Politics vs Democracy

Is democracy the true form of politics? I totally agree with Mr. Crick that democracy is a concept which is “vague and imprecise”. He also regards politics as a “clear and practical idea”, first of all that is why democracy, as “the most promiscuous word in the world of public affairs”, is not equal to politics. “Democracy is best understood as one element in free government, not as characteristic of the whole system”. If in a certain state only democracy alone prevails as a result there will be anarchy (“the opportunity of demagogues to become despots”). Thus democracy in a positive way can be only “one form of politics, not something to be hoped for at every stage of a country’s development or in every circumstance”. Democracy is good as long as we try to avoid of “popular rhetoric”.

Crick’s understanding of the nature of political rule

If we speak about politics first we have to define what it is. According to BERNARD CRICK “politics can be defined as the activity by which differing interests within given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and the survival of the whole community”.

He also rise the importance to realize that for all mechanism to function there must be a kind of “consensus juris” or “a common good”, while in role of this common good we see “the process of practical reconciliation of the interests of the various … aggregates … which compose a state”. Then politics it is “an activity which must be carried on”, “one simply becomes more and more aware that one is involved in it as part of the human condition”.

What is really important to stress, politics can only exist as “a stable and possible method of rule” where there is some “settled order” as well as “tolerance and diversity” and where “it has been preceded by sovereignty”.

Actually, I was rather shocked by the words “whether one is powerful enough to ignore diplomacy”, as in my understanding it means that in fact you do not need any rules being powerful, consequently you do not need politics. Nevertheless, “the only political agreement to use political means”.

I did it:)

So I found a good map! There you go! Remarks to map: As happens all too often, the term "Grand Duchy of Litva, Rus', and Samogithia" has been inaccurately abbreviated on the map as the "Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL)." Refer to Belarus: At a Crossroads in History, Jan Zaprudnik (1993) for further discussion of the topic, "Grand Duchy of Litva, Rus', and Samogithia" and its being mis-quoted (often intentionally).

Charity projects

We've discussed charity issues recently, in fact, we've discussed different possibilities when you really can help people and you really feel that they need this help. On the one hand it is great, on the other hand you always have to take decision which charity project to support (as in the most cases you can not support all of them when you are young and not really rich:). And then there is a dilemma. And you just have to find the solution (or you can do nothing, but it's the worst case in my opinion). Could you judge which country is in the worst situation, which nation is in need of your support and which children will profit the most. I can't and I will just rely on intuition:)

Life and Internet technologies

Have you ever noticed that you are doing lots of thing on-line. You read news, you send messages, you chat through IMs, you blog, you search, you pay, you watch TV and you listen to Radio... Isn't it at bit shocking? When I talk to my mom over Internet she is excited every time as for her it's something what is really like magic, I guess. Although for me it is the best way to manage many things. I don't install dictionaries on my computer as I have them on-line, the only thing I need is Internet access.

Well, it's seems to be easy, but (again BUT) it's not. For example in Belarus only about 25% of population have access to Internet. In fact, it means that they are living in quite different world, they watch only state TV and listen only to state propaganda. That's really saaaad... In some cases (I just hope that not in most of the cases) people just do not care about something what is not directly linked to them. How can we change it? Should we do it? I don't know...

Politics and EU politics

When you read books about politics and policies for few weeks and then you summarise it and answer questions, I bet you will understand better politics and policy making issues. But (there is always BUT). Who can garantee that all politics will play the same rules? Are there any rules of game?

The fact is: I understand news about politics better now, but I still wonder if it will really help me to help other people in any way...

Real battle: history maps and country name

Well, I've realised that sometimes I really have to finght for the "TRUTH". In fact maybe it's just my own truth, but still I have to prove it again and again.

Yesterday which preparing for my French class I was reading Le Monde and again they misspelled the name of my country. Why can't they just start writing Le Bélarus, pourquoi pas? It really annoys, you know. I think I will write a letter to them, as well to French embassy in Minsk and to other sites which are providing information about Belarus:) So again I have to finght for the correct spelling of our name.

And back to history lectures. I promised to my teacher to find a good map of the Commonwealth (Polish Kindom with Grand Duchy of Lithuania adn Rus' - GDL) before the three partitions in 1772, 1791 and 1993 between Russia, Prussia and Austria. So I work hard on it, as it is not an easy task especially to find it in black and white colores with English names on it:)

P.S. While looking for a map I found a map of The introduction of the potato to Europe, but it's next story:)

Designer Handbags

I am still in Vienna without any handbag. That's why I am on the DarbyScott web-site, she is a designer of fine handbags and purses. Designer Handbags are just cute!

So few words about her: In 1994, designer and entrepreneur Darby Scott launched her debut collection of eveningwear and cocktail dresses. With the new millennium came a new line. In the fall of 2000, Darby Scott introduced her acclaimed collection of handbags, combining rich skins and opulent fabrics with semi-precious stones, natural shell, horn, bone and wood. Her clothing collection encompasses a full range of day to dinner, cocktail and evening.

Prior to founding Darby Scott in 1994, Darby was vice president of women's merchandising and design for the North American division of Aquascutum of London. This position followed nearly a decade of design experience at venerable international fashion houses including Karl Lagerfeld and Perry Ellis.

P.S. After the film Devil wears Prada it seams that it is really fun to try to understand all this fashion industry:)

Selling pics?

As I wrote before I am testing a new service where I can sell my photos. I just got an email from this service and I just hope that it will work out. So, my dear friends, please keep your fingers crossed for me as you always do! World of photography is waiting for me:)

Languages and international environment

These days laguage issue is becoming more and more vital. I have/love to speak English all the time, but I do want to improve my French as well. And to start to speak German and Czech.

But, to speak French I really have to make an effort and to motivate my French-speaking friends to do so. For example, today I was writting a biography of a guy who draws caricatures for Naša Niva newspaper.

With German it's even worse, I can't speak, so the only thing I have to do it's to learn words by heart. And I can't push myself to do it...

The only language which is easy for me at the moment is Czech! I just love it:)

Photography corner:)

Well, you know, that I do like to take pictures, it is just my passion:) At the moment I know a lot of different web sites which are quite good if you want to put on-line your photos or even to sell some (I am testing few these days). Two days ago I found a web-side which is printing your photos and you don't have to go to their office, you just wait at home (BUT! you need a credit card to pay in advance, you need to install they software which will calculate the final price of you order). Hmm, I really have to wait as I placed my order on Saturday and it has not arrived yet:(

So, back to the Photography Corner. It a new web site for me which aims to help photographers. I've already registered, so I might be able to tell you more about it later. At the moment I can write that they provide such services as: photo galleries, photography articles, forum (with member introductions!), photography resources (tutorials for example) and even so called "contest corner challenge" where you can see very interesting photos.

I've tried to upload my photos as well. Well first try wasn't successful as my photos were to large (limit of the storage quota is about 10Mb only and per picture max 1Mb), so I was rather disappointed about this fact. Then I decided to upload small versions of my pics from the Net (from my Picasa albums), but my link was cut in the field where I was supposed to put it, I guess because it was too long... No words. Ok, I am patient when I want to be and I found another option, I deleted "http://" in the beginning of my link and then it fitted to the field provided. Wow, my picture is on the Photography corner now! I will keep exploring this site and I have some interesting info for you, I will let you know.

Take great pictures, guys!

Back to coffee aroma

Today at lunch we got a desert with a taste of coffee. It brought me back to my childhood when I was 5 years old. The first chewing gums I've seen in my life were with taste of coffee. I didn't drank coffee at that time, but I knew its taste. It is really amazing. Why coffee? Hmm... The funny thing is that my friends from other countries do not remember they first chewing gums, but I do:) It must have been an exciting taste for me if I do remember.

European legislation

Decision making policy in EU - this will be mainstream of my nightmares for the next few weeks:) Uff, it seems that I know much more about it now, but I really had to read lots of documents before I realised at least a little bit how it all works:) Consultation, co-operation, assent or co-decion procedure? Of course the last one:) Why? Look at this chart and you will understand everythin! ;)

Girls and boys!?!?

It's rather a difficult issue, isn't it? I have a brilliant example what happened with me tonight...

Imagine, party is over and people are saying good night. And one by one boys say "good night" to a guy who is sitting just on my right site and they ignore me:( Well, of course I can't get on with it. I speak out and we discuss it, we make jokes, they say "sorry" and it seems to be over, but I will see what will happend tommorrow. :)

Planning wedding?

He he he, those who will start reading this message from the title will ask me if I am going to marry:) Well, I'm going, one day:)

At the moment I am just observing different weddings. My counsin married in June this year and one my good friend is going to marry next summer (not mentioning those who married during last few years). Well I guess there will be number of few more:)

3 years ago when my friend was going to marry in USA I got a nice invitation and I thought that moment how cute it was. But In fact can you imagine how much of work it takes to write invitations to everyone? Well, it takes a bit of planning! My friend which I mentioned before is looking for her wedding dress since June, although her marriage will be in August next year! Is it a nightmare then or just wedding preparation? Uff!

I guess the most important is to marry and to be marry=happy the rest of life! So, maybe it's really a good idea to look for different wedding stuff now and not to be under stress just before wedding.:)

Have a nice day! And smile wider!

Book story

It's not the first time when I realise that everything you think about can come true. This is my recent example. I wanted to prove to our teacher of History that in the end of 18th century it wasn't the division of Poland, but of the Commonwealth of Both States (Polish Kindom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania).

So I was really trying to find some good maps and then I found out that there are two very good books about Belarusian history in English! Wow, I really wanted to find them, I went to Google Books section and typed: "Jan Zaprudnik", he is the author.

And... I found links to local libraries. Two books were availiable in some library: "Historical dictionary of Belarus" (published in 1998) and "BELARUS: At a Crossroads in History" (published in 1993). I went to our library and the codes of books were from our library! So I have both books now! And I can borrow it to my friends here who want to know more about our history!!!

On the ground

Do you usually pay attention what is just on the ground, just under your feet?

Quite often people run and forget that we live, not just exist. And if you go slower then you might notice many amazing things which life brings us. it's not just a nice picture on the way (by the way that white man was really funny), but it's something alse. Maybe then we can see some signs which are there just for us.

Let's keep trying to live:)

Can we keep our life private?

You know, I faced a new situation for me. I just reallised how much you can know about a person who is active on-line. Or even you don't have to be active, but you just participate in different events and then report from those events is on-line, so you are present there as well. Sometimes it's really fun, as you can find out about your new friends a lot even before they will tell you. BUT. If it concerns you, then you start to think what you want people to know about you and what you don't. Today I got a message from my friends that they discovered my blog although I have never told that I had one. So in a way it's great and fun, but on the other hand it a bit scary... :)

Film about Belarusian elections 2006

Yesterday we had so called "Russian speaking club" where American, Canadian and Austrian students speak Russian. I was as an "expert" there. It was really interesting:) After the meeting I presented this video to my friends, so they can understand better the situation in my country. (Video is in Russian)

What is Buzz?

Keeping in mind my previous I am still interested in Indernet mechanism of PR and Adverticement:) This time I met a new term for me, the "BUZZ". I googled it!

Emanuel Rosen: "I define buzz and explain why it's important. By "buzz" I refer to all the word of mouth about a brand. It's the aggregate of all person-to-person communication about a particular product, service, or company at any point in time. The following excerpt describes how I became interested in buzz and brings some statistics about the importance of word of mouth in different industries."

What is more interesting the same author tells that there are 10 industries which are "affected by Buzz":
1. Automotive
2. Consumer Electronics
3. High Tech
4. Entertainment
5. Fashion
6. Health Care
7. Publishing
8. Travel
9. Toy and Games
10. Consumer packaged goods

Well, it might be really true. I thing I made my first order through OTTO not because I was advertising it on our web-portal, but because my friend told me it could be cool:) There you go!