Russia! Staff
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President Medvedev Addresses the Nation, Facebook Users

It’s no secret that Russians disproportionately adore the New Year. At least we used to, back in Brezhnev’s early ’80s, when it was the only truly private holiday aside from one’s birthday: intimate, all-inclusive, apolitical, non-denominational.

The New Year feast in people's homes across the country is always preceded by the televised Russian Head of State's speech. Russians do watch it, especially so since Boris Yeltsin announced his immediate resignation during one of these, 10 years ago.

Since Russia spans over 11 time zones, the President's address is strategically orchestrated to be broadcasted at 11.59 PM in every timezone, from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad. Russian bloggers tried to tape the address in Vladivostok and post it online when it was still 5 PM in Moscow and people were still cutting potatoes for the Olivie salad.

This year, thanks to the magic of Facebook, President Medvedev addressed not only the nation divided by time zones, but the world. Whole 6 hours before the New Year in Moscow. Who is going to watch the New Year TV programming now?


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