Say it so you mean it

Love locks. Need I say more.

When it's cold, winter is coming and you're alone in Paris. This is a sight you definitely want to shoot, cause looking at it hurts your eyes.

This is how much I love you. I want to make a statement. Our love is as firm as this lock. And we can throw the key to the river for this will stand forever. This lock opens my heart and you're the one who has the key.

Despite my enthusiasm above I think this is one fun form of urban culture. Similar locks can be seen in numerous cities. In Serbia the oldest are said to date back to the early 1900s. Who knows, maybe the love has lasted. Should find someone who can give a testimonial.

Good deed of the day

Want an easy, interesting and fun way to make a difference to someone's life? Support a person, not just a huge organization doing some work somewhere. With Kiva it's easy.

Microfinance has become a popular way to help. After Mr Yunus from Bangladesh received Nobel peace prize for his invention in 2006, different version of the same idea have evolved.

Already in 2005 Jessica Jackley together with Matt Flannery founded Kiva. Their idea was to connect people, the entepreneur and his loan givers. This way the need and the deed would have faces and personalities behind them. Everyone has a story. It becomes more real.

I have given loans to nine different countries, to individuals both men and women, farmers, salesmed and craft workers. They're all paid back or nearly so. 

To make a loan is easy. All you need is a credit card or a PayPal account and an Internet access. Then comes the hard part of choosing. I always make my loans to people whose request is soon expiring. Next step is to get to know them and send prayers along with the money.

White and white

I'll be all covered in paint today. Hope some will end up on the walls as well.

Vote

The beginning of the year is always the time to say who was best last year. The Golden Globes already happened and the Oscars are on their way. With music the audience has a lot more to say who is worth a nice trophy and all the glory. If you want to have a saying NME awards voting is open. It's easy to enter. Also there's loads of clips from the prevous years. Here's one with a performance by 50% of Blur.

Anything to say?

I've been trying to come up with a topic relating to my work. But the thing is I'm kinda bored with it and the rest of the world is so much more interesting.

Currently we're buried under a fat pile of snow. Some like it, I definitely don't! Luckily I still have lovely memories of travelling days gone by. A fancy of mine are beautiful stained glass works one can see in pretty much any building that's old. So here goes. Can you recognise the locations?

Uuh. Honey lets go someplace soon.

War Horse

I came across with a marvelous theatrical trailer over two years ago. After watching it again and again I promised myself I'd go and see this piece next time I were be in London. Last fall I did see it.



It's a heart breaking story of friendship, evil, trust, love, loyalty and some amazing horses. With the actors on the stage there were very much live like puppets playing the parts of real life size horses and some birds. How tangible it all felt. No wonder it was sold-out.

Now the same story can be seen on the silver screen by Mr Spielberg himself. I'm not sure if I dare go and see that version. My heart's still in London. The trailer is very promising though.

Worth an Oscar?

My jungle experience

This ghastly winter is perfect time for reminiscing last summer.

I had the privilege to visit the wild in Malaysia. Nature was awesome. And loud. You wouldn't believe the sounds one can hear - and panic over - during the night. (Only a mosquito net between me and the beasts looming in the dark.) Never have I seen so many wild animals within just one day. And each were very special living only on those parts of the world.

It was shocking to realize how little there was left of the original jungle. From the airplane you could see miles and miles of palm oil plantations. Guess it's a good business for the locals, but practically means a slow death for the original ecosystem. Found myself speechless.

Well, money talks and we consume this palm oil in our noodles, creams, lotions, lipsticks, soaps and even (God forbid) "biodiesel". According to Rainforest Action Network up to 50% of all goods sold in the grocery store contain palm oil. I'm a bit sceptic with that number, but even lower percentages would be horrid.

I've never been a nature lover in the sort of crazy lets-chain-ourselves-to-these-trees-to-stop-the-bulldozer kinda way. But to close my eyes and pretend the problem is not there anymore. I can't do that. I'm not sure if we're even allowed to.