Sochi, prison hunger strike, BI Vano comments, Burj on spring 2008, Bacho’s wife on threats, budget fail, dep culture min exit over mine, Shevy bent cop Saso Alavidze now chief water goon, US reps push for MAP, Iran Embassy says banks will defreeze, religion agency under Reconciliation min, BI doesn’t toast Ilia, gay men give blood, PM on UNM media, Margvel at Tserovani, Subari at Khudoni re hydro, Gori wind power, car inspection will be 48 Lari, a thousand plus aborted girls, fake meat inspection arrests, EU towel warning, electronic signatures, school age from 5 to 6, TLG only teachers, no India pre-visa, bazroba fire, wine museum, Orbeliani palace for PM, Populi Gegenava snafu, university 96th, Church claims Agmashenebeli, judo gold, ambo power to min from pres, Ninia on hatred, seat belts video, Vake park hotel, beer index, new Charkviani book, Misha op-ed on Putin, media freedom, WiP venue switch, Rejeb boats
TBLPOD.com
A discussion in English of the week in Georgia (the one near Chechnya not the one near Alabama) Don't know what a podcast is? Don't worry, just click on it and listen. კეთილი იყოს თქვენი მობრძანება! თუ ინგლისური იცით, დააჭირეთ ისარს და მოისმინეთ კვირის საინტერესო ამბები
Don't know what a podcast is? Don't worry, just click on it and listen. That's it. Nothing scary about it.
კეთილი იყოს თქვენი მობრძანება! თუ ინგლისური იცით, დააჭირეთ ისარს და მოისმინეთ კვირის საინტერესო ამბები.
The MEME this week
The Interior Ministry started a social campaign called ”Fasten your seatbelt”. They released a video with a number of Georgian celebrities in order to raise awareness about road safety. In the video, actress Ani Tkebuchava, actor Givi Berikashvili, musicians Nika Machaidze, Samori Balde, Robi Kukhanidze and singer Nato Metonidze call for people to fasten their seatbelts while driving and obey traffic laws. The video will be on different TV channels and radio stations. Link: http://goo.gl/DKJU4s
THINGS TO READ
An article in AbkhazWorld.com about “The Secession Sessions” – a series of invitations, initiated by French artist Eric Baudelaire, to investigate the question of statehood through the prism of the stateless territory of Abkhazia. Link: http://goo.gl/FXFCvk
An article by Andrew Hilliar on France24.com about hotel construction in Vake Park. Link: http://goo.gl/JcyFf3
The Beer Index by Roberto Ferdman and Ritchie King. According to this indicator Georgians need to work an average of 15.1 hours at the minimum wage in order to afford a beer. Link: http://goo.gl/vUMnVt
An article by Tako Svanidze in Agenda.ge about thirteen pieces of Georgian fiction and non-fiction works that were translated into English, German, French, Italian, Swedish, Hungarian and Dutch and in addition, three well-known poems by famous Georgian author Vazha Pshavela. Link: http://goo.gl/RPZfic
A book by Gela Charkviani, the distinguished diplomat, TV personality and former Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, titled “An interview with father.” His father Candide Charkviani was a leader of the Georgian Communist Party and the book includes many discussions of his meetings with Stalin. But is so far only in Georigan.
An article by Misha in the New York Times about the Olympics and Vladimir Putin. Link: http://goo.gl/VGshXV
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Next Works In Progress will be held on the 12th of February at 6:15 PM. The journalist Régis Genté will present on a new book about Putin and the Caucasus. The session is free and open to the public. The address: #3 Kavsadze Street. WIPs are no longer in ISET, perhaps because ISET wants money which is sad, since it is a more convenient location.
On the 14th of February The Jamestown Foundation will hold a conference on Russia and the North Caucasus After the Sochi Olympics in the Root Room at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The conference will feature Misha. Speakers at the conference will focus their discussion on the impact of the Sochi Olympics on the future of Russia and on the North Caucasus as well as the radicalization of jihadists in the North Caucasus. The address: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036.
There is a recently published book by Redjeb Jordania, son of Noe Jordania, titled “Building the Ukbar Dinghy” which looks like a beautiful old harpoon boat. The author shows how to build an Uqbar dinghy in 6 to 8 hours, using simple tools and materials. The book includes an illustrated introduction to the stitch ‘n glue technique. It is perfect for complete beginners and seasoned builders and great for families and youth groups searching for inexpensive projects. You can purchase the book on amazon. Link: http://goo.gl/aYbhPG Jordania is in his nineties and recently had a very serious bike wreck but is evidently up and atam.
There is a recently released paperback book by David Gorji titled “Georgian Gorgeous or Gorgeous Georgians?” On his quest to discover his Georgian heritage, Gorji uncovers the roots of the ancient language, the country’s divine origin and its beautiful landscape.