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cryptocoinguides · 3 years

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Crypto-Currency Truths

The truth about Crypto-Currency. What to Know About Cryptocurrency. Let’s start by definition. What is cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that generally only exists electronically. There is no physical coin or bill unless you use a service that allows you to cash in cryptocurrency for a physical token. You usually exchange cryptocurrency with someone online, with your phone or computer, without using an intermediary like a bank.

Bitcoin and Ether are well-known cryptocurrencies, but there are many different cryptocurrency brands, and new ones are continuously being created. People use cryptocurrency for quick payments, to avoid transaction fees that regular banks charge, or because it offers some anonymity. Others hold cryptocurrency as an investment, hoping the value goes up. Historically, no asset has been a greater creator of long-term wealth than the stock market. Over time, stocks have generated a 7% annualized return, inclusive of dividend reinvestment and adjusted for inflation.

This suggests an investor could double their money about once every decade, which is pretty impressive. However, cryptocurrencies — digital currencies that utilize encryption to generate money and verify transactions — have left the stock market in the dust since the year began. Virtual currency investors have, in many instances, seen a lifetime’s worth of gains over the course of 11 months.

But before you consider diving into the cryptocurrency craze, here are ten facts you should know. 1. Cryptocurrencies have no fundamental backing. Unlike the U.S. dollars in your wallet or any other currency around the world, digital currencies aren’t backed by a central bank or a government.

They also have no tangible fundamental factors with which to help derive an appropriate valuation. Whereas you can look at the earnings history of a publicly trading stock to estimate its worth, or the economic performance of a country with regard to GDP growth to value a currency like a dollar, digital currencies have no direct fundamental ties.

This makes valuing cryptocurrency in a traditional sense especially difficult, if not impossible. 2. There are more than 1,300cryptocurrencies (but bitcoin is king)If you’ve been following the appreciation of virtual currencies, you’ve probably heard an awful lot about bitcoin — and with good reason. It was the first tradable cryptocurrency that was brought to market, and it currently makes up 54% of the aggregate$589 billion market cap of all cryptocurrencies.

However, it’s far from alone. There are more than1,300 other virtual currencies that investors can buy, of which over two dozen have a market cap that’s in excess of $1 billion. 3. Blockchain is where the real value liesDespite the emphasis on trading virtual currencies, it’s actually what underlies cryptocurrencies that could be particularly valuable. Blockchain technology is the infrastructure that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are founded on.

It’s a digital and decentralized ledger that records payment and transfers transactions in a safe and efficient manner. It’s also the big reason why big businesses are so excited.4. Blockchain has numerous other advantages but there’s more to like about blockchain technology than just its decentralization.

Because miners are working 24 hours a day and seven days a week to verify transactions, they can be settled much quicker than through traditional banking, which sticks to normal businesses hours, closes for the weekends, and often holds funds for a few days. Plus, without a middleman, transaction costs can actually go down with blockchain.

Additionally, blockchain offers user control and transparency. Rather than letting a third party control the future of a cryptocurrencies’ blockchain, members of a cryptocurrencies’ community are who call the shots with regard to future development.5. “Miners” play a critical role However, cryptocurrency transactions need to be verified, and the blockchain regularly enlarged, to account for new transactions and payments.

This job falls to a group of folks known as cryptocurrency miners. Crypto-mining involves using high-powered computers to solve complex mathematical equations on a competitive basis in order to verify and log transactions. Being the first to do so often entitles the miner to a reward, which is given in the form of cryptocurrency coins and/or transaction fees associated with a block. Though the hardware and electricity costs can be enormous, mining can also be extremely rewarding.

The graphics-card hardware needs of miners have been a big reason why NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices have seen a double-digit percentage surge in sales recently. 6. The barrier to entry is relatively low It’s also worth pointing out that while blockchain technology could change the landscape for the financial services industry, virtually no barrier to entry exists.

If you have time, money, and a team that understands how to code, you can potentially write blockchain and bring a cryptocurrency to market. How worrisome is this for kingpins like bitcoin and Ethereum? Back in July, there were fewer than1,000 cryptocurrencies on the market. As of Dec. 18, there were 1,364. Anywhere from 50 to 100 new virtual currencies, likely complemented by blockchain technology, are being introduced each and every month.

Each of these is another potential threat to existing virtual currencies and their block chains.7. Cryptocurrencies are banned in a number of countries sure, cryptocurrencies might be the hottest thing since sliced bread, but they’re not accepted everywhere.

Because of their unregulated and decentralized nature, some countries have chosen to outright ban the use of, and/or trading of, digital currencies. Trading in cryptocurrencies, making payments in virtual currencies, or buying goods and services in digital currencies, are illegal in a half-dozen countries: Bolivia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, and Ecuador.

And there’s the genuine possibility that this list may grow. For example, Russia has been considering banning payments made in cryptocurrencies for some time.8. Most people still have limited knowledge of what cryptocurrencies are, or if they’re legal truth be told, most folks don’t have the slightest clue of what makes cryptocurrencies tick.

Though a September poll conducted by student loan refinancing market LendEDU found that nearly 79%of Americans were aware of bitcoin, a more recent poll found that just 32% were aware of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Additionally, 75% of folks had never heard of initial coin offerings, which are akin to initial public offerings, but for virtual currencies.

Perhaps even scarier, LendEDU asked respondents if owning bitcoin was illegal in the U.S. Some41.6% correctly answered that it wasn’t, but 10.7% believed it was, and a whopping47.7% weren’t sure. This suggests a major lack of understanding when it comes to cryptocurrencies.9. Digital currencies are exceptionally volatile The cryptocurrency market is a volatile one, so be prepared for ups and downs. You’ll see dramatic swings in prices.

If your investment portfolio or mental well-being can’t handle that, cryptocurrency might not be a wise choice for you. Cryptocurrency is all the rage right now, but remember, it’s still in its infancy. Investing in something that’s new comes with challenges, so be prepared.

If you plan to participate, do your research and invest conservatively to start. 10. Decentralization is key. What makes blockchain technology so enticing is the fact that it’s decentralized. In other words, there is no central hub where this information is stored, and therefore no major data center where cybercriminals can attack and gain control of a particular digital currency.

Instead, servers and hard drives across the globe contain bits and pieces of information about a particular blockchain network, but not enough to cripple it should the data inside fall into the wrong hands. This makes blockchain a particularly secure technology, which is appealing to big businesses.

Read More: Ethereum Will Surpass Bitcoin as a store of value

The post Crypto-Currency Truths appeared first on Crypto Coin Guides.

via Crypto-Currency Truths

#bitcoin news #ethereum news #xrp news #cardano news #crypto news #best cryptocurrency to buy #best crypt

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paleblazeluminary · 3 years

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Hotline Miami Controls For Mac

Available Regions for Activation

Across the globe, except South America and Europe.

Hotline Miami’s unmistakable visual style, a driving soundtrack, and a surreal chain of events will have you question your own thirst for blood while pushing you to.

Afghanistan

Algeria

American Samoa

Angola

Anguilla

Antarctica

Aruba

Australia

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Benin

Bhutan

Botswana

Bouvet Island

British Indian Ocean Territory

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Cape Verde

Caribbean Netherlands

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic

Chad

China

Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Comoros

Congo - Brazzaville

Congo - Kinshasa

Cook Islands

Côte d’Ivoire

Curaçao

Djibouti

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Faroe Islands

Fiji

French Polynesia

French Southern Territories

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Gibraltar

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Heard & McDonald Islands

Hong Kong SAR China

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Isle of Man

Israel

Japan

Jersey

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kiribati

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Macau SAR China

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Marshall Islands

Martinique

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mayotte

Micronesia

Mongolia

Montserrat

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar (Burma)

Namibia

Nauru

Nepal

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Niger

Nigeria

Niue

Norfolk Island

North Korea

Northern Mariana Islands

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Palestinian Territories

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Pitcairn Islands

Qatar

Réunion

Russia

Rwanda

Saint Martin

Samoa

São Tomé & Príncipe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Solomon Islands

Somalia

South Africa

South Korea

South Sudan

Sri Lanka

St. Barthélemy

St. Helena

St. Martin

St. Pierre & Miquelon

Sudan

Svalbard & Jan Mayen

Swaziland

Syria

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Togo

Tokelau

Tonga

Tunisia

Turkmenistan

Turks & Caicos Islands

Tuvalu

U.S. Outlying Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

United States

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Wallis & Futuna

Western Sahara

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

About the game

Hotline Miami Collection contains both legendary games in the neon-soaked, brutally-challenging Hotline Miami series from Dennaton Games. Read more Explore this game’s official site. For Hotline Miami on the PC, a GameFAQs message board topic titled 'What are the default keyboard controls?'

Hotline Miami is an action game loaded with brutal action, heavy shooting and rolling heads. Set in a 1989 alternative Miami, you'll take on the role of a mysterious antihero in a murderous rage against the shadowy underworld guided by your answering machine's voices.

Hotline Miami Download Free

Soon you will find yourself struggling for your control and understanding why you are prone to these acts of violence. Rely on your intelligence to demarcate your way through seemingly impossible situations while you constantly find yourself at a disadvantage among fierce enemies. The action is relentless and every shot is deadly so each move has to be quick and decisive if you want to survive and unravel the evil forces that drive the bloodshed.

The unmistakable visual style of Hotline Miami, plus an engaging soundtrack and a chain of surreal events will take you to the answer to your bloodlust while taking you to the limits of a relentless challenge.

Highlights

Amazing shootouts in neon corridors stained with blood combined with intense and immense soundtrack;

A surreal and brave story in 20 maps;

Amazing battles against a bizarre cast of bosses from Miami's underworld;

35 different weapons: from shotguns and assault rifles to katanas and pipes;

More than 1,000 sprites for a fantastic variety of environments, weapons, elements and enemies;

25 masks of animais to unlock that will hide your identity;

Engaging beats by Sun Araw, Coconuts, M.O.O.N., Jasper Byrne, The Huervo, Perturbator, Scattle, Elliott Berlin and Eirik Suhrke

Extremely difficult achievements that will test your limits.

System Requirements

Minimum

OS:Windows XP, Vista e 7

Storage:250 MB

Processor:1.2 GHz

Memory:512 MB

Graphics:DirectX (32MB)

DirectX:9.0

Recommended

OS:Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7

Storage:250 MB

Processor:1.4GHz +

Memory:1 GB

Graphics:DirectX (32MB)

DirectX:9.0

Minimum

OS:Mac OS 10.6+

Storage:130 MB

Processor:2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo +

Memory:1 GB

Recommended

OS:Mac OS 10.6+

Storage:130 MB

Processor:2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo +

Memory:2 GB

Minimum

Storage:130 MB

Processor:1.8 GHz Dual-Core

Memory:512 MB

Release date:2012-10-23

Developer: Dennaton Games

Publisher: Devolver

Game Mode

Single-player

Language

GermanEnglishSpanishFrenchPolishPortuguese (BR)Russian

Name: Hotline Miami

Available on: PC, Mac, Linux, PS3, PS Vita

Reviewed on: PS Vita

Hotline Miami is one of those games where there’s little-to-no story, the controls are fairly basic, and the graphics aren’t realistic – but it manages to be more fun that perhaps most games that feature even just one of those mechanics.

Hotline Miami is a very violent game. Not violent as in ‘a bit of blood here and there’, violent as in you’ll be punching people’s heads off, shooting people, choking people, and even drilling holes in people. This game, while not realistic in many ways, is not for the faint of heart.

Hotline Miami is a top-down beat-em-up type game that progresses through a set of linear missions, which must be unlocked in order.

One day, the unnamed playable character wakes up in a basement, where after a quick tutorial in how to kill people through a variety of methods, the character walks upstairs to a room with three masked men who promptly launch into a cryptic set of messages, before the actual game begins. Each mission plays out with the character receiving a phone call, driving to a location, and killing a whole bunch of henchmen. Each level takes place in a building with many floors, so the character will make their way up each floor until they eventually kill every man in the building. After the character accomplishes this, they walk all the way through the floors of the building, past all the piles of bodies of the men he’s killed, reaches the entrance, hops in his car, and then goes an completes a mundane task, like buying groceries, renting a movie, or going to the local disco to get his groove on – this is (presumably) the 80s after all. These tasks help reiterate how strange the whole set of events is, and even allows some sort of story progression (which is very minimal and I never really followed what was happening – or even why it was happening).

Gameplay is very simple – there is one ‘action’ button that will make you use whatever you’re holding: fists will punch, baseball bats will swing, and guns will fire, all with the press of this one button – it’s very easy to use, especially since the only other controls are moving and controlling the cursor. Whenever you kill or knock out an enemy, they drop their weapon. This is useful for many reasons, namely because the character can only carry one weapon at a time – so if you run out of ammo and need a melee weapon, or you have a melee weapon and want a gun, you’ll need to find whatever enemy has the weapon you’re after. Additionally, the AI in this game will react in many ways to different weapons: if they hear gunshots, they’ll come running. If they see you through a window holding a knife, they’ll shoot you/run at you. This can be used to an advantage to quickly exterminate all the enemies on a floor – a tactic of mine was a gunshot followed by picking up the knife and holding down the ‘action’ button to melee very fast, and then moving close to the door and killing all the enemies very quickly.

It’s little additions like these that make the game that much more stylised and interesting to play through. The other addition that makes the game unique on every playthrough (I played the campaign twice) is the feature of one hit kills for not just you, but your enemies as well (save for the few bosses). Once you die, you start from the start of the floor you were killed on – so sometimes I’d get through almost the entire floor of enemies and then die at the hands of the last one. There are little moments like these in Hotline Miami that just make the game that much more intense, and if you survive, rewarding.

The game also has several collectables; which are masks and puzzle pieces. Masks are masks that your character wears to do their job, all of which save for the starting mask add a perk to the game – one allows you to start with a knife, one gives you another life (but only if you get hit by a gunshot) and another allows for even more gore. There’s a mix of cosmetic masks (like the gore one) and gameplay ones (such as the knife one), which is good. Most masks are unlocked simply through progressing the story, but there are others that must be specifically found in a particular level. The other collectable, puzzle pieces, are found throughout all the levels, and are represented by a small purple square. Collecting these will give a letter, which is used to spell out a sentence. This is used in one of Hotline Miami’s two endings: either the standard one with little info (but still finishing the story) or the ‘complete’ ending, which gives a lot more information (but still doesn’t really make the story any clearer).

I only really have two gripes with this game, and funnily enough they’re almost contradictory: one regards how easy the game is, and the other how hard it is. My first issue is how overpowered some of the weapons are: the knife especially. I found that I was able to pretty much use just knife to kill everyone on a floor, and once I got the mask that let me start with a knife, that was the only mask I used. My other issue is that some parts of the game are incredibly difficult – the difficulty scaling in this game is crazy, it’ll be flowing at one point and then be incredibly difficult the next – I had to use a walkthrough to figure out how to do some parts, and at other parts I only survived thanks to a fluke. Fortunately, there’s only really three parts in the whole game that I remember as being incredibly difficult, and once you realise how to complete them they become so much easier.

Length-wise, there’s about 20 story missions here, and none of them take that long to complete – it’d be possible to finish the game in one sitting of about 3 hours I reckon, but otherwise it doesn’t take that long to complete. There is replay value in the masks and the puzzle pieces/complete ending though.

While there are a few issues regarding the difficult of the game, that doesn’t change how much pure, simple fun Hotline Miami is. It’s simple, intense, and just absolute brilliant.

Positive

Great Fun

Simple Art Style

Simple Gameplay

Great Design Elements (such as the one-hit kills)

Replay Value (masks and puzzle pieces)

Hotline Miami Controls For Macbook

Negative

Hotline Miami Controls For Macbook Pro

Weak Storyline

A Few Overpowered Weapons

A Few Very Difficult Sections

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whittlebaggett8 · 5 years

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Bruce Pannier on Change in Central Asia

Bruce Pannier is a single of the most skilled journalists doing the job on Central Asia. Having initial traveled to the location in 1990, Pannier now will work at RFE/RL authoring the Qishloq Ovozi web site. In this interview, Pannier shares some of his earliest ordeals as a college student and his viewpoint on journalism in the location. Of system, we also talked about some of the most current developments in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

(Editor’s Be aware: This interview was performed just before March 19, when Nursultan Nazarbayev abruptly resigned the Kazakh presidency. You can go through what Catherine had to say about that below, and Bruce’s quick ideas on that progress here.)

When was the first time you went to Central Asia? What was the large news at the time and what had been your impressions of the location?

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The to start with time I went to Central Asia was summer time 1990, to show up at Tashkent State College in the Soviet republic of Uzbekistan. I was studying Uzbek language.

I try to remember getting a driver at the Tashkent airport to consider me to my dormitory at Tashkent Condition. We ended up delayed obtaining to the college by an obstinate cow lying in the highway. My 1st ride in Central Asia.

The most significant news party I try to remember at the time was the Osh riots of 1990. In Tashkent, at the university at least, we did not hear much about it. I did not have obtain to a television so most of my details came from the newspapers – Pravda Vostoka primarily. Community learners, those from Central Asia, such as Kyrgyz, listened to the radio or watched television information at the properties of household or good friends. They advised me some things.

Soviet information created it seem like an unfortunate incident developed by some regional hotheads. We all knew Soviet troops had been sent and deployed around the region, so it was obviously more than an isolated incident. But we did not know how bad it experienced been. It was not till I traveled to the Osh space in 1992 that I started out to hear more thorough versions of what occurred.

There was a thing else that was going on in the summer time of 1990, an undercurrent, the feeling everybody had that transform was coming. Glasnost was in comprehensive swing. New events and actions were currently being created and getting active. Anyone gave me a duplicate of a new newspaper, Islom Nuri (The Ray of the Light-weight of Islam), with some simple facts about the faith and how to live a religious lifestyle in the USSR.

I had taken a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 with me, for clinical functions of course, but it proved a excellent icebreaker my initial times at Tashkent State. I would meet up with in the quad with community learners in the evening, move the bottle all around (replaced later on with neighborhood spirits), and we would speak about daily life in The us and Central Asia.

I recall the Central Asian pupils explained to me the USSR was likely to be a a lot more democratic country (I don’t recall anybody predicting the Soviet Union would slide aside a person year afterwards). They experienced tiny idea what particularly democracy was, and I couldn’t help them significantly with my explanations. They regretably equated democracy with materialism, so they said, for example, once democratic reforms took hold they would have cars and VCR gamers.

I tried out to make clear that it was unachievable to simply just vote for or declare democracy. The United States had been performing at it for much more than 200 years and it was still a do the job in development.

My friends in the quad tended to brush this apart. In their minds, these younger individuals now had a conception of their future that was significantly brighter, whole of much far more options than the lives their mother and father and grandparents had lived.

As for my impressions, I was fairly in awe at staying there last but not least. Central Asia experienced very long been a tricky place to reach for many explanations. I experienced been finding out the spot for quite a few a long time and viewed the occasional documentary movie about the area on Soviet television at the Harriman Institute.

Remaining there was a bit unique than I envisioned. Uzbekistan was aspect of the Soviet Union, but it was significantly a lot more laid back again than Moscow or Leningrad. Persons spoke a little bit additional freely. Just one of the principal topics for the duration of the evening quad sessions was that the Soviet Union experienced taken a great deal from Central Asia and not supplied a great deal in return. The emotions of common exploitation by the Kremlin was a strand that tied all the Central Asians at Tashkent Condition with each other. I guess for the reason that I was American all people assumed I would be sympathetic to anti-Russian discussions.

And of program, Samarkand and Bukhara were being great to take a look at for the first time. The well known monuments were not properly preserved then. Gur-i Emir, for instance, was concealed driving buildings and under renovation. It was sheer likelihood that I found it at all, even even though it was nearly ideal across the street from the Intourist Lodge.

A great deal has adjusted due to the fact then, but what hasn’t? Put another way: What factors of Central Asia’s Soviet previous continue to be pertinent in these societies right now?

With the attainable exception of Kyrgyzstan, there is nonetheless the experience that the govt and the folks are separate. All those in the federal government have privileges that the average citizen does not enjoy.

Elections continue to be perfunctory situations. Persons imagine the final result of elections is preplanned and their vote indicates very little.

The security provider, whether or not the SNB, SGB, MNG, KNG, or GKNB remains a feared establishment. No 1 would like to bring in the awareness of the protection apparatus since absolutely everyone believes they have no hope if stability agents detain them. If they are fortunate, they pay back bribes. If they are unlucky, they could be tortured into confessing to crimes they have not fully commited and then commit yrs in prison. No 1 thinks the justice technique is their mate.

Journalism isn’t easy when it will come to Central Asia and there is a fairly continual march of terrible news over the decades — detentions of journalists, restrictive regulations, and so on. Are there any places that give you hope for journalism in Central Asia?

Actually, there is anything that provides me wonderful hope for journalism in Central Asia. Inspite of repeated crackdowns and tightening of media guidelines, there are even now numerous journalists who demonstrate they are not cowed by the authorities. They continue on to compose critical content understanding they could facial area retaliation from the governing administration or good friends of these in electric power.

Uzbekistan considering that the demise of first President Islam Karimov is also encouraging. The authorities loosened the maintain around media a little bit, and nearby journalists went proper right after crucial stories that they could not have touched when Karimov was in ability. There are however many matters that are off restrictions, but I was impressed at how promptly journalists in Uzbekistan moved to stake out the new boundaries for media coverage. Anything like flowers that bloom in the desert when the rains quickly return.

We also observed in the circumstance of Tajik activist and journalist Hayrullo Mirsaidov that grassroots general public force, generally on Twitter, from outdoors a place can stress community authorities into altering unjust choices.

In the time you’ve watched Central Asia, the media’s applications have advanced immensely. How have new and transforming applications of the trade transformed the function of journalism in and on Central Asia?

Cellular telephones and applications have opened up new possibilities for relaying information.

It appears to be to me, we are receiving extra information and facts from locations like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan than we did in the 1990s and the initially several years soon after the new century, and that is owing to new systems.

Ordinary citizens are playing an growing role in coverage, the so-called “citizen journalist.” They mail shots and online video clips they file on their telephones to RFE/RL and other media stores. They also share their very own tales by using WhatsApp, for illustration. This has led to the fall of quite a few abusive officers in latest decades and some compact changes in policies. And each individual time there is a success, the variety of individuals keen to likewise have interaction in this sort of transfers of info will increase.

Certainly, the governments of the location are looking for methods to counter these connections but fortunately, so considerably technological developments are outpacing countermeasures.

On to current regional information: Kazakhstan has designed considerably due to the fact independence, but recent domestic developments — for example, the tragic demise of 5 little ones in a hearth in Astana when their dad and mom ended up out working night shifts — uncovered the simple fact that that advancement has been uneven and unequal. Is there growing consciousness in Kazakh society of these inequalities? If so, do you believe it will have effects for the state’s elites?

Kazakhstan is a unique situation in Central Asia. In the early 1990s, Kazakhstan was just as terrible off as the other Central Asian states, perhaps even worse off than some. Any individual at that time who was a younger grownup or older will remember people difficult situations (folks ended up turning their balconies into fireplaces for heat in the winter season) and lots of can look all over and see there has been substantial enhancement in quite a few regions of the nation, in phrases of infrastructure and living specifications.

For those who had been small children in the 1990s or have been born later, the changes are likely not so perceptible. The problem was improving upon in the initial ten years of the 21st century. Kazakhstan’s federal government was ready to honestly claim that points ended up getting better and would continue on to do so.

But the conventional of residing began tapering off by the center part of this decade. There was the rough period of time of late 2015 till the begin of 2017 when the problem became noticeably even worse – the tenge devaluation and the knock-on consequences it introduced to a lot of homes in Kazakhstan.

This is what the underneath-35 group remembers. Suddenly the scenario was of course even worse. I think it built several people today reassess what the conventional of residing could and really should be in Kazakhstan.

The existence of some of the leaders of the region and the rich small business elite now appear further and more out of the attain for the regular citizen.

There is previously some grumbling about inequality as we see, and I consider this will keep on and grow more robust except the authorities take techniques to improve doing the job circumstances, social benefits, and make sure the development of a stable center class that does not have to stress about going deep into personal debt to buy a automobile or a property. The legal rights of personnel also need to be tackled and the stress the governing administration has put on unbiased trade unions is not encouraging. That needs to be preset also.

People have been enduring this whilst the initial president is in workplace, but Nazarbayev’s successor may possibly not be able to depend on the patience of Kazakhstan’s people today.

Turning to Uzbekistan. The recent information that Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Islam Karimov, was becoming billed with conspiracy to dedicate income laundering in the United States surprised me. Did it shock you? Beyond that, what do you imagine will occur subsequent?

For me, observing Gulnara’s occupation has been like heading to a demolition derby. You just knew there was a wreck coming.

Even when she was gallivanting around, stories of unlawful or unethical techniques adopted her. I bear in mind she was meant to go to an celebration at the Cannes Movie Competition that was a charity party for HIV/AIDS. That was just following an HIV/AIDs activist in Uzbekistan had been jailed for distributing leaflets advertising increased consciousness of the sickness. There was a substantial community outcry towards Gulnara attending, but she did not look to have an understanding of the concept from these criticisms. She ongoing flaunting her prosperity and amazing way of life and reached the stage where by she felt invulnerable, solid adequate to criticize individuals like Rustam Inoyatov, the head of Uzbekistan’s Countrywide Security Provider (SNB).

The additional she experienced, the more she desired, and it always appeared to me it would conclusion really a great deal like it has finished.

So lengthy as present-day President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is alive, surely as lengthy as he is president, Gulnara is probable to carry on languishing in captivity. She appreciates too a great deal about what Mirziyoyev was executing when he was prime minister from 2003-2016, and not only Mirziyoyev. Gulnara certainly is familiar with about the escapades and questionable financial dealings of other major officers and prosperous organization men and women.

With so quite a few people today having so considerably to get rid of by allowing for Gulnara to wander free and begin putting up on social networks, I imagine she will commit at the very least the next decade or two confined someplace.

The post Bruce Pannier on Change in Central Asia appeared first on Defence Online.

from WordPress https://defenceonline.com/2019/03/27/bruce-pannier-on-change-in-central-asia/

#Central Asia #Gulnara Karimova #Interviews #journalism in Central Asia #Kazakhstan #Kyrgyzstan #Nurs

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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Things to do in Karakol That Don’t Just Involve Hiking!

If you’re planning on travelling to Kyrgyzstan primarily to go trekking, chances are you’re going to pass through Karakol.

This city, which has more of a town feel, sits on the eastern shores of Issyk Kul and draws hikers from far and wide, but many travellers use Karakol as a quick pit stop and never really get to experience much of the town.

Things to do in Karakol

There may have been a time when there wasn’t much to do in Karakol, but the people in the tourism scene have been working hard to develop new experiences for travellers. Even coming back less than a year after my first visit (I took a day trip here during the World Nomad Games), I was surprised by how much more Karakol had in store!

They now offer free walking tours, cooking classes, traditional dinners with local families, and that’s on top of all the outdoor activities and overnight treks that Karakol is already known for.

For anyone planning on travelling this way, here’s a look at what you can get up to:

Join a free walking tour of Karakol

Karakol offers free city walking tours (though you are encouraged to tip your local guide at the end) that showcase some of the city’s main landmarks. If you’ve just arrived in town, this can be a great way to get a feel of the place and also get a few suggestions of things to do in Karakol from your local guide.

Some of the stops on our tour included:

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church – A traditional Russian wooden cathedral with onion domes. Over the years it has been used as a school, ladies’ gymnasium, sports hall, theater, dance hall and even a coal shop!

Dungan Mosque – This mosque is unique because architecturally it looks a lot like a Buddhist temple. This is because it was built by the Dungan community, an ethnically Chinese people group who follows Islam, and their heritage played a big role in the design of their mosque. The building’s claim to fame is that it was built entirely without nails, though our guide admitted that someone in his tour once spotted a nail – maybe it was added for repairs after the initial building phase?

Karakol Historical Museum – This is a small museum with a rather large collection of stuffed animals, but what I really enjoyed was the temporary black and white photo exhibition by Ella Maillart, a Swiss adventuress who travelled solo through Central Asia in the 1930s and captured some amazing street scenes now frozen in time.

Browse for Soviet-era antiques

If you’re an avid souvenir collector then you’ll want to swing by the Antique Shop of Aleksandr Korablev on the corner of Toktogul & Jamansariev.

This little one-room shop is overflowing with treasures from the Soviet era and it’s a fun place to browse. The shop had old cameras, pins from the Russian Olympics, porcelain dolls, old postcards, busts of Lenin, jewellery boxes, and just about anything you could think of.

Since Sam is a hat collector, we picked up a Soviet-era border patrol officer’s hat complete with a hammer and sickle. I can already picture it next to the Kyrgyz felt hat we bought on our last trip.

Explore Karakol’s food scene

One of the coolest things about Karakol is that this is a city where different cultures meet, creating a delicious melting pot of flavours. I have another blog post about food in Karakol in the works, but in the meantime, here are a few of my favourite food experiences:

Having a traditional Dungan feast – According to Dungan tradition, there can be no less than 8 different dishes at the table, and as you can see from the spread below, they take that very seriously! We went for a family meal at a local Dungan home where we had a feast of a dinner.

Learning to make laghman – Laghman is an Uyghur dish that consists of wheat noodles, served either in a soup or stir-fried. We joined a cooking class in an Uyghur home, where we learned the art of rolling out the noodles (it’s trickier than it looks!) and then enjoyed a meal together.

Eating all the Ashlyan-fu – This is hands down my favourite dish in all of Kyrgyzstan! Ashlyan-fu is a Dungan dish made from wheat and starch noodles. It’s served with a cold vinegar-based broth with chopped vegetables, chilli, garlic and fresh cilantro. It’s both spicy yet refreshing and you can find it in markets and restaurants across town.

Visit Jeti Ögüz and venture into the valley

The name Jeti Ögüz translates to Seven Bulls and it’s a red rock formation that draws visitors on a half-day trip from Karakol. While I think it makes for a nice photo, I think the real gem is the Jeti Ögüz Valley, which sits on the opposite side of the rocks and can be reached via a dirt road and 5 rickety wooden bridges. Here you’ll find yourself surrounded by forests, fields, grazing animals, and snowcapped mountains.

We only visited for the day, but on the drive into the valley we noticed that there were yurt camps for travellers as well as horse trekking services, so it’s certainly possible to spend a bit more time here. This is also a popular spot for a weekend picnic with Kyrgyz families, so you should consider packing a picnic of your own.

Hike up to the Barskoon Waterfalls

Another easy half-day trip from Karakol is the Barskoon Gorge which is home to numerous waterfalls.

You’ll know you’ve arrived once you reach the bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first cosmonaut, standing proud just off the main road. Apparently, he was quite fond of Issyk Kul’s south shore and even spent some time vacationing here after his first flight into space.

From Gagarin’s bust, several dirt trails break off in different directions up the mountain, all leading to various waterfalls. The closest waterfall is just a short 15-minute walk from the main road, but the main one is about a 1.5-hour hike through the forest. Since we were a bit pressed for time, we only tackled the closest waterfall, but it was impressive nevertheless.

Go on a day hike from Karakol

If you’re not yet wiped from the overnight treks from Karakol, or if you’re looking for a ‘warm up’ before you commit to anything longer, then there are a few short half-day hikes to choose from.

We did our half-day hike with Eco-Trek, which started just outside the village of Jorgolot. The first two hours were the toughest since we were hiking uphill into the valley, but once we reached the pass, things really started looking up. We had sweeping views of the valley, forests and snowy peaks off in the distance, so we did the sensible thing and pulled out our picnic right on the spot.

From here, we hiked downhill through the valley, before entering the forest (what a treat it was to get a bit of shade!), and working our way down the other side of the mountain.

We had been told this hike would take us about 3.5 hours, but it took us 5 in the end. I think it was a combination of me struggling uphill during the first stretch and Sam stopping to fly the drone, but our guide was pretty chill and let us take our merry time and as many breaks as we needed.

Take a sunset cruise on Issyk Kul

Karakol sits on the eastern shores of Issyk Kul, which is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca and the second largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea.

The name Issyk Kul translates to ‘warm lake’ in Kyrgyz since it doesn’t freeze in winter due to the salinity, but don’t go in expecting the warm waters of the Caribbean either. I tried going in during the summer months and only managed to get a toe in the water!

Which brings me to my next point: even if you don’t go swimming, you can experience the beauty of the lake on a sunset cruise.

Our tour departed from Przhevalsky Bay shortly before sunset and it lasted about an hour and a half. The waters were calm, we were surrounded by mountains as far as the eye could see, and the boat also had drinks on board, which made it a great way to spend our last day in Karakol with friends.

Other activities in Karakol

These are just a few of my favourite things to do in Karakol, but there are plenty of other activities that could keep you occupied around town: you could go to the banyas (baths and sauna), soak in the hot springs, visit a few different museums, and if you visit in winter, you could even go skiing!

Info for visiting Karakol

Accommodations:

Karakol has a selection of hotels, guesthouses and hostels to fit all budgets – you can get a better idea of prices in town here.

We stayed at the Tagaytay Guesthouse which was a few short blocks from the centre of town. The rooms were small, but clean and comfortable, plus the staff was helpful and they also had a really nice and varied breakfast.

You can find them listed on AirBnB here, and if it’s your first time using AirBnB, you can get $40 off here.

Transportation:

It’s about a 5-6 hour drive from Bishkek to Karakol, so you likely won’t do it all in one go. There are plenty of places to visit and tours you can take along the way, so I would personally break up the journey with a stop along Issyk-Kul’s south shore.

Locals get around via marshrutkas (minivans) and shared taxis – you can get more info on how that works here. That being said, our group along with most of the foreign travellers we met, were all using drivers to get around.

You can arrange drivers through CAT Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia Tourism Company Kyrgyzstan), and while it costs a bit more, it does save you a lot of time in the long run as you’re not waiting for minivans and taxis to fill up with people.

Booking tours and activities:

To book any tours in and around Karakol, you can visit the Destination Karakol office at 22 Gagarin Street where you can get further information about any tours you may be interested in. Their offices are right next door to the Fat Cat Cafe. Alternatively, you can message them directly through their Facebook page where they are very active. For day hikes and overnight treks, you can visit the Eco Trek office on the corner of Abdrahmanov Street and Koenkozov Street.

Travel Insurance:

I always recommend travelling with travel insurance, even more so if you’re going to be taking part in adventure activities somewhere as remote as Kyrgyzstan. You can get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Have you travelled in Karakol? What were some of your favourite things to do in and around town?

This trip was made possible with the support of Discover Kyrgyzstan. As always, all opinions expressed here are my own.

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sailourpastel · 7 years

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Cold turkey in Kyrgyzstan. Facing Inner Demons: Stories of recovering drug addicts

Yes yeah your life flashes before your eyes Roslin and you start seeing connections between things yes good woman mine's a simple story wedding spielen started with a beer kissy girl that led to a joint NASA voice and then it got more serious thirty-three-year-old you've gained E is heroin dependent he's married with a child and has used drugs since he was 18 they're no good to you I've taken drugs since the early nineties but Abu Morton it was trendy then one and I was young and stupid war we thought it was something special and I wanted to stand out from the crowd Sergei is 37 with a wife and son he's been heroin-addicted for 16 years when I was 19 did it not yet Mitchell I started taking oxycontin then they went up to 120 dollars each instead of 60 lavazza and they weren't that easy to get anyway then a friend offered me some heroin to try gleb is 24 he lives in the USA with his parents he's been arrow independent for five years the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan is a mountain country between the Tian Shan and pamir ranges with beautifully picturesque scenery of wide valleys and stunning lakes what you look like a lot of my patients are ordinary good well bred and educated people but because of different circumstances they found themselves in this position yep see society the government and the politicians generally have no idea cool the drug and its are young or what it means to have one in the family addicts from all over the world have been coming here for more than 20 years when they hit rock bottom they seek help in Kyrgyzstan when you have gained his life was in danger his family brought him to the clinic his wife Maria came with him soon we bought a new car yes yes and I really wanted to keep the sons I hoped I'd be able to drive myself but I just couldn't that's what made me realize that I really needed help the whole point is that he's come off his own free will I didn't want to force him it would be useless if it hadn't been his decisions I didn't want to come at first he has to really want to do it I didn't have enough willpower maria fell in love at her dream wedding and then the child she always wanted with her man at her side it was a shock to learn that her husband was a drug user his sister was the first to realize he had a problem lookin saying you I wouldn't really believe it she tried hard to open my eyes how can you not see it she asked but I just refused to believe I said it couldn't possibly be true suppose it's only natural a woman always thinks her man is the best in the world is the illusion of all the close friends I've ever had only one is still alive some overdosed others were killed or died in prison well well this isn't exactly what you'd call a safe way of life it's been a long road I should have come here way back in 93 but the truth is that I was sent to prison several times and so it wasn't something I could do once the body becomes accustomed to drugs it needs them all the time when addicts don't get the heroin they crave they experience withdrawal symptoms which often include acute pain so their patients are not subjected to that torture the doctors chemically induce a coma this who's his doctor I am his name's of Dar has 29 and at the moment he's going through his fourth blockade he's been taking drugs for five years from 2005 here occasionally used marijuana and then harun from 2007 to 2009 for the last six months has been on crystal meth he alternates between drugs and has taken heroin about once a month in the last six months now he says he's ready for the pilgrimage yellow yellow we give new patients a thorough examination first of all and carry out all the necessary tests after that we individually select the best treatment method for each of them what they think oh so for some patients as few as three or four sessions are enough while others may need five or six or even more comfort they are comfortable in this state cousin you see literally if their temperature rises or the pulse rate increases because of sympathy and renal attack or if the patient's life is in danger that we can bring them out of induced coma at any time there is an antidote drug addicts don't only endanger themselves but also the lives of their families and friends parents spouses and children always suffer as well relatives usually go with the patients to the clinic they take the long road to recovery together loomis today I think by now you all know that the treatment they go through is quite tough and it's easier for the patients when it's a family member who looks after them when a family first becomes aware of addiction the first reactions are often confusion panic and anger doctors describe close relatives of drug users as codependent well as in bloody man what are you feeling now just listen what are you thinking about my only thought is about how to get rid of it what to do right what to do yeah how to help yes what I can do to help haunts me what can be done what steps to take at the organ y NOS llamo the incredible sense of guilt is tearing us apart that make you it's haunting and depressing the birthday that's got that how could it have happened why did it happen to my child story unions what did I overlooked but it's gonna depend what did I do wrong cuz the richness that's what happens when a person's mind is consumed with thinking about someone else another Aquabat sir sometimes these thoughts just take up too much space in your brain it's like that that's what work so you don't have much time left to develop your mind and personality am i right the treatment is intended to help not just the patients but their families as well to ease their guilt pain and fear once a drug addict does give up heroin perseverance is vital for that they need to be calm and relaxed rock-hopper they are medicated so they can continue their psychotherapy treatment with a clear mind we'll work with them for at least a week but that varies for different patients in the con average the psychotherapy takes seven days we can predict quite accurately which of our patients is most likely to fight until the end and which will break what's the swing if they don't have the inner strength will power and an intense desire to overcome their addiction and then it is highly likely that one day maybe much later after a year or even ten they'll eventually started taking drugs again Gleb was always an adrenaline junkie and an extreme-sports enthusiasts he first tried heroin in his search for yet another high nips toy wake up clever clever time to get up brush knees he liked it and was hooked that's how he ended up here in the kyrgyz clinic you're beautiful what first interested me about him was the fact that he'd come from the USA at that time malev was the youngest of my patients that made him the most difficult he was 22 and wanted to see everything there is to see in the world he's full of illusions that's impossible to persuade him of anything he never listens to anyone klebs parents brought him to the clinic last year but he couldn't make it through the treatment he gave up and went home whatever we keep in touch with patients for six months after the treatment we learned that he was taking five pills instead of the one he was prescribed he knew what he was doing but he's a thrill seeker and he was but for a dhryn alene ah the medicine overdose was far too much for him he nearly died now Gleb is back at the clinic to complete his treatment to prove to himself and the doctors that he can do it even at the clinic there is still temptations after the coma stage you have gained II met a patient who invited him to smoke some weed well that's bullshit we had a huge row we have no secrets from each other so one day he just came out and said that he wanted to smoke marijuana I told her honestly that they had offered me some to smoke than I did he said I couldn't say no and then the doctors had to bring me around we use what's called the stress energetic psychotherapy method which first appeared in 1988 any mental disorder is linked to the soul especially we're talking about drug or alcohol addiction it's all rooted in our emotional experience on the shores of Lake is it cool the patients take a 24-hour vow of silence they live or stare lives and meditate in search of inner peace for this spiritual journey everyone chooses their own ritual stone they try to transfer all their fears pain and drug-filled past into their stones the UH LaBelle pass is about 3,000 meters above sea level and marks the starting point for each patient's final trial the pilgrimage 250 kilometers of rugged mountain terrain they'll have to negotiate it on foot and they're likely to suffer from heat cold sore feet and lack of oxygen gleb attempted the pilgrimage last year but failed the rough hike proves too much for him after 50 kilometers the young man could go no further nobody tell me I hurt my back badly either way you have to get out of here look around and make a decision and just it's not that I didn't want to I did show up after all show me where it hurts was here I jumped onto a snowboard to put him about 30 meters and missed now every step I take hurts but it's tonight Gleb our first stop is in two and a half kilometers look what's the point I could go on but what for so you're not going I could go on but it's pointless well at least you'd get that far but I know that I won't get any further what if you really want to give up no but I already know I won't make it when it came to picking a stone I chose a huge one it must have been about eight kilos I think that she's doing I didn't know then that I'd have to carry it 250 kilometers that's why it ended up so badly I have problems with my back I nearly broke my spine when I was 15 so on the first day my back hurt like crazy but they even wanted to give up but decided against it I walked for three days but as my stone was too heavy I broke it into pieces to make it lighter and was disqualified yes now though I've come again to finish the whole 250 kilometers who's a good little glib a lot of people were against bringing you back to the clinic do you understand they still don't really want you here but we've decided to give you a second chance give gainey has also begun his pilgrimage which should take about a week one of the doctors accompanies him and an ambulance delivers everything he might need medicines water and attempt to sleep in this is the second day wow I've got four or five to go it all depends on how fast I can hike there isn't happen to be honest I thought it would be easier especially the first day I didn't think 60k a day would be too difficult I did 20 k and then another 10 and that's when it got really hard for the last 5 or 10 kilometers I haven't been walking as much as crawling yes with you bear Seattle while you're walking your life flashes before your eyes then you start seeing connections between things ok I think about my future about everything really Moisture mobile showroom where there's no one to talk to you so sometimes I hum tunes to myself yeah yellow suit I'm preparing a surprise for my dear husband I want to show him how much I love him of course he already knows good but I want him to read my banner from the mountain so you can see for himself it's stuff up there I want at least to make his last two kilometers a little easier so he'll hurry knowing i'm waiting for him there's no stable means we miss each other so much which Allah silber Maria stood by her husband at every stage of the treatment they cried argued and made up together hoping he'd recover was he a strong man probably if he can do it he hasn't yet he's only been walking for three days he can do it you're confident right I have no doubt at all I know he can make it to the end what will you do if he started taking drugs again again no he won't I'm sure I don't even want to think about it what if well I'd stand by him to the end if he breaks we'll try to cure him again well done what a woman not everyone can cope with the test of the pilgrimage some patients need to face emotional rather than physical trials I'm not well enough to go on the pilgrimage listen there's not the airport I'd like to but I know I'm just not strong enough to get through it what a confusion was it so if you think about it shock therapy seems to be quite a reasonable alternative doctors call this stress energetic psychotherapy but in layman's terms it's shock therapy he came to us was serious withdrawal symptoms and went through six black aids monkey are you sure in your own mind that you'd give up one hundred percent why do you think so many people say that I don't know you have some experience of the criminal world right sure I know it inside out many say they're one hundred percent sure and the next thing they're shooting up again I don't know about them but i can give you my word I'm a man and I always keep my promises that's how I was brought up the doctors have decided that after his induced coma and therapy sessions Sergei should now be given shock therapy at first he couldn't make up his mind he wanted to go on the pilgrimage she said I want to carry this stone with my past and my pain I can do it Sergei has survived severe trials before he was in solitary confinement in prison and I'm sure he can pass the test but the big question though is how important it is to him so I think that for him stress energetic psychotherapy is the best option the procedure takes half an hour the doctors think of it as a psychological reboot bright lights loud shouting and aggressive clapping help clear and reprogram the patient's mind the process induces a cathartic state ok that before it's a little like hypnosis thank you slowly we repeat you're strong you're powerful you can do it there's no need for drugs in your life anymore and these subliminal thoughts become imprinted in their minds the next day these ideas get stuck in their heads though they don't remember the actual words when you say gleb sets out on his pilgrimage again this time he's chosen a smaller stone which will be physically easier for him but psychologically much harder loving parents and a good career are waiting for him at home and he's promised to come back cured romola doom cocky I wanted him to remember the exact moment that he finished his journey Stephanie malish I wanted to make it special mr. i know it was quite a demanding experience for him and I'm so proud of him for proving he was able to do it a cleansing summer rain shower began just as you've gained he completed his week-long pilgrimage the treatment was over the patient's rid themselves of their negative past by discarding their stones and symbolically burning their troubles on the sacred touchdown at our Mountain the most important thing is that I've saved my marriage all this is thanks to my wife who's waited 16 years for me after the treatment Sergei kept in touch with the clinic for a month he claims to have stopped taking drugs now he's not answering his phone and no one knows where he is yo I've been going to university for five years and still have no degree but now i am going to graduate Gleb finished his pilgrimage and returned to the USA he doesn't take drugs and has taken up extreme sports again he is convinced he will never return to abusing drugs again shit up bullet though I flew a paraglider yesterday and I'm thinking of buying one the euros where I live a perfect for it you've gained Ian Maria have returned to their hometown and changed their social circle if gaining has found a new job now it has taken no drugs for six months he wants to give up smoking and hopes for a second child you

See more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD58-3aDgDg

drug rehabilitation centers

Source: http://eliterehaballiance.com/video-blog/cold-turkey-in-kyrgyzstan-facing-inner-demons-stories-of-recovering-drug-addicts

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