus on improving themselves rather than improving their neighbors. This is why you don't see much in the way of Orthodox street evangelism or TeeVee preachers. <BR/><BR/>There are Orthodox television programs here in Russia, but they are very low-key, amateur, by American standards. There might be an open question and answer session with a Priest or monk. No donations are solicited, no operators are standing by, but the program might mention or feature an old folks home or orphanage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-19990053787394904612007-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:002007-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:00At 1:28 PM, sid_finster said...@Cased!: I have no ...At 1:28 PM, sid_finster said...<BR/><BR/>@Cased!: I have no idea what Russians in Portland do, but the ones here are mostly (at least in name) Orthodox.<BR/><BR/>Agreed. As a matter of fact, I have heard that one of the reasons for the Russian evangelical move to America was to get away from the dominant Orthodox culture in Russia/Ukraine (most of the Russians in Portland seem to be Russian-speakers from the eastern Ukraine).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-45240655777773544842007-03-03T13:28:00.000-08:002007-03-03T13:28:00.000-08:00Rob: there are a lot of things that are keeping th...Rob: there are a lot of things that are keeping the RC and EO apart besides married priests. <BR/><BR/>Although reunification would give the RC Church a moral figleaf allowing it relaxing its stance on this issue.<BR/><BR/>@Cased!: I have no idea what Russians in Portland do, but the ones here are mostly (at least in name) Orthodox.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-75559433677074774102007-03-03T13:22:00.000-08:002007-03-03T13:22:00.000-08:00sid,We've got Roman Catholic priests with wives an...sid,<BR/>We've got Roman Catholic priests with wives and families already. The Lutherans aren't that far to the other side of the RCs as the Rus/Greeks are . All those Orth/Luth/Roms are looking at interesting times. Latin America is leaning socialist and evangelical. Europe is turning away from religion in a general way. Religion doesn't seem to run deep enough in much of the rest of the world. If they can find some way around the Pope business its a strategic corporate merger.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-10117560930886232962007-03-03T13:05:00.000-08:002007-03-03T13:05:00.000-08:00At 12:18 PM, sid_finster said..."The vast majority...At 12:18 PM, sid_finster said...<BR/><BR/>"The vast majority of Russians are Orthodox (on some level) and shall always be. The response to evangelists ranges from profound indifference to tacky attempts to obtain benefits out of the churches.<BR/><BR/>Among those Russians who do convert, retention rates are poor."<BR/><BR/>Sid, that's true in Russia, but in Portland (and Sacramento, I guess), the Russian community is overwhelmingly evangelical Protestant. Not a lot of Russian Orthodox around here...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-59945532658375793582007-03-03T12:45:00.000-08:002007-03-03T12:45:00.000-08:00Yo, Dawg!I don't think the Roman Catholic church i...Yo, Dawg!<BR/><BR/>I don't think the Roman Catholic church is going to reunite with the Orthodox any time soon - too many compromises would have to be made.<BR/><BR/>A more likely prospect would be the reunification of the Orthodox with some of eastern churches (Egyptian, etc.), but even that would require a lot of patching over some serious theological differences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-58731638881740585832007-03-03T12:39:00.001-08:002007-03-03T12:39:00.001-08:00These two articles explain a lot. They provide so...These two articles explain a lot. They provide some explanation of Casey's sense of entitlement, as well as Galina's apparent loyalty (I really don't think she's out looking for another sugar daddy). Finally, I think (and this is NOT making any excuses for her, BTW) that on some level, she is probably being emotionally or physically abused by Mr. Boy Blunder. His brief flashes of temper at his "haters," his delusions of grandeur, and his superiority complex just set off my radar. <BR/><BR/>Just the opinion of someone who escaped an abusive relationship and lived to tell about it. Also, someone who is NOT a victim.<BR/><BR/>As I said, this doesn't let her off the hook, but it sure may explain why the hell she's still hanging in there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-83182432956574401632007-03-03T12:39:00.000-08:002007-03-03T12:39:00.000-08:00sid,I can see some minor reunification with the Ro...sid,<BR/>I can see some minor reunification with the Roman Catholics with the Orthodoxies. I don't don't see what the Mormons have that would attract the Slav, Ural and Cauci peoples.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-51561976361966382012007-03-03T12:18:00.000-08:002007-03-03T12:18:00.000-08:00Somewhat OT, but it bears remembering that, regard...Somewhat OT, but it bears remembering that, regardless of what people in Sactown do, do NOT believe the hype coming from Mormon or protestant evangelists about how Russia or Ukraine is converting in droves.<BR/><BR/>It's not. <BR/><BR/>The vast majority of Russians are Orthodox (on some level) and shall always be. The response to evangelists ranges from profound indifference to tacky attempts to obtain benefits out of the churches. <BR/><BR/>Among those Russians who do convert, retention rates are poor.<BR/><BR/>As in all things, we should not believe the hype.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-51686214933179099122007-03-03T12:03:00.000-08:002007-03-03T12:03:00.000-08:00fascinating, Captain...One thing that should be st...fascinating, Captain...<BR/><BR/>One thing that should be stressed is that the supposedly "loyalty" of Russian women is frequently touted on the interwebs, especially by FC proponents of mail-order brides.<BR/><BR/>I like Russian people and Russian women. I live in Russia and work in Russian. However, Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-34882455891053244472007-03-03T11:49:00.000-08:002007-03-03T11:49:00.000-08:00Casey's religion is his own newage overlay on what...Casey's religion is his own newage overlay on what is most likely an evangelical baptist or pentecostal christian fundamentalist sect. Here in the Sacramento area, we have been experiencing a wave of Russian evangelical immigration since the late eighties. There are over 80,000 immigrants, most of them from the Ukraine, though all the Soviet states are represented. As KW noted above, Casey and his family are ethnic Russian colonizers of Soviet Uzbekistan.... perhaps further explanation for his sense of entitlement. <BR/><BR/>Around the Sacramento region, there are significant concentrations of Russian evangelicals in North Highlands (where the Larchmont house is located), Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, and West Sacramento. Each of those areas has an abundance of relatively affordable housing and the churches, grocery stores and businesses that serve the Russian community. And a prevalence of the chosen profession: auto repair and dismantling. Not all of it legit. <BR/><BR/>This background helps explain Galina's loyalty (divorce would result in shunning), the support of the family, and Casey's access to a community of gullible investors. <BR/><BR/>More insight to the large Russian evangelical community here in Sacramento:<BR/><BR/>http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-russgay13oct13,0,3388537,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines<BR/><BR/>http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A9012Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-763190297045573482007-03-03T11:18:00.000-08:002007-03-03T11:18:00.000-08:00Casey's a Moron, not a Mor(m)on. And Tithing? He...Casey's a Moron, not a Mor(m)on. And Tithing? He should be receiving tithes, since he makes less than zero!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-4035987007449790062007-03-03T07:12:00.000-08:002007-03-03T07:12:00.000-08:00Whatever he is, Casey is most certainly NOT Orthod...Whatever he is, Casey is most certainly NOT Orthodox. <BR/><BR/>Unlike Casey, Orthodox Christians don't have "pastors", they have Priests. They don't have "services", they have Divine Liturgy. Most importantly, unlike Casey, the Orthodox do not regard wealth as a sign of God's favor or even as being much of a blessing in itself. Poverty and not cash, is looked upon as a good in the Orthodox mindset. <BR/><BR/>If you don't believe me, take a look at the life of an Orthodox monk. They monk it Old Skool.<BR/><BR/>Casey's jargon and mindset appears to be straight-up American evangelical protestant Prosperity Gospel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-27716155224391950382007-03-03T05:46:00.000-08:002007-03-03T05:46:00.000-08:00Uncle C pretty much nailed why I would bet my next...Uncle C pretty much nailed why I would bet my next paycheck that Snowflake <I>isn't</I> a Mormon. He's almost certainly an Orthodox Christian, at least nominally, (Russian extraction boy whose family was part of "colonizing" the satellite Soviet states like Uzbekistan,) w/a heavy overtone of Californian New Age crap slathered over the top. Count on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-52773125666668679792007-03-03T01:28:00.000-08:002007-03-03T01:28:00.000-08:00Casey is not a Mormon -- no kids, no job, no reser...Casey is not a Mormon -- no kids, no job, no reserves, no missionary gig, no LDS references at all (except for socalled tithing).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-86105918247452591102007-03-02T22:57:00.000-08:002007-03-02T22:57:00.000-08:00Can't be. Stephanie J isn't nearly as smart as Tan...<I>Can't be. Stephanie J isn't nearly as smart as Tanta.</I><BR/><BR/>I may be retawded; but at least I'm fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-78937004835992897032007-03-02T21:20:00.000-08:002007-03-02T21:20:00.000-08:00Casey is not Jewish, he's made a big deal over and...Casey is not Jewish, he's made a big deal over and over about how he's Xian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-26043509774595961092007-03-02T20:34:00.000-08:002007-03-02T20:34:00.000-08:00Back to BDSM, duct tape can be a lot of fun.Back to BDSM, duct tape can be a lot of fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-4095245767753611362007-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:002007-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:00Is Stephanie J Tanta at Calculated Risk?Can't be. ...<I>Is Stephanie J Tanta at Calculated Risk?</I><BR/><BR/>Can't be. Stephanie J isn't nearly as smart as Tanta.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-73683058931097201492007-03-02T19:55:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:55:00.000-08:00Is Stephanie J Tanta at Calculated Risk?Is Stephanie J Tanta at Calculated Risk?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-72998333481300267402007-03-02T19:52:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:52:00.000-08:00Relationship banking? Ask Tanta at Calculated Ris...Relationship banking? Ask Tanta at Calculated Risk. If she doesn't know she'll make up a term so clever and outrageous that it will instantly become the new word.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-57697932089919519792007-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:00OT, but I figure someone here will know: Is there...OT, but I figure someone here will know: Is there a recognized term for the antithesis of "relationship banking?" (Relationship banking is a system where your personal contact at a bank can handle most or all of the products the bank offers--as opposed to, "oh, your friend Sam only works with auto loans--if you want to open a checking account you'll have to talk to Cindy.") Bureaucratic banking?segfaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14824952920552637135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-8802766942279123582007-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:00@6:35Jewish, that's why he'll just run to Isreal@6:35<BR/>Jewish, that's why he'll just run to IsrealAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-49239789713278434292007-03-02T19:22:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:22:00.000-08:00I was hoping this would be a BDSM thread.I was hoping this would be a BDSM thread.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com