geekosystem

With the purported 2012 Apocalypse only a mere 18 days away, many folks are more on edge than ever. Russia in particular has its hands full trying to calm the public's anxieties over the Mayan feathered serpent god Kukulkan's return. Facing widespread panic and erratic behavior among the populace, Moscow's Ministry of Emergency Situations has come forward and declared that, no, there will not be a world-ending cataclysm come December 21st. Leaving us to ask, fine, but says who?

In what has to be the most foregone of conclusions, all three members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot have been found guilty of hooliganism this morning, stemming from an impromptu guerilla performance in a Russian Orthodox church. To anyone who's been following the story -- or just has cliched ideas about the Russian justice system functioning only as the arm of a corrupt authoritarian state -- this comes as no big surprise. One unexpected twist to this morning's story, though, is the apparent arrest of Chess Grand Master Garry Kasparov outside of the Moscow courthouse where sentencing took place. Kasparov has been an outspoken member of the Russian political opposition, which is a pretty good way to get beaten and thrown into a police van on charges of "Meh, it's Russia, we'll figure out what we're arresting you for later."

It's probably a given that any photo from the International Space Station, however mundane, looks pretty spectacular. This picture, snapped from the space station late last month, is no different. Just past the dark blue solar panel is the snaking, glowing tendrils of Moscow, with dawn rapidly approaching the city and a slim, distant aurora. Just a quick look at a city unfamiliar to most of our readers, from the best seat in the house.

If you're like me and have lived your entire life in the United States, odds are most of your impressions of Russia come from Cold War-era movies: A bleak sky with people huddling about while some kind of droning chant plays in the background, endless military parades in front of harsh leaders, general dreariness. This amazing little time lapse video from zweizwei completely shatters that image, showing a colorful and bustling metropolis of Moscow. Go on and take a watch if you think your view of Russia could use a bit of a refresher. See the video, after the break.

Check out this video of an intrepid, fearless Russian dude climbing on something really high and terrifying as intrepid, fearless Russian dudes are wont to do. In this case, he's climbing what appears to be the tallest skyscraper in sight in the great city of Moscow. For those of you thinking "but isn't that illegal and dangerous?" you're right, it is both. That being said, this Russian guy is way more awesome than you, so that pretty much invalidates all your arguments. Try not to let your palms sweat too much and enjoy the finest Russian brand of vicarious thrills.

(via reddit)

This just in: LOST director Jack Bender is reportedly the frontrunner for helming Moscow, the reboot of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan spy franchise. Chris Pine will be playing the newest Ryan incarnation, starting afresh as a U.S. Marine graduate working under a Russian billionaire, before being embroiled in a terrorist plot. Bender hasn't directed a feature since 1991's Child's Play 3, so it will be interesting to see what results. This comes on the heels of the announcement that LOST co-creator Damon Lindelof is attached to write the Alien prequel. (Vulture)