[Osx-nutters] US - no brains, just sticks and stones

[Mark Smith]

On 04.12.2007, at 20:06, Guy Hammond wrote:

> This'll be why the biathlon (skiing and shooting) is their national  
> sport.

That and vodka drinking. The russians are notorious for over  
estimating their capacity for drink. They are, in fact, lousy  
drinkers. Anyone can drink a dozen vodkas if you keep pace with the  
bacon eating.

I was once a marginal participant in a drinking evening with a Russian  
physics professor who was reputed to be a tremendous drinker. I  
harbour no illusions about my own capacity, but I could stagger  
unaided out of the hotel at the end. He had to be lifted out of his  
armchair and carried to the door by 4 of his "assistants".

There is also a classic documentary on German TV about an organized  
attempt by groups of Russians to get some "respect" at the Oktoberfest  
in München. I could relate the whole story, but the telling part is  
that they were all asleep at their tables after a modest number of  
Maße before the group's from real drinking nations (Australia, New  
Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, Czech Republic, Germany etc.) had gotten  
into second gear.

So, cutting a long story short, it may be that the Finns will be able  
to repel the Russians, by challenging them to vodka drinking  
competitions, in the same manner in which the Russians held off the  
Germans at Stalingrad.