My roll model and hero
By David Verveer
He was born with the fragile X syndrome, a condition which can develop in mental disorders including conditions rather similar to Autism, and indeed as child he was faulty diagnosed as slightly autistic, and sent to a nursery school for children with behavioral problems. But his mother (and grand parents) did not give up on him and with numerous educational treatments and disbelieve in what the experts predicted, he slowly but surely, showed signs of recovering and turning into a normal (and even gifted child). When 6 years old he enrolled a normal primary school, with after school counseling of an educational expert who with her enormous patience and love, made sure that he remained at the mental development level of his class mates, and indeed, not only because this tutoring but also with the high IQ he managed to become a good student.
No money was spared to provide him with all possible educational activities such as swimming (do deal with autistic tendencies), horse riding, and numerous other costly activities, but all this had a positive improvement on his live and behavior patterns.
In the mean time, he had to encountered many personal catastrophes, his father died of cancer when he was three years old, his mother re-married 3 years later, a new father who loved and really cared for him, but also he was killed in a road accident and when only 9 years old, he was again fatherless, but with a small but important difference, he now also had a kid brother, and even though he lost the status of being the only worry of the extended family, he managed very well in the function of big caring brother.
He finished the primary school, and was selected for a special program named "excellence" for children who are good students, with a target of giving them the opportunity of combining high school with university, and today, only 16 years old, high school and university student, sportsman and the star of the family, even though, sometimes his brother (who was not effected by the fragile X syndrome) steals sometimes the limelight.
The reason I am writing all this is, is to show what one can do with patience, love and determination, the doctors in their wisdom, do not know the possibilities of a human mind, specially not when dealing with relatively unknown syndromes such as the fragile X syndrome, their definition, that most likely nothing could be done, and that his entire life, he would require special attention, was totally mistaken, true that love and support are still very important but he is the living proof that one should never give up on anyone.
O yes, as small child he was very quiet, now he doesn't shut up for a moment, makes a lot of noise, and has set opinions over nearly everything, but there are no perfect presents. He is and will always be my roll model and hero.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
stop worrying, enjoy yourselves!
By David Verveer
We Israelis are not fooling ourselves, we know that a next war (campaign is a more suitable indication) is imminent, irrelevant who is to blame, our hawkish government or the terrorist regimes bordering with Israel or regaining power in the Palestine Authority Western Bank. A peaceful solution, what every normal person wants and dreams about will not have sufficient pressure to retain and tip the scales from war and chaos to living in harmony.
The last effective leaders who could have caused such evolution were Yitzchak Rabin, the king Husain of Jordan and Anwar Sadat from Egypt. But those heroes were slain by extremist nationals or died from cancer. Their removal from the political scene became a dire warning to the current politicians and leaders, which sounds something like this: don't even try to make peace, nobody believes in it and nobody will back you on this, be happy and make war (but make speeches and dramatic pleas for peace, in order to get some World PR).
Don't get me wrong, most (literate) citizens in the Middle East want peace and get on with life, and certainly do not want another skirmish which demands sacrifices and innocent deaths, but on the other hand, we do not take our future in our own hands, we rely on others to decide on war and peace. Is Israel, with a relative democratic election system, and with our Arab neighbors, a mixed autocratic and dictatorial semi democratic system, which provides power on both fronts to extremists and nationalists, who do not believe in giving any space for the opponent, and see only their own narrow point of view as a God given aims.
It is a question of time, until a massive terrorist act or kidnap causes the next flare of war, or a preventive action thought necessary by our current leaders, in order to prevent nuclear power to the Ayatollahs is Iran, not that this will change anything, just the opposite, it will encourage the Anti Israel campaigners worldwide (specially due to Europe's and USA depending on the Arab oil and the growing Islam power in Europe. Sounds pessimistic, doesn't it? But that is not my purpose, "ADRABA" we would say in Hebrew, which is an original Aramaic word which means something like "just instead of this", as I believe that we have to make the best of the time we spend on this earth, if we, unlike our neighboring Slavic and Hellenic cultures, enjoy and celebrate tragedies, but bless everyday we have left without murder and bloodshed.
In my opinion it does not make sense to celebrate the catastrophic paste, but believe we should concentrate on making the best of today, even more, I would suggest, let us forget about the tragedies of the past, stop blaming everybody else, instead be patient with your co-players on earth, even when you think, their way of live stinks and is totally wrong.
I have a feeling that my feelings and attitude to life is shared by many Israelis, who started to go out in the evenings, make trips and enjoy holidays, even risk some financial difficulties, only to enjoy the day. It doesn't make sense to cry on calamities in future, just like those of the past. One thing we have to remember, we live today, what happens tomorrow is still far away, what happened yesterday is like spilled milk.
I hate questions such as, what will we do if……., I have no idea, and only when playing chess you should worry and find solutions for the next five moves, but in real live, this does not make sense, as nobody can prophesize the future, and believe me that is a good thing.
Take for example, the doomsday warning every autumn on a possible draught year without sufficient precipitation to replenish our annual water shortage, crying about it, will not help at all, the only solution are desalination plants, the technology is there, the money can be found, but nobody cuts the Gordian knot, because perhaps the coming year we have a blessed year with lots of rain. And instead of crying on spoiled milk, with spoilt water is the case entirely different, we are able to recycle all waste water and use it in agriculture, no drop has to stream to the sea, we have the know-how. We sell it worldwide, but like anything else, the Sandler goes bare feet, it is easier to tax the citizen with huge water bills, than setting up treatment and desalination plants solving the problem for now and in the future.
But such nonsense is not only here in Israel, but worldwide, especially with the hoax of Global warming and the restrictions on CO2, again like with water, we have the solutions by using air pollution free energy solutions, but don't punish the poor, cut of their cheap food supply by using cereals in order to produce methanol, that will make some crooks rich, but doesn't solve anything.
But again, you and I do not have the power to change anything, or put the world in the correct direction, and nobody will be thankful for our suffering in order to save the world, just the opposite, our descendents will judge us as fighters against windmills and will ask, why did they not enjoy their lives as much as possible, and I have no answer other than promising to try my utmost to have a nice day, wishing you the same,
David Verveer
We Israelis are not fooling ourselves, we know that a next war (campaign is a more suitable indication) is imminent, irrelevant who is to blame, our hawkish government or the terrorist regimes bordering with Israel or regaining power in the Palestine Authority Western Bank. A peaceful solution, what every normal person wants and dreams about will not have sufficient pressure to retain and tip the scales from war and chaos to living in harmony.
The last effective leaders who could have caused such evolution were Yitzchak Rabin, the king Husain of Jordan and Anwar Sadat from Egypt. But those heroes were slain by extremist nationals or died from cancer. Their removal from the political scene became a dire warning to the current politicians and leaders, which sounds something like this: don't even try to make peace, nobody believes in it and nobody will back you on this, be happy and make war (but make speeches and dramatic pleas for peace, in order to get some World PR).
Don't get me wrong, most (literate) citizens in the Middle East want peace and get on with life, and certainly do not want another skirmish which demands sacrifices and innocent deaths, but on the other hand, we do not take our future in our own hands, we rely on others to decide on war and peace. Is Israel, with a relative democratic election system, and with our Arab neighbors, a mixed autocratic and dictatorial semi democratic system, which provides power on both fronts to extremists and nationalists, who do not believe in giving any space for the opponent, and see only their own narrow point of view as a God given aims.
It is a question of time, until a massive terrorist act or kidnap causes the next flare of war, or a preventive action thought necessary by our current leaders, in order to prevent nuclear power to the Ayatollahs is Iran, not that this will change anything, just the opposite, it will encourage the Anti Israel campaigners worldwide (specially due to Europe's and USA depending on the Arab oil and the growing Islam power in Europe. Sounds pessimistic, doesn't it? But that is not my purpose, "ADRABA" we would say in Hebrew, which is an original Aramaic word which means something like "just instead of this", as I believe that we have to make the best of the time we spend on this earth, if we, unlike our neighboring Slavic and Hellenic cultures, enjoy and celebrate tragedies, but bless everyday we have left without murder and bloodshed.
In my opinion it does not make sense to celebrate the catastrophic paste, but believe we should concentrate on making the best of today, even more, I would suggest, let us forget about the tragedies of the past, stop blaming everybody else, instead be patient with your co-players on earth, even when you think, their way of live stinks and is totally wrong.
I have a feeling that my feelings and attitude to life is shared by many Israelis, who started to go out in the evenings, make trips and enjoy holidays, even risk some financial difficulties, only to enjoy the day. It doesn't make sense to cry on calamities in future, just like those of the past. One thing we have to remember, we live today, what happens tomorrow is still far away, what happened yesterday is like spilled milk.
I hate questions such as, what will we do if……., I have no idea, and only when playing chess you should worry and find solutions for the next five moves, but in real live, this does not make sense, as nobody can prophesize the future, and believe me that is a good thing.
Take for example, the doomsday warning every autumn on a possible draught year without sufficient precipitation to replenish our annual water shortage, crying about it, will not help at all, the only solution are desalination plants, the technology is there, the money can be found, but nobody cuts the Gordian knot, because perhaps the coming year we have a blessed year with lots of rain. And instead of crying on spoiled milk, with spoilt water is the case entirely different, we are able to recycle all waste water and use it in agriculture, no drop has to stream to the sea, we have the know-how. We sell it worldwide, but like anything else, the Sandler goes bare feet, it is easier to tax the citizen with huge water bills, than setting up treatment and desalination plants solving the problem for now and in the future.
But such nonsense is not only here in Israel, but worldwide, especially with the hoax of Global warming and the restrictions on CO2, again like with water, we have the solutions by using air pollution free energy solutions, but don't punish the poor, cut of their cheap food supply by using cereals in order to produce methanol, that will make some crooks rich, but doesn't solve anything.
But again, you and I do not have the power to change anything, or put the world in the correct direction, and nobody will be thankful for our suffering in order to save the world, just the opposite, our descendents will judge us as fighters against windmills and will ask, why did they not enjoy their lives as much as possible, and I have no answer other than promising to try my utmost to have a nice day, wishing you the same,
David Verveer
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
alte sachen
Alte Sachen, Alte Sachen
By David Verveer
The mid morning silence was abruptly disturbed by the cry of the Palestinian waste collector touring our city's streets with an old truck or a donkey towed wagon.
His cry for Alte Sachen (old stuff) is a tradition from the old days, more than 80 years ago, when traders were buying old furniture and utensils, which they cleaned, repaired and sold to the new Jewish immigrants, who had just arrived and did not possess any furniture, pans or pots, as they had fled with only the clothes on their backs, from all places in the Diaspora, in order to find a new life in Palestine (a British mandate) and later on (1948) in the young country Israel.
In historic days, these collectors / sellers were a blessing; they were the only available option for a kitchen table, a bed, an old wireless radio, frames for pictures, cupboards or a toilet bowl or anything else you needed.
The collector would not sell anything on the street, but if you were searching for something special, he would say that he might know somebody who could help you, and after a few days he would bring you the requested article, cleaned and polished, in perfect working conditions, just like new. Another place to look for second hand equipment would be the flee market, were you could (and still can) find anything you need.
But why the Palestinian waste collector calls out his cry in Yiddish, is due to the fact that he, the peddler doesn't speak Hebrew or Yiddish, and he simply continues the traditional peddler cry, like the Jewish peddlers of the old days. I don't know, if he realizes at all that his cry is in Yiddish and not in Hebrew.
These Palestinians do live on the other side of the green border, between Israel and the Palestinian authority. There, the families are big, generally more than ten children per family, and the relative poverty (in comparison with the Israelis), makes the second hand merchandise with attractive prices, a flowering business. To get rid of your old bed, furniture, Frigidaire or TV set in Israel will cost you disposal money, while selling it to the Alte Sachen, you might get paid, based on your capability of arguing about the price, but remember, they are professionals and you a simple amateur.
But for some, the cry of Alte Sachen sounds an insult, reminding them of their age, but they shouldn't be worried, nobody will be paying, to have them.
By David Verveer
The mid morning silence was abruptly disturbed by the cry of the Palestinian waste collector touring our city's streets with an old truck or a donkey towed wagon.
His cry for Alte Sachen (old stuff) is a tradition from the old days, more than 80 years ago, when traders were buying old furniture and utensils, which they cleaned, repaired and sold to the new Jewish immigrants, who had just arrived and did not possess any furniture, pans or pots, as they had fled with only the clothes on their backs, from all places in the Diaspora, in order to find a new life in Palestine (a British mandate) and later on (1948) in the young country Israel.
In historic days, these collectors / sellers were a blessing; they were the only available option for a kitchen table, a bed, an old wireless radio, frames for pictures, cupboards or a toilet bowl or anything else you needed.
The collector would not sell anything on the street, but if you were searching for something special, he would say that he might know somebody who could help you, and after a few days he would bring you the requested article, cleaned and polished, in perfect working conditions, just like new. Another place to look for second hand equipment would be the flee market, were you could (and still can) find anything you need.
But why the Palestinian waste collector calls out his cry in Yiddish, is due to the fact that he, the peddler doesn't speak Hebrew or Yiddish, and he simply continues the traditional peddler cry, like the Jewish peddlers of the old days. I don't know, if he realizes at all that his cry is in Yiddish and not in Hebrew.
These Palestinians do live on the other side of the green border, between Israel and the Palestinian authority. There, the families are big, generally more than ten children per family, and the relative poverty (in comparison with the Israelis), makes the second hand merchandise with attractive prices, a flowering business. To get rid of your old bed, furniture, Frigidaire or TV set in Israel will cost you disposal money, while selling it to the Alte Sachen, you might get paid, based on your capability of arguing about the price, but remember, they are professionals and you a simple amateur.
But for some, the cry of Alte Sachen sounds an insult, reminding them of their age, but they shouldn't be worried, nobody will be paying, to have them.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Why do you prefer to see bloody scenes?
By David Verveer
The World press is daily filled with articles dealing with the violence in the Middle East, and funny anough the enormous quantity of information about our region fails to mention that normal people live here, who besides warring and terror, try to live like ordinary people, and our daily routine is almost similar to that of any citizen in the modern world.
I have written several times on the integration here in Israel, not only between the very different origins of the Jewish population, but also the mingling in daily lives of Arab, Bedouin and Druze minorities with the Jewish citizens. Of course, there is discrimination (the facto), but officially this is rarely seen on the street and in the daily relationship between ordinary people of all faiths and origin.
Here in Israel, people who want to wear tribal, religious or modern clothing are allowed to do this without any restriction. I visited last week the Bar Ilan University and noticed the many types of attire, from Arab girls with headdress, Ultra religious Jewish girls, modest dressed and head covered, beatniks, Arab men with Kafiah, Chasidic Jews with typical Polish 18 century clothing, men in short trousers, with or without skullcap, girls dressed in mini, etc.
Nobody was bothered what his neighbor wore, you can see them sitting together on the lawn, discussing the latest lecture, a totally mixed crowd, facts the foreign press won't cover, but can be seen daily in our society.
What does this mean? Could it be that the Middle Eastern conflict is artificially kept burning by the extremists on all sides (and believe me, there are thousands variations in political thoughts, not only divided by religion and origin, but also by greed, power and manipulation).
Let us take for example the Temple mount in Jerusalem, a holy place for three religions, the Jews, Christians and Islam. Wars are fought around this small area of real estate, people visit it on pilgrimage, youth are sacrificed by extreme groupings, in order to fight the holy war in trying to conquer this collection of stones of ancient buildings, declared holy based on legends, dreams and uncertainty.
Mohammad visited the site in his dream and tied his horse on the temple mount, Isaac tried to kill his son Jacob (or the other way round, who cares) on the same spot, Moses never was allowed near it, a local despot with Jewish traces of blood, by the name of Herod (the great) rebuilt the temple on the same spot (but nobody can prove that story), which was destroyed by the Romans, leaving a wall as central place for the Jews to pray, (which helps us like talking to a wall). Jesus, a nice Jewish boy got annoyed with the temple priests making money from the pilgrims (something similar to the traders of the old city nowadays. The Romans, wary of the troublesome Jews crucified Jesus (a fact that somehow is forgotten, as the Jews are blamed for this).
But this makes the temple mount also holy for the Christian faiths and sects, which fight each other bitterly, clearly indicating that possessing the site is a blessing in disguise. But no local politician has the courage to admit it, it would be the end of his career.
In the mean time, for most days of the year the place is visited by people of all faiths, under the condition that the Jewish pilgrims don't pray on the Temple mount, as that endangers the foundation of the El Agsa Mosque, moving your lips, or swaying your body in trance, will mean immediate removal from the Temple Mount, but also the Jews are restricted in walking around on the Temple Mount, as they might walk on the place were in the past the holy of holiest chamber of the temple was situated, where only the high priest was allowed to enter.
I am not joking, this is serious, and this is in the 21 century. But on the site of this, Palestinian peddlers, Christian priests, Pilgrims from al over the world, Jews of all kinds, from hyper fanatic to free as a bird, crowd the streets in relative harmony, until some terrorist longing for 73 (I might be mistaken on the correct number, which being alive, I can not check in person) virgins explode himself in those crowds, or attacks an Israeli soldier with a kitchen knife, an event which would be mentioned on the inner pages of the daily, if it happened in Rotterdam, but when it happens in Jerusalem, it reaches the breaking news on the CNN and Fox news, (a question which also bothers me, if, the above mentioned large number of virgins, are also dead or still alive, and what does the slain hero do with so many virgins?).
What I am trying to say, is that all those high lighted events of the Middle East are kept alive by the media, who have their permanent resident correspondent on the spot, who can put some action in the paper, almost in the same time that it happened, sometimes even a little bid before, with pictures and explanations, dying children, blood (nice to put a camel on the background, and an Arab Sheikh with a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, and please do not forget the smoke).
The average American or European reader has no idea that Afghanistan and the Taliban are far away from Israel and Palestine, with only Muslims and camels connecting the two warzones, Iraq and Iran have no borders with Israel and Palestine, Somali is even on another continent, not to mention Morocco and Tunis, but who cares, don't spoil the fun, the Middle East is an hell hole, and don't try to convince me otherwise.
I would like to read and write stories about normal people, living a normal live, amusing meetings between people of different origins, who, in the end, are normal like you, but that seems not to interest you, you want to see blood, and the Middle East is for you, what were the games for the Romans in history, from which the bull fights are a left over.
The World press is daily filled with articles dealing with the violence in the Middle East, and funny anough the enormous quantity of information about our region fails to mention that normal people live here, who besides warring and terror, try to live like ordinary people, and our daily routine is almost similar to that of any citizen in the modern world.
I have written several times on the integration here in Israel, not only between the very different origins of the Jewish population, but also the mingling in daily lives of Arab, Bedouin and Druze minorities with the Jewish citizens. Of course, there is discrimination (the facto), but officially this is rarely seen on the street and in the daily relationship between ordinary people of all faiths and origin.
Here in Israel, people who want to wear tribal, religious or modern clothing are allowed to do this without any restriction. I visited last week the Bar Ilan University and noticed the many types of attire, from Arab girls with headdress, Ultra religious Jewish girls, modest dressed and head covered, beatniks, Arab men with Kafiah, Chasidic Jews with typical Polish 18 century clothing, men in short trousers, with or without skullcap, girls dressed in mini, etc.
Nobody was bothered what his neighbor wore, you can see them sitting together on the lawn, discussing the latest lecture, a totally mixed crowd, facts the foreign press won't cover, but can be seen daily in our society.
What does this mean? Could it be that the Middle Eastern conflict is artificially kept burning by the extremists on all sides (and believe me, there are thousands variations in political thoughts, not only divided by religion and origin, but also by greed, power and manipulation).
Let us take for example the Temple mount in Jerusalem, a holy place for three religions, the Jews, Christians and Islam. Wars are fought around this small area of real estate, people visit it on pilgrimage, youth are sacrificed by extreme groupings, in order to fight the holy war in trying to conquer this collection of stones of ancient buildings, declared holy based on legends, dreams and uncertainty.
Mohammad visited the site in his dream and tied his horse on the temple mount, Isaac tried to kill his son Jacob (or the other way round, who cares) on the same spot, Moses never was allowed near it, a local despot with Jewish traces of blood, by the name of Herod (the great) rebuilt the temple on the same spot (but nobody can prove that story), which was destroyed by the Romans, leaving a wall as central place for the Jews to pray, (which helps us like talking to a wall). Jesus, a nice Jewish boy got annoyed with the temple priests making money from the pilgrims (something similar to the traders of the old city nowadays. The Romans, wary of the troublesome Jews crucified Jesus (a fact that somehow is forgotten, as the Jews are blamed for this).
But this makes the temple mount also holy for the Christian faiths and sects, which fight each other bitterly, clearly indicating that possessing the site is a blessing in disguise. But no local politician has the courage to admit it, it would be the end of his career.
In the mean time, for most days of the year the place is visited by people of all faiths, under the condition that the Jewish pilgrims don't pray on the Temple mount, as that endangers the foundation of the El Agsa Mosque, moving your lips, or swaying your body in trance, will mean immediate removal from the Temple Mount, but also the Jews are restricted in walking around on the Temple Mount, as they might walk on the place were in the past the holy of holiest chamber of the temple was situated, where only the high priest was allowed to enter.
I am not joking, this is serious, and this is in the 21 century. But on the site of this, Palestinian peddlers, Christian priests, Pilgrims from al over the world, Jews of all kinds, from hyper fanatic to free as a bird, crowd the streets in relative harmony, until some terrorist longing for 73 (I might be mistaken on the correct number, which being alive, I can not check in person) virgins explode himself in those crowds, or attacks an Israeli soldier with a kitchen knife, an event which would be mentioned on the inner pages of the daily, if it happened in Rotterdam, but when it happens in Jerusalem, it reaches the breaking news on the CNN and Fox news, (a question which also bothers me, if, the above mentioned large number of virgins, are also dead or still alive, and what does the slain hero do with so many virgins?).
What I am trying to say, is that all those high lighted events of the Middle East are kept alive by the media, who have their permanent resident correspondent on the spot, who can put some action in the paper, almost in the same time that it happened, sometimes even a little bid before, with pictures and explanations, dying children, blood (nice to put a camel on the background, and an Arab Sheikh with a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, and please do not forget the smoke).
The average American or European reader has no idea that Afghanistan and the Taliban are far away from Israel and Palestine, with only Muslims and camels connecting the two warzones, Iraq and Iran have no borders with Israel and Palestine, Somali is even on another continent, not to mention Morocco and Tunis, but who cares, don't spoil the fun, the Middle East is an hell hole, and don't try to convince me otherwise.
I would like to read and write stories about normal people, living a normal live, amusing meetings between people of different origins, who, in the end, are normal like you, but that seems not to interest you, you want to see blood, and the Middle East is for you, what were the games for the Romans in history, from which the bull fights are a left over.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
waiter there is a fly in my soup
Waiter, there is a fly in my soup
By David Verveer
The title of this post is slightly misleading, as in my story the fly and the soup did not have any physical contact, nor was a waiter involved, only a manager of the bistro where we dined last Friday night.
The reason for giving this story a misleading name is mainly due to the fact that my friends told me that only stories above the belt are permitted, and as I like to make everybody happy, I replaced the location of button from the Jeans trousers wore by the Owner (or perhaps his representative) from his logical place on the trousers to the fish bowl which our friends consumed.
I need to mention that the food served was excellent and very tasty, the service polite and efficient, but something was very wrong, which spoiled slightly our culinary happiness, because how does one inform, or don't inform the unfortunate manager that the button on his trousers (sometimes called fly) was undone, I don't think there is any nice way to inform him of this unfortunate situation, and I repeat, the food was tasty without any complains.
Of course, when we noticed it for the first time we smiled, but decided to keep quiet; hoping that one of his waiters or waitresses would inform him discretely on his unfortunate attire, but nothing happened, he kept passing our table, we tried not to stare (which is very difficult when you discovered it) hoping that nothing worse would happen, and after having dined, we paid and left, ignoring the critical situation, but I keep on wondering, did we act correctly, was it morally justified to keep quiet? Should we have approached this gentleman and told him to bugle up, or give him a hint, something like, Sir, your necktie button is open, or ask him, if he does not feel the draft, but in our Israeli mingle of population, you never know if sarcasm and hints would be understood, and you might get thrown out the restaurant for insulting the manager on duty.
As I said, the food was excellent, but I don't think we will go back to that place very soon, who knows what might happen next time.
By David Verveer
The title of this post is slightly misleading, as in my story the fly and the soup did not have any physical contact, nor was a waiter involved, only a manager of the bistro where we dined last Friday night.
The reason for giving this story a misleading name is mainly due to the fact that my friends told me that only stories above the belt are permitted, and as I like to make everybody happy, I replaced the location of button from the Jeans trousers wore by the Owner (or perhaps his representative) from his logical place on the trousers to the fish bowl which our friends consumed.
I need to mention that the food served was excellent and very tasty, the service polite and efficient, but something was very wrong, which spoiled slightly our culinary happiness, because how does one inform, or don't inform the unfortunate manager that the button on his trousers (sometimes called fly) was undone, I don't think there is any nice way to inform him of this unfortunate situation, and I repeat, the food was tasty without any complains.
Of course, when we noticed it for the first time we smiled, but decided to keep quiet; hoping that one of his waiters or waitresses would inform him discretely on his unfortunate attire, but nothing happened, he kept passing our table, we tried not to stare (which is very difficult when you discovered it) hoping that nothing worse would happen, and after having dined, we paid and left, ignoring the critical situation, but I keep on wondering, did we act correctly, was it morally justified to keep quiet? Should we have approached this gentleman and told him to bugle up, or give him a hint, something like, Sir, your necktie button is open, or ask him, if he does not feel the draft, but in our Israeli mingle of population, you never know if sarcasm and hints would be understood, and you might get thrown out the restaurant for insulting the manager on duty.
As I said, the food was excellent, but I don't think we will go back to that place very soon, who knows what might happen next time.
Friday, October 23, 2009
From the Robot's point of View
From the Robot's point of view
By David Verveer
In the United Robot daily, a newspaper published for the robots of our time, I found this disturbing article: "Humanoids are the biggest polluters on earth".
The article is written by a chief scientific robot, built by the M.I.T. robot lab, named Robot "Ynot".
Ynot writes in his essay, published in cyberspace, that after close observation of the behavior of the human species, he came to the conclusion that men will eventually pollute the earth in such extend that they won't be able to continue to exist on this earth. He provide many samples of those polluting actions, some caused by over population, some due to extreme stupid behavior of mankind (like reduction of carbon dioxide, which is required by the fauna, in order to grow), but the main culprit is the lack of clean potable water, needed to allow life of any kind.
He explained in his article, that in the early twenty firth century, irresponsible humanoids started producing artificial energy based on turning grains into fuel, which caused overall famine and death all over the African and Asian continent, as this fuel caused steep rising of food prices, placing it outside the possibility of poor humans to survive, which on itself was of course a good cause, as humans are unnecessary since the creation of the new types of plasma fueled robots.
But Ynot continues to claim that humanoids, even after dying, manage to pollute the aquifer (groundwater) by decaying in the ground, causing seepage into the dwindling water sources. Today, any standard robot is capable to replace at least a complete family cell, which requires proper dwelling conditions, food transport and disgusting human habits such as sex, schooling and democracy, items which any low and old fashioned specie of robot does not need.
True, there are features humanoids can perform better than robots, such as living and caring, pity they can not be recycled like robots, but think on the mess they make as domestic pets.
He concludes in his learned essay, by suggesting an area quota for humanoids, which should be internationally controlled through wisely distribution of drugs to those stupid humans (drugs kill humans in a friendly environment
Of course Ynot's essay created enormous quantities of talkbacks, mostly written by robots, which through construction faults are partly humanized and claim to have feelings. Surprisingly, also some humans entered the discussion, trying to justify their existence, but these letters were rather comic, as every average robot knows that humans are hopeless and a complete creation failure.
Our book keeping between love and hate
By David Verveer
Like all normal people, the average Israeli has his list of people and ideals he hates versus a list of those he supports or loves. An European has the same problem, but the difference with the average Israeli, that his hate / love relations are less extreme, more in the type of TV armchair relation , than a idealistic fight with your neighbors and family on your convictions.
It is relative simple to choose sides, but when these opinions start to argue between them selves, the poor Israeli will have a sure identity crisis, as all these slogans and ideals will affect his direct live, and his conscience.
I will try to bring you some examples of the internal conflicts of the average Israeli, who of course supports justice to the Palestinians, but opposes their policy of terrorism to achieve it. We hate torture of prisoners, but if this will be the key in order to safe innocent victims from terrorist acts, we leave the decision to the officers in charge, as it looks different from there than here (a citation of Ariel Sharon).
We support the right of return of Jews (based on their biblical rights of 2000 year in the Diaspora, but oppose the right of return of local Palestinians, whose birthrights date only from 1948. We declare any unfriendly comments about the Jews and Israelis anti-Semitism, even when uttered by Muslim Semites such as our Palestinian cousins.
I could go on like this for a long time, but you gather my point, we live in a controversy based on a primitive survival policy, which many times looks to the outsider as inconsiderate and unfair to our neighbors but in our eyes, a form of defense and existence.
But it is even worse when we talk about our internal strives, fights and ideals from the more extremist Jews such as the zealots in Jerusalem, Hebron and, the hilltop idealists, the settlers, the ultra religious (both Arab and Jews), the rightists, the centralists, the Jewish anti Zionists, and in short, all those horrible people who do not agree with my own holy point of view, and when I think of it, only a very view think about it, just in the same way as I do, but naturally other thinkers are entirely wrong, only my way is correct.
We jump in the pen when we read a comment which opposes Israeli actions or ideas from an outsider, but when an ignorant Israeli Politician, who has the stupidity not to be on my side, writes an anti my stand article or speech, I will attack him viciously, I am allowed, I am an insider, the non Jew outside is however not allowed to interfere, and don't even dare to quote me on this, because automatically I will shout, that my words are wrongly interpreted, I meant something entirely different, but you as outsider wont understand it, nobody understand us, we are alone, everybody is against the Jews, etc..
When having said and admitted all this, I have to emphasize a few facts (in my opinion axioms) that we Israeli have the same right to live in our conquered stroke of semi desert, without having to fight non stop wars with the millions of Arabs surrounding us. There does not exist a fair war, (the purpose of warring is killing and disabling the enemy) and if you do not win, and do not use all the might you have, you have no right to survive, accusing Israel of using disproportional power is stupid and unreal, just like accusing Israel of war crimes, fighting terrorist criminals bombing Israeli towns for 8 years on the row. Allowing the Palestinians the right of return, after 80 years, is just like committing suicide, but all this, you Europeans know, but what can you do, you need the oil, which is in the hands of the Arabs, justice for Israel versus the comfort of driving your car, is an unfair comparison, because after all, we love everybody, but specially our own self, sounds harsh, but my dear reader, the fact of life.
Like all normal people, the average Israeli has his list of people and ideals he hates versus a list of those he supports or loves. An European has the same problem, but the difference with the average Israeli, that his hate / love relations are less extreme, more in the type of TV armchair relation , than a idealistic fight with your neighbors and family on your convictions.
It is relative simple to choose sides, but when these opinions start to argue between them selves, the poor Israeli will have a sure identity crisis, as all these slogans and ideals will affect his direct live, and his conscience.
I will try to bring you some examples of the internal conflicts of the average Israeli, who of course supports justice to the Palestinians, but opposes their policy of terrorism to achieve it. We hate torture of prisoners, but if this will be the key in order to safe innocent victims from terrorist acts, we leave the decision to the officers in charge, as it looks different from there than here (a citation of Ariel Sharon).
We support the right of return of Jews (based on their biblical rights of 2000 year in the Diaspora, but oppose the right of return of local Palestinians, whose birthrights date only from 1948. We declare any unfriendly comments about the Jews and Israelis anti-Semitism, even when uttered by Muslim Semites such as our Palestinian cousins.
I could go on like this for a long time, but you gather my point, we live in a controversy based on a primitive survival policy, which many times looks to the outsider as inconsiderate and unfair to our neighbors but in our eyes, a form of defense and existence.
But it is even worse when we talk about our internal strives, fights and ideals from the more extremist Jews such as the zealots in Jerusalem, Hebron and, the hilltop idealists, the settlers, the ultra religious (both Arab and Jews), the rightists, the centralists, the Jewish anti Zionists, and in short, all those horrible people who do not agree with my own holy point of view, and when I think of it, only a very view think about it, just in the same way as I do, but naturally other thinkers are entirely wrong, only my way is correct.
We jump in the pen when we read a comment which opposes Israeli actions or ideas from an outsider, but when an ignorant Israeli Politician, who has the stupidity not to be on my side, writes an anti my stand article or speech, I will attack him viciously, I am allowed, I am an insider, the non Jew outside is however not allowed to interfere, and don't even dare to quote me on this, because automatically I will shout, that my words are wrongly interpreted, I meant something entirely different, but you as outsider wont understand it, nobody understand us, we are alone, everybody is against the Jews, etc..
When having said and admitted all this, I have to emphasize a few facts (in my opinion axioms) that we Israeli have the same right to live in our conquered stroke of semi desert, without having to fight non stop wars with the millions of Arabs surrounding us. There does not exist a fair war, (the purpose of warring is killing and disabling the enemy) and if you do not win, and do not use all the might you have, you have no right to survive, accusing Israel of using disproportional power is stupid and unreal, just like accusing Israel of war crimes, fighting terrorist criminals bombing Israeli towns for 8 years on the row. Allowing the Palestinians the right of return, after 80 years, is just like committing suicide, but all this, you Europeans know, but what can you do, you need the oil, which is in the hands of the Arabs, justice for Israel versus the comfort of driving your car, is an unfair comparison, because after all, we love everybody, but specially our own self, sounds harsh, but my dear reader, the fact of life.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Er was eens in een heel ver land .........
Door David Verveer
En zo als de sprookjes gaan, beginnen we met te vertellen dat in een heel ver land (ver van wat, bijvoorbeeld Israël?) was er een man, die aan ernstige geestelijke complexen leed, en daar het nummer van complexen groter was dan 10, maakten hij elke morgen een mentale oefening om te zien of hij al zijn aandoeningen nog had.
Om te zien dat hij er geen een had vergeten, had hij een nummer gegeven aan elk complex, bij voorbeeld, kleptomanie was nummer 6, hoogmoed waanzin nummer 8, angst voor vliegen (niet de insecten maar vliegtuigen) nummer 3, nummer 12 was een Oedipus complex en zelfs een nieuwe aandoening ( nummer 17) die men genaamd heeft als etnische eigenwaan (in Latijns “waningisme” dat komt van de Nederlandse onderzoeker die deze afwijking heeft ontdekt).
De arme man, elke dag voor dat hij een kopje koffie (cafeïne vrij) dronk, moest hij aan al zijn aandoeningen denken, en op een slechte morgen (iedereen heeft zulke morgens, wanneer alles fout gaat), kon de zielenpoot de laatste en nieuwste complex niet herinneren, nummer 17 zei hem niets, zenuwachtig begon hij te zoeken, nam zelfs een medisch woordenboek, maar nee, hij kon er niet opkomen, wat in hemelsnaam nummer 17 was. In wanhoop belde hij zijn psychiater, maar de rotzak was op zijn kosten (zo dacht hij) op vakantie naar Israël, hij dacht even om hem optebellen naar de dokter zijn mobieltje, een telefoon nummer die onze vriend in zijn portemonnee altijd mee droeg, maar was bang dat het gesprek hem veel geld zou gaan kosten, en een van de complexen die hij had was nummer 2 (zuinigheid / spaarzaamheid / zonde van het geld complex), dus bellen was uit gesloten.
De man voelde zich doodziek en eenzaam, zonder dat iemand hem kon helpen, hij voelde te gerecht dat zijn mensen rechten waren beschadigd, daarvoor had hij zijn hele leven ziekte verzekering betaald, en nu, in een crisis, was er niemand die hem kon helpen, radeloos besloot hij niet in de internet , zijn dagelijkse wijsheden te verspreiden, en een aspirientje te nemen, en te proberen om het af te slapen, maar de man kon zijn ei niet vinden, bleef woelen in zijn bed, kon niet in slaap vallen. Om kort te gaan, onze held heeft nu een nieuw complex, wat in technische termen men nu achtienites heeft genaamd,, en handelt met het complex , wat in hemelsnaam is nummer zeventien.
Er is geen moraal in dit sprookje, alhoewel veel mensen nemen zich zelf te serieus, hebben weinig begrip voor humeur en sarcasme, en hebben een denkbeeldig beton blok die het door dringen van nieuwe en andere ideeën niet laat , het kan zijn dat dit ook een nieuw complex gaat worden, die men in de volksmond (ben de tel kwijt) gaat noemen.
Ik wens U geestelijke gezondheid en neem het leven niet zo serieus,
mvg (betekend meer vogel gezang)
Uw vriend
Deze post draag ik op aan mijn goede vriend Robert van Waning, die altijd klaar was om op mijn fouten te wijzen, met wijze citaties, knap gelul, en vreselijk veel geduld.
p.s. Iemand die denkt dat ik hier iemand speciaal bedoelt, snap ik niet waar zei deze waanzin vandaan halen.
En zo als de sprookjes gaan, beginnen we met te vertellen dat in een heel ver land (ver van wat, bijvoorbeeld Israël?) was er een man, die aan ernstige geestelijke complexen leed, en daar het nummer van complexen groter was dan 10, maakten hij elke morgen een mentale oefening om te zien of hij al zijn aandoeningen nog had.
Om te zien dat hij er geen een had vergeten, had hij een nummer gegeven aan elk complex, bij voorbeeld, kleptomanie was nummer 6, hoogmoed waanzin nummer 8, angst voor vliegen (niet de insecten maar vliegtuigen) nummer 3, nummer 12 was een Oedipus complex en zelfs een nieuwe aandoening ( nummer 17) die men genaamd heeft als etnische eigenwaan (in Latijns “waningisme” dat komt van de Nederlandse onderzoeker die deze afwijking heeft ontdekt).
De arme man, elke dag voor dat hij een kopje koffie (cafeïne vrij) dronk, moest hij aan al zijn aandoeningen denken, en op een slechte morgen (iedereen heeft zulke morgens, wanneer alles fout gaat), kon de zielenpoot de laatste en nieuwste complex niet herinneren, nummer 17 zei hem niets, zenuwachtig begon hij te zoeken, nam zelfs een medisch woordenboek, maar nee, hij kon er niet opkomen, wat in hemelsnaam nummer 17 was. In wanhoop belde hij zijn psychiater, maar de rotzak was op zijn kosten (zo dacht hij) op vakantie naar Israël, hij dacht even om hem optebellen naar de dokter zijn mobieltje, een telefoon nummer die onze vriend in zijn portemonnee altijd mee droeg, maar was bang dat het gesprek hem veel geld zou gaan kosten, en een van de complexen die hij had was nummer 2 (zuinigheid / spaarzaamheid / zonde van het geld complex), dus bellen was uit gesloten.
De man voelde zich doodziek en eenzaam, zonder dat iemand hem kon helpen, hij voelde te gerecht dat zijn mensen rechten waren beschadigd, daarvoor had hij zijn hele leven ziekte verzekering betaald, en nu, in een crisis, was er niemand die hem kon helpen, radeloos besloot hij niet in de internet , zijn dagelijkse wijsheden te verspreiden, en een aspirientje te nemen, en te proberen om het af te slapen, maar de man kon zijn ei niet vinden, bleef woelen in zijn bed, kon niet in slaap vallen. Om kort te gaan, onze held heeft nu een nieuw complex, wat in technische termen men nu achtienites heeft genaamd,, en handelt met het complex , wat in hemelsnaam is nummer zeventien.
Er is geen moraal in dit sprookje, alhoewel veel mensen nemen zich zelf te serieus, hebben weinig begrip voor humeur en sarcasme, en hebben een denkbeeldig beton blok die het door dringen van nieuwe en andere ideeën niet laat , het kan zijn dat dit ook een nieuw complex gaat worden, die men in de volksmond (ben de tel kwijt) gaat noemen.
Ik wens U geestelijke gezondheid en neem het leven niet zo serieus,
mvg (betekend meer vogel gezang)
Uw vriend
Deze post draag ik op aan mijn goede vriend Robert van Waning, die altijd klaar was om op mijn fouten te wijzen, met wijze citaties, knap gelul, en vreselijk veel geduld.
p.s. Iemand die denkt dat ik hier iemand speciaal bedoelt, snap ik niet waar zei deze waanzin vandaan halen.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
the mad mad world
The mad, mad world!
By David Verveer
I know that I did not discover anything new, when I declared the human population of today, totally mad, hypocritical and blind. I am not angry, nor do I complain, but like to express my amazement on the stupid behaviour of mankind.
Global warming and CO2
Let us assume that there was (not anymore) a slow global warming up, which replaced the slow but sure cooling of the earth, which was accompanied by alarmists which warned us with terrible prophecies about the un-avoidable new ice age, but when suddenly without apparent reason, the globe slowly started a trend of heating, and the same or new alarmists started a hoax about man made global warming, caused by the until then, benevolent CO2 gas, which is a natural fertilizer that makes plants to grow.
These alarmists, backed by business charlatans employed a great band of distinguished scientists, in order to proof their case, on the hand of computer programs, theories and falsification of so called data obtained from surveys and case studies. The leader of this scheme was All Gore, the former vice president of the USA. All Gore made millions in investment schemes in order to produce alternative fuel, made from organic material, especially corn. These bio-fuels actually require much more energy to produce, and need enormous quantities of potable water, of which the earth is running out, but his scheme worked, farmers all over the world started to cultivate corn for methanol, and caused indirectly famine in the third world countries, that are fed and dependant on the surplus corn given them at low prices by the USA and other donor countries.
The oil crisis, based on assumed running out of oil resources, is based on an unproven theory which was utilized by the OPEC countries in order to hike the oil prices, that caused new panic in the Western world, and eventually was the cause of the Iraq war, while careful check of geological data showed no shortage for the next 30 coming years, or even increase on possible supply when new oil fields were discovered in the North Sea, Alaska, etc.
In addition enormous gas wells were discovered which slowly will replace the oil as environmentally friendly energy source.
O yes, before we forget, in the last years, the Globe seamed to have finished its trend in warming, due to a wobbly circulation pattern of our globe around the sun, widening the absolute distance between the two bodies, and started a new pattern of cooling. This has happened during the entire lifespan of the relationship between the globe and the sun, without the so called green house effect caused by cars, industries, and thus we might suspect that CO2 is not the culprit for global heating.
But our world is insane; the UN started imposing limits on CO2 production with fines for countries that produce more CO2 than the UN decided they are allowed to produce. A volcanic eruption, a war or burning of the natural forests, even the oceans produce much more CO2 than all the industries and cars together, and I don't want to claim that cars and industries don't pollute, but that is another problem, and not related.
Incidentally, actually global warming (if it would have occurred) would be beneficial for mankind, it would open new areas for agriculture (like in Greenland and Iceland, which in warmer periods had extensive agriculture), it would increase the natural rainfall, reducing the danger of potable water shortage, it would create new areas for settling and solve the shortage in land for mankind. The danger of rising seas and oceans due to melting icebergs has also proven to be a hoax, as careful measuring with help of satellites, no significant change in water lever could be found.
The stupidity to think that the feeble mankind could influence the climate worldwide and in large extend is based on fairy tales and clever money schemes of un-scrupulous
Crooks, operating in order to maximize their bounty earned through exploitation of the ignorant masses.
Of course, I am not opposed to clean energy sources such as thermal wells, wind mills, solar energy, earth gas or even correct energy obtained from waste treatment, and specially air pollution should be reduced drastically, specially waste to power plants based on advanced technologies such as Plasma torch energy should be developed urgently, but hastily running towards electricity driven cars, without performing a basic study on how to create the electricity and batteries in order to accumulate the electricity needed for this fast growing pollution free fleet of private cars, could mean that we are running into a new hoax, will we not pollute in order to produce this energy?
I support all new solutions to making life easier, but please stop in fooling around, stop in collecting from the poor and pay the rich and don't exploit our ignorance.
By David Verveer
I know that I did not discover anything new, when I declared the human population of today, totally mad, hypocritical and blind. I am not angry, nor do I complain, but like to express my amazement on the stupid behaviour of mankind.
Global warming and CO2
Let us assume that there was (not anymore) a slow global warming up, which replaced the slow but sure cooling of the earth, which was accompanied by alarmists which warned us with terrible prophecies about the un-avoidable new ice age, but when suddenly without apparent reason, the globe slowly started a trend of heating, and the same or new alarmists started a hoax about man made global warming, caused by the until then, benevolent CO2 gas, which is a natural fertilizer that makes plants to grow.
These alarmists, backed by business charlatans employed a great band of distinguished scientists, in order to proof their case, on the hand of computer programs, theories and falsification of so called data obtained from surveys and case studies. The leader of this scheme was All Gore, the former vice president of the USA. All Gore made millions in investment schemes in order to produce alternative fuel, made from organic material, especially corn. These bio-fuels actually require much more energy to produce, and need enormous quantities of potable water, of which the earth is running out, but his scheme worked, farmers all over the world started to cultivate corn for methanol, and caused indirectly famine in the third world countries, that are fed and dependant on the surplus corn given them at low prices by the USA and other donor countries.
The oil crisis, based on assumed running out of oil resources, is based on an unproven theory which was utilized by the OPEC countries in order to hike the oil prices, that caused new panic in the Western world, and eventually was the cause of the Iraq war, while careful check of geological data showed no shortage for the next 30 coming years, or even increase on possible supply when new oil fields were discovered in the North Sea, Alaska, etc.
In addition enormous gas wells were discovered which slowly will replace the oil as environmentally friendly energy source.
O yes, before we forget, in the last years, the Globe seamed to have finished its trend in warming, due to a wobbly circulation pattern of our globe around the sun, widening the absolute distance between the two bodies, and started a new pattern of cooling. This has happened during the entire lifespan of the relationship between the globe and the sun, without the so called green house effect caused by cars, industries, and thus we might suspect that CO2 is not the culprit for global heating.
But our world is insane; the UN started imposing limits on CO2 production with fines for countries that produce more CO2 than the UN decided they are allowed to produce. A volcanic eruption, a war or burning of the natural forests, even the oceans produce much more CO2 than all the industries and cars together, and I don't want to claim that cars and industries don't pollute, but that is another problem, and not related.
Incidentally, actually global warming (if it would have occurred) would be beneficial for mankind, it would open new areas for agriculture (like in Greenland and Iceland, which in warmer periods had extensive agriculture), it would increase the natural rainfall, reducing the danger of potable water shortage, it would create new areas for settling and solve the shortage in land for mankind. The danger of rising seas and oceans due to melting icebergs has also proven to be a hoax, as careful measuring with help of satellites, no significant change in water lever could be found.
The stupidity to think that the feeble mankind could influence the climate worldwide and in large extend is based on fairy tales and clever money schemes of un-scrupulous
Crooks, operating in order to maximize their bounty earned through exploitation of the ignorant masses.
Of course, I am not opposed to clean energy sources such as thermal wells, wind mills, solar energy, earth gas or even correct energy obtained from waste treatment, and specially air pollution should be reduced drastically, specially waste to power plants based on advanced technologies such as Plasma torch energy should be developed urgently, but hastily running towards electricity driven cars, without performing a basic study on how to create the electricity and batteries in order to accumulate the electricity needed for this fast growing pollution free fleet of private cars, could mean that we are running into a new hoax, will we not pollute in order to produce this energy?
I support all new solutions to making life easier, but please stop in fooling around, stop in collecting from the poor and pay the rich and don't exploit our ignorance.
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