Snowing on the Sahara!

Algeria actually... the last recorded snow was in February 18, 1979 and that was the first time in Algeria's history!

 

Makes me doubt the warming alarmists, Europe and many other northern parts are experiencing record lows, again... Snow in Spain and Rome and now the Sahara! Makes one think... 

Enjoy the song. Angun-Snow on the Sahara  

Songwriters: BENZI, ERIC FERNAND/MATHESON, NIKKI 

Only tell me that you still want me here 

When you wander off out there 

To those hills of dust and hard winds that blow 

In that dry white ocean alone Lost out in the desert 

you are lost out in the desert 

But to stand with you in a ring of fire 

I'll forget the days gone by 

I'll protect your body and guard your soul 

From mirages in your sight Lost out in the desert 

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track 

I'll be the moon that shines on your path 

The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above 

for snow to fall on the Sahara 

If that's the only place where you can leave your doubts 

I'll hold you up and be your way out

And if we burn away, 

I'll pray the skies above for snow to fall on the Sahara 

Just a wish and I will cover your shoulders 

With veils of silk and gold 

When the shadows come and darken your heart 

Leaving you with regrets so cold 

Lost out in the desert 

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track 

I'll be the moon that shines on your path 

The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above 

for snow to fall on the Sahara 

 If that's the only place where you can leave your doubts 

I'll hold you up and be your way out 

And if we burn away, I'll pray the skies above 

for snow to fall on the Sahara 

"Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty." Stanislaw J. Lec (1909 - 1966)

Lifebook

Strange how one thing leads to another...
It started with a link to this amazing video of the Grimsvotn eruption in Iceland.

Volcanic Eruption in Grimsvotn, Iceland May 21 2011 from Jon Gustafsson on Vimeo.

The music on the video side tracked me to Veigar's site, some of the music is just stunning and to the producer Jon Gustafsson's blog where this video called "Lífsbókin" blew my socks off...

Of course I had to find out what "Lífsbókin" means and that got me googled to the amazing idea of the Gideons at Lifebook Movement... Go there and download your own copy of this book/bible written as an outreach to kids of today, you may just be amazed to learn something new!
This "trip" across the internet also showed me something else as well that is so true of my life and many other Christians lives. I have experienced many amazing things, gone through many trails and survived because in the end I have come to depend on The Life Book that God provided for us. Thank you Father for putting things in place for us to be able to get to know you through the Bible, translated and printed in virtually every language known, this to me is another proof that you want everyone saved.
Thank you God that we can enjoy the world we live in as well and gaze in awe at your works.
By the way, here are the lyrics in Icelandic, when I get the english I will add them too.
Lífsbókin by BERGþóRA ÁRNADóTTIR
Ljúktu nú upp lífsbókinni
lokaðu ekki sálina inni.
Leyfðu henni í ljóði og myndum,
leika ofar hæstu tindum.

Svipta burtu svikahulu.
Syngja aftur gamla þulu
líta bæði ljós og skugga,
langa til að bæta og hugga.

Breyta þeim sem böli valda
breyta stríði margra alda.
Breyta þeim sem lygin lamar,
leiða vit og krafta framar.

Gull og metorð gagna ekki
gangir þú með sálarhlekki.

Found two more renditions of the song, I love the Icelandic Airforce Choir version too..

and this one by Ragnheiður Gröndal...


Blogging is also a form of Lifebook like a diary come to think of it...
"God will one day hold us each accountable for all the things He created for us to enjoy, but we refused to do so." Rabbanic Saying

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

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

Chicken guns and bubble circles

This weekend was amazing for a few reasons, take a look at this! How can we say they are not intelligent!

Then I was reminded how Great our God is when we watched this video as evening service;

If you get the chance get hold of both the DVD's;
Colossians 1: 13-17
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Chris Tomlin - How Great is Our God

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God


CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
More about the Laminin molecule... and a feeble attempt to debunk God's word and work... sorry dude... Snopes is not Gospel truth!
Then later we saw a doccie on the design behind the Airbus A380, the biggest passenger plane in the world and how a chicken gun was used to show how composite laminates strengthen the aluminium used in the making of this marvel of human technology... which pales in comparison to what God has already done in nature...

I mean, look at that and tell me that is not Divine Engineering!
Psalm 139:14 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." So before you go and design the next amazing technological wonder consider what God has already done and...
"Make sure the chicken is thawed before firing it from the chicken gun" Unknown

Stars, ash, clouds and fire god of the mountain

When I saw todays APOD I was amazed at the interplay of nature's forces then I saw what legends are made off, look closely at the ash plume and you will se the fire god of the mountain crouched down on his haunches, with a mane of wild hair blown to the left and arms folded over his knees. If I were a primitive man I would have thought I had just seen the fire god of the mountain!
So I cropped the image to make it clearer...
Do you see him now?

Amazing...

"What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story,And the greatest good is little enough:for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams." Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Life is a Dream

Small wonders

Some pictures from Golden Gate, not the normal wildlife stuff but the small wonders we often do not stop to examine.






Pictures were taken on the way back from my recent trip to our other Campus in Qwaqwa, had the Venture to myself as I was the only one that needed to do the shuttle, gave me an excellent opportunity to play the music I like while driving, had Evanescence - Fallen, 18 Classic Rock Anthems, The Punisher Soundtrack, The Awakening - Sacrificial Etchings and DJ Sammy - Heaven as musical company on the CD player, each one seemed to fit the scenery at the time it played.Driving along the road between Fouriesburg and Clarens the road makes several sweeping turns and is in excellent condition, made me wish I was on a bike instead of in a car. Chris Spedding's Motorbiking springs to mind when I travel on this stretch and this time it was playing at the very same time, it sure brings back memories of my own Kawa 750 and the open road. Just wish I could find the lyrics to pop in here... watch this space [ ]
"Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 - 1986)

Mood Indigo

Nope the title has nothing to do with me being blue, all to do do with where I am at present and this amazing ride we call life. Speaking of rides, I went to see Hidalgo today... awesome! Will take the kids to see it as well, well worth a second viewing... Viggo Mortensens portrayal as the soft spoken hero was very good... just a pity he never gets the girl...
When one asks for something and you get it in abundance makes one realise how easily we forget to give thanks for all the small miracles we experience every day, I asked for a miracle and have got a flood... details will follow as the story unfolds... no names no pack drill. This once again confirms my PIP theory.

This was taken at the Free State National Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago, a favourite place for me to get my head cleared, all very drab at the moment except for the Varkoor and Aloes that are in bloom, they always let me know that no matter how hard or difficult things are going there is always a spark of hope and beauty.
Music snippet for the day again, Anouk is a unknown singer here but very popular in Europe, just wish I could find some of her CD's, may just ask Kloppers to see if they can do some import, they amaze me with their range of music. I have some of her music on mp3 that is stunning, her style is very much like Kim Wilde and even Anastacia, a very strong voice. She writes a lot of her own songs as well as colabborations, Golden Earing's Barry Hay being one, amazing to think they are still performing in Holland, here is Mood Indigo...

Mood Indigo - Anouk - by Barry Hay, George Kooymans (Golden Earing)
A taste of breath, a kiss sweater than honey
Your eyes in a misty dream a million miles away
And in my ear you whisper my name
Just like in some old news flash
From light years ago

Van dyke’s on the slide trombone
Through the smoke of the party room
Your teeth like the ivory coast
Start singin’ my favourite song
And it happen’ to be mood indigo

Mood indigo, I just go weak when I hear mood indigo
Could last for weeks until I decide to wake up
Take off my make up

Holding on to my heart
Smokin’ them downhill
In a room number thirteen
Tryin’ to stretch my luck again
Down the corridor your footsteps echo against the wall
My man of mystery, my date with infinity
Tonight I’m gonna sacrifice, for the first time in my life
Make it all come back to me, like an old forgotten dream

Van dyke’s on the slide trombone
Through the smoke of the party room
Your teeth like the ivory coast
Start singin’ my favourite song
And it happen’ to be mood indigo

Mood indigo, I just go weak when I hear mood indigo
It could last for weeks until I decide to wake up
Completely lost in my mood indigo.

Soyonara for the week, monday is a new day and new challenges...
"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carl W. Buechner