Tombola is a word I've leaned in Austria, as it is an integral part of any Viennese ball:) It's should be also a part of ours. So what is it? Basically, this is a lottery among the people who bought special tickets. And in order to make it fun and successful every ball committee has to prepare nice prices.
What can it be? whatever people would love to have, even small things but still nice ones. Yesterday we made our first effort to find some presents. The strategy was simple, we just went from store to store asking for things. Before this adventure local people told me that every third (!) shop would give us sth. I thougt, wow, it would be nice.
The first I thing 10 stores were not fun at all, with the exception of one where woman told us not just that she has nothing for us, but also that her 3 daughters need her money all the time... In fact, she was strange. Then we found finally one shop where we got stuff! hmmm, a mirrow, a small bag, some cosmetics... Well, guys, despite the fact what we didn't really do it well, I am still optimistic as always:) We got lots of phone numbers of bosses of different stores and even one guy was really nice and promised to help! So, wish us good luck and I hope it will be fun!
I was really sad last two days, as my camera, after I dropped it, is not workin any more. I took thousands of pics with it, it's almost part of me, but... I had to spend few hours on ebay looking for a new and I hope to get it soon. So, guys, keep you fingers crossed for me.
Sometimes I look around and I think that I am really lucky to live in these times. There are so many things which did not exist, lets say, 50 years ago! I am speaking about Internet here, but also about contact lenses for instance! However, from time to time I still prefer to wear glasses and it is not that easy to find nice ones and cheap at the same time. And here is my great discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com, they sell nice glasses for 8$ with a very low delivery fee in the US. I haven't known this brand ZENNI before, but who knows, maybe new technologies will bring them lots of customers and success? This post is written thanks to ZENNI!
Well, it's a new year indeed. I have to say that the beginning was nice, so I hope the whole year will be too! I haven't been writing much as I had nice holidays:)
Actually, I have some good news, according to PPP my Google PageRank is 2 now! I am happy, it took me some two year to achieve this:)
Next good news, this month two of my friends got babies (actually there were even 4 babies over the last month), but this two are special as they were born on my birthday!
Well, I am back to my friends, my studies and my internship. And I have to start looking for a job, seriously! :)
When one more year is going to its end, I start thinking what I managed to do that year and what I lost... This year I lost a very close person, she passed away, but she will stay with me in my memory. It's always about life and death, people are born, others pass away. But it is just not easy to accept the second part... Although, life goes on, I can not change what has happened, I just want to post something for her here, for her and all others. And this is the song by Katie Melua for them, and, first of all, to my father:
Today is the first day when Belsat, the alternative TV run by Polish TV company start working. I've decided to see the website of it and was surised in a positive way, as I saw my photo there! It's nice!
And here is the original:
Today I've rediscovered about Katie Melua thanks to Junior Eurovision where she was invited to. I've found out that she is from Gergia, that she is only 22 and she is really brilliant. I found this video of her filmed in Nov 2007, she speaks about the UK, immigrants and her familly. She is a brave and gifted girl:)
P.S. I've already ordered two CDs of her!
I am so happy to announce that today for the second time in the history Belarusian participant won Junior Eurovision Song Contest! Congratulations Aliaksei Zhyhalkovich!
Here is the winner of 2007:
And just to remind you the winner of 2005 - Kseniya Sitnik
After sitting for hours in front of the computer one feels really tired, eyes, neck and generally whole body needs some exercises. And when I read information about different clever devices which help to relax, I feel really in the mood to buy them strait away! Although, I don't have all money of the world so I really have to be selective.
For example, just look at this Human Touch HT 7450 Zero Gravity Massage Chair! It has everything I need right now:) The chair for sensual body massage for relaxation. As the ad on the website of the producer says: "there's a way to escape the soreness, tension and fatigue caused by the effects of Earth's gravity constantly pulling the back." I don't think one would start flying strait away, like without any gravity (even in the ad the company says it's not possible), but I am quite sure that the relieve from the back pain and neck pain will be.
A two-day congress of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), a major opposition party in Belarus, began at the culture palace of the Minsk Automobile Factory on December 8. - Naviny.by reported
It's an interesting even, because this congress will elect a new chairperson of this oppositional party. At the moment the two leading canditates Viacorka and Michalevic (on the photo) got almost equal results, 118 and 110 votes correspondingly. Both are less than 50% + 1 vote, therefore there will be one more voting round tomorrow. I just hope that this voting tomorrow will change something in the country to the better.
Charity organisations of one of the German cities (Friedrichshafen) help to Polatsk. One more thing I found really funny and kind, Karl Frenkel (I hope I spelled it correctly) bouth chocolates to every citizen of the city, one chocolate for one person:)!
I cann't stop myself from writting about it:))) Tomorrow there will be this year Junior Eurovision 2007 and there will be our boy present:) Here on the main page of the official website one can watch last years winners and Ksieniya Sitnik among them:)
When economy at the background is in stagnation, the president is giving interviews to foreign mass media. This time it was El Pais. Click on the title to see the article in Spanish. In short, he wants some compromise with the EU, but he does not like the language of ultimatum. My question was and is, can we trust him? And what are the other options? It's not so easy to answer if you look deeper into the Belarusian politics. The following few months will be really challenging and maybe, I say maybe, changing something in Belarusian economy and in the long term perspective Belarusian politics. God bless Belarus, give its people some wisdom and strength.
I've read the overview of the last week news and one phrase captured my attention:
"резкое снижение цен на рынке недвижимости происходит только при экономических и политических катаклизмах" what means "sudden drop down in the prices at the real estate market happens only when there are economic and politic cataclysms"
The indicator is not a good one in my opinion. I am really afraid of the economic catastrophy in Belarus next year, but hopefully it will be somehow good for the people. Some shocks bring people back to the reality.
This is the message I am trying to bring to people around since I've started my research of this topic. The explosion of Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant in 1986 changed lifes of millions... Many people died, even more are ill and nobody knows what can happen later.
At the same time the organisation which could bring this issue to the public and not really doing it... The background of this story of Conflicts of Interest(see full article):
"In 1959, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Health Organization(WHO) entered into an working agreement which is out-of-date and conflicts with the research of the WHO to determine the effects of ionizing radiation exposure on human health. We are concerned that the language of this agreement (WHA 12.40 approved by the 12th World Health Assembly on 28 May 1959) mingles promotion of nuclear technology, including nuclear power, with the WHO’s mandate to undertake international health research work on people exposed to ionizing radiation-a product of this same nuclear technology."
There are already many films about the consequences of Chernobyl, for example, here there 18 fims in French, check especially those which are marked as "A voir absolument". I've just watched "Le soleil et la mort: Tchernobyl, et après..." or "Sun and Death: Chernobyl and After". The film was made last year by a French director. Also, I would recomment to watch films by Wladimir Tcherkoff (for example, check this 2 min summary in French). One more very imortant fiml is Chernobyl Heart, which I think I have mentioned in my previous posts (you can watch it on YouTube in 4 parts). And also check out the book by a photographer Pierpaolo Mittica "Chernobyl - hidden legacy" (you can try to find it cheaper here).
Thanks for reading this and spreading the word!
On the 14th of Nov Belarus was choosing best model for Ford SuperModel competions. The attention is very hight since in the last two competions of the Supermodel of the World Belarusian girls were taking top places.
This year it was Viktoryia Makhota, the First runner-up, some people even say that she did not get the Supermodel of the World 2007 title because of her age, she was 14 then.
Last year it was Katsiaryna Damankova, who is the Supermodel of the World 2006. So, of course, the public wants more victories.
And the winner in Belarus this year is Daria Aniskova. You can see the photoshooting here. But, what is funny , it turned out, that Belarusian men don't like our models! LOL! They are too skinny for them:)
Speaking about men's wives. There was an information action today, organised by an NGO to show that familly life is not always nice and some men beat they wives. Three girl in the wedding dresses were going around the city and giving out some matherials. They had also very colourful make up with bruises.
I've been watching Russian Star Factory where they have a belarusian singer this year again. Last one, who won the contest, was Dzima Kaldun (or Dima Koldun in Russian), then he went to Eurovision 2007 and got the 6th (?) place hoping that Belarus would be finally in the final for the next year. As we know now, Eurovistion 2008 will be with new rules. Therefore, Belarus is again in the one of two semifinals...
Here is his performance at Eurovision with Spanish intro:)
Well, before Kaldun, it was Nata Padolskaya, who wanted to sing for Belarus in the year 2004 I think (or 2003), she didn't make it and went to Star Factory (she was the first one from Belarus, as I remember now). Then in 2005 she performed finally at Eurovision, but representing Russia. I was then in Kyiv to see the consert, I would recomment to everyone to visit it! :) Returning to Nata, she got the unlucky 11th place and Russia had to be in the semifinal in 2006. But still I think she is really gifted girl:) here is her clip for the Eurovision:
So, speaking about these two, I've just read that they had a concert in Russia in October to support Edinaya Rossia, the Putin party. Kaldun says he doesn't care about the politics... It's sad, it's really sad, as I thing he should be responsible for his actions, same for Nata. But if they support Putin, as Belarusian citizens though, that's their choice.
In Belarus over the last week there was a big public resonnace over the meeting of the artists from the so called black list with Aleh Pralaskouski, who is the head of the ideological department (yeah, it exists!) of the President Administraion. There were told that the list will disappear if they will stay away from politics... This is the over side of the medal, you can be promoting politicians, but the right ones.
NRM, for example, quite often sings in Poland instead, especially at actions to support Belarus, like Solidar with Belarus:
Speaking about Eurovision 2008, some people say that Ruslan Alekhno will be representing Belarus, I would be happy actually:) He is also one the products of the Russian Show Business. He one one of the Russian Pop Idols (Narodnyj Artist). I love this performance of him on Slavianski Bazar:
And now I've just realised what made me think of posting this info. Dakota, or Marharyta Herasimovich, is one the participants of the current the 7th Star Factory and today she went to the final:) She write her own songs, including both lirycs and music. Good luck, girl! Some videos of her:
I love this video. First moments, cafe, like so many in vienna, dances... love, hate, relationship story. And, Meladze, he is a good singer imho:) I guess due to his Georgian background, very often in his clips he has Georgian looking girls, which are very nice:)
After my class of Economic applications of EU integration and a group work on econometrics of EU stats from 1970s I've just watched this video. It shows an example of Canada, how the industry can collapse if it's based on natural resources and also discusses if it's really important to look at the GDP numbers all the time. Basically, social, economic and environmental progress shoulb be also measured - this is the main idea of the video.
I've just read a news about statistics, but not just usual staff, the numbers of people who died for several reasons in Belarus over the last 9 months. I could never think of those numbers and now I see them and I am shocked. It's not a secrete that the number of people who have died from cancer is somehow hidden behind the other illnesses, but there are other very important ones. Just think of it, over the last 9 months 2,127 commited suicide!!! That's not normal, I mean, of course it depends on the perseption, but it's just not OK at all. In the country with the population of about 10mln you can not have 2 thousand of suicides in 9 months, do people loose any hope for peace and harmony in this life? I AM shocked! Next number - 1,767 died from alcohol poisoning... No comments, really I have nothing else to add. And the population of this country is shrinking...
I've got an email from a friend today with this story. In short, the pseudoartist from Costa Rica, his name is Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, exposed an old dog in the Managui gallery (Nicaragua). This dog had no food and no water and died. The visitors did not care. Moreover, the guy was promoted for the "dying exponate" to participate in the Bienal Centroamericana Hondura 2008. If you think it's cruel, please, sign a petition against it here: www.petitiononline.com. Personally, I can not understand how it could happen.
You might be surprised when you see this title, but this is what I though of when I saw the website dealing with the different solutions for garages, including garage floors and different colours. It looks amazing, it's really room where one could live. I've never seen something like that before, maybe in the Holliwood movies:) All the garages I saw would have just have some cement floor with several shelves on the walls, it is rather minimalistic approach, but most of the people are like that. However, I really like the idea to make it cosy;)
P.S. This post is brough to you by Carguygarage.com.
Today, I woke up early, meaning at 10 a.m., it's really rather early for the morning. One can ask why? Hmm, we started a new tradition to wake up early on Sundays and to have breakfast together in a nice place where they have lots of options! And it was tasty, fun and cheap. And I could not just pass the Christmas market on the way back, so I have more nice and cute things now! Well, I will better work now.
The Christmas is approaching slowly, althouh it's still more that one month to go, people are already in the shopping mood. I've got some gifts on the Facebook, which I will be able to open only on Christmas and I went to a Christmas market today!
Althoug it's always great to go shopping, since these days it's rather cold and wet, it's so nice to have inet and to be able to shop online! I love online shopping, all the shops are open 27 hours a day! I need few things to buy sooner or later, a new camera and a new laptop. Uff, the prices are not very low, so any discounts and coupons would be really usefull. There is a variety of places where one can find them. For example, I really like Hallmark (till the end of Nov it gives 20% off!), DELL has lots of discounts and many others, you just start searching and can not stop! :)
There are some good news also! Finally, from the 1st of Jan the stamp in the Belarusian passport to allow you to travel will be abolished. Well, one can think that now Belarusians can not travel at all:) No, it's not quite true. It basically means that the list of people who are not allowed to leave the country is ready and the border police will have and consult during the border control. So, now the passports might be checked even more carefully.
Despite this brilliant news, there was another even today to which I wanna react. Natalia Alekseeva, Russian ans Swedish citizen, was not allowed to enter Belarus in the Minsk airport. She was forced to leave the country with the canceled enstrance stamp which she got in the beginning and with another stamp - entrance forbidden. She represents a Swedish NGO. The reason of this action my be in her participation in the spring this year in the Democratic Congress in Belarus.
I ask myself how is it possible and I have no answer. When you are young freedom is one of the essential things you value. And then, when you foced to live within the limits set up by some (really looking for a nice word, but only bad ones come to my mind) officials, you feel like in prison. I really want young Belarusians and Belarusians in general to be able to go anywhere in the world, therefore I do hope that my state will abolish all stupid laws and rules which limit this freedom and will concentrate on the improvement of the Belarusian economy and start negociation to abolish visum in Europe for Belarusians. Uff, it sounds like a plan of action! I would be happy if they would listen to the citizens.
I am really tired to go agains the stream. It is so difficult to do something first on your own and at the same time to explain to people why it is important to do. One persone can not change the whole world, that's no doubts. One persone can change a bit "public opinion". There is one thing I can not understand, why are people afraid of new things, why don't they do something, what does not cost them anything... Ufff, people are lazy, ignorant and selfish... quite often. But I still hope most of them are nice, kind, active and know what solidarity means.
In the centre of the capital there are radiactive block, people walk there every day! One could say that the level of radiativity is not high, but it is dangerous! I have NO words...
I am reading news about the situation in Georgia and I try to understand what is standing behind it. I have to say that I am not an expert, I just try to analyse and guess what is going on. There are two sides of the coin, there are too positions in this issue. Russia claims that Saakashvili wants to keep the power and makes clever steps in order to maintain it at the same time "provoking Russians" (3 Russian diplomats were sent out of Georgia yesterday as persona-non-grata). On the other site I can imagine that Russian special forces are interfering into the domestics politics of the neighboring country. What is definitely clear, people don't want and don't like violence. My question is will they remember about Saakashvili's violence with the demonstrators or rather the Russian troops in Abkhazia in early 1990s and now?
If you don't know what happened and what are the consequences of Chernobyl watch this 40 min film. I could not do it without tears, it is really sad story, but one should watch it in oder to be aware what the earth faces nowadays. It's not just radioactivity, it's also human lifes, lifes of children... The official website of the film is here: www.chernobylheart.com.
