Criticizing politicians for lacking integrity is kind of like criticizing short people for not being able to reach the top shelves. And I see that one of the front runners in the Free Tibet rally is backpeddaling on their bicyclettes as fast as they can once they remember that the Chinese now have money to buy stuff.

http://www.webinfrance.com/president-france-sarkozy-sends-message-friendship-china-after-olympic-torch-fiasco-423.html

Andrejs

Glad to see your name there, Peter, amongst the signatures.  Needless to say, I am disappointed in the outcome… with the Saeima.

Irena

Criticizing politicians for lacking integrity is kind of like criticizing short people for not being able to reach the top shelves.

Andrej, Andrej—you are practicing for your repatriation?

/P

No practice needed.

Andrejs, a cynical pragmatist

As long as some of us are depressed about the vote—some music. (Thanks to Robčiks for giving me this!)

/P

heh… I know remixes aren’t everyones cup of tea, and often they are pretty bad, but…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6327586243881065791&q=verve+sinnerman&ei=I7oQSKmdHoqm4QKCx725BA&hl=en

Kind of appropriate.

P.S.

For those of you who like electronica, the whole Verve Remixed series of records is pretty good.

Andrejs

Andrej,
Are you seriously moving to Muttsiestan or just visiting for the summer? In any event, you should know the film industry here is practically dead, the government and Kinocentrs keep no promises (automātiskais atbalsts is suspended in violation of the principle of legal reliance—you get all the audience figures in 2007 to get the pabalsts in 2008 and in 2008 they say—no). Do look me and Una up whatever reason you will be here for.

/P did you expect anything else from this lowlife calling itself a parliament?

I guess you could say its a little bit of both. You could call it a trial run for a potential repatriation, but the primary reason is that we have some property (70 hectares of forest around Koknese) that some members of my extended family are pushing to sell. I just don’t want to see a repeat of past mistakes (not that I am an expert in any way), but our track record is fairly poor. Sold a dacha in Jurmala (of which we owned a 10th) for santimi on the Lats early on. Then an apartment building on Mier Iela for about the same. Both properties would be worth far, far more today. I argued against both way back then, but our share was so small that it didn’t carry that much weight. Before we make any decisions I want to take a look and do some research. This can’t be done from far away and since I have a little bit of leverage with my employer at the moment might as well put it to good use. Who knows, maybe selling is the right idea, or maybe we’ll sell our house here in the States and buy out my relatives. Can’t make these type of decisions from a distance.
As to repatriating or rerepatriating or any combination thereof, I am with my mentor on this. You seem to be in rant mode. Things are tough all over. You want tumsoniba (real hardcore tumsoniba), drop by next time you’re flying through Ohare and I’ll introduce you to some people. While a lot of happens in Latvia disturbs me, civil society takes a long, long time to build. The way I see it Latvia (as it comes to civil rights and attitudes) is about where the U.S. was in the early 50s. Took a long time for them to reach the next step and some might argue (me included) that in the present there are steps being taken back. As to the economy, again, sorry from where I sit its just as bad. I might make far more money than the average Latvian wage earner, but outsourcing and unmitiaged corporate greed are a daily factor. The middle class is going the way of the dodo and I don’t see it changing for the better any time soon. I am 99% sure I’ll be voting Democrat, but neither party seems to have a clue other than empty platitudes.
Sorry to hear about the film industry falling on hard times, but it was to be expected. The State cofers are barren and the local market is just not large enough to support big time filmmaking without governmental support. I guess the competition for EU funds is too tough? I had hoped that Latvian filmmakers would have been more successful at developing Latvia as a filmmaking location and perhaps a cheaper post production alternative, but that’s a hard market to break into. Then again, with YouTube and video on demand there’s other alternatives presenting themselves. Good product will always find a way to market.
Will try to get in touch when I get there. If nothing else we can always tag team Roberts when the time comes or vice versa.

Andrejs

Quoth Andrejs:

Andrejs - 24 April 2008 06:21 AM

Criticizing politicians for lacking integrity is kind of like criticizing short people for not being able to reach the top shelves.

Once again “Andrejs With The Sunglasses” betrays his prejudices as he dances to the tune of the notorious sociopath Randy Newman:
“Short People”
Short People got no reason
To live

Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Round here

Andrejs also has some choice racial slurs regarding diminutive people and their choice modes of transportation:

Andrejs - 24 April 2008 06:21 AM

And I see that one of the front runners in the Free Tibet rally is backpeddaling on their bicyclettes as fast as they can once they remember that the Chinese now have money to buy stuff.

They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin’ peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They’re gonna get you every time
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
‘Round here

Kauns un negods, Andrej, kauns un negods.

/R

”Ķīnas vēstniekam iesniegta petīcija par situāciju Tibetā”

/P

Dear Roberts,

What can I say. We are all flawed human beings, I more than most. However, with your continued vigillance and gentle proding there might be hope for my salvation yet. Don’t give up on me Brother.

Andrejs

God’s Song by Randy Newman

Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:

Man means nothing, he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
‘Cause he thinks that’s where I’ll be
That’s why I love mankind

I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
From the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That’s why I love mankind

The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said, “Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won’t take care of us
Won’t you please, please let us be?”
And the Lord said
And the Lord said

I burn down your cities-how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That’s why I love mankind
You really need me
That’s why I love mankind

“Saeima atbalsta genocīdu Tibetā?”

/P

I don’t know what’s more irksome to me, those 17 in the Saeima who voted flat out against this measure or the 36 who abstained for whatever reason—being afraid to rock the boat, push China too far by allowing questioning re: specific human rights violations, allowing these same organizations and journalists into Tibet, not wanting to get involved, being unprincipled and/or one or all of the above, pick your choice?

One of the comentators said that those who didn’t vote were chekists, ‘komunistu atbalstitaji’.  And that the Latvian people should take note of this.  Is there any truth to this ?  Another thought that comes to mind, maybe something I’ve missed somewhere along the line is how the Latvian populace in general feel about this topic?

Irena

Irēna,

The votes were announced (a decision made by vote). I didn’t write them down, but here is the latest list I’ve seen. Ambersun would have a field day…

PRET:
Buhvalovs Valērijs PCTVL
Buzajevs Vladimirs PCTVL
Deņisosvs Oļegs SC
Dolgopolovs Sergejs SC
Fjodorovs Sergejs SC
Kabanovs Nikolajs PCTVL
Klementjevs Ivans SC
Mirskis Sergejs SC
Mitrofanovs Miroslavs PCTVL
Pliners Jakovs PCTVL
Ribakovs Ivans SC
Rubiks Artūrs SC
Sokolovskis Juris PCTVL
Tutins Jānis SC
Vidavskis Aleksejs SC
Zommere Ērika TP

ATTURAS:
Agešins Valērijs SC
Aizbalts Vitālijs LPP/LC
ĀBIĶIS DZINTARS TP
ĀRBERGS MĀRIS TP
BARČA AIJA TP
BĒRZIŅŠ ANDRIS LPP/LC
BRESIS VILNIS ZZS
BRIGMANIS AUGUSTS ZZS
Cilēvičs Boriss SC
DALBIŅŠ JURIS TP
DAUDZE GUNTARS ZZS
DUKŠINSKSI JĀNIS LPP/LC
EGLĪTIS JĀNIS TP
FELDMANE INTA LPP/LC
GĪLIS VALDIS TP
JAUNDŽEIKARS DZINTARS LPP/LC
KALVĪTIS AIGARS TP
KLAUŽS JĀNIS TP
KRAUKLIS VENTS TP
KUČIKNSKIS MĀRIS TP
LAGZDIŅŠ JĀNIS TP
LEIŠKALNS KĀRLIS TP
LĪDUMS LEONS TP
MACKEVIČS ANATOLIJS LPP/LC
Mirskis Aleksandrs SC
Orlovs Vitalijs SC
PAEGLE VAIRA TP
PAULS RAIMONDS TP
RUGĀTE ANTA TP
STRAZDIŅŠ JĀNIS ZZS
Šcerbatihs Viktors ZZS
TURLAIS DAINIS LPP/LC
UPENIEKS GUNĀRS ZZS
Urbanovičs Jānis SC
Ušakovs Nils SC
VALERS IMANTS TP

NEBALSO:
BRIEDIS ULDIS TP
PABRIKS ARTIS -
ŠLESERE INESE LPP/LC
ŠMITS JĀNIS LPP/LC

Thanks Peteri!  Interesting to see the break down here of people, parties.  I see the Golden Boy (don’t know whether or not he still is considered such) of SC, Nils Usakovs, reminiscent of a young James Spader, was among the abstainees.

Irena