Tolstoy's "Strider" (Kholstomer) is told from the perspective of a horse; also his "Three Deaths" has the perspective of a tree! As another commenter noted, Anna Karenina, also offers an animal's perspective (Levin's dog, Laska).

Russia launches record drone and missile barrage on Ukraine [FREE TO READ] Kremlin sends more than 500 Iran-designed drones after US stopped delivery of crucial interceptors

Russia launched its largest-ever drone and missile barrage on Ukraine overnight – right after speaking by phone to Trump and two days after the US halted the delivery of some key weapons to Kyiv, including air defense missiles.
@fabricedeprez.bsky.social on.ft.com/44dDuuX

@anderlouis.bsky.social I’m excited to share your opening of War & Peace with my seminar students this fall. We devote the whole semester to War & Peace. I’m married to an Aussie and my older son has relocated to Oz. What a wonderful combination of Australia and Tolstoy you’ve created!

My mind is on Australia, where I'm headed later this week, and I stumbled across this gem. I'll be sharing this with my W&P seminar students this fall!

Russia hits Ukraine with biggest air attack of the war Assault marks sharp escalation in campaign, as Zelenskyy calls for more western help with defence systems

Russia launched the most extensive aerial bombardment of Ukraine since its full-scale invasion, signalling a sharp escalation in Moscow’s campaign and further undermining fragile hopes for a negotiated end. Ukraine’s air force said Russia had fired 537 aerial weapons...
ft.com/content/88fc...

Thank you to Riva Evstifeeva for welcoming me at the Bibliothèque russe Tourguenev. A fascinating history, dating back to the 1860s, & intertwined w/ revolutionary & feminist history & various waves of emigration. And, since today is Pushkin's bday, here she is w/ наше всё! tourguenev.fr/francais/

Doesn't say much for the current state of US politics that my mind turns to Putin vs. Khordokovsky 2003.

The consequences that befall Musk now that he's attacked Trump publicly will be a measure of how well the US fits the competitive authoritarian model. The more severe, the better the fit. I despise Musk, but for the sake of US democracy, I hope his punishment doesn't violate the rule of law.

Elon-Trump. This is like watching the Prigozhin turn against Putin - where for 24 hours we all hoped they’d mutually self-destruct, taking their henchmen , toadies and cronies down with them. A pox on both their houses.

elon probably saw trump as a puppet, the same way russian oligarchs saw yeltsin’s successor as a puppet, the same way german oligarchs saw hitler as a puppet, the same way roman oligarchs saw octavian as a puppet, the sam

This is the major professional organization for Slavists, bringing together literature scholars, historians, political scientists . . . Not that I was planning on returning to Russia under Putin, but wow. Yes, a major blow.

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour 'We're playing into Russia's hands': Ex-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine on why she resigned

The now ex-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine on why she felt compelled to resign. “Peace at any price is not peace, it’s appeasement.”
youtu.be/yNXgYg_lfAo?...

Conservatives used to talk about the internal enemy that was trying to destroy the United States from within. There is no better description of what the Trump administration is doing than that, without even an attempt at justifying their wanton destruction.

Can only be described as regime propaganda

HAPPENING NOW: Rümeysa Öztürk appears remotely for her bail hearing in Vermont federal court! 🧵

It is an understatement to call these acts of censorship and violations of academic freedom “culture wars.” The Trump administration is determining what can be taught, dictating what students can read, saying what ideas are acceptable, and disallowing inconvenient facts and texts.

I don't understand how the Times can never determine whether Trump is lying but can say with certainty when he is joking.

Blue sign with an American flag and words: "Due process for all! Justice for all!"

Blue sign with an American flag and words: "Real patriotism=Protecting the Constitution"

My sign for today's local protest: Not very creative, bit hopefully clear. I can't wait to check in this evening and see photos from around the country.

Toilet paper? Like in 2020?

If the agent of an embittered KGB officer somehow won the US presidency and entered into the office bent on destroying the USA in its national influence, network of alliances, and the American people’s quality of life, what would he be doing differently?

I want a president who is tougher on Putin than he is on Harvard.

Trump Pressures Ukraine to Accept a Peace Plan That Sharply Favors Russia (Gift Article) The U.S. proposal would freeze territory along the current front lines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Ukraine has rejected.

Shameful!!
"But the United States is essentially settling on a deal that favors the aggressor in the war, one that forces Ukraine to accept the forcible rewriting of its border and give up its hope of eventually joining NATO, as other former Soviet republics have." www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/w...

YOU: Interpreting literature has no real practical or political application! Get a real job!

SUPREME COURT: This entire political argument, and indeed our understanding of American freedoms, hinges on how we interpret fictional characters’ decision-making in a children’s picture book.

Happening right in front of us

Opinion | Trump Just Scrapped My Anti-Kremlin Streaming Platform, Votvot (Gift Article) We called it Votvot — Russian for “any minute now.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/o...

I was out there today. Affirming to see so many in my North Carolina community standing up for democracy! Seemed like most people driving by were supportive. Honking, waving, & thumbs up!

I’m not sure what sworn enemies of the United States who wanted to rapidly weaken the economy, destroy political liberties, make the U.S. a place to avoid visiting/studying/working would have done differently than what Trump/Musk/Vance and the GOP have been doing since January 20, 2025.

Russia negotiating “peace in Ukraine” with the Americans is like taking candy from a child. Trump’s administration doesn’t have a single person even 30% qualified to go up against the Russians. One look at Putin’s face says more than words ever could.

Image of apartment at 603B Cotton street in Chapel Hill; screenshot of the listing from Louise Beck Properties.

Any #UNC folks out there seeking housing: Lovely 2-bdr apt; walking distance to campus, private garage w/brand new washer & dryer, central A/C, giant covered porch. My son lived here for almost 2 years; only left because he moved out of the country. www.louisebeckproperties.com/view/603_Cot...