...is usually nothing to write home about (at best). But I have to agree with my friend Damon that this is the best Lithuanian pop song I've heard in quite a while.
By the way, he's not singing about the airport (the video was filmed at Vilnius International Airport). The song's about a woman who doesn't get wet despite the rain (which is an almost constant phenomenon here, except in the winter when the rain becomes snow).
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Thursday, 19 February 2009
The Hunt for Mr Prawo Jazdy
A funny story from the BBC involving a mysterious Pole who is Ireland's worst driver.
The mystery of Ireland's worst driver
Thanks for that, Phil.
The mystery of Ireland's worst driver
Thanks for that, Phil.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Prices in Lithuania not much different from prices in other EU countries
This article, which I found here, caught my eye. Now if salaries would just catch up... I'd even be happy with 75% of the average in western Europe. According to what I found at this website, the average salary in the EU is EUR 32,414 (USD 41,538) and the average salary in eastern European countries is less than EUR 10,000 (USD 12,815). That sounds about right. In countries like Denmark, the UK, and Germany, the average annual salary is around EUR 40,000 (USD 51,259).
Here's my translation of the article.
Average prices in Lithuania little different from those in other EU countries
According to a new European Commission consumer price report, average prices in Lithuania are not smaller than those in other European Union countries. As reported today in the newspaper Latvijas Avize, the cheapest potatoes (EUR .54/USD .69) can be found in Latvia. For comparison, a kilogram of potatoes costs EUR .90/USD 1.15 in Lithuania, .62/.79 in Poland, and 1.56/2.00 in Ireland.
Milk costs .79/1.01 in Lithuania, .84/1.08 in Latvia and Poland, and 1.12/1.44 in Ireland.
Butter however costs more in Latvia (1.59/2.04) than it does in other countries. In neighboring countries it costs 1.35/1.73. A cup of coffee costs .78/1.00 in Lithuania, 1.08/1.38 in Latvia, and 1.38/1.77 in Poland.
Prices for clothing were not given.
(Prices below in EUR)
Product Ireland Latvia Lithuania Poland
white bread 1.04 0.71 0.70 0.63
pork (kg) - 5.33 4.39 3.72
chicken (kg) 4.37 2.66 2.48 1.87
milk (l) 1.12 0.84 0.79 0.84
eggs (10) 3.05 1.32 1.26 1.19
butter (kg) 1.30 1.59 1.35 1.35
carrots (kg) 1.37 1.05 0.83 0.91
potatoes (kg) 1.56 0.54 0.90 0.62
orange juice (l) 1.75 1.07 1.20 1.27
beer (l) - 1.38 1.29 1.41
newspaper - 0.53 0.51 0.41
cup of coffee - 1.08 0.78 1.38
Here's my translation of the article.
Average prices in Lithuania little different from those in other EU countries
According to a new European Commission consumer price report, average prices in Lithuania are not smaller than those in other European Union countries. As reported today in the newspaper Latvijas Avize, the cheapest potatoes (EUR .54/USD .69) can be found in Latvia. For comparison, a kilogram of potatoes costs EUR .90/USD 1.15 in Lithuania, .62/.79 in Poland, and 1.56/2.00 in Ireland.
Milk costs .79/1.01 in Lithuania, .84/1.08 in Latvia and Poland, and 1.12/1.44 in Ireland.
Butter however costs more in Latvia (1.59/2.04) than it does in other countries. In neighboring countries it costs 1.35/1.73. A cup of coffee costs .78/1.00 in Lithuania, 1.08/1.38 in Latvia, and 1.38/1.77 in Poland.
Prices for clothing were not given.
(Prices below in EUR)
Product Ireland Latvia Lithuania Poland
white bread 1.04 0.71 0.70 0.63
pork (kg) - 5.33 4.39 3.72
chicken (kg) 4.37 2.66 2.48 1.87
milk (l) 1.12 0.84 0.79 0.84
eggs (10) 3.05 1.32 1.26 1.19
butter (kg) 1.30 1.59 1.35 1.35
carrots (kg) 1.37 1.05 0.83 0.91
potatoes (kg) 1.56 0.54 0.90 0.62
orange juice (l) 1.75 1.07 1.20 1.27
beer (l) - 1.38 1.29 1.41
newspaper - 0.53 0.51 0.41
cup of coffee - 1.08 0.78 1.38
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Musical instruments
If I had a workshop, I would have to try to make some of the musical instruments this guy has made. Check out his site: http://dennishavlena.com/. Lots of links to other instrument makers and musicians as well.
And a word for the day: limnology--'The scientific study of the life and phenomena of fresh water, especially lakes and ponds'.
And a word for the day: limnology--'The scientific study of the life and phenomena of fresh water, especially lakes and ponds'.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Flight of the Conchords
I was looking over top-10 music lists on NPR the other day and noticed that Flight of the Conchords was on the listeners' list. I decided to do some research and here is what I found:
Music:
Business Time
Comedy Sketches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8cRtCIzIbI&NR=1
Dave's Pearls of Wisdom
Racism
Bret & Coco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvyLfN9mZs
Of course, that's just a small sample of these guys on YouTube.
Music:
Business Time
Comedy Sketches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8cRtCIzIbI&NR=1
Dave's Pearls of Wisdom
Racism
Bret & Coco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvyLfN9mZs
Of course, that's just a small sample of these guys on YouTube.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Drinking and driving
Drinking and driving. Somehow the two activities seem to be inextricably linked here, even though the laws against drunken driving were tightened up at the beginning of the year (look here for more information). Here's my translation of a recent article I found here.
459 drunken drivers caught in 1 week
In one week, police officers tested the sobriety of 39,397 drivers. A total of 459 drunken drivers were caught. The police department announced that 331 drivers were mildly intoxicated [.41–1.5 permille], 143 had a medium degree of intoxication [1.51–2.5 permille], and 48 were seriously intoxicated [>2.51 permille].
In Lithuania, as in many other European countries, the police organized a special campaign to test the sobriety of drivers on 8–14 December.
The initiator of this campaign was the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).
The most drunken drivers were found in Kaunas County (88), Panevezys County (55), Vilnius County (53), and Siauliai County (51).
During a similar campaign that took place in Lithuania in December last year (10–16), 518 drunken drivers were caught.
During another campaign that was organized by TISPOL and took place on 2–8 June, police caught 491 drunken drivers.
459 drunken drivers caught in 1 week
In one week, police officers tested the sobriety of 39,397 drivers. A total of 459 drunken drivers were caught. The police department announced that 331 drivers were mildly intoxicated [.41–1.5 permille], 143 had a medium degree of intoxication [1.51–2.5 permille], and 48 were seriously intoxicated [>2.51 permille].
In Lithuania, as in many other European countries, the police organized a special campaign to test the sobriety of drivers on 8–14 December.
The initiator of this campaign was the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).
The most drunken drivers were found in Kaunas County (88), Panevezys County (55), Vilnius County (53), and Siauliai County (51).
During a similar campaign that took place in Lithuania in December last year (10–16), 518 drunken drivers were caught.
During another campaign that was organized by TISPOL and took place on 2–8 June, police caught 491 drunken drivers.
In the first 11 months of this year, 469 traffic accidents were caused by drunken drivers, 38.3% (or 291 accidents) fewer than the amount that were caused by drunken drivers in that time period of the preceding year. That amounts to 10.4% of all registered automobile accidents in which people are injured. Of the accidents caused by intoxicated drivers, 42 people lost their lives (29 fewer [than in 2007]) and 709 were injured (445 fewer [than in 2007]).
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Vandalism
There seems to be a lot of mindless, pointless vandalism like this (http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/article.php?id=18777655--visit to see the photos) going on here. I just don't get it. The article's old, but anyway here's my translation of (most of) it:
Record number of bus stops destroyed over weekend (80)
In the capital [Vilnius] Monday morning, people driving by Cathedral Square on their way to work could see signs of vandalism at public transport stops--broken glass and a nearby telephone booth completely destroyed.
Similar scenes could be seen at Opera stop on Gostauto Street--broken glass and a broken frame.
According to Vadimas Komarskis, advertising manager for JC Decaux, the firm that takes care of the stops, every Monday it is necessary to repair more than a dozen stops that have been vandalized over the weekend.
"I'm not talking about the scribbling and graffiti that is hard to remove. What I have in mind is the serious vandalism, when glass is broken and the frames are bent", Komarskis said. "Just the glass costs about LTL 200 (EUR 58/USD 79), and that's not including the costs of labor and transport. Fixing up one of those stops is an expensive proposition."
According to Komarskis, it is really difficult to break the glass at the stops. "There's no way you could break it with your fist. A brick is needed. That's good tempered safety glass, so that it will not break easily and injure people waiting at the stop."
From 10 to 20 stops are seriously vandalized over an average weekend. There are 415 public transport stops in the city.
The firm buys glass and parts in advance and is not afraid that it will run out of spare parts.
Record number of bus stops destroyed over weekend (80)
In the capital [Vilnius] Monday morning, people driving by Cathedral Square on their way to work could see signs of vandalism at public transport stops--broken glass and a nearby telephone booth completely destroyed.
Similar scenes could be seen at Opera stop on Gostauto Street--broken glass and a broken frame.
According to Vadimas Komarskis, advertising manager for JC Decaux, the firm that takes care of the stops, every Monday it is necessary to repair more than a dozen stops that have been vandalized over the weekend.
"I'm not talking about the scribbling and graffiti that is hard to remove. What I have in mind is the serious vandalism, when glass is broken and the frames are bent", Komarskis said. "Just the glass costs about LTL 200 (EUR 58/USD 79), and that's not including the costs of labor and transport. Fixing up one of those stops is an expensive proposition."
According to Komarskis, it is really difficult to break the glass at the stops. "There's no way you could break it with your fist. A brick is needed. That's good tempered safety glass, so that it will not break easily and injure people waiting at the stop."
From 10 to 20 stops are seriously vandalized over an average weekend. There are 415 public transport stops in the city.
The firm buys glass and parts in advance and is not afraid that it will run out of spare parts.
Komarkis said that the stops in outlying parts of the city where there are fewer police patrolling are constantly being vandalized. "But on the weekends the entire city is a risk zone. Drunken people leave bars and begin vandalizing things. So, we're forced to clean up their mess."
According to Liucija Boreseviciene, the head of the 3rd Police Precinct in Vilnius, it isn't often that the police are informed about such incidents of vandalism. "In September only one such incident was reported by a passer-by", the official said.
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