The Vintage look in Photoshop

1. Select your image. Try to find a standard-quality picture, that's not either very small or very big.
2. 
   Open your image in Photoshop. If you have a problem with low picture quality, then consult the "Improving the Image Quality" section below to improve the quality before adding the vintage effect. If the picture is high quality, proceed to the next step.
3. 
   Duplicate your image and again go to Blending Options. Choose Overlay or Soft Light, according to your preferences. If your image is a light one, it's better to keep it in low opacity such as 40%.
4. 
   Go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Selective Color.
5. Input these numbers in the following order:
   • Reds:+67, -48, -26, +31
   • Cyans: +29
   • Whites: 0, -45, +18, +8
   • Neutrals: +59, -11, -27, +15
   • Blacks: +51, +25, +23, -12
     
6. Make a new layer (Ctrl+shift+n).Go to Edit>Fill and fill it with #1200ff or any rich blue color.This will fill your whole image with this colour but don't panic.Your image is not gone!
7. 
   Right click your new layer and select again Blending Options. Set it to "Exclusion" and Opacity at 20-25%.
8. 
   Add another layer and fill it again in this color: 8581b6. Go to Blending Options and select Color Dodge and set the Opacity to 25-30%.
   

Women pick men that look like dad

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/health/7593336.stm

I think that's what I also did...my bf and my father tend to have some similar facial characteristics but I didn't know it could have been explained that way.

Babies are what you eat

This is impressive. Read here: http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_08_08_04_en.html&artid=7873&item=Infocentre

Vachement bravo!

What a relief!! That's all that I can say :)

Cities by Night...from Space!

Chicago













Denver, Colorado














Long Beach, California

Lightning Effect with Photoshop

1. Open the image you're editing or make a new file. The example shown here uses an RGB 300 x 100 with a black background.
2. 
   Draw the lines in the position you want the lightning to be. Use a 1px paintbrush.
3. Use the 'Wind' filter. Filter > Stylize > Wind. Select the method as 'Wind' and the direction 'From the left'. Now repeat except change the direction to 'From the right'
4. 
   Rotate the image 90 degrees. Click Image > Rotate > 90 degrees right. Repeat the previous step and rotate it 90 left.
5. Move to Filter > Distort > Ripple, set the amount to 100%, and hit "OK".
6. 
   Go to "Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation". At the bottom right corner, hit "Colorize". Now adjust the "Hue" bar and the "Saturation" bar until you get a color you like.

Hot chocolate recipe

Hot chocolate can be a delicious and comforting beverage, especially during cold winter months. If chilled, however, you'll have a refreshing drink or possibly a dessert depending on how you dress it up.

Hot chocolate should not to be confused with hot cocoa. The former is made with actual chocolate and is a richer, much more substantial beverage. The latter is produced from cocoa powder or from a manufactured product containing cocoa powder such as hot cocoa mixes available at grocery stores.

Ingredients

• chocolate
• milk/water

Optional Inredients

• cream
• flavourings: such as herbs, spices, liqueur, mint etc.

Method

1. Obtain some good quality chocolate. This can be milk, dark, or even white chocolate, depending on your preferences and flavors you wish to add.
   
   
2. Chop the chocolate finely on a clean cutting board or counter. One of the easiest ways to chop the chocolate is to use a serrated knife. The amount of chocolate you use depends on how strong and rich you want the beverage to be. A good starting point is 25g of chocolate per cup of liquid. If you need more chocolate, simply add it.
3. Turn the stove top to a medium-low or low setting. Pour milk or water into the pot and gently add the chopped chocolate.
   

An alternative to direct heat is to double boil. If you choose to double boil, place a small pot of water on high heat and put a metal bowl on top. Add the chocolate and stir until fully melted turning the heat down some once the water has reached boiling point. Then add cream at 1:1 to the chocolate and stir, effectively making a ganache. The ganache will be added to your mug of hot milk when finished. Add any flavorings suggested below to the ganache while stirring in the cream. (Using the double boil method should make it more difficult to burn your chocolately goodness, but be careful with the bowl as it will get hot!)

Make sure each serving of hot chocolate is at least 4oz (120ml) for a richer beverage and at most 8oz (240ml) for a thinner beverage.

This is the point where you can add liqueur if you wish. Doing so now will burn off some of the alcohol and mellow out the flavor.

Spices and other flavorings can be added here as well. To increase their flavor presence in the hot chocolate, they will need the opportunity to steep for a longer period of time. However, if you want a subtler, less pronounced flavor, hold off for now.

4. Stir continuously with a whisk until the liquid and chocolate combine completely. Just when you think the two are incorporated, you might notice black flecks scattered in the chocolaty matrix. These flecks are bits of unmelted chocolate, so you should continue to stir until they disappear.

5. Add desired flavorings once you have a fully emulsified liquid in the pot. Liqueur can also be added, but if you do so now, you might find the flavor too strong because the alcohol will not have had a chance to evaporate.

6. Turn off the heat and pour in cups immediately afterwards. Garnish with whatever you wish, such as mint leaves, cinnamon sticks, or whipped cream.

7. Enjoy! And have fun with trying out all sorts of variations!

Exam postponed

Nice when you've been studying 2 whole days for tomorrow's exam and you receive a message the type "Tomorrow's exam has been postponed to a week later". Isn't it? It's even nicer when you consider that your brain won't memorise what you studied now for a week later and that the day before the new date I have another exam that finishes at 5pm. How on earth am I going to study what I did in 2 days just between 6.30pm. till around 9.am next morning?

The brilliant idea of it all is that the concerned department won't even dare to contact you and you get to know through a dear fellow who happened to go to university and by chance sees the new notice and sms collegues.

All this continues to proof my hypothesis: the University of ***** is nothing but stinky shit!!

So what I just want to say to all the responsible:
Thank you very much AND
FUCK YOU all!!!!

Exams on the way

Tralala...here we go:

Fri 25th Jan - Economic Geography
Tue 29th Jan - Analyse de la langue
Thu 31st Jan - Commentaire Composé

Don't be mistaken, I have only 3 exams because I had 11 presentatiosn and assignments to do during the whole semester. I don't know why I'm feeling quite relaxed about these exams. I don't know if this is good or bad either. Over-confidence is not usually recommended. But on the other hand, I did study (almost everything) already so I shouldn't worry. Or should I? Let's keep our fingers crossed

Crazy World

How else can you describe the situation where the lecturer that has beaten the shit out of you last year asks you "Did you continue French Honours? Because your French is so good." Should I punch him in the face or should I smile because IT happened?

....I'll tell you the answer in a year and a half.

...BTW I did continue French Honours...

Update of homemade dishes

Risotto and Meat

4 ans d'amour

There was a time when my favourite day of the year was my birth day. For the past 4 years, my best day of the year has changed to the 6th of December. 4 years ago, I was on one of the local online chat rooms. There was no one I knew online. Not knowing what to do, I remembered that once my cousin was talking to somebody nicknamed "WiteXadow" on my pc. I searched through the list and yep...WiteXadow was there. From hi, asl pls and that usual stuff on IRC, we got to discussing a poster of a new album by Katatonia. Something was different with this person...you know how things usually end up with these chat rooms but I already sensed this was going to be particular.

After 1 month or so, with the help of 2 imaginary friends (which were monkeys), we managed to make a date. This was the 6th Dec 2003. Very unusually, I arrived late on that day, so WhiteXadow had to choose himself a film for us to watch. (PS: this was my first and last time that I arrived late coz for the rest of the time it was WiteXadow who arrives late :P). Anyway, WiteXadow bought us tickets for Kill Bill vol 1.

During the whole film, much talking took place between me and WiteXadow. This had nothing to do with love thingies and stuff like that...so till 3/4 of the film I had still no idea of when "THAT" was going to happen. However, very much towards the end of the film some finger playing commenced. Phew!!...that was a good sign :) When the final notes of the film started to be displayed on screen, "THAT" did happen!! We got so lost in it, that the lights were now on, most ppl had left the cinema hall and the ushers were on verge to put us out lol. As soon as we realised that, we decided to continue what we had left in a place that sheltered us for a whole month (and whenever we have the time to relive those early moments).

4 years later, WiteXadow has become what I usually refer to as Baksu. Many things have gone past us through these 4 years. Many things changed as well. But one thing always remained: the unsurmountable love between us that, it seems, keep getting stronger day after day.

I love you!

Home-made dishes

Meat with peppered sauce
















Spaghetti al pomodoro















Potato and coloured peppers frittata

















Pork Satay















Chicken & Veg kebabs
















Pizza margherita





















Baked pasta
















Bbq chicken pizza
















Salami & veg pizza

Go Bananas!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Il Vino

How to taste wine:

1. Look at the wine, especially around the edges. Tilting the glass a bit can make it easier to see the way the color changes from the center to the edges. Holding the glass in front of a white background, such as a napkin, tablecloth, or sheet of paper, is another good way to make out the wine's true color. Look for the color of the wine and the clarity. White wineswine so you can compare its fragrance after swirling. become darker as they age while time causes red wines to lose their color turning more brownish, often with a small amount of harmless, dark red sediment in the bottom of the bottle or glass. This is also a good time to catch a preliminary sniff of the
2. Swirl the wine in your glass. This is to mix oxygen in with the wine, which will soften the tannins of a young wine. It also spreads the liquid over the surface of the glass so that more of the wine can evaporate.
3. Sniff the wine. Initially you should hold the glass a few inches from your nose. Then let your nose go into the glass. What do you smell?
4. Take a sip of wine, but do not swallow yet. Roll the wine around in your mouth exposing it to all of your taste buds. Do this for at least a few seconds before swallowing, taking time to think about the flavors you are experiencing.
5. Take another sip of the wine, but this time (especially if you are drinking a red wine) introduce air with it. In other words, slurp the wine (without making a loud slurping noise, of course). Note the subtle differences in flavor and texture.
6. Note the aftertaste when you swallow. How long does the finish last? Do you like the taste?

Weekend with a twist

We haven't had a weekend like this for ages. It's nice being in a group but it's awesome if once in a while you go out alone as a couple...bringing on memories of those first few dates :) Well, that's what happened to baksu and me last weekend. Our friends were engaged in a family meal. This left baksu and me to ponder what to do for the weekend. Normally, in cases like this we just go and eat somewhere. No, don't rush now...we still went to that continental mid-budget restaurant to satisfy our appetite. Coming to think of it, that spinach and mushroom tagliatelle was finger-licking good.

Anyways, the twist came afterwards. Instead of going back home or to a quiet little place, baksu and me hit the dancefloor!!! Oh my god! I can't remember the last time we did this, really. I was on cloud nine. Another unexpected twist took place on our way back home. Outside, it was raining cats and dogs (already not a very common occurence on this boiling piece of earth). It was raining so much that we were having trouble passing through the drowned streets. We made a deviation hoping for the better, but the water situation turned out worse. We stopped the car, not knowing what to do next...just praying not to be pushed away with the water current. Our prayers were heard, coz after a few moments the rain got to a halt and the amount of water on the roads was reduced considerably. After more than 1.5hrs we arrived home...a journey that normally takes us not more than 20mins.

Terrifying words in English

The most 9 terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

---Ronald Reagan

Less than a week for Eire

Enthusiasm is really piling up now. I was sick for the 3 days I hoped I would be relaxing on our neighbouring island. Therefore, strictly speaking this would be my only full holiday for the year. I said "full" because the Christmas holidays are no longer the do-nothing sort of holidays with exams just round the corner. Anyway this is our "final" plan while on the emerald land:

Tue 18th Sept: arrival in Dublin airport. Head straight to Roscrea. Some sightseeing, dinner and early night in preparation for the long journey the morning after.

Wed 19th Sept: departure to County Kerry early in the morning. Expected visits: Ring of Kerry, Killorglin, Kerrybog Village Museum, Caherciveen, Valentia Island, Waterville, Skellig Ring, Caherdaniel, Staigue Fort, Kenmare. Perhaps a visit to Galway if time permits.

Killarney and around: St. Mary's Cathedral, Famine Memorial, Franciscan Friary

Killarney National Park: Knockreer House & Gardens, Insfallen Island, Muckross Estate, Gap of Dunloe, Ross Castle

Sat 22nd Sept: departure to County Wicklow early in the morning. Expected visits: Military trail, Enniskerry, Powerscourt Estate, Glencree, Sally Gap, Roundwood, Glenmacnass, Wicklow Gap, Glendalough, Upper & Lower lakes, Glenmalure, Cullen's Rock.

Mon 24th Sept: very early departure to Dublin. Plan is not yet fixed. Probable day tour bus ride. Definitely meeting our pal and his gf at some point in the evening/night.

Tue 25th Sept: early morning flight back home :(

Keeping Up Appearances

The Bucket (spelled: Bouquet) Residence...The Lady of the house speaking :)

Lately I was in no mood for serious and thoughtful related films. So two days ago I popped in a nearby DVD shop and rented the first two seasons from the TV Series "Keeping Up Appearances". This was probably one of the best things I did this month (or year?). Patricia Routledge starrs her character as Hyacinth to perfection and together with her little candle light suppers and her sister Violet whose house has a swimming pool, sauna and room for a pony, she manages to keep a smile on my face for quite some time of the day. Other characters, including her neighbour Liz and her trembling when it comes to handling fine bone china, Onslow and his laissez-faire attitude, her sisters Daisy and Rose with their obsession with love and passion, make this series one of the best comedies I've ever seen. So far, so good: 5/5

Some do appreciate

As I previously posted, I have been working in a reservation call centre for the past month or so. Frankly, it's not an easy job. Had it been only reservations (as it is intended to be), that would have made it easier. However, many people phone to try and get everything for free and if they do not succeed in doing so, they start calling you names that only God himself knows from where did they pick them up. Nonetheless, from time to time, you get a call from a really nice and kind person who understands that what you are doing is your job.

Yesterday evening I had quite a particular call. At first I thought the person on the line was one of those who have nothing better to do with their lives, so they phone us to let it all out. But as I went through the history of this caller, I realised that I couldn't blame him for his behaviour. The company had made quite a few mistakes in his regard. I fetched a supervisor, since my position as a call agent does not allow me to make certain decisions by myself. But apparently the supervisor was having a row with someone on a mobile phone, therefore no interest was shown as to the caller's problem. I tried to help the customer the best I could offer. And the best thing is....the caller appreciated it:

Dear *******

Thank you so much for all your help this afternoon and for being the first
person at *** ***** to actually take my complaint seriously; you handled a
very annoyed customer very professionally and calmly; you managed to solve
my immediate problem as well as making sure I got your email address correct
so you could pass my complaint on.

I'm very sorry if I was a bit aggressive....however if you read the email
you may see why I might be a bit upset!

Do show this to your supervisor....in my view you are excellent at your job.


Many thanks again

Best regards

******* *****
Managing Director
************

Yes, some do appreciate!