I don't understand...

How is it that everytime I post dumb things on my facebook, people react?

Whenever I post things relating to Russia, no one does!

I know I am particularly interested, but I would like to argue that the world's largest country and 2nd largest producer of natural gas - with plenty of oil to boot (and a loosening albeit forceful grip around the supplies of some Central Asian countries) - is worth paying attention to.

In this case, journalism students put out a calendar to celebrate the birthday of former president and current Prime Minister Putin. It was trashy, suggestive, and straight out of the state sponosored Moscow University. That is not them pictured above.

What you're seeing is the retaliatory number created by other female journalism students hoping to shed the mindless, objectified image given to them by the aforementioned calendar. Instead of suggestive slogans, they've dared to pose beside questions like, "Who killed Politkovskaya?" and "When will Khodorkovsky be freed?"

That's huge. None of them will ever find a job in the predominantly state controlled media world, nor do they have much of a chance of pursuing journalism unobstructedly. They run the lifetime risk of being harassed, even killed - like Politkovskaya was in her own appartment building.

Khodorkovsky was formerly an oligarch, having claimed his fortune in the smoldering ruins of the USSR. There is certainly dispute in Russia about whether or not he evades taxes and engages in other less that perfect business practices, but this is Russia. So does everyone else. Not that I'm saying it's okay! I'd just like to remind you.

He had sponsored media outlets that were critical of the government, and they've all slowly been usurped. He finally landed in jail a few years ago and is unlikely to ever be free. I can hardly believe things like this go unnoticed.

Without sounding harsh, I'd like to acknowledge that it happens in less developed countries (in various ways) all the time. However, this man had money. His demise played out very publically since at least 2003 when I started following it.

Imagine if Bush would have sought out one of his critics - Saddam Hussein doesn't count, it has to be a citizen - and slowly but surely ruined his career and then his life. I think there would have been more of a reaction. And I certainly think there will be a reaction to that statement when I flash it on facebook to drum up interest in this post.