Architecture · Observations · Pop Culture

The 1956 Citroën Citirama tourist bus remains unique to this day

One would think that nowadays, with the universal mania for photographic documentation and for tourism, there ought to be far more such vehicles. But no. The Citroën “Cityrama” remains a unique tourist coach. Nothing comparable, equally futuristic and at the same time utilitarian, has appeared since 1956.

Observations · Mores · Education · Society

From 3 September, amendments to the Rosstandart order on the GOST for school uniform come into force

From 3 September, amendments to the Rosstandart order on the GOST for school uniform come into force. The relevant ministry, however, points out that "schools have the right to set their own requirements for the appearance, colour, cut and insignia of the uniform, taking into account the opinion of

Observations · Mores · Society

La Scala in Milan tightens its dress code and bans shorts, flip-flops and food

Milan's La Scala opera house has tightened its requirements for the appearance of spectators. Guests in shorts, T-shirts or flip-flops will no longer be admitted to performances, and the price of the ticket will not be refunded. And yet the theatre's director once declared

Art · Observations

Who Has More, Who Is Better

Alexander Deineka, 1930

Books · Observations · Society

Workers switched off a loader robot, as Levin's peasants spoiled machinery in Tolstoy

Sergey Kazakov, Director of the Industrial Development Fund of the Chelyabinsk Region, declares that the robotisation of industry is being held back by business itself:. "We had a case where a loader robot was installed at one of the enterprises. On the second day it broke down. They began

NB! · Cinema · Monarchies · Observations · Humour

It feels as though Joffrey Baratheon resembles Caligula even more than Caligula himself

Art · Moscow · Museums · Observations · Humour

When I posted to my stories a photograph of a work from the collection of the New Tretyakov Gallery, "Our Goal Is Communism! Komar, Melamid"

When I posted to my stories a photograph of a work from the collection of the New Tretyakov Gallery, "Our Goal Is Communism! Komar, Melamid", a woman I did not know wrote back: "no, it isn't". I asked her: "what do you mean,

Map fragment of Rome showing the Bocca della Verità, the Forum Boarium and the Cloaca Maxima beside the river.

NB! · Architecture · Observations · Rome

In Rome the Bocca della Verità and the Cloaca Maxima lie close to the Forum Boarium

From the Mouth of Truth to the Cloaca Maxima is a stone's throw. Eternal, all the same, this city of Rome

NB! · Observations · Humour

Everyone has a friend who pulls them up and a friend who pulls them down; as ever, the main thing is not to mix them up

Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

London, Paris, Poland, Banana

The singer Irakli would have done better to sing about Kiribati

Painting in blue tones: a woman in white holds a paper wrapping of fried potatoes while a man in white works with his back to the viewer.

NB! · Observations · Humour

Fried potatoes of English cuisine in a painting by Eric Satchwell

Tonight's supper is fried potatoes. Thanks to Eric Satchwell (1926-2012), it is the finest dish in English cuisine

Cinema · Books · Observations · People

Traits of Hermes-Mercury, Odin and a solar deity in the figure of Gandalf

Young Tolkien in the Costume of Hermes. And four hobbits in plain white togas beside him. It is interesting to look at Gandalf through the prism of the antique pantheon. In part he may be an embodiment of Hermes-Mercury. First, as a messenger of the gods; second, as a