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Russia thru the eyes of someone else
mendeleyev:
Today (24 July) was the first anniversary of the famous "Kitchen debate." A curious relationship during the cold war existed between Soviet leader Khrushchev and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon. Flash back to July 1959 when Mr. Nixon had arrived in Moscow to open the American National Exhibition at Sokolniki Park.
The American exhibit was an entire house was on display. It was a simple but efficient model that most Americans could afford and inside were various labor-saving appliances as a display of the American consumer market. The famous debate was recorded on color videotape, a new technology pioneered in the U.S., and Nixon made reference to this fact; it was subsequently rebroadcast in both countries.
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As Khrushchev and Nixon walked through the exhibit they paused at the model of a suburban American kitchen and it wasn't long before a heated dispute broke out between the two men. Elliott Erwitt, a press photographer captured this famous photograph of Nixon jabbing his finger at Khrushchev in the debate. Supposedly Nixon said: "We're rich and you're poor. We eat meat, you eat cabbage". Khrushchev, who had a hair trigger temper, is said to have responded with: "Да пошел ты на х*й!"
Both countries agreed to broadcast the debate however Premier Khrushchev was skeptical that his part in the debate would be translated into English for American viewers. The Americans and Russians agreed to air the debates on national TV on the same date however the Russians wanted to wait until the excitement over the exhibits had died down as American home products embarrassed the Russians. Back in the USA however the big three major networks, independent of government control, felt that a delay was unfair as the debates constituted immediate news and proceeded to broadcast the now famous "Kitchen debate" on 25 July.
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The US networks translated Khrushchev's dialog and they were broadcast in full as promised. However when the Soviets decided to air the Russia language version of the debates two days later on 27 July, Nixon's remarks were only partially translated into English. The Soviet broadcast of debate was delayed until late at night.
http://www.youtube.com/v/D7HqOrAakco
http://www.youtube.com/v/z6RLCw1OZFw
Reprinted from the Mendeleyev Journal.
JayH:
No wonder it lead to decision to put missiles into Cuba !!
mendeleyev:
From the Mendeleyev Journal:
Knockoffs can be found in almost any part of the world and the FSU isn't about to left behind when it comes to stealing a good idea. Starbucks immediately comes to mind--a Russian company held the rights to the name and while Coffee House, McCafe and others were making a killing, Starbucks sat on the sidelines for years as legal cases slowly drug their way thru the Russian courts. Today Starbucks can be found in the FSU, but they're a baby still due to so much lost time.
One of the most common knockoffs is McDonalds, МcДональдс.
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Not quite McDonalds in Ukraine's Yalta area.
There was a rumour for awhile that McDonalds was considering the purchase of one Russian ripoff, McPeak, but they haven't done so as far as I know.
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McD....wait, Mak Duck?!
Another blatant knockoff is McFoxy, the Ukrainian ripoff of McDonalds. McFoxy is Ukraine's version of a McDonalds knockoff.
http://www.youtube.com/v/mDfGWOuFWc8
Here, have a coupon for the next time you're in Ukraine:
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McDonalds is suing McFoxy in Ukrainian courts.
Speaking of McDonalds and lawsuits, Mickey D recently won a land mark case in Russia, a case which observers say will forever change the Russian fast food market. For those who say that the entire Russian judicial system solely favours the home team, you may wish to think twice.
The Moscow Oblast Federal Tax Authority had set tax rates at 18% for restaurants. McDonalds sued, and won, by convincing the court that it is not a restaurant but instead, a grocery store/market for prepackaged foods.
McDonalds attorneys were able to successfully argue that their chain of stores provides no traditional restaurant services. Instead they sell preprepared and packaged food, when customers come in to order it. They were able to prove that most of their food is prepared in advance and the final packaging is completed as it is ordered by a customer.
If that a ripoff to Russian consumers? Well not really as smart businesses generally pass along increased costs and that is one cost that will not be "on the menu" however other restaurants will benefit from the same ruling. Now McDonalds, McPick, KFC, McBlin, Burger King, Wendys and many other fast food restaurants will enjoy the 10% sales tax instead of the 18%.
Just in case you're wondering, traditional restaurants must continue to pay the 18% VAT.
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Hmm...it's not McDonalds!
http://www.youtube.com/v/LEwYcYtLkZ4
We leave this report with a flashback to the day in 1990 when the first McDonalds opened in Moscow, a Canadian venture, so for this report we go to the archives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:
http://www.youtube.com/v/8Zb1WJxvOXc
http://www.youtube.com/v/amx-JHhtsHw
nicknick:
--- Quote from: mendeleyev on July 28, 2012, 04:42:18 PM ---From the Mendeleyev Journal:
Hmm...it's not McDonalds!
--- End quote ---
Although they do other things as well, the basic thing they sell is the шаурма - shaurma.
I don't know how to describe it to Americans, but for anyone else, it's basically a doner kebab in a sort of tortilla wrap instead of pitta bread.
mendeleyev:
Nick, I believe that шаурма is a Middle Eastern food and popular in major Russian cities, Caucasian areas, Armenia, Georgia, and the "Stans." Shawarma is made by alternately stacking strips of fat and pieces of seasoned meat (lamb, goat and marinated chicken) on a metal stick. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates over a flame for hours. Most of these city kiosks sell rotisserie chickens as well.
http://www.youtube.com/v/qSpge5Ei06Y
This guy really gets into his work...like watching a show while the food is prepared:
http://www.youtube.com/v/JXK1p-zG3ME
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