Multicolored seas

About money yet again

2008-07-21T23:10:00.002+03:00

It can be said, it is not the best time for most of us. Prices growing, banks becoming less friendly and more eager to take money from you than to lend. Businesses suffering, employees getting laid off or not even dreaming about getting higher salary.
And on top of all that it comes debts that were made in better times, when all of us had more expectations and less fears. Now it's times when I start to think that "maybe I should get generic brand coffee", which really means something, since coffee is my first and most important meal during a day.
So it all comes to the fact that I (and I guess many others) could use better financial management and maybe some debt relief. As for the latter, it is probably some kind of Murphy’s law that most of the bills come during the time of no money.
Yet there are some ways, like debt consolidation, something I have never heard before of. Apparently, consolidate debt allows to make “the army of elephants” look smaller and in that way to pay the bills less stressfully as well as save a bit on the interest. Smart way, but tricky, therefore I suppose it is smarter to use someone’s help on that than try to do it yourself. Luckily, there is lots of info on the internet, just search on Debt Consolidation and there you go. Surely, with a hope for better times…

Europe for dummies

2008-06-19T23:29:00.000+03:00

Today I found this extremely promising [to be funny] e-book, called "Europe for dummies"
Blog ImageI only got it because it sounded like it would be fun to look at and make fun of people who actualy buy it for real.
My expectations were totally met:
According to the book, Europe consists of these:
1. British isles (London, Edinburgh and Dublin and their surroundings)
2. Central Europe (Paris, Amsterdam, Munich and Bavaria, Vienna, Bern, Prague and surroundings of these cities)
3. Mediterranean (Rome and Southern Italy; Florence and Tuscany; Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens and Greek islands.

That's ALL!
Of course, there is a map that contains more countries, but who cares about them? No wonder having such wonderful guides "to europe" americans thing it consists of Paris and London.

I also found more enjoyable things. These can be excusable since they're related to cultural differences rather than ignorance and stupidity. But nonetheless they're still funny.
Especially bathroom section:
"It all starts in your first cheap pension, when you find out that the only bathroom is down the hall and shared by everyone on the floor — of both sexes."
"See the section on electricity in Chapter 9 for information on what is not safe to plug into European bathroom outlets. (Here’s a hint: everything.)"
"Before you take your shower or bath, remember that traditional European
towels are annoyingly nonabsorbent."
"The extra porcelain fixture that looks like another toilet is called a bidet
(bi-day). Do not use the bidet as a toilet. The water that jets up and out is
supposed to clean your private parts more thoroughly than toilet paper.
Some non-European travelers wash clothes or store fruit or beverages in
the bidet, but if you think about what the bidet is supposed to be used
for, you’ll see the sink is a much better place to do your laundry."

Happy happy danes

2008-04-05T09:37:00.000+02:00

only found out this last year. Denmark is the country of happiest people.
Another truth I knew long ago. Lithuanians are one of the most depressed nations and has highest suicide rate.
Interestingly, both countries have similar size (in sq. meters AND population), similar climate (lots of rain, rare sunshine), love for beer, pork, dark bread and diary products.
Surely, there are many differences too. But what exactly makes some people happier than others? I found it very interesting, downloaded many studies, read articles on internet. Let me summarize my findings:

- high social pressure to be in relationship makes people unhappy - they are forced to be with partners they don't like that much and are called losers if they are single. Also, divorce is nearly the end of the world and being single parent is a reason to hate everyone including yourself. Pretty good reason, I should say. I definitely noticed such pressure in Lithuania and even though I cannot talk THAT much about Denmark, it really seems that all relationship-marriage-singleness thing is not that overrated.
Blog Image

- it's TRUST that plays main role. You can leave your doors open, cars unlocked and bag in a bar on your tabel while dancing in Denmark. In Lithuania, everyone puts double door, installs security systems, builds huge fences and locked gates and still feel unsafe.

- if you expect less you're happier with less. Too high expectations is what makes Lithuanians depressed. Quite possible yet again, but it's also possible that these high expectations are just a wish to live as well as in other countries (like... Denmark), but not being able to reach it fast enough.

Finally, whatever the reason, it also depends on how you see situation. I, personally, think that happiness is something you have to learn. It is easier when everything is given to you - no pressure, lost of security and trust, but possible in all cases.
There is no reason not to smile today...

More traffic nightmares

2008-03-16T11:38:00.000+02:00

Driving is very nice thing. With some exceptions.

- You drive an ok car: which doesn't stop out of nowhere, doesn't make strange sounds when there is no need to (read: there is never such need) and looks pretty normal.

- You are not one of those persons "never-meant-to-sit-behind-the-wheel". I mean, one of those that close their eyes and scream in the situation which needs no more than just braking and similar.

- You do not drive in Vilnius (except summer time).

Yes, driving in this city is terrible experience. Traffic jams start before 7 in the morning and end around 19:30 in the evening. All the time in between is just waves of better or worse situation. I do not understand what all those cars do outside around, let's say three in the afternoon. Why aren't people working? What do they do there?

Blog Image

Even if it is the "low wave" at the time and your car at least moves all the time (instead of getting into endless stop-move-stop-move cycle), there will be some crazy "machos" with ego way higher than IQ and responsibility level. These types never drive according to the signs (it's not cool), never blink (same reason), get just in front of your car making you thank god you didn't crash your car and even open the window (if it's not raining and not too cold) and shout you something so utterly stupid (if you're a girl) or insulting (if you are not a girl).

Another type that just HAVE to drive is those that are "never- meant-to...". They drive slowly, but never stop when pedestrians are crossing street, never show any signs, never pay attention to any signs. You'd think they are robots badly programmed, but the truth is they probably forgot how to change the gear and drive same on all the time with both hands keeping the wheel and eyes looking just in front. I think they got their drivers license playing computer game or something.

Finally, even if those two types are not present at the moment, it can be pretty possible some car will decide to park just in front of you using blinking lights method. This method is as annoying as it can get because it means all "no parking" signs are canceled.

If it's by any chance raining or snowing or just too sunny, prepare. Prepare there will be car crashes from time to time on you way from A to B. Our pedestrians can stand heavy showers, cold up to -20 and global-warming induced sunshines, but drivers are way more fragile. Behind the wheel their eyes cannot manage with their habits of not keeping any rules. The outcome - totally crashed cars sold on used-car selling websites.

And you still think of the pleasure of driving here?

P.S. this post is a reply to Peter's wonderful description of "good things that come out of bad ones"

P.P.S. The summer-exception is because the worst types of drivers emigrate to the sea/country-side

War on the road

2007-12-21T23:14:00.000+02:00

I wonder how it would work in any other country...

Language evolution

2007-12-21T21:33:00.000+02:00

Being in a relationship that sooner or later will require to learn another language WELL (as well as it will be for my BF), language question comes to the light quite often.
Should language be changed (we are talking about official language, not "slang" which changes by itself)accordingly to people's needs or should it be preserved as unique set of sounds and their structure?
It surely annoys many people who learn lithuanian that we have so many different grammar rules that it's impossible (even for teachers!) to learn them all. Also, having stress that changes its' place in the word according to where it is used...
On the other hand, that's how a joke goes:
"The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty's government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favourof the "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the ekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with the "f". This will make words like fotografy shorter.

In the 3rd year, public akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away. By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords containing "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza.

Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru!"

You are what you eat?

2007-11-11T20:06:00.000+02:00

While americans themselves often talk how they eat so much junkfood and should look at the wonderfl european (especially mediterranian) eatign habits, it's not exactly always the truth, that the grass is greener on this side of the ocean...

I am not actually surprised. In fact I think that is not even just european or just american problem, more the new cultural habit to eat... out. Exactly, you'd never put half a liter of oil or a package of butter if you're coocking for yoruself while chefs will do anything you'd not think your meal is not delicious enough. Too bad, for amny people greasy=delicious. Which is not necessary the truth, it's just a strange idea we get... maybe it's more difficult to make something healthy and delicious, but not impossible - that's for sure.

You're very VERY welcome

2007-11-10T13:01:00.000+02:00

Some countries are obviously more attractive than others. How much it depends on climate, political situation, ability to earn money and so on, I cannot say and will not even analyze today.
What is the topic of this entry: what countries iare not only attractive, but also welcoming the newcomers. I am not talking about flags, cakes and national dancers for every immigrant. Hopwever, it is clear difference how you just come to some countries and already feel "in" and in others they meet you with 180 degrees smile (read: not smile at all) and ask to fill in ten million papers, get stamps from all the people you don't know you'll ever meet, pay some money and then - maybe - you can stay. Until the next paper-filling time.
So, I searched a bit for most welcoming countries and guess what: the very top one is... (tadaaah) SWEDEN.
Next four countries on the list include: Portugal,Belgium, Netherlands, Finland.
Now try to guess what is the worst country to choose for immigration. Surprisingly: Latvia.
And here is the whole map of who's friendly, who's not:

To prove that I didn't invent this myself (since I may just like Sweden and for some reason hate Latvians - which is not truth), read the whole story here:
Sweden top for welcoming migrants .

Masculinity issues

2007-10-28T19:36:00.000+02:00

Recently, most discussion going on between me and my boyfriend are about men and women. Because - apparently - it is way more difficult to be a man than a woman nowadays. Like in that song that Electric light orchestra made many years ago... Evil woman it's called. Women are choosing, women are supressing, women are never happy. Or maybe they just never complain?

Yet that will be another topic.

How does a man survive and actually can be happy in this evil world? Surprisingly, actually by finding a woman! Or at least that's what one site I found claims: The pick up artist. To say it in short, it is full of information about success with women and dating (I guess dating also includes women...). For some guys is MAIL ORDER BRIDES that work well enough, for others some learning is needed. I never (obviously) tried it myself, but I never refuse an opportunity to search websites like this.
First of all, it contains articles. Articles that are written in very much american (in my opinion) way: divided in steps, tasks, dos and don'ts and similar. I don't say it's a bad way since it's actually helps to understand even if you just skim the text. Yet seeing some humour in it, I guess it would be way funnier to read in just normal-text way. Maybe it's just me, especially knowing that they are not tarteget to me and I am mostly reading them out of interest rather than trying to get some use... I don't think tips on how to meet women can help for me. Yet I think it was good idea to write everything in examples (and especially adding videos and audio clips), since in women articles that's what I usually miss. Simplicity and examples instead of going around and around and not saying anything to the point. Here I have to say, male way of giving advice works better (thank you for the claps).
I have to say, reading many things I actually agree with many of them. They are simple yes, but perfection is also in simplicity. Listening, not just hearing (sometimes even hearing takes ages to get...), taking time to get into things, concentrating on humour, rather than trying to impress with some strange things (and you'd be amazed what things some guys tried to impress me with...). These are the things I would also list myself as "esentials" what looks attractive and can "work".
There are, of course things I disagree with. For example, nice guys finish last with women. Or maybe I'd more disagree with the fact, that it's a bad thing. Those abd guys may appeal for some, but the image is simply overrated. What's noticed a lot is not necessary happy with their personal life. Same is with female side - who doesn't get tired to read about "beautiful models" ad how boring and not awarding it is to date them.
It may need to be added nothing comes without exceptions. Generalizations are wrong, true. That's why the question is it more difficult to be a man or a woman, will stay unanswered. For now :)

Simpsonized fast food nation

2007-10-28T18:32:00.000+02:00

Today I finally watched the movie I had on my had-to-watch list for ages. Fast food nation. I know I am talking a lot about food recently (that could be the feeling of coooold winter coming :D), however, this post will be about Fast food nation. Just not the movie, but the nation itself.
I really would love to go to U.S. and investigate all this from my own point of view. So far, I have to base my opinion on native americans I talk to, discussion boards, all kinds of websites, movies, pictures etc.
Like today, I found a post on another blog Oh no they didn't about Kwik-E-Mart. Sounds, looks, is american.

I have to say, the food looks quite disgusting. And probably tastes like fried paper with lots of sugar. But it's Simpsons! But it's everything you've seen in the movie. I would DEFINITELY love to go to the store, maybe even WORK there, take lots of pictures. But no, it's not a store for me. Not a FOOD store at least.

I wonder if such brand like SLURPEE works in Europe. I guess, at least not as well as in U.S. It's supposed to be in all 7-eleven stores. I never noticed. I guess for some the word "greasy" can appeal here as well. However, it's still way better on homemade food. By this, I am not talking about frozen pizza heated at your kitchen...

Just more money

2007-10-24T21:02:00.000+02:00

Not long ago I wrote about money issues. Guess what. Since than it nearly stalks me. Whatever I search or whenever I check my email, I get random ads or links offering all kinds of payday loans and similar thingies. If you clicked on the link just few words back you'll see quite many of such sites in one. Moreover, the site has intentions to show what really should be visited and what's just crap. Good intentions, I should say. I bet many of us get tired of sites about cash advance or any other service that just link to other sites that link to more sites without giving any value, just having lots and lots of paid ads and earning money on your annoyance... Not good, right?

The idea of this site is to provide reviews or real people, ranks and so on. What works most in my opinion, is "innocent" reviews on discussion boards, or mouth-to-mouth, but at least letting people rate and rank is not so efficient but still looks more trustworthy. A bit funny that the website also ranks hairloss prevention products like provillus and others. Maybe lack of money and unexpected loans leads to hairloss problems? Who knows...

More number games: less is more

2007-10-23T22:36:00.000+02:00

Talking about the food, obesity and other things yesterday, also reminded me of another obvious cultural thing.
I learnt it long time ago: the only way to sell food in US us to write "fat free", "less fat", "no carbs", "reduced carbs" and similar thing on the package. It doesn't matter that sometimes it doesn't make any sense: writing "no carbs" on a bottle of oil or "no fat" on a pack of hard candy makes me wonder who would actually expect to find any carbs swimming in a sea of pure fat or how can one find any space for fat in a caramel that has never been anything else but sugar...
I believe though, after being attacked with so many "Free!" "Reduced...!" "healthy!" shouts on the labels a person can get completely lost, depressed, start emotional overeating or other problems... I see one solution, forget label reading and use some more trusted source, like an online calorie counter. It is possible to search foods by brands - which as I noticed, is very deep in many people. They don't eat just burger, it's "Amy's", not just coffee - Starbucks. And so on. Brands do make the difference, as you can see, even in calories.
Finally, this page allows not only to just look at the info, but also to save it and have some kind of food diary. Amazing, how counting each bite also became a part of many people's lives in western cultures. I guess such thing is alread ya topic for a new post. Time to update my food diary ;)

Painted by numbers

2007-10-22T22:01:00.000+02:00

Recently I got to participate in an interesting dicussion.
It started somewhere similar as "Do you feel that the food in the stores is getting less and less natural"? and ended up with "What's the fattest country?".
First of all, everyone agreed, food was more natural before. I mean, you go to a store and the butter you buy is real butter, cookies have no softening materials, apples may look not that shiny and with some spots. But you know it's how mother nature made them. Now instead of mother nature it's mother chemical factory.

What created most discussion was is Europe more protective against such "synthetic food" than US? The answer is probably - it used to be, some years ago. Which made europeans proud of their slim shapes, the fact that they cook more often than eat "fast food", walk more and overall have better eating habits than Americans. Is it really true? Statistically looking, Europe has as many overweight children as the US. Maybe not older generations, but the tendency is obvious: Europe is getting fatter, while Americans managed to take some care of it.

Money money money

2007-10-18T21:12:00.000+02:00

Money has been a problem and a desire since it was first used. So worthless (you cannot use it anywhere just to get something you can use) and always so wanted, so needed and so always not enough.

Seeing that, I guess, a bank was invented and so the business of selling something not touchable but yet so needed started. Pretty simple story, but if you look closer, it has always had some downtimes too. Just not that long ago, many people preferred to store money in a sock and borrow it from a neighbour. Finally banks managed to build some trust.

Not in every country though: e.g. in ex-soviet countries borrowing for things like apartment (I am not even talking about an iPod) was a no no: what, your parents haven't saved for you? what, you didn't manage to get important friends to get you a good amount of cash? and so on and so forth. Now people take loans feeling no worse than paying for lunch. While it's already easy and pretty fast (in comparison to saving for 20 years...), finding some offers on internet proves: there's always some place for development.

Maybe not an amount for a new place to live, but works for an iPod: cash advance can help to fix sudden need of a bit too pricey-for-everyday thing. I especially liked the part for women... "who are in need of quick cash assistance". Yes, very tempting and while I'd not allow that for myself, seeing from business perspective it's such a wonderful targeting. Fast and easy: enought not to start feeling guilty.

There is also part for pay day loans, even confidential ones. While it also creates a thought "why do you need to hide it", it's still attractive offer. Even if it's something innocent: fixing my car or buying some medicine, I still don't want everyone to know it, as well as any of my financial things.

So, I am thinking, next generation of banking will be getting rid of all going-to-a-bank thing. Why should you, if typing a webpage at 3a.m. is so much easier and more convenient. The only problem: borrowing includes two parts, one of them being giving the money back... as I said, always a space for development...

You shall never be hungry

2007-10-12T08:00:00.000+02:00

Can it be too much hospitality?
Yes, it can.
When your guests have stomachache next three days after you make them taste all the nice foods you prepared "just for their visit", something is wrong.
I know that very well. You know why? Because I am guilty for that. In some cultures, including Lithuania, people base their sense of hospitality on feeding others. I am not talking about not letting your guests be hungry. I am talking about overfeeding them with greasy and/or sugar-y meals, plus loads of alcohol, plus coffee/tea. Plus a pill if you already feel bad.
Same is at work. Our new coworker tried to refuse all the chocolates and cookies she was kindly offered. Many angry looks and words "how can you..." she recieved. Now everything is in the right place. She eats everyone chocolate, complains about stomachache and knows it's unavoidable.
Now I am actually thinking, if I visited such a "hospital friend" (as i am), I'd probably get sick and annoyed. I am truly sorry my overfed friends. See you next time... over the full table... with my yummy foods... will you try them all?

Wonderfully bad service

2007-10-02T09:27:00.000+02:00

There is a poster in a window of one pub somewhere in the centre of Vilnius. It says: „Warm beer, bad food, bad service. But you‘re always welcome“. When it comes to beer and food, it is not always true. But service... most of the time it‘s wonderfully bad.

Let me give you some real life examples, overheard in some places:

Situation number 1
We come to a chinese restaurant. Lunch with my collegues. We‘re a bit in a hurry, so we‘ll order day‘s specialty. It comes really fast. 6 plates full of food. Looks ok, smells ok. Taste? We don‘t know. No chopsticks, no forks, no spoons.
„Could you bring us some chopsticks or forks?“, I ask our waitress politely.
„Why?“, she replies all surprised...

Situation number 2
One of the most popular pizza chains in Lithuania. Mother orders pancakes with icecream and coke for her son and black coffee (black is back) for herself. Sweet stuff for the son comes first and he‘s happy to throw the icecream ball into his coca cola glass. Which creates a nice bubbly reaction and the drink starts going out of the glass.
„Drink it before it spills on the table!“, screams mother.
At the same time waitress comes with the coffee and says:
„We don‘t change drinks here, but I wouldn‘t recommend to drink this, looks like it‘s gone bad! Maybe expired?“

Situation number 3
Waiter doesn‘t come for 20 minutes.
-Waiter..!,- a woman tries to get his attention.
- Sorry ,I just noticed another table!
(which probably has been waiting for 40 min already…)

to be continued (I suppose)... no comments needed (I suppose)

Melting pot Vs. proudly different

2007-09-27T15:51:00.000+02:00

Recently I read a survey somewhere. People in different countries were asked, what countries they think are their nations "best friends" and "least friendly". One thing that attracted my attention was some strangenes regarding USA.

Nations american people defined as friendliest ones (Germany and Uk for example) were not so keen on admiting liking USA. Even more, they wrote it as a country they liked the least.

Could this somehow be a cultural issue? Unfriendliness to a huge pile of different cultures melted together while in Europe every single nation fights for looking as different, unique, maybe even quirky as possible...

USA and Europe: no, we are not family.

One big culture

2007-09-17T12:39:00.000+02:00

All kinds of parallel worlds are becoming more and more a reality. With a help of internet, of course. Be that Second life, where many people actually have more life than IRL.
Be that the fact that you may be halfway into someone's blog and after admiting to yourself you just found your soulmate, you read the profile and find out your soulmate lives on the other side of the world or - even better - is actually a company that tries to make you think in its soon-to-be customer way.
That is not difficult, knowing the number of all kinds of blog listing sites (Technorati , Blogwise etc.)
For some reason there are few countries mostly into all kind of internetification. Japan always gets lots of activity here, which could be in relation to general countrie's attraction to all the new technologies (have you ever been to a toilet in Japan? Better don't even try...). But could it also be because of endless social restrictions and need of being anonymous to have some personal freedom?
Another country is of course, USA. Which I believe is mostly driven by the need to earn more more and MORE money. Which works. But sometimes is really tiring when you're just looking for some thoughts, ideas, unique wordings and inspirational pics, not "CHEAPER, MORE EFFICIENT, BUY NOW".

A House, but not a home (though could be)

2007-09-16T22:51:00.000+02:00

My summer has been consumed by real estate. Not because I suddenly earned enough to buy some or had something to sell. More as a fact that now it‘s the object of my work, something I spend 8 hours a day with, talk about, read about, sometimes (unwillingly) dream about.
It happened so, that in this company I soon got most of our foreign customers. Could you sense that I soon saw some tendencies in homing and nesting habits?
Let me give you short summary of lithuanian culture when it comes to real estate. First of all, if they buy an apartment, it has to be new. Which I completely understand. If you want the smell of history, then certainly not molded, rotten soviet history, half-eaten by rats and mice in dar and wet basement. From all the customers we get every day, there are so many who start shouting „no no no“ before we manage to offer an apartment in a house built in let‘s say 1969. Nice number, ugly building, no wonder many wants them to collapse as it was with Soviet union.

Then there are land plots and houses. Main thing about them for a real lithuanian is privacy. Fence around your plot included. The higher and thicker, the better. Super bonus: a note that there is an agressive dog behind it. Even if the dog is actually a hamster in a cage in owner‘s daughter‘s room. But what is a fact, that my land is mine. Don‘t go here, don‘t look at me, don‘t even dare to think what happens there. Sharing is over. In fact, what I saw for real – in the very centre of capital – a sign that said „Private property. If you enter it, beware. We have guns and will use them“. It is very clear and understandable for me. If you don‘t have something for a while, you don‘t want to share once you get it. What if that will led to losing it again? AKA childhood complex.

Now let me tell you, I had some difficulties with those not knowing facts above. A person from Netherlands, who wanted 2 ares near the sea among „other summerhouses“. Hello? Buy 15 (the smallest I found) ares of land plot with a high fence, I don‘t have anything else to offer.
Recently we also had some couples from US. Those were difficult in wanting everything with the „taste of history“.I am sorry, our castles are not for sale… See, they are kind of taken… No, not some rich people, but museums…But maybe some taste of rotten soviet paper wall would be exotic enough?

My last notice (for today, I have at least 987568 of them left) is american sites for selling real estate. I was delighted by some of them. We have similar ones: you can find anything from apartments, to land plots, to furniture and assessment of property, including whole businesses and dog houses. But on american site you can buy a nice hellicopter, aircraft (nice cesna for $50 000), and all that with FREE shipping. Nearly like in TV shop. Buy an airplane and hide it under your bed when you don‘t need it. I certainly understand I am the strange one in my surprised face here. I wish it was so easy here, yet what we constantly get and what is not surprising is people calling and complaining that we don‘t have any apartments to rent for under 1000 per month…

More on happiness

2007-09-16T22:28:00.000+02:00

My few last posts on happiness and feeling safe (or building fences) really made me think how two things relate.
All the time when I was small - until now - every time I say I feel happy, I mostly hear the reply similar to "Yes yes, but just wait until it will kick you twice as hard".
And of course that is right - there are always hard periods, bad days, sad moments. However, after that happy times come again. Some manage to focus on that. Which probably is what creates safety: well, I'll solve these problems anyway, why feel sad about it.

I think in some cultures - most depressed and feeling guilty about feeling any shadow of happiness, there should be special courses at schools and universities: to learn how to feel happy. I think that would benefit everyone way better than knowing Newton and Leibniz rule (most don't really know where and how to use it even after passing exams).

Now a bit for fun:

Time is...

2007-09-14T15:27:00.000+02:00

This entry will take about 7-10min to write (I guess and hope that not much more).

What can it mean? And is 10 min a lot?

It is definitely a lot when you're waiting for someone who's late and especially if it's cold, you're wearing just tiny t-shirt and dream about something made of wool... This is universal.

However, in some places you know - you have to be late. Maybe ten minutes, maybe few hours. That's not just "ok", that's being "polite".

Why do I tell this, because I probably got some mutation in my genes.

I have such problem: always come at the very time if not 5 min early and then make people feel uncomfortable because of my punctuality.

Why couldn't I live in a country where you don't have to be 10 min late?

What is masculinity?

2007-09-07T11:11:00.001+02:00

It is said that there is always a war somewhere in the world. That is probably true. Since the world has started until now. But have you noticed, some countries are more keen on fighting and dealing with conflicts in a bloody (here I am talkinh literally) way?

Now think of the countries that are not much of fighters and try to propose „peaceful living“, „love for nature“, „respect for others“. Which basically can be valued in any country but realistically they are only „written values“ in most and in real life situations are soon forgotten. What comes to your head first when I am talking about such not so pro-war countries? Sweden by any chance, country that decided to stay away from fighting for so many years? Or any other scandinavian country, where cooperation goes before competition? And these – surprisingly – are also countries with lowest masculinity indexes in researches by cultural scietists (Mr. Hofstede and others).

Let‘s come back to these „let‘s show them our fists (or guns)“ countries and they happen to have high masculinity rates. No surprises. Because this index rates not only number of feminists (if at all), but the femininity or masculinity of values in the country. There can be a correlation though – the more power women have, the less aggressiveness and other typically masculine things they allow.

And surprisingly – those feminine countries also get highest happiness rates.

Let's all hide under a blanket

2007-09-06T17:19:00.000+03:00

Imagine a typical lithuanian family buying a new house. (Situations I hear about every day, working in a real estate company)
- Will there be a fence?, asks mother.
- Yes.
- Wire?
- No, bricks.
-Good...

The higher. the better; but the best has to has a sign on it. Preferably, something like "Protected by... (insert a name of security company)", "Furious (as hell) dog - bites", "Private territory" (which means, you can be shot).
All these don't have to be true. The furious as hell dog can be a tiny kitten that just purrs. But the main thing: as attacking is the best protection, let's attack with scary high fences, horrible signs and don't ever say hello to your neighbour - he may be a serial killer.

My question of the day - how does one (culture) starts trusting other people while others never do?

Are you happy? But why?

2007-08-31T13:48:00.000+03:00

Is it just my impression or are people really much more concerned whether they are happy enough or not? Every now and then you open a magazine or a news webpage and see yet another article „Happiest nation in the world/Europe/your village“, „Scientists found a magical recipe for happiness“ or the other way around: „Depressed cats“, „Depressed people“, „Depressed cats owned by depressed people“...

The funny thing, no matter where you live, what is your nationality and citizenship it is always important not only if you‘re happy, but also if you‘re relatively happier than others. And if you can actually say you‘re happier (or not) than someone else, then it‘s also needed to find reasons. They are hidden everywhere. In your daily bread. In your pillow. In your DNA. In your pocket. In your cup of tea. In the words your boss says.

Happiness becomes like eating. It‘s not hunger, it‘s time to eat. It‘s not „I am happy“, it‘s „Should I be happy? Why?“.

But the real answer here is „why not?“.

Coffee? tea?

2007-08-21T21:55:00.000+03:00

Not long ago I wrote about "beer cultures" and "wine cultures".

Today discussing all kinds of things on an internet forum I discovered another thing. Most beer cultures are so strong that it fights not only against wine, but also against such innocent members of liquid union as tea and coffee. (Think of France and coffee, japan with their rice wine and tea, germans who will take two beers instead...) This could be the second dimension: how authoritarian beer culture is.

How did I come to this idea?

Asked "what product/service do you think Lithuania lacks most" many WOMEN answered "real cafes". By real they ment that coffee, tea and teeny tiny cookies are most important items. And what items, you ask, are so important here that this minority complains?
The answer is simple as an empty paper sheet: beer.

We have this chain of cafes, called "Double coffee" (http://www.doublecoffee.com/). It seems the coffee should be THE object there. No no. Whenever I go there, I constantly see people lifting huge beer glasses. Coffee? Well, maybe another time.

Someone (euromonitor?) counted countries in the north drink most coffee. But I think what matters here is the CULTURE of how it is consumed. Or, rather, consumed or enjoyed. Coffee can be what you drink at work where beer is… well, not really welcome. But where is your heart at the time? In a bar, with some beers and fried bread and cheese?

Finally, with all this I didn’t want to say beer has no allies. Let me use same example of Double coffee. It was meant to be a chain just for coffee drinks, some cakes and shakes. But then customers started complaining – where are the beers? Where are meat dishes? How can we stay here without it?

And soon the menu was expanded.

I wonder how this will change in some years. Where will the crazy-going world lead us? Oxygen bars probably…