Long time lurker answering here, hope I'm correctly on topic, if not,
will accept appropriate modding with due humility...

--- In sig@yahoogroups.com, Tim Nalley <mordakus@...> wrote:
>
  Footwraps and rhubakha shirts
> were still standard issue in the Russian army until
> the early 1950s!

In a BBC documentary of the 1980s about life in Russia one episode
showed rookie soldiers getting footwrappings as standard issue socks.
And looking appalled, and confused.

>    But the picture is great, and as usual, its just
> the formal last note of a very long dance that his
> father had orchestrated and played starting 5-10 years
> before. Mikhial's father was a major mover and shaker
> in kicking the Poles out of Russia during the Time of
> Troubles and had built up alot of political clout in
> the process. But his noble equals weren't about to
> bend knee to someone they felt was more of an equal
> tan anything, but they still needed a titular head to
> cite when they banged the Realm back into shape from
> the tatters it was in.
>    So, they compromised and made his 16 year old son,
> Mikhial, Tsar to avoid political manuering and
> potential Time of Troubles II. He was very intelligent
> and very religious and not very outspoken, so not
> threatening to their own individual powerbases. His
> father was placated by becoming Metropolitan so he had
> his clout, but not direct power, and he advised his
> son politically and kept a hand on him, just in case
> it went to his head! A very pragmatic, very Russian
> solution to a potential political crisis and civil
> war.

I'm currently in the midst of some heavy research about this period
(and thus feel confident to chime in). Mikhail's father was Fedor
Nikitich Romanov. Fedor was the nearest male relative to the extinct
Riurikovich dynasty  through two lines of descent: by marriage, via
their ancestress, Anastasia Romanovna Iur'eva Zakharina, the first
wife of Ivan IV, and also as the last connection of the Shuisky clan,
who were also of Riurikovich descent.

Boris Godunov saw the threat of Fedor Nikitich as a rival and had him
forcibly tonsured as a monk, Filaret. Ditto his wife, who became the
nun, Marfa. Forced taking of orders was a time-honoured method of
neutralising people you were squeamish about murdering, because it was
mandatory you could not rule if you took holy orders. For example, if
Vasily III had recovered from his final illness, during which he
begged to take holy orders, he'd not have been able to rule.

Boris would have been reluctant to aggravate already testy boyar clan
loyalties, which had been fractured considerably by the policies of
Ivan IV. Hence his reluctance to just do away with Fedor Nikitich.

In any case, after Boris died, and during the Time of Troubles,
Filaret was held captive by the Poles for some time, but was elected
Patriarch in his absence and duly returned to be de facto ruler of
Russia for much of his (less forcible) son's reign.

I joined here, more for costume expertise, btw, and will further
comment: I find your collective and separate erudition truly amazing!

Greetings!

FYI
First Peter I ordered to wear Hungarian style Kaftans. It was about teh very
start of his reign. Only in 10-15 years did he declare French style should
prevail.

>
> Ditto. I would love to have been a fly on the wall in
> Peter's court to see the success ratios of courtiers
> who converted caftans to Russian versions of
> prevailing French fashions.
> --- lord_varsonofii <kaskus@...> wrote:
>
> > Russia's clothing actually changed very little until
> > Peter the great
> > began the westernization of fashion styles. I would
> > bet that the
> > clothing depicted is very much the same as that from
> > period.
> > ~ Varsonofii
> >
> > --- In sig@yahoogroups.com, "Sam W"
> > <wootduosmaster@...> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kostromatsar.jpg
> > >
> > > "Illumination from a book dated to 1673. It
> > represents a crowd at the
> > > Ipatiev Monastery imporing Mikhail Romanov's
> > mother to let him go to
> > Moscow
> > > and become their tsar."
> > >
> > > Now, to me, what those people are wearing wouldn't
> > look out of place
> > before
> > > 1600... Right?
> > >
> > > ~Kotek
> > > (Totally doing research for his essay)
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
> Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect.  Join Yahoo!'s user panel
and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
>
>
>

Greetings!


>  Footwraps and rhubakha shirts
> > were still standard issue in the Russian army until
> > the early 1950s!
To be precise, the very Rubakha-style tunics were out of issue yet in 1920s. And
footwraps are much more hygienic if you are out of civilization for more than
several days.

>
> In a BBC documentary of the 1980s about life in Russia one episode
> showed rookie soldiers getting footwrappings as standard issue socks.
Why not. A knitted sock stops breathing after a day or two, if you can't change
it. A footwrap keeps on working on condition you can dry it (about 5-10 minutes
by an open fire, unlike a sock) or at least you re-wrap it to the dry end. It
works guys. It really works.
Some of my potholer acquaintances prefer fleece portyanki to socks. :-)

> And looking appalled, and confused.

Because they simply don't know how to do it. City children.
From 1800s to 1920s high boots were about the only casual wear(see any photos of
early 1900s people - they all wear boots. A well-known picture - two great
writers, Tolstoy and Chekhov, they both wear high boots.
http://flag.blackened.net/tolstoy/lt_chekov.jpg )

For about 60 years it is not so. Less and less people wear high boots.
And, FYI, this is how to wrap it (with some text hints):
http://fedor58.narod.ru/Snaryaga/stelka.htm

Important:
  in period they mostly did NOT wear 20-century footwraps (0.4x0.7 meter). They
wore Onuchi (0.2x2.0 meter). They were wrapped in a different way, the leg was
sorta bandaged, from toes to the thickest part of the calf (see this photo -
http://www.ralphmag.org/DU/ilyich.html )

The Kremlin garb registers mention Tsaress's Onuchi in entries of (afair) early
17 century.

Hope that helps.
Bye.

>
> >    But the picture is great, and as usual, its just
> > the formal last note of a very long dance that his
> > father had orchestrated and played starting 5-10 years
> > before. Mikhial's father was a major mover and shaker
> > in kicking the Poles out of Russia during the Time of
> > Troubles and had built up alot of political clout in
> > the process. But his noble equals weren't about to
> > bend knee to someone they felt was more of an equal
> > tan anything, but they still needed a titular head to
> > cite when they banged the Realm back into shape from
> > the tatters it was in.
> >    So, they compromised and made his 16 year old son,
> > Mikhial, Tsar to avoid political manuering and
> > potential Time of Troubles II. He was very intelligent
> > and very religious and not very outspoken, so not
> > threatening to their own individual powerbases. His
> > father was placated by becoming Metropolitan so he had
> > his clout, but not direct power, and he advised his
> > son politically and kept a hand on him, just in case
> > it went to his head! A very pragmatic, very Russian
> > solution to a potential political crisis and civil
> > war.
>
> I'm currently in the midst of some heavy research about this period
> (and thus feel confident to chime in). Mikhail's father was Fedor
> Nikitich Romanov. Fedor was the nearest male relative to the extinct
> Riurikovich dynasty  through two lines of descent: by marriage, via
> their ancestress, Anastasia Romanovna Iur'eva Zakharina, the first
> wife of Ivan IV, and also as the last connection of the Shuisky clan,
> who were also of Riurikovich descent.
>
> Boris Godunov saw the threat of Fedor Nikitich as a rival and had him
> forcibly tonsured as a monk, Filaret. Ditto his wife, who became the
> nun, Marfa. Forced taking of orders was a time-honoured method of
> neutralising people you were squeamish about murdering, because it was
> mandatory you could not rule if you took holy orders. For example, if
> Vasily III had recovered from his final illness, during which he
> begged to take holy orders, he'd not have been able to rule.
>
> Boris would have been reluctant to aggravate already testy boyar clan
> loyalties, which had been fractured considerably by the policies of
> Ivan IV. Hence his reluctance to just do away with Fedor Nikitich.
>
> In any case, after Boris died, and during the Time of Troubles,
> Filaret was held captive by the Poles for some time, but was elected
> Patriarch in his absence and duly returned to be de facto ruler of
> Russia for much of his (less forcible) son's reign.
>
> I joined here, more for costume expertise, btw, and will further
> comment: I find your collective and separate erudition truly amazing!
>
>
>

Smart move. Change in stages. Hungarian is more
tailored but not as much as French fashion. Then the
French change came after the Streltsy revolt but
before the Western model units were expanded. Very
interesting! My grasp of history at that point is a
bit hazy.
'dok
--- Alexey Kiyaikin aka Posadnik <Posadnik@...>
wrote:

>
> Greetings!
>
> FYI
> First Peter I ordered to wear Hungarian style
> Kaftans. It was about teh very start of his reign.
> Only in 10-15 years did he declare French style
> should prevail.
>
> >
> > Ditto. I would love to have been a fly on the wall
> in
> > Peter's court to see the success ratios of
> courtiers
> > who converted caftans to Russian versions of
> > prevailing French fashions.
> > --- lord_varsonofii <kaskus@...> wrote:
> >
> > > Russia's clothing actually changed very little
> until
> > > Peter the great
> > > began the westernization of fashion styles. I
> would
> > > bet that the
> > > clothing depicted is very much the same as that
> from
> > > period.
> > > ~ Varsonofii
> > >
> > > --- In sig@yahoogroups.com, "Sam W"
> > > <wootduosmaster@...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kostromatsar.jpg
> > > >
> > > > "Illumination from a book dated to 1673. It
> > > represents a crowd at the
> > > > Ipatiev Monastery imporing Mikhail Romanov's
> > > mother to let him go to
> > > Moscow
> > > > and become their tsar."
> > > >
> > > > Now, to me, what those people are wearing
> wouldn't
> > > look out of place
> > > before
> > > > 1600... Right?
> > > >
> > > > ~Kotek
> > > > (Totally doing research for his essay)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
> > Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect.
>  Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.
>
http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect.  Join Yahoo!'s user panel and
lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7

I have some larger photos, but I'm not sure they'll help.  Contact me off-list
and we'll figure it out.

:-)

Sofya

>------- Original Message -------
>
Oh, random on costume, Sofya, do you happen to have a bigger photo of
your opashen? A dressmaker friend has asked me technical questions and I
can't answer them, but a bigger photo might :D Pretty please!

Emy
x





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

or "Light of the slavs"  or "Star of the slavs"

Konstantin

--- In sig@yahoogroups.com, "Leon" <al_29@...> wrote:
>
> Most likely they meant
>
> Sviatoslav (m) -- "holy glory."
> http://www.sca.org/heraldry/paul/sp.html
>
>
> --- In sig@yahoogroups.com, "Patricia" <verte76@> wrote:
> >
> > OK, thanks. Someone goofed when they spelled that one.
> >
> > Isabelle
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alexey Kiyaikin aka Posadnik" <Posadnik@>
> > To: <sig@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 2:35 PM
> > Subject: Re: [sig] another name question
> >
> >
> > >
> > > greetings!
> > >
> > > imho nothing. No root for svya-.
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "Patricia" <verte76@>
> > > To: <sig@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 10:43:02 -0500
> > > Subject: [sig] another name question
> > >
> > >>
> > >> What does Svyaslav mean?
> > >>
> > >> Isabelle
> > >>
> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>

We have some new classes, and a new request from the autocrats to help
enhance the ambiance of the site. :)
http://www.midrealm.org/talonvale/sigslum.html
--
Pan Zygmunt Nadratowski
"Most people live their lives as if they had another one in the bank" - Ben
Irwin
"Giving Governments more money is like giving whiskey and car keys to
teenage boys" - P.J. O'Rourke
Servant of His Grace Sir Dag Thorgrimsson and Master Mordok Rostovskogo
SCA Polish Culture Resource: http://www.plcommonwealth.org


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I haven't flown in the last several years and you never know what is
now considered a possible weapon. I have two small banners I can bring
on wooden dowels. They are removable and about two feet long each.
Could someone bring extra dowels who isn't flying just in case?

Thanks!

Magdalena

We will have dowels and anything else needed to hang banners available. Thanks
for bringing this possible problem to our attention.
   Valkai Istvan

panimagdalena56 <nunother56@...> wrote:
           I haven't flown in the last several years and you never know what is
now considered a possible weapon. I have two small banners I can bring
on wooden dowels. They are removable and about two feet long each.
Could someone bring extra dowels who isn't flying just in case?

Thanks!

Magdalena






---------------------------------
Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? Preview the hottest shows on
Yahoo! TV.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Isn't this a non-issue as long as you put the dowels in the suitcase you're
going to check, and don't bring them on board with you?

Cecilia

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: panimagdalena56
   To: sig@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:02 PM
   Subject: [sig] Re: Slavic U updated


   I haven't flown in the last several years and you never know what is
   now considered a possible weapon. I have two small banners I can bring
   on wooden dowels. They are removable and about two feet long each.
   Could someone bring extra dowels who isn't flying just in case?

   Thanks!

   Magdalena





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greetings all. I added three pictures of period lighting in Polish art
to the Pani Magdalena folder. I'm really interested in the black and
white hand held lantern. Does anyone have a better picture of something
similar?

And also, I would like more information/direction on where to find a
better example of this lamp. Does it look like anything you've seen?

Magdalena

Well, I'm not one of our luminaries but this lamp looks to me like a
horn lamp. I am told these were common in various places, esp. for
the poorer folks (metal being very pricey!!) and I think that could
be borne out by that appearing to be a poorer man (Joseph?) at the
Nativity so reasonably that was meant to be a commoner lantern or one
you'd be willing to leave in your stable if you were the innkeeper...

absolutely fwiw, of course!
is
Mir
> Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:13 pm (PST)
>
> Greetings all. I added three pictures of period lighting in Polish art
> to the Pani Magdalena folder. I'm really interested in the black and
> white hand held lantern. Does anyone have a better picture of
> something
> similar?
>
> And also, I would like more information/direction on where to find a
> better example of this lamp. Does it look like anything you've seen?
>
> Magdalena
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Horn lamp - what I've found so far is that the horn part was the cut
out section. You could also insert glass "panes." Correct?

Or is the whole lantern made of horn? A suggestion of one or two sites
would be most helpful.

Magdalena

Hello SIG,
   Thought I’d share this article with the group
http://www.russia-ic.com/news/show/4955/

They are putting the birchbark documents on the web with an English translation.
Should be up by beginning of next year.


Chris "If you must choose between two paths, either of which will bring death
and defeat, then choose the path wherein you die fighting for honor and
justice." Pan Ku
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook – together at last.  Get it
now.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How about something like this Paul Revere Lantern?  It's obviously post-period,
but similar lamps are period.  The difference is in the details of decoration. 
See the next link - the merchant doesn't give a date for it, but it's a "period"
merchant website.

http://www.smoke-fire.com/lanterns-and-tinware-1.asp
http://www.armabohemia.cz/imgnew/vvb/broutilles/lucerna_v.jpg from
http://www.armabohemia.cz/Novestr/campA.htm

My understanding is the the "windows" were usually in the door, and could be
horn, mica or glass.

There's some glassware on this page similar to your "hanging lamp"
http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/snotravanta/Accessories/Norsewidgets.htm


Sofya

>------- Original Message -------

>
>Greetings all. I added three pictures of period lighting in Polish art
to the Pani Magdalena folder. I'm really interested in the black and
white hand held lantern. Does anyone have a better picture of something
similar?

And also, I would like more information/direction on where to find a
better example of this lamp. Does it look like anything you've seen?

Magdalena




Yahoo! Groups Links






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

So everyone knows. There is a security risk found on the site with the
manuscripts. The bug is called "Bloodhound.Exploit.109"

   please make sure you scan your computers

  __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the warning!! My home PC is already soooo full of malware, and I
can't find the original XP disks to do a complete reformat. :-(



Does this security problem apply to all pages on russia-ic.com, or just this
one??



Thanks,

Patricia of Trakai








-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Hazen <adhazen1974@...>
To: sig@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 8:20 am
Subject: [sig] Re:Ancient Russian Birchbark Manuscripts Now on the Web!



So everyone knows. There is a security risk found on the site with the
manuscripts. The bug is called "Bloodhound.Exploit.109"

   please make sure you scan your computers

  __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




Yahoo! Groups Links





________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I really didn't look around much. I was at work when I was checking out the site
and the Security system that they have here went nuts. So I thought it best not
to check it out more till I get a chance on my home computer.

  __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greetings SIG:

The Fall issue of Slovo is now available at the SIG website.


Regards,

Paul Wickenden (for SIG)

Someone we know was awarded a Golden Lily, the Lochac A&S award.
:)
Rosie

Fantastic!
Good on you Asfridhr!
Peace, Johanne


**************************************
  See what's new at
http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Congrats!

Isabelle de Foix
Kingdom of Meridies


   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Rosie (aka Nawojka)
   To: sig@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 3:49 AM
   Subject: [sig] Yay Asfridhr!


   Someone we know was awarded a Golden Lily, the Lochac A&S award.
   :)
   Rosie





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Vivat! Well-deserved! Congrats!



Patricia of Trakai

In fair Atlantia


-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia <verte76@...>
To: sig@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 9:12 am
Subject: Re: [sig] Yay Asfridhr!




Congrats!

Isabelle de Foix
Kingdom of Meridies


   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Rosie (aka Nawojka)
   To: sig@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 3:49 AM
   Subject: [sig] Yay Asfridhr!


   Someone we know was awarded a Golden Lily, the Lochac A&S award.
   :)
   Rosie





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




Yahoo! Groups Links





________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

*Blushes* Thank-you guys, you're all too sweet!

-Asfridhr


--- In sig@yahoogroups.com, "Rosie (aka Nawojka)" <Rosie_0801@...> wrote:
>
> Someone we know was awarded a Golden Lily, the Lochac A&S award.
> :)
> Rosie
>

At the moment, I'm trying to get ready for the next big camping event
next year, with some wet weather gear. So far, although it's a little
everywhere in terms of geography, I have a hood based off the
Skjoldehamn find, a coat based from the Moshchevaya Balka, and now I'm
looking at mittens and gloves.

From what little research I have managed to find, hand-wear seems to
be either naalbinded wool, or leather. (There are knitted mittens in
Latvia and possibly Estonia, but they're later than the time period
I'm interested in. There is a woolen fabric mitten from Uvdal, Norway
too. But now I'm just rambling.)

In the interest of finding some more information on Eastern European
mittens and gloves, does anyone know of any other finds than the ones
below? I'd love to hear of them!

Gloves from Moshchevaya Balka
http://www.hermitage.ru/html_En/02/hm2_3_0_7_4.html
Knitted glove from 15th century Riga, Latvia
http://latviasfriend.blogspot.com/2007/06/can-you-buy-yarn-in-riga.html

Mitten from Staraya Ladoga
http://snipr.com/1sims
Mitten from Moshchevaya Balka
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/quokkaqueen/mittens.jpg (from
here http://pearl.livejournal.com/177848.html)
Knitted mitten from Jõuga, Estonia
http://hem.bredband.net/annlyf/13thC-knit-fragment.pdf

Hope the information is useful,
~Asfridhr, who has an old sheepskin coat waiting to be re-used as
mittens. :)

I moved out of Caid and took a 5 year "leave of absence" from the SCA,
and am now back and interested in developing my persona.

Basically, I am Russian.  That's it.  Boring, eh?

My husband is also Russian and wants to develop his persona.  He likes
the Viking influence, but also loves the Russian coats.

Any suggestions on books, websites, etc to start with?

--Amy

Amy wrote:
> Any suggestions on books, websites, etc to start with?

Just a quick reminder to everyone -

Please, please, please...

Check out the photos, files and prior messages on this list.  While
I'm sure everyone is quite willing to help with any questions, you can
start a more meaningful conversation if you have checked what has been
said before and have a more specific area you want information about.

Su of the Silver Horn, Caid

> Amy wrote:
> > Any suggestions on books, websites, etc to start with?
>

Su wrote:
> Just a quick reminder to everyone -
>
> Please, please, please...
>
> Check out the photos, files and prior messages on this list. While
> I'm sure everyone is quite willing to help with any questions, you can
> start a more meaningful conversation if you have checked what has been
> said before and have a more specific area you want information about.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't have access to the photos and
prior messages because I don't have a Yahoo account.  And I won't get
a Yahoo account because they have a seriously invasive (non-)privacy
policy.  I accept that that means I won't have access to some of the
group resources, and so I don't usually complain, but I thought it
might be useful to point out that if you've been assuming that
everyone is reading this group from the same interface, and that
everyone is getting the photos and etc., then that's not a correct
assumption.  Some folks are reading this as just an old-style mailing
list.

I wish I had an alternative I could offer, but from what I've heard,
Google Groups is no better.  :^P

--Kazimira

Then for non group related photos I would suggest that you check out
Sophia's page at
http://www.strangelove.net/~kieser/Russia/

She has lots of great information etc.

btw, you can turn off most of the privacy information with a few clicks in
yahoo with your profile.

Ianuk

On 10/24/07, T Duran <sazabhadri@...> wrote:
>
>   > Amy wrote:
> > > Any suggestions on books, websites, etc to start with?
> >
>
> Su wrote:
> > Just a quick reminder to everyone -
> >
> > Please, please, please...
> >
> > Check out the photos, files and prior messages on this list. While
> > I'm sure everyone is quite willing to help with any questions, you can
> > start a more meaningful conversation if you have checked what has been
> > said before and have a more specific area you want information about.
>
> Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't have access to the photos and
> prior messages because I don't have a Yahoo account. And I won't get
> a Yahoo account because they have a seriously invasive (non-)privacy
> policy. I accept that that means I won't have access to some of the
> group resources, and so I don't usually complain, but I thought it
> might be useful to point out that if you've been assuming that
> everyone is reading this group from the same interface, and that
> everyone is getting the photos and etc., then that's not a correct
> assumption. Some folks are reading this as just an old-style mailing
> list.
>
> I wish I had an alternative I could offer, but from what I've heard,
> Google Groups is no better. :^P
>
> --Kazimira
>
>


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Amy, greetings from Sofya.

There's nothing boring about Russian!

There is so much information available to you, it's hard to know where to start.
Well, no it isn't.  You start with the Russian Knowledge Pages:

http://russiansig.wikispaces.com/

Good luck!

Sofya

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Lisa M. Kies, MD aka Lady Sofya la Rus
Mason City, IA aka Shire of Heraldshill, Calontir
http://www.strangelove.net/~kieser
"Si no necare, sana." "Mir znachit Pax Romanov"
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