Though making an ass out of yourself on the internet is not culturally exclusive, let's gander at the Slavic strain of the phenomena, distinguished by a joyous lack of judgement, heavy abuse of photoshop, and an abundance of wall carpets.

So, Shepard "Hope Poster" Fairey is still trying to ride that co-opted optimism wave — he's just co-edited the new Art for Obama book. Well, Russia's got a dusty stockpile of old presidential art too. Well, it's not "presidential" anymore/yet (Medvedev's still keeping Putin's seat warm for him until the next election). And it's less art-book and more tacky-thrift-store material, mostly. But let's dig through the pile anyway, because Yes, We Can Too... kind of.

Brezhnev and Honecker's ferocious make-out painted on the Berlin Wall has just been white-washed. But do not fear - the deadly lovers will be back in all their symbolic glory as Russian artist Dmitri Vrubel recreates the mural in time for the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Wall.

The Russian Film Week NYC is November 13th through 22nd. Highlights include: gulag town fool with a wooden gun, a disillusioned TV star, modern domestic and adolescent horrors, Anna Karenina, Ivan the Terrible, funny drunks, miracles, sailors, suicides, spiritual journeys and Somalian pirates.

As close to a space adventure as I'll ever get: RUSSIA! checks out the mighty fine Vincent Fournier photography exhibition "Space Project," at Clic Gallery through November 1st.

The end is neigh, comrades. Here's Russia's own, brand new sign: a holy-words-producing baby leg.

Our latest video segment is fished out of one Russia's most ridiculous tv-programs, Heartfelt Confessions. Meet Mr Shahov - prophet, alien worshipper, poet, family man. We've subtitled his rants/teachings for your viewing pleasure.

The Russian blogosphere conveniently, if bafflingly, revolves around LJ. Each week, RUSSIA! scans the chatter and brings you the top five topics.

Exalted by the Soviets in the 80s with the popular kids' book Pioner Heroes, WWII's child soldiers are back—little red scarves and all—now, with super-powers! Russia's first ever anime First Squad opens this Fall. Read on for details, trailers, and soft musings on genre exploits and exploitation.

If you've never seen the classic 1975 Soviet animated short "Hedgehog in the Fog," you're about to fall in love, forever.

Tipped off by recent snickering on LiveJournal over Medvedev's photography gallery on the presidential website, we've peaked in for a gander.

The Russian blogosphere conveniently, if bafflingly, revolves around LJ. Each week, RUSSIA! scans the chatter and brings you the top five topics.

Why does our favorite spunky fatty Vinni Pukh look so alarmed? Perhaps because his makers, animation studio Soyuzmultfilm, are about to get him stuffed for a yearly percentage of plush toy sales in his image.

This dancing granny from Minsk might be Michael Jackson's most sincere fan... or just loaded.

The Russian blogosphere conveniently, if bafflingly, revolves around LJ. Each week, RUSSIA! scans the chatter and brings you the top five topics.