tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55758299491674276952024-02-08T01:58:32.993+01:00The dragon's denWelcome to my sweltering abode in the blogosphere. "What can we expect from this blogging dragon next to the usual fire and brimstone" I hear your mind inquire. Well... anything and everything that fires up the old neurons, that reaches those parts other bloggers do not reach and that touches the heart like a poor orphaned wide-eyed fluffy little bunnyrabbit in need of love.RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-39149718969443074922008-07-30T00:34:00.003+02:002008-12-13T08:44:07.611+01:00The female brain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu6bir37MLaPECBHYU8gq7INr5r985RwNdlasIJfKb8bcTWSNNdZKLawONFmhsN4melVzxeNTwk1yr7ogeruOfFpZa3VAdpLG4XfVI70hvrYE8hGxWeq2j7yAoh-zv2DwRCuBmIZAWqpX/s1600-h/female+brain.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228572426180085826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu6bir37MLaPECBHYU8gq7INr5r985RwNdlasIJfKb8bcTWSNNdZKLawONFmhsN4melVzxeNTwk1yr7ogeruOfFpZa3VAdpLG4XfVI70hvrYE8hGxWeq2j7yAoh-zv2DwRCuBmIZAWqpX/s400/female+brain.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi guys,</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I found this funny intermezzo about "the female brain". This of course might be an over-exageration of a painful reality and probably doesn't cover the super intellectual female readership of my blog. But nonetheless in every caricature there is a kernel of truth :)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Take care,</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Michel</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">P.S. Girls plz send your hatemail to </span><a href="mailto:IReallyLoveWomenToDeath@EvenThoughYouDontBelieveMeAndYouThinkImAGayMisogenist.com"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">IReallyLoveWomenToDeath@EvenThoughYouDontBelieveMeAndYouThinkImAGayMisogenist.com</span></a></div>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-62979521614606038022008-07-26T00:34:00.003+02:002008-12-13T08:44:07.867+01:00Return of the king :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtCNU7HtxDQocarS_V4wfbwvDMAOL0EdtL1Qm7Q0R6WjHU1-BXJ2Zngxp31lst0DELk-rovOkehZ3atxD-opfpfGWA1SHXHyOJpEyEggPA6Sbu0wR7AqDxsShC4bXO-2kz4TLeyVNCfP6/s1600-h/LT37.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227084804048567378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtCNU7HtxDQocarS_V4wfbwvDMAOL0EdtL1Qm7Q0R6WjHU1-BXJ2Zngxp31lst0DELk-rovOkehZ3atxD-opfpfGWA1SHXHyOJpEyEggPA6Sbu0wR7AqDxsShC4bXO-2kz4TLeyVNCfP6/s200/LT37.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hi Guys,<br /><div></div><br /><div>Just to let you know ... I'm back from the hospital! I hope to write a new blog item asap.</div><br /><div>Take care,</div><br /><div>Michel</div>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-90736902046020208282008-07-09T01:00:00.000+02:002008-12-13T08:44:08.872+01:00Get a six pack you can't buy in the shops!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPiFHkIQeUwiUuFRA1WHhRmE6Wk_DNPMSrALzdpjF1nyUuSKT-jsFyyoR3WkXiXyE0o3HZPdNwZmW9CPIvFwcWZD8xT9CLe1IN14kWomUNzI9iwNOt_uBkBTNPTAJ0_Zb-QfgXwJ4HPwV/s1600-h/ThickBox_sixpack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221040105393021234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPiFHkIQeUwiUuFRA1WHhRmE6Wk_DNPMSrALzdpjF1nyUuSKT-jsFyyoR3WkXiXyE0o3HZPdNwZmW9CPIvFwcWZD8xT9CLe1IN14kWomUNzI9iwNOt_uBkBTNPTAJ0_Zb-QfgXwJ4HPwV/s200/ThickBox_sixpack.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A lot of people these days suffer from a (small or larger) protruding stomach with love handles to match. In Flanders we call this protruding stomach: "een buikje" (a small stomach) and love handles, they get called a quite rude "neuk teugels" (litt. fuck handels?!?) . Some find it "cute" but healthy is something else. Causes are: too little exercise, a poor diet and often stress. Follow my tips and you will be rid of that protuberant mass in a jiffy.<br /><br />* Eat healthy and balanced:<br /><br />A. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit so you get your daily dose of vitamins and fibers. Fibres are indispensable for the proper functioning of the intestines!<br /><br />B. Avoid fatty foods. They make you gain weight very quickly and it upsets your whole intestinal functioning , which causes a bloated feeling.<br /><br />C. Opt for sustainable sugars. Pasta, bread and potatoes give you a longlasting and full feeling so you don't have to commit hold-ups on your fridge every few hours.<br /><br />* Eat slowly and chew your food well: it will benefit your digestive system.<br /><br />* Avoid bubbles in your drinks. Fizzy drinks provide as many bubbles in your intestines as in your glass and that gives you a bloated stomach full of air and cramps…<br /><br />* Avoid snacking so your digestive system can "breathe" once in a while.<br /><br />* Don't use too much salt. Up to a limited amount, salt is necessary in our body for the vital biological reactions. More than this requirement, salt creates your body cells to swell, that is so called cellulitis. Cell edema is the accumulation of salt and water which increases your bodyweight. Just take all salts away from your table. You will be receiving the necessary salts through your daily helpings of fruits and vegetables the most. Salt is also bad for your cholesterol, all the more reason to reduce its use.<br /><br />* Avoid stress and make sure you can relax at the dinnertable. Eat in a quiet environment, certainly not in front of the television or whilst doing something else. Your intestines will protest considerably less.<br /><br />* Drink as much water as possible. At least a litre and a half a day, preferably not during meals. Are you a juices fan? Bad news: you should better not drink too many, the high acidity unsettles the bowels.<br /><br />* Reduce your milk intake: milk doesn't digest easily and often weighs heavily on the stomach.<br /><br />* MOVE! Endurance sports burn lots of calories, moreover they optimize your digestion, a flat stomach guaranteed! My top 3 sports are:<br /><br />A. Running: it's easy to lose weight and your lovehandles will melt like butter in the Californian sun. Additionaly you will unconsciously work out your abdominal muscles.<br /><br />B. Rowing: you don't always need to row on a beautiful lake, you can do it at your local gym: abdominal muscles guaranteed, moreover you'll train your arm muscles, on top of that it burns calories very fast.<br /><br />C. Swimming: in particular the "crawl" stroke ensures oblique abdominal muscles. In addition through the resistance of the water you'll get muscles much faster than on dry land.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKg557WNsrDEwcpHLxKAWg0qIQMNXVeNgJKHOBq2i2fQaXHpEFwIdA2k8I7WimBPeb7jVE5a0bInje6tpPJWebkZhx-TFLrrc3tU8JMyr9HUHa2iBYajO6Zj8J_IU9NRBbwSZTEOeewG4/s1600-h/57978orig-main_Full.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLEDaAi00ZkmQX4rmAWPdogtMzbng6XdZU5YUtd8U256ooiqZTqGKadTh6uNOlh_OKniHuWqm7VNbICdgMkZkMvuMIHHK6GBVsK9VKh4c7EXYCu9JRCYAZOnyEaa1zzb-jI98KpZzf_wQ/s1600-h/guys-beach-body-six-pack-400a050307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221041014917119618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="187" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLEDaAi00ZkmQX4rmAWPdogtMzbng6XdZU5YUtd8U256ooiqZTqGKadTh6uNOlh_OKniHuWqm7VNbICdgMkZkMvuMIHHK6GBVsK9VKh4c7EXYCu9JRCYAZOnyEaa1zzb-jI98KpZzf_wQ/s200/guys-beach-body-six-pack-400a050307.jpg" width="186" border="0" /></a> * Abdominal muscle training: an absolute must! Do 3 sets of 20 exercises every day: normal and oblique abdominals sessions. Are you tired of the traditional abdominals sessions? Try the kinesis wall in the gym, join a "abdo" grouplesson or use the powerplate for quick results.<br /><br />Check your local gym for all the possibilities. :)RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-65949724125077562012008-07-01T23:32:00.026+02:002008-07-12T21:50:54.064+02:00Земфира - СПИД (Zemfira - AIDS)<p align="left"><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/med6A2vMUQw"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/med6A2vMUQw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed><br /></object></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Земфира Талгатовна Рамазанова (Zemfira Talgatovna Ramazanova) was born on the 26th August 1976 in Ufa (south of Ekaterinburg). She is the leader and lead vocalist of the Russian band "Земфира" (Zemfira). The group was formed in 1998 and has been immensely popular in Russia and other former Soviet republics. Multiple Russian tabloids had speculated about the singer’s sexual orientation, drawing largely on references found in her song lyrics, and for the last couple of years romantically linking her with actress, director and screenwriter Renata Litvinova. The singer herself never discussed her private life.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Lyrics:</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Я сняла наушники слушала ветер</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">В открытые двери пустой маршрутки</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ветер рассказал мне о страшном секрете:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Нам остаются последние сутки</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">А у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">У тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя: И значит мы:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Будем глотать в больнице лекарства</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Не думать про завтра не включать телевизор</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">На карте искать тридесятое царство</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">А вдруг повезёт и достанутся визы</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">У тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">А у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы умрём</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">А у тебя: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И значит мы:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Не рассчитались с долгами свинтили</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">До скорого мамы ключи у соседки</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Я дула на веки пока не остыли</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И плакали ивы, и ставили метки</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Не видел ленивый в газете заметки</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Что</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">А у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И мы далеко</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И мы далеко</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя СПИД</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">И мы далеко.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Но у тебя: И значит мы:</span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Translation:</span><br /></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I took off the headphones</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Was listening to the wind</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the open doors</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of an empty shuttle van</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The wind told me a terrifying secret:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We only have the last twenty-four hours</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have…And that means we…</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We will swallow</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Medications in the hospital</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We will not think about tomorrow</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We will not turn on the television</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We will search for the fairytale kingdom on the map</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In case we are lucky and can get visas</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And that means we will die</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have…And that means we…</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We couldn't return the loans</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And left</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See you later, mothers</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The neighbors have the keys</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was blowing on the eyelids while they were still warm</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And the willows were weeping, and were leaving the marks</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Only the lazy did not see the article in the paper</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">T</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">hat</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And we are far away</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And we are far away</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And we are far away</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you have…And that means we…</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.zemfira.ru/">http://www.zemfira.ru/</a><br /></p></span>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-83191408318557100432008-07-01T19:00:00.014+02:002008-12-13T08:44:09.061+01:00Murderer Anna Politkovskaja possibly hiding in Belgium<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218106356836649202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppv2ZkwOJYemD0mBz2RoQujlxD_xj5Y4L8W1EUQbgx-ZfW-a-1PVWy4aTv08uXos2VX8b4-YP83YTHXhsRtWb6J0THuU23yIHSMmsp98g-fv1ytmdvNPX6uw1HlRbwSu1O740pzIaRmhu/s200/annaP.jpg" border="0" />MOSCOW - The murderer of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is hidden somewhere in Western Europe according to the chairman of the inquiry commission of the Russian prosecutor, Alexander Bastrykin. A Russian radio station believes that the murderer is hiding in Belgium. According to the press agency Interfax, the Russian prosecutor requested judicial assistance from various Western European countries, including Belgium.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"According to our information, the murderer is hiding in Western Europe, we even know in which country," said Bastrykin without further going into details during a seminar in Saint Petersburg according to the press agency Interfax.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Radio Echo in Moscow reported that the suspected killer is staying in Belgium and that Russia "has already submitted a request for his extradition." A journalist from that radiochannel said that the information was obtained from a judicial source.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anna Politkovskaya, one of the rare (Russian) journalists who has denounced human rights abuses in Russia, particularly in Chechnya, was killed on the 7th of October 2006 in the hall of her apartment building in Moscow.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So far three people have officially been indicted for the murder of the Russian journalist, the Russian prosecutor stated on the 18th of June after concluding the investigation. Their names are Sergei Chadjikurbanov and two Chechnyan brothers Djabraïl and Ibragim Machmudov.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Human rights organisations regularly complain about the lack of zeal of the Russian authorities regarding investigations into the killings of journalists who's numbers have increased exponentially since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br />RussianDragon<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Source: afp,Interfax</span>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-83022521730532150542008-06-30T01:23:00.011+02:002008-12-13T08:44:09.304+01:00I don't like sundays<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217488786314494882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUWiyy1aBYzkvQVXhOm4xy6QTH73giZgsqxO24_FND7RA6hzylft1tOE1nwspPd3R4887G0NhBI2OwkGBlBha6fJ7T4tKrw3oOa6bndF4H9IczZ8mWBTUzyNdl_jI4FmU2uNXZFmrutCA/s200/hays_cottage_tall_clouds_island_dark.jpg" border="0" />I just had an awful evening/night today! Anxiety attacks and tearful episodes were circling around my ears like a female mosquito in search of blood.<br /><br />I couldn't get a grip as much as a special friend tried to cheer me up.<br /><br /><div><div>You know who you are ... I'm really thankful for your help! I can't ever repay your patience and kindness!<br /><br />Take care,<br /><br />Michel</div></div>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-43666733583210190382008-06-24T17:14:00.005+02:002008-12-13T08:44:09.682+01:00Do not go gentle into that good night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg7fPFw-P22rCBCMcXG_qsPmYwfkdN4P_qnRoHUOhHamPoOfx4H3hJHCgjXhv6hshiQlKF0CJnhuHflZQ5Z5U97fFw5W7K5Np2Y3Bi6aGEaMlitrRQVVyN6CcfOK-Fh5pLU8a-J8STGVx/s1600-h/dylan+thomas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215560147125494994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg7fPFw-P22rCBCMcXG_qsPmYwfkdN4P_qnRoHUOhHamPoOfx4H3hJHCgjXhv6hshiQlKF0CJnhuHflZQ5Z5U97fFw5W7K5Np2Y3Bi6aGEaMlitrRQVVyN6CcfOK-Fh5pLU8a-J8STGVx/s200/dylan+thomas.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As you may or may not know I am a great poetry enthusiast and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I'd</span> like to share this passion with you. The first poet in my private collection is the Welsh Romantic poet, <strong>Dylan Thomas</strong>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thomas was born in 1914 in Swansea and died at a very young age in New York, in 1953 from the causes of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">excessive</span> drinking. Thomas liked to boast about his drinking, famously saying: "An alcoholic is someone you don't like, who drinks as much as you do."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">He was married to an Irish dancer, named Caitlin MacNamara. Together they had 3 children: 2 sons and a daughter. Their marriage was tempestuous to say the least, with rumours of affairs on both sides.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">His best known works include "Under Milk Wood" and "Do not go gentle into that good night", a poem written in 1951 about his dying father. It's the latter poem I've selected to share with you all. I hold it very close to my heart because of the untimely death of my own father who raged, raged against the dying of the light but in the end knew that the dark was right.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Do not go gentle into that good night</em></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Do not go gentle into that good night,<br /></span>Old age should burn and rave at close of day;<br />Rage, rage against the dying of the light.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Though wise men at their end know dark is right,<br />Because their words had forked no lightning they<br />Do not go gentle into that good night.<br /><br />Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright<br />Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,<br />Rage, rage against the dying of the light.<br /><br />Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,<br />And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,<br />Do not go gentle into that good night.<br /><br />Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight<br />Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,<br />Rage, rage against the dying of the light.<br /><br />And you, my father, there on the sad height,<br />Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.<br />Do not go gentle into that good night.<br />Rage, rage against the dying of the light. </span><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A reading of the poem: <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377">http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377</a><br /><br />A small analysis of the poem:<br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Thomas watched his father grow weak and frail with old age. Dylan in his poem tries to convince his father to fight against imminent death. He addresses his father using wise men, good men, wild men, and grave, or serious, somber men as examples to illustrate that no matter how they have lived their lives or what they feel at the end they should die fighting. However, we are subtly reminded throughout the poem that their rage eventually will be futile in the face of death.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It is one of Dylan Thomas' most popular and most easily accessible poems. It implies that one should not die without fighting for one's life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Take care,</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br />Michel<br /></p></span><a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377"></a>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-90774991914030984332008-06-20T00:17:00.013+02:002008-12-13T08:44:10.148+01:00The importance of learning languages<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxMhxkZcHdPZCZ7TUuqypA54jTKk96s7vme5LmmJxJ6z80fPjDD56q0z9Pfj2kleARJcoMyyXlXbfPqM4hDX-IQqiM6canfN_DLFz8WjuwfOKe8ycfJrB2DxOsVkpIN4_J9vnvxczOT3X/s1600-h/19-1-041013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213727033869970498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxMhxkZcHdPZCZ7TUuqypA54jTKk96s7vme5LmmJxJ6z80fPjDD56q0z9Pfj2kleARJcoMyyXlXbfPqM4hDX-IQqiM6canfN_DLFz8WjuwfOKe8ycfJrB2DxOsVkpIN4_J9vnvxczOT3X/s200/19-1-041013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think you can't learn enough languages. It's a door into foreign cultures. I live in Belgium myself where languages are of the utmost importance. Here we have 3 official communities living together, a Flemmish community speaking Flemmish (about the same as Dutch), a Walloon community speaking French and a German community speaking German. I myself speak next to my own dialect Ostendish, Flemmish, English, French, German, Russian, some Polish and some Mandarin Chinese.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recently I passed my Russian exam for my fourth year of evening classes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First semester I got 90% and for my second semester I received 92,5%.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Yippee</span>!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Take care,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Michel</span></div>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-54666203413415028132008-06-17T15:41:00.012+02:002008-06-17T17:27:34.851+02:00Reader's questions<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've been thinking lately about what I want to post on my blog. Although I have some clear and concise ideas on topics I could touch upon, I wouldn't like this blog to become a long egotrip down myville lane. I'd very much like to integrate the reader's ideas, queries and statements too. If you've got sensible questions that have been burning on your lips, pleading for deliverance or you want me to comment on statements or ideas ... I am the guy to send them to! When I say sensible questions or statements I don't mean the following : "Are you free this weekend?", "What size of socks do you wear?", "Do Belgians live in caves and eat with their feet?" or "F*ck the EU! Don't you think so?" ... Do you get my drift?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As I am a Belgian political scientist international relations, queries on Belgium, current affairs, sociology, poltics and history will be first and foremost in the firing line to get answered! Although if I feel comfortable with the question I will also anwer questions or reflect on statements concerning literature, religion, music, movies or relationships.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So if you want an answer in understandable English or you'd just like to know my European, Belgian perspective on a certain topic send your question, idea or statement to </span><a href="mailto:misha@pandora.be"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">misha[at]pandora.be</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> with at least your first name and hometown.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Take care,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Michel</span>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-44788350995653279742008-06-15T20:52:00.010+02:002008-12-13T08:44:10.386+01:00My second heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQOhyqRB4PKgEcJoJuKqyzRdsVW7i7MnoLZqNNDN0zDzlfvmLmvH4eX2KhaJ92ptLI7rZmsg4QRr5WS4SLoF8G5DRsostBpWdP0T3jhJspKZF7dXoJKYwlgxDsF0FvFnJUs4ZLrb35pic/s1600-h/Ukraine2006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212198512038596194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" height="200" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQOhyqRB4PKgEcJoJuKqyzRdsVW7i7MnoLZqNNDN0zDzlfvmLmvH4eX2KhaJ92ptLI7rZmsg4QRr5WS4SLoF8G5DRsostBpWdP0T3jhJspKZF7dXoJKYwlgxDsF0FvFnJUs4ZLrb35pic/s200/Ukraine2006.jpg" width="141" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where horses roam the Cozack plain</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where nature's love falls in silky drops of rain</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where people have the warmest heart</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where village folk are strong and smart</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where it's nations colour draws in yellow and in blue</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That is were I really fell in love with you</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A girl with flowers in her hair</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A rose in beauty without compare</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where horses roam the Cozack plain</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My second heart is called Ukraine</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Take Care,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br />Michel</span></div>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575829949167427695.post-20923471280620508282008-06-13T17:21:00.019+02:002008-06-17T17:28:34.992+02:00Starting a blog on Friday the 13th... Oh oooh!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I finally followed up on advice Emma, a dear friend of mine gave me. " Michel, you should start a blog!" And oh oooh, I did just that. There is no looking back now :)<br /><br />Friday the 13th was a date like any to start painting my innermost thoughts on this blank canvas of the international blogosphere. It's not because Jesus Christ got nailed to a cross on a friday after hosting a farewell party seating 13 people or even the untimely deaths of Gioachino Rossini, Arnold Schoenberg, Hubert Humphrey or Tupac Shakur on such a friday that this dragon will tremble in it's superstitious boots! Ooh no!<br /><br />Bring on all the black cats you can muster, I'm only walking under ladders today and I'll say Macbeth whenever I so please.<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"What can we expect from this blogging dragon next to the usual fire and brimstone" I hear your mind inquire. Well... anything and everything that fires up the old neurons, that reaches those parts other bloggers do not reach and that touches the heart like a poor orphaned wide-eyed fluffy little bunnyrabbit in need of love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Take care,</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Michel</span><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></p></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>RussianDragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419937405657575932noreply@blogger.com2