KZBlog is going down (2)
After some thought, I have decided not to renew KZBLog’s lease. As you may have noticed, I don’t do a lot of posting here anymore. I don’t have time to blog regularly. Thus I am taking the site down–it does generate some ad revenue but not as much as it costs to keep it up. […]
Culture
- Yurts Are High Fashion and Slum Fashion Too
2011-12-05 - Apples, Sure. But THC is from Kazakhstan too?
2011-10-05 - Naked Man Pot
2011-09-23
- Yurts Are High Fashion and Slum Fashion Too
Resources
- Oh, CNN
2012-07-21 - What Do You Know About Kazakhstan?
2012-07-19 - Books for Kazakh Students
2011-11-06
- Oh, CNN
Politics
- Image
2011-07-28 - Sub Rosa Endorsement
2011-07-26 - The Naked Truth
2011-06-12
- Image
News
- KZBlog is going down
2013-09-10 - Oh, CNN
2012-07-21 - Repentence
2012-07-15
- KZBlog is going down
Fun
- What Do You Know About Kazakhstan?
2012-07-19 - Yurts Are High Fashion and Slum Fashion Too
2011-12-05 - House Hunters Bishkek
2011-12-02
- What Do You Know About Kazakhstan?
Tourism
- Asian Games Torch
2011-01-12 - Wikitravel
2010-08-07 - ALZHIR, the Soviets and Democracy
2010-07-30
- Asian Games Torch
Life in KZ
- Photo Gallery: Almaty Subway
2011-12-07 - Healthcare and the Private Sector
2011-11-30 - Naked Man Pot
2011-09-23
- Photo Gallery: Almaty Subway
Redbubble
Check out: http://twitthis.com… (Comments Off on Check out: http://twitthis.com…)
Check out: http://twitthis.com/8jp63b
RT @CooleyOnEurasia: #Kyrgyzst… (Comments Off on RT @CooleyOnEurasia: #Kyrgyzst…)
RT @CooleyOnEurasia: #Kyrgyzstan Russia and CA neighbors pressured the IG drop plans for a pure parliament system. Not a good precedent!
Mashina Vremeni (3)
We were lucky enough to score tickets to the Mashina Vremeni concert in Astana on Thursday. Mashina Vremeni is one of the classic Russian rock bands. The concert tour was titled “We are 40 Years Old” but they pointed out that the tour started last year so actually they are 41 years old. I don’t know how they got ahold of Western rock in the Soviet Union in 1969 but the influences of the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, and Pink Floyd are clear. Now they ARE the Stones, Pink Floyd, and Grateful Dead of the former Soviet Union. Along with CHAIF, DDT and a handful of other bands, they are really the only rock and roll you can find in these parts. Especially in the modern era, where most bands are referred to as projects i.e. investments, it’s refreshing to know that talented bands who actually create music and play it for fun still exist. 
And Mashina Vremeni is a fun band to see live. They play around on stage. The guitarist, Margulis, often looked up at the video screen and mugged at the audience when he saw himself. Kutikov had fun encouraging the audience to clap, snap and sing along and I think Makarevich smiled 60% of the time. They were playing with a trumpet player/percussionist/back-up singer who did a fair amount of playing around with Margulis and the other band members. Overall it looked like they were having a great time which was contagious. I’m not overly familiar with their songs–the language barrier and the fact that radio time usually goes to pop projects make it a bit difficult–but I’ve tried to put together a partial set list, and if anyone else was there, please feel free to comment and add songs:
Кастёр
Улетай
Мой друг
Марионетки
За тех, кто в море
Шанхай блюз
Эти веки нечиво не хлынуть (I think that’s what it was called; it was a new song and really, really good!)
Encore:
Однажды мир прогнётся под нас
Поворот
RT @EurasiaNet: via 24.kg Is K… (Comments Off on RT @EurasiaNet: via 24.kg Is K…)
RT @EurasiaNet: via 24.kg Is KZ shielding Bakiyev,’s family and why isn’t border open? http://bit.ly/a2LmNm
Astana Racer Works And I’m Glad it Does (3)
My Kazakhmobile in front of Sports Center Kazakhstan
I defamed the creators of Astana Racer. After Chris Merriman, who knows a lot more about computers than I ever will, commented about video drivers, I decided that I better double check even though Windows said there was no new driver. As it turns out, ATI video card drivers don’t get updated by ATI for some complicated reasons. In short, if you have an ATI card with a driver that’s a few years old, check out this mod tool. Worked great for me and I haven’t seen any junk installed yet (except a link to a World of Warcraft free trial easily deleted).
Astana Racer now works very well. And a lot of features that I said were missing are not in fact missing at all. When you go to modify your car, it does indicate which engine parts you already have as well as how the parts will affect your car’s performance. I think the interface could be a little more user-friendly, but you can figure it out. In the tuning section, an open box means you have that part. If the box is red, you don’t have enough money to buy it. The parts are still numbered rather than named, and at least on my monitor, I can’t see how much something costs I have to buy it first, then see how much money was subtracted.
I would also say that the pricing system needs some improvement. When you start you have 10 000 dollars (I assume, actually another issue is that money doesn’t have any units in the game so I’m not sure if it’s dollars or gold or points or Euros, a small detail but wouldn’t have been hard to add in). You can buy a Shelby for 5000 or a BMW for 10 000. You can’t see any cars that you can’t afford so you don’t know how many other cars are out there or what they cost. So far in addition, I’ve had access to a Subaru Impreza at 15 000 and a Toyota Camry at 20 000. Can’t wait to see what happens at 25 000. Considering each race wins you either 3000 or 1000 (if it’s a drag race), it doesn’t take long to be able to afford a new car.
The parts seem to be quite cheap. I was able to trick out my Shelby and buy a BMW and Subaru after winning about 12 races–including doing over the shorter ones several times. I don’t know if parts for more advanced cars cost more or what, but I hope so. Otherwise, I’ll fill my garage in no time.
One nice feature of the game is that there are different kinds of races. The first race is a pretty straightforward 3 laps around the Left Bank. Race two however is a short and sweet drag race, so you have to master shifting (This is also a good way to pick up extra money–you only get 1000 for each win, but you can play 10 times in a row and get a chunk of change). Another race features sharp turns and you have to get fairly aggressive about ramming the other cars to have a chance of winning. It might be nice to have other challenges such as a straight on crash fest, or a timed lap or something, but I’m not bored. There is no prize for second place however, so you have to win to get any cash. And yes, if you win a race in career mode, it is then unlocked in Quick Race mode so you aren’t stuck doing the first race over and over again.
Another nice touch is that it is fairly hard to crash your car in such a way that it will not drive anymore. There’s only one point, on the bridge, where I was stuck up on a barrier so my wheels weren’t touching the ground and I had to start the race over. But other than that, if you crash, you can keep on racing.
One new problem I have now is that it appears that there are random barriers occasionally in the middle of the road. Sometimes I am driving and notice that the car screeches and everything slows down a bit, as if I have crashed. But there’s nothing there. It’s possible that that’s my slower processor and the game is reacting to something I did earlier, but it does seem as if they have accidentally put an invisible barrier in the road.
There’s some diversity to the race courses too, though not much. The first 4 or 5 of races takes place near Kazakhstan Sports Complex and the Ministry of the Interior and two of them are basically the same course with one hairpin turn taken out. The next set of races moves you to the train station, and again two of the races have very similar courses. The third set takes you to Samal (by far the most beautiful course with almost every building recreated faithfully) and all the races are basically the same course with some turns included or excluded (and sometimes you have to go in the opposite direction i.e. up Bararyeva instead of down it. Still, I’d like to have seen some more diversity in courses. Even if it meant a sacrifice in faithfully reproduction of each building on the course to save memory.
One other issue is that in some races, you can be driving around and suddenly it shows you in last place. If it the completion meter showed you had covered 67% of the race, suddenly it drops to 19%. This is extremely frustrating, especially as the cure seems to be following another driver and not getting too far ahead or behind. Makes it a bit harder to win. Still overall the game is fun to play, the graphics are great and I do sometimes just drive around looking at the different monuments. It’s kind of fun guessing where you can go off-road and where you can’t. I would definitely recommend Astana Racer. Even if you do just download it illegally.
Leader of the Nation Law Passes Senate (4)
The Senate did not debate the amendments to the law that will give Nazarbayev the status of Leader of the Nation. The law now goes on to the President himself who can veto it or sign it into law–or send it to the Constitutional Council to ensure that the law is in accordance with the Constitution. Whether he will approve the law or not is anyone’s guess. In the past he has vetoed similar proposals that glorify the President and there are rumors that from time to time these laws are proposed specifically so that he can turn it down and prove that he is a democrat at heart.
Different aspects of this law seem to be discussed in different places, but Zakon.kz[RU] reprinting a report from Khabar gives the following list. If anyone knows where to find the full text of this law, please do let me know.
- The First President of Kazakhstan will be given the title, “Leader of the Nation” (Елбасының in Kazakh)
- He cannot be arrested, detained or investigated for any criminal or civil charges related to his actions as President, during his time as President and after leaving the office.
- Attempting to assassinate the first President is classified as an act of terrorism
- Foreign and domestic policies and initiatives are subject to the approval of the first President, which some sources are claiming means that even after he steps down as President he will still have veto power over all laws but again I would like to see the original text of the law before going that far. RFERL reports that Nazarbayev already has veto power over future laws anyway.
- It will be a crime to deface images of him, insult him publicly or distort biographical facts about him.
- The property of the President and any family members residing with him cannot be confiscated for any reason, so it’s too bad for Rakhat Aliyev that this law was not passed earlier.
- The amendments also recommend establishing a Museum of the First President, even though there already is one in the old Administration Building in Astana, and putting a bust of Nazarbayev in the capital.
The law was proposed on May 5th in a speech made in Parliament outside the agenda of that day’s work. On May 12th it passed the lower house and on May 13th, it passed the Senate, making it one of the fastest laws to be passed in the nation’s history.
As to why this law is being proposed, some sources claim that it is in reaction to the recent revolution in Kyrgyzstan. Others believe that Nazarbayev is preparing to step down and this law will clear the way for him to do so without losing influence or being subject to prosecution. Finally, some experts believe that the Kazakhgate trial, involving allegations that the President received bribes in exchange for oil contracts, is reaching a head and these amendments will protect Nazarbayev from prosecution.
Personally, I was most troubled by the reports that this law would apply to his family. If true, I’m not sure I can agree with a law that protects ordinary, unelected civilians so thoroughly. I also worry about what demands the second President will make if such a precedent is established. And further I don’t understand why these amendments seem to repeat already existing laws in so many places.
What do you think of this law, dear readers?
Pictures of the UFO Last Year (3)
Update on: UFO in Kazakhstan which does appear to be the real deal in so far as something did fall. Whether it was a UFO or not, I couldn’t say.
Still no new information but we do have some pictures, including pictures that seem to come from official news agencies.
Thanks to Above Top Secret for the links to the pictures and thanks to Alex for reminding me to follow up on this story. Even at the risk of being the UFOs in Kazakhstan blog!
Does anyone have any follow ups on these objects that fell in Zelenosk last year? It’s been exactly one year, I believe.
Is immunity from prosecution o… (Comments Off on Is immunity from prosecution o…)
Is immunity from prosecution or that no one can touch his property also democratic? Protections for his family (who are not govt officials)?
OK, if he says so I’m convince… (Comments Off on OK, if he says so I’m convince…)
OK, if he says so I’m convinced RT @gazetakz_en: Making President “Leader of the Nation” does not contradict democracy http://bit.ly/arMu63
Kazakhbashi Bill Passes Lower House (1)
The Lower House of Parliament, the Mazhilis has approved two laws that would title Nazarbayev “Leader of the Nation” and give him legal immunity. His property and the property of his family are also deemed inviolable according to KazInform.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty pointed out in an earlier article that Nazarbayev is already free from prosecution, so it isn’t clear what this new law will add to that.
While some international organizations have condemned the law, the OSCE is for the moment silent.
RIA Novosti is claiming that defacing pictures of the President will be illegal under the new law but 1) I’m not sure RI Novosti is the most reliable source of news and 2) A law already exists banning humiliating or degrading the First President. Last year Parliament also passed amendments that gave Nazarbayev the power to run for President as many times as he likes.
The law will move on to the Senate.
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