---o0o---
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Moscow Sculptures: Children are the Victims of Adult Vices
By Jack Brummet, Arts & Travel Ed.
In Moscow a few years ago, I had to talk my Kremlin guide into taking me to see these sculptures on the Moscow River. She said they had always spooked her and she waited up the street while I took them in.
The sculptures by Mihail Chemiakin, "Children are the Victims of Adult Vices," depict 13 vices: alcoholism, child labor, indifference, drug addiction, prostitution, sadism, ignorance, pseudoscience, war, poverty, theft, capital punishment, and violence.
In Moscow a few years ago, I had to talk my Kremlin guide into taking me to see these sculptures on the Moscow River. She said they had always spooked her and she waited up the street while I took them in.
The sculptures by Mihail Chemiakin, "Children are the Victims of Adult Vices," depict 13 vices: alcoholism, child labor, indifference, drug addiction, prostitution, sadism, ignorance, pseudoscience, war, poverty, theft, capital punishment, and violence.
---o0o---
Thursday, September 01, 2016
The Soviet human-ape hybrid
By Jack Brummet, Genetics Ed.
The Human-Ape Hybrid
For decades dark rumors circulated alleging that the Soviets had conducted experiments to try to create a human-ape hybrid by breeding chimpanzees and humans, but it wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of Russian archives that the rumors were confirmed.
Dr. Il'ya Ivanov was a world-renowned expert on veterinary reproductive biology, but he wanted to do more in life than breed fatter cows. So in 1927 he traveled to Africa to pursue his vision of interbreeding man and ape.
Thankfully his efforts weren't successful. This was due both to genetics, and to the native staff of the West Guinea research facility where he worked, from whom he constantly had to conceal the true purpose of his experiments. If they had found out what he was really doing, he wrote in his diary, "this could have led to very unpleasant consequences." The necessity of carrying out his work in secrecy made it almost impossible to do anything, although he did record two unsuccessful attempts to artificially inseminate female chimpanzees with human sperm.
Frustrated, Ivanov eventually returned to the Soviet Union. He brought an orangutan named Tarzan back with him, hoping to continue his research in a more accepting environment. Back home he advertised for female volunteers willing to carry Tarzan's child, and remarkably he got a few takers. But then Tarzan died and Ivanov himself, suspected of harboring counter-revolutionary sentiments, was sent off to a prison camp for a couple of years. This ended his research. There are vague rumors suggesting that other Soviet scientists continued Ivanov's work, but nothing has been proven.
---o0o---
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Nude Russians playing horseback? Giddyup!
By Jack Brummet
The provenance of this photo is unknown, but it is probably from Russia (photo was posted by Kerim Ragimov. a Facebook friend, and Tin Eye found the image on several Russian websites).
The provenance of this photo is unknown, but it is probably from Russia (photo was posted by Kerim Ragimov. a Facebook friend, and Tin Eye found the image on several Russian websites).
---o0o---
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Сибирский костюм для охоты на медведя, 1800 год
This is from a Russian Facebook friend. I don't know what it says, but I love the image.
"Сибирский костюм для охоты на медведя, 1800 год"
According to Steve, in the comments, the translation is: "It says "Siberian costume/outfit for bear
hunting".
"Сибирский костюм для охоты на медведя, 1800 год"
According to Steve, in the comments, the translation is: "It says "Siberian costume/outfit for bear
hunting".
---o0o---
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Friday, January 09, 2015
Countries I've visited via MapLoco
By Jack Brummet, Travel Ed.
China, Mexico, Canada, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, England, India, Colombia, Russia, Turkey
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
China, Mexico, Canada, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, England, India, Colombia, Russia, Turkey
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
---o0o---
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Run, Rudolph, Run: a reindeer watches a German bomb strike over Russia
A confused reindeer watches German planes bombing Mourmansk, Russia in 1941. Photograph by Yevgeny Khaldey.
---o0o---
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, August 26, 2013
Ivanov's landing: pilot error at the Gatchina Military Flying School
By Jack Brummet, Travel Ed.
Flying cadets, circa 1914, at the Gatchina Military Flying School near Petrograd, point fingers at student pilot “Ivanov" after the crash landing in which he "injured only his dignity." This image is from the collection of Alexander Riaboff (1895-1984) who served in the Russian Army Air Service and trained at Gatchina. Riaboff is one of the cadets pointing fingers at Ivanov.
Flying cadets, circa 1914, at the Gatchina Military Flying School near Petrograd, point fingers at student pilot “Ivanov" after the crash landing in which he "injured only his dignity." This image is from the collection of Alexander Riaboff (1895-1984) who served in the Russian Army Air Service and trained at Gatchina. Riaboff is one of the cadets pointing fingers at Ivanov.
[Image Number: SI-90-5858 Credit: National Air and Space Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution]"
---o0o---
Friday, August 16, 2013
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Emperor Peter I's Russian Beard Tax
By Jack Brummet, American beard owner
“In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a “beard token”. This was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other, the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was inscribed with two phrases: “the beard tax has been taken” and “the beard is a superfluous burden”.” [From Wikipedia]
1705: Beard Tax Token:
“In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a “beard token”. This was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other, the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was inscribed with two phrases: “the beard tax has been taken” and “the beard is a superfluous burden”.” [From Wikipedia]
1705: Beard Tax Token:
---o0o---
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The Russians know how to sell tampons (listen up Madison Avenue)
By Mona Goldwater, Social Mores Ed.
The Russians have their own take on tampon commercials. . . not fields of wildflowers, close-ups of dates nuzzling, horse riding, or dancing.
The Russians have their own take on tampon commercials. . . not fields of wildflowers, close-ups of dates nuzzling, horse riding, or dancing.
---o0o---
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The new WikiLeaks dump: a billion words generated by SoS Henry Kissinger (+ bonus cables on the Russians needing more Joni Mitchell, CSNY, Neil Young, Don McLean, James Taylor, and Bob Dylan)
By Jack Brummet, International Intrigue Ed.
WikiLeaks has just released the the "Kissinger Cables," a collection of over 1.7 million pieces of diplomatic communications. One billion words generated from 1973-76, when Henry Kissinger served as our Cold War Secretary of State/ Détente during the slow spinning down of the Soviet Union. There is so much material here that you can find almost anything— like, say, the Russian thirst for soft rock.
This new release is five times the size of Cablegate, the original WikiLeaks dump published incrementally from 2010-2011. I billion words is roughly the size of 125 novels (averaging 80,000 word per novel).
I've only read a few of the articles, but one of the more interesting threads in the release is the Russian thirst for American "soft rock:"
Search for "Joni Mitchell," for example, "and you'll find communications between the U.S. embassy in Moscow and the State Department, asking for more Mitchell and Don McLean in Russian lives — and to a lesser extent Neil Young — because, well, that's the Russians wanted in January 1975." -(From TheAtlanticWire.com).
Images from cables in the release:
Somehow, The Eagles and Jackson Brown did not make the list, although this cable seems to hint that they would be perfect Rock Ambassadors.
WikiLeaks has just released the the "Kissinger Cables," a collection of over 1.7 million pieces of diplomatic communications. One billion words generated from 1973-76, when Henry Kissinger served as our Cold War Secretary of State/ Détente during the slow spinning down of the Soviet Union. There is so much material here that you can find almost anything— like, say, the Russian thirst for soft rock.
This new release is five times the size of Cablegate, the original WikiLeaks dump published incrementally from 2010-2011. I billion words is roughly the size of 125 novels (averaging 80,000 word per novel).
I've only read a few of the articles, but one of the more interesting threads in the release is the Russian thirst for American "soft rock:"
Search for "Joni Mitchell," for example, "and you'll find communications between the U.S. embassy in Moscow and the State Department, asking for more Mitchell and Don McLean in Russian lives — and to a lesser extent Neil Young — because, well, that's the Russians wanted in January 1975." -(From TheAtlanticWire.com).
Images from cables in the release:
Somehow, The Eagles and Jackson Brown did not make the list, although this cable seems to hint that they would be perfect Rock Ambassadors.
---o0o---
Monday, November 05, 2012
The Kremlin Clock Tower
By Jack Brummet, Russian Travel Editor
The 500 year old Kremlin Clock (Russian: Кремлёвские часы; Kremlyovskiye chasy) is an often rebuilt clock on Spasskaya Tower in The Kremlin. The clock dial is above the main gates leading into Red Square. The clock chimes on the quarter hour, and bells toll each full hour. According to various historical accounts, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower appeared between 1491 and 1585. It has been tinkered with, rebuilt, music added, clockworks re-engineered, and of course, the clock dials have been updated, re-gilded, and more.
It was pretty cool seeing it in person, although there were so many other fantastic buildings, churches, and sculptures that it almost becomes lost among all the other great sights. I remember when I was young, they would often show the clock tower in reports on The Kremlin (our cold war enemies). U.S. News, however, would more often show some grim, great Soviet building (there are only a couple of that style)--they almost never showed the great churches or towers.
The four Kremlin clock faces are 20 feet in diameter, with one on all four sides of the tower. The Roman numerals are two and a half feet tall. The length of the hour hand is nearly ten feet, and of the minute hand nearly eleven feet. The total weight of clock and bells is 25 tons (or about 1/8 the weight of the gigantic Czar Bell on the plaza.
The 500 year old Kremlin Clock (Russian: Кремлёвские часы; Kremlyovskiye chasy) is an often rebuilt clock on Spasskaya Tower in The Kremlin. The clock dial is above the main gates leading into Red Square. The clock chimes on the quarter hour, and bells toll each full hour. According to various historical accounts, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower appeared between 1491 and 1585. It has been tinkered with, rebuilt, music added, clockworks re-engineered, and of course, the clock dials have been updated, re-gilded, and more.
It was pretty cool seeing it in person, although there were so many other fantastic buildings, churches, and sculptures that it almost becomes lost among all the other great sights. I remember when I was young, they would often show the clock tower in reports on The Kremlin (our cold war enemies). U.S. News, however, would more often show some grim, great Soviet building (there are only a couple of that style)--they almost never showed the great churches or towers.
The four Kremlin clock faces are 20 feet in diameter, with one on all four sides of the tower. The Roman numerals are two and a half feet tall. The length of the hour hand is nearly ten feet, and of the minute hand nearly eleven feet. The total weight of clock and bells is 25 tons (or about 1/8 the weight of the gigantic Czar Bell on the plaza.
---o0o---
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Interactive video at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport
By Jack Brummet, Russia Travel Editor
This photo is from Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow. I only had a minute, but wanted to explore this interactive exhibit more. Of course, I couldn't read the instructions or details about this, but you stand on two footprint silhouettes in front of a giant monitor. After a minute, four furry creatures begin cavorting around you on screen. I only stayed for a few seconds, and don't know how far this goes. But I felt like we would be seeing a lot more of these sorts of interactive displays in the future.
I guess, eventually, it could show just how you would look in that suit or dress you were looking at, or show you in your fab new kitchen or on the deck of your new boat. Better yet, it will put you into a Zelig world, with you as the star of any number of scenes, imagined and historical. This was done better than what I've seen done online with faces on on the Wii or Kinect. This is still in its infancy, I'm sure, but it has a lot of interesting possibilities.
This photo is from Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow. I only had a minute, but wanted to explore this interactive exhibit more. Of course, I couldn't read the instructions or details about this, but you stand on two footprint silhouettes in front of a giant monitor. After a minute, four furry creatures begin cavorting around you on screen. I only stayed for a few seconds, and don't know how far this goes. But I felt like we would be seeing a lot more of these sorts of interactive displays in the future.
I guess, eventually, it could show just how you would look in that suit or dress you were looking at, or show you in your fab new kitchen or on the deck of your new boat. Better yet, it will put you into a Zelig world, with you as the star of any number of scenes, imagined and historical. This was done better than what I've seen done online with faces on on the Wii or Kinect. This is still in its infancy, I'm sure, but it has a lot of interesting possibilities.
---o0o---
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Ring my bell: The Tsar Bell/Царь–колокол (and one more Russian "biggest ever)"
By Jack Brummet, Kremlin Editor
The Tsar/Czar's Bell is 20 feet tall and sits on a little stone pedestal on the Kremlin grounds. It was commissioned by Peter the Great's niece, Empress Anna Ivanovna. It was broken while they casted the bronze, and has never been rung. It weighs nearly 200 tons. That broken chunk you see resting on it weights eleven tons itself.
The bell was cracked when there was a fire with the superstructure (which was wooden) while it was being tempered and decorated. After a year or so of cooling, the fire broke out in 1737. The guards poured water onto the bell and structure in order to save it. The water caused 11 cracks in the bell, and the chink you see broke off.
For some period of time, the bell actually served as a chapel; you walked in through the doorway created by the cracked section. And it has sat in the same spot on the Kremlin grounds for 260 years. Naturally, like with their world's largest cannon, it's the biggest and baddest ever. But is it a bell if it is still unrung?
The Tsar/Czar's Bell is 20 feet tall and sits on a little stone pedestal on the Kremlin grounds. It was commissioned by Peter the Great's niece, Empress Anna Ivanovna. It was broken while they casted the bronze, and has never been rung. It weighs nearly 200 tons. That broken chunk you see resting on it weights eleven tons itself.
The bell was cracked when there was a fire with the superstructure (which was wooden) while it was being tempered and decorated. After a year or so of cooling, the fire broke out in 1737. The guards poured water onto the bell and structure in order to save it. The water caused 11 cracks in the bell, and the chink you see broke off.
For some period of time, the bell actually served as a chapel; you walked in through the doorway created by the cracked section. And it has sat in the same spot on the Kremlin grounds for 260 years. Naturally, like with their world's largest cannon, it's the biggest and baddest ever. But is it a bell if it is still unrung?
---o0o---
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Photographs of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
By Jack Brummet, Moscow Travel Editor
[click photos to enlarge]
---o0o---
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)