THE RUSSIAN ROAD RUNNER
You can learn a lot about a culture from its cartoons. This 1969 classic is the Russian version of the Road Runner. It’s called Nu Pogodi (“Just You Wait”), but instead of the Wile E. Coyote character coming up with elaborate booby traps and weird disguises, Volk the wolf plays guitar and does funny dances to lure in his prey. When he fails he just lights up another cigarette, vandalizes some buildings, and tries again the next day. Bo-o-o-o-o-o-o-r-ing.
This terrible cartoon lasted for 16 years, which sounds amazing until you find out that the communists could only manage to churn out one a year. Post-open-market Russia just brought it back, only this time they promise to come out with new episodes at least twice a year and they fill every background shot with piles of product placement (seriously).
Thanks to Zoya Feldman from Brooklyn, NY
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STOP SMOKING CIGARETTES
Not the greatest idea in the world. These cigarettes have almost no nicotine and taste disgusting, and you’re supposed to keep smoking them until smoking makes you sick. They’re also working on a line of shit sandwiches to help fat people stop eating.
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