5 thoughts on “TBLPOD12march2015”

1. The MEME this week is a photo that was being shared and criticized on Facebook of a poster in Tbilisi that shows a St George’s orange and black ribbon, with a second world war looking soldier, and a text in russian that reads “I remember! and I’m proud!” On the bottom is Geocell’s banner. Many facebook users were angry with the poster and with Geocell. Geocell later released an apology. The poster is part of a project they are funding with Georgian start-up DeeHubs. Link: http://on.fb.me/1L5lky1

   THINGS TO READ

   Michael Cecire argues in Foreign Policy that it’s time for the West to stop taking Georgia’s loyalty for granted. He says that the lack of results from the West has translated in recent years to more pro-Russian, pro-Orthodox, pro-”Eurasian” sentiment in the country. Link: http://atfp.co/1BlhbzJ

   Paul Rimple in the Beacon Reader on how Georgia’s government effectively shot itself in the foot with the new, strict (and xenophobic) visa regime. Link: http://bit.ly/1NRrnoR

   From Gavin Slade et al for Open Society Foundations on Georgia’s Disastrous Attempt to Bring Prisons Up to “European Standards,” which inadvertently created a high-violence prison system. Link: http://osf.to/1FhoMko

   Inga Popovaite reports on the plight of the Meskhetian Turks in the Javakheti region in receiving residency permits to live in Georgia. Link: http://bit.ly/1BB9K69

   An argument from TI Georgia that nepotism in the civil service should be criminalized. Link: http://bit.ly/1CbJOl0

   Onnik Krikorian’s reporting and photos from the 8th of March International Women’s Day rally in Tbilisi. Link: http://bit.ly/18ha7Zr

   The CRRC blog this week looks at the attitude of young people in Georgia. While most seem to be pro-Western and often claim to share the same values as their peers in the West, when it comes to acceptance of specific opinions and attitudes divergent from their own, Georgian youth are not always so open and tolerant. Link: http://bit.ly/1xiXUcW

   The BBC’s ‘news from elsewhere’ has the story of one Kakheti town councillor giving taxi rides cause he’s one of the people. Link: http://bbc.in/1HPD23l

   Watch an advertisement by the Ministry of Environment encouraging people not to litter. Link: http://bit.ly/1EgzPII

   Georgian Journal looks into why in the regions, often only one company participates in bids announced by the state and how it affects corruption and public trust. Link: http://bit.ly/1MxjqDN

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2. In what sense is Free Georgia affiliated with the UNM? Free Georgia is Kakha Kukava’s dodgy outfit and has absolutely nothing to do with the UNM

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3. That was a great yawn towards the end. It actually woke me up

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4. On the noise law, it seems bit off. For example:
   Jet takeoff (200 feet) 120 dBA
   Construction Site 110 dBA Intolerable
   Shout (5 feet) 100 dBA
   Heavy truck (50 feet) 90 dBA Very noisy
   Urban street 80 dBA
   Automobile interior 70 dBA Noisy
   Normal conversation (3 feet) 60 dBA
   Office, classroom 50 dBA Moderate
   Living room 40 dBA
   Bedroom at night 30 dBA Quiet
   Broadcast studio 20 dBA
   Rustling leaves 10 dBA Barely audible

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5. Hi, I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in Georgia and I am the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for the National English Spelling Competition Georgia NGO. We have been organizing and implementing this nationwide project since last June and the national round will be in Tbilisi from March 27-30. We would like to get a shoutout on your podcast this week or the next. Email me what you think and I can send you a brief script.

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