Dear NMBS,

Ever since December last year, the route Oostende-Antwerpen Central has become a real nightmare early in the morning.

The people are being crowded into each other on those “funky 3 people sits” and others standing in the hallways, and they sure pay a lot to make such a long way to get to their work.

Do you think is fair having 4 (old-timers) carriages on a route like this?

How about those little old trains being all stinky and filthy?

Or do you think perhaps is healthy having to breath so close into each other’s noses and sneeze into each other’s faces in the cold periods?

The obvious answer for both questions is: No, is not!

Please, reason for few seconds this and then give a second thought.

We are every day travellers and your customers; we pay a lot for our monthly train subscriptions and we expect you to take care of this route, the same way you take care of the others.

Customer comes first…remember?

Please, do something about this.

Thanks!

A pissed off traveller….

Bloggers have been writing about it since the first time the service came online and some musicians have been a part of it since about the same time….and I just discovered it through a post from my company’s blog.

We7 - the service that offers music with ads is actually pretty impressive.

Yesterday evening I just couldn’t get enough of listening to some of the nicest tunes in there, and downloaded them with no fear.

You can also share them at will with your friends. All you need is to create a user account, which is free, and you’re set.

It isn’t bothering at all having a couple of seconds advertising in the song, considering that the voices they’re using are soft….and having them removed after 4 weeks.

The artists, the Americans at least, are getting tired of all the DRM fight between agencies such as RIAA and the customers, and so services such as We7 are born.

I can only say thank you for having some bright marketers/advertisers pacifying things this way - the We7 way:

Using the latest ‘pat.pending’ MediaGraft Web 2.0 technologies, We7 will:

• Deliver free, legal and safe music, video and other digital entertainment to everyone who wants to download it
• Provide a direct route for bands and fans to form even closer relationships
• Be ‘artist friendly’ at all times, make sure rights owners get paid and artists are respected for their work and maintain control over their Intellectual Property
• Deliver targeted, localized and intimate advertising opportunities for brands and companies of all sizes, whilst letting our users choose which messages are relevant to them
• Help abolish piracy by making it no longer worthwhile to visit illegal and unsafe music and video websites

Although I am late blogging about this service, I would still recommend you to go and have a look and support the artists this way instead of pirating their music.

To close this post, i would like to make one last recommendation for the Ambient/Chill/Lounge music lovers - Tunnel Chill Zone 1 and Tunnel Chill Zone 2.

Sign up, download, lay back and relax!

I just finished reading an article on Dumb Little Man’s blog and was wondering how many of us are actually putting an effort in killing the bad moods.

To be honest, I am not a moody person, but I did get through some hard situations and I have done nothing but kill them and it works. Is a fight with yourself and it can take time to see some good results in your behavior and your feelings.

Changes are good; good changes are very good and welcome.

Some of us are born happy, patient, indulgent, very understanding to situations and people, but some others are not.

Moods and negative emotions can ruin your entire day, even little ones and you don’t even realize when you’ve just allowed yourself to become one cranky person.

Once you’ve taken that path, is really easy to lose control.

Everything you feel will reflect into your behavior and affect people around you. Next thing you know, people start “crossing eyes” to you and even avoid you.

The Dumb Little man points out three things that i really enjoy doing day and night: smile, laugh and make people happy.

2. Smile. Smile at everyone you meet today. It’s OK to fake it at first if you need to, but pretty soon it will be real and it will make you feel good. As you feel yourself becoming happy, remember not to fight it!

3. Laugh. Tell some jokes. Seek out jokes, funny people, and funny videos. Be silly. Crack yourself up. Just start laughing. That alone can make you laugh. And when you laugh you release your body’s own natural opiates: endorphins which make you feel good. Here is a link to more info on Laughing Yoga where all you do is laugh!

6. Make Someone Else Happy. Who could you cheer up today? Who could you thank or compliment? Who could you send a quick handwritten note to? You can really have fun with this, so go ahead and do it!

I can laugh of my own pains, my own embarrassing situations…you name it, i will poke fun on it and even have instant headaches from so much laughing.

How many of us are throwing away with intention a genuine smile or a joke to brighten someone’s day?

I do!

His number 5 - “Count your blessings” - is really something that we should all do.

And no, is not cheesy to be grateful about the good things in your life, or even the bad ones that if they didn’t happen you wouldn’t be where you are today…supposing you’re on a good path at the moment.

Can you count your blessings without having to think about them too long?

Anyway…The article is pretty simple and to the point ( kudos for the little man) and you should go and have a read - 10 Surefire ways to kill your crabby mood.

Image by kakashisgirl101.

I apologize to all my visitors for not updating my blog in the last 2 weeks.

There is a reason for that, and that is moving to another location.

As we all know, it takes time to do all that, and get the services back on.

Now, is all back to normal and i will update CarolsVault as soon as possible.

Situation:

You have been siting all day at your desk.

Suddenly, you stand up…your whole back is hurting and your shoulders are so stiff that you feel like screaming.

A massage would be perfect to ease that pain , but you don’t know anyone who can massage you and the therapist can only have you over after making an appointment…and waiting.

Solution:

Teach yourself and your partner or friend how to give a good massage.

Massaging is an easy and gentle job, and if you and your partner, friend….are willing to learn it and help each other, eHow.com will guide you through 10 simple steps on what a good back massage is about.

Article - How to Give a back massage.

Before you proceed, here’s something you should know.

• If you are using oil, which is recommended, warm it a bit. The message will be more pleasant. And please, don’t be afraid to use  lots of it.
• While massaging, one hand must be in constant touch with the other person’s back. Shortly explained : Good balance.
• Do not put pressure on the back. Just be gentle.

Here’s is another article from 101Lifestyle.com - Massage Therapy Step by step guide.

If you are a bit confused about the movements and techniques, then YouTube- Back massage videos - is a good source to get a visual.

Enjoy it!