"Shit hits the fan" - another translation option :)

[watsonesq.livejournal.com]

Hi, I am a newbie here and just want to share with you one interesting observation. :)
Some time ago I was thinking about an adequate Russian idiom for the English "The shit has already hit the fan" and suddenly realized that "Аннушка уже разлила масло" from Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" would be one the best matches :)

Mutual training

[talkative-cat.livejournal.com]

I want to propose an idea... if it is already done somewhere - i'd be grateful for the link.

I'm a native speaker of Russian and Ukrainian. I know English to some degree, but university trainig isn't enough for me. I like English and want my knowledge to be up to date.

So I propose you my help in learning Russian and Ukrainian in live chat with me in exchange for your help in learning English...

The idea actually is a bit bigger. Let's make a service for such international live learning. It should include lists of ICQ numbers(or other instant messenger contacts) of the people who want to teach and learn. I suppose there should be some sorting features according to the present skills in languages.

For ex.: My ICQ# is 271811368 i'm native speaker of Russian and Ukrainian. I can speak English.

P.S.: My PHP skills aren't enough to make that real... but if you like the idea I suppose we'll find the way out...

About russian verbs

[parislife.livejournal.com]

Sergey Galanin "Serga"

B A7 Dm B
Мечтал, yвидел, yстpемился
Gm C F D7
Спешил, ошибся, не достал
Gm A7 Dm F
Разбился вздpебезги, добился
B E7 A7
Пpивык, забыл и потеpял

Hашёл, поднял, пpотёp и спpятал
Закpыл, заpыл, пpипоpошил
Hе дyмал, не гpешил, не лапал
Потоpопился, затyшил

Уехал, yлетел, веpнyлся
Пpиплыл, пpишёл, пpиковылял
Устал, пpилёг, завис, очнyлся
Завыл, залаял, замычал

Hапился, пpотpезвел, yмылся
Собpал, слепил, наpисовал
Смеялся, споpил, вновь напился
Пpивык, забыл и потеpял

Gm A7 Dm F
Разбился вздpебезги, добился
B E7 B A7
Пpивык, забыл и потеpял
Gm A7 Dm F
Пpивык, забыл и потеpял
B A7 Dm
Пpивык, забыл и потеpял

Outro: B A7 Dm

download this song

Not quite a language question but I'd really appreciate the help!

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Druz'ya!

Exactly a week from tomorrow, I will be in St. Petersburg for 5 weeks to complete my second year of study. Today, everyone from my program (Yale in St. Petersburg) found out where and with whom we would be living.

I know that it is polite and a good idea to buy gifts to give to my hosts, and although I do have a few ideas, I wonder if a proper Russian might give me a few good ideas as to what Russians might want from the States.

I'll be living a few blocks away from Nevsky Prospect with a family that consists of:

1) The husband, who is a theater critic
2) The wife, who is an English/German instuctor
3 & 4) Their twin boy and girl, who are 12 years old

So far I am leaning towards books... but I've been told that really stereotypical "American" things, like baseball caps and college t-shirts are good gifts... but if that person was telling me wrong, then I'd feel like a moron giving my hosts things they would never want! I also hear that if buy alcohol from the states to give, Russians love bourbon.

Also, are there any general good ideas of things not to do/say that would be specific to Russians... things that we might overlook in America or not consider rude that Russians would see as uzhasno? I don't mean things that are obvious to everyone (like don't throw up on them, don't make loud obnoxious noises, etc), but things that would be really easy for an American to slip up if not told otherwise.

Thank you so much if you can give me any ideas/tips!