Dimi,

left a message for Antonio on the other site.
Loved the joke about the Atheist.

Ah Fred, I wasn't consulted on that one for obvious reasons.

Kim

In Memory of beloved Antonio RIP...

JESUS WAS JEWISH:
>1. He went into His Father's business
>2. He lived at home until he was 33
>3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin, and his Mother was sure he was God.

But then there were equally good arguments that....

JESUS WAS BLACK:
>1. He called everybody "brother"
>2. He liked Gospel
>3. He couldn't get a fair trial.

But then there were equally good arguments that....

JESUS WAS MEXICAN:
>1. His first name was Jesus
>2. He was bilingual
>3. He was always being harassed by the authorities

But perhaps the most compelling evidence.....

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS A WOMAN:
>1. He had to feed a crowd at a moment's notice when there
> was no food
>2. He kept trying to get the message across to a bunch of
> men who just didn't get it
>3. Even when He was dead, He had to get up because there
> was more work to do.....

P.S. Some of us may believe that J-man was....Irish, cuz:
1. He never got married
2. He was always telling stories
3. He loved green pastures

P.P.S. BUT.........us Californians are more than convinced that...

JESUS WAS CALIFORNIAN:
1. He never cut his hair
2. He walked around barefoot
3. He started a new religion

By Chorny Volk ( - 149.99.72.250) on Thursday, July 27, 2000 - 08:12 am:
Mary I am very surprised they let him go.I know that Gazprom had to cover his debts so at worst he is unethical because since they co signed his loan of 1.2 billion that money came out the public's money.In the meantime he funneled his money out of the country.

---

The reasons for the Russian government releasing Gusinski are certainly open for speculation. It is also possible that the case was dropped in exchange for support from the college of oligarchs. Sounds like the Putin is dealing and manuevering and he appears unable to mount a sustained frontal assault. His tactics thus far seems to indicate that he lights everyone up in the beginning to show what he is capable of doing, and then backs off when the targets agree to do business. The in-your-face-and-out approach.
Putin does not seem like a corrupt politician, but does seem like a man moving in a particular direction.

Kim,

Yeah some antonios don't give up..heh.

BTW, I thought Kim was RIP? Are you the real Jesus, cheri?
[grin]

Hairy,

Reuters (today)

" Dropping the case against Gusinsky was certain to ease pressure on Putin from the West, where the media magnate's brief detention last month generated a storm of criticism and questions about the president's commitment to a free press."

One more reason for Gusinski's release.

BTW good news for him and Russia today.
____________________

In Chechenya, it seems to go heated again.
" But a general (I.Sergeyev) vowed the 10-month-old military offensive was coming
to an end despite the fact that Russian troops have come under increasing rebel fire."

This means the war is far from over. They will fight till the end of the next winter when the russian air force will have the upper hand again.

Dima,
good one on Jesus, haha!

Thanx, Fred..not my invention though.