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Sunday 29th June. In Romania is St. Patrick’s Day, my name day. As for any aniversary, I should make resolutions, plans to be fulfilled and all the other stuff that most of us do on an special day: plan the future, try to figure out what should be on priority for the next week, month, what and if we should do this or that, try to make up for the wrong we did, and promise to be a better person in the future. And, as most of you, I promise to get drunk!

But, after I’m watching the game tonight. I remember 22 years ago, the final for the World Championship, Germany – Argentina, was also on St. Patrick’s Day. And Argentina won, 3-2 after a great and wonderful game, from which Maradona and Klintsman remain in my memory for a long time. Ofc, I should mention Brehme, Matthaus, Vogler, Canigia, Batistuta and all others. But for that final game, Maradona was the star. I wonder, tonight, after 22 years, Germany will be on a Final Game again, will they lose as they did exactly 22 years ago? Or will they turn around and win this time? they will face again a latin team, Spain, without a concrete leader in the field – Raul is missing – but with a good goalkeeper, maybe the best goalkeeper in the world, Ilker Casillias. I’m ready to bet my money on Spain. And I’m ready to party!

Sometimes, the cyclical nature of the life can take me by surprise. I’m feeling the same stuff as I remember I felt 22 years ago on 29th June; with a great sadness though, because someone is missing, someone who has my name and to whom I want from the bottom of my heart to say happy B’day, but i can’t anymore: my dad, past two years ago into a better world.

Personal june 29 2008, my day

Telegram: 2 girls named Indiggo. America’s most watched talent show. The Baywatch star on the jury. One famous song, with Frank Sinatra’s voice in our mind. Same song with Romania’s twins voice. Jury said yes.

Entertainment America's got talent, indiggo

A month ago I’ve read a Bill Gates speach in which he told the audience that Windows 7, the next OS will be launched sometimes in Q4 2009; ofc, he has soon corrected by Microsoft team, to announce the probable date for Windows 7 in Q1 2010, and as we know Microsoft for missing dates, probably would be more like Q4 2010.

Last week, a beta version of the new operating system leaked on the internet, according to windows7news.com. According to the site, and the recent blog from ZDNet, untill now Windows 7 will try to be more focused on user and gaming interactions. So, here’s what I’ve found to be the new things in new version, according to the rumors of the users that already tested the new Microsoft product:

1. Greater interactivity with PnP objects and items. Network awareness
2. The new file system indexing, announced to be launched with Vista, then cancelled for the next OS
3. Motion detection and multi-touch screen awareness; windows sensor feature
4. Lower memory usage and lower power consumption (we have to keep the Earth green)
5. Greater localization and integration with the current Windows Live platform.

From the video presentation of the Windows 7 capabilities, it seems that Steve Jobs did a hell of a job with the iPhone touch screen. Take a look at the presentation in the youtube video below

Internet General, software integration, localization, microsoft, windows 7, windows live

We waited 8 years for a final tournament. We waited 8 years to see the followers of Hagi, Popescu and Co. playing in the green square like lions; and we waited in vain. Yesterday, at Berna, I saw the great Romanian fans shouting like lions for their team, but I didn’t see a team on the field.

On the one hand, I understand that Adrian Mutu was missing all three games (although he scored the only goal of Romania at the Euro 2008, he also WAISTED the penalty kick which should have brought us the qualification, regarding that Italy won 2-0 against France) but C’MON! What the HELL, the Netherland has given us every chance to score. They backed down in the first half. they didn’t engaged, and their defenders even given our forwarders the damn ball, but Mutu & Co where to stupid to make a score. Or even make one shot on goal. I repeat, IMHO, Holland was about to give us the game, and let us qualify with them on the next stage, the only thing that they where not able to do was to place the ball inside their net.

And then, on the other side, Mutu, Chivu and whoever was on that field where not able to place one shot on goal! One shot! Where was the Brilliant during the Euro? Where where the spartans ? the allmighty Dacs who faced the Roman Empire ? Where the hell was Romania ? With Mutu out of shape, with Nicolita and Fl. Petre useless on the field, without any midfield players since Radoi was out on injury, with a defensive game that has brought us back home, Romania isn’t at all a team. They are a bunch of guys who pretended to be football players.

I mean, again, C’mon what the hell! Holland has given us the game yesterday. I even think that van Basten made a bet on Romania’s victory! Have you seen the faces of the dutch when they scored in the second half ? they weren’t even happy for beating us. What more can I say? I believed in Mutu, Piturca, Chivu. I believed that this generation of football players can make a difference, can step up to the footsteps of the golden generation of Hagi and Popescu. Now I can only say to Mutu and Chivu: SHAME ON YOU! You are a disappointment to me and for at least one year, I won’t stand to see your damn happy faces through Coca-Cola, Pepsi, mineral waters ads and whatever you want to advertise. You should lay your had down and bury it like the ostrich. SHAME!

Sport / Football Euro 2008, Holland, Romania, shame

A movie that I can hardly wait to see it: Hancock. I don’t know why, but I think this one will be one of the summer best off.

Hancock (2008)

Cu: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman

Regia: Peter Berg

Scenarist: Vince Gilligan, Vincent Ngo

Durata: 92 minute

Genul: fantezie, drama, comedie

Odinioara un supererou popular in randul concetatenilor sai din Los Angeles, Hancock a devenit acum lenes, sarcastic si alcoolic, fara nici un fel de respect fata de proprietate si autoritate,…

Trailer Hancock

[gwpemovie-19969]

Entertainment hancock, movie, summer

Or at least this is what we hope for. We have the time, we have the space, we have the public on our side; all we need is 11 heroes to get into the green field and teach the Italians that football is played by man who know how to score.

I hope that today, at 18:00 Mutu, Chivu, Lobont and Dica will have the match of their time and they will defeat the World Champions, like Holland did Monday. I hope that I will see a Romania made from the brave Dacs in defense and by great Roman conquerors in offense.

32 Millions of Romanians wait for this victory. From Voronin’s Moldova to Berlusconi’s 1 Million of Romanians will cheer for the national team today, will cheer for the right to be where we belong in football: UP, over the “enemy”.

I’m ready to shout from the bottom of my lungs “GOOOOOOOOLLL” when Mutu, Nicolae or Contra will score. I’m ready to be the witness to the first victory since Lucescu’s Romania left Italy home. Italy is already packet for Rome, so we must show them the way. TODAY!

Update: Holland won against France with 4-1, being the first team out of our group . We made a draw against world champs, Italy. Catalin Tolontan, from gsp made a great article in today about Romanian over the board: Jos comunismul, hai Romania! Bravo Catalin, I liked it a lot!

Sport / Football Euro 2008, italia, Romania

According to one of the Mozilla Firefox developer, Mike Beltzner, the new alpha release of the internet browser will be officially launched this Tuesday, 17th of June. Firefox, which will get to the 3rd version, will have, according to Mike, a higher download / load spead then the previous version, will consume less of the CPU and will run more smoothly then the previous version.

Firefox version 3 have been developed for the past 34 months, and according to it’s beta testers, it’s a big improvement from the previous versions, including the 3.5 beta: will get the new addons a faster install, will be more media friendly – videos, music, improved bookmark and history, and a more efficient management for the ftp and other internet services like mail, for one. On Tuesday, the browser how has the goal to become the most used internet browser, will have a Download Day, in attempt to break all the downloads records for one day – you can sign-up at Download Day HQ.

You can find out all the mozilla firefox release candidates here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-rc.html

Internet General download day, firefox, mozilla, rc3

As the second election tour will be held this Sunday in most of the Romania’s cities, the candidates campaigns gets more aggresive and more to the limits. Although Sorin Oprescu, one of the two candidates for the main city and capital of Romania, Bucharest is independent, the “smell” of PSD – the Social Democrat Party is more present in his TV spots. Ofc, when we talk about tens of billions of euros to be invested in the city development, projects and infrastructure, nothing is too much when it’s about winning the major position in the town. The same applies to Vasile Blaga, candidate from Democrat- Liberal Party, backed up by the President of Romania (who attacked two weeks ago without notice or reason the independent Oprescu ) ; both political figures are one month / 4 years bloggers, friends, helpers and anything you want or need. Ofc, they need your vote this Sunday! Good luck choosing!

Here’s the Sorin Oprescu buldog TV ad:

Politics blaga, blog, bucharest, oprescu, tv spot

As a little research for a possible future project, today I searched the online media in Romania for sex toys, sex shops and basically everything that goes into the sex area: movie distribution, toys (dildos, gells, toys, real doll, etc). What is interesting in this little research is that I’ve found that the market for Romania online sex is divided between 3 networks of sites all outside of country borders. One especially has a good position, with more than 10 websites dedicated to sexual drugs and toys. And escorts services in Bucharest area.

As on the porn site productions and content, except Titus Steel and Sandra Romain nothing in the industry. Or at least small temptations to get into the market with labels as Budoar or Butterfly Video.

The question for my clients is that if they enter the online sex market in Romanian web, should they expect to sell their stuff, regarding the fact that Romanians are shy when it comes to sex talk, but hungry when it’s about sex movie downloads – just one look at the hub’s user share and you’ll see my point

Internet General

Since yesterday, the US iPhone fans don’t have to wait anymore for the new iPhone3G product. According to apple.com the new iPhone3G will be a little bit bigger in dimensions, will (still) have the battery not removable, and will cost less … by less, understand 199$ standard price. In Europe the phone will be available first in Austria, France, Portugal and Switzerland but with a promise for Orange customers for delivery in other EU countries by the end of the year. In Romania, the Orange customers should expect also the new iPhone3G by the end of the year in almost 6500 stores country-wide; we still don’t know the retails prices for the Romanian Market

Communication Apple, iPhone3G, Orange, Romania