Wormhole

An expensive photo

2011-07-08T09:41:00.008+02:00

I had a Positron Emission Tomographical photo taken of myself and it cost R 18 725, that includes the scan and a cd with a copy of the images.

Whilst the nuclear medicine technician inserted the radioactive fluorine18 drip into my arm I told him: " I always believed I was an extraterrestrial, but now I know I'm not, and I'm so disappointed !" and we had a good laugh together.

In the warm and comfortable waiting room I met Kyle a 12 year old boy who told me he thinks that all the UFO sightings are fake, I told him that I agreed, many or most are fake, but that some are real and then his mom agreed with me, he gaped.

I also met a 72 year old gentlemen, who insisted I watch The Bucket List and that I should make a bucket list, he was there for a heart scan, and he had given up smoking
after a 55 year habit, only a month before, I could tell why ..the man was panting.

The other lady in the room didn't warm up to the rest of us, she was a bit tense and reserved, but did blurt out a compliment that made me feel very good, when she heard my daughter was 24 and I was 44, she said:" Wow, I thought you were about 30 something".
(and there I was sitting in my tracksuit, unwashed hair, not wearing any deodorant, with a swollen wound, bruised arm and inner tenseness that freezes the bones)

The pet scan itself is nothing major, I wore my own clothing not containing any metals and a nice thick blanket was placed over me to keep me warm, because of the op under my arm, I asked the radiologist to strap my arms to the side of the long slim sliding bed, which she did. The success to a good scan is to lie very still.

A minute or so later the bed slid slowly through the narrow tunnel, I emerged from the other side of the tunnel and was then scanned for 20 minutes, pulled into the tunnel from the feet down.

Not a big deal at all, however whilst my head and chest was in the tunnel I had the irresistible urge to laugh, I was remembering a story a friend told me that he heard from a friend who works in airport security, apparently airport scanners reveal wispy black clouds of gas emanating from passengers disembarking from aircraft after long flights, very funny when you're being scanned and wondering what the photo will reveal.

This is going to be quite an adventure, forum friends told me this joke to cheer me up !

A Cardiologist died and was given an elaborate funeral.

A huge heart covered in flowers stood behind the casket during the service. Following the eulogy, the heart opened and the casket rolled inside. The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the beautiful heart forever.

At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter. When all eyes stared at him, he said, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking of my own funeral; I'm a gynaecologist."

And that's when the proctologist fainted.

This last year

2011-06-20T08:38:00.003+02:00

I have not blogged much recently, because I was distracted getting divorced after a 20 year marriage.

This last week I went to the doctor with a lump under my left arm, after a needle biopsy, pigmented cells were found (melanoma/skin cancer), I suppose living under the beautifully harsh African sun is not good for Europeans. I've had an op this week, my lymph nodes, some glands and some nerves were removed for further biopsy. I am wearing a medical drain/drip from my wound for the last week - it's been uncomfortable, but I've coped well with the help of my friends and family.

I have not stopped reading non-stop though, I now read online, on my kindle and I still buy books.

I am writing a biography called Reality Failure and also compiling a bundle of my short stories which will include my Afrikaans work, which I will translate into English myself.

On a completely different note, South African politics has become increasingly depressing and the future of my country is looking dismal indeed. Our current ANC ruled government are mostly a bunch of corrupt money grabbing crooks with little understanding of the intricate workings of economies or education or governance.

The world itself is in turmoil, big changes are taking place, bad news has become the norm, I hope our fragile little civilisation survives these turbulent times well enough to keep progressing towards the space age.

I hope to get back to my blogs soon, but surviving financially, re-organizing my life, and adjusting (and reading lots) is keeping me somewhat busy.

Russian Science Fiction

2010-08-24T09:18:00.004+02:00

Vasili Vasilievich Golovachov born 1948, is a modern Russian science fiction writer, he writes both hard science fiction and sci-fi/fantasy fusion.

I have just watched The Interceptor, this Russian scifi movie comes with english sub-titles and is based on Golovachovs books The Interceptor & Smersk-2 from his The Forbidden Reality series.

The movie is directed by Konstantin Maximov and produced by Julia Orlova and Vasiliy Golovachov.

This movie is excellent and I highly recommend it, it is now available for rental in our dvd rental stores.(in South Africa)

A counter-intelligence agent and hand-to-hand fighting expert, called the interceptor, is aided by 'People of the Light' from another reality, to combat a corrupted bureaucracy and a dark alien from another reality.

The Russians see things differently and have a refreshing influence, especially since one mostly reads Western (British and American) science fiction.

Trailer

List of works of author Vasiliy Golovachov

* The Beast's Gospel ("Евангелие от зверя") series
o The Beast's Lair ("Логово зверя")
o The Exodus of the Beast ("Исход зверя")
o The Taming of the Beast ("Укрощение зверя")

* The Forbidden Reality ("Запрещенная реальность") series
o The Loner" ("Одиночка")
o SMERSH-2 ("Смерш-2")
o The Interceptor ("Перехватчик")
o Third-Level Trouble ("Разборки третьего уровня")
o Breaking the Evil ("Излом зла")
o Exterminator of the Law ("Истребитель закона")
o Tornado ("Смерч")
[/B]
* Catharsis ("Катарсис") series
o And the Retribution Is with Me (Man of Combat) ("И возмездие со мною [Человек боя]")
o Battlefield ("Поле боя")
o The Fight Is not Eternal ("Бой не вечен")
o I Guarantee Life ("Гарантирую жизнь")

* Don't Wake the Sleeping Genies ("Не будите спящих джиннов") series
o The Sleeping Genie ("Спящий джинн")
o The Cemetery of Genies ("Кладбище джиннов")
o The War with Genies ("Война с джиннами")
o The Return of the Genie ("Возвращение джинна")

* The Saviors of the Fan ("Спасатели Веера") series
o The Envoy ("Посланник") – Nikita Sukhov is an unintentinoal witness of the liquidation of the Envoy of the Forces of Light on Earth. Barely escaping alive himself, he realizes that he is now a target of the otherworldly assassins and can die at any moment. His only choice is to accept the challenge and become the new Envoy on the dangerous Path of the Sword in the Worldfan.
o The Deliverer ("Избавитель") – the collapse of the Worldfan threatens to destroy every living thing in the Multiverse. The heroes have an uneasy task ahead of them - to face the forces of Darkness and cross the chrons of the Fan. They must fight treacherous enemies, including Lucifer himself, aid the Seven Mages in their struggle against the Great Igvas, and prevent the Evil from altering all reality.

* Relict ("Реликт") series
o Unforeseen Meetings ("Непредвиденные встречи")
o Relict. Volume I ("Реликт. Том 1")
o The Coming ("Пришествие")
o The Return of the Wandering Constructor ("Возвращение блудного Конструктора")
o Children of Eternity ("Дети Вечности")
o Counter-intelligence ("Контрразведка")
o The Law of Change ("Закон перемен")
o The Absolute Player ("Абсолютный игрок")

* The Solo on the Broken String ("Соло на оборванной струне")

* The Vague Time ("Смутное время") series
o The Scourge of Times ("Бич времен")
o Skhron ("Схрон")
o The Executioner of Times ("Палач времен")
o Magatsitls ("Магацитлы")

* The Adventures of Denis Molodtsov ("Приключения Дениса Молодцова")

* RTH, or Rule of Times of Harmony ("ВВГ, или Власть Времен Гармонии")

* To the Time of My Tears ("Ко времени моих слёз")

* Special Control ("Особый контроль")

* Regulum ("Регулюм")

* The Ruthless ("Беспощадный")

* The Masters ("Владыки")

* Demon ("Демон")

* Death Preserve ("Заповедник смерти")

* Kali Yuga ("Калиюга")

* Can Opener ("Консервный нож")

* The Corrector ("Корректировщик")

* Cryptozoy ("Криптозой")

* Deviation to Perfection ("Отклонение к совершенству")

* The Piranhas ("Пираньи")

* The Black Force ("Черная сила")

* The Black Time ("Черное время")

* The Black Man ("Черный человек")

* Sentenced to Light ("Приговоренные к свету")

* The Tree of Disappearing Times ("Древо исчезающих времен")

* The Edge of the World ("Край света")

* Fight without Rules ("Бой без правил")

* The War of Realities ("Война реальностей")

* Contacts of the Special Kind ("Контакты особого рода")

* The Face of the Demon ("Лик беса")

* The Rules of Combat ("Правила боя")

* The Predicted ("Предсказанное")

* The Heart of the Universe ("Сердце Вселенной")

* The Seekers of Death ("Искатели смерти")

* On the Other Side of the Fire ("По ту сторону огня")

* The Phantasms ("Фантазмы")

* Who Are We? Why Are We? The Experiment of Transpersonal Perception ("Кто мы? Зачем мы? Опыт трансперсонального восприятия")

* The Land of Wonders ("Земля чудес")

* The Devil's Fire Extinguisher ("Огнетушитель дьявола")

* Invasion into Reality ("Вторжение в реальность")

* Ultimatum ("Ультиматум")

* The Fourth Dimension ("Четвертое измерение")

* The Silver Time ("Серебряное время")

* The Masters of Reality ("Владыки реальности")

* The Extinguishers of the Suns ("Гасители солнц")

* Overcoming the Impossible ("Преодоление невозможного")

* Chronotwist ("Хроновыверт")

* The Compressed Spring ("Сжатая пружина")

* The Beyond ("Запределье")

* Requiem to the Time Machine ("Реквием машине времени")

* The Divinator ("Прорицатель")

* The War of Absolutes ("Война абсолютов")

* Playing with Fire ("Игра с огнем")

Celebrating Africa

2010-06-09T22:18:00.010+02:00

From the southern tip of Africa comes the sound of a thousand horns, as Africa celebrates as world cup host.

To forever capture the vibrant mood of Africans everywhere, especially on the streets of South Africa as the country swings into full gear to welcome the world to her bosom, I have written this short short story.

Emo Hack

W00t, guys check this out, I hacked a holo, a snatch of a conversation between two distant lab rats getting all emo about an old ship.

"The immense ship lit up the night sky, dwarfing the moon.

It was an incredible spectacle. The Stadium was clearly visible, we could see the playing field.

I was in Soweto when the ship arrived, it was the 11th of June 2310, I'll never forget how it glinted in the sky.

The excitement and feeling of expectation was feverish, all over the planet people gathered outside, looking up at the sky, waiting to get a glimpse of the most beautiful star ship we had ever seen, The Madiba Paladin."

"Eish Siphokazi, that's a while ago, which Planets were playing ?"

"It was Earth versus Mars, but The Madiba Paladin had come all the way from the outer solar system from Titan. She was the most elegant star ship ever built at the time, in a class of her own.

She stretched across the sky With a length of 65 kilometers, and the Transparent Stadium Dome was fixed to her spine like a shield to a spear.

The Dome itself was beyond imagination, The Stadium sat in the center of a green oasis, surrounded by parks, lakes, hotels, whole neighbourhoods and entertainment and administration villages."

Nkosana laughs heartily, "That sounds like the standard public transport we use around Outer Titan these days all right !

The Titan shipyards are impressive, but our AI's are far more impressive than anything I can think of, Seventeen AI's have manifested in The Cradle over the last 200 years, and without their help, we would never have managed to thrive out there in the Outer."

"Well, Earth won the game, and the celebrations lasted a long time, apparently there's a scorch mark visible from earth on the moon, where some Martian fans dug an artificial crater, and attached a huge gas filled disposable stick-on dome and lit it, the thing went off, scaring the shit out of all of us, moon and earthlings, eish, heady days those."

"Anyway listen, reason why I holo'd was to invite you to the opening of the Vuvuzela Stargate end of this decade, if you can make it in person, there's something interesting I'd like to show you, here in the lab."

"Okie Dokie, will do, Tembi just waved and said I must give regards, sik."

about Readers

2009-07-22T08:40:00.014+02:00

One of the great advantages a good & fast reader has over others is the ability to scan (speedread) vast amounts of information in a short time and the ability to dismiss the crap from the real stuff.

Finding your way through the neverending supply of information now flowing constantly into the net, can be a nightmare if you don't understand how the system works.

The key to this vital source of information is the correct and clever use of keywords or now more commonly known online as tags or labels.

Experienced readers who frequent the hallways of cyberspace and who tread their way through the maze that is the greatest library of mankind, glow as they put their oldworld skills to good use and shifting into gear, they kick dust in the eyes of the lazy reader in the slow lane.

The treachery of the net is subtle, readers are subjected to every form of distraction imaginable, words become traps, little wormholes spawn and one minute you're in Cape Town reading about Pratley Putty glue being used on the Apollo XI mission, and the next you're way out in the solar system, watching an earth sized object impact Jupiter.

Life has never been this good.

I harbour a secret fear for the book. I know the time has come, within decades the wooden book will no longer be mainstream, I have had such an incredible love affair with books, I'm already grieving.

Books are word wormholes. The Writer creates the worlds that bring the word universe into existence, the reader purchases a ticket to travel; a book.

Books offer an offline experience.
There are no distractions.
The reader enters the universe of the Writer.
Full wireless and techfree natural immersion can be attained.
Remember this as we hurtle towards our digital selves.

My multiple universe of Writers are varied and I have my favourites,
with me, once a favourite, always a favourite, it's a longterm relationship.

So, for my love of books, I like to photograph them, there is a remote chance that at least a digital image could survive heh ! (paper definately not)

Recently read

Currently Reading

a Larry Niven, almost finished, just finished the top white book, a Journal of the Flood Year by David Ely and halfway with The Execution Channel by Ken MacLeod.

What are you reading ?

Reading Spots

2009-02-20T17:36:00.006+02:00

This is my spot.

I read here, I use the pillows to fascilitate different positions and I often use the green pillow to rest books on.

I've on occasion had to nurse painful arms, after a lifetime of heavy reading.

I weighed Neal Asher's books, aah yes, if only he knew he was not only exercising our imaginations but also our arms and wrists!

Line of Polity 787
Voyage of The Sable Keech 667
Brassman 654
Gridlinked 598
The Gabble 459
Prador Moon 322
Polity Agent 301
Hilldiggers 290

Total 4078 grams

Below are the books I weighed:
From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne weighed in at 97 grams.
is Science Fiction getting heavier ? oh yea baby !

The bus slogan generator

2009-02-16T01:08:00.006+02:00

Today on the NAG forum, a superb South African gaming magazine with a lively online community and dedicated supporters, we had some fun with the bus slogan generator. give it a try.

Here are some I generated:

Forum language use

2009-01-31T12:27:00.004+02:00

Forum Decorum: Posting styles and language use

It seems as if the younger generation have incorporated these words as every-day words into their vocabulary and don't see them as words that should be censored.

Words like fuck, cunt, shit are simply adjectives and add flavour to their language.

I personally don't care whether people cuss or not, the way people use language, evolves constantly and it does not define who they are, it is simply creative expression and it leaves room for language freestyling which enriches our urban culture.

I've noticed that the older folks have their own way of being creative/expletive in their language use.

Setting a forum scene:

It's another ordinary day on the forum, members are coming and going and posting as the morning progresses into afternoon.

A popular thread has everyone on a roll, except for one member who keeps posting negative and predatory remarks, spoiling the discussion for everyone else.

This member is a regular, who contributes to many posts, but has been moaning a lot more in recent weeks, as they spiral into a pit of negativity.

Individual responses you could expect: This illustrates the different responses and language use you often encounter, note how effective the expletives are.

Please stop moaning all the time, it's creating a negative vibe and we've had enough of it now, thank you.

Listen here birdbrain, go back to kindergarden if you wanna moan like a baby - go suck a dummy asswipe !

Stop moaning, you make me sick !

Your moaning is boring, you're boring, get a life weasle.

Listen here brainless retard, your constant whinging is pathetic - now shut-the-fuck-up !

If you moan once more, you will regret it.

I've had enough of your constant nagging, if you have nothing positive to say, keep quiet.

Why are you always moaning, it's irritating and boring, everyone has problems, what makes you special ?

Listen here fuckface, your fucking whining is pissing me off- now fuck-off and complain to the magistrate !

Your negative outlook and predatory comments are indicitive of someone drunk on their own shit.

Your bitterness is becoming unbearable, go see a psychologist.

(written after taking part in language use poll on NAG forum)

Honouring Frederik Pohl

2009-01-22T09:00:00.008+02:00

I came across Frederik Pohl's blog on Neal Asher's blog, and immediately opened another page to read about one of my favourite oldskool science fiction authors.

After reading a while, I found myself with tears streaming down my face, so very sentimental, crying for the death of Arthur C Clarke and all the good things that will pass, very nostalgic, and maybe the fact that I am going through a difficult time on a personal level.

Even though I've read thousands of SF books, it never tires me, and to honour Frederik Pohl I will make 2009 the year in which I get hold of all his books I do not own or have read yet.

Being a serious and dedicated sf reader is the greatest fun I've ever had, I highly recommend it !

Marrow by Robert Reed

2009-01-17T08:04:00.005+02:00

Marrow by Robert Reed

Marrow is the one recent (current decade) science fiction book I would recommend to new readers of science fiction. I read Marrow in 2001 and again in 2005.

I can imagine how confusing it must be for sf-n00bs when they have to make choices about what to read from a variety of superb authors, none of which they've read before.

If you want a kickstart, a rollercoaster ride into the amazing and totally awesome world of science fiction, read Marrow by Robert Reed.

This highly intelligent novel will introduce you to a variety of current topics and concepts in science fiction.

Blow your mind wide open by the scope and magnitude of the concepts, ideas, and incredible wit and visions from Robert Reed in Marrow.

Once you have read Marrow you will be left with a yearning for more.
Highly recommended and with highest honours, this is a rare book.

From the backflap of the book:

The ship is home to a thousand alien races and a near-immortal crew who have no knowledge of its origins or purpose. At its core lies a secret as ancient as the universe.

It is about to be unleashed.

Covers:

Reading Frenzy

2008-12-08T09:05:00.004+02:00

Three books to sweep me off to the stars, to meet wonderful lifeforms, experience galaxy spanning battles and to bare witness to and to partake in the genius and imagination of the science fiction writer.

I will relish every word beloved authors, and thank you.

It's a most beautiful summers day here at the southern tip of Africa,
deep blue skies, sunny, oh so amiable and inspiring.

It's good to be alive, regardless of the fact that the world is going for a ball
of shit and the shit is about to hit the fan (relatively speaking).

Long cold wet Cape Town winter 2008

2008-09-19T09:31:00.006+02:00

This current winter (May - September 2008)has been very wet and cold, frequent and hard rain has filled up all the dams across the Western Cape and probably the underground water lakes as well - is this another tiny hint to what is in store when global warming is in full swing ?

So it's been wet and cold with snowfalls on the higher peaks and fortunately there has been enough energy (electricity) to keep us smiling through most of it - nice one Eskom.

This photo is taken driving towards Franschoek from Stellenbosch in the Cape Province of South Africa.

Burning people alive

2008-05-20T11:11:00.008+02:00

Once again I am confronted by the most vicious, cruel acts of my fellow countrymen.

These people can only be called savage and barbarian, how else can one describe such uncivil behaviour.

Rampant violence and hatred, I can only beg people from around the world not to come to South Africa and the world cup in 2010, the chances that you will be mugged, knived, shot, raped or set alight is very very high.

The inability of Pres Mbeki to govern South Africa can no longer be excused, he must go, the crimes he has committed against Southern Africans are many, from aids denial to supporting Mugabe in Zimbabwe and refusing to root out extreme corruption and greed in his government.

Pres Mbeki is a failure, out of touch with his people, indoctrinated, malinformed and shows a lack of insight and vision that is so typical of African leaders.

South Africa is rushing down the path of destruction as the country literally starts falling to pieces; there is no reading or learning culture in africa, only a culture of burning, pillaging, theft, rape and hatred of anyone who dares to be different, and I am not just saying this, this is what I am seeing, experiencing, having to live with and deal with on a daily basis, as vicious crime, rape, theft and hijackings spiral out of control.

Nobody is safe in South Africa. I am a prisoner in my country.

South Africa is failing, the path to poverty and violence is set.

I am so disappointed.

Tribal Wars | World 12 K75 | The Rim

2008-02-16T11:32:00.043+02:00

Mars in the Milky Way.The planet Mars glows like a brilliant burning ember amongst the Milky Way stars of the Scorpion. Note the smaller glowing red star beneath Mars known as Antares. Dark lanes of dust between the stars of the Milky Way obscure the light of the stars behind. Taken through a 50mm lens.All photos Copyright Greg Bock.

Orbital Scribe

The Illusion of War on the Rim
World 12 archives.

Background

With the incredible advancement
of nanotech and biosciences,
humans have managed to get
their foot in the door
to exploring the local galaxy.

A small team is resident on Phobos
to do research on Kleeches
(lifeforms that corrode metals
and plastics).

Live Kleeches are taken from Phobos
in special containers for penetrative
research, Kleeches are hard to catch,
the work is dangerous,
the environment is deadly.

The Rim Wars
Humans come up against the
deadly and brutal enemies
of the Kleeches.

I've moved the rest of the Story and will continue with it in due course.

----------------------------------

State of the Nation Speech Feb 2008

2008-02-11T12:03:00.000+02:00

year 2008 bad start

2008-01-28T00:17:00.000+02:00

south africans had a rude awaking to the new year and next decade with the shocking news that the country has run out of electricity.

so we buy candles, connect gas stoves, cuss and curdle when the power shuts off and grin and bare it.

racial tension in the country mounts as a lone madman guns down township dwellers set in contrast to thousands of innocent south africans killed in the last few years..the south african killing fields ?
- when will the SA Police get their act together and get a grip on crime?

as darkness descends on south africa, hopes of hosting the world cup fades, people becoming depressed and a feeling of hopelessness settles over the country, we are very disappointed in the south african government and the ANC.

crooks, charlatans, fraudsters, murderers, rapists flourish and after sunset, ordinary people cower in their homes, afraid to venture outside.

the shocking news of Kenia's civil unrests, reminding us just how quickly civil war and chaos can break out and south africans shudder at the possibility that it could happen here too.

the mess/war/famine in Zimbabwe further deepening the overall feelings of pessimism and true african blues.

the long road to the dark ages in south africa has been set in tar, and this road we must walk, we have no choice, nowhere to run, or hide.

how can zuma be the best candidate for our presidency ? - he's uneducated, cannot read, is superstitious and agrees with mugabe and was accused of rape too
- oh hell, the devil just loves africa.

my once postive attitude has corroded, i no longer want to be here, but how can i run when our beds are burning ?

there is no god, and africa is not blessed, the big fat lie

when all else fails, duck and cover

some thougtful reading

2007-11-18T11:00:00.000+02:00

Land of the Headless by Adam Roberts.

Set in a future where IslamBibliq, is the religious
government that governs all.

Strict laws are applied in this society, the
story is narrated by a man who was sentenced
to headlessness because he protected the
morality of the women he was having an
affair with - big no-no.

The sentence is:
headlessness - the head is lopped off and replaced
with a square bin to which technology can be
added if the headless can afford it.

So the headless are like the lepers of old, walking
around with metalbins for heads, they are
recruited into the army, where they are used
as cannonfodder to clear the ground for troops
with heads.

The narration is somewhat philosophical and intellectual
and brings to the fore the question: which punishment
fits which crime.

The Sprinbokke won the world cup

2007-10-22T01:55:00.000+02:00

I listened to the game on streaming audio and kept my eye on the All Blacks text updates, it was good, not a great "rugby rugby" game, but the boks played to win and did so with kicks !

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

It took me a long time to read this book, perhaps because I still find the fusion of science fiction with magic, difficult to enjoy, but I'm getting there.

This is a story about a detective and the many levels of shit he finds himself in.

Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

Aaaaaah yes, a brilliant book. I read it in one fell swoop, and will read it again soon.

Strong and beautiful characters, believable settings and excellent science fiction.

Read this book, you'll love it...can't wait for Axis.

A very grim book

2007-08-13T12:29:00.000+02:00

I read Icarus by Roger Levy. At first I was shocked at the author's insight into domestic violence and sexual abuse, I almost put the book down as the author manages to provoke strong emotional feelings from me, the reader.

The story is one of the ultimate betrayel - and I mean ultimate !

Follow the actions of a charismatic evangelist/healer and watch how he descends into insanity step by step.

The story starts on earth and ends on another planet.

Lovely strong characters, strange locations and the slow awakening of a people who have been hoodwinked in the most astonishing and cruel way.

I am not going to give the story away, read it yourself and lament !

This is a very good book and readers should take heed of the underlying message.

Mid Winter Blues

2007-06-17T00:33:00.001+02:00

Just finished reading Romanitas by Sophia McDougall,
A futuristic novel of the Roman Empire Today, this was
an easy read, with a love story within the central storyline,
tying together the political struggle for change and
the abolishment of slavery and crucification.

I found my lost book, The Skinner by Neal Asher, I was
tidying my library and noticed that it was missing.
I searched everywhere for weeks, and recently I
opened a cupboard stuffed with partie hats and the
book came tumbling onto my head.

I am reading Perdido Street Station by China Mieville at the
moment and I am pleasantly surprised, it is a very
good read, with lots of innovative ideas and
characters, I highly recommend it to the established
SF reader who has come across every conceivable
idea in their readings before, if you have not read
Perdito Street Station, go and get a copy now !

Today I purchased two new books, The Prefect by
Alastair Reynolds and Un Dun Dun by China Mieville,
I'll be tucking into them soon.

I promised my kids I'll read Stephen King's Cell
when I finish reading Perdido Street Station, so
I'll have to gobble it, before I read The Prefect.

It's been a rather wet and cold winter in Cape Town
this year, just like I remember from my childhood.

Afrikaners can be so common at times

2007-05-28T08:37:00.001+02:00

This past weekend I went to the cinema in Stellenbosch Mall to see Pirates of The Caribbean3, with my family. (you've got to love Keith Richards, he didn't need much make-up either)The movie was good entertainment, but the people with me in the cinema
were noisy.

The couple to my left were extremely irritating, they made loud comments, she chewed her massive box of popcorn with an open mouth, it was so distracting that after 30 minutes I ventured to tell her so, she ignored me and chewed on even louder than before. She also moved about so much that the whole row of seats was constantly moving.

Other people in the cinema, talked loudly and had conversations on their cellphones. These are people from the same cultural group as myself, namely afrikaners. It was then that I realised and not for the first time, that I really don't want to be associated with them. I do not agree with their political views, religious fanatacism, choice of music, rugby madness, brandy & coke drinking loudmouthed brashness - in short, I find them quite common.

In Stellenbosch village I have seen afrikaners wearing t-shirts, loudly declaring:
"If you don't speak afrikaans, shut your mouth" (in afrikaans of course) I think it is a disgusting message in lieu of the fact that we are living in a country with
an appalling history of bigotry and racism where 11 languages are spoken, of
which afrikaans really is a minority language.

Pc gaming history

2007-04-05T22:28:00.000+02:00

Listing all the pc games I've enjoyed over the years. I first started pc gaming on
an Amiga many years ago, played Emerald mine and Rocketman.

Then went over to pc and started playing Quake 2 in 1997 and have been gaming since then.

Quake 2,3,4; Imperial Galactica 1,2; Ceasar, Pharoah, Cleopatra, Immortal Cities, Black & White, CivCity Rome, Dungeon Siege, Morrowind,Halflife 1 & 2, Obvlivion, Zeus, Ghost Recon, Emperor - Rise of the Middle Kingdom, Diablo 1,2, Command & Conquer up to Yuri's Revenge, Counterstrike. I have the game Riddick and Doom3 which I'll play this winter.

With me gaming is a longterm hobby and I often play games long after buying them.
That's the other thing, I never pirate games, and I like getting the manual.

Some game are timeless, some games are excellent like Morrowind/Oblivion and Command & Conquer and some city building games.

I play for the sheer joy of playing and enjoy watching others play too, (sometimes want to grab the mouse from others and do it better lol)

Very few people in my peergroup play games, or read science fiction or are atheist, so I end up doing solo activities. Sure it gets lonely sometimes, but only sometimes and I get enough from people very quickly when I do socialise on the odd occasion, as contact with people tire/bore me quickly.

Joined Myspace

2007-04-05T00:14:00.000+02:00

I joined Myspace today -out of curiosity.

This morning Jan and I cut and grinded
5kg of beef fat, from which I will make
tallow tomorrow to use in my soapmaking
crafts.

Jessica my 20yr old goth daughter is reading
Stephen Donaldson's First Chronicles, and
she's hooked on it.(fortunately I have all
six books of the chronicles
and bought the first book of the
last series of the unbeliever yesterday.

Tron (14 yrs old) is reading Stephen King's
Second book in The Dark Tower series, and
loving it. (I've already bought book 3 for him)

Reading Heaven

2007-03-23T10:51:00.000+02:00

I've started plunging through my bedside bookstack and was
pleasantly surprised- as always.

Justina Robsons's Keeping it Real Quantum Gravity Book One:
at first I thought " oh no, how is this author going to pull off
combining sf and fantasy in this way?" but I was in for a treat.
Not only are the characters believable, the speculative science
good, but so is the story and I do "indeed- Peter.F.Hamilton"
I too look forward to Book Two.

Then Charles Stross's Accelerando: a Slightly gothic approach,
very fast paced modern look at the "information revolution" and
where it could be heading, fantastic characters, strong females
and I simply loved the lobsters.

Robert Collins's Soul Corporation: I was expecting a rehash of
uhm- that oh yes, that Hollywood movie starring Jim Carrey,
bought and raised by a moviestudio and live online, forgot the
name. I was not far off, although the story of Esh comes at
you from a different angle, this is not really sf, but an expose
on marketing to the masses, how big the market is and how
superstars have ipso facto sold their souls to the subscribers.
-not bad.

Iain M. Banks's Look to Windward: Mr Banks is brilliant, his
characters are people who are real and provoke the reader.
a Perfect vision of a possible future, avatar's, sentient beings
of all shapes, the culture is a place I could only dream of having
been born into, I cannot get enough of Banks - he is godly.

Iain M.Banks's The Player of Games: Hah, a precise and
incredible look into the mind and life of a gamer ( I too am
a gamer of no consequent genius, but I do enjoy it still).
Gurgeh, the leading character not only played for the culture
but for every value I think a sophisticated intelligent human
today would stand for, the conditions on far away Azad are
all to real and a reminder that we are currently still very much
apes.- so very brilliant oh great guru Mr Banks.

Just hot off my head, having finished Geoff Ryman's Air only
hours ago. Like so many good sf books, I had to read Air
in one swift swoop. Such a real story, it could be happening
right now, and is happening right now, putting perspective
on the great gaps between technology in the first world and
tech in the third world. A very humane look at the terrible
consequences high tech can have on the lowtech mind.
The main character Mae is from a peasant village and
her struggles to understand technology and how to
use it for the betterment of her people is profound and her
and the village she comes from's situation is comparable
to conditions in poor countries around the
world right now. Very very well done Mr Ryman !

mmm so what will I be reading next, well I have lying in
my study: Stephen Baxter's Resplendent yumyum and
Best New SF 19 (a bag full of exotic candies) and
Alaistar Reynolds's North Star. I'm still avoiding some
other titles, but I have noticed bookstores stocking a
large range of fantasy books and a few reprints
of old SF classics- where are the new SF books
hiding? (at the printers- I Hope !)

Another autumn has arrived in Cape Town, not
that our summer was without the effects of
global warming with unexpected rains during
our normally dry months. Average people are
so busy strutting and buying that they don't
realise how quickly the future arrives.. is time
subjective to thought and actions? How I
wish I could shake humanity out of this
material gluttony that might just swallow us all,
they are depleting our resources, and by the
time we need it, it's gonna be "bey-bey kansas"
and hello to a garish situation aargh !

sweet regards from the reader - the observant self

Moving In

2007-01-10T22:52:00.000+02:00

Wormhole: Moving in
Comfortably moved into our new home, except for the boxes of books stacked like sentinels in the
diningroom. I am sorting the +-2500 titles alphabetically, by author- and this is important since
I've read so much, I have to check my library before I visit the bookstore, I have bought doubles
on occasion and want to avoid this in the future.

At the moment I'm reading Chistopher Priest's "Inverted World", I read it many years ago,
but I'll go through it again.

I'm nervous about the current stack of books by my bed table, I've been putting some of them off
for a while now - China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, Charles Stross's Accelerando, Robert Collins's
Soul Corporation, Justina Robson's Keeping it real, John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar, Romanitas by Sophia
Mcdougall and Kim Stanley Robinson's Fifty Degrees Below. I've made a deal with myself that I will first
finish these titles before I get my next stack. (when my stack get's below 10 books, I panic)

Laika (sib husky) and Ella (gingercat)have taken to the new home, we have two gentlemen living next door with
poodles (they're quite the little barkers - to hear Laika howling back at them).

Massive rain spiders scare me and I've been scanning for the buggers relentlessly, damn there's always something
sapping my alert levels. The last thing I want is to have to run through a shower door from fright.

I'm playing Oblivion, I'm an archer with restoration and stealth skills, will have to focus on my destruction
spells to get rid of the walking dead though.

I miss Poul Anderson and work by Brian Aldiss, lovingly sorted their titles - my little preciouses.

The pool pump master switch is broken, my car's alarm system is broken, and my man's in Kazakhstan, what a girl
must struggle with when her man is crafting his ass off on another planet.

Relaxing at home

2006-11-27T01:13:00.001+02:00

The Reader
Reading Titan by Stephen Baxter, and I'm enjoying the characters, very realistic, the way they're irritating each other
on the long voyage to Titan.
Today I did a few mundane tasks, I washed the towels Tron and I stained when we dyed our hair yesterday, he dyed his hair
black and I tried for blonde but it came out yellowish lol. I watered the garden, since the south easter has been blowing
hard, drying out the soil quickly. I designed several necklaces and chokers, using turquoise, emeralds, howlite and some
lovely other glass beads. I skinned and cubed a sweetmelon, two pineapples and two mangoes and put them in the fridge for
snacking on. I played 'snake' with Laika (a siberian husky-female), which means we struggle for control of the large rubber
snake (her favourite toy besides the soccer ball)

I'm moving old cd's to my ipod player, and I'm building a city in an old pc game called Cleopatra (which I've played many
times, but it's still good yet)

Listened to Rodriques ( a famous counterculture musician ) and to some Joe Satriani - he tells stories by guitar melody, quite
good.

I look forward to the next few years-especially the innovation we should be seeing in tech. I'm not much for clinging to the past,
the future is what I'm pining for in advance.

Last week a friend I met up with at a local pub, told me about the mature cape cobra snake she found in the lodge, of course, we
don't kill snakes, we relocate them, but the cape cobra is very poisonous (neuro toxic), it is snake season around here (when
the farmers get busy, the snakes come down to town - hehe), so I've been very alert when moving around the garden, last year
I encountered 3 cobra's in my garden (it always put's me off the garden for a few weeks).

There is not a more beautiful colour than the crisp deep blue african summer sky, eat your heart out !

Reading

2006-11-12T12:28:00.001+02:00

Wormhole
Recently read "The Skinner" by Neal Asher, what a surprise! This is one of the best horror sf books I've
read in many years. Not only is the world setting filled with dog eat dog lifeforms, but this book also
addresses the horror of immortality. an excellent read.

Just finished reading "of Fire and Night" of Kevin J. Anderson and waiting for book 6, quite a space saga,
interesting aliens too.

Will be moving home around new year and am thinking about starting a sf club in Stellenbosch.

Nurturers thoughts

2006-03-01T20:49:00.001+02:00

Wormhole
I've been stringing beads and making jewelry, and
reading several old science fiction classics and
new titles.(ringworld - larry niven and the naked god by
peter f hamilton)

Laika my siberian husky friend is almost one year old now,
and we've settled into a comfortable routine, especially
playing soccer in the mornings and playing with the
long rubber snake, called slang.

Jes is enjoying it at cityvarsity and she says she fit's
right in with the other Motion Picture Production Design
students. (thank god, that's one happy lovely child well
raised and off to her own life)

Tron got braces, and has grown quite a bit, he is stronger
than me now and show all the signs of teenage moodiness.

There has been quite a bit of electricity blackouts
around cape town, and the absolute darkness terrified
me late one evening.

( the thought that the absolute darkness was so dark
that it was alien weather) ha ha ha

Swinging into the year

2005-03-12T11:25:00.000+02:00

Swinging into the year
It's been a busy time, and Jan and I put in two lovely sash
windows in the kitchen, at the same time Tron was having surgery
on his nose, the surgery went well and now Tron
will have to do more physical exercise, he spends most of
his time in front of his pc, and I'm concerned about weightgain
and his heart.

Jessica is in matric and she's waitressing at a restaurant nearby,
she's doing her own thing, and after all the "preaching" has been done,
I'm shutting my trap and allowing her to get on with it.
(she left the bakkie's lights on last night, parked under the tree,
outside the property), now I have to find someone to jumpstart it.

A lot of travelling plans have been made for this year and
I'm dreading it. I better start preparing myself for the
inevitability of being me..haha.

I've managed to take care of a "fell out of nest in palmtree
pigeon baby" for 5 weeks now, weaning it from
a syringe to eating porridge and corn mixed in a cup.
Duifie, the pigeon has made a few short flights and I
set it free, but it came back to my hand, 3 hours later,
so I knew Duifie was not ready to join one of the many
flocks around the garden and area. (Ella cat, has been
licking her licks, with Duifie living under the cockatiels
in the drawer.*it smells, so I'm moving Duifie outside
to the gardencage.

Tomorrow I'm taking Tron shopping at Canalwalk on his 12th
birthday. I'm taking my broken graphics card in as well.
This afternoon I'm working on a brochure for Huis Nemesia,
and it should take some time.

The weather in Cape Town is fineand dry, and autumn can be
felt early mornings and evenings. I can't wait for the first rains !

I tidied the garden under the balcony, trimmed the lavender bushes,
the large yellow hanging bush, and now there is a broad path around
the house again. (the piles of cuttings are lying in large piles around
the area)

The pool ladder broke completely last weekend, and the pool
is slimy, haha, nooh but close to.

Pecca the chicken hen has layed a massive nest of eggs near
the birdcage in the garden, and I better go harvest it soon
- today even.

The yellow roses are beautiful and are arranged in two vases,
one here in the study and one next to my bed.

All three my sisters came to visit and sleep over last
weekend on my 38th birthday, it was great fun, with
children everywhere and a little puppy who pissed in my
bedroom, shat on the stoep and in Jessica's room and
chased my chickens. We braaied chicken and steak, served
it with chips and salad. Lucia stepped on a chewed dog bone,
and limped home.

Jane gave me a piece of art called "peas in a pod",
a lovely blue green pod piece !

That was last year.

2005-01-06T21:08:00.000+02:00

The camping trip was okay, but the relentless
beats of the trance were not. We pitched our
tent in a location with a good view of the site,
but the slight downhill and rocky grass left us
a bit bruised.

Christmas and New Year celebrations were funfilled
days with the family, staying over at the Strand
Beach Hotel and the City Lodge at Cape Town Waterfront.

The shocking news about the Tsunami in Asia brought our
moods down as we sat watching tv in our hotel room.

Jan will be starting work at the Tengis Oil fields in
Kazakhstan this week.

Living with pain

2004-11-27T04:26:00.000+02:00

The pain in my arms are keeping me awake at night.
I went to see a chriropracter earlier this week,
it was a very strange event, and I feel that I
wasted R145. The chiropracter talked about god
and gave me some information and rough
sketches fit for an embecile. I walked out of
his office 30 minutes later feeling frustrated
and furious at his religious dogma, with as
much pain and discomfort as before, I will not
recommend him.

I have not been sleeping well in the last week or
so, waking up with excruciating pain in my shoulders
down to my arms. It's making me irritable.

I've been through several medical checks to source
the pain, and the results came up with zero, I've
been told that I'm manifesting the pain myself,
due to stress, I don't agree as my dad and his
brother have the same problems.

Anyway, I had a stall at our village Xmas festival,
but won't be doing the stall thing again. Sitting
around waiting to sell a paltry item, is not my
idea of fun. I'm glad I tried it though.

I look forward to the Vortex camp next week and will
write a nice little article about it.

Excited about camping trip

2004-11-21T02:05:00.000+02:00

Myself, my good friend and Jess will be going to a
Vortex Trance party in Rawsonville on 4 December,I
am extremely excited about it.

It will be great to get away from home and to be with
people I enjoy being with.

My marriage has flat-lined for about 2 years now, and
life at home has become boring in the sense that I'm
always there, I maintain most of the tasks that need
to be done and my spouse has no interest in who I am
or what I do, what I enjoy and so on.

Why stay in the marriage ?
I don't have the energy or inclination to go through
a messy divorce, or to have my son be parted from his
dad. I also enjoy the security the marriage offers me
in terms of financial stability.

Furthermore I'm really not interested in another
relationship or other men for that matter.

Better the devil you know, even if he's distant.
He's a nice and decent enough guy anyway, it's just
that he's a workaddict and not willing to have a
more intimate relationship with me on an emotional
or spiritual level.

I have resigned myself to this, by justifying that
one cannot have everything one needs.

I keep myself busy with reading, beading, gardening,
raising the children, taking care of the birds, the
cat, cooking and maintaining my several websites.

My knowledge of the world, people, society and so on,
has become so vast, that I find myself alone on an
intellectual level.

Wisedom cannot be wished away and in my case has found
a quiet repose.

Though my thoughtstructures differ (being bipolar) from
most others, I am still able to draw both logical and
rational conclusions and more metaphysical conclusions,
like seeing patterns in mainstream human society.

Thankfully I have two highly intelligent children that
bring me a lot of pleasure, and whom I am sure have a lot
to offer in terms of contributing to humanity, albeit it
be a drop in the vast ocean.

I wish I had an AI to keep me company.

My daughter

2004-11-13T18:04:00.000+02:00

My daughter went for her Learner Driver's test and passed,
I was very proud of her, especially when she executed a
perfect reverse and drive-off after being stopped by a
traffic policeman the same day.

I have had some sad moments lately, realising that she will
be leaving home in a year to start her own life. We had some
tough times together, especially when she was between the
ages of 14 and 17, and she experimented with a range of
juvenile drugs, like dope, tik and glue.

Fortunately I gave her a lot more of my time and listened
a lot more to her stories, thereby succeeding in guiding
her away from seediness and back on track to being a
funloving happy young girl.

There were times when things would get really rough between
us, shouting matches, flying objects and horrible temper
tantrums, but I prevailed (as did she) and today we are good
friends, we trust each other, we share secrets, we do things
together and have a lovely mature relationship.

My advise to any parent is simple: make time for your child,
a lot more than you think is cool, and listen to them, listen
between the lines and for goodness sake, don't judge them,
young people will and must experiment and make mistakes,
that is how they learn.

There is nothing more rewarding than the love and respect of
your child.

(pat pat pat on my shoulder, for all the late nights,
catfights, tears, hours and hours of listening to boring
stories, being a 24hour taxi service and punchbag)

The new girl in town

2004-11-06T20:34:00.000+02:00

A new family moved into our village. The mother of five, whom
I shall not name, has within a few months had flings with three
married men, and has had numerous one night stands.

Her children aged from 8 to 16 are ashamed of her.

In a small village such as ours, she won't feel welcome
for very long, as people around here have a way of
excommunicating one quickly.

I don't condemn her behaviour, individuals have a right to
behave as they wish, but I do pity her children.

The infamous Cape doctor is blowing and my garden is sucked
dry within an hour. Cape Town has water restrictions this
summer, and my indiginious garden will be fine.

I am shocked that bush was voted in, it is a terrible
tragedy for the USA, but then again it is they who
voted him in.

stringing beads

2004-10-30T22:43:00.000+02:00

The old year is rushing by and it's that mad time of the year.

It was a beautiful day in Cape Town today, Jes and I went to Beads
for Africa in Longstreet. We had a pub lunch and stopped for feathers at Bayside.

I enjoy stringing the beads,each string is unique and it's
very rewarding.

My good friend came to visit and we had a lovely day, eating,
chatting and relaxing together. We see each other about once
every 8 weeks, so it's always an occasion !

bicycle accident

2004-10-23T22:08:00.000+02:00

Tron and JJ went up the hill with their mountainbikes and raced
down the dirt road, Tron hit a hole and went crashing down with
his head first. He was unconscious for a while and then JJ turned
back and got him up. He regained consciousness and tried to call
me on his cell, but couldn't work his cell correctly, so they walked
home.

He arrived home in a terrible state, the left hand side of his face
was all grazed away and several places all over his body too.
He was in shock, and could not function normally. He was taken
the doctor and had his wounds treated and received medication
for shock and concussion.

It's a few hours later, and Tron is fine, his memory is returning, but
he still can't remember falling off his bike.

His head and body hurts, but he'll be fine.

Stormy weather

2004-10-17T22:22:00.000+02:00

The storm that hit Cape Town early in October 2004,
was quite vicious. Sheets of rain and destructive winds
forced me to climb into the large old pepper tree to
retrieve my two pet chickens from their petrified
clinging to the branch.

So there I was in the height of the storm climbing
into the tree, sailing the branches on my tummy so
to speak, with a large plastic bag in hand, I deftly
got the two chickens into the bag and passed it
down to Jan, then sailed back down the branches,
soaked and scratched with a hurt back.

I was Jess's hero and I slept much better for it too.

incapable lifeform

2004-10-08T22:31:00.000+02:00

like the old philosophers
we sit around thinking
our heart beats ununified

unknowingly we strangle
the strange creative
confirming laws
long of no use

we yearn for freedom
and it dwells in our heads
in our bodies, the universe
yet we grasp it not

laughter echos hollow
through the spirals of time
tears evaporate
as if they never existed

whilst we sit and think
atoms move, matter expands
our mind and time
withering senile

in our petty consciousness
our nano moment of life
we achieve nothing
our purpose null

aah, but still, to live
is a marvel unsurpassed
an explosion of brilliance
so very bright

the textures of life
mutating in varience
anything is possible
we are frozen, astonished
disabled to alternate dimensions

understanding glimmering faintly
that no one thing stands alone
and that around here
all is one

astonishing
delightful universe

poem by myself
*Vyg Fynbos 1998

Natural Beauty

2004-10-02T23:36:00.000+02:00

Whilst visiting my mom and dad in the african bush near the Crocodile River opposite the Kruger National Park in Southern Africa, I encountered a profusion of wild life. Giraffes, large
lizards, crocodiles, kudu, impala and rooibok antelope, wild bush pigs, and zebras.

During my stay there were two armed robberies in the nearby vicinity. A gang of seven men armed with Ak47's held up two seperate groups of people who were enjoying an afternoon braai (barbecue).

This is not unusual and fortunately the gang did not shoot anyone, but only robbed them of everything that had value, including food and beverages.

Flower festival rain

2004-09-14T22:07:00.000+02:00

how strange the rain, so needed and so despised when not
timeous.

the flower festival will be rained out again this spring.

weather patterns have actually changed more dramatically
than is realised by the larger and *ignorant society.

ignorance in modern society today has become an epidemic.

Watching nature

2004-08-21T00:08:00.000+02:00

It is apparent that global weather change is in effect around the southern tip of Africa.
Some of the trees are budding and last year's leaves have not all fallen yet.

Blue Monday

2004-08-16T23:48:00.000+02:00

After reading the newspapers, I as per usual, fell into a gloomy mood,
considering all the horrifying murder, mayhem and rape here in
South Africa.

It is not easy being an educated civilised person in a country as violent
as this one.

I've been here for 37 years now, and I don't see it getting any better.
Africa is for Africans, not for any else.

Anticipating a book

2004-08-14T22:57:00.000+02:00

After finishing Peter.F.Hamilton's 'Pandora's Star' I was irked to see it was a series, with Ozzie
tumbling over a giant waterfall, which is obviousely another Silfen path. I look forward to the
continued event.