Articles written by Maria K. - Page 5

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About me - Maria K.

I am a first-generation Russian-Ukrainian immigrant. I was born and raised in Zaporozhye, Ukraine and came to the United States as an impressionable 19-year-old exchange student in 1994. I earned my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering

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Entertainment > Music (Other) The link between music and experience, for listeners and composers: 1 of 2
I was driving home from an aikido class last night listening to 90.1. Incidentally, what is going on with 90.1? Have the recent storms knocked down one of the transmitters? The reception was AWFUL - I had to crank my radio up all the way to hear anything. Anyway, 90.1 usually plays classical music in the evenings. Samuel Bar... More..
Sports & Recreation > Martial Arts Aikido recommended for enjoyment, exercise, and self-defense: 1 of 1
My fellow aikido students know exactly what I mean, when I say that once you seriously get into aikido you can't stop talking about it to other people, because you honestly can't understand why doesn't everyone else in the world want to get into it. This article is for the "rest of the world" - and please don't get frustrate... More..
Arts & Humanities > Historical Literature Book reviews:Savage hunt of King Stakh by Vladimir Korotkevich: 1 of 1
Vladimir Korotkevich's "Savage Hunt of King Stakh" has quite a few things in common with Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles". There is a depressing and creepy locale - the marshes. There is an heiress Nadzeja Janovska - the last direct descendant of an old aristocratic family - whose father died under myster... More..
Travel > Hotel Reviews Hotel reviews: Grand Hotel Nouvel Opera Paris, France: 1 of 1
If you are the kind of traveler that thinks staying at a Motel 6 or Super 8 is roughing it, Grand Hotel Nouvel Opera in the Bastille district of Paris is not for you. From my standpoint, there is nothing wrong with it: it is a small, fairly clean, inexpensive place with really friendly and helpful staff (not at all uncommon ... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Wicca & Witchcraft Clearing up misconceptions about Wicca: 10 of 19
I try not to fly off the handle when someone says something offensive to me - especially when it happens unintentionally. However, if the statement still stings a long time after it was made, I do my best to address it - for other people's benefit and for my own. About a month ago my husband was talking to the business manag... More..
Entertainment > Celebrity Lifestyles & Trends Do celebrities have a positive or negative effect on society?: 18 of 34
Before I make my argument, I would like to state that I do not think all celebrities are spoiled, irresponsible and completely out of touch with reality and with the sense of right and wrong. I do not think that when someone becomes a celebrity, there is an inevitable scandal in his or her future. In fact, there are celebrit... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Gift Advice Helpful holiday shopping hints: 8 of 15
My readers have been pressing me for a good Christmas shopping advice article, but I am afraid this year I am going to have to disappoint them. Due to the state of the economy and raging gas prices during the summer months, I had to enforce iron-clad financial discipline and didn't really do much shopping in the traditional ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Blind vs. discerning patriotism: 31 of 58
First and foremost I would like to thank all of my friends for the positive response to my Paris diaries. Telling a good story is easy when you have such a great audience. Your open-mindedness helped me deal with the other kind of comments I frequently received, when telling about my trip. This article is addressed to those,... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) Is it worth the expense to hire a professional painter?: 6 of 11
Contrary to the statement of one of the individuals who voted against hiring a professional, I am not rich and I did paint my own house, although I also did have other things to do. And yet, here I am, writing in favor of letting someone else do it. Allow me to set the stage. The house I bought was located 35 miles away from... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Strategies for eliminating boredom problems: 11 of 20
Perhaps, the question should be "How can you be bored?" How is it possible? Why are you letting this happen? I suppose we owe something to boredom for all those (more or less) cute surveys that continuously pop up on MySpace and "pass it on" e-mails from the "are you my true friend" or "if you don't pass it on your house wil... More..