I love this description of a Nashi summer camp, found in the Washington Post:

In the middle of the camp stand large portraits of Other Russia’s leaders under the headline: “The Red Light Street.”

Other Russia’s three male leaders, including world Chess champion Garry Kasparov, are portrayed as prostitutes. In lurid colors they pout and pose in stockings, their faces frozen into feline grins.

“I didn’t know who those people were until I came here,” 20-year-old Lena from St Petersburg said as she walked past.

“Now I know they are fascists.”

Still, you know what they say - there’s no such thing as bad publicity.  Kasparov’s name recognition has just gotten another little boost.

Someone should really send this to Vladimir Putin, so that he knows his place in the world:

Courtesy of Plooptionary.

In case you missed it, here’s Google Russia’s take on this week’s decision to award to 2014 Winter Olympics to Sochi.

Those of you lucky enough to have upgraded to Windows Vista will have discovered the joys of Sidebar Gadgets by now.  But have you discovered the joys of Russian sidebar gadgets for Vista?? 

My favourite so far has to be the Russian Radio Player gadget.  In its tiny widget like frame it manages to fit the live streams of 67 Russian radio stations catering for every taste - from Хит ФМ (Hit FM) to Эхо Москвы (Echo of Moscow). 

I have to confess - I’ve not spent the evening listening to the cultured words of Эхо Москвы, favouring instead the cheesy pop of  Европа Плюс.

Also worth checking out is the Russian Word a Day sidebar gadget, for those days when you’re too lazy to reach for inspiration in the dictionary.  Combine this with the Russian Radion Player, and you’re guaranteed to increase your vocabulary!

With all these new toys to play with, it may be some time before you see the next blog post…

Wow Russia! is easily the coolest site of the week.

I mean, where else can you learn everything you need to know about Goodbye Youth shoes?   And the correct time to use the phrase: “Smotri! Golyi Putin!”

Now this is how I’d install a window!

Happily for window lovers everywhere, I’m not a window fitter…

There’s nothing like a good Russian Ninja story to brighten my day.

Italian police have arrested a Russian “ninja” who had been spreading fear across farmlands in the north of the country.

The man, camouflaged in an all black suit, had robbed several farmers and their families at knife point, police say.

Mosnews? Who needs Mosnews?

Mosnews used to be the premiere source for daft news about Russia, but over recent months, they seem to have shifted their focus to dull but worthy news.

Happily though, this week has marked a partial return to form, as evidenced by this story from Thursday:  “Woman arrested for smuggling nine parrots on her body.“

There’s a guy in my apartment block whose first name is Stalin.

Well, I thought it was interesting.

Anyway, you can learn more about Stalin (the former Soviet leader, not the guy who lives in my building) by visitng Wikipedia.

Update: While we’re on the subject of Stalin, this article made me chuckle: Stalin clears up unpaid bills.

Awards season must be upon us yet again. The Shoe Award, named in honour of the charming Nikita Khrushchev, aims to:

identify and decorate those who best exemplify either an irrational love of Mother Russia or a fanatical fear of the Bear or just an irrational fanaticism on a Russian scale.

Nominations to Russia Blog, please.

No really. That was the headline from a news report I just read.  Krasnoyarsk has just won an award for having the third best custom house in Siberia.

Krasnoyarsk custom house was listed third best in Siberia in the category “Best custom house team of the first category” for 2006. The first and the second in this category are Altai and Omsk custom houses. Irkutsk custom house was declared “Best internal customs station”. The contest for the best custom house teams was conducted by Siberian Custom House, Krasnoyarsk custom-house reported.

“Krasnoyarsk Airport” became winner in “Best custom house team in non-traffic” category.

The winners were chosen, according to such criteria as collection of customs duties, competence level, interaction of officials with foreign trade participants, discipline, sport and cultural work. A total of 19 custom houses participate in the contest.

I couldn’t find a copy of the Krasnoyarsk customs house to illustrate this article, so you’ll have to make do with one of Gorno Altai instead.

To celebrate 200 years of US-Russia relations (ahem), the US State Department have compiled a quiz.

Test yourself, and post your scores in the comments.  Highest scorer wins a gold star!

(Link courtesy of Lovimoment).

Via English Russia, Putin shows the wide range of emotions he can portray.

I don’t know. You’d think a man in his position would smile a little more.

Yes, I know. I’m never satisfied.

Mosnews reports that a pod of Black Sea dolphins tried to drown a swimmer who they saw as competition for their food:

The man, reportedly heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time, was some 30 metres from land, near a wave breakwater, and calling for help.

The dolphins attempting to push the man out to sea, witnesses said.

The emergency workers brought the man back to dry land after approaching the breakwater via a pier, and striking the water repeatedly with clubs, so as to frighten away the dolphins.

I sense a new series of blockbuster movies on the horizon…

(This post was brought to you by the Mosnews Appreciation Society).

Frankly, given that…

“Jokes about polonium 201 will be half as funny 138 days fom now”

…I’m surprised it took so long for the first one to come out of the woodwork.

(More available from Tim Worstall).