Librarian
@isbi.bsky.social
Fragments of historical research, people and events, I write about Southeast Europe, World War II on the margins; medieval studies and urban history
No one can know with certainty what awaits us in the future, especially when it comes to politics, but some possibilities can be discerned.
December 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
No one can know with certainty what awaits us in the future, especially when it comes to politics, but some possibilities can be discerned.
It's Propaganda Slogan.
December 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
It's Propaganda Slogan.
On the day the indictment confirmation was announced, Jared Kushner's company issued a statement indicating it would not participate in a project that divides society.
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
On the day the indictment confirmation was announced, Jared Kushner's company issued a statement indicating it would not participate in a project that divides society.
The Serbian Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, which also handles high-level corruption cases, has filed an indictment against a minister, a secretary in one of the ministries, and heads of several institutions responsible for cultural heritage protection.
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The Serbian Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, which also handles high-level corruption cases, has filed an indictment against a minister, a secretary in one of the ministries, and heads of several institutions responsible for cultural heritage protection.
According to local and regional media reports, ministers in the government close to Aleksandar Vučić's regime party forged documents to enable construction on a prestigious capital location.
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
According to local and regional media reports, ministers in the government close to Aleksandar Vučić's regime party forged documents to enable construction on a prestigious capital location.
China has no interest whatsoever in such risky behavior. Moreover, it could face the sudden turnaround of some post-Putin Russian nationalist toward the West. Even toward liberalization.
December 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
China has no interest whatsoever in such risky behavior. Moreover, it could face the sudden turnaround of some post-Putin Russian nationalist toward the West. Even toward liberalization.
Two questions arise: why would China do such a thing? And second, will China have sufficient resources to easily allocate them for Russia's economic rescue?
December 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Two questions arise: why would China do such a thing? And second, will China have sufficient resources to easily allocate them for Russia's economic rescue?
Paying the army will be the last thing the Moscow regime gives up on; Russian society, however, will endure numerous shortages before any eventual relief.
December 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Paying the army will be the last thing the Moscow regime gives up on; Russian society, however, will endure numerous shortages before any eventual relief.
In Britain, over 140,000 doctors and 350,000 medical staff are employed; how many are needed/sufficient?
December 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
In Britain, over 140,000 doctors and 350,000 medical staff are employed; how many are needed/sufficient?
In the long term, relying on immigrants to fill positions in the medical sector is not sustainable; it is necessary to increase domestic capacities for education, training, and specialization. This way, we are only postponing the confrontation with the problems.
December 16, 2025 at 9:15 AM
In the long term, relying on immigrants to fill positions in the medical sector is not sustainable; it is necessary to increase domestic capacities for education, training, and specialization. This way, we are only postponing the confrontation with the problems.
The American military-industrial complex is not a significant part of the American economy; yet it provides fairly powerful advantages to American policy; the means are there; it is important to use them wisely and restrainedly.
December 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The American military-industrial complex is not a significant part of the American economy; yet it provides fairly powerful advantages to American policy; the means are there; it is important to use them wisely and restrainedly.
It should be added that the transfer of technology from the USA benefited Soviet military development; which was only hindered by the paranoid Soviet leadership.
December 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It should be added that the transfer of technology from the USA benefited Soviet military development; which was only hindered by the paranoid Soviet leadership.
Soviet industrial production was comparable to Japan's, a string of islands without significant natural resources; even the Japanese colony of Korea didn't have God knows what to offer. Now its southern part is doing quite well.
December 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Soviet industrial production was comparable to Japan's, a string of islands without significant natural resources; even the Japanese colony of Korea didn't have God knows what to offer. Now its southern part is doing quite well.
I cannot comment on the details of the Soviet space program, about which I know almost nothing; I know that, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, millions of Germans from the east rushed into western Germany; and both began as occupation zones.
December 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I cannot comment on the details of the Soviet space program, about which I know almost nothing; I know that, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, millions of Germans from the east rushed into western Germany; and both began as occupation zones.
It is inevitable that the USA engaged in subversive activities in Central and Latin America, and even in some parts of Europe; in Europe, however, the result is a peaceful, prosperous continent, so peaceful that it has forgotten about its own defense.
December 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It is inevitable that the USA engaged in subversive activities in Central and Latin America, and even in some parts of Europe; in Europe, however, the result is a peaceful, prosperous continent, so peaceful that it has forgotten about its own defense.
Here, a more interesting question arises as the ending point of the powers' actions: with the USSR, there is no country that didn't eagerly await the removal of Soviet influence; with American allies, things are nevertheless somewhat different.
December 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Here, a more interesting question arises as the ending point of the powers' actions: with the USSR, there is no country that didn't eagerly await the removal of Soviet influence; with American allies, things are nevertheless somewhat different.
Even after 2022, the increase in European conventional forces is proceeding slowly; the mentioned countries do not challenge either Russian sovereignty or the territorial integrity of the Russian state. As recently as yesterday, they were cooperating with the Russian military-industrial complex.
December 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Even after 2022, the increase in European conventional forces is proceeding slowly; the mentioned countries do not challenge either Russian sovereignty or the territorial integrity of the Russian state. As recently as yesterday, they were cooperating with the Russian military-industrial complex.
NATO that existed between 1991 and the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine was largely demilitarized in Europe; the German, French, British, or Italian armed forces are far smaller than before and pose no threat to Russia; same applies to the countries of Central, E, and SE Europe.
December 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
NATO that existed between 1991 and the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine was largely demilitarized in Europe; the German, French, British, or Italian armed forces are far smaller than before and pose no threat to Russia; same applies to the countries of Central, E, and SE Europe.
It is well known that the USSR at that time pursued an entirely peace-loving policy, did not carry out coups in neighboring countries, used the army to suppress political dissent in 'allied countries,' and even conducted open subversive and aggressive operations.
December 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM
It is well known that the USSR at that time pursued an entirely peace-loving policy, did not carry out coups in neighboring countries, used the army to suppress political dissent in 'allied countries,' and even conducted open subversive and aggressive operations.
Enormous funds for medical research are also allocated in the EU, Australia, Japan, and even China; America should allocate additional funds so as not to lose its advantage in biochemical research.
December 13, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Enormous funds for medical research are also allocated in the EU, Australia, Japan, and even China; America should allocate additional funds so as not to lose its advantage in biochemical research.
This does not justify reducing expenditures on medical research; however, problems should not be invented where they do not exist.
December 13, 2025 at 8:57 AM
This does not justify reducing expenditures on medical research; however, problems should not be invented where they do not exist.
Americans do not live in poverty; on the contrary, Americans are among the richest people in the world, and among those who allocate enormous funds for medical services, even if only for a marginal extension of life.
December 13, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Americans do not live in poverty; on the contrary, Americans are among the richest people in the world, and among those who allocate enormous funds for medical services, even if only for a marginal extension of life.
That is probably one of Europe’s problems; domestic demand is too weak to absorb additional productive labor.
December 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
That is probably one of Europe’s problems; domestic demand is too weak to absorb additional productive labor.