January 22, 2009

Taking a Break

The murder of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova has taken away my desire to report on Russia’s absurdities here. Watching events in the US has also diverted my attention. And it’s just really busy in Moscow these days.

So on hiatus til further notice.

Meanwhile, here’s a site that brings together a bunch of different Russia blogs, I’m sure you can find entertainment there: www.russiannewsonline.com/russia-blogs

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January 19, 2009

Only in Russia …

The below was sent out to a media mailing list earlier today:

Коллеги, добрый день!

Я готовлю материал о том, как себя вести, если в вашем офисе проводится обыск.

Нет ли у вас знакомых, которые пережили маски-шоу на работе? Если они готовы поделиться со мной своими впечатлениями, я буду весьма признательна их контактам. Спасибо,

Respectfully,
Elena Rykova,
RB.ru/editor

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“ People are freaked by red,” Fairey says. Perhaps flashing on socialist constructivist propaganda? “But I say don’t let the Soviets steal our red. Red is a good primary color,” he says.

- Shepard Fairey, the artist who designed the iconic Obama “Hope” poster, explains his technique and color choices.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/style/features/2008/obama-poster-051808/graphic.html?sid=ST2008051602005

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Impressive Driving

rdlf:

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January 18, 2009

More of the Absurd

So the Russian media tonight have gone a bit mad reporting that Saakashvili won’t be attending Obama’s inauguration. Last week, I heard stories about Russians furiously discussing among themselves whether Putin or Medvedev would go. I don’t know what’s wrong with this place. No foreign leaders, as is standard practice, are invited to the inauguration. Why must conspiracy be seen everywhere?

No Saakashvili invite!: http://www.gazeta.ru/news/lenta/2009/01/18/n_1318741.shtml

Because no foreign leaders invited!: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/12/washington/AP-Obama-Inauguration-Foreign.html

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One day in December, Putin stopped by the St Petersburg Christmas Market and painted the artwork above, called “Pattern on a Frosted Window.” It went for 37 million rubles ($1.14 million) at a charity auction yesterday, scooped up by Natalya Kurnikova, a Moscow gallery owner.

One day in December, Putin stopped by the St Petersburg Christmas Market and painted the artwork above, called “Pattern on a Frosted Window.” It went for 37 million rubles ($1.14 million) at a charity auction yesterday, scooped up by Natalya Kurnikova, a Moscow gallery owner.

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Trailer for Generation P, the film based on the popular novel by Viktor Pelevin.

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January 17, 2009
Better late than never. According to Echo Moskvy and Tvoi Den, a drunk Marat Safin got in a fight with the 18-year-old son of Fyodor Bondarchuk, leading to his bruised face at Perth (see previous posts). An 18 year old?? Not nearly as exciting as imagined, maybe that’s why Safin was so low key about it. Click the photo for the story (in Russian).

Better late than never. According to Echo Moskvy and Tvoi Den, a drunk Marat Safin got in a fight with the 18-year-old son of Fyodor Bondarchuk, leading to his bruised face at Perth (see previous posts).

An 18 year old?? Not nearly as exciting as imagined, maybe that’s why Safin was so low key about it. Click the photo for the story (in Russian).

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January 14, 2009
Umar Israilov, a former bodyguard for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who went on to publicly and harshly criticize the man, was shot dead outside a grocery shop in Vienna, where he was living (as a political refugee) since accusing Kadyrov and his crew of torture. “Ramzan is a very powerful man and he can have anyone killed,” Israilov told The New York Times last year. In 2006, Kadyrov shook off accusations that he had a hand in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya with the tactful phrase: “I don’t kill women.” Click the photo for the story of Israilov’s murder.

Umar Israilov, a former bodyguard for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who went on to publicly and harshly criticize the man, was shot dead outside a grocery shop in Vienna, where he was living (as a political refugee) since accusing Kadyrov and his crew of torture.

“Ramzan is a very powerful man and he can have anyone killed,” Israilov told The New York Times last year.

In 2006, Kadyrov shook off accusations that he had a hand in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya with the tactful phrase: “I don’t kill women.”

Click the photo for the story of Israilov’s murder.

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January 12, 2009
Click the photo above for a fabulous series of photos from LIFE magazine (1959). A bunch of Dior models frolicking around Moscow and GUM. The looks on people’s faces are priceless.

Click the photo above for a fabulous series of photos from LIFE magazine (1959). A bunch of Dior models frolicking around Moscow and GUM. The looks on people’s faces are priceless.

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