Updates from August, 2026

  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 1:18 pm on August 21, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    Russian women say a comfortable boyfriend should earn around 150,000–250,000 rubles ($1,840–$3,060) a month, according to a new survey.

    The survey by dating service Mamba and financial marketplace Sravni found that 26% of women chose that income range for a serious partner. Another 22% were comfortable with 100,000–150,000 rubles ($1,225–$1,840), while 9% wanted more than 500,000 rubles ($6,125) a month.

    When it comes to splitting the bills, 44% said the man should fully provide for the family. Just 2% preferred a strict 50/50 arrangement.

    Love may be priceless. Apparently, relationships have a recommended monthly income.

    Original source: RIAMO

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 9:23 am on August 20, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
    Tags: road signs   

    A Russian railroad crossing has added an existential twist to the usual safety warning.

    The sign reads: “Stop. Look. Listen. Exist.”

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 9:11 am on August 20, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    Muscovites are reportedly embracing “housing downshifting” — selling an expensive apartment, moving somewhere cheaper and living off the difference.

    Baza gives the example of selling a 60 m² (646 sq ft) apartment in Moscow’s upscale Khamovniki district for 50–60 million rubles (about $598,000–$717,000), then buying an apartment in Konkovo for 15–25 million rubles (about $179,000–$299,000).

    That leaves 25–45 million rubles (about $299,000–$538,000) to live on. When the money runs out, the idea is simple: sell again and move somewhere even cheaper — eventually beyond the Moscow Ring Road.

    According to Baza, this kind of housing downshifting could potentially fund 5–15 years of not working.

    Retirement plan: slowly move away from Moscow.

    Original source: Baza

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 7:00 am on August 19, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
    Tags: businesses, ,   

    Weird business ideas for uncertain times: a Russian company has launched “fueling tours” to Belarus.

    Cars are loaded onto a transporter in Moscow, driven about 10 hours to Belarus, filled up at a gas station, and then transported back.

    The unusual service comes amid gasoline shortages and supply disruptions in parts of Russia, which have made finding fuel more difficult in some regions.

    The whole trip reportedly takes around a day.

    Your car gets a foreign vacation. You stay home.

    Original source: AVG Motors Russia

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 1:48 pm on August 18, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    A Russian Orthodox metropolitan has blessed an entire brewery near Suzdal.

    Metropolitan Nikandr of Vladimir and Suzdal visited the Suzdal Brewer plant in Russia’s Vladimir region and blessed the production facility, where brands including Yuzberg beer are made.

    Finally, actual holy water.

    Original source: Vladimir News

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 8:24 am on August 18, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    Marge Simpson gets the Arkhangelsk treatment in this street artwork by Russian artist Shipao.

    Shipao turned the fire-damaged wooden house into part of the piece, using the blackened window as Marge’s famous towering hair.

    His caption makes it even better: “I think I know who the arsonist is.”

    Original artist: Shipao

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 6:33 am on August 16, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    A Moscow couple reportedly ended up in hospital after having sex with chili-pepper lubricant.

    The 44-year-old man and his 32-year-old wife had ordered a warming intimate gel from a foreign marketplace, reportedly hoping it would help with the man’s erectile problems.

    Instead, the capsaicin in the chili caused severe burning, redness and swelling, leaving the couple in intense pain. The lubricant was also reportedly expired.

    Sometimes adding spice to your sex life should remain a metaphor.

    Original source: SHOT

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 6:23 am on August 13, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    Wealthy Russians are reportedly entering fake same-sex partnerships to split the cost of Greece’s Golden Visa.

    According to Russian media reports, the scheme involves one Russian buying qualifying property in Greece for €250,000 while another registers as their same-sex partner and obtains residency as a family member — effectively splitting the investment to €125,000 each.

    The Greek residence permit provides access to life in Greece and visa-free travel within the Schengen Area.

    There is one particularly Russian irony here: same-sex relationships are being used to secure European residency while Russia itself has designated the so-called “international LGBT movement” as extremist.

    Source: Greek Ministry of Migration — Golden Visa

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 6:02 am on August 13, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
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    Russians may soon be able to choose a cemetery plot through Gosuslugi, the country’s government services portal.

    According to Russian media reports, a new digital system will allow users to search cemetery records and arrange burial plots online. The project reportedly involves digitizing data from around 14,000 cemeteries, with 295 million rubles (about $3.6 million) allocated to the system.

    Gosuslugi is Russia’s main online government portal — used for everything from passports and taxes to fines, benefits and official documents.

    Apparently, they’re working on one last government service for you.

     
  • Bear Witness

    Bear Witness 8:24 pm on August 10, 2026 Permalink | | Reply
    Tags: Apple, , Steve Jobs   

    Think Different. Very different.

     
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