Jeff
@jeffbell.bsky.social
Into Central Asia, democracy, (anti-)kleptocracy, bikes, urbanism, and a touch of tech.
He/Him/Он/El
English/Russian/working on Spanish
Not here to take myself too seriously. Opinions are my own.
He/Him/Он/El
English/Russian/working on Spanish
Not here to take myself too seriously. Opinions are my own.
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Got some new (to me) gear today (trailer) for a great deal and I’m pretty pumped about it.
May 4, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Got some new (to me) gear today (trailer) for a great deal and I’m pretty pumped about it.
Rode 12 miles / 19 km to work this morning in 11 Fahrenheit/ -11 Celsius. Kept everything warm except for my toes, but all that flesh remains alive and attached to my feet. 🥶
January 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Rode 12 miles / 19 km to work this morning in 11 Fahrenheit/ -11 Celsius. Kept everything warm except for my toes, but all that flesh remains alive and attached to my feet. 🥶
To fix the climate, one must face kleptocratic politics head-on. Selective application of the law is one reason why. #Kazakhstan
December 24, 2024 at 12:38 AM
To fix the climate, one must face kleptocratic politics head-on. Selective application of the law is one reason why. #Kazakhstan
First sub-freezing (25 F / -4 C) ride of the year. Fortunately, it was just the two miles to the metro station, as I don’t know if I’m emotionally prepared prepared for this yet.
December 2, 2024 at 1:34 PM
First sub-freezing (25 F / -4 C) ride of the year. Fortunately, it was just the two miles to the metro station, as I don’t know if I’m emotionally prepared prepared for this yet.
Definitely get the Palma 2 if you invest! I’m envious of the finger print reader. Any friction that can be eliminated between me and what I’m reading is ideal.
If you go for it, the pro move is installing Niagara Launcher to keep things really minimal and focuses.
If you go for it, the pro move is installing Niagara Launcher to keep things really minimal and focuses.
November 24, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Definitely get the Palma 2 if you invest! I’m envious of the finger print reader. Any friction that can be eliminated between me and what I’m reading is ideal.
If you go for it, the pro move is installing Niagara Launcher to keep things really minimal and focuses.
If you go for it, the pro move is installing Niagara Launcher to keep things really minimal and focuses.
Finished reading: Villa and Zapata by Frank McLynn 📚
I’d previously listened to the excellent Revolutions Podcast series on the Mexican Revolution, which peaked my interest in learning more.
I was fascinated to learn more about the co... https://jeffbell.blog/2024/11/23/finished-reading-villa.html
I’d previously listened to the excellent Revolutions Podcast series on the Mexican Revolution, which peaked my interest in learning more.
I was fascinated to learn more about the co... https://jeffbell.blog/2024/11/23/finished-reading-villa.html
November 23, 2024 at 8:25 PM
Finished reading: Villa and Zapata by Frank McLynn 📚
I’d previously listened to the excellent Revolutions Podcast series on the Mexican Revolution, which peaked my interest in learning more.
I was fascinated to learn more about the co... https://jeffbell.blog/2024/11/23/finished-reading-villa.html
I’d previously listened to the excellent Revolutions Podcast series on the Mexican Revolution, which peaked my interest in learning more.
I was fascinated to learn more about the co... https://jeffbell.blog/2024/11/23/finished-reading-villa.html
I also liked this framing from Mariya Lobacheva about how oil and gas investment has caused uneven growth between the capital cities and the regions in Kazakhstan. This has caused a lot of the consternation that reared its head in January 2022.
www.icij.org/investigatio...
www.icij.org/investigatio...
November 23, 2024 at 7:47 PM
I also liked this framing from Mariya Lobacheva about how oil and gas investment has caused uneven growth between the capital cities and the regions in Kazakhstan. This has caused a lot of the consternation that reared its head in January 2022.
www.icij.org/investigatio...
www.icij.org/investigatio...
It also did a great job explaining how Kazakhstan’s contemporary kleptocratic regime is in many ways a product of indiscretion from Western oil and gas companies in the 90’s and 2000s. Great to see @leilaseiitbek.bsky.social quoted.
www.icij.org/investigatio...
www.icij.org/investigatio...
November 23, 2024 at 7:47 PM
It also did a great job explaining how Kazakhstan’s contemporary kleptocratic regime is in many ways a product of indiscretion from Western oil and gas companies in the 90’s and 2000s. Great to see @leilaseiitbek.bsky.social quoted.
www.icij.org/investigatio...
www.icij.org/investigatio...
The investigation did a great job explaining how CPC, a joint venture partially owned by Western governments, continues to makes regular payments to the Russian government. www.icij.org/investigatio...
November 23, 2024 at 7:47 PM
The investigation did a great job explaining how CPC, a joint venture partially owned by Western governments, continues to makes regular payments to the Russian government. www.icij.org/investigatio...
Nope. It was made by refugees orphaned in the Armenian genocide and purchased in LA by my great grandparents.
November 23, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Nope. It was made by refugees orphaned in the Armenian genocide and purchased in LA by my great grandparents.
The rules are that you have to drink your coffee out of your Qazaq Republic mug while reading @icij.org’s new investigation on the CPC pipeline and Kazakhstan.
https://www.icij.org/investigations/caspian-cabals/kazakhstan-caspian-oil-pipeline-russia-chevron/
https://www.icij.org/investigations/caspian-cabals/kazakhstan-caspian-oil-pipeline-russia-chevron/
November 23, 2024 at 2:30 PM
The rules are that you have to drink your coffee out of your Qazaq Republic mug while reading @icij.org’s new investigation on the CPC pipeline and Kazakhstan.
https://www.icij.org/investigations/caspian-cabals/kazakhstan-caspian-oil-pipeline-russia-chevron/
https://www.icij.org/investigations/caspian-cabals/kazakhstan-caspian-oil-pipeline-russia-chevron/
I had a free day because of the way my flights worked out, so I took the train from Frankfurt to check out rainy Heidelberg.
November 18, 2024 at 5:10 PM
I had a free day because of the way my flights worked out, so I took the train from Frankfurt to check out rainy Heidelberg.
If you didn’t take a selfie with the train, did you even ride it?
November 17, 2024 at 11:11 AM
If you didn’t take a selfie with the train, did you even ride it?
Just look at this train though.
November 17, 2024 at 7:54 AM
Just look at this train though.
Always thrilled by the train frequency at European train stations. This is Brussels-Nord - just one major inter city train station here in Brussels.
November 17, 2024 at 7:25 AM
Always thrilled by the train frequency at European train stations. This is Brussels-Nord - just one major inter city train station here in Brussels.
Anyways, here’s (almost) everywhere I biked on my first trip here. Nowhere remotely close to exhaustive, but it was fun.
November 13, 2024 at 11:27 PM
Anyways, here’s (almost) everywhere I biked on my first trip here. Nowhere remotely close to exhaustive, but it was fun.