January 26, 2018

Moon Colonies and Molotov Modernism


Moon Colonies and Molotov Modernism
Eccentrics, Animals, and Artsy Art

1. That’s no moon – it’s a space colony on the moon. If you’re not happy with the lot Earth gave you, you can now become a citizen of Asgardia, the first extraterrestrial state. Founded by former defense industry leader Igor Ashurbeyli, the “space kingdom” already outsizes Kiribati and Andorra, with 170,000 Asgardians who signed up for citizenship online. Ashurbeyli is certain it’s only a matter of time before Asgardia attains UN membership and establishes its moon colony.

2. Real modern art is flammable. That was the idea behind a Russian artist’s postmodern statement of throwing Molotov cocktails at the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London. And it wasn’t just because “Alexander Art,” as he calls himself, thought the gallery wasn’t modern enough. He was protesting “tatecide,” his catchphrase for the Tate’s alleged anti-art attitude, as he claims that security guards destroyed his installation-in-progress outside the gallery. The Molotovs left no mark on the building, but the act is an artistic statement in itself. That’s how modern art works, right?

3. The Don Juan of Siberian Leopards is on the prowl. The world’s most endangered big cat, the Amur Leopard, has seemed to be on its ninth life for awhile. However, researchers were excited to see a male leopard, aptly named Lord, courting three female leopards in their nature reserve in eastern Russia. Researchers previously thought that these leopards only took one partner, but clearly Lord is taking one for the team in order to save his species. So much for leopards not changing their spots.

In Odder News
  • Geography goes bestial: check out these historical European maps that put the cartoon in cartography with depictions of Russia as a bear (duh), an octopus, and even a steamroller.

  • When Russian aviation cadets twerked an homage to the classic “Satisfaction,” their superiors were far from satisfied. While a public outcry has saved them from expulsion, they still face a dressing-down – or rather, dressing-up, as the lack of clothes was the problem in the first place.

  • It’s that time of year again when the outside world wonders whether Russians are crazy for jumping into icy water in January – but are also in awe of their cold tolerance and dedication to observing Epiphany. (By the way, the two shirtless men in a row is just a coincidence).   

Quote of the Week

“In my lifetime, I want to create a permanent settlement on the Moon and fly there. Everything else is just adventurism, insofar as the issue isn’t even technology but physiology...That’s why any talk about Mars is nothing more than idle chatter. I mean, yes you could buy yourself a one-way ticket, but that’s it. The Moon, on the other hand, why that’s something tangible, understandable, and nearby.”
—Igor Ashurbeyli, former head of a Russian defense conglomerate and current aspiring head of government in space, on his desired establishment of the nation on the Moon.

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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.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

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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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.

A Taste of Chekhov
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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.

Marooned in Moscow
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Marooned in Moscow

This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.

A Taste of Russia
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A Taste of Russia

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.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

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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