Art or a Trainsmash

One of the Artworks recently put up on Campus is this one from Willie Bester that went up opposite our office building...



An African Don Quixote maybe?



Some of the detail is amazing!


This Campus artwork project also includes some wood carvings that have function built into the form in the way of seats... will take some pics of them as well soon.
Oh... do I think it is Art? very much so, it makes me want to tackle the scrapheap with my welder and grinder...
"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." Michelangelo.

We are not stupid sheep

One of the most common statements in the Christian vs Aethiest argument is that Christians follow a Bronze Age faith believed by goat herders, very derogatory and of course totally untrue when one sees the lists of scientists that believe in Jesus and his Gospel. I should know... I am involved with one!.
Lists that show this is a fallacy can be found all over the Internet such as the following;
Famous Scientists Who Believed in God
List of Christian thinkers in science
So to denigrate and stereotype us Christians as stupid sheep is an insult but at the same time a compliment as we follow the Greatest Shepherd of all time!
"In comparing religious belief to science, I try to remember that science is belief also." ~Robert Brault

Junk Science

Seems as if NASA blew it again... so much for alien life forms.
When I read about their "discovery" I had a small smidgen of doubt, mainly because I know that South African gold mines use a arsenic tolerant bug developed by the Microbiology Dept of Stellenbosh University under Prof. Douglas E. Rawlings, this bug has been un use for many years in fact in the gold extraction process. Australia also developed similar technology. Something did not ring true... I suppose the NASA team never used Google...
I have a feeling NASA was using this to garner favor for more funding.
This is not the only junk science NASA has had a part of... the AGW scandal has used false data from faulty satellites to try an prop up their failing cause among others.
A real shame that an organization that managed to put a footprint on the moon is now stooping to cheap sensationalism to stay afloat. Just like the Global Warming Fanatics...
In fact organisms that thrive on Arsenic are more commonplace than we think. Life has a way of finding the strangest places to thrive in it seems.
"Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool." Richard Feynman

Does it count...

being a confessing, practicing follower of Jesus?
So often Christians will hide their lamp under the bushel in fear of ridicule and persecution in the workplace when in fact that is where Gos has asked them to be disciples.
I used to be like that until God filled my life and heart with the realization of his love and that nothing in creation can tear me away from his hands because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. Because of this I cannot keep it for myself anymore, I have to tell others and show God's love in my life.
Today I got an e-mail from a co-worker that confirmed that I have not been bold in vain... God lets us get a pat on the back once in a while.

Mr.C
Soms is n mens se lewe vol glasstukke,
Wat baie seer en diep sny,
Maar die Here skraap al die stukkies glas bymekaar
Herrangskik dit en maak die mooiste mosaiek daaruit.
Dis hoekom jy so 'n mooi mens is,
Jy het toegelaat dat GOD jou skep, Elke dag!

Geniet jou dag en dankie dat jy‑so spesiaal is..
Moenie vandag probeer om GOD se hand vas te hou nie...
Laat Hy joune vashou! Hy doen die hou werk,
doen jy net die vertrou werk.

Dankie…vir 2010 sonder jou hulp sou ek dit nooit
gemaak het nie met al sy draaie en grille nie.

Geniet die feestyd.
Ontspan en rus…baie dat ons weer saam 2011 kan aanpak.

Groete
G

For non Afrikaans viewers here is the translation;

Sometimes a person's life is filled with shards of glass,
That cut painfully and deep,
But the Lord scrapes all the shards together,
rearranges them to make a most beautiful mosaic form the glass.
That is why you are a special person,
You let God reshape you, every day!

Enjoy your day and thank you for being so special.
Do not try to hold on to God's hand today...
Let Him hold yours! He does the holding,
you just do the trusting.

Thanks for 2010, without your help we would not have made it through with all the twists and turns during the year
Enjoy the festive time, relax and rest a lot so that we can tackle 2011 together.
So go and be disciples to all you meet, God will hold your hand and be your strength in this world.
"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..." –C.S. Lewis

More "not made up" tales from Floyd...

“What is this?” asked Shivambu when told by News24 about the Dusi.
When told that the event involves a race down the river in a canoe, Shivambu asked what a canoe was.
I mean???
“The Dusi Marathon is a well-known story of transformation (and) would be a great opportunity for the ANCYL and Julius Malema,” said Ray de Vries, chairperson of the Natal Canoe Club, which organises the race.
Do we still want this caliber of "leader" in South African politics?
Unfortunately with the present trend in our education system there is no light or sign of intelligence forthcoming, the masses will stay uneducated and illiterate and still believe the tripe these politicians constantly dish up.
Fortunately I have seen some that have seen through the smoke and mirrors of the ANC and it's cohorts... I just do not know if there are enough bright young people out there that can see the wood for the trees and have more than a F in carpentry.
"Education is a crutch with which the foolish attack the wise to prove that they are not idiots."
Karl Kraus

99 Biker Friends

I always smile when I hear about bikers supporting the underdog...

Great to see then supporting a kid's right to fly his country's flag...
Reminds me of the Bowling for Soup song, 99 Biker Friends

99 Biker Friends by Bowling For Soup
Such a big man, such a little chick.
I think it all goes back to your tiny
Pick-up truck in the driveway,
With a sticker on the window
"Rest in Peace Number 3".
Tell all your friends
How you put her in her place.
7 pounds of makeup
Just to hide her beat up face.
Such a pretty face.

[Chorus:]
It takes a tough man to slap her around.
Such a bad guy to keep such a good girl down.
She's wearing shades
Behind the tinted glass.
And I've got 99 biker friends
That wanna kick your ass.

Tell her that you're sorry.
Blame it on the beer.
Your dad was mean to you.
Your friends think you're an asshole
And I do too.
Over compensating for your small shoes.
Taking her away, but you won't say when.
Hold her in your arms,
Tell her this won't happen again.
When will this end? Well

[Chorus]

I wish Bruce Lee was here right now
With his trusty nun-chucks
Chuck Norris is still alive,
So let's call up Walker, Texas Ranger,
All the dudes from "Danger, Danger".
Let's get the A-Team,
50 Cent with his bling-bling,
And a couple of prison guards.

[Chorus]

Start running now.
We're gonna kick your ass!

Yeah... I have 99 Biker Friends too! With me it makes 100! Give us a call any day...
"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs." Author Unknown

For the Fallen

For The Fallen Laurence Binyon
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Today we remember that freedom came by the sacrifice of those that fought for it. Never forget that!

"But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free."
Toby Keith - American Soldier lyrics

This is not made up...

Shivhambu is my candidate for Dumbass of the Year if you ask me... You just cannot make up stuff as funny as this report!

ANCYL wants to close Twitter:

Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League would call for the closure of Twitter if the social network administrators did nothing to stop its president Julius Malema's impersonators, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"We will look at ways of stopping this... Even if it means going to the police," Floyd Shivhambu said.
Floyd... Floyd... my dear fellow... how on earth can the SAPD do this when they still have not come to take the fingerprints off the crime scene of the break in at the house that I sold three years ago already!

A search of Malema on twitter reveals 12 users including Julius_Malema, JMalema, Julius_S_Malema and jujumalema.

Of the 12 users, six bear the picture of the firebrand youth leader.

"@jacobzuma welcome home comrade! Thanks for letting me run the country without you for a few weeks. It was sharp, sharp!," read a status update written by Julius_Malema on August 30.

Another status update by JMalema read: "hola comrades! I am make some few speeks in SA! Viva ANC! PS. who is Barack Obama!?"
Man that made me laugh a lot...

Shivhambu said that the league had attempted several times to block the "fake Twitter" accounts, but no action was taken by network administrators.
No? Well then Floyd you clearly have no idea how Social Networks work do you?

"Those who are hacking systems and impersonating the ANC YL leadership should immediately stop doing so because the laws of this country will come (down) very hard on them," said Shivhambu.
What laws in particular... these political nincompoops are wont to claim protection from non existent legislation... but when they do transgress real laws they claim the laws do not apply to them as "disadvantaged youth"... and opening a twitter account is NOT HACKING you twit!

He said that Malema did not own a Twitter account.
Maybe if these Twits had Twitter accounts there would be less Twitterring about this nest of Clones... or is that Clowns?
Oh... and Floyd... no one owns a Twitter account... It's free..
"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do" ~ Eleanor Roosevelt.

Dont let it fade

A song to make you think. Andy Hunter is a Christian DJ and Cathy Burton sings a lot of other Christian songs... You will find them both on YouTube, well worth the time to find and listen to. Also great to see musicians that have the love of God in their hearts and spread the Word in their unique way.

Andy Hunter ft Cathy Burton - Fade
When you walk out of my light, the colour fades, the colour fades.
When you lose your way and walk alone, the colour fades and runs
Like tears down my face.

I can give you life. I can give you hope. I can give your heart the love it's looking for.
Give you feeling, I can bring you joy. I can make you who you are. Who you are.

When you walk a rugged road, your heart is heavy. Darker than the evening sky.
When the path is sinking sand, I am reaching out to pull you through to higher land.

The colour fades when you walk out of my light.
The colour fades when you choose to walk alone.
The colour fades when your path is sinking sand.

The love of God is spoken in these words as well as his sadness when we chose to turn our back on him, may we chose every day to walk in the Light, no longer alone, no longer sinking.
I often wondered if God really loved me... until a day in 2007... standing on a mountain top he spoke to me in a thought. "You are so special to me that I created all you see... both on Earth and the Heavens above so that I can reveal my Love and plan for you. For each person that is born I do this..." That was the turning point for me and I wept when I realized that this meant that Jesus had truly given all for me... because he loves me... forever!

Remember this. "When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God." ~Augustine.

Hazed Horizons

Driving home my eye caught the huge smoke haze and I took some Cell pics... found out later it was a huge veld fire at Barkley West near Kimberley!

"VLAMTONG: Hoog stu die vlamme in Kamp Agt van nuwelingboere buite Barkly-Wes waar veldbrande verwoesting gesaai het." Foto: Emile Hendricks
Will add more when I find out more about the blaze.

at the N1 robot
Then I found a safe spot to take these 3 before the sun set.



Must have been one heck of a fire to produce such a smoke cloud...
Quite impressed with this Nokia too... nifty camera!
"A small spark neglected has often kindled a mighty conflagration". Quintus Curtius.

The voice of many

Well done Gareth, I applaud your effort to put into writing what many South Africans feel.
At the same time I am glad to see that the Office of the President responded in such an open fashion... there is still hope for us! Time will tell of course...
"The people put you in power - they will take you out of it. Africa is tired of tin-pot dictators, one-party states and banana republics. We know who we are now, we care about our future - and so should you." Gareth Cliff 2010

Yoyo...

a colloquialism of surprise and amazement... here is a collection of clever drivers I have run across (not over) of late!

Driver wanted to go down a one way... decided against it when I took the picture.

No parking lines? What no parking lines? As I "find" more I will add them to the "Yoyo" collection. When I saw the YO in the picture I knew what to title the post with. Yoyo is often spelled jojo as well, often supplanted with Hau accompanied by a lot of head shaking... Hau indeed!
“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnic background, is that we all believe we are above-average drivers."
Dave Barry

Contrary to what the Insurance Industry says...

trees DO jump in front of oncoming cars! This past Saturday afternoon I was crawling along the street in pouring rain on my way to pick up salad ingredients before going to MD's place to help prepare for a 21'st braai, when this tree decided to let go in the wind and jump into the street... needless to say I was relieved that it did not decide to jump as I was alongside it... Picture taken on my cellphone after I backed away for a bigger view after giving thanks for the narrow squeak.

On turning the corner this poor thorn tree had also been wrenched by the wind and lost a branch or two.

Then at Checkers I got the real fright as this motorist drove up the ramp where we were all coming and going out of the shop... almost running down a customer in the process... just so his family could be dry... some folk are truly selfish and inconsiderate.

The car had no number plates either so that is another indication of the drivers view on laws and common sense...
Pity our local traffic police have been very lax of late... they are so deep in hiding we never see them!
Later on Sunday I noticed a few other trees down as well as numerous signs, must have been quite a gust of wind that passed over Langenhovenpark.
But we are very glad that it has started raining, hopefully there will be more in the coming weeks.
"Do you see how the god always hurls his bolts at the greatest houses and the tallest trees. For he is wont to thwart whatever is greater than the rest."
Herodotus

Busines should stick to what they are good at

... namely running the business. As soon as they bring politics or religion into decision making they are heading for a rocky ride from consumers.
Case in point is ABSA with their Springbok rugby player quota demand and now we have Woolworths withdrawing religious and political magazines.
Now I want to ask Woolworths CEO Simon Susman what about newspapers, matzos crackers, Christmas ham/turkey and halal chickens? Are they also going to be taken off the shelves too because they may offend certain customers? I leave with this thought...
"Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred."
Jacques Barzun

Idols I would love to see...

What with the current series of Idols drawing to a close here in SA I would like to present an alternative scenario! We present to you Totosse, a dancing baby with a red Mohawk haircut! a Superstar!

and the first hit One Desire.
These These are so cute and make a change from the usual videos we see from groups. These videos are from the group Jakarta who are Danny Wild, Alan Pride, David Kane & Dave King.

"If you've got a guitar and a lot of soul, just bang something out and mean it. You're the superstar."
Krist Novoselic

27 Neutrons

Once again the mediocre journalism displayed on Internet News sites rears its head.

“It would take a deliberate action ...to fire this,” forensic analyst Albert Wessels said in testimony.
The force or pressure on the trigger needed to be 27 neutrons or 2.8 kilograms to fire the pistol.

Sir Isaac would die laughing...
“This most beautiful system [The Universe] could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.” Isaac Newton

Blast from the past, glimpse of the future.

This song always reminded me of how wonderful God in all his Majesty is, I wonder if the song writer realized what he was penning?


Magna Carta - Lord of the Ages - Chris Simpson - 1973
Lord of the Ages rode one night
Out through the gateways of time
Astride a great charger
In a cloak of white samite
He flew on the air
Like a storm
Dark was the night
For he gathered the stars in his hand
To light a path through the sky
While the hoofs of his charger
Made comets of fire
Bewitching all eyes
That beheld them

Lord of the Ages, nobody knows
Whether he goes, nobody knows

Below a dark forest in caves of black granite
The children of darkness dwelt in oblivion
Betraying one another in endless confusion
But the Lord of the Dark
Had bewitched them
From time's first creation
The wise men and prophets
And all workers of magic
Had warned of the reckoning
The wind and the fire
And the plague of destruction that follows the path
Of evil

Lord of the Ages, nobody knows
Whether he goes, nobody knows

Far above the wide ocean and thundering rivers
Through the sun and the rain
The turn of the seasons
Rode the God of all knowing
While all around him celestial companions
Friends from the void before time was woven
Honour his crown with words of white fire
And carry his robes with light

Whether he goes, nobody knows

But in the peace of a valley
A young child was born
Filling the night with his crying
And an old man gave thanks to the lord of the ages
Who's battle is not with innocence
But the birds of the air were silent
Knowing that time had come when time was forgotten
The waters were stilled
The mountains stood empty
And the cities were deaf
Long, long ago

Enough
Cried a voice
And the earth was awakend
Poor and the rich fell to ring of the fire
Death and destruction rode out together
Turning the world to a funeral pyre

It was the Lord of the Ages - Gathering in the harvest
I thank the Lord of the Ages - Gathering in the harvest
Oh, Lord - Gathering in the harvest

Gathering in the harvest, gathering in the harvest . . .

And from the blood and the thunder of men in their dying
His eyes dark with sorrow
The Lord of the Ages
Gathered in his harvest

Gathering in the harvest, gathering in the harvest . . .

But to the old and helpless
The weak and the humble
To the children of light
His words of compassion breezed on them gently
Dissolving the darkness across the great valley that rumbled with fire
And from the death and destruction
The Lord of the Ages
Carried the fruit to the harvest
To freedom

Lord of the Ages, nobody knows
Whether he goes, nobody knows

Stirring words with a message of hope that always had an effect on me when I listened to the song, goosebumps and awe. The choice of words is amazing as well, so many of the words allude to the message we know in the Bible.

Chris Simpson and Nick Hall (Magna Carta) will tour South Africa in September and October and they will be performing in Bloemfontein on the 20th at the Vulture Club together with Lucas Maree. I hope to be there, maybe even to chat to Chris about this song. If I manage too I will report back.
UPDATE: The ways of mice and men prevented me to attend... maybe next time?
"If I had words like a hammer
If I had powers unreal
Then I would tear down Megiddo
And I would bring you songs of love
And every child of tomorrow
Safely in his bed could lie
And hate would die of starvation." Wish It Was - Chris Simpson.

Required viewing

"If you’re going to make pronouncements about the contents of the Bible and the Koran, you should have taken the time to read them first. Once you do, your thoughts on them will parallel mine pretty accurately, if you are not insane." Neanderpundit

It's my right

We here that so often these days, especially with all the strikes going on in Sunny SA these days but... when and where does it end?
The news is full of items where the strikes have actually led to fatalities and where striking teachers have literally struck children that just want an education. In one case the girl ended up with a broken collar bone.
I mean, hitting kids with a knobkierie! What barbarism is this?
The worst part is that these striking workers will end up with less and the Union leadership with more...
My question to all these strikers is "When did you stop and think about other peoples rights?"
I seriously doubt that Jesus would have joined in if he were here with us today...
"I would say that if you really wished to be a working member of the community, don't go out on strike because then there's no work and no potential of work."
Dick Wolf

Mohammad is a joke

Poor Zappiro... first he does this on Draw Mohammad Day...

Wich of course gets him fatwas and all sorts of hate mail from disgruntled tantrum throwing muslims that causes him to see a therapist...

He should have done it this way...

What I find the most amusing is that every second muslim is named Mohammad! What's up with that? If it is so bad to draw an image of the esteemed prophet surely it is even worse to use his name in vain by naming every Tom, Dick and Harry Mohammad?
They really need to join the real world and grow up as a religion, or is that also taboo and not haraam?
"...Just a 188-word Muhammad essay." Zapiro 2010

Cloud Cuckoo?

So... Mr Microsoft wants to add a dollar or two to advance the idea of enhancing cloud formation.
" Even if that goes well, the technology has a long way to go before it can significantly alter the climate — a recent study showed that it would it take 1,900 ships at a cost of over $7 billion to stop Earth’s temperature from rising."
Bully for him... I just have some doubts, because we all know how well his Software works... Blue Screen of Death comes to mind, plus those ships look top heavy... I wonder what will happen with them during hurricane season?
I say leave nature to do what nature does best... at present it seems to be cooling down the earth quite well, the past summer here in SA has been cloudier and wetter than normal... I wonder why?
"My bounce-around life had taught me that dreams were dangerous things - they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It's like gathering clouds." Kirby Larson, Hattie Big Sky, 2006

Iguaçu Starry Night

We saw it by day... it is always amazing when I see something about Argentina on the news or other media... that feeling of "Yes... We were there!"

Thank you Moondancer for sharing that trip, it was worth it, enjoy the Girls Weekend!

The stars are bright tonight
And I am walking nowhere

Guess I will be alright
Desire gets you nowhere

And you are always right
I thought you were so perfect

Take you as you were
Have you as you were
Take you as you were

I love you just the way you are
I love you just the way you are
I'll take you just the way you are
Does anybody love the way you are?
Aaa aaa aaa

The stars are bright tonight
A distance is between us
And I will be ok
The worst I've ever seen us

And still I have my weaknesses
And still I have my strength
And still I have my ugliness

But i, i, i
I love you just the way you are
I love you just the way you are
I'll take you just the way you are
Does anybody love the way you are?

Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaaa

I love you just the way you are
I love you just the way you are
I'll take you just the way you are
Does anybody love the way you are?

Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa

Star, star
“The most beautiful things in the universe are the starry heavens above us and the feeling of duty within us.” Indian Proverb

Pictures with a thousand words

Safety isn't expensive, its priceless. ~Author Unknown

VPOW!

As an armchair vulcanologist this website is just amazing! From now on VPOW is bookmarked just like APOD!
The power displayed by nature just makes me stand in awe at the glory of God's creation.
"Nature is trying very hard to make us succeed, but nature does not depend on us. We are not the only experiment." R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983), Interview, April 30, 1978

Sooooo Cute!

This is amazingly cute!

I have moved Myoo's cat stuff to this blog as well.

Moved the food... fixed the world... seen the stars

Moved all my Food of the Blogs posts to this blog... most can be found by looking under the recipes label.
One Reality has moved here too as well as FeXII... all is well in my Blogspace... just need to fix the curtains and paint the banner...
UPDATE: 15 May 2010
Blog Banner fixed!

Update 2 June 2011
Pooratech banner placeholder

The end of the world as we know it

Photo - By Marco Fulle on April 16th, 2010.
Sounds bad I know but looking at the grounding of flights in the EU due to Eyjafjallajokull volcano on Iceland makes one realize that humanity has become dependent on technology for survival. Imagine what would happen if another few volcanoes decide to go active? This serves to remind us how powerless we are against nature. It also serves to remind me that no matter what, God is always in control and that no powers or principalities can come against him.
Maybe we need to re-evaluate both our techno-dependency and our relationship with God, the creator of the splendors of nature we are now witnessing in Iceland?
While getting some of the links for this I came across this funny poem about the recent travails at BoingBoing... By Jeff Skoll... E-Bay's first president... Sums it up thus...

This is an ode to the volcano
That sent our travel plans into the draino
I'm not really one to complaino
But this all hurts my little braino
Madrid, Casablanca, Amsterdam, Rejkavik on cruiseships
The trains will fail
All the escape routes that we planned
Are blocked by nature or by man
We heard the French trains may soon be striking
At this rate we'll all be biking
With our luck we'll all be struck by lightning!
This is all rather frightening
So better we all meet at TED
That is what I should have said
So thank you June and thank you all
Damn the volcano, let's have a ball

"[Poetry] is the lava of the imagination whose eruption prevents an earthquake." Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)