December 01, 2020

Deadly Drinks


Deadly Drinks
You won't believe what these friends tried to drink. Image by Simsala111 via Wikimedia Commons

With the coronavirus pandemic forcing people to stay at home, many are turning to creative ideas to keep themselves entertained. One group of friends in Russia’s Siberian Sakha Republic unfortunately tried a new idea that did not work out so well: they drank hand sanitizer at a party; seven people died.

Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, or Rospotrebnadzor, released a statement detailing the incident. Reportedly, a group of nine people bought a five-liter container of hand sanitizer that contained almost 70% methanol, a type of alcohol that is lethal to humans when more than 30 grams is ingested. Three people, two men and one woman, died immediately after drinking the hand sanitizer, while six more were transferred to  Yakutsk for medical treatment. Four of those did not survive, while the other two are in a coma.

The local branch of Rospotrebnadzor has ordered that the hand sanitizer in question be removed from stores in the region.

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Some of our Books

Faith & Humor
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Faith & Humor

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.

Little Golden Calf
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Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Fearful Majesty
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Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

At the Circus
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At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

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