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Article Archive for Year 2009

A treaty for our time?
3/11/09 – 20:13 | No Comment
A treaty for our time?

The Lisbon treaty has become an almost mythical document which has had the power to defeat whole states.

To some it is the natural evolution of a system which created by the member states has simply become to unwieldy to operate correctly. It’s a correctional document to allow the system to function better, to better state what is EU responsibility and to better provide a single voice to the EU outside of the Union which the world needs.

Russian President says “Nothing can be valued above human life”
30/10/09 – 14:00 | No Comment

Understanding the Russian mind is something that has confused learned men for centuries.

For many who have watched Russian politics and society over the past few years may have been alarmed at the rehabilitation of Soviet leader Stalin by politicians and state run TV and newspapers.

Trotsky: A Biography
11/10/09 – 10:16 | No Comment
Trotsky: A Biography

We’ve been long time fans of Robert Service’s work here at EL and the latest in a trilogy of biographies is about to hit the shelf. Trotsky has been a few years in he making following on from the excellent Lenin and Stalin books, each having a 4 year gap between them.

Strings of Autumn Festival
23/9/09 – 07:00 | No Comment
Strings of Autumn Festival

There are a few good concert festival seasons in Europe. The BBC Proms in London during the summer is one of the best.

The later part of the year, however, belongs to the Strings of Autumn festival in Prague.

Adidas and Puma end 60-year family feud with football match
21/9/09 – 22:46 | No Comment
Adidas and Puma end 60-year family feud with football match

It would seem the rivalry between the German sportswear providers Adidas an Puma was brought onto the football field today in a friendly match to heal the wounds of an historical rift between the two firms founded as a single family business and then split between two rival brothers.

European Train Travel
20/9/09 – 13:24 | No Comment
European Train Travel

There’s not much to love about the mystique of train travel across unknown lands, soaking in the atmosphere, enjoying conversation with new people and sharing a meal while watching the countryside zip by.

Berlin by Taschen
11/9/09 – 06:00 | No Comment
Berlin by Taschen

It would seem wonderful photo books are coming our way quite often now and this is clearly the best we’ve had so far.

New cameras from Leica!
9/9/09 – 22:37 | No Comment
New cameras from Leica!

Leica isn’t a firm which releases new models often. It’s usually content to sit on the fringe of the camera owning crowds with a dedicated and fearlessly loyal bunch of users and with much …

Eugène Atget – Paris
6/9/09 – 19:29 | No Comment
Eugène Atget – Paris

Eugène’s photography collection of Paris is an absolute gem. This title came to us only today, although to be fair it’s been out a little while. Thank the stars for second hand book …

Off The Wall
5/9/09 – 20:19 | No Comment
Off The Wall

As soon as you post one DDR story, more seem to pop out of the woodwork.

Goodbye to incandescent light bulbs
2/9/09 – 22:24 | No Comment
Goodbye to incandescent light bulbs

This one has been a long time coming, but as usual there are always some ostriches around with their heads in the sand suddenly surprised by the news.  This time its the EU wide ban on the old fashioned incandescent light bulbs that have lit our homes for a few generations but are hopelessly inefficient, and expensive to keep replacing.

DDR Nostalgia
29/8/09 – 17:29 | No Comment
DDR Nostalgia

Ah…it seems nostalgic sites seem to be coming to EL quite often now.