I don't know the name... is it safe?
We know that you'll probably feel more comfortable with the idea of well-known branded devices. They have reputation and prestige, and the feeling of a big company behind them. But you may have forgotten that sometimes brands that are big now were once themselves quite tiny, or maybe have been well-known but were not involved in phone manufacture, and sometimes not long ago. Who had heard of phones made by Samsung, LG or HTC five years ago?
You may not be aware that phones aren't necessarily only manufactured in factories owned by the brands themselves. In many industries it is common for a branded manufacturer to use the manufacturing facilities of smaller companies, who make products to their design and specification. Often commercial agreements will prevent them publishing their role as a manufacturer for a more well-known brand. In fact, sometimes a larger manufacturer who wants in on a market will go to the existing manufacturer that is unknown to consumers and work with them to tailor a model for their own marketing requirements and branded with their own name. Some manufacturers specialise in producing products for big names to tailor to their own specification and brand as their own.
So smaller and lesser-known brand names can be just as good as big brands, even though they may choose to target customers who seek a combination of functionality and value as a priority over prestige. Because they aim to differentiate their own branded items by targeting a value market, they may include a slightly lower-resolution camera, for instance, or headphones that probably won't be the super-duper audiophile quality the top brands sometimes use for bumping up the price excessively – but they'll still be perfectly good quality to the vast majority of people.
AFFORDABLE VALUE TABLET PC AVAILABLE AT www.92trade.com
It depends on what is important to you, but the essential qualities and functionality are very comparable, yet at a much cheaper price. We've carefully picked some outstanding models from up-and-coming or behind-the-scenes manufacturers that we're certain offer excellent value for money as well as the dependable quality you need from a device that is very likely to become a constant companion in your life. For some people, our value brands may enable access to the life-changing convenience and functionality that otherwise might have been too far out of reach.
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
My Unknown Tablet is better than your Ipad.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Names of Towns with Funny Names
These are a bunch of misjudged names of some places in the world. How funny would it look if someone walked up to you and said "Hello, my name's Chuck and I'm from Horneytown, NC".
1. Anus, France
2. Assinippi, Massassachusetts
3. Assloss, Scotland
4. Bald Knob, Arkansas
5. Ballplay, Tennessee
6. Beaver Lick, Kentucky
7. Big Beaver, Pennsylvania
8. Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky

9. Big Knockerstown, England
10. Blackdykes, England
11. Blowhard, Australia
12. Blue Ball, Ohio . . . Blue Ball, Delaware . . . Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
13. Bobbin Head, Australia
14. Boysack, Scotland
15. Brest, France
16. Bumpass, Virginia
17. Busti, New York
18. Buttzville, New Jersey
19. Caulkerbush, Scotland
20. Climax, Georgia

21. Cockintake, England
22. Cockplay, Scotland
23. Cocksgag, Ohio
24. Deep Gap, Tennessee
25. Dickeyville, Wisconsin
26. Dickshooter, Idaho
27. Dicktown, New Jersey
28. Dildo, Canada

29. Dikshit, India
30. Erect, North Carolina
31. Fanny, West Virginia
32. French Lick, Indiana
33. Fucking, Austria

Where's the person on the bike? Oh, no... not in public.
34. Gayville, South Dakota
35. Hookersville, West Virgina
36. Horneytown, North Carolina
37. Intercourse, Pennsylvania
38. Knock Lick, Kentucky
39. Little Dix Village, West Indies
40. Long Dong, China
41. Loveladies, New Jersey
42. Mary’s Inlet, Canada
43. Mount Gay, West Virginia
44. Mount Mee, Australia
45. Muff, Ireland

There really is a diving club in Muff, Ireland.
46. Nipple, Utah
47. Onacock, Virginia
48. Pennis Wood, England
49. Pussy Creek, Ohio
50. Puseyville, Pennsylvania
51. Ramsbottom, England
52. Sexmoan, Phillippines
53. Shag Island, Indian Ocean
54. Smackass Gap, North Carolina
55. Spread Eagle, Wisconsin
56. Sweet Lips, Tennessee
57. Ta Ta Creek, Canada
58. Three Cocks, Wales
59. Threeway, Virginia
60. Pussy, France
1. Anus, France
2. Assinippi, Massassachusetts
3. Assloss, Scotland
4. Bald Knob, Arkansas
5. Ballplay, Tennessee
6. Beaver Lick, Kentucky
7. Big Beaver, Pennsylvania
8. Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky
9. Big Knockerstown, England
10. Blackdykes, England
11. Blowhard, Australia
12. Blue Ball, Ohio . . . Blue Ball, Delaware . . . Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
13. Bobbin Head, Australia
14. Boysack, Scotland
15. Brest, France
16. Bumpass, Virginia
17. Busti, New York
18. Buttzville, New Jersey
19. Caulkerbush, Scotland
20. Climax, Georgia
21. Cockintake, England
22. Cockplay, Scotland
23. Cocksgag, Ohio
24. Deep Gap, Tennessee
25. Dickeyville, Wisconsin
26. Dickshooter, Idaho
27. Dicktown, New Jersey
28. Dildo, Canada
29. Dikshit, India
30. Erect, North Carolina
31. Fanny, West Virginia
32. French Lick, Indiana
33. Fucking, Austria
Where's the person on the bike? Oh, no... not in public.
34. Gayville, South Dakota
35. Hookersville, West Virgina
36. Horneytown, North Carolina
37. Intercourse, Pennsylvania
38. Knock Lick, Kentucky
39. Little Dix Village, West Indies
40. Long Dong, China
41. Loveladies, New Jersey
42. Mary’s Inlet, Canada
43. Mount Gay, West Virginia
44. Mount Mee, Australia
45. Muff, Ireland
There really is a diving club in Muff, Ireland.
46. Nipple, Utah
47. Onacock, Virginia
48. Pennis Wood, England
49. Pussy Creek, Ohio
50. Puseyville, Pennsylvania
51. Ramsbottom, England
52. Sexmoan, Phillippines
53. Shag Island, Indian Ocean
54. Smackass Gap, North Carolina
55. Spread Eagle, Wisconsin
56. Sweet Lips, Tennessee
57. Ta Ta Creek, Canada
58. Three Cocks, Wales
59. Threeway, Virginia
60. Pussy, France
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Questions We Should Ask Ourselves...
Tell me how many women childhood dreams come to past
Tell me how many movies turn out real
There are so many questions
Questions I'll like to ask
So you can understand exactly how I feel
Tell me how many people wish they were someone else
Someone they think the world wants them to be
Tell me how many babies will be born just to die
Leaving me with these questions
Asking why
Tell me how do trees whisper
How do birds learn to sing
And how does the rainbow stay the same
How do bees make their honey
How do they learn to sting
Can a broken heart get back to heal again
How do people get so busy they don't find time to love
What's the truth behind why people go to war
Why is there so much religion yet there's so little love
Will I ever get to know the truth some day
Where's the youth who's gonna dare - where's the elder who really cares
Why do people believe things they know arent true
When you look into the mirror who do you see
Why do we have to grow to be wise
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Oily Humor
Labels:
American flag,
eagle,
funny,
invasion,
jokes,
oil,
political humor,
USA
15 Ways to Attract Men......Even if You're Overweight!
Are you overweight? Think guys won’t go for you just because of how much space you take up? Think again! Attracting a man doesn’t have to involve a tight, rocking body — it’s all about confidence and positive attitude!
1. If you are only five or ten pounds overweight, you shouldn’t even be reading this article! You are not fat; you just feel self-conscious. Confidence is key when it comes to attracting a guy. There are plenty of skinny women who are still alone too. Why? They’re not confident or outgoing!
2. Play up your best features. True, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but highlighting your best features will help you look and feel better about yourself. For example, if you have beautiful eyes, apply some black or navy-blue eyeliner to help widen your eyes. If you have shapely lips, apply a thin layer of gloss. Shape your brows. Clear up your acne. Not only will this help you look more approachable, but you’ll feel more confident knowing you like the way you look.
3. Wear your best outfits. You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a new wardrobe, but you want to look approachable. So dig through your closet and pick out your favorite articles of clothing. Make sure they’re fitted and not too tight or too baggy. If they are, you’ll end up looking even *heavier*, and that’s not good. If you need to, go to your favorite stores and ask the clerks what size you should be buying. They might offer to help you pick out some new threads, too!
4. Make your hair look amazing by giving it a new style or color. Even just neatly brushed hair is great looking. If your hair is curly, you could either straighten it or apply mousse to keep it looking fresh and neat. If your hair is straight, try using a volumizing shampoo to give it a lift. Straight hair looks drab when it just hangs off your scalp. For more fun, try tying your hair into a messy bun or putting it half-up. This works best if your hair is prone to frizz and poof.
5. Your attitude says a lot about you. SMILE! Give men a reason to approach you. Uncross your arms when standing. Participate in conversations or activities so that guys can at least know you exist. Don’t be a hermit! No one will see you! Walk with your head held high and your back straight. Don’t pound around and drag your feet all day. This just makes you look depressed. No one wants to approach someone who looks like they’re mad at the world.
6. If men won’t approach you, approach them! I know it may seem hard, but the best way to overcome this is to just start small by making light conversation. Make sure to pop a mint or a stick of gum beforehand to eliminate bad breath and always be ready. If you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, turn to the cutie next to you and make conversation. (Make a joke or try to get him to laugh. If you just stand there looking bored, he’ll just ignore you.) Ask him questions that won’t lead to a one word answer.
7. If he is someone you’ve had your eye on for a while, wait until he is alone or not busy.Quickly glance at him until he looks at you back. When he does, smile. If he smiles back, approach him and say “hi”. Most of the time, he’ll say “hi” back. You can usually tell if he’s up for more conversation, like if his attention is suddenly directed towards you. Here are a few conversation starters you can use (whilst smiling shyly):
“Hi, you look lonely, so I thought I should just come over and say hi.”
“The weather’s finally nice for once, huh?”
8. Make more friends! Be kind to everyone you see. Men are more attracted to women who are friendly and outgoing. This makes them believe that you’re fun to be around.
9. Don’t focus so much on your weight. He can see that it’s there, so there’s no point in trying to make him think you’re skinny.
10. If he doesn’t seem interested, move on. There’s no point in pursuing someone that doesn’t reciprocate your feelings. Know that it may have nothing to do with your weight — some men just aren’t interested!
11. If you can, try making small talk with different men every day using the conversation starters above. There’s bound to be a handful of guys who will want to keep talking to you. As long as you just talk to them, that’s all that really matters.
• Did You Know: Certain guys may want to talk to you, but are too shy to make the first move! Be the confident one and make the first move yourself. What have you got to lose?
12. Once you’re talking to a guy, casually ask for their number. Don’t contact him too often, or he’ll get creeped out and you’ll lose your chance! And don’t text him all the time. As a matter of fact, try calling him instead. Actually dialing a guy’s number and speaking with him live will get him thinking about you and he’ll admire your confidence.
13. Give it some time and flirt. Give genuine compliments and make eye contact while flirting and sprinkle them in with casual conversation. This will make you seem like you’re interested, but not desperate. When he flirts back, you’ll know it’s time to move on to the next step…
14. Ask them out! Here’s how you know when to ask him out:
• He compliments you first • He tries to make you laugh • He always tries to be near you
• He wants to hang out with you often • He asks YOU for YOUR number • You catch him staring at you
15. If you end up going on a date, congratulations! If he asks you out again that means he likes you. Enjoy your newly found romance! If not, don’t keep asking him out that shows that you are desperate.
1. If you are only five or ten pounds overweight, you shouldn’t even be reading this article! You are not fat; you just feel self-conscious. Confidence is key when it comes to attracting a guy. There are plenty of skinny women who are still alone too. Why? They’re not confident or outgoing!
2. Play up your best features. True, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but highlighting your best features will help you look and feel better about yourself. For example, if you have beautiful eyes, apply some black or navy-blue eyeliner to help widen your eyes. If you have shapely lips, apply a thin layer of gloss. Shape your brows. Clear up your acne. Not only will this help you look more approachable, but you’ll feel more confident knowing you like the way you look.
3. Wear your best outfits. You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a new wardrobe, but you want to look approachable. So dig through your closet and pick out your favorite articles of clothing. Make sure they’re fitted and not too tight or too baggy. If they are, you’ll end up looking even *heavier*, and that’s not good. If you need to, go to your favorite stores and ask the clerks what size you should be buying. They might offer to help you pick out some new threads, too!
4. Make your hair look amazing by giving it a new style or color. Even just neatly brushed hair is great looking. If your hair is curly, you could either straighten it or apply mousse to keep it looking fresh and neat. If your hair is straight, try using a volumizing shampoo to give it a lift. Straight hair looks drab when it just hangs off your scalp. For more fun, try tying your hair into a messy bun or putting it half-up. This works best if your hair is prone to frizz and poof.
5. Your attitude says a lot about you. SMILE! Give men a reason to approach you. Uncross your arms when standing. Participate in conversations or activities so that guys can at least know you exist. Don’t be a hermit! No one will see you! Walk with your head held high and your back straight. Don’t pound around and drag your feet all day. This just makes you look depressed. No one wants to approach someone who looks like they’re mad at the world.
6. If men won’t approach you, approach them! I know it may seem hard, but the best way to overcome this is to just start small by making light conversation. Make sure to pop a mint or a stick of gum beforehand to eliminate bad breath and always be ready. If you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, turn to the cutie next to you and make conversation. (Make a joke or try to get him to laugh. If you just stand there looking bored, he’ll just ignore you.) Ask him questions that won’t lead to a one word answer.
7. If he is someone you’ve had your eye on for a while, wait until he is alone or not busy.Quickly glance at him until he looks at you back. When he does, smile. If he smiles back, approach him and say “hi”. Most of the time, he’ll say “hi” back. You can usually tell if he’s up for more conversation, like if his attention is suddenly directed towards you. Here are a few conversation starters you can use (whilst smiling shyly):
“Hi, you look lonely, so I thought I should just come over and say hi.”
“The weather’s finally nice for once, huh?”
8. Make more friends! Be kind to everyone you see. Men are more attracted to women who are friendly and outgoing. This makes them believe that you’re fun to be around.
9. Don’t focus so much on your weight. He can see that it’s there, so there’s no point in trying to make him think you’re skinny.
10. If he doesn’t seem interested, move on. There’s no point in pursuing someone that doesn’t reciprocate your feelings. Know that it may have nothing to do with your weight — some men just aren’t interested!
11. If you can, try making small talk with different men every day using the conversation starters above. There’s bound to be a handful of guys who will want to keep talking to you. As long as you just talk to them, that’s all that really matters.
• Did You Know: Certain guys may want to talk to you, but are too shy to make the first move! Be the confident one and make the first move yourself. What have you got to lose?
12. Once you’re talking to a guy, casually ask for their number. Don’t contact him too often, or he’ll get creeped out and you’ll lose your chance! And don’t text him all the time. As a matter of fact, try calling him instead. Actually dialing a guy’s number and speaking with him live will get him thinking about you and he’ll admire your confidence.
13. Give it some time and flirt. Give genuine compliments and make eye contact while flirting and sprinkle them in with casual conversation. This will make you seem like you’re interested, but not desperate. When he flirts back, you’ll know it’s time to move on to the next step…
14. Ask them out! Here’s how you know when to ask him out:
• He compliments you first • He tries to make you laugh • He always tries to be near you
• He wants to hang out with you often • He asks YOU for YOUR number • You catch him staring at you
15. If you end up going on a date, congratulations! If he asks you out again that means he likes you. Enjoy your newly found romance! If not, don’t keep asking him out that shows that you are desperate.
Labels:
attitude,
attractive,
confidence,
features,
flirt,
friends,
men,
overweight,
relationship,
smile,
women
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Epic Charles Ramsey Interview Music Remix..Enjoy!
Remember the recent interview by Charles Ramsey on the three kidnapped girls found alive? Well just like it was expected, there's a remix of that interview. Mister Ramsey is an hero though and this would even make him more popular. Reminds one of Sweet Brown's miraculous escape....Ain't nobody gat time for that!!
Just a comic relief..
Labels:
Charles Ramsey,
comic,
dead giveaway,
kidnapping,
remix,
USA
Monday, May 6, 2013
If It's Not One thing, It's Another!
Lola is a 16 y/o girl growing up in the suburbs of a sprawling district in Nairobi, Kenya. She is intelligent, cute and charming. Everyone loves Lola in school and her teachers think she's got a very bright future. Lola comes from a religious family. Her mum is the prayer warrior of the Pentecostal church in the neighborhood. She doesn't talk to her children about sex and its consequences. Lola's dad is an academic. He works as a university lecturer in the city. He's strict yet loving and wants the best for his children. After closing at school one day, Lola hooks up with friends as they find their way home. Being all girls, they discuss about getting boyfriends. "I think I'm old enough to have a guy" says Simbi. "I can't wait to become an adult at last" says another, as the other girls chuckled. They all look at Miriam, the oldest in the group. Rumor has it Miriam has bedded a few guys and could say one or two things about it. "My parents will be traveling to the village next week. We can invite a few guys over" Miriam discloses. Lola listens with rapt attention in the middle of all this. She's trying to figure out how to respond to Miriam's invitation. The troubled teenager is torn between giving in to the yearnings of her raging hormones and making her family proud by keeping her virginity until she gets married. In the end, Lola decides to honor Miriam's invitation. She goes to Miriam's house and meets Jaiye. Now Jaiye, who is as handsome as the devil, has the charm of a red-nosed reindeer and a smooth talking tongue. Behind all these, Jaiye also has the morals of an alley cat. Within minutes, Jaiye is able to break down Lola's final resistance. "Why can't we have some fun? The other guys already got to it. It's harmless" he persuades. Lola falls for him and gives in. A few weeks later, Lola is pregnant. She's devastated. How would she explain this to her parents. She has failed her family. She talks to Simbi and together they go after Jaiye. He suggests an abortion. He's not ready to father a child and Lola isn't ready to be a mother at 16. They find a quack who's ready to do it for a few bucks. Lola goes under the quack's knives and gets rid of the pregnancy. A few days later, complications arise and Lola starts bleeding. She refuses to confess on her deathbed, but as the embers of life start to slowly diminish, she confesses to her mom and mentions Simbi and Jaiye. Soon after that Lola dies!
Amanda is 16 years old. She lives in Alabama, U.S.A. She's a happy-go-lucky kind of girl. Her dad is a busy management consultant who's seldom around the family. Amanda's mum is a nurse who spends most of her time saving lives at the general hospital. Without getting enough quality time to spend with both parents, Amanda falls back on friends. She enjoys all the gossips and exuberance of a bubbling teenager with her friends. Now in senior high school, Amanda wants to try out new things. She finds a willing partner in Amy who shows up with the cigarettes and booze. In the course of this, she gets intimate with a few older guys she meets through Amy. Week-in-week-out, Amanda goes home tipsy but her parents are too busy to notice. Gradually, Amanda slowly ebbs deeper into the world of alcoholism. Her grades begin to drop at school and her teachers start worrying about her. She sees the school counselor who convinces her to retrace her steps. She did. Few weeks later, Amanda meets Amy who invites her to a party being hosted by Jimmy, the most sought-after kid in school. Amanda can't resist. She goes to Jimmy's party and ends up dancing with Jimmy. Now, Jimmy is a spoilt rich kid, and good-looking, too. His dad wants him to go to Harvard and be a successful business-man. Jimmy cajoles Amanda to follow him into the room. Amanda is half-way in the bag and can't resist. A couple of weeks later, Amanda realizes she's been knocked up. She finds Jimmy in school and tells him he's about to be a father. This doesn't go down well with him. That'd be a scandal if his parents get to know about it. It'd ruin their standing in the prestigious yacht club of millionaires. Amanda is crushed. She goes home and cries all day. She's going to have the baby regardless of what happens. Her mom comes home from work late in the night and finds Amanda waiting up for her. She can't believe it when Amanda breaks the news of her pregnancy. She realizes she hasn't been living up to her billings as a mother. She promises to change. Nine months later, Amanda has a bouncing baby girl and names her Jaimee to remind her of Jimmy. Even though she has a child out of wedlock, she's hopeful and alive!
Being a teenager could be as challenging as riveting. Across the world, from Africa to America to Asia and to Europe, teens face the daunting tasks of sticking to the rules and charting a course for their lives. Unsurprisingly though, the challenges teens have to face differ from one continent to another. African teens are wary of getting pregnant thus putting an end to their education and bringing the family name to shame. A knocked-up African teen is regarded as a failure in most African societies. Most times, they result to having an abortion thereby falling prey to the numerous quack doctors. Which brings up another question. Would it help if abortion were legalized? While getting knocked up in your teens is definitely not something to be proud of, the toga of shame and guilt these teens are made to wear doesn't in any way help them to recover from the trauma of becoming a young mother.
The onus falls on parents and guardians, being the closest to their wards. They should feel free to discuss the consequences of sex with their teens and make them grasp the full picture, and when it goes the other way, help them get back on track. Having a baby as a teen doesn't necessarily spell failure for the mother, what happens after does.
Amanda is 16 years old. She lives in Alabama, U.S.A. She's a happy-go-lucky kind of girl. Her dad is a busy management consultant who's seldom around the family. Amanda's mum is a nurse who spends most of her time saving lives at the general hospital. Without getting enough quality time to spend with both parents, Amanda falls back on friends. She enjoys all the gossips and exuberance of a bubbling teenager with her friends. Now in senior high school, Amanda wants to try out new things. She finds a willing partner in Amy who shows up with the cigarettes and booze. In the course of this, she gets intimate with a few older guys she meets through Amy. Week-in-week-out, Amanda goes home tipsy but her parents are too busy to notice. Gradually, Amanda slowly ebbs deeper into the world of alcoholism. Her grades begin to drop at school and her teachers start worrying about her. She sees the school counselor who convinces her to retrace her steps. She did. Few weeks later, Amanda meets Amy who invites her to a party being hosted by Jimmy, the most sought-after kid in school. Amanda can't resist. She goes to Jimmy's party and ends up dancing with Jimmy. Now, Jimmy is a spoilt rich kid, and good-looking, too. His dad wants him to go to Harvard and be a successful business-man. Jimmy cajoles Amanda to follow him into the room. Amanda is half-way in the bag and can't resist. A couple of weeks later, Amanda realizes she's been knocked up. She finds Jimmy in school and tells him he's about to be a father. This doesn't go down well with him. That'd be a scandal if his parents get to know about it. It'd ruin their standing in the prestigious yacht club of millionaires. Amanda is crushed. She goes home and cries all day. She's going to have the baby regardless of what happens. Her mom comes home from work late in the night and finds Amanda waiting up for her. She can't believe it when Amanda breaks the news of her pregnancy. She realizes she hasn't been living up to her billings as a mother. She promises to change. Nine months later, Amanda has a bouncing baby girl and names her Jaimee to remind her of Jimmy. Even though she has a child out of wedlock, she's hopeful and alive!
Being a teenager could be as challenging as riveting. Across the world, from Africa to America to Asia and to Europe, teens face the daunting tasks of sticking to the rules and charting a course for their lives. Unsurprisingly though, the challenges teens have to face differ from one continent to another. African teens are wary of getting pregnant thus putting an end to their education and bringing the family name to shame. A knocked-up African teen is regarded as a failure in most African societies. Most times, they result to having an abortion thereby falling prey to the numerous quack doctors. Which brings up another question. Would it help if abortion were legalized? While getting knocked up in your teens is definitely not something to be proud of, the toga of shame and guilt these teens are made to wear doesn't in any way help them to recover from the trauma of becoming a young mother.
The onus falls on parents and guardians, being the closest to their wards. They should feel free to discuss the consequences of sex with their teens and make them grasp the full picture, and when it goes the other way, help them get back on track. Having a baby as a teen doesn't necessarily spell failure for the mother, what happens after does.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Poznan - My Other City Is My Home
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| Food, food and food! |
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| Simply appetizing! |
Second rule: Wear your heart on your sleeve. When you sit at the feast table with your Polish hosts, feel free and smile. Don't hold anything back but be tactful. One unguarded statement could ruin the fun. Make sure not to reject any food offered, and if you have to say no, say it with your laundry-soap commercial smile. On the table were lots of dishes I'd never tasted. The Polish kielbasa (sausages) looked different from the everyday sausages I was used to likewise the "chrzan" (horseradish). I couldn't reject trying them all out. My task was how to eat them without grimacing and making my hosts feel bad. I looked at the patron of the house who had been around the world and whom I'd been discussing politics with and tried a very old trick. "Sir, the kielbasa looks really different. Is it usually made from veal" I asked. He was eager to proudly tell me what the sausage was made from and thus my trick worked. My plan was to be in the middle of a discourse while I tried out the kielbasa. I'd already put on my poker face and now if the kielbasa tasted really strange, I could grimace without basically betraying any expression on my face. As the patron of the house lectured me about kielbasa, I quickly tried it, found out it wasn't bad at all, saw it off with a gulp of tea and gave my Redford smile again.
Third rule: Don't fail to praise the culinary skills of the cook (who's usually the matron of the family). Well, apart from getting a taste of Polish hospitality, be ready to experience some kind of "old-school love". The old man wouldn't stop telling everyone who sat at the table how his wife bakes the best cake or cooks the best soup in town. I had to take a cue from that. I looked at his wife and told her how much I admired her cooking and how well it tasted.
Fourth rule: Keep a conversation going and bring your table manners along: Don't shuffle your feet, belch loudly or make your phone the center of your attention. Converse lightly about general topics. I muted my phone and buried myself deep in the rituals of chowing down the food. Lighthearted conversations went on while we all dined. Also, remember to keep your guffawing till after the meal. You don't want to expose the spinach that just got stuck in your teeth to your host. Remember, wear your heart at your sleeve but be tactful!
Fifth rule: At the end of the meal, smile, smile and smile. You can tell your hosts how much you've enjoyed the meal even if your tummy is starting to make funny sounds. Don't be an ungrateful guest and brag about how you're not used to eating traditional stuff. Poles like their traditional food and won't take it lightly to it being berated. Another wonderful time to have a taste of Polish hospitality at the dining table is at Christmas. Get ready to be treated to a twelve-dish Christmas eve banquet. Christmas is just a couple of months away and ain't we all looking forward to that again?
To be sure I wasn't hallucinating about my experience in Poznan as an international student, I ventured to ask other students to examine in contrast how their adventure had been so far and below are the excerpts.
| A view of the Malta lake |
Me: So, Amy, how's it been like?
Amy: Well, there have been ups and downs and some tribulations at the beginning when I was adjusting but overall, it's been pretty good.
Me: How was it like adjusting here when you first arrived?
Amy: It's been more of an anticipation scare than reality. I'd never been to Poland before I came here as a student so I was suffering from too much anxiety after reading all the different things on the Internet.
Me: So, do you have a different opinion about Poland and Poznan after you adjusted as a student?
Amy: By all means. I was proven wrong about everything and the good thing was that it turned out to be much better than I expected.
Me: Describe Poznan in three words.
Amy: Culture, motion and spirit.
Me: Thanks Amy!
Amy: Anytime!
That was an account. Let's see what some other person thinks. This time, a guy.
Me: Hey pal! How's it been like studying here as an International Student?
Raj: It's been an experience. Although I wouldn't call it a piece of cake, it's been challenging and interesting so far.
Me: What are the challenges?
Raj: The main challenges for me was the Polish language and the weather. Good thing though is that most locals speak English and I'm fast adapting to the weather. I can't say I miss the food because there's an Indian restaurant downtown.
Me: In your own opinion, what sets this city straight for International Students?
Raj: This city is full of young people from all over the world. It's dynamic, modern and at the same time has a flavor of old European traditions.
Me: Describe Poznan in three words.
Raj: Drive, students, beauty.
Me: Thanks Raj!
Raj: You're welcome!
| The bouncing bridge |
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Friday, April 26, 2013
Is It The Apocalypse Already?
The wave of deaths and catastrophic events that has swept through the world in the past couple of weeks is really starting to look worrisome. Within three weeks, more than 500 people have lost their lives in fire accidents, collapsed buildings, terror attacks, e.t.c. It started with the Boston marathon bombing in the US which claimed about three lives. A few days after, a fertilizer plant in Texas got fiery and by the time the hullabaloo died down, fifteen people had been killed. Hours later, news media reported that a MIT policeman had been shot dead by the suspected bombers and by the time the angel of death left Uncle Sam, twenty people, including one of the suspected bombers were dead. As if that wasn't enough, the wave of terror swept over the Atlantic to west Africa, Nigeria, where government army forces went to war with extremists in the village of Baga in northern Nigeria. A hundred and eighty-five people went down as collateral damage by the time the last bullet was fired. Next in line was Bangladesh. This time, the messenger of death struck through a collapsed building. An eight-story building housing numerous factory workers crashed and with it two hundred and seventy five lives. While the carnage continued in Syria, another tragedy struck in Russia when a mental institution went Texas on its inmates by going up in flames. It took with it thirty-eight lives. Not done yet, some loon in northern Germany went berserk and shot to death a county mayor before taking his own life. Another thirty people bade the world adios when the bus they were traveling in collided with an oil tanker in Afghanistan. Just today, another building collapsed in India, killing fifteen souls.
Needless to say, the world is on a gradual grind to insanity. Our world is becoming topsy-turvy more than it was thirty years ago. With so much avoidable deaths happening within the space of just three weeks, it can be said emphatically that these are indeed trying times. People get their lives snuffed out of them like chickens, human and man-made catastrophes of unimaginable magnitude continue to occur and man's inhumanity to man has risen to frightening levels. Are we finally nearing the apocalypse? As we offer our condolences to the bereaved worldwide and continue to sympathize with the distressed, the question of who will save the savior remains pertinent as we advance rapidly down the self-destruct slope.
Needless to say, the world is on a gradual grind to insanity. Our world is becoming topsy-turvy more than it was thirty years ago. With so much avoidable deaths happening within the space of just three weeks, it can be said emphatically that these are indeed trying times. People get their lives snuffed out of them like chickens, human and man-made catastrophes of unimaginable magnitude continue to occur and man's inhumanity to man has risen to frightening levels. Are we finally nearing the apocalypse? As we offer our condolences to the bereaved worldwide and continue to sympathize with the distressed, the question of who will save the savior remains pertinent as we advance rapidly down the self-destruct slope.
Friday, April 19, 2013
A Poznan of Adventures!
| Adam Mickiewicz University |
During the weeks that followed my night-out, staying indoor had become inevitable. It'd be like sleeping in the middle of a storm. There was too much to see and do and even though studying was primary, other exertions had to be added to it. Everyone knows the story of the proverbial Jack who said something about all work and no play. The following day took me to the old garrison occupied by soldiers during World War II. Walking around the barracks, I pictured in my brain's eye how the soldiers lived during that time. There's an arsenal of armored tanks, fighter planes, weapons and motor-bikes. To the eastern part of the preservation is the fortress in which the soldiers dwelt for the duration of the war. It's something like a substructure built with concrete and steel and it's really huge. On the way out is the cemetery. There's a part where there were graves of only Polish soldiers, another one for Germans and the last one for English soldiers. One that particularly stuck out as typical with that unfortunate time in history was the tomb of an unknown soldier.
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| WW2 memory |
| River Warta |
| Train crossing the Old Bridge |
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