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

• Blogger zina-korzina analyzes, in detail, Russian fairy-tale films in a political and mythologic context, as they play on societal and socialist themes. From Russianized Cinderella to Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors and City of Masters, she finds two types monarchs—lovable/deluded and awkward/mean—and points out the favoritism for paganism with all the talking animals about. Commenters continue to overanalyze. What's so uniquely Soviet about devolving government heads anyway?... Ohhh. [Боги и Цари детских киносказок.]

"City of Masters," son of another stupid king

• Blogger varfolomeev-v gossips on the inner workings of the Russian traffic cop conspiracy, namely, how the irked popo slyly marks licenses to tip the others to torture the clueless culprits some more for them. Little horns indented over the unlucky driver's picture and the Russian letter Г (ГАИ - State Automobile Inspectorate? говно - crap?) aren't good, apparently. Commenter adds that a tiny pin-hole means a bribe-happy driver. Will scribbling a halo help? Dare you! [Тайные знаки ДПС.]

Bad signs: horns, letter Г

• And now, some rare and cheerful photos of Soviet 80s hipsters, probably punks, from blogger alex-hedin. Baggy plaid, jean vests, studded cuffs, smug mugs and horrible hair galore. Kudos to the Rambo t-shirt with fur hat guy. You rock. Commenters shudder in shared shame, seem to forget the trouble they went through to assemble those terrible get-ups. [Первые неформалы.]

Oh yeah...

•Medvedev apparently favors the idea of public schools teaching the basics of religious cultures (with an option in secular ethics for the decided little atheists) and educating up some military and naval clergy. Experimental programs begin next year. Response: "They should teach video-blogging instead." That's right, Russia, hop on the techie train to the future... Medvedev's already riding first class (Medvedevideo blog, anyone?) [Дожали]

So spiritual, so Medvedev.

• According to these photos it's still randomly raining like hell in Russia, especially if your idea of hell is instantaneously flooded streets with black BMWs as poorly functioning boats and colorful umbrellas as sails for drenched and confused citizens of Irskutsk. Or shattered metal, torn-up trees and damaged wires sparking in the bushes in Novosibirsk. Then, yes. It's still raining like hell. [В деревне Гадюкино дожди] [Погода]

"My awesome umbrella will save the day... maybe."