World Cup 2010, sau cum sportul rege coboara in panta disgratiei

Fotbalul nu mai e ce era odata. Acest sport este victima unor interese care l-au transformat intr-o afacere globala. Echipele traditionale ale Europei sunt obosite si expirate. Jocul e neinspirat si plafonat. Jucatorii de exceptie sunt din ce in ce mai rari iar echipele pentru acest mondial au fost dresate ca pentru o expozitie de catei. Arata bine dar…
Antrenorii sunt prea departe de a intelege cultura tarii a carei echipa o conduc pe teren; jucatorii se bazeaza pe reflexe conditionate acumulate in cluburile unde sunt formati, iar aptitudinile lor uneori nu pot fi transpuse sau adaptate la echipa nationala. Unitatea lipseste de cele mai multe ori si este mai mult decat evidenta in timpul jocului.
Cupa mondiala este in momentul de fata o excrescenta monstruoasa a unui fotbal international care nu mai reprezinta asa de sugestiv natiunile participante; identitatea tarii nu coincide cu identitatea jocului.
E si vina spectatorilor intr-o oarecare masura. Prea mult se discuta si se exagereaza in jurul balonului rotund, prea mult se fabuleaza pe la meciuri si in emisiunile dedicate fotbalului, comentatorii incercand sa se intreaca in metafore si explimari sofisticate pentru ca in final sa realizezi ca au uitat care este esenta acestor discutii (oricum inutile). Tot acest spectacol nu e decat lobby pentru un fenomen hipersaturat de remarci si observatii, informatii periferice, opinii avizate care distrug orice initiativa orientata catre obiectivul tinta.
Mass-media este obligata sa intre in aceasta hora din motive financiare. In ziarele de sport nu mai exista decat rublica fotbal si poate una sau doua randuri buimace despre alte competitii, transformand cu timpul cititorii in scavii acestui sport. Cineva trebuie sa aiba ceva de castigat din mediatizarea atat de ferventa a fotbalului la nivel global… dar ne-am gandit oare vreodata cu adevarat la asta?
Ma intorc la Cupa Mondiala, cel mai mediatizat eveniment fotbalistic. Nu am nimic impotriva competitiei in sine, urmaresc toate campionatele europene si mondiale de mai mult de 15 ani dar parca atata falsitate si lipsa de esenta nu am remarcat pana acum. Totul se reduce la sabloane, publicitate si renume, impresie intarita si de prezenta acelor vuvuzele care iti duduie in cap 90 minute si anihileaza orice dorinta de exprimare a unei emotii pure: un cantec de bucurie/incurajare a suporterilor sau chiar linistea atat de necesara uneori in anumite momente. Un sunet care lasa impresia ca toate meciurile seamana intre ele. Sau cum spunea Shakespeare “too much ado about nothing”, adica prea mult zgomot pentru nimic, deoarece, din pacate, marile echipe ale Europei nu au aratat prea mult fotbal pana acum.
Avem in schimb stadioane superbe care au costat miliarde, mediatizare fara precedent, jucatori super obositi dupa campionatele interne, caricaturi de meciuri care nu se ridica deloc la nivelul cerut de aceasta competitie. Imi aduc aminte cu placere de vremurile cand un meci de fotbal imi provoca admiratie si emotii pozitive. In prezent scopul nu  mai e spectacolul ci scorul sau capacitatea de a sta in defensiva.
Traditionalele Anglia, Franta, Germania, Italia, Spania, Portugalia – au dezamagit pana acum. Ne-au surprins insa echipe mai putin cunoscute dar vizibil motivate si omogene, fara jucatori „vedete”: SUA, Elvetia, Coreea, Australia.
Competitia nu s-a incheiat, insa sper din tot sufletul sa apuc vad ce imi doream pana la finalul ei. Adica fotbal de calitate, fara mofturi, prejudecati sau sabloane.

Blagues tristes sur la situation actuelle de la Belgique

1)  Une salle de spectacles à Bruxelles où sont réunis un grand nombre d’artistes du pays. Dans un micro, une voix dit aux Flamands de s’installer à droite, aux Wallons à gauche. Des voix s’élèvent alors : «Et nous les Belges, on se met où ?»

2) L’immeuble de la célèbre radio télévision belge, Bruxelles, qui abrite les journalistes francophones et flamands. Lesquels sont virtuellement séparés par un mur. Sur la porte de la partie francophone du bâtiment, on peut lire : «Ici, on parle le français.» Sur l’autre porte, celle des Flamands, il est écrit : «Ici, on ne parle pas, on travaille.»

Despre cei care isi petrec viata in caverna ignorantei

Exista o categorie de oameni care nu traiesc decat din barfe si invidie. Nu ca ar avea prea multe motive sa invidieze pe cineva, dar pur si simplu sunt prea limitati ca sa se apuce de alte activitati mai prolifice. Ei isi petrec timpul asteptand sa treaca timpul... si de fapt nefacand nimic. Trag de timp, se uita in jur mult, la altii, ca sa-i analizeze si respectiv sa gaseasca noi subiecte de barfa, in loc sa-si vada de treaba. E mai interesant sa urmaresti pe altii atunci cand in viata ta nu se intampla nimic. Dar de ce nu se intampla nimic? Pentru ca nu vrei. Pentru ca nu ai chef sa misti un deget ca sa ajungi acolo unde au ajuns altii, pe care ii invidiezi cu atata ravna.
Acesti oameni se tem de singuratate. Cand raman singuri se simt stanjeniti si de fapt realizeaza cat de limitati sunt. Orice activitate intelectuala este pentru ei greu de suportat, din simplul motiv ca li se solicita creierul. Iar ei nu doresc sa-l utilizeze decat pentru a scormoni in vietile altora si a inventa scenarii care nu au nici o legatura cu realitatea. Traiesc intr-o lume a lor, inchisa, unde nu patrunde lumina adevarului.

In acest context mi-am adus aminte de Mitul Cavernei, a lui Platon. Pe scurt, niste prizonieri ce locuiau intr-o pestera vedeau numai umbrele oamenilor/obiectelor care treceau/se aflau pe langa zidul incaperii si aveau astfel o intelegere foarte limitata a realitatii din exterior, traind din supozitii. Cititi aici in intregime Dialogul

Acesti oameni erau bolnavi de nestiinta pentru ca nu aveau acces la lucrurile reale, vazand numai niste fantome ale lor. Imi permit sa fac o paralela intre personajele lui Platon si barfitorii/invidiosii despre care vorbeam anterior. Personajele mele nu numai ca sunt prizonierii propriei nestiinte ci refuza orice iesire din pestera din cauza ca adevarul este prea orbitor atunci cand mintea este prea limitata...

Diferenta dintre "a fi indragostit" si "a iubi"

Multa lume confunda cele doua, pentru mine insa au fost mereu doua trairi total diferite. Ceea ce pentru mine este atat de evident si logic pentru altii poate parea aberant (m-am mai confruntat cu polemici pe tema asta).

A fi indragostit de cineva - este un sentiment temporar, trecator dar foarte intens cauzat de prezenta cuiva care iti suscina atentia, te atrage, fie prin fizic fie prin altceva. Acest sentiment acapareaza mintea aproape total pentru o perioada si afecteaza gandirea rationala. Oamenii indragostiti sunt cei mai predispusi la nebunii sau actiuni iesite din comun (pe care nu e fac in mod obisnuit). Eu percep starea de a fi "indragostit" mai mult ca pe o patima, pasiune, aproape obsesie temporara, o energie incredibila, dar care in cele din urma dispare (nefiind alimentata sau in urma unei dezamagiri) sau se materializeaza intr-un sentiment mult mai profund si indelungat, acela de "a iubi".

A iubi pe cineva - este un sentiment de lunga durata, profund si rezistent la perturbari de mica amploare (certuri, neintelegeri), care apare in doua cazuri: in urma unui sentiment temporar de a "fi indragostit" sau in urma unui proces indelungat de cunoastere a unei persoane si care trece treptat prin starile: admiratie, respect, placut, atasament, drag. Trairea nu apare niciodata spontan si nici nu dispare rapid, pentru ca este cladita la un alt nivel decat cea descrisa anterior. A iubi pe cineva inseamna mai mult a-ti fi drag/a-ti pasa de cineva, a fi foarte atasat, a te atrage, a respecta foarte mult, dar toate la un loc.

Bineinteles este foarte greu sa descrii sentimentele prin cuvinte, dar uneori trebuie sa te faci inteles prin incercarea de a formula o definitie aproximativa.

Da, din punctul meu de vedere poti iubi pe cineva fara sa fi fost anterior indragosit de persoana respectiva. Sentimentul poate aparea in timp datorita mai multor factori.
De asemenea, poti sa fii indragostit de cineva fara ca aceasta emotie sa se transpuna intr-o iubire de lunga durata.
Cele doua sunt foarte des confundate. De vina sunt si filmele, in care personajele isi fac declaratii de dragoste mult prea repede (mai ales cele americane, pentru ca in limba engleza termenul uzual "i love you" poate avea mai multe nuante in functie de context, dar este intotdeauna tradus in limba romana prin "te iubesc").

Nu poti spune cuiva dupa 2 zile "te iubesc", poti eventual sa-i marturisesti ca "esti indragostit" pana peste urechi si n-ai stare.
Nu exista reguli pentru temporizarea acestor genuri de declaratii, pentru unii un "te iubesc" dupa o luna de relatie poate parea inoportun, pentru altii rezonabil.

Recent government measures reveal the degradation formula

During the slump the government is expected to spend less and target better. But does it have the necessary skills and intelligence to do that? Our political system has recently shown nothing but inefficiency, focusing only on cuts. A great deal of the burden lies on the middle class - the segment of our economy that has to support most of the costs running this nation. The wealthy elite advantages are left untouched; their millions are untaxed.
Cutting spending as well as raising taxes will definitely affect the economic growth in the long-term. There is no dream of prosperity for Romania at this moment; it’s science fiction.

I am not sure the recently taken measures are a safe method to pump up the economy, because having less money to spend, people become less confident and more insecure about their lives. (They acknowledge that the system is obviously going wrong but can do nothing.) Cutting spending is likely to cause more unemployment, especially in small companies. They will be no longer able to produce, expand or hire; always overwhelmed by the fear or even higher cuts and tax increases.

So, the challenge of our government is to find an intelligent way to combine reducing deficit with stimulating growth, smoothly and consistently. Unfortunately, most of our elected officials are only anxious about their own self-interests and don't care a bit about the future of the country. Their attitude is not only startling but also alarming, at a time when the nation requires competent leadership to pull us out of the recession.
They seem to have noticed that our economy tumbles down into a terrible abyss but the only solution they found is cutting wages and pensions to avoid hiking the flat tax and VAT (which is unavoidable, it’s only the next step, since the first solution will certainly not show any visible results).

Politicians have no idea how demoralizing and risky these measures are. The number of homeless people will increase, as well as suicides.

Here’s the formula I compiled to show which the future of our nation is in the years to come:

Cutting Wages -> Lower Consumption -> Layoffs -> Unemployment & Small Firms’ Bankruptcy -> Homelessness & Suicides -> Degradation of the Nation

Why do I love "Pride & Prejudice" (2005)?

Ranges among my favorite movies ever because:

- Presents a pure love that no longer exists in our century. There are practically no erotic or passionate gestures, no touches but you can sense the chemistry going on between the two lovers in their looks, in their verbal fencing. The single physical expression of their love is the final kiss.
- Includes one of the most romantic moments i have even seen in movies, namely, the final scene happening at dawn, in the fields, on the background of the rising sun, so innocent, so divine and so long expected by us, the witnesses of an angelic kiss rounding up the story.
- The characters are perfectly embodied by Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. I have read the book years ago and their representations are both very close to the image i had in my mind (most viewers prefer the Darcy played by Colin Firth - 1995 version, but i like Matthew Macfadyen better). Instantly fell for both of these characters as much as they fell for each other.
- The plot is funny, even though the subjects treated are nothing but serious. There is much humor in the story, especially when it comes to the Bennet family sisters' behavior, their mother's changing attitude towards events and Mr. Collins' snobbish and exaggerated manner of talking.
- The movie is based on a novel written by a woman, in fact, a very courageous one for the beginning of the 19th century. Let's not forget the fact that women had no jobs, no rights and no freedom of choice at that time. Subsequently, it's quite understandable why the movie appeals more to the female public (including me!)

Romance and love are the key words to describe this wonderful picturization leading us through the meandering adventure of Lizzie up to the point where she finally admits her true feelings and the fate drives her right into the arms of the perfect man.

I can watch this movie over and over again, it's still fascinating to me. A classic love story - old-fashioned, emotional, simple. That's all.

"Being alive" perceptions

Many people wonder, what could have happened if… they had chosen another road, at a certain point in their lives.
The truth of not being able to go back there and try the other option, reconsider old views and opportunities, claim for more, acknowledge new facts, is killing us.
Revelations and memories is all we have left.

I cannot face the fear of the future, it's so uncertain and shadowed by questions.
I cannot go back into my past, there is no place for me there, not the way I am now. Though I am deeply longing for some parts of it.
I cannot live in the present either, it's so unsympathetic, unreliable and fragile.

My desire is not to alleviate this pain of "being alive" (and never really where i am supposed to be), but rather to see how present-day perceptions can contribute to my reluctance in sharing past-time memories with someone, who would be able to grasp just a tiny piece of them, naturally, without any effort.
My desire is not to go back into my past, but rather to pick up bits of it, bond them to my present and make this "being alive" a little more certain and bearable.

4 days to go till World Cup opens in South Africa

4 days to go till World Cup opens in South Africa.
I have watched all the European and World Cups ever since 1994 but almost never watched any other important football competitions, not even Champions League. You will probably wonder why. Indeed, this passion comes to me only once in two years.
I guess the answer would be: I love competitions between countries, not clubs. I am probably being subjective but it's not only more fun, it's also more motivating to perceive the participants as a bunch of representatives for a nation. It's never grueling nor tiresome, only enthusiastic. At least for me.
For the same reason I love the Eurovision contest.

P.S. I hate post-match comments. It's merely vacuous drivel.

My favorite teams: Portugal, Italy, England, Spain

My favorite football player this year: not awarded yet... still need to think
My favorite football player ever: Davor Suker.

Alanis Morissette - Precious Illusions

you'll rescue me right? in the exact same way they never did..
I'll be happy right? when your healing powers kick in

you'll complete me right? then my life can finally begin
I'll be worthy right? only when you realize the gem I am?

but this won't work now the way it once did
and I won't keep it up even though I would love to
once I know who I'm not then I'll know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim

these precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was defenseless
and parting with them is like parting with invisible best friends

this ring will help me yet as will you knight in shining armor
this pill will help me yet as will these boys gone through like water

but this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss
and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am
but I know I won't keep on playing the victim

these precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was a kid
and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend

I've spent so long firmly looking outside me
I've spent so much time living in survival mode

Cea mai mare catastrofa ecologica din America

Stirile care anunta ca scurgerea de petrol rezultata din explozia platformei petroliere care a avut loc pe 20 aprilie 2010 in Golful Mexic nu sunt decat niste zvonuri disperate cu scopul de a linisti planeta. Dar acest accident este un dezastru de a carui amploare nici nu putem sa ne dam seama deocamdata.

Toate incercarile de a infunda conducta pentru a opri scurgerea au esuat, dar asta ni se comunica doar cu jumatate de gura la televizor iar unii mai optimisti (sau naivi) afirma chiar ca s-a pus capat problemei prin blocarea circuitului cu un zid de "ciment". Cine mai crede asemenea bazaconii? Ce poate sa faca un zid de ciment in fata unei scurgeri de mai mult de 3 milioane de litri de petrol PE ZI? Mi-e si greu sa-mi imaginez acest volum.
Un spectacol trist pentru flora si fauna zonei, devenite victimele petrolului. Ecosistem distrus poate pentru totdeauna pe coasta Americii.
Americanii se lupta cu terorismul, se duc sa impuna regimuri democratice in alte tari, acaparati mereu de goana dupa bani si putere, incat uita sa protejeze ceea ce au deja mai de pret, natura.

Nu sunt oare accidentele de genul acesta un fel de "genocid" ecologic, o crima contra naturii, un atentat la viata unor copii care nici nu s-au nascut inca?
Evident, dam vina pe neatentia umana, ignoranta, inconstienta si egoismul imbecil, dar invatam ceva din asta? Sub deviza "nu ni se va intampla noua", sau "pe noi nu ne afecteaza" traim in continuare fara sa ne marcheze prea mult asemenea intamplari. Insa ne intrebam cu nonsalanta uneori: "oare de ce murim pe capete de cancer?" sau "de ce apa potabila nu mai e potabila?", "meritam asa ceva?"
Explozia din Golful Mexic (si efectele ei) nu este o catastrofa naturala, ci una cauzata de o eroare umana inadmisibila. Ceea ce s-a intamplat si se intampla inca acolo mi se pare mai grav decat 11 septembrie, mai grav decat moartea lui Kennedy.
In doar cateva zile a fost distrusa o opera la care s-a lucrat timp de cateva mii de ani.
Enjoy the picture!

Casa arde dar baba se piaptana, pana in 2012

Francezii sunt obsedati de viitorul lor politic. In loc sa se concentreze pe guvernarea actuala si sa rezolve problemele primordiale ale tarii, ei nu fac decat sa discute despre prezidentialele din 2012 iar ziarele sa emita ipoteze privind posibilii candidati.
Dreapta, in speta partidul lui Sarkozy, aflat la guvernare, ar fi bine sa se agite mai mult ca sa-si imbunatateasca imaginea, cam sifonata dupa esecul la alegerile locale din martie, avand in vedere si popularitatea lui Sarkozy, mereu in descrestere, iar stanga, in frunte cu PS, ar fi bine sa lase deoparte vulgaritatea, stilul taios de a ataca pe oricine si lisa de diplomatie.
Iata ca se aplica foarte bine zicala "casa arde dar baba se piaptana". Europa e in plina criza, tara e coplesita de somaj (180.000 offres d'emploi pour 500.000 CV. Vous avez quoi comme solution?) dar politicienii nu fac decat sa viseze la niste alegeri care sunt departe de momentul prezent. Eu nu inteleg aceasta fervoare si nevoia se a se agata de ceva intangibil.

Cu scuzele de rigoare, prefer sa urmaresc si sa comentez din cand in cand situatia politica din Franta decat cea din Romania - care ma umple de dezgust si ma lasa mereu fara cuvinte. (Nici grevele si nici starea generala de nemultumire a oamenilor nu vor schimba nimic. Suntem condamnati la tacere, cel putin pana isi termina Basescu mandatul. Intre timp, ar fi bine sa invatam din greseli si sa nu le mai repetam.)

China, o noua forta militara de temut, dar oare ce urmareste?

China s-a lansat recent intr-o ofensiva mediatica avand ca scop dezmintirea zvonurilor potrivit carora ar trebui sa existe temeri legate de cresterea considerabila a puterii sale de innarmare in ultima perioada.
Tarile occidentale acuza de ceva timp lipsa de transparenta a Chinei vis-a-vis de politica sa militara. Se pare ca in 2010 peste 532 de miliarde de yuani din bugetul national au fost alocati pentru aparare si cheltuieli militare. 

Faptul ca Pekinul refuza sa difuzeze date exacte despre cheltuielile sale militare genereaza in mod evident niste intrebari legate de ambitiile si obiectivele sale de viitor. Doreste oare China doar sa se protejeze sau planuieste sa cucereasca noi teritorii? 

Pe masura ce China acapareaza in ultimii ani prima pozitie in economia mondiala (in mod surprinzator si neasteptat pentru multi), am observat ca s-a rasturnat balanta de forte economice, oarecum fixata dupa cel de al doilea razboi mondial. Iar acest dezechilibru si aceste aparente ambitii nu pot decat sa anunte schimbari, la care urmeaza sa fim martori, doar ca nu stim inca exact despre ce este vorba. (Vreau sa evit sa fac paralela cu Germania anilor 30 secolul trecut... dar imi vine in cap fara sa vreau; oricum nu sunt aceleasi premise si nici porniri, dar mai stii?..:))

Daca urmareste doar sa-si apere interesele economice, e inutil. Conform estimarilor in 2040 China va deveni cea mai bogata tara din lume iar cota ei din PIB al lumii va ajunge la 40% (sa nu credem orbeste in aceste date, sunt orientative). Se pare ca in ultima perioada China investeste din ce in ce mai mult in resurse energetice, cucerirea spatiului si solutii informatice (invatand sarguincios de la altii si educandu-si tinerii in Occident!).

Pentru a mentine linistea in jurul acestui subiect Pekinul trebuie ori sa dea dovada de diplomatie, evitand sa-si atraga suspiciunea altor tari, ori sa ofere transparenta si sa arate care este situatia reala din acest punct de vedere. Deocamdata doar Ministerul Afacerilor Externe isi bate capul de acest aspect incercand sa nu deterioreze relatiile diplomatice printr-un discurs care se vrea linistitor si responsabil.
Cert este ca anumite tari sunt deja cuprinse de suspiciuni si temeri in ceea ce priveste planurile de dominatie mondiala ale Chinei.

1st June 1533 – The Whit Sunday Coronation of Anne Boleyn

On the 1st June 1533, Whit Sunday, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
She was marrying Henry VIII, as his second wife. Three years later, in May 1536 she was executed after being accused of adultery and witchcraft...
I will come back these days with a longer article on Anne Boleyn, who's fate is still fascinating, after 474 years.

Revue de livre de Jean-François Solnon "Catherine de Médicis"

Dans son livre, tout à fait intéressant et facile à lire, l’auteur défend la réputation de Catherine et montre son rôle positif dans l’histoire de la France, apportant des arguments pour combattre la légende qui envisageait Catherine plutôt comme une veuve noire avide de pouvoir qui empoisonnait ses enfants.
C’est Alexandre Dumas père qui a créé cette impression, très feignante. Dans ses romans la reine apparait toujours comme une sorcière méchante qui conspirait et concevait des complots.
La mission de Jean-François Solnon est de démystifier, réhabiliter l’héroïne et montrer ses mérites dans la politique des guerres de religion en France au XVIème siècle.
L'image de la "Florentine empoisonneuse" est donc remplacée par celle d’une reine soucieuse pour la paix, le pouvoir du Royaume et l’avenir de la dynastie des Valois.
L’auteur affirme qu’elle n’a eu aucune contribution aux décisions prises pendant le massacre de St. Barthelemy, étant contrainte de donner son accord à l’exécution des huguenots pour éviter une guerre avec l’Espagne, alimentée par les rebels en Pays-Bas.
En fait, les preuves sur la participation de Catherine dans cette affaire restent encore inconnues, ou au moins douteuses pour affirmer avec certitude son innocence. Catherine croyait tellement en la raison et la paix qu’elle mésestimait parfois les passions religieuses. Voilà la devise de la politique menée par la meilleure reine politicienne que la France a jamais connu: "Un compromis vaut mieux que la reprise de guerre!"

Et enfin quelques détails que je ne connaissais pas sur la vie de Catherine de Médicis :

- Catherine par sa mère était aussi française (apparentée à la maison de Bourbon)
- Diane de Poitiers était sa cousine, par sa mère
- François I a été le père qui lui avait manqué
- A sa mort, Margot manquait du testament à cause de son comportement pendant le règne d’Henri III
- Orpheline à naissance, veuve à 40 ans, elle a vu 8 de ses enfants mourir avant elle

De ce limba engleza tinde sa devina limba universala

Am auzit in ultima vreme tot felul de afirmatii potrivit carora limba engleza a devenit limba universala a planetei datorita flexibilitatii sale si usurintei de invatare.
As vrea sa clarific cateva lucruri si sa aduc argumente care demonstreaza alte motive pentru care limba engleza a devenit atat de populara in lumea intreaga (este un proces care a durat peste un secol).
Da, engleza este intr-adevar o limba sintetica, desi nu a fost dintotdeauna asa. Imi aduc aminte ca in facultate cursul de Engleza Veche mi s-a parut extrem de greu iar limba suna mai degraba a germana sau scandinava.

1. Popularitatea limbii engleze se datoreaza in primul rand unor factori politici si economici care s-au prefigurat la finalul secolului 19, inceputul secolului 20, atunci cand s-a schimbat treptat balanta marilor puteri ale lumii iar America, cea mai mare tara vorbitoare de limba engleza, a preluat hegemonia politica, economica si industriala, consoldandu-si pozitia dupa cele doua razboaie mondiale.

2. Sa nu uitam de Imperiul Britanic, care a dominat lumea timp de cateva secole si a exportat limba engleza spre alte continente in coloniile sale (in calitate de putere suprema maritima, industriala, economica si culturala, preluand acest statut de la Franta).

3. In India, tara cu cea mai numeroasa populatie de pe planeta, fosta colonie britanica, administratia tarii s-a desfasurat in limba engleza, iata de ce indienii, acum imprastiati prin lumea intreaga, au contribuit si ei la raspandirea englezei ca prima limba straina

4. Prin comercializarea sistemului de operare Windows, Microsoft a transformat engleza in limba universala a calculatoarelor si a internetului (80% din informatia de tip electronic este in limba engleza), acesta fiind un aspect foarte important al comunicarii in epoca moderna (nu toate popoarele sunt la fel de nationaliste ca francezii sau rusii incat sa traduca Windows in propria limba!)

5. Filmele americane, accesibile ca pret, mesaj, preferatele multor canale de televiziune au propagat o engleza usor de asimilat, mai ales in tarile unde se practica subtitrarile (industria din America fiind cea mai prolifica din lume)

6. Din ce in ce mai mult, artistii care isi doresc sa patrunda pe piata muzicala internationala abordeaza texte in limba engleza, pentru a targheta o audienta cat mai larga (tarile vorbitoare de limba engleza ocupa o patrime din glob)

Astfel, engleza devine in mod logic cea mai viabila solutie pentru comunicarea internationala atat in mediul de afaceri cat si cel diplomatic ajungand la statutul de "lingua franca".
Da, engleza este intr-adevar o limba flexibila si destul de usor de invatat (nu si pentru asiatici iar pentru latini poate parea dificila). Marele avantaj al englezei este ca lexicul sau are foarte multe cuvinte scurte (o silaba sau doua) care sunt usor de retinut, dar in acelasi timp, aceste cuvinte au de obicei foarte multe sensuri si iti ia ceva timp sa identifici nuanta in context...
Un alt atu al englezei este existenta unui asa zis vocabular de baza, foarte redus, care fiind asimilat devine suficient pentru a comunica, din acest motiv multi vorbitori de engleza ca si limba straina se plafoneaza in acest punct, nefiind interesati sa-l extinda, pentru ca in fond nu ar avea nevoie. Acest vocabular de baza/simplist al limbii engleze este de obicei cel auzit prin filmele americane adresate unui public larg, cum ar fi serialul TV “Friends”. Daca stii macar putina engleza nu ai cum sa nu intelegi replicile personajelor iar asta te face sa crezi ca stii deja suficienta engleza!
Versiunea britanica si cea australiana mi se par cel mai greu de digerat. Si asta nu datorita vocabularului ci mai ales pronuntiei. Simplificarea englezei in timp la nivel de vocabular nu inseamna deci si unificarea pronuntiei, care ramane specifica fiecarei zone.

Da, engleza pare la prima vedere usoara si flexibila, daca te limitezi la achizitionarea lexicului sau fundamental dar, eu personal, dupa ce am utilizat engleza timp de mai bine de 15 ani inca am impresia ca numai nativii pot stapani aceasta limba extrem de bine, pentru ceilalti, engleza este si ramane, de cele mai multe ori, doar “a currency for communication”.

Quiz: Me about Myself

1. What’s your favorite color?
Red, because it shows passion

2. What’s your favorite band?
It used to be Savage Garden in my teens, now I listen to many genres of music; it’s hard to choose only one band :)

3. Are you happy with your life?
No, never, unfortunately I am the kind of person always willing to get more, to improve, to become perfect. Looking back, I obviously had great results and accomplishments as a student, in high school and in college, but never after that. Having a full time job takes up too much of the time I would dedicate to study and research. I NEED MORE TIME!!!

4. What’s your biggest wish?
To move to France, speak French every day and visit every centimeter of that country :)

5. What’s your opinion on life?
I strongly believe in reincarnation. That’s why I somehow accepted the fact that I cannot get everything in this lifetime as long as I am convinced that I did some amazing things during my past lives and some other opportunities are yet to come in the next ones. There is really no ending and I am not afraid of death, which is merely a new beginning to me. As to life, it is a sequence of tests to get to another level of perception and fulfillment.

6. Do you have any obsessions?
Maybe my childhood, the best period of my existence so far. An avalanche of good memories keep coming back to me in certain moments, it can be overwhelming. I really miss those times and those places…

7. Why France? Why French history and so many French books?
I cannot explain this attraction to France and French history. It’s beyond anything reasonable. I am ready to devour any kind of information related to this subject.

8. What did you wish to become when you were a child?
An actress, a singer, a politician, a writer, a model, a journalist and a historian altogether :) and I still hope to be able to pursue at least one of those dreams, that of becoming a writer someday.

9. Your favorite line from a movie/TV series:
Joey from “Friends” when he turned 30: “- Why God, why??? We had a pact!!!” : )))) cause that’s what I was going to say on my 30th birthday : ))))

Retirement dreams fallen apart

There are rumors that the Romanian government is going to remove the right to retire before 60, as part of the fiendish plan to reform the pension system and keep public finances afloat.
The decision is obviously taken due to deepening recession and swelling unemployment, but also the tendency to keep the pace with the most successful Western European Union countries that have risen their legal retirement age to 60 or even so, long time ago and are now considering to rise it again.

I don’t really know what to say. I am bewildered at this troubling news, trying to warn off my dreams about a happy retirement.

I have always wished to buy a peaceful small cottage in the countryside and dedicate the rest of my days after retirement to reading, writing and spending time surrounded by nature. Now, I am not even sure I would ever reach that moment. Now I am not motivated enough to live, knowing that I would have to work the most part of my life and perhaps die at the office sometime before the legal retirement age. You have to be bullish not to see what this is all about.

Our government’s purported intention is certainly not to destroy our dreams, but their indefatigable desire to take away from us the only period in our lives when we can actually do what we like leads quite to that cruel resolution.
I agree that our country’s legal retirement age is one of the lowest in Europe, but this avalanche of spending cuts, growing taxes and painful reforms are making us very vulnerable and uncertain about our future. Is there any future at all?

The attempt to restructure a pension system, which is, by the way, neither the greatest nor the most generous in Europe, successfully stokes our patience and hurts our expectations, marking the beginning of another epoch for common people: that of indifference and lack of interest towards work. There is nothing left to persuade us, there is no bright perspective. We are genuinely pessimistic and totally disgusted.

The most stupid argument I ever heard was: “a rise in the retirement age is inevitable as people live longer and save less”. Do we really live longer than our great-grand-parents lived? I remember that my great-grand-father died at 90 and my great-grand-mother at 94, my grand-mother is now 81 and she’s quite in good health. They are probably making a comparison with the middle ages when millions of people used to die under 60 from incurable diseases such as the plague or cholera, or were devastated by frequent and violent wars.

In UK the retirement age is progressively increasing to 68-70 years, in France to 63, in Germany to 67… How sad is that?
Our generation is currently intimidated by the prospect of saving for a pension, which seems to be so faraway.

I don’t believe in predictions of increased life expectancy. Our politicians are callously and self-destructively feeding this idea to make excuses for their lame decisions.
We work all our life and sometimes even neglect our health in the scramble to find tranquility and security after retirement.
That small cottage in the countryside was my balm, my idea of redemption, after a debilitating life dedicated to work.

Negotiating the controversial rise in the legal retirement age, while the economy remains deep in the dumps, is the government’s opportunity for global grandstanding and our opportunity for rethinking our values and hopes.
Bereft of our “small cottages”, give us something in return, something worthy and motivating enough to make us want to still get up every day and go to work…

Apropo de soarta monedei Euro

Apropo de conspiratia impotriva monedei europene despre care vorbeam intr-un post anterior si despre riscul disparitiei ei in urmatoarea perioada, am gasit o parere interesanta si reliable a unui expert in domeniul financiar, exprimata recent in editia din 15 mai 2010 a ziarului Jurnal de Chisinau:

"Nu cred în dispariţia euro de pe piaţa valutară" a spus directorul Agenţiei de rating şi estimare “Estimator-VM” Natan Garstea. “Speculaţiile pe marginea scoaterii din circulaţie a monedei europene sunt mai mult o chestiune politică decât una economică. Moneda europeană va merge bine în continuare."

Opinia sa vine ca un raspuns la afirmatia ingrijoratoare expusa de Jacques Attali, former chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development:

“If there’s no extremely strong and immediate action, next year the euro won’t exist anymore. It’s best to prepare for the worst.”

Pachetul financiar pregatit de catre UE si FMI pentru a salva Grecia in schimbul unor masuri de austeritate foarte severe nu a avut efectul scontat asupra speculatorilor care se pare ca nu urmaresc decat deprecierea monedei euro. Dar stau si ma intreb, daca dupa atata efort de dragul Greciei, alte tari, precum Italia, Spania, Portugalia, chiar si Romania vor urma aceeaasi soarta, care va fi solutia petru ele, fiind deja toate resursele epuizate?

Prea multe sunt diferentele dintre cele 27 tari membre la nivel de economie, masuri sociale, abordare, mentalitate. Din cauza acestor neomogenitati s-a ajuns la situatia de disperare in care ne aflam acum. Poate ca inainte sa ne fi bucurat atat de mult ca intram in UE trebuia sa ne fi gandit daca meritam sa ne aliniem anumitor standarde, daca suntem capabili sa tinem pasul cu niste piete care se bazeaza pe principii liberale de secole. Unde varsta de pensionare este demult 60 ani sau peste. Pentru noi toate aceste schimbari sunt ca niste lovituri sub centura, foarte greu de digerat, suportat, acceptat. Facem sacrificii ca sa ramanem in Europa, sa ramanem pe linia de plutire si sa salvam unitatea, care si asa este fragila.

Hommage à Arthur Rimbaud

Dans mon adolescence j’avais l’habitude de beaucoup lire, surtout poésie, philosophie, littérature. Mon poète préféré français était alors le symboliste Arthur Rimbaud. Je suis encore fascinée par l’histoire de sa vie, assez dramatique. En fait, je trouve une petite ressemblance entre moi et Rimbaud, sauf qu’il a été plus génial que moi!

Il a écrit tout son œuvre poétique entre l’âge de 16 ans et 21 ans. Moi, j’ai écrit mes meilleurs vers entre l’âge de 16 et 21 ans! Coïncidence ou destin?

A présent je n’ai plus d’inspiration, plus de temps, tandis qu’à cette époque-là, l’inspiration me venait naturellement. J’étais étudiante, jeune, libre, rêveuse, amoureuse parfois… Malheureusement, ça ne marche plus comme avant.

Sinon, la vie de Rimbaud est passionnante. Il a quitté sa mère à 16 ans pour rejoindre son ami Verlaine à Paris ; il était tout à fait non-conformiste, ensemble, ils ont voyagé en Angleterre et vécu une histoire d’amour troublante, car Verlaine était marié. Deux génies fous et malentendus par la société et leurs familles… Rimbaud n’était qu’un enfant éternel, toujours curieux et décidé à conquérir le monde entier. Il a abandonné la poésie pour se lancer dans le commerce en Afrique, ayant marché des milliers de km dans sa vie pour mourir à 36 ans d’une gangrène de la jambe.

Sans doute, il y a une relation spéciale entre moi et Rimbaud. En même temps, nous sommes différents; je manque le courage de renoncer à tout et fuir sans avoir les moyens nécessaires pour une stabilité quelconque.

Un monde tragique

Rien n’a changé depuis les guerres de religion du 16ème siècle, on lutte encore et on tue pour imposer son point de vue, que ce soit religion, orientation sexuelle ou avis politique. Un monde tragique qui n’évolue pas...

Some thoughts about EU's financial weakness

All 27 EU members are in danger if money from this amazing €60 billion pot is disbursed and finally not paid back, because all members would have to pay extra into the budget to top it up... This great plan, is it going to work?...

For a while, I thought there is an international conspiracy to destroy the euro... and I am still considering this idea. USA would have reasons to do that and Asian markets too.

The United States of Europe sounds awesome. It's like dreaming about re-uniting Moldova with Romania. Futuristic but not impossible.

Some weak countries depending upon others to save them, isn't this quite the beginning of this dream coming true? Not quite exactly as we expected. Mutual aid, bailouts, support are welcomed and encouraged, but is it quite the right thing to do? An attack on one member is perceived as an attack on all. That's a good thing, though the means are risky for all countries in the long-term.

Though necessary, steep tax increases and deep spending cuts are likely to plunge us into a deeper recession this year, because there is no country in Europe able to counterbalance the high-deficit countries' financial situation by an aggressive economic stimulus of its own; not even Germany.