Archive for April, 2010
Redrawing the map
“PEOPLE who find their neighbours tiresome can move to another neighbourhood, whereas countries can’t. But suppose they could…” The Economist suggests an update to the European map, with countries placed where they belong. Check out this unusually (?) light-hearted article in “The Economist” magazine. How do you feel about where you end up?
Don’t judge too quickly!
Is the era of men in grey suits governing the world coming to an end? I don’t think so, but some signs show that things are changing… Now, we should take care not to judge people too quickly on their external aspect. Here is a little experienced I made while doing an interview for the EP website.
If you throw out SWIFT, why not ban Facebook?
As Facebook’s growth continues apace, more and more attention is inevitably being paid to the issue of privacy for its users. Marko digs into how the online privacy practices of US companies are regulated in the EU market, takes a look at the criticisms voiced by many and asks if a European regulatory backlash is in the offing.
Spotting the signs
TERM is an annual report on how transport across Europe is affecting our environment and about what we can do about it. It is what data tells us about the situation because it is based on measurements of emissions, air quality, noise and so on across Europe. And then it is the longest running report [...]
A new girl in town
Our fellow social-media colleagues at the European Commission (yes, THE Commission) just opened a blog (yes, a BLOG) called “Waltzing Matilda”. Why waltzing? Why Matilda? Why a blog? All answers in their first post. We say Hi to Matilda.
Culture versus business?
The Americans seemed to have mastered both. Europeana was set up to rival Google’s digital library, but 18 months after its launch content in the US library outstrips its EU counterpart and generates 7 billion dollars in turnover. Greater interest and funds could help Europeana break Google’s monopoly. See the EuroparlTV video.
Do you check Facebook during your “intimate moments”?
Everyone’s talking about social media (including us). We are generally keen of course, but, as we all know, there are dangers too. So it was high time for Raffaella to look at the latest research into social media obsession. Her research took her in surprising directions.
Did you know…? Maybe not. The antidote to techie online videos
…and if you watched the video posted in the last “Aside” and feel iconoclastic about it all, watch the hyped-up antidote to hyped-up techie videos right here. No-one gets a free ride on the internet, it seems.
Future predictions
When will Facebook hit 1 billion users? Will Twitter ever make money? Was 640k ever going to be enough for anybody. Past and future technology predictions explored. Watch this video.
Life after cancer
A professional footballer at 23, Jaka Jakopič was then diagnosed with cancer. But rather than let it defeat him, he underwent chemotherapy and went on to father 2 children and get his career back on track. Watch the Europarltv video clip to learn more.
How many MEPs use social media? A tentative update
Some rough ‘n’ ready figures on how many MEPs are using social media. Thanks to our doughty trainees for an arduous online trawl to produce these. Main finding: a qualified majority of MEPs are Facebook users!
A Day in the Life of an MEP Pet Travel Arrangements
Residents in the Ebro Delta are worried by EU plans that jeopardise the economic survival of their region. Dogs might be man’s best friend, but if your pooch’s passport is not in order you’ll have to leave it behind. EuroparlTV look at moves to reform movement of animals in Europe. Watch the video.
They live
In this age of measurement, where everything measurable is measured and everything immeasurable is sent to business schools for measures to be devised, measuring everything is a must, for anyone who’s business is taking measures and the EU is nothing if not a measure-taking organisation. It is therefore reasonable that it should have its own [...]
It’s the ash cloud, stupid! – considerations on an unusual event. (Updated)
Update on Sunday 18 April – 15h Riga Time I was at Riga Airport again this morning because, guess what?, my rebooked flight has been cancelled again. I want to underline how Air Baltic people are professional and nice. The situation, in terms of mess, has positively evolved: line was only 45 minutes long. There [...]
It’s the iPad, stupid!
Now that the device is on sale, the dust has settled a bit and only Europeans (and the rest of the non-US world) are still kept on their toes until beginning of May (when the iPad will be available in stores outside the USA), I’d like to share quick thoughts about what was going on [...]
My incidental career: from “The Swedish Chicago” to the EP in ten easy-to-follow steps!
Our current group of trainees – most of whom actually seem to have packed lots of experience into their young lives – have some interesting stories to tell. In this post, our Swedish trainee, Dan, relates, among much else, how he ended up here, from a start in a “sparsely housed (Swedish) slag heap”, what he learned from aggressive Swedish press officers, how come he played a gig in front of thousands of adoring Chinese fans and why he needed to know more about the European Parliament.
How I ended up here
My name is Lyuben, 23 years old and as you probably already know, I am the Bulgarian trainee in the Unit. About one year ago, while I was having a shower after playing football I suddenly thought about doing an internship in the European parliament. A “stage” in this institution is not exactly something I [...]
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