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Blogging Vs Journalism at US Cultural Center

"The influence of blogging is overall a very positive force in the media"

Garrett M. Graff


Today, basically yesterday, I got to be part of the Blogging Vs Journalism debate at USA Cultural Center of Bucharest. First blogging event I participated and definitely not last.
The US Embassy press office did a great job! Thank You, Ana-Maria Popa and the Team. Great job!
It was interesting to learn new things about this new type of media.
Few things on bloggs:
-Bloggs are like newspapers& TV shows=good and bad;
-Can be a powerful tool;
-It’s up to an individual to choose his/hers source of info;
-Bloggs have almost NO legislation but still the law applies to bloggs as well. For more check www.legi-internet.ro
-Bloggs can make you reach. Interested? Click here
-People who read bloggs are interested in bloggs on technology (1 out of 3); culture (1 out of 4); politics (1 out of 4). Only 3 % read personal blogs.

The highlight of this event was that I got to meet few other fellow bloggers. Especially I enjoyed meeting and talking to Cristian Manafu and Andressa. It’s a weird feeling, it’s like meeting some famous people you know about but never met before. The best part? They were great: friendly, open, well mannered and very nice.

Personally I believe that blogging it's about freedom. About mine and your freedom.

Enjoy it!

Happy clothes

"Dressing is a way of life" Yves Saint Laurent (French fashion designer)


It seems like spring is here and life looks better, happier. Still, just walking on the streets of Bucharest and looking at people, you rarely see smiles and hear laughter. People look busy, tired, sad, lost...BUT there is hope!!! :)


Have you ever noticed that our clothes "talk"about our mood and maybe even make our mood? I dislike dark clothes, especially black. Except my socks, I have no black clothes because they make me sad. I love blue, green and the other colours of rainbow. By the way, have you wondered why there is no black in the rainbow?


Oh right, here is my challenge for You: this week, starting with March 26Th until April 1 don't wear ANY black clothes. For a day or a week, keep your black clothes only for you. Dress up with happy colours, bring a colorful spot to Your town, school, work place. Colours bring smiles and make the days brighter. Try it!


The way to make your town happier is talking to strangers, smiling and dressing up in happy clothes.


I'm in. You?


See you on the streets of happy Bucharest! :)

Airplane Etiquette (2)

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use". Emily Post

I got back with few more thoughts on good manners during a flight. Read and obey. It's easy and soooo necessary.

In Flight

-Don't be a bore. There is nothing worse than being held captive by a talkative seat mate. Don't force your conversation on the person next to you.

-If someone is driving you crazy with their (dull) life story -- it is permissible to tell them you're too busy, tired, sick or whatever to talk. But don't be rude. Some people are nervous fliers and talk compulsively.

-Don't grab the seat in front of you when you are getting up -- it is very disruptive to the person sitting there. Use your arm rests to get up.

-Don't kick the seat in front of you.

-Don't shout into the air phone.

-Don't stand in front of the in-flight movie. You may not like the feature, but don't spoil it for everyone.

-Don't hold business meetings in the aisle (***please read: Don't show your Armani and Dolce Gabana stuff you just bought). It is very annoying to fellow passengers. Also, you never know when a competitor is listening.

-Don't clog up the aisles while the flight attendants are using the food and beverage carts. Let them do their jobs.

-Be careful with food trays and hot liquids. Take care when you open the plastic salad dressing, condiment and beverage containers. They spatter easily.

-If you do spill something on someone; apologize and offer to pay for dry cleaning.

-The bathroom is not a make-up table or dressing room. Be quick and clean up after yourself.

-Alcohol's impact is magnified at high altitudes(***please read "Prietenii stiu de ce"). Don't get drunk.

-This is not your office -- don't spread out your work papers everywhere. Be neat.

-Don't try to read your seat mates work documents or laptop screen. It is really obnoxious.

-Don't sleep on your seat mate’s shoulder, unless they want you to(*** please read "unless she likes you"). This is not your bedroom -- be considerate of your fellow passengers. Your sex life may be interesting to you, but unless you are Gwenyth Paltrow or Brad Pitt, your seat mates don't want to listen to it or watch it.

So, as you can see there are some rules at the higher altitude. They exist even some don't know about. Get ready to clap, I'm planning to land! ;)

Aiplane Etiquette (1)

"Can the magic of flight ever be carried by words? I think not."
Michael Parfit, 'Smithsonian' magazine, May 2000


Probably not many out of a "non flying generation" heard about Aiplane Etiquette but there is such a thing. I am back with some things on Aiplane Etiquette. Today I'll share part. Next time, the rest of it:





Boarding





Don't carry-on excessive luggage or oversize bags. Most airlines are cracking down and space is limited.


Board quickly. Don't linger at the entryway -- it backs up traffic in the jetway.


Carry your bag in front of you as you walk down the aisle. Over-the-shoulder luggage can hit passengers that are already seated. It's not a good way to make friends:)


Store your bag under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin adjacent to your seat. Don't put your bag in a bin near the front of the plane for a quick exit -- it means someone else will have to wait until the entire plane has emptied to walk back to get their bag.


Don't store your bags in another's space. Wait until the door closes. If there is empty space, then you can use it.If you need to move another's belongings while placing items in overhead bins, ask them.


Place your coat and jacket on top of your luggage in the overhead bins. Don't place them next to your luggage -- it takes up too much space.


Sit in your assigned seat until everyone has boarded. You can switch seats when you determine the empty spots.


If you are traveling alone and someone asks to switch seats to join a family member or colleague - be a sport. You might need the same favor some day.


Settling In. Don't Hog the Armrests.If you're listening to music with a Walkman, don't crank up the sound too much -- it is irritating to listen to.


Don't recline your seat all the way. Airlines may be expanding the legroom in coach, but it is still cramped.Don't invade your neighbor's "personal space". Be considerate, the Golden Rule applies in the air.


Feet often swell on long flights and many passengers remove their shoes for comfort. Feet often smell on long flights also. If you do take off your shoes, please wear slipper sox to contain the wafting aroma. Believe me, people notice.





Stay tuned for more. Untill next time: seat back, relax and enjoy the ...food! :)

A non-flying generation

"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute" Gil Stern

On the way back to Romania from Rome I realised again that we are a non-flying generation.

Here are the symptoms I saw:

-When the flight was announced everybody stud up and run to the gate. No order in boarding (In the US first are boarded the passengers with special needs and kids, then biz class and then people according to their seats from the back of the plane forward);

- The passengers started clapping very excited when the plane took off the run way in Rome;

-During the flight the people were walking all over the plane (like in a train or a bus). They were visiting with each other showing things they bought made by Armany and Dolce Gabana. They were very loud and noisy.

-They were taking pictures all the time;

-Everybody got very excited again (of course most of the passengers started clapping) when the airplane landed in Bucharest.

-The plane has not even got to the gate and many started to stand up and look for their luggage.

- On the way out, the passengers were pushing each other without giving priority those in front and on the front seats.

Most of the Romanians have not flown too much. They are a bus or a train generation. Not even a car driving generation. We act like a crowd without any rules. We still have the crowd mentality. No individual discipline or respect. You need to push to make it. If you wait or you are nice, you are stupid.

The World works different. I hope that we'll learn about manners in flying, driving and just living the life.

By the way, I am curious if there are written rules on good manners during a flight.

I'll check on that and will get back to You!

Untill then...please keep your seat belts on, seat back and enjoy the ...life! ;)

Planning

"He who fails to plan, plans to fail..." Proverb

Today I'll just give you few suggestions on planing if you are looking to visit Rome.
First, check on line all the info on the places you will be visiting. On line you can book hotels and hostels, you can see the train schedule and prices. Just come up and print the plan.
Second, when you get to Rome, buy the Roma Pass- a great helper for 20 euros valid 3 days. It gives you free entrance to 2 museums and using buses and subways anytimes during this 3 days. It's worth the money.
Also, come with a great book Top 10 Roma. It will help you more then you imagine. It's great.

I'll come back with more info and things on a great Italian adventure.
Tomorrow I'm flying back to Bucharest.
Ceao Italia!!!

My love is the South of Italy

"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver." Martin Luther

I kept on my adventurous discovery of South of Italy. Yesterday I visited a wander of the nature- Castellana Caves or Grotte Di Castellana. It's incredible! The trip to Italy was worthy at least for the things I saw underground: thousands and thousands of stalagtites and stalagmites, incredible miracles deep under ground.http://www.grottedicastellana.it/en/index_eng.htm

The main chamber, called Grave, is 70m deep. This is the level of the whole cave system, which elongates about 3km. The Grave seems to be a hall, but it is a huge passage, 50m wide, up to 60m high, and almost 600m long. This passage is separated into chambers and alcoves by huge formations, forming towers and castles, walls and bridges. Castellana cave has a fascinating variety of dripstones. The path makes a circle inside this huge cavern, returns almost to the staircase and then goes down into the north-western branch where the tours enter a lift and return to the surface...

Then I visited Alberobello, a town with very unique houses. They were built out of stone and looked like hats. Why? The farmers wanted to avoid paying taxes...

Want to know more?

Google it and stay tuned ;)

In bucca del luppolle

"Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways: women, gambling, and farming. My family chose the slowest one..." Pope John XXIII
Made it to Bari, a town of 350.000 people located down south Itlay on the coast of Adriatic Sea. A town with palmtrees, fishermen who sell the fish they catch in the mornings, a town who has the Saint Nicola church (later he became the Santa Clause), lots of scooters, loud Italians, poor imigrants and pretty women.
Yesterday evening trhu a local friend met about 17 Italians (boy and girls). It is interesting how in the weeked evenings most of the people get out to walk on the main streets and in piazza, meet friends, talk and have a good time. We went to a restaurant called "In bucca del luppole" ("In the wolf's mouth"). Initially I was nervous but it turned to be a great place with great food. It was fun to comunicate with Italians: funny, nice, relaxed and ...loud.
Today walked all over Bari. Saw the Saint Nicola Church, walked on the nearow streets with clothings hanging out and scooters flying on every corner.
South is magic. I love it. I love breathing in the fresh sea air, smelling the fish and seeing the palms. First thought was: Italian Hawaii. Second thought: I didn' know that in Bari is " the mouth of the wold is ":)
I'll spend another day here.
Cin-Cin!

Ciao Italia!

" All roads lead to Rome " Proverb
It looks like some of my roads lead to Rome as well. Got to Italy yesteday evening. Had a good flight with Fly Europe. Good company, good prices. Still, not very professional yet. The crew is not too friendly, they do not smile and look kind of scared. They are working on that and doing their best. The air craft was new and very comfortable. No business class.
As soon as we landed in Rome, most of the passengers started clapping and were so excited. I thought it was ridiculous because it was just a flight and the pilot did not have to land on an aircraft carrier or on the moon. You could tell that the category of people in the plain was ...diffrent. Mostly, low budget.
Checked in a nice hostel www.colorshotel.com Nice, clean rooms, clean bathrooms, greate colours and staff. Located next to the Vatican.
First few impressions on Rome:
-Amazing city with a lot of history and great architecture. Just unbelievable. Love it!
-You can see the Latin spirit: trash on the streets, loud people, very lade back, very liberal with women.
-The streets probably were never fixed after the Romans built them. Dog's poop on most of the side walks.
-Today I got to see just a bit of Colloseum. It's impresive!!!

In couple hours will take the train to Bari. Then will come back to Rome to explore and visit the sites and museums. Stay tuned, I'll be coming back with more info related to the Italian Experience!

Ciaooooo!