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"Destiny is the excuse of the weak and the work of the strong." ~ Nicolae Titulescu on democracy (Photo source) Nicolae Titulescu was born in Craiova in 1882 to a family of lawyers. On graduating with honours in 1900 from the Carol I High School in Craiova, he went to study law himself in Paris from 1900 until 1904 when he returned to Romania and published his first works subsequently going on to write more than 30 published papers in Romanian, French, English, German and Italian on problems of common and international law as well... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) This post has nothing whatsoever to do with Romania, but I was fascinated by the story of The Little Dancer and since Edgar Degas was born today in 1834, here goes... Marie was a fourteen-year-old ballet student (un petit rat) at the Paris Opéra, where Degas (see VIDEO) often drew and painted. The figure was nude to begin with, but he later dressed her in clothing made of real fabric - cream-coloured silk for the bodice, tulle and gauze for the tutu, and silk slippers. It was first shown in the sixth Impressionist... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) It causes chagrin when one can no longer speak one's mind... The general Romanian atmosphere, particularly on Facebook at the moment, makes that very difficult. Today, I have seen a friend of mine totally slammed for having opinions that dared go against those of someone else. That 'someone else' named her publically on a very aggressive status as a vehicle of pro-Basescu propaganda. You get the gist, I'm sure.... What is it about the average Romanian and his incapacity to listen, debate and discuss without insulting,... [Lire la suite]

(Photo source) Last night, I was invited to the Romanian Embassy, otherwise known as the Hôtel de Béhague in rue St Dominique, Paris 7ème for a conference, followed by some great jazz and a very sociable cocktail afterwards. It was the first time I had ever set foot in the Embassy itself although I know the ICR just next door fairly well. Tucked behind a high wall with heavy, unpenetratable street doors leading into a paved court-yard, it is a stunning palace with an incredibly eclectic mix of styles from Versailles staircases, French... [Lire la suite]

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) The text below is taken and adapted from FB note "The historic Assan Mill in Bucharest on fire again" by Asociaţia ARA [Arhitectură. Restaurare. Arheologie] posted today, 10th June. My thanks to ARA for sharing this interesting background info, the photos of wilful destruction both past and present - and that it is in English, too, gets an extra round of applause. Thank you again, very much. Assan Mill, one of the most important industrial monuments of Bucharest was ablaze again midday on Thursday. The flames, measured... [Lire la suite]

(Image source) Robert St. John (1903-2003), a globetrotting journalist who was on the scene or on the air for most of the 20th century's major news events: mobster Al Capone's grip on Chicago, the Nazi onslaught through the Balkans, the London Blitz, D-day, the end of World War II and Israeli independence - wrote more than a score of books after he was chucked off the radio during the McCarthy Era. Among his books were three autobiographies - one aptly titled "Foreign Correspondent" - which cannot even begin to cover St.... [Lire la suite]