Hello everyone!<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
May is almost at
\nan end, with its lovely scents and cool breeze. After a rainy couple of weeks,
\nthe weather is picking up, to the extent that we’re looking at average
\ntemperatures in the high twenties. With bright and warm days ahead, we are also hoping reception conditions will improve in the region and everyone else, as many of you have signalled a number of related issues. <\/p>\n
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\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
A word of
\nappreciation goes to Akira Takei (Japan) who just wrote in to say he loves
\nlistening to our Simply Folk show devoted to Romanian traditional music. We know many of other listeners in your region enjoy our folk segments, which is why we have a 3-minute slot devoted to this genre on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
A nice greeting
\nalso came from Cyril MacDonald (Canada), who wrote: By the way, I love the
\ntraditional and modern music played on RRI as well as the very informative
\ncultural reports frequently heard. I also greatly appreciate the beautiful QSL
\ncards and stamps from Romania. Keep up the great work! Thanks, Cyril, your words mean a lot!
\n<\/p>\n
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\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Mei Lin (China) wrote to us, commenting
\non the recent WHO report concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The World Health
\nOrganization declared that the COVID-19 epidemic no longer constitutes a
\npublic health emergency of international concern, which indicates
\nthat one of the most deadly and economically destructive epidemics in modern
\nhistory is fading, because the disease that caused the epidemic has become a
\nroutine disease.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The
\nWHO said on the 5th that Covid-19 still exists, but the downward trend of the
\npandemic has been going on for more than a year because people everywhere have
\nestablished immunity to the virus. The mortality rate has decreased, and the
\npressure on the health system has also been reduced. These trends have enabled
\nmost countries to return to pre-epidemic life, although COVID-19 is still
\nspreading.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
This
\nis a moment worthy of celebration and reflection. The world has made sacrifices
\nto fight this virus and established new systems and technologies. However, the
\nlack of global coordination, fairness and solidarity means that resources have
\nnot exerted their maximum potential and lost lives that should not have been
\nlost.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Covid-19
\nhas changed our world and also changed us. But I believe that after this
\nexperience, all of us will become better!<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
It is as you say, Mei – the COVID
\nhas been a terrible experience for all of us, but together we have emerged
\nstronger and are now moving forward. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
On the first Sunday of May we marked
\nWorld Laughter Day. On this occasion, Bidhan Chandra Sanyal (India) shared with
\nus more information about this event. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
There is no substitute for laughter, be it for
\nyourself or for others. There is no better medicine in this world than
\nlaughter. When you smile, the mind and body are all good. Improves
\nmood and reduces physical pain. Laughter relieves any mental
\nthoughts. So this World Laughter Day is undoubtedly a special day.
\nBut since when and why was this special day introduced?<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
World Laughter Day is celebrated
\non the first Sunday of May every year. In 1963, Harvey Ball first created
\nthe smiley symbol for some commercial reasons. After that, this sign
\nbecame popular to signify something good or encourage.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
World Smile Day was first
\ncelebrated in 1999 with that symbol in front. And after Harvey’s death in
\n2001, the day is commemorated annually by the World Smile Foundation.
\nHowever, it is known from another source that Dr. World Laughter Day was
\nfirst launched in 1998 by Madan Kataria.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
World Laughter Day was first
\ncelebrated in India. It was started on 10 May 1998 in the city of Mumbai,
\nIndia by Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of the global laughter yoga
\nmovement. Dr. Kataria, a family doctor, was inspired to start the Hasi
\nYoga movement out of an interest in knowing how a person’s emotions are
\naffected by facial expressions or reaction projections.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
To celebrate the World
\nLaughter Day and to keep good spirits, many laughter clubs are created around
\nthe world. These types of clubs usually organize various entertainment
\nprograms like singing, dancing and laughing contests. Also Ho ho,
\nha-ha-ha and Very good, very good, ya! etc. is shouted
\nover and over again, which gradually turns into laughter.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The information is much appreciated, as always Bidhan.
\nThanks for sharing with us special events like this every week. Today may not
\nbe World Laughter Day, but we still take this opportunity to share with you
\nthis classic joke. It’s, as they say, an oldie but goldie J <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
A bear walks into a bar and says, Give me a whiskey
\nand … a Coke.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Why the big pause? asks the bartender. The bear
\nshrugs. I really don’t know, I was born with them. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
This week we got
\nan interesting message from Dan Jameson (England), who wrote to us after a long
\ntime. Here is a part of his message below: <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Have not DX’ed for a long time, so when
\npatiently waiting for the broadcast to come on air, I was a little disappointed
\nnot to hear any call sign <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Top of the news was talking about the Romanian
\ngovernments emergency order on public spending, and then that of the coronation
\nof King Charles (isn’t that a spaniel?) III, here in England.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Ana Maria Popescu’s section on the Sunday show
\nregarding alternative music in Romania was interesting, as alternative music is
\nsomething that appeals to myself.
\nMainstream music is overrated!<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The interview with Romanian band Black
\nLily’s was another interesting feature, to hear how English music and
\nculture has impacted Romanian culture was surprising. I just hope it stops at the level of music,
\nand that that Romanian Orthodoxy dominates Romanian culture deeply.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Due to the range in broadcast audio quality, it was
\nhard to clearly here some points, examples being that I couldn’t make out the
\nsecond word of the band’s name (Lily’s) and the song played from the album
\nNew Era came across as Invisible dreams not the correct
\ntitle Invisible Strings…..luckily, Google was at hand. I have saved a track from the band on my
\n‘watch later’ list on YouTube.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
All in all, the broadcast was very musical. From alternative, through jazz and into folk
\nmusic at the end. Sadly, not a fan of jazz
\nmyself and folk music in another language is a hard listen in my humble
\nopinion.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
I’m looking at making DX’ing and your station a staple
\nof my listening (and learning). I’m surprised just how many shortwave stations
\nhave disappeared since the internet age, but good to know RRI are still on the
\ndial.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Thank you, Dan.
\nSometimes we wonder the same thing ourselves, and yet hopefully our work
\ncontinues J Don’t be a stranger!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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***<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Michael Naven
\n(USA) has also recently written, describing reception conditions for his
\nfrequency and adding the following comment: <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Your program was informative and
\nprofessional as usual. I don’t seem to be able to pick up your west coast
\nEnglish broadcast any more but the French and Spanish ones come in well. (Hablo
\nun poco de espanol.) I had 4 years of Spanish in high school. But My knowledge
\nof French is very limited. All these languages, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish,
\nFrench, including Romanian, are from Latin and have certain words in common.
\nBut English is from an old dialect of German brought to the British Isles by
\nthe Saxon invaders. The world speaks over 300 languages. Confusing enough? I
\nthink so. But it’s very interesting. Keep up the good work! <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Thanks Michael,
\nand keep practicing your Spanish J There’s
\nactually a famous series of parodies about Americans learning Spanish, here is
\nthe link <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n