Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from January, 2009
Slovenia: A View on Entropa
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes that Entropa “takes apart [Slovenia's] totally unfounded conviction that it is the centre of the world and that all great things somehow started here. Even tourism, for crying out loud!”
Serbia: Belgrade Tips, Photos; Fan Fight in Melbourne; Entropa
Belgraded posts more Belgrade tips; translates a joke about unsuspecting “terrorists/tourists” in Belgrade; links to Belgrade and Serbia photos – here, here, and here; writes about yet another fight between tennis fans in Melbourne; wonders how Serbia would be represented on Entropa if it were part of the EU.
Serbia: Belgrade Photos
Lots of beautiful photo vignettes from Serbia – at A Yankee-in-Belgrade, including these two pictures of elderly women, one selling pine branches and the other selling thistle.
Russia: Finno-Ugric Dimension of Gas Dispute
Window on Eurasia writes about the Finno-Ugric dimension of the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
Russia: New Journal on Siberia
Window on Eurasia writes about a new journal intended to promote an “expanded understanding” of Siberia.
Russia: Pro-Government Rallies
Window on Eurasia writes about “Moscow’s plan to organize pro-government demonstrations.”
Russia, U.S.: Igor Panarin
The Ivanov Report writes about Igor Panarin, “the second most hated Russian in the United States.”
Russia: iPhone Apps
Siberian Light reviews “the best Russian iPhone apps.”
Russia: More on Markelov and Baburova
More on the killings of Markelov and Baburova – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia: “Mourning Markelov”
Robert Amsterdam writes: “Russia was a safer place when Markelov was still alive, because at the very least, his advocacy was ultimately emblematic of moral outrage – seemingly our last defense.”
Russia: “Creeping Police State or Looming Anarchy”
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes that “[r]ecent commentary on Russia has tacked back-and-forth between these two apparently contradictory narratives — the creeping police state vs. looming anarchy.”
Russia: Anastasia Baburova's Blog
Excerpts from the blog of Anastasia Baburova, a 25-year-old journalist killed in Moscow last week, translated from Russian – at OpenDemocracy.net.
Russia: “Should People of Color Go to Russia?”
Moscow Through Brown Eyes wouldn't advise “a young person of color” to come to Russia for long-term study: “The world is large and there are many options. You shouldn't have to fear for your life every day.”
Poland: Name Days vs Birthdays?
the POLSKI blog writes about celebration of ‘name days’ in Poland.
Poland: Back Home From the UK
the POLSKI blog writes that due to the crisis, many Poles are returning home from the UK – and others are encouraged to by a UK-based organization called “Poland Street.”
Poland: Obama, BBC and ‘CIA Prison’
The beatroot writes about a BBC reporter's failed attempt to find out whether Poles were “pleased with Obama” for his decision to shut down Guantanamo “and all rendition camps, one of which was in Poland.”
Poland: “No More Scapegoats”
The beatroot writes about what George W. Bush's departure might mean for Poland: “And now Bush has gone, who are they gonna blame for all the other stuff he wasn’t responsible for? Maybe one day we are going to miss Old George. No more scapegoats.”
Poland: A View on Entropa
The beatroot comments on Entropa: “I don’t know which is sadder: the state of some contemporary art, which has to delve into crude stereotypes to get its kicks; or politicians like a Giertych, or a Kaczynski who provided, on an enamelled plate, the crude stereotype of Poland in the first...
Poland: Katarzyna Hejna on Feminism
Katarzyna Hejna talks about feminism in Poland – at Polandian.
U.S.: Polish Place Names
A compendium of U.S. towns with Polish names – at Polandian.
Russia, Ukraine: “Far From Over”
Streetwise Professor writes: “In short, the Gas War is just the surface of things. Under the surface one finds the true dynamic–Russian imperial ambition resisted by a nation struggling to realize an independence long denied, but doing so under a confused, divided, and corrupt leadership.”
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