I was taken the McDonald's in Moscow-- the recently opened one in Pushkin Square, only a few weeks (very early 1992) after the collapse of the Soviet Union. . I remember the pride and excitement of my hosts. The store was close to a memorial to Pushkin, the greatest Russian poet (every Russian schoolchild has read Puskin the way that most American kids have read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), so the siting of the store as a big concession to modernity by the government who was then and now, pathologically xenophobic. The experience reminded me of the power of Free Enterprise and freedom to make choices, including the choice to pick up the tab. A cultural bridge was built and crossed over that meal, one that Im sad and angry that Putin has closed and demolished.
Thanks to Konstantin for the memory. It is a very Russian memory; vivid and meloncholic.
Of all the things I have watched on social media lately, this video made me cry. WTF? I watched a guy light himself on fire and it made me sad, angry, horrified, and mournful. But I didn't cry. Why this video, of all things? Why am I crying watching this man eat McDonald's for the last time in Russia? If I could ponder a guess, I think may be because it's relatable and possibly a premonition or prophecy? Like, how long before such things start happening here? Whatever it is, I'm thoroughly dumbfounded by how powerfully emotional a response this caused in me. I'll be logging off social media for the next two weeks. I think I have had my fill of digital dystopia for a while.
I love everything you're doing, Ryan! Sorry for the pedantry... The apostrophe should be before the 9 in '90s because it's an abbreviation, and not possessive. Keep up the amazing quality research!
I was taken the McDonald's in Moscow-- the recently opened one in Pushkin Square, only a few weeks (very early 1992) after the collapse of the Soviet Union. . I remember the pride and excitement of my hosts. The store was close to a memorial to Pushkin, the greatest Russian poet (every Russian schoolchild has read Puskin the way that most American kids have read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), so the siting of the store as a big concession to modernity by the government who was then and now, pathologically xenophobic. The experience reminded me of the power of Free Enterprise and freedom to make choices, including the choice to pick up the tab. A cultural bridge was built and crossed over that meal, one that Im sad and angry that Putin has closed and demolished.
Thanks to Konstantin for the memory. It is a very Russian memory; vivid and meloncholic.
Top bloke buy him a coffee when u can.
Of all the things I have watched on social media lately, this video made me cry. WTF? I watched a guy light himself on fire and it made me sad, angry, horrified, and mournful. But I didn't cry. Why this video, of all things? Why am I crying watching this man eat McDonald's for the last time in Russia? If I could ponder a guess, I think may be because it's relatable and possibly a premonition or prophecy? Like, how long before such things start happening here? Whatever it is, I'm thoroughly dumbfounded by how powerfully emotional a response this caused in me. I'll be logging off social media for the next two weeks. I think I have had my fill of digital dystopia for a while.
I love everything you're doing, Ryan! Sorry for the pedantry... The apostrophe should be before the 9 in '90s because it's an abbreviation, and not possessive. Keep up the amazing quality research!
Nice! One of my valued inputs. Takes a while to train autocorrect to get his name right: Konstantin.