The Vilnius Summit 2013 and Its Aftermath: How the Association Agreement Impacted Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova's European Integration

| Emerging Markets | 22 seen

On November 28-29th, 2013, the Eastern Partnership summit took place in Vilnius, where Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova signed an Association agreement with the European Union (EU). This agreement aimed to strengthen political and economic ties with the EU, including free trade and visa-free travel. The signing of the agreement was seen as a significant step towards European integration for these countries.

However, the signing of the agreement led to significant tensions between Russia and the EU, as Russia saw the agreement as an attempt to expand Western influence in its backyard. In response, Russia imposed economic sanctions on the signatory countries, including a ban on their agricultural exports to Russia. This resulted in significant economic losses for these countries.

In February 2014, protests erupted in Ukraine over the decision of President Viktor Yanukovych to suspend the process of European integration and move towards closer ties with Russia. These protests, known as the Euromaidan protests, led to the ousting of Yanukovych and the installation of a pro-Western government in Ukraine.

Russia responded by annexing Crimea from Ukraine and supporting separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. This led to a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives and displaced over 1.5 million people.

Since the signing of the agreement, Georgia and Moldova have made significant progress in their European integration efforts, including implementing reforms and strengthening democratic institutions. However, Ukraine's progress has been hampered by ongoing conflict in the east and political instability.

In 2019, Ukraine elected a new president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who ran on a platform of ending the conflict in the east and furthering Ukraine's European integration. Zelensky has implemented significant reforms and reached out to Russia to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

In 2020, the EU and Ukraine held a virtual summit where they reaffirmed their commitment to the Association agreement and discussed further cooperation in areas such as energy, digitalization, and the environment.

In summary, the signing of the Association agreement at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in 2013 marked a significant step towards European integration for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. However, it also led to significant tensions between the EU and Russia, resulting in economic sanctions and a conflict in eastern Ukraine. While Georgia and Moldova have made progress in their integration efforts, Ukraine's progress has been hampered by ongoing conflict and political instability. Nevertheless, Ukraine and the EU continue to reaffirm their commitment to the Association agreement and further cooperation.


Improve User Experience with Image Hover Effects for Drupal Thumbnail Images

| Drupal Development | 18 seen

Drupal is a powerful and flexible content management system that enables you to create visually appealing and engaging websites. One way to enhance the visual impact of your Drupal site is to add image hover effects to your thumbnails.

In this article, we'll explore how to use Drupal to create image hover effects for thumbnails.

Step 1: Install and Configure the Image Hover Effects Module

To create image hover effects for your Drupal thumbnails, you'll need to install and configure the Image Hover Effects module. This module allows you to apply a variety of hover effects to your images, including zoom, rotate, flip, and more.

Once you've installed the module, you can configure it by going to the module settings page in the Drupal admin interface. From there, you can choose which hover effects to enable, customize the settings for each effect, and apply the effects to specific image fields on your site.

Step 2: Create a Thumbnail Image Field

To add thumbnails to your Drupal site, you'll need to create an image field for your content type. This can be done using the Drupal core Fields module, which allows you to create custom fields for your content types.

Once you've created the image field, you can configure its display settings to show the image as a thumbnail. You can also choose the size of the thumbnail and any other display settings you want to apply.

Step 3: Apply the Image Hover Effect to Your Thumbnails

Now that you've created your image field and enabled the Image Hover Effects module, you can apply the hover effect to your thumbnails. To do this, you'll need to go to the display settings for your image field and choose the hover effect you want to apply.

You can also customize the settings for the hover effect, such as the speed of the animation, the color of the overlay, and other options.

Step 4: Preview and Test the Image Hover Effect

Once you've applied the image hover effect to your thumbnails, you can preview and test it to make sure it looks and works as expected. You can do this by viewing the content on your Drupal site that uses the image field and hovering over the thumbnail to see the effect in action.

If you're not happy with the result, you can go back to the module settings or the display settings for your image field to make any necessary changes.

Conclusion

Adding image hover effects to your Drupal thumbnails is a great way to enhance the visual appeal of your site and make it more engaging for visitors. With the Image Hover Effects module, it's easy to apply a variety of hover effects to your images and customize the settings to suit your needs. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create stunning image hover effects for your Drupal site in no time.


10 Effective Strategies for Growing and Managing Your Facebook Page

| Blogging | 7 seen

Facebook has become one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. For businesses, brands, and individuals, it has become an essential tool for promoting products and services, building a community, and reaching a wider audience.

However, with so many users and competition, it can be challenging to grow and manage a successful Facebook page. In this article, we will discuss 10 effective strategies for growing and managing your Facebook page.

Define Your Target Audience

The first step in growing and managing your Facebook page is to define your target audience. Understanding the demographics, interests, and behavior of your target audience is crucial to creating engaging and valuable content that resonates with them. Take the time to research and gather information about your target audience to help you develop a comprehensive marketing strategy.

Post Regularly

Posting regularly is essential to growing your Facebook page. You should aim to post at least once a day to keep your audience engaged and informed about your products and services. However, it's also important to find the right balance - posting too often can lead to oversaturation and fatigue, while not posting enough can lead to a lack of engagement and visibility.

Create Engaging Content

Creating engaging and valuable content is critical to growing your Facebook page. Your content should be relevant, interesting, and useful to your target audience. Experiment with different types of content, such as videos, images, infographics, and text-based posts, to determine what resonates best with your audience. Additionally, you should also consider using Facebook Live, which can help boost engagement and reach.

Use Facebook Insights

Facebook Insights is a powerful tool that provides valuable information about your audience, engagement, and reach. Use this tool to identify which posts are resonating with your audience and adjust your content strategy accordingly. You can also use Facebook Insights to identify the best times to post and the types of content that generate the most engagement.

Engage with Your Audience

Engaging with your audience is an essential part of managing your Facebook page. Responding to comments, messages, and reviews can help build a loyal community and increase engagement. Additionally, you can use social listening tools to monitor mentions of your brand and respond to feedback promptly.

Use Facebook Ads

Facebook Ads are an effective way to reach a wider audience and promote your products and services. You can target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, and measure the effectiveness of your ads using Facebook Insights. Using Facebook Ads can help you increase your visibility and reach new audiences, which can lead to more likes, shares, and followers.

Collaborate with Other Facebook Pages

Collaborating with other Facebook pages can help you reach a wider audience and increase your visibility. You can partner with pages in your industry, influencers, and other businesses to cross-promote content and increase engagement. By collaborating with other pages, you can reach new audiences and build your brand's credibility and reputation.

Host Contests and Giveaways

Hosting contests and giveaways is an effective way to increase engagement and reach on your Facebook page. You can offer prizes and rewards to your followers to encourage them to engage with your content and share it with their friends. Contests and giveaways can help you attract new followers, increase brand awareness, and build a loyal community.

Optimize Your Facebook Page

Optimizing your Facebook page is crucial to increasing your visibility and reach on the platform. You should make sure your profile picture, cover photo, and bio are clear, concise, and visually appealing. Additionally, you should include relevant keywords in your page name and description to help users find your page more easily.

Measure and Analyze Your Results

Measuring and analyzing your results is essential to growing and managing your Facebook 

page effectively. By tracking your metrics, you can identify what's working and what's not and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Facebook Insights provides valuable data about your page's performance, including likes, followers, reach, engagement, and more. Use this information to identify trends, track your progress, and make data-driven decisions about your content strategy.

In addition to Facebook Insights, you can also use third-party analytics tools to get a more comprehensive understanding of your Facebook page's performance. These tools can help you track metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and revenue generated from your Facebook page.

Final Thoughts

Growing and managing a successful Facebook page requires a comprehensive strategy that includes regular posting, engaging content, targeted ads, social listening, and optimization. By following these 10 strategies, you can increase your visibility, reach new audiences, and build a loyal community of followers. Remember to continually measure and analyze your results, and adjust your strategy accordingly to achieve the best possible outcomes. With dedication and effort, your Facebook page can become a valuable tool for promoting your brand, engaging with your audience, and driving business growth. 

Now if you enjoyed this article, why not follow my Facebook page?


Facebook Creative Agency in Tbilisi: The Experts You Need to Grow Your Business

| Blogging | 5 seen

In recent years, social media has become an integral part of business marketing strategies, and Facebook is one of the most widely used platforms for advertising. With over 2.7 billion active users, Facebook presents a vast opportunity for businesses to reach their target audience, increase brand awareness, and drive conversions.

However, creating effective Facebook campaigns requires expertise and creativity. This is where Facebook creative agencies come in, offering businesses the skills and resources needed to create compelling content that drives results.

In Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, there are several Facebook creative agencies that cater to the needs of businesses in the country. These agencies offer a range of services, from social media strategy and campaign planning to content creation and audience targeting.

One of the most notable Facebook creative agencies in Tbilisi is XYZ Creative Group. With a team of skilled professionals, the agency offers a range of services that cater to the needs of businesses in various industries. Their services include social media strategy development, Facebook ad campaign management, creative content production, and analytics and reporting.

Another leading Facebook creative agency in Tbilisi is Redberry Agency. They specialize in creating innovative and engaging content for social media platforms, including Facebook. Their services include content creation, social media management, Facebook ad campaign management, and audience targeting.

Reinis Fischer is also one of the best-known Facebook creative agency professionals in Tbilisi, with over a decade of experience in the industry. Reinis offers a range of services, including social media strategy development, content creation, Facebook ad campaign management, and analytics and reporting.

Facebook creative agencies play a vital role in helping businesses in Tbilisi and across Georgia leverage the vast potential of Facebook for marketing and advertising. With their expertise, creativity, and knowledge of the platform, these agencies can help businesses create engaging content that drives results and connects them with their target audience.


How to Hire Top Translators with the Help of LinkedIn

| Doing Business | 8 seen

LinkedIn is a social media platform that has become an essential tool for recruiters and hiring managers in various industries. For those in need of hiring translators, LinkedIn is a particularly valuable resource that can help connect them with a pool of qualified candidates.

For the past few weeks, I've been helping find and recruit top talents for one of the leading translation companies in Georgia, and in this article, I want to share my joy about how powerful is LinkedIn for finding top talents.

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for hiring translators because it provides access to a large and diverse talent pool. Translators with different backgrounds, languages, and areas of expertise can be found on LinkedIn, making it easier to find the right match for specific translation needs. Additionally, LinkedIn profiles often include work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant information, which can help recruiters and hiring managers assess a translator's skills and qualifications.

Another advantage of using LinkedIn for hiring translators is the ability to conduct targeted searches. Recruiters can search for candidates based on specific criteria, such as language pairs, industries, and location. They can also use keywords to narrow down their search and find the right candidates quickly. This means that hiring managers can quickly find translators who meet their specific needs, saving them time and resources.

LinkedIn also offers a range of communication tools that can facilitate the hiring process. Hiring managers can use LinkedIn to send messages to potential candidates and schedule interviews, saving time and streamlining the recruitment process. Furthermore, LinkedIn's recommendation feature can provide additional insight into a candidate's work experience and skills, helping recruiters make more informed hiring decisions.

Using LinkedIn for hiring translators also has the benefit of increasing the visibility of the company and its job opportunities. By posting job openings on LinkedIn, companies can reach a broader audience of qualified candidates who may not have heard of the company or its job opportunities otherwise.

In conclusion, LinkedIn is an excellent resource for those seeking to hire translators. It provides access to a large and diverse talent pool, targeted search options, communication tools, and increased visibility for job openings. By utilizing LinkedIn, hiring managers can streamline the recruitment process and find the best translators for their needs.


Minimum Wages in the Former Soviet Union: A Look at 2013

| Macroeconomics | 26 seen

The former Soviet Union was a vast region that encompassed a number of countries with distinct cultures, economies, and political systems. In 2013, the region was still recovering from the economic and political upheavals of the previous decades, and minimum wages varied widely across the countries that made up the former Soviet Union.

Previously I have already measured and compared minimum wages in Baltic states, Caucasus and Central Asia. All of these once were a part of the Soviet Union.

Today I'm willing to measure minimum wages in all the former 15 republics of the Soviet Union.

  $ Estonia 427 Lithuania 385 Latvia 379 Russia 159 Turkmenistan 154 Belarus 150 Ukraine 143 Azerbaijan 133 Kazakhstan 121 Armenia 108 Moldova 69 Georgia 54 Tajikistan 52 Uzbekistan 40 Kyrgyzstan 17

As seen from the data above - the highest minimum wage was in Estonia - making $427 per month, while the lowest is in Kyrgyzstan making more than a modest $17 per month.

The difference between Estonia is 25 times. It means a Kyrgyz worker who receives minimum wage needs to work 25 months to receive the same amount receives his counterpart worker in Estonia in one month.

Baltic states lead the table, making a huge leap to its closer Russia. The difference between Latvia for Russia is $220, while Estonia is even $268.

Why do Baltic states lead the table? Well, I guess since Baltic states are really tiny economies, it's a lot easier for them to adjust the minimum wage to the average wage in the country. I'm not sure where, but somewhere I have read that Latvia's minimum wage should respond to 68% of the average wage in the country.  In my opinion, it's a nice measurement, and who knows, maybe Baltic republics have adjusted this measurement to make it more Socially equal?!

Georgia is staying behind its counterparts in the South Caucasus region,  receiving a minimum wage of just $54 per month. Well. Georgia should figure out how to increase its minimum wage to at least $100 per month ASAP.

In Central Asia, we can see that oil-rich countries, like Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, have relatively close minimum wages as to Russia, while countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan stay behind.

Moldova's modest $69 - hard to tell - it's similar to Georgia - both countries aim to European Union, hard to tell - does EU needs such "poor" countries? 


Minimum Wages in Central Asia: A Look at the Region's Low Wage Rates

| Macroeconomics | 23 seen

Central Asia is a region that consists of five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The region has a diverse economy, with industries ranging from agriculture to oil and gas production. However, the issue of minimum wage is one that affects workers across all sectors.

Minimum wages in Central Asia vary from country to country. In Kazakhstan, the current minimum wage is 42,500 tenge per month, which is roughly equivalent to $99 USD. In Kyrgyzstan, the minimum wage is 5,350 som per month, or approximately $63 USD. In Tajikistan, the minimum wage is 700 somoni per month, which is roughly $63 USD. In Turkmenistan, the minimum wage is not publicly disclosed, but we can make guess it is under $100. In Uzbekistan, the minimum wage is 690,000 Uzbekistani som per month, which is approximately $64 USD.

These minimum wage rates are far below the living wage required to support a family in each country. For example, in Kazakhstan, the living wage for a family of four is estimated to be around 100,000 tenges per month, more than twice the current minimum wage. In Uzbekistan, the living wage for a family of four is estimated to be around 1.8 million Uzbekistani som per month, almost three times the current minimum wage.

Furthermore, the enforcement of minimum wage laws in Central Asia is often weak, and workers may not receive the full amount of the minimum wage. This is particularly true in the informal sector, where many workers are not formally employed and therefore do not receive any legal protections or benefits.

The low minimum wage in Central Asia can lead to a number of negative consequences for workers and their families. Many workers struggle to make ends meet and may have to take on multiple jobs or work long hours to earn enough money to support themselves and their families. Low wages also contribute to poverty and inequality in the region, as those at the bottom of the economic ladder struggle to access basic necessities like food, housing, and healthcare.

In conclusion, while minimum wages do exist in Central Asia, they are far below the living wage required to support a family. The lack of enforcement and the prevalence of informal employment further exacerbate the issue, leaving many workers struggling to make ends meet. Addressing this issue will require a coordinated effort from governments, employers, and workers to ensure that fair wages and decent work are available to all.


Display node count per taxonomy

| Drupal Development | 8 seen

<p>Working on project, I needed to display how many nodes are in particular taxonomy.</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/taxonomy-count.png&quot; alt="" width="727" height="212"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To achieve such behavior - I created a term based view, turned on aggregation, under Relationships added Taxonomy term Content using, added taxonomy term name, nid and image fields,&nbsp;and set to aggregate nid count.</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/aggregationsettings.JPG&qu…; alt=""></p>


Building a Drupal site from scratch - part 13 - working with node display

| Drupal Development | 16 seen

<p>By default, when adding new fields to content type, and then entering values in them, Drupal will display all of them on node:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/allfieldsdisplayed.png&quot; alt="" width="880" height="309"></p><p>But what if we don't want some or all of these fields to be displayed on our node?</p><p>Simple, we can change order, or hide them by using Manage Display settings on our Content type page</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/managedisplay.png&quot; alt="" width="1200" height="404"></p><p>As you can see from picture above, we have few options - we can change Format of how our field is displayed, we can adjust label for each field, and of-course we can hide the field (fields)</p><p>I like to hide all fields from display, except Body field, like this:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/hiddenfields.png&quot; alt="" width="1107" height="310"></p><p>Which gives us result like this:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/hidenfieldresults.png&quot; alt="" width="981" height="263"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Which is nice, but still, I don't wanna provide information about author who ha submitted, neither post date.</p><p>To hide author and date information, we must go to our content type, and click Edit, Under&nbsp;<strong>Display&nbsp;Settings</strong> we must uncheck Display author and date information.</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/removeauthorinfo.png&quot; alt="" width="1151" height="311"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In case you are wondering, how we gonna display these hidden values on our node. We <a href="http://reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-4-creating-v… build views</a>, and put them into blocks on our theme. By building views, we have much more flexibility, how to display and style (CSS) our info, than just displaying raw data.</p>


Building a Drupal site from scratch - part 12 - Working with image styles

| Drupal Development | 3 seen

By default Drupal offers 3 image styles enabled: thumbnail, medium, large:

Image styles can be applied to images we are using in views, and not always 3 default options are enough.

 

In the image above, you can see, we have passed some default image styles in our Featured tours view. What are the options to make the images fit the box? Well, we could use Some CSS techniques, but we can use image styles options from Drupal, right?

So I'm gonna create a new image style, called grid2:

  • Go to admin/config/media/image-styles
  • Click Add style
  • Give it a name, in my case grid2
  • In the next windows after pressing create style, scroll down for the Effect section
  • From the dropdown menu choose and select Scale and crop, and press Add
  • Enter dimensions from your new image style (I'm gonna use 450X220
  • Save
By now we have created a new image-style, so how could we apply this to our view?    Go to the view, containing image field, open image field, in section image style change style to newly created, apply style, and save the view.   Now let's see how or Featured tours block looks like on our frontpage     Much better, don't you agree?   In conclusion I would like to point that, you must carefully plan what style and dimensions pictures you would like to have on your site, and stick with some 4-5 versions. There is really no need to make a new image style for each and seperate view.   Speaking about this web page I'm using in these Drupal build your site from scratch series, I plan to use 4 styles. Grid2 (for front page Featured tours), Grid3 (for tours page) Grid4 (to list 4 images in box) and a Large (to display images on posts)   Hope you are enjoing these Drupal series, please feel free to contact me, or leave a comments bellow.

Drupal 7 override page.tpl.php for specific content type

| Drupal Development | 34 seen

<p>Working on project I needed a function to override default page.tpl.php for specific content type. I did use theme_hook function some 2 years ago, and I knew it's achievable in Drupal.</p><p>Doing quick Google search found a Drupal tutorial <a href="https://drupal.org/node/249726">https://drupal.org/node/249726</a>&nbsp;- &nbsp;don't know is it problem with my project, but that didn't work as expected, and after brief investigation I found a solution:&nbsp;<a href="https://drupal.org/node/1089656#comment-4662688">https://drupal.org/nod… a new page.tpl.php for your specific content - for example page--acommodations.tpl.php</p><p>In your template.php file add:</p><blockquote><pre>function YOURTHEME_preprocess_page(&amp;$vars, $hook) {<br> if (isset($vars['node'])) {<br> // If the node type is "accommodation" the template suggestion will be "page--accommodation.tpl.php".<br> $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__'. $vars['node']-&gt;type;<br> }<br>}</pre><pre>&nbsp;</pre></blockquote><pre>Remember to change YOURTHEME to name of your theme. Clear all caches, and now you can start theming page for specific content type.</pre><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>


Motive (TV-series)

| Worth to Watch | 3 seen

<p>Started to watch a new crime series - Motive.</p><p>Plot line:</p><blockquote><p>A feisty Vancouver homicide detective tracks down the most cunning of killers by trying to figure out the motive to the crime.</p></blockquote><p>Time by time I like to watch TV series, and so in Sunday evening I found a new series to watch - Motive.</p><p>After watching first 3 series, I'm ready to continue to watch all season.</p><p>It's interesting that on start of each series is showed who is the killer, and who is the victim, and then latter on - detectives finds a motive.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>At the start of series I didn't quite get is it US or Canada based series - but now I know, it is made in Canada, and series plot line is set on streets of Vancouver.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>IMDB:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2443340/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt24433…;


Customizing Subpage page.tpl.php Design in Drupal: Tips and Tricks

| Drupal Development | 4 seen

Theming subpages in Drupal is an important aspect of website design that can help you create a professional-looking website that engages your visitors. One way to achieve this is by theming subpages like page.tpl.php in Drupal. 

In this article, we'll take a closer look at what page.tpl.php is, and how you can use it to create custom subpage themes in Drupal. 

Page.tpl.php is a template file in Drupal that controls the overall layout and styling of your website pages. By default, it applies to all pages on your website, but you can also create custom page.tpl.php files for specific subpages. This allows you to create a unique look and feel for different sections of your website.

To theme subpages like page.tpl in Drupal, you'll need to create a new template file and name it according to Drupal's naming convention.

For example, if you want to create a custom template for a subpage that displays blog posts, you would create a new file called page--blog.tpl.php. This file would contain the HTML, CSS, and PHP code needed to create the desired layout and styling for your blog subpage.

Once you've created your custom template file, you'll need to place it in your Drupal theme folder. Drupal will automatically detect the new template file and use it to display the subpage that matches its naming convention.

When theming subpages like page.tpl.php in Drupal, it's important to pay attention to the overall design of your website.

You'll want to use consistent fonts, colors, and branding elements to create a cohesive look and feel throughout your site. This helps to improve user experience and engagement, and can help to build brand recognition and loyalty over time.

At this point, you may be wondering whether you have the time and expertise to tackle theming subpages like page.tpl.php in Drupal on your own.

If you're not confident in your Drupal theming skills, or if you simply don't have the time to invest in learning how to do it yourself, then hiring a professional Drupal theming company like DrupalTbilisi.com can be a smart choice.

DrupalTbilisi.com has years of experience in Drupal theming and can help you create a custom, professional-looking website that meets your unique needs. We have a team of Drupal experts who can work with you to understand your business goals and branding requirements, and create a customized subpage theming solution that fits your needs and budget.

Overall, theming subpages like page.tpl.php in Drupal is an effective way to create a unique and engaging website that stands out from the competition.

Whether you choose to tackle theming on your own or hire a professional Drupal theming company like DrupalTbilisi.com, the key is to focus on creating a subpage design that is consistent with your overall website branding, user-friendly, and responsive.


Minimum wage in Baltic states

| Macroeconomics | 8 seen

Minimum wages in the Baltic states are the lowest ones in the European Union. In 2013 minimum wage in Baltic states was $427 in Estonia, $379 in Latvia and $385 in Lithuania.

Update: Minimum Wage Set to Rise in the Baltic States in 2018

Difference between "richest" Estonia and "poorest" Latvia in 2013, in terms of minimum wage, was = $48

 

Estonia has announced to increase its minimum wage by 35 EUR both in 2014 and 2015. In 2014 minimum wage in Estonia will be $474.

Latvia plans to increase its minimum wage to 320 EUR or $427 in 2014

I haven't found any evidence that Lithuania plans to increase its minimum wage in 2014.

In 2014, Lithuania will replace Latvia as "poorest" in terms of minimum wage, making difference with Estonia $89.

By forecasts - Estonia will reach minimum wage $500 mark already in 2015, so my predictions are that both in Latvia and Lithuania minimum wage will be increased as well.

Just by comparison, in relatively close Poland, the minimum wage in 2013 was $491 and is expected to reach $535 by 2014.


Building a Drupal site from scratch - part 10 - Views exposed filters

| Drupal Development | 13 seen

<p>Remember at start of this tutorial <a href="http://reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-1-planing">we created a tour types taxonomy</a>, by allowing asign a category for each node from content type tour? Today we gonna add these values to our tours page, by allowing for users to filer tours by their type:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Open your view tour, and under filter settings add filter Tour type:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/filtertours.JPG&quot; alt="" width="752" height="563"></p><p>Make sure you check next to Expose this filter. Save your view, now by accessing your view page, you should see something similiar to this:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/filtertourview.JPG&quot; alt="" width="826" height="514"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Which is nice, and does his job as needed (filters on values entered)</p><p>Depending on your mood and needs, you can leave this, or you can expose this filter as seperate block. In part 6, I'm talking <a href="http://reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-6-working-bl… to configure blocks</a>. So by exposing this filter as block, we would have more control of it.</p><p>To expose filter as block - open Advanced tab on your page view, and look for <strong>Exposed form</strong>, change value from No, to Yes.</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/exposedyes.JPG&quot; alt="" width="772" height="474"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Save your view, and go to blocks page (structure/block)</p><p>New block called Exposed form: your name will show up in Disabled blocks section. Now you can put this block in which region you would like to. For this tutorial I'll put thi block on our Bootstrap subthemes Secondary (Right Sidebar) section.</p><p>Again, like in case when we putted Featured block to be visible jut on frontpage, we must limit viibilty of this block, to be visible just on the page, which it's related (tours)</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/visibletours.JPG&quot; alt="" width="998" height="429"></p><p>Lets visit our page (tours) to see how it looks like:</p><p><img src="http://reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/toursfiltered.JPG&quot; alt="" width="988" height="505"></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nice, don't you agree?&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>


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Chateau Ateni. Gori

This time (May 2025), our journey takes us to Gori and the enchanting Chateau Ateni - a hidden gem where authentic Georgian cuisine blends seamlessly with avant-garde natural wines, soulful traditional dance, and even the charming surprise of a small chick farm.What makes this trip extra special is sharing it with our Latvian/Georgian friends,…

Living in Georgia

12 Rounds Boxing Club in Tbilisi

Sometimes even the most loyal gym-goers need to shake things up—and that's exactly what I did this month. After years of training at the "luxurious Axis Tower gym", I decided to take a short break. Not because I had any complaints about…

Tbilisi Circus: A Historic Landmark with a Surprising Past

Tbilisi Circus is an iconic part of the city's cultural landscape. Having lived in Georgia since 2011, I have passed by the Tbilisi Circus almost every day. However, it wasn’t until I attended a show that I truly appreciated its grandeur…

Foraging for Mushrooms near Tsodoreti Lake: A Day in the Suburbs of Tbilisi

Back in June 2024, I first came across Tsodoreti Lake during one of the Tbilisi Trails races, which turned out to be one of the most challenging runs of my life. While I tackled the 10K trail route, my partner and our kiddo took a gentler…

Axel Georgian Business Angel Networking Event: Exploring Opportunities in Tbilisi

In mid-October 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the Axel Georgian Business Angel networking event, held right here in Tbilisi. Having passively observed the Georgian tech scene for over a decade, this event provided the perfect…

Frame House

Frame House Upgrades: Big Windows, New Porch, and Apple Trees Planted in Latvia

In mid-April, during our kiddo’s Easter school break, we traveled to Latvia for about 10 days — a trip packed with projects, energy, and transformation. A lot of pre-planning had gone into it before we even arrived: we ordered the windows…

Frame House in Latvia: Outdoor Patio, Inner Walls, and More

As June came to an end, our family embarked on a journey from Tbilisi to Latvia, skipping Renee's school year for the last week and focus on our frame house project. Here's a glimpse into our busy but rewarding time working on the house.We…

Spring Break Project: Building Progress on Our Frame House in Latvia

As the chill of winter slowly gives way to the warmth of spring, it's the perfect time to roll up our sleeves and dive back into the construction of our dream frame house in Latvia. During this Spring break from British International…

Piece of Life

Postcards from Marseille

It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit…

Christmas Eve at Palolem Beach: Fire Shows, Old Monk

While we just celebrated Orthodox Christmas in Georgia, I can’t help but delve into the memories of our Western Christmas last year (2024), spent on the serene shores of Palolem Beach in Goa, India. That evening was magical in every way, filled with vibrant energy, beautiful scenery, and a new discovery that made the night unforgettable.Palolem…

A Family Guide to Borjomi: Hiking Trails and Sulfur Bath Tips

As summer came to a close, we continued our family's tradition of visiting Borjomi. This year marked yet another memorable trip at the end of August 2024, reaffirming our love for this beautiful Georgian town. Visiting Borjomi at least twice a year has become a cherished routine, a piece of life that we look forward to, blending relaxation,…

Travel guides

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Summer in Latvia 2025

Summer in Latvia movie is out - Join us on our July (2025) journey through Latvia: installing a bathtub in our countryside cottage, setting up a pop-up store at Bangotnes, celebrating a birthday in Vērbeļnieki, traveling via Riga to…

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Birthday in Thessaloniki, Greece

Turning 40 is a milestone worth celebrating in style, and what better way than in Thessaloniki — a city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and cuisine. From affordable flights and boutique stays to seafood feasts and hidden beaches,…

Embedded thumbnail for Azeula Fortress, Tbilisi Sea, and Ateni Sioni

Azeula Fortress, Tbilisi Sea, and Ateni Sioni

August ended with yet another packed and memorable weekend in Georgia. This time, our journey took us from the hills near Kojori to the refreshing waters of the Tbilisi Sea, and finally to the historical town of Gori, where we enjoyed a…

Hotel Reviews

Stays & Trails La Maison Hotel Review in Panaji

At the tail end of 2024, just before catching our flight back to Delhi, we decided to book a one-night stay at Stays & Trails La Maison Fontainhas in Panaji, Goa. After weeks staying in Palolem beach, we wanted to wrap up our trip with…

Schuchmann Wines Château: A Long-Awaited Stay in Georgia’s Premier Winery Hotel & Spa

It took us over a decade to finally make it to Schuchmann Wines Château & Spa, and it was well worth the wait! We’ve spent years recommending this stunning winery hotel to visiting friends and business partners, yet somehow, we had…

Hotel Belvedere Prague: A Practical Stay with Easy Access

During our recent trip to Prague in mid-October 2024, we stayed at Hotel Belvedere. My partner attended the MEET Central Europe Translators conference, and we were joined by one of our office employees, so we opted to book two rooms. …

Review: Art Hotel Prague – A Cozy Stay in a Tranquil Part of Prague

During our recent trip to Prague in October 2024, we opted for a one-night stay at the Art Hotel Prague. We arrived at the hotel via Bolt taxi from Václav Havel Airport, which was straightforward and efficient. At about EUR 120 per room…

Toursim objects

Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille

Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned…

Colva Beach: Golden Sands and Tranquility in Goa

Colva Beach, located in South Goa, is known for its expansive golden sands and tranquil atmosphere. Stretching for several kilometers along the Arabian Sea, the beach offers a peaceful escape from the busier tourist hubs in the region. Its wide shoreline, framed by swaying palm trees, provides plenty of space for visitors to relax, stroll, or…

Charles Bridge: A Timeless Landmark in Prague

The Charles Bridge (Karlův most) in Prague is one of the most iconic and historic landmarks in Europe. Built in the 14th century under the reign of King Charles IV, this Gothic stone bridge spans the Vltava River, connecting Prague's Old Town with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). Adorned with a series of 30 Baroque statues and surrounded by…

Macroeconomics

Servers and Drupal

Genealogy