tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40771342306943862222024-03-27T08:37:55.637+02:00Cristiana's BlogCristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-29020987835513010512021-03-12T06:00:00.001+02:002021-03-12T06:00:14.525+02:00A short "chat" in 2021...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHYEF01TlEg/YEqG2ckiZ4I/AAAAAAAANNM/LzQl0DH-Wv8wGL5FWE-XdGUaJQchFui2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210309_cup_of_coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHYEF01TlEg/YEqG2ckiZ4I/AAAAAAAANNM/LzQl0DH-Wv8wGL5FWE-XdGUaJQchFui2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210309_cup_of_coffee.jpg" /></a></div><br /> Hello, good people! Let's have a chat! Well, sort of. I ramble and you read. Alright, now, all jokes aside, I really need - again - to do a little update and kind of a new "intro" to my blog after this long absence. I have symbolically chosen this month, March, for doing this, because all good things rise and grow in spring. Also, I have deliberately not posted anything during the odious year 2020. The reasons, I think, are easy to guess.<p></p><p>I want to keep this blog post as short as possible (and I know what "short" means to me when I'm writing), so I will "attack" only a few ideas.</p><p>My last blog post here dates back to December 2019. Little did I know at that time that over the next 12 months I will have to move and change my place three times, change my environment, my jobs and adapt to a lot of new things. All these apart of the THING that has descended upon us since March 2020. </p><p>At some point in my life, during the first two or three months of last year, I was SO busy with all the abrupt changes happening in my life, that I have barely touched my laptop. So, no, I couldn't even reply to the comments, much less to post again. </p><p>Then it came what we all know. And with this occasion, I have learned - in a hard way - how important it is not only to keep your cool in times of crisis but also to be surrounded by people who do the same. Because if you're not, then your life may be turned upside down. Being able to think clearly and be rational when anything bad happens is of most importance. Acting and reacting in a hasty manner not only messes up your and other people's lives, but it can also leave those around you with bitterness in their hearts because you give them the impression of being irresponsible and, in some situations, even cruel. I was left with such a bitter taste, so I know. </p><p>Obviously, I am not talking here about global politics and how the general public has reacted to all this planetary mess. No, I am talking about the way THIS has affected our daily lives and our relationships with those around us. </p><p>Also, last year in March I've lost one dear soul. Just one year earlier, in 2019, I've lost another one. I am not gonna insist on this now.</p><p>Fast forward to 2021. We are floating on the same sea - the sea of the unknown. I have recently started a training. Or, at least, I think I did... Because due to the lockdown everything is moving sloooooowwwllllyyy. Too slowly for my needs. </p><p>And I can't wait to start real courses, you know, the "old fashioned" type of courses where you don't have to stay between the same walls, on the same chair, staring at the same screen. Not an online course, but a normal one. Because online courses, as good as they are, they all have this flaw - they require you to do the same thing. And, at some point, they all look and feel the same. Add to that the network problems and other technical issues, and you have a good reason to leave everything and go out to run to calm your nerves.</p><p>Anyway, I intend to take some information from that training and use it here - indirectly - as an inspiration for my blog. </p><p>So, for now, that should be all. Regards!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-31224052919802348692019-12-02T18:32:00.001+02:002019-12-02T18:32:08.923+02:00How to edit the blog post link in Blogspot Let's see how we can manually edit a link of a blog post. This is important when we write a new post. But it's also important when we need to edit an older post, one that was already published. <br /><br /> But why is this important? Well, simply put because Google cares about it. Search engines in general and Google, in particular, tend to focus their attention on long links. But those links must contain significative keywords, not just "filling". <br /><br /> In other words, if your link contains a lot of “or”, “and”, “etc”, exclamations and empty numbers, it will not be good for SEO. <br /><br /> The link should more or less “mirror” the title of the post and also, the major keywords of that particular post. The title (ideally) already contains the keywords. So the link should be created according to it. <br /><br /> But there are moments when, for some reasons, you have to change the title of the post. In that case, can you change the link of that particular post? <br /><br /> Well, if it's already an old and established post then is not advisable. Other websites link back to you and if you change even one character in your link, then the visitors will get an error and your blog will suffer. <br /><br /> But if your blog post is not published yet or it was published recently but the blog is brand new and is not well-known yet, then you can modify the link. <br /><br /> Let me exemplify that to you by using one of my other blogs. It's brand new and it's not yet known. So if I do some major modifications to it, Google wouldn't care. (Being new and unknown has its perks.) 😃<br /><br /><h4>
Please look at the below picture. </h4>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MmJGnKDx20/XeUf6CJKabI/AAAAAAAALig/AJ2tzqnZp9E7lIgdXKvh0GFMAdpSKBUEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_37_10-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="link copied after the first paragrapgh" border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="634" height="285" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MmJGnKDx20/XeUf6CJKabI/AAAAAAAALig/AJ2tzqnZp9E7lIgdXKvh0GFMAdpSKBUEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_37_10-compressor.png" title="link copies the paragraph" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /> As you can see, the link in the address bar looks different than the title of the blog. Why? Because when I posted that blog, I was too rushed and clicked "<i>Publish</i>" before writing the title. As a result, Blogspot automatically created the link by using the first words from the first paragraph. <br /><br /> I'll make use of this occasion to show you how to solve this problem. <br /><br /><h3>
So how can you edit the blog post link in your Blogspot/Blogger blog? </h3>
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First, log into your Blogspot account, then choose your blog from the top-left list and then go to the <i>Posts</i>. After that, click to <i>edit</i> the post.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xuqFTTL0EgE/XeUkWVo0VVI/AAAAAAAALis/kzRDZ5OBVlEDMLVDeUDlJBmpbGJFvvrYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_41_27-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Edit your post" border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="529" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xuqFTTL0EgE/XeUkWVo0VVI/AAAAAAAALis/kzRDZ5OBVlEDMLVDeUDlJBmpbGJFvvrYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_41_27-compressor.png" title="Click on Posts and then Edit" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now, on the right side of the screen, you can click on the <i>Links</i> <i>symbol</i>. Thus you can see how the link looks now. As we know, it shows the first words of the first paragraph.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXXwZ0CI7cE/XeUnPT_jYzI/AAAAAAAALi4/8FoHJZE0Hz4dT7TjA4sOU1Dby2hrgz5HACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_42_21-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="655" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXXwZ0CI7cE/XeUnPT_jYzI/AAAAAAAALi4/8FoHJZE0Hz4dT7TjA4sOU1Dby2hrgz5HACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/3Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_42_21-compressor.png" title="click on Link to see how it looks" width="400" /></a></div>
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But for now, you can just see it. In order to be able to edit it, you have to turn the already published post <i>back to the draft</i>. Note: this will make the post become invisible.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_gGqIiHNGY/XeUqZXCQPMI/AAAAAAAALjI/WTP-__5RJRAE-h9TGOqZcPg_C3xY5dKqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_44_39-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_gGqIiHNGY/XeUqZXCQPMI/AAAAAAAALjI/WTP-__5RJRAE-h9TGOqZcPg_C3xY5dKqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/4Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_44_39-compressor.png" title="the post is back to being unpublished" width="345" /></a></div>
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Now you can see that the link can be edited. There is the option to <i>automatically</i> <i>create</i> it and also the option to <i>customize</i> it.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1FZnoDFlmY/XeUuGd5E4EI/AAAAAAAALjU/LY_WeoHA8B4Yq53wKd5cPXu9isEbyLYkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_45_35-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="273" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1FZnoDFlmY/XeUuGd5E4EI/AAAAAAAALjU/LY_WeoHA8B4Yq53wKd5cPXu9isEbyLYkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_45_35-compressor.png" title="automatically created and customized link" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now you can customize it by manually editing the link.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VedFiXPDKE/XeUx1Hh1FsI/AAAAAAAALjg/YE_oCldXUnMip-lyHBfjaDPJVl_-S8CzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/6Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_46_26-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="338" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VedFiXPDKE/XeUx1Hh1FsI/AAAAAAAALjg/YE_oCldXUnMip-lyHBfjaDPJVl_-S8CzACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/6Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_46_26-compressor.png" title="customize the link " width="346" /></a></div>
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Or, like in my case, you can choose to automatically create the link and then <i>Save</i> it. Now you can see that the link is modified and it now copies the headline of the post.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5j9zSTWVTuw/XeU1hCtUK_I/AAAAAAAALjs/wA6WKiDZdGMWGxRMGOTqaHRqVu7Sg7RbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/7Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_02-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5j9zSTWVTuw/XeU1hCtUK_I/AAAAAAAALjs/wA6WKiDZdGMWGxRMGOTqaHRqVu7Sg7RbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/7Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_02-compressor.png" title="the link is automatically modified" /></a></div>
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Now you can <i>Publish</i> again your post. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cNqSnELr64Q/XeU4N5ilPtI/AAAAAAAALj4/bxcJdn_9Ca8N6hJlOR04HwdvtOuUWEcZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_17-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cNqSnELr64Q/XeU4N5ilPtI/AAAAAAAALj4/bxcJdn_9Ca8N6hJlOR04HwdvtOuUWEcZACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_17-compressor.png" title="publish your post" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now it's live again. You can check on the post. The new link resembles to the headline.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JX9Un6nIDE/XeU67Cb50TI/AAAAAAAALkE/HlIhpWkkCVkykCo9yGtGwb6vkGAwZTMWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_40-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="632" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JX9Un6nIDE/XeU67Cb50TI/AAAAAAAALkE/HlIhpWkkCVkykCo9yGtGwb6vkGAwZTMWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9Screenshot-from-2019-12-02-15_47_40-compressor.png" title="the headline and the link of the blog post are identical" width="400" /></a></div>
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That should be all! I hope it's useful for you as much as it was for me. </div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-87206844109241538792019-11-26T22:55:00.000+02:002019-11-26T22:55:02.782+02:00How to change background in your Blogspot blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So you have a Blogger/Blogspot blog but you don't like its background. How can you change it? In my last blog post on this subject, we saw how to change the blog theme/template. Now we will see the exact steps to easily change the background for your blog.<br />
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Today I will use again my own new beauty blog as "live" example. So now the blog (and its background) looks like in the screenshot below.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvGi5G5CJ5s/Xd2Dpk1rzMI/AAAAAAAALOM/IkPuX-pYXEE06v2hOTMue-B10W2roUfRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/1Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_20_38-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="books background blogspot" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvGi5G5CJ5s/Xd2Dpk1rzMI/AAAAAAAALOM/IkPuX-pYXEE06v2hOTMue-B10W2roUfRwCEwYBhgL/s400/1Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_20_38-compressor.png" title="background blogger" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can see, this background represents books while the niche of the blog is beauty. While books can be beautiful in all ways, they are not a good background in this case.<br />
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So let's see how we can change it...</div>
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Log into your Blogspot account, select your blog from the list situated in the top-left corner and then click on the <i>Theme/Template</i> button like in the image shown here.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--OCueidiDs4/Xd2EymrnlAI/AAAAAAAALOU/EHZZ4KhlLlIkvgrZt-ERsr9R3Nq-7YHcACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_22_29-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--OCueidiDs4/Xd2EymrnlAI/AAAAAAAALOU/EHZZ4KhlLlIkvgrZt-ERsr9R3Nq-7YHcACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_22_29-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then click on <i>Customize</i> button.</div>
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Then go and click on <i>Background </i>in the top-left of the screen. </div>
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Then click precisely on the image that it's currently in the background. See in the screenshot below.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yCe9A1zhtc/Xd2J5D22RQI/AAAAAAAALO0/lJzOP5EEeZMSgSb0vMznJdEHGQ_ENOubgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_05-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yCe9A1zhtc/Xd2J5D22RQI/AAAAAAAALO0/lJzOP5EEeZMSgSb0vMznJdEHGQ_ENOubgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/5Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_05-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now you can select a new background from different categories. In this case, because we have a beauty-centered blog we click on the <i>Beauty and Health</i> section. But you can choose whatever you like according to the specific of your own blog.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IDc8fxlfuE/Xd2K8toD5DI/AAAAAAAALO8/Q-b09WZdN8IpJ3FHH7OTTQ4_cUqJU3TsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/6Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_19-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IDc8fxlfuE/Xd2K8toD5DI/AAAAAAAALO8/Q-b09WZdN8IpJ3FHH7OTTQ4_cUqJU3TsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/6Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_19-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then, from that category, click to select the preferred image for the background. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTTrzXAvMog/Xd2Lo8Ta6JI/AAAAAAAALPE/ol7dMy8Hp9U01rc3EgCNwMqEN8YWZYpiACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/7Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_36-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bTTrzXAvMog/Xd2Lo8Ta6JI/AAAAAAAALPE/ol7dMy8Hp9U01rc3EgCNwMqEN8YWZYpiACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/7Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_36-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now, you'll notice that the background is already changed. so you can click <i>Done</i>. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fia3A8Y32nM/Xd2MbYcBUqI/AAAAAAAALPQ/MRwsuCKLTvgnRZNd9UdPyil-qckY-dXYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_53-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fia3A8Y32nM/Xd2MbYcBUqI/AAAAAAAALPQ/MRwsuCKLTvgnRZNd9UdPyil-qckY-dXYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/8Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_26_53-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And now, that you like this background is time to to <i>Apply this Theme/Template to blog</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8v5jA8XXRY/Xd2NXwSDzwI/AAAAAAAALPY/Jk54vhHmgaka81lB-d0IkVihq9O3pgEmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_06-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8v5jA8XXRY/Xd2NXwSDzwI/AAAAAAAALPY/Jk54vhHmgaka81lB-d0IkVihq9O3pgEmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_06-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then you should see for a few seconds a confirmation message on the top of the page. And now you can <i>View your blog.</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPvQalsdZGI/Xd2N0Z13jFI/AAAAAAAALPg/D1_D5sZrj3kvsXzco1ofIcPgYbAWEINXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/11Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_44-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPvQalsdZGI/Xd2N0Z13jFI/AAAAAAAALPg/D1_D5sZrj3kvsXzco1ofIcPgYbAWEINXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/11Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_44-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And now you can admire your blog with the new background. Much better!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXSfr3dyxs/Xd2OHfq1GuI/AAAAAAAALPo/ehdXV_kcAsIqmkOyqyB3CcCcL2IcFegYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/12Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_59-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXSfr3dyxs/Xd2OHfq1GuI/AAAAAAAALPo/ehdXV_kcAsIqmkOyqyB3CcCcL2IcFegYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/12Screenshot-from-2019-11-25-17_27_59-compressor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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So that's it! Enjoy!</div>
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<b>Final notes.</b></div>
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The OS in these screenshots is Ubuntu (in case you're curious). The browser is Chromium.The screenshots are done by using the innate Screenshot app found in Ubuntu. And the compressing and editing of these screenshots was done by using the free online tools <a href="http://compressor.io/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">compressor.io</a> and <a href="http://screenshot.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">screenshot.net</a>. ...Just in case any of this info is useful for you. </div>
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Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-70332648480192090572019-11-24T13:49:00.002+02:002019-11-24T13:49:49.890+02:00 How to change the theme of your Blogspot blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you do a quick search on blogging tips and tricks, you end up noticing that the vast majority of the advices you get are more or less related to Wordpress. But what if you Blogspot user? What if you need to “fine tune” your blog? Wordpress may be more popular nowadays, but Blogspot does have its advantages: it's free and easy to edit and manage.<br /><br />I remember those times (around 2013) when the internet was full of tutorials and websites dedicated to Blogspot platform. The platform itself was invaded with “dormant” blogs which served only as an illustrative example for certain tutorials. Nowadays, they seem to be buried down by Google, while Wordpress-focused tips are on the wave.<br /><br />After such long inactivity on my blog, right now I am practically relearning everything related to blogging. And, for some reasons, I have recently decided to create a new blog – one focused on beauty and health called <a href="https://robeautyjourney.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ro Beauty Journey</a>. It's a brand new blog as we speak, and it's hosted on the Blogspot platform.<br /><br />So how about taking this opportunity and start learning together how to manage a Blogspot/Blogger blog?<br /><br />After this short introduction, let's go straight to the subject! So I have created the blog, chose the theme of the blog and then posted the first blog post. Then, after publishing it, I'm no longer convinced that this is the most inspired theme for my blog.<br /><br />So now, the blog looks like in the image below. This theme is from the <i>Dynamic</i> type.<br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMB7rgrvs9U/XdmOWNEClJI/AAAAAAAALMk/_3Za_bGq5ZUnoYPSgh1DLfclmR9xkMefQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17%253A02%253A08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMB7rgrvs9U/XdmOWNEClJI/AAAAAAAALMk/_3Za_bGq5ZUnoYPSgh1DLfclmR9xkMefQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/1Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17%253A02%253A08.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<style type="text/css">
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@page { margin: 0.79in }
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120% }
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Pretty nice and neat indeed, but too "serious". Not exactly the type of theme that you would expect to see on a beauty blog, isn't it? So let's try to improve it!<br /><br />So, in order to change the theme of your Blogspot/Blogger blog, you have to log into your account, then select your blog from the list in the top-left corner. Then click on <i>Theme</i> button as shown below.<div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9B0o-EaYzkQ/Xdpgoo2g-nI/AAAAAAAALMs/V8YjfUBh_l0QjEmzh_14STvjMjgPl7FggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_03_04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9B0o-EaYzkQ/Xdpgoo2g-nI/AAAAAAAALMs/V8YjfUBh_l0QjEmzh_14STvjMjgPl7FggCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_03_04.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then scroll down till you find the <i>Simple</i> category of themes and click to preview one of them. It's always much better to use a Simple theme because it's easier to manage and personalize especially if you are interested in playing with the HTML codes sometime in the future.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2V6R-KIztM/XdpiTOaqKFI/AAAAAAAALM4/J-HfFvRZqa8tSYiAdpp-rs81l_zPICOggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_03_55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2V6R-KIztM/XdpiTOaqKFI/AAAAAAAALM4/J-HfFvRZqa8tSYiAdpp-rs81l_zPICOggCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/3Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_03_55.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now you can see, in this preview, how your blog would look if you'd use this theme. Well, for now, it looks fine, much better than the previous theme. So you click the orange button saying that you want to <i>Apply this theme in your blog</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqm-B4QHhX0/Xdpj3Iq1A6I/AAAAAAAALNE/ZLo0GemFoNguif2PxycZT4GwkK7ENGcXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqm-B4QHhX0/Xdpj3Iq1A6I/AAAAAAAALNE/ZLo0GemFoNguif2PxycZT4GwkK7ENGcXACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/4Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_13.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next, you get prompted by a message about your gadgets. More exactly, if you change the theme, some of them may become visible. But since this blog is brand new this aspect is not exactly one of your concerns. Just click on the button stating that you <i>understand</i> and let's move on.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3k0AVmZ2Cc/XdpmhZxAOLI/AAAAAAAALNY/V4XsDTUMuIM8LzIOnvSEQQJbt0dzil22ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3k0AVmZ2Cc/XdpmhZxAOLI/AAAAAAAALNY/V4XsDTUMuIM8LzIOnvSEQQJbt0dzil22ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/5Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_23.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then, for a few seconds, you should see a message confirming that the theme was applied to your blog. It appears in the top part of the page and can be easily overlooked if you don't pay attention. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DmvPAbxbzZA/Xdplh2Lj_CI/AAAAAAAALNU/93I798df3YUBSl3hkMMBWwqIFJ39XLqtACEwYBhgL/s1600/6Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DmvPAbxbzZA/Xdplh2Lj_CI/AAAAAAAALNU/93I798df3YUBSl3hkMMBWwqIFJ39XLqtACEwYBhgL/s400/6Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17_04_32.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And, that's it! Now you can type in your blog's address in your browser and you can see it "live" with a brand new theme.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xy6SQ6pTBBo/XdpnvQ0NiYI/AAAAAAAALNk/rLgqXFtwpasHJJhtqwHpTv83koZpXHFngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/7Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17%253A05%253A04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xy6SQ6pTBBo/XdpnvQ0NiYI/AAAAAAAALNk/rLgqXFtwpasHJJhtqwHpTv83koZpXHFngCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/7Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2019-11-23%2B17%253A05%253A04.png" title="simple theme in blogspot" width="400" /></a></div>
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Is this good enough? Well, it is for now. In my opinion, this theme is much better suited for a beauty blog, it's much lighter and the colours are more gentle. But, of course, beauty of a beauty blog is the eye of the beholder... And luckily, some details can be modified. But that's another story...</div>
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Final notes, just in case: This article was created on a Dell laptop running a preinstalled Ubuntu OS. The screenshots were done by using the innate Screenshot app and they were edited using the <a href="https://screenshot.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">screenshot.net</a> free online tool.</div>
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Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-73359475652617640922019-11-21T18:16:00.000+02:002019-11-21T18:16:40.283+02:00Returning to you, my silent eyes...<br />
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In this blog post, I'm gonna do what every blogging “guru” tells you that you should NEVER do when writing in your own blog: I'll talk about myself. Well, mostly. But there's a reason why I have to do so and I'll explain it a bit later. But firstly, let me tell you a story... A real story.<br />
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I would suggest you to grab a cup of something. Quite long text ahead.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We all come to this world with all kinds of gifts that later on in life, as we grow-up they tend to fade out somehow. In my childhood, one of my gifts was to sing. In fact, this used to happen to me in a very natural and spontaneous way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Because of that, my kindergarten teacher (God rest her soul as she has passed away two years ago) has asked me to sing on stage. Later, my primary school teacher did the same. All my "musical performances" were part of our artistic activities at kindergarten and school. We had several such artistic events every year and it was entertaining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then, the '89 Romanian Revolution happened and for some unexplained reasons, they kind of stopped. One of a sudden there was no money and no interest in organizing such shows. They were considered to be... Communist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I never understood how celebrating the seasons, wearing a bee-like costume or dancing and reciting poems about the nature of the motherland can be considered Communist. Maybe the poets themselves were Communists. Or maybe suddenly patriotism was the new enemy (as we were now embarking towards the globalist Capitalism).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Or maybe the Romanian Revolution, just like the French one, was enthusiastically “guillotining” everything, good or bad alike. Or maybe all of the above is true... But anyway, I digress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I remember those days even today. In most cases, I and my colleagues were usually wearing costumes. Some of us were singing, others reciting poems, others playing instruments or dancing. Two of the best pupils were the presenters and “hosts” for the show. And others were just staying there and having good fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I wasn't nervous about singing on stage. Not at all. Singing was in my nature, and being there, on the stage was for me nothing but another interesting and fun experience. Much more fun than the usual classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then, one day, it happened. I was on the stage for a final rehearsal. I was singing my favourite song: “Motherland, my mother told me, is like the swallow bird...” and then I saw the eyes. The attentive eyes of the audience - the few parents that were sitting on the chairs assisting us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At that moment for the first time in my life, I became self-aware. For the first time in my life, the stage became a frightening place to be, where singing was torture. And for the first time in my life I had to do great efforts not to lose my voice right in the middle of the song.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Up until that moment, it was all fun. Because it was about me doing what I was doing usually: singing. And, hey, if the song is listened to by other people than, say your neighbor or your classmate then it's more fun, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Well, when I have realized that those eyes could actually see any of my possible mistakes I simply got scared. From that moment on, I made all that's possible to turn down any invitation to sing for other people. I preferred to stop singing at all (or to sing only when being alone) than to risk making fool of myself. That high was the level of my fear!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As you can see, it was an irrational fear. Because I already had this musical talent quite well developed and I also had some experience. But these facts simply DID NOT MATTERED to me.</span><br />
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Now, how is this story connected to our subject? Well, when I have checked the statistics of my blog I saw the eyes, YOUR eyes. The eyes of the silent readers of this blog. Despite my long lack of activity on this blog, you kept visiting this corner of the web. And this honors me and also scares me. So much so, that I shied away from writing for almost 4 years.<br />
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But not anymore! I guess that my internal drive to write has become stronger than the shiness. And I feel I have interesting things to share from now on.<br />
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During the four years that have passed since my last blog post here, a lot of things have happened. I've changed jobs, devices, operating systems, intellectual tastes and even, - partially, at least, - world views.<br />
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It's only natural that all these changes have to and will be present on this blog in the future. I'll share with you the things I've learned or those I'm still learning. Things that have marked my last 4 years of online absence.<br />
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Well, actually, overall, my absence lasted a lot longer than that, as I grew kind of reclusive for some reasons, and I didn't socialized much. The reasons are too many, but one of them is work. Especially during the spring of this year 2019, I was, at a certain moment, literally so busy that I couldn't afford to chat more than, let's say 5 minutes, much less engage in long conversations.<br />
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At that time, in spring, I had 3 (yeah, three) jobs at the same time and my schedule was so, so tight and clearly planned that I could barely breathe.<br />
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I feel guilty for all those people who turned to me for help during that time. I couldn't keep up with my promises and/or their expectations of me. I apologize to them with this occasion. And I apologize not only for that particular time in spring but I also for all the previous moments when I couldn't respond and help.<br />
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I also want to thank you all for having the patience to bearing with me until the end of this blog post.<br />
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And, as a very short note, I'll just count here several word that can describe my last 4 years of absence: Dell laptops, Ubuntu, narcissism, beauty and health...<br />
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Well, now that I have finished this text, I have to admit one thing: every time when I was tempted to just restart my blogging activity here without giving any kind of explanatory intro lines, I felt instantly kind of guilty. Because I think you deserve some explanations, excuses and also, my gratitude. You, my eyes...<br />
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Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-19136859590205467252015-04-09T05:56:00.001+03:002015-04-21T22:21:15.147+03:00How to display an Easter egg cursor in BlogspotEver wondered how to add a nice Easter themed cursor (or any other type of cursor) to your Blogspot blog? Actually, is quite easy, especially, if you have some basic notions of HTML. I've been playing on my blog lately, testing cursors and graphics, and now I can write a short tutorial about how to add an Easter egg cursor to Blogspot.<br />
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Traditionally, in Romania, on Wednesday and Tuesday during the Holy Week of the Orthodox Easter, people use to dye and decorate Easter eggs. World evolves, traditions change and adapt, so, like everyone else, I "echoed" the "offline" tradition into the online medium. Sort to speak, I deciced to decorate my blog. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_FNXyT1jns/VSXJWhEkvXI/AAAAAAAAFmM/dSiVRUChjMQ/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B03%3A11%3A41.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Easter egg cursor for Blogspot" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_FNXyT1jns/VSXJWhEkvXI/AAAAAAAAFmM/dSiVRUChjMQ/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B03%3A11%3A41.png" title="Explaining how to use an Easter cursor on Blogspot" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter egg cursor</td></tr>
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So, here I am, after long deliberations, I choose a nice pink Easter egg model as shown in the picture at left. If you want your cursor to look the same, here is what you should do.<br />
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First of all I have to recommend Cursors4U.com, a website containing lots of free cursors, ready to be used on your site or blog. Go to the<a href="http://www.cursors-4u.com/easter/" target="_blank"> Easter Cursors section on Cursors-4U.com</a>, and choose the desired cursor. Like I said, I go with the <a href="http://www.cursors-4u.com/cursor/2006/04/11/hol189.html" target="_blank">pink Easter egg cursor, which can be found at this link</a>. See the image below.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK9a792OB1yIjodBFctlSy64bkkuKeQddnhJ8LY1UpYnUngLLX6EEzCurFrRvMrRPL6O5PqHtcTNuUbxBUlLq6usoPl7rac-MaTiGMwy7wjg23aNHretyneR0J6w-gGZfcARVlbk5fGg/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-04-09+03:09:13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pink Easter cursor for Blogspot" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK9a792OB1yIjodBFctlSy64bkkuKeQddnhJ8LY1UpYnUngLLX6EEzCurFrRvMrRPL6O5PqHtcTNuUbxBUlLq6usoPl7rac-MaTiGMwy7wjg23aNHretyneR0J6w-gGZfcARVlbk5fGg/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-04-09+03:09:13.png" height="233" title="Cursors-4U screenshot on Easter egg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choosing the desired Easter cursor</td></tr>
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Then, we can see the cursor page and also we can see the chosen cursor "at work" - your cursor takes its shape, so that you can test it before you actually use it on your own blog.<br />
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Once landed on the page, click on the "Blogger/Blogspot" tab, like shown in the image bellow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_yMY9zQax4HD89SYYHNJDTU15EYd5UvvSwvCeaI0wJMvnW1hIX22c2pDoIiUVymwu2XllL0LpzhcPu-_1J8IKa41gSXqNqu815gJe9RCBDHyOVt-w7aXuJHkNWnWXDOXG05nW18s4Pk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-04-09+02:23:04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blogger Blogspot tab in cursors4u" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_yMY9zQax4HD89SYYHNJDTU15EYd5UvvSwvCeaI0wJMvnW1hIX22c2pDoIiUVymwu2XllL0LpzhcPu-_1J8IKa41gSXqNqu815gJe9RCBDHyOVt-w7aXuJHkNWnWXDOXG05nW18s4Pk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2015-04-09+02:23:04.png" height="233" title="Finding the cursor codes for Blogspot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the "Blogger/Blogspot" tab</td></tr>
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And then, go to "New Blogger/Blogspot Interface" and copy the codes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tse6mkFkNuw/VSXUMN6brRI/AAAAAAAAFm0/6O6chvUz3GI/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B02%3A23%3A45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="codes Easter cursor Blogspot" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tse6mkFkNuw/VSXUMN6brRI/AAAAAAAAFm0/6O6chvUz3GI/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B02%3A23%3A45.png" height="233" title="Copying the cursor script to insert it in Blogspot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copy the codes of the Easter cursor</td></tr>
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Then, log into your Blogspot account, go to your blogs and choose the blog you want to show the new cursor. Bellow is a screenshot from my own account.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPmYDwxqZr8/VSXgJd8-l3I/AAAAAAAAFnc/74LqEa7eFpQ/s1600/oie_LUiAnyD5cEsz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPmYDwxqZr8/VSXgJd8-l3I/AAAAAAAAFnc/74LqEa7eFpQ/s1600/oie_LUiAnyD5cEsz.png" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, go to the left side of the screen, look for "Template" and click on it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ILngzN4vrM/VSXaLZRELWI/AAAAAAAAFnM/l4TPotr6JWo/s1600/oie_aPDZA5o6zK12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ILngzN4vrM/VSXaLZRELWI/AAAAAAAAFnM/l4TPotr6JWo/s1600/oie_aPDZA5o6zK12.png" /></a></div>
Then go to "Edit HTML" and click on it.<br />
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<b>Note</b>: Before you do this, you'd better backup your template, just in case.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zEkO-ciniY/VSXiZj81SiI/AAAAAAAAFnw/lYRffq8RHYI/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A21%3A55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Edit HTML Blogspot" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zEkO-ciniY/VSXiZj81SiI/AAAAAAAAFnw/lYRffq8RHYI/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A21%3A55.png" height="176" title="Clicking on Edit HTML link" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on Edit HTML</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now slide down until the bottom, and look for the last line of codes, just where is written <b></html>. </b>Positionate the cursor just before the <b><</b> symbol.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bMXBZGEtG0/VSXlBB24VtI/AAAAAAAAFn8/Hw87igVOakE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A25%3A08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Insert code before </html> code" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bMXBZGEtG0/VSXlBB24VtI/AAAAAAAAFn8/Hw87igVOakE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A25%3A08.png" height="176" title="cursor standing before </html>" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put cursor before </html> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And then paste the code that will allow the cursor to be shown. After that, click "Save".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol2b1flRUxg/VSXmnDINGLI/AAAAAAAAFoI/fkhWlcF2yao/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A39%3A03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol2b1flRUxg/VSXmnDINGLI/AAAAAAAAFoI/fkhWlcF2yao/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2015-04-09%2B05%3A39%3A03.png" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paste the code and save</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now you're done. Type in browser your blog address to see the results. You should see on your Blogspot blog a nice Easter egg cursor like mine. Well, congratulations! You've just "dyed" your cursor!<br />
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<b>Update on 18 April 2015</b><br />
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After getting some feedback from my friends, I have found out that some people can't see the cursor. I must admit that I am a bit surprised by this because it didn't happen in my case. Anyway, I've tried to figure out the possible issue and a way to fix it.<br />
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Although, in theory, if you follow the above mentioned steps, you should see your nice cursor "hovering" your blog, it seems that in some cases, this doesn't always happen. In that case, it would be a good idea to update your browser or browsers. And, in case that you are a blog owner and you can't see your new cursor, then you should verify the codes, maybe you've made a mistake.<br />
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Anyway, although I don't intend to keep this cursor forever, I wont to assure you that in my case, it does work. I've checked it using all the browsers that are installed on my OS.<br />
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Here is the configuration:<br />
Zorin OS v.6 Core (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS)<br />
Midori v.0.4.3<br />
Firefox v.37.0.1<br />
Google Chrome Version 42.0.2311.90 (64-bit)<br />
Chromium Version 37.0.2062.120 Ubuntu 12.04 (281580) (64-bit)<br />
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<h4>
How to undo all this </h4>
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- How to manage an "I want my cursor back!" kind of situation -</h4>
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Once the Easter period gone, you'll wont to change your cursor back to default. Well, in order to do that, log into your Blogspot account, go to your blog template, click on "Edi HTML" button, and look for your cursor code (you should see something containing "cursors4u" blah blah in it. </div>
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I've selected it <i>(grey highlight)</i> in the screenshot below. Click to enlarge.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8fbd_JOnE/VTZgYowWxhI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/N55wGf6d0Gc/s1600/Easteregcursorcode.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="selecting the cursor code to erase" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8fbd_JOnE/VTZgYowWxhI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/N55wGf6d0Gc/s1600/Easteregcursorcode.png" height="146" title="screenshot from my blog HTML showing my Easter cursor code" width="400" /></a></div>
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After selecting it, like in the image above, delete it, and then save the HTML. Now the cursor should be back to normal.<br />
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<i>- Last update: 21 April 2015 -</i></div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-87800526340106595312015-04-05T19:22:00.000+03:002015-04-22T10:04:25.698+03:00Thanks instead of a resolution<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUEE4EkrPhE/VNZxLs7a3AI/AAAAAAAAErk/NUUJ0YoEgmM/s1600/IMG_20150206_195608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Annual resolution and thank you" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUEE4EkrPhE/VNZxLs7a3AI/AAAAAAAAErk/NUUJ0YoEgmM/s1600/IMG_20150206_195608.jpg" height="240" title="Annual resolution and thanks for the achievements " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anti-resolution</td></tr>
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This being my first blog post here, in the anno Domini 2015, at first, I wonted this to be some kind of resolution. And I am not talking about the TV or PC screen. No, this fancy name is given to those ambitious and long "To Do" lists that people use to write on special occasions.</div>
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But then, I've learned that over a half of the people who make resolutions fail to make them come true. The reasons are numerous and diverse and they are not the subject of this post.<br />
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Anyway, I look back at the <a href="http://cristiananicolae.blogspot.ro/2014/01/resolutions-on-2014.html" target="_blank">resolutions I have made last year</a>. Do I need to mention that I graciously fall into the category of those over 50%? Well, yes, but instead of lamenting over this, I choose to see the full half of the glass.<br />
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I really don't feel that I can move on with this blog without talking a bit about some of the things that I have accomplished and learned during the last year. I also must mention the people who have been helping me to obtain all these. Yes, I wasn't alone on my way of self-development. None of us is alone.<br />
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I am aware of the fact that most of the modern self-help books are very vocal about how the individual can reach his targets just by using his own will. But this unrealistic and overly promoted image can create the false perception that we don't need each other, we don't owe each other anything, and thus, that we don't have to give anything back. Well, that is incorrect. We are social beings, we live in collectivity. That means that we give and receive help. And this help can be of different kinds: moral, material, spiritual, emotional... you name it. Each one of us has its own list of people who have contributed to his own self-improvement. And I have my own.<br />
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During the last year - 2014 - several people have helped me one way or the other and I feel the need to mention them here because they are very much connected to some of my accomplishments. Such lists tend to be unfair because there is always someone left unmentioned, so I'll have to apologise for that.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILKdiPtagRg/VR7drrRM-WI/AAAAAAAAFao/qD0f2APi5Ls/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.21.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper cut fancy letter T" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ILKdiPtagRg/VR7drrRM-WI/AAAAAAAAFao/qD0f2APi5Ls/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.21.15.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter T" width="150" /></a></div>
Last year, during the springtime, I had the honour to be invited to be part of two interesting educational projects. Both of them are making baby steps - they are small projects developed in the spare time - so they should not be judged too harshly.</div>
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First one of them is <a href="http://humsang.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Humsang.com</a>, where I've wrote a short feedback that cand be found <a href="http://www.humsang.com/feedback.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on the "People Say" (Feedback) section</a>.</div>
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I've been giving a hand to this project mostly by testing the website and providing feedback to the owner. By feedback I mean, everything from design and graphics to website usability.<br />
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Well, in fact, this is not the first time when I give my feedback and thoughts to an admin, but this time was different, because I know the admin, he is my old friend, and he came to me to ask for my feedback on his projects.<br />
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I must say that I was both flattered by his trust in my opinion and responsibilised. And it was one very fun and interesting experience. I was testing the site and giving my opinions via chat, while the admin was working "in real time" on the other part of the globe, on another continent. That was something overwhelming and intense. Something that made me feel the world as a large and, in the same time, a very small place! Like I was feeling the planet spinning. It's hard to explain this, but this is the miracle of technology.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d2J-okymLE/VR7kmABc3-I/AAAAAAAAFbE/sASeh7Qe-2o/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.24.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Paper cut fancy letter H" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d2J-okymLE/VR7kmABc3-I/AAAAAAAAFbE/sASeh7Qe-2o/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.24.28.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter H" width="150" /></a></div>
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The second project is called <a href="http://www.stu-ease.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">StuEase</a>.</div>
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As part of my contribution on this website, - apart of giving feedback - I've prepared two tests in the Philosophy field, more exactly, European Philosophy. So, if you are passionate about this field and wont to try your knowledge level in it, I invite you to play the tests I've created! One thing though: finding them can be a bit tricky, so, follow my directions bellow.<br />
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In order to reach my Philosophy tests, you have to <a href="http://www.stu-ease.com/test-yourself.php?a=sqp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">go to section "Test Yourself" on StuEase website</a> and follow the path:<br />
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Post Graduation > Philosophy > European Philosophy<br />
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Note: To solve this test or any of the other listed tests, you will have to create an account on the website. </div>
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Now is time to disclosure the identity of the person who's behind all these projects. His name is <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/103948960922589964598/about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Pradeep</b></a>, (<i>Hi and namaste</i>!), he is from India and he has studied Medicine and coding. So, if you got any software problem, he will dissect its codes. LOL I just had to say that! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyGBbZDWgmY/VR7o_e3bqeI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/NU56U55VcWE/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.27.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper cut fancy letter A" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyGBbZDWgmY/VR7o_e3bqeI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/NU56U55VcWE/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.27.02.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter A" width="150" /></a>Another friend I wont to mention here is one who likes to sign under the nickname <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108669404727726267525/about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Camy</b></a>. (<i>Salutare, tovarășa!</i>) I wont to thank her once again trough this post for the gift she gave me. I wont to assure her that the device - an Android smartphone - is well-appreciated and I will make good use of it in my future articles. It will be my tool and source of inspiration. ;-)</div>
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Camy is my friend from Romania and she is a quite sporty and outgoing kind of person. Exactly the one you would like to hangout with in a sunny summer weekend.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCj9CsWVvoQ/VR7s31-7ESI/AAAAAAAAFbc/4zue_uMBwzY/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.28.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Paper cut fancy letter N" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCj9CsWVvoQ/VR7s31-7ESI/AAAAAAAAFbc/4zue_uMBwzY/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.28.30.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter N" width="150" /></a></div>
Last year I've decided to deepen my knowledge in English language. I feel the need to do that, because, despite the fact that I read articles written in this language on a daily basis, I still can't get read of a lifelong feeling of uncertainty when I have to write or speak in English. Maybe I'll never do. Gosh! What am I saying?! Even now there are rare occasions when, I feel unsure of my own mother tongue (which, by the way, is in some aspects, a lot harder than English).<br />
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Also, last year I became interested in Italian, a language that wasn't initially on my list. Turned out to be a good choice. Again, reasons are not the subject of this post.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEmp74zgpbc/VSEg3sBYtYI/AAAAAAAAFcA/2mb9TX1oXWA/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.30.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper-cut fancy letter K" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEmp74zgpbc/VSEg3sBYtYI/AAAAAAAAFcA/2mb9TX1oXWA/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.30.55.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter K" width="150" /></a>Anyway, the important thing is, that I am not alone on this road. I have been helped by a good friend of mine who's highly skilled in teaching languages... and he likes to "collect" them ;-)<br />
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His name is <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101784044647012751885/about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Fellipe</b></a> (<i>Salve magister!</i>), he is from Brasil, and he is a teacher of languages and he has been helping me to improve my English and also, offered to teach me Italian online (with all the difficulties that comes along with on-distance teaching and the time differences). I really have to thank him for that!<br />
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Also we had several long and interesting chats over the subject of Latin language, Latinity and Neo-Latin languages. These discussions have awaken in me some old and almost dormant questions, interests and hobbies related to the linguistical field of study. And again I have to thank him for triggering that. To put it in a few words, I am really glad that I have a skilled friend that I can count on every time I am confused in this language matter.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Vr45JsGs_M/VSEhOJUp5MI/AAAAAAAAFcI/0uYpGdoIjyc/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.31.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Paper-cut fancy letter S" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Vr45JsGs_M/VSEhOJUp5MI/AAAAAAAAFcI/0uYpGdoIjyc/s1600/2015-04-03%2B12.31.49.jpg" height="200" title="Fancy letter S" width="150" /></a></div>
And last, but not at all least, I have to mention <b>Mr. Nicolas</b>, (<i>Je vous remercie</i>!) the one I owe all things I've succeed in the past two years.
He is my mysterious and quiet reader of my texts and has helped and encouraged me in many ways to carry on with my writing.<br />
<br />
I should link to one of his online profiles, but there is none that I know of. He likes to stay in the shadows (which I kinda like it, I think it's pretty cool in an old fashioned way, considering the openness required by the unwritten standards of the online presence.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, I keep in my mind this image of him doing his researches in the most remote places of the planet...<br />
<br />
That would be, in a sort of chronological order, my short list of some of the people I owe my gratitude to.<br />
<br />
My future plans? Well, mostly, to continue what I've started and to embrace whatever new opportunity may appear...</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eclb_JVpo0g/VSEicbOfZcI/AAAAAAAAFcc/JFOmPpTW7MI/s1600/2015-04-03%2B15.28.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper-cut fancy Thanks message" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eclb_JVpo0g/VSEicbOfZcI/AAAAAAAAFcc/JFOmPpTW7MI/s1600/2015-04-03%2B15.28.51.jpg" height="240" title="Thanks written with fancy letters" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-2392927820181595772014-10-19T00:39:00.000+03:002015-04-07T14:32:35.537+03:00How to install gbrainy game on Zorin OS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKupPFA6Qgc/VDwhBtWU25I/AAAAAAAAD5A/qK4Q_g5GHrE/s1600/gbrainy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKupPFA6Qgc/VDwhBtWU25I/AAAAAAAAD5A/qK4Q_g5GHrE/s1600/gbrainy.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a>Gbrainy is teaser game, that means, it aims to improve user's memory, attention, and, generally, to increase mental skills.<br />
<br />
For non-Linux users and curious linuxists, there is a way to <a href="https://www.rollapp.com/launch/gbrainy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">play gbrainy online</a> (requires signing up using an account on one of the major social networking sites).<br />
<br />
But this blog post aims to show step by step, with images, how to install gbrainy on Zorin OS using the Software Center app. This is how I have installed the game on my system.<br />
<br />
Follow the path:<br />
<br />
<b>Start - All Programs - Accessories - Software Center</b> <br />
<br />
This will open the Ubuntu Software Center, as we can see in the image bellow. Once open, click on <i>Games</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rButAR3VcTc/VDw1I0fkqFI/AAAAAAAAD5g/R0Dl00nE5DE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_04_26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rButAR3VcTc/VDw1I0fkqFI/AAAAAAAAD5g/R0Dl00nE5DE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_04_26.png" height="234" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open the Sotware Center and click Games</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
In order to find gbrainy directly and faster, we can just type its name in the search bar. But when I started all this, I wasn't exactly sure what game I want to install, I was just searching for something interesting.<br />
<br />
So, I preferred to click on <i>All</i>...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-S7C3kyPjM/VDw6cyrkhxI/AAAAAAAAD5w/HAvM_vj8Xa0/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_04_45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-S7C3kyPjM/VDw6cyrkhxI/AAAAAAAAD5w/HAvM_vj8Xa0/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_04_45.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on all games</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...Scroll down a lot (there are over 900 games listed). Find gbrainy, click on the Info, in order to see details related to the game.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6XWpdgwVg3I/VDw8NXajEuI/AAAAAAAAD58/gJkDbQlkUrE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_19_23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6XWpdgwVg3I/VDw8NXajEuI/AAAAAAAAD58/gJkDbQlkUrE/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_19_23.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the game found, click on More Info to see more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The description looks interesting, so... click <i>Install</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj2RTbadCzQ/VDw_slbgooI/AAAAAAAAD6I/50LnWL74DeA/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_19_38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj2RTbadCzQ/VDw_slbgooI/AAAAAAAAD6I/50LnWL74DeA/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_19_38.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Read the description of the game and click Install</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In Zorin OS, installing any app, even a tiny game as this one, requires the administrative privileges. That's Linux way to do things! Asking for password even for the smallest things, is a security measure. I would say, that's a small price to pay for using an operation system that's more secure than Windows. <br />
<br />
But I tend to digress. Write the password in the field and click <i>Authenticate</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbPDJFUgTZk/VDxCVWs1w8I/AAAAAAAAD6Q/644wbwEjdT0/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_21_29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbPDJFUgTZk/VDxCVWs1w8I/AAAAAAAAD6Q/644wbwEjdT0/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_21_29.png" height="150" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to install the game write the password</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The game installs...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpA2Xsze0Wg/VDxDIqCeDtI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/GPdulXw_Kfw/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_22_16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpA2Xsze0Wg/VDxDIqCeDtI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/GPdulXw_Kfw/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_22_16.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gBrainy during the installation process</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once installed, it can be seen the path that can be followed in order to open the game.<br />
<br />
<b>Start - All Applications - Games - gbrainy</b><br />
<br />
And this is the game! gbrainy is in fact, a collection of tests: logic puzzles, mental calculations, memory trainers and verbal analogies. All to improve mental capabilities.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc8rdxPhxts/VDxGMXUgESI/AAAAAAAAD6k/B1eM3XGUnU8/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_26_46.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc8rdxPhxts/VDxGMXUgESI/AAAAAAAAD6k/B1eM3XGUnU8/s1600/Screenshot%2Bfrom%2B2014-10-12%2B21_26_46.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gbrainy game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's it! Enjoy the game!Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-36785445032439187352014-09-14T15:19:00.001+03:002015-04-07T14:33:42.968+03:00Test post - posting with Bloggeroid<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
This post is just a test to see if the Android app called Bloggeroid really works. In order to do that, this post is written and published using only a mobile phone...<br />
<div align="right" style="font-size: xx-small;">
posted from <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger" rel="nofollow">Bloggeroid</a></div>
</div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0Caracal, Olt County, Romania44.1130831 24.3528663tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-25140075431876967862014-07-08T06:38:00.000+03:002015-04-07T14:34:36.386+03:00Temporarily fixing resolution problems in Zorin OS What is one day - just after playing a game - you have the unpleasant surprise to see the screen resolution changed, showing big ugly icons and distorted wallpaper? And what if, no matter how hard you try, you can't find the cause, and, most important, the solution for this?<br />
<br />
Well, this has happened to me. But, luckily after long searches, I got an idea about the possible cause for this problem and I have also found a way to fix it. Well, at least. temporarily. I couldn't find yet a definitive answer, but I'm still working on it. But first, let's see...<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>...the problem</b></h3>
<br />
In very few words, the problem is caused by a misfortune cocktail of games, drivers and a bug present in Wine / PlayOnLinux app. Its manifests randomly and, from what I've observed on forums, it doesn't seem to matter what game you play, whether it is the last version of a complicated RPG, or just a humble kids arcade.<br />
<br />
As I've said, the image on the screen remains distorted after playing (or trying to play) the game. No matter what you do, how many times you try to change the settings, using the "normal" ways, it simply doesn't seem to work. Well, I've been going though this frustrating situation, but, luckily, I've found...<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>...the solution</b></h3>
<br />
Note: this is a way to recover the screen resolution in Zorin OS 6 LTS, but it is a temporarily fix! You'll have to run this command every day when you start your PC. If you shut down, restart, or flip your laptop and let it into stand by state, then you'll have to run this command again.<br />
<br />
Or, at least this is what happens in my case. Who knows, maybe you'll be luckier than me and it will work better in your case. Anyway, writing commands several times a day, is not exactly ideal, and it can drive people away from Linux, which is ot what I want, so I'll look deeper to find a better solution. Till then, this are the solutions I've found and the ways they work on my Zorin OS 6 distro.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Solution no. 1</b></h4>
<br />
This is my favorite because is the simplest and I find it handy.<br />
<br />
First, open the Terminal. In order to do that, go to :<br />
<br />
Start - All Applications - Accessories - Terminal<br />
<br />
or press Ctrl + Alt + T<br />
<br />
and write this command:<br />
<br />
<b>xrandr -s 0</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
and then press "Enter". Here is how it should look in the Terminal:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XvpYkJUKAdM/U7tcb7DXcgI/AAAAAAAAClQ/yFVCamTx_W8/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-06-11+10:07:25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="resolution fix" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XvpYkJUKAdM/U7tcb7DXcgI/AAAAAAAAClQ/yFVCamTx_W8/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-06-11+10:07:25.png" height="240" title="Fixing resolution in Zorin OS 6 LTS" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short command line to fix resolution in Zorin OS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
After running this command the screen will turn black for several seconds, maybe it will show some sports of colours, then, the resolution will get back to normal.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Solution no. 2</h4>
<br />
<br />
Actually, is the first I've discovered, but I've abandoned it because the other one is shorter and both of them have - in my case - the same effects. But I write it here, just in case.<br />
<br />
In Terminal, write this command line:<br />
<br />
<b>xrandr -s 0 && xrandr -s 0</b><br />
<br />
Press "Enter".<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMvfFdw7wKM/U7tdt8yMsJI/AAAAAAAAClc/eqcOyAoIly4/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-06-10+09:46:14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zorin OS command" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMvfFdw7wKM/U7tdt8yMsJI/AAAAAAAAClc/eqcOyAoIly4/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-06-10+09:46:14.png" height="240" title="screen resolution fix in Zorin OS " width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And now the long version of the story. One day, recently, I had the bad inspiration to try to install a little game from MyPlayCity.com. It's about a game called 4 Elements. Just a silly game with faeries, water, fire and stones. The game wasn't something new for me. Actually, the strange thing is that I used to play this game a lot three years ago, on a Windows XP system and I had no problems. I keep an older version of the game (dating from 2012) saved somewhere on a device and, last year, I have installed that version on another XP system. Again, no problems with that game. Until now.<br />
<br />
Most newbies will tend to believe that there is a problem with Linux, but I incline to believe that is the game to be blamed. Because, in the exact same day when I have installed 4 Elements, my mother installed Farm Frenzy 2 on her Windows XP computer, and she had the same resolution problems like me.<br />
<br />
In her case, the problems were fixed easier, and the game, was, of course, uninstalled and banned for good, but in my case, things got a little complicated, as you can see.<br />
<br />
I've forgot to mention that I've installed the game using Wine app, because it is an .exe, so it was made to be played on Windows.<br />
<br />
In fact, no matter the title, all the games mentioned on forums, blogs or groups, related to this bug, share the same thing: they are Windows-oriented and they are played trough Wine / PlayOnLinux app. Besides of that, I can't understand why all these problems don't manifest when installing the old versions? Are the newest versions full of errors and that makes them causing these unpleasant surprises?<br />
<br />
And, most of all, how can this be fixed for good without getting too geeky every time the PC is turned on? These are questions and challenges to solve...Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-7425696049516215442014-05-31T23:30:00.000+03:002014-06-01T03:32:45.489+03:00In memoriam...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFGBo5B9EY/U4pqAxRj6gI/AAAAAAAACLY/PfoEqUoLtJE/s1600/mamafinalmmica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFGBo5B9EY/U4pqAxRj6gI/AAAAAAAACLY/PfoEqUoLtJE/s1600/mamafinalmmica.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
I dedicate this post to the memory of my grandmother who has recently passed away after a long sufferance. Today marks the day of an important religious ritual dedicated to her memory and with this occasion, my pious lack of activity on this blog has come to an end... <br />
<br />
I ask to all my (surprisingly numerous) readers to forgive my silence from the past few months, but now, as you can see, my reasons were very serious and the emotional pressure was very high upon me. God bless you all!Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-58363056955945540842014-04-10T23:30:00.000+03:002014-04-11T00:29:41.121+03:00Firefox - How to add a word in the dictionarySo I write this blog in English, which is not my native language. Lucky me, the tools and apps have evolved a lot, during the last decade, so, when I wite an email or a blog post, I no longer have to keep my in-print dictionary opened near by my side in order to check (and double check) the spelling of the English words.<br />
<br />
This used to be my method many years ago, when both the Internet and my relationship with it was still very young. Meanwhile things have evolved. Now, when I write a typo, the spell checker warns me by showing a little squiggly red line underneath the misspelled word.<br />
<br />
This feature can be found in Firefox browser and it is strongly connected to the Language dictionaries that are installed on your browser. For example, in my case, I have installed dictionaries for Romanian and English. Every time I mistake a word in the selected language, the spell checker corrects me. It's really easy and convenient. Just one right-click on the red line and I get several suggestions. <br />
<br />
But the spell checker isn't perfect. Sometimes, it "underlines" a correct word. How can you add that word to the dictionary? Sounds complicated but it isn't. The last versions of Firefox allows users to customise the dictionary (and thus the spell checker).<br />
<br />
I use as example a couple of old screenshots from my own browser. In the image bellow, I edit a question on AskUbuntu and, as you can see, the spell checker marks as typos several words including "paranoical".<br />
<br />
But this word is not a typo, it it is correct. So, in order to add this word to the dictionary I right click on the underlined word and then click on "Add to Dictionary".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-drul-Yjt-do/U0cJIC1tVxI/AAAAAAAACKM/2uttDZPfi4A/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-01-13+15:34:24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Add a word in the spell checker" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-drul-Yjt-do/U0cJIC1tVxI/AAAAAAAACKM/2uttDZPfi4A/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-01-13+15:34:24.png" height="233" title="Spellcheck in Firefox" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To add a word to the dictionary right-click on it and then click on Add to Dictionary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And then, the line disappears - the word is now kept in the personal dictionary. This way, everyone can enrich and complete the dictionary making it more trustworthy and useful. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9avAQhoh_TQ/U0cKUNI31GI/AAAAAAAACKU/c74ynT93AEQ/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-01-13+15:35:18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9avAQhoh_TQ/U0cKUNI31GI/AAAAAAAACKU/c74ynT93AEQ/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-01-13+15:35:18.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The added word is no longer underlined.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-17700147428974769262014-04-09T23:57:00.000+03:002014-04-10T00:06:13.477+03:00How to correctly post a payment proofI must admit that I've been very deeply involved into GPT sites lately, trying them, studying them, exploring them and, of course gaining some money from them. And I saw a lot of payment proofs posted of dedicated forums and personal blogs.<br />
<br />
Posting payment proofs is very normal considering the fact that many people, before they sign up, want and need to be sure what they get into, and if they loose their time for nothing or they do get something from those PTC or GPT sites.<br />
<br />
But while publishing a screenshot from your Paypal account can be a good way convince your close friends or strangers from the large public to join that GPT site and thus become your refs, this can be also a risky thing if you post too much information. A bad guy could use the sensible information to do you harm.<br />
<br />
This were my thoughts while I was exploring those sites. My gut and the logic were telling me that there should be a way to prevent any security problem without altering the message.<br />
<br />
So I did some digging and I have found out that, for security reasons, any payment proof should not show the following data:<br />
<br />
- Transaction ID<br />
- Your Paypal email (or the email you use with you payment processor)<br />
- Any other specific code (is not Paypal's case, but it can be related to other payment processors)<br />
<br />
As an example, I give bellow a screenshot with my first payment received from <a href="http://www.donkeymails.com/pages/index.php?refid=plutonia" target="_blank">DonkeyMails.com</a>. It is a screenshot from my Paypal account.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsc6chBGgMc/U0WtdLKS6aI/AAAAAAAACJk/9kEZTgJEMt4/s1600/Payment+proof+02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Securelly posting a payment proof" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsc6chBGgMc/U0WtdLKS6aI/AAAAAAAACJk/9kEZTgJEMt4/s1600/Payment+proof+02.png" height="198" title="Paypal payment proof from Donkeymails" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When posting a payment proof, make sure that you hide the transaction ID and your email address</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In order to obtain a payment proof, just log into your Paypal account, use a printscreen tool (or press PrtSc key) and then edit it with an image editor. In Zorin OS, I use Screenshot app and Gimp. <br />
<br />
Additionally, for a plus of credibility, you can add a screenshot from your email account (the one you use it in connection with Paypal, to receive your money). Again, you have to make sure you erase all the sensible data.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tw4pleLLvM/U0WwL4t7LmI/AAAAAAAACJw/rsut5-4GmZE/s1600/Payment+proof+01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tw4pleLLvM/U0WwL4t7LmI/AAAAAAAACJw/rsut5-4GmZE/s1600/Payment+proof+01.png" height="223" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When posting a capture from your Paypal email, erase your transaction ID</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In short, I think the rule would sound like this: when you are not sure if strange eyes should see that information, it's better to be cautious and erase it.Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-66789046816024344982014-03-29T01:34:00.005+02:002015-04-07T14:36:51.091+03:00A Romanian legend about Virgin Mary Theotokos<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjr4lcilUcY/UzYB0Zj6CFI/AAAAAAAACJU/LYrFb9HEadA/s1600/buna_vestire_sec._xix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Annunciation, Bunavestire" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjr4lcilUcY/UzYB0Zj6CFI/AAAAAAAACJU/LYrFb9HEadA/s1600/buna_vestire_sec._xix.jpg" height="320" title="Romanian Orthodox Icon" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icon XIX century, museum. Link: http://www.epr.ro/muzeu-icoane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Many mundane problems have kept me from writing on this blog in this last month.<br />
<br />
But today, I resume my activity here by sharing an old and interesting Romanian legend that I have read about recently. It is a legend about Virgin Mary which Romanians call her "Fecioara Maria", but, most often "Maica Domnului" meaning literally Mother of Lord/God. In the title I use the Greek term "Theotokos" which I see is much more known and used online than the Romanian one and it also means Mother of Lord.<br />
<br />
The following legend was discovered about a century ago by <a href="http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simion_Florea_Marian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simion Florea-Marian,</a> (<i>Ro link</i>) one of the greatest Romanian Ethnologists and Folklorists. He gathered several legends from the Romanian inhabitants of Bucovina region (which nowadays is no longer bordered by our frontiers - long political story, hardly related to the subject of this post).<br />
<br />
To put things in context, I must mention that a few days ago, more exactly, on 25 March, the Orthodox Christians and the Greek-Catholics from Romania celebrated the <a href="http://orthodoxwiki.org/Annunciation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good Annunciation</a>, followed a day after by a celebration dedicated to Archangel Gabriel. I'm not going to insist now on the events celebrated with this occasion. They are well known and, anyway, they can be easily found out from the link I gave.<br />
<br />
The legend I'm going to tell is quite long and I intend to save my... I've almost said my breath... well, I wont to save my... finger tips for it. The legend presents the event in a quite different version from the biblical one. I could say, the people have made Virgin Mary one of their own kin.<br />
<br />
I try to follow in the most accurate way the original text of the legend, which was published in the book called "The Legends of Theotokos", original title being "Legendele Maicii Domnului". I will also keep the Romanian form of the names of the characters. I don't think they need to be translated. It is very easy to guess, as there are similarities in spelling with their English forms.<br />
<br />
So, let the story begin... <br />
<br />
"It is said that once upon a time, in the old times, dwelt two old fellows named Ioachim and Ana. This couple did not had children. And they prayid to God every morning and every night so that He would give them a child. And they've made a promise that if they would have a child then he will be sent to the church to be dedicated to God and will serve Him.<br />
<br />
And God, as He is entirely good and merciful, listening to their long prayers gave them a daughter which they called Maria.<br />
<br />
And now, to fulfil their promise, they dressed the girls like a little doll and took her to a monastery of nuns. Once there, they entered in the church, put the child on the table inside and then they left for home.<br />
<br />
Soon after their leaving, the monastic women rived to the church to say their prayers and thus they found little Maria and took her in their rooms. They gave her a room of her own and an old woman as her nanny. <br />
<br />
Under her nanny's guidance and good care, Maria grew up well. She became smarter and wiser as days passed by.<br />
<br />
But after she grew up a little more, entering to her adolescence, the Holy Spirit descended from heavens and blew with a divine breath upon her and from that moment she became mid-bearne (see <a href="http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=pregnant" target="_blank">here</a> for the expression) with our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
The old nanny noticed Maria's new delicate condition, but, unknowing the reason she did not knew what to think. She was very frightened and upset. In the end, gathering all her courage, she went to the abbess nun and told her the situation.<br />
<br />
The abbess nun did'nt belived the old woman, she slapped her face and threw her out of the room, saying this can't be true. Then, after she calmed down, she went into Maria's room to see with her own eyes and verify if there is truth in what she just heard. <br />
<br />
And after seeing for sure that the old woman was telling the truth, and unknowingly also that Maria was expecting a child being under the divine shadow, the nun brutaly took her our from her room, bemocked and banished her.<br />
<br />
Maria, seeing that she is treated in such a shameful way and knowing herself to be innocent, started to cry heavily and entered the church to pray to God for her innocence.<br />
<br />
When she set her foot inside the church, God's angels started singing. And Maria, with her eyes still in tears, started bowing and prostrating in front of the holy icons.<br />
<br />
The nuns and their abbess, seeing the church's door open and knowing that none of them opened it, hurried into the church to see what is going on. There, they saw Maria crying and praying in her knees, and the angels around her singing. The nuns, frightened by this, felt on their knees, asking Maria for forgiveness, and also asking her to get back to live with them in the monastery.<br />
<br />
But Maria did not wonted to get back, so she left the church to live in the village of her parents."<br />
<br />
Well, here is where the legend ends. I'm not sure if it was told/translated in English before. Anyway, I have tried my best in order to share it to the world...<br />
<br />Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-53087901893641925362014-02-20T03:53:00.001+02:002015-04-07T14:38:24.472+03:00Software Center in Zorin OSOne of the most obvious thing I have saw as a fresh Linux user is the easy way to install anything on Zorin OS. Before, in my "Windows times" every time when I needed a piece of software I had to do a google search, ask my friends, install, discover is not good, unistall and try another, etc. <br />
<br />
...And, of course, I thought thinks will be the same in Linux. Well, no, they are not! In fact, as I see, in Linux, specifically in Zorin OS (the distro I use), it is a lot easier to install an app if I need one. And it is also a lot easier to evaluate the apps and to give feedback to the community.<br />
<br />
And all this thanks to Software Center! No more google searching! Most of the useful apps are already here, in the Software Center, ready to be installed. Those people who have an android smartphone or a tablet are quite familiar with the concept, because Google Play is very much similar with the oftware Center. <br />
<br />
Zorin OS Core v6.04 is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, so, the Zorin OS Software Center is, in fact, Ubuntu Software Center.<br />
<br />
Now, before going further, I have to make some important observations. Zorin OS being Ubuntu-based, theoretically, most of those apps from Software Center should work fine on it. But, (and I speak from my bad experience) before installing anything it should be kept in mind that Zorin OS has also a Gnome environment. So, when installing something, we should look for apps destinated to Ubuntu LTS and Gnome environnment.<br />
<br />
Any "missplacement" can create problems. I give here an example from my own experience. One day, I have installed Deluge torrent app. Fine till now. But, in my naive lack of experience, I have installed the KDE version and the result was that the app after a short while became a real problem as it had quite an erratic behaviour. At the end, I had no solution but to unistall it. Then I came across to the Gnome version of Deluge and I got one idea... So, I have installed this app, tested it, and... it works fine! :-)<br />
<br />
So, any app destined to Ubuntu versions higher than 12.04, KDE, Unity or any other thing that souds too alien to Zorin OS's "nature" are to be avoid. In order to do that, it is necessary to read the info and comments about every app, not just install it blindly.<br />
<br />
<h3>
So, what is Zorin OS Software Center?</h3>
<br />
In lay-men words, is the place to get (almost) everything you need for your Zorin OS system. Here you can find apps to install and you can also unistall those you don't like or need anymore. <br />
<br />
According to Ubuntu Wiki, Software Center is: "a utility for installing, purchasing, and removing software in Ubuntu, a major part of Ubuntu’s overall software handling." To study more about it, see <a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareCenter#Directly" target="_blank">this link about Software Center on Ubuntu Wiki</a>. <br />
<br />
<h3>
How to launch Zorin OS Software Center?</h3>
<br />
There are 4 ways to do that. In order to learn about them all, please, see the link above. On this post I will discuss only about two, I'd say main, ways to launch Software Center:<br />
<br />
- Directly<br />
- From the command line<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">How to launch Zorin OS Software Center directly</span></b></h3>
<br />
Personally, I have noticed two ways to do that.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>With the cursor go to <b>Start - All Applications - Ubuntu Software Center</b> </li>
</ul>
Like in the image below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfxF19LFExc/UwVUxzUx10I/AAAAAAAACGA/EPcVoF0MESk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-17+19:17:22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Launch Zorin Os Software Center" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfxF19LFExc/UwVUxzUx10I/AAAAAAAACGA/EPcVoF0MESk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-17+19:17:22.png" height="233" title="Launch Zorin Os Software Center" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Launch Zorin OS Software Center directly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li> Or, you can choose even a shortest way like in the image bellow.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qUDUBafr22U/UwVVhyzG7oI/AAAAAAAACGI/k73_Q6fV2_Q/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-17+19:19:09.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Software Center" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qUDUBafr22U/UwVVhyzG7oI/AAAAAAAACGI/k73_Q6fV2_Q/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-17+19:19:09.png" height="233" title="Zorin OS" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another direct way to launch Zorin OS Software Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once launched, the app will look something like this.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEyi7GveAvU/UwVV_g9iIgI/AAAAAAAACGU/_3kUvGfwn9Y/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:42:26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ubuntu Software Center in Zorin OS" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEyi7GveAvU/UwVV_g9iIgI/AAAAAAAACGU/_3kUvGfwn9Y/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:42:26.png" height="233" title="Zorin OS" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zorin OS Software Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Note that on the left side you can see all the apps catalogued on categories, so it is very easy to choose what you need. Some of the categories are already present on the freshly installed Zorin OS system, but other categories (like Programming or Science) will appear once the user gets to install the first app from that category.<br />
<br />
For example, I had no Science category in my "launch menu", but it appeared by itself after I have installed Cellestia app.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYfp42G7Uy0/UwVX4yc8QRI/AAAAAAAACGg/B0KKWli5tXQ/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:43:14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS and the app categories" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MYfp42G7Uy0/UwVX4yc8QRI/AAAAAAAACGg/B0KKWli5tXQ/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:43:14.png" height="233" title="App categories" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Zorin OS Linux all and every app has its own category</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you click on "Installed" tab in Software Center window you can see all the apps that are allready installed on the system. This is something like "Add-Remove Programs" in Windows Control Panel, but is even better because you can see the apps in categories not just an alphabetical list of them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UF-V4sY64U/UwVZH6c31mI/AAAAAAAACGs/Q9Kf5wo9ziE/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:44:17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Installed apps in Software Center" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UF-V4sY64U/UwVZH6c31mI/AAAAAAAACGs/Q9Kf5wo9ziE/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:44:17.png" height="233" title="Categories of apps in Zorin OS" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Categories of instaled apps in Zorin OS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And if you click on one of the categories, you can see every installed app.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu4XmPzHCBU/UwVZv054OAI/AAAAAAAACG0/0vYZuhjAMEU/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:45:01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Installed apps in Zorin OS" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu4XmPzHCBU/UwVZv054OAI/AAAAAAAACG0/0vYZuhjAMEU/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:45:01.png" height="233" title="Apps in Zorin OS" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installes apps in Zorin OS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And if you want to see what apps are there to be installed, go to "All Software" and choose one categories. You'll see the subcategories of apps and/or the apps. In the screenshot bellow, I explore "Graphics" folder/category.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cODGh2SHJm8/UwVa5KBBVjI/AAAAAAAACHI/eKL-a1OyR3A/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:47:15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Graphics" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cODGh2SHJm8/UwVa5KBBVjI/AAAAAAAACHI/eKL-a1OyR3A/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-18+20:47:15.png" height="233" title="Graphics" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphics category in Zorin OS Software Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">How to launch Zorin OS Software Center from command line</span></h3>
<br />
Again, there are two ways.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Press Ctrl (Control)+Alt+T keys (together) to open the Terminal and write this command line:</li>
</ul>
<code>software-center</code> <br />
<br />
This comand will launch the app.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ml9XMoIWERg/UwVe6MoSFBI/AAAAAAAACHU/XYCvUVNqNxg/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-20+03:48:05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ml9XMoIWERg/UwVe6MoSFBI/AAAAAAAACHU/XYCvUVNqNxg/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-20+03:48:05.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Launch Software Center via command line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Note: As a result of this command line you'll most probably see a lot of so-called "errors" in the Terminal window. Don't panic, stay calm. :-P I was puzzled too when I saw this for the first time. But then, I have posted a <a href="http://askubuntu.com/q/422254/146105" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">question about it on AskUbuntu</a> and got a lot of interesting and relieving answers. In short, those "errors" are not a reason to worry. They are interesting only for developers, not for common users like you and me. :-)<br />
<ul>
<li> Open the Terminal and write this command line</li>
</ul>
<pre><code>nohup software-center &</code></pre>
<pre><code> </code></pre>
This is the second command line that will open the app. Only that in this case, those weird "errors" will not be seen in the Terminal window.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koNTeBLcYbY/UwVftKmAOvI/AAAAAAAACHc/WWZaNKDGqdE/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-20+03:51:32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koNTeBLcYbY/UwVftKmAOvI/AAAAAAAACHc/WWZaNKDGqdE/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-20+03:51:32.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another command line for launching SC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well that's all about Software Center!<br />
<br />
Zorin OS is both very criticized by old Linux users for its Windows looks and it is seen with a lot of suspicion by loyal Windows users (for being after all, a Linux distribution underneath the Windows appearance). But in my humble opinion, this distro takes the best parts from both its "parents" and is the best for fresh Linux users.I know that I love it! :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-80918062272339643782014-02-16T23:40:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:39:27.622+03:00My 3rd poem with dedication...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrwVHAienBU/UwEunauzFlI/AAAAAAAACFw/fY9bA8ICLao/s1600/de-ar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HXy8uWEKS-I/UwErU7np3UI/AAAAAAAACFk/oP3Cyts7Qxg/s1600/p.txt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HXy8uWEKS-I/UwErU7np3UI/AAAAAAAACFk/oP3Cyts7Qxg/s1600/p.txt.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a><br />
Fortunately, the muse visited me in the last few days. Here is another poem I wrote yesterday, 15 February 2014.<br />
<br />
Like the previous one, it is written in Romanian language. And it is with special dedication...<br />
<br />
Although I don't translate it yet, I can translate the title: "De-a fost răul" meaning, in a raw translation "If the source of evil was..." or "If the evil was from...".<br />
<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<br />
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
De-a fost răul</h3>
</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
by Cristiana Nicolae</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De-a fost răul de la mine</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chiar acum mă îmbrac în
sac.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De-a fost răul de la
tine,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eu în bine îl prefac.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De-a fost răul de la
lume,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Multă-i vorba de vorbit!</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De-a fost răul de la
demon,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Am în cruce un cuțit.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De-a fost răul de
oriunde,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Din tăcere, din cuvânt,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nu-i puterea lui mai mare</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Decât dorul pe pământ!</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<u>Update on 19 February 2014</u><br />
<br />
I have also published this poem on <a href="http://cristiananicolae.weebly.com/1/post/2014/02/de-a-fost-rul.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Weebly personal site,</a> on <a href="http://www.poezie.ro/index.php/poetry/14044465/De-a_fost_r%C4%83ul" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Poezie.ro page</a><br />
and on <a href="http://negrupealb.ning.com/profiles/blogs/de-a-fost-r-ul" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Negru pe Alb page (on Ning)</a>. Once again, the Ning-based website offered me feedback very quickly. </div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-86196323622981074412014-02-15T21:48:00.002+02:002015-04-07T14:40:21.963+03:00Another of my poems - "Our morning"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnljgG7kN_M/Uv_CmOsbIMI/AAAAAAAACFU/eiqmJ5oJKgc/s1600/Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnljgG7kN_M/Uv_CmOsbIMI/AAAAAAAACFU/eiqmJ5oJKgc/s1600/Sunrise.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
I continue today my poetic moment with another of my poems. Like the one from yesterday, this one is written in Romanian language. Apologies to my English speaking readers.<br />
<br />
This poem is called "Our morning', original title "Dimineața noastră", and it is in the memory to a very special moment in my life and to an extraordinary person. I end the intro here.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is the poem...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
Dimineața noastră</h3>
by Cristiana Nicolae </div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acum zece revoluții</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Aurora ne zâmbea</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Într-o pură dimineață
-</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dimineața mea și-a ta.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
„Este dimineața
noastră!”</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Îmi spuneai atunci
zâmbind</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
„Și pe marea mea
albastră</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
În sfârșit, te văd
sosind!”
</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Și mi-ai spus atunci mai
multe</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Despre cer, despre pământ</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Iar în inima-nsorită</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ardea tainic legământ.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Zece pași făcut-a Cronos</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pași prelungi, plini de-ncercări.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Soarta în rostogolire</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ne-azvârli pe-alte
cărări.</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Însă chiar de-ar fi
potopul,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Noi deloc nu vom uita</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acea pură dimineață,</div>
<div lang="ro-RO" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dimineața mea și-a ta...</div>
<br />
<br />
<u>Update on 19 February 2014</u><br />
<br />
I've published this poem also <a href="http://cristiananicolae.weebly.com/1/post/2014/02/dimineaa-noastr.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on my Weebly personal website</a>, on <a href="http://www.poezie.ro/index.php/poetry/14044437/Dimineata_noastr%C4%83" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Poezie.ro page</a> and on <a href="http://negrupealb.ning.com/profiles/blogs/diminea-a-noastr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my Negru pe Alb pag</a>e (a cultural website based on Ning platform). On this last one, I have received instant useful feedback and I have corrected my poem accordingly. (I did noticed that this last website seems more "alive" than the old and well established Poezie.ro).<br />
<br />
<br />Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-25958847605760499562014-02-14T23:34:00.001+02:002015-04-07T14:41:53.986+03:00A poem I wrote today, 14 February 2014...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F6Uy_r8b7rA/Uv6KOAnqp1I/AAAAAAAACFI/CG2Eo59YM-A/s1600/0_6d843_1b8c923d_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F6Uy_r8b7rA/Uv6KOAnqp1I/AAAAAAAACFI/CG2Eo59YM-A/s1600/0_6d843_1b8c923d_XL.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm not very much into Valentine's Day, as it is a borrowed celebration, not a local one (by "local" in this case I mean genuine Romanian).<br />
<br />
Still, I, somehow, hold this date as being an important one, for some personal reasons which don't make the subject of this post.<br />
<br />
Anyway, maybe due to this reason, or maybe due to the divine will, this morning I woke up with these verses in my ears. I did not get the chance to entirely refresh myself, and the first 8 verses were already written in my mind. The next four one came soon after, in the same smooth manner.<br />
<br />
I must admit that this kind of high level of poetic inspiration did not paid me visits since long time, maybe due to my long, deep, and frequent depressions. In these circumstances, when the muse enters our door she should be treated respectfully. And I also think that it is not just a coincidence the fact that I received these verses today without having to do much effort. So, I wont to write it here, and maybe, in the future, I'll write other poems that I wrote or I will write.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, for my English speaking readers and visitors, this poem is written in Romanian, my own native language. For now, I don't have any English translation/version of it, although I think it would be a good idea. But, as we all know, translating a poem is not that easy, and, as far I'm concerned, I'm not sure yet that I can do it properly. But I keep that in mind for the future.<br />
<br />
Till that time, I apologise to my English readers asking them to use the so-hated Google Translate or any other translating tool they like. <br />
<br />
The poem is called "Cel-ascuns..." meaning "The-hidden-one...".<br />
<br />
<h3>
Cel-ascuns...</h3>
by Cristiana Nicolae<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cuvintele îmi pier,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Trăirile îmi seacă</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
De când auzul tău</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Spre mine nu se-apleacă.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Rostește doar</span>
o <span lang="ro-RO">vorbă,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Și gândul va
înflori,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Și râul de lumină</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Din suflet va țâșni!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Ascultă și
vorbește-mi!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Atâta mi-e de ajuns</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">Ca să ajung la
tine,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="ro-RO">La
tine-cel-ascuns...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have given his poem as an offering...<br />
<br />
<u>Update on 19 February 2014</u><br />
<br />
I have also published this poetry <a href="http://insemneculturale.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cel-ascuns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, on the Ning Web called Însemne Culturale, and I did a small correction of the text according the advice I have received on that website. Very useful feedback I got on those Ning Websites!<br />
<br />
Aside of that I have also published the poem on the following sites (the more one uses, the more chances to get usefull feedback) : <a href="http://negrupealb.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cel-ascuns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here on Negru pe Alb</a> (a Ning website), <a href="http://amprenteliterare.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cel-ascuns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here on Amprente Literare</a> (a Ning website), <a href="http://www.poezie.ro/index.php/poetry/14044385/Cel-ascuns..." rel="nofollow">here on Poezie.ro</a> and <a href="http://cristiananicolae.weebly.com/1/post/2014/02/february-14th-2014.html" rel="nofollow">and here on my Weebly personal website</a>. <br />
I changed the title of the post on this blog.<br />
<br />
Last update: Monday 10 March 2014<br />
Poem published <a href="http://reteaualiterara.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cel-ascuns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here on Rețeaua Literară</a> (a Ning website called Literary Net).<br />
I have forgot to mention last time that, the poem was, also published<a href="http://insemneculturale.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cel-ascuns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> on my blog from Însemne Culturale</a> (another Ning-based cultural website).</div>
Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-54523978478082416652014-02-10T22:43:00.001+02:002015-04-07T14:43:17.486+03:00How to update and upgrade Zorin OS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These are the first command lines I've learned as a fresh Linux user. In fact, these are the first command lines I wrote in the Terminal immediately after installing Zorin OS on my netbook. And this is what I do every day to keep my system up to date, stable and secure.</div>
<br />
I open the Terminal by pressing in the same time the keys:<br />
<br />
Ctrl+Alt+T<br />
<br />
And the Terminal looks like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWZCd7goCKs/UiMrNfXyULI/AAAAAAAAB5o/AK8jldY0_yI/s1600/Screenshot+from+2013-09-01+14%253A32%253A57.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Terminal in Zorin OS" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWZCd7goCKs/UiMrNfXyULI/AAAAAAAAB5o/AK8jldY0_yI/s1600/Screenshot+from+2013-09-01+14%253A32%253A57.png" height="243" title="Zorin OS Terminal" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig. 1 - Control+Alt+T to open Terminal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Update Zorin OS via command line </h3>
<br />
First, I do the update. In order to do this, just after the blinking cursor line, I type:<br />
<br />
<b>sudo apt-get update</b><br />
<br />
and then I hit "Enter" key.<br />
<br />
Immediately, I'm asked for the administrative password. (In Linux, nothing is allowed to move without written permission!). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_Cihev1RW8/UvktMvz1f3I/AAAAAAAACDs/Sr-_h4Z-mho/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+21:48:06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal update" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_Cihev1RW8/UvktMvz1f3I/AAAAAAAACDs/Sr-_h4Z-mho/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+21:48:06.png" height="240" title="Zorin OS Terminal update" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.2 - Write the password and press Enter</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I type the password (remains invisible) and then I press "Enter" key. And a bunch of lines start flowing on the screen, just like in the screnshot bellow:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iU0MsI5mkO0/Uvkt3KEaotI/AAAAAAAACD0/FtC7RG6xBZk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+21:51:09.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal update" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iU0MsI5mkO0/Uvkt3KEaotI/AAAAAAAACD0/FtC7RG6xBZk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+21:51:09.png" height="240" title="Zorin OS Terminal update" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.3 - Let the Matrix flow... :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And, when is done, it looks like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal update" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-shZZ58MWumc/UvkuKRxPTKI/AAAAAAAACD8/OSSPyPicEf0/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+21:52:52.png" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Zorin OS Terminal update" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.4 - The update process is over</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
And then...<br />
<br />
<h4>
Upgrade Zorin OS via command line</h4>
I type the line:<br />
<br />
<b>sudo apt-get upgrade </b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e_FeKryFDcU/Uvk3xINmXgI/AAAAAAAACEQ/ieQx_27s5FA/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+22%253A32%253A49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e_FeKryFDcU/Uvk3xINmXgI/AAAAAAAACEQ/ieQx_27s5FA/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+22%253A32%253A49.png" height="240" title="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.5 - How to upgrade Zorin OS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And press "Enter" key.<br />
Usually, this time it doens't ask me for pasword. Only if I wait for more than 5 minutes between the two operations. But... looks like this time I did expected too long!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade command line" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRkPwZAObVU/Uvk4yQVjpkI/AAAAAAAACEU/kbu6a0-kKHg/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+22:38:17.png" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade command line" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.6 - A normal upgrade is over</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
And that's it! Now, I can close the Terminal... <br />
<br />
I'll update this post.<br />
<br />
Update on 12 February 2013<br />
<br />
<h4>
More about upgrade </h4>
<br />
Sometimes, - not always - during the process, I'm informed about certain upgrades available
and I'm asked if I accept it or not. Like in the example bellow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prnN0P4Lj10/UvvQF5_9JEI/AAAAAAAACEs/c6KIcoQpZ6w/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-12+10%253A07%253A20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prnN0P4Lj10/UvvQF5_9JEI/AAAAAAAACEs/c6KIcoQpZ6w/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-12+10%253A07%253A20.png" height="240" title="Zorin OS Terminal upgrade " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.7 - Upgrading...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Of course, I accept it. In order to
do that, I press "<b>y</b>" key and then "Enter" key.<br />
<br />
The lines start flowing again till the familiar end...<br />
<br />
And, during the whole process another widows appears. It is the Update Manager, an app that is also used for keeping the OS up-to-date. When it does...<br />
<br />
I click on "<b>Install updates</b>" button.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-cdJxMo1DQ/UvvUJ7PFeZI/AAAAAAAACE0/ra26IbCalR4/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-11+08:57:05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zorin OS Terminal Update Manager" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-cdJxMo1DQ/UvvUJ7PFeZI/AAAAAAAACE0/ra26IbCalR4/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-11+08:57:05.png" height="233" title="Zorin OS Terminal Update Manager" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fig.8 - Update Manager GUI in the front...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Then, of course, I click "Close".<br />
<br />
These are the steps I take daily.<br />
<br />
Maybe some experienced Linux users (especially the Ubuntu fans) would say that if I use the command lines is no need to use Update Manager. While the new Linux users perhaps would feel happier if I would say them just to use easier method : Update Manager. They would thus have a motive get read of the "ugly" Terminal.<br />
<br />
The fact is that, maybe I'm overly careful doing both ways, BUT definitely, Terminal must be used for keeping Zorin OS up-to-date. Maybe other things can be done in the good old (graphical) way we are used to do as Windows users, but, there are still some things that Linux imply the command line. <br />
<br />
Anyway, for me, this was a good reason to get accustomed with the Terminal... And now I really like it! :-)<br />
<br />
List of updates made on 12 February 2013<br />
<br />
- changed the title a bit<br />
- added more info<br />
- added another images<br />
- numbered the images<br />
- did some SEO for the images because last time I was too lazy to do that. :-)Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-10160850122675487052014-02-10T17:07:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:44:21.367+03:00A possible bug related to ColorZilla add-onI need a small simple tool to easily "steal" the HEX code of different parts of my blog in order to better blend the new elements in it. So, recently, I have installed <a href="http://www.colorzilla.com/firefox/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ColorZilla</a>, an add-on for Firefox browser, which, according to the official description promises to: "...<i> get a colour reading from any point in your
browser, quickly adjust this colour and paste it into another program.
You can Zoom the page you are viewing and measure distances between any
two points on the page.</i>"<br />
<br />
In fact, what it offers is more than I need for now, and I'm pleased with its functionality and practicability. But, I have also noticed some annoying things going on with my Firefox browser, and I suspect it is related to this add-on because it did not happened before.<br />
<br />
So, here is how this bug looks and behaves. On some websites, the elements of the page are surrounded (layered) by red coloured doted lines. The elements also get a pink-reddish colour. It doesn't happen with all the websites (I guess it depends of the platform), and this is why it took me some time till I realised that there is a bug lurking here. :-)<br />
<br />
Images are always better "narrators" than words, so I post here several significant screenshots.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vV_8GrgOpB8/UvjjIvvUW3I/AAAAAAAACC8/9Uh1P6oknNM/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:31:32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ColorZilla bug on Yahoo page" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vV_8GrgOpB8/UvjjIvvUW3I/AAAAAAAACC8/9Uh1P6oknNM/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:31:32.png" height="233" title="ColorZilla bug on Yahoo page" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug seen on Yahoo page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVhrRWfs40/Uvjj-PSPppI/AAAAAAAACDE/yO70gs1XWAk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:33:15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wikipedia ColorZilla bug" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVhrRWfs40/Uvjj-PSPppI/AAAAAAAACDE/yO70gs1XWAk/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:33:15.png" height="233" title="Wikipedia ColorZilla bug" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug seen on Wikipedia page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nspZQIRADTY/Uvjk9IO0mDI/AAAAAAAACDM/RkZtZ5jpCrU/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:52:55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="CollorZilla bug seen on Linkedin page" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nspZQIRADTY/Uvjk9IO0mDI/AAAAAAAACDM/RkZtZ5jpCrU/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+13:52:55.png" height="233" title="CollorZilla bug seen on Linkedin page" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug seen on Linkedin page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni1mIxUiWnw/UvjlgxOgGdI/AAAAAAAACDU/4c93LATScg0/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+14:21:04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bug seen on AskUbuntu" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni1mIxUiWnw/UvjlgxOgGdI/AAAAAAAACDU/4c93LATScg0/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+14:21:04.png" height="233" title="Bug on Askubuntu" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug seen on AskUbuntu page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enzVQdmD4OU/UvjmBGah3pI/AAAAAAAACDc/k-Ao3rQiCq0/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+14:37:29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-enzVQdmD4OU/UvjmBGah3pI/AAAAAAAACDc/k-Ao3rQiCq0/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-10+14:37:29.png" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug seen on Mozilla page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ironically, I could see the bug being present even on <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/colorzilla/?src=collection&collection_id=50cd768e-a3ba-7ccf-7c1b-6573530d4d25" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ColorZilla's own page on Mozilla</a> website!<br />
<br />
Anyway, this bug is quite annoying and I intend to uninstall CollorZilla because I don't use it frequently and I don't think that it worth keeping it under these circumstances..Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-76523997581587634682014-02-08T22:15:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:45:37.561+03:00The Phantom Planet (1961) - a short review<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/Thephantomplanet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/Thephantomplanet.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Phantom Planet (1961)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday, I have found an old classical movie on YouTube : The Phantom Planet and I really enjoyed watching it. Let's admit that old films are not always very attractive. "Old" doesn't necessarily mean "goldie". But this one really deserves attention. I think I'll explore more this old Sci-Fi universe.<br />
<br />
Anyway, bellow is the review I wrote for this movie on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/" rel="nofollow">IMDB.com</a><br />
<br />
<i>I must admit that I did not watched an old Sci-Fi movie since long time, so, maybe I'm not what they call an expert in classical movies. I am the child of my times, so I'm used with the new wave of Sci-Fi movies, full of action and special effects.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Still I enjoyed this classic film and I think is worth viewing. You can find a bit of everything in this movie.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The dream of nuclear power as fuel for rockets. Some kind of Gulliver among the people of Liliput. The highly advanced civilization who gives up to the comfort of technology (and all the dangers that comes with it) to live a simple "primitive" life. A touch of Ancient Greek fashion style in the dress models of the main feminine characters. An echo of Feminism: female juries wearing short dresses. And at the end, the somehow blurred line between what is real and what is not.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The "special effects" and the general style reminds me of Star Trek TOS. And just like in Star Trek, the monster aliens look unconvincing. But we should admit that the creators of this movie did their best for that time. I could point out some goofs, but I some understanding and just enjoy this classic!</i><br />
<br />
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<br />Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-5224154736244606902014-02-06T17:56:00.001+02:002015-04-07T14:46:33.357+03:00"Connection refused" on Yahoo Romania<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A32d4-ny214/UvOl2z9NpYI/AAAAAAAACCo/wEAwNPAH-2U/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-04+20:57:30.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yahoo Connection Refused" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A32d4-ny214/UvOl2z9NpYI/AAAAAAAACCo/wEAwNPAH-2U/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-04+20:57:30.png" title="Yahoo Connection Refused" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yahoo Romania: Connection refused</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tuesday, 4 February 2014, in the evening, while I was trying to see my emails, I got some unexpected and inexplicable errors and, after a page refresh, all I could see were only two words on a white page: "Connection refused".<br />
<br />
As showed in my screenshot, this problem has happened with the Romanian Yahoo portal. But also it affected Yahoo Mail and Yahoo News.<br />
<br />
I have noticed that it did not affect Yahoo Answers. I can't say if the Messenger was affected as I was not connected at that time. But I guess it did not worked either. <br />
<br />
I have tried to open <i>www.yahoo.com</i> using several different browsers: Firefox, Chrome, Chromium and Midori, but with the same result. All the other websites were looking OK, all the other pages were loading fine, so I think it is not a local connection problem but it is something odd happening with Yahoo. <br />
<br />
The problem lasted for about one hour and when, finally Yahoo portal was back, all I could see was the American version. Usually, when I type <i>www.yahoo.com</i> in the address bar I am redirected to <i>ro.yahoo.com</i> which is the address of Yahoo Romania. This time, still, all I could see was the English version which I guess it means that Yahoo Romania "recovered" much later.<br />
<br />
I can't tell when Yahoo Romania was back online as I did not had the patience to wait and see, but I guess it did took a while. And I also guess this was quite a serious problem.<br />
<br />
I did a search on the internet about all this. Apparently Yahoo has an entire history of such issues. I'm not sure if I should feel relieved thinking that this also happened to others before, or I should be worried because such a giant as Yahoo seems to be unreliable.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, bellow is a short list of <i>OLD</i> articles about the problem I experienced <i>recently</i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://isc.sans.edu/diary/Yahoo+down/3100" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">06 July 2007 - Yahoo down</a><br />
<a href="http://www.davaobase.com/2009/04/connection-refused-by-yahoo-mail/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">08 April 2009 - Connection refused by Yahoo Mail</a><br />
<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/14/yahoo-is-down-as-if-carol-bartz-needed-more-problems/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">14 Octombrie 2010 - Yahoo Down (article on Techcrunch.com)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/14/yahoo-down-yahoocom-outag_1_n_763346.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">14 Octombrie 2010 - Yahoo Down (article on Huffingtonpost.com)</a>Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-18885520941968547762014-02-01T18:35:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:48:05.136+03:00Doing business without having an email address?!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIV6HDO1uo/Uu0fUa5XaRI/AAAAAAAACCY/-uk2lHfyna4/s1600/Business+email+address.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Email is vital" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIV6HDO1uo/Uu0fUa5XaRI/AAAAAAAACCY/-uk2lHfyna4/s1600/Business+email+address.jpg" title="Bussiness email address" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: webhostinserviceindia.blogspot.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Four days ago I was phoned by someone who made me a job offer. He needed my services to promote his national and international(!) projects and to find him new partners and sponsors.<br />
<br />
I have spent some of the most puzzling 25 minutes of my life and our conversation had the most surprising end for me.
The guy was aiming high, as I have said: two local projects, later to be extended nationwide and a third one international (!) who needs to be promoted.<br />
<br />
To be frank, I had the impression that I was talking with a dreamer. Not that I have something against dreamers, but I prefer those who keep their feet on the ground. Still, I said that I should give it a try and do some research before I give any judgement.
So, after about 25 minutes of blah-blah, I insisted on the idea that, in order to promote something I have to know what I'm promoting and what message to give to the people, what tools to use, etc, so I asked for some data (.pdfs, links, documents) to study. And, logically, I have asked him to give me his email address. In the next second, the most surprising answer hit my ears:<br />
<br />
<i> - I don't have an email address. I'm not into things like Internet and stuff. I'll keep contact with you and the collaborators on the phone. And if you need any information, just give me a call and take notes on a piece of paper. </i><br />
<br />
I say to myself: Jesus! A man without an email address! And I thought this species was extinct. More than that, a business man running three large projects but not having a humble email address! That's really, really odd to say the least. My grandmother doesn't have an email address but she is not pretending to have an inventor patent to sell and she is not planning to contact other big companies!<br />
<br />
When I ended the conversation, my feeling that I'm dealing with an unrealistic person was increased. And the feeling of wonder about it stayed with me long after the conversation was over.<br />
<br />
One thing is sure: Nowadays, no one can do real business without having an email address. And not having an email address brings, among others, a great loss of credibility. Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-65883960178681648432014-01-30T17:15:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:49:22.585+03:00When the technological - and not only - bad luck invades your life...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw-DMu0Jz6Q/Uuph8bT-V9I/AAAAAAAACCI/ds1bHYRMHBI/s1600/bad-luck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bad luck in all the fields" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw-DMu0Jz6Q/Uuph8bT-V9I/AAAAAAAACCI/ds1bHYRMHBI/s1600/bad-luck.jpg" title="badluck" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: bittersweetaspects.wordpress.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It seems to me that bad-luck has been following me since my last post on this blog. Most of this bad luck is tech-related, but it comes also in other "flavours" too. And, the strange fact is, that it occurred daily, one bad thing at the time. I'm not sure if I should believe in something occult behind this, but one thing is sure: all these happenings contributed to my general depression and my reluctance to socialisation. And I do have a lot of things to solve now, and it will often be costly. <br />
<br />
Still, we can say there is a good part in all this: Now I have some interesting "material" for my future posts and maybe the things I'll tell about here, will be helpful for others.<br />
<br />
That been said, this is my partial list of bad lucks.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Sunday, 19 January, 2014</b></i> - I have discovered that my <a href="http://www.konigelectronic.com/en_us/1018908" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">beautiful ladybug-shaped mouse</a> is not working any more. It was almost new, I have bought it in September 2013 especially for my netbook. It is manufactured by Konig Computers.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Monday, 20 January 2014</b></i> - A Windows XP system broke my <a href="http://www.evolioshop.com/ro/tableta-evotab-3.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evolio Evotab 3 tablet</a> forcing its Andoid OS to reverse to the factory settings. Very unpleasent and "eventful" experience! Since that day I no longer trust Windows!<br />
<br />
<i><b>Tuesday, 21 January 2014</b></i> - After repeated and unfruitful attempts to create a live flash drive (and I'm an experienced user of live flash drives), I have noticed that my new, expensive and almost unused <a href="http://www.kingston.com/us/usb/personal_business" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kingston 8G flash drive</a> is - you guess it - broken.<br />
<br />
...The following days I had several personal problems, my gradmother's health got worse, etc...<br />
<br />
...Then, just when I was thinking that all is over, it happened again:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Saturday, 25 January 2014</b></i> - I have noticed that the <a href="http://www.computercableinc.com/ccinc/products.jsp?sub=2.0+USB+AA+-+Male%2FMale&id=3943" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">USB male-to-male cable</a> which connects my netbook with my Serioux external cooler is seriously broken near the extremities and needs to be replaced. The cable was badly affected by its position (the USB hubs are quite ill-placed one to the other). And I think the plastic is quite low quality although it came in the box along with the cooler, and the Serioux brand is considered to be one of the top. The cable is as old as the mouse as it was bought in last September too.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Sunday, 26 January 2014</b></i> - Now comes the tough one! My netbook battery broke too! And, like in the previous cases, it was barely used. In fact, I mainly use my netbook connected to the power. There are very rare cases when I did used my netbook battery. I must say that even from the very beginning, my <a href="http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/Eee_PC_1015BX/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eee PC Seaschell series netbook</a> had a very short battery life : 2 hours the most. Only one time it happened to have about 2.30 hours, although the official blah-blah promises about 4 hours autonomy. Well, as I can clearly see, that autonomy was now reduced to zero although apparently, the battery is fully charged. I don't like the idea of having to buy another one every 4-5 months! And this is even more annoying as I know I was very careful with the battery and I did respected all the <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2036479/keep-your-laptop-battery-healthy-use-it-sparingly.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">advices the specialists give about keeping the battery "longevity"</a>.<br />
<br />
Well, that's about all for now. I do hope that nothing bad will occur in the future days. I have a lot to solve already.Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077134230694386222.post-77028843905780939372014-01-19T19:01:00.000+02:002015-04-07T14:50:37.479+03:00Coreboot - Alternative to BIOS<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyuxewPaJOo/Utv7wK2DoYI/AAAAAAAACBk/vHQT0egnJfw/s1600/Coreboot_logo.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coreboot Logo - open source alternative to BIOS" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyuxewPaJOo/Utv7wK2DoYI/AAAAAAAACBk/vHQT0egnJfw/s1600/Coreboot_logo.svg.png" height="246" title="Coreboot - free open source alternative to BIOS" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreboot Logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, in my wandering on the Internet, I have discovered something interesting - an alternative to BIOS! It is called <a href="http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coreboot</a>, and, apparently it is still in development stage.<br />
<br />
Anyway I'm glad that the ugly UEFI has a good reason to tremble! :-) I remember how hard it was for me to install Zorin OS on my netbook, because of UEFI and the new changes in BIOS. I still a grudge against UEFI since that day! :-)<br />
<br />
Anyway, coming back to Coreboot, it was - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coreboot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">according to Wikipedia</a>, - formerly named LinuxBIOS (hehe!) and it is "<i>a free software project endorsed by The Free Software Foundation</i>" and it is "<i>aimed at replacing the proprietary BIOS firmware found in most computers with a lightweight system</i>".<br />
<br />
Coreboot it is listed on <a href="http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/priority-projects/highpriorityprojects#Coreboot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">High Priority Free Software Projects</a> on <a href="http://www.fsf.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Software Foundation</a> site, and it has already a "cousin" distro called <a href="http://www.se-eng.com/sage-bios.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SageBIOS</a>.<br />
<br />
This world of BIOSes looks very interesting. I'm not yet prepared to enter it, but I can do hope that in the future I'll have the chance to play a little with this new "free open source BIOS". <br />
<br />
Bellow is a screnshot of Coreboot stolen from the official website. :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s2cUgVCXgCs/UtwBslhq95I/AAAAAAAACB0/PtMQIwAMAIk/s1600/Coreboot_menuconfig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coreboot screenshot" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s2cUgVCXgCs/UtwBslhq95I/AAAAAAAACB0/PtMQIwAMAIk/s1600/Coreboot_menuconfig.png" height="233" title="Coreboot screenshot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreboot (image from the official site)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Cristiana Nicolaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01876099677826677585noreply@blogger.com2