Stories about History from December, 2007
Russia: Oka, the Car
The Turkish Invasion writes about Oka car: “In Moscow, Oka cars are widely used by pizza delivery (since it is basically warmer than driving a bike in winter) and only a handful of enthusiasts remain who continue driving this car (Many Russians prefer taking easy bank loans and drive luxury...
Russia: Labels and Comparisons
A discussion of labels, comparisons and various development models that could be applied to Russia and its leaders – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia: “Lessons From Recent History”
Rumination on Russia writes about Yeltsin, Putin, Medvedev – and the “lessons from recent history.”
Russia: Andrei Nekrasov's Film & Article
At Robert Amsterdam's blog – a 2004 film by Andrei Nekrasov, which “presents a theory of the 1999 apartment bombings,” and Nekrasov's piece on “Vladislav Surkov and the Ideology of Russia's New One-Party State.”
Soviet History: A Syllabus
J. Otto Pohl's Political History of the USSR syllabus is here.
Slovenia: “When Misinformation Becomes Institutionalised”
Marko Bucik explains at length what kind of damage could be done by an article on Slovenian EU presidency, written by Slovenia's foreign minister for an English-language promo leaflet.
Russia, Belarus: Putin's Visit
TOL's Belarus covers an attack on protesters against Putin's visit to Belarus and explain what could be the reasons for the visit: “That means that it is the Russian side that will ask for something.” Being Had writes about Russian-Belarusian relationship over the years.
Bangladesh: Remembering 1971
Mash has testimonies from people who faced the excesses of the Pakistani army in 1971.
Montserrat: Festival is 45!
Caribbean Beat Blog reports that despite the Soufriere Hills volcano eruption that began in 1995, the remaining inhabitants of the island are still celebrating their annual Montserrat Festival in style!
Russia: 13 Years Since the 1st Chechen War
Dmitri Minaev of De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis commemorates the 13th anniversary of the First Chechen War by linking to his earlier translation of a Chechen journalist's recollections from that time.
Russia: “The Neva Horror”
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about St. Petersburg's new tourist attraction: “The Neva horror. The cyberspace of fear.”
Ukraine, U.S.: Carol of the Bells
Ukrainian Musical Matters writes about a 1916 Ukrainian song that became a Christmas hit in the United States.
Barbados, Jamaica: Cradle to Grave
Living in Barbados blogs about Jamaican funeral traditions.
Barbados: BIM Magazine
Gallimaufry is “really excited to hear…about the relaunch of Bim magazine”, a publication that was instrumental in the development of West Indian literature.
Yemen: Visiting Shibam
Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad takes us to the historic town of Shibam, where the world's first skyscrapers were built in this photo post.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Srebrenica Numbers
Srebrenica Genocide Blog writes about the breakdown of those killed and missing in the Srebrenica region.
The Balkans: Croatian Serbs
Balkan Anarchist writes at length about Croatian Serbs and their war experiences: “If someone were to ask me how I felt about what my Serbs, the Croatian Serbs, went through during the first half of the 1990s, I would answer them by saying, “heartbroken”. Heartbroken that those leaders who led...
Serbia: “Tension Digest”
Belgrade 2.0 writes about “Kosovo is Serbia” campaign and other elements of the current Kosovo-related “tension.”
Bosnia: Kosovo Independence
TOL's Balkanizer wonders whether Bosnia is going to recognize Kosovo's independence, once it is declared.
Russia, Belarus: A Union?
“A union between Russia and Belarus with Putin as president? Those are the rumours presently at sway in Moscow,” writes Vilhelm Konnander.
Trinidad & Tobago: Lion House
Thebookmann features a wall painting of Lion House in Trinidad, made famous by V.S. Naipaul's A House for Mr. Biswas.