Lithuanian medals

With NBC as my main Olympic news source, I've understandably lost track entirely of non-US results. In fact, it's really hard to find full results and non-US results on their site. It took quite a bit of search to track down what medals Lithuania has won so far:

2008 Olympics: All Medalists
-Track & Field Bronze V. Alekna Men's Discus Throw

-Sailing Silver G. VOLUNGEVICIUTE Laser Radial

-Wrestling Bronze M. MIZGAITIS Men's Greco-Roman 120 kg

Go Lithuania!

Hadid to design Guggenheim Vilnius

My mom's been working with Vilnius, the Guggenheim, and the Hermitage on this for a long time, and now it's that much closer to a reality:

Zaha Hadid to Design Planned Museum in Lithuania
By John Varoli

April 9 (Bloomberg) -- Zaha Hadid won a competition to design a museum in Vilnius, Lithuania, that may partly serve as an exhibition space for the New York-based Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the St. Petersburg-based State Hermitage Museum, the museums said today.

The U.K.-based, Iraqi-born architect beat Daniel Libeskind of the U.S. and Italy's Massimiliano Fuksas. The six-person jury included Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky, Guggenheim Director Thomas Krens and Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas.

Hadid won the 2004 Pritzker Prize, an annual award considered the Nobel Prize for architecture. (more)

You can view the three entries at the links below. I like the Fuksas one best, but I think that's cuz his video features some Herb Alpert-esque music about one minute in. Libeskind's design bored me. Zaha's is fine. The architecture wizard has spoken!

- Daniel Libeskind video
- Zaha Hadid video
- Massimilliano Fuksas video


-dr-

More on ACOG and RCOG

Here's the beginning of a statement that the American College of Gynecologists released earlier this month:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reiterates its long-standing opposition to home births. While childbirth is a normal physiologic process that most women experience without problems, monitoring of both the woman and the fetus during labor and delivery in a hospital or accredited birthing center is essential because complications can arise with little or no warning even among women with low-risk pregnancies. (more)

Here's an April 2007 statement from the Royal College of Gynecologists:

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) support home birth for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. There is no reason why home birth should not be offered to women at low risk of complications and it may confer considerable benefits for them and their families. There is ample evidence showing that labouring at home increases a woman’s likelihood of a birth that is both satisfying and safe, with implications for her health and that of her baby. (more)

Here are some maternal mortality rates from the WHO...see for yourself who does better:

Maternal mortality rate:
Italy: 3 per 100,000
U.K.: 8 per 100,000
Lithuania: 11 per 100,000
U.S.: 11 per 100,000

Lifetime risk of maternal death:
Italy: 1 in 26,600
U.K.: 1 in 8,200
Lithuania: 1 in 7,800
U.S.: 1 in 4,800
(more - pdf)

Hmmmm.....


-dr-

World Ploughing Championships

I heard that Lithuania invested a disappointing $3.5 million on this:




Disappointing because I think that $3.5m could probably have been better spent on......ANYTHING ELSE!

-dr-

My Best Friend's Wedding

A very happy camper in Lithuania.

So, remember how I was a best man? Well, Aro wedding was last weekend, and it was a blast. And it wasn't just the wedding itself, but the entire week leading up to it was a trip. It was good to finally meet Special Lady (now Very Special Lady) and Special Baby, and to see Aras in his element. It made me excited for my own upcoming wedding celebration, and I definitely took notes (note to self: do not say that marriage is not for love).

Great to see Sarunas after a prolonged absence from my life, and I enjoyed getting to know the other best men, Sean and Peanut. Of course, Vaiva, Jim, Siga, Liepa, Lokys, Sirvydas, Donkus, Gedas, Egle, Juste, Rastenis, Neringa, all added to the blast-having.

So many great experiences on this trip -- walking from Preila to Nida, hanging out by the Nida lighthouse, going to Gruto Parkas (Stalin World) for the first time since it's been completed, Hill of Crosses, eating kibinai in Trakai, towing a car with rope, traditional Lithuanian sauna, major barbecue, fancy apartments, menu and kitchen misunderstandings, and best of all, Aro wedding.

Everything from the ceremony to the food, the dancing, the traditions, were top notch. Well, except for maybe our rendition of Rezginele, which we ended agreeing that "the crowd probably couldn't tell we messed up." We practiced it for 2 1/2 days, and our dress rehearsal was conducted without the all-important sashes, so I think we're excused.

Thanks, Arai, for having such a great wedding, wife, kid, and life.

-dr-

Orange you glad I didn't say bike share?

Apparently, NYC is trying out a small-scale bike share program that the New York Times raved about a couple of days ago:
Times article on bike sharing

I'm sure that program would be a major success. Especially if they'd try it up here in the Bronx, where people steal anything from garbage to ... well, I guess garbage is about as low as you can sink.

Vilnius, Lithuania tried a bike share. The famously orange bikes ALL disappeared off the streets within 48 hours (it took longer than 24 hours because they were released in 2 waves of 500). They showed up in parts at the flea market, on eBay, and in the river. Which is why I was surprised back in February, when the city put out a poorly translated press release calling for a new generation orange bicycle.

Give me a break...run of the mill Lithuanians cannot be trusted with something like that.

-dr-

Motherland

Having a grand old time here in Lithuania! In Klaipeda now visiting Aras' college and spending some time with his wife-to-be and adorable kid.

Weather is fantastic and the company even fantasticer. Just waiting for Vaiva and some others to get into town, and we'll be off to Nida for a night and then back to the capital for festivities leading up to the wedding.

-dr-

And I'm off

Going to lithuania for the week for Aras' (http://arasvebra.blogspot.com) wedding. Just ralizing now how long it's been since I've been on a transatlantic flight.

Kinda excited to get a few drinks in me and do the thousand things I've been putting off till now, but probably won't anyway.

Dinner with Mekas, Krens, and Zuokas

What a night! My mom has been working towards completing a deal with the Guggenheim to open a museum in Vilnius, Lithuania in partnership with the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Friday night, during the freak snow/ice storm, I had the opportunity to sup with men who are legends in their fields - Thomas Krens (Director of the Guggenheim Foundation), Jonas Mekas (godfather of avant-garde film), and Arturas Zuokas (Mayor of Vilnius).

Mekas and Krens were very chatty, and Krens ended up interviewing Mekas about his first ten years in the US. He took notes on his placemat about Mekas coming out in Times Square to his meeting Andy Warhol before running out of space. The three signed the "historical document" and vowed it would sell for thousands (one in our party recommended holding on to it for 15 years and selling it for $15m).

The discussion ranged from motorcycles to life's complexities. It even included a call to Lauren Hutton.

The wine-laden dinner at Chinatown Brasserie ended with a mad dash to try to catch cabs in the snow-covered streets. Pictures to come...

-dr-

Kur Viktoras?

Here's a funny site that jokes about the where...abouts of one of Lithuania's most popular politicians, Viktoras Uspaskich, the title means "Where's Viktor?"  Viktoras left Lithuania for Russia amid allegations of corruption, specifically of siphoning EU funds into kickbacks for his party's members:

http://blogas.lt/kurviktoras

Welcome to Lithuania

welcometolithuania.mov
-dr-

Aussie: Lithuania No Longer Republic

Darwin, Australia resident Roman Dambski has proclaimed himself de jure King of Lithuania:

Lithuania is no longer a Republic.

On 24 May 2005, by virtue of his de jure sovereignty, in the tradition of uncrowned Lithuanian Kings Gediminas and Vytutis (sic.) the Great, Grand Prince Roman assumed the title King of Lithuania and, further, proclaimed Lithuania a Kingdom in perpetuity, to be democratically ruled according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Official transition matters and date for his coronation have still to be arranged.

To learn about buying nobility, read the posting at the above link...

-dr-

Thanksgiving in Vilnius

Hey folks! Out of town this week in Vilnius, Lithuania, getting my turkey on over in a country where every single turkey is sold to the US embassy if there are any left on Thanksgiving Day. Gearing up for a big housewarming party tomorrow...more info on return...

Happy Thanksgiving!

-dr-

From Russia with ejector seats

Russian Jet Violates Lithuanian Airspace, Crashes

Despite an apology from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov for the crash of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet on Lithuanian territory and a promise to his colleague Gediminas Kirkilas that Moscow will pay for all the damage done, Lithuania refuses to release the Russian pilot or to return the jet’s black box to Russian defense authorities, Interfax news agency reported.

more...

As you find out later in the article, there was apparently no ammunition on board, and the jet posed no threat (except that it was crashing). I think that Lithuania is right in proceeding with caution and holding the pilot and black box. Ivanov can have a seat until Lithuania's done with Major Truyanov.

-dr-