New Year-anxiety syndrome

I don't know if any of you have suffered from this weird feeling which occurs in my brain usually just before the beginning of the year.
It's like in a song of my favourite Candian Jew (new German) hip-hop musician GONZALES. Feeling that we are on the road to nowhere and no matter what we do we will still feel out of place. One quote from a review of one of his albums: "This Canadian born Berlin based Jewish mc prankster sweats a profuse stain of hip-hop in with electro cabaret, a symphony of backstage sleaze all covered in hair and melody."
Just before coming back to the city of "1000 faces"-NYC, some sample of my favourite MC verbal skills:):

1000 faces, too many to describe
The first one that I tried Was a mask that I wore on the outside
It was so raw, it was so raw
And it brought such sympathy
Out of everyone who saw Sweet sympathy
But all except for one
One face I looked for pity, and there was none
It was so base, it was so base
And I had to have it I had to steal that face
1000 Faces I've seen them all before
1000 Faces And still 1000 more
1000 Faces Could one of them be yours?
1000 Faces And I know them all on a first-name basis
1000 Faces and evey day there's more
They take your places unlike anything before
I got no memories, one collective one mind
I got the stories, the ones you couldn't find
Every rotation, 333
Every notation bows its head and nods to me
Every mutation, this house we made we sold
I push it further
Push it further a thousand fold
1000 cases of blood against the wall
Breaking bottlenecks, leaving rim's encrusted form
Cut into the life lime, on a palm that's hand in hand
When the top's removed the liquid left expands
From the turtleneck of toads to the lotus on the pond
Skipping over stones to the beat skin of the drum,
Smoke a sleep lullaby-bye

Art of conversation

So, as some of you know..I am a keen reader of all possible magazines and media which focus on the modern society. Just on the second day of Christmas, which is not celebrated in the US, I spent my morning with a cup of strong coffee (too much wine last night...) and a new edition of the Economist, which is truly one of my favourite but very attention-demanding weeklies. Maybe not exactly what one is supposed to be reading the day after cheerful holiday evening...
Please read this article:
http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=83454
I think especially during a holiday season each of us is indulged more or less in an effort to speak with the members of our families that we usually do not have intention to speak on a daily basis. Just because it is polite, just because of the spirit of Christmas, just because of the Hannukah....If there are even 2 min of silence everyone feels kind of uncomfortable. A funny, or not necessarily funny joke must follow...sth must fill the black gap of silence.
As you may read in this article, everyone concentrates more and more on the great nature of the conversation which may be helpful in excercising power at work, in the government, etc...What about the sheer pleasure of it???Does it matter any longer in the era of i-pods, podcasts, digital technology...
I think it really does and what is extremely interesting the principles of "good conversation" have not changed since Cicero was brave enough to formulate them:
"speak clearly; speak easily but not too much, especially when others want their turn; do not interrupt; be courteous; deal seriously with serious matters and gracefully with lighter ones; never criticise people behind their backs; stick to subjects of general interest; do not talk about yourself; and, above all, never lose your temper."
Such a long time ago, and they are still the same...That just reminds me of one thing I tend to forget: what is the name of this guy from my work, the man from the second floor who chats every morning with me...Oh, ....shame on me...I do not remember...No matter how entertaining the conversation was, it did not occur to me to ask him...How impersonal is it ? ....My new year resolution:"I will know all the names of people working with me who are trying to talk to me". And the same to you!!!
Digital BABE

Sugarman

When I look at this picture of two dogs that I know from my Warsaw life..I feel spirit of Christmas...Differences can be uniting , not dividing..As in case of Chila (the small white dog) and Misiek (black retriever)...I wish it was like this in real life..Maybe this time there will be opportunity for me to find out soon...No double games, life is full of sweetness episodes, cheesecakes...As in the lyrics of Sugarman..I'm going to fight for my right to celebrate Christmas, as a Middle Age-like Warrior..Why not if I believe that is what I should follow, my true needs and dreams, I am definately going to fight for my rights to obtain them...
Sorry, for lack of any particular topic, but I'm down with th flu.

How (not) to make business in Europe

European Business Customs and Manners: A Country-by-Country Guide to European Customs and Manners

by Mary Murray Bosrock

The book mentioned above will make you smile at least for two conescutive days. However, only if you are from Europe... By nature, I am an explorer. Therefore, two days ago when I was at BN this book attracted my attention. Of course, I found Poland in the contents and after two sentences I burst out laughing causing confusion among peaceful book afficionados. This was a wicked laugh..
It is a pity I cannot provide you with exact quotations..but believe me..This reading is better than Borat, Monty Python. and alike..It is a presentation of all possible cliches which were maybe true 30 years ago..Poor American businessmen...failure guaranteed with this manual...
Topics of conversation to be avoided in Poland, according to the author:
-fact that we are part of the Eastern Europe...Poles consider themselves to be Central Europe , Easter Europe evokes very negative association..
-Poles are extremely hospitable, but do not be afraid you do not have to drink as much as they do, they won't be offended...
- Not many women are high executives, but there are some exceptions like Hanna Suchocka (ex-Prime Minister) or Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz (President of the National Bank)...

- always take your Polish clients to expensive restaurants, they like to feel sense of luxury...
Oh, God, Dear American Entepreneurs, welcome to Poland, at your own risk, the forgotten land of male chauvinist pigs who start the morning with a shot of Sobieski Vodka...
All writers of the world, please do some more research before you jump to all these funny conclusions...Otherwise, your business ventures in "in the New Members of the EU are doomed from the start.

Some buzz can be good

Recently there is a lot of noise in the media about alcohol addictions among the stars..
First, Mel Gibson and all his unexcusable anti-Jew behaviour..Most of influential big fish in Movie Biz turned their backs to him and he surprised us...His last bloody epic is number one at the Box Office...
Lindsey Party-Lohan confessed to the People Magazine to be an active member AA. It is only her business but of course all America knows right now..and is deeply sympathizing with young next-to be ELizabeth Taylor, if everything goes well and Lindsey will not become a permanent rehab visitor...
Italian scientists just announced that some buzz can even prolong your life...For men it means 3 drinks a day and for us "weaker sex" -two... However, important notice!!!! If you exceed this limit, alcohol has miraculously devastating effect on your health.. So , remember don't try to play Bukowski too much because you gonna die young and restless and there is still so many things to see and read ...
Looking forward to Hannukah and some buzz..
Stayed tune,
ANIA

Girl thought of the day