Reign of Terror à la Russe?

The death of Alexander Litvinenko ten days ago from radioactive polonium poisoning left me somewhat reeling at the far-reaching cruelty of the Russian government toward dissidents. Litvinenko was sure that it was the Russian government, more specifically former FSB agents that he accused as a dissident after an extensive military and intelligence service.
Litvinenko's revelations about FSB's participation in illegal assasination attempts as well as bombings of Russian homes as a scare tactic, was followed by his poisoning. Incredibly creepy - one day you're voicing your opinion and calling media attention to the injustices in your home country, the next day you go out for sushi with an Italian professor, and thirty days later you're dead. The Italian professor as well as Litvinenko's wife have also tested positive for polonium, although the doses they recieved are not life-threatening, yet possibly damaging as well. Litvinenko publicly accused the Russian government as being behind his affliction — which resulted in a media uproar in the UK and rest of Europe, and very public denial on the part of Putin's chronies. According to Wikipedia, "British authorities are investigating his death and it was reported on December 1 that scientists at the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment had traced the source of the polonium to a nuclear power plant in Russia." Damn. That's really fucking scary. After the death of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist well-known for her opposition to Putin who was shot while coming out of her elevator, dissent or oposition to Putin's regime is a risk. Now that Alexander Litvinenko is dead, his widow and the Italian he met with could also be poisoned, who the hell could be next. There are rumors that Yegor Gaidar, a former Deputy Prime Minister has been poisoned while on a visit to Ireland, and that there may be others that are currently targeted by the Russian Secret Service. Not only is it frightening, it is also happening on such a scale that suggests that Putin's government is not afraid of an international scandal or uproar. The British police are currently investigating Litvinenko's death, but although the Russian police have stated that they are conducting an investigation as well, they seem to be going at it somewhat slowly and unwillingly. Anyway, it all just kind of seems incredible to me and makes me more distrustful of the idea that Russia is now a reformed, Western country. Its history is just too violent and opressive to settle down so smoothly. The regime is establishing itself as more and more as frighteningly tyrannical and those that have a problem with the war in Chechnya or Putin's cronies are forced to shut up - one way or another.

Je veux faire du shopping

I really really really want to go shopping. We've recently gotten paid, and although it's not that much money, it felt like freaking Christmas. Yesterday we went to Carrefour, the French equivalent to a Wal-Mart, but with an extensive cheese isle and a really good deli, fishmonger, and wine section. We bought as much stuff as we could carry, forgetting the esentials like any kind of protein or mineral water. We barely made it home with all our bags after having to take the bus, walk for 20 minutes, and be home on time for the electrician. Whew. Then, I went to get my hair cut at the coiffeur next door - it took an hour of waiting and 10 minutes of washing, cutting, and styling. I didn't mind really, cause I'm trying to grow my hair out, so I just needed it thinned, naturally it grows out all thick and weird. Now it looks like a combo of Jean Seaberg, young Mia Farrow, and Mireille Mathieu - not that classy, but boy-cut chic.
But back to shopping, I made a silly wish list for things that I want, and since it's my birthday and New Year's (fuck Christmas), I may just have to get this stuff:

1. kohl eyeliner (or liquid eyeliner)
2. black eyeshadow (I'm becoming a magician's assistant)
3. perfume (i love Kenzo, but also Alien, or the new Guerlain with the terrible title of Insolence - scratch that, I could never wear anything called Insolence)
4. a cardigan - a cute one please
5. those really faded grey jeans - I still want some though
6. fingerless gloves
7. black scarf - I may have to knit that
8. nice going out shoes that are comfy (see photo) - that might take the bulk of my shopping budget, but Andre or Beryl might be where I'd look.
9. long short sleeve t-shirt to wear under sweaters, I'm thinking metallic grey and maybe another one in pink or red.
10. headband - the one I got a month ago bent and now looks really strange, like I have a misshapen head, which I do not.
11. Fraiser season 6 or 7. I'm dying for this one. I just might have to buy it and have it shipped to a friend who then will bring it overseas.

All I can say is watch out H&M, I'm a-coming.

Oh and I've had to move from the old blog site because the old title was too much of a literary reference for me to handle. Seriously, who am I kidding? Salinger? So, now there's only one reference and it's a minor poetic one at that. Granted I feel a strong affiliation with the author, but it's one of the whishful thinking kind, a silent un-realistic admiration, and an affinity for all things intricate, romantic, and a bit out of touch.

I'm switching

I've decided to switch my blog, originally entitled Raise High the Roofbeam to this one, because I prefer it. There you are.