How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
Author: Franklin Foer
Who knew you could learn so much about globalization, economics and politics from soccer? Great read.
Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Author: Julia Cameron
One possible path to re-discovering the creativity you never knew you had.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, New Edition
Author: Jared Diamond
An admirable crack at explaining why the world is the way it is by way of an anthropological macro-history. This book probably comes up the most in conversation as we travel.
The Cathedral Within: Transforming Your Life by Giving Something Back
Author: Bill Shore
Inspiring profiles of social entrepreneurs and projects we all can learn from and hopefully replicate to give back to community.
Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation
Author: John Carlin
Although the storyline is built around the South African rugby team and the 1995 World Cup, this book is more about Nelson Mandela and how he was able to unite a divided country. Inspiring.
Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown
Author: Paul Theroux
The author re-visits Africa and re-assesses the place he once knew... and judges it once and for all. Well written, poignant observations of the thumbprints left by career politicians, aid workers, and everyday people.
Outliers: The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
A look at the internal and external factors of how extraordinary people got to be, well, extraordinary. One of those books that challenges assumptions and makes you think differently.
Shantaram: A Novel
Author: Gregory David Roberts
Administering first aid in a Bombay slum, selling fake passports and running guns to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Technically a novel, but closely linked to the Author's own experiences. Fantastic read.
An old school Baltic woodcarving workshop, unusual and cavernous. Where good secrets are hidden, work is done by hand with careful strokes, and old fragments beg to be rediscovered by a good walk in the basement. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Panorama by: Daniel Noll
5 Comments | 2 August 2011
Visit any European central square on a weekend, and along with the wedding parties in celebration and the locals in transit, you are likely to find tourists shutterbugging away. As evidence, we offer Vilnius’ Cathedral Square (Katedros aikštė). Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Panorama, Photography by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
5 Comments | 23 July 2010
The Baltics. Reminiscent of a bargain property on the original Monopoly board; not to be confused with the powder keg Balkans; a region whose history features intermittent eras of independence and occupation; and a place whose emotional pendulum swings between the almost white nights of its brief summers and the steel wool grayness of its long winters.
Home to over seven million people and three distinct languages and cultures, the Baltic region comprises the countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Now, a virtual show of hands: who knows where the Baltics are? Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Latvia, Lithuania, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
9 Comments | 8 December 2008
Unless you just rose from the dead, you are probably aware that today – November 4, 2008 – is election day in the United States.
Sharing photos from Vilnius, Lithuania may seem irrelevant on such a momentous day, but it was from there where we voted for the next U.S. President (by absentee ballot) and sank into the quagmire of election news fixation. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania, Photography, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
4 Comments | 4 November 2008
Just another reason to love autumn in Vilnius, Lithuania. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
4 Comments | 9 October 2008
Autumn days. The sun pulls up short. The light bends. The days shorten. We exchange the coming of winter for the changing of the leaves.
Today, in the midst of Mother Nature’s machinations, a double rainbow appeared outside the window overlooking the Church of St. Teresa in Vilnius, Lithuania. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania, Photography by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
5 Comments | 29 September 2008
On Friday, I had my first recording gig in Vilnius, Lithuania. I played “a typical American woman abroad” in a local radio advertisement.
“So what does a typical American woman abroad sound like?” you ask. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania, Perspectives by: Audrey Scott
6 Comments | 15 September 2008
“Bogartin’ on Gordi!”
That’s what Russia is doing in Gori, Georgia – at least according to Angelo Moore, the lead singer of the ska-funk band Fishbone. Our conversation with Angelo takes place at the be2gether summer music festival , on the border of Lithuania and Belarus.
Even so, Angelo had a bit of trouble placing Lithuania and Belarus – and Russia and Georgia, too. But who wouldn’t?
Check out the video. It gives a taste of the be2gether festival atmosphere and finishes with Angelo’s take on international affairs. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Humor, Lithuania, Travel, Videos by: Daniel Noll
4 Comments | 23 August 2008
Last Friday, I had the good fortune to make it across the Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania alive on a 20-hour bus. And I did so just in time to attend the 2nd annual gathering of be2gether, a summer music festival on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania, Perspectives, Travel by: Daniel Noll
No Comments | 22 August 2008
