[TAG] Fwd: Your marriage essay

[Ben Okopnik]

On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 07:25:04AM -0700, Rick Moen wrote:
> Quoting Ben Okopnik (ben at linuxgazette.net):
> 
> > Heh. During the Soviet era, that kind of an answer would definitely get
> > the respondent a different place of residence... somewhere with a
> > northern view. In every direction.
> 
> The story told (somewhat nervously) about Yuri Andropov that, from his
> days in Hungary and then running the KGB, he'd grown to absolutely love
> political humour -- to the point that he not only collected those jokes,
> but also those who told them.

They used to tell that one about Khruschev, as well. In fact, Nikita was
responsible for a large percentage of all political jokes - even after
his "retirement"...

In 1965, the city of Odessa (a city with a large Jewish population, and
thus a city justly known for its sense of humor) petitioned the Soviet
government to reinstate Comrade Khruschev. When asked why, they
responded "better ten more years without food than even one more year
without laughter!"

> (Just got through seeing Peterhof, Catherine's Palace, the Hermitage,
> and the Church on Spilled Blood, and then defecting^W taking the cruise
> ship to Helsinki.)

For some strange reason, I don't recall any Russian jokes about Finns.
Or Swedes. :)


-- 
* Ben Okopnik * Editor-in-Chief, Linux Gazette * http://LinuxGazette.NET *