Posts Tagged ‘russia’
Put down your iPhone/Droid/whatever
It’s late. You’re up. You’re sort of halfway through the last week of classes so let’s just continue forward…
Payphones?: They still exist, and NYC is holding a contest for a redesign. Final submissions are due mid-February, so you better get started. Our money is on the inevitable person who sends in a prototype for a “cell phone” or whatever that is.
Beginning of a beautiful friendship: Disney has decided to nix a deal with Starz and instead allow its movies to stream on Netflix. We’ll try to restrain ourselves from listing the best options when they become available, but as you may have noticed, we’re a little fond of “Best of Netflix” lists. For this, we apologize. Like you, we just want an excuse to waste time browsing all the movies and TV shows ever. More »
They’ve come a long way from the USSR
Andrew Hamilton, GS ’13, and Matthew Chou, CC ’14, along with other Columbia students, are wrapping up filming a documentary, “The Russian Dream,” that looks into the current complexities and shifts in Russia today, and whether or not democracy will ever (or soon) be in the cards for the country Vladimir Putin clings to so tightly from his seemingly-permanent seat at the head of Russian autocracy.
It’s a provocative and important question. Russia boasts 9 time zones, 143 million people, and 3,200 nuclear weapons—even a significant change in this massive country’s mindset would have an undeniable effect on the rest of the world.
With an initial grant from Columbia’s Harriman Institute, students from Columbia and Russia have been tirelessly interviewing member of the Russian Parliament, former U.S. Ambassadors to Russia, Russian opposition leaders, and even our very own Lee Bollinger. Now all they need is more funding to complete editing before the film is released this fall.
To check out a trailer, learn more, and donate, click here.
Stuff to look at instead of preparing for your 9 a.m. final
It’s late. You’re up. Orgo night has come and gone, and all that lays before us are finals. To all those who have 9 a.m. finals in several hours (myself included), good luck! I won’t even bother telling you to go to bed—I probably won’t. Now, some diversions.
Actual News
Russia: Russia’s top military official, Nikolai Makarov, announced today that if the United States goes ahead with a plan to build a missile shield, Russia will start a pre-emptive strike on NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe.
Gingrich: Even though he suspended his campagin on Wednesday, Newt Gingrich is still insisting that Romney was not truthful during the primaries. However, he says he will still support him as the Republican candidate since he is the best option. More »