View From the Hammock brought to you by Purple Frog

 In America, I learned to like stew. In Russia we have a similar soup that is called BORSCH. It has one critical ingredient: beets that make the soup red. 

      Russian language historically is a merge of many languages. Lots and lots of words are borrowed or adopted from German, Italian, Greek, French, Latin. Philosophy is FILOSOFIA, theater is TEATR, music is MUSIKA.

No, baba is not a European traditional east cake that women bake for Easter. I’ve heard a very similar word “Bubba” in America and learned very quickly that this name is pejorative, something similar to “redneck”. “Those ‘bubbas’ in the Pentagon, you know!” My friend expressed his frustration with bureaucracy and politics.

    A highly professional pilot in Russia will be referred to as an 'AS' – it has nothing to do with English 'as' but with the old Latin ‘AS’ or old French 'ACE', which means often the highest playing card. In life it is applied to someone of high professional performance and of excellence. ' AS' is someone who is exceptionally talented in a sport or flying the airplanes. In the military  jargon , a fighter ace is a pilot who has successfully shot down five enemy aircrafts.  'AS' refers to victory.      It started with pilots of the highest qualification and then was applied to other professions. In Russia, we say, “you need to become an 'AS' in your field,” while in America we say, “do not be such an ASS.”