Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - “My Terminator speech was not an icebreaker, it was a bone breaker,” says John Zimmer of his first place International Toastmasters presentation in Bamberg, Germany 15 November. Zimmer, a Canadian who works at the International Migration Office, battled his way, mentally and physically, through three knockout rounds with eight finalists from 18 Toastmasters clubs in Europe, but the physical effort had to do with the fact that his speech featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator.
No new home for this beauty: Fancy Deep Blue Diamond
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Sotheby’s November auction of fine jewels, which in 2007 set price records, failed to raise bids to a level where it could sell the three highest priced items Wednesday night in Geneva. David Bennett, chairman of jewelry for Europe and the Middle East at the auction house said “Tonight’s sale was assembled in the wake of our near-all-time record Geneva jewels sale [May 2008] and most of the property was consigned and valued prior to the turmoil in the financial markets.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was re-elected for a third term with 43 votes in his favour and 13 abstentions, in a secret ballot.
There were no other candidates.
Title: Shakespeare’s sonnets, read by Marianne Faithfull
Location: Geneva, La Comedie, 6 Blvd des philosophes
Link out: Click here
Description: British music and cinema star who came to fame with the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, reads Shakespeare’s sonnets
Start Time: 20:00
Date: 09 Dec 2008
Geneva, Switzerland (Tribune de Geneve, Fre) - The Tribune carries a story today about a concierge in Eaux-Vives who lost the family jewels and well over CHF3,000 when thieves took the family safe, a 110kg box that was bolted to the ground and wall. According to the paper, a safe is no safe place for valuables in the city, where thieves steal 5 to10 of them a week.
Title: Fete de L’Escalade
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: The City of Geneva goes back on time: over 400 years to be exact. All you have to do is go downtown and travel back in history.
Start Date: 12 Dec 2008
End Date: 14 Dec 2008
Geneva, Switzerland (20 Minutes, Fre) - Geneva, like the rest of Switzerland, has been told to reduce the number of places it offers refugees as a result of a September 2006 Swiss-wide popular referendum. But the obligation since January 2008 to reduce the housing the canton provides, coupled with an increase of 284 refugees during the third quarter of 2008, is giving the canton with the country’s worst housing shortage a major logistical headache, reports 20 Minutes.
Lausanne, Vaud (20 Minutes, Fre) - The Vaud cantonal council Monday night voted in favour of a motion that calls for a study to determine whether or not the canton should loan the Swiss federal government CHF1 million for a third rail line and additional autoroute lane between Geneva and Lausanne, to reduce growing traffic congestion in the region. The population in Vaud alone is expected to grow by another 100,000 in the next 12 years, from its current 770,000.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - In a peculiar twist in the world of Swiss radio stations, Buzz radio, a new station that just won a hotly contested FM license, wants to give it to One FM, the station that lost its license.
Title: Supercross exhibit and race
Location: Palexpo, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Two days and evenings of adrenaline and speed dirt bikes.
Start Date: 05 Dec 2008
End Date: 06 Dec 2008
Title: Equestrian competitions & exhibit
Location: Palexpo, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Start Date: 11 Dec 2008
End Date: 14 Dec 2008
updated 18:45 (We almost forget to send you to the Huffington Post, the heartbeat of American political writing)
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Too much election news to wade through, but you’re enough of a news junky to want to see and read more? GenevaLunch offers you a helping hand, with some last-minute election coverage, from Switzerland and elsewhere. See also: “The best of today’s election coverage, elsewhere,” 3 November, GenevaLunch.
- “Obama’s campaign kicked off in my kitchen!” Quincy Jones tells Swiss news magazine l’Hebdo (Fre) this week. Once a Clinton fan, now an Obama supporter, he explains why he switched, in a lengthy interview.
Title: International Christmas market
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Handicrafts, gifts and plenty of exhibits in different parts of the city.
Start Date: 26 Nov 2008
End Date: 24 Dec 2008
Geneva, Switzerland (Tribune de Geneve, Fre) - If your first reaction to late October snow is to rush out and get snow tires on your car, prepare to wait in line, with some garages in Geneva getting 300-400 calls a day.
Geneva, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) - The city of Geneva Tuesday presented plans to the public for its first specially-built green neighbourhood, hours after a fire destroyed a building on the site which has in recent years been an alternative culture centre.
Title: Christmas swimming competition
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Registration is now open.
Date: 14 Dec 2008
Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The police strikes that have reduced the number of small fines handed out by police in Vaud has come to an end, and while a similar slowdown in Geneva continues, talks between the city and its police force appear to be making headway.
Geneva, Switzerland (Tribune de Geneve, Fre) - Geneva had 558 car stolen in 2007, reports the Tribune, and the makes that were most popular with thieves were Volkswagen, Opel and Peugeot.
Title: Course de l’escalade (Escalade race)
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Registration is now open for: A fun, non-competitive, family-friendly night race where disguises are a must! An actual competitive day-option is also available.
Date: 06 Dec 2008
Title: Home, health & garden fair
Location: Palexpo, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: A mega exhibit of home, health, garden, travel and more.
Start Date: 14 Nov 2008
End Date: 23 Nov 2008
Title: Karting on ice (Ice karting)
Location: Patinoire Vernet
Link out: Click here
Description: Ice karting the new craze to hit the ice.
Date: 13 Nov 2008
Title: Disco on skates
Location: Patinoire Vernet
Link out: Click here
Description: Get your groove on the ice. One day only
Date: 07 Nov 2008
Title: Martial arts and free combat salon
Location: Bout-du-monde
Link out: Click here
Description: Films, combats, exhibits and more.
Start Date: 01 Nov 2008
End Date: 02 Nov 2008
Title: International amateur boxing tournament
Location: Palladium
Link out: Click here
Date: 06 Nov 2008
Title: Hip-hop concert
Location: Thonex, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: US-based hip-hop group The Roots performing in Geneva
Date: 18 Nov 2008
