mai 2012

(Image source) Controversy indeed. A bronze bust of Adrian Paunescu sculpted by Ion Deac Bistriţa and Dragoş Neagoe was unveiled in Gradina Icoanei on Saturday at an event held by Nicolae Ontanu, mayor of sector 2. It has caused quite a stir - and, IMHO, rightly so. The unveiling was carried out by Preasfinţitul Varlaam Ploieşteanu (episcop vicar patriarhal) and academist Eugen Simion, both of whom should be ashamed of themselves - but aren't. During the proceeds of Saturday's unveiling, one protester yelled: "You can't do this! I... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) It has just emerged that the Lyme disease diagnosis given to the much-loved actor, Serban Ionescu, may have been erroneous. Mr Ionescu was diagnosed three weeks ago, after having presented with debilitating symptoms, perhaps following a tick bite last summer. Doctors at the Cantacuzino Institute are looking into the possibility of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as another hypothesis. I am surprised. Firstly, tests carried out at Fundeni (which tests, no one has said, but the two that specifically diagnose Lyme are... [Lire la suite]

To all of you in Bucharest wondering what to do this Sunday evening to round off your weekend, here's a recommendation! Take yourself off to True Club, Splaiul Independentei, corner of Selari (str. Franceza 52, sector 3) at 20h30 for a night of live music with Alter Status in concert. With Radu Popescu (lead singer and guitarist), Razvan Dumitrache (lead guitarist and vocals), George Petcu on bass and Alex Petcu on drums, you'll regret missing what promises to be a great night of well-known pop/rock covers and perhaps some originals... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) On this day, 21st May, those of the Orthodox faith remember Saints Constantine and Helena, and those bearing their names celebrate their feast day. I realised with a certain amount of shame this evening that I didn't know much about either of them, except that Constantine (Constantin) was an emperor of major historical importance (hence, Constantinople) and Helena (Elena/Ileana) was his mother. Time to rectify that. Saint Helena was indeed the mother of St Constantine the Great, and probably born at Drepanum (her son... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) Romania's politicians and officials have been hitting the headlines these last few weeks owing to their embroidery skills - embroidery, that is, of their CVs. Whether it be inventing academic awards, exaggerating their qualifications or committing downright plagiarism, it's become a little like the song, 'Ten Green Bottles'... Two weeks ago, Corina Dumitrescu was fired from her stand-in position as Minister of Education for being somewhat economical with the truth on her CV. This alone, was damaging to USL, who needed... [Lire la suite]

("Intense realism": A scene from "The Death of Mr Lazarescu" Photograph: Tartan Films) Romania is a gold mine of outstanding films. Cristi Puiu's The Death of Mr Lazarescu, Catalin Mitulescu's The Way I Spent The End of The World, Corneliu Porumboiu's 12.08 East of Bucharest, Radu Muntean's The Paper Will Be Blue, Ruxandra Zenide's Ryna, Cristian Nemescu's California Dreamin', and of course Cristian Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days come immediately to mind in terms of "Romania's new wave" films. If you haven't explored them... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) The recent news concerning actor Serban Ionescu who contracted Lyme disease after a tick bite last summer, Romanian medics' questionable understanding regarding the disease and the misguiding and sometimes completely inaccurate articles found in the Romanian press such as THIS just lately, all prompt this post. It is IMPERATIVE that Lyme disease is understood if it is to be avoided and/or treated correctly and efficiently. Rumours that it can be transmitted from person to person for example and that 80% of the Romanian... [Lire la suite]

(Please click on source HERE) Just this evening, I noticed a message on Facebook that was doing the rounds, complete with photograph of the actor Serban Ionescu, today very seriously ill from Lyme disease. A little background for those who do not know the plight of this man: due to the tardiness of his diagnosis, Mr Ionescu and his family are now seriously considering the possibility of his transfer to a clinic in Vienna for treatment - the doctors in Romania have no idea how to treat him themselves (Lyme is apparently a new concept... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Perfect for a Sunday morning, this lovely Romanian foxtrot (also performed as a tango), 'Trurli, trurli, draga' was written in 1934 by Stroe and Vasilache. Vasile Vasilache met a tragic and untimely death in the bombing of Bucharest on 4th April, 1944, leaving Nicolae Stroe to continue the radio programme, "Ora Vesela" they had begun together for Radio Bucharest in 1929, alone. There have been many versions of 'Trurli, trurli, draga' over the years with a variety of styles and all of them marvellous: Titi Botez (an... [Lire la suite]

Oh dear, oh dear... falsifying CVs... Well, I s'pose everyone adds a little bit of poetic licensing to their CVs, whether it's making dates add up so gaps of doing nothing much seem less obvious or exaggerating responsibilities in a particular post to appear more capable. I have students who write 'English: fluent' on their CVs in the 'language' section, when, frankly, they are far from it. But when you get to a position in life where you're the Dean (and founder) of a university and have been nominated Minister of Education, I... [Lire la suite]