British YouTube users who regularly post
popular clips on the video-sharing website
will be paid for their efforts, those behind
the new system said Thursday.
Posters will earn a share of the revenue
generated from the adverts which run alongside their clips,
which could potentially earn them thousands of pounds (dollars, euros) per month.
The YouTube Partner Programme has already been piloted
in the United States and Canada.
The scheme is open to "popular and prolific original content creators",
who must apply to become partners.
They will be accepted if they regularly upload videos
which are viewed by thousands.
One-hit wonders do not qualify.
YouTube, owned by Google, would not say what percentage
of the advertising revenue posters would receive.
However, US partners whose videos regularly received
more than one million hits were earning several thousand
dollars (euros) per month, a spokesman said.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Noodles 101
There are 6 main types of noodles, which vary in ingredients, shape and use. Everyone seems to have their own favourites, but on the whole, there must be millions of tonnes of noodles consumed every day throughout the world. The noodles can be divided into the following basic categories:
Udon - Are usually long and thick. They are square when they have been rolled and cut and are round when they have been extruded. Udon is commonly eaten in soups and other dishes such as sukiyaki. They are also sometimes, but not so often, eaten dry.
Somen - These are a very fine noodle (maybe only 1mm in diameter). They come in various colours but the most common is white. These noodles are served cold in summer, sometimes at a particular event where noodles are floated down a half bamboo river to awaiting diners.
Chinese noodles - These are mid - thickness noodles. They often have a yellowish tinge despite the fact that they are still made from wheat. They often come with a wavy or kinky shaped. The most popular ways to eat these noodles are in a hot bowl of ramen, or BBQ’d as Yakisoba.
Kishimen is a less popular cousin of udon. The main difference is that they are flatter while the udon are more square or round. Kishimen are more likely to be served without soup than udon are.
Another slightly less common noodle is Hiyamugi. These are slightly thicker than Chinese noodles but still thinner than udon. They are often confused with spaghetti and the taste is sort of similar. They are served in a similar way to soba.
Soba is perhaps the king of Japanese noodles. It is a very popular noodle with thousands of restaurants dedicated to it. There is a lively hobby tradition of making your own at home. Soba are a grey/brown noodle made from buckwheat flour. Often soba is served cold with a dipping sauce, but sometimes it is served in soup. A typical restaurant will offer soba plain, in soup, with tempura or with a set meal.
Udon - Are usually long and thick. They are square when they have been rolled and cut and are round when they have been extruded. Udon is commonly eaten in soups and other dishes such as sukiyaki. They are also sometimes, but not so often, eaten dry.
Somen - These are a very fine noodle (maybe only 1mm in diameter). They come in various colours but the most common is white. These noodles are served cold in summer, sometimes at a particular event where noodles are floated down a half bamboo river to awaiting diners.
Chinese noodles - These are mid - thickness noodles. They often have a yellowish tinge despite the fact that they are still made from wheat. They often come with a wavy or kinky shaped. The most popular ways to eat these noodles are in a hot bowl of ramen, or BBQ’d as Yakisoba.
Kishimen is a less popular cousin of udon. The main difference is that they are flatter while the udon are more square or round. Kishimen are more likely to be served without soup than udon are.
Another slightly less common noodle is Hiyamugi. These are slightly thicker than Chinese noodles but still thinner than udon. They are often confused with spaghetti and the taste is sort of similar. They are served in a similar way to soba.
Soba is perhaps the king of Japanese noodles. It is a very popular noodle with thousands of restaurants dedicated to it. There is a lively hobby tradition of making your own at home. Soba are a grey/brown noodle made from buckwheat flour. Often soba is served cold with a dipping sauce, but sometimes it is served in soup. A typical restaurant will offer soba plain, in soup, with tempura or with a set meal.
To be continued....:)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Samara: The State of Emergency
I am absolutely shocked!
Never, never, ever remotely simular had happened in my home city before!
On January 24, 2008 The State of Emergency was declared in Samara, Russia
due to the extremely heavy and hazardous Snowstorm! OMG!
All schools were closed, Airport Kurumoch was closed, huge delays on a train service, Bus terminal is closed, public transport system stucked. Also the food shortage was reported today!
This is just UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Soon people will start to travel on tanks over there, I guess.:))))
To all the Students out there: Happy Tatiana/Russian Students Day, January 25!!!
Yes, today is the DAY!
For me is the last chance to enjoy the festivities as a Current Student :)
No regrets, let's all just have a little Fun :)
There is one special holiday among all the winter celebrations in Russia -
the day of Saint Great Martyress Tatyana. This day unites all the students in Russia.
It happened so that on this day, January 25, 1755,
Catherine the Great signed the decree "On establishing the Moscow University"
at the request of her grandee Comte Ivan Shuvalov. This date was chosen by him,
because it was his mother's name day. So, since then the guardian of the
main university of the country has been not a scholar but a great martyress.
All Tatyanas in our country can be proud that their name day is celebrated
in such a grand manner. They are in the centre of attention on that day,
it can feel even like birthday.
The Moscow State Lomonosov University will become the centre of celebrations.
Students, professors and the rector will have a party together to be crowned
with the traditional drinking of medovukha.
However the holiday has expanded far beyond the limits of the Moscow State University
and is celebrated all over Russia & Abroad!
Join our celebrations here, in Toronto,ON today & have some of the Medovukha(honey drink):)
For me is the last chance to enjoy the festivities as a Current Student :)
No regrets, let's all just have a little Fun :)
There is one special holiday among all the winter celebrations in Russia -
the day of Saint Great Martyress Tatyana. This day unites all the students in Russia.
It happened so that on this day, January 25, 1755,
Catherine the Great signed the decree "On establishing the Moscow University"
at the request of her grandee Comte Ivan Shuvalov. This date was chosen by him,
because it was his mother's name day. So, since then the guardian of the
main university of the country has been not a scholar but a great martyress.
All Tatyanas in our country can be proud that their name day is celebrated
in such a grand manner. They are in the centre of attention on that day,
it can feel even like birthday.
The Moscow State Lomonosov University will become the centre of celebrations.
Students, professors and the rector will have a party together to be crowned
with the traditional drinking of medovukha.
However the holiday has expanded far beyond the limits of the Moscow State University
and is celebrated all over Russia & Abroad!
Join our celebrations here, in Toronto,ON today & have some of the Medovukha(honey drink):)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The OSCAR Nominations : The Big Surprise from my MotherLand!!!!!
Wow! Here the Rush comes :)
32 DAYS to go !
Here is the complete List of the Nominees:
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/
and the Nominee List by Film:
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=films
Big Party in my Motherland today -
This is the first Academy Award nomination for Kazakhstan -
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM :
"MONGOL" Directed by Sergei Bodrov !!!
In twelfth-century Mongolia, nine-year-old Temudgin,
who will grow up to become the warrior known as Genghis Khan,
must flee his home shortly after choosing the spirited Borte as his bride
when his father is murdered and a rival seizes power.
With the help of his blood brother, tribal prince Jamukha,
the adult Temudgin battles his rivals and works to unite the region's warring clans
under his authority.
Which is the most important and dear to me , being the direct descendant of Genghis Khan.
Truly Fascinating!
32 DAYS to go !
Here is the complete List of the Nominees:
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/
and the Nominee List by Film:
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=films
Big Party in my Motherland today -
This is the first Academy Award nomination for Kazakhstan -
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM :
"MONGOL" Directed by Sergei Bodrov !!!
In twelfth-century Mongolia, nine-year-old Temudgin,
who will grow up to become the warrior known as Genghis Khan,
must flee his home shortly after choosing the spirited Borte as his bride
when his father is murdered and a rival seizes power.
With the help of his blood brother, tribal prince Jamukha,
the adult Temudgin battles his rivals and works to unite the region's warring clans
under his authority.
Which is the most important and dear to me , being the direct descendant of Genghis Khan.
Truly Fascinating!
USD-CAD rates
First time for the last 4 months:
---------------21/01 -------22/01
1 USD (noon) 1.0324 ----1.0253 CAD
1 USD (closing) 1.0329 ---1.0281 CAD
1 CAD (noon) 0.9686----- 0.9753 USD
1 CAD (closing) 0.9681 ---0.9727 USD
Central banks in both Canada and the United States dropped interest
rates Tuesday in an effort to stem a huge selloff on global stock markets,
prompted by fears the U.S. may already be in a recession.
The U.S. Federal Reserve made a surprise cut of three-fourths of a percentage
point to its federal funds rate, while the Bank of Canada cut its key overnight
rate by one-quarter point to four per cent.
The Toronto stock market rebounded some in early trading Tuesday after
plummeting more than 600 points Monday, slashing more than $90 billion
in market value as investors rejected a U.S. economic stimulus program.
Manufacturing jobs will continue to be under pressure,
but the Ontario economy is not in danger of falling into a recession
despite deepening fears of a major slowdown in the United States,
Premier Dalton McGuinty said on Tuesday January, 22.
---------------21/01 -------22/01
1 USD (noon) 1.0324 ----1.0253 CAD
1 USD (closing) 1.0329 ---1.0281 CAD
1 CAD (noon) 0.9686----- 0.9753 USD
1 CAD (closing) 0.9681 ---0.9727 USD
Central banks in both Canada and the United States dropped interest
rates Tuesday in an effort to stem a huge selloff on global stock markets,
prompted by fears the U.S. may already be in a recession.
The U.S. Federal Reserve made a surprise cut of three-fourths of a percentage
point to its federal funds rate, while the Bank of Canada cut its key overnight
rate by one-quarter point to four per cent.
The Toronto stock market rebounded some in early trading Tuesday after
plummeting more than 600 points Monday, slashing more than $90 billion
in market value as investors rejected a U.S. economic stimulus program.
Manufacturing jobs will continue to be under pressure,
but the Ontario economy is not in danger of falling into a recession
despite deepening fears of a major slowdown in the United States,
Premier Dalton McGuinty said on Tuesday January, 22.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Four ways to fight winter weight gain
Picking up a few extra pounds in cold weather--the dreaded "winter weight gain"--is maddening. Even though your metabolism speeds up a bit to keep you warm, you can't eat much more than you do in summer without gaining weight. Yet you want to: Chilly temperatures make steamy comfort foods and creamy hot drinks more tempting than ever. Here's how to satisfy your natural warming instincts and stay slim.
1. Know what really keeps you full and warm. In a word: protein. Your body creates more heat digesting protein than it does fats or carbohydrates. Chow down on lean chicken and turkey breast, canned tuna, fish, and shellfish. Not a meat eater? Include black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, or lentils in your meals.
2. Say no to foods that make you go "brrr." Follow your instincts; they're right. Swap cold cereal for hot oatmeal at breakfast. Have a hearty soup instead of a sandwich at lunch. Even cook your salad ingredients: At the last minute stir "winter greens"--spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards--into stews, soups, casseroles, and scrambled eggs. Why heat before you eat? Warm foods keep the shivers away because your body doesn't waste energy heating them up for digestion.
3. Don't count on hot spices--or hot toddies, either. Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, and cayenne pepper are all considered "warming spices" because they tend to draw body heat to the surface of your skin. But when that warmth hits the surface, it quickly dissipates. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, and as warm blood flows to the skin's surface, its heat quickly escapes.
4. Switch to decaf after your first morning cup. Coffee may feel warm going down but swilling cup after cup may just make you colder. That's because caffeine has a dehydrating effect, which makes symptoms of a drop in body temperature even worse. Craving something comforting at the coffee shop? Instead of a gingerbread latte topped with whipped cream, order a non-fat chai tea latte. It'll warm you down to your toes, and you'll save 130 calories and some goosebumps. At home, make hot chocolate with non-fat milk, add a drop of vanilla for extra richness, and top it with fat-free Cool Whip. You'll feel like a kid again. A warm one. Whose jeans fit.
PS: Staying warm while avoiding winter weight gain won't just make you feel better when swimsuit season rolls around. Maintaining your weight at a desirable level can make your real age as much as 6 years younger.
1. Know what really keeps you full and warm. In a word: protein. Your body creates more heat digesting protein than it does fats or carbohydrates. Chow down on lean chicken and turkey breast, canned tuna, fish, and shellfish. Not a meat eater? Include black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, or lentils in your meals.
2. Say no to foods that make you go "brrr." Follow your instincts; they're right. Swap cold cereal for hot oatmeal at breakfast. Have a hearty soup instead of a sandwich at lunch. Even cook your salad ingredients: At the last minute stir "winter greens"--spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards--into stews, soups, casseroles, and scrambled eggs. Why heat before you eat? Warm foods keep the shivers away because your body doesn't waste energy heating them up for digestion.
3. Don't count on hot spices--or hot toddies, either. Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, and cayenne pepper are all considered "warming spices" because they tend to draw body heat to the surface of your skin. But when that warmth hits the surface, it quickly dissipates. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, and as warm blood flows to the skin's surface, its heat quickly escapes.
4. Switch to decaf after your first morning cup. Coffee may feel warm going down but swilling cup after cup may just make you colder. That's because caffeine has a dehydrating effect, which makes symptoms of a drop in body temperature even worse. Craving something comforting at the coffee shop? Instead of a gingerbread latte topped with whipped cream, order a non-fat chai tea latte. It'll warm you down to your toes, and you'll save 130 calories and some goosebumps. At home, make hot chocolate with non-fat milk, add a drop of vanilla for extra richness, and top it with fat-free Cool Whip. You'll feel like a kid again. A warm one. Whose jeans fit.
PS: Staying warm while avoiding winter weight gain won't just make you feel better when swimsuit season rolls around. Maintaining your weight at a desirable level can make your real age as much as 6 years younger.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Tudors: Coming Back
The firm date for the season two premiere has been announced -
it will come back on Showtime March 30, 2008. 2,5 months to go, oh my...
But for now, here is a sweet treat - the poster for Season 2 has been released!
PASSION!!! PASSION!!! PASSION!!!
p.s Although The Tudors was nominated for two Golden Globes, the show unfortunately was shut out in both categories. The show was nominated for Best TV Drama and Jonathan Rhys Meyers was nominated for best actor in a TV drama.
As they always say, it's great to be nominated. Here's to winning an award next year for season two!
As they always say, it's great to be nominated. Here's to winning an award next year for season two!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Secret Agents Annual NY Bash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y5R_YwFwR8
This is a video report from our Annual Secret Agents Meeting.
The place and time were chosen strategically,
360 Restaurant, CN Tower
New Years Eve 2008.
Enjoy :)
This is a video report from our Annual Secret Agents Meeting.
The place and time were chosen strategically,
360 Restaurant, CN Tower
New Years Eve 2008.
Enjoy :)
Mission #1 : The Old New Year 2008
The time has come for my first mission this year.
I'm ready. So let's all celebrate the
OLD NEW YEAR today !
For those, who are unaware of our crazy festivities, here is some quick info:)))
Cheers!
The Old New Year (Russian: Старый Новый год),is an informal traditional Slavic Orthodox holiday celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. In the 20th and 21st centuries the Old New Year falls on January 13/14.
Although Soviet Russia officially adopted the Gregorian calendar back in 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church continued using the Julian calendar. The New Year became the only holiday which is celebrated by both calendars.
Like in most countries that use the Gregorian calendar, the New Year's Day in Russia is a public holiday and is celebrated on January 1. On that day, lots of joyous entertainment and fireworks and other festivities, and elaborate and often large meals are common.
The New Year by the Julian calendar is still informally observed and the tradition of celebrating the coming of the New Year twice is widely enjoyed.
Usually not as festive as the "New New Year", for many this is a nostalgic family holiday ending the New Year holiday cycle.
p.s time schedule: 3 p.m. -NY in Samara City (my hometown)
4 p.m.-NY in Moscow City
haha, make sure you won't have any leftovers, eat as much as you can!!! :P
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