Miscellaneous 2024, November

Emelyan Pugachev: little-known facts of the most famous uprising

Emelyan Pugachev: little-known facts of the most famous uprising

On November 15, 1774 (238 years ago), Emelyan Pugachev was brought to Moscow in an iron cage, whose name is associated with the peasant war in Russia and the last turning point in world history, which consolidated the power of the Romanov dynasty on the vast territory of the Russian Empire. Today, it is almost impossible to find out the truth about the Pugachev uprising, since in 1775 in Russia any mention of even the name of Pugachev was banned, but some facts have still come down to our time

10 fun facts about paintings by famous artists

10 fun facts about paintings by famous artists

On December 3, 1961, a significant event took place at the New York Museum of Modern Art - Matisse's painting "The Boat", which hung upside down for 46 days, was properly weighed. It is worth saying that this is not an isolated amusing incident associated with the paintings of great artists

How Soviet women fought in Afghanistan and how many of them returned home

How Soviet women fought in Afghanistan and how many of them returned home

Historical Russian memory traditionally connects the image of a front-line woman with the Great Patriotic War. A nurse on the battlefield near Moscow, a Stalingrad anti-aircraft gunner, a nurse in a field hospital, a "night witch" … But with the end of that terrible war, the history of Soviet military women did not end. Servicemen from among the weak half and representatives of the civilian army personnel have taken part in more than one military conflict, in particular in Afghanistan. Of course, most of them are

How the fates of the wives of the most cruel dictators of the 20th century developed

How the fates of the wives of the most cruel dictators of the 20th century developed

Even the most brutal rulers and dictators had families, wives, and children. You will be surprised, but many of these women, not only were at the same time with their halves, but they themselves took an active part in the politics of their countries. It is not for nothing that they say that husband and wife are one Satan. The scary thing is that most of them never repented of their deeds. But what exactly were the spouses of the people who committed the worst crimes in the history of mankind?

Titanic: little-known facts of the most famous shipwreck

Titanic: little-known facts of the most famous shipwreck

When the largest ship of its time, the passenger liner Titanic, was launched in 1912, the shipbuilder called it "virtually unsinkable." It was the word "practically" that played a cruel joke with this ship. On the fifth day of the voyage, during its first voyage, the ship leaving the British port of Southampton for New York collided with an iceberg and sank after 3 hours. Of the 2,229 crew members and passengers, only 713 people were saved. Since that time, the ship is surrounded by various

The most famous Russian duels: passion, excitement, revelry, cupids and politics

The most famous Russian duels: passion, excitement, revelry, cupids and politics

On November 24, 1817, on Volkovo Pole, in northern Palmyra, a duel between Count Alexander Zavadovsky and officer of the Cavalry Regiment Vasily Sheremetev took place. They fired because of the 18-year-old brilliant ballerina Avdotya Istomina. This duel, which went down in history as a "duel of four", ended with the death of Sheremetyev and a duel between the seconds - the future Decembrist cornet Alexander Yakubovich and the official of the College of Foreign Affairs, poet Alexander Griboyedov. However, Russia knew and not like that

How the composer Shostakovich was able to demoralize the Germans and give hope to the blockade

How the composer Shostakovich was able to demoralize the Germans and give hope to the blockade

On August 9, 1942, Dmitry Shostakovich's Seventh "Leningrad" symphony was performed in Leningrad, tormented by the German blockade. Significance of this fact was given by the fact that the great work was written in a torn to pieces hungry city. The music was broadcast on street loudspeakers and radio. The inhabitants of besieged Leningrad were shocked and hopeful, while the Germans were confused and discouraged. As violinist D. Oistrakh later recalled, at the height of the war, "Leningradskaya" thundered with a prophetic market

How the daughter of the great Russian composer Scriabin became a heroine of France

How the daughter of the great Russian composer Scriabin became a heroine of France

Born into a Russian family, the daughter of the famous composer Scriabin became a heroine in her life and death in France. In the forties. Ariadna Scriabin was a member of the Resistance, so she could die feeling that she had done a lot. Yet her death shocked many. Life in it seemed to be ten. But there was a bullet for each

From "Clash" to "Avatar" and "Star Wars": 5 films around which the controversy continues today

From "Clash" to "Avatar" and "Star Wars": 5 films around which the controversy continues today

It often happens that the opinion of experienced critics differs from the way the audience perceives the film. And, it would seem, there is nothing special about this, if the most real incidents did not happen, when films glorified by critics and received high awards, in fact, do not represent anything of themselves, and today they even have record low ratings and a lot of negative reviews. What kind of pictures were hated by the audience and how did they really deserve it?

BBC Culture names 10 best films of the 21st century that have already become classics

BBC Culture names 10 best films of the 21st century that have already become classics

Very often lately, one can hear complaints about the fact that now they do not make films of the same quality as before. In fact, many really amazing films are shot in the world every year. To find out which films are truly great, BBC Culture editors polled 177 critics from different countries and from all continents except Antarctica. In our today's review - 10 greatest films of the XXI century, which have every right to be called new

From Indiana Jones to The Chocolate Factory: 5 Critical Controversial Films to This Day (Part 1)

From Indiana Jones to The Chocolate Factory: 5 Critical Controversial Films to This Day (Part 1)

There are many films that, although they do not fall into all sorts of ratings and tops, do not receive critical acclaim, but at the same time they appeal to the audience and become a kind of classic that is pleasant to watch. And there are those who were undeservedly called good, had great ratings, which today are falling apart like houses of cards. And it is about such overvalued paintings that we will talk today

10 rated films based on real events

10 rated films based on real events

Films, which are based on events that once happened in reality, are able to interest the viewer and make him practically an eyewitness. True, not every director manages to convey the feelings of people who had a chance to survive serious trials or convey the atmosphere of that time. In our today's review - the most interesting films based on real events

How Lenin's sister raised the President of Taiwan, and why he considered Russian women the best companions for a politician

How Lenin's sister raised the President of Taiwan, and why he considered Russian women the best companions for a politician

Taiwanese President Jiang Ching-kuo, whose reign was dubbed an "economic miracle," in his mature years became a zealous supporter of ideology diametrically opposed to socialist ideology. This is a kind of paradox, if we take into account the fact that in his youth he was brought up in the family of the leader of the world proletariat Ulyanov (Lenin), was a member of the CPSU (b), and chose a Russian woman as his wife. His wife Faina Vakhreva managed to overcome the colossal difference in the culture and mentality of the West and the East

"On the Kulikovo field": Why scientists still argue about the place of the legendary battle

"On the Kulikovo field": Why scientists still argue about the place of the legendary battle

From childhood, we know that the famous Battle of Kulikovo took place “on the Kulikovo field”. Anyone can even go to this very field in the Tula region, where for a century and a half there has been a huge monument in honor of the legendary battle, and next to it there is a museum and other tourist infrastructure. At the same time, scientists continue to argue whether there was a "Mamaye massacre" and what was its true scale. They have a lot of reasons for such doubts

Battle of the Nations: Napoleon lost the decisive battle due to the betrayal of his soldiers

Battle of the Nations: Napoleon lost the decisive battle due to the betrayal of his soldiers

For four days, from 16 to 19 October 1813, a grandiose battle unfolded on a field near Leipzig, later called the Battle of the Nations. It was at that moment that the fate of the empire of the great Corsican Napoleon Bonaparte, who had just returned from an unsuccessful eastern campaign for himself, was being decided

Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme: An Unfulfilled Tragic Love That Still Heart Pains Mister Perfection Today

Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme: An Unfulfilled Tragic Love That Still Heart Pains Mister Perfection Today

The romance of Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Syme developed so rapidly and happily that there was no doubt that they could really make the perfect Hollywood couple and be an example of family integrity and loyalty. But the tragic coincidence of circumstances did not leave them a chance for a long life together

16 celebrities who were close friends, but became sworn enemies: Ksenia Sobchak and Anastasia Volochkova, etc

16 celebrities who were close friends, but became sworn enemies: Ksenia Sobchak and Anastasia Volochkova, etc

Keeping friendships is not easy. And it's especially difficult to do this when you are famous, because all your relationships are brought out to the public. Therefore, it is doubly difficult to find a person who will not envy, but will lend a helping hand in any situation. Despite this, there are many of the stars who have been together for many years and support each other no matter what. However, some celebrities were less fortunate: once the best friends became sworn enemies

As the ancestors of the Cossacks, Russian ushkuynik pirates, terrified Northern Europe and the Golden Horde

As the ancestors of the Cossacks, Russian ushkuynik pirates, terrified Northern Europe and the Golden Horde

Although it is customary not to advertise such a phenomenon as piracy in Russian history, the most ancient Russian pirates, ushkuiniks, left a memory of themselves. They appear in ancient chronicles, and the scale of their "military craft" is striking. These militant detachments were so hardy and professional that they can be jokingly called "Old Russian special forces." Ushkuiniks are often compared to Vikings and Varangians, and even they themselves sincerely considered themselves their descendants

How a deaf Beethoven was able to become one of the greatest composers, and why he never married

How a deaf Beethoven was able to become one of the greatest composers, and why he never married

May 7, 1824. One of the greatest icons in the history of music, Ludwig van Beethoven, enters the stage of the Vienna Theater. On this day, one of the most ambitious musical works, the Ninth Symphony, including the famous "Ode to Joy", was presented to the public. Everything is fine, but the composer hears nothing. Almost no one in the audience knows that Beethoven is almost completely deaf. How could he create such beautiful music without hearing sounds?

The strongest married couples among celebrities: What they looked like at the beginning of the journey and what has become of them now

The strongest married couples among celebrities: What they looked like at the beginning of the journey and what has become of them now

Everyone is used to the fact that the stars get married every now and then, then get divorced, that even the next news that one of them has found their soul mate is not taken seriously. "How long this time?" - think many ordinary people and are not even surprised when another representative of the world of show business is in an active search. Yes, strong celebrity marriages are rare. But they are. And today we will focus on those who have lived in perfect harmony for many years

Jim Carrey and Katriona White: a strange romance that ended in the tragic death of a famous comedian's girlfriend

Jim Carrey and Katriona White: a strange romance that ended in the tragic death of a famous comedian's girlfriend

Jim Carrey, one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, has been the center of litigation for two years now. He is accused of the death of ex-girlfriend Ekaterin White. Recently discovered the last letter of Katriona brought the proceedings to a new round

Celebrity talents that their fans don't even know about: Bruss Willis plays the harmonica, Johnny Depp draws, etc

Celebrity talents that their fans don't even know about: Bruss Willis plays the harmonica, Johnny Depp draws, etc

It would seem that when one or another singer or actor is applauded by the whole world, then his talent is obvious. However, not everything is so simple, because it is not for nothing that they say that a talented person is talented in everything, well, or at least in something else. In addition, many world celebrities have much wider opportunities in order, firstly, to discover their unexpected talent, and secondly, in order to develop it

8 famous husbands who left their wives for other men: Elton John, Tony Richardson, etc

8 famous husbands who left their wives for other men: Elton John, Tony Richardson, etc

It would seem that marriages, betrayals and divorces in star families are no longer surprising. Well, they are celebrities. But it is one thing when a spouse leaves his wife for another girl, another when a man turns out to be a lovebird. Yes, yes, it happens. It is difficult to imagine what these celebrities experienced, who lost their family because of the love of the second half for the representatives of the same sex

Russian stars who are similar to each other, but are not related

Russian stars who are similar to each other, but are not related

Even if you leave the jokes on the topic “is this the wife of Mota, Djigan or Timati’s girlfriend?”, Which, if anything, has something in common, then the love of cosmetic procedures or one plastic surgeon, then there are more than enough celebrities who are somewhat similar to each other. Fans have long noticed that some celebrities look very much like each other, although they are not relatives. Without pretending to be objective, we offer several pairs that have something in common. Similar?

How celebrity families get along with husband and wife - famous artists

How celebrity families get along with husband and wife - famous artists

It is no secret that representatives of show business try to choose “their own kind” for the family: one circle, mutual acquaintances, joint work, and it is easier for the chosen ones and chosen ones to understand the specifics of the artists' profession. But, as often happens, not everything is so simple here, because celebrities inspired by fame get used to the fact that there should be one star in the house. But what if in this case it is not only you? Divorce? Agree? Give in? Or hope that love will help you pass all the tests? Each

Sigismund II August and Barbara Radziwill: love that brought to the grave

Sigismund II August and Barbara Radziwill: love that brought to the grave

Many stories related to famous people of the past keep centuries-old secrets. They are overgrown with legends and now it is difficult to understand what really happened. The legendary love story of the daughter of the magnate of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Barbara Radziwill and the Polish king Sigismund August has become such an old mystery

Who are the most popular stars of Russian Instagram today, and what income does the social network bring them?

Who are the most popular stars of Russian Instagram today, and what income does the social network bring them?

Now it is already difficult to imagine that once there were no social networks at all, because we are already so used to sharing with friends and subscribers pieces of our life, in turn, to follow what acquaintances and strangers are doing, to be aware of the news and, in in the end, be closer to your idols and learn firsthand information. But microblogging is no longer just a platform for communication and exchange of pictures and videos. In particular, Instagram is a good platform for additional (or even the basics)

Why quarantined stars complain about lack of money, and what habits they have to give up

Why quarantined stars complain about lack of money, and what habits they have to give up

Prigogine complained about a decrease in income, Shnurov generously promised to send him sausages. While they were arguing, Natalya Senchukova and Viktor Rybin are trying to make money on online concerts. Lists of stars who have applied for a minimum wage from the state are circulating on the Internet. Is the plight of creative people really as bad as they try to show it?

Operation "Big Waltz" of Stalin: How was the parade of the defeated, and why the Germans were taken in Moscow in 1944

Operation "Big Waltz" of Stalin: How was the parade of the defeated, and why the Germans were taken in Moscow in 1944

Victory in the Great Patriotic War was forged not only at the front. Ideological operations played a huge role in the fight against the enemy. One of these was the operation known as the "Big Waltz", organized by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin in July 1944. Conducted almost a year before the historic Victory Parade, Operation Big Waltz already symbolized the inevitability of Hitler's defeat and the triumph of Soviet weapons

8 talented Soviet actresses, whose fate and career were broken by directors: Marina Ladynina, Ekaterina Savinova, etc

8 talented Soviet actresses, whose fate and career were broken by directors: Marina Ladynina, Ekaterina Savinova, etc

It is believed that in the days of the USSR, everything was fair, and for a person who dreamed of conquering the world of cinema, it was enough just to have talent. We will not argue with this, but we note that even in the world of art at all times ordinary people have worked, to whom nothing human is alien, including weakness. Therefore, the history of Soviet cinema knows many examples when the fate of talented and beautiful actresses went downhill just because they did not find a common language with the directors

How the parents of the deceased children experienced the terrorist attack in a Moldovan school: the tragedy of 1950, which was hidden by the authorities

How the parents of the deceased children experienced the terrorist attack in a Moldovan school: the tragedy of 1950, which was hidden by the authorities

April 4, 1950 will forever remain a black day for the inhabitants of the small Moldovan village of Giska, which is located near Tiraspol. Then 21 children and 2 adults became victims of a monstrous terrorist attack, which was staged by a man for no apparent reason. And it is difficult to count how many people were left with disabilities. Moreover, grief-stricken people had to go through a terrible tragedy alone. After all, the authorities decided to simply "hush up" it. And the whole country learned about what happened on that terrible day only by

What secrets are kept by the monasteries of Russia, which survived even under the communists

What secrets are kept by the monasteries of Russia, which survived even under the communists

Monasteries occupy a special place in Russian Orthodox culture. However, today their importance has grown, because they are not only spiritual value, but also cultural and architectural. Holy places often become a favorite place for believers to visit, and most of the monasteries not only continue to function for centuries, but also grow from year to year, clearly demonstrating the fact that a religious community and an ascetic lifestyle are not a relic of the past, but a spiritual need

Temple decorations of the ancient Slavs - chronology, typology, symbolism

Temple decorations of the ancient Slavs - chronology, typology, symbolism

There are many versions of the appearance of ancient female temporal jewelry. According to one of them, the most ancient female head adornments were flowers. Wreaths were woven of them, woven into braids. After getting married, a Slavic woman tucked her hair under her headdress. As an imitation of flowers, jewelry worn around the ear appeared. Apparently, these jewelry had the ancient name "zeeryaz" (from the word ear), although it was best known for its cabinet name - "temporal rings"

How a simple slave who dreamed of surpassing Napoleon managed to become a general and emperor

How a simple slave who dreamed of surpassing Napoleon managed to become a general and emperor

Faustin-Eli Suluk, a slave who became a general and then president of Haiti, was very fanatic about Europe, and his idol was Napoleon Bonaparte. He dreamed of turning Haiti into a great empire, but all his campaigns turned out to be a failure. But the subjects of Suluk did not know anything about this

10 Best Movies of the 2000s for Family Watching

10 Best Movies of the 2000s for Family Watching

Sometimes it can be difficult to find a film that would be of equal interest to both preschool children and their grandparents. But filmmakers are constantly working to produce quality films for audiences of different ages. And among the huge number of films for family viewing, we would like to highlight ten films of different genres and directions

Snow ghosts, or Why Soviet skiers instilled fear in the Nazis

Snow ghosts, or Why Soviet skiers instilled fear in the Nazis

The winter of 1941 became a turning point in the course of the Second World War - in the fall, the Nazis stood on the outskirts of Moscow, and the Soviet troops held the defensive, but already at the beginning of December, the spacecraft began a counteroffensive. More than 30 special ski battalions operated near Moscow during the general battle for the capital. In the winter campaigns of 1941-1942, ski formations took part in battles on almost all fronts, except for the Crimean one. They were especially useful in Leningrad, Karelsky, Volkhovsky, North-West, Kalininsky

Genghis Khan and the Mosquito Hordes: How Insects Destroyed the Invincible Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan and the Mosquito Hordes: How Insects Destroyed the Invincible Mongol Empire

In the summer and fall of 1241, most of the Mongol troops rested on the Hungarian plains. Although previous years were unseasonably warm and dry, the spring and summer of 1241 were unusually wet, with more rainfall than usual, turning the previously dry Magyar meadows of Eastern Europe into a swampy bog and a veritable minefield of malaria mosquitoes that made history

How regal persons built personal happiness on someone else's misfortune

How regal persons built personal happiness on someone else's misfortune

Nobles and other powerful people of this world more than once in history created love triangles with their own hands, acted as lovebirds, and with all their might sought the attention of a married woman. The close ones were often terrified of such a situation, but it was rarely possible to reason with the rulers in love. History knows cases when everything ended in legal marriage

Separating stars: 9 domestic celebrities who stole men from the family

Separating stars: 9 domestic celebrities who stole men from the family

It's one thing when a husband and father leave the family because they met a new love. But it is completely different when this new love turns out to be hot Anna Sedakova or sharp-tongued Ksenia Sobchak, whose photos are seen from all the posters. In this case, for the rejected side, the gap is experienced several times stronger. Which of the domestic celebrities got into someone else's family and lives according to the principle "the wife is not a wall"? And how it is perceived by the public

The daughter of a prime minister, an actor from a family of athletes, a failed doctor. Black actors of Russia and their fates

The daughter of a prime minister, an actor from a family of athletes, a failed doctor. Black actors of Russia and their fates

Blacks in Russia have appeared and were born since the eighteenth century, when the fashion for lackeys and maids, musicians and artists of African descent came from Europe. In the USSR, a new wave of African genes was brought by the novels of girls with students from friendly hot countries, and in Russia they have already begun to conclude marriages - the question of citizenship was not so acute. Black Russians live an ordinary, in general, life, master different professions - including acting in films