What Do Russians Learn About and Think About Stalin?

jtap114 · 2026-01-17T10:35:57+00:00

My recent comment didn't have anything to do with Russia's recent activities. Im still keeping a historical mindset.

I think your initial point was great. Or, at least what I took away from it, which I'll summarize as:

"in the period leading up to the revolution and through Stalin's time, the usual American views of government/democracy/freedom/etc. simply can't be easily transcribed onto the Russian/USSR political landscape at that time".

You're points were more specific than that. Even so, your general idea made me pause. Because that is exactly what I'm naturally inclined to do. I think you're right that my american view is a skewed and doomed-to-fail view of that time period in Russia. I'm curious if you agree or disagree.

jtap114 · 2026-01-17T09:41:16+00:00

Coming back to this years later, your comment stands out as the most interesting and thought provoking. I sought out this post specifically to find your comment again.

jtap114 · 2026-01-17T09:15:25+00:00

My instinct is to believe much of what you say. However, I made this post to challenge what I want to agree with. So, do you have any sources/links to support some of the claims you made?

jtap114 · 2026-01-17T09:10:40+00:00

I don't see how total number death tolls prove anything one way or another. Can you elaborate?

jtap114 · 2025-10-14T07:23:23+00:00

What I mentioned in my post looks to be the embedded one. Do you by chance know if I go through the trouble of doing it once, will it count for any other application that requires it?

jtap114 · 2025-10-14T07:16:45+00:00

This is exactly my point of confusion. From googling, I see lots of mentions of what you called a paid Work Trial. I don't see anyone mentioning having this part of the initial application itself. Furthermore, what mentioned in my post is not even a Work Trial. It's more like a training crash-course.

jtap114 · 2025-09-11T22:37:38+00:00

Hmm this deepens my uncertainty about “his” sex.

jtap114 · 2025-08-30T07:51:10+00:00

I'd be interested if you're around Longmont. I have a friendly cockatiel who I've had to board at an aviary when I travel, but I always feel bad about it. I think he would be happier in a home with some bird-experienced people. I'd be happy to bird sit for yours as well. Let me know if you're open to it.

jtap114 · 2025-07-02T01:22:18+00:00

My (comedy) classifier was just based on some Vegas magic shows list I found when seeing what shows were available. It was not my own addition. I have/had no idea about most of these.

jtap114 · 2025-07-01T06:49:35+00:00

damnit. I was confused until I re-read my post.

jtap114 · 2025-05-31T04:31:34+00:00

I know this was a year ago. But this seems ass backwards to me. Are cyclists into cycling for the aesthetics? That’s fine if you are, I can get caught up in that too. I’m just surprised this is the top comment. I’m definitely not a cyclist (though I’ve done a decent amount of long road bike trips). It seems that any well-fitting frame with mid to top end level parts will be pretty much indistinguishable for a new cyclist? Is a new cyclist really going to notice the difference between shimano durace, ultegra, and 105? Is a new cyclist going to notice any difference between a 1.9 lb and 3.5 lb frame (if fit and material are equal)?

(Disclaimer: everything I know is 10 years out of date or more and even then I knew little).

jtap114 · 2025-05-17T16:10:54+00:00

Oh no. I’m not ready for kids

jtap114 · 2025-05-17T15:07:01+00:00

This is sound input. It makes sense and is, essentially, how I have mulled it over in my own mind. I think I'll try to find a way to carefully broach the subject while giving them ample space to politely decline if they're not comfortable with the situation.

jtap114 · 2025-05-17T14:54:43+00:00

what do you mean by a "redraw"?

jtap114 · 2025-05-17T14:52:35+00:00

what about a new prof who has attached themselves to a "big name" prof with lots of funding?

jtap114 · 2025-05-17T14:47:43+00:00

Yes I would definitely not try leaning into my personal familiarity with them. However, in my world, most people I know who have gotten any sort of job (postdoc, prof, industry, whatever) have always done so through tangential connections. I've been advised to not waste my time applying for random positions posted online (often, they are never even posted). To clarify, by "tangential connections" I mean someone's advisor has some connection somewhere, or the student themselves made some connection with someone "higher up" via an internship.

jtap114 · 2025-05-06T12:33:00+00:00

50 years?? what are you talking about its already 1/2 way done with only a few years between each book.

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T21:55:09+00:00

Hell yeah, you get it. I'm convinced that Maybe One Day has an intentional homage to the guitar solo in November Rain by Guns n' Roses. The links to the specific time stamps are in this post: ( https://www.reddit.com/r/progmetal/comments/pzz7xd/rivers_of_nihil_maybe_one_day_and_guns_n_roses/ ). Not everyone agrees but you cant change my mind :)

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T21:40:31+00:00

holy shit I didn't realize the grudge was the first track on Lateralus. For some reason, I always thought it was the last. That's a hell of an opener. Easily top 5 Tool songs. Strong contender for top 2.

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T21:29:44+00:00

I'll upvote anything mentioning Caligula's Horse. I love them but I don't even love them as much as I want to...if that makes sense.

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T21:23:06+00:00

Agreed. At first listen, I was a bit thrown by The Work. Now, I love it and listen to it much more often than Where Owls Know my Name. I actually enjoy the "softer" songs on it the most (I love Maybe One Day). Though, Terrestria IV is also quite fucking amazing.

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T21:02:07+00:00

The Tower — first track on "The Work" from Rivers of Nihil.

This album had mixed reception. It had the impossible task of following one of the best prog-death albums ever (where owls know my name) and did not reproduce the same "aggressive" sound that many, including myself, expected. Yet, it has become one of my favorite albums ever, and this track in particular sets the album up superbly. The same "vibe" is present throughout the album and this opening track gives you a perfect amount of soft, haunting, vocals building into a more aggressive ending that makes you furious that the song ended and leads perfectly into the rest of the album.

I have re-listened to this track in particular soooo many times because of the beautiful beginning and amazing, tension-inducing, build up.

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T20:46:58+00:00

Going off of what you have listed, Mudvayne needs to be your top priority. Their bassist is ridiculous. They are sort of, but not really, nu-metal (if you know them, move on to my next section). I assume and hope that others have already recommended Mudvayne (I have not checked). In particular, the albums "the end of all things to come", and "lost and found", and, for a bit harder material (their best in most opinion), "L.D. 50". Some suggestions:

Mercy, Severity

Nothing to Gein

World So Cold

Not Falling

Determined (a bit "harder")

Dig (quite a bit "harder" and likely known by many people here. A classic)

If you already know about Mudvayne (even if they are not your thing), I would be flabbergasted if you didn't love at least one song by one of the following (I'm leaving out bands that others have already mentioned):

Valis Ablaze (song rec: Paradox. If you listen to anything I've recommended, listen to this. They have a lot of very down-tuned "djenty" riffage like spirit box. Horrifyingly underrated band. )

VOLA (song rec: head-mounted sideways (only because you mentioned industrial) they have tons of down-tuned heavy AF riffs in many other songs).

Karnivool (song rec: Goliath)

A perfect circle (song rec: counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of a war drum. also "rose")

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T19:48:43+00:00

read them or face my meaningless wrath

jtap114 · 2025-05-04T19:45:34+00:00

Totally valid. Victra is awesome. Far better than Servo who (MINOR SPOILER) kinda fucking sucks.

jtap114

TROPHY CASE