Perhaps “reality TV” is an oxymoron. But there’s something oh so familiar about this Russian reality show “Dom-2: New Love,” in which contestants seem far more preoccupied with another activity. (Via English Russia.)

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According to this story in the New York Times yesterday, a new Russian public holiday that stretches from the New Year to January 9 is causing havoc to health and the economy:

Since the January holidays, as they are called, came into being with the arrival of 2005, sociologists, psychologists and economists have chronicled what they call disturbing consequences of an extended period of leisure. They include an economic slowdown and seasonal spikes in fires, domestic abuse and deaths by alcohol poisoning.

“The number of crimes committed during these 10 days increases dramatically,” the newspaper Noviye Izvestiya warned in December. “The country plunges into an unrestrained binge.”

Apparently President Putin disappears for extended periods, Fed Ex stops delivering and television channels pare down their programming. Only in Russia.

Advertise the health benefits of all those stairs:

Three Bedroom co-op-”ATHLETE’S DELIGHT” SIX FLOOR WALK-UP $385000

Perfect CO-OP that defenetely (sic) will improve your cardiovascular circulation and improve your memory (won’t forget anything upstairs) perfect for todays extremely busy, health conciencious (sic) working professional. This unit featuures (sic) three box bedroom, livingroom (sic), kitchen and a bathroom. This southern exposure unit is the perfect place to acquire peace and tranquility. Unit features high ceilings. Located six blocks from the Lorimer L and G train stop and three blocks from the JMZ Marcy ave. stop. Maintenance $455.

Spotted on Craigslist, New York.

The last Wesley Autrey post, I promise. Nothing quite beats the man in his own words. (Via Gawker)

It’s amazing how western clothes find their way around the world.

The Manchester United jersey is perhaps the most well-traveled and easy to spot, appearing across South America, Latin America and Africa. I have vague memories of seeing Manchester United T-shirts when I spent a week in Angola in 2003 writing stories for the Western Morning News.

So you can imagine my delight when Dave, currently filming a documentary in Rwanda, sent this photograph of a boy in the capital Kigali wearing a jersey of my favorite team, Leeds Rugby League. With UK teams changing their kit so frequently it’s a wonder there isn’t a charity that concentrates solely on sending old kits overseas.

Mr. Autrey, a 50-year-old construction worker, said he knew something was different when he showed up for work later on Tuesday. His boss, he said, bought him lunch — a ham-and-cheese hero — and later told him to take yesterday off.

Then yesterday morning, as he walked to his mother’s apartment in Harlem, “a stranger came up and put $10 in my hand,” he said. “People in my neighborhood were like, ‘Yo, I know this guy.’ ”

Once at his mother’s apartment, he held interviews in the living room with some of the national morning news programs.

After that, it was back to the scene, where he recounted Mr. Hollopeter’s backward tumble off the platform and into the path of the oncoming train.

Throughout the day, Mr. Autrey’s sister, Linda, 48, played the role of administrative assistant, logging invitations for the talk-show circuit, including requests from the David Letterman, Charlie Rose and Ellen DeGeneres shows. Phone calls from well-wishers came pouring in, including one from the mayor’s office. Mr. Autrey said he had been offered cash, trips and scholarships for his two daughters, Syshe, 4, and Shuqui, 6, who watched as he dived to the trackbed.

“Donald Trump’s got a check waiting on me,” he said. “They offered to mail it; I said, ‘No, I’d like to meet the Donald, so I can say, Yo, you’re fired.’ ”

By the end of the day, the president of the New York Film Academy, Jerry Sherlock, had personally handed him a $5,000 check.

On the front page of the New York Times today a story about a man who leaped onto the Subway tracks and into the path of an oncoming train in order to save a fellow passenger.

Wesley Autrey, a 50-year-old father of two, jumped onto the line to save a 20-year-old student who had suffered a seizure and fallen into a one-foot deep space between the tracks.

He lay on top of the student’s body, pinning him down as five carriages of a Number 1 train rolled overhead. Both men escaped unhurt.

Mr. Autrey refused medical help, because, he said, nothing was wrong. He did visit Mr. Hollopeter in the hospital before heading to his night shift. “I don’t feel like I did something spectacular; I just saw someone who needed help,” Mr. Autrey said. “I did what I felt was right.”

Full story here.

Happy New Year! I am back, but very tired after three weeks of traveling. I hope to be back up to speed soon.