MTV Awards flourish despite Britney bomb

LAS VEGAS - As in most train wrecks, it was hard to focus on just one thing as the Britney Spears disaster unfolded. There was just so much that went wrong.
Out-of-synch lip-synching. Lethargic movements that seemed choreographed by a dance instructor for a nursing home. The paunch in place of Spears' once-taut belly. At times she just stopped singing altogether, as if even she knew nothing could save her performance.
Designed to drum up excitement for her upcoming album, Spears' kickoff to the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night became another example of how far she has fallen. It would have been understandable if MTV's show had been crushed under the weight of the opening fiasco — yet somehow it rebounded, and even flourished.
The show banked heavily on its own reinvention. After poor reviews and a decline in ratings over the last few years, MTV moved the show to Vegas, shortened it from three hours to two, went to a hostless format and focused more on performances than awards.
Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, Kanye West, Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters hosted separate suite parties where most of the performances took place.
But the performance most people will be talking about was Spears'. And unlike her last VMAs appearance, when she locked lips with Madonna in 2003, this time it will be for all the wrong reasons…
"It definitely could have been a lot better", the hitmaking singer and producer Akon commented afterward. "She seemed nervous... you could tell by the expression on her face. Instead of just blocking everybody out and doing her thing, you could tell she was thinking about it".
After that, though, the changes to the show worked, leading to several exciting performances and some watercooler drama. An off-camera fight between Pamela Anderson exes Kid Rock and Tommy Lee led Jamie Foxx to quip: "Stop all this white-on-white violence".
Timberlake's suite was flooded with revelers, alcohol and eight lingerie-clad stripper types on raised platforms. Before Timberlake accepted the Quadruple Threat of the Year award at his suite, the DJ summoned the partygoers to watch the monitor and go crazy if Timberlake won. He did, they did, and Timberlake said: "I want to challenge MTV to play more videos !" Then he was whisked away by bodyguards and disappeared.
Timberlake was the night's big winner, with four trophies. After accepting the award for Male Artist of the Year, he jabbed at the video issue again: "We don't want to see the Simpsons on reality television". Apparently he's not a fan of either Jessica or Ashlee's MTV shows.
Rihanna won the coveted Video of the Year award, plus Monster Single of the Year for "Umbrella". The Best Group was Fallout Boy, and Gym Class Heroes won Best New Artist.
Beyonce and Shakira won Most Earthshattering Collaboration for "Beautiful Liar". Beyonce's shimmering gold dress barely contained her top; immediately after she picked up her trophy she asked an assistant backstage to help fix her dress, apparently to prevent a wardrobe malfunction.
Other performers appeared on the show's main stage, in front of an industry-only audience seated at tables, like at the Golden Globes. Chris Brown gave one of the evening's most extravagant performances — hopping from table to table in a dance spectacle that channeled Michael Jackson, right down to a brief "Billie Jean" imitation.
Alicia Keys had the evening's most rousing performance, debuting her new song "No One" and then an inspired, choir-backed cover of George Michael's "Freedom".
While performances like Keys' and Spears' were delivered on the main stage, others came in snippets: Akon crooned a bit of his "Smack That" before an award was announced, while the cameras zoomed in on Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters mid-performance in their suites, giving viewers the sense that they had happened upon an intimate concert.
Cee-Lo delivered a rocking version of Prince's naughty classic "Darling Nikki" in the smoky Foo Fighters suite (where a beer bong was in operation as Dave Grohl danced, sang Cure songs, played air drums and posed for snapshots); Soulja Boy was showing Kanye West his "Crank That" dance in West's suite.
Though the suites appeared to be chaotic parties, the MTV-cast revelers were carefully organized, strategically placed and encouraged to imbibe for the cameras.
Choreographed or not, Timberlake and Timbaland's suite looked the most exciting — T.I., buffeted by pole dancers, delivered a rousing version of "Big Things Poppin'" while 50 Cent stopped by to perform "Ayo Technology" with Timberlake and Timbaland.
Not to be outdone, T-Pain and West danced high atop Las Vegas in a balcony suite as they celebrated "The Good Life". And Lil Wayne, doing double duty in the Fall Out Boy suite after opening the pre-show with Nicole Scherzinger, was particularly animated.
TV viewers never got full views of those shows, though MTV promised more via its Web site and other "remixed" versions of the show. That might have been the purpose: to whet appetites for repeat viewings by promising glimpses of what they missed during the traditional broadcast.
Unlike in recent years, there was plenty reason to come back for more.

NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
AFP, AP & Reuters Marti 11 Septembrie 2007 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/ap_en_mu/mtv_awards

ADDED (pictures from MTV show in Las Vegas)

Pict. #2 - Britney Spears performs at the MTV Video Music Awards held at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
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Pict. #3 - Beyonce and Rihanna are seen at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
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Pict #4 - Justin Timberlake accepts the award for Triple Threat of the Year at the party suites, during the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
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Pict. #5 - Rihanna and Fall Out Boy perform at the party suites, during the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas.
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Pict. #6 - Timbaland performs at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #7 - Chris Brown performs at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #8 - Tommy Lee is escorted out of the theater at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007. Lee and Kid Rock, both former husbands of model Pamela Anderson, got into a fight while Alicia Keys was performing.
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Pict. #9 - Britney Spears performs at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #10 - Artist Beyonce smiles during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #11 - Artists Rihanna and Chris Brown perform at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #12 - Justin Timberlake (L) receives the VMA award for Male Artist of the Year from rap artist Timbaland at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #13 - Justin Timberlake accepts the VMA award for the category Quadruple Threat at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #14 - Rihanna (R) performs with the band 'Fall Out Boy' at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #15 - Beyonce accepts the VMA award for Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration for the song 'Beautiful Liar', which she recorded with Shakira (not pictured), at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #16 - Singer Rihanna performs 'Umbrella'at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007. Rihanna won the award for Monster Single of the Year for the song.
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Pict. #17 - Singer Nelly Furtado arrives at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #18 - Artist Ludacris arrives for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #19 - Ne-yo arrives at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007.
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Pict. #20 - Musician Kid Rock (C) is escorted out after getting into a fight with Tommy Lee at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, 2007. Lee and Kid Rock, both former husbands of model Pamela Anderson, got into a fight while Alicia Keys was performing. 'There were no fists, they were just holding each other, grabbing each other', Tom Higginson, singer of the pop band Plain White Ts, told Reuters. 'Security had to break them up'.
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President discriminated again

The CNCD (National Council against Discrimination) is going to open a case against the President of Romania Traian Basescu, who has recently commented: "Here am I meeting a good Armenian at last !"
When getting out of the Military Hospital, Bucharest, the President made this comment, dividing the Armenians in Romania in good and bad. He actually wanted to thank surgeon Mircea Ghemigian by uttering the words mentioned above and then he corrected himself by "I mean a competent Armenian".
The President had already got a warning from the CNCD, because in the very day of the referendum on his suspension he had called journalist Andreea Pana a "filthy gypsy".
This comment in May 19 was made in private, but the one committed last Sunday was public. Presidency spokesman claims "This observation is to be taken as one meant to highlight Mr. Ghemigian's professionalism".
As for deputy Varujan Pambuccian, a representative of Armenian-origin Romanians in the Parliament, he thinks "the President's words aren't even worth commenting on. What is going on is ridiculous". Deputy Aurel Vainer, a leader of the Federation of Jewish Community in Romania, comments in his turn: "Such gross categorization has never done any good". (...)

Marian Ghiteanu
Ziua Marti 11 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Bill against government divides PSD in sides

The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) bill against the government in power has opened new war between the Ion Iliescu, honorary president of the party, and Mircea Geoana, president of the PSD. The senator is angry because the latter commented that the controversial party members, those most fond of power, were afraid of the bill to come. Viorel Hrebenciuc on the one hand and Adrian Nastase together with Miron Mitrea on the other hand have joined the confrontation.
The issue at stake between the three was whether the bill against the government was a good idea or not, since the party lacked a clear strategy. Among growing dissatisfaction and reproaches, the PSD members were in endless meetings yesterday, but they proved fruitless anyway. The only certainty is that the bill got postponed for one more week, although it was supposed to reach the Parliament yesterday. The election of a new Patriarch was the latest reason the PSD leaders invoked.
Ion Iliescu was enraged: "I am an honorary president of the party, I haven't been informed about the bill, no one has asked for my opinion. I wasn't invited to attend the reunion in Bran. If you don't need me any more, I can leave". Then he was critical of Mircea Geoana because of what the latter had said in an interview one day before. In his 40-minute relentless speech Ion Iliescu commented that never before had there been a PSD president to make such statements and threat to expel those members against the bill idea. Party sources claim Mircea Geoana replied that by "controversial people" he hadn't meant PSD members.
But Ion Iliescu did even more than criticize the party president behind shut doors. He told journalists: "It is incautious of him to say such things. It is disloyal and it twists the meaning of dialogue.
And Mircea Geoana announced the bill was postponed in order not to coincide with the election of a new Patriarch. (...)


Roxana Andronic
Ziua Marti 11 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

DNA head at war against Justice minister

The DNA (National Anti-Corruption Department) is claiming that the Romanian Justice minister Tudor Chiuariu has put pressure on prosecutors, whereas the latter Liberal minister has it that the DNA has manipulated the press by twisted statements.
The conflict between the Justice minister and the DNA intensified yesterday, with prosecutors accusing minister Chiuariu of putting pressure on DNA officials. The minister replied the DNA manipulated the press by providing misinterpreting statements excerpted from a document belonging to the CSM (Superior Council of Magistracy).
The dispute between the two institutions went on yesterday with deputy Cozmin Gusa's explanations on his own accusations against minister Chiuariu. DNA mentioned inquiry on the contents of a document released by the Ministry of Justice, adding the institution was working on the preliminary documents concerning the legality of some acquisition by the Romanian Post Office. The minister claimed it was mere speculation, arguing that in the communique from the prosecutors there was incorrect information. (...)

A.G.
Ziua Marti 11 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Government should go all the way

57% of Romanians think the present government should be allowed to carry out mandate, according to the latest opinion poll by INSOMAR.
Most Romanians are against early elections and only 14% believe they would be a solution. As far as the making of a new government is concerned, 14% say it would be dominated by Democrats and only 7% opine the Social-Democrats would get to make it. 7% go for an independent one.
As for vote intentions, the conclusion is that 41% of Romanians would vote for the PD (Democrat Party). The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) would get 18%, the PNL (National Liberal Party) would be voted by 12% and 9% would go for the PNG (New Generation Party). The PRM ("Greater Romania" Party) and the PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) would get 5% each. The remaining parties would fail to get 5%: the Democrat Union of Magyars in Romania (UDMR) - (4%), the Conservative Party (PC) – (2%), the National Initiative Party (PIN) - (1%) and the National Christian-Democrat Party (PNTC-D) - (1%).
According to the research, the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, is still the most trusted politician (54%). The PLD leader, Theodor Stolojan, comes second (33%) and PNG president, Gigi Becali, is next (32%). (...)

R.P.
Ziua Luni 10 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Anti-Communist union born

The right center union was born last Saturday in Timisoara. On the birth certificate there are the signatures of Calin-Popescu Tariceanu, president of the National Liberal Party, Marian Milut, president of the National Christian-Democrat Party, Emil Constantinescu, leader of the Popular Action, Gheorghe Ciuhandu, honorary president of the National Christian-Democrat Party and Adrian Iorgulescu, a Romanian minister of culture.
Authors say one main purpose of the action is to promote the lustration law. In his speech PM Tariceanu described the making of the union as a coherent project to call for the emergence of a leftwing freed from Communism. Emil Constantinescu argued the project was a long-term one, absolutely necessary at present.
There was also argued that the neocommunist groups and the populist political forces were the new union's adversaries. According to the makers, the union is against "the so-called Social-Democrats, politically disguised, who have found themselves to be a rightwing overnight". (...)

A.P.
Ziua Luni 10 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Real planes for real money

-- The Romanian government is to buy 48 multi-roll aircrafts for 3,5 billion Euro. Romania is to satisfy the US and don't make the EU angry.
The deadline for the subscription of offers to get the business of the century is over. The Romanian Ministry of Defense has got offers to purchase aircrafts like Eurofighter, F 16, F 18, JAS 39 Gripen and Rafale. The types selected are to replace the MiG 21 modernized by the Israelis.
The government is to make a decision after talking to the Parliament and the Supreme Council for National Defense. There are advantages and disadvantages for every plane to be used for at least 30 years. The Eurofighter Typhoon has got its qualities, but it costs twice as much as a JAS 39. The Swedish Gripen is a last generation achievement, but it hasn't been tested on battlefield. The F 16 is a war veteran, but conceived in the 70s.
The US claims that, once proceeding to such acquisition, Romania will join the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the US military's future assailant.
Teodor Melescanu, Romania's defense minister, is to talk to senators' defense committee tomorrow. In the meantime, the maintenance and flight costs for the 48 aircrafts will be over 10 billion Euro. It is to be reminded that a 10 million Euro commission was rumored for the acquisition of the two British frigates.

Doru Dragomir & M.B.
Ziua Luni 10 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Stress Reduction

A Prostitute Reply...

Sunday Fun

Zangy Comment Graphics
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* Prisoner *
The bride tells her husband,… "Honey, you know I'm a virgin and I don't know anything about sex. Can you explain it to me first ?"
"OK, Sweetheart, putting it simply, we will call your private place 'the prison' and call my private thing 'the prisoner'.
So what we do is: put the prisoner in the prison.
And then they made love for the first time. Afterwards, the guy is lying face up on the bed, smiling with satisfaction.
Nudging him, his bride giggles,… "Honey, the prisoner seems to have escaped".
Turning on his side, he smiles. "Then we will have to re-imprison him"…
After the second time they spent, the guy reaches for his cigarettes.
But the girl, thoroughly enjoying the new experience of making love, gives him a suggestive smile, "Honey, the prisoner is out again !"…
The man rises to the occasion, but with the unsteady legs of a recently born foal. Afterwards, he lays back on the bed, totally exhausted.
She nudges him and says, "Honey, the prisoner escaped again"…
Limply turning his head, He yells at her, "Hey, it's not life imprisonment !"

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* Business *
A man goes into a shop and starts looking around. He sees a washer & dryer but there is no price listed on them.
He asks a salesman who says, "Five pounds for both of them".
"Yeah right, you've got to be joking !" the man says.
"No, that's the price", the salesman says, "Do you want to buy them or not ?"
"Yeah, I'll take them", the man says. He continues to look around and sees a car stereo system with a detachable face cassette player, a CD changer, amplifier, speakers.
"How much ?" he asks.
"Five pounds for the system, including installation" the salesman says.
"Is it stolen ?" the man asks incredulously.
"No", says the salesman, "It's brand new, do you want it or not ?"
"Certainly", the man says. He looks around some more.
As the salesman is ringing up the purchases, the man asks him, "Why are your prices so cheap ?"
The salesman says, "Well, the owner of the shop is at my house right now with my wife, and what he's doing to her,... I'm doing to his business !"….

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* The sponge *
One day a little boy walked in on his mother in the shower. The boy pointed to his mother's pussy and said "What’s that mommy ?".
The mother not wanting to explain the facts of life to the boy said "that’s my sponge" the boy satisfied with the answer went out.
A few days later the boy again walked in on his mother in the shower. The night before the mother had shaved completely.
The boy noticing the difference asked the mother "where is your sponge ?".
The mother said she lost it and the boy satisfied went outside again…
All of a sudden the boy ran back in. "Mommy, mommy I found your sponge ! I was looking in Mrs.Jones back window and I saw Mrs Jones washing daddy's face with it !"

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* Greatest breasts *
A guy goes over to his friends house, rings the bell, the wife answers.
"Hi is Tony home ?"
"No he went to the store".
"Well, you mind if I wait ?" "No come in".
They sit down and the friend says "You know Nora, you have the greatest breasts I have ever seen. I'd give you a hundred bucks if I could just see one".
Nora thinks about this for a second and figures what the hell - a hundred bucks. She opens her robe and shows one.
He promptly thanks her and throws a 100 bucks on the table.
They sit there a while longer and Chris says "They are so beautiful I got to see the both of them. I'll give you another 100 bucks if I could just see the both of them together".
Nora thinks about this and says what the hell opens her robe and gives Chris a nice long look. Chris thanks her and throws another 100 bucks on the table then says he can't wait any longer for Tony and leaves.
A while later Tony arrives home and his wife says "You know your weird friend Chris came over".
Tony thinks about this for a second and says "Well, did he drop off the 200 bucks he owes me ?"

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* A good nights sleep *
By the time a Marine pulled into a little town, every hotel room was taken. "You;ve got to have a room somewhere", he pleaded. "Or just a bed, I don't care where".
"Well, I do have a double room with one occupant - an Air Force guy", admitted the manager, "and he might be glad to split the cost.
But to tell you the truth, he snores so loudly that people in adjoining rooms have complained. I'm not sure it'd be worth it to you".
"No problem," the tired Marine assured him. "I'll take it".
The next morning the Marine came down to breakfast bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "How'd you sleep ?" asked the manager.
"Never better". The manager was impressed. "No problem with the other guy snoring, then ?" "Nope, I shut him up in no time", said the Marine.
"How'd you manage that ?" asked the manager.
"He was already in bed, snoring away, when I came in the room", the Marine explained. "I went over, gave him a kiss on the cheek, said, 'Goodnight, beautiful', and he sat up all night watching me".

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* The Rabbit and the Bull *
A rabbit is crossing a railway track and he gets hit by a train.
A bull sees that, starts laughing and says: "HAHAH, you have such big ears and you didn't hear the train".
The rabbit, picking himself up from the floor, says: "Yeah, yeah, you have such big balls and a veterinarian has to fuck your cow !"

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* Bad Doctor *
A beautfiul woman walks into a doctors office and the doctor is awestruck. All his professionalism goes out the window.
He tells her to take off her pants and he starts rubbing her thighs.
He says "Do you know what I am doing ?"
She replies "Yes, checking for abnormalities".
He tells her to take off her shrit and bra and he starts rubbing her breats. He says "Do you know what I am doing now ?"
She replies "Yes, checking for lumps and cancer".
Finally, he tells he takes off her panties, lays her on the table, gets on top of her, and starts having sex with her. He says "Do you know what I am doing now ?"
She replies "Yes, getting herpies. That's why I am here"…

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President Basescu undergoes surgery

The President of Romania Traian Basescu is to undergo surgery today in the Military Hospital, Bucharest because of a thyroid gland trouble. Whether it is cancer or not it will be found out afterwards. Nicolae Vacaroiu, a president of the Romanian senate, is taking over the President's attributions for the hours the latter will be under total anesthesia.
Autonomous knot on the right thyroid lobe, the President's disease, was detected last June. The surgery, which Presidency Administration describes as routine, is to be supervised by experts coming from three different hospitals, one of them the C.I. Parhon Endocrinology Institute.
Despite the calming information coming from Cotroceni Palace, specialists say things are not that certain. Apart from the risks involved in any surgery, they mention some form of cancer can't be out of question.
Cancer or hyperthyroidism ?
Since the press releases from Presidency Administration are so vague, Romanians are wondering what thyroid disease is President Basescu suffering from and why is the surgery necessary, since it isn't about cancer. The endocrinologists ZIUA has talked to have tackled it, starting from the very scarce information and medical clues leaking from Presidency Administration yesterday, with the latter institution trying to muffle the President's real state of health.
Civil society seems shocked to hear the news about the surgery President Basescu must absolutely undergo in a Romanian hospital, given the tragic denouement of the surgery performed on His Holiness the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The first press release from Cotroceni Palace used key-word to confuse public opinion. Endocrinologist Dan Peretianu, a Ph. D. in medical sciences, opines the use of a word such as "routine" next to "surgery" in the communique from Presidency "is misleading, inducing the idea there is no severe health problem". (...)
"Thyroid cancer is usually settled by surgery", doctor Peretianu explains. It is therefore a mystery why patient Basescu did not undergo a biopsy by modern means that exclude surgery. (...)

D.E.I. & S.A.
Ziua Sambata 8 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Prostitutes removed from Bucharest streets

Bucharest policemen have taken action to remove prostitutes from streets this autumn. The action is now in progress because most sanctions have proved inefficient. Christian Ciocan, a spokesman for Bucharest Police, explains that since the beginning of 2007 until now 2,666 prostitutes were fined and the state budget is to cash over 6 million RON.
Mediafax Agency informs there are 289 criminal cases on prostitution and another 289 against pimps. The spokesman explains: "Given the inefficiency of fines and sometimes of criminal cases, an action to fight such kind of crimes will be taken in Bucharest in September 1 - November 31, 2007".
The Police official says this is meant to drive prostitutes away from the streets of the city. He mentions that last year only about 30% of the prostitutes fined paid the fines. He comments: "These girls have actually got nothing: no properties and belongings. Their address is in fact in a different locality. Even if the fines reach these places, they aren't paid".
Dialogue with journalists
Bucharest Police took such action together on Thursday night and the prostitutes caught red-handed could talk to the journalists accompanying the policemen. The employees of Police Station 8 in Bucharest picked up 7 such prostitutes, after having caught 2 of them red-handed.
First they wouldn't talk to the press, but then some of them spoke up. A woman in her late twenties told us serenely: "I have 3 children, the oldest one is 8. I took up prostitution two years ago because I couldn't afford to buy them food, but I have got to like it". She told the police would catch her weekly and lately every day and she told she had a lot of fines to pay. "I go back anyway and they can pick me up again", she said.
Adriana is a 29-year-old go-between. She explained: "I have 6 or 7 girls to see to. I stop clients on the street, I tell them the prices and I get 10% for myself. I must earn a living somehow. I have a 4-year-old child to take care of". She added it was the only "job" she could manage to have.
Flori is 29 and her experience in the field is 3 years. She told journalists: "I have got a lot of fines to pay. I had a criminal case for prostitution and the court fined me. That fine is the only one I paid". She just added she hated her way or making a living. (...)

Adrian Ghiciusca
Ziua Sambata 8 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Surgery ahead for President Basescu

The President of Romania Traian Basescu is to undergo a thyroide gland surgery. Presidency spokesman Valeriu Turcan announces by press release that a team of doctors is going to proceed to the surgery in the Military Hospital, Bucharest, the following days.
The surgery will not disturb the President's schedule, as it is an ordinary one the Presidents has asked to undergo. There is also mentioned that Presidency Administration is going to inform both press and public opinion regularly, every time news comes up.

A.I.
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

PD to be investigated for false signatures

-- Deputy Nati Meir is to go to the National Anti-Corruption Department next Tuesday and provide details about the signature list drawn by the PD (Democrat Party) to prove support for a bill against the government.
It is to be reminded that just a few days before the parliamentary term was over, the PD, with support from the PLD (Liberal-Democrat Party), initiated a bill to overthrow the Tariceanu Cabinet. As there weren't enough adepts, the Democrats asked some independent MPs for support signatures in exchange to certain advantages. One such deputy is Nati Meir. A few days later he complained about the Democrats' double language, accusing them of bribe. More exactly, he was asking that the Prosecutor's Officer should investigate on Democrat leaders Emil Boc and Adriean Videanu for bribe. He commented: "When I signed for the bill, they proposed I should head the list of the PD branch in Tulcea for next elections. But Emil Boc took it back after a fortnight".
Presently the independent deputy announced in the Chamber of Deputies that he was leaving the PD parliamentary group. There were more MPs who claimed on the PD list there were false support signatures.

Liliana Ionescu
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

CNSAS fails to check on high clergy by September 12

Because of the quorum missing in yesterday's meeting of the CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive), a decision was impossible to reach and therefore there was neither any verdict on some high clergymen's past. Only 6 of the 11 members of the CNSAS board were present. They others didn't attend for family reasons or because they hadn't been announced about the meeting. The CNSAS has thus failed to express clear verdicts on all the Holy Synod members by September 12, when a new Patriarch is to be elected. (...)
Dinescu points to interference
Mircea Dinescu looked disappointed after the meeting and he mentioned pressure from politicians and from the Romanian Patriarchy as well. "We can't reach decisions because some are more influenced by the phone calls they get from politicians and from Patriarchy", he commented.
According to this CNSAS member, there is no chance that one decision on a high clergyman should be reached by September 12. Still he added decisions on such records would be made later on.
The CNSAS members are to meet next Tuesday, but no decision will be reached so that it won't influence the election of the future Patriarch. The CNSAS is to check on the elected Patriarch's past in order to do away with any doubts about his personality.

Cristian Andrei
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Senator Dan Voiculescu resigns

-- Senator Dan Voiculescu, a president of the PC (Conservative Party), resigned yesterday, claiming it was because of his "powerlessness to keep his promises to the electorate".
In yesterday's press conference the PC leader mentioned he wouldn't exist the stage of politics and he also added he would continue to head the Romanian Conservatives. He argued that he would be more dedicated to his party and to the preparations for the election of MEPs in Romania. He claimed his resignation had nothing to do with the National Anti Corruption Department's criminal cases against him or to the CNSAS (National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Service Archive) decision, according to which he had been a collaborator of the political police under the Communist regime.
He argued it would be "dishonest" of him to continue his activity as a MP, after failing to promote initiatives on the making of a solidarity fund for the Romanian retired and on support for the tenants of houses confiscated by the Communists. He pleaded as follows: "Please believe me that, after my short career as a MP, the praising for me would be scarce".
He announced he was resigning right after meeting with the Social-Democrats' leader Mircea Geoana yesterday morning. The Social-Democrats promised to support three of the four projects the Conservatives are promoting: the cut on the value added tax for basic food products, support for the tenants of houses confiscated under the Communist regime and the 0 tax on reinvested profit. (...)

Raluca Papadopol
Ziua Vineri 7 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Electoral ecumenism

The President of Romania Traian Basescu seems to be going on with his typical populism in search for the clergy's support. He is taking the third Reunion of Christian Churches taking place in Sibiu, the European City of Culture in 2007, as an opportunity.
Yesterday morning he participated at the prayer preceding the first session of this third European Ecumenical Assembly. The first prayer attended by all the Christians these days in Sibiu had taken place Tuesday evening in the City Square, where the President had spent just a few minutes, taking the opportunity to see to his hobby: talk to the crowd. (...)
In the opening of yesterday's session the attendants kept silent for a few minutes to commemorate the recently deceased Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a great European personality in the world of Christians. Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, a spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians all over the world, outlined the historical importance of the ongoing event in the sermon he delivered in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sibiu last Tuesday and he congratulated the Romanian Orthodox Church, the local Church and the city.
Spiritual demagogy
In yesterday's speech President Basescu described the Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu as a token of faiths' solidarity and one more hope for unity, outlining Romania was privileged to house an event vital to the Christian Churches' common action and to Romania's responsible approach to its fundamental spiritual values.
He argued: "Today it is more necessary than ever to shape room for common reflection on the role Churches can play in our societies, in keeping with their religious missions and in order to develop interChristian and interreligious dialogue, cultivate respect for humans' dignity and for the nature the faithful take for God's creation. I knew you started in Rome and continued in Wittenberg a pilgrimage making preparations for this assembly, meant to celebrate the diversity of traditions within European Christianity. The third European Ecumenical Assembly is taking place in Sibiu, a true model of collaboration of cultures and religious cults. It is the first time a country mostly Orthodox, a country that made preparations for today's event due to the historical visit that Pope John Paul II paid here in 1999. To all of us this is a token of solidarity between faiths and renewed hope for unity".

D.E.
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

President Basescu accused of inappropriate view

Danish MEP Jens Peter Bonde addressed the Parliament of Europe against the President of Romania Traian Basescu, criticizing his idea to hold the national referendum on the uninominal vote system at the same time with the election of MEPs in Romania.
The MEP argues in his letter to the Conference of Presidents in the Parliament of Europe that such a decision may twist the meaning and the progress of the first election of MEPs to be held in Romania. The Conference of Presidents is a group made up of the heads of political groups in the Parliament of Europe and it is the institution deciding on the agenda.
It is to be reminded that President Basescu has recently demanded Romanian political parties to decide on the uninominal vote or he will summon a referendum to take place in November 25, the very day of the election of MEPs in Romania. But according to European recommendations, no other scrutiny should be held the day when the election of MEPs is due.
The Euro-skeptic Danish MEP, a member of the independent democrat group, wants the Parliament of Europe to express view on President Basescu's initiative in order to explain to Romania that the significance of the first election of MEPs in this country would thus be harmed.

Liliana Ionescu
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Hands and trick

Adriean Videanu, the Democrat mayor of Bucharest, is a failure. Bucharest is a real pell mell. The countdown left till elections is fatal to him. He isn't standing the smallest chance to prove by March 2008 that he has accomplished his missions. Traian Basescu, his guru, the man who helped him take over the City Hall and bring his male and female advisers and businessmen along, is even worse now, because he is the one in fact responsible for it. Videanu's tremendous failure can cost Basescu his second mandate as President. It would also harm the Democrat Party and the way to parliamentary elections. But to kick Videanu out cynically, which they were intending to do about a fortnight ago, is no solution, for Basescu will be blamed for it anyway. Therefore the only scenario available is a trick of the Basescu kind.
The topper has recently reached the table and the head of state has taken the bunny out of it. He has actually produced a SF idea: mess is reigning over Bucharest not because the mayor is an unskilled yesman fond of fraud, but because the system isn't good. This is how Basescu has caught two bunnies at a time. While trying to save Videanu's honor, he has accounted for his own lack of skill proved at the time when he was a general mayor of Bucharest. And therefore the main state official in charge of protecting the law has offended the law, more exactly the normative document settling Bucharest affairs (structure of districts, multiple authorities and so on), elaborated about 80 years ago. He has claimed no one can do real work here because there are too many authorities disturbing each other. And according to the boss in Cotroceni Palace, the solution would be one single man to hold all the administrative power. In such case, the great strategist would have power to do and undo things and thus rebuild Bucharest to make our dreams come true.
But if we take a closer look, the bunny taken out of the topper turns into a dragon. Not even Ceausescu, when giving directions about everything, did dare think about doing away with the districts of Bucharest. They anyway exist in the capital city of the presidential republic of France, whose Constitution Basescu has been struggling to imitate. But Paris is, was and will be divided in districts. The city authorities there and the main politicians have concluded it can be no other way. And, thank God, the City of Lights has survived. It has survived without mayors like Crin Halaicu, Victor Ciorbea, Viorel Lis, Traian Basescu or Adriean Videanu.
It is so puzzling to realize out of the blue that Bucharest can't be ruled as long as it is divided into districts, after Basescu was a mayor twice and although he is in power a third time, via his yesman. It is puzzling that he should be blaming the law. Maybe in his attempt to save some of his own honour and some of the Democrat Party's honour he will ask for some referendum on the issue.
Given these, how will the uninominal electoral campaign for the City Hall of the most important Romanian city take place ? Will it open by a denial of the system ? Or has it opened already ? Has the President of all Romanians already started his campaign for Bucharest by any chance, acting like an anti-system politician ? If so, he has committed hands. He has touched the ball with the hands, trying to fool both the arbitrator and the spectators and sneak the ball into the goal. But I'm afraid this isn't working any more. Videanu has mentioned it a lot of times that only when his mandate as general mayor of Bucharest is over the others may reach conclusions. He has specified his mandate is a "4-year one". These 4 years will soon be over. And what will there be left ? Another failure of Basescu's, one he can no longer blame on others. This works in case we ignore the fact that the President's man is a criminal, but one proved so only by the press so far. And there is no presumption of innocence.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Pickpockets' castle

Watch your bags and pockets: while Romanian pickpockets are haunting Europe, Romania has turned into a target for foreign thieves cartels.
According to the Police archive, in 2007 thefts have been more numerous than ever, with hypermarkets as favorite places. The Police managed to catch a gang of Czech pickpockets just because they were too greedy, although it was their first action.
The thieves are informed, given accommodation and taken to the location by heads of the Romanian underground world, who are part of a very well working European cartel.
An operative group is made up of 3-5 individuals and the group spends 5 days at most in a city and 1 month at most in a country before being moved. When working abroad, Romanian pickpockets get the same treatment.
In Bucharest there take place 10 thefts every half an hour on an average. Cards are broken in just a few seconds, before the victim gets to announce the bank. When the prey is substantial, pickpockets use extreme violence even in the parking areas of supermarkets guarded by security companies. The Police have sent under cover agents to supermarkets these days. A retired pickpocket tells ZIUA: "In Bucharest there are no more than 10 people who control it. The press has reported on some, but in vain, nothing is happening." (...)

I.G.
Ziua Joi 6 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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Stop the diversion !

Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), in its entirety, is the target of a concerted attack, whose precedent can only be find in the dark Stalinist epoch. The aim is that the political power confiscates the patriarchal chair, the top of the Church. The best way to do it is by manipulating the elections that are to follow. Visible and invisible forces take part in this dangerous diversion, meant to reduce even more the independence and the credibility of the Church. The National Council for Research on the Communist Secret Police Archive (CNSAS) stands forefront, probably also with a view to an ultimate self-compromising. This institution is pushed forward as a battering ram to break the heads of those persisting in the idea that the Synod itself should elect the new patriarch. And I mean a free Synod, whose votes are guided by factors outside the Church as little as possible. However, the dirty trick CNSAS is organizing today is only a smoke curtain as the true manipulators stand behind. It's about, first and foremost, the President of Romania, Traian Basescu. The secret services, which are working hard to provide real information of a compromising nature on the high clergy, and also rumours and forgeries closely follow him. And rumours circulate with a hallucinating speed among the Orthodox Christians. Secondly, parties couldn't have missed this war of dubbing the new patriarch. And parties are known to manipulate. And they have their elected members at both central and local level. Multiple pressures are put on the high clergy and on the other members of the Synod who are to vote. These pressures range from blackmail to broad or explicit threats, from direct "unmasking" actions, up to also direct actions of buying good will. And, eventually, the so-called high level talks of a persuasive type are there too. We witness one of the dirtiest tricks from after December 1989.
I am among the most consistent supporters of the man Ticu Dumitrescu. I have pleaded for a law on the unmasking the former communist secret police (Securitatea) starting January 1990. I have backed up Ticu when he has struggled for the issuing of such a piece of legislation. Finally, the initial document has been distorted in such a way in the Parliament that even Ticu Dumitrescu hasn't vindicated its paternity. I thought that if Ticu Dumitrescu comes to CNSAS, the whole hubbub that has marked the beginning of this institution was going to end, especially after the "elected ones" finally had access to the files. Actually, each of them and starting with Ticu, they have turned into commissaries. And they look just like those in Stalin's time. Together, they make up an instrument of political manipulation, i.e. of political police. To this is, for the time being, limited the so-called work of "unmasking the communist secret service as political police". It's high time I asked Mr. Ticu Dumitrescu to stop and to admit that he has fallen into a dangerous trap. He should start repairing what he has damaged and unmask the CNSAS.
It's high time now to catch the attention of the public opinion on the fact that the "unmasking" of the high clergy right about the time when the patriarch must be elected is a diversion. And that they're being called at the CNSAS seat is an abuse. And the fact that CNSAS affords to officially state that it gives sentences on some people's past is a dirt, a distortion of the aim it has been set up for. And the diversion is being built up exactly by those who have the interest of turning the Church into a tool of the political struggle. And those are the politicians themselves. Not all of them, of course, but some do, headed by the tenant in Cotroceni Palace, who gives electoral speeches in churches.
Stop the diversion against the Romanian Orthodox Church ! Catch Traian Basescu's attention on the reality that it is not the sacrificing of the independence of the Church that will guarantee him a second mandate. And tell him openly that there won't be a second mandate.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Miercuri 5 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

UDMR has fallen below threshold

PD (Democrat Party) is by far the leader in the top of the voting intention for the parliamentary elections, while UDMR (Democrat Union of the Magyars in Romania) has dropped below the electoral threshold by five points, according to the Political Opinion Barometer that IMAS (IMAS Marketing and Polls) drew up during 8-15 August.
PD would get 42% of the votes, if there were to be elections for the Parliament the "next Sunday", the Democrats being followed by PSD (Social-Democrat Party) - 17% and PNG (Party of the New Generation) - 13%. The survey also shows that PNL (National Liberal Party) - 12% and PRM (Greater Romania Party) - 5% could also go into the Parliament, while UDMR - 4%, PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) - 3%, PIN (National Initiative Party) - 2% and PC (Conservative Party) - 1% are placed below the electoral threshold. A percentage of 22% of the interviewed persons declared themselves undecided or said they would not vote. In top of the confidence in the main political personalities, President Traian Basescu remains on the first place with 54% positive appreciation. The head of State is followed by PNG president, George Becali (37%), PLD leader, Theodor Stolojan (28%) and the leaders of PSD and PNL - Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu - by 20% each. Emil Boc is credited by 17%, Corneliu Vadim Tudor - 15%, Cristian Diaconescu and Adrian Cioroianu - 12% each and Vasile Blaga by 11%. Dan Voiculescu (8%), Marko Bela (6%) and Ioan Talpes (4%) occupy the last three places. The former IMAS director, PSD senator Alin Teodorescu said, on Realitatea TV, that the small score UDMR recorded in August is a consequence of "the effect of Traian Basescu's long campaign in Harghita and Covasna counties". The IMAS polling has been carried out on a population sample of 1,245 individuals, representative for Romania's adult population. The margin of error is of plus/minus 2.8%.

Ovidiu Banches
Ziua Miercuri 5 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english