Man Builds His Own Rolls-Royce

This is pretty cool. Talk about gumption and taking an initiative. If more people made this kind of effort to achieve their goals, just imagine how different things might be.

Kazakhstan Auto Mechanic Builds a Rolls-Royce
Ruslan Murkanov doesn’t have enough money to buy a Rolls-Royce Phantom. So he built one instead.

According to Russian media, the 24-year-old auto mechanic from Shahtinsk, Kazakhstan, knew he wanted the $300,000 car, but didn’t make nearly enough money to cover the price tag. Using his own knowledge, mechanics tools, and an old Mercedes E-Class, Murkanov set about constructing his dream car.

Having received the Mercedes through connections in Germany, Murkanov took out the parts he didn’t need, replaced them with parts to mimic those of a Rolls-Royce, and after much hard work, his Mercedes Rolls was born.

Read the full story here.

Siberia's Musical Hottie

I've heard this lady play before. It is the sound of angels.

Oksana Kolesnikova - A Russian Music Goddess
In the lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, a well-known talent plays piano five days a week, moving audiences with heartfelt melodies. The talent is Oksana Kolesnikova, a renowned Russian-born pianist and musical composer.

As a performer, Kolesnikova has entertained U.S. troops as well as U.N. officials. She has recorded seven CDs and collaborated with many international musical artists. Additionally, Kolesnikova is the founder of a music school in Los Angeles, CA, which teaches students of all ages how to play the piano and other instruments.

Read the full story here ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...