[OT] Russia Anything!

[William Ronald]

Possible topics:

Journalism under communism and in the modern era. (There are recent developments in this area as the government now controls the only formerly private TV network.)

The rise of Boris Yeltsin. He was originally an engineer, as I recall.

Soviet propaganda. How propaganda changed as the state changed.

The abortive general's coup against Gorbachev. This was a VERY crucial period in recent history. If it had suceeded, the Cold War might not have ended.

Soviet technology after World War II. The Soviets and the U.S. rounded up German scientists at the end of the war. How did this impact the state of Soviet technology.

The role of women in the Soviet Union and modern Russia: Reality versus propaganda.

 

[Azure Trance]

Ooh. A question I've been meaning to ask:

What does this mean, or where did it come from?

"In Soviet Russia, [blank] does you!"

Like:

In Soviet Russia, Vodka drinks you!
In Soviet Russia, Games play you!

Or something ... I've seen it now and then, but have no idea on what it is / means.

 

[Klaatu B. Nikto]

Strangely, the Russians get a few Tesla based stuff in Red Alert 2 (Tesla troopers, Tesla tanks and Tesla power plants).

Back on topic, why not go a lil bit into the Twilight Zone for topics?

Recently, the Sci Fi channel has shown a documentary on the Soviet Cold War psychic program. They were training assassins that used TK to mess with the heart or a telepath that managed to get onto a high security base, even tho the guards were told to stop him.

Not quite psychic but in the same documentary. The staff at the US Embassy in Moscow (I think) suffered from an unknown illness, which even got a visiting president (Eisenhower?). It apparently was caused by a microwave 'gun' aimed at the ambassador's office.

Another would be Tunguska. The Russians should have more info but maybe not.

 

[herald]

I returned from Russia about a year ago after adopting our daughter. (Actually a year ago to this day, I was on a flight over the Atlantic, after making our first trip to Russia, to meet our new daughter and sign intent to adopt forms).

If you would like questions answer let me know, most of my experiances comes from the region known as "Perm".

 

[DonAdam]

Around the time of the fall of the Soviet Union, there was a group of communist-trained economists that began holding secret meetings off in the wilderness to discuss why central planning doesn't work.

If you want names, I can look them up for you (email in profile).

 

[Mark]

Ooh. A question I've been meaning to ask:

What does this mean, or where did it come from?

"In Soviet Russia, [blank] does you!"

Like:

In Soviet Russia, Vodka drinks you!
In Soviet Russia, Games play you!

Or something ... I've seen it now and then, but have no idea on what it is / means.

Yakov Smirnoff (russian comedian) always did a lot of jokes along those lines such as "In America you can always find a party. In Russia the party always finds you."

 

[Azure Trance]

Yakov Smirnoff (russian comedian) always did a lot of jokes along those lines such as "In America you can always find a party. In Russia the party always finds you."

Thanks! He looks quite the dapper fellow.
What would I ever do without you Mark?

 

[Mark]

What would I ever do without you Mark?

Hmmm... Well, you'd still be "Yakov-free" and possibly less tainted!

Glad to help, though. IIRC, Second City Television did a bit on him just after the Soviet Union broke up. I believe Eugene Levy may have played him in the bit. It was a hilarious look on how he would have to revamp his entire act by inserting "former" in front of "Soviet Union" in all of his jokes which had the effect of making him weep through his act knowing his time was past.

In actuality, from what I understand, Yakov hasn't changed his act in twenty years and still tells the same jokes, almost verbatim, down in Branson, MO.

Funny? Sad? Surreal? All of the above...?

Nonetheless, we wish him well...

 

[Negative Zero]

haven't read the whole thread, so i apologise in advance if somone mentioned this already.

i've recently stared reading Michael Chrichton's Eaters of the Dead (the book that Antonio's Banderas' 13th Warrior movie was made from). in the introduction, he mentions that Russia got much of its culture and history from various Norse tribes, including its name from the tribe Rus.

it struck me as very interesting, and might be what you're looking for ... assuming you haven't found something else in here

~NegZ

 

[Felix]

Peter the Great's forging of a meritocracy in the Russian state, and the incredible expansion it saw under his rule; his desire to turn Russia from a backward agricultural state into a modern European power. His release of the serfs from bondage: "Better to free them from above than have them free themselves from below."

Catherine the Great's reversal of Peter's meritocracy and reestablishment of regemented aristocratic rule. Her policy of currying favor with the "nobles" by giving them access to government positions while removing those who worked there because they knew what they were doing. You might also want to look into why her alleged equine liasons so easily caught on; who would start that rumor if it wasn't the truth.

If you want something modern, you could cogitate on the virtues of Russian women tennis players, and weigh the merits and demerits between Anna Kornikouva and Maria Sharapova.