FEAST OR FAMINE

Two hours southeast of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is the unique 6th century David Gareji complex of Monastery caves. The majority of the complex is in Georgia with part of it across the border in Azerbaijan. In Georgia the complex is spread over 25 km of arid landscape in the Kakheti region, with hundreds of buildings and churches built into rocks and cliffs, many of them still inhabited by monks. The complex unites approximately twenty monasteries, including the St. John the Baptist Monastery located within the David-Gareji Wilderness. Presently only three of these monasteries are functional. The monasteries were often attacked by foreign invaders. In the 11th century the complex was destroyed by Seljuk Turks; in the 13th century by Mongols; and in  the17th century by Persians. After Tsarist Russia occupied The Kingdom of Georgia, David Gareji was abandoned twice (in 1811-1917 and from 1922-1980s). After Georgia became an independent state in 1991, monastery life unde

Georgians claim to have the world's oldest person. Living in a remote mountain village is a woman who celebrated her 130th birthday on June 8, 2010. Her age cannot be independently verified because her birth certificate was lost, but officials, neighbors, friends and descendants have testified that she is indeed the age she states. The official oldest person in the world, recognized by the Gerontology Research Group, is a 114 year old woman from Saint Barthelemy in France. Antisa Khvichava retired from her job as a tea and corn picker in 1965 when she was 85 years old. She has a one 40 year old son (and 2 children from a previous marriage, both of whom died in World War II from hunger), 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren. Her 70 year old son was born when she was sixty, so she says. She lives with her 40 year old grandson. She stays in bed most of the time (and has done so for the past 7 years). But she does walk to the outhouse on

The Georgian Journal reports that bread prices have risen by 5 tetri (3 cents) since the beginning of July. Globally, bread prices, over the past four years have increased slightly due to low harvest forecast. Russia (that produces 60% of Georgia's wheat import) reduced its harvest forecast by 5 million tons - from 90 million in 2009 to an estimated 85 million tons. In addition to Russia's 60%, Georgia imports 35% from Ukraine and Kazakhstan. There is also heavy competition among mills in Georgia. The working capacity of Georgian flour producers is 3,000 tons per day while Georgians consume 1,000 tons daily. Another problem is the lack of locally produced wheat - it is just 5% of the entire consumption of the country - with 100-200 thousands tons per year. Georgia consumes 800 thousand tons per year. If wheat producers yield 200 thousand tons per year, it's considered to be a rich harvest. Last year they produced 100 thousand tons. During Soviet times, Geo

From the project office in the suburb of Vera in Tbilisi, Georgia, the rear view is a couple of blocks of high-rise apartments - old, dilapidated, Soviet-style. Children chase each other in the small park below, and men play cards while women wash clothes. They hang them on twine between trees or on their balconies. On one balcony is a bathtub. It's probably never used on the balcony. Not even during the heat-wave over the past week or 10 days. The daytime temperature reached 39-46C. A bathtub on the balcony would seem quite useful in such a heat-wave.

The first half of 2010 has been a time of unprecedented natural disasters – 440 recorded events (the second highest for a six month period in 10 years since 2000). Three major earthquakes have struck around the globe: Haiti, Chile, and China. On January 12, the Haiti earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale and lasting barely a minute, devastated the region, killing an estimated 223,000 people with many more injured, homeless, or psychologically affected. On February 27, the Chilean earthquake was more severe at 8.8 on the Richter scale – the fifth largest ever measured. The lower death toll of 521 is attributed to the earthquake-resistant construction standards. The third earthquake occurred in April, claiming 2,700 lives. Most of the recorded deaths attributed to natural disasters are those that occurred within a short period of time after the event – not usually months or years after (mainly due to the high degree of speculation and lack of evidence). In addition

Conversations on the Dark Secrets of Physics by Edward Teller, Wendy Teller and Wilson Talley (2002) The origin and so-called ‘secrets’ of quantum physics are revealed for the general reader. To be specific, it is a book about quantum mechanics, the uncertainty principle, and the explanation of the structure of matter. Edward Teller was, and there is a dispute about this in the physics world, the “father of the H-Bomb”. J Robert Oppenheimer, who recruited Teller in 1943 to work with him, and against whom Teller testified in 1954 security hearings, probably had a different name for him. Teller believes that science illiteracy is in increasingly great danger to the western society: “young people must be exposed to science both because it is useful and because it is fun.” Unfortunately, there is no fun in this book. Wading through the morass of formulae on relativity, wave-particle dualism, the correspondence principle, and statistical mechanics is almost certain to

Georgia's Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection have opened a tender process for any architects, sculptures and artists - international and local - to participate in the design of a monument dedicated to the victims killed during the August 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict. A statue of Stalin will be replaced with the new monument. For information: http://www.mcs.gov.ge/ Email submissions: memoriali@mcs.gov.ge

Along the wide main street of Tbilisi, Rustaveli Street, are wide footpaths. And on the wide footpaths are hundreds of benches. Benches under trees, benches outside cafes, benches near shops, just plenty of benches. There are benches everywhere - at  tourist sites, near churches and cathedrals, in parks and gardens, outside theatres and cinemas, near government buildings, and near metro stations. There's never more than a few metres between benches. People meet, sit and talk on the benches. People check or re-arrange their shopping on the benches. Lovers sit and cuddle on the benches. Older people on the benches watch younger people on the benches. Children play on the benches. Mothers rest on the benches. Friends wait for friends on the benches. It's pleasant to walk around the city, rest awhile, and continue on your way. It's wonderful to sit on a bench and admire the architecture of an old building, the renovation of a dilapidated building, or the constr

Georgian traditional dancing is rich is color and movement, as well as symbolism and emotion. Even the Kartuli, or wedding dance, is romantic and sensual - although the couple never touches, the man keeps his eyes focused on the woman while she dances demurely with her eyes downcast. The war dances are fast paced with skilful turns, leaps, and clashes of knives. Dancing with a wine bottle on your head is impressive to see. But watch their feet - small, fast steps can change rapidly into kicks and leaps.

On one side of my apartment I see the Mother of Georgia. On the opposite side, I face Freedom Square. Freedom Square (a circle: a large cobblestoned roundabout) was formerly known as Erivan Square (actually Paskevich Yerevanski Square, after a Russian general) under Imperial Russia in the 1870s and Lenin Square during Soviet times. In the middle was a statue of Lenin, which was taken down in August 1991. On November 23, 2006, the Freedom Monument was unveiled. It is a monument or column, commonly called the Liberty Monument or the St George Statue. St George appears on a gilded horse, slaying a dragon. The statue, 60 metres high, can be seen from most parts of the city. It depicts St George, the Dragon Slayer, and appears on Georgia's coat of arms, representing victory over evil. It is the symbol of freedom and independence for the Georgian nation. Yerevan Square in 1870'sDuring the Soviet period, the square accommodated a large statue to Lenin, which was symb