Insults, Overpriced Benches, and Space Toilets

This week, we've got overpriced trash cans, insulting officials, and space poop. What more could you want?

• A recent Levada Center poll has found that almost half of Russians (49%) consider the fall of the USSR the most shameful fact about Russia in the twentieth century, beating out the typical leader of "poverty and disorder" by four points. Fortunately, though, twentieth-century Russian history isn't all bad.
• How much do you think three benches and fifteen metal trash cans might cost a city? If you guessed R3.3 million ($42,900), you're right. If you think that's way more than three benches and fifteen trash cans should cost, you're also right; by one estimate, it's about ten times too much. If you're wondering why we're asking this, it's because residents of Kineshma, Ivanovo region, are currently dealing with what could very well be a corruption scandal relating to the far-overpriced installation of benches and trash cans in a public park.
• The State Duma is currently debating a bill that would protect citizens from the rudeness and insults of officials, which, if there's a need for it (which apparently there is), is probably a good thing. If a Russian elected authority insults you, he or she could be on the hook for a fine ranging from R3,000 to R200,000 ($39 to $2600). The bill does not, however, address medieval siege tactics.
• Good news if you've been holding it: the toilet in the Russian segment of the International Space Station is back online. No, we aren't sure how they "went" without a toilet, although we're dying to find out.
• Sweet tooths, beware: support is growing for products with high sugar content to be labeled, similar to labelings in cigarettes and alcohol. Which is annoying, since we don't want to be reminded how bad eating a half (ok, a whole) pack of Oreos in one sitting really is for us.