Last night I went to see Yakov Smirnoff at the Lakeland Center in Florida. In addition to having discovered America, Yakov has now also discovered personal relationships, and presents his findings the way you never looked at it before. And now he has also discovered the People's Cube.

I spoke with Yakov before and after the show. He was very warm and friendly, and when I gave him the Cube, he immediately figured out the concept and tried to solve it, but failed on the first try. But then, with the words "What would Putin do?" he finally got it right.

When I told him that his name and his jokes frequently come up on our website, he asked me for the URL and promised to check it out. We also exchanged a few words in Russian, but since he hasn't used that language in a very long time (he came to the US in 1977 at the age of 26), we continued the conversation in an equally accented English.

At some point in his life Yakov took a break from comedy to get a degree in applied positive psychology, and now he teaches a course on The Business of Laughter at Missouri State University and Drury University. He also runs his own Yakov Smirnoff Theater in Branson, Mo., and goes on occasional comedy tours.

The show was hilarious, but also informative and heart-warming; not openly political, but with a rather conservative, pro-American vibe. During the show Yakov spoke of his friendship with Ronald Reagan, and how he was asked to write jokes for the speech Reagan gave in Moscow.

On a large screen, a picture was projected of Reagan and Yakov laughing together, followed by a picture of Reagan and Gorbachev laughing together, and Yakov said, "That was how the Cold War ended." The next picture was of Putin and Obama frowning, as Yakov said, "And this is how it started again."

The venue holds 2,296 seats (we'll have to trust the theater website on that), and when I scanned the room, I saw no empty chairs. Afterwards there was an impressively long line to buy Yakov's signed DVDs.

The demand quickly exceeded the supply and then a new line formed, in which those who didn't get the DVDs waited to give their phone numbers to Yakov's assistant, so that they could get them in the mail later.

Long lines and shortages! It felt like the old country all over again. But I was happy to see Yakov's continued popularity with the audiences. He very well deserves it.

In the end he and I exchanged emails and agreed to stay in touch. I haven't sent him anything yet; I first wanted to post this story with pictures so that I could email him the link. You know what that means: if you leave a comment, chances are that Yakov will read it.

In Amerikka, cube puzzles over YOU!

(No doubt Professor Smirnoff uses Shakedown Socialism as required text...)

Komissar al-Blogunov wrote:

Yakov, [highlight=#ffff00]in real life I am a teacher[/highlight], and I have referenced some of your jokes in teaching government, economics, and history. What a country!

Komissar,

[highlight=#ffff00]"...in real life I am a teacher,..."[/highlight] In real life I am Craptek, heir to the Throne of Romania. I live here among the proles patiently awaiting the day of my long overdue coronation.

Captain Craptek wrote:In real life I am Craptek, heir to the Throne of Romania. I live here among the proles patiently awaiting the day of my long overdue coronation.

Hear these words of Anastasio Craptek, true Regent of the Lost King who will one day return or so they say, by the Grace of God maybe Lord of the Mens' Cubicle and Prince of Upper and Lower Slobbovia, quite possibly Defender of the People's Nuts, perhaps Duke of Earl, conjecturably Great Steward of Twodor, arguably fun at parties, provably Slayer of Cheetos, Queen of the May, Top 'o the Mark, and a bunch of other stuff I forget at the moment. Look upon his works and his magnificent six-pack abs, oh mortals, and weep!

We Yankees say "Thank you" to Yakov,
Whose last name he said to be Smirnoff
(нет Stolichnaya)
For смех Jambayla
Before and then after Andropov.

No doubt Russian humor from Yakov
Helped Reagan when (after Andropov)
Chernenko died off,
And then Gorbachev
Met Reagan as U-S-S-R-Boss.

Twas then a young man in Ukraine,
When "Tear Down This Wall" was proclaimed,
Sought ways to proceed
For Freedom to be
By him and his family attained.

And so, the young man named Atbashian,
Conceived in his right-thinking fashion
A plan to depart
Ukraine and embark
En route to where Freedom was fashioned.

But after Atbashian arrived here
He saw leftist drivel imbibed here,
So promptly he knew
A Red Rubik's Cube
Was needed so Freedom won't die here.

Like Rubik, the brilliant and shrewd
Inventor who made Rubik's Cube,
Atbashian adapted
The Cube Rubik crafted
So all squares in Red are imbued.

And Rubik, of course, did approve
Atbashian's redux of his Cube,
Iconically mocking
Collectivists flocking
To "solve" the all-red People's Cube.

It's fitting that Yakov, who'd fashioned
A sharp wit to mock statist bastions,
Meets leftists' bête noire
In Agit-Prop War:
The People's Cube founder, Atabshian

They both know collectivist vultures
Fare best when the popular culture
By Leftists is seized
To "teach" LIVs,
So both try to reach the "pop" culture.

With politics "downstream" from culture
We'll never defeat Leftists Vultures
Until and unless
We learn how to get
Attention in popular culture.



--KOOK

What's with all the comments by comrades about what they are in "real life?" Aside from the fact that it would seem to be the only real life I have, judging from the number of posts I've made here, nowadays there seems little difference between the Cube and what's happening to this country.

And what would that little difference be? Only the kind of tears that are shed.

Commissarka Pinkie wrote:What's with all the comments by comrades about what they are in "real life?" Aside from the fact that it would seem to be the only real life I have, judging from the number of posts I've made here, nowadays there seems little difference between the Cube and what's happening to this country.

And what would that little difference be? Only the kind of tears that are shed.

Oh, wise Commissarka, are not all tears equal?

(Pardon me. I've been listening to too many Russian operas lately. My heartstrings have been pulled to a frazzle.)

RedDiaperette wrote:[Oh, wise Commissarka, are not all tears equal?

Not when Dear Leader decides to go on a tear.

Commissarka Pinkie wrote:...nowadays there seems little difference between the Cube and what's happening to this country.

And what would that little difference be? Only the kind of tears that are shed.

RedDiaperette wrote: Oh, wise Commissarka, are not all tears equal?

We need to shed a few tears. When I mean that, I mean we need to store the tears. How many tears are wasted and not on our beats?

Khruelchev wrote:

My Good Captain, there is no 'real life'...There is only the Party leading us to Glorious World of Next Tuesday!™. Now, for that infraction, drop and give me ten, shots of The Peoples Beet Vodka™. Then you will perhaps free yourself of these bourgeois "I built that"...or "I learned that"...or "I had sex with that intern" delusions.

Comrade Khruelchev,

You are too kind, sir. I would gladly give you myself 20 shots of the beet. There, now,...that's much more like it! Already I find my color returning to abnormal.

My favorite (paraphrased) quote from the most wise, astute and equal Comrade Smirnoff was (and still is): 'In Russia we have freedom of speech. It is freedom after the speech that you have to worry about'. Isn't it wonderful how so alike our countries have become?

Dearest Comrade Smirnoff,

I have always found a kindred spirit in you, way before my participation at The People's Cube™. I love your humorous take on life, especially as a Russian who loves America. What a country!

I welcome you, with all my heart, to The People's Cube™!

One siver lining of living underneath tyrants is that folks finally laugh at my repertoire of anecdotes from the Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

I trust that Professor Smirnoff is pre-enrolled in our induction process and already knows to go to the People's Tools tab at the top of the page and review such basics as the Guide to the Cube and the Purpose of the Cube. (Not that I would assign reading to a professor...)

In honor of Red Square finding a new comrade who has a job and pays taxes so that others may coastfrom the old country, this Friday after the shovels are cleaned and inventoried, instead of the usual political discourse and singing of marching songs, we will bypass the political discourse, and attempt Peoples Karaoke night behind Tractor Barn #2!

Freshly fermented light refreshments will be served,

BYOB
(beets).

Ivan the Stakhanovets wrote: .... Freshly fermented light refreshments will be served, ...

i.e., KGB agent puts you under the light, and after he is finished, you have been served and feel refreshed.

In Soviet Amerika, People's Cube solves you!

I grew up watching Yakov. As a young conservative during the Cold War 80's I understood the profoundness of his act and the stinging social commentary that it humorously conveyed.

Welcome to The Cube, Yakov. In a way, you are the Founding Father of the Cube. Whereas Red Square is the Thomas Jefferson you are the John Locke fir which the groundwork was laid.

KOOK wrote:We Yankees say "Thank you" to Yakov,
Whose last name he said to be Smirnoff
And Rubik, of course, did approve
Atbashian's redux of his Cube,
Iconically mocking
Collectivists flocking
To "solve" the all-red People's Cube.

KOOK wins.

Kelly Ivanovna/келя ивановна wrote: ...

KOOK wins.

Dear Comrade of mine, Ivanovna,
Your insight should grace the front cover
By all to be seen--
I'm glad you received
The beets that I sent under cover

--KOOK

Commissarka Pinkie wrote:What's with all the comments by comrades about what they are in "real life?" Aside from the fact that it would seem to be the only real life I have, judging from the number of posts I've made here, nowadays there seems little difference between the Cube and what's happening to this country.

And what would that little difference be? Only the kind of tears that are shed.

Dearest Pinkie,

So, what kind of tears are those? They have no "kind." Tears are tears. I agree. That's just what they are. Well, I suppose someone can cry about being caught in their crimes, but, tears are tears.

I have posted several posts that convey my tears while trying to make a parody of it. It is not easy. My last post of Stevie Ray Vaughn displays my tears by proxy.

I love you, Pinkie. You are a girl after my own heart. I always knew this, even when I was making my way through The Peoples Cube, as a certifiable idiot. I am most grateful for your responses to my posts. I have tears in my eyes when I say this. As you know, I have gained so much by doing so. While I still have tears about what's happening in our country, I will not give up. Even though I am, at times, somewhat demoralized.

Love,
Pammie

Red Square wrote:

I'm sorry Comrade Komissar Red, but I had to do it. Not the best edit, but I was giggling the entire time:

A Soviet immigrant comes to America and after some humorous one-liners finds himself sitting with one of the greatest Presidents of the United States.

"What a country."

A Russian immigrant comes to America and has to teach Americans the value of capitalism and freedom.

"What a... shame."

A half-breed Kenyan comes to Amerikka and becomes President.

"What...just happened?"

Ivan the Stakhanovets wrote:A half-breed Kenyan comes to Amerikka and becomes President.

"[highlight=#ffff00]What...just happened?[/highlight]"

Progress!

Not to pick the nit, comrade, but the science is settled: life is an illusion caused by THE LACK of rations of beet vodka.

Red Square wrote:Not to pick the nit, comrade, but the science is settled: life is an illusion caused by THE LACK of rations of beet vodka.

Comrade Red, I'll admit, I had my doubts about The People's Science™, especially the Global Warming®, but now that you have presented this People's Scientific Discovery©, The People's Science™ is something I can really get behind! Thanks Comrade Red! I must also add that the beet vodka works great as starting fluid for state agricultural equipment, especially on cold days. It can also work great as starting fluid for you, if you need a bit of a kick in the morning or at the factory, I guarantee you'll meet your quota in half the time!

Maybe this would help those in need to succeed, to do so on the first try.

Yakov at Prager U:

Lovely, Comrade Yakov. Works for us! (Comrade Tovarich and me)
It's twoo! It's twoo! (Blazing Saddles)