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Putin hands over Swiss watch to astonished factory worker
The Guardian ^ | 09/16/2009

Posted on 09/16/2009 6:40:41 PM PDT by Decombobulator

He skis down volcanoes, strips off in Siberian rivers and even ventures to the bottom of lakes in mini-submarines. Hardly surprising then that Vladimir Putin – Russia's action-man prime minister and judo black belt – is a fan of Swiss watches. Expensive ones.

Yesterday, Putin stunned workers at a factory in the town of Tula when he gave away his latest timepiece to a worker.

Dressed in blue overalls, factory employee Viktor Zagaevsky approached Russia's tsar-like leader and asked him whether he might like to offer a memento. Apparently unable to think of an appropriate souvenir, Russia's premier swiftly took off his £5,500 black Blancpain watch and handed it over to a gobsmacked Zagaevsky.

"My father wasn't expecting such a generous present," Zagaevsky's son, Dmitry, said today. "He just wanted something to remember Putin by."

He added: "I've got the watch. Neither I nor my father are planning to actually wear it. It's now a family relic.

"The workers at the factory were divided over it. Some congratulated my dad and said: 'Well done'. Others thought there was something indecent about asking him for a present."

It's not clear what prompted Putin's generous gesture. Perhaps it was patriotic feeling. According to today's Russian newspapers, Zagaevsky proudly informed Putin that he had two sons, both serving in the Russian army.

Today, Dmitry Zagaevsky admitted that the men in his family normally sported bargain-basement watches. "They don't cost more than 1,000 roubles [£20]," he said. Under normal circumstances, it would take his father two years to scrape together enough cash to buy Putin's watch.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: putin; russia
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1 posted on 09/16/2009 6:40:42 PM PDT by Decombobulator
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To: Decombobulator

He’s all that and a bag of chips, aint’ he? *SPIT*

Please. For the love of all that’s holy...no pictures of a shirtless Putin are to appear on this thread!!


2 posted on 09/16/2009 6:43:31 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Decombobulator

Interesting gift. Dear Santa,

3 posted on 09/16/2009 6:45:15 PM PDT by MaxMax (Don't stop them when they're imploding, just step out of their way)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Please. For the love of all that’s holy...no pictures of a shirtless Putin are to appear on this thread!!

Here's a picture of Helen Thomas instead, I hope you find this to be an acceptable substitute:

Photobucket

4 posted on 09/16/2009 6:46:26 PM PDT by Graybeard58 ( Selah.)
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To: Decombobulator

The guy has billions, no big deal for him.


5 posted on 09/16/2009 6:47:38 PM PDT by culpeper (He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people,)
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To: Decombobulator

Where’s my watch, Obama?!


6 posted on 09/16/2009 6:47:54 PM PDT by Decombobulator
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To: MaxMax

Blankpain translates from the French as “Whitebread” I believe.


7 posted on 09/16/2009 6:49:13 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Decombobulator

I’m no fan of Russia’s leadership, but you have got to hand it to the guy; he’s got class and a “set of them”. I wish we had leadership with a “set of them”...


8 posted on 09/16/2009 6:53:56 PM PDT by gettinolder
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To: Graybeard58

Thank you! I almost didn’t click on your ping, LOL!


9 posted on 09/16/2009 6:54:43 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Decombobulator
If it ain't Timex, it ain't sh!t.
10 posted on 09/16/2009 6:56:13 PM PDT by LasVegasMac (Islam: Bringing the world death and destruction for 1400 years!)
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To: Decombobulator

This is the only ‘watch’ you need concern yourself with:

Countdown until Obama leaves Office:

1221 Days, 16 Hours, 00 Minutes, 20 Seconds.

http://obamaclock.org/


11 posted on 09/16/2009 6:59:48 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Decombobulator
"The workers at the factory were divided over it. Some congratulated my dad and said: 'Well done'. Others thought there was something indecent about asking him for a present."

I tend to agree with the "others," but Putin didn't have to give him anything, yet he did.

12 posted on 09/16/2009 7:04:07 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
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To: MaxMax
It's a darn cool Blancpain model he chose to wear that day, too!
What a great gift to receive totally on a crazy chance.


13 posted on 09/16/2009 7:05:04 PM PDT by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: Decombobulator

I’ll bet the stem pulls out to reveal a retractable garrotte wire, too...


14 posted on 09/16/2009 7:12:37 PM PDT by Charles Martel (NRA Lifetime Member since 1984; TSRA rookie)
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To: Yardstick; MaxMax
Blankpain translates from the French as “Whitebread” I believe.

That's correct. I was wondering if anyone else caught the humor (and irony) in that name.../g

15 posted on 09/16/2009 7:17:37 PM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: Decombobulator

“Stay thirsty my friends.”


16 posted on 09/16/2009 7:19:49 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: Graybeard58

ROFL, that’s the best picture of Helen Thomas I’ve ever seen.


17 posted on 09/16/2009 7:22:58 PM PDT by rllngrk33 (0bama, proof we can no longer underestimate the stupidity of the voters.)
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To: Yardstick

>> Blancpain translates from the French as “Whitebread” I believe.

Yup, correct - and they are all damned expensive. Rolex watches are, BTW, considered a “commodity” by the industry. Blancpains are nice cuz’ the “involuntary wealth reallocating workers” don’ know what deys is - ‘till now.


18 posted on 09/16/2009 7:43:41 PM PDT by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
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To: Graybeard58

Thank you thank you thank you!


19 posted on 09/16/2009 7:44:00 PM PDT by mcshot (My President will be honest, transparent, open and have a legitimate birth certificate.)
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To: QBFimi

Oh, yeah, and don’t waste your money - buy a $20 Wally*Mart special, wear it for 6 years then trash can it when it coughs.

It’ll keep better time.


20 posted on 09/16/2009 7:46:16 PM PDT by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
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