CIAO AMICI!

Join the World Party!

2009-01-18T01:09:00.003Z

On Monday 19th January 2009, have yourself a

Against Terrorism in India

2008-12-10T23:36:00.004Z

A bit over a month left for....

2008-11-21T19:45:00.001Z

Bélgica (Belgique)Joyeux Noël/ Prettige Kerstfeest
Bulgária (Balgarija) Vessela Koleda
República Checa (Ceská Republika)Veselé Vánoce
Dinamarca (Danmark)Gloedelig Jul
Alemanha (Deustchland)Frohe Weihnachten
Estónia (Eesti)Häid Jõule
Irlanda (Ireland)Merry Christmas
Grécia (Ellas)ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ
Espanha (España)Feliz Navidad
França (France)Joyeux Noél
Itália (Italie)Buon Natale
Chipre (Kypros-Kibris)KAΛA XPIΣTOYΓENNA
Letónia (Latvija)Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus
Lituânia (Lietuva)Laimingų Kalėdų
Luxemburgo (Luxembourg)Joyeux Noél/Frohe Weihnachten
Hungria (Magyarország)Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket
Malta (Malta)il-Milied it- Tajjeb
Holanda (Nederland)Prettige Kerstfeest
Áustria (Österreich)Frohe Weihnachten
Polónia (Polska)Wesolych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia
PortugalFeliz Natal
Roménia (România)Crăciun Fericit
Eslovénia (Slovenija)Vesel božič
Eslováquia (Slovensko)Veselé Vianoce
Finlândia (Suomi)Hyvää Joulua
Suécia (Sverige)God Jul
Reino Unido (United Kingdom)Merry Christmas

Notre Prochaine Destination! :-D

2008-11-20T12:15:00.003Z

On va bien s'amuser! :-D

Change

2008-11-08T16:42:00.002Z

It's a most welcome change. Despite the pressure on the newest president of the most powerful (or at least the "loudest") nation in the world, I frankly believe that few people would do a worst job than GWB. Whatever Barack Obama does is better for sure!

I wonder if Americans are getting less stupid. The world paid an horrible price for their stupidity for the last 8 years.

HOPE!

!Viva San Fermin!

2008-07-14T22:06:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Despair.com

Seducción, modernidad y utopía: Mucha en Madrid hasta 18/01/2009

2008-07-06T23:44:00.003+01:00

Did Philip Fart?

2008-05-19T22:55:00.001+01:00

What do you think? ;))

I got a brand new car for my birthday! :-)

2008-04-21T23:28:00.002+01:00

Thanks, D. ;-)

Where is Everyone?!!

2008-04-16T00:35:00.000+01:00

I miss you guys....

Shackles

2008-03-25T21:57:00.002Z

Reporters Without Frontiers

It's not fresh news that China is:

a) a dictatorship
b) there is no freedom of press
c) there's no freedom of information
d) there have always been attempts on human rights (if nothing else, the notorious questions with girls orphanages)
e) also the Dalai Lama is out of Tibet for "some reason", right?

Having all that said, China was awarded the event nonetheless. For nothing else, at least because of the symbolism of the Truce. Athenas and Sparta were constantly at war but all retaliations stopped during the games. Under Hitler's rule nations went with their athletes.

Now Tibet is in uproar. UN won't go there because it's Mighty China. No-one will go there.

But imagine you are a high competition athlete. You may not agree with it. But your goals have been set to "that country". What are you to do? Throw your last 4, 6, 8 years or more of preparation out the window?

It's up to the Government to take diplomatic action. Boycott the ceremonies? Why not? Because of Tibet at least. Everyone saw the Journalists at the Lighting of the Olympic flame but not the Chinese. Maybe they'll see it here.

Happy Easter Everyone!

2008-03-22T22:35:00.000Z

I need to go to Bilbao

2008-03-12T19:05:00.002Z

Horst P. Horst
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
March-July 2008

Lisa, Hands with Vase and Flowers, 1941

Repent from riches or Hell awaits!

2008-03-11T14:55:00.000Z

Last week, during a seminar for priest, to update on the new trends of church, new Mortal Sins were added to the list.
As stated in Wikipedia:

Twenty-first century sins

In March of 2008, Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti listed seven new mortal sins:^[

Environmental pollution
Genetic manipulation
Accumulating excessive wealth
Inflicting poverty
Drug trafficking and consumption
Morally debatable experiments
Violation of fundamental rights of human nature

Accumulating excessive wealth....
Will the Vaticam "repent"?

By the way, the last one, as stated by Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, include rape and paedophilia.

PS - for you unbelivers that don't know or don't remember (or haven't seen the Magnum icecream campaign of 2006), the "old" and still rulling sins are:

Lust (Latin, luxuria)
Gluttony (Latin, gula)
Greed (Latin, avaritia)
Sloth (Latin, acedia)
Wrath (Latin, ira)
Envy (Latin, invidia)
Pride (Latin, superbia)

Oh, they do that in Europe, do they?

2008-03-07T22:59:00.002Z

True story, a few days ago:

Where: NatWest (it's a bank) in New Bridge Street (in the CITY, of all places), London, UK:

"So, is it true that it is not possible to transfer money online to other countries?
Yes, I'm afraid it is, for international transfers you need to come to the branch (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) and fill in a paper form. Alternatively, you can call your Private Banking team (side comment: slightly better timings, I found out: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6 pm... - does that sound like working and commuting time to you? To me it does...)

What about SEPA?
SEPA?

The European Payment System?....
Not sure what that is...

...

But why can't it be done online, it is possible in Switzerland, Netherlands, Portugal, in any simple bank account?
Oh, they do that in Europe, do they?

Burkini?

2008-03-04T18:22:00.001Z

I'm dreaming of...

2008-03-04T00:25:00.005Z

Absolut Ice Bar

2008-03-03T19:35:00.001Z

How Chivalrous Are You?

2008-03-03T14:31:00.003Z

Some tricky scenarios to determine where you guys fall on a scale from Sir Lancelot to Sir Mix-a-Lot. (Girls test your friends ;) )

Start with –5. Add or subtract points for each answer.

1. On a date:

a. You always pay for dinner. (+5)

b. Even on your birthday. (+15)

c. But you make her pay for what she's eaten off your plate. (–20)

2. You're on the street and a woman is attacked. You:

a. Confront the attacker. (+20)

b. Look around for someone strong and brave. (+2)

c. Shout, "Hey, stop that!" (–5)

d. Twice. (–10)

3. The person who best represents how you think women should be treated is:

a. Mullah Mohammed Omar, head of the Taliban movement. (–50)

b. Henry VIII. (–15)

c. Giovanni Casanova. (+5)

d. Oprah. (+20)

4. If you were lame enough to have a ringtone, it would be:

a. "Face Down Ass Up," by 2 Live Crew. (–20)

b. "Girls," by Beastie Boys. (–10)

c. "Glory of Love," by Peter Cetera. (+10)

d. The version of "Glory of Love" you wrote for your wife. (+25)

5. You're sitting down on a crowded subway car. You would offer your seat to: (Choose all that apply.)

a. a pregnant woman. (+3)

b. an elderly woman. (+5)

c. a man with long hair. (+10)

6. Someone grabs your girlfriend's ass at a bar. You:

a. Punch anyone who won't make eye contact. (+10)

b. Stand by her while she does. (+5)

c. Tell her it was probably accidental and she needs to relax. (–5)

d. Collect the five bucks, ask your friend if it was worth it. (–40)

7. At your birthday, your intoxicated wife slips and bangs her head really hard. You:

a. Take her to the hospital and insist that she did not ruin your birthday. (+20)

b. Lay her down on a pile of coats and tell her to close her eyes for a few hours. (+5)

c. Ask her why she always has to be the center of attention. (–10)

8. You're camping and a grizzly bear appears. You:

a. Tell her to run, then make yourself seem as big as possible, like they showed you on Discovery. (+20)

b. Run, telling her to make herself seem as big as possible like they showed you on Discovery. (–20)

9. If a woman were an automobile, she'd be:

a. a Lexus, elegant, with plenty to love under the hood. (+5)

b. a 1967 Shelby Cobra, a privilege to experience, worthy of constant pampering. (+15)

c. a Jeep, palatable in most situations, best when dirty. (–5)

d. a minivan, utilitarian, slightly embarrassing, best for holding children. (–20)

10. At Thanksgiving dinner, your uncle suggests your girlfriend should abstain from a second helping of mashed potatoes. You:

a. Take another serving yourself as a sign of solidarity. (+10)

b. Tell him he's out of line. (+5)

c. Suggest the green beans. (–10)

11. If you were an animal, you would be:

a. a New Zealand paddle crab. (They eat their mates while mating with them.) (–50)

b. a blue crab. (They hold their women in a pre-mating embrace to protect them as they're molting.) (+10)

c. a black vulture. (Philandering vultures are attacked by other vultures.) (+20)

d. a sea horse. (Males carry the babies. Lucky bastards!) (+30)

-------------------------

Key

More than 100 points: Congratulations! You belong in the esteemed ranks of Prince Charming and Sir Lancelot. And if you're not getting walked all over, at least you're getting laid.

50 to 100:You're in the ranks of Sir Mix-a-Lot. But since we've been forced to lower our standards, you'll probably do okay.

Less than 50:Dick.

I'm back from:

2008-03-03T12:06:00.003Z

How to tell a bunch of lies just by saying the Truth

2008-02-28T23:53:00.002Z

Things a Man Should Never Do in the Company of a Woman!!!

2008-02-26T18:32:00.002Z

The editors of Marie Claire advise against bad tips, blow-drying, and cleaning your gun. I'll take their word for it, and i choose some of them, and i add "Things a Man Should Never Do in the Company of a Woman - whom he wants to impress" ;)

1 - Reveal how much your car cost.

2 - Polish high school trophies (which you still have displayed).

3 - Refer to your mother as your best friend.

4 - Blow-dry your hair.

5 - Celebrity impressions.

6 - Forget to carry cash. (IMPORTANT FOR MAN AND WOMEN)

7 - Flip it, flop it, swing it around, tug on it, adjust it, scratch it, or do anything that will remind us that it's just a goofy appendage and not a mystical source of pleasure and satisfaction. (VERY IMPORTANT)

8 - Use the words bitch, slut, tramp, or whore, unless referring to another man. (IMPORTANT)

9 - Tell us you're going to kiss us. (Just get on with it! ;)

10 - Clean your gun.

11 - Say : You're not one of those feminists, are you?

oscar 2008

2008-02-26T16:57:00.007Z

"In fashion one day you are in the other you are out"

the days you are in

the days you are out

I'm drinking it for a couple of days

2008-02-25T11:55:00.004Z

Kefir

2008-02-25T11:39:00.003Z

Kefir is the "champagne of yoghurts" and boasts many added properties that yoghurt lacks

So what is Kefir?

Kefir is a refreshing cultured-milk beverage, which many centuries ago, originated in the Caucasus Mountains. The word kefir is said to be derived from the Turkish word keif, which loosely translates to good feeling or feeling good. This is quite possibly because drinking kefir is renowned to increase a sense of well-being.

Traditional authentic kefir can only be prepared by culturing fresh milk with Kefir grains.

Kefir grains, or kefir granules if you wish, are in fact a natural-starter or natural mother-culture.

Kefir grains increase in overall volume, numbers of, and by weight, as the grains are self-purpetuating when continually cultured in fresh milk to prepare kefir

Nutritional Content

Easily digested, it cleanses the intestines, provides beneficial bacteria and yeast, vitamins and minerals, and complete proteins.

Because kefir is such a balanced and nourishing food, it contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, and cancer.

Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

The regular use of kefir can help relieve all intestinal disorders, promote bowel movement, reduce flatulence and create a healthier digestive system.

In addition, its cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balanced inner ecosystem for optimum health and longevity.

Kefir can also help eliminate unhealthy food cravings by making the body more nourished and balanced. Its excellent nutritional content offers healing and health-maintenance benefits to people in every type of condition.

As time goes by...

2008-02-21T21:35:00.003Z

I'm slightly at a loss with what to call this... let's see if I get inspired.

I forgot to say something on week 1: for one of the first times I got a "benefit" for being a woman. Meaning: while I was preparing myself psychologically to get additional 2 kg of laptop by changing my Dell latitude 410 by a 600 and something, and I get the 430 - even lighter than my old one. Explanation of the IT guy: well, as a default we give the lighter version to ladies, since more than once we have had to change the laptops after a few days because it is just too heavy. Well, my back thanks the chivalry! :-P

Week 2 brought one of the most hated activities of moving in: house hunting. No way around it, I really don't like it - as much as I want to find a place to call my own and have my stuff around me (I'm almost out of books to read... and all those little trinkets that fill up all the available shelves and drawers and God knows what else actually have a purpose every now and then). Diane (the real estate agent, or one of my baby sitters) is quite nice and I think she got the feeling of what I'm looking for. We go for a walking trip (pity that she hasn't told me in advance, flat shoes would have been more appropriate... especially after 3 hrs!). A few problems, though: rents are incredibly expensive for the space you get. 575 GBP / week for 65 sq mtrs??? And the problem is that it is hard to get bigger apartments, even for higher budgets. I wonder how the bed is going to fit. Is it going to fit???? Easier to find furnished apartments, what is not what I'm looking for. And, biggest of all issues, I have to make my mind of where I want to live, which can be a bit difficult without really knowing the city...

Hummm... By the end of the day, my energy is drained and I'm reasonably down... Nothing that a good night's sleep and some reflexion doesn't solve. However, someone should explain current boss that I'm quite bad with mornings generically and that some days I just wake up on the wrong side of the bed - in which case, just leave me to it and I'll get over it, sooner or later. He was actually worried??!! Past boss didn't do a proper handover :-P

Anyway, after agreeing that we would look a bit around before trying to close down the housing issue (after all, i't has been less than 2 weeks!), things move on...

A bit of mom's wisdom in the process: when it comes to yourself, you hate choices. And she is right!

Thursday is pay day and also disappointment day with English banking. I finally get money in my bank account but I still don't have a pin to the debit card. Solution: go to the branch and withdraw money at the cashier. What????? I haven't done that in YEARS! Not in the Netherlands, not in Switzerland and in Portugal the last time that I had something to do with cash at a branch, was because I had to deposit something and the ATM was not working. In addition, the same system that forces me to use my two surnames because "that's what's in your passport", also messes it up for misspelling these surnames and merging them into one - reason for which the credit card got lost, was retrieved but too late and now needs to be re-issued - hopefully with the correct name this time. Bureaucracy? On the phone with the Credit Card Services and I ask to change an address that they changed without asking. No, we can't. Call your branch and have them call us with the changes. ??????????? Cherry on top of the whipped cream: I go to net banking and I cannot find the international transfers, so I call the help desk. Oh, there's no such thing. If you want to do an international transfer you have to go to the branch. OK, if I am a complicated person that's my own fault, I know. It's nobody else's fault (except probably the tax departments in Netherlands and Switzerland and the Unilever Company in Switzerland, all of whom have some pending issues with my finances). However, I do need to move money around and I don't really fancy 1 trip a month to nice NatWest New Bridge Street branch to fill in 2 or 3 forms..., between 9 and 5. Either is is solvable via the phone banking or soon I will be looking for another bank, with internet banking options as main criteria...

Now, I assume this sounds as an odd thing, a peculiarity for most normal people... but it is a peculiarity that CGD, Santander (Portugal), ABN AMRO (Netherlands) and UBS (Switzerland) all cater for - and these are the ones I know.

In the meanwhile, I get more proof about the country's obsession with food: there's a chef programme every night! Today I even zapped through two simultaneously - one of them being Jamie's at Home and may all of Jamie's fans forgive me (and him as well) but he must be half crazy... Either that or there is a new form of Red Bull made of Olive Oil and raw Peas and Broad Beans :-P Lovely!

One day to go until weekend... I should be working, there are some lovely Excel files waiting to be properly completed :-P

Beijinhos!

PS: found a title, at last... ;-) and if you got this far, you must be very patient!

PS2: talk about clouds with silver lining: little Tamas was born this morning in Hungary to a proud and healthy mom that less than one year ago was facing a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Shouldn't that be more than enough to put a smile in my face? It is! :-D

Some deep thoughts!

2008-02-21T14:18:00.002Z

1 - Calories are little animals living inside our closets, which come out during the night and shrink our clothes…

2 - Love is like the flu. It hits you without notice and before you know it you end up in bed.......

3 - Anyone who always tells the truth is a big liar

4 - Our lack of cooperation is mutual

5 - If everything goes perfectly, something’s wrong

6 - I’m an atheist, thank God.

7 - Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

8 - If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

9 - Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

10 - Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

11 - Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad atyou, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out thewindow?

12 - If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made fromvegetables,then what is baby oil made from?

13 - Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They'reboth dogs!

14 - The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

15 - Os problemas do nosso país são essencialmente agrícolas: excesso de nabos, falta de tomates e muito grelo abandonado. (É em Portugues e não tem grande nível mas é muito boa)

India vs Pakistan

2008-02-19T23:50:00.002Z

This is written by a Pakistani journalist....
......

Capital suggestion
By Dr Farrukh Saleem
12/9/2007

Here's what is happening in India :
The two Ambani brothers can buy 100 percent of every company listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and would still be left with $30 billion to spare. The four richest Indians can buy up all goods and services produced over a year by 169 million Pakistanis and still be left with $60 billion to spare. The four richest Indians are now richer than the forty richest Chinese.
In November, Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark Sensex flirted with 20,000 points. As a consequence, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries became a $100 billion company (the entire KSE is capitalized at $65 billion). Mukesh owns 48 percent of Reliance.

In November, comes Neeta's birthday. Neeta turned forty-four three weeks ago. Look what she got from her husband as her birthday present: A sixty-million dollar jet with a custom fitted master bedroom, bathroom with mood lighting, a sky bar, entertainment cabins, satellite television, wireless communication and a separate cabin with game consoles. Neeta is Mukesh Ambani's wife, and Mukesh is not India 's richest but the second richest.

Mukesh is now building his new home, Residence Antillia (after a mythical, phantom island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean ). At a cost of $1 billion this would be the most expensive home on the face of the planet. At 173 meters tall Mukesh's new family residence, for a family of six, will be the equivalent of a 60-storeyed building. The first six floors are reserved for parking. The seventh floor is for car servicing and maintenance. The eighth floor houses a mini-theatre. Then there's a health club, a gym and a swimming pool. Two floors are reserved for Ambani family's guests. Four flo ors above the guest floors are family floors all with a superb view of the Arabian Sea . On top of everything are three helipads. A staff of 600 is expected to care for the family and their family home.

In 2004, India became the 3rd most attractive foreign direct investment destination. Pakistan wasn't even in the top 25 countries. In 2004, the United Nations, the representative body of 192 sovereign member states, had requested the Election Commission of India to assist the UN in the holding elections in Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah and Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan. Why the Election Commission of India and not the Election Commission of Pakistan ? After all, Islamabadis closer to Kabulthan is Delhi .

Imagine, 12 percent of all American scientists are of Indian origin; 38 percent of doctors in America are Indian; 36 percent of NASA scientists are Indians; 34 percent of Microsoft employees are Indians; and 28 percent of IBM employees are Indians.

For the record: Sabeer Bhatia created and founded Hotmail. Sun Microsystems was founded by Vinod Khosla. The Intel Pentium processor, that runs 90 percent of all computers, was fathered by Vinod Dham. Rajiv Gupta co-invented Hewlett Packard's E-speak project. Four out of ten Silicon Valley start-ups are run by Indians. Bollywood produces 800 movies per year and six Indian ladies have won Miss Universe/Miss World titles over the past 10 years.

For the record: Azim Premji, the richest Muslim entrepreneur on the face of the planet, was born in Bombay and now lives in Bangalore.India now has more than three dozen billionaires; Pakistan has none (not a single dollar billionaire).

The other amazing aspect is the rapid pace at which India is creating wealth. In 2002, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh and Anil Ambani's father, left his two sons a fortune worth $2.8 billion. In 2007, their combined wealth stood at $94 billion. On 29 October 2007, as a result of the stock market rally and the appreciation of the Indian rupee, Mukesh became the richest person in the world, with net worth climbing to US$63.2 billion (Bill Gates, the richest American, stands at around $56 billion).

Indians and Pakistanis have the same Y-chromosome haplo group. We have the same genetic sequence and the same genetic marker (namely: M124). We have the same DNA molecule, the same DNA sequence. Our culture, our traditions and our cuisine are all the same. We watch the same movies and sing the same songs. What is it that Indians have and we don't?

INDIANS ELECT THEIR LEADERS

And talking of politics: Silvio Berlusconi

2008-02-19T23:40:00.002Z

Silvio Berlusconi is known for being corrupt, rude, misogenous - and an Italian favourite, as it seems he prepares to be re-elected.

Any Italian women that vote for such a man, deserve the country they get....

The embodied "Italian Stalion"?

!Adiós Fidel! Hoy te Jubilas

2008-02-19T13:26:00.003Z

Rumour has it that within the party the support wasn't the same. So before death takes him, either naturally or commissioned, the General has decided to retire. So far "brother" Raul will keep on his stand. Lets see what future brings....

!Enhorabuena, Fidel!

Where are you in USA electoral fight

2008-02-19T10:47:00.001Z

USA Electoral Compass

Not girls stuff

2008-02-18T14:29:00.002Z

As we are all getting older :D and wiser, here are some simple advices:

1 - Put your blow-dryer on cold and make your lotions do more

Use your blow-dryer on a cold setting to dry your lotion and sunscreen, says dermatologist Fredric Brandt. Allowing skin care products to set makes your makeup go on more smoothly and last longer.

2 - Use a sleep-time moisturizer

If the number of night creams coming onto the market is any indication, the right time to pamper your skin is when you hit the sack. Cosmetic chemists know, for example, that many anti-aging ingredients stay active longer when they're not exposed to sunlight.

3 - Sleep flat on your back

Smashing your face into a pillow creates fold lines that eventually become permanent if they're repeated every night. Spending time on your back also helps counter the effects of gravity that accumulate during the day. At night, you get a chance to reverse that.

What we need in a day like this...

2008-02-18T13:56:00.001Z

No boobs please

2008-02-18T13:29:00.006Z

You got to "love" Americans.

The "land of the free", that so much defends the "God-given" right to guns and then surprises itself with high-school and college killings, is a prude, "decent", country. One can flash anything but not tits!
So, just to make sure Amy Winehouse wouldn't get too naked on stage, she was advise to cover the "boobs" for the Grammy Awards.

Guess what "boobs" they meant (see photo below - not a joke!)

Week 1...

2008-02-17T18:31:00.002Z

Warning: what you are about to read is most centainly and unapologetically biased. It is based on impressions of less than 7 full days, on a limited sample of people and events. The writer discards all liability. Continue at your own wish and risk of getting bored.

OK everyone, now that we have the formalities taken care of, let's seriously bother you? Ok? Lovely, then...

Day 1 (11.02): How the hell did I get to 60kg of checked in luggage, 3 suitases and... better not to mention the amount of overweight charge that I paid... (and fortunately they have not checked the hand lugagge, for sure way above any weight limit). Moving in the winter is crap, winter clothes just weight too much :-P Almost no personal objects in this lot (and I have to survive without them until Easter, that's 6 weeks). OK, more crappy is to have myself moving countries but keeping my stuff in the departure zone for so long...
The sun shines in Zurich, the flight is supposed to be short, the mobiles are almost without battery but that shouldn't be a problem, surely I can be not reachable for a couple of hours?
Oops... we are sort of delayed... by 1h30 already... (longer than the flight should take). Ok, here we go... it's one of those Fokker planes again (grrrr). What is the captain saying? Fog in London, the flight delayed until after lunch and let's get back to the terminal to get some food. OK; better let bosses present and past know that I won't get to the office today. Quick lunch and here we go again, this time we depart - only 4h delay, all in all. London City is a tiny airport, we actually walk on the ground from the plane to the terminal. Gorgeous day, though, that part can be taken in as good omen. Still no battery, and no taxi either, got lost with all delays. Another 40 min waiting for it to arrive, while the phone is charging in the information desk and I get to play silent oberver... The most absolutely gay young man talking to the ladies at the desk... but really, there was no stereotype that he missed :-P Only here - or for sure not in conservative Switzerland.
While boss is reassured that we will submit the blessed forecast on Wednesday even if I am not in the office today, we reach what will be home for the coming weeks. 100m from Saint Paul's Cathedral (for better and for worse, till bells draw us apart), carino l'appartamento. A small lighting issue that would prevent Inês from sleeping: a street light just by my window (1st floor apartment...) - well, and me as well, even with all my Dutch practice - and a small sound issue as well (coming from Zen Agnesstrasse, where one can sleep even with the demolition, the narrow street is suddendly lively at 4 am, be it due to the youth hostel nearby or to some traffic).

Day 2: Welcome to 100 Victoria Embankment! We start with issuing the card (dreadful picture, as always happens) and with an induction. Remember: if there's fire, go to Carmelite (but isn't this a protestant country???). Jogging at lunchtime (you must be joking, right?)? There are changing rooms in the ground floor. The building is completely renewed, view is fantastic (especially as the Sun stays for a few more days :-) ), time to setlle down. No sign of the new computer yet, but at least the new mobile is around, so I can play a bit with it ;-)
In the streets, everyone is just so busy and fast. People everywhere! And I'm still amazed with the well dressed ladies walking in sneakers. A few of them also in desperately high heels... No way avoiding feeling under-dressed when walking in the street... (and girls, yes, I know that the answer is shopping but see following days on why that has to wait a bit).

Day 3: Thank God for Marks & Spencer Simply Foods that has been feeding me for the last few days... There's no normal supermarket in sight, which led me to walk a bit longer today until I could find a small supermarket where I could buy some dishwasher... This is an apartment for 1, so there's 4 of everything: cups, plates, glasses... Quickly running out of clean dishes! Also no microwave? Bah... I need to find an online store for basic supplies (don't feel like going up and down tube stations with heavy shopping bags) but the laptop stayed at work today for data migration... I feel empty without the computer... and what shall I do at work?

Day 4 (14.02): Oh dear, I've landed in Bridget Jones' land!!! Happy Valentine's??????? One of the secretaries is very much in the mood for the day, and since she is one of the few people around (and probably the one speaking the most), you cannot avoid hearing it! Boh!!!!
My Valentine gift is getting my laptop back and then getting the new one at the end of the day - past boss was shocked when I said that this was my Valentine gift... He should know about my "real" Valentine's experiences to understand why I prefer the laptop bit.
Next experience: the bank. The account has been opened but now I need to get to a branch to get my cards and stuff (apparently, they don't send it to a work address... Complicated guys!). Here is where it gets strange: I have a bank account and no money on it, a debit card active but with no pin and a credit card of which I have the pin but not the card.... Ah, and a cheque book (never had one in NL or CH). Shopping? Limited to first needs, as it means withdrawing cash from CH's account or buying in pounds in credit cards either in Euro or CHF.

Day 5: It's good to be happy with simple things... Like spending one day back and forth with a system, taking forever to do something simple but learning how it works... and how I can replace automatically that annoying "NULL" with 0 :-P and finding out by myself how to retrieve my missing .pab.
Oh, remember the non existing microwave? It exists... it's combined with the oven :-P Lol!!!

Day 6: Saturday... let's be a turist. Still not today that I go inside Saint Paul's (still find it a robbery, especially when compared to Saint Peter's in Rome) but let's get some Oyster Cards (advice from other expats: get more than one... your visitors will use it, if no one else), and head to Oxford Street. People everywhere, no one still. That's the feeling: there's a lot of movement, every time, everywhere... "Bulício que não acaba mais". A bit of window shopping and get a lunch to eat in Hyde Park. It's sunny but cold, so, with the afternoon reaching half, I head back "home", with a small stop for supply management - finding another small supermarket. Matilde (my headache) came for another visit, so some tea and pain killer are the best way to garantee a smoot evening, in the company of the second of the 3 books that I brought... I'll be in trouble soon, with nothing to read - how am I going to escape working on my delayed stuff? :-P

Day 7: It seems that Im not only in the City, I'm also in the middle of a bell contest! Dio!!!! Small outing for getting some sun and exploring some stores, just a couple of hours. Then back because, though the apartment is serviced (meaning someone will clean it once a week, what a luxury!) I still need to do the laundry and, most annoying of all, the ironing. My quest for the milk pan was not successful, nor the one for a decently-sized mug - hey, I like my warm milk with my coffee and before I leave the house - not that there is any lack of Starbuck's around!

And what else?
Two national obsessions: eating well and "property". I've seen at least 4 different TV shows about people who want to buy and sell houses and apartments. Plus, the real estate agency that will help me find my next home tells me on Friday that they cannot let me know on what we are supposed to see on Tuesday, because the market is so volatile. The food issue is equally maniac: how many of your "5-a-day", Cooking shows (not only Jamie, though I have to say that he is tiresome, just cooks too fast! and is obsessed with olive oil!), chef shows, eat well, dieting is sad (from Pret) but it is easy to diet with Marks & Spencer...

Enough of my first week? Yes, think so... But bottom line is :-)

Beijinhos!

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

2008-02-15T19:41:00.001Z

You Are a Dash

Your life is fast paced and varied. You are realistic, down to earth, and very honest.

You're often busy doing something interesting, and what you do changes quickly.

You have many facets to your personality, and you connect them together well.

You have a ton of interests. While some of them are a bit offbeat, they all tie together well.

You get along best with: the Exclamation Point

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Cheap furniture in India

2008-02-15T18:49:00.001Z

EU Mini-Chefs! :-)

2008-02-15T14:41:00.003Z

The E.U. is trying desperatly to stop the trend of overweight on the young population. Stuffed with fast foods and sweets and couch-potatoing in front of the telly or the computer, kids are getting not chubby but right down overweight.

So, if kids like to eat so much, how about making them like Good Foods? And meanwhile teach the parents too? So Mini-Chefs was created :-)

Guess what....

2008-02-15T09:56:00.002Z

Any guesses on the worlds #1, most popular flavour?

Well its dark, sweet, rich and delicious…surpasses age; gender, culture, creed and people have even been known to lie about it… any clue?

Obidos is a magical little place embraced by huge stone walls protecting a medieval castle inside, and feels a lot like a mini medieval wonderland year round and now it will be swathed in people and chocolate for two entire weeks.

So, whether you like Dark, Milk, Semi Sweet, Bitter, White…you can fill that gap of indulgence and then some with chocolate treats from all over Europe.

And in case you’re short on excuse to eat more chocolate, try these:

Its been proven to be good for you
It doesn’t cause obesity
It doesn’t cause acne or breakouts
It’s the best way to say, I’m sorry and I love you

Enough said! Now, let’s eat some chocolate!

Happy European Sexual Dysfunction Day! 14th February ;-)

2008-02-14T23:33:00.001Z

The guys at ESSM have a "sick" sense of humour ;-)

!Recibí Flores hoy!

2008-02-14T21:53:00.002Z

No es mi cumpleaños o ningún otro día especial; tuvimos nuestro primer disgusto anoche, y el dijo muchas cosas crueles, que en verdad me ofendieron. Pero se que esta arrepentido y no las dijo en serio, porque el me mando flores hoy.

Recibí flores hoy! No es nuestro aniversario o ningún otro día especial; anoche me lanzo contra la pared y comenzó a ahorcarme. Parecía una pesadilla, pero de las pesadillas despiertas y sabes que no es real; me levante esta mañana adolorida y con golpes en todos lados, pero yo se que esta arrepentido; porque el me mando flores hoy.

Recibí flores hoy! Y no es día de San Valentín o ningún otro día especial; anoche me golpeo y amenazo con matarme; ni el maquillaje o las mangas largas podían esconder las cortadas y golpes que me ocasiono esta vez. No pude ir al trabajo hoy, porque no quería que se dieran cuenta. Pero yo se que esta arrepentido; por que el me mando flores hoy.

Recibí flores hoy! Y no era el día de las madres o ningún otro día especial; anoche el me volvió a golpear, pero esta vez fue mucho peor. Si logro dejarlo, que voy a hacer? ,? como podría yo sola sacar adelante a los niños?, que pasara si nos falta el dinero? Le tengo tanto miedo, pero dependo tanto de el, que temo dejarlo. Pero yo se que esta arrepentido, por que el me mando flores hoy.

Recibí flores hoy! Hoy es un día muy especial: Es el día de mi funeral. Anoche por fin logro matarme. Me golpeo hasta morir. Si por lo menos hubiera tenido el valor y la fortaleza de dejarlo; Si hubiera aceptado la ayuda profesional. Hoy no hubiera recibido flores!

- Por una vida sin violencia -

3 months already!

2008-02-13T10:30:00.006Z

Play, help and improve your vocabulary

2008-02-12T12:23:00.000Z

FREE RICE

La Fiat 500 più cara del mondo!

2008-02-11T15:53:00.000Z

The Fiat 500 Pepita, it is Italy's iconic small car painted with the same 24k gold micro-powder paint.

The side walls of the tires are also brushed with gold and frame a set of aftermarket wheels from OZ; the dash has been covered with Australian mother of pearl inlay; the gear shift, hand brake and pedals are lined with Swarovski crystals and the designer floor mats are made out of cashmere.

The car costs about 60,000 euro, but they will be more than happy to customize one for you by upholstering the interior with the skin of crocodile, snake, shark, rayfish or lizard, as well as dumping the Swarovski crystal for one of 48 other precious stones.

Valentines day

2008-02-08T16:23:00.000Z

Which is the best thing to do in Valentines day?

Having dinner at home without any kind of pink hearts decoration, crowed places and silly people ....

More than words...

2008-02-08T15:55:00.000Z

Map of sites of ongoing armed conflicts worldwide

germs?

2008-02-08T15:30:00.000Z

1,483,020

Alchool

2008-02-08T15:28:00.001Z

73%LUSH

Magnetic courtain

2008-02-08T11:08:00.000Z

How many countries can you name in 5 minutes???

2008-02-07T21:25:00.000Z

Only 3 to Go!

2008-02-06T18:15:00.000Z

Have you guys noticed that we are 3 vists away from 2000? ;))

I've been checking a bit "ad-hoc" for the most popular posts and the two who repeat the most are:

"Hairy Portuguese Women"
and
"Our latest addiction: raclettes!"

The Catastrophes in Zagreb

2008-02-04T18:12:00.001Z

Another silly day at the office

2008-02-04T16:25:00.000Z

Personal Horoscope Portrait

Pat - Your sun sign is Virgo. This is the sign in which the Sun is in your birth chart. Your Ascendant is in Taurus, and your Moon is in Cancer.

in your eyes...

2008-02-04T15:18:00.000Z

What eye color will your children have?

In loving memory of Toše Proeski

2008-02-03T22:19:00.000Z

The best companion throughout the sad and happy times, lonely and crowded rides, words for the soul and music for the heart! Toše Proeski will remain a part of my life as a distant friend and a guardian angel! In loving memoriam...

I think i need one!

2008-02-01T18:43:00.000Z

On the Waterfront, With Style

2008-02-01T13:58:00.000Z

Overshadowed by larger, wealthier and more flashy European countries with world-renowned design specialties — Italian lighting, Scandinavian furniture, French fashion — Portugal has long hid on the Continent's margin both geographically and creatively.

For years, the best-known cultural contributions from this small seafaring nation were those stewed up in cauldrons from humble materials like squid and cod.

But that is changing, and no place embodies Portugal's emergence as a serious design destination better than the waterside Santos quarter of Lisbon.

The splashiest evidence is the Boavista site, where Norman Foster is designing a futuristic tower and commercial complex that will be filled with “galleries, studios, showrooms, exhibitions, performances, cinema, auditorium, cafes, shops, bars and restaurants,” in the words of its press materials. The goal is to create a project that “promotes the worlds of design and the arts.”

The New York Times, November 25th, 2007

MIMOA

2008-02-01T13:55:00.000Z

MIMOA is an on-line contemporary architecture guide. It’s a geo-referenced database with an inventory of relevant architecture objects across Europe. Done in collaboration with A10 magazine and supported by the Dutch government, MIMOA has several particularities that make success highly expectable.

The database is open and collaborative. Everyone can participate adding projects (with description and images), and inscribing them on the interactive map – an editing team confirms the validity of the added information.

With MIMOA it’s easy to gather that data; project details always include exact address, visiting hours and info on the best public transport access.

"Ratatouille" had Best Picture Pedigree

2008-02-01T12:22:00.000Z

Among the tales of depravity and violence that dominate this year's Academy Awards race sits the bright and shining "Ratatouille." A rat never seemed so sanitized.
The Pixar film landed five Oscar nominations and was ranked by many critics as one of the year's best, yet was never a serious contender for best picture. Instead, it was relegated to the relatively new category of best animated feature, which the academy began dolling out in 2002.

Directed by Brad Bird, "Ratatouille" has garnered an aggregate score of 96 on Metacritic.com, ranking it above "Pulp Fiction"

What a strange day!

2008-02-01T10:03:00.000Z

Today when i was driving to the office i saw:

they were all going to school...

Together

2008-02-01T10:02:00.000Z

Urban Dictionary

2008-01-31T22:49:00.000Z

update: Urban Dictionary

Tells you all you need to know to understand the current "lingo" of the streets (and tv shows) of America.

Pretty Awesome, dude! ;)

The Possy Is Complete! :-D

2008-01-31T22:29:00.000Z

Now the gang has all been summoned to this forum! :-D
The "Amici" are all online! :-D

Welcome Nurka! ;)) (nice screenname, btw ;)))

Balkan drinkers

2008-01-31T22:02:00.000Z

Hello to everyone! I'm finally online and will start contributing! :-) Miss ya all!! And here goes my first post: How we drink on the Balkans..... :-)

If I stay on the same job, I'll definately hae to get one like this!

Check your eyesight for free ;-)

2008-01-30T22:32:00.000Z

Find the C, it's a good exercise for the eyes.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Now that you have found the C, find the 6.

9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999699999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999

Now the 6 is found, find the N. This is a hard one.

MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM

This is no joke, if you passed the test, you may cancel the visit to the optometrist ;)

See the results below:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999699999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999

MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM

By magic

2008-01-30T16:45:00.000Z

Find the diferences between Harry Potter and Ana Jorge (the new Minister of Health). Maybe now we will have some magical touch...

Portuguese Jungle

2008-01-30T15:27:00.000Z

We already have the tropical climate... too hot and rainy.. and now we are starting to have wild animals walking around... What comes next?

Police sealed off an area north of Lisbon today after two tigers escaped from a circus lorry.

Circus owner Miguel Chen blamed the incident on sabotage, saying that somebody had deliberately opened their trailer.

The lorry towing their trailer broke down late on Tuesday and was towed away for repairs.

The trailer was parked at the side of the road and guarded by a circus employee, but while he went off to fetch water for the animals the cage was opened.
There were 6 tigers in the cage.

Two animals escaped at around 6.30 am but circus handlers quickly managed to capture one of them.

The other, a tigress, that has been slightly injured, jumping a fence, was been cornered in an enclosure.

She was caught with the help of two tranquillizer shots, borrowed to the Lisbon zoo.

Into The Night

2008-01-30T10:12:00.000Z

Like a gift from the heavens,
it was easy to tell,
It was love from above,
that could save me from hell,
She had fire in her soul it was easy to see,
how the devil himself could be pulled out of me,
There were drums in the air as she started to dance,
Every soul in the room keeping time with there hands,
And we sang…

(Chorus)
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And the voices rang like the angels sing,
And singing…
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And we danced on into the night,
Ay oh ay oh,Ay oh ay oh,
And we danced on into the night,

Like a piece to the puzzle that falls into place,
You could tell how we felt from the look on our faces,
we was spinning in circles with the moon in our eyes,
No room left to move in between you and I,
We forgot where we were and we lost track of time,
And we sang to the wind as we danced through the night,
And we sang…

(Chorus)
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And the voices rang like the angels sing,
And singing…Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And we danced on into the night,
Ay oh ay oh,Ay oh ay oh,
And we danced on into the night,
Ay oh ay oh,Ay oh ay oh,
And we danced on into the night,

Like a gift from the heavens,
it was easy to tell,
It was love from above, that could save me from hell,
She had fire in her soul it was easy to see,
how the devil himself could be pulled out of me,
There were drums in the air as she started to dance,
Every soul in the room keeping time with there hands,
And we sang…

(Chorus)
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And the voices rang like the angels sing,
And singing…
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
And we danced on into the night,
Ay oh ay oh,Ay oh ay oh,
And we danced on into the night,
(And the voices rang like the angels sing),
Ay oh ay oh,Ay oh ay oh,
And we danced on into the night,
Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
(Ay oh ay oh),Ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
(Ay oh ay oh),
Singing ay oh ay oh ay oh ay,
(Ay oh ay oh),
And we danced on into the night…

Great advice

2008-01-28T17:17:00.000Z

Michael gives great advice about clothes: Ignore the tag, try it on. Buying the size 8 because you always have is not cute if you end up looking like a sausage, with clothes that pull tight across "problem" areas, so tacky. Nothing makes a woman look fatter than clothes that are too tight just as nothing makes a woman look more old and desperate than clothes that are too young.
We should would rather have just a couple of outfits that fit well than a whole closet of clothes that make us look like 'dodos'.

Micheal Kors - Don't label yourself

Project runway

2008-01-28T17:12:00.001Z

I'm a Project Runway fan, and today i was searching about it in the internet... and i found out who is the winner of season 2... and i don't agree... :(

Today Hollywood visited us

2008-01-28T17:04:00.000Z

Now I'm curious... I bet it was George Cloney, or maybe Sean Conery or Hugh Laurie ;)

The longest...

2008-01-25T12:05:00.000Z

The world's longest documented hair belongs to Xie Qiuping (China) at 5.627 m when measured on May 8, 2004. She has been growing her hair since 1973 from the age of 13.

(I'm not able to grow mine to reach my waist...)

Where is he from?

2008-01-25T11:46:00.000Z

Born
c. 1451

Died
May 20, 1506 outside Valladolid, Spain

Occupation
Maritime explorer for the Crown of Castile

Religious stance
Christianity

Christopher Columbus was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings.

Though not the first to reach the Americas from Europe, Columbus' voyages led to general European awareness of the hemisphere and the successful establishment of European cultures in the New World.

Columbus' voyages across the Atlantic Ocean began a European effort at exploration and colonization of the Western Hemisphere.

While history places great significance on his first voyage of 1492, he did not actually reach the American mainland until his third voyage in 1498.

Instead, he made landfall on an island in the Bahamas Archipelago that he named San Salvador while trying to find a sea route to India, hence the indigenous inhabitants being called "Indians".

The exact place and date of birth of Christopher Colombus have been the source of some speculation although most historians believe that he was Genoese. There are several competing theories regarding his national origin. Genoese theory, Portuguese theory, Catalan theory, and Other theories (from Basque, Corsica, Greece, Norway or Denmark)

Find the diferences

2008-01-24T14:37:00.000Z

The new Turkish Lira (since 1st jan 05) is identical to the 2 euros coin.

1 NEW TURKISH LIRA = 0,57 EUROS (today exchange rate)

Be carefull you can be deceived

The secret

2008-01-24T14:27:00.000Z

Money
Money is magnetic energy. You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings.

Relationships
You can completely transform any relationship, no matter what it's like right now.
Every single relationship you have is a reflection of how you feel inside about you. You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings. Every relationship you have and every interaction with every person, is a reflection of your own thoughts and feelings in that very moment.

Health
You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings.

(it seams to easy to be true)

My first and last post about smoking

2008-01-24T14:20:00.000Z

In life you have to be smart, live by the rules but enjoy life. I'm really happy with the new law. I'm really happy to go to a restaurant and be able to see the walls and not only a cloud of smoke.
But if i was a smoker i would find alternatives like these SNUS

Swedish Snus is a moist to semi-moist, ground, oral tobacco product which is used behind the upper lip. It is a ground tobacco product dating from the late 1700s

Christopher Colombus' second journey to America brought the tobacco to Europe where it finally reached Sweden in 1638. The combination of large snuff consumption and strict state regulations have developed a unique Swedish snuff with a high quality found nowhere else in the world. (This man gets involved in lots of issues. Who says life in the old days was boring ;))

Livraria Lello

2008-01-23T18:55:00.001Z

Livraria LelloOver 100 years old, the Livraria Lello & Irmão was recently selected by The Guardian as one of the 10 most beautiful bookshops in the word.Guardian’s journalist Sean Dodson refers to the centennial bookshop as divine and honours it with a third place on his shortlist, being the first one deliberately built from scratch for that purpose.

Designed by Portuguese engineer Xavier Esteves, it was inaugurated in 1906 and is regarded as one of the finest examples of late Neo-Gothic architecture in the city of Porto. Its rich interior decoration is also deeply influenced by Art-Nouveau, with intricate organic forms and a startling central staircase of circular design. Restored in 1995, the bookshop remains as one of the city’s most vibrant cultural centres.

It is amazing and it looks just like it is out form an Harry Potter movie, like Hogwarts.

Eu tiro o meu chapeu aos programadores do site do IKEA

2008-01-23T18:15:00.000Z

(only in portuguese :( )

Tiro o meu chapéu pq são brutais, genais, alias com um pouco de Gato Fedorento a mistura ;)

"A Ikea criou uma assistente virtual feminina para ajudar os seus clientes na navegação da página. Ao entrares em http://www.ikea.com/pt/pt podes ver que no canto superior direito tens uma opção "Perguntar à Ana". Se lá clikares vais abrir uma janela e aparece a Ana. Podes perguntar o que quiseres, pergunta por Sofás, flores e ela responde...

"Agora vem a parte melhor:
Experimenta estas perguntas e vê que que ela responde:
1 - Gosto de ti!
2 - Mostra-me os peitos!
3 - Que olhos tão giros!
4 - Feia!
5 - Amo-te!
6 - Queres fazer sexo?
7 - Vamos pinar? (a melhor!)
8 - Gostas de mim?
9 - Tens namorado?
10 - Onde vives?
11 - Posso convidar-te para jantar?
..."

I'm starting to arrange things to go to:

2008-01-23T09:58:00.001Z

I'm the happy owner of tickets for

2008-01-23T09:54:00.000Z

Espresso anywhere...

2008-01-22T14:54:00.000Z

The best non-electronic gadget in years!

Here

And don't miss this ad ;-)

Dakar Champion 2008

2008-01-22T14:37:00.000Z

Martin Luther King

2008-01-22T09:21:00.000Z

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

"Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

1500!

2008-01-21T13:01:00.000Z

We've reached the 1500 Visits!

Thanks for watching ;-)

The true 2-in-1 Mobile!

2008-01-21T12:01:00.000Z

UPDATE: I've been contacted on my other blog by the company that represents the mobile in Portugal! :)

The TMP-1012S is the new mobile from the Spanish company Tynman
Technologies: http://www.tynmantech.com/es/#productos/16/37

According to the Portuguese Agencia Lusa, the mobile carries 2 SIM
cards even from outside Spain, costs a mere 349€ and solves the problem
of having to carry around the "work phone" and the "personal phone".
It's on sale since December in Spain.

Tactile screen, MP3 and MP4 player, 1.3 Mpixel camera,all the trinckets
of a regular mobile and it's small!

I want one of those ;-)

Disguise!

2008-01-18T12:39:00.000Z

Although there are several different ‘types’ of architect who will wear a gamut of styles, many of them do find themselves at some time or other in their career dressed in black! This outfit comprises a black polo neck with a black designer suit with ‘nehru’ style collar formed from exquisite materials. The glasses are included as a reference to Le Corbusier who remains a design icon for many.

Source: The Toy Factory

If you don't have 35 euros you can try the cheaper version...

Usually I wear the more expensive version ( the cost of a 6 years degree and a 3 years masters)

Always the biggest one!!

2008-01-17T11:58:00.000Z

Amorim with Auchan will invest 200 million euros in a Mega Shopping Center in Amadora. The new shopping Center is Dolce Vita Tejo it will have 122 000 m2 shoping area and 423 000m2 of construction area, with a Leroy Merlin - 12.000 m2, a Auchan supermarket - 23.000 m2 and 9000 parking spaces. It will open in the end of 2008 and it's going to be the biggest Shopping Center in the Iberian Peninsula.

The other novelty is that it will have the first KIDZANIA of europe.

Kidzania is the brainchild of Mexican entrepreneur Xavier Lopez Ancona, CEO of La Ciudad de los Ninos. The first Kidzania opened in 1999 in the Santa Fe Shopping Mall in Mexico City.

KIDZANIA as gained the Prize for better thematic park of the world. With 6500 m2, is an entertainment and education center for kids - the first to offer kid activities based upon the oldest game of all: the role play. This center combines real environments with activities that allow kids to play to be grown ups. In a city scaled down to kid size where the most common establishments you would find in a city are recreated.

In this establishments kids paly to be adults, they perform more than 75 different real life jobs and roles, the city as its own economy and currency: the KidZo. Once they are in, kids have five hours to try as many occupations as they like. Security is of paramount importance at Kidzania. All children wear a gps bracelet. Parents are not allowed to enter the city or accompany their offspring, but they can take pictures from outside the huge glass house.

Top 10 Things

2008-01-17T09:54:00.001Z

I Hope To Not See in 2008

And what is it about?

2008-01-17T09:47:00.000Z

LECHANELAS

This crazy spanish people ;)

Le chanelas!!! How dare you?????

2008-01-17T09:39:00.000Z

(click to enlarge)

I would like to thank all the potatos that made this year possible

2008-01-17T09:32:00.000Z

2008 International year of the potato

15th January - Dr. Martin Luther King Day

2008-01-16T15:38:00.001Z

"Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), was one of
the main leaders of the American civil rights movement. A Baptist
minister by training, King became a civil rights activist early in his
career, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott and helping to found the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His efforts led to the 1963
March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech,
raising public consciousness of the civil rights movement and
establishing King as one of the greatest orators in American history. In
1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through
civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was
posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President
Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King Day was established as a
national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was
posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal."(thanks to Wikipedia)

"I Have a Dream": http://youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

Now with subtitles

2008-01-16T12:19:00.000Z

"Doing a quick run through some of my Lisboa pix, I came up with the following color palette for that city. Included are terracotta rooftops, shades of stone from important monuments, the Tejo River, lots of blues from tilework panels & the retro brownish-red of my favorite cherry liqueur, ginjinha.Given that earth tones in general are some of my favorite colors, no wonder I like Lisboa so much. I wonder how the Buenos Aires palette compares…" Wrighton, 2008

Revealing Urban Colors

2008-01-16T12:13:00.000Z

Revealing Urban Colors is a small essay by Todd Falkowsky that explores the idea that cities have color schemes. Writer/photographer Robert Wright took the idea a little further and conceived his own color palette for the city of Lisboa.

Undecover Posting

2008-01-15T16:56:00.000Z

There is no Sun out today, I feel like my energy source has left. The
heat inside the office contrasts with the cold outside and highlights
the fact that I can never dress the right way - either for too hot or
too cold.

The "festivities binging" has finally settled in about 2kgs more and I
feel stuffed like the turkey we had for Christmas.

All this is numbing my brain.

But as we know the Lenny Kravitz song is just a wish, I found a way set
an escape for my brain: Undercover posting ;-)

It seems i'm writing an email, but I'm posting by email, eheheh
Ain't this cool? ;-)

THE SOUP

2008-01-14T14:27:00.001Z

Food historians tell us the history of soup is probably as old as the history of cooking. The act of combining various ingredients in a large pot to create a nutritious, filling, easily digested, simple to make/serve food was inevitable. This made it the perfect choice for both sedentary and travelling cultures, rich and poor, healthy people and invalids. Soup (and stews, pottages, porridges, gruels, etc.) evolved according to local ingredients and tastes. New England chowder, Spanish gazpacho, Russian borscht, Italian minestrone, French onion, Chinese won ton and Campbell's tomato...are all variations on the same theme.
Soups were easily digested and were prescribed for invalids since ancient times. The modern restaurant industry is said to be based on soup. Restoratifs (wheron the word "restaurant" comes) were the first items served in public restaurants in 18th century Paris. Broth [Pot-au-feu], bouillion, and consomme entered here. Classic French cuisine generated many of the soups we know today.
Advancements in science enabled soups to take many forms...portable, canned, dehydrated, microwave-ready. "Pocket soup" was carried by colonial travellers, as it could easily be reconstituted with a little hot water. Canned and dehydrated soups were available in the 19th century. These supplied the military, covered wagon trains, cowboy chuck wagons, and the home pantry. Advances in science also permitted the adjustment of nutrients to fit specific dietary needs (low salt, high fiber, etc.).

"The etymological idea underlying the word soup is that of soaking. It goes back to an unrecorded post-classical Latin verb suppare soak', which was borrowed from the same prehistoric German root (sup-) as produced in English sup and supper. From it was derived the noun suppa, which passed into Old French as soupe. This meant both piece of bread soaked in liquid' and, by extension, broth poured onto bread.' It was the latter strand of the meaning that entered English in the seventeenth century. Until the arrival of the term soup, such food had been termed broth or pottage. It was customarily served with the meat or vegetable dishes with which it had been made, and (as the dreivation of soup suggest) was poured over sops of bread or toast (the ancestors of modern croutons). But coincident with the introduction of the world soup, it began to be fashionable to serve the liquid broth on its own, and in the early eighteenth century it was assuming its present-day role as a first course."
An A-Z of Food and Drink, John Ayto [Oxford University Press:Oxford] 2002 (p. 316)

THE WORLD OF BEZELS

2008-01-14T14:22:00.000Z

A watch bezel is the ring that surrounds the face of the watch and holds the crystal in place.
The bezel can be used for decorative or functional purposes.
When it comes to ladies watches, it is fairly common to see diamonds, rubies, sapphires, or emeralds on the bezels of these watches.
There are even a lot of watch manufacturers that produce mens watches with bezels that have diamonds on them.
Most of the time bezels are more functional then fashion.

Time Measurement
Watches have a either a uni-direction or bi-directional rotation bezel. The bezel itself is numbered 0-60 minutes with an arrow marker at 0, some count down and some count up. If it is a count down bezel and you are going scuba diving and you have a total of 25 minutes of air in your tank, it’s pretty important that you know when you should start swimming to the surface. Lets say that it is 10:15am. To measure time with your bezel, simply turn the bezel so the 25 minute marker lines up with the minute hand on the watch dial. When the minute hand reaches zero on the bezel, your time is up. Or you may turn the bezel so that the zero marker is pointing to 10:40 (25 minutes later). Either way this is the same setting. If it is a count up bezel, rotate the bezel so the zero marker lines up with the minute hand and count off the minutes as time passes. When the minute hand reached 25 minutes on the bezel, your time is up.

Speed Measurement
On other watches onal you can use the bezel to help you compute speed based on travel time. To do so, start the chronograph function of the watch at a mile indicator. At the next mile indicator, the point on the scale that is adjacent to the second hand is your MPH speed. It is not limited to just MPH. If the distance traveled is 1 Kilometer, then it determines Kilometers per hour. The tachymeter simply projects units traveled per hour. May it be miles, kilometers, or even football fields. I hope this quick explanation has given you a better understanding of functional bezels. Once you get used to using these functions, they become second nature, so if you have a functional bezel, go play with it. I am sure once you get used to using it, you will use much more often.

After all this years

2008-01-11T19:02:00.000Z

After all this years wearing a watch today

i found out what is the watch Bezel for...

only in portuguese again

2008-01-11T15:42:00.001Z

Queria agradecer a todos que me enviaram os mesmos e-mails rotos de correntes de amizade e tal, vezes sem conta, durante o todo o ano pois, graças a eles: (I would like to say thanks to everyone that send me emails last year. Thanks to you: )

1- Li 170 vezes que a minha conta MSN iria fechar; (I've read 1000 times that my MSN acount was going to close)

2 - Acumulei cerca de 3000 anos de azar e morri 67 vezes por não ter reenviado certos mails; (I have 3000 years of bad luck and i died 67 times because i didn't foward some emails)

3- Agora, quando saio à rua, tenho medo de ser raptado por alguém; ( now when i go out i'm scared of being kidnaped)

4- Enviei dinheiro para uma menina doente umas 7.000 vezes (é engraçado: o tempo passa, mas a míuda continua sempre com a mesma idade); ( i sent money for a sick little girl 7000 times but she is still the same age)

5- O suposto Nokia que ia ganhar, afinal nunca chegou; (the Nokia phone i should have win never arrived)

6- Assinei várias petições e, nem sei ao certo quantos tipos de animais selvagens, em vias de extinção, salvei! ( i sign several petitions and i saved several almost extinguished animals)

7- Já sei, vezes sem conta, o que hei-de fazer para ser feliz; ( i already know what i need to be happy)

8- Já conheço todas as histórias de coragem e abnegação do planeta; ( i've read all heroic and brave personal storys of the planet)

9- Li pelo menos 25 vezes as citações do DALAI LAMA. Em conclusão acumulei 4690 anos de felicidade; ( i've read 25 times Dalai Lama quotations and now i have 4690 years of hapiness)

10- Não esqueçamos o vírus que nem a Microsoft, Macaffee, Norton Symantec eram incapazes de detectar. Ainda hoje estou à espera desse famoso mail contaminado! (don't forget about the indetectable virus that none antivurus will detect, i'm still waiting for it)

IMPORTANTE: se não enviar este texto por e-mail a, pelo menos, 8500 pessoas e em menos de 10 segundos, um dinossauro, vindo do espaço, irá comê-lo amanhã, às 17h38! (IMPORTANT! if you don't foward, by email, this message at least to 8500 people, in less than 10 seconds, a Dinosaur, from space, will eat you tomorrow, at 17h38!)

I want to fly away

2008-01-11T14:52:00.001Z