Mizulina, mezzaluna, bippity-boppity-boo

Yelena Mizulina is Russia's dour lady. According to the NYT, she's "Vladimir Putin's new morality crusader, spearheading efforts to curb gay rights, punish online cursing and impose a tax on divorce." Here's a bit more from the story:

Yelena Mizulina, a member of parliament, has used her position as the head of the Committee on Family, Women and Children to author increasingly conservative laws, including a ban on homosexual "propaganda" that went into force last month.

Her pearls, bland blazers and matronly mien belie a fierce fighter who is ready to take her loudest critics to court. In turn, they have labeled her the "Inquisitor" and ridiculed her online. One recent blog posting shows her gritting her teeth with the speech bubble: "You will behave yourself while on My Internet." 

It's a strange world. Speaking of which, I had an encounter with her tool twin, the mezzaluna, yesterday. That's a photo of mine up there. It's for chopping things. But as one Amazon commenter said: "It's too sharp!" I was chopping onions last night when they suddenly turned bright red. I didn't feel any pain; it's that sharp. (Don't worry; I'm fine.)

Mizulina, mezzaluna -- they do the same thing.