juin 2012

Update, 30th June: (Image source) A comment left by Anda under yesterday's post (thank you!) reads that the panel who ignored Liviu Pop (the CNATCDU) was not the one in charge of the task of analysing the thesis (University of Bucharest's ethics committee), but one formed based upon political criteria by the former minister of education, a panel that has never ever analysed a PhD thesis before because it would have meant to act beyond its competences. Sam very kindly came to my rescue and explained the following: "CNATCDU is... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Yesterday saw the centenary of the wonderful, reclusive and legendary Romanian-born conductor and composer, Sergiu Celibidache (1912-1996). In his honour, UNESCO has declared 2012 the 'Global Anniversary of Sergiu Celibidache'. Sergiu Celibidache was born in 1912 and spent his early life in Iasi. He was a dancer as well as a dance teacher before learning to play the piano, after which he studied music, philosophy and mathematics in Bucharest and then in Paris. Between 1945-52, he studied music and composition at... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source: Bradisteanu measuring with both hands just how much he is prepared to lie, I guess) In comparison to Dr Bradisteanu, Adrian Nastase doesn't seem so bad, really.... I am appalled (and amazed) by the absurd 'we support Bradisteanu' I have seen today on Facebook, hence this blogpost.... For goodness sake, don't people realise who he is? Bradisteanu, a PSD senator between 2000-2004, may indeed be an excellent cardio-surgeon (however take a look at THIS article which questions how he got such a position at Floreasca as well... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) ‘Sanzienele‘ represent a charming midsummer Romanian tradition with pre-Christian roots celebrated in the Banat, Maramures, Oltenia and Transylvania and coincides with the Orthodox holiday, Ioan Botezatorul (St. John the Baptist). Noaptea de Sanziene (June 23rd-24th - the beginning of summer just after the solstice) is considered mystical - a time when nature is at its peak and displays its most vital forces. The traditional belief is that miracles occur during Noaptea de Sanziene, when the skies are perfectly likely to... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) Unbelievable... the latest news on Adrian Nastase and the whole dramatic telenovelo engineered to keep him out of prison for sure, is that he was operated on for wounds inflicted when he allegedly tried to kill himself and is currently in intensive care. They obviously think we are morons, for reports also say that the bullet passed through his neck, narrowly missing a major artery and hitting the larynx but with no damage caused to his vocal chords... Considering that when he was taken to hospital in the ambulance... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) It's been a busy day in the Romanian news. I can hardly keep up. Most of it is pretty laughable, though some is repugnant. In fact, it's all both laughable and repugnant which makes it all the more...repugnant, if you get my jist. Can't be bothered to write a blogpost on the subject of Ponta's plagiarism, though... If it is as he says and a dirty tricks campaign from Basescu's bunch, then I'm appalled for they have other more pressing things to be dealing with. If he really did what seems to have been proven that... [Lire la suite]

Below, an invitation from CeRe: 'Get to know new exciting people, test your competitiveness, discover a new side of Bucharest and win prizes. "Bucharest, Odds and Ends" is the first philanthropic urban exploration contest that takes you back to the communist era. Maybe you have just arrived in Bucharest or you have already lived here for a while. You see this strange combination of styles in Bucharest and chances are you still don't have a clear picture of this city's evolution throughout regimes. This is your opportunity to... [Lire la suite]

I have just received the following info by e-mail. Please read and act as you consider fit, noting that there are petitions HERE and HERE should you wish to join this call and sign (I would strongly urge you to do so). There is a great deal going on in Romania right now with laws and legislations being changed and scuppered willy-nilly. It's difficult to keep up, particularly if one canoot read in Romanian (and even if one can that doesn't always clarify much!!). The info below, I hope, will help. As Oana Suciu says, please do... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) I read this wonderful article in Hotnews today and would like to share it with you. Bravo to the author Vlad Mixich for his precision, honesty and insights. It really does merit a reading amongst the anglophones who love Romania and who struggle to understand the results of the local elections that took place over the weekend. Perhaps there are some Romanians who will be touched by its thought-provoking content too. Those who say that this article speaks of nothing but stupid triviality say so because they live with... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) Never have I felt more disappointed in an election result (link added 11th June). I suppose there are many Romanians who feel this way every single time, literally bulldozed by the idiots who vote either with their pockets or for bribes. The first (tentative) results for the exit polls in Bucharest and other major municipalities are in - and USL has pretty much taken all by a massive landslide, wiping PDL off the face of the capital. Ponta has declared it a historic day for the opposition. No comment from me except... [Lire la suite]