Kurentovanje VideoLectures. To Do List: in NET Perpetuum Cleveland Awarded Jazzile in D.C. page 2 > page 3 > page 10 > NEWSLETTER MARCH 1, 2013, VOLUME 9, NUMBER 8 Embassy Exhibit at CUA On Thursday, February 28, 2013, the Catholic University of America (CUA) hosted an open house and the Embassy Exhibit event, which aimed to capture the sights, sounds, and tastes of global cultures. Representatives from the Embassy of Slovenia wearing traditional dress from Gorenjska re- The Slovenian Embassy gion together with a representative from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in front of Slovenian booth. was among the exhibitors success. More than two dozen country, promoted its tourism and participants in the embassies in the Washington, DC, sites, distributed brochures about International Bazaar, giving area accepted the invitation to Slovenia and offered a taste of the CUA community an set up booths and displays. They its traditional pastry – potica, a opportunity to learn more shared information about their sweet roll-cake filled with raisins, about what Slovenia has to respective cultures and traditions nuts, chocolate, or tarragon. CUA offer. with over 300 attendees, students showed great interest The free event, featuring including CUA students, faculty in Slovenia, and promised to visit cultural displays, performances, and staff. it, if not for study, than at least and a sampling of foods from The Slovenian Embassy for exploring the various sights around the world, was a great presented facts about the Slovenia has to offer. Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOembassyUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si EVENTS Cleveland Kurentovanje Last Saturday, February 23, the first annual Cleveland Kurentovanje event was organized by the Consulate General of Slovenia in Cleveland, OH, The Slovenian National Home in Cleveland and the Slovenian Museum and Archives with support of St. Clair Superior Development Corp. and many volunteers and donations. A carnival event, kurentovanje is traditionally celebrated in the northeastern part of Slovenia, mostly in the town of Ptuj and its surroundings, but this year was for the first time Kurenti and the Princess of Cleveland Kurentovanje. also observed in Cleveland, OH, with over 1,000 attending the Slovenia, as well as groups in given to Nika Žmauc, the daughter event. The main mystical figure traditional dresses from across of the Slovenian Consul General, and mask, Kurent, after whom Eastern Europe, children from St. Mr. Jure Žmauc. the carnival is named, foretells the Vitus Slovenian School, wearing After the parade, visitors domination of good over evil, of masks they made themselves, were able to explore the Slovenian light over darkness, and as such the very impressive St. Martin National Home, as well as many reestablishes the connection with De Porres drum line and pom- other storefront businesses in the primordial human nature, while pom unit, and many more. Also area, which featured samplings chasing the winter away. inaugurated at the event was of food, spirits, and music. They The Saturday parade the first Princess of Cleveland were able to taste ethnic Slovenian featured costumes from Ptuj, Kurentovanje. The honor was food including Slovenian klobasa and krofi (donuts), as well as Slovenian Laško beer. The party at the Slovenian Home continued throughout the afternoon with several talented Slovenian musicians and singers, such as the Alpine Sextet and Fantje na Vasi, and the famous Cleveland polka DJ Kishka. Visitors also got a glimpse of the new Cleveland Flea Open Market, featuring collectors, artists and artisans from the Cleveland area. The event concluded around 6 p.m. at the Slovenian Home as visitors moved to the after-party at the local Slovenian “gostilna” at Face painting for children was also featured at the event. Sterle’s. (Špela Ivančič Smuk) MARCH 1, 2013, PAGE 2 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VideoLectures.NET awarded by the U.N. and UNESCO The services of VideoLectures.NET, a global web portal for high- definition academic videos, was recognized by the U.N. and UNESCO as one of the most outstanding examples of creative and innovative e-Content in the world in the last decade. VideoLectures.NET is a European project run at the “Jožef Stefan” Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and one that is currently expanding its vision and strategy in collaboration with the Knowledge 4 All Foundation With this prestigious academic videos relating to Ltd. based in London (U.K.). award, Videolectures.Net has research projects within the As part of the United proven that its vision of free Sixth Framework Program (FP6), Nations Summit on the and open access to academic Seventh Framework Program Information Society, the World knowledge in the form of online (FP7) and the upcoming Horizon Summit Award (WSA) was videos is the right approach 2020. launched in 2003. It represents for addressing the global At present, the video a unique global competition digital divide in education and library includes content from for the recognition of best knowledge transfer. 761 events, 10,763 authors and e-Content and global creativity. The website functions 14,251 lectures (some 16,442 Its Online Jury evaluated as an online video library, and videos in total). It is a unique 200 WSA winners from the last was established with the aim of resource for high-quality and decade and selected what they promoting access to academic specialized academic talks. consider to be the 8 all-time lectures given by distinguished VideoLectures.Net is bests: the WSIS+10 Global scholars, scientists, researchers shaping the future of education Champions. VideoLectures.Net and academics from many and, as the collection has was selected as the winner in scientific fields, at conferences, got larger, the activities of the “e- Science & Technology” summer schools, workshops VideoLectures.Net have become category. The winners were and, even, the university more complex. So in 2010, it presented at the WSA grand classroom. co-founded the Knowledge 4 gala in Paris on February 26, It also serves as All Foundation Ltd in order to 2013. a publication channel for maximize the impact of the online collection and dedicate resources to the creation of tools and intelligent services that complement and enhance its video content. More information: http:// videolectures.net/ MARCH 1, 2013, PAGE 3 COMPETENCE CENTERS CC for Cloud-Assisted Services (CC CLASS) The Competence Center for Cloud-Assisted services (CC CLASS) is one of the centers of excellence supported by the European Regional Development Fund, which started up in December 2010. The main objective of the program is to develop services and products in the area of cloud computing and also to penetrate international technologies and knowledge in international engagement of markets with these services and this area. the members. International products. The key component CC CLASS connects all engagement of CC CLASS will for achieving this objective is key organizations in Slovenia also be improved by enrollment an effective knowledge flow that deal with cloud computing in international organizations from research institutions to the and also has a wider support and standardization bodies and companies and back. from industry and international with cooperation on international Cloud computing is one organizations. The program events in the area of cloud of the fastest growing areas in includes the critical mass of computing. the ICT sector and one of the knowledge and engages different The research and most important areas of network disciplines of the computing for building of competences is in CC systems. With the development the development of innovative CLASS focused on the following of competences in this area services and products. It is themes: security, mobility, multi- it is possible to increase the based on the development tenancy, identity management, competitiveness of cooperating of relevant competencies of reliability, data management, partners in the project as well as individual partners and their and openness of the interfaces. to increase the competitiveness mutual interconnection. This knowledge is used as of Slovenian economy with the CC CLASS activities are supporting technologies for help of access to the newest promoted with the help of construction of a new generation of applications for installation and implementation in the cloud. Among the application fields, special attention is given to the following: distributed processes, product management, knowledge development, health, and environment. All these competences will be upgraded with the services and products that will be marketed on the global market with the help of the competence centre. For more information about CC CLASS please visit: http://www.kc-class.eu/project MARCH 1, 2013, PAGE 4 TOURISM Kamnik cultural events, such as medieval games, fencing competitions, children’s workshops and the medieval marketplace. The development of the town was influenced by trade and crafts such as ironworks, leather trade, pottery, fur trade, stonecutting, architecture. From the 14th century, Kamnik was the seat of the provincial court and, for a time, the capital of Carniola. Later, it became the most influential town in the province besides Ljubljana. Later still, the town began to gradually deteriorate. The main traffic was Legend says that the bewitched countess Veronika, half girl and half snake, redirected to the old Roman road guards a hidden treasure in the vicinity of Mali grad Castle. through Črni Graben (Trojane), Although the history of “civitas Stain” (town of Kamnik). where later the postal traffic Kamnik reaches back to prehistory, The medieval town between Graz and Venice also was the town was first mentioned of Kamnik was then protected by channeled. Furthermore, the town in the 11th century. It lies at town walls, numerous defense was menaced by the Turks, the the confluence of the Kamniška towers and four town gates.