zuma game

I finished the web version! My score 118490! Beat that! hua-ah-ah-ah-ah!!!

The bad news is I need a new game now. Any suggestions?

Hero and Leander

This couple found in Greek mythology are part of a tragic love story. It seems Hero was a Priestess of Aphrodite, who lived in a town called Sestos. Her lover, Leander, lived in Abydos - a town across the Strait of Hellespont (now Dardanelles). He would swim every night across the Strait (1 to 4 miles wide) to reach his loved one. Until one night there was a terrible storm, which blew out the lantern Hero used to guide Leander across the strait and he drowned. When she realized he died, she threw herself into the sea. (Note: Dardanelles connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara and separates the Gallipoli peninsula of European Turkey from Asian Turkey).

Their story served as inspiration for various poets such as Lord Byron and Christopher Marloe, whom wrote great literary masterpieces: "Written after swimming from Sestos to Abydos" and "Hero and Leander", respectively. These can be found in the subject link. Hope you like them.

As a special note, Lord Byron's poem "Written after swimming from Sestos to Abydos" was indeed written after he swam the stretch. Lord Byron liked to behave in a rebellious manner, so in this case he tried to succeed where Leander (a mythical hero) had failed, and then brag about it. While Leander lost his life, Byron only lost health (got a cold). In my mind, he was a true personification of the Romantics (literary movement) of the age.

Favorite books

My favorite books are the harry Potter series. They really don't feel like a "childrens' book". I mean it is "clean fun" and has a lot of definitions, but the plot - for me - is very unique and entertaining. I love witches and supernatural stories. Actually, I love fiction in general. So, currently I am reading the sixth harry Potter book and I am really enjoying it!! It is a ticket to another world, where everything is possible. I love these trips, that take me away from reality and let me dream, imagine, and live a safe and unforgetable adventure. I will treasure these books forever!!

PS. These books are not for everyone, just for the adventurer at heart!!!
PPS. Now my favorite writer is J. K. Rowling (http://www.jkrowling.com//)

1904 Gar�on � la Pipe (Pablo Picasso) 

Most expensive painting of all time

Last year the record was broken on the most expensive painting of all time. Until then the most expensive painting had been Vincent Van Gogh's "Dr. Gachet" that had been sold at a modest $82.5 million to a Japanese buisinessman named Ryoei Saito, who unfortunately died six years after his purchase. In an auction conducted in New York on May 6, 2004, the title was given to Pablo Picasso's Garçon á la Pipe (Young man with a pipe) sold for $104 Million (to an anonymous bidder).

This piece of art is said to be one of Picasso's best masterpieces since it is "regarded as one of the most stunning depictions of adolescent beauty". It was painted by the artist in 1904 when he was just 24 years old.

The painting was part of a private collection of 44 paintings worth over $150 Million that was left to the Greentree Foundation, a charitable trust established to further international relations and protect human rights. The foundation was created by the widow after her husband of 40 years passed away. I think it was a nice story and must be a nice painting. Only wish I could see it in person.

Can you see the man in the picture? 

Can you see the man in the picture?

Medical tests say that if you find him:
- within 3 seconds: your brain is more developed than usual
- in 1 minute: your brain has a normal development
- between 1 and 3 minutes: your brain is responding slowly, eating more protein may help
- over 3 minutes: your brain is too slow and it is recommended to try other designs similar to this one to develop that part of your brain.
===================================================
This is not a joke, there is a man in the picture. It took me about a minute, but I found him :0)

If you can get this joke, I am sorry for you. 

http://www.phdcomics.com/ 

Ten year high school reunion!!

It's official. It has been over 10 years since I graduated high school and my ex-classmates are organizing a reunion for this Christmas break. As seen in the PhD comic, I am not ready. Which ex- and current- geek is ever ready? We were not the popular, cool ones, we were over-achieving geeks and nerds. Of course, today we are accomplished professionals. That's what I'm telling myself. So why do I feel as awkward as when I was in high school with this group of people? Bill Gates vs. Michael Jordan or Britney Spears...

To live or regret that is the question...

Why hide who we are? Each of us is unique and there lies our beauty, for God created us beautiful. The other day I saw the movie "The Runaway Bride". It is quite good. I love the ending. It is about a girl who can't go through her weddings because she has made the groom believe she is their ideal woman. Instead of behaving like herself, she acted as they "expected". Since she realized that she could not act that way forever, she fled the scene. It is courageous and yet, simple to be oneself. Be true to who you are and there will not be any regrets.