today in brief Tweet

1. iidabashi station [exterior detail], originally uploaded by Spargluna. Via Kit. Makes one think of Matrix and Geiger, doesn't it? Being taken in Tokyo, it also makes me think of tomorrow's Focus on Japan show in Bucharest with DJ Krush and Mirrorball from AVmotional.

2. See 25 amazing photographs from Google Earth [FR], including the Pirate Island, the wine bottle-shaped pool, and the Saturn V moon rocket that never left the Earth.

3. IceChocoLand, the annual ice cream and chocolate festival started today at Bucharest's World Trade Center and will delight you until Sunday.

4. Also started today and lasting until Sunday: the Equestrian Cup of Romania at Hipocan Corbeanca (near Bucharest). 75 horses, 55 athletes, and 12 competition categories.

5. As of now, you can update your Twitter status from your Facebook page. Hint: find the applications' page inside Facebook and install Twitter. I still prefer things the way round, updating Facebook from Twitter.

6. Speaking of Twitter, I've radically changed the way I consume my many friends' updates, at least twice in the past month. 1. I've stopped following all but my love via phone; I never followed anyone via IM. I then started following the RSS feed of my friends and I. 2. I've recently installed TwitBin in my Mozilla browser and unsubscribed from the RSS feed. Best? The world keeps turning.

7. Balchik/ Balcic [RO], former Romanian bohemian village by the seaside, now town on Bulgarian territory, is the place I dream seeing with my own eyes one day. Balcic also is the place where Romanian Queen Marie of British origins spent her summers and wanted her heart to rest. I learned today that the beach resort will host this year the fourth edition of the project Today's Romanian Painters at Balcic, sponsored by the Halewood Group. Unfortunately, the organiser's website [RO] speaks only about 2004 and 2005. Famous Romanian painters that used to love Balcic include Tonitza, Ghiata, Pallady, Steriadi, Darascu, Mutzner and Iser. According to this article [RO], a certain 80 y.o. Iliescu (!) lady is one of the last Romanians living in Balcic who can remember the queen times.

8. Speaking of Halewood, it seems that their Rosso di Valachia 2005 wine in the Byzantium series won silver medal at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Again, the website is slower than the press release in mirroring the news. According to the press release, Rosso di Valachia 2005 combines three grapes, Feteasca Neagra, Pinot Noir and Merlot. The competition website notes other two Romanian silver medals, and a gold one for Tamaioasa Romaneasca Cotnari 2005. Check these group's awards, there is an updated and reassuring number of gold medals.