http://latviansonline.com Latvians Online is a Web site for anyone interested in Latvia and Latvians. Features include regular news reports, discussion forums, an events register, product reviews and shopping. lv starkis@sympatico.ca Copyright 2012 http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8181/ http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8181/ With everything said and done, Latvia placed 10th at this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. Victories against Germany and Italy as well as a goal differential advantage over Germany and Switzerland who finished with the same number of points was enough to propel Latvia from last year’s 13th place finish to 10th. 2012-05-20 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8179/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8179/ Latvian President Andris Bērziņš is on a three-day visit to Chicago to attend the NATO defense alliance summit and to meet with the local Latvian community, according to his press office. Government, NATO, Presidents, Andris Bērziņš 2012-05-19 http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8175/ http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8175/ Though Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks has achieved success and fame with compositions for solo instruments, string quartets, orchestras, piano, among many other instruments, some of his most powerful and memorable works are his choir songs. The addition of text and language (particularly the Latvian language), in combination with the exceptional skill of the world-class Latvian Radio Choir, make his choir songs particularly haunting and emotionally affecting. 2012-05-16 http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8174/ http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8174/ One of the best known Latvian musicians internationally, with a career spanning multiple decades, soprano Inese Galante (known as Inessa Galante internationally) has turned to sacred music on her latest 2011 release – The Soul of Rīga. Recorded at the Rīga Cathedral, the two CD collection features the Cathedral’s world famous organ performed by organists Aivars Kalējs and Mattias Wager. 2012-05-16 http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8173/ http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8173/ Kāda Latvijas Universitātes komunikācijas studiju studente griežas pie ārzemēs dzīvojošiem latviešiem ar lūgumu izpalīdzēt ar viņas pētijumu par Latvijas sabiedrisko mediju lietojumu ārzemēs dzīvojošo latviešu vidē. News and Media, Radio, Television 2012-05-15 http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8167/ http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8167/ Even though Melbourne-based Latvian Saturday School “Daugavas skola” is located just around the corner from one of the largest Latvian libraries outside of Latvia it recently decided to invest in several iPads to explore new learning opportunities. Education, Language, Learning Latvian 2012-05-14 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8166/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8166/ Lai pieteiktos mobīlo pases darbstacijas apmeklējumam pa Milvoku Dziesmu svētku laiku dokumenti uz Latvijas vēstniecību ASV jau jānosūta līdz 13. jūnijam. 2012-05-14 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8165/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8165/ Klāva Sīpoliņa fonds 1981. gadā Ārzemju mākslas muzejā Rīgā sarīkoja pirmo trimdas mākslas skati. Kopš tā laika Latviešu Nacionālajā mākslas muzejā (LNMM) izveidojusies skaitliski nozīmīga kolekcija, kurā pārstāvēti apmēram 100 mākslinieki no ASV, Austrālijas, Austrijas, Kanādas, Lielbritānijas, Vācijas un Zviedrijas. 2012-05-14 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8164/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8164/ Anarborā Mičiganā 6. maijā noslēdzās Amerikas latviešu apvienības (ALA) 61. kongress. 3 dienas kongresā piedalījās ap 70 ASV latviešu organizāciju pārstāvji, kā arī vairāki viesi no Latvijas. Kongresa galvenais mērķis bija lemt par ALAs darba plāniem nākamajam gadam, kā arī ievēlēt jaunu apvienības valdi. 2012-05-13 http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8159/ http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8159/ Arguably the most popular and most successful group in Latvia, Prāta vētra (known as Brainstorm internationally) have released their latest album – Vēl viena klusā daba. 2012-05-09 http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8154/ http://latviansonline.com/commentary/article/8154/ Listen to the words spoken by Latvian diplomats at émigré community functions.They choose their words carefully. There is the obligatory thank you for the role that post-war exiles played in the restoration of Latvia’s independence and for their later support of Latvia’s NATO membership drive. 2012-05-08 http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8153/ http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8153/ A cappella music, although often awe-inspiring for listeners because of the vocal talent of the singers, can at times be undermined by the excessive falsetto and slightly overwrought style of singing. Surprisingly enough, Latvian Voices’ latest album Tā kā taka can easily become a favorite. 2012-05-06 http://latviansonline.com/education/article/8152/ http://latviansonline.com/education/article/8152/ Balstoties uz novērojumiem strādājot ar pusaudžiem un jauniešiem no dažādām pilsētām pēdējās 11 vasaras, esmu pārliecināta, ka Amerikas latviešu pamatskolu darbība ir kļuvusi ļoti, ļoti atšķirīga. Education, Language 2012-05-05 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8145/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8145/ New York-based Standard & Poor’s, one of the leading services used by investors to gauge the degree of risk, has increased its short- and long-term credit rating of Latvia, the company announced May 2. Business and Economy 2012-05-02 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8142/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8142/ Two men in England have been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death last year of a 17-year-old girl from Latvia, a spokesperson for the Norfolk Constabulatory announced May 1. Society and Culture, Crime 2012-05-01 http://latviansonline.com/education/article/8141/ http://latviansonline.com/education/article/8141/ Ārzemju latviešu skolotāju kursi notiks Rāmavas muižā no šā gada 11. līdz 13. jūlijam. Kursi domāti tiem, kas māca latviešu skolās ārpus Latvijas. Education, Language, Learning Latvian, Pedagogy 2012-05-01 http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8140/ http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/8140/ Sestā Jūdze, one of Latvia’s best known country music bands, is set to release its latest compact disc on May 5. Titled Iebrien manā saulrietā, the album will include 13 tracks, according to spokesperson Baiba Celma. Entertainment, Music 2012-04-30 http://latviansonline.com/multimedia/article/8135/ http://latviansonline.com/multimedia/article/8135/ Occasionally Latvia gets a mention on a popular late-night US talk show. The Late Show’s David Letterman briefly mentioned Latvia on his show on 24th April. Letterman’s reason for playing the Latvian national anthem was to work out how many Latvians watch his show. One audience member stood up in reverence for the anthem - proof he was the only “Latvian” in the house that day. Entertainment 2012-04-28 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8134/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/8134/ The Very Rev. Dean Emeritus Vilis Vārsbergs, former president of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Latviešu ev. lut. baznīca Amerika, or LELBA) and former head of the theology program at the University of Latvia, died April 22 in Chicago, according to the church’s website. Society and Culture, Deaths 2012-04-24 http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8132/ http://latviansonline.com/reviews/article/8132/ The venerable American Latvian ensemble Čikāgas piecīši, now in their sixth decade of activity, have re-released their final (to date) studio albums – Gandrīz mājās (1991) and Vai Debesīs būs Latvija (1995), released in 2011 as one CD. 2012-04-22