Funny stories

Britney is a hero of many blogs and caricatures now. As well as Vitsiaz and Horizont in Belarus:)))

Two Picasso paintings and one drawing were stolen in Paris

I wonder why people who have such expensive painting don't really protect them.

Interesting story about Miyazaki

I've just discovered that Miyazaki was born on the 5th of January and studied economics and political science. What a coincidence! He create animation films, like Howl's moving castle and Spirited away. I love those stories!

Koldun again

Yes, I promised that it was my last post, but it was yesterday:D So Koldun is back again! By the way, I found his official site and list of countries he visited (Spain, Russia, Ireland, Cyprus, Macedonia, Montenegro) and plans to visit soon (Greece, Lithuania):) Yes, I know I am crazy, I am just amazed. This guy is only 21, he is a bit naive (as every Belarusian boy at this age), what you could observe in Spanish video :) But I like that he is presenting our country this year and I really think Belarus has chance to get to final this time (though if some pretty girl didn't hug him right before performance, so he gets confused:)...

Remember, I wrote you that in US film The good Shepherd Babrujs was mentioned. So Koldun is also from this town (or city? hmm, no, I guess it's town). Anyway I confused him most likely with Ruslan Alehno ;D, as on Koldun's site Minsk is mentioned as a place of birth!
What is interesting Koldun from Russian is translated as Wizard, so it's quite normal that he sings about magic!

One more

I promise it's the last song for today (still the same), you should see it, as inteview in the beginning is really funny:) I don't really know where it was filmed though... :/ Ahhh, it was Spain as he said in the end!
Just click here.
P.S. Performance in Montenegro!

Live@irish National Final 07

Some more quotes from Irish TV:

- Tell me who should be there?
- Actually the song from Belarus:)... I think this is very strong competitor
well, so they say...

Work you magic, Dzima Kaldun (or Dima Koldun if you translate from Russian version of his name;))!
There you go the TV episode:

I've listened to our song at Eurovision again...

I went to Youtube and found out new version of Dzima Kaldun song:) It was filmed in Greece I guess (it was Cyprus after all:), as our country is named something like ΛEYKOPΩΣIA:D it looks really funny for me:) Good luck, Dzima! ;)

From CyBC show "Cyprus 12 points - Chypre 12 points" (23 Feb 2007).
Participant: Dmirty KOLDUN
Song: Work Your Magic
Writer: Karen KAVALERYAN
Composer: Philip KIRKOROV
Video courtesy of CyBC.

Do you know how coffee grows?

I've never seen this before and now my friend sent me a link! There you go, here you can see a flower of coffee!

Language as a tool of PR

Well, I knew it before and now ONT wrote about language issue in marketing (though only few sentences). It's so important for people to see that advertisers care about them and not only about nice picture. When I hear ad in Belarusian, I know that this particular advertiser made an effort to produce nice ad for ME, not for somebody else in other part of the world:)

What happened to Radio?

I woke up with intention to listen to Radio Liberty in Belausian, I went to website and I clicked on the link as usual. But I was listening to some Eastern muisic and some arabish dictor... Hmm, very strange!

Ireland 43 England 13

Today was the first rugby game which I saw in my life and it happened to be Ireland vs England. Rather difficult choice to decide who support, but I've chosen Ireland:) And I was right. Dispite all difficulties to follow the game without really knowing the rules I did enjoy this match. If fact it was interesting game, though a bit strange. On my comment "they probably would need some shower right now" my friend from UK said that's a common woman's comment! He he he, well, I say what see and what I think ;)

The good Shepherd

I've watched The good Shepherd today. And you know what? Russian tortured spy in this film was from Babrujsk (it's in Belarus if you don't know)! Unbelieveable! The film itself is not bad:) and I would even recommend you to see it if you have some spare 3 hours :D

Astria and Belarus economic relations

It was interesting to find out who from Austria is present on Belarusian market! There you go: Reiffeisenbank with Priorbank, Austrian Airlines, some metallurgic companies. Ambassadeur of Austria in Belarus (which is in Moscow by the way) expect 10% rise of cooperation this year...

Where peopler subscribe to independent newspaper

It's an interesting map as it shows where people regularly read Nasa Niva. Therefore maybe it is even possible to say that in this regions people are able to think and analyze what's going on:) At least I hope so. In fact, it's maybe lack of time, or hard way of living, but not so many people in Belarus bother themself with search of independent sourses of information. They still rely on friends and family to get some TRUE info, so in fact PR in action:D

Armenia voted for double citizenship...

Now one more country allowes to have two passports - Armenia. I am really disappointed sometimes when I hear that some Belarusians have to cancel their Belarusian citizenship when they decide to accept a new one (in the USA for example). The problem is that you can be only Belarusian citizen and not a citizen of any other country. Even Russian allows double citizenship...

Blog services...

There you go: myspace.com, typepad.com, xanga.com, blogspot.com, livejournal.com, wordpress.com, and vox.com... To be continued;)

Posts reviews

I was rather surprised when I found in my PPP account some information about new program. PPP announced that it will pay not only to bloggers who are writing sponsored posts(which are marked at the bottom, by the way:) in other words who advertise on blogs, but also to any bloggers who review posts of PPP bloggers (like I am since November).

The idea is simple and clever (everything what is genious is simple!). PPP sees which blogs are popular, bloggers who review posts get money and blogs which are reviewed get traffic. Therefore these blogs become more attractive for advertisers who use blog PR as a tool.

I talked to my ex-collegue while being in Minsk and I told him about PPP. He was really surprised as Russian speaking sector of Inet is not covered by such programs. I can bet that sooner or later it will be.

As you see, I like the whole idea as it has many added values and brings no harm:) But so far, I have no reviews... So, guys, what are you waiting for? Start reviewing as soon as possible! Or create your own blog right now if you don't have one. It's fun, I promise!

Belarusians came from Danemark?

Hmm, it's rather interesting idea. I've read about it here, so if you are interested you can have a look. Thouth info is in Russian:(

European values

Is Belarus sharing European values? Answer is yes, and it's the right one if you look bakc:) I hope it will be the right one for the future as well. I've just read interesting article about art and values:)

Credit card?

I got a 'nice' email in my inbox today saying that my first credit card expired today... Well, I paid $60 for it last year and I don't want to keep it anymore as it's quite expensive, especially when you know how cheap are cards in the rest of Europe:D

Well, for example in UK you can get credit card with a funny design (bottom right-hand corner removed - see at the pic), which is standard credit card with 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases (for a limited period though)... By the ways, I was surprised that it's possible to change design especially in conservative UK where it happened for the first time after 37 years. The same bank gives you an option to give as a gift a prepaid card, so your god son for example will be free to buy whatever he wants with your money/ your gift. It's not popular at the moment in Belarus, but I think with way of life (or speed) we will start doing it also.

This post is brought to you by MINT.

Interview with a star?

I've just read an article at france24.com about Berlinale where Jenifer Lopez was supposed to give interviews as she plaied in Bordertown. It's so funny to read that stars can cancel interview at the last moment. I remember when I was at eurovision two years ago I was so excited and I wanted to take interview. So I decided to take interview from Natalia Padolskaya. Though she was representing Russia there she is Belarusian and she had birthday. So I did it, but I was so stressed that I just managed to ask her two questions... Well, it was better than nothing! :D

Chagall in Vienna!

I was at the exibition of Chagall here and I was really impressed! Hmm, though in the beginning it was really funny/strange/weird to see the entrance information in English about his biography. I've almost got used to Weissrusland in German, but to translate in to White Russia in English it is TOO much and so ridiculous!

But my general impression from the exibition was reall good. It's really colorful, passionate, magic... I admire Chagall love to his wife, I admire the way he loves his city Vitebsk.
This prints above are from the first war period, Chagall was a solder in Russian Empire, he was called up for millitary service in September 1915. I am actully really curious about his life when independend Belarusian Democratic Republic were proclaimed on the 23rd of March in 1918... But then Belarus became BSSR and we can see strange sign in the bottom left corner of his prints... How strange was our histore, how complicated is our present and how unclear is our future...

Conception of Tutejšyja is also in his prints. Nation with is living between two empires, which was under Russian control for 150 years at that moment... People got used to be just from HERE (TUT)...

I also liked the following print very much:) Chagall vs Picasso:D

Once again, I am proud that this great painter is from Belarus! :)

Macroeconomics lecture

"Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Course of "Intermediate Macroeconomics" with Prof. Neudeck. I assume the picture is self-explanatory." by XiaoJi.

Time for eCards

When you community is growing it's really time to start thinking how to keep in contact. Time is flying, people are very mobile and life is extreme:) Yeah, that's the realities!

Tomorrow is a name day of my friend she will make a nice party. So I though it would be a nice idea to find a nice card for her. It's not that easy, though. I used to send cards through Hallmark, but since they don't change they set of cards it's not fan anymore.

But to find free funny eCards is still possible (just look at the pics!). And also while St Valentine is approaching it might be really a good idea to have a look. This site is also giving a 30 days trial period and if you want to join it's paid services, you will have to pay only about $15 a year.
This is sponsored post.

Milinkievič vs Łukašenka

Today I've read a letter of Milinkievič (Milinkievich)to the present president of Belarus Łukašenka (Lukashenka). Some people say that he shouldn't write it, but I think it was a good decision. Even if there will be no solution found, I do like when people try to find the way out instead of confrontation. I still hope that all what happends now in my country will lead to better understanding of value of freedom and independence. And I hope we and our leaders will be wise enough to built a strong economy and give people possibility to live, not just to exist and survive.

The letter itself is on the website of Milinkievič.

eTickets search results

I was trying to track where to buy a ticket for flights from Minsk and I found:
I was shocked! It seams that country which disappeared in 1991 is still alive. So, dear, back to BSSR!

One more destination was really nice! Have a look at this destination proposal!

And they say that your tongue can lead to Kyiv! No, China. So go and learn Chinese as they do in Belarusian primary schools!