February 9, 2004

Story This is about the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in years. “The guards at the door packed M-16 rifles and the mid-show entertainment was a trio rapping about suicide bombers blowing up coffee shops. But on the runway, 20 young women in sizzling swimsuits and high-heeled black boots strutted their blow-dried manes and lithe…

Today is your last opportunity to vote for me in The Guardian’s political blog awards. Follow this link and send them an email with Yorkshire Ranter in the subject line before the end of today. Thanks in advance.

Alive But Dead – PRAVDA On the Russian theme, here’s a report into a woman who suddenly discovered that she was legally dead: Tatyana was so naïve when she believed she would be soon rehabilitated as living. Indeed, she was alive and still held her passport. However, as she realized later, once dead one can…

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Russia election candidate missing Ivan Rybkin, an opposition candidate in the Russian presidential elections, has disappeared a few days after his campaign ran a full-page ad in the Kommersant accusing Vladimir Putin of being in the pocket of big business. In a further attack, he gave an interview…