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1943 (or perhaps 1972)
2007-05-13 17:42:00
In future year numbers could be the title of my posts. From time to time I will talk about a period or a date that has marked me. It could be anything. Travel to some place, a particular event. Or something that touched me. A special moment. Something to remember.If I don't remember the exact date, I will indicate a period. For other stories it might be just the year, or with a bit of chance, the year and the month. And in a few instances, I should be able to even add the day. We will see.Let's give it a try. 1943: The year I am born. October: The month I am born. 18: The day I am born. You see, this time it worked.But being born in 1943 makes me feel old. But only on paper. My mind is fresh, my body also and I venture to say that I am physically and psychically very fit. What pleases me is that many people think so too. That is why I have added 1972 in my title. Because I feel like 35.I let you find out to see if I am a 1943 type or a 1972 type.***1943 was the year when Glenn Mil...

Fatherland and Social Clubs
2007-05-12 17:55:00
The question is to know if one's own country (where one originates from) is the fatherland. This would be the translation of what it is in German language. Or is it called motherland? After all, my "mother" (and not father) tongue is German. Or homeland? Which, in my opinion, has a different meaning. Anyway, I am from a country. I have ties to this country. Almost everybody has ties to his country. Things that mean something. Things that identify the country. Like for mine, Switzerland, the chocolates, the cows, the watches. Or our flagVon Swiss Flagwhich has been "used" to become the emblem of the Red Cross by inverting the colors. There are many other famous Swiss "things". Like our alpsVon Matterhorn/Ze...with the most famous Matterhorn in the Zermatt Region, very popular worldwide (As small interlude for Titania: You see, as I told you, that from Zermatt you cannot see the Matterhorn because the mountain in between hides it).Alle these things were gradually brought to the world...
More About: Social , Clubs , Land , Father , Fath

Why?
2007-05-11 04:44:00
Why do people try to take advantage? The reasons are many. Good ones, bad ones, justified ones, unjustified ones. But.....!When the village you lived in looks like thisVon BBCand your new "home" looks like thatVon UNICEFyou would probably try to take advantage too. I am confronted with this daily.Many international organisations are trying to relief people who are living in terrible conditions all over the world. I am involved in food aid. Hundreds of thousands of people are living thanks to this aid. And of course also because they get medical assistance and water wells are drilled. This is necessary because it is often dangerous to get away from a camp to fetch water.Yesterday I made an assessment mission to find out the needs of some populations that have received sofar little or unsufficiant aid. It is delicate to find out the actual number. Stories are told, sometimes unbelievable, most of them time real. When you ask questions to "back up" the tale you will find often contradi...

A small alert for "my" bloggers
2007-05-07 21:37:00
I am back since a few days and I did not have time yet to look at all your blogs. But I will make up for it. As soon as I have caught up with my work. Because I want to know what you have been up to.
More About: Small , Bloggers , Alert , Mall , Logger

Off the beaten path
2007-05-07 18:01:00
I got the idea of making a post with this title from "Titania Starlight" making a comment to one of my post. Off the beaten path. To do things that not everybody does. To travel to places where not a million tourists go. To be a bit special. I was lucky. I was able to do this (and I still am).I will talk about three special "path's" I had the good fortune to follow. They have marked me. And I still enjoy thinking about it.July 1966Von KilimandjaroFour colleagues of mine and I were Swiss Volunteers in Rwanda. For our vacation, we decided to climb Mount Kilimandjaro. It took us 5 days to go up and down. The air is very thin at the altitude of around 6'000 metres. We set out from Marangu, Tanzania and after three days we reached the peak. We were the only ones to do this for month. And when we came back, the villagers had made flower reefs to put on our heads because we had "mastered" the mountain. It seems that today hundreds of people are daily (!) up there. And the ice "hat" has a...
More About: Beat , Path

Halfway House, South Africa
2007-05-06 17:35:00
Souvenirs recalled. Today I found on Google: "Halfway House is located between Johannesburg and Pretoria in the Midrand, Gauteng. It is one of the fastest growing cities in South Africa ".!!!!.When I knew Halfway House, it was not even a village. It was a stop for the PUTCO bus travelling between the two above mentionned cities. It had a petrol station, a post office, a shop and a few houses. That's it. It took about 30 minutes (I do not remember exactly) from Johannesburg to Halfway House. I made this trip every sunday for about a year.Because in Halfway House (a few minutes to walk from the bus stop) was the "Grand Central Flying Club". And there I made my private pilots license. Today I don't fly anymore. Because soon after this I left this region and never came close to a place where I could keep my license up. Actually, all my plans of that time fell into the water. Because I wanted to become a professional bush pilot and fly passengers on weekend trips to Wankie Game Reserve ...
More About: South Africa , Ouse

Things change in life, all the time
2007-05-05 16:46:00
Yes. And so I have made changes again in the appearance of my blog. The left "sidewalk of the street" is a bit simplified. The "blabla"-board was not of much utility and I have taken it away. Adwords have "disappeared" also and are replaced by something similar where everybody can get listed free of charge. I got (since a few days I joined) listed already hundred times, of course not on my blog.The world map that allowed you to "play" with my visitors (you still can play with it) shows now the visitors of the last 24 hours.But the most important change you will notice at the top of the page, just before the posts. I will now feature the blogs from "These are my favorite blogs". In the that category the blogs are listed alphabetically. No order of preference. Because they are all at the same level, simply good and enjoyable, each in a different way.You will be all featured. I will make a random choice. Again, no order of preference, because you are all equal. I just had to start with...
More About: Life , Change , Time , Things , Thing

Luxury
2007-05-04 12:26:00
What is luxury? For some people it would be for instance a Rolls Royce with golden door handles. For other people it would be a Château d'Yquem of their year of birth. For me, it is much more simple. I do not have the means to indulge in "huge money luxury". But there is no need. One can have it much more simple.The car. My car (see some previous post) is old. But it is luxurious (when I bought it, it did not cost a fortune). It is a French car. A Citroën Xantia Break. Automatic gear shift. And has no springs for suspension. Because they use hydraulic suspension on this car. I don't really know how it works technically but you don't feel any bumps on the road with this. The drive is very smooth. And (this car was designed about 15 years ago) it has technological and modern things many new cars still don't have today. I have maintained it properly. So it is still in a perfect shape.When my wife and I drive around with it, we feel like a queen and a king. Luckily enough, we don't...
More About: Luxury

Hello, I am back online (2 days late)
2007-05-03 21:08:00
I made it back to my bush. And I am tired. So, just a small hello to you. More to come tomorrow.I have quickly updated my shared items. And now I go and sleep.Till tomorrow.
More About: Online , Back , Hell , Days , Line

A quickie (no, no, not what you think!)
2007-04-28 06:56:00
I am in the "fortunate" position of having a few "empty" moments in my pre-departure preparations. I want to thank all but in particular my faithfull friends (Bloggers and non-bloggers) who encourage me with their frequent visits.Very special thoughts for: Titiana, Whenn, AnnM, Anji, Pumuckl, Hafez, Dixie, Dr. John, Old Fart, Barbara B.-S., Chilled Beer, Bread and Roses.And now, I will run again.
More About: Think

On the road again
2007-04-27 06:08:00
Actually, I am leaving the day after tomorrow. And I have many things to do. Like shopping. In the last moment. For some of my colleagues and friends. One lady will get "Giandor" chocolate. A very refinded one. With "praline" filling. Which will melt if I do not take care. I have to put it in the fridge until I go. And when I reach Khartoum, I have to give it immediately. Otherwise you might see on CNN that there is a chocolate river in Sudan. Another lady will get "Gruyere" double cream cheese. Less delicate but still, it should not be to long away from a fridge. Where I am not worried about is the dried "Grison" beef (something silimar to South African biltong). It will not spoil. And this is for me.And of course, the most important thing is to spend more precious (and last) moments with my wife.I might not be able to post until I leave. And from monday until wednesday there will be a "blackout". Though not coming back from space with a space shuttle, I will not be able to communi...
More About: Again , Road , On The Road , The Road

Beauty of nature! Beauty of man(kind)?
2007-04-26 08:26:00
Von Jebel Marra1This is the crater of Jebel Marra massif in Darfur, Sudan. A beautiful peace of nature. Right now inaccessible by land because of the Darfur conflict. I had the chance to fly over it in MI-8 helicopters or Cessna Caravans. This picture was taken during the dry season. From July to November, it rains and the place is in bright green. It is breath-taking.A long time ago, tourists (nature lovers, not "mass" tourists) enjoyed very much to go to this region.Perhaps soon mankind will come to its senses and act in a way that this place becomes a peaceful, beautiful one again.***Herbert von Karajan was an excellent, outstanding conductor. A bit excentric. For many years he was the "master" of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Together with the Philadelphia Philharmony among the best orchestras of the world. Any kind of classical work recorded by them will give you a great listening pleasure.
More About: Beauty , Nature , Beau , Natur

Legal (still) and money making (again)
2007-04-25 07:14:00
I have spent many more hours on finding ways of putting music on the blog. Well recognised sites "offer" you possibilities. So you want want to jump in, subscribe, download and "share". Easy! Easy? Well, when you go and read the "terms of use" it looks different.As a subscriber, you think that you can just go ahead and be happy. But when you have spent the necessary time (and it takes a lot of time) going through the "small print", then you realise that you are "walking on a knife's edge". By all means, if trouble should occur, it is for you, and you alone.So, for the time being I will not do "anything" about live music. I am afraid of "Big Brother". But I will continue (though it not being a priority) to search (at moments where I have nothing better to do) for a really legal solution.On different subject: Some time ago I was talking about sites that should enable you to earn money on the web. And I told you that I have subscribed to several of them. And spent a lot of time on the...
More About: Money , Legal , Stil , Again , King

This one is dedicated to Old Fart
2007-04-24 05:44:00
Thank you for your long comment on the music issue. I do not know whether you had the change to listen to the two pieces I had put or whether they were already taken off when you visited the blog.By reading my previous post you have seen that it is not a technical problem, but a legal one. The technical aspect is easy with "Hipcast". And, by the way, they "warn" you before you upload saying that one should not do it if one is not the owner of the copyrights. Will this be the story where the dog bites his own tail?Yes, indeed I discovered that the sites in my blogroll are not updated. I went to "Blogrolling" to find out why and also thought that re-entering the links would help. But I did not get around it, my "legal affairs" keeping me so busy. But this morning, I noticed that on one link the "*Updated*" has appeared. Perhaps the problem is solved?I am on vacation also and enjoy it very much. I have another week before I return to Darfur. I wish you that you enjoy yours also. And ma...
More About: This , Fart , Cate , Dedicated

I will become a legal expert
2007-04-24 05:19:00
As you can see, I have taken off both pieces of music I have put. I am making (almost all of last night) research to find out what I can do to have you listen to music without me (or you) getting a 50'000 dollars fine."emusic", from where I download absolutely legally, has responded by saying that I am only allowed to use the music for my "private" purposes. Now, uploading it, is this private use or not? I guess not because it seems that by putting it on the blog, I become a publisher.This means, according to Harry Fox Licensing Agency, I need two licences to put music on the web (legally), the first one from the owner of the music, the second one is a mechanical license. And the cost of the mechanical license depends from the number of copies I make. You have two categories: Less then 2'500 copies, more the 2'500 copies. But I am not making copies. Then I guess, if I put it on the blog and I have more then 2'500 visitors, I would have to pay royalties and licenses I cannot affo...
More About: Legal , Will , Come , Expert , Pert

I still can get marvelled.
2007-04-22 07:28:00
I think it is marvellous to listen to music. Music is very important for me. And technical means permit now to "carry" the music easily to anywhere. Which I do with my iPod. I like any kind of music, with a few exceptions. And I think it is great to share music. That is why I am giving you my "hints". I was very pleased to find this "hipcast" site which enables me to put the music "life".I am a bit "worried" though.The music I will put in the blogs to is not pirated. It does not come from CD's or from somebody who has "given" it to me. It is downloaded legally from the web (through www.emusic.com) and I have paid for it. So, I guess there should be no problem to put it on the posts. I just want to avoid legal problems, not for you for listening to it, not for me for posting it. Also, the posts do not create any money or revenue for me and I think (but I am not sure) that you cannot record, download or copy what I post. Should you happen to know how such things work, I would gladly ...
More About: Elle , Marvel , Stil , Still

In the Summertime (and very busy today)
2007-04-21 08:32:00
Today is my wife's paradise. We go shopping. It will last all day. And I will trail behind her. All day. But I don't mind. She will enjoy. And be happy. And to see her happy makes me happy.A PS to my yesterday's post: I did not have to walk home.And finally: From now you will hear my musical hint. Below the first example. Enjoy."Live music" taken off pending clarification.
More About: Today , Summertime , Busy

Hassling with Administration
2007-04-20 06:29:00
To get a passport in my country is as easy as buying milk or cigarettes. Warning: This applies of course to Swiss citizens in good "order" only.To fill in your income tax return is easy (as above). You download the "automated" file from the internet, you fill in your earnings, your special deductions. The rest is calculated automatically. Then you print it and send it. And it does not "cheat" you.The cars running on Swiss roads are safe. Because they are inspected regularely by the "Service des automobiles et de la navigation". Navigation? Yes, the boats on Swiss lakes are inspected also. And safe also. I did not hear about any ship or boat drowning.I have a car. A Citroen Xantia Break. A phantastic car. I drive Citroen since over 20 years. Because I think they are always advanced in technology. My car is 11 years old. The first 5 years you are in peace. Then you have to present it every 2 years. And if at the inspection they discover something, you get 30 days to repair and present...
More About: Administration , Trat , Admin , Stra , Sling

Rendering services, appreciating services
2007-04-19 07:14:00
Two days ago I responded to a discussion on myLot (the "thing" that is at the bottom of my page). The subject was about leaving a tip in a restaurant. And this leads me to some reflexions.All of us, in one way or an other, are receiving or rendering services. We need them. We use them. But do we appreciate them? Do we show our recognition? I am not so certain. It is a matter of human behaviour.When I go to a store, I except to be served well. And generally, I am. But, from time to time, I come across a sales person which is not really friendly. The person has perhaps a problem, with the boss, with the wife, with the husband, with the kids or anything bad. And has worries on the mind. If you don't act offended towards that person and you give a smile, it eases the tension and often the sales person becomes friendly and renders you a good service.I am spending a lot of time in airplanes. And in them, you have a lot of "weird customers". The flight attendants try to be smily and make ...
More About: Services , Ring , Vice , Ender , Erin

Dancing for VT?
2007-04-18 05:24:00
So it happened again. And it will happen again. As it happened before. And then ceremonies are held again and President 's will attend and say how sorry they are. And then, back at the office, perhaps write a letter to NRA to congratulate them for their efforts to keep up individuals rights and "liberties".
More About: Dancing

Tolerance
2007-04-17 05:29:00
I smoke, I know I shouldn't. But I do. And I am not starting a discussion about it now. But smoking can (and does) create conflictual situations. Which can easily be solved with tolerance. Again, no discussion about it, just a few simple things how this can be handled.Non smokers have absolutely the right of not getting disturbed by the smoking of others. And smokers have absolutely the right to smoke. Laws, interdictions, constraints and many other things are however limiting the "freedom" of smokers. I hate laws and restrictions. But then I guess that they are necessary because not everybody has a "civic" sense and considers the "other".Non smokers I know: Invited at the place for dinner, they say to me: "You may smoke if you wish". Or "Would you mind going outside to smoke?". But most of the time when I am at my non smoking friends places, I do not not ever bother or worry about smoking. I respect their environment.Me as a smoker. When I am "caught" with people, I never would li...
More About: Celine Dion , Geneva , Tolerance

I am at home
2007-04-15 06:18:00
I made it. A long but nice trip. And I am now resting. And have many things to do. But today, I will just take care of my family. And then I guess, I already have stories to tell in the next fews days. Perhaps on how I get (got) nervous. Which happens extremely seldom (really extemely seldom). Or about the "pleasure" of hassling with Swiss legislation.But as I said, today it is my family day. And then, of course, I need a moment to open and decant a bottle of Errazuriz Caramenere, my favorite Chilian wine, to enjoy with my meal. A welcome change after 7 weeks of Safia drinking water. And perhaps, once when everybody has gone to bed (and if I am not to tired, still from travelling), I might start to watch 7 weeks of "Luethi and Blanc", the Swiss Soap Opera, faithfully and automatically recorded during my absence by my fancy "bluewin TV" system. I am "swimming" (and hope I will not drown) in modern technology and consumers society "luxury". What a welcome change after 7 weeks of "bush...
More About: Home

Bye, bye. Just for a few days.
2007-04-09 14:11:00
Tomorrow I will travel. To go home for 2 weeks. It will take me a week (almost) to reach. In my different stop overs I might be able to quickly check my emails. But I will definitely not be able to post.And then, though I love you all, I will have to spend a lot of time with my wife and family. If all goes well, you will hear my "voice" next sunday.Till then and cheers!
More About: Just , Days

It is still Easter and I was busy
2007-04-08 20:45:00
Next sunday I will be at home. Perhaps my family will have kept some easter eggs for me.Again, being away from home, there was not much of celebration going on. Except an East er lunch at the residence of our boss. She cooked some specialities from her country, Ethiopia. Very delicious and I ate enough to last me for the rest of the day.Returning to the compound, I was not able to rest and was somehow exited. I have been working on my blog. It seems it is a never ending thing. But then is it my fault if I discover new gadgets? And is it my fault for being a gadget freak? I love it.I made again changes. On the top you will now always find "A message for you". I have the intention to change it (if I get around to it) once a week. On Fridays. This is very suitable because it is my day off. And you (or at least many of you) will be able to discover it during "your" weekend.The item which I told you to look at it, because it is worthwhile, will now appear after my posts. As a matter of fa...
More About: Stil , Still , Busy

The Himalayas
2007-04-08 08:59:00
Everest, K2, Purna, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhan, Dhaulagiri, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna, Manaslu. Who does not know all these beautiful 8'000 metres or over peaks from movies, TV shows and National Geographic. Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing became famous for climbing the Everest in the 50ties. Many of us where attracked by this region. In particular Nepal with the invasion of the flower power in the 60ties. I was not part of this power because where I lived at that time there were no flowers.So, I am speaking about all these mountains. And their fascination. Wait a minute, something does not sound right. Checking the map I cannot find Purna and Dhan. I must have gotten confused. Well, I am just a bit silly. Purna and Dhan are no mountains. They are my very good friends and they are coming from Nepal.If I am able to write blogs, it is to a great extend thanks to them. Because they feed me. Because I cannot cook. And I don't want to eat cans of sardines and corned beef al...
More About: Malaya , Malay , Mala , Himalayas , Alaya

Hardship
2007-04-07 21:01:00
I am not a very religious person. And I believe in something. Is it God, is it something I cannot define? But I know from school (I wrote about how much I hated it) in civic or religion classes that one should be good. I try to be good, but this is not for me to judge.I enjoy life and the nice things very much. And do sometimes exagerate. Exuberantly, sometimes. But there are moments in my life where I go into a personal "retreat" and think about lesser nice things. At Christmas, when we are spending all this money and there are always so many that have nothing. Or now at Easter I am going through such a spell.Hard ship. I am working in Darfur, in the Sudan. A beautiful region. A hot region (by temperature). With friendly people. But a region torn by war and conflict. A region with a lot of suffering, day in, day out. My assignment is considered a hardship post. And it is tough. But what is hardship?I earn a decent salary. During the day I have to walk in the heat, in the dust. It ma...
More About: Ship

Post Scriptum to the previous post
2007-04-06 16:21:00
I have put some order in my blog (with the help of the lady who tells us beautiful stories with postcards at timeandoft.blogspot.com). I thought about setting priorities. As I would at work.Now, below "About me" you will find my "Visual DNA" followed by the "Blog Archive". Then comes "These are my favorite blogs". This is now powered by "Blogrolling" and will (if I did set it up right) indicate when they are updated. "Peter's shared items" are just after this and then you will see my Neoboard which I use to make "announcements". So, the important items are on top of the page.Of course, I hope that you will scroll down to look at everything.
More About: Post , Script

A friendly reminder
2007-04-06 09:07:00
That is what I get, when I do not pay a bill on time. Sometimes, I get a less friendly reminder if I still have not paid. And about once or twice a year, I get something that is not friendly at all. It is not that I do not want to pay my bills, but sometimes the timing just does not match with my professional obligations and I am absent for some time.A friendly reminder is what I am giving to you. Not that you owe me any money. So you will not get a less friendly reminder or even worse from me.Many bloggers have visited my blog and left messages. In return, I go to their blogs also. And I discover really beautiful ones. And then I put them in my "These are my favorite blogs". If I do so, I send a message to inform the blog "owner". If you got such a message and are disappointed not to see your blogs name, I just would like to remind you friendly that I am not putting your blogs name. I am "inventing" a title that matches your blog and or its title. So, you have to browse in that cat...
More About: Friend , Mind , Friendly , Reminder , Remi

Hello, I am back
2007-04-05 17:54:00
I just made it back. I am tired. I took a shower, I will have a bite to eat and then will go and sleep.I wish you all a very nice Easter Holiday. A long weekend for most of us. But some have to work. Just to make life easier for us or to be around to help us if we are in need or trouble. And some will be, of course. So, thank you very much, you "0bliged" workers for your dedication.
More About: Back , Hell , Hello

No April's Fool thing (it is too late in the day)
2007-04-01 21:16:00
What you see above is something I would call (without exageration) exiting. The three questions come from MyLot, a community I discovered yesterday. I have been "playing" around with it many hours and I like it, so I joined. Once you are a member, you can set up your interests (an illimited range of anything). Then you can participate in discussions by answering questions. Or you can ask a question yourself or open a discussion (about anything also) and you will get answers. It is a huge forum. Having presently some 80'000 members and growing fast.It seems also that one earns a little money. Though it is not a money making site. I don't know how you will feel about it. But I think it is worthwhile to go and look at it. Click on any question, it will lead you there.
More About: April , Fool , Late , Thing , The D