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It still is. Try googling "кот Васька". ;)

)))
http://fun.kamazzz.com/Fun/image512.jpg

Marusya is short for Mariya (Маруся <- Мария), and indeed it has nothing to do with Alexandra. The girl was just acting out a little. :) When Gosha stayed unfazed, accepting this false "nickname",...

Yes, usually it's a bulletproof way. You can't get wrong if you call a person by a name he gave you introducing himself.
Meeting someone every Russian subconsciously evaluates the setting (formal,...

There can be dozens of emotionally charged diminutives (Витенька, Витюня, Витёк) for every name, which can be mind boggling. They are usually quite intimate, and it's safer not to use them if you are...