Electronica

I just got this new release from Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden)and being totally ignorant of his music went on the website for a little cultivation. Although the DJ Kicks sounds fine, I was extremely pleased by the samples from the 2003 release "Rounds": extremely melodic and harmonious, resembling a lot with the sounds of Bonobo. " Rounds was released in May 2003. It was Hebden's most ambitious album to date, incorporating diverse samples such as the mandolin on "Spirit Fingers", and even a rubber duck on the closing track "Slow Jam". Three singles were released from the album: "She Moves She", "As Serious as Your Life", and "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth".

This last single was released as an EP featuring remixes by electronica duo Icarus and Isambard Khroustaliov along with additional Four Tet tracks "I've Got Viking in Me" and "All the Chimes". An accompanying DVD featured all of Four Tet's videos to date. In addition, the closing track "Slow Jam" was featured in a U.S. Nike commercial in 2001 and 2002; Hebden edited the track on the back of the bus with his laptop while on a tour with Fridge" (wikipedia)
It's worthwhile to listen and glance also at the webpage; although pretty simple it has an original appearance and some taste of 4Tet's music.

Back in the US

So, yes I'm back in the US. Joyless as expected.:) the re-adjusting is not that easy after a couple of months spent in Europe..but we are getting there. Also, the work part is about to start (and overcome me?) thus no need to worry that much about anything...besides that of course.:)). Hopefully it will be a year as good as the last one or maybe (why not?) even better. It certainly could be; it's just harder to improve constantly.

Remembering the Croc Man

Shortly after 11:00 am local time on 4 September 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb while diving in Batt Reef (part of the Great Barrier Reef), off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland. The events were caught on camera and the footage is now in the possession of Queensland Police.Irwin was in the area filming his own documentary, to be called The Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for a segment in the television program his daughter Bindi was hosting,when, according to his friend and colleague John Stainton, he swam too close to one of the animals. "He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
After teasing hundreds of crocs, snakes and other wild killers it seems that Steve's lucky streak is over. An emblematic Australian and a huge consever of the nature, he will remain the closest thing to a Crocodile Dundee.

Home Sweet Home

After taking the train from Wien to Timisoara, I decided to simply go home because I was too tired from all the travelling and meetings. Thus, I got off the train in Deva and with the (slow) help of two other regional ones I got to Cluj, the "capital" of Transylvania and from there I went farther north: home. Sighet is the informal capital of Maramures the northern part of Transylvania and thus Romania and it is at it northern end sourrounded by rivers (the name means island in Hungarian) and lots of mountains. Just a couple of pics below to see what I am talking about.

Besides that, I really like my hometown. Although it's quite constant (not a booming/expanding city) it seems to be steadily improving cosmetically especially and it is a clean, quite and neat place to visit. While last year I travelled all over the country, this vacation I stayed mostly at home with a couple of visits to Cluj and to my gradmother in Bucovina.

Trully an epic journey to the North-Eastern part of Romania,Bucovina is the upper part of historical Moldavia, a land full of beautiful landscapes and world-wide famous orthodox monasteries. For me, it was more of a personal jouney and a promise made to my 86-yr old gradma that I will surely go there in case I reach Romania this summer. So, here I am...a man of my word, as always:). Overall it was a good trip just the bad train connections are a fun-killer: on our way there my mom (a very risk averse person) decided upon the safest route but the one with the biggest layover too. For five hours I took a trip in a small ville from Bistrita, Beclean. However, some extreme pushes like this may do some mental good in the long run, hopefully:)). All this said, in the 2nd train I enjoyed again seeing teh beauty of the Oriental Carpathians around Vatra Dornei and Ilva Mica.

It was a nice quite time just to relax and enjoy the moment in a totally rural environment away at least from our everyday's electronic vices (computer, cable tv). I visited also the cities of Radauti and Suceava with monasteries (Bogdana, Sf. Ioan, Dragomirna etc) and historical sites which are proofs of Moldavian ascension in the 15th century. Among them, I saw a Church from 1447, in Patrauti which is included in UNESCO heritage and it isn't one of the main touristic attraction. I wasn't even aware of it and most of the people are in the same boat as me..but there are a lot of beautiful monasteries to visit all over Moldova painted with natural paints and glowing in vivid colours even after hundreds of years.

An afternoon in Wien

After the intense 5 days spent in Steyr at the ESD I headed back to Romania and my hometown, Sighet. On top of that, regardless of my fatigue, I decided to visit a bit Vienna...something that I knew I'll regret if I'll pass on. I have beeen there a couple of years back on another 6 or 7 hrs layover and visited some of the town but the October or November harsh weather and the rain stopped me from enjoying it completely. This time around all was well and sunny and I got to see another part of town, the nicer one with all the museums and old buildings. I walked the city with two other ESD participants (Christelle from SWE and Gregory from RUS) and it was (a lot more enjoyable) than the usual "solo mode" of visiting.

Walking through Wien I always feel like going through a huge museum where there is always a thing to see. Afterall, like other former emperial capitals, the city has a lot of history and culture to back up its fame. I just want more time to properly enjoy it.:(. Maybe next time...

ESD 2006, Steyr - Austria

the European Science Days 2006 were held in Steyr, Austria under the common theme of Economics of Education and Science with a focus on European issues (and students). Well at the end of the day, I don't know how much of the focus was kept but most of the presentations were of course characterising the US (since the faculty were coming from there, obviously). Some people didn't enjoy that so much. However, I was pleased with the crowd (about 70 something students) all the best (I guess in my humble view) that Europe has with valuable additions from the top US universities (Harvard, Princeton, MIT etc). The faculty presented also an impressive line-up with top-notch professors from all over the world, some of them (Trajtenberg, Stern, Shankerman, Aghion etc) which I wanted to meet since my work touches upon there academic achievements.
Pluses: Impecable logistic organization, a very good academic environment, nice afterwards atmosphere, good food & beer. Minuses: little/no feedback on my poster (for which I worked so hard) :), overcrowding of faculty with people trying to attract attention and take advantage of all possible opportunities; time span too short => high concentration of presentations and speakers.

Steyr: a small town, beautiful, old; reminded me of a Romanian one (Sighisoara) which is quite similar. Here are a couple of views of it.

Old Town Gate


Really Old Gothic Church







Die Rathaus or City Hall

Final Recap of the Summer (short summary)

That's it. No more parts and pieces..this should be it and all of it.
Just got back from my native Romania and I have to skip a lot of things just for the sake of being concise about it now, due to the inherent laziness and busyness at the time when this should have been posted.

Ohh yeah, my laptop also was kaput for the last three weaks or so (hdd failure; unknown source since it has some phisical troubles too, but also you never know with these viruses). As a result lost all the data on C:/system drive and access to the hdd (funny enough between my IBM and an HP they didn't recognize each other when installing a fresh new WIN on a fresh new partition). The 40 to 44 pin adaptor that I have bought also failed to do the job (hmmmm?) so I was left in the dark with everything else..blogging included.
BUT I AM BACK...with a vengeance.:))
So here it goes..

The Unkle in the Shadow

This is the last of DJ Shadow's releases. The Outsider (2006): An overall interesting but very heterogenous mix of music styles, rapping and fat beats, some interesting and provocative other just strange sounding,:)
De gustibus...but I would give an 7.5 out of ten to this release.
The intro is a two minute long story telling which reminded me a lot of the intro for UNKLE's "eye 4 an eye" in the same historical drama style. The 1st track This Time is great one (remember the time?); will surely blend in with other tracks on an OSD for a 70s (remake) movie. 3 Freaks is a piece of up-to-date hip hop mastering. Drop-E-Drop is a pausing track. Turf Dancing- boring and trying to be too original; sounds aggresive though:)). Let's do it the other way around; What have liked besides the ones mentioned above: Broken Levee Blues (an mellow guitar solo as expected), Backstage Girl (slow rappin and a good melodic line), Triplicate (instrumental, slow, excellent), Enuff (feat Q-Tip) and Erase you (with some wicked drums).

part 4. Timisoara, the little Wien

Timisoara was much the same city in which I have spended 5 years of my life during my Bachelor's and Masters at West and respectively, Technical University. Funny enough, I got the same "rejective" feeling about it, as I vividly remembered the first contact. Besides this, there are some improvements, mostly cosmetical, the tram lines are still much a work in progress (re-doing them) just the targeted neighborhoods changed.

The Unirii square is now full with terraces and people which kind of a lowered its beauty (too crowded and commercial now). The commercial spirit is much alive, people trying to make as much as possible of you, prices went up significantly I would say, and most likely the social dissegregation is taking place. I visited all the city by foot and went to all the places that I enjoyed here throughout my college years. A sweet but mostly sour strange mix did take place but still I enjoyed much going back in time a bit.

Perks experienced: the unfiltered local beer Timisoreana served in Unirii Square - pretty damn good one. Do not change currency anywhere in the center!:))) usually there is a big scam/difference in exchange rates going on; Take a ride on the tram if you can, it used to be a good way to survey the city (not anymore due to the work on the tracks). Last but not least, it is good to be anywhere in Europe during a WORLD CUP !! lots of beer, people and good time.
Overall, a good but maybe not so useful trip back in the memory land. I do not feel connected at all anymore to the city. It was good though that I did it and got the chance to visit some friends I haven't seen in a while.

Travel Recap: 3. Back to Budapest Ferihegy

Woow I haven't wrote in a long long while..so I must catch-up a bit
Well,
From the Berkshires, Bonanza delivered me to Port Authority and from there I head out to JFK, my fliying hub. Unfortunately, first time I experienced this, the bus was one hour late. regardless of my efforts to recuperrate some time, I arrive at the airport at 5pm sharp.. while my flight was at 6pm. About 2-300 people were between me and my checking-in..and I have to say nasty ones too. HAte those attendants, who are just directing you in the line, regardless of emergencies etc. But I decided to use my wildcard and cut the line which proved to be my salvation even if the lady "attendant" said my check in is already closed. DID the whole thing plus the scanning in less than half an hour. Liers, liers..I guess I can congratulate myself for determination.:)

Finally after all this running and struggling, one decent thing: my seat was given thus I got upgraded to the Business Elite class.:)). Woow. that was cool and I have to admit that I could easily get used to fly that all the time:) Only if my stipend would allow it..:)) Main course, salads, thai soups, wine and cheeses, topped with an excellent Sundae made it easy to relax in those big expandable chairs.
From ferihegy got a regular microbus to Oradea and from there a regional train to Timisoara. This was the big leap: from business class heaven to a dirty smoking slow train that made almost 5 hours from Oradea to Timisoara. Not recommended. But I guess I like extremes.:) since I could have done it differently. However, it was good this way too.