This is why I'm going to study Kazakh next. There is plenty of Russian capacity left over from our Cold War intellectual stock and children of first-gen immigrants who have native fluency in two languages. But fewer people are capable of helping on the newest battlefield in oil politics.

While unsurprising, this is an interesting read on the ( Read more... )

By now in the semester, I'm simply putting off an update because it's become too much to write about (doesn't that always happen?). My Russia blog dropped off thanks to a late August gratefully filled with time at the cabin (which has become a wonderful hideaway, or, as I am now more inclined to see it, a good post-apocalyptic resort), and a short ( Read more... )

...for one brief shining moment, I'll come up for air, from a month of Maine cabins and frenetic packing and guilt about not seeing friends at all and working nine-hour reunion shifts, and before leaving on Tuesday for two days of orientation for the ACTR program before the group flight to Moscow on Thursday afternoon ( Read more... )

Done, finally, and sleeping it off after a record 8 hours over three nights (with one all-nighter in there). Wrote the papers, took the tests, published the issue, drank the 36-pack case of Diet Pepsi, and probably miss talking to you. With this, my re-entry into the world, I hope to correct that soon ( Read more... )

Is it standard practice to give your recommenders a token of your appreciation, or is a thank-you card considered adequate?

As an aside, I just got a kick out of sending one of my recommenders a note with a stamp of his former boss whom he advised, Ronald Reagan.

garhghhhghhhhhhul. Eck.

From Best of the Web on OpinionJournal,
Harvard professor accused of stealing manure.

I just checked my PO Box to find all the materials for Moscow-visa application, housing info, internship application, etc. Of course, I'm doing all this while still waiting on the funding/grant/prize decisions, but I know it'll work itself out ( Read more... )

Spent the night in Boston and the day in North Grafton, so back finally to prepare my presentation for tomorrow, and plenty else...

Spreading a blanket on Old Campus after lunch and reading Hayek.

Something close to heaven on earth.