Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from December, 2007
Russia: Holiday Charity (via Egoism)
Russia is embarking on a 10-day national vacation: from Dec. 30 to Jan. 8, the country will be celebrating the New Year's and Orthodox Christmas - and should also have enough time to rest, relax and sober up in between. Charity isn't among the most popular subjects in the Russian blogosphere during the festive season, although some bloggers do discuss ways of helping the poor and needy this year. Below is one blogger's musings on charity and selfishness, as well as a perfectly explicit call to action.
Czech Republic: New Year's in Prague
The Czech Daily Word provides some stats on the upcoming New Year's celebrations in Prague.
Serbia: “Manufactured Guilt”
Gray Falcon writes that “only by rejecting this manufactured guilt and by understanding who made it and with what purpose can the Serbs begin their path to freedom.”
Lithuania: Blogger-Politician
Lituanica links to an English-language blog of “one of the most PR conscious Lithuanian politicians, ex-Vilnius Mayor Artūras Zuokas.”
Poland: Bhutto's Tractor Scam
the beatroot writes about a 1990s Polish-made Ursus tractors scam, in which Benazir Bhutto was allegedly involved: “Benazir had launched the Awami Tractor Scheme for the welfare of poor farmers in Pakistan and allegedly received 7.15 percent commission in the purchase of tractors through their front men – Jens Schlegelmilch...
Ukraine: Tymoshenko's Budget
Foreign Notes reports on the article in a Ukrainian daily that accuses Yulia Tymoshenko of going against her election promises and approving the 2008 budget that includes “a multimillion INCREASE in the money provided for the maintenance of deputies, kabmin ‘big-knobs’, and the President and his secretariat.”
Russia: Duma Cossacks
Window on Eurasia writes about the Russian Duma's Cossacks.
Russia: Messina Earthquake and Russian Sailors
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about Russian sailors’ participation in the rescue operations following the 1908 earthquake in Messina, Sicily.
Ukraine: Politics Update
LEvko of Foreign Notes thinks that president Yushchenko – like Margaret Thatcher before him – should get himself a “voice coach.”
Slovenia: Dimitrij Rupel
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel and the stuff he's written for Sinfo, a PR magazine issued monthly by the governmental Communications office”: “(great choice of name, BTW. Fire your chief marketing officer toot-suite!)”
Poland: Christmas
the beatroot cites an opinion poll that shows that Christmas in Poland “is a time where family and traditions take precedence over the religious nature.”
Hungary: Things to Love & Hate in Budapest
Pestcentric shares 10 things to hate and 10 things to love about Budapest.
The Balkans: B92 and Milošević
In a somewhat roundabout way, Alan Jakšić of Balkan Anarchist tells of how B92 radio, site and blogs have helped him to change his mind about Slobodan Milošević.
Ukraine: House on Anthrax
Ukrainiana writes about a house being built on the mass burial site for victims of a 19th-century anthrax epidemics in Kyiv.
Russia: Ded Moroz Ad Banned; Yolki in Moscow
James of Robert Amsterdam's blog writes about the government's ad on “a TV ad from an electronics retailer which poked fun at the existence of this mythical gift giver on the grounds that it broke a rule discrediting parents and teachers.” Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow posts his 2005 pictures...
Slovenia: Janez Drnovšek's Legacy
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about the political legacy of Slovenia's ex-president Janez Drnovšek.
Romania: Dracula
Csíkszereda Musings re-reads Bram Stoker's ‘Dracula’ and writes about his surprising ethnic origins as well as Romania's flourishing Dracula-centered tourism industry.
Ukraine: Hotels
Our Man in Gdansk suspects there's a difference between Kyiv hotels and those outside Ukraine's capital.
Poland: Ecology, Coal Mines, Iraq
Our Man in Gdansk comments on the coverage of Poland's ecology, coal mines and involvement in Iraq.
Poland: “Troll” Sues Wikipedia
The beatroot reports: “Arnold Buzdygan […] – sometime wannabe presidential candidate, and a regular on usernet sites in Poland – went to court in Wroclaw, southwestern Poland, last week, to sue Wikpedia Polska for deformation of character. […] Buzdygan claims that his fiancée’s mother refused to let the marriage go...
Poland: Simon Mol
The beatroot writes again about Simon Mol, a “Cameroonian ‘refugee’, poet and human rights activist” charged with infecting 12 Polish women with HIV. (Many of the 213 comments to this post do not seem to have much to do with the subject.)
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