tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post1427132318352835262..comments2024-03-27T18:24:19.683-07:00Comments on Steve Sailer: iSteve: Then again, Secretary Kerry, maybe this is "Rocky IV"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-60916833487634083162014-03-01T20:37:26.234-08:002014-03-01T20:37:26.234-08:00While in Serbia Vanja Udovičić became Minister of ...While in Serbia Vanja Udovičić became Minister of Youth and Sports in 2013.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-39744198350689459982014-03-01T20:34:14.491-08:002014-03-01T20:34:14.491-08:00Fedor Emilianenko is also a member of United Russi...Fedor Emilianenko is also a member of United Russia and active in politics.<br />A bit off topic, but Mirco "Cro Cop" Filipović was a member of Croatian Parliament and, when talking about big guys, so was Franjo Arapović.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-39884106608295657672014-03-01T03:48:15.860-08:002014-03-01T03:48:15.860-08:00Klitschko, the Ukrainian boxer, is clearly a front...Klitschko, the Ukrainian boxer, is clearly a front man (Nuland's telephone call ordering the Ukrainian opposition about shows that). If you are going to have a front man he might as well be physically impressive.<br /><br />Putin may not be tall but his popularity is certainly enhanced by his judo and shooting tigers.<br /><br />Elsewhere size matters. The US presidential election is usually won by the taller man. Would Arnie have become Governor of California if he had been 5'2"?<br /><br />And to prove this is appreciated worldwide look at the famous picture MacArthur had taken of him standing beside Hirohito.<br /><br />Even God is feels the same - when the Israelites asked God to give them a king he (well Elija) said "see that group coming down the road - the tall guy there (Saul) will do".neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-33382652404287218842014-02-28T15:21:05.812-08:002014-02-28T15:21:05.812-08:00"MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko is also a Russ..."MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko is also a Russian politician."<br /><br />Is the Russian Parliament turning into Valhalla, the resting place of warriors? <br /><br />http://youtu.be/tL1acYvpR_E?t=2m48sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-54612059544731911832014-02-28T14:43:39.871-08:002014-02-28T14:43:39.871-08:00"That guy looks kinda like a gorilla who'..."That guy looks kinda like a gorilla who's been taught to shave." Yeah, but he keeps forgetting to do his shoulders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-15725343351349324302014-02-28T14:26:58.254-08:002014-02-28T14:26:58.254-08:00The basketball owner is listed at 6'8". ...The basketball owner is listed at 6'8". There is no way Garnett is 4 inches taller. All NBA player (except Charles Barkley) are listed 2 inches taller than they are. Walter Kennedynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-77217074814225993892014-02-28T11:53:10.836-08:002014-02-28T11:53:10.836-08:00Rocky?
This is straight up Mad Max beyond Thunder...Rocky?<br /><br />This is straight up Mad Max beyond Thunderdome!<br /><br />It's hard to look at Pajamaboy & Valuev and still think they're the same species, or race for that matter lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-66004937745349892072014-02-28T11:38:04.734-08:002014-02-28T11:38:04.734-08:00"Valuev" sounds like the airline that be..."Valuev" sounds like the <a href="http://www.fs-repaints.co.uk/prod_desc_PM1900VJA.html?sno=298" rel="nofollow">airline that became AirTran </a>went into the business of low-cost <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle" rel="nofollow">plug-in automobiles</a>. Is Tata listening?<br /><br />Reminds me of Ireland's national airline's plan to connect Shannon Airport to the other island via a train tube to Wales. It would have been called Tunnel Lingus. Reg Cæsarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-60243640127774191032014-02-28T11:13:44.006-08:002014-02-28T11:13:44.006-08:00@sunbeam
"Specifically why are Estonians and...@sunbeam<br /><br />"Specifically why are Estonians and Latvians taller than Russians..<br />Then there are all the tall people from the mountainous Balkans."<br /><br />Those two regions - Baltics and Dinaric Alps - have the most indigenous European hunter-gatherer ancestry.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-38383556355250798202014-02-28T10:48:25.824-08:002014-02-28T10:48:25.824-08:00Interestingly, Sabonis, despite all his injuries, ...Interestingly, Sabonis, despite all his injuries, played into his late thirties at a high level. Came back to Lithuania at 38 and was Euroleague regular season and playoff MVP. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-35457456206835350912014-02-28T10:28:58.288-08:002014-02-28T10:28:58.288-08:00Bert said...
"You could say the same thing ab...Bert said...<br />"You could say the same thing about most countries outside the West. In most places the capital, which is usually also the largest city, is the only place the government really cares about. The hinterlands get neglected, which in turn fuels migration into the capital renewing their labor force every generation."<br /><br />Works like that in England, too! :p<br />There are some wealth transfers to high-asabiya northern England and Wales, and lots to Scotland and Northern Ireland, but places which lack any asabiya like Coventry and Birmingham in the Midlands get screwed over massively.Simon in Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-78282905287301079502014-02-28T10:20:27.948-08:002014-02-28T10:20:27.948-08:00I watched Haye v Valuev on TV (Nuremberg, 2009). H...I watched Haye v Valuev on TV (Nuremberg, 2009). Haye, the black British challenger, is more of a cruiserweight and was awarded a points victory which I didn't think he deserved - it seemed like a draw at best - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8348349.stmSimon in Londonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-50503651975599286412014-02-28T10:11:36.010-08:002014-02-28T10:11:36.010-08:00Does Kerry even remember that in Rocky IV, the Rus...Does Kerry even remember that in <i>Rocky IV</i>, the Russian lost to the American?Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12389602137217799305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-32657660038859615432014-02-28T07:48:04.099-08:002014-02-28T07:48:04.099-08:00I don't know. Lungren is really Swedish lookin...<i>I don't know. Lungren is really Swedish looking. I find it hard to imagine anyone mistaking him for a Russian.</i><br /><br />The FSB trooper in the middle of this photo looks rather like the older Dolph:<br /><br />http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/day_photos004-1024x693368.jpg<br /><br />I've also noted a certain resemblance between Sergei Rachmaninoff and Swedish/Irish-American actor James Coburn (totally different phenotype from Lundgren, of course).<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-41750111962590978252014-02-28T04:14:06.841-08:002014-02-28T04:14:06.841-08:00Anonydroid at 6:56 PM said: Valuev is practicall...Anonydroid at 6:56 PM said: Valuev is practically a living caricature of the Russian thugocracy.<br /><br />Hunsdon said: Why am I reminded of a post by our host involving the British aristocracy, and the punch line, "With a battle axe"?Hunsdonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-55558812678436486492014-02-28T03:26:19.942-08:002014-02-28T03:26:19.942-08:00Also greco-roman wrestling god Aleksander Karelin ...Also greco-roman wrestling god Aleksander Karelin is/was a mp.<br /><br />roundeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134002062962448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-79607738092436895152014-02-28T02:36:38.642-08:002014-02-28T02:36:38.642-08:00Why people vote fighters into office:
http://just...Why people vote fighters into office:<br /><br />http://justnotsaid.blogspot.com/2013/12/president-klitschko.htmlJohn Craignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-23652642033673202542014-02-28T00:41:29.481-08:002014-02-28T00:41:29.481-08:00Although I'm not a medical man, I'm pretty...Although I'm not a medical man, I'm pretty sure that Valuev is a so-called 'pituitary giant' - in plain terms this means he has an over-active pituitary gland, (located in the base of the brain), perhaps 'disturbed' by a benign tumor, which is excreting an excess of human growth hormone.<br /> I believe the correct term is acromegaly - after the the puberty growth spurt, human growth hormone promotes excess growth of bone on the extremeties eg huge hands and feet and facial bones - the odd shape of Valuev's haed, the massive brow ridges etc seem to indicate this. I'd like to see pictures of Valuev's immediate family and compare them to Valuev. The uneducated gut response to a picture of Valuev is to shout 'evolutionary throwback!' 'Neanderthal DNA!' and the rest, but the effects of acromegaly ie the massive thickening of brow bones, mimic these classic 'primitive' indices of the human skull.<br /> To repeat, I'm no medic, but I'd put money on Valuev being an acromegalic, no I wouldn't put money on his boxing, he was a lousey fighter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-44139705927836140092014-02-27T23:47:32.894-08:002014-02-27T23:47:32.894-08:00I live in Estonia, and yes Estonians are VERY tall...I live in Estonia, and yes Estonians are VERY tall. Two of my colleagues are around 6'5'' and none of them is shorter than 5'11''. I am 5'5'' and I really feel like a hobbit among trolls. It does not impair for getting girls though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-53543739202233936212014-02-27T23:29:33.739-08:002014-02-27T23:29:33.739-08:00sabonis might have been one of the top 10 players ...sabonis might have been one of the top 10 players of all time if he had played in the NBA from day 1. certainly in the top 20.<br /><br />sonne is a good song. speaking german (or i used to, anyway) though, rammstein lyrics are ridiculously stupid half the time. the first time i listened to sehnsucht i laughed out loud at how inane some of the lyrics were. their shows were awesome though, and more than made up for it.jodynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-73411972686565074552014-02-27T23:18:05.568-08:002014-02-27T23:18:05.568-08:00valuev definitely avoided both klitschkos. they tr...valuev definitely avoided both klitschkos. they tried to get a match with him many times while he was active. to get him in the ring it would have taken like 10 million dollars. that's not worth it for vitali.<br /> <br />this is one of the main problems with boxing. guys avoiding each other. the only way you can get some of these boxers to sign on for a match they are likely to lose is to way overpay them. wlad even had trouble getting povetkin in the ring. after povetkin backed out a few times, some russian promoter had to offer him 6 million dollars to make the match happen.<br /><br />david haye was the worst of all. wlad had to offer him 23 million dollars to get him to not back out.jodynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-32643736911308109542014-02-27T22:56:45.980-08:002014-02-27T22:56:45.980-08:00Kestas, I recall fondly the few twilight years Sab...Kestas, I recall fondly the few twilight years Sabonis played in the NBA -- he was singular. He could shoot, pass, control the game flow -- and he was almost as big as Shaq. Only Bill Walton, I think, has had anything like that combination of size and all-around skills. It's such a pity that Sabonis's best years were wasted in the USSR, and of course that neither his nor Walton's feet/lower legs could stand up to the long-term pounding. TheLRCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-80185959114063102672014-02-27T22:35:57.329-08:002014-02-27T22:35:57.329-08:00Anonymous said …
The impression that I have from t...Anonymous said …<br />The impression that I have from talking to older Russians is that there was a good deal of divergence in the Soviet Union in terms of the availability of goods. Places like Moscow were pretty well stocked, while more provincial areas were considerably less privileged. <br /><br />"Indeed, that dichotomy was one of the reasons why Soviet era visitors to the USA were more impressed by the visible abundance in hinterland cities like, say, Omaha or Billings, than they were by New York or L.A. They expected New York, like Moscow, to be well taken care of. But it was always shocking for them to see how well-off a third tier city in the USA was, relative to comparable cities in the Soviet Union."<br /><br />It did differ a lot indeed. The Baltics and the Caucasus were much better off, being more diligent and business-oriented. But in general, while food variety wasn't great, most people ate a fairly healthy, "real food" diet, not laden with junk food (which, of course, wasn't available). Lots of home-grown fruit and veggies for those in the countryside or who had dachas, real bread, cheese, milk, kefir, some crappy sausage in the stores, but people could buy unintentionally organic meat in the bazaars. Not to say it was great, but the basic staples were availabel. In an unintentional way, it made for an fairly healthy, "whole food" diet. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-38118126984475715992014-02-27T22:26:32.761-08:002014-02-27T22:26:32.761-08:00Steve Sailer said…
"I don't know what the...Steve Sailer said…<br />"I don't know what the average is. I've been to Moscow but don't have any recollection of the average height being much different from where I grew up, but that's not short. Other observers, such as PJ O'Rourke, have come away with the view that Russians are big. On the other hand, the stars of the Russian Olympic team that beat the American team in 1988 were Lithuanians. So, my guess would be that Russians are pretty big, but not as big as, say, Lithuanians or Croatians."<br /><br />True on both counts, but that wasn't why the Lithuanians were the starts of the Soviet team. All of them, except Sabonis (who's 7-3, 7-4) were guards in the 6-3 to 6-6 range. They were just better players than the Slavs. The Soviet team in the 1980s had plenty of Slavic bigs - centers Tkachenko (7-3, and 300 lbs), Goborov (7-1),Ukrainian Belostenyi (7-1), forwards Ukrainian Volkov (6-10), Tikhonenko (6-10) and many others. Of course, when you sample from 200 million people (Russia, Ukraine, Kazachstan etc.) vs. 3 mil in Lithuania, and make them offers they can't refuse, you can find plenty of big dudes. <br /><br />There was even one who was close to 8 feet tall (Sizonenko), but he could hardly walk. Played in the premier Soviet league for a bit, but was not nearly good enough for Team USSR. <br />The difference between Sabonis and the Slav bigs was that in addition to being 7-3, he had all the basketball skills and court vision, and was athletic before his multiple Achilles ruptures. <br />Kestashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395557159854699081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-71036973530612838182014-02-27T22:23:35.809-08:002014-02-27T22:23:35.809-08:00"Places like Moscow were pretty well stocked,..."Places like Moscow were pretty well stocked, while more provincial areas were considerably less privileged."<br /><br />You could say the same thing about most countries outside the West. In most places the capital, which is usually also the largest city, is the only place the government really cares about. The hinterlands get neglected, which in turn fuels migration into the capital renewing their labor force every generation.Bertnoreply@blogger.com