I’m not embarrassed to admit my first CD was George Harrison’s Cloud Nine. Well, maybe just a little bit.

A tank-jacking in Kakhovka

“No war. Glory to Ukraine” this morning in Moscow

New The Associated Press reporting tonight: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the U.S. government but turned down the offer. An American official tells me Zelenskyy said, “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Given Moscow’s inconsistent snow removal this winter, I have begun my own personal Finlandization process

Plaques like this are all over central Moscow thanks to Memorial. This one was dedicated in August at the final address of Natalya Totskaya, a translator who was 46 years old when she was shot in 1938. The man speaking is a grandson of her brother.

Polar bears at an abandoned Soviet weather station on Kolyuchin Island, Dmitry Kokh National Geographic Russia

First ever December crossing of the Northern Sea Route from east to west is complete by a caravan of 8 vessels. The ships, including 1 from Finland, were escorted by Taimyr and Vaigach icebreakers; the most difficult section at Vilkitsky & Matisen straits were successfully passed

Starting Dec. 29, virtually all foreigners living in Russia will face **quarterly** X-rays and blood and urine tests for diseases including leprosy, tuberculosis, syphilis and HIV/AIDS.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/… by Jake Rudnitsky

The #SoyuzMS20 Russian spacecraft commercial flight is the first tourist expedition to orbit after a 12-year break.

The resumption of this kind of cosmonautics is the result of cooperation between Roscosmos and Space Adventures.

Putin congratulates Moscow mayor for opening 10 new metro stations on a giant new ring line that will have 31 stations by 2023.

A look into Moscow’s past: these binoculars show a photo of an ancient monastery bulldozed by Stalin

Russian inflation in action: this elevator had two McDonalds help wanted ads, one offering 10% more than the other

Good news vegans! Russia's Magnit is testing a food printer that can produce plant-based squid made from a pea paste and seafood flavor in any shape you want.
magnit.com/ru/media/press…

A heartwarming story of how a Siberian woman axed a man to marry her.
tayga.info/172482

Putin's daughter explains the 'importance of knowing your genetics.'
ria.ru/20211013/voron…

What's more likely in 2060?bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

A classic Kremlin ad: meet Katya, who says she feels secure about her future after her soldier squeeze Anton received a 15k ruble ($200) onetime payment. Then she hops on her million-ruble motorcycle with some dude whose name is R.V. Rybakov.

🍅💉This made my day:

Uzbek scientists have created a 'tomato vaccine,' according to Sevimli tv-channel. The person who eats such a tomato gets vaccinated against the coronavirus: uznews.uz/uz/article/337…

Read this story about how a US-traded Kazakh stock broker with two cockatoos and access to the most sought-after IPOs has soared 500% in the last few years. By Nariman Gizitdinov and Donal Griffin
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…