Tensions in the Baltic

Kaliningrad.

"Why do people like him flourish in old age?"

The New York Times profiles Lithuanian filmmaker Jonas Mekas.

"When you say 'photocopying machine,' what do you mean?"

A dramatization of a deposition.

What should a former republic do with those "Soviet Worker" statues?

Vilnius, Lithuania considers the fate of the relics.

I also thought of Grutas Park as I started reading the article.

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation."

Putin pens an editorial in Pravda The New York Times.

UPDATE: The annotated version.

Stolichnaya says its product is not "Russian" vodka.

Responding to "Dump Russian Vodka,"  Stolichnaya asserts its vodka is made in Latvia.

A Weekend in Florence

Florence, Italy, May 1984. I didn't like Florence: it felt like a worn amusement park. The pensione did have a nice view of the Ponte Vecchio.

Energy Politics in Lithuania

"Energy is always geopolitics."

"Knitting Wars"

PBS affiliate runs ads mocking reality TV,  and knitting is one of the "punchlines."
                                                       
Precious.

Photographer Vitas Luckus

"[O]nce a prince—perhaps even a king—of the Soviet photography scene."

"Galloping in Grand Central"

"Heard NY" is not the usual flash mob.

"His intarsia sweaters this season were grumpy as well, including a cardigan knit with a motif of snarling wolves and a crew-neck with an ominous black bird."

"Mr. Bastian can mope and listen to Morrissey all he likes, but his clothes are still adorable, especially the sight of a model wearing a whole-head-covering gray cable knit hat with three-dimensional ears attached."

Do you want to knit "three-dimensional ears?" Follow the "Lamb Ear Tutorial."

"An overlooked beer destination in the Baltics."

Lithuania, The New York Times's twenty-fourth "Place[ ] to Go in 2013."

It's a precious list of places (Bhutan: "A pristine Buddhist enclave opens, with care"). But there's no mention of Romuva.

I'm glad Lithuania gets recognition. Will I go? No. I no longer travel (and I don't drink beer).

Possible Diagnostic Test for Ovarian Cancer?

"Ovarian cancer is the deadliest women’s cancer, killing 15,000 women a year in the United States – in part because it’s usually detected too late. Only 46 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive for five years or longer."

And, predictably: "But researchers warn that such tests, used for screening, can be a double-edged sword if they give false positive results that send patients down a rabbit hole of invasive tests and needless treatments."

A restaurant review ...

… forgets that sarcasm is a dish best served cold.

"Language of Lithuania"

"Of all the European languages the Lithuanian has the largest number of diminutives expressing tenderness, endearment and affection."

That's why my Mom still calls me "Irutytė" (Irene = Irena ® Irutė (diminutive of "Irena") ® Irutytė (diminutive of "Irutė").

(Via New York Times archive.)

Thanks to my friend GV for pointing out this archived piece to me.