tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.comments2023-10-28T12:01:47.929+00:00Edward LucasEdward Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11369936559712607693noreply@blogger.comBlogger2489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-6678593083999788712010-10-27T08:55:12.250+00:002010-10-27T08:55:12.250+00:00Mr.Lucas must be congratulated for his attempts to...Mr.Lucas must be congratulated for his attempts to view East European history objectively, and not through a prism of Soviet&Russian "history".<br />All politicians know the most effective weapon of political murder: labeling. Pin a label of fascist, neo-nazi, reactionary, or, heaven forbid, holocaust denier<br />on someone and, presto, he is a political corpse, or worse, a leper. The Soviet&Russians have made this their favorite and most effective tool.<br />The same weapon is being used right now against the VL&LNNK party in Latvia.The two major accusations against them are:<br />a) they advocate deportation of Russians, and<br />b)that all state financed education be in Latvian<br />Reviewing a), it was no other than Mr.Putin who urged Russians to return to Russia and offered various incentives for returnees. Is Mr.Putin a fascist,<br />a neo-nazi or Latvian ultra-nationalist? The record of VL&LNNK is clear for all to see (who want to see):<br />they advocate that the government of Latvia support Mr.Putin's initiative on a voluntary basis.<br />Regarding b) is any explanation needed? Is this not the policy and practice in USA, UK, Germany and any number of democratic countries? Mind you, not merely being advocated, but implemented. If this is fascism, it should be attacked and eradicated first <br />in the countries where already in effect.<br />Keep up the good work.<br /><br /> Gunars Reinis Riga, LatviaG. Reinishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824340645326420096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-90251557726350901922010-06-24T18:08:40.597+00:002010-06-24T18:08:40.597+00:00Oh dear ! This is, of course, deeply embarrassing ...Oh dear ! This is, of course, deeply embarrassing to Mr Lucas' whose deeply paranoid and propagandistic thesis of 'The New Cold War' in which only Russia is playing on ethnic nationalism is undermined somewhat.If this is what politics in Hungary-Slovakia is like, imagine Georgia and the Caucasus !<br /><br />"Reform" minded states like Georgia have Bumpy Rides on their Inexorable March to Natopia, including vicious ethnic nationalism, reigning down grad missiles on civilians in Tskhanvali in South Ossetia and then blaming Russia by progecting Saakashvili's aggression onto a heinous plot by Russia to dismember Georgia when it reacted.<br /><br />Naturally, in accordance with the Orwellian doublethink that is the hallmark of Lucas' writing, when Hungary and Slovakia start ethnic nationalist stirring it's "curious". Never to to with the failure of neoliberal policies and a populist-nationalist backlash.<br /><br />History has proved time and time again that Utopian laissez faire policies have an in built tendency to create political instability. Georgia's appalling descent into even greater poverty after the Rose Revolution and Saakashvili's war was a divertionary measures<br /><br />Again if Russia gives passports out to South Ossetian's, Lucas parrots the line of Brzezinski that it's 1938 and Hitler's technique of dismembering Czechoslovakia. When Romania tries the same in Moldova and resucitates Antonsecu its omitted and unmentionable.<br /><br />As only Russia is essentially Evil and Sinister. Not least after it rejected being ruled by a bunch of rapacious oligarchs who took advantage of the Young Reformers shock therapy reforms to sell on oil and gas assets by buying them cheap and selling them high.<br /><br />That Hungary is offering passports to ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia is just glided over as a funny old pointless spat. The idea that Greater Romanian nationalists have done the same in Moldova is a fact that is conveniently omitted.<br /><br />As is the fact that the heroic and thrusting democrats of the Twitter Revolution of April 2009 like Oleg Brega were part of the same network of visceral anti-semitic far-right wing nationalists who call themselves "Liberal Democrats" so that those like Lucas will peddle their cause to advance US geostrategical aims against Russia.Undergroundmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860176024061937664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-70806469706306643722010-06-21T07:44:21.989+00:002010-06-21T07:44:21.989+00:00To Szczepan : In year 1918 (in this year was 1st c...To Szczepan : In year 1918 (in this year was 1st czechoslovak republic established and aknowledged from almost all states) lived in hungary 630.000 slovakians - check it out, source : Conférence de la paix 1919-1920. Recueil des actes de la conférence. Partie IV.<br /><br />so hungarian minority in slovakia and slovakian minority in hungary were approximately same<br /><br />to speak aboute punishement of hungary after lost war is inapropriate because that was also a liberation of occupied nationsUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359711619036814584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-28883973769234176272010-06-10T14:55:38.360+00:002010-06-10T14:55:38.360+00:00Mr. Edward Lucas
The Economist
Dear Sir,
I rea...Mr. Edward Lucas<br />The Economist <br /><br />Dear Sir, <br /><br />I read with interest the article posted on your blog titled “Slovakia Hungary/Pandora’s passport”, not only because I am a Hungarian specialist, but also because Mr. Adam LeBor dealt with the same subject recently in the Guardian, in his article, "Hungary’s passport law is a diversion”. <br /><br />The subject is undeniably controversial for outside observers, particularly if they do not pay sufficient attention to the complicated historical context of the Hungarian parliament's recent decision to adopt the legislation under discussion. <br /><br />The losses that the Kingdom of Hungary suffered after the First World War as a result of the Treaty of Trianon, which of course you wrote about, cannot only be calculated in terms of square kilometers lost. Of course population losses -- if one can put it like this -- were also of enormous significance.<br /><br />Of the greatest significance, however, was what impact the Treaty of Trianon had on the historical and cultural thinking of the Hungarian political elites, as well as its citizens. It was an enormous civilizational shock for the Hungarians, which in Europe has not been discussed much, since it was perceived as a consequence of Hungary's place on the losing side.<br /><br />As a result, it was not taken into account that revisionist tendencies usually appear in countries that have been "severely" punished after losing wars. Presented to the country in more or less successful ways, these tendencies incline its people to agree to risky solutions -- one such example is Germany.<br /><br />Of course in Hungary, for many reasons, these kinds of radical views appeared with less strength, but which nevertheless did lead the country to conclude risky alliances, which can be seen in the example of Hungary's participation in the Second World War.<br /><br />The passing of the legislation on dual citizenship is an expression of Hungarians' admission that earlier attempts at rebuilding an ethnic (national) community of Hungarians failed, not only in its intention, but also in its consequences. Because however the problem is alive, since Hungarians are still living beyond Hungary's borders, the current government wants to rebuild this community on the foundation of a shared language and culture.<br /><br />Even at first glance one can see that this is an undeniably difficult task, but one that shows that the authors of this legislation were thinking in terms of the future -- even if the legislation might have been more precisely formulated, which you allude to delicately in your article.<br /><br />Respectfully yours,<br />Szczepan Woronowicz, Warsawworonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07563957503911016005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-90533278648263830722010-06-09T13:52:59.073+00:002010-06-09T13:52:59.073+00:00http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/the-...http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/the-red-partisans/407849.html<br /><br />Interesting subject. Obviously known in the region, but in this case legal consquences are more meaningful.<br /><br />Perhaps another factor in an honest discussion about the past in Russia which looks more probable in recent weeks.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04899110479835347746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-55462016881349266742010-06-03T13:28:36.306+00:002010-06-03T13:28:36.306+00:00Dear All,
I am a H citizen living in Budapest and ...Dear All,<br />I am a H citizen living in Budapest and have a lot of H and SK friends in SK.<br />I never felt tension with them as the people I know do not really buy the nationalist-populist crap of the current government.<br /><br />To be honest it did not feel good when Slota (2nd man in SK gov.) was talking in public about raiding Budapest with tanks. <br /><br />For me Slota is playing on SK people's minority complex to gain votes and to make some pocket money (pretty successful). Come on Slovaks! You have strong economy, pretty good hockey team; why do you still feel inferior to us?<br /><br />Please remember, that H was also playing this nationalist game in the 19-20th century. Who knows history knows where it leads...<br /><br />Now we have populist government in H (I am not happy), but I feel that SK politics is also partly responsible for this. In H we say now eat what you cooked! Problem is I have to eat also what stupid nationalists cooked (on both sides)!<br /><br />Let us try to get civilised! <br /><br />Why does it hurt a SK that a Slovakian Hungarian has double nationality? Come on, he is a Slovakian Hungarian, SK people call them that way also... What damage does this cause to SK? Be happy about present borders (that we do not want to change) and let your fellow citizens get something that does not cost you anything...<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />István<br /><br />PS: Slovakians in Hungary have the right to double nationality:)Istvánhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15055217954600047900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-14508823061843362232010-06-03T09:21:43.068+00:002010-06-03T09:21:43.068+00:00Can Russian jokes about Poland and other parts of ...Can Russian jokes about Poland and other parts of "the West" be included as well ? :))Undergroundmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860176024061937664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-63237254444139445772010-06-02T14:04:51.811+00:002010-06-02T14:04:51.811+00:00Dear Benjamin,
You seem to be a bit emotional abo...Dear Benjamin,<br /><br />You seem to be a bit emotional about the subject.<br /><br />1 - In the UK nobody will fine you if you speak only Gaelic. In fact, you can even become British citizen if you learn only the Welsh language while you cannot speak a word in English. You can be a policeman, doctor etc. in Wales if you speak Welsh. It might be disadvantageous, but nobody will officially discriminate you if you do not speak English, given you are fluent in another indigenous language.<br /><br />2 - The reason why you cannot become US citizen while living in Slovakia, because the US does not want to grant this status on that base, and it has nothing to do with Slovakia. <br /><br />3 - In general, I do not understand the fear and panic you have in Slovakia. If an ethnic Hungarian wants to be a Hungarian citizen, and Hungary wants to award it to that person, it is a love made in heaven. You cannot stop it. You cannot force people to become ethnic Slovakian, and to love the country with poisonous laws. The whole idea of this damned EU is meant to be grounded in democracy, i.e. with other words: the freedom of choice. If Hungarian citizenship is what the ethnic Hungarians want let be it. Or your worry is that too many of your people would prefer Hungary to Slovakia?Seth53https://www.blogger.com/profile/17794879116022381609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-49814779190615964662010-06-02T14:02:01.194+00:002010-06-02T14:02:01.194+00:00Dear Benjamin,
You seem to be a bit emotional abo...Dear Benjamin,<br /><br />You seem to be a bit emotional about the subject.<br /><br />1 - In the UK nobody will fine you if you speak only Gaelic. In fact, you can even become British citizen if you learn only the Welsh language while you cannot speak a word in English. You can be a policeman, doctor etc. in Wales if you speak Welsh. It might be disadvantageous, but nobody will officially discriminate you if you do not speak English, given you are fluent in another indigenous language.<br /><br />2 - The reason why you cannot become US citizen while living in Slovakia, because the US does not want to grant this status on that base, and it has nothing to do with Slovakia. <br /><br />3 - In general, I do not understand the fear and panic you have in Slovakia. If an ethnic Hungarian wants to be a Hungarian citizen, and Hungary wants to award it to that person, it is a love made in heaven. You cannot stop it. You cannot force people to become ethnic Slovakian, and to love the you / the nation / the country with poisonous laws. The whole idea of this damned EU is meant to be grounded in democracy, i.e. with other words: the freedom of choice. If Hungarian citizenship is what the ethnic Hungarians want let be it. Or your worry is that too many of your people would prefer Hungary to Slovakia?Seth53https://www.blogger.com/profile/17794879116022381609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-3851500509951309422010-05-30T12:02:50.578+00:002010-05-30T12:02:50.578+00:00Some old Polish ones:
Did you hear about the Poli...Some old Polish ones:<br /><br />Did you hear about the Polish family that froze to death outside a theater? They were waiting to see the movie "Closed for the Winter."<br /><br />Polish kamikaze flew 48 successful missions.<br /><br />Did you hear about the latest Polish invention? It's a solar-powered<br />flashlight.<br /><br />-How did the Germans conquer Poland so fast?<br />-They marched in backwards and the Polish thought they were leaving.Vainiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11114584897946906291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-45775038742963591502010-05-29T16:20:26.137+00:002010-05-29T16:20:26.137+00:00"Capitalism opened huge possibilities for the..."Capitalism opened huge possibilities for the flexible and ambitious. And if you didn’t like it, you could always leave: millions of people tasted the difference with work and study abroad".<br /><br />And the neoliberal variant causing mass poverty,( never reported in "The New Cold War "-as there is No Alternative), families suffering the heartbreak of being ripped apart and the very right wing atavistic nation Mr Lucas often writes about.<br /><br />I apologise for using intemperate language with regards my total dissection of The New Cold War, it's propaganda mechanism, evasions of IMF and Western responsibility for the democidal effects of shock therpy.<br /><br />After all, talented people across Central Europe could leave impoverished lands anbd labour costs and inflation driven down in the UK's neoliberal debt driven bubble economy by importing masses of labourers.<br /><br />Yes, free travel was a boon. But to spin economic migration on the scale it has happened shows a contempt for ordinary people's lives in favour of that of the new global elite of the super rich.<br /><br />The Sainbury's who exploit the "motivation" of poorer people and displace British workers from jobs and could stimulate even more cut throat competition and resentment. <br /><br />Neoliberalism is dead. It crashed in 2008. <br /><br />The effects of the policies you have supported are in tatters as is the idea Georgia and other US clients will get into NATO in some seamless extension of the sphere of liberty and "freedom", a threadbare and discredited Whiggish progressive narrative.<br /><br />When, Mr Lucas are you going to address the reality of why people in Russia turned to Putin and how awful life was for Russians and ex-Soviet people under IMF shock therapists instead of gliding over it? <br /><br />I am dissecting you book forensically and will call on Norman Davies to reconsider his reasons for writing a foreword to your abysmal propaganda dressed up as history. There is no New Cold War. Just an revival of the Old Great Game.<br /><br />Best Regard,<br /><br />Karl Naylor<br /><br />http://easterneuropewatch.blogspot.comUndergroundmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860176024061937664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-63648499587365568142010-05-29T10:53:26.814+00:002010-05-29T10:53:26.814+00:00Estonians have joke about Latvians also:
Estonian...Estonians have joke about Latvians also: <br />Estonian is driving to Riga. On a way there Latvian traffic police stops him for speeding. Naturally policeman asks the estonian to write explanatory letter to explain why he was breaking the speed limit. <br />Estonian ask: "In what language?";<br />"In state language," answers policeman. <br />"But I don't know Latvian," argues the driver. <br />"It's your own problem," says policeman and goes back to his car.<br />Estonian finally decides to put ten lats between the explanatory letter and hand it to police. <br />"Well, and you said you can't speak Latvian - half of letter is already done!" says policeman.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16106585850175335701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-83846536603483017612010-05-29T10:25:02.665+00:002010-05-29T10:25:02.665+00:001. why you lie aboute slovak language law ? did yo...1. why you lie aboute slovak language law ? did you read that ??? (5 pages)<br />slovak language law affects only artifitial persons, did you know that ?<br />if englishman has a traffic accident in scotland, and doctor speaks only scottish language to him and patient dies, is it ok for you ? If there is a law that every doctor in Britain must use english language if his patient speaks only english is that a violation of doctors minority rights ?<br />If a policeman in scottland doesnt want to help you and he speacs scottish to you (and you speak only english) is it ok for you ? or if a clerk doesnt want to sale something to you because you are english and the shop is in wales ?<br />Its clearly written in slovak language law : if patiens speaks hungarian (or german or english) and doctor speaks hungarian too, they may use hungarian language but the documentation must be in slovak. If patiens speaks only slovak doctor must speak slovak too. If not - 5000 Euro. (and i believe such punishment is not high enough)<br /><br />2. Why you lie aboute double citizenship ? There is no double citizenship allowed in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Czech rep. New slovak citizenship law is only a copy of czech citizenship law. If a slovak citizen goes to live to USA and he gets US citizenship he may keep slovak citizenship too, because there is an agreement between USA and slovakia. But slovak who lives only in slovakia has no right to get US citizenship, that would be absurd. Hungary wanted no negotiations, no agreement with slovakia aboute this topic, so this is the result.<br />Are you trying to tell me its normal if slovak citizen still lives in slovakia and he gets hungarian citizenship, so he may vote twice to european parliament ? One hungarian party from slovakia and one from hungary ? Is it ok for you ?Jaroslavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532307623315754292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-18238978863098882562010-05-29T10:23:09.822+00:002010-05-29T10:23:09.822+00:001. why you lie aboute slovak language law ? did yo...1. why you lie aboute slovak language law ? did you read that ??? (5 pages)<br />slovak language law affects only artifitial persons, did you know that ?<br />if englishman has a traffic accident in scotland, and doctor speaks only scottish language to him and patient dies, is it ok for you ? If there is a law that every doctor in Britain must use english language if his patient speaks only english is that a violation of doctors minority rights ?<br />If a policeman in scottland doesnt want to help you and he speacs scottish to you (and you speak only english) is it ok for you ? or if a clerk doesnt want to sale something to you because you are english and the shop is in wales ?<br />Its clearly written in slovak language law : if patiens speaks hungarian (or german or english) and doctor speaks hungarian too, they may use hungarian language but the documentation must be in slovak. If patiens speaks only slovak doctor must speak slovak too. If not - 5000 Euro. (and i believe such punishment is not high enough)<br /><br />2. Why you lie aboute double citizenship ? There is no double citizenship allowed in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Czech rep. New slovak citizenship law is only a copy of czech citizenship law. If a slovak citizen goes to live to USA and he gets US citizenship he may keep slovak citizenship too, because there is an agreement between USA and slovakia. But slovak who lives only in slovakia has no right to get US citizenship, that would be absurd. Hungary wanted no negotiations, no agreement with slovakia aboute this topic, so this is the result.<br />Are you trying to tell me its normal if slovak citizen still lives in slovakia and he gets hungarian citizenship, so he may vote twice to european parliament ? One hungarian party from slovakia and one from hungary ? Is it ok for you ?Jaroslavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532307623315754292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-20282684020818299552010-05-29T07:06:18.349+00:002010-05-29T07:06:18.349+00:00English as the international language - that's...English as the international language - that's an urban legend!<br /><br />I live in London and if anyone says to me “everyone speaks English” my answer is “Listen and look around you”. If people in London do not speak English then the whole question of a global language is completely open.<br /><br />The promulgation of English as the world’s “lingua franca” is impractical and linguistically undemocratic. I say this as a native English speaker!<br /><br />Impractical because communication should be for all and not only for an educational or political elite. That is how English is used internationally at the moment.<br /><br />Undemocratic because minority languages are under attack worldwide due to the encroachment of majority ethnic languages. Even Mandarin Chinese is attempting to dominate as well. The long-term solution must be found and a non-national language, which places all ethnic languages on an equal footing is essential. As a native English speaker, my vote is for Esperanto :)<br /><br />Your readers may be interested in seeing http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8837438938991452670 A glimpse of the language can be seen at http://www.lernu.net<br /><br />A glimpse of the global language,Esperanto, can be seen at http://www.lernu.netBrian Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17619597021388228806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-35942677512384072012010-05-27T23:49:25.862+00:002010-05-27T23:49:25.862+00:00So... Hungary held a referendum on this same issue...So... Hungary held a referendum on this same issue (I believe they also offered pensions in 2004, I'm not sure if pensions are a part of this offer?) but the vote failed due to popular Hungarian apathy - low voter turnout. But, In 2004 Hungary and Slovakia were being accessed into the EU, the economy was still afloat, and things were, all in all, looking up. So why then in 2010 when the economy is in it's worst shape in a decade (i.e. IMF bailout of 2009) are they so enamored with providing citizenship now? I mean, I understand the historical pull of nationalism for Magyars, the seething anger towards the Treaty of Trianon, the political expediency of it, and the dissatisfaction with treatment of Hungarian minorities in Slovakia, Transylvania, and the Voijvodina, the advantages of passport diplomacy in weakening the states from which the minorities currently reside (i.e. Russia in Crimea)... but how, especially as unemployment remains high, is this economically advantageous for Hungary and Hungarians residing and working in Hungary? Why, other than campaign promises made by Fidesz, wouldn't they hold another referendum? Or, do the aforementioned reasons take precedent over the present state of the economy? Is there something simple I am missing? <br /><br />I would appreciate an objective, and not ethnically tinged, conversation from subsequents commenters. <br /><br />Regards,<br />Ben GavinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-71910094509177305952010-05-25T12:03:11.122+00:002010-05-25T12:03:11.122+00:00umm... not to be inexcusably rude but isn't th...umm... not to be inexcusably rude but isn't this the case in Western Europe as well? Perhaps even more so, in US - you've got these huge interconnected political families starting with the Kennedys and ending with the Clintons...<br /><br />Also, Tarand is a member of a very well known intellectual and political family (his father is Andres Tarand, former PM of Estonia, now member of the Social Democrats, and he has also served in the European Parliament before). His various cousins and aunts and uncles are rock-singers, poets, actors, scientists and so on. So perhaps not the best example of no-ties politics. He is a good example of running party-less and winning on personal charisma and both personal and family integrity.Dorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12942338677951019959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-81726039454581420132010-05-20T21:32:16.345+00:002010-05-20T21:32:16.345+00:00Yes I've noticed.
Good luck!
Perhaps I will ...Yes I've noticed.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Perhaps I will post something useful here one day.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11142250631406635246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-37179921430327121102010-05-19T23:08:06.319+00:002010-05-19T23:08:06.319+00:00A very good article. Ruthenia and Ruthenians are a...A very good article. Ruthenia and Ruthenians are almost unknown even in Central Europe. I am a Slovak and by reading this article I just found out something new about our Ruthenian minority. For an outsider you show incredible interest and insight about the history and development of Central Europe, Mr. Lucas. Thank you very much for this interesting and very insightful article.SlovakDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03398373713921114463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-35343370864618189832010-05-14T11:51:27.003+00:002010-05-14T11:51:27.003+00:00You can admire all the fiscal austerity and budget...You can admire all the fiscal austerity and budget cuts, but in the first quarter Estonia's unemployment rate was almost 20 %, with a significant part of longterm unemployed, which means they do not receive benefits anymore.<br />Is this worth it?Temestahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14614591949410689858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-25559986758189225492010-05-14T07:54:56.336+00:002010-05-14T07:54:56.336+00:00However this point of view ignores battles fought ...However this point of view ignores battles fought between Polish militias in places such as Wilno (Vilnius) and the Red Army e.g. three day long defence of Wilno in January 1919 grasped by the locals just after the German forces left the city.<br /><br />The reality of this war is even more complicated than some people believe.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04899110479835347746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-80332827354224989022010-05-10T09:48:04.100+00:002010-05-10T09:48:04.100+00:00We generally don't agree on interpretations, b...We generally don't agree on interpretations, but I'll let that pass. Just a couple of factual points.<br /><br />Suvorov was active in the 1780s and 1790s, not the 1860s.<br /><br />The Poles launched an offensive against the Reds and so began the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1919. They launched an offensive which took Pinsk, etc. That's different from "Poland was attacked in its infancy by the Soviet Union" (which didn't even exist in 1919).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356813873980774562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-806680590801108882010-05-10T02:55:17.152+00:002010-05-10T02:55:17.152+00:00There is something wrong with Britain indeed. Even...There is something wrong with Britain indeed. Even TNY Times dares to call Britain anti-Semitic, instead of Poland. It's sort of like Poland almost switching places with Britain on that fake map in TE ;-)Astoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11953766282628419551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-17735052183348533082010-05-06T21:23:57.439+00:002010-05-06T21:23:57.439+00:001) where has Apple ever been an icon for internati...1) where has Apple ever been an icon for internationalism?<br /><br />2) the geography restrictions for iTunes Store for music, movies etc are not set by Apple, but by backwards media companies who hold the licensing rights to content, whose stuff Apple sells in iTunes Store. As you can see from quickly setting up the App Store, Apple would be happy to sell to all the countries, but media companies do not allow them. <br /><br />From consumer's POV, this is of course a silly excuse and does not make much of a difference. Still, why media companies have these dumb geographic restrictions for both digital and physical media (right up the alley of DVD and Bluray region coding etc) would be an actual interesting topic to write about, instead of this random rant at Apple who is just an intermediary here.<br /><br />(A milder variation of this topic is that if you browse the US and UK iTunes Stores, their content is not fully the same, there's stuff in one you can't get in the other.)Jaanushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530037028481715433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24528000.post-2356967382934715402010-05-06T17:26:18.081+00:002010-05-06T17:26:18.081+00:00Let they reduce a price,Let they reduce a price,Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06475249162181120879noreply@blogger.com