Anton Vaino’s appointment in August as Vladimir Putin's new chief of staff intrigued Kremlinologists, Estonians (he is the grandson of one of Soviet Estonia's later quislings), and fans of the weird. Some years ago, Vaino (or someone acting on his behalf) penned a bizarre, densely written article in which he described a Nooscope, a device which "allows the study of humanity's collective consciousness." It is, apparently, intended to be used to help technocrats manage increasingly complex societies.