Bought a Christmas tree. A Danish one. Cost me two grand. What the hell is that about? Of all things, Christmas trees are something Russia ought to be able to produce. They’re not cars. They do sell Russian ones too, of course, but those start shedding while they’re still on sale. The Danish ones, though, are awesome—full, fluffy, and they last a long time. I already told Belykh, the newly appointed governor of this forest-rich region, that I’ll believe Kirov Oblast has really gotten back on its feet only if, in two years, Moscow is selling not Danish trees but excellent, high-quality Christmas trees from Kirov.