I just returned from a trip to Russia and the Ukraine. It's amazing to see the economic explosion that's taking place in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev. Huge apartment and condo complexes are rising all over the outskirts of Moscow, a complete makeover (at least on the surface) of St. Petersburg for the 300th celebration and a lively downtown district in Kiev. The city streets are packed with black mercedes SUV's and BMW sedans (raising interesting questions about what type of economic activity is taking place). The downside is the incredible amount of visual pollution from advertising that seems to mark every available surface, particularly in Moscow. A fascinating time. Tons of intriguing stories.