12th Sept 2014
After many months of argument and counter argument, Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide as opposed to premeditated murder.
Many people are not happy with the outcome but the Judge, Thokozile Masipa, has remained calm and focussed as a good judge should, and given the verdict that most people expected.
Hopefully Oscar will now remain calm and focussed himself until he is officially sentenced sometime in October and refrain from committing impulsive and destructive actions while he is free on bail.
At the end of the day Oscar may get a suspended sentence as opposed to spending from 5 to 8 years in prison! Should he get off scott free let us hope he will make a personal decision never to take up another firearm again for the rest of his life! By making such a decision he will show genuine respect for Reeva Steenkamp and her family and sincere remorse for the fact that he took her life in a moment of panic and because he tends to be trigger happy!
He would also be very wise to undergo therapy in order to discover what it is that turns him into a volatile and irrational being as opposed to a person who has overcome great odds to become a world star and mentor.
He seems to believe in God and so needs to lay his fear down and, in faith, believe that he has been blessed and given a great gift and needs to shine like a beacon in a dark and violent world!
Pistorius plans book
The trial..
Yesterday ( 7th April 2014 ) the trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp continued and Oscar himself began his testimony. What he spoke about was really sad and one wanted to be in the court to comfort him as he stumbled through the telling of his story.
Today ( 8th April 2014 ) Oscar continues his story and is now describing his horror when he realised that Riva Steenkamp was quite possibly the person he had just shot 4 times at fairly close range behind the locked toilet door in his bathroom. The horror intensifies when he eventually batters a hole in the door and, on opening it, does indeed find her body inside the toilet.
Because of his great distress caused by the telling of his story, the court has now adjourned until tomorrow. Unless Oscar is a very good actor and he doesn't get broken down during the cross examination by the prosecution, I believe he may be found innocent of murder.
9th April 2014
Well today the Prosecution got its claws in and things got really nasty! Because of 'evidence' in form of a video that had not been declared on the docket and because of a very graphic photo of Reeva Steenkamp's head after the shooting being shown, Oscar Pistorius was decimated!
Because I learned from a lawyer defending a death row prisoner in the USA in 1997, I know that what goes on between the Defence and the Prosecution is a fight to the bitter end. It is the Prosecution's absolute aim to prove guilt at all and any cost and today I saw this done very viciously! It is a good thing that I'm not squeamish but Oscar Pistorius, after that viewing, could quite easily be driven beyond his capability to cope! My heart goes out to the parents of the victim because they too had to view that photo..again probably..!
I would like to say that I admire the Judge because she has remained calm and in control and is still able to show empathy.
The court has now adjourned in order to allow Oscar Pistorius to get himself together in order to face the next barrage. May the Force be with him whichever way things swing.
pm: Well after a couple of breaks the trial went on and eventually Oscar was brought to the point where he found it very difficult to get past calling the whole catastrophe an 'accident'.
It seems he had to choose between flight or fight and, seeing as flight was not an option for him because he was balancing on his stumps, he followed the fight path and fired 4 shots at the toilet door without knowing who was behind it. It may be that his fear and paranoia caused him to snap and he fired because of the extreme tension that had built up ( which would mean that he was not in control of his actions ) or that he actively chose to pull the trigger ( which means the whole action was no accident as he insists that it was. )
Tomorrow the case continues...let's see what other surprises the prosecution pulls out of the hat!
10th April 2014: Lots of old stuff came up today but nothing very loudly incriminated the accused concerning the actual case except that he probably broke a few gun rules as many gun owners do. I was married to a gun owner once and so can speak from experience.
He used to leave his loaded Magnum .38 on the night table at night when I worked night shift and our son of 4 yrs slept in the room next door.
Very irresponsible behaviour that and I eventually moved out with my son in fear of something catastrophic happening!
The fan situation may cause problems though..
21st Oct 2014
At last Oscar Pistorius has received his sentence which is 5 years in prison.
By the sound of things he may get to spend from 2 years to 10 months in actual prison time and the rest will be under house arrest.
The sentence can be classified as 'light' but Oscar has to contend with serious threats to his life while behind bars, prison rape and other gross happenings that may crop up.
He will also have to contend with recurring bouts of ptsd and guilt which will haunt him from time to time and which, in turn, can lead to heavy depression.
At least Reeva Steenkamp's family seem to feel that justice has been served and hopefully they can move forward with the rest of their lives.
Hopefully Oscar gets therapy for anger management and never picks up a gun again in his lifetime. Prison can be a time to grow and mature!
Oscar Pistorius begins jail term
Fan blows away Oscar's story
Reeva Steenkamp standing 'with hand on door handle' when she was shot dead
Oscar 'danger to society'; mental health issues
Friday, January 24, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Female Genital Mutilation: 'The Cruel Cut'; Arrests made in female genital mutilation case in UK;
Female genital mutilation is illegal in many countries and yet thousands of young girls ( as young as 6 weeks!! ) are being subjected to this 'stone-age' practice!
It seems that there is a tiny light at the end of the tunnel as 2 people have been arrested in London for being involved in the mutilation of a tiny baby!
Leyla Hussein
The Cruel Cut
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-cruel-cut/episode-guide
Tackling FGM
UK's approach to FGM not working
FGM: Arrests in female genital mutilation case
It seems that there is a tiny light at the end of the tunnel as 2 people have been arrested in London for being involved in the mutilation of a tiny baby!
Leyla Hussein
The Cruel Cut
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-cruel-cut/episode-guide
Tackling FGM
UK's approach to FGM not working
FGM: Arrests in female genital mutilation case
Mukhtaran Bibi: Gang raped in clan ' honour' revenge punishment
In this new year of 2014 I read the history of a very brave- spirited woman named Mukhtaran Bibi from Pakistan. In spite of her horrific treatment on orders from local government, she survived the degradation and has gone on to be the mother of a baby boy. Hopefully he will follow in his mother's footsteps and reject the 'stone age' culture that holds his country back from moving out of poverty and ignorance!
Mukhtaran Bibi: 'Honour' gang rape victim, survivor and activist
Mukhtaran Bibi gives birth to baby boy
Mukhtaran Bibi: 'Honour' gang rape victim, survivor and activist
Mukhtaran Bibi gives birth to baby boy
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Friday, January 03, 2014
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Friday, December 06, 2013
Nelson Mandela 1918-2013: A True Statesman Dies And Leaves A Legacy Of Hope For South Africa After Apartheid; Ubuntu..In Memoriam ♥
The last thing I read on my Galaxy tablet last night was that one of my heroes, Nelson Mandela, had died peacefully at his home at the ripe old age of 95 :(
His demise had been expected for quite some time but, now that it has come about, one truly realises the loss of a man with a vision and who was a great statesman.
Having grown up in South Africa during the apartheid era as an English speaking white member of society, I enjoyed all the privileges and benefits that being white entitled me to. Although I realised from an early age that the system was biased and oppressive, there wasn't all that much one could do to change things as the Nationalist government had zero tolerance of any dissident ideas and being thrown in jail for expressing an opinion was not a pleasant option.
The Afrikaans and English speaking citizens didn't get along well either so we also went to separate schools which cost the tax payers alot more than was necessary!
My father was born in Matatiele in East Griqualand and after he was discharged from the army in 1944 he worked for the Chamber of Mines..first as a blaster in the gold mines and then as an interpreter as he spoke and understood 3 tribal languages ( one of them being Xhosa and he could 'click' correctly) and finally as the Compound Manager on a colliery near Witbank.
He almost lost his life there during an uprising in the compound where migrant workers lived. The uprising was due to old grievances they had had with the previous compound manager.
He worked hard to better life for the migrant workers but it took its toll on his health due to endless battles with the head office in Johannesburg for, mainly, extra money to get the job done and went on to retire at age 58. He was given a huge send off by the compound staff and workers and some even shed tears.
I often attended presentations for different competitions among the black miners and our house was just a stone's throw away from the compound so I was aften greeted by workers as they came off shift. We had a black cook and housemaid at home and they and I were good friends. Our cook, Paulus, always spoiled me with my favourite foods when I came home from boarding school. Johanna brought me up to date on the local gossip.
My schooling was, for the most part, at different catholic convents and the nuns did a lot of missionary work and teaching in the black communities. The black school children had to pay for their own books and uniforms even though they were poor and we donated books and other items to these schools. They also walked many km to and from school but they were keen to study and the distances didn't stop them.
Nelson Mandela experienced all of this injustice and rebelled against it and, even though his methods were not the wisest ones, he paid the price for wrong choices and changed his way of thinking while in prison. It seems he was always a true gentleman and always kept his dignity.
If South Africans of all colours, tribes and creeds really want the country to flourish they need to seriously work together for the common good. White people are also suffering today and are living in camps and are poverty stricken.
When I lived in South Africa tribalism was rife and I only realized how really strong it was when I asked two women of different tribes to help me clean the house we were living in before we emigrated. They agreed but both said they would not work together because of tribal differences. They came on different days.
All children need to have a good basic education and this, in turn, is an investment into the future. Without education people become slaves and this is the aim of the corrupt and greedy!
Corruption and greed hide behind all forms of extremism and corrupt religious leaders and politicians incite ignorant and uneducated persons to violence and destruction for their own devious ends.
I believe that Nelson Mandela wanted a thriving and united South Africa and if his goal is not striven after, his sacrifice will have been in vain and apartheid and slavery will rule forever!
R.I.P.
Zahara sings to Nelson Mandela
Loliwe
He smiled, and I knew I would never see him again
Biography
Nelson Mandela had six names
The philosophy of 'Ubuntu'
Video: Asibonanga/Johnny Clegg
Mandela and his three wives
Graca Machel
Mugabe did not want Mandela released
His demise had been expected for quite some time but, now that it has come about, one truly realises the loss of a man with a vision and who was a great statesman.
Having grown up in South Africa during the apartheid era as an English speaking white member of society, I enjoyed all the privileges and benefits that being white entitled me to. Although I realised from an early age that the system was biased and oppressive, there wasn't all that much one could do to change things as the Nationalist government had zero tolerance of any dissident ideas and being thrown in jail for expressing an opinion was not a pleasant option.
The Afrikaans and English speaking citizens didn't get along well either so we also went to separate schools which cost the tax payers alot more than was necessary!
My father was born in Matatiele in East Griqualand and after he was discharged from the army in 1944 he worked for the Chamber of Mines..first as a blaster in the gold mines and then as an interpreter as he spoke and understood 3 tribal languages ( one of them being Xhosa and he could 'click' correctly) and finally as the Compound Manager on a colliery near Witbank.
He almost lost his life there during an uprising in the compound where migrant workers lived. The uprising was due to old grievances they had had with the previous compound manager.
He worked hard to better life for the migrant workers but it took its toll on his health due to endless battles with the head office in Johannesburg for, mainly, extra money to get the job done and went on to retire at age 58. He was given a huge send off by the compound staff and workers and some even shed tears.
I often attended presentations for different competitions among the black miners and our house was just a stone's throw away from the compound so I was aften greeted by workers as they came off shift. We had a black cook and housemaid at home and they and I were good friends. Our cook, Paulus, always spoiled me with my favourite foods when I came home from boarding school. Johanna brought me up to date on the local gossip.
My schooling was, for the most part, at different catholic convents and the nuns did a lot of missionary work and teaching in the black communities. The black school children had to pay for their own books and uniforms even though they were poor and we donated books and other items to these schools. They also walked many km to and from school but they were keen to study and the distances didn't stop them.
Nelson Mandela experienced all of this injustice and rebelled against it and, even though his methods were not the wisest ones, he paid the price for wrong choices and changed his way of thinking while in prison. It seems he was always a true gentleman and always kept his dignity.
If South Africans of all colours, tribes and creeds really want the country to flourish they need to seriously work together for the common good. White people are also suffering today and are living in camps and are poverty stricken.
When I lived in South Africa tribalism was rife and I only realized how really strong it was when I asked two women of different tribes to help me clean the house we were living in before we emigrated. They agreed but both said they would not work together because of tribal differences. They came on different days.
All children need to have a good basic education and this, in turn, is an investment into the future. Without education people become slaves and this is the aim of the corrupt and greedy!
Corruption and greed hide behind all forms of extremism and corrupt religious leaders and politicians incite ignorant and uneducated persons to violence and destruction for their own devious ends.
I believe that Nelson Mandela wanted a thriving and united South Africa and if his goal is not striven after, his sacrifice will have been in vain and apartheid and slavery will rule forever!
R.I.P.
Zahara sings to Nelson Mandela
Loliwe
He smiled, and I knew I would never see him again
Biography
Nelson Mandela had six names
The philosophy of 'Ubuntu'
Video: Asibonanga/Johnny Clegg
Mandela and his three wives
Graca Machel
Mugabe did not want Mandela released
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Baby P: Peter Connelly; The trio who caused his death!
I followed this case and my heart still gets sore when I think about the way dear little Peter Connelly was treated during his sojourn on earth! One cannot understand why his mother allowed him to be brutalized by two adult men the way he was! Hopefully baby Peter is in a better place and resting in peace!♡
No doubt his murderers will be judged for their despicable deeds by a Higher Power!
Baby P: The trio who caused his death
Tracey Connelly given freedom at taxpayers' expence
Sharon Shoesmith wins £679,000 payout
No doubt his murderers will be judged for their despicable deeds by a Higher Power!
Baby P: The trio who caused his death
Tracey Connelly given freedom at taxpayers' expence
Sharon Shoesmith wins £679,000 payout
Sunday, July 07, 2013
Successful Breast Feeding!; Thriving on breast milk;
Just lately I've become very interested in breast feeding again and how to make a success of it!
The reason for my renewed interest is that I have become a Grandmother and my daughter decided that, by hook or by crook, she was going to persevere until she got it right because, at the end of the day, it is the best start in life one can give to an infant.
Sadly the help and information she was given while still in the maternity unit was very inadequate and scanty.
Baby was finding it difficult to grab the nipple and finally, after much unnecessary stress for both mom and child, she was given nipple shields but not before a blister had developed on one nipple which was rather painful and could have lead to an infectiAAon and possibly the use of antibiotics.
We started reading up on the pros and cons of breast feeding and how important it is that baby attaches properly to the nipple from the word get go and that breast milk is in itself a useful treatment for cracks and blisters.
It is important to remember that the breasts are a 'dairy' and that fluids removed in form of milk have to be replaced all the time by more fluids..water being the preferred medium.
Demand feeding is the way to go in the beginning and this is very tiring and stressful for both Mom and Baby as both get far too little sleep for a number of weeks. However the more baby sucks, the more milk is produced and that's the key.
Apparently the baby does not need water to quench its thirst if Mom is drinking at least one liter per day more than she usually drinks.
In all this struggle a supportive Dad is a great asset! He can take Baby for periods so that Mom can get some sleep even if only power naps.
Mom also needs to keep taking her vitamin supplements and her diet should be a healthy one.
Certain foods containing a lot of sugar and which cause winds and gas should be avoided as what Mom eats affects the baby's delicate digestive system leading to cramps and colic.
Regular weighing of the baby lets you know whether it is getting enough food and, contrary to starting supplement feeding and wrecking the whole breast feeding plan, the answer is to feed hourly or two hourly until the 'dairy' starts to regulate itself and baby gradually takes in more food as its sucking power increases.
Perseverance triumphs and both Mom and Baby win out in the end when victory is reached.
My granddaughter weighed 3kg at birth and now, 8 weeks on, she weighs over 4kg after losing 200g after birth. She has also grown more than 5cm in length.
Feel free to ask questions should you read this posting and are unsure.
12 August 2013
Today my darling granddaughter turns a whole 3 months old!
She is thriving on breast milk and now weighs over 5 kg and is many cm taller.
She sleeps for about 6 hrs at night before waking up for the next feed and is lifting her head and rolling over and taking notice of everything around her! She has 'found' her hands and feet and enjoys talking to herself. She even recognises her fluffy toy giraffe and likes to
have it close when she drifts off to sleep.
Because Sweden has experienced some very hot days this summer, Mom has had to increase her fluid intake somewhat as baby gets very thirsty. Sometimes she drinks as if it's the last milk she'll ever get!
All in all I would say she is a very contented child and hopefully will continue to follow this curve!
17th July 2014
Thought I'd update this seeing as my Granddaughter has turned 14 months and is now being gradually weaned from breast milk seeing as she will soon have 8 teeth and Mum will be going back to work.
In these 14 months she has had 2 colds and recovered rather quickly from a bout of Rotavirus. After the vomiting and nausea had subsided she carried on drinking breast milk and I think this was the reason she recovered so quickly.
Having a grandchild is the greatest blessing and I do feel blessed!
Hopefully this input will be helpful if you're having problems!
Rotavirus
The reason for my renewed interest is that I have become a Grandmother and my daughter decided that, by hook or by crook, she was going to persevere until she got it right because, at the end of the day, it is the best start in life one can give to an infant.
Sadly the help and information she was given while still in the maternity unit was very inadequate and scanty.
Baby was finding it difficult to grab the nipple and finally, after much unnecessary stress for both mom and child, she was given nipple shields but not before a blister had developed on one nipple which was rather painful and could have lead to an infectiAAon and possibly the use of antibiotics.
We started reading up on the pros and cons of breast feeding and how important it is that baby attaches properly to the nipple from the word get go and that breast milk is in itself a useful treatment for cracks and blisters.
It is important to remember that the breasts are a 'dairy' and that fluids removed in form of milk have to be replaced all the time by more fluids..water being the preferred medium.
Demand feeding is the way to go in the beginning and this is very tiring and stressful for both Mom and Baby as both get far too little sleep for a number of weeks. However the more baby sucks, the more milk is produced and that's the key.
Apparently the baby does not need water to quench its thirst if Mom is drinking at least one liter per day more than she usually drinks.
In all this struggle a supportive Dad is a great asset! He can take Baby for periods so that Mom can get some sleep even if only power naps.
Mom also needs to keep taking her vitamin supplements and her diet should be a healthy one.
Certain foods containing a lot of sugar and which cause winds and gas should be avoided as what Mom eats affects the baby's delicate digestive system leading to cramps and colic.
Regular weighing of the baby lets you know whether it is getting enough food and, contrary to starting supplement feeding and wrecking the whole breast feeding plan, the answer is to feed hourly or two hourly until the 'dairy' starts to regulate itself and baby gradually takes in more food as its sucking power increases.
Perseverance triumphs and both Mom and Baby win out in the end when victory is reached.
My granddaughter weighed 3kg at birth and now, 8 weeks on, she weighs over 4kg after losing 200g after birth. She has also grown more than 5cm in length.
Feel free to ask questions should you read this posting and are unsure.
12 August 2013
Today my darling granddaughter turns a whole 3 months old!
She is thriving on breast milk and now weighs over 5 kg and is many cm taller.
She sleeps for about 6 hrs at night before waking up for the next feed and is lifting her head and rolling over and taking notice of everything around her! She has 'found' her hands and feet and enjoys talking to herself. She even recognises her fluffy toy giraffe and likes to
have it close when she drifts off to sleep.
Because Sweden has experienced some very hot days this summer, Mom has had to increase her fluid intake somewhat as baby gets very thirsty. Sometimes she drinks as if it's the last milk she'll ever get!
All in all I would say she is a very contented child and hopefully will continue to follow this curve!
17th July 2014
Thought I'd update this seeing as my Granddaughter has turned 14 months and is now being gradually weaned from breast milk seeing as she will soon have 8 teeth and Mum will be going back to work.
In these 14 months she has had 2 colds and recovered rather quickly from a bout of Rotavirus. After the vomiting and nausea had subsided she carried on drinking breast milk and I think this was the reason she recovered so quickly.
Having a grandchild is the greatest blessing and I do feel blessed!
Hopefully this input will be helpful if you're having problems!
Rotavirus
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Daniel Pelka, 4, Died Of Head Injury After 'Incomprehensible' Campaign Of Cruelty, Court Hears
Daniel Pelka was a four year old boy who was deliberately starved and beaten to death by his own mother, Maria Luczak and her partner, Mariusz Krezolek.
- Daniel Pelka, 4, Died Of Head Injury After 'Incomprehensible' Campaign Of Cruelty, Court Hears
- Daniel Pelka 'Deliberately Starved By Pair'
- Daniel Pelka case continues to haunt city two years on
- Daniel Pelka, 4, Died Of Head Injury After 'Incomprehensible' Campaign Of Cruelty, Court Hears
- Daniel Pelka 'Deliberately Starved By Pair'
- Daniel Pelka case continues to haunt city two years on
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Central Park Jogger Case: 'The Central Park Five' documentary;
I've just watched the documentary made about the rape and assault of a female jogger in Central park in New York in 1989. It seems there is an ongoing civil case and I do hope the 5 accused men who were in their teens at the time, get their very overdue compensation from the state for a job very badly done!
- Ken Burns Fights City Hall Over His New Film on the Central Park Jogger Case
- Kharey Wise, exonerated member of 'Central Park Five' calls girlfriend's claim he threw a brick at her a 'shakedown' attempt.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Jason Becker : 'Not Dead Yet'; Guitar player and composer; ALS ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ Lou Gehrig's disease )
Today I watched a film/documentary about a very gifted guitar player and composer named Jason Becker.
- 'Not Dead Yet'
- Review
He was born on 22nd July 1969 which means his birthday is one day after mine which is very cool!
At age 19 he was diagnosed with ALS ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ Lou Gehrig's disease ) which to date is incurable.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Sadly his promising career as a super guitarist was cut short.
This year of 2013 Jason is turning 44 and composes music still.
His attitude to life is mindblowing and he is an inspiration second to none I think!
- A Real Guitar Hero: Jason Becker Interviewed
Where there is life there's always hope!
- 'Not Dead Yet'
- Review
He was born on 22nd July 1969 which means his birthday is one day after mine which is very cool!
At age 19 he was diagnosed with ALS ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ Lou Gehrig's disease ) which to date is incurable.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Sadly his promising career as a super guitarist was cut short.
This year of 2013 Jason is turning 44 and composes music still.
His attitude to life is mindblowing and he is an inspiration second to none I think!
- A Real Guitar Hero: Jason Becker Interviewed
Where there is life there's always hope!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The Last Rhino
Video: The Last Rhino
It seems that mankind is on the rampage to wipe out both Rhino and Elephant.
Greed and superstition has driven up the price of rhino horn and ivory.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Jyoti Singh Pandey: Victim of Indian gang-rape is named
Victim of Indian gang-rape revealed
Hopefully the perpetrators get what they deserve and may Jyoti Singh Pandey rest in peace!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Rape of Draupadi: Why Indian democracy has failed women - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Cold Sores: prevention and treatment
I have, at the moment, a humdinger of a cold sore ( herpes simplex )
It's painful and I'm irritated and so have done some research on the causes and treatments for the condition.
It seems one needs to treat at the very first sign of tingling!
- Diet and Nutrition with Herpes/Cold Sores
- How to Treat Cold Sore With Tea Tree Oil
- Tea Tree Oil side effects
Friday, December 14, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, December 03, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Mosab Hassan Yousef: Son of Hamas leader converts to Christianity
Son of Hamas leader converts to Christianity says Islam is collapsing(part 1 of 6)
Son of Hamas leader converts to Christianity says Islam is collapsing(part 2 of 6)
Son of Hamas leader converts to Christianity says Islam is collapsing(part 3 of 6)
Son of Hamas leader converts to Christianity says Islam is collapsing(part 4 of 6)
Speech: YPO/WPO event @ the Museum of Tolerance on March 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Rimsha Masih: UK Christians to protest arrest of Pakistani girl | Christian News on Christian Today
- UK Christians to protest arrest of Pakistani girl | Christian News on Christian Today
- Please sign this petition on behalf of this child
- Pakistan court delays blasphemy case hearing
- Christians demand separate province in Pakistan to protect them from persecution
- Muslim cleric arrested in Pakistan Koran-burning case
- Christian girl hailed as 'daughter of nation' by senior Pakistani cleric
- Pakistan sets free Christian girl accused on burning Koran
- Please sign this petition on behalf of this child
- Pakistan court delays blasphemy case hearing
- Christians demand separate province in Pakistan to protect them from persecution
- Muslim cleric arrested in Pakistan Koran-burning case
- Christian girl hailed as 'daughter of nation' by senior Pakistani cleric
- Pakistan sets free Christian girl accused on burning Koran
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Bird Paradise
Rowan 'berries' are food for migratory birds and suggest that autumn approaches in the northern hemisphere.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Friday, July 06, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monday, April 09, 2012
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Forty years in solitary confinement and counting, Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary
As two men in Louisiana complete 40 years in solitary confinement this month, the use of total isolation in US prisons is on the rise. What does this do to a prisoner's state of mind?
Robert King paces the front room of his small, one-storey house in Austin, Texas.
"I imagine I could put my cell inside this room about six times," he says. "Probably more."
For 29 years Robert King occupied a cell nine feet by six - just under three metres by two - for at least 23 hours a day.
He spent most of his time incarcerated in one of the toughest prisons in the United States - Louisiana State Penitentiary.
- Forty years in solitary confinement and counting
- Forty years in solitary confinement and counting
Friday, March 23, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, March 11, 2011
David Attenborough; David Attenborough’s speech to the RSA on population; Population: The elephant in the room;
The broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has become a patron of a group seeking to cut the growth in human population.
On joining the Optimum Population Trust, Sir David said growth in human numbers was "frightening".
Sir David has been increasingly vocal about the need to reduce the number of people on Earth to protect wildlife.
The Trust, which accuses governments and green groups of observing a taboo on the topic, say they are delighted to have Sir David as a patron.
- David Attenborough warns on population
- Population: The elephant in the room
- Sir David Attenborough insists we must tackle growth by contraception
- Population Matters
- David Attenborough warns on population
- Population: The elephant in the room
- Sir David Attenborough insists we must tackle growth by contraception
- Population Matters
Monday, February 21, 2011
Overpopulation; Family Planning; Planet could be 'unrecognizable' by 2050, experts say;
..."Population experts, meanwhile, called for more funding for family planning programs to help control the growth in the number of humans, especially in developing nations.
"For 20 years, there's been very little investment in family planning, but there's a return of interest now, partly because of the environmental factors like global warming and food prices," said Bongaarts."...
- Source
- Family Planning
- Source
- Family Planning
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Open Doors; Right To Believe Campaign; Asia Bibi; Pakistani Christians to protest on Christmas Day to repeal blasphemy law; Asia Bibi 'can be killed at any time' says Pakistani priest; Islamic Extremists Protest Efforts to Change Blasphemy Laws and Free Christian
Right to Believe
DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS: a threat to religious liberty
This year in 2010 the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), linking 57 countries with majority or significant Muslim populations, once again introduced a Defamation of Religions Resolution in the United Nations.
If the Resolution became the basis for law, it would allow governments the power to determine which religious views can and can't be expressed in their country, and the right to punish those who express 'unacceptable' religious views as they see fit. So, in effect, it would makes persecution legal.
It aims to criminalise words or actions deemed to be against a particular religion, especially Islam. It has the effect of providing international legitimacy for national laws that punish blasphemy or otherwise ban criticism of a religion. It was voted on in the UN General Assembly on 21 December.
Many countries have backed this Resolution in the past, but this year some changed their minds. Although the Resolution was not defeated, it passed with the narrowest margin to date - just 9 votes. Thousands of people from the UK and Ireland and across the world helped to acieve this by their prayers and their signatures on the Open Doors' Right to Believe petition.
- Open Doors
¤¤¤
The 'Defamation of Religions' Resolution has been voted on by the United Nations General Assembly
The UN General Assembly in New York voted on the Defamation of Religions Resolution on 21 December. It was passed with 76 votes in favour, 67 countries voting against and 40 abstaining. In all the years of voting on this issue this is the narrowest margin to date! The trend of declining support is clearly accelerating. The gap between the YES and NO vote narrowed significantly, and the total number of NO votes, plus the abstentions, far outweighed the YES vote. We believe that every signature on the petition has played a small but significant part in this.
Further details can be found at http://www.opendoorsuk.org/campaign/RTB.php
The Defamation of Religions Resolution is not about to become law. Support for the concept is decreasing. And in 2011 the petition signatures will still be a powerful weapon as the discussions continue. Open Doors will be working to build on all that has been achieved with the support of so many around the world.
When a Christian woman such as Asia Bibi can be sentenced to death over a charge of blasphemy in Pakistan, it is vital that the United Nations should be looking for ways of further protecting the rights of all people of faith.
Open Doors will continue to campaign for the Right to Believe. In 2011 we will highlight the widespread level of concern indicated by 428,856 signatures on the global Right to Believe petition. We will continue to pray, to prompt, to campaign privately and publicly. We will do all we can to ensure that our brothers and sisters who currently face persecution for the sake of Christ will one day have the Right to Believe, in freedom and without fear.
Thank you for all you have done in campaigning action and prayer in support of persecuted Christians in 2010.
Wishing you a Christmas full of the joy and peace of Jesus Christ.
Alice J
Advocacy Manager
Open Doors UK and Ireland
- Aasia Bibi
- Pakistani Christians to protest on Christmas Day to repeal blasphemy law
- Asia Bibi 'can be killed at any time' says Pakistani priest
- Tense Christmas Weekend Ahead in Pakistan
- Islamic Extremists Protest Efforts to Change Blasphemy Laws and Free Christian
DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS: a threat to religious liberty
This year in 2010 the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), linking 57 countries with majority or significant Muslim populations, once again introduced a Defamation of Religions Resolution in the United Nations.
If the Resolution became the basis for law, it would allow governments the power to determine which religious views can and can't be expressed in their country, and the right to punish those who express 'unacceptable' religious views as they see fit. So, in effect, it would makes persecution legal.
It aims to criminalise words or actions deemed to be against a particular religion, especially Islam. It has the effect of providing international legitimacy for national laws that punish blasphemy or otherwise ban criticism of a religion. It was voted on in the UN General Assembly on 21 December.
Many countries have backed this Resolution in the past, but this year some changed their minds. Although the Resolution was not defeated, it passed with the narrowest margin to date - just 9 votes. Thousands of people from the UK and Ireland and across the world helped to acieve this by their prayers and their signatures on the Open Doors' Right to Believe petition.
- Open Doors
¤¤¤
The 'Defamation of Religions' Resolution has been voted on by the United Nations General Assembly
The UN General Assembly in New York voted on the Defamation of Religions Resolution on 21 December. It was passed with 76 votes in favour, 67 countries voting against and 40 abstaining. In all the years of voting on this issue this is the narrowest margin to date! The trend of declining support is clearly accelerating. The gap between the YES and NO vote narrowed significantly, and the total number of NO votes, plus the abstentions, far outweighed the YES vote. We believe that every signature on the petition has played a small but significant part in this.
Further details can be found at http://www.opendoorsuk.org/campaign/RTB.php
The Defamation of Religions Resolution is not about to become law. Support for the concept is decreasing. And in 2011 the petition signatures will still be a powerful weapon as the discussions continue. Open Doors will be working to build on all that has been achieved with the support of so many around the world.
When a Christian woman such as Asia Bibi can be sentenced to death over a charge of blasphemy in Pakistan, it is vital that the United Nations should be looking for ways of further protecting the rights of all people of faith.
Open Doors will continue to campaign for the Right to Believe. In 2011 we will highlight the widespread level of concern indicated by 428,856 signatures on the global Right to Believe petition. We will continue to pray, to prompt, to campaign privately and publicly. We will do all we can to ensure that our brothers and sisters who currently face persecution for the sake of Christ will one day have the Right to Believe, in freedom and without fear.
Thank you for all you have done in campaigning action and prayer in support of persecuted Christians in 2010.
Wishing you a Christmas full of the joy and peace of Jesus Christ.
Alice J
Advocacy Manager
Open Doors UK and Ireland
- Aasia Bibi
- Pakistani Christians to protest on Christmas Day to repeal blasphemy law
- Asia Bibi 'can be killed at any time' says Pakistani priest
- Tense Christmas Weekend Ahead in Pakistan
- Islamic Extremists Protest Efforts to Change Blasphemy Laws and Free Christian
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Aramaic; Christ's endangered language gets new lease of life in Oxford; Aramaic/Proto-Hebrew alphabet; History of Aramaic
It is the language that Christ spoke, but is regarded as "endangered" with ever fewer scattered groups of native speakers.
But in Oxford, Aramaic has been flourishing again, with a course in the ancient language drawing people from as far afield as Liverpool and London. There are now 56 people learning Aramaic at the university, including three classics professors, solemnly completing their weekly homework tasks and regularly attending the free lunchtime lessons, more than the numbers studying Greek.
Their first lesson might have surprised the writers of the books of David and Ezra in the Bible, and of the Talmud, both originally written in Aramaic: the scholars pored over a translation of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
- Christ's endangered language gets new lease of life in Oxford
- Aramaic/Proto-Hebrew alphabet
- History of Aramaic
But in Oxford, Aramaic has been flourishing again, with a course in the ancient language drawing people from as far afield as Liverpool and London. There are now 56 people learning Aramaic at the university, including three classics professors, solemnly completing their weekly homework tasks and regularly attending the free lunchtime lessons, more than the numbers studying Greek.
Their first lesson might have surprised the writers of the books of David and Ezra in the Bible, and of the Talmud, both originally written in Aramaic: the scholars pored over a translation of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
- Christ's endangered language gets new lease of life in Oxford
- Aramaic/Proto-Hebrew alphabet
- History of Aramaic
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A.D.H.D.; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Untangling the Myths About Attention Disorder;
...“Attention is a really complex cognitive phenomenon that has a lot of pieces in it,” said Dr. David K. Urion of Harvard, who directs the learning disabilities and behavioral neurology program at Boston Children’s Hospital. “What we’re specifically talking about in kids with attention deficit is a problem compared to age- and gender-based peers in selective attention — what do you glom onto and what do you ignore?”
Moreover, the disorder occurs along a broad spectrum, from mild to extreme. Boys are more likely to be hyperactive and impulsive, girls to be inattentive. (One reason many girls don’t get an official diagnosis is that those with the inattentive form may be well behaved in school, but still unable to focus.)...
- Source
Moreover, the disorder occurs along a broad spectrum, from mild to extreme. Boys are more likely to be hyperactive and impulsive, girls to be inattentive. (One reason many girls don’t get an official diagnosis is that those with the inattentive form may be well behaved in school, but still unable to focus.)...
- Source
Monday, December 06, 2010
The Israeli Source of the Pathan Tribes; Lucknow Pathans have Jewish roots?; Sunni Muslims; Afridi Tribe; Dr. Zakir Hussain; Taliban may be descended from Jews;
As children, we heard from our parents, who come from Afghanistan, stories about the Ten Tribes who were lost during the destruction of the Temple, about meetings with the country people with whom they had contact in trade matters, about Jewish customs and names – and it all sounded inconceivable and fascinating. Like all children, we enjoyed hearing about tribes of Israel preserving their forefathers’ tradition, bearing arms and awaiting the day of redemption.
From Mr Yisrael Mishal, who lived in Afulah and was formerly President of the Afghanistan Jewish community, I often heard unusually fascinating quotations and stories uttered repeatedly and Mr Mishal gave live examples of his meetings with Pathans who dwell on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
- Source
- Taliban may be descended from Jews
- Lucknow Pathans have Jewish roots?
Dr. Zakir Hussain: - "I love Israel, for my forefathers were most probably Israelites"
- Medieval Persian References to the Israelite Origin of Afridi Pashtuns/Pathans
- Pakhtun, Afghan and Pathan
From Mr Yisrael Mishal, who lived in Afulah and was formerly President of the Afghanistan Jewish community, I often heard unusually fascinating quotations and stories uttered repeatedly and Mr Mishal gave live examples of his meetings with Pathans who dwell on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
- Source
- Taliban may be descended from Jews
- Lucknow Pathans have Jewish roots?
Dr. Zakir Hussain: - "I love Israel, for my forefathers were most probably Israelites"
- Medieval Persian References to the Israelite Origin of Afridi Pashtuns/Pathans
- Pakhtun, Afghan and Pathan
Friday, November 12, 2010
Kim Longinotto; 'Rough Aunties'; Operation Bobbi Bear; A documentary about very kind and tough women in Durban, South Africa, who work with the victims of child rape and sexual abuse.
Watched a really heart warming and heart breaking documentary about the work of an organisation in Durban, South Africa that works with the victims of child sexual abuse.
The documentary is called 'Rough Aunties' and the organisation is called 'Operation Bobbi Bear'.
This documentary really puts a face on the small victims who are so viciously abused and ill treated by adult members of society.
I myself cannot imagine what goes throught the mind of an adult male/? father as he sodomises his small son and then rewards him for services received or a grandfather who rapes his mentally retarded granddaughter.
May God richly bless these brave women for the light they shine in a very dark world.
Feel free to donate to a very worthy cause.
- Kim Longinotto: 'Film-making saved my life'
The documentary is called 'Rough Aunties' and the organisation is called 'Operation Bobbi Bear'.
This documentary really puts a face on the small victims who are so viciously abused and ill treated by adult members of society.
I myself cannot imagine what goes throught the mind of an adult male/? father as he sodomises his small son and then rewards him for services received or a grandfather who rapes his mentally retarded granddaughter.
May God richly bless these brave women for the light they shine in a very dark world.
Feel free to donate to a very worthy cause.
- Kim Longinotto: 'Film-making saved my life'
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Asia Bibi; Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to Death on accusation of Blasphemy; A Christian woman has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan after being convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed; Maulana Yousef Qureshi:Cleric offers Rs500,000 for Aasia’s execution; Pakistan Christian Congress Files Petition in UN to release Asia Bibi
Lahore: November 9, 2010. (PCP) A Christian woman named Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by District and Session Courts after year long trial on accusation of blasphemy filed by Muslim villagers of Ittanwali, where she was residing from generations.
While working in farms with other Muslim women, Asia Bibi was dragged in religious dialogues on June 19, 2009, when Muslim women termed her an “Infidel” and Christianity a “Religion of infidels” and pressed her to embrace Islam.
Asia Bibi who is married and have two children, defended Christianity with her little knowledge and told Muslim women that Christianity is only True religion on which Muslim women made a roar and accused her defiling Prophet Mohammad.
- Source
- Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy'
- Keep giving to Pakistan, says GFA
- Pakistan Christian Congress demands immediate release of Asia Bibi
- Christians and Muslims issue joint statement condemning Iraqi church attack
- Pope’s appeal for Bibi is wonderful, hope for a quick ruling
- A campaign by AsiaNews
- Family waits to see if mother, accused of blasphemy, will be hanged
- Pakistani woman's blasphemy death sentence appealed
- Zardari may pardon woman sentenced to death for 'blasphemy'
- Pakistani woman facing death for blasphemy may be pardoned
- Aasia Bibi, Pakistani Christian, will get clemency or pardon: presidential aide
- Blasphemy case : Zardari warned not to grant pardon
- No mercy petition, no presidential pardon
Imam Maulana Yousuf Qureshi: - Blasphemy case: Cleric offers Rs500,000 for Aasia’s execution
Shahbaz Bhatti: - Pakistan minister condemns reward for killing Christian woman
- Pakistan Christian Congress Files Petition in UN to release Asia Bibi
- Continued
While working in farms with other Muslim women, Asia Bibi was dragged in religious dialogues on June 19, 2009, when Muslim women termed her an “Infidel” and Christianity a “Religion of infidels” and pressed her to embrace Islam.
Asia Bibi who is married and have two children, defended Christianity with her little knowledge and told Muslim women that Christianity is only True religion on which Muslim women made a roar and accused her defiling Prophet Mohammad.
- Source
- Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy'
- Keep giving to Pakistan, says GFA
- Pakistan Christian Congress demands immediate release of Asia Bibi
- Christians and Muslims issue joint statement condemning Iraqi church attack
- Pope’s appeal for Bibi is wonderful, hope for a quick ruling
- A campaign by AsiaNews
- Family waits to see if mother, accused of blasphemy, will be hanged
- Pakistani woman's blasphemy death sentence appealed
- Zardari may pardon woman sentenced to death for 'blasphemy'
- Pakistani woman facing death for blasphemy may be pardoned
- Aasia Bibi, Pakistani Christian, will get clemency or pardon: presidential aide
- Blasphemy case : Zardari warned not to grant pardon
- No mercy petition, no presidential pardon
Imam Maulana Yousuf Qureshi: - Blasphemy case: Cleric offers Rs500,000 for Aasia’s execution
Shahbaz Bhatti: - Pakistan minister condemns reward for killing Christian woman
- Pakistan Christian Congress Files Petition in UN to release Asia Bibi
- Continued
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Oral sex linked to throat cancer; Oral Sex Cause of Throat Cancer Rise; Men at throat cancer risk with oral sex; BBC documentary to tackle oral sex cancer risk; Jaime Winstone
A virus contracted through oral sex is the cause of some throat cancers, say US scientists.
HPV infection was found to be a much stronger risk factor than tobacco or alcohol use, the Johns Hopkins University study of 300 people found.
The New England Journal of Medicine study said the risk was almost nine times higher for people who reported oral sex with more than six partners.
But experts said a larger study was needed to confirm the findings.
HPV infection is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers, and 80% of sexually active women can expect to have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
- BBC
- Oral Sex Cause of Throat Cancer Rise
- Men at throat cancer risk with oral sex
Jaime Winstone: - BBC documentary to tackle oral sex cancer risk
Video: - Possible Oral Sex Cancer Risk
- Infection risk and oral sex
- Myth: if you get the HPV shot you're safe from cervical cancer
HPV infection was found to be a much stronger risk factor than tobacco or alcohol use, the Johns Hopkins University study of 300 people found.
The New England Journal of Medicine study said the risk was almost nine times higher for people who reported oral sex with more than six partners.
But experts said a larger study was needed to confirm the findings.
HPV infection is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers, and 80% of sexually active women can expect to have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
- BBC
- Oral Sex Cause of Throat Cancer Rise
- Men at throat cancer risk with oral sex
Jaime Winstone: - BBC documentary to tackle oral sex cancer risk
Video: - Possible Oral Sex Cancer Risk
- Infection risk and oral sex
- Myth: if you get the HPV shot you're safe from cervical cancer
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Cancer; Dr. Dennis Slamon: The Search for a Cure for Breast Cancer; 'Living Proof'; Herceptin; Anthracyclines with Herceptin/heart problems
Today I watched the very inspiring movie about Dr Dennis Slamon's battle to get funding for research in finding new treatments for breast cancer.
I have great respect for his wife who encouraged him to fight for this cause even though it put a strain on her marriage and family.
Cancer has no respect for gender or age!
The world needs more dedicated researchers and generous donors to help fund the research.
- 'Living Proof'
- Herceptin
-Herceptin: A wonder drug, but not a miracle
I have great respect for his wife who encouraged him to fight for this cause even though it put a strain on her marriage and family.
Cancer has no respect for gender or age!
The world needs more dedicated researchers and generous donors to help fund the research.
- 'Living Proof'
- Herceptin
-Herceptin: A wonder drug, but not a miracle
Monday, October 11, 2010
C.S Lewis; From atheism to theism; From theism to Christianity; C.S. Lewis explains Narnia;
C.S Lewis seemed to have had the same problem as I had!
Unlike him I always believed that God 'was' but I could never really figure out how Jesus fitted in.
- Who Was CS Lewis?
- From atheism to theism
- From theism to Christianity
- C.S. Lewis explains Narnia
Unlike him I always believed that God 'was' but I could never really figure out how Jesus fitted in.
- Who Was CS Lewis?
- From atheism to theism
- From theism to Christianity
- C.S. Lewis explains Narnia
Friday, October 08, 2010
Neil Diamond; The Very Best of Neil Diamond; Hillbrow
Feeling nostalgic so am posting the links to some of my favourite Neil Diamond songs.
They remind me of the time I used to hang out with my uncle Clive in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
He's passed on since but his ghost hangs about in the music.
- Kentucky Woman
- Cherry Cherry
- Cracklin' Rosie
- Solitary Man
- Longfellow Serenade
- Hello Again
- I Am...I Said
- Neil Diamond Song Lyrics
They remind me of the time I used to hang out with my uncle Clive in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
He's passed on since but his ghost hangs about in the music.
- Kentucky Woman
- Cherry Cherry
- Cracklin' Rosie
- Solitary Man
- Longfellow Serenade
- Hello Again
- I Am...I Said
- Neil Diamond Song Lyrics
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Aaron Keyes: My Soul Finds Rest - Psalm 62
This hymn is so inspiring in a dark world.
- VIDEO: My Soul Finds Rest - Psalm 62 - Aaron Keyes
*** Lyrics..
My soul finds rest in God alone, My Rock and my salvation,
A fortress strong against my foes, And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse, And lies like arrows pierce me,
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness, I’ll look to Him who hears me.
Chorus: O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight, my Reward;
Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
¤¤¤
Find rest, my soul, in God alone
Amid the world’s temptations;
When evil seeks to take a hold
I’ll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go,
Don’t set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.
Chorus:
¤¤¤
I’ll set my gaze on God alone,
And trust in Him completely;
With every day pour out my soul,
And He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath,
A sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever.
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah! hallelujah!
- About Aaron Keyes
Story Behind The Song - Aaron Keyes - Not Guilty Anymore
- VIDEO: My Soul Finds Rest - Psalm 62 - Aaron Keyes
*** Lyrics..
My soul finds rest in God alone, My Rock and my salvation,
A fortress strong against my foes, And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse, And lies like arrows pierce me,
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness, I’ll look to Him who hears me.
Chorus: O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight, my Reward;
Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
¤¤¤
Find rest, my soul, in God alone
Amid the world’s temptations;
When evil seeks to take a hold
I’ll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go,
Don’t set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.
Chorus:
¤¤¤
I’ll set my gaze on God alone,
And trust in Him completely;
With every day pour out my soul,
And He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath,
A sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever.
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah,
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah! hallelujah!
- About Aaron Keyes
Story Behind The Song - Aaron Keyes - Not Guilty Anymore
Friday, December 25, 2009
Bob Dylan, 'Christmas in the Heart', What does 'Judeo-Christian' mean?
'Christmas in the Heart':
I received this AWESOME album from my 'old man' even tho' he's anything but a Dylan fan. ( Of course I requested it because I am a Dylan 'fan-atic! )
The tracks on the album are a mix of carols and fun songs..all well-known and loved..and sung in Bob's best and raspiest voice. The background music and vocals are also great.
I don't celebrate the consumerism and greed that tend to dominate this traditional time of year but I grew up with the carols and the songs and it's 'in the blood' so to speak.
I have followed the life and times of Bob Dylan since 1965 and I'm really overjoyed that there is a chance of us meeting in the next phase because it seems that he follows Judeo-Christianity as I do.
So a BIG 'thank you' to Bob Dylan/Zimmerman for making this album, making Christmas 2009 my finest yet and for donating the proceeds of the album to a good cause.
- Bob Dylan's Christmas Album: Is this a Joke?
- What does 'Judeo-Christian' mean?
- FFOZ Blogs : Bob Dylan: A Messianic Jew
- 'Christmas In The Heart'
Free listening
- Bob Dylan: Official Website
Posted using ShareThis
I received this AWESOME album from my 'old man' even tho' he's anything but a Dylan fan. ( Of course I requested it because I am a Dylan 'fan-atic! )
The tracks on the album are a mix of carols and fun songs..all well-known and loved..and sung in Bob's best and raspiest voice. The background music and vocals are also great.
I don't celebrate the consumerism and greed that tend to dominate this traditional time of year but I grew up with the carols and the songs and it's 'in the blood' so to speak.
I have followed the life and times of Bob Dylan since 1965 and I'm really overjoyed that there is a chance of us meeting in the next phase because it seems that he follows Judeo-Christianity as I do.
So a BIG 'thank you' to Bob Dylan/Zimmerman for making this album, making Christmas 2009 my finest yet and for donating the proceeds of the album to a good cause.
- Bob Dylan's Christmas Album: Is this a Joke?
- What does 'Judeo-Christian' mean?
- FFOZ Blogs : Bob Dylan: A Messianic Jew
- 'Christmas In The Heart'
Free listening
- Bob Dylan: Official Website
Posted using ShareThis
Friday, November 27, 2009
Struggling with personality disorder.
We like to see the world in black and white: a landscape of villains and victims; good and evil; right and wrong.
These labels allow us to make easy moral judgements about others, to apportion blame and sympathy. It seems to be an involuntary human response. Who has suffered? Who is at fault?
Indeed, many of the stories in today's news are about the process of allocation: the Iraq War Inquiry; reports of crimes and the courts; response to the credit crunch.
We extract complexity and nuance until we have distilled events to the point where their human constituents can be placed in monochrome boxes marked "saints" and "sinners". Every narrative becomes a morality play.
Take the heart-rending story of Baby P. The toddler we now know as Peter was a tragic victim of abuse - torture which ultimately led to his death.
- Source
- Baby P: Abused and murdered
These labels allow us to make easy moral judgements about others, to apportion blame and sympathy. It seems to be an involuntary human response. Who has suffered? Who is at fault?
Indeed, many of the stories in today's news are about the process of allocation: the Iraq War Inquiry; reports of crimes and the courts; response to the credit crunch.
We extract complexity and nuance until we have distilled events to the point where their human constituents can be placed in monochrome boxes marked "saints" and "sinners". Every narrative becomes a morality play.
Take the heart-rending story of Baby P. The toddler we now know as Peter was a tragic victim of abuse - torture which ultimately led to his death.
- Source
- Baby P: Abused and murdered
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Echinacea Purpurea, Anti-viral properties and mode of action of standardized Echinacea purpurea extract against highly pathogenic avian Influenza virus (H5N1, H7N7) and swine-origin H1N1 (S-OIV)
Background
Influenza virus (IV) infections are a major threat to human welfare and animal health worldwide. Anti-viral therapy includes vaccines and a few anti-viral drugs.
However vaccines are not always available in time, as demonstrated by the emergence of the new 2009 H1N1-type pandemic strain of swine origin (S-OIV) in April 2009, and the acquisition of resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors such as Tamiflu(R) (oseltamivir) is a potential problem.
Therefore the prospects for the control of IV by existing anti-viral drugs are limited.
As an alternative approach to the common anti-virals we studied in more detail a commercial standardized extract of the widely used herb Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce(R), EF) in order to elucidate the nature of its anti-IV activity.
- Source
- All About Echinacea
Influenza virus (IV) infections are a major threat to human welfare and animal health worldwide. Anti-viral therapy includes vaccines and a few anti-viral drugs.
However vaccines are not always available in time, as demonstrated by the emergence of the new 2009 H1N1-type pandemic strain of swine origin (S-OIV) in April 2009, and the acquisition of resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors such as Tamiflu(R) (oseltamivir) is a potential problem.
Therefore the prospects for the control of IV by existing anti-viral drugs are limited.
As an alternative approach to the common anti-virals we studied in more detail a commercial standardized extract of the widely used herb Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce(R), EF) in order to elucidate the nature of its anti-IV activity.
- Source
- All About Echinacea
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Bruce Springsteen, My Lucky Day, Jamming with Dylan, Clapton, Jagger, Harrison, Young, Petty.
Today I discovered this video clip of a really amazing song.
- My Lucky Day.
I have been a fan of Bruce Springsteen for simply ages and always seem to be finding songs of his that I've never heard.
In this clip one can see how he builds the song in stages.
The lyrics are strong and romantic, I think.
Long live 'the Boss'!!
Another great song and especially because where I live we are all sun-starved..
- Waitin' On A Sunny Day.
Then after the sun comes the darkness..
- Dancing In The Dark.
Finally we have many heroes 'singing' together..very different tones!
- Forever Young.
- My Back Pages.
- My Lucky Day.
I have been a fan of Bruce Springsteen for simply ages and always seem to be finding songs of his that I've never heard.
In this clip one can see how he builds the song in stages.
The lyrics are strong and romantic, I think.
Long live 'the Boss'!!
Another great song and especially because where I live we are all sun-starved..
- Waitin' On A Sunny Day.
Then after the sun comes the darkness..
- Dancing In The Dark.
Finally we have many heroes 'singing' together..very different tones!
- Forever Young.
- My Back Pages.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Doug Batteson: Artist, Musician, Poet, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Bohemia; Batteson history
Doug Batteson: Artist, Musician, Poet and Brother
My brother Doug Batteson, aka Dougie Batterson or Douggie McAlpine, grew up drawing and painting.
My brother Doug Batteson, aka Dougie Batterson or Douggie McAlpine, grew up drawing and painting.
I remember him sitting under the kitchen table in our home in the town of Randfontein, South Africa, drawing airplanes.
He was around 5 yrs young and I around 7.
Sadly he and I did not get along too well in the world as the case often is between siblings.
I was the bossy elder sister and he was, in my eyes, Mommy's little pet.
(The fact that he suffered from severe eczema and had frequent asthma attacks didn't improve matters either.)
Needless to say I went out of my way to get him back for this 'injustice' and he, being a bro with a hot temper, fought back valiantly.
Not only could the laddie draw, he could sing and taught himself to play guitar.
Another reason for 'older sis' to be annoyed and jealous!
Because of his artistic talents, ( taking after our maternal grandma who apparently painted beautiful pics ) Mom tried to get him enrolled in art school in Johannesburg.
Bro, however, joined a Bohemian crowd and decided to try for fame his own way.
It was music or nothing.
- The Market Theatre and Café Tribute - Part 2
He rented a pad in Hillbrow, which is a suburb of Johannesburg and was, in those days, a very cosmopolitan and 'hippy-type' place.
I was a nurse trainee at the time and lived in Pretoria.
On my off days I often travelled to Jo'burg to spend the night at bro's place.
To be continued...
Part 2
Besides being a musician and artist, Doug Batteson is also a poet and script writer.
One of his poems called 'Leonardo Stravinski' was included in the collection "A Season Of Flowers" that was published in America a few years ago.
He has also played bit parts in movies.
Besides all these accomplishments he is a mean motor mechanic and is still driving and repairing our Dad's old 1974 Ford Cortina.
He has also built fiber glass boats in his time.
- Doug Batteson Art
- Safari Rock Twins
- Animals 'In' Africa
Part 3
October 2011
These past few months have been dedicated to clearing out closets and cupboards because both offspring have moved out and I need space.
Imagine my great surprise on discovering 4 reels of 8mm film ( 3 small reels and 1 large reel ) shot by both parents and ranging from around 1958 and into the 1970s.
I had brought the films with me to Sweden in 1989 with the intention of having them redone on video tape but had put them away and forgotten about them until the moment I found them in a laundry cupboard a few weeks ago.
The result was awesome to put it mildly!
I saw part of my history 'live' and it was exciting and weird at the same time!
Here I was at the ripe old age of 67yrs looking at myself..and a good-looking woman I was..running around and playing with my 2 little dogs, Hamlet and Twinkle, 40 yrs earlier in Walvis Bay, Namibia where I lived for 2 yrs after I was married the first time around.
The next chapter of this amazing story took place at the local 2nd Hand Shop where I work a few hours every week.
Someone handed in an 8mm film projector which I happened to notice.
I took it home to test before buying it but sadly it was not in working condition.
I received another projector to test and it was the very same make my Dad used to show us the films so long ago.
Eumig it's called.
Well this projector worked after a few minor repairs and I got to see 2 more reels of film with more history on them.
It was like going back in time and some of the things I saw revived rather bad memories!
In general though it was a great experience and I was grateful to my folks for leaving behind this legacy for bro and me and our children should they be interested.
One big reel was left and I had no smaller reel to rewind part of it on to.
The big wheel was too large to fit on to the front pin on the projector.
So I asked for help and lo and behold my friend at the 2nd Hand Shop produced an even more modern and automatic version of the Eumig projector plus a smaller reel which was actually able to hold all of the film.
In that film I was transported back to the time when I was about 16yrs of age and my bro was 14.
It was amazing to see relatives long dead and a cousin, who is now about 45 yrs old, as a babe in arms.
I saw snippets of holidays spent in Margate, Natal ( now called KwaZulu-Natal ) and my entrance into the nurses' home at the Andrew McColm hospital in Pretoria where I trained as a general nurse.
I am now going to put all that film on a DVD because it's easier to cart about but I'll keep the projector in case I want to use it again.
Thanks Mom and Dad 8)
After seeing all that film footage I understand that we were loved!
¤¤¤
Bro n me around 5 n 7 yrs
Bro n Me around 8yrs n 10yrs
Hamlet and Twinkel 1970/Walvis Bay
■■■■■■■
Part 4
January 2014
Since I last wrote anything on this page I see that 2 years have gone by! :o
Quite a lot has happened since I last put pen to paper, so to speak, and so in this new year of 2014 I have decided to continue to write about the past and present. The future will, no doubt, take care of itself as it usually does!
Since the last entry I have become a Grandmother at last!
On 12th May 2013 little Alice Mary Elizabeth came into the world in quite a hurry and is now 8 months old and thriving.
Becoming a Mom twice was an experience never to be forgotten, but becoming a Grandma is the absolute icing on the cake of life. This year, 2014, I will turn 70 on July 21st if the Good Lord spares me and ♥ Alice will have turned a whole year old!
worry as to how it will treat her into the future and after I've moved on.
It would be comforting to think that I could watch over her from wherever I go but, even though I strongly believe in an afterlife, I doubt that this will be possible. All I can do is trust that our Creator will be merciful and give her the courage to face and deal with whatever is sent her way.
A while back my bro sent me pictures of our maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather. Sadly we never knew either of them or our paternal grandmother.
We never did much research into their backgrounds either so what we know is, to say the least, very sketchy :(
It seems that our paternal grandfather was called Herbert Charles Trollip Batteson and he married Mary Ann Ridgard in 1907 and they had three children named Hazel, Malvina and Douglas. I don't know in which order they came but my dad could have been the youngest child.
Our ancestor from Derbyshire in England was called John Batteson..born 1815.
He was a chemist and..as I have it..served as a ship's doctor during the time of the British East India Company. On his way home the ship ran into trouble and sank off the Eastern Cape coast as it rounded Africa and he and a friend made it to land. They liked it there and decided to stay. He later settled in Molteno and acted as both doctor and veterinarian to the farmers in the area.
He married Sarah Pierce Pinnock in 1850
My maternal grandma was, as far as I know, Johanna Greeff and she married a Botha who may have died seeing as she later remarried my maternal grandfather, John/Jack Hartman.
Her family apparently owned a farm in Taba N'chu in the Free State which was sold after her death in probably 1920 in the flu epidemic.
She had three children...May Botha and Joyce and Helene Hartman.
She was apparently an artist and many of her paintings were lost when the farm was sold on auction.
Our Maternal Grandmother
1st Nov 2014
After my offspring and granddaughter, my next 'soft spot' is my nephew Kyle who lives in South Africa.
Last time I saw him he was 7 yrs old so it's high time we meet up again before I move on!
Kyle is also musical and plays the guitar. He is also into developing games and has sent me a link to his first effort which one can download and try out.
Download Game
More art by Dougie Batteson..
To see his mural of the Odin Bioscope Music Hall Of Fame scroll down the page at the following link..
Odin Bioscope Music Hall Of Fame
13th Feb 2019
It certainly has been a long time since I updated this page! :o
I now have 2 grandchildren and the latest..who I will say is a boy..arrived in September 2016 and is called Robin. What a dear little chap he is and highly intelligent for his age.
He and his sister seem to get along rather well ♡
Much has changed in this, my adopted, country and not all is good news by any means!
Since 2015 we have been experiencing crime such as I never thought possible since leaving South Africa in 1986.
South Africa too is in bad shape it seems and so I'm hoping to have teamed up with a Brother there in order to form a Prayer Group to pray fervently for God to pour out His Spirit
on both Africa and Europe and to draw more believers to Him through His Son, Yeshua/Jesus Christ.
Atheism, Humanism, Secularism and Political Correctness rule in Europe for the most part and in Africa we still have Tribalism and Corruption which keeps the whole continent impoverished.
Then we have 'Racism' which is the tool being used to generate hatred and vengeance in order to destabilise countries and this can only be combated by promoting Brotherly Love for all races as we who believe in our Creator, know that He loves us all regardless of skin colour.
The eventual Body of Christ will be made up of people from every nationality in the world whom the Father has called and who follow Yeshua/Jesus Christ.
Should you wish to add your prayers please feel free to do so.
To make a difference we need to become an army of Prayer Warriors ♡
######
2nd April 2020
Seeing as the world is in virtual
lock down due to the Covid-19 Virus attack, I decided to do a little update here today!
My take on all this is that out of all evil, good comes!
God Himself does not send evil but He allows it to bring arrogant mankind back to humility!
Mankind has changed himself/herself into 'itself'!
At this moment in time much of mankind regards itself as godlike in its own right and so has thrown out God, the Creator and Source of all things!
Mankind wants to change the very nature of the Creator's creation by ma
######
2nd April 2020
Seeing as the world is in virtual
lock down due to the Covid-19 Virus attack, I decided to do a little update here today!
My take on all this is that out of all evil, good comes!
God Himself does not send evil but He allows it to bring arrogant mankind back to humility!
Mankind has changed himself/herself into 'itself'!
At this moment in time much of mankind regards itself as godlike in its own right and so has thrown out God, the Creator and Source of all things!
Mankind wants to change the very nature of the Creator's creation by ma
nipulation of His codes found in its dna!
Mankind commits murder of babies on a daily basis because it has been deceived into believing that it is its right to do so!
Mankind believes that the basic pillars of society, namely morals and ethics, do not pertain any more..neither to it nor to its offspring!
Mankind is self seeking and worships only the self and its lusts!
Power at all and any cost and greed are the key words in the language of fallen society!
We are living in the times of Lawlessness!!
That said then let me say that Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:11..
"For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
12..and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness"
Psalm 91 tells us that those who love and trust God will be protected from the deadly pestilence..
Psalm 91: 3-8
The 'good' that will come out of this evil is that many will and are seeking God and are repenting of their evil ways!
Many secret followers of Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach are becoming courageous and speaking out about their faith!
Jesus' Hebrew name is Yeshua which means 'Salvation'!
Many Jews are accepting Yeshua as the Messiah/Anointed One spoken of in the Scriptures
Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:39..
" You will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD' / Psalm 118:26
('LORD'= YHWH in Hebrew/יהוה)
And so as we go through this very 'unexpected' trial sent to test out faith and trust we need to remember that God/YHWH has His plan for mankind that not even Covid-19 can thwart!! ♡
#######
Mankind commits murder of babies on a daily basis because it has been deceived into believing that it is its right to do so!
Mankind believes that the basic pillars of society, namely morals and ethics, do not pertain any more..neither to it nor to its offspring!
Mankind is self seeking and worships only the self and its lusts!
Power at all and any cost and greed are the key words in the language of fallen society!
We are living in the times of Lawlessness!!
That said then let me say that Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:11..
"For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
12..and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness"
Psalm 91 tells us that those who love and trust God will be protected from the deadly pestilence..
Psalm 91: 3-8
The 'good' that will come out of this evil is that many will and are seeking God and are repenting of their evil ways!
Many secret followers of Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach are becoming courageous and speaking out about their faith!
Jesus' Hebrew name is Yeshua which means 'Salvation'!
Many Jews are accepting Yeshua as the Messiah/Anointed One spoken of in the Scriptures
Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:39..
" You will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD' / Psalm 118:26
('LORD'= YHWH in Hebrew/יהוה)
And so as we go through this very 'unexpected' trial sent to test out faith and trust we need to remember that God/YHWH has His plan for mankind that not even Covid-19 can thwart!! ♡
#######
6th Feb 2023
I see that soon it will be 3 years ago since I last did an update on this page!
The Covid curse is still hovering around but not as strongly as before it seems 🤔
Many have been vaccinated and are either suffering post vaccination 'evils' or not..
I myself had 3 top-ups after deciding to walk the plank..as it were..and can't really say that I'm in a worse state than I was before having them. The only ailment that could have been negatively affected is my rheumatoid arthritis!
Today there was a major earthquake in Turkey with many lives lost but nowhere near the waste of life that is ongoing as Russia wages war in Ukraine!
What one sees on tv and video regarding the total destruction of cities and disregard for civilian lives tells us just how low we have sunk in our daily desire for fame and fortune at any cost!! 😞
Even the weather around the world has been negatively affected and floods and unstable temperature changes are causing major problems in many countries.
I myself do believe that we are living in the 'latter days' which are predicted in the book that few people actually read from beginning to end..namely 'The Bible'!
The Word/Yeshua/Jesus Christ predicted these events as we can read in Matthew 24
There is vitually nothing left of love and respect for fellow man and all we get fed via the media is perverse sex and corruption of children's minds from a very early age so that they will regard this abuse as the norm.
There is a time when the Creator will bring all this to an end and that time is getting very short!
So..with that thought in mind and the false idea that 'believers' will be whisked away before the Great Tribulation starts..my advice is to bury that hope and to face the fact that all who are alive at that time will be involved..
We have all fallen short and have thrown out God and His Laws!
The rest who have died will have to face the Creator on the great day of Judgement when the books will be open..k
In the meantime keep praying for peace and a great awakening to occur before the end comes! God is merciful and hears and answers heartfelt prayer from the humble!
We are mere spec's in the universe and it's high time to realise this fact..imho ♡
#######
Today is the 17th Dec 2025 and Xmas is, once again, around the corner :o
I see that soon 3 years will have passed by since I last updated my story..and time seems to be ticking away at a mind-boggling rate!
The world around us seems to be getting darker and darker as wars rage on with thousands of lives being lost at a rate we cannot get our heads around!
And if we believe Biblical prophecy it's going to get much worse than we mere mortals can imagine as we continue to defy the Creator! :(
Bob Dylan has a song called 'Not Dark Yet' which agrees with this sad news
My advice is to keep on praying for positive change, keep looking up in faith and hope, stay humble and love your fellow man as u love yourself!
Until we next cross paths..altho my time at soon 82 years of age..is getting very short!
By the way..I myself believe that I will be resurrected to face our Father and Son on the day of Judgement..as will all mankind..and we will only then know what our ultimate fate will be!
Those who think they're heaven bound at death are in for a nasty shock so check out the scriptures on this subject..just saying! ♡
Hebrews 12:14
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)