The Ottomans appointed Greek administrators (Phanariotes) to run the town from the 18th century. A short-lived revolt initiated by Tudor Vladimirescu in 1821 led to the end of the rule of Constantinople Greeks in Bucharest.^[19]

The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) was erected by Mircea Ciobanul in the mid-16th century. Under subsequent rulers, Bucharest was established as the summer residence of the royal court. During the years to come, it competed with Târgoviște on the status of capital city after an increase in the importance of southern Muntenia brought about by the demands of the suzerain power – the Ottoman Empire.

Bucharest finally became the permanent location of the Wallachian court after 1698 (starting with the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu).

Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, and hit by Caragea’s plague in 1813–14, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia(three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution. Later, an Austrian garrison took possession after the Russian departure (remaining in the city until March 1857). On 23 March 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings, destroying a third of the city.

After Wallachia and Moldavia were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation’s capital city. In 1881, it became the political centre of the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Romania under King Carol I. During the second half of the 19th century, the city’s population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. During this period, gas lighting, horse-drawn trams, and limited electrification were introduced.^[20] The Dâmbovița River was also massively channelled in 1883, thus putting a stop to previously endemic floods like the 1865 flooding of Bucharest.^[21] The Fortifications of Bucharest were built. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of “Little Paris” (Micul Paris) of the east, with Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Élysées.

Between 6 December 1916 and November 1918, the city was occupied by German forces as a result of the Battle of Bucharest, with the official capital temporarily moved to Iași (also called Jassy), in the Moldavia region. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania.

In the interwar years, Bucharest’s urban development continued, with the city gaining an average of 30,000 new residents each year. Also, some of the city’s main landmarks were built in this period, including Arcul de Triumf and Palatul Telefoanelor.^[22] However, the Great Depression took its toll on Bucharest’s citizens, culminating in the Grivița Strike of 1933.^[23]

In January 1941, the city was the scene of the Legionnaires’ rebellion and Bucharest pogrom. As the capital of an Axis country and a major transit point for Axis troops en route to the Eastern Front, Bucharest suffered heavy damage during World War II due to Allied bombings. On 23 August 1944, Bucharest was the site of the royal coup which brought Romania into the Allied camp. The city suffered a short period of Nazi Luftwaffe bombings, as well as a failed attempt by German troops to regain the city.

After the establishment of communism in Romania, the city continued growing. New districts were constructed, most of them dominated by tower blocks. During Nicolae Ceaușescu‘s leadership (1965–89), much of the historic part of the city was demolished and replaced by “Socialist realism” style development: (1) the Centrul Civic (the Civic Centre) and (2) the Palace of the Parliament, for which an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac plans.

On 4 March 1977, an earthquake centered in Vrancea, about 135 km (83.89 mi) away, claimed 1,500 lives and caused further damage to the historic centre.

The Romanian Revolution of 1989 began with massive anti-Ceaușescu protests in Timișoara in December 1989 and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of the Communist regime. Dissatisfied with the postrevolutionary leadership of the National Salvation Front, some student leagues and opposition groups organized rallies.

Since 2000, the city has been continuously modernized and is still undergoing urban renewal. Residential and commercial developments are underway, particularly in the northern districts; Bucharest’s old historic centre is being restored.

What you are reading now is a text block the most basic block of all. The text block has its own controls to be moved freely around the post…

Headings are separate blocks as well, which helps with the outline and organization of your content.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Handling images and media with the utmost care is a primary focus of the new editor. Hopefully, you’ll find aspects of adding captions or going full-width with your pictures much easier and robust than before.

Try selecting and removing or editing the caption, now you don’t have to be careful about selecting the image or other text by mistake and ruining the presentation.

Imagine everything that WordPress can do is available to you quickly and in the same place on the interface. No need to figure out HTML tags, classes, or remember complicated shortcode syntax. That’s the spirit behind the inserter—the (+) button you’ll see around the editor—which allows you to browse all available content blocks and add them into your post. Plugins and themes are able to register their own, opening up all sort of possibilities for rich editing and publishing.

Go give it a try, you may discover things WordPress can already add into your posts that you didn’t know about. Here’s a short list of what you can currently find there:

Visual Editing

A huge benefit of blocks is that you can edit them in place and manipulate your content directly. Instead of having fields for editing things like the source of a quote, or the text of a button, you can directly change the content. Try editing the following quote:

The editor will endeavor to create a new page and post building experience that makes writing rich posts effortless, and has “blocks” to make it easy what today might take shortcodes, custom HTML, or “mystery meat” embed discovery.

Matt Mullenweg, 2017

The information corresponding to the source of the quote is a separate text field, similar to captions under images, so the structure of the quote is protected even if you select, modify, or remove the source. It’s always easy to add it back.

Blocks can be anything you need. For instance, you may want to add a subdued quote as part of the composition of your text, or you may prefer to display a giant stylized one. All of these options are available in the inserter.

You can change the amount of columns in your galleries by dragging a slider in the block inspector in the sidebar.

Media Rich

If you combine the new wide and full-wide alignments with galleries, you can create a very media rich layout, very quickly:

Sure, the full-wide image can be pretty big. But sometimes the image is worth it. 

Below is a gallery with just two images. It’s an easier way to create visually appealing layouts, without having to deal with floats. You can also easily convert the gallery back to individual images again, by using the block switcher.

The above is a gallery with just two images. It’s an easier way to create visually appealing layouts, without having to deal with floats. You can also easily convert the gallery back to individual images again, by using the block switcher.

Any block can opt into these alignments. The embed block has them also, and is responsive out of the box.

This was a sample post built with Gutenberg blocks only. Gutenberg is the new editor, a very user friendly interface that you will absolutely love.

Thanks for watching Gutenberg in action!

The Ottomans appointed Greek administrators (Phanariotes) to run the town from the 18th century. A short-lived revolt initiated by Tudor Vladimirescu in 1821 led to the end of the rule of Constantinople Greeks in Bucharest.^[19]

The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) was erected by Mircea Ciobanul in the mid-16th century. Under subsequent rulers, Bucharest was established as the summer residence of the royal court. During the years to come, it competed with Târgoviște on the status of capital city after an increase in the importance of southern Muntenia brought about by the demands of the suzerain power – the Ottoman Empire.

Bucharest finally became the permanent location of the Wallachian court after 1698 (starting with the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu).

Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, and hit by Caragea’s plague in 1813–14, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia(three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution. Later, an Austrian garrison took possession after the Russian departure (remaining in the city until March 1857). On 23 March 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings, destroying a third of the city.

After Wallachia and Moldavia were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation’s capital city. In 1881, it became the political centre of the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Romania under King Carol I. During the second half of the 19th century, the city’s population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. During this period, gas lighting, horse-drawn trams, and limited electrification were introduced.^[20] The Dâmbovița River was also massively channelled in 1883, thus putting a stop to previously endemic floods like the 1865 flooding of Bucharest.^[21] The Fortifications of Bucharest were built. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of “Little Paris” (Micul Paris) of the east, with Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Élysées.

Between 6 December 1916 and November 1918, the city was occupied by German forces as a result of the Battle of Bucharest, with the official capital temporarily moved to Iași (also called Jassy), in the Moldavia region. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania.

In the interwar years, Bucharest’s urban development continued, with the city gaining an average of 30,000 new residents each year. Also, some of the city’s main landmarks were built in this period, including Arcul de Triumf and Palatul Telefoanelor.^[22] However, the Great Depression took its toll on Bucharest’s citizens, culminating in the Grivița Strike of 1933.^[23]

In January 1941, the city was the scene of the Legionnaires’ rebellion and Bucharest pogrom. As the capital of an Axis country and a major transit point for Axis troops en route to the Eastern Front, Bucharest suffered heavy damage during World War II due to Allied bombings. On 23 August 1944, Bucharest was the site of the royal coup which brought Romania into the Allied camp. The city suffered a short period of Nazi Luftwaffe bombings, as well as a failed attempt by German troops to regain the city.

After the establishment of communism in Romania, the city continued growing. New districts were constructed, most of them dominated by tower blocks. During Nicolae Ceaușescu‘s leadership (1965–89), much of the historic part of the city was demolished and replaced by “Socialist realism” style development: (1) the Centrul Civic (the Civic Centre) and (2) the Palace of the Parliament, for which an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac plans.

On 4 March 1977, an earthquake centered in Vrancea, about 135 km (83.89 mi) away, claimed 1,500 lives and caused further damage to the historic centre.

The Romanian Revolution of 1989 began with massive anti-Ceaușescu protests in Timișoara in December 1989 and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of the Communist regime. Dissatisfied with the postrevolutionary leadership of the National Salvation Front, some student leagues and opposition groups organized rallies.

Since 2000, the city has been continuously modernized and is still undergoing urban renewal. Residential and commercial developments are underway, particularly in the northern districts; Bucharest’s old historic centre is being restored.

The Significance of Handicrafts

1. Preserving Traditions: Handicrafts serve as a gateway to understand and preserve our shared cultural heritage. The techniques used in making these crafts have been passed down through generations, preserving ancestral wisdom and skill.
2. Economic Empowerment: Handicrafts play a crucial role in providing employment and thus supporting the livelihoods of artisans, particularly in rural and underprivileged communities. They can offer a viable source of income and contribute to local economic growth.
3. Environmental Sustainability: Many traditional crafts use natural, locally-sourced materials and sustainable practices, contributing to environmental preservation and sustainability.

The Journey of Handicrafts

Creating a handicraft is not just about forming an object. It’s a journey that begins with the raw materials, passes through the skilled hands of the artisan, and ends in the heart of the observer or owner. The process, inherently linked to the human touch, is filled with thought, skill, and a deep understanding of the craft. This journey adds a depth and soul to handicrafts that is often lacking in mass-produced items.

UNESCO has been at the forefront of preserving and promoting handicrafts as part of our shared intangible cultural heritage. By recognizing and supporting these arts, we can ensure they thrive in the future, continuing to tell our shared stories and enrich our world.

Check out the World Crafts Council to explore global handicrafts, learn more about this vibrant art form, and support artisans from around the world.

This ability to respond swiftly often gives small businesses a desirable advantage over their much-larger competitors because they can adapt to take advantage of growing opportunities and changes in their particular industries.
“The reality is, owners must constantly look to evolve,” says Steven Rogers, professor of entrepreneurship at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. “The business they’re in today may not be the business they’re in tomorrow.”

Looking ahead and adapting also includes costs and competition. So, how can small businesses stay nimble in the face of these challenges? Here are three can-do items to add to your small-business flexibility list:

1. Look for a niche. Small businesses often can spot and react more quickly to market trends. If you don’t already have something in mind, the U.S. Small Business Administration suggests conducting a market survey with current and/or potential customers to uncover untapped needs. Look for areas that are being ignored by your competitors. Maybe it’s a certain feature in a product or a tool aimed at a small but passionate audience.

2. Find technology that fits multiple needs. Larger businesses may have receptionists, IT departments and contractors, but for small businesses, implementing technology that has a big-business look and functionality without the cost is a must. For instance, changing the phone system to an easy-to-use AT&T Syn248 Deskset and Gateway system (smbtelephones.att.com/syn248) can trim expenses because it’s designed for start-ups and small-sized businesses. It involves a quick and simple set-up and is compatible with existing networks. The system is also convenient to manage and has all the functionality busy offices need, such as built-in voicemail, contact storage, do-not-disturb, paging, conferencing and call forwarding. Expandability is a cinch for growing small businesses — just add phones as needed.

3. Cultivate communication within. You can often find the best strategies by asking around the office. Talk to your employees daily about their ideas for growth and hopes for the future. Keeping that channel of communication alive will help you identify inefficiencies and new opportunities. This way, you’re not only finding ways to increase production and profitability, you’re also making your employees feel more invested in your small business.

Today’s young couples prefer more personalized gifts. For some some unique gift ideas, consider the following list provided by PlaqueMakerPlus.com, maker of customized awards and recognition products:

* Make a video showcasing your life together. Contact friends and families for home videos, then edit them together to show your story as a couple, from childhood to wedding to current day.

* Give the picture frame a modern spin. Framing a nice photo may seem like a no-brainer, but there are ways to make that idea seem more special. For example, PlaqueMakerPlus.com offers a “Clear Memories” line of heirloom-quality acrylics, which can be etched with a personalized message, such as part of a poem or the anniversary date, as well as an embedded photograph.

For an especially enduring gift, consider ordering a laser-engraved photograph plaque. The plaque will last far longer than a photograph in a frame and will become a cherished family mantelpiece and heirloom. At PlaqueMakerPlus.com, you can easily personalize and design your custom gifts online.

* Choose gifts that can be used. Gifts that are both functional and decorative are sure to be hits. For example, wooden bookends carved with names and dates will remind you of your anniversary while also neatening your shelves. Wood is a traditional gift for fifth and sixth-year anniversaries. You might also want to consider pen holders or paperweights.

* Choose something heartfelt. Not all gifts have to be high-tech or expensive. For example, you could write down 365 things that you love about your partner on individual pieces of paper, then put the notes in a nice vase, so your partner can read a loving message from you every day until you’re next anniversary.

Dr. Julie Scarano, a doctor of chiropractic who is trained in prevention and wellness (in addition to providing care for neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as neck or back pain, for which chiropractors are most well known) believes it’s better to prevent dehydration than to treat it. She also reminds you that the 23 intervertebral discs in your spine have high water content and that dehydration can be associated with spinal pain.

Here are some preventative tips to help avoid dehydration:

•    Choose your beverages wisely. Avoid or limit fruit juices, sodas, alcohol and high-sugar sports drinks.

•    Drink a glass of water during and between meals, as well as before, during and after exercise.

•    Plan outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day.

•    Eat foods that are high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables.

•    Make water your go-to beverage of choice.

Unless you are socially inept, the wow-factor is what you’re looking for when you give your holiday gifts. That perfect present that makes the recipient pause and say, “Wow!”

But with a cornucopia of choices—including a seemingly endless stream of online offers — you need to consider what your gift is saying about you when it’s unwrapped.

The right gift, as consumer behavior expert Kit Yarrow has written, “can enhance connections between people.” A terrible one? Well, we’ve all had to smile graciously, while mentally distancing ourselves from someone who’s present screamed, “Clueless.”

Here’s what your “wow” gifts say about you:

While some women might be thrilled to receive a huge bottle of expensive perfume, others might interpret such an “easy” present the same way one New York writer did when her now ex-boyfriend gifted her after she spent weeks hunting down the perfect briefcase for him: “It just seemed like something he picked up at the airport duty-free store.” Ouch.

•    I understand your passions. While an Italian roadster may be out of the question for most of us, there is a whole social marketing industry that offers gift certificates for “experiences,” such as a few hours behind the wheel of exotic autos. Too Le Mans for you? There’s also tandem skydiving and whitewater rafting.

•    I’m cooler than you think. If you’re kids roll their eyes, and accuse you of being stuck listening to ’70s music, buy them tickets to the hottest concert in town (Hint: Britney Spears is out. One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer are in.)

One caveat: If you’re thinking of contributing to a charity in someone else’s name, make sure it’s a cause they believe in as much as you do. Otherwise, the message you may be (unwittingly) sending is, “Enough About You, It’s All About Me.”

Thankfully, for today’s hunter, things have changed drastically from previous decades. It used to be that hunters slept in tents, heated tin cans of beans over an open fire, wore puffy down parkas to keep warm and stayed near paved roads in case they needed help.

Now, lodges, guides, cooks, cell phones and all-terrain vehicles make hunting a more enjoyable and safer experience.

The following tips will help you get prepped for this year’s hunting season:

    • Check your license. Ensure that your hunting license is valid and covers all varieties of wildlife you intend to hunt. Even if you’ve hunted in the same location, check that permit requirements haven’t changed. Regulations get updated yearly, so don’t assume that what was valid last year still applies to your favorite watering hole.

    • Pack your bag. If you’re planning to travel out of town, you’ll need a hunting permit for that state. If you’re staying local, your bag should be filled with essential items that will help you survive any unexpected situation—be it weather or something else. This includes a cell phone, GPS, first aid kit, lighter, binoculars, small rope, pocket knife, bottled water and a few high-energy snacks.

    • Take the right clothing. Depending on where you’re headed, you’ll need a light or heavy jacket, gloves, hat and layers for nights when the temperatures dip. And don’t forget the rain gear. If in a warmer climate, you can dress down with lighter clothes, but whatever the case, don’t forget your orange hunting vest. One caveat: wash any clothes you intend to wear with unscented laundry detergent. Animals will be able to smell you a mile away and will not come near you.

    • Easy. Ease of use is a top consideration in everyone’s favorite, go-to accessories. Be it a wallet with just the right number of slots, a purse with pockets in just the right place, or a smartphone case that doubles as an ID holder, the right accessories make your life easier. If you’re a smokeless tobacco user, a portable spittoon that can be open and shut with one hand makes it easy to enjoy smokeless tobacco on the go. The portable spittoon from Atlanta-based FLASR features a one-hand operational design for ease of use.

    • Convenient. Everyone wants accessories that are convenient. Smokeless tobacco users seeking a convenient spittoon for on-the-run use will appreciate the latest product from FLASR. The 4-ounce portable spittoon is designed to stay securely shut to minimize the risk of spills and leaks when not in use, and the one-hand, open/close feature is engineered to help maximize convenience and discreet use while on the go.

    • Portable. The right accessories will enhance your life, not hinder it. Otherwise, what’s the point? To that end, nothing gets in the way of having a good time on a date or at a party like a poorly designed purse that falls open, a wallet that won’t close, or a smartphone case that’s bulky. For smokeless tobacco users, portability is paramount if they want to have a subtle spittoon on hand in order to enjoy dip, chew or snuff at an event away from home. FLASR’s single-hand design and 4-ounce size is designed to fit in a pocket for easy, subtle storage that won’t attract attention.

    • Personal. Of course, the best accessories are the ones that let you showcase your personality and style, such as that unique handbag, or customized smartphone case.

But you don’t have to stop there. Dressing well is just the starting point. The following tips will help you to appear truly sophisticated all season long.

Stay two steps ahead

Whether it’s an upcoming client meeting or a weekend fete, sophistication is a mere keystroke away. Plan your day ahead by researching the who, what, when and where for whatever event is on tomorrow’s calendar. Want to really swing for the fences? Go to your appointment or event five minutes early.

Bring a gift

While not required, it’s always appreciated. Nothing says class like someone who arrives with a bottle of wine, a seasonal floral arrangement or even just some homemade baked goods. A small, subtle gift for a host or hostess can go a long way in establishing that sophisticated image you desire.

Put the pen to work

Dust off that box of thank-you cards you stashed in your bottom desk drawer, and get to writing. Emails are nice but are used everyday for everything. A thank-you card is more personal and serves one purpose: to make a person feel appreciated. Take note of the important people in your life who deserve a special shout-out. Add your own penmanship and a postage stamp, and you are bound to earn at least a few sophistication points for being thoughtful.

Use the Internet

Whether it’s staying up on current events or knowing a few details about your favorite 19th-century artist or author, these little-known facts will give you something to talk about in any social setting, helping you appear more approachable and knowledgeable. Get in the habit of using the World Wide Web to glean fun tidbits and major headlines.

Although the survey uncovered many perspectives, the findings about optimism suggest a possible link between a “glass half full” mentality and mental and physical health:

* Older Americans who rated themselves as very optimistic about aging tended to be the most active physically, socially and in their communities.

* They also reported a much lower number of physically unhealthy days per month on average: 2.84 for the most optimistic, compared to 12.55 physically unhealthy days for the least optimistic

* The most optimistic also felt on average 12 years younger than their actual age (those who are least optimistic felt on average 7 years older than their actual age).

The survey also asked respondents to rate how they feel about the depiction of people age 60 and over in pop culture: in film, television, commercials and so on. Overwhelmingly, the respondents perceived these media portrayals of their own demographic as inaccurate, rating the accuracy level as, on average, 5 or less on a 10-point scale. Those aging Americans who do feel that media accurately portrays them think about aging more than the average and have a higher level of fear about aging than their peers.

Humana also recently partnered with The University of Southern California (USC) to take a first-ever look into society’s views of aging in America through the lens of film. The USC study reveals that characters aged 60 and over are underrepresented in film, and that those characters who do appear face demeaning or ageist references. Key findings from the study include:

* Just 11 percent of characters evaluated were aged 60 and over; U.S. Census data shows that 18.5 percent of the population is aged 60 and over.

* Out of 57 films that featured a leading or supporting senior character, 30 featured ageist comments — that’s more than half of the films. Quotes included characters being called “a relic,” “a frail old woman” and “a senile old man.”

* Only 29.1 percent of on-screen characters engaged with technology, whereas 84 percent of aging Americans report that they use the internet weekly.

Taken together, these findings feed into growing evidence that suggest that ageism is a social determinant of health and may negatively impact health outcomes for aging Americans. Societal views and negative media portrayals can cause aging Americans to feel invisible. These negative perceptions may dampen optimistic outlooks and impact physical and emotional health.