Here are some Moscow base jump vids from Youtube. The video above is my favorite. These guys just walk into the library of the Moscow Universtity on the 21st floor. The ones of you who know Moscow, know that this is one of the “7 Sisters”, the Stalin high rise buildings, built in the 50s. Where was I? Ah, they walk into the library, say a polite Hello to some woman who is there and then the first guy jumps out of the window. The second guy, who films, says a polite “Good Bye”, checks the wind and jumps as well. Its just great! I wonder how they got on and off the campus, since that is highly guarded and your bags are checked when you get in. You won’t make it in, if you are not a student anyway. Good one.

Europe received a lot of snow this week. what had caused a “snow chaos” in Germany is just business as usual for the Moscovite drivers. Of course things went kinda slow last night and this morning in rush hour, but even though the snow comes early this year, Moscovites are prepared and its not at all chaotic. Maybe they are not that bad drivers at all? (see next article below).

This is the second large snowfall, we receive this season. Its all a bit early, cutting out most of the wet cold snow/rain weather, which is usual for this season, but nobody is unhappy about it. For me, these first snowfalls, especially when it dumps a few centimeters like last night, remind me very much of my childhood in Bavaria. I love the snow and the first dump was always a pleasurable moment. For some reason it still puts a long lasting smile on my face :-) even though im am not in a small Bavarian village, but in a metropol.

I guess its because this snow just makes everything look better. Moscow looks much brighter, much cleaner and much more mysterious. Almost like in a farytale. Its just too bad, that the clean white very soon will turn into some black-brownish something and eventually become wet dirty slush.

I just found some Moscow car crash videos on Youtube. Most of them are from surveillance cameras. Moscow traffic is cracy in times and people drive totally respectless for the other. Have a look and be stunned about the bluntness of Moscow drivers.

BTW: If you are a Moscovite and got as acustomed to the driving here as I did, then be careful. The rules have recently changed and lawmakers increased the fines. Among many things you can now be fined for not wearing a seatbelt, using the cellphone while driving (yes, I know, sounds like an early 80’s law in Europe or the US) and not stopping at a crosswalk to let pedestrians pass. Speeding and going against a one way street or going on a walkway (all usual things here) will also be fined higher now.

So, will it help? I doubt it. The problem is a mix of the bad driving culture, respectless behaviour to the others and the fast growing amount of new (fast) cars. The cops will just put a bit more bribery money in their pockets and let the people go as usual? A Duma (parliament) member recently said in an interview that he doesn’t care who gets the money, the Russian government or the policemen, as long as it hurts the driver and he starts to behave better. Fines below $100 are probably o low for Moscovites, but what can you do. Its a federal law and this amount is a lot of money outside of Moscow, while here its just some pocket money for many of the Moscovites.

Have a look yourself. This is what I found on You Tube

That leaves me with wishing you luck. Please be careful and remember what my Mom always used to say: “Its not you who is driving bad and causing the accident. Its the others. They are idiots and always expect one of them to come around the next corner. Be prepared.”. So? Still not wearing your seatbelt after you have seen this?

Being a former New Yorker I have a lot of Japanese friends. These guys run the coolest design stores in SoHo and one of my friends is a killer Drum & Bass DJ, a friend of Makoto and now a famous Tokyo club promoter. Takeya used to rock our NYC parties. I always wanted to go see Tokyo, but never made it so far. I guess its just too far away from my regular travelling routes to Europe and the US. Damn, probably I should take a vacation and the time to see and experience it. Especially the Tokyo club scene.

For all of you who feel like me, but are stuck in Moscow (with this terrible weather), there is a chance to see one of Japans most famous Hip Hop acts next Thursday (Oct. 25th) at Solyanka and Friday (Oct. 26th) at Simachevs. Of course DJ Baku wouldn’t call himself like that, since the Japanese are world champions in understatement. What a contrast to Moscow. Alone for that reason I will go see the guy :-)

Well, I am not a promoter and I am not just copying a press release (as other sites), stating what kind of things Baku has done and achieved in the past years. If you are into Hip Hop and Drum n Bass, go see DJ Baku. Take my word for it, its going to be good.

Dates:

Thursday Oct. 25th @ Solyanka

DJ Baku Live Show within the regular Flammable Beats night

300 Rub Cover

Ul. Solyanka 11

Metro: Kitai Gorod

www.s-11.ru

Friday Oct 26th @ Simachevs Bar

DJ Baku Dj Set in the bar Denis Simachev (Stoleshnikov per, 12/2). Face Control

www.denissimachev.com

Metro: Teatralnaya or Tverskaya

I think you can also listen to it Friday Oct 26th on Next FM 105,2 … but nothing is as good as the real deal. This event is brought to you by the Flammable Beats guys and Fujibeats. While I am at it. Check DJ Sestra’s Live Set this Friday after 10 PM on Next FM 105,2 (straight out of Simachevs) … or go see the Low Budget Family live at Simachevs.

Yes, Winter has arrived in Moscow. A bit early this year, but I am actually grateful. One reason is that I really don’t like this rainy wet weather and I prefer the snow and cold. Another is, that I am still alive and able to see this year’s first snow. Sounds a bit dramatic you say, but I have my reasons to say what I say. No, I didn’t piss off some Mafia Boss or Oligarch (again). And nope, I didn’t almost die on alcohol poisoning or some other effect, after another night of heavy drinking and way too much Vodka at one of my favorite clubs. It was as simple as walking down the street and being hit by some falling wall from a building last night.

Yes right, just like that. Imagine how fast it can go. I have met some friends to discuss our upcoming Halloween party (Oct 27th) and I was supposed to meet another friend Zak right after. Zak has run behind schedule, so I decided to walk a little, just to get a free head, use the extra time for some thinking and feel the cold wind in my face. The wind was promising snow and I just love this kind of wind. After all I am from Bavaria. So I cross Maykovskaya, walk down Sadove. I have to make it to Pokrovka at one point and when its time I will just get a taxi. Not far from Mayakovskaya I cross the street where the famous strip club 911 used to be. I am thinking about the people who died there not so long ago, when the club started to catch fire. What a terrible death.

Its loud in that area. Sadove is loud in general. I remember the last few nights at a temp flat on Prospect Mira, where I stayed in August. It was loud there as well and I wonder how people can live so close to these streets. Its then, when a woman tumbles towards me with a bleeding head. Her son running near her, pulling on her coat, trying to stop her. She seems to want to get moving. Then there is a body guard or some sort of big guy running after her and trying to stop her as well. She seems to need medical attention, but she is in shock and seems to like to just run away from the scene. She is Asian. The blood is running from her head. I am still trying to understand what happened when I pass them and only now I see some large piece of wall laying on the sidewalk and some more pieces on the garden ring street.

The building nearby has a scaffold and it seems its being renovated. This piece of wall is huge. Its after 9 PM on Saturday night. Raining and a little windy. Nobody is working on the building that night. Probably the wind loosened some old structure and it fell. It must have just happened. The woman was lucky. I was lucky. We could have been hit by the wall. I am checking the woman, but the guard is helping her. Probably they are waiting for the ambulance. I am taking a few steps away from the scene. Who know if not more comes down from above. When I look up to check where it came from I am seeing a guy on top, trying to find out what happened and to secure whatever is left. I take a last look and move on. Nobody needs me here and I have my meeting with Zak. I walk a little more, before I take a gipsy taxi. The wind is cold tonight. Raindrops are falling on my head. It smells like snow Bavarian people in the mountains used to say. Yes, its wonderful. I like it. Its fresh. Its like a cleaning of the head. Its good to be alive. Looking forward to the next winter and some more snow.

Moscows first snow in the winter 07/08:

We are waiting for friends infront of the Lushniki stadium in Moscow. The people around us are pretty scary and everything else than normal average Russians. Heavy Metal fans from all over Russia came to see the legends of Metallica today. It has been a while since Metallica have last been in Russia. 1991 to be precise. Rumor is that something has happened on their last gig. Another rumor is that James Hetfield had some bad “hunting experience” in Siberia a few years later. None of it is true, says Robert Trujillo, their bass player. It’s all rumors. The question, why they didn’t come for such a long time still remains unanswered, though. But, the 60 000 fans are happy and forgive their idols. In return the band is grateful they all showed up. Metallica know very well, that they are nothing without their fans and that Russia has a big following. It’s one of the largest gigs we have played on this tour, they say. It’s also the final gig of this tour. After the show they’ll head back home. Exhausted from weeks of touring and many gigs like this. But there is no long rest. After a few days they’ll be back in the studio, working on their upcoming new album again.

The original name of the tour was “Sick of the studio tour 2007”, but the members of Metallica called it the family tour. They all had family members with them. Wives, children and others came along, were sightseeing in Moscow. That was also the mood in the dressing room and backstage. Calm, friendly, family like. No signs of groupies, drugs, alcohol or whatever you’d expect from a heavy metal band with their status. Instead of vodka and beers they had Red Bulls and Gatorades in the fridge. After all, most of the members are in the 40’s, which doesn’t mean they are lame, instead they are energetic and rock on stage. Metallica played a none-stop 2 ½ hour gig, kicking like they were 18 years old. Respect. I guess besides their families, Don is one of their energy sources. Don, Kirks cousin and the bands chiropractor, travels with Metallica since more than 25 years. He has seen over 200 hundred shows and he cares at them as they are his children. He makes sure, they eat the right food. They drink enough and he gives them acupuncture treatments and other therapies to keep the band fit for their gigs.

The crowd thanked Metallica in a loud roaring sound for each song. It’s amazing how much noise 60.000 people can make. It’s also amazing to be on stage and see an ocean of lighters when the band plays one of their ballads. I am not a big Heavy Metal fan and I have been on many shows in the past, but this time I have been impressed a lot. I have been impressed by the band, their very professional and always (very) friendly team. And I have been impressed by their fans, which looked mean, dark and angry outside the stadium, but once inside turned into an ocean of light and waving hands, being grateful and happy that their idols returned after such a long time and gave them this very long concert. In return Metallica played 3 long add-on sessions, before they finished up. They bowed respectfully to their crowd, promised to come back sooner next time (not in 16 years again), said Thank you and Spasibo for a (very long) last time and then rushed into their van to drive to the airport, where their jet was waiting. We gonna make a “runner”, Robert said to me just a few minutes before they left. Sorry I can’t stay longer and hang out. I would have loved to see more of Moscow. Well, come back then and come back soon. Your fans will be grateful.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica

Videos:

Sorry, the sound is aweful in most of the videos. I shot these with my digi-cam and it was just too loud for the thing.

Photos: