I’ve learned a lot from pop music. For example, the Russian word for “alive” is “жив,” which can be transcribed as “shiv” (space invader = sh, mirrored capital n = i, small-caps b = v; Cyrillic makes all kinds of sense).
A shiv is basically an improvised knife in prison, so it is obvious why that would be the word.
Being alive, at least in first person singular, is “жива” or “shiva,” which is also the name of a three-eyed Hindu god of destruction.
Here’s a life-confirming video of a Russian feeding the local wildlife. http://ift.tt/1A39Vrz