Commentary
Blogs
Books
Grāmata par gleznotāju Jāni Osi
June 26, 2009
Monogrāfija Jānis Osis. 1926-1991 veltīta vienam no talantīgākajiem pēckara paaudzes māksliniekiem Jānim Osim, kuru var uzskatīt par Dieva dotu talantu, kurš varēja gleznot kā ainavas, tā industriālus motīvus - viss zem viņa otas pārvērtās par vīrišķīgas romantikas pilnu stāstu par dzīvi Baltijas jūras krastā. Diemžēl viņa dzīves laikā par viņu tika maz rakstīts, šī ir pirmā nopietnā publikācija.
Books
Two poems by Brūveris published by literary journal
June 23, 2009
Two poems by Pēters Brūveris of Latvia have been published in the latest issue of the biannual Michigan-based literary journal Absinthe.
Music
Iļģi concert, streamed from Rīga, focuses on Midsummer
June 07, 2009
I watched a wonderful concert live over the Internet today. The post-folklore band Iļģi introduced its latest album, Isākās nakts dziesmas, with a set of both old and new material in Rīga’s Club Essential.
Columns
Politics in Latvia
Dealing with the deficit and with Rubiks
May 12, 2009
Since Latvia’s new government came into office two months ago, the atmosphere of Latvian politics has changed almost beyond recognition. When President Valdis Zatlers picked Valdis Dombrovskis to be prime minister, a sequence of events began that now show us a government facing up to the realities both of the catastrophic financial crisis engulfing Latvia, and of the need to change a political culture of corruption and self serving.
Latvian Computing
Latvians start to tweet
May 10, 2009
Ever since a certain talk show celebrity began to “tweet” earlier this year, usage of Twitter has skyrocketed in popularity so much that it soon may have MySpace and Facebook—not to mention Latvia’s very own draugiem.lv social network—looking worried. While some are still arguing on how to use Twitter and where it fits into the current social networking scene, others are forging ahead and adapting the technology for their own needs.
Politics in Latvia
Amid crisis, penguins feel the heat
February 20, 2009
The past two months have seen unprecedented events buffeting Latvia’s politics, and have deepened the crisis that now threatens both Latvia’s economy and normal constitutional processes.
Editor's Notebook
Latvijas Radio, LTV face financial disaster
January 22, 2009
Latvijas Radio is on the verge of bankruptcy and the state-run television service is in tough shape, too. Users of both media should expect that the next several months will bring drastic changes to the scope and quality of programming.
Politics in Latvia
That sinking feeling
December 08, 2008
The collapse started a month ago. On Nov. 8, the Latvian government announced it was taking a controlling 51 percent interest in the market-leading Parex Bank, setting off a chain of events that has now drawn Latvia deep into financial crisis.
Turning Latvian
For a Latvian-American living in Rīga, the United States may bring feelings of nostalgia. (Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection)
July 02, 2009
One morning in early April I found myself on a shuttle bus bound for Brussels, that brave new center of 21st century Europe. Behind me sat a group of proud Baltic parents who had just flown in to visit their sons and daughters employed as translators and bureaucrats deep in the halls of the European Union.
As we pulled away from the airport, and the Belgian landscape streamed by outside the window, I noticed the changes in foliage—much different from scenes I had left behind that morning in perennially autumnal Rīga.
Opinions
June 19, 2009
Midsummer offers hope the sun will come up tomorrow
Latvia awaits the longest day of the year in what seems to many like the longest year in their lives. Especially if you are trying to balance a budget. Your own, or a government’s.
May 28, 2009
Street named for Čaks changes its coat once again
Here in Rīga, there’s a notorious street called Čaka iela, which acts as a dividing line between the relatively posh Center with its Art Nouveau buildings, luxury automobiles and brand-name stores, and the more rundown outlying sections of town, filled mostly with stray cats, staggering drunks and dark slot-machine dens.
Publicēts 2009.04.22
Vai Eiroparlamentā Latviju pārstāvēs komunists?
Astoņpadsmit gadus pēc neatkarības atjaunošanas pasludināšanas var rasties situācija, kur Latviju Briselē lepni pārstāv komunists Alfreds Rubiks.
Publicēts 2009.03.29
Kontrastains februāris Austrālijā
Ja vēl pavisam nesen, janvārī domājām, sak’, ir nu gan vēsa vasara: vēsīgs Ziemassvētku vakars, gandrīz auksts Vecgada vakars, kad citreiz esam sviedrus vien slaucījuši (lielākoties gan Ziemassvētku, gan Vecgada vakarus atceros tādus ar tuvu pie +40°C), tad drīz pēc tam sekojošais bija krasas maiņas.
Publicēts 2009.02.03
Kultūras dienas papildina latvietības pūru
Esmu dzimusi Austrālijā, skolā gājusi, nobeigusi universitāti, strādājusi, apprecējusies, bērnus vedusi skolā Austrālijā. Varētu teikt, esmu austrāliete. To noteikti apgalvo mana meita, kas dzimusi Austrālijā. Bet ir viena sīka lieta - uzskatu sevi arī kā latvieti. Manās dzīslās plūst latviešu asinis, esmu divu latviešu bērns. Vai fakts, ka dzimu Austrālijā pataisa mani par austrālieti, jeb vai fakts, ka abi mani vecāki ir latvieši, pataisa mani par latvieti? Labs jautājums, bez skaidras atbildes.
Publicēts 2008.12.24
Saudzēsim un sargāsim savu mīlestību, ticību un vienotību
Šovakar, Ziemassvētku vakarā, uzrunāju Jūs brīdī, kad esat mājās pie balti klāta svētku galda. Jūsmājās smaržo piparkūkas un deg sveces. Jūs esat kopā ar sev tuvajiem un mīļajiem cilvēkiem. Daži varbūt ar savējiem ir kopā tikai domās, bet tomēr - kopā.
Publicēts 2008.11.20
Visilgākā, viskošākā, visintensīvākā un visemocionālākā jubileja
Latvijas lielās un apaļās jubilejas sauklis bija “Iededzies par Latviju!”. Teikšu atklāti, bija grūti neiedegties, jo tajās četrās brīvajās dienās bija vai nu jāizbrauc no valsts, vai bezjēdzīgi jātup mājās, lai nesajustu svētku noskaņu, kas valdīja visapkārt.
Publicēts 2008.11.17
Latviskā pašapziņa dzīvo katra cilvēka sirdī
Godātie tautieši! Godātie Latvijas pilsoņi! Esiet sveicināti visi, kas dzīvo ar Latviju sirdī ārpus tās robežām!
October 29, 2008
New wine in old wineskins?
The European Latvian Association (ELA), the umbrella organisation for Latvian organisations in Europe outside of Latvia, held its annual general meeting in Brussels on Sept. 20, and closed its proceedings by holding a discussion on the future of Latvian diaspora organisations in Europe.
October 12, 2008
Georgia and Latvia, and Russia and America, too
Latvians are queasier about national security than in many years. Recently I took an intriguing photo of a large political advertisement sign just a few meters from our Rīga office. It portrays the American and Russian leaders side-by-side with George Bush pointing to some place vague and Vladimir Putin following along. The caption reads, “How much for Georgia?”
What's new
Multimedia
04 Jul 2009
New choreography, Čikāgas Piecīši among highlights
The new choreography show and a packed concert by Čikāgas…
Multimedia
02 Jul 2009
From opening concert to ‘Meldermeitiņa’
The second day of the 13th Latvian Song Festival in…
Opinions
02 Jul 2009
Turning Latvian
One morning in early April I found myself on…
In the forums
Video released in support of Latvian Police anti drunk driving campaign posted by Wahabist on 03 Jul 2009
Keves dels Kurbads: second copy available from the Bookstore at Saulaine! posted by Kristine Kirsch Stivrins on 03 Jul 2009
Vai ir nepieciešami bērnudārzi latviešu bērniem pasaulē? posted by rauls on 02 Jul 2009
Looking for my aunt ILGA GRAVA! posted by leibovich on 01 Jul 2009
Do we have nothing to say posted by courlander on 30 Jun 2009
