Quiet Friday In

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 29, 2007 (Friday)



(Source: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk)

I saw the craziest dream so far, which felt so real, but luckily it all went away once I was with Kurt in South Kensington. He makes me feel good and feeds my brains with thoughts and ideas. Kurt is a really nice guy with a cheeky sense of humor and never lets me drink an instant coffee. Apart from that, he is very attentive to details and is simple to communicate with. To say the least, he puts me at ease.

If you have not tried a Vietnamese cuisine, then you should. Kurt had prepared Pho Gu, a Vietnamese rice noodle soup with lots of vegetables and chicken, I think. We had a lovely home-cooked dinner and later watched About a Boy, a feel-good British movie with few 'green' breaks. The last time I slept with Kurt was one of the best night sleeps I had in a long time. It was a nice Friday in while it was raining outside. In the middle of the second movie, Mystic Pizza, my munchies started. However, I enjoyed this day and no wonder why people say "Thank God, it is Friday!"

More TGiFs,

~ζ

Academic Presence in Scandinavian Countries and the Nordic States

June 28, 2007 (Thursday)

One more victory in academia... I have been informed by my Swedish colleagues that my empirical study has been published by the Nordicom in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is also available electronically on major scientific databases on the Internet. The title of my research is as follows.

The Impact of the Brazilian Soap Opera, "O Clone", on the Attitudes and Behavior of its Fans in Kyrgyzstan. A Qualitative Analysis. Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 2005.

Brief annotation of the study (http://www.nordicom.gu.se):
For the last fifteen years, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyz citizens have witnessed how people get deeply involved in soap operas. For some people soap operas became part of their daily lives or some kind of addiction without which they cannot survive. Hereby Brazilian, Mexican, Argentinean, Colombian and Moroccan cultures are having a great impact on shaping the post-Soviet Kyrgyzstani culture.

As far as I know, the study is presented in two publications and is available for purchase online and in book shops across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. I shall be getting my copies soon. My recent study Complex Aircraft Manufacturing Industry and Media Practice London, 2007, is also going to be published, hopefully, this September.

Book covers are taken from http://www.nordicom.gu.se.


Harrie, Eva (ed.) (2006): Media Trends 2006 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden: Radio, TV & Internet. Descriptive Analyses and Statistics. Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordicom (University of Gothenburg). Price: €32.


Carlsson, Ulla (ed.) (2006): Radio, TV & Internet in the Nordic Countries: Meeting the Challenges of New Media Technologies. Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordicom (University of Gothenburg). Price: €22.


My publications list is getting longer every year, including the academic one. If you ever come across any of my studies mentioned above, let me know what you think of them.

Some might ask why do I differentiate Scandinavian countries from the Nordic states. Well, Scandinavia consists of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, while Nordic states are Finland and Iceland.

Parts of the study are available in Afrikaans, Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Korean, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Turkmen and Ukrainian under the following titles. Translations are available online and at the local libraries.

Afrikaans | 中文 | Dansk | English | Français | Deutsch | Ελληνικά | Казакша | 한국어 | Кыргызча | Română | Русский | Español | Svenska | Türkçe | Türkmen | Українська

AFRIKAANS:
Die slag van die Brasiliaanse seepie "O Cloné" op die houding en gedrag van sy volgers in Kyrghyzstan. 'n Kwaliteitiewe ontleding.

CHINESE:
关于巴西肥皂剧O Cloné对吉尔吉斯斯坦观众的态度行为之影响的定性分析

DANISH:
Den brasilianske sæbeopera "O Clonés" indflydelse på holdninger og adfærd hos dens fans i Kirgisien. En kvalitativ analyse.

FRENCH:
L'impact de la série brésilienne "O Cloné" sur les attitudes les comportements de ses fans au Kirghizie. Une analyse qualitative.

GERMAN:
Der Einfluss der brasilianischen TV-Soap "O Cloné" auf Einstellungen und Verhalten ihrer Fans in Kirgisische Republik. Eine qualitative Analyse.

GREEK:
Η επιρροή της Βραζιλιάνικης τηλεσειράς "O Cloné" στη συμπεριφορά και στις αντιδράσεις των φίλων τηλεθεατών από το Κιργιζία. Μία ποιοτική ανάλυση.

KOREAN:
브라질 드라마 'O Cloné' 가 키르키스탄 팬들의 행동과 삶에 미친 영향

KAZAKH:
Бразилиянын "Клон" топтамасын Кыргызстандагы табынушіларнын дуниетанусына жане мінезкулыгына ыкпалы. Сапалык талдау.

KYRGYZ:
Бразилиянын "Клон" сериалынын Кыргызстандагы суйуучулорунун дуйнотаанымына, турмушту кабыл алуусуна, кулк–мунозуно жана журум–турумуна таасири. Сапаттуу талдоо.

ROMANIAN:
Influenţa teleserialului Brazilian "O Cloné" asupra Atitudinii şi Comportamentului Fanilor în Republica Kârgâză. O analiză calitativă.

RUSSIAN:
Влияние бразильского сериала "Клон" на мировосприятие и поведение его поклонников в Киргизии. Качественный анализ.

SPANISH:
Influencia del serial brasileño "O Cloné" en el comportamiento y aceptación de sus fanáticos en Kirguisia. Análisis de la calidad.

SWEDISH:
Den brasilianska såpoperan "O Clonés" inflytelse på attityder och beteende hos dens fans i Kirgizistan. En kvalitativ analys.

TURKISH:
Brazilyalı "O Cloné" dizisinin, Kırgızistan sevenlerinin davranış ve düşüncelerinin üzerindeki etkisi. Niteliksel analiz.

TURKMEN:
Braziliýanyň "O Cloné" köp-seriýaly çeper filmyň Gyrgyzstandaky teletomaşaçylaryň dünýä garaýşyna we häsiýetine täsiri. Hilli seljeriş.

UKRAINIAN:
Вплив бразильського серiалу "Клон" на свiтосприйняття i поведiнку його прихильникiв в Киргизiї. Якiсний аналiз.

Viva academia,

~ζ

Moscow - The Most Expensive City

MOSCOW, Russia / LONDON, United Kingdom

June 27, 2007 (Wednesday)



(Source: http://www.new7wonders.com)

Mercer Human Resource Consulting released a worldwide cost of living (CoL) ranking of the cities, including housing. Moscow, Russian capital, remains on top for the second consequtive year. No wonder why wealthy Russians are moving to London. Below are the top 50 cities. The source: http://www.mercerhr.com.

2007 Rank | Change | 2006 Rank | City, Country | 2007 CoL | 2006 CoL

1 = 1 MOSCOW (MOSKVA), Russia 134.4 123.9
2 + 5 LONDON, United Kingdom 126.3 110.6
3 - 2 SEOUL, South Korea 122.4 121.7
4 - 3 TOKYO, Japan 122.1 119.1
5 - 4 HONG KONG, Hong Kong 119.4 116.3
6 + 8 COPENHAGEN (KØBENHAVN), Denmark 110.2 101.1
7 = 7 GENEVA, Switzerland 109.8 103
8 - 6 OSAKA, Japan 108.4 108.3
9 = 9 ZURICH (ZÜRICH), Switzerland 107.6 100.8
10 = 10 OSLO, Norway 105.8 100
11 + 13 MILAN (MILANO) Italy 104.4 96.9
12 = 12 ST. PETERSBURG (SANKT-PITERBURG), Russia 103 99.7
13 + 15 PARIS, France 101.4 93.1
14 + 17 SINGAPORE, Singapore 100.4 92
15 - 10 NEW YORK CITY, United States 100 100
16 + 18 DUBLIN, Ireland 99.6 91.8
17 + 24 TEL AVIV, Israel 97.7 89.7
18 + 21 ROME (ROMA), Italy 97.6 89.8
19 + 21 VIENNA (WIEN), Austria 96.9 89.8
20 - 14 BEIJING (PEKING), China 95.9 94.9
21 - 19 SYDNEY, Australia 94.9 91.3
22 + 25 HELSINKI, Finland 93.3 87.8
23 + 36 STOCKHOLM, Sweden 93.1 84.8
24 + 27 DOUALA, Cameroon 92.9 87.6
25 + 41 AMSTERDAM, Netherlands 92.2 83.4
26 + 53 MADRID, Spain 92.1 81.6
26 - 20 SHANGHAI, China 92.1 91.2
28 - 21 KIEV (KYIV) Ukraine 91.4 89.8
29 + 59 ATHENS (ATHINA), Greece 90.6 81.1
30 + 52 ALMATY, Kazakhstan 89.6 81.9
31 + 56 BARCELONA, Spain 89.2 81.2
31 + 48 BRATISLAVA, Slovakia 89.2 82.4
33 + 45 DAKAR, Senegal 89 82.8
34 - 25 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates 88.8 87.8
35 + 45 ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire 88.3 82.8
36 + 60 GLASGOW, United Kingdom 88.1 80.7
37 - 31 LAGOS, Nigeria 88 85.5
38 - 15 ISTANBUL (İSTANBUL), Turkey 87.7 93.1
39 + 65 MUNICH (MÜNCHEN), Germany 87.6 80.2
40 + 61 FRANKFURT, Germany 87.4 80.5
41 + 69 BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom 87.2 79.7
42 - 29 LOS ANGELES, United States 87.1 86.7
43 + 56 LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg 87 81.2
44 + 70 BRUSSELS, Belgium 86.5 79.5
45 - 30 ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates 85.9 86
45 + 72 BERLIN, Germany 85.9 79.2
45 + 62 DUSSELDORF (DÜSSELDORF), Germany 85.9 80.4
48 - 28 TAIPEI, Taiwan 85.8 86.8
49 + 50 PRAGUE (PRAHA), Czech Republic 85.6 82.1
50 + 51 ALGIERS, Algeria 85.1 82

Red City on Volga or the Foggy Albion on Thames

MOSCOW, Russia / LONDON, United Kingdom

June 26, 2007 (Tuesday)

It is shocking how Moscow has changed so rapidly in the past years. I am quite frequent in the Russian capital and every time I visit the city where once lived, the prices are more expensive. Last year just the taxi ride itself from the Sheremetyevo International Airport to the Domodedovo International Airport with one stop at the Red Square cost my companion and I around 5,500 rubles (€140 / £96 / $192).

There is a famous song called Москва слезам не верит [Moskva slezam ne verit] or Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. Locals joke and say that contemporary Moscow believes in dollars, euros, pounds and then rubles. It makes me wonder how Muscovites survive. Last week The London Paper (http://www.thelondonpaper.com, June 18, 2007) published an article comparing two capitals – the Russian and the British.

MOSCOW | LONDON
Rent: £2,057 | £2,000
CD: £12.77 | £12.99
Cup of coffee: £3.14 | £2.00
Burger meal: £2.47 | £3.89
International newspaper: £3.24 | £1.20

In 2003 I came to Moscow to work on a special project. The company paid $1,200 for my three-room apartment in Strogino, temporary residence permit and food as well as transportation expenses on top of my salary. Basically, I had no expenses but to enjoy my life in the former Soviet capital. My cousin and I would drive around in Moscow on his Mercedes, go clubbing, shopping and drinking. Those careless days... Once the project was completed in 2004, I moved to Riga in Latvia.

My family lived in Moscow during the Soviet times and, of course, life was affordable then. Everyone was Soviet rather than Russian and non-Russian. However, I still think that Moscow is one of the amazing cities in the world. Maybe I am saying it because I spent my childhood there. Below is the cost of living ranking of the cities I have visited or lived by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting (http://www.mercerhr.com).

1. Moscow RU;
2. London GB;
6. Copenhagen DK;
9. Zürich CH;
10. Oslo NO;
12. Saint Petersburg RU;
15. New York City US;
23. Stockholm SE;
25. Amsterdam NL;
28. Kyiv UA;
30. Almaty KZ;
40. Frankfurt-am-Main DE;
42. Los Angeles US.

If you are traveling to Moscow, please keep in mind the current exchange rates against the Russian ruble (рубль, руб. or RUB). Make sure that you do not use the street exchanges. Most of the shops accept foreign credit and debit cards. Here is how far your local quid goes in Russia:
£1 (GBP) – 58 руб.;
€1 (EUR) – 40 руб.;
$1 (USD) – 29 руб.;
¥1 (JPY) – 0.25 руб.;
₣1 (CHF) – 25 руб.

До свидания (Do svidaniya),

~ζ

Mother and Three Virgins

A mother had three virgin daughters. They were all getting married within a short time period. Because mom was a bit worried about how their sex life would get started, she made them all promise to send a postcard from the honeymoon with a few words on how marital sex felt.

The first daughter sent a card from Hawaii two days after the wedding. The card said nothing but "Nescafe!" Mom was puzzled at first, but then went to her kitchen and got out the Nescafe jar. It said, "Good till the last drop".

Mom blushed, but was pleased for her daughter.

The second girl sent the card from the Vermont State a week after the wedding, and the card read "Rothmans." Mom now knew to go straight to her husband's cigarettes, and she read from the pack, "Extra Long. King Size."

She was again slightly embarrassed but still happy for her daughter.

The third left for her honeymoon to Cape Town in South Africa. Mom waited for a week, nothing. Another week went by and still nothing. Then after a whole month, a card finally arrived. Written on it with shaky handwriting were the words "South African Airways." Mom took out her latest YOU magazine, flipped through the pages fearing the worst, and finally found the advertisement for the airline. The ad said, "Ten times a day, seven days a week, both ways."

Mom fainted!

Party Time

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 24, 2007 (Sunday)



(Source: http://www.g-a-y.co.uk)

Too many parties were on my little blue agenda book and I had to decide which ones to attend. One of them was a get-together with my colleagues where everyone bitches about each other and the other party was a club-hopping with few friends. Obviously, bitching was not an option for me since there was nothing to bitch about and I headed to the Profile Bar. It is a special bar with some fond memories... Anyway, I met up with my friend, Johan, and his boyfriend, Kyle. All of a sudden, there is a hot stud standing next to me. He was Johan's friend, Peter. Tall, dark hair and brown eyes with athletic physique and a nice smile are few words that can describe Peter.

Couple of drinks later, we went to the G-A-Y~late. As Kyle and I were dancing, I heard Johan saying to Peter in their native language that I am smooth and Peter telling he is having a hard time believing I am gay. Johan and Kyle were trying so hard to convince me to pour a bottle of water on my half-naked body and dance. I could have done that but not there or if I was completely hammered. Peter and I were talking and looking around at cute guys. Actually, my first impression of Peter was that he had the looks [balls] but no brains. Well, he had both of them – brains and balls. Our conversations were interesting and we found similarities in what we want.

Surprisingly, Kyle made some VIP reservations at the Heaven Club. The hunt began there as we began to explore dance floors. Not much of a hunt but a time of sharing. Peter was telling me about himself and it struck me that there are so many things similar in my own life. Later on, Peter and I walked a bit and ended the crazy party marathon on an interesting note...

Hasta la vista,

~ζ

Unusual Rendezvous Place and High Times in South Kensington

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 21, 2007 (Thursday)



(Source: http://www.rpfuller.com)

It was the first time in my life when I had a date at the museum. Do not rush to make any silly conclusions. No, I was not meeting a bookworm from Oxford or a computer genius from Bangalore. My date was another American, Kurt, from a special to my heart state. Kurt was much hotter than his compatriot, Albert, and much more intelligent. We met at the British Museum. It was amazing to see the ancient artifacts from Greece, Egypt and Rome, as well as the Rosetta Stone.

First, the state where Kurt is from was the state of my very first entry to the United States. Second, I was slightly relieved that Kurt was a smoker too. We had lunch at a Thai place and I rushed off to the IFR. However, our second rendezvous with Kurt did not wait too long. The same evening I was having a pint with Kurt's friends. We made our way to his apartment. If you live in London, you know what and where South Kensington is.

The apartment had a cozy and warm feeling: red big sofa, old wooden chest, and brown leather armchairs, king size bed, bathroom with mirrors everywhere and hand-knit quilts. Kurt and I had a fabulous time together and some 'green' catalysts made our time even better. Luckily, there was no television. It reminded me the two years I lived alone with no television. Who would think that our museum date would end up on a king size bed in South Kensington...?

Ciao,

~ζ

Is There Too Much Sex?

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 20, 2007 (Wednesday)

Some people pretend and some people try hard to convince themselves that everything is fine. I belong to none of the two mentioned earlier. Well, I just take things the way they are. In fact, I have slept with 'someone' the same evening I got off the plane from Scandinavia on May 21, 2007. At least, it was a romantic evening with good Thai dinner and some frank talks. When I say "I have slept with someone" then it does not mean sex. My definition of sex does not include foreplay, blow and / or hand jobs. However, it was fantastic to cuddle up with 'someone' who is gorgeous, kiss and give each other pleasure. Anyway, that is not the point.

I met this American guy, Albert, for a dinner date and it ended up being more than that. What can I say...? Does it make me a gentleman in society and a slut in bedroom? Apart from all these social stigmas, I found Albert and myself sweaty in each other's arms and shagging. I mean, real sex, as I would define it. Honestly, I have had better ones but there is never too much sex, as one of my friends say.

At the end of the day, there was a dilemma in my mind. Do I prefer?
A) An awesome cuddling, kissing, hugging and oral
or
B) A rough hardcore so-so sex
My correct answer is A. I have known that 'someone' for some time. We have been just friends. He has mesmerizing eyes, charming face and a beautiful heart. There is more to tell but some parts of my life should remain private.

Au revoir,

~ζ

Diligence and ‘Kissilicious’ Lips

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 19, 2007 (Tuesday)

It is interesting to see the difference between the work ethics in different continents. After finishing the task with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Turkey, the boss approached me and asked, "You know what? Britton would have taken two days to accomplish covering ten countries, not including Russian with its eleven (!) time zones. How do you do that?" I could not tell that I simply do not like to delay the task, be behind the schedule and that I like to finish things soon so I do not have to stay long in the office or continue on the next day.

Instead, I answered "I start with the farthest, like Vladivostok in Far East Russia and finish with Dublin in Ireland." The boss looked at me and said that I possess something they do not, like approach techniques. Whatever it is that I possess let's leave it here.

Later in the day I met with Rudolf. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL NAMES IN ALL OF MY BLOG ENTRIES ARE CHANGED FOR THE PRIVACY PURPOSES. Rudolf is one of the pioneer special effects professionals with big credits. Anyway, we have had a very interesting conversation and I kept looking at his lips. I kept saying in my mind that he had 'kissilicious' lips. Well, indeed, he has and my friends tend to agree as well when they saw his pictures. I have realized that I have missed a nice and mind challenging talk. It was raining and I was glad that it was. I will not write why...

Tschüß,

~ζ

Feels Good to Be Back in the Corporate World

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 18, 2007 (Monday)

Sitting next to the boss can be both challenging and rewarding. Luckily, my responsibilities were to speak to media in languages that were understood by none in the organization. However, the list included YLE TV (Finland), DR and TV2 (Denmark), NRK (Norway) and SVT (Sweden) since my resume included that I have lived in Scandinavia which does not include Finland. I do not speak any Finnish, Norwegian or Swedish, except little Danish. Well, I gathered myself and gave my Danish language skills a best shot.

Danes understood me perfectly despite I was saying "I wish" when I actually meant "I would like to." Norwegians had no problem with my Danish. Swedes said that I speak Danish with a Swedish accent. Honestly, I was trying to speak Swedish with them. Finns were a bit intimidated since they have to learn Swedish and, on top, they had to try harder to understand my Danish. Nevertheless, all went well and I continued my task.

It felt good to be back in the corporate media world after a two-year break. I thought it would take me time to get adjusted. Nope, it was easier than I thought. I guess I have missed all that corporate lunches, tea and smoke breaks, after-work drinks and insider gossip. All in all, it was not bad.

As I was walking with a feeling of satisfaction on Holborn, James Brown's "I Feel Good" song came to my mind. In fact, it is my brother's favorite song. Man, I miss my siblings and my brother's singing this song.

May you all feel good,

~ζ

Spiritual Sunday

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 17, 2007 (Sunday)

It was a beautiful Sunday in the Big Smoke. I went to church and worshipped. It felt so good being there among fellow Christians. I have met people from all over the world. Despite my choices, God created us in His image. I prayed for His forgiveness, inner strength, patience, faith, success and for Him to show me the right way.

I was on the 15th floor and the view of London was amazing. On top of that, it was the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War and fighter planes were flying above. I am looking forward for the new week and I am sure that everything will be fine.

God's speed,

~ζ

The Start is Only the Half of Achievement

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 16, 2007 (Saturday)

The week was filled with lots of events and happenings. In this blog entry I will sum daily accounts of the week. Every day brought something new and exciting.

Some of you have been asking what the number 720000 stands for. It is the metropolitan postal code of the city where I was born. Let's say if LON1000 is Greater London's postal code, then LON1001 is Westminster's postal code, which is within the metropolitan area. The city's name and the whole country itself have changed but postal codes remained the same. Well, I have grown and transformed as well. Here are things that made my week queentastic.

Twinkie Tuesday
After a long and tiring day I felt like a squeezed tomato. My cell phone was on silent mode since I was not home and was occupied. The phone's display lit and it was my 24-year-old Russian friend. I thought he came to my rescue and brought Siberian breeze into the warm office room where I was sitting the whole day. We met up and went to Canary Wharf and West India Quay in London. Speaking in my native language with someone who shares the same cultural values, is my peer and had somewhat similar experience was like a balsam to my heart, as my Russian language professor would say. We walked among skyscrapers and for a second I realized that I missed Manhattan in New York City. Having a freshly brewed coffee on the West India Quay and seeing off planes descending to the London City Airport over tall buildings coupled with a heartwarming conversation was the best part of the whole evening. We had a nice time and I got back home after midnight when stars were twinkling to us.

Witty Wednesday
It was a typical Wednesday until my Greek friend and I decided to go out. Who would know that our night in London will turn wild and filled with erotic tension. As usual we got drinks and started dancing. Once we warmed up, our moves became sharper, more synchronized and more erotic. While boogieing crazily someone approached as and said, "Please accept my apologies. I think what you two are doing is a dirty dancing." Imagine this phrase with an English accent. It just made us go wilder. Until some point we did not even realize that we were the only ones dancing and everyone else was staring at us in amaze. One of the onlookers was a very good-looking guy at the bar. I thought he was the Prince Charming himself until it turned out he was still a foe. What a toxic night it was, no wonder why it was a witty Wednesday.

Tricky Thursday
I believe in fate and some events make my belief stronger. I got an invitation from one of the leading European companies in Copenhagen. Of course, it does not mean an automatic employment offer but after the company contacted me several times insisting that I come since I fit the role, I thought I have a chance. I was convinced by the company that it is worth traveling, no need of Danish language skills and I will not regret it. It made me think maybe it is the fate calling me to back to Denmark but to a different city? Indeed, I was very tempted and still have to prioritize. Even if I do not stay there, I still think it is a good chance and at the same time a gamble. Thursday left me tricked and puzzled about the fate. Is it "Hello again, Denmark!" or "No, thank you, Denmark!"?

Frivolous Friday
It was another fabulous end of the week. I was busy all day long with all kinds of things. There was a big get-together of my fellow country people in the Skywalk Park. Of course, there were other people from all over the world. It felt good to listen to the music, songs and speech from my native country. I have not seen some of the people present at the party for eight years and it sure was great. Well, I practiced my Russian a lot since I will need it coming week. It was comforting to be around people who are from the same place. Good old memories from home… I was also invited to a "Famous Britons" party but I was having much more fun with my compatriots and stayed at the club. The week ended on a nice high note.

Stress-Free Saturday
Sunny spells mixed with few occasional showers were filling London with a fresh ozone smell. It was very relaxing day, and my friend and I took a nice walk in The City, did some shopping and had lots of laugh. Sunday will be another resting day before the start of a brand new week on Monday. It is also a Fathers' Day in England. So, to all fathers or expecting fathers, Happy Fathers' Day!

However, the journey to success is just beginning. Who knows where I will be entering my next blog entry from?

Bon voyage,

~ζ

Mellow Monday

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 11, 2007 (Monday)

It is Monday evening and I have enjoyed my time in The City. Couple of days ago I came across this phrase and it kind of struck me.

"When you laugh, the whole world laughs with you. When you cry, you cry alone."

Honestly, I think, it is true. At the times of hardship, you realize who is crying with you and who is laughing at you. My Greek friend told me an ancient myth about why people look for the special one and put all possible efforts. According to the tale, ancient god was so angry with humans, he split every individual in half and scattered them throughout the world. That is why, according to the story, people look for their half to be united and happy.

On the other note, some people are good at rejecting. A friend of mine in Russia told me some interesting things and I admit that there is truth to them. Some people get intimidated in a company of outstanding individuals and insecure but feel very special among followers. Some prefer to look up onto leaders or look down onto followers. The point is whether you are a leader or a follower, it is easier for some to reject rather than to follow or lead, especially, if there is nothing to lose. It kind of reminds me one Asian saying that the tiger feels like a lion among monkeys and like a mouse among lions.

I have been trying to access my bank account online today but no luck. Damn... The website keeps saying that my user name and password are incorrect. My online banking was installed to my Scandinavian ex's laptop and I think that might be the issue. The bank's website states that only one computer can have access to the account. I thought we did everything correct but I guess there are some security ticks that need to be un-ticked so I can access it from my laptop.

Talking about laptops... It worries me that my ex's presence is still everywhere - from my 1881 shower gel to my laptop and clothes I am wearing - but I think it is a temporary condition. I guess it is normal. I am sure it will pass with the time. I acknowledge my mistakes that I did not respect my ex at times, sometimes took things for granted and told lies on few occasions. In a way, it is my youthful rigidness and I had few grudges myself. However, it feels so much better once I let the past grudges go.

I hardly give promises but always say that I will try hard. Well, this time I will respect my Scandinavian ex and give whatever time needed to fully process the whole attack incident. I just remembered that I have read some facts about Danish men where the author fully supports his claims with facts. The author says that if you do not contact French men, they will go crazy. If you do not contact Danish men first or take the initiative, they will not have enough courage to call, forget you and never bother again. In a way, it is true that some Danish men are too timid, self-reserved and do not embrace their masculinity. However, I think it does not apply to all Danish men. The author also states that Danish women are more initiative and stronger. Interesting...

Not long ago someone asked me what is my type. Honestly, there is already too much discrimination against homosexuals anyway. Therefore, I do not have a particular type. I simply think that gay people need to embrace their differences rather than discriminate each other against age, race, religion, social or professional background. Of course, people have certain tendencies. Well, throughout my experience, I realized that the spiritual connection and peace is the most important in any relationship.

Best of spiritual connections,

~ζ

Sunday Muse

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 10, 2007 (Sunday)

It is a beautiful Sunday evening. I had a banana time at the G-A-Y~late. As I walked in, I found myself among rice queens. For the unaware ones of you, the term 'rice queen' means a Caucasian homosexual male who is strongly attracted to Oriental homosexual males, in most cases, to Southeast Asian men. I was enjoying my time with my German friend, Irish and Polish acquaintances and their Malay boyfriends.

Luckily, I have known these people for some time and they are very fun to be with. Apparently, according to my Malay and European mates, I am a 'Twinkie' since I have a fold on my eyelids and other minor reasons. There are Twinkie cookies in the United States, which are wheat yellow outside with white cream inside, simply saying, whitewashed. That is where the term 'Twinkie' used by gay men comes from.

Out of the blue, one guy dragged me from the coach and started singing,
"I am just a real girl
Living in real world…"

That was quite unexpected and pleasant. He was a Brazilian Rodrigo Santoro look-alike from São Paolo. I always admired Brazil and wrote my Bachelor's thesis about the Brazilian media influence on audiences. We were dancing until we were out of breath. I will keep the rest to myself…

Later in the night I was mesmerized by the model-like Japanese lad from Tokyo. He was a recent psychology graduate and a Londoner for the last three years. We found some similarities between us. We both like Yutaka Ozaki's music and have a high respect for Kato Tokika's talent. Fortuitously, I took Japanese courses for a month two years ago, learned a famous song and still could say few things in it. This young chap was so handsome, innocent dreamer and a kind charmer. I had an ass-tacular time and was glad to be out enjoying my youth.

I realized that I was smoking L&M cigarettes that my ex got me before the break-up. I definitely need to quit… At that instant I understood that I would rather be with my simple and loving Scandinavian ex than with the banana Brazilian or the jolly Japanese. Of course, it was a silly thought and my mistake for thinking that. I assumed it was one of those 'minute weaknesses' and told myself to move on. So I did…

However, in the last ten days, my ex appeared three times in my dreams. Honestly, I do miss my Scandinavian ex, good times we had together and I already let the grudge go. No reason and no place for past wounds because life goes on. I do not know what it means to see your ex in your dream and I did not look it up on the Internet. I see no point of doing so. Well, I guess by the time, everything will be fine.

Productive week start to all and less grumpy Mondays,

~ζ

Photo Report from the World Naked Bike Ride

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 9, 2007 (Saturday)

All photographs were taken by me during the World Naked Bike Ride. Please be aware of the copyrights.

Nude Bodies and Pleasant Coincidences

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Our Pseudo Environments and Lives in Virtual Worlds

LONDON, United Kingdom

June 7, 2007 (Thursday)

It has been a lovely week in the Big Smoke. Plenty of sunshine, birds singing and, main of all, company of people who love me for who I am fill my days with joy and excitement. Reading Walter Lippmann's Pseudo Environment (1922) gave me a lot to think about. I tried to apply his study to our modern times and society. The outcome is amazingly interesting and Lippmann's work of 1920s is true than ever.

The word 'pseudo' derives from the Greek word 'psema' which means 'unreal', 'fake' or a 'lie'.

My new life in the Foggy Albion is full of adventures. In a way, it feels like a movie with intertwined fates of characters and crossroads of different paths. I am glad that I bounced back despite my confidence was shaken after the attack. With each day passing I feel stronger and more secure in myself. I have calmed down and trying to cope with everyday tasks of life. I am happy to wake up and take challenges as they come.

I will not deny that I am still scared a bit about my future but the hardest part is behind me. I am thankful to my Scandinavian ex for opening my eyes wide and giving me the push to succeed. Honestly, I realized that my whole life is ahead of me and there are so many opportunities waiting for me. I just need to find the right door, knock and make the first step.

Coming back to the pseudo environment, it is true that we create little societies within ourselves. Our families, friends, colleagues and online contacts are separate publics that make up our social circles. However, some members of our circles will always remain part of the pseudo environment rather than members of primary or secondary societies. I am talking about online acquaintances. We meet someone online and communicate, perhaps, meet the person live and the rest varies. If there is a link between two individuals and a solid ground for meeting outside the virtual world then our online friends exit from the pseudo environment and enter into our social circle.

Other scenario, I think, is the common one. We meet someone online and meet in person but at the end of the day our online friends remain in the pseudo environment. Once I met someone living in Los Angeles on the Internet. We met during my stay there, had a lovely time and there was chemistry between us. Nevertheless, I had to return to Washington and that person remained in my pseudo environment as my California fling. We met several times in Los Angeles, New York and Washington since then but my vacation flirt never entered into my daily life as a friend or a member of the primary or secondary society. Occasional e-mails and memories are all what had left from that summer affair.

What astonishes me that sometimes we do not realize that we are so sucked into the pseudo environment. Virtual world—Internet—can certainly be classified as the pseudo society. We spend hours in front of our computers, search for friends online and, in some cases, pay for subscriptions. In fact, sometimes we simply do not see the individual in front of us and seek for the better one on the world wide web. We look for somebody who is thousands of miles away, unreal in our daily world and for the one who becomes a reality only when we see them in person. Even then our online acquaintances may never become real and stay as pseudo friends. We close our eyes and lock ourselves to certain types of people rather than the spiritual bond with the individual next to us.

Of course, there are some exceptions. I have met some great people on the Internet who became part of my life. Well, I must confess, I never paid for any online subscriptions, except for The Economist magazine. It makes our lives much easier if our online contacts live in the same city and if there is a real chance to meet them. Even then, some of us are too meticulous about details that hardly matter, like ethnicity, religious faith, person's age, physical appearance, social status, professional background or, in some instances, even political affiliation or an accent.

I have met my American love on the Russian website. How global can it get? We had very nice times together but I never told about my true feelings. I have met a lot of my online acquaintances in real life but only a dozen of them are part of my current life. Basically, some stay as contacts or chat buddies in virtual world and few become friends in real 'sweet and sour' life. In a certain way, it is useful to have online buddies with whom you can share and get some insider tips if we are traveling to their cities. Often we end up having some vacation affairs with our virtual friends but that relationship will stay there and we will only have memories of them and perhaps infrequent correspondence. Reality will again remind us of what is true and there, rather than unreal and elusive.

Internet can be our refuge as well. We can lie about our age, looks and other facts, show off or brag on the net. We can have online affairs and even virtual sex through the webcam. Trust me on my personal experience, I cannot say that online sex is excellent or as good as the real one but it can be very intriguing. Unfortunately, those things will only stay on the world wide web and will not become our reality despite some find the net being very therapeutic or as a shelter from a cruel reality.

Well, in the reality, I am still a young person trying to handle everyday matters and attempting to improve my life. Time to time I fantasize and dream to nurture my troubled soul. My friends in London are my family away from home, which is 5,496 km. away. I am a tough individual with a strong will and believe that tomorrow will be better than today.

Many happy tomorrows,

~ζ

The New Beginning: New Life and New Me

AARHUS, Denmark

June 1, 2007 (Friday)

It is the first day of summer and the start of the new beginning. The last three months have been like spring weather with sun spells, lightning, rains and thunders. However, it is summer and I truly hope that my life will be sunny with clear skies.

My fairytale-like Scandinavian romance is over but life goes on. The end is a sign of a new beginning. Some things are simply not meant to happen and there is no need of speculation. I will take the best of my past relationship and learn from my experiences and mistakes.

It is interesting that a life can make a U-turn in a very short time span. No wonder why people say that life is like a rollercoaster with its ups and downs. At times of difficulty, I felt that the world has collapsed on me. However, our lives are somewhat like weather: rain is followed by the sunny day. Good news cleared my skies from thunder clouds and let sun rays warm my troubled self.

My late quest in the Scandinavian kingdom made me realize that sometimes we have to act fast. After my short stay at the local hospital due to some injuries, I pulled myself together and hold my head up high. In a way, our life is like a minefield. We take a step and get blown up to pieces. We put ourselves back together and make another step instead of waiting for someone to clear the field. It is a human nature. It hurts so much at the time but we would rather be blown up than staying in still. That is life…

I am a Gorbachev kid. Mikhail Gorbachev put an end to something good as communism and socialism but opened a door for something much better as freedom and equal opportunities. I do not even mind being called a Yeltsin kid. Boris Yeltsin made that first step into freedom. It was not easy but even his era ended. The parallel can be drawn to my past relationship. It was beautiful and romantic but ended and at the same time opened a door to new prospects that I am not even aware of yet.

I certainly believe that everything happens for a reason and for a better cause. I am leaving Scandinavia in few hours and with it I am leaving behind my past. I will let the past go and treasure memories for the times to come. In one way or another, these memories will comfort me. I will take the best of this relationship with me. I do not want my troubled past to haunt me and will simply let it go and learn from it. Time is the best doctor and will heal open wounds.

In my London flat I have few quotes that always remind me that life goes on. For example:

"Life Has Black Parts Too"

Nevertheless, I would like to end the first entry of my new online journal with an encouraging note. Do not look at the low points in your life as defeats, but as opportunities to make progress.

The best of progress,

~ζ