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It all very pretty and picturesque in Gevena town these days
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Our man in Reykjavik reports
The newest of the growing number of citizen journalists reports from icebound iceland
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Horses and Snow.
Snow and horses is a good mix for the outdoors and makes your cheeks rosy. Everyone is having fun.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Welcome to the New Year.
I have to talk about the weather, really I do; especially after the New Year and the Christmas holidays. These holidays were really long and good, and full of food and pressies, and sleeping in and staying up late watching old movies and eating more food, and full of people. Perfect. But now the rockets are spent ; the New Year is over. Things have calmed down, as the folks have gone home. As if to cushion the entry of the New Year, (this fearful year of years), the weather wrapped the island up in a cocoon of fog. I tell you, gentle reader, it drizzled for for 12 days straight. During the long days we saw neither sun nor moon. I felt like the ancient mariner rounding the horn.
Today the weather broke. Clouds are gone: big time frost instead. Monday morning.
The car doors, and windows, and locks froze solid. Poor Kari was a big icicle. When I got the doors open, finally. I discovered that the locks were frozen, and so I couldn´t close them again. Cruel is what I call it.
But at lunchtime, we all got to see the sun in a bright blue sky.
We have been chatting to Dad, who is in good form. We hear news of Keiron and Caroline’s camping trip. New Zealand summer holidays have to include beaches and surfing.
Cruel is what I call it.
But we got the Kiwi Chrissi presents and opened them this weekend. Thanks you guys.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Channel 4 and Gaza reporting
Simply got to see the channel 4 interview with Israeli spokesperson ! Be patient, it takes time to load... but it is worth it! Well done channel 4.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year
Wishing everybody a peaceful
and prosperous 2009.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Eirikur´s song and dance play
Eirik's dramatic company put on there Christmas performance this evening. The play was called the "Perfect Family" and Eirik played the part of the Father figure who was saved by the power of positive thinking, optimism and consideration for others !!! In fact, the man himself took the final song of the show... the finale. Eirik did it very well and deserved every bit of applause. We enjoyed the show very much. Sandra took the pictures.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Putting up Christmas lights
Don't jump Eirikur, we will save a muffin for you !!!!
Job well done !!!!!
Today is the first Sunday in Advent _ Christmas is getting closer and closer. So it´s time to put the outside lights up to cheer us up on these dark winter nights and make the house all the more welcoming ! Its also the starting pistol for the Christmas preparations. Tonight we will take the first stabb at getting oour Christmas cards ready.
Putting up the lights is always good fun. It calls for team work, singing and gloves. It was only -8 C outside today. Clear sky and no wind.
We made an innovation as well. This year will be the first time for lights on the balcony rail _ beatifully twinkly red ones, hopefully visible from a distance.
Hot blueberry muffins were very welcome when the weary workers finally came inside to the warm !
Team "Jack Sparrow"
This is the team Jack Sparrow from the Field Team Leaders Course in Finland. It was a great team and fun to work with you. Hopefully we will meet up again somewhere !
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
The week that was
I have spent the week in Finland on a Red Cross training course. It was great fun and with good people, all of whom had been on mission. So there were lots of stories to tell.
Then at this weekend, the Icelandic Red Cross had its annual party. It toned down affair but lots of fun never-the-less. The children are with me this weekend and that is always nice. Sandra performed with her school at the City hall in a day of celebration for the Icelandic Language. I listened in and thought that it was very nicely done.
Finally managed to catch dad at home for a chat on the Skype.The weekend tends to go by too quickly.
Then at this weekend, the Icelandic Red Cross had its annual party. It toned down affair but lots of fun never-the-less. The children are with me this weekend and that is always nice. Sandra performed with her school at the City hall in a day of celebration for the Icelandic Language. I listened in and thought that it was very nicely done.
Finally managed to catch dad at home for a chat on the Skype.The weekend tends to go by too quickly.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
misuse of Anti - Terrorism legislation by the Bristish Government
I am dismayed at the short sightedness, greed and stupidity of Icelands politicians and particularly it´s banking community.
However, I am alarmed at the misuse of Anti - Terrorism legislation by the Bristish Government.
This establishes a precedent which should be challenged.
www.indefence.is
However, I am alarmed at the misuse of Anti - Terrorism legislation by the Bristish Government.
This establishes a precedent which should be challenged.
www.indefence.is
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Couric Stumps Palin With Supreme Court Question
And finally, this has to take the cake.....
Really, are you serious ???
Palin On Foreign Policy
This is just plain scary. And when some called Mr Barak articulate it was considered a racial slur. At least the guy can put a sentence together !
Monday, October 06, 2008
Meltdown
For anyone who is only reading Icelandic news, this article should be especially illuminating because it sets the tone for how the outside world sees what is happening,
The first and the last paragraphs are particularly telling..
Confusion grows over Iceland’s rescue plan
By Tom Braithwaite in Reykjavik
Published: October 6 2008 09 :54 Last updated: October
Iceland’s prime minister said late on Sunday that no rescue plan for the country’s beleaguered banking system would be forthcoming, adding to the confusion that has helped destabilise the country’s markets.
Geir Haarde, prime minister, said after a weekend of talks with bankers, employers, unions and pension funds that no initiative was necessary “at this time”. There were hopes on Sunday that the Icelandic Central Bank would receive funding from counterparts in Europe to bolster its foreign exchange reserves.
Instead, Mr Haarde said: “The banks have agreed to decrease their activities abroad and sell assets.” Such action by Kaupthing, the country’s leading bank, and Landsbanki, the second biggest, are likely to have further repercussions in other countries, including the UK.
On Friday Kaupthing contacted some clients using contracts for difference - derivatives that allow investors to take a position on a stock without owning it outright - to request that they add to the cash component of the CFD.
The bank has also attempted to reassure the foreign customers who put their savings in its high-yielding accounts, saying that their money is guaranteed by the UK government up to £50,000. Commercial customers include Baugur, the retail investment company that owns Hamleys, and Robert Tchenguiz, the entrepreneur.
Mr Haarde on Sunday met banking executives, including Hreidar Mar Sigurdsson, chief executive of Kaupthing, to discuss measures to ease the crisis, which has seen the Icelandic krona depreciate significantly and led to government buying a 75 per cent stake in Glitnir, the country’s third largest bank.
Bankers in Reykjavik want any additional funds made available to the Central Bank to be passed on to them to substitute the drying up of wholesale funding, which has caused liquidity problems for banks around the world.
In its most important and controversial intervention so far, the Central Bank last week agreed to spend €600m ($826m, £465m) on a 75 per cent stake in Glitnir. The decision, which the Central Bank said was the only option available, was criticised by Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, whose Stodir investment company is the lead shareholder in Glitnir, and Richard Portes, professor of economics at London Business School.
The krona has fallen 20 per cent against the euro in the past month, exacerbating fears about the country’s ability to emerge from the current crisis and adding to acute problems facing Iceland’s 320,000 citizens.
On Monday the country’s currency fell further against the dollar but stabilised against the euro. The krona fell 0.9 percent to $113.63 but rose 0.4 percent to €154.52.
A significant proportion of Icelanders have in the past decade turned to loans for cars and homes denominated in baskets of lower interest rate currencies such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. But with the krona’s decline, consumers are left stretched.
Kaupthing and Landsbanki, the two biggest Icelandic banks, have strengthened their deposit bases in the past few years and remain better capitalised than some European peers. They also have little direct exposure to the US subprime assets that sparked the credit crunch.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008
The first and the last paragraphs are particularly telling..
Confusion grows over Iceland’s rescue plan
By Tom Braithwaite in Reykjavik
Published: October 6 2008 09 :54 Last updated: October
Iceland’s prime minister said late on Sunday that no rescue plan for the country’s beleaguered banking system would be forthcoming, adding to the confusion that has helped destabilise the country’s markets.
Geir Haarde, prime minister, said after a weekend of talks with bankers, employers, unions and pension funds that no initiative was necessary “at this time”. There were hopes on Sunday that the Icelandic Central Bank would receive funding from counterparts in Europe to bolster its foreign exchange reserves.
Instead, Mr Haarde said: “The banks have agreed to decrease their activities abroad and sell assets.” Such action by Kaupthing, the country’s leading bank, and Landsbanki, the second biggest, are likely to have further repercussions in other countries, including the UK.
On Friday Kaupthing contacted some clients using contracts for difference - derivatives that allow investors to take a position on a stock without owning it outright - to request that they add to the cash component of the CFD.
The bank has also attempted to reassure the foreign customers who put their savings in its high-yielding accounts, saying that their money is guaranteed by the UK government up to £50,000. Commercial customers include Baugur, the retail investment company that owns Hamleys, and Robert Tchenguiz, the entrepreneur.
Mr Haarde on Sunday met banking executives, including Hreidar Mar Sigurdsson, chief executive of Kaupthing, to discuss measures to ease the crisis, which has seen the Icelandic krona depreciate significantly and led to government buying a 75 per cent stake in Glitnir, the country’s third largest bank.
Bankers in Reykjavik want any additional funds made available to the Central Bank to be passed on to them to substitute the drying up of wholesale funding, which has caused liquidity problems for banks around the world.
In its most important and controversial intervention so far, the Central Bank last week agreed to spend €600m ($826m, £465m) on a 75 per cent stake in Glitnir. The decision, which the Central Bank said was the only option available, was criticised by Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, whose Stodir investment company is the lead shareholder in Glitnir, and Richard Portes, professor of economics at London Business School.
The krona has fallen 20 per cent against the euro in the past month, exacerbating fears about the country’s ability to emerge from the current crisis and adding to acute problems facing Iceland’s 320,000 citizens.
On Monday the country’s currency fell further against the dollar but stabilised against the euro. The krona fell 0.9 percent to $113.63 but rose 0.4 percent to €154.52.
A significant proportion of Icelanders have in the past decade turned to loans for cars and homes denominated in baskets of lower interest rate currencies such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. But with the krona’s decline, consumers are left stretched.
Kaupthing and Landsbanki, the two biggest Icelandic banks, have strengthened their deposit bases in the past few years and remain better capitalised than some European peers. They also have little direct exposure to the US subprime assets that sparked the credit crunch.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Busy Sunday
This has busy weekend and all I can say is “what didnt we do”? Friday night was ballet night for Sandra and cooking the very much favourite Shepards Pie, which is just right for the winter weather. The first snow has fallen, so all is white, white, white. Eirkur was on snow shovelling duty. Then on for cosy evening and Walt Disney movies. Saturday of course was the big Red Cross collection day, so Anna was up early and off to work. Kids had a great time at English school and then we moved on to Vesturbæjar swimming pool to sign up for the Fund raising for the Red Cross. Signed in and marked up off we went to knock on doors in the area. Sandra had a ticket to the “big” match, so we went to the main football stadium to watch the match. Sandra´s team won, yeah go KR and everyone is happy. We zoomed off to do some more collected and ended up helping for a while in the Red Cross HQ with the packing up. It was a lot of fun.
Sunday morning had a lazy-daisy start but we had a great time at the Abba sing-a-long, Mamma Mia. Its amazing to be in a full cinema, with everybody singing their heads off!
Also has a great reunion with the class of 2008 Project managers – with photo show. A real scream !
Sunday morning had a lazy-daisy start but we had a great time at the Abba sing-a-long, Mamma Mia. Its amazing to be in a full cinema, with everybody singing their heads off!
Also has a great reunion with the class of 2008 Project managers – with photo show. A real scream !
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Cooking with SARA
Last weekend we took a step forward with the use of cooking technology. It was a leg of lamb. It really wanted to be cooked nicely and end up to be juicy, tender and a little bit rare. But a leg of lamb is difficult to judge in the oven and close to the bone.
Meat thermometers are good but SARA goes even one better. SARA is stuck into the meat and then beams a signal to a console which give a temperature reading. The console is wireless and can clip onto your belt or whatever.
Here comes the clever bit. SARA speaks to you and in five languages too. She says, “ Nearly ready” and then “Its ready”.
And guess what, SARA was absolutely right. The meat was perfectly cooked. Namm.
Thank you SARA.
Meat thermometers are good but SARA goes even one better. SARA is stuck into the meat and then beams a signal to a console which give a temperature reading. The console is wireless and can clip onto your belt or whatever.
Here comes the clever bit. SARA speaks to you and in five languages too. She says, “ Nearly ready” and then “Its ready”.
And guess what, SARA was absolutely right. The meat was perfectly cooked. Namm.
Thank you SARA.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Palestinian refugees in Iceland
Here is an interesting story from BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7632453.stm
Icelandic Red Cross is the representative of UNHCR in Iceland, therefore we had a lot to do with the selection, movement and resettlement of the refugees from Iraq. It has been a big programme and I hope that the people settle well. The support families make a real difference in helping people to adjust. You will imagine that it is a great change from being in the desert to a stormy island - you can see how windy it is on the video.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7632453.stm
Icelandic Red Cross is the representative of UNHCR in Iceland, therefore we had a lot to do with the selection, movement and resettlement of the refugees from Iraq. It has been a big programme and I hope that the people settle well. The support families make a real difference in helping people to adjust. You will imagine that it is a great change from being in the desert to a stormy island - you can see how windy it is on the video.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sandra and Ballet
Sandra went to her first Friday session of ballet today. She met her new teacher and she learnt ballet games, such as “concentration” and “jumping”. It was fun. Then she came home amd showed Anna Bryndis how to do fun ballet.
After supper and conversations, we watched “Charmed” together, because that is Eirikurs and Sandra´s favourite programme. We are also singing along to Singing Bee ; we are best at the Abba songs.
Eirikur is doing big drawings and Dad is doing Facebook. This is how we are spending a lazy Friday evening. Tommorrow is English school and we are looking forward to that.
After supper and conversations, we watched “Charmed” together, because that is Eirikurs and Sandra´s favourite programme. We are also singing along to Singing Bee ; we are best at the Abba songs.
Eirikur is doing big drawings and Dad is doing Facebook. This is how we are spending a lazy Friday evening. Tommorrow is English school and we are looking forward to that.
Göngum til góðs
We are fund raising to support Red Cross work with reuniteing families that have been split by war or disaster. This is a rework of an ICRC video with beautiful Icelandic music. The song tells of a man waiting for his loved one. He waits so long that he turns to stone, cold inside and covered in moss and snow.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Happy Birthday Dad !
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Happy Birthday Dad, it was good to talk to you on Monday. Many happy returns and continuing meat-fests at the Brazilian Parillada ! Hope you enjoy the wine :-)
Reykjavik Marathon
http://www.andri.org/marathon2008/content/_MG_2381_large.html
At the weekend there was the annual reykjavik marathon. We have for the last few years made it a habit to pull on the running shoes and "group jog", each according to their abilities. Eirikur and I were ambitious this year and in a rash fit of temporary insanity, or prehaps elevated goal setting, signed ourselves up for 10 kms, whilst Anna and Sandra went for the three.
The lead up to the race was nerve racking because we both knew deep down in side that we had not trained enough and were antipicating something quite difficult, and lets face it, uncomfortable. We set off, though, in good heart with a plan to take it steady and run Eiriks race. We took the first five kms steady and were suprised when we reached the halfway water stop and felt just fine !!! We carried on in the same vein, spirits lifted by all the fabulous supporters who cheered us on, and before we new it we had rounded the old Ellingsen house (now demolished), flashed past Grill House Guðmundurs and were turing the corner into the home straight. Both old and young'uns had some puff left over for a final spirit, Eirik crossing the line half a stride ahead of his father with a respectable time of 1 hr and 16 mins.
We like powerade and medals... but wait... thats not all, because we arrived just in time to warm up for the 3 km run. Since we were already dressed for it.......
Sandra did a good job, especially with the down hill sprints thrown in. Everyone crossed the finish line and everyone got a medal. But I think the real reward was the hot meat and sauce sandwich which we had on the way home.
At the weekend there was the annual reykjavik marathon. We have for the last few years made it a habit to pull on the running shoes and "group jog", each according to their abilities. Eirikur and I were ambitious this year and in a rash fit of temporary insanity, or prehaps elevated goal setting, signed ourselves up for 10 kms, whilst Anna and Sandra went for the three.
The lead up to the race was nerve racking because we both knew deep down in side that we had not trained enough and were antipicating something quite difficult, and lets face it, uncomfortable. We set off, though, in good heart with a plan to take it steady and run Eiriks race. We took the first five kms steady and were suprised when we reached the halfway water stop and felt just fine !!! We carried on in the same vein, spirits lifted by all the fabulous supporters who cheered us on, and before we new it we had rounded the old Ellingsen house (now demolished), flashed past Grill House Guðmundurs and were turing the corner into the home straight. Both old and young'uns had some puff left over for a final spirit, Eirik crossing the line half a stride ahead of his father with a respectable time of 1 hr and 16 mins.
We like powerade and medals... but wait... thats not all, because we arrived just in time to warm up for the 3 km run. Since we were already dressed for it.......
Sandra did a good job, especially with the down hill sprints thrown in. Everyone crossed the finish line and everyone got a medal. But I think the real reward was the hot meat and sauce sandwich which we had on the way home.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Jerusalem
I got back from a week long trip to Jerusalem and environs at the weekend. The schedule was packed and we travelled Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Qalquilya, Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem. Wow. The felafel in Hebron was super delicious !
There was plenty of work but there was also time to meet up with friends from old days and new days.
The journey there and back was long but okay. The fresh figs, an impulse buy at a Jerusalem corner shop, did not survive the journey back, but the cakes and the olives did : -)
There was plenty of work but there was also time to meet up with friends from old days and new days.
The journey there and back was long but okay. The fresh figs, an impulse buy at a Jerusalem corner shop, did not survive the journey back, but the cakes and the olives did : -)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Things that make you go uummmm
An interesting little snippet from the Jerusalem Post.
'We cut Georgia arms sales months ago'
www.jpost.com
'We cut Georgia arms sales months ago'
www.jpost.com
Monday, August 04, 2008
Good Wine
Dear John and Jo,
We want to tell you how much we enjoyed the bottle of your Semillion. We went out into the country-side for an al fresco BBQ of crayfish and freshly caught rainbow trout. The wine was perfect for the meal, as you can well imagine. Gudjon, our host, wants 2 cases !
With love from Iceland
We want to tell you how much we enjoyed the bottle of your Semillion. We went out into the country-side for an al fresco BBQ of crayfish and freshly caught rainbow trout. The wine was perfect for the meal, as you can well imagine. Gudjon, our host, wants 2 cases !
With love from Iceland
Friday, August 01, 2008
The day I caught a fish : retrospective blogging
Not so long back we had a lovely weekend road-trip to visit friends at a summer house just past Hvollsvellir. Perfect hot hot weather and no real wind to speak of. We warmed up with a round of golf, then went for grilled fish supper. But the evening was still young so we decided to visit the lake and see if the fish had gone to bed yet. It seems that they were ready for a mid-night snack and the fish took the bait recklessly and ended up in the fridge !
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Eirikur in Action !
Team Talk from the coach.
Making the tackle count ! "Dude, this ball in mine!"
Sprinting back into defence !
Eirikur in Action !
Eirikur steals the ball and goes on the attack ! "Hey Dude, where did the ball go?"
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The lead up to Eirikur´s big tournament
The International football festival, the Reykjavik Cup, kicks off on thursday morning. Eirikur is signed up and ready to go go go !!!
For more details in english, follow this link,
http://www.reycup.is/reycup/?D10cID=news
For more details in english, follow this link,
http://www.reycup.is/reycup/?D10cID=news
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Retrospective blog entry : I like noodles!
You know I have been meaning to mention this for more than a week now but had not got round to it.
So whats new, I hear you ask ?
The mention moment is that towards the end of the kid´s stay the weather took a down-turn which gave us a good excuse to good to the cinema. We couldn't resist going to see "Kung-Fu Panda", a fun cartoon romp whose awesomeness is extreme. To get fully into the mood, we popped into the nearest Chinese restaurant for supper.
I like NOODLES !
So whats new, I hear you ask ?
The mention moment is that towards the end of the kid´s stay the weather took a down-turn which gave us a good excuse to good to the cinema. We couldn't resist going to see "Kung-Fu Panda", a fun cartoon romp whose awesomeness is extreme. To get fully into the mood, we popped into the nearest Chinese restaurant for supper.
I like NOODLES !
Report on the young Zoo Keepers
Today Sandra and Silja fed fish to the seals at the zoo. They were inside the enclosure and had to throw each fish into the water so the seals could chase it. The fish was smelly, but the seals seemed to like it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Landmannahellir weekend
We took a trip to the highlands in a bus and with lots of people from the Red Cross and stayed the weekend at a place called Landmannahellir. It was beautiful weather the whole time – not a cloud in the sky. The tent was up in no time, the team had been practising! From base camp we took a day trip to the hot springs at Landmannalaugur and from there climbed up the nearest mountain, Bláhjukur, so we could enjoy the most outstanding views. We bumped into a wandering British film maker who recorded out triumphal ascent on film. It would be fun if we ever got to see that results.
The weather was warm enough to allow us to go wading in the river and of course there was grill and singing in the evening. It was a really great weekend trip.
The weather was warm enough to allow us to go wading in the river and of course there was grill and singing in the evening. It was a really great weekend trip.
Sports kids
I have to report that the kids have been quite sporty this past two weeks, no time for blogging! They have signed up for the sports and football course at the Vikingur Sports club and have been at practice everyday. Vikungur is the sports club of their grandfather.
They kids are getting good with the ball as the pictures above show. Their practice times are for Sandra 12.30 untill 13.45 hrs everday except Friday, and for Eirikur, he is practising with 4 flokkur and practice time is 16.30 until 17.45 hrs. His coach is called Viggo. They are welcome to continue to practice with the team.
Today we went to see sandra´s girls team play at the Girls Competition – Stelpamót. It was wet and rainy, but everybody seemed to be having fun.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Helsinki
I wanted to put up a few pictures from my graduation trip to Helsinki. Its seems I was having so much fun that I used the camera much less than I had thought. In the Nokia complex the use of cameras was restricted.... no to industrial espionage! On the other hand you can see how beautiful the city can be in the summer. The one thing I did not expect to see was a full blown Brazilian Carnival, but Saturday was carnival day in Finnland.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Camping in the garden
Putting this tent can be complicated, but when its up its fun to sleep outside.Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Torah weighs in on the Obama v McCain debate
Here is an part of an article published on-line in the Jerusalem Post.
The charge that Obama was not truthful about his background can be added to the list of other whisperings about Obama. Not all of the statements are evil. Worries about Obama's being too young, for example, parallel concerns that McCain is too old. Too many of the statements are, however, malicious and ugly. The implication that Barack Obama would not be a good president somehow because of his racial or family background is repugnant, is unconstitutional and is un-American.
An interesting gloss on this whole matter was raised during the reading of the Torah in synagogues this past Shabbat, portions of which are included in the important prayer known as the "Sh'ma". The prayer opens: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." The prayer continues with warnings not to be misled by the urgings of one's heart or eyes.
The Sh'ma prayer is remarkable in that it states that God - and hence truth - may be better perceived through the ears than by the eyes. In fact, throughout the Bible, God appears to Moses by speaking to him, but denies Moses the opportunity to visually look at Him. Even Moses experiences God through hearing.
The eyes may be easily deceived. The eyes see only the superficial exterior and register a subjective response based upon an individual's internal mental wiring - his own set of biases and prejudices. Communication by hearing is more penetrating. It involves the need of the communicator and the recipient to be on the same page - to speak to each other in a common language in order to be correctly understood.
Ten individuals of different countries and backgrounds, seeing an event, will each understand the event in his own way, and will together offer ten different interpretations of the event. However, only the individual who has understood the language and cultural context of the communicator can even suggest a reliable interpretation of the substance of the oral communication.
Here then is a challenge to any honest person who wishes to truly understand the nature and character of the two candidates, and thus to vote properly. When Obama and McCain next speak or debate each other - close your eyes and open your ears.
Sound advice !
The charge that Obama was not truthful about his background can be added to the list of other whisperings about Obama. Not all of the statements are evil. Worries about Obama's being too young, for example, parallel concerns that McCain is too old. Too many of the statements are, however, malicious and ugly. The implication that Barack Obama would not be a good president somehow because of his racial or family background is repugnant, is unconstitutional and is un-American.
An interesting gloss on this whole matter was raised during the reading of the Torah in synagogues this past Shabbat, portions of which are included in the important prayer known as the "Sh'ma". The prayer opens: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." The prayer continues with warnings not to be misled by the urgings of one's heart or eyes.
The Sh'ma prayer is remarkable in that it states that God - and hence truth - may be better perceived through the ears than by the eyes. In fact, throughout the Bible, God appears to Moses by speaking to him, but denies Moses the opportunity to visually look at Him. Even Moses experiences God through hearing.
The eyes may be easily deceived. The eyes see only the superficial exterior and register a subjective response based upon an individual's internal mental wiring - his own set of biases and prejudices. Communication by hearing is more penetrating. It involves the need of the communicator and the recipient to be on the same page - to speak to each other in a common language in order to be correctly understood.
Ten individuals of different countries and backgrounds, seeing an event, will each understand the event in his own way, and will together offer ten different interpretations of the event. However, only the individual who has understood the language and cultural context of the communicator can even suggest a reliable interpretation of the substance of the oral communication.
Here then is a challenge to any honest person who wishes to truly understand the nature and character of the two candidates, and thus to vote properly. When Obama and McCain next speak or debate each other - close your eyes and open your ears.
Sound advice !
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Eirikur speaks.....
I went shopping in my cooool new shoes with dad .
And I played badminton with dad today.
And I played badminton with dad today.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
More from Eirikur....
Island won a great viktory 5-0 yesterday.
I was out side for 6 hours J
Askur came to visit JJ
I was out side for 6 hours J
Askur came to visit JJ
Summer Supper
The weather this weekend has been wonderful, a sultry 17 degrees. Just perfect for a grill supper!
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