November 01, 2018

Warm Feelings for the Cool Weather


Warm Feelings for the Cool Weather
Some Treats to Offset Any Halloween Tricks

1. Here’s a story that’ll make you wag your tail. A man and his dog in Krasnoyarsk survived alone for three weeks in the Siberian wilderness after a bear-driven wrong turn during a mushroom-picking excursion. Viktor Vinogradov cooked mice for his dog, Thor, and the two shared a half-bottle of cooking oil that they found in a hunter’s hut. Eventually, Vinogradov and Thor found a group of forest workers and then made their way home. If this man and dog weren’t best friends before this, we’re sure they are now.

Thor is home

Photo: Rossiya TV

2. For the love of languages! This week, President Putin signed a decree that established a foundation to preserve the native languages of Russia. The organization will be based in Moscow and will be funded through a mixture of federal funding and donations. This is a response to concerns over the decline of the many native languages of Russia, which were further put at risk by restrictions on education in these native languages. The new foundation will encourage both the preservation and the study of these precious languages.

3. There must be something in the water… shark memes are making big waves in Russia these days. Specifically, Russians are laughing themself silly over Blåhaj, an Ikea-produced stuffed shark, who they like putting in relatable situations. Apparently, something about the shark’s expression makes it the perfect avenue for human expression. However, Blåhaj’s popularity is double-edged, as apparently they are now out of stock!

The sharks of business

Photo: @akula_innokentiy

In Odder News:

Tuapse flooded

Photo: angelika6969

  • This actually is scary: floods in Krasnodar’s Tuapse are taking everything along with them

  • Now for the even worse news: if you like the shawarma joints in Moscow, you’re out of luck. All 252 of them were found to violate health regulations!

  • Hot potato! One Russian official threw his bribe out of the car while being chased by police

Quote of the Week:

“Dad hunted mice and cooked them over a fire for the dog. Later they found a hunter's hut and a half-bottle of cooking oil, which they rationed out between them. It was enough to keep their strength up.”

Tatiana, daughter of Viktor Vinogradov, tells his (and Thor’s!) story


~And a special thanks to David Edwards for the story about Viktor and Thor!~

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Moscow and Muscovites

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Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

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The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

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Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
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.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

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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.

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