tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226508502011-12-15T04:35:11.485+02:00....mother, retreaded librarian, cyber-dissident, epicurean, african denizen, aspiring thinker, eternal student of life....Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.comBlogger1401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-64769225570292334532007-01-11T08:30:00.000+02:002007-01-11T20:54:38.785+02:00

Yeah, I guess everyone must be wondering where I disappeared to. Blogging, I'm afraid, is far more labour intensive than the average person imagines. Especially when there's a life to be lived and much to be done.I have been extremely busy. My time has been spent running around trying to sort out papers and tickets as well as make an effort to be a decent mom. Milla has been going to a local

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-21597419645277697562006-12-23T07:32:00.000+02:002006-12-23T19:41:21.116+02:00

Prague 360 News - The Killing of the Carp! I think that the Fish Blood Bath of Christmas with Photography by Jeffrey Martin (click on the above link) is a more than adequate representation of this annual festive tradition. Note: this image is a bandwidth chomper!When we visited the local market on the square, my five year old daughter, Milla, was fascinated by the phenomenon and wanted to "stroke

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-80047077800065716452006-12-23T05:33:00.000+02:002006-12-23T18:07:12.287+02:00

This week we were taken on a tour of Liberec, a nearby city that experienced its most recent economic heyday towards the end of the 19th century, when it served as the major textile manufacturer for the region.Todays picture is of Ještěd, a mountain range in this region. If you look closely at the tiny picture under my Blogger profile you will see the Ještěd television tower in the background.

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-24971537170801267472006-12-21T06:16:00.000+02:002008-12-13T15:22:19.530+02:00

Photos taken with my Nokia (for fun). The Square and the Ginger Bread House The Market and Decorations Darkness Descending on the City Centre The Crowds, the Crowds! Milla Rides a Carriage (800 krone for 20 Minutes!)Technorati tags: Staroměstské náměstí a Týnský Chrám; Photos; Christmas; Nokia; Prague

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-77839606103533146252006-12-17T01:56:00.000+02:002006-12-19T19:04:14.732+02:00

My husband arrived this morning from London. We will be having one of those huge Czech feasts to celebrate his return - lots of knedlecky, pork and wild mushroom goulash and christmas cookies. Granma makes some mean biscuits that look like walnuts and contain lots of ground nuts and cream - delicious!Yesterday we took Milla to Prague. It's become even more glamorous than when Marek and I were

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-5007424036555972432006-12-15T00:00:00.000+02:002006-12-17T17:09:15.340+02:00

On Thursday this week, President Václav Klaus returns from Africa, where he visited Nigeria and South Africa. I hope that he enjoyed our hot summer weather! Here's what the South African press had to say about the trip.Also, while I'm waiting for my husband to bring back my camera, here are some terrific photos uploaded to Flickr, which were taken by vigor. Enjoy!Technorati tags: Mbeki; Klaus;

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-20817776932582804502006-12-14T03:12:00.000+02:002006-12-17T13:59:37.413+02:00

Hi, I thought maybe it would help to show a map of the Czech Republic. We are living in Northern Bohemia, right near Liberec. Jablonec is more towards the right of Liberec but also very near the border of Germany and Poland. Today we took a walk in the forest up behind Granma's house. Unfortunately, Milla didn't meet the three bears. We also visited the kindergarten to find out if they will take

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-33105291333331090742006-12-09T05:57:00.000+02:002006-12-09T19:04:28.166+02:00

Some inventions prove to be winners in the long-run. Witness the humble motor vehicle which started out looking something like the machine above more than 100 years ago.ReadWriteWeb reports that the Attention Company has produced research regarding bloggers, or what they refer to as people who are “Out There". Apparently, as employees we are characterized as: Fast followersMore flexible Open

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-89875753009218716262006-12-08T10:17:00.000+02:002006-12-08T11:12:05.986+02:00

We arrived in Prague on the 6 December via Frankfurt (there are no direct flights from South Africa). Granpa was there to meet us and we packed all our luggage into his Merc and headed off straight for Jablonec.The weather is scarily mild for this time of year. On average, 10°C with no rain and few clouds. Milla, our little girl, is very disappointed by the lack of snow.The first thing we did on

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-62587197166052993412006-12-08T10:00:00.000+02:002006-12-08T15:03:59.170+02:00

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic IntelligenceDiane, you are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well. An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly. You are also good at remembering information and convincing someone of your point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.You would make a fantastic

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-3907054166040158612006-12-03T00:56:00.000+02:002006-12-03T13:08:53.724+02:00

Hooray! My little girl can swim! It's 34°C here in Africa and Ouma's pool looks all too tempting!Technorati tags: swimming; South Africa; Summer; weather

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-53485959774027192952006-11-25T07:47:00.000+02:002006-11-26T10:07:23.919+02:00

One of the advantages of being a "knowledge worker" is the fact that I can spend hours online evaluating web resources and tools. Mostly, I rely on Bloglines to keep track of recent news, research and topical blogs that I enjoy reading. It's a great way to scan information sources without having to spend hours actually trying to search for stuff before deciding if it's relevant. With Bloglines I

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-46158253038686794182006-11-22T09:52:00.000+02:002006-11-22T10:14:13.934+02:00

I'm currently reading The Color of Water by James McBride. Despite my misgivings, it's turning out to be an excellent account of the life of an African-American man born to a white, Jewish woman. I love the story about him getting on the camp bus with another kid whose father is a Black Panther and screaming out the window to his mother as she stands and waves goodbye. She is standing next to the

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-45786228831408611242006-11-21T01:36:00.000+02:002006-11-22T10:14:59.587+02:00

When I was working in Government, I once wrote that I was African on a form, only to have my selection scratched out and replaced with "white". Ouch, that hurt!Turns out, I am an African, at least Xolela Mangcu is prepared to stick his neck out and argue my cause. I think I'm in love..... (smile) -------------------- I spent the whole of Saturday learning the art of hard selling. A local company

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-13013914556847647592006-11-19T08:39:00.000+02:002006-11-19T21:24:14.726+02:00

I grew up in a house where everyone was constantly busy doing something physical. Whether it was housework, gardening or sport, my parents and siblings seemed to be in a state of perpetual motion. I, on the other hand, could think of nothing better than to sit and read everything and anything.With very little critical input, this often led to literary choices which were embarrassingly cliched. On

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-68022426880590864442006-11-17T04:06:00.000+02:002006-11-17T16:38:21.904+02:00

Work-related Blogs and News by James Richards contains a useful selection of posts about the pitfalls and possibilities of blogging, both from the perspective of the employer and employee. Richards also includes a list of links to blogs by occupational category. Here, you can find a collection of blogs by people who are currently employed, as well as some links to blogs by those who may have been

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-14466746928788278252006-11-12T02:27:00.000+02:002006-11-12T16:53:36.053+02:00

"Did I disappoint you?Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?You act like you never had loveAnd you want me to go without"- U2: One - lyrics The time is fast approaching for us to board the plane bound for Europe. We have sold up and/or given away most of our worldly possessions. The cost of shipping everything across and storing it until we found long-term accommodation wasn't worth the effort.

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-36265427516597589592006-11-11T08:39:00.000+02:002006-11-13T09:19:11.679+02:00

Softly, softly, catchee monkey..... More litigation cases ....Technorati tags: Deloitte; accounting firms; Kelon; Edmund Burke

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-51220188433240280402006-10-31T09:53:00.000+02:002006-10-31T10:15:59.570+02:00

My dissolute youth has, once again, come back to haunt me by way of a weakened immune system. Mononucleosis and all that, y'know. First Milla got 'flu and then she kindly passed it on to me. It was a particularly nasty strain (for me) and I'm only now beginning to surface after a week in bed, coughing and wheezing. Thank dog for asthma pumps and calendula balm facial tissues!Oh, and some boffin

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-68120317907978198082006-10-18T10:51:00.000+02:002006-10-18T11:13:29.105+02:00

My sister and I took Milla to the Johannesburg Zoo last weekend. We saw lots of wild school kids but not much other wildlife. It turns out that that Zoo is being refurbished and much of the "fun" sections, like the farmyard, are completely closed for upgrading. Milla was thrilled with all the company and managed to insinuate herself into a crowd of toddlers who were spending the day there. I

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-75360390517877262532006-10-10T00:56:00.000+02:002006-10-11T09:05:48.669+02:00

I just finished reading Toby Young's book, "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" and enjoyed some of his observations, especially the bits about Meritocracies and how neoliberalism instills people with the misguided notion that success is exclusively related to skill and effort. Oh, please! I've worked in enough large corporates to know that success is related mostly to who you are and how well

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-46769916922041902242006-10-02T11:49:00.000+02:002006-10-02T12:06:28.402+02:00

It seems my family is playing tricks on me by making all my childhood memories come flooding back in full, sentimental force. Every night, my mother prepares a three course meal for Milla and me, each time offering up some childhood favourite, long forgotten in the passing sands of time.Fresh vegetable soup for starters, thick oxtail stew and garden peas as a main course with a light, hot lemon

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-76387507645312916162006-09-26T02:28:00.000+02:002006-09-26T14:29:04.830+02:00

Either the Archbishop's views appeal to the sentiments of an average middle-class whitey like myself, or his opinions penetrate deep into the heart of the concerns of the broader South African population. I hope that the latter is the case because his recent Steve Biko memorial lecture at University of Cape Town certainly held resonance for me and reflected many of my own thoughts, so it would be

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-75678552806828332782006-09-13T04:39:00.000+02:002006-12-03T09:45:01.923+02:00

Webaba silale maweni The blogging from here on out will be a bit spotty. The house has gone, along with most of our possessions, which were either sold or given away. Also, the ADSL line and the PC that I use for posting up stuff are both no more... I am staying at my mom's house in Jo'burg with my daughter. Milla's dad is staying at his mom's house in Tshwane (Pretoria). This is so that I can

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-58850308589508611972006-09-08T02:22:00.000+02:002006-09-08T14:59:05.164+02:00

The feckless beast that is Technorati, which once, like some Greek deity, briefly provided shelter to my lonely little blog tags, has now abandoned me.For more than five days now, my pleas have been ignored by the heavenly messengers that echo my distress into what appears to be an abyss of indifference.I don't ask for much, maybe one or two extra stragglers to pass over my meagre offerings. No

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-91253495860602524732006-09-06T08:15:00.000+02:002006-09-06T20:25:24.566+02:00

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky...The mood is blue. This weekend we are moving out of the house. I will be staying with the girlie at my parents house in Jo'burg and my husband will move in with his Mom in Pretoria. Our little family will be separated and my personal fiefdom will shrink to the size of a Toyota Corolla. My car will be my only private space, until it

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-27214961069846175322006-09-04T09:05:00.000+02:002006-09-04T21:28:16.122+02:00

I installed StumbleUpon on my browser over the weekend. So far, I have enjoyed some online "playtime" visiting randomly selected websites.Bored? Try these links:JacksonPollock lets you create your very own imitation of the famous artist's works by simply swirling and clicking your mouse.Elastic-enthusiastic allows you to bounce the dancing lady by moving her two assistants around - it's fun to

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-7607696439544945322006-09-04T03:08:00.000+02:002006-09-04T15:14:57.825+02:00

Pambazuka News - Issue 267, 31 August 2006Good Doll?Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks. One of the recent posts points to a video made by a 16 year old African American girl which addresses the taboo subject of skin tone within the African/Black community.The short film interviews young women about their Blackness and hair texture and how this impacts on their self-esteem. The film-maker,

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-14647977300412718562006-09-02T02:39:00.000+02:002006-09-02T14:44:07.646+02:00

I have all the nurturing skills of a barracuda. That means, I'm pretty bad at taking care of anything, including plants, pets, tamagotchis, husbands, children and myself.When I'm in a reasonable mood, I will tolerate incursions into my virtual world. However, this is rare and unusual. Consequently my family often suffers from neglect. I forget to cook, I do not notice dirt and I postpone

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1157053713620270512006-08-31T09:40:00.000+02:002006-08-31T22:01:40.536+02:00

According to BuaNews, Government will allocate R38 million to increase the distribution of female condoms (or "femidoms") this year. Apparently, the number of femidoms distributed by government has doubled from 1.3 in 2003 to 2.6 million in 2004, despite the fact that they are 36 times more expensive than male condoms.Out of curiosity, I embarked upon a shopping expedition in the hope of locating

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156966593761739092006-08-30T21:35:00.000+02:002006-08-30T22:17:55.980+02:00

Why?Visit: Blog Day Website360° Czech Photoblog - Love the photographs!Against The Grain (PROTI PROUDU) - Very deep and theological.NvB: Bored in Brno? - Amusing anecdotes and cute gnome.Prague Twin - American in Prague, trying to make sense of global issues.Na-zdravi! Czech food, photos and recipes - yum!Technorati tags: Blog Day 2006; Czech Republic

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156705439486297832006-08-27T20:36:00.000+02:002006-08-30T21:37:15.233+02:00

Call it what you will, the stuff is often mentioned in anecdotal dinner-time conversation.Here in South Africa, we have our own indigenous crops, ranging from Swazi pins to Durban poison. However, I noticed that some guys at Free the Plant recently got all excited about their discovery that it is legal to posses, use, and grow small quantities of the drug for personal use in the Czech Republic.

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156597610337373072006-08-26T14:43:00.000+02:002006-08-27T12:28:08.886+02:00

Some of my best friends are lawyers. However, after years of working as a librarian for a wide range of multinational professional services firms, it has not escaped my attention that there is something very wrong in a world where the pricing of a product can be so vastly removed from the reality of the outputs.Anyway, at the risk of never being employed in the formal sector again, here's an

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156588301070401082006-08-26T12:22:00.000+02:002006-08-26T13:41:04.910+02:00

From the "More-stoopid-people" Hall of shame comes another pathetic tale about a couple who burnt their dog to 'teach it a lesson'.IOL carries a newsflash about a Cape Town couple (of morons?) that recently appeared in the Bellville regional court on charges of cruelty to animals, after the SPCA reported them for setting their pit bull on fire.Duh, so guys, I guess that really must have made the

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156501034024235882006-08-25T11:53:00.000+02:002006-08-26T13:34:59.586+02:00

Take a look at this video clip if you want to gain some insight into the lives of people with HIV/ AIDS living in the rural areas of South Africa. After all, you're hardly likely to get to see this in the mainstream news!I noticed that there is a whole list of related clips alongside this one that might also be worth taking a look at. The idea of being able to access and view stuff like this is

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156189464096428452006-08-21T21:43:00.000+02:002006-08-23T21:08:58.266+02:00

Business in Africa carries an interesting overview of various nanotechnology initiatives currently underway in South Africa.According to reporter John Etkind, this field offers two distinct opportunities for Africa - namely R&D into mineral resources such as gold and platinum as well as in the fight against poverty.The article explores how nanotechnology might benefit African society but warns

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156147932873416222006-08-21T10:01:00.000+02:002006-08-21T22:52:33.440+02:00

An article, dated 20 August 2006, in News Medical, discusses the results of preliminary tests of China's first AIDS Vaccine.Apparently, the initial findings have been very positive. Could China be the first nation to discover a cure? Read China comes up with first AIDS vaccine to decide for yourself.Technorati tags: China; HIV AIDS; vaccine

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156103283975270822006-08-20T21:47:00.000+02:002006-08-21T21:54:02.770+02:00

Google Blogoscoped has a cute piece about a song that bemoans the lonely fate of the average blogger.Click to listen to Nobody Reads My Blog [MP3] Song by Philipp Lenssen.Technorati tags: blog song; Google Blogoscoped; blogging; blog T Shirt

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156103162726065992006-08-20T21:45:00.000+02:002006-08-20T21:46:02.743+02:00

The first time my husband took me to the Czech Republic, we visited his grandparents who live in Karlovy Vary .It was beautiful, but the sight of men driving luxury German motor vehicles, wearing large gold medallions and ignoring street signs made me a little wary. Whether it was just my imagination or a justifiable apprehension, I was concerned about the manner in which these specific

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156067457556818092006-08-20T11:34:00.000+02:002006-08-30T13:56:14.506+02:00

Here are a collection of links that I put together when starting up this blog in order to help myself (and visitors) to connect to useful resources that might improve their blogging experience.Some of the items I included are more philosophical and relate to the purpose of having a blog. Others are practical in that they offer ideas about how to make a blog more visual by adding images (without

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1156072323797458342006-08-20T00:55:00.000+02:002006-08-20T20:33:20.313+02:00

Fortunately, we haven't flown out yet. Please dog, when we finally do, some of the current paranoia will have faded. I have been looking at the USA Today website, which discusses a whole range of alternative cosmetic and personal hygiene product options. Obviously, most are not available in the backwaters of the developing world.... Anyone looking for tips and ideas that might even fit into the

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155739848038937242006-08-16T16:18:00.001+02:002006-08-30T21:35:11.486+02:00

The reason I'm building a list of Czech blogs is so that anyone interested in understanding Czech society can take a virtual tour of these blogs. Some blogs are written by resident Czech's (not a lot, because I mainly picked English language blogs) and Czech people who are living elsewhere - who blog about Czech culture. Other blogs are written by expatriates who are living in the Czech Republic

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155658197788759292006-08-15T18:05:00.000+02:002006-08-15T18:13:50.100+02:00

GOOD NEWS!After we leave, Ma Joyce will have a job and her daughter can stay with her.Now my husband and I need to find work for ourselves, when we get to the Czech Republic....Technorati tags: Development_Economics; compassion; domestic_worker; South_Africa

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155572716639672802006-08-14T06:16:00.000+02:002006-08-17T17:57:11.083+02:00

They say that a picture paints a thousand words and this world map from Wikipedia confirms this.Take a look at the gap between rich and poor by country. The darker the shade of red, the wider the income disparity i.e. the less economic equality there is within a population.I read somewhere that it's not so much the issue of poverty that leads to social unrest, but the fact that there is

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155471779298152622006-08-13T14:22:00.000+02:002006-08-14T18:06:37.663+02:00

It's winter here (13 August 2006). This is the driveway of our home (until next month - when we have to move out). Milla, my daughter, is on her scooter - playing. Look at how the sun is shining. It's a beautiful day in sunny South Africa. How can we ever think of leaving? And yet we are...Powered by CastpostTo view, download Quicktime - FREE Media PlayerTechnorati tags: Quicktime; Czech Republic

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155333543876725472006-08-11T23:55:00.000+02:002006-08-13T14:53:46.503+02:00

The Librarians at LII have once again spotted a real gem, namely the companion website to a 2005 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television series about gender differences that considered the question, "Are men and women's brains wired differently?"BBC's Secrets of the Sexes features the "Sex ID test, a series of visual challenges and questions used by psychologists" in the television

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155239565898317382006-08-10T21:35:00.000+02:002006-08-14T18:08:05.833+02:00

South Africa has a very limited State-run health service for the extremely poor. Many patients die while waiting in the queue to consult with the attending physician. Only the very fortunate few can afford to pay for private medical care. In other countries, State-provided health care is the most common form of medical service for citizens and everyone can expect a fairly similar level of service

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155152338388529092006-08-09T09:28:00.000+02:002006-08-09T21:38:58.406+02:00

According to the Wikipedia, Aerogel is a low-density solid-state material derived from gel in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with gas. I want to get to touch some of this stuff, don't you? Apparently, it feels like styrofoam - which is a bit disappointing, I guess.Technorati tags: aerogel; NASA; Wikimedia Commons

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155068925946691812006-08-08T22:21:00.000+02:002006-08-08T22:41:09.223+02:00

According to David Shore, associate professor in McMaster University's Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, a recent study into so-called change blindness in children reveals that, whilst it might appear that they possess the same ability to observe events, they are in fact unable to interpret what they see in the same way that an adult does.Shore observes that "We expect children

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1155071073715289012006-08-08T11:01:00.000+02:002006-08-08T23:19:59.526+02:00

"In a country where the average monthly wage is around £500, it is already clear that the locals are priced out of the property market," notes Ian Traynor, writing for the Guardian.Furthermore, "given the huge disparities in wealth between western and south-eastern Europe and the eagerness of rich west Europeans to grab a slice of what is marketed as 'the Mediterranean as it used to be', the

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154980682260800122006-08-07T21:45:00.000+02:002006-08-07T21:59:16.920+02:00

The August issue of Pediatrics carries an article about the link between viewing wrestling matches and violent dates. I guess it helps explain why watching this stuff has always repulsed me.Technorati tags: wrestling; dating; violence

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154891101380924802006-08-06T20:42:00.000+02:002006-08-06T21:09:15.920+02:00

I love my four year old so much. When I was pregnant with her we went through some really tough times, financially. We were OK, but it was pretty stressful. I really didn't enjoy her as much as I wanted to because I had to keep working full-time in a very high-powered position that was fraught with office politics. My husband was studying and I was responsible for keeping things going

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154864861414066292006-08-06T13:47:00.000+02:002006-08-06T20:41:59.376+02:00

Cyber Chocolate is the blog of a fellow librarian and chocolate lover. I will definitely follow up sometime and ask her what chocolate is her favourite. That's the best part of the blogosphere - getting tip-offs from fellow bloggers! Who knows - maybe there is life beyond Lindt....Technorati tags: chocolate; Lindt; blog; librarian

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154787976669144002006-08-05T16:19:00.000+02:002006-08-09T16:42:43.946+02:00

Useful article for newcomers to the Czech Republic. Some things to note:- Stale chips and bread on restaurant tables - it's not always free!- Online exhange rate calculators - personally, I prefer OANDA- Taxi cabs versus the airport shuttle- Tipping- Hotel Accomodation- Sightseeing in PragueYou can read the original article here.Another useful travel resources that I recently found is Gadling -

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154683516045375612006-08-04T11:17:00.000+02:002006-08-06T13:59:35.460+02:00

Summary in English: According to the Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny, a new survey published in May 2006 revealed that most Czechs maintain a traditional gender role division. 71% believe that a man should be the one primarily responsible for financial support of the family and over half think a woman should be the primary care giver and performer of domestic duties.Source: My Czech

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154618023520987202006-08-03T17:03:00.000+02:002006-08-06T21:48:48.173+02:00

According to Shamim Karim, writing for the Guardian Unlimited, a recent scientific study indicates that the rate of HIV infection in Africa could decrease by as much as 37% if male circumcision became the norm.However, the anti-circumcision lobby takes exception to the underlying values implicit in these types of research findings.Technorati tags: male circumcision; South Africa; HIV/AIDS

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154595368675224632006-08-03T10:41:00.000+02:002006-08-04T11:31:20.320+02:00

IK Dairo: WikimediaI own an iPod (blush)... It all stems back to my fear of being a techno-peasant... Yes, a third world denizen I may be, but I will not look stupid in front of Westerners flouting their fancy technologies!Stupid iPod... I swear I left it somewhere near the computer last week... Where the f*k is it?Now, I know you're thinking "silly tart - she spent money on something she

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154543495878886202006-08-02T20:15:00.000+02:002006-08-03T17:02:55.940+02:00

The next door neighbour's domestic worker's only son has AIDS. She came to ask me what she should do. Apparently his mind is going. I tried to help but I'm not an expert. She told me that the Doctor has prescribed anti-retrovirals and that she's worried about the side-effects. I told her that they might make him feel worse in the beginning but that he should keep on trying to take them. Then I

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154452109264348262006-08-01T19:06:00.000+02:002006-08-02T20:32:57.603+02:00

The Neoliberal ‘Rebirth’ of Development Economics by Rémy Herrerais an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to understand some of the key issues surrounding current discourse on development economics.In addition, here's a list of recent publications on development economics from Google Scholar.There are also useful overviews on the topic at About.com and Wikipedia.*Please read my previous

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154448509309827202006-08-01T18:05:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:57:26.333+02:00

Choike Newsletter, 31 July 2006.Killing innocent civilians is NOT an act of self-defense.Destroying a sovereign nation is NOT a measured response!Choike website has more about this campaign.Technorati tags: Lebanon; online_campaign; civilians

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154421171584615022006-08-01T10:23:00.000+02:002006-08-02T15:12:31.496+02:00

Here's two pictures of me, taken twenty years apart. There are no prizes for guessing which one is the earlier one (hahaha!)I really wanted to look beautiful in the first picture. I was so in love and felt so insecure and desperate.The second picture I took this morning. No make up, nothing special. Being beautiful at forty does not put food on the table. It means nothing.Technorati tags:

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154420244811953002006-08-01T10:03:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:08:53.033+02:00

If Home is Where the Heart Is...The Doctor who bought our house apparently signed the papers at the transfer attorneys yesterday. I guess that means the house is pretty much sold. This is a picture of our house. So, I can officially say "I had a house in Africa"...I've spent my whole life wondering if I would have to leave. In the beginning it was fear that the apartheid regime would never fall

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154363373906706702006-07-31T18:29:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:24:06.110+02:00

Today the removal guys took the lounge suite. So now we have some scatter cushions to sit on. Hubby says he can organise a temporary couch until we move out. I'm beginning to feel very attached to this house. This is normal for me. I always take things for granted until they're gone...Technorati tags: desolate

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154363285816008832006-07-31T18:27:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:46:26.580+02:00

My sister has a degree in Fine Arts - in fact, the link at the top of my blog is for her website African-cloth. She creates handpainted African cloth (duh!) I have some cushions she made in my lounge. Well, what's left of my lounge, that is!Anyway, she's probably ever done five oil paintings in her life and I love them all. I was lucky enough to be given one of them and it hangs up in my bedroom.

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154362044385040742006-07-31T18:07:00.000+02:002006-08-03T11:46:13.116+02:00

This weekend I took Milla to the Zoo Lake. There was lots of music and dancing and I almost lost her (again) in the crowds.Here's a small snippet from my cell phone of the dancers who were entertaining us (yeah, I know, it's pretty crap AV but I can't be lugging around our relatively enormous DV recorder...)Powered by Castpost Technorati tags: Castpost; Nokia; Parkview; African dancing; Quicktime

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154359535606254632006-07-31T17:18:00.000+02:002006-08-03T11:56:15.090+02:00

Your Inner European is Italian!Passionate and colorful.You show the world what culture really is.Who's Your Inner European?I think it must have been something I ate.... (grin)Technorati tags: Blogthings; Quiz; Inner European

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154359112690165632006-07-31T17:08:00.000+02:002006-08-13T14:59:01.560+02:00

I love chocolate. In a way that makes it the first option that pops into my head when I feel any hunger pangs.Brain: "I'm hungry."Tastebuds to Brain: "Where's the chocolate?"I'm pretty fussy when it comes to the chocolate I eat though. I do have my preferences and I'm unlikely to go for candy a la Hershey bars (tastes like brown soap to me) or Smarties (Ouch! Ouch! That outer shell cuts into my

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154247800567743772006-07-30T10:07:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:37:39.930+02:00

Milla, my daughter, goes to a Montessori school. I chose the school mainly because it is within walking distance of our house. But now, I actually rather appreciate the fact that it follows a more philosophical teaching approach. I think it suits my child - Milla is a bit disconnected from the world around her.Of course I don't want her to stay that way - it carries a whole lot of other

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154195108187035352006-07-29T19:39:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:43:52.890+02:00

Milla (our four year old daughter) spend the night with her Oma (Granny).Today we drove from Johannesburg to fetch her.This is a picture taken from the car while we were driving to Pretoria.Notice the Jacaranda trees, how dry it is and the gorgeous weather (it's mid-winter!)Technorati tags: Tshwane

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154119462263634472006-07-28T22:36:00.000+02:002006-08-10T21:16:17.426+02:00

Book Review: The Google Story by David Vise Co-operatives in South AfricaSANGONeT's Blogging ToolkitThe Internet - by Donkey or by Gautrain?Online Campaigns and Badges for Social NetworkingNGOs, Donors, Development Consultants and Corporate ContactsOnline Fundraising in South AfricaBuilding an SA NGO WikiNuggets of Gold: Search Tips for the InternetRural Women's Movement Wins Special Prize!

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154118003781405642006-07-28T22:11:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:53:29.086+02:00

FUTEF is a new search engine that is currently available in beta. You can find out more here: Welcome to FUTEF!Technorati tags: Wikipedia; FUTEF; Search-Engine

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154098521938730122006-07-28T16:49:00.000+02:002006-08-01T11:59:21.506+02:00

Dominic Swire (Expats.cz) has produced an overview of English-language newspapers, magazines, broadcast media sources and more.... Visit the Expatz website to find out what's available for english speakers living in the Czech Republic. Technorati tags: English_media; Prague; expatriates

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1154009137354583832006-07-27T15:58:00.000+02:002006-08-01T13:08:04.343+02:00

TechSoup has just posted a useful article on writing styles for the Web. You can read it here:Ask TechSoup: How Do I Write for My Web Site?Technorati tags: digital_media; writing_styles

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153936678419357952006-07-26T19:48:00.000+02:002006-08-01T13:10:07.863+02:00

Source: WikimediaI got sent to a corporate function last night. Sent, not invited. The invitation was handed down until it reached me. I am the only other person with access to private transport. Lovely!It was one of those functions where political correctness takes top priority. All very African "themed" with the MC quoting PC poetry and a local band of African musicians.I liked the music and

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153936032459860522006-07-26T19:41:00.000+02:002006-08-01T13:11:40.190+02:00

I learnt something new today - apparently China is heading up the adoption of Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) because the world is running out of IP numbers using the older IPv. Anyway, I found two interesting articles explaining what this means, here are the links: CIO: China Builds a Better Internet Techworld: What you need to know about IPv6 Technorati tags: IPv6; China

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153727976627556622006-07-24T09:53:00.000+02:002006-08-01T13:13:48.553+02:00

Image: OpenClipartCharles Arthur, writing for the UK Guardian observes that "It's an emerging rule of thumb that suggests that if you get a group of 100 people online then one will create content, 10 will "interact"with it (commenting or offering improvements) and the other 89 will just view it. "In his article he quotes Bradley Horowitz of Yahoo, who pointed out in his blog Elatable that much

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153682852528799192006-07-23T21:22:00.000+02:002006-08-02T10:59:01.886+02:00

According to the Wikipedia "Fever" is a song credited to Eddie Cooley and John Davenport (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell). It was published in 1956 and originally recorded by Little Willie John as an early Rock'n'Roll song; a more popular cover version was recorded by Peggy Lee in 1958.Anyway, for all those sad bastards like me, who never quite got to establishing a recording career (ha ha),

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153677489606000512006-07-23T19:53:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:01:56.730+02:00

WikiMedia: English as she is SpokeBelow is a collection of websites that are recommended by the people working at the Scout Report (these are professional librarians who scour the internet looking for credible online tools and resources which they then notify their audience of - FREE!).ESL Goldhttp://www.eslgold.com/Gold is a precious commodity, and the quest to obtain even modest amounts of

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153676108224802082006-07-23T19:33:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:04:01.140+02:00

See: ILFA website (pdf file). Technorati tags: Cuba; librarians; IFLA

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153644204224210262006-07-23T10:40:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:06:05.850+02:00

This is a picture of me and Milla, soon after she was born in 2001.She had colic and screamed constantly.During a brief moment of respite, my husband took this photo.I felt (and looked) like death warmed up!Technorati tags: motherhood; sleep; newborn

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153592658580572222006-07-22T20:06:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:07:38.866+02:00

So today I arrive back from tea at Moyo's (yeah, yeah) with my friend Jools. My arrival coincides with my hubby's - he is currently borrowing granpa's Mitsubishi 4wd and I am in the Toyota Corolla, with my baby girl in the back seat.He arrives at the house first and pulls into the driveway. I follow in the Corolla. Next minute he is gesturing at me fiercely. It it one of those "shoo pigeon shoo!"

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153591197543255372006-07-22T19:56:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:09:46.713+02:00

According to the Wikipedia "Iko Iko" is a popular song, covered by many artists. The song, with the original title "Jock-A-Mo," was written around 1950 by James Crawford in New Orleans, but has rapidly become subsumed into the folk song repertoire - so much so that many people are under the impression that the song is much older. It was written as a Mardi Gras song building upon various Mardi

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153490462680244942006-07-21T15:54:00.002+02:002006-08-02T11:13:01.080+02:00

My husband cracks up every time he thinks about me trying to tend to a field of potatoes. Ha bloody ha! I say.... Van Gogh: Woman Lifting Potatoes, 1885Technorati tags: potato-picker; Van_Gogh; Bourgeois_Feminist

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153490452328598102006-07-21T15:54:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:10:50.430+02:00

Wikipedia: Easter bunnyMy daughter (who's four) just loves it when I play this -click on the link to hear the Easter Bunny Rap. Technorati tags: Easter_Bunny_Rap

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153477517629442242006-07-21T12:24:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:15:38.890+02:00

What I Think I will Miss Most- The weather - the sun shines 90% of the time.- Having a housekeeper and someone who helps look after my baby girl.- People who smile and say "hello" even when they don't know you.- The sense of patience and tolerance that many people convey.- Driving on the left hand side of the road.- Speaking English.- My family and friends.- No more highveld thunder storms.-

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153473670276992392006-07-21T11:18:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:17:22.246+02:00

"Libraries have changed since your grandmother was a kid. Sure, we still have books, but we have so much more... Take a peek around Info*Nation and discover what a career in libraries might look like - we know you'll find more than you think."Visit the Info*Nation website , part of a Canadian initiativeset up to attract people to a career in the libraries and information management.Technorati

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153473446346794302006-07-21T11:15:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:20:04.763+02:00

This nationwide (US) survey of bloggers found that "most are focused on describing theirpersonal experiences to a relativelysmall audience of readersand that only a small proportion focus their coverageon politics, media, government, or technology."A 2006 report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project,an initiative funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Download: http://www.pewinternet.org/

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153080360767909402006-07-16T21:59:00.000+02:002006-08-15T18:02:55.986+02:00

I know, I know - this is not by any means a post encouraging ANYONE to use artificial sweeteners. It's more like a post about rating your favourite alchoholic beverage if you're 21 or over etc...Anyone who is diabetic or has blood sugar problems and can't shake their "two spoons of sugar per one Café Latté" habit, might want to pick up a few ideas from me, based on my hard-earned experience (ha!

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153079519528259702006-07-16T21:51:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:23:26.193+02:00

This is such an indigenous and memorable experience.The whole staff gather and sing the kids Happy Birthday.It's something we'll never experience anywhere else in the whole world, I'm sure! Powered by CastpostTechnorati tags: birthday; Africa; Quicktime

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1153079306375040082006-07-16T21:37:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:24:53.136+02:00

I'm technically illiterate so this is as good as it gets for anyone wanting to see a video clip of the Winnie the Pooh entourage that I got dragged into attending on behalf of my four year old daughter. Enjoy....... I took it using my Nokia 6600 so it's pretty fuzzy.Powered by CastpostTechnorati tags: Winnie_The_Pooh; Quicktime

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152709906580604002006-07-12T15:06:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:26:53.943+02:00

Aaarrgghhh (and not a pirate's aaarrrghhh!) I am trying to learn some Czech and it's really hard for me to get the pronunciation right. Also, there's this gender and context "thing" going on, which means that you have to learn to modify nouns depending on how you are using them. At least I think that's what it means....?The BBC has a cool section where they provide some audio files for people

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152612861316373562006-07-11T12:04:00.000+02:002006-08-15T18:05:40.676+02:00

This is a picture of my daughter with her caregiver, Ma Joyce Mamashela. When we leave, Ma Joyce will not have any source of income. I worry about this every day. How will she feed herself and take care of her four children?There is very little state support for people her age and the employment rate is very low here. Very few people have formal employment and our caregiver never received enough

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152562194272812532006-07-10T22:05:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:31:52.040+02:00

Website Effectiveness by Bowen Craggs, 6 July 2006• The URL: www.spannerworks.com• The site: According to Bowen Craggs, "Spannerworks, a UK-based search engine marketing agency, highlights a Free SEO (search engine optimisation) Toolkit on its home page. The kit consists of six tools that allow users to check different aspects of their website’s performance in relation to its visibility to search

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152561903925920952006-07-10T21:59:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:34:24.893+02:00

Kinu PiktogramosChina has recently launched a website offering free Chinese lessonsand materials to promote the study and use of the language abroad.More info: I4D Online net Technorati tags: Chinese_language; website

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152476826384355802006-07-09T22:15:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:36:14.376+02:00

Czech Granpa and his second wife live in a "poes pienk" mansion thingy on the mountainside just above Jablonec town centre. Step granma keeps a mean garden, tending to it with such dedication as to leave a vrot-fingered non-vegetarian like me taking shelter in my dungeon. Anyway, the point here, really, is that our little family will be taking refuge in the flat above the garage behind this

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1152385508215263752006-07-08T21:02:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:38:15.293+02:00

A stunning photo taken by my sister on a recent trip to theHex River Valley, Western Cape, South Africa.Technorati tags: Hex_River_Valley; Western_Cape; South_Africa

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1151786043396691912006-07-01T22:06:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:45:06.993+02:00

I have lived such a brilliantly fabulous life of undiluted privilege only marred by my completely poor timing.Let me ask you, which is better - to start life with every advantage or to end it that way? The latter would be my preference (obviously), given that this would probably enhance the satisfaction of knowing what privilege really is and enjoying it at the same time.My misfortune is that my

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1151659670309053052006-06-30T11:27:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:48:32.640+02:00

Want this badge?Technorati tags: chocolate; organic; social_justice; WordofBlog

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1151325016100209582006-06-26T14:26:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:50:56.986+02:00

Pambazuka News, 23 June 2006."Don’t care where you come from, As long as you’re a black man, you’re an African. Don’t mind your nationality, you have got the identity, of an African," - Peter Tosh.According to Jarka Halkova "before 1945 most Czechoslovak citizens had never even met a black person. But ever since the first black soldier entered the country with General Patton's Third Army in April

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22650850.post-1150022638033026062006-06-11T12:38:00.000+02:002006-08-02T11:54:30.246+02:00

Wikipedia: Sexynose (GNU license v.1.2) Haha. On the plane I read an article about some Doctor who claims that eating your own snot (crusties/ boogers/ schnarlies) is actually good for you. Anyway, when I came back I decided to search Google for an online article to send to some of the moms I know.You gotta love the Google search rank algorithm, cos' I found the relevant news item and alongside

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336376029187616381noreply@blogger.com0