One of the most unique, fascinating, and intensely beautiful parts of our planet is the Pacific Northwest (PNW) – a narrow band of rugged seaboard with relatively mild, permanently wet climate, stretching for over 3000 km from Kodiak Island in Alaska to Eureka, California. The southernmost part of this dark-green band is relatively easy toContinue reading “Haida Gwaii”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Why you are wrong about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, no matter what you think about it.
If you wrestle with someone for too long, you begin to stink of his sweat. – Mongolian proverb. No issue is more polarizing than the so-called Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Pretty much everyone in the world supports one side (often chosen at random) with devotion bordering on (or developing into) a psychosis. And pretty much nobody hasContinue reading “Why you are wrong about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, no matter what you think about it.”
Them + Us
I am tired of the media posting human-like images of Neanderthals and melting down over their “love affairs” with our species.First of all, these facial reconstructions are based on techniques and artistic traditions developed for modern humans, so they are mostly useless. We have no idea what Neanderthals looked like, but they were certainly veryContinue reading “Them + Us”
California
I moved from Russia to the US in 1997, and rented a room in Berkeley, California. I lived in the state for five years, moving to a new place every year, and then spent two years in Davis in 2013-15. My older child was born here. I remember the day when I first got here,Continue reading “California”
Cross-country skating
For the first time in my life, I wish the winter wouldn’t end so soon. Also for the first time in my life, I am going to write about sports. You see, I am not a sports person. I hate spectator sports. I get bored with competitive sports after one hour tops, usually much sooner.Continue reading “Cross-country skating”
Why do Ukrainians call Russians “orcs”?
The answer to this question seems obvious. The entire Russian invasion of Ukraine looks like a screen adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. An empire built on fear, hatred and slavery is trying to conquer, enslave and destroy the free peoples of the world. There are hordes of dumb, ugly, and profoundly evil human-likeContinue reading “Why do Ukrainians call Russians “orcs”?”
Venezuela
Venezuela is currently used as America’s main distraction from the Trump-Epstein files, but it turns out many people have very little idea what kind of country it is, so let me tell a bit about it. I’ve been in Venezuela three times (in 1995, 2007 and 2008) and traveled over pretty much all of it,Continue reading “Venezuela”
The Great Loop
Many years ago I drove once to Labrador (in September) and once around Newfoundland (in July), but that was before the road connection between Goose Bay and Blanc Sablon was completed, making it possible to travel around all of Canada’s eastern provinces in one long loop. I wanted to do it for many years, butContinue reading “The Great Loop”
Zootopia 2
Last night I took my family to see Zootopia 2. We all absolutely loved it! I virtually never watch movies twice, but this one has to be seen on big screen and then at home where you can pause and re-watch, because there are lots of hilarious micro-jokes impossible to catch otherwise. The plot isContinue reading “Zootopia 2”
Anchovies
Last Friday I went diving and found myself in a humongous aggregation of tiny anchovies. There were millions of them, they made it nearly impossible to see anything. But my troubles didn’t end there. On Saturday I dried my diving gear and hung in a closet. It happened to be the same closet where myContinue reading “Anchovies”
Naturalist on Earth 