March 11, 2022

Blue and Yellow Lights


Blue and Yellow Lights
The Empire State Building, customized.  Screenshot, Twitter @EmpireStateBldg

A nation's flag is arguably the most symbolic and meaningful figure representing one's patriotism. Shortly following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, multiple cities and nations have shown their solidarity with Ukraine by raising the country's flag in their own way.

Landmarks across the globe are being lit with bright blue and yellow lights. While some may think it a small gesture that has no true effect, for many it symbolizes Ukrainian independence and patriotism in these unpredictable times

New York City, which holds the US' largest population of Ukrainians, has thus lit up the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center, the Mid-Hudson Bridge, and the Kosciuszko Bridge with shining blue and yellow lights.

The national flag of Ukraine is a simple yet meaningful design. The flag is a bicolor with blue on top and yellow on bottom, symbolizing blue skies over golden fields of grain. The design was adopted on January 28, 1992, shortly following Ukraine's independence.

Other examples of national and international landmarks that have shined blue and yellow: 

- The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

- The London Eye in Lambeth, London.

- The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

- The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

- Sundial Bridge in Redding, California.

- Dublin's Pedestrian Bridge, Veteran's Glass City Skyway Bridge, Cleveland Skyline, Licking County Courthouse, and the George V. Voinovich Bridge, all in Ohio.

- John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota, Florida.

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Life Stories

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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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.

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December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

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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.

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