Celebration ...

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Happy New Year!

Bonne annee!

Un an nou fericit!

Felice Nuovo Anno!

Prospero Ano Nuevo!

あけましておめでとうございます( Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu)!

இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் (Iniya Tamizh Puthaandu Nalvaazhthukkal)!

新年快樂 (Xin Nian Kuai Le)!

С новым годом (S Novim godom)!

Have fun and a new marvelous year!

We all have our little secrets

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You may call it a lie – or you may call it …”I just don’t want to talk about” but there is always a little something hidden, in a chest with plenty of padlocks that only you can open…or so you think.
They are usually unpleasant moments that one would like actually to forget forever. A file with heavy words, disturbing pictures, a clip of your life that you don’t feel comfortable with because it provokes emptiness in the heart, a shaking of the body and even salty waves on the face. There is another option that this smashed memory is not at all unpleasant, but it was that pleasant that it will make you feel embarrassed if you try to link it with something from your present. So, you just keep it hidden.

Sometimes I just want to pull out my brain out and press delete, delete to certain folders. Can you see the prison of life?
Unless you get amnesia, you want it or not – your chest with hidden garbage or treasures is still there. Once in a while in the chambers of your brain a word, a smell, an image triggers the spells you created to make it invisible and it shows off in the visible you. Because you like it or not…it is part of you. You push it away as much as you can, and you try to exhibit a different collection, but someone has noticed it and wants to know what is inside. And you – you just don’t want to open it.

It is not a real lie – we all know that if we felt happy when someone closed felt sad, or we did or said something that it may worsen a present situation – we just don’t want to say it. We put a cork to our throat, so that the words do not form themselves and we destroy all the evidence. Or so we think…In a way our secrets are not at all secrets if someone else was involved and even if you were alone – if one small scratch was left behind…someone can still wonder.

Do you want your little secret to be discovered?

Maybe yes, so that your conscience will feel less heavy. Or maybe not, because that moment has no relevance in the present. As long as the old lamp from the chest doesn’t burn to ashes anything from the present your secret seems safe. But, it is not really healthy for you
– there are in your “perfectly” sealed chest the eggs of cockroaches left by the bigger secrets that will spread out in all the other chambers of your being, eating and damaging the furniture of your body, the food of your soul, the clothes of your being till they reach outside and one human can notice easily your eaten flesh by the unknown plague of insides. And before it reaches out and people are scared and run away…you better hire a disinfection specialist…or just a friend, or a priest or a stranger who is ready to listen to your confession. Smaller secrets, such as breaking a cup and blaming your brother will have a smaller option to spread out…But, others like stealing your dads’ car when you were eighteen, and now you are forty can be a good small example of reconciling with your past.

Our Angels

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I was reading on Paulo Coelho's blog something about angels...and I decided to share with you some thoughts on the subject...

I was about 13-14 at that time. I got a very bad cold and felt very sick for days. Lying in bed was all I could do, except the medication and the warm soups my mother was preparing for me. After a late lunch and medication I finally fell asleep. A moment before starting to open my eyes I felt a soft touch and heard a voice that whispered to me: “Everything will be fine now. You are already feeling better”. When I woke up I saw through the eyelids, in a blurish form - an Angel, in a very white gown embroidered by light. It was so beautiful, a tenderness of brightness. I couldn’t distinguish any other form and I open widely my eyes. The Angel was gone. I didn’t move feeling disappointed that the Angel disappeared because of me and in the same time I was enjoying feeling better from my sickness. A corner of my white pillow was standing just in front of my eyes dressed in the last beams of the sun. I got up.

We like the idea of angels no matter the religion. The term has a connotation in Christian religion – a being that is the messenger of God. Expending this connotation the term is employed to express a supernatural being, in a spiritual form that will guide and protect a human being. Anyhow the etymology of the word is very clear, the English “Angel” derived from French that came from Latin, and the Latin word was an adaption of a Greek word - they all had the same definition –“messenger”.

The Angel is ideally a spirit of love and goodness. But, coming also from a Christian interpretation – Lucifer, was also an Angel – a fallen one. So, in time the Angel was given two attributes – a good and a bad Angel.

We like to think of Angels – not from the religious point of view, but to justify a certain action or to embellish a story. It may happen that one’s Angel is someone close to him/ her that has done something great for that person. Or… You may have more than one Angel in life. People that help, guide and protect you in different moments in life and then they move on or you move on. They stop being your Angels because they have accomplished their mission or some of them they remain there forever. Can you be an Angel? Of course, you can! Just do something amazing and you’ll be called an Angel. There is also the other side of the story with the dark side, and that means to be bad, provoke pain and suffering, disgust etc. I wouldn’t suggest that side.
The thing when you call people Angels is that they don’t have any supernatural powers – they are just in a position, at a moment, to guide you into a better path. They may not even have the necessary means, but their actions and words can be of great help. A messenger from above, or not – they have the power to enrich you.

Can we be our own angels?
Maybe yes, maybe not. Because as we tend to interpret that we all have the opportunity to do something great that we’ll entitle us with the term “Angel” – we can be good or mean to ourselves by our own thoughts. That may be when the extra-sensorial interpretation will appear – that some Angel, beyond any scientific explanation has been given the mission to protect us and it’s putting those thoughts in our head. On the other side, an Angel is not complete if he/she does good only to him/herself.
To conclude, think of all those in your life that you may call your Angels. Do they deserve a thank you, those you know and those you may not know?

A story about a story of life...

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There is a time for joy there is a time for sorrow. Someone is born, someone is dying. This is how life goes...
And the beams are dancing.
And the sky is crying, is crying so hard.
I used to say that the sky is crying if someone special dies...And it's raining powerfully...

Someone's voice, someone's eyes...someone's hand caressing the time and vanishing in time.
"I never thought I'll be wondering on the paths of love ..."
The wings of memory - where have you lost a feather? What time? What year? What story?
A heart beat... of love? or fear?
"Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I used to ask her about the children and all my loved ones"
Why are you running in the wind my feather?
Family. Union. Missing.
"Later on we heard a different song like a happy march from the youngsters."
Playground or play torture?
"And there they were waiting - the emperor and his sons..."
Another story? A story into the story... A fantasy to break the reality. From?
"The prison is obliged by the international laws to bring us to a more favorable regime for the political prisoners"
What? I thought ... I thought this was about...


Life?
It's pouring rain, rain that becomes fog. The wings are wet and heavy. A piece of bread moisten by the rain for the sky birds, left behind for a crusader by a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
"The crucified Jesus didn't correspond with the idea the Jews had about the Messiah. The waited Messiah is the one that will..."
Sacrifice or hope. Just wings many wings too wet and heavy to fly, holding each other into a warm hug. And the wind, a fiercely wind that bit at times feathers, and flesh and bones all at once.
"I only worked for two weeks. In my career as a teacher I have been removed the third time from my class."
A hand guiding another. A note of a song. A book. A calculation and a drawing. All and none for you, yet. Beating wings...harder and harder. More feathers lost...into the past.
"I didn't know what to tell him about all those troubles, but I assured him that God is carrying for us and those we left home."
Eaves, trees, a hollow. No, not a hollow for such a harsh memory- that would be too kind.
Distance again. For how long? How tangled are these paths, God?

"There a bright horizon opened for me - We will leave with all the family...The children were happy because they were children, but we brought with us the blessing of being together."
It has stopped. The rain has stopped. A pause in time to let the wings fly free. Not to touch the sun, but to enjoy its majesty. A rainbow to paint the wings and other wings that learn to fly...to bring peace to the heart.

"We proved that anybody can live these wonderful BIG JOYS the entire life, due to one LOVE to which you discovered the PATHS."
And the wings of memory fly from a moment to another - from a joy to a pain and another birth, re-birth, death.

"And that young man that felt a boundless love for his Princess, that embodied the immortal ideas of Good, Beautiful, Freedom and Truth...holding hands in front of the altar, the young man from before, now in his elderly years, with his Dulcinea they whispered a prayer:
And now release in peace your follower, My Lord, because I have seen your Salvation with my own eyes. Amen!"

Cloudy with clear breaks or silent rain...a feather to hold for those that will come. The time will clear the path and they will hold the memory of a past long, long gone that runs in their blood.


They say only special people die in a Saint day.
To someone special: May God rest your soul in peace!

Another chance

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It happens that for some reason one person is stack in a situation, because she/he needs the money, she/ he needs a shelter, she/ he needs some support, out of outside causes.

I’ll give you an example: Ms. A. Her life was not one of the most wonderful, but if you look at her you wouldn’t see that. Ms. A. is coming from a modest family. She lost her mother when she was quite young, and her father remarried. When her father died too, she and her older sister didn’t know what to do, but their step mother was nice enough to still keep them in the house. They started working very young and in time they moved away in a small rented place. Ms. A dream was too be an athlete. But, she never fulfilled it – because she was always to busy with school or work to spend any time or money training. When her sister got married, and then appeared the baby – she had to move away – it was too crowded for all of them. And the option came from A. boyfriend – to move in with his family, a very wealthy family. She was very happy when this family accepted her – a very poor young woman – that came in their 4 bedrooms house with only one luggage. With the help of her boyfriend father she met some important people that later on became her first clients in her new open small business. She was not an athlete – too old for that – but, she was a very good interior designer. Unfortunately, her relationship with Mr. P, her boyfriend was not that happy. The man was not what he seemed to be – he was sloppy, inappropriate, and also flirty with other women. There was always a sort of war between them, which culminated with his first infidelity. Out of respect for his parents and because also Ms. A was kind of caught up in that situation she gave him another chance. Year after year, working hard to achieve success at work, to maintain her relationship and to keep the respect for the family that offered her support and help. Too bad, Mr. P didn’t appreciate that and continued his errands. Where to go, and what to do? How many fights and infidelities can a person accept? Imagine, that she had to stand out seeing his mistresses around the house like she didn’t exist. And all the fights Mr. P had also with the rest of his family. She was feeling guilty and wanted to leave, but there was always something that stopped her: not enough money, not enough courage, hope that things will work out, respect for the older members. But, when Mr. P parents died, shortly one after the other, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She moved. Ms. A was in her forties – but, she offered herself a new start from zero away from Mr. P and his very young mistress.

I don’t know if for you who had always wealthy happy life, and comfort something like this seems normal. But, there are just situations that keep you stack in there – a job that you don’t like, but you keep it because there are bills to pay, or you can not divorce because your salary is not enough to let you live alone or even caring for a child, because your health is not good enough to help you fulfill your dream, because you don’t have enough money to pay for certain classes or move away or somewhere else.
A personal choice or just a lack of options? And the worst is that a situation like that can last for many years. Are you up for that?

Plus, not talking about those situations that do not depend on you. No choice there.

Do you think these people deserve a second chance or not? Is it too late for a fresh start? Can one still re-invent him/herself no matter the age? Do we all have the right to another chance?

The thing is that once you are into a situation there are two major choices: risk everything and start at zero, leaving the past behind, or find solutions to improve that situation, but still live in it. Sometimes you get out, sometimes you don’t.

I heard very bad or very good news lately from some of my friends…and none of those situation they were facing it was a personal choice. They found themselves in there and wanted to get out, struggling and pushing in a tunnel with no end. Patience and endurance and my friend shacked himself from the morass he was in and started chasing a beam in the sun. Good luck, B! Unfortunately, one couldn’t make it further as the tunnel crumbled. We can not fight natural causes. Sorry, for your loss C! And one…one is waiting …So, be brave, M!

Maybe you are weak. Maybe you have your sins. Maybe you stepped into that puddle because you were careless. But, don’t leave yourself drawn in there, even if you don’t know how to swim. Fight! It may be light at the end of the tunnel or not…, but you’ll never know if you don’t take any step. So maybe, we all deserve…another chance…

Hard decisions...

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We all make decisions every single moment of our day. Are they all - right?

Have you ever been put in a situation where you had to make a decision that didn’t concern you, but somebody else?

And thinking about this I just remembered a movie – where the character job is to fire people in every franchise of the company. Crappy job, isn’t it?

Sometimes even our own decisions that we take for us may affect others in a way that we don’t want, making a person sad or angry. We play with words and actions. In a way you accept the decision you made because you are feeling better, maybe released and you just hoped the other person will deal happily with it.It’s like a love story – when one decides to break up because he/ she is no longer feeling comfortable in that relationship. The other person may be broken heart after such a decision, but the one that did it – is actually in a better state than before.

But what happens when the situation has nothing to do with you and you just have to make a decision…

Like the parents that decide that their daughter will be a doctor and their son will be a lawyer. Don’t you think that at a certain age your child is able to make a decision?

But, leaving away these parental decisions – what if you really had to make a decision on someone’s life? Like a sick person or someone that is in coma. You actually decide on that person’s life.

Do we have the right to make such decisions? Are we taking the right ones?

We decide who is going to leave or die on a trial or who is going to jail, who is going to be fired, who is going to be operated …and maybe sometimes we make the right decisions. But what is left behind in our head is white or black or grey? What role plays the conscious when we make a decision?

Sometimes we don’t know if we made the right decision, sometimes we don’t know what we left behind, sometimes we don’ t even know we had a choice – but we still made a decision.

And then we ask ourselves all this multitude of questions – if we took the right path? It may be easier for us to identify the ups and downs of a situation, because we know how we think, but when our decision is affecting somebody else we play in the grey zone because we don’t wanna live with a guilty conscience and because we actually don’t know the actual impact, unless the other person is confessing. Or…like in that movie when a person actually committed suicide after she was fired.

Are you ok with having the authority to make such decisions?

Another hard decision…

One way trip to Mars!

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***Breaking NewS!***

Have you ever dream about going to space or somewhere closer like Mars? How it will be to populate the red planet? This is your chance! And for free! NASA is paying for it.

NASA is looking for volunteers to go to Mars…forever.
NASA is considering sending people that will want to colonize the red planet and that understand the idea that they will be sent on a mission with no coming back to Earth. The mission costs are too high – 11$ billion - to prepare a two way ticket for the trip, even if the one way journey will be in a nuclear-fueled rocket.

The team will not be the first to live outside the planet as, Expedition 25 crew is also preparing to live and work aboard the space station by 4 p.m. EDT Monday, Nov. 1.

The problem is that Mars is not that friendly having an average surface temperature of -63C and a thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. Supplies of food and oxygen are a must – till further mutation and development can be seen on the 20 years ahead of Earth planet.

The people needed are those that have also the right skills - a mixture of scientists, astronomers and explorers.
Or, you can train yourself to be up for such a mission.
Any volunteers, so far?

Note: Source NASA blog and the Internet. I don`t won the copyright of the picture

When does a friend stop being your friend?

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I woke up one day - and this subject was floating into my head, but I just couldn’t link it to anything. So, here it goes...friendship debate. I would say this is related to the previous post - When can I call you my friend? (even if they are written in the opposite order than publishing - they link)

Some of us we make friends easily, some of us hardly. Some of us we invest a lot in the relations around us, some of us we don’t care. And some of us we are just lonesome, with no friends around.
There are people, who tend to have an army of friends, and they can count only on a few of them- and they are those that have only a few friends- and they call them the best.

Why do we need friends?
Simply because we are humans, we need to socialize, interact, exchange ideas and get all sort of support from those that we call friends.
Friends don’t need necessarily to be completely compatible with a person- just a common trait or a common interest can be enough to create a friendship. Some friends are situational - that means you only make contact as long as a certain situation goes a long.
When do you start calling someone a friend?We can make acquaintances at every corner of the street and in every situation, but friends are something more, involving a deeper feeling of synergy.
As Wikipedia states "Friendship is mutually cooperative and supportive behavior between two or more people."Friendship involves empathy, affection, respect, loyalty, trust, understanding, reliability, reciprocity.
So when does a friend stop being your friend?Most probably when of the things mentioned above cease to manifest.
A friendship may stop because the interaction is no longer at the same level, because of the distance and because the lack of contact or simply because one person has disappointed the other in some way.Losing a friend is something that we miss in our day to day life. And being disappointed by a friend it’s even a stronger feeling that influences our behavior inconstantly in our future relations.There are things that "friends" do that may seem unforgivable. And even if time heals the suffering, it’s hard to trust that person again at the same level.
Some people are strong in their decisions and they never talk to that person again. Some, they just move on and put that friend in the list of acquaintances.
In our society, unfortunately people don’t rely anymore that much in their friends. Friends- are usually casual- to share a drink or a chat. Some times a mutual interest is involved. "You are my friend because you play very well tennis and I’m just learning, so I need you around. I am your friend because I’m very good at maths and I can help you with your exams" When this interaction ceases - "goodbye friendship!"
Lucky some friends are just always there, for life- no matter what you need or they need from you.
Did you disappoint some friend recently? Or someone disappointed you? Is there a friend you haven’t spoke in a long time?
I like this proverb "A friend in need it's a friend indeed", so keep that in mind when you think at the friendship level. But, think of your friends even if you don`t need them or they don`t need you. A thought of peace or joy is always a welcome smile.

Lately...

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I haven`t put anything here lately because I was caught up with other things...and the drafts that I have need polishing and images...
I hope I`ll find the time to select more images and play a little on the words...
Sorry, for the wait...just writing something else ;) ...
Here comes something old and actual at the same time

I still...

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Cradle of the sky hold my dreams tonight,
And when the stars are bright
make me feel alive.
Show me all the other beauties that we ignore
make the universe be small
so I can touch its form
Show me the time and the space
Show me the energy that makes life
Let me see a primary birth and an ultimate death.
Put me back to sleep,
so I would forget how the universe is made.
Tomorrow my life will be
a deep sleep fantastic as a show
an earthly trip far from the stars
deep into deep, but not even a breath.

When can I call you "my friend" ?

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Sometime ago one of my friends she was telling me this situation that happened to her. She was hanging out for several months with a group of people she met in her new school. They went for drinks, movies, parties, walks, home invites – all those fun things. In the group she got more close to one of the girls sharing all the trendy little secrets. One day that girl she was very sad and she closed herself in one room and was crying. My friend wanted to know what happened, so she went after her to console her. She was pushed away with a very rude saying: “Why should I tell you my private feelings? The fact that we hang out for drinks doesn`t mean we are friends! We are not! We are just acquaintances!”
My friend assumed was just something she said being nervous, so when that girl was in a better mood she opened the discussion. Wrong! “Get this well in your head! We are not friends!”

I was in a similar situation some years ago…I knew this person for many years, but due to the distance we could not consider ourselves very close friends – like best friends. Still, we shared many common things, we shared feelings and secrets and we were enjoying our time together whenever we got the chance. We were opened to each other, we had that mutual understanding that you have only with special people.
One day that person did something quite inappropriate. As a sign of our so called by me friendship I asked for explanations. Wrong! “We are not friends! I`m sorry I ever created you that impression! We were just talking!” I don`t remember exactly how the conversation continued I just remember I was left with a bitter taste and every other time I was even named friend or made feel I was a friend by that person I didn`t know how to take it.

I tried to see if I was ever put on the other side - to be considered a friend and not feel like one. Maybe. But, feel is not the same with yell in someone’s face “you are not my friend”. You just don’t rely too much on that person – when in need, or you don`t share your secrets. When someone calls you a friend it gives you a great honor. It means that person trusts you and cares about you and your feelings and shares with you his/ her intimate feelings and thoughts. Even if you don`t share the same trust or feelings, at least you can respect what the other person feels. I`m happy when someone calls me their friend it means to me that person appreciates me.

When do YOU call a person a friend? Does friendship implies certain responsibilities? Or you just take it as it is? What do you do if a person calls you a friend and you don`t feel like it? Do you have certain expectations from someone you call a friend?
Are there any boundaries to friendship? Probably yes. Especially if it comes to a man – woman friendship or age difference or cultural values or…I don`t know, you name it!

This post has no particular purpose…I just hope you`ll analyze this on your side. (it may be a continuation to this…the opposite)
And from my side – many thanks to those that consider me their friend – in a way or another ;).

Note: I do not own the copyright for the images

Sometimes...

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“Sometimes I wish I could stop time, chop it and put it in a box and when I need it; take out a piece or two to complete what is missing. But, this way the day will be longer and me more tired when the sun goes down…Or maybe I should put those hours in the night and sleep longer.
Sometimes I wish I could stop all my life pack it carefully in boxes and give it away like it`s not mine. But what would I be left with? A new beginning or the end of everything? I would have no memories and all this joy that I share with you.
Sometimes I just want to leave everything behind, hide myself in a grotto and there; live the rest of my life. But what about my friends and my family? Would I ever see them again? Would they accept my choice? Would I see you again? How about all the flashing screens brought by technology, how about all this tasty junk food, all the shopping choice and all the social networking?
Sometimes I wish I could forget who I am and wonder around like an alien to this planet. But would the humans accept me? Or would I be violent to them as I know anything about them. Would I feel that I don`t belong?
Sometimes I wish I could bring peace where is war and war where is peace. Would I destroy the natural course of things?”
Sometimes I want to reverse time and replay a moment, but just a moment…not the entire course of my life.”

“Why do you want to be something that you are not if you are happy?” asked the fairy.
“Why do you want all this powers if you are not sure how to use them?”
The boy stood there, on the fallen tree trunk his eyes penetrating the texture of the sky. He turned his head and looked in the eyes of his vision – a beautiful young lady wearing a long gown. He snapped his fingers and got up.
“I don`t have time for this crap! Why am I even talking to you?”

On his way out of the park her voice resonated in his head.
“Because you want to escape! Because you are prisoner of your reality! Because…”
“Shut out!” he screamed out load…and he thought his heart was sealed forever.

Statement

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For some unknown reason...some people tend to think that this blog is about me, more exactly my thoughts and feelings.

I would like to make it clear that this blog is not about me and the feelings, ideas, thoughts and the information expressed here may not express my personal opinion on the subject. Even if certain texts are reflected at the first person or second person - this doesn`t mean I am referring to myself or to a certain you, especially if the material appears under quotes or under creative writing.
What is more challenging for a writer than to write at the first person and express feelings that are the opposite of his/her personal view? In the same time the use of "I" or "you" in certain texts makes the message seem more personalized.

On the other side, the purpose of this blog is not to address someone personally -but a general audience (sorry for those of you that are my friends I`m trying to keep this as objective as possible). And as the message implies -just to make people think more on a certain subject!

And not to confound expression of ideas with ownership of material.Unless otherwise stated, under source, note or link - all materials in this blog are my creation.

All documents on this blog are owned by Marnissa Dieanu, alias Serenia, except where noted. Any further reproduction of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection. Permission is required to copy, download or use any text or photographs.

Thank you all for your understanding

What`s in this box?

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From a bold way of advertising a product to an interesting way of raising awareness.
The first action is definitely getting some attention due to the semi - covered nudity...or just because it takes place publicly. To promote the new Palmolive Nutra.fruit a girl takes a shower in the middle of the street...in Moscow.



The second video has a more peaceful theme ...or not due to the bloody aspect. Essentially, the idea is different... Raising awareness... Hemophilia day!
Note: Pic by CBS

To catch people`s attention, Bucharest has decided to color the water of one major big fountains of the city in...red. Hehe, don`t worry it was not a Vampire`s party!



Any other cool ideas?

Learn from the past

Accidentally I found a book and for the moment I touched its covers I knew I wanted to read it. I`m usually not attracted by this type of subject - just because its sad. But, this time - some how I just couldn`t. I abandoned the book I was reading and I started reading - I Have Lived A Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson. I couldn`t let it from my hands till I finished it.

The book is simple as writing, and a master piece on the subject of Holocaust. The author - a survivor of the Holocaust - tells her story as a 13 years old child in different death camps, including the famous Auschwitz. The book is shocking because it`s not just a story, it`s a reality- and it`s a must read!

I would recommend this book to every generation! I would recommend it just because we must learn from our mistakes - to be more tolerant and to avoid war. I would recommend it to every spoiled child to see what means survival.

Livia Bitton-Jackson has been a messenger on the subject of Jews in the Nazi time, but what happens when there will be no messengers? We should always tell their story as a proof of atrocities that took place and must be avoided.

If want another story on the same subject - read Anne Frank Diary - another teen - this time a victim of the inhuman war. The movie based on her diary and real documents is available here -

I know it doesn`t seem to be nothing fun in this - but it`s something that we should know and acknowledge.

To swim or not to swim in this pool

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Leandro’s pool is not just another pool - but has something special...it`s fake.
The pool is part of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa - the Western Capital of Japan.
You can walk into the exhibit and down some stairs into a blue room with the bottom part of some stairs and a roof of glass with water on top.
Upstairs, outside the room, you can look into a pool and see…people walking in the blue room!
A nifty bit of engineering by Leandro Erlich.



Leandro Erlich, an Argentinian artist, constructs installations or complete physical worlds which the individual enters. He uses whatever building materials necessary including mirrors and projections to create forms of reality.

How to Stop Pain From a Burn

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Have you ever burn yourself accidentally? Not a bad burn that requires medical attendance, but first degree burn. Did you feel the pain and you are about to burst into tears ? You don`t have any medication in the house or you just don`t know what to use. I wouldn`t know any of these home remedies if I hadn`t burned my self pretty bad last evening.
I keep in house a cream that says it is for minor burns, but I don`t know how minor should they be – because this time (it worked in the past) it didn`t work at all. So late at night I was still keeping my hand in a boll of water desperate that I couldn`t sleep. Then I remembered.
First step after a burn – put your hand, arm, leg under cold water for 10-15 minutes. Do not use ice!
Then add one of these things to the wound and keep it there for 5-15 minutes.
Honey – it used as a treatment for 3degrees burnings – so, definitely it will work for less.
Mustard – yellow simple mustard, not other combination. I didn`t know about this – I tried it last night and it worked.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) – put the powder in a boll and mix with water to make a cream, not something liquid and add it to your wound.
Aloe – it works if it natural – but also if it a gel. Do not use a cream containing aloe in the first day after a burn. It may not work as the moisture keeps the heat inside the skin. (as it happened with my cream)
If the pain doesn`t go in the first round, wash your hand in cold water and add the natural bandage again.
In a about an hour of treatment like this the pain will be gone. If you fill uncomfortable with the pain you may take an Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, something for pain.
Ya, but how do you sleep? You can`t sleep with honey or mustard on your hand and you can`t really wrap your wound because it will heat.
I read this on the lovely internet – and I tried in a different way and it worked wonders.
Get a bag or more of tea – any tea may work ( I used jasmine), wet it with water from the fridge, put it on your wound and wrap it with paper or gauze. Not a tissue or something too absorbent. During the night the paper will get wet and stain your sheets, so you may wanna rest that part of body on a towel. If during the night the water was absorbed, and you feel uncomfortable – just wet again the teabag.

It is very important that you don`t get an infection, so be careful what you put on your wound. If the wound looks pretty bad – larger then your palm, redness, swelling, fever it is better to see a doctor.
Hope my tips help in case of accident, but better be careful.

PVS

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For those that have eyes to see, for those that can hear, for those that can read.
But, mostly - for those that can still feel...

Sometimes I wish I could die...young. But you are keeping me alive...alive in this state of agony. I am dead because I don`t see any action grabbing my attention. And all the life is going on around me in a blurish joy. You are keeping me prisoner, a prisoner with a special treatment. I have food and water, I have warmth and comfort. I`m like a puppet in your arms. You struggle to keep me alive, to make me move and smile. You turn my arms to embrace you, you keep my lips soft so I won`t become a corpse. But, I`m not awaken. My eyes are gazing in the deepest of your eyes. You want me to see you. But, all I can see is me – agonizing. I am static and all around me is alive. When you push yourself holding my body I can feel warm, I can feel how this warmth is penetrating my cells with the lie of life. But inside me everything is dead. There is no pulse in my veins, no energy to move into life. And I feel sorry for you, for all your fight. And all you can get from me is a tear, caressing my cheek seeping in my ear. And you think it is love, or melancholy for all the beauty I could get if I could be more active.

“You don`t get me!” I scream in my head.
And you don`t hear me. And you don`t understand me. And all you want is keeping me alive by all means, when all I want is to die, and find peace.
“You will be free!” but you don`t hear me.
Maybe you don`t want to be free.

Some days ago you told me you love me in a way I was always expected you to say when I was more vibrant. I never thought such beautiful words could be so painful. How can you love me so much now, so late when I am a plastic bag lying in bed forcefully closed and popped by an artificial thread? When I was laughing, singing and jumping in your arms, when I was holding you tight and looking deep into your eyes I was waiting for these words to come out of your mouth. But they never came! And I still wanted to scream to the world how much I loved you. But you never saw me and you never heard me!

Time passed by. I wonder how you could resist so many years in this lie. Fooling me all the time with the beauty of the world, with the beauty of your eyes. Why did you stay by my side? To tell me you love me when I struggle to die? To tell me to keep alive because you want my children as the ultimate sign of our love? What love?

I want to die. I want to die young! When I still have a little flesh on my bones, when I have a little color on my skin, when my hair it is still curly and natural brown, when you are still in power to find another love.
I don`t want us to grow old, I never wanted thus, I lived day by day and this is what life had come for – a lie of being alive. I am already psychologically dead, you can not bring me to that life again! So, let me die, my darling, let me die young!

Note: PVS= Persistent Vegetative State is not recognized as death in any legal system

Officially lanched - MUSIC VIDEO- Eminem - Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna

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Not long ago - I mean today -some moments ago - the official video, so long expected of the feat Eminem - Rihanna was released.

I`m happy to share this with you. Enjoy!

The video was shot in Los Angeles and was directed by Joseph Kahn, who worked previously with Eminem. The main characters - Eminem and Rihanna. In the video, also appears Megan Fox (Transformers) and Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings, Lost) playing a couple going through an abusive relationship. Megan Fox donated her performance fee to a shelter for abused women.

"Love the way you lie" is the second single released from the album Recovery - Eminem (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records), which was No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart in June. The song features Rihanna and is produced by Alex da Kid.

The first single of the album "Not Afraid," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the first rap song to do so in 13 years.
On August 3, Eminem received 8 nominations for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

Bus evolution - Straddling Bus

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Have you ever been concern about the fact that when you get into a bus is too crowded?
You probably saw this type of picture … not this one!

Any interest in new inventions?

A fascinating public transport idea came up, of course from our friends the Chinese - giant super-buses - 6 meters wide and 4.5 meters high. The new technology seems quicker and cheaper to build than a subway or monorail system. Just a small adjustment to the road. But, what is that amazing about this idea is the fact that the bus will pass over cars.

As the video is not yet translated, please read further for details.



The bus will take two lanes of the roads and the cars will be passed by buses as by a tunnel.
The bus will be fully electrical, charging stations can be placed in stations. Traffic lights can also be controlled – the bus being prioritized to pass. A system is going to be used to avoid accidents. A laser/ radar system, as well as a voice system will be in place to announce drivers beneath the bus about the bus intentions – turn left or right. If a car wishes to turn the same way as the bus, its driver can communicate with the bus driver.

Each bus will have a capacity of 1,200 people. For cities with more than a million people sounds ok. And let`s not forget China has 120 with more than one million inhabitants.

This is not just some pipe dream project; the pilot program goes into construction by the end of this year in the Mentougou district of Beijing.

Caribana Parade

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Who said North America doesn`t have hot exotic parades?


Where can that be - even in a more cultural delightful way -then in a country full of diversity?

The 2010 Caribana Parade took place at the Lake Shore in Toronto yesterday bringing with it huge crowds and colorful costumes.

Every summer, elaborate masquerade costumes are brought to light during the annual Scotiabank Caribbean Festival.

Based on Trinidad Carnival, Caribana Festival was created in 1967 as a heritage project for Canada's Centennial year.

The parade includes music and dance, food and costumes from Jamaica, Guyana, the Bahamas, Brazil and other cultures.


And you don`t have to be necessarily a member of the above cultures to participate in this parade...you need a costume in tone with the teams, joy and some dancing skills.

Trends in album covers design

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On a rainy day me and my artistic half we hanged around in a mall and we decided to see the design trends for album covers for CD-s and DVD-s.
As you can see from the slide we prepared, with some of the best that caught our eye – it goes from a simple one to a very complex, old or new style. And I noticed it didn`t really matter how famous is the artist. A simple cardboard, a look of a blank CD, an old stylish design, abstract designs, hologram design. I sincerely didn`t enjoy the ones that didn`t say anything – like just the picture of the band/ singer or just some image.
But, is the design of an album cover that relevant when you buy a CD?
I would say less then 10% - because the majority will go for what is inside that album, not really for the cover.

AUDIO

If you would like to see some controversial album covers over the years, follow the link.

How about the movie DVD covers?

If you don`t know much about the movie – I would say the cover has a great impact in just attracting you to give a chance to that DVD. And you`ll probably notice from the slide that the most interesting ones are promoting horror or fantasy movies.

VIDEO

What makes an artist choose a certain design? It may depend on a person tastes, but mostly on what is promoted- it may be a feeling, it may be a theme. Or it may that they let the producer choose.

Next time – take a look! Do you really like the album design cover of your favorite artist or movie? What would you change?

You belong to a Time Elapse! - full version

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A time elapse video - 24hours made in the same technique.

Enjoy!

Toronto 24h - Time Elapse HD (4:00 pm July 20 2010 - 4:00 pm July 21 2010)



Copyright Scutu Studios (c) 2010 - music, photos and video editing.

One day in 2 minutes, our life with a different time perception. The time compression rate it's 720:1, that means 720 real sec in one second from the video.

12 min in 1 sec :)

He used only his Nikon D300, 16mm, f:4 for the 2757 shoots.

Some details about the time elapse technique see in the previous post.

You belong to a time elapse

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Toronto - Time Elapse ( 9:00 pm - 6:00 am)

Enjoy a time elapse video by Scutu with a background music by Cipi604.

Time-lapse photography is a technique where each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing.

Processes such as motion of the sun or clouds become very pronounced. The frame rate can vary to any degree, from a rate approaching a normal frame rate (between 24 and 30 frames per second) to only one frame a day, or even a week, or more, depending on the slowness of the subject.

The new old stylish

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Some people like old things...because they got something that the new ones are missing. Except the dust, the hand to hand touch - they become unique because they are rare and different.
Or is just the age that gives them this famous look?

A camera from around 1950 to capture pictures from around 2010.
Camera: Ikoflex IIa (early model)
Manufacturer: Zeiss Ikon; West Germany
Model number: 855/16
Produced: 1950–1952
Viewing lens: Teronar 75mm f/3.5Taking lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar T 75mm f/3.5
Film: 120 film
Image format: 6×6cm
Shutter speeds: B; 1s–1/500s


Next on the spot some pictures with the new old jewelry.

The World Cup 2010 Final Bet

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You probably heard about the Octopus soccer fan and predictor. And if you didn`t hear – no problem – you`ll see him now. He is quite famous and has a lot of supporters waiting for its choices.
Surrounded by cameras the Octopus makes his last prediction for the 2010 World Cup and predicts Spain as winner.

The two-year-old Octopus named Paul correctly predicted Germany's wining over Argentina, England, and Uruguay and the country's loss to Spain and Serbia. After its correct predictions on Spain vs Germany his owner received even death threats. He lives in an aquarium at the Sea Life in Oberhausen in western Germany and was born in captivity. I just wonder if after that prediction the German team got intimidated, I hope not.

Octopuses are highly intelligent. They do have both short- and long-term memory. Octopuses have keen eyesight and can distinguish the polarization of light.
To help Paul pick a winner two boxes are lowered into his tank. Both boxes have the competing country's flag and have food inside. The box Paul opens first is the team predicted to win.



PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia has asked for the Octopus release, but as he was born in captivity the Sea Life members do not consider that such a good idea.

Coincidence or not, the Octopus chose Spain as the winner of 2010 FIFA World Cup. We`ll just have to watch and see.

Bring me a beer, Robot!

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Didn`t I tell you last time that robots are becoming our friends? A team of Willow Garage engineers has just taught a robot to bring a person a beer from the fridge.
Not convinced? If you really want a beer, get a robot to bring it to you!

The robot can select the correct brew from the fridge, it brings it to the person, and even opens it as needed. All commands are sent to the robot via internet. The Robot can notice if you ordered a type of beer that is not in the fridge and will notify you, and can recognize a person face.



PR2, the Robot from Willow Garage can also play pool or can do the cleaning.
More here:


..........



The Robots start to integrate our lives. Get prepared in welcoming them!

Damn internet - Spain scored!

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The other day I wanted to watch the game - you know - World cup - Spain vs. Germany, so I took my lunch break late 2.40 pm - just for the game. Everybody else in the company was doing the same thing as me – watching the game, especially the boys. At the break in the game I decided to start working again, so I can watch the game later. Around minute 50 of the game I was back in...watching the game.

It was for me minute 62 when a colleague came around and said to me that Spain won.
"What are you talking about? I`m watching it live now!"
"The game ended 10 minutes ago and Spain won, they scored at minute 70 or so...Your internet is lagging, but watch it!”So, I watched. Only that at minute 68 my "live" transmission froze and a message appeared on my screen "The game has ended"

Just lovely...I just didn`t get to see the goaaaaallll :(( !

Raise your voice for nature

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A big number of people are enjoying the nice – hot weather we experience for a few days now. But, is this normal so up North?

For some years now the nature is having a bad flu - too hot and too cold climate, sneezing with volcanoes, cough with earthquakes, and hard breathing with tornadoes...We should change our behavior to help her heal properly.

Climate change is a shift in climate that takes places in a long period of time and is measured by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators.
Climate change can be caused by both natural processes and human activities. These processes include solar radiation, deviations in the Earth`s orbit, other planetary arrangements, formation of new mountains and continental drift (the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other), changes in greenhouse radiations (gases that absorb or emit radiations). Human activities have the potential to disrupt the balance of this system. Particularly important is the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is released through the combustion of fossil fuels. The last 600 years have been the warmest globally. Related to this warming, glaciers are retreating, sea levels raised, and the climatic zones are shifting.


The potential impacts of climate change are reaching us, changing the landscapes around us, with impact into the infrastructure affecting our economy and health. Climate change is a global problem that requires real solutions. At a higher political level people are trying to take some actions, organizations are raising their voices to save the nature. We don`t have the power to change the sun change in worming or other cosmic arrangements, but we can put our efforts together in keeping a cleaner planet.
We are in a time of drastic changes…and at a lower level all we can do is to acknowledge this situation that is affecting our dear planet and sustain actions for its rehabilitation.

How weird can weird be?

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The other day me and some friends we went for a photo shooting in one area of China town – interesting part of Toronto city, I dare say. After a walk in the streets we decided to find a spot where our photographers could place their equipment – umbrellas and staff. So, we find a park…It looked a little bit strange from the time we approach it – but it was a good décor for the shooting. People with big tattoos, dressed vintage and very colorful. This doesn`t seem very weird, doest it?
By the end of the photo shooting we were part of that team of natural unprofessional actors and the stage was this small park circled by bushes.
What was happening there?
I`1l try as best as I can to describe this amazing reality show play. I `ll go in a circle. First of all many of these persons out there were smoking pot, but … I assume or the pot was really strong or they were high also from other things.
Not far from us there were two girls sitting on the grass reading books, the most normal people from the area. On the other side of the alley there was this girl juggling with balls or skittles – very nice – she was in her training hour. Then there was a kids playground – but, I don`t recall seeing kids – just adults in colorful outfits swinging. And then, it started the party. There was this group of people with guitars, tattoos and dreads, skates and dogs…smoking pot. Opposite from them on our side there were two other groups – one resembling them, and one formed as of Chinese mafia – same…smoking pot. On our right there was a small group of poor people with bags and packages and colorful mixed clothes and another group of black muscled people showing their strengths to their white wives and mixed kids. And close to us there were these two people doing yoga – or something similar.
And us – with umbrellas and other photography equipments – flashing cameras, modeling, jumping, floating the hair, dancing to get good shoots.

When the effect of weed got into some of these people we had an entire show. From the group in from of us, one guy was trying hardly to play his guitar while skating; one from the opposite side, just in his shorts was singing voice and guitar so loud for the entire neighborhood to hear and he was accompanied at moments by a punk delirious dancer, one Chinese mafia started a monologue that lasted for about one hour – I don`t know exactly about what – something war, energy, America, kids, environment, also screamed out load and accompanied at moments by a guitar and a saxophone from two people from different groups trying to compose something together. I forgot to mention the pantomime romance on two benches, some yoga movements and strengths acts.

I could say everything was normal – and funny and entertaining. But what is the chance that you get to see all this in one little, little park?

Pictures to come...

What if...existence

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The other day I saw a documentary about a possible end of the world and it made me think about something.

If it will be for you to die in a year from now probably you`ll change some or many things in the way you live your life...You would want to do all those things that you didn`t do so far.

But what would you do if the entire world would end in one year? Would you change something?
As long as you can`t change something at least to delay that natural process of end - you`d probably barely change something or nothing in the way you live your life. You know why?

Because as long as there is a continuity of humans you and your life have a reason to be..., you`ll have something to leave behind: a memory, a child, a great thing that you have done. Your presence was not in vain. Even the most anonymous man that lived on this earth, with out any knowledge of reason for living, as long as he left a scratch on a stone, a child behind, a mastery - his existence is real.
But, if the stone, the child, any mastery is coming to an end in the same time as you - you`ll do nothing because there will be nothing. You`ll have no reason. You`ll live just for the sake of living.
Can you see how tight we are to the existence of others? Of humans specially, of life in general? As long as someday there will be somebody or something in the entire universe that will acknowledge your previous existence, your presence into this world wasn`t in vain.
Cogito ergo sum - I think, therefore I am transposed in Acknowledge my existence therefore my existence cannot be denied.

Earthquake

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Close to 2pm June 23 we all in the area, experienced a small earthquake. Earthquakes are not very familiar in this part of Canada, unlike other regions, so be sure you`ll get a lot of stories and reactions.

Large scale earthquakes were registered in 1935 and 1973, but smaller earthquakes can occur three or four times a year, even if depending on their magnitude are felt or not.
Earthquakes occur on faults within bedrock, usually miles deep. Such types of small earthquake can be felt 500 km (300 mi) away from the center.
The one from today, Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 01:41:41 PM at epicenter …was a 5.5 in magnitude, with epicenter at 45.866°N, 75.457°W, more exactly 544km from Toronto, near Parc Echo. The earthquake was felt mostly in Ontario and Quebec, but also in USA - Detroit, NY.
If you were in a high building, you felt it stronger. You may have thought it was awful and scary or awesome. From a source I can tell that some of the sky scrapers decided to evacuate the building for a small evaluation. Power outages were reported in several areas in US and Canada. Or, you could have thought as me, on the ground floor, that something strange is going on.

As a joke- 15 minutes after the earthquake, when all the discussions ended and everybody went back to work, one of my colleague, who works way in the back on the same floor as me, comes along and asks me:
“Do you have any idea what those guys are doing upstairs – because my bookstands were shaking?”

I wonder also if those downtown Toronto with the upcoming G20 and G8 didn`t think of some kind of attack. Chill, just a small earthquake.

Source of technical information USGS

What is G20?

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I got this question – not once – but several times. What is G20?
People are talking about the up-coming event in Toronto, about the traffic issues, about all the money spent on security – but, have no clue what is this for…

First of all the G – groups are groups established at an International level to discuss and address issues that our society is facing – such as climate, economy, agriculture, engineering etc.
Different countries have joined and send a representative such as Minister(s), Head of States or a Researcher(s), to represent the country at the event. Not all the countries are members in the G groups and a country that is member of a group is not necessarily member of other groups. Usually the number following the G marks the number of members subscribed.

The Group of Twenty (G-20) was established in 1999 by the industrialized and developing countries to discuss key issues in the global economy. G 20 was created as a response to previous financial crisis – more exactly the one from 1990. Previous groups had the same purpose, but the number of participants changed depending on the issues. The actual group has as members 19 countries plus the European Union. Their representatives are Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Over the years G 20 has cooperated with different other groups in order to achieve its mission.

The mandate of the G20 is to address issues related to the economic stability and to work towards a strong international financial architecture by promoting the international co-operation, new national policies and to enhance the growth and development across the globe.

The Group has not permanent staff, but every year a chair is elected from a group of countries. The representatives of G-20 members meet semi-annually at the G-20 summit.
The G-20 summits for 2010 are scheduled to be held in Toronto on June 26–27 and Seoul on November 11–12. The theme for the G20 Toronto Summit is “Recovery and New Beginnings”. 30 international delegations - around 1,500 delegates, including heads of state, will be in Toronto for the summit – this is the main reason for the importance given to security.

These events are usually accompanied also by a reticent public reaction; many meetings have faced public protest. The protests evolve around different subjects such as: local trading, workers rights, resistance to globalization.

The G 20 summit in Toronto is preceded by the G8 summit in Huntsville, Muskoka, Canada June 25 - 26, 2010. The G8 is a forum with members from wealthy countries. The meetings address issues of mutual or global concern. The topics are various- such as health and social development, law enforcement, economy and trade policies, environment, foreign affairs, justice, terrorism etc. The annual G8 leader`s summit is attended by eight of the world's most powerful heads of states.

Serious progress is expected to be made through the discussions in touching a framework for global financial regulations and economic reconstruction, in addition to the security, traffic and protests which are mostly faced by the public. The hardest part will be to translate the G-20 decisions into practical action. The G20 conclusions will not stop the economic process or dramatically change its course, but will open new gates to economic opportunities and solutions.

Amazing Toy Story 3

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On Friday June 18th on the official release day of Toy Story 3 – we went to see the movie, and also chose the 3D version. Even if I liked the previous two – I was a little skeptical about the outcomes of the series. You know it usually happens that the first movie is amazing – and the producers try to push the story further…, but it just doesn`t work.
Wrong! Toys Story released first time eleven years ago – I`m sure it will definitely attract a new generation of kids.

I would recommend for the parents to follow the series – is just to fun to miss it.



Fantasy – animation- comedy – you`ll definitely love it even if you are a child or an adult.
The story – Andy the child and his toys. In this series Andy is going to college – so the toys are scared about what will happen to them. They end-up in different situations – full of fun, danger and courage.

A must see, I recommend Toy Story 3 with a 10 out of 10.

Hidden movies

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I don`t usually talk about the movies I`m seeing – but, sometimes you have to because… you have to share what is beautiful.
The last film I`m seeing is originally Korean –I am a cyborg, but that`s ok- it has a deep strange story. I found this movie by accident.



The thing is we all can find something nice or attractive – but, because it`s not branded or advertised somewhere we tend to ignore it. If you are curious as I am you will give it a shot. Maybe is something good.
The thing is that these types of movies, or music or something else due to lack of advertising (missed for certain economic or political reasons) remain hidden in the dark corner of creations, as a shadow until someone else discovered them. Remember the Oscar winning Slamdog Millionaire?

This may be one of your favorite movies as well, The Lake House (2006) – but, do you know that this was actually a remake? Probably not, because you got so attracted by the advertising and you loved the story and that`s it.
When I first saw the movie I remembered I`ve seen the story somewhere else and it was exactly the same…Weird – this was a new Hollywood release! But, I remembered the main characters – they were not Caucasians. Il mare (2000)– the award-winning Korean film inspired the 2006 U.S. remake The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. You have to watch it – it has something more powerful in terms of emotions.
Only if you look at the trailers on YouTube you`ll see a huge difference in the number of views – 200.000 something compared to 10.000.



Shall I tell you one more? Just before I saw Twilight – the first one – I saw an amazing movie – not very well promoted – Låt den Rätte Komma In - Let the Right One in (2008). If you are into vampire movies, you definitely must see this one.

And if you want to see a nice romantic comedy look for Absolute Boyfriend.
And don`t mind about the language used – these movies are usually translated in English.
I`ll keep you posted if I discover a new one, now that I got into this.