the w()rd: Ratianis' Ushguli Blog Update

Check out what's new over at http://lileo-ushguli.blogspot.com/
I've added a couple of slideshows from my photos of the guesthouse and the village; and also their new business card and bookmark for you to print for yourself, free, as many copies as you need.

the w()rd: 5k TODAY!

Yes, I was right - today was the big day. Thank you again, all of you. Because of you I keep this thing going. Gush gush.

Here's an idea: Go to http://www.wordcount.org/main.php and play a game. Give yourself a point every time you choose a word which moves further down the scale of use, i.e. score if your words get progressively rarer. Subtract a point every time this is not the case. See how well you know English in this context!

the w()rd: 5000 tomorrow?

Looks like I'll reach that nice round number of viewers, 5x10^3, within the next 24 hours or so. Not much for 13-odd months of this blog's existence, but better than, say, *1*k. Thank you all, from all 73 countries (+ Papua New Guinea coming under Australia!) who have stopped by. More photos and words to follow, from some familiar and some new locations. Stay tuned, faithful 5k.

Here (top 2 photos) are Dato (l) and Zakro (r) working on the ice canal outside their houses in late March, to channel the water so that it wouldn't flow all over their yards. The ice, accumulated over the winter from a small stream, was unusually thick this season - up to 1 metre. The last remnants of it were just disappearing as I left Ushguli on April 23.

The bottom picture is what happens when Ushguli has been without electricity for 10 days but our TV programme - the one which Lasha and Levan had come and made - is airing. ONE house in the village (as far as I know) has a generator. So 29 of us crowded in there to watch our 6 minutes of fame. And here are 10 of our cellphones getting recharged at the same time, watched by Laerti.