The year is 1976 in Moscow.

Boris the out-of-work worker goes into the Moscow Vodka Factory in Russia and says...."Please give me a job."

"Sign here comrade," says the manager.

"I'm illiterate," says Boris.

"Get out of here! No job," snarls the manager.

The year is 2001 in New York.

Boris the Russian-American building inspector goes into a New York jeweler's and pays cash for a 20,000 necklace for his girlfriend.

"You could have written a check for this purchase sir," says the clerk.

Boris thinks to himself "If I could write, I would be working in a Moscow Vodka Factory."