Archive · Mores · Society

Sunday became the seventh day of the week in the USSR by decree of 26 June 1940

The calendars of 1928 and 1945. Spot the difference? Until 1940, in the USSR, as in many countries of the world, the first day of the week was the day of rest, Sunday. The Russian word for week, nedelya, originally meant Sunday, and the days that followed were named according

Interviews · Books · Society · Pop Culture

A view on Joan Rowling's statement, society's reaction and Tsvetaeva's poetry

I asked Tatyana Tolstaya what she thinks of the persecution of J.K. Rowling over her much-discussed remark, and how she deals with the problem of separating the creator from the creation. On J.K. Rowling: her remark was perfectly normal, and society's reaction was utterly cretinous.

A woman in a black sweater and glasses speaks into a microphone at a table with a water bottle and a glass. Behind her are shelves of old books, including Ves Petersburg and address calendar

NB!

Woman speaking into a microphone in front of shelves of old directories

NB! · Observations

I shall begin every acquaintance with my students with these words

Books · Science · Society · People

Arnold Toynbee spent more than 25 years writing "A Study of History"

Arnold Toynbee spent more than 25 years writing "A Study of History". The work, which describes the rise and fall of civilisations, gave us the remark that civilisations die from suicide, not murder. Toynbee maintains that the fate of civilisations is determined by their response to the challenges

Coming Up · Moscow

Concerts and theatre performances in Moscow from 26 April to 2 May

On the eve of the weekend, I am publishing a list of theatrical events and concerts for the coming week. 26 April, 20:00 Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A minor at the Zaryadye Concert Hall, performed by the Moscow Academic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dimitris

Books · Observations · Society

Progress Is the Mother of All Problems

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

A small girl in a beige coat and pink bonnet stands in front of a pale green door with a glazed upper panel.

NB! · Art

Belgian Symbolist Fernand Khnopff painted “Portrait of Jeanne Kéfer” in 1885

"Portrait of Jeanne Kéfer", by the Belgian Symbolist Fernand Khnopff, 1885. Jeanne is about 5 years old

The disc of the Moon in front of the Earth, with its clouds and oceans, against the black of space.

Geography · Science

Earth and the Moon in a photograph by the Deep Space Climate Observatory

The Far Side of the Moon That Cannot Be Seen from Earth. A photograph of the Earth and the Moon taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite.

Old pen drawing of three hooded figures with covered faces beside woven beehives, with a person sitting in a tree.

NB! · Archive · Mores · Humour

Medieval beekeepers' costumes and their kinship with modern fashion

The costumes of medieval beekeepers were well ahead of their time. Today, they are the very height of fashion

NB! · Archaeology · Architecture · The East · Geography

The Pyramid of Cheops, Seen from Above

The East · Geography · Society

India's Population Overtakes That of China

India's population has overtaken that of China. India is home to 1.442 billion people, China to 1.425 billion. The population of Russia is 146.150 million people.

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