Today is World Health Day. It has been observed since 1950, and since 1995 each World Health Day has had a sub-theme. This year, on 7 April 2015, the focus is on food safety.
Unlike old incandescent bulbs, where the only determining factor was wattage (W), with LED things are a little more complex - there are several parameters worth knowing and considering when buying an LED bulb.
Continuing the series of articles on words of wisdom from various peoples, this time we head decidedly eastward. As is well known, Easterners have achieved many insights on matters of life harmony, peace, accord with nature, self-discipline and respect between generations.
I decided to compile words of wisdom from various peoples - sayings that not only characterise a particular nation's outlook on life, but also vividly reflect its mentality. This time, the richness of sayings from Italy. From such a vital people as the Italians - passionate, vibrant and distinctive - each of us can learn something.
The almost two-hour tour for approximately thirty interested visitors was led by historian Juris Berže, who mainly outlined the history of the neighbourhood's development and focused on examples of wooden architecture that have given Čiekurkalns its individual character over the years - an undeniable value worth recognising, restoring and preserving for future generations.
With the 96th anniversary of national independence approaching on 18 November, the idea arose to look into the history and gather the most interesting facts and images about one of the symbols of the people's freedom - the Freedom Monument.
While browsing old photographic postcards, I noticed that the most amusing ones feature animals that are attributed human qualities or that involuntarily imitate us, thus allowing us to look at ourselves from the outside. Then, while Googling, I stumbled upon a series of interesting facts about animals that I hadn't known before. Perhaps you'll find a discovery or two as well.
The film emphasises Russia's greatness and strength, but provides no answers to several fundamental questions. The enemy is clearly identified - the West - yet it is entirely unclear in which direction Russia wishes to develop, and it does not appear that this question has preoccupied the film's authors either. Evidently the barn is empty and it is time to go raiding.
Looking back into more distant history or the very recent past, there were several publications and books that were strictly forbidden to read or quote. All bans were, of course, primarily related to restrictions on free thought in society. I was surprised to learn that Latvia today also has a list of banned books.
Rashism - a quasi-ideology that emerged in the early 21st century in the territory of the Russian Federation. It encompasses an eclectic and contradictory mixture of imperialism, Great Russian chauvinism, Soviet nostalgia and traditional religiosity. A symbiosis of fascist and Stalinist ideologies.