Archive for the ‘Blog Entries’ Category

…and we’re back! :)

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

The downtime on the domain has been a LOT less than anticipated; my blog is back online! 🙂 Instead of 24-48 hours as expected, it took only 2 hours, sweettttt! Restoring the WordPress database turned out to be a lot harder unfortunately 🙁 but, I solved it in the end! (‘I-don’t-quit’ is my middle name! 🙂 )

For the techies: the reason for it turned out the be a too big MySQL backup file having EXTENDED INSERTS, which made the server choke. Splitting up the database file didn’t work and although uploading the file via SSH brought back most of the data, I wasn’t able to log in to the WordPress administration Dashboard, *sigh*…a clean WordPress install followed by the (partial) file upload via SSH and uploading the remainder of the database file (split in smaller incremental files) through the phpMyAdmin Import functionality finally brought everything back (well, except for some Facebook Comments&Likes, oh well…).

Everything should run much faster now, please let me know if the blog is still slowwwwwww!

Website down!

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

As mentioned yesterday, in a couple of hours my blog (whole domain actually) will be down for 24-48 hours as I will move the domain to a hosting plan based in Europe instead of the USA. It should make my site much much faster for the vast majority of visitors, so I can live with this small inconvenience. I hope everything will work out with the WordPress move though, fingers crossed! 🙂

 

Apple WWDC 2014 Keynote

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

Obviously this post is a day late, as Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicked off yesterday, but because my hosting provider (GoDaddy) was down yesterday, both my domain and blog were unavailable… 🙁 Also, I have not been too happy with the speed of my site lately (especially last night LoL), so I got in touch with GoDaddy today and decided to make some changes to my hosting plan. That means that my domain(s) will be unavailable for a day or so from tomorrow around noon, just so you know. 🙂

So much for website practicalities…As an Apple fanboy and geek interested in tech news, I did not miss Tim Cook’s Keynote speech yesterday, kicking off Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

There was no news on any new iPhone, iWatch, Apple TV, or any other hardware goodies; this Keynote speech was all about software and it was a LOT! Very interesting to see that Mac OS X and iOS are closing in on each other providing some extremely useful features for those using Mac computers *and* iDevices! 🙂

  • Mac OS X 10.10 preview. The follow-up to Mavericks will be called Yosemite and will be released (for free!) this fall. The highlights: OS X redesigned and refined with a fresh modern translucent look, clearer controls that are smarter and easier to understand streamlined toolbars that put the focus on your content without compromising functionality, enhanced apps such as Safari, Mail and Messages. For instance in Mail: Markup allows you to quickly fill out and sign forms and even annotate images and PDFs from within the application, Mail Drop allows you to easily send large videos, images or files up to 5GB (!). Notification Center will be improved and will have widgets support, Spotlight on steroids; an ‘in your face’ search box which provides more than just local results, the web based results on keywords seem to be a first take on Google, dismissing them as the default search method. iCloud Drive is a seamless integration of cloud storage in OS X and iOS which might make me use DropBox only for sharing with non-Apple friends (there are less and less of those as many are switching 🙂 ) and it might even lower my use of BitTorrent Sync as that one is a tad techy and by far not well integrated in iOS. ‘Continuity’ is making Mac and iOS devices even better companions. Handoff especially is nifty; when your iPhone or iPad is near your Mac, it lets you start an activity on one device and pass it to the other (start writing an email on your iPhone and finish it on your Mac for instance(. Instant Hotspot makes using your iPhone’s hotspot as easy as connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and…*both* SMS and MMS messages that previously only appeared on your iPhone will appear in Messages on all your devices. You can even send SMS or MMS messages directly from your Mac and make or receive iPhone calls using your Mac as a speakerphone!
  • iOS 8 is set to be the biggest iOS release since the launch of the App Store, and delivers a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience. Highlights: iCloud Photo Library which will allow you to enjoy your photos and videos more easily across your devices; new Messages features to easily share voice, video or photos with just a swipe; and an entirely new Health app that gives you a clear overview of your health and fitness data all in one place. Predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType keyboard, Family Sharing, the easiest way to share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household, and iCloud Drive as mentioned above in OS X Yosemite, a super easy way tostore files and access them from anywhere
  • iOS 8 SDK with over 4,000 new APIs for developers, bringing the biggest release since the origination of the App Store and giving developers the ability to create amazing new apps like never before. iOS 8 allows developers to further customize the user experience with major extensibility features like Notification Center widgets and third-party keyboards; and introduces robust frameworks such as HealthKit and HomeKit. iOS 8 also includes Metal, a new graphics technology that maximizes the performance of the A7 chip and Swift, a powerful new programming language.

 

If you dare, check out the complete Keynote speech video, if you are less of a crazy geek, the 10 minute summary below will give you a nice overview. 🙂

 

LOVE, pass it on!

Saturday, May 31st, 2014

It is one of the strongest universal laws; ‘Give and you shall receive’, yet it seems it to be replaced by take, take, take in todays world…a dead end, especially in the long run.

Have a look at the YouTube video below and see the power of unconditional giving; ‘If you give a little love you can get a little love of your own’!!

Share and spread the LOVE y’all! 🙂

 

Seven Sisters dance

Saturday, May 24th, 2014

Though you only see two people dance, and they are probably not even sisters, it IS a ‘Seven Sisters’ dance performed in the YouTube video below. A magnificent dance dedicated to the Pleiades open star cluster as revealed at the very end, performed by Enra, a Japanese troupe that combines elements of dance, performance art, music, technology, light, music and more…MAGICAL!

Njoy!

 

 

Full House

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

It is a full house! I picked up my brother with his family from the airport today; they are visiting sweet, sunny, green, lovely Norway for a full week! Already fantastic to see Misha and his cousins occupying the house (and garden 🙂 ) and having loads of fun! I am really looking forward to spend the week together them; quality time with family…’done’ in a quite different way than if we would live closer by, really valuable to have it this way…

Holland vs. The Netherlands

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

While living abroad (though close-by 🙂 ) many think I come from Holland (while being dutch). Though this is actually technically true, I formally come from The Netherlands. The explanation of this is easy, though the confusion seems to be stick. Watch the YouTube video below so you too will understand the real difference between Holland and The Netherlands! And, you will be in time to support the Dutch national soccer team at the World Cup soccer coming month in Brazil, where Dutch fans cheer ‘Holland, Holland, Holland’…uhhh, huh?!? 🙂

 

 

Happy Energy Religion – R.I.P. Wubbo Ockels

Monday, May 19th, 2014

Wubbo Ockels, the first Dutch astronaut and visionair on sustainable energy, passed away yesterday and left ‘us’/Humanity an impressive and valuable statement.

I urge everyone to read through it in its entirety, highly recommended and food for thought…and yes, I do realise that it is a two-pager which does not comply with regular status-update-two-liners or the 140 character limitations that we all got so used to so this might have you click away ‘normally’ (in 2014 language that would be ‘naturally’ 🙂 )…I am asking you to give it a go and let me know what you think!

(you will find a link to a pdf document at the bottom)

 

Happy Energy. The movement for a sustainable Earth and Us; Humanity.

It is enough, we have gone too far !!! The Industrial Revolution has brought us in an unwanted state, we bulldozed through nature, we ruin our life support. We need to stop, we need to change, we need to choose another path, we need to update our lives and our ways of doing business.

Let us welcome The Human Age. Let us stop the destruction of the Earth; the destruction of the humankind; in fact of us. Let it be clear to all Humanity; to every individual. We need to find a new attitude, a new culture, anew mindset, a new unification of Humanity, for our survival.

The problem is that Humanity needs to find a sustainable balance with its environment, with our home the planet Earth and its Nature. The answer is a new global awareness of Humanity, Nature and Earth as an inseparable entity. Humanity is the people, Humanity is carried by the people. Only if we believe in our individual role to make Humanity sustainable we will survive and we can survive.

We are not bees who unconsciously build a bee colony. Individual bees that are not aware of their holistic community and its behavior. We are not neurons that are not aware of that they altogether think. No, we are intelligent beings that indeed can see and observe the behavior of our community. We are well aware of where our Humanity is heading. We can lead Humanity into a better direction if we act together. With a new believe in Humanity we can create a new religion that brings us all together.

There are many Religions who get people together, but never all people. The different gods in whom people believe do separate Humanity into groups of people. This separation has led to many conflicts and even wars. These religions do not unify humanity with the earth. They were not sustainable. But if we believe in the holistic Humanity we will have no conflicts because we will be inseparable. We all belong to this one Humanity, we can all believe in Humanity, in this same “higher power”. The big difference with existing religions is that we can believe in the All of our selves. The God of humanity is in each of us. This God is not outside of us. We cannot hide behind this God because it is us. We cannot exclude ourselves from our responsibility for all of us.

Believing in Humanity itself is a different mindset. A mindset that has evolved from the enlarged perspective that we have reached in the last decades. An awareness of where we are and what the Earth means to us and what our beings bring to our environment. The close connection of humankind and Earth. Our dependence of nature, of the earth has become more and more clear. The necessity to preserve that earth and its nature has become more and more an urgency. Space flight has held a mirror in front of us of Humanity. We really see now where we are: On a beautiful planet, with unequaled life support. An Earth of which we cannot live without. An Earth which has no spare. We are all Astronauts of Space Ship Earth.

Partitioning Humanity in different groups with different and often conflicting interests has undermined sustainability. Small groups have taken the profits while large groups have suffered. The partitioning has led to unfairness, to unjustified selfishness. Our economic rules are in that perspective wrong. Enterprises can and have initiate activities with large scale implications in the future while not taking the corresponding responsibility.

Like the oil industry and the development of nuclear power. The cost of climatic change and weather related disasters and nuclear waste and nuclear disasters are carried by the society, by its tax payers… International companies have reaches such an enormous size that their power surpasses all national boundaries and thus also national governments. Our so treasured democratic systems have no role to play in their game. We, humanity are victim to the few who have the power, while they do not take the responsibility of the consequences of their actions. We lack global ethics.

Our financial system has developed into an uncontrolled power that supports only a few rich people. Decisions in trading are taking place on an unhuman scale of milliseconds. Moneys provided to enterprises via stock market have no face. Often it is intraceable where the funds come from and where the profits go to. No responsibility or ethics can be expected in such a system in contrast to old family business. The general person cannot trust anymore banking. One scandal after the other surfaces. It seems that we, the people, have no power and no authority to change the financial system. The solution is unification into the one entity that we are: Humanity of Earth.

Apart from the necessity to start acting as one Humanity with one goal to survive, we as individuals, will reach a better life in doing so. When acting in support of Humanity life itself, life of every one of us, becomes more meaningful. We will feel the comfort of this meaning, we have a better answer to the why we live.

The purpose of life is to sustain life. That is why we make offspring. We need to help Humanity in reaching the necessary balance with its environment. The production of offspring is led by our sex drive, a very powerful drive that is not only expressed by lust and pleasure but also by hope and future. Our believe in and support of Humanity gives the pleasure of existential meaning, a feeling of satisfaction that could be even more powerful than sex. This feeling is expressed in Happy Energy. Happy Energy is the human energy perceived when making the right choice.

The new Happy Energy religion and its believe in Humanity starts now. It is the answer to the unsustainable Industrial revolution. It is our individual responsibility to expedite the transition. We need to adapt the right mindset. It is urgent. Enough technology is already there allowing for a sustainable Humanity, Nature and Earth.

Our will is the key. The believe in Humanity will give this will. Our Happy Energy religion will make us express our will. This religion needs to get its form. We need to make and establish our symbols, rituals, art, gatherings to express our believe in Humanity. All our media and communication-tools need to be used. In particular the youth need to be addressed. They are the future; they want to enjoy Nature and Earth too. Their idols play an example role. Festivals can radiate the new massage. Songwriters can make the right words and sentences that touch their hearts. Let each of us help to shape our religion. Let each of us express their believe in a sustainable Humanity.

The commandments of the Happy Energy believe in Humanity:

  1. Humanity is inseparable
  2. Humanity’s goal is to survive
  3. Humanity needs the Earth and Nature
  4. Our goal is to support Humanity and thus the Earth and Nature
  5. We need to respect anyone who exercises that goal
  6. Everybody is connected with anybody via Humanity
  7. Everyone is connected with Nature and the Earth
  8. We are all Astronauts of Space Ship Earth
  9. Those who disrespect others, will disrespect Humanity
  10. Humanity, Nature and the Earth are inseparable

 

Direct link to the pdf: Happy_Energy_religion_Wubbo_Ockels.pdf

A lovely weekend

Monday, May 19th, 2014

It has been a fantastic weekend; yesterday’s ‘syttende mai‘ celebration was really special (Misha said ‘Hei’ to the King of Norway from a not so big distance! 🙂 ) and today was a lovely sunny day! Obviously we spend both days mostly outside and Misha LOVED it! He he, his happy face on the pictures below say it all… 🙂






 

200x Gratulerer med dagen Norge

Saturday, May 17th, 2014

Norway celebrates its Constitution (Grunnloven) today which was signed on May 17 (‘syttende mai‘) in 1814 marking Norway’s independence from Sweden (fully realized in 1905).

Besides the drinking, one of the main activities of the day (every day? 🙂 ), the norwegians give the celebration a quite nice touch; everyone dresses up! Most will wear a Bunad, the traditional clothing, and if you don’t have one, then your best suit or dress will do t! (soooo totally opposite to the somewhat clownish King’s Day in NL…)

Syttende mai‘ is also known its parades; thousands march all over the country expressing their cultural pride, joy in springtime and honor of those citizens who created Norway’s constitutional government, founding her independence. Especially popular is the Children’s Procession; dressed in their best clothes or national costume, the children march with their school’s band, classmates and teachers. Joy joy!

This year marks the 200 years anniversary of Norway’s Constitution which calls for an extra big celebration 🙂 the sun is shining and the whole country ready for a party: GRATULERER MED DAGEN NORGE!!

 

 


(parts of this text (c) Ink)

Multiplication, Japanese style

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

Have you ever wondered why Japanese kids are better at multiplication? (trust me, they are!)

Check out these YouTube videos and learn why! Is it really oh-so easy? Yes, it is!

PS. Why haven’t ‘we’ learned this at school?? 🙂

 

 

Smile of the Day: Bread and Fish

Sunday, May 11th, 2014

Haha, it is a hard story to sell these days! 🙂

 

Dark Horse in 20 styles

Friday, May 9th, 2014

To cover a song in various styles is quite a nice concept though pretty hard to do or at least, to do it well. Anthony Vincent Valbiro of tensecondsongs.com does it fantastic and uses 20 (!) styles! Watch and hear him sing Katie Perry‘s ‘Dark Horse‘.

So…which style do you like best?

 

Towels, towels

Thursday, May 8th, 2014

I couldn’t resist thinking of people who make a big deal about changing their swimming trunk on the beach in a way so that no one can see their thingelingy…if only they would be handy with towels as the guys in the YouTube video below!

Funny! 🙂

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOc-tQHCew

Intelevator

Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

You might remember the Ylvis Brothers from last years funny and funky song ‘What Does The Fox Say’ (unless you live in Norway and *obviously* know the Ylvis Brothers 🙂 ). They did an elevator prank in 2012 which I recently ‘discovered’…ROTFLMAO!!

Follow the links to the separate episodes here: 1, 2, 3 and 4, or watch them all at once below:

HILARIOUS!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JofRc_qQCAs

The 2 year beatbox cycle?

Monday, May 5th, 2014

It is probably nothing more than a coincidence, but when I started writing this post (about a magnificent beatbox performance at Sydney’s TEDx) and wanted to refer to some previous ‘beatbox posts’ I made, I discovered that there has been one every two year from 2008, 2010 and 2012…huh?! A mystical two year beatbox cycle on the blog?! 🙂

This one is a must-watch; really amaaaaaazing what this guy, Tom Thum, can do with just his voice! He ‘uses his mouth in strange ways in exchange for cash’ 🙂 strange ways indeed and…friggin’ brilliant!!

 

Look Up!

Sunday, May 4th, 2014

In an era where the importance of being connected and ‘always online’ prevails, this video offers a welcome perspective; a good piece of poetry, packed in a nice audio visual presentation. Interestingly enough, ‘we’ would never have known about this video without social media he he! 🙂 Furthermore; didn’t our parents make similar arguments with respect to TV? The argument of ‘everything was so much better when we were young’ has been used throughout history and honestly, it has never been a good argument. (QOTD May 2 2014 🙂 )

That said, I believe in balance and the online world is the modern way to stay connected with the ones you care about (besides meeting them face-to-face!). Oh, and most of the ‘new connections’ are still made in the ‘real world’ anyway, and when you do meet online first, you will definitely meet in real life at some point before you fall in love, f*ck like rabbits, get married and get loads of babies! 🙂

Furthermore; how is reading a (fictional) book better then watching a movie, playing a computer game, or surfing the web? Actually one can argue that many skills needed in future life are nowadays much more gained by using an iPad then playing soccer on the street?

Once more, I believe in balance; so make sure to work out as much as you surf the web, spend time in nature as much as you read, be present on social media as much as you meet people in real life!

And most important of all: be present and BE aware…LOOK UP and spread your LOVE! 🙂

 

98% of the people

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

This simple test apparently ‘forces’ 98% of people to give the same answer…huh?!

It is a weird phenomenon that no one can really explain, but it is surely fascinating. Hmm, as my answer was something totally different I am in the 2% group (aka WEIRD fellas! 🙂 ), which makes it hard for me to ‘proof’ this test…let me know your result in the comments so I can see if indeed the vast majority of people give the same unlikely answer…

Oh, for this test you should not write anything down nor use a calculator. This is just fairly simple arithmetic (no catch!)…

 

 

So, *are* you one of the many that thought “red hammer”? What about “red” or “hammer”??

If you’re in that 2% that thought of something else, well you are just like me…weird! 🙂

 

The sun sets later and later, yay! :)

Thursday, May 1st, 2014

A recurring thing, the transformation from long nights to long days (aka. the voyage from darkness into the light 🙂 ), is pretty visible here ‘up North’. It becomes most apparent when the sun sets (which is just because I am normally not awake when it rises 🙂 ), today it set at 21:14h, nice! For comparison; in Amsterdam it set at 21:06h (not such a big difference, but every minute counts 🙂 ). The differences in daylight are much bigger though; Oslo has 15h 58m 06s daylight and while Amsterdam only has 14h 56m 19s, over an hour less!

The ‘total daylight tipping point’ occurred on March 19 (logically around the vernal equinox) and from April 20 the evenings are longer than those in Amsterdam. Ha, it won’t take long before I can read a book on my veranda…at midnight…without a torch! 🙂

If numbers are your thing, check out timeanddate.com for *all* the data (Oslo, Amsterdam).

Giving is the best communication

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Some advertisements are just too good not to share and the following YouTube clip is one of them; a 3 minute video that serves as a fantastic reminder of the power of being kind without expecting something in return.

Live and love unconditionally…I *love* it!