Naked Conversations, by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel

Just finished it.It's all still fresh and I feel I have focussed mainly on the topics I am currently interested in and the rest needs more thinking (and browsing!) mainly web ethics. I read his Corporate Weblog Manifesto , moved on to the one written by Allan Jenkins, and later here:)
[Oh, well, drifted away from the book, didn't I? Apologies, I am dead tired and sleepy:/]
Anyway, the best part of the book I think (the main idea of convincing readers to write corporate blog is known to me, but then again I am quite late with reading this book:P) was 'Blogging Rights and Wrongs'/ Every blogger should read those because those apply to all types of blogs.
Very good study!

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Domestic Violence by Inter Activa

Click Chick

Browsing along Twitter (see my previous post) for domestic violence I stumbled upon Alison Stewards profile and blog. I must say: I AM DAMN IMPRESSED! Currently posted on Storyist, Mac's app supporting...writing fiction:)
Check it out yourself, all you geeky fellows;)!

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Literature on-line, new genre? one or more?

I belong to the lucky generation of those who started writing novels at the uni (started by one of us, continued by the next from the class - chapter by chapter, or paragraph by paragraph), but I am happy to see that today we have a genre for them - wovels, i.e. web-novels. Here is an ambitious example of one of those published (word 'published' seems to gain on its meaning as well;)) by Underland Press. We have lot's of bloggers publishing traditional books ON PAPER!:) (Schoble, Abby Lee, in Poland Krystyna Kofta, in Hungary..) but only now I learn about the opposite movement to bring literary pieces into existence on-line with such popularity. Even Twitter is used for fiction competitions! This time the task was to write a short story in 140 available characters precisely. You can find the full list of the winners here, and the First Place, Ron Gould, here...Brilliant!:) I can't wait to see more, more of fiction and more of the social media - or maybe even mixed with music and videos. If you know any, plz let me know!

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Chocolate

That's it! From now on I am being careful about the amount of chocolate I am eating (see: I do not STOP!, you can still give me one..). I started by bringing in the office all my sweets - I simply packed them, brought them in and discretely left on the kitchen table. Then I cried.
I hope this way I will avoid evening chocolate siestas and start eating properly...let's see...

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12th day, 104 days to day 0

Started running, so it's official now;) But but...I did only 5 min run! How baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad is that!

Apart from the disappointment that I could only do two little rounds in the park behind our house, I enjoyed it extremely. Wantage is a lovely place and if you listen, if you do not take your iPod you can enjoy the whole philharmonics of bird noises, pass poor kids on their torturous way to school (oh, how I hated that feeling of forced commitment to an institution!) and enjoy the little place waking up. Just as me - even though I hate, hate, HATE running ('dirty goths' do not run;)), I DID wake up, which is a miracle. I usually wake up after 3rd coffee, and sometimes I still need a coke.

Anyway, I need to 'run' to work now, but it was not as bad, not bad...

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Before going to bed..

'I hate it when you read in bed'

...here is the last page of last week's TIME, actually advert for FT Weekend. Brilliant!

Nighnight!

11th day, 105 days to day 0

Challenge again! I need to stop stuffing myself with chocolate. With my extremely low blood pressure I am OK to keep one glass of red wine here and there, but not the tones of chocolate vanishing in my tummy...oh, well, I am sure my colleagues will do everything to support my efforts and lower the risk of unnecessary temptation;)
I the meantime I am starting to push myself a bit harder - from yoga, belly dancing (those quite obviously just excuses for not running, haha) and exercise to those...

...ah, the very thought of me and fitness together is quite absurd, but that is exactly the reason why I am doing it:) I have enough time, but since I've received few donations somehow I feel I need to push myself harder and be more strict. Let's see.

Swimming from Monday onwards, if my Dragon looses its skin completely and the whole tattoo heals...I hope it will.

InterNations

Talking of charity...of of my Polish colleagues invited me to a new Social Network for expats - InterNations.

'InterNations is the first international online Social Network exclusively for people living and working abroad. As a network of trust, InterNations is a place where its members can interact with other internationally-minded individuals sharing the same situation abroad, similar interests, and needs. Members of InterNations can get and keep in touch with private or work-related friends and acquaintances on a global and local level and exchange trustworthy and relevant information on specific topics with each other.'

I must admit that I am very, very impressed by the idea, design, functionalities and charity involved. Let me quote from here again:
'InterNations aims to be the leading platform for exchange between internationally-minded and acting individuals. Building upon a strong and open-minded international community, InterNations is committed to engage charitably and support cross-cultural understanding beyond the scope of its online community. To do so, InterNations and its members take specific actions together with AFS Intercultural Programs to support less privileged people around the world in gaining access to international education and experience.'

There is one very interesting idea here - option to check viewers of your profile with path on how they got to see it. I think it's a great idea for reinforcing the visibility of the site, slightly elitist approach to networking (in positive sense) and business thinking behind the design of the site.

It's still in Beta, but I am very much up for the idea, and I think I will make a good use of it, not only for private purposes - I think it's brilliant for expanding business networks too. The founders prove great professionalism and knowledge of social media (promotion of the site, charity, local and global networking, board and - very crucial - info on upcoming innovations (event calendar and country profiles). All this in a very tasteful design with a polite, personalized e-mail from the admin. Well done!

Check more on their blog.

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Chocolate addict talking..

Sorry guys, blogging will not stop tonight, if I keep finding websites like www.hotchocolatedesign.com!

I just love the design of the site and I love the products...wonder how much would it cost me to order two pairs of shoes...

guess which is the two I am thinking about:)

So far every day comes with a donation!

..so please do not stop! Agnieszka_73 - thank you, whoever you are:)
It makes my heart even happier that Polish people reacted so quickly.
I need to do some more advertising:) Shall I set up my own wiki page, or write an article about myself? I need to work, can someone do it for me, plz?

DON'T STOP DONATING!

THANK YOU ALL!

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Another charity, this time animals!

Save the kiwi...go to the website...
and check this very sad animation too:


Well, made me sad anyway...
(Good work!:))

First photospheres, now photosquares?

Oh well, just when I had this conversation with M. - a photographer who is my newest source of inspiration (his print is standing by my mirror, just opposite my bed, so I can meditate the beauty of the Scottish shores and sea in general!) - about photospheres (wrote about it here) I came across Brent Townshend and his brilliant photos!

He did a few of Oxford and I wonder - how long does it take to make one?!
Those pictures can make miracles, so I advise you all to check them out. He uploaded them to Google photo sharing site, Panoramio, which looks fun as it is.

With his works on it, it is even better!

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Manu Chao, remember?

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Lucky to have good friends

..who after months of not seeing me still read my blog! Malgo just sponsored me reaching 22% of my final goal! And I know her, she does care:) Thank you!

I send a lovely day. I received my new print (bought of Manse during AppletonArt) and spent afternoon cooking and just chatting about life. Smooth...:)

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yesterday, today

Yesterday I have managed to organize my friends and drag them all to Camden Town so that I can do my planned tattoo and convince A. to do hers. Well, I must say it was a lovely afternoon, mainly because of their company, which I am very grateful for! Thanks guys! I met M. too, who perfectly a year ago lived with A. and gave me and my son a home for a few - the most critical - days. It was shocking for all of us to realize it was sooo long time ago!
I was lucky with the tattoo, and experienced quite a post-modern way of 'having it done'. I was sitting there (Camden Piercing and Tattoo Studio, High Street, 02072677876) with two tattooists (one Italian, one...hm..no idea...he was joking throwing different countries, but I think he was Brazilian in the end), listening to them talking a mixture of Spanish-Portuguese - French, speaking to three quite silly American girls and listening Rammstein...but all this proved more than fruitful. I met an interesting person (author of my tattoo) and got a wonderful piece of art on my back (really well done!). It heals extremely quickly: I could sleep on my back and today we could already take quite a good pic of it.
Voila, here's my Fire-Snake symbol and the Chinese Dragon:

After arrival to Wantage and settling Dawid down after weekend away, I opened my inbox and...
wow! I have my first donation! Magda, you are my Angel!:)
It made my day!:) (together with the check for my first sold picture and an sms from dear Jane!)

Cool sites on astronomy

What is happening, what is happening! MoD is opening archives on UFO cases!
Google launches maps of universe - Google Sky!

And Microsoft does similar - WorldWide Telescope is fun!

Check them all, it's really a cool way of learning something new and amazing! (Unless you know everything about astronomy;))

From my diary, 23.05.08

It has been a year since...my world has recovered. His too, I believe. Exactly a year ago I made the bravest and the simplest choice of my life - my own freedom and independence (in terms of basic human rights). I wanted away from someone who tried to claim me for himself without any ethical constraints.

As a paradox Ethics was mentioned on my annual review today, hm...life can be so hilarious, no wonder I do not need TV, ha!

But, to stay serious, some of you might know me personally, some of you work with me, some of you know my ex. I only hope that you will understand that this is a purely private blog and I really hope it will not affect your opinion on any of us. We live, work, create next to each over and some of our life aspect are simply undiscovered.

Well, I need to and I decided to write about it simply because I think I have learned my lesson and there is lot's of women (every fourth woman in the UK!!!) who need my words and need your support. If you ask me why you should donate I will simply show the reasoning behind charities like Amnesty International simply by bringing up myself as example again. It was due to the Woman's Aid (both personal service, as well as website info) and (remarkably professional, polite and kind) Police services that I managed so well. So I KNOW it is worth it and I KNOW it is an issue not talked about but existing.

So once again - PLEASE SUPPORT those who know how, when and where to help!

Thank you in advance!

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT DURING LAST YEAR. I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT YOU!

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What I am listening to tonight...stay tuned;)

'I'm too sexy for...';)

Just received a letter celebrating my third Polish Mother's Day (26.05) with photos from my childhood attached. You can see some of them here, but I thought I would share the most sexy one with my English speaking audience too....and yes, it really is me...
Sexxxxyyyyy!:)
By the way, mother nature stopped my training, so I shifted to lovely belly dancing. And in case if you call me lazy, you try it yourself, it's hard work for your muscles!

Setting up a donation site tomorrow, so prepare your wallets!