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Alexander Zakharov claims to be lazy, but we don't believe it. On his off-hours, this Russian Web enthusiast produces three distinct blogs, and at least one requires daily attention.

Two of Alexander's sites consider the graphic artwork and propaganda of Communist regimes: A Soviet Poster A Day and Posters of Cuba. A third site, Unusual Instruments' Musical Videos, leaves bold text and bright colors behind to celebrate oddball musical gadgets and clips of people playing them. What motivates Alexander to create and maintain a mini e-empire? We emailed him to find out:

Alexander, what inspired you to start three blogs?

Well actually I started these blogs to make some money. Money is one of the best drivers for any activity, you know. I am lazy, like everybody else, so if I don't push myself I wouldn't do a thing. I have even named it "A Soviet Poster a Day" to eliminate possible excuses to miss a day...

In any business you never know what idea will succeed and what is doomed from the beginning. You have to start implementing several things and see what's working. So these three blogs—A Soviet Poster A Day, Posters of Cuba, and Weird Instruments' Videos—are not the only blogs I have started, these are the successful ones.  Read the full profile...

1. The bands represented here, even those destined for some sliver of notoriety or fame, were at a juncture in their careers where they sent out Christmas cards, employed hand-drawn flyers, and called you on the phone if you sent them five bucks.
2. In the age of Photoshop, the low-fi ,grainy touch of the Xerox machine is strangely soothing.
3. Hair, hair, hair, and more teased-out, flyaway, I'm-ready-to-rock hair.
4. Bands like Wrathchild America, Corrosion of Conformity, and Demented Ted clearly settled on their names purely for their exuberantly wicked, bad-boy qualities. Thrash on, brothers!
5. And finally, because this marvelous collection conjures up an era when long-lost clubs like The Channel in Boston ruled the roost. May they rest in peace.