Awesome post! It’s crazy to think that billions of dollars come from the sale of alcohol. It’s even more interesting to see the anti-alcohol campaign worked so well, as it did in this instance. Although there were moonshiners, as you said, it seems as though the overall plan to decrease alcohol consumption worked.
Author: Bree Taylor
Comment on The lads of Liubertsy by Bree Taylor
Great post! I like how you included the two opposing reasons for why the Liubers might have been motivated to act the way they did. I would say it was more of a convenience thing; they wanted to make money, while also exerting their strength and power.
Comment on The Godfather: Russian Edition by Bree Taylor
Great post! I honestly didn’t know too much about the Russian Mafia, so your post was an awesome read. I wonder how citizens opinions varied about the Mafia regime compared to the previous one before the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Comment on Aw (Foe)y What Have We Done by Bree Taylor
Great post! It’s amazing to read about what lengths the Soviet Union was willing to go to in order to spread their influence. Their desire to do so, ultimately hurt their foreign relations and limited their sphere of influence. I guess this shows that force isn’t the best way to get your point across.
Comment on Blog 6 – Russian for the Summer Olympics by Bree Taylor
Good post! As Catherine said above, I also find it interesting that the Olympics are used for political use or gain. We can still see this happening today. If not for gain, the Olympic Games often dominate the media and shape perceptions of foreign states other than one’s own.
Comment on Russian Rock’n’Roll, Avoiding Mind Control? by Bree Taylor
I really enjoyed your post! It is not surprising to me that the Soviet Union would behave in this way. Control of music, and often creativity, seemed to come natural to the leaders there. I wonder how people still managed to listen to and get their hands on Western music?
Comment on The Ear-Resistible Crop by Bree Taylor
Great post! I was also interested in your post because of the pictures! It’s interesting how something that makes me (us) laugh was actually a very serious concern for the Soviet Union. It think this is a good example of how dedication makes for a positive outcome and how if ignored, problems and dilemmas can come back and reverse all of the progress that has been made.
Comment on Shoot For The Moon. Even If The Cosmonaut Misses He’ll Land Among The Stars by Bree Taylor
I really enjoyed your post! It makes perfect sense that the people in the Soviet Union would be so proud and supportive in the space race when they were beating the U.S. I think this shows how passionate the people in the USSR were about Soviet progress. I also am interested in the same question that Catherine posed above. I wonder how people would have felt had they not been racing against the United States.
Comment on Come And Czech This Out by Bree Taylor
Great post! I think you did a great job of hitting the key points in the downfall of Czechoslovakia in the 1960s/70s. I agree with what Caroline said above, I think this shows exactly how the Soviet Union felt about anyone breaking the status quo. Their actions towards Czechoslovakia show just how much control they wanted over the region and their allies.
Comment on Styling with Stilyaga by Bree Taylor
This was a very interesting post! I learned so much about stilyaga from your discussion. It is amazing that people were given an entirely new “name” just because of the way they may have dressed. At the same time though, we still see people treating people like this in society today. Anyone who deviates from the societal norms is often looked down on by those who believe they are better. I think the stilyaga sound pretty cool.
