Some of the Russians who have commented on my stories make me feel like a dullard. Like Loaded Dice In the beginning, when people worried that Putin would turn off the internet, young people who were interviewed joked,"I know, we can read real books" or something to that effect. Nonetheless, I get the feeling book culture remains important in Russia.

Vlad Vexler on YouTube is a prime example I'd give to anyone who wants to experience Russian intelligensia. Finally, I feel the young Russians interviewed on 1420 and better educated than the same Americans one might interview in Boston. "American exceptionalism" has infected our whole society, IMO. Russia has a more fatalist view which allows for more critical analysis.

And of course there are your essays ;)