Here is pretty good documentary subtitled in English about Russian prison system and Russian prison tattoos. If you watched Eastern Promises with Viggo Mortensen, then you will understand where a lot of things in the film are coming from.
In Memory
My Grandad was a pilot. I guess somewhere deep down, I always wanted to fly too. I doubt it will ever happen, but you never know what surprises life throws in your laps.
Chernobyl
Please, be advised this blog contains photographs of disfigured people and animals, victims of radiation. If you are sensitive to this kind of materials, please do not scroll down below a warning in red in the middle of the blog.
I was a kid, when it happened. We were scared. People, who went to clean up the disaster area knew they are most like y going to die. It has been over 20 years now, but people still live with the consequences, whether they left the area or stayed around the city of Pripyat.
Toy
fallen
boot
The images above were taken from: http://znyata.com/blinov1/index.php
Contaminated
The inscription on the truck above reads “Contaminated”.
Kindergarten
Children were being evacuated. Their beds left unmade – they were waken from their naps. 1986.
Responder
First responders died within years or months from the tragedy.
Another responder
The above photos are taken from: http://www.sovietmuseum.ru/
left behind
no more fun
frozen in time
The building still bears the device of the Soviet Union. Taken from a popular Russian blogger:http://www.tema.ru/travel/chernobyl/
Please, do not look below, if you are sensitive – mutations:
no words...
baby
baby
bird
cow?
Above all else, I hope that this never happens again. Anywhere.
WWII Document
Certificate
Today I translated this document for our re-enactment group, so we could use it as a template to create similar certificates for re-enacting purposes.
We are preparing for the ceremony to award certificated to those, who participated in Drive on Stalingrad re-enactment, earlier this October in Colorado.
Here is the translation:
FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND
USSR
IDENTIFICATION (CERTIFICATE)
FOR PARTICIPATION IN HEROIC DEFENSE
OF CAUCASUS
COMRADE ANDRIANOV
MIHAIL YAKOVLEVICH
BY ORDER OF PRESIDIUM OF THE HIGHEST COUNCIL OF USSR ON MAY 1ST, 1944
AWARDED A MEDAL
“FOR DEFENSE OF CAUCASUS “
ON BEHALF OF PRESIDIUM OF THE HIGHEST COUNCIL OF USSR, THE MEDAL FOR DEFENSE OF CAUCASUS AWARDED ON 30TH OF APRIL, 1945
#028531
Position, military rank
And signature of a person, awarding the medal
Lucia Di Lammermoorr (il dolce suono)
Just to lighen the mood, here is Vitas sining Lucia Di Lammermorr, also known as Il Dolce Suono.
And, yes it is his real voice, he could be the one playing Farinelli, if he was around at the time.
About the War
The one… WWII.
It has so much meaning to me. Family lost or maimed by it. Granddad’ s memories, granmother’s medals…
I re-eanct WWII Red Army, because I find interesting, because for a split moment of time it seems like I get closer to my grandparents’ youth that was spent fighting.
Comrades
This is me on the left. I belong to a group in Texas that re-enacts Red Army.
I updated this blog, so if you look to the left, you will see pages named “Family history” that are dedicated to my family members.
I found some interesting clips, check them out:
Documentary footage from blockade of Leningrad (clean up, dead, wounded)
First Bell: September 1st.
Children start school on September 1st all over Russia. It is a big day for first graders and those, who will finish out their senior year.
Parents buy flowers and other gifts for the teacher and every kid carries a huge bouquet. I still remember the excitement of that day – new bag for books, new uniform, flowers, new people. My parents are standing in the crowd and watching me in the line-up with other first graders. I was a little scared too. I was not much of a social person in the first grade.
I don’t really see anything similar to First Bell, here in the US. So, here, check out some pictures from Yandex Photos.
First Day
Girl
Tired
Parents
Above parents are filming their kiddos.
Below Mom and Dad are walking their daughter to school.
Road to School
Another Year
Above: Together again after summer vacation.
Mr. Serious
Ready
Opening dance:
Dance
Below a fellow from the last grade is carrying a girl, who is about to start her first. She will ring the bell and it will be the first bell of the school year.
First Bell
Schoolgirl
First Waltz of the year:
First Waltz
In front of the school:
School
First lesson:
first lesson
Summer is over:
Summer is Over
Russia in Photographs: September 1st, 2009
More pictures that people added recently:
Pups
Bells
Touch the Sky
Kid
Remembering WWII
Future Sailors
In the Urals
Burnt by the Sun 