Under-modernization

Dear editors!

The most important event in the history of progressive humanity that took place last week was, of course, the speech of our beloved President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev before the Federal Assembly. In front of both his chambers. It gave countless food for thought to deputies, officials, politicians, political scientists and other people who make up the color of our society. For a long time they will wonder which of our leaders will run for president in the next elections and which will run for prime minister. But that’s why they are put in their places, to talk about such fateful things, and we are simple people, the very essence of the message that the President expressed to us is important to us.

And so, looking at this very essence, I must traditionally express my deepest satisfaction: our leader spoke about all the most important things. First of all, about children and caring for them. “Caring for future generations is the most reliable, smart and noble investment,” that’s what he said. Very correct! And, frankly speaking, I was not the only one who saw the most important party line in the topic of children. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov not only thinks the same way, but also believes that members of the Russian government can literally take the President’s desire to see more than three children in families and implement it by their own example: “Some of the government members can certainly start this implement. We already have such examples.” Indeed, it would be a wonderful example for all of us if members of the government began to try in this direction.

But, of course, with all the priority of the topic of childhood, a systemic approach does not dictate that we limit ourselves to it, so the President touched upon a wide range of issues: he spoke about agriculture and teachers, the need to reform the public procurement system and the development of local self-government, and much, much more.

Naturally, Dmitry Anatolyevich also touched upon issues related to science. He said that in the coming years, more than 20 trillion rubles will be allocated for the task of creating a new - high-tech and mobile - army, and noted: “You may like it or not, but in different periods of history, science and technology were driven forward by security needs and investments states into new technical solutions in the field of defense." Everything is true, down to the last comma! And I’m already rubbing my hands in advance - some crumbs of war money will reach us!

Of course, many signs of improvement are already visible. Including at my native Moscow State University. What the President himself drew attention to: “Another topic. The world ranking (the so-called top 500) of supercomputers today includes 11 Russian systems. Next year, the productivity of the domestic Lomonosov supercomputer will increase by more than 2.5 times, and it will become one of the most powerful computing machines in the world.” True, they say that our most powerful supercomputer, although Lomonosov, still cannot work properly. Well, what difference does it make - even in this form it serves for national pride, and from next year it will serve these purposes two and a half times more effectively.

And, by the way, I remember one incident that my colleagues told me about with indignation. They said that recently there had been a change in signs indicating the name of one of the streets flowing into Leninsky Prospekt: ​​Academician Nesmeyanov Street turned into Academician Nesmiyanov Street. Colleagues were indignant at the inattention - after all, a famous person was the rector of Moscow State University and the president of the USSR Academy of Sciences, not good. Today, they say, Nesmiyanova Street, and tomorrow - Gogarin Square.

They were indignant, but I thought: this is another sign of modernization, its bright sign. In which, so to speak, like a drop of water, her logic was reflected. From the same series as the breakthrough Skolkovo project or attracting creative youth from Seliger to the innovation sphere. It's simple: our language is overcomplicated and redundant. And, tell me, what’s the point of thinking about whether to write “appeal” or “application” - let it be written as it is heard, everyone will understand anyway. Can you imagine how much time, if the situation does not change, will continue to be wasted on these fruitless thoughts? Especially young people from Seliger. What is a little confusing is the half-heartedness, under-modernization - on the other side of the street there is still a sign “Academician Nesmeyanov”. We need to modernize more carefully, as they say!

Yours Ivan Ekonomov