Memorabilia

Summit, Illinois, November 14, 2015. Lithuanians love basketball.

"Krokodilo Ašaros"

Crocodile tears:

The truth is that crocodiles do not cry because they do not have the lachrymal ducts. The lachrymal ducts are unnecessary for them because they spend most of their time in water. The crocodile’s lachrymal glands produce the secretion that only moisten the eyes when an animal is out of water.

When crocodiles swallow large chunks of meat, their eyes water and it seems that they are crying. Since ancient times, people used to say that crocodiles mourned for their victims in such a way. However, crocodiles are crying because they are swallowing bigger bite than it fits in his mouth from the greed. The crocodiles’ lachrymal glands are close to the throat. Since crocodiles tear off large chunks and swallow it whole, the large chunks push against the lachrymal glands, forcing tears to their eyes in great amount.

It is believed that Roman historian Pliny was the first to explain this idiom in his work Historia Naturalis. Since than, the idiom “crocodile tears” has become the symbol of the insincerity and the fake regret[.]

 (Here's the article in Lithuanian.)

Feral Dogs

This post isn't about the cute Sochi puppies Gus Kenworthy wants to rescue. It's about the packs of Chihuahuas terrorizing an Arizona neighborhood.

Splitting Image

The blade of Lithuanian Ice Dancer Isabella Tobias's skate sliced open a seam of partner Deividas Stagniunas's pants.

A Quick Spin

Suburban Chicago, January 1963. Dad tries to interest me in Skeleton, but I don't like fast speeds.

"These people who are complaining about what is on their walls should be grateful. … At least they got one of the hotel rooms with walls."

Vladimir Putin responds to tourists "grossed out" by hotel-room photos of a "[t]opless Putin."

The World Stage

That Russian police choir performs during the Olympic opening ceremonies.

"22 Delicious Russian Foods for Your Sochi Olympics Party"

BuzzFeed makes another list.

 

There are many family favorites on the menu, including Salat Olivyeh; Borscht (see our cold version here); Cucumber and Radish Salad (a summer staple); Poppy Seed Strudel (I don't eat that; the poppy-seed filling has the texture of dirt); Golubtsy (Cabbage Rolls); Pelmeni (similar to our Koldūnai); and Apple Sharlotka.

Hey! Those rolls sitting next to the Rassolnik look like our Cabbage (or Bacon) Buns.

An Assessment of Olympic Team Uniforms

Lithuania ties for the fourth worst team uniforms. The reviewers admire the Polo U.S. outfits.

 

I rather like the Russian uniforms; the woven sashes remind me of folk costumes.

"Please do not flush toilet paper down the toilet! Put it in the bin provided."

Have the visitors to Sochi never lived on a property serviced by a septic system?

So, there.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė will not attend Sochi Olympics.

Related by Marriage: Stamp Collection

In the spring and summer of 1949, Lithuanian Displaced Persons began arriving in Chicago. The Displaced Persons Act of 1948 had temporarily opened the U.S. to the refugees from the Baltic states and other countries fleeing Soviet occupation of their countries. Between 1949 and 1951, only Polish immigrants outnumbers the Lithuanian DPs arriving in Chicago.

Both family members and charitable organizations hosted the new arrivals. Immigrants frequently relied on local, Lithuanian parishes to provide a social structure. Among the new arrivals were many young, unmarried adults. Organizations like the Catholic Knights of Lithuania provided a year-round calendar of events that introduced first generation Lithuanian-Americans to the DPs in their age groups. (Mr. Irene’s parents celebrated their wedding at the Knights of Lithuania Hall on 47th Street in Brighton Park.) 

 

Mr. Irene’s Mom took part in the Knights' social culture. She recalls that the young bachelors "from the old country" were more charming and interesting than her Chicago-born friends. 

 

Agnes, an aunt of Mr. Irene’s Mom, and her husband sponsored two young bachelors and one family. Mr. Irene’s Mom briefly dated one of the DP bachelors.  She had recently moved with her family from Bridgeport to Marquette Park. The bachelor gave Mr. Irene's Mom a memento from his time in the Würzburg DP camp. It was  a display book that held stamps issued in late 1930s Lithuania, wartime Germany, and the immediate postwar period in the DP camps.

 

 

Würzburg Displaced Persons Camp, Germany, November, 1947. This page shows a variety of German postage stamps issued in 1944.  One series illustrated local festivals, such as a shooting competition in Innsbruck in July, 1944.  Others pictured "Heroes," ranging from stylized military scenes to idyllic images of youth and family.

 

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Würzburg, Displaced Persons Camp, Germany, November, 1947. These stamps feature anniversary illustrations of the Lithuania's 1918 independence and commemoration of the trans-Atlantic flight of pilots Darius and Girenas that opened Lithuania’s international air mail service. The Lithuanian Red Cross issued the Camp Meerbeck stamps in the British Zone of postwar Germany in 1947, observing the 400th anniversary of Lithuanian book printing. Note the British stamps highlighting the 1948 Olympics and 25th anniversary of the King’s reign.

Olympic Sweaters, in Three Takes

Ralph Lauren again produced uniforms for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. This time, the garments are American made (recall the controversy that erupted during the London Olympics).
 
Wouldn't the sweaters be more attractive without the "Polo" centered on the pieces? Compare the sweaters Dale of Norway created for the Norwegian and American ski teams.

Dale of Norway also published its Olympic sweaters as knitting patterns. I've knitted variations of "Albertville" several times:

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Ski Jump

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, September 1985. Skiers at the 1956 Olympics introduced a new jumping technique that changed how athletes competed in the sport.

Here's an historical clip:

"Citizenship may be granted by exception to foreign citizens who have undisputable merits to the Lithuanian state, have integrated with the Lithuanian society and share constant factual connections with Lithuania."

Ice dancer denied Lithuanian citizenship.

Craggy

 The Dolomites are one reason Cortina d'Ampezzo served as the site of the 1956 Winter Olymics.

The Last Gold Medal

Lithuanian pentathlete Laura Asadauskaite took home the last Gold Medal awarded at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Congratulations!

"The Other Dream Team"

"The Other Dream Team" premiers next month. It's a movie about the Lithuanian 1992 Olympic Basketball team. Here's a trailer.

(Lithuanians love basketball. I'll keep watching despite today's loss.)

Thanks to my friend V for pointing this out to me.

UPDATE: Here's a review of the movie.

Valio!

Congratulations to Lithuania's Ruta Meilutytė, who today won Gold in the Women's 100-meter breaststroke.

This is a big deal for a little country.

(Via Ltnews.net.)

Is Princess Anne ...

... making the "loser" gesture?