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)