MetaFilter posts tagged with Boris

Did Vladimir Putin really turn around Russia's economy?

gregb1007 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:34:30 -0800

Did Vladimir Putin really turn around Russia's economy? Washington Post's Fred Hyatt attempts to refute the conventional wisdom that Putin was responsible for Russia's turnaround from the economic instability of the "disastrous" 90s by offering a thorough counter argument to prove that Putin's effect on the economy was just the reverse. Hyatt believes that Russia's astonishing economic recovery should not be credited to Putin, but in fact to the fiscal solvency brought about by the reforms that were carried out in the late 90s by Yeltsin's prime minister Yevgeny Primakov.*1. Furthermore, he argues that Putin's crackdown on the free press and on independent businesses has had a disastrous impact on the economy by discouraging foreign investment. The result was stalled economic growth whose rate has dropped far behind that of the other former Soviet republics despite enormous growth in oil revenues. *2 *Primakov served as Yeltsin's prime minister in 1998-1999. *Russia's rate of growth used to be the 2nd best out of all former 15 Soviet republics when Putin took power in 2000, but dropped to 13th best by 2005. It can be argued that the Russian economy grew under Putin, but the rate of growth was highest just when he came to power and that his rule had the effect of dampening it.

"He'd zap the programme off and holler/ 'Go and read some Emile Zola."

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:41:03 -0800

Boris Johnson, poet.

Boris Johnson's Mayoral application form

nthdegx — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:02:46 -0800

Examples of challenges faced: "Negotiating Hyde Park corner by bicycle. Outcome: survival." This and more from Boris Johnson's London Mayoral candidacy application [PDF] to the Conservative Party. thelondonpaper is not impressed that he submitted a handwritten form.

Bojo fo' Lo' M'o'

nthdegx — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:46:58 -0800

"Even the greatest cities have further greatness in them. I will stand for a greater London and for putting the smile back on London's face." Boris Johnson announces his candidacy for Mayor of London, though he is yet to be endorsed by the Conservative Party. Though decidedly right wing in his views (this clip, perhaps more than any other summarises his view on Europe, for example) his very English brand of buffoonery lends him unique appeal (though not universally).

He did the Mash.

wendell — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:35:47 -0800

ObitFilter: Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 69 To remember him by: "Monster Mash" video mashup, his official site (with spooky 1998 sound), "The Climate Mash" (2005 eco-political rewrite with Pickett's vocal), and his lesser-known co-creation (with Peter Ferarra): "Star Drek"

Boris Plotnikoff's Gasmask Collection

hama7 — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 15:15:04 -0800

Boris Plotnikoff's Gasmask Collection, Heavy Rubber.

Boris!

hoverboards don't work on water — Wed, 31 May 2006 09:49:44 -0800

'The crowd was chanting "We want Boris" as he limbered up, waving his arms like a slightly rusty blond helicopter. The cheers grew and the cry of "Boris, Boris" became irresistible.': [text, video]. Boris Johnson, blogger. Boris Johnson, British MP for Henley-on-Thames. Boris Johnson, sozzled buffoon and proud of it. Boris Johnson, the man who made it cool to be Conservative?