Skoda - the real commercial

Today while watching a football match we were discussing Skoda and it's new commercial. I came home and found it on YouTube. I could not possibly stop myself from posting it, because this is the quality commercial. So here is the story about the commercial:

and then the commercial itself:

It's really great! Keep up the good work!

While writing about Pilsudski...

I found an interview of Milinkevich in which he gives answers to questions of a Polish newspaper [in August 2006]. Here is one very important comment, which a bit explains why Belarusians are so much afraid of wars.
"Question: Belarusians are considered to be quite people, which don't like to protest and demonstrate, they repeat "just not to have a war". Where does this idea come from? Is it a fear?

- Not many nations in Europe have experienced the same losses in the wars as us. Polish-Russian war of the 16th century - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania lost more than half of its population. In the times of Napoleon - one quater was lost; during WWI - one quater again; after WWII - one third. Plus add Stalin's repressions. That's why one should not be surprised that people in Belarus want not to have a war and dream to survive."

Mon amour

I've just watched "La vie en rose" about Edite Piaf, it's very intersting woman. Although in real life I think she was really beautiful and in the film they showed her as a funny woman:) I really love this song:

Belarusian bear in Poland

Belarusian online community is discussing who created this bear and why it is so strange/funny? :D Personally, I like it, it's not too sophisticated, but it's fun. Photos from pilecki.livejournal.com

Lost, or delayed...

Guess what I am doing right now! Uff, it's not so easy to imagine:( Well, I am on the floor in the Bucharest-Baneasa International Airport. Why? Good question! Because my Skyeurope flight was delayed, 2.15 hours. It was scheduled for 10 pm, now it's almost 11 pm, and the forecast :) of the departure is 0.15. I am missing all trains in Vienna and don't really know what will do there, will consider a taxi option I guess. So, Romania, International Airport, delayed flight, me on the floor with my old laptop plugged to charge near a bank machine, people staring and romantic music... Not fun, though, giving a second though, it could be worse. Now at least I have some slow WiFi, my computre is charging, I can write this and be less bored. Meanwhile, my friends from EYCA are parting back in the hotel, and my friends from the DA are parting also, but in Vienna. And I am hoping for a miracle to happen...

Milinkevich at EuroNews

Hundertwarsser's house from the top

It was published in online media as an example of weird houses:)

Slutsk sashes return home, i.e. Belarus :)

The famous collection of Slutsk sashes, which demonstrated the originality and skilful artistry of the Belarusian people, was lost during the war. These ones returned from Moscow's collection. Belarus owns only fragmenst of the Slutsk sashes and is trying to return as many as possible. Of course, Moscow wants to get something valuable in exchange, the outcome to be seen. At the moment the Slutsk sashes are presenten in the Belarusian National Art Museum where they will stay at least for a year.
A friend of mine took pictures of them: All pictures you can see on blog of Hleb Labadzenka.

New clip

Despire all the stories about her, I like this woman - Anzhalika Agurbash or Lika Yalinskaya. She is strong, beautiful and loves Belarus. I met her twice, both times I was participating in press conferences. I still remember her phrase, not in exact wording, but something like Belarus is my country and I don't need anybody's permission to return here. Now she is married to a Russian businessman and lives in Moscow.

and this one as a bonus or long live Belarus:)

Canadian supporter of Alehno at Eurovision

I found this video a month ago. This girl really wants Ruslan to win:)

Yes! I found this video

Few days ago I have read in the news that the Free Theater of Bearus was working together with Brittish actors and they recorded a video message to Belarusian people. Today I found this video on YouTube, so I can post it and comment on it! First the video:

The most emotional part for me was the last phrase: Zhyvie Belarus - Long live Belarus, a slogan used a lot for patriotic people here and not very welcome but the current government :D The names of the actors: Diana Quick, Tobias Menzies, Henry Goodman, Jocelyn Gee, Kim Cattrall, Richard Wilson, Andrea Riseborough and Alan Rickman. My favorite part of the video in quotes:
Alan Rickman: "I wanna come to your country, and just to seat down and drink wine with you."
Henry Goodman (his family was from Belarus): "I am very pleased to see that you are able to fight for free [Belarus]"
"Everyone is ready to say this piece? Жыве Беларусь! One more time! Жыве Беларусь!"
Some photos can be found here.

Manon at Wiener Staatsoper

I was lucky yesterday to get a ticket for opera Manon with Anna Netrebko. Well, it was not planned, but I am really happy I went there. So many people are facinated about Netrebko and her voice and I have to admit that her voice in very powerful and beautiful indeed. I also liked how Massimo Giordano sang his part. The best review I found here, written by the Associated Press Writer GEORGE JAHN. It was the first time I've seen Manon, so it was really interesting for me also to follow the plot (it was in French). The costumes and decoration are worth being mentioned, they are quite modern (some are in style of Viennese balls, dont take me wrongly but they are!) and a bit provocative as they, I guess, are supposed to be. And almost naked Massimo is worth seeing also! Viennese opera is one of the best in the world, so if you have chance to go there, I definitely recommend to do so.
I will also post a video I found on YouTube from the last year performance with Netrebko in Manon, but with another partner (I don't have time to look up his name now):

Funny commercial

This one made me laugh today!

Jab Club

Today I've started my day with music of my friends! Apparentlly, my friend Yauhen Valoshyn, who I knew was singing, has a new song which he recorded with his friends. The name of the band is Jab Club. You can listen to this song here. Photo from music.fromby.net.

Latest events

These days I am posting many videos, because videos say a lot, people talk to you directly with their messages. That's is why, today I will post a video of an activist of Austrian Student Union, which is going to protest against the participation of Mr. Shimov, the rector of Belarusian State Economic University, in the conference about Belarus, here in Vienna. The reason is simple, he was expelling students for political reasons, so he should not be surprised that he is not welcome by politically active Austrian students. There you go:

Video by Tatsiana Khoma for Generation.by.

There is one more event I want to blog about. My friend, a photographer of Nasha Niva, an independent newpaper, was arrested on March 25, 2008 during the demonstration on the Independence Day. It's another story. Here is his interview, today in the court, he spent one day in jail, yesterday he was released and another meeting in the court for today was scheduled. But today, it took only 1.5 min for the trial. His case is sent back to Police "for investigation", normaly he should have being released immediately. Andrei Liankevich (in Belarusian):

Video by NN.by.

March 25, 1918 - 90 years after

Today is the Day of Independence for many Belarusian, it's the 90th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of Belarusian Democratic Republic in 1918. That's why today, I will post the words by Ivonka Survilla, current president of The BNR Rada in exile. This statement was made in Prague, on March 22 at the conference "Past, Present and Future of the Belarusian Statehood":

"The proclamation of independence of the Belarusian Democratic Republic on March, 25 1918 is maybe the most important event in modern Belarusian history. Without the proclamation of independence the BSSR would not be allowed to exist and there would not be an independent republic of Belarus now. In fact, there would not be many Belarusians left after 90 years of russification. But despite the importance of BNR is also one of the well kept secrets of Europe, it has been particularly well-kept in Belarus, for obvious reasons. Even after 90 years the very mention of the BNR looks dangerous for the dictatorship in power. In exile, however, the BNR has kept idea of March 25, 1918 to this day. […]

This is why, it is so important to celebrate this day for every Belarusian in the world. I wish you all a beautiful celebration. "

And here comes her call to Belarusian young people (in Belarusian):

Video by Tatsiana Khoma for Generation.by

My heart sings with Danchyk!

I came back from Prague where I met many interesting people, amazing people, those who change the story of my Belarus;) Danchyk is one of them, he was singing for the first time after 12 years of no concerts... And here is video of "Moj rodny kut" by Danchyk:

Budget airlines

I am really disappointed with SkyEurope today, I got an email saying that 3 reservations I had for this summer have beed cancelled. They basically cancelled whole destination Vienna-Warsaw. I guess this is one more reasone to move away from Vienna, eh? Well, I have to say that an operator I talked to was really nice and promised to send me money back in two weeks time... But now I have a trouble to look for new solutions.

Rap music

I was never a fun of rap music, but I was told to have a look at this site. The site is primary and only about rap, you can see every (in my opinion) rap artist and the ranking of them. I was a bit confused in the beginning as Google ads are just under the navigation menue and it had "a link to mps" (I already thought: I would listen to some rap music), but it was just an ad. Well, site it interesting, I guess those who like rap will find there useful information and news. So, good luck to the site to develop as they are just in the beginning of their road.

P.S. This post is brought to you thanks to RapArtists.com.

Lord Bell and Belarus

Quote from Times:

"— Lord Bell, the PR guru, has been in Belarus looking at how it might improve its image. Not an easy task in a country where the President once said: “Not everything connected with Hitler was bad.” “I’ve just stepped off a plane,” says Bell, when we call to confirm. From Belarus? “From Geneva,” he quips. “That’s where I stashed the money.” "

Well, nothing else to add at the moment, there are just rumours.