Am I Back?

Hola! After four months of hiatus, I might be back... (I am not sure.. Am I?) In fact I was here all the time but work and my new excitement - new blog took all the time... Some of you might know; I created a new blog in my native language: Babaolmak.com which is about fatherhood and as "my little unborn daughter" has already started to be my "center of life"... Anyway... I guess (And I missed a lot) I can manage to spare some time to update fikirbaz.com... ( I hope) Anyway; it feels great to be back in here!

Look What I Have Bought

As the traffic in Istanbul drives me really crazy I decided to buy a scooter. Honda Ses 150 Dylan was the love at first sight and after a couple of months thinking (and I got a motor driving licence as well) I got my Dylan on friday... Till friday I rode it for aprox. 80 kms. As it is really cold in istanbul today my legs were cold. (I guess I will be having a thermoscud from Tucano Urbano soon) as I really wanna go to work with my scooter. Instead of at least 2 hours in traffic I guess it'll take me only 40-50 minutes both ways... We'll see...

Oh My God! We are expecting a pumpkin!!!

Well, can u see the resemblance? :)) Yes, that's why I didn't have much time to post in Fikirbaz.com. "Baba Olmak" means: "To Become Father" That's right!!!

Back!!!

I know, It's been really long this time. I really couldn't find time to update fikirbaz.com... First of all I was very busy at work for the last couple of months. (And I guess it isn't temporary) Apart from that I started working on some new blogs. (Sorry, both is in Turkish) And, as I am working on some more blogs at work these days, posting on my own blog doesn't have the highest priority.

But of course there rae lots of things to write, to post, to mention. Last week I made a quick list of things to post in here and there are more than 30-40 entires... :) I don't think I can catch up with all but I will start posting some immediately. (And yep, I took some photos as well...)

Anyway, here is 2007, here I am, here is my keyboard, here is my blog. Hi! Again!...

What's Up?

Well, a friend on the mirror asked me today: "What's Up?" It's been a long time; nothing was posted... So, if you're interested, here it is: What's Up?

- This might be the biggesr news: I've quitted job after 7 years. (And yes, I am happy)
- I went to a 10 day vacation with my Volkswagen 74 Westfalia Camper; met a lot of friends; consumed cans of beer, made some new friends, camped in AdaCamp. (Was great)
- We held the 7th Annual Vosvos.net Meeting (I met a lot friend that I missed and now, most of them have kids...)
- Read some books... (At last)
- Subscribed to Volkswagen Camper and Commercial Again. (Anybody has the first 4 copies???)
- Renewed my Metclub membership
- Bought Metallica Live At Donnington June 2006 ;)
- Took some photos (at last)
- Watched Sting, Roger Waters and Axl Rose & so said Guns N Roses live in Istanbul (Guns N Roses sucked; when the were in Istanbul in 1993, it was just great, now it's just Axl and some guys. (Izzy Stradlin was a guest for some songs but he was not enough..)
- One of my newest projects is open now for beta testing. (It's just beta, lots of bugs and missing things ;)
- Having breakfast everyday at home... (Taking photos to make you envy)
- And working on some new projects etc.

So, fikirbaz is back ;)

Bad News: Google Adsense Account Disabled

This is the first e-mail I read today (around 07.25 a.m.)

It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google
AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an
effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers.

A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including
but not limited to clicks generated by:

- a publisher on his own web pages
- a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads
- automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software
- a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the
layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason

Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms
and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at:

https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms?hl=en_US
https://www.google.com/adsense/policies?hl=en_US

Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The
earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected
advertisers.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Weekend Updates

You might have been noticed but I'll tell you... I worked on fikirbaz.com all the weekend and after months my sidebar is up-to-date... :)

- I separated my sidebar to module templates, it is now easier to update
- I updated my "reading" section
- Listenin section is also updates and now you can view my "recently listened tracks" thanks to audioscrobbler & last.fm
- Watched section is cleared but I couldn't find a plugin to update my films
- Links are upadetes as well, i was using blogrolling.com before, after today i am using MT Blogroll plugin.
- I also started to use some includes, i don't work too much to update all the archive pages now.
- I removed most of the google ads from the homepage
- I embedded Technorati at last in to my main page
- I embedded Google Analytics to all pages

Things to do:
- Couldn't manage to integrate Google Sitemaps; I need more time
- Imdb My Films (If you have any better suggestions for movie thing, please let me know)
- Flickr & PhotoLog or Buzznet to be added...
- More includes to come
- Archive pages, random image headers
- I need a new design for sidebar
- I need a better reading section, I wanna add both Turkish & English books I read with links... May be an Amazon plugin but that won't work for Turkish books. Any ideas wellcome...

Upgrade Successfull: Movable Type 3.2

Well... I've been using Movable Type 2.63 since ages. After months of hesitation and fear, tody I decided upgrading it to 3.2 Personal 1-5 user version. (Yes... I paid for it) Since the beginning, for the first time I paid for my Movvable Type. (Feels good)

Anyway, now I have a brand new content management system. But there a lot of things in my task list, here are some:
- More entires
- Open the comments again
- New Sidebar
- NEW DESIGN

Hope to see you soon with more good news. Till then, please go check Movable Type ;)

Back In Town

Is's been a long long break but i am here rocking again. I realized that I missed blogging & positng a lot. I guess I should try to spare more time to surf, more time to blog. Yes, I also realized that it's been ages since I last surfed the web just for pleasure... I found great sites, great applications, great blogs etc. Soon I thinh I should start surfing Turkish blogs as well... Anyway, Fikirbaz is back...

Friday, Home, Beer, Clapton

Just as I said at the title. I'm home, having a couple of beers, listening Clapton: Swing Low Sweet Chariot. I feel great at the very moment. And just shared it with you. (Yes, I'm here, alive...) Cheers...

If you get there before I do,
Coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I’m coming, too.
Coming for to carry me home.

I’m sometimes up and sometimes down,
Coming for to carry me home,
But still my soul feels heavenly bound,
Coming for to carry me home.

Update

I know... It's been a while since I last posted here. Sorry for that. It's been a busy month. Both physically and emotionally... Anyway I have aprox. 20 entires waiting to be posted and I hope to post a lot this weekend. In fact I wanna change the layout of fikirbaz.com. (You know, it's been 3 years) Well, at the moment all I can do is to hope... (I hope to open up comments section again...) See you soon ;)

Guareschi and Don Camillo

I am a big fan of Italian writer Giovanni Guareschi and his "Don Camillo series. It has been more than 15 years since I first read "Don Camillo Meets Hell's Angels" and just after the first one I read all the books in the series.

Guareschi was an Italian journalist, novelist, better known for his stories of Father Camillo and his relationship with the communist major Peppone. Both characters carry ideological disputes in a satiric and humoristic fashion. Through their discourse, Guareschi gave expression to his political ideas, especially with respect to communism. "Don Camillo Meets Hell's Angels" is just one among a series of short novels ("The Little World of Don Camillo", "Don Camillo and his Flock", "Don Camillo and the Prodigal Son", "Don Camillo and the Devil", "Don Camillo's Dilemma", "Don Camillo takes the Devil by the Tail", "Comrade Don Camiilo", "Don Camillo meets the Flower Children") which made him one of the most popular writers in Italy.

The setting is a small village by the river Po, where both characters will confront each other with opposing views in social, religious, and political issues. Guareschi's solution is one of compromise and mutual acceptance.

But unfortunately the very first Don Camillo book I've read, Don Camillo Meets Hell's Angels is lost. (I guess I lent the book to a friend years ago, it was never returned) Anyway, I am looking for the book "Don Camillo ve Cehennem Melekleri" in Turkish, as it is out of print, I'd be glad if anyone finds a copy in a bookstore (or a secondhand book store) by chance, please let me know. Thanks in advance. :)

- Giovannino Guareschi at Wikipedia
- Museo "Peppone e Don Camillo"
- DonCamillo.net
- Giovannino Guareschi Dot Com

Salute the new PMP

Although PMP might stand as an abbreviation of "pimp" it also represents "Profect Management Professional" An international certification of Project Management Institute. Anyway; someone I know very well has passed the exam today... ;)

Special Thanks to:
- Mentor Project Management Training & Consultancy [tr]
- Rita Mulcahy, PMP
- Kim Heldman, PMP

Bonus Link: IPYD.org - İstanbul Proje Yönetim Derneği :)

September Resolutions

- Drink more water
- Start exercizes
- Get up earlier
- Go on a diet; give up weight
- Become a PMP by the end of the month
- Study for being a PMP (at least 1 hour daily)
- Keep an updated resume
- Don't use mastercard
- Neither visa
- Practise your guitar playing (at least 30 minutes daily)
- Backup notebook; photos, mails, all that stuff
- Read more books
- Go to movies (at least one a week)
- Don't drive work
- Swim more
- Take more photos
- Post more (33 entries in September ;)
- Good luck!

Back On Track

After the busiest April & May of my life; I am back here... Sorry for being absent so long, I hope to update fikirbaz.com immediately. During my absence spam comments caused real headaches on the hosting & bandwidth side of fikirbaz.com. (Fikirbaz.com was even suspended for a period because of the comments) So; I wanna thank guys at H2Hosting.com for their help & understanding. And bad news is; they kindly asked ne to shut down the "comments" option untill a reliable comment filtering application / script is found... So; no comments allowed after now on. But, as the main reason I am publishing a blog is to keep in contact wtih you guys, please send me your comments or links or anything by e-mail: fikirbaz@fikirbaz.com . Thanks... And yes! Fikirbaz is back!

Radio N101

These days my favourite radio station is N101. I really enjoy the music they play and I also finf their daily programs fascinating. Most of the "radio guys" I like to listen are on air at Radio N101 such as Müebbet Muhabbet with Cenk&Erdem; Ayça Şen; Levent Ünsal, etc. So; highly recommended: RadioN101...

Tears Naturale Free® Lubricant Eye Drops

When your skin is dry, you moisturize it. Why not do the same for your eyes?

Like your skin, your eyes need extra moisture from time to time. It's only natural as you get older, and can also result from being outside in the wind and sun, being inside with air conditioning - any situation that exposes your eyes to dryness or dust. You may notice some of the signs, such as burning, itching, dryness or even excessive tearing. Alcon Labs

Worst Month in History

Yep... That was February for Fikirbaz.com; only 5 entries. :( (I know, February is the shortest month but... Well I didn't thinh it was this short) Anyway; I promise yo be more (much much more) active in march. I will even update my "watched" list as I watched a lot of movies lately. So... See you soon... [But that's also very interesting that, web statistics show that February 2005 was the best ever month according to page impressions and unique visitors. So i will be posting more about these statistics today]

Did you realize?

Last night, I've added 6 new photos to the header of fikirbaz.com... Enjoy! ;)

Faster Connection: Adsl and Linksys WAG54G

I was using dial-up connections till thursday night now I have an ADSL line with a brand new Wireless-G modem/router/access point: Linksys WAG54G. I took me around an hour to set my new line (instead of 2 minutes) because my provider gave me wrong user name but at last I manages setting it up and now I have a faster connection at home. For the moment I use my modem with a wire to my home desktop pc but next weekI will try using with my notebook as well and then I will have a wireless network at home. (Cool;)

In soem forums I saw topics about WAG54G, half of the people using it was really happy as the second half was really upset. To take a part, as far as my 2 day experience with it, I am happy... Later on I might tell you more... (I think I bought it for a reasonable price from HepsiBurada.com with a bundled wireless network card for my notebook)

Mandarin

At the very moment I am eating some cold mandarins and I just wished I had a bottle of Absolut Mandarin around ;)

Big Big Update on my iPod

I just uploaded a bunch of new albums to my iPod, here is the list. (So who can say that I do not update the "listening" part on the sidebar? ;)

Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
Music of the Millenium - Compilation
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
80's Dance Hits
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
Metallica - Live Shit Binge & Purge (Mexico City)
Mor ve Ötesi - Dünya Yalan Söylüyor
Real Good Music - Compilation
Timepieces - The Best of Eric clapton
Timepieces Vol.2 - "Live" in the Seventies
U2 - The Best of 1980 - 1990
U2 - The Best of 1990 - 2000
Roomful of Blues - That's Right
Nick Cave - Abottoir Blues
Lila Downs - Una Sangre

My iPod says: 1038 songs, 3.2 days, 4.43 gb.

My Breakfast

In fact I am really fond of eating but I guess someone has to stop me somehow. I think I am getting heavier and heavier although I go to gym every morning. (Ok not every morning) I think I have to eat less... Wish me luck... :)

New Header Photos Added

I just uploaded 5 new header photos and also made some minor changes to the sidebar... I think it is time to add some new features or some new content to fikirbaz.com. And this might be the time to add some new quotes and random photos as well... Let's see...

Back In Town

After a two weeks -windy- vacation I am back in town. (I guess I have to say back in the city or back in the metropol) Anyway, I slept a lot, relaxed a lot and I think I am ready to work...

The only disaster was my XP got crashed on the second day of the holiday and I was unable to work or get connected except 45 minutes I had in an internet cafe... For the last two days we are working on the XP to recover my documents :( (At last we succeeded I guess) Thanks god I have a spare PC at home... ;)

Well, I got lots to post...

Eleven Minutes

Today I finished reading Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho:

A new, international bestseller by the author of The Alchemist tells the story of Maria, a young girl from a Brazilian village, whose first innocent brushes with love leave her heartbroken. At a tender age, she becomes convinced that she will never find true love, instead believing that "Love is a terrible thing that will make you suffer ..." A chance meeting in Rio takes her to Geneva, where she dreams of finding fame and fortune. Instead, she ends up working as a prostitute.

In Geneva, Maria drifts further and further away from love as she develops a fascination with sex. Eventually, Maria's despairing view of love is put to the test when she meets a handsome young painter. In this odyssey of self-discovery, Maria has to choose between pursuing a path of darkness, sexual pleasure for its own sake, or risking everything to find her own "inner light" and the possibility of sacred sex, sex in the context of love.

In this gripping and daring new novel, Paulo Coelho sensitively explores the sacred nature of sex and love and invites us to confront our own prejudices and demons and embrace our own "inner light."

- Click to read some reviews...
- HarperCollins.com.au

Headers Changed

Well, it's been long time I don't do anything but posts in here... So I decided to update the look & feel of the site... Today I changed the main page's header, and the random photos... I will soon be adding new photos there... And there will be more changes soon...

Comments welcome...

I'm Back - One More Time

Well... I know... I couldn't post anything lately... I was really busy at work & at my private life... (What the heck is a private life?) And last week I was in bed... Cold, flu, backache, stomachache and all that stuff...

I have tons of ideas about fikirbaz.com, lots of topics to post... Started to watch films at home again... And, here I go... Fikirbaz is back!

History of Pizza

These days I consume pizza in great amounts... (I stay late at work and order pizza a lot...) At the very moment I am updating & posting in fikirbaz.com I have a half eaten pizza right next to my notebook anyway... Here I go:

- Pizza's Colorful History ( aboutpizza.com )
- The History of Pizza By Mani Niall
- History and Legends of Pizza (recommended)
- History of Pizza
- History of Pizza from pizzatherapy.com

Back Here...

I am really busy these days. You might have realized it as I can not post fikirbaz.com since late february. I hope to start posting soon. Apologies from the dedicated readers... :)

Anyway, I'm back here & alive!

Imagine

(by John Lennon)

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Happy New Year!

"Everything that has a beginning has an end!"

So, here starts 2004; welvome to witness a new set of 365 days in fikirbaz's blog monarchy!

(Yep... That's pretty true that everything hat has a begining has an end these days...)

Enjoy!

Things To Do...

It's been a while since I worked with the internal stuff of fikirbaz.com... Listening & Reading lists on the righthand are really old and un-updated...
I guess tomorrow I will work on them; (and recommendations welcome, I need a solution to update them easily and I am too lazy to work out a db or tool or something like that) (But who knows... :)

I also have to update the detail pages such as archives, category pages etc. (Hmm... Lots of work) Anyway, it is enough for today I guess I should go home now, I am tired. (I slept in the office last night)

In three days time it is fikirbaz.com's birthday. So a birthday and a new year to celebrate together...

On Hiatus

...Just for a couple of days... I guess I need some time to think, get motivated, free my mind, realize, relax... Anyway... See you really soon ;)

Return Of The King

At the weekend I watched four movies:
- Once Upon A Time In Mexico
- Lord Of The Rings - Fellowship of The Ring
- Lord Of The Rings - Two Towers
- La Finestra di Fronte

I should tell you that the first three were watched on the saturday and as the The Rings were extended versions I saw horses, ring bearers, kings, middle earth creatures (varios types: orks, goblins, trols) in my dream.

Anyway, it was a warm up for the great final, and on monday morning I watched The Return of The King. (It was a private press screening ;) 201 minutes and you don't even breathe till the end... So... Highly recommended!

As I watched the film I told myself (several times) that our generation is witnessing a great period on film history. Both Matrix and Lotr trilogies are milestones in history. Today in filmmaking lessons they teach classics and after sometime these films will be on school books as well...

And well... I think we will always be waiting for something new... Peter Jackson's now working on Hobbits...

Despite his exhaustion, Jackson is not resting on his laurels and said if complex rights issues can be resolved he would like to direct "The Hobbit," J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to the "Rings" trilogy set some 50 years earlier.

"I'd be interested in doing it because I think it would give continuity to the overall chapter," he said.

While many of the lead "Rings" characters do not appear in "The Hobbit" story, the wizard Gandalf, played by Ian McKellen, and Gollum, the cave dweller corrupted by the powerful ring, do and should make a comeback. Arwen, the elf princess played by Liv Tyler, could also feature again, Jackson said.

On Vacation (Again)

We have an official holiday in Turkey this week. (Yep, whole week...) It's because of the end of month Ramadan... (Yes... There are lots of holidays in Turkish and this might be one of the reasons why our country is not very good at economics, finance and all that stuff... I think we're not so fond of working hard and hard and hard.. :) (Look at the Japans... :)

Anyway, I am on holiday in Kars - Sarıkamış... I had posted an entry here about the place last winter... Here it is: Snowboard in Kars...

And I mus have told you about my new winter equipment, where is it? Here: Winter Equipment Ready...

And much before that, I must have told you about snowboard injuries: Snowboarding Hurts...

This time I really do enjoy myself as I can use my snowboard better then before... When you stop kissing the ground it is really great... ;) Hope to see you soon... (I'll be back home on Saturday but I hope to post here before that...)

Breaking News - Explosions

There are explosions in Istanbul... Very big ones... Lots of damage... Don't know anything about the number of killed but there should be lots of dead... :((( Elektiricity has gone... I think soon phone lines will be dead too... I will try to write more soon... :((
update:
Five explosions reported till now. I think all suicide bombs packed in vehicles. Extensive damage... Smoke of the fire from the related buildings can bee seen from various points...
update:
There were only two very big explosions at the very moment there are ~10 killed, ~200 wounded...

Back In Town

...So, here I am back home; home sweet home, (or work sweet work). Anyway I am really refreshed tho I walked a lot for the last 6 days and got really tired but that'a a fact that my head had an great holiday... :) I took a lot of photos that I will soon be publishing here... And I can gice some helpfull advices and tips for someone to go visit Budapest, Wien or Prague as a tourist... Wait for me... ;) (As soon as I tidy myself a little I'll be back here posting...)

He's gone! (At last :o)

Whole day long, (and some nights) I watch the guy sitting here... But for the next 6 days he won't be here... I will be all alone... So, he has left his desk to me... I guess I will be sitting here (even) updating his blog... What? Can't you see me? Click on the photo on the left to see it larger... And yesss... Here I am sitting in his chair... :D

The guy that usually sits here working all day (he could also be named as my owner - but please don't mention it) was really exhausted and at last he listened to me and decided to go on a vacation... He will be out there in cold... (He he... I sent him to somewhere cold... Really cold) He will be on a trip, tomorrow around this time he will be in Budapest - Hungary, I advised him to visit and see the place connecting the two parts of town Buda and Pest...

“River and art everywhere. If you grow tired of one, there is always the other”

After Budapest, he will be staying in Vienna for a night, I told his to taste some great schnitzel there... (Tho it might be risky when I think of my species) (weather)

His last stop will be Prague, he will be there for two nights... I told him that the city is great at night but it is also around -5 (So he might be frozen when he comes back...) (weather)

Anyway, I will try to let you know about his (cold) holiday if he tells me anything... (He might give me a call just to learn about work, office, Istanbul etc...) So, I wish him a great and refreshing holiday... ;)

Home Theater Sound System

After a long long thinking period yesterday I decided to get a home theater sound system. At first I was into Philips MX5700D but then I changed my mind as integrated systems aren't expandable and I would (sure) be insufficient soon. Then I decided to make a custom set with three different products.

The Philips FR996 Digital Audio/Video Receiver is a perfect complement to any home theater. It can output a powerful 500 Watts and decode Dolby® Digital (AC-3), DTS, and Dolby Pro-Logic sound through Automatic Sound Type Detection. Other features include Natural Surround for more realistic Surround Sound, unique digital stereo downmix from Multichannel sound, and "Hall" for normal stereo with rear speaker sound.

Camper Magazine

My Volkswagen Camper & Commercial Magazines arrived yesterday. It took less than a week from UK to Turkey. And the magazines are great. So, if you are a vw bus / camper / type 2 fan, go get your magazines by subscription today. I also advise you to get some back issues... ;) Here is a "combi" I liked from the latest issue of the magazine (No.12) The article is called: Classic Combi-Nation; Not Just A Caravan, More A Retro Period Accessory...

Order of the Phoenix: Finished

Well, Turkish is the second language that fifth Harry Potter book, Order of the Phoenix has been published. It has only been 2 days that if hit the stores... I just finished reading it and only reason that I could finish a 1114 paged book (or lets say brick) this fast is I had to stay at home as I have some really bad flu & cold. Anyway, I feel better now... And I guess I also won the bet... We betted with my 13 years old cousin "Who will finish the book first?" I am really proud at the moment...

September Resolutions

Well, 3 hours later September will start, it means autumn... Anyway, funnily enough, I made some resolutions for september... Here are some of them:
- Tidy my desktop
- More exercise (even some cycling in the mornings)
- Loose some weight (that means diet & less ice cream)
- Upgrade the pc at home
- Write reviews about the movies I see
- Save money
- Work harder
- Get organized
- Invite friends from high school to bbq
- Go camping (at last twice)
- Go for photography in the early mornings
- Update my daily movies site (in turkish) really "daily"
- Some maintenance for my Vw Type 2 - Westfalia Camper Bus
- Look for new projects ;)

As I was looking for resolution solutions on the net I found this site. It is mostly about new year resolutions but anyway, that's the same thing. There is an interesting chart about resolutions: Most popular resolutions. You will see that some of my septemeber resolutions are really popular... Anyway, hope August was great for you and September would be much better...

Highlights of the weekend

As it is really hot in Istanbul and i couldn't go out of the city i decided to spend all weekend at home, in front of my dvd player. I mostly watched new films that aren't released in Turkey yet. A Man Apart, The Hunted and Finding Nemo... I liked Finding Nemo most. (first two were not even average) on sunday evening i watched Daredevil (and it was also better than The Hunted & A Man Apart) so the highligths of the weekend were Finding Nemo and Identity (that i watched on big screen on friday night) I also watched 16 episodes of Friends from season 5; that was really fun... Anyway, don't miss Finding Nemo and Identity.

Movie Saturday

Today I watched 4 movies on DVD since I woke up... (And as I write this entry my bro came home with a DVD to watch) (As soon as I post this entry I will go to watch my fifth... )

My first movie in the morning was One Hour Photo, just after that before lunchtime I watched Still Crazy, it was really great & funny; I recommend it to antone that likes seventies rock groups... In the afternoon I watched Road To Perdition and apreciated its cinematography once again. And after having diner at last I watched Cube; a sci-fi with a great idea but I thing that'd be better if it was a short film... But the idea was cool... So... My bro is waiting for me... Let's make it 5!

Winter Equipment Ready

Yesterday I bought some serious equipment for the winter. (I know it is August) As it is mid-summer you can find snowboard equipment really at reasonable prices. (I bought it from Sport Point [tr]) There are campaigns that saves 50%, so as a guy that had problems renting equipment I decided that having your own gear is just cheaper, safer and healthier... Anyway, now I have a Rossignol Scope snowboard (the one on the left) with Flow Fl-4 bindings and Flow boots. But the fact is I have more than 4 big months till me and my equipment will meet the snow... Patience... ;)

New Headphones (At Last)

Well at last today I bought myself new (and original) Sony headphones: Sony MDR-E829V. Although I didn't use it for hours and hours I can recommend it...

Compact winding case for easy storage (Well I tried a lot but I couldn't manage to use this compact winding thing properly, anyway...)
-In-cord volume control for easy adjustment
-Sony Acoustic Twin Turbo™ circuit for enhanced sound quality
-16mm drivers
-Neodymium magnets for deep bass and clear treble
-12Hz - 22kHzL-shaped 3.5mm plug

I didn't buy it online but you can...

Masters Thesis: Wireless Advertising

Subject of my thesis is "Wireless advertising as a direct marketing tool" (Elektronik medyada doğrudan pazarlama aracı olarak kablosuz reklamcılık) I need as much resource as possible and if you know any url, read an article, have any opinion about the topic please let me know. I am really in kinda hurry and any help is welcome.

As I was searching about wireless advertising I found a blog: Adverblog.com is a blog about web and wireless advertising, with a special focus on what's going on in Europe. Check it out...

St. Anger

Saint Anger `round my neck
Saint Anger `round my neck
He never gets respect
Saint Anger `round my neck

You flush it out, you flush it out
Saint Anger `round my neck
You flush it out, you flush it out
He never gets respect

Fuck it all and no regrets
I hit the lights on these dark sets
I need a voice to let myself
To let myself go free

Fuck it all and fuckin' no regrets
I hit the lights on these dark sets
Medallion noose, I hang myself
Saint Anger `round my neck

I feel my world shake
Like an earthquake
It's hard to see clear
Is it me? Is it fear?

I'm madly in anger with you

And I want my anger to be healthy
And I want my anger just for me
And I need my anger not to control
And I want my anger to be me
And I need to set my anger free
Set it free!

Back Home (Or Home, Sweet Home!)

So... I am back in the city... (Back in big city; hot big city; big big hot city; hell city big hot etc...) Yep, I am back in Istanbul; it's been really long since I went on a holiday for 9-10 days and it was enough... (May be more than enough) So I missed work; my home; my bed and my pillow... (Last night I realized that I really missed my pillow) And after an holiday that you spend most of the nights in a Vw Type 2 Westfalia Camper Bus; you miss your bed... That's just normal... :) Anyway...

Worst thing about the holiday was I accidentally learned that my cell phone couldn't swim... It was a bitter experience (I don't recommend to anybody) The best thing about the holiday was... Well lots of things... It was really fun; I saw lots of friends from vosvos@yahoogroups.com I spent most of the holiday with my westy; the sea and the sun was great...

Anyway.. I am back... And here is the funniest thing of my first day at work

At Last...

Well, I'm on vacation for a week or so... Because of ths vacation thing I was very busy last week and I couldn't post a lot... Anyway, my notebook, cameras and my westfalia are here with me and I hope to go on posting from the Eagean Cost of Turkey... Anyway, now I have to disconnet to catch a couple of beers... ;) (For the weekend I am in Caltidere for our Annual Vw Meeting... Check out the real un-updated vw community sitre in Turkish.... Vosvos.net... :) See you soon... (I am taking some great photos and I will soon be posting them here...)

Nothing More Than Feeeeelings...

Well; I like it when you comment on my postings; i like it when you get in touch with me, I love it when you share (anything) with Fikirbaz... Even if I knew nobody was reading "me" I would be writing in here, because this blog is something like web diary to me... (For example I am updating "watched" movies on the sidebar daily; they are the movies I watched since I started this blog and by the end of the year I would be able to look back...) Anyway, though I would even be writing here alone, it gives me a great pleasure when I physically realize that I am being read... When "friends" from all over the world write comments or e-mails I do really like it... Then I realize (again and again) this is a great way of meeting people, knowing people... Anyway... It feels great hearing from you... Please go on; and the guys who are only reading; that'a always ok but when you feel that it's time, please let me know your comments... ;)

Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)

It has been exactly 4 years since Run Lola Run hit the bigscreen in '99. Last night I watched Lola running. The movie is not as long as a full feature film (80 min) but you really do enjoy yourself as if watching three independent short films.

Lola (Franka Portente) has flame red hair and a couple of tattoos. And a very dependent boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreau). Manni has lost 100,000 marks, and is meeting the man who was supposed to get the money in 20 minutes. He is at a phonebooth panicking. It's up to Lola to come up with the money and get to him (on the other side of Berlin) before he goes across the street and robs the supermarket. But wait, 20 minutes you say? But isn't the movie 80 minutes long?

This is where it gets fun. This movie originated with a image of a woman running in director Tom Tykwer's head. The story came later. To read the whole article...

And here are some links about Lola:
Official Site in Sony Pictures
Rotten Tomatoes rating is 93 out of 100 (that means great)
A Tribute Site...
And I liked the posters...

At Last Nietzsche Wept

Today, at last (after months) I finished reading When Nietzsche Wept - A Novel Of Obsession (Nietzsche Ağladığında) I've been reading it for really long and I couldn't finished it because it needs some serious concentration... It is about Friedrich Nietzsche and Josef Breuer's fictious talkig sessions; they both lived in the same period, they both had problems about their love life and in fact they had never met. Author Irvin D. Yalom did a great job imagining them together helping each other setting themselves (and world they were feeding inside.)

Before When Nietzsche Wept I read My Sister, My Spouse by H.F.Peters (Kızkardeşim, Karım) a biography about Lou Salome the girl Nietsche felt in love with, so i planned a trilogy and now it is turn for Salome: Her Life And Work by Angela Livingstone (Salome: Yaşamı ve Yapıtları). Of course there are a pile of books that i started to read and I wanna finish some of them really soon. (When I drive to work instead of public transportation it really affects my reading, so i think i will be preferring public transportation for at least a fortnight)

So; here are some links about the people I mention above...
- Breuer, Josef (1842-1925)
- Some more about Dr.Josef Breuer
- Pirate Nietzsche Page
- The perspectives of Nietzsche
- Donation Lou Salome
- Most famous photo that Lou Salome, Paul Ree and Nietzsche are together
- Lou Salome (Ekşi Sözlük - In Turkish)

If you have time...

Last night I watched two movies; "Not Another Teen Movie" and "Shallow Hal". They were funny... Especially the first one. It is a movie making fun of lots of teen movie classics, like American Pie, It also makes fun of some greatfilms like American Beauty, it is the first feature film of Joel Gallen, one of the "MTV directors".

The second film prooves that Gwyneth Paltrow is really cute and beautiful. But don't forget both films should be watched when you have lots of time... (You get what i mean? ;)

Random Image

Well, I start to like php and all that stuff more and more everyday, with same php files I publish quotes I can randomly change the logo on the left and it is all done in minutes... Everytime you refresh fikirbaz:com you will be seeing a different logo after now on, and I will be adding new ones every now & then... (The original ome might be seen more than others ;)

Some more changes ;)

Well... Here is some more updates; although I am suffering of bad connection I managed to change some stuff... As you've already seen quotes are on the very top of the page... As they refresh randomly I think that I was unfair to them publishing at the bottom; so with 30-40 new quotes (lots of new Douglas Adams quotes) and a brand new color here are the quotes... (And any design related person reading this please help me with the color of the quotes, any suggestions welcome, please send color codes ;)

I also added more photos to the "random pic" section, added some songs I like these days and some new ideas are on the way... ;)

Bicycle'd Weekend

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like

All the weekend I rode my bicycle and I really enjoyed it a lot... I rode it a lot and as I was enjoying myself a lot I was whistling Queens Bicycle Race (1978 - Album:Jazz) I always think that people living in most of the european cities (especially Germany) are pretty lucky as in most of those cities they have private bicycle lanes on the roads... In Istanbul we don't have a lot, and in the places there is a private lane it is used by pedestrians or parked cars... Anyway nothing could make ne fell bad this weekend... I cycled, slept on the grass, sunbathed, read my book lying on a shadow of a tree... It was a great weekend... I should ride my bike much much more... ;)

And, when you search "bicycle" in Google PerformanceBike and Bikelane are the first two results... If you're interested in bikes, check them out...

New Features; Search & Tell A Friend

At last I could spare some time to work on the site... (I mean not the entries but some html etc.) So, I added two new features: First one is the search (as you can see on the right hand) Even I started not to find the things I wrote and this weblog's prior due is to help me find my web-log... :) Second feature is "tell a friend" It has been added to individual article pages and now you can send articles' link directly to a friend adding an optional message.

And I even deleted some code that was unnecessary (especially the script about "i am lestening to this at the moment" - which i couldn't get running) (I'll appreciate if you find me a running one ;) And soon I will be adding some more features to the site... (Surprise... Surprise... :P)

Back Home From Assos

I am back from a 3 day trip to Assos, and here is some links about Assos and the places worth seeing around Assos... I visited them all and if you need my word; yes, go see them all... (And well, if you go there with a Vw Westfalia Camper Bus that'd be even better as you'd have a cooler full of beer ;)

Assos (modern Behramkale) is located on the northwestern coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea. It is on the southern shore of the area known as the "Troad." It may have been that ships stopped here before beginning their difficult journey clockwise northward around the Troad toward the Dardanelles. (Click to read more...)

Situated on the Acropolis of Assos stand the Temple of Athena. (Here is another view). Here is the detailed information about the Temple of Athena.

Aprox. 30 km. north there is Temple of Apollo Smintheus.

If you love olive oil, you should go check this link about Adatepe Olive Oil Museum.

And, everybody knows about Troy the city which existed over 4000 years and known as the center of ancient civilizations. Here is a link about Troy in Mythology...

Photos and more info will be coming soon... ;)

Light & Hollywood

Last night I watched two very very light Hollywood productions in order to relax and have fun... The first was Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Whitherspoon (getting better everyday) and Maid in Manhattan with a J.Lo acting much much better...

Anyway both films were really sucked... The only thing I really laughed in Sweet Home Alabama was the dog... If you watch the film please watch the dogs swimming; it is the best (and only) thing in the movie. Ooh, and only reason that I'd choose the movie is the name. I do love Lynyrd Skynyrd and Sweet Home Alabama (lyrics here) is a real classic song in my opinion. At the end of the movie yopu have a chance to listen the song as a cover by Jewel.

And, if I have to say some word about Maid In Manhattan, there also was a dog here (I think his name was Rufus) and he was great as well... :)

Never Be The Same Again

I call you up whenever things go wrong.
You're always there. You are my shoulder to cry on.
I can't believe it took me quite so long.
To take the forbidden step.
Is this something that I might regret?

Nothing ventured nothing gained.
(You are the one)
A lonely heart that can't be tamed.
I'm hoping that you feel the same.
This is something that I can't forget.

I thought that we would just be friends.
Things will never be the same again.
It's just the beginning it's not the end.
Things will never be the same again.
It's not a secret anymore.
Now we've opened up the door.
Starting tonight and from now on.
We'll never, never be the same again.
Never be the same again.

Now I know that we were close before.
I'm glad I realised I need you so much more.
And I don't care what everyone will say.
It's about you and me.
And we'll never be the same again.

I thought that we would just be friends (oh yeah).
Things will never be the same again. (Never be the same again)
It's just the beginning it's not the end. (We've only just begun)
Things will never be the same again.
It's not a secret anymore.
Now we've opened up the door. (Opened up the door)
Starting tonight and from now on.
We'll never, never be the same again.
Never be the same again.

Nite and day.
Black beach sand to red clay.
The US to UK, NYC to LA.
From sidewalks to highways.
See it'll never be the same again.
What I'm sayin'
My mind frame never changed 'til you came rearranged.

But sometimes it seems completely forbidden.
To discover those feelings that we kept so well hidden.
Where there's no competition.
And you render my condition.
Though improbable it's not impossible.
For a love that could be unstoppable.

But wait.
A fine line's between fate and destiny.
Do you believe in the things that were just meant to be?
When you tell me the stories of your quest for me.
Picturesque is the picture you paint effortlessly.

And as our energies mix and begin to multiply.
Everyday situations, they start to simplify.
So things will never be the same between you and I.
We intertwined our life forces and now we're unified.

I thought that we would just be friends.
Things will never be the same again.
It's just the beginning it's not the end.
Things will never be the same again.
It's not a secret anymore.
Now we've opened up the door.
Starting tonight and from now on.
We'll never, never be the same again.

(Come on, come on)
Things will never be the same again.
(You are the one)
Never be the same again.
It's not a secret anymore.
We'll never be the same again.
It's not a secret anymore.
We'll never be the same again.
Never be the same again.
Never be the same again.

by Melanie C.

Mama Said...

These days I am working on some short films, (in fact vtr's) and I am using Mama Said as the score, this means that for the last 3 nights, between 23.00 - 04.00 I listen to this song really really a lot of times... And at the other times (that I am not listening the song) I whisper the song myself... (All the time... Everywhere...) So; here is the lyrics...

Mama she has taught me well
Told me when I was young
Son your life's an open book
Don't close it before it's done
The brightest flame burns quickest
Is what I heard they say
A son's heart's owned to mother
But I must find my way

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama let your heart go
Or let this heart be still

Rebel my new last name
Wild blood in my veins
Apron strings around my neck
The mark that still remains
Left home at an early age
Of what I heard was wrong
I never ask forgiveness
For what I said is done

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama let your heart go
Or let this heart be still

Never I ask you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
And now take to my grave
Never I ask you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
And now take to my grave
So let this heart be still

Mama now I'm coming home
I'm not all you wished of me
But a mother's love for her son
Unspoken, hear me be
Yeah I took your love for granted
And all the things you said to me
I need your arms to welcome me
But a cold stone's all I see

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama let your heart go
Or let this heart be still

Let my heart go
Mama let my heart go
You never let my heart go
So let this heart be still

Never I ask you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
And now take to my grave
Never I ask you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
And now take to my grave
So let this heart be still

Sen Uyurken...

Seni uyurken
    seni uzaktan seyretmenin de
  nasıl bir şey olduğunu
      anlatamam ki...

Sana sarılmanın
        sımsıkı...
    Nasıl birşey olduğunu...

Mavi gözlerine bakmanın
     nasıl birşey,
  ve bakamamanın
      ne demek olduğunu....

           02.05.2003 / 01.52am

Charlie Chaplin: A Photo Diary

This has just arrived and it is the most expensive book I've ever bought (i guess). And I think it worths every cents. ;) Chaplin is one of my heroes. I think I'll soon prepare a page or two about (and dedicated to) him... (When I have time)(and I guess not so soon) I would write some words about the book but I found this:

In 1999, a sensational discovery was made among the affects in the estate of Charlie Chaplin: an extensive photography archive consisting of thousands of of negatives and prints from the actor's life were discovered. Chaplin documented his life with a passionate enthusiasm: private photographs taken by his friends and family were collected and kept, along with more public photographs taken during the course of his career on movie sets and in studios. These are never-before-published images, and from this treasure trove the photographer Michel Comte has edited a sensitive photo album which shows a hitherto unknown Chaplin. Here, the trips around the world and the snapshots with colleagues, children, and grandchildren are brought to light; a new view of the iconic artist. The Unseen Chaplin presents an artist who was on stage throughout his life, whose private life as well as his public life was spent in the limelight. Opening in 1909, when he was 20 years old, and closing with a color photograph taken just prior to his death in 1977, this large-format volume, which includes an essay by Sophia Loren and statements by other friends from the film industry, will be a beautiful and fitting tribute to the life of one of the seminal entertainers in American history.

I bought it from Amazon, it arrived Istanbul in 20 days and although I bough tit from Amazon.com (not .co.uk or .de) it seems to be shipped from Germany. And a little note; if you're going to buy do not buy it from amazon.co.uk as it is really cheaper in amazon.com. Here is the url...

Things To Do When You Are Upset

· Have a discussion with someone you trust.
· Go for a walk, a run, or do some physical activity.
· Listen to music you enjoy.
· Do some art work of your choice.
· Write in a journal.
· Brainstorm all the ways to react to the situation and choose one.
· Play a game.
· Seek advice.
· Know that your feelings will change, so be patient with yourself.
· Count to 10. Use slow breathing techniques.

I found this in counselorandteachertips.com And here is a fresh (!) new idea... Why not you click on the "comments" link below and tell me what you do when you're upset... May be we'll have a "Things To Do Guide" soon...

Last movies I watched...

After writing a looong article here about the last 6-7 movies I watched I closed the browser without saving. (Thanks to my left little finger) And now, with a great patience I had to write it all from the beginning...

Personal Velocity of Rebecca Miller was a good film telling us about three different woman. It once again shows us that Independent Films are great. ["Delia, Greta, and Paula rank as three of the most multilayered and sympathetic female characters of the year. As each of them searches for their place in the world, Miller digs into their very minds to find an unblinking, flawed humanity."]

On Sunday instead of watching a festival film we preferred having some Hollywood style thriller with an Al Pacino in it. The Recruit was a light Hollywood film with a predictable ending and the new boy "Collin Farrel" in it. (He will really be very successfull; he has started sparkling...)

On Saturday we watched a mexican (said to be) masterpiece: Japon. It is a first film of a young mexican director, Carlos Reygadas. It was too meditative for me; long shots, long and slow camera movements, it was too deep to explore...
[The importance of nature is prevalent throughout Carlos Reygadas' meditative work. Long, luminous takes allow thoughtful reflection as the film takes both its viewers and its protagonist on an existential journey. Adding to the languid beauty of the film is Arvo Part's moving score.]

"Sunrise" was a 1927 made silent classic directed by William Murnau. [One of the most visually gorgeous and emotionally rich silent films ever made. Director F.W. Murnau, and cinematographers Charles Rosher and Karl Struss, created stunning expressionist imagery that poignantly captures the characters' complex desires and points-of-view. ]
The best thing was, we had the chance to watch the film with a live performance of 2 pianos... It was grat...

The Man Without A Past is a Finnish film and can be desribed with some keywords: cComedy, Rock n Roll, Romance... There were some great jokes hided in the film. ["The cavalier attitude of the movie seems utterly unconcerned with whether or not the audience picks up on any of the jokes, all of which are delivered with an unaffected, deadpan style."]

One of the best films I watched in the festival was Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham; a big Bollywood production more than 3,5 hours. When I have some time I will write about it in here... I just can say that the first thing I did the following morining was purchasing the DVD of the film: "Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sorrow"

And last night there was "The Talented Mr.Ripley" on TV, as I hadnt watched it before I sat and watched it. Lots of pople had told me to watch it (may be because it was too much advised) I just didnt like it too much... And instead of RottenTomatoes.com, this time I will give you another critic site with lots of critics in it. (I just found it ;) The Talented Mr.Ripley at the Metacritic.com!

This week I will be watching more than 12 films I guess, as soon as I get well, I will write about them here... ;)

Auto Focus

Yesterday night there was Auto Focus in the menu... We watched Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe... With these great actors performances the film was a success... We know Greg Kinnear from Jack Nicholsons "As Good As It Gets" His performance (and also make up) was superb in Auto Focus...

"A creepy, intermittently powerful study of a self-destructive man...about as unsettling to watch as an exploratory medical procedure or an autopsy."-- Frank Swietek, ONE GUY'S OPINION

"Kinnear doesn’t aim for our sympathy, but rather delivers a performance of striking skill and depth."-- Victoria Alexander, FILMSINREVIEW.COM

"Auto Focus is not your standard Hollywood bio-pic. Schrader aims to present an unflinching look at one man’s downfall, brought about by his lack of self-awareness."-- Bob Bloom, JOURNAL AND COURIER (LAFAYETTE, IN)

Ohh... And I shouldn't forget to tell you that "Auto Focus" is the story of Bob Crane, who was the star of the television series Hogan's Heroes in the 1960s. Before he achieved that particular fame, Crane was a popular radio talk show host in Hollywood. His television work brought him a level of visibility and notoriety that he turned directly into sexual opportunity...

Ten - Abbas Kiarostami

The first film I watched today was Abbas Kiarostami's latest film "Ten". "Abbas Kiarostami is the most influential and controversial post-revolutionary Iranian filmmaker and one of the most highly celebrated directors in the international film community of the last decade. During the period of the ‘80s and the ‘90s, at a time when Iranians had such a negative image in the West, his cinema introduced a humane and artistic face."

In Ten, the iranian director once again casts his masterful cinematic gaze upon the modern sociopolitical landscape of his homeland -- this time as seen through the eyes of one woman as she drives through the streets of Tehran over a period of several days. Her journey is comprised of ten conversations with various female passengers -- including her sister, a hitchhiking prostitute and a jilted bride -- as well as her imperious young son. As Kiarostami's "dashboard cam" eavesdrops on these lively, yet heart-wrenching road trips, a complex portrait of distaff Iran comes sharply into focus.

An interview with Kiarostami: In dialogue with Kiarostami
Kiarostami in IMDB.com...
Abbas Kiarostami, Iranian Director @ Netiran.com
His films and screenplays in foreignfilms.com.

"If anyone were to ask me what I did as a director on this film, I'd say, "Nothing and yet if I didn't exist, this film wouldn't have existed." (Abbas Kiarostami)

Ben-Hur

Last night I watched William Wyler's Ben-Hur in International Istanbul Film Festival. Aprox. 4 hours long a 1959 made classic with macho Charlton Hestonacting...

Here are some reviews etc. about Ben-Hur:
Ben-Hur in Filmsite.org!
Chariots and Christ and Chuck
A review forım FilmCritic.com...
Ben-Hur' Reigns with Most Oscars, 11 Wins, Until 'Titanic' Ties it

And, here is the last link about William Wyler, from American Masters...

So tell the girls that I am back in town :)

(by Jay Jay Johanson)

I've been on the road
I've been on vacation
I've been travelling light to reach my final destination

Now I'm coming home

So tell the girls that I am back in town
You'd better tell them to beware
Well they may go or they might try to hide
I follow on and I'll be there
So tell the girls that I am back in town
And if it's true I do not know
That every girl around had missed me since
I decided to go

I could be your friend
I could be your stranger
I could be the one your mother said would be a danger
Now it's up to you

Too Expensive

London is the most expensive city i know i guess... Especially the hotel I stay takes 1 Pound for (1.60 USD ) for every f**king minute I use their phone line and even getting all my e-mails takes more than 20 minutes... So I will be posting here after tomorrow my whole London experinece and answers to Morgaine's questions ;)

After first 36 hours in London...

Well, great... I have been eating and eating... (Instead of British cuisine we are prefering Italian... Italian cuisine is my very very favourite...) here is the official site of the London Tube...

Tho the weather yesterday was really great as if it's summer, today it was very much cloudy and it is a poor condition for photography. So I mostlu preferred taking digital photos instead of color slides and for a couple of times took b&w photos of some buildings and some portraits...

London is extremely expensive, I wished i had bought all my films, slides, batteries from Istanbul... The best thing is I could connect to Net from my hotel room. That's great...

And as a last word for today; I saw lots of great Vw Bettles here... They were in great condition... Having the steering wheels at the right is the most interesting thing for a foreigner I guess.. (But one of the cabrios had the streng wheel on the left; that was surprising ;)

Anyway... Here are two photos I took today... One is the famous tube... (Ok, I want be writing about the tube after now on; and the other is as you can see, phones... I love them ;)

Nikon Coolpix 775

My new camera has finally arrived; it's been more than a month I bought it from Photoalley.com; it's been waiting to be brougt to me at a friends house in Seattle... I know Coolpix 775 isn't new but I bought it for a reasonable price. (Or I think so...)

Here is a DPreview... And u konow, in n o time you will me seeing my brand new digital photographs here... (Well, in fact nobody comments on my photography here...) Anyway, in my first 48 hours with my new Coolpix 775, I really liked it, It seems it'll be great fun... ;)

Mobile Entertainment Expo (London Baby!)

I will be flying to London tomorrow morning for a two day Expo. Mobile Entertainment Expo 2003 will be held in Islington, London on 8-9th April. (I will be there ;)

Anyway, the thing is I will have 3 days in London before the expo and I wanna spend those days really effective. "Attaractions & Events"... So I started searcing for advices and I found LondonTown.com...
VisitLondon.com is the official website for the London Tourist Board...
LonelyPlanet's London Section is another choice... I won't put more links here because after a while everything gets mixed up and in fact London is the same London. From Avantgo I downloaded some city guides (bars & pubs in fact) to my ipaq, you can find lots of applications for a pocket pc tho...

Anyway, my main motivation is taking photographs and any ideas, places to see, advices are welcome. If there are any Londoners or London lovers reading/hearing me; just tell me where to go, where to eat, where to see, where to entertain and of cfourse where to take photos... Thanks in advance ;)

Headache Resources

I have an headache at the very moment. Instead of taking pills I just went to ask.com and asked them "how to get rid of my headache": Headache is the result of pain signals caused by interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a headache, the pain does not come from the brain contrary to what many sufferers believe. Rather, the pain comes from activated nerves surrounding the skull, blood vessels, and head muscles. The reasons-why these nerves in the head are activated-are not understood. However, activation of specific nerves in the head sends pain signals to the brain that are interpreted as a "headache."

I also found some detailed headache info in "Headache Resource Center"

And also I found some importand information: "Preventing Hangovers" We are often told that the only ways to prevent hangovers is to either drink alcohol in moderation, or abstain completely from drinking. While avoiding all alcoholic beverages may be the most efficient way, it isn't always the most practical, or the most popular. This excerpt is taken from: All-about-hangovers.com

Wish You Were Here

Last night as I was parking my vw around midnight "Wish You Were Here" started on the radio. So I had to wait in the car till iti is over. (Two nights before I had to wait Bohemian Rhapsody to finish :) Anyway I do love wish you were here... So, here is the lyrics and some links ;)

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here

Pink Floyd 1975
Lyrics/Music: Waters
Vocals by: Roy Harper

Lyrics Copyright: Pink Floyd Music Publishers Ltd.

Pinkfloyd.co.uk
Pinkfloyd.com
Pinkfloyd-co.com

Can't keep it in

(Lyrics by Cat Stevens - 1972)

Oh I can't keep it in,
I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've got to show the world, world's got to see,
see all the love love that's in me.
I said, why walk alone,
why worry when it's warm over here.

You've got so much to say, say what you mean,
mean what you're thinking, and think anything.
Oh why, why must you waste you're life away,
you've got to live for today, then let it go
Oh, lover, I want to spend this time with you,
there's nothing I wouldn't do, If you let me know.
And I can't keep it in,
I can't hide it and I can't lock it away.
I'm up for your love, love heats my blood,
blood spins my head, and my head falls in love, oh.
No, I can't keep it in,
I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've gotta show the world, world's got to know,
know of the love, love that lies low, so
Why can't you say,
If you know, then why can't you say.
You've got too much deceit, deceit kills the light,
light needs to shine, I said shine light , shine light.
Love, That's no way to live your life,
you allow too much to go by, and that won't do.
No, lover. I want to have you here by my side
Now don't you run, don't you hide, while I'm with you.
'N I can't keep it in,
I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.
I've got to show the world, world's got to see,
see all the love love that's in me.
I said, why walk alone,
why worry when it's warm over here.
You've got so much to say, say what you mean,
mean what you're thinking, and think anything. Why not?
Now why why why not?

Snowboard in Kars...

I was in Kars - Sarikamis for some more experience with snow and a snowboard. This time everything was much better. No injuries, fractures, sore legs or arms... It was really great... Had plenty of great wines at night and tasted goose for the first time (and after that for the second time :) (Tastes great by the way...)

Anyway, Sarikamis is the town that has one of the oldest ski centers of Turkey, we stayed there and I can tell you that the environment reminded me of Fargo, a film by Coen Brothers. Everywhere was white... Just white and nothing else... Click on the image left to see the whole map, flight route and some more...

This is the first time I travel this far to eastern Turkey...On the map you can see Istanbul (where i live) and Kars where I went to... More than 1400km's(Planes don't go directly so you have to change planes in Ankara) Also the left of the orange line on tje map indicates the part that i have been so far and the right is tje part i have never ever been to.

Kars has lost of ancient buildings... (And honestly we couldn't see anything as everything was under some heavy snow. The ancient (Armenian) city is called "Ani". You can find lots of information about Ani here.... (Both in English & Turkish) There is a great map of the city here! And here is some links about Sarikamis/Kars: Some info about the ski center (tr), some more info from turkski.com, and some hotel phones... ;)... (Son olarak da Radikal'de eskideeen çıkmış bir yazı ve son bir link daha...)

Some photos will be online here shortly ;)

Mood Free

Just click on the thumbnail. Whatever mood you're in; this photo will cheer you up... ;) You know, cats like sleeping when its really warm & comfortable...

The Hours

Today i watched The Hours. THE HOURS is the story of three women searching for more potent, meaningful lives. Each is alive at a different time and place; all are linked by their yearnings and their fears. Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), in a suburb of London in theearly 1920’s, is battling insanity as she begins to write her first great novel, “Mrs. Dalloway”. Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a wife and mother in Los Angeles at the end of World War Two, is reading “Mrs. Dalloway”, and finding it so revelatory that she begins to consider making a devastating change in her life. Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), a contemporary version of Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, lives in New York City today, and is in love with her friend Richard, a brilliant poet who is dying of AIDS. Their stories intertwine, and finally come together in a surprising, transcendent moment of shared recognition.

The Ring

Last night I watched "The Ring", the hollywood remake of Hideo Nakata's "Ringu": In Gore Verbinski's remake chilling horror film, a group of teenagers all die suddenly and inexplicably exactly one week after watching a mysterious videotape at a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Then our main hero Rachel (Naomi Watts) investigates the case because she, her son and ex-boyfriend are all in danger too... Tho I dont like horror/suspense films too much, I enjoyed it. Now I wanna see the original one, Ringu.

The Thomas Crown Affair & Monet

Last Night I watched The Thomas Crown Affair on tv: Based on the 1968 film of the same name, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR offers a peak into the nefarious lives of the rich and famous. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is a man with looks, wit, and millions of dollars, yet the only way he can feel truly alive is during the thrill of the heist. When a valuable Monet painting comes to town, Crown decides stealing it would be the ultimate rush. As the New York high society demands justice, little do they--or the police--suspect that one of their very own has committed the crime. Expert Catherine Danning (Rene Russo) is brought in investigate the stolen Monet painting. But as she come closer to proving Crown guilty, she is drawn into his world, and falls in deeply in love with him.

While I was searching the net I found the mistakes in the film. (There were some I myself realized as I watched)

And; I have found some great Monet related links as I was looking for the painting that was stolen by Thomas Crown (Crepuscolo a Venezia, 1908). In The Metropolitan Museum there is an online collection of Monet... Here is a Monet galery and Monet links... If you like puzzles, you can find online Monet puzzles here... Artchive.com has some great information about the artist as well...

A Sunday Afternoon w Westy

I spent my Sunday afternoon driving 210 km's with my Westfalia. I haven't drive it for a good 3 months or so, she was sleeping in a friend's garage and i realized that we both missed