Archive for December, 2009

The RSM-56 Bulava, and Russia’s Strategic Deterrent

The Putin-Medevedev years have been notable for attempts to refresh Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal. These efforts are mostly embodied by two missiles – the RSM-56 “Bulava” submarine-launched ballistic missile and the Topol-M/RS-24 – a roadgoing, truck-launched heavy...
December 11th, 2009 | The Conversationalist | Read More

The Tragedy Of For-Profit Colleges

This post did not originally indent and attribute the below blockquotes to The Washington Monthly magazine of which they are from. Consider magazine regrets this error and the post has been corrected. This report on the unsavory dealings of for-profit colleges came to my attention via Mike Konczal,...
December 9th, 2009 | The Conversationalist | Read More

Greek Life: Should You Pledge?

Greek Life: Should You Pledge?
A Home Away From Home by: Lauren McGlothlin When you arrive at college, joining a sorority or fraternity is one of the best decisions you can make. Naturally, you will be unsure and even a little skeptical of what to expect, with friends’ and family’s voices skewing your decision. You may...
December 9th, 2009 | Featured, Greek Life, Recent | Read More

Manmohan Singh: Master Indian Politician

What with it being those last two agonizing weeks of the semester, The Conversationalist is going to slow down blogging until 2010. As a parting gift checkout this interesting post on India’s Prime Minister, a master statesman according to The New Yorker’s Steve Coll. –Daniel Strauss
December 8th, 2009 | The Conversationalist | Read More

Thoughts On The End Of The Semester

At this unworldly, busy time in our lives, when studying, papers, and graduate school applications infiltrate even our dreams, it may be worthwhile to reflect on what it means to study in the first place?  What can we do to save ourselves from collapse in a psychological movement that simultaneously...
December 7th, 2009 | The Conversationalist | Read More

Buy Either Plouffe’s Book or Palin’s Book But Don’t Read It

I’m not quite sure what to say about Obama for America Campaign Manager David Plouffe’s challenge to potential readers/consumers to see try and sell more copies of his book than of Sarah Palin’s book in one day: Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe is challenging his fans and...
December 7th, 2009 | The Conversationalist | Read More