“Those subterranean seas of methane virtually reshaped the planet when they explosively blew from deep beneath the waters of what is today called the Gulf of Mexico.

Now, worried scientists are increasingly concerned the same series of catastrophic events that led to worldwide death back then may be happening again-and no known technology can stop it.

The bottom line: BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling operation may have triggered an irreversible, cascading geological Apocalypse that will culminate with the first mass extinction of life on Earth in many millions of years.

The oil giant drilled down miles into a geologically unstable region and may have set the stage for the eventual premature release of a methane mega-bubble.

The warning signs of an impending planetary catastrophe—of such great magnitude that the human mind has difficulty grasping it-would be the appearance of large fissures or rifts splitting open the ocean floor, a rise in the elevation of the seabed, and the massive venting of methane and other gases into the surrounding water.

All three warning signs are documented to be occurring in the Gulf.”

They reckon it could all be over in 6 months time. Both BP and the US federal government is serious about keeping scientists and reporters away with threats of fines of up to $40 000 and / or federal charges, yet some of the fissures have been spotted by civilian vessels up to 30 miles away.

Methinks it’s time to watch less TV and do some stuff outside while one still can.

When I got to work this morning I could hardly speak so the boss was kind enough to let me go feel sorry for myself elsewhere. Freedom!!

A cosy morning in bed and then back to work. I decided to not wait until Saturday to move the remaining stuff to Refilwe, but rather get it done this afternoon – pics to follow. My storage requirement is rapidly shrinking – woohooo! I’ve also seen the progress the guys are making and listened to James talking to the volunteers: they are serious about a self sustaining organic environment – I’m so excited to be able to witness the evolution of their project.

I have placed my bets and I’m now absolutely certain it was the best thing I could have done with the equipment. Sure, I could have sold it and probably bought myself a plane ticket to Europe or somewhere else I want to go, but it would have been a tedious and drawn out process with little satisfaction. I KNOW I’ll be going back to visit these people again and again, and seeing my small contribution grow into something more than the sum of the parts will be priceless.

However, the night, not eating and the hard work caught up with me, so I let my inner girl out and soaked in a hot tub… but only after making food fit for a king – a weird mix of mince, pasta and stewing sauce. Awesome!!

The weekend is looking good too: spoiled for choice of entertainment and company tomorrow night. An almost errand free Saturday, followed by more difficult decisions regarding which excellent entertainment offerings to peruse…. <sigh> Life’s tough! Muahahahahaha!

PS: The girl in the pic looks tired, like me, so that’s the reason for the pic. Promise.

“But in days past, I was a lawyer. Yes, a lawyer, can you believe it? It seems….ridiculous now, doesn’t it? An orderly system meant to govern human society, to establish justice, to advance the progress and enlightenment of the human race. Yet that system, that civil cosmos – to which I was so passionately committed – embraced and protected the most wretched evils, entrenched the powerful in their unjust privilege, oppressed the poor and weak most relentlessly and wickedly, yet at every step – at every step – sang hosannas to itself as some kind of divinity. The “Law” – oh, what a hush of reverence surrounded that word, how deeply that reverence and respect penetrated the heart. Well, my heart, anyway. But in these last few years we have seen – in intense, concentrated, microscopic view – the truth about the law, a truth which too often escaped us in the slow unrolling of peacetime. The truth that there is no law, no Platonic Form out there to which we give paltry representation. There is only power: power in conflict with power, power seeking to drive out power, to establish its dominance, maintain its privilege. Power…acquiesces to law – sometimes – but it never, never bows to it. Power goes along with the law when it is convenient to do so, when it is not too restrictive, when it demands little more than the occasional sacrifice – for the powerful are certainly not above throwing one of their own to the mob when circumstances require. But when it comes to the crisis, power shreds the law like a filthy rag and has its own way. And then you see that the law is nothing but a rag, to be torn and patched and fitted to power’s aims. The worst atrocities I have seen or heard of in this war have been committed wholly and completely under the law. This thing I held in such reverence was, is, nothing but a scrap soaked with blood and shit.

Wow, what a week. It feels like a lifetime since last weekend, in a good way. Not that I’m not REALLY looking forward to leaving work today, but it’s been a good week packed full of interesting conversations, new opportunities, ironing, washing floors and sleeping like a log in my now almost totally dark bedroom. I’ve settled in to my new place - it’s sorta starting to feel like mine and it’s comfortable.

I also found out that I have the entire top story to myself, which in a meaningless sort of way is quite nice. King of the hill

So, what’s new you ask?

I’ve organised a trip to Wellingtons Dome<whoohoo>.

I’m getting to see an old friend tomorrow and then I’ve got a small freelance job to make up for some of the millions I’ve been spending the past couple of weeks with the move.

In my post last week I spoke of my “Teach a man to fish” project: I’ve now made contact with Vernon who sounds very keen on the project, and who I believe will be getting back to me soon with possible venues to set up the project - this is a very exciting development for me and I’m very anxious to see the end result.

I was fortunate to see this slide show on climb.co.za - I have no idea how large the entire stream is, but it’s well worth it, promise. View it in full screen mode if possible, and make sure to have your headset / speakers turned on (tip: buy them chocolates and whisper dirty little things to them, usually does the trick ) A must for anyone into photography and / or climbing. Or just beautiful stuff. Or something

Rock Climbing Slideshow by Dirk Smith from Dirk Smith on Vimeo.

And then for some more inspiration, something quite different. To quote the source site, TED: “Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story.”

Astonishing indeed.

And to top things off, I’ve been having a relaxed afternoon at work following an intense medieval LAN battle with my co-workers. My washing is done, I just need to pick it up, then pick a spot with suitably hot chicks to have a cocktail at before heading home. Who knows what the rest of the night holds?!

(From IOL)

“The African National Congress (ANC) views the granting by Canada of a refugee status to South African citizen Brandon Huntley on the grounds that Africans would ‘persecute’ him, as racist,”  the party said in a statement.

…Willie Spies, legal spokesperson for civil rights initiative AfriForum, established by traditionally white trade union Solidarity, accused the government of indifference over the rights of minorities.

“The mere fact that the race card is so often played by people in positions of power and positions of authority, is definitely a red light as far as we are concerned,” he said in response to Huntley’s case “

OK ANC, we’ve got no problems. Whites are not being targeted, and are given an equal opportunity at employment and being scalded to death with boiling water (here and here, just the top two on google…). Weekly reports of old defenseless non-AA compliant people being tortured to death for little more than pocket change & a TV set is just run of the mill Africa I guess.

Reading articles like this “It was like Beirut. Even my deaf aunt said she heard a knocking sound, but I recognised it as automatic gunfire” on a weekly basis comforts me that Mr. Corruption-Charges-Dodged-Zuma and his crime ridden police force has my back? Yeah right.

I admit I think this Huntley took a chance, but the fact that educated people from a first world country sided with him is frightening. I think we’re the classic example of a frog slowly brought to boil, our exposure to daily violence distored our sense of reasonable safe living conditions. Numbed.

What gets me the most is that they, our goverment,  never admit the problem. Crime stats are not published since it makes them look bad. Every time something goes wrong, or they just plain screw it up beyond fixability, it gets blamed on racism. I’ve yet to see any changes, and I honestly fear that after the much touted 2010 world cup has come & gone, all the motivation to keep up pretences of running a legitimate country will be gone, and we’ll be sliding down the slope of becoming just another African country real fast.

I hope I’m wrong, really, but I see no evidence to suggest otherwise. The fact that these cartoons are all old jokes, and we actually laugh at it despite it being true, is rather sad.

Haven’t you wondered, haven’t you guessed
Haven’t you dreamed what’s coming round next
Haven’t you foreseen, master plan
All of this hold it in your hand
Deep inside you light a flame don’t you stay
down just get up again
Can’t you hear it, it’s a sign
To live (x4) this life

Now there’s something (x2) that’s changed me
Getting older, a little bolder
I can see a new surrounding (yeah!)

Life’s about perception, hope that you can see the proof
If you’re living in a palace or you got no roof
Stop complaining all the time, go now.

Come and go what to say
Make a move stop running away
Live this life, everyday,
Live on now

Time is of the essence, try to keep track
Once it’s gone(x2) it’s never ever coming back
Sometimes hard to handle (yeah)

Please forgive me for the times when I just did not see you
I didn’t realise what I had or what I put you through
Feel it coming, ticking, chiming

Come and go what to say
Make a move stop running away
Live this life, everyday
Live on now