Friday, January 30, 2009

COOL WEBSITE FOR AMUSEMENT





Here's a website about, hmmm, I can't exactly define what it's about, but a broad cross-section of design, technology, architecture, advertising, photography, furniture, contemporary visual arts, fashion; I guess about all the things that I find "cool" :) It has a very engaging layout that updates daily. There are also a bunch of more specific sister sites listed up top (like liquirious for specialty cocktails, notcouture on fashion etc.)

Great to spend a few minutes a day to see what's happening out there:

http://www.notcot.org/


Cheers!
Izzy

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

FAZIL SAY AND KOPATCHINSKAJA



This is the best album I have heard in a long time. It is like a therapy to my soul. It takes me to another world. I recommend this album to everybody.

Kopatchinskaja And Say
(Beethoven, Ravel, Bartok, Say)
Fazıl Say, Patricia Kopatchinskaja

http://www.ideefixe.com/Muzik/tanim.asp?sid=KLNY6MBI62IOLP2L1Z2T


http://www.naiveclassique.com/

Umut Karaman Celikel

Sunday, January 25, 2009

BEST MONEY MANAGEMENT TOOL



This is the best money management tool I've ever used. Quicken came with my desktop when I bought it several years back and hooked up some of my accounts but not all worked. And I don't use my desktop everyday so it would be hard to track everything on a frequent basis. Recently Quicken came up with the free online version but there were some major issues with the software. It just didn't work. So far MInt.com works with every single bank that I have accounts with and user interface is very intuitive. Also it automatically categorizes all transactions. Every now and then you have to manually choose what bucket transaction falls into but it's no problem at all. Unfortunately currently this website only works in US. Here are some of the awards they received from Major media sources:

http://www.mint.com/product/awards/

Lev

Friday, January 23, 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

BEST BANANA BANANA BREAD EVER!


After I made this banana bread, I loved it and I also realized it wasn't just me, I got good feedbacks from Lev's colleagues :) So here is the recipe, I know some of you think walnut is missing but I don't like walnuts :) ENJOY!

Banana Banana Bread
SUBMITTED BY: Shelley Albeluhn PHOTO BY: Rachelle Bowden
"Why compromise the banana flavor? This banana bread is moist and delicious with loads of banana flavor! Friends and family love my recipe and say it's by far the best! It's wonderful toasted!! Enjoy!"


PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 1 Hr 5 Min
READY IN 1 Hr 20 Min
Original recipe yield 1 - 9x5 inch loaf


INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
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DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Monday, January 19, 2009

COOL BOOK "The Dance of Connection"




''The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad,Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate'' by Dr. Harriet Lerner




http://www.harrietlerner.com/pages/dance_of_connection.htm


This is one of the very useful self help books which I loved. I got this as a birthday present. This book is for the people who have a problem to express their thoughts and feelings when they are mad,hurt, scared, frustrated, insulted, betrayed or desperate. Think about mom, dad, your siblings, close friends, your spouse, kids. When you remain silent about your thoughts and feelings and shut your mouth you do it in the expense of your close relationship with your parents,siblings etc.

Deniz

WONDERFUL RECIPES WITH MOUTH-WATERING PHOTOS

Here's my first contribution to the group:

I love cooking.
I love taking photos.

Here are two sites that have wonderful recipes with mouth-watering photos:

http://smittenkitchen.com












http://www.101cookbooks.com/index.html














Updated a few times a week, these are great sites to take a look at before leaving work to get some inspiration for dinner.

Cheers!
Izzy

Saturday, January 17, 2009

COOL WEBSITE - "ARTS AND LETTERS DAILY"

Hello hello,

Here is a link to a very cool website which is about 'philosophy,
aesthetics, literature, language, ideas, criticism, culture, history,
music, artk, trends, breakthroughs, disputes and gossip'! The page
design looks a bit discouraging cos everything is on your face on one
page, but still love it. It is called ''Arts and Letters Daily''.

http://www.aldaily.com
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Deniz Furniss

TWO GREAT MUSIC WEBSITES



There are 2 websites that I check out on a frequent basis. One of them is (as most of you already know) PANDORA.com.
http://pandora.com

I'm not sure if it started working outside US, but it's one of the best radio sites period. You can choose one song or artist and it starts playing similar songs or artists automatically. They have dedicated musicians that review and categorize all songs, and I think they are doing a great job.

Second website is

http://aurgasm.us

Here is what it's says in the about section

Aurgasm seeks to bring you an eclectic menagerie of aural pleasures. We scout out music you've never heard and deliver only the finest. Expect music curiously different, yet simply enjoyable..

You can download the songs as well. Artists give permission to freely download a couple songs from their albums.

Check it out and let me know!

--
Levent Alam

Friday, January 16, 2009

Strawberrynet - Best Cosmetic Web Site!


Some of you may know about this site but I wanted to share it anyway. You can find all cosmetic brands cheaper in this web site.

URL is for USA;
http://us.strawberrynet.com/main.aspx?region=USA

URL is for Turkey;
http://tr.strawberrynet.com/main.aspx?region=TUR


--
Umut KARAMAN ÇELİKEL