A great man, wise and knowledgeable beyond many in his profession.
I read his newspaper columns 20-30 years ago, read many of his books, and even spoke with him on occasion. He was never too busy to take time to talk with his students, both academic and other.
Rest In Peace, Walter
The double headed eagle was the symbol of the Byzantine Empire long before the Russian Empire was conceived.
The neice of the last Byzantine Emperor, Sophia Paleologina, married Ivan III of Russia, and that marriage was considered as Russia's becoming the successor to the Byzantine Empire.
So petroleum is the lube that helps the world go 'round?
If we sucked all the petroleum out of the ground, the world would come to a grinding halt, the iron core would rust, and we'd be toast, literally, right?
Why do they sound so gleeful about 288K deaths?