RIA Novosti reports that Russia intends to spend $7 billion refurbishing the seaside summer resort town of Sochi if it wins the 2014 Winter Olympics. No doubt, snow-making machines will be high on the list. Apparently, despite losing 1 million people per year and salaries of $300 per month, Vladimir Putin can think of nothing better to do with Russia's money than try to buy the Olympic games.

La Russophobe dares to wonder whether this might not simply be smokescreen to allow Putin and his cronies to pump money into their new pleasure palace in Sochi, a la the Politburo, under the guise of preparing to host the games.