Studying Soviet Science
Renowned US historian of science Professor Loren Raymond Graham passed away on December 15, 2024. The late American scholar wasn’t …
Review
Simon A. Cole. “Suspect Identities”
This is a groundbreaking book by outstanding US forensic scientist. It was published in 2001 by Harvard University Press. Nowadays, …
Their Ma’am in Aqmola
As a relatively obscure country, Kazakhstan has not been a dream destination for top-notch Western reporters or experts. Therefore, our …
Alec Flegon. “A. Solzhenitsyn. Myth and Reality”
For the first time on the Internet, I publish the full text of this critical, hard-to-find work. You can freely …
Lexicography with Ideological Bias
It is a truly painstaking task to compile a dictionary. This work requires inspiration, diligence, vast knowledge, and so on. …
Who’s not Who
The International Who’s Who 2012 has been generally acclaimed as one of the most authoritative information sources in the world. …
The Second-Hand Translation
One of the most challenging enterprises in the field of intercultural dialogue is the translation of a masterpiece. Rarely, one …
Wrong Footage by the BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation has produced many excellent documentaries, enjoying both critical acclaim and commercial success. Its film Rostropovich: The …
Contacting Sagan
Famous scientist Carl Sagan’s sci-fi novel Contact (1985) is a creative study of
possibilities, which could entail an encounter with aliens. His profound knowledge of astrophysics laid a substantial foundation for the amazing plotline. Indeed, the search for extraterrestrial
intelligence, conducted by radio astronomers, is one of the most viable ways to establish communications with aliens. Diverse knowledge of Dr. Sagan, ranging from philosophy to fine arts, added
bright colors to this sci-fi narration. But, along with undisputable virtues of the novel, there …
Superficial Sources
Some encyclopedias, published in English-speaking countries, have been created with the help of international contributors
with hands-on expertise. Moreover, the encyclopedias have been compiled and printed through the professional use of modern equipment. That is why, their readers should expect a high-end product,
indeed. But, in certain respect it is not true. The sources they list at the end of entries are primarily in English. Such superficial approach doesn’t provide us with thorough knowledge.
Encyclopedia of Double Standards
Encyclopedia Britannica is one of the most authoritative reference books in the world. Its wide range of
topics and clearcut style are praiseworthy indeed. But, the encyclopedia is also characterized by a political bias in certain issues. Well, one shouldn’t object to propaganda overtones in a party
publication. However, a reference book must be guarded against such propaganda involvement. Unfortunately, editors and authors of Britannica have succumbed to a temptation of the worldly opinions.
For example, they highly appreciated a demonic Leon Trotsky, who led the Red Army …
Narrow-Minded Compilers
As a rule, leading phylosophical encyclopedias of the West have been notorious for
their arrogance towards Soviet, Latin American, and Asian thinkers. With the few exceptions like Confucius and Al-Kindi, Western experts and publishers have consistently ignored non-European
scholars. Usually their bibliography has been limited with the sources in Western languages. Their contents have been markedly imbalanced. For example, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
contains indecently verbose entries about outdated views of Pierre Abelard or an insignificant political scientist Hannah Arendt.
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Following Soviet Trends
Once again, I would like to share
useful information with cinema buffs. There are numerous examples, where Hollywood, willingly or unwillingly, followed in the footsteps of the Red Empire‘s film
directors.
«Год дракона» (Year of the Dragon
Obvious Hints of XXX
Some moviemakers, not contented with censorship restrictions, have set lurid overtones in their works. Oddly enough,
there was a certain number of films with dubious scenes, released in the Soviet Union.
Don’t Grieve comedy («Не горюй!», directed by Georgi Daneliya, produced by Mosfilm Studios and Georgian Film
Studios, 1969)contains a …
PREJUDICED RESEARCHER
Browsing through the James Trefil’s The Nature of Science, published by Houghton Mifflin
Company in 2003,gives an intellectual pleasure for the most of the time. Its wide scope of
scientific inquiry, limpid definitions of complex problems are indeed praiseworthy. However, the book usually passes over in silence great scientists outside Europe and North America. The author
has managed to …
Critical Notes on “Economics” by Paul Samuelson
This widely acclaimed textbook has made its contribution to the instruction of many economists
throughout the world. But, along with its indisputable advantages, there are also evident shortcomings. Consequently, the textbook, published by McGraw-Hill/Irwin (USA) in 2005, deserves a critical
review.
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