John F. Kennedy: “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.”
Ward Cleaver: “When you make a mistake, admit it. If you don’t, you only make matters worse.”
Oprah Winfrey: “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”
The loads of snow that I expected upon my arrival in NL today is mostly gone (if it was here at all in the first place 😉 ), so nature restored itself; Norway has more snow than NL and that is how it is supposed to be! 😉
The good thing for the Dutch is that no one here has to be afraid that they experience the following:
Hilarious! 😉
Walter Anderson: “Our lives improve only when we take chances – and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.”
Aimee Mullins: “Confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can have. It’s much sexier than any body part.”
It is virtually impossible, but Sinterklaas made it to Norway today, wow!! He passed by the office this afternoon, left some treats and then disappeared without being seen…typically him! 😉
Haha, me and my colleagues had a ball:
Annie Lennox: “Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world.”
This video has been circulating on the web for some weeks now, and since it is REALLY cold at the moment, it was the right time to post it! 😉
Radi-Aid’s Africa for Norway, you too can donate your radiator and spread some warmth! (or buy the song on iTunes http://bit.ly/Ubik4A)
And yes, of course this is parody, yet it is pointing at something important:
“Imagine if every person in Africa saw the “Africa for Norway” video and this was the only information they ever got about Norway. What would they think about Norway?
If we say Africa, what do you think about? Hunger, poverty, crime or AIDS? No wonder, because in fundraising campaigns and media that’s mainly what you hear about.
The pictures we usually see in fundraisers are of poor African children. Hunger and poverty is ugly, and it calls for action. But while these images can engage people in the short term, we are concerned that many people simply give up because it seems like nothing is getting better. Africa should not just be something that people either give to, or give up on.
The truth is that there are many positive developments in African countries, and we want these to become known. We need to change the simplistic explanations of problems in Africa. We need to educate ourselves on the complex issues and get more focus on how western countries have a negative impact on Africa’s development. If we want to address the problems the world is facing we need to do it based on knowledge and respect.”
Real Live Preacher: “Love the ones you can. Touch the ones you can reach. Let the others go.”
People can get pretty frustrated ‘on da road’ (especially these days it seems), in the YouTube clip below you will see what can happen if you are not very social (and ‘meet’ another not so social driver)…things can get pretty wet!! 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js3Tt7foFds
Julie Morgenstern: “If you’re afraid to let someone else see your weakness, take heart: Nobody’s perfect. Besides, your attempts to hide your flaws don’t work as well as you think they do.”
Henry Miller: “Living apart and at peace with myself, I came to realize more vividly the meaning of the doctrine of acceptance. To refrain from giving advice, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others, to refrain, even though the motives be the highest, from tampering with another’s way of life – so simple, yet so difficult for an active spirit. Hands off!”
It is soon Sinterklaas (December 5) and instead of the yearly presents feast with my parents, brother and sister, we decided to have an alternative celebration/family gathering; a day in the ‘Park of Sint‘ in the Ouwehands Zoo Rhenen.
I don’t expect Misha to understand the concept of Sinterklaas and his Black Petes (most foreigners don’t understand it actually 😉 ), still he enjoyed himself, was not scared of Black Pete, and seemed to love all animals!
(click to enlarge)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed.”
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