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MOSCOW – If you want an air conditioner in Moscow, you’re too late.
Russia’s heat wave is almost one month old, and is showing no signs of letting up. Having lived extensively in New York and the Middle East, temperatures hovering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit are nothing strange for me, but it’s a different experience in Moscow.
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The toughest part may be the scarcity of air-conditioning here, especially in residential homes. Maybe I should count myself lucky that the heat wave has coincided with the annual two-week hot water shut-off in my building (so that the utility company can do repairs on the pipes), as a freezing cold bath seems to be the only way to cool down at the end of the day.
Air conditioner suppliers caught by surprise by the high temperatures have run out of stock, and home appliance stores have back-orders of up to three weeks (two companies declined our request to film people looking for air-conditioners in their stores because they didn’t want us to show empty shelves).
Even though most of my friends back in the U.S. are knowledgeable enough not to ask me anymore if it snows in Moscow in the summer, the heat wave has still taken some tourists by surprise.
"We knew it was hot, but we didn’t expect it to be this miserably hot," said Doak Simpson, a 48-year-old Motorola employee from Miami visiting Moscow with his family. "We’re from the land of air-conditioning. You can get out of it, and here there’s just no escaping it."
Swimming – for better or worse
Muscovites still do a pretty good job of escaping it, though. Any part of Moscow that has water – fountains, the river, even barge canals – has been full of people swimming and sunbathing.
But the Russian Emergency Ministry’s web site shows perhaps the harshest measure of the heat wave: the death toll. Over 2,000 people have drowned in Russia since June 1. And this past Monday broke an unfortunate record: 71 people drowned in a 24-hour period.
According to Vadim Seryogin, a ministry official, many of the cases are due to people swimming while drunk.
"Of course, it’s good to swim during such hot days," said Kseniya Kurus, a 19-year-old international law student, when told about the grim statistics. "But we shouldn’t drink alcohol during the summer. It’s dangerous."
EPA/Yuri Kochetkov
Young Muscovites find some relief from the sweltering heat in a fountain at the All-Russian Exhibition Center in Moscow, Russia, on Friday.
And there’s no relief in sight. Forecasts predict the coming week to potentially break Moscow’s record of 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
And the heat goes beyond Moscow – it has also slammed Russia’s farmland with a crippling drought. Twenty-three grain-producing regions have declared a state of emergency and the Russian Grain Union reported that the drought has destroyed over 22 million acres of crops. Some forecasts see agricultural and farming losses by year-end topping $1 billion.
Lying on a grassy bank after a swim in a canal, a group of students told me they’d had enough.
"It’s been good, but we don’t need a whole month of this," said 20-year-old Igor Alexeyev. "It would be better to have two weeks on, two weeks off. Or even just hot weather every other day."
Leave a Comment:
80% of Russians are constantly drunk. That's one big drunk country.
I should move there, just think how quick you could advance in your career and not to mention doing the Lady's
LOL!
Doing the Lady's what?
At least Hell with have A.C. for the privilaged
At least hell will have A.C.
Drunks and water don't mix well. Drunks don't mix with many things.
Will any Western newspaper or website ever write anything good about Russia? Are you really afraid of Russians THAT much?
No, because they suck! They're the worst ethnic group amongst the white race
Who said we are afraid? Nothing to be afraid of, at all. Have another drink!
How is this a negative article? This could have been written about many US towns/cities that are not used to hot temperatures. In my town, fans and air conditioners fly off the shelves and it's impossible to find them if we experience a heat wave. It's not common to have air conditioners in homes around here, so a heat wave is tough. We too have hot weather warnings about swimming and drownings occur. I didn't see anything in that article that was negative towards Russians. I found the video interesting-I saw average people, families, kids, teenagers trying to stay cool. I saw people dressed in a variety of styles and colors similar to what you'd see in any US city. The shots of the city showed what appeared to be clean, well kept areas. I saw some historical statues and interesting buildings. If anything, it would make me want to come to Moscow and visit-although not in a heat wave.
No. It's just that there is nothing good to say about that country. I lived there for half of my life, and can't think of a single good thing, except my youth.
-Which proves my point exactly, uncle Sam. Anglo-Saxon megalomaniacs (and some of their friends, originally from the Middle East) who comprise 6% of the world's elite -any competition you are really dreadful of, aren't you? At least the Russians did not wipe out the entire races off the face of the earth, when they conquered some place.
It's Aunt Sam to you and even Ellen said she lived there half of her life and there is NOTHING good to say. Oh and trust me pal - a competition requires a match and they my friend are no match. There is nothing wrong with being a patriot for your country. I love the United States with all my heart and with all the bad in this country we're still awesome and the most desired to live in. God DOES bless America and maybe he'd bless Russia to if those people had faith. But again, they don't and that's another reason why those shady people suck. They even have Shi%#ty spies. LOL
Well, since when does the news have anything positive to say about anything?
In soviet Russia, air conditions you!
The reporter did not put it right. AC is not a privilege, it is was never necessary. People are used to short and cool summers in Moscow and don't expect tropical heat that they are getting now.
That's correct - typical Moscow summers are very mild. I've been there many times and can attest to that
It seems like there's record heat everywhere. Is anyone else concerned about global warming or is this just an anomaly?
Actually central Cali, while hot, has been about average, even mild at times, for July. If its not over 100, its not that bad.
@ Mr. Miller ... we're waiting for Russia to do something good before writing it :)
Dam Skippy brother!!!!
In defense of Russia they do have added value to the world:
Russian Standard Vodka
Jewel of Russia Vodka
Hard to make a case for global warming in Russia in the middle of winter.
Air conditioning is for the privileged in a lot of places.....what this means is if you have the money you install it even if it's only used a couple of times a year.
"Hard to make a case for global warming in Russia in the middle of winter"
Try googling what global warming actually does before spouting that non-sense.
That announcer should know it's pronounced "mossko". There is no cow in moscow; there is no noise in Illinois.
the temperature where i am at this very moment is 94 with a heat index of 105. i live in kentucky. people here aren't used to this kind of heat and humidity, and it's a pretty well known fact that this weather is dangerous for anyone. i thought that as human beings we were all born with a certain amount of common sense, and that anyone using their god given common sense knows that caution should ALWAYS be used when swimming. if this is such a big problem, then how hard would it be for russia's media outlets to warn the public that it's not only important to stay cool, but that it's important to be safe while doing it? alcohol and swimming really don't mix unless there's a sober babysitter, more reasonably, for safety's sake they don't mix at all.
Agreed - but they're a bunch of drunks and even if the media outlets said that, they'd hear it drunk and not take the advice anyway
Sam -665517 - You are a big american Idiot who propagates hate and who did not a learn a lesson from the world's past.
Russia is a very great country.Respect is something you do not know when dealing with any people. You are so pathetic in your old fashoined political views my poor friend with no sense of reality.
Pardon me, aunt with a male first name, it seems to me you are the one, not God, who is attempting to distribute the blessings? -is this another characteristic of your type of white race, by chance? You also seem to be one of the ones "chosen" on earth who happen to "have faith". None of those "inferior" peoples have it, right?
I just reread your post - I am not Jewish either but nice try at guessing about me. Samantha is my name. Face it, you criticized Westerners and Im defending us. You seemed threatened - possibly you're Russian or the last kid picked for the kickball team obviously. And who is the elitest. Your comments are the one casting a finger and 'WE' were megalomaniacs. And what are you.... the enlightened one? Save your crap you socialist. Your the biggest megalomaniac on this Board. YOu're just pissed because you're probably poor. Who cares, majority of us are poor too but we're not mad at our fellow country man like you.
LOL I m not even white you retard
For those who look down on Russia, keep in mind they lost 20m people in WWII and they were really the major player (not munitions supplier) in Europe (that's after Hitler betrayed the non-agression pact Salin signed).
Oh, you're green! I got it. How could I not guessed... You're the one who brought race into the conversation: "No, because they (Russians) suck! They're the worst ethnic group amongst the white race" and you are the one writing insults based on your assumptions. I understand that all you do is listen to Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity all day. But apparently, when it comes to Russians, not only the so called "conservatives", but even MSN can not contain the hatred and fear. Take a plunge in a cold river aunt, will you? And then, perhaps go to the air-conditioned public library and read some books. They didn't teach you much in school. TV and internet is bad for you. I'm really sorry about it.
HA HA! Your good and mad now aren't you Rusky. I called you a socialist, not a democrat. You must be that too with the defense mechanism of spouting off about the right. I know Im dumb and Russians know it all. I got a great idea - take your a@@ back there - oh, maybe you're one of the spies that didn't get rounded up. And yes, whether you are right or left or whatever your political affiliation is - we still know Russians suck. I think they could be a great nations, but face it, they're too wasted and green....with jealousy.
How about we drop both John and Sam off on a deserted island, let them take each other out and save the rest of us decent people from their childish bickering. Vote for this one folks, it's good for all of us!
Jeff
I call bs to global warming until you have proof don't tell me to google it. There are as many arguments against as for so bs.
And again - NO ONE IS SCARED OF RUSSIA DUDE! Where are you getting that.
aint there a reason why the US wana be allies wit Russia?? to keep peace between them?? dont tell me that nobody scared of russians russia and iran and korea are allies, the 3 MOST ARMED countries of the world, armed to the teeth!!!! ... russians have so many weapons and they keep creating missiles that cant be shot down, buying huge army ships.... for what?? who can answer that one for me?? its common sense all yal hatin a$$ ppl, get a grip on urself, its easy to talk $hit on the internet, hiding behind your computer talkin about russians, i bet u wouldnt be able to look me in the eye if u saw me, not to mention something about russians bein "stupid or dumb" everybody scared of russians, Putin lifted that country from the complete dust, and now private armies all over the place?? get a grip on urself sam .. think about it then post somethin smart or dont put ur opinion nowhere online, we dont wana hear u whining about somethin cuz you jealous or racist
Sam-665517 I wonder how many Russians do you know
love the pic! Sure hope they can keep cool.
Me thinks Sam is a racist. She categorises Russians as the worse of the "whiteys".
Has a abusive when John correctly pointed out her faults and unlike John, cannot articulate.
Like the many millions on the Internet wants to tell everybody, anybody that will listen to her, watch her shrill.
I just read an article that Astronomers have discovered over a 100 Earth like planets, I am so depressed !
Sorry folks, I also cannot articulate, my second sentence should have read "Is abusive" instead of "Has a abusive".