Slovenian Identity Project

Yugo stamps

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:53:00 -0700

Josip Broz Tito (7 May 18924 – May 1980) was a Yugoslav politician and President of Yugoslavia.

90th Birth Anniversary of Josif Broz Tito.

Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia (2864 m), and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. While its name, meaning "three-headed".

200th anniversary of the first ascent of Triglav.

Hundred years of art in Yugoslavia.

Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer.

120th Birth Anniversary of Nikola Tesla.

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I AM SLOVENIAN.

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:18:00 -0700

I AM SLOVENIAN, are postcards with some pictures i find at home.

The first is my favorite one, because it's kind of an ironic picture.
A soldier eating a banana and acting kind of proud, so is he making fun of himself?
Yes. Is he Slovenian? No. But does it even matter?

My father acting crazy on the Slovenian beach.
Again i like it because it's mockering at all the thieves who,
wants to own our sea side.
We love our sea even if it's small.

Almost a proud football fan.

Happy birthday by the TV, cake, some frut and a friend.

Wherever we go, we are what we are.

So many people don't know the right answer!

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Slovenian Postcards

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:08:21 -0700

I think postcards are a nice way to introduce a certain country, its culture and special places one can visit they also speak for themselves. That is why I have decided to show my collection of Slovenian postcards, some of them are even older than me which means they are still from Yugoslavia. There are postcards with Tito`s portrait, pictures of his grave and by the 1991 there are also stamps with Tito`s profile.

Of course there are other motifs too: deers, roosters, bigger cities like Ljubljana, Maribor and Bled obviously, mountains, caves, sea, Easter eggs, ... What I find interesting is that the oldest postcards I found were used to bring a message not greetings. For example one said only: Matilde, I can come from 17th to 30th July if you need me. Bye.

After 1991 the stamps changed, Tito`s face was replaced with the national emblem of a brand new country - Slovenia.

You can find lots of postcards online too, I have just put here the ones I have at home.

Send a postcard today! :)

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Slovenian money through time

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:26:00 -0700

I dig my archive again ...
This time I searched and then scaned my old money collection ...
... for this post only money regarding Slovenian history ...

Money from 1929, when Yugoslavia was still the kingdom ...

Money from the 1950s ... when Yugoslavia was Federative republic ...

Money from 1970s until the begging of 1980s ...
I still remember paying icecream with this apoens ...

Money from the mid 1980s until 1990 ...

Money from 1990 ... just before the independency.
The secret and mystical way of inflation/deflation ...
... I remember my grandma being very confused where all the zeros went ...
Something that today seems silly and unusual,
but backthen we were all used to a lot of zeros with no actual value ...

Money from 1991 ... just after the independency.
This money was just temporary ... before real money was printed.

Slovenian tolar!
In use till euro ...
These apoens were designed by famous Slovenian designer Miljenko Licul.

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Why Catalonia Independent

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:08:00 -0700

1) Each year, Spain took the Catalans 22 000 million in taxes that go to Spain and return to Catalonia. That means a tax plundering of 3,000 euros per person per year (12,000 euros per family of four). With independence and recover this tax plundering of Catalonia can invest for better living and to overcome the crisis.

2) More health, education and aid dependency: independence can increase with 70% of the Government's budget and invest more in education, health and aid dependency.

3) Increase in pension for the elderly: with their own state pension to be increased each year more than 2,500 euros.Allocated 6400 million euros (22,000 million of that each year we take Spain) 15% increase in pensions of widows and retirees.

4) Grants-wage for young people: with independence can create a system-salary grants for youth to excel and can concentrate on their studies and have every opportunity to progress.

5) To create jobs and ensure the future of the companies: only our own State we have first class infrastructure, eliminate the tolls, make our ports are the gateway to Asia to Europe and enjoy 'Catalonia airports and trains that connect with the world.With the end of the fiscal plundering workers enjoy higher wages, companies will pay less taxes and receive more funding for innovation and research.

6) We recover the dignity and promote our values: we are free only if we recover our dignity. No longer have to endure the scorn and insults of Spain and we can enhance our own values: work, effort, saving, initiative, entrepreneurship, innovation.

7) Build quality of a democracy: the new Catalan state can be built on a democratic basis of quality, without corsets and rumors of Franco still linger in the low quality of Spanish democracy. We can organize referendums binding, we elect provincial councils and vegueries through direct vote, approving a bill of information and transparency in public administrations.

8) We can protect the landscape and the environment: the independence to decide what we want energy model and promote renewable energy. While we can protect the landscape and environment of speculation, because the whole territory and sovereignty will be closer to the citizens can exercise greater control over the landscape and natural resources.

9) Could promote the sport and enjoy national teams: the Catalan state can compete internationally with their own sports teams, which will allow us to enjoy and thrill us with our selections. In addition, it allows us to promote the sport and allow many more young Catalan compete internationally.

Spain will not change, everything is centralized in Madrid and take and strengthen the impoverishment of the periphery to get it.

10) Spain has already decided that Madrid is the capital and center of everything and take and strengthen the impoverishment of the periphery to get it: The Spanish national project to Madrid's political and economic capital of the state price to impoverish the periphery is fully consolidated and not reversed. The process of centralization of political and economic power remains in Madrid and Spain and will work conscientiously to expedite it: everything is centralized, and multinational enterprises, infrastructure, rail, intercontinental flights, talent, research, financial institutions ... Continue to accept that Spain is a country of Catalonia will be second to end poor desindustrialitzat specializing in tourism, hospitality and second homes.

Independence is a secure process: the dangers and uncertainties of independence have disappeared.

11) Spain can not stop today, within the European Union is prohibited resort to the use of force to stop a peaceful process.Spain can no longer resort to the use of force to stop the independence of the Catalan people. The Consultation on Independence has been the best example.

13) Do not lose customers or market because the market is global: the globalization, the Spanish market has lost importance for Catalan companies and trade boycotts can not be put into practice in a global world where everyone buys based on quality / cost. The case of the attempted boycott champagne ended with an increase in exports of champagne worldwide. Today our market is worldwide.

12) Remain in the EU: the prestigious international jurists agree determined that Catalonia, Scotland and Flanders will remain in the EU when it declared independence. We are part of the EU, the Catalans have rights as EU citizens and citizens of other EU have rights guaranteed in Catalonia. The case of Flanders shows us the way: Brussels is the capital of Flanders and the EU and when Flanders an independent state is still part logically from the EU.

The only possible way forward is independence for the autonomy and federalism have failed.

13) The last sentence of CW against the statute has led to other proposals to further Catalonia are not the proclamation of independence (the economic agreement, the federal state or autonomy) are doomed to failure because most absolute needReforming the constitution and agreement of the PSOE and the PP. If PP and PSOE have not allowed a Statute of Autonomy cut as promote a reform of the Constitution to meet the Catalans with more money and power?. Only proclaimed independence is within our reach because it is the only thing that only depends on us.

The proclamation of independence is the way we use the UN to achieve the mark own state.

14) The ruling of the ICJ by the UN regarding the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo has ruled that the path of unilateral proclamation to access status is lawful and fits perfectly international law. When a country like Spain does not allow the referendum or negotiation, the unilateral proclamation of independence is the way the international community has set.

Information from: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192106947503699

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Slovenian proverbs

Tue, 31 May 2011 08:33:00 -0700

Slovenian language is for some people very beautiful language because of dual grammatical numbers, and for other very strange and weird. But what I like about Slovenian language are Slovenian proverbs. Here are some examples:

He, who digs a hole for someone else, ends up in it. (Kdor drugemu jamo koplje sam vanjo pade.)

Meaning: If you have an insidious plan for someone it will backwire on to you.

He, who flys high, falls low. (Kdor visoko leta nizko pade.)

Meaning: If someone brags a lot and sets himself in the clouds, he will sooner or later have to face reality with a hard blow.

The one, who arrives the first, grinds the first. (Kdor prej pride prej melje.)

Meaning: /

A do nkey doesn't go on the ice twice. (Osel ne gre dvakrat na led.)

Meaning: If you do one mistake once, you will not do the same mistake second time.

More heads know more. (Več glav več ve.)

Meaning: A group of people are wiser than an individual.

Lie has short legs. (Laž ima kratke noge.)

Meaning: The truth always comes out.

There will be no bread from this flour. (Iz te moke ne bo kruha.)

Meaning: This project, debate, work will bear no results.

Grain to grain is bread, stone to stone is castle. (Zrno do zrna pogača, kamen na kamen palača.)

Meaning: Be sparing.

Stomach is after bread. (S trebuhom za kruhom.)

Meaning: The hungry seek work.

….

Slovenian language map

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SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE Here and Now

Sat, 28 May 2011 05:46:00 -0700

I found this article about slovenian language.
Since we talked about the topic What makes an identity and majority of us
mentioned language/mother tongue, I thought this would be nice to post ...

The article is about the differences between correct literary language
and the language in practise
(meaning in everyday life and in conversations among people using it).
And the way of nonformal words or expressions becoming formal ones ...

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CICIBAN from 1991

Wed, 25 May 2011 04:40:00 -0700

I searched my archive and I found Ciciban, the magazine for children in Slovenia, which is still in print nowadays.

On the cover there are the colours of slovenian flag and the statement:
'SLOVENIAN FLAG IS WHITE BLUE and RED - BEING FREE - THIS IS ALSO HAPPINESS.'

On the second page there is a visual presentation of the currency switch, which also happened back then.

On the last page there is a statement of polititian Matjaz Kmecl:
'We do not like the generals, colonels and polititians, who make children cry, make them homeless and without families.
I therefor suggest these generals and these polititians to go among 'butalci'. It will be more honorable and more beautiful
for you children to smile at them ... rather you cry because of them ...'

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National Identity

Tue, 10 May 2011 15:22:00 -0700

Unfortunately I didn’t find the article that I was talking about in our previous meeting, but I remembered that article was based on Benedict Anderson’s work. So I set my self a quest to study a bit about his theory and researches about national identity or ‘nation’.

My question is what is national identity? The official definition is: “National identity is the person's identity and sense of belonging to one country or to one nation, a feeling one shares with a group of people, regardless of one's citizenship status.” But word national identity or ‘nation’ did not exist until 18th century. Those were the times of industrial revolution and French revolution when first European nation-state came into being as a response to nationalism in the European diaspora beyond the ocean, in colonies, namely in both Americas. But in the eyes of simple farmer in Europe the world was still small; he did not know anything about so called imagined differences between people living 100 km away. Meanwhile in America they were trying to cluster political entities that sprang up in North and South America between 1778 and 1838. Wars and battles for land almost self-consciously defined themselves as nations, were historically the first such states to emerge and therefore inevitably provided the first real model of what such states should look like. Anderson holds that nationalism, as an instrument of nation-state building, was an American invention. Anderson’s definition of ‘nation’ is: “It is an imagined political community - and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign…It is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion.” We should not be offended with word ‘imagined’ because it does not mean that a nation is false, unreal or to be distinguished from ‘true’ (unimagined) communities. Nation is or was constructed from different popular processes through which residents share nationality in common. That means that it was created by political and cultural institutions as people ‘imagine’ they share general beliefs, attitudes and recognize a collective national populace as having similar opinions and sentiments to their own. But again if we look from different prospective, to have one nation means there must be another nation against which self-definition can be constructed. So in order to that nation exists there must be political entities that have a limited spatial and demographic extent. According to Anderson, creation of imagined communities became possible because of "print-capitalism". Capitalist entrepreneurs printed their books and media in the vernacular (instead of exclusive script languages, such as Latin) in order to maximize circulation. As a result, readers speaking various local dialects became able to understand each other, and a common discourse emerged. Anderson argued that the first European nation-states were thus formed around their "national print-languages."
…….
Regardless of different definitions, theories and philosophy we live today in world divided in nations. But it is not that easy as it looks or sounds. I believe that nations can bring us closer and at the same time can bring conflicts. Differences in nations can not only bring us closer but it can also inspire us. Who knows maybe one day we will live under one nation and we will live happily ever after.
If you are curious and you want to know more about national identity or if you are just bored I recommend you to read this: http://www.la.wayne.edu/polisci/kdk/nationalism/sources/anderson.pdf

Tanja

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CATALONIA IS NOT SPAIN

Tue, 10 May 2011 06:09:00 -0700

Catalonia: a nation of Europe

Just some reasons

Demonstration in Barcelona for the independence of Catalonia, July 2010.

The demonstration Saturday by Barcelona street crossing borders.

Catalans living abroad will demonstrate their opposition to the ruling of the Constitutional Court (TC) mobilizing significant places in various cities of Europeand America. London, Berlin or New York are among the cities where they manifest many Catalans who can not attend the rally called by Omnium Cultural. In the Basque Country, Abertzale left Eusko Alkartasuna and Alternatiba isapparent on the streets of San Sebastian for solidarity with Catalonia.

Meanwhile, the political parties have organized five hundred buses that arrive in Barcelona tomobilize against the sentence of the statute.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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My name is Anamarija

Tue, 10 May 2011 03:15:00 -0700

1. Which country were you born in:

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - SFRY

2. What is your nationality or your nationalities:

slovenian

3. Which countries were you parents born in:

my father was born in Democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - FLRY - and mother in Socialst Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - SFRY

4. Which language/country does your first name come from:

my name is a combination of two names, Ana - it's a biblical name, which derives from Hebrew name Hannah (grace, mercy), while Marija is interpretated as "The one that God loves". Name Anamarija is getting more popular in Slovenia over the years.

5. Which languages do you speak:

slovenian, croatian, english and spanish

6. Is there a region or a city that you identity with very much:

not really

7. In which other countries have you lived and how long for:

in spain for 6 months

8. Which city or country would you like to live in for some time if you had the chance:

I would prefer to live up north, probably london.

9. What is your favourite food and which country does it come from:

dalmatian fish from croatia

10. What is your favourite music interpret or band/orchestra and which country do they come from?

at the moment I listen a lot of slovenian musicians, such as patetico, bossa de novo, čompe, ana pupedan...

I couldn't decide for one.. they all come from slovenia, although their music is not necessarily typical slovenian music.

11. Who is your idol as a designer? Which country does he/she come from?

I like Tomato Košir a lot. He is from Slovenia.

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Anamarija: Why I've chosen to become a designer

Tue, 10 May 2011 03:00:00 -0700

The work below shows the problem of unemployment in Slovenia. Or, better said, it shows the problem of employees who have no rights whatsoever and are the victims of capitalistic inhuman exploitation.

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My name is MArko watt

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:02:00 -0700

1. Which country were you born in:
Slovenija (back then still a part of Federative republic of Yugoslavia)

2. What is your nationality or your nationalities (in case you have more than one):
Slovene

3. Which countries were you parents born in:
Slovenija (back then still a part of Federative republic of Yugoslavia)

4. Which language/country does your first name come from:
My first original name (Marko) is a standard name in Slovenia.
Its roots come from Hebreic old language in which it means 'a warrior'. Romans reused the name in form Marcus, which still has association to 'a warrior'. Another form in Roman language of this name was used for god of war Mars.
My second name (Watt), which I added some years ago, is my personal dedication to my literary roll-model Samuel Beckett. His second novel is titled Watt (it is about a man named Watt and his unusual life story).

5. Which languages do you speak:
mother tongue: Slovenian
fluent: English, Serbian-Croatian
less fluent: German
basic knowledge: French, Spanish
self learning: Swedish, African language (Swahili and Zulu)
also interested: Esperanto

6. Is there a region or a city that you identity with very much:
Slovenia as a country
the city Ljubljana where I live for 10 years now
my home town Celje
Paris (the city of light)

7. In which other countries have you lived and how long for:
/

8. Which city or country would you like to live in for some time if you had the chance:
Paris (would like to live there for some time; I just love Paris)
New York (just for some years, to feel the beat of the city)

9. What is your favourite food and which country does it come from:
all variations of seafood (not including fish)
the best with pasta (italian pasta)

10. What is your favourite music interpret or band/orchestra and which country do they come from?
The Rolling Stones (United Kingdom) – quite obvious

11. Who is your idol as a designer? Which country does he/she come from?
I would hardly say, that I have my absolute favorite one. I adore good design products. And not all works from some good designers are good. I like to explore all new designs and ideas and simultaneously get to know designers.
If I have to point out one, that would (currently) be Alan Fletcher (born in Kenya, lived in United Kingdom as a child) because his ideas about book design are great.

12. Which country do you side with in a football world cup:
Brazil

13. What is your favourite sports team:
I do not have my favourite sports team.

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MArko watt: Why I've chosen to become a designer

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:01:00 -0700

The work below shows a book with hard cover, optical illusion on cover, 3D circular table of contents, glossy titles and inside foil is used to create optical illusions with moire effects.

The stories are about snakes (which is also the main title) and their stories. The content is divided to good and bad snakes (white and green colour).

See the full gallery on Posterous

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My name is Tanja

Mon, 09 May 2011 13:30:00 -0700

1. Which country were you born in:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

2. What is your nationality or your nationalities:
Slovenian.

3. Which countries were you parents born in:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

4. Which language/country does your first name come from:
Slovenian.

4. Which languages do you speak:
Slovenian.

5. Is there a region or a city that you identity with very much:
Ljubljana.

6. In which other countries have you lived and how long for:
None.

7. Which city or country would you like to live in for some time if you had the chance:
Japan.

8. What is your favourite food and which country does it come from:
Pizza. It comes from Italy.

9. What is your favourite music interpret or band/orchestra and which country do they come from?
Foo Fighters, from USA.

10. Who is your idol as a designer? Which country does he/she come from?
My idol is architect Tadao Ando and he comes from Japan.

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Tanja: Why I've chosen to become a designer

Mon, 09 May 2011 12:27:00 -0700

The work below shows a hotel, that was designed within class of Feng Shui. The concept of the hotel is fire, so everything in the hotel reminds of fire. The place I have chosen to built this hotel is in Japan, so the hotel includes traditional tea room with a modern twist and a room with traditional japanese fire place, where people can sit around the fire. I have also designed the whole hotel on a wooden terrace with japanese maples growing through the terrace. In the concept of fire, I also designed two types of lights.

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My name is Diano

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:15:00 -0700

1. Which country were you born in:

Socialistic Republic Of Macedonia

2. What is your nationality or your nationalities:

Slovene, Macedonian, Croatian

3.Which countries were you parents born in:

Socialistic Republic of Macedonia

4. Which language/country does your first name come from:

Italy

5. Which languages do you speak:

Slovene, Macedonian, Serbian/Croatian, English

6. Is there a region or a city that you identity with very much:

Zagreb, Skopje

7. In which other countries have you lived and how long for:

Lived in Macedonia for a year as a baby, so not much to tell. Spent my childhood for 3-4 months each year in Macedonia,Croatia.

8. Which city or country would you like to live in for some time if you had the chance:

Many of them :) Top choices would be France or Greece I think.

9. What is your favourite food and which country does it come from:

Musaka, don’t know the origin of it, either its Greek, Turkish maybe, or brought from the Arabic world to Balkans.

10. What is your favourite music interpret or band/orchestra and which country do they come from:

Wu-Tang Clan (USA)

11. Who is your idol as a designer? Which country does he/she come from:

Have no real design idol, however I think Banksy, UK (graffiti artist) is top of the notch I’d say.

12. Which country do you side with in a football world cup:

Croatia

13. What is your favourite sports team:

Boston Celits (Basketball), Dinamo Zagreb (Football, I consider them as local club even though it is Croatian club), Manchester Utd. (Football)

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Diano: Why I've chosen to become a designer

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:00:00 -0700

The image below, does not need any interpretation. :)

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My name is Kristina

Thu, 05 May 2011 19:00:00 -0700

1. Which country were you born in:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)

2. What is your nationality or your nationalities:
Slovene

3. Which countries were you parents born in:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)

4. Which language/country does your first name come from:
Slovene/Slovenia

5. Which languages do you speak:
English, Slovenian, Srbo-Croatian, German

6. Is there a region or a city that you identity with very much:
Berlin, Barcelona

7. Which city or country would you like to live in for some time if you had the chance:
Berlin, Barcelona, New York, San Francisco, ....

8. What is your favourite food and which country does it come from:
Pasta with chicken, pesto and wegetables. It's slovenian and italian combination.

9. What is your favourite music interpret or band/orchestra and which country do they come from?
Kings of Leon (USA), We are scientists (GB), America (GB), Last Shadow Puppets (GB), ...

10. Who is your idol as a designer? Which country does he/she come from?
Stefan Sagmeister (Austria), Paul Rand (USA), Milton Glaser (USA), ...

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Kristina: Why I've chosen to become a designer

Thu, 05 May 2011 18:45:00 -0700

I created this poster for a cherity action "Povezujemo generacije" (Contecing generation) of Lions Club Ljubljana. They collected the means to provide help with organising charity events and collecting money, computers for elderly people who can't deal with modern technology (computers, internet, e-mail, smarphones) and would like to learn how to use it, to stay in touch with younger generations.

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