Word: russianness
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...artistry of War and Peace and Anna Karenina translates into many languages, but Leo Tolstoy the social phenomenon is strictly Russian. Most biographers take this fact for granted. A.N. Wilson spells it out in his descriptions of that vast, isolated kingdom of the 19th century in which the roles of writer and prophet were frequently indistinguishable. Martine de Courcel strikes a deeper Slavic chord when she says that Tolstoy's aim was to become a Fool of God. Count Leo was, of course, no fool, although many of his truths never got off the ground. His moralizing often seems...
...drought-weary farmers in the West, hot weather and high winds have brought another threat to this year's dwindling crop. Hordes of Russian wheat aphids, which thrive on dry wheat and barley fields, are rampaging through 15 Western states, from California and Arizona to Montana. The tiny stalk suckers (size: 0.1 in.) have nearly wiped out harvests in some fields. The bugs are natives of the Soviet Union, Iran and Afghanistan, but were transplanted to Mexico by unknown means in 1980 and have been moving north ever since. Last year the insects caused $36 million in damage across...
...alone. Since natural intelligence consists of several ways of reasoning, the argument goes, computer engineers will have to design artificial intelligence with more than one way of processing information. Says Esther Dyson, editor of Release 1.0, a computer-industry newsletter: "A neural network will tell the difference between a Russian tank and an American tank, and an expert system will tell whether to shoot...
...serviceable but relatively primitive weapons, known more for brute strength than sophistication. That is true as well of the military's tough but poorly trained personnel, who, because of ethnic diversity, often do not speak the same language; up to one-quarter of all Soviet draftees must be taught Russian before they can understand their commanders...
...annoying 6:30 and 9:30 seating policy and an altogether corny menu recitation, the sparkling little supper club offers winy hot borscht, herbed rack of lamb, roasted guinea hen in a lemony olive sauce and a gently sweet banana-almond souffle. Asked why there was not more Russian food on the menu, the waiter answered, "The Czar Nikolai ate only French food." Smart...