Russia Tries to Save the World

This scares the hell out of me. No, really. It scares me almost as much as those 2012 end-of-the-world theories. I mean ... damn!

Russia Talks of Plans to Divert Asteroid
The leader of Russia’s space agency said this week that the country is considering plans to divert an asteroid thought to possibly be on a collision course with the Earth.

Anatoly Perminov told the Voice of Russia that plans were being discussed in closed-door meetings for a mission to divert the asteroid, known as Apophis.

However, international estimates differ on the likelihood of the asteroid making an impact with the planet. Read the full story here ...

Presidential Pads

Check out these sweet pads. I wonder how all the ex-communists feel about the president having more than 10 houses.

The Russian President's Cribs
With a job that keeps him on the move, the president of Russia naturally requires multiple places throughout the country to which he can retreat. Here is a look at some of the places Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders have called home at one time or another. Read the full story here ...

Russians Create 9/11 Statue

Here's something you don't see every day. Even though this is a couple of years old, it's still nice to be reminded that Russia and the U.S. are not strictly in competition with each other. As a Russian-American, this is the kind of inter-cultural partnership stuff I like to see. Good times.

Russian Artist Creates Sept. 11 Memorial
Despite a history of competition and sometimes tense relations, Russia and the United States do share a deep-seated respect for each other. That is what is evident from the installation of a little-known monument that a Russian artist erected in New Jersey to honor the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Following the 2001 attacks, renowned Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli decided to create the monument, having been moved by the outpouring of grief he observed in Moscow. He visited the site of the attack and the surrounding areas and ultimately chose Bayonne, New Jersey – across the river from the attack site as well as the Statue of Liberty – as the location for the monument. Read the full story here ...

Women's Top Pet Peeves ... Or Something Like It

The only one of these that seems somewhat reasonable to me is the first one - selfishness. But even the reasoning behind that one is a little iffy. The rest of the list kind of seems like one woman's complaints about her husband, rather than a poll of many women. I guess it's still kind of cute. What do you think?

Russian Newspaper Takes Poll of Women's Pet Peeves
Pravda, a Russian newspaper, recently conducted an opinion poll of women to determine their top pet peeves toward their husbands. Some of the answers were more surprising than others.

The Top Pet Peeve

Coming in at No. 1 on the list was “selfishness,” which the paper noted is the basis for many other pet peeves women have with men. They attribute men’s selfishness to an underlying feeling of loneliness due to their inability to bear children. Whether or not you agree with this analysis, it’s no stretch to believe that a truly selfish gentleman would be the cause of much grief for his Russian bride. Read the full story here ...

Rocker's Russian Girlfriend to Tell All?

Well this should be fun to watch. Nothing like poking in to the private life of the ex-girlfriend of an over-the-hill rock star whose age and hard-partying lifestyle has led him to resemble a Freddy Krueger mask. I kind of wonder if maybe the entirety of their relationship was just part of an elaborate plot to get her on this show. Then again, I wonder why I should even care about this at all.

Russian Girlfriend of Rolling Stones Guitarist Stars in Reality Show
The 21-year-old hot Russian ex-girlfriend of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood just might spill the beans about her scandalous relationship with the older rock star via British television.

Ekaterina Ivanova recently accepted a $160,000 deal to appear in next month’s Celebrity Big Brother, one of the most popular shows in British TV history, according to the British tabloid The Sun. She will be joined on the final season of the series by other famous faces, including Pamela Anderson. Read the full story here ...

Russian Hottie Packs a Punch

Here's one lady you wouldn't want to make mad. She's what I would call deceptively deadly.

Hot Russian Boxer Wins Heavyweight Belt
In her first fight in her native country, Russian boxer Natalia Ragozina won a knockout to set a new record in women’s boxing.

More than 5,000 spectators convened to watch the fight in Yekaterinburg, the largest city in Russia’s Ural Mountains, 1,100 miles east of Moscow.

The glamorous female champion, who has previously won seven super-middleweight belts, emerged victorious from a Saturday night bout against Pamela “Grenade” London of Guyana. Read the full story here ...

Only in Russia ...

Here's something to inspire in you a little holiday cheer. From a fellow blogger: scenes you would only witness in Russia. Enjoy!

See the rest here ...

Hey Baby, What's Your Major?

Hot Russian students ... another one I couldn't resist posting. You know you can't resist looking at it either.

Hot Russian Students (Lots of Pics!)
Just as beauty is an important quality for those seeking a Russian bride, a woman with smarts is also desired. Hence, we bring you our pictorial collection of Russian students. Whether they’re just starting a college education or pursuing some other advanced degree, these Russian ladies can stimulate you intellectually as well as visually. See the full pictorial ...

Iron Man 2 Features Russian Villain

Usually I'm not into fantasy or superhero movies. But Iron Man 2 looks like it might actually be worth a viewing. Especially since the villain is Russian. And you know Russians make the best villains.

Interesting that Mickey Rourke actually visited a prison in Moscow to research his role.

Click the link to the story to watch the trailer.

Mickey Rourke Plays Russian Villain in Iron Man 2
The trailer for what is sure to be one of the most popular movies of 2010 was released today, giving audiences their first look at the film’s sinister character, who happens to hail from Russia.

Actor Mickey Rourke appears in the film’s trailer as the Russian bad boy known as “Whiplash,” a whip-wielding nemesis to the film’s title character, played by Robert Downey Jr. Read the full story here ...

Putin is a Possible Mack Daddy

I give this story a 50-50 chance of being true. Putin is such a mack daddy. And, oh, so evil. I feel like watching that movie Rosemary's Baby ...

P.S. I hope you enjoy the lovely photo I chose to go with this story. My God ... talk about flexibility. Of course, I guess you'd have to be flexible with certain things to be the mistress of Dr. Evil.

Hot Russian Gymnast Reportedly Has Putin's Love Child
Rumors are buzzing around Russia that the country’s renowned gymnast, Alina Kabaeva, has given birth to a baby boy. However, the news is not being celebrated the way one might anticipate due to rumors of who fathered the child – one Vladimir Putin.

Russian news sources have been reluctant to print stories announcing the birth. Previous rumors of the Russian prime minister’s alleged extra-marital affair with Kabaeva have incited Putin’s ire. Read the full story here ...

Fedor is Russia's Best Athlete

I'm pleased to see Fedor get the recognition he deserves - now in America too. I can't speak for the tennis chick as I'm not much of a tennis guy.

Russians Vote Fighter, Tennis Star as Year's Best Athletes
They are shining stars in their respective sports and national heroes in Russia, the home country they share.

This year, thousands of Russians chose both of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Fedor Emelianenko to be named the country’s Athletes of the Year.

The first-ever award honoring Russian athletes drew half a million fans, who voted for their country’s favorite sports figures. Read the full story here ...

... But I Did Stay at a Capsule Hotel Last Night

Sounds like my kind of place. Anyone know if they have anything like this in North America?

Russian Airport Opens New "Capsule" Hotel
If you’re journeying to Russia to meet your future Russian bride for the first time, you now have the ability to spend your time between flights with the utmost in convenience at the country’s first-ever capsule hotel.

On Nov. 25, 2009, the hotel officially opened on the 5^th floor of the Air Express terminal at the international airport in Sheremetyevo. Read the full story here ...

Russian Aliens Attack Norway ... Well, Not Really

This was pretty interesting. Imagine looking up and seeing something like this. I read the initial stories which said they thought it could either anything from a UFO to a new, previously unseen type of weather phenomenon. Thank God it was just a missile!

Russian Missile Prompts UFO Fears
The X Files used to say, "the truth is out there." And it is. Except this time it was Russians, not aliens.

Thousands of Norwegians were shocked Wednesday when the early morning sky lit up with a strange spiraling light that some thought meant the arrival of aliens. It turns out though that the strange sighting was the result of a failed Russian missile test. Read the full story here ...

Russian Kids Send Letters to Father Frost

I remember my family telling me about Ded Moroz when I was a kid. Then in school everything was always about Santa. It took a bit for me to realize they were essentially the same dude.

Russian Children Get Season's Greetings from Ded Moroz
He looks like Santa Claus, but it’s not quite the same thing.

In Russia this year, children have the ability to send letters to Ded Moroz, the Russian equivalent of Santa, Father Christmas, or whatever name you would apply to the season’s gift-giving legend.

Starting on Nov. 5, post offices across Russia began taking letters from children addressed to the man whose name when translated means “Father Frost.” Read More ...

Tattooed Russians ... I'll Take Two!

All right, I admit it: I have a thing for women with ink. I also have a thing for women from Russia. So I was pleased to come across this little pictorial this morning. Russian ladies with tattoos. Too bad a lot of them aren't close up - or are otherwise only faintly visible due to the distance at which the photo was taken. But whatev ... they're still fun to look at.

Russian Women with Tattoos (Lots of Pics!)
Whether temporary or permanent, small and discrete or large and bold, these ladies are proud to show their ink. Some of them may be hard to spot, so for a closer examination, we recommend taking a look at the additional photos each lady has on her profile. Simply click each photo to have a look at the profile for each of these lovely Russian (and one Colombian) tattooed ladies. See More ...

Celebrities or Russian Brides?

Sorry I've been on the down-low the last few days. Not sure when I'll have time to do a thorough update. But in the meantime, here's a pictorial from theChive, featuring Russian brides and their celebrity lookalikes. Some of these are pretty funny. Enjoy!

One is a celebrity, the other - a real Russian mail order bride (20 Photos)
As many of you know, I’m an addict of the outer fringes of Russian culture. One of my favorite things is fantasy shopping for mail order brides (don’t judge). Read more ...

Happy Birthday ... You Hot, Hot Thing!

I like how this story makes reference to Yulia and Vlad being BFF's. I bet she has him right under her finger.

Putin to Tymoshenko: Happy Birthday
In a sign that the two leaders are closer than ever before to being official BFF’s (Best Friends Forever), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week wished a “Happy Birthday” to his hot Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Tymoshenko.

The Ukrainian lady turned 49 years-old on Nov. 27. Putin accordingly wished her a “Happy Birthday” via a telegram and a phone call while he was on a working visit to Paris. Read the full story here ...

No More Swine Flu! You Can Take Off Those Face Masks

Hey! Swine Flu is over! Just like that. There's no more threat. Thank you, Ukrainian government. What ever would I do without you?

Kiev Officials: Swine Flu Epidemic is Over
According to recent news reports, Kiev officials have announced that the swine flu epidemic is over in Ukraine’s capital city.

Kiev’s sanitary and epidemiological station has stated that the “indicators of the epidemic growth are 1.6 times lower than the epidemic threshold.” Officials also reported that the number of swine flu victims dropped dramatically from November 23-29. On November 25th, the Mayor’s Office officially reopened the city’s schools and universities, though students are encouraged to wear protective masks until at least December 10th. The city’s educational institutions have been closed for about three weeks. Read the full story here ...

Svetlana Loboda - Ukrainian Dream Girl

Here's a nice profile of Svetlana Loboda, my Eurovision dream queen. Feel the hotness!

Sexy Svetlana Loboda Wants Us to Be Her Valentine
She has been described as having an in-your-face style sexy stage presence. Her performances are also known for their over-the-top scenery. And if her lyrics are to be believed, she wants us to be her valentine.

She is Svetlana Loboda, the sexy and talented Ukrainian woman who was among the stars of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Read the full story here ...

Cruising the Boulevard in the Hitler Wagon

Here's an interesting one. Apparently some Russian billionaire anonymously purchased the car Hitler used to cruise around in. I wonder if it was the same guy who spent 50k on lunch in New York. I also wonder if he actually plans to drive the car. If so, will he tell anyone who the previous owner was? If it belonged to someone else, maybe it would be a good way to pick up chicks ...

Russian Billionaire Buys Hitler's Old Car
An anonymous Russian billionaire has purchased a car that once belonged to Adolf Hitler, according to Express, a German newspaper.

The newspaper reported that a middleman for the billionaire approached German vintage car dealer Michael Froelich and inquired about tracking down the 1935 blue Mercedes convertible. Froelich said he found the car in a collector’s garage in Germany and was able to indentify it through old automobile documents and photos of the vehicle.

While Nazi memorabilia is illegal in Germany, Froelich was able to take possession of the car due to the fact that it did not bear any swastikas. Read the full story here ...

Why Russian Women Leave Their Country in Droves

Much as I love my country of ancestry, after having spent considerable time there, I understand why so many women would want to leave. It's a sad fact that many Russian men don't know how to treat their women. It's also sad that wars and other factors have caused the male population to dwindle, leaving women no choice but to look for love abroad. On the plus side - more Russian hotties for me.

Russian Women Still Look Abroad for Marriage
Russian dating agencies are reporting that Russian ladies are as interested in meeting and marrying foreign men as ever before.

As reported on RussianProfile.org, many Russian women are still taking to the internet to find a foreign gentleman, contradicting recent reports that Russian women lately are less likely to marry foreign men. Read the full story here ...

That Fool, Stalin, Had an Eye for Architecture

Stalin was a dope. But he definitely had an eye for good architecture. I always enjoyed these buildings whenever I was in Moscow.

Stalin's Seven Sisters
They’re not actually his sisters. But these seven towering Russian ladies remain a testament to Joseph Stalin’s grandiosity and the vision he had for Moscow and the Soviet Union.

The seven towers of Moscow were assembled in the years immediately following World War II as Russia under Stalin was eager to build itself up in the midst of the earliest cold war tensions. Their original purpose was to show the symbolic strength and power of the Soviet Union. Read the full story here ...

Russians Can't Stop Bitching About "Call of Duty"

Russian gamers are apparently upset about the way their country is portrayed in the new "Call of Duty" game. The company that makes the game had to edit out certain scenes for the Russian release.

As one whose knowledge of video games doesn't go much beyond Nintendo's "Punch Out" from the early 90's, I don't really see what the big deal is. It seems like the video game industry has done a lot worse than this with certain games in the past - though admittedly, I couldn't point you to any specific cases of video-game-inspired outrage. Like I said, I'm not into them.

I guess even the gamers themselves couldn't stay upset for too long. The article says that nobody really bothered to boycott the game in Russia. Apparently once the gamers got their hands on it they quietly quit bitching and retreated to their parents' basement to play.

Russians Upset Over New "Call of Duty" Game
An American video game maker has made significant edits to the Russian release of the new hit game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” as Russian gamers expressed anger over the game in internet forums.

Russian players were reportedly upset about the portrayal of their country in the game, which grossed a record-breaking $550 million in sales in its first five days of release. The game puts players in a world in which the Russian government has been taken over by ultranationalists seeking to spark a war with the U.S. Read the full story here ...

Russia Seeks to Kill Alcohol Industry

I could write something about how it's wrong for the government to try to run an entire industry out of business just because the business's customers have no sense of responsibility ... but why do that when I can just point out how hilarious the photo is that accompanied this article?

Russia Says Farewell to Cheap Vodka
In the latest step in President Dmitry Medvedev’s mission to curb Russian alcohol abuse, a Russian government commission ordered a minimum price to be set for vodka.

A draft bill approved by the commission has the potential to raise the price of the cheapest vodka by more than 50 percent, according to reports. The minimum price for a half liter bottle of vodka is to be set at 89 roubles ($3.10). Read the full story here ...

Stuffed Animals Join Sex Trade

I'll let this video speak for itself.

Shabayeva Wins "Project Runway"

It's always nice to see success stories like this. Especially when they involve Russians. Especially when they involve HOT Russian women ...

Hot Russian Woman Wins TV's "Project Runway"
Hot Russian fashion designer Irina Shabayeva was announced Thursday as the winner of season 6 of the hit Lifetime network TV show “Project Runway.”

The reality TV series focuses on fashion design and pits contestants against each other to create the best clothes, while restricting their time, materials and theme. The designs are judged and one or more contestants are eliminated each week. The show is hosted by model Heidi Klum. Read the full story here ...

I want to Throat Sing All Night and Party Every Day

I bet these guys rock ...

Throat Singers of Tuva, Siberia
In the depths of Russia’s Siberian wilderness, the whistling of the wind, the crashing of river waters, and the cry of animals in the wild are the sounds of nature one would not normally associate with the human voice.

But for the people of Tuva, these are sounds that are mimicked in the art of throat-singing – a vocal musical style unique to this part of southern Siberia. Read the full story here ...

Ukraine is Weak ... and so is Swine Flu

I'm telling you, this Ukraine swine flu stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be ...

World Health Officials Report no Ukraine Swine Flu Mutation
As the Ukrainian government continues to impose drastic measures to stop the spread of swine flu in the country, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Tuesday that there is no evidence that the virus had mutated. Read the full story here ...

Soviet-Style Cold War Hysteria

This place is kind of interesting. I've heard about it before. I think Americans tend to think of the cold war strictly from their own perspective, but it's fascinating to see that the Soviets also had their own worries and hysteria. Imagine living your whole life on this base - not just living there, but having everything you do centered around it. All your friends and neighbors work there. In the event of an attack, you'd all take shelter there together. You'd die there together ... Now I'm getting really morbid.

Must See Places in Ukraine: Balaklava Submarine Base

Nestled in the seaside hills of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, the city of Balaklava holds within it a secret that has become a monument to 20^th-century history. The city’s high hills conceal an underground military facility that served as base for nuclear submarines during the cold war.

This fascinating piece of not just Russian, but world history, is one of Balaklava’s main attractions. Read the full story here ...

Iceland Sounds Like My Kind of Place

From the sound of it, Russian ladies are taking Iceland by storm. I've never been to Iceland, but somehow I doubt it ...

Russian Brides – A Match Made in Iceland

At HotRussianBrides.com, we attract members the world over. Whether you live in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Australia or elsewhere, HotRussianBrides.com has something to offer you.

With the cold climate and relatively small population of a place like Iceland, it might seem unusual for a Russian woman to wed an Icelandic gentleman. But even in Iceland, it happens. Read more of this crazy story ...

Redhead Russian Ladies - An Enticing Pictorial

My favorite Russian dating blog has once again presented us with an irresistible pictorial featuring nothing but redheads. What do you suppose makes this better - the fact that they are redheads or the fact that they are Russian? Whatever it is, I like it. Enjoy!

Russia is Apparently Full of Cannibals

Maybe it's something in the water, but Russians seemingly can't get enough of each other when it comes to dinner.

I didn't post it, but I found this story last week about a man who ate his own mother. Then this morning there is this story about three homeless men who ate one of their own and sold parts of his body to a meat shop. (On top of all else, I have to wonder what kind of a meat shop just buys unidentified meat from homeless guys off the street.) Parts of the victim's body were later found at a bus stop near the Russian city of Perm.

The three real-life Hannibal Lecters are believed to have killed their 25-year-old brother in homelessness with knives and a hammer before chopping up his body and eating it.

The story in Pravda states that it is unclear whether any pieces of the corpse were sold to customers of the meat shop, which specialized in shwarma (a type of meat sandwich) and pies.

I wonder how the folks at HotRussianBrides.com might feel about this.

Russia sure is a crazy place. I love it.

For Friday the 13th ... Russian Superstitions

In the spirit of Friday the 13th, I thought this would be an appropriate article for the blog. From first-hand experience I can tell you that Russians are a very superstitious people. Enjoy these fascinating - and quite ridiculous - Russian superstitions.

Russian Superstitions
The Western world is full of superstitions. Who hasn’t heard the dire claims about Friday the 13th? So many people fear this allegedly ill-fated day that there is even a name for the condition: paraskavedekatriaphobia.

Russia, too, has its share of superstitions. While some are similar to those in the West (a black cat crossing one’s path = bad luck), many Russian superstitions may take Westerners by surprise. Below you will find a random selection of Russian superstitions as well as superstitious beliefs Russians share with Westerners.

Read the rest of the story here ...

Putin Almost as Powerful as Obama ... Almost

Maybe this goes without saying, but I find it funny that Putin, who officially is on a lower plain as prime minister than Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, actually possesses a lot more power and influence than the president himself.

On another note, does Putin strike you as the kind of leader who regularly has people killed? He has always struck me that way ... no pun intended.

Putin Named Among Top Three Most Influential People
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is the world’s third most influential person, according to Forbes magazine, which published the list of the world’s 67 most influential politicians, business leaders, and other individuals.

Read the full story here ...

Tall Russian Women ... I Can't Get Enough ...

Usually I try to keep this blog on the serious side, but I couldn't resist posting this. Found it on one of the sites I frequent for quirky news items and such - Sexy Tall Russian Women ... See the full pictorial

Ukraine Scales Back its Swine Flu Hysteria

More swine flu nonsense out of Ukraine. I'm tempted to say that government leaders shouldn't play politics with serious issues, but isn't that what they do best?

Swine Flu May Delay Ukraine Election, Yulia Says No
Amid conflicting reports of the seriousness of swine flu in Ukraine, government officials suggested this week that it may be necessary to delay the country’s January presidential election as a result of the outbreak.

An aide to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko suggested delaying the vote from January until May in order to give the government time to bring the supposed epidemic under control. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, however, was quick to respond that delaying the election is unnecessary. Both Yushchenko and Tymoshenko are candidates in the presidential election. Read the full story here ...

Little Big Man Defeats Giant Monster

In other news ... I didn't see this one coming. Good thing I didn't bet money on this one.

Haye Slew the Giant
Most boxing matches don’t live up to the hype but Saturday night’s bout between Nikolay Valuev and David Haye had the all the drama, all the excitement and all the entertainment of a blockbuster Hollywood movie.

Going the distance, Haye won the 12 round boxing match on points over the Russian Giant. In more than 50 fights, it was only Valuev’s second-ever loss. Read the full story here ...

Fedor Kicks Ass!

This was an incredible fight on Saturday. My money was on Fedor to win the whole time, of course. I wonder what he will do next - and if this fight will make him a star in America like they were hoping. We'll see ...

Russian Fighter Shows American Aufiences How it's Done
Ukrainian mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko broke onto to American scene Saturday night. Literally.

In a two-round battle in which the American Brett Rogers bloodied Emelianenko’s nose, the man known as Russia’s “last emperor” knocked out his opponent and showed American TV viewers why he is known internationally as “the baddest man on the planet.” Read the full story here ...

Or watch the actual fight!

Plenty of Russian Women to Go Around ...

I thought this article was interesting. It gives some insight into why there are so many more Russian women than men ... as well as why Russian women often seek to hook up with men overseas. Among other reasons, it points to the fact that many Russian men were killed in wars and the fact that a lot of them are drunk assholes.

Why Are There More Russian Women Than Men?
The largest country in the world is suffering from a rapidly declining population. Russia’s population has fallen by 6.6 million since 1993, with a current estimate of 142 million. Men in this region are dying at a faster rate than women, which is one reason why there are millions more women than men in Russia and Ukraine. Of the Top 10 Cities Where Women Outnumber Men, researched by AskMen.com, Moscow, Russia came in at #7 and Kiev, Ukraine made the top spot at #1. Read the full story here ...

Medvedev Takes on the Gangstas

More gangsta news ... This seems like a good deal. The trouble is I wouldn't trust Medvedev any less if he had a mustache. You know he has mafia ties ... Putin too.

Medvedev Takes on Russian Gangsters

Dmitry Medvedev wants to put Russian mafia leaders in prison for the rest of their lives.

The Russian president said as much this week as he signed a law mandating harsher punishments for criminals known as “thieves-in-law,” which are gang leaders who orchestrate Russian mafia activities.

“Punishments for involvement in criminal groups have been raised to the maximum,” Medvedev said. Read the full story here ...

Ukraine Comes Down with a Case of Swine Flu Mania

I usually don't write about Ukraine on this blog, but it's practically Russia, so why not?

I think it's a little crazy the way they're freaking out about swine flu there. As this article notes, there's no evidence to indicate that the flu is more widespread in Ukraine than it is anywhere else. Do the Ukrainians really feel the need to wear these silly masks out in public? It seems like you're just as likely to pick up swine flu in Kiev as you are in Moscow or London or New York. I don't know ... personally I'm more afraid of Yulia Tymoshenko's hairstyle than I am of swine flu.

Swine Flu Fears Spread through Ukraine
News reports have abounded in recent days about the apparent severity of the swine flu epidemic in Ukraine. Here at HotRussianBrides.com, we take such reports very seriously as many of the beautiful ladies featured on our site are from Ukraine.

But as fears of a particularly vicious outbreak in Ukraine grow, the World Health Organization has said that there is nothing to indicate that the swine flu outbreak in Ukraine has been particularly severe. Read the full story here ...

Moscow Police Raid Lab Full of Thousands of Leeches

This has got to be one of the most disgusting things I've read about in a long time ... The lab owner sounds like he's a little bit insane. This story actually reminds me of those stories you hear about a lot in the U.S. having to do with old ladies who keep hundreds of cats in their house ...

Moscow Police Raid Lab Full of Thousands of Harmful Leeches

Like a scene out of a horror movie, police in Moscow recently dismantled an underground laboratory, which housed more than 4,000 harmful leeches.

When police raided the lab, they found leeches crawling on the floors, walls and ceiling, according to a report in Pravda, a Russian news service. Lab personnel had reportedly been terrorized by the leeches numerous times, with one employee claiming he barely managed to take a leech off his leg when the creature attacked him.

Read the rest of the story here ...

Drunken Forklift Operator Destroys $150,000 Worth of Booze

Now this is just sad ... and hilarious at the same time. What a waste of perfectly good booze - and all because one guy couldn't handle his own ... Tragic.

Drunken Moscow Man Destroys $150,000 Worth of Booze

Think you had a bad day at work? One Moscow man is surely out of a job after he destroyed nearly $150,000 worth of vodka and cognac in a drunken forklift crash.

Read more ...

Russian Dating Web Site Publishes EBook on How to Find Russian Women Online

I use this site very frequently. Their blog is actually useful for finding a lot of very interesting news items. They're publishing an eBook on how to date Russian women online. Might be worth a look, I guess ... the women, that is.

HotRussianBrides.com Offers eBook for Men Seeking Love on Russian Bride and Russian Dating Websites

To help educate and protect members from Russian dating scams and scammers, HotRussianBrides.com offers tips for conduct, turn ons and turn offs for Russian ladies, and what not to do when courting Russian women online.

Read more ...

Russian Billionaire Drops $52,000 on Lunch in New York

Talk about material excess ... this guy apparently is unaware of how much regular people pay for a single meal. I saw another story (different from the one linked here) that said the cheapest portion of the meal was the purchase of a $15 dessert. Craziness!

Aw, the good life! Being a Russian billionaire means you can have a hot Russian woman, Dasha Zhukova, on your arm, own Chelsea Football Club and spend $52,000 on lunch.Lunch with Family & Friends.

Roman Abromovich and nine friends, including stunning Russian model Zhukova and his son Arkady, allegedly indulged at New York’s Nello's Italian Restaurant on Madison Avenue, on meal of truffles, veal and pasta, and consumed a fine selection champagnes, wines and after lunch drinks.

Abramovich admits he dined at the restaurant on Friday with friends, but denies that he spent that much. However, owner Nello Balan, claims the bill it true and added that Mr. Abramovich wanted "excellence and perfection" at his meal.

Afternoon Imbibe
Ballan’s staff claims that the group purchased two magnums of Cristal rose champagne at $5,000 per bottle, and Chateau Petrus wine, three bottles of La Tache Romanee Conti pinot noir, bringing their total purchase just on wine to more than $34,000.

Read the rest of the story here ...

Mel Gibson Becomes an "Octo-Dad" with Hot Russian Girlfriend

Mel Gibson's Russian girlfriend has given birth to his eighth child. As this article notes, this officially makes her a baby mama and him an "octo-dad."

In seriousness, people seem to act like this is a wonderful thing. I wonder how it is that it's considered cool for Mel Gibson to have dumped his previous wife of 30 years for some Russian hottie ...


Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson is a father for the eighth time after his Russian fiancé, Oksana Grigorieva, gave birth this weekend to a baby girl. Grigorieva was reported to have given birth Friday, though her official due date was not until December, according to RadarOnline.com, which broke the story.

Gibson, 53, and Grigorieva, 39, made their first public appearance together in April at the Los Angeles screening of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Gibson’s wife of 30 years filed for divorce just a few weeks prior to that.

Read the rest of the story here ...

Ghosts of Russia

Just in time for Halloween ... I enjoyed this piece about the ghost stories of Russia. The hauntings at the Kremlin are particularly interesting. It's not mentioned here, but I heard a story once about Vladimir Lenin's ghost being seen in the Kremlin shortly after his death. However, there were conflicting reports, with some saying that the ghost was seen while he was in fact still alive and on his deathbed. Interesting stuff, nonetheless ...

Hot for Words

Here's a nice piece about my favorite internet guru, Marina Orlova. I don't know if it's her or if I'm just really into words (likely the former), but I can't get enough of this site.

Hot Russian Lady Makes Internet-Goers “Hot for Words”
Meet Marina Orlova. Maybe you know this beautiful Russian woman already. If you don’t, you’re missing one of the hottest internet sensations around.

Marina, a professional philologist and etymologist (in English, that basically means a person who likes words), is the brains behind the popular Web site known as HotForWords.com and its corresponding YouTube channel. On the site, Marina posts short videos explaining the meaning and origins behind some of the most common English language words as well as some less common (but still interesting) ones. Her tagline for each of the videos – in which she often appears scantily clad and makes flirtatious glances at the viewing audience – is “Intelligence is Sexy.”

Read the rest of the story here ...

Big Man with Fists of Fury to Fight Little Man with Heart of Gold

This is interesting ... what do you suppose are the chances that the little guy actually defeats the big guy? I think it from the look of it, the big guy could eat the little guy and still have room for dessert.

Russian Giant & Hayemaker to Clash in Nuremberg Knuckle-Buster

Expect a battle in Nuremberg,Germany on Saturday, November 7, when Nikolay Valuaev the “Russian Giant”,clashes with British fighter David “Hayemaker” Haye in the WBA heavyweight title bout.

Tall Task
Standing at 7 feet 2 inches, Valuaev has a huge height and reach advantage over his opponents. The advantage is something that the 6 foot 3 inch Haye has taken into consideration.

“I'm going to have to fight better than I've fought before. I'm going to have to take a shot better than I've ever done before. I'm going to have to hit harder. My reflexes have got to be faster. I've got to be able to cover more distance, be quicker on my feet than I've ever been," Haye said in a recent interview with The Guardian newspaper.

Respects His Rival
But Nikolay Valuaev will not be taking this fight for granted.

When asked to comment about the upcoming fight, by Russian boxing site Sportbox.ru, Valuaev said, “I treat Haye very seriously, like I do with all my other rivals. It would be stupid of me to treat him differently.”

Read the full story here ...

Russia Takes Nuclear Aim at Mars

Russia is looking into the nuclear option to put a man on Mars. This article notes that it will be expensive. I'm no economist, but I think they're probably in a better position financially to take on such a project than the U.S. or any other country.

Russia Looks to Go Nuclear in Race to Mars

The chief of Russia’s space agency has proposed the construction of a nuclear-powered spaceship in order to take people to Mars and other planets.

The expensive and technologically challenging project is projected to take about 12 years to prepare, according to Anatoly Perminov, who posted remarks about the proposed ship on the Russian space agency’s Web site.

Read the rest here ...

Star City - Russia's Space Capital

I though this was an interesting piece about Russia's famed "Star City." Funny that it is so well-known, yet hardly anyone has ever seen it. I wonder if there would be more enthusiasm for the Russian space program if they opened it up for more people to tour and see ...

It was once the place where Yuri Gargarin rocketed into the sky to become the first man to orbit the earth. Today, it is where countless astronauts and cosmonauts prepare for space travel inside mockups of the International Space Station.

It is Star City, a community of space researchers hidden in the woods northeast of Moscow. And despite its status as Russia’s home base during the historic space race and the multitude of advanced aeronautic research still conducted there, few people have ever had the chance to visit the famed town.

Read the rest here ... Includes a link to a Star City photo gallery from the BBC.

Anna Semenovich - Hot Russian Lady

Here's a little gem. I think I vaguely recall hearing about this girl from her days as an ice skater. If you look up info about her it's still touted as her major accomplishment. Yet just about every online image of her is a shot she took as a model. There are few photos of her actually skating. Oh well, still a hottie.