All are not cooks that walk with long knives

-Russian proverb

The Top 5: reasons why we haven't been posting!
1. We are no longer required to study the amazing Russian revolution, and although that is a little sad, it's really more of a cause for celebration.
2. The exam of previously mentioned study was, well, not as good as expected. And thus, this just brings back memories of how bad I did.
3. Inspiration is hard to come by when you no longer need to spend hours filling your head with pointless facts about the Kulaks (when it's not even on the f***ing exam!) and can instead, be outside enjoying the weather, shopping or getting wasted.
4. I went way overboard during the October Revolution, averaging one-post a day for 4 days. That's too much.
5. I don't think anyone is reading this...

...But it can appear as such only in retrospect. Lenin himself thought it an extremely chancy undertaking

-Pipes

So, the rest of the October revolution, lets face it, was pretty dull. It's pretty much just anti-Bolshevik this, pro-Tsarist that and so on, vice versa, etc.
Which is why I really can't be bothered explaining to you the events of day 4 or day 5,6,7,8,9 or 10. I have better things to do, and I'm pretty sure you do. Well, you probably don't and in which case, you should just go out and buy a book on the Russian revolution (but still read this blog!) because that would probably be more insightful (but far less humorous and pro-Trotsky-est) and probably be slightly more educational. Or just go on wiki, that ones free.

So leave me alone; I have to study like a maniac. Hmm, not really, being a maniac is what I did when I found out the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are doing all ages sideshows this December. FUCKING AMAZING. But this isn't a music blog, so go read pitchfork or something.

The ease with which the Bolsheviks toppled the Provisional Government has persuaded many historians that the October coup was "inevitable"

-Richard Pipes (Lenin/Trotsky hating historian)

Wow time flies. Just goes right by us. Today is DAY 3 of the October Revolution (or coup as Pipes like to call it).
After yesterdays excitement, day 3 is pretty boring. Not much happened really, except:
-The Bolsheviks announce their official government title and name Lenin as their leader
-Some strong anti-Bolshevik opposition WITHIN Petrograd

Thats pretty much it. It kinda goes down hill from now, and doesn't really pick up until the NEP (a betrayal of the original ideals of the party I might add) is introduced. Which kinda sucks.

But a shout out to my sisters so-far-right-wing-that-I-can't-see-him-from-my-left-wing-stance-boyfriend who, luckily enough, celebrates his birthday on this historic day. Boy, I bet that makes him proud!

Our rising has been victorious

-Trotsky

Hallelujah! Wikipedia FINALLY caught on, so if you were to read their "on this day" list TODAY you would find yourself informed about the events of this very day in 1917. Of course, you needn't visit wiki for all the information you need is right HERE. And it's more in-depth. Wiki has like a sentence on it (and it's incorrect, it said the revolution started today. WRONG, it started YESTERDAY!). Pretty disappointing really, I mean it is one of the biggest events ever to happen in the history of man kind. They may as well have just left it out completely.

So, as its November the 7th (25 October in the Julian calender) it was day 2 of the October revolution. Here's the low-down:
-Red Guard storm the Winter Palace at 2.10 am
-Kerensky escapes, however, and is protected by the American Embassy
-The Provisional Government is arrested and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress (cool name right) and the ministers resigned to 'fate' and surrendered without a fight, and the PG was officially overthrown
-Trotsky dismisses Menshevik and SR opposition from congress
-Petrograd Soviet now in control of Government, garrison and proletariat

And to think, Wikipedia didn't think this more important than "The London Gazette, the oldest surviving English language newspaper, was first published as the Oxford Gazette." What a cop out.

The amazing feat that was the October revolution is something that we all should recognize, if not celebrate. Whether or not what became of the Bolsheviks after 1917, and their impact on Russian society is irrelevant. Barack Obama got a Nobel peace prize because of his ideas (practically...) but he hasn't done anything yet, and neither had Lenin. But he had envisaged a Utopian society of peace and equality. It is for this reason alone why we should be educated about the October revolution and so that all of us can know that there are some who realise our class-based, capitalist-money-grabbing-orphan-creating society is not idealistic.

Oh, it's also free slurpee day.

History will not forgive us if we do not assume power

-Lenin



Look back young ones, look back 92 years. 92 years to this VERY day. What do you see? Is it perhaps, one of the most historically significant events in the modern world? Why yes it is.

This day, 92 years ago, the October Revolution began. "But", you say, "it's the OCTOBER revolution, we are currently in NOVEMBER. You MUST be wrong." Huh! YOU, my dear, are wrong. See, it was October in Russia but for the rest of us it was November simply because Russia was still using the Julian calendar, whilst the rest of the world was using the updated Gregorian calendar. Russia was a little behind, as it was in most other areas.

Anyway, this was DAY 1, of 10 days of Bolshevik takeover. This is what happened:
-Trotsky distributes arms to Red Guard
-Petrograd Garrison rebels against the Provisional Government claiming that it is a "tool of the enemies of the people"
-Systematic capture of key communication, installations and vantage points
The significance?
Kerensky was powerless to stop armed uprising by the Bolsheviks.

Yep, the beginning of the most important events in our history (OK, one of the most important ones...jeez) and it's not even on the Wikipedia "on this day" list. WHAT GIVES WIKI?

Anyway, check this space (I've always wanted to say that) to find out what happens next!

(Also, I'm pretty sure that cartoon is mocking communism AND The Age, seriously is it just me or is that The Age logo on the top? Ten buck says it was in the Herald Sun...pfft!)

"Trotsky IS a fox!" - Elizabeth

"Despite its complexities, the Russian Revolution is one of the best revolutions to learn about - which is why it is by far the most popular in the VCE course (more than 40 percent of all students study it). Unlike the American and French revolutions, as a 20th-century event its ideas and events still resonate today (echoing in the Chinese Revolution). It had a doomed old-regime emperor, blinded by religion and tradition, a figure of pathos and misfortune. He was led by a domineering wife, who herself succumbed to the charms of a dubious holy-man with a liking for prostitutes and cheap wine. The lead revolutionary was obsessive, determined to the extreme, a figure who would stop at nothing to secure power and then to hold onto it. One-hundred million Russians would be led through a generation of isolation, starvation, war, civil war and politically-motivated brutality in which countless millions would die. Little wonder that one contemporary historian would call his Russian Revolution book "A People's Tragedy".
Though most of the causes of revolution are reasonably easy to understand and appreciate, what complicates study of Russia between 1905 and 1924 is that there were actually three separate revolutions. Each revolution and the phase which followed can be viewed as a new opportunity for change; each subsequent revolution would topple a government that could not or would not bring about change. Three men stand like pillars through this period, almost as manifestations of the political regimes they led: Tsar Nicholas II, Alexander Kerensky and Vladimir Lenin - and each would fail, for various reasons. Only when a usurper called Stalin took control would there be someone determined enough, resilient enough and brutal enough to impose change, though this would come at enormous human cost.*
The Russian Revolution can be a multiplicity of things, depending on what you read or who you listen or talk to. To those who led it, it was the long-awaited but inevitable rise to power of the long-exploited working classes. To most who lived through it, it was a year of great hope followed by a generation of darkness, misery and tyranny. To people of today, shaped and informed by Cold War values and rhetoric, it implemented an unworkable political and economic system that descended into evil. To socialists and communists, it represented a brief moment where the promise of equality was snuffed out by deceit, thievery and opposition, both inside and outside Russia. There are few historical events that have divided opinion like this one has done for the past 90 years, which is why the historiography of the Russian Revolution is so rich and so diverse."

I rest my case. Thanks to Thompson for his eloquent wording of my exact feelings.

- Isabella

P.S
It has come to my attention that Abbe Sieyes (author of revolutionary pamphlet "Qu est- ce que le tiers etat?") is a Silver Fox. Consider:

Delicious, non? Mr. Darcy-esque I thought. Ill leave y'all with sweety Abbe to ponder.

A plus tard,

Bisous.

Any stick will do to beat a thief, but only a rouble will help you with an official

-Russian proverb

Heartbreak by Bella, a short story

There once was a girl named Bella, whose bright eyes and crazy-sexy hair would cause many to fall for her. Those men, the ones who could not resist the fire of Bella, all ended up the same way; broken hearted. Bella, a descendant from the sexy-as-possible Camille Desmoulins, is what is rumoured to be the last ever vela! What comes before you know is a tale of murder, heart ache, lust and feminism!

Despite popular opinion, the Russian revolution was not a result of the toiling masses revolting against the unfair hierarchy, but because Lenin was a victim of cruel Bella’s enjoyment. His actions were out of dire frustration at her lack of neutral feelings. She toyed him along, and then broke his heart. He was in pieces, and he took his revenge upon the Russian autocratic system. Lenin did not die of a stroke, but of a severed heart!

Devastation occurred when Bella’s next prey became evident. Trotsky, a charming and handsome young lad who would have been capable of reeling in any girl set his sights upon Bella. But Bella did as she always did; took advantage of his adoration. She was a temptress alright. She played him just as she played Lenin. And this one ended much, much, worse!

Heartbroken after being played and turned down, Trotsky went on a bender. With 100 per cent pure Russian vodka. It didn’t end well. The story gets busy here, with varying accounts. Something about Mexican food, and a tooth pick for ice...

But what is for sure, is that Trotsky didn’t make it past that night.

But when Bella played with the heart of a man named Joseph Stalin, it was to have severe consequences. Stalin was a man who would not be messed with, and when Bella left him he took his revenge by STARVING the population of Russia. It was a sad and horrific period, but heartbreak by Bella will cause insanity.

Eternal peace lasts only until the next war

- Russki proverb

RUSSIAN OF THE WEEK

Alexander Pushkin

A very well known Russian by even Western standards, this dashing young lad is something of a Slavic Shakespeare. Renound in his home country as the founder of modern Russian literature and as the greatest Russki poet he is also well known by thespian anglos as a great contributer to the Romantic era. Not only a literary genius, Pushkin was very devoted to his radical cause and social reform which earned him an exile to the Crimea, from where he travelled to Greece and jained a secret organization designed to overthrow the Ottoman rule.

He died two days after losing a duel to his wife's estranged lover, by mortal wounds. Very much the tortured artist, Alexander Pushkin is our Russian of the Week!

There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances.

-Leon Trotsky

The top 5: things that make me as crazy as Rasputin

1. People who don't speak Russian (Russian revolution that is).
2. Not being able to visit and be in a relatively close proximity to Lenin's skin.
3. Mr. Davies not showing us Anastasia, even though he said he would, because it's not historically correct enough but he feels quite content to show as Marie Antoinette.
4. Stalin destroying the work Lenin had done by ousting Trotsky and then sending one of his cronies to stab him in the skull with an ice pick in Mexico; not cool Stalin, NOT COOL!
5. Coles customers (refer to a previous post for how this relates to the Russian revolution and/or Russia).

Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art

- Stanislavski

Foodstuff of the Week

The foodstuff of the week this week is the White Russian. A delicious cocktail made from vodka (suprise surprise), coffee liqueur and fresh cream. Russki approved :D

The world thinks the Russian Revolution is at an end. Do not be mistaken. The Russian Revolution is just beginning.

-Alexander Kerensky

A supermarket in Box Hill sits teetering on the verge of Revolution. It's easily comparable to Russia circa 1905, tensions mounting, but alas, nothing will ever be able to be done about its authoritarian rule.
How do I know these details, you ask? I myself am caught amidst the atmosphere of disdain, and truthfully, I am the Father Gapon of Coles!
I represent the peasants, the serfs, as I am close to the bottom of the hierarchy established, and sadly, the hierarchy is obvious and the serfs like me are manipulated by those on top.
(It's incredible how similar this is to Russia, before the genius of Lenin came in to save the people. Not that he did....)

The customers are the nobility and the upper class. They do not even pretend to care about me or my feelings. They do things that deliberately infuriate me and to openly show their disgust at my presence;
-throw 'environmentally friendly' bags at me, even though I have already packed half of their items and demand I take them out, to 'ease' their conscience
-ignore me when I ask them how they are
-pay 50 cent items with a 100 dollar note
In fact, this list is never ending. The amount of things customers can do to make it conclusive that they are horrible, blood-sucking monsters, is astounding.
I finally understand the full pain and suffering undergone by the peasants of Russia pre-Revolution.

The supervisors induce a sense of fear in me. I fear everything about them, yet they are not overly cruel, in fact they are barely cruel at all. Perhaps the best way to describe them is to go back to the French Revolution, and define them as the "Bourgeoisie". Better then me, but they too want a change in the society, or store. And we must not forget that they started out as what I currently am.

Much, much more fear creating are the managers. Everytime they come near me, I freeze up inside, and on the outside my palms begin to sweat and my speech begins to stutter. They are the autocratic rulers. Unlike the upper class, they do not openly hate me. Just discretely, and in no way do they want to make life, or work, any better for me. They enjoy watching me suffer, and/or they do not care for I am to far bellow for their attention. When I am forced into cancelling a shift, my heart beats a million miles a minute at the thought of what they will say. When I make a mistake at work, I fear severe consequences, so much so that I don't inform anyone and just 'fix' it myself.

This situation at the store in not fixable. And the only difference between it and the Russian revolution is that there will, sadly, be no overthrowing of the regime. The Russian revolution had the genius of Lenin, the courage of Trotsky. All of these elements are missing from Coles, but perhaps one day, well after my time there, something will be done to end the oppresive rule.

There is no example in history of a revolutionary movement involving such gigantic masses being so bloodless.

-Leon Trotsky

Where's Rassy?

The whole human way of life has been destroyed and ruined. All that’s left is the bare, shivering human soul, stripped to the last shred

-Boris Pasternak

Where's Rassy: Solution

Bella's locker, that is where he was hiding.

Although you may think me mad because of it, I just think differently and some of the trivial elements of life that absorb so many do not affect me

-Rasputin

Wheres Rassy?

Spot Rasputin.

Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.

- Karl Marx

You of course do not know the delicate intricacies of 4HR BSENJ JDV. That is the history class Elizabeth and I partake in. There is a certain ambience, an ethereal quality to our dignified learning, that an uninvolved person would not, could not, imagine.
Mr Davies, fine educator that he is, pretty much teaches us though reading aloud documents of interest, setting volumes of reading and the magic of powerpoint.

When we read aloud, I decide to take it upon myself to make learning fun by reciting the text with a thick Russian accent. Amusing to be sure, but this also gives a sense of location and logic, as, although these texts have been translated into english for the benefit of yours truly, their origins are Russian, and I feel it my duty to do them justice.
My colourful, expressive reading style has become resented by a certain Judah*. Judah does not seem to appreciate the efforts I go to, with the sole ambition of pleasing all with my clever wit and creativity. It hurts, dear reader, this unbridled hostility. And, sadly, this is what I and my dear comrade Elizabeth must face on a weekly basis. Despite the fact that Eizabeth has done nothing to provoke such resentment. She is shunned by association.

The powerpoints are less fun. No reading involved, they generally prompt more of a class discussion type situation which can be confronting, and stressful. Judah likes to claim these opportunities in order to showcase her fact-retaining-talents before all. I like to take these opportunities to eyeball Mr Davies, talk to Elizabeth about fine Russian cinema, and plait my hair. It would be fair to say that we are infinitely different creatures.

I would go on now to describe the building-of-briges that has occured between dear Judah, Elizabeth and myself of late, but, I am quite sleepy.
STAY TUNED.

-Isabella

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.

-Vladimir Lenin

The top 5 reasons why I love Lenin

1. Refer to the title of this post, and then Google "Lenin quotes" and, thus, is reason one.
2. Even though he is no more, I am still able to visit and be in a relatively close proximity to his skin.
3.

4. Have you seen his Wikipedia page?
5. Judah* hates him, so that ultimately makes me love him. No matter what an asshole he is/was.

How can you make a revolution without executions?

- Vladimir Lenin

Russian Of The Week

You can tell by looking at her right?
Very obvious Russian, easy to spot at a distance.
Natalia Vodianova.
Genuine russki.

The Russian people were trapped in the tyranny of their own history

-Orlando Figes


"My iz budushchego" (2008)


"We Are from the Future"

If you care at all about the grievances of Russia circa 1940, you need to see this film, or, deem yourself a fraud.

Elizabeth and myself along with another person, lets call her Janice, went to see this film expecting some feel-good time travel flick, in Russian. Alas, we were victims of our preconception.

It was a war film. With heart ache, friendship and carnage. Epic!

I loved the parts that were seemingly not funny, and then the entirety of the Russians in the cinema started laughing. At the Russian in-joke. It was pretty bizarre.

Also, they seem to have a warped idea of rapping. And what a swastika looks like.

An otherwise awesome film.

I'd give it 3.8 Cossacks.

Well worth a look :D

Russia, a country in which things that just don't happen, happen.

-Peter the Great (Bella: what a cool guy!)

This is our first post.
So be kind gentle stranger.
Our names are Elizabeth and Isabella.
We do revs.
Mr. Davies is our teacher.
Perhaps "teacher" would be more suitable.
It's our favourite class,
despite the fact we suck major arse.
And our classmates are noticably hostile.
Especially Judah.*

*Note: Judah is a false name. We do not want to cause offence to any persons, who may or may not be Judah.