apparently there were riots just over those mountains that i can see if i step outside. of course, no one is talking about it here. talas is in a totally different country, and the clashes are more about internal kyrgyz politics than anything that would apply over here.
it's just that talas is really close. so close, in fact, that some people claim that ancient talas is taraz and not talas. but that just could be kazakhstan trying to muscle in on kyrgyzstan's claim that it is the site of the famous battle of talas.
