ME and Ophelia
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
THE ADOPT A BLOG PROJECT
Support free speech online
American blogger John Pasden of Sinosplice lives and works in China. Today, John blogged about the Chinese government's blocking of another blogging service, and his idea for the Adopt a Blog Project supporting free speech online.
See my previous post August 21, 2003 - re John Pasden and teaching job opportunities in China.
Support free speech online
American blogger John Pasden of Sinosplice lives and works in China. Today, John blogged about the Chinese government's blocking of another blogging service, and his idea for the Adopt a Blog Project supporting free speech online.
See my previous post August 21, 2003 - re John Pasden and teaching job opportunities in China.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/31/2004
0 comments
- - -
BRITISH TELECOM
In Bangalore, India
Today, it took me from 9am to 3pm to publish my previous post. Five times my faulty computer switched itself off. Five times I had to wait for it to cool. Five times I had to switch it back on, dial up net connection, get into Blogger, key in password and - as per usual - key in the password again (don't know why Blogger needs it twice).
Then, when I finally got it published, I lost my net connection. My single landline phone was dead. Couldn't use it to phone British Telecom's fault reporting service.
Thankfully, I have an Orange mobile. Dialled 151. Nothing happened. Got up. Looked for phone directory. Could only find the heavy *groan* Yellow Pages. Could find nothing on BT. *Stress*. Dialled 100. Orange operator answered. Gave me 501 for BT fault repair. Dialled 501. Nothing happened. Dialled 100 again. Orange operator said to dial 0800 800 151. Which I did. And pressed a load of buttons. And waited on hold *stress* for an operator.
Then, a familiar sounding voice answered - a nice chap called Robbie. Sounded familiar because of all my phone dealings with Dell. Robbie was in Bangalore, India. He noted my mobile number. Checked my landline. It is faulty. He said they'd deal with it. And update me with text messages. I hung up. A few minutes later, I got my first text message confirming they were looking into it.
How about that? My British Telecom landline phone in England, UK was being fixed by an operator in Bangalore, India.
This is how my day passes. I awoke late at 7am - before Ophelia. She's not yet used to the hour we Brits lost. On Sunday our clocks moved forward one hour for British Summer Time.
Then, one hour to open door for Ophelia, bathe, dress, draw curtains, unlock back gate. One hour to check emails and blog first post before housekeeper arrived at 9am. Another hour slips by looking for a salad dressing recipe on the net and drafting a post about it.
So far, I've eaten lunch and dessert. And blogged two posts. It is now 3.10pm. BT have just phoned me on my landline. A chap with an English accent - sounding a lot closer in proximity - apologised for the glitch in this neighbourhood. They'll phone me again tomorrow, on my mobile, to check that the phone is OK.
It is now 3.24 pm and I'm exhausted. After three solid months of computer problems - I just want to throw this computer out of the window and into the sea.
BRITISH TELECOM
In Bangalore, India
Today, it took me from 9am to 3pm to publish my previous post. Five times my faulty computer switched itself off. Five times I had to wait for it to cool. Five times I had to switch it back on, dial up net connection, get into Blogger, key in password and - as per usual - key in the password again (don't know why Blogger needs it twice).
Then, when I finally got it published, I lost my net connection. My single landline phone was dead. Couldn't use it to phone British Telecom's fault reporting service.
Thankfully, I have an Orange mobile. Dialled 151. Nothing happened. Got up. Looked for phone directory. Could only find the heavy *groan* Yellow Pages. Could find nothing on BT. *Stress*. Dialled 100. Orange operator answered. Gave me 501 for BT fault repair. Dialled 501. Nothing happened. Dialled 100 again. Orange operator said to dial 0800 800 151. Which I did. And pressed a load of buttons. And waited on hold *stress* for an operator.
Then, a familiar sounding voice answered - a nice chap called Robbie. Sounded familiar because of all my phone dealings with Dell. Robbie was in Bangalore, India. He noted my mobile number. Checked my landline. It is faulty. He said they'd deal with it. And update me with text messages. I hung up. A few minutes later, I got my first text message confirming they were looking into it.
How about that? My British Telecom landline phone in England, UK was being fixed by an operator in Bangalore, India.
This is how my day passes. I awoke late at 7am - before Ophelia. She's not yet used to the hour we Brits lost. On Sunday our clocks moved forward one hour for British Summer Time.
Then, one hour to open door for Ophelia, bathe, dress, draw curtains, unlock back gate. One hour to check emails and blog first post before housekeeper arrived at 9am. Another hour slips by looking for a salad dressing recipe on the net and drafting a post about it.
So far, I've eaten lunch and dessert. And blogged two posts. It is now 3.10pm. BT have just phoned me on my landline. A chap with an English accent - sounding a lot closer in proximity - apologised for the glitch in this neighbourhood. They'll phone me again tomorrow, on my mobile, to check that the phone is OK.
It is now 3.24 pm and I'm exhausted. After three solid months of computer problems - I just want to throw this computer out of the window and into the sea.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/31/2004
1 comments
- - -
MANUKA HONEY DIJON MUSTARD RECIPES
Manuka Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
Right now my housekeeper is making a Summer Leaf Salad with honey and mustard dressing: fresh raw spinach, bunch of watercress, Romaine lettuce, organic cooked beetroot diced, boiled eggs quartered, smoked streaky bacon bits fried with garlic til crunchy. That covers my daily diet of five fresh vegetables (par boiled broccoli florets have been added).
Two dinner plates of the salad will be set out for today's lunch and dinner, drizzled with honey and mustard salad dressing. The rest of the salad is stored, for tomorrow, in a lidded salad spinner outside in the cool because a few days after groceries arrive, there is not enough room in the fridge. In storage boxes, in the fridge, are the bacon pieces, cubed beetroot and brocolli florets.
Tomorrow, for lunch and dinner, I'll serve up two plates and drizzle the dressing. In time to come, I'll have menus planned that will give a two-day salad a twist on day two, ie: serving chicken strips, cooked Chinese style, instead of the bacon pieces. And I'll eat two portions of rhubarb crumble with raspberry and yoghurt topping. By my side here are two bowls of red and green grapes, plus a sealed box of shelled mixed nuts. So, that neatly covers - over two days - my daily programme of eating five times a day (almost every two hours) five vegs and four fruits. It has all taken my housekeeper one hour to prepare, including tidying the kitchen, washing up from yesterday and today, folding away clean laundry and bringing in the mail.
Summer Lead Salad is usually made with 200g trimmed cooked green beans. Grocer had none in stock, so I've substituted with fresh spinach. Also today, used red lettuce instead of Romaine.
Yesterday, my fortnightly grocery delivery arrived with a large jar of Comvita Active Manuka Honey. It's sourced from New Zealand's remote pollution-free forests and is world renowned for its unique properties. Special techniques are used to preserve Manuka Honey's exceptional health-giving activity ensuring that one receives the product in it's raw state just as nature intended.
GBP 10 per jar seems costly but it contains 500g/1.1lb and considering what those beautiful hardworking bees put in, and all their flying around, it seems worth every penny.
Over the years, I've collected well over 50 cookery books. Couldn't find a recipe for mustard and honey dressing, so looked it up on the net. Found this useful site for Honey Dijon Mustard Recipes and Honey Dijon Salad Dressing Recipes.
Enjoyed the ambiance. Soothing music. The view is almost identical to what me and ophelia see in front of us, hour after hour, day after day...
- - -
Here is a copy of today's recipe test. I don't drink milk, so I'll update the changes I've made and proportions. Ingredients:
2 tablespoons distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/2 cup clover (or other mild) honey
6 tablespoons medium brown mustard (such as Gulden's), or coarse Dijon mustard
3/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise (1 fat gram per tablespoon)
2/3 cup low-fat (1 1/2-percent) buttermilk
Preparation: In a medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl whisk together all ingredients, cover and chill at least one-half hour. Makes 2 1/2 cups.
- - -
Update - A Honey of a Dressing Cuts the Mustard:
The finished honey mustard dressing has a nice bite and is very drizzable. Like the creator of this recipe, I believe there are few great-tasting commercial honey mustard dressings. Many are too sweet and few have enough mustard bite. That's why I too have created my own. Mine also has a bonus; it is low in fat and calories, and is easy and quick to prepare:
Using four clean tablespoons - and one teaspoon - here are the ingredients I put into a small glass jar with a lid:
2 tablespoons organic white wine vinegar (or organic cider vinegar)
2 tablespoons Manuka Honey (very level - or less)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (very level - or less)
2 tablespoons organic mayonnaise (rounded not heaped)
Shut lid. Shake. Open lid. Stir with a teaspoon. Shut lid. Shake. Voila. Done. Great consistency. No need for the buttermilk or grating of onion. These proportions could make at least four good servings.
Jar fits nicely in the door of the fridge. Because I did not use milk, it'll probably last for as long as mayonnaise usually does. Next time, I'll try doubling the proportions.
I'm very pleased with this innovation. The consistency of the mix is a great basis for experimenting further with proportions. I'll tweak and test it as a dressing for Caesars Salad. Next time I'll add 1-2 cloves crushed garlic. There was no need for salt or pepper. And no fiddling around with dried mustard, herbs and olive oil.
Dessert of Hot Rhubarb Crumble (4-6 servings) - topped with fresh raspberries mixed in thick creamy organic yoghurt and Manuka Honey:
Heat oven on high (as per roasting a chicken).
Wash and chop 2lbs of raw rhubarb - into inch pieces - and place in ungreased baking dish.
Put 8oz brown flour, 4 oz soft brown sugar, 3 oz butter into food processer and whizz with chopping blade for 30-60 seconds. (Note I used gluten-free brown flour).
Pour mix evenly over rhubarb. Place it into oven for 30 - 40 minutes according to taste.
Portions freeze well on plastic boxes or tinfoil. Can be eaten frozen like an ice cream -- don't laugh! one gets desperate at times for some instant sweet - and quite frankly, on a hot day, anything will do :-)
Fresh raspberries in thick organic yoghurt mixed with Manuka honey
Dollop 4-6 servings of thick creamy organic yoghurt into a shallow plastic box with lid.
Mix in one tablespoon of Manuka Honey.
Add one punnet of washed raspberries.
Store in fridge.
This acts as a dessert by itself (raspberries can be substituted with sliced banana - sprinkled with chopped nuts if desired) but because my special diet includes 4 pieces of fruit a day, I use this mix as a topping for the hot rhubarb crumble that I eat for a dessert at lunch and dinner. Heat up a bowl of rhubarb crumble in microwave for 1-2 minutes before topping with the yoghurt and raspberries.
A note and hello to any real cooks out there re above recipes: I've reduced the amount of detail one has to remember, plus the time, energy, standing, lifting, moving, chopping, cleaning etc., that is normally expended on preparing such dishes. Over the past few years, I've experimented with many recipes and grocery orders - and cut lots of corners - in order to try and maintain the style of eating that I was accustomed to before becoming ill. Groceries need to be planned two weeks in advance. Recipes are restricted to certain ingredients that store well up to two weeks at a time.
The end results are not chef's standard and many ingredients I use may appear expensive but I use food as a way of trying to recover my health. Many M.E. patients use costly pills, medicines and alternative therapies - and frozen/processed foods which are actually more dear. I take no medications or herbal remedies, not even painkillers. I use natural fresh organic non-processed food, liquid and herbs as my medicine.
Note for anyone interested in eating only fresh produce. My weekly grocery bill - and I eat organic fruit and veg and fresh meat, poultry and fish - for everything including herbs, olive oil, spices etc., roughly evens out to GBP 35 per week. That amounts to GBP 5 per day for great food. I *shudder* to imagine the checkouts at supermarkets where people fill their trolley with crisps, fizzy drinks and things in tins and packets that came from goodness knows where. I enjoy knowing exactly what I am eating and from where it originated.
If a war broke out and the supermakets no longer received processed food and packaged goods, I wonder how many people these days would know how to manage on a restricted budget. Domestic science in schools is an important subject. Like swimming is too. Every adult needs to know how to cook from scratch using basic nutritious ingredients. And how to swim. Survival could depend on it.
MANUKA HONEY DIJON MUSTARD RECIPES
Manuka Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
Right now my housekeeper is making a Summer Leaf Salad with honey and mustard dressing: fresh raw spinach, bunch of watercress, Romaine lettuce, organic cooked beetroot diced, boiled eggs quartered, smoked streaky bacon bits fried with garlic til crunchy. That covers my daily diet of five fresh vegetables (par boiled broccoli florets have been added).
Two dinner plates of the salad will be set out for today's lunch and dinner, drizzled with honey and mustard salad dressing. The rest of the salad is stored, for tomorrow, in a lidded salad spinner outside in the cool because a few days after groceries arrive, there is not enough room in the fridge. In storage boxes, in the fridge, are the bacon pieces, cubed beetroot and brocolli florets.
Tomorrow, for lunch and dinner, I'll serve up two plates and drizzle the dressing. In time to come, I'll have menus planned that will give a two-day salad a twist on day two, ie: serving chicken strips, cooked Chinese style, instead of the bacon pieces. And I'll eat two portions of rhubarb crumble with raspberry and yoghurt topping. By my side here are two bowls of red and green grapes, plus a sealed box of shelled mixed nuts. So, that neatly covers - over two days - my daily programme of eating five times a day (almost every two hours) five vegs and four fruits. It has all taken my housekeeper one hour to prepare, including tidying the kitchen, washing up from yesterday and today, folding away clean laundry and bringing in the mail.
Summer Lead Salad is usually made with 200g trimmed cooked green beans. Grocer had none in stock, so I've substituted with fresh spinach. Also today, used red lettuce instead of Romaine.
Yesterday, my fortnightly grocery delivery arrived with a large jar of Comvita Active Manuka Honey. It's sourced from New Zealand's remote pollution-free forests and is world renowned for its unique properties. Special techniques are used to preserve Manuka Honey's exceptional health-giving activity ensuring that one receives the product in it's raw state just as nature intended.
GBP 10 per jar seems costly but it contains 500g/1.1lb and considering what those beautiful hardworking bees put in, and all their flying around, it seems worth every penny.
Over the years, I've collected well over 50 cookery books. Couldn't find a recipe for mustard and honey dressing, so looked it up on the net. Found this useful site for Honey Dijon Mustard Recipes and Honey Dijon Salad Dressing Recipes.
Enjoyed the ambiance. Soothing music. The view is almost identical to what me and ophelia see in front of us, hour after hour, day after day...
- - -
Here is a copy of today's recipe test. I don't drink milk, so I'll update the changes I've made and proportions. Ingredients:
2 tablespoons distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/2 cup clover (or other mild) honey
6 tablespoons medium brown mustard (such as Gulden's), or coarse Dijon mustard
3/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise (1 fat gram per tablespoon)
2/3 cup low-fat (1 1/2-percent) buttermilk
Preparation: In a medium glass or ceramic mixing bowl whisk together all ingredients, cover and chill at least one-half hour. Makes 2 1/2 cups.
- - -
Update - A Honey of a Dressing Cuts the Mustard:
The finished honey mustard dressing has a nice bite and is very drizzable. Like the creator of this recipe, I believe there are few great-tasting commercial honey mustard dressings. Many are too sweet and few have enough mustard bite. That's why I too have created my own. Mine also has a bonus; it is low in fat and calories, and is easy and quick to prepare:
Using four clean tablespoons - and one teaspoon - here are the ingredients I put into a small glass jar with a lid:
2 tablespoons organic white wine vinegar (or organic cider vinegar)
2 tablespoons Manuka Honey (very level - or less)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (very level - or less)
2 tablespoons organic mayonnaise (rounded not heaped)
Shut lid. Shake. Open lid. Stir with a teaspoon. Shut lid. Shake. Voila. Done. Great consistency. No need for the buttermilk or grating of onion. These proportions could make at least four good servings.
Jar fits nicely in the door of the fridge. Because I did not use milk, it'll probably last for as long as mayonnaise usually does. Next time, I'll try doubling the proportions.
I'm very pleased with this innovation. The consistency of the mix is a great basis for experimenting further with proportions. I'll tweak and test it as a dressing for Caesars Salad. Next time I'll add 1-2 cloves crushed garlic. There was no need for salt or pepper. And no fiddling around with dried mustard, herbs and olive oil.
Dessert of Hot Rhubarb Crumble (4-6 servings) - topped with fresh raspberries mixed in thick creamy organic yoghurt and Manuka Honey:
Heat oven on high (as per roasting a chicken).
Wash and chop 2lbs of raw rhubarb - into inch pieces - and place in ungreased baking dish.
Put 8oz brown flour, 4 oz soft brown sugar, 3 oz butter into food processer and whizz with chopping blade for 30-60 seconds. (Note I used gluten-free brown flour).
Pour mix evenly over rhubarb. Place it into oven for 30 - 40 minutes according to taste.
Portions freeze well on plastic boxes or tinfoil. Can be eaten frozen like an ice cream -- don't laugh! one gets desperate at times for some instant sweet - and quite frankly, on a hot day, anything will do :-)
Fresh raspberries in thick organic yoghurt mixed with Manuka honey
Dollop 4-6 servings of thick creamy organic yoghurt into a shallow plastic box with lid.
Mix in one tablespoon of Manuka Honey.
Add one punnet of washed raspberries.
Store in fridge.
This acts as a dessert by itself (raspberries can be substituted with sliced banana - sprinkled with chopped nuts if desired) but because my special diet includes 4 pieces of fruit a day, I use this mix as a topping for the hot rhubarb crumble that I eat for a dessert at lunch and dinner. Heat up a bowl of rhubarb crumble in microwave for 1-2 minutes before topping with the yoghurt and raspberries.
A note and hello to any real cooks out there re above recipes: I've reduced the amount of detail one has to remember, plus the time, energy, standing, lifting, moving, chopping, cleaning etc., that is normally expended on preparing such dishes. Over the past few years, I've experimented with many recipes and grocery orders - and cut lots of corners - in order to try and maintain the style of eating that I was accustomed to before becoming ill. Groceries need to be planned two weeks in advance. Recipes are restricted to certain ingredients that store well up to two weeks at a time.
The end results are not chef's standard and many ingredients I use may appear expensive but I use food as a way of trying to recover my health. Many M.E. patients use costly pills, medicines and alternative therapies - and frozen/processed foods which are actually more dear. I take no medications or herbal remedies, not even painkillers. I use natural fresh organic non-processed food, liquid and herbs as my medicine.
Note for anyone interested in eating only fresh produce. My weekly grocery bill - and I eat organic fruit and veg and fresh meat, poultry and fish - for everything including herbs, olive oil, spices etc., roughly evens out to GBP 35 per week. That amounts to GBP 5 per day for great food. I *shudder* to imagine the checkouts at supermarkets where people fill their trolley with crisps, fizzy drinks and things in tins and packets that came from goodness knows where. I enjoy knowing exactly what I am eating and from where it originated.
If a war broke out and the supermakets no longer received processed food and packaged goods, I wonder how many people these days would know how to manage on a restricted budget. Domestic science in schools is an important subject. Like swimming is too. Every adult needs to know how to cook from scratch using basic nutritious ingredients. And how to swim. Survival could depend on it.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/31/2004
0 comments
- - -
THE NEW iPHOTO
View and sort photos faster than ever
Export your pictures from iPhoto to Gallery simply and quickly with the iPhoto to Gallery plugin. Seems one needs a website for this. Not sure how it'd work with a BlogSpot.
via Wirefarm and iPhotoToGallery
- - -
THE WEATHER PROJECT AT
London's Tate Modern, UK
Lucky are the ones who get to see the weather project at London's fab Tate Modern.
- - -
ADVENTURES IN REFLECTIVE SURFACES:
The Mirror Project
The Mirror Project is a growing community of like-minded individuals who have photographed themselves in all manner of reflective surfaces. Neat idea for photos. More...
[via Grey and Blue Sometimes Skies]
THE NEW iPHOTO
View and sort photos faster than ever
Export your pictures from iPhoto to Gallery simply and quickly with the iPhoto to Gallery plugin. Seems one needs a website for this. Not sure how it'd work with a BlogSpot.
via Wirefarm and iPhotoToGallery
- - -
THE WEATHER PROJECT AT
London's Tate Modern, UK
Lucky are the ones who get to see the weather project at London's fab Tate Modern.
- - -
ADVENTURES IN REFLECTIVE SURFACES:
The Mirror Project
The Mirror Project is a growing community of like-minded individuals who have photographed themselves in all manner of reflective surfaces. Neat idea for photos. More...
[via Grey and Blue Sometimes Skies]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/31/2004
0 comments
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
HEIDI'S
101 cookbooks
Heidi's 101 cookbooks inspired her neat cookery site.
With thanks to Wendy's All Seasons blog - and for posting Pesticide Contamination and the shopper's downloadable wallet guide to Pesticides in Produce.
_ _ _
GETCRAFTY'S FOOD TIPS
Making art out of everyday life
Steak -
Recipe by Erin Hensley, an American who’s eating and loving in the UK:
Open window. Bring meat to room temperature. Heat grill pan or cast iron skillet to high and when a drop of water sizzles on the surface, add equal parts olive oil and butter to the pan, about 2-3 tablespoons of each for 2 10-12oz steaks. To cook rare, cook each side for approximately 3 minutes, there should be a dark crust but the meat inside should remain juicy.
Cook longer if you prefer your steak less rare, I won’t think any less of you. But be aware that most people overcook steak, and it is virtually impossible to undercook it as you can eat the stuff raw. Allow the steak to rest on a warmed plate, and once removed add a glug of red wine, brandy, or sherry, even a squeeze of lemon, to the remaining juices and allow to briefly reduce. Decant this over your steak and veg and let it double as a gravy and salad dressing. [via getcrafty]
_ _ _
1,750 SALAD RECIPES
Real recipes from real people
All Recipes has an entire area dedicated to just salads. Over 1,750 tried and true recipes. Real recipes from real people.
Including Caesar Salad Supreme - a meal by itself.
_ _ _
EASTER ENTERTAINING ADVICE
April 11, 2004
Easter entertaining advice from All Recipes.
Including Eggs Benedict at Home.
_ _ _
THE WEBTENDER
Mixed drink recipes and bartending guide
The Webtender for Mixed Drink Recipes and Bartending Guide.
_ _ _
DIABETIC MEALS AND ADVICE
Diabetes symptoms, diet and meals
Diabetes Help Center provides diabetic diet recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert. And info on diabetes symptoms for type 1,type 2, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia.
101 cookbooks
Heidi's 101 cookbooks inspired her neat cookery site.
With thanks to Wendy's All Seasons blog - and for posting Pesticide Contamination and the shopper's downloadable wallet guide to Pesticides in Produce.
_ _ _
GETCRAFTY'S FOOD TIPS
Making art out of everyday life
Steak -
Recipe by Erin Hensley, an American who’s eating and loving in the UK:
Open window. Bring meat to room temperature. Heat grill pan or cast iron skillet to high and when a drop of water sizzles on the surface, add equal parts olive oil and butter to the pan, about 2-3 tablespoons of each for 2 10-12oz steaks. To cook rare, cook each side for approximately 3 minutes, there should be a dark crust but the meat inside should remain juicy.
Cook longer if you prefer your steak less rare, I won’t think any less of you. But be aware that most people overcook steak, and it is virtually impossible to undercook it as you can eat the stuff raw. Allow the steak to rest on a warmed plate, and once removed add a glug of red wine, brandy, or sherry, even a squeeze of lemon, to the remaining juices and allow to briefly reduce. Decant this over your steak and veg and let it double as a gravy and salad dressing. [via getcrafty]
_ _ _
1,750 SALAD RECIPES
Real recipes from real people
All Recipes has an entire area dedicated to just salads. Over 1,750 tried and true recipes. Real recipes from real people.
Including Caesar Salad Supreme - a meal by itself.
_ _ _
EASTER ENTERTAINING ADVICE
April 11, 2004
Easter entertaining advice from All Recipes.
Including Eggs Benedict at Home.
_ _ _
THE WEBTENDER
Mixed drink recipes and bartending guide
The Webtender for Mixed Drink Recipes and Bartending Guide.
_ _ _
DIABETIC MEALS AND ADVICE
Diabetes symptoms, diet and meals
Diabetes Help Center provides diabetic diet recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert. And info on diabetes symptoms for type 1,type 2, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/30/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
SHROOK2 - RSS AND ATOM
The most advanced news reader for Mac OS X
Thanks to Liz Lawley for Aggregators: Pro and Con, Present and Future.
And for the link to Shrook 2. Apparently, it's the most advanced news reader for Mac OS X. Hopefully, I'll manage to set it up on my new Mac.
SHROOK2 - RSS AND ATOM
The most advanced news reader for Mac OS X
Thanks to Liz Lawley for Aggregators: Pro and Con, Present and Future.
And for the link to Shrook 2. Apparently, it's the most advanced news reader for Mac OS X. Hopefully, I'll manage to set it up on my new Mac.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/30/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
DESERT REFRIGERATOR
Runs without electricity
This is Mohammed Bah Abba's Pot-in-Pot invention. In northern Nigeria, where Mohammed is from, over 90% of the villages have no electricity. His invention, which he won a Rolex Award for (and $100,000), is a refrigerator that runs without electricity.
Here's how it works. You take a smaller pot and put it inside a larger pot. Fill the space in between them with wet sand, and cover the top with a wet cloth. When the water evaporates, it pulls the heat out with it, making the inside cold. It's a natural, cheap, easy-to-make refrigerator.
So, instead of perishable foods rotting after only three days, they can last up to three weeks. Obviously, this has the potential to change their lives. And it already has -- there are more girls attending school, for example, as their families no longer need them to sell food in the market.
[With thanks to Sebastien Paquet]
_ _ _
THE COOLGARDIE SAFE
For food storage
Larry at Blogicity left this neat comment at Seb's re the Pot-on-Pot project:
"This idea reminds me of the Coolgardie Safe, invented in the late 1800s."
DESERT REFRIGERATOR
Runs without electricity
This is Mohammed Bah Abba's Pot-in-Pot invention. In northern Nigeria, where Mohammed is from, over 90% of the villages have no electricity. His invention, which he won a Rolex Award for (and $100,000), is a refrigerator that runs without electricity.
Here's how it works. You take a smaller pot and put it inside a larger pot. Fill the space in between them with wet sand, and cover the top with a wet cloth. When the water evaporates, it pulls the heat out with it, making the inside cold. It's a natural, cheap, easy-to-make refrigerator.
So, instead of perishable foods rotting after only three days, they can last up to three weeks. Obviously, this has the potential to change their lives. And it already has -- there are more girls attending school, for example, as their families no longer need them to sell food in the market.
[With thanks to Sebastien Paquet]
_ _ _
THE COOLGARDIE SAFE
For food storage
Larry at Blogicity left this neat comment at Seb's re the Pot-on-Pot project:
"This idea reminds me of the Coolgardie Safe, invented in the late 1800s."
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/30/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
OPHELIA'S SUNDAY TENT GAME
And Mac's furry reminders on Will's Mac
Yesterday, I left this comment over at Will Parker's blog:
Hi Will, found you in the comments over at Stephen's blog. Love the picture of you and your cat. It reminded me of the tent game I play with Ophelia each Sunday. Some sections of The Sunday Times are sturdy enough to stand on the floor - like a greetings card. Ophelia loves tunnelling underneath. It's pretty funny watching sections of newspaper moving around the room. Yes, I know - I don't get out much ;)
A few hours later, I received this email from Will:
Who needs to get out when there are cats? };->
That's Mac (short for Macintosh Geefour Parker), our five year old part-Abyssian. We took the picture when he was about 2 and only weighed about 8 pounds. He's currently about 17 pounds and a little over 3 feet long when he stretches out. Abbies take a long time to mature and he's our first, so we're starting to wonder whether we're going to wind up with a cat the size of a beagle. (Not that that would be a bad thing.)
His newest trick is to crawl up onto the keyboard of my 15" PowerBook while I'm working on it and present his tummy to be rubbed. I find it completely impossible to refuse him, so I keep finding little sheaves of cat hair coming out of the keyboard at the oddest times -- usually when I'm in a meeting.
Thanks for dropping by my blog! You're always welcome. - Will
OPHELIA'S SUNDAY TENT GAME
And Mac's furry reminders on Will's Mac
Yesterday, I left this comment over at Will Parker's blog:
Hi Will, found you in the comments over at Stephen's blog. Love the picture of you and your cat. It reminded me of the tent game I play with Ophelia each Sunday. Some sections of The Sunday Times are sturdy enough to stand on the floor - like a greetings card. Ophelia loves tunnelling underneath. It's pretty funny watching sections of newspaper moving around the room. Yes, I know - I don't get out much ;)
A few hours later, I received this email from Will:
Who needs to get out when there are cats? };->
That's Mac (short for Macintosh Geefour Parker), our five year old part-Abyssian. We took the picture when he was about 2 and only weighed about 8 pounds. He's currently about 17 pounds and a little over 3 feet long when he stretches out. Abbies take a long time to mature and he's our first, so we're starting to wonder whether we're going to wind up with a cat the size of a beagle. (Not that that would be a bad thing.)
His newest trick is to crawl up onto the keyboard of my 15" PowerBook while I'm working on it and present his tummy to be rubbed. I find it completely impossible to refuse him, so I keep finding little sheaves of cat hair coming out of the keyboard at the oddest times -- usually when I'm in a meeting.
Thanks for dropping by my blog! You're always welcome. - Will
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/30/2004
0 comments
Monday, March 29, 2004
BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN PRIVATE
If you want to get the benefits nature's offered
Could this be true? Since Ophelia does not do such a thing, I wondered why. We humans are much taller than most animals. Animals may get their immune system boosted by licking other parts. What about big animals, like elephants. Elephants use their trunks for ingesting all sorts of things. And then there are the giraffes...what about the giraffes.
The hairs inside our noses are there for a reason. Perhaps to stop germs from entering the body. What's the point of eating stuff that the nose was designed to keep out? Maybe the hairs act like a filter to stop germs from entering the brain. And if the germs are eaten, the body acts as a filter stopping dangerous stuff getting to the brain. Heh. This story could be true. Now I am wondering about the fish ...
And Blogborygmi's hard to swallow post ...
[via Interested-Participant]
If you want to get the benefits nature's offered
Could this be true? Since Ophelia does not do such a thing, I wondered why. We humans are much taller than most animals. Animals may get their immune system boosted by licking other parts. What about big animals, like elephants. Elephants use their trunks for ingesting all sorts of things. And then there are the giraffes...what about the giraffes.
The hairs inside our noses are there for a reason. Perhaps to stop germs from entering the body. What's the point of eating stuff that the nose was designed to keep out? Maybe the hairs act like a filter to stop germs from entering the brain. And if the germs are eaten, the body acts as a filter stopping dangerous stuff getting to the brain. Heh. This story could be true. Now I am wondering about the fish ...
And Blogborygmi's hard to swallow post ...
[via Interested-Participant]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/29/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
LIFE IMITATES CODE?
Kevin's baby spider cluster
At Technorati, British blogger Kevin Marks has been writing 'spiders' - little bits of code that scuttle over the web indexing pages when roused. He says they normally have hundreds running around at once. Last week, he watched some spider hatchlings in his garden. Swarming over a web. Trying to make sense of it. Life imitates code?
See Kevin's big picture of his baby spider cluster. I'm wondering what the single baby spiders are doing off on their own. And why the web, holding the cluster of baby spiders together, does not collapse with the weight.
Maybe they're grouped so closely together, it's strengthened the web. Heh. Reminds me of that song, "United we stand, divided we fall..."
LIFE IMITATES CODE?
Kevin's baby spider cluster
At Technorati, British blogger Kevin Marks has been writing 'spiders' - little bits of code that scuttle over the web indexing pages when roused. He says they normally have hundreds running around at once. Last week, he watched some spider hatchlings in his garden. Swarming over a web. Trying to make sense of it. Life imitates code?
See Kevin's big picture of his baby spider cluster. I'm wondering what the single baby spiders are doing off on their own. And why the web, holding the cluster of baby spiders together, does not collapse with the weight.
Maybe they're grouped so closely together, it's strengthened the web. Heh. Reminds me of that song, "United we stand, divided we fall..."
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/29/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
BRITISH FILM DIRECTOR MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S
Compelling film "In This World" written by Tony Grisoni
Yesterday at 9pm, BBC2 TV showed an unforgettable film "In This World", starring Jamal Udin Torabi and Enayatullah Jumaudin as two Afghan cousins living in Pakistan who set out for Britain in search of a better life.
British director Michael Winterbottom's disturbing gutsy road movie bravely challenges the 'send them all back' bile of the tabloids. By focussing on the journey taken by two Afghani refugees - and following their hazardous overland journey from Pakistan through Iran, Turkey, Italy, France and the UK, in search of a better life in London - he allows us to see them as human beings and not just as statistics.
About the film:
Winner of the Golden Bear, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Peace Film Prize at the 2003 Berlin International Film Festival, Michael Winterbottom's In This World tells the story of two Afghan cousins who embark on a refugee's clandestine odyssey from Pakistan to London.
Shot on digital video with a non-professional cast, In This World harnesses the immediacy of nonfiction techniques to create an urgent, intimate account of human beings driven by the fundamental urge to create a better life. It is a film that is both timely and timeless, and affirms Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, The Claim, Welcome to Sarajevo) as a one of cinema's strongest, most original talents.
February 2002, in the northwest province of Peshawar, Pakistan, near the Afghan border. Sixteen-year-old Jamal, an orphan, lives in the sprawling Shamshatoo refugee camp and earns less than $1 a day working in a brick factory. Jamal's older cousin, Enayat, lives in the bustling heart of Peshawar, where he works at his family's market stall. At a wedding banquet, Jamal learns that Enayat's family has decided to send him to London, where prospects are brighter.
Jamal knows a man who can facilitate the journey, whom he later introduces to the family. Jamal is also quick to point out that since Enayat doesn't speak English, he will need a companion who does - like Jamal. The hefty upfront fee for the journey is paid in dollars and rupees, and Jamal and Enayat join the estimated 1 million people annually who place their lives in the hands of people smugglers. Lacking the cash for two air journeys, Jamal and Enayat must take the longer, more dangerous overland route, which will take them from Asia to Europe.
From Peshawar, they board a southward bus for Quetta, where they are to contact the fixer who will arrange their passage into western Pakistan. From here on, nothing is certain. The cousins endure days of tedium and anxiety, followed by sudden, frantic movement. They must decide whom they can trust, and try to parse unfamiliar languages in foreign lands. From Tehran, they travel into the country's Kurdish region, bordering Turkey; they cross the border at night, hiking in the bitter wind while armed soldiers patrol below.
Once in Istanbul, Jamal and Enayat face the most harrowing portion of the journey: 40 hours sealed in a freight container bound for Italy, crowded with other immigrants and refugees. Many suffocate in their metal cell before they reach Trieste, Italy. But for survivors, the journey must continue, through Italy and on to the refugee camp at Sangatte, France.
And at last, in June 2002, the final leg: stowing away underneath the chassis of a truck, which will link up with a freight train headed for the U.K.
BRITISH FILM DIRECTOR MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S
Compelling film "In This World" written by Tony Grisoni
Yesterday at 9pm, BBC2 TV showed an unforgettable film "In This World", starring Jamal Udin Torabi and Enayatullah Jumaudin as two Afghan cousins living in Pakistan who set out for Britain in search of a better life.
British director Michael Winterbottom's disturbing gutsy road movie bravely challenges the 'send them all back' bile of the tabloids. By focussing on the journey taken by two Afghani refugees - and following their hazardous overland journey from Pakistan through Iran, Turkey, Italy, France and the UK, in search of a better life in London - he allows us to see them as human beings and not just as statistics.
About the film:
Winner of the Golden Bear, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Peace Film Prize at the 2003 Berlin International Film Festival, Michael Winterbottom's In This World tells the story of two Afghan cousins who embark on a refugee's clandestine odyssey from Pakistan to London.
Shot on digital video with a non-professional cast, In This World harnesses the immediacy of nonfiction techniques to create an urgent, intimate account of human beings driven by the fundamental urge to create a better life. It is a film that is both timely and timeless, and affirms Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, The Claim, Welcome to Sarajevo) as a one of cinema's strongest, most original talents.
February 2002, in the northwest province of Peshawar, Pakistan, near the Afghan border. Sixteen-year-old Jamal, an orphan, lives in the sprawling Shamshatoo refugee camp and earns less than $1 a day working in a brick factory. Jamal's older cousin, Enayat, lives in the bustling heart of Peshawar, where he works at his family's market stall. At a wedding banquet, Jamal learns that Enayat's family has decided to send him to London, where prospects are brighter.
Jamal knows a man who can facilitate the journey, whom he later introduces to the family. Jamal is also quick to point out that since Enayat doesn't speak English, he will need a companion who does - like Jamal. The hefty upfront fee for the journey is paid in dollars and rupees, and Jamal and Enayat join the estimated 1 million people annually who place their lives in the hands of people smugglers. Lacking the cash for two air journeys, Jamal and Enayat must take the longer, more dangerous overland route, which will take them from Asia to Europe.
From Peshawar, they board a southward bus for Quetta, where they are to contact the fixer who will arrange their passage into western Pakistan. From here on, nothing is certain. The cousins endure days of tedium and anxiety, followed by sudden, frantic movement. They must decide whom they can trust, and try to parse unfamiliar languages in foreign lands. From Tehran, they travel into the country's Kurdish region, bordering Turkey; they cross the border at night, hiking in the bitter wind while armed soldiers patrol below.
Once in Istanbul, Jamal and Enayat face the most harrowing portion of the journey: 40 hours sealed in a freight container bound for Italy, crowded with other immigrants and refugees. Many suffocate in their metal cell before they reach Trieste, Italy. But for survivors, the journey must continue, through Italy and on to the refugee camp at Sangatte, France.
And at last, in June 2002, the final leg: stowing away underneath the chassis of a truck, which will link up with a freight train headed for the U.K.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/29/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
THE WORLD STAR GAZETTE
Makes news of your blog
"Superior News from a Source You Can Trust" is the slogan of The World Star Gazette. Heh. Must be true. Extracts from Scaryduck and this blog are on it's front page for Monday, March 29, 2004:
"Tide Turning Against Belle?" By Scaryduck
"Some Bloggers Ill-Informed" By Ingrid
Wonder how they found this blog. I did not submit it. Glad they did though. The World Star Gazette makes news of your blogs. Submit yours! All you need is a Headline and Synopsis (max 25 words).
THE WORLD STAR GAZETTE
Makes news of your blog
"Superior News from a Source You Can Trust" is the slogan of The World Star Gazette. Heh. Must be true. Extracts from Scaryduck and this blog are on it's front page for Monday, March 29, 2004:
"Tide Turning Against Belle?" By Scaryduck
"Some Bloggers Ill-Informed" By Ingrid
Wonder how they found this blog. I did not submit it. Glad they did though. The World Star Gazette makes news of your blogs. Submit yours! All you need is a Headline and Synopsis (max 25 words).
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/29/2004
0 comments
_ _ _
BON VOYAGE MY NEW MAC
On its way again from Taiwan
This morning, I received Apple's Shipment notification.
Dear Customer, We are pleased to send you this shipment notification regarding your Apple Store order.
Order Date : 26-03-2004
Terms of Delivery CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
PBG4 15.2/1GHZ/512/60/SD/B
Ship Date : 29-03-2004
Weight : 4.69 KG
Volume : 28.77 CDM
Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. We appreciate your business. The Apple Store Team.
_ _ _
Anti-virus update
I've just received 3 virus alerts from Sophos anti virus. Three Win 32 worms are on the loose. When I use my new mac, seems I won't have to do Symantec Anti-Virus Updates every few days. Mac users say they don't get viruses, worms or trojans. Some weeks, my email inbox overflows with virus alerts for this Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Apple Store said it's not necessary to install anti-virus protection for macs. I wonder if macs do get viruses but are just not affected by them. Maybe macs can spread viruses to PCs. To be on the safe side, maybe I'll buy anti virus protection for mac. Can't bear any more stressful computer problems.
BON VOYAGE MY NEW MAC
On its way again from Taiwan
This morning, I received Apple's Shipment notification.
Dear Customer, We are pleased to send you this shipment notification regarding your Apple Store order.
Order Date : 26-03-2004
Terms of Delivery CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
PBG4 15.2/1GHZ/512/60/SD/B
Ship Date : 29-03-2004
Weight : 4.69 KG
Volume : 28.77 CDM
Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. We appreciate your business. The Apple Store Team.
_ _ _
Anti-virus update
I've just received 3 virus alerts from Sophos anti virus. Three Win 32 worms are on the loose. When I use my new mac, seems I won't have to do Symantec Anti-Virus Updates every few days. Mac users say they don't get viruses, worms or trojans. Some weeks, my email inbox overflows with virus alerts for this Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Apple Store said it's not necessary to install anti-virus protection for macs. I wonder if macs do get viruses but are just not affected by them. Maybe macs can spread viruses to PCs. To be on the safe side, maybe I'll buy anti virus protection for mac. Can't bear any more stressful computer problems.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/29/2004
0 comments
Sunday, March 28, 2004
DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK
Elvis Roots in Scotland, UK
A remote Scottish hamlet is the ancestral home of Elvis Presley, it was claimed last week. Researcher Allan Morrison says Elvis is descended from blacksmith Andrew Presley who lived 300 years ago in Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. Their son, also Andrew, emigrated to North Carolina in 1745. But not everybody in the village is impresssed. Jim McCue, bar manager at the village hotel, said: "The Scottish Tourist Board brought in an Elvis impersonator for photos yesterday and I'm sure there'll be more. I wish it had been Jimi Hendrix."
[Extract courtesy The Sunday Times, London, March 28, 2004]
Warm hello to Gordon - thought of you and your Scottish Blogs WebRing when I posted this. Good luck with your webring's new database. Like the new Snowgoon Towers ;)
Elvis Roots in Scotland, UK
A remote Scottish hamlet is the ancestral home of Elvis Presley, it was claimed last week. Researcher Allan Morrison says Elvis is descended from blacksmith Andrew Presley who lived 300 years ago in Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. Their son, also Andrew, emigrated to North Carolina in 1745. But not everybody in the village is impresssed. Jim McCue, bar manager at the village hotel, said: "The Scottish Tourist Board brought in an Elvis impersonator for photos yesterday and I'm sure there'll be more. I wish it had been Jimi Hendrix."
[Extract courtesy The Sunday Times, London, March 28, 2004]
Warm hello to Gordon - thought of you and your Scottish Blogs WebRing when I posted this. Good luck with your webring's new database. Like the new Snowgoon Towers ;)
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/28/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
BLOGOSPHERE IS ZILLIONS OF CONVERSATIONS
That cannot be ordered, controlled, owned or told what to do -
Collectively, it sure is a power
Happily, Phil Wolff is well after his month's blogging break. Good luck with your new plans Phil. A few days ago, I left this comment at his post on Shirking the Power Law:
Phil, I followed your link to Bloggercon's Session on Shirky's Power Law - and read the comments. Could hardly believe I was seeing people being denigrated and the ugly and divisive language used, ie: "the have-nots - the lower ranks of the power distribution, the one's who feel unheard - the royalty and peasants". It made my stomach churn to see people describing others as "a lower order", thus making themselves feel superior by implying others, inferior to themselves, are "little people" - lowly second class citizens.
Anyone who speaks that language really does not *get* blogging and are just in it for money. Glad most will be disappointed. No doubt to them, time is money. Conversations take time. Blogosphere is zillions of conversations that cannot be ordered, controlled, owned or told what to do. Bloggers can do whatever they want with their blogs. No bosses. No schedules, timetables, no real costs... Collectively it sure is a power, so it's not a surprise to see many out there wringing their hands and scratching their heads, trying to find ways of getting a piece of the action. However, it is amusing to watch them clamouring for fools gold and the top 100 list - where there is only room for 100.
_ _ _
BLOGOSPHERE HAS NOT EVOLVED YET
We've barely made it past the first 5 seconds
After posting the above comment at Phil's, I found Philippe Lourier had added to the comments at BloggerCon's Session on Shirky's law. No doubt the great physicist, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who gave up a fortune so that the world wide web could belong to the people, would love Philippe's comment. Here is a copy:
Perhaps we need to look at this in historical terms. Here's a theory, based on an admittedly bad physics metaphor: We've barely emerged from the big bang. A new universe -the blogosphere- is born. It's expanding rapidly but its still dominated by a dense mass concentrated at its center. But matter is being dispersed at high speed away from this core and is starting to coalesce into independent gravitational centers, galaxies. As it coagulates communities emerge. So Shirky's law applies, but it applies equally to all these centers. So when we talk of the top blogs today maybe we should keep in mind that the blogosphere has not evolved yet -we've barely made it past the first 5 seconds- and this is why it looks like there's only one power center. But as we move forward each power center will have its own way of measuring and recognizing authority. Some centers will reward knowledge and analysis. Some will reward raw information. Others will reward partisanship. Instapundit will have little sway in a community concerned with hardcore, informed movie criticism. In each of these communities, the cream will rise to the top but the measure of what exactly is the cream will differ.
_ _ _
THE INTERNET IS NOT A MEDIUM
It is a conversation that has elements of a world
Yesterday, David Weinberger blogged the internet is not a medium. It's a classic. Incase the link ever breaks, here is a copy:
You know how Doc corrects people who talk about "consumers"? "As Jerry Michalski says," Doc objects, "consumers are gullets who live only to gulp products and crap cash."
I feel the same way about the word "medium" when applied to the Net.
A medium's job is to deliver a message. It does its job well if that message is delivered intact. But that's not how media actually work because we are not passive containers. Rather, in the process of understanding something, we let it affect us. It shapes us, and we shape it. We absorb it into the context of our lives. The more completely we absorb it, the "wronger" we get it from the point of view of, say, the marketer who wants us to take it exactly as he put it.
This is never so true as with works of art and creativity, which is why it's in the artist's interest to lose creative (but not necessarily economic) control of her work quickly and thoroughly. Unfortunately, the idea that works are content moving through a medium has led us to think that appropriation and reuse is an insult to the artist, and possibly a violation of copyright, when it is in fact a sign that the work is working on us. We honor it by making it our own.
The Internet is a medium only at the bit level. At the human level, it is a conversation that, because of the persistence and linkedness of pages, has elements of a world. It could only be a medium if we absolutely didn't care about it.
_ _ _
CULTURAL POSTMODERNISM
Wherein there are no hierarchical pyramids
In response to the above post by David Weinberger, Terry Heaton left this gem of a comment:
This is excellent thinking, David. I support your thesis entirely, and I want to encourage you. You're way over into cultural postmodernism, wherein there are no hierarchical pyramids. That's why I'm confused by those within the blogosphere (can we please have a different word?) who wish to use the conversations to climb their way to some non-existent top. A conversation isn't a conversation, when one (or more) party is lording over the other. Sooner or later, in that scenario, the "medium" meme must rear its ugly head.
If we are, in fact, in the throes of a massive cultural shift, I think we should just let it happen, rather than trying to manipulate it in any fashion. Chaos theory makes no sense at all to old world logical minds, but it's the hottest thing going in science. Discussions like the ones you have with your friends and readers, David, are more important than you realize, for -- like it or not -- you've been gifted with a vision into the new world. Keep asking your questions.
BLOGOSPHERE IS ZILLIONS OF CONVERSATIONS
That cannot be ordered, controlled, owned or told what to do -
Collectively, it sure is a power
Happily, Phil Wolff is well after his month's blogging break. Good luck with your new plans Phil. A few days ago, I left this comment at his post on Shirking the Power Law:
Phil, I followed your link to Bloggercon's Session on Shirky's Power Law - and read the comments. Could hardly believe I was seeing people being denigrated and the ugly and divisive language used, ie: "the have-nots - the lower ranks of the power distribution, the one's who feel unheard - the royalty and peasants". It made my stomach churn to see people describing others as "a lower order", thus making themselves feel superior by implying others, inferior to themselves, are "little people" - lowly second class citizens.
Anyone who speaks that language really does not *get* blogging and are just in it for money. Glad most will be disappointed. No doubt to them, time is money. Conversations take time. Blogosphere is zillions of conversations that cannot be ordered, controlled, owned or told what to do. Bloggers can do whatever they want with their blogs. No bosses. No schedules, timetables, no real costs... Collectively it sure is a power, so it's not a surprise to see many out there wringing their hands and scratching their heads, trying to find ways of getting a piece of the action. However, it is amusing to watch them clamouring for fools gold and the top 100 list - where there is only room for 100.
_ _ _
BLOGOSPHERE HAS NOT EVOLVED YET
We've barely made it past the first 5 seconds
After posting the above comment at Phil's, I found Philippe Lourier had added to the comments at BloggerCon's Session on Shirky's law. No doubt the great physicist, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who gave up a fortune so that the world wide web could belong to the people, would love Philippe's comment. Here is a copy:
Perhaps we need to look at this in historical terms. Here's a theory, based on an admittedly bad physics metaphor: We've barely emerged from the big bang. A new universe -the blogosphere- is born. It's expanding rapidly but its still dominated by a dense mass concentrated at its center. But matter is being dispersed at high speed away from this core and is starting to coalesce into independent gravitational centers, galaxies. As it coagulates communities emerge. So Shirky's law applies, but it applies equally to all these centers. So when we talk of the top blogs today maybe we should keep in mind that the blogosphere has not evolved yet -we've barely made it past the first 5 seconds- and this is why it looks like there's only one power center. But as we move forward each power center will have its own way of measuring and recognizing authority. Some centers will reward knowledge and analysis. Some will reward raw information. Others will reward partisanship. Instapundit will have little sway in a community concerned with hardcore, informed movie criticism. In each of these communities, the cream will rise to the top but the measure of what exactly is the cream will differ.
_ _ _
THE INTERNET IS NOT A MEDIUM
It is a conversation that has elements of a world
Yesterday, David Weinberger blogged the internet is not a medium. It's a classic. Incase the link ever breaks, here is a copy:
You know how Doc corrects people who talk about "consumers"? "As Jerry Michalski says," Doc objects, "consumers are gullets who live only to gulp products and crap cash."
I feel the same way about the word "medium" when applied to the Net.
A medium's job is to deliver a message. It does its job well if that message is delivered intact. But that's not how media actually work because we are not passive containers. Rather, in the process of understanding something, we let it affect us. It shapes us, and we shape it. We absorb it into the context of our lives. The more completely we absorb it, the "wronger" we get it from the point of view of, say, the marketer who wants us to take it exactly as he put it.
This is never so true as with works of art and creativity, which is why it's in the artist's interest to lose creative (but not necessarily economic) control of her work quickly and thoroughly. Unfortunately, the idea that works are content moving through a medium has led us to think that appropriation and reuse is an insult to the artist, and possibly a violation of copyright, when it is in fact a sign that the work is working on us. We honor it by making it our own.
The Internet is a medium only at the bit level. At the human level, it is a conversation that, because of the persistence and linkedness of pages, has elements of a world. It could only be a medium if we absolutely didn't care about it.
_ _ _
CULTURAL POSTMODERNISM
Wherein there are no hierarchical pyramids
In response to the above post by David Weinberger, Terry Heaton left this gem of a comment:
This is excellent thinking, David. I support your thesis entirely, and I want to encourage you. You're way over into cultural postmodernism, wherein there are no hierarchical pyramids. That's why I'm confused by those within the blogosphere (can we please have a different word?) who wish to use the conversations to climb their way to some non-existent top. A conversation isn't a conversation, when one (or more) party is lording over the other. Sooner or later, in that scenario, the "medium" meme must rear its ugly head.
If we are, in fact, in the throes of a massive cultural shift, I think we should just let it happen, rather than trying to manipulate it in any fashion. Chaos theory makes no sense at all to old world logical minds, but it's the hottest thing going in science. Discussions like the ones you have with your friends and readers, David, are more important than you realize, for -- like it or not -- you've been gifted with a vision into the new world. Keep asking your questions.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/28/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
HOW ANITA ROWLAND AND JACK BELL MET
Two of Dave Winer's readers woke up, met up and smelled the coffee
Anita Rowland - after reading Dave Winer's post on Geek Boyfriends - posted a comment to Dave in California, saying she was looking for a geek boyfriend. [scroll down to the bottom of this page to read Anita's comment]
Jack Bell (a VB programmer and single father, on contract at Boeing and living the same area of Seattle as Anita) also read Dave's post. And Anita's comment. He then followed some links and wrote to her.
They started corresponding. Anita, in a general sort of way, suggested they meet for coffee. Jack phoned her to meet up. They walked over to a cafeteria. She got a mocha. He got a double short cappuccino. It was a gorgeous afternoon. They sat outside. Chatted about work, family, motorcycles and journaling. It was fun.
That was back in 1998. And they're still together and in love. Thanks for sharing your story Anita. Best of luck to you both.
_ _ _
Update: Anita, thanks for your message letting me know that you and Jack were in Seattle and Dave Winer was living in California back then. And for confirming that it was you who suggested you meet face to face because the whole idea was that you were looking for someone to date. Just goes to show what can happen when females make the first move ;)
_ _ _
HOW I GOT A GEEK BOYFRIEND
By Julie Leung of Seedlings & Sprouts blog
Best wishes to Julie Leung and thanks for sharing the story of how she met her blogging husband Ted Leung.
_ _ _
NEW CALIFORNIAN BLOG
By David Allen in Ojai
Thanks to Julie Leung for pointing to a new blog by David Allen in Ojai, California, USA. David blogs about the Chinese paperback edition of his book Getting Things Done.
HOW ANITA ROWLAND AND JACK BELL MET
Two of Dave Winer's readers woke up, met up and smelled the coffee
Anita Rowland - after reading Dave Winer's post on Geek Boyfriends - posted a comment to Dave in California, saying she was looking for a geek boyfriend. [scroll down to the bottom of this page to read Anita's comment]
Jack Bell (a VB programmer and single father, on contract at Boeing and living the same area of Seattle as Anita) also read Dave's post. And Anita's comment. He then followed some links and wrote to her.
They started corresponding. Anita, in a general sort of way, suggested they meet for coffee. Jack phoned her to meet up. They walked over to a cafeteria. She got a mocha. He got a double short cappuccino. It was a gorgeous afternoon. They sat outside. Chatted about work, family, motorcycles and journaling. It was fun.
That was back in 1998. And they're still together and in love. Thanks for sharing your story Anita. Best of luck to you both.
_ _ _
Update: Anita, thanks for your message letting me know that you and Jack were in Seattle and Dave Winer was living in California back then. And for confirming that it was you who suggested you meet face to face because the whole idea was that you were looking for someone to date. Just goes to show what can happen when females make the first move ;)
_ _ _
HOW I GOT A GEEK BOYFRIEND
By Julie Leung of Seedlings & Sprouts blog
Best wishes to Julie Leung and thanks for sharing the story of how she met her blogging husband Ted Leung.
_ _ _
NEW CALIFORNIAN BLOG
By David Allen in Ojai
Thanks to Julie Leung for pointing to a new blog by David Allen in Ojai, California, USA. David blogs about the Chinese paperback edition of his book Getting Things Done.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/28/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
I LOVE TAIWAN
Powered by Blogger
I love Taiwan is a new blog powered by Blogger that started on Sunday March 21, 2004 - a few days after the assassination attempt on Taiwan's President Chen.
The assassination attempt on Taiwan's President happened on the day before the election, while he was campaigning for re-election.
I LOVE TAIWAN
Powered by Blogger
I love Taiwan is a new blog powered by Blogger that started on Sunday March 21, 2004 - a few days after the assassination attempt on Taiwan's President Chen.
The assassination attempt on Taiwan's President happened on the day before the election, while he was campaigning for re-election.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/28/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
THE APPEASERS OF MIDDLE BRITAIN
Telegraph's YouGov poll shows Britain's grinding to a halt?
Recently, Melanie Phillips analysed the Telegraph's recent YouGov poll on attitudes to the terrorist threat to this country, and wrote: "These poll findings correspond with my own personal observations made over some time now, that the real flakiness and appeasement is coming from conservative middle Britain, while old Labour remains as sturdy and steadfast as befits the traditional British way". Read more...
Meantime, Outlook India.com analysed the same YouGov poll, and reached the conclusion (erroneous I hasten to add!) that Britain is grinding to a halt. Read 'UK depression'...
THE APPEASERS OF MIDDLE BRITAIN
Telegraph's YouGov poll shows Britain's grinding to a halt?
Recently, Melanie Phillips analysed the Telegraph's recent YouGov poll on attitudes to the terrorist threat to this country, and wrote: "These poll findings correspond with my own personal observations made over some time now, that the real flakiness and appeasement is coming from conservative middle Britain, while old Labour remains as sturdy and steadfast as befits the traditional British way". Read more...
Meantime, Outlook India.com analysed the same YouGov poll, and reached the conclusion (erroneous I hasten to add!) that Britain is grinding to a halt. Read 'UK depression'...
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/28/2004
0 comments
Saturday, March 27, 2004
REPLACEMENT POWERBOOK
Refund and Order Confirmation received from Apple
Yesterday, I phoned my credit card company. They confirmed Apple had refunded my Feb 27 powerbook that TNT lost in transit at Northampton in England, UK.
Next, I phoned Apple Store online sales and placed order again. Order Acknowledgement and Confirmation emails have arrived. Now awaiting Shipment Notification. Priority delivery from Taiwan. May arrive here in 10 to 14 days. Apple's Order Confirmation email:
Order Date: 26.03.2004
Est Build time 3 - 5 DAYS
PBG4 15.2/1GHZ/512/60/SD/
1GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
60GB Ultra ATA Drive@4200rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS-B
Your order should ship on or before 02.04.2004. Please allow a further 3-7 days from this date to deliver your order. Please note that these are business days and are estimated leadtimes only. Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. Apple Computer International, Attn. Apple Store Europe, Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Ireland.
I've still received no word from Dell since their last call to me on Feb 26 (promising someone would call within a few days to pick up this faulty machine and process a refund) and no response re my two chase-up emails to Dell India on March 9 and 19.
Refund and Order Confirmation received from Apple
Yesterday, I phoned my credit card company. They confirmed Apple had refunded my Feb 27 powerbook that TNT lost in transit at Northampton in England, UK.
Next, I phoned Apple Store online sales and placed order again. Order Acknowledgement and Confirmation emails have arrived. Now awaiting Shipment Notification. Priority delivery from Taiwan. May arrive here in 10 to 14 days. Apple's Order Confirmation email:
Order Date: 26.03.2004
Est Build time 3 - 5 DAYS
PBG4 15.2/1GHZ/512/60/SD/
1GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR333 SDRAM-2X256MB
60GB Ultra ATA Drive@4200rpm
Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS-B
Your order should ship on or before 02.04.2004. Please allow a further 3-7 days from this date to deliver your order. Please note that these are business days and are estimated leadtimes only. Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. Apple Computer International, Attn. Apple Store Europe, Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Ireland.
I've still received no word from Dell since their last call to me on Feb 26 (promising someone would call within a few days to pick up this faulty machine and process a refund) and no response re my two chase-up emails to Dell India on March 9 and 19.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/27/2004
0 comments
Friday, March 26, 2004
FREE TESTS FOR CAREER AND PERSONALITY
Find desired career and search minds for new friends
To take the career test click here.
My career test score showed ISTJ profile - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging. I am a Trustee type. Possible professions include: management, accounting, auditing, efficiency expert, engineer, geologist, bank examiner, organization development, electrician, dentist, pharmacist, school principal, stock broker, computer programmer, technical writer, chief information officer, police officer, real estate agent.
Determine compatibility with friends or find others that score similar to you on a personality test: SimilarMinds.com new Search Minds engine allows you to find people who score similar to you.
For the free Myers-Briggs-Jung Personality Test click here.
via Erica's Grey and Blue Sometimes Skies - "Journal of Me, Curious and Worrysomeblog". Sorry her blog's commenting won't open up for me on screen. Erica, this is to say hi and thanks for linking. Nice to meet you. Sorry about your Grandpa. Check out Scottish bloggers webring in my sidebar, it leads to many great bloggers in Scotland that may help you to make up your mind to move. PS Erica's test score showed INFJ profile and that she's a Guide type.
Find desired career and search minds for new friends
To take the career test click here.
My career test score showed ISTJ profile - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging. I am a Trustee type. Possible professions include: management, accounting, auditing, efficiency expert, engineer, geologist, bank examiner, organization development, electrician, dentist, pharmacist, school principal, stock broker, computer programmer, technical writer, chief information officer, police officer, real estate agent.
Determine compatibility with friends or find others that score similar to you on a personality test: SimilarMinds.com new Search Minds engine allows you to find people who score similar to you.
For the free Myers-Briggs-Jung Personality Test click here.
via Erica's Grey and Blue Sometimes Skies - "Journal of Me, Curious and Worrysomeblog". Sorry her blog's commenting won't open up for me on screen. Erica, this is to say hi and thanks for linking. Nice to meet you. Sorry about your Grandpa. Check out Scottish bloggers webring in my sidebar, it leads to many great bloggers in Scotland that may help you to make up your mind to move. PS Erica's test score showed INFJ profile and that she's a Guide type.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/26/2004
0 comments
Thursday, March 25, 2004
DON PARK'S WONDERFUL FRACTAL BLOGSPACE
And Levitated's collection of awesome paintings
Last month, Don Park blogged some great links re the Emotion Fractal image at Jeneane Sessum's blog.
The Emotion Fractal (a recursive space filling algorithm using English words describing the human condition) he found was generated at Levitated using Flash.
On clicking through the links, he discovered a page full of Flash-based open source computational animations and interactive paintings that he says would be perfect for creating eye-candy banners for geeky websites - and are A Must See!
Don mentioned to Jared at Levitated that it would be cool to use his blogroll to build an Emotional Fractal.
Today, Jared sent Don exactly that and named it Fractal Blogspace. It's gorgeous.
And what a shock. My name is in top left hand corner *blush* Thanks Don :) xx I'll frame it.
And Levitated's collection of awesome paintings
Last month, Don Park blogged some great links re the Emotion Fractal image at Jeneane Sessum's blog.
The Emotion Fractal (a recursive space filling algorithm using English words describing the human condition) he found was generated at Levitated using Flash.
On clicking through the links, he discovered a page full of Flash-based open source computational animations and interactive paintings that he says would be perfect for creating eye-candy banners for geeky websites - and are A Must See!
Don mentioned to Jared at Levitated that it would be cool to use his blogroll to build an Emotional Fractal.
Today, Jared sent Don exactly that and named it Fractal Blogspace. It's gorgeous.
And what a shock. My name is in top left hand corner *blush* Thanks Don :) xx I'll frame it.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER BLOG
The Battle Turds
Victory Forge and the two turds. LOL from real life Army Drill Sergeant Rob :)
Thanks to Don Park - check out banana
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER BLOG
The Battle Turds
Victory Forge and the two turds. LOL from real life Army Drill Sergeant Rob :)
Thanks to Don Park - check out banana
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
BLAIR HAILS NEW LIBYAN RELATIONS
Have Your Say at the BBC
Tony Blair says Libya is to make "common cause" with the UK in the fight against terrorism, after his historic meeting with Colonel Gaddafi.
BBC NEWS Have Your Say: Is Tony Blair right to visit Libya?
"You look good, you are still young"
Col Gaddafi to Tony Blair.
Ed: Heh. That's nice. We are the same age ;)
BLAIR HAILS NEW LIBYAN RELATIONS
Have Your Say at the BBC
Tony Blair says Libya is to make "common cause" with the UK in the fight against terrorism, after his historic meeting with Colonel Gaddafi.
BBC NEWS Have Your Say: Is Tony Blair right to visit Libya?
"You look good, you are still young"
Col Gaddafi to Tony Blair.
Ed: Heh. That's nice. We are the same age ;)
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
________________________________________________
BLOGGING ASSISTS US OUT OF "I" WORLD
And into the "we" world
Excerpts from a neat comment, left at Joi Ito's on Feb 2, by Mark of Everyday Guru:
"....Blogs have so much potential to transcend the relationship of individual identity to community and larger world identity and our connections within the world as long as we continue to push for openness and inclusion."
"Joi, you may want to pick up the current issue of What is Enlightment magazine. The majority of this issue addresses morality and ethics for this postmodern age. There are many discussions that easily apply to blogging and the potentials of social entrepenurism. "
"Blogging's emergent potential to assist us out of the "I" world and into the "WE" world is what excites me!..."
_ _ _
BLOGDIGGER GROUPS
Packaging other people's content
In Navigating the Info Jungle blog Susan Mernit talks about Blogdigger Groups which allow one to create a blog by grouping a selection of blogs together - like Phil Wolff's list of knowledge management blogs.
BTW Still no word or update at Phil Wolff's blog.
BLOGGING ASSISTS US OUT OF "I" WORLD
And into the "we" world
Excerpts from a neat comment, left at Joi Ito's on Feb 2, by Mark of Everyday Guru:
"....Blogs have so much potential to transcend the relationship of individual identity to community and larger world identity and our connections within the world as long as we continue to push for openness and inclusion."
"Joi, you may want to pick up the current issue of What is Enlightment magazine. The majority of this issue addresses morality and ethics for this postmodern age. There are many discussions that easily apply to blogging and the potentials of social entrepenurism. "
"Blogging's emergent potential to assist us out of the "I" world and into the "WE" world is what excites me!..."
_ _ _
BLOGDIGGER GROUPS
Packaging other people's content
In Navigating the Info Jungle blog Susan Mernit talks about Blogdigger Groups which allow one to create a blog by grouping a selection of blogs together - like Phil Wolff's list of knowledge management blogs.
BTW Still no word or update at Phil Wolff's blog.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
QUICK GUIDE TO TRACKBACKS
Thank you to Hazel
Grateful thanks to Hazel at Stitching up a Storm blog for emailing me the quick guide to trackbacks that she created. Here is a copy of that email:
Trackbacks are used to let people know that you are talking about them. I sent you a trackback when I was mentioning you in a post. If you talked about me in a post, you would send a trackback to me. They are often used by people that have memes (for more info on memes look here: http://www.iampariah.com/projects/memeslist.php) use trackback to have people notify them that they are participating in the meme. Here is how it would work if I was talking about you:
I would go to your blog and read a particular post that I wanted to post something about myself. I would click on the trackback link next to the entry I was reading. In the popup window, I would be given a url - the trackback url - then I can enter it in a box in my blogging software, that would then 'ping' that trackback url, and you would get the notification that I have 'pinged' you.
If you wanted to to talk about me: You would follow basically the same process that I went through. From what I have read of the tutorial at HaloScan.com Forums:
1. You would go to my site, and click on 'trackbacks' at the bottom of my posts (I haven't used it in the past but I have activated it on my posts now that there is more chance of people using it!) and a popup window would open with the trackback url. Copy this url.
2. Log in to Haloscan. Click on "Manage Trackbacks" on your menu, and the 'send a trackback ping'.
3. Paste the url you copied in the 'urls to ping' box. Then enter the other boxes with your blog name, the permalink of the entry you are referring to my entry in, the title of that post, and an excerpt of the post.
4. Click on 'ping now'. Then you are done!
QUICK GUIDE TO TRACKBACKS
Thank you to Hazel
Grateful thanks to Hazel at Stitching up a Storm blog for emailing me the quick guide to trackbacks that she created. Here is a copy of that email:
Trackbacks are used to let people know that you are talking about them. I sent you a trackback when I was mentioning you in a post. If you talked about me in a post, you would send a trackback to me. They are often used by people that have memes (for more info on memes look here: http://www.iampariah.com/projects/memeslist.php) use trackback to have people notify them that they are participating in the meme. Here is how it would work if I was talking about you:
I would go to your blog and read a particular post that I wanted to post something about myself. I would click on the trackback link next to the entry I was reading. In the popup window, I would be given a url - the trackback url - then I can enter it in a box in my blogging software, that would then 'ping' that trackback url, and you would get the notification that I have 'pinged' you.
If you wanted to to talk about me: You would follow basically the same process that I went through. From what I have read of the tutorial at HaloScan.com Forums:
1. You would go to my site, and click on 'trackbacks' at the bottom of my posts (I haven't used it in the past but I have activated it on my posts now that there is more chance of people using it!) and a popup window would open with the trackback url. Copy this url.
2. Log in to Haloscan. Click on "Manage Trackbacks" on your menu, and the 'send a trackback ping'.
3. Paste the url you copied in the 'urls to ping' box. Then enter the other boxes with your blog name, the permalink of the entry you are referring to my entry in, the title of that post, and an excerpt of the post.
4. Click on 'ping now'. Then you are done!
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
SEARCHING FOR SCHUBERT
Ein Besuch nach Salzburg und Wien geschrieben von Lucy Huntzinger
Lucy lives in the Bay area, on the west coast of America, with her husband who teaches physics. Lucy needed to go to Austria and visit the places where her novel was set. She chose March, 2004, when the weather would be warming up with the onset of spring but still chilly enough to invoke her December setting. The thought of the upcoming trip got her writing again. By the time she set out she had written most of the book. Then she went off for a week in Salzburg and Vienna. This is her trip report...
[via Anita Rowland]
SEARCHING FOR SCHUBERT
Ein Besuch nach Salzburg und Wien geschrieben von Lucy Huntzinger
Lucy lives in the Bay area, on the west coast of America, with her husband who teaches physics. Lucy needed to go to Austria and visit the places where her novel was set. She chose March, 2004, when the weather would be warming up with the onset of spring but still chilly enough to invoke her December setting. The thought of the upcoming trip got her writing again. By the time she set out she had written most of the book. Then she went off for a week in Salzburg and Vienna. This is her trip report...
[via Anita Rowland]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/25/2004
0 comments
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
DOWN MEMORY LANE
Sweets
Last month, Scottish blogger Gordon McLean blogged about a little olde fashioned shop selling all the sweets from his childhood. Flying saucers! Cinder candy! He spent the best part of 10 minutes oohhh-ing and ahhhh-ing over the display. Cherry Lips! ABC Letters! From the expression on the shop owner's face he wasn't the first person to react that way and he got the feeling that half the fun of the shop was taken from watching people's reactions.
Heh, flying saucers. I remember them. Here's my memory lane although not sure if I have the names exactly right: sherbert dabs, pineapple cube chunks, pear drops, sour cherry balls, gobstoppers, aniseed balls, pink shrimps, acid drops and other things that took the roof off your mouth off or made your lips peel.
Great new invention in early 1960's was Jublies - an orange juice in a trianglular carton which we got the corner shopkeeper to freeze - as a big wodge of ice lolly - much better value for our handful of big copper pennies, golden threepenny pieces and silvery sixpenny pieces.
That was back in the days of farthings, ten bob notes, florins, half-crowns and guineas - and when one shilling (5p or 10p? can't remember) went a long way and stretched to most of the above along with a halfpenny box of matches and a few Park Drive/No. 6 smokes...sold in singles under the counter...
_ _ _
TOLKIEN AND CS LEWIS
The real fellowship of the ring
How JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis' all-night argument about God paved the way for both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."
On a warm September night in 1931, three men went for an after-dinner walk on the grounds of Magdalen College, part of Oxford University. They took a stroll on Addison's Walk, a beautiful tree-shaded path along the River Cherwell, and got into an argument that lasted into the wee hours of the morning -- and left a lasting mark on world literature.
At the time, only one of the men had any kind of reputation: Henry Victor Dyson, a bon vivant scholar who had shared tables and bandied words with the likes of TE Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and Bertrand Russell. His two companions were little-known Oxford academics with a shared taste for Icelandic sagas, Anglo-Saxon verse and the austere cultural mystique of "the North." Few people remember Dyson now, while millions celebrate the names of his companions: CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.
Yet the works that made their reputations -- "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" for Tolkien, "The Chronicles of Narnia" for Lewis -- were profoundly shaped by that night-long argument and the bond it cemented. It's possible that Tolkien's Middle-earth would have remained entirely a private obsession, and quite likely that Lewis would never have found the gateway to Narnia.
[via Gary Santoro via Salon.com]
Sweets
Last month, Scottish blogger Gordon McLean blogged about a little olde fashioned shop selling all the sweets from his childhood. Flying saucers! Cinder candy! He spent the best part of 10 minutes oohhh-ing and ahhhh-ing over the display. Cherry Lips! ABC Letters! From the expression on the shop owner's face he wasn't the first person to react that way and he got the feeling that half the fun of the shop was taken from watching people's reactions.
Heh, flying saucers. I remember them. Here's my memory lane although not sure if I have the names exactly right: sherbert dabs, pineapple cube chunks, pear drops, sour cherry balls, gobstoppers, aniseed balls, pink shrimps, acid drops and other things that took the roof off your mouth off or made your lips peel.
Great new invention in early 1960's was Jublies - an orange juice in a trianglular carton which we got the corner shopkeeper to freeze - as a big wodge of ice lolly - much better value for our handful of big copper pennies, golden threepenny pieces and silvery sixpenny pieces.
That was back in the days of farthings, ten bob notes, florins, half-crowns and guineas - and when one shilling (5p or 10p? can't remember) went a long way and stretched to most of the above along with a halfpenny box of matches and a few Park Drive/No. 6 smokes...sold in singles under the counter...
_ _ _
TOLKIEN AND CS LEWIS
The real fellowship of the ring
How JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis' all-night argument about God paved the way for both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."
On a warm September night in 1931, three men went for an after-dinner walk on the grounds of Magdalen College, part of Oxford University. They took a stroll on Addison's Walk, a beautiful tree-shaded path along the River Cherwell, and got into an argument that lasted into the wee hours of the morning -- and left a lasting mark on world literature.
At the time, only one of the men had any kind of reputation: Henry Victor Dyson, a bon vivant scholar who had shared tables and bandied words with the likes of TE Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and Bertrand Russell. His two companions were little-known Oxford academics with a shared taste for Icelandic sagas, Anglo-Saxon verse and the austere cultural mystique of "the North." Few people remember Dyson now, while millions celebrate the names of his companions: CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.
Yet the works that made their reputations -- "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" for Tolkien, "The Chronicles of Narnia" for Lewis -- were profoundly shaped by that night-long argument and the bond it cemented. It's possible that Tolkien's Middle-earth would have remained entirely a private obsession, and quite likely that Lewis would never have found the gateway to Narnia.
[via Gary Santoro via Salon.com]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/24/2004
0 comments
_________________________________________________
WHO SAYS BBC PROPAGANDA
Is working in the best interest of our nation?
Seems like the BBC have not learned much post Hutton. I cannot see how they are providing a public broadcasting service. Looks to me like they're still continuing on their own agenda. I'd vote for scrapping the compulsory household TV Licence asap. Here's why.
Firstly, under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, if you live in the UK and your household (even if you live in a caravan or whatever) owns a colour receiving TV set - regardless of your age up to 75 or financial circumstances - whether or not you watch the TV set, or even the BBC - you must pay GBP 116 every 12 months to the BBC (50% off if you are blind). If you install or use any equipment to receive TV programme services - for example a TV set, video recorder, set-top box, PC with a broadcast card or any other TV receiving equipment - and don't pay up, they'll come to your home in unmarked vans with surveillance equipment. If they catch you not paying, they'll extort from you a huge fine. If you refuse to pay, you are sent to prison. It's as simple as that.
Secondly, it seems to me the BBC are against the British government that was elected into power by the people. Freedom of speech is one thing, but aiming to affect National Security and pull down a democratically elected government or its leader is something altogether different. The words traitors and treason spring to mind.
Thirdly, I did not vote the BBC into power. I feel they are undermining our government and democracy. Whose side are they on I ask myself. The BBC seems to be a law unto themselves. Their self elected power base needs to be dismantled. Let them fend for themselves financially and see who buys their sloppy cavalier reporting, manipulative words, twisted truths and downright propaganda.
Below extracts are from a BBC NEWS online report Who is winning the war? by BBC Panorama reporter, Jane Corbin. [Note Panorama: Terror - Are We Next? was broadcast on BBC One on Sunday, 21 March 2004 at 2215 GMT]
Note here how the reporter quoted one man's personal view - and chose to start it with the word "However":
"However, back in the spring of 2002 an American intelligence officer at Bagram airbase told BBC's Panorama that he feared the American military boot had not crushed al-Qaeda but merely scattered them to the far corners of the earth, where they would prove impossible to eradicate".
Note here how the reporter drove home her personal view, endorsed by the BBC (and repeated, as a highlight, in a side panel of the report):
"A very real terror threat has been created in Iraq where little existed before - and Europe will feel the effect of that".
The report also stated:
"Yet as the months have passed the war in Iraq has exposed the hollowness of US claims that al-Qaeda and Saddam were linked. It has also resulted in the creation of a new terror threat from one of al-Qaeda's franchises, and a virulent and deadly one that numbers hundreds of westerners among its victims.
Bin Laden has every reason to believe that he is so far winning the battle - not the "war on terror" waged by US helicopters and special forces on Afghan borders - but the war against innocent civilians and western democracies."
And finally - so there can be no mistaking the BBCs message - they drove it home with their selection of photos and this summary in captions:
Al-Qaeda's attack could have had political motive. (captioned with a photo of train carnage in Madrid)
In December, on Islamic websites that have carried al-Qaeda statements in the past, Islamist militants were discussing how attacks might bring about a socialist victory in Spain.
The Istanbul bomb came as Bush and Blair gathered at an anti-terrorism gala.
A very real terror threat has been created in Iraq where little existed before - and Europe will feel the effect of that.
The Iraq war could have led to more al-Qaeda recruits.
_ _ _
Here's what American Tantor over at Conservative Propaganda had to say about the BBC in his post dated January 30, 2004:
BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECLARES BBC TO BE PACK OF LIARS
BBC's Lefty Leaders Jump Ship Like Rats
Link
A British government enquiry led by Lord Hutton into the BBC's wartime propaganda campaign against the war found that its editorial system is fundamentally flawed, which is another way of saying that it's radical lefty editors were not running a news service, but a lefty propaganda bureau with little regard for the truth. The bias was so bad that BBC came to be known as the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation, so bad that it was turned off on British warships. Reporter Andrew Gilligan was at the center of the vortex of lies, rivalling the Iraqi Minister of Information in preposterous assertions. Gilligan stood at a quiet corner of the Baghdad airport while it was being taken by American forces and claimed no Americans were there. He claimed that the US military was dishonest and inept, as it took Iraq in six weeks. He said that the liberation of Iraq from Saddam by America plunged the country into more fear than they had ever known. Finally and fatally, he sliced and diced the opinion of a British weapons inspector, David Kelly, and assembled them into a sensational and false charge that Tony Blair had lied to lead Britain to war.
What a tangled web the lefties weave, when first they practice to deceive. The leaders of the BBC are resigning and good riddance. Gilligan is doomed, though his lefty journalist friends defend him because after all, what does it matter if the stories aren't technically true as long as they promote the greater truth of the socialist cause?
Expect to hear wild accusations of a blacklist now that the lefty liars have been exposed and trashed.
# posted by Tantor : Friday, January 30, 2004 - 2:22 AM EST (Washington, DC Time)
_ _ _
Update: Wednesday 24 March 2004
Copy of my response to a comment on this post:
Daniel, Thanks for commenting. Nice to meet you. Followed your link to your sites and see you are a journalist, researcher, commentator and economist in London and Calcutta. Guess from your mosquito post you are in India right now. How interesting. Looking forward to catching up on your blog. Please forgive if this reply sounds disjointed. I've been doing too much reading and writing, I've just posted to my blog, am over tired and struggling this morning with concentration. It's 8.37 am right now on a cloudy and cool morning here by the seaside in England.
The point I was making in my post is that the BBC are not serving the public as an unbiased public broadcasting service. They are not just reporting news and facts. Sadly, they are creating their own news stories from the way they see things. Even more disturbingly, they are regularly slanting reports taken from a particular political viewpoint.
As a public broadcasting service they are paid to report the news and facts. So that every licence paying household in the UK - no matter what their political persuasion - can get timely world news and facts to make up their own minds on political and other issues. Where else can we get this if not from our PBS?
We have no real PBS because the BBC has taken it upon itself to serve as a left wing organisation. How can that be right. It's not a case of State dictating the news agenda. It's a matter of licence fee payers expecting that they are funding a public broadcasting service - to be free from commercial and political constraints and corruption - to report unbiased news and facts freely to the whole nation - not creating their own stories and putting their own politics and slant on deadly serious issues.
No doubt every single Brit would love and respect the BBC if it reported just the news and facts. But because the BBC wants to be biased and innovative in its style of reporting and create its own stories and news, digital channels, ventures etc., I would vote to let them do so. I am in no way suggesting the BBC is scrapped. I'd like to see the BBC freed from its PBS obligations to enable it to continue operating like any other commercially run news service.
WHO SAYS BBC PROPAGANDA
Is working in the best interest of our nation?
Seems like the BBC have not learned much post Hutton. I cannot see how they are providing a public broadcasting service. Looks to me like they're still continuing on their own agenda. I'd vote for scrapping the compulsory household TV Licence asap. Here's why.
Firstly, under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, if you live in the UK and your household (even if you live in a caravan or whatever) owns a colour receiving TV set - regardless of your age up to 75 or financial circumstances - whether or not you watch the TV set, or even the BBC - you must pay GBP 116 every 12 months to the BBC (50% off if you are blind). If you install or use any equipment to receive TV programme services - for example a TV set, video recorder, set-top box, PC with a broadcast card or any other TV receiving equipment - and don't pay up, they'll come to your home in unmarked vans with surveillance equipment. If they catch you not paying, they'll extort from you a huge fine. If you refuse to pay, you are sent to prison. It's as simple as that.
Secondly, it seems to me the BBC are against the British government that was elected into power by the people. Freedom of speech is one thing, but aiming to affect National Security and pull down a democratically elected government or its leader is something altogether different. The words traitors and treason spring to mind.
Thirdly, I did not vote the BBC into power. I feel they are undermining our government and democracy. Whose side are they on I ask myself. The BBC seems to be a law unto themselves. Their self elected power base needs to be dismantled. Let them fend for themselves financially and see who buys their sloppy cavalier reporting, manipulative words, twisted truths and downright propaganda.
Below extracts are from a BBC NEWS online report Who is winning the war? by BBC Panorama reporter, Jane Corbin. [Note Panorama: Terror - Are We Next? was broadcast on BBC One on Sunday, 21 March 2004 at 2215 GMT]
Note here how the reporter quoted one man's personal view - and chose to start it with the word "However":
"However, back in the spring of 2002 an American intelligence officer at Bagram airbase told BBC's Panorama that he feared the American military boot had not crushed al-Qaeda but merely scattered them to the far corners of the earth, where they would prove impossible to eradicate".
Note here how the reporter drove home her personal view, endorsed by the BBC (and repeated, as a highlight, in a side panel of the report):
"A very real terror threat has been created in Iraq where little existed before - and Europe will feel the effect of that".
The report also stated:
"Yet as the months have passed the war in Iraq has exposed the hollowness of US claims that al-Qaeda and Saddam were linked. It has also resulted in the creation of a new terror threat from one of al-Qaeda's franchises, and a virulent and deadly one that numbers hundreds of westerners among its victims.
Bin Laden has every reason to believe that he is so far winning the battle - not the "war on terror" waged by US helicopters and special forces on Afghan borders - but the war against innocent civilians and western democracies."
And finally - so there can be no mistaking the BBCs message - they drove it home with their selection of photos and this summary in captions:
Al-Qaeda's attack could have had political motive. (captioned with a photo of train carnage in Madrid)
In December, on Islamic websites that have carried al-Qaeda statements in the past, Islamist militants were discussing how attacks might bring about a socialist victory in Spain.
The Istanbul bomb came as Bush and Blair gathered at an anti-terrorism gala.
A very real terror threat has been created in Iraq where little existed before - and Europe will feel the effect of that.
The Iraq war could have led to more al-Qaeda recruits.
_ _ _
Here's what American Tantor over at Conservative Propaganda had to say about the BBC in his post dated January 30, 2004:
BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECLARES BBC TO BE PACK OF LIARS
BBC's Lefty Leaders Jump Ship Like Rats
Link
A British government enquiry led by Lord Hutton into the BBC's wartime propaganda campaign against the war found that its editorial system is fundamentally flawed, which is another way of saying that it's radical lefty editors were not running a news service, but a lefty propaganda bureau with little regard for the truth. The bias was so bad that BBC came to be known as the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation, so bad that it was turned off on British warships. Reporter Andrew Gilligan was at the center of the vortex of lies, rivalling the Iraqi Minister of Information in preposterous assertions. Gilligan stood at a quiet corner of the Baghdad airport while it was being taken by American forces and claimed no Americans were there. He claimed that the US military was dishonest and inept, as it took Iraq in six weeks. He said that the liberation of Iraq from Saddam by America plunged the country into more fear than they had ever known. Finally and fatally, he sliced and diced the opinion of a British weapons inspector, David Kelly, and assembled them into a sensational and false charge that Tony Blair had lied to lead Britain to war.
What a tangled web the lefties weave, when first they practice to deceive. The leaders of the BBC are resigning and good riddance. Gilligan is doomed, though his lefty journalist friends defend him because after all, what does it matter if the stories aren't technically true as long as they promote the greater truth of the socialist cause?
Expect to hear wild accusations of a blacklist now that the lefty liars have been exposed and trashed.
# posted by Tantor : Friday, January 30, 2004 - 2:22 AM EST (Washington, DC Time)
_ _ _
Update: Wednesday 24 March 2004
Copy of my response to a comment on this post:
Daniel, Thanks for commenting. Nice to meet you. Followed your link to your sites and see you are a journalist, researcher, commentator and economist in London and Calcutta. Guess from your mosquito post you are in India right now. How interesting. Looking forward to catching up on your blog. Please forgive if this reply sounds disjointed. I've been doing too much reading and writing, I've just posted to my blog, am over tired and struggling this morning with concentration. It's 8.37 am right now on a cloudy and cool morning here by the seaside in England.
The point I was making in my post is that the BBC are not serving the public as an unbiased public broadcasting service. They are not just reporting news and facts. Sadly, they are creating their own news stories from the way they see things. Even more disturbingly, they are regularly slanting reports taken from a particular political viewpoint.
As a public broadcasting service they are paid to report the news and facts. So that every licence paying household in the UK - no matter what their political persuasion - can get timely world news and facts to make up their own minds on political and other issues. Where else can we get this if not from our PBS?
We have no real PBS because the BBC has taken it upon itself to serve as a left wing organisation. How can that be right. It's not a case of State dictating the news agenda. It's a matter of licence fee payers expecting that they are funding a public broadcasting service - to be free from commercial and political constraints and corruption - to report unbiased news and facts freely to the whole nation - not creating their own stories and putting their own politics and slant on deadly serious issues.
No doubt every single Brit would love and respect the BBC if it reported just the news and facts. But because the BBC wants to be biased and innovative in its style of reporting and create its own stories and news, digital channels, ventures etc., I would vote to let them do so. I am in no way suggesting the BBC is scrapped. I'd like to see the BBC freed from its PBS obligations to enable it to continue operating like any other commercially run news service.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/24/2004
0 comments
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
TNT LOST MY POWERBOOK
Apple process refund
Yesterday, Apple phoned to say that their carrier TNT had lost my delivery. Today, they processed my refund. I'll have to wait 4-5 working days for it to show on my credit card before charging another PowerBook, 30-days interest free. Still waiting for Dell to pick up this faulty machine and process the refund.
Apple will give my order priority, and ensure that the Applecare 3-year guarantee I purchased takes effect after the Mac arrives so a month is not lost. Because the Apple software arrived here a few weeks ago, along with the Applecare 3-year guarantee, I'm out of pocket GBP 400 for stuff that I paid for a month ago and can't use until next month.
On March 9 and 19 I emailed Dell India because I'd heard nothing since their Feb 26 phone call to me. They'd said someone from Dell would phone me within a few days to arrange pick up of this faulty laptop and process a refund. To date, I've still heard nothing.
_ _ _
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon
[via Tao of Pauly]
Apple process refund
Yesterday, Apple phoned to say that their carrier TNT had lost my delivery. Today, they processed my refund. I'll have to wait 4-5 working days for it to show on my credit card before charging another PowerBook, 30-days interest free. Still waiting for Dell to pick up this faulty machine and process the refund.
Apple will give my order priority, and ensure that the Applecare 3-year guarantee I purchased takes effect after the Mac arrives so a month is not lost. Because the Apple software arrived here a few weeks ago, along with the Applecare 3-year guarantee, I'm out of pocket GBP 400 for stuff that I paid for a month ago and can't use until next month.
On March 9 and 19 I emailed Dell India because I'd heard nothing since their Feb 26 phone call to me. They'd said someone from Dell would phone me within a few days to arrange pick up of this faulty laptop and process a refund. To date, I've still heard nothing.
_ _ _
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon
[via Tao of Pauly]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/23/2004
0 comments
________________________________________________
WE QUIT DRINKING BLOG
How to test if someone has a drinking problem
The last time I had a drink was about five years ago, after the funeral of my Austrian Aunt. Finest whiskey and crystal tumblers. It sure turned a grim situation mellow. Everyone glowed. The whole room glowed. The gathering became jolly. A late night party. People laughed. And joked. Drinking sure made one feel better. It was the warmest atmosphere you could imagine. My Aunt would have loved it. Must be difficult for anyone to refuse a drink in such a situation.
In the We Quit Drinking blog, someone posted this comment:
A counselling prof once told us that a relatively accurate way to test if someone has a drinking problem (notice I don't say alcoholic, since not all people with a drinking problem are alcoholics. Although all alcoholics have a drinking problem.) Anyways, the test is this:
Can the person with the drinking problem come home and drink just one drink every night for a month?
His point was that it is easier to go on the wagon completely than hold yourself to one drink if you are in the grip of a drinking problem.
[via Halley's Comment]
WE QUIT DRINKING BLOG
How to test if someone has a drinking problem
The last time I had a drink was about five years ago, after the funeral of my Austrian Aunt. Finest whiskey and crystal tumblers. It sure turned a grim situation mellow. Everyone glowed. The whole room glowed. The gathering became jolly. A late night party. People laughed. And joked. Drinking sure made one feel better. It was the warmest atmosphere you could imagine. My Aunt would have loved it. Must be difficult for anyone to refuse a drink in such a situation.
In the We Quit Drinking blog, someone posted this comment:
A counselling prof once told us that a relatively accurate way to test if someone has a drinking problem (notice I don't say alcoholic, since not all people with a drinking problem are alcoholics. Although all alcoholics have a drinking problem.) Anyways, the test is this:
Can the person with the drinking problem come home and drink just one drink every night for a month?
His point was that it is easier to go on the wagon completely than hold yourself to one drink if you are in the grip of a drinking problem.
[via Halley's Comment]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/23/2004
0 comments
________________________________________________
CONSERVATIVE PROPAGANDA BLOG
Tantor, the World's Leading Authority, dissects
Right from Wrong in current events and random topics
Yesterday, I found Conservative Propaganda blog via the fab new Technorati. Tantor, the author, may be a male living on the east coast of America. It's the first blog I've found that speaks my views. The first time I voted in a General Election was for Labour, in the hope of Tony Blair becoming Prime Minister, and I've not wavered in my support since.
On the graph of the political compass test, my score appeared in exactly the same spot as Mahatma Gandhi, and in the same corner as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. My score showed Economic Left/Right -5.50, Libertarian/Authoritarian -3.13.
Going by their graphs and categories, my score appears in the same corner as the UK Greens - and the US politics of Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. I wonder what that makes me - a Green Libertarian Lefty? I've never considered myself a Liberal nor would I vote Liberal. Maybe I'll start looking out for the Greens and see what they are up to in this country.
Tantor has style, does not mince words, gets straight to the point, and hits the nail right on the head - quite something on complex issues. I wonder who Tantor is? Sounds well informed and clever too. Here's an example of three recent posts:
Thousands Of Lefties Around The World March In Protest Of The Gulf War - Hundreds of thousands of knucklehead lefties took their protest of the Gulf War to the streets of Italy, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, India, the Philippines, Egypt, the United States, Turkey, and Yemen, among other countries. The only place where the locals did not protest the Gulf War was Iraq.
Appeasing The Jihadis Will Not Spare Europe From Further Attacks - History shows that appeasement encourages the predators, who seek easy prey. By preaching appeasement, the Europeans become useful idiots of the Muslim fanatics who seek their destruction.
Zawahiri Boasts Al Qaeda Has A Nuke - Mr. Brains Behind Al Qaeda, Dr Ayman Zawahri, brags that Al Qaeda bought a backpack nuke on the black market in Russia. The Soviet Union developed such small nukes to be smuggled into America by special forces in the event of WWIII. It sounds like a punk threat from a terrorist who lacks the muscle to actually do something. With any luck, Zawahiri's dead now.
CONSERVATIVE PROPAGANDA BLOG
Tantor, the World's Leading Authority, dissects
Right from Wrong in current events and random topics
Yesterday, I found Conservative Propaganda blog via the fab new Technorati. Tantor, the author, may be a male living on the east coast of America. It's the first blog I've found that speaks my views. The first time I voted in a General Election was for Labour, in the hope of Tony Blair becoming Prime Minister, and I've not wavered in my support since.
On the graph of the political compass test, my score appeared in exactly the same spot as Mahatma Gandhi, and in the same corner as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. My score showed Economic Left/Right -5.50, Libertarian/Authoritarian -3.13.
Going by their graphs and categories, my score appears in the same corner as the UK Greens - and the US politics of Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. I wonder what that makes me - a Green Libertarian Lefty? I've never considered myself a Liberal nor would I vote Liberal. Maybe I'll start looking out for the Greens and see what they are up to in this country.
Tantor has style, does not mince words, gets straight to the point, and hits the nail right on the head - quite something on complex issues. I wonder who Tantor is? Sounds well informed and clever too. Here's an example of three recent posts:
Thousands Of Lefties Around The World March In Protest Of The Gulf War - Hundreds of thousands of knucklehead lefties took their protest of the Gulf War to the streets of Italy, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, India, the Philippines, Egypt, the United States, Turkey, and Yemen, among other countries. The only place where the locals did not protest the Gulf War was Iraq.
Appeasing The Jihadis Will Not Spare Europe From Further Attacks - History shows that appeasement encourages the predators, who seek easy prey. By preaching appeasement, the Europeans become useful idiots of the Muslim fanatics who seek their destruction.
Zawahiri Boasts Al Qaeda Has A Nuke - Mr. Brains Behind Al Qaeda, Dr Ayman Zawahri, brags that Al Qaeda bought a backpack nuke on the black market in Russia. The Soviet Union developed such small nukes to be smuggled into America by special forces in the event of WWIII. It sounds like a punk threat from a terrorist who lacks the muscle to actually do something. With any luck, Zawahiri's dead now.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/23/2004
0 comments
Monday, March 22, 2004
THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE AT WAR
It's the Islamist war against the West
Seems to me the blogosphere is full of people with a narrow and naive view of what's going on in the world. Their blog posts clearly show they do not read enough to know what they are talking about. And yet they talk like they know what's best for us. It's like they're judging the picture of a hugely complex jig saw puzzle based on their knowledge of only a few pieces. They can't possibly get the whole picture.
Maybe they don't like to read, or don't have enough time to read properly. Their views are so simplistic. It's scary. These people are voters. How can they be expected to vote for what's right if they don't have all the facts. Ill informed voters could endanger not only the whole future of Europe and America but also the rest of the world. Voters, including myself, need educating on world history and the geography of Europe and the Middle East over the past few hundred years.
_ _ _
WE MAY BE WITNESSING A STRANGE REVERSAL OF THE 1930's
With Islamo fascists in place of Euro-fascists
Washington-based British born Andrew Sullivan is outraged by Spain's surrender to al-Qaeda's deadly blackmail - and by the Tory voices joining the clamour for capitulation to evil.
Yesterday, a major report written by Andrew appeared in The Sunday Times of London. It explains why we are at war and why the terrorists must not be appeased. Because he explains complex political issues so well, I've extracted the following, from his report, and broken it up into bite size pieces - adding my own headings.
Title of Andrew's piece: "Europe's Appeasers: We may be witnessing a strange reversal of the 1930's, with Islamo-fascists in place of Euro-fascists".
_ _ _
EUROPE IS MOST AT RISK
And it is not the fault of the US
The latter-day Halifaxes and Chamberlains, when they are not busy running from danger, are busy denying that it even exists. One thing is as true today as it was in the 1930s: it is Europe that is most at risk. It is Europe that is closest to the explosive Middle East - which is growing demographically as rapidly as Europe is declining.
It is Europe that has a Muslim population most receptive to the toxins of anti-semitism and medieval theocracy that sustain the new fascists. It is Europe that is most vulnerable to terror because it is geographically far more accessible across borders and national frontiers. Yet it is Europe that is most set on pretending that it is not at risk. Or worse: pretending that the risks Europe confronts are somehow the fault of America.
_ _ _
THE ISLAMIST WAR AGAINST THE WEST
Its roots and goals
The Islamist war against the West existed and grew in strength and potency throughout the 1990s. It draws its roots from the Muslim Brotherhood of the 1970s and 1980s. It is quite candid in its goals: expulsion of all infidels from Islamic lands, the subjugation of political pluralism to fascistic theocracy, the elimination of all Jews anywhere, the enslavement of women, the murder of homosexuals and the expansion of a new Islamic realm up to and beyond the medieval boundaries of Islam's golden past.
_ _ _
DON'T BLAME THE GOOD GUYS
For exposing and punishing the bad guys
Bin Laden spoke of reclaiming Andalusia long before Bush was president. He was building terror camps and seeking WMD while Bill Clinton was in the White House. Blaming the policeman for exposing and punishing the criminal may feel good for a little while but it is a fool's errand.
_ _ _
WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN AND/OR IRAQ
Would be catastrophic for them and for the West and the entire Middle East
For Americans and Europeans to bicker among themselves about the past when their shared and mutual future hangs in the balance is almost suicidal. We are in danger of missing the most important fact in front of us. It's a fact that, to his credit, Blair has long grasped and refuses to abandon. That fact is that we are at war.
_ _ _
APPEASING TERRORISTS
Plays into the hands of the enemy
Global terrorism, fuelled by a unifying Islamist ideology and potentially armed with weapons more powerful than anything used by terrorists before, is a formidable foe. Appeasing this force will strengthen it. Blaming allies because they have dared to confront it is simply to play into the hands of the enemy.
It's the Islamist war against the West
Seems to me the blogosphere is full of people with a narrow and naive view of what's going on in the world. Their blog posts clearly show they do not read enough to know what they are talking about. And yet they talk like they know what's best for us. It's like they're judging the picture of a hugely complex jig saw puzzle based on their knowledge of only a few pieces. They can't possibly get the whole picture.
Maybe they don't like to read, or don't have enough time to read properly. Their views are so simplistic. It's scary. These people are voters. How can they be expected to vote for what's right if they don't have all the facts. Ill informed voters could endanger not only the whole future of Europe and America but also the rest of the world. Voters, including myself, need educating on world history and the geography of Europe and the Middle East over the past few hundred years.
_ _ _
WE MAY BE WITNESSING A STRANGE REVERSAL OF THE 1930's
With Islamo fascists in place of Euro-fascists
Washington-based British born Andrew Sullivan is outraged by Spain's surrender to al-Qaeda's deadly blackmail - and by the Tory voices joining the clamour for capitulation to evil.
Yesterday, a major report written by Andrew appeared in The Sunday Times of London. It explains why we are at war and why the terrorists must not be appeased. Because he explains complex political issues so well, I've extracted the following, from his report, and broken it up into bite size pieces - adding my own headings.
Title of Andrew's piece: "Europe's Appeasers: We may be witnessing a strange reversal of the 1930's, with Islamo-fascists in place of Euro-fascists".
_ _ _
EUROPE IS MOST AT RISK
And it is not the fault of the US
The latter-day Halifaxes and Chamberlains, when they are not busy running from danger, are busy denying that it even exists. One thing is as true today as it was in the 1930s: it is Europe that is most at risk. It is Europe that is closest to the explosive Middle East - which is growing demographically as rapidly as Europe is declining.
It is Europe that has a Muslim population most receptive to the toxins of anti-semitism and medieval theocracy that sustain the new fascists. It is Europe that is most vulnerable to terror because it is geographically far more accessible across borders and national frontiers. Yet it is Europe that is most set on pretending that it is not at risk. Or worse: pretending that the risks Europe confronts are somehow the fault of America.
_ _ _
THE ISLAMIST WAR AGAINST THE WEST
Its roots and goals
The Islamist war against the West existed and grew in strength and potency throughout the 1990s. It draws its roots from the Muslim Brotherhood of the 1970s and 1980s. It is quite candid in its goals: expulsion of all infidels from Islamic lands, the subjugation of political pluralism to fascistic theocracy, the elimination of all Jews anywhere, the enslavement of women, the murder of homosexuals and the expansion of a new Islamic realm up to and beyond the medieval boundaries of Islam's golden past.
_ _ _
DON'T BLAME THE GOOD GUYS
For exposing and punishing the bad guys
Bin Laden spoke of reclaiming Andalusia long before Bush was president. He was building terror camps and seeking WMD while Bill Clinton was in the White House. Blaming the policeman for exposing and punishing the criminal may feel good for a little while but it is a fool's errand.
_ _ _
WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN AND/OR IRAQ
Would be catastrophic for them and for the West and the entire Middle East
For Americans and Europeans to bicker among themselves about the past when their shared and mutual future hangs in the balance is almost suicidal. We are in danger of missing the most important fact in front of us. It's a fact that, to his credit, Blair has long grasped and refuses to abandon. That fact is that we are at war.
_ _ _
APPEASING TERRORISTS
Plays into the hands of the enemy
Global terrorism, fuelled by a unifying Islamist ideology and potentially armed with weapons more powerful than anything used by terrorists before, is a formidable foe. Appeasing this force will strengthen it. Blaming allies because they have dared to confront it is simply to play into the hands of the enemy.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/22/2004
0 comments
Sunday, March 21, 2004
THE LEGENDARY MOLESKINE NOTEBOOK
Used by Van Gogh, Matisse, Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin
Moleskine™ is a Trademark of Modo & Modo. Moleskine notebooks, a real cult item, are now available in a whole range of styles. Ideal for travelling, all Moleskine books have a hardback cover, an elastic closure and the hidden secret - an inner pocket which is perfect for keeping loose notes, bills, tickets and more.
Moleskine is a family of notebooks for different functions. Each Moleskine has a rigid, oilcloth bound 'moleskine' cover, and the acid free paper pages are thread bound. They also have an elastic closure and an expandable inner note holder made of cardboard and oilcloth and a removable card with the Moleskine history.
The pocket notebooks come in a variety of styles, including a Japanese pocket album with 60 pages of long continuous fold-out sheet for making visuals, photo albums etc. The plain notebook has a small pocket in the back cover to stick receipts, mementos, ticket stubs. It has a well built-in ribbon bookmark and an elastic strap to keep the book closed. The notebooks lay flat when open.
Modo Modo, located in Milan, Italy, is the current manufacturer of the legendary Italian made Moleskine notebooks, having revived it recent times. Retailers in the United States use the US distributor Kikkerland Design Inc of New York, NY.
_ _ _
MOLESKINE POCKET SIZE NOTEBOOKS
Neat gifts for birthdays and Christmas
Because Moleskine notebooks make such neat gifts, I'm thinking of buying a load for birthday and Christmas presents. They'd be simple for me to wrap, pop into an envelope and mail with a letter or card. Every person I know, would use one. Bloggers love them so much, they even dedicate blog space to them.
Yesterday, I found a UK Worldwide Trading Company website for Moleskine where £300 is the minimum first order they'll accept. Which involves ordering by the dozen in one go. Suits my purpose fine. But £300.... maybe I'll ask a friend to split part of the order with me.
We'd need to decide and agree on the best size - and paper, ie ruled, squared or plain. Right now, I'm thinking of the Pocket size 9 x14 cm with plain paper as it's described as a reliable, pocket-size travel companion for sketches, thoughts and passing notes. Trouble is, there are so many to choose from...
_ _ _
MOLESKINERIE
And other moleskine blogs
Bloggers love their Moleskines. Greg van Eekhout is completely sold on his, along with Joi Ito (sorry can't find link) and Lisa Williams who uses ruled paper - and a Fisher Space Pen that writes anywhere -- upside down, in the wet, in the cold -- and ink never leaks or smears.
Armand B Frasco welcomes writers, travellers, artistes, dreamers and all to his Moleskinerie blog.
And, there are 79 comments at Metafilter's Moleskine-ing discussion that may give some tips on a nifty pen or pencil to match the Moleskine pocket size notebook.
[With thanks to pomegranates and paper via A Life in Wales]
Used by Van Gogh, Matisse, Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin
Moleskine™ is a Trademark of Modo & Modo. Moleskine notebooks, a real cult item, are now available in a whole range of styles. Ideal for travelling, all Moleskine books have a hardback cover, an elastic closure and the hidden secret - an inner pocket which is perfect for keeping loose notes, bills, tickets and more.
Moleskine is a family of notebooks for different functions. Each Moleskine has a rigid, oilcloth bound 'moleskine' cover, and the acid free paper pages are thread bound. They also have an elastic closure and an expandable inner note holder made of cardboard and oilcloth and a removable card with the Moleskine history.
The pocket notebooks come in a variety of styles, including a Japanese pocket album with 60 pages of long continuous fold-out sheet for making visuals, photo albums etc. The plain notebook has a small pocket in the back cover to stick receipts, mementos, ticket stubs. It has a well built-in ribbon bookmark and an elastic strap to keep the book closed. The notebooks lay flat when open.
Modo Modo, located in Milan, Italy, is the current manufacturer of the legendary Italian made Moleskine notebooks, having revived it recent times. Retailers in the United States use the US distributor Kikkerland Design Inc of New York, NY.
_ _ _
MOLESKINE POCKET SIZE NOTEBOOKS
Neat gifts for birthdays and Christmas
Because Moleskine notebooks make such neat gifts, I'm thinking of buying a load for birthday and Christmas presents. They'd be simple for me to wrap, pop into an envelope and mail with a letter or card. Every person I know, would use one. Bloggers love them so much, they even dedicate blog space to them.
Yesterday, I found a UK Worldwide Trading Company website for Moleskine where £300 is the minimum first order they'll accept. Which involves ordering by the dozen in one go. Suits my purpose fine. But £300.... maybe I'll ask a friend to split part of the order with me.
We'd need to decide and agree on the best size - and paper, ie ruled, squared or plain. Right now, I'm thinking of the Pocket size 9 x14 cm with plain paper as it's described as a reliable, pocket-size travel companion for sketches, thoughts and passing notes. Trouble is, there are so many to choose from...
_ _ _
MOLESKINERIE
And other moleskine blogs
Bloggers love their Moleskines. Greg van Eekhout is completely sold on his, along with Joi Ito (sorry can't find link) and Lisa Williams who uses ruled paper - and a Fisher Space Pen that writes anywhere -- upside down, in the wet, in the cold -- and ink never leaks or smears.
Armand B Frasco welcomes writers, travellers, artistes, dreamers and all to his Moleskinerie blog.
And, there are 79 comments at Metafilter's Moleskine-ing discussion that may give some tips on a nifty pen or pencil to match the Moleskine pocket size notebook.
[With thanks to pomegranates and paper via A Life in Wales]
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/21/2004
0 comments
Saturday, March 20, 2004
AUTOPSY REPORT BLOG
Log of experiences as a Medical Examiner Intern
Brian's sidebar at Autopsy Report blog shows it is powered by FreeFind. There's a Blogger icon too. And a familiar banner ad at the top of the page. Wonder if it's a BlogSpot. I like his layout. And colour of text and links.
Note: Hello to blogging pathologist Madhu - this post is for you ;)
_ _ _
CHEMIST GOES TO MED SCHOOL BLOG
British blogger living in the Philippines
Found above Autopsy Report blog in Cathleen's sidebar at chemblog. In June, Cathleen, a chemist from the UK, is due to go to med school in the Philippines where she's lived for the past six years.
Last year, I found her blog through Technorati as she'd put me and ophelia in her sidebar. Her blog had no commenting facility or email for me to say thanks, nice to meet you. I've just found her other blog a chemist goes to med school which has a neat post on people's names: A Rhose, by Any Other Name. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" -- (Proverbs 22:1)
_ _ _
NO FERTILIZED DUCK EGGS FOR YOU!
Balut: A matter of taste
Excerpt from Cathleen's post on BALUT at chemblog:
"...BALUT, for those still blissfully ignorant non-Pinoys out there, is a fertilized duck egg. It is commonly sold with salt in a piece of newspaper, much like English fish and chips, by street vendors usually after dark, presumably so you can't see how gross it is. It's meant to be an aphrodisiac, although I can't imagine anything more likely to dispel sexual desire than crunching on a partially-formed baby duck swimming in noxious fluid. The embryo in the egg comes in varying stages of development, but basically it is not considered macho to eat one without fully discernable feathers, beak, and claws. Some say these crunchy bits are the best. Others prefer just to drink the so-called 'soup', the vile, pungent liquid that surrounds the aforementioned feathery fetus... excuse me, I have to go and throw up now. I'll be back in a minute."
Log of experiences as a Medical Examiner Intern
Brian's sidebar at Autopsy Report blog shows it is powered by FreeFind. There's a Blogger icon too. And a familiar banner ad at the top of the page. Wonder if it's a BlogSpot. I like his layout. And colour of text and links.
Note: Hello to blogging pathologist Madhu - this post is for you ;)
_ _ _
CHEMIST GOES TO MED SCHOOL BLOG
British blogger living in the Philippines
Found above Autopsy Report blog in Cathleen's sidebar at chemblog. In June, Cathleen, a chemist from the UK, is due to go to med school in the Philippines where she's lived for the past six years.
Last year, I found her blog through Technorati as she'd put me and ophelia in her sidebar. Her blog had no commenting facility or email for me to say thanks, nice to meet you. I've just found her other blog a chemist goes to med school which has a neat post on people's names: A Rhose, by Any Other Name. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" -- (Proverbs 22:1)
_ _ _
NO FERTILIZED DUCK EGGS FOR YOU!
Balut: A matter of taste
Excerpt from Cathleen's post on BALUT at chemblog:
"...BALUT, for those still blissfully ignorant non-Pinoys out there, is a fertilized duck egg. It is commonly sold with salt in a piece of newspaper, much like English fish and chips, by street vendors usually after dark, presumably so you can't see how gross it is. It's meant to be an aphrodisiac, although I can't imagine anything more likely to dispel sexual desire than crunching on a partially-formed baby duck swimming in noxious fluid. The embryo in the egg comes in varying stages of development, but basically it is not considered macho to eat one without fully discernable feathers, beak, and claws. Some say these crunchy bits are the best. Others prefer just to drink the so-called 'soup', the vile, pungent liquid that surrounds the aforementioned feathery fetus... excuse me, I have to go and throw up now. I'll be back in a minute."
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/20/2004
0 comments
_______________________________________________
BLOGGING SPRING SNOW IN BOSTON, USA
Phew, what a scorcher in Australia
Picturing Jim Moore's two sugar maples in Boston, enjoying themselves in the snow.
And John Rowbottom's dogs Charlie and Sam in Australia's 100 degree Fahrenheit this weekend.
_ _ _
JOZAN MAGAZINE
Oriental rug news
Jozan Magazine is an International web-site and digital magazine about oriental rugs and carpets. Includes Danish, Swedish and Norwegian versions. Articles on oriental rugs and carpets, auction calendar, sales gallery with rugs from their members and a very large educational rug gallery.
The educational photo-gallery with more than 1450 Persian, Anatolian, Caucasian, Turkmen and Balouch rugs is a important part of the magazine. Most of the images are published with permission from friendly dealers, auction houses, collectors and museums.
This post is a warm hello to Jim O'Connell to say sorry you are having such a horrible time with Bird et al. Just ignore them like they don't exist and keep on blogging ;)
BLOGGING SPRING SNOW IN BOSTON, USA
Phew, what a scorcher in Australia
Picturing Jim Moore's two sugar maples in Boston, enjoying themselves in the snow.
And John Rowbottom's dogs Charlie and Sam in Australia's 100 degree Fahrenheit this weekend.
_ _ _
JOZAN MAGAZINE
Oriental rug news
Jozan Magazine is an International web-site and digital magazine about oriental rugs and carpets. Includes Danish, Swedish and Norwegian versions. Articles on oriental rugs and carpets, auction calendar, sales gallery with rugs from their members and a very large educational rug gallery.
The educational photo-gallery with more than 1450 Persian, Anatolian, Caucasian, Turkmen and Balouch rugs is a important part of the magazine. Most of the images are published with permission from friendly dealers, auction houses, collectors and museums.
This post is a warm hello to Jim O'Connell to say sorry you are having such a horrible time with Bird et al. Just ignore them like they don't exist and keep on blogging ;)
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/20/2004
0 comments
______________________________________________
CANCER GIGGLES BLOG
Cancer, Life, Death, Illness and Politics
Excerpt: "This site is hopefully an idiot's guide to accepting, living with, laughing at and dying from cancer. The very, very last bit I can't be absolutely sure of but then who the hell can? I could have put together some beautifully crafted, grammatically correct essays but I hope you will understand, that when I say "I don't have a lot of time" I mean it far more literally than you do. I wanted to publish some thoughts which may just light a spark in some people."
_ _ _
GOODBYE CANDY GIRL
A celebration of a wonderful life
Emma Candy, known as Candygirl, got cancer and decided to write about it and other things. Emma faced her ordeal with great courage and dignity as her journal shows: may I be Frank?
CANCER GIGGLES BLOG
Cancer, Life, Death, Illness and Politics
Excerpt: "This site is hopefully an idiot's guide to accepting, living with, laughing at and dying from cancer. The very, very last bit I can't be absolutely sure of but then who the hell can? I could have put together some beautifully crafted, grammatically correct essays but I hope you will understand, that when I say "I don't have a lot of time" I mean it far more literally than you do. I wanted to publish some thoughts which may just light a spark in some people."
_ _ _
GOODBYE CANDY GIRL
A celebration of a wonderful life
Emma Candy, known as Candygirl, got cancer and decided to write about it and other things. Emma faced her ordeal with great courage and dignity as her journal shows: may I be Frank?
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/20/2004
0 comments
________________________________________________________
THANK GOD THE ANTI IRAQ WAR PROTESTORS
ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING US
Even the Iraqis say life has got better since the war
Don't you wonder why people, after eleven years and acres of news on Iraq under the full glare of the world's media, still bang on about wanting to know why we were taken to war? I do. Even in today's report on the demo in London to mark the Iraq war anniversary, it quotes Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, as saying: 'We reiterate our call for a full public inquiry because the public has a right to know why we were taken to war.'
I don't get what the anti Iraq war people are talking about or how they would protect us. See why in my comment below. Note the above report links to a wide-ranging poll, commissioned by the BBC in association with other international broadcasters, that has given a fresh insight into the views of Iraqis a year after the US-led war. Of 2,652 Iraqis surveyed, the majority said life has got better since the war. Even more expected further improvements.
_ _ _
DO NOT APPEASE THE TERRORISTS
Neutrality is not an option
Yesterday, in response to a post and comment made by an American blogger Fran, aka Redondowriter, I left the following comment over at Adagio's Life in Wales:
"My guess is that most people are against war. Hopefully too, most are opposed to terrorism. Terrorists must not be appeased. Neutrality is no option. Saddam Hussein for eleven years defied (too much to list here) and was given every opportunity to come clean and document what weapons he had stockpiled. In front of the world's media, he refused to do so. Even after defying UN resolutions. And in the last three days before March 18 2003, he was defiant. Why? What was he hiding?
He'd invaded, attacked his neighbour Iran. For what? He lost. As a result, he was not allowed to build up weapons of mass destruction. Why was the work of the UN weapons inspectors made so difficult, and for months at a time impossible? People who are anti the Iraq war seem to gloss over many issues, including the atrocities that Saddam Hussein committed, even against his own people - civilian men, women and children, not to mention the gassing of some 5,000.
I do not agree that the Americans are the laughing stock of the world nor that this is a very dark time for the US. Take the long view. History will vindicate President George Bush. To me, the world felt a mighty unsafe place on 9/11. I, for one, am grateful to the US and our Prime Minister for taking such bold and decisive action. It saddens me that the complexity of protecting us from mass murdering terrorists, in this day and age, is such an unappreciated and thankless task.
Recently, I blogged a post about the stomach churning walk through the deadly silence of Chernobyl. Click through the pictures of today. Read about the 400,000 people that have died and the countless others still suffering and dying. See all 17 pages of that site to remind yourselves everything - at any cost - must be done to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again - either by accident or chemical, biological or nuclear warfare.
What happened at Chernobyl shows that when it does happen, it's too late for man to do anything about it."
_ _ _
HAVE YOUR SAY
Are Iraqis better off now than before the war?
An opinion poll In Iraq suggests that people are happier than they were before the invasion, optimistic about the future and opposed to violence.
57% of Iraqis think their lives have improved since the former president, Saddam Hussein, was deposed.
Almost half (49%) believed the invasion of Iraq by the US-led coalition was right, although 41% felt that the invasion "humiliated Iraq".
The poll, of more than 2,500 adults, was carried out by Oxford Research International between February 10 and 28. It was commissioned by the BBC in association with other international broadcasters and coincides with the first anniversary of the start of the war that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Is Iraq a better place now? Here's what people are saying.
THANK GOD THE ANTI IRAQ WAR PROTESTORS
ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING US
Even the Iraqis say life has got better since the war
Don't you wonder why people, after eleven years and acres of news on Iraq under the full glare of the world's media, still bang on about wanting to know why we were taken to war? I do. Even in today's report on the demo in London to mark the Iraq war anniversary, it quotes Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, as saying: 'We reiterate our call for a full public inquiry because the public has a right to know why we were taken to war.'
I don't get what the anti Iraq war people are talking about or how they would protect us. See why in my comment below. Note the above report links to a wide-ranging poll, commissioned by the BBC in association with other international broadcasters, that has given a fresh insight into the views of Iraqis a year after the US-led war. Of 2,652 Iraqis surveyed, the majority said life has got better since the war. Even more expected further improvements.
_ _ _
DO NOT APPEASE THE TERRORISTS
Neutrality is not an option
Yesterday, in response to a post and comment made by an American blogger Fran, aka Redondowriter, I left the following comment over at Adagio's Life in Wales:
"My guess is that most people are against war. Hopefully too, most are opposed to terrorism. Terrorists must not be appeased. Neutrality is no option. Saddam Hussein for eleven years defied (too much to list here) and was given every opportunity to come clean and document what weapons he had stockpiled. In front of the world's media, he refused to do so. Even after defying UN resolutions. And in the last three days before March 18 2003, he was defiant. Why? What was he hiding?
He'd invaded, attacked his neighbour Iran. For what? He lost. As a result, he was not allowed to build up weapons of mass destruction. Why was the work of the UN weapons inspectors made so difficult, and for months at a time impossible? People who are anti the Iraq war seem to gloss over many issues, including the atrocities that Saddam Hussein committed, even against his own people - civilian men, women and children, not to mention the gassing of some 5,000.
I do not agree that the Americans are the laughing stock of the world nor that this is a very dark time for the US. Take the long view. History will vindicate President George Bush. To me, the world felt a mighty unsafe place on 9/11. I, for one, am grateful to the US and our Prime Minister for taking such bold and decisive action. It saddens me that the complexity of protecting us from mass murdering terrorists, in this day and age, is such an unappreciated and thankless task.
Recently, I blogged a post about the stomach churning walk through the deadly silence of Chernobyl. Click through the pictures of today. Read about the 400,000 people that have died and the countless others still suffering and dying. See all 17 pages of that site to remind yourselves everything - at any cost - must be done to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again - either by accident or chemical, biological or nuclear warfare.
What happened at Chernobyl shows that when it does happen, it's too late for man to do anything about it."
_ _ _
HAVE YOUR SAY
Are Iraqis better off now than before the war?
An opinion poll In Iraq suggests that people are happier than they were before the invasion, optimistic about the future and opposed to violence.
57% of Iraqis think their lives have improved since the former president, Saddam Hussein, was deposed.
Almost half (49%) believed the invasion of Iraq by the US-led coalition was right, although 41% felt that the invasion "humiliated Iraq".
The poll, of more than 2,500 adults, was carried out by Oxford Research International between February 10 and 28. It was commissioned by the BBC in association with other international broadcasters and coincides with the first anniversary of the start of the war that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Is Iraq a better place now? Here's what people are saying.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/20/2004
0 comments
Friday, March 19, 2004
NO CHICKEN FEET FOR YOU!
And snails in Cyprus
Enoch's No Chicken Feet For You! brought back memories. I'm sure I have eaten them in the way he suggests, but now wish I could say I had not.
My father served 25 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps and we lived for 3 years in Cyprus during the Eoka troubles. My brother was born at the British Military Hospital in Nicosia. As a child living near Famagusta - 200 yards from the beach - my friends and I sometimes played with chicken feet. The fun bit was (gross when I look back on it) if you pressed the ankley bit, the toes would wiggle :)
Now I've just remembered where we got the feet. An elderly Cypriot lady, dressed from head to toe in black, lived in the house behind ours. Her name was Despina. From our balcony, I'd watch her chase chickens around the back yard. As soon as she caught one, she'd chop off it's head, drop the chicken and walk back indoors, leaving it to run around until it dropped.
Later, she would return to cut off its feet and pack the unplucked chicken into a large ball of wet mud. An old clay oven sat at the end of her garden. She'd roll the mud ball into the oven, heated by a bed of white hot burning charcoal.
At sundown, she'd open the oven door, roll out the mud ball and give it one karate chop. The mud would crack open into two halves with all the feathers stuck inside. The heavenly aroma was unforgettable. Because the weather was very hot, I would sit on our balcony, in a tin wash tub filled with cold water, and watch her do all of this. I was six years old.
Despina spoke not a word of English, and I not a word of Greek. Somehow we understood each other, and spent hours together. On warm dewy mornings, at the crack of dawn, I'd creep over to her house for breakfast. Together we'd collect snails from her lush garden and put them into a galvanised bucket filled with vinegar water. After boiling the bucket on her indoor stove, she would carry it outdoors, with chunks of unlevened bread gathered in her apron. We'd sit together on a bench in her garden, under her dreamy hanging vines heavily laden with black grapes (the size of plums) and, using a pin, ate the bucket load - while watching the sun come up.
Each day, Despina brewed fresh Turkish coffee that you could stand a spoon in. After drinking a cup, she'd do her daily 'reading'. And cried when she told us of our posting date back to England, even before we and the British army knew of our leaving.
And snails in Cyprus
Enoch's No Chicken Feet For You! brought back memories. I'm sure I have eaten them in the way he suggests, but now wish I could say I had not.
My father served 25 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps and we lived for 3 years in Cyprus during the Eoka troubles. My brother was born at the British Military Hospital in Nicosia. As a child living near Famagusta - 200 yards from the beach - my friends and I sometimes played with chicken feet. The fun bit was (gross when I look back on it) if you pressed the ankley bit, the toes would wiggle :)
Now I've just remembered where we got the feet. An elderly Cypriot lady, dressed from head to toe in black, lived in the house behind ours. Her name was Despina. From our balcony, I'd watch her chase chickens around the back yard. As soon as she caught one, she'd chop off it's head, drop the chicken and walk back indoors, leaving it to run around until it dropped.
Later, she would return to cut off its feet and pack the unplucked chicken into a large ball of wet mud. An old clay oven sat at the end of her garden. She'd roll the mud ball into the oven, heated by a bed of white hot burning charcoal.
At sundown, she'd open the oven door, roll out the mud ball and give it one karate chop. The mud would crack open into two halves with all the feathers stuck inside. The heavenly aroma was unforgettable. Because the weather was very hot, I would sit on our balcony, in a tin wash tub filled with cold water, and watch her do all of this. I was six years old.
Despina spoke not a word of English, and I not a word of Greek. Somehow we understood each other, and spent hours together. On warm dewy mornings, at the crack of dawn, I'd creep over to her house for breakfast. Together we'd collect snails from her lush garden and put them into a galvanised bucket filled with vinegar water. After boiling the bucket on her indoor stove, she would carry it outdoors, with chunks of unlevened bread gathered in her apron. We'd sit together on a bench in her garden, under her dreamy hanging vines heavily laden with black grapes (the size of plums) and, using a pin, ate the bucket load - while watching the sun come up.
Each day, Despina brewed fresh Turkish coffee that you could stand a spoon in. After drinking a cup, she'd do her daily 'reading'. And cried when she told us of our posting date back to England, even before we and the British army knew of our leaving.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/19/2004
0 comments
_______________________________________________
NEW BLOG SURVEY RESULTS
Expectations of Privacy and Accountability
Today, I received the Summary of Findings of a blog survey that I participated in late last year.
NEW BLOG SURVEY RESULTS
Expectations of Privacy and Accountability
Today, I received the Summary of Findings of a blog survey that I participated in late last year.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/19/2004
0 comments
Thursday, March 18, 2004
CLIVE SOLEY'S HISTORIC FABIAN PAPER
One year on from the start of the Iraq war
One year ago, on March 18, 2003, 412 MPs voted for military action in Iraq and 149 voted against.
One year ago today, 18 months after 9/11, Saddam Hussein hunkered down in defiance of years of UN resolutions. He gambled that the USA and its European allies: Britain, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Poland and most of the other eastern European countries, were bluffing. Who wants him back in power now?
The Fabian Society scheduled March 18, 2004 as the date for publishing a paper, written by Clive Soley MP, on failing states and dictators. Clive has published the whole paper on his weblog. It's the first time that a Fabian Society paper has appeared on a weblog.
One year on from the start of the Iraq war
One year ago, on March 18, 2003, 412 MPs voted for military action in Iraq and 149 voted against.
One year ago today, 18 months after 9/11, Saddam Hussein hunkered down in defiance of years of UN resolutions. He gambled that the USA and its European allies: Britain, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Poland and most of the other eastern European countries, were bluffing. Who wants him back in power now?
The Fabian Society scheduled March 18, 2004 as the date for publishing a paper, written by Clive Soley MP, on failing states and dictators. Clive has published the whole paper on his weblog. It's the first time that a Fabian Society paper has appeared on a weblog.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/18/2004
0 comments
___________________________________________
NEW SPANISH GOVERNMENT MUST NOT APPEASE THE TERRORISTS
Neutrality is not an option
BBC news report Spain to re-join 'Old Europe' extract: "Along with Spain - the closest European allies of the US over Iraq and its strategy against terrorism - are Britain, Denmark, Italy, Poland and most of the other eastern European countries - which will join the European Union in May.
The winner of the Spanish general election, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has promised to end Spain's close alliance with the US over Iraq and to revive its traditional ties with France and Germany. The political landscape of Europe may again be split in two.
Within hours of the election result, Mr Zapatero condemned the Iraq war and its US-led occupation as "disasters". He said President George Bush and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair should engage in "self-criticism" for their mistakes."
IMO the new Spanish government - and others - must not appease the terrorists. Neutrality is not an option. Take the long view. US President Bush and UK Prime Minister Blair and their European allies will be vindicated.
_ _ _
PAULY MCGRUPP
And Schanzer's Garage blog
Here's a copy of my recent comment to Pauly:
Pauly, I hope Schanzer writes a piece in his blog on the recent elections in Spain and what happened in Madrid.
I'm trying to understand the logic of people's varying opinions, and figure whose side they are on.
Would those who were anti the war in Iraq prefer that Saddam Hussein was still in power, committing atrocities, posing a threat to the region and future oil supplies?
Recently, the Spaniards voted out their Conservative government because it supported the US-UK led war against terrorism.
Instead, they've voted in a Socialist government that announced - on day one in office - its top priority will be to fight terrorism.
Maybe I've not read enough background information on this. If voters read even less than I do, what hope is there that they are understanding the issues?
_ _ _
THE RAIN IN SPAIN
By a British Blogger in Australia
John Rowbottom is English and lives with his wife in Australia – in Mandurah, on the Indian Ocean about an hour south of Perth in Western Australia. In a few months time, they'll get Australian citizenship.
John immerses himself in UK culture as he still works in the UK. It was his homeland for some forty years. One of his jobs is writing quiz questions for pubs in England. He keeps abreast of news, TV, sport etc. in the “mother country” where his children still live, and tends to blog mostly about English things (politics, English cricket, Sheffield Wednesday etc).
He has an interesting point of view on terrorism and the terrible bombing attacks in Madrid, Spain.
_ _ _
AL-QAEDA ADMITS IT CARRIED OUT ATTACKS
In Madrid, Istanbul and Iraq
BBC News reports that al-Quaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks in Madrid, which killed 201 commuters last week, and bombings in Istanbul and Iraq. A statement, claiming to come from al-Qaeda, has warned of imminent terrorist attacks in Britain and other countries.
The statement e-mailed to Arab news organisations on Wednesday night was signed by a group which said it carried out attacks in Madrid and Istanbul. It warned the UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia that a "brigade of death" was targeting them and other countries.
But it also said it was freezing its operations in Spain as a reward for the new government's stance on Iraq. Spain's prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has said he will pull Spain's 1,300 troops out of Iraq unless the UN intervenes.
NEW SPANISH GOVERNMENT MUST NOT APPEASE THE TERRORISTS
Neutrality is not an option
BBC news report Spain to re-join 'Old Europe' extract: "Along with Spain - the closest European allies of the US over Iraq and its strategy against terrorism - are Britain, Denmark, Italy, Poland and most of the other eastern European countries - which will join the European Union in May.
The winner of the Spanish general election, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has promised to end Spain's close alliance with the US over Iraq and to revive its traditional ties with France and Germany. The political landscape of Europe may again be split in two.
Within hours of the election result, Mr Zapatero condemned the Iraq war and its US-led occupation as "disasters". He said President George Bush and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair should engage in "self-criticism" for their mistakes."
IMO the new Spanish government - and others - must not appease the terrorists. Neutrality is not an option. Take the long view. US President Bush and UK Prime Minister Blair and their European allies will be vindicated.
_ _ _
PAULY MCGRUPP
And Schanzer's Garage blog
Here's a copy of my recent comment to Pauly:
Pauly, I hope Schanzer writes a piece in his blog on the recent elections in Spain and what happened in Madrid.
I'm trying to understand the logic of people's varying opinions, and figure whose side they are on.
Would those who were anti the war in Iraq prefer that Saddam Hussein was still in power, committing atrocities, posing a threat to the region and future oil supplies?
Recently, the Spaniards voted out their Conservative government because it supported the US-UK led war against terrorism.
Instead, they've voted in a Socialist government that announced - on day one in office - its top priority will be to fight terrorism.
Maybe I've not read enough background information on this. If voters read even less than I do, what hope is there that they are understanding the issues?
_ _ _
THE RAIN IN SPAIN
By a British Blogger in Australia
John Rowbottom is English and lives with his wife in Australia – in Mandurah, on the Indian Ocean about an hour south of Perth in Western Australia. In a few months time, they'll get Australian citizenship.
John immerses himself in UK culture as he still works in the UK. It was his homeland for some forty years. One of his jobs is writing quiz questions for pubs in England. He keeps abreast of news, TV, sport etc. in the “mother country” where his children still live, and tends to blog mostly about English things (politics, English cricket, Sheffield Wednesday etc).
He has an interesting point of view on terrorism and the terrible bombing attacks in Madrid, Spain.
_ _ _
AL-QAEDA ADMITS IT CARRIED OUT ATTACKS
In Madrid, Istanbul and Iraq
BBC News reports that al-Quaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks in Madrid, which killed 201 commuters last week, and bombings in Istanbul and Iraq. A statement, claiming to come from al-Qaeda, has warned of imminent terrorist attacks in Britain and other countries.
The statement e-mailed to Arab news organisations on Wednesday night was signed by a group which said it carried out attacks in Madrid and Istanbul. It warned the UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia that a "brigade of death" was targeting them and other countries.
But it also said it was freezing its operations in Spain as a reward for the new government's stance on Iraq. Spain's prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has said he will pull Spain's 1,300 troops out of Iraq unless the UN intervenes.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/18/2004
0 comments
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
WHERE'S PHIL WOLFF AND JAMES K LEE?
Obits and blogs frozen in time and space
So glad Lisa's asked where's Phil Wolff? Last week, I thought of writing the same post but did not want to appear alarmist. Like Lisa says, some bloggers do take breaks.
Phil of Blogcount is a prolific veteran blogger. Recently, he took a short blogging break but warned us in advance. On Feb 16, his main blog froze, without warning. Hope he is OK.
Lisa also linked to Phil's Obituaries A La Blog, which I'd earmarked for a draft post on my blogging friend James K Lee.
James lives with his wife and their children on the west coast of America. I've not heard from him since mid December. His blog has been dangling - frozen in time - since Christmas. No update. No word. No reply to my emails or comments. Strange. Out of character. Can't help feeling it's bad news. Here's pinging American blogger Don Park via Technorati to ask what he thinks could have happened to James.
Obits and blogs frozen in time and space
So glad Lisa's asked where's Phil Wolff? Last week, I thought of writing the same post but did not want to appear alarmist. Like Lisa says, some bloggers do take breaks.
Phil of Blogcount is a prolific veteran blogger. Recently, he took a short blogging break but warned us in advance. On Feb 16, his main blog froze, without warning. Hope he is OK.
Lisa also linked to Phil's Obituaries A La Blog, which I'd earmarked for a draft post on my blogging friend James K Lee.
James lives with his wife and their children on the west coast of America. I've not heard from him since mid December. His blog has been dangling - frozen in time - since Christmas. No update. No word. No reply to my emails or comments. Strange. Out of character. Can't help feeling it's bad news. Here's pinging American blogger Don Park via Technorati to ask what he thinks could have happened to James.
# posted by Ingrid J. Jones @ 3/17/2004
0 comments
HOMEPAGE
July 2003
August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
January 2007
February 2007
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
January 2009
February 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
October 2009
November 2009
January 2010
June 2010
August 2010
Thank you to Blogger for this weblog - you can start yours for free now at:
Please contact me anytime
Email: Ingrid Jones
_______________________________________________
JIBOT'S
Fun brain
Not sure how Jibot's brain came about, but it's fun. Thanks Lisa.
_ _ _
ECTO NOW SUPPORTS DEL.ICIO.US
Delicious feed as an RSS feed
Joi Ito explains Ecto now supports del.icio.us. Seems Ecto is a great blogging tool.
Update: More on ecto and del.icio.us from Ado and Elizabeth Lane Lawley
_ _ _
BEST OF BRITISH
Angle-Grinder Man
Recently, James Heming the Radio Invicta D.J. did a feature on Angle-Grinder Man and gave out the website on his breakfast show.
In appreciation, Angle-Grinder Man offered him and his team the special 'Gold-Star' cover, entitling them to preferential protection against wheel-clamping 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout the whole Kent and London. Heh. Best of British luck to the ingenious showman. [via Joi Ito]
_ _ _
POOKIE ITO
More fun for Bo
Mizuka and Joi Ito now have a second puppy named Pookie. Other than the photo, no intro posted. Maybe Joi's fiancee, Mizuko, surprised him with Pookie when he arrived home from one of his trips. Heh. Big softies. All four of them.
Update Mar 20: Three dogs
Extract from Joi's Diary: "Not that most of you will care, but we have three dogs now. Our friend moved to a new apartment and couldn't keep her dog, Dino. Dino's a bit stressed from being in quarantine at Narita for a month. We got Pookie from another neighbor. Anyway, Bo, Pookie and Dino are running around the house right now like the cartoon Tasmanian devil."
JIBOT'S
Fun brain
Not sure how Jibot's brain came about, but it's fun. Thanks Lisa.
_ _ _
ECTO NOW SUPPORTS DEL.ICIO.US
Delicious feed as an RSS feed
Joi Ito explains Ecto now supports del.icio.us. Seems Ecto is a great blogging tool.
Update: More on ecto and del.icio.us from Ado and Elizabeth Lane Lawley
_ _ _
BEST OF BRITISH
Angle-Grinder Man
Recently, James Heming the Radio Invicta D.J. did a feature on Angle-Grinder Man and gave out the website on his breakfast show.
In appreciation, Angle-Grinder Man offered him and his team the special 'Gold-Star' cover, entitling them to preferential protection against wheel-clamping 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout the whole Kent and London. Heh. Best of British luck to the ingenious showman. [via Joi Ito]
_ _ _
POOKIE ITO
More fun for Bo
Mizuka and Joi Ito now have a second puppy named Pookie. Other than the photo, no intro posted. Maybe Joi's fiancee, Mizuko, surprised him with Pookie when he arrived home from one of his trips. Heh. Big softies. All four of them.
Update Mar 20: Three dogs
Extract from Joi's Diary: "Not that most of you will care, but we have three dogs now. Our friend moved to a new apartment and couldn't keep her dog, Dino. Dino's a bit stressed from being in quarantine at Narita for a month. We got Pookie from another neighbor. Anyway, Bo, Pookie and Dino are running around the house right now like the cartoon Tasmanian devil."
ME and Ophelia
is the personal blog of Ingrid J. Jones
I live by the sea in England, United Kingdom
Here on my laptop I communicate to my friends
About things in general and my life with M.E. and cat Ophelia
Home user technology and business services
Food and household management
How it all impacts on my *lifestyle management programme*
And my battle for more energy.
My Blogger Profile
My other blogs:
Archive:
HOMEPAGE
July 2003
August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
January 2007
February 2007
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
January 2009
February 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
October 2009
November 2009
January 2010
June 2010
August 2010
Thank you to Blogger for this weblog - you can start yours for free now at:
Please contact me anytime
Email: Ingrid Jones