Miscellaneous 2024, November

What tattoos are hidden under the clothes of a celebrity: Where is the lotus in the Valley, Okhlobystin's skull and other secrets of the stars

What tattoos are hidden under the clothes of a celebrity: Where is the lotus in the Valley, Okhlobystin's skull and other secrets of the stars

Decorating your body with drawings, as one of the ways of self-expression, has been used by people for a very long time. It's no surprise that celebrities are taking advantage of this. However, despite the fact that their bodies are almost constantly under the sights of photographs and body cameras, not all fans guess what exactly adorns the skin of their idols

Why a street in Berlin was named after the son of a gypsy merchant and fortune teller

Why a street in Berlin was named after the son of a gypsy merchant and fortune teller

What is it like to live with the knowledge that only you survived from the whole family? Asking yourself why you are alive, waking up at night from nightmares. Only half a century after the horror he experienced, Otto Rosenberg, the son of a gypsy dealer and fortune teller, decided to tell the world his story, looking at the path he had traveled as if through a magnifying glass

How they entered universities in the USSR, what were students afraid of and other nuances of Soviet higher education

How they entered universities in the USSR, what were students afraid of and other nuances of Soviet higher education

People who studied at universities in Soviet times recall student life with nostalgia. Of course, there were also difficulties - strict entrance exams, a large amount of knowledge, demanding teachers. But student romance always attracted. Much has changed today. To enter a university, it is enough to write the USE well and get the required number of points. And it's hard enough to imagine that Soviet students were afraid of distribution like fire. Read what the studies were like during the SS

Attack of the Dead: How 60 Dying Russian Soldiers Defeated 7000 Germans

Attack of the Dead: How 60 Dying Russian Soldiers Defeated 7000 Germans

"The Russians are not giving up!" - Many have heard this well-known phrase, but few know about the tragic events accompanying its appearance. These simple words are about the heroic feat of Russian soldiers, which was forgotten for many decades

Anne Bonnie: a loving girl who became a cruel pirate

Anne Bonnie: a loving girl who became a cruel pirate

Anne Bonnie grew up in a family of a lawyer, but she never became a diligent girl. On the contrary, she fell in love with a corsair and went down in history as a loving and bloodthirsty pirate

Pirates, tankers, priests and more: 7 famous women who pretended to be men

Pirates, tankers, priests and more: 7 famous women who pretended to be men

Not so long ago, women, because of the prejudices of society and because of superstitions, could not do their favorite thing and sometimes went to extreme measures and huge sacrifices. Some of the ladies were even ready to give up their gender, and it is for this reason that they went down in history

Could Hitler have won the war and why the Barbarossa plan failed

Could Hitler have won the war and why the Barbarossa plan failed

Come, see, conquer. This was the main principle of action of Adolf Hitler and his army. If such a plan worked with a good half of Europe, then problems arose with the country of the Soviets. Lightning plan "Barbarossa" has since become a designation of failures and failures, with great ambitions and plans. What did the Fuhrer and his military leaders fail to take into account, what were the military miscalculations, that he could not work out of the USSR. And most importantly, did he have a chance of winning if the plan was better?

Why were they in penal battalions during the Second World War, and How did they survive there?

Why were they in penal battalions during the Second World War, and How did they survive there?

The attitude to the most controversial historical events in the USSR changed like a pendulum. The topic of penal battalions was initially taboo, it was almost impossible to get accurate information on the number of soldiers in penal battalions. But after the 80s, when the Poyatnik took the opposite position, a lot of materials, articles and documentaries on this topic began to appear, which were also far from the truth. Rightly believing that the truth is somewhere in between, it is worth separating the wheat from the chaff and understanding

Soviet "agent 007": Why did the fascists call Soviet officer Dayan Murzin "black general"

Soviet "agent 007": Why did the fascists call Soviet officer Dayan Murzin "black general"

The legendary hero of the Great Patriotic War, a hero and holder of the highest orders of Czechoslovakia, an honorary citizen of 16 cities, a personal enemy of Hitler - all this is a native of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Dayan Murzin. However, his merits are better known abroad than in his native land. Hitler himself announced the hunt for him, but, in spite of everything, they could neither liquidate nor take him alive. Who was this Soviet superhero and how did Hitler know about his existence?

Hitler's mustache, Saddam Hussein's hair masks and other funny oddities of dictators

Hitler's mustache, Saddam Hussein's hair masks and other funny oddities of dictators

They went down in history as the most cruel, uncompromising and strong-willed dictators of all times and peoples. But the fear that they caught up on those around them did not prevent the latter from sprinkling into their fists from the unexpected hobbies and habits of tyrants, which they could not deny themselves. Knowing about these nuances, you can see those who kept whole countries in fear, in a slightly different context and realize that, despite everything, they had human weaknesses and fears

How Hitler married his mistresses, or the most famous and influential women of the Third Reich

How Hitler married his mistresses, or the most famous and influential women of the Third Reich

Despite the fact that war, in principle, is viewed exclusively as a male prerogative, women also play a role in it. Even in Germany, where, before the outbreak of World War II, their role in society was reduced to the notorious "children, kitchen, church", and many women - high-class specialists, politicians and scientists were dismissed from their posts just because it was suddenly believed that they have no place here, there were also those who have played a significant role in world history. Even through their own

How people were manipulated in German concentration camps, and why this strategy still works today

How people were manipulated in German concentration camps, and why this strategy still works today

The destruction of not a person, but an individual - this was the main goal of the concentration camps, breaking the will, the desire for freedom and the struggle for it, but leaving physical opportunities for work. The ideal slave does not speak, has no opinion, does not mind and is ready to fulfill. But how to make an adult personality out of an adult, having lowered his consciousness to that of a child, to turn it into a biomass, which is easy to manage? Psychotherapist Bruno Bettelheim, who was himself a hostage of Buchenwald, determined the main

5 astounding archaeological finds in recent years that made history rewrite

5 astounding archaeological finds in recent years that made history rewrite

Many believe that the main artifacts have already been found, and the most important historical discoveries have been made. This is a fundamentally wrong belief. Few people know, but today archaeological excavations are being carried out quite actively in different parts of the world. And they bear fruit. We have collected 5 important archaeological discoveries that have been made over the past 10 years

Half of Europe and a Million Likes for a Bride: The Strangest Things That Have Become a Wedding Dowry

Half of Europe and a Million Likes for a Bride: The Strangest Things That Have Become a Wedding Dowry

The bridal dowry has long been an integral part of weddings and is used in almost every culture. The dowry often served as a kind of "protection" for the wife, since she had the right to leave her husband and take this property with her if he or his family treated her badly. Usually, the dowry and bride price is just money, but sometimes it takes on a very unusual form

The Unexpected History of Europe: 10 Blood Chilling Historical Examples of Cannibalism and Vampirism

The Unexpected History of Europe: 10 Blood Chilling Historical Examples of Cannibalism and Vampirism

Perhaps, many have read at least once the stories about ruthless serial killers-cannibals, and in Hollywood films you can often see cannibals who live in the depths of the uncharted jungle. In fact, cannibalism has been encountered in history much more often than one might think. Moreover, cannibalism and vampirism, which are so terrible for a modern person, have been practiced in medicine for centuries

Restaurants, coffee houses, kitchens and more: How the restaurant business developed in the Russian Empire

Restaurants, coffee houses, kitchens and more: How the restaurant business developed in the Russian Empire

Today restaurants and cafes in the Russian open spaces are a common occurrence. You can find establishments for gourmets and for those who want a quick bite to eat, for romantic dates and for banquets on a grand scale, for every taste and budget. But a few centuries ago, everything was different. In this review about how inns, kitchens, coffee shops, restaurants and other catering establishments appeared in the Russian Empire

Naked fighting, blue bodies and other facts about the Picts - an ancient Scottish tribe that was feared even in the Roman Empire

Naked fighting, blue bodies and other facts about the Picts - an ancient Scottish tribe that was feared even in the Roman Empire

So who exactly were the Picts. These were mysterious people who lived in northern England and southern Scotland and figured in the annals of Roman history during the first few centuries of our era. Although very little is known about the Picts, historians know that they caused a lot of trouble for the Romans who tried to conquer the British Isles. They also turned out to be extremely talented artists. Most interestingly, the ancient Picts may not even have considered themselves a single group of people. H

To give birth or to die: features of the intimate life of people of the ancient world

To give birth or to die: features of the intimate life of people of the ancient world

Looking through modern TV series about the ancient Greeks and Romans, one can note the presence in them of many intimate scenes, often with the participation of dozens of naked women. Because of these orgies, the ancient world is presented by many as a cloaca of lust and debauchery. But was it really so

How the wars of the Indians and the colonialists began, and How did the English soldiers slay the aborigines

How the wars of the Indians and the colonialists began, and How did the English soldiers slay the aborigines

The war between the British and the Pequot Indians opened a series of confrontations between the colonists and the aborigines. Native Americans did not understand that they were opposed by a powerful and insidious enemy who was ready to do anything to win

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: How did a great writer get along with a great man?

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: How did a great writer get along with a great man?

Reading the works of famous writers, everyone at least once in his life wondered what these people were like in life? What if the great thinker really had a bad character, and the famous moralist did not miss a single skirt? This is often the case. But there are wonderful examples when creativity, aimed at serving the lofty ideals of humanism, is a reflection of all life

Writer and soldier Arkady Gaidar: Sadist and punisher or victim of the civil war

Writer and soldier Arkady Gaidar: Sadist and punisher or victim of the civil war

The author of the kind, light, romantic works "Chuk and Geka", "Timur and his team" experienced pangs of conscience, tried to commit suicide, drank drunkenly and underwent treatment in psychiatric clinics. Mystery surrounds the early years of the children's writer. Who is he: a sadist and a punisher or a victim of the civil war?

Ilya Ilf and Maria Tarasenko: A touching novel in letters that helped to survive separation

Ilya Ilf and Maria Tarasenko: A touching novel in letters that helped to survive separation

Marusya Tarasenko appeared in the life of Ilya Ilf (real name Iekhiel-Leib Arievich Fainzilberg) at a time when he was overcome by sadness and an irrepressible desire to become famous. And then they wrote letters to each other. Even their daughter was unknown about this correspondence for many years

Mikhailo Lomonosov - Russian man who overtook enlightened Europe

Mikhailo Lomonosov - Russian man who overtook enlightened Europe

Perhaps, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin said about this man most accurately: “Lomonosov was a great man. Between Peter I and Catherine II, he is one - an original companion of enlightenment. He created the first university. To be more precise, he himself was our first university. " These are the words of the great Russian poet about the genius son of the Russian people Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov, whose numerous discoveries in the field of physics, chemistry, astronomy and other sciences were several decades ahead of the discoveries

How Denmark Saved 98% of Its Jews: The Yellow Star of the Danish King

How Denmark Saved 98% of Its Jews: The Yellow Star of the Danish King

Sometimes beautiful legends hide amazing stories. Many people know the legend of the Nazis, the king of Denmark and the six-pointed yellow star. I do not know everyone that, firstly, she is no more than a legend - and secondly, in a short form she sets out the most real events of the kingdom during the Second World War

Grandfather Korney's daughter: the non-fairytale life of Lydia Chukovskaya

Grandfather Korney's daughter: the non-fairytale life of Lydia Chukovskaya

Her father Korney Chukovsky was an all-Union favorite, treated kindly by the authorities, and her name was banned. She herself visited Stalin's dungeons in 1926, her husband was shot in 1938. But she did not give up - she was friends with Akhmatova and Brodsky, defended Pasternak and Sakharov, and in her books she told the truth about exiles, prisons and the dungeons of the NKVD. But her literary works only saw the light after the collapse of the USSR

Maria Sklodowska and Pierre Curie: "My soul follows you "

Maria Sklodowska and Pierre Curie: "My soul follows you "

Maria Sklodowska and Pierre Curie are two scientific luminaries ahead of their time. There were two connecting threads in their life - love for each other and a passion for scientific research. These threads tied them tightly for life, and intertwined so that it was already impossible to understand which one was the main one. Science was for Mary and Pierre a dream and goal of their whole life, and love for each other gave strength and inspiration

Why Nikolai Chernyshevsky forgave his wife everything, even adultery

Why Nikolai Chernyshevsky forgave his wife everything, even adultery

At the present time, the rights of women and men in a modern civilized society are practically equal, and this will surprise no one. But it was not always so. Just some 100 years ago, women could only dream of such equality. Oppressed, deprived of the right to vote and choice, they have been subject to the will of men for millennia. However, in the middle of the 19th century, a revolutionary idea of equality began to emerge among the progressive-minded people of Russia. How the famous writer brought this idea to life for his family

What does Josephine's famous jewelery collection look like, which began with a humble "amour sincere" ring

What does Josephine's famous jewelery collection look like, which began with a humble "amour sincere" ring

There were many women in Napoleon's life, but only one of them he called "incomparable" - his beloved Josephine. Josephine, on the other hand, adored jewelry, spending almost all the funds intended for her on them. Her extravagance could drive anyone crazy, but not Napoleon. He closed his eyes to all her unthinkable spending, and he himself generously showered his beloved wife with expensive gifts. As a result, Josephine became the owner of the largest and most stunning collection of jewelry, the number of which is

Why did Herostratus actually burn one of the wonders of the world - the temple of Artemis

Why did Herostratus actually burn one of the wonders of the world - the temple of Artemis

On the night of July 21, 356 BC. in the ancient world, two important historical events took place. One person created history, another erased it. In the evening in the city of Pella, the capital of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, one of the wives of King Philip II, Olympias, gave birth to a boy. In a few years, this child will create one of the largest empires of the ancient world, rewriting the history of much of Europe, Asia and northeastern Africa. Another event was more prosaic: one madman set fire to the temple

More than just footprints: new abstract patterns in the snow from a talented artist

More than just footprints: new abstract patterns in the snow from a talented artist

Believe it or not, Simon Beck creates these large-scale drawings in the snow without the help of any sophisticated technique. Without special tools, with the knowledge that hours of work can be buried in the snow after the first snowfall, Simon Beck bravely continues his difficult business

Saint Mark's lion

Saint Mark's lion

This famous sculpture is one of the symbols of Venice. A bronze figure of a winged lion atop a massive granite column has been decorating Piazza San Marco for over 8oo years. Actually, the name of the square and the statue are inextricably linked, because the winged lion is the traditional symbol of the Evangelist Mark

What cars were in the garage of Nicholas II, and who got the imperial vehicle fleet after the revolution

What cars were in the garage of Nicholas II, and who got the imperial vehicle fleet after the revolution

Cars were one of the strongest hobbies of the last Russian emperor. Any European monarch could envy the fleet of Nicholas II: by 1917 there were more than fifty "self-propelled carts" in the royal garage. Among them were not only the cars of the emperor and his retinue, but also such innovations as a road train with trailed carts and a tracked vehicle

What's Really Shown in Popular Pictures: Real Events vs. Fake Stories

What's Really Shown in Popular Pictures: Real Events vs. Fake Stories

Retro photos often appear on the network today, behind which unusual stories from the past are hidden. People willingly share such pictures and sentimental stories, so these materials often go viral. However, many of them are real fakes: either the story is invented from scratch, or the photo itself is not real. In this review, the story of five such cases

Why it took so long to show "Star Wars" in the USSR, and What was painted on the first posters

Why it took so long to show "Star Wars" in the USSR, and What was painted on the first posters

The legendary film arrived in the USSR with a huge delay. Almost fifteen years after the release of the first series, in 1990, George Lucas's trilogy appeared on Soviet cinema screens. Before the screening, as it should be, we prepared and hung up movie posters. The images on them may today cause confusion among fans of "Star Wars", but the artists are not to blame - after all, before the screening, they had not even seen the film and had to rely only on their instincts and a slightly vague definition of the genre - "galactic

Why it is believed that a good artist should be poor and unhappy

Why it is believed that a good artist should be poor and unhappy

Contemporary artists have successfully debunked the myth that they must certainly look eccentric, wearing an old beret over their long hair and a vest. Most of the creators look stylish and even imposing. But they did not manage to deal with all the stereotypes. For example, there is still a belief that a talented artist should be poor. And certainly suffer. Whether it is unhappy love, bad habits, or just life circumstances, poverty should not be the only

For what merits the Russian white emigrant Vilde became the national hero of France

For what merits the Russian white emigrant Vilde became the national hero of France

War, like a litmus test, immediately reveals human essence, showing who is a real hero, and who is a coward and a traitor. Born in tsarist Russia, Boris Wilde, by the will of fate, found himself abroad, where he could adapt to the fascist regime and survive it safely. However, the son of immigrants chose the path of struggle against the invaders, which, simultaneously with glory, brought Vilde and an untimely death

A feat in the name of science: how scientists at the cost of their lives saved a collection of seeds during the siege

A feat in the name of science: how scientists at the cost of their lives saved a collection of seeds during the siege

Scientists of the All-Union Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) N.I. Vavilovs performed an outstanding feat during the siege of Leningrad. VIR possessed a huge fund of valuable grain crops and potatoes. To preserve the valuable material that helped restore agriculture after the war, the breeders working at the institute did not eat a single grain, not a single potato tuber. And they themselves were dying of exhaustion, like the rest of the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad

Why in pre-revolutionary Russia they had a negative attitude towards tattoos, and How the Dragon appeared on the body of Nicholas II

Why in pre-revolutionary Russia they had a negative attitude towards tattoos, and How the Dragon appeared on the body of Nicholas II

Tattooing has been and remains a controversial topic in the visual body art context. Someone calls the presence of subcutaneous drawings anti-aesthetics, others associate tattoos with part of the prison subculture. But there are also those who put the costs of paying for a tattoo service into the regular budget. The question is not in tastes and assessments, but in historical facts. In different periods, the tattoo changed from convict to noble. At some point, injecting paint under the skin was prohibited by religious canons. And already what

Corn mine: did the US intelligence services compromise Nikita Khrushchev's idea?

Corn mine: did the US intelligence services compromise Nikita Khrushchev's idea?

The head of the USSR, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev, at the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1954, after assigning corn the status of "the main agricultural crop", called it "a tank in the hands of soldiers." Besides, Nikita Sergeevich felt genuine sympathy for the “queen of the fields,” as she would later be called. But corn happiness never came to the USSR. Probably a role in this was played by the US intelligence services

10 best films of the XXI century according to The Guardian, which will definitely brighten up self-isolation

10 best films of the XXI century according to The Guardian, which will definitely brighten up self-isolation

In response to the lamentations that the film industry was dying, numerous publications began to rank the best films of this century. The list of the best films according to The Guardian includes only a hundred films, among which there are gangster films, science fiction, detective stories, thrillers, dramas - it seems that films of all existing genres are presented here. We invite you to get acquainted with the top ten best films