Kristoffer Rees

John Waters barely looks 70. He is doing great.

'SILK MIRAGE: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan' by @joannalillis.bsky.social is out today with @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social. It's a brilliantly written account of how the country's two 21st century leaders have shaped the lives of Uzbekistan's fearless, remarkable people. Order it here ⬇️

Ohio this morning. Hello winter!

Only “as bad as” and not “worse”? I feel like for PoliSci anyways, “as bad as” would be good news.

I like when the camera does weird things with the exposure so the bottom looks nearly black and white while the top is awash in color.

Ventana Canyon Trail. Recommended.

Photo through an airplane window of a VERY flat and boring and non-mountainous landscape. Pretty blue sky tho.

“Huh, I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this” @ Denver International Airport.

This is all super helpful! Thank you!

Real question - our little one wants us to plant an apple tree, and I was waiting until spring. Is fall the more appropriate time?

The khinkali and khachapuri look delicious!

Surprisingly, my child made it to level 9 of the game she invented, forced me to play, and didn’t share the rules for, whereas I only made it, apparently, to level 4. 🤷

Why Area Studies Matters (opinion) If we are to save area studies programs, it will fall to universities to recognize their value, Amanda Lanzillo writes.

In @insidehighered.com I explore how area studies have positively reshaped the humanities & social sciences in the US since the 1950s. Their loss would impoverish knowledge production across our universities, and our universities must step up to defend them.

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Wow. 20 years ago this month I left Bishkek after two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer and another year working various jobs, to enroll as a graduate student at Indiana University. I’ve been with IU ever since: graduate student, teaching fellow, tenured regional campus faculty, and now staff.

Same situation with our annual assessment conference that was held in DC this spring. Totally reasonable decision imo.

Promised lush waterfall.

Disappointing rocky outcropping.

Totally duped by the false advertising.

I picked up a friend’s 18 month old after 4 years of all the picking up duties that have come along with our four year old, and nearly launched them into orbit, based on the assumption that “small human = weight of my small human”.

🗽-bound

I feel similarly - I’ve lived in Dayton now for ~8 years and I’ve made zero friends. Perhaps for lack
of trying but I don’t even know how to start. It’s rough out there- especially so since working from home means no natural chance to interact with colleagues outside of work. Alas, and good luck.

Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan A new generation is questioning the privileged place of the Russian language in public education and everyday life – while still grappling with its utility, legacy, and political weight.

Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan
In the latest issue of @thediplomat.com , I talk to UZB's Gen Z about the russian language in the country

thediplomat.com/2025/06/russ...

Ocean shore, Manzanita Oregon

Recharging.

It will likely be back. All IU websites have been down/weird over the last week. Apparently they are transitioning to a new backend service.

Wait until I tell you that I now live in Ohio, a whole trifecta of states that are easy to make fun of haha.

You do know I spent my formative years and graduated from high school in Idaho, though, right? 😅

That’s sad. I hadn’t met him, but was a reviewer of one of his more recent articles - it was an excellent article, but what also stood out was how graciously he responded to the feedback I (and the other reviewers) provided.

I’d like to be added to polisky too if possible?