tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80759887512944579862024-02-08T02:09:43.463+02:00For what it's worthLynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-30348362972568849442008-11-04T14:56:00.004+02:002008-11-04T15:12:27.469+02:00Dreams and their meanings<p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7bp5aiVPSBeivUwIKzZqKg5EmVZ-9y9pGpricbyif7_VbFYkmOBvtuu8exx9J5e4q1XttjS-J8i9Hz3i9i6z8MhdJPv0_Om-wVmhdrUPPvra23bPeqP_9utlhTTEunKmwEu9iF4a8M0/s1600-h/entrepreneur-dream.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264787633556132530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7bp5aiVPSBeivUwIKzZqKg5EmVZ-9y9pGpricbyif7_VbFYkmOBvtuu8exx9J5e4q1XttjS-J8i9Hz3i9i6z8MhdJPv0_Om-wVmhdrUPPvra23bPeqP_9utlhTTEunKmwEu9iF4a8M0/s320/entrepreneur-dream.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>ACORN<br /></strong>Dreaming of acorns predicts pleasant things & that much gain is to be expected.<br />For a woman to dream of eating acorns denotes that she will rise to a position of ease & pleasure.<br />To dream of shaking acorns from a tree means that you will rapidly attain your wishes in business or love.<br /><strong>AIRPORT<br /></strong>In a dream the sight of a busy airport represents the desire for freedom and/or travel.<br />If the airport is empty and deserted your own travel plans will be changed or delayed.<br /><strong>ALMONDS<br /></strong>If you see almonds in your dream you'll have a temporary sorrow.<br />If you ate and enjoyed them, you'll be lucky, but if they tasted bitter, you should delay any contemplated changes for as long as possible.<br /><strong>ANGELS</strong><br />A favorable dream forecasting success, protection, happiness, and rewarding friendships.<br /><strong>BABY</strong><br />To see a baby in your dream signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. A love affair may be blooming for you in your near future. You will also make new and fun friends.<br />If a woman dreams she is nursing a baby, she will be deceived by the one she trusts the most<br /><strong>BALLOON<br /></strong>Seeing balloons in your dream indicates a dashing of hope on any and all fronts, business or love, as well as a general falling off of all kinds of businesses you may be involved in.<br />If you are ascending in a balloon this is an omen of especially frustrating conditions in your life.<br /><strong>BEAR</strong><br />To dream of killing a bear foretells liberation from entanglements.<br /><strong>BED</strong><br />To dream of a clean, white bed denotes the end of worries.<br />If a woman dreams of making a bed, there will soon be a new lover in her life.<br /><strong>BICYCLE</strong><br />To dream of riding a bicycle uphill signifies bright prospects.<br />To dream of riding downhill calls for care - misfortune is near.<br /><strong>BIRDS<br /></strong>Flying birds are a sign of prosperity to the dreamer.<br /><strong>BIRTH</strong><br />If you dream of death it's a sign of a birth, if you dream of birth, it's a sign of death.<br /><strong>BUTTERFLY<br /></strong>To see a butterfly among flowers indicates prosperity.<br />To see butterflies flying around denotes news from absent friends by letter or from someone who has seen them.<br /><strong>CANDLES<br /></strong>To see candles burning with a clear and steady flame denotes the constancy of those around you and a well-grounded fortune.<br /><strong>CATS</strong><br />Dreaming of a cat is a generally unfortunate omen and it shows treachery as well as a run of bad luck.<br />Cats attacking you represent enemies; if you succeed banishing them you will overcome great obstacles and rise in fortune and fame.<br /><strong>CROW<br /></strong>Seeing a crow in your dream means disappointment in everything, grief and misfortune.<br /><strong>CROWN<br /></strong>To dream of a crown predicts a change in your life. The dreamer will travel a long distance from home & form new relationships.<br /><strong>DEATH<br /></strong>If you dream of death it's a sign of a birth, if you dream of birth, it's a sign of death.<br /><strong>DANCING<br /></strong>To dream that you are dancing means that some unexpected good fortune will come to you.<br /><strong>DECEASED PERSON</strong><br />If you should dream of a deceased person and this person speaks only to you, pay close attention to what the spirit is telling you as it could be very important to you.<br />To dream of seeing a deceased person is normally a dream of warning, and it tells you that the influences around you at this time do not bode well for your affairs, and you should not enter into any binding contracts or verbal agreements.<br /><strong>DIAMONDS<br /></strong>To dream of owning diamonds is a very promising dream signifying great honor and recognition from high places.<br /><strong>DOG<br /></strong>To dream about a dog indicates great gain and constant friends.<br />To hear the barking of dogs foretells news of depressing nature. Difficulties are more likely to follow.<br /><strong>DRAGONFLY<br /></strong>If you dream that a dragonfly lands on your body then you will have excellent news from someone far away from home.<br />If you see a dead dragonfly, then the news will be bad.<br />A dragonfly perched gracefully on some other object shows that you will soon be having guests that may be hard to get rid of.<br /><strong>DRIVING</strong><br />If you dream that you are driving a vehicle it is a sign that you should be careful to take no chances with your money, such as gambling, in the next two weeks or so.<br />If someone else is doing the driving you will find yourself in luck, money wise.<br /><strong>FACE<br /></strong>To dream of a smiling face signifies pleasant new friends, experiences, and/or financial gains.<br />To dream of unpleasant or grotesque (unless amusingly so) faces portend loss.<br />To dream you are washing your face denotes a necessity to atone for some past indiscretion; better make amends!<br />To see the faces of strangers signifies an approaching change of residence.<br /><strong>FALLING<br /></strong>To dream of falling indicates a loss of emotional equilibrium or self-control. It may represent your insecurity, a lack of self-confidence, a fear of failure or an inability to cope with a situation.<br />If you fall a long distance in your dream and get hurt, be prepared for really hard times ahead; but if you fall and are not injured your upsets will be minor and temporary.<br /><strong>GANG</strong><br />To dream that you are confronted or threatened by a gang signifies circumstances or situations in your waking life which are overwhelming and you feel have ganged up on you.<br /><strong>GARDEN<br /></strong>To see a vegetable garden in your dream symbolizes increased prosperity will come your way through diligence and care. It also suggests of stability and inner growth.<br />To see a flower garden in your dream foretells of tranquility, comfort, true love and happy home in your future.<br />To see a sparse, weed-infested garden denotes that you have neglected your spiritual needs.<br /><strong>GLOVES</strong><br />To dream of gloves means that you will have a lawsuit or business troubles, but you will settle them in a manner that satisfies you.<br />To find a pair of gloves denotes a marriage or new love affair.<br /><strong>HAIR</strong><br />Dreaming about hair means that you are careless in your personal affairs and will lose advancement by neglecting mental application.<br /><strong>HAIRDRESSER<br /></strong>For a woman to dream of going to a hairdresser shows she will soon be entangled in some family scandal concerning the morals of a member of her family. Should she have her hair dyed, she will narrowly escape imprisonment.<br />For a man to dream of a hairdresser will presage much gossip or a need to dominate a beautiful woman.<br /><strong>HAM<br /></strong>If you dream of eating ham then you will lose something that means a lot to you.<br /><strong>HONEY</strong><br />To dream of eating honey foretells that you will attain wealth and love.<br /><strong>ICE</strong><br />Sitting on ice in your dreams is a dream of the contrary.<br /><strong>ICE CREAM<br /></strong>Eating, making, selling or serving ice cream suggests that you are feeling contentment and satisfaction in your life.<br /><strong>JAIL</strong><br />To dream that your lover is in jail signifies that this lover is deceitful and untrustworthy.<br />To dream that you are in jail signifies your feelings of confinement and suffocation.<br /><strong>JAM<br /></strong>If you dream of eating jam you will suffer embarrassment at the hands of a woman through no fault of your own.<br /><strong>KANGAROO<br /></strong>Seeing a kangaroo in your dreams foretells unexpected and exciting trips.<br /><strong>KEYS</strong><br />To dream of keys denotes unexpected change. If the keys are lost, unpleasant adventures will affect you. To find keys means domestic peace and success in business.<br /><strong>KILLING<br /></strong>If you dreamed of killing someone, whether intentionally or by accident, it signifies a period of severe emotional stress during which you must make a heroic effort to control your temper.<br /><strong>LETTER<br /></strong>To dream of receiving a letter from a friend foretells their arrival or that you will hear from them soon.<br /><strong>LIGHTS</strong><br />A light shining out of the dark, or a flashlight beam, shows that you will finally find the truth in a situation or the answer to a personal problem that you have been searching for. If the light is dim, you will only find part of the solution.<br /><strong>MAGIC<br /></strong>Any form of magic in a dream predicts unexpected changes.<br />To dream of being mystified and/or amused by a magician indicates a reunion with a long-lost friend or the rekindling of a past love affair.<br /><strong>MARRIAGE<br /></strong>Dreaming of a marriage, or a wedding, is the sign of a death in the family. If the marriage was between strangers, then the death pertains to a not too close acquaintance or friend.<br /><strong>MICE<br /></strong>Dreaming of mice foretells domestic troubles or that business affairs will assume a discouraging tone.<br />If you dream of a mouse jumping on you or getting in your clothing, then you will be involved in a scandal with a friend.<br /><strong>MONKEY<br /></strong>To dream of a monkey denotes that you have deceitful friends who will flatter you to advance their own interests.<br /><strong>NECK<br /></strong>A dream featuring the neck is a sign of approaching money, unless the dream concerned a broken neck, in which case it is a warning against mismanagement of your affairs.<br /><strong>NECKLACE<br /></strong>If you dream of losing a necklace you will soon be suffering bereavement of a loved one.<br />If you dream your loved one places a necklace around your neck or that you are wearing one, it shows an early marriage and a happy domestic life.<br /><strong>NEEDLE</strong><br />To find a needle predicts that you will have friends who appreciate you.<br />To look for a needle foretells useless worries.<br /><strong>OAK TREE<br /></strong>To dream of an old, spreading oak means long life and prosperity. If it is filled with acorns you are due a promotion or some type of increase in your life.<br />If a newlywed sees many oak trees in a forest it foretells a long marriage and many children.<br /><strong>OCEAN<br /></strong>If you dream you are standing on shore and watching the waves foam up as they break over the beach foretells that you will have some narrow escape from an accidental injury.<br />If you are far out on the ocean and hear the waves as they lap against the hull of the ship, you will have setbacks in your business and a troubled domestic scene.<br />To sail on a calm ocean is always a good omen for all concerned.<br /><strong>OWL<br /></strong>To dream of an owl denotes a narrow escape from desperate illness or death.<br /><strong>RACCOON<br /></strong>To dream of a raccoon warns you to be on your guard.. To see a raccoon in your dream shows that people are presenting false faces to you in your everyday life.<br />To be chased by a raccoon shows that a person you thought a friend has turned on you and now works behind your back for your downfall.<br /><strong>RAPE</strong><br />Take this dream as a warning. Take precautions, protect yourself emotionally and physically and don't engage in careless behaviors.<br /><strong>ROSE<br /></strong>If a woman dreams of receiving a rose and places it in her hair then will she be deceived by someone thought of as a good friend.<br />If she receives a bouquet of roses in the Springtime she will find true love but if it is winter her search will be fruitless.<br />To see a rose bush in full foliage denotes a wedding in the family.<br /><strong>RUNNING</strong><br />Dream of running: a sign of a big change in your life.<br /><strong>SNAKES<br /></strong>To see a lone snake and feel threatened by it shows that you have a bad enemy that is working against you, it also a warning against bodily harm from an enemy.<br />To dream of many snakes in a pit is the foreboding of much bad luck in love or business.<br />Should you overcome and kill a threatening snake in your dream shows that you will overcome your adversary and win out.<br /><strong>SPIDERS</strong><br />All spiders except tarantulas are omens of good luck. The larger the spider, the bigger the rewards.<br />If you see a spider climbing the wall you will have your dearest wish come true.<br />If you see a spider spinning a web you will have an increase in your income due to hard work.<br /><strong>TATTOOS</strong><br />If you dream you are a tattoo artist and you are tattooing someone's body you will soon break with friends or family over strange practices.<br />If you dream you are the one being tattooed you will become the target for a strangers jealousy but if you see someone else with tattoos then you will take a long, hard journey from home.<br /><strong>TEA</strong><br />To dream that you are thirsty for tea means that you will be surprised with uninvited guests.<br /><strong>TEETH<br /></strong>If you dream of having false teeth this indicates that you will have unexpected help on a problem.<br />To dream of rotten teeth shows that you have been telling someone a lie or using your smooth words for getting your own way.<br />If your teeth are rotten, crooked, and/or falling out this means that your lies are hurting someone very badly and that you will soon be found out.<br />If you dream you have swallowed a tooth you will soon have too 'eat your words'<br /><strong>UMBRELLA</strong><br />Carrying a closed umbrella in the rain is highly unfortunate for the dreamer and his business plans.<br />To dream of carrying an open umbrella in the rain is a very fortunate sign that speaks of good luck in most endeavors.<br />A leaky umbrella denotes quarrels with loved ones.<br /><strong>WATER</strong><br />Dreaming of clear water is a sign of great good luck and prosperity, a dream of muddy water foretells sadness or sorry for the dreamer through hearing of an illness or death of someone he/she knows well.<br />Dirty water warns of unscrupulous people who would bring you to ruin.<br /><strong>YARN</strong><br />To dream of yarn shows you will soon become the wife of a wealthy man.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-42568528692578855962008-09-18T15:36:00.007+02:002008-09-19T10:56:45.944+02:00Superstitions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBDXYpbfCtL4zoH8SAXmIBRxHc3vkeljqwqxe9YaMk06X7A4qGGlkNol6Zj5OnXqvop5EKzVrp13rowPcZfQkNU6j5vLaBl3S6pIApf6ovxl5EDSNMesF-7oAy2jIn6hkiNCpZX8Q8Pg/s1600-h/intro_aberglaube_13_g.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247653605978924098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBDXYpbfCtL4zoH8SAXmIBRxHc3vkeljqwqxe9YaMk06X7A4qGGlkNol6Zj5OnXqvop5EKzVrp13rowPcZfQkNU6j5vLaBl3S6pIApf6ovxl5EDSNMesF-7oAy2jIn6hkiNCpZX8Q8Pg/s320/intro_aberglaube_13_g.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>ACORN</strong><br />An acorn should be carried to bring luck and ensure a long life.<br />An acorn at the window will keep lightning out<br /><br /><strong>AMBER<br /></strong>Amber beads, worn as a necklace, can protect against illness or cure colds.<br /><br /><strong>AMBULANCE</strong><br />Seeing an ambulance is very unlucky unless you pinch your nose or hold your breath until you see a black or a brown dog.<br /><em>Touch your toes<br />Touch your nose<br />Never go in one of those<br />Until you see a dog.<br /></em><br /><strong>APPLE</strong><br />Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.<br />An apple a day keeps the doctor away.<br />If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.<br /><br /><strong>BABY</strong><br />To predict the sex of a baby: Suspend a wedding band held by a piece of thread over the palm of the pregnant girl. If the ring swings in an oval or circular motion the baby will be a girl. If the ring swings in a straight line the baby will be a boy. <div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>BASEBALL BAT</strong><br />Spit on a new bat before using it for the first time to make it lucky<br /><br /><strong>BED<br /></strong>It's bad luck to put a hat on a bed.<br />If you make a bedspread, or a quilt, be sure to finish it or marriage will never come to you<br />Placing a bed facing north and south brings misfortune.<br />You must get out of bed on the same side that you get in or you will have bad luck.<br />When making the bed, don't interrupt your work, or you will spend a restless night in it.<br /><br /><strong>BEE<br /></strong>If a bee enters your home, it's a sign that you will soon have a visitor. If you kill the bee, you will have bad luck, or the visitor will be unpleasant.<br />A swarm of bees settling on a roof is an omen that the house will burn down.<br /><br /><strong>BELL</strong><br />The sound of bells drives away demons because they're afraid of the loud noise.<br />When a bell rings, a new angel has received his wings.<br /><br /><strong>BIRD</strong><br />A bird in the house is a sign of a death.<br />If a robin flies into a room through a window, death will shortly follow.<br /><br /><strong>BIRTH</strong><br /><em>Monday's child is fair of face;<br />Tuesday's child is full of grace;<br />Wednesday's child is full of woe;<br />Thursday's child has far to go;<br />Friday's child is loving and giving;<br />Saturday's child works hard for a living.<br />But the child that is born on the Sabbath day<br />is fair and wise, good and gay.<br /><br /></em><strong>BIRTHDAY CAKE</strong><br />If you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake with the first puff you will get your wish.<br /><br /><strong>BLARNEY STONE</strong><br />The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney.)<br /><br /><strong>BLUE</strong><br />To protect yourself from witches, wear a blue bead.<br /><em>Touch blue<br />And your wish<br />Will come true.</em><br /><br /><strong>BREAD<br /></strong>Before slicing a new loaf of bread, make the sign of the cross on it.<br />A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it.<br /><br /><strong>BRIDGE</strong><br />If you say good-bye to a friend on a bridge, you will never see each other again.<br /><br /><strong>BROOM<br /></strong>Do not lean a broom against a bed. The evil spirits in the broom will cast a spell on the bed.<br />If you sweep trash out the door after dark, it will bring a stranger to visit.<br />If someone is sweeping the floor and sweeps over your feet, you'll never get married.<br />Never take a broom along when you move. Throw it out and buy a new one.<br />To prevent an unwelcome guest from returning, sweep out the room they stayed in immediately after they leave.<br /><br /><strong>BUTTERFLY<br /></strong>If the first butterfly you see in the year is white, you will have good luck all year.<br />Three butterflies together mean good luck.<br /><br /><strong>CANDLE<br /></strong>If a candle lighted as part of a ceremony blows out, it is a sign that evil spirits are nearby.<br /><br /><strong>CALF<br /></strong>If the first calf born during the winter is white, the winter will be a bad one.<br /><br /><strong>CAT<br /></strong>If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.<br />Keep cats away from babies because they "suck the breath" of the child.<br />A cat onboard a ship is considered to bring luck.<br /><br /><strong>CHEEKS<br /></strong>If your cheeks suddenly feel on fire, someone is talking about you.<br /><br /><strong>CHILL<br /></strong>If you get a chill up your back or goose bumps, it means that someone is walking over your grave.<br /><br /><strong>CHIMNEY SWEEP<br /></strong>It's very lucky to meet a chimney sweep by chance. Make a wish when sighting one and the wish will come true.<br /><br /><strong>CIGARETTES<br /></strong>It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.<br /><br /><strong>CIRCLE<br /></strong>Evil spirits can't harm you when you stand inside a circle.<br /><br /><strong>CLOCK</strong><br />If a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family.<br /><br /><strong>CLOVER</strong><br />It's good luck to find a four-leaf clover.<br />Clover protects human beings and animals from the spell of magicians and the wiles of fairies, and brings good luck to those who keep it in the house.<br /><br /><strong>COIN</strong><br />It's bad luck to pick up a coin if it's tails side up. Good luck comes if it's heads up.<br /><br /><strong>COMB<br /></strong>To drop a comb while you are combing your hair is a sign of a coming disappointment.<br /><br /><strong>COUGH<br /></strong>To cure a cough: take a hair from the coughing person's head, put it between two slices of buttered bread, feed it to a dog, and say, "Eat well you hound, may you be sick and I be sound."<br /><br /><strong>COW<br /></strong>Cows lifting their tails are a sure sign that rain is coming.<br /><br /><strong>CRACK</strong><br />Don't step on a crack on a sidewalk or walkway.<br /><em>Step on a crack<br />Break your mother's back.<br /></em><br /><strong>CRICKET<br /></strong>A cricket in the house brings good luck.<br /><br /><strong>COUNTING CROWS<br /></strong><em>One's bad,<br />Two's luck,<br />Three's health,<br />Four's wealth,<br />Five's sickness,<br />Six is death.<br /></em><br /><strong>DANDELION<br /></strong>Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.<br /><br /><strong>DOG<br /></strong>A dog howling at night when someone in the house is sick is a bad omen.<br /><br /><strong>DOOR<br /></strong>It's bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.<br /><br /><strong>EARS<br /></strong>If your right ear itches, someone is speaking well of you.<br />If your left ear itches, someone is speaking ill of you.<br /><em>Left for love and right for spite:<br />Left or right, good at night</em>.<br /><br /><strong>EASTER<br /></strong>For good luck throughout the year, wear new clothes on Easter.<br /><br /><strong>ELEPHANT<br /></strong>Pictures of an elephant bring luck, but only if they face a door.<br /><br /><strong>EYE</strong><br />If your right eye twitches there will soon be a birth in the family. If the left eye twitches there will soon be a death in the family.<br />To cure a sty, stand at a crossroads and recite<br /><em>Sty, sty, leave my eye<br />Take the next one coming by.<br /></em><br /><strong>EYELASH<br /></strong>If an eyelash falls out, put it on the back of the hand, make a wish and throw it over your shoulder. If it flies off the hand the wish will be granted.<br /><br /><strong>FINGERNAILS<br /></strong>It is bad luck to cut your fingernails on Friday or Sunday.<br />Fingernail cuttings should be saved, burned, or buried.<br /><br /><strong>FISH</strong><br />A fish should always be eaten from the head toward the tail.<br />Dream of fish: someone you know is pregnant.<br /><br /><strong>FISHING<br /></strong>Throw back the first fish you catch then you'll be lucky the whole day fishing.<br />If you count the number of fish you caught, you will catch no more that day.<br />It's bad luck to say the word "pig" while fishing at sea.<br /><br /><strong>FLAG<br /></strong>It brings bad luck for a flag to touch the ground.<br /><br /><strong>FLOWER<br /></strong>First Flower of Spring: The day you find the first flower of the season can be used as an omen:<br /><em>Monday means good fortune,<br />Tuesday means greatest attempts will be successful,<br />Wednesday means marriage,<br />Thursday means warning of small profits,<br />Friday means wealth,<br />Saturday means misfortune,<br />Sunday means excellent luck for weeks.<br /></em><br /><strong>FOOT<br /></strong>If the bottom of your right foot itches, you are going to take a trip.<br /><br /><strong>FORK</strong><br />To drop a fork means a man is coming to visit.<br /><br /><strong>FRIDAY<br /></strong>A bed changed on Friday will bring bad dreams.<br />Any ship that sails on Friday will have bad luck.<br />You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.<br />Never start to make a garment on Friday unless you can finish it the same day.<br /><br /><strong>FRIDAY THE 13TH</strong><br />How did Friday the thirteenth become such an unlucky day?<br />Fear of Friday the 13th is rooted in ancient, separate bad-luck associations with the number 13 and the day Friday. The two unlucky entities combine to make one super unlucky day.<br />There is a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla, their heaven. In walked the uninvited 13th guest, the mischievous Loki. Once there, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died and the Earth got dark. The whole Earth mourned.<br />There is a Biblical reference to the unlucky number 13. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the Last Supper.<br />A particularly bad Friday the 13th occurred in the middle ages. On a Friday the 13th in 1306, King Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar and began torturing them, marking the occasion as a day of evil.<br />In ancient Rome, witches reportedly gathered in groups of 12. The 13th was believed to be the devil.<br />Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.<br />It is traditionally believed that Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion at the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Friday.<br />Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labours of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, 13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.<br />More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.<br />Many airports skip the 13th gate.<br />Airplanes have no 13th aisle.<br />Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.<br />Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.<br />On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.<br />Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue<br />In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.<br />Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13.<br />If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.<br /><br /><strong>FROG<br /></strong>A frog brings good luck to the house it enters.<br />The dried body of a frog worn in a silk bag around the neck averts epilepsy and other fits.<br /><br /><strong>GOOD FRIDAY<br /></strong>(The Friday before Easter)A child born on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday has a gift of healing. If a boy, he should go into the ministry.<br />Cut your hair on Good Friday to prevent headaches in the year to come<br />A person who dies on Good Friday will go right to heaven.<br />Shed no blood on Good Friday, work no wood, hammer no nail.<br /><br /><strong>HAIR<br /></strong>Pulling out a grey or white hair will cause ten more to grow in its place.<br /><br /><strong>HAND<br /></strong>If the palm of your right hand itches it means you will soon be getting money.<br />If the palm of your left hand itches it means you will soon be paying out money.<br /><br /><strong>HORSESHOE</strong><br />A horseshoe, hung above the doorway, will bring good luck to a home. In most of Europe protective horseshoes are placed in a downward facing position, but in some parts of Ireland and Britain people believe that the shoes must be turned upward or "the luck will run out."<br />A horseshoe hung in the bedroom will keep nightmares away.<br /><br /><strong>ITCH<br /></strong><em>If your nose itches you will soon be kissed by a fool.<br />If your nose itches<br />Your mouth is in danger.<br />You'll kiss a fool,<br />And meet a stranger.<br />Rub an itch to wood<br />It will come to good.<br /></em><br /><strong>IVY</strong><br />Ivy growing on a house protects the inhabitants from witchcraft and evil.<br /><br /><strong>KNIFE<br /></strong>A knife as a gift from a lover means that the love will soon end.<br />A knife placed under the bed during childbirth will ease the pain of labour.<br />If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken.<br />It will cause a quarrel if knives are crossed at the table.<br />It is bad luck to close a pocket knife unless you were the one who opened it.<br /><em>Knife falls, gentleman calls;<br />Fork falls, lady calls;<br />Spoon falls, baby calls.</em><br /><br /><strong>KNITTING<br /></strong>It's bad luck to leave a project unfinished. The intended recipient will get bad luck from the unfinished item.<br />Stabbing your needles though your yarn balls brings bad luck to anyone who wears something made from that yarn.<br />Don't knit a pair of socks for your boyfriend or he'll walk away from you.<br />If you knit one of your own hairs into a garment, it will bind the recipient to you.<br />Knitting for children you may have in the future, but before you are pregnant, is bad luck (it may prevent one from getting pregnant, or bring ill health to the baby).<br /><br /><strong>LADDER<br /></strong>It is bad luck to walk under a ladder.<br /><br /><strong>LADYBUG</strong><br />If a young girl catches a ladybug and then releases it, the direction in which it flies away will be the direction from which her future husband will come.<br />It is bad luck to kill a ladybug.<br /><em>Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home.<br />Your house is on fire,<br />Your children all roam.</em></div><em><br /><br /><div><br /></em><strong>LEAF<br /></strong>If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.<br /><br /><strong>LETTUCE<br /></strong>Lettuce is believed to have magical and healing properties, including the power to arouse love and counteract the effects of wine.<br />Lettuce promotes child bearing if eaten by young women, and certain types of salad can bring on labour in pregnant women.<br /><br /><strong>LIE</strong><br /><em>Cross my heart and hope to die,<br />Cut my throat if I tell a lie.<br /></em><br /><strong>LIZARD<br /></strong>To dream of a lizard is a sign that you have a secret enemy.<br /><br /><strong>MANDRAKE<br /></strong>Mandrake is a mysterious plant believed to have powers of preventing sterility in men and animals, causing barren women to bear children, and compelling love.<br />Mandrake is thought to have aphrodisiac and fertilizing properties.<br />Clairvoyants use mandrake to increase their visions to enable them to see strange and wonderful things.<br /><br /><strong>MILK</strong><br />It's bad luck to let milk boil over.<br /><strong><br />MIRROR<br /></strong>To break a mirror means 7 years bad luck.<br />It is unlucky to see your face in a mirror by candlelight.<br />A mirror should be covered during a thunderstorm because it attracts lightning.<br />If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will die soon.<br /><br /><strong>MISTLETOE<br /></strong>Mistletoe in the house protects it from thunder and lightning. It also cures many diseases, is an antidote to poison and brings good luck and fertility.<br />A girl standing under mistletoe cannot refuse to be kissed by anyone who claims the privilege.<br /><br /><strong>MOTH<br /></strong>A white moth inside the house or trying to enter the house means death.<br /><br /><strong>NOSE<br /></strong>If your nose itches, someone is coming to see you. If it's the right nostril, the visitor will be a female, left nostril, male.<br /><br /><strong>ONION<br /></strong>An onion cut in half and placed under the bed of a sick person will draw off fever and poisons.<br />A wish will come true if you make it while burning onions.<br /><br /><strong>OPAL<br /></strong>Unless you were born in October, it's unlucky to wear opals.<br /><br /><strong>OWL<br /></strong>It is bad luck to see an owl in the sunlight.<br /><br /><strong>PENCIL<br /></strong>If you use the same pencil to take a test that you used for studying for the test, the pencil will remember the answers.<br /><br /><strong>PEPPER<br /></strong>If you spill pepper you will have a serious argument with your best friend.<br /><br /><strong>PHOTOGRAPH<br /></strong>If 3 people are photographed together, the one in the middle will die first.<br /><br /><strong>RABBIT'S FOOT<br /></strong>A rabbit's foot will bring luck and protect the owner from evil spirits if carried in the pocket.<br /><br /><strong>RAINBOW</strong><br />A rainbow in the Eastern sky,<br />The morrow will be fine and dry.<br />A rainbow in the West that gleams,<br />Rain tomorrow falls in streams.<br /><br /><strong>RAVEN</strong><br />To kill a raven is to harm the spirit of King Arthur who visits the world in the form of a raven.<br /><br /><strong>RED<br /></strong>A red ribbon should be placed on a child who has been sick to keep the illness from returning.<br /><br /><strong>ROBIN<br /></strong>A wish made upon seeing the first robin in spring will come true - but only if you complete the wish before the robin flies away.<br /><br /><strong>ROCKING CHAIR<br /></strong>If you leave a rocking chair rocking when empty, it invites evil spirits to come into your house to sit in the rocking chair.<br /><br /><strong>ROSEMARY<br /></strong>Rosemary planted by the doorstep will keep witches away.<br /><br /><strong>SALT<br /></strong>Bad luck will follow the spilling of salt unless a pinch is thrown over the left shoulder into the face of the devil waiting there.<br />Put salt on the doorstep of a new house and no evil can enter.<br />Salty soup is a sign that the cook is in love.<br /><br /><strong>SCISSORS<br /></strong>If you drop scissors, it means your lover is being unfaithful to you.<br /><strong><br />SEA GULL<br /></strong>Three seagulls flying together, directly overhead, are a warning of death soon to come.<br /><br /><strong>SEVEN<br /></strong>To break a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. The cure: to bury the pieces, or run them in a stream.<br />The seventh son of a seventh son has magic powers, according to Irish folklore, but is a vampire in Romanian legend.<br /><br /><strong>SHOES<br /></strong>Do not place shoes upon a table, for this will bring bad luck for the day, cause trouble with your mate and you might even lose your job as a result.<br />It's bad luck to leave shoes upside down.<br /><br /><strong>SINGING<br /></strong>If you sing before seven, you will cry before eleven.<br /><br /><strong>SLEEP<br /></strong>You sleep best with your head to the north and your feet to the south.<br /><br /><strong>SNEEZE<br /></strong>Place a hand in front of your mouth when sneezing. Your soul may escape otherwise.<br />The devil can enter your body when you sneeze. Having someone say, "God bless you," drives the devil away.<br /><em>If you sneeze on a Monday, you sneeze for danger;<br />Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger;<br />Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter;<br />Sneeze on a Thursday, something better;<br />Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow;<br />Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow.<br />Sneeze on a Sunday, and the devil will have domination over you all week.<br /><br />One for sorrow<br />Two for joy<br />Three for a letter<br />Four for a boy.<br />Five for silver<br />Six for gold<br />Seven for a secret, never to be told<br /></em><br /><strong>SPARROW<br /></strong>Sparrows carry the souls of the dead; it's unlucky to kill one.<br /><strong><br />SPIDER<br /></strong>Seeing a spider run down a web in the afternoon means you'll take a trip.<br />A spider is a repellent against plague when worn around the neck in a walnut shell.<br /><br /><strong>STARS</strong><br />All wishes on shooting stars come true.<br /><em>Star light, star bright<br />First star I see tonight,<br />I wish I may, I wish I might<br />Have the wish I wish tonight</em>.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>SWAN<br /></strong>A swan's feather, sewed into the husband's pillow, will ensure fidelity.<br /><br /><strong>THIRTEEN</strong><br />If 13 people sit down at a table to eat, one of them will die before the year is over.<br /><br /><strong>TONGUE</strong><br />If you bite your tongue while eating, it is because you have recently told a lie.<br /><br /><strong>UMBRELLA<br /></strong>Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house.<br />It's bad luck to open an umbrella inside the house, especially if you put it over your head.<br /><br /><strong>VALENTINE'S DAY<br /></strong>If a woman sees a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it means she will marry a sailor. If she sees a sparrow, she will marry a poor man and be very happy. If she sees a goldfinch, she will marry a millionaire.<br /><br /><strong>VEIL<br /></strong>A bride's veil protects her from evil spirits who are jealous of happy people.<br /><br /><strong>WATERMELON<br /></strong>A watermelon will grow in your stomach if you swallow a watermelon seed.<br /><br /><strong>WEATHER<br /></strong><em>Red sky at night,<br />Sailor's delight.<br />Red sky at morning<br />Sailors take warning<br /><br />Rain, rain, go away,<br />Come again another day.<br />Rain on the green grass<br />Rain on the hillside,<br />But not on me.<br /></em><br /><strong>WOOD<br /></strong>Knock three times on wood after mentioning good fortune so evil spirits won't ruin it.<br /><br /><strong>WINDOW</strong><br />All windows should be opened at the moment of death so that the soul can leave.<br /><br /><strong>WISH<br /></strong>If you make a wish while throwing a coin into a well or fountain, the wish will come true.<br /><em>Wish I may,<br />Wish I might<br />Have the wish I wish tonight.<br /></em>If you tell someone your wish, it won't come true.<br /><br /><strong>WISHBONE<br /></strong>Two people pull apart the dried breastbone of a chicken or turkey until it cracks and breaks, each one making a wish while doing so. The person who gets the long half of the wishbone will have his or her wish come true.<br /><br /><strong>X<br /></strong>The number of Xs in the palm of your right hand is the number of children you will have.<br /><br /><strong>YAWN<br /></strong>A yawn is a sign that danger is near.<br />Cover your mouth when you yawn, or your soul can go out of your body along with the yawn. </div></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-65661012716995459192008-09-09T15:09:00.002+02:002008-09-09T15:26:09.281+02:00Naming Hurricans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FSvfe7gTWcGi5v-mv88y7pISkw4Q4Q2Cbn62bj0-GO9wHl3qTJDtMBnRzry18anXNDPZsbVSABRPueOIj0ej4PUB6y8PFafNWhldLXiFN7xGVZuH6snmql1NVODJ7H8tcjxqeUga2Cc/s1600-h/hurricane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244012166870121922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FSvfe7gTWcGi5v-mv88y7pISkw4Q4Q2Cbn62bj0-GO9wHl3qTJDtMBnRzry18anXNDPZsbVSABRPueOIj0ej4PUB6y8PFafNWhldLXiFN7xGVZuH6snmql1NVODJ7H8tcjxqeUga2Cc/s320/hurricane.jpg" width="272" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Andrew, Klaus, Hugo, Betsy, Bob and Hilda... The list is as long as an oversized primary school class register.<br /><br />But these little darlings never kissed you goodbye or demanded expensive trainers.<br /><br /><strong>What do they have in common?</strong> Well, believe it or not, they are all retired hurricane names. Along with Gracie, Roxanne, Marilyn, Joan and Carmen, the likes of Hugo, Betsy and Bob have all in their day caused so much damage that the World's Meteorological Organisations have, forever, retired their names from official lists of hurricane and tropical storm names.<br /><br /><strong>What am I talking about?</strong> Monsters of destruction, like Hurricane Andrew which hit the Florida Peninsula in August 1992, moved into the Gulf of Mexico and up through the Louisiana coast. Andrew was the most costly US storm on record...Andrew was the most costly US storm on record with total losses of $26.5 billion, $1 billion of which was in Louisiana while the rest was in Florida. Winds gusted at over 175mph and had sustained strengths of 145mph. At least 180,000 people were left homeless, 126,000 homes destroyed or damaged, over 50 people killed as a direct or indirect effect of the storm and at least 10,400 injured.<br /><br /><strong>How does something with such monstrous potential acquire such an innocuous name?</strong><br /><br />Well, let’s go back to the beginning. Tropical cyclones, (or tropical storms) (wind speeds between 39mph and 74 mph) or hurricanes (wind speeds of 75mph and above) form within seven regions around the world called 'basins'.<br /><br />As there can be 100 or so storms a year meteorologists need a means of identifying individual storms to avoid confusion, especially as one or more storms may be followed and charted by many meteorologists simultaneously.<br /><br />Early naming strategies were informal and individualistic in their approach. For several hundred years in the Caribbean, hurricanes were named after the saints’ day on which they occurred. For example "Hurricane San Felipe" struck Puerto Rico on 13 September 1876. Later, latitude and longitude were used, but this was found to be complicated and more prone to error.<br /><br />According to one report the first use of a proper name for a tropical storm was by an Australian forecaster in the early part of last century, who reputedly named his storms after politicians that he didn't like. Maybe that's an approach that deserves a come back!<br /><br />During World War II however, it was loved ones who provided the inspiration for the name game. US Army Air Corp and Navy meteorologists affectionately christened storms with female names after their wives and loved ones - imagine, "Hurricane Hotlips hits Florida" or "Peaches has petered out in the Pacific"!<br /><br />By 1950 the first formal name strategy was in place for North Atlantic cyclones. The storms took their names from the phonetic alphabet of the time (Able-Baker-Charlie-etc) and this continued until 1952. In 1953 the US Weather Bureau decided to switch to female first names and finally included male first names in the list in 1979. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not used because few names begin with these letters.<br /><br />There are six lists that are used in rotation; the list for each year is arranged in alphabetical order, with alternating male and female names. If more than 21 storms should occur in any season, then there is an 'unlikely' reserve list that uses the Greek alphabet. This gives the World Meteorological Organization 24 more names to work with, so additional seasonal storms can be named as Alpha, Beta, Gamma etc.<br /><br />The naming of cyclones today continues in much the same vein. Each Basin or region has an agreed list of names - the applications of which vary slightly. For instance, cyclones in the Atlantic basin and in the Eastern Pacific give the first storm of each year an 'A' name. Whereas the year's first cyclone in the Central Pacific takes the next name on the list regardless of which letter it starts with. Of course, if a storm should wander from one basin region into another it will be rewarded with a new name from that region. There's no wonder some of these storms are angry - they could have huge identity crises.<br /><br />See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_tropical_cyclone_names">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_tropical_cyclone_names</a> for hurricane names</div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-24431243514540390182008-04-16T19:28:00.002+02:002008-04-16T19:34:33.167+02:0020 Most Annoying Things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXY5Yryu-ciISOS8G0AHxQoWjRRc0n-QJoFeWpwbNrZqfWzBOK4f1c8Ql_dfpUMJdSDbnjuu6hznBRbZWVkWg49tWmfGF3nILapcfLtvz7oPLevMu6zwNzCk_mRwf7q2d2enbNiFVjjg/s1600-h/brainne+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXY5Yryu-ciISOS8G0AHxQoWjRRc0n-QJoFeWpwbNrZqfWzBOK4f1c8Ql_dfpUMJdSDbnjuu6hznBRbZWVkWg49tWmfGF3nILapcfLtvz7oPLevMu6zwNzCk_mRwf7q2d2enbNiFVjjg/s320/brainne+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189897487122057794" border="0" /></a>1.) Slow modems/ dial-up Internet<br /><br />2.) Waiting in the doctor's office for what seems like hours (I guess that's why we're called "patients!")<br /><br />3.) Pop-up advertisements on web pages.<br /><br />4.) Infomercials (Just when you think they're over, the announcer says ("But wait, there's more!")<br /><br />5.) Telemarketers, especially the ones who keep calling even after you've asked them to remove you from their calling list.<br /><br />6.) Rude/inconsiderate/insensitive people.<br /><br />7.) Having an itch on your back that wont go away or is just out of your reach.<br /><br />8.) Bugs, spiders, and other ugly, slimy, multi-legged creatures.<br /><br />9.) When someone is walking in front of you and they suddenly stop, or when someone is walking too closely behind you and they step on your heels.<br /><br />10.) People that join in your conversations when you weren't talking to them.<br /><br />11.) When someone is talking to you and they either have bad breath, they spit when they talk, or they talk so loud they're practically making you go deaf.<br /><br />12.) Elderly drivers who look at the scenery and drive 30 km/h in front of you.<br /><br />13.) People who pass you in a hurry and then slow down once they get in front of you.<br /><br />14.) Being short, or as I like to call it, "vertically challenged," and not being able to reach things or see over people.<br /><br />15.) People who lie or are two-faced.<br /><br />16.) People who don't know when to stop talking, or interrupt you when you're talking.<br /><br />17.) People who stare.<br /><br />18.) People who pry or poke their nose into your private matters just because they feel that they have the right to know, or are "just curious."<br /><br />19.) People who wont admit that they're wrong, especially after they've been proved wrong and still insist that they're right.<br /><br />20.) How my dog always seems to have to go outside as soon as we sit down to dinner.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-17220566950537385152008-04-16T18:30:00.005+02:002008-04-16T19:06:35.291+02:00Darwin Awards - Laugh at ourselves<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rHbzJG3oC3ost_StMNjhjqTo9-tekNO95EzXHTm1JtRnjNNnBfj_Mx3S43OozDULMeLpUAYnUjpGsymyyCu8q8p1SK1-6iKuidhjO-RoKKyryEf9AB0AHIm1U4PKR4RaNASP-qAXNfw/s1600-h/charles_darwin_l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rHbzJG3oC3ost_StMNjhjqTo9-tekNO95EzXHTm1JtRnjNNnBfj_Mx3S43OozDULMeLpUAYnUjpGsymyyCu8q8p1SK1-6iKuidhjO-RoKKyryEf9AB0AHIm1U4PKR4RaNASP-qAXNfw/s320/charles_darwin_l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189890323116608034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Most of these were found at <a href="http://www.darwinawards.com/">Darwin.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br />Bizarre Death </span><br />1994 Urban Legend<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Maans/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Maans/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Maans/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Maans/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Maans/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZl1dK6mHJj4eLbhP-IkPlzJKWbar6NiUqhlDQ-q8944JcNi-rSrbCT8uBfJAjqbs3k4KRWfedELV9neHmAPvDrXQ7ogkNgxUwDurK5ulyKAr-92H0TJeODmmEIZvgDV1a_xDil12seY/s1600-h/towers_jumper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZl1dK6mHJj4eLbhP-IkPlzJKWbar6NiUqhlDQ-q8944JcNi-rSrbCT8uBfJAjqbs3k4KRWfedELV9neHmAPvDrXQ7ogkNgxUwDurK5ulyKAr-92H0TJeODmmEIZvgDV1a_xDil12seY/s320/towers_jumper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189885684551928306" border="0" /></a>At the 1994 annual awards dinner given for Forensic Science, AAFS, President Dr. Don Harper Mills astounded his audience with the legal complications of a bizarre death. Here is the story:<br /><br />On March 23,1994 the medical examiner viewed the body of Ronald Opus and concluded that he died from a shotgun wound to the head. Mr. Opus had jumped from the top of a ten story building intending to commit suicide. He left a note to that effect, indicating his despondency. As he fell past the ninth floor his life was interrupted by a shotgun blast passing through a window which killed him instantly.<br /><br />Neither the shooter nor the descender was aware that a safety net had been installed just below at the eighth floor level to protect some building workers and that Ronald Opus would not have been able to complete his suicide the way he had planned.<br /><br />"Ordinarily," Dr. Mills continued, "a person who sets out to commit suicide and ultimately succeeds, even though the mechanism might not be what he intended, is still defined as committing suicide."<br /><br />That Mr. Opus was shot on the way to certain death, but probably would not have been successful because of the safety net, caused the medical examiner to feel that he had a homicide on his hands. The room on the ninth floor, whence the shotgun blast emanated, was occupied by an elderly man and his wife. They were arguing vigorously and he was threatening her with a shotgun. The man was so upset that when he pulled the trigger he completely missed his wife and the pellets went through the window, striking Mr. Opus.<br /><br />When one intends to kill subject A but kills subject B in the attempt, one is guilty of the murder of subject B. When confronted with the murder charge the old man and his wife were both adamant. They both said they thought the shotgun was unloaded. Thed old man said it was his long-standing habit to threaten his wife with the unloaded shotgun. He had no intention to murder her. Therefore the killing of Mr. Opus appeared to be an accident; that is, the gun had been accidentally loaded.<br /><br />The continuing investigation turned up a witness who saw the old couple's son loading the shotgun about six weeks prior to the fatal accident. It transpired that the old lady had cut off her son's financial support and the son, knowing the propensity of his father to use the shotgun threateningly, loaded the gun with the expectation that his father would shoot his mother. The case now becomes one of murder on the part of the son for the death of Ronald Opus.<br /><br />Now comes the exquisite twist. Further investigation revealed that the son was, in fact, Ronald Opus. He had become increasingly despondent over the failure of his attempt to engineer his mother's murder. This led him to jump off the ten story building on March 23rd, only to be killed by a shotgun blast passing through the ninth story window. The son had actually murdered himself so the medical examiner closed the case as a suicide.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bricklayer</span><br />1998 Urban Legend<br />Accident Report<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B_1sn0bzvI58Q-1B5SIAaiJ9nC46qgrO_HcI30aFVTLkD7RjEYae6FKFV5B-szx2NzxNRCvsOArt8X0UYMafrHfMBdqMQRwRrSnPQCvDMB2KEgDiZ2rlFwnKmwyaCsATeQ7My9NaoH0/s1600-h/42-18391544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B_1sn0bzvI58Q-1B5SIAaiJ9nC46qgrO_HcI30aFVTLkD7RjEYae6FKFV5B-szx2NzxNRCvsOArt8X0UYMafrHfMBdqMQRwRrSnPQCvDMB2KEgDiZ2rlFwnKmwyaCsATeQ7My9NaoH0/s320/42-18391544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189890327411575346" border="0" /></a>This one needs an introduction, so you won't be lost at the beginning. This man was in an accident at work, so he filled out an insurance claim. The insurance company contacted him and asked for more information. This was his response:<br /><br />"I am writing in response to your request for additional information, for block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I put 'poor planning' as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust the following detail will be sufficient. I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80-foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using the pulley attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools."<br /><br />"You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel."<br /><br />"Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stirring Up the Wasp Nest</span><br />A Personal Account<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhuJmqJonxiaaLyxAnZuK_mrxxjBYFKswjfJZZ8v6yPZ5u_Q_wDjMB7jY6nj7zH5u_oopLKaqjeSArzn6ZeKYhrTqAJXJR1_ZVL9OZ4RwJIqnKtl0aAYQWbq8MIoRYKMYB4Bxlgr3dek/s1600-h/mad_scientist.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhuJmqJonxiaaLyxAnZuK_mrxxjBYFKswjfJZZ8v6yPZ5u_Q_wDjMB7jY6nj7zH5u_oopLKaqjeSArzn6ZeKYhrTqAJXJR1_ZVL9OZ4RwJIqnKtl0aAYQWbq8MIoRYKMYB4Bxlgr3dek/s320/mad_scientist.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189888987381778962" border="0" /></a>James, who works in a geology lab, and who can tell you the petrogenetic peculiarities of low-alkali tholeiitic basalt after hydrothermal alteration. But our hero James recently demonstrated that there is a significant difference between intelligence and common sense.<br /><br />While casting about for ways to rid himself of a pesky wasp nest, his eye fell upon his trusty Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner. Armed with this fearsome weapon, James attacked the wasp nest. He sucked up all the wasps, who buzzed angrily as they struggled in vain against the wind-tunnel. The dustbag was soon alive with their buzzing.<br /><br />James now found that he had a new problem: to wit, a vacuum cleaner bag full of live, disgruntled wasps. He had to find a way to kill them before he could safely turn off the vacuum. And while his previous idea was merely ill-considered, his next was a masterpiece of moronity.<br /><br />He held the vacuum tube in one hand, a can of RAID in the other, and proceeded to spray the insecticide into the vacuum. What our smart young scientist failed to remember is that aerosols are flammable, and vacuum cleaner motors generate heat. The resulting explosion removed his facial hair, and scattered the dusty, angry contents of the Dirt Devil all over the vicinity.<br /><br />Adding insult to injury, James was not the only one to survive with minor injuries. The wasps proceeded to vent their spleen upon the exposed (and slightly scorched) skin of the scientist, who referred to the episode as "an unfortunate lapse in calculation of consequences."Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-15354343823203347612008-04-10T17:14:00.006+02:002008-04-10T17:21:54.332+02:00History of Cell Phone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalhvZzboS9W0QqGlKfmZDNsQhGiUa-bau37cX1deFc28ibAd3oeH-_i4icfTtrql6mVxXg0UKNZ_YexiNhl5HvHM7GSAHgtsEH3hcNLSVLH9y4GRJdREsYb8g8P0qTCOMHca8Ad6GNCw/s1600-h/20_58_479_20_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalhvZzboS9W0QqGlKfmZDNsQhGiUa-bau37cX1deFc28ibAd3oeH-_i4icfTtrql6mVxXg0UKNZ_YexiNhl5HvHM7GSAHgtsEH3hcNLSVLH9y4GRJdREsYb8g8P0qTCOMHca8Ad6GNCw/s320/20_58_479_20_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187636606528024802" border="0" /></a>April 3, 2003 marked the 30th anniversary of the first public telephone call placed on a portable cellular phone. Martin Cooper ( now chairman, CEO, and co-founder of ArrayComm Inc) placed that call on April 3, 1973, while general manager of Motorola's Communications Systems Division. It was the incarnation of his vision for personal wireless communications, distinct from cellular car phones. That first call, placed to Cooper's rival at AT&T's Bell Labs from the streets of New York City, caused a fundamental technology and communications market shift toward the person and away from the place.<p>"People want to talk to other people - not a house, or an office, or a car. Given a choice, people will demand the freedom to communicate wherever they are, unfettered by the infamous copper wire.</p><p> It is that freedom we sought to vividly demonstrate in 1973," said Martin Cooper. </p><p>Martin Cooperadded, "As I walked down the street while talking on the phone, sophisticated New Yorkers gaped at the sight of someone actually moving around while making a phone call. Remember that in 1973, there weren't cordless telephones, let alone cellular phones. I made numerous calls, including one where I crossed the street while talking to a New York radio reporter - probably one of the more dangerous things I have ever done in my life."</p><p>Following the April 3, 1973, public demonstration, using a "brick"-like 30-ounce phone, Cooper started the 10-year process of bringing the portable cell phone to market. Motorola introduced the 16-ounce "DynaTAC" phone into commercial service in 1983, with each phone costing the consumer $3,500. It took seven additional years before there were a million subscribers in the United States. Today, there are more cellular subscribers than wireline phone subscribers in the world, with mobile phones weighing as little as 3 ounces. </p><h3>Martin Cooper Today</h3><p>Martin Cooper's role in conceiving and developing the first portable cellular phone directly impacted his choice to found and lead ArrayComm, a wireless technology and systems company founded in 1992. ArrayComm's core adaptive antenna technology increases the capacity and coverage of any cellular system, while significantly lowering costs and making speech more reliable. This technology addresses what Cooper calls "the unfulfilled promise" of cellular, which should be, but still isn't as reliable or affordable as wired telephony.</p><p>ArrayComm has also used its adaptive antenna technology to make the Internet "personal" by creating the i-BURST Personal Broadband System, which delivers high-speed, mobile Internet access that consumers can afford. </p><p>"It's very exciting to be part of a movement toward making broadband available to people with the same freedom to be anywhere that they have for voice communications today," said Martin Cooper. "People rely heavily on the Internet for their work, entertainment and communication, but they need to be unleashed. We will look back at 2003 as the beginning of the era when the Internet became truly untethered." </p>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-28422929689705740282008-04-10T08:38:00.010+02:002008-04-10T08:57:14.785+02:00History of Table Mountain Cable Way<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi3j3TUXdSBfSbFy7b3BPhrsxbiOui5DSoS4pYG5tXGs97MtDpUfraTShyphenhyphenDuRpEN0cn2BjI5WvHb2XFx1QxnXt29y7RLN9rL-UxlDEjxoEQfHXyKNzQcPYurPryGvUxROEvOnro5klFs/s1600-h/872.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187505000140140738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="248" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi3j3TUXdSBfSbFy7b3BPhrsxbiOui5DSoS4pYG5tXGs97MtDpUfraTShyphenhyphenDuRpEN0cn2BjI5WvHb2XFx1QxnXt29y7RLN9rL-UxlDEjxoEQfHXyKNzQcPYurPryGvUxROEvOnro5klFs/s320/872.jpg" width="257" border="0" /></a> Since the first person laid eyes on Table Mountain, it has exerted its powerful and charismatic pull, enchanting and drawing any and all who fall under its spell.</div><div><br />The way to the top has never been easy, and for many centuries only a handful of bold and enterprising people could say that they had climbed it.</div><div><br />By the late 1870's, several of Cape Town's more prominent (and possibly less fit) citizens had suggested the introduction of a railway line to the top.</div><div> </div><div>Plans to implement a proposed rack railway got under way but the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war put a halt to the plans.</div><div><br />By 1912, with a strong desire to gain easy access to the top of Table Mountain, the Cape Town City Council commissioned an engineer to investigate the various options for public transport to the top.</div><div><br />The engineer, a Mr. H.M. Peter, suggested that a funicular railway running up from Oranjezicht through Platteklip gorge would be the most suitable option. A vote was held with the vast majority of Cape Town's residents voting in favour of the funicular. This, in spite of its cost, a staggering (in 1913) £100,000. The project was delayed yet again by war; this time the outbreak of the First World War (1914 - 1918).</div><div><br />The plan was resuscitated in 1926 after a Norwegian engineer, Trygve Stromsoe, presented plans for a cableway. The plan caught the collective eye of a group of eminent local businessmen. The idea that an easy route up would finally become a reality drew them together, forming the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) to finance the construction. Work began soon afterwards and the project was finished relatively quickly.</div><div><br />On the 4th of October 1929, the Mayor of Cape Town, Rev A J S Lewis, headed the official opening ceremony that was attended by over 200 other guests. Since it's opening, 75 years ago,over 15 million people have taken the trip to the top.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhnyIWQHQB4ZKmjxFvcH8iFr2_7Z6XwS1621HXs3C2Y-InEgxHjCWMy69f19BC_lClFG10wh-NPRucYXo_uhajD7fD-TQghfvum4OfGuZcCHTxZkqm_AIP4J21HAFgYaH_rK0O5mjWTI/s1600-h/up%20table.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187506091061833938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhnyIWQHQB4ZKmjxFvcH8iFr2_7Z6XwS1621HXs3C2Y-InEgxHjCWMy69f19BC_lClFG10wh-NPRucYXo_uhajD7fD-TQghfvum4OfGuZcCHTxZkqm_AIP4J21HAFgYaH_rK0O5mjWTI/s320/up%2520table.jpg" border="0" /></a>The cableway has since become something of a landmark in Cape Town, and has carried some of Cape Town's most illustrious visitors, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Stefi Graf, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Magaret Thatcher, Prince Andrew, Micheal Schumacher, Brooke Shields, Micheal Buble, Tina Turner, Jackie Chan, Dolores O'Riordan, Skunk Anansie and Paul Oakenfold.</div><div><br />In 1993, Dennis Hennessy, the son of one of the founders of TMACC, sold the company.</div><div><br />The new directors immediately set about planning an upgrade to the existing infrastructure. Apart from upgrading the restaurants and machinery, new cars were purchased. Unlike their predecessors, the new cars, or Rotairs, have a revolving floor that allows passengers a 360-degree view of the city and mountain as they travel.</div><div><br />Work on the upgrade began in January of 1997 and, for several months cranes and the comings and goings of large helicopters carrying building materials dominated the mountain skyline.</div><div> </div><div>The new cableway was officially opened on the 4th of October 1997, the anniversary of the original launch, almost 70 years previously.The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company celebrated its 75th anniversary in October 2004 and greeted its 16 millionth passenger in December of the same year. It remains the most popular tourist attraction in Cape Town.</div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-15387257358046474852008-03-26T09:15:00.030+02:002008-03-26T10:28:57.115+02:00Cape Town's history . How it all began<div><div><div><strong>First evidence of man</strong><br /></div></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181950282534806946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULyi76hBN6Qw2WAs9u8rTc4K8xWzqncePtkJJvJ6p8DmzCkcsaAJgoLerZbq_YJW7HR1lWfCwVXYGIp851hg5JsZQl82ZzVOHkTnFfStnkvuhNkO2eKzleOHaW_JSsoWjz_M_PKPSxJc/s320/Evolutio.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><br />Cape Town history begins with the oldest evidence of modern man anywhere in the world, which has been discovered in the Cape. In 1994 human bones were found at a cave site on the coastline between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. They were dated back 100,000 years. Similar discoveries have been made on the Cape Peninsula. At Langebaan on the West coast footprints belonging to a human female were dated back 117,000 years. </div><div> </div><div><strong>The Khoisan</strong></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqr6y9xiIyanZYwF756y3XuIT25W0KNpR8cgw7yTkx8V-wy1k0ubd-sWtVOuc-BOiLrwJ007AP-oYZz_IQKd6IlnOVnYFI-mqaXSwtpxmURg4LaA0PYP9dZPi85X5i-OVICi98uMK4fA/s1600-h/sanreconstruction.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181951708463949266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqr6y9xiIyanZYwF756y3XuIT25W0KNpR8cgw7yTkx8V-wy1k0ubd-sWtVOuc-BOiLrwJ007AP-oYZz_IQKd6IlnOVnYFI-mqaXSwtpxmURg4LaA0PYP9dZPi85X5i-OVICi98uMK4fA/s320/sanreconstruction.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><div>The first human communities known to have lived close to Table Mountain were nomadic. They left evidence of their existence in the form of rock art, the oldest of which has been dated back 27,000 years. The Khoisan descended from these communities. This group later became subdivided into the Khoi and the San. The Khoi people were bigger than the San and survived by herding sheep and cattle on the plains. The San Lived by hunting in the drier mountainous areas.</div><br /><div><strong>The First Explorers</strong> </div><div> </div><div>The Portuguese were the first European seafarers to round the Cape in the 15th century. Their trade routes across Asia had become threatened so they sought to open a new sea trade route to the Far East around the tip of Africa. Bartholemew Dias landed in what is now known as False Bay in 1488 after unknowingly sailing past Cape Point in the midst of a storm. He spent some time mapping the area before returning to Portugal. </div><div><br />The 'Cape of Good Hope' was then named because it was seen as an ideal landfall location on the long sea route to Asia. Vasco de Gama was the next explorer to visit the Cape and the southern coast of Africa in 1497. His expedition of four ships opened a sea route to India for the spice trade. He was followed through the next century by more Portuguese and Spanish trading ships. The first Englishman to round the Cape of Good Hope in the late 16th century was Sir Francis Drake while being pursued by the Spanish fleet.</div><div><br />The early explorers mapped the coast of Africa, and opened the way for settlement of the Cape. They helped to influence the course of European and Southern African history. The Cape with its sheltered landfall at Table Bay became an essential landing stage on the trade route to the Far East. The city of Cape Town was established and this in turn opened up the interior of South Africa to European colonisation in later years.</div><div><br /><strong>The Dutch VOC Influence</strong></div><strong></strong><strong><div><br /></strong>English sailors landing at the Cape had reported that the resident Khoi were "ferocious" This was found not to be the case by seamen from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) who first established a supply base at the Cape in 1650. The Dutch had been concerned that the British would annexe the Cape, so despite reports of rough Cape seas, Khoi aggression and various political influences, they eventually went ahead with building a permanent settlement.</div><div><br />A disgraced VOC merchant Jan van Riebeeck volunteered to establish the Cape supply base. He was ordered to build a Fort for defence, and a produce garden in order to supply passing company trade ships with fresh fruit and vegetables. Cape Town history, from these small beginnings, was to change for ever.</div><div><br /><strong>The First Dutch Settlement of the Cape - 1652</strong></div><div><strong></strong><br />Jan van Riebeeck's job had been to set up a vegetable garden in order to supply passing ships with fresh produce. He was also ordered to build a moat encircled fort by his employers the VOC in order to defend against possible invasion by the British.<br /></div><div>The various Khoi clans in the Cape Peninsula area were estimated to consist of around 6000 people at the time. They shared the available land between the clans but constantly moved on in a nomadic fashion. They had initially accepted the encroachment of the Dutch on the lands peacefully. The Khoi farmed cattle and sheep which were seen as an indication of status. These animals were also used for trading between clans.</div><br /><div>When food supplies were found to be insufficient to meet the needs of both passing ships and his men, Van Riebeeck attempted to trade with the Khoi people but this turned out to be largely unsuccessful. The VOC allocated plots of land to a number of van Riebeeck's men in order to build farms and improve the supply of food. The Khoi were slowly cutoff from their traditional land and the settlers took their livestock for food. As a result their relationship with the settlers slowly soured, they became hostile and war resulted.<br /></div><div>Eventually in the 1670s the Khoi clans disintegrated. They could not match the guns of the settlers who were encroaching on their territory, and they could no longer protect their livestock. Many escaped to higher ground to join the San. Some were imprisoned on Robben Island and a few elected to work for the new farmers who became known as 'burghers' or 'boers'.<br /><strong>The First Slaves</strong><strong><br /></div><br /><div></strong>The infrastructure for the VOC base at the Cape was slowly being expanded by the Dutch settlers. It soon became apparent that more manpower would be needed to complete the various projects, which could not be obtained from the Khoi, so van Riebeeck requested the VOC to send slave labour from their bases at Ceylon, India and Indonesia. Others were shipped to the Cape from Madagascar and Mozambique. This decision was to lead to the establishment of the Moslem and Malay community in Cape Town and set the course of Capetown history. A total of 60,000 slaves were brought in between 1658 and 1807.</div><div><br /><strong>The Beginning of Cape Town</strong></div><div><br />The VOC had instructed Jan van Riebeeck that a trading post was all that they required and that a town should not be built at the Cape of Good Hope. His farmers and soldiers had other ideas however and persuaded van Riebeek to allow them to develop trade skills and professions. Eventually when van Riebeeck left in 1662 to take up a VOC post elsewhere, a number of shops, taverns and boarding houses had been built on a grid of streets which became known as 'Cape Town'. A few years later the old fort was demolished and a stone castle built which became the Governor’s residence. Jan van Riebeeck had laid the foundations for the diverse multi-ethnic society which developed in later years and for which he would always be remembered.</div><div><br /><strong>Simon van der Stel</strong><strong></div><div><br /></strong>Here is a name that is well remembered in Cape Town and beyond. By 1679 the VOC had seen the potential of colonising the strategic Cape region. They sent Simon van der Stel to expand the community and develop farms and settlements. Van der Stel established the first wine farm in the Cape Groot Constantia which continues to produce quality wines, and he brought in wine farmers to plant vineyards in the surrounding Cape areas which were named Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek.</div><div><br />The Cape Peninsula and Winelands were widely colonised by 1700. Wide tracts of land and businesses were allocated to immigrants from Holland. Manual work was accomplished by the use of slave labour. The settlement was not yet recognised as an official 'colony' except by the VOC at this stage and although it had a hospital it did not yet provide for formal schools and churches. </div></div></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-54441433574328054092008-03-20T11:39:00.002+02:002008-03-20T11:53:55.611+02:00What is the Easter Bunny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAFCztDSl1l2hfAwEe9sf-cMttEeNL-WiRD9VWZLM-WoAOpo6lXEqHdaqkW37MWcJznH2IIAHGk1N27oimOVhlEza7iC8Au2PgtJ54KjxemY0UoY6hAgA_-TudAuUOFBty0zb9c8BJgA/s1600-h/10355369.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179759784789337474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAFCztDSl1l2hfAwEe9sf-cMttEeNL-WiRD9VWZLM-WoAOpo6lXEqHdaqkW37MWcJznH2IIAHGk1N27oimOVhlEza7iC8Au2PgtJ54KjxemY0UoY6hAgA_-TudAuUOFBty0zb9c8BJgA/s320/10355369.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The Easter Bunny is usually considered to be a benevolent, vaguely supernatural creature that brings gifts to good boys and girls. Today these gifts are usually in the form of chocolate Easter eggs.</div><br /><div>The origin of the Easter Bunny probably goes back to the festival's connection with the pagan goddess Eostre. Eostre (sometimes spelt Oestre) was a fertility goddess from whom we derive the word "oestrogen" and she is closely associated with fertility symbols such as eggs. The rabbit is known as a highly fertile creature and hence an obvious choice for Easter symbolism.</div><br /><div>In fact the use of a rabbit is probably a mistake - the Easter "bunny" is more likely to be a hare, since it is the hare that is usually considered the sacred creature of Eostre. Hares have been considered sacred by many cultures inclusing the ancient Egyptians who believed them to watch the moon during the night. Although hares and rabbits are related they are most definitely different creatures, as a certain Bugs keeps reminding us!</div><br /><div>The earliest known reference to our modern Easter Bunny tradition appears to be from 16th century Germany. In the 18th century, German settlers to America brought the tradition with them. The Bunny was known by them as Oschter Haws (or Osterhase) and brought gifts of chocolate, candy and Easter Eggs to good children. Often children would make up nests for Oschter Haws, sometimes using their Easter bonnets, and the Bunny would leave his treats there.</div><br /><div>Fewer children today have bonnets or build nests, however it is common in some places for the Easter Bunny to scatter and/ or hide its treats for the children to find on an Easter egg hunt. A Bunny costume is a also popular suit for the festivities.</div><br /><div>The idea of a giant supernatural rabbit that lays millions of chocolate eggs in one night is, of course, incongruous and ridiculous. Fortunately that is no problem for the imaginations of young children.</div><br /><div>Lucky them.</div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-40689445131074970172008-03-17T14:14:00.005+02:002008-03-17T14:28:30.014+02:00CurryFrom <a href="http://uncyclopedia.org/">Uncyclopedia</a>, the content-free encyclopedia.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT67OHPa4-hcFoy355SdbMOv1iLZkiI5GMijgboQispVZDM95kX82Ed6HBaQyuV5dbaDM0nh3YL-GZRmGA73vx0DlwauZTTy2f5h4ukzUYRE2QI25SNJR4v9GIv2G56hGMCYoPC97F-9g/s1600-h/Curry_Dishes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178685473839080770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT67OHPa4-hcFoy355SdbMOv1iLZkiI5GMijgboQispVZDM95kX82Ed6HBaQyuV5dbaDM0nh3YL-GZRmGA73vx0DlwauZTTy2f5h4ukzUYRE2QI25SNJR4v9GIv2G56hGMCYoPC97F-9g/s320/Curry_Dishes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of the most widely used of the anti-aphrodisiacs, Curry is made by grinding the African vampire worm Curridus to a pulp, drying the remains and chopping them into a fine red or yellow powder. It is a poison used by Third World shamans in Central Europe to eliminate friends. It is supposed to be good with chips and a beer, though it tastes better on the way up than it did on the way down. Curry gets its pungent flavor from Flavor beans found far, far away in Parapa Palace. Defeat the Horseman who lives there and find a candle.<br /><br /><strong>History</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />While the real origins of curry remain unknown, it has been claimed that it was invented around the birth of Jesus by the three Wise Men, who bought gold, frankincense, and two Vindaloos with all the gubbins and a garlic Naan. This ensured that the baby Jesus's first night was comfy cosy, and redolent with the smell of vindafart, the true sign of maximum divinity. Since then, curry has been mentioned regularly in history for its ability to cure the common cold and tame wild geese, who find curry suppositories quite soothing. It is also the main food for the Khadri residence and can be found in most British homes, where it is the official National Dish. The atrocious smell can kill in extreme conditions. That's the smell of the curry, not the smell of the homes, although with some people it's difficult to tell.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Different Tastes</strong><br /><br />Curry is quite tasty, especially in comparison to the bland American "food". Dishes like chicken tikka masala were made for the white people in Britain.<br /><br />Curry in Britain Traditional rock festivals love to serve lentil curry as it is a stimulant for rocking. Scientists believe that by inserting hosepipes up the rectums of all hippies at Glastonbury, it would be possible to solve Britain's dwindling natural gas reserves.<br /><br />Unfortunately, nobody is willing to get that close to a hippy's arse.Curry, or Indian food in general, has been declared the National Dish of Great Britain, narrowly overtaking Crumpets, Fish and Chips, Class A Drugs and Kangaroo. It became popular due to large numbers of Indian immigrants, and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's attempts to get it on the menu of national school dinners due to its high nutritional value and low calorie content. It is believed that curry has been used to drive away the British and others trying to conquer India.<br /><br />Traditionally young Britons of a certain age go out and order Vindaloo, one of the spiciest known Indian foods, as a rite of passage. This is why Britain is populated by 6" rugby players, who are usually the only survivors. The fatality rate increases drastically if this challenge is attempted sober.<br /><br />An adult British male spotted eating any Korma is considered automatically gay and summarily beaten up and raped by his "not gay" Rugby playing communists.<br /><br /><strong>Curry Sauce</strong><br /><br />Staple food of the poor man, great with Kebabs, Chip-dipping and Prawn Crakers (Shrimp Chip or Shrimp Cracker). Usually sold by Chinese restaurants and German markets where a dipping-chilli is supplied.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Chilli</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjYtwX4ZBpbMZ5IInAEuxLn_PNLEVXAmPdqvD_-gLgaUu0kxxaXV5HaLhJXg4U1DtWB3AyIIGxmwpzBDBrOzLueGwRBXvBTxPAYLmsay8zN_fnyhDShssfYN6KcOZULwv2Cc2XfEtF2M/s1600-h/Grannylucifer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178683489564190002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjYtwX4ZBpbMZ5IInAEuxLn_PNLEVXAmPdqvD_-gLgaUu0kxxaXV5HaLhJXg4U1DtWB3AyIIGxmwpzBDBrOzLueGwRBXvBTxPAYLmsay8zN_fnyhDShssfYN6KcOZULwv2Cc2XfEtF2M/s320/Grannylucifer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Granny Lucifer's chilli sauce is popular amongst masochists in all countries that haven't yet banned it.Poop is to curry what heroin is to marijuana, although somewhat more expensive. Chilli addicts start off taking curry just for kicks, but soon find it can no longer deliver the high they needed, so they take chilli instead. The strongest type - Malaysian Death Chilli - is so hot that if someone not used to it were to even look at a bowl of noodles containing just one single drop their head would immediately turn into a supernova. And that really, really hurts. It is said that, in Peruvia (or Argiebargietina or somewhere else in the country of Southamerica) there is a chilli so hot that locals mix it with water and use it to strip the paint off cars. But this is not true because, as everyone knows, Southamerica is a mythical country that does not really exist.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-80624420095098709762008-03-11T07:25:00.004+02:002008-03-11T07:45:13.704+02:00Cape Town the Mother CityThis is taken from <a href="http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town">Uncyclopedia</a> which is a content-free encyclopedia and is very obviously sheer genius.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5_SF2E_RLXdaR2pF6e9b-JY51M0AMqnCHJWt3Hw2gFrN-roIUPH20x8jj2PPIhyphenhyphenfb1d9vSs4WKoxYIoHB-8BVcIFoNHNkV0FVZSm-Hh4LjytkS65JNwz7u3vGrCCaBYp4YBCOcwfKFA/s1600-h/42818897_34c7784d59.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176354521555909090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" height="242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5_SF2E_RLXdaR2pF6e9b-JY51M0AMqnCHJWt3Hw2gFrN-roIUPH20x8jj2PPIhyphenhyphenfb1d9vSs4WKoxYIoHB-8BVcIFoNHNkV0FVZSm-Hh4LjytkS65JNwz7u3vGrCCaBYp4YBCOcwfKFA/s320/42818897_34c7784d59.jpg" width="341" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"The only thing that the Cape should be hosting is an invasion”<br />~ <em><strong>Gautengers on 2010</strong></em><br />“Nothing would solve the problem of Cape Town as well as Global Warming.”<br />~ </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong>Al Gore on Cape Town</strong><br /></em>“There is no other place that I would rather be imprisoned for 20-odd years than on some island nearby.”<br />~ </span><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Nelson Mandela on Cape Town</em><br /></span></strong><a class="image" title="A cable car from the Overground Railway, carrying escaping Capetonian slaves" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Image:CableCar.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cape Town is a city on the coast of South Africa, so called because the wearing of capes or cloaks is compulsory within the city limits. Founded by Batman on his way to Melbourne in 1556, Cape Town is also called "The mother city", believed to be due to the highly expressive vocabulary of the local dialect (See: "<a title="Your mother" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Your_mother">your mother</a>") and the cheap and nasty (but potent) local wine. A different school of thought believes the origin of the name lies in the fact that it takes 9 months for the local government to do anything about everything.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Geography</strong><br /><br /><br />Cape Town is situated on a sandbar under Table Mountain (so called because unlike most mountains, it is flat and made entirely of wood) at the bottom end of Africa, on a peninsula that is often unfavourably compared to Florida, which is longer and thicker. As most Capetonians will tell you, it is where God (Jesus's Dad) was born.<br /><br /><br /><strong>History</strong><br /><br />Historically the region was of major significance to European sailors travelling the treacherous route to the Far East on foot. This gave rise to the naming of its southern most tip, The Cape of Good Hope. In the light of experience it was renamed "The Cape of Storms", and is now known as the "Cape of Good Dope". For many now and in the past The Cape of Good Hope was also believed to be the southern most tip of Africa, but it is, in fact, Cape Agulhas (named for the use of injectable drugs) that holds that title. Despite this known fact, the region still relies on this misconception to promote tourism in the area. The evolution of the name to The Cape of Good Dope would indicate the reasons behind this confusion. The terms "Kap a reef" form part of everyday speak in The Cape of Good Dope and many other parts of Cape Town.<br /><br /><br />The European settlement was founded in 1652 by the Dutch under Jan Van Reebock. However his successor, Simon ven der Merwe founded the Van Der Merwe dynasty that ruled until 1994.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Medical Science </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Cape Town became famous for the first successful heart transplant operation at its "Big Shed" (Ghrütte Skhûr) Hospital by the Christian Barnyard Team. And so the medical professionals decided to branch out into other trail-blazing forms of transplant. Despite many, many attempts at brain transplants these have been unsuccessful in managing to transfer an entire human brain, instead giving rise to many prominent local politicians.<br /><br /><br />Another revolutionary medical discovery is the cure for HIV, as promoted by ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma. After much in-depth research a cure to HIV was discovered which is both simple to administer and freely available - it is called "Showering" and involves standing under a flow of H2O and allowing these super nano-particles to magically remove the virus from inside the HIV sufferer. The highest success rate of this treatment is found in the HIV negative portion of the population.<br /><br /><br />HIV is not however to be confused with a completely different disease called AIDS, which is also simple to cure. This is another discovery by the South African Medical Council, an organisation made up of highly qualified and much respected "Traditional Healers". They found, through in-depth studies of their own, that in order to cure AIDS one should consume vast quantities of garlic, onion and beetroot, although the rubbing of lemon juice on infected parts is also believed to 'delay death'. Through the magic contained in these fruits and vegetables, they will cure the disease and prevent AIDS sufferers from coming anywhere near a person. The major exponent of these cures is Dr Man-to-Shabalala who received much acclaim in Canada recently when announcing these 'cures'.<br /><br /><br />It is also important to congratulate Dr Shabby La La further as she has recently also been taking seriously the problems of the skills shortage in the medical profession in SA by trying to get through as many livers as possible thus giving the new doctors as much practise as possible in transplant surgery. Unfortunately no transplant procedure exists for her other condition cirrhosis of the brain.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Culture</strong><br /><br />Cape Town is neither as wealthy nor as large as Johannesburg, so the inhabitants compensate with a superior attitude based on the claim that they were there first. Cape Town, however, has a great wealth of homosexual males. Some of the gay hotspots of the city include Sea Point, Green Point, and Camps Bay where many can be seen flaunting themselves in skimpy thongs while roller blading along the sea front road.<br /><br /><br />It is socially unacceptable for a Capetonian to talk to people that they have not previously talked to, which severely limits social interactions. If the opportunity should somehow present itself, a traditional Cape Town greeting is "Jou ma se poes", often abbreviated to "Jou ma", which means, roughly "Good day and good health to you and your good mother, sir!"<br /><br /><br />"Robin Island", in the bay, was named after Batman's faithful sidekick. Later it was renamed "Robbin' Island" and used as a jail, like Alcatraz but with colder water around it and more sharks in it. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned here for over 50 years, after being convicted of charges of failing to respect Prime Minister Koos van der Merwe's authority, and being black in a public place.<br /><br /><br />In 1994, after the revolution, it became legal to be black in a public place in Cape Town, but severe inequality still persists due to the fact that the white people still have most of the money, the best land, and big shiny German cars. Efforts to redress this historical imbalance are progressing well, particularly the "muggem" initiative.<br /><br />Urban hazards include roaming lions, hyenas, crocodiles, the occasional hippopotamus in the rivers, great white sharks, agressive street vendors, tigers, three-headed giant mutant African wombats and the local "bergies". Watch out for endemic HIV, tuberculosis and leprosy.<br />It is compulsory for all tourists to leave Cape Town with at least one wooden curio in the shape of a giraffe.<br /><br />An insult often heard between brawling "Bergies" is: "Jou ma is a boesman" which literally translated means "Your mother is a bushman!" This is regarded as the most derogatory thing you can say to another Capetonian though ironically, the statement carries a high probability of being factually correct.<br /><br /><strong>Economy </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Major industries include growing the cash crops of wine and marijuana, making mousetraps, drug abuse, homosexuality, watching paint dry, petty crime and mugging tourists. Cape Town holds the record as the site of the largest car park in Cape Town.<br /><br /><br />Since 2006, the town council of Cape Town has embraced an "Amishisation" policy, and has turned its back on the use of electricity, declaring it a decadent bourgeois luxury. Electricity is slowly being phased out in a series of "power cuts", and it is to be replaced by the use of candles, paraffin lamps and fires for illumination and sing-alongs for entertainment.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Local dialect</strong><br /><br />gam dala - language spoken by kaapse flets mense<br />dala jou numba - pick up line<br />handgaffel - masturbate<br />broo - a brother or other friend<br />blom - walk around in malls & other places of blom<br />lum - lay around on the beach & other lum places<br />skut - drive around in cars that are very low to the ground<br />entjie - cigarette or other smokeable rollup<br />bergie - A rugged urban outdoorsman. They drink a fine local beverage called "meths"<br />robot - traffic light<br />ses - someone who steals<br />yali - smoker's favourite statement<br />boeka - eat at night<br />Ayz - spoken by some<br />horrok - roll, vienna and chips<br />gatsby - bigger roll than horrok<br />farmstall - bigger than gatsby<br />zol - a potent green tobacco substitute<br />dagga - a smokeable grassy weed<br />kinnes - girls<br />pote - police persons<br />grot - ugly female (also sometimes: gruk, greveldonkie, grafsteen)<br />rakam spuiker - uglier than a grot<br />koebus doring - uglier than above mentioned two. just shoot the bitch!<br />slums - muslims. Sometimes called "mozzies" by rich middle-aged white women<br />hosh - a salutation of sorts<br />Gam - Half-white , Half-black knife bearing thug. Often lacking in front teeth (which has resulted in a dialect comparable to "Leet Speak")<br />aweh - hello good sir<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Famous Capetonians</strong><br /><a class="image" title="Miss South Africa takes on the Public Transport System as her charity during her rein" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Image:Helenzille.jpg"></a><br /><a class="new" title="Thabo Mbeki" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Thabo_Mbeki&action=edit">Thabo Mbeki</a> - Mr Prez<br /><a title="Nelson Mandela" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela">Nelson Mandela</a> - Reported to be THE batman<br /><a class="new" title="Najwa "Who's jou Tatie Nou?!" Petersen" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Najwa_%22Who%27s_jou_Tatie_Nou%3F%21%22_Petersen&action=edit">Najwa "Who's jou Tatie Nou?!" Petersen</a> - Peace Embassador of Cape Town<br /><a class="new" title="Helen Zille" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Helen_Zille&action=edit">Helen Zille</a> - Miss South Africa 2006<br /><a class="new" title="'Donna" href="http://uncyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Donna_%22Darkpussy%22_Vos&action=edit">Donna "Darkpussy" Vos</a> - Queen of All Witches and True Ruler of South Africa (she "throws the bones" for Mr Prez)Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-75747979036440897322008-02-25T23:40:00.004+02:002008-02-25T23:53:04.418+02:00Star Signs<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18)</span><br /></span></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 99px; height: 96px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/aquarius.jpg" height="150" width="128" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> You have an inventive mind and are inclined to be progressive. You lie a great deal. On the other hand, you are inclined to be careless to be careless and impractical, causing you to make the same mistakes repeatedly. Everyone thinks you can be very annoying.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 105px; height: 103px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/pisces.jpg" height="164" width="118" /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You have a vivid imagination and often think you are being followed by the FBI or CIA. You have minor influence over your friends and people resent you for flaunting your power. You lack confidence and are kind of a wimp.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 19)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 98px; height: 99px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/aries.jpg" height="226" width="196" /></span></h2> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are the pioneer type and hold most people in contempt. You are quick tempered, impatient, and scornful of advice. You can be a real meany.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 95px; height: 97px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/taurus.jpg" height="149" width="149" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are practical and persistent. You have dogged determination and work like crazy. Most people think you are stubborn and bullheaded. You are secretly a Communist.<br /><br />GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 89px; height: 86px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/gemini.jpg" height="104" width="96" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are quick and intelligent and a thinker. People like you because you like to test the waters before you dive in. However, you are inclined to expect too much for too little. You tend to withhold your emotions and your money.<br /><br />CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 93px; height: 89px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/cancer.jpg" height="98" width="93" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are sympathetic and understanding to other people's problems. They think you are spineless. You are an excellent procrastinator. That is why you will always need a better job and still won't have money in the bank.<br /><br />LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 96px; height: 93px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/leo.jpg" height="109" width="113" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You consider yourself a born leader. Others think you are pushy. Most Leo people tend to steal from others and kiss mirrors a lot.<br /><br />VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 101px; height: 99px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/virgo.jpg" height="118" width="110" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are the logical type and hate disorder. This is sickening to your friends. You are cold and unemotional and often fall asleep while being romanced. Virgos make good professional closet organisers.<br /><br />LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 97px; height: 99px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/libra.jpg" height="99" width="108" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are the artistic type and have a difficult time with reality. Chances for employment and monetary gain are excellent. Both Libra men and women make good interior designers and marry often.<br /><br />SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 93px; height: 92px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/scorpio.jpg" height="104" width="107" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted. You shall achieve the pinnacle of success because of your total lack of ethics. Most Scorpio people are plagued by lawsuits or jail sentences when the people they took advantage of vow revenge.<br /><br />SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 99px; height: 93px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/sagittarius.jpg" height="92" width="90" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are optimistic and enthusiastic. You have a reckless tendency to rely on luck since you have little talent. The majority of Sagittarians enjoy escapism. People laugh at you a lot because you're always getting burned.<br /><br />CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19)<br /></span><h2 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span><span style="font-size:180%;"><img style="width: 97px; height: 97px;" src="http://vaansh.com/myPictures/capricorn.jpg" height="97" width="91" /><br /></span></span></h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You are conservative and afraid of taking risks. You are basically chicken. There has never been a Capricorn of any importance. You may as well bury your head in the sand.</span> </span>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-68970562380456334202008-02-18T13:29:00.006+02:002008-02-19T06:46:28.664+02:00Zimbabwe Inflation<div><strong>Zimbabwe bank issues $10million bill - but it won't even buy you a hamburger in Harare.<br /><br /></strong><div>Forget the glitzy restaurants of New York and London: only in Zimbabwe would a hamburger actually cost millions of dollars.<br /><br />The central bank of the southern African country has a issued a 10million Zimbabwe dollar note. The move increases the denomination of the nation's highest bank note more than tenfold.<br />Even so, a hamburger in an ordinary cafe in Zimbabwe costs 15 million Zimbabwe dollars. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwrgjffxES7yNvhbm7GWNM3V038MQYOQU5h7BcI5Df3fKnvdWbrdU6mBgR0A41LNMRtZiHDgKTOxoEVFNFILwyxYrUowjTlDpSZ3MOqg7yEg3dqLtXRhm9pS24ZIshSlQDx-YUXcg0i0/s1600-h/Chigaramum190108AP_468x325.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168281370883691682" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwrgjffxES7yNvhbm7GWNM3V038MQYOQU5h7BcI5Df3fKnvdWbrdU6mBgR0A41LNMRtZiHDgKTOxoEVFNFILwyxYrUowjTlDpSZ3MOqg7yEg3dqLtXRhm9pS24ZIshSlQDx-YUXcg0i0/s320/Chigaramum190108AP_468x325.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>The hope is that such a move will help end chronic cash shortages and disperse long, chaotic lines at banks and automated teller machines.<br /><br /><div>Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono said in a statement the 10 million Zimbabwe dollars notes will be issued along with 1 million and 5 million Zimbabwe dollars bills.<br /><br />Previously, the highest existing note, introduced last month, was for 750,000 Zimbabwe dollars.<br />The new 10 million note is the equivalent of about £2 at the dominant black market exchange rate. A hamburger at an ordinary cafe costs about 15 million Zimbabwe dollars (£3). That hamburger has trebled in price this month amid shortages of bread, meat and most basic goods.<br /><br /></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRcsKovF3Hvw8JQ1NRNRbBjMLUFnEXSXjf2_ZAWavH1SeA3bGOTYdPM6ra9YtYtroi5UAzv9PJ1On4WtXmuxQnUtJT1-Zz4F4fg3KNVMXBjMyXnxIEp4f-4LdVghSJU_3I63-3wz6vQs/s1600-h/zimbabweEPA_228x305.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168281662941467826" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 195px; height: 261px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRcsKovF3Hvw8JQ1NRNRbBjMLUFnEXSXjf2_ZAWavH1SeA3bGOTYdPM6ra9YtYtroi5UAzv9PJ1On4WtXmuxQnUtJT1-Zz4F4fg3KNVMXBjMyXnxIEp4f-4LdVghSJU_3I63-3wz6vQs/s320/zimbabweEPA_228x305.jpg" border="0" /></a><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Zimbabwe faces the world's highest official inflation of an estimated 25,000 per cent. Independent financial institutions say real inflation is closer to 150,000 per cent.<br /><br /><div>Acknowledging the inflation crisis, Gono said individuals would be allowed to withdraw an increased limit of 500 million Zimbabwe dollars (£100) in a single daily withdrawal, up from 50 million (£10). </div><br /><div>He said special arrangements were being made to pay soldiers, police and other uniformed services "because it is not desirable to see them queuing for cash".<br />Gono said with higher denomination bills businesses might be tempted to again raise prices of scarce goods. </div><br /><div>"If this happens the whole objective of solving the cash shortages and to bring convenience to the people will be defeated," he said. </div><br /><div>In August 2006, the central bank slashed three zeros from the nation's old currency</div></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-89757454141300806982008-02-13T19:26:00.002+02:002008-02-13T19:42:38.740+02:00Sleep DisordersIn spite of the fact that we spend around 1/3 of our life asleep, until recently there has been relatively little attention paid to disorders of sleep. Some 40 million Americans suffer from chronic disorders of sleep and wakefulness. Unfortunately, these often remain unidentified and undiagnosed by patients and physicians alike. <p><b>Consider:</b><img style="width: 178px; height: 186px;" src="http://www.umm.edu/sleep/images/miserable_nights.jpg" alt="miserable nights" class="floatnoborder" align="right" /></p> <ul><li>Six out of every 10 adults say they have sleep problems a few nights a week or more.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Daytime sleepiness is severe enough in four out of 10 adults to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month.<br /> <br /> </li><li>For 20 percent of adults, that interference occurs a few days a week or more.<br /> <br /> </li><li>The annual direct cost of sleep-related problems in this country is R16 billion, with an additional R50-R100 billion in indirect costs (accidents, litigation, property destruction, hospitalization, and death).<br /> <br /> </li><li>In this country, over 100,000 motor vehicle accidents annually are sleep-related.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Disasters such as Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Challenger, Bhopal, and Exxon Valdez were officially attributed to errors in judgement induced by sleepiness or fatigue.</li></ul><br /><img src="http://www.umm.edu/sleep/images/sleep_disorders.jpg" alt="Sleep Disorders" class="leftfloatnoborder" align="left" height="176" width="220" />Disordered or abnormal sleep is often the cause of major medical problems such as heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Failure to achieve a normal restful night of sleep is often the cause of a great deal of misery for patients and their loved ones. <p>In addition to direct health risks, disordered or abnormal sleep may rob people of the joy of life, making each waking day a chore and a task. Sufferers may feel old before their time, and have a great deal of difficulty in just performing the usual tasks of daily living. </p> <p>There are, in fact, more than 80 different sleep-related disorders recognized by the medical profession. These can cause symptoms ranging from excessive sleepiness during the day, to abnormal or even violent behaviours at night.</p> <p><img style="width: 165px; height: 112px;" src="http://www.umm.edu/sleep/images/relaxation_techniques.jpg" alt="Relaxation Techniques" class="floatnoborder" align="right" />It is with this in mind that the University of Maryland has created a multidisciplinary, comprehensive sleep disorders centre for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.</p><h2>Relaxation Techniques</h2>Relaxation techniques often can help people with sleep problems<br />get a good night's sleep. Several relaxation techniques are listed below.<br /><h3> Progressive Relaxation</h3><img style="width: 140px; height: 183px;" alt="http://www.safealternativemedicine.co.uk/images/295.jpg" src="http://www.safealternativemedicine.co.uk/images/295.jpg" /><br /><br /><p>This technique is often most useful when you tape the instructions beforehand. You can tape these instructions, reading them slowly and leaving a short pause after each one.</p> <ul><li>Lie on your back, close your eyes.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your feet. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and sink into the bed. Start with your toes and progress to your ankles.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your knees. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel you upper legs and thighs. Feel their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your abdomen and chest. Sense your breathing. Consciously will them to relax. Deepen your breathing slightly and feel your abdomen and chest sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your buttocks. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your hands. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your upper arms. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your shoulders. Sense their weight. Consciously relax them and feel them sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your neck. Sense its weight. Consciously relax it and feel it sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your head and skull. Sense its weight. Consciously relax it and feel it sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your mouth and jaw. Consciously relax them. Pay particular attention to your jaw muscles and unclench them if you need to. Feel your mouth and jaw relax and sink into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your eyes. Sense if there is tension in your eyes. Sense if you are forcibly closing your eyelids. Consciously relax your eyelids and feel the tension slide off the eyes.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Feel your face and cheeks. Consciously relax them and feel the tension slide off into the bed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Mentally scan your body. If you find any place that is still tense, then consciously relax that place and let it sink into the bed. </li></ul> <p align="right"><a href="http://www.umm.edu/sleep/relax_tech.htm#Top"><br /></a></p> <h3><a name="b" id="b"></a>Toe Tensing</h3><img style="width: 153px; height: 77px;" alt="http://www.see-seattle.com/happyfeet-10toes.jpg" src="http://www.see-seattle.com/happyfeet-10toes.jpg" /><br /><br /><p>This one may seem like a bit of a contradiction to the previous one, but by alternately tensing and relaxing your toes, you actually draw tension from the rest of the body. Try it!</p> <ol><li>Lie on your back, close your eyes.</li><li>Sense your toes.</li><li>Now pull all 10 toes back toward your face. Count to 10 slowly.</li><li>Now relax your toes.</li><li>Count to 10 slowly.</li><li>Now repeat the above cycle 10 times.</li></ol> <h3><a name="c" id="c"></a> Deep Breathing</h3><img style="width: 168px; height: 251px;" alt="http://www.bikramyogacovina.com/img/deep-breathart.jpg" src="http://www.bikramyogacovina.com/img/deep-breathart.jpg" /><br /><br /><p>By concentrating on our breathing, deep breathing allows the rest of our body to relax itself. Deep breathing is a great way to relax the body and get everything into synchrony. Relaxation breathing is an important part of yoga and martial arts for this reason.</p> <ol><li>Lie on your back.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Slowly relax your body. You can use the progressive relaxation technique we described above.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Begin to inhale slowly through your nose if possible. Fill the lower part of your chest first, then the middle and top part of your chest and lungs. Be sure to do this slowly, over 810 seconds.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Hold your breath for a second or two.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Then quietly and easily relax and let the air out.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Wait a few seconds and repeat this cycle.<br /> <br /> </li><li>If you find yourself getting dizzy, then you are overdoing it. Slow down.<br /> <br /> </li><li>You can also imagine yourself in a peaceful situation such as on a warm, gentle ocean. Imagine that you rise on the gentle swells of the water as you inhale and sink down into the waves as you exhale.<br /> <br /> </li><li>You can continue this breathing technique for as long as you like until you fall asleep. </li></ol> <h3><a name="d" id="d"></a> Guided Imagery</h3><img style="width: 150px; height: 219px;" alt="http://www.transformationalnetwork.com/images/star-hand-fade.jpg" src="http://www.transformationalnetwork.com/images/star-hand-fade.jpg" /><br /><br /><p>In this technique, the goal is to visualize yourself in a peaceful setting.</p> <ol><li>Lie on your back with your eyes closed.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Imagine yourself in a favorite, peaceful place. The place may be on a sunny beach with the ocean breezes caressing you, swinging in a hammock in the mountains or in your own backyard. Any place that you find peaceful and relaxing is OK.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Imagine you are there. See and feel your surroundings, hear the peaceful sounds, smell the flowers or the barbecue, fell the warmth of the sun and any other sensations that you find. Relax and enjoy it.<br /> <br /> </li><li>You can return to this place any night you need to. As you use this place more and more you will find it easier to fall asleep as this imagery becomes a sleep conditioner.<br /> <br /> </li><li>Some patients find it useful to visualize something boring. This may be a particularly boring teacher or lecturer, co-worker or friend. </li></ol> <h3><a name="e" id="e"></a>Quiet Ears</h3><img style="width: 244px; height: 162px;" alt="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1191/1410589020_90242fedcd.jpg" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1191/1410589020_90242fedcd.jpg" /><br /><br /><ol><li>Lie on your back with your eyes closed.</li><li>Place your hands behind your head. Make sure they are relaxed.</li><li>Place your thumbs in your ears so that you close the ear canal.</li><li>You will hear a high-pitched rushing sound. This is normal.</li><li>Listen to this sound for 10-15 minutes. </li><li>Then put your arms at your sides, actively relax them and go to sleep.</li></ol>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-4815167755897648622008-02-12T13:34:00.000+02:002008-02-12T13:37:36.379+02:00Time ManagementTime Management: Remembering …<br />Three keys to time management are: remembering, setting priorities, and motivation. <br />It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking "I won't forget that." But the important thing is not just to remember it, but to remember it at the right time -- a time when you can take the first step in doing it. <br />Your thoughts are valuable. Write them down, whether they're ideas on how to save the world or reminders to wash the frying pan. Then figure out some way for the messages to get to you at a time when you can do the things. <br />Use calendars and lists. I have lists of things that can be done at home, lists of things that can be done when the stores are open, lists of things to do before going to work in the morning, etc. By looking at the appropriate list, I can forget about everything else and concentrate on the work appropriate for that moment. <br />Time Management: Setting Priorities ...<br />If you write a list of things to do this evening, it probably contains way more things than you can actually accomplish. That's fine. The list is valuable. By looking over it, you can choose the most important things and do them first. The rest can be transferred to other lists. <br />Some people say they don't need to spend time planning. That may be true. If you have a list of things to do that are all about equally important, and if you're sure that the most important things are on the list, then you don't need to spend any time comparing them. Just start doing one of them, it doesn't matter which one. <br />But for most people most of the time, some of the things are more important than others, so it's worthwhile taking a few minutes to read over the list and choose the most important to do first. <br />It's good to have a pen handy all the time to write down ideas. That way you can catch thoughts about important things that you might have forgotten to add to your lists. <br />Time Management: Motivation ...<br />You've set goals, written lists, chosen priorities, and identified what's important to do right now, but you don't feel like doing it. <br />Here are some ideas to help with motivation. <br />In the book "Feeling Good," David Burns points out that it's not necessary to "feel like" doing something in order to do it. You can just start. Usually, once you've started, you begin feeling more motivated to continue doing it. <br />I started feeling more in control when I started giving myself permission to cross things off lists. Deciding not to do something and putting an "X" next to it gives a feeling of relief, almost as satisfying as checking it off as done. <br />Sometimes I graph the total number of check marks per day. This feels good and gives me motivation to finish lots of things on my to-do lists. <br />Plan rewards and celebrations for yourself, such as special snacks after getting certain things done. Just taking a few seconds to admire the finished work, such as a tidy table or pile of clean laundry, is an excellent reward. Smile and tell yourself what a good job you did. <br />Even if you're in a hurry, you can plan rewards that take a few seconds, like standing up and stretching, looking out the window for 10 seconds, or tossing a pen in the air and catching it. If you plan them as rewards, they feel like rewards, and give you time to congratulate yourself on getting something done. <br />Time Management: Chronos and Kairos ...<br />In Greek there are two words for time. Chronos means amounts of time, like "20 minutes" or "two days". Kairos means the time when something occurs, like "at two o'clock" or "next Sunday". <br />We can think of time like money and budget it. We can decide to "spend" an hour on one thing or another. This is valid, but there's a big difference between time and money. <br />With money, you don't usually ask "should I spend this dollar, or that dollar?" All the dollars are the same. But two different hours are never the same. Different stuff is happening. You're at a different level of tiredness and hunger, and the level of daylight is different. Certain people or businesses are available by phone during one hour but not during another. <br />So if you're going to do something, it does matter which bit of time you select to do it in. <br />It can be confusing to try to figure out what's the most important thing to do at a given time. It works out better if you think more in terms of kairos time. Rather than "which of these things will I do now?", look at one of them and ask "What's a good time to do that?" and then schedule it. <br />Examples: A good time to phone someone is on their birthday. A good time to play with the children is when it's daylight outside. The best time to pay the phone bill is the first time you see it. <br />The idea of thinking in terms of kairos time is from "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. <br />Myths of Time Management ...<br />Myth #1: There's too much to do; I can't handle it all. <br />This can't be the real reason why I have a messy house. After all, other people manage. It's encouraging to hear that there are others who also have trouble with the "little" things in life. That means that it isn't just that there are too many things for one person to handle: rather, it's possible, theoretically at least, for me to organize my time in a way that gets it all done. <br />Myth #2: There's plenty of time; I can do that later. <br />Funny. This is the exact opposite of myth #1. Yet both myths contribute to procrastinating. Rather than switch from one myth to the other, I need a consistent, realistic view of how much my time is worth and how much of it there is. <br />Myth #3: I'm busier than usual right now, so it makes sense to shift some tasks off to another time. <br />A tricky one. Occasionally it's really true, of course. But usually, I'm about equally busy all the time, really. My time is worth the same all the time, with a few exceptions like if I'm trying to be on time for a job interview or something. <br />It SEEMS that I'm unusually busy at any given moment, because at that moment, I'm AWARE of the things impinging one my time right then. A person can only be aware of so many things at once. The detail of the moment seems complex; the future seems simple, free and clear. But really life is always that complex. <br />I may think, "This is an unusually busy day because I have library books due." It seems reasonable; I know I only have books due on a small percentage of all days. But really, there are so many other aspects to life: dentist appointments, parties, holiday celebrations, bike repairs, etc etc etc that taking all into consideration, the other days are really just as busy. <br />I also tend to think I'll "have plenty of time" later the same day, too. And of course I don't. <br />Myth #4: Re-scheduling something to a later time is procrastinating. <br />No, re-scheduling is taking control and responding to new information about priorities and time available. <br />It's only procrastinating if you don't schedule it at all, or if you re-schedule for the wrong reasons -- which will become apparent when you find yourself re-scheduling the same thing more than about 3 times. In that case, stop and think about whether you really want to do the thing. If it's important, go ahead and start. <br />Myth #5: This little task is not important. <br />Example: I cut open a package of food and leave the little bit of plastic I cut off on the kitchen counter. Question: Shall I put the bit of plastic in the garbage right now? It seems that doing so is not important. The plastic isn't doing any harm where it is. It won't hurt me if I leave it there. I can always put it in the garbage later. <br />But actually it is important to put it in the garbage. I ask myself, "Is it important not to have it sitting there on the counter all year?" Yes. I don't want it there that long. OK, then I have to put it in the garbage -- now or some time in the next few days. Next question: Is my time more valuable now than it will be, say, tomorrow? I seem in a hurry now, but I will tomorrow, too. (See myth #3.) Really it's best to put it in the garbage right now. It's important enough to be worth the few seconds of my time. <br />The myth really means, "It's not important to do it RIGHT NOW." However, it is important. Either it's important or it isn't. When it's done doesn't affect that. It's important to wash the dishes before eating on them again; therefore it's important to wash the dishes. If it's important, it's probably worth doing now.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-41152735757221090752008-02-01T01:47:00.000+02:002008-02-01T02:22:02.371+02:0010 Steps to Build Trust in a Relationship<div id="body"><p><img style="width: 343px; height: 328px;" alt="http://www.kloudiia.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/trust.JPG" src="http://www.kloudiia.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/trust.JPG" /></p><p>1. Be predictable. When do seeds of suspicion emerge? When one begins to think, What's up? Why is he doing that? He's never done that before. That is so unlike him. He loses 30 pounds, buys a new wardrobe and comes home late from work. He changes his patterns. His behaviour becomes unpredictable. You get the picture? Any movement away from predictable behaviour can become suspect and trust can deteriorate. Focus on acting predictably if you need to build trust. Be consistent in what you do. This doesn't mean you must be boring. If there is a twinkle in your eye and a dose of spontaneity every so often, for goodness sakes be spontaneous and fun loving. But, be spontaneous consistently! Be true to who you have always been and be that consistently, whoever you tend to be!</p><p><img style="width: 307px; height: 460px;" alt="http://www.teapartyportraits.com.au/photos/full-unpredictable_boy.jpg" src="http://www.teapartyportraits.com.au/photos/full-unpredictable_boy.jpg" /></p><p>2. Inform your significant other when you become "unpredictable." No one goes through life the same person. We all make shifts and changes. Frankly sometimes we may be fairly clueless about what is happening and where we are going. Those times may be very intense and we do some silly things or make some downright dumb decisions. Life can get very squirrelly and unpredictable. (I have a favourite phrase: Gold is refined through intense heat.) Growth in an individual, marriage or family often is accompanied by a little chaos. Welcome these shifts, for there is a part of you searching for something better/different/richer/deeper, but for heaven's sake, inform your partner of what you are experiencing. Say, "I really don't know what is going on in me right now, but I'm moving in a different direction. Be a little patient with me while I figure this out. I might do some silly things, but my intent is not to harm you or scare you. Accept some of my wondering and wandering and please be there for me? I may need to run some of this by you every so often!"</p><img style="width: 264px; height: 198px;" alt="The image “http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/02/03/20060626105109990003” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/02/03/20060626105109990003" /><p>3. Make sure your words match the message. Mean what you say and say what you mean. When your partner hears one thing in your words but your tone of voice, body language and facial expressions are really saying something else, you open the relationship to some crazy making days. Which message is she to believe? This can waste a tremendous amount of energy and she learns not to trust part of what you are saying. Here's a very simple but common example. You are getting ready to go to a formal dinner. Your wife comes to you and says, "How do I look?" (And she's wearing a dress you don't particularly like and her hair is pulled back in a way that turns you off.) Not to spoil the evening you enthusiastically say, "You look great." You don't really mean it and a part of her knows you really don't mean it. But, you leave it at that. This might not seem like a big deal - we all have done something similar - but if trust is shaky to begin with, it is even shakier now. Here's how to match the words with the non-verbal: "I think you are a beautiful person. I want you to know that. I love you dearly and it will be wonderful to have you by my side tonight. Others will see your beauty. (As you say this, you look into her eyes as you put your hands around her waist.) She's not concerned so much with how she looks but is expressing a need for affirmation. She's not talking about her dress or hair, but about wanting to know the evening is going to go just fine. You respond to the real message. You can take this one step further, if you like. At some point you might bring up her need for affirmation and talk about that. Ask her is there is anything you can say or do so that need is met. Trust is awareness of the intent beneath the obvious message and responding to that!</p><p><img style="width: 332px; height: 272px;" alt="https://shop.dancing-times.co.uk/catalog/images/Basic%20tap%20dancing.jpg" src="https://shop.dancing-times.co.uk/catalog/images/Basic%20tap%20dancing.jpg" /></p><p>4. Believe the other person is competent. I hear this phrase very often: "But, I don't want to hurt him." A couple things are at play here. First, she may not have the skill of confronting the other with the truth in a way that brings reconciliation and understanding. She believes truth telling is destructive or entails some sort of drama. Neither is true. The truth is never destructive and can be conveyed in loving ways. (With that said, what we believe to be the truth may indeed be a distorted perception that fits our personal needs.) Or, she may see the other person as a wimp; someone she believes cannot handle rigorous personal confrontation. She doesn't trust that the other person has the internal strength or stamina or skills to be in a relationship of mutual respect and equality. The other person picks up on this mistrust and does what he does (feigns inadequacy and incompetence) to avoid the personal confrontation as well. A dance is acted out. Believe and know in your heart that the other person, somewhere and somehow, beneath the games, has the internal strength and capacity to handle anything. Such trust builds trust in the other person and begins to pervade the relationship. "Hey, she thinks I can handle this! Hmmmm, this is mighty good! I CAN engage her and be truly intimate!"</p><p><img alt="http://www.healthleader.uthouston.edu/gfx/2006art/secrets.jpg" src="http://www.healthleader.uthouston.edu/gfx/2006art/secrets.jpg" /></p><p>5. Be very very careful of keeping secrets. If he knows there is an elephant in the room and doesn't talk about it, the elephant takes up tremendous space in the relationship. It takes energy for him to walk around it. She may not see the elephant but knows he is bending his neck to look around something. She will be curious, mildly disturbed, have feelings but no words to wrap around them, might wonder if something is wrong with her or struggle with trusting her intuition (her intuition KNOWS an elephant is there.) And, when we can't trust the messages that come from within us, we find it very difficult to trust the messages of the other person. Secrets demand tremendous energy and erode trust. The relationship is doomed never to experience wall-banging intimacy. This is why extramarital affairs are so damaging. She is not so much concerned about him having sex with someone else as she is about the betrayal, lack of trust, the secrets and deception that are crazy making and energy draining. Now, please. I'm not saying that you sit your partner down and divulge the 23 secrets of your illicit past behaviours. If you have resolved those, i.e. forgiven yourself, understand those behaviours, learned from them and were able to use them to make the internal shifts necessary for your personal development, they do not qualify as an elephant. Hopefully, in the course of growing intimacy in your relationship you may want to share some of those events as you disclose to your partner where you were and where you are now. You do so without emotional charge. However, if a secret takes up room, i.e. still has an emotional charge and holds you back from disclosing more and more of yourself in the growing stages of intimacy, you have a problem that needs to be addressed with your partner.</p><p><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 355px; height: 235px;" alt="http://photo.net/philip-greenspun/photos/digiphotos/200206-yellowstone-2/kyle-needs-help-2.jpg" src="http://photo.net/philip-greenspun/photos/digiphotos/200206-yellowstone-2/kyle-needs-help-2.jpg" /></p><p>6. Let YOUR needs be known - loudly. Be a little - no, be a lot - self-centered. (Be self-centered, but not selfish!) Here's a problem I run into almost every day. He is backing away (perhaps attached to work, another person, etc.). She feels the trust and intimacy eroding, is scared and wants to "win him back." So she begins an all out effort to "work on the marriage." She invites him to do so as well. He may reluctantly agree. She blasts full throttle ahead trying to "be nice" and meet every need he ever said he had. She's going to "fill his tank with goodies." Doesn't work. Her eyes are riveted on him. He feels "smothered" or maybe even resentful: "Why is she doing this NOW!" She's hopeful, but eventually that turns to resentment. Her underlying motive - if I meet his needs, he will feel good and meet mine - just doesn't work. It's perceived as manipulation, which it is. Of course, he doesn't say anything. After all, how do you get angry with someone who is so "nice and caring?" Trust disintegrates under a blanket of quiet niceties. Start with your eyes focused on YOU. What do YOU need? Explore your personal need system. Dig beneath the surface. And then say to him: "I need…x, y and z. I would like to talk to you about them. I would like us to work out a way so my needs are met. Are you open to that?" He is empowered to say yes or no. Or, he may say, "What about my needs?" You respond, "I am very interested in hearing what is important to you, certainly." Have you ever been around someone who stated clearly what they needed/wanted? Didn't you respect that person? Because you knew where he stood, and therefore where you stood, didn't that interaction move toward a trusting relationship?</p><p><img alt="http://www.aeronorthwest.com/images/autopilot.JPG" src="http://www.aeronorthwest.com/images/autopilot.JPG" /></p><p>7. State who YOU are - loudly. It is very sad to see those in relationships of emotional investment hold back from letting the other person know who they really are. You build trust in a relationship by entrusting your SELF to the other person. This sounds easy but I find it difficult for most to pull off. Most of us have a difficult time declaring our SELF. For one thing, if you're like most of us, you haven't given much thought to what it is that makes YOU truly YOU. Don't you feel like you glide through life on autopilot, focusing on tasks, goals, accomplishments, problems and the external realities? Don't you tend to focus on those things out there or that person out there? You're concerned about what he is thinking, how he is responding to you, whether he likes you, whether he will be an obstacle and where he will fit in your life? Your conversations may be pleasant but fairly superficial and bluntly, boringly inane. You converse about things/relationships/events out there. You are reluctant to share your thoughts, values, and impressions or take a stand. This doesn't destroy trust. But it doesn't create it either. And, if you do take a stand it may serve the purpose of protecting you or entrenching you as you react against someone. This more often than not creates trust barriers. Take some time to reflect on your standards. What are your standards for a relationship? What standards do you hold for yourself? What do you order your life around? What are the 4 top values in your life? What are some themes that you live by? What are you known for? And then…begin letting significant people in your life know. They will respect you. They will know you more deeply. They will thank you for the opportunity to know you. They will see you as a person of character. They will trust you. They can count on you. They know exactly what is behind and within you.</p><p><img alt="http://img.timeinc.net/realsimple/i/p/rstv/rstv_howto_say_no.jpg" src="http://img.timeinc.net/realsimple/i/p/rstv/rstv_howto_say_no.jpg" /></p><p>8. Learn to say NO! Sometimes you need to say NO! Often it is crucial to say NO! Saying NO sets boundaries around you that protects you from being hurt or venturing into territory that will be destructive to your heart and soul. You draw a line. You stop tolerating that which drains energy and makes you less than YOU. You refuse to allow the destructive behaviours of others to destroy you. You build a moat around the core of your life. You do this by informing the other person of what they are doing. You request they stop. If they don't stop, you demand they stop. If they don't stop you walk away without a snide remark, eye-roll or comment. To some this seems harsh, but saying NO is RESPECTED. Fear is the basis of mistrust. If you fear that someone will hurt you and believe you have no recourse but to endure that hurt, fear will prevail. How can you trust when you are in fear? Saying NO, protecting yourself, sends a message to the other person that you will not live in fear. This usually triggers a response of respect from the other person. After all, if you can protect yourself and refuse subjugation to that which is destructive, will not the other person come to trust you and see you as a person who just might protect him/her from harm as well?</p><p><img alt="The image “http://woodside.blogs.com/cosmologycuriosity/images/plasma_cosmology_universe.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://woodside.blogs.com/cosmologycuriosity/images/plasma_cosmology_universe.jpg" /></p><p>9. Charge Neutral. When your significant other expresses something powerfully, charge neutral. Most of us are afraid of strong feelings or points of contention in a relationship. I commonly hear people respond by defending themselves (to a perceived attack), explaining themselves, counter-attacking, shutting down, or walking away. Of course, the relationship remains stuck in this quagmire of mistrust and fear. Rather than reacting and having your feelings flowing all over the place or shutting down, practice charging neutral. Communicate calmness, not only in your tone of voice but also in how you carry your body. Don't speak with a charge to your voice. Control your voice! Say what you must say, state the truth and do it directly and calmly. You can do this, once you master your fears. It will dramatically change the flow of the relationship. You will be able to point out something big, without making a big deal out of it. You will be in control of you. This not only feels great, but your partner trusts that you won't fly or fall apart. You will experience your personal power. This makes you very attractive. Don't people really trust someone who knows their personal power and how to use it for the welfare of themselves and others? Your partner will love the fact that she can trust you consistently to operate from your "quiet center," remain engaged, not back down and speak the truth with conviction and calmness.</p><p><img style="width: 291px; height: 386px;" alt="http://www.uberellis.com/files/uberellis/spade_large.gif" src="http://www.uberellis.com/files/uberellis/spade_large.gif" /></p><p>10. Dig into the dirt. Relationships of emotional investment, by their nature, bring trials, tribulations, fears, chaos, turmoil, change, stretching and growth. They become the grist from which your life is shaped and formed. Be fearless when faced with turmoil, upset, crisis, questions, and fears. When the time is right, seek them out. Move toward the frightening unknown. Dig into the dirt of your relationship and uncover the treasures. Do you really TRUST that this can happen? The purpose of your relationship is not to make you happy. Do you realize this? Happiness may be an outcome, but your other is given to you to move you to where you really want to be. Obstacles, trials and moments of pain are given as lessons on which you intentionally write the script of your life individually and together. Embrace the difficult. Trust that in this embracing you will find more of your true self. Trust that you are given the resources and capacity to face what you and your significant other are to face. Once you are able to believe and trust these ultimate purposes, trusting your significant other will be that much more easy.</p></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-63910673666446613972008-01-28T20:12:00.000+02:002008-01-28T20:39:01.662+02:00The work weekThe structure of the work week varies considerably for different professions and cultures. Among salaried workers in the western world, the work week often consists of Monday through Friday or Saturday with the weekend set aside as a time of personal work and leisure. This stereotypical structure of the work week has led to the coining of phrases reflecting shared states of mind or moods among workers as they traverse the week.<br /><br /><h3><img alt="http://www.myspacegraphicsandanimations.com/images/garfield-mondays14.jpg" src="http://www.myspacegraphicsandanimations.com/images/garfield-mondays14.jpg" /></h3><h3>Mondayitis</h3> 'Blue Monday' or 'Mondayitis' or "having a case of the Mondays" is a feeling of weariness and apathy that some workers express when starting the work week on Monday. The phrase entered the pop culture lexicon after its use in the 1999 American comedy film <em>Office Space</em> and it was said that "You get your ass kicked for saying something like that."<br /><br /><img alt="http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/5108/wendsday9tq.jpg" src="http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/5108/wendsday9tq.jpg" /><br /><h3>Hump day</h3> 'Hump day' is a synonym for Wednesday. The idiom is based on the notion that if a worker has made it half-way through the week, struggling uphill from Monday, that the rest of the week is an easier slide toward Friday and the weekend; the end is in sight from the hump, the top of the hill.<br /><br /><img alt="http://www.myspacecomedy.com/images/funny/tgif.jpg" src="http://www.myspacecomedy.com/images/funny/tgif.jpg" /><br /><h3>TGIF<em><br /></em></h3> 'TGIF' is an acronym meaning "Thank God It's Friday" or "Thank Goodness It's Friday", an expression of relief that the work week is finally over and that even if the weekend is not full of leisure, at least the drudgery of the workplace is temporarily over.<br /><br /><img alt="http://www.rikfitch.com/pic1.jpg" src="http://www.rikfitch.com/pic1.jpg" /><br /><h3>Pau Hana</h3>'Pa'u Hana' (pronounced "pow hana") is a Hawaiian phrase literally meaning, "finished work", but generally refers to the practice of leaving work early on Friday to start the weekend.<br /><br /><img style="width: 408px; height: 273px;" alt="http://www.digitaldutch.com/arles/tutorials/thumbnail_tags/galleries/thumbnail_tags_with_size/images/Hammock.jpg" src="http://www.digitaldutch.com/arles/tutorials/thumbnail_tags/galleries/thumbnail_tags_with_size/images/Hammock.jpg" /><br /><h3>POETS day<em><br /><a href="http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/POETS+day"></a></em></h3> Another acronym meaning "Piss Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday", a term for Fridays, used in industries where it is common practice to finish work early at the end of the week. Variations on this are "Punch Out Early Tomorrow's Saturday" (referring to a manual punch time clock),"Push Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday" and "Push Off Early Tomorrow's Sunday" (based on the old 6 day work week). Used in UK and Australia but appears less popular in U.S.A.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-9310375552586535492008-01-26T12:30:00.000+02:002008-01-26T12:53:44.769+02:00Eskom jokes doing the rounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnTlq2vWRyTPRoiw_h713Dxrlls0H_XFLnOe_o2MHSemE5YMkmboqZLlcqL1knMeiTrZ1ZaV5oXfqw6tNyyX9f1aYba-RhHsMcuuwDpZa2W8BVP29s1ZOoswlICEIjltRRdznCtEG0ew/s1600-h/Eishkom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnTlq2vWRyTPRoiw_h713Dxrlls0H_XFLnOe_o2MHSemE5YMkmboqZLlcqL1knMeiTrZ1ZaV5oXfqw6tNyyX9f1aYba-RhHsMcuuwDpZa2W8BVP29s1ZOoswlICEIjltRRdznCtEG0ew/s320/Eishkom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733065656197682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /> Dear Electricity Consumer,<img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><br />Just a little note to let you know we understand your anger in the recent price hike and power cuts.<br /><br />But it should be noted that you have no choice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />We are a big company and you will pay what we tell you. You have no choice.<br /><br />We have the power, you need the power.<br /><br />So sad, too bad. Sucks to be you.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have enclosed a little picture to help outline our response.</p>Have a nice day and keep those cheques coming, loser!<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br />Regards<br /><br />ESKOM<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SQcn3gNFPl2KxJDXuFSj7Tx-dMiK26E3TTDD-uz-_cczGQt-n7yn8ZuU7BfBQkrvhaqK-acc6IZIqAKbkblDPUYz6W9Akl6O8i-rQIKQmO0PGymZJHrW8lP4pAD486mw3zbwdicl04k/s1600-h/Eskom.gif.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SQcn3gNFPl2KxJDXuFSj7Tx-dMiK26E3TTDD-uz-_cczGQt-n7yn8ZuU7BfBQkrvhaqK-acc6IZIqAKbkblDPUYz6W9Akl6O8i-rQIKQmO0PGymZJHrW8lP4pAD486mw3zbwdicl04k/s320/Eskom.gif.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733396368679586" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hi all<br /><p class="MsoNormal"> The backup module for Unit 2 has arrived at Koeberg and all our power cuts will soon be a thing of the past.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoT7Ss6GLZiJMYVGHZ-P9ciKW7pf3Eh_E9cTuUN3XMb3MMUOlffChONsQlCFxZwTksv5R2B7NEXTsY2Stm0sICkywgl1dDpLq4G1t_Oxv-z4oimiLG3AcSpxk52Ba3he61TnoP_56KUs/s1600-h/eskom2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoT7Ss6GLZiJMYVGHZ-P9ciKW7pf3Eh_E9cTuUN3XMb3MMUOlffChONsQlCFxZwTksv5R2B7NEXTsY2Stm0sICkywgl1dDpLq4G1t_Oxv-z4oimiLG3AcSpxk52Ba3he61TnoP_56KUs/s320/eskom2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733392073712258" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"> Regards,</p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><br />Eskom</p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;color:black;" >Nando's salute to Eskom!</span></b><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReBsUi-SbMsi4Es0kOii4BeY9bw5YW0uXntPluELhU-G_JIao5FG7vzRiBwXNUjrOoxXIDZs9aIVhyphenhyphenaarTeo1PUKrW4NPtE3_eeXvK2eagNbvTPiBLLAXMByUo_lTEEjPQf-JOTj3_qY/s1600-h/nandos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReBsUi-SbMsi4Es0kOii4BeY9bw5YW0uXntPluELhU-G_JIao5FG7vzRiBwXNUjrOoxXIDZs9aIVhyphenhyphenaarTeo1PUKrW4NPtE3_eeXvK2eagNbvTPiBLLAXMByUo_lTEEjPQf-JOTj3_qY/s320/nandos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733392073712274" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Herewith a promise from Eskom in the National Geographic of October 1998.<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxvX6lQmd-Q8mhQIpl5Nfw5vyidzvMGSAsVdfg7HFQBIV9P8Bqh4_E6LFu6zL0Be4ySDI4eoRnXT-0H73-8y4z46dvLwNG321YQTIJGCZ5zaI7yTOb9UH_wmizLLbSwScWANTOuA4imw/s1600-h/Eskom.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 488px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxvX6lQmd-Q8mhQIpl5Nfw5vyidzvMGSAsVdfg7HFQBIV9P8Bqh4_E6LFu6zL0Be4ySDI4eoRnXT-0H73-8y4z46dvLwNG321YQTIJGCZ5zaI7yTOb9UH_wmizLLbSwScWANTOuA4imw/s320/Eskom.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733069951165026" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gatiep & Karools</span><br /><br /> Gatiep and Karools are sitting on death row. Gatiep says to the Warder, does this take long and is it painful?<br /><br />Warder says, "No they just strap you in and flick the switch and its over."<br /><br />Karools is called in, moments later Gatiep hears screaming and shouting, this carries on for quite a while.<br /><br />Gatiep says to the Warder "I thought you said it was quick and painless?"<br /><br />Warder replies that as result of the load shedding they have to use candles.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stage of change in South Africa</span><br /><br /> Before '94 the government shouted "white power".<br /><br />After '94 the new government shouted "black power".<br /><br />Finally we can stand together and shout "NO power!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pre-electricity</span><br /><br /> What did South Africans use before candles?<br /><br />Electricity.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New devices to save electricity</span><br /><br /> Eskom continues its drive to safe electricity...<br /><br />...with this gas hairdryer.<br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44bNDE17Z7XsUl4J4Yl3fD2nUraE3qF1E-IWhXAvcp8o3zTVwuFNAdae5H_XzKEiriJzMPj9wCsgVcFpPl7n7XVAAxJ9hEpjwPK_Zzw90scCjz3fd-nNoOp4jl4fyutDc782T3OoQLag/s1600-h/Hairdryer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44bNDE17Z7XsUl4J4Yl3fD2nUraE3qF1E-IWhXAvcp8o3zTVwuFNAdae5H_XzKEiriJzMPj9wCsgVcFpPl7n7XVAAxJ9hEpjwPK_Zzw90scCjz3fd-nNoOp4jl4fyutDc782T3OoQLag/s320/Hairdryer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733069951165010" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eskom is working on the problem</span><br /><br /> Guys ...<br /><br />I know the load shedding is affecting everyone ... but take heart ...<br /><br />Eskom is working on the problem!<br /><br />Just yesterday morning I saw five of their specialists on site ...<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmleQd48ObMgZO41hQOPV38lSpS3enT1ePEkhSEEcF7O2BWZ5Vb0H5SnXbKPFwoic8fxsC0VPmiqHbR5txy1MiFw0eemmpQZMM2dfxe1pr7PmWT99Okd780jkdoT_t5DLKsQ1Ld9gds8/s1600-h/working.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmleQd48ObMgZO41hQOPV38lSpS3enT1ePEkhSEEcF7O2BWZ5Vb0H5SnXbKPFwoic8fxsC0VPmiqHbR5txy1MiFw0eemmpQZMM2dfxe1pr7PmWT99Okd780jkdoT_t5DLKsQ1Ld9gds8/s320/working.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159733065656197698" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Eskom prayer </span><br /><br />Our father who art in Eskom,<br />Non existent be thy name,<br />Thy kingdom badly run,<br />Thy power is undone,<br />In Joburg as it is in KZN,<br />Give us this day,<br />our price-fixed bread,<br />And forgive the trespassers,<br />Who shoot us dead,<br />Lead me not into a dark nation,<br />But deliver me from surges,<br />For thine have no kingdom,<br />No power and no electricity,<br />Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New National Anthem</span><br /><p>With immediate effect "Nkosi Sikelele Afrika" will be replaced with the national anthem:<br /><br />"Hello Darkness My Old Friend".</p><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-14950885553859469502008-01-26T12:09:00.000+02:002008-01-26T12:28:43.615+02:00Electricity crisisState-power supplier Eskom has said that its "downward trend" in the electricity supply reserve margin was expected to continue for the next five to seven years until the new base-load power plant is built.<br /><br />"Additional failures have occurred on generating units over this period of planned maintenance. All emergency resources have been exploited, which include the use of Eskom's gas turbines and buying back power from large industrial customers. However, this is not sufficient to address the shortfall, hence the need for load shedding," the company said in a statement.<br /><br />Eskom said that the continued growth in the economy had exhausted its surplus electricity generation capacity and reduced the reserve margin progressively, and it encouraged customers to curb their demand for power.<br /><br />The Eskom capacity expansion programme, with an investment of R150-billion, has been accelerated and this aims at upgrading South Africa's power supply infrastructure and building new power stations.<br /><br />However, until new power stations are commissioned, supply is set to remain tight and load shedding a constant reality.<br /><br />And despite the fact that we have rolling blackouts throughout the country, Eskom released the following press release :<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr background="images/heading_tile_blue.gif" bgcolor="#002073"><td style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="heading" bgcolor="#002073">Media Release - 22 January - PRICE INCREASE</td> <td align="right"><img src="http://www.eskom.co.za/live/images/heading_tile_end_blue.gif" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table><br /> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>Tuesday, 22 January 2008</strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>ESKOM’S RESPONSE TO PRICE INCREASE FOR THE 2008/9 FINANCIAL YEAR</strong> </p><p>The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has announced its decision to grant Eskom a price increase that translates into an increase of 14.2% for the 2008/9 financial year. Eskom had applied for a rule change that would have resulted in an average increase of 18.7%. The application by Eskom was intended to address the recovery of the costs of primary energy (fuel) and for the acceleration of its capital expansion programme to meet growing demand for electricity. </p><p>Higher fuel costs are due to the fact that coal prices had risen over 30% in the last year, adding to power generation costs. Furthermore, the cost of plant and equipment has risen by 20% to 50% in the past year, and has doubled in five years. </p><p>The increase applied for is therefore necessary given the circumstances. It should also be pointed out that Eskom also makes a contribution by focusing on improved productivity and efficiency. </p><p>“The lower price increase will make it even harder for Eskom to satisfy conditions in the current financial markets to assure the funding needed for the capital expansion programme to ensure security of supply. Eskom will need to borrow more than if it had been granted the 18.7%. In addition, the current electricity prices are unsustainable and will result in steeper increases being required in the near future. However, Eskom would like to express its appreciation to NERSA for having considered our application in a transparent process and for acknowledging some of the challenges being faced by Eskom. We are considering the implications and the options available to us to manage the situation,” says Bongani Nqwababa, Eskom’s Finance Director. </p><p> </p><br /><table style="width: 752px; height: 377px;" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="font-family:georgia;"><td style="padding: 5px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" background="../../../heading_bg01.jpg" height="26" valign="middle" width="451"><p class="style1"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">WHAT IS LOAD SHEDDING?</span> </strong></span></p></td> <td width="3"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><br /></td> <td rowspan="2" background="../../../cont_right_bar01.jpg" valign="top" width="51"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <td colspan="2" style="padding: 5px;" height="383" valign="top"> <p class="style2" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />When there is not enough electricity available to meet the demand from all Eskom’s customers, it could be necessary to interrupt supply to certain areas. This is called load shedding. </span></p> <p class="style2" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong> Load shedding is:</strong></span></p> <ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li class="style2"><span style="font-size:85%;"> A last resort measure. Only when all other options at its disposal have been exhausted, such as running its power stations at maximum capacity and interrupting supply to industrial customers with special contracts, will Eskom cut supply to other customers.</span></li></ul> <ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li class="style2"><span style="font-size:85%;"> A controlled way of rotating the available electricity between all customers. Load shedding schedules are drawn up to ensure that a few areas do not bear the brunt of the shortages. By spreading the impact, affected areas are not interrupted for more than two hours at a time, and in most cases customers can be informed of interruptions in advance.<br /></span></li><li class="style2"><span style="font-size:85%;"> An effective way to avoid blackouts. Shortages on the electricity system unbalance the network, which can cause it to collapse. By rotating the load in a planned and controlled manner, the system remains stable.</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><table style="width: 543px; height: 1874px;" bg="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr face="georgia"><td style="padding: 5px; font-weight: bold;" background="heading_bg01.jpg" height="26" valign="middle" width="451"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="style1"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Hints and Tips in case of Power Outages</span> </span></span></td> <td width="3"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><br /></td> <td rowspan="2" background="cont_right_bar01.jpg" valign="top" width="51"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="padding: 5px;" height="306" valign="top"> <p class="style2" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"> Eskom has a short term power supply shortage, while at the same time experiencing higher than expected demand. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">From time to time this may result in power outages </span> <span style="font-size:85%;"> – what is termed load shedding – for short periods across the country. The more electricity South African consumers can save by switching off non-essential appliances, or not switching them on, the fewer power outages there will be. Below are hints and tips to assist you in case of power outages.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><span lang="EN-GB">Special Needs</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">If you have special needs such as medical support equipment (ventilators, dialysis machines, etc) please notify your medical practitioner immediately so that special arrangements can be made. Such special assistance is only available by authorisation of a registered General Practitioner/Doctor or Medical Specialist. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you require advice regarding the provisions that have been made for special needs kindly call the Eskom Media Desk on any of the following numbers: 011 800 5550 / 011 800 5310 / 011 800 4539.</span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><span lang="EN-GB">What WILL be affected by power outages?</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">The following will not be available when the electricity supply to your home is switched off:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Geyser and hot water supplies</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Cookers, electric kettles, microwave ovens and refrigerators</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Lights</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB">TV and Hi-Fi equipment</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Electrically motorised security gates and garage doors</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Pool pumps</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Personal computers</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB"> Electric air conditioning</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span lang="EN-GB">Electric alarm clocks</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Household electric pumps for irrigation or plumbing systems</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Electrically operated ignition systems on certain gas appliances</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Automatic electronic control systems and time clocks </span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><span lang="EN-GB">Switch it off:</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">If the power goes off, it is safer to simply turn off (or even better, disconnect) any electrical appliances that you were using. Keep one light switched 'on' to alert you when the power returns. Clearly mark on/off switches with a piece of masking tape. When the power comes back on, it may do so with a momentary surge, which can damage electronically controlled appliances such as computers, televisions sets, VCRs, DVDs, etc.<b><i> </i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Remember to re-set time control clocks on cooking ovens, pool pumps, geysers and other automatically controlled appliances, unless these are battery operated. Also remember that householders are responsible for all electricity usage and appliances in their homes. </span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><span lang="EN-GB">What will usually NOT be affected by power outages?</span></b></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;font-family:georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Security systems that have battery back-up (some may go off due to the interruption)</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Telephones that are not reliant on mains electricity (answering and fax machines may however be affected).</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Cell phones</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><span lang="EN-GB">Useful tips to minimise inconvenience when the power is off:</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB">Think about <b>communication</b>:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ensure that your cell phone is always fully charged when power is available.</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB">Think about <b>transport</b>:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ensure that your vehicle (car, bakkie, motorcycle, etc) always has fuel in the tank since during power outages, petrol stations cannot pump fuel. </span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB">Think about <b>cash</b>:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ensure that you have adequate cash as auto tellers cannot operate without electricity.</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB">Think about <b>access, security and safety</b>:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Release automatic electric garage door mechanisms to allow you to gain access to your property during a power outage.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Release electric security gates and switch to manual operation to avoid being either locked out of or into your home.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Keep temporary lighting readily available, e.g. electric torches, candles, etc. Be sure to locate these items in places where they will be easy to find in the dark. </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Keep a torch (with fresh batteries) by your bedside at all times</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Obtain a small LP gas lamp, as they provide good quality lighting for a large area.</span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span lang="EN-GB">Think about <b>keeping things cool and heating them up</b>:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Boil water and keep in thermos flasks for hot drinks for when the power is scheduled to be switched off.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Use a thermal cover on tea pots and other pots and pans to keep hot drinks, and meals warm.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Prepare meals beforehand in readiness for periods when there will be power cuts.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Obtain a small stand-by bottled LP gas heating ring for essential cooking and to boil water for hot beverages.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Keep adequate stocks of essential foodstuffs.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, as a power outage of four hours should not cause food spoilage, and a freezer should keep frozen food safe for at least a day. It is a good idea to have alternative available snacks that do not need refrigeration.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Most medication requiring refrigeration can be kept in a closed fridge for several hours without spoiling. To be sure about this, check with your doctor or pharmacist. </span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Fill plastic containers with water (still leaving some space inside each container for expansion during freezing) in a deep-freeze or the freezer compartment of your fridge. This (frozen) water will help keep food cold during a power outage.</span></li></ul> <p align="right"> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://loadshedding.eskom.co.za/loadshed.htm"> </a></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-4676865434991807712008-01-23T21:27:00.000+02:002008-01-23T21:36:45.949+02:00Basic Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision Making<img alt="http://www.blue-inc-solutions.co.uk/software/images/jigsaw.jpg" src="http://www.blue-inc-solutions.co.uk/software/images/jigsaw.jpg" /><br /><br />Adapted from the <a href="http://www.authenticityconsulting.com/pubs/Mgmnt/MS_pubs.htm" target="_BLANK">Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision</a>.<br /><br /><p>Much of what managers and supervisors do is solve problems and make decisions. New managers and supervisors, in particular, often make solve problems and decisions by reacting to them. They are "under the gun", stressed and very short for time. Consequently, when they encounter a new problem or decision they must make, they react with a decision that seemed to work before. It's easy with this approach to get stuck in a circle of solving the same problem over and over again. Therefore, as a new manager or supervisor, get used to an organized approach to problem solving and decision making. Not all problems can be solved and decisions made by the following, rather rational approach. However, the following basic guidelines will get you started. Don't be intimidated by the length of the list of guidelines. After you've practiced them a few times, they'll become second nature to you -- enough that you can deepen and enrich them to suit your own needs and nature.</p> <p>(Note that it might be more your nature to view a "problem" as an "opportunity". Therefore, you might substitute "problem" for "opportunity" in the following guidelines.)</p> <h2>1. Define the problem</h2> This is often where people struggle. They react to what they think the problem is. Instead, seek to understand more about why you think there's a problem. <p><i>Defining the problem: (with input from yourself and others)<br /></i>Ask yourself and others, the following questions:<br />a. What can you <i>see </i>that causes you to think there's a problem?<br />b. Where is it happening?<br />c. How is it happening?<br />d. When is it happening?<br />e. With whom is it happening? (HINT: Don't jump to "Who is causing the problem?" When we're stressed, blaming is often one of our first reactions. To be an effective manager, you need to address issues more than people.)<br />f. Why is it happening?<br />g. Write down a five-sentence description of the problem in terms of "The following should be happening, but isn't ..." or "The following is happening and should be: ..." As much as possible, be specific in your description, including what is happening, where, how, with whom and why. (It may be helpful at this point to use a variety of research methods. Also see .</p> <p><i>Defining complex problems:<br /></i>a. If the problem still seems overwhelming, break it down by repeating steps a-f until you have descriptions of several related problems.</p> <p><i>Verifying your understanding of the problems:<br /></i>a. It helps a great deal to verify your problem analysis for conferring with a peer or someone else.</p> <p><i>Prioritize the problems:<br /></i>a. If you discover that you are looking at several related problems, then prioritize which ones you should address first.<br />b. Note the difference between "important" and "urgent" problems. Often, what we consider to be important problems to consider are really just urgent problems. Important problems deserve more attention. For example, if you're continually answering "urgent" phone calls, then you've probably got a more "important" problem and that's to design a system that screens and prioritizes your phone calls.</p> <p><i>Understand your role in the problem:<br /></i>a. Your role in the problem can greatly influence how you perceive the role of others. For example, if you're very stressed out, it'll probably look like others are, too, or, you may resort too quickly to blaming and reprimanding others. Or, you are feel very guilty about your role in the problem, you may ignore the accountabilities of others.</p> <h2>2. Look at potential causes for the problem</h2> a. It's amazing how much you don't know about what you don't know. Therefore, in this phase, it's critical to get input from other people who notice the problem and who are effected by it.<br />b. It's often useful to collect input from other individuals one at a time (at least at first). Otherwise, people tend to be inhibited about offering their impressions of the real causes of problems.<br />c. Write down what your opinions and what you've heard from others.<br />d. Regarding what you think might be performance problems associated with an employee, it's often useful to seek advice from a peer or your supervisor in order to verify your impression of the problem.<br />e.Write down a description of the cause of the problem and in terms of what is happening, where, when, how, with whom and why. <h2>3. Identify alternatives for approaches to resolve the problem</h2> a. At this point, it's useful to keep others involved (unless you're facing a personal and/or employee performance problem). Brainstorm for solutions to the problem. Very simply put, brainstorming is collecting as many ideas as possible, then screening them to find the best idea. It's critical when collecting the ideas to not pass any judgment on the ideas -- just write them down as you hear them. <h2>4. Select an approach to resolve the problem </h2> When selecting the best approach, consider:<br />a. Which approach is the most likely to solve the problem for the long term?<br />b. Which approach is the most realistic to accomplish for now? Do you have the resources? Are they affordable? Do you have enough time to implement the approach?<br />c. What is the extent of risk associated with each alternative?<br /><br /><h2>5. Plan the implementation of the best alternative (this is your action plan)</h2> a. Carefully consider "What will the situation look like when the problem is solved?"<br />b. What steps should be taken to implement the best alternative to solving the problem? What systems or processes should be changed in your organization, for example, a new policy or procedure? Don't resort to solutions where someone is "just going to try harder".<br />c. How will you know if the steps are being followed or not? (these are your indicators of the success of your plan)<br />d. What resources will you need in terms of people, money and facilities?<br />e. How much time will you need to implement the solution? Write a schedule that includes the start and stop times, and when you expect to see certain indicators of success.<br />f. Who will primarily be responsible for ensuring implementation of the plan?<br />g. Write down the answers to the above questions and consider this as your action plan.<br />h. Communicate the plan to those who will involved in implementing it and, at least, to your immediate supervisor.<br />(An important aspect of this step in the problem-solving process is continually observation and feedback.) <h2>6. Monitor implementation of the plan</h2> Monitor the indicators of success:<br />a. Are you seeing what you would expect from the indicators?<br />b. Will the plan be done according to schedule?<br />c. If the plan is not being followed as expected, then consider: Was the plan realistic? Are there sufficient resources to accomplish the plan on schedule? Should more priority be placed on various aspects of the plan? Should the plan be changed? <h2>7. Verify if the problem has been resolved or not</h2> One of the best ways to verify if a problem has been solved or not is to resume normal operations in the organization. Still, you should consider:<br />a. What changes should be made to avoid this type of problem in the future? Consider changes to policies and procedures, training, etc.<br />b. Lastly, consider "What did you learn from this problem solving?" Consider new knowledge, understanding and/or skills.<br />c. Consider writing a brief memo that highlights the success of the problem solving effort, and what you learned as a result. Share it with your supervisor, peers and subordinates.Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-18780647586390862882008-01-15T19:49:00.000+02:002008-01-15T20:41:04.294+02:00Interesting facts of Cape Town<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Cape Town</span></b></st1:city></st1:place><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >'s own constellation<br /><br /></span></b></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="width: 200px; height: 221px;" alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Mensa_constellation_map.png/250px-Mensa_constellation_map.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Mensa_constellation_map.png/250px-Mensa_constellation_map.png" /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >"Mons Mensa"… as every field or nature guide knows, is the Latin name of a star</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > constellation meaning "<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>" situated near the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >The constellation was named by a French scientific observer</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > of the stars, Abbe Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, in the early 1750’s from his observatory in <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">Strand Street</st1:street>, <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:city></st1:address>. He is credited with having</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > named 15 of the 88 constellations and Mons Mensa is the only one which represents a geological formation.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Abstract sculpture in <st1:city st="on">Cape</st1:city></span></b><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" ><st1:city st="on"> Town</st1:city><br /><br /></span></b><img style="width: 178px; height: 286px;" alt="The image “http://www.vgallery.co.za/2000article22/sculp2.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://www.vgallery.co.za/2000article22/sculp2.jpg" /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If you visit our municipal</span></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > building in <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:city> then you can see a red sculpture outside the front door which is one of the highest sculptures in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It is about 9 meters high and is made up out of industrial sections of cast</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > steel which are cut, welded, bent and refitted to produce an abstract form. This sculpture was created by Edoardo Villa (<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>) in 1981.<br /><br />Most Capetonians, or visitors</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>, don't know what the artwork represents and furthermore don't know its name. Some folk call it the "bent paper clip". It probably</span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > comes as no surprise to find out that the sculpture is titled "The knot" as it supposedly unites all the sculptures on the landing in front of the office area.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >King Edward in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" ><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:city></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPTo_NXQjVveVWhQkhIe6IdCnU0Pv5xbEH13SJam_UqoU-OskYFOHEtjcqoA0pKPRyg5it6C551bIcqoIYB_E5Vjo35JDU6Onkj3hQRNjANPhlLP93HPYx1hdAsIBsKtxw5tUC8LUCHQ/s1600-h/Project+188s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPTo_NXQjVveVWhQkhIe6IdCnU0Pv5xbEH13SJam_UqoU-OskYFOHEtjcqoA0pKPRyg5it6C551bIcqoIYB_E5Vjo35JDU6Onkj3hQRNjANPhlLP93HPYx1hdAsIBsKtxw5tUC8LUCHQ/s320/Project+188s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155764557436029922" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >I have travelled past the statue of King Edward V11, opposite the City Hall, on many occasions before and on some of these trips not only visitors to our city but local Capetonians too, have asked me what is the relevance of this statue which is in such a prominent place in the city. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >Edward (born 1841) was the eldest son of Victoria and heir to the British throne. During the</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"> Anglo Boer war he did something quite remarkable. He refused to be crowned as King of England until peace was achieved between the British troops and the Boers. This marked him as a great statesman and it is for this deed that he holds such a prominent place in our city.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >'s very own weathervane<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >The weather in the South Western Cape, and in particular</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> peninsula, differs markedly from most other South African regions in that our weather is notoriously</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > unpredictable. This is largely due to the positioning of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Cape</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype></st1:place> and the regional wind systems. Being aweatherman in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> must be a most frustrating profession. Clouds that cover the tops of mountains only are known as "Lenticular" or "Cap" clouds. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">There is only one fool-proof </span><span style="font-size:85%;">weathervane in the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> peninsula</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. When there is a cap cloud on Lions head, a peak in the Table mountain range, and nowhere else, rain is guaranteed within the next 12 hours.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >The <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Saldanha</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> error<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >The first European to climb<st1:placename st="on"> Table</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype> was the Portuguese explorer Antonio de Saldanha in 1503 while he and his fleet were exploring the seas between <st1:city st="on">Lisbon</st1:city> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. For a century after this, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> was known as "<i>Agoada do Saldanha</i>" - The watering place of Saldanha.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >Many years later, a Dutch admiral, Joris van Spilbergen made landfall about 100km up the west coast and thought that he was in <i>Agoada do</i></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" ><i> Saldanha. </i>This is how <st1:placename st="on">Saldanha </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype> got its name even though the Portuguese explorer had never set foot in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Saldanha </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place>. After this naming, the original watering hole became known as <i>Tafel Baay</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">So if it had not been for a "slight" navigation error 2 centuries ago, who knows, maybe we would all be living in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Saldanha </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place> today</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >The wooden tiles of <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Adderley Street</st1:address></st1:street>.</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">There was a time when the whole of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>'s main road viz. <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Adderley Street</st1:address></st1:street> was made out of wooden blocks or tiles. These tiles were eventually covered with the tarred road that we have today. If one visits our very interesting <st1:placename st="on">Cultural</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">History</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> a display of these wooden tiles can be seen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Panorama and Plattekloof</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">When one travels in the northern suburb areas one can visit the areas called Panorama and</span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"> Plattekloof (Flat hill) When one does this it is rather funny to see that that the area on top of the hills overlooking the beautiful Cape Peninsula is called Plattekloof while the area below the hills with no view at all is called Panorama. The reason for this is that when the title deeds to the area were issued the local municipality made an error and exchanged the names around accidentally. Till today the mistake still exists and the areas still have the wrong names.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><a name="The_Blue_Route"></a><b style="">The <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Blue Route</st1:address></st1:street></b></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="width: 280px; height: 176px;" alt="http://www.capetownskies.com/2924/23_blue_route_tmc.jpg" src="http://www.capetownskies.com/2924/23_blue_route_tmc.jpg" /></span><p> </p><p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >In <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> we have a highway that is traveled on by most Capetonians that is nicknamed</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > "The Blue Route". The real name of the highway is "The Van Der Stel Highway". It is also known as the M3. The question arises as to where the nickname of the <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Blue Route</st1:address></st1:street> comes from. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">The answer to the above poser lies in the fact that when the original plans for the highway were drawn up, the highway was drawn on the plans in a thick blue pencil colour and someone started calling it the Blue Route. The nickname got very popular and it even led to a local shopping mall being called the Blue Route Centre.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="The_naming_of_Durbanville"></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >The naming of Durbanville <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >On the outskirts of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> we have a northern suburb called Durbanville. Just recently I found out where the name of Durbanville came from and I found the reason for the naming of this little suburb rather amusing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >In 1836 Sir Benjamin D'Urban, the governor of the Cape, granted the request to the villagers of</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"> the above mentioned area which was then known as Pampoenskraal (Pumpkin village) that they could call their village Durban. In later years the name was changed to Durbanville so as to distinguish it from the city of <st1:city st="on">Durban</st1:city> in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">province</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Natal</st1:placename></st1:place>.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="The_first_telegram_sent_from_Cape_Town."></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >The first telegram sent from Cape Town</span></b><u><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >.</span></u></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The first telegram sent from a venue in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> was delivered in 1860. A building, named Woolvens Pagoda (because it looked like a pagoda), was erected on the one corner of the Grand Parade. This structure would serve as the first telegraph office in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>. A Mr. Pickering installed the first telegraph line which stretched from Woolvens Pagoda to Simonstown. It was Pickering himself who sent the first telegraph from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>. It was addressed to Governor General Wynyard and it crossed the prime distance of about 400 yards as the governor general was housed in the Castle at the time of the mail being sent.</span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Cape_Town's_oldest_restaurant"></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >'s oldest restaurant<br /><br /></span></b><img style="width: 246px; height: 164px;" alt="http://www.kapstadt.net/images/constant2.jpg" src="http://www.kapstadt.net/images/constant2.jpg" /><br /></span> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >When visiting <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> there are many good restaurants where one can have a good meal at very reasonable prices. Amongst all these wonderful establishments one of them has to be the oldest operating eating house and this honor goes to Constantia Nek Restaurant. In 1923 the land where the restaurant today stands was bought by Sydney Vincent Halls. Mr. Halls set up a farm stall and tearoom on the area which was popularly known as "The Nek". A couple of years after starting up the tea room the present day "Candle Room" was constructed and teas were</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" > served in this area. This room soon became what then and today is known as Constantia Nek which not only was famous as a restaurant but also as a dining/dancing venue on weekends.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >If one arrives at the restaurant one sees a large mountain that overshadows the building. This hill is known as Vlakkenberg. It was originally known as Vlagenberg (<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Flag </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>). The <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">high point</st1:place></st1:city> on the hill was where a flag was raised as part of the signaling system that was used when the flagman on Vlagenberg heard the sound of the Signal Hill cannon. The flag viewing then signaled to all in the <st1:placename st="on">Constantia </st1:placename><st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> that a boat had entered <st1:place st="on">Table Bay</st1:place></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Forced_removals_in_District_6."></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >Forced removals in District 6.</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The forced removals of the local Cape Coloured population from District 6 in 1966 is what most people remember the area for. I wonder how many Capetonians know that the first forced removals, on the basis of colour from District 6, took place in as early as 1901. It was in this year that the African people (Black) staying in District 6 were forcibly removed to Ndabeni so as to allow for "poor whites" to stay in the area.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="District_5."></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >District 5. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">When the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> municipal area was demarcated into 6 districts in 1909 other areas of the city also had District names. In that way the area today known as <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Loader Street</st1:address></st1:street> was known as District 5. It was in this fashionable area that most bankers and insurance men stayed. The area was renamed Loader street as this was the first road to be completely restored in District 5.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="District_Number_6"></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >District Number 6<br /></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="width: 258px; height: 179px;" alt="http://www.artthrob.co.za/99jan/images/district6.jpg" src="http://www.artthrob.co.za/99jan/images/district6.jpg" /><br /></span> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >Much has been written about District 6 in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> but I wonder how many people know that District 6 originally was called District 12. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >In 1840 the town of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> was demarcated into 12 districts and the area now known as District 6 was then named District 12. In 1867 it was decided to change the demarcation and the town was split into 6 districts. District 12 then became what today is known as District 6. During this period the area also was nicknamed Kanaladorp. In 1909 the City of the <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:city> was split into 8 wards and the District 6 area was renamed Castle Ward, however the name just did not stick and District 6 remained the preferred name for the public of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Strictly speaking the area today is called Zonnebloem, but once again the name is not used by the local Capetonian public in preference to the name of District 6. It truly seems as if the spirit of District 6 will never die for the local <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city> community. Now the question is whether anybody who reads this mail knows where the old District 5 is in today's makeup of our city?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><a name="Signal_Hill"></a><b style="">Signal Hill</b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><b style=""> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><img alt="http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/images/signal-hill.jpg" src="http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/images/signal-hill.jpg" /><br /></span> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;" >On a daily basis most Capetonians pass or see Signal Hill from wherever they are in the city. It always fascinates me to hear why Capetonians think the hill is called as such. Most say that it is because the noon gun fires a signal from hill. This answer would be incorrect. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">The reason why the hill is called Signal Hill is because in bygone years a signalman was permanently stationed on the mountainside which has a great vantage point over the whole of <st1:place st="on">Table Bay</st1:place>. The signalman's duty was to warn the castle of the approaching ships that were coming into the harbour. When ships were sighted a coded system of flags and cannon shots were used to provide the relevant information about the ship as well as it nationality. Amongst others a shot was fired for every ship that was spotted and a flag was hoisted at the same time of the shot being fired. When the ship was visually identifiable a red flag was hoisted if it was an<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">enemy vessel attacking the harbour. This signal brought every man to the harbour so as to defend the shoreline.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="The_heart_of_Camps_Bay"></a><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" >The heart of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dCGRNurlAWS1pe9F_sjiDXvAIZQJiLUheVb6SL48jHSQl6tgujpwJ3mkNJ6TfS7neyJmaJpUoxAaD1Pf3-P0iJFf_f7PNPu5BDj3eMrjVsK4wRl2kirW9_Ry0kDtj6WhYyIBu-Tb8_I/s1600-h/Cape+Town+in+love.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dCGRNurlAWS1pe9F_sjiDXvAIZQJiLUheVb6SL48jHSQl6tgujpwJ3mkNJ6TfS7neyJmaJpUoxAaD1Pf3-P0iJFf_f7PNPu5BDj3eMrjVsK4wRl2kirW9_Ry0kDtj6WhYyIBu-Tb8_I/s320/Cape+Town+in+love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155767374934576114" border="0" /></a></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:201.75pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="Cape Town in love"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></b></span><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">(photo courtesy of Maans Smit)</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The next time that you are in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> area ask one of the locals where the "Heart of Camps Bay" is situated. They are sure to look at you with a frown and openly admit that they don't know. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">To get a good view of the heart of <st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType> travel to the Maidens Cove parking area between <st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Clifton</st1:place></st1:City> which is near to the Glen Country Club. Look up at the cablecar station and you will then see the narrowest view of <st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType> that can be seen from anywhere in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. Take a vertical view line below the cablecar station and move your eye in a downward fashion very slowly towards the left. There you will see a HUGE ditch type structure come into view set in the mountain landscape. Look very carefully at the shape of the area and you will see that it forms the perfect shape of a heart (with ventricles too) . Voila you will have found the heart of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. A fair warning is that you will not see what I am telling you unless you know what you are looking for and this will only happen if you follow the instructions that I have given you to the letter. Once you have seen the heart it will be with you forever. Let me know per return mail if you get to see this awesome part of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> scenery. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="Rondebosch_Fountain"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Rondebosch Fountain<br /><br /></span></b><img alt="http://www.rondebosch.net/static/_images/fount.jpg" src="http://www.rondebosch.net/static/_images/fount.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In the suburb of Rondebosch near <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, we have a fountain known as the Rondebosch Fountain. On or near the spot where this fountain is located, stood a clump of thorn trees named by Jan van Riebeeck, "'T Ronde Doornbosjen" from which Rondebosch took its name. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">I wonder how many Capetonians know that it is in the vicinity of this fountain, on 1 March 1657, that 9 free burghers took permanent title to land and thus became the first "citizens" of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Furthermore it is also interesting to note that the fountain itself has a lamp above it that apparently contained the first electric street light installed in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"><a name="Cape_Town's_first_motor_car."></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style="">Cape Town</b></st1:place></st1:City><b style="">'s first motor car. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The first motor car to be used in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> arrived on South African shores in 1898. The car was a Royal Enfield Quad and was imported by a Mr.W. Jenkins who was a manager of Garlicks Cycle Supply, which was a department of the Garlicks Store. The car was later sold to Sir Alfred Hennessey. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">It is told that Mr.Jenkins first started the vehicle in front of the Garlicks store. As he travelled up Lower St.George's Street he lost control of the vehicle and charged the crowd who were watching the event. An Irish policeman is reputed to have admonished him by saying " when you next intend to go motoring, may I suggest you leave that machine behind" <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Lutheran_Church_swan_emblem."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lutheran</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> swan emblem. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Many people pass the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lutheran</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Strand Street</st1:address></st1:Street> and only some notice the swan emblem above the entrance to this magnificent building. This sculpture was designed by the well know sculptor Anton Anreith and is representative of the teachings of Martin Luther who became the spiritual heir to the Bohemian priest and martyr, John Hus. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The origin of the swan emblem is a very interesting one. The word "Hus" in Bohemian means goose. When Hus was burnt at the stake (1415) he spoke the words "Today a goose roasts but in time a swan will arise which nothing will destroy", hence the origin of the insignia. <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="University_of_Cape_Town"></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">University</span></b></st1:PlaceType><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> of <st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName></span></b></st1:place><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 285px; height: 201px;" alt="http://www.albany.edu/studyabroad/programs/images/southafrica1.gif" src="http://www.albany.edu/studyabroad/programs/images/southafrica1.gif" /><br /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">I wonder how many folk know where, when and how the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> really came into being. The <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName> was born in the vestry of the Dutch Reformed Church in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> on 14 October 1828. Heads of families all got together and discussed how better schooling could be obtained for their children as government and free school standards were on the decline. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The outcome of the meeting was the opening of the South African College at the Weeshuis or Orphanage on 1 October 1829. 100 students attended school in this venue until The South African College was built. This school in turn superseded the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on the slopes of Devils peak. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"><br /><a name="The_Supreme_Court_in_Cape_Town."></a><b style="">The Supreme Court in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">We have a wonderful Supreme Court building that faces the Lions Head mountain area. If you ever see the building give the following a thought: Why does the building face in this direction and not in the direction of Queen Victoria Street which would then mean that a view of the beautiful tranquil company gardens would be enjoyed? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">When the original plans for the court were submitted the plans showed that they would face <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Queen Victoria Street</st1:address></st1:Street> which would mean facing the opposite direction as to what the building faces today. The reason for the "turnaround" is that the Chief Justice of the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> at the time of the building of the court, Lord De Villiers, saw the plans beforehand and he found that his office faced the late afternoon sun as well as the lively atmosphere of the adjacent road called <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Keerom Street</st1:address></st1:Street>. To avoid this he had the plans reversed and hence the building faces in the direction that it does today. <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_naming_of_Table_Mountain"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The naming of <st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"><br /><br />In 1620 and English seafarer, Humphrey Fitzherbert, landed at what he called the <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Soldania</st1:PlaceName> (<st1:place st="on">Table Bay</st1:place>) and in the best British tradition promptly took possession of the area in the name of his king, James I. In a short ceremony on shore he sportingly presented the bewildered Khoi people with an English flag, thus apparently making the exercise perfectly legitimate. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">He then set about naming the surrounding mountains. First to be honored was the present day Signal Hill, which was christened 'King James his mount'. What was later to become Lions Head he dubbed 'Ye Sugar loafe'. Not about to miss an opportunity to achieve ever lasting fame, he named the present day Devils peak, 'Herbert's Mount'. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Unfortunately, on his return to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, King James showed scant enthusiasm for his latest possession and it was left for the Dutch to move in. When the Dutch sailor, Jan van Riebeeck arrived in 1652 with few more than a 100 souls, he landed at 'Leeuwenstraat" (Lions Tail) - the present day <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Granger</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, which of course was attached to 'De Leeuwenbergh', the Lions rump. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Herbert's Mount became Windebergh, but over five centuries and in many languages <st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType> has always been seen, and surely will always be seen, as <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Cape_Glass_Company"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Cape Glass Company <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">I wonder how may of you are aware that the Cape Glass Company, established in 1902, at Glencairn was destined to be the most advance of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The initial projections were that it would produce 8 million bottles per year. But alas, production and suitably qualified labour recruitment problems forced the factory into closure in 1905. Not a lot has changed in almost a century. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">All that remain of the old factory today are archeological remains and glass fragments. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="Cape_Town's_first_recorded_tidal_wave."></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:City><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s first recorded tidal wave.<br /></span></b> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Molteno reservoir at the upper reaches of the city has quite an illustrious history. The existing reservoir, that supplies Cape Town with water, is in fact the second Molteno reservoir to be constructed and completed 1866. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1822, the original reservoir burst its banks, causing a tidal wave of water to rush down into the city demolishing houses, uprooting trees and generally wreaking havoc in its path. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">It's amazing what we in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> can survive. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="South_Africa's_smallest_mosque."></a><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">South Africa</span></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s smallest mosque. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1898 a certain Mr. R.Salie submitted plans to the council to construct a mosque in Quarterdeck rd in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Kalk</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. A place of worship was needed to accommodate emancipated slaves from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Batavia</st1:City>, <st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place> and other Eastern countries. At first a tiny house was used for the purpose, but was later changed into an acknowledged mosque. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">To date, no mosque, larger than this one has been built in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="World's_1st_cesarean_birth."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">World's 1st cesarean birth. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Cape Town</span></st1:place></st1:City><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> has been the venue for numerous medical firsts, the most notable being the 1st heart transplant by Dr Chris Barnard. Dr James Barry who arrived in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> 1816 did another notable, but far less known achievement. This good lady doctor who, despite the name, was the 1st female doctor to receive her degree, at the age of 17, at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Edinburgh</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Dr Barry performed the 1st ever-recorded cesarean birth in 1826 in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Dr Barry died aged 71 1865 while occupying the post of Inspector general of the British Army. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="1st_medical_insurance."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">1st medical insurance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In the early 17th century Mr. Samual Silverthorn Baily came to <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> to create the first civilian hospital in the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place>. Lord Somerset granted the land on which the good gentleman was to build the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">He subsequently built the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Somerset</st1:place></st1:City> hospital across the way from the very well know V&A waterfront complex. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The hospital was however not his only contribution to medicine. Mr. Baily also started the 1st medical insurance scheme in <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City>, which was also the first ever, scheme of its kind on the continent of <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="The_oldest_public_figure_statue"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The oldest public figure statue<br /></span></b> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The oldest statue of a public figure in <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> is that of Sir George Gray, Governor to the Cape 1854-1861, and is to be found in the company gardens at the top of <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Adderley Street</st1:address></st1:Street> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. Sir George was also the foundation stone layer of the Cape Town Public library, to which he donated 5000 volumes, the collection which holds his name today. The one and a half life-sized, marble statue is of Sir George holding a book. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Sir George Gray was also Governor general of NZ in 1854 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Bains_kloof"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Bains kloof <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 262px; height: 174px;" alt="http://www.capetownskies.com/7899/10_burned_hillside_peaksd.jpg" src="http://www.capetownskies.com/7899/10_burned_hillside_peaksd.jpg" /><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Many of our famous mountain passes in the <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Western Cape</st1:place></st1:State> are a result of the incredible work done by Andrew Gedis Baine and his father Thomas Baine. The very famous Bains kloof heading North out of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> is just one of Andrew Gedis Baine projects. Andrew Gedis Baine is also well known for building the 1st pass in SA, the Outeniqua pass. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">However another lesser known achievement of the famous Baine family and also this weeks fascinating info is the Baine's Kloof tunnel. Did you know that this was the first transport tunnel, at 336' long, ever built in South Africa and that it was built with absolutely no mortar but only stone packings. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="South_Africa’s_shortest_mountain_pass"></a><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">South Africa</span></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">’s shortest mountain pass <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Last week I told you about Sir George Gray, Governor to the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> 1854-1861, and his invaluable contribution to our national libraries. Just a few of meters away from the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> Town library, is another landmark that owes its origin to the esteemed governor. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Queen <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Victoria street</st1:address></st1:Street>, the avenue leading up from the supreme court to the planetarium, in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>, ends in a short climbing hill named Grays pass. According to the roads surveying department of the <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> municipality, this “<st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Pass</st1:PlaceType>” was surveyed in 1898 with the survey of company gardens, and is still on official record as a “<st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Pass</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>”. The pass is approximately 250 meters long and climbs approximately 50 meters from bottom to top making it the shortest “Mountain pass” in South Africa and therefore also in Cape Town. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Africa's_first_airmail_delivery."></a><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Africa</span></b></st1:place><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s first airmail delivery. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Muizenburg post office was the 1st in <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place> to receive airmail. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">On 27 December 1911, Evelyn Driver, considered to be a superb "instinctive navigator" and also a pioneer of British Royal mail service, delivered by air, 729 Specially designed postcards to this post office. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The flight from the <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> suburb of <st1:place st="on">Kenilworth</st1:place>, 12.8 km flight distance from Muizenburg lasted 7.5 Minutes and was flown in a Bleriot Monoplane. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="The_Legend_of_the_Flying_Dutchman."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Legend of the Flying Dutchman</span></b><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">.<br /><br /></span></u><img style="width: 269px; height: 180px;" alt="http://www.sqpn.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/soc04_flyingdutchman.jpg" src="http://www.sqpn.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/soc04_flyingdutchman.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Did you know that this legend actually started at <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City>'s very own Cape Point on the <st1:place st="on">Southern Peninsula</st1:place> in 1641. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The story is told of a certain Captain Hendrick van der Decken who battled against a storm rounding Cape Point on his way home. Even though his severely battered ship started sinking he vowed that he "would try, even if it took till judgment day" to round the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">There have been many "sightings" of the phantom ship with torn sails and broken masts, but the most significant sighting was on July 1881 by a midshipman on the HMS Berchante. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">This young lad was eventually crowned King George V 1907. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Cape_Town's_Blockhouses."></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:City><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s Blockhouses. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">When you look up at <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City>'s majestic <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> you will note the remains of 3 "blockhouses" dotted around Devil's Peak. The buildings served as a very important part of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>'s defense in 1795. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The buildings where built as per the instructions of governor Sir James Craig and where named the Kings, Queens, and Duke of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">York</st1:place></st1:City> respectively. But did you know that the Kings served later as a convict station. One of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>'s first prisons. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Adderley_Street_-_Cape_Town's_Main_road."></a><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Adderley Street</span></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> - <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>'s Main road. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 248px; height: 211px;" alt="http://www.greatnorthroad.org/bboard/images/0208/adderley_street_capetown.jpg" src="http://www.greatnorthroad.org/bboard/images/0208/adderley_street_capetown.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">On 21 Feb 1850 the British government was coerced by the people of <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> to divert a convict ship destined for the Cape to the convict settlement in Van Diemens Land in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tasmania</st1:place></st1:State>. Sir Charles Adderley, a member of the British parliament, championed the cause of the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> colonists. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">As a token of gratitude the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Municipality</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> presented Adderley with the considerable sum of 100 pounds and named the city's main street after him even though he had not, and never did, set foot in this city. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Strand_Street_in_Cape_Town."></a><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Strand Street</span></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">It is very hard to believe that the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> beach of 1652 was located on the line of the present day <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Strand Street</st1:address></st1:Street> as this street is approximately 1km from the sea. The entire area between <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Strand street</st1:address></st1:Street> and the present day harbour has all been reclaimed since just before World War II. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">No wonder, the name "<st1:place st="on">Strand</st1:place>" is derived from the Dutch word that means "beach". <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Field_Marshal_Jan_smuts."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Field Marshal Jan smuts. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img alt="http://lafayette.150m.com/dream/nat0012.jpg" src="http://lafayette.150m.com/dream/nat0012.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">There are 2 prominent statues of this renowned leader in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. Apart from his prominence as a guerilla leader and two times prime minister, Smuts was largely responsible for the establishment of the Royal Air Force and the League of Nations, which later led to the formation of the united nations for which the drafted the Covenant of the UN. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">He also wrote a number of philosophical works and was the first to first to use the term "Holism" referring to holistic healing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Smuts also coined the phrase "The Whole is greater than the sum of its parts" 1870 -1950 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="A_300-year-old_Night_Watch."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">A 300-year-old Night Watch. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Knowing the time in the dead of night is something we take for granted as we can simply look at an illuminated watch and read the time. 300 years ago, our Dutch forefathers never had this luxury and a solution had to be found. After all, they could not simply pop outside and read the “Moon dial” like they would have used a sundial. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">A device called a “Water Watch” was used, which utilized an accurate dripping system calibrated for 13 hours of drip. A floating cork would indicate the time, usually starting at 6pm. and lasting to 7am. The nighttime hours when a sundial was ineffective and an hourglass to cumbersome. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">An example of this kind of clock, dated 1697, used in <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> during that era, can be found in our Cultural museum in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Noon_Day_Gun."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Noon Day Gun. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> we have a cannon, called the Noon day Gun, that is fired every day, except Sundays, to signal 12:00 Noon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The "Noon Day Gun" has not always been fired at "Noon". The tradition of the midday firing is derived from a Dutch East <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> company practice, which continued for over 200 years, when a gun was fired at 6am and 9pm to signal the start and end of each day. From 1865 it was fired at 13:00. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Only since 4 Aug 1902 has it been fired at noon, from Lion Battery on Signal hill above <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> city. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Green_Point_Lighthouse."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Green Point Lighthouse. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 264px; height: 176px;" alt="http://www.kapstadt.net/images/greenpoint1.jpg" src="http://www.kapstadt.net/images/greenpoint1.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">This very well known lighthouse is the oldest in the country and is also the "Lighthouse services" head office. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The odd thing about this landmark is that the Lighthouse services head office has not always been in this building. These offices have in fact, until 1993, been in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Johannesburg</st1:place></st1:City> of all places, making it the only lighthouse service head office in the world that was situated 600km from the sea. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Hout_Bay."></a><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Hout</span></b></st1:PlaceName><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></span></b></st1:place><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img alt="http://www.zsd.co.za/~houtbay/military/consent.jpg" src="http://www.zsd.co.za/%7Ehoutbay/military/consent.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">John Chapman was the master of a ship, the "Consent" which was becalmed in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Hout</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> 1607. As a result of various expeditions from this vessel into the area, today know as Hout bay, the good captain named the area. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">"Chapmans Chance" was the first name given to Hout bay and it was also the first English name ever to appear on maps of <st1:place st="on">Southern Africa</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="1st_recorded_British_ship_wreck."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">1st recorded British ship wreck. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The earliest record of a British vessel to be wrecked on our treacherous <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> coast is a galleon named "Joanna" that sank of Quinne Point in 1682. The ill-fated vessel had 70 chests of treasure on board. Fortunate salvers managed to recover 300 KG of gold and other priceless articles in 1982. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Electric_Lights."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Electric Lights. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Did you know that electric lights were used on April 13 1895 to light the streets of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> for the very first time. The first light to be installed was on top of the pole in the centre of the fountain in Rondebosch. This pole was also used to tie horses to. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Tickey."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Tickey. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 163px; height: 340px;" alt="http://mike.microminutes.com/General/tickey%20composite%202.jpg" src="http://mike.microminutes.com/General/tickey%20composite%202.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Those of us old and colonial enough will remember the little coin called the "Tickey". This very common, small silver South African coin, was actually a 3-penny piece and because of its diminutive size gave rise to the word "Tickey" being commonly used for things small. A very well known example being a very famous midget clown performing in a South African circus. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">A lesser known point, is the origin of this word "Tickey" which actually originates from a Malay word tiga, which means three - Hence the 3-penny piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Simonstown's_"Multi_named"_main_street."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Simonstown's "Multi named" main street. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Did you know that the main road of Simonstown, even though it is quite short, changes its name 6 times from beginning to end. Entering into Simonstown, it starts off as Main road. In front of the station it changes to Station road and then into <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">St George's street</st1:address></st1:Street> past Jubilee Square. The road then changes to <st1:place st="on">Queens</st1:place> rd and then Macfarlane road after which it reverts to Main road on exiting the village.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Wow, quite a mouthful when giving directions in such a small town.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_origin_of_the_word_Guano."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The origin of the word Guano. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 195px; height: 311px;" alt="http://img.alibaba.com/photo/10108356/Natural_Guano_Phosphate.jpg" src="http://img.alibaba.com/photo/10108356/Natural_Guano_Phosphate.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The word, that we have all used when talking about our sea birds and islands, originates from a Peruvian Indian word meaning seabird manure. They were the first to use it as fertilizer for their farm plots. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="The_origin_of_the_word_Biltong."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The origin of the word Biltong<br /></span></b><img style="width: 218px; height: 195px;" alt="http://www.aussiebiltong.info/Images/Biltong%20web%20pic.JPG" src="http://www.aussiebiltong.info/Images/Biltong%20web%20pic.JPG" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">I have been asked so many times by foreign guests what that dried meat stuff similar to Beef Jerky is called, that I have lost track how many times it has happened. Every time I answer with the word 'Biltong' and then launch into this elaborate explanation how traditional this meat is and how fundamental it is to the South African culture. Never have I even given it a second thought as to where the word Biltong originates from. Have you? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">It appears that the word Biltong is derived from the Dutch word 'Bil' meaning 'Backside' and 'Tong' meaning 'Strip'. So a piece of Biltong is literally a strip of the old backside.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_longest_serving_chemist_in_the_world"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The longest serving chemist in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Did you know that the longest serving chemist in the world, according to the Guinness book of records lives and works right here in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. To be exact he is Mr. Phillip Isaacs from the Camps Bay Pharmacy. He is 96 years old and has been in this pharmacy for 70 years. One of the incredible things about this gentleman is that he is just to willing to tell anyone, in his shop, about all those years of experience in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Camps</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> - something that shopkeepers seem to have forgotten the art of over the past years. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Mrs._Balls_Chutney."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Mrs. Balls Chutney. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 213px; height: 213px;" alt="http://www.mrsballschutney.com/Original.jpg" src="http://www.mrsballschutney.com/Original.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Having just traveled with an American couple, who insisted on buying a large amount of this "local gold" before returning home, it got me thinking if you would know where this very familiar product originated from. Well here it is.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1852 The SS Quanza was wrecked off the coast of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">East London</st1:place></st1:City> and its stranded captain Adkins and his wife settled in king Williams Town. Mrs. Adkins gave birth to a daughter, Amelia, in 1865, and when Amelia later married Mr. HS Ball, she took her mother secret chutney recipe with her to her new home in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. Her spicy chutney soon became highly sought after and soon she had a small factory in her kitchen. The Balls approached a <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> businessman, Fred Metter, who designed the famous octagonal jar and oval label. The name of the chutney was obvious, "Mrs. Ball's Chutney" and as orders rolled in they were forced to move to larger production space in Fish Hoek. Amelia died in 1962 aged 97.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_origin_of_the_name_Bree_Street."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The origin of the name <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Bree Street</st1:address></st1:Street>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Have you ever wondered how <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Bree Street</st1:address></st1:Street> got its name? The name is actually an English derivative of the Dutch word Breë that means wide. This particular street was, in the mid 18th century, built much wider than all other streets in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> so that the ox wagons could perform a u-turn in the street. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Early photographs of <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Bree Street</st1:address></st1:Street> show that the present day islands, in the center of the street, were only added in the early 20th century. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Groot Constantia Manor house. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 247px; height: 185px;" alt="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/475457034_e9a764b44e.jpg" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/475457034_e9a764b44e.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">You have probably visited the wine estate Groot Constantia and thus seen the majestic old manor house once occupied by Simon van Der Stell. I however wonder if you are aware of the unusual circumstances that led to the unusually large roof and windows of this historic building. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1792, whilst Hedrick Cloete still owned the farm, he decided to enlarge and improve the homestead. Initially there was a flat roofed gallery behind the front row of rooms. Cloete had the roof of both gallery and rooms removed and replaced with a traditional thatch roof. The new roof however now spanned 14 meters of building, double the width of a traditional house of the time. As a thatch roof requires a pitch of 50 degrees, to remain waterproof, the height of the roof therefore had to be doubled as well. Now that they were doubling the height of the roof, the existing walls would have been far to low to be in proportion, so they extended the height of the walls and the existing casement windows were replaced by tall sash windows. The next problem was that the front gable had to be heightened to match the size of the huge side gables. This left a large blank space above the gable window. Conveniently this was filled by a niche now containing a statue of Abundance with her horn of plenty. It would have been so much easier had Cloete just stuck to tradition but then alas we would not have this majestic building today. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Silvertree."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Silvertree. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 231px; height: 150px;" alt="http://www.nigeldennis.com/stock/images/flora/65167.jpg" src="http://www.nigeldennis.com/stock/images/flora/65167.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Legend <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Khoisan people who were at the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> some two thousand years ahead of the Bantu tribes tell the story of the first silvertrees. The Great Man who formed all living creatures, gave seed to the birds, the animals and to some of the early Khoisan people telling them to find a perfect spot to grow this very special tree. After some time had elapsed the birds came back to the Great Man saying that they had dropped the seeds in the center of the land but it was too high and too cold and all the seeds died. The animals said that they had dropped the seeds on the west coast but it was too dry and all the seeds died. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">When the Khoisan returned they told the Great Man that they had held the valuable seeds in the palm of their hand while they traveled to the southern most point of the land. There they had found a great flat mountain and in their excitement of being there they allowed the seeds to slip from their hands onto the sandy slopes of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. The seeds were nourished by the clear mountain springs and the fresh air that abounds in that area. The Khoisan people told the Great Man, not only did it grow and thrive but the leaves turned to silver showing that in all the land this is where it wanted to be. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Fact <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The silvertree is part of the Protea family ( Leucadendron Argentum ) and is found only on the slopes of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at a height of 250 meters ( 800 feet ) above sea-level. It grows best in a sunny position that has well drained acid soil. The silvertree is an endangered species of the <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Western Cape</st1:place></st1:State> fynbos biome. Part Fact part Legend The Silvertree's leaves will only turn silver when the tree can SEE Table Mountain but this explanation I reserve for the day that you join one of my tours. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_origins_of_the_word_Spanspek."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The origins of the word Spanspek. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 224px; height: 178px;" alt="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/936/65214268.JPG" src="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/936/65214268.JPG" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Sir Harry Smith, governor of the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> in 1850, was married to a Spanish lady. During their sojourn in the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place>, Lady Smith always insisted on fresh sweet melon for breakfast rather than the more traditional bacon and eggs. Because of her Spanish origins the kitchen staff at the governor’s residence started referring to this as Spaanse spek, whish later evolved into ‘Spanspek’ <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Dias_and_Da_Gama_beacons_at_Cape_Poi"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Dias and Da Gama beacons at Cape Point. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">If you have been fortunate enough to visit the Cape Point reserve, you will have seen these two concrete beacons with stone crosses on top. These two beacons where erected in 1965 to serve as a memorial to the great discoverers after which they are named. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Another more subtle application is that they are also used as navigational beacons. For a ship in <st1:place st="on">False Bay</st1:place>, once aligned with these two beacons and a beacon above Simonstown gold course, is warned of the submerged Whittle rock in the Bay. Because of this maritime usage, the Dias beacon is painted black on the Eastern side to offset the white concrete against the horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Baobab_tree."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Baobab tree. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img style="width: 219px; height: 197px;" alt="http://www.stacey.peak-media.co.uk/Year8/8-3Ecosystems/8-3Savannas/baobab.jpg" src="http://www.stacey.peak-media.co.uk/Year8/8-3Ecosystems/8-3Savannas/baobab.jpg" /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Even thought this tree is not found naturally in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>, I thought it might be interesting for you to know some of the interesting wealth of myths & legends that surround this tree. The ancient Khoi people believed that the Flowers of this tree are inhabited by spirits and anyone picking one will be eaten by a lion. It is modern bushman belief that if one drinks an infusion of the seeds it will protect you against a crocodile attack. This might be appear to be far fetched, but the bark of this ancient tree it will protect against flu as it is rich in vitamin C. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">So next time you feel a bout if flu coming on and you are about to take a trip to the Okovango delta, stop by your nearest Baobab tree, there is one in Kirstenbosch. Who knows, it might help. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <a name="Cape_Town's_oldest_living_tradition."></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:City><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s oldest living tradition<br /><br /></span></b><img style="width: 174px; height: 254px;" alt="http://www.saao.ac.za/~wpk/gallery/pics/noongun1.jpg" src="http://www.saao.ac.za/%7Ewpk/gallery/pics/noongun1.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The oldest living tradition in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> is the firing of the Noon day guns at Lion Battery on Signal hill. The two cannons that are fired daily at noon have been in continuous use since 1806 when they were first fired at sunset, then later at 13:00 and then even later at noon as it is still done today. This continuous usage makes these canons the oldest smooth bore muzzle loading guns, in daily use, in the world. As of 1st August 2002 the guns have been fired 61760 times, truly making it the oldest living tradition in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Monument_Station_in_Cape_Town."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Monument Station in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Did you know that there was a station in the heart of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> called Monument station? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Well, thanks to the Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch, who offer steam train excursions from <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> to Stellenbosch, the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Cape</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placename st="on">Station</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> terminus has been named Monument Station, which commemorates the original Monument Station on the now long-defunct Sea Point suburban railway line. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_Cape_Town_connection_to_the_Cutty_Sa"></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> connection to the Cutty <st1:place st="on">Sark</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">This clipper, famous for its unique figurehead of a witch called Nanni, had two direct connections with <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City>. The vessel was known as a 'Tea cutter' and was built to beat the speed of the vessel called Thermopoli which one can see the remains of off the Mouillie point beach.<br /><br />The other connection to <st1:city st="on">Cape Town</st1:City> is that in 1816 the vessel suffered mast damage, in one of its speed dashes against the Thermopoli, and had to put into <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:City> for emergency repairs.<br /><br />Did you know that the word Cutty Sark is word of Scottish origin which means short shirt. It is therefore not surprising that the figurehead of Nanni is dressed in a Cutty Sark. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Groot_Constantia_Manor_house."></a> </p><p><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Rubbi Chapel. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Few Capetonians are aware of the exquisite architectural jewel in the middle of Kommetjie, built a half a century ago, by a grieving widow in loving memory of her husband, Joseph Rubbi. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The Rubbi chapel, considered a "reckless extravagance" by the priest of Fish Hoek, was built by dedicated Italian craftsmen in 1948. The tiles, altar and sanctuary are of Italian marble, fashioned by expert craftsmen. The woodwork, pews, doors and fittings are of superb quality that could only be achieved during an era when time taken on a project was not an issue. The chapel is complete with a domed ceiling in which three painting are set, one dating back to the 15th century. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">A real architectural artistic secret right here in our midst which just has to be seen to be believed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Cape_Town's_very_own_river."></a><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Cape Town</span></b></st1:place></st1:City><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s very own river. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">We all know that most big cities of the world are situated on rivers. <st1:city st="on">London</st1:City> is on the Thames and <st1:city st="on">Paris</st1:City> is on the <st1:place st="on">Seine</st1:place>, to mention just two of many. The question is "Is Cape Town situated on a river and if so what is it called."?<br /><br />The answer is "Yes" and it is called the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Fresh</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. This is a river that comes off the slopes of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and runs through the company gardens. It can be seen at the gates of Tuynhuys just off <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Government Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street>. The river then travels down underneath <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Adderley Street</st1:address></st1:Street> and continues to the Waagenaar reservoir below the Golden Acre. The river might be a small one relative to those quoted above, but never the less exists. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Africa's_first_independent_colony."></a><st1:place st="on"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Africa</span></b></st1:place><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s first independent colony. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Swellendam, the third oldest village in the <st1:place st="on">Cape</st1:place> was officially established in 1745. A lesser known historic fact is that Swellendam declared itself an independent republic in 1795, thus becoming the first independent European-ruled colony in <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="The_naming_of_Langa."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">The naming of Langa. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <img alt="http://www.warthog.co.za/dedt/tourism/battlefields/pix/langalibele.jpg" src="http://www.warthog.co.za/dedt/tourism/battlefields/pix/langalibele.jpg" /><br /> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Many people people think the name Langa means <i>sun</i>. If this was so then Xhosa speakers would call this place "Elangeni" which they don't. Langa, as pronounced in English, is actually called "Kwa-Langa" which means <i>the place of Langa,</i> indicating ownership of an individual by that name. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1873 a Tribal chief and renowned rainmaker, Langalibalele, was imprisoned on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Robben</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt" on the site of present day Pinelands. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land know as "<i>Langalibalele's Location</i>".<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Driekoppen."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Driekoppen. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">There is a student's residence called Driekoppen at the lower end of the UCT campus, next to the Baxter theatre. Contrary to popular belief, this residence is not call by this name because there are three tall building loosely referring to three heads. The name has a far more gruesome and ominous origin. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">In 1724, a colonist by the name of Behr was murdered at this location by three slaves. The slaves were tortured and on confession they were decapitated and their heads were placed on poles at the site of the murder. Presumably this was to be a deterrent to anyone who might have considered a similar crime. I believe it worked! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><a name="Aircraft_crash_on_Table_Mountain."></a><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Aircraft crash on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">It is quite unusual for Capetonians to think of our beloved mountain as a crash site for aircraft. Not so for the unfortunate Mr. Fred Duk and pupil pilot Mr. Williams. These two intrepid aviators took off from <st1:place st="on">Brooklyn</st1:place> aerodrome, today known as Ysterplaat, on 15 May 1932. After flying across to Muizenberg the two returned back to the city via the top of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Table</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. It was a favourite antic at the time for pilots to skim over the top of the mountain and dive down the front face. Unfortunately for them on this fateful day they were caught unawares by a swirling downdraft and their Avro Avian aircraft crashed into the rocks between Platteklip gorge and McClear's beacon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;">Rescued by climbers, the two aviators escaped reasonably unscathed with one losing three teeth and the other fainting when he saw the wreck. The aircraft was a total wreck and thanks to the cable car, the two pilots where able to make it back home without any further mishap.<br /><br /></span><p><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"></span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><p><br /><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><b style=""><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"></st1:address></st1:street> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-85086605419050126632008-01-14T23:46:00.000+02:002008-01-14T19:12:14.187+02:00Ethical Issues<div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Abortion (image: ultrasound scan of foetus)" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_abortion.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Abortion</h1><p>The abortion debate asks whether it can be morally right to terminate a pregnancy before normal childbirth.</p><p>Some people think that abortion is always wrong. Some think that abortion is right when the mother's life is at risk. Others think that there is a range of circumstances in which abortion is morally acceptable.</p></div></div><br /><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Animal ethics (image: monkey in a cage)" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="main promo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_animals.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Animal ethics</h1><p>Rational argument about the right and wrong way to treat animals is made more difficult by the deep love that many of us feel for animals.</p><p>For philosophers it raises fundamental questions about the basis of moral rights.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Electric chair © istockphoto.com" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="An electric chair with headpiece and straps on the arms and legs" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/capitalpunishment/images/mainpromo.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Capital punishment</h1><p>The question as to whether or not it is morally acceptable for the state to execute people, and if so under what circumstances, has been debated for centuries.</p><p>The ethical problems involved include the general moral issues of punishment with the added problem of whether it is ever morally right to deprive a human being of life.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Contraception (image: various contraceptives)" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="main promo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_contraception.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Contraception</h1><p>What do philosophy and religions say about contraception? Is it an issue of human rights?</p><p>Is there ever a duty to use contraception?</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Syringes" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_euthanasia.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Euthanasia</h1><p>Euthanasia is the deliberate killing of a person for the benefit of that person.</p><p>In most cases euthanasia is carried out because the person who dies asks for it, but there are cases called euthanasia where a person can't make such a request.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Kenyan girl" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_femalecirc.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Female Circumcision</h1><p>Female circumcision usually involves the cutting or removal of the clitoris. This area of the genitals is very sensitive because it contains the most nerve endings.</p><p>Genital cutting is a painful practice that is often poorly carried out, and endangers the health and lives of millions of girls, particularly in Africa.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Bridesmaid helping bride" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="main promo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_forcedmarriage.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Forced Marriage</h1><p>The issue of forced marriages has been traditionally treated with hesitation by the government, for fear of offending cultural sensitivities.</p><p>But more information about the nature of forced marriages and a clearer understanding of cultural values has brought the subject under scrutiny.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Distressed person with hands over face" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="main promo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_honourcrimes.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Honour Crimes</h1><p>Honour killing is the murder of a woman accused of bringing shame upon her family.</p><p>Honour killing is an ancient tribal custom and an allegation against a woman can be enough to defile a family's honour and justify her murder.</p><p>The United Nations Population Fund estimates that the annual worldwide total of killings might be as high as 5,000 women.<br /></p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Fingers crossed behind the back. Photo © Amanda Rohde/istockphoto.com" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Person in a suit with fingers crossed behind their back" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/lying/images/mainpromo.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Lying</h1><p>Lying is probably one of the most common wrong acts that we carry out.</p><p>Most people would condemn lying except when there's a good reason for it.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Father and son" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_malecirc.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Male Circumcision</h1><p>Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin. It usually involves cutting some or all of the fold of the skin that covers the glans (head) of the penis.</p><p>Circumcision is primarily carried out for religious or cultural reasons. It is sometimes done for health, hygiene and aesthetic reasons or to treat disease.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="A wedding cake with two grooms" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/samesexmarriage/images/gaycake.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Same-sex marriage</h1><p>Marriage has been one of the fundamental organising principles of human society since history began.</p><p>But since the nature of marriage is changing in modern times anyway, with people marrying for love and companionship rather than social need, should the traditionally man-and-woman only club admit new members?</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Antique ball and chain. Photo © Oktay Ortakcioglu/iStockphoto" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Antique, rusted iron ball and chain with shackle" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/slavery/images/mainpromo.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Slavery</h1><p>Slavery can broadly be described as the ownership, buying and selling of human beings for the purpose of forced and unpaid labour.</p><p>Slavery is one of the things that everyone agrees is unethical.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Football" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="main promo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/sport/images/football.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Sport</h1><p>Competition is not unethical. It is reasonable that winners be rewarded, even if their victories have an element of chance; this is the essence of a game, and games are fundamental to humanity.</p><p>But the allure of winning can drive some competitors to unethical behaviour.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img title="Torture" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Handcuffs" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/torture/images/mainpromo.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Torture</h1><p>Torture involves deliberately inflicting physical or mental pain on a person without legal cause.</p><p>This includes threats to family members and loved ones.</p><div id="featureContent"><div class="clearfix" id="mainPromo"><img style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" alt="Soldier pointing gun" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/images/ethicsindex_war.jpg" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" width="218" /> <h1>Ethics of War</h1><p>Human beings have been fighting each other since prehistoric times, and people have been discussing the rights and wrongs of it for almost as long.</p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-41624802518096635492008-01-13T23:20:00.000+02:002008-01-13T23:45:01.838+02:00Various ReligionsA <b>religion</b> is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.<br /><br /><div id="bottomimg"><img style="width: 656px; height: 44px;" src="http://www.religionfacts.com/images_general/home-page/home-image.jpg" usemap="#Map" border="0" hspace="2" vspace="2" /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Athiesm</span><br /></span><p><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Atheism" title="Atheism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /></p><p>Atheists are people who do not believe in a god or gods (or other immaterial beings), or who believe that these concepts are not meaningful.</p><p>Some atheists put it more firmly and believe that god or gods do not exist.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bahá'í</span></p><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Bahá'í" title="Bahá'í" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>The Bahá'í faith is one of the youngest of the world's major religions.</p><p>It was founded by Baha'u'llah in Iran in the 19th century.</p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buddhism</span></span><br /></div><br /><span class="style10"> </span> <div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Buddhism" title="Buddhism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life and do not worship gods or deities.</p></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Candomblé</span><br /><br /></span><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/candomble/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Candomblé" title="Candomblé" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Candomblé is a religion based on African beliefs which is particularly popular in Brazil. It is also practised in other countries, and has as many as two million followers.</p></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Christianity</span><br /><br /></span><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Christianity" title="Christianity" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago.</p><p>For ease of navigation, we include as Christian any group that sincerely regards itself as Christian, and whose beliefs are based on the teaching of Jesus.</p></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hinduism</span><br /><br /></span><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Hinduism" title="Hinduism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Hinduism originated over 3000 years ago. Hinduism claims to have many founders, teachers and prophets who claim first hand experience of God.</p><p>When Hindus promote the idea of spirituality as a principle rather than a personality, they call this Brahman.</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Islam</span><br /><br /></span> <div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Islam" title="Islam" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad. Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.</p><p>Muslims believe that there is only one God. The Arabic word for God is Allah.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jainism</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Jainism" title="Jainism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation.</p><p>The aim of Jain life is to achieve liberation of the soul.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jehovah's Witnesses</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/witnesses/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Jehovah's Witnesses" title="Jehovah's Witnesses" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement probably best known for their door-to-door evangelistic work.</p><p>There are about 6.5 million active Witnesses in 235 countries in the world (2005), including 1 million in the USA and 125,000 in the UK.</p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Judaism</span></span><br /><br /><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Judaism" title="Judaism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions and was founded over 3500 years ago in the Middle East.</p><p>Jews believe that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to set an example of holiness and ethical behaviour to the world.</p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mormonism</span></span><br /></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Mormonism" title="Mormonism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 19th Century America and has over 12 million members world-wide, including 190,000 in the UK.</p><p>The Church is centred on Christ, but has substantial differences in belief to the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paganism</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Paganism" title="Paganism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods.</p><p>Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, Sacred Ecologists, Odinists and Heathens all make up parts of the Pagan community.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Rastafari</span></p><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Rastafari" title="Rastafari" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Rastafari is a young, Africa-centred religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia in 1930.</p><p>Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return to Africa members of the black community who are living in exile as the result of colonisation and the slave trade.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Santeria</span></p><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/santeria/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Santeria" title="Santeria" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. The religion is also known as <em>La Regla Lucumi</em> and <em>the Rule of Osha</em>.</p><p>Santeria is a syncretic religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba.</p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shinto</span></span> </p><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Shinto" title="Shinto" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Shinto has no known founder or single sacred scripture.</p><p>Shinto is wholly devoted to life in this world and emphasises man's essential goodness.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sikhism</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Sikhism" title="Sikhism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Sikhism was founded in the Punjab by Guru Nanak in the 15th Century CE and is a monotheistic religion.</p><p>Sikhs think religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping with life's everyday problems.</p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taoism</span></span><br /><br /><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Taoism" title="Taoism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese customs and worldview.</p><p>Taoist ideas have become popular throughout the world through Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and various martial arts.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Unitarianism</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/unitarianism/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Unitarianism" title="Unitarianism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Unitarianism is an open-minded and individualistic approach to religion that gives scope for a very wide range of beliefs and doubts.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Zoroastrianism</span></p></div><div id="mainPromo" class="clearfix"><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/images/mainpromo.jpg" alt="Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" border="0" height="162" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="218" /><p>Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.</p><p>It was founded by the prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-66849526418386956422008-01-13T22:51:00.000+02:002008-01-13T23:14:32.071+02:00January Facts, Customs and Traditions<p style="text-align: center;" class="bodyText"><img style="width: 184px; height: 230px;" alt="http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/vmi/images/january.jpg" src="http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/vmi/images/january.jpg" /></p><p class="bodyText" align="left">The beginning of the new year and the time to make New Year resolutions.</p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">January was established as the first the first month of the year by the Roman Calendar. It was named after the god Janus (Latin word for door). Janus has two faces which allowed him to look both backwards into the old year and forwards into the new one at the same time. He was the 'spirit of the opening'.</p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">In the very earliest Roman calendars there were no months of January or February at all. The ancient Roman calendar had only ten months and the new year started the year on 1 March. To the Romans, ten was a very important number. Even when January (or Januarius as the Romans called it) was added, the New Year continued to start in March. It remained so in England and her colonies until about 200 years ago. </p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">The Anglo-Saxons called the first month <strong>Wolf monath</strong> because wolves came into the villages in winter in search of food.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="bodyText" align="left">New Year's Day</p><p class="bodyText" align="left">New Year's Day is the first day of the year, in the Gregorian calendar. In modern times, it is January 1. It is a time for looking forward and wishing for a good year ahead. <img src="http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/london/images/bb.jpg" alt="Big Ben" align="right" border="1" height="199" hspace="20" width="125" />It is also a holiday. </p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">People welcome in the New Year on the night before. This is called <strong>New Year's Eve</strong>. In Scotland, people celebrate with a lively festival called Hogmanay. All over the world there are parties, fireworks, singing and dancing, to ring out the old year and ring in the new. As the clock <strong></strong> strikes midnight, people link arms and sing a song called Auld Lang Syne. It reminds them of old and new friends.</p> <p align="left"><strong>The Door Custom</strong></p> <p align="left"> <span class="bodyText">In the old days, the New Year started with a custom called 'first footing', which was suppose to bring good luck to people for the coming year. As soon as midnight had passed and January 1st had started, people used to wait behind their doors for a dark haired person to arrive. The visitor carried a piece of coal, some bread, some money and some greenery. These were all for good luck - the coal to make sure that the house would always be warm, the bread to make sure everyone in the house would have enough food to eat, money so that they would have enough money, and the greenery to make sure that they had a long life.</span></p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">The visitor would then take a pan of dust or ashes out of the house with him, thus signifying the departure of the old year.</p><strong>New Year Superstition</strong> <p class="bodyText" align="left">The 1st of January was a highly significant day in medieval superstitions regarding prosperity, or lack of it, in the year ahead. A flat cake was put on one of the horns of a cow in every farmyard. The farmer and his workers would then sing a song and dance around the cow until the cake was thrown to the ground. If it fell in front of the cow that signified good luck; to fall behind indicated the opposite.</p><p class="bodyText" align="left"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unluckiest Day of the Year</span> </p><p class="bodyText" align="left">It was an old Saxon belief that <strong>2nd January</strong> was one of the unluckiest days of the whole year. Those unfortunate enough to be born on this day could expect to dies an unpleasant death.</p><p class="bodyText" align="left"><span style="font-weight: bold;">St Agnes's Eve 20 January</span> </p><p class="bodyText" align="left">This was the day on which girls and unmarried women who wished to dream of their future husbands would perform certain rituals before going to bed. These included transferring pins one by one from a pincushion to their sleeve whilst reciting the Lord's Prayer, or abstaining from food and drink all day, walking backwards up the stairs to bed, and eating a portion of dumb cake ( previously prepared with a group of friends in total silence and often containing an unpleasantly large portion of salt) before lying down to sleep. </p><p style="text-align: left;" class="bodyText"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 238px; height: 206px;" alt="http://www.flitemedia.com/images/astrophotography/moon(2007-1-23).jpg" src="http://www.flitemedia.com/images/astrophotography/moon%282007-1-23%29.jpg" /></p><p class="bodyText" align="left"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Customs of the Year's First New Moon</span> </p><p class="bodyText" align="left">It is said that if you look through a silk handkerchief at the new moon, which has never been washed, the number of moons you see will be the number of years which will pass until you're married. But it is unlucky to see the new moon through a window. </p> <p class="bodyText" align="left">To dream of your future husband, it is said that at the first appearance of the first new moon of the year you should go out and stand over the spars of a gate or stile and look at the moon saying: </p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"><em>All hail to thee moon, all hail to thee,<br /> I prythee, good moon, reveal to me,<br /> This night who my husband shall be.</em></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="bodyText" align="left">Festivals and Traditions </p><p class="bodyText" align="left">Wassailing has been associated with Christmas and New Year as far back as the 1400s. It was a way of passing on good wishes among family and friends. </p> <p align="left">5th -<strong>Twelfth Night</strong></p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"> Evening before Epiphany. Twelfth Night marks the end of the medieval Christmas festivities and the end of Twelfthtide (the 12-day season after Christmas ending with Epiphany). Also called Twelfth Day Eve. <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Twelfth Night is when all Christmas Decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home.</strong> If decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night, they should stay up all year.</p> <p align="left">6th - <strong>Epiphany or Twelfth Day</strong></p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"> Also known as Old Christmas Day and Twelfthtide. On the twelfth day after Christmas, Christians celebrate the visit of the Magi or wise men to the baby Jesus.</p> <p align="left">7th <strong>St Distaff's Day</strong></p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"> This was the day on which women had to return to work with the distaff (another name for a spindle) after the Christmas holiday. </p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"><strong>Plough Monday</strong></p> <p align="left"> <span class="bodyText">The day on which work started again after Twelfth Night was known to countryfolk as Plough Monday: the day on which labourers had to return to the fields. The day was also nicknamed St Distaff's Day: the day on which women had to return to work with the distaff (another name for a spindle) after the Christmas holiday. </span></p> <p align="left"><strong>Wassailing</strong> - People went from door to door, rather like carol singers at Christmas times, but at New Year they were called 'wassailers'.<br /> </p> <p align="left"><img alt="http://www.maybole.org/notables/Burns/robert%20burns.jpg" src="http://www.maybole.org/notables/Burns/robert%20burns.jpg" /></p><p align="left">25th - <strong>Burns Night </strong></p> <p class="bodyText" align="left"> The people of Scotland honour their greatest poet, Robert Burns. He was born on January 25th nearly 245 years ago (1759) and wrote his first song when he was sixteen. A traditional Scottish meal is neaps (swede), tatties (potato) and haggis washed down with whisky.</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><p class="bodyText" align="left"><br /></p><p class="bodyText" align="left"><br /></p>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8075988751294457986.post-45606685761098955942008-01-07T22:23:00.000+02:002008-01-08T06:12:07.563+02:00Castle of Good Hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa5aghnT80HCFtYhUYvRqgw0EqyGVoRjBje1X1imrwOGU2i0IUNdKig1RL9KDuRBnkpWJZZnX5_iuoSQYLCwapOj4spo8YUxTWGOt9LyiC8asftWN90LiL8zLX5hWw34cuSGnRAAVRGk/s1600-h/Castle+of+Good+Hope.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa5aghnT80HCFtYhUYvRqgw0EqyGVoRjBje1X1imrwOGU2i0IUNdKig1RL9KDuRBnkpWJZZnX5_iuoSQYLCwapOj4spo8YUxTWGOt9LyiC8asftWN90LiL8zLX5hWw34cuSGnRAAVRGk/s320/Castle+of+Good+Hope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152838696864975778" border="0" /></a>The Castle of Good Hope was built between 1666 and 1679, replacing an earlier mud and timber fort built in 1652 by Commander Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutch merchant who landed in Table Bay in 1652, together with 72 men and 8 women. On instruction by the Dutch-East India Trading Company or VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), the pioneers set up a port of call for their ships to stock up on provisions.In 1664 there were renewed rumours of war between Britain and the Netherlands and they feared a British attack on the Cape. During that same year Commander Zacharius Wagenaer was instructed to build a five-pointed stone castle. <p align="left">The castle was built for the protection of the early settlers against marauding Hottentots and as the residence of the Governor. The castle is a pentagonal fortification with a moat and five bastions. </p><p align="left">This is the oldest remaining building in South Africa. The walls are made of stones from a quarry near Lion's head. The clinkers are directly imported from the Netherlands. The five Bastions are named after the five titles of the Prince of Orania or after the names of the five provinces of the Dutch motherland (Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau, Oranje and Leerdam).</p><p align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9XNRME9ym79W_xCoZ8PQyaZ1YLmcXibvJhvBjhlxdeS-aTurSJkDQDE2U67bufjozyZ7j67WSviZtA-dquCZVaeK7nIA6dJgaOZxzY8VV5NeOpB8zo-IM6YsMDlv-vRc_c64Pno-F80/s1600-h/Mountain+..+Castle+..+Horse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9XNRME9ym79W_xCoZ8PQyaZ1YLmcXibvJhvBjhlxdeS-aTurSJkDQDE2U67bufjozyZ7j67WSviZtA-dquCZVaeK7nIA6dJgaOZxzY8VV5NeOpB8zo-IM6YsMDlv-vRc_c64Pno-F80/s320/Mountain+..+Castle+..+Horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152838718339812274" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="left">Situated adjacent to a parking lot and bus station in Buitenkant Street, its walls mark the original boundary of the seashore where the waves washed up against the fortifications. </p><p align="left">Its outside aspect is somewhat foreboding, but inside are some interesting features and collections that have been restored, offering a good insight into the early days of the Cape when it was the centre of social and economic life. </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left">The entrance is a good example of 17th century Dutch Classicism. In 1682 the gateway replaced the old entrance, which faced the sea. The bell tower, situated above the main entrance was built in 1684. The original bell - the oldest in South Africa - was cast in Amsterdam in 1697 by Claude Frémy and weighs 670 lbs. It still hangs from the original wood beams in the tower above the entrance. It was used to tell the hours and warn citizens of danger and it could be heard about 10 km away. It was also rung to call residents and soldiers to the Castle for important announcements.</p><p align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBZtTQH4swXAwyeRxnqkhicsO2yQbAG91zFmOkmZd7M4p795dhrPFbGURN33cMs8GpHqSS2v7_jEhZjN3njBYWu43nphyphenhyphen-J6vv_j_IuEJVapdLeksPc7QJvil_Cjyttzzc_5gSeY29_Y/s1600-h/Castle+287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBZtTQH4swXAwyeRxnqkhicsO2yQbAG91zFmOkmZd7M4p795dhrPFbGURN33cMs8GpHqSS2v7_jEhZjN3njBYWu43nphyphenhyphen-J6vv_j_IuEJVapdLeksPc7QJvil_Cjyttzzc_5gSeY29_Y/s320/Castle+287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152842583810378706" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="left">Inside the walls of the Castle there was a church, bakery, workshops, living quarters, offices, cells and numerous other facilities. The yellow paint on the walls was chosen because of its ability to reduce heat and glare from sunlight.</p><p align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtskTjELxXJAutl-UQ3MnsLknvNUgOlvZNeaWZ4WOz8NGhHDWuD9z5g79SVjMD_-q8p4mRmtkYm2MW_NJV8J3ydE01yins5JkWM_yoWGg65ofaHir-R2EJoxmukYNf_JNiDgTqU4pqx4/s1600-h/Castle+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtskTjELxXJAutl-UQ3MnsLknvNUgOlvZNeaWZ4WOz8NGhHDWuD9z5g79SVjMD_-q8p4mRmtkYm2MW_NJV8J3ydE01yins5JkWM_yoWGg65ofaHir-R2EJoxmukYNf_JNiDgTqU4pqx4/s320/Castle+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152842562335542210" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="left"> A wall divides the inner courtyard of the Castle. The division was initially intended to provide protection to the inhabitants of the Castle in the event of an attack. The well-known Kat Balcony is an outstanding feature of the dividing wall. The original balcony was built in 1695, then rebuilt in its present form by the VOC between 1786 and 1790. From this balcony proclamations and announcements were made to the soldiers, slaves and civilians at the Cape. </p><p align="left"> The Kat balcony leads to the famous William Fehr Collection of historical paintings and period furniture, which have a special relevance to the Cape of Good Hope. </p><p align="left">The Castle of Good Hope was the regional headquarters of the South African Army in the Western Cape and also contains a Military Museum which houses the ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. The museum depicts the conflicts that arose during the Cape's early settlement. Of interest are the dungeons, which bear the graffiti carved by prisoners incarcerated here centuries ago. </p><p align="left">In 1936 the Castle of Good Hope was declared a national monument. As a result of an extensive, ongoing restoration programme launched in the 1980s, the Castle of Good Hope remains the best preserved fortification of its kind built by the VOC in regions where it had interests. </p><p align="left">The Castle of Good Hope was not built in consecutive order, so you will jump around from one time in history to another as you explore the Castle, but this adds to its charm. </p><p align="left"> Traditional ceremonies take place during weekdays. </p><p align="left"> <b>The Key Ceremony</b> was performed in the Castle from its earliest days and depicts the unlocking of the Castle of Good Hope. This ceremony takes place at 10:00 and 12:00 during weekdays. </p><p align="left"> The <b>firing of the signal cannon</b> directly after the Key Ceremony is symbolic to indicate the significance of cannons at the Castle of Good Hope. </p>Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08068984371374967301noreply@blogger.com1