March 02, 2020

Crowdfunded $2.3 Million Will Save a Child


Crowdfunded $2.3 Million Will Save a Child
The five-month-old may not be able to talk yet, but her family can say “donation collection is closed” and “Thank you!” for her. Ovechkinaalice | Instagram

A family in Yekaterinburg raised 153 million rubles ($2.3 million) for medicine needed by their five-month-old daughter with spinal muscular atrophy. $440,000 came from a single anonymous donor.

The family used social media, live television and flashmobs to raise funds and awareness. The baby’s name is Alisa, and the fact that they succeeded in raising so much money is rather Alice-in-Wonderland magical. Fittingly, the parents called the anonymous donor that gave the final $440,000 a “super-magician.”

Crowdfunding for medical bills of children is not uncommon in Russia; news sites such as lenta.ru and television programs frequently feature calls for help, and donors can send money by text to the parents. Indeed, Russians are at their most generous when the lives of children are at stake. 

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93 Untranslatable Russian Words
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93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Moscow Eccentric
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The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

A Taste of Russia
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A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
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The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
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Murder and the Muse

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The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Bears in the Caviar
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Bears in the Caviar

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Jews in Service to the Tsar
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Jews in Service to the Tsar

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At the Circus

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Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

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