Stories about Eastern & Central Europe from November, 2009
Poland: Graffiti
Polandian writes about and posts photos of the Polish graffiti.
Albania: Giving Directions
A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes that “Albanians are so poor at giving directions that it's easier just to take the lost soul directly to his destination than it is to give directions.”
Ukraine: “Political Flu”
Today's updates on the flu situation: Greetings from Kyiv chronicles Day 5 and Day 6 of the epidemic; Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about the precautions taken at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; Foreign Notes, What's up, Ukraine? and Wu Wei discuss president Yushchenko's address to the nation and other...
Kosovo, Hungary: More on the Tisza River Tragedy
A Fistful of Euros discusses the story of tragic death of 15 Kosovo Albanian illegal immigrants, who were trying to cross the Tisza River into Hungary and the EU. More about it – in Marietta Le's Oct. 28 GV post.
Ukraine: Ruslana and Science Fiction
Science Fiction Observer writes about a science fiction dimension of Ukrainian singer Ruslana's 2007 album.
Ukraine: New Documentary on Holodomor
Nash Holos writes about Yury Luhovy's new documentary on the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.
CEE: “20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall” – a Poll
Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog writes about the results of a Pew Research Center's poll on poverty, wealth and attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe “20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
Russia, U.S.: Abramovich Pays $47,221 for Dinner
A discussion of Roman Abramovich's $47,221 dinner tab from a NYC restaurant – at Eternal Remont.
Russia: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism
OpenDemocracy.net writes about Russia's drug abuse problems. The NYTimes’ The Lede and Eternal Remont write about the Russian government's attempts to fight alcoholism.
Ukraine: Yet Another Flu Roundup
More updates on the flu situation – Greetings from Kyiv: “Flu is all anyone is talking about in Ukraine right now.” Ukraine Today: “Ukraine's best hope now is to pray for an early winter in hope that the virus will not survive Ukraine's bitter cold winters.” Ukrainiana: “People are dying...
Russia: Blogger Throws Shoe at Samara Mayor
Looks like political shoe-throwing is becoming mainstream not only in Iraq. The world has seen the sixth case recently, when, during a press conference, Vitaly Papilkin (aka LJ user papilkin [RUS]) threw his shoe at Samara mayor Viktor Tarhov, elected to his post in one of Russia's largest cities (pop....
Ukraine: To Wear a Mask or Not?
Foreign Notes writes about the possible consequences of the flu situation for Ukrainian politicians. MoldovAnn is considering whether to wear a mask in public or not.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Banja Luka
Bosnia Blog writes about travel to Banja Luka.
Romania: Critical Mass
At Th!nk About It – here and here – Adela writes about Critical Mass in Romania.
Europe: International Black Sea Action Day
At Th!nk About It, Adela writes about International Black Sea Action Day.
Russia: Surkov and Western Media Coverage
Poemless writes about Vladislav Surkov and Western media coverage of Russia.
The Balkans: Danilo Kiš
Belatedly, a tribute to Yugoslav writer Danilo Kiš (1935-1989) – at Balkans via Bohemia.
UK, Poland: “Basia is Back”
the POLSKI blog reports that “Basia, whose voice is familiar to anyone who in the early 1980s danced to Whose Side Are You On?, is back with a new album.”
Latvia: Politics Update
Baltic writes on the political situation in Latvia – here and here.
Russia: AK-47 & Copyright; Time Zones
Eternal Remont writes about “copyright protection for the AK-47″; FP's Passport writes about plans to cut the 7-hour time difference between Moscow and Vladivostok to 4 hours.
Russia: Potential for Rebellion in Toliatti
Window on Eurasia reports that “Russian government plans to lay off 50,000 autoworkers in Toliatti […] have sparked rumors that Moscow plans to introduce interior ministry troops to keep order and that at least some of the workers plan to use arms to defend their jobs.”
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