I could bore you know with some figures about up to 30% of the Romanian labor force being “employed” in the agricultural sector (contributing some nothing to the local GDP btw and leaving a gap of basic commodities to be filled by imports waaaaaayy higher than domestic production). Those are serious topics and we could and should reflect a lot about them. We could also talk about Romanian’s strong commitment to religion, which in other cities than the capital will manifest itself by phenomena such as people – including emo subculture guys – making their cross at every church they come along (oh, boy, they are plenty!). This might seem strange, if not akward, but no, I have something much better for you. Being internet marketer myself I was very excited about the following email, sent to a friend of mine and owner of one (or actually more) ecommerce-shop(s):

“I am priest Florin, a monk from the city of Iasi (Jassy) and represent an orthodox parish in Jassy. We support several social programs and would like to earn a buck. If possible, we would like to promote your business or to advertise it in Jassy, may it be brochures, magazines, by me, our family or our partners. We can advertise you also in archbishop-ship seats, Parishs, Monasteries, via the Internet using affiliate programs or via email to thousands of friends. We have a tax number, a bank account [not something necessarily common in Romania, in 2008 just 50% of the population maintained relationships with banks; S.H.]. Regarding advertising, we can also display banner ads in our Parishs. We also have the possibility to print brochures and flyers at convenient production prices.”

This sounds like a bargain not to refuse but to make things clear an alternative translation would be like this:

“While my fucking peasant buddies still plow their land using utilities unchanged for some hundreds of years and which might not even be locally produced due to a lack of know-how [scythe imported from Western Europe e.g.] and their horse (or wife – according to possibilities) we, the cool dudes from the church – are way ahead: We offer you display advertising, affiliate and email marketing (high open rate guaranteed) for both popular online and offline channels. At your request we can even be a complete agency with production capabilities at reseller prices. We even do not refrain from sending unsolicited mail aka spam for customer acquisitions, because we know, that in our case, the target population will highly appreciate it. That’s basically why we are able to build one new church after the other even though the whole construction sector is crushed.”

Well then, good to know that technology and century old traditions can live this well together. Not that the loudspeakers transmitting the church service in the very heart of Bucharest wouldn’t have remind me often enough. But it’s really as contradictory as this: while the peasant are cropping their land with century old plows and cutting the grass with scythes, our friends in the monastery might even operate their church bells conveniently by the push o a button and remote: by SMS – they might be even wearing a swarovski powered robe.

I always knew, Romania can do it. Hallelujah.

Bonus for fans: A Romanian Pries blessing a car. No fake. Source unknown, author shall contact me for credits.

Keny Arkana – Je Me Barre Lyrics – English and French

je me barre – Lyrics – French

J’ai jamais squatté la routine
Et le manque de vie qui se tasse sac, à l’arrache, allez hop! J’me casse!
J’vais pas laisser ma vie prisonnière de la leur, quitte à galérer ici je m’en vais galérer ailleurs
Tchao tchao les éducs! J’me barre! Vous pouvez appeler les flics, fermer la porte, j’passerais par la fenêtre c’est clair!
J’ai ma liberté qui m’attend juste devant
J’vais pas la faire patienter 1,2,3 tchao tout le monde!
Allez pas le temps pour le blabla j’suis toujours la seule à partir
Putain aucun de mes potes n’a jamais été de la partie
Là où le système ensorcelle à coup de vibes sordides
Pour moi un enclos est fait pour essayer d’en sortir
Alors j’me barre!
Besoin d’aller respirer autre part
Ici on veut me dresser et me faire avancer au pas
Moi j’ai besoin de liberté, de vibrer dans son aura
Les flics au cul j’les entend dire " la petite on l’aura" ( ouais ouais )

Refrain x2

J’me barre!
Tchao tchao le foyer j’me barre!
Je m’en vais respirer autre part!

Toujours en train d’improviser à chacune de mes courses
Dans les bras de la liberté un tas de controleurs à mes trousses
Portée par le vent allez dire aux uniformes sur les nerfs
Qu’ils ne m’attraperont même pas en rêve!
Mes nuits dehors réveillé par un frisson
En éveil même quand je dors connecté à mon intuition
J’ai rien à craindre bercée par le chant de la lune
La chance dans les mains libres enfant de la rue
Loin du monde des adultes illogique et rigide
Fugitive de leur enclos narguant flics et vigiles
Fuck! c’est peut être con mais c’est ainsi
J’insiste! Vos lois sont immorales, ma délinquance à des principes!
Alors laissez moi en paix vous pouvez toujours attendre
Si vous voulez me voir ramper plutôt une balle dans la tempe!
Ennivrée là où mon coeur me porte j’men irai
Moi j’suis faites pour vivre entre les mailles de vos filets!

refrain x2

Libre ça m’suffit c’est impec!
Moi j’suis bien quand j’ai rien car pour être libre faut avoir rien à perdre
Ma liberté a rendu vert les hommes en bleu
Cage d’escalier comme logis J’change de maison quand j’veux
J’change de ville quand j’veux élue sans domicile
J’vagabonde les yeux ouverts l’enfant des rues est en visite
Me méfiant de l’adulte comme de la peste
Car l’adulte est une balance, un collabo ou un traître
Crois en mon expérience!
Sous pression car ma juge est en colère
Laissez moi vivre t’façon j’ai plus l’droit d’aller au collège
Alors merde! Aujourd’hui j’ai 14 piges j’fugue depuis un bout de temps
J’ai pris de la bouteille et j’ai besoin de personne!
La vie m’éduque et la vadrouille m’ouvre l’esprit
Les rencontres m’apprennent bien plus que leurs profs
Bref c’est l’école de la vie à l’air libre là où le ciel est l’toit Entre Ciments et Belle Etoile.

I’m taking off – English Translation – Lyrics

I’ve never squatted the routine
And the lack of life that’s squashed up, my backpack quickly done, here i go, I’m leaving.
I’m not going to let my life be prisoner to their’s, even though I’m having a hard time here, I’m going to have a hard time else where.
Ciao Ciao educators, I’m taking off, you can call the cops, close the door, I’ll come through the window, that’s for sure!
I’ve got my liberty, which is waiting for me right infront of me
I won’t keep it waiting 123, Ciao every one !
So, no time for bla bla bla, I’m always the only one to leave.
Shit, none of my mates have ever been up for it!
There, where the system cast you with sordid vibes
For me, an enclosure is made so i can try and get out of it
so, i’m taking off!
need to go and breathe some where else
Here, they want to rise up against me and make me move forward very slowly.
I need freedom to thrill in my glory
The cops on my tail, I hear them say, the little one, yeah we’ll get her (yeah yeah)

Chorus (x2)
I’m taking off
Bye bye home, I’m taking off
I’m going to breathe elsewhere!

Always improving in each of my races
In the arms of freedom, a load of inspectors on my tail!
Driven by the wind, go and tell those men in uniforms loosing their composure
that they will never catch me, not even in their dreams
My nights outside, awoken by a shiver
All senses alert, even when I sleep, (I’m) connected to my intuition
I’ve got nothing to fear, cradled by the song of the moon
The luck (is) in my free hands, street child
Far from the world of illogical and stubborn adults
Fugitives of their enclosure, from taunting cops and security guards
Fuck! it may be stupid, but that’s how it is
I insist, your laws are immoral and my delinquance has some principals
So leave me in peace, you can always wait
if you want to see me crawl, rather than with a bullet in my temple
Drunk, I’ll go away where my heart takes me
I was made to live between the stitching of your net

Chorus x2

Free, that’s alright, that’s perfect!
Me, well I’m alright when I have nothing because to be free you gotta have nothing to loose
my freedom made the men in blue get angry
stairwells as homes, I change houses when I want,
I change town when I want, chosen as homeless
I’m strolling, eyes open, the street kid is paying a visit
Distrusting the adult like a pest
Because adults are snitches, collaborators or traitors
Believe me, from experience
under pressure because the judge is angry
Let me live, any way I’m not allowed to go to school any more
so shit, today I’m 14, I’ve been running away for a long time
I’ve got on a bit and grown wiser, I don’t need any one!
Life educates me and strolling around opens my mind
The encounters teach me a lot more than their teachers.
In short it’s the outside school of life, where the sky is the roof between concrete buildings and the open.

p.s.: credits go to lyricstranslate.com. Thx

Jagged Edge feat. Run DMC – Let’s Get Married – Lyrics and Video

See first of all, I know these so called players wouldn’t tell you this
But, Imma be real and say what’s on my heart
Lets take this chance to make this love feel relevant
Didn’t you know I loved you from the start yeah

 

 

Then I think about, all the years we put in this relationship
Who knew we’d make it this far
Then I think about,where would I be if we were to just fall apart
And I can’t stand the thought of losing you

 

 

Chorus:
Meet me at the altar in your white dress
We ain’t gettin no younger we might as well do it
Been feelin’ you all the while girl I must confess
Girl let’s just get married I just want to get married

 

 

Meet me at the alter in your white dress
We ain’t gettin no younger we might as well do it
Been feelin’ you all the while girl and I must confess
Lets get married

 

 

Said I done it all, but frankly girl I’m tired of this emptiness
I wanna come home to you and only you
Cause making love to just anyone ain’t happenin’
I just gotta be with you
Did you think about, us finishing something we started so long ago
I wanna give you my all
And did you think about, maybe us having some babies
come on wont you be my lady
forever girl

 

 

im ready to commit to you
and i just cant wait for that night
cuz i need you here with me,
and lets start a family

]]> http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/jagged-edge-feat-run-dmc-lets-get-married-lyrics-and-video/feed 0 http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/si-daca-what-if http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/si-daca-what-if#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:01:47 +0000 Steffen http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/?p=517 Meda just asked what would happen if she would leave just for one week. (In a more civilized country preferable, at the seaside of course) Vacation, nothing special so far. But what would happen if she would leave without telling anybody that she was leaving? What kind of offline messages would to be found after she returns home? Back to our precious internet world? Good question, funny thing, let’s think about it…

 

Meda wrote her answers on her blog. Well, now it’s my turn:

• ba, esti? [eh, are you there?]
• [emoticon for smoking on skype, its Mihai calling me] I ought to answer with , too, even if we are sitting next to each other
• vreau si eu un referat. Cum il descarc? [How can I download a referat?] oh yeah, let me use this occasion to clarify that I don’t care as the respective site is not mine and the affiliation ceased over 4 month ago!
• www.youtube.com/blablablaetcsamd
• hihi [yep, hihi]
• [of course, work is not all about fun and sucks sometimes]
• bre, vii la supporter? [bro, r ya comin to Supporter?]
• ai auzit ca s-a certat cu…? [so where are the news? ]
• Hi! I was just browsing your site and wondered if you would not like to link to my site about … [Nope]
• Was haben wir diese Woche für AdWords bezahlt? [How much did we pay for AdWords this week?]
• Gebrüüüüüüüüüüüüüüder, du meldest dich aba auch nicht, oda?! [Eh bro, you don't give a sign, are ya?]
• ce faci? [how are you?]
• cati useri avem? da-mi un semn cand intri. iti multumesc. [How many users do we have? Give me a sign when you are online. Thank you]
• Cand vii la office? [When are you going to come to office?]
• Cate linkuri vrei sa adaug pe zi? [How many links I shall add per day?]
• Steeeeeeeeeeef
• ti-am dat leapsa pe blog [I invited you to join this funny game on my blog]

Well, here we are
Nothing spectacular, actually a lot of boring day to day stuff in between, but not only. And actually, I like it. And beside of the ones mentioned above: this and this would probably be among the another messages. Again from the room next door (are we geeks?). A good reason for still being here…

Or for going together to the vacations

Who’s next?
Alexandra, Alex, Mihai?

]]> http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/si-daca-what-if/feed 1 http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/istanbul-metropolis-of-turkey http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/istanbul-metropolis-of-turkey#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:53:42 +0000 Steffen http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/?p=456 So I decided to spend some days in Istanbul and to visit some friends over there. The city is just amazing. Istanbul is the 5th largest city of the world, host to 12.6 million inhabitants, divided into 27 districts and surrounding the Bosphorus. Hence, it is located on the Asian and the European continent and actually the only city of the world located on two continents. But there are even more interesting facts about Istanbul to be mentioned…

Though it is certainly a modern metropolis, it still features a lot of historical buildings and elements inherited even from ancient times, which are perfectly integrated into the throughout modern face of Istanbul. So, Istanbul was rightly chosen as European Capital of Culture 2010. But beside sightseeing, there are several other things to do. The city is full of clubs, cafes, bars, cinemas and actually, everything you want. during my stay it were 35° C, thus, just perfect for feeling good, hanging around and staying at the seaside. The food is of course extraordinary good, so is the beer and Raki is fine, too if you are into it.



Istanbul at Night, Source: Wikipedia

Just see the picture gallery of Istanbul below for yourself!


]]> http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/istanbul-metropolis-of-turkey/feed 0 http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/romanian-diaries-2-monday-morning-in-romania http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/romanian-diaries-2-monday-morning-in-romania#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:34:10 +0000 Steffen http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/?p=406 Right, after some months of waiting time might be right for another part of my Romanian diary. This time it is about why I was woken up with the police coming into my home, about the weather (greets to an »Italian«, who moved from Dacia Felix to America) and on how to spend your spare time in Sibiu, the cultural capital of Europe (2007). Romania is sooooo… simply surprising…

First of all, weather is great here. We have every day some 26 to 30 °C, a clear sky and the sun is shining. A less enjoyable part is that in Sibiu the wind is also pretty tough, every day, what sometimes turns out to be a bad combination when combined with the heat (as a result, I got a cold). To me it seems to be one of the only reasons imaginable why Mrs. Alina Stefanescu still stays in USA instead of moving back to Romania (a really well done site, indeed!). However, I would like to use this occasion to thank her for the neat demonstration of how some1 Romanians react if they consider their national pride being hurt because foreigners dare not to continuously praise Romania. Probably the »beautiful landscape and nature« would to be praised.² And to answer the question Alina Stefanescu put to my colleague Alex Cocieru in another part: Yes, WE blog. Not much, but you may see the result here



Das Letzte Einhorn (The Last Unicorn) – Vocalist of In Extremo in Sibiu, 2009

Besides the great weather Sibiu has several events to offer during spring and summer such as an International Jazz Festival, followed by an International Theater Festival and an International Film Festival. I attended them all, also another Heavy Metal Festival the week after but however, I was most deeply impressed by an absolutely outstanding and fascinating staging of “Faust” by the local Theater “Radu Stanca”, Sibiu. Modern, avant-garde and simply surprising. I think I have to go there a second time.

As you see on the image on the right, we had the privilege to see In Extremo, furthermore, Stratovarious, Korpiklaani and John Oliva (Savatage) at the metal festival. The stadium was not too crowded, though. However, beer was cheep and good and we (that is me and Mihai) had fun.

However, remains the story with the police. Monday morning I got woken up by my colleague, who told me that the police is in our apartment and wants to talk to me. Two officers, waited for me to get up, showed me a picture of some ugly guy and asked me where he might be. Of course, they were quite nice, but disappointed as they obviously didn’t found who they were looking for. The rest of the dialogue went somehow like this:

Police: So you do not know the guy?
Me: nope.
Police: But doesn’t he use to hang around here?
Me: Nope. Not that I would be aware of.
Police: And from whom did you rent this Apartment?
Me: From family H.
Police (again disappointed): Family H.?
Me: Yep.
Police (somewhat desperate): But didn’t you see the guy here?! It is also written in his identity card that he stays here…
They show me his ID; I could not withhold to grin…
Me: Well, yes, House number X, block number Y, Apartment Number 2, that is pretty fine, but this is STRADA ABC, not STRADA XYZ!
Police (still disbelivingly): How come this is not Strada XYZ?!
Me: Well, it simply is not considered as such by most people.
Police: But we think it still is…
My colleague: And how come we still receive our mail?
Me: and Pizza?!
Police: Ooooh! You receive your mail? Ok, that changes things somehow…

After the world seemed changed to our two officers they left us and I could sleep for another 30 minutes. Well, Mondays often do not start so well. I hope they eventually found the right street or at least read the labeling of the next block they may have entered. Or as Alexandra put it: »I am not even surprised. The Romanian Police is always in action. But not where they are supposed to be.« And I hope that they found the guy. He really did not look nice in that pic.

I will come back to you with more news from Romania another time. Maybe I will tell you about the mountains then. Best greets to all of you

1. However, in general we have fun here.
2. Or as Ina pointed out: »If there is nothing to say people tend to praise the nature and the landscape.« Indeed, the incredible beautiful landscapes are to be mentioned here first, followed by some old houses and decaying castles. But also a small shopping mall might turn out to be considered a remarkable touristic feature. Good for me, as I am not a big fan of nature and landscapes.
]]> http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/romanian-diaries-2-monday-morning-in-romania/feed 0 http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/new-projects http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/new-projects#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:00:24 +0000 Steffen http://www.steffen-heringhaus.com/?p=195 After a (too) long time of silence I am coming back to you with some news on recent developments. First, I am fine, living in Sibiu and Bucharest, developed some new web projects (including this one) and many more are to come soon (together with my partner Alex Cocieru). Though I am thinking of getting back to Germany some time (for e.g. making a PhD in Economics) there are still plenty of things to do in Romania…

 



So, after these first impressions, let’s start with what happend last year after I finished my thesis on the economy of Romania in Summer. To make the long story short: I found a job in a Romanian online agency in Sibiu, which is setting up several eCommerce projects. I accompany these setups, take care of internal procedures, are currently more or less fully dedicated to the development management of a social network, do economic research and guide market studies for the other projects. By the way: you cand find me daily at Supporter, my favorite hangout in Sibiu during day time. Last but not least, I have some personal projects.

The first one, is Romania Central, an online portal dedicated to Romania with a strong focus on the economy of Romania. Though, I am currently working on other sections like tourism, too.



Romania Central

The main idea is not only to comment on recent developments (News section) in the economy of Romania, but to provide also a great deal of background information (these are to be found in the economy section – that is my entire thesis actually). The country profile section captures some essential data on Romania, ranging from location, key economic data, history and politics to some cultural issues. The tourism section, which is currently extended shows some cities in Romania and things worth sightseeing. A preview is to be found in the pictures from Bucharest page. The business section will be implemented lateron, while the link directory provides some useful resorces concerning Romania and business there. Romania Central is written entirely in English and I will keep it this way.

However, another project, currently to be completed is Sozialwissenschaften Online. Other than Romania Central, this site is entirely in German language and you are invited to contribute. Main contents so far are my term papers, presentations and scripts from RWTH Aachen, University of Technology.



Sozialwissenschaften Online

As you hopefully remember I studied sociology, political sciences and mainly economics, always having a focus on quantitative methods and statistics. After I was adressed several times by students I didn’t even know that they liked reading my scripts I thought it might be useful to give them way to web.

As there are currently only my articles to be found the main focus is of quantitative style, while the topics range from Antisemitism, Collecative Action and public Goods, to neoconservatism (Robert Kagan) and demographics. Also the famous history of Sociolgy (lecture held by Mr. Hammerich) is to be found there, neither should the cartoon controversy be ommitted. So, in order to repeat myself: you are invited to contribute your papers, scripts and articles. A single condition is that they are readable like articles and of some value to people who did not attend the lectures themselves. I will edit them for online publishing, if you want, you can have also an editor account

However, this blog could count as a third project. As you might know that <irony>I am a more quiet person and rarely express my opinion even if I am asked</irony> you probablly know what will happen here. Beside notes on my life you will find liberal comments on what happens in the world

While there is no money in all this, I am furthermore working with my partner Alex Cocieru on several eCommerce projects. But that is another story which remains to be told soon. Best regards and see you soon

Stef

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