DURING THE SOVIET TIMES, ONE OF MY RELATIVES WAS WORKING AS A CAR MECHANIC RIGHT NEXT TO THE FACTORY. HE USED TO TELL ME HOW THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FACTORY WERE ACTUALLY RATHER WELL OFF—WHILE CROSSING THE CONTROL POSTS, THEY USED TO SMUGGLE THE SAUSAGES UNDER THEIR REEFER JACKETS OR SKIRTS, OR THEY USED TO THROW THE PACKETS WITH MEAT OVER THE FENCE SO THE GOODS WOULD LATER BE PICKED UP AFTER WORK AND GIVEN TO THE RELATIVES OR REALIZED IN THE MARKET…"

"EVEN WITHOUT DEPRIVING THE RIGHT, REPRESSION CAN DESTROY DIGNITY - FOR EXAMPLE, BY HINDERING THE POSSIBILITY TO SELL AN ARTWORK, UNFITTING IT FOR DECORATING COFFEE SHOP MUGS. KOMBINATAS IS A REPORT, NOT A PARODY OR A SIMILAR GOLDEN ONION."

THAT MEAT COMBINE - ALMOST MARGINAL, PERIPHERAL (AFTER ALL, NOT LIKE THE SPORTS PALACE OR THE "ŽALGIRIS" STADIUM) RELICT OF SOVIET VILNIUS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LURKING IN THE BACKROOMS OF ALMOST EVERY CITIZEN WHO REMEMBERS THE SOVIET ERA.