tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64010791908240453232024-03-05T14:40:51.688+02:00PlaneethoppertjieKom speel saam op ver mooi wêrelde, onaangeraak deur bose mensehande.Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-9552144562333494822013-11-08T16:27:00.001+02:002013-11-08T16:55:14.152+02:00Really? Earth-like, life-friendly planets literally everywhere in our galaxy?[<i>I am deviating to the use of <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html" title="Why no English">English</a> for this entry, mainly for accessibility to a larger audience.</i>]<br />
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This past Monday evening, while following my usual habit of glancing over the day's news headlines on my phone, before pulling the cord on my eyelids for the night, I noticed the following interesting headline:<br />
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"<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/kepler-space-telescope-finds-earth-size-potentially-habitable-planets-are-common/2013/11/04/49d782b4-4555-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html" target="_blank"><i>Kepler space telescope finds Earth-size, potentially habitable planets are common</i></a>"<br />
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This is fairly exciting news and confirms what I (and hopefully you too) have logically concluded long before any reliable measurements could be made. This article (and its headline) is well constructed and explains clearly how to interpret the results intelligently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131104152720.htm" target="_blank" title="ScienceDaily: How Common Are Habitable Planets? One in Five Sun-Like Stars May Have Earth-Size, Potentially Habitable Planets">ScienceDaily</a></td></tr>
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But then the news app on my phone suddenly flashed as it updated the list of headlines and I was barely able to stop myself from bursting out in laughter when I saw the new headline reporting this news (from a different and obviously less-professional publication):<br />
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"<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/04/kepler_earth_like_planets_habitable/" target="_blank"><i>Earth-like, life-friendly ALIEN WORLDS literally EVERYWHERE in galaxy</i></a>"<br />
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So, how did we get from "Earth-size" to "Earth-like" and from "potentially habitable" to "life-friendly", and from "common" to "literally EVERYWHERE"? As scientists, we often joke about these kinds of laughable exaggerations that appear in mainstream media headlines aimed at the more general (non-scientific) population, as accurately depicted in <a href="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1174" target="_blank" title="PHD Comics: Science News Cycle">this comic</a>.<br />
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Firstly, you can probably figure out that "Earth-size" is not the same as "Earth-like" because being "like" Earth would mean matching most of the properties of Earth, not its size alone.<br />
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Secondly, measuring a drop in brightness of a star is a very long shot away from determining whether it is due to a "life-friendly" planet.<br />
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Thirdly, "literally EVERYWHERE" is such a bogus claim that I can't even justify bashing it, because "literally EVERYWHERE" means that someone has seen them "literally" everywhere (while in reality the result is only an <b>estimate</b> based on Kepler's observation of a <b>tiny</b> region of space), and "EVERYWHERE" would mean that all of empty space would be filled with those planets. Beyond bogus. Go take a course in English writing before publishing such nonsense.<br />
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Of course, this comes from a tabloid publication, whose main focus is sensationalism. But really, is it truly necessary to construct a headline full of such blatant lies and total nonsense? Many of the people who stumble onto that article will not have the scientific education required to detect the deception. Yet, I believe that many of them are smart people and do not deserve to be fooled in such a way. If news outlets can't hire reporters with solid scientific understanding to do their science reporting, they should not report on scientific matters, unless it is copied verbatim from a real scientific publication with appropriate credit.<br />
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To anyone reading this and who does not have rigorous training and experience in science, I want to urge you to pay very careful attention to every word used in science news for clues about how to interpret it. Sometimes the deception is more subtle, because facts are often presented in such a way as to be easily misinterpreted in your own brain without you realising it. Words like "potentially" and "probably" and "likely", and "apparently", and especially the love-child of science reporting, that tiny, sneaky little word "may", should all be read with emphasis and not be glanced over as if they were not even there. And don't believe everything you read in the media, and especially on the internet. And consider staying away from tabloids with their sensationalist, exaggerated headlines, unless you go there for the laugh.<br />
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I do have to mention that today (4 days later), when I opened the article again for review before writing this entry, the headline was changed to the more palatable:<br />
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"<i>Galaxy is CRAMMED with EARTH-LIKE WORLDS – also ALIENS (probably)</i>"<br />
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Although the deceptive "EARTH-LIKE" part remains, the article itself is fairly decent, with an insightful picture of how the Kepler measurements were made.<br />
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According to the current analysis of the Kepler data, it is <b>estimated</b> that about 22 percent of stars like our sun have planets in the habitable zone (where water can exist in liquid phase) that are between 1 and 2 times the size of Earth. That amounts to about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way#Stars_and_planets" target="_blank" title="Wikipedia: Milky Way">11 billion such planets in the Milky Way galaxy</a>. Now that there is reliable evidence of the existence of these kinds of worlds, astronomy detectives can narrow down their observations and look for more interesting clues about the life-sustainability of those planets - and of course, justify their request for funding those investigations.<br />
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We can still look forward to much more interesting findings in the hunt for Earth-like planets, with among others, the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130318103848.htm" target="_blank" title="ScienceDaily: NASA's Webb Telescope Gets Its Wings">James Webb space telescope</a>, successor to Hubble, due for launch in 5 years (2018).<br />
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Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-36774385739292175782012-02-15T11:00:00.000+02:002014-02-27T16:30:19.353+02:00Working yourself to deathSurely, at some point in your life you must have contemplated the reason why you are required to work in order to make a living. Why do so many of us have to spend the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125172317.htm" title="ScienceDaily: Working Too Much Is Correlated With Two-Fold Increase in Likelihood of Depression">best parts</a> of our day <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113210203.htm" title="ScienceDaily: Office Workers Spend Too Much Time at Their Desks, Experts Say">sitting behind desks</a> in small cubicles under <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103134913.htm" title="ScienceDaily: Sky Light Sky Bright -- In the Office">unnatural light</a>, just so that we can afford a seemingly comfortable life? And how do a minority of people actually manage to live life in luxury while never lifting a finger to do anything that may resemble work? Why can't we all just <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc" title="YouTube: RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us">follow our passions</a> (even if it looks like work), without worrying where we would find the means to pay for food and shelter?<br />
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[<a href="http://www.familydads.com/balance.php">http://www.familydads.com/balance.php</a>]</div>
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The Jewish/Christian Bible (and possibly texts from other ancient religions too) actually reflects the natural law underlying these thoughts and provides evidence that this law has been known to humans for many millenia: "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground..." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A19&version=NIV">Genesis 3:19</a>).<br />
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Food won't just jump into your mouth when you are hungry. Your house is not going to build itself. We all have to expend some energy to obtain our food or to construct our shelters. Even animals and plants and tiny micro-organisms are subjected to this law. In ancient times, you could store some food in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granary">granary</a> so that you would not have to work all year long. In modern times we have the flexibility to store money in bank accounts and lucrative investments to support our hobbies/passions, our toys, our holidays, our children's needs, and of course, our retirement lifestyle. But, even if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, and you never have to do a day's work yourself in your entire life, those funds that support your lifestyle came from energy expended by someone or something at some point in history.<br />
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The goal for all of us, is to find a way to expend as little as possible energy to achieve maximum economic gain. But, is that actually possible for every single person on this planet? Or, will it always be attainable by only a minority?<br />
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For the past year, I have exchanged the office life for one in which I have freedom to do with my time as I please, but at the cost of lower income. I obviously haven't found my optimal work point yet. But, at least I have had the opportunity to deal with important issues in my life and feel a lot more balanced and invigorated today because of that. Most people suffer all their lives without having that privilege.<br />
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Notice how this topic is starting to connect energy with economics. More on that idea in a future post... :)<br />
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[<a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html" title="Why no English"><i>Here is my explanation</i></a><i> for why you don't see much English on this blog.</i>]
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[<a href="http://blog.jokeroo.com/2011/05/20/why-work-doesnt-happen-at-work/">http://blog.jokeroo.com/2011/05/20/why-work-doesnt-happen-at-work/</a>]</div>
<br />Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-73001020726643535132011-08-10T23:42:00.000+02:002011-09-02T00:05:48.346+02:00Eendag as ek jonk is: Generasiegapings<br />
[ <i>Ek sou verkies om julle nie te bemoei met 'n lang leesstuk nie, maar hierdie inskrywing moet seker opmaak vir my afwesigheid. ;) Ek vermoed dit sal wel maklik lees.</i> ]<br />
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Normaalweg bespreek ek die konsep van verjonging in terme van <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is.html" title="Eendag as ek jonk is...">fisiologiese implikasies</a>. Vandag wil ek dink aan sosiologiese gevolge.<br />
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As almal soos 17-jariges lyk wanneer ek my 200ste verjaardag vier, hoe is 'n mens veronderstel om uit te ken wie is nou werklik 17 en wie is dalk reeds 117? Dink net vir 'n oomblik aan al die implikasies, ramifikasies, konsternasies, en deurmekaargeknoopde situasies. Sal dit soortgelyk wees aan hoe 'n persoon van 40, wat hou van 'n glasie whisky of rooiwyn saam met 'n sigaar of 'n elegante gourmet maaltyd, dit eintlik besonders moeisaam vind in die geselskap van tieners wat gesels oor modegiere, skaatsplanke, televisiereekse en danspartytjies? Op hoeveel afsprake sal mans en vrouens met mekaar moet uitgaan voor hulle besef dat hul wêrelde totaal verskil? Sal daar wette wees wat 90-jariges verbied om 18-jariges te soen? Hoeveel meer verdraaid sal sepieverhoudings raak as jy kort-kort kan skei en dan met iemand van meervoudige geslagte jonger of ouer trou?<br />
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Ek vind dit insiggewend om te kyk na die verskeidenheid van persoonlikhede en vlakke van volwassenheid wat tans oor alle generasies bestaan. Daar is wel 30-jariges wat nog hou van danspartytjies, en 20-jariges wat met waardering kan teug aan 'n glasie whisky. Daar is 40-jariges wat nog vir tieners 'n toertjie of twee met 'n skaatsplank kan wys, en 19-jariges wat met verwondering kan proe aan 'n gourmet gereg. En sekere 50-jariges is nog net so behep met modegiere soos 15-jariges, terwyl sommige 16-jariges alreeds hul eie uniekheid aangryp.<br />
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Dis baie sigbaar hoe mense oor verskillende generasies neerkyk op mekaar of minagting het vir mekaar, of selfs minderwaardig voel teenoor mekaar. Dis die oerinstink van dominerende denke. Ek vermoed dis dalk hoekom tieners so geneig is om te rebelleer en met 'n passie wil bewys dat hulle op gelyke voete met grootmense kan staan. Maar, jy kry ook mense van alle generasies wat respekvol is met mekaar en op 'n gemeenskaplike vlak kan kommunikeer met mekaar.<br />
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Ek hou daarvan om alle mense, ongeag of dit 'n baba of 'n afgetredene is, op dieselfde manier te behandel. Ek kan dalk nie met almal op 'n gemeenskaplike vlak kommunikeer nie, maar ek sien geen rede hoekom ek op 'n 9-jarige kind moet neerkyk of moet minderwaardig voel teenoor iemand met 40 jaar meer lewenservaring nie. Ek kan net so lekker speel met 'n 5- of 11-jarige kind as wat ek kan gesels met 'n 30- of 40-jarige grootmens. Almal is mense. Sommiges het bloot net 'n paar jaar minder ervaring. En, hulle benodig maar net 'n paar jaar om in te haal met die res.<br />
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Soos Stephen Covey uitwys in sy boek "<a href="https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php">The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People</a>", besit alle persone verskillende vlakke van volwassenheid oor verskillende dimensies van die lewe (fisiek, verstandelik, en emosioneel). Alhoewel ek alreeds 'n beduidende mate van volwassenheid bereik het in verskeie dimensies, is ek self maar nog 'n kind in sommige opsigte. Oor die afgelope jaar, is ek aan 'n aantal nuwe ervaringe blootgestel wat my intens bewus gemaak het van hierdie feit, veral omdat die verwante situasies my gedwing het tot 'n deeglike dosis "soul-searching".<br />
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Ek hou van die aanhaling uit die "Nox" episode van die Stargate SG-1 televisiereeks, wat sê: "the very young do not always do as they are told". Dit verwys na hoe die rebelse dwaasheid en opwinding van nuwe ontdekkings, wat gepaard gaan met jonk en onvolwasse wees, maklik kan lei tot moeilikheid en ongewensde gevolge. In die opwinding van my lewensreise, kom ek agter dat die onvolwasse areas in my eie karakter groot konflikte kan veroorsaak in my verhoudings met ander mense, omdat hul eie samestelling van volwassenheidsvlakke soms anders is, en ek kan hulle dan nie op dieselfde vlak ontmoet in al daardie areas nie. Soos ek raaksien hoeveel ander mense nog moet leer binne areas waaarmee ek reeds vertroud is, ontdek ek ook dat ek self nog baie het om te leer in areas waarmee hulle dalk reeds vertroud is. En ek het nog baie om te leer van die lewe in geheel. Ek begin wonder of 200 (of selfs 300) jaar ooit genoeg is om alles te leer.<br />
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Een ding weet ek: in my hart wil ek altyd 'n kind wees wat regstaan vir die volgende ontdekkingsavontuur vol nuwe lewenslesse, saam met enigiemand wat die reis met my wil deel.<br />
<br />Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-87986870765675296872010-11-16T22:26:00.000+02:002010-11-16T22:26:24.273+02:00VriendskapEk knipoog vir jou, en jy knipoog terug. So knipoog ons na mekaar vir dekades, nee eeue, alreeds. Jy verhelder my dag, en my nag, soos ek ook joune verlig. Al is die afstand tussen ons ver, kan ek jou enige tyd sien, en weet alles is nog reg, en ek het nog rede om te bestaan, en ek het nog nie my verstand verloor nie, want jy is 'n onbeweegbare toring in my donker lewensoseean, en jy knipoog nogsteeds na my.<br />
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</div><div>[ <i>Sjoe, ek het nogal lanklaas iets geskryf. Maar dis sekerlik omdat ek nou meer probeer tydmaak vir frizbee saam met vriende en vir lekker kuier met goeie geselskap. Ek wonder nogal wie sal kan raaksien watter vriendskap ek hierbo beskryf.</i> ]</div><div><br />
</div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-57373802278543777282010-05-31T23:51:00.003+02:002010-06-01T00:27:11.442+02:00The law of biggest guns<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">[<i>Please be warned that I am by no measure an expert on the topic discussed below. It mostly consists of my opinions and relies purely on my limited knowledge and my imperfect logical deductive reasoning abilities.</i>]<br />
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In my <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-money.html" title="How to make money">previous entry</a> on the topic of economic principles, one of my friends was curious to know how I could say that we actually steal from the Earth.</div><br />
As FrancoisM correctly noted, the concept of theft depends on the idea of ownership.<br />
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At some point in our lives, we all start thinking in terms of ownership: "the toy is mine", "the bike is mine", "the car is mine", "the house is mine", and sometimes even "the wife is mine", as if any of these are property that can be owned, or conversely, stolen. In reality, though, we enter this world without owning anything and we leave it the same way.<br />
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So, where does this concept of ownership originate? I attribute it to the law of biggest guns. Although, I'm not necessarily talking about actual guns.<br />
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Before I explain, consider this: What actually takes place during a transaction? Is there a transfer of ownership of the product between two people? How did the original seller obtain ownership of the product?<br />
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Now, suppose we step a bit further back in history from the story about Abraham and Bartholomew in my previous entry. Go back to a time when the very first transaction was performed. I imagine it as a scrawny little man by the name of Cedric, who exchanged his pickings of fruit for some meat and other items from the local hunters in his tribe. Cedric was a gatherer. However, Cedric was the only person to know the location of the orchard of fruit trees, since the other men were always out hunting and the women were always busy feeding and raising the children.<br />
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One summer, many of the wild herds did not show up. There was very little food that the hunters could bring home. Cedric still had access to plenty of fruits, but he had a greedy mind and tried to use the opportunity to bargain for more valuable items.<br />
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It worked for a short while.<br />
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But, as you can imagine, one hunter, called Demetri, started disliking this deal and devised his own cunning plan. By following Cedric secretly one day, he discovered the location of the fruit orchard. The next day Demitri was waiting for Cedric at the orchard with his big hunting club. Cedric's only weapon was a finger-thin walking staff, which he used to chase away birds from his orchard. As soon as Cedric saw the club, he got such a big fright that he immediately darted away into the wilderness, never to be heard of again. Demitri proclaimed the orchard as his property and with five of his kinsmen prevented anyone from picking fruit without their permission. And, they used this ownership as leverage to secure more meat and other prizes for themselves.<br />
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Today, the same basic principle still applies. If you can prevent someone from entering a given piece of land or drive them out if they do, or if you can prevent someone from taking (stealing) anything inside the border, then you effectively own that piece of land. This has been true ever since life emerged on Earth. Of course, we do not defend our properties with sticks anymore.<br />
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In the modern world, by paying property tax (and other taxes), you effectively hire the government of your country to (among other things) protect your property on your behalf. This is why governments need a police force and military institutions. Of course, you are then also at the full mercy of your government and its armies, since you still do not have any defenses of your own. It is not unheard of, in some regions of the world, for governments to disown people of their property. I wonder if this might serve as an additional reason why a system of <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/anargie-sekuriteit.html" title="Anargie = Sekuriteit">anarchy may be better</a>.<br />
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Yet, even though your government may hold up to their promise of providing protection services, it may not be sufficiently capable of defending against any potential local or foreign invaders. In the case of local "invaders", you could of course hire the services of an armed-response security company, if you can afford it. Consider for a moment how this increases your cost of ownership. Why not just invest in big guns and your own private army?<br />
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In the end, we are all basically at the mercy of the most powerfull militaries in the world. It is merely their political good will that allows us to keep our respective properties. Of course, there are other forces that have up to now always resulted in the crumbling of even the mightiest empires. But, that is beyond the scope of this discussion, and my current, limited knowledge.<br />
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By the way: I am certainly not an advocate for the use of firearms. I am merely illuminating the true requirements of ownership. I would actually prefer that everyone just grow up so that we don't need guns anymore.<br />
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In a future entry, I shall discuss transfer of ownership through the perspective of natural physical laws. You may then see that the law of bigger guns is merely a partitioning mechanism and that there is an even deeper fundametal law that runs universally through all transactions.<br />
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[<i>Please see my </i><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html" title="Why no English"><i>previous explanation</i></a><i> about the reason why you don't see much English on this blog.</i>]<br />
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<s></s>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-21344314692011326052010-04-06T22:17:00.004+02:002010-04-06T23:51:28.290+02:00Eendag as ek jonk is: Nog 'n happieNa my <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2010/02/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is-jy-is-mos-wat-jy.html" title="Eendag as ek jonk is: Jy is mos wat jy eet">vorige inskrywing</a>, het ek nuwe inligting raakgeloop wat ek net eers hier moet deel voor ek verder gaan met ander onderwerpe.<br />
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Verbeel jou 'n toekoms waarin jy presies weet watter invloed 'n gegewe eetbare of drinkbare item op jou liggaam se chemiese samestelling het. Het jy geweet dat sekere voedingstowwe direk kan bepaal watter gene in jou <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA">DNA</a> (of meer korrek, <a href="http://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS">DNS</a>) aan- of afgeskakel word? Wel, binnekort kan jy maar totsiens wuif aan medisynes (of ten minste sommige soorte). Want, jy sal dan <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100305112159.htm" title="Studies on Nutrients, Gene Expression Could Lead to Tailored Diets for Disease Prevention">jou dieet kan fatsoeneer volgens jou unieke behoeftes</a>, om te verhoed dat jy in die eerste plek siek word. En, dit blykbaar nog binne die volgende dekade - sekerlik as jy in 'n eerste-wêreld land woon, met 'n paar monetêre bates om prys te gee.<br />
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In my vorige inskrywing het ek verwys na 'n <a href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=160" title="Should I Take a Multivitamin?">artikel oor die gebruik van multivitamien aanvullings</a>. Daardie skrywer het vertel van Ray Kurzweil wat 250 dieetaanvullingspille per dag sluk met die doel om langer te lewe. Ek is toevallig besig om (teen 'n vreeeeeslike staaaaadige pas) Ray Kurzweil se boek "<a href="http://www.singularity.com/">The Singularity is Near</a>" te lees. <a href="http://francoism.wordpress.com/">Francois M</a> was gaaf genoeg om dit vir my te leen (is dit al twee jaar gelede? volgens my gmail argief was dit werklik in April 2008!)<br />
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Hierdie afgelope langnaweek het ek weer 'n paar bladsye onder oë gehad en toe op bladsy 211 afgekom op mnr. Kurzweil se eie verklaring oor die onderwerp. Nogal 'n heel interessante stukkie om te lees. Dit kom basies daarop neer dat hy sy liggaam se chemiese samestelling volledig manipuleer om 'n toestand te onderhou wat hom gesond hou. Die pille wat hy sluk is slegs 'n deel van die program wat hy volg. Hy kry ook ses keer 'n week binne-aarse voedingsterapie, om die regte voedingstowwe direk in sy bloedstroom in te pomp. Dit klink nogal nes 'n vreesaanjaende wetenskapfiksiefliek. Maar dit werk vir hom, en hy is bereid om al daardie moeite te doen. Lees gerus die volgende uittreksel uit die boek (hoop nie mnr. Kurzweil gee om nie):<br />
<blockquote><blockquote>My own story is instructive. More than twenty years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The conventional treatment made my condition worse, so I approached this health challenge from my perspective as an inventor. I immersed myself in the scientific literature and came up with a unique program that successfully reversed my diabetes. In 1993 I wrote a health book (The 10% Solution for a Healthy Life) about this experience, and I continue today to be free of any indication or complication of this disease.</blockquote><blockquote>In addition, when I was twenty-two, my father died of heart disease at the age of fifty-eight, and I have inherited his genes predisposing me to this illness. Twenty years ago, despite following the public guidelines of the American Heart Association, my cholesterol was in the high 200s (it should be well below 180), my HDL (high-density lipoprotein, the "good" cholesterol) below 30 (it should be above 50), and my homocysteine (a measure of the health of a biochemical process called methylation) was an unhealthy 11 (it should be below 7.5). By following a longevity program that Grossman and I developed, my current cholesterol level is 130, my HDL is 55, my homocysteine is 6.2, my C-reactive protein (a measure of inflammation in the body) is a very healthy 0.01, and all of my other indexes (for heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions) are at ideal levels.</blockquote><blockquote>When I was forty, my biological age was around thirty-eight. Although I am now fifty-six, a comprehensive test of my biological aging (measuring various sensory sensitivities, lung capacity, reaction times, memory, and related tests) conducted at Grossman's longevity clinic measured my biological age at forty. Although there is not yet a consensus on how to measure biological age, my scores on these tests matched population norms for this age. So, according to this set of tests, I have not aged very much in the last sixteen years, which is confirmed by the many blood tests I take, as well as the way I feel.</blockquote><blockquote>These results are not accidental; I have been very aggressive about reprogramming my biochemistry. I take 250 supplements (pills) a day and receive a half-dozen intravenous therapies each week (basically nutritional supplements delivered directly into my bloodstream, thereby bypassing my GI tract). As a result, the metabolic reactions in my body are completely different than they would otherwise be. Approaching this as an engineer, I measure dozens of levels of nutrients (such as vitamins, minerals, and fats), hormones, and metabolic by-products in my blood and other body samples (such as hair and saliva). Overall, my levels are where I want them to be, although I continually finetune my program based on the research that I conduct with Grossman. Although my program may seem extreme, it is actually conservative—and optimal (based on my current knowledge). Grossman and I have extensively researched each of the several hundred therapies that I use for safety and efficacy. I stay away from ideas that are unproven or appear to be risky (the use of human-growth hormone, for example).</blockquote><blockquote>We consider the process of reversing and overcoming the dangerous progression of disease as a war. As in any war it is important to mobilize all the means of intelligence and weaponry that can be harnessed, throwing everything we have at the enemy. For this reason we advocate that key dangers—such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and aging—be attacked on multiple fronts. For example, our strategy for preventing heart disease is to adopt ten different heart-disease-prevention therapies that attack each of the known risk factors.</blockquote><blockquote>By adopting such multipronged strategies for each disease process and each aging process, even baby boomers like myself can remain in good health until the full blossoming of the biotechnology revolution (which we call "bridge two"), which is already in its early stages and will reach its peak in the second decade of this century.</blockquote><blockquote>Biotechnology will provide the means to actually change your genes: not just designer babies will be feasible but designer baby boomers. We'll also be able to rejuvenate all of your body's tissues and organs by transforming your skin cells into youthful versions of every other cell type. Already, new drug development is precisely targeting key steps in the process of atherosclerosis (the cause of heart disease), cancerous tumor formation, and the metabolic processes underlying each major disease and aging process.</blockquote></blockquote>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-68664181034473180532010-02-21T21:30:00.003+02:002010-02-22T00:35:30.076+02:00Eendag as ek jonk is: Jy is mos wat jy eet<div>Ek het <a title="Eendag as ek jonk is..." href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is.html">vantevore genoem</a> dat ek probeer kyk na praktiese metodes waarmee jy kan rebelleer teen veroudering van jou liggaam. Tot dusver het ek <a title="Eendag as ek jonk is: Beter as Botox" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/06/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is-beter-as-botox.html">heelwat gedek</a> oor belowende pogings vir die <a title="Eendag as ek jonk is: Voorkoms" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is-voorkoms.html">behoud van 'n jeugdige voorkoms</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vandag raak ek vinnig aan gesondheid - die afwesigheid van siektes en liggaamlike kwale. Sommige mense handhaaf uitstekende gesondheid tot 'n baie hoë ouderdom, maar meeste mense kry maar swaar onder verswakkende gesondheid soos die jare aanstap.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jy kan <a title="Four Health Behaviors Can Add 14 Extra Years Of Life" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108083001.htm">verskeie eenvoudige gewoontes</a> aanleer om 'n goeie gesondheid te handhaaf, maar ek wil eers net 'n paar punte rondom dieet bespreek - m.a.w. die dinge wat jy eet en drink.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=173828150554"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvQgcAmb0YXcAWdTQ_Vbg6kgYlmUITNM4fb_vMKFDqSL1XHfl2pE75knBCxiHAQA0nL7w3lzOJ_0l8aPaDh_Djce2oaAaECMOdIk77aOVM5Rwl4rc_AOO6JbV0n6tGVrgHn0p7nI4Pyo/s200/vitamins_9419_154866526890_129306476890_3206514_6203631_n_200x301.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440791442028110882" /></a>Sommige mense beweer dat die gemiddelde moderne dieet nie besonders optimaal is vir ons liggaam se werkverrigting nie, en dat dit soms lei tot 'n tekort aan sekere vitamiene en minerale (en dit is sekerlik waar vir baie mense). Sulke tekorte kan lei tot allerhande siektes as dit oor 'n lang tydperk nie verbeter nie. Op grond hiervan, sal mense maklik 'n handvol multivitamienpille in die oggend sluk om te probeer kompenseer daarvoor. Wat meeste mense egter nie besef nie, is dat vitamien- en mineraalaanvullings ook sleg vir jou kan wees as jy nie 'n tekort het nie. Lees gerus <a title="Should I Take a Multivitamin?" href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=160">hierdie artikel</a> wat <a href="http://francoism.wordpress.com/">Francois M</a> vir my destyds aangestuur het. Die Amerikaanse Dieetkundige Vereniging het ook onlangs 'n <a title="ADA Releases Updated Position Paper on Nutrient Supplementation" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208162831.htm">verslag</a> oor die onderwerp uitgereik.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-fruit-tray-image10635688"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXV8XkcCr9bj42t7Ugq6ViVQmMfO8Jo1k5hP04E1Rb-ebOe5xrDMfE1U-Wk3HsduX7f2N4KtocKtnNN5lrAACW2HVqLxqWuZFATJ-evTl1YM2QtEQPmYsTLMRvwwhLokfI3jCyrMp_N8/s320/dreamstime_10635688_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440792024190314946" /></a>Dit klink of die beste bron van belangrike voedingstowwe maar nogsteeds 'n verskeidenheid van vars groente en vrugte bly. Dis seker nie toevallig dat dit dan ook op die lys van goeie gewoontes vir 'n langer, gesonde lewe is nie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Daar is gereeld berigte in die nuus wat aandui hoe <a title="Reduced Diet Thwarts Aging, Disease In Monkeys" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709110836.htm">kaloriebeperking</a> ook kan bydra tot 'n langer, gesonder lewe. Maar, totdat 'n beter begrip van die uitwerking van so 'n dieet ontwikkel is, sal dit 'n goeie idee wees om dit <a title="Eating Less May Not Extend Human Life: Caloric Restriction May Benefit Only Obese Mice" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090123101224.htm">dop te hou</a> met 'n gesonde <a title="New Doubts About Fasting Leading To Longer Lives Based On Study In Flies" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713201444.htm">mate van skeptisisme</a>. Daar is egter alreeds 'n <a title="Key Protein May Explain The Anti-Aging And Anti-Cancer Benefits Of Dietary Restriction" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090522081214.htm">aantal</a> <a title="Scientists Find Molecular Trigger That Helps Prevent Aging and Disease" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091118143217.htm">interessante</a> <a title="Balancing Protein Intake, Not Cutting Calories, May Be Key to Long Life" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091202131622.htm">ontdekkings</a> oor <a title="Calorie Restriction: Scientists Take Important Step Toward 'Fountain of Youth'" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105219.htm">hierdie onderwerp</a> gemaak. Die laaste artikel, wat aandui dat beperking in die inname van glukose die hoofrol speel, is vir my interessant. <a title="Wikipedia: Glucose" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose">Glukose</a> word hoofsaaklik verkry uit <a title="Wikipedia: Starch" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starch">stysel</a>-gebasseerde kossoorte, as ek reg verstaan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Verder, is daar ook aanduidings dat sekere voedselsoorte spesifieke voordele kan bied, soos bv. <a title="Apple Juice Can Delay Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090122100826.htm">appels</a>, <a title="Berry Compound Reduces Aging Effect" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081228194218.htm">bessies</a> (soos <a title="Blueberry Juice Improves Memory in Older Adults" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120121552.htm">bloubessies</a>), <a title="New Evidence That Green Tea May Help Improve Bone Health" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916103424.htm">groen tee</a>, <a title="White Tea Could Keep You Healthy And Looking Young" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810085312.htm">wit tee</a>, <a title="Longer Life For Milk Drinkers, Study Suggests" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722083720.htm">melk</a> en selfs <a title="Midlife Coffee And Tea Drinking May Protect Against Late-Life Dementia" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090114200005.htm">koffie</a>. Let egter op dat die <a title="'Beneficial' Effects Of Alcohol? Researchers Urge Caution On Recent Results, Suggest Life-Style Factors Real Source" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091014102039.htm">gebruik van alkohol</a> nie noodwendig enige inherente voordele inhou nie.</div><div><br /></div><div>As jy, soos ek, probeer hou by 'n gesonde leefstyl en <a title="Long-Term Physical Activity Has an Anti-Aging Effect at the Cellular Level" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130161806.htm">gereelde oefening</a> inkry, sal jy dalk ook wil weet dat jou <a title="What You Eat After Exercise Matters" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100128122142.htm">maaltye na oefensessies</a> 'n invloed op jou gesondheid het.</div><div><br /></div><div>Voornemende moeders moet maar versigtig wees met wat hulle eet, siende dat hul <a title="Are We What Our Mothers Ate?" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721122843.htm">dieet tydens en selfs voor swangerskap</a> 'n groot invloed op die gesondheid van hul kinders het, selfs tot ver in hul grootmenslewens. Dit wil voorkom of dit ook nie noodwendig baie wys is om verskeie <a title="Vitamin Use Is Highest In Kids Who Don't Need Them, Study Finds" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090202174657.htm">vitamienaanvullings vir jou kinders te voer</a> as die dokter dit nie aanbeveel het nie. Daar is dalk waarde in die raadpleeg van 'n professionele, geregistreerde dieetkundige.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maar onthou ook: 'n gesonde dieet en ander goeie leefstyl gewoontes is nooit 'n 100% waarborg dat jy nie sal siek word nie. Vir daardie ongelukkige tye het ons darem vandag al heelwat goeie mediese behandelings beskikbaar. En, alhoewel ek sug dat die dokters nie eens weet hoe om my liggaam te genees van die enkele kwale wat my teister nie, vind ek hoop in die gedagte dat daar elke dag <a title="ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/">nuwe mediese ontdekkings en deurbrake</a> gemaak word.</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-58187144662445463262009-12-23T19:00:00.019+02:002010-02-01T10:17:56.086+02:00Ver, mooi wêrelde......onaangeraak deur bose mensehande. Dis waarheen ek julle uitnooi in die titel van hierdie blog. En dis waarheen ek gisteraand* meegesleur is deur die fantasiefliek, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/">Avatar</a>, 'n ervaring in naastenby vier dimensies. Die plot en verloop van die verhaal bring nie iets besonders nuut vir dié van ons wat al menige wetenskapfiksie stories gekyk en/of gelees het nie, maar na my mening doen dit min afbreuk aan die asemrowende avontuur wat <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/">James Cameron</a> vir ons geskep het. Dit is egter nogal hartseer om nóg 'n uitbeelding van ons bose mensehande te sien.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoia_iiNUm0w6iQWcALx54GnMKxEOosvxMWV_UdE2OCRyS_OH51cC4IAYL8RGI2x9VirLMbIlDXmJW2mTI1nuOj32tkXg8CBnYIfAXx9hmhb5zmOTK5zl3VCt7FJWcYKjajIhRhd3WfM/s1600-h/avatar_newstill_0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoia_iiNUm0w6iQWcALx54GnMKxEOosvxMWV_UdE2OCRyS_OH51cC4IAYL8RGI2x9VirLMbIlDXmJW2mTI1nuOj32tkXg8CBnYIfAXx9hmhb5zmOTK5zl3VCt7FJWcYKjajIhRhd3WfM/s400/avatar_newstill_0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433026956148322018" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYciQsJV4WYjxd9LYhzBR8cpGfLpEVZ1hzDhPtoASOueWnuGLcCZCVALY4Je-gARYp5qY8_8uIh7d0RFcREKYcNtS2OXGRQ1xNzS2z9lWRJ0fnS6uFYF8BsltYNW8JLI8VNP3abChOaFU/s1600-h/avatar_imdb_SX600_SY336_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYciQsJV4WYjxd9LYhzBR8cpGfLpEVZ1hzDhPtoASOueWnuGLcCZCVALY4Je-gARYp5qY8_8uIh7d0RFcREKYcNtS2OXGRQ1xNzS2z9lWRJ0fnS6uFYF8BsltYNW8JLI8VNP3abChOaFU/s400/avatar_imdb_SX600_SY336_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433028642378595458" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object height="250" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GBGDmin_38E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GBGDmin_38E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="400"></embed></object><br />[YouTube video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBGDmin_38E">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBGDmin_38E</a>]<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ek is nie 'n filmresensent nie, en siende dat daar in elk geval talle nuwe menings oor die fliek uit die interwebweefsel voortspruit, wil ek dit nie self verder hier bespreek nie. Maar, ek hou van hoe dit ons terugbring na die gesprek oor die vele tekortkominge van onsself, as mensspesie, en die pad wat ons besig is om te stap. <a title="Van Fiksie tot Wetenskap" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/04/van-fiksie-tot-wetenskap.html">Vanaf die wegspringblok</a> het ek al aan hierdie idees geraak, en heelwat daarvan lê nog ongeskryf.</div><div><br /></div><div>Baie flieks beeld die mensdom uit as die patetiese, dog vasberade slagoffer van buiteruimtelike gevare. Sommige het selfs <a title="Alien (1979)" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/">vreesaanjaende</a> <a title="Starship Troopers (1997)" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120201/">monsters</a> op planete waar die menslike karakters aanland. Alhoewel sulke gebeure heel geloofwaardig is as jy glo in buiteruimtelike lewe en selfs <a title="Intelligent aliens too plentiful" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/08/intelligent-aliens-too-plentiful.html">intelligensie</a>, bekommer ek my meer oor die realistiese skade wat ons self kan aanrig deur ons eie onkunde en selfs verwaandheid.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vandag is wetenskaplikes van regeringsinstansies besig om noukeurige studies te doen van ander hemelligame in ons sonnestelsel. Hulle is uiters versigtig om nie enige mikroskopiese aardbewoners saam te stuur wat metings by die bestemmings kan beïnvloed nie. Groot ekonomiese struikelblokke weerhou ons gelukkig daarvan om enigiets meer as net klein wetenskaplike studies uit te voer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maar môre, wanneer ekonomiese struikelblokke uit die pad gerol is, sal korporasies ons nabye ruimte begin invaar opsoek na rykdom in minerale en <a title="Virgin Galactic" href="http://www.virgingalactic.com/">toerisme</a>, en dit sal dinge heeltemal verander. Ek het nog nie 'n korporasie gesien wat meer belangstel in wetenskaplike kennis en omgewingsbewaring as in die rykdom van hul aandeelhouers nie. Ons kan alreeds hieroor begin wonder as ons kyk na <a title="China And ESA Launch Moon Mission -- Chang'e-1" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024115241.htm">vordering wat gemaak word in sekere lande</a> wat soos korporasies bestuur word.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Ons sukkel alreeds om beperkte <a title="Tourists in Antarctica Cause of Major Concern" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221130220.htm">areas hier op ons eie planeet</a> te beskerm. Wat dink jy sal gebeur as die vernietigende mag van die massas onbeskaafde mense vrygelaat word [die Engelse "unleashed" klink eintlik soveel mooier] op ongerepte skoonhede elders in ons sterreruim? Sal die sterre self vervaal en op ons neerkyk met dieselfde minagting wat ons aan hulle toon? Sal ons daar buite dan iewers in die sop beland en so ons einde tegemoed loop, of sal ons betyds kan <a title="Anargie = Vryheid" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/anargie-vryheid.html">grootword</a> en wakker word en <a title="Wegkruipertjie" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/wegkruipertjie.html">'n slag die blomme begin ruik</a>? Of dink jy ek oordryf die situasie te veel?</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta_8p5ZOnCG6r7p5yF8RmfUiCzge3c2JNy3cmZ1idcuNUg422bmvPoOrwK_3bUNTkhimCGIYO3Zjpli12uqEPLB3yPKUfZ3frd8BkExWETv_jGbxhknBwt_3v9OFsgTUVWy_Ro9tusL4/s1600-h/avatar_movie_promo_screenshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta_8p5ZOnCG6r7p5yF8RmfUiCzge3c2JNy3cmZ1idcuNUg422bmvPoOrwK_3bUNTkhimCGIYO3Zjpli12uqEPLB3yPKUfZ3frd8BkExWETv_jGbxhknBwt_3v9OFsgTUVWy_Ro9tusL4/s400/avatar_movie_promo_screenshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433030340563352578" border="0" /></a>[<a href="http://www.avatarmovie.com/">http://www.avatarmovie.com/</a>]<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>NS: As ek moet kante kies in die stryd tussen mense en vreemde ruimtewesens, waar sal ek myself bevind in die Avatarstorielyn? Wel, ek sal hou daarvan om myself in die posisie van 'n derde party te plaas (wat nie in daardie fliek uitgebeeld word nie): ek en my magtige armada wat onskuldige wêrelde sal beskerm teen die boosheid van die menseplaag - hopelik sonder enige bloedvergieting.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr3N82LV505V0LidFQN8vjNLmnKcN_1wW8VcDvcK9K1g9X97HF-5xXFjQd4hzP9vj0HX6vIBqzTxyzBpNT1vEWo61WVPL-sU-_k__aAxM1MLTsWPr3z7XDorokrYvyff3Gx0rqs-SRCg/s1600-h/neytiriprtrt_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr3N82LV505V0LidFQN8vjNLmnKcN_1wW8VcDvcK9K1g9X97HF-5xXFjQd4hzP9vj0HX6vIBqzTxyzBpNT1vEWo61WVPL-sU-_k__aAxM1MLTsWPr3z7XDorokrYvyff3Gx0rqs-SRCg/s400/neytiriprtrt_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433029564901483298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">* Hierdie inskrywing is eers gepubliseer 'n maand nadat ek dit geskryf het, omdat ek vir so lank nie kans gekry het om dit af te rond nie, indien iemand dalk wonder.</span></i></div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-37806275443388169032009-11-23T22:45:00.011+02:002009-11-24T00:02:42.971+02:00Calvin en Hobbes is ook planeethoppers<div>Ek is versot op Bill Watterson se uitbeelding van die avonture van <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes">Calvin en Hobbes</a>. Gereeld skaterlag ek soos ek die <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/">daaglikse strokies</a> volg. Onlangs het hierdie twee verspotlike karakters 'n draai by Mars gaan maak. Die onderliggende gevoelens het so goed gepas by die motivering van hierdie blog, dat ek net nie kon weerstaan om dit hier vir julle beskikbaar te maak nie. Lekker lag.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomi7ht-SxlRapWfCHtSaWx4KRAeVf1yvWSyrl9zNh_W8tWibV_isumVJpI_PvhyphenhyphenDk2y2uCYf8Y3Nyu1-3Fy65T6RuNnsb6QWtnJMlRoUpBhPavgWusRPNrqfLiNQhRZP37tqftM_5i5Y/s1600/ch091026.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomi7ht-SxlRapWfCHtSaWx4KRAeVf1yvWSyrl9zNh_W8tWibV_isumVJpI_PvhyphenhyphenDk2y2uCYf8Y3Nyu1-3Fy65T6RuNnsb6QWtnJMlRoUpBhPavgWusRPNrqfLiNQhRZP37tqftM_5i5Y/s400/ch091026.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407403628472699202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4XlpIHGFt0gLyUQcMMXfJSAxnJBZ-vHyBk_DoyF9EkBzxbbPgAXR35NAssJsqBnr0vFICOjee8MI_9WWe-hz1STYmk_-cK9aPB7T3HTC2VLJC0_xolL_AjXwrOG_uoWyNeUlmTME2Dc/s1600/ch091027.gif"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4XlpIHGFt0gLyUQcMMXfJSAxnJBZ-vHyBk_DoyF9EkBzxbbPgAXR35NAssJsqBnr0vFICOjee8MI_9WWe-hz1STYmk_-cK9aPB7T3HTC2VLJC0_xolL_AjXwrOG_uoWyNeUlmTME2Dc/s1600/ch091027.gif" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 131px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4XlpIHGFt0gLyUQcMMXfJSAxnJBZ-vHyBk_DoyF9EkBzxbbPgAXR35NAssJsqBnr0vFICOjee8MI_9WWe-hz1STYmk_-cK9aPB7T3HTC2VLJC0_xolL_AjXwrOG_uoWyNeUlmTME2Dc/s400/ch091027.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407403634929707938" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/01/oor-nalatenskap.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/01/oor-nalatenskap.html</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0nGsVup7f_zkj-y3U1A7ckA2ZncKqDVZ-VjYaSOT4tc62i0-KLlTZ-F3XFpuTHc-Xv3dbBEFXVDJYoAXv-fwcXuYCnVbFW9xvZIdxV6DnXUTlUenRW15UwSXSEbCwNC6OEieS-0baS8/s1600/ch091028.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0nGsVup7f_zkj-y3U1A7ckA2ZncKqDVZ-VjYaSOT4tc62i0-KLlTZ-F3XFpuTHc-Xv3dbBEFXVDJYoAXv-fwcXuYCnVbFW9xvZIdxV6DnXUTlUenRW15UwSXSEbCwNC6OEieS-0baS8/s400/ch091028.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407403638627668098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK_FmZYJMS7qsuZLpBxs7OMyUK86uOIOqG3vE1noHWJuYidnyXphh_z8o-Ts8nA_q4qVM_rvFw_Blzfk7Q4hafkOw_hzYPVogVP18gWloZ3Yp0euUQD9nr9RfIIHa9VTu_QpbQELv2H4/s1600/ch091029.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK_FmZYJMS7qsuZLpBxs7OMyUK86uOIOqG3vE1noHWJuYidnyXphh_z8o-Ts8nA_q4qVM_rvFw_Blzfk7Q4hafkOw_hzYPVogVP18gWloZ3Yp0euUQD9nr9RfIIHa9VTu_QpbQELv2H4/s400/ch091029.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407403641701465522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAPxto4npHVjiiPIby9-4o-Z7ivFRy_EtgLqQiaSE3oXpZtyQwly11Kqs64C_ZOdsfXZZQWNKAruqIaThChxnTo0K0wPRbGHvTgfbYpHHa-uPHQyk0sAnFjq5yAB-9vpJ6CDU5AbZ4_M/s1600/ch091030.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAPxto4npHVjiiPIby9-4o-Z7ivFRy_EtgLqQiaSE3oXpZtyQwly11Kqs64C_ZOdsfXZZQWNKAruqIaThChxnTo0K0wPRbGHvTgfbYpHHa-uPHQyk0sAnFjq5yAB-9vpJ6CDU5AbZ4_M/s400/ch091030.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407403641775598114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_KYLrdrdLjwRrCHzYO5B7hRaLWhcnCLvvSDcT4g-0Ip7-aFWYZi4LC4jToy4YmJAPtS2mQmjqtbv0UQsyPKcYL3hjl-uYhTrS9K28PBMK5SZ8KzXZAyNtjOEt1ZQEBwAxF8YUKDL6gw/s1600/ch091031.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_KYLrdrdLjwRrCHzYO5B7hRaLWhcnCLvvSDcT4g-0Ip7-aFWYZi4LC4jToy4YmJAPtS2mQmjqtbv0UQsyPKcYL3hjl-uYhTrS9K28PBMK5SZ8KzXZAyNtjOEt1ZQEBwAxF8YUKDL6gw/s400/ch091031.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407408293201750306" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/09/dorphoppertjies.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/09/dorphoppertjies.html</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYV5UuhqaoCgjW4YSpy0mC3Xp2fcnHILWfbAiJGFTXTxtCsEvg2p4KAHECTLD4Ab8Nlp-Tu94Sb7nAtKDWkjVRzrRZoro2YUO_2Ac5BdmY4y9CYVIVhTUzqEgfJhwJkiQyyBfg_4MbMk/s1600/ch091102.gif"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYV5UuhqaoCgjW4YSpy0mC3Xp2fcnHILWfbAiJGFTXTxtCsEvg2p4KAHECTLD4Ab8Nlp-Tu94Sb7nAtKDWkjVRzrRZoro2YUO_2Ac5BdmY4y9CYVIVhTUzqEgfJhwJkiQyyBfg_4MbMk/s1600/ch091102.gif" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 127px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYV5UuhqaoCgjW4YSpy0mC3Xp2fcnHILWfbAiJGFTXTxtCsEvg2p4KAHECTLD4Ab8Nlp-Tu94Sb7nAtKDWkjVRzrRZoro2YUO_2Ac5BdmY4y9CYVIVhTUzqEgfJhwJkiQyyBfg_4MbMk/s400/ch091102.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407408292640716722" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/08/lyk-my-ek-is-nie-eens-n-spikkel-nie.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/08/lyk-my-ek-is-nie-eens-n-spikkel-nie.html</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqEByRxxeoJPyckRZul7okouqzlh5gFdplD2Pfno89YJ-94-cE_OqaIb6A3Op_djOiPNBELKhdLbsM6m0Z2y0tjEFmQoHmBYLWgcROKWzPBV_Vb8bWGhdpjxw4qeCrUuxnZu68MTXQTU/s1600/ch091103.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqEByRxxeoJPyckRZul7okouqzlh5gFdplD2Pfno89YJ-94-cE_OqaIb6A3Op_djOiPNBELKhdLbsM6m0Z2y0tjEFmQoHmBYLWgcROKWzPBV_Vb8bWGhdpjxw4qeCrUuxnZu68MTXQTU/s400/ch091103.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407408288953335970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qUIFxDmZIWDKt02H2iIEWT8lUifQlpL4g9hVeFR71xsARzelEetjhyYd7UY9WoDT3Q-FlZyANSTZKe8dUzO6gCGeHIEsKyxETAukWVe3BywvP8vQNn5aoaluYFBMkgqO02k5oDA0DNk/s1600/ch091104.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qUIFxDmZIWDKt02H2iIEWT8lUifQlpL4g9hVeFR71xsARzelEetjhyYd7UY9WoDT3Q-FlZyANSTZKe8dUzO6gCGeHIEsKyxETAukWVe3BywvP8vQNn5aoaluYFBMkgqO02k5oDA0DNk/s400/ch091104.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407406861595859986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLI5szm5CbyTjWsdhHdtDqfWIaVhzR7I7Hyk41Q7OpNcIAb7YpR3QNLXj0o6VjEXMZAETsUUNYdI9D4e2rI2rZf0KtWBxwx_A1rF753muAYinmc1-BSerKcKIyWXSulCN3MDf910uWkM/s1600/ch091105.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLI5szm5CbyTjWsdhHdtDqfWIaVhzR7I7Hyk41Q7OpNcIAb7YpR3QNLXj0o6VjEXMZAETsUUNYdI9D4e2rI2rZf0KtWBxwx_A1rF753muAYinmc1-BSerKcKIyWXSulCN3MDf910uWkM/s400/ch091105.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407406861112088850" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/07/ek-en-my-huisie.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/07/ek-en-my-huisie.html</a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRSMROmTm7jwYIL3WmQyqJcgk5nairUDJ_VRp7ZNBh0OHdADI8YfPqr6L403idLGtCJIdRj9MkE_WpOx4hNedjbispK964mFTXVnaeGzyElQ-s-X7yIeyRpjMG23rv5D8sPuKKLbMEBw/s1600/ch091106.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRSMROmTm7jwYIL3WmQyqJcgk5nairUDJ_VRp7ZNBh0OHdADI8YfPqr6L403idLGtCJIdRj9MkE_WpOx4hNedjbispK964mFTXVnaeGzyElQ-s-X7yIeyRpjMG23rv5D8sPuKKLbMEBw/s400/ch091106.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407406852646540530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMQhmKPFPCFN4zwPntY4pMIz9yIhrjjcJYPz5d8H1iafyMxuIn7tC5DAbvhFDhOan-Ba0-mORXKYZwbIbnYfmuobWbP8XqCU2aTHPN4wrg1dse0X6hPgjoYYcYDRbRO66BvCXhnNLVcI/s1600/ch091107.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMQhmKPFPCFN4zwPntY4pMIz9yIhrjjcJYPz5d8H1iafyMxuIn7tC5DAbvhFDhOan-Ba0-mORXKYZwbIbnYfmuobWbP8XqCU2aTHPN4wrg1dse0X6hPgjoYYcYDRbRO66BvCXhnNLVcI/s400/ch091107.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407406851355979970" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/anargie-vryheid.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/anargie-vryheid.html</a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3__niA0AgEd-eHlDftAPiv9LftbmSrhEERa6vSjcmxtA9eqEUcfLatIjjP5ETkxM-c4OdLnbXGA7xTkTFHpgJ86ooHfphbMutv6l2siTJ9SzipmglUdNa7F71BSYdlT2p5pOec_diAk/s1600/ch091109.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3__niA0AgEd-eHlDftAPiv9LftbmSrhEERa6vSjcmxtA9eqEUcfLatIjjP5ETkxM-c4OdLnbXGA7xTkTFHpgJ86ooHfphbMutv6l2siTJ9SzipmglUdNa7F71BSYdlT2p5pOec_diAk/s400/ch091109.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407406848234957682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tMNDqvFQJwqsT0pkP1Z_DVzR9LAcOXwTzOV2Xtb8nrRnzcivJi40jMGR_d4IUEkYK0KK4S7O4jYcqwLg7_f6bEAOn5IyIJrBEid8f8lrtalc9lJFGCq4DXpMT_W69_sNEXMCubd9r_c/s1600/ch091110.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tMNDqvFQJwqsT0pkP1Z_DVzR9LAcOXwTzOV2Xtb8nrRnzcivJi40jMGR_d4IUEkYK0KK4S7O4jYcqwLg7_f6bEAOn5IyIJrBEid8f8lrtalc9lJFGCq4DXpMT_W69_sNEXMCubd9r_c/s400/ch091110.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407404347813748370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJliX1qAU-pq7fVlm56xbpranrY2qluoe98nb9FVGVBlmzaaPgn6lhZ_25PtDAJsSpZn8HBwpHY4kAG2vQB1K1pykNnDBlgqEUZYqb8wdLmwYWbEMJaCuN62C9-uf1hGLgm1RbGbxLA/s1600/ch091111.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNJliX1qAU-pq7fVlm56xbpranrY2qluoe98nb9FVGVBlmzaaPgn6lhZ_25PtDAJsSpZn8HBwpHY4kAG2vQB1K1pykNnDBlgqEUZYqb8wdLmwYWbEMJaCuN62C9-uf1hGLgm1RbGbxLA/s400/ch091111.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407404344235910082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi9QCaPCioaeR6wx4XAKDlmeha9Pwc6alqoq8gpu9NSQdQuGq0MxPMBm0rGYglVL4UemmPr1dIe6L9FLICTkCmZvUw2mtL-7EVxXjWcF0D7hy3v4DbgDruMz8060hvESaIDrv3PHm-Ww/s1600/ch091112.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi9QCaPCioaeR6wx4XAKDlmeha9Pwc6alqoq8gpu9NSQdQuGq0MxPMBm0rGYglVL4UemmPr1dIe6L9FLICTkCmZvUw2mtL-7EVxXjWcF0D7hy3v4DbgDruMz8060hvESaIDrv3PHm-Ww/s400/ch091112.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407404343982389858" /></a><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/wegkruipertjie.html">http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/wegkruipertjie.html</a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh7GB_r07S-SB9-b9AaZlvt7S4c_t7ZEtpb3xxhcYfR7WftbK4wpiyQzfMG9RnQExMrO-FUtYnX-03bSauG9209HMV_VP5wkUXZLjRnm4l-_dHGkwrIFlvBlVLwtSzvfqJluN8Ng-N6A/s1600/ch091113.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh7GB_r07S-SB9-b9AaZlvt7S4c_t7ZEtpb3xxhcYfR7WftbK4wpiyQzfMG9RnQExMrO-FUtYnX-03bSauG9209HMV_VP5wkUXZLjRnm4l-_dHGkwrIFlvBlVLwtSzvfqJluN8Ng-N6A/s400/ch091113.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407404339016570194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs1e2tCeQdC-mxyxS3WZz1zNKf7oCKSn0tHKJtL8Ybb21Rq_OvQOJ_ljeS0GdQSosQUmktlSJ4PeXHMA46IsF3Mx7aZbEo6OQvCpnshbZGKSIC-IPu9OrbJnrDWTM3vUaxSUqMPoViZQ/s1600/ch091114.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs1e2tCeQdC-mxyxS3WZz1zNKf7oCKSn0tHKJtL8Ybb21Rq_OvQOJ_ljeS0GdQSosQUmktlSJ4PeXHMA46IsF3Mx7aZbEo6OQvCpnshbZGKSIC-IPu9OrbJnrDWTM3vUaxSUqMPoViZQ/s400/ch091114.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407404332511073906" /></a></div></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-37724444561915380832009-10-11T15:02:00.007+02:002009-10-11T16:36:49.472+02:00Die Nagtelike SterresweefHet jy al ooit oornag by 'n plaashuis in die platteland, of in 'n tent langs die strand naby 'n ver-af kusdorpie; weg van die besige, raserige stadslewe met straatlampe wat heelnag jou oë verblind? Dan sou jy dalk ook, soos ek, verstom kon staan (of sit) en ure lank opkyk na die biljoene, nee ontelbare, ogies wat flikkerend, verleidend terugloer na jou vanuit die enorme groot sterreruim.<div><br /></div><div>Omtrent presies 'n jaar gelede, het ek en 'n goeie vriend 'n <a title="Die rubberspore wat ons agter laat" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/11/die-rubberspore-wat-ons-agter-laat.html">avontuurlike padtoer</a> beleef en die <a title="Roadtrip #12 – Colesberg se lamtjops en nag vol sterre" href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/roadtrip-12-colesberg-se-lamtjops-en-nag-vol-sterre/">eerste aand by Colesberg</a> in die Karoo op 'n gasteplaas oornag. Dit was die eerste keer in 'n baie lang tyd, en sedertdien, dat ek so baie sterre kon aanskou.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ek het vantevore genoem van <a href="http://www.google.com/sky/">Google Sky</a> waarmee jy op jou rekenaar die sterreruim van effens nader kan beskou. Ek het sopas afgekom op <a href="http://www.gigagalaxyzoom.org/B.html">GigaGalaxy Zoom</a> waar jy 'n effens ander uitkyk op die volledige nagruim kan kry, asook meer inligting oor verskeie areas van die sterreruim vir diegene wat belangstel. Vergroot die prentjie so ver as wat jy kan en kyk net hoeveel sonspikkels jy op jou skerm kan sien. Ek vind dit nogal moeilik om te glo dat nie 'n enkele een van daardie sonne deur 'n <a title="Planeetsoeker" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/03/planeetsoeker.html">lewensvatbare planeet</a> (dalk selfs met <a title="Intelligent aliens too plentiful" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/08/intelligent-aliens-too-plentiful.html">ander lewensvorme</a>) omwentel word nie.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914110955.htm"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnNGaTCRD5EvB6A36lSJchBjIwWMoxxpb4fE4uKSvwEbwqwm8VV0QwjYNV_2F856KnqSVubK3Pt-an_FZNH8kczaUB3qbCHOFkc9zWMo3bHoPCahCzdxo6dC9ib7COLIVvaQPVEOXP1A/s320/090914110955-large.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391350868959947714" /></a><div>Volgens 'n <a title="Interactive, 360-degree Panoramic View Of Entire Night Sky" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914110955.htm">artikel by ScienceDaily</a>, was dit die inisiatief van die Fransman, Serge Brunier, om al daardie foto's te neem en beskikbaar te maak as deel van die viering van die <a title="Sterkyker, Verkyker" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/03/sterkyker-verkyker.html">Internasionale Jaar van Sterrekunde</a>. Die van julle wat meer <a href="http://francoism.wordpress.com/">in fotografie belangstel</a>, sal dalk wil weet dat die foto's geneem is met 'n Nikon D3 digitale kamera, en met behulp van 'n toestel wat die beweging van die aarde kanselleer. Jy kan meer daaroor lees in die artikel.</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-29741202806088367512009-08-31T22:01:00.009+02:002012-02-13T21:52:02.993+02:00How to make money<a href="http://www.usagold.com/press/gold_images.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376261380590946226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Tu0Yjx18aGddc0Z_qWfxg5Kc_d47MaPpWiuiZjlDPS4Qd6pQQp6lAGI4e8wkqk1anSHFNNpHD4k0cqzMbpzpcFkUBOgqAhZ6b9P4DgnJCuiLJp2iOpLoJXVHCohhwi1qs1QajU1mass/s200/coins_stack_43_sml.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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Welcome to the first installment of my discourse on general economic principles and how it affects you and me as individual economic participants. According to my <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html" title="Why no English">previous explanation</a>, I have decided to compose this series in English, since it contains information that is universally applicable, but presented quite differently from any other literature on economics that you may find elsewhere (I think).</div>
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Be warned however, that I am by no measure an expert on economics. I rely purely on my limited knowledge and my imperfect logical deductive reasoning abilities.</div>
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In staying true to the general theme of this blog, I must mention that I have developed a <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/08/ek-is-n-spikkel.html">keen interest in economics</a> as it relates to my ability to build a star ship, with which I can travel to other planets that orbit other stars. And, we all know that star ships cost a lot of money, especially in light of the fact that we still need to research (and hopefully discover) and develop the appropriate technologies to actually build one. I am also somewhat curious to know how we might do transactions with any alien life that we may encounter on our future voyages.</div>
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The Earth is littered with all kinds of recipies, charms and self-help books that presumably explain how to make lots of money. But have you ever stopped for a moment to think about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numismatics" title="Wikipedia: Numismatics">where money comes from</a> and why we actually need it?</div>
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Let me take you a short while back in time to the first monetary transaction (or how I imagine it would have happened). Suppose there was once a farmer, called Abraham, growing wheat crops and baking bread from the flour that he got after harvesting and milling. Also suppose that Abraham had a neighbour, called Bartholomew, who was a dairy farmer with cows aplenty. Normally, Bartholomew enjoyed eating his cheese on a slice of bread and had an agreement with Abraham to exhange one jar of milk for one loaf of bread, since Abraham also fancied having some milk in his coffee.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/AB28501/Taxi"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376261785367582994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4pkTJv-FkD3xBUJcH7_BE8tKuuVljlgZZlubW_l10hYfrY-vFy0bICNoSdexXU68_PSmWYccof9EbYmxtyPafZEguchbHO4biBMPGPPjvbX_hO09e_bRVfpHLZZTSIzTUPesNsXpCq0/s200/AB28501.300.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 132px;" /></a><br />
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But, one year the rains were scarce and the wheat grew sparse, so Abraham had very little stock of bread. Abraham couldn't sell all his bread anymore, or else he would starve. And one jar of milk would not sustain him equally. So, Bartholomew proposed to pay with two jars of milk and two blocks of cheese to get his loaf of bread, since bread has become his staple food without which he would surely starve. (<i>Note how the principle of </i><b><i>supply-and-demand</i></b><i> increases or decreases the value of products.)</i></div>
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Soon, Abraham became tired of having cheese and milk all the time. But, Bartholomew still needed his bread. So, Abraham devised a cunning plan and told Bartholomew that he can get his loaf of bread in exchange for a little token. This token would serve as a contract, stating that Abraham may exchange it back for two jars of milk and two blocks of cheese at any time of his choosing. The idea spread like wildfire and pretty soon everybody was exchanging tokens for resources. And a funny thing happened. Suddenly Abraham was not limited to getting milk and cheese for his tokens. This was convenient, since he never acquired a liking to milk and cheese again. Instead he used his tokens to buy fruits and desserts. He also invested in some newly invented tools with which he could channel water from the river and increase his crop yields. By making more bread, he would be able to sell to more people and get more tokens in exchange.</div>
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But there remained a big problem with the token system. You had to remember the value of each individual token. In some communities, they used valuable objects as tokens, and they ended up negotiating the value of their tokens at each transaction. So, at some point in time, another clever mind invented a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard" title="Wikipedia: Gold Standard">standardised monetary system</a>, in which tokens had a fixed, predetermined value.</div>
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Today our tokens are little pieces of paper or metal coins, without intrinsic value, but they still symbolise a contract between a buyer and a potential seller. The seller will always agree to the value of the token, although the value of the product being sold may still fluctuate. And once you have taken goods from the seller, he/she will <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_tender" title="Wikipedia: Legal Tender">agree to accept your token</a>.</div>
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And this is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_supply" title="Wikipedia: Money Supply">how you make money</a>: Everytime there is the potential for resources to be exchanged, money is created. So, in order to get more money (or even to grow a country's economy), all you need to do, is acquire exchangeable resources. As soon as people want those resources, your money will start flowing in. It's funny, but this concept is fundamentally equivalent to stealing, unless you exchange something of equal value upon acquisition (which defeats the purpose). It also reminds me about how certain countries became exceedingly wealthy by colonising and effectively plundering half of the undeveloped world. They understood this principle very well.</div>
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<a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-5770633-prospector.php"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376262030805727218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgLAqq7fOkbhMQdJCzYcdESHCGqhBPYw1v0ik2ngzxcbEIA0Eozvuz7gH7V-TbbXPRH-P41uPhw8eB5SgR7xKcIldsqnkvVrg0iFv3AwpnAL2Zl2g2C0o3QqMTDCiWGGvBSVUqIlSypE/s200/ist2_5770633-prospector.200.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 163px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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So now you have to ask yourself: what kinds of exchangeable resources can you acquire that other people will want to buy? Typical resources are farming and mining products. Farming acquires resources by tapping nutrients from the ground (or stealing it unless you replenish it with fertiliser or compost) and energy from the sun. Mining acquires resources by cutting and gathering pieces of rock (or stealing it from the Earth). Artisans can acquire skills by which they can trade in the resource of time through delivering some kind of service. And, certain skills may be more valuable than others.</div>
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I hope you have now gained some insights into (or refreshed what you knew all along about) some of the fundamentals of economics based on money. Of course, this is not the complete picture, and there are many more aspects that I would like to share, but that is to be continued in another entry.</div>
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<br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-27217050557718577332009-08-16T15:20:00.003+02:002009-08-16T15:34:02.368+02:00Intelligent aliens too plentiful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvI0DOLD0bkuQ9gjTc64sBi71ctEHn2PHONApkszUSgAWG9AA0EQmy1vd5sEEMcdTtbuorEt776bw4Sz1FPg5XyVrUvoZ00VQ2O-CEvLdbgzykOphIQIg949TNvmLpWD8hVz7RnnhJ5g/s1600-h/Asgard-Thor-398x600.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvI0DOLD0bkuQ9gjTc64sBi71ctEHn2PHONApkszUSgAWG9AA0EQmy1vd5sEEMcdTtbuorEt776bw4Sz1FPg5XyVrUvoZ00VQ2O-CEvLdbgzykOphIQIg949TNvmLpWD8hVz7RnnhJ5g/s200/Asgard-Thor-398x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370544553212110882" /></a>As humans, we often ponder the <a title="What Are The Odds Of Finding Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life?" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416110124.htm">probability of intelligent alien life</a> existing somewhere else in the known universe. Some even dismiss the idea as a total impossibility.<div><br /></div><div>A while back, I had a short discussion with a friend or two about the nature of intelligence. What exactly do we understand about the idea of <a title="Wikipedia: Intelligence" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence">being intelligent</a> or a life form having intelligence? Where does intelligence start? Is a tiny ant intelligent if it can work with its fellow ants to build gigantic ant hills? Is a dog intelligent for understanding your commands and being able to execute them, or even just puff at you and turn its head away in disbelief of your arrogance? What about <a title="Monkeys Can Perform Mental Addition" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071218101240.htm">monkeys that can do basic math</a>, or wild orangutans that have their own <a title="Is ‘Orangutan Fishing With Spear’ A FAKE?" href="http://blondebynature.com/was-orangutan-fishing-with-spear-a-fake/">culture and technology</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div>We often attribute increasing levels of intelligence to increasing <a title="Brain size, body weight and intelligence" href="http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Myths/br-si-bo.htm">brain sizes</a> and complexity. With such reasoning, would the <a title="Whale Brain, Surprisingly Similar to Human Brain" href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/Whale-Brain-Surprisingly-Similar-to-Human-Brain-41158.shtml">enormous brains of whales</a> and elephants not make them <a title="Are Whales Smarter Than We Are?" href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=are-whales-smarter-than-we-are">more intelligent than us puny little humans</a>? Just because we can easily kill them doesn't mean that they are less intelligent, but only that we are more violent. Who is to say that whale intelligence is not simply <a title="How intelligent are whales?" href="http://www.seashepherd.org/whales/the-intelligent-whale.html">beyond our comprehension</a>? Maybe in their songs they are debating the stupidity of the human race or lamenting the havoc that we wreak to their once beautiful world.</div><div><br /></div><div>And what about our own race? Even we humans have <a title="The Fancier The Cortex, The Smarter The Brain?" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090717104623.htm">varying levels of intelligence</a>. Since the same is true <a title="Individual Primates Display Variation In General Intelligence" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090616205508.htm">for other primates</a>, you may even consider the possibility that some apes are smarter than some humans.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.arkive.org/leaf-cutter-ant/atta-cephalotes/image-G57853.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJMFnXxVpakEwoNbuSGDxLprDDIMdUqBP9MoiqUl68tT4CJm43_hf0cS-QP-4nNTrQjk33PfQA1jsDtu3D5_xQTDYLuKjL2h_qhIirrLD6Idld0LvcCSkkHx1-Ibd3PH2y-YRw5VOg0c/s200/ants-leafcutters.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370544931278127778" /></a><div>Thinking about all this prompted a fleeting synaptic commotion in my head about our never-ending <a title="SETI@home" href="http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/">search for extraterrestrial intelligence</a>. And, I realised that it is really a misnomer to be searching for <i>intelligent</i> aliens. They may well be very plentiful, but like whales, might not give a moment's thought to building shelters and trade routes and communication satellites or even any technology at all. What we are actually seeking, are <i>industrious</i> aliens. Or rather industrious, intelligent aliens, since ants have also proven to be fairly industrious.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, it seems that there might even be a <a title="Life May Extend Planet's 'Life': Billion-year Life Extension For Earth Also Doubles Odds Of Finding Life On Other Planets" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090612203303.htm">better chance of finding them</a> than our previous calculations suggested.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<span style="font-style: italic; ">What's that funny-looking language on the rest of this blog? See <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html" style="color: rgb(0, 68, 204); text-decoration: none; ">the explanation</a> that I posted previously.</span>]</div><div><br /></div><div>[If you are interested in using the alien picture, please download it <a href="http://stargate.mgm.com/view/content/193/index.html">from the original website</a>, since you will need to read the license agreement.]</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-73279565242625850192009-07-12T17:32:00.002+02:002009-08-11T22:59:03.264+02:00Ek en my huisie<div>Ek het 'n konsep ("draft") van hierdie inskrywing 'n hele jaar gelede hier op <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Blogger</a> gestoor (19 Junie 2008, om presies te wees). Maar, siende dat ek juis nou die mylpaal in my lewe bereik het waar ek ernstig kan begin soek na 'n huisie (nou goed dan, eerder 'n woonstelletjie), het ek dit goedgedink om daardie elektrone so bietjie af te stof en hulle aan die gang te skop sodat hulle 'n slaggie weer kan rondrits en uiteindelik hierdie woorde na jou rekenaar-/selfoonskerm kan bring.</div><div><br /></div><a title="Tin Tin Rocket, Chabeuil, France" href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5338426"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriYJUrtqEYen_tSvegyEj-cNOE7OzUmZdEUft0rDysmn7k10p9s0uPPbSHdRhTtYQLxZ0nDOh90TETVwNPmnJlcnELQ4_n11vZwzCYZxd1-g411XFYFX6Ic1vJHVeO89PG374n-634Kc/s200/TinTin_Rocket_Chabeuil_France_5338426.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357612802904760866" /></a><div><a title="My huisie is 'n ruimteskip" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-huisie-is-n-ruimteskip.html">Vatevore het ek besin</a> oor hoe 'n volledig toegeruste ruimteskippie effektiewelik ook my huisie kan wees: 'n huisie wat ek kan parkeer in enige land van my keuse, ongeag of daar enige infrastruktuur of <a title="Anargie = Sekuriteit" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/anargie-sekuriteit.html">wetstoepassing van enige aard</a> is. Dis 'n ideale tuig om op 'n vreemde planeet ook te gaan woon.</div><div><br /></div><div>So kom ons bou vir ons 'n ruimteskippie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ek wil begin met 'n basiese ontwerp. Ek gaan eers net al die noodsaaklike dele van die ideale ruimteskippie lys en dan kan ons soos die tyd verloop kyk hoe ons elke deel gaan bou en integreer in 'n volledige skippie. Terwyl ons nog nie nou al 'n ruimteskippie kan bou nie, sal hierdie jou wel 'n paar idees gee oor wat 'n mens kan doen om jou bestaande huis te omskep in iets baie na aan 'n ruimsteskippie.</div><div><br /></div>Hier is die dele wat ek dink absoluut noodsaaklik is vir 'n ruimteskiphuisie:<div><ol><li>'n romp (nee, nie die tipe wat vrouens dra nie)<ul><li>die basiese struktuur van die skip, insluitend die buitenste mure wat die koue buite hou en verkieslik <a title="Self-healing Concrete For Safer, More Durable Infrastructure" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090422175336.htm">self kan herstel</a> as skade opgedoen word</li><li>die vorm word grootliks bepaal deur al die ander stelsels aanboord</li><li>bied <a title="New Spaceship Force Field Makes Mars Trip Possible" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081104080309.htm">beskerming teen</a> natuurlike aanslae soos <a title="Voyager Spacecraft Enters Solar System's Final Frontier" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050524225141.htm">sonwinde</a> en gewone <a title="Do And Don't Of Building In Hurricane-prone Areas" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090615144213.htm">winde</a>, asook vliëende vuurwapenpatrone en ander <a title="Forget rockets - go to Mars in a cosmic fruit bowl" href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626256.500">hoë-energie kosmiese partikels</a></li></ul></li><li>lewensondersteuningstelsel</li><ul><li>vir basiese oorlewing</li><li>stoorplek vir lug, water en kos met gepaardgaande meters wat kan aandui as voorrade min raak</li><li>stelsels wat kan seker maak dat die lug, <a title="Drinking Water: The Need For Constant Innovation" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080912091736.htm">water</a> en <a title="New Technology Takes On Food Safety, Wastage And Inaccurate 'Best Before' Dates" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923121958.htm">kos</a> veilig is om te verbruik (dit moet byvoorbeeld dodelike <a title="New Generation Of Simpler Sensors For Detecting Disease-causing Microbes And Toxins" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080721093845.htm">kieme</a> en <a title="New Security And Medical Sensor Devices Made Possible By Fundamental Physics Development In Metallic Nanostructures" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090407075342.htm">gifstowwe</a> kan opspoor en onskadelik maak)</li><li>stelsels wat gebruikte lug, water, kos en vullis / afval moet verwerk en herwin tot 'n nuttige vorm (ons wil sekerlik nie die heelal bestrooi met ons gemors nie? yuck!)</li><li>ons skippie sou ook vars water kon opvang wanneer dit reën, vir 'n bietjie afwisseling met herwinde water</li><li>beligting wat so goed werk soos sonlig om ons te help met instandhouding van <a title="Get A Little Sun This Summer -- It Could Help Save Your Life, Researcher Suggests" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616161111.htm">vitamien D</a> voorrade</li><li>dalk ook 'n <a title="Rooftop Vegetable Gardener at Rocket Rooftop Garden" href="http://www.cityfarmer.info/rooftop-vegetable-gardener-at-rocket-rooftop-garden-takes-us-on-a-tour/">groentetuin</a> vir daardie kere wat ons vir lang tye nie by die winkel kan uitkom nie; ons mag dalk selfs gesonde kos kan kweek <a title="Ultraviolet LEDs Create Darker, Redder Lettuce Richer In Antioxidants" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518172659.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">met kunsmatige beligting</a></li></ul><li>sekerheid-/beskermingstelsel<ul><li>sodat niemand jou huis kan steel en wegvlieg daarmee nie</li><li>ook noodsaaklik om te verhoed dat 'n wilde beer of marsmannetjie by jou voordeur instap en probeer om jou oor die kop te slaan terwyl jy rustig besig is om 'n koppie tee saam met jou gunsteling storieboek te geniet</li><li>ingesluit hierby is 'n <a title="'Smart' Surveillance System May Tag Suspicious Or Lost People" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217190437.htm">outomatiese toesig-/waakstelsel</a> met 'n alarm sodat jy vinnig kan padgee as dinge bietjie warm onder die kraag begin raak, of anders sodat jy jou buurmense kan roep dat julle gewere kan saamspan</li><li>ons moet dalk ook kyk of ons 'n stelsel kan installeer wat <a title="More Protection Against Explosives And Nuclear Material In Freight Containers" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090507072826.htm">plofstof kan opspoor</a> en onskadelik stel</li></ul></li><li>kragopwekkingstelsel<ul><li>'n ruimteskippie het vanselfsprekend een-of-ander vorm van energie nodig om al die stelsels aan die gang te hou, veral die lewensondersteuning- en aandryfstelsels</li><li>die kragopwekkingstelsel moet weerstandig wees teen enige skade wat opgedoen kan word - ons wil ten minste darem 'n SOS met twitter kan stuur en dan oorleef totdat die ambulaansskip opdaag</li><li>dit mag dalk help as die skippie meer as een tipe kragopwekker kan gebruik</li><li>die stoor van energie (soos <a href="http://www.its-solar.com/products/power-backup-systems/">met 'n battery</a>) kan ook nuttig wees indien kragopwekking heeltemal ophou werk</li><li>dit alles help natuurlik ook vir immuniteit teen effekte soos "load shedding"</li><li>ingesluit moet daar ook 'n energiemeter wees wat vir ons kan aandui wanneer ons weer 'n draai by die vulstasie moet maak, en ook om ons te waarsku as ons te veel <a href="http://www.its-solar.com/products/solar-water-heating-systems/residential/">warm water</a> gebruik wanneer ons stort, of die <a title="Solar Air Conditioning" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtMC2MXc_n8">lugverkoeler (Youtube 6:32 minute)</a> onnodig laat loop</li></ul></li><li>leefruimte<ul><li>slaapplek</li><li>kosmaakplek</li><li>eetplek</li><li>skoonmaakplek</li><li>werkplek</li><li>kuierplek</li><li>speelplek</li><li>en moenie vergeet van <a href="http://www.calphysics.org/articles/newscientist.html">kunsmatige swaartekrag</a> nie</li></ul></li><li>aandryfstelsel<ul><li>om op te styg en <a title="Sterrespringer" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/04/sterrespringer.html">tussen planete te hop</a></li><li>ons mag dalk ook interne <a title="Inertia: Does Empty Space put up the Resistance?" href="http://www.calphysics.org/haisch/science.html">traagheidsdemping</a> benodig om te keer dat ons soos pannekoeke platgedruk word wanneer ons iewers heen vertrek</li></ul></li><li>beheerstelsel<ul><li>om te sorg dat al die ander stelsels goed werk en alles glad verloop tydens 'n lang reis na nêrens</li><li>sluit in <a title="How Do You Avoid Hitting Stars at Warp 5? A Pulsar Positioning System" href="http://gizmodo.com/5271710/how-do-you-avoid-hitting-stars-at-warp-5-a-pulsar-positioning-system">'n navigasiestelsel</a> [<i>dankie <a href="http://francoism.wordpress.com/">FrancoisM</a> vir die skakel</i>] om op koers te bly, of weer op koers te kom as ons die pad 'n bietjie byster raak of sommer net interessante draaie by tropiese eilandplanete gaan maak</li><li>iets soos 'n semi-intelligente <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000">rekenaarbrein</a> kan nuttig wees</li><li>ons sal waarskynlik ook 'n <a title="Project Natal for XBOX 360" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACt9R9z37U">gemaklike koppelvlak (Youtube 3:40 minute)</a> benodig om die beheerstelsel te bestuur</li></ul></li><li>noodgevaltoerusting<ul><li>vir wanneer dinge rêrig skeefloop</li><li>'n noodhulpkamer</li><li>suurstoftenks om net vir oulaas nog 'n paar asems te skep</li><li><a title="New Super-bouyant Material: Life Preserver Might Float A Horse" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316092837.htm">dryftoerusting</a> vir ingeval ons in 'n see beland</li><li>gereedskap vir <a title="Home Fire Sprinklers Score 'A' In Cost-benefit Study" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071011154124.htm">brandbestryding</a></li><li>termies geïsoleerde komberse waarin jy kan wegkruip teen die yskoue van die buitenste ruim of die bibberkoue van 'n ysplaneet</li></ul></li></ol></div><div>Ek hoop ek het nou die belangrikstes gedek, maar as jy iets oplet wat ek gemis het, los gerus 'n opmerking.</div><div><br /></div><a title="Asten, by Eric Yam" href="http://www.nss.org/settlement/nasa/Contest/Results/2009/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH3ykxC070bjp7WKs7cmmC0vonNC0ieXVsMVLRVbw6K8H8u4YTaiBBYHZb60pFRo9xkfj4y3hzbZIKmG1_ipGY2eikND6dLL9JzuHMyjlYOQrUR9liob6kRj9iQ2EYr-xbVY2wsN5vDs/s200/asten.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 119px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357613038246994258" /></a><div>Toevallig het ek ook hierdie week afgekom op 'n storie van 'n 16-jarige seun van Kanada wat eersteprys gewen het in 'n <a title="Space Settlement Design Contest 2009 Results" href="http://www.nss.org/settlement/nasa/Contest/Results/2009/">NASA kompitiese</a> met sy verslag oor hoe om 'n nedersetting in die ruimte te bou vir menslike bewoning. Die kern elemente in sy <a href="http://www.nss.org/settlement/nasa/Contest/Results/2009/ASTEN.pdf">verslag (PDF, 20Mb)</a> is dieselde as wat ter sprake is by die bou van 'n ruimteskiphuisie, en hy dek die onderwerp nogal breedvoerig. Dis werklik verstommend om te sien hoe ver so 'n skoolkind se kennis strek.</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-3058608133574272612009-06-01T21:45:00.003+02:002010-02-22T00:07:53.698+02:00Eendag as ek jonk is: Beter as Botox<div>[<i>Ek het nie bedoel om so baie hierdie keer te skryf nie, maar lyk my daar was baie om te sê</i> :) ].</div><div><br /></div><div>In <a title="Eendag as ek jonk is" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is.html">my inleiding</a> tot die onderwerp, het ek 'n kortlys gemaak van areas wat verjeuging op 'n praktiese vlak betrek. Voor ek aanstap na die ander areas, wil ek eers nog 'n klompie interessante ontdekkings met julle deel rondom die kwessie van voorkoms.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://botoxinjectionsguide.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUymWr5GZEFYMe0MkujRuSXAJXTyIkqX4OVIXdt5l0EQu5eYSli1IX2CIp5aRpybi3a-7Na_Xhula2ZskiCUV_xJ8KgKfuv3OKF6z_BjvZdM00Cyq-OJV1tbfWABsviaSA97wo8g0MHBE/s200/botox_effect.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342103410248299282" /></a><div>Ons het almal onlangs gehoor hoe goed die neurogifstof [<i>die Engelse "neurotoxin" klink beter</i>] <a title="Wikipedia - Botulinum toxin" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin">Botox</a> werk vir die verbetering in voorkoms van sommige prominente <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=910372">politieke figure</a>. En, daar is geen twyfel dat dit werk nie. Ek het egter 'n probleem met die meganisme waarop dit werk. Ek hou nie vreeslik van die idee om 'n gifstof onder my gesigvel in te spuit wat my spiere verlam en op so 'n manier keer dat ek plooie in my gesig kan trek nie. Tot dusver het ons <a title="Now it appears that Botox might not be the risk-free answer" href="http://lickspittle.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/in-the-name-of-vanity/">nog geen bewyse</a> [<i><b>volg hierdie skakel!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> en </span><a title="We all know Botox is stupid. Now it looks as if it can kill, too" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/04/fashion.healthandwellbeing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">die oorsponklike berig</span></a></b></i>] van enige permanente skade wat deur hierdie gifstof veroorsaak kan word nie, maar ek wil liewer nie kanse vat nie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dankie tog dat daar binnekort 'n alternatiewe behandeling na vore kan kom wat dalk net so effektief is, maar sonder die nadele, en waarvan die positiewe effekte langer sal hou. 'n Groep kanker navorsers het ontdek dat dit moontlik is <a title="Wrinkles Removed With Protein RHAMM, Study Shows" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211161936.htm">om belangrike vetselletjies onder die vel te laat groei</a> deur die werksaamheid van die RHAMM proteïn te verhinder. Sulke vetselletjies raak verlore met ouderdom en hierdie nuwe selletjies kan nou die slote in 'n mens se voorkop opvul vir 'n meer permanente herstel in voorkoms.</div><div><br /></div><div>Navorsing in ander velde wys ook na verdere moontlike behandelings vir verouderde vel, soos bv. 'n ondersoek om vas te stel hoe die matige gebruik van alkohol uiteindelik 'n <a title="Key Enzyme For Regulating Heart Attack Damage Found" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080911150053.htm">positiewe uitwerking het tydens 'n hartaanval</a>. Hierdeur is gevind dat die ALDH2 ensieme, wat normaalweg die gifstowwe in alkohol onskadelik maak, ook 'n bydrae maak om skade te verminder wat deur <a title="Wikipedia - Free-radical theory" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-radical_theory">vrye radikale</a> veroorsaak word.</div><div><br /></div><div><a title="Antioxidants Are Unlikely To Prevent Aging, Study Suggests" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201105711.htm">Een studie</a> het gevind dat anti-oksidante waarskynlik nie 'n beduidende rol speel in die verlenging van 'n mens se lewensverwagting nie, anders as wat baie produkte op die mark beweer. Maar ander ondersoeke het al definitiewe resultate gewys van hoe sekere anti-oksidante wel 'n belangrike rol speel in bv. die <a title="Antioxidant Found In Berries, Other Foods Prevents UV Skin Damage That Leads To Wrinkles" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421154318.htm">voorkoming van sonskade in die vel</a>. Ek sal daarvan hou as hulle dit sommer met sonskermroom kan kombineer. Net nogal jammer daardie arme laboratorium muisies moes so die pyn van sonbrand ervaar.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maar hoe het enige van die bogenoemde enige praktiese nut vir ons? Wel, natuurlik nog niks tot dusver nie, maar dit gee ons darem 'n blik op die moontlikhede wat in die nabye toekoms voorlê. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Op 'n meer praktiese noot, dan: daar is gevind dat die Brits-vervaardigde kosmetiese middel, "<a href="http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=11051&productId=44577">Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum</a>" 'n beduidende <a title="Anti-aging Cosmetic Reduced Wrinkles In Clinical Trial" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090428093044.htm">verbetering in die voorkoms van plooie</a> kan hê met gebruik oor 'n 12 maande tydperk. Die room stimuleer die vervaardiging van <a title="Wikipedia - Fibrillin" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibrillin">fibrillien-1</a> proteïne in die vel wat elastisiteit verbeter. Die ondersoek is wel bevonds deur die vervaardiger van die room, maar dit blyk darem dat goeie wetenskaplike metodes gevolg is. Hopelik was daar nie enige korrupsie betrokke nie. ;) Ek kon nog nie met 'n Google soektog uitvind of enige Boots No7 produkte in SA beskikbaar is nie, maar ek sal 'n ogie oophou wanneer ek weer by die winkelrakke verbystap.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dit word geensins in die berig genoem nie, maar dit lyk of die aktiewe bestandeel in hierdie room die einste retinol is waarvan ek in 'n <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/eendag-as-ek-jonk-is-voorkoms.html">vorige inskrywing</a> vertel het. Met verwysing na daardie inskrywing, moet ek ook noem dat ek nie die onderwerp vantevore goed genoeg verstaan het nie. Retinol word blykbaar omgeskakel na retinoïensuur en te veel van laasgenoemde in jou liggaam kan negatiewe gevolge hê. Gelukkig het ons <a title="Fat Synthesizing Enzyme Is Key To Healthy Skin And Hair" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213070543.htm">ingeboude meganismes om te keer dat dit gebeur</a>, behalwe met sekere siektes. Beide retinol en retinoïensuur is deel van 'n groep molekules, genaamd <a title="Wikipedia - Retinoid" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoid">retinoïdes</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Met daardie vorige inskrywing het ek ook genoem dat ek die "Men's Expert Vita Lift Complete Anti-Ageing Moisturising Cream" met "Pro-Retinol" van Loreal Paris uit probeer het [<i>wat 'n mondvol!</i>]. Wel, dis so te sê 'n jaar later en ek wag nou nog vir die sigbare resultate. Ek vermoed wel dat daar 'n verbetering in die fynste lyntjies op my gesig is, maar ek mag my dalk ook net verbeel.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><i>Hersiening (2010-02-21):</i></span></b><i> Na my laaste botteltjie Loreal retinolroom opgebruik is, het ek vir omtrent 'n maand lank daarsonder gebly. Na daardie maand kon ek toe duidelik oplet hoe daar nuwe groewe op my gesig verskyn het. Ek was redelik versigtig met sonblootstelling, so ek twyfel of die een of twee ekstra son-in-my-gesig kere so 'n groot invloed kon hê. Gelukkig kon ek die <a href="http://www.neutrogena.com/">Neutrogena</a> Men "Age Fighter Face Moisturizer SPF15" in die hande kry, want Loreal se retinolroom is nie meer op die rakke beskikbaar nie. Dit lyk darem of dinge nou weer redelik stabiel bly.</i>]</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-84469164680834601222009-05-26T20:26:00.011+02:002009-05-26T23:10:24.139+02:00Inhaal<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BHxrSVUJCghylvRN6STOlKKpPfO4ki-dPsnpmRt5409IANKBdDipBuesr6AVqhc_BqIdBNzINlSkbU0BiMchnTINsMwG6sHa2e8EV6pvY7szXAcfH-7vscXf6nhGwKcVEP-3YoYY5UU/s200/080616081723-large.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340238634372332946" /><div>Dié van julle wat my effens beter ken sal dalk bewus wees van die feit dat ek gedurig omtrent 'n maand agter is met my nuuslesery. My gunsteling bron, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/">ScienceDaily</a> (waarvan daar skakels oor omtrent al my inskrywings hier rond gestrooi lê), kan tot 50 artikels 'n dag uitskop, waarvan omtrent 10% tot 20% nogal heel interessant is. Tot my nadeel, in hierdie geval, is ek 'n baie nuuskierige persoon en my belangstellings strek wyd. Ek kan dus maklik vasgevang word in hierdie wêreld van wetenskapskennis met 'n wye verskeidenheid van onderwerpe wat op my <a href="http://www.google.com/reader/">Google Reader</a> skerm verby rol. Ek ervaar dit soos 'n verhaal met 'n plot wat elke dag 'n rapsie meer van sy raaisels oopvlek. Ek kan nie wag om te sien wat môre onthul sal word nie. Maar, ongelukkig stap die lewe aan en moet ek darem ook aandag gee aan ander, meer belangrike aktiwiteite, soos om saam met vriende te kuier. :) Dus het ek nou al tegnieke begin ontwikkel om slegs die mees interessante artikels uit te filtreer. Ek struikel maar nog soms.</div><div><br /></div><div>So het dit dan ook al in die verlede gebeur dat vriende vir my tydige, Planeethoppertjie-waardige nuus aanstuur en ek dan eers 'n maand later dit weer in my gunsteling nuusbron raakloop (omdat ek agter is met die leeswerk). As jy my Planeethoppertjie inskrywings volg, sal jy weet dat ek meestal ook bietjie agter raak met nuwe bydraes. Met hierdie inskrywing wil ek dus 'n bietjie inhaal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hierdie sluit aan by my <a title="Sterkyker, Verkyker" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/03/sterkyker-verkyker.html">onlangse</a> <a title="Planeetsoeker" href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2009/03/planeetsoeker.html">twee</a> inskrywings oor sterrekunde en die soek na planete:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/">Mnr. Muller</a> het verlede jaar vir my 'n <a title="IOL News - Astronomers find batch of 'super-earths'" href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=588&art_id=nw20080616093258868C462760">skakel</a> gestuur waar vertel word van 'n aantal super-aardbolle wat by nabygeleë sterre gevind is. Ek het natuurlik later dieselfde nuus by 'n <a title="Trio Of Super-Earths: Harvest Of Low-mass Exoplanets Discovered With HARPS" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616081723.htm">ander artikel</a> gelees. Ons weet egter nog nie of ons hierdie planete sal wil besoek nie, want ons het nog geen manier om uit te vind hoe die toestande op die oppervlak lyk nie. En met 'n skamele 10 tot 50 dae in 'n jaar lyk dinge nog nie baie belowend nie. Dink net wat die seisoene maak! Wat ons wel weet, is dat sulke planete volop is en dit mag dalk daarop dui dat ander kleiner planete soos ons eie Aarde ook volop kan wees.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://francoism.wordpress.com/">Francois M</a> het verlede maand vir my 'n <a title="Wired Science - Astronomers Find Hidden Exoplanet in Hubble’s Dustbin" href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/dataplanet/">berig</a> gestuur oor argiefmateriaal van die Hubble ruimteteleskoop wat afgestof is en ingespan is om planete te vind. Met nuwe wiskundige tegnieke kon die ondersoekspan reg daar in daardie ou foto's al ten minste een planeet raaksien (alhoewel nie 'n nuwe een nie) - sonder dat ons ooit eens geweet het dat dit daar sienbaar is. Nou wonder 'n mens wat skuil in die res van al die ou foto's. Weereens het ek daardie storie ook later by 'n <a title="Hidden Exoplanet Found In Archival Data" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090401183529.htm">ander artikel</a> raakgeloop. Francois M het vir my nog 'n ander skakel ook vantevore gestuur, maar dit pas eerder by 'n ander inskrywing wat ek nog sal maak.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPW-4QTA6mEXA2FY4ouh8e8DK9-tb-HUeUSRNl1KlqsCAc-CFUePf3sCd9D0dtleMKOSazwNK-XnVlfSx1xrVyTbaUQczn3UsD0BZOFlITTlyKyMbAtOzRLe9tmu5k4TVwDI1p2iM1Dgw/s200/090423105846.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340238787714598418" /><div>En dan het ek ook 'n bietjie nuwe (of liewer ou) nuus uit my eie leeswerk:</div><br /><div>Wetenskaplikes het nou 'n tegniek uitgedink om planete te identifiseer <a title="Scientists Give A Hand(edness) To The Search For Alien Life" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105846.htm">waar daar alreeds lewe bestaan</a>, of ten minste 'n mate van plantegroei. Die tegniek maak gebruik van die eienskap van <a title="Wikipedia - Polarization" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization">ligpolarisering</a>, soos wat jou "polaroid" sonbril ook doen, en hoe plante wat <a title="Wikipedia - Chlorophyll" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll">chlorofil</a> bevat ligstrale op spesifieke maniere polariseer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soos ek genoem het, is ek bietjie agter met my skryfwerk hier. Hou gerus hierdie ruimte dop, vir verdere afdelings oor hoe mens jonk word, hoe mens geld maak, en hoe mens jou eie ruimteskippie bou!</div><div><br /></div><div><div>[Die prentjies het ek by die volgende webbladsye gevind:</div><div><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616081723.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616081723.htm</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105846.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105846.htm</a>]</div><div><br /></div></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-57656011683211555302009-04-09T22:01:00.011+02:002009-04-09T23:48:03.513+02:0013 Volmane<a href="http://scienceclass.ning.com/profiles/blogs/1677792:BlogPost:3140"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDQPFRjz1kvqA2K8fOMoMKUVu5HAgnrc2aAHVDrTWaKnehIubslxobLCrQBdEbdKTqcmC45uTdQOV06NkGXB1qy3vs-FkX6JIsWwVDyMVw3JN6srmeEp_lUcwJ0xudvJUmSYWA9oflzE/s200/Planets.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322794428448957986" /></a>365 dae, 27 inskrywings en <a title="200 Years of Full Moon Dates Between (1900 - 2100)" href="http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/fullmoon.htm">13 volmane (insluitend vandag)</a> later: lyk my ons is nog 'n jaar nader daaraan om werklik te kan hop en spring tussen vreemde, eienaardige en dalk selfs mooi planete.<div><br /></div><div>Ek skryf nie so gereeld soos ek graag sou wou nie, maar ek vermoed julle verkies dit dalk ook eerder so, tussendeur al die ander nuuswaardige gebeurtenisse waarmee ons daagliks gebombardeer word. Dankie vir almal wat die afgelope jaar die avontuur saam beleef het en opmerkings hier op sommige van die inskrywings gedeel het. Die gedagte dat ander mense dit ook geniet (en dalk selfs nuttig vind), is meer as genoeg motivering vir my om terug te keer hierheen. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>As jy nog nie opgelet het nie: ek het onlangs 'n nuwe speelding op die planeethoppertjie webblad geplaas. Daar is 'n boksie aan die regterkant met die opskrif "Planeethoppers", waar jy jouself kan byvoeg en ook jou vriende kan uitnooi om saam te kom speel. Jy kan ook so een op jou blog (of enige ander webblad) plaas - gaan kyk by <a href="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/">Google Friend Connect</a> as jy nie <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Blogger.com</a> gebruik nie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ek sien uit daarna om nog verdere vermaak aan julle te verskaf...</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-88824478065507941902009-03-22T23:11:00.002+02:002009-03-23T00:41:09.361+02:00Planeetsoeker<a title="ScienceDaily: Finding Twin Earths Is Harder Than Thought" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320131521.htm"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Uz9xo3BhPFzE9S9CvaWn729pMYVV59DXWJ82cmYwUD9Xg3DhMf9QdlwSX1A1lD3QK9cFYAkGoRV0Mg5HaZlEQdoPdOjKFsu3tf2vJGJcbCT0zp5mNnSzaxSf0eg39pWVjtqIMhj901o/s200/090320131521-large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316143785906035074"></a><div>Ja wat, ons besef nou dat dit ongelukkig nog 'n rukkie gaan wees voor ons 'n <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-huisie-is-n-ruimteskip.html">rumteskippie</a> kan bou wat na planete by ander sterre sal kan <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/04/sterrespringer.html">spring</a>. Maar, intussen kan ek goeie nuus met julle deel:</div><div><br /></div><div>'n Hele nuwe ontdekkingsavontuur is vroeër hierdie maand afgeskop toe die <a title="NASA's Kepler Mission Rockets To Space In Search Of Other Earths" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090308113204.htm">Kepler ruimteteleskoop gelanseer</a> is om vir <a title="Seeking Earth-like Planets: NASA's Kepler Mission Set For Launch" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305143932.htm">ander planete te soek</a> wat <a title="NASA's Kepler Mission To Seek Other Earths" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090219201411.htm">soortgelyk aan ons Aarde</a> is. En kort op sy hake, word daar tans hard gewerk om die <a title="Finding Twin Earths Is Harder Than Thought" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320131521.htm">James Webb ruimteteleskoop</a> te voltooi sodat dit teen 2013 vir ons kan begin wys of die toestande op daardie planete gunstig is vir lewe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ons kan dus al solank 'n katalogus begin saamstel van planete wat ons wil besoek. Nou moet ons nog net begin harder werk daaraan om 'n ordentlike ruimteskippie te bou.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">NS: Hierdie sendings moet verseker nie ligtelik geag word nie - dit is die inkarnasie van ons as mens se mees gevorderde tegnologie en nog so te sê reg op die grens tussen om <font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">iets</font> waar te neem en <font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">niks</font> waar te neem. Dit is werklik 'n merkwaardige poging, en dit wys ons ook hoeveel meer interessant die nabye toekoms gaan word soos ons tegnologie nog verder verbeter.<font class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">]</font></font></div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-61288417724953481522009-03-15T23:25:00.007+02:002009-03-16T01:22:34.836+02:00Sterkyker, Verkyker<span style="font-style:italic;">Ek kyk op na die sterre: waarvandaan sal daar vir my hulp kom, om hulle van nader te beskou?</span><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7RbOLJ9qdUu4gxNt88Ap8LRh4H2H6azhlZNt5V2XGKCDIUj_LGD4RoVTjIjM0nBRQ6cM9dNsEvc6xq04CMHq4d0dYcs-ss7O0vO_hs21v8rz7V7Ml6r4gu-KpaFS0yT1HD3gAmhMFbM/s200/hevelius_telescope.gif" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313549132284102034" />Ek dink as die psalmdigter 'n astronoom was, sou hierdie woorde waarskynlik vanaf sy penveer gevloei het. Dit was egter 'n skamele 40 dekades gelede wat iemand 'n <a title="Connexions: Galileo's Telescope" href="http://cnx.org/content/m11932/latest/">metaalpypie met twee geronde glasskyfies</a> na die hemel gerig het en die maan en planete van nader aanskou het. Op skool leer ons dat die Italianer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei">Gelileo Galilei</a> daardie sterkyker was. Maar, min mense weet dat 'n Engelsman, genaamd <a title="Thomas Harriot: A Telescopic Astronomer Before Galileo" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090114110948.htm">Thomas Harriot</a>, eintlik 'n paar maande voor Galileo alreeds 'n breedvoerige skets van die maan se oppervlak gemaak het met behulp van sy eie teleskoop. Hierdie 2009ste jaar van ons <a title="Wikipedia: Gregorian calendar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar">moderne kalender</a> vier ons die 400ste herdenking van daardie eerste hemelsketse met die <a href="http://astronomy2009.saao.ac.za/">Internasionale Jaar van Astronomie</a>.<div><br /><div>Wanneer ons eendag wil begin hop na ander planeetstelsels, sal ons natuurlik eers 'n bietjie moet uitkyk na wat vir ons daar anderkant lê en wag. Sir Isaac Newton het gelukkig vir ons gewys hoe om 'n mooi kompakte <a title="American Institute of Physics: Cosmology Tools: Newton's Telescope Design" href="http://www.aip.org/history/cosmology/tools/pic-early-reflectors-newton-scope.htm">teleskoop met spieëls te bou</a>. Vandag het ons alreeds asemrowende, <a title="Giant Furnace Opens To Reveal 'Perfect' LSST Mirror Blank" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080902214750.htm">tegnologies gesofistikeerde sterkykmasjiene</a> waarmee ons diep in die sterreruim kan inkyk en miljoene ander sterrestelsels kan waarneem. Tog begin dinge nou interessant raak met <a title="Nanotechnology Makes Supertelescopes Much More Sensitive" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090202102940.htm">nuwe ontdekkings</a> wat ons teleskope by die dag <a title="New Space Telescope Reveals Entire Gamma-ray Sky" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080826144850.htm">kragtiger</a> maak en ons verder, en met <a title="Sharpest Whole-Planet Picture Of Jupiter Taken From The Ground" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002095016.htm">meer detail</a> laat sien.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs2AuScEkKDMciTDk5oEzTi5r4dcfBtvj9gDD0WNObHUIIvf8EQeDbrzfl7qKMpIUYnPHScdbMbqJEhFs720QOLOuOk6AnypUdI5y2i0X3qNtu8x2SUW13GUkW_V_ID2XYf3s_HkUL8I/s200/p200orion.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313549729388286194" /><div>Een interessante verwikkeling, is die saamsnoering van inligting vanaf 'n hele spul teleskope in verskillende dele van die wêreld om effektiewelik te werk as <a title="New Virtual Telescope Zooms In On Milky Way's Super-massive Black Hole" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903134313.htm">een enorme skynteleskoop</a>. Sonder om nuwe, groter teleskope te bou, kan ons dus nou prentjies maak met sulke fyn detail as wat 'n enkele teleskoop sou toelaat indien dit 'n paar duisend kilometer groot was. Verder is dit ook interessant om te hoor dat sulke tegnieke nou gebruik word <a title="Astronomers Tune In To 'Radio Universe'" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080909095106.htm">met gewone radio antennas</a> om elektromagnetiese golwe van laer frekwensies uit die ruimte waar te neem.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvJs1nj7mDDEppmUu56Gw__p0STHvjzS-ykgAvtI1O_3NY4TyTrlRgZau8-Z1sUACWVDiaMFpzsi4C5czrChcwcKef5S-V6YwN-HqOQOobk1Du0FToi3U32k-AHVR9g-Gmh2BsjbkjvU/s200/080915162420-large.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313550292248551954" /><div>Ander tegnieke, wat 'n bietjie meer van toepassing is op ons planeethoppery, word <a title="How Dust Rings Point To Exo-Earths With Supercomputer's Help" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081010135035.htm">ingespan om planete rondom ander sterre te vind</a>. Dalk het jy ook onlangs in die nuus gehoor van die <a title="First Picture Of Likely Planet Around Sun-like Star" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915162420.htm">eerste direkte foto</a> van wat baie waarskynlik 'n planeet is langs 'n sonagtige ster, 500 ligjare weg. Voorheen was dit slegs moontlik om die teenwoordigheid van planete te bepaal, eerder as wat hulle direk gesien kon word. Intussen is daar ook <a title="First Direct Images Of A Planetary Family Around A Normal Star" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081113152007.htm">foto's geneem van 'n multi-planeetstelsel</a> om 'n ander ster, 130 ligjare weg. En, die bekende Hubble ruimte teleskoop het self ook al <a title="Hubble Directly Observes A Planet Orbiting Another Star" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081113151456.htm">'n planeet raakgesien</a>. Verder, het sterrekundiges dit reggekry om die <a title="Astronomers Use Ultra-sensitive Camera To Measure Size Of Planet Orbiting Star" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081211112223.htm">grootte van 'n ander ster se planeet met baie fyn akuraatheid te meet</a> (Ons almal weet mos nou al jy kan nooit iets presies meet nie).</div><div><br /></div><div>Die mees bizarre verkyk tegniek wat tot dusver nog gebruik is, word <a title="Cosmic Lens Reveals Distant Galactic Violence" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020171450.htm">geïmplimenteer met behulp van die gravitasionele lens effek</a> wat prof. Einstein ontdek het. Hiermee kan ons voorwerpe (eintlik maar net sterrestelsels) verder weg sien as wat ons kragtigste teleskoop vir ons kan wys.</div><div><br /></div><div>Die sterretjie op die koek is <a title="Cassiopeia A Comes Alive Across Time And Space" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090106091145.htm">'n video wat gemaak is</a> vanaf 8 jaar se waarnemings van 'n dooie ster, genaamd Cassiopeia. [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">terloops: dis nou nie juis 'n aksie-belaaide video nie ;-)</span>]</div><div><br /></div><div>Ek moet bieg dat ek self nie 'n besonderse belangstelling in die sterrekunde het nie, afgesien daarvan dat ek myself telke male vang waar ek op 'n wolklose aand opstaar en die hemelruim bewonder. Die enigste sterrebeeld wat ek goed ken is die jagter Orion, en ek het onlangs eers <a href="http://superjaco.blogspot.com/2008/03/die-apteker-se-horlosie.html">by 'n vriend gehoor</a> dat hy slegs in die somer sy verskyning hier by ons maak. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir18WtTLJh6wdsGeB-8GRSMXNNDdFMJ7EmQBTs5EewARPF_K56Q2CxO_0RtfMHoPLpiaIDp_Umn9McA3Xk35SDfj8dkelFzbgPIHAbG2RC2I2pLsoRVaMflDFgTsoDspFugi09UIeAjjg/s200/081107140501-large.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313551144261856434" /><div>Nietemin, een ding wat duidelik uitstaan in al hierdie sterkykery wat ons as mense doen, is die ongelooflike hoeveelheid planete wat beskikbaar is om eendag te besoek. Daar is so baie dat een persoon nie in 'n leeftyd van 'n duisend jaar eens 'n spatsel uit 'n oseaan van planeet-druppels sal kan besoek nie. Ek het 'n <a title="Pool Of Distant Galaxies: Deepest Ultraviolet Image Of The Universe Yet" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081107140501.htm">foto gevind wat hierdie feit baie mooi illustreer</a>, waar die verste beeld wat nog ooit geneem is in die ultravioletband omtrent volledig bedek word met spikkels wat elk 'n sterrestelsel is soos die Melkweg, en elkeen met biljoene sterre waarvan die meeste ten minste een planeet het. Ek wonder hoe lank sal ek my afwagting kan verduur voor ek tussen hulle kan begin rondhop.</div><div><br /></div><div>As jy 'n bietjie meer in sterrekunde belangstel as ek, kan jy gerus gaan loer by <a href="http://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/">NASA se SkyView</a>, indien jy nie alreeds so gemaak het nie. Kyk ook 'n bietjie <a title="NASA's SkyView Delivers The Multiwavelength Cosmos" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205142123.htm">watter dele van die hemelruim gewild is onder ander gebruikers van SkyView</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Die prentjies het ek by die volgende webbladsye gevind:</span></div><div><a href="http://cnx.org/content/m11932/latest/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">http://cnx.org/content/m11932/latest/</span></a>,</div><div><a href="http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomarnew/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomarnew/</span></a>,</div><div><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915162420.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915162420.htm</span></a>,</div><div><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081107140501.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081107140501.htm</span></a>]</div><div><br /></div></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-21962384312143916002009-01-17T22:50:00.003+02:002012-02-13T22:44:06.218+02:00Oor nalatenskap<div>
[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hierdie is 'n lang een, om op te maak vir my afwesigheid.</span> ;-)]</div>
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Ons almal weet nou al teen hierdie tyd dat jy moet oppas wat jy doen in die lewe, want jou aksies het altyd gevolge. Dit kan goeie of slegte gevolge wees. Hierdie verskynsel is normaalweg meer sigbaar op 'n persoonlike vlak wanneer jy mense naby jou seermaak, of selfs <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081205094506.htm" title="Happiness Is 'Infectious' In Network Of Friends">wanneer jy iemand gelukkig maak</a>. Maar, dit gebeur ook baie dat jy self nooit eens bewus is van die gevolge nie.</div>
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As individuele persone, kan my en jou aksies ook <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/beyond-the-rati.html" title="No Impact Man: Beyond the rational?">gevolge op 'n </a></div>
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<a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/beyond-the-rati.html" title="No Impact Man: Beyond the rational?">globale skaal hê</a>. Sommige gevolge is so verrykend dat jy dit nooit eens in jou wildste drome sou raakloop nie. Dit word mos die <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect" title="Wikipedia: Butterfly effect">skoenlapper-effek</a> genoem - iets waarvan jy dalk in 'n onlangse "<a href="http://www.tv.com/heroes/show/17552/summary.html">Heroes</a>" episode ook gehoor het.</div>
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Maar, ken ons almal wel hierdie konsep? Begryp ons werklik die omvang daarvan? Skep ons die geleentheid vir ons kinders om ons voorbeeld van verantwoordelike gedrag aan te leer? Of, hoeveel keer gee ons net eenvoudig nie 'n druppel om oor watter gevolge ons aksies het nie?</div>
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Ons staan nou aan die begin van 2009. Dis nou (nog) nie 'n besonderse beduidende jaar in die geskiedenis van die mensdom nie, afgesien van 'n aantal gebeurtenisse gedurende 2008 wat hierdie komende jaar 'n interessante een kan maak. Tog is hierdie net so 'n goeie tyd soos enige [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">as ek 'n bietjie by die Engelse uitdrukking mag leen</span>] om te besin oor die toestand van onsself as mensspesie en die gevolge wat ons aksies het op die toestand van ons habitat, ons enigste tuiste, ons geboorteplaneet, ons Aarde.</div>
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Met die afronding van my <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/11/die-rubberspore-wat-ons-agter-laat.html">vorige inskrywing</a> het ek afgekom op 'n aantal artikels wat my aangespoor het om hierdie met julle te deel:</div>
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Die relatief kort geskiedenis van die Aarde is bespikkel met groot tragedies wat elk die uitsterwing van duisende spesies behels het. Slegs 5 is alreeds goed gedokumenteer. 'n <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070906135629.htm" title="Large Asteroid Breakup May Have Caused Mass Extinction On Earth 65 Million Years Ago">Groot asteroïedsplinter wat die Aarde getref het</a>, word beskuldig vir die mees onlangse geval, terwyl sommige van die <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081007102904.htm" title="Species Extinction By Asteroid A Rarity">ander oorsake</a> toegeskryf word aan 'n siek Aarde toestand [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ek is nie seker wat presies hiermee bedoel word nie</span>]. In een geval, het 'n <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717095027.htm" title="Volcanic Eruptions May Have Wiped Out Ocean Life 94 Million Years Ago">groot onderwater vulkaan</a> veranderings in die oseane veroorsaak wat lewe vir massas seeorganismes onmoontlik gemaak het. Die oorskot van daardie sterflinge het blykbaar uiteindelik ons huidige ondersese oliebronne geword. Dit is verder ook interessant om te leer dat al hierdie massa-uitwissings saamval met, en eintlik <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080615142247.htm" title="Sea's Ebb And Flow Drive World's Big Extinction Events, Study Suggests">gedryf word deur periodiese veranderinge in die seevlak</a>.</div>
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Vandag aanskou ons nog 'n gebeurtenis wat net so verwoestend is soos daardie traumatiese oomblike in die geskiedenis van ons planeet. Die <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024083644.htm" title="Fossil Record Supports Evidence Of Impending Mass Extinction">skrif is al 'n geruime tyd reeds aan die muur</a>, met die besef dat ons huidige klimaatstoestande sterk ooreenstem met vorige tydperke waarin wêreldwye biodiversiteit laag was en die waarskynlikheid vir massa-uitwissing baie hoog was.</div>
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Die feit dat amfibiese spesies soos paddas (wat die dinosourusse in die vorige massa-uitwissing oorleef het) <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812135654.htm" title="Dying Frogs Sign Of A Biodiversity Crisis">wêreldwyd besig is om te swyk</a> aan 'n dodelike swaminfeksie en nog verder bedryg word deur aardverwarming en habitatvernietiging, is besonders kommerwekkend. Inderdaad, daar is nou werklike aanduiding dat <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020171454.htm" title="Earth In Midst Of Sixth Mass Extinction: 50% Of All Species Disappearing">ons die volgende groot massa-uitwissing in die gesig staar</a>, met die verdwyning van ongeveer helfde van alle bestaande spesies plante en diere.</div>
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Teen hierdie tyd moes jy al gehoor het van die <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming" title="Wikipedia: Global warming">aardverwarming</a> effek. Jy moet ook dan weet dat stygende vlakke van koolstofdioksied (wat mense en diere uitasem) die probleem aanhits. En jy moet ook besef dat verbranding van olie (of petrol) en koolstof (vir elektrisiteit) die probleem soveel vererger het dat <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081108155834.htm" title="Carbon Dioxide Levels Already In Danger Zone, Revised Theory Shows">ons nou in 'n gevaarsone beland het</a>. Dit is nogal ironies dat die oorskot (olie) van 'n vorige massa-uitwissing ons aangehelp het om 'n volgende een te bereik.</div>
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Nes ek, sal jy dalk egter verbaas wees om te leer dat aardverwarming nie ontstaan het met die verbruik van olie, petrol, koolstof en gas nie. Blykbaar kan die oorsprong duisende jare teruggetrek word tot die tydperk waar mense grootskaalse boerderypraktyke begin toepas het in Asië, en verspreide areas ontbos het in Europa. As dit nie daarvoor (en alles sedertdien) was nie, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217190433.htm" title="Did Early Global Warming Divert A New Glacial Age?">sou ons dalk nou in 'n ystydperk geleef het</a>. Hoe klink dít vir verrykende gevolge van jou dade?</div>
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Maar, ons hoef nog nie alle hoop te verloor nie. Dis immers 'n nuwe jaar, met nuwe moontlikhede. Kenners is om die beurt <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070627141746.htm" title="Global Change And Mass Extinction: Discovering New Solutions For A Big Problem">besig om sinvolle oplossings te soek</a> vir ons huidige krisis. Selfs enkele persone en gesinne is <a href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/" title="No Impact Man">besig om op te let na die gevolge van hul daaglikse dade</a>. Ek is ook oortuig daarvan dat ons as mense uniek toegerus is om wel goeie oplossings vir selfs so 'n groot probleem te vind en betyds toe te pas (ek hoop nie ek word ooit verkeerd bewys nie). </div>
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Sommige wend ook 'n armsalige (maar edel, en </div>
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nuttige) poging aan om <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226092753.htm" title="Arctic 'Doomsday' Seed Vault Opens Doors For 100 Million Seeds">sade van plante</a>- en <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16112-conservationists-plan-doomsday-vault-for-frog-sperm.html" title="Conservationists plan 'doomsday vault' for frog sperm">dierespesies</a> (ten minste paddas vir eers) in 'n massiewe kluis te bewaar, sodat dié van ons wat wel lewend anderkant uitkom tog maar 'n stukkie kan herbou van wat eens bekend was. Daar is ook verskeie ander belowende tegnologiese oplossings, maar ek dink dit hoort dalk in 'n ander inskrywing [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nie dat ek noodwendig daarby sal uitkom nie</span>].</div>
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Op die ou einde, selfs as almal dit regkry om saam te staan en hand by te sit, en selfs as ons ons negatiewe invloed op die omgewing heeltemal uitwis, moet ek wonder of ons nie alreeds die tydstip verbygegaan het waar ons werklik ander planete al moes begin koloniseer het nie. Ons is immers net <a href="http://blog.engineersimplicity.com/2008/07/volunteering-to-die.html" title="The Art of Engineering: Volunteering to Die">te veel mense</a> vir so 'n klein balletjie rots.</div>
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[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Die prentjies het ek by die volgende webbladsye gevind:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081219032649.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081219032649.htm</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812135654.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812135654.htm</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226092753.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226092753.htm</span></a></span>]</div>
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</div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-38995881977981148512008-11-16T21:45:00.004+02:002008-11-16T22:05:21.607+02:00Die rubberspore wat ons agter laat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dMcBA5EdaHiPpIJUKAad2nXSXOUq_97zXbqcbWabNLgAfU6hr6O-gWAMQwCBKSZd2RwCUpBw51rW5See_C05Q92K7wHnzALNGQburnCNncbnWAfj0lSfZqDn_z5DI5pWfZCKB4OD-h0/s1600-h/Blog_320x240.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dMcBA5EdaHiPpIJUKAad2nXSXOUq_97zXbqcbWabNLgAfU6hr6O-gWAMQwCBKSZd2RwCUpBw51rW5See_C05Q92K7wHnzALNGQburnCNncbnWAfj0lSfZqDn_z5DI5pWfZCKB4OD-h0/s200/Blog_320x240.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269348669345787890" /></a>Dit is nou al amper twee maande gelede wat ek hier vertel het van ons <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/09/dorphoppertjies.html">planne om die pad te vat na Wakkerstroom en die res van die land ook sommer te verken</a>. Intussen het ons daardie wonderlike avontuur afgehandel, en direk daarna het ek begin werk vir <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-salary-saved-planet-today.html">my nuwe werkgewer</a>. Soos julle sien, het dit my (vir verskeie redes) 'n rukkie geneem voor ek weer die leisels hier kon optel.<div><br /></div><div>Met my vorige inskrywing het ek die hoop gespreek dat ek 'n skakel na ons beplande roete hier sal kan plaas voor ons vertrek. Wel, daarvoor het ek toe nie tyd gekry nie, maar nou kan jy sommer beide ons <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=105270016547453430360.00045bc21fca1621cea10">beplande roete, en ook ons afwyking daarvanaf beloer</a>, alles te danke aan <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a>. Ongelukkig het ek nog nie kans gehad om enige foto's by die roetekaart te voeg nie, maar ek sal hopelik nog binne die volgende maand daarby uitkom. Ek is nogal verbaas dat ons werklik die 5000 km (in 8 dae) afgelê het, en ek is baie dankbaar dat ons dit darem veilig tot terug by die huis gemaak het. Jy kan ook <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/category/wakkerstroom/">Mnr. Muller se vertellings</a> van ons belewenis volg vir 'n meer in-diepte meedeling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Op die ou einde het die beplanning nogal baie gehelp om te sorg vir 'n gemaklike reis, en ons kon konsentreer daarop om die omgewing te waardeer en die hele ervaring in te neem. Ek wonder nogal of ons eendag ook <a href="http://www.google.com/sky/">Google Sky</a> sal gebruik om ons roetes tussen die sterre te beplan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maar, sal sulke beplannings ook omgekrap word deur onakkurate roeteintligting, soos die menige foute wat huidiglik op Google Maps bestaan? Wat 'n katastrofe sal dit nie wees as ons net 'n klein foutjie maak en dan iewers in 'n vreemde sonnestelsel beland waar ons heeltemal verdwaal is nie? Sal ons navigasietoerusting voldoende wees om 'n pad na ons bestemming uit die vuis te lewer [jy mag dalk die Engelse vertaling "improvise" beter ken]? Op ons onlangse reis het 'n klein padboekie ons darem kon help in sulke situasies. Sal sulke foute in ons ruimtereise ook ons avontuur opkikker, of sal dit ons afstuur op dodelike gevolge? Die ruimte is immers 'n <a title="Space Travel 101 - Dangers" href="http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01581/SpaceTravelEnglish/dangers/index.html">gevaarlike plek</a>. Aan die anderkant, is ons liewe planeet <a title="Fossil Record Supports Evidence Of Impending Mass Extinction" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024083644.htm">Aarde veel veiliger</a>?</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-6154569748026723922008-09-18T18:43:00.004+02:002008-11-29T11:28:44.330+02:00DorphoppertjiesSommige mense is mos van mening dat jy eers moet leer kruip voor jy kan loop voor jy kan hardloop. So, voor ons uitskiet en tussen planete begin rond(hardl)hop, het ek en my goeie vriend <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/">Mnr. Muller</a> besluit om eers ons vernuf met dorphoppery te probeer slyp.<div><br /></div><div>Jy kan gaan lees wat Mnr. Muller vantevore vertel het van <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/weg-na-wakkerstroom/">'n dorpie genaamd Wakkerstroom</a> in Mpumalanga. Ons het besluit om te gaan kyk hoe dit daar lyk. En, aangesien ons so ver gaan ry, het ons dit sommer goed gedink om 'n paar ander interessante plekke (en 'n paar vriende langs die pad) ook te besoek. Ons sal dan tot meer en mindere mates 'n stukkie van elk van die 9 provinsies in Suid Afrika verken - alles in 'n week. Ons vertrek oormôre.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ek dink egter in hierdie geval gaan ons eers kruip nadat ons alreeds geleer loop het, want beide van ons het al afsonderlik 'n bietjie landhoppery gedoen in Europa.</div><div><br /></div><div>[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ek is besig om die roete se beplanning te dokumenteer op <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a>. Ek hoop dat ek nog daarby sal uitkom om die skakel daarvoor hier by te voeg, as jy lus is om te sien waarheen ons oral gaan.</span>]</div><div>[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hersiening</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: Daar is nou 'n </span><a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/11/die-rubberspore-wat-ons-agter-laat.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nuwe inskrywing</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> waarin ek 'n bietjie terugkyk op die toer waarvan ek hierbo vertel. Daardie inskrywing bevat ook 'n skakel na die padkaart op Google Maps.</span>]</div><div><br /></div>Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-9944111262541644302008-08-21T21:19:00.014+02:002008-08-23T23:41:48.739+02:00Lyk my ek is nie eens 'n spikkel nieToe ek in <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/08/ek-is-n-spikkel.html">my vorige inskrywing</a> myself as 'n spikkel beskryf het, het ek natuurlik verwys na die miniskule rol wat ek in die bestaan van die mensdom speel. Maar, dit blyk nou dat ek egter te veel van myself gedink het. Ek het vandag 'n vonkpossie ontvang (dankie Jaco :-) ) met 'n paar prentjies wat bewys dat ek nie eens 'n spikkel is nie.<br /><br />Dit lyk of hierdie prentjies op vele ander hoekies van die wilde wye web al 'n tuiste gekry het, soos 'n mens kan aflei uit 'n <a href="http://images.google.co.za/images?hl=en&q=planets%20sun%20pollox%20arcturus%20rigel%20antares&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi">Google soektog</a>, maar ek kon nog nie die oorsprong opspoor nie.<br /><br />Volgende keer as jy weer iemand raakloop wat vol van homself/haarself is, verwys daardie persoon gerus na hierdie bladsy. ;-)<br /><br />Die planete, in perspektief (op skaal):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77cNUq-Al8hPsRGzOKIAAepYcYhi4hXWoXk9bI5G8ASWGfNV7NbZYgy4xipQuRlbAqEeD3lbtrkCF4fJUUa4huxFk9c7fMpmXr7r-tplh5jU213Mzpw8w5CQCGp-gW332U4QpQRp9EuY/s1600-h/image001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77cNUq-Al8hPsRGzOKIAAepYcYhi4hXWoXk9bI5G8ASWGfNV7NbZYgy4xipQuRlbAqEeD3lbtrkCF4fJUUa4huxFk9c7fMpmXr7r-tplh5jU213Mzpw8w5CQCGp-gW332U4QpQRp9EuY/s400/image001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237305541444734258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDchZjSDlT_cxbN83jKU40FqCHOkGimE2op1OQaCt02CN7XOUXZeiFsw695p8xzQStHbYWJA3VQkU2f5nv6TWn_fOj6q-W0QDdixgTav8mbd2Am4o17X9YXUoNUpbf3_ysMOTvi93U5bk/s1600-h/image002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDchZjSDlT_cxbN83jKU40FqCHOkGimE2op1OQaCt02CN7XOUXZeiFsw695p8xzQStHbYWJA3VQkU2f5nv6TWn_fOj6q-W0QDdixgTav8mbd2Am4o17X9YXUoNUpbf3_ysMOTvi93U5bk/s400/image002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237305549037328498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnpPZWenuhd2krjSMAusn1RNLNO-WhAiZVyzXglfpHZ4JG5-Zj5lC_V4Np9YT3BChROGasTmCbr5df_AnkxXO7kfMxxi47pH8p5nsI3ZlxZkq013tvahb_tiQ9XWTRhUvOPmjv3RQ8fk/s1600-h/image003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnpPZWenuhd2krjSMAusn1RNLNO-WhAiZVyzXglfpHZ4JG5-Zj5lC_V4Np9YT3BChROGasTmCbr5df_AnkxXO7kfMxxi47pH8p5nsI3ZlxZkq013tvahb_tiQ9XWTRhUvOPmjv3RQ8fk/s400/image003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237305546932784242" border="0" /></a><br />Nou, 'n paar hemelliggame groter as ons son:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXTk0KQMYIO5HN15wM_nPHFTEdiomAoTiY4ssE1DnvGDh8dX3t7Zyy6CnyFEtWs4Y1uli7rnP81hRrsTG0GQsXnX-PT7-Hpvj4gYj2IJncK9ao0FKGTpFOro37jguPGYcFzFZg9nCp5g/s1600-h/image004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXTk0KQMYIO5HN15wM_nPHFTEdiomAoTiY4ssE1DnvGDh8dX3t7Zyy6CnyFEtWs4Y1uli7rnP81hRrsTG0GQsXnX-PT7-Hpvj4gYj2IJncK9ao0FKGTpFOro37jguPGYcFzFZg9nCp5g/s400/image004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237305547260642338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHTBEUfP4dqjTUbFMUTDH6XRcBmXeU9w480a8O-2B8rsd1O_V1XW0The-fxxr8ZA0lL6XOEE6yqYZ_5bVQ9oCkXzaETkWeEfaTsJZexIwP8jvjXLcbcOeGAyFEfpJKZ8M4Ma88pKnCCQ/s1600-h/image005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHTBEUfP4dqjTUbFMUTDH6XRcBmXeU9w480a8O-2B8rsd1O_V1XW0The-fxxr8ZA0lL6XOEE6yqYZ_5bVQ9oCkXzaETkWeEfaTsJZexIwP8jvjXLcbcOeGAyFEfpJKZ8M4Ma88pKnCCQ/s400/image005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237305549861450994" border="0" /></a><br />Hier is waar die vonkpossie se prentjies ophou (behalwe vir twee wat verder ondertoe gewys word), maar dis egter nie die einde van die storie nie. By 'n <a href="http://alterdlogix.blogspot.com/2008/03/universe-picture.html">ander outjie se blog</a>, word daar nog 'n paar stappies verder geneem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L_1k4Bw9-p8F1pwv78jWQiBcBLCiwhFV5ly2zNWvo6VVh_uGmc8V_R3OfPnDhrsMRH0cY3NrKF-KS238lwN-OWnTp_sAK3kIuQICeOVuCdcvW34wKELCgPPDlvn49prZyrw9baxHVH4/s1600-h/universeinperspective06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L_1k4Bw9-p8F1pwv78jWQiBcBLCiwhFV5ly2zNWvo6VVh_uGmc8V_R3OfPnDhrsMRH0cY3NrKF-KS238lwN-OWnTp_sAK3kIuQICeOVuCdcvW34wKELCgPPDlvn49prZyrw9baxHVH4/s400/universeinperspective06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237323586289880562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEboN4QTy1zHgKAjKnxs9dz95NkVSMCDtiuKOlIx6rydUL7AR-uHvDsmz_MC7OtX8TwU9D_andPz8xxHjcp4a5eER74Joyd7B5W1uKlKGLVVhZgwfNT5MeuACinIbcax7Pf4UBwHlWkKA/s1600-h/universeinperspective07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEboN4QTy1zHgKAjKnxs9dz95NkVSMCDtiuKOlIx6rydUL7AR-uHvDsmz_MC7OtX8TwU9D_andPz8xxHjcp4a5eER74Joyd7B5W1uKlKGLVVhZgwfNT5MeuACinIbcax7Pf4UBwHlWkKA/s400/universeinperspective07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237323595894032210" border="0" /></a><br />Gaan kyk gerus ook na die ander prentjies wat hy daar het.<br /><br />Om net terug te keer na die res van die prentjies in daardie vonkpossie: Ons weet mos dat sterrestelsels bestaan uit biljoene van hierdie bogenoemde sterre (en hul gepaardgaande sonnestelsels). Hierdie volgende foto is blykbaar deur die <a title="HubbleSite - Gallery" href="http://hubblesite.org/gallery/">Hubble ruimteteleskoop</a> geneem met maksimum vergroting. Hulle noem sulke foto's "Ultra deep field". Dit wys dat daar nog ontelbare sterrestelsels so ver weg is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqbmwQwvxsiAY-dfrLFddUHmyrU38zE_OOmS7s7pYK8bzzDpUhmube8q69mOyUV3rBffnurZMPRyIhnwgqe2ZNuhfeSBYy4QZeGWuXh73WVcZUQtZaCjRmHN1Q0ezqZY0V3MqcquCig4/s1600-h/image006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqbmwQwvxsiAY-dfrLFddUHmyrU38zE_OOmS7s7pYK8bzzDpUhmube8q69mOyUV3rBffnurZMPRyIhnwgqe2ZNuhfeSBYy4QZeGWuXh73WVcZUQtZaCjRmHN1Q0ezqZY0V3MqcquCig4/s320/image006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325032588479922" border="0" /></a><br />En die laaste foto is blykbaar 'n vergroting van een van die donkerste areas in die vorige foto.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGbGFXcCSdlstk01sQAcg7jgtZMJGoKEX42-u3vPI7Rdv-5kEi0L3oUXezS588uHg6L-s-IEVF0iZZOn7AXRGslE2-A1KHCfmQMt3v1xFv3tK59smKFV__RTJ3H9y3cHUDdHDuRU00ZA/s1600-h/image007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGbGFXcCSdlstk01sQAcg7jgtZMJGoKEX42-u3vPI7Rdv-5kEi0L3oUXezS588uHg6L-s-IEVF0iZZOn7AXRGslE2-A1KHCfmQMt3v1xFv3tK59smKFV__RTJ3H9y3cHUDdHDuRU00ZA/s320/image007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325037185522418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >So, hoe groot voel jy nou?</span><br /></div><br />Terloops: ek het juis nou <a title="Largest Sample Of Very Distant Galaxies Ever Seen Provide New Insights Into Early Universe" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080724113045.htm">'n artikel</a> gesien wat vertel hoe Hubble 'n foto geneem het van sterrestelsels anderkant sy maksimum vergroting, deur gebruik te maak van die <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lensing">gravitasionele lens-effek</a>.Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-69209160624085297292008-08-17T13:16:00.003+02:002008-11-29T14:28:46.457+02:00Ek is 'n spikkelMiskien het jou skoensole al die grond van 'n ander land gekus. Of, dalk het jou tone selfs omgekrul van plesier in die gras wat soveel groener is by jou nuwe tuiste aan die ander kant van die wêreld. Jy sal dan sekerlik vertroud wees met die idee van wisselkoerse en die koopkrag van jou tuisland se geldeenheid.<br /><br />Het jy al ooit gewonder hoe hierdie konsepte oorgedra sou word na ander wêrelde daar buite in die wye kosmos? Nie? Wel, ek het.<br /><br />Wanneer ons nuwe wêrelde begin koloniseer, watter geldeenheid sal ons gebruik? Hoeveel koopkrag sou ons kolonies hê wanneer hulle handel dryf met die tuiswêreld, moeder Aarde? En as ons <a title="What Are The Odds Of Finding Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life?" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416110124.htm">per toeval vreemde intelligente wesens van ander wêrelde raakloop</a>, sal hulle dalk kliphard uitbars van lag wanneer ons klein gekleurde papiertjies met hulle wil ruil vir 'n koeldrankie?<br /><br />Het jy al ooit werklike armoede van naby beskou? Hoe laat dit jou voel? Waarom is sommige mense so ryk dat hulle nie eens weet wat om met al hul rykdom te maak nie, terwyl ander in die aand op 'n yskoue sypaadjie onder 'n dun lappie opgekrul lê en wonder waar hulle môre iets gaan kry om te eet? Sou hierdie <a title="Moneyweb - Soapbox - Income gap nonsense" href="http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page662?oid=217325&sn=Blog%20detail%20back%20button">gaping tussen ryk en arm</a> ons ook <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/05/wegkruipertjie.html?showComment=1211274060000#c3011173082923915927">mettertyd agtervolg</a> wanneer ons eendag op vreemde wêrelde ons alewige rotresies voortsit?<br /><br />Het jy al ooit gedroom van <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/kapitalisme-kom-tot-n-val-ii/trackback/">'n werk met minder ure</a>? Is jy tevrede met die minimum voorgeskrewe jaarlikse verlof wat elke gewone werker toekom? Het jy ook al 'n honderd-en-twaalf stories op TV gesien wat jou keer-op-keer laat besef dat dit baie meer waardevol is <a title="A great life need not cost the earth" href="http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/a-great-life-ne.html">om tyd saam met familie en vriende te spandeer</a>, of in die skone natuur waar jy liters vol kraakvars, onbesoedelde lug kan inasem, as wat dit is agter 'n lessenaar in 'n piepklein afskortinkie? Hoekom bly die meerderheid van ons geboei deur die kettings van die ekonomie wat van ons vereis om die beste deel van ons dag op te offer sodat ons net 'n skynbaar-gemaklike lewe kan bekostig?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://library.thinkquest.org/J003358F/trivia.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r6x4HyI8nXYYYvmNUarmjuL_YU4Dva9IP4jLi_mmNXp1Kde5wGGcXoKGS4HoDEaq-BqJXlp_mdkA0_deBpp4QU6j33Z_u9Tuv94GRnbWS-KuzMMReCiBW_GDkr6W86DwM4Budmh-M24/s400/money_tree5_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235443321561512386" border="0" /></a>Ons leermeester aanboord, die eerbare <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/">Mnr. Muller</a>, het onlangs ons breinselle geprikkel met die <a href="http://mnrmuller.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/kapitalisme-kom-tot-n-val/trackback/">wonder of kapitalisme dalk binnekort ineen gaan stort</a>. Daar is ook elders 'n <a href="http://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/showthread.php?t=3564">bespreking oor hierdie moontlikheid</a>. Maar, is <a title="Wikipedia: Capitalism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism">kapitalisme</a> werklik die oorsaak van armoede? Kan <a title="Wikipedia: Socialist Economics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_economics">sosialisme</a> wel die oplossing wees? Is 'n <a title="Wikipedia: Mixed Economies" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_economies">gemengde ekonomie</a> dalk beter, of slegter? En, watter van die <a title="Wikipedia: Economic System" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_system">vele ekonomiese stelsels</a> sal geskik wees vir interplanetêre handel? Sal ons geld gebruik? Waar kom geld in elk geval vandaan? Was ruilhandel nie 'n beter stelsel nie?<br /><br />Vrae, vrae, en nog meer vrae. Ek is nou nie 'n kenner op die gebied van ekonomie nie, maar hierdie tipe vrae hou my gedagtes deesdae amper konstant besig. Ek wil leer hoe ek vir myself (en ander) 'n beter lewe kan skep, en terselfde tyd eendag 'n ruimteskippie kan bekostig. Gevolglik probeer ek verstaan hoe ek, 'n piepklein spikkel, inpas in die magtige omwentelling van fondse, wat heeldag en elke dag rondtuimel soos die oseaanstrome, in transaksies wat plaasvind met 'n straatverkoper, in 'n supermark, in korporasies se aankope departemente, op die effektebeursvloer, oor landsgrense, en selfs in ons nuwe <a href="http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/gizmos/2008/02/gold_sellers_beware.htm">aanlyn skynwêrelde</a>. Hopelik sal ek soos tyd verloop sommige van my ontdekkings ook hier kan deel, veral soos benodig vir sinvolle planeethoppery.<br /><br />Maar, vir eers sal ek jou los om self 'n bietjie met al hierdie vrae te worstel (as jy nog nie het nie). <a href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6401079190824045323&postID=6920916062408529729">Gesels gerus saam</a>. Ek is altyd nuuskierig om te hoor wat ander mense dink.Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-42721989179909397152008-07-30T21:55:00.007+02:002008-07-31T21:02:27.861+02:00My salary saved the planet today...... or at least a small part of it (I think).<br /><br />Recently, I was faced with a hard choice:<br /><ol><li>take the position at a company much closer to home (which I already accepted) and thereby gain a fair improvement in my quality of living, or</li><li>stay with my current employer (50 minutes away from home by car) for another year at a salary nearly (or possibly even more than) double what I would get from my new employer.</li></ol>I was a little uneasy about the idea of taking back on my "promise" to work for my prospective employer, but for such large amounts I had to at least give it a thorough consideration.<br /><br />I have good reasons for not wanting to travel almost 2 hours a day to and from work anymore. So, I had to calculate how big a salary I would need to move closer to my current employer in order to achieve the same life-style improvements. When I discovered that I would need more than double the salary to achieve a life-style improvement that does not even completely match what I would otherwise get (eg. I would be much further away from most of my friends and family), I immediately knew that something was wrong about the whole idea. What was it?<br /><br />Well, from the way my mind thinks about the world, I immediately realised that this extra cost indirectly translates to an extra strain on the environment. How could I willingly accept such a large salary merely to afford the necessary expenses that would eventually cause so much more harm to the environment? And this, when I can get a better quality of living at half the price?<br /><br />This is the first time that I have considered my impact on the environment when negotiating for a salary - and it was enlightening. It also made the decision much easier, and I now get other non-financial benefits too, such as working in a new environment on new projects after having been with my current employer for three years.<br /><br />So, that is how my salary saved a little part of our <a title="Engineer Simplicity - Volunteering to Die" href="http://blog.engineersimplicity.com/2008/07/volunteering-to-die.html">little planet</a> for a little while.<br /><br />What do you think? Am I an idiot for not taking the money?<br /><br />[<span style="font-style: italic;">What's that funny-looking language on the rest of this blog? See <a href="http://planeethoppertjie.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-no-english.html">the explanation</a> that I posted previously.</span>]Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401079190824045323.post-66125165553654460232008-07-27T19:42:00.001+02:002008-07-27T19:52:37.391+02:00Salige StilteJou lippe roer, maar die vibrasies tref nie my oordromme nie. Daar is geen lugmolekules hier, tussen jou en my, wat op die branders van jou stem kan dobber nie. Alles is stil, salig stil, hier in die gapings tussen die hemelliggame. Hier is niemand wat in my ore skreeu nie, geen radio omroepers wat simpel musiek uitbasuin nie, geen televisies wat blêr in die agtergrond nie, geen motors wat verby suis nie, of vragmotors wat verby brom nie, geen treine wat klank-klank nie - net doodse, salige stilte. Kan ons net nog 'n rukkie langer hier bly?Francois Cilliershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115076426190748110noreply@blogger.com0