There are very few movie critics that understand the simple fact that cinematography is divided into genres and each genre has its own universe. In this universe, each production must be measured according to the genre’s own metrics, not by some general values.

Movies are made to entertain and as such they aim at as many goals as there are people since each person has its own desires when it comes to movies.

In this respect, the brilliance of Roger Ebert is that he seems to be one of the view that takes each movie through the perspective of its genre. An action movie is judged by its premise and by its delivery of its promises of gripping violence. A satyre needs to comically point out the flaws of its victim.

Roger Ebert’s usual victim are the stereotypes which come aplenty in summer blockbusters and the flat refusal of some movie makers to underline what makes their work different. That’s not to say I always agree with him, however. I definitely don’t see why he gave (for example) 2.5 stars to Centurion when the movie barely deserves 1, if we would apply the same measure he applied to The Last Airbender.

Nevertheless, of all movie critics I definitely prefer to let Roger Ebert guide my movie going experience – and rent everything else!

                          

Dupa Revolutiei, situatia s-a schimbat dar efectele au ramas: banii au curs catre un CFR aflat mereu pe mana clientelei partidului aflat la putere. Insa, banii au disparut intr-un lung sir de “tepe” si “tunuri” care au lasat vistieria CFR permanent goala.

In aceste conditii CFR-ul a continuat sa piarda clienti, a fost spart in cateva companii mai mici insa “inima’ CFR-ul (adica serviciul CFR Calatori) a ramas in pierdere. Astfel, numarul de clienti scade incontinuu, alaturi de calitatea serviciilor in timp ce preturile cresc nejustificat, fara beneficii pentru calatori.

Atata vreme cat nu exista bani pentru repararea si modernizarea infrastructurii, nu exista sperante pentru a redresa un CFR macinat de probleme din toate directiile. Disponibilizarile, infrastructura arhaica, serviciile prost organizate si o informatizare aflata inca in stadiul de prim pas nu ajuta deloc situatia unei companii aflate in paragina.

Daca CFR-ul doreste redresarea, singura cale trebuie sa inceapa de la ideea de la care a fost creat: calatorii. CFR-ul ofera un serviciu oamenilor iar daca doreste sa devina atractiv din nou si sa atraga clienti, trebuie ca strategiile de redresare sa porneasca de la aceasta idee: satisfacerea nevoilor clientilor.

Pentru aceasta e nevoie de oameni la varful CFR care sa inteleaga faptul ca lumea s-a schimbat, nevoia de mobilitate si eficienta este la cote maxime iar CFR-ul nu are voie sa ramana in urma. Intrebarea la care trebuie sa raspunda managerii CFR este aceasta: ce ofera CFR-ul calatorilor?

1. Diversificarea ofertei: CFR-ul are in portofoliu diverse oferte de pachete de calatorii, insa acestea sunt limitate si nu sunt croite nevoilor diversilor pasageri. Pe langa aceasta, pachetele de calatorii si ofertele nu fac obiectul unui marketing agresiv (atat in tara cat si in strainatate).

2. Idee: pachetul navetist: un pachet (sau chiar un abonament) de calatorii intre doua statii, la pret redus, care sa includa cel putin 1 drum dus-intors zilnic, pentru navetisti.

3. Idee: pachetul student: un pachet pentru studenti care sa includa un numar de calatorii in perioada vacantelor scolare/universitare.

3. Idee: pachetul business: un pachet de calatorii intre un numar limitat de destinatii nationale+internationale, cu optiune de clasa 1 sau 2, pentru oameni de afaceri. Pe langa calatoriile efective, pachetul sa includa si un numar de optiuni (hotel, inchiriere masina, serviciu de paza si protectie – in colaborare cu alte firme).

4. Idee: pachetul family: un pachet de vacanta vara/iarna pentru familii. Creat in colaborare cu diverse unitati de turism acest pachete poate include diverse servicii turistice (nu doar hoteliere).

5. Marketing: CFR-ul are nevoie de un set de bannere si clipuri pentru publicitate online. E grav daca un roman care sta online 12 ore pe zi nu da de nici macar un banner al CFR pe niciunul din site-urile care folosesc Google ads.

6. Informatizare: serviciile de rezervare trebuie extinse, pentru a permite nu doar plata online, dar si selectarea locurilor.

7. Servicii in timpul calatoriei: baza calatorilor CFR o reprezinta calatorii interni, nu internationali.Totusi, cele mai bune vagoane si cele mai moderne trenuri sunt rezervate calatoriilor internationale. Este necesar ca aceleasi conditii sa fie oferite pentru calatorii interni. Pe langa vagoane moderne, dotate cu internet, prize electrice si toalete curate (un minim civilizat), toate trenurile ar trebui dotate cu un mic vagon restaurant de unde calatorii sa-si poata cumpara in timpul calatoriei mancare si bautura.

8. Securitate: cativa agenti proprii de securitate in timpul calatoriilor, cu patrule dese ar putea asigura atat siguranta calatorilor cat si a vagoanelor in sine.

Observati insa ca nu am spus nimic de modernizarea infrastructurii in mod direct. Intr-adevar, pentru asta nu sunt bani momentan iar banii ar trebui sa vina din modernizarea serviciilor (care ar trebui sa aiba loc de preferat fara cresteri la pretul biletelor – vezi expansiunea serviciilor). CFR-ul a suportat tunuri de sute de milioane de euro, daca vrea sa se salveze trebuie sa mai traga din dinti si sa puna leu langa leu pentru a strange bani de sine si vagoane.

                          

Of course, finding and comparing all the attributes one is looking for in an ativirus is something else. Thus, I had to dig deep in order to get a good look around but after doing so I was left with quite a few surprise results:

Norman AV: the mighty grandson of the famous Thunderbyte Antivirus is less than mediocre. It’s slow and although it has a fair detection rate, I can’t imagine the home user that would like to hog down his machine using this … thing

Symantec Antivirus: although I have a personal resentment versus this product, which used to be slow and give a lot of false-positives, I must say that things have improved here. However, I still won’t be using it.

ESET NOD32: this has always been a favorite of mine. However, I find that the price is a bit expensive and although the last time I tried it, it looked like a good and snappy piece of software, the latest tests show it to be just of average speed (although with a very very impressive detection rate)

Kaspersky AV: brilliant detection rates, however it’s quite heavy on resources. It has very good heuristics and healing capabilities and as a bonus it is backed by one of the best antivirus labs in the world. Still, it comes second to my preferences.

BitDefender: It would be great if it wasn’t one of the slowest antivirus software. Lot of options, great detection rates … but still. Often hanged my computer, so … no!

Avira!: A nice surprise comes from here, with the best overal detection rates (the best in on-demand scanning and third best in proactive protection). Very snappy and cheap on resources … with a very good price. My choice for now.

Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft has an incredibly poor security record as a company, a record that it’s Defender software packed with Windows didn’t do much to help. However, it seems that the acquisition of GeCad’s antivirus division has finally payed off as Microsoft Security Essentials is a little gem of an antivirus. Quite snappy and very good detection rates (best in proactive defense, not so good in on-demand).

For more details, please check this out!

                          

Pirates of Silicon Valley is a simple movie that begs to be watched again and again. Not because of the story because the story itself may feel dull and in fact the people whom it addresses already know the story. It is the story of a few nerds who conquered the world and the sacrifices they made.

In fact, this is the very thing that made me watch the movie times and times over to the point where it started to compete with The Lord of the Rings. Sacrifice. Every time I watch a piece of this movie I stop to think about how the real people depicted there felt, what went through their minds, what exactly made them push forward.

The moments that stick with me are many. Steve Wozniak disappointed by Steve Jobs when the latter cut his beard and hair in a bid to look like a credible business partner. Ironically, Steve proves to be the real idealist and a true dreamer all the way, making my favorite point that save for your mind, all else can be used to achieve your dreams.

Next comes Steve Jobs denying paternity of his first child as he was deeply involved with building up Apple.

Then, Bill Gates being shunned as he tried to pick up girls on an ice skating ring. This happened right after he managed to sell a big nothing to IBM and get a lot of money for that.

Then, Bill Gates racing Paul Allen in a couple of bulldozers and having a lot of fun.

Again Steve Jobs, dressed in shabby jeans and wearing sandals while harassing a potential employee asking him if he was a virgin.

Steve Jobs pushing and inspiring his employees into working more, harder and better. Long nights spent in Cupertino behind computer screens which all resulted in events that changed the world.

Two men, a hippie (Steve Jobs who later reinvented himself as a buddhist) and a nerdy geek (Bill Gates), both sacrificing not only their lives but sometimes the lives of those around them while striving to do things better than everyone else.

After all, how else would success be measured if not by the sacrifices made in the process? The first ingredient of success is the will to go all the way and not look back, using all the resources at your disposal to reach that one goal which makes you feel fulfilled, fueled by the realization that the thing which keeps you going is the goal itself.

                          

Artistii romani au lovit rareori scenele internationale, de obicei pe la extreme: fie muzica clasica (vezi soprana Angela Gheorghiu) fie ultimele gunoaie ramase pe la usa studiourilor de inregistrari (O-Zone sau Cheeky Girls). Desigur, in contextul economic nu calitatea muzicii primeaza, ci vanzarile. Vanzarile mari aduc profit, iar profitul ajuta la cresterea bugetului (ma rog, umplerea buzunarelor celor de sus, iar firimiturile se transpun in investitii). Astfel, ceea ce socheaza e lipsa de viziune a managerilor marilor case de discuri care ajung sa se lamenteze vizavi de scaderea vanzarilor magazinelor lor.

Mi se pare inadmisibil ca in anul de gratie 2010, cand mai toate casele de discuri s-au orientat demult pe mediul online, romanii sa se planga de scaderea vanzarilor pe suport fizic (gen caseta, CD). Este socant faptul ca ei se mira de ce nu cumpara romanii CD-uri, pentru care pretul pe piesa ajunge pe la 3 euro, in timp ce in magazinele online din vest pretul nu trece de 1 euro. Asa ca …

• De ce sa dea bani cineva pe un CD cand oricum audiofilii asculta muzica la mp3 playere si statii hi-fi?
• De ce sa dai banii pe un CD cand calitatea unei piese produsa si livrata exclusiv digital este mult mai mare (iar in mp3 playerele de calitate, inclusiv multe statii hi-fi diferenta se simte)?
• De ce sa-ti umpli casa de CD-uri, cand de pe fiecare iti plac poate 2-3 piese, in loc sa cumperi piesele la bucata si in plus, fara sacrificarea spatiului din camera?

Iar ca sa ma adresez si problemei pirateriei …. ei bine … nu exista problema pirateriei. Fara piraterie, multi artisti s-ar fi pierdut in neatul uitarii. Pirateria creste numarul spectatorilor de la concerter, iar avand in vedere ca pretul distributiei este in continua scadere, sursa de venit principala a unui artist ar trebui sa fie concertele live.

Problema pe care o vad eu este ca singurii artisti care se lamenteaza vizavi de piraterie sunt cei incapabili de spectacole online. Asta inseamna cei prea batrani, ale caror show-uri nu mai atrag prea mult (vezi Bob Dylan, Metallica … etc) dar in principal cei lipsit de voce si talent, cei care produc material exclusiv in studio pentru ca “nu ii tine” vocea si au nevoie de prelucrare digitala, astfel neavand talent pentru spectacole live.

Artistii adevarati nu se simt niciodata lezati. Vezi cazul U2, Nightwish, Iron Maiden, Norah Jones si multi altii … artisti pentru care vanzarea de “discuri” a reprezentat intotdeauna un mod de a-si face publicitate pentru reprezentatiile live. Diferenta consta in: turneu pentru promovarea unui album, sau lansezi un album pentru a promova un turneu?

Daca artistii romani nu vor trece repede la metoda a doua, iar managerii romani nu vor trece peste ideea ca “doar ce fac altii e bun” si sa se apuce un pic de inovat, situatia actuala de marginea falimentului este exact ceea ce merita piata muzicala.

                          

SIguranta asta face viata mult mai usoara, caci dispare presiunea de a avea un plan B, C si D gata sa intre in functiune in caz de dezastru. Astfel, este mult mai usor sa treci peste toate celelalte mici lucruri stresante cotidiene. Desigur, nu e o utopie, dar e ceva pe care iti poti construi un viitor cu un grad mare de siguranta. “Vai ce ma fac daca …” aproape ca nu exista aici.

In schimb, exista o mare presiune pe tineret: sa prinzi un job cat mai repede, sa muncesti mult (despre munca in episodul urmator insa), sa faci si sa dregi ca sa intri in sistem si sa ai toate asigurarile “pe rol” astfel incat sa se instaleze siguranta. De cealalta parte, pensionarii isi pot trai viata cum n-am crezut ca e posibil. V-ati inchipui oare o bunicuta facand sporturi extreme, petrecandu-si vacantele in croaziere si noptile la bowling si karaoke? Ei bine … aici cam cu asta se ocupa batranii, tocmai datorita acestei filosofii de viata in care ziua de maine exista.

                          

Am decis sa iau si eu drumul scrisului pentru a vorbi despre ce a insemnat pentru mine mutarea in Franta si nu in ultimul rand pentru a face drumul ceva mai usor pentru cei care vor sa plece in aceasta directie. Dincolo de aparente si de speranta oarba investita de multi in ideea plecarii din tara, a te muta in alta parte nu e nici pe departe usor si nu ofera garantia unei vieti mai bune. Mai mult, nu ofera nici macar garantia ideei de civilizatie care in Romania a fost construita ca un ideal definit in opozitie cu realitatile din tara.

Desigur, voi descrie detaliat despre viata de aici, despre pasii ce trebuie urmati pentru a obtine drept de sedere, despre filosofia si stilul de viata dar si despre neajunsuri. Insa pentru a va oferi o avanpremiera, Franta e mai murdara ca Romania, birocratia este incununata de o apatie mai adanca, criminalitatea este mult mai ridicata, nu poti trai practic fara masina. In ciuda acestor lucruri, stilul de viata e mai relaxat, cu salariul mediu poti trai relativ lejer, asistenta sociala e fantastica (desi multi profita prea mult de sistem), nu exista manele.

Insa, pe larg … va urma

                          

The decadence of the age of the floppy disk started however much earlier, in 1998 to be exact, when Apple produced the first iMac with no floppy disk drive. Since then, many systems’ producers followed suit excluding floppy disk drives from the standard configurations. Dell did so in 2003, as did Toshiba. In fact 2003 was the year when most system assemblers took out the floppy disk drive from their configurations. In 2004, even I denounced the old storage device and used a floppy for the last time.

Since then, the floppy disk was artificially kept alive by legacy systems as well its use in other devices (such as music synthesizers). Sales declined steadily with the advent of USB memory sticks and when these became bootable, excuses to keep a stack of system floppy disks faded giving a final push over the edge.

If this sounds as an obituary, then you should know it is. As an IT specialist, the floppy was many times a trusted companion and aid. Despite its flaws and now insignificant storage space, the floppy disk kept going, walking proudly over new technologies (such as Iomega’s ZipDrive and the SuperDisk, both offering faster and larger storage). Today, the icon of the floppy disk is the symbol for the “save” function in most software applications – a reminder of the role of the floppy.

Farewell.

                          

The lasted Android goodie is the Acer Liquid 0.010.00 EMEA GEN1 (as well as its AAP counterpart), which upgrades the Android OS to 2.1-update1 and to the 2.6.29 kernel version. The benefits of upgrading your Android are numerous and being able to run the latest applications is just the tip of the iceberg.

I would like to note that when dealing with the Acer Liquid family, you can flash your ROM regardless of the previous version (just make sure you download the full ROM *.bin file, not an upgrade – in which case there will obviously be requirements). For example, I flashed my 1.001.05-AAP-CSL (Android 1.6) first to 0.008.06 AAP (Android 2.1) and today I switched world zones, going to 0.010.00 EMEA (Android 2.1-update1).

I tried a couple of other combinations and I can say for certain that as long as your device ISN’T ROOTED (!! – if your device is rooted, in 65% of the cases flashing between AAP and EMEA as well as between various ROM versions will fail!). If your device isn’t rooted and you’re thinking about switching to 0.010.00, here are a few quick observations:

• The new word completion/suggestions system is below abysmal!!! (for some reason it gives priority to names over common words – among the suggestions when I wanted to type “in”, it favored “Ion”, a Romanian common name, which is weird first because there’s no Romanian language for Acer Liquid, I have no Romanian add-on and secondly, I have no “Ion” in my word list, contacts or elsewhere)
• the main application menu looks nicer, but it’s slower
• battery life seems slightly improved (this might’ve been since the previous ROM though)

If you’re interested, here’s the firmware download link. However, from experience I would suggest you to use dr Evil’s customized firmware based on 0.008.06.bin (you will need the original bin before installing dr Evil’s mod, which gets rid of many nuisances such as uFooz).