Michael Phelps - Olympic stoner

I caught thisthis response to the general public, regrettably not Phelp's own words, but what he should instead be saying:

"It’s none of your goddamned business. I work my ass off 10 months per year. It’s that hard work that gave you all those gooey feelings of patriotism last summer. If during my brief window of down time I want to relax, enjoy myself, and partake of a substance that’s a hell of a lot less bad for me than alcohol, tobacco, or, frankly, most of the prescription drugs most of you are taking, well, you can spare me the lecture."

...

"Here’s a crazy thought: If I can smoke a little dope and go on to win 14 Olympic gold medals, maybe pot smokers aren’t doomed to lives of couch surfing and video games, as our moronic government would have us believe. In fact, the list of successful pot smokers includes not just world class athletes like me, Howard, Williams, and others, it includes Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, the last three U.S. presidents, several Supreme Court justices, and luminaries and success stories from all sectors of business and the arts, sciences, and humanities…"

...

Then you have the money, sponsorships. Kudos to Swatch and Speedo, both extending support for him, and very clearly stating that they don't give a fuck. From the Huffington Post:Huffington Post:

"Two of Michael Phelps' leading sponsors expressed support for the Olympic great Monday, a day after he apologized for being photographed in a British newspaper inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega termed Phelps' actions a private matter and "nonissue." Swim wear manufacturer Speedo called the 23-year-old American a "valued member of the Speedo team."

Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared Sunday in the tabloid News of the World."

...

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement to the AP. "He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."

...

So basically, there are expectations that have nothing to do with anything at all, and yet take precedance. People are so shit scared of their children admiring a pot smoker, that they would see this true superman have his face smeared in the shit.

Seriously, fuck this. Every second tom dick or harry is happy to tell me how BAD weed is for you. No evidence, no ACTUAL REASON behind it, pure preconception. PreMISconception i should add.

So long as weed is THIS misunderstood, there is no hope for reason, rationality, or anything remotely like common sense. This is the triumf of propaganda over reason.

Poep has a bainfart ...

Ok, get the full story here ... Health 24

Here are some quotes:

"Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that euthanasia is a "false solution" to suffering, adding his voice to a bitter debate in Italy over the fate of a comatose woman whose father wants to remove her feeding tube."

...

In 2007, the Vatican condemned American Terri Schiavo's death as "arbitrarily hastened" and called the removal of her feeding tube a violation of the principles of Christianity and civilisation.

And a direct quote from here ... www.fides.org/

“He knows in fact that to liberate humanity from the dominion of sin he must be sacrificed on the cross as the true paschal lamb. The devil, for his part, tries to divert his attention and direct it instead toward a human logic of a powerful and successful messiah. The cross of Christ will be the demon’s ruin, and this is why Jesus does not cease to teach his disciples that in order to enter into his glory he must suffer much, be rejected, condemned and crucified. Suffering is an integral part of his mission.”

________________________________________________________________

The ancient Greeks, the originators of our civilisation, disagreed with the vatican on principles of civilisation, in that euthanasia, and suicide, were commonly accepted and admired. A good life demanded a good death, or so they thought.

This may be against the principles of christianity, and can be accepted as "christian principles" but certainly claiming any civil grounds is blatant muddying of the waters ... so to speak.

This is a purely moral choice and decision, so religion is most certainly on the periphery, but here again we get the blurring of religion and state. Personally i think any rational being would support euthanasia UNDER CETAIN CONDITIONS ... since there is enough suffering in the world, certainly accepting death is not wrong? It is in fact the highest than man can strive for, to die peacefully in bed, with no regrets or outstanding business.

The last quote above, makes me sick though ... about how "JESUS" endorses suffering and pain ... I'm no theologan, but i seem to recall it was suffering "FOR JESUS" ... ie when they come break your house down because you're a christian ... (?)

Jesus at no point that i am aware, endorsed suffering and certainly none unnecesary, the only thought that comes to mind is the sabbath donkey. He ruled that its better to break a law and end the suffering of a donkey fallen into a rut, than to obey the laws stating that you shouldn't work.

Now surely that suggests, nay demands moral over legal authority?

And lets just cut this cake finer ... this is NOT euthansia, even. This is stopping an unnatural process. This is not using drugs to end a life, merely stopping the unnatural continuation of medical "care". This is force feeding a corpse.

All that is sure, is that we are not deemed capable of deciding our future for ourselves, THAT is abundantly clear.

Toyota forest

Every now and again, you notice something good, not often mind you ...

Toyota has started a forestry program, identifying defoested areas and repopulating them with trees, see the pics, and the blurb ... it is a great thing to have done. China i'm sure appreciates the true value ...

"*Located approximately 180km north of Beijing, the Fengning Man Autonomous County in Hebei Province is one of the areas that spawn the dust storms that have been assailing Beijing in recent years. The area also serves as the source of Beijing and Tianjin's water supply."

Before:


After:


Get the full story here

Toyota Japan Website

Evil never rests

BAGHDAD - IRAQI police have taken apart a sculpture honouring the Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former President George W. Bush.

The sculpture's base at an orphanage in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit was demolished by policemen.

The sofa-sized copper-colored shoe itself had become a plaything for local children by Sunday.

The sculpture was unveiled last week but Iraqi police demanded it be removed because they said the state-run orphanage site could not be used for works with a political bias.

Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi threw his shoes during a Dec 14 news conference in Baghdad. -- AP

______________________________________________________________

Mother fuckers .... may the spirit of the shoe destroy them all. DO they know NOTHING other than distruction?

*tootle splendiferously*

Tikrit shoe

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3561&a=878663


OK, THIS takes every cake so far :D

In Saddam's home town, they have created this shoe of copper ... and people think arabs have no sense of humour?

Blackwater banned from Iraq

Al Jazeera

Blackwater, a US private security firm, has been barred from providing security for US diplomats in Iraq for its alleged involvement in the deaths of at least 17 civilians in 2007.

The Iraqi interior ministry on Thursday said the measure followed the firm's "improper conduct and excessive use of force".

"It is because of the shooting incident in 2007 ... [Blackwater] came to us and applied and we refused them. They tried by all means to stay here and we said 'no'," General Abdel Karim Khalaf, an interior ministry spokesman, told AFP.

About time too :D

Putin speech

Putin Speaks at Davos

Wow ... go read. Not for a VERY long time have a heard such a brilliant speech. Putin, despite his kgb background and mindset, appears to be becoming "my" statesman of this era.

He is working to understand the people, and to be seen with people doing ordinary things. In the recent Georgia trouble, and since then the gas "crisis". he showed a remarkable strategic ability, one which literally bowls the other players over. And he is VERY patriotic, his responsiobility is to mother russia, its people and land. How is it so few leaders have that passion?

This man would be quite good at chess, i'd think.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the international community is facing a host of extremely complicated problems, which might seem overpowering at times. But, a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step, as the proverb goes.

We must seek foothold relying on the moral values that have ensured the progress of our civilisation. Integrity and hard work, responsibility and self-confidence will eventually lead us to success.

We should not despair. This crisis can and must be fought, also by pooling our intellectual, moral and material resources."

...

"Frankly speaking, we all know that provoking military and political instability, regional and other conflicts is a helpful means of distracting the public from growing social and economic problems. Such attempts cannot be ruled out, unfortunately."

And this ...

"In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated."

Govt will 'fight' anti-Semtisim

Now apart from News 24's ASTOUNDINGLY STUPID COPY EDITOR .. can't even fucking spell semitism ... and WHY does semitism have a capital s?

That's the headline ... startling, to say the least. Amongst all of our government's problems, where is anti semitism a problem??

Her comments were apparently made at rally in solidarity with Palestine on Wednesday 14 January, in Lenasia.

She is said to have told the gathering: "They in fact control [America], no matter which government comes into power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush. The control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else."

Sounds fairly accurate .... but now we have the jews getting all unhappy ...

"Condemning the "classic anti-Jewish stereotyping and conspiracy-theory mongering", the organisation has laid a formal complaint against Hajaig with the SA Human Rights Commission, for anti-Jewish hate speech."

Nicely put ... fairly typical response too. Conspiracy theory mongering ... that's a new phrase though, someone very clever thought a LONG time about that one.

This, after the jeish prime minister BRAGGED about telling bus-hboy what to do at a . UN security council vote

So, we can tell the UNITED STATES what to do, but you're NOT allowed to say so.

Inconvenient truths

So Al Gore is on the weatherpath again in Washington - Former Vice President Al Gore presented US lawmakers on Wednesday with a new inconvenient truth: Action on global warming cannot wait until the economy recovers.

But we saw this recently
35 Inconvenient
Truths
The errors in Al Gore’s movie
by Christopher Monckton of Brenchley

Now whether or not we are warming or cooling is something that is being hotly debated right now. And Gore's "weather expert" has embarrased NASA with his bad science.

For those just joining the climate discussion, Dr. James Hansen is the chief climate scientist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and is the man who originally raised the alarm on global warming in 1988 in an appearance before congress. He is also the keeper of the most often cited climate data.

With coldest temperature reports and such quite common this winter, global warming really does seem odd. Since the Gore movie came out, all the observable scientific data has reversed his theory. There is no global warming. There is global climate change, but since we're still unable to completely understand it, we don't know what the changes mean, never mind if they have any value at all.

The weather modelling programs upon which these claims were made, are hopelessly inadequate to the task of evaluating the complexities of wind and rain, temperature changes on the ground because of passing clouds' shadows ... No computer model can even begin.

Yet they have modelled, they have come to self directed answers, and are now running around crying wolf. They have already a huge momentum, which HAS to be stopped. They are wrong. They do however have some ideas on taxation, and CONTROL of ... well everything really. Can you imagine the size of the carbon footprints they wish to manage?

More political social engineering ... everywhere you turn.

*blank*

Zuma trial

I found this here ... (from last year)

Nicholson expected to preside over Zuma hearing
Published in: Legalbrief Today
Date: Mon 28 July 2008
Category: General
Issue No: 2119

Judge Chris Nicholson has emerged as the front-runner to preside over Jacob Zuma's bid to have his corruption trial deemed an 'unlawful prosecution'. The hearing is scheduled to get under way in Pietermaritzburg next week.

Another possible candidate, according to speculation in The Witness, is Judge Leona Theron, who was the first woman of colour to be appointed a judge in KwaZulu-Natal in October 1999 at the age of 32. The report says both Nicholson and Theron have the necessary credentials in terms of seniority and experience. Nicholson has long been a supporter of the 'underdog' in society and active campaigner for human rights, and Zuma's supporters are unlikely to have any gripe if he is chosen
Full report in The Witness

And this morning there was this ...

Next Zuma judge is a woman
January 28 2009 at 08:38AM
By Karyn Maughan and Botho Molosankwe

The judge in the hot seat for ANC president Jacob Zuma's next court appearance is an inspired and vocal activist for women's rights.

But it remains to be seen whether Judge Leona Theron - appointed as KwaZulu-Natal's first black female judge at age 33 and one of the youngest judges to act in the Supreme Court of Appeal - will be on the bench for Zuma's corruption trial after she initially presides over his February 4 appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala confirmed the appointment of Theron for Zuma's court appearance, where the future course of the National Prosecuting Authority's corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering case against Zuma is expected to be decided.

...

As a Fulbright scholar, she graduated with a master of laws degree from the University of Georgetown in the United States in 1990.

She became an advocate in South Africa the following year.

While at university, Theron worked part time as a cashier at the now defunct OK Bazaars in Umhlanga Rocks.

She received both her BA law and BA from the then University of Natal.

Theron also sits on the board of the Durban Playhouse, is a trustee of the African Monitor and serves as an adviser to the Anglican Bishop of Natal.

She is a board member of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at UKZN and the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of Offenders.

Summary of case here

__________________________________________________________________

I don't quite know what to think, i certainly will be paying attention. From this brief resume, i certainly think she'll be better than Nicholson, and being a woman, who forced a life sentence onto a rapist who severely assaulted his victim, well zuma had better have his shit in order ... i see his good luck streak hitting a brick wall.

Pirates drown while fighting over loot

Five Somali pirates drowned when a wave washed off their getaway boat as they squabbled over over how to split their $3 million ransom.

The ransom had been paid to the pirates to end the world's biggest ship hijacking.

The canister full of cash was parachuted onto the Sirius Star - observed by the U.S. Navy who provided these images - and the two-month ordeal of the 25 crew, including two Britons, was finally over.

The pirates originally wanted more than £16 million to release the boat and its £65 million load of oil. Eventually they accepted the offer of $3million (around £2million).

But as they made off they continued to row about the payout.

'Two of them swam and survived. One is still missing.

The weather was so terrible that it blew the boat over, then sank it.

We got five dead bodies and we are still searching for the missing one. The waves were disastrous,' said Farah Osman, an associate of the gang.

It is not known what happened to the money or those who survived.

After the squabbling gang left the Saudi supertanker its crew were free to move to a safe port.

Both British crewmen - chief engineer Peter French and second officer James Grad - said they were well treated by the pirates.

Andrew Mwanguru, of the East African Seafarers Assistance programme, based in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, said: 'The last batch of gunmen have disembarked from the Sirius Star. She is now steaming out to safe waters.'

The company has declined to comment.

The Sirius Star was captured in November with 25 crew members, 450 nautical miles southeast of Kenya in the boldest seizure to date by Somali pirates.



Story taken from: www.dailymail.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________

You can't make this stuff up. They pulled a daring robbery, GOT THE MONEY, then died stupidly on the way home. The photo above is what $3 000 000 dollars looks like, parachuting down to the tanker.

Einstein

This giant of men, someone who saw beyond our own understanding, into a larger, more ordered universe. He is most famous for E=mc2, which tells us simply what the ancients knew all along, we are energy. All we are, all we see, is energy in some form or another. And energy flows through us, almost like the waves of the sea, only, as seen underwater, with the seaweed and kelp ebbing and flowing in harmony.

What i admire him for though, more than the scientific, is his moral contribution to mankind. He was a terribly deep thinker, and his searching mind often took him to strange corners of our psyche. He believed in the GOODness of the universe, and our need to strive for it. He believed in order, yet he placed more emphasis in the need for intuition than logic.

Here is a short selection of quotes, thoughts to think about.

The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
As quoted in Breakthrough : Israel in a Changing World (1996) by Gad Yaacobi, p. 98

When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity.
An explanation of relativity which he gave to his secretary Helen Dukas to convey to non-scientists and reporters, as quoted in Best Quotes of '54, '55, l56 (1957) by James B. Simpson; also in Expandable Quotable Einstein (2005) edited by Alice Calaprice

The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when contemplating the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of the mystery every day. The important thing is not to stop questioning; never lose a holy curiosity.
Statement to William Miller, as quoted in LIFE magazine (2 May 1955)

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.
As quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist (1949)

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe", a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
Letter of 1950, as quoted in The New York Times (29 March 1972) and The New York Post (28 November 1972)

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
Ideas and Opinions (1954)

I believe in Spinoza's God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind.
In response the telegrammed question of New York's Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein in (24 April 1929): "Do you believe in God? Stop. Answer paid 50 words." Einstein replied in only 25 (German) words. Spinoza's ideas of God are often characterized as being pantheistic.

I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.
Interview with George Sylvester Viereck (January 1931)

Hostory repeats itself

i can't reprint this here .... but have to link

http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=2510

What's it been? 2, maybe 3 generations, and it's exactly the same, photo for photo ... fuck i feel sick ...

PS it is VERY disturbing.

“We talk to ourselves incessantly about our world. In fact we maintain our world with our internal talk. And whenever we finish talking to ourselves about ourselves and our world, the world is always as it should be. We renew it, we rekindle it with life, we uphold it with our internal talk. Not only that, but we also choose our paths as we talk to ourselves. Thus we repeat the same choices over and over until the day we die, because we keep on repeating the same internal talk over and over until the day we die. A warrior is aware of this and strives to stop his internal talk.”

~ Carlos Castaneda, "A Separate Reality"

I am man

Who am i? Who is God? And why are these issues always getting confused?

I am not god. If i were i am sure things would be different. I am distant cousin to god, like a shooting star is related to the sun. They have much in common, celestial lights shining through the dark. But, while the sun continues it's massive nuclear powered chemical reaction, the shooting star is just another rock.

Fate, luck, karma, predistination, free will ... all these wonderfully silly ideas that are all meaningless. Entropy, there is a nice solid concept for you to grasp. Real, tangible, irrefutable, and it's here, has been for countless millenia, will outlast everything else. I always feel slightly nauseous when people tell me that my fate is in my own hands ... no it's not. These same eople are usually wealthy, or at least comfortable, and i'm sure they like the idea that they are responsible for their happiness. Ask a poor person why they were so horrible to themselves, and you will get the look that says it all.

Control, power, supremacy, these are what people WANT. They crave it like a drug, and anything that comes between them and it is but a problem to be solved as expediently as possible. They think they can get it, have it, use it, and they DESERVE it. How dare they? As though any of us mortals have the right to more than any other? We are little stones on the beach of the universe ... and the bigger stones seem to think they are more valuable than the smaller. The ARROGANCE of these people ... who seem to think they are any more than a pathetic piece of meat ... for them i pray the hell of eternal torment, but to what end? By then too late ... better to cease to exist and never bother this earthly realm again.

God, should IT exist and be what people claim ITit says IT is, is a seriously demented being. From the God of the jews to kali and beyond, the message is always clear:

Jealous, petty, violent ... exactly what our own society deems to be admirable traits of survival. I cannot fathom how many contradictions and iconsistencies have come to be rolled into a neat pile and proudly called WORTHY. I would not wish to be like that. I am man.

God gives on one side and takes the other, never rhyme or reason, but the people will always credit IT with their own stupid ideas, and feel clever for it, and expect to be rewarded, like a stupid dog drooling at noise.

We are stones, occasionally we glimpse other things, in our awareness of around us ... but we will never be more than that. Stones that hope for an afterlife, ith pretty pools of cleaning water and all manner of enticements. To become more than stones we tramle and crush other stones ... in the vague understanding that anything truly worthwhile would be limited, and as such strived for.

God, gods, goddess and any other anything that wants to jump on the list. Fuck you all ... you are worse than man ... you who are so high and demanding of our praise, yet so petty and vulgar. Shame on you. Standing aside and claiming we control ourselves, yet reaching don to our level for no other reason than to interfere for YOUR OWN GLORY, or something. Go away. Leave us alone, i think you've done enough, really, go NOW. There is no justice, no higher anything. There is only brutality and death. ONLY MAN can look at this and triumph in a quiet house, and meditation on this dirty little life he has. But the gods, who nspire all of the worst in us, claim all the best for themselves, enough.

I AM MAN

No change

At the Earth Summit in 1992, George H.W. Bush forcefully declared, "The American way of life is not negotiable."
Baltimore Chronicle, Aug. 3, 2004
---

My principle focus as vice president has been to protect the American people in our way of life
Transcript: Vice President Cheney on 'FOX News Sunday', Dec. 222, 2008
---

We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 2008

_____________________________________________________________

That's what i thought, thanks to Moon of Alabama for this concise version.

Bantu education

"Fifty percent of kids who enter school never pass out through Grade 12," said Cronje, questioning whether a school system which saw half its entrants never reach Grade 12 could hold forth 62.5 percent as "an honest reflection of the passout from the school system". 

Cronje said the current school system was much the same as Bantu education, in that it was stunting "mainly poor, mainly black" children.

"The low pass rates, the low throughput rates and the low rates of university entry passes (calculated by the institute as an effective 11,7 percent) are perhaps now the greatest single crisis facing South Africa."

"The end result is not very different from that of Bantu education."

Taken from IOL

SO the department of miseducation tells the world we have a pass rate of 62,5%.
The Institute of Race Relations said it should be considered that:

of the 920 716 students who were in Grade 11 in 2007,
only 333 681, or 64 percent, went on to write their matric examinations in 2008.

"36,2 percent is a more accurate reflection of the real effective matric pass rate than the 62,5 percent cited by Education Minister Naledi Pandor," Frans Cronje, the deputy chief executive officer of the institute, told the Cape Argus.

"You wouldn't go through 11 years and give up of your own volition.

"Something is preventing them from getting through, but we don't know exactly what," said Cronje.

Annually, there were roughly a million students per grade in all grades from Grade one to 11, "but suddenly in Grade 12 you have half that number".

Bloody well done ZAPIRO!!!

http://www.mg.co.za/cartoons/160109zapirobig.jpg


You have to go see the whole image, blogger not helping ... it's on the Mail and Guardian website ... http://www.mg.co.za/cartoons/160109zapirobig.jpg

Bullet in thehead

A bullet in your fucking head

Rage against the machine have taken a lot of flack for gratuitous violence in their lyrics and how inappropriate they are. Read the story above, then read the lyrics, they are actually saying something ...


Rage Against the Machine Bullet in the Head Lyrics:

This time the bullet cold rocked ya
a yellow ribbon instead of a swastika
nothin´ proper about ya propaganda
fools follow rules when the set commands ya
they said it was blue
when the blood was red
that´s how you got a bullet blasted through ya head
blasted through ya head
blasted through ya head
I give a shout out to the living dead
who stood and watched as the feds cold centraliced
so serene on the screen
you was mesmerized
cellular phones soudin¨a death tone
corporations cold
turn ya to stone before ya realize
they load the slip in omnicolor
they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatras
and mutha fuckas lost their minds
just victims of the in-house drive-by
they say jump, you say how high
they load the clip in omnicolors
they pack the 9, they fire it at prime time
sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatras
and mutha fuchas lost their minds
no scape from the mass mind rape
play it again jack and then rewind the tape
play it again and again and again
untill ya mind is locked in
believen´ all the lies that they´re tellin´ya
buying all the products that they´re sellin´ya
they say jump
ya say how high
ya brain dead
ya gotta fuckin´ bullet in ya head
just victims of the in-house drive-by
they say jump, you say how high
ya standin´ in line
bellevin´ the lies
ya bowin down to the flag
ya gotta bullet in ya head


"Other children have other horrific injuries - such as Samer, not yet three years old, who was shot in the back outside her home in Gaza, and had to wait three hours for medical help to reach her.

Samer thinks she knows what happened to her.

"The Jewish shot me," she said in Arabic. "And they killed my little sister."

Geneva convention

Taken from: In Gaza

"Arce’s video footage caught the incident, and is testimony to what we’ve seen, what medics have told us they’ve long endured, and what Israeli authorities beligerently continue to deny: Israel is targeting medical personnel, as Israeli forces target journalists, civilians, and these days in Gaza anything that moves. No sanctuary, no safety, no guarentee of medical service."

Milkmag

On a lighter note ... saw something that really got my attention.

Milkmag

A digital magazine for digital heads like me ... full of the usual tupe of stuff. Except, it incorporates "youtube" movies in it's stories, and the layout is of a magazine, ie you watch the pages turn.

Very nice concept, it actually feels nice to read, and you're compelled to turn the page.

Letter protests South African Jewish leaders

Taken from JTA - Jewish news service

CAPE TOWN (JTA) -- A letter from a group of Jewish South Africans published in a Cape Town newspaper tells Jewish leaders who support Israel's Gaza operation not to speak for them.

Nearly 100 Jews signed the letter, which appeared Monday in the Cape Times daily, attacking a statement supporting Israel's decision to launch a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The statement was issued by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the South African Zionist Federation and the office of the chief rabbi on behalf of the community.

While the group recognizes the existence of communal structures, it is "distressed that they purport to speak for us and the many Jews who are uncomfortable with the destruction in Gaza, claiming one collective view for the entire community." The letter calls the approach of the communal bodies "irresponsible" in view of the divergence of opinion within the community.

It describes Israel's response in Gaza as "inhumane and disproportionate collective punishment prohibited under international law" while "strongly opposing" the rockets Hamas has been firing into Israel. It calls on communities "vocal in their support for the Palestinians" to condemn the latter.

About 15,000 protesters marched on the South African parliament last week under the banner of the Muslim Judicial Council against Israel's actions in Gaza.

"We call on the Jewish Board of Deputies not to exacerbate local tensions with statements that demonstrate a lack of compassion for Palestinian lives," the letter concludes.

Among the letter's signatories were the principal of the University of Cape Town, Max Price, and the controversial cartoonist Zapiro.

__________________________________________________________________

Very nice ... do not speak for us ... very clear.

Nigel freed!!

Boy, 2, freed from Zim jail

14/01/2009 15:27 - (SA)

Harare - A two-year-old boy detained in a Zimbabwean prison with his activist parents has been freed after 76 days behind bars, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Wednesday in a statement.

Nigel Mutemagawo, who was abducted by gunmen together with his parents from their home in Banket in northwestern Zimbabwe, was released from detention on Tuesday, the MDC said.

He had been held with his parents, Collen Mutemagawo and Violet Mupfuranhehwe, both MDC activists who are facing terrorism charges.

A Zimbabwe court on Friday refused to drop the charges against his parents and five others.

The MDC accused President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party of violating the spirit of a unity accord signed four months ago, which has stalled amid political bickering over how to form a cabinet.

"It confirms that Zanu-PF has become an enemy of human rights and is not sincere in implementing the (unity) agreement, which guarantees the basic rights and freedoms of individuals," it stated.

Nigel's parents are among 28 activists who were abducted by state security agents in separate incidents since late October.

Their lawyers say they have been tortured in custody and face trumped up charges of trying to topple Mugabe.

- AFP
_______________________________________________________

76 days ... my gods. This is before i even found out ... most of the world i think too. Again, i can only wish all the love in the world to this boy.

Obama

An actor walks upon the floodlit stage of life
wearing a mask of an angel beneath a demon's gown.
Pretence smiles upon the crowded hall of life
holding out hope as bright as it is false.
Son of a woman in whose veins flows the blood
of ancient Ireland and dark Africa’s plains.
You are Obama, nick-named the standing king
You are Barack, oh, son born to deceive
The suffering hoards of Africa look up to you,
See a black saviour where nought but a Judas strides.
An entrapper of nations, bringer of dismal war
Behind the robes and the nylon wings of hope
Oh, may those who look upon you, see you as you are.
May those who hope in you behold you as you be
A prince deceitful to bring down Africa’s shrines
A siren who leads Africa’s ships onto rocks of obliteration.
Your rule my lord will not be one of peace
Your reign my king will not be one of smiles
Even as we speak in caves both dark and dank
Enraged fanatics plot your dark demise
They will put around your head a bloodwet martyr’s crown.
Oh black Kennedy following the one before
May God forgive thee and thy fiery spouse
As you walk in silence from the stage of life
Barack Obama, blessed son, Oh standing king.

Credo Mutwa

Zim

This issue has been biting me for days. No better than Gaza, only closer, frighteningly close. Horrific too, the people coming back from zim where they spent their christmas, poverty isn't quite the word ... there isn't anything. No goods in the shops, no water in the taps, even the money in the bank has been frozen (you are allowed to draw a certain sum per month, i believe its enough to buy 2 loaves of bread, if you can find).

It's SO close ... yet i lie in my bed with a well fed stomach, relatively safe from the world, and SO CLOSE to this .... inhuman depravity. What can i do??????

Anyway, i found this this morning, and then went to here and here and somehow it's ll fallen apart now.

I quote: "The judge is saying the high court will not intervene. It is worse than apartheid South Africa."

There is no justice ... again i scream at the world. This is the same as gaza ... a complete picture of man's inhumanity to man. In gaza it is ethnic, but in zim it's the same people killing their own families. Hitler was famous for killing 6 000 000 jews, stalin beat that quite comfortably with 50 000 000 of his own countrymen. Sadly i know that some leaders in the anc believe stalin to be a good role model. They have the same mental disease.

This child, only one amongst millions, is being held in hell, and FUCKING TORTURED to extract non existant confessions from his mother. She must be a very brave woman, to make the government fear her so much. This child will be scared for life, for what? Think for a moment, of seeing your own 2 year old being beaten ... or him 's watching the men beat and rape you. Thats what they do, you know?

Meanwhile madbob is on holiday in Malaysia, reflecting on the situation at home.

God bless you little Nigel ... and your famiy too.

http://denfordmagora.blogspot.com/2009/01/zimbabwe-petition-to-free-two-year-old.html

To the south african government:

YOUR ARE SPINELESS AFRICAN DOGS THAT DROOL OVER THE CARCASSES THAT OTHERS HAVE SLAIN. YOU ARE WORTHLESS WOUNDS ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, POLLUTING WITH YOUR PRESENCE, DEFILING WITH YOUR TOUCH. MAY YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW A THOUSAND TIMES OVER ... THE DEATH PAIN AND DEHUMANISATION FOR YOUR OWN GREED.
*spit*

Statue maker identified

January 13 2009 at 07:14AM
By Michelle Jones

The mysterious "Apostle" statue has been returned to its creator with only a "rap on the knuckles" as punishment.

Yesterday SA National Parks senior section ranger Hilton Blumeris and spokesperson Phumeza Mgxashe met sculptor Samuel Allerton.

The tall, slender sculpture of a man with a bowed head and cupped hands caused a stir last week when it first appeared on a rocky outcrop near the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa beyond Bakoven. By Thursday it had vanished, but reappeared on Friday morning halfway up Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain.

"We had an amicable meeting. We pointed out to the artist how he'd contravened the Protected Areas Act and discussed the ramifications of placing the artwork in the park," he said.

"Although I will in future follow the correct procedure and obtain permission from the relevant organisations, I will continue to place sculptures in different locations in South Africa and abroad to raise awareness and provoke debate," Allerton said.
_________________________________________________________________

Well good for him, wishing him well. He thinks outside the box :)

all bloggers who agree with it just reprint it

January 11, 2009
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is not self-defence – it’s a war crime

ISRAEL has sought to justify its military attacks on Gaza by stating that it amounts to an act of “self-defence” as recognised by Article 51, United Nations Charter. We categorically reject this contention.

The rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas deplorable as they are, do not, in terms of scale and effect amount to an armed attack entitling Israel to rely on self-defence. Under international law self-defence is an act of last resort and is subject to the customary rules of proportionality and necessity.

The killing of almost 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 3,000 injuries, accompanied by the destruction of schools, mosques, houses, UN compounds and government buildings, which Israel has a responsibility to protect under the Fourth Geneva Convention, is not commensurate to the deaths caused by Hamas rocket fire.

For 18 months Israel had imposed an unlawful blockade on the coastal strip that brought Gazan society to the brink of collapse. In the three years after Israel’s redeployment from Gaza, 11 Israelis were killed by rocket fire. And yet in 2005-8, according to the UN, the Israeli army killed about 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza, including 222 children. Throughout this time the Gaza Strip remained occupied territory under international law because Israel maintained effective control over it.

Israel’s actions amount to aggression, not self-defence, not least because its assault on Gaza was unnecessary. Israel could have agreed to renew the truce with Hamas. Instead it killed 225 Palestinians on the first day of its attack. As things stand, its invasion and bombardment of Gaza amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s 1.5m inhabitants contrary to international humanitarian and human rights law. In addition, the blockade of humanitarian relief, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and preventing access to basic necessities such as food and fuel, are prima facie war crimes.

We condemn the firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel and suicide bombings which are also contrary to international humanitarian law and are war crimes. Israel has a right to take reasonable and proportionate means to protect its civilian population from such attacks. However, the manner and scale of its operations in Gaza amount to an act of aggression and is contrary to international law, notwithstanding the rocket attacks by Hamas.

Ian Brownlie QC, Blackstone Chambers
Mark Muller QC, Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales
Michael Mansfield QC and Joel Bennathan QC, Tooks Chambers
Sir Geoffrey Bindman, University College, London
Professor Richard Falk, Princeton University
Professor M Cherif Bassiouni, DePaul University, Chicago
Professor Christine Chinkin, LSE
Professor John B Quigley, Ohio State University
Professor Iain Scobbie and Victor Kattan, School of Oriental and African Studies
Professor Vera Gowlland-Debbas, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
Professor Said Mahmoudi, Stockholm University
Professor Max du Plessis, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
Professor Bill Bowring, Birkbeck College
Professor Joshua Castellino, Middlesex University
Professor Thomas Skouteris and Professor Michael Kagan, American University of Cairo
Professor Javaid Rehman, Brunel University
Daniel Machover, Chairman, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
Dr Phoebe Okawa, Queen Mary University
John Strawson, University of East London
Dr Nisrine Abiad, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
Dr Michael Kearney, University of York
Dr Shane Darcy, National University of Ireland, Galway
Dr Michelle Burgis, University of St Andrews
Dr Niaz Shah, University of Hull
Liz Davies, Chair, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyer
Prof Michael Lynk, The University of Western Ontario
Steve Kamlish QC and Michael Topolski QC, Tooks Chambers

Gaza

From http://www.vg.no/mortenm/bilder/28c4a0a8398bbe04.jpg

TV death which the child absorbs ... *

Congratulations mankind, we have officially perfected the tv war. It has all the convenienes of a ball game, time outs to remove the dead and dying, although not all the dead, have to get that death smell going. We have wide angles and close ups, commentary and action, lots of action.

News 24

"The two medics, who were sent into the war zone by the pro-Palestinian aid organisation Norwac on December 31, said they had seen clear signs that Dense Inert Metal Explosives (DIME), an experimental kind of explosive, were being used in Gaza.

"This is a new generation of very powerful small explosives that detonates with an extreme power and dissipates its power within a range of five to 10 metres," said Gilbert, 61.

"We have not seen the casualties affected directly by the bomb because they are normally torn to pieces and do not survive, but we have seen a number of very brutal amputations... without shrapnel injuries which we strongly suspect must have been caused by the DIME weapons," he added.

Gilbert also accused Israel of having used the weapon in the 2006 Lebanon war and previously in Gaza, and referred to studies showing wounds from the explosive could cause lethal forms of cancer within just four to six months."
_________________________________________________________________

And they have new toys to play with too ... experimental they say. So in how many ways IS Isreal what they have run from?

*Jim Morrison (The Doors) - An American Prayer

24 hours of trauma

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/general/2009/01/200919132156992987.html

"We don't have enough staff, we don't have enough nurses, we don't have enough doctors, we don't have equipment, a lot of the equipment doesn't work, or breaks when you need it."

By mid-morning Bara is full to capacity and is forced to close so doctors can clear the backlog. Drunk patients are left near a fire escape to sober up before they are treated.

With staff shortages a constant problem, interns like Kaajal are heavily relied upon to keep the place functioning and despite their lack of experience, are often faced with life and death situations.

Baragwanath hospital .... pray to your gods that you never go there .... ever.

Visionary art

http://lila.info

Statue on the rocks

A large white statue, in the form of a man with his hands outstretched, has for the past few days stood on the rocks just outside the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Victoria Road near Oudekraal.

Now for the silly bit:
An investigation would soon be launched to determine who put the statue up and how they went about it.

A boat would be sent out to see what it was made of as soon as one became available.

Sieben said permission had not been given to place any structure on the rocks, about 300 metres from the road.

If permission had been sought for it, it wouldn't have been granted, Sieben said. Any structure proposed for below the high-level mark needed to be subject to a complete environmental impact assessment.
This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on January 08, 2009

The Banking Enquiry

Wikileaks

Thanks to a "hacker" and wikileaks .... new site to me, but already enjoying the status they seem to be enjoying ... that of total pariah *grin*

The banks don't want ANYBODY to read this, under various auspices ... and having skimmed through, i understand why.

They're really bad people to do business with, and frankly if they weren't banks they'd likely be locked up.

Recommendations, observations and other silly innuendos don't change the fact that massive unfair business practices have been uncovered, AND WILL NOT be followed through with direct action.

But, we can at least know that information people want covered up, is much better off in the public domain.

Gaza - civilian warzone

Israeli Shells Kill 40 at Gaza U.N. School

Excerpt:
GAZA — Israeli mortar shells killed as many as 40 Palestinians, among them women and children, outside a United Nations school in Gaza on Tuesday where they were taking refuge in the 11th day of the conflict. The Israeli military contended that Hamas fighters had fired mortars from the school compound, and United Nations officials called for an independent inquiry into the episode.

The rising civilian death toll in crowded Gaza heightened international urgency to end the combat.

_______________________________________________________________

The Palestinians shouldn't have picked this fight. Don't matter though ...

I don't understand why war is the answer to this. Except for all the people getting rich from arms deals ... that's the clue. Nobody is winning here, not even the Isreali population at large. This isn't the way to keep them safe, or allow them to prosper.

The worst part is this was inevitable, and typical. The world over suffers this disease of the mind, which believes this is acceptable, justifiable, and good.

The Taqwacores

Muslim punks ... no, doesn't work for me.

Islam is about rules ... punk is about anarchy. Somehow the book "The Taqwacores" has provided a fictional story that has struck a chord in american muslim kids.

New York Times

It's not surprising that those kids are confused, muslims in amrica must have a really hard time, externally AND internally. I'd like to read the book, i had a few few "cut classics" as a kid, and know the power these books have in establishing adult identities.

Just odd, that's why i posted .... punk muslims ... i have now heard it all.

Gaza

Fuck you isreal. Since you couldn't beat Lebanon, only kill their children with cluster bombs, you went looking for an even weaker opponent??

For fuck sakes ... all your weaponry and money ... and you pick a fight with the palestinians??!! Pathetic ... you fucking soldier boy wankers of death. You're not stopping anything, you're just perpetuating your own satanic bloodlusts.

HAMAS is what you created. HAMAS is the voice of the people. HAMAS will not die by your guns. HAMAS will only die when the fighting stops. This isn't about protecting your territory, there are several highly effective anti rocket systems available, like those they use at emerald city in iraq. Why aren't you using those to protect YOUR citizens? Why not?

I imagine it's because you don't WANT to stop them, you like having a reason to kill children and women and old people. Sick motherfuckers.

This is not war ... this is not honour ... this is not anything good. This is murder.

Security killers

IOL

Johannesburg - A security guard claimed four American pit bull terriers attacked him in his car in Randburg and would have "ripped him to pieces" if he had not shot dead three of them.

But Warren Sinden, owner of the dogs, rejected these claims by Real Security Solutions (RSS), the company that protected his home.

Sinden said his dogs were shot without reason on his property in Bloubosrand. He laid a charge of injury to property at Douglasdale police and would also lay a civil charge.

Sinden's alarm went off on New Year's Eve. An RSS security guard went to investigate and what happened afterwards was still a mystery as Sinden claimed RSS refused to give him a report.

He said the RSS officer first shot his three dogs and then "cleaned up the scene of the crime" before contacting him.

"I want to know why my dogs were shot on my own property. Only one of my American pitt bull terriers, the bitch, has survived. The three male dogs are dead."

RSS manager Francois Briel said the guard never set foot on the Sinden property.

RSS was apparently considering legal steps against Sinden after the attack on the security guard.

________________________________________________________________________

Stories, counter stories ... and bullshit too.
I don't trust security companies. At all under any circumstances. This guard was supposed to check that everything was ok. It wasn't, so why did he leave a note saying it was ok?
i don't know what the truth was, but the person that was paid to look after the house ended up firing multiple shots in a residential neighbourhood. Few weeks ago a girl was killed the same way. The shooter in that case was crucified ... here it appears nothing will be done.

To Aquila ... good start, companies are very scared of the media ... and take it further ... this guard should never work in security again.

Security killers

2009

What's the difference between 2008 and 2009?

Nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Fuck all.

Then why all the bloody hype? Like the universe actually takes note of our little scratchings on bits of paper. It's like yesterday, only, due to entropy, worse.

People seem to get this idea that it matters, and strangely i had more happy new years sms' than christmas. Last year (already???) was crap, this one started similarly, but worse as i mentioned ... and frankly looks to get even worse within days. Again, oddly, what "started" my last year started my this year too, and not anything i'd wish on anyone. But no different really.
So in keeping with terradition, here are my rather pointless promises to nobody in particular ....

1. Get a divorce
2. Deal with all the other crap, like somewhere to live
3. Quit smoking
4. Kill more people that annoy me
5. See less people (including talk to, listen to, and breathe their foul odours)

Cute huh?

I guess the image below sums it up quite well, although if next silly season does come around, anyone who mentions it will be on my "annoying persons" list.

Sir Terry Pratchett

December 31 2008 at 10:41AM

By Tim Castle

London - Rock singer Robert Plant, fantasy author Terry Pratchett and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton were all honoured by Britain's Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday.

The queen also granted awards to members of Britain's Beijing Olympics team, including a knighthood for triple cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy, the country's most successful Olympian at a single games for 100 years.

The credit crunch even made an appearance in the traditional New Year's honours list, with a knighthood for Nick Macpherson, the most senior civil servant at the government's Treasury, for his "extraordinary work" on tackling the financial crisis.

Plant, 60, most famous for fronting rock band Led Zeppelin in the 1970s, becomes a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) under Britain's ancient and complex system of honorary titles.





Plant has forged a successful career since Led Zeppelin's demise in 1980, recently collaborating with singer Alison Krauss on the acclaimed album Raising Sand.

Pratchett, 60, best known for his satirical Discworld fantasy series, becomes a knight, one of the queen's most important honours, and will now be addressed as a "Sir".

"There are times when phrases such as 'totally astonished' just don't do the job," he said in a statement.

"I am of course delighted and honoured and needless to say, flabbergasted."

In December 2007 Pratchett announced he had a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's disease, and earlier this year he donated £500 000 to research into the disorder.

Hamilton, 23, became the youngest Formula One world champion in November in only his second season competing in the annual championship.

The first black driver on the Formula One motor racing circuit, Hamilton is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), a lower ranking award.

Britain's Olympics squad won a fresh haul of honours after coming a better-than-expected fourth in the Beijing medals table.

As well as Hoy's knighthood there were awards for double gold-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington, 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and double cycling gold winner Bradley Wiggins.

There were also honours for Olympic sailing gold medallists Ben Ainslie, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb.

Fourteen-year-old Paralympic swimmer Eleanor Simmonds was made an MBE after winning two golds in Beijing, becoming the youngest person ever to be royally honoured.

There was an OBE for actor Michael Sheen, who played former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 2006 film The Queen, and a CBE for jazz musician Courtney Pine.

In the world of business there were knighthoods for Alexander Crombie, group chief executive of insurer Standard Life, and for David Jones, former chairman of retailer Next and co-founder of a Parkinson's disease charity.

Most of the 966 people on the New Year's list are honoured for voluntary work or for their contributions to health, education or local services. - Reuters
______________________________________________________________________________

First time ever i have approved of the annual awards ... but to my mind these people all deserve the recognition.

SIr Pratchett is oddly fitting.

Humbug

Christmas has become the epitome of everything that is wrong with us. It's a sick, depraved twisting of reality. For starters, fuck you if you equate chocolate and love. The only reason they punt xmas is to sell the crap that you would never, ever ever buy for yourself. Why? Because it's crap and ou know it.

The total amount of rubbish generated is enough to make me puke. Can anyone say "carbon footprint"?

It's a pagan holiday that the christians stole, then commerce stole, and now no-one wants to admit to. Don't blame them really, it's a crappy time, and we all know it. Why is it always about the person you can't be with, the present you cannot afford? And the only succesful xmas includes a lot of useless things (usually broken by lunchtime) ... far too much food and wine ... and the insane desire to surround yourself with people you successfully avoid the other 364 days of the year?

Hardly a good time. And i see israel has gone bossies again ... let's celebrate by killing people ... cos they're pests ... AND it's FUN!!! *c/o George Carlin.

My dog bit me .... says summin about MY karma, or dogma perhaps. Chows .... turns out they're related to pitbulls .... i didn't know. Such is life. At least it's healing really well.

peace ... and love ... and even happiness, if you can manage

No new coal

Yesterday the full story emerged of what happened. "It was about 10pm, very dark indeed," said Highmore. "It looks from the CCTV like he came in via a very remote part of the site by the sea wall and got over the double layer of fences."

The intruder then crossed a car park and walked to an unlocked door. But instead of going to the power station's main control room, where about eight people would have been working, he headed for its main turbine hall, where no one would have been working at that time.

Within minutes, says E.On, "he had tampered with some equipment" - believed to be a computer at a control panel - "and tripped unit 2, one of the station's giant 500MW turbines".

"This caused the unit to go offline," she added. "It was running at full 500MW load and the noise it would have made as it shut itself down is just incredible. CCTV shows that he then just walked out, and went back over the fence.

All power from the coal and oil-powered Kingsnorth station in Kent was halted for four hours, in which time it is thought the mystery saboteur's actions reduced UK climate change emissions by 2%. Enough electricity to power a city the size of Bristol was lost.

Get the full story here

Sun harvesting?

Ok, so i posted about the sun, and i remembered this image i saw when it first appeared. Important to mention, this image still resides at the NASA website, i have the high resolution at home.

WTF?

There is clearly something there .... if you look at the previous image and te next, they aren't there either, but in this multimillion dollar infallible lens, is what can only be .... WHAT? I really don't pretend to have even a clue. It could not be a reflection, or, or, or ....

I can look at it, and my mind takes my hand and says lookee here little one, there are some things you shouldn't think about, ok? It's really for your own good ....

The Scream

Edvard Munch

In a page in his diary headed Nice 22.01.1892, Munch described his inspiration for the image thus:
“I was walking along a path with two friends — the sun was setting — suddenly the sky turned blood red — I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence—there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city — my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety — and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.

Also called "Skrik" in norwegian, the english word could be shriek, skrik is the afrikaans word for fright.

The sun

I don't know how many people noticed the image of the sun i added on the right of the page. It's a widgit (love that word) which is a life update feed from a nasa site, updating every hour or so, with the latest solar images.

Cute.

The point is it appears static because nothing has happened, for months now. You've heard of sunspots? Well as can be plainly seen, there aren't any. There should be.

Now a period of little or no activity is occasionally normal ... but not for such extended periods of time. It's a first. And as happens when it goes quiet, people are pretending not to notice.

I have another similar image from last year .... i'll dig it out tonight, but something wrong somewhere, and have NO DOUBT this affects humans, and animals, and plants .... intimately, we just don't quite know how ....

Taglines

I been tagged by Aquila ka Hekate .... who has the CHEEK to call bratsie ... *lol*

Perhaps i should add, that it's probably accurate, not wrong, just .... CHEEKY :p

Point is, i should list 6 things that make me happy .... and all sortsa other bits, but i'm not too keen on passing stuff on. Anyways, without further ado, 6 things that make me happy .....

1. My kids ..... as infuriating as parenthood is, something about a childs smile just rips straight through me, like a ray of light on a cloudy day.
2. Music ..... it's there ... and it does things to me .... takes me places never seen before.
3. Technology, to a degree .... like my bike, when it's going, it is a thing of beauty
4. People .... some of them. But there are those with hearts of pure gold ... that, change everything really. You cannot hate ALL people when these few just smile, and you see the love in their hearts.
5. Planet earth, not YET the late anything. Even today, alive and flourishing, despite all else. The clouds, bright sky and the wind ... the rain ... fresh and life bringing .... the plants that grow EVERYWHERE ... all shapes and forms, and of course the birds, insects and other little ebing that seem to appear from nowhere, living and taking part in the great moving picture.
6. Me. As odd as it may seem, sometimes i appreciate being me. My body, healthy and ... strong enough for me thanks. My mind, able to unravel mysteries and wonders, with nothing but logic, and of course the spirit ... mine all black and dirty, AND YET STILL able to feel, and give ... resonating with all it sees, knowing that i am just part of ... something bigger.

Yeesh ..... i better hide under my desk today, post like this is OMINOUS ... :)

Peace and love

Commerce

We went to the Nan-Hua temple again yesterday, what an astounding place to find, here in africa. Literally like taking a step back in time, in another country.

Imagine my surprise when a monk gives my kids each a knick-knack .... mockey mouse and minnie mouse.

Wifey didn't really understand what had bitten me, is this a buddhist temple or bloody disneyland .... ? i asked out loud.

I still don't get it, really.

Dolla a day diet

How much does it cost to feed you? Daily that is? You'd be surprised, can you do it for less? How much less?

These folks in the states just tried something fo themselves, and it grew (for them) into a full time exercise. 1 dollar a day, US, not Zim ....

http://onedollardietproject.wordpress.com/

You couldn't ... i'll bet you NOW that you could not eat for even a week on a dollar or less. In South african rands it's what, about 10 rand or thereabouts. A loaf of bread is about 8/9 rand, depending on where you buy it .... and man cannot live by bread alone ..... part of the challenge is sustainability .... do it, and be healthy at the same time.

Most people i know couldn't ... they couldn't see the reason, or even begin to understand the need, never mind actually DOING it. We got 5 in our family, plus the maid who we feed every day, so that works to about R60/pd allowance. I wonder how it compares (?) Obviously buying and cooking bulk is cheaper in the long run, but you have to be really careful how you spend the money.

Big respect to these 2 though, this hope they are able to share the message. I've added them to the blogroll on the right, and i know i'll be keeping an eye on them, as they put it "Around 700k people have visited our little blog, and if that isn’t evidence that this is a crucial conversation to have, just read some of the stories from people around the country (and the globe)."

fuckit <--- that's what i had written.

“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” – Margaret Young

thats what i read shortly after.

Nothing

There is nothing i want to say here.

Letter from Zimbabwe

> John Winter is an architect in Zimbabwe, whom I studied with in the
> 1970's
>
> This letter has no real direction other than a plea for help which is
> understandable, and otherwise is pitiful.
>
> Neil HH
>
> Terrible, terrible things are taking place in Zimbabwe by the
> communist thugs that rule the place. the internet is a powerful tool
> and the only way that this madman and his henchmen are going to be
> brought to justice is if the whole world gangs up up on them and
> topples their evil bastion once and for all.
>
> Please forward this everyone you know so it gets around the world in
> a few days.
> Letter from Zimbabwe sent in by John Winter
>
> I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and Zanu-PF. The
> darkest hour isalways before dawn.
>
> We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy
> next........I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar
> houses and one family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of
> salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK47's and
> bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and
> pine ceilings - because it was 'too close to the airport', so we
> are feeling extremely insecure right now.
>
> You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night,
> but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in
> your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be
> with us - that is a help -but I feel so cut off from you all
> knowing I cannot tell you what's going on here simply because you
> will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that
> is not an option.
>
> I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and
> let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive
> vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and
> pretend/believe it's not going on.
>
> To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not
> believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which
> says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and
> everyone is in denial).
>
> If you don't want me to tell you these things-how bad it is-then it
> means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help
> me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need
> you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully
> dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say
> - oh well, that's what happens in Africa
>
> This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our
> plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality! The petrol
> queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a
> reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0
> Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality.
> Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with
> two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to
> sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on
> this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is
> water.
>
> How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn
> them away to sleep out in the open?
>
> I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking
> you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and
> want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't
> just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know
> how.
>
> Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT
> THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we
> have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don't ignore
> or deny what's happening.
> Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are
> eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how bad it really
> was we could have helped in some way'.
>
> [I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's
> coming to us]
>
> For now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a
> bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next?
> Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to
> the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you
> because if they get a hold of those, I can't fight for my rights.
>
> Censorship!----We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything
> that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of
> existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to
> photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute
> field day. Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people
> are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton
> destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be 'illegal'
> but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.
>
> Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the
> articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.
>
> 'I am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And
> because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the
> something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I
> should do, by the grace of God,
> I will do.'
>
> Edward Everett Hale

Racists

Parents in south Tel Aviv who are seeking to prevent two Arab girls from attending their children's school are denying accusations of racism, saying they're worried about academic standings.

The conflict centers around the Hagalil Elementary School in the Hatikva quarter and began when the Tel Aviv school board decided to enroll the girls, both of whom are neighborhood residents. Even in the country's handful of mixed cities, Jews and Arabs generally prefer to live - and learn - apart.

"The school board already dumped the African kids here, and now they're bringing in the Arab kids without even telling us," one mother said. "They can't speak Hebrew well, they're having trouble in class and it's hurting the academic level of the school," she said.

"Anyone who doesn't understand why we're so upset... should take a look at other schools in the area," the mother added. "It starts with a few students and all of a sudden parents find that there are dozens of refugees in their schools. It's simply bad for the school."

While other parents have called the group's charges blatant racism, its members say they plan to circulate a petition calling on administrators to remove the girls.

The Education Ministry said there were no plans to do so, citing the girls' right as Israeli citizens and neighborhood residents to a public education without hindrance.

"The students in question are Arab girls who live in the neighborhood and belong in the school, according to the school registration areas," a ministry statement said. "They have the right to attend Hagalil School just as any other student living in the area. The parents' complaints are unjustified."

_________________________________________________________

Now in south africa you would be castrated. The courts and civil society, as well as the ever helpful international noise makers, would eat you for breakfast. This is not acceptable in ANY western nation, yet appears quite "reasonable" coming from jews?

WTF

Brazil dead

While most of people's attention in Brazil was turned to the tragic floods in Santa Catarina, another environmental disaster struck the country, this time in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On November 18, a leak of deadly endosulfan pesticide into the Pirapetinga river, a tributary of Paraíba do Sul River, killed thousands of fish - over 80 tonnes - in Resende and other neighboring cities. The incident also caused the interruption of the water supply for 7 cities in the area. The tragedy was worsened by the fact that it happened during breeding season for many species, some of which are under threat of extinction. Cintia Sibucs [pt] says that apart from fish, she was sad to see also dead water hogs and even birds:

By seeing the quantity of dead fish and animals, we can say that some ten years or more will be necessary to restore life back to what it was before. Endosulfan, a chemical used to make insecticides, is used by this company in Resende. The accident has generated even more inconvenience because the water and sewer services have stopped getting water [from the rivers] for a few days, leaving the population on alert.

Servatis received a R$ 33 million fine (about US$ 13.3 million), which will be disputed by the company [pt], and a 20 day suspension penalty. It has resumed operations today, December 9th, in all departments apart from endosulfan production.

The apparatus for environmental patrol when it comes to the pursuit of measures to control and ban fishing (actually necessary), has proved to be effective in curbing infractions committed by fishermen and people who rely on this activity, and who usually occupy the bottom of our social pyramid… On the other hand, when it comes to extending this efficiency to entrepreneurs and industry onwers, who exploit economic activities that bring serious risks to the ecosystem in which they are inserted, our environmental bodies demonstrate a shameful leniency and inefficiency… The right to property and free enterprise can not override the right to life… Well, at least it should not…

Taken from: Global Voices

Pirates

Zimbabwe: Time for regime change

TheTimes
3 December 2008, 00:04 GMT + 2 2 comments

ON our pages today we carry a story written by our former deputy editor, Moses Mudzwiti, now a resident of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
It is a harrowing account of just how far this once vibrant city has sunk under the watch of the tyrant, Robert Mugabe.
The break down in the provision of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity is so severe that they have all but ceased by be provided by the state.
Water, life’s greatest necessity, is now traded in plastic barrels on the back of pick-up trucks.
Electricity is so erratic as to render basic household appliances such as stoves, useless.
On the streets of Harare, soldiers have become a law unto themselves as the state has failed to pay them.
They once protected the people. Then they became the tools of an ailing regime.
Now they fend for themselves, breaking the windows of clothing stores and taking what they can like common thieves.
The state propaganda sheet, The Herald newspaper and state television ignored the rampage despite the fact it took place a stone’s throw away.
The breakdown of Mugabe’s state is complete.
There is no longer any monetary system to speak of. Law and order have given way to the survival of the fittest.
South Africa and Botswana have begun to act more decisively on the crisis, cutting aid and threatening to close borders.
But this is too little, too late.
Zimbabwe is becoming the scene of a global health and security catastrophe.
The world’s leaders need to consider far more drastic steps to save the lives that are in grave danger.
A massive assistance programme — with or without the support of Mugabe — must be launched to restore water and sanitation and to end this pernicious regime once and for all.

Peace frog

Year of the frog

Ok so i'm the stupid one, or at least blind. Taking me till december to work this one out. We were invited to the jhb zoo for some or other walk thingy ... they do it all the time, was a first for me.

Why Year of the Frog?
A deadly disease threatens amphibians

Frogs are going extinct. So are toads, salamanders, newts, and the intriguingly unusual caecilians. In fact, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) predicts that at least one-third of known amphibian species are in danger of disappearing from the earth for good www.globalamphibians.org.

In addition to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and other factors a deadly disease is threatening to make many frogs and other amphibian species die out completely. Chytridiomycosis is a disease caused by a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). This fungus is destroying amphibian species and populations as we speak. Unless we act now, we could be facing one of the largest extinctions since the time of the dinosaurs.

War Pigs

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of deaths construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds, oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait till their judgement day comes, yeah!

Now in darkness, world stops turning
As the war machine keeps burning
No more war pigs of the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings
All right now!


Thanks to Black Sabbath, they said it.

Zim

Harare hospital 'has become a place of death'
December 03 2008 at 02:41PM
By Francis Hweshe

Activist for refugee rights Braam Hanekom has reported the dire situation facing his countrymen in Zimbabwe after he managed to sneak into the country last week.

At a press conference in Cape Town on Tuesday Hanekom told of the horror he had witnessed first-hand.

"At Parerinyatwa hospital in Harare where I was born, there is no electricity, running water and about 50 sick people are turned away daily to go and die at home," he said.

"In its mortuary I saw bodies piled upon bodies as the facility has become a place of death."

Hanekom is the chairman of refugee lobby group, People Against Suppression, Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (Passop). He has visited his troubled homeland twice recently after a three-year absence.

He said a health official at the hospital had told him: "It's better for them to die at home than here."

The doctor also told him those who were admitted to the hospital were sure to die due to lack of medicine.

Hanekom said he had seen staffers at the hospital's mortuary working without proper protective gear such as gloves and bodies were not being cleaned as the city did not have water.

He said he had been deeply touched by an incident when a relative had come to collect his beloved's body but staffers had refused him access to the body as it was in a "mess".

"The agonised man protested that he could bring a bucket of water to wash the body but they refused, as that would bring cholera."

Hanekom described the cholera situation as volatile - people have ceased greeting one another with handshakes for fear of contracting the disease which has claimed hundreds of lives.

"It's a hopeless situation... people are dying of dehydration... there is no water, even in affluent areas," he said.

He said he had interviewed disgruntled civil servants including soldiers and police officers, some of whom said they wanted to band with civilians to overthrow President Robert Mugabe's government.

Soldiers earn R70 a month but for the past two months have not been paid and they are frustrated, he said.

Hanekom said MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai should exploit the moment and turn the tables on Mugabe.

He warned that failure to do so could result in the emergence of rebels.

"Schools have shut down, national examinations have been cancelled and concerned parents are paying private tutors in foreign currency, which they don't have.

"Malnutrition is everywhere, we estimate that about 40 percent of the people are living beneath the daily nutritional intake needed for basic survival.

"Queues ran across the city streets outside the banks with up to 300 people desperately waiting to withdraw their daily limits of Z$500 000 (R5)."

He said in the rural areas, where hunger and starvation is taking its toll, subsistence farming had started, but many of the farmers lack the necessary resources.

Zimbabwean refugee Barbara Zhungu, also present at the media briefing, said: "We are caught up in a tight situation as it is tough for us to live in this country."

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on December 03, 2008
____________________________________________________________

Well fuck me .... All hail the great MOTHERFUCKER MBEKI ... fuck you mbeki you cunt, you and your fucking quiet bullshit.
Always more interested in HISTORY than people .... well i fucking hope that history puts you down as the fucking politician RESPONSIBLE ... may your sould be bathed in the blood of the dead and dying.

My god ... it's the black plague ... bring out your dead ... except they cannot even afford the pennies for the ferryman.

May God have mercy on them all. Holidays are coming, i wonder if my children will even go to school next year, or if the plague will have reached us by then. Our water supplies are already suspect.

Sphere art

Funtasticus

The weekend ...

Toyrun has run ... what n incredible day!! The sheer SIZE and VOLUME and everything ...

A lot went wrong, several accidents to and from the venues, 2 marshalls were knocked over during the ride. The Think Bike caravan was totalled en route to the venue, and we had the JHB METRO idiots involved, who promptly went and fucked it up as solidly as could be imagined. In several places too.
Several bikers had incidents to and from the run, R.I.P to the Walkerville 18 year old, who hit a pedestrian. Get well soon to the rest. Gemini, you and your son both heal soon, and i hope the bike gets sorted ... in the line of duty, respect.

You see, a mass of bikes like that, is like a wild animal, perhaps a bull, with us marshalls as the toreadors. And instead of having a closed arena within which to work, imagine it in the middle of the market square, and no-one else is allowed to get hurt. It's more about holding it's attention ... and keeping it, than anything else. AND making sure no "kids" run into the way ...

As a whole, i rate it a success. Many people had a lot of fun, and thousands of toys are going to find their ways into kids christmas stockings.

Will post my fvourite pics as they find themselves onto the net.