Breast milk (as opposed to artificial milk that the food industry is trying to force upon us) has many benefits.
1. Superior nutrition
2. Less Diarrhea
3. Greater immune health
4. Higher Intelligence
5. Long term health effects
6. Fewer infections
7. Less atopy
8. Protection against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
9. Health Effects for mothers
10.Bonding
11.Hormone Release
12.Weight loss
13.Natural postpartum infertility
woensdag 16 maart 2011
dinsdag 8 maart 2011
My Name is Fastolph Proudfoot
You can find everything on Facebook. Most apps are of course total rubbish and a waste of time, but every now and then there is a little gem. Like this Hobbit Name Generator that generates...your Hobbit name, yes, how did you guess?
Anyway, I'm called Fastolph Proudfoot and please use that name from now on when you are addressing me. The Lord of the Rings wants it so.
Because the Facebook link does not seem to work I will put the link to the "real-world" website here: Hobbit Name Generator
Anyway, I'm called Fastolph Proudfoot and please use that name from now on when you are addressing me. The Lord of the Rings wants it so.
Because the Facebook link does not seem to work I will put the link to the "real-world" website here: Hobbit Name Generator
maandag 7 maart 2011
Tom Waits Until Spring - A Review
On Wednesday January 14th 2009 I went to the Roma, an old cinema in Borgerhout (Antwerp) that has been converted into a multi-cultural area. Multi-cultural because it offers many cultural events for different kinds of audiences. This time it was a tribute to Tom Waits, a so-called "fantastic" programme about Tom Waits in a Late Night smoky Bar.
The musicians were Antje De Boeck (voice) - a famous Flemish actress, Jef Neve (piano) and Rony Verbiest (accordeon). Tom Waits' voice can be described as a low, raw, almost rumbling voice. Very similar to Antje De Boeck's voice, somebody must have thought. I liked the result a lot.
However, the concert started differently from what I had expected. Antje De Boeck first brought a fairy-tale about the last boy in the world. You could sense that the audience didn't really know what to do with it either, but it became clear during the performance that this little boy represented Tom Waits who has his own peculiar way of looking at the world.
Then followed some entertainment that can only be described as perfect. Top musicians Jef Neve and Rony Verbiest brought the best of Tom Waits (replacing the saxophone with an accordeon) and even if it sometimes seemed that they lacked the routine of playing together, their spontaneity and craftmenship brought emotions of the highest level.
Of course Antje De Boeck is no professional singer, but some might say that neither is Tom Waits. She brought some of his classic pieces in a very intimate style (Tom Traubert's Blues, In the Neighbourhood...) and sometimes when you closed your eyes, it really sounded like Tom Waits up there on the stage. The way she moaned, whispered, rumbled really touched the right nerve.
If you are in Belgium, try to catch their act. A list of dates and places can be found in the Tom Waits Until Spring Agenda.
The musicians were Antje De Boeck (voice) - a famous Flemish actress, Jef Neve (piano) and Rony Verbiest (accordeon). Tom Waits' voice can be described as a low, raw, almost rumbling voice. Very similar to Antje De Boeck's voice, somebody must have thought. I liked the result a lot.
However, the concert started differently from what I had expected. Antje De Boeck first brought a fairy-tale about the last boy in the world. You could sense that the audience didn't really know what to do with it either, but it became clear during the performance that this little boy represented Tom Waits who has his own peculiar way of looking at the world.
Then followed some entertainment that can only be described as perfect. Top musicians Jef Neve and Rony Verbiest brought the best of Tom Waits (replacing the saxophone with an accordeon) and even if it sometimes seemed that they lacked the routine of playing together, their spontaneity and craftmenship brought emotions of the highest level.
Of course Antje De Boeck is no professional singer, but some might say that neither is Tom Waits. She brought some of his classic pieces in a very intimate style (Tom Traubert's Blues, In the Neighbourhood...) and sometimes when you closed your eyes, it really sounded like Tom Waits up there on the stage. The way she moaned, whispered, rumbled really touched the right nerve.
If you are in Belgium, try to catch their act. A list of dates and places can be found in the Tom Waits Until Spring Agenda.
Mental Feng Shui
Do you know Feng Shui? Feng shui - pronounced fehng-shway in English) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi.
The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty.
Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.
Many modern enthusiasts claim that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects (such as furniture) to help people achieve their goals. More traditionally, feng shui is important in choosing a place to live and finding a burial site, along with agricultural planning.
I received another spam message, asking me to forward it to 21 people for good luck. I don't believe in that kind of stuff, but the lessons in the email are worth preserving.
Mental Feng Shui
There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This Lotus Touts has been sent to you for goo d luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so far.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO.. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling..
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! ... When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze .
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty.
Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.
Many modern enthusiasts claim that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects (such as furniture) to help people achieve their goals. More traditionally, feng shui is important in choosing a place to live and finding a burial site, along with agricultural planning.
I received another spam message, asking me to forward it to 21 people for good luck. I don't believe in that kind of stuff, but the lessons in the email are worth preserving.
Mental Feng Shui
There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This Lotus Touts has been sent to you for goo d luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so far.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO.. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling..
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! ... When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze .
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
I'm tired of all those silly love songs
this article was first published in February 2005, when I was
One more week and it's Saint Valentine again !
I'm a single person but I cannot help being slightly euphoric at the thought of all these wonderful warm people hugging each other and kissing and....oh, that sentimental feeling !
But have you noticed how almost all songs talk about love ? After I broke up with my girlfriend, every song seemed to talk to me. When driving home from her house after our final fight, the fist song was "Missing you" by Everything but the girl. And when I put in a CD, I had Natalia singing "I've only just begun to fight".
So maybe there is a higher force that is talking to me through the music on the radio. Have you ever thought that maybe your all life course is being mapped out by music ?
You know what, i'll put it to the test. I'm walking now to my radio, switch it on, and the song will tell me what I should do with this ex-girlfriend.
==> the song they are playing now on Radio 1 is called "she's no lady, she's my wife"...i'm not sure how to interpret this..
One more week and it's Saint Valentine again !
I'm a single person but I cannot help being slightly euphoric at the thought of all these wonderful warm people hugging each other and kissing and....oh, that sentimental feeling !
But have you noticed how almost all songs talk about love ? After I broke up with my girlfriend, every song seemed to talk to me. When driving home from her house after our final fight, the fist song was "Missing you" by Everything but the girl. And when I put in a CD, I had Natalia singing "I've only just begun to fight".
So maybe there is a higher force that is talking to me through the music on the radio. Have you ever thought that maybe your all life course is being mapped out by music ?
You know what, i'll put it to the test. I'm walking now to my radio, switch it on, and the song will tell me what I should do with this ex-girlfriend.
==> the song they are playing now on Radio 1 is called "she's no lady, she's my wife"...i'm not sure how to interpret this..
Aachen 6 - Nürnberg 2
february 19th, 2009
I have never been a die-hard football fan, but I like a good game and have always followed the national and international football games with more than a passing interest. When I was still at primary school in Grimbergen, you had to choose between Anderlecht and Brugge, at that time the two most successful soccer teams in Belgium. I chose Club Brugge and with players like Jan Ceulemans and Raoul Lambert they were quite successful. Lately they have lost a lot of their charm and competitive edge, but I still follow their games on TV.
My wife is from Nürnberg and just like Club Brugge their football team is called "The Club" : 1. FC Nürnberg. This weekend they played against Aachen and since we live there, I went together with my father-in-law and brother-in-law. Unfortunately the "Club" did not play well at all, and we got a 6-2 trashing. It was freezing cold and it even started snowing towards the end.
Standing among the "Ultras" of Nürnberg was quite fun, and even when they were losing the game they kept up the good cheer and shouted abuse at Aachen players and umpire. Whenever the name of an Aachen player was mentioned over the stadium PA system, the Nürnberger Ultras shouted "arschl*ch", which means exactly what you think: A**.
Oh, one nice detail: at the end they announced how many litres alcohol-free Bitburg beer had been sold during the game: 1600 litres.
I have never been a die-hard football fan, but I like a good game and have always followed the national and international football games with more than a passing interest. When I was still at primary school in Grimbergen, you had to choose between Anderlecht and Brugge, at that time the two most successful soccer teams in Belgium. I chose Club Brugge and with players like Jan Ceulemans and Raoul Lambert they were quite successful. Lately they have lost a lot of their charm and competitive edge, but I still follow their games on TV.
My wife is from Nürnberg and just like Club Brugge their football team is called "The Club" : 1. FC Nürnberg. This weekend they played against Aachen and since we live there, I went together with my father-in-law and brother-in-law. Unfortunately the "Club" did not play well at all, and we got a 6-2 trashing. It was freezing cold and it even started snowing towards the end.
Standing among the "Ultras" of Nürnberg was quite fun, and even when they were losing the game they kept up the good cheer and shouted abuse at Aachen players and umpire. Whenever the name of an Aachen player was mentioned over the stadium PA system, the Nürnberger Ultras shouted "arschl*ch", which means exactly what you think: A**.
Oh, one nice detail: at the end they announced how many litres alcohol-free Bitburg beer had been sold during the game: 1600 litres.
A letter from Monique - 13 years later
I'm slowly putting all my belongings in boxes, since I will join my wife and daughter very soon in our new house here in Belgium. I stumbled across a letter from a penpal of mine, Monique. It was so funny to read again about our lives 13 years ago.
She had paid me a visit here in Grimbergen,somewhere in October 1996 and I took her to the Mamoet (our local youth club/pub), we went to a concert of "Boerenzonen op Speed" who had just released there first (and only) massive hit: "Vel tegen Vel" - Skin against Skin. We also went to a disco party, co-organized by my cousin Johan.
And here is a short extract of what Monique wrote to me : "I hear you have a computer at home. Do you also have internet? And what is so fun about it, I hear it's mostly waiting, waiting, waiting".
How things can change :-)
She had paid me a visit here in Grimbergen,somewhere in October 1996 and I took her to the Mamoet (our local youth club/pub), we went to a concert of "Boerenzonen op Speed" who had just released there first (and only) massive hit: "Vel tegen Vel" - Skin against Skin. We also went to a disco party, co-organized by my cousin Johan.
And here is a short extract of what Monique wrote to me : "I hear you have a computer at home. Do you also have internet? And what is so fun about it, I hear it's mostly waiting, waiting, waiting".
How things can change :-)
A quick visit to South England
this entry deals with June 19th - June 23rd 2002
From June 19th till June 23rd 2002 I went to the south of England with a German friend of mine, Christine. We drove with my green Fiat Punto down to Calais, where we got on a boat from the SeaFrance company. In those days a 5-day ticket for 2 persons and a car cost 153 Euro. I wonder how much that would be now.
If my memory serves me well, we visited Dover, Rye, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and we stopped at a friend's, Gary. I have to check for more information, as it is all a bit blurry at the moment, but I do remember visiting a chapel that was actually an ossuary.
Further research on the internet reveals that it was actually St Leonard’s Church in Hythe. Better known as “The Church with the Bones” due to the ossuary in the crypt. It is one of only two ossuaries in England (the other being in Rothwell, Northants) and contains 2,000 human skulls, 8,000 thighbones, a few jaw bones and other various artefacts. The skull and thighbones were usually kept as it was believed that it would ensure physical resurrection.
The exact origin of the bones is unclear, legend has it that they are the remains of Saxon soldiers killed in a battle fought nearby that were dug up when the existing church was built in 1080. A more likely explanation is that they were dug up and stored in the Middle Ages when it was customary to re-use burial plots.
I also remember we slept in a place called "The White House Farm". I'll try to find more details later.
Update: Christine contacted me and helped me remember some more details. I updated the blog accordingly.
If my memory serves me well, we visited Dover, Rye, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and we stopped at a friend's, Gary. I have to check for more information, as it is all a bit blurry at the moment, but I do remember visiting a chapel that was actually an ossuary.
Further research on the internet reveals that it was actually St Leonard’s Church in Hythe. Better known as “The Church with the Bones” due to the ossuary in the crypt. It is one of only two ossuaries in England (the other being in Rothwell, Northants) and contains 2,000 human skulls, 8,000 thighbones, a few jaw bones and other various artefacts. The skull and thighbones were usually kept as it was believed that it would ensure physical resurrection.
The exact origin of the bones is unclear, legend has it that they are the remains of Saxon soldiers killed in a battle fought nearby that were dug up when the existing church was built in 1080. A more likely explanation is that they were dug up and stored in the Middle Ages when it was customary to re-use burial plots.
I also remember we slept in a place called "The White House Farm". I'll try to find more details later.
Update: Christine contacted me and helped me remember some more details. I updated the blog accordingly.
My name is Lólindir Culnámo in Elvish
You can find everything on Facebook. Most apps are of course total rubbish and a waste of time, but every now and then there is a little gem. Like this Elvish Name Generator that generates...you Elvish name, yes, how did you guess?
Anyway, I'm called Lólindir Culnámo and please use that name from now on when you are addressing me. The Lord of the Rings wants it so.
Because the Facebook link does not seem to work I will put the link to the "real-world" website here: The Elvish Name Generator
Anyway, I'm called Lólindir Culnámo and please use that name from now on when you are addressing me. The Lord of the Rings wants it so.
Because the Facebook link does not seem to work I will put the link to the "real-world" website here: The Elvish Name Generator
August - Pieter-Jan De Smet
I was listening to Radio 1 on the way to work, and I heard a wonderful song with a great text: August, by Pieter-Jan Desmedt, a Belgian singer/songwriter and actor with Theater Zuidpool.
Here are some of the lyrics that really hit me :
"Fleur gives names to all the anomalies
That have bruised her petals and bruised her heart"
"It's August
And we're dying
little day by day
It's August
And we're trying
To kill our joys
With pain"
Pure poetry
Here are some of the lyrics that really hit me :
"Fleur gives names to all the anomalies
That have bruised her petals and bruised her heart"
"It's August
And we're dying
little day by day
It's August
And we're trying
To kill our joys
With pain"
Pure poetry
Rostock and Warnemünde
June 15th, 2009
After our visit in Lübeck we drove to Rostock where we would spend the night at Hampa's, a medical student who is just like us a member of BeWelcome.
The highway road from Lübeck to Rostock is quite boring and we were happy when we found the flat quickly, since Caitlin was getting fed up with being in her carseat all afternoon. Hampa's flat was right above an Italian restaurant and we met her flatmates. Hampa herself was not in Rostock that weekend, but we could use her room. We were not alone, however, as she has three cats who kept us company. I guess we can say that Caitlin is not allergic to cats
We ate some of the cake that Tinchen had prepared us, drank some tea and then we left for Warnemünde. The place really feels like a seaside resort, and everywhere were little stalls where you could buy fish (although they were closing by the time we got there).
We just took a stroll near the port, saw the three lighthouses and ate an icecream in an Italian restaurant.
Right at that moment the skies opened and there was a massive downpour. Luckily it ended by the time we finished our ice-cream. We then drove to Rostock for a quick visit by night (looking for an old light-house which we never found) and then it was time for bed.
After our visit in Lübeck we drove to Rostock where we would spend the night at Hampa's, a medical student who is just like us a member of BeWelcome.
The highway road from Lübeck to Rostock is quite boring and we were happy when we found the flat quickly, since Caitlin was getting fed up with being in her carseat all afternoon. Hampa's flat was right above an Italian restaurant and we met her flatmates. Hampa herself was not in Rostock that weekend, but we could use her room. We were not alone, however, as she has three cats who kept us company. I guess we can say that Caitlin is not allergic to cats
We ate some of the cake that Tinchen had prepared us, drank some tea and then we left for Warnemünde. The place really feels like a seaside resort, and everywhere were little stalls where you could buy fish (although they were closing by the time we got there).
We just took a stroll near the port, saw the three lighthouses and ate an icecream in an Italian restaurant.
Right at that moment the skies opened and there was a massive downpour. Luckily it ended by the time we finished our ice-cream. We then drove to Rostock for a quick visit by night (looking for an old light-house which we never found) and then it was time for bed.
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