Romania

Robert Gillette's article (Nov. 28), "Romania, a New Winter of Despair," is the most comprehensive and sensible article I have seen in the U.S. press since I left Romania 10 years ago. Also, it is the first time a sad truth is spelled out: The $12 billion Western credit meant "an unparalleled collection of industrial white elephants," playing into the Communist fixation for heavy industry. Now the people have to pay back with sweat, blood and death. Throughout their history the Romanians went through many horrors fighting Asian barbarians, Turks and Russians invasions, being well aware they were defending the Christian civilization.

BOOKS Debut novelist Ramona Ausubel has her characters forget time and history in "No One Is Here Except All of Us. " It's 1939, and the families of a remote Jewish village in Romania feel the war closing in around them. At the suggestion of a mysterious stranger who washes up on the riverbank, they reassign spouses, children and other marks of familial history in an attempt to keep the tides of change at bay. She will be reading and signing her novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Free.

Three weeks ago, when the Nobel committee awarded its literature prize to Romanian writer Herta Muller, it lauded her courageous and unflinching fictional portraits of "daily life in a stagnated dictatorship" in communist Romania. What they did not mention, however, was Muller's ongoing nonfictional critique of the leadership of post-communist Romania. Only days after she won the Nobel, Muller, who now lives in Germany, blasted her homeland for not having broken more completely with its communist past.

After appearing as James Bond in seven hit films beginning with 1973's "Live and Let Die" and concluding with 1985's "A View to a Kill," Roger Moore put his acting career on the back burner. For two decades, he has devoted much of his time to being a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, and was knighted in 2003 for his charity work. But Saturday, he returns in Hallmark Channel's holiday fantasy "A Princess for Christmas. " Moore, 84, plays the fabulously wealthy Edward Duke of Castlebury, who invites his estranged young American niece, nephew and their aunt to his castle in the snowy countryside of a fictional European country (the film was shot in Romania)

We recently returned from two weeks in Romania. Here are a few facts that were not found in any travel book that we had read: If driving into Romania from Vienna in a rented car through Hungary, remember to ask for a "leaded" gas tank, as there is very little unleaded gas in Eastern Europe. Buy your hotel vouchers before entering an Eastern European country. They offer a real saving, as they "fix" the room rate, plus give you a ration of gas per day. Every book talks about the vouchers, but does not stress that you must buy them before your trip.

The Bush Administration has strongly condemned the brutal killings of protesters by Romanian security forces, calling this action one in sharp contrast to those in the other Eastern bloc countries. The Administration is correct; the action is in sharp contrast. However, another sharp contrast is that of the response of the Administration to this event and to very similar, but undoubtedly far worse, events in Beijing last June. Those events prompted a very mild, diffident and, as we have learned since, hypocritical reaction by this Administration.

President Reagan on Friday nominated a retired federal appeals judge, Malcom Wilkey, to be ambassador to Uruguay, and longtime State Department Soviet specialist Roger Kirk to be ambassador to Romania.

San Francisco engineering company Bechtel Corp. declined to comment on a report that the European Commission was investigating a $2.5-billion contract it received in Romania, but it defended the way the deal had been negotiated. The Financial Times reported on its website that the commission was examining the way the contract was awarded for a road linking Romania with Central Europe. "We can't comment fully until we see the specific allegations," said Bechtel spokesman Jonathan Marshall.

Fireworks and thousands of people dancing in the streets marked the entry of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. Hopes for prosperity and stability were echoed in politicians' speeches and the chatter from residents as blue and yellow EU flags fluttered over Bucharest and Sofia. The accession of the two nations raises the EU's membership to 27, almost half of which are former communist states.

Two famous sculptures by Romanian-born artist Constantin Brancusi won't be shown in London and New York because of fears of ownership claims once they leave the country, museum and government officials said Monday. Romania's government said it wouldn't permit "Kiss" and "Torso" to be exhibited in London, a spokesman for the Tate Modern said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

Bob and Mike Bryan, the identical twins from Camarillo, won their 11th major tennis title Saturday, defeating eighth-seeded Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Horia Tecau of Romania, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (2), in the Wimbledon men's doubles final. It was the second Wimbledon championship for the twins, who tied Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde with 11 titles at Grand Slam-level events. "This is as special as it gets," Mike Bryan said. "To equal the Woodies, a team that we idolized, the greatest team in our mind, is unbelievable.

BAHAMAS Cruising With the Kids Norwegian Cruise Line's "Nickelodeon All Access Cruise" has plenty of kids' entertainment aboard an amenity-packed ship. Nickelodeon characters accompany Caribbean-bound passengers, who can experience family slimings, watch screenings of hit shows and partake in poolside "game shows. " Itinerary: New York City to Port Canaveral, Fla.; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; and back to New York Dates: Feb. 20-27 Price: Starting at $949, double occupancy (single supplement is a tax-free $949)

As Romanian military and civilian officials mingled at a VIP reception aboard a yacht that belonged to executed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, a U.S. Navy band played an American selection: the Gershwins, Cole Porter and Broadway show tunes. The occasion was Romanian Navy Day, but the message being delivered at this Black Sea port was broader than pride in the country's sailors: America, we are with you. If the musical choices weren't enough, the blunt-talking defense minister, Gabriel Oprea, made it crystal clear in his Navy Day speech, solemnly listing the names of "the heroes" who have been killed in Afghanistan.

Farmers Classic Straus Stadium Beginning at 2 p.m. Janko Tipsarevic (6), Serbia, vs. Sam Querrey (2); Bob and Mike Bryan (1) vs. Rohan Bopanna, India, and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan (4). Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Andy Murray (1), Britain, vs. Feliciano Lopez (4), Spain; Ross Hutchins, Britain, and Jordan Kerr, Australia, vs. Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer, Curacao, OR Robert Lindstedt, Sweden, and Horia Tecau, Romania (2).

Most of the time, Roger Federer is the Muhammad Ali of tennis. Against the best competition in the world, he floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Then there are those times, such as Sunday, when he also flutters. Federer is a majestic figure, No. 1 in the world for a total of 273 weeks, owner of a record 16 Grand Slam titles, usually as unbeatable as he is revered. He is a legend before his time, because his time appears to have plenty of ticks left on the clock.

Three weeks ago, when the Nobel committee awarded its literature prize to Romanian writer Herta Muller, it lauded her courageous and unflinching fictional portraits of "daily life in a stagnated dictatorship" in communist Romania. What they did not mention, however, was Muller's ongoing nonfictional critique of the leadership of post-communist Romania. Only days after she won the Nobel, Muller, who now lives in Germany, blasted her homeland for not having broken more completely with its communist past.

Alan Green Jr., the new U.S. ambassador to Romania, presented his credentials on Wednesday to President Nicolae Ceausescu in Bucharest.

As the State Department sought unsuccessfully to confirm reports of an Orange County resident's violent weekend death in Romania, his family got word Tuesday that the man's brother was also wounded. Relatives of Ionel (John) Antimie, 21, of Fullerton, said they received word that he had been killed while trying to bring food and medical aid to friends and family.

A perfect starting point for visiting Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), as well as for countless hiking / biking trails and scenic drives. Modern architecture and comfortable rooms. Pensiunea Luana (Luana Inn), Moeciu; 011-40-722-21-14-61, www.pensiunealuana.ro Rooms from about $44. Gabi Adler Hermosa Beach

Romania unveiled a memorial to some 300,000 Jews and Gypsies killed during the Holocaust in the nation, which at times denied that the genocide even happened. President Traian Basescu said it was Romania's duty to "recognize the genocide during World War II." Basescu was joined by Holocaust survivors and other leaders during the unveiling of the marble and concrete monument. Romania today has only 6,000 Jews. Its role in the Holocaust and the deportation of Jews was ignored by the Communists and minimized by subsequent governments.