Culture & Customs

In this week's Odder News: Putin's smartphone habits, Russian homophones make a headache for the police, and a coronavirus serenade.

Russian history is interesting. Not always beautiful, not always glorious, but almost always... interesting.

On the occasion of the great writer’s 160th birthday, we offer up one of his lesser-known classics, newly translated.

Ah, spring, when nature wakes from its winter slumber, and the farmers markets come alive with fresh greens like spinach, sorrel, and green onions.

Reviews of a history of punk rock and a novel about a not very likeable woman.

Ever wanted to take a stroll in nineteenth century Moscow? See how one Russian uses machine learning to make grainy old videos ever more realistic.

In which Russia discovers old frescoes, a lost grave, and a new PM. Among other news.

In this issue we look at the shape of things Russian.

“I noticed that there are places here, shall we say, for contemplation.” said a Duma deputy, referring to… the bathroom. He continued: “And when important issues are being discussed, they should broadcast it there.”

In this week's Odder News, regions work on ethnic villages, presidents get songs written about them, and coronavirus countermeasures take a surprising twist.

“Maslenitsa week is usually accompanied by all sorts of food excesses, including plentiful blini eating. And in this regard, any overeating is harmful to the body.”

– Member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection Dr. Boris Mendelevich on the potential pitfalls of eating too many blini