October 18, 2018

Of Rockets and Ruptures


Of Rockets and Ruptures
Skyfall (the not-so-good type)

1. Baikonur, we have a problem. A Russian Soyuz rocket launch failure led to an emergency landing this week. It is not known what triggered a failure signal inside the shuttle, but once the system registered failure, the emergency landing procedure automatically began. Luckily, the emergency landing was successful and the crew, one Russian and one American, both heading for the International Space Station, escaped without a scratch. However, the failure has put future Russian launches on hold, thwarting American short-term ambitions in space as well. Instead of a giant leap, this is a not-so-small step back.

Astronauts safe

Photo: NASA

2. What job is so appealing that 80 people will apply for it (and no, the money’s not great)? Being the official town cat chief! Zelenogradsk recently decided to hire a person to take care of the town’s beloved stray cats. This town’s feline fixation isn’t new; it already has Murarium, a museum entirely devoted to cats. In this new role the town’s cat chief, Svetlana Logunova, is to feed the cats, pet them all they want, and even give them rides in her official bicycle. In addition to her bicycle, Svetlana’s uniform consists of a bright green jacket, black bow tie, and a hat. Everything about this is absolutely purr-fect.

Cat lady for hire

Photo: Kristina Cheryomushkina

3. The Orthodox Church is going through a nasty family feud. This week the Russian Orthodox Church announced that it was severing all relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is the seat of the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians. This break is in response to Constantinople’s approval of an independent Ukrainian church that is separate from the Russian one. The split is itself largely a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, an act that, suffice it to say, soured Russian-Ukrainian relations.

In Odder News:

Trump, help!

Photo: FlashNord

  • In Trump We Trust: One Russian politician asked US President Donald Trump for help in a business dispute

  • Have you ever thought about all the similarities among Russian cities? Well, you’re not alone.

  • Remember Russia’s iPhone obsession? Well, here’s another example: Dagestan is offering an iPhone to the person who can report the most hate speech on the internet

Quote of the Week:

"I alone cannot care for every single one and a helping hand would go a long way”

— Zelenogradsk cat chief Svetlana Logunova, making an offer we suspect few will refuse

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Some of our Books

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

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.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

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.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

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.

The Latchkey Murders
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The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Russian Rules
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Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

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.

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