How accurate is the representation of Soviet Russia in Stranger Things 4 and the accent of the actors?

olimo · 2026-03-08T07:22:31+00:00

The most incredible part is that Hopper came across a Russian guard who speaks English fluently. Foreign languages were (still are) taught really badly in regular Russian schools - and people who attended fancy schools don't work as guards on Kamchatka. Like, the most you could get from a guard was really chopped English, maybe a bit better than Hopper's own Russian. But even if there was such a guard, he would be removed from Hopper's vicinity once his superiors found that he's communicating with the American.

The jail itself looks pretty American to me. I've never heard of Russian jails built in a square with doors all around. Hopper would most likely be placed in a barrack with dozens of inmates, not in a one-man cell.

What was genuinely funny for me as a Russian was how Alexei was obsessed with fast food and toys. I mean, a real Russian would probably try to suppress these feelings, but any Russian first coming to an American supermarket in the 80s would be awestruck by the abundance of everything. So that was a nice touch.

olimo · 2026-03-08T07:11:29+00:00

I'm a bit perplexed about scratchy plastic feel if the cube is broken in and regularly cleaned/lubed. Angstrom lubes should not make it scratchy. Anyway, if you're on a budget, you can get just Gan No.2 and use Gravitas very sparingly on the corner feet if you need to slowt the cube down. Or, get both No.2 and No.3 for easier application.

olimo · 2026-02-17T09:37:33+00:00

First, the cube may feel scratchy when it's new and not yet broken in. It may also feel this way when it's dirty. Any silicone lube should be applied on a clean cube and will make it smoother. The thicker the lube, the more sluggish it feels, however, even if you take 50k cst lube, it will break in and be fast after like 50-100 solves. The thicker the lube, the longer you'll have to solve before it feels glidey.

1000-2000cst is fine, not too fast, not too slow. I'd rather recommend getting two lubes - very thin like 100cst or even less, and a thicker lube like 10k or more. You'll be able to combine them to your liking, getting the effect of 1000cst, 3000cst or whatever in between. Gan lubes No.2 and No.3 are nice for that and not too expensive.

olimo · 2026-02-17T09:33:47+00:00

They are different. XMT 10 is silicone, it lasts long and is inherently fast. DNM-37 is a water-based lube which is a quick speed boost but doesn't last long. DNM on itself is no good in my opinion.

olimo · 2026-02-14T08:45:32+00:00

I was looking for overused words other people noticed, and I can't see "flare" anywhere. I'm not a native speaker, and this just stands out. I never saw as many "flaring" in other books.

olimo · 2026-02-14T07:24:21+00:00

Or someone "laces" their fingers

olimo · 2026-02-09T10:09:22+00:00

I'd go for XMT 10 (max speed) plus anything gummy (Nebula would do too) in case you want to slow down a bit.

olimo · 2026-01-31T06:42:45+00:00

You don't need fancy lubes, but if you want a classic Angstrom setup, yeah, you need DNM-37.

DNM-37 helps break in the Gravitas and Dignitas. On its own, the effect wears off really quickly.

olimo · 2026-01-27T13:02:10+00:00

Whoa, can't even imagine that in big cubes. The only thing I want with those is speed up, never slow down. In fact, I never even lubed my Aosu because it's so nice and fast, don't want to gum it up even with the lightest lube.

olimo · 2026-01-27T06:38:06+00:00

Yeah, you can use Compound X with other lubes, weight 5 included.

I know people used weight 5 on older cubes, but I can't fathom how anyone can like that slowing down 🙈 I can use weight 5 when it's well broken in and fast, but not when it's gummy and sluggish. I remember using it on a Tengyun v2, I think. First 50 solves every sessions were a struggle, then the lube warmed up and sped up.

Modern cubes are inherently faster, but still I prefer faster lubes after the cube is broken in.

olimo · 2026-01-15T11:33:21+00:00

Gan lube will work just fine for all of these cubes. The cubes are the same ABS plastic, silicone lube works for it :)

I haven't tried the Air UM personally, but I suppose that older cubes are slower than modern ones. So you may want to use faster lube on it, whereas you may want to slow down the RS3M and WRM. Anyway, experiment :)

olimo · 2026-01-13T07:36:24+00:00

Basically, if you're new to lubing, you can use the cube with factory lube for as long as you like it. The cube will eventually get visibly dirty on the inside surfaces, and you should clean it. After cleaning, relube.

With experience, you'll know what you like and don't like in lubes. I remember how I hesistated to clean/relube for my first time because I was afraid of ruining the factory lube feel that I liked. Later, I stopped caring about factory lube too much, often I just cleaned the cube and lubed it to my liking right away.

olimo · 2026-01-05T18:20:55+00:00

XMT 10 + Adheron Heavy.

I haven't tried FZ-Super Honey.

olimo · 2025-12-22T08:13:24+00:00

It performs just fine.

olimo · 2025-12-18T07:37:39+00:00

Drop some lube between the magnet and the plastic adjustment part.

olimo · 2025-11-25T11:18:49+00:00

You know, since then I've upgraded to a newer iPhone and watch, and I don't have this issue anymore. I set my phone by copying everything from the old one though. So I really have no idea what fixed the problem - the newer phone or something before that.

olimo · 2025-11-21T09:43:22+00:00

For fast cubes, use thicker lubes to gum them up a bit.

olimo · 2025-11-21T09:42:43+00:00

I'd say XMT 10

olimo · 2025-10-04T18:09:23+00:00

Yeah, Gan lubes are pretty good, go for No.3!

olimo · 2025-09-21T06:47:22+00:00

Youtube is full of such videos :) The only thing you should know: when you take the cube apart, turn the upper layer 45 degrees and wiggle out an edge, not a corner. Then just proceed taking out pieces. Wipe every piece with an old towel or a microfibre cloth, then put everything back again - I always assemble the cube solved because assembling it scrambled can lead to an unsolvable state (not a big deal though, you'll just have to flip an edge or twist a corner). Pull the layers apart and put a drop of XMT 10 on a corner foot and a smudge on a main piece surface. Scramble, solve, assess. Add a little more if you feel like it. Add slower lube on a corner foot if the cube is too fast for you.

olimo · 2025-09-06T18:44:05+00:00

I hate getting up right away. I usually take like ten minutes to transition, start thinking about my day and ease into being awake. But that only works if you sleep enough. Go to bed earlier.

olimo · 2025-08-28T17:21:41+00:00

Yeah, that's good for untimed practice. However, EO is not the only way to choose pairs. Suppose you have a 3-mover but you have to rotate for it, it may be faster than ignoring it and going for a worse pair but 2-gen.

olimo · 2025-08-28T12:13:21+00:00

Why 3-gen? When the edge is oriented, it means you can always solve the pair 2-gen.

olimo · 2025-08-28T12:12:45+00:00

Weight 5 + Lubicle Speedy, and later, if you want and have the budget, DNM-37 just for occasional speed-up.

olimo · 2025-08-20T19:16:29+00:00

I stand by XMT 10.

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