September 25, 2020

Stumped


Stumped
Fortunately, stumps are impartial to the outcome of votes. Safron Golikov, Kommersant.ru

Social media photos of Russians voting in this summer's constitutional referendum on tree stumps caused a stir on the internet. In response, Russia's election commission performed a "large-scale investigation" into tree stumps used as polling places. Only three cases were found.

Whether that's a lot or very few is up to the reader.

The internet outrage began with a photo of a ballot box on a stump in the town of Ulyanovsk. It was revealed that an elderly citizen had requested this location, as it was accessible and near their home. Another, in Bryansk, was placed on a stump for a similar reason, to accommodate an elderly neighbor with pneumonia.

Another, in the Vladimir region, was a popular meeting place in the middle of town, a convenient spot for the voting masses.

"The rest of the stumps that the election commissions was reproached for using during the all-Russian vote turned out to be fakes," noted the election commission.

That's a good thing, we think. We'd hate to see how tree spirits take to the Russian constitution.

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Survival Russian
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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.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

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.

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In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

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. 

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

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The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

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