Russia

[Tin-Tin]

That video of the shockwave is terrifying.

Why would they evacuate the town if the explosions had stopped?

 

[The binman chronicles]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-49673953

I bet they had just got a can of WD-40 now. Talk about making life difficult for yourself.

 

[summerisle]

Russian doping scandal: Russia faces ban from all major sports events - Wada

Russia faces a ban from all major sporting events over "discrepancies" in a lab database, the World Anti-Doping Agency warns.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[summerisle]

1960s Aeroflot poster.

 

[summerisle]

 

[summerisle]

Some spectacular objects which should be more widely known.

 

[Yarrgh]

Some spectacular objects which should be more widely known.

Only read a Siberian Times article this week on the Shigur Idol. Fascinating stuff. (I don't think it was from this thread or was it? )

 

[summerisle]

Only read a Siberian Times article this week on the Shigur Idol. Fascinating stuff. (I don't think it was from this thread or was it? )

I posted it another thread - the 'Would you take back Bill Kenwright' one I think.

 

[4737carlin]

Aleksandra Samusenko, T-34 tank commander in WW2

 

[PhilM]

Worrying.

Russia deploys Avangard hypersonic missile system

President Putin says the nuclear-capable Avangard missiles put Russia in a class of its own.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MockBu4]

Wow, didn't know about this thread. Well, I guess my fellow countryman Sergei missed a spot or maybe I'm just a hair-splitter.

Their national anthem is boss

For Soviet revanchists yes. But not for those who have no remorse about disintegrating of the Union. Though young ones and many more are ok with it.

It's all mind games from dirty politics to make somebody richer and/or more powerful anyway, Russians and Ukrainians always loved each other, there is Ukrainian blood in a lot of Russians, and there is equally a lot of Russian blood in the Ukrainians, especially in the region close to our border.

Oh, they truly do! (sarcasm sign). Especially after our Great Ekaterina (who was a Jerry basically) made everything to shut down any independence of Cossacks. The presence of Russia in Ukraine was very strong, and there is an invisible line between Western and Eastern Ukraine. The first one was eager for independence and took their chances since Empire was falling apart in 1917. Stalin politics was no help to make Ukrainians feel good about us as millions died of hunger in the beginning of 1930s. Though Ukrainian nationalists forget that Russians also were victims of hunger as a result of the same politics, Stalin simply didn't give a s**t about people.

Perhaps not but think back, Putin was in charge of the KGB for quite some time.

He was never in charge.

Basically Vlad the mad is bombing anyone with a beard! He don't care - he's not even arsed.

Vlad is a short derivative from a completely other name - Vladislav. If you want to call Vladimir shortly it is Vova or Vovan (as some teenagers and hoodlums can call a fellow)

I think Vlad would welcome any excuse to send the tanks and artillery back to Grozny - Bring it on you bearded devils!

Deadly wrong, they have they Duke Ramzan now, who is playing the role of wild but faithfull vicegerent but actually no one knows what is in his mind. Putin doesn't give a damn until Ramzan and his thugs keep order in the Chechnya Republic.

It's a traditional seasonal Russian residence found outside the main Russian metropolises: basically a second home for city dwellers.
Russian families who live(ed) in the cities would, or still do, often travel out to their Dacha to fish or hunt for a few weeks or months a year.

In general, that is correct. Usually, it was only a summer house but know some folks rebuilding houses or create new ones on their properties to have an option to live there for a whole year. People moved from cities to dachas for summertime in the early 19 century. In the middle of the same century, dachas became more and more popular thing with the development of the railroad. During Soviet time land was also given away for dachas settlements. My own grandfather was a bigshot in government and he got one too in the late 50s and build the house on his own.

Yeah, I would love that. I'd also love to get a train from Moscow to Vladiovstok.

Sergei is right it is a hell of a trip our trains are not very comfortable. But you don't have to drink the whole trip, in fact, the rules about drinking are toughened. I went by railroad to Baikal lake myself for 3 and a half days and didn't have a problem or discomfort as a result of drunkards. Though an Austrian guy whom I met, later told me that on his way back traveling with a guy who went out or jail or something, who forced him to drink with him and it was pretty scary).

Russia: not great but not any worse than the US (or possibly even the uk) policy-wise

Well at least in UK and US people have more legal protection and their rights are much better protected.

Not sure this is the right spot but just watched first two episodes of Chernobyl and bloody Hell! I mean I’ve read up on it but I was definitely guilty of being ignorant towards what went on. Very powerful and scary television.

Yes, it is well filmed, good production. But some things about the portrayal of soviet life and all that is very naive, at least my father said so who was an adult at that time.

 

[summerisle]

1937 Soviet New Year's Eve children's party poster.

 

[summerisle]

WW2 Soviet poster.
'The New Year's gifts that Grandfather Frost is delivering to the enemy will make them feel hot in the cold, and cold in the heat.'

 

[summerisle]

1919, Soviet Poster - Odessa.
'Deserters to the pillory.' As you do.

 

[summerisle]

Another entrant in the must have children's present of 1931 :
'Toys made of cork'.