Article Archive for Year 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.