astraea.net/blog

It’s a midsummer nights dream.  We dare not mention that we want change because we love the sun.  The lack of rain is great for weeding.  May is a good month to weed because most plants have not yet seeded.  June isn’t bad either and many plants were delayed this year. It’s certainly been a pleasure to work in the garden because progress is possible, weeds can be controlled, slugs must hide away. Generally we’ve caught up in most respects, not least because of everyone in the family lending a hand.  The results of the harsh wiinter are not as bad as I had feared.  The fig trees seem to be resprouting – thanks to Sarah for suggesting we give them a bit of time.  The strawberry tree might push up a sucker even thouth the main trunk seems to be gone.  The chocolate trees are also having a go at regrwoth.  The banana trees are all pushng up suckers.  We did lose a couple of avocado, citrus, curry, palm and others, but we’ll still wait another month or two before taking the axe to the dead wood, just in case. And we’ll suffer a dry well, especially since we can supplement irrigation needs from the stream.  And even though the river is very low we brave a dip in the shimmering pools by her banks on a hot day.  It is nice when visitors proclaim that it is paradise, and guests from abroad talk about how lovely summer in Ireland is.

The summer solstice was wonderful – at 10 o’clock in the evening as the sun set, the sky was still light but you could see stars like small diamonds in the sky, I forced myself to stay up till after midnight when twilight slipping over the horizon was still sufficient to light a path; and a couple of hours later the ornage gibbous moon sank below the horizon in a haze of mist.  These days those indoor chores are pushed to the bottom of the list, the office is not a refuge but a cell and we are lucky to have so much to do outside that we don’t feel guilty about letting that paperwork slide another day …

Our birds have been very productive this year – loads of eggs (goose, duck and chicken) most of which we’ve found – though the new roosters never really learnt any manners.  Their persistent raping of the hens meant I had to do something which is very difficult for someone who does not like killing. I even research how to pluck a hen – a dirty, bloody and sweaty business. In the end I gave five roosters away at the Ballykeenan small animal sales.  It was a great morning for us and I highly recommend it for families.  Three of the children helped me take the roosters to the sale (which takes place on the last Sunday of every month eg net Sunday) and while we offered them to visitors, the children took turns to walk around and look at all the creatures on sale from chickens to turkey ot pigs to goats, as well as craft work and garden supplies.  By lunch time we had bought four small ducklings which amused them for a couple of weeks and are now being integrated to the flock.

We gave up our organic certification this year – I just couldn’t justify € 500 for someone to spend 20 minutes walking around the garden and telling me that I was being organic.  Costs have probablyincreased because the Dept of “agriculture” has created another wave of paperwork.   But it is ironic that we still subsidise unsustainable practices and penalise sustainable ones.  I guess we all vote for that in the supermarket – a litre of pop is cheaper than a brocolli or even a litre of petrol!

The summer yoga group courses are over though Pam has been giving some private lessons.  We’ve also been attempting to DIY a yoga nkasa so that she can do some special courses here.  We’ll let you know when (if) it gets off the ground.  Thanks to Mossie for some really cool translucent roofing felt which will make a little window in the roof (if Tom’s design stands up).

My godmother died a few weeks ago just after her 97 birthday.  She was very cool and we miss her.  Here is a prayer she kept and which was read at her memorial.  even an atheist like me appreciates it:

Lord thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old.  Keep me from that fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every ocassion.  Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.  Make me thoughtful but not mmoddy, helpful but not bossy.  With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pty not to use it all, but thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.  Seal my lips on aches and pains.  They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is is beocming sweeter as the years go by.  I dare not ask for grace enogh to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others.  Teach me the glorious lesson that occassionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.  Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people.  And give me O Lord the grace to tell them so.  Amen.

PestalozziWorld had a redesign of its website to coincide with the publication of the English language version of Head, Heart and Hand. Education in the Spirit of Pestalozzi by Arthur Bruhlmeier, which offers insight in to how schools can be more child-oriented and produce better-educated school-leavers. It is recommended to be of great benefit to those in the field of education, as well as to parents. Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk or download the pdf (862KB) (donations welcome).  Pam ran the Flora Mini Marathon in her best time so far – congratulations and well done!  Many thanks to all of you who sponsored her.

Astraea.net also got a bit of a makeover, but there’s more to be done there as well as ballintemple.com.  We did however put social networking links on after Pam, Paula and others pushed me to do it .

The last quarter saw some attention to the boring administration of business – accounts .  Fortunately ours are pretty simple and my meeting with the accountants was a 10 minute affair.  But we continued chatting for an hour about the Irish economy.  I always find James’ observations stimulating and recommend his firm (Harney Nolan).  But my conclusions from our chat were depressing – the bullet points: falsification of data to misrepresent the state of the economy, continuing bail out of foreign investors at the expense of Irish taxpayers, failure to reliquify the economy despite huge cash injections to the banking systems, increase bureaucracy at the expense of small business, failure to reprice assets (a further 50% decline is required); the bottom line – 5 years to turnaround.  Its a good thing we’ve all got a sense of humour.

The last couple of months have seen a few noteworthy developments in the wider world.  People have become aware of the amazing power of data retention, analysis and manipulation by big internet businesses like Google and Facebook.  Some still say its going to happen anyway or it’s too much information to handle.  I more cycnical simply because I know there are other ways of doing thing, you don’t have to be big to be happy, and if we can fly to Mars and take pictures of the dawn f time we can certainly manipulate a bit of data.  Anyway those excuses have been proved wrong before.  So its nice to know that people are beginning to care about the consequences of choices.  Open information and open technology is becoming more attractove among a wider population.

The coalition government in the UK seems to be following a trend in other developed countries, like Ireland, where voters are choosing cooperation rather than confrontation. It is a hopeful sign that politics will grow-up (but don’t hold your breath).

The blockade of Gaza has drawn attention to the atrocious violence in the middle east and the ironic hypocrisy of a young nation which justifies its violence of others on the violence meted out to its forebears.  It would be a welcome sign if they could all grow up.  The recent report and apology on Bloody Sunday is an example of how  a sincere apology can heal emotioanl scars.  Though in the middle east there has to be a great deal more humility and empathy by all.  It is very sad but perhaps a turning point will be catalysed by the removal of economic and emotional support of Israel alone by the US.

The other global event is the oil slick in the gulf of Mexico.  As people and politicians lay blame, everyone forgets that the reality that accidents like these happen, that no one person s responsible, that the destruction of environment and livelihoods is a real cost of the addiction to oil and that it is a really good thing that it is not an accident at a nuclear reactor.  It distracted attention from the humanitarian disaster in Haiti where people are still destitute from another kind of accident.  Unfortunately it is unlikely that this disaster will promote a culture of precaution over permissiveness or ameliorate our gross addiction to oil.

So while the big picture outside is pretty embarrassing for humanity, the midsummer dream continues in the paradise of Ballin Temple.

Enjoy nature.  Be happy.  Love life.

Tom

When I read headlines like: Deaths as Israel storms aid ship or Israeli Massacres Go International; Commandos Kill 16 Free Gaza Activists I despair.  And then to read the vitriolic comments for and against the action, my sense of desperation grows.  I feel more strongly for the underdog and I can not fathom why such a rich and intelligent culture as Israel’s can not divine a peaceful settlement.  Very sad.  A dismal illustration of humanity’s self ignorance and destruction.

It would be comforting to believe that the production of synthetic bacteria in the laboratory is going to accelerate cures for disease, replacement body parts and sympathetic engagement with nature.  But that is not happening.  The positive hopes are the marketing headline.

The reality, proven by the track record of Venter and his hairy faced cohorts as well as other biochemical-industrialists, is that they are simply there for the money.  They want to control the market for genetic engineering.  They want to patent life.  That should be totally unacceptable to you.  But it isn’t, because you think they are good people, working for the common good.  What they are really doing is taking control of you – not your choices, but your biology.  And we are allowing it to happen.  Scientists will calmly say that there are issues and their controls are damaging.  As a banker I can be a bit more emotional, and fearful.  Precaution before permissiveness should be humanity’s approach.

BBC: Synthetic life patents ‘damaging’

BBC: Scientists make ‘artificial life’

I love the internet, mobile phones and technology that helps me stay in touch with people.

Living in a close community these technologies are almost redundant – you meet people all the time – at the shops, sports practice, the farm show and so on.  In fact some people hardly use them at all.  But if I want to stay in touch with my parents who are always travelling for the charity they work for, or my siblings who live abroad, or wider family and friends abroad that I see all too infrequently, or even colleagues, telephone, internet, etc are really great.  I can see them and they can see me – virtually.  This kind of engagement is really positive.

But when your only interaction with humanity is virtual you lose the richness of social dynamic.  You forget how to ride the waves of human emotion.  And if you’ve grown up with TV, video games, social networking etc but without the real pressures of making relationships work there is a good chance that your emotional development will be vacuous.  And that is what the research is showing.  So please get off the internet and go and try to make peace with someone in the flesh.  See your parents, brother, sister, friend and try to compromise.  It may not be as easy as clicking a few buttons on your computer or mobile phone, but it is real and it will help lift that depression.  Even if it makes you angry rather than happy, you won’t be despondent.

BBC: Young more lonely than the old, UK survey suggests

Open.coop wants to help to build a world-wide community of individuals and organisations committed to the creation of a collaborative, sustainable economy.  Their page on a dream communication system for the planet shows in pictures many of the emerging open approaches to managing humanity.  Check it out.

Well, you know I have a deep cynicism about Microsucks and Windoze, even if you haven’t read or heard it from me, the title gives it away.

So I was happy to see that some real people with real brains have created this page entitled Reasons To Avoid Microsoft.  The key/legend is fun before even reading some of the items:

And here’s an insight in to the fundamental problem with the Redmond approach (tip: it’s not about money):

There are advantages to openness per se, though not the one most often cited. Open source developers have got to be more careful and security-conscious than their closed-source counterparts. This encourages a better product overall. There is a corresponding disadvantage in closed-source software: obscurity may inconvenience blackhats a bit and help limit the number of potential attackers, but it works only so long as obscurity is maintained. Secrecy can be useful, but it is a fragile defense. Once the code is released, the software becomes an easier target than it once had been; but because it was developed with the assumption that it would not be released, it is likely to be sloppier and easier to exploit than [Open Source code].

Here’s a good primer on computer security.

While doing some background reading on transcoding I came across this page titled Computers but giving a pretty accurate description of a so called non-hardcore nerd.  It is very familiar.  So I must confess to being one.

This is the paragraph that clinched it:

… we non-hardcore nerds do have something very important in common with the hardcore nerds: we all believe that it is important to understand how things work, and when the opportunity arises, to make them work better. We are all uneasy at the thought that many non-nerds are willing to let other people figure these things out. We don’t feel comfortable not knowing how our computers work. This is why, for example, so many nerds, hardcore and non, are uncomfortable with Windows as an operating system. The idea that Microsoft knows better than anyone else how to write an operating system, and that it is OK for them to keep all the details secret because they have this great knowledge, to a nerd is patently ridiculous. Not only is it obvious to practically all Windows users that Windows has plenty of bugs (if you doubt this, surf the Microsoft Windows Update site sometime and count the number of patches released), but it is equally obvious to practically all nerds that Windows has plenty of flaws even when it is working properly. For example: do you ever wonder why Windows is the only operating system for which anti-virus software is a major piece of the market? Ever wonder why all of the big virus attacks that have made national or international headlines have exploited security flaws in Microsoft programs? (Hint: It’s not because all operating systems and software are inherently vulnerable to viruses. *)

Monsanto Plant Shut Down by Activists in Europe.  Although the video linked here looks like a news item it is more revealing because it gives a good summary of the crimes that chemical company Monsanto commits everyday.  Its only 7 minutes long.  Monsanto represents a destructive model of chemical agriculture which is keeping food out of the mouths of the poorest and even threatening our own food supply.

If you’re on a computer or phone you already believe it.  A study now gives evidence that technology increases happiness.  The main benefit is to facilitate communication.  This can be especially beneficial in both rural societies where people live are dispersed and getting in touch with your neighbour/community etc can mean a long walk/drive, and urban societies where people don’t know their neighbours but have friends elsewhere in the city.

Chartered Institute of IT: The Information Dividend: Can IT make you ‘happier’?

BBC: Technology linked to happiness, study claims

BBC: Celebrity tweets ’show happiness’

Shahbaz died in a car accident yesterday.  He is a wonderful person whose legacy lives on in the spirit of his family and all the friends that he touched with his intelligent, balanced, honest approach to life.  I miss him.

It is difficult to face death from life.  Grief is a part of that process.  Take some solace from the knowledge that we are all a small part of a big universe which changes fast, always.

Here’s what the Daily News said.

Shahbaz Mavaddat, the Southern Europe and Central Asia director of the International Finance Corporation, or IFC, was killed Monday in a traffic accident near the Aegean province of ?zmir.

Sybil Lazar, IFC’s portfolio manager for Southern Europe and Central Asia, and driver ?smail Yalç?n were injured in the crash.

The fatal accident occurred Monday at roughly 2:30 p.m. on the ?zmir-Ayd?n Highway as the vehicle carrying the two IFC executives hit a truck from behind. Mavaddat died at the scene, Do?an news agency reported, while Lazar was airlifted to ?zmir Atatürk State Hospital.

On Tuesday, officials from the IFC and the Canadian Consulate in ?zmir visited the coroner and were informed of Mavaddat’s death, Anatolia news agency said. His family has also been informed and the body will be sent to Canada, the agency reported.

In a statement, Lars Thunnel, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO, said Mavaddat was “a model of dedication to the IFC’s mission of integrity, in the conduct of IFC operations and of fairness to all staff.”

“To those who worked for him, he was a leader who inspired them to the highest standards – combining great business instincts and intellectual depth with human kindness,” Thunnel said. “And he did all of this in the most low-key, unassuming way. He will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Esther, and to his daughters, Carla and Ariana, whom he loved dearly.”

Mavaddat joined the IFC in 1994 and had over 20 years of international experience in project management, consulting and finance. He joined his current department in 2004 and was responsible for overseeing IFC’s work in Southern Europe and Central Asia.