Words of a Broken Mirror

Three Years of Blogging

2008-01-27T15:00:00.000+02:00

I started Words of a Broken Mirror three years ago! I can hardly believe so much time has passed since then. I wrote a couple of posts in Romanian, then switched to English. It was a good way to practice and allowed more people to interract with me. And this was a great choice. Cause I met the most amazing people from all over the world. You can meet them too, just browse through my blogroll!

Last year in May, my wonderfull friend and sister by choice Trisi got a .com domain as a present on my name's day and I built a new home for WOBM over there. But as this blogger page was home to my ideas, torments, songs playing in my mind, to my happyness and sorrows, to my friends' comments for so long, I kept it going long after it went out of page rank (let's all thank Google again for their nice little algorythm).

It is however time to move on. It's impossible to keep both blogs running and provide meaningful and frequent content given my generally crazy schedule which apparently is going to stay busy for ever. I won't delete the posts or restrict visits in any way. This is where my blogger identity was born and it still is a great place to look through forgotten little thoughts and happenings.

I will keep posting on my photoblog, I won't transfer anywhere for now. So keep going back to see the Views of a Broken Mirror posted daily (at least that's what I want to achieve there).

I hope this change won't turn you into strangers and that you'll continue to drop by and see what's new on WOBM. I know I'll keep meeting amazing people over there and continue the amazing experience I've started three years ago in the blogosphere. See you all around!

P.S. On this bloggiversary, I give you one of my favorite songs: Depeche Mode, Precious. Enjoy!

Precious and fragile things
Need special handling
My God what have we done to You?

We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put You through...

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for You

If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's Your eyes He's seeing through

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

I pray You learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in Your heart for two

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli: Time to say goodbye

2008-01-10T10:06:00.000+02:00

Given a certain decision I've made late last night, this song comes to my mind. It seems the best way to start saying goodbye to a virtual little place that's been my home for so long.
Sarah:: Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
si lo so che non c'è luce
in una stanza quando manca il sole,
se non ci sei tu con me, con me.
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hai accesso,
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada.
: Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
it's time to say goodbye. -- con te io li vivrò.

Andrea:: Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me,
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me,
mio sole tu sei qui con me,
con me, con me, con me.
: Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,

Both:: con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
: Io con te.

The Tea Party - Release

2008-01-09T14:32:00.000+02:00

This song of the day is inspired by Sarah. Thank you :)

I want the world to wake
I want to give you peace
I want to vindicate
You need to be released

Don't want to hurt you
I need to make you see
If I desert you
Its just to make you see

That I'm a man that's weak
And I'm a man that's lost
I give it all away
To complicate the cost

Don't want to hurt you
I need to make you see
If I desert you
Its just to make you see
I'm not going to hurt you now
I need to make you see
If I desert you now
Its just to make you see

I want you to be free
I want you to be free from me

Learn a Few Things about Where You Place Your Bets

2008-01-09T13:24:00.000+02:00

I have never been a big fan of gambling. Still I cannot ignore it is a hobby for a lot of people and a serious illness for some. The truth of the matter is there are people jumping on planes on Friday and traveling to a country where gambling is legal and spending Saturday and Sunday indulging themselves.

So, if people gamble, the should choose where they gamble wisely. So why spend money getting there (by car, taxi or something else) when you could try playing your favorite game online? And as I believe in informed decisions, the best place to start is a site providing information on any online casino you might think of. You can then safely evaluate your options and afterwards forget about everything and just enjoy yourself.

Why would a specialized site be needed to get online casino reviews? Well, there are over 3000 such casinos out there, each with pros and cons. Reviewing them all personally would actually be a huge waste of time. So my advice, if you really want to gamble, play wisely!

And Another Tag

2007-12-14T13:34:00.000+02:00

Bogdan tagged me a long time ago. But I failed to complete this tag due to well, time related issues and then completely forgetting about it. I'm catching up now :D

BEST
1. Male friend: Ryan and Chief at the moment
2. Female friend: Cristina, Cristina, Ana, Trisi, Mig, Mishu, Oana
3. Vacation: those I had this year - Turkey, Greece, the Netherlands
4. Age: 25
5. Memory: Loads of them, it would take ages to write them down.

WORST
1. Time of day: 13.00 - I get back from lunch, am extremely tired and would only want to run home and sleep
2. Day of the week: Monday, quite a cliche in there
3. Food: Fish, any kind of it
4. Memory: my breakups, deaths of loved ones, loosing friends

LAST
1. Person you saw: My colleagues from work
2. Person you talked to on the phone: Some guy wanted me to sponsor an event
3. Hugged: My D
4. Text messaged: Same as above
5: IM: Cristina

YESTERDAY
1. What did you do: Work, incredible Dance Party that I will post about in the weekend, more work, dr. House, sleep
2. Who were you with: coworkers, friends, D
3. Bad/Good day: Excellent Day
4. Lose something: Not this time
5. Fall out with someone: neither

TODAY
1. What are you doing now: Working/blogging
2. Today in general: Working, more work after work :D
3. Wearing: blouse, jeans, snickers, pretty sporty dress code
4. What did you eat for lunch: Nothing interesting, I feel bad because of it :)
5. Better than yesterday: nope

TOMORROW
1. Is: Saturday
2. Got any plans: handle some bills, go to see mom, go to see dad and wife, shopping for winter shoes as it's snowing and I'm still in sneakers.
3. Getting Lucky: I sure hope so, it's the weekend
4. Dislikes about tomorrow: I also have to work a lot...
5. Do you have work: 2 white papers and some funnier things

FAVORITES
1. Number: 3
2. Song: Supergirl
3. Colour: Red
4. Season: summer
5. State: the Netherlands, Turkey, Romania and many more. Would actually prefer to move around.

CURRENTLY
1. With someone: Yup, taken
2. Missing someone: A lot of people actually
3. Mood: a bit tired
4. Wanting: For the weekend!!!

Anyone interested in taking the tag? :D

WOBM News

2007-12-10T06:04:00.000+02:00

Since uploading all the photos I would like to share with you would take quite a while, I have changed my plans regarding Views of a Broken Mirror. So, instead of trying to post all photos related to a certain event once, I will post one photo a day.

I am sure it will take less time to complete posting, as one photo is not as scary as needing to post about a hundred at a time. So keep your eyes on my photoblog, as I've just started the Amsterdam series!

Online Hotel Reservations

2007-12-04T16:58:00.000+02:00

Yes, I always support online booking sites when it comes to hotel reservations. That is why I’m telling you more on this particular site that you can use to book your stay anywhere in the world. It has intuitive search options, nice categories by regions and countries and it is available in several languages.

I like how HotelReservations.com evolved to become easier to use and more friendly-looking. Check it out when you have the time!

What to Read on the Romanian Blogosphere

2007-12-04T16:34:00.000+02:00

I trust Zu's recommendations when it comes to books and blogs to read. I've tested them a few times and I was convinced they are always pointing to something really worth my time. So here is a list for the lucky ones who can read texts in Romanian. This is my very own selection of Zu recommendations:

Enjoy everybody!

Everything Optics

2007-12-04T15:38:00.000+02:00

Optics Planet is an absolute paradise for binoculars, monoculars, telescopes or microscopes lovers around the world. When visiting this site, they can also congregate with those with different passions, from laser sights to magnifiers. Anything related to optics is here, no matter how outdates some might find some of these items.

As it is so large, Optics Planet comes with very intuitive categories. If you choose products based on their brand, you can have all the 200 brands the site advertises displayed and then browse through. If you have other strategies of selection, try searching through the product categories or take a peak at all the departments or store sections as they are also called. Anyway, I can’t see what optics item one ever wanted and not find here.

This is a sponsored post

Murder on the Dancefloor

2007-11-29T10:12:00.000+02:00

Today's song of the day goes to D and I for taking dancing lessons together :P Sophie Ellis Bextor - Murder on the Dancefloor

It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

Oh, I know I know I know I know I know I know
About your kind
And so and so and so and so and so and so
I'll have to play

If you think you're getting away
I will prove you wrong
I'll take you all the way
Boy, just come along
hear me when I say
Hey

It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
Hey, hey
It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not steal the moves
Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

Oh I know I know I know I know I know I know
There may be others
And so and so and so and so and so and so
You'll just have to pray

If you think you're getting away
I will prove you wrong
I'll take you all the way
Stay another song
I'll blow you all away
Hey

It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
Hey, hey
It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not steal the moves
DJ, gonna turn this house around somehow
Murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
Hey, hey
It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not steal the moves
Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

Don't think you'll get away
I will prove you wrong
I'll take you all away
Boy just come along
Here me when I say
Hey

It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not steal the moves
DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not kill the groove
Hey, hey
It's murder on the dancefloor
But you better not steal the moves
DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

It's murder on the dancefloor
(On the dancefloor)
But you better not kill the groove
Hey, hey
It's murder on the dancefloor
(On the dancefloor)
But you better not steal the moves
DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know...

Randomly talking about myself

2007-11-28T17:51:00.001+02:00

A while ago, Safiya asked me to tell her a few things about me. Randomly chosen, no real given direction. So after a long time, I am finally doing what I promised her.

- I really cannot watch horror movies. I am too afraid and get way too scared. And when I am dragged to see one, everybody who's with me laughs at me. My jumping off the chair in fear is actually quite hilarious.

- I started taking Latino dancing lessons. With a tango twist :)

- I am back to daily reading habits. When I quit that, I feel really awful.

- I want to children: a boy and a girl. But I am also likely to have twins (family thingie). What if they have the same sex? I have not decided what to do in that case.

- I am addicted to milk with chocolate. It's the only thing I drink at work.

- I dream of having my own business and making it work :D I also have more specific plans on this issue, but will share them later on :P

- I have a lot of online friends that I haven't met in person and I can't wait to do so sometime, hopefully in the not so distant future.

Anyone else feels like sharing?

Yestearday's Song of the Day

2007-11-28T11:51:00.000+02:00

You think you're smart
You're not, it's plain to see
That you want me to follow
It's killing me let's see
You've got the gall
Come take it all

The jury is coming
Coming to tear me apart
All this bitching and moaning
Come on it's on

I'm trapped in this world
Lonely and fading
Heartbroke and waiting
For you to come
We are stuck in this world
That's not meant for me
For me

So what you got
One last shot
It seems to me
That you're not needed
Come on
It's killing me let's see
You got the gall
Come take it all

The jury is coming
coming to tear me apart
All this bitching and moaning
Come on it's on

I'm trapped in this world
Lonely and fading
Heartbroke and waiting
For you to come
We are stuck in this world
That's not meant for me
For me

I'm trapped in this world
Lonely and fading
Heartbroke and waiting
For you to come
We are stuck in this world
That's not meant for me
For me

I'm trapped in this world
Lonely and fading
Heartbroke and waiting
For you to come
We are stuck in this world
That's not meant for me

For me
For me

Queen of the Damned Soundtrack - Not Meant For Me

It's a Crazy World we Live in!

2007-11-27T10:34:00.000+02:00

Well, at least those of us living in Romania. Here's a piece of news reported by Bogdan (in Romanian): Two 30 year olds have been taken to the police station and fines with about 150 EUR for.....the crime of all crimes!!!...swinging in a park!!! Yes, people, the dared use the swings in the park.

When was this prohibited? I have never seen signs for NO SWINGING...The couple is now trying to get the fine annulled.

So, all the rapists, murderers, thieves and all other types of wrong-doers are caught and are now being punished, therefore, two people swinging in a park are the top priority of the Romanian Police! All thumbs down please.

Things like these are why I laugh so hard when I see the Police slogan: "Safety and Trust". Right!

Europe Needs the Immigrants it Resents

2007-11-26T11:42:00.000+02:00

Being a Romanian, I know a lot about discrimination and rage against those coming to work in countries such as the UK, Italy, Spain and many more. Western Europe seems to be so much against new comers, it always overlooks its own interests in having immigrants there. I could tell them their wrong. All the decent hardworking immigrants might say the same. I doubt they'll take our word on it.

Now, the Economist comes to say the same thing. Will they listen?

In truth the bad demographic outlook of much of western and eastern Europe will make the continent increasingly reliant on foreign labour. And one irony is that, for all the current fretting about too many foreigners, a chronic shortage of suitable workers may be felt most acutely in the countries that seem most hostile to outsiders. Germany has kept its labour markets closed to new EU members until 2011, but it now admits to a skills shortage. This month it eased the restrictions on migrant workers in the mechanical and electrical-engineering industries.
Immigration already accounts for most of the limited population growth in Europe. Ageing populations, combined with the natives' lack of ability, or inclination, to do many jobs, mean that more foreign workers are likely to be needed. By one estimate Europe's native-born workforce will shrink by 44m by the middle of the century. Skilled workers will be in especially short supply. Those calling most fiercely for foreigners to go home may come to regret what they wished for.

Linus Torvalds vs. Chuck Norris

2007-11-23T11:20:00.000+02:00

You all know how Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice. What you don't know is that Linus Torvalds is better than Chuck! If you don't believe me, see what I got on my Fun mail list at work:

Guns don’t kill people. Chuck Norris kills People.
vs.
Linus Torvalds can run kill -9 and kill Chuck Norris.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.
vs.
There is no theory of probability, just a list of events that LinusTorvalds allows to occur.

What do you think? I think "There can be only one!" and Linus will be the survivor :)

Thinking of Getting a New Home in the UK?

2007-11-23T10:13:00.000+02:00

As EU is getting closer and closer to becoming what it ideally thinks it is, a place where its citizens can decide freely where to work and live, a lot of new potential homes are on the market for us, Romanians.

Today, I’ll talk a bit about UK, where discrimination and ignorance seems to be a lot less concerning than in our Latin-rooted sister, Italy (yes, I am one of those who cut Italy of their travel map, business and pleasure altogether). Besides, given the high importance schools have chosen to give the English language after the Revolution, we know a lot about the UK. A lot of us know the language, have a pretty good idea about the historical and cultural environment, therefore there’s a big chance for us to feel at home there.

So, if you decide to spend 2008 in the UK, WelcomeHome is the place to start if you’re looking to buy or rent a place. If you already know which region you’re going to stay in, use the map search to find out more about renting or buying options. If geography is not that good of a friend and you have no idea to what region the cities you’re interested in belong, just use the Advanced search options and just type its name.

WelcomeHome can show you all the details you need on flats to buy in Liverpool or houses to buy in Sheffield or even houses to buy in Brighton. But if you’re a little financially challenged when it comes to putting the whole amount together in a few days, maybe their mortgage section can help.

Why should you choose them and not a local real estate agency? Well, local agencies’ expertise stops at local. If you want to move a bit further on the map, their help might turn out to be limited. WelcomHome targets such needs by employing a comprehensive database of over 12,000 UK based estate agents. Also, if you’re new at getting your own place, their property news and property guides will give you a clue about what you’re dealing with.

The service looks pretty good to me. You have all possible options, a lot of details and a lot of search options. But, and there is a but, they should really fix their nasty search error that I’ve encountered today when trying to play with their advanced options. See I love London, and I’d really like to see what the city has to offer in what flats to rent are concerned :)

Also, WelcomHome is a great name. It makes you feel at ease and forget about all the fuss it takes to move from one place to another. It makes you think of the result: a new found home. But I think the site needs warmer colors to sustain the feeling its name generates. Other than that, thumbs up, guys!

Show Everything about Blogging Meme

2007-11-19T11:07:00.000+02:00

Just to show Google I really couldn't care less about their new algorithm and the fact that it got me to PR0, I am getting into this lovely meme that Mig tagged me with. There are lots of reasons for blogging and lots of interesting blogs. So what better way to spread them than an ongoing lists of blogs, blogger names and interesting posts? So I've joined the list and welcome you to do just the same. But beware, such blogging practices can cause your PR to drop! :D

**Start Copy Here**

We have a voice;
We must be heard;
Therefore we blog;
Now spread the word!

This meme is based on a recent post that was conducted asking the question “Why do you Blog?” and the rewrite “Why do you Blog? - Reworked.” The purpose of this meme is to tell our tales by spreading the reasons that we blog to as many sites as possible. We get to explain ourselves, direct traffic to our site and highlight our most important, most representative or most relevant post in an SEO favorable format. This will be a positive experience for everyone who wants to get involved. This will enable you to create a short advertisement for your site that will be spread across the blogesphere; a growing directory of blogs.

This is an open meme. You do not have to be tagged to join in. All you have to do is follow the rules.

Please let me know when you have added your site by leaving a comment on “Complete List” with a link to your post. This will insure an up-to-date list, giving you even greater distribution. You then have the option of copying the growing list back to your site.

Rules:

Create an inventive post title
Write a brief introduction to the meme.
Copy from “**Start Copy Here**” through “**End Copy Here**”
Paste into your post
At the end of the “*list*”, before “**End copy here**”, please add your name, site name (with link), a very brief description (2-3 sentences) of why you blog, and your most important, most representative, or most relevant post (with link.)
Tag at least 5 others to participate.
Leave a comment and a link to your post on “Complete List”

*List*
My name is Mel and I am the Author of Attitude, the Ultimate Power, aka Monday Morning Power. I blog because I am passionate about happiness and living in the moment. I want to spread the concept that we are in control of our own lives and can choose how we act and react. My site is focused on the Pursuit, Capture, Care and Feeding of a Positive Mental Attitude. One of my most representative posts is “Happiness Vs. Human Nature.”

I am Max and I offer weekly articles on MAX. Why do I blog? I do it because I want to share my thoughts with you guys. I present a new and interesting way of transmitting philosophical thoughts: funny, engaging and intriguing! My funniest, yet intriguing, post is "Don't you just love People?"

I am the Great and Powerful Baba Doodlius. My 100% factual blog The Thoughts and Sayings Of Baba Doodlius is intended to educate all of you curious readers about the Truth behind the Great Secrets of the Universe. I have the Truth! Can you handle the Truth? For a sample of my powers of enlightenment, read my Revelation of the terrible secret of Bigfoot, aka Don't get stepped on.

My name is Amelia and I am the Author of Amel's Realm. I blog because I need to voice everything in my world so that I won't explode. My site is all about thoughts, experiences, fears, problems, misadventures, hopes, and dreams of an introverted tropical girl in a foreign land (Finland). One of my most representative posts is On Trust and Relationship.

I am Geoff of Geoffandcarley.com and I blog for reasons as diverse and as fickle as my moods. Mostly I blog because I'm firmly convinced I've figured a few things out and that the world will benefit from my experience the same way I've benefited from others' experiences. One post that I feel captures my emotional involvement and my ire (but not my humor as much) is Decision time.

My name is Judy and I am the Author of ~~Sugar Queen's Dream~~. I blog because it's cheap therapy and I have something to say. I feel my most powerful post is called “The Myths of Smoking......”

My name is Sindi and I have written a blog entitled Life is a roller coaster!. My blog is based on the ups and downs of everyday life. I started blogging because I was going through some hard times and I wanted to meet new people to talk to. I like to write and was hoping people might enjoy reading what I have to say. I think the most inspiring post I have written to date is We Effect So Many.

People call me the Midgetmanofsteel (although I’m neither a midget, nor made of steel). I am the sole author the blog Mental Poo: a mostly true and humorous account of things that have happened to me, are happening to me, or are just filling my head and taking up valuable space where images of women should be. You can get a sneak peek into my mess of a brain by reading “Raisins are People” – a true account of my son’s first field trip.

My name is Sandee and I have a blog called Comedy Plus. My blog is just for fun, and I started it to poke fun about everyday life. My reason for blogging is to have fun and meet new friends. I have done both beyond my wildest dreams. I have posted lots of jokes, but when ask what my favorite joke is, I always pick Anger Management.

My name is Lynda. I blog to as a way to expose my writings and to spread my knowledge on the subject of love. My primary blog (I have 15) is lynda's loft. My favorite piece would be I LOVE..... I have over 300 original poems and posts dealing with the wonderful and painful world of love. I love love!

My name Adrian, although most of you probably know me as the Mighty Genie King. I am the author First Time Dad. I started blogging as a way to document my growing up pains as my wife and I raise our daughter. I hope that one day my daughter will be able to look at this and get an idea what life was like "back then". Now I blog about everything but the main focus is still the same! One of my favorite posts is Goodnight Sweetheart! Hello Basil! Eh...Who's Basil...

Hello, my name is Ann and I'm the author of A Nice Place in the Sun. I blog because I care about people and want to make them happy. My site is focused on humorous, inspiring, and nostalgic posts about life, children, and memories. My most representative post, or the post where I'm most myself is "The Craziest Experience Of My Life."

We are a team of writers, and everyone calls us NAFA, so that would be our name. We are the proud authors of NAFASG©™ - United And Dedicated Behind You™. Blogging, to us, is a form of spreading useful information and sharing our knowledge to every part of the world in order to contribute to the betterment of our global community. The post that we feel would be representative of our blog and the global community at large is The Sociological Interaction.

Hola! This is Mariuca and I blog because writing is what makes me whole. I write about anything under the sun from life, love, friends to cats and work. I tend to write best when under pressure and my personal favourite post from Mariuca is Love in Disarray.

My name is Susan and I am the Owner of ~~Wake up America ~~, which is a political, right leaning blog. I blog because I believe we need more voices out there to separate fact from fiction, to support our troops and to high light the lack of ethics from journalists today. I feel my most powerful post is called "Are You Proud to be an American......"

"Here I am :-) My name is Mauro and I'm the author of 1 Million Love Messages ... maybe the biggest love challenge in the blogosphere. Why I blog ??? Because I believe that bloggers can make a difference in the world. That's my challenge! My favourite post it's (for sure) Adam Donkus & Lizzie's Love History."

Hi there World I am Aussie, the author of Little Aussie Cynic and I want to Breathe among others. I was recently asked:"Why Do you Blog?" this takes me back to the beginning... I started blogging in an attempt to get people thinking, using my cynical humour as a tool to make people laugh, think and at times get the blood pumping.... Each of my Blogs takes in a little peice of my varied personality but the one which discribes me best would have to be There is Always a Natural Way the latest edition to the Aussie Cynic Family...

I am Zubli Zainordin, in Total Happiness, I organize the Book Project blog and co-author Santa's Community Blog and Hall Of Fame Blog. I blog with the purpose of documenting about my self for my own reference, my future generations and friends who prefer to know me. I also share vital and valuable information entirely on total happiness. I believe in Santa Claus and I share the Spirit of Christmas within this Blog World. In addition I promote bloggers, their blogs, and invite them to share their blogging experiences, and together with Shinade, I review their blogs and award them with the Zubli and Shinade Recommended Read awards. Those who continuously show continuous blogging improvements shall be residence of the Hall Of Fame blog.

Hi, My name is Janice Ng & I'm the miracle mum from "This is a miracle". I started to blog to document the foot steps of my 2 boys : Amos & Zachary. With this blog, they are able to look back what they have been through: their joy, excitement, laughter, fighting, crying, screaming... etc when they grow up. One of my favourite post is "The loving brothers" on how the 2 brothers showed they tenderly care through a piece of strawberry cake!!

The internet world knows me by LadyJava. My first blog, "how to make money online" was actually the reason why I started blogging. I wanted to share to the world that I was making online share my experience about it. However I enjoyed blogging so much that the habit quickly caught on and I began writing a few other blogs as well. This blog, however, is by far my favorite blog as I've made many friends from all over the world and I continue blogging as an avenue for me to share my life with friends and would-be friends. My favorite post is "Coffee and Me" as I am officially a coffee addict.

I don't know why I ever started blogging. I think it was an experiment. My business blog was created as a response to customer questions. All my other blogs, and I have too many to list them here, came into existence because it was too difficult to create just one blog to cover so many dreams and ideas. So now you know: I blog to share dreams. I do it with Pamil Visions Tutorials and I do it with Romania Simply Surprising. And sharing dreams will never stop... This list shares dreams too. And I am happy to be part of a collective dream. We can change the world when we dream together.

I blog because these past 'almost' three years of blogging have made me incapable to live without it :) I blog to express myself, to spread news about what I love, what interests me, which mostly consists of my country, PR, Marketing, IT, tourism, lots of travel and tourism and the list could go on. I started blogging as Kayla Vincent and then switched to my real name, Alina Popescu. I write on or for many blogs, Words of a Broken Mirror (on blogspot) and the new .com WOBM, Views of a Broken Mirror and Girls Blogosphere Club, to name a few.

**End Copy Here**

Ashop's Shopping Cart Software

2007-11-15T13:41:00.001+02:00

If selling products online is a business must for you, you will definitely need help putting up an effective e-store to make your customer's life easier and take less of their time when purchasing. A comprehensive e-commerce tool also helps you save money and time as it no longer takes ages to set up. Therefore a shopping cart software application will always come in handy. Regardless of how experienced and large your web development team is, a simpler solution will help them focus on other projects which might me more urgent and harder to externalize

Ashop.com. offers a web based application to help you to create your site's shopping cart effortlessly. Offering a fully customizable design, the solution has a free trial of 10 days and during this testing period, you also benefit from live sales assistance. If you need to a confirmation for this solutions' quality, this search-engine friendly ecommerce software has also been awarded by Fuji Xerow at the 2006 My Business Awards. By checking their list of features, I noticed they have had ease of use in mind when building their application. The number of features they offer is quite large, but I think it's worth taking your time and figuring out everything they can do.

I recommend checking the tips and tricks posted on the site and spend 10 days testing this shopping cart software .

Entry brought by Ashop.

What Romanians Do For Italy

2007-11-06T13:33:00.000+02:00

There's been a lot of hate and rage towards Romanians living in Italy these days. Mostly because some are dangerous creeps. But apart from these few villains, what are the others doing there? Well, according to a 9AM article (in Romanian, sorry), they create revenue adoptive-country Italy.
Yes, they make money for Italy. How much? Well, they contribute about 11.3 million Euros to Italy's gross domestic product. There are about 600,000 Romanians (out of about 4 million foreigners) and they generate 1% of the GDP. And these are only those established there legally. They don't do as much as the Mafia, which contributes about 6%, but they do a pretty good job, don't you think?

Also, it seems like Romanians and other immigrants also work more than Italians. So, when you go about your business of throwing shit at us, Romanians, at those living there, in any kind of field, from football to constructions, think twice.

Where to Look for Romance

2007-11-05T17:40:00.000+02:00

I don't generally look for Romance novels specifically. But some of the best love stories I've ever heard of were in books I've read. Stories of an amazing ability to wait until the loved one is finally by your side, such as Jane Austen's Persuasion, or of love making you mad and getting you to leave your home and family in its pursuit, such as Orhan Pamuk's The New Life.

Although I recommend these series, it does not mean I haven't had my share of genuine romance novels. I had this friend in high-school, Diana, who had a huge collection and she got me into reading a few. What I will always remember is a trilogy by Sandra Donovan. A story of three girls on their search for love. They also run into a lost treasure in the end. Why the books are so important to me? Well, it was my first actual acquaintance with romance literature. And I found the name Kayla there. I loved it so much, I've been using it as a nickname ever since.

I look for romance in different places right now, in novels that do not focus so much on looks, on nice photos on the cover, but I still look for it. Because I think we need it in the end. We need to be reminded of love, of how beautiful it is and of how fairytale like it can turn out to be at times.

Where Has My Google PR Disappeared?

2007-10-27T14:31:00.000+03:00

A lot of bloggers might have asked themselves this very question this week, when Google decided to change their algorithm and make it even harder for sites to have a good PR. I could start telling you why it has all happened, but I'd rather let an expert have a say on this topic.

Mihaela Lica (Mig) has written a comprehensive article on this subject on one of her blogs, Pamil Visions Tutorials. Go ahead and read it, it will surely make things a lot clearer for you. And take her word on this subject: PR is not that important! Take my case, Google PR is dropping while Alexa ranking are improving on both of my blogs.

Latest News on AccomBlog

2007-10-27T06:45:00.000+03:00

Accommodation news are becoming quite a hot topic these days, as more and more of us stop relying on what friends and agencies tell us and we are getting involved in our own research and plan projects before going on a trip. Our time is precious and knowing more details gives us power over it: power to make sure our time is well-spent and power to make the right choice, as not all holiday plans suit everyone's wishes.

The accommodation stories AccomBlog comes to share with as are wrapped in a sunset-like template, summery and warm. While it is nice and the colors are chosen accordingly, I do feel they are limiting their audience a bit. I know I would choose a different place to read about a skiing trip. But the stories themselves, seem to fit the general image they promote: Niagara falls and crazy people jumping from its top, praying to survive, Dubai the very modern city with air-conditioned bus stops or fishing on Hubbard Lake.

All these accommodation updates appear to fancy the unconventional: strange habits tourists have, unusual design, elevators going nowhere and just laying on the street. I think it is the travel blog to go to if you also need a taste of what's different about the place you're going to.

Anti-stress List

2007-10-25T15:54:00.000+03:00

The list below came in the company's jokes folder. It contains easy and crazy/stupid/funny solutions to life's major problems. Read on and enjoy!

If you ever happen to choke on an ice cube, don't panic, just pour a mug of hot water down your throat and the cube will instantly melt.
Are you a wild person? Do you cut your fingers when chopping vegetables? There a great solution for this problem: just ask a friend to hold the vegetables for you while you chop them.
Do not waste your life fighting with the life partner over the toilet seat's position: use the sink!
Is your blood pressure rising? Just cut a bit into your veins and it will instantly drop in less than 2 minutes.
If you place a mouse trap on your alarm clock, you will surely not fall asleep after stopping the alarm!
The best remedy to excessive caughing is a dozen of laxatives, as your body will surely be very affraid to ever start caughing again.
Is your tooth hurting a lot? Just hit your finger with a hammer just as hard and you will completely forget about the aching tooth.
All people seem normal untill you get to know them...
If you wake up and have a hard time breathing...congratulations, you have one more chance!
Be good and loving to friends and relatives, as you never know who you need to help you out with the dirty works when you're stuck in a bed!

A Successful Birthday

2007-10-25T06:00:00.001+03:00

It's still the 24th in the US, for a little while. So there's still time for everybody to contribute a link, a thought or some nice words to Liz's all-day-party organized at Succesful Blog! You won't feel alone, there is a cheerful crowd out there and the comment count is approaching 600.

Liz has also posted some very interesting posts on this blogs and bloggers anniversary party. So I strongly recommend taking a look to todays and yesterday's post. HART, one of the party people over Liz's, has also been keeping track of all these posts (you can find the link among the party comments).

Come and join the wild fun!

Editor's Pick on Travel Stories

2007-10-19T16:16:00.000+03:00

RealTravel is an ever growing community of free travel blogs, trip planner and overall a rich resource of travel information for anyone working on their travel plans. The official travel blog, also know as Editor’s Picks, features some of the best pieces written by travel bloggers.

Take a look for example at today’s choices: a nice piece on Antarctica Cruise Trips, featuring breath-taking photography, and another piece on Pontivy, France. They both explore possibilities in the selected regions and are doing a great job at delivering useful tips to travel readers.

What I think this collective travel blog would need to actually make it stand out better would be a better organization of categories. Right now they mix regions, continents, countries and type of holidays in the same and extremely long list of categories. I think a little tidying up would help users a lot in finding what they are looking for.

This is a sponsored post.

Priority: High - Get the Balance Right

2007-10-17T14:42:00.000+03:00

Theres more besides joyrides
Little house in the countryside
Understand, learn to demand,
Compromise, sometimes lie

Get the balance right, get the balance right

Be responsible, respectable,
Stable but gullible
Concerned and caring, help the helpless
But always remain ultimately selfish

Get the balance right, get the balance right

You think youve got a hold of it all
You havent got a hold at all
When you reach the top, get ready to drop
Prepare yourself for the fall, youre gonna fall
Its almost predictable

Dont take this way, dont take that way
Straight down the middle until next thursday
Push to the left, back to the right
Twist and turn til youve got it right

Get the balance right
Depeche Mode

Win a Chance to Carry the Olympic Torch

2007-10-14T19:54:00.000+03:00

The Olympic Torch is the symbol of the Olympic Games. But do you still know what is symbolizes? It reminds us all of the god Prometheus who stole the fire from the other gods to give it to humans. And he did pay dearly for it, being tortured every day. Nowadays, the torch is lit months before the games and carried from Olympia, Greece, to the city hosting that year's winter or summer games. Eleven women impersonating ancient priestesses perform a ceremony during which the Sun ignites the torch.

The the Torch Relay starts - people run short distances carrying it and then pass it on. It all lasts until the eve of the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games. Right now you have a say in who carries the torch. Nominate torchbearers for the historic Torch Relay to theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games. You can nominate yourself or a friend who complies with a few simple rules, such as being able to run 400m while carry the Olympic flame or being over 14 years of age. So join Samsung in their quest to find torchbearers!

This is a sponsored post.

The War of Email Storage

2007-10-14T08:08:00.000+03:00

The competition on the "free" market leads to price wars or quality high end positioning to convince customers they should buy/pay more for your product. But when it comes to a free and online service, the battle is taken somewhere else. For email specifically, it's storage limit.

When Gmail entered the market, the guys at Google took our eyes with incredibly large storage space. Yahoo reacted instantly by increasing it's limit a bit, while Hotmail had a very, very slow reaction.

At this time though, Google keeps increasing its limits, yet it is its turn to have a slow reaction. Hotmail offspring Windows Live Hotmail is at 5 GB and Yahoo is claiming to be offering unlimited storage, while Gmail is still at about 2,9 GB.

Via Slashdot

Secrets Trapped in the Tower of London

2007-10-13T09:55:00.000+03:00

London is one of the most important places to go for those seeking cultural, historical and artistic attractions. And to make the entire group of visitors happy, the UK capital city also has its share of attractions for sport lovers, party people and those just wanting to walk around aimlessly.

But the one place I would first go to see there is the Tower of London, with is jewels, tales and prison past, everything going back for about a millennium. William the Conqueror started by building a great fortress here. It then was turned into a palace, a prison, and nowadays into a museum. What is really my main point of attraction here? The crown jewels. I would like to see the Imperial State Crown, the Imperial Crown of India, Mary Modena’s crowns, the orb and the scepters and everything else royalty indulged themselves with when taking part in official ceremonies.

London can be visited regardless of the season; there are always things to do. And don’t worry about rain, it can happen any day! Hotels in London or other London accommodation options are always available. And if you are looking to expand you trip and see other cities, cheap hotels are available anywhere.

New Cool Toy

2007-10-11T06:24:00.000+03:00

D has recently bought a wireless router so that we can use our computers at home without and also get connected to the Internet at the same time. Before we ordered it, I wasn't that keen on this little acquisition of ours. But afterwards, when we were both trying to get the same damned cable, I changed my minds.

Now that it's up and running, I am having an incredible time working on my laptop from my own desk! And all our three computers (on PC and two laptops) can be connected at the same time. Oh, and don't let me forget one more aspect: the lack of cables to be spread everywhere and the ease of just taking your laptop and moving around with it is to die for! Yes, the wireless router has gotten to me...

PayPal Fully Operational in Romania

2007-10-05T13:46:00.000+03:00

In case you haven't heard it yet, PayPal is now available in Romania to receive payments and withdraw funds. For me, this is quite big news, given that my blogs do run sponsored posts. I found out from Alex Brie and also checked it in the mean time. I registered, verified it and it's now up and running.

For those using ING cards, don't rely on PayPal verification instructions. You won't see any code before the PayPal word. There is no PayPal word, only a PP and the code right after it :) Happy transactions to you all!

Unified Messaging, Would You Actually Use it?

2007-10-04T06:59:00.001+03:00

I've been researching this field a bit lately, so I thought some questions needed to be asked. Unified messaging means taking completely independent communication streams and mix them together to create a unique solution. For example you take phones, mobile phones, emails, chat windows and video conferences and offer them together. So when you log on, as an end user, to the email client offered by such a solution, you are also logged in to your instant messaging client and your phone numbers are also "on line".

Some of the real benefits? When a fax is sent to your phone line, you see it on your email. When you want to fax something, you don't need to go over to the fax, you just send an attachment by email. Or if an important email comes when you're no longer in the office, your mobile phone receives an sms notification. You could also use such a notification to set a meeting late in the evening, when no one reads emails. And the list can go on to right click an phone number in an email and automatically have it dialed, or to have a complete list of missed calls or voicemail on your email client.

Would you actually use such a solution? Do you think it would help make your work more efficient and would it actually save time? How long do you think it would take to get adjusted to all its features?

And now, most important question: do you think such complete and innovative solutions would actually encourage you to work more? Would you take more tasks at home with you?

I am really curious to see your thoughts on this.

Let's Be Three Year Olds again!

2007-10-04T06:48:00.000+03:00

Om Luji tagged me on this one. I am supposed to state five reasons why I'd like to be three again and here goes:

Because everything was surrounded by a magical light that made me see the good in people only
Because everybody hurried to do what I wanted, even my grandfather who was baking me dough nuts early in the morning
Because it was before the girls vs boys division (although that division forced me to enhance my persuasion techniques - basically I had the toys the boys needed)
Because by then I was tall and strong enough to open the fridge and take the cold milk out to drink whenever I wanted to.
Because my great grandfather was still alive then

The tag is open, as always, to all those feeling inspired by it.

Major Cities in the UK

2007-10-04T06:27:00.001+03:00

Any trip to the UK must include three major cities, meaning London, Manchester and Birmingham. For those who are more than sports lovers, what else is there to do?

If in London, one has to see the Tower of London, guided through it by the Yeoman Warders showing tourists the Crown Jewels and telling stories of old prisons. St. Paul’s Cathedral is also a must see, along with its famous dome. Designed by sir Christopher Wren, the Cathedral was then built from 1675 to 1710. It is now the home of the world’s best knowns works of art. Then try one of London's many museums, such as Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, British Museum and the National Gallery.

Manchester welcomes tourist with big changes. As I have read the architecture is quite changed to feature modern, innovative buildings. If you are more of a cultural tourist, then try the Quays, home to the Lowry and the ‘matchstick’ paintings of LS Lowry. The Lowry features two galleries, two theatres with ballet, comedy and other performances. Near the Lowry, the next stop should be the Imperial War Museum North. Daniel Libeskind designed this museum exploring the impact of war with iconic objects. It also displays an amazing audio-visual presentation.

The Manchester Art Gallery, located in the city center, houses one of the country’s finest collections of Victorian and contemporary surroundings. You could also try the Urbis interactive museum of life in the modern city, located in the Millennium Quarter.

Home to several important museums and art galleries, Birmingham has a surprise for sweet tooths: the chocolate delights of Cadbury World. You could also try the National Sea Life Centre, UK’s first and largest inland aquarium, or Thinktank which is Birmingham’s Museum of Science and Discovery.

If such a trip appeals to you, then check out the hotels in London, the hotels in Birmingham and the hotels in Manchester, then decide on when to go to see it all.

This is a sponsored post.

The Battle Against Your Hair

2007-10-02T09:48:00.001+03:00

If your hair is like mine, slightly curly but all that in a totally disordered fashion, you also have a thing for hair products that make it straight. As I hardly have time to go to a beauty salon, such products and devices are life saviors at times when my hair feels the urge of showing off its strong personality.

GHD product will help you in your endeavor to be at your best. As the holiday season is knocking on the door, the Hot Pink Styler and other GHD hair styler come with a significant discount. Visit them and see if their products make for a Christmas present.

This is a sponsored post.

Sunday Morning

2007-10-01T09:24:00.000+03:00

This song best describes how I felt on Sunday, early in the morning. It was our first morning together in our new place.

Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends

That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I’m calling out to you
Singing someday it’ll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you

And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow?

Hot Spots in New Zealand

2007-09-29T06:25:00.000+03:00

If you are the kind of mountin wonderer that has a think for peaks and climbing, New Zealand is the place for you.You can enjoy breath-taking views on top of Mount Eden or One Tree Hill in Auckland, you can try out Mount Victoria in Wellington, or climb on the top of the Port Hills in Christchurch. Flagstaff Hill in Dunedin also has its rewards for adventure and outdoor loving travelers.

To stand out from the crowd of mountin lovers and take a wild ride on the extreme side, you can the more difficult to access areas of the country such as the summits of Mount Iron in Wanaka or Mount Hikurangi on East Cape. But you don't have to climb and put a lot of effort into seeing amazing things, as the weird boulders at Moeraki on the Otago Coast and the outrageous Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki are also available for less keen on physical challanges ones of us.

Should you like to combine outdoors experienes with art, New Zeeland is the place to go. Start with a kayak trip to the rock carvings at Mine Bay in Taupo or simply wander aimlessly on the streets of Katikati, to get a taste o the town's history through its intricate murals.

All these can be achieved by planning your trip in winter and spring (December to March), around the three major cities of New Zealand: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. And if you want to also book your stay, feel free to check out the hotels in Auckland, the hotels in Wellington and the hotels in Cristchurch. You have pleanty of relevant choices and if you are an impulsive tourist, choose one of the last minute deals.

Brought by Cheaperthanhotels NZ

Music Concerts Around Europe

2007-09-27T08:55:00.000+03:00

I am a fool for music concerts. The feeling live music spreads inside of me is so much better than any other type of "cozy listening to music at home" variation can do. So how to get tickets? Well, I usually wait for the concerts to be somehow promoted and then buy them, mostly online. But there is a problem. The bads I love the most rarely come to Romania, and I have to look into cities nearby where they might be on tour. Same happens with my favorite sport, Formula 1. For the next few years it won't happen in Romania. That is why an offer for Concert tickets or Sport tickets on a foreign site might be a good idea.

Checking the Viagogo site, I could see that Maroon 5 is touring around Europe in November and December. As Brabanthallen's-Hertogenbosch, Antwerpen and Fredericksberg are already booked, my real choices are Nottingham, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Brighton, Munich and Dusseldorf. I guess Munich or Dusseldorf are the the best options I have right now. Especially since there's plenty of time to make plans, buy the tickets and convince others to come with me.

There are dozens of bands on tour and getting a ticket is quite easy. So anyone planning to join me for Maroon 5? Or do you have a different concert to suggest?

Brought by Viagogo.

This Morning's Blonde Moment

2007-09-25T11:26:00.000+03:00

My car is new. A year and one month means new. Therefore nothing can go wrong with it. Therefore I only check to see it's still where I left her, then get in and go. Simple! This my friends is how I used to think. Cause everything changed this morning.

We, as in I, D and Silviana, got in the car and left for work. But the car was making a terrible noise. Still, I continued to valiantly drive it for half a kilometer. Then D stuck his head out the window and said: "Ok, pull over, you've got a flat tire!" So I pulled over. And got all I needed to change it. My father did show me once how to do it. But! I wasn't really paying attention AND I lack the necessary force to do it.

So thank God D was with me and did most of the work...No I have a flat tire to fix! Which I will, while I pray the others don't have the same fate before I fix this one!

Of course you can imagine I will now check every detail of my car before getting in and starting the engine :D

Planning Trips Around the World

2007-09-23T21:52:00.000+03:00

There are cities I've visited and have fond memories of: Istanbul, Rome, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Hoorn, Munich, Iasi, Cluj and the list could go on and on. There are cities, such as Barcelona, that I am about to see. And others that I hope to see sometime in the future: New York, Dubai, Casablanca, Rio de Janeiro, London, Dublin, Ciudad the Mexico and the list is even longer.

I am the type of wonderer whose perfect year consists of about three getaways across the border and a few more withing the country. So this year has been a pretty good one, overall, started in Istanbul, then continued in Athens and Amsterdam and with plans for Spain. I also like to plan my own trip and I usually run away from agencies because I don't like depending on other people, especially when there's a bunch of them. So I prefer online hotel bookings, Easy to Book being one of the sites I keep an eye on before any such trip.

My last three trips were built around online bookings for a few nights and in most cases everything went smoothly. I choose not to think about my mishaps from Bulgaria that much anymore.

But there is a reason such trips mean so much to me. Traveling to new, unexplored places is what makes me feel happy and free. It gives me the feeling I actually enjoy everything life has to offers. On some great occasions I also get to meet people from my online life and that's a quite big bonus. The reason for online booking kind of comes with the package: it gives me freedom of movement: my choices, my timing, around the clock.

Gizmo for MySpace Fans

2007-09-21T09:47:00.000+03:00

As there are many MySpace users out there, judging by the large number of invites I've received lately, I imagine some of them are also fans of MySpace quizzes, surveys and polls as a means of making their page more interactive and yes, more attractive to new readers.

Should you be one of these, Quibblo has everything you need to create and use the quizzes you've had in mind for your readers. And if you'd like to see what you can actually get, here's a quick example:

Did you know that you can post Quibblo quizzes in your MySpace profile?

Survey by Quibblo

Brought by Quibblo, MySpace Quizzes

Talk about Bad Luck!

2007-09-20T17:49:00.000+03:00

About 40 Romanians thought it would be nice to see Italy and this time of year seemed to fit them perfectly. So they were enjoying themselves in a little place called Lide de Jeselo, somewhere near Venice, when...

...someone stole their bus! With some luggage, papers, and other such things. All this was of course meant to ruin their trip. How did the Italian police react? Well, at first they did nothing! Simply because they expected this whole thing to be a bad joke...

And I thought that only the law stated "innocent until proven guilty"! Nope, the police do so too. First they stick around, waiting for a solution to come up out of the blue and only then they decide to take some sort of action. One has to wonder: if they run across a dead body, do they wait for two days to see if the dead person stands up laughing?

See the shorter and unbiased piece of news here.

Nowhere to go but up

2007-09-19T13:32:00.000+03:00

We all have our darker moments when we feel alone, left out, under appreciated, mistreated, misunderstood, and generally bad. What we'd like to do is hide away until we feel better or until something good just makes everything look bright and sunny. Most of the times, this is impossible. We have to get ourselves together and fast. And leave the hiding away and contemplating our wounds for later on.

So here's what I do at such times:

go see a friend and listen to his stories for a while
tell a short version of what's going on
call my mom
make a special play list of songs that calm me down
stop for a second and think a bit of those with real and bigger problems
allow my generally optimistic self to take over and drive
enlarge the importance of other aspects of my life
get something tasty for lunch
buy myself something nice if I have enough time

Update:
News like this one beats everything on the list. Congrats Sim!

What do you do in such cases? What sets you back on track?

Radiohead - Creep

2007-09-19T13:20:00.000+03:00

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fucking special
But I 'm a creep
I 'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

She's running out again
She's running out
She run, run, run run
Run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here.

A Promise Worth Making

2007-09-18T17:04:00.000+03:00

Whenever I need food for thought, I visit Liz. Her blog has great ideas, great conversation and great challenges. So there isn't any reason not to stop by. But I have to confess it is hard to keep reading and commenting on all the blogs I love, to keep tracking incoming links and to also discover new bloggers and their blogs. Why? Because I get caught up in daily nonsense :)

Given this situation, the promise Liz is now passing along seems to be worth making:

Joe’s Promise

I will be sure to comment on other Blogs if I can add to the conversation.
I will respond to comments on my own Blog.
I will acknowledge any links to my Blog with a comment on the linker’s Blog.
I will continue to link to other Blogs that are pertinent to a posts content.
I will once again be a part of the Blogging Community.
That is my promise to the Community as a whole, in part, and individually.

If you feel you are losing some of the interaction that is an integral part of Blogging, you may want to join me in this Promise to the Community.

What do you think? Is this a promise YOU consider worth making?

How to Have a Better Home

2007-09-18T08:17:00.000+03:00

Operating on the market of Home improvements for over 40 years, Anglian is, according to their site, one of the most recommended home improvement companies. What they offer to change and improve for your house is your windows, your doors, your roof, your driveway or to go ahead and build conservatories (which are my favorite from their offer).

They promote a policy that I find hard to believe, as we live in a world aimed at making more money. Anglian states they take one customer at a time. The result they expect is complete satisfaction, as such a policy gives them time to get to know the customer and understand what he/she really wants. Such a policy is, in my opinion, bound to turn a company popular, as I strongly believe home improvements do not mean having a better house, but also having a more personal one, home opposed to just a house.

Anglian has special offers to encourage recommending friends by featuring special discounts in such cases. What I would have loved to see though is an easy-access list of customer testimonials. I think such a list would back up their statements and convince a lot of people to give them a call.

Today Is the Big Day

2007-09-14T13:02:00.000+03:00

The headline of this post is a message I got on Yahoo from Sim. What does it mean? It means she is giving birth to her son Alex today. Sim, I wish you the easiest child birth ever. As to Alex, WELCOME TO THE WORLD!!!

UK Web Design

2007-09-14T10:18:00.000+03:00

If you're in the UK and would like to hire a web design studio, Acopic has a neat range of expertise to impress you with. But what I liked most about them is their office. They work in a tower dating back to 1300. That's quite a standard for exotic headquarters!

They feature a complete set of design services and as an extra, they provide customers with their own content management system helping their customers to better administer their online presence. I don't know about you, but I'm still stuck at their headquarters.

Brought by Acopic web design studio.

Del Tango...

2007-09-12T17:14:00.000+03:00

I don't remember how I got to this blog. It's name, Del Tango, El Amor y Otros Demonios instantly caught me. And its topic and content made me stay and read a few posts. It has reminded me of the tango, of my burning wish to also learn it.

What else it has brought me? Out of nowhere, a comment left on the new WOBM directing me to a place where I could learn. And I've also went through the links on this blog and ran into Pablo Veron's site again. The opera Carmen, directed by Sally Potter and starring Pablo Veron. This is something I'd kill to see!

Blog to Win

2007-09-11T18:15:00.000+03:00

Romanian bloggers will soon test their strength in a nicely promoted blogging contest. I've taken a look at the prizes and they look pretty good to me. Especially since they all include a domain name and hosting. Also, a few of the local celebrities are sponsors of this contest.

I won't take part in this contest. The topics are quite interesting, I must admit, but I really lack the needed time. It would have been an interesting experience to see how the voting and comments to submitted posts go. I will keep an eye on it though. I am curious if it will turn into a popularity contest (as it has the potential) or if the actual quality of the posts will matter.

Where Have You Been This Summer?

2007-09-10T15:55:00.000+03:00

When you come back from your vacation, the first thing you do is get used to the idea that you'll go back to work/school and that does take some willpower and time. But when that's completed, you exchange vacation thoughts/photos/ideas with your friends. I have the impression most of those I know have chosen different countries for their vacations.

Chris Wife went with her boyfriend to Turkey.
Chief and his beautiful wife went to Turkey and Greece.
I went to the Netherlands and Bulgaria.
Alex had his share of Amsterdam at a certain point.
Zu went to Bulgaria and is planning another trip abroad.
Another colleague from work is going to Tunisia.

Is this a common trend or just a coincidence? Where have you spent your vacation? Please, do share, I am quite curious.

How to Fight Laziness: A Car Vaccum?

2007-09-10T14:35:00.000+03:00

How often do you clean your car? When I bought mine, I used to pamper Little Mushroom with monthly clean-ups. Inside and outside, the whole royal treatment. They they started to become quite rare, slightly inexistent. Why? No time, no car wash nearby.

Anyway, I like to think that if I had a car vacuum, things would change. As I would only have the issue of lacking time to consider. The fact that I don't know where exactly to take my car would not count anymore. Besides, it would really stimulate helpful and concerned people (my mom, D, anyone who complains about the mess inside), to grab it and do something. Nice approach, don't you think?

Brought by Car Guy Garage

Asia-dedicated Travel Blog

2007-09-06T10:25:00.000+03:00

Blogasian is a quite new travel blog, rich with a wide range of information from Asia hotel news to tourist trips and funny and informative tops. It hasn't even turned three months, yet it's regularly updated and has a pretty good Alexa rank.

All posts are tourism oriented, describing cities, attraction and destinations from countries such as China, Australia, India, Thailand and many more. Once you start reading, you only want to get to know more. Blogasian introduces you to the fantastic, the popular and the weird traits of all these countries. Mixing the destinations with the appropriate Asia hotel news is a nice touch, given that it makes it easier for a reader to be convinced to plan a vacation after reading an interesting post.

My personal reading recommendations include a post on what to do after having the bad luck of being trapped on an island, the introduction to strange cultural habits from China, and of course the guide through Taj Mahal. The photo accompanying this last recommended post is simply beautiful! Take a look and decide for yourselves if the blog is worth reading.

Puzzled about Yahoo

2007-09-05T17:04:00.000+03:00

We all know that the Yahoo mail service is sometimes a very good friend of spammers and that lots of email that are clearly spam reach our Inboxes. But I guess that is the price one has to pay for "free" services. As you all know, there's really no free lunch.

But what amazes me, something like me wondering if they actually ever stop to think about their image, is that I receive a certain email both in my Inbox and my Bulk folder. I mean come on people! If it's only my Inbox, maybe I am naive enough to actually think it's an honest mistake. Hey, there is no such thing as a perfect antispam protection. But when you pull a trick like that EVERYONE knows you know the email is spam and couldn't care less.

If Yahoo was the only service on the market, I'd seriously understand it. But in the current conditions...My advice is: Yahoo, learn how to say, while smiling, that Gmail will soon kick your buttom!

Winter Vacation in Spain

2007-09-05T13:34:00.000+03:00

Some of you might know by now that I am planning to spend my winter holiday in Spain. First of all, because I've never been there and always wanted to. Second of all, because I can't wait to see Sim and Bruno again and their new baby. And as they live in Barcelona, this is my first and most important destinations.
This implied of course some research on hotels in Barcelona and my decision is almost made. Or maybe it would be better to say Hoteles in Barcelona to practice the little Spanish I know. When I am done with seeing places such as the Palau Reial Mayor, the Chapel of Santa Ágata, and the City History Museum, and provided I still have some time, I might consider seeing some other cities. The city I am hoping to see is Madrid. It fascinated me for a long time, since I was a little girl and I never got to actually see it. And as I have already located some interesting hotels in Madrid is shouldn't be so hard to have something planned on the spot.

It would be great to also visit its museums (Museo Nacional del Prado, Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Museo Sorolla), its monuments (Palacio Real de Madrid, Puente de Toledo, Monasterio de El Escorial) and everything else making Madrid such a popular tourist attraction. Meet you guys there :)

Photos from www.spain.info

My Take on Bulgarian Seaside Resorts

2007-09-04T11:52:00.000+03:00

Much advertised and apparently highly appreciated, Bulgarian Seaside Resorts attract more and more tourists each summer. The use extremely low prices, all inclusive packages, clean beaches and of course, advertising. So I booked a 3 days stay at the Detelina Hotel, somewhere near the Golden Sands resort.

First of all, I have to tell you that it is not quite clear for me where Golden Sands starts and where it ends. If it's 16 km north from Varna or just about 8, if it is in the Chaika region or not or if the Bulgarians will ever learn how to help tourists with directions on their complicated roads.

Yes, the three stars hotel was cheap: 40 Euros per night for two persons. Yes, it has a great pool. Yes, the food is cheap and pretty good (lunch for two persons - about 10 Euros). Yes the photos of the rooms look great on the Booking.com site. However, as far as I know, a 3 stars room should have a bath tub, or at least a shower cabin, not water dropping directly on the bathroom floor!
Also, apparently they clean your room daily. All cool, except that they don't really change towels. For us at least they did not replace them for 3 days. Moreover, the restaurant was closed at 9 pm. Although a clear schedule is never displayed. But what I liked more has to be the Internet facilities. And I quote from Booking.com:

Wireless internet is available in public areas only and costs EUR 1.00 per hour .

Really? When I asked, they showed me one computer only that guests could use. One at a time of course...Also, they don't say that if you stay on the side facing the seaside, you also have a nice light ball on your balcony that goes on and on the whole night. I guess how the hotel looks like is more important than the guests' need to sleep.
On the plus side, the beach is pretty clean, there are lots of restaurants with quite varied menus, the food and local beer are really tasty and they make tasty cocktails. Also, services are quite cheap. And better at other restaurants I've been to in the resort, when compared to the Detelina restaurant. On our last day, we actually had to wait to pay our check as the nice waitress was busy photographing another guest and then speaking to her friends.

Do not look for banks to withdraw money from. You can go to local exchange offices and withdraw Leva (local currency). Their commission is 7%. Huge! And do not expect to be able to pay by card! That too much for them. Luckily for us, we paid for the hotel through a Booking.com agent. He was very nice and we could pay by card!

My two cents? Better than Romania but way behind Turkey and Greece!

I Love NY City

2007-09-04T10:24:00.000+03:00

One of the wonder cities of the US, New York is, for some, the highest in rank urban tourist attractions of the country. If it's not the sky scrapers that call you there, it must be the fashion and shopping sensation, or in some more particular circumstances (which is mine and my friends Cristina's), the desire to march on the street of New York as Luis de Funes and his subordinates did in the famous comedy movie Le Gendarme a New York.

If you leave on a different continent, such a trip may sound out of the ordinary, but it will surely cost a lot. So why not saving some money for visiting and shopping by looking for cheap hotels to book your stay at? You have plenty of New York hotels to choose from. Try some recommendations, search by number of stars and make sure to specify your arrival and departure dates correctly. You can also review the displayed list of hotels from New York and compare them by location or advertised price.

Should you like to recommend the Hotel Club online reservations to friends or business partners who do not speak English, there are 13 other languages available, including French, German, Italian, Japanese and Chinese. Now that you know where to book your stay, you can go on and plan the rest of your vacation details.

Keep an eye on VOBM

2007-08-26T21:47:00.001+03:00

I have just uploaded some of the photos taken in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. More to come, as I have seen quite a lot in the past few days :)

Trip to the Netherlands: how much?

2007-08-23T10:36:00.000+03:00

As some of you know, I'm now enjoying my amazing vacation in the Netherlands. I thought I should share some prices and information with you, as it may turn out to be pretty useful in the future:

flight to Bucharest to Dortmund/Dortmund to Bucharest - WizzAir - 270 EUR for 2 persons. No serious incidents. A 30 minutes delay because the stupid personnel of the Baneasa Airport had sent a refueling truck that had no fuel left...
Baneasa Airport generally sucks. First they announce boarding for our flight at gates 3 and 4. One slight problem: gate 7 does not exist. Then they announce boarding at gates 1 and 2. Gate 2 is of course closed...Really poor organization! And to think that they've been closed for renovation for so long! I still prefer Otopeni.
Meal during the flight - you can have a sandwich, drink and something sweet for 6 EUR. But their selection of sandwiches is really limited and you end up having nothing to choose from, only one type was left by the time they got to the middle of the plane.
Train ride - round trip - Dortmund to Alkmaar - 195 EUR for 2 persons. At first I though I should have chosen a direct flight, but this turned out to be a pretty adventurous experience and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Dortumund airport-Dortmund Central Station: bus 440 till stop Alplerback (2.10 EUR per person) and metro U47 util the station (another 2.10 EUR per person). The ticket buying machine is quite complicated, especially when language selection is not working. Pray for people who speak English.
Bus fare in Alkmaar - 1 EUR per person/per trip. Really great Aloe and Apple juice in the Turkish market. Really good cappuccinos. Interesting hot dogs. Yesterday I knew how to ask for a hot dog in Dutch...

That's all for now, I'll be back later with photos and info

Connecting Capital Cities

2007-08-23T09:56:00.000+03:00

Trips through several European countries are quite common these days. And if one would like to choose countries with connected historical background and some similarities, an interesting choice would be to visit Austria and Germany during the same trip. And the highlights for both countries are their capital cities, Vienna and Berlin.

Such a trip would imply a clear schedule, reservations at one of the hotels in Berlin and the hotels in Vienna and choosing a means of transportation. Given the fact that the two countries have a huge number of tourist attractions, I'd recommend a way to save time for more visiting, and that is flying. There are several companies offering direct flights between Berlin and Germany or almost direct ones (flight and one hour airport shuttle ride). One of the best known and the oldest on the market is Lufthansa, who also offers online-only deals. Other alternatives are Air Berlin, Germanwings and SkyEurope. These three companies are all operating in the low cost segment.

While hotels in Berlin and hotels in Vienna can be easily booked online, air flight seats can be also booked in the same fashion, thus leaving you one more decision to make: what to visit and in what order.

Brought by HotelDeutsche.com.

I Still Feel Bad

2007-08-17T17:32:00.000+03:00

Last night we stopped for pizza on our way home. Ordered it and decide to eat it there, at one of the tables placed on the sidewalk. When we were about to start, a woman came and sat at the table near ours. She was old, poorly dressed and looked a bit sad to me. But she was not asking for anything...

I had no idea what to do. Offer my help? Back off? My friend Cristina did have an experience with a beggar throwing money back at her in a moment of anger at life...What was my big problem? I'll tell you!

If someone looks at me when I am eating and really craves for (or I think he/she really craves for) what I am eating, I can no longer eat. Yes folks. Where does this come from? Legacy of the Communists actually. See, when I was about 4 or 5, good food was scarce. And one afternoon, when my dad was taking me home from kindergarten, he noticed they had brought salami at the some shop near our house. There was a huge queue. And he left me there, waiting for him to get his salami card from home. Well, yes, there were cards for everything: meat, bread, oil, milk. You could not buy anything without one and you certainly couldn't buy more than allowed on the card.

I spend about 20 minutes queuing, with this huge fear that the salami will be over before my dad came back or that I will get in from of the saleswoman before he returned and I will be thrown out from the queue. He got there in time, and as I had been standing there for so long, my dad asked the saleswoman to cut a slice for me, and I took a bite instantly.

As I was small and the salami sold there had a pretty large diameter, I got to bite once more before exiting the shop. And my dad said: "Alina, please put the slice in the bag. Some other children, whose parents didn't get to buy them salami, might see you. And they'll cry when they get home." I obeyed instantly, remembering my fresh fear they will run out of salami.

That is why if someone looks in a certain way to what I am eating, although everything is now available for purchase, I can no longer it. Not everyone can afford everything I can, and I am pretty obsessed by this.

What did I do with the lady? I only ate half the pizza and left the other half on the table. It was her choice to take it or not. No offense, nothing imposed. I still wish I could have done more...And I still cannot understand how some can still praise the Communist period!

Some Fun Before My Vacation

2007-08-17T11:10:00.001+03:00

What brings geeks and Huns, Goths and Vandals together? Well Hacking of course :)

Take Your Photos With You

2007-08-16T15:36:00.000+03:00

This is not my first time writing about digital photo frames. But I have discovered a new utility these gadgets entail. You know, when you go see friends who live far away and who you rarely get to see, they need a serious update on how your life has been. And what do you do then? Besides the nights when you stay up late chit chatting about everything that has happened, you need to show a lot of photos.

So what would your choices be? Carry your laptop with you? Too big...Carry a flash drive? That obliges them to have an available computer for you and prevents you from doing all the talking while sightseeing. Therefore a digital picture frame storing a few hundred photos might be helpful. It would make it all easy and take a lot less space when carried around.

DigitalFramez has a beautiful collection of such gadgets, varying in sizes. And if you get bored of photos, you can also watch movies or play mp3 files. Music videos I'd choose, to make a pleasant atmosphere. The make a perfect, yet a bit expensive, gift for gadget lovers and geeks wannabe as myself.

Brought by DigitalFramez

Mig's Birthday

2007-08-15T13:37:00.001+03:00

Well folks, it's a very special day today. It's Mig's Birthday. And as there is no other way the the virtual world to congratulate her, here goes:

PS. Have no idea where the photo's from. Hope I am not upsetting anyone.

Hold on to What You've Been Given Lately

2007-08-13T08:18:00.000+03:00

This song of KT Tunstall is a new favorite of both D and I. Listened to it on Radio Guerrilla for a few times and we instantly loved it. Enjoy!

Say you to me
You're a bird with an eye for the enemy shining
Searching the land for a hero of a man
You say I need
More than my fair share of attention
But I think you know
That just isn't so

Oh underneath I felt the fire of a burning question
Tearing me apart,
Right from the very start.
And now I see,
That it dont take a trick
Of the light to excite me.
So Strong
So Long
You'll see

Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on to what you know you've got.
Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on 'cause the world will turn if you're ready or not.

Simplicity,
A heart of gold, an old head and young shoulders
Quiet and lovely,
Becoming part of me.
And now I see from a handful of names and a thousand faces.

One light burning
Fiercely

I was tired of January
Tired of June
I felt a change coming
oh oh
I was tired of January
I was tired of June
I felt a change coming
oh oh
I felt a change coming,
I felt a change coming,
I felt a change coming sooon.

Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on to what you know you've got.
Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on 'cause the world will turn if you're ready or not.

Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on to what you know you've got.
Hold on to what you've been given lately.
Hold on 'cause the world will turn if you're ready or not.

Well the world will turn if you're ready or not
Whoa-oh, Yes the world will turn if you're ready or not.

Input Wanted! What matters most to you: information or membership?

2007-08-09T16:55:00.000+03:00

Given the fact that I have faced some rejection towards certain pieces of information, I have to ask this question:

What matters more to you? The information a person holds and is able and willing to share or their being part of a certain commercial organization?

Let's take a general topic, such as email security for end users, more precisely, best practices for those using email as a business tool, not caring much about how things happen after they push the send ore receive button. Would you like to receive the advices a messaging solutions expert can give or would you care more about his working for the X company that provides commercial antispam solutions. Is his experience rendered irrelevant by the fact his company sells something when his view is free and stays away from marketing skims?

Yes, he states his position to explain why he has an opinion or recommendation on the subject in the first place. But would you trade relevant tips and trick to keep the ears of your audience clear from hearing a company name?

I am really anxious to hear what you have to say!

Much Needed Guide to Intelligent Giving

2007-08-09T16:23:00.000+03:00

The large majority of people are willing to help others. They could spare some money, if that means giving a hand to someone in real need. What people lack are time, information and trust. Time to search for the missing information and any kind of guarantee the money or goods they contribute are used as they would want them to be.

That’s why having an extensive database of all available charities might turn extremely useful and also convincing. That’s why I like Charity Navigator so much. What do they understand by Intelligent Giving? Well you start by searching their site and locating a charity you really believe in. You can search by category, alphabetically or by number of stars a charity has been awarded (stars range from 1 to 4).

The charity I have selected is Action Against Hunger. Charity Navigator has detailed information on each charity, including their usage of available funds, total revenues and comparisons with other similar charities. It gives you a feeling of transparency and helps build trust.

Foto from the AAH site.

Established in 1985, AAH is the US branch of Action Contre le Faim, an international, non-governmental, non-religious organization. Founded in Paris in 1979, ACF focuses on fighting hunger, malnutrition, physical suffering and the associated distress threatening the lives of children, women, and men in extreme situations such as wars, conflicts or natural disasters taking place around the globe. ACF has over 400 experts in fields such as nutrition, agriculture, water and sanitation and public health working in 40 countries from 5 continents. The local teams ACF employs amount to 6,000 people.

Who is behind Charity Navigator? His name is a Navtej Kohli, a business owner doing a great job as a philanthropist. Mr. Kohli’s charity, the Tej Kohli Foundation has an experience of 5 years in philanthropic activities. As he explains, the personal experience one has when meeting those in need directly renders charity works efficient:

“It is quite something else to be presented with these images in the flesh, meeting disabled and impoverished children and their families face to face. For me, meeting such people changed my outlook on philanthropy and helped me to understand that calling a toll-free phone line or pledging a couple of dollars to a trust fund isn’t the same as actually working to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Take a tour of both Charity Navigator and the AAH presentation page and then decide for yourself how you’d rather help.

Brought by Mr. Navtej Kohli

Blog Soon-to-be Tourists Should Keep an Eye on

2007-08-09T09:48:00.000+03:00

If you are looking for a blog featuring accommodation news, travel tips, featured destination and pretty much every piece of information useful while traveling, I recommend the Accomline blog. If you want luxury to surround you on your trip, read about the most expensive cities in the world. As most of us know, London is one of them. Moscow, however, was a big surprise for me.

Although a little different from the Accomline website, the blog inherits the same color range and has a pretty clear, easy to read template. One of the articles I enjoyed a lot was the one on transforming trains and trams into hotels. One of the train hotels is actually located in the Netherlands, maybe I’ll get to see it during my vacation there.

Accomline’s Blogline also features articles published on the AsiaHotels blog. Structered as tops (three cheapest cities for shopaholics, 5 weirdest things Chinese people it in Guanghhou) or as guides, they can turn out to be quite a useful resource for people traveling to that part of the globe.

The blog was only started last month. Thus, it is pretty new and lacks relevant reader feedback. I’ll keep an eye on it to see how well they do at replying comments and keeping the conversation going.

Help Others by Donating a Car

2007-08-07T09:32:00.000+03:00

Car donations can turn out to be a very good way of helping others. How would a Donate my car action actually help? Well, single mothers would have an easier life taking their children to and from school, extracurricular activities and so on, you would be helping others distribute promotional materials, you’d also be helping homeless people, teenagers and adults with addiction problems, you’d also be facilitating food distribution and making life better for orphans.

A simple old car donation can help achieve all that and more. Such a gesture should not be seen as charity only, as one willing to donate an old car, a boat or a trailer can benefit from certain advantages, such as tax deductions, avoiding all the fuss involved in getting smog certificate and other papers from the Department of Motor Vehicles, having the car picked up for free when it’s no longer running and canceling your insurance while still keeping the plates.

The CarAngel Ministries are a non profit auto donation charity specialized in facilitating give away of old cars, boats, trailers etc, thus saving you the time of selling your old automobile. While you help them help others, you also help yourself as CarAngel handles all the hassle.

Brought by CarAngel Ministries.

Sites for Internet Addicts

2007-08-06T13:49:00.001+03:00

I found out of PC Worlds top of 25 sites to keep an eye on via Sorin. I took a close look at some of them and here's what I found to be interesting or useful when spending most of your awake time online:

Wayfaring allows users to create maps for events, trips, day to day routes etc. Maps can be shared and viewed by other site users.

Swivel is the place to go for any type of research results, with graphs as a twist. It can turn out to be pretty useful for projects needing data.

Clipmarks is some kind of Stumpleupon with some cool extra features.

BlogBackupOnline is useful when your web hosting service or the free platform you're using does not satisfy your backup needs. It's a simple way to feel safer with your blog's content.

Approver lets you have certain documents distributed to an entire group to have them reviewed and approved.

Picnik is the site to go to when you need to edit a photo fast and have no photo editing software installed.

As you can see, only six of them. But take a look at the whole list and select your own favorites. Happy surfing everyone!

The Comic Strip Saga

2007-08-01T16:05:00.000+03:00

After reading Piled Higher and Deeper, I never thought I'd run into another comic strip that was relevant to me to the extent of having me start reading from episode one and keep me going and going.

And I did. It's called Questionable Content. It has everything: geeks, shy people, smart people, ironical and even cynical people, drama, love, parties, fun, dinners and coffee shops. Oh, did I mention a professional dominatrix mother in all of this? It's fun to read, hope you like it as much as I did.

World's Sexiest Beaches in 2007

2007-07-30T15:33:00.000+03:00

Having trouble deciding which of the planet's hottest beaches to spend your seaside vacation on? A friend suggested this article published by Concierge.com. Read it if you would like where the most glamorous beach vacations can be planned. The article will take you around the world presenting 19 leading sand covered places of pure relaxation and fun.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll one day have visited all of them and let you know which is my favorite :) Until then, enjoy your reading.

The New Online Booking Guru

2007-07-27T10:58:00.000+03:00

Some of you might know I am a big fan of planning your own trips. Finding your hotel and booking it online, finding your flights and generally being the sole master of your traveling plans. I have also been writing quite a few reviews on such topics: hotel reservations sites, travel destinations, and so on.

What is the result of all this? Well, my friends call to ask me where to look for a hotel. Who has the best rates? Who has the most cities covered? It happened twice, only this week. And let me tell you it feels great. I know enough to help them out and know they are getting the best! And besides, it makes them call more which is a definite plus given how busy we all are!

Kayla Bragging out :P

Surfing on the Gold Coast

2007-07-27T08:50:00.000+03:00

I have always been a fan of vacations with an exotic touch, taking you to countries far away. What you know of such places is a mix of what you have read and what others have told you, the photos you've seen and local works of art, and all that mix of bits of information still is unable to make it all less than a breathtaking experience. Australia would be such a country.

You could benefit from cheap hotels in Australia with just a few clicks. But not anywhere in Australia! As the heat is easier to take when a cool breeze is all around you, I am speaking about Surfers' Paradise. That is right, Gold Coast hotels are waiting for you.

Run a quick search by number of starts, pick from the recommended hotels or simply enter your arrival and departure dates and see what's available. Most hotels have their prices listed, but some of them offer price information on request only, which is not something I am a big fan of. I do always recommend and support having your site translated when you're dealing with customers from around the world, and Hotel Club does just that.

If you decide to embark on such an adventure, I recommend you stop by the forum. Get travel details and useful tips and make sure nothing takes you by surprise.

For Few of Us, Blogging Starts When You Turn Seven

2007-07-26T15:19:00.000+03:00

Dear all, the Romanian blogosphere was recently joined by a 7 year old blogger. Yes, you read it correctly, Iulia Toma is 7 and she's blogging. She's also sharing her blog with her sister, but plans to prepare one with princesses for her little sister's sixth anniversary.

The blog is in Romanian only, but I can tell you it is very interesting and it introduces you to a very smart little girl. Her father is also a blogger, among other things.

Wouldn't You Rather Be in the Alps Right Now?

2007-07-26T09:05:00.000+03:00

With this powerful heat wave taking over the country, what can one do to cool down a bit? Air conditioning is a killer and it does not work outdoors. A vacation in a significantly chillier place, lets say the Alps would actually do wonders, don't you think? Imagine the cool mornings, the beautiful scenery, the time away from the office...It would all work like magic!

If you make such a wild, on the spot decision, you might find you have a desperate need for someone offering you last minute Alps hotels bookings. As this is a last minute deal, most hotels available are 3 stars and below. If you are a luxury addict, your choice is somewhat limited, but you could nevertheless try the Eurogroup Hotel Le Royal Ours Blanc and choose a Platinum or Gold Room. Room names sound quite glamorous...If you have a hard time deciding which hotel to choose, check the top hotel picks. This is bound to make your choosing a lot less difficult.
Should you like to recommend this option to some of your friends, don't worry about their speaking English or not! Alps hotel bookings are available in 12 different languages! Enjoy your trip far from extremely high temperatures!

Planning a Trip to Amsterdam

2007-07-25T09:07:00.000+03:00

Some of you might know that I am planning to spend my vacation in the Netherlands. Dates are all set, I have made my plane ticket reservation. I still need something though, and that is making plans for my Netherlands accommodation. As I am not planning to spend a fortune on this, I am also looking for cheap accomodation.

Stumbling upon AccomLine is great from that point of view, especially when you are looking for Amsterdam accommodation. While browsing through their site, I noticed they provide their service in 13 languages. I always pay attention to such details as I know how important localization is. You cannot risk loosing customers over language barriers.

To select your hotel, you can either choose from the recommended hotels, or pick depending on the desired number of stars. An additional rating is displayed for each hotel on the list, along with its location. Therefore, if you need to be accommodated in a precise area, use these details to help you decide.

What I don't really like is that prices are not displayed for all the hotels. Regardless of the reason, this shows a certain lack of transparency. Also, I have noticed a very complete search box on the AccomLine home page, which is not also transferred to the local Amsterdam dedicated page. True, there aren't as many locations and hotels, but it would make locating your Amsterdam accommodation mush easier.

AccomLine also offers additional services which can make your planning seem faster and less complicated. Apart from hotel reservations, they also provide insurance services, flight and car bookings and even sightseeing tips.

Brought by AccomLine.

Why Should Moving Be Difficult?

2007-07-23T11:36:00.000+03:00

I am the kind of person that is always ready to move someplace new. I've never thought of myself as living in the same city my whole life, so moving to a different city or country has always been an open option. That's why I keep an eye on existing moving options such as those provided by Relocation.com. Although they are not yet viable when moving from Bucharest, they are still a solution some local companies could learn from.

The site provides a complete set of useful information for those thinking of relocation: mortgage and finance advice, tips on locating an apartment or getting an insured. You should also try analyzing focused auto shipping details and information about international movers. To help select your moving company, you can use the free quote search service Relocation.com offers. You can select from a list of services offered, type your ZIP code and select the appropriate movement size, then compare the returned results and choose the best option for you.

If your moving plans are just an idea and you do not know much about what you're getting yourself into, you can check out the site's resourceful library. You can consult their guides about everything related to your relocation: real estate, career, mortgage, storage and much more. I hope to see such a service provided within Romania!

Entry sponsored by Relocation.com

Where Particular Travel Writers Congregate

2007-07-21T22:02:00.000+03:00

The RealTravel Blog is the place all travel blog writers should visit. It has a clear and comprehensive layout and the navigation is quite easy, as it is divided based on destinations, editor’s picks, things to do, photos, deals, forums. It is a resourceful collection of all things travel.

The Editors Choice section, the page that greets you when dropping by, is a frequently updated collection of the very best of travel blog stories, photos and recommendation. If news is what you’re there four, or maybe you are interested in a certain continent, you can use the sidebar list of categories to go directly at the information you need.

When searching for a particular place to see, you can either use the selection map in the Destination section to select the area, or you can check out the list of most blogged countries. I was very glad to see Romania on the list.

What I also appreciated is that they do not limit their travel blog to itineraries, photos, and a wide description of things to see and to do. They feature interesting reviews of people who have already been there and RealTravel Blog is a great place to share information, to ad your input and make your experiences, good or bad, known.

Brought to you by RealTravel Blog

Verdict: Rolling Stones Concert Organizers Sucked

2007-07-19T11:39:00.000+03:00

There is much talk everywhere about how cool the Rolling Stones concert that has taken place a couple of evenings ago in Bucharest has been. So I won't emphasize on that. I will just share some facts with you:

Bringing your own water/juice to the concert was prohibited (yes, really, not alcohol, water and juice).
There a Code Orange alert in Bucharest because of the excessive heat and doctors advise people to drink a lot of water or what other liquids they might find.
The preferred vendors did not have enough beverages to sell (I cannot understand how this could happen, as they of course knew how many tickets had been sold and the fact that no beverage will be allowed...)
Some people spent 4-5 hour enduring a lot of heat with no water!!!
Seat numbers on certain rows were random?!? As in 1,2,3,15,9,etc...

I remember some similar facts from the Depeche Mode concert last year...I thought they'd learn something. Same stadium, same conditions, more people deciding never to go to concerts again if they are organized in Romania. I am not a big fan of the Rolling Stones, but I would have tried it, I guess. Now I am glad I didn't go.

See some photos and learn how the photographers were treated here (Ro only, sorry).

Interested in Stars?

2007-07-19T09:49:00.000+03:00

For those in love with gossip, there is nothing more valuable than celebrity rumors on everyone you could every think about. And that is what CelebrityGossip offers: latest rumors (news sometimes) about everyone every having their 5 minutes of fame: singers, actors, models, all the hot people are there. And I think they have chosen a great slogan to describe the essence of gossip: “Is it true?”

All entries have tabloid-like headlines and are taken from online magazines, newspapers and other such sources. Users can vote for each entry and also comment. Registration is free, but required.

Celebrity Gossip is divided in 4 different sections. The Hot section is meant to display the most interesting rumors published. I guess this should be decided based on votes. But from what I have seen, as they still lack incoming votes, the comments make the difference between hot and not.

The Latest section displays the most recent news first, as expected. But if you want to check a certain star, go to the Celebs section. You will find an alphabetized list of everyone and anyone. Most of those present there I have no idea about. Or, if you don’t know how’s become an interesting read these days, check the “Most Talked About Celebrities” top, displayed on the Hot section.

The visual part of the site, the Pictures section, displays photographs of every celebrity ever taken a snapshot of. Angelina Jolie is top of the game in this section, according to the “Most Viewed Pictures” top.

I am not a big fan of celebrity rumors, but I have to say CelebrityGossip seems perfectly designed for what it wants to promote. Catchy headlines, short entries, eye-catching photos, the girlish-glamorous header and background, the large amount of pink, the slogan and the starry logo, it’s all been carefully planned. And I am quite sure they will earn lots of fans among those interested in knowing everything about famous people.

Brought to you by CelebrityGossip.com

Viruses and I, of the Same Generation

2007-07-17T15:33:00.000+03:00

Because Ali thinks I am technologically savvy, I have some more tech related news for you. Well, everybody, the computer virus turns 25 in July. Which means it was born in the same year I was, 1982. Amazingly, it was spread between Apple II computers. It was all a prank, nothing else.

To celebrate this event, I offer my gift to the computer virus. An Antivirus. BitDefender maybe? Can't help it I'm still a fan :P

Greet the New Year in Sydney

2007-07-17T10:02:00.000+03:00

There is no "too early" when planning where to celebrate your New Year's Eve. This year, for example, I started making plans in June. Just because I wanted to make sure I was getting the best offer based on my plans and wishes. That is what I thought suggesting you a destination where to greet 2008 in July is not an exaggeration.
This is Sydney, Australia. Looks very festive, glamorous and entertaining, doesn't it? The fireworks show planned for the very stroke of midnight on December 31st on the steel arched Sydney Harbour Bridge are all of that and much more. Last year, 1.2 million people gathered to witness the Midnight Fireworks. And they have been celebrating for 12 hours before the cherry on top event: Every Hour on the Hour entertainment, starting early in the afternoon, the Indigenous Smoking Ceremony, the Family Fireworks and many more.
So what do you need to plan? Well, first how to get there, then how long your winter vacation will be and then finally try booking your stay at one of the Sydney Hotels. To choose from the hotels in Sydney, there are a few things you could consider: the number of stars of your hotel, the prices, the area of the city. You should also keep an eye on the current hot deals.

When you are done selecting your Sydney Hotel, you should also think about other things to see while there. A few hints for you: the Centennial Park, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Customs House or the New Theater and their review on censorship. Enjoy your stay and Happy New Year!

What do you think of the new Harry Potter movie?

2007-07-16T13:26:00.000+03:00

I rarely trust NY Times movie reviews. Because they generally hate movies I find interesting. But I found this article on the new Harry Potter movie in today's issue. The Imdb.com score is also pretty high...But I've heard rumors that if you take out the special effects and the amazing scenery, not much is left.

Have any of you seen the movie? What do you think of it. I will see it eventually, but I want to know if it's worth going to the cinema. Thanks!

Toying wiht Meet Joe Black Quotes

2007-07-16T07:23:00.000+03:00

Yes.
Yes what?...
Yes is the answer to your question :)

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Book Your Stay Close to Your Destination

2007-07-15T14:45:00.001+03:00

If you need to visit the UK sometimes soon and you happen to be arriving at the Heathrow Airport, you might also want a hotel that is close to the airport. When you're tired after a flight, all you need is a hot shower and your bed to get back into your Zen mood.

In such cases, having the possibility to book your stay at one of the Heathrow Airport Hotels would definitely take care of everything you need. To pick one of the Heathrow hotels, check the price list and the availability. You can choose your favorite type of room and pay with the card you prefer as a wide range of credit and debit cards are accepted. If you fear online threats, there's also a phone number for you to call and make your reservation.

Now that your stay at the Heathrow airport hotels is taken care of, have a safe flight and enjoy your stay :)

Entry sponsored by Parking4Less.co.uk.

Have a Pal Help You out with Your Diet

2007-07-15T14:35:00.000+03:00

Are you trying to loose some weight? Why not try a calorie counter then? I have always been pretty reluctant to paying attention to every gram I eat, due to lack of time, but it's actually easier than I thought. You just search what you have eaten, add an approximate quantity, and there it is: what you have eaten in numbers!

I've always thought watching your diet and not also trying to also work out was a waste of time. That is why I think MyFitnessPall is so great! It is an absolutely free calorie counter that also features an exercising schedule. And if that isn't enough for you and you need to see how other people are dealing with their diet, after you've checked in to monitor your progress, you can also check the message board. It can always give you the needed support.

I like the fact they plan your diet depending on your current weight and height. And that their recommended diet plan is moderate. Because I never thought loosing weight over night is healthy. Not even close to it!

Entry sponsored by MyFitnessPal.

Linux Gains More of Windows' Territory

2007-07-11T08:14:00.000+03:00

According to an Evans Data survey, more software developers are thinking Linux when choosing operating system requirements for their new products:

"the total percent of developers targeting any version of Windows has declined significantly – by a full 10 percentage points - since this time last year. This continues a gradual downward trend in actual Windows targeting that has been continuing for the last two years."

Windows is still holds its pole position, but RedHat and SuSE are catching up.

"Total Linux targeting has increased by 34% from 8.8% targeting a year ago to 11.8% now"

Well, good news then...Especially since Vista users are not as many!

See more here. BTW, reading Evans Data reports requires you to register.

Travel Destination: Brisbane, Australia

2007-07-10T17:25:00.000+03:00

Why would you choose Brisbane, Australia, as your travel destination? Well, have your pick of reasons: beautiful sceneries, exotic animals, the beautiful cheap hotels in Brisbane. Everything is there, waiting for you.
Would you like to experience a breath-taking view of the city? Then drive to the top of Mt. Coot-tha Lookout to see the entire Brisbane at your feet. Do you feel like having a glamorous looking cocktail while laying in the sun and listening to the waves? Then go to the beaches of South Bank. While there, should you feel like doing more cultural activities, I recommend the Cultural Centre. Take this opportunity to visit the Queensland Art Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art. As you see, options for all tastes and types of tourists.
When you decide to spend you next vacation there, make sure you book your stay at one of the Brisbane Hotels. To make sure your Hotel Accommodation in Brisbane is worthwhile, choose whatever you like by sorting the offers by number of stars, location or price. And if I've convinced you to leave now, don't forget to check the last minute deals. Enjoy your stay!

Why Should You Think of Travel Insurance

2007-07-10T11:57:00.000+03:00

While vacations are supposed to be a careless adventure for all of us, accidents and medical emergencies have this bad habit of ruining our fun time. That is why travel insurances have been introduces at a certain moment. As we are now part of the European Union, travel policies have much changed for us Romanians.

Before, one used to go to a travel agency, pay for the insurance and go about one's business. Today, if you have the time to the health authority in your city or town, you get this new card allowing you to benefit from health insurance without any additional payments, as long as you travel within the EU territory. Otherwise, you still have to pay for separate travel insurances.

What no one tells you is that if you're like me and have to go to your home town to have this taken care of, you can still pay for a travel insurance on a limited period and travel with no worries.

If you're interested in a specialized travel insurance provider, try CoverMyTravels.com that offers age concern travel insurance. They offer their services regardless of your age and at a relatively low price.

Digital Picture in a Frame

2007-07-10T11:45:00.000+03:00

There's this thing with photos and keeping them in a frame. It's nice to have a memory of a place you loved, a dear one, a crazy moment placed near you and be able to always look at it when you feel like it. It's an easy way to forget about stress, daily routine and other annoyances. If you are like me, you'd also prefer to have the photos changed once in a while, so that you don't get bored from seeing the same picture over and over again.

But changing photos is time consuming. I only take digital photos, so changing one would mean have it printed and then change the existing one. Not to mention that removing a photo from a frame might damage it. The solution? How about a digital photo frame? How it works? Well, quite easily. You just save all your favorite photos on a memory stick and plug it in, then view the photos on your digital picture frame. If you have a 2 GB mem stick, it will be months before you get tired of your photos and want to have them changed again.

If you like making home movies, you will also have the change to have them displayed on your frame. So instead of browsing your computer when sharing stories from your recent holiday, you can simply use your frame to share the funny experiences with your friends. This in indeed an interesting gadget, a bit expensive if you asked me, but still, a new experience to try out.

Entry sponsored by DigitalFramez.com

Update after a Long Weekend

2007-07-09T17:07:00.000+03:00

When you say "long weekend", people assume fun was in order. Not this time, not for me. I was supposed to finish everything and pick up my car early in the morning, then go to work. Well, things in Ploiesti are never that fast! At noon I was still waiting for papers to be signed...I cannot complain about the Peugeot repair shop, but the Omniasig office was a pain.

I was kindly asked to wait for an hour and a half to then see how they did everything in 5 minutes...Did I mention there were no customers before me? These people should really refrain from spending so much time doing God knows what if it's open to the public...

Anyway, I also bought 3 new books. All of them on PR...Yup, I am getting a bit obsessed with the job thing...I feel I need some more theory right now. And dusty memories from university are not enough this time :P

We've spend Saturday and Sunday at D's parents and also visited his grandparents for about half an hour. Being called D's girl made me want to laugh like crazy. "Take good care of her and never use foul words," said his grandma...It was actually quite cool and funny...

Plan Your Trip to Hong Kong

2007-07-05T16:36:00.001+03:00

Hong Cong, one of the shiniest pearls of the Asian world, with its business mayhem, with its lights and their reflection in the water, with its modern architecture, troubled history and ancient culture. Who wouldn't want to go there, at least once?
First of all you should check the hotels in Hong Kong, to then have your pick. Select your arrival and departure dates, the number of stars for your hotel, and then search the Asian-Hotels.com/Hong Kong site. Additionally, you can sort the already displayed hotels in Hong Kong by name, price,or availability of instant confirmations. What I think this site still needs is availability in more languages, as otherwise it gives competition an important advantage.
Regardless of what other criteria you use when choosing your hotels in Hong Kong, don't forget that there are plenty of things to see: Victoria Peak, Kowloon promenade, the Arts Museum, the Space Museum, etc. You should make sure your hotel is close to the things you want to see. Also, remember to check the travel information before you leave.
Brought to you by Asian-Hotels.com

Quick Update of Things I Wanted to Mention but Didin't

2007-07-05T14:49:00.000+03:00

For lack of time reasons, mosly...

It was the USA Independence Day yesterday! Wonderful event, I am not against it. But I still don't get why there was a need for streets in Bucharest to be closed for 4th of July related events??? I doubt Washington would do the same on December 1st...We are such impostors at times and our officials are so keen on ass-kissing it amazes me...No ego people?

I've been busy with repairing my car. The situation will be over by Monday, I hope. I am car-less again, God knows for how long :( Update: Just got news. I am picking the car tomorrow. My precious Mushroom...

I've met Zu (hope you don't mind me posting) and had a wonderful time chatting over lemonade and cherry juice. She tricked me :P Note to self: choose restroom moments carefully! :P

I have found an interesting read while reading this blog. Do try it. Also Owz is back to blogging!

I heard this bewildering conversation in the morning:
Headquarters Clerk Lady: Call for address X. Who's going?
Taxi Driver: I am. 2 minutes.
.......
......
same HCL: The young lady kindly asks you to make it under to minutes.
TD: In how many minutes then?
HCL (slightly ironic): She did not say, she just mentioned having an emergecy.
TD: Then tell her I'm not going anymore.
.....
HCL: I hope that was a joke!
TD: No. I am NOT going!

I would have fired the bastard. That lady only kindly asked for something. If possible. She did not scream get here now...Why this reaction???

God and Lucifer Meme

2007-07-03T14:06:00.000+03:00

NetBoy has tagged me. A simple and short one: say you got to talk to God and then Lucifer. What would you say? What would they say?

Alina: ......
God: Oh, come on, I've heard you talking non-stop all your life! You cannot be speechless now!
Alina: OK....(And then He would probably regret ever encouraging me to start talking :P)

Alina: I really think you looked better in South Park. Actually, I am sure. I really do not like you, and that is rare of me.
Lucifer: Yeah, yeah! Heard that one before! Anyway, you also look better in pictures...

Open tag, as always :)

Blogging, a Fine Art

2007-07-02T21:50:00.000+03:00

This is how Diogenes sees blogging and how he promotes it through his "Fine Art of Blogging" project. On his blog, he has gathered valuable input from first class bloggers on blogging, why and how to blog, what makes a blog stand out and generally everything there is to know about bloggers and their art.

Read an interview with Diogenes regarding this very project on the New WOBM.

Smorty: Get Paid to Have Your Say

2007-07-02T21:32:00.000+03:00

As some of you know, I am a supporter of paid reviews as a means to blog for money, as long as they are honest and also bring quality content for a blog's readers. When it comes to singing up for services allowing to get paid for blogging, I tend to follow Mig's advice. That's how I came across Smorty and was convinced to join.

I am still new to the service, so there is a lot for me to learn. What I really liked was their quick notification service and their extremely fast approval of my account. Connecting advertisers with bloggers, Smorty offers a comprehensive account manager displaying all your needed details in one place: your posts, your payment details, available opportunities and so on. Blog advertising made easy.

Smorty requires PayPal accounts, but this service also makes payments every week. It's the best payment time frame I have encountered up to know. I'll check their affiliate program now. You should also try Smorty!

Entry sponsored by Smorty.

Back to Work

2007-07-02T13:35:00.000+03:00

It's amazing what a powerful effect a few free days have on moral and efficiency. My days out of the office did wonders to my general state. After getting as lazy as I could ever get for some time now, I am back in shape: I have actually started to work on my license paper, I've been reading and posting on both blogs, I have also been through all the remaining Greece photos and decided which to post. Speaking of which, do check Views of a Broken Mirror tomorrow, to see new snapshots of Greece, Athens. In the mean time, feel free to check the latest posts on the New WOBM.

In other news, I gave up the whole Big Trip Around Europe idea. Mostly because I know realize so much driving will get me way to tired to actually enjoy what I see. So I came up with a different plan. D and I are going to the Netherlands in August. We will be staying in Alkmaar, at Trisi's and I also hope to see Bart while there. I am sure it will all be amazing!

All Roads Lead to Rome

2007-07-01T16:44:00.000+03:00

I’ve had the opportunity to see Rome when in high-school due to the fact I was one of those geeky students interested in Latin. So I competed, along with other 9 students representing Romania, in an international Latin contest. And my biggest reward was seeing Rome. My favorite place there? Fontana di Trevi, a place full of dreams and people’s wishes, a place where you free your thoughts and let them be carried away by the falling water. Admiring art, being in the prefect scenery for romantic encounters, wishing and hoping, dreaming of the future, all is possible there. My next top attractions on the list are the Colosseum, Basilica San Pietro (Vatican), La Boca della Verita, Piazza di Spagna and the list could go on for ever.

If you want to experience the mysterious remains of the Roman Empire and the long line of Italian history, feel free to select one of the cheap hotels in Rome and unleash your traveling imagination. And, why not, book a hotel exactly near the Colosseum!

Brought to you by CheaperThanHotels.Co.Uk - Rome/Italy

The Alternate Career Meme

2007-07-01T16:32:00.000+03:00

Ali and her mom have invented a meme which fits a weekend entry perfectly. Which are the rules to the game?

If you had the opportunity to do a 1-year internship in a company or field completely unrelated to your current career or specialty, what would be your top 5 choices?

Tough choice, don't you think? Well, here are mine:

1. Professional photographer
2. Tango Dancer
3. Movies script writer
4. Something related with Ballet Planning for the Opera
5. Working for a Formula 1 Team, Ferrari if possible :P

As the tag is open on Ali's site, I tag anyone feeling inspired to write an entry on this topic.

	Heck Yah! I have done it
	I know, but haven't done it
	Yes, but it didn't work
	Really? Cool, I will try it
	Didn't know, don't care