Winter? Not so far

Winter is a bit slow in coming to Moscow this year.

A third of the winter month of December is behind us already but the weather is in the plus range and there's almost know snow.

Nothing like what it was, say, in January of last year (2014) as I captured in these pictures.

Irn-Bru in Moscow

Irn-Bru in Moscow.

Scotland's other national drink has a heavy presence in Russia... 2l bottles.

Not all countries get Irn-Bru, in others, you can only find it in selected stores, in some others it is apparently banned altogether but in Russia we get plenty of it, certainly in Moscow. And no diet stuff either.

Paints the inside of your mug and you orange.

 This stuff even helps you fight ebola.... 0.5l bottles.

About Watch Water Resistance Ratings

Here's a look at some water resistance marks on some of my watches.

According to Wikipedia, Water Resistant is a common mark stamped on the back of wrist watches to indicate how well a watch is sealed against the ingress of water. 

Any water resistance mark is better than none. One assumes that, if there is no such mark, the watch is not "sealed against the ingress of water", with most watches being in this category even now which is especially true for so called "smart watches".

It has to be said though that the whole water resistance mark thing in watches had resisted standardization for a long time until some recent past, and some claims of water resistance had to be taken with skepticism but now there are at least two ISO standards dealing with the matter, though they are not universally applied, even in this day and age.

Watches from the Soviet and now Russian periods may continue to use non-standard water resistance marks. Here is a look at such marks and what they mean on the example of some of my own watches.

This Slava 3050 says Водонепроницаемые on the back which literally means "water-proof" as in "impermeable to water". But in reality it at best corresponds to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

Two Zaria 3105.01 moon phase watches. The water resistance mark here says Водозащищенные which literally means "water protected" and in actual fact probably means same as above - Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving. 

However, I should note that the back on those Zarias is very tight requiring a watchmaker's press to snap it back after you open it and there is also a rubber seal and some water repellent lubricant in the crown stem assembly. You could probably take a shower wearing it with no consequences.

Komandirskie 2416b above. Says Водонепроницаемые as in Slava 3050 above. But in this case I am willing to bet it corresponds to at least Water Resistant 5 ATM or 50 m, that is, suitable for swimming, white water rafting, non-snorkeling water related work, and fishing but NOT suitable for diving.

I showered with it on once myself no problem, except it's not good for the pressed leather strap, even though it is supposed to be water repellent treated. 

Slava 2416 Flotskie, above. Marine-themed, as Flotskie means of, or pertaining to, Fleet or Navy. The water resistant mark here says Повышенная водозащита which means "increased water protection" and there's a picture of a cute little dolphin for good measure on the back. Water born- and sea-dwelling creatures are often used to indicate water protection and not only in Russian watches.

In this case we have also only basic water resistance as in Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only.

My Sturmanskie Strela 3133 Volmax mech chrono. Says Водонепроницаемые 30м, that is, exactly this: Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, meaning splash/rain resistant only, and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly NOT suitable for diving. 

Also it is a mechanical pusher-operated chronograph and mechanical chronographs and water typically don't mix in any combination with few exceptions. 

A whole bunch of three Vostok Amphibias. These are the most water resistant Russian watches (second only to military spec Zlatoust divers). The back says Водонепроницаемые 200 м, i.e. Water Resistant 20 ATM or 200 m, meaning suitable for professional marine activity, serious surface water sports and skin diving and suitable for skin diving. Some even claim that they are more than that and can be used as professional divers but I have my doubts.

My experience, however, suggests these watches are good for a hot tub, sauna, steam bath, swimming pool -- used them in all of those places with no ill effect at least in the immediate aftermath. Though I replace them after about 3-4 years of use but never service.

And here's a bonus - my Seiko 5 cal. 7s26 of 2001 vintage below. The water mark here is again the non-standard WP probably meaning "water protected" - the most basic water protection offered by Seiko probably again corresponding to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

Luch 1992 Travel Clock, Mechanical with Electronic Alarm - Дорожные часы "Луч" 1992

V V Brown - Shark In The Water

Fury Beats Klitschko

Klitschko was of course well beaten by Fury on the weekend.

Klitschko basically handed over all his belts to Fury, below in Russian and Ukrainian.

Prior to that Fury's only claim to fame was that he once nearly managed to knock himself out.

What type of chronograph is best for you

Me, the Poljot 3133 and the ST19xx / TY29xx are my favorites.

Bicycle in the Night

From my photography blog: a lonely bicycle in the night and in some fog as well.

That's not smoke, that's fog below... and it can only be seen in the light of the camera flash when it's fired... which also kinda proves that full beam headlights won't be of much help in the fog, you'd be better off cutting the lights off altogether -- the closest practical thing to which during the night is using dipped headlights.

The below picture is taken just after the one above but without the flash. Note the stark difference.

A rural train station at night. Scary, no?

Monument to Dostoevsky

To continue with my Monuments of Moscow series, here is Moscow's monument to author Dostoevsky in my rather fuzzy pictures.

Dostoevsky and some doves.

I think I made these photos about a year ago when I also witnessed this movie shoot and some classic cars - it was at the same location.

The monument is in front of the State Library which used to be known officially, and still known very much unofficially, as the Lenin Library.

2015 CRI QSL Card Plus Extras

As I promised in this entry on the QSL card that I got from World Harvest Radio, here is one from China Radio International (CRI) which I got even before the other one.

I listened to some CRI broadcasts using my Grundig Yacht Boy 80 on September 27, 2015, and on the basis of that session decided to submit a report.
 

As I didn't find a reception report submit section on the CRI website, I just sent them an e-mail and it worked and there was even a little conversation including some mild argument about whether I reported correct times for my receptions. 

I just used a reception report form that I found online. 

This is the envelope that my CRI QSL card came in. 

In fact, the envelope contained not just a requested QSL card but a nice little bundle of other goodies.

A QSL card, a CRI sticker (I asked for one too) and three curious things like paper appliques figures or something. Must be traditional Chinese, nice too.

CRI sticker.

The CRI sticker reverse.

A QSL card from China Radio International.

It features China's rare endangered animals which are in this case the Saiga, I think.

Koutouzoff's soviet watches: 1 MChZ Glashütte-based Tutima

Koutouzoff's soviet watches: 1 MChZ Glashütte-based Tutima

QSL from World Harvest Radio

I received a QSL card from World Harvest Radio International!

As I reported in this entry on this blog, on September 27, 2015 at 00.00 UTC at a location 100 km north of Moscow, I was able to tune in to a WHRI broadcast on my Grundig Yacht Boy 80 portable shortwave receiver and got a pretty good reception as far as shortwaves go.

On October 3, I found their website and submitted my report using a form on the website... and earlier this week I got this nice QSL card in my mail box! 

2015 happens to be WHRI's 30th anniversary too.

Electronika 53V x 2

An Electronika 53V old-school electronic watch from my collection.

The letter "V" means it's water resistant.  

In fact, I already mentioned it once on this blog in this post: Summer mode.

And now a more detailed entry with photos... photos may be a bit dark but they are all I've got.

I have two of them. 

One of them has a characteristic plastic strap attached -- I am not sure it is a good idea to dis-attach it ever again (for instance, to facilitate battery replacement).  

The other one is separate from the strap yet. 

It is in a little clear plastic bag, plus a manual and the strap which you attach yourself..

The case shows names of the world oceans in Russian. 

It also says "water impervious" but the Electronika 53V is by no means a diver's watch, more like 30 atm protection, that is, against splashes, maybe, some running water.

The reverse side. 

No openings on the back side.

You do everything through the "face", such as battery replacement which I am going to show in photos now.

Luch 1992 Travel Clock