Monthly Archives: June 2009

Responses to common Russophobe “Arguments”

Posted on June 28, 2009 by AK

At certain venues, “Russophiles” take a lot of flak for holding the beliefs and worldviews that they do. Many of their “arguments” can be predicted in advance based on prior experience. I’ve compiled a list of quick rebuttals to some … Continue reading →

Posted in Da Russophile | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Notes on “The Olduvai Theory” (R. Duncan)

Posted on June 28, 2009 by AK

Duncan, Richard – The Olduvai Theory Energy, Population, and Industrial Civilization (2006) Category: collapse, dieoff, resource depletion; Rating: 2/5 This is a summary of a classic “doomer” theory amongst students of world energy and ecological trends, which predicts that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Dilemmas of Global Dimming

Posted on June 28, 2009 by AK

Not only is global warming a real and present threat that may yet in conjunction with impending energy shortages doom industrial civilization, it may have even been dangerously underestimated. What have you been smoking!?, you might say to me. Get … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Notes on “The Last Generation” (F. Pearce)

Posted on June 25, 2009 by AK

Pearce, Fred – The Last Generation: How Nature will take her Revenge for Climate Change (2008) PDF Category: global warming; Rating: 5/5 Summary: Amazon reviews Another excellent book on climate change that goes beyond the conservative conclusions of the IPCC … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Manipulating Russia’s Manipulation of History

Posted on June 23, 2009 by AK

This is a summary of my views on the controversy surrounding the “Stalinist” Russian history textbooks, with the translation of the most offending chapter in question given here. This was originally published at Johnson’s Russia List. Manipulating Russia’s Manipulation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Da Russophile | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Approach of the New Persian Empire

Posted on June 18, 2009 by AK

With the recent election of the controversial (to put it mildly) Ahmadinejad to the Iranian Presidency, it is time to look at what this portends for the future of Iran and the Middle East region in general. The first question … Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee House, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Blogging in WP

Posted on June 16, 2009 by AK

(This is re-posted from a page of the same name on Sublime Oblivion.) Since I’ve used WordPress (WP) for quite a while now, perhaps I’m now competent enough to give some advice for would be (and current!) bloggers interested in … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Through the Looking Glass at Russia’s Demography

Posted on June 13, 2009 by AK

This is a succinct summary of my views on Russian demography, written about 2 months ago. Through the Looking Glass at Russia’s Demography By Anatoly Karlin In 1992, for the first time since the Great Patriotic War, deaths exceeded births, … Continue reading →

Posted in Da Russophile | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Notes on “Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet” (M. Lynas)

Posted on June 10, 2009 by AK

Lynas, Mark – Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet (2007) PDF Category: global warming, collapse; Rating: 5/5 Summary: Six Steps to Hell (Mark Lynas) 2007; Six Degrees Review (Real Climate) 2007; What will Climate Change do to our … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Top 10 AGW Denial Myths

Posted on June 6, 2009 by AK

I’ve long viewed the anthropogenic global warming (AGW) denial movement with a certain sense of bemusement. The causal links are rock-solid – could it really be a coincidence that atmospheric CO2 levels started rising at the very same moment as … Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee House, Sublime Oblivion | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments