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November 18, 2007

eLiberatica 2008 will make history in the Romanian IT

There is a high activity related to the conference preparation although there is not much on the forefront yet. I couldn’t find too much time in the last months to publish the news on my blog so I taught now it would be a good idea to give some details for the ones interested.

A month ago we launched the new eLiberatica 2008 website and published the first newsletter.

These days we launched another two sections: “Call for Papers” and “Help to Promote eLiberatica“.

We are working intensively to launch “Hotel and Travel” section next week, and present there detailed information about the venue, Bucharest and Romania.

World Trade Center Bucharest, the place for eLiberatica 2008In Romania, Agora team is working hardly to prepare the conference logistics.

Some news will be published soon, not yet officially, but 99% to happen is the fact that, we found a better place to hold the conference - World Trade Center Bucharest.
A stylish and modern space for a great event like this.

Also, we established the conference date: 30-31 May 2008.

All these news will be published under eLiberatica website as soon as Agora will sign the contract with them.

On the other hand, I just met with Zak a few days ago and we worked a great plan for inviting high profile guests and do strategic partnerships. And I can assure you, this time, the whole world will know about this initiative. We learned a lot from the last conference and we wish to have next year an event close to perfection.

Of course, all of these will not happen without the community support, without your support. I’m using this message to ask any person who loves IT, Open Source and Free Software, but also the ones who don’t know much about FLOSS (but are bright enough to understand that future means Open and Free technologies), to help us spreading the world about this event.

Details about how you can help this initiative are posted under Help to Promote eLiberatica.

And we would like to meet you all there and have another great time together.

May 20, 2007

Conferinta eLiberatica - “Despre ROSI si eLiberatica - trecut, prezent si viitor”

In primul rand multumesc tutoror celor care au fost alturi de noi la eLiberatica. Ati fost minunati! Pot sa spun cu siguranta, am discutat cu fiecare oaspete in parte, toti au fost deosebit de impresionati de primirea facuta, de calitatea prezentarilor celor din tara, de entuziasmul vostru al tutoror.

eLiberatica a intrecut de departe toate asteptarile noastre.

Pentru ca este un subiect pe care nu il voi putea acoperi in cateva minute, nu o sa continui aici, dar o sa revin cu un alt articol saptamana viitoare cand voi reveni in Vancouver.
In schimb, pana cand vom seta portalul ROSI si actualiza situl eLiberatica (si vom publica toate prezentarile si miile de poze facute) astfel incat sa putem primi acolo feedbackul si sugestiile voastre, va invit sa comentati aici. Tot ceea ce veti sugera vom lua in calcul pe viitor.

De asemenea, am postat mai jos prezentarea pe care am avut-o la deschiderea eLiberaticii, si pe care multi au ratat-o; aceasta va raspunde multor intrebari care mi-au fost puse la sfarsitul conferintei.
Deci despre viitorul ROSI si al eLiberaticii:

————–

Good morning! Welcome everybody!

I intend to talk in Romanian, because I would like to address my Romanian fellows, especially. But before doing so, I would like to say “thank you”, first of all to my dear friend Zak, because without him this conference wouldn’t have happened. Also, I would like to thank to all our local and international guests and keynote speakers who have given special value to this conference, making it one of the most important IT events this year in our country.
In addition, my greetings go to Agora, to all our sponsors, partners and volunteers, and to you, our dear guests.
Last but not least, I will say “thank you” to my wife who has bared my long late nights and weekends I spent to make this initiative happen.

And now, in Romanian, about ROSI and eLiberatica:
Nu intentionez a prezenta beneficiile Open Source si Free Software nici a vorbi despre construirea unei reputatii sau a unei cariere; ceilalti speakeri o vor face mult mai bine decat mine. In schimb doresc sa va impartasesc cateva intamplari .
Pe la inceputurile mele in Canada, a trebuit sa merg la oficiul vamal din Vancouver pentru a completa cateva acte… Doamna de acolo – de altfel foarte amabila – verificand formularul pe care l-am completat a remarcat: “Ah, Romania, Nadia Comaneci, she is the one who put that country on the map.” Am gandit atunci, desi nu am spus-o cu glas tare pentru ca nu am vrut sa fiu grosolan: “Romania se afla pe harta lumii de foarte multa vreme, doar ca dumneata nu ai stiut…”
Cu cateva saptamani in urma, citeam pe un forum extern ceva asemanator legat de eLiberatica; si anume ca acest eveniment va pune in sfarsit tara noastra pe harta – evident se referea la harta FLOSS a lumii. Cand am citit articolul – ca si in cazul primei intamplari – m-am simtit ofensat. Apoi, am inceput sa gandesc; sunt de condamnat acesti oameni pentru ignoranta lor, sau vina este a noastra, a romanilor, pentru ca nu stim sa ne promovam indeajuns initiativele, valorile, actiunile noastre.. Ca nu comunicam indeajuns cu restul lumii.

Multi m-au intrebat cum vad eu viitorul ROSI. Multi au fost si sunt inca probabil suspiciosi, traind cu impresia ca ROSI incearca sau va incerca sa se erijeze intr-o entitate ce doreste sa conduca miscarea FLOSS din tara. Cea care, cu totii speram ca se va naste.
Dar sa revin la ideea inceputa inainte: de ce, in general, lumea cand vorbeste despre Open Source si Free Software nu ne ia in consideratie si nici nu are habar despre noi. Cred ca raspunsul este evident: nu ne facem cunoscuti indeajuns.
Cand am inceput inchegarea grupului ROSI, nu cunosteam pe nimeni care sa aibe tangente cu Open Source sau Free Software in tara. Am cautat informatii pe internet si nu am gasit mare lucru: cateva mici comunitati, ceva entuziasti si sustinatori ai sistemului de operare Linux sau informatii disparate despre cateva evenimente cu conotatie FLOSS, cele mai notabile intamplate cu ani in urma. Si aici ma refer la conferintele ROSE si programul “Free Unix for Romania” despre care practic am aflat abia dupa multe luni de la infiintarea ROSI, abia cand d-nul profesor Jalobeanu m-a contactat.
O alta problema; majoritatea informatiilor gasite erau in limba romana. Daca un un strain, cauta informatii despre o posibila implicare in miscarea FLOSS din partea celor din tara noastra, practic nu va gasi nimic. 90 la suta din informatii, si acelea putine, sunt intr-o limba greu de inteles pentru cei care nu o cunosc.

In conceptia mea, ROSI trebuie sa o fie oglinda, o sala de prezentare, un panou de informatii, unde oricine poate gasi date despre orice are tangenta cu fenomenul FLOSS in tara noastra. Pentru ca avem ce sa prezentam acolo; contrar aparentelor, avem mult mai multe comunitati, evenimente si persoane care intr-un fel sau altul au adoptat si incearca sa promoveze conceptele, tehnologiile OS/FS in tara. Avem firme care produc soft Open Source… Exista tot ce trebuie pentru a naste o miscare grassroot cu conotatii nationale, Free/Libre Open Source Software!

Prin eLiberatica ne facem cunoscuti in lumea larga. Am dovedit ca se poate si putem duce la bun sfarsit ceea ce ne propunem. Am creat puntea de legatura, am deschis usa catre comunitatea mondiala FLOSS.
Pana acum, eLiberatica a insemant ROSI si ROSI a insemnat eLiberatica. Este timpul ca ROSI sa isi continue evolutia si sa capete o identitate. Dar toate acestea nu se pot intampla peste noapte. Trebuie rabdare, munca si mai ales implicare si daruinta. Mahatma Gandi a spus cu ani in urma:
“Almost everything you do will seem insignifiant, but is important do do it” – “Tot ce faci va parea insignifiant, dar este important sa il faci”… si as chimbat lumea.

Acum, revenind la aspectul practic – pentru ca in final faptele si rezultatele conteaza; dorim in primul rand, sa construim un portal ROSI. Un portal, unde orice organizatie, initiativa, comunitate care are tangenta cu FLOSS va putea sa fie listata. Vom sistematiza aceste informatii, le vom traduce in engleza astfel incat oricine vrea sa afle date despre grupurile FLOSS din tara va putea usor sa o faca.
Pe urma, vom adauga o sectiune de stiri, unde vom incuraja ca orice eveniment cu legatura FLOSS din Romania sa fie publicat. Vom traduce aceste stiri. Totul va fi bilingv si astfel ne vom adresa lumii largi. Vom adauga si un forum, unde membrii diferitelor comunitati vor fi incurajati sa schimbe informatii si sa discute pe un teren neutru. Alaturi, un Job Board. Si multe alte lucruri pot fi adaugate.
Nu dorim sa conducem pe nimeni sau sa ne atribuim merite care nu sunt ale noastre.
Vrem sa ajutam. Vrem sa facilitam comunicarea. Si acest lucru nu il putem face singuri. Avem nevoie de implicarea si ajutorul vostru al tuturor. Doar si prin faptul ca stim unii de altii, stim ca existam, avem o cauza comuna si incepem sa comunicam, deja este un pas urias inainte.
ROSI isi va gasi calea si isi va afla identitatea in timp.
ROSI ia cu adevarat nastere acum, chiar in clipa aceasta.

Am fost de multe ori intrebat cine sunt membrii ROSI. Probabil ca majoritatea dintre dvs deja ati citit articolele publicate pe aceasta tema sau informatiile de pe site; pana acum ROSI au fost de fapt toti cei care au ajutat si participat la organizarea acestei conferinte. Acestia reprezinta Initiativa Romana pentru Open Source si Free Software.
Pe “Basecamp” unde am coordonat proiectul, sunt inregistrati in jur de 40 de persoane. Dintre ei, unii au preferat doar sa asiste. Pe de alta parte, au fost o multime de cazuri, in care persoane care au ajutat substantial aceasta initiativa nu au dorit sa le creez un cont pe basecamp, in schimb prefereand sa conunice direct cu mine. Deci teoretic, nu fac parte din ROSI.
De aceea eu personal consider grupul ROSI fiind compus din toti acesti oameni care au participat si realizat eLiberatica. Nucleul a fost format, dar alaturi de ei, de aceasta initiativa apartin mult mai multi si as merge pana acolo incat, daca ar trebui sa-i numesc pe toti, ar trebuie sa va ridicati toti cei de aici, toata sala, in picioare. Pentru ca toti cei aflati in acest moment aici si altii care nu sunt in sala au facut sa se intample eLiberatica. NOI TOTI reprezentam Romanian Open Source and Free Software Initiative.

ROSI, se naste odata cu eLiberatica!

As dori totusi in final sa ii numesc pe cei care pana in acest moment, si-au sacrificat din timpul lor
si au ajutat cum a putut fiecare, la organizarea acestui eveniment. Inainte de aceasta, tot cu permisiunea dvs, voi cita o fraza celebra:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing” – “Sinugrul lucru necesar raului sa invinga este ca oamenii buni sa nu faca nimic”.
Ca sa parafrazez as spune: “Singura conditie a progresului este ca oamenii buni sa se implice”.

Va multumesc pentru atentie si timpul acordat.

Ii rog sa pofteasca alaturi de mine (ii listez intr-o ordine complet aleatorie) – pentru ca trebuie sa ii cunoasteti si merita aplauze – pe: Adrian Florea, Adriana Nan, Alex Brie, Andrei Maxim, Aurelian Oancea, Laurentiu Fogoros, Leontin Birsan, Stefan Petre, Dan Mutescu, Daniel Tudor, Gabriela Bartic, Mihai Bucuroiu, Mircea Dragoi, Mircea Sarbu, Romulus Maier, Adrian Pop, Carmen Holotescu, Filip Chereches-Tosa, Raluca Borca, Felix Enescu, Alexandru Lapusan, Remus Cazacu, Laurentiu Buzdugan, Carmen Moise, Dave Macleod, Gabriel Radic, Jennifer Zickerman, Roberto Gerola, Tiberiu Turbureanu, Traian Anghel, Yovko Labrev, Bogomil Shopov, Andrei Bocan, Ionut Popa, Ciprian Alexandru si Mihai Gheza.

May 14, 2007

Before I leave to Romania!

Time pases very fast and in a few days eLiberatica is going live!

In the last months I couldn’t post too much on my blog, I was busy like crazy with my new job and working for final eLiberatica updates and arrangements.

I’ll try briefly to post what is new:

  • My new company that I’m working for, Navarik, is totally supporting me and our initiative so I had the chance to come without any problem at eLiberatica.
  • Together with Zak, Gabi Bartic and Daniel Tudor, we finalized and published the conference schedule, and updated the sponsors/partners section. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to work all the Romanian translations (even I get help from Adi Florea and Adriana Nan) so please indulge if you will find mixed Romanian and English copy.
  • We have confirmed all the speakers and their flights to Bucharest. Related to it, there are a few important last-minute changes to the list of speakers for eLiberatica.
    Unfortunately, Rasmus Lerdorf and Bogomil Shopov will be unable to attend. Thankfully, Georg Greve - president of the Free Software Foundation Europe - will be able to cover Bogo’s topic of Open Standards, while Rasmus is recording a short video session for us. For this, Mircea created a page where you can post questions to Rasmus - http://msarbu.wiki.zoho.com/Ask-Rasmus.html. He is going to record a video and send it to us. Zak will introduce and present that video Friday at 11:40am (http://eliberatica.ro/2007/eliberatica-schedule). The reason Rasmus couldn’t come is the fact that Yahoo!, the company he works for is sending him to China to speak in their name exactly when eLiberatica is happen.
  • We picked the two persons who will earn a free invitation at eLiberatica. These are the prises promised for the ones helped to promote the conference. To pick the sites who posted eLiberatica logo and promoted it, last week we have done a search on Google with “eLiberatica” word and picked the first two in the order listed there who displayed/promoted eLiberatica logo. They are Mihai Gheza and Liviu Damian. I wrote them personally and we are waiting for them at Brasov.
  • Agora provided 10 free invitations to the conference for the most active people who helped eLiberatica. I checked carefully all the work and I picked this list: Adrian Florea, Adriana Nan, Alex Brie, Andrei Maxim, Aurelian Oancea, Laurentiu Fogoros, Leontin Bîrsan, Stefan Petre, Dam Mutescu, Ionut Popa
  • Other people who helped and would deserve invitations and recoginition, but instead they both it themselves or are belonging to sponsors, organizers, speakers section, or they couldn’t come are (in a aleatory order): Laurentiu Buzdugan, Carmen Moise, Dave MacLeod, Gabriel Radic, Jennifer Zickerman, Roberto Gerola, Tiberiu Turbureanu, Traian Anghel, Yovko Lambrev, Bogomil Shopov, Andrei Bocan, Ciprian Alexandru , Alexandru Lapusan, Remus Cazacu, Filip Chereches-Tosa, Raluca Borca, Felix Enescu, Carmen Holotescu, Sabin Corneliu Buraga, Zak Greant , Daniel Tudor, Gabriela Bartic, Mihai Bucuroiu, Mircea Dragoi , Mircea Sârbu, Romulus Maier.
  • If you ad the first and the second list, you have the complete ROSI group. I like to name them all ROSI group even some of them didn’t have an account on the ROSI’s Basecamp. They done a great job, and actually they are the ROSI. Because for now, eLiberatica is ROSI and ROSI is eLiberatica. I’ll have a short presentation about this subject at the conference.
  • Beside them, I would like to thank to Agora Media and whole community sponsors and commercial sponsor and partners who helped us to have this great event! And for all who will come. Some people are saying this is from far the most important IT event for 2007 in Romania. And I think they are right! Just come and see.

There are a lot of other details and things happening, unfortunately I will not have the time to publish all now. Instead, I invite you to check eLiberatica schedule and you will see that will pay the money to be there.

I have to pack my luggage now :)

PS - I don’t plan to take my laptop to Romania this time, so more updates and news will come only when I’ll be back in Vancouver. The reason for not taking my laptop is the short time I’m going to spend there (only a week), so I would like rather to spend it meeting with people, having direct contacts and doing networking rather than staying in front of the computer. Anyway, I’m expecting images and even video will pop up on the blogoshphere before I’ll be back ;)

December 21, 2006

The greatest achievement this year

I have the pleasure to announce that full Romanian version of eLiberatica website is now online.

The most important thing is that we announced the speakers who will present at eLiberatica. And we wish to highlight only a few names here: Rasmus Lerdorf, Monty Widenius, Brian Behlendorf and Zak Greant.

For the whole list you can check http://eliberatica.ro/2007/eliberatica-conferentiari-si-evenimente .

Right now we are working intensively on the English version of the website, which will estimate are going to be online at the beginning of January.

This is a great achievement, and I wish to say thank you to all the people helped this; and they are listed under Credits section on eLiberatica.

August 1, 2006

Braila and the Danube (Re-discovering Romania)

Filed under: English, Romanian Places — Lucian Savluc @ 9:43 am

From my summer vacation, this time some images from Brailaand the Danube.
I found the revival of this city and I was amazed how much changed back in good. It is alive again with all the joy of life.
The Danube is the same; prodigious and unforgettable like first time, when as a kid I saw it.

Braila_04

Related links:
http://www.braila.org/
http://www.portal-braila.ro/
http://www.aboutromania.com/danube00.html
http://www.rotravel.com/romania/delta/index.php

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