December 30, 2020

Bovine Brassieres


Bovine Brassieres
Nice and toasty. The Siberian Times

The village of Oymyakon is famous as the coldest place in Russia, with winter temperatures routinely hitting -50º Celsius (-58º Fahrenheit). Now, however, it's in the headlines for another reason: a farmer with an inventive solution to an annual problem.

Nikolay Atlasov, a dairy farmer and lifetime resident in the Sakha Republic town, created bras for his herd of five cows – to protect them from the cold – out of sheepskin and rabbit fur. Although the animals spend most of the winter in a warm shed, they do take daily walks outside.

According to the 70-year-old Altasov, by keeping the udders protected, he's reportedly saved two liters of milk in each cow. The rest of the cow beside the udder, however, is still exposed.

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The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

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.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

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.  
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
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Fish: A History of One Migration

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A Taste of Russia

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