tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71724299401189491002024-02-07T13:38:19.507-08:00thoughts on the roadObservations of an American journalist in Azerbaijan, Russia and USA.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670952264797321717noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-52537595569438824972012-01-12T11:48:00.000-08:002012-01-12T11:48:33.442-08:00Media ownership concentration: A threat to democratic discourse<a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/12/ex_fcc_commissioner_michael_copps_on#.Tw844xc1HBY.blogger">Ex-FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on Media Consolidation, Broadband Expansion, Threats to Journalism</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-47547239249589712462011-11-30T08:12:00.001-08:002011-11-30T08:13:59.474-08:00Interesting Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/rick-perry-disagreeable-federal-workers-would-be-reassigned-to-some-really-god-awful-place-video/2011/11/30/gIQAtQceCO_blog.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost">article</a> today. Remind me again why anyone should vote for this guy. Do we want a president an avowed policy of hostility toward civil servants who differ with him philosophically?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-39201122037900782952011-11-30T08:08:00.001-08:002011-11-30T08:09:17.336-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2sl7JGn8UA/TtZU2jZP1GI/AAAAAAAABH4/TaNharD8zno/s1600/morning%2Bprotest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2sl7JGn8UA/TtZU2jZP1GI/AAAAAAAABH4/TaNharD8zno/s320/morning%2Bprotest.jpg" /></a></div>
Protestors may no longer be sleeping in Zuccotti Park, but they have not left the city. This morning, I heard the helicopter first. I gave it no thought. A traffic helicopter, I thought. Then, I heard faint chants - the "hey, hey...." rhythm. Something has got to go. That's the way the ubiquitous chant goes. I opened the window - and sure enough, the protestors were down the street protesting at the Credit Suisse building. I decided to get my laundry chore done & investigate the scene on my errand. The protestors, it turned out, were objecting to the 17th Annual Aerospace & Defense Financing Conference being held in the building. As a hand-out put it: "The CEOs of 30 A&D corporations are pitching business investment plans to Wall Street executives. Pentagon speakers will assure CEOs and investors that budgets will be cut for the 99% but that profits will continue for the military-industrial complex and the 1%." In other protest news, the students at Baruch College rallied again on Monday. Here's the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjQ5RpGcYXM">video</a> I made of that event.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-57399435142587673372011-11-19T05:13:00.001-08:002011-11-19T05:14:17.936-08:00Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN7jyVR-11Q">little video</a> I made the other day about the events in Union Square and about the events in New York City in general on November 17, the international "occupy" day. The park has been cleared - but the idea is still strong - and the movement is growing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-90577211906202204442011-11-15T21:34:00.001-08:002011-11-15T21:34:12.932-08:00The New York Scene TodayHere's a <a href="The scene today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ye_knK3gnk">video</a> I shot of the events surrounding the eviction of protestors in Zuccotti Park.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-46302252731614088272011-11-15T03:41:00.001-08:002011-11-15T03:42:10.060-08:00The NYPD cleared <a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/occupy-movement-could-declare-victory-and-scale-back-camps-founder-suggests/">Zuccotti Park</a> early this morning. I'm thinking of heading down there soon - people are gathering at 6th and Canal - to hold a general assembly and figure out the next plan.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pFNGTVYpY">Here</a> is the last video I shot of the protest encampment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-88946366644354153342011-10-23T17:44:00.000-07:002011-10-23T17:44:43.250-07:00Revealed – the capitalist network that runs the world - physics-math - 19 October 2011 - New Scientist<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228354.500-revealed--the-capitalist-network-that-runs-the-world.html">Revealed – the capitalist network that runs the world - physics-math - 19 October 2011 - New Scientist</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-5739455522239824362011-04-26T12:02:00.000-07:002011-04-26T12:03:33.380-07:00AwakeningIt's been awhile since I've written here. Haven't been traveling much. That will change soon. <br /><br />Anyway, in the meantime, here is a <a href="http://killingmother.blogspot.com/">blog </a>I found today - from someone also living in the Appalachian Mountains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-22036776169654591652011-04-02T20:16:00.000-07:002011-04-02T20:19:48.804-07:00Take the moon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aj9ABJdMPhY/TZfnQdQD16I/AAAAAAAAAZI/IUMtLzFSU8w/s1600/moon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 118px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aj9ABJdMPhY/TZfnQdQD16I/AAAAAAAAAZI/IUMtLzFSU8w/s320/moon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591191732319672226" /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-53183623402202874742010-12-12T06:01:00.000-08:002010-12-12T06:03:49.339-08:00Emin Abdullayev (Emin Milli) və Adnan Hajızadə questionsDid you follow the case of Emin and Adnan when they were imprisoned? Did you advocate for them in some way. If so, I'm very interested in your opinions a out the value of new media forms like Facebook, blogs, and YouTube. Please take a moment to answer my <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5VMH3XV">survey</a>.<br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-19156886009289568832010-12-03T19:02:00.000-08:002010-12-03T19:02:26.589-08:00The Limbaugh/Beck/Palin Tax Cuts<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-laQ0uvnl5M?fs=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-28110486126020025522010-11-26T11:41:00.001-08:002010-11-26T11:55:32.981-08:00Seeking your opinions!If you have been following the case of the imprisoned bloggers in Azerbaijan, you probably know that they were released a little more than a week ago. First, Emin Milli was released. A few days later, Adnan Hacizade was released. <br /><br />Of course, this can be interpreted as a cynical move by the government of Azerbaijan, occurring shortly after an election that was widely condemned as grossly unfair. <br /><br />At the moment, I am collecting information on the use of "social" or "new media" in the effort to free Emin and Adnan. I am very interested in the opinions of all people who followed this case. If this is you, please fill out this <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5VMH3XV">survey</a>. Если более удобно читать по-русски, вот р<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QNDZHTG">усский вариант</a>. Azerbaijani? <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QL7FKZ2">Here you are!</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-4936972932787509112010-11-23T19:02:00.000-08:002010-11-23T19:04:42.751-08:00Emin Abdullayev (Emin Milli) və Adnan HajızadəZəhmət olmasa <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QL7FKZ2">aşağıdakı suallara düzgün və dəqiq cavab</a> verin. Təşəkkür edirəm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-58624759997373606692010-11-23T04:31:00.000-08:002010-11-23T04:31:28.032-08:00No impediments to committing violence against journalists in RussiaCertainly, we can't wait for the authorities of Russia to solve any crimes against journalists. They care less about these crimes than they do about the crimes against ordinary citizens. And they don't care very much about those either. <br /><a href="http://www.tol.org/client/article/21967-fish-in-a-barrel.html?utm_source=TOL+mailing+list&utm_campaign=6418775f0b-TOL_newsletter11_22_2010&utm_medium=email">Fish in a Barrel - Transitions Online</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-47252835292458806432010-11-04T07:12:00.000-07:002010-11-04T07:34:14.574-07:00Moving forwardWhile I empathize with the palpable anger of Tim Wise's post-election <a href="http://www.timwise.org/2010/11/an-open-letter-to-the-white-right-on-the-occasion-of-your-recent-successful-temper-tantrum/">piece</a>, I think anger is not in itself a fruitful emotion and does not need to be cultivated. I am more interested in finding a path on which this country can move forward toward greater democracy, and away from the political, social, and economic dead end to which it seems to be sliding. <br /><br />Furthermore, by focusing on just the "old, rich white guys," White dangerously oversimplifies the situation. Yes, opposition to the Democrats came from them - but it was not just from them. It is more useful to systematically analyze the causes of the losses this week, determining what Democrats can and cannot affect. <br /><br />1. Racism.<br />I agree that part of this election was just pure racist reaction. You will never get the Right to acknowledge this fact, and that's OK. Very few people will openly acknowledge that they are racist. It's not a good political strategy. While progressives might have some very marginal impact on affecting opinions in this area, the reality is that racism is a stubborn phenomenon, and change occurs over generations, not over the course of a couple of years. <br /><br />2. Youth disengagement.<br />According to CIRCLE, a non-partisan group that researches political engagement of Americans between the ages of 15-25, young voters preferred Obama to McCain by 68 to 30 percent, the highest percentage received by any candidate since reporting by age began in 1976. But this time - the turnout was 20.4 percent, 2.4 percent lower than that 2006 midterm, when 10 million young people voted. That means about 1 million fewer young people voted this year. You might say - "only one million," but remember that many of the victories won by conservatives were quite close.<br /><br />Reaching this age group requires new thinking and better research. These are potential voters who grew up under G.W. Bush. For many, "9-11" is the most formative political/social event. They are technologically savvy, but often quite ignorant of history. (I teach at a university, so I have some informed opinions in this area.) They are liberal on social issues such as gay marriage, but almost libertarian in their views about the ineffectiveness of government. And, of course, they are the future. Any successful political strategy must include really listening to their concerns. Personally, I am convinced that there is much commonality between these young voters and the progressive wing of the Democratic party, more commonality than exists between them and the Tea Party/Republican Party. But in order to find and develop that commonality, we need to listen with humility to their hopes and concerns. <br /><br />3. Bought elections<br />In some cases, the crystal balls read by analysts in the media are quite accurate. As predicted, the Citizens United case decided by the US Supreme Court earlier this year had a huge impact on the level of funding by outside groups in this election. The liberals were outspent by conservatives by nearly 2-1. Just because liberals were outspent does not mean that the liberal agenda was unpopular in general. It means that it was unpopular with rich people. Rich people, as we know, are a small minority in this country but they own an increasing share of the wealth. Meaningful campaign reform is needed if this country is to develop democratically, but the Supreme Court seems dead set against allowing campaign reform to proceed, even if Congress could find the guts to tackle the issue - an extremely unlikely event. <br /><br />Unless Democrats are going to abandon all elements that differentiate them from Republicans, they will never be able to match the support that Republicans receive from rich people. But if Republicans are rich in money, then the Democrats might be able to beat them by sheer mobilization efforts. This is difficult, but perhaps it is the only way forward - to build a popular democracy with strong grass-roots organizing. Even this will be opposed by the right-wing, because they know it is threatening. Witness the vicious opposition that groups such as ACORN have faced. Nonetheless, this is an essential element if we are to preserve what is left of democracy in this country. <br /><br />4. Economic problems<br />Obviously, economic problems played a critical role in the overall voter anger that caused so many voters to choose Republicans on Tuesday. The fact that the Republicans presented no firm solutions to the economic woes didn't matter. Voters were angry. We would like to think that the economic problems will improve, but in fact the Republican triumph may make that less likely. Many of the extreme Republicans criticize all efforts to stimulate the economy. It is naive to think that things can't get worse. <br /><br />It is necessary for progressives to persistently make the case that following the policies that got us into this economic situation are not likely to get us out of it. Tax breaks for the rich will increasingly burden the federal budget deficit, but they will not stimulate the economy. Their utility was questionable in the best of times; now, such tax breaks are simply unaffordable. <br /><br />Conservatives will scream "class warfare!" - but the reality is that class warfare has been ongoing for the last three decades - and the poor and middle-class people are losing. Democrats - in their willingness to be "Republicans-lite," have been timid in pointing out the fact the rich are reaping rich rewards from the policies of Republicans, while the economic status of the country as a whole deteriorates. Progressives have to be loud and proud in pointing out the injustice of the current economic system. Yes, the system should reward effort and merit, but the rich getting richer now are not profiting from their virtue but rather from their connections and inherited wealth. <br /><br />5. Corrupt Media <br />The media system is deeply corrupt. One of the largest "news" operations in the country is run by a former Republican media consultant. FOX News is completely honest about its bias, and yet for some reason it continues to be trusted source of information for millions. FOX News, of course, is not the only partisan source. MSNBC occupies the left side of the spectrum. Because of technological changes, greater partisan divides are predictable. The mass media, however, are changing rapidly, and a successful political strategy should consider this fact.<br /><br />On one hand, according to Nielsen research in 2009, Americans watched 1.9 percent more television last year than the year previous. But there was more than 50 percent increase of Americans watching television on the Internet. (Think about this when you consider the battles that are being fought over Net Neutrality. These are not abstract technical issues. If large cable/media companies are allowed to charge preferential rates for content, what you see on the Internet could be restricted.) While television watching increases slightly, the time spent with social media is increasing dramatically. According to one piece of research, the time spent on iSOS media now rivals that spent on Sunday night football. <br /><br />What does all this mean for progressives? There is great potential in reaching young people, if we take the initiative in listening to them and addressing their concerns. There are huge opportunities is we aggressively champion the cause of the people who have been steadily losing economic ground and hope for the last 30 years. There is great potential if we aggressively organize minorities who will face even more racism as the Tea Party/Republican Party becomes ascendent.<br /><br />Hope is an essential element to the progressive philosophy. We focus on the best in our fellow citizens, looking to the future, looking for potential in challenging situations. This is one such situation. Anger is a understandable, but we should not indulge in it. Let's focus now on what we can change - because moving forward is still possible. The only losers are those people who stop trying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-14561435594841405672010-11-03T03:52:00.001-07:002010-11-03T03:53:50.219-07:00Post-election thoughtsAs I look at the results of the election this morning, it's clear to me that the Democrats responded to late with too little force. From the first "tea parties" last year, the party should have been out in force, organizing the disenfranchised. The Democrats have a choice: Will they be the party of justice and equality, standing up for the disenfranchised- or will they be a different flavor of Republican. They can't win on Republican turf. This election is proof of it. They need to organize around the principle of economic justice for all. This means being open about priorities. The Republicans will call it "class warfare." I prefer to call it justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-71183417234866698262010-10-28T04:14:00.000-07:002010-10-28T04:57:59.516-07:00Post-election thoughtsFrankly, the news about the current election has been deeply disturbing. The change that was promised has not occurred fast enough or easily enough for a large number of people, and so they are shifting their alliances, a shift that endangers whatever progress has been made over the course of the Obama administration.<br /><br />As I was reading the paper today, I came across an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/technology/28compute.html?nl=&emc=a1">article</a> on the front page of the New York Times. The article about the new supercomputer in China is disturbing on one level, although I have faith that the greatest strength of the United States lies in whatever is left of its democracy, rather than in its technological prowess. <br /><br />That said, it struck me that there could be advantages in taking an extremely competitive approach toward this challenge from China. As JFK took office, Washington focused on the Soviet Union, and the advantage that the USSR was gaining in space technology. As we now know, some of the "missile gap" was really non-existent, yet it provided a focus for JFK's agenda. Our own space program was in large part a response to this perceived threat from the USSR. With the space program, the US gained national pride, scientific prestige and a technological edge. The long list of innovations and advances that came from the space program includes items such as aircraft controls, microcomputers, virtual reality, athletic shoes and even enriched baby food. <br /><br />But the space program and these fruits would not have occurred if the project were framed in purely scientific terms. The US needed an enemy, some foe that threatened us on a profound level, in order to mobilize and support such a broad program.<br /><br />If the current president took a similarly competitive approach toward China, it could benefit him politically and help the nation as a whole. While I am personally not very competitive, I think the US culture is. We need a foe. But not any foe will do. Since the end of the Cold War, we have faced foes that are amorphous and not really worthy of a superpower. You can find them in the movies of Bruce Willis or any other action hero. Drug lords and terrorists. How do we combat such enemies? Response to such threats requires police actions, not broadly organized efforts.<br /><br />Really facing the threat from China would require a broad effort to completely streamline our education system. At the moment, a large number of high school graduates are math illiterate. That would have to change, beginning with rigorous math education in the lower grades. In institutions of higher learning, the focus would be on regaining the technical edge that we had in this area at one time. In this atmosphere of shared sacrifice, the hedonism that afflicts our society would become less socially acceptable. <br /><br />All this would require funding at a time when the opposition complains about the size of the debt (largely run up by the previous president). This funding will be impossible to obtain unless the need is framed in terms of a national emergency. When World War II began, notions of balanced budgets were thrown out the window. While I think the program to repair the nation's infrastructure is important and long overdue, it does not have the psychological impact of making sacrifices because of an existential battle. It is such a battle that could revive this country and the political fortunes of Mr. Obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-24804823976437022642010-10-20T13:09:00.000-07:002010-10-20T13:09:43.735-07:00Government for sale<object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/xmYGKRKW_10/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xmYGKRKW_10?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xmYGKRKW_10?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br />It's good that the Democrats are making this point. I hope that it is effective - and I hope that after the election the continuing attention is paid to taking the money out of the US election system, because it is becoming completely corrupted!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-91175976623382259872010-10-04T03:11:00.000-07:002010-10-04T04:02:24.671-07:00Corporations and the future of our democracyIt is hard to get perspective on the times in which we live, but In the United States now it seems that we may be in the first stages of some strange power shift. The economic benefits conferred by corporations may be now outweighed by the political harm they cause. <br /><br />These thoughts come to mind after reading the news this morning. First, a Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/03/AR2010100303664.html?hpid=topnews">article </a>about the level of corporate spending in this year's election. Millions of dollars are being spent - much of it on misleading and outright deceptive advertising. The bulk of this advertising and money supports conservative Republican candidates. Candidates who are pledged to support policies that support wealthy people and large corporations. Because of recent Supreme Court decisions - decisions by an extremely conservative Supreme Court - the donors do not even have to reveal who they are. <br /><br />And what are these corporations doing for the nation economically? Not so much. They are profiting from government policies - sometimes from the very policies they criticize. The New York Times has an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/04borrow.html?hp">article</a> about the billions of dollars they are borrowing at rock-bottom rates, essentially sucking cash out of the economy. What are they doing with this cash? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sitting on it. Waiting for the economy to recover - so they can more profitably invest the money they have borrowed so cheaply. No one has the incentive to go out and make the gamble to spend the money first. We cannot count of private industry to help the nation in its current economic woes.<br /><br />In short, the nation's relationship with its corporations may be tipping. Corporations for roughly the last 150 years have played a dominant role in our political and economic life. And large corporations, of course, have always inflicted some harm on society. Take W.R. Grace Inc., which poisoned the populations of entire communities. Companies such as the Anaconda Copper Mining Company killed and beat workers who sought higher wages. <a href="http://www.cwrightmills.org/">C. Wright Mills</a> argued more than 50 years ago that large corporations enervated the nation's very soul. On the other hand, the corporation as a financial entity also allowed profitable investment of capital and economic development for the country as a whole. Incorporated businesses can raise money through stock sales, ideally using the capital to invest profitably and benefitting stockholders and the rest of society. But what economic development are corporations offering now? Not much. At the same time, the harm corporations inflict on our democracy is steadily growing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-20415521758954679142010-10-03T04:38:00.001-07:002010-10-03T05:29:26.206-07:00Propaganda and negotiationI am now teaching at a university. One of the classes I teach is communication ethics. It's a broad subject, and during my lectures I make use of the knowledge I have about a lot of little things. Journalism, politics, negotiations, religious philosophy . . . <br /><br />The other day, we were discussing situational ethics as they relate to communication. We were discussing the political communication in the US that has developed recently. That is to say - the sharp partisan rhetoric that has dominated discussion. I referred back to a class that I had on negotiations years ago. That for negotiations to succeed, both parties must view the other as a partner. We must make it our primary objective that the bargaining partner also be satisfied with the negotiations. If we do not, we will be trapped in zero-sum adversarial negotiations.<br /><br />One aspect of this approach is that rhetoric is important. Feelings are important. If I am insulting you, I am not creating an environment conducive to negotiation. <br /><br />So, this is what we have in the United States. Hateful <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093005267_2.html?hpid=opinionsbox1&sid=ST2010093005292">rhetoric</a> that makes negotiation nearly impossible. Why is this being used? Because the people propagating it have no real interest in negotiation. How can we respond to such rhetoric? <br /><br />Personally, I hope to God that the better aspect of people will eventually reject hatred and those who sow hatred will fail in their objectives. But I am really not sure if this will happen before many people are hurt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-61492019117762064272010-09-16T19:28:00.000-07:002010-09-16T19:28:50.271-07:00How are oil revenues spent in Azerbaijan? - 2nd video investigation<object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/hnTz6yegVqE/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hnTz6yegVqE?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hnTz6yegVqE?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-71892155855547765072010-09-16T15:41:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:41:37.644-07:00Юрий Шевчук - Это все...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPohYkQyN-0?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPohYkQyN-0?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-48677021160705102802010-08-27T11:10:00.000-07:002010-08-27T11:12:30.240-07:00Real life for women in the countrysideRFE/RL recently posted a find <a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/In_One_Azerbaijan_Village_Carrying_Water_Is_Womens_Work/2139586.html">article</a> on the reality of village life for most Azerbaijani women. It fit with what I saw when I was traveling around that country a couple of years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-36599440419213284832010-08-15T03:39:00.000-07:002010-08-15T03:41:02.163-07:00Governance as a family businessHere's an excellent <a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/Aliyevs_Azerbaijani_Empire_Grows_As_Daughter_Joins_The_Game/2127137.html">article</a> from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Aliyev family is essentially shameless as it methodically wrings profit from Azerbaijan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172429940118949100.post-67331214372790000442010-08-12T11:11:00.000-07:002010-08-12T11:12:18.275-07:00Life in Azerbaijan todayHere's a brief <a href="http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2291&Itemid=48">clip</a> that sums up the situation in Azerbaijan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0