save the planet

good SciFi

Someone asked me unbelievingly if I could name ANY good Science Fiction, So I said yes, but I couldn't find the names of those fantastic movies. So here are some movies, in a few categories but random order:

These you must see, even if you hate SciFi

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Gattaca (1997)
Minority Report (2002)
Pay check (2003)
Children of Men (2006)

other personal favourites:

earthbound

• The Time Machine (1960)
• E.T. (1982)
• Back to the Future (1985)
• D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
• X-men (2000, 2003, 2006)
• Reign of Fire (2002)
• Men in Black (1997, 2003)
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
• I, Robot (2004)

other worlds

• Dune (1984)
• Waterworld (1995)
• The Fifth Element (1997)
• Lost in Space (1998)
• Pitch Black (2000)
• Final Fantasy (2001)
• The Chronicles of Riddick (2003)
• the Matrix (1999, 2003)
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
• Star Wars III, IV, V, VI (2005, 1997, 1980, 1997)
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
• V for Vendetta (2006)

Earthbound hollywood adventure

• Armageddon (1998)
• Deep Impact (1998)
• Independence Day (1996)
• the Core (2003)

So, after having done this listing I must conclude that whether one thinks SciFi movies are good or bad really is very personal. I wouldn't count any movies like Alien, Species, the thing, close encounters of the ... kind, war of the worlds or any of those as good movies. But that's partially because I'm too scared by them. In my opinion they are only about creapy aliens who wish to destroy mankind. They just don't have much depth or fascinating concepts.
Even those which I call 'hollywood adventure', and have attracted a broad audience, are not very good SciFi movies to my opinion. There's usually just a problem with some rock or something which is going to whipe away all life. You just send a team of clumsy experts, count the deads, leave one romantic couple to survive, end of story.

No, the really interesting movies are those which are either earthbound, but unique in the issues (or techniques) they introduce, or those which play in completely fictional worlds. Both cases allow thought experiments: what if??? What if we could move to another planet? would we destroy it like the earth? What if the day after tomorrow really stood on our doorstep? If we knew it would come, would we change our energy consumption? What if we could make a machine to see the future? What if only perfect children were allowed to be born? What if humankind were on the brink of extinction? How will humankind survive the problems it creates for itself?
And for the other worlds: how does a planet prescribe our lives? How would we live in a desert-world, or an ocean world, or a fire world? What would economics be like in a world of scarcity? How would politics be different or the same? Would old hierarchies re-emerge, or would new political systems come to be? Would there be oppression, discrimination or genocide between species or cultures? Where does the human kind stand between aliens? What does it mean to be human?

I think SciFi enriches us, because it allows us to think about what our lives and opinions would be like if our reality were different. And that can make you realise that some things we see as normal are actually really special. Think of the 60 years of peace Western Europe has recently experienced, think of democracy, family life, legal systems, social systems, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the fact that we can make computers and virtual worlds, that we can go into space, that we can drink from our taps (all of these hold for the Netherlands). SciFi allows one to look at ethics, humanity, politics and religion in a totally different context. And from that we can only learn. Because to come up with a totally fictional world (and for a movie watcher to understand it) one must make paralels with our earth, and our history. So it will automatically make us think about the present state of the world and humanity, and about our future. It will make us think how we get allong with our neighbours.

People who are not interested in science fiction strike me as people who just don't see the deeper meaning of it. They don't see that SciFi can actually learn us something, but often only if you look at the earth on a planetary scale. And that is not something these people are used to. They are not very aware that all people of the earth are part of one humankind, moving towards a common future, and living on a single earth. Their awareness and interest does not expand far beyond their own personal lives, and the community they live in.
It is normal to only have attention for the problems which affect our personal lives. We only care about issues in the family, or maybe in the town we live in, and to a lesser extent in our country. But what goes on on a continental scale or larger, is usually not really an issue for our dayly lives. That's for politicians to work out.
But I think this is an oldfashioned symplification of matters, which allows us to sleep tightly when we really should be ashamed of ourselves. We live in a globalized world today. We use resources from all over the world, have contact and do business with people from everywhere. We get news from what happens everywhere.
If a friend would tell us that our sister had been raped, we would immediately take action, and help the girl. Why then do we turn away of the misfortunes of our fellow-men in faraway lands? How can we keep ignoring that we are even the cause of some of that misfortune? Just because we are not confronted with what the consequences are of our consumption, does not mean we should not take responsibility for it. If our consumption influences people and the environment in another part of the world, then we should care about that part of the world. Then we should see that we make use of the earth, and should feel responsible for its present state, and for its future.
And if we want to actively influence the future state of the world and its population, then we should first develop ideas about that future. And here is where I think SciFi is important. It raises awareness of a single human kind, on a single earth with limited resources. And if the boat sinks, we all go down with it. So we had better work together to stop this world from deteriorating! And apart of raising the awarenes of a global community, SciFi allows us to explore different worlds and different forms of social structures: different futures (utopias).

And for the very far future, if we manage to discover other habitable worlds, perhaps human kind could survive even after the earth and its sun have already passed away. I think that would be a great achievement. Because in a certain sence, it would make the human kind immortal. And because every person is part of this human kind, and has worked towards this achievement. This would make each and every person immortal. And is that not what most religious people strive for?

Liberia's female president

the BBC has a really interesting radio show: 'the Interview'

listen for example to

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia

Liberia means "land of the
free", but for the last quarter of a century the country has been anythingbut.

A series of coups and a brutal civil war has left an estimated 150,000
people dead and made refugees of a further 850,000. The econony is in tatters
and unemployment is a staggering 85%.

But hope is returning. Six months
ago, following the ousting of Charles Taylor, Liberians voted in Africa's first
female president.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is a veteran of the political
scene in Liberia and says she aims for unity, reconciliation and development.

First broadcast 2 June, 2006

listen to the show

Sunugaal - Dj Awadi

Dj Awadi made a beautiful song about the migration problem in Senegal. Thousands of Africans leave from the Senegalese coast in rickety boats, attempting to reach the Canary Islands.

Dj Awadi sings about corruption and the politicisation of the legal system, with journalists and opposition politicians in jail, while thieves and robbers are set free, if they are ever arrested.

"You promised me I would have a job
You promised me I would have food
You promised me I would have real work and hope
But so far - nothing
That's why I am leaving,
that's why I am taking off in this canoe
Swearing not to stay here a second longer
I would prefer to die than to live in this hell."

Dj Awadi, 2006

Read the BBC article

and then listen to the song: Sunugaal

Vista vs IPCC

Some time ago Windows Vista was launched. 10,000 programmers are said to have worked on this new version of windows.

On the same day the IPCC's 4th assessment report was presented. 2,500 people (researchers, country representatives and businessmen) have worked on this report, representing 40 countries. The conclusion of this report is that global warming is irrevocable, and very likely (90% certainty) to be caused at least in part, by man.
Our world is changing, and it can no longer be stopped. We will have to deal with it. No place on earth will escape at least small climatic changes.

I personally find it unbalanced that Microsoft is able to bring together and pay 10,000 programmers for a commercial product which is only available for those who can afford it.
While a problem which affects the whole world community and will change the face of the earth, is tackled by only a quarter of that.

Spain 06/07

some snapshots from Spain

some of the many churches,
[left: Córdoba] [right: Granada]

[left: jewish quarters, Sevilla]
[right: ornaments in Alcazar, Sevilla]


[left: beautiful patios in Córdoba]
[right: La Mezquita, Córdoba]

Africa, step 1

The first steps have been made towards a few months of volunteering in Africa, so now here's a weblog as well. I chose to put my weblog here, because I don't have the impression that people take my personal weblog at geocheryl.com for serious. At least, no-one ever leaves comments. So maybe you prefer this 'real' blog?
let's hope so. and let me know..

So, what was done? Well, in December I filled in a taking-in form on the internet for the Yoho company. http://www.joho.nl/ and paid their 'borg'.
And now I've received a big load of information and advice. So the next step is just to read and find out what I want to do, and where.

I already have some ideas: I want to go to West-Africa, because we used to live there. And I want to go to a french-speaking country, to increase my skills in that. So I guess Senegal is a likely candidate. It is close to the Gambia, French-speaking, stable and safe (as far as I know) and on top of that they are well known for their djembe skills! So let's see whether there is something interesting around there..

Happy Chanukah!

Today it's Chanukah! (in fact is was chanuka during the last three days, and will be still for the next 5 days too...) so happy Chanukah to everybody!

I heard it on the radio, and here's what I retained from the scattered interviews with dutch youngsters, and some additions from http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/story.html

The feast lasts 8 days (so it ends just before christmas, on the 23rd) and what the Jews do is light a candle every night (starting the night before the first day of Chanukah) in those well-known 7-arm chandeleers, give each-other presents, and eat jewish specialties. Apparrently the food is incredibly important. But I guess we already knew that from the nanny.

The reason for the festivities is an event which is in the old testament. About 2300 years ago, Judeah was under the reign of the Syrian king of Antiochus, who forced everybody to worship the greek gods, and to reject any other. Under the leadership of Judah a rebelling force was fomed: The Maccabees. (and hence Judah the Maccabee)
Chanukah celebrates that the maccabees succeeded in driving the Syrians out of Israel, and deliverance of the Temple in Jerusalem. When they cleered the temple of Greek statues, the jews wanted to light a holy eternal light in the temple, but there was only a lamp with oil for one day. By a mirracle, the oil however lasted eight days! And therefore Chanukah lasts 8 days.

Chanukah meant 'rededication' in the sense that the temple was now again dedicated to the Jewish god, instead of to the Greek ones.
and Maccabee means 'hammer'.

and because I was talking about it with someone: I guess the Jews are not allowed to use the name of God, or even the word 'god' since on that site they wrote 'G-d'.
And as I am only used to seeing swear-words not written out, I didn't understand the sentence for a moment...

mandaean gnosticism

This is a secret mystery and explenation of the Body, that is esoteric and not revealed, which I have copied who am poor, lowly, striving and childlike, a slave who is all sin. I am Zakia-Zihrun.

The earth is a Body and air is the soul therein. And its burgeonings-forth are its bones and the rivers are its veins its blood is the ocean and its womb... The copper earth is the legs upon which the body is supported, and its supporting columns are in the earth... the body and its size, its convexity and its extent ...and the hair of the head, the eyebrows and eyelashes, hair beneath the buttocs and breasts are two worlds and the whole trunk is two worlds.

And the male organ is vigorous in its strength and imperial majesty: the body, the earth and heavens and the worlds of light and darkness, are equipped therewith. It is a strong implement, and kingliness resembles it, for the whole Body and the kings are safeguarded thereby and no trees, birds, animals, cattle, or running waters can escape its compulsion.

...

For the male organ is the channel of mysteries, it is a wellspring and hair comes out from it; thereby the senses are held. For it is a great mystery to those who perform its function; who erect it in purity and not to excess. As for those who deprave it, they are cast from the height down to hte uttermost limit of the worlds. The eye is not opened which beholds all worlds; their eyes are dazzled an they behold them not!

So, when you release seed and have been orderly in the act its fount fell upon the mystery of the womb within her, which is responsive to it, seed and blood love one another and seek their vehicle; a soul, a body, and a vital spirit.

And by them kings and regents, yea and the whole world are created. And so, when they approach one another, soul and spirit rejoice at that mystery. As the male seed neared the mystery of the womb, the soul rejoiced and addressed a hymn to it and said:

In the Name of the Great Life!

from: the Other Bible, ISBN 0-06-250031-7 (1984)Chapter: Creation of the world and the alien man (Mandean Gnosticism)(p. 139)

Vanaf het eerste begin...

Verschillen man vrouw. Toch typisch dat, vanaf het eerste begin, het mannelijke deel van de mensheid, sportief gezien, beter presteer(t/d) .

http://www.nu.nl/news/668176/83/Hoe_later_zwanger%2C_hoe_meer_kans_op_jongen.html

- Sjoerd

mannen zien de helft van vrouwen!

vrouwen hebben een blikveld van 90 graden. Mannen slechts van 45 graden! Dit kennelijk omdat mannen vroeger op een everzwijn in de verte moesten jagen, terwijl de vrouwen op de kindjes moesten passen, en noten zoeken in hun directe omgeving. Dus mannen, we zien jullie wel in je neus pulken!!!

from: Top Santé

you are what you eats!

boze mensen eten het liefst stevige kost, zoals vlees. Mensen die wortelen met depressieve gevoelens kiezen juist voor stimulerende waren: zoet of cafeine. gefrustreerden eten graag rijk aan koolhydraten. En mensen die flink opscheppen zijn jaloers van aard.

from: Top Santé

En hoe is jouw eetpatroon?!

a Gandhi wisdom...

"A "NO" uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a "YES" merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble." -- Mahatma Gandhi

from: beliefnet.com

Enoch

"On the sixth day I commanded my wisdom to create man from seven consistencies: one, his flesh from the earth; two, his blood from the dew; three, his eyes from the sun; four, his bones from stone; five, his intelligence from the swiftness of the angels and from cloud; six, his veins and his hair from the grass of the earth; seven, his soul from my breath and from the wind. And I gave him seven natures: flesh for hearing, eyes for sight, the soul for smell, blood for touch, bones for endurance, and intelligence for sweetness and joy,"
...
"I created man from invisible and visible nature. From both come his death, his life, and image"

Enoch was born on the sixth day of the month Tsivan, and lived three hundred and sixty-five years.
He was taken up to Heaven on the first day of the month Tsivan and remained in heaven sixty days. He wrote all these signs of all creation, which the Lord created, and wrote three hundred and sixty-six books, and handed them over to his sons and remained on earth thirty days, and was again taken up to Heaven on the sixth day of the month Tsivan, on the very day and hour when he was born.
As every man's nature in this life is dark, so also are his concption, birth and departure from this life.

from: The Book of the Secrets of Enoch

world population: 6,5 bilion

the world population on 24th of oktober, 2005, 8:54 GMY: 6,474,584,268

see http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
and http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/world.html

This makes me Sad

I am trying to describe why I am posting this, but it doesn't work.

But questions that come to me when I search this site are:
- Why do people make these pictures ?
- Is it somebody who put them on the web to seak publicity or want to shock with the disturbing titles. While the pictures where taken for an entirely different purposes ? (this is what I suspect) - Who would be so sick to show these pictures and think up of those titles.
- Makes me want to creep in people their minds, to understand them.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gallery/index.album6.cat78.1.html

Ramadan 2005

See: http://www.submission.org/about-R.html

Ramadan starts on the fouth of oktober, and lasts untill november third.

The first time I tried to keep to Ramadan, was at high school, when I was 17. Since then I tried to do it every year. I never succeeded in doing the whole month. Last year I kept to it for two weeks, which I think was the longest period until now. This year I will try again.

I am not a muslim. Fasting during Ramadan is a personal thing, which I do not share with others. I do it because I think it is good to be aware of everything we find so normal in life. Amongst others: eating whenever you want. Maybe this year I will add to it, just to eat vegetarian, like the christians do during their fasting period.

The fasting period on the fourth of october will be from
sun up: 07.53 to
sun down: 19.19



Other religious happenings:
http://www.brepols-graphicproducts.com/PDF/feestdagen/NL_Feestdagen_2005.pdf

damn, beaten by a nerd

helaas, kennelijk weet ik toch te weinig van mijn eigen computer om echt een nerd te zijn. maar Robert, the title is all yours...

wat ben je dan?

from: http://www.watbenjedan.nl/

Hindu Wisdom

Inwardly be free of all hopes and desires, but outwardly do what needs to be done. Without hopes in your heart, live as if you were full of hopes. Live with your heart now cool and now warm, just like everyone else. Inwardly give up the idea "I am the doer," yet outwardly engage in all activities. This is how to live in the world, completely free from the least trace of ego.

-Maharamayana
Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus," edited by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press.