Posts by Milos Itic

Best Serbian Wines in Wine Garden Botanicka Basta

The wine festival held on June 1st and 2nd, 2024, at the Botanicka Basta in Belgrade was a significant event for wine enthusiasts and critics alike. This festival showcased a variety of Serbian wineries, highlighting the growing reputation of Serbia’s wine industry on both a national and international scale.

Overview of the Festival

The Botanicka Basta, known for its lush greenery and serene atmosphere, provided an ideal backdrop for the festival. Attendees were treated to a diverse selection of wines, with many producers presenting their best offerings. The event not only celebrated local winemaking but also fostered connections between wine producers, critics, and consumers, enhancing the appreciation for Serbian wines.

Participating Wineries

While specific details about the wineries that attended this year’s festival were not extensively covered in the search results, the festival typically features a range of notable Serbian wineries. These wineries often include both established names and emerging producers, focusing on indigenous grape varieties and innovative winemaking techniques.Some of the wineries that have been prominent in previous events include:

  • Vinarija Aleksandrović: Known for its high-quality wines made from local grape varieties.
  • Vinarija Kovačević: Recognized for its commitment to traditional winemaking methods.
  • Vinarija Jović: A newer player that has gained attention for its unique blends and modern approach.

Wine Critique

As a wine critic, attending such festivals offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of Serbian wines. The opportunity to taste a wide range of wines in one location allows for comparative analysis, revealing the unique characteristics of Serbian terroirs.

Key Tasting Notes

  1. Indigenous Varieties: Many wineries showcased wines made from local grape varieties such as Prokupac and Tamjanika, which are gaining recognition for their distinctive flavors and aromas.
  2. Quality and Innovation: The trend towards quality-driven winemaking is evident, with many producers focusing on sustainable practices and minimal intervention techniques, resulting in wines that express the true essence of their origins.
  3. Food Pairing: The festival also emphasized the importance of food pairing, with local culinary delights complementing the wines. This aspect is crucial for enhancing the tasting experience and promoting Serbian gastronomy alongside its wines.

Conclusion

The wine festival at Botanicka Basta not only served as a platform for showcasing Serbian wines but also as a celebration of the culture and community surrounding winemaking in Serbia. As the industry continues to grow, events like this play a pivotal role in educating both consumers and critics about the potential of Serbian wines on the global stage. The festival is a testament to the region’s commitment to quality and tradition, making it a must-visit for any wine enthusiast.

NBA Draft 2024 Predictions

The 2024 NBA Draft order has been finalized, and the Atlanta Hawks defied the odds by securing the coveted No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery. Despite finishing the 2023-24 season with a 36-46 record, the Hawks had only a 3% chance of clinching the top selection.

My Choices:

  1. Reed Sheppard
  2. Stephon Castle
  3. Devin Carter
  4. Ja’Kobe Walter
  5. Jared McCain
  6. Kyshawn George
  7. Yves Missi

Here is a list of the top NBA draft prospects for 2024, including the player’s name, position, height in centimeters, age, and nationality:

  1. Zaccharie Risacher, Small Forward, 201 cm, 19 years old, France
  2. Alex Sarr, Power Forward, 208 cm, 20 years old, France
  3. Donovan Clingan, Center, 216 cm, 19 years old, United States
  4. Reed Sheppard, Shooting Guard, 193 cm, 19 years old, United States
  5. Matas Buzelis, Small Forward, 208 cm, 19 years old, Lithuania
  6. Stephon Castle, Point Guard, 198 cm, 20 years old, United States
  7. Dalton Knecht, Small Forward, 198 cm, 23 years old, United States
  8. Rob Dillingham, Point Guard, 185 cm, 19 years old, United States
  9. Tidjane Salaün, Power Forward, 208 cm, 20 years old, France
  10. Nikola Topić, Point Guard, 193 cm, 19 years old, Serbia
  11. Cody Williams
  12. Devin Carter
  13. Ron Holland
  14. Kel’el Ware
  15. Tristan da Silva
  16. Ja’Kobe Walter
  17. Zach Edey
  18. Jared McCain
  19. Kyshawn George
  20. Carlton Carrington
  21. Yves Missi
  • Reed Sheppard has been a major surprise on NBA draft boards this season. He boasts the highest three-point shooting percentage among all players on this list, hitting an impressive 57.1 percent on just over four attempts per game. Initially not considered a top prospect even within Kentucky’s roster, Sheppard has now caught the attention of scouts. His elite marksmanship, combined with high basketball IQ and flashes of solid playmaking, is generating significant lottery buzz. Also good athlete and good defender. Best shooter in this draft and best shooter ever maybe.
  • Jared McCain, one of the rising stars from Duke University, is making waves in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a dynamic guard, he stands out as one of the best prospects in a relatively weak talent pool. Notably, Draft expert Jonathan Givony has bestowed upon him the title of the “best shooter” in the current draft.
  • Zaccharie Risacher, great shooter for 3pts
  • Donovan Clingan is a big center
  • Stephon Castle is great defender and ball handler
  • Cody Williams is brother of Jalen Williams
  • Devin Carter is 22 years old.
  • Dalton Knecht is 23 years old and great shooter
  • Rob Dillingham great strength: acceleration
  • Tristan da Silva is 23 years old. Brazilian.
  • Ja’Kobe Walter is good shooter. Pro comparison: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • Carlton Carrington Odlican shooter – all positions

First Round:

  1. Atlanta Hawks
  2. Washington Wizards
  3. Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)
  4. San Antonio Spurs
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Portland Trail Blazers
  8. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)
  9. Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Utah Jazz
  11. Chicago Bulls
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston Rockets)
  13. Sacramento Kings
  14. Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State Warriors via Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies)
  15. Miami Heat
  16. Philadelphia 76ers
  17. Los Angeles Lakers
  18. Orlando Magic
  19. Toronto Raptors (from Indiana Pacers)
  20. Cleveland Cavaliers
  21. New Orleans Pelicans (from Milwaukee Bucks)
  22. Phoenix Suns
  23. Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans Pelicans)
  24. New York Knicks (from Dallas Mavericks)
  25. New York Knicks
  26. Washington Wizards (from LA Clippers via Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder)
  27. Minnesota Timberwolves
  28. Denver Nuggets
  29. Utah Jazz (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers)
  30. Boston Celtics
  31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
  32. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
  33. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
  34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
  35. San Antonio Spurs
  36. Indiana Pacers (via Toronto Raptors)
  37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
  38. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
  39. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
  40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
  41. Philadelphia 76ers (via Chicago Bulls)
  42. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
  43. Miami Heat
  44. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
  45. Sacramento Kings
  46. Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
  47. Orlando Magic
  48. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
  49. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
  50. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
  51. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
  52. Golden State Warriors (via Milwaukee Bucks)
  53. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
  54. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
  55. Los Angeles Lakers (via Los Angeles Clippers)
  56. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
  57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
  58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)

NBA Draft 2023

The NBA Draft is an annual event conducted by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in which teams select new players to join their rosters. The draft serves as a way for teams to acquire the rights to sign and negotiate with amateur and international players, as well as unaffiliated professionals.

For tomorrow’s NBA Draft 2023, I made a list of clubs with number of picks:

– San Antonio Spurs (1) (33) (44)
– Charlotte Hornets (2) (27) (34) (39) (41)
– Portland Trail Blazers (3) (23) (43)
– Houston Rockets (4) (20)
– Detroit (5) (31)
– Orlando (6) (11) (36)
– Indiana Pacers (7) (26) (29) (32) (55)
– Washington Wizards (8)
– Utah Jazz (9) (16) (28)
– Dallas (10)
– OKC (12) (37) (50)
– Toronto (13)
– New Orleans Pelicans (14)
– Atlanta (15) (46)
– Lakers (17) (47)
– Miami (18)
– GSW (19)
– Brooklyn Nets (21) (22) (51)
– Sacramento Kings (24) (38) (54)
– LA Clippers (30) (48)
– Boston Celtics (35)
– Denver Nuggets (40)
– Washington Wizards (42) (57)
– Memphis (45) (56)
– Cleveland (49)
– Phoenix Suns (52)
– Minnesota (53)
– Milwaukee Bucks (58)

• There are only 58 picks in the 2023 Draft because the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls each forfeited a second-round pick due to violating rules governing free agency discussions.

* Victor Wembanyama (1) – C
* Brandon Miller (2-6) – SF
* Scoot Henderson (2-6) – PG
* Amen Thomson (3-6) – SF
* Ausar Thompson (4-10) – SF
* Cam Whitmore (4-7-10) – SF
* Keyonte George (7-15) – SG
* Jarace Walker (5-8) – PF
* Anthony Black (8-12) – PG
* Taylor Hendricks (7-12) – PF
* Gradey Dick (7-12) – SF
* Jalen Hood-Schifino (8-19) – PG
* Amari Bailey (13-40) – SG
* Kobe Bufkin (13-19) – SG
* Cason Wallace (8-15) – PG
* Kris Murray (14-29) – SF
* Jordan Hawkins (11-41) – SG
* Dereck Lively II (14-22) – C
* Brandin Podziemski (19-43) – SG
* Nick Smith Jr. (19-21) (12-17) – SG
* Leonard Miller (16-24-38) – SF
* Brice Sensabaugh (15-23) – SF
* Bilal Coulibaly (8-28) – SF
* Trayce Jackson-Davis (24-31) – PF
* Olivier-Maxence Prosper (25-52) – SF
* Andre Jackson Jr. (26-42) – SG
* Jett Howard (13-30) – SG
* Colby Jones (17-31) – SG
* Dariq Whitehead (18-30) – SF
* Maxwell Lewis (22-49) – SF
* Rayan Rupert (23-27) – SF
* Kyle Filipowski (24-…) – C
* Julian Phillips (29-45) – SF
* GG Jackson (15-30) – F
* Ricky Council IV (26-48) – SG
* Julian Strawther (30-32) – SG
* James Nnaji (25-46) – C
* Noah Clowney (27-39) – PF
* Tristan Vukcevic (43-47) – C
* Marcus Sasser (33-50) – SG/PG
* Kobe Brown (38-51) – SF
* Keyontae Johnson (48-55) – SF

My Favorite Picks:
Keyonte George
Gradey Dick
Kobe Bufkin
Cason Wallace
Jordan Hawkins
Brandin Podziemski
Jett Howard
Dariq Whitehead
Marcus Sasser

Here is a brief history of the NBA Draft:

  1. Early Years (1947-1965):
    • The first NBA Draft took place in 1947, and it consisted of a territorial pick system where teams were allowed to select local players before the regular draft.
    • In the early years, the draft process was less formalized, with teams selecting players through various methods, such as negotiations, invitations, or even simply signing players.
    • The draft gradually became more organized, and by 1950, it adopted a traditional selection process.
  2. Coin Flip Era (1966-1984):
    • From 1966 to 1984, the NBA used a coin flip system to determine the draft order between the worst teams in each conference.
    • This era saw the rise of iconic players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), Bill Walton, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, who were all top picks in their respective drafts.
  3. Lottery System (1985-present):
    • The NBA introduced the lottery system in 1985 to determine the draft order for non-playoff teams.
    • Under this system, a combination of ping-pong balls is used to determine the top three picks, with the remaining teams selecting in reverse order of their regular-season records.
    • The lottery aims to discourage teams from intentionally losing games to secure higher draft positions.
    • Notable players selected during this era include Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and many others.
  4. Draft Format Changes:
    • Over the years, the NBA has made several changes to the draft format to adapt to evolving needs.
    • In 1996, high school players were allowed to enter the draft, leading to the selection of notable talents like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James.
    • In 2005, the NBA implemented an age eligibility rule, known as the “one-and-done” rule, which required players to be at least one year removed from high school before entering the draft.
    • In recent years, there have been discussions about potentially modifying the draft eligibility rules to allow high school players to enter directly, but as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, no changes had been implemented.

The NBA Draft has played a crucial role in shaping the league, providing opportunities for teams to acquire top talent and for players to showcase their skills on the professional stage. It continues to be an eagerly anticipated event for basketball fans around the world.

Owlcrew Manifesto

Manifesto for Authentic Video Posting
A Different Kind(ness) & Philosophy of YouTube Posting

I believe that true value comes from sharing our experiences and ideas, not only from commercial validation. Also short videos, filmed naturally, without excessive editing or custom-made covers, provide an authentic window into our lives and our philosophy. I hope that our audience will appreciate the honesty and simplicity of our approach, and that it will resonate with those who share our values. So let’s post these kind of videos without worrying about the likes, the subscribers, or the views. Let’s focus on the message, not the metrics.

In an era dominated by flashy editing techniques, self-promotion, and clickbait titles, it’s time to reclaim the true essence of videos posting. This manifesto advocates for a non-commercial approach to content creation, focusing on short videos, minimal editing, and an authentic, modest philosophy. By embracing natural content and eschewing the typical trappings of commercialization, we can foster genuine connections and meaningful engagement with our viewers. Let us delve into the principles that will guide our YouTube posting journey.

01. No Custom Made Thumbnails
02. Focus is on Short Videos (Under 5 minutes)
03. Do not use the words “Subscribe”, “Please, subscribe”, “Like”, “Share” “Click on the bell”
04. No fancy Editing, with effects, transitions, fast pace…
05. HD and 2K more then 4k and 8k and 720p
06. Low FPS
07. No Viral Thinking
08. Use Timestamps if the video is longer
09. Use Description for Additional Information and Everything
10. Quantity not Quality
11. No Clickbait Titles

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/owlcrewmanifesto

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/eHf55uS7

| Embrace Simplicity
a. Short Videos: Strive for brevity, capturing the essence of your message within a concise timeframe. Respect your viewers’ time and offer them easily digestible content.
b. Minimal Editing: Avoid excessive editing and elaborate effects. Let the raw footage speak for itself, reflecting a sense of authenticity and unfiltered expression.

| Focus on Substance:
a. Genuine Content: Create videos that stem from your passion, interests, or expertise. Share your knowledge, insights, and unique perspectives without any hidden agenda.
b. Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives that resonate with your viewers on a human level. Emphasize the power of storytelling over flashy visuals or superficial gimmicks.

| Cultivate an Engaged Community:
a. Value Authentic Engagement: Encourage meaningful discussions, interactions, and feedback. Prioritize quality over quantity, fostering a community that appreciates substance and thoughtful dialogue.
b. Connect Personally: Interact with your audience on a personal level, responding to comments, and actively engaging in conversations. Show genuine interest in your viewers’ thoughts and experiences.

| Encourage Others:
a. Inspire Authenticity: Encourage fellow creators to embrace a non-commercial mindset, emphasizing the value of genuine connections and fostering a community of like-minded individuals.
b. Collaborate and Support: Seek collaborations with creators who share similar values, amplifying each other’s voices and promoting the spirit of non-commercial content.

| Quality not Quantity: Don’t focus on creating high-quality content that informs, entertains, and inspires your viewers. Don’t sacrifice your artistic integrity or your message for the sake of getting more views, clicks, or likes.

| Simplicity: Keep your videos simple and streamlined. Don’t over-edit or try to make your content too flashy. Instead, focus on delivering a clear and concise message that resonates with your audience.

| Collaborate: Work with other creators, collaborate, and create a supportive community that fosters creativity, positivity, and kindness. Share knowledge, tips and tricks, hacks, and other useful info with other creators to help elevate their content and your own.

| Creativity: Experiment with new content ideas, styles, and formats. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries and try new things. Inspire your viewers by showcasing your creativity and originality.

| Respect: Show respect to your viewers and avoid divisive or controversial topics that could offend them. Stay true to your values while being respectful of differing perspectives that may exist within your audience.

| Sustainability: Create content that promotes sustainability and eco-friendliness. Show your audience how you are addressing environmental concerns through your content and challenge them to do the same.

| Brevity: Keep your videos short and to the point. Don’t waste your viewers’ time with unnecessary fluff or filler. Make every second count by delivering valuable content that leaves a lasting impact.

| Modesty: Be modest in your approach and don’t seek applause or validation from your viewers. Instead, focus on creating content that inspires and informs, and let your audience decide whether it resonates with them.

All the best,
Milos Itic

Covid 19 Travel – May 2021

Austria have announced their plans to reopen and ease their imposed COVID-19 preventive measures starting from May 19 and to Permit Travel From EU/Schengen Countries & Epidemiologically Safe Third-Countries.

Tourists from 65 countries worldwide will be permitted to visit Cyprus from May 10, without being required to undergo quarantine upon their arrival, but they must have vaccine certificate or negative result of the COVID-19 PCR test, not older than three days.

Balkan countries also may open the borders with some conditions in May 2021.

In Summer 2021, EU Countries to Permit Entry for Vaccinated Americans.

On May 15 last year, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia created a “mini-Schengen Area” by opening their common borders and permit their citizens to move between these three countries freely

EU Parliament Gives Green Light to COVID-19 Travel Certificates

Where you can travel with Vaccine Certificates in 2021

People who are passionate travelers, think about 2021 year. Where to go. What do I need. Is it be a possible.

For someone who received his 2nd vaccine of coronavirus (Covid19) – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V of some other or only one dose of vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), is still unknown ground if he or she can freely travel cross the border.

I found these articles about same topic “Vaccine certificates expected by summer”:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/country-by-country-guide-to-where-you-can-go-if-youre-vaccinated

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-coronavirus-summit-vaccine-certificates-expected-by-summer/a-56701869

Lets see, where you can travel in the beginning of the March 2021:

  • Romania
  • Estonia
  • Georgia
  • Madeira
  • Iceland
  • Spain (Maybe)