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Child Item

Russia - great bunch of lads!

1990sman

Seriously moist over these russian military videos, and what with old vlad being a proper man, i mean, would it be possible to defect ireland to russias care and avoid the whole soros agenda thing?

few loose thoughts...

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corner of hells

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Good old USSR where a war hero couldn't get a wheelchair..

while they built nuclear powered subs that could wipe out a country.

That mans name was SparkskiBollockoff.

Wanderer78

1990sman wrote:

Seriously moist over these russian military videos, and what with old vlad being a proper man, i mean, would it be possible to defect ireland to russias care and avoid the whole soros agenda thing?

Seems to be a hero for little boys alright!

Junkyard Tom

glen123 wrote: »

However government used to provide disabled with special cars

Yeah you probably had to know the right people and wait about 30 years to get one. Hardly a public service.

GHOST MGG

Nevermind the russians...the chinese have been re-arming and modernising for the last 10 years..there not building amphibious landing ships for the craic..
all hail our new chinese overlords!

glen123

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Yeah you probably had to know the right people and wait about 30 years to get one. Hardly a public service.

Not really. But you had to request one and chase them now and again. Knowing the right people would get you much more than "invalidka":)

Overall services during USSR times used to be way better than these days. People did get housing (again, it had to be requested and chased, of course), free creches, schools and 3rd level education with even average students getting monthly grants enough to buy food and basic clothes.Free sports in purpose built sports schools with top coaches. Many free musical schools or for nominal fee. People had no idea about CVs, job interviews etc. You'd graduate and be given a choice of work places. If the offer was not where you lived originally, you'd be given a place to live should you agree to transfer. Free medical service, no waiting to be seen, etc. You'd go to your GP and then to a surgeon half an hour later if this was necessary. There was order, low crime levels, etc.

There were negatives as well, of course. Certain things were hard to get (you had to know people),the quality of things produced in the USSR wasn't always great, especially clothes, etc. That quality started getting progressively worse in the 80s.Corruption was massive - knowing the right people you could get practically into any university while at the same time taking a place of a really talented person who simply had no connections. Even though a certain number of places was always given to really good students irrespective of their background.

There were many things that were wrong but there were many that were actually pretty good.

Muppet Man

Russians not big fans of same sex couples. They have ‘cures’ for that sort of thing. Appalling Treatment by all accounts .

glen123

Muppet Man wrote: »

Russians not big fans of same sex couples. They have ‘cures’ for that sort of thing. Appalling Treatment by all accounts .

Do you remember the girl band called t.A.T.u? They were marketed as lesbians. Ended up representing Russia in Eurovision. This was 20 years ago.

As it stands, however, older population do not like or accept same sex couples. But it's not only in Russia but in Ukraine too and even Baltic countries which are part of the EU.

Younger generation is a bit more accepting.

TAFKAlawhec

The one thing I've noticed about online accounts & posts that talk lyrically about the virtues of Putin or modern day Russia compared to the "decadent" west and its values, is that almost none of them talk about actually wanting to move to Russia and live within its society.

glen123

I would imagine, it is not that easy to move to Russia. One needs a visa to visit as a tourist even though I think there is some visa free travel to some cities like St Petersburg or smth.

TAFKAlawhec

glen123 wrote: »

I would imagine, it is not that easy to move to Russia. One needs a visa to visit as a tourist even though I think there is some visa free travel to some cities like St Petersburg or smth.

Granted that Russia is not the easiest of countries that you can emigrate to, but you don't even see such commenters mention about even aspiring to do so.

IIRC There is a visa-free scheme for many European citizens to visit the St. Petersburg Oblast, but a formal tourist visa is required beyond it.

coolbeans

1990sman wrote: »

Seriously moist over these russian military videos, and what with old vlad being a proper man, i mean, would it be possible to defect ireland to russias care and avoid the whole soros agenda thing?

few loose thoughts...

Great place, pity it's a journalist murdering kleptocracy where alcoholism is rampant and corruption is endemic. It's also the largest country in the world yet has an economic output right on par with Italy, a country 57 times smaller. The population is also falling so Russians don't even believe in their own country despite all the jingoistic rhetoric that comes out of the place. All these Russia lovers wouldn't last too long out there I'd say.

[Deleted User]

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Granted that Russia is not the easiest of countries that you can emigrate to, but you don't even see such commenters mention about even aspiring to do so.

IIRC There is a visa-free scheme for many European citizens to visit the St. Petersburg Oblast, but a formal tourist visa is required beyond it.

Kaliningrad too

Nigel Fairservice

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Granted that Russia is not the easiest of countries that you can emigrate to, but you don't even see such commenters mention about even aspiring to do so.

IIRC There is a visa-free scheme for many European citizens to visit the St. Petersburg Oblast, but a formal tourist visa is required beyond it.

I got the evisa back in February when I went to St. Petersburg. It was fairly straight forward to organise. The old system of needing to apply for a visa at the embassy in Dublin and needing a letter of invitation was off putting. Evisas are available for Vladivostok too. I think they're mainly aimed at Korean and Japanese tourists. The Russians realised they were missing out on tourist money after hosting the World Cup.

Badly Drunk Boy

Time zones? (Outdated but I love Negativland).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDmWYVdN8ug

imme

glen123 wrote: »

Not really. But you had to request one and chase them now and again. Knowing the right people would get you much more than "invalidka":)

Overall services during USSR times used to be way better than these days. People did get housing (again, it had to be requested and chased, of course), free creches, schools and 3rd level education with even average students getting monthly grants enough to buy food and basic clothes.Free sports in purpose built sports schools with top coaches. Many free musical schools or for nominal fee. People had no idea about CVs, job interviews etc. You'd graduate and be given a choice of work places. If the offer was not where you lived originally, you'd be given a place to live should you agree to transfer. Free medical service, no waiting to be seen, etc. You'd go to your GP and then to a surgeon half an hour later if this was necessary. There was order, low crime levels, etc.

There were negatives as well, of course. Certain things were hard to get (you had to know people),the quality of things produced in the USSR wasn't always great, especially clothes, etc. That quality started getting progressively worse in the 80s.Corruption was massive - knowing the right people you could get practically into any university while at the same time taking a place of a really talented person who simply had no connections. Even though a certain number of places was always given to really good students irrespective of their background.

There were many things that were wrong but there were many that were actually pretty good.

Workers paradise with bags of freedom, you've sold me.

I'll just jump in my time machine and head there.

You should forward your name for one of those medals they were so fond of giving to exemplary citizens.

The Unbearables

Their women's are as hot as fcuk. That's all that matters

JasonStatham

What about that Russian covid vaccine...legit or not?

imme

JasonStatham wrote: »

What about that Russian covid vaccine...legit or not?

They are world beaters at doping.

completedit

I love how people think Russians are all one way.

Also, why the suspicion about Russia and the vaccine? It's been 6 months and every bit of effort has gone into finding one, why do people scoff that a country with a huge population with a long history of science, might be the first one to discover and release it. Nobody would be scoffing at it if it was the USA, yet they have a literal imbecile as president? But those Russians, oh god no, we won't trust them.

Nigel Fairservice

completedit wrote: »

I love how people think Russians are all one way.

Also, why the suspicion about Russia and the vaccine? It's been 6 months and every bit of effort has gone into finding one, why do people scoff that a country with a huge population with a long history of science, might be the first one to discover and release it. Nobody would be scoffing at it if it was the USA, yet they have a literal imbecile as president? But those Russians, oh god no, we won't trust them.

I think the Russians like to project an image of success and being in control when that might not necessarily be the case.

glen123

imme wrote: »

Workers paradise with bags of freedom, you've sold me.

I'll just jump in my time machine and head there.

If Lukashenko manages to hold on to his powers, you can try Belarus - very litte changed there since USSR times and no need for time machines))

coolbeans

completedit wrote: »

I love how people think Russians are all one way.

Also, why the suspicion about Russia and the vaccine? It's been 6 months and every bit of effort has gone into finding one, why do people scoff that a country with a huge population with a long history of science, might be the first one to discover and release it. Nobody would be scoffing at it if it was the USA, yet they have a literal imbecile as president? But those Russians, oh god no, we won't trust them.

There's no doubt that the Russians have a tradition of eminence in the sciences but the fact is nobody really trusts the Russians at a national level. You just have to look at the state sponsored doping scandals, novochok, the Soviet era cover ups, incursions into Ukraine and denying it. It all adds up to a lack of credibility. Now, I'm not saying that Western nations are very credible but they've got more currency than Putin's Rossiya does.

imme

glen123 wrote: »

If Lukashenko manages to hold on to his powers, you can try Belarus - very litte changed there since USSR times and no need for time machines))

I might even get a job in one of his state tractor factories.

The only thing is my poor liver will be fooked with all the subsidised vodka.

AMKC

imme wrote: »

I might even get a job in one of his state tractor factories.

The only thing is my poor liver will be fooked with all the subsidised vodka.

Awe put sure if you drive a tractor you will be saved from getting Covid.

Capt'n Midnight

Russian history can be summed up as "And then, somehow, it got worse."

con___manx1

Russia won the space race. Maybe they won the vaccine race. It wouldnt be that big of a surprise.

Hotblack Desiato

They achieved a lot of things before the Americans, but failed to put a man on the moon, most of their planetary probes were failures, and their shuttle flew once, unmanned. They're still using Soyuz derivatives which are a design well over 50 years old. Sure, it works, but it's very limited in what it can do.

AMKC

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

They achieved a lot of things before the Americans, but failed to put a man on the moon, most of their planetary probes were failures, and their shuttle flew once, unmanned. They're still using Soyuz derivatives which are a design well over 50 years old. Sure, it works, but it's very limited in what it can do.

They are a reliable, safe way to get to space and the ISS If not the most comfortable way to get there. They are a workhorse. It's a pity that Russia did not decide to continue on further with there space programme, to keep the space race going by aiming further and maybe aim for Mars. Imagine if they had got there. Maybe there would be colonies on the Moon and Mars now and the World would be more United.

Capt'n Midnight

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

They achieved a lot of things before the Americans, but failed to put a man on the moon, most of their planetary probes were failures, and their shuttle flew once, unmanned. They're still using Soyuz derivatives which are a design well over 50 years old. Sure, it works, but it's very limited in what it can do.

The Soyuz rocket is based on the R7 which put Sputnik into orbit 63 years ago. The Soyuz capsule came out of the Russian moon shot and it's designed for long duration missions. Which is why it's used as the lifeboat on the ISS.

Yes landings in a Soyuz are a complete car crash in the "you may have bruises" sense, but it's cheap and reliable. It's survived launch explosions and sinking into a frozen lake.

How is it limited ?

Apollo got shut down very fast after marking it's territory on the moon. Skylab was great but really only made use of stuff leftover when the Space Race was won.

Space Shuttle didn't replace Delta or Titan that were used before, during and after the shuttle era. And barely made it up to the altitude of satellites worked on. Today the X-37 does all the air force missions that need Shuttle manoeuvrability. Saturn IB / Apollo could have probably done the Hubble refurb mission

The Russian Shuttle was a follow the leader political project. And like "Star Wars" drained the Soviet coffers. But the Energia launch system could have put the ISS up in a few launches. Even the boosters could be used as first stages of Zenit launchers. All the Space Shuttle contributed was reuse of Steel cylinders after extensive rework and since then over $20Bn has been spent on SLS to get partial capability of Energia.

Capt'n Midnight

AMKC wrote: »

They are a reliable, safe way to get to space and the ISS If not the most comfortable way to get there. They are a workhorse. It's a pity that Russia did not decide to continue on further with there space programme, to keep the space race going by aiming further and maybe aim for Mars. Imagine if they had got there. Maybe there would be colonies on the Moon and Mars now and the World would be more United.

+1

The US space program was moon soonest. The Russians and earlier US plans were space station first and then assemble moon rocket and then go there and back to the station. NASA have finally come back to that, or are making noises that way.

The Russians are a space faring race. The Americans aren't.

Russians keep what works even if it's agricultural , in America "if it works it's obsolete". Space-X buck that trend to some degree. Boeing / ULA and other US companies use Russian technology and kit when they can get away with it. Change the badge and leave the red, white and blue stripes. This is why the SLS uses an Italian/ESA Service module based on the flight proven ATV that's flown to the ISS before.

Look at the history of space stations, look at the problems of ammonia (toxic but lighter) on the US part of the ISS vs. the non-issues of ethylene glycol (anti freeze like you use in your car).

At the end of the day it's down to economics. The US can waste more money on pork barrelling than the Europeans, Indians, Japanese and Russians spend on space. ESA use Russian rockets. But they don't pretend it's not a Soyuz.