First and foremost, I am a lazy and sloppy writer. When I post, I usually just write something off the top of my head, and the organization of my writing suffers for it.
I have a Master’s Degree in History, with an emphasis in Modern European History, though I consider myself well versed in American History as well as Early Modern European History. I have a fascination with Southeastern Europe, especially Bulgaria. I also have a fascination with Eastern Europe during the communist period, from the end of the second World War to the end of the Cold War. I studied for a summer at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. My MA thesis was entitled, “Everyone With a Radio Listens: Radio Free Europe and its Bulgarian Audience.”
Currently I work as a substitute teacher at the junior high and senior high school level. I am hoping to land a job as an adjunct history instructor at a junior college. When I am not wasting my time by writing, I waste my time by playing video games. I like to read, currently I enjoy reading Roman authors such as Livy, as well as more contemporary authors like John le Carre and Anne Rice.
I try to stay as “objective” as possible since the purpose of this blog is to serve as an introduction to the Balkan region for those who know little or nothing about it. In other words, this site is more “commentary lite.” I do not claim to lack “bias” however…I do have my opinions, as do we all. I am not so sophomoric as to think that any writing can be free of “bias.” I consider myself a socialist, though I am also a pragmatist and a realist. I will give time to any policy idea that passes what I call the John Stuart Mill test, that it aims to acheive the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I like conservative blogs and I like liberal blogs, as long as the writing is good, and the ideas are not cliche. Knee-jerk liberals and knee-jerk conservatives bore me.
So to my readers, I hope you enjoy what you read, and I hope that I can expose you to my passion for this fascinating region of the European continent. I welcome all comments.
