I wrote a rant some time ago of Google Search not using the potential of flat screens. Well this is one step in the right direction – just add it to search
http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2010/08/fullscreen-and-more.html

It is sad to see that in a Google search for “Melancholy Waltz” only one result relates to Emils Darzins and his beautiful waltz – even less for the better matching translation “Melancholic Waltz”

Although Darzins was accused of plagiarism by Jean Sibelius – I would like to hear the work from Sibelius that supports the accusations. Sadly, the information on the internet is poor on this as well.

Frak you Ryanair.
Going to Riga and back this weekend, I was twice denied to use my HTC Hero in airplane mode to play Sudoku (the flight attendant was aware that it’s in flight mode, he just referred to a policy).

• if there are working phones not in flight mode in your pockets – no problem
• if you use a laptop with WIFI activated and/or built in GSM module – no problem
• if you consume as many alcohol as possible because of the boring flight (that was not me, FYI, but just because had to drive a car afterwards) – no problem

other complaints (this included) nicely compiled, totally agree to all
http://puckstownlane.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/i-want-to-be-proud-of-ryanair-but-they-make-it-impossible/

More in http://worldmysteries9.blogspot.com/2010/03/hyper-realistic-acrylic-body-painting.html

Language and its nuances can reveal many things about the language users and their characteristics.
The Germans are optimists or at least neutral, they say “halb voll” most of the time, and “halb leer” from time to time. Well, even its not true, they have the choice
For Latvians, there is a word for “halb leer”=”pustukšs”
but no word for “halb voll”, which literally would be “puspilns” – which could only be used if a person is almost drunk, but not quite yet.

The Russian “president” is going to visit Omsk. They had some posters in the city advertising a spectacle for kids named “We are waiting for you, merry dwarf”.
Government ordered to get rid of those, as it might offend the feelings of some small men (162 cm.)
Also ordered to cover the dirty snow in the city with a fresh one, that looks better.

That is so Soviet… miserable.

Yeah! Maybe because of the story on Haralds Silovs in the sports media, maybe randomly, Latvia made a first appearance (AFAIK) in The Simpsons, Season 21, Episode 12.

As I have seen all episodes, I admit that I’m an addict of the greatest comedy cartoon ever.

1. First of all, Merry Christmas and a successful year of 2010!

2. No updates in this site because of the winter mood or so. Hope to write more next year.

3. Avatar is one of the best sci-fi movie of the year for sure. I am just not too sure that it was needed to waste such a sum on it (500M$). The special effects and 3D is costly I guess.

A chat between Nico Bellic and some black gangstas:
“Are we gonna steal from the rich people and give it to the poor?
Yeah, we are like Robin Hood. Robbin’ the fucking Hood ”