What do we know about corruption?

Or rather about the effects of corruption?
We know, that it weakens the economy. Ant that is only, if you are lucky.
A weakened economy may recover itself. In time. But what about other effects? For instance: effects on social security. Effects on safety? Effects on peoples life. And I mean this in a life or death way of the word.

There are countries in Europe, where corruption does not only effect the economy, it very distinctly effects social security. If you are rich: do not worry one bit. You can always buy some sort of social security. If you are poor: be afraid! Be very afraid. Because you may not get any social security. Not, if you can not bribe anybody to give it to you. Not, if you can not pay the risen fees. So what do you do? Start a career as a beggar for tourists? Open a Trattoria? A Taverna? A Pub? An Icecream-Shop? Souvenir-Shop perhaps? Portable? If you are in Europe, that might work, provided you live in a country, that People visit a lot. So there would be a lot of tourists to buy the souvenirs you offer. Then you only have to worry where you get the souvenirs you offer. And where to sell them without a work-permit.

If on the other hand, you live in Westafrica, the disability to pay some bribe can cost you your life. On the other hand: so can the simple disinclination.
I have just read an article by Thomas Mättig in the Zeit-Magazine (online) in which he describes, that corruption of nigerian politicians causes the state not to be able to work on the military security. There are military-education-programs, have been before by the british, are offered by Germany. Unfortunately, they are apparently not coordinated. The Money given for these schoolings is not used for it, but does not even reach it.
But a strong military, that learns to respect human rights and works without killing the innocents, is needed very much.

So the effect of corruption in Nigeria is, that people get killed. For not paying bribe, for not believing "right" for whatever angers the people who have the wapons and wish to use them. Because of corruption, the military can not be reformed and learn to work FOR the people, not against.
Because the money goes to corrupt politicians, people there call the policeforce there: "Kill and go".

I am certainly seeing that from a very comfortable post. I am living in a state, where there cerainly is some corruption somewhere. But the effects are not as harsh. Corruption comes, where greed can grow. And greed grows, where there is a lot to win and where the worth of life is seen to be only in money. But seeing, that we have a very secure social system and very strict laws in Germany, the chances, that the police will go berserk and kill people, if the don't pay a bribe are a long way off. Or at least it seems to me to be though. Corruption in Germany. At least the sort of corruption that is detected, is mostly economical greed. So far, I have not found or even searched for political corruption in Germany, but somehow I do not think, that it is very big scale. Though politicians do not really get as much money as the money-moguls, they do have a good deal of security that they could loose. And there is the reputation to be considered.

So, not knowing much yet, I am living with the happy feeling, that german politicians are not very corrupt, at least if they have to fear the loss of securities and reputation. That does not make them better human beings, but at least they don't risk other peoples lifes. That's something.

And to end on a happier note (or some such thing): we can reinstate the inquisition, if they get too daring in corrupt undertakings - or start at all -

Now: I do not wish to hurt religious feelings. The REAL Inquisition was a very bad thing, no need to ay it really, everyone knows that. 

What I mean is: if people had to really fear an inquisition even of the sort in the film, maybe they would think about other ways to get rich, that won't hurt other people. 

One last admission: when I first saw this song in the film, I did not listen to the text at all. Most probably I didn't understand most of the text then. I just loved it for the melody. It is a fun melody. And at about 14 I did not much think about the pictures as well. 

Let take this sort of inquisition as a way to make very corrupt people think twice or more - where needed - before they embark on corruption.

COLD

Yesterday I have been walking with two of my girls and it was really cold. I had on a wollen shirt, two fleece-jackets, a rainjacket, two woollen caps, my jeans, two pairs of thick tights, two pairs of woollen socks and my woollen gloves. So you would think, that I was dressed warm enough. Especially, since I was walking.

But when I got home, my legs were ice-cold. Brrrrr. So I decided not to go shopping, if I had enough food at home. And going through my cupboards, and my pantry, I found I did. And I was really glad.
So what did I do? I listened to Pride and Prejudice and knitted a woollen cap.. My friend asked me - quite rightly - wether I wasn't already able to talk along with the book. And that is, for some parts at least, quite right.
But I just love the story. I found, that I prefer this one and Persuasion.
I do like Elinor from Sense and Sensibility, but Marianne gets on my nerves. And so does Emma Woodhouse. Fanny Price has some wit, but she is not always as sure of herself, as she can be. So sometimes, she is annoying, as is Anne Elliott. But they have charms. Anyway, Mansfield Park is very nice as well. On the whole. And a story, that Miss Austen wasn't able to finish: The Watsons, also Sanditon. Though with Sanditon it depends on who finished the story. There are at least two versions. Or let us say, I read two versions. And one was really lovely, but I can't find it anymore. Well, maybe one day I will find it again.

Right now I am not going to buy books, because I have so many unread books at home, I don't need any more books lying about unread. Plus there are things to read for school as well. Therefore, I will now go into research mode and then into fun-reading mode.

Keep warm and happy! I will for sure....

Security by any other name

is still security.

Or not.

I have just installed a new security-system against computer-viruses. So that is a good thing. Had a scan too, and so far I was lucky, the machine is safe. I am talking of the new machine, the old one was safe already.

Tomorrow I shall have to do my talk and I am not really convinced of what I did. So I have to kill my special presentation and hope for the best.

My advantage is, that I have more life and experience than my two co-presenters. My disadvantage is, that they have more material. So that is not so nice. But I only have to pass, I don't have to do it with glowing colours. So today I will do some more preparations and tomorrow I will get there, all relaxed and do a very good presentation, in order to get that over with. But I am not secure - as yet - about this presentation.

And I really hate exams. On the other hand: that will be one exam I won't have to do again. And I can then concentrate on other school-related stuff.

Other than that I do have a lot of security: I have my job, my flat, my family, my friends, great parts of my health, my happyness. I can hear and see and smell and taste and touch. I can be afraid and I can be brave.

I speak two languages fluently and understand one very well. Also I do understand a little of two more languages and I can say simple sentences in others. Just to brag, I have to build up my self assurance here.
And I only have a couple of hours before I start. :-)

At any rate: I am a very lucky person especially because I know that I am lucky. That is something. How many people in the world are lucky and do not even know it. Do you? I hope so and wish you to get even more luck and happyness.... If you can read this it means a lot:
you can see, you can read, you have the chance to use a computer. Millions of people can't do one or the other or none of this. So say thank you now!
No matter who two, it will reach the right source of your personal luck and happyness!!

Negativity

I don't really like it, because it always pulls me down and makes me feel bad. And I don't like to feel bad. Why should I. Anyhow: sometimes it just gets over me and I have a bout of it now. Why? You don't ask?
Because I have to do a talk on wednesday. It is an exam. It would not be so very bad, if I had to do it on my own, but I have to do it with the two girls, who are not really trustworthy. Well, one of them is not, but she pulls the other one any way she wants to. That wouldn't bother me eigher, but the puller is one who is out for her own advantage. Thus she had the prof to practically dictate her her part. And they are both not answering my mails. Well. I can do that on my own, I don't mind that. But it is annoying and if they don't send anything today, then we get into trouble. Because I cannot do it tomorrow. And if they try to get behind me and let me stand there as stupid I will have to show them, that they got the wrong person to do it with. :-) Not my problem, I will not have some silly girls wreck my exam. I consider it their learning curve...

Whatever. Other than that I have tummy-ache. But that is not due to the situation, as I have that in hand (see above), it is because I made a decision and have yet to impart it to someone, before I can impart it here or anywhere else. AND I did definitely not eat well and healthy. So I suffer, but it is my own fault and therefore I do not complain.

Hey, but something good that happened? I got on well in my class. I was useful, I had a nice, short and refreshing nap, I got on with some knitting as well and I am listening to Paul O'Grady. That is  all great. Oh and it was a lovely, spring-like day today, all my busses and trains where on time and I saw a beautiful sunset. Loved it. And I had my hair cut, it looks nice again as well. I was lucky there, too. My stylist was back from her holidays. Yeah.

So, that is it. Good Night:(just because it is a happy song and I love it)

And now to fast

I have been thinking about fasting. In a chat with a colleague I got the idea to fast on television e.g.: not watch it.
Now that is not a real challenge, since there hardly ever is anything on to make it a hard thing.
So just now I decided to reduce computer-time and cut facebook-time.
I shall have to go online at least once a day to work on something for school, but I will reduce that to writing and checking school related e-mail, plus writing here as well. But that should not take no more than about an hour a day. Especially if I make notes ahead and do research mostly in books and not online.
I have taken facebook out of my bookmarks on my new computer and will do so in a little while on the old one. After easter I will re-evaluate: should I not have missed fb, I will probably go out of it altogether. I might miss the games, but that would be tough luck.
I can read all my books, get more sports in, go out into the good fresh air more. This way the time is well spend.

Also I will reduce my bed-time to 9.00 am to 5.30 pm. If I feel the need to sleep, I will do so on my sofa, but I hope to reduce that need a lot. Not in the 40 days or less until easter, but in general. It should work out somehow.

Then reducing cappuccino seems a good idea, but that is not written in stone, as I love my cappuccino and don't want to go cold turkey on it.

That is about all the cutting that I shall do, I think. It is quite a lot really. But it all works together, if you look at it closer...

All the best to whoever reads this....

Sixty

No, that is not my age, nor my weight or the year I was born: it is the number of posts I did for this blog.

So 60 posts. I am rather proud at myself. It all works quite well right now.
School is fine, home is fine, health is mainly fine and the weather is fitting for winter. Freezing cold, but we know colder and so I am not complaining, just stating.

Today I got some information on our Graduation-Festivities at the end of August this year. It is not so very easy and it is suddenly so very close. Especially considering, that I seem to have only just started out. Weird.

How will I survive to just work for the rest of my working life? No school. No time off, no holidays.... La dolce vita will be ended. On the other hand I won't have to take any more exams. That is a nice thought as well. I will survive.... :-)

Other than that: I baked a bread yesterday (or my machine did) and it went well. Ayurvedic life goes well and I lost a little more weight. Great.

This is all, that I can think of right now. So I will end this here and now.
With a song by Marvin Hamlish, because just now I am listening to it and it is really nice:

I've got rhythm

.... back. And what I mean is: I am partly back into the ayurvedic swing. Today I managed to get up early and do my yoga-stretches and not only my Gashana. So: it is getting better.

My cut is healing, my leg is hurting less. Life is good. What else could it be? Exactly.

Now, yester-night I had the sneaky feeling, that a presentation I thought was due on the 20th this month would be actually due this wednesday. So I jumped out of bed at 11.20 pm or so and flew to my computer. And following the list it was so.
That would not have been so bad, had I finished my part of the presentation. But I hadn't. So until 1.10 am this morning, I worked on finishing this part and then saved it on a USB-Stick and packed that in my schoolbag. I was completely done in, but wound up and couldn't sleep until at least 2.15 pm. BUT I got up at 5.45 pm and caught the early bus. 
Anyway. I came to school and talked to the others involved and it turned out, that there was a mistake in the list and my memory wasn't at fault, it is the 20th. So I can do a little more work on my part and fine-tune it.
PLUS: the other two had done about nothing on their parts. So I actually felt very much better for my effort. Is that nasty? I was mainly relieved to be given a little more time than I thought to have.

On my home I interrupted my ayurvedic eating with mcdonald. Not good, but I did not like to hunt for something else. I had to wait 20 Minutes for my train, because the one I wanted to take was canceled. No idea why, I didn't ask. Waste of energy.
Once I was home, I did some playing and a little TV, but by 2.30 pm I was so tired, I went to sleep and didn't get up before 6.30 pm. Oy. But I feel better for it.

No I have worked on the presentation again and on the list of the used literature. I have both send to the other two girls and only have to do some fine-tuning on the texts. But not today. Today is Thesis-Time. I have to work in the corrections and to change the literature-list and it all has to be sent off and printed. I have to give it to the office on Friday.

Today was a good day, all in all and at least so far I did get things done. Therefore I go into the week with a little more enthusiasm and hope. 
Why did I not work on Monday? Because of Carnival there was no school on Monday. That is one thing I love about it.

As to the Pope leaving office: personally I think, that is a wise decision. Why should he shovel through the hard work, if he is really very thick? Just because every other Pope (except one) did that? But what would that help the Catholic Church? It is better, he steps off and back and rests. For the man at the very least.. Just because something hadn't been done for centuries does not mean, it must not be done. So: it was a good decision for both sides. And from what I heard and read about him, it was not an easy decision at all for him.

But now back to our endpicture/endfilm. In accordance with the title of this post I chose this:

It is snowing

As I mentioned before, I love it, when it snows. I love to move in snows or just look at snow from the inside.
But at this weekend, I would have wished for all the people on the street who are watching the parades and all those in the parades, that it didn't snow.
Because this is not just cold. It is wet as well and wet cold is something really very nasty. Especially if you are standing around in your wet clothes without a chance to get them dry. Brrrr...

Well, but it looks very nice. It had snowed last night. Fortunately I saw that before I got dressed, so I could put on an extra peel of warmth. I gave a beggar getting into an extra blanket 2 €, so hopefully he can buy himself a coffee with it. And something to eat. But I really have to do more in that corner.

Today I did work on one of my many open projects - school-related - by at least opening a file on my old computer. Which reminds me: did I mention, that I now have two computers standing? Both with internet-connection, but one with a printer and a security-program installed. So I do all the writing for school there, so at least that Data is safe. I will write on my Thesis again today. And once I am finished here, I will work on some other subject. 

Oh, I also managed to go through shops, without buying anything. Send off a parcel with some games and DVDs, that I sold, also bought something against my cough, but I did not buy any snacks or magazines or books or knick-knacks. So I was proud of myself. I did see some interesting things, but bought none.

I did buy a pizza and a coke on my way home and used the waiting time to read first in the book of Dr. Wayne Dyer "The Power of Intention" and then got some idea for one of my projects, that I wrote down. And that was, what I used at home (as I mentioned).
So, it was time well spend. Still. My learning efforts leave space upwards... 
At least it can only get better. It is not, that I am stupid, it is more my personal resistance against using my energy for anything but sleep. Ah well, It'll come. It always does. Now I will have a cuppa and then go on working. But I leave you with something..

I'm back to the coughing again

yes, the text of the song is different. But somehow it came to mind this way. So that's why.
Still, I have a couple of days off from school and I will use them for spring-cleaning and learning.

At least I slept well last night. I went down early, about 7.45 pm, due to the cough and I made it until about 3 am. So in my book that is a night well slept. Then I kept waking up, but I stayed in bed until an hour ago.

Today I will only learn and write, but tomorrow it will be mainly cleaning.
It is carnival here in Germany and people run riot on Weiberfastnacht.
No, I cannot translate that. I do not know, if there even is one translation in existence. And if there is, it won't give the full meaning of it.

In my dislike for things carnival, I am rather unique in the wide circle of my friends and family, but since I don't go to any parties, just to sit their with a sour face, taking off anyone elses fun, I don't see the problem. I keep to myself and let the others party.

Due to the coughing and an oncoming headache - because auf the coughing - I will end it here, but with the correct song, I started with in the heading:

Work at thinking

I find it very hard to work at thinking these days. Which depresses me. Really. But at least I got on with my thesis a bit and collected some information on another topic.

On Tuesday I go to the library and get a membership. Until then I shall have to come up with a list of books I might wish do rent from the national library of germany. Then I can get on with a couple of things.

With one topic a friend of mine helped big time, by giving information, on the others I actually have to do most of the thinking myself. And that is not easy. Really not easy, if you ask me... But it has to be done.

Meanwhile, I got on with my ayurvedic life, by skipping breakfast and having a substantial lunch. I meet part of my family today and then will have a salat. I will also do my Gashana. Late in the day, but better than not at all. Yoga I skipped though. Ah, well.

I am enjoying myself anyway. And I am very lucky to have these choices to begin with. I don't have to fight to survive, to pay bills, to keep the roof over my head, to keep my job. I can juggle with these things. Maybe I have too much time on my hand. Who knows.

As I do have all this time, I will now do something about constitutional rights and maybe social rights as well. Therefore I stop here, leaving you with a picture to contemplate.

Back to health again

Due to my nasty cold and cutting my finger, I really let myself go. Fortunately not worse than before I decided to try Ayurveda, but bad enough. So I book that under "experience" and go back to the beginning.

Meaning: I will have my propper times and rituals and eat propperly as well. I already payed for unhealthy eating. My stomach did not feel well at all. So it is absolutely time to start again.

It is made a little easier for me, because for one part, it is the weekend and the adjustment is easy. For another: I will have some time off due to carnival, starting on wednesday and ending on the following monday. That should helpl

But I will not only go back to Ayurveda, I will pull my spring-Cleaning ahead, work on a lot of school-stuff and get a move on again. And do some washing, ironing and mending. Added to that I will have some more time to read. And that's nice, too. I do have so many books unread, lying or standing about, it is time I actually read them. :-)
 Now that I come to think of it: I shall put the kettle on and enjoy a good Nora Roberts Novel. In bed, until it is either time to sleep or I am too tired to read.

Right now and here it is 5.54 pm. My scheduled bedtime is 9.00 pm. Lots of time to read ahead. On my sofa, as I am not supposed to read in my bed. But maybe I will bend the "rules" there. After all: I am not reading horror, I read fun. :-)
And for you now some sunshine, since the weather is not yet springlike: