Reading: Guillermo del Toro
Viewing: The Edukators
Listening to: Depeche Mode
Thinking: Memento Mori
Travelling: by volcanic train mostly these days
Last picture: Laeken palace
2010-04-26
Elshioner
Reading: Guillermo del Toro
Viewing: The Edukators
Listening to: Depeche Mode
Thinking: Memento Mori
Travelling: by volcanic train mostly these days
Last picture: Laeken palace
2010-03-31
World 2020
In Vlaanderen is de regering al een tijdje bezig met de recyclage van een "government programme" die de reflectie over 2020 en de daarbij passende beschaving op gang wil brengen.
Massa's denktanks, massa's geldstromen naar louche VZWs en massa media-aandacht (onder andere met de "ik doe" campagnes op de openbare omroepen) en wat is het resultaat?
Geen KAT die naar de website van "Vlaanderen in Actie" gaat en geen KAT die ernaar omkijkt - laat staan om geeft: who cares and fuck you very much - en dan gaan ze rustig nog wat drugsvoetbal kijken.
En waarom? - omdat er geschiedkundig gezien altijd slechts maar een kleine minderheid, soms ook elite genoemd, zich bezig hield met het doorduwen van hun maatschappijvisie. - omdat de uprising van die zogezegde massa-sociale bewegingen altijd gepiloteerd, verkracht en eigenlijk snel uitgeblust is eenmaal ze aan de macht komen. - omdat een top-down "motiverende" campagne van een politieke kaste die hopeloos 20-eeuws georganiseerd is en aldus voorbijgestreefd, nog het meeste lijkt op het doodspartelen van een versgeviste pladijs op de band van de vismijn, happend naar lucht terwijl het fileren reeds begonnen is.
Al dit weggepiste overheidsgeld en die doorgespoelde dure ambtenarenuren zouden beter in fundatmenteel onderzoek worden gestopt: zo denk ik onder meer aan
- mobiliteit 2020: houdt onder meer in "péage" op alle wegen, schone kleine auto'tjes (waar aub nog een beetje esthetiek aan zit!)en openbaar vervoer dat werkt (wie heeft er goestin om met de trein naar Straatsburg te rijden vandaag?)
- crèches 2020 & schooltoegang naar kwaliteitsvol onderwijs met gemotiveerde leerkrachten zodat ons klein mannen met een goede algemene "humaniora" opvoeding tot 4-talige wereldburgers worden opgeleid die GOESTING hebben om iets met hun welvarendheid, rijkdom, vrede en politieke inzichten te doen
- vrede 2020, net zoals wij die vandaag kennen (dus mét een leger dat inzetbaar is waar nodig en mét politie die durft optreden), en natuurlijk is iedereen hier welkom; als en slechts als ze zich integreren en voor zichzelf een bestaan uitbouwen (en dus niet om hier zo maar even te komen uitblazen en niks te doen)
- steden waar het fijn en veilig is om rond te lopen en een platteland dat nog bestaat en niet wegverkavelt of kapotgemest is
- een overheid die doet waar ze best in is, nl. vereenvoudigen, stimuleren, redden wat anders verloren gaat (patrimonium!) en voor de rest mij gerust laten en mijn belastinggeld optimaal en efficient en DUURZAAM besteden
- een overheid die mee ervoor zorgt dat de collectieve welvaart bewaard blijft en die geen oude koeien uit reeds gedempte sloten wil blijven halen
Zolang er geen daadkracht is, en goesting om te beslissen in dit land, rijden we onszelf vast in de modder van de gemiste kansen: neem nu de Lange Wapper, of de RER rond Brussel, of nog het herdynamiseren van de faillite auto-industrie, of de lamlendige "redding" der grootbanken, of nog het oeverloos gezeik over de dringende staatshervorming: waar is de "hoogdringendheid"? en ondertussen rotten de poolkappen verder omdat wij nog bezig zijn met het uittekenen van de monopolies op het herverdelen van groene stroomcertificaten of eco-uitstoot-rechten.
Een visie op 2020 zou moeten behelsen: nucleaire reactors van de volgende generaties die energieonafhankelijkheid garanderen, een vergevorderde research naar groene, cleane productiemogelijkheden in landbouw en industrie met praktische applicaties, innoverende en tewerkstellende bedrijven die de grotendeels uitgedunde ambtenarenklasse opvangt (schaf potverdorie die provincies af, en fuseer alle gemeenten in de grote steden), een slagvaardig eengemaakt politiek Europa waar nét genoeg ambtenaren rondlopen om de veiligheid (met een EU leger) en de markt, en de mensenrechten, en de commerciële slagkracht van de Unie te bewaken. Vrijheid van meningsuiting, op zijn Voltairs waar met bereid is te sterven opdat u het recht heeft te denken wat u maar wil!
en dan natuurlijk.... quid post-2020, wanneer de nieuwe Hunnen voor de deur staan, als roofbouwkapitalist of klimaatvluchteling. Hoe lang gaan we geo-engineering uitstellen, of het bevruchten van de Sahara, hoelang gaan we mensen de ontziltingstechnieken blijven ontzeggen en hun blijven verdoemen tot dorst, honger en verkrachting; hoelang nog gaan we een paar muntjes aan vakbonden en vzw's geven om te blijven kakken op ontbossing en vervuiling: NEEN zeg ik u: massaal ondernemen, massaal bomen planten, massaal terug voor de natuur gaan zorgen!
het groene gedachtengoed mag men niet aan de extremisten laten! de ideologie van de "panem et circenses", populistische politici moet eruit gepleurd.
dit gezegd en geschreven zijnde ga ik nu de moestuin omspitten - als dat geen goed begin van de dag is. Bedenk Mens, dat ge sterfelijk zijt.
Massa's denktanks, massa's geldstromen naar louche VZWs en massa media-aandacht (onder andere met de "ik doe" campagnes op de openbare omroepen) en wat is het resultaat?
Geen KAT die naar de website van "Vlaanderen in Actie" gaat en geen KAT die ernaar omkijkt - laat staan om geeft: who cares and fuck you very much - en dan gaan ze rustig nog wat drugsvoetbal kijken.
En waarom? - omdat er geschiedkundig gezien altijd slechts maar een kleine minderheid, soms ook elite genoemd, zich bezig hield met het doorduwen van hun maatschappijvisie. - omdat de uprising van die zogezegde massa-sociale bewegingen altijd gepiloteerd, verkracht en eigenlijk snel uitgeblust is eenmaal ze aan de macht komen. - omdat een top-down "motiverende" campagne van een politieke kaste die hopeloos 20-eeuws georganiseerd is en aldus voorbijgestreefd, nog het meeste lijkt op het doodspartelen van een versgeviste pladijs op de band van de vismijn, happend naar lucht terwijl het fileren reeds begonnen is.
Al dit weggepiste overheidsgeld en die doorgespoelde dure ambtenarenuren zouden beter in fundatmenteel onderzoek worden gestopt: zo denk ik onder meer aan
- mobiliteit 2020: houdt onder meer in "péage" op alle wegen, schone kleine auto'tjes (waar aub nog een beetje esthetiek aan zit!)en openbaar vervoer dat werkt (wie heeft er goestin om met de trein naar Straatsburg te rijden vandaag?)
- crèches 2020 & schooltoegang naar kwaliteitsvol onderwijs met gemotiveerde leerkrachten zodat ons klein mannen met een goede algemene "humaniora" opvoeding tot 4-talige wereldburgers worden opgeleid die GOESTING hebben om iets met hun welvarendheid, rijkdom, vrede en politieke inzichten te doen
- vrede 2020, net zoals wij die vandaag kennen (dus mét een leger dat inzetbaar is waar nodig en mét politie die durft optreden), en natuurlijk is iedereen hier welkom; als en slechts als ze zich integreren en voor zichzelf een bestaan uitbouwen (en dus niet om hier zo maar even te komen uitblazen en niks te doen)
- steden waar het fijn en veilig is om rond te lopen en een platteland dat nog bestaat en niet wegverkavelt of kapotgemest is
- een overheid die doet waar ze best in is, nl. vereenvoudigen, stimuleren, redden wat anders verloren gaat (patrimonium!) en voor de rest mij gerust laten en mijn belastinggeld optimaal en efficient en DUURZAAM besteden
- een overheid die mee ervoor zorgt dat de collectieve welvaart bewaard blijft en die geen oude koeien uit reeds gedempte sloten wil blijven halen
Zolang er geen daadkracht is, en goesting om te beslissen in dit land, rijden we onszelf vast in de modder van de gemiste kansen: neem nu de Lange Wapper, of de RER rond Brussel, of nog het herdynamiseren van de faillite auto-industrie, of de lamlendige "redding" der grootbanken, of nog het oeverloos gezeik over de dringende staatshervorming: waar is de "hoogdringendheid"? en ondertussen rotten de poolkappen verder omdat wij nog bezig zijn met het uittekenen van de monopolies op het herverdelen van groene stroomcertificaten of eco-uitstoot-rechten.
Een visie op 2020 zou moeten behelsen: nucleaire reactors van de volgende generaties die energieonafhankelijkheid garanderen, een vergevorderde research naar groene, cleane productiemogelijkheden in landbouw en industrie met praktische applicaties, innoverende en tewerkstellende bedrijven die de grotendeels uitgedunde ambtenarenklasse opvangt (schaf potverdorie die provincies af, en fuseer alle gemeenten in de grote steden), een slagvaardig eengemaakt politiek Europa waar nét genoeg ambtenaren rondlopen om de veiligheid (met een EU leger) en de markt, en de mensenrechten, en de commerciële slagkracht van de Unie te bewaken. Vrijheid van meningsuiting, op zijn Voltairs waar met bereid is te sterven opdat u het recht heeft te denken wat u maar wil!
en dan natuurlijk.... quid post-2020, wanneer de nieuwe Hunnen voor de deur staan, als roofbouwkapitalist of klimaatvluchteling. Hoe lang gaan we geo-engineering uitstellen, of het bevruchten van de Sahara, hoelang gaan we mensen de ontziltingstechnieken blijven ontzeggen en hun blijven verdoemen tot dorst, honger en verkrachting; hoelang nog gaan we een paar muntjes aan vakbonden en vzw's geven om te blijven kakken op ontbossing en vervuiling: NEEN zeg ik u: massaal ondernemen, massaal bomen planten, massaal terug voor de natuur gaan zorgen!
het groene gedachtengoed mag men niet aan de extremisten laten! de ideologie van de "panem et circenses", populistische politici moet eruit gepleurd.
dit gezegd en geschreven zijnde ga ik nu de moestuin omspitten - als dat geen goed begin van de dag is. Bedenk Mens, dat ge sterfelijk zijt.
2010-03-29
Pee in the shower - save 4000l of water (Xixi no Banho)
A Brazilian gov't campaign urges YOU to pee in the shower
2010-02-01
Kill Bill (Vagant edition 2010)
Reading: Wired, Journaal & Harper's Bazaar
Viewing: In the Valley of Elah
Listening to: Depeche Mode Live in A'pen
Thinking: wenst de Vlaamsche administratie een leuke werkweek toe en hoopt dat mijn aupair dossier rap in orde is
Travelling: Geneva, London, Washington-NYC-Philadelpia, Paris
Last picture: See above
Gangsta's Paradise
Schietpartijen in Brussel
Wapens in de goot, en gangsters in een gebouw
de politie staat weeral in de kou
Wapens in de goot, en gangsters in een gebouw
de politie staat weeral in de kou
2010-01-14
Most idiot job description of 2009
read in the newspaper interview of the failed attempt by activists to destabilize the Copenhagen summit in 2009-12: interview of XX, 21years old climate activist
how sad
He should rather have read Stewart BRAND, hippie and avant-garde environmentalist, and a true eye-opener: read last weekend's FT interview
For more than 40 years, Brand has been at the nexus between California’s counterculture and its technological avant-garde. A quintessential 1960s figure – one of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, he appears on the second page of Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test – who organised a “trips festival”, which brought together 10,000 people to listen to the Grateful Dead and drink acid-laced punch, he is also a Stanford-educated biologist and anthropologist interested in information systems and networks. In short, he has foreseen the future; sometimes blurrily but more often than not with immense prescience. For Brand is an intellectual entrepreneur; he makes ideas happen. His 1968 brainchild, the Whole Earth Catalog, an encyclopaedic review of all that a commune-dweller might need, has been described by Steve Jobs as “sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along”. His latest book, Whole Earth Discipline, throws down a gauntlet to the environmental movement he once helped to nurture.
how sad
He should rather have read Stewart BRAND, hippie and avant-garde environmentalist, and a true eye-opener: read last weekend's FT interview
For more than 40 years, Brand has been at the nexus between California’s counterculture and its technological avant-garde. A quintessential 1960s figure – one of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, he appears on the second page of Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test – who organised a “trips festival”, which brought together 10,000 people to listen to the Grateful Dead and drink acid-laced punch, he is also a Stanford-educated biologist and anthropologist interested in information systems and networks. In short, he has foreseen the future; sometimes blurrily but more often than not with immense prescience. For Brand is an intellectual entrepreneur; he makes ideas happen. His 1968 brainchild, the Whole Earth Catalog, an encyclopaedic review of all that a commune-dweller might need, has been described by Steve Jobs as “sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along”. His latest book, Whole Earth Discipline, throws down a gauntlet to the environmental movement he once helped to nurture.
2010-01-04
Pa'i Puku water tank
this water tank was built in 2003-2004 with gifts from friends at the occasion of our marriage! It provides water for drinking and bathing to over 500 children in the Paraguayan Chaco - thanks again to all kind donors!
Reading: Steward Brand
Viewing: Star Wars
Listening to: 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack
Thinking: PSR - Personal Social Responsibility
Travelling: Paris, Geneva, Marseille, London, Kampala (and maybe a little bit of Washington on the side)
Last picture: the 4 Seasons, Cinquantainaire Parc in Brussels (see "wacondah" on Flickr)
Happy New Year 2010
For 2010, we wish you an excellent "Getting things done strategy":
"Write down, Defer and Delete, Review, Commit, Reserve time and Execute, Cycle back for criticism, Ditch the things you can and don't like, Have fun at each of the steps". (that's already a shitload of work before the "commit")
In addition, try some lateral thinking, jack-move your brain out of lethargy and "idée-fixe" and write some poetry...
2009-12-24
2009-12-18
Shovel some snow
I heard the news today, oh Boy.... We've found the antidote: go and shovel snow
Whilst the police were cordonning off Schuman yesterday, a massive traffic infarctus unfolded in the Kingdom due to some foreseen-yet-massive snowfall (approx. 7cm... leading to the worst traffic jams in history - 500KM). The cops were standing by "hoping" for some demonstrators to show up, who were obviously held up elsewhere, waiting in vain for the cops to show some creativity in resolving traffic incidents. Get those demonstrators and cops to show solidarity by shoveling snow
Our dear PM was on the radio pledging to "have a structural solution" for the homeless....by the end of February (2010?) and then strutted his stuff to the airport to be told that all flying had been cancelled... and as a result he'd be better off shoveling snow so that the homeless have clean sidewalks!
The blaming-game on the Assassination of the Senne led the Brussels Minister to "leave the Copenhaguen summit in urgency (What was she doing there anyway?)... she'd be better off shoveling snow and debris at the treatment station
... and the kids and I were happily outside enjoying a bit of unstressing, "shoveling snow"...
For all your practical problems, a practical solution: shovel snow, it's relaxing, clears pathways, demonstrates solidarity, keeps you warm, gives your heart a workout, prepares the driveway to roll out without easy, back in touch with your inner child, enjoy the silence, listen to nature, smile at your neighbour, enjoy the flatout whiteness...... etc....
2009-11-19
Wereld Toilet Dag (Haiku)
Our dear Prime Minister Van Rompuy may be named the First President of the European Union today, he's well known to be a proficient haiku-master. In honour of World Toilet Day,we posted the one below to his site!
En vandaag 2009-11-19 Wereldtoiletdag één speciaal over de 2,5 miljard mensen die aan open defecatie doen (ook "flying toilets" genoemd)
En vandaag 2009-11-19 Wereldtoiletdag één speciaal over de 2,5 miljard mensen die aan open defecatie doen (ook "flying toilets" genoemd)
Wereldtoiletdag
Leg een drol en spoel de chasj
Elders vliegt een zak
World Toilet Day 2009
Beste Stubru,
Bravo met het initiatief om op zoek te gaan naar Vlaanderen’s schoonste toilet, hierdoor vestigt u de aandacht op een van ’s werelds best bewaarde geheimen; the sanitation crisis
Als Scottex nu eens een daad van civiek gedrag zou doen door het bedrag aan toiletpapier te schenken aan het bouwen van beveiligde wc’s en latrines voor vrouwen en meisjes in een derde wereldland, dan zou mijn wereldtoiletdag al geslaagd zijn! (zie bijlage)
Indeed, 2,5 miljard mensen zijn verplicht om aan “open defecatie” te doen, waardoor ze niet alleen persoonlijk gevaar lopen (verkrachting etc…) maar waardoor ook de drinkwatervoorraden etc. vervuild worden. Gedenk de “flying toilets” in Kibera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_toilet) maar vandaag: inbijlage een aantal voorbeelden waarvan wij hopen dat ze in Vlaanderen althans zich niet meer voordoen.
Meer informatie op http://www.wsscc.org/ (WASH campagne: Water, Sanitation and Health)
U kan mij desgevallend altijd contacteren, maar waarom niet bellen naar PROTOS,Vlaanderens’ meest prominente NGO die er iets aan doet!
Achtingsvolle groeten
2009-11-10
VanderKelen versus Van Ranst: an accusation of Soviet Medicine by a Populist rumor-spreader: 0-1
Belgian National Flu Commissioner Marc Van Ranst, widely regarded as a solid scientific, and widely recognized by the political and medical establishment as pulling off a great job re: the Mexican flu pandemic in Belgium, has had his ass kicked this morning by a commentator from populist newspaper 't Laatste Niuews.
In a reaction on what he thought about Belgian soccer players getting themselves vaccinated in the horizon period reserved for "at risk" populations, the Flu commissioner stated that he found this to be uncivil, totally unacceptable and threathening all the good work that had been done.
My comments: long live the stalinist doctors if they manage a pandemic of this scale and scr*w the commentators (and the soccer players): the soccer players have NO right to be the first in line (even if they were pulling off great stunts like winning world chamionships or something, NOT) and the commentators should focus on the defficiencies in soccer training for kids rather than defend an already tarnished national competition, unworthy of that name... Quit whining Vander Kelen, and go write something really useful.
In a reaction on what he thought about Belgian soccer players getting themselves vaccinated in the horizon period reserved for "at risk" populations, the Flu commissioner stated that he found this to be uncivil, totally unacceptable and threathening all the good work that had been done.
The journalist now accuses the Flu commisioner of practicing soviet medicine.
My comments: long live the stalinist doctors if they manage a pandemic of this scale and scr*w the commentators (and the soccer players): the soccer players have NO right to be the first in line (even if they were pulling off great stunts like winning world chamionships or something, NOT) and the commentators should focus on the defficiencies in soccer training for kids rather than defend an already tarnished national competition, unworthy of that name... Quit whining Vander Kelen, and go write something really useful.
2009-10-12
Now Let's Kill that Fucking Band
Kevin Costner, last night in Gent, with his "true americana" "Kevin Costner & Modern West". Forget to take Stetson so didn't really mingle with the crowd...
2009-10-09
Go Back Up
Did you know that laptop theft, even from the most "so-called" secure places like a safe in a hotel room, is on the RAMPAGING RISE?
Did you realize that laptop theft is one of those classical cases where 1+1 equals more than 3? - at least to you, in terms of personal damage, and... even worse, to your employer or company?
Some estimate an average laptop, say from a mid-level manager, to contain up to 100.000€ of valuable data, that (you betcha) any hacker can extract, whether you have standard encryption or not...
Our advise: watch your machine! back it up: all the time - and get insurance in the form of weapons-grade encryption mechanisms and fire-proof redundant back-up systems.
Alternatively, you can just simply stop storing stuff, go out, sniff a breeze of automn and enjoy life without wires!
Further Reading: Study on 128 stolen from 29 companies: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/04/report-average-stolen-laptop-cost-is-50k-intel-buy-vpro.ars
$50,000 average cost as follows:
Laptop replacement cost: $1,582
Detection & escalation cost: $262
Forensics & investigation cost: $814
Data breach cost: $39,297
Intellectual property loss: $5,871
Lost productivity cost: $283
Other legal and regulatory costs: $1,117
Perhaps the most counterintuitive result from the study is that having a full backup of the lost or stolen laptop actually increases the average incident cost by almost 50 percent. The theory put forth for this by Ponemon is that "the backup makes it easier to confirm the loss of sensitive or confidential data (i.e., ignorance is bliss hypothesis)."
Did you realize that laptop theft is one of those classical cases where 1+1 equals more than 3? - at least to you, in terms of personal damage, and... even worse, to your employer or company?
Some estimate an average laptop, say from a mid-level manager, to contain up to 100.000€ of valuable data, that (you betcha) any hacker can extract, whether you have standard encryption or not...
Our advise: watch your machine! back it up: all the time - and get insurance in the form of weapons-grade encryption mechanisms and fire-proof redundant back-up systems.
Alternatively, you can just simply stop storing stuff, go out, sniff a breeze of automn and enjoy life without wires!
Further Reading: Study on 128 stolen from 29 companies: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/04/report-average-stolen-laptop-cost-is-50k-intel-buy-vpro.ars
$50,000 average cost as follows:
Laptop replacement cost: $1,582
Detection & escalation cost: $262
Forensics & investigation cost: $814
Data breach cost: $39,297
Intellectual property loss: $5,871
Lost productivity cost: $283
Other legal and regulatory costs: $1,117
Perhaps the most counterintuitive result from the study is that having a full backup of the lost or stolen laptop actually increases the average incident cost by almost 50 percent. The theory put forth for this by Ponemon is that "the backup makes it easier to confirm the loss of sensitive or confidential data (i.e., ignorance is bliss hypothesis)."
2009-10-07
One Drop: this Sat 2009-10-10 @ 0200 - WATCH IT
Reading: King
Viewing: Terminator 3 - Salvation (oh yeah baby)
Listening to: Nine Inch Nails
Thinking: You've got the watch, we've got the time
Travelling: from Bangkok, to A'dam, to Geneva, to Paris & back home
Viewing: Terminator 3 - Salvation (oh yeah baby)
Listening to: Nine Inch Nails
Thinking: You've got the watch, we've got the time
Travelling: from Bangkok, to A'dam, to Geneva, to Paris & back home
2009-09-01
The Essence of Summer
Reading: 378+ Emails
Viewing: Tuscany of the North
Listening to: "I gotta feeling" - Black Eyed Peas
Thinking: Starting a new "Extending My Own Date of Expiration" Campaign
Travelling: Paris today, Amsterdam, Geneva & Brazil later this semester
Last picture: See above: 3 Flag-Waving Kids
2009-08-21
Promoting Integrity at World Water Week
Reading: Paul Verhaegen - Omega Minor
Viewing: Black Dots in front of my eyes
Listening to: Black eyed Peas
Thinking: Gratefull for friendship
Travelling: from Stockholm to Duinbergen
Last picture: after Integrity Radio interview with Prijay Shah from the Water Integrity Network
Writing about Chakosj! - stay tuned
2009-07-23
Vive la Fête
Reading: Geert Mak - In Europa
Viewing: The English Patient
Listening to: Sigur Ros
Thinking: Bundestreue
Travelling: Lisbon, Paris, Duinbergen, Stockholm
Last picture: National Belgian Holiday in Maredsous
2009-05-30
The Age of Panic
Paris Metro, just after reading over the shoulder of an American Embassy worker that "serviceman in Normandy havee been quarantined following infection with H1N1".
2009-05-28
Een magische avond in het Pajottenland
Reading: A most wanted man - LeCarré
Viewing: 28 weeks Later
Listening to: Daan -Manhay
Thinking: Politicsareoverrated
Travelling: Paris tomorrow, Italy next week, Portugal in July, Stockholm in August, Seaside-Duinbergen in August
Last picture: God moving over the face of the Pajottenland prairies (see above)
2009-05-20
2009-05-08
Unethical investments: the case for buying stock in weapons manufacturers
War: check
Internal policing problems: check
Insecurity on the rise in Western Societies: check
Maffia on the rise: check (see Sicilian wind farms)
Pirates of the Somali coast line: check
Increased population pressure vs limited resources: double-check
"Steeds meer wapenbezit op school": check (DS, 2009(05-08)
"The need for non-lethal weapons is growing: effectivly stop a subject by pain, up until 100m...": check
Global growing insecurity: crashing stock, people loosing a fortune while some guys make a living out of it and...become targets...: check
Government laxness, democratic indecision: check
Growing war-mongering, destabilising regimes, unrest in former 'allied states': check
What the hell are we waiting for? Who could advise against investing in "non or less lethal weaponry"?
Unethical Investments
I was struck earlier this weeking reading an interview with a hard-driving, cool-rocking CEO in his late 40ies: questioned about his wheels he answered: "driving a VW 4x4with a heavy engine, and seeing it as my contribution to fighting climate change..." The guy obviously is meant to hit some tree with an attitude somewhere somehow soon. In the meantime, he's allowed to spread his misbelief that he's helping the "planet" by advancing the date by which we, as humanoids, become extinct, that is...the unhappy majority unable to be boarding some Virgin Galactic flight soon.
I was thinking: does the guy have kids? If yes, what kind of legacy does he want to leave for them? Is it a lack of transgenerational solidarity to drive a SUV, or...are you advancing the cause of Mother Earth by helping to extinguish some of the most polluting creatures she's ever created?
You can hardly expect dinosaurs to be held accountable for global warming: all of them farting at the same time would not contribute anything in terms of Kyoto gasses - because -strangely - animal and human produced bodily gasses and emissions do not count...
So, let's all start driving 4x4s instead of these UGLY planet-saving cars. Or bike (just as I did today, to get cost item#3 in daycare)...and get killed by a hysteric 4x4 driving mom with an attitude.
So: instead of free-riding: buy HEAVY Cars (while they last) or invest in some tyre-blowing equipment and armory (take a look at http://www.fnherstal.com/)
I was thinking: does the guy have kids? If yes, what kind of legacy does he want to leave for them? Is it a lack of transgenerational solidarity to drive a SUV, or...are you advancing the cause of Mother Earth by helping to extinguish some of the most polluting creatures she's ever created?
You can hardly expect dinosaurs to be held accountable for global warming: all of them farting at the same time would not contribute anything in terms of Kyoto gasses - because -strangely - animal and human produced bodily gasses and emissions do not count...
So, let's all start driving 4x4s instead of these UGLY planet-saving cars. Or bike (just as I did today, to get cost item#3 in daycare)...and get killed by a hysteric 4x4 driving mom with an attitude.
So: instead of free-riding: buy HEAVY Cars (while they last) or invest in some tyre-blowing equipment and armory (take a look at http://www.fnherstal.com/)
2009-04-30
Only in Belgium: Veroordeelde oplichter krijgt job bij Financiën terug
Nog een chance dat de rechtbanken goed werken!
donderdag 30 april 2009Bron: BELGA Auteur: jbs
Bron: De Standaard
Een in 2006 door de rechtbank veroordeelde oplichter heeft zijn job als afdelingshoofd bij het departement btw van de federale overheidsdienst (FOD) Financiën teruggekregen. De Raad van State oordeelde namelijk dat het ministerie van Financiën te lang gewacht heeft om de man te ontslaan.
A.M. werd drie jaar geleden veroordeeld tot een voorwaardelijke gevangenisstraf van acht maanden omdat hij verschillende btw-plichtigen had afgeperst. De feiten dateren van eind 2002.
Het ministerie van Financiën bracht M. er in augustus 2008 van op de hoogte dat hij van ambstwege ontslagen werd. Te laat, oordeelt de Raad van State nu. M. kreeg daarop zijn job als btw-controleur terug.
donderdag 30 april 2009Bron: BELGA Auteur: jbs
Bron: De Standaard
Een in 2006 door de rechtbank veroordeelde oplichter heeft zijn job als afdelingshoofd bij het departement btw van de federale overheidsdienst (FOD) Financiën teruggekregen. De Raad van State oordeelde namelijk dat het ministerie van Financiën te lang gewacht heeft om de man te ontslaan.
A.M. werd drie jaar geleden veroordeeld tot een voorwaardelijke gevangenisstraf van acht maanden omdat hij verschillende btw-plichtigen had afgeperst. De feiten dateren van eind 2002.
Het ministerie van Financiën bracht M. er in augustus 2008 van op de hoogte dat hij van ambstwege ontslagen werd. Te laat, oordeelt de Raad van State nu. M. kreeg daarop zijn job als btw-controleur terug.
2009-04-15
Krantenkoppen
De Morgen online treft wel een paar keer doel vandaag: een overzicht
"1 op 10 Vlaamse verkozenen 'erft' zitje" - té gek om uitgevonden te zijn, only in Belgium?
"Waalse politici op 'missie' kiezen hazenpad op luchthaven" - écht Boonsiaans tafereel moet dat geweest zijn!
"Guantanamo-gevangene slaagt erin Al Jazeera te bellen" - Obama-style?
"Britten denken nóg meer aan voetbal dan aan seks" - wat nog maar eens bewijst wat voor een idioot gedoe voetbal eigenlijk wel is. Over de geaardheid van voetballiefhebbers zelf zullen we het verder niet hebben
"1 op 10 Vlaamse verkozenen 'erft' zitje" - té gek om uitgevonden te zijn, only in Belgium?
"Waalse politici op 'missie' kiezen hazenpad op luchthaven" - écht Boonsiaans tafereel moet dat geweest zijn!
"Guantanamo-gevangene slaagt erin Al Jazeera te bellen" - Obama-style?
"Britten denken nóg meer aan voetbal dan aan seks" - wat nog maar eens bewijst wat voor een idioot gedoe voetbal eigenlijk wel is. Over de geaardheid van voetballiefhebbers zelf zullen we het verder niet hebben
2009-04-14
Bring Back the Rhubarb
Rhubarb gardening made easy: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/rhubarb_in_the.php?dcitc=weekly_nl
2009-04-07
a new take on puericulture
Now this a truth worth reading. Carl Honoré, in praise of slow food, slow sex, slow education: http://www.carlhonore.com/?page=1
"Just look at Finland. By any yardstick, it has one of most successful education systems in the world. Competition for teacher training is fierce in Finland, and those who make the cut study for five years before qualifying. Yes, five years.
Finnish teachers are so well trained that the nation holds them in high regard and trusts them to do well by its children. That means instead of dealing with endless inspections, assessments and bureaucracy, they can get down to the most important job of all: teaching."
"Just look at Finland. By any yardstick, it has one of most successful education systems in the world. Competition for teacher training is fierce in Finland, and those who make the cut study for five years before qualifying. Yes, five years.
Finnish teachers are so well trained that the nation holds them in high regard and trusts them to do well by its children. That means instead of dealing with endless inspections, assessments and bureaucracy, they can get down to the most important job of all: teaching."
2009-04-03
The Age of Stupid
“We could have saved ourselves, but we didn’t. It’s amazing. What state of mind were we in, to face extinction and simply shrug it off?” - http://www.ageofstupid.net/the_film
Reading: The Black Swan - (****)
Listening to: Viva la Vida II - Coldplay
Thinking: see above
Travelling: on Bike
Reading: The Black Swan - (****)
Listening to: Viva la Vida II - Coldplay
Thinking: see above
Travelling: on Bike
2009-04-02
Water Rights & Wrongs
A young People's Summary of the 2006 Landmark Human Development Report
"Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty, and the global water crisis"
2009-03-03
2009-02-27
2009-02-20
USA - Under Construction
Reading: L.P.Boon - De Kapellekesbaan
Viewing: RocknRolla!
Listening to: Kid Rock
Thinking: "Oscar Wilde: A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life"
Travelling: From Austria to Washington and from Brussels to Istanbul
Last picture: Obama's White House
2009-02-13
2009-02-05
I've always known it!
Recent research indicates that the dirtier you let their kids play: i.e. the less you worry about desinfection and getting in contact with animals etc... - the more tuned up there immune systems become resulting in higher and lifelong protection for your offspring! don't believe me, but the NYT
2009-02-04
2009-01-03
2008-12-30
ending an annus horribilis
A tous ceux qui m'ont envoyé leurs meilleurs voeux pour 2008,
je leur signale qu'à ce jour cela n'a absolument servi à rien !
Pour l'année 2009 prière de m'envoyer du fuel, du fric ou des chèques-repas !
Merci d'avance.
Nieuw Vlaams Erfgoed
Als 2007 het jaar van DAAN - The Player was
en 2008 dat van ARSENAL met Lotuk, dan
wordt 2009 duidelijk dat van HANNELORE BEDERT met "Wat Als" ...
gaat dat horen!
en 2008 dat van ARSENAL met Lotuk, dan
wordt 2009 duidelijk dat van HANNELORE BEDERT met "Wat Als" ...
gaat dat horen!
2008-12-12
Low Impact Man
Do you accept the challenge of bringing down your eco-footprint?
Check out this fella: http://www.lowimpactman.be/
Check out this fella: http://www.lowimpactman.be/
2008-10-31
2008-09-23
Bono & Sachs are blogging at the UN
Bono & Sachs, 2 protagonists of the ONE campaign (and DATA and Live8 and ...) are in NYC, covering the UN General Assembly and MDG-Summit. read their blog on the Financial Times' website at http://www.ft.com/devdiary
One thing is for sure: these 2 fella's aren't in it for the money: in fact: they are wasting their money and resources in trying to convince governments and institutions to step up AID,...drastically.
Or as SACHS puts it:
One thing is for sure: these 2 fella's aren't in it for the money: in fact: they are wasting their money and resources in trying to convince governments and institutions to step up AID,...drastically.
The UN meetings were abuzz that the US could find $700 billion for a bailout of its corrupt and errant banks but couldn't’t find a small fraction of that for the world’s poor and dying.
Or as SACHS puts it:
It’s easy to be cynical about grand challenges like the MDGs. When world leaders assembled at the UN in September 2000 on the eve of the new millennium and adopted eight goals to fight poverty, hunger, disease, and deprivation by 2015, most of the leaders at the UN and those in public paying attention probably expected that the goals would sink out of sight by the next week’s news cycle. Global goals are for photo ops, not for grown-ups, is a popular view of our cynical age.
Yet something has happened which brings world leaders back time and again to declare their commitment to the MDGs. Part of it is the stark reality that 10 million children under the age of 5 die each year of extreme poverty. Even the most hardened of cynics know that this stark fact is dangerous for our hopes for peace and stability, as well as for sustaining human values and quality of life on a crowded planet.
Part of the continued interest is the understanding that the MDGs are not fantasies but practically achievable objectives. Measles deaths have been reduced by 91 per cent in Africa since 2000 through MDG-based initiatives. Malaria deaths have plummeted in recent years in Rwanda, Sao Tome, Zanzibar, Ethiopia, Kenya, and other countries, because of the mass distribution of bed nets and effective medicines. Food production has roughly doubled in Malawi because of an ingenious voucher program for seed and fertiliser for impoverished farmers.
A third reason for the MDG staying power is that poor people and their governments have taken seriously the call to fight poverty. Throughout Africa, governments and NGOs have devised specific plans of action – to grow more food; train community health workers; extend coverage of medicines for AIDS, TB, malaria and other killers; pave roads; and install solar-power pumps for safe water and irrigation. The plans have been made. Special financing mechanisms like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria have been devised, and have proven their worth.
The laggards in the struggle for the MDGs are not the poor countries or their ostensibly corrupt governments. The laggards are the rich world, so full of promises and high rhetoric and so low on delivery. The MDGs are falling short because of a lack of promised financing to put in place the clinics, schools, roads, power, and other investments needed for their success. Six years ago, the rich countries pledged in Monterrey, Mexico to “make concrete efforts toward the international target of 0.7 per cent of GNP in official development assistance.” Yet the United States stands are 0.16 per cent, Japan at 0.17, Italy at 0.19, Canada at 0.28, Germany at 0.37, and France at 0.39.
Water Wars
Reading: Verhulst, Godverdomste dagen... and - of course WIRED NEWS
Viewing: Website stats explode over 55.000 hits
Listening to: AC/DC (|..|-)
Thinking: Speak softly and carry a big stick
Travelling: Barcelona, Paris, ...
Last picture: a copy of ROY 880.000€ (now exposed in the toilet downstairs!)
2008-09-22
Land aan de afgrond
NV.A blaast regering op (of toch bijna), op de tonen van "Nu het lied der Vlaamse zonen".
Is het een zwanenzang, of een feniksgebroed?
Laat ons in elk geval Voltaire indachtig zijn als het gaat over "verantwoordelijkheidszin": “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
De Blauwvoet - Wikipedia: "De Blauwvoet"
In wezen is het een referentie aan de 19eeuwse ontvoogdingsstrijd, die poëtische én studentikoos werd ingezet, door Rodenbach e.a. (zie de volledige tekst http://cf.hum.uva.nl/dsp/ljc/rodenbach/blauvoet.htm. De her-vertolking in de huidige context is misschien wat radikaal maar heeft het effect van een zweep op een politiek debat dat regelrecht de afgrond invoert - of toch niet? Het is nu écht wel "storm op zee"
Eyskens was deze ochtend op de radio en sprak de gevleugelde woorden:
Nu de NV.A bijna de regering is uitgewerkt, lijkt de weg open naar een niet-communautair geladen oplossing, of toch niet? Want was Leterme niet verkozen met een duidelijke boodschap? Alleszins wordt het land onbestuurbaar: de schandalen van de politie van vorige week zijn in elk geval uit de ether gewerkt... De postjespakkerij-en bescherming teert volop, en ondertussen keldert de economische situatie verder...
Afin, het was mooi zolang het duurde, een land zonder regering, en de ambtenaren waren content...nu komt daar misschien verandering in? Zal Reynders premier worden? Valt de Vlaamse regering? Krijgen we verkiezingen? Wordt de Staat verder hervormd (zoals eigenlijk iedereen wel beseft want het model draait stroef?) Kan ik nog met mijn Franstalige kerelskameraden (blijven) spreken?
Is het een zwanenzang, of een feniksgebroed?
Laat ons in elk geval Voltaire indachtig zijn als het gaat over "verantwoordelijkheidszin": “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
De Blauwvoet - Wikipedia: "De Blauwvoet"
In wezen is het een referentie aan de 19eeuwse ontvoogdingsstrijd, die poëtische én studentikoos werd ingezet, door Rodenbach e.a. (zie de volledige tekst http://cf.hum.uva.nl/dsp/ljc/rodenbach/blauvoet.htm. De her-vertolking in de huidige context is misschien wat radikaal maar heeft het effect van een zweep op een politiek debat dat regelrecht de afgrond invoert - of toch niet? Het is nu écht wel "storm op zee"
Eyskens was deze ochtend op de radio en sprak de gevleugelde woorden:
heeft Bart De Wever, die toch een fijne historicus is, zijn les niet geleerd: waar leven we hier, in Vlaanderen, dat in 50 jaar tijd een eigen parlement etc....heeft... en bovendien zijn we de meest welvarende region van de wereld, dus van het zonnestelsel, dus van de melkweg...
Nu de NV.A bijna de regering is uitgewerkt, lijkt de weg open naar een niet-communautair geladen oplossing, of toch niet? Want was Leterme niet verkozen met een duidelijke boodschap? Alleszins wordt het land onbestuurbaar: de schandalen van de politie van vorige week zijn in elk geval uit de ether gewerkt... De postjespakkerij-en bescherming teert volop, en ondertussen keldert de economische situatie verder...
Afin, het was mooi zolang het duurde, een land zonder regering, en de ambtenaren waren content...nu komt daar misschien verandering in? Zal Reynders premier worden? Valt de Vlaamse regering? Krijgen we verkiezingen? Wordt de Staat verder hervormd (zoals eigenlijk iedereen wel beseft want het model draait stroef?) Kan ik nog met mijn Franstalige kerelskameraden (blijven) spreken?
2008-09-19
2008-09-09
Roeien
Zoals WF Schiltz het op De Standaard online zo mooit promootte,
geen speld tussen te krijgen tussen die Al!
geen speld tussen te krijgen tussen die Al!
2008-09-05
Facts about Desalination
* With population growth and concerns about water scarcity increasing, several countries, especially in the Middle East region, are developing desalination plants to convert saline water (e.g. sea-water, brackish water or treated wastewater) into freshwater.
* The global market for desalination currently stands at about US $35 billion annually and could double over the next 15 years.
* In 2002 there were about 12,500 desalination plants around the world in 120 countries. They produce some 14 million m²/day of freshwater, which is less than 1% of total world consumption.
* The most important users of desalinated water are in the Middle East, (mainly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain), which uses about 70% of worldwide capacity; and in North Africa (mainly Libya and Algeria), which uses about 6% of worldwide capacity.
* Among industrialized countries, the United States is one of the most important users of desalinated water (6.5%), especially in California and parts of Florida.
Source: 1st United Nations World Water Development Report: “Water for People, Water for Life" (WWDR1, 2003)
* The global market for desalination currently stands at about US $35 billion annually and could double over the next 15 years.
* In 2002 there were about 12,500 desalination plants around the world in 120 countries. They produce some 14 million m²/day of freshwater, which is less than 1% of total world consumption.
* The most important users of desalinated water are in the Middle East, (mainly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain), which uses about 70% of worldwide capacity; and in North Africa (mainly Libya and Algeria), which uses about 6% of worldwide capacity.
* Among industrialized countries, the United States is one of the most important users of desalinated water (6.5%), especially in California and parts of Florida.
Source: 1st United Nations World Water Development Report: “Water for People, Water for Life"
2008-08-14
Get your war on?
Onwillekeurig fronste ik mijn rimpelig voorhoofd
- Lennik hangt niet langer de Belgische vlaggen uit. Aldus Burgermeester Dewaele:"ik geloof niet meer in het Belgisch model - welke lading dekt deze vlag nog?" Vanaf deze zomer hangt de markt vol met Vlaamse Leeuwen (en een spandoek "SPLITS BHV")
- Chiro-jongeren worden in Wallonië VERPLICHT om de Belgische Vlag te hijsen. Er is VRIJHEID van BEVLAGGING tot nader order: dixit het kabinet Binnenlandse zaken:
- Bart De Wever wordt steeds meer het voorwerp van doodsbedreigingen. "Von Wever"-vergelijkingen forceren zelfs de veiligheidsdiensten tot een permanente beveiliging en een onderzoek naar terrorisme: Wanneer komt de moord à la Van Gogh of Fortuyn?. De Wever zelve: 'Schelden aan de cafétoog is van alle tijden', merkte hij toen berustend op. 'In de digitale cultuur werd het internet de langste toog ooit, met onmiddellijke bediening.'
- Volgens Le Soir blijven de statistieken over verkeersongevallen in België uit, en zou dit te wijten zijn aan de trage regeringsvorming... Qué?
- Politici en mandatarissen geven hun inkomen en bijverdiensten niet aan: 650 van de 9.000 van de politici en hoge ambtenaren die hun mandaten bij het Rekenhof moeten bekendmaken, hebben dat niet gedaan. 820 onder hen lieten na hun vermogen aan te geven.
- Lennik hangt niet langer de Belgische vlaggen uit. Aldus Burgermeester Dewaele:"ik geloof niet meer in het Belgisch model - welke lading dekt deze vlag nog?" Vanaf deze zomer hangt de markt vol met Vlaamse Leeuwen (en een spandoek "SPLITS BHV")
- Chiro-jongeren worden in Wallonië VERPLICHT om de Belgische Vlag te hijsen. Er is VRIJHEID van BEVLAGGING tot nader order: dixit het kabinet Binnenlandse zaken:
'Wat niet verboden is, is toegelaten', luidt het op het kabinet Binnenlandse Zaken op onze vraag of de Chirojongens van Emelgem hun leeuwenvlag hadden moeten verwijderen. Volgens Binnenlandse Zaken is het gebruik van vlaggen helemaal vrij, zolang ze natuurlijk niet indruisen tegen de openbare orde. Hakenkruisvlaggen bijvoorbeeld zijn verboden. Alleen in protocollaire omstandigheden wordt voorgeschreven welke vlaggen moeten worden gehesen en hoe die moeten hangen.- Michel Daerden, de minister van Sport van de Franse Gemeenschap, is tijdens de Olympische Spelen dronken opgemerkt op de tribunes van het tennis en het hockey. 'Michel Daerden heeft een echt drankprobleem, dat weet iedereen', reageert Vlaams minister van Sport Bert Anciaux donderdag in Het Laatste Nieuws. 'Maar hij is niet de enige. Anderen houden het verborgen, maar er wordt nog altijd zwaar gezopen in de politiek. Het ergert me dat al die overdadige alcohol zo vlot gebanaliseerd en zo makkelijk aanvaard wordt.' De woordvoerster van Daerden laat vanuit Peking weten dat 'de minister onmogelijk in de kennelijke staat kan geweest zijn waarin hij is beschreven.'
- Bart De Wever wordt steeds meer het voorwerp van doodsbedreigingen. "Von Wever"-vergelijkingen forceren zelfs de veiligheidsdiensten tot een permanente beveiliging en een onderzoek naar terrorisme: Wanneer komt de moord à la Van Gogh of Fortuyn?. De Wever zelve: 'Schelden aan de cafétoog is van alle tijden', merkte hij toen berustend op. 'In de digitale cultuur werd het internet de langste toog ooit, met onmiddellijke bediening.'
- Volgens Le Soir blijven de statistieken over verkeersongevallen in België uit, en zou dit te wijten zijn aan de trage regeringsvorming... Qué?
- Politici en mandatarissen geven hun inkomen en bijverdiensten niet aan: 650 van de 9.000 van de politici en hoge ambtenaren die hun mandaten bij het Rekenhof moeten bekendmaken, hebben dat niet gedaan. 820 onder hen lieten na hun vermogen aan te geven.
2008-08-04
First Book - that got you hooked
What got you hooked into reading as a child?
A.M.G. Schmidt? Captain Biggles? Roald Dahl, Koning van Katoren, Suske & Wiske, De Rode Ridder, Snoecks? Into the wild, Oosterschelde Windkracht 10, Tiny? Thea Beckmann? DoReMi?
In the States, they're setting up serious programmes to provide free books to the people who need them most.
Back in my own primary school, a ranking of the class was established at the beginning of the summer and you'd receive straight from the Mayor himself a PILE of literature that you could take home, proud as a monkey with a fresh banana? thankfully I hear that those taxeuros are still at work! Also, in our Jesuit College, there used to be bookfairs every trimester, which enabled you to buy whole series of trashliterature at almost no costs...
Mr. Anciaux would be well advised to keep some of our own precious literature under control (remember Gruuthuyze anyone?) and... to stimulate library visits all over the place. One of the reasons I loved going to public libraries in Dilbeek, Brussels, Namur or Leuven, was the access you got to hug amounts of (almost-nothing-to-rent) CDs! that was a huge stimulus for my reading habits!
A.M.G. Schmidt? Captain Biggles? Roald Dahl, Koning van Katoren, Suske & Wiske, De Rode Ridder, Snoecks? Into the wild, Oosterschelde Windkracht 10, Tiny? Thea Beckmann? DoReMi?
In the States, they're setting up serious programmes to provide free books to the people who need them most.
Back in my own primary school, a ranking of the class was established at the beginning of the summer and you'd receive straight from the Mayor himself a PILE of literature that you could take home, proud as a monkey with a fresh banana? thankfully I hear that those taxeuros are still at work! Also, in our Jesuit College, there used to be bookfairs every trimester, which enabled you to buy whole series of trashliterature at almost no costs...
Mr. Anciaux would be well advised to keep some of our own precious literature under control (remember Gruuthuyze anyone?) and... to stimulate library visits all over the place. One of the reasons I loved going to public libraries in Dilbeek, Brussels, Namur or Leuven, was the access you got to hug amounts of (almost-nothing-to-rent) CDs! that was a huge stimulus for my reading habits!
2008-07-14
Science fiction as a literature genre? lecture by Neal Stephenson
Xeno-ethnologist, confusion of genres, the standard model, post-cypberpunk.
Neal Stephenson has it all, in his ex cathedra "seminar" at Gresham College.
-> The top-10 Movies of all times are SF!
Neal Stephenson has it all, in his ex cathedra "seminar" at Gresham College.
-> The top-10 Movies of all times are SF!
2008-07-10
Brooks Brothers | How To Tie A Tie | Classic Tie Knots
Brooks Brothers | How To Tie A Tie | Classic Tie Knots
A classic All-American store gives advice of note (and pictures) on how to tie a tie!
A classic All-American store gives advice of note (and pictures) on how to tie a tie!
Why public toilets should pay you. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine
Why public toilets should pay you. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine
What? You've been giving away your urine for free?
All these years, you've been sitting there like an idiot—or standing, or squatting, or whatever it is you do—pissing away a perfectly good liquid asset. Turns out, you could have sold it.
I bet somebody will figure out pretty soon how to monetize toilet waste. And it won't be the government; it'll be the private sector. Did you see the New York Times story a few weeks back about restaurant grease? It's being illegally siphoned from filthy bins and barrels. Bandits are selling it for conversion to biodiesel. When bandits start siphoning public toilets, maybe governments will wake up and get in on the action. And you'll stop having to pay.
2008-07-07
A Classic Case of Bad Communications
It's time to hide the valuables under the mattress... and buy a gun
2008-07-04
Are you rich
what's your annual income: approx. 45.000€? then you are the 56,480,199th richest person on this planet and you fit in the TOP 0.94%!
While you're out calculating, consider giving a bit to CARE
http://globalrichlist.com/
While you're out calculating, consider giving a bit to CARE
http://globalrichlist.com/
2008-07-03
The 20 Deadliest Plants of the planet... live in your backyard
Oleander, Belladonna-Deadly Nightshade, Taxus Baccata, Ligustrum, Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Hyacinth, Digitalis purpurea, Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia)
They all live in our backyards and public parks and potentially are a hugely dangerouus threat to our lives...
http://www.purpleslinky.com/Trivia/Science/Deadliest-Plants-in-the-Planet.145297
2008-07-02
Zombie Infection Simulation - The Original
Zombie Infection Simulation - The Original: "Zombie Infection Simulation v2.3 - The Original"
The planet is fine... the people are f$cked
George Carlin is simply too much
- the planet isn't going anywhere, we're going... Pack your shit folks
- why are we here? because the Earth wanted plastic and needed humans to make it...
- the planet isn't going anywhere, we're going... Pack your shit folks
- why are we here? because the Earth wanted plastic and needed humans to make it...
Water Wiki's etc
The International Water Community is discovering new tools on the internet to hook up and spread knowledge and news. the latest discovery is SISWEB
2008-06-27
It takes a kid to turn you into a man
Excellent article by serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson, contributor to the FT and who's having his first child later in life. some extracts of note
It takes a child to make a new man of you
By Luke Johnson
Published: June 25 2008 03:00 | Last updated: June 25 2008 03:00
...But becoming a father has a healthy, humanising impact, putting all the stress and ambition into perspective.
And so I have found that the favourite small talk in the 21st century among entrepreneurs is not football - thank God - but discussing one's family, as a civilised contrast to all that wealth accumulation. This is the first generation of New Man executives, whose chief hobbies are not golf and drinking but their children. These business leaders can not only close a sale or raise venture capital but they can also change a nappy, baby-sit and talk knowledgably about schools and exams.
This is a huge behavioural change from their predecessors of the 1960s and 1970s. The old-fashioned boss delegated all child-rearing to women: the wife or perhaps the nanny. He was rarely there for carol concerts or parents evenings - sometimes he was not even there for the birth. He was too busy building a fortune and, in the evenings, socialising with work clients or bankers. But, nowadays, I'm not alone in regularly slipping out of the office early to be home in time for the children's bath and a bedtime story.
Will we make better dads? I hope so. Will it compromise our careers and stunt our material success? Will our children thank us for the extra attention? Who knows?
...Those who marry and have children young face tougher choices. Do they go all-out for success and perhaps miss their children growing up? It is pretty hard to get ahead if you are willing to do only short days and never work at weekends.
...I have met plenty of alpha males who have achieved great things but sacrificed their personal lives along the way. Often they divorced because they were never at home. Sadly, material success tends to come at an emotional price.
... (la question à cent balles)
Should entrepreneurial fathers want their offspring to follow in their footsteps?
Everyone should decide their own path in life, even if there is a family company to inherit. Dynasties and nepotism only work if the candidate has genuine talent and appetite for the role. For those who are the offspring of renowned patriarchs, I advise pursuing a completely different profession, so unfavourable comparisons are impossible. As 19th century humorist Austin O'Malley said:
I was lucky in that my dad taught me to make my own way in the world and believe anything is possible. It is sad that so many captains of industry have a single overwhelming regret: that their father never lived to see them become the conquering hero.
After all, entrepreneurs and children ought to get on well since they are similar in many ways: impatient, self-centred, demanding, enthusiastic, energetic and wilful. At board meetings it can occasionally be difficult to tell them apart. But, perhaps, that is what makes them fun to have around.
The writer is chairman of Channel 4 and runs Risk Capital Partners, a private equity firm
It takes a child to make a new man of you
By Luke Johnson
Published: June 25 2008 03:00 | Last updated: June 25 2008 03:00
...But becoming a father has a healthy, humanising impact, putting all the stress and ambition into perspective.
And so I have found that the favourite small talk in the 21st century among entrepreneurs is not football - thank God - but discussing one's family, as a civilised contrast to all that wealth accumulation. This is the first generation of New Man executives, whose chief hobbies are not golf and drinking but their children. These business leaders can not only close a sale or raise venture capital but they can also change a nappy, baby-sit and talk knowledgably about schools and exams.
This is a huge behavioural change from their predecessors of the 1960s and 1970s. The old-fashioned boss delegated all child-rearing to women: the wife or perhaps the nanny. He was rarely there for carol concerts or parents evenings - sometimes he was not even there for the birth. He was too busy building a fortune and, in the evenings, socialising with work clients or bankers. But, nowadays, I'm not alone in regularly slipping out of the office early to be home in time for the children's bath and a bedtime story.
Will we make better dads? I hope so. Will it compromise our careers and stunt our material success? Will our children thank us for the extra attention? Who knows?
...Those who marry and have children young face tougher choices. Do they go all-out for success and perhaps miss their children growing up? It is pretty hard to get ahead if you are willing to do only short days and never work at weekends.
...I have met plenty of alpha males who have achieved great things but sacrificed their personal lives along the way. Often they divorced because they were never at home. Sadly, material success tends to come at an emotional price.
... (la question à cent balles)
Should entrepreneurial fathers want their offspring to follow in their footsteps?
Everyone should decide their own path in life, even if there is a family company to inherit. Dynasties and nepotism only work if the candidate has genuine talent and appetite for the role. For those who are the offspring of renowned patriarchs, I advise pursuing a completely different profession, so unfavourable comparisons are impossible. As 19th century humorist Austin O'Malley said:
"The worst misfortune that can happen to an ordinary man is to have an extraordinary father."
I was lucky in that my dad taught me to make my own way in the world and believe anything is possible. It is sad that so many captains of industry have a single overwhelming regret: that their father never lived to see them become the conquering hero.
After all, entrepreneurs and children ought to get on well since they are similar in many ways: impatient, self-centred, demanding, enthusiastic, energetic and wilful. At board meetings it can occasionally be difficult to tell them apart. But, perhaps, that is what makes them fun to have around.
The writer is chairman of Channel 4 and runs Risk Capital Partners, a private equity firm
Singapore Water Week Chair: "stop using the under--developed excuse"
The remarks made below by the Chairman of the Singapore World Water Week, should shed some light on the ongoing debates of the "international water community".
Access To Safe Drinking Water Should Be Recognised As A Human Right
SINGAPORE, June 26 (Bernama) -- Access to safe drinking water and to sustainable sanitation should be recognised as a human right, according to a statement at the closing of the water leaders' summit here Thursday.
Singapore International Water Week chairman Prof Tommy Koh said the governments of developing countries should stop using their "under-developed" state as an excuse for not fulfilling their responsibility to their people.
Presenting the statement here, Koh said there were over one billion people in the world, 700 million in Asia alone, who did not have access to safe drinking water which was essential for life.
He said the problem was not primarily due to inadequate financial resources, but to the absence of political will, mismanagement, lack of coordination, marginalisation of the poor and lack of a coherent water strategy.
Koh said there were many success stories on water from developing countries such as Cambodia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Fiji.
It was also important to educate the people on the value of water and the need to conserve and not waste water, he said, adding that water should be sold at a price which reflected the real cost of water.
Koh said the summit acknowledged that the people lived in a diverse world and different countries needed different levels of water technology.
The summit concluded that more investment in research and development in water and the environment should be encouraged, and efforts to foster public-private partnership in solving water problems be doubled.
Koh said recent progress in water technology, such as desalination, reverse osmosis, membrane technology and their declining costs had enabled many cities, regions and countries, including Singapore, to solve their water problems.
Access To Safe Drinking Water Should Be Recognised As A Human Right
SINGAPORE, June 26 (Bernama) -- Access to safe drinking water and to sustainable sanitation should be recognised as a human right, according to a statement at the closing of the water leaders' summit here Thursday.
Singapore International Water Week chairman Prof Tommy Koh said the governments of developing countries should stop using their "under-developed" state as an excuse for not fulfilling their responsibility to their people.
Presenting the statement here, Koh said there were over one billion people in the world, 700 million in Asia alone, who did not have access to safe drinking water which was essential for life.
He said the problem was not primarily due to inadequate financial resources, but to the absence of political will, mismanagement, lack of coordination, marginalisation of the poor and lack of a coherent water strategy.
Koh said there were many success stories on water from developing countries such as Cambodia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Fiji.
It was also important to educate the people on the value of water and the need to conserve and not waste water, he said, adding that water should be sold at a price which reflected the real cost of water.
Koh said the summit acknowledged that the people lived in a diverse world and different countries needed different levels of water technology.
The summit concluded that more investment in research and development in water and the environment should be encouraged, and efforts to foster public-private partnership in solving water problems be doubled.
Koh said recent progress in water technology, such as desalination, reverse osmosis, membrane technology and their declining costs had enabled many cities, regions and countries, including Singapore, to solve their water problems.
2008-06-23
R.I.P. George Carlin
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
R.I.P
See this great routine on STUFF and below on the FLAMETHROWER
R.I.P
See this great routine on STUFF and below on the FLAMETHROWER
2008-06-20
Fresh fruit salad for young kids, an "original" recipe
It may be a bit of a drastic approach,
but it sure as hell is tasty...
Throw away the organic materials into the compost vat
MixxieMixxie Overdrive
Serve for 2
2008-06-18
2008-06-16
Verplicht boom te planten bij huwelijk
De Standaard Online - Verplicht boom te planten bij huwelijk: "Verplicht boom te planten bij huwelijk
In Brazilië wil men pasgetrouwde koppels verplichten een boom te planten. Het gaat om een wetsvoorstel dat uit ecologische overwegingen is gelanceerd.
Het voorstel is ingediend door de PDT (Democratische Arbeiderspartij) bij het Braziliaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden. Zo wil men bruidsparen verplichten om tien bomen planten. Als een koppel gaat scheiden moeten er 25 bomen geplant worden.
Daarmee is het nog niet afgelopen. Ook kopers van auto's moeten hun steentje bijdragen voor het milieu. Zij moeten 20 bomen planten. Als het om een auto gaat die veel verbruikt moeten er tot 60 bomen geplant worden. thv"
In Brazilië wil men pasgetrouwde koppels verplichten een boom te planten. Het gaat om een wetsvoorstel dat uit ecologische overwegingen is gelanceerd.
Het voorstel is ingediend door de PDT (Democratische Arbeiderspartij) bij het Braziliaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden. Zo wil men bruidsparen verplichten om tien bomen planten. Als een koppel gaat scheiden moeten er 25 bomen geplant worden.
Daarmee is het nog niet afgelopen. Ook kopers van auto's moeten hun steentje bijdragen voor het milieu. Zij moeten 20 bomen planten. Als het om een auto gaat die veel verbruikt moeten er tot 60 bomen geplant worden. thv"
2008-05-06
Bad Taste?
Movie "POSTAL" by Uwe Boll, listed on the Deutsche Börse,
Would be a great asset in an unethical portfolio...
Would be a great asset in an unethical portfolio...
Water Wars?
Water wars ? - According to a study by Oregon State University, the world’s 263 trans-boundary rivers (whose basins cover nearly half the land surface of the world) generate more co-operation than conflict. “Over the past half-century, 400 treaties had been conducted over the use of rivers. Of the 37 incidents that involved violence, 30 occurred in the dry and bitterly contested region formed by Israel and its neighbours, where the upper end of the Jordan river was hotly disputed (…), before Israel took control in the 1967 war. And some inter-sate water treaties are very robust. The Indus river pact between India and Pakistan survived two wars and the deep crisis of 2002”. (The Economist – May 03/09, 08)
Boon's Fenomenale Feminatheek en nog meer "kunst" die jij niet mag zien
In Antwerpen werden ze verboden om de "goegemeente" tegen verderfelijke invloeden te beschermen... Resultaat: De Morgen zet ze online en De Standaard geeft het boek opnieuw uit ;-)
Via http://verlichtingshumanisten.web-log.nl/museum_kwetsende_kunst/
Via http://verlichtingshumanisten.web-log.nl/museum_kwetsende_kunst/
2008-05-05
Climate Change: Beer at risk!
Climate change: Beer at risk
New Zealand - People who now dismiss the effects of global warming may soon take it really, really seriously. Climate expert Jim Salinger of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Wellington, New Zealand predicted that warming and water shortages will diminish the production of barley within ten years. Barley malt is the main ingredient in beer. If barley harvests drop, beer prices will go up significantly, Salinger said.
New Zealand - People who now dismiss the effects of global warming may soon take it really, really seriously. Climate expert Jim Salinger of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Wellington, New Zealand predicted that warming and water shortages will diminish the production of barley within ten years. Barley malt is the main ingredient in beer. If barley harvests drop, beer prices will go up significantly, Salinger said.
2008-04-28
Migrating toilets?
Duncan's sanitation blog is really insightful: a cool example of migratory toilets to induce trees to grow strong lateral roots!
Free Speech in Belgium
11.11.11. is suing Mr. Thierry Debels who has written a best-selling and insightful, yet critical book on the way Belgian development organisations work, raise money... campaign and then spend the remainings on real cooperation. Citing moral and economic prejudice, the leaders of the organisations bring Debels in front of the courts on May 22 2008 calling it "already proven" that Debels has damaged 11.11.11's reputation.
questions from our side:
- please please please let the courts decide...
- and then... let's have a DEMOCRATIC debate in Parliament, and not through the media
- while there is nothing against devcorp in general and 11.11.11 practices in particular, let's have an open discussion on how we want to fund development activities? and please, do not proclaim that NGO's are democratic and representative...
- as citizens we must call our governments to responsibility: there is a long-taken commitment to spend 0,7 % of GDP (dates from the seventies...): let us spend that money wisely through democratic and transparent channels that deliver results, for the poorest of the poor, and in areas where real differences can be made
Serentiy in the debate can only start by full disclosure and transparency: the cases cited by Debels in his book should be brought into the open, through parliamentary inquiries. Until further notice, free speech stands.
questions from our side:
- please please please let the courts decide...
- and then... let's have a DEMOCRATIC debate in Parliament, and not through the media
- while there is nothing against devcorp in general and 11.11.11 practices in particular, let's have an open discussion on how we want to fund development activities? and please, do not proclaim that NGO's are democratic and representative...
- as citizens we must call our governments to responsibility: there is a long-taken commitment to spend 0,7 % of GDP (dates from the seventies...): let us spend that money wisely through democratic and transparent channels that deliver results, for the poorest of the poor, and in areas where real differences can be made
Serentiy in the debate can only start by full disclosure and transparency: the cases cited by Debels in his book should be brought into the open, through parliamentary inquiries. Until further notice, free speech stands.
2008-04-24
Climate Change: Expert-Lord Stern admits he was underestimating...
Lord Stern, author of the landmark 2007 Report for the UK Gov't admitted earlier this month that he underestimated the
- risk
- damages
-.... and probabilities of
increasing temperature beyond +3°C over the next 100 years.
Victim of ferocious attacks, calling Stern a "scarmonger", his Lordship traveled the world trying to convince public opinion and world leaders that immediate, thorough and desperate actions are needed... which led to the December 2007 UN Agreement in Bali that we'd negotiate for another 2 years to find some way of following-up on Kyoto.
You'd become a sceptic reading this stuff... or you could go about changing your own habits?
- risk
- damages
-.... and probabilities of
increasing temperature beyond +3°C over the next 100 years.
In the report, he estimated the costs of climate change at between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of global gross domestic product. But Lord Stern said data published since the report came out had led him to change his mind.
Victim of ferocious attacks, calling Stern a "scarmonger", his Lordship traveled the world trying to convince public opinion and world leaders that immediate, thorough and desperate actions are needed... which led to the December 2007 UN Agreement in Bali that we'd negotiate for another 2 years to find some way of following-up on Kyoto.
You'd become a sceptic reading this stuff... or you could go about changing your own habits?
2008-04-18
Wanted: Special Forces for the Belgian Army: Civilians may apply
This is simply unbelievable:
the Belgian Special Forces cannot find enough recrutable candidates within its own ranks: this has today with lack of motivation, according to De Standaard...
Out of 60 (! WOW!) operator positions, 23 cannot be filled with current "specialists"...
Applicants send CV to http://www.specialforcesgroup.be/
the Belgian Special Forces cannot find enough recrutable candidates within its own ranks: this has today with lack of motivation, according to De Standaard...
Out of 60 (! WOW!) operator positions, 23 cannot be filled with current "specialists"...
Applicants send CV to http://www.specialforcesgroup.be/
Schoolboeken bevestigen oude clichés...
Ondanks alle goede bedoelingen bevestigen schoolboeken nog heel vaak de bestaande stereotypen. Leerlingen die 'anders zijn' krijgen daardoor nog meer het gevoel dat ze afwijken van de norm.
Wanneer leerlingen op school over het gezin leren, krijgen ze als voorbeeld meestal een vader en moeder met een of twee kinderen. Wanneer ze over het Zuiden leren, gaat het meestal om arme mensen in hutjes.
(bron: De Standaard)
Commentaar: ja maar ja maar: we moeten toch oppassen dat we al die boeken niet volstouwen met zaken die niet in de meerderheid der gezinnen voorkomen.... Het is niet omdat het sociaal geaccepteerd is dat er nieuw-samengestelde gezinnen zijn etc... of dat er in het Zuiden ook Paleizen zijn dat je nu plotseling die kinderen moet gaan overtuigen van dat "anders-zijn" dat dat normaal is. Wanneer krijgen de "normale" kinderen ook eens de aandacht die ze verdienen....
Zie ook G.Paltrow die een depressie overhield aan haar bevalling van 2-jarig zoontje, notabene zegt ze zelf door al die "new-age" behandelingen...
Mogen we dit eigenlijk nog zeggen, laat staan schrijven?
Wanneer leerlingen op school over het gezin leren, krijgen ze als voorbeeld meestal een vader en moeder met een of twee kinderen. Wanneer ze over het Zuiden leren, gaat het meestal om arme mensen in hutjes.
(bron: De Standaard)
Commentaar: ja maar ja maar: we moeten toch oppassen dat we al die boeken niet volstouwen met zaken die niet in de meerderheid der gezinnen voorkomen.... Het is niet omdat het sociaal geaccepteerd is dat er nieuw-samengestelde gezinnen zijn etc... of dat er in het Zuiden ook Paleizen zijn dat je nu plotseling die kinderen moet gaan overtuigen van dat "anders-zijn" dat dat normaal is. Wanneer krijgen de "normale" kinderen ook eens de aandacht die ze verdienen....
Zie ook G.Paltrow die een depressie overhield aan haar bevalling van 2-jarig zoontje, notabene zegt ze zelf door al die "new-age" behandelingen...
Mogen we dit eigenlijk nog zeggen, laat staan schrijven?
2008-04-16
Find a bunker (now!)
Blogging from UFA, Bashkortostan, Russian Federation:
German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures
Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported.
NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right.
Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 metres (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tonnes, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean.
The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely.
The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."
German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures
Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported.
NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right.
Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 metres (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tonnes, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean.
The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely.
The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."
2008-04-14
When the FT encourages you to read up on chicken behaviour
Roosters & Hens: we're in for some serious societal changes:
A roosters' job is to watch over the hens. Even if he has only one female, a rooster will stand near her through the day as she scratches in the dirt for morsels, and takes dirt baths. He will crow throughout the day, letting the world know, "I'm the man!"
Build your own coop! Give more freedom to your chickens (and design...)
More information: "Backyard Chickens"
2008-04-11
2008-04-09
Gaasbeek - prettiest town of Flanders
Starting April 26, please go vote for Gaasbeek: since we're probably the lowest populated village among the 15 nominees in Flanders, we rely on your votes!
More information and campaign details:
http://mooistedorpgaasbeek.blogspot.com/
http://www.lennik.be/h111bepc161gg.aspx
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