I just got news from Bristol University Press that they granted translation rights to a Polish publisher. I don't know yet who that is, but I'm overjoyed. I always wanted the book to be accessible in Polish. Ale się cieszę!

Slovak cartoon: "Politicians have made a law to set up a walking speed limit of 6 km/h. Finally! A measure to slow down the departure of young people from the country."

Interesting word of the day: tsundoku 積ん読 (Japanese) - to buy books and not read them or only read a part of them. Apparently this is considered to be a positive thing in Japan, as you may possibly read the works later.

The idea of Central (and NOT Eastern) Europe has been around for some 200 years. Is it anti-E-Eur racism? Is it the vision of a global role for a marginalized area? Nationalities Papers has now accepted our Special Issue proposal on the topic. @salvapappalardo.bsky.social @brasky.bsky.social

Ironies of history: After the American Revolution, which had been supported by France, the US could not pay back its loans. So France attacked US ships, leading to the "Quasi War" of 1798-1800. Now the US wants its money back from Ukraine.

Record number of Hungarians left the country last year, reports @insighthungary. Neighboring Austria was by far the most popular destination. Does this indicate an unwillingness to move very far or for very long?

Amazing Q&A during my talk at Sciences Po in Paris on Economic Nationalism and Illiberal Class Alliances: The East and South of the EU. Organizer Eugenio Sanchez and I then had a chance to chat about his fascinating work on relevant issues. Great ending to my short Europe trip.

Great pleasure to meet @jk_malinowska and discuss her brilliant work on the medical implications of racism against Eastern Europeans, by the beautiful Binnenalster lake in Hamburg.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think this kind of thing happens in Orbán's Hungary. It's classic totalitarian thought control. And we don't appreciate this in Canada.

Talented negotiators noted for their deal-making skill.

The Czech president Pavel shows leadership, while the Polish pres Duda calls on Zelensky to capitulate to Trump.

Just received the Japanese version of White But Not Quite: Central Europe's Illiberal Revolt @brisunipress.bsky.social. Yuto Okumura, publisher of Sairyusha Co. Ltd., arigatō gozaimasu, also Etsuko Kato and the translation team.

Oh, so Orbán says the "entire left-wing media in Hungary" was financed by USAID. Really? So it wasn't Soros after all? Or is it that Soros financed the entire USAID? 😂

Just "wrote" this using AI. Wishing all students and profs a good winter semester.

Archimedes was taking a bath when his famous Principle came to him. Excited, he called his wife, “Eureka!," to tell her about it. This, my father's mistelling, charmingly relates creativity, a good relationship, and a hot, deep bath. May you experience lots of each in the New Year!

I am told that the Japanese translation of White But Not Quite: Central Europe's Illiberal Revolt has reached bookstores just in time for Christmas - but am still baffled why anyone would want to buy it there :-)
@brisunipress.bsky.social @utopia-libri.bsky.social

The controversial recent Sistine Chapel restoration.