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First Light in Kenya By Jessica Tinianow
(Published in  Summer 2005 Windy City Sports Chicago,Illinois)
Dawn breaks in Kenya. The plains of the Masai Mara are still. A herd of Thomson gazelles is grazing on the low grass. Suddenly, one runs to the outside and begins to lap the others. The lone gazelle accelerates and is galloping gracefully in ovals around the rest of the herd as if completing 200 meters on an outdoor track.
This gazelle mirrored the Kenyan running experience I had the prior week. I had participated in the first Runner’s World Kenya Running Safari and still had a runner’s high. This unique safari, organized by the magazine and Micato Safaris (www.micato.com) transported 12 Americans, one Japanese and this writer to the Northwest Highlands of Kenya, to Eldoret, a town located 3,085 meters above sea level from which most of Kenya’s elite distance runners originate.
It’s here that I journeyed into the home of Kenya’s greatest running tribe, the Kalenjin, in the highlands along the western edge of the magnificent Rift Valley. Over the course of 10 days, all of us socialized, ran and broke bread with more than 30 elite, world-class Kenyan runners.
As an avid recreational runner/triathlete I had watched Kenyans dominate many mid- and long-distance races for over 20 years. Yet before visiting Eldoret most of these runners were nameless to me except for a few of the most celebrated, like Kip Keino, Paul Tergat and Tegla Laroupe. When the Kenyans zipped by, I would clap and cheer for them collectively without any knowledge of their individual achievements. But I always wondered who these extraordinary runners were and why they were so good. What were the secrets behind all those anonymous faces?
From the moment I opened the van door and stepped onto the edge of the simple, dirt running track of Kamirriny stadium in Iten, a local Kalenjin town close to Eldoret, my surreal running experience began. Sprinting by me in midst of a morning interval workout was world-class athlete Lornah Kiplagat (see notes on all the athletes at the end). Then, my attention drifted to another three runners who ran with effortless long strides. I was told that I was watching three of Kenya’s most accomplished mid-distance medalists—Abraham Chebii, Sammy Kipketer and Ben Maiyo. A few daring souls in our group jumped in and tried to keep pace, though a running injury prevented me from joining the fray. Throngs of curious, smiling and shy schoolchildren surrounded us and squealed with delight as we gave them Bic pens and showed them our digital photos.
That afternoon I dined with Kiplagat at the training center she and her husband, Pieter, founded for young, gifted female athletes in the community. Over dinner, she shared with me her hopes and dreams for the future of female Kenyan athletes. “I encourage them to be the best they can be—they’re already doing very well,” she said.
Almost all the athletes, whether title holders or young future stars, come from impoverished backgrounds. Even with overseas race winnings they maintain strong ties to their family and community and never seem to lose a sense of their roots. The people live simply—without running water, TV or radio, but they all have enough to eat. The children walk or run to school, often barefoot in tattered school clothes.
Legendary runner Kip Keino proudly took the group on a tour through the beautiful gardens on the grounds of his training camp. He showed us where he grew pineapples, bananas and herbs, but he barely mentioned the home and school for 100 orphans that he built across the field. Brother Colm O’ Connell, a longtime coach who’d produced many champions at St. Patrick’s High School in Iten, proudly showed us his schoolyard full of trees—each one planted in honor of a graduate who went on to running fame. There was almost no room left to plant new seedlings. He shared with us the main lunch course of the student athletes, which is called githeri—a simple cooked mixture of corn and beans—as well as the other basic ingredients of their daily diet: tea, toast, meat and the aforementioned ugali. I wondered if perhaps these were the keys to the Kenyan success.
Often, celebrated athletes training and living in the Eldoret area joined our runners on casual runs along dirt roads past farms in the hills of the Rift valley. Though limited by my injury, I was able to participate in the enthusiasm of the experience.
In the hills of Chirchir I watched with envy as Eliud Kipchoge, Matthew Birir and Richard Limo ran with our group. The Kenyans jogged along as the pack descended and ascended the hills on unpaved, uneven dirt roads with beautiful panoramic vistas of the Rift Valley and its idyllic countryside at every turn of the road. Children appeared at the side of the road and stared with curiosity. It was a sight they likely had never seen before.
Overall, our group was welcomed into five training centers and five private homes. We also received an open invitation to participate in the North Rift Valley Regional XC championships in the fertile highland of Kapenguria. Nine of us signed up for the 4K and 12K races. Our team entered as the Mzungu Wazimu (crazy white people). Crazy indeed, for age, altitude and genes were all against us from the outset.
Hundreds of local villagers and children had walked miles in the scorching heat to watch and cheer on their own young talents, many of whom ran barefoot. They clearly were bewildered and bemused by the site of the Mzungu running in the searing Equatorial heat on the remote muddy dirt field. They pushed forward to get a closer look.
Our team placed last but won the hearts of the crowd. For the Kenyans, participating at Ngong meant a potential entry ticket to the next level of the African and World Championships.
I never discovered if there was really one secret to the success of Kalinjen athletes; it’s probably a combination of things. Though I suspect it’s the fact that running is more than a sport, but is instead woven into the fabric of their lives.
[Submitted by Jessica Tinianow]

I never realized that sitting in the Ravinia Pavilion I would have to duck to avoid flying objects as if I  was sitting down the foul line in Wrigley Field. Yet the flying objects at Ravinia were not errant fly balls but errant flying panties being hurled towards the stage.  The  target of their trajectory was none other  than the legendary “sex-bomb” Welsh crooner ”Tom Jones.
 At age , 69, Tom Jones still  had the ladies swooning from the moment he arrived onstage .  Deeply tanned, wearing an all black suit sans tie with open neck and   a shiny large silver cross dangling around his neck Tom Jones had the appearance of a Las Vegas showman. His schmaltzy getup and set , was supported by a strong fleet of musicians three vocalists a  strong keyboardist Frank Strauss and his music director Ric Fierabracci on guitar.
He moved easily through many of his legendary  hits including “She’s a Lady”  and “Delilah”.   The  rich soulfulness  of his voice was evident during his slower   ballads. Many new songs from his first album in 15 years to be released in the USA.,”24 hours” were performed.
Shortly into his performance when he sang “I’m Alive”  he  reminded the audience that he felt “it was appropriate” that he sing that song. A load laughing roar filled the pavilion.  Though aging,  Tom Jones is more than alive. He is energetic ,vibrant and can still swing and swivel his hips rousing a response from his adoring audience. He hasn’t seemed to have lost his sex appeal . With  “What’s new Pussycat?” rows of ladies stood on their feet and twirled panties above their head.  More than a few made a run  down the aisle toward the stage and with a  pitcher’s wind-up they  hurled their undies over the security guard towards  the stage.  Those who were successful were cheered by the audience.  As one red satin panty lay at his feet ,Tom looked down and coyishly remarked “oh my”.   He kept on course swiftly moving through his setlist.
After a two hour run without intermission Tom revealed he still had the moves and stamina to entertain, sing and keep the ladies titillated by his moves albeit a bit more muted than in his youth. At the concert’s end, though surrounded on stage by  an array of multicolored panties ,that seemed like wildflowers growing in an English garden.  Though showered with female adulation, the consummate showman left the stage alone.
[Submitted by Jessica Tinianow]

Alto Adige Grand Tasting Tour
By Jessica Tinianow
The great whites have arrived.  These are the geat white wines of the white wines from the Alto Adige Vineyard region of Northeastern Italy that I got to experience firsthand at the Alto Adige Wine Grand Tasting Tour .As I  made my way thru samplings of the 20 wineries represented ,I experienced these authentic, fresh and crisp wines with their own original character. The white grape varieties are grown in more than 55% of the vineyards and the cooler temps of the high altitude of the region ranging from 650 to 3250 feet in elevation.  The region provides the microclimates that produce the smooth and delicate tastes  of the Pinot Bianco, Gewürztraminer , Chardonnay and the Pinot Grigio wines. All of the wines are in the $15-$24 range.  Most are available now, or soon will be in your local wine shop.
Tasting the wines was a flavor experience, unlike many.  All of the wines have a pronounced fruit character and an elegance of structure that speaks to the terroir from which they come. 
The Pinot Blanc had an elegance scent of apples and lively acidity.  The wine had a full array of fruitiness and considerable finesse for such a young wine.
The Sauvignon Blanc had aromas of gooseberries and if you’ve never had these fruits just try a glass of this wine and you will know what I mean.  It was crisp and fresh with a marked intensity.  This is a great wine to go with fish or a fresh salad made with Romaine lettuce and pears or blood orange slices.
The indigenous Gewürztraminer is a slightly spicy, crisp white wine that is unique to the region.  It embodies rose scented character that encompasses a vast array of scents.  There’s a splash of various tropical fruits with an overlay of rose petals, and lychee nuts that give it a luxuriant velvety texture. I like d this wine so much I would recommend drinking it alone, or with a selection of spring fruits and light semi-soft cheeses.  Serve well chilled for a spring afternoon delight.  This is definitely a patio wine! 
Among the whtes there were a few standouts:  the Alois Lageder Haberle Pinot Bianco 2009, Gewurtzraminer 2010 Peter Zemmer. These wines all embodied freshness and originality.  They had balanced acidities, clean aromas and were a pleasure to drink. The St Valentin Sauvignon Blanc 2009 was also a pleasant wine to drink with its  fruity character and balanced acidity. 
Though I sing the praises of the white, I don’t want to overshadow the red varietals.  They are equally on par.  The Pinot Noir has rich aromas of dark berries and spices .  It is very intense and was well structured.   The Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabarnet Sauvignon were fresh and cleanly structured with a good bit of mineral taste. The low tannin reds were also  elegant and spicy with immaculate acidity.  If you have a guest who says they normally don’t drink red wine, this would be one for them to try.  I think they’d like it.
The region grows around twenty different grape varieties.  A few notable ones are the Schiava and Lagrein grapes which  have a distinct identity and strength of expression. 
The Schiava (Vernatsch) was low in tannins, a bit spicy with a moderate alcohol content.  The Lagrein, one of the leading red wine varietal of the region, had an aroma of fresh cherries, berries and violets.  It demonstrated a soft acidity and velvety body.  The selection I tasted also emitted tones of spice, lending the selection more character and charm.  It was light, earthy, and full bodied with a velvety texture and had a long finish.
Lest I not forget –dessert! Among the dessert wines Moscato Giallo:The pleasant aroma  of the MG 2009 I tasted from Manincor 's vineyards was sublime. 
The wines of the Alto Adige region are an absolute delight.
 
 
[Submitted by Jessica Tinianow]

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“Work  for Citizenship”     A way to gain citizenship faster, legally and economically.  
By Peter Lewit , Discourse and Reflection    Aug. 23, 2017
  We know there are numerous foreigners coming into the United States illegally. Surprisingly, many pay enormous sums of money to be smuggled across the border. These sums can be far greater than the approximate $725 cost to go through a process and paperwork to become a citizen. They pay the extra cost because it gets them into our country faster. A solution to this problem might take the form of a work for citizenship program. The primary component is the work camp.  This work camp would be similar to construction and logging camps that were prevalent in the early days of building our country.  It was an idea that President Roosevelt promoted when he created the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s.
As an example, foreigners intending to immigrate could apply to the program for a tour of three months. They must remain in the camp in a guarded arrangement until their tour is complete or they decide to return to their place of origin. A tour would also include passing their citizenship requirements.  Illegals already here in the country could also apply. In their case they might go for an extended period of six months, the extra time being in the form of community (Govt) service in lieu of a fine, imprisonment or deportation.  A basic understanding of English would also be required.  Part of their wages would be garnished to cover camp, food and citizenship requirement costs.   Quarters would be in a group camp format as suitable to the area.  By consolidating the workers into camps they would not be incurring huge costs for meals, housing and transportation. They would still be able to send home to their family an allowance comparable to what they might earn with a green card. There would be areas for men and women and a choice of work for both.  The work would be on government projects or camp duties, which may include assisting in cooking sanitation and the like. Evenings would be spent in their citizenship training and English.
    While in the camp they would go through a vetting process and physical health inspection.  Removal to the place of origin would occur if there was failure to pass our government’s standards.  The whole program would be voluntary, details of time frames would be up to the federal government. It should be enticing so that all concerned parties benefit.  Altogether, this program would use foreign nationals intending to immigrate, to work on U.S. government sponsored programs:  “the wall”, for example. With the exception of building materials, it cuts government labor costs, provides a safe and secure environment for us and the workers. The country of origin will pay us by default; in other words, they lose a part of their workforce!  Volunteers with varied experience could be sought to enhance the program.  The federal government saves on costs for the project. The immigrants save costs, get in faster and above all, become legal!
[Submitted by Peter Lewit]

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi S/S18 Avtandil 'Double Identity'Nov 2, 2017Location: Rustaveli TheaterImages, video captured, documentary film by Michael R Vanderpool "The Avtandil fashion show was surprising colorful in a spring trend delightful to see, with a style anticipating fresh memories to come. A pleasure to the eye, for the woman waltzing through the house or on the way to swift execution of a shopping list and activities to conquer." - Michael R Vanderpool, 

[Submitted by Michael Vanderpool]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_B9_sEAUPA&t=4s