White Understanding

10 December 2009 by scstefan1

Few days ago my cousin sent me an email containing an attachment with Barack Obama at White House. A power point presentation with a nice classical music, something banal. The photographer wanted to show the human side of the most powerful president of the planet.

The other day, a Romanian journalist, Cristian Tudor Popescu, predicted that in 15 years print newspapers will dissapear, becoming vintage bibliography. He said that his newspaper, “Gandul”, has frequently about 150,000 online readers, but the number of the printed copies is about 20,000 daily.

The internet is the future of data flow. It is perhaps the fastest and the biggest vehicle for communication. Its unique advantage among other mediatic devices is the facility to interact live. To have an opinion. People love to be heard. All websites nowdays value input. Readers feed back (I intentionally left out the hyphen) the creator with their ideas, making it even stronger. The information flows faster than any other time and there are many studies that show how powerful they are.

There is also email which I look at it separately because email is electronic mail for short.

Barack Obama is a president who understood how powerful the internet and email are and the power these devices have to increase his popularity. Barack Obama is concerned about popularity. He adressess to people. Imagine you receive a free mail at home with an album containing pictures from White House.

I played around in wordle with his speeches and the most frequent (key)words he uses are: “people”, “America”, “freedom”, “world”, “together” (I did the same thing with George W. Bush; his favorite words were: “terorism”, “Iraq”, “nation”, “danger”, “security”, “attack”).

To me, that was a confirmation of the white understanding Barack Obama has. It is a basic law in physics saying that contrasts attract each other, don’t they?

The Landscape of Education Culture

24 November 2009 by scstefan1
I received an interesting email today from a colleague of mine:

Greg Thompson in his post, “The landscape of Educational Culture” has it right. We must re-imagine our schools and end the madness of high stakes testing as well as “standards-based” educational reform. He writes:

We can’t have both. We can’t create a thriving, innovative, creative, vibrant learning environment and pair it with common standards supported by textbooks and assessed by standardized tests. The two ideas are diametrically opposed. To waste time and money attempting to force these two into a relationship would be as futile as Romeo and Juliet’s parents trying to keep them apart. And remember, in the end their kids died.

It is inevitable that students will learn . . . what is not so certain, is that they will do it within what we currently call “school.” They will find a way to generate environments much like the Meebo description – a place where they can thrive and think and explore and truly learn by doing.

Current educational “reform” is a smoke and mirrors distraction. For decades reform has been a series of piecemeal attempts to do the same thing we have always done, just differently. The real question, “Should we even be doing what we have always done?” is not being asked. What we need, is to reimagine school from the ground up, drawing on the truths we have learned about how humans learn. We need to take what we know about the power of environments that encourage and nurture creativity and innovation and not “reform” school, but finally begin to create what can honestly be called “school.”

Cum a murit Eminescu

24 November 2009 by scstefan1

2009 este anul deşteptării, un an aflat sub semnul Eminescu. Au trecut o sută şi douăzeci de ani de la moartea sa. Pentru prima oară circumstanţele reale ale morţii sale sunt puse în discuţie publică iar conturul activităţii sale politice şi jurnalistice este luat în calcul pentru a desluşi dispariţia sa abruptă. Puţină lume ştie cum a murit Eminescu: lovit în cap în timp ce cânta “Deşteaptă-te române”!
Manualele şcolare sunt pline de Eminescu dar omit astfel de mici “amănunte” continuând perseverent să descrie circumstanţa morţii lui Eminescu ca urmare a îmbolnăvirii acestuia de o boală venerică. S-au nascut acuzatii: ca se minte, a profesorii de limba română predau tâmpenii peste tâmpenii pe seama lui Eminescu, ca se falsifica istoria.

Cum a murit Eminescu – ultimele lui ceasuri, povestite de un martor ocular – o inedita relatare legata de moartea lui Eminescu. (Editura Criterion – “Boala si moartea lui Eminescu”, N Georgescu. Redam mai jos, integral si conform cu originalul, relatarea de presa aparuta in “Universul”, Bucuresti, 28 iunie 1926, p.3, reluata in “Cuvantul Ardealului”, Cluj, 1 iulie 1926, si in “Primavara”, Sannicolau Mare, 4 iulie 1926.

A murit in bratele frizerului Regelui Modestia acestui om da o valoare speciala datelor furnizate de el, date cari nu sunt in nici un caz lipsite de interes. D. Dumitru Cosmanescu, fost intr-o vreme coafor al Regelui, avand pravalie sub vechiul Jockey-Club, “il servea” adeseori pe Eminescu, care venea acolo impreuna cu alti prieteni: “Era un om domol si foarte asezat. Vorbea totdeauna frumos, ori cu cine ar fi stat de vorba si avea mare placere sa-l servesc eu. Cum intra intreba: “Da’ unde e Dumitrache?” Eu, ca unul care, slava Domnului, la varsta mea pot zice ca sunt “specialist” si ca am servit mii si mii de oameni, mi-aduc aminte si acum ca avea un par frumos negru, ondulat, dat peste cap. Mustata, mica, era tot neagra. De imbracat nu l-am vazut niciodata rau imbracat, ii placeau cravatele negre, facute “funda”. Vorbea cu mine, vorbea cu lucratorii, si mai ales sedea de vorba cu d. Ardeleanu, patronul meu de pe vremuri, povestind tot felul de lucruri, fiindca Ardeleanu era om citit, si fusese si la Paris, studiind sa se faca avocat. * Cand s-a intamplat nenorocirea ca s-a imbolnavit, Eminescu a fost dus la Sutu, unde i s-a dat o camera a lui, mai buna ca altora. Ma chema tot pe mine sa-l servesc si acolo, si ma duceam bucuros. Uneori veneau sa-l vada prieteni, Grigore Manolescu, Hasnas, si altii care-i ziceau lui Eminescu “maestre” si el radea, batandu-i pe umar. Cat a stat la Sutu, eu cel putin nu l-am vazut altfel decat scriind. Scria toata ziua, coli peste coli, si era foarte linistit. Dar soarta a facut insa ca intr-o zi sa-l vad murind, as putea zice, pe bratele mele. Venisem la Sutu, cam pe la 3 dupa amiaza. Pe la vreo 4, cum era cald in camera, Eminescu zice uitandu-se lung la mine: “Ia asculta, Dumitrache, hai prin gradina, sa ne plimbam si sa te invat sa canti Desteapta-te, Romane!” Eu care stiam ca nu e bine sa-i fac impotriva am iesit cu el in gradina, unde se vede ca-l tragea soarta. Si a inceput sa cante Desteapta-te, Romane, si eu dupa el. Canta frumos, avea voce. Cum mergeam amandoi, unul langa altul, vine odata pe la spate un alt bolnav d’acolo, unu’ furios care-a fost director sau profesor de liceu la Craiova si, pe la spate, ii da lui Eminescu in cap cu o caramida pe care o avea in mana. Eminescu, lovit dupa ureche, a cazut jos cu osul capului sfaramat si cu sangele siruindu-i pe haine, spunandu-mi: “Dumitrache, adu repede doctorul ca ma prapadesc… Asta m-a omorat!” L-am luat in brate si l-am dus in odaia lui, unde l-am intins pe canapea. I-am potrivit capul pe perna, si cand am tras mana, imi era plina de sange. Au venit doctorii, cu Sutu in cap, si ne-au spus sa tacem, sa nu s-auda vorba afara, ca nu e nimic… Dar dupa o jumatate de ora, bietul Eminescu murise!” * Din ultimele cuvinte scrise de Mihai Eminescu: “Pana ce mor, Pleaca-te ingere”.

„Stelele ’n cer”
Harietta Eminescu, sora poetului, scrie la fel : 
 
”Atata va spun si va rog sa spuneti la toti ca nenorocitul meu frate a murit în cea din urma mizerie si moartea i-a fost cauzata prin spargerea capului ce i-a facut-o un nebun, anume Petrea Poenaru. Sa fereasca Dumnezeu si pe cei mai rai oameni din lume sa fie instalati la d-rul Sutu, ca fiecare va avea sfarsitul iubitului meu frate.”  
 
in halatul sau de spital s-au gasit, dupa moarte, ultimele doua poezii scrise de Eminescu:  
 
„Viata” si  
 
„Stelele ’n cer”  
 
Stelele ’n cer Deasupra marilor  
Ard departarilor  
Pana ce pier. 
 
Dupa un semn  
Clatind catargele, Tremura largile  
Vase de lemn :  
Niste cetati  
Veghind întinsele  
si necuprinsele Singuratati.  
 
Orice noroc  
si ’ntinde-aripele Gonit de clipele Starii pe loc. 
 
Pana ce mor,  
Pleaca-te îngere  
 
La trista-mi plangere Plina de-amor. 
 
Nu e pacat  
Ca sa se lepede Clipa cea repede 
Ce ni s-a dat?” 
 
- publicate ambele în Fantana Blandusiei din 1 august 1889.

Alegeri 2009

21 November 2009 by scstefan1

Am citit zilele trecute o mica istorioara despre cele mai importante evenimente politice din Romania in ultimii 20 de ani (nu pot sa spun de la Revolutie pentru ca misterul Revolutiei este neelucidat; ba as mai adauga inca: intentionat lasat neelucidat).

Au fost multe momente cica importante in Romania. Foarte pe scurt citez:

Februarie 90: Prima venire a minerilor la Bucureşti.

Martie 90: Proclamaţia de la Timişoara. La punctul 8, foştilor demnitari comunişti li se interzice să aibă funcţii şi demnităţi publice. Dacă ar fi fost luată în considerare, Proclamaţia ar fi lasat FSN fara membrii.

Mai 90: Primele alegeri. Iliescu, Campeanu, Ratiu.

Iunie 90: Mineriada.

Septembrie 90:  Mineriada II, Roman e dat jos.

Perioada 92-96: mandatul lui “Mai, animalule”.

Perioada 96-2000: Epoca Emil Constantinescu. Premierul Ciorbea avea peste 80% din increderea populatiei. Constantinescu demisioneaza: “Structurile statului m-au invins” a declarat.

Perioada 2000-2004, alegerea raului mai mic si perioada baronilor locali.

2004 prezent: Basescu, razboiul intre presedinte si premier, Basescu suspendat din functie de Parlament si repus in functie de catre popor.

Ianuarie 2007: Romania devine membru UE. Asa adauga ca a fost luata in UE ca o piata de desfacere.

Cica sarpele sa il calci pe cap cat e mic, ca dupa-aia te musca el pe tine. Din toate datele de mai sus, eu una singura as alege sa o comentez: martie 1990. Atunci trebuia calcat pe cap sarpele si altfel am fi stat de vorba acum. Dar ce stiam noi poporul roman niste prosti proaspat veniti din comunism. Acum intelegeti ce crima a facut comunismul? Se zice ca si dupa ce balaurul moare, duhoarea lui inca ucide. Romanii au fost calcati pe cap de catre comunism si spalati pe creier. Nu au avut nici un fel de idee politica, au crezut in “salvatorii lor” (nota bene: Frontul Salvarii Nationale, un nume mai potrivit nici ca se putea) si au dat credit unor vipere sa ii apere, sa ii salveze. Sa ii salveze de ce? De adevarata democratie, de libertate, de occident.

Romanii trebuie sa voteze. Nu cred ca o vor face in numar mare pentru ca sunt dezgustati de politica. Alte state au stabilit amenzi usturatoare pentru absenteismul la vot. Nu mergi la vot, pac, iti vine amenda acasa. Imi place. Cred ca atata timp cat respiri aerul intr-o tara anume, trebuie sa iti calci pe inima si sa mergi la vot. Eu voi merge la vot si voi vota pentru singurul politician de care m-am simtit reprezentat de 20 de ani incoace.

Facebook

8 November 2009 by scstefan1

What a name, look at that… Facebook, some might think it is a book…

Over the last weekend in Herald Sun was an article about students having teachers as friends on hub websites such as facebook.com or myspace.com. There are mixed reviews and Victorian Institute of Teaching feels that it is not appropriate. Now the school’s stance: “please keep that in mind” we were told. “Students are not your friends”, the principal told us.

But what kind of friendship  is on such websites? I see people there like: I have 1037 friends. What means to be friend with somebody? What kind of friendship is on myspace.com? These websites exploited human nature’s main fair: loneliness. You are not lonely anymore if you exist online. You got mail therefore you exist. It’s easy.

The VIT is perhaps trying to take some preventive measures as for cyber bullying etc. Fair enough. But those websites already have such phishing and abuse report buttons, that anybody could press if they feel like not safe in the internet, and VIT position is futile. They can not control somebody’s private life, the internet, or the food that is being served in the staffroom. And lets face (book) it: teachers have a provate life and they should be free to do whatever they want to do in their private life, that’s why it is called private.Let the police deal with the offenders and the educational bodies deal with educational issues.

About Romanians

18 October 2009 by scstefan1

I noticed Romanians have a huge work capacity and overflowing creativity. They know how to give voice to their thoughts, to show what they are and what they want to become. Romanians are happy to share what they read and help their friends’ friends, if they asked to. People from Romania have a life philosophy, quite often underpinned in religious meanings. Romania is an orthodox country and you can see that in many Romanians.

Iubesc Dan Puric

13 September 2009 by scstefan1

Dan Puric, Cine suntem

About Think, Love and Hate

3 September 2009 by scstefan1

In theory, we are all good people. Nobody is bad, racist, jealous etc. Everybody knows the difference between black and white, bad and good, or small and big. We do know how we should look in the society, what image we need to display, what mask to wear. However, everyday our rationale is replaced by some disordered forces. Those forces are more powerful than the rational itself.

Platon said the soul is like a three horse-drawn carriage: the rationale, the feeling, and the instinct. Physically, this image is correctly pictured because apparently we think with three overlapped brains: reptile’s, mammal’s, and human’s. Unfortunately I say – or fortunately some might say – the old ones are stronger. If our world – I name hereby the society and the culture we live in – were chaotically organized (not rationally), then we would all follow our instincts’ and passions’ calls. The rationale would become a dark captive of those. A miserable rationale justifies and authorises instincts and passions. When the rationale is infantilised, it automatically becomes governed by instinct and feeling, there is no other substitute for that.  I remember in communism how intellectual people from above used to give logical justifications for murders.

We all have second thoughts, in both directions: good and bad. “I can’t stand that person”, “I don’t like his face”, “he’s not too bad” are some examples we all said at some stage after we spent some time with somebody. Sometimes we don’t even know why  “don’t like it” occurs, but we won’t go into that now. These “don’t like” feelings are rooted into hate. We only are human as much we have left over hate as. What is hate in us, it is not human, it is instinct. We are human, as much love as we have. Love is feeling. Rationale is thinking.

Life can only be understood through an own and personal thinking, personal experience. Even if we’d better learn from other people’s experiences – because there is not enough time for us to do all the possible mistakes Freud said – we still want to experience our own life. So “I am” the most important person in the universe. However, what am I, at the universe scale? Let’s do not forget that “I am” the least – or “dustleast” to make up a word – important person in the universe as well.

Do We Drink Too Much?

23 August 2009 by scstefan1

A Muslim was seated next to an Australian on a flight from London to Melbourne and when drink orders were taken, the Aussie asked for a rum and Coke, which was placed before him. The attendant then asked the Muslim if he would like a drink. He replied in disgust, ”I’d rather be savagely raped by a dozen whores than let liquor touch my lips.” The Aussie handed back his drink and said: ”Me too. I didn’t know we had a choice”.

Time is money

15 August 2009 by scstefan1

So far, I have met many frustrated people. Frustrated because people do not appreciate them, or their work is anonymous. But their life still have a goal. And although they stumbled and made many mistakes, they get up and keep going, which is a very important thing. Perhaps one of the most important thing is to have a goal and follow it on.

We never get the time back. Somebody could make more money next year, becoming a billionaire and having no financial issues for the rest of the life, but time will never come back. Time is money is because the time has gone, we do not get it back, so it must be paid somehow, not because of the service itself.

The worst thing is to have no goal. Imagine you wake up in the morning and do nothing. You enjoy the first moments. Next minute is probably as good, but what do you do after that? How are you going to spend the day? Could you live your life like that?