Reinis Fischer

Feature Film Mayrig Review

7 July, 2014 | Worth to Watch | 57 seen

Mayrig is a feature film about Armenian immigrant family living in France, shortly after they have emigrated from their motherland - Armenia. Set on the streets of 1920-ties in Marseilles, France this film shows different aspects of life and struggles of an Armenian family.

You can access this movie on Youtube

A chapter or some 30 minutes is dedicated to Armenian Genocide in 1915 - when Ottoman empire humiliated, starved and mass killed a large population of Armenian people.

Mayrig movie is about a mother. As far as my Armenian language knowledge reaches - Mayrig, means mother in the Armenian language.

The story is told by young Armenian boy - Azad Zakairian, who later becomes a famous director of theater and changes his name to Pierre Zakar. He never forgets his native Armenia.

There is a great scene in this film when young Azad together with other French schoolboys attends Sunday school at French Catholic Church, and pastor impacts to schoolboys - There can be no forgiven without Catholics Church, young Azad silently in his thoughts replies to the pastor:

Armenian Apostolic church was built 17 centuries before Rome Catholic church

In movie Mayrig - a little is pictured Armenia, there are scenes of Mount Ararat (over-day Turkey), Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

Mayrig is released on 1991 and it may be viewed as a semi-autobiographical film written and directed by French-Armenian film-maker Henri Verneuil.

This movie is available also in French on Youtube

About Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, traditionally by Armenians, as Medz Yeghern was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects from their historic homeland in the territory constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey. The starting date is conventionally held to be 24 April 1915, the day Ottoman authorities rounded up and arrested some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. The genocide was carried out during and after World War I and implemented in two phases: the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labor, followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert. Driven forward by military escorts, the deportees were deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre. The total number of people killed as a result has been estimated at between 1 and 1.5 million. Other indigenous and Christian ethnic groups such as the Assyrians, the Greeks and other minorities were similarly targeted for extermination by the Ottoman government, and their treatment is considered by many historians to be part of the same genocidal policy. The majority of Armenian diaspora communities around the world came into being as a direct result of the genocide.

Related nodes based on taxonomy terms

5 July, 2014 | Drupal Development | 29 seen

Today I will show you, how you can create a list with related items for your Drupal site using taxonomy terms and Drupal views. At first you will need you actual content with taxonomy terms on it. If you are not familiar how to add taxonomy terms to your Drupal site, you might want to read this guide on that.

I presume you have your content set up, it's tagged with different terms. Now lets add a block with related items on that.

Related nodes based on taxonomy terms

In above screen you can see an example with node page and related nodes in block. You can see a live example as well here.

This is achieved by using views and placing it on themes region.

Related nodes by taxonomy term using views

Create a new content based view - call it Related Items (or so) add title, image and body fields to it. We will need to use 2 contextual filters. Nid and Has taxonomy term id.

Configure your nid filter as following:

Provide default value: Content ID from URL
Under More tab - Check next to Exclude

Configure your Has taxonomy term id as following:

Provide default value: Taxonomy term ID from URL
Check next to: Load default filter from node page, that's good for related taxonomy block
Multiple value handling: Filter to items that share any value
Check next to Reduce Duplicates
Under more tab check: Allow multiple values and Allow multiple values to work together.

That's it. Save your view (be sure you have created a block not page view)

Related items block view

Now you just need to add block you just created to your sites theme region.

It is up to you have you will decide to theme your related items block. Sky is the limit for you creative work. You can add author field, date field, rating field.. so do you can add some filters to show most viewed related nodes content. In this example I gave to you, is just a basic to help you to get started for showing related item list on your Drupal powered site.

N.B. On my example Live preview from views page is not working, but it actually works when added to region in your theme.

Hope this tutorial helped to build your related nodes block, in case of any questions, please feel free to comment or contact me. I'll do my best to help you out.

Turtle lake - My working place for today

5 July, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 11 seen

In summertime it's hot as hell in Tbilisi city - there are two options - air conditioner or Turtle lake. I prefer second option.

The features of working at Turtle lake - here is a free Wi-Fi internet available, all across the lake (Silkspot), here is a great coffee bar - Intelligentsia, which Turkish coffee is among the best available in Tbilisi and Georgia overall.

Turkish coffee at Intelligentsia coffee bar (Turtle lake)

And best of all you can get out of your everyday Tbilisi routine. Did I mentioned? Weather here is more windy and for a few degrees lower than in city? Why it so? That's an easy question - Turtle lake is located up in the Tbilisi mountains, the altitude is some 400-500 meters.

Simply put your laptop on table, connect to Silkspot and enjoy

Intelligentsia coffee bar

I must admit it's not about working only - it's about being outdoors and getting breath of fresh mountainous/lake air.

Speaking of internet connections here, as I said - here is free Wi-Fi available, but in case it's not working (it's Georgia) you might to use your phone as a Wi-Fi router. I do have Samsung Android phone with built in Wi-Fi router, and in places there is no Wi-Fi available I'm using mobile internet to get access to internet and phone as a router, to connect from my laptop.

About Turtle lake

Turtle Lake is a direct English translation of Kus Tba (Georgian: კუს ტბა), a small lake at the outskirts of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, so named due to the perceived abundance of turtles living in these places. The other, less frequently used name of this lake is K'ork'i (ქორქის ტბა).

Turtle Lake is located on the wooded northern slope of Mtatsminda Mount at elevation of 686.7 m above sea level and fed by a small river Varazis-Khevi, a tributary to the Mtkvari (Kura). The area of surface is 0.034 km², while the catchment area is 0.4 km². Maximal depth is 2.6 m.

The Turtle Lake area is designed as a recreational zone and is frequented by the Tbilisians on weekends. It is also a place where festivals and concerts are held. It could be reached either via a road or an aerial tramway leading from Tbilisi’s Vake Municipality, but it is now defunct. West to the lake is the Open Air Museum of Ethnography, a large exhibition of Georgia’s folk architecture.

That said - I have figured that I should create a Turkish Coffee index - reasons forces me to think this - I'm found of Turkish coffee. This could be a great alternative to Georgian Khachapuri index (Georgian alternative to Big Mac index)

Breath more fresh air and visit Turtle lake, once in Tbilisi.

Tbilisi hostels: 15 hostels in Tbilisi for couples

4 July, 2014 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

Tbilisi is a brilliant city.  Once heading to Tbilisi you might consider your options for safe and clean home away feeling. In this article I have listed 15 hostels that are suited for those who travel as couples and offer great value for even better price.Although Tbilisi is a home for some 2 millions inhabitants, don't be scared, it's pretty easy to navigate around Tbilisi. Good strategic locations for your hostel could be considered - Rustaveli Avenue  or Marjanishvilli neighbourhood.. anyway, there is plenty of taxi's who will take you to any destination in Tbilisi and even beyond.Most of the hostels listed here are close to the city centre, and all offers Free Wi-Fi internet. In this list you will find some guest houses and boutique hotels as well.For budget travellers - Tbilisi offers great hostels, guest houses and even boutique hotels. Most of here listed hostels varies in price from 30 - 50 GEL ($17 - $28 or EUR 12.5 - EUR 20) per night. If you are really on tight budget you might consider to book a dormitory room.  <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-house-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972"… House Hostel</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-house-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972"… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/oldhousehostel.jpg" alt="Old House Hostel Tbilisi" title="Old House Hostel Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Agmeneshabeli avenue, this hostel offers:Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and laptop. There is a full kitchen with a microwave and a refrigerator. Private bathroom also comes with a shower.At Old House Hostel you will find a 24-hour front desk, a bar and a shared kitchen. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge and a tour desk.Price: ~25 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-house-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972"… out price and book online Old House Hostel in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/sky-guest-house.en-us.html?aid=363972">… Guest House</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/sky-guest-house.en-us.html?aid=363972">… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/skyguesthouse.jpg" alt="Sky Guest House Tbilisi" title="Sky Guest House Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Agmeneshabeli avenue, this hostel offers:Free WiFi access is available.The private and dormitory rooms are simply decorated. Some rooms have a private bathroom.At Sky Guest House you will find a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, a ticket service and a tour desk. Laundry and ironing services are provided.Price: ~ 30 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/sky-guest-house.en-us.html?aid=363972">… out price and book online SKY Guest house in Tbilisi</a><h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/gallery-hostel-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=3… Hostel Tbilisi</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/gallery-hostel-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=3… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/galleryhoteltbilisi_0…; alt="Gallery Hostel Tbilisi" title="Gallery Hostel Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on the Brose street this hostel offers:Free WiFi access is available.The property features simply decorated rooms. Guests can use either shared or private bathroom facilities.At Gallery Hostel Tbilisi you will find a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen.Price: ~ 30 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/gallery-hostel-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=3… out price and book online Gallery Hostel in Tbilisi</a><h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tiflislux.en-us.html?aid=363972">Tiflis… Hostel</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tiflislux.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/tiflisiluxhostel.jpg&q…; alt="Tiflislux Hostel in Tbilisi" title="Tiflislux Hostel in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Barnovi street, Tbilisi this hostel offers:The bright, classic-style rooms of TiflisLux Hostel have parquet floors and offer free Wi-Fi, and most rooms have balconies. The shared bathrooms and toilets are in the hallway.Guests can cook their meals in the shared kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, oven and microwave, and decorated with Georgian paintings. Free coffee and tea is offered during the day.Price: ~ 39 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tiflislux.en-us.html?aid=363972">Check out price and book online TiflisLux Hostel in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-district.en-us.html?aid=363972">Old District</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-district.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/guesthouseolddistrict…; alt="Guest house Old District in Tbilisi" title="Guest house Old District in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Kojori street, guesthouse Old district offers:Both private and dormitory rooms. The shared bathrooms are located in the hallway.Guests can cook their meals in the shared fully equipped kitchen, complete with a dining area. A variety of cafés and restaurants can be found within a 5-minute walk of the property.At Old District you will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a terrace. Other facilities offered include a shared lounge.Price: ~45 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/old-district.en-us.html?aid=363972">Che… out price and book online Old District Guesthouse in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tbilisi-classic.en-us.html?aid=363972">… Classic Hotel</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tbilisi-classic.en-us.html?aid=363972">… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/tbilisiclasichotel.jpg…; alt="Tbilisi Classic Hotel" title="Tbilisi Classic Hotel" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>This hotel is located on Kheivani street in Tbilisi and offers:Free WiFi access is available.You can enjoy city view and garden view from all the rooms. At Tbilisi Classic Hotel you will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a terrace. Other facilities offered at the property include entertainment staff and a shared lounge. The property offers free parking.Price: ~45GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/tbilisi-classic.en-us.html?aid=363972">… out price and book online Tbilisi Classic Hotel</a>  <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-2-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972… 2</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-2-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/open2.jpg" alt="Guesthouse Open 2 in Tbilisi" title="Guesthouse Open 2 in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>This guesthouse is located on Mazniashvilli street in Tbilisi, Guesthouse Open 2 offers:Free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception are featured at Open 2 Guest House.The simply decorated rooms of the guest house come with a desk and a wardrobe. The shared bathrooms are in the hallway.Guests can cook their meals in the shared fully equipped kitchen, complete with a dining area. A variety of cafés and restaurants can be found within a 5-minute walk of the guest house.Price: GEL 45<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-2-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972… out price and book online Guesthouse Open in Tbilisi</a> <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972">… Guesthouse</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972">… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/openguesthouse.jpg" alt="Open Guest house in Tbilisi" title="Open Guest house in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>This guesthouse is located on Imereti street in Tbilisi, guesthouse offers:All bright rooms come with a flat-screen TV, and guests can use a private bathroom.A lot of cafes, bars and restaurants are located within 5 minutes’ walk from the property. Also it possible to cook in a common kitchen, and barbecue facilities are available on site.The guesthouse’s tour desk offers various guided tours, and its personnel can help to book tickets.Price: ~45 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/open-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972">… out price and book online "Open Guesthouse" in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/orion-econom.en-us.html?aid=363972">Hot… Orion Econom</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/orion-econom.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/hotelorioneconom.jpg&q…; alt="Hotel Orion Econom Tbilisi" title="Hotel Orion Econom Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>This hotel is located on Pavle Aslanidi street in Tbilisi and offers:Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a minibar. There is also a refrigerator. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with free toiletries and slippers. You can enjoy city view from the room. Extras include satellite channels and cable channels.At Hotel Orion Econom you will find a 24-hour front desk, a terrace and a snack bar. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, a ticket service and a tour desk. The property offers free parking.Price: ~50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/orion-econom.en-us.html?aid=363972">Che… out price and book online "Hotel Orion Econom" in Tbilisi</a> <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/ludus.en-us.html?aid=363972">Hostel Ludus</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/ludus.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/ludus.jpg" alt="Hostel Ludus in Tbilisi" title="Hostel Ludus in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>This hostel is located on Avlip Zurabisvilli street in Tbilisi and offers:The simple rooms come with bunk beds. The hostel offers two shared bathrooms with a shower.Ludus has a fully equipped shared kitchen and lounge area. It also offers a washing machine. Various tours can be arranged on request.Price: ~ 50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/ludus.en-us.html?aid=363972">Check out price and book online "Hostel Ludus" in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/omari-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972"… Guest House Tbilisi</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/omari-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972"… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/omariguesthouse.jpg&qu…; alt="Omari Guest House in Tbilisi" title="Omari Guest House in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Tsinamdzgvrishvili Street in Tbilisi, this guest house offers:Rooms here will provide you with a TV, a seating area and satellite channels. Some rooms come with a private bathroom.At Omari Guesthouse you will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a terrace. Other facilities offered include a tour desk and luggage storage.Guests can cook their meals in the shared fully equipped kitchen, complete with a dining area. A variety of cafés and restaurants can be found within a 5-minute walk of the guest house.Price: ~50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/omari-guesthouse.en-us.html?aid=363972"… out price and book online Omari Guesthouse in Tbilisi</a> <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/fox-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972">Fox Hostel</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/fox-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/foxhostel.jpg" alt="Fox hostel in Tbilisi" title="Fox hostel in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Griboedov street in Tbilisi, Fox hostel offers:Rooms at the hostel offer towels and linens, heating, and a shared bathroom.Other facilities at Hostel Fox include a sun terrace, lockers, laundry and ironing facilities, a 24-hour front desk, and a safety deposit box.The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts is a 2-minute walk, and Freedom Square is a 15 to 20-minute walk away.Price: ~ 50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/fox-hostel.en-us.html?aid=363972">Check out price and book online Fox Hostel in Tbilisi</a> <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/nika.en-us.html?aid=363972">Guesthouse Nika</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/nika.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/guesthousenika.jpg" alt="Guest House Nika in Tbilisi" title="Guest House Nika in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Mitskevich street in Tbilisi, this guesthouse offers:Nika offers simple rooms with free Wi-Fi. Freedom Square is 5 km away. Free parking is available.The classic-style rooms offer a fan and TV. Bathroom facilities are either private or shared.Nika has a fully equipped shared kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals. Cafes and bars are a 10-minute walk away. Lake Lisi is 4 km away.Price: ~ 50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/nika.en-us.html?aid=363972">Check out price and book online "Guest house Nika" in Tbilisi</a> <h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/lion-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=363972">Hos… Lion</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/lion-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=363972"><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/hostellion.jpg" alt="Hostel Lion in Tbilisi" title="Hostel Lion in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Irakli Paghava street in Tbilisi, hostel Lion offers:It features a fully-equipped kitchen and lounge area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.The rooms are simply decorated and come with wooden furniture. All rooms feature air conditioning.Guests can prepare their meals in the kitchen, which comes complete with a fridge, stove and kitchenware. Free tea and coffee are provided.The Old Town is located a 2-minute walk from the hostel, and Tbilisi Botanical Garden is 2.5 km away.Price: ~ 50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/lion-tbilisi.en-us.html?aid=363972">Che… out price and book online Hostel Lion in Tbilisi</a> <h2 class="item"><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/guest-house-nice.en-us.html?aid=363972"… House Nice</a></h2><a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/guest-house-nice.en-us.html?aid=363972"… src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/guesthousenice.jpg" alt="Guest House Nice in Tbilisi" title="Guest House Nice in Tbilisi" width="840" height="460" class="null"></a>Located on Saiatnova street in Tbilisi, this guest house offers:Rooms here offer guests air conditioning, towels, and linens.Other property facilities include a shuttle service, a library, a shared lounge, and laundry facilities.Price: ~ 50 GEL<a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/ge/guest-house-nice.en-us.html?aid=363972"… out price and book online Guest house Nice in Tbilisi</a>

SPAR enters Georgian market; SCANIA to produce fuel from wine making waste; Georgia celebrates EU AA and Free Trade

3 July, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 12 seen

On the other day I spent interesting afternoon walking around one of Tbilisi's neighbourhoods - Saburtalo. Made a ton of instagrams, visited local shopping chain Goodwill, tasted sushi and other different activities.On days like that - is great opportunity to observe what is happening around in city and in country. You might ask how? Well, it's easy with your eyes. I usually prefer free business newspapers available in different city's place. So it got my free newspapers at <a href="http://www.tourgeorgia.eu/goodwill-saburtalo">Saburtalo Goodwills</a> shopping centre. <h2>Georgian Press Review</h2>First SPAR supermarket to open in Georgia - interesting article about Dutches owned supermarkets store, soon will be available in Georgia - it seems that SPAR will acquire two other local Georgian supermarket stores - IOLI and Foodmart. I have no idea what is Foodmart, but IOLI is small chain with few store across the city.I guess after entrance in Georgian shopping market - SPAR will aim to get 1st place. On the other hand there are already French Carefour store and the local Goodwill store. Tough competition? Tough competition means lower prices - usually... Anyway - my predictions - after 5-10 years Georgia will be just another shopping mall culture country. Is it bad or Good?It depends - my only argument against - many (if not all) small store owners will go bankrupt. On the other hand - it not serious that every second person in city is owner of small food store.I will say this - Georgia is transforming to the better side, of course there will be side effects a well. But overall  - article about SPAR's entrance into Georgian market leaves me thing that life goes up!Wine making waste could become fuel starter in Georgia - article on Business week. According to this article Sweden's Scania is developing  a new business direction - clean fuel production. It's awaited that Scania will opens it sales and service centre in Georgia soon. Again - I have no idea how sales and service center is related to fuel production - I guess it's just a PR move from side of SCANIA to sell their trucks in Georgia, but according to the minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, George Kvirikashvili - technology of fuel from organic waste decreases carbon dioxide emissions by 90%.Again as I already said - looks just as a PR move from SCANIA, because I doubt that Georgia's monopolist SOCCAR will allow some swedes to produce fuel here. Anyway - at least some hi-tech news here in Georgia.Georgia and EU sign association and free trade agreements - long and ambitious article on Business Week (cover story) - how Georgia could benefit. In overall I support Georgia's move toward EU, but I stay rather low in Georgia - Russia relations. You migh like to read my own thought regarding to <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/georgia-has-signed-association-agreement-e… EU AA deal</a>.Although here is a quick idea - which is still formulating in my head - Actually Russia is interested in closer Georgia - EU relations. What made me to think this? Well  - Georgia has improved it's Trade Balance with Russia in last months drastic:<blockquote>Georgian exports to CIS member states in January-May 2014 stood at $ 627.6 million of which Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia were Georgia's largest export markets.</blockquote>Although Georgian exports to EU stood at $253 million the same time period.And so - taking in consideration notes coming from Russian Foreign policy makers - Russia could protect its market, by putting higher custom tolls to those countries seeking closer ties with EU, the word "could" - makes me think, that regarding to Georgia - Russia will not impose such protective steps. Instead Georgia might become a transit corridor for Russian goods to EU.There is a proverb in Russian - "Кавказ дело тонкое" - literally meaning - "Caucasus is a slippery thing"Anyway - seems for now Georgian policy makers know what they are doing - and Georgia will benefit both from EU and Russia.

My online income report - June 2014

2 July, 2014 | Blogging | 7 seen

Last month was great in terms of my online earnings. I managed to earn $16.49 from Google Adsense alone. It's 174% increase compared to my earnings from Google Adsense in previous month.

My earnings in June is not only highest this year, but it's also a personal record for my Google Adsense account lifetime results. Previous highest earnings per month I earned in January 2010 when it was $15.46. Hooray, I'm happy with my earnings this month.

It's interesting to observe that overall traffic to my web properties didn't increase so much as increased my Google Adsense earnings. So, more earnings is explained by higher CPC (Cost per click) rate.

It's against Google's TOS (terms os service) to reveal CPC and CTR ratings, so I wont reveal them, but I will just add that CPC doubled, while CTR even went a little bit down. Of course I had a some traffic increase as well to my web properties.

My average daily earnings last month reached $0.55 which is up by $0.36 a day - for some it might sound pathetic results - I know - but for me - it's a huge leap.

Highest earnings per day: $4.36
Days earning more than $1: 4
Lowest earnings per day: 0.01
Days earning less than $0.10: 8

Again these results fascinate me - I mean $4.36 in a day? I'm rich :) 4 days earning more than $1.00 - it's great.

Some time ago I did setup my first Adsense earnings goal - to earn $40 in a month and break even my hosting expenses

$40 seems reasonable amount of money. But we still must define or goal - how to achieve it.
CTR
CPC
For example = if CTR is about 4% and CPC is about 0.20, then we need about 200 clicks and 5000 visitors to achieve $40.
Or another example, if CTR is about 2% and CPC is about $1.00, then wee need 40 clicks and 2000 visitors to achieve $40.

As you can see - visitor count doesn't mean much. More you will get, if you will optimize you CPC and CTR values.

As far I have seen - CPC rates will vary for you depending from region you are targeting for, and of course niche you are working.

It has been around 5 months since I set up that goal, and I have no clue how many months more it will take to complete my first Google Adsense goal. One I know for sure - traffic, CPC and location.

To earn money - we need traffic, we need "good" location our visitors are coming from. By saying "good" location I mean - US, UK, Canada - CPC may variety by some 10 times compared to countries like Georgia.

My plans for next month? $20 would be great, but I will stick with more modest forecast - saying I will be still happy if I'll reach 2 digits number (at least $10).

Google Adsense is running of several of my websites

Blog statistics June 2014

1 July, 2014 | Blogging | 8 seen

This month was pretty good if compared with previous months in terms of website statistics. I reached 1491 unique visitors, what is 45.18% increase compared with my blog statistics in May.

My blog website stats in month of June

1491 unique visitors in a month makes average 49.7 unique visitors in a day, what is up by 16.58 visitors in a day compared with my average day visitor count in previous month (33.12).

Power of Social Media

In June I started to more aggressively work with Social Media, I opted in for 3 social media sites - Twitter, Pinterest, Google+... I do have Facebook as well, but in previous month I didn't perform there any activities. Social Network sites generated me 19.64% of unique visitors and here is the breakdown for each of them:

Twitter - 184
Facebook - 46
Pinterest - 36
Google+ - 20

As I already said - I din't perform any activities on Facebook at all - but still got 46 unique visitor from there. I did a lot on Twitter and Pinterest although. And compared them - it's oblivious that Twitter can generate way more traffic. Speaking of Google+ - The rumours of it's death is exaggerated. 20 unique visitors from it - of course is pathetic result. For now I will say this - there is no bad or good social networks - it all depends on... how many followers, likes, pins, friends you have there and how active they are.

In Twitter you can get tons of followers immediately - and that is what I recommend, don't sit and wait somebody will notice you and don't listen to bozos, claiming that following thousands is for lamers. Start acquiring your Twitter followers now.

Here are some posts I made about Twitter in last month:

One of the reasons I chose to use Twitter was to align my website traffic more equally during the week. You seen when you are relying just on Search Traffic, usually your traffic is down on weekends. Google just sends you less visitors. And using social media is great way how to get your traffic back. You can read an article here.

Power of Organic Search (Google)

Organic search traffic still is my main traffic source, but in last month thanks to social media I managed to decrease Google role from 84.56% to 63.24% and it all thanks to social media.

I mean it's good to have organic search but rely on it complete might be dangerous. 63% still dominates my web traffic, but it looks more healthier.

On the other hand decrease in overall search traffic percentage doesn't mean I'm loosing search traffic, it's steadily growing and each month is more than in previous month. For a last three month period it's increasing slowly by about 5-10%.

Social Statistics (as of July 1st)

Twitter: 4629 followers (@Reinis_Fischer)
Facebook: 718 likes
Google+: 560 followers
Pinterest: 2523 followers

In conclusion

Last month, although is still pretty modest in traffic generated to my blog, leaves me pretty happy, speaking of next month web traffic forecast - I will be modest in my forecast - 2000 and more visitors would be great, but I will stick with 1600 - 1800 uniques forecast. Although I must bold another neat idea I figured out - this month I will continue to write each day, but minimum word count for my articles won't be less than 400 words.

GDP per capita in Ukraine: Past, Present, and Future (2014)

30 June, 2014 | Macroeconomics | 10 seen

The Ukrainian economy has struggled to reach its full potential, with a GDP per capita of $3,866 thousands in 2012. Despite recent developments, such as the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union, Ukraine's economy remains far behind that of its neighbors, including Russia.

A look at the historical GDP data for Ukraine reveals a pattern of underperformance compared to Russia. Despite being a relatively large country, Ukraine has consistently had a GDP per capita that is about one-tenth of Russia's, with a difference of three to four times in terms of GDP terms per capita.

The reasons for this underperformance are numerous and complex, but it is clear that Ukraine's economy has been closely tied to Russia's, with a sharp decline in GDP per capita during the Russian financial crisis of 1998. The Ukrainian economy was also severely impacted by the global economic crisis of 2008-2009, which resulted in a significant decrease in GDP per capita.

However, recent events, including the annexation of Crimea by Russia and separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine, have prompted Ukraine to look towards the West and integrate its economy with European markets. This shift could lead to a significant improvement in the country's economy, but it will require significant foreign investment, which may not be readily available.

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts, Ukraine's GDP per capita is expected to reach $5,301 by 2018. This would represent a significant improvement from its current levels, but it is still a relatively modest increase compared to the 30 years that have passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

One of the biggest challenges facing Ukraine is the mindset of its citizens, who have been waiting for external help for the past 25 years. However, it is important to note that ordinary citizens are not solely responsible for this situation, as they are often used as pawns in mass demonstrations.

For those interested in exploring the Ukrainian economy further, a comparison of GDP in Ukraine vs. Poland may provide additional insights.

Experienced my first Earth Quake - Tbilisi

29 June, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 10 seen

Today for the first time in my life I felt tremors of earth quake and it happened in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. Nothing serious, as it's was announced in news - magnitude of this quake was 4.8. Although using other sources I found it was even 5.2.

My story will be as dumb as many other dumb stories you have heard, like - I went to bath and then I noticed that water is swinging.

Indeed, my story is dumb - I laid back to take a nap and felt my bed is swinging. OK... at first I thought and continued to enjoy my nap. Then after few hours when again I was enjoying another great nap (Actually usually I don't take 2 naps in a day, I don't nap at all, but today 2 naps and two quakes) - and it happened again - my bed was swinging again.

And now I was sure - it's definitely was an earthquake.

I checked an online earthquake maps report and found this quake happened in the territory of Azerbaijan

Map reporting earthquake in the territory of Azerbaijan

M 5.2 - 9km NE of Zaqatala, Azerbaijan

DYFI? - II
Time
2014-06-29 21:26:12 UTC+04:00
Location
41.703°N 46.717°E
Depth
34.4km

Here is a transcript of today's earthquake from Russian language media (newsgeorgia.ru)

4.8 magnitude earthquake recorded in Georgia on Sunday, June 29, at 21:26, Georgian media reports.

The earthquake's epicentre - 13 kilometres north of the district centre Dedeplistskaro, nine kilometres from the village Karagadji. Reports of casualties or damages of buildings are not currently reported.

Tremors were felt in the capital of Georgia.

Dedoplistskaro municipality is part of the region of Kakheti in eastern Georgia.

It has been already more than 3 years I'm living in Georgia, and of course it's not the first earthquake happened here, there have been even cases when houses and even some regions are ruined after tremors of earthquakes. But this was the first earthquake I felt myself. Since it was nothing special - bed swinging, I even don't started to panic, but anyway I hope this was my first and last earthquake I felt.

List of earthquakes in Georgia

	Regions Affected	Date	Time	Magnitude	Epicenter	Depth (km)	Fatalities
1088 Tmogvi earthquake	Tmogvi	April 16 or 22		6.5 (est)	41.23°N 41.4°E		unknown
1920 Gori earthquake	Gori	February 20, 1920		6.2 M_s	41.9°N 44.0°E	11	114
1991 Racha earthquake	Racha	April 29, 1991	9:12 UTC	7.0 M_s	42.46°N 43.59°E	17	270
2009 Georgia earthquake		September 8, 2009	22:41 UTC	6.0	42.65°N 43.43°E	15	none

Stay safe and take in consideration - time by time - earthquakes happens in Georgia.

What is your experience with earthquakes? Have you experienced some? Were you in Tbilisi, or maybe in region of Kakheti, when this quake happened - can you report any updates?

How to setup Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel

29 June, 2014 | Blogging | 11 seen

Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel is a powerful tool for businesses to reach their target audience on the social media platform.

The pixel tracks website visitors and converts that data into a custom audience for retargeting campaigns. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up your Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel.

Step 1: Create a Facebook Business Manager account

To set up a Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel, you will need to have a Facebook Business Manager account. If you don't already have one, create one now by visiting business.facebook.com. Once you have created your account, you can add your website to your Facebook Business Manager.

Step 2: Create a Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel

In your Facebook Business Manager, click on the 'Pixels' tab, and then click on the 'Create a Pixel' button. Give your pixel a name, and select the Facebook Ads account you want to associate with it. Then click on the 'Create' button.

Step 3: Install the Pixel Code

The next step is to install the pixel code on your website. You can do this by copying the code from Facebook and pasting it into your website's header. You can either paste the code directly into your website's HTML code or use a plugin for your website's platform (such as WordPress).

Step 4: Verify the Pixel

Once you have installed the pixel code on your website, you need to verify that it is working correctly. To do this, use the Facebook Pixel Helper, a browser extension that can be installed on Chrome or Firefox. The Pixel Helper will give you a report on the pixel's status, and will let you know if there are any issues with it.

Step 5: Create Custom Audiences

Now that your Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel is set up and working correctly, you can start creating custom audiences. In your Facebook Business Manager, go to the 'Audiences' tab and click on the 'Create Audience' button. Select 'Custom Audience' as the audience type, and then select the type of data you want to use to create your audience. For example, you can create an audience based on website visitors, or based on people who have engaged with your Facebook page.

Step 6: Create Facebook Ads

Finally, you can start creating Facebook ads targeted to your custom audience. In your Facebook Ads Manager, select the custom audience you want to target, and then create your ad. You can select from a variety of ad formats, including image, video, and carousel ads.

In conclusion, setting up a Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel is a simple process that can have a significant impact on your business's marketing efforts. By tracking website visitors and turning that data into a custom audience, you can reach your target audience more effectively with Facebook ads. So why wait? Start setting up your Facebook Custom Audiences Pixel today!

Exploring the Frozen Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh: A Look into the Past and Present (2014)

28 June, 2014 | Emerging Markets | 9 seen

I spent a lovely afternoon at one of the many parks in Tbilisi on Eristavi street. I was surprised to see that there were many American people living or walking around the area. I had some free time and decided to buy an English newspaper, but I was disappointed to find out that all the newspapers and magazines at the stands were in Georgian. When I asked if they had any Russian newspapers, I was offered a crossword puzzle.

I continued my search for a newspaper in English or Russian and finally found a stand that sold newspapers in Russian, including Argumenti i Fakti, Komsomolskaja Pravda, and Soversheno Sekretno. I asked the salesperson which one was the best seller, and she recommended Soversheno Sekretno. I took the newspaper and went back to the park to read.

One of the articles I read was about the Frozen Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Although I usually do not hold newspapers like Soversheno Sekretno in high regard due to their subjective nature, I must admit that the opinions expressed in this newspaper coincided with my own thoughts.

Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, the article claimed that the territory was transferred to Russia after the Turkmenchay peace treaty was signed by Russia and Iran in the 18th century. The territory was mainly populated by Turkish-speaking people, possibly related to the modern-day Azerbaijanis. The Russian government then relocated Armenian people to the area, making them the majority.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a regional war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, lasting for three years and resulting in 15,000 casualties. A cease-fire was signed in 1994, with Armenia gaining control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven Azerbaijan districts.

The peace treaty has never been signed, and over time, the two countries have become more brazen in their threats against each other. Armenia has found a "Big Brother" in Russia and joined the Collective Security forces, meaning there is a Russian army base located in Gyumri, Armenia. Armenia has also decided to join the Eurasian Union with Russia instead of building an uncertain future with the European Union.

On one hand, Russia provides ammunition, credit, and other resources to Armenia in exchange for control over Armenian companies. On the other hand, Azerbaijan pays market price for brand new, high-tech ammunition from Russia.

Who benefits from the frozen Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? It is clear that the answer is Russia. Until Armenia and Azerbaijan sit down and talk, the conflict will remain frozen, and Russia's role in the South Caucasus will continue to grow.

Georgia and the EU: Deepening Ties through Association Agreement (2014)

27 June, 2014 | Emerging Markets | 9 seen

Georgia, a small country located in the Caucasus region, has recently signed an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU).

The agreement, which was signed on June 27, 2014, aims to deepen the political and economic ties between Georgia and the EU, and to provide a framework for future cooperation in a variety of areas.

The Association Agreement is a comprehensive document that covers a wide range of issues, including political cooperation, economic and trade relations, human rights, and legal and judicial cooperation. It is a milestone for Georgia, as it marks a significant step towards its integration with the EU and the wider European community.

One of the key aspects of the Association Agreement is the establishment of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Georgia and the EU. This will allow Georgia to integrate its economy more closely with that of the EU, and to benefit from increased trade and investment flows. The DCFTA is expected to provide a boost to Georgia's economy, and to help the country to modernize its industries and improve its competitiveness.

The Association Agreement also includes provisions on human rights and democracy, which reflect the shared values of Georgia and the EU. The agreement commits both parties to promote and protect human rights, and to work together to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. This is particularly important for Georgia, which has made significant progress in recent years towards establishing a more democratic and transparent system of government.

In addition to the political and economic aspects of the Association Agreement, it also includes provisions on cultural and people-to-people contacts. This reflects the EU's commitment to fostering greater understanding and cooperation between different cultures and societies. The agreement encourages the exchange of students, researchers, and artists, and aims to promote mutual understanding and respect between Georgia and the EU.

The signing of the Association Agreement is a significant achievement for Georgia, and represents a major step towards its integration with the EU. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Georgian government and people, who have worked tirelessly to modernize their country and build stronger ties with the EU. The agreement is also a reflection of the EU's commitment to supporting its neighbors and promoting stability and prosperity in the wider European region.

Looking to the future, the Association Agreement provides a strong foundation for further cooperation and collaboration between Georgia and the EU. It is hoped that this will lead to increased trade and investment, greater cultural exchange, and stronger political ties between the two partners. Overall, the signing of the Association Agreement represents a positive and significant development for Georgia, and for the wider European community.

"Improving Blogging Habits: Setting a Minimum of 400 Words per Article for Better SEO

27 June, 2014 | Blogging | 11 seen

Today, I investigated my blogging habits and found a pretty sad scene. On average, I blog only 200 words a day, and sometimes even less. I am willing to change that. Since October 2013, I have been running a "Can you blog 365 days in a row" contest. I have been blogging for about eight months already, with a two-day failure. In October, I wrote 64 articles on average with 225 words per article.

Total word count by month:

The above graph shows how many words I have written in total over the past nine months. Since I started blogging back in October, it is apparent that I was really excited to blog and made a record word count of 14,404 words in October. However, my word count ratio gradually decreased, and in March, it reached its minimum of 3,604 words.

Average word count per article:

The above graph shows my average word count per article. The maximum is this month (240), and the minimum word count is in the last month (102). I was on a two-week trip last month and mostly blogged from my phone, which explains such a low word count.

Starting now, I am willing to write a minimum of 400 words a day. I chose this number because, although 2000 words in a day might be better, I am not quite ready to keep up with blogging every day and writing 2000 words in a day (per article). So I decided to align my blogging habits with search engine optimization. As seen from the graphs above, I am barely getting above 240 words per article, and in some months, it is even less. That is why 400 words per article is still a pretty high level for me, but I believe I can achieve this. Later on, I can increase my word count per article. Just to remind you, I am blogging every day, so it is vital to have articles every day. Of course, I could write one article per week with 2000 words, but in this case, it will not work.

How SEO is involved here?

According to my inner feeling and some authoritative resources out there, I have found that Google uses word count as one of the criteria for its SERP (Search engine ranking position). And if I have articles that are just 200 words long, there is a high possibility that my articles will not rank. Well, I am not saying they will not rank at all. They will. I am a live example of that.

My blog is receiving traffic from organic search, and for the last three months, it has been around 1000 visitors from Google search. It is not much, but it is not anything. It is a pretty modest result, I agree. So, considering different tactics to drive more traffic to my blog, I discovered that one of the bottlenecks is too many short articles. Too many short articles mean that I am losing long-tail possibilities. When a searcher searches, there are many combinations of keywords he/she will use on their search query on Google. By having longer articles, there is a greater chance of being found because longer articles have more words. More words mean more keywords, and more keywords mean a better possibility to rank.

What else can writing 400 words a day give me?

It could become a good habit for me, and I will learn how to write longer posts, argue and summarize.

Tips and Tricks for Crafting a Comprehensive 2000-Word Article

26 June, 2014 | Blogging | 29 seen

Writing an article that is 2000 words or more can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and techniques, it can be a rewarding experience. Whether you are writing for your blog, website, or academic purposes, a lengthy article can help you establish authority, provide comprehensive information, and engage your audience.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing a 2000-word article from start to finish.

Choose a Topic The first step in writing an article is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and have expertise in. Your topic should be specific enough to provide valuable information to your readers and broad enough to allow you to write a comprehensive article. Consider the current trends, challenges, and emerging topics in your field and select a topic that resonates with your target audience.
Research Once you have chosen your topic, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information. Use a variety of sources, including books, academic papers, reputable websites, and interviews. Ensure that your research is up-to-date and that your sources are reliable.
Outline An outline is a crucial step in writing a lengthy article as it helps you to organize your ideas and keep your writing on track. Your outline should include the main points that you want to cover in your article, the subtopics, and the supporting details. You can use bullet points, diagrams, and mind maps to create a clear and comprehensive outline.
Write an Introduction Your introduction should grab the attention of your readers and provide a brief overview of what your article is about. It should be engaging, informative, and provide a reason why your readers should continue reading.
Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs are the meat of your article. This is where you provide your readers with in-depth information, analysis, and insights. Each paragraph should focus on a specific subtopic and provide supporting details and evidence to strengthen your argument.
Conclusion Your conclusion should wrap up your article and provide a summary of your main points. It should also provide your readers with key takeaways and encourage them to take action, share your article or leave a comment.
Edit and Proofread Editing and proofreading are critical steps in writing an article. They help you to eliminate grammar and spelling errors, check for coherence and clarity, and ensure that your article is free from plagiarism. You can use tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway to assist you with the editing and proofreading process.

In conclusion, writing a 2000-word article requires planning, research, and effective writing skills. By following the above steps, you can write an informative and engaging article that resonates with your readers. Remember to choose a topic that you are passionate about, conduct thorough research, and create an outline to guide your writing. With practice, writing lengthy articles will become easier and rewarding.

Google Domains: The One-Stop-Shop for All Your Domain Needs

25 June, 2014 | Blogging | 3 seen

Google is a company that has made a name for itself in a wide range of industries. From search engines to smartphones, they've managed to become a leader in many different fields. One of the lesser-known areas in which Google operates is domain registration.

In this article, we will explore Google Domains, Google's domain registration service.

What is Google Domains?

Google Domains is a domain registration service offered by Google. It allows you to purchase and manage domain names for your website. With Google Domains, you can register domains such as .com, .org, .net, and many more. You can also transfer existing domains to Google Domains, making it a one-stop-shop for all your domain needs.

Features of Google Domains

Google Domains offers a variety of features that make it a great choice for domain registration. Here are some of the features that set it apart from other domain registrars:

Easy to Use: Google Domains is very easy to use. The interface is clean and intuitive, making it simple for even those with no prior experience to register a domain.
Security: Google Domains offers enhanced security features such as two-factor authentication and SSL certificates to protect your website and its visitors.
Integration: Google Domains is fully integrated with other Google services such as Google Workspace, making it easy to manage your website and email from one central location.
Pricing: Google Domains offers competitive pricing for domain registration, with many domains available at very affordable rates.
Support: Google provides 24/7 support for their domain registration service. You can contact them through email, phone, or chat support.

How to Use Google Domains

To use Google Domains, simply visit the Google Domains website and search for the domain you want to register. Once you've found the domain you want, simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process. If you already own a domain, you can transfer it to Google Domains by following the instructions provided on the website.

Conclusion

Google Domains is a great domain registration service for anyone who wants to register a domain for their website. It's easy to use, affordable, and comes with a range of features that make it a great choice for beginners and experienced website owners alike. Whether you're looking to start a new website or transfer an existing one, Google Domains has everything you need to get started.