The man is eying a chair of Riga Mayor, which prolly is a good thing. And looks like he’s fitting in just as nice.

I observe the Transportation industry in Latvia for several years now, that’s why former minister Shlesers’ work has not went unnoticed. Perhaps because of my past in-depth interest in railways development and building of Rail Baltica – my ex missuz, Olga, is transport & logistics specialist, so couple years ago, when we were cooking the Masters work together, I had even been to a meeting in the Ministry of Transport, doing research.. Perhaps because I have went to sea myself, and am still interested in what’s going on in shipping, ports and around ‘em.. Perhaps because I like to fly and follow Riga Airport’s success.. Perhaps because Mr. Shlesers himself has managed to gain attention with his charisma, positiveness, targeted actions..

But perhaps, however, that is a perfect job of PR peeps. As a Communications Pro, I know of course what’s behind all of this. I know how this type of political papers and publications in those are being born. I know how thoroughly the questions to “ask” in the interview with Shlesers are chosen. I know how many times it’s thought and rethought back and forth, what and where, in what order to feature..

Nothing bad here though – a brand is being built, attractive package in the making, all for a good, quality product. Similarly like cottage cheese snack “Kārums” or, for instance, “Zelta Zivtiņa“. Only that, here it’s essential for the product to be made as delicious when the time pass and not to change for bad – which sometimes happens with politicians. Promises given during the election campaigns often wind up not fulfilled. That’s why hopefully everything that Shlesers & Co are talking about will be carried out in case of his win.

Gotta wish some luck, a good one, especially that there’s my Maritime schoolmate, Pavels Rebenoks, proudly occupying #51 on LPP/LC election list. Big Time!

Maybe I feel like that cause I was shooting hoops over in Pardaugava and missed some of the live action? TV, breaking news type of live action, I mean.

The reporters seemed like nearly enjoying this mess. I don’t know but to me, this whole riot thing doesn’t look like something crazy-violent-destructive civil disorder or whatever they might call it.

Some stores damaged on Smilshu street, broken Parliament windows, police cars overturned. And no tear gas (I mean I saw a cop on TV using a hand-held spray, but that’s about it), no plastic bullets or water cannons used against the rioters. Couple hours and it’s silent.

I hear people saying that police were not ready and was kinda slow. But that’s because the whole riot was “slow”! There were no organized actions, the whole thing was chaotic, so I guess cops just stayed low-key on purpose, not to provoke the crowd. So it appears they did a pretty good job.

And after all, the rioters were several hundreds mostly drunk youth who stayed in the Old Town following the protest on the Doma Square. Thousands of protestants who gathered on the Square demanding the Parliament resignation were peaceful and bounced away in a few hours.

Thanks God it’s all over though.

More than 100 arrested, tens hurt and hospitalized – and do we need it? If the Parliament resigns, will shit change? I guess it just stays the same.

He has told that Government’s aim by fall ‘08 is to “come to inflation lower than a two-digit number. I can’t  tell you now, whether it’s seven or eight percents, but this is our aim”.

Obviously, Mr. Godmanis meant that the aim is to reach a single digit inflation – I guess 9.9% also falls in that category. I thought, well, sounds alright to me, at least not in the double digits – 9, 8, 7. Let’s see what it brings us to.

Later on, TV*Net came back with a screaming headline like “Godmanis: Our aim is 7 or 8 percent inflation”. Sensational. Let it be it though.

Still, that’s inflation. Unstoppable like a ninja sword, slicing its way through our wallets and bank accounts leaving nothing behind.

Let’s just trust that things are actually gonna get better, thanks to our new primie, the wizard-looking bearded Godmanis (I guess his last name means “good man”?). Don’t let us down G.

Ar glābšanas vestēm virsū aiz borta izlekuši Ārlietu ministrs Pabriks un Ekonomikas ministrs Strods. Štokenbergu izgrūda (nu var būt arī pats uzprasījās), visbeidzot vakar (jakar!) – Labklājības ministre Staķe nolaidusi glābšanas laivu un jau visiem spēkiem airē prom no grimstoša m/k (motorkuģis = Ministru kabinets).

Pats kapteinis droši stāv uz klāja. “Nav iemesla panikai!” Vismaz tā viņu attēlo šodienas Час..

Nē, mīļie, iemesls ir. Kuģis jau grimst!! Vienkārši panikas nav. To jau zin jebkurš jūrnieks, it īpaši tik gudrs un pieredzējis kapteinis, kā Mr. Kalvītis. Avārijas situācijā vietas panikai NAV! Visiem mierīgi jāglābjas, jāsaglabā augsts prāts un jāpalīdz atstāt kuģis arī citiem. Un kapteinis, kā zināms, paliek uz borta un atstāj peldlīzekli pēdējais.

Ja paveicas.