October 18, 2018

Of Rockets and Ruptures


Of Rockets and Ruptures
Skyfall (the not-so-good type)

1. Baikonur, we have a problem. A Russian Soyuz rocket launch failure led to an emergency landing this week. It is not known what triggered a failure signal inside the shuttle, but once the system registered failure, the emergency landing procedure automatically began. Luckily, the emergency landing was successful and the crew, one Russian and one American, both heading for the International Space Station, escaped without a scratch. However, the failure has put future Russian launches on hold, thwarting American short-term ambitions in space as well. Instead of a giant leap, this is a not-so-small step back.

Astronauts safe

Photo: NASA

2. What job is so appealing that 80 people will apply for it (and no, the money’s not great)? Being the official town cat chief! Zelenogradsk recently decided to hire a person to take care of the town’s beloved stray cats. This town’s feline fixation isn’t new; it already has Murarium, a museum entirely devoted to cats. In this new role the town’s cat chief, Svetlana Logunova, is to feed the cats, pet them all they want, and even give them rides in her official bicycle. In addition to her bicycle, Svetlana’s uniform consists of a bright green jacket, black bow tie, and a hat. Everything about this is absolutely purr-fect.

Cat lady for hire

Photo: Kristina Cheryomushkina

3. The Orthodox Church is going through a nasty family feud. This week the Russian Orthodox Church announced that it was severing all relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is the seat of the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians. This break is in response to Constantinople’s approval of an independent Ukrainian church that is separate from the Russian one. The split is itself largely a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, an act that, suffice it to say, soured Russian-Ukrainian relations.

In Odder News:

Trump, help!

Photo: FlashNord

  • In Trump We Trust: One Russian politician asked US President Donald Trump for help in a business dispute

  • Have you ever thought about all the similarities among Russian cities? Well, you’re not alone.

  • Remember Russia’s iPhone obsession? Well, here’s another example: Dagestan is offering an iPhone to the person who can report the most hate speech on the internet

Quote of the Week:

"I alone cannot care for every single one and a helping hand would go a long way”

— Zelenogradsk cat chief Svetlana Logunova, making an offer we suspect few will refuse

Want more where this comes from? Give your inbox the gift of TWERF, our Thursday newsletter on the quirkiest, obscurest, and Russianest of Russian happenings of the week.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Moscow Eccentric

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.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
22 Russian Crosswords

22 Russian Crosswords

Test your knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and society with these 22 challenging puzzles taken from the pages of Russian Life magazine. Most all the clues are in English, but you must fill in the answers in Russian. If you get stumped, of course all the puzzles have answers printed at the back of the book.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
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.
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.  
The Little Humpbacked Horse

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.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
Moscow and Muscovites

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955