Miscellaneous 2024, November

25 great tips on how to be happy from Yuri Nikulin - the man who always brought a smile

25 great tips on how to be happy from Yuri Nikulin - the man who always brought a smile

He was so fantastic, so incredibly gifted that everyone who saw him in the circus fell in love with the circus forever. He only starred in good films - or maybe his presence alone made the film both smart and funny. December 18 - the birthday of a holiday man and beloved by many artist Yuri Nikulin

The sculptor creates detailed sculptures in the style of Bosch, which are impossible to forget

The sculptor creates detailed sculptures in the style of Bosch, which are impossible to forget

Someone else's soul is darkness, and human nature is fickle, ambivalent and vicious. Trouble, suffering, eternal torment, the thirst to be the center of attention, depravity and the exaltation of human ignorance to the highest level are only a small part of what the viewer encounters when stumbling across the incredibly realistic, but at the same time, scary sculptures by Kris Kuksi (Kris Kuksi ), whose work is compared with the paintings of the legendary Hieronymus Bosch, having seen which once it is already impossible to forget

How Mozart made a fortune, and then managed to almost lose everything

How Mozart made a fortune, and then managed to almost lose everything

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has always been and will be, perhaps, the most eminent and famous musician of his era. Many modern films and plays tell of him as a genius who died without even a penny in his soul, as well as a man who was buried in a grave without a name, having fallen victim to his rival composer Antonio Salieri. In fact, Mozart made a fortune in his short life. But he seemed determined to spend every cent, which led him to

What was forbidden to Russian noblewomen, and what fate awaited those who married against the will of their father and ran away from home

What was forbidden to Russian noblewomen, and what fate awaited those who married against the will of their father and ran away from home

The life of Russian noblewomen was not simple and cloudless, but abounded with restrictions that representatives of other estates did not face. There were various prohibitions and conventions, society had a great influence, and moral principles demanded from women strict adherence to all the rules. However, love often pushed young ladies to crazy deeds. For example, they ran away from home to connect with their loved one. Read in the material about secret marriages and what punishment awaited the desperate

French luxury for sophisticated connoisseurs: Famous precious ballerina brooches from Van Cleef & Arpels

French luxury for sophisticated connoisseurs: Famous precious ballerina brooches from Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels is a very famous and romantic jewelry brand, the name of which reflects the names of two lovers - Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels. One of the sources from which the jewelers of Van Cleef & Arpels draw inspiration is the world of dance, and therefore it is not at all surprising that the ballerina brooches, Ballerinas, became its highlight

10 sensational European weddings that led to real tragedies

10 sensational European weddings that led to real tragedies

Secret weddings in history are proof that not all marriage proposals end happily. From time immemorial, lovers had to marry either secretly or in a hurry in order to avoid interference from relatives eager to separate them. But as it turned out, behind one secret, as a rule, lies another. Some marriages ended in happiness, others in tears

"After 40, life is just beginning": the swan song of the popular favorite of Mark Bernes

"After 40, life is just beginning": the swan song of the popular favorite of Mark Bernes

His songs "Dark Night", "Path - Frontal Track", "Cranes" were sung by the whole country. And his swan song, the most important in life, was Lilia Bodrova. Mark Bernes, who was reputed to be a womanizer and brawler, accidentally found himself with this woman at the same desk, already being a famous singer, and turned out to be faithful to her until the last day. And she gave him love and breathed life into him

How modern descendants of the Russian imperial dynasty of the Romanovs live

How modern descendants of the Russian imperial dynasty of the Romanovs live

Surely many of the history textbooks remember that on the night of July 1918 a real tragedy happened, which marked the end of the reign of the greatest dynasty in the history of Russia. On that same unfortunate night, the Bolshevik detachment that came for the Russian Tsar Nicholas II knew no mercy , not sparing any small children or women. However, despite the fact that the family of the last king was executed more than a century ago, there are still living descendants in the world who can easily claim

Castling on death row - how chess glory saved Alexander Alekhin from being shot

Castling on death row - how chess glory saved Alexander Alekhin from being shot

The name of Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhin is familiar to everyone, regardless of whether he is fond of the game of chess or not. The first Russian world chess champion died undefeated. Alekhine's official biography is well known. But here are some episodes of his life, very interesting, vivid, and sometimes just dramatic, remained behind the scenes

Zinovy Gerdt and Tatyana Pravdina: "Girl, how bad it will be for you without me!"

Zinovy Gerdt and Tatyana Pravdina: "Girl, how bad it will be for you without me!"

Before their meeting, Zinovy Gerdt had two official marriages and four civil ones. But when he saw his Tatyana, at first glance he realized that he could not live without her. Tatyana Pravdina gave her beloved actor the most important thing: 36 years of tender love, true friendship, support and deep trust

Partings and losses in the life of Irina Bezrukova: How the actress managed to survive the departure of the closest people

Partings and losses in the life of Irina Bezrukova: How the actress managed to survive the departure of the closest people

She seemed to be a real darling of fate: a famous husband, a talented son, a wealthy stellar life. But in fact, there were so many losses in the life of Irina Bezrukova that it would have been more than enough for several lives. She was only 11 years old when her mother passed away, later the grandmother raising her and her sister passed away. In 2015, the son of the actress, Andrei Livanov, a talented and very bright person, died. How did the actress endure the loss of the most dear people in her life and how is she living now?

You can't order your heart: Famous female lovers of Russian cinema and show business

You can't order your heart: Famous female lovers of Russian cinema and show business

Celebrities have the same feelings as everyone else, but their personal lives are riveted by the close attention of journalists and fans. That is why any changes in marital status become the subject of discussion and sometimes condemnation. Someone managed to build a new family and live a whole life with the chosen one, but someone else's misfortune did not help to create their own

6 documentaries about the coronavirus to help reimagine the new reality

6 documentaries about the coronavirus to help reimagine the new reality

The new reality leaves its mark on all spheres of life, including art. We are already accustomed to the online format of communication with friends, have learned to work remotely and have managed to adapt to all the circumstances offered by life. And the directors are filming new documentaries about the disease that disrupted the usual course of life on the entire planet

Star Monogamous: 7 famous actors who have kept feelings for one woman over the years

Star Monogamous: 7 famous actors who have kept feelings for one woman over the years

It can be very difficult for successful and famous men to avoid temptation. They are surrounded by fans and admirers, and women are ready to fight for their attention in all known ways. And yet there are real men among the stars who have lived their whole lives with one woman. Famous monogamous people not only take care of their families, but also give those around them faith in real strong feelings

An unfinished play about the happiness of Elena Mayorova: The tragic denouement of a complex knot of relationships

An unfinished play about the happiness of Elena Mayorova: The tragic denouement of a complex knot of relationships

She dreamed of becoming an actress since childhood. And even when she wrapped the pipes with glass wool, Elena Mayorova knew: she would definitely be a brilliant artist. In the theater and during filming, she completely got used to each role, adopting the manners and way of thinking of her heroines. Everything in her was beyond measure: if you laugh, then to hiccups, if you cry, then to hysteria, if you feel feelings, then the brightest

Andrey Konchalovsky and Yulia Vysotskaya: The age difference is not a test

Andrey Konchalovsky and Yulia Vysotskaya: The age difference is not a test

Before meeting Yulia, he already had four marriages, five children, many films and world fame behind him. She has a fictitious marriage with a classmate and work in the Belarusian National Theater. More than 20 years have passed since the first meeting of Andrei Konchalovsky and Yulia Vysotskaya, and today they look at each other with admiration and tenderness

How did the fate of Comrade Stalin's closest people develop?

How did the fate of Comrade Stalin's closest people develop?

During the reign of Joseph Stalin, there were a number of important events in the history of the USSR and in world history: industrialization, the creation of collective farms, dispossession of kulaks, great terror, mass repressions, deportation of peoples, the creation of the Gulag camp system, the Finnish War, the Great Patriotic War, the establishment of a socialist system in Eastern Europe and East Asia, the nuclear project and the beginning of the Cold War. But the leader of the peoples had a personal life, and the people who surrounded him at home, and not at the headquarters of Glavnoko

Kremlin Magicians: Truth and Fiction About How Psychics Influenced Soviet Party Leaders

Kremlin Magicians: Truth and Fiction About How Psychics Influenced Soviet Party Leaders

Interest in the topic of the influence of magicians and psychics on the first persons of the Soviet Union, and then Russia, has not weakened for many years. At different times, the names of people with unusual capabilities were associated with the names of the country's leaders: Joseph Stalin and Wolf Messing, Leonid Brezhnev and Juna, Boris Yeltsin and General Rogozin. Is it true that the party elite resorted to the services of clairvoyants, and the Kremlin's Nostradamus defended the first persons?

Governess in Russia: How was the life of home teachers, and what prohibitions existed for them

Governess in Russia: How was the life of home teachers, and what prohibitions existed for them

Not every woman could be a good governess. The requirements for them were high, they had to become practically a family member for the child, lead him into adulthood, and in some cases stay close to his death. Who raised children in noble families, how they hired home teachers, what did the governesses do and how they lived - read the material

The fate of the scout: The story of the real "radio operator Kat" Anna Filonenko

The fate of the scout: The story of the real "radio operator Kat" Anna Filonenko

When Tatyana Lioznova conceived her film about scouts, she wanted this picture to be as accurate as possible. And it would show not only the work of illegal immigrants, but also how the residents lived behind enemy lines. When the director turned to the high ranks of the KGB, she was introduced to a consultant - Anna Fedorovna Filonenko, who later became the prototype for the heroine Ekaterina Gradova, the Russian radio operator Kat

9 Russian celebrities who turned out to be bad businessmen: Mikhail Galustyan, Olga Buzova, etc

9 Russian celebrities who turned out to be bad businessmen: Mikhail Galustyan, Olga Buzova, etc

Some celebrities take the expression "a talented person is talented in everything" too literally, and, deciding that a big name is enough to make a profit, rush to open a business. However, not all of them take into account the fact that any business can be promoted only by hard work, and money itself will not fall from the sky. Of course, there are those among celebrities who were able to achieve success, but among them there are much more of those who have gone bankrupt. We remember the loudest failures

Mikael and Vera Tariverdiev: 13 years of happiness with a pedant who has more than one marriage behind him

Mikael and Vera Tariverdiev: 13 years of happiness with a pedant who has more than one marriage behind him

Both of them had to live a double life, come up with their own system of principles of a happy life apart, in order to reunite and live together for 13 happy years. Mikael Tariverdiev could never complain about boredom and monotony in his life. He had many romances, several marriages, and the favor of female fans. Vera had a husband, a son was growing up, and she was not at all ready to part with her calm, settled world

Why Quentin Tarantino married only 55 years old: 6 main women in the life of an "eternal teenager"

Why Quentin Tarantino married only 55 years old: 6 main women in the life of an "eternal teenager"

His films are distinguished by a special unique handwriting, however, not everyone is ready to accept his creations with enthusiasm. Quentin Tarantino is an eternal teenager who is able to take the simplest story as a basis, cut it into small pieces and put the puzzle together so that the film narration sparkles with completely new colors. In life, for many years he was considered a convinced bachelor who is not ready to go to the altar. Next to him were the brightest and most talented women, and he decided to marry only at the age of 55

Why controversy raged around the singer-castrat Moreschi - the only eunuch whose voice was recorded for posterity

Why controversy raged around the singer-castrat Moreschi - the only eunuch whose voice was recorded for posterity

History has left many memories of famous castrated singers and their delightful voices. Alas, we cannot travel back to those distant times and hear singing, for example, Farinelli or Senesino, but audio recordings of the voice of another such vocalist, Alessandro Moreschi, have survived to this day. And even if his singing is imperfect, but he became famous already for the fact that he fell to become the last professional castrato singer, and even leave subsequent generations with a live recording of his voice

"Buranovskie grandmothers" opened a temple built with the money earned

"Buranovskie grandmothers" opened a temple built with the money earned

When people have money, they spend it in different ways: someone buys "factories - newspapers - ships", someone goes to travel the world, and someone does charity work. The soloists of the "Buranovskie Babushki" collective decided to build a church in their native village with the money they earned in the field of show business. And they succeeded in this good undertaking

5 star marriages that lasted less than a year

5 star marriages that lasted less than a year

If two people are brought to the doorstep of the registry office by feelings, then they, quite naturally, dream of a long and happy life together. All too often, however, marriages are so hasty that spouses can hardly endure several months of coexistence. And among celebrities, there have been cases when the marriage broke up just a few days after the official registration of the marriage

"Blood Millionaire" or "General Benefactor": How Alfred Nobel Ruined His Brother

"Blood Millionaire" or "General Benefactor": How Alfred Nobel Ruined His Brother

Real personal tragedies are not uncommon in the history of science. To achieve their goals, scientists often take major risks and endanger not only themselves, but also those close to them. It is well known that the history of the most significant of the scientific awards is associated with the name of a man who thus tried to compensate humanity for the harm from his dangerous inventions. In fact, the dynamite created by Alfred Nobel served mostly peaceful purposes over the next 100 years. With his help were built

How the "Weather God" from the USSR predicted cataclysms around the world using an unrecognized method

How the "Weather God" from the USSR predicted cataclysms around the world using an unrecognized method

Until now, many remember how in the 1980s the directors of state and collective farms already in February had accurate weather forecasts for the sowing period. These leaves were signed by the name of Anatoly Vitalievich Dyakov, and everyone knew that such forecasts could and should be believed. A physicist from the village of Temirtau, Kemerovo Region, predicted the weather all over the world, warned the governments of countries about impending droughts and frosts. Money for his work, which official science called quackery, a talented scientist

7 most high-profile scandals associated with the Nobel Prize

7 most high-profile scandals associated with the Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize was first awarded in 1901 and has since become one of the most prestigious awards in the world. But this award was not spared by scandals and intrigues, amazing, without exaggeration, the whole world. Her story has had dubious winners and perceived conflicts of interest. Our today's review contains the loudest scandals in the entire history of the Nobel Prize

Seven betrayals of Ivan Mazepa: a genius strategist or a cunning adventurer?

Seven betrayals of Ivan Mazepa: a genius strategist or a cunning adventurer?

Reviews about this historical figure to this day resemble a swing with a large amplitude - from plus to minus and vice versa. Disputes do not subside both in the scientific community and at the level of public understanding of the role of Ivan Stepanovich Mazepa in the history of Russia and Ukraine. One thing can be said for sure - he was an outstanding personality, before whose bright colors the fictional fiction of works about Mazepa Ryleev, Pushkin, Byron and Hugo fades. Slim and smart, purposeful and ambitious, beautiful

10 Russian and Soviet politicians who wrote poetry: From Alexander Griboyedov to Sergei Lavrov

10 Russian and Soviet politicians who wrote poetry: From Alexander Griboyedov to Sergei Lavrov

The history of Russia knows many cases when real talented personalities were involved in politics. However, some have become known precisely because of their creativity. Perhaps Lord Byron was right when he argued that writing poetry helps restless souls to find peace. However, poetry can have a healing effect not only on politicians, but also on ordinary people

Alive, Kurilka: Who was the “journalist” from Pushkin's epigram, or the history of one conflict really was

Alive, Kurilka: Who was the “journalist” from Pushkin's epigram, or the history of one conflict really was

An interesting story can sometimes be hidden behind some stable expression - as in the case of the "smoking room": it's not even about the origin of the phrase itself. Behind the cheerful words "Alive, Alive Smoking-room" one can easily consider the whole conflict, one of the sides of which was represented by no less than the main Russian poet

Why during the time of Catherine II the works of the writer Mikhail Chulkov were considered immoral

Why during the time of Catherine II the works of the writer Mikhail Chulkov were considered immoral

If Lomonosov is known to everyone and everyone and amazes with his thirst for knowledge and his versatile interests, then you can hardly hear such a thing about Mikhail Chulkov in the 21st century. But the readers of the time of Catherine II did not have to explain who they were talking about, the books of this enlightener from commoners - whether about superstitions, about trade, about the adventures of a widow, or even about a mysterious crime and its investigation - dispersed with a bang, became the starting point for the development of several directions of science and literature

Fictions, legends and the truth about Baron Munchausen - a famous adventurer, whom the whole world knows

Fictions, legends and the truth about Baron Munchausen - a famous adventurer, whom the whole world knows

It is probably difficult to find a person who would not know about the legendary adventures of the literary and cinematic hero Baron Munchausen, a desperate liar and adventurer who flew on a cannonball, pulled himself out of the swamp by the hair, shot at flying fried ducks, and so on … However, many of you wonder that it was actually a real person. But you will be even more surprised to learn that representatives of the venerable family of Munchausen in the whole history have gathered no more, no less, but almost

What the general secretaries gave their friends: The most famous diplomatic gifts to friends of the USSR

What the general secretaries gave their friends: The most famous diplomatic gifts to friends of the USSR

The foreign policy of the USSR was very generous with gifts to its allies and satellites. Whole regions could pass to a friendly ruler simply by the good will of the Soviet secretary general. Moreover, such gestures were often one-sided, and the country received practically nothing in return. Not a single leader of the USSR could learn to count the benefits from diplomatic actions

Whom and for what Pushkin called "joy", or Real male friendship of the great writer

Whom and for what Pushkin called "joy", or Real male friendship of the great writer

In the monographs of Pushkin scholars Pavel Voinovich Nashchokin is mentioned as the main and truly devoted friend, admirer and critic of Pushkin. Alexander Sergeevich got married in Nashchokin's tailcoat and was buried in it. It was Nashchokin who lost consciousness after hearing the news of the poet's death and spent long days in a deep fever. Only the poet called it the words "my joy", entrusting his new lines to the unbiased and competent gaze of a faithful friend. Addressing his entourage, Pushkin said: “You all need me why

What punishment was suffered by the kindest overseer of concentration camps, Gertha Elert

What punishment was suffered by the kindest overseer of concentration camps, Gertha Elert

Despite the fact that the fascist ideology did not plan to let the woman go beyond the triangle “children, kitchen, church”, there were still exceptions. History remembers the names of concentration camp guards, who not only were not inferior to men, but sometimes surpassed them in cruelty and sophistication. Herta Ehlert called herself too soft, but unlike her prisoners, she lived a long and prosperous life, despite the fact that she was brought to trial for helping the Nazis

For what merits Vlasov was called Stalin's favorite general, and where is a monument in his honor today

For what merits Vlasov was called Stalin's favorite general, and where is a monument in his honor today

The name of General Vlasov became a household name in the USSR and to this day is associated with betrayal and cowardice. In the battle for Moscow in 1941, he became the first red general to force the German divisions to retreat. A peasant son who passed a rapid path from private to commander-in-chief. A long-term member of the CPSU (b), who was considered Stalin's favorite. After being captured by Germany in 1942, Vlasov voluntarily joined the enemy regime, intending to overthrow the Soviet leader

Nikolai and Svetlana Shchelokov: A 40-year-long military romance

Nikolai and Svetlana Shchelokov: A 40-year-long military romance

The Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR Nikolai Anisimovich Shchelokov had enough enemies and ill-wishers. He was a controversial figure, and many of his decisions were not understood. However, there was the only person who, under any circumstances, took his side. Svetlana Popova and Nikolai Shchelokov met in the midst of the war, in 1943, became husband and wife in 1945. They walked hand in hand through life for 40 years, and then, with a difference of two years, took their own lives

Which classics of Russian literature owned serfs and how rich they were: Turgenev, Gogol, etc

Which classics of Russian literature owned serfs and how rich they were: Turgenev, Gogol, etc

Many Russian writers and poets in their works touched on the topic of serfdom. Some of them actively fought this phenomenon, but at the same time they themselves owned land with peasants. By the middle of the 19th century, there were about 4 thousand landowners in Russia who owned more than five hundred serfs. To evaluate this statistics: there were about a hundred noble families at that time. Were famous writers and poets among the wealthy landowners? Read in the material