Monday, December 23, 2013

Der ultimative Weihnachtsbaum



Gestern habe ich ihn endlich gesehen, den ultimativen Weihnachtsbaum. Wie kein anderer unter der Schar von kleinen bis großen Tannenbäumen, die noch auf ihren Schmuck warten, ist er zum Spiegelbild unserer Gesellschaft auf gestiegen.

Hier ist er nun:



Und hier ist seine Spitze:



Ist es eine Spitze? Nein, dieser Baum wartet gleich mit vier Spitzen auf. So läuft es auch in der Politik. Wir machen als Wähler direkt mehrere Parteien stark. Keine ist ganz spitze, aber alle fühlen sich als Spitze. Und dann zerfließen die letzten Kräfte in den Ausschüssen.
     Lehre 1 vom Tannenbaum: triff klare Entscheidungen.

Der Baum ist über und über behängt mit Geschenken. So wünscht es sich der Einzelhandel. Mehr und mehr fördert Stress und Stress macht krank. Warum tun wir uns dieses Fest an? Wo ist die Beschaulichkeit? Und dann erinnert man sich an die früheren Weihnachtsfeste, zu denen die Welt noch in Ordnung war. Wirklich? Gab es nicht diese ... Kriege? Katastrophen? Aber das Elend kann man ja zu Weihnachten ausblenden.
     Lehre 2 vom Tannenbaum: früher war es anders, nicht besser.

Nach dem Kaufrausch können wird uns in die Behaglichkeit zurückziehen. Die Schräglage des Weihnachtsbaumes zeigt an, wie sehr wir unser Konto überzogen haben. Wie sehr wir uns vom Kapitalismus haben überrumpeln lassen. Dieser Geschenkwahn verbessert nicht nachhaltig die Wirtschaft. In der Wegwerfmentalität verschaffen wir der Wirtschaft nur ein kurzes Röcheln.
     Lehre 3 vom Tannenbaum (und das ist eine alte Lehre): weniger ist mehr.

Gleich scheint er umzukippen. Gleich scheint er auf die fallen zu wollen, die den Kirchgang nur zu Weihnachten vorsehen. Warum denn jetzt in die Kirche gehen? Jetzt ist es Stress, sonst ist genügend Platz vorhanden. Aber davon möchte ich nun den Gelegenheitschristen nicht abraten. Geht ruhig zum Gottesdienst, zur Messe. Vielleicht kommt Ihr ja wieder. In Notzeiten ist man eher bereit, Werte zu bewahren als materielle Werte ersatzweise unter den Weihnachtsbaum zu legen. Und auch da zeigt sich wieder unser Weihnachtsbaum, denn seine Geschenkpakete sind leer.
     Lehre 4 vom Tannenbaum (ein wenig triefender Kitsch lässt sich nun nicht mehr vermeiden): Schenkt Euch weniger materielle Dinge, sondern schenkt Euch Liebe!

Frohe Weihnachten!


New Zealand Itinerary with Annotations and Pictures



My last travels have let me to the South Island of New Zealand during November and December 2013. Here’s my itinerary with annotations and already some picture. Details on observations will follow soon.

DUS – DXB
Nightflight.

DXB – BKK
Some sights right after the start. India under a veil of clouds. Some sleep.

BKK – SYD
A beautiful morning across Australia.

SYD – CHK
Nice views of Aotearoa. Especially I liked seeing Mt. Cook / Aoraki and the West Coast; I could see exactly, where I was going to be on the second half of the trip.



The mountains merge with the clouds, also to be seen Okarito

CHK – Hillmorton – Halswell – Little River – Takamatua - Akaroa – Flea Bay

No hassles at the airport. I feared having to drive into the evening, but light stayed until past 9 p.m. Akaroa is reached by a steep road. It retains some French flair and some streets still have French names, but I guess the real reason behind this is tourism. Just went to the supermarket as I was heading for the wilderness.

Flea Bay
Flea Bay or the Pohatu Marine Reserve isn’t far away from Akaroa, but you need to travel by gravel road, which is very steep and dangerous. The bay is a dream. You hardly see other people, sometimes a couple of hikers. The house was small, basic, and the toilet (no WC!) 30 m away from the house. Only natural sounds around: wind, waves, penguins, sheep, cattle. Very relaxing. Liked the small blue penguins very much.


Broom in bloom


Flea Bay early in the morning


A little blue penguin


On the way to Akaroa


Flea Bay – Akaroa – Tai Tapu – Lincoln – Burnham – Rakaia – Ashburton Geraldine – Fairlie – Burke’s Pass – Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo
I stayed with my friends at the ritzy Opera House (named after the Sydney Opera House). The Church of the Good Shepherd and the Shepherd Dog Memorial as well as Lake Tekapo were well in sight of the house and its huge balcony.
Some trips around Lake Tekapo, to Lake Pukaki, and to Mt. John and its observatory.



The Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo – Twizel – Omarama – Clearburn – Lindis Pass – Lindis Valley – Tarras – Lake Dunstan – Cromwell – Kawaru Gorge – Gibbston – Frankton – Queenstown

Nice Café in Tarras.
Bungee jumping at Kawaru Bridge.



How close are jump and dumb?

Queenstown
We only stayed overnight in Queenstown (outskirts).

Queenstown – Kingston – Fairlight – Garston – Nokomai – Athol – Parewa – Five Rivers – Mossburn – The Key – Manapouri




Red Tussock on the way


Manapouri
Large house, good view of Lake Manapouri.
The trip to Milford Sound was extraordinary. Very good weather. Only the mirror lakes weren’t mirroring the surroundings. Kea were up to their reputation, trying to take the car apart. Mitre Peak in broad sunlight with a nice reflection on the water. Seals and one (1) penguin.
Kepler Track (only first part). Rainforest in sunlight and also during a light rain.
Borland Road with some nice views, but the power lines were always in sight (Green Lake / Grebe River). Monowai Lake is more for people with boats.
Te Anau and the Takahe.



Kepler Track


Mitre Peak


Seals on their preferred rock for a sunbath


Kea


Takahe - there are only 300 left!

Manapouri – The Key – Mossburn – Lumsden – Balfour – Riversdale – Mandeville – McNab – Pukerau – Waipahi – Clinton – Toiro – Otamomo – Port Molyneux – Kaka Point – Nugget Point

Nugget Point
Penguins and quite a lot of them at Roaring Bay!
We looked closer at the Catlins.
Also seals / sea lions.
Staying in a house on a rock. Also a wonderful garden.



Penguins at Roaring Bay into the bay


Penguins at Roaring Bay coming out of the water


Penguins at Roaring Bay going back to the sea


Rocks with nesting birds - Nugget Point


Nugget Point - Lighthouse


Nugget Point – Kaka Point – Balclutha – Crichton – Manuka Creek – Waitahuna – Lawrence – Beaumont – Miller’s Flat – Ettrick – Roxburgh – Coal Creek Flat – Alexandra – Clyde (please, don’t let the dam break!) – Cromwell – Lowburb – Mt. Pisa – Queensgate – Luggate – Albert Town – Lake Hawea



On the way to Lake Hawea


Lake Hawea
Splendid view! The house has the best view and the name Bellevue has been righly given.

Wanaka – Glendhu Bay – Matukituki Vallley / Mt. Aspiring -: this tour brought me very close to some bulls and of course to a walk near Mt. Aspiring.



Lake Hawea - from the house


Black bull


Mt. Aspiring

Lake Hawea – Makaroa – Haast Pass – Haast Junction – Knight’s Point – Moeraki – Lake Paringa – Bruce Bay – Jacob’s River – Karangarua – Fox Glacier – Franz Josef Glacier – Tatare – The Forks – Okarito



Fox Glacier - what global warming has left

Okarito
Wonderful mirror effects in the lagoon. I saw a white heron, but couldn’t make a photograph because I had been driving.



First glimpses of the West Coast


The beach


Southern Alps across Okarito Lagoon


After sunset - the better part belongs to the lagoon

Okarito – Whataroa – Harihari – Kakapotahi – Ross – Ruatapu – Mananui – Takatai – Hokitika – Seaview – Kaikinu – Mumara Junction – Kumara – Dillmanstown – Jacksons – Aickens – Otira – Arthur’s Pass – Bealey Spur

Arthur’s Pass / Bealey Spur
Bridal Veil Falls. Devils Punchbowl.



Lupines - not the "Dimly burns the light of the lupines" variety of Ingeborg Bachmann


Devil's Punchbowl


Kea

Bealey Spur – Cass – Castle Hill Village – Porters Pass – Springfield – Sheffield – Weddington – Darfield – Kirwee – West Melton – Yaldhurst – CHK

CHK – SYD
Soon in the clouds. Sunny Sydney.

SYD – BKK
Started right into the evening.

BKK – DXB
Reached Dubai at dawn.

DXB – DUS
Nice views of the emirates. Then clear view above Iran with Isfahan, Zagros Mountains and Mt. Ararat. Some Nice views of Poland, too.


Other texts on this New Zealand travel:





Sunday, December 15, 2013

Carpe Diem's Sweet Memories





After the muezzin´s call
The rooster crows
Until the morning brightens

After a very hot day in Borobudur (Indonesia) I could not find sleep, then slept, but have been awakened into a very nice morning. The breeze has been fragrant. The night had cooled down the temperature. And then the rooster crowed. As the morning was getting brighter, the bats returned to under the roof tiles; they were quick and precise. I wondered how they’d fit in the small space, but they did. The cat was always trying to reach them but didn’t succeed. So this morning entered my notebook od sweet memories.




Saturday, December 14, 2013

Functionalism or Structuralism in Rheumatology?


What is needed more in rheumatology? An approach from the functionalism viewpoint or from the one of structuralism?
When I studied social anthropology I have been interested in the question of whether functionalism or structuralism would serve the scientific purpose more. Let’s apply a few thoughts of this field to rheumatology.
Of course, we need an approach from structuralism as we deal often in changes of joints and bones. On the other hand, what do we get out of this angle in terms of social functioning? I think that rheumatic diseases are far more than a definition in terms of structuralism. Pain and inflammation have an impact on body and mind. And this impact also works on social functioning and social role, in family, community, and/or work. Pain and inflammation are better looked at from the functionalism point of view. You can see structural damages on X-ray charts or MRIs for instance, but these charts don’t tell you anything about the impact on how the patient in interacting with the physical and social environment. Yet, on a visit at the rheumatologist looking at X-ray charts and talking about possible damages take a lot of time. Also we tend to talk more about lab results than on issues concerning social functioning.

So this short note is striking a blow for an approach from the functionalism angle of view! Let’s use structuralism more for background information, but talk more about the impact on the disease on functioning. In this way I hope that we can restore normality to people, who have been overrun out of a sudden by a disease that will stay and work against them. Let’s talk more about what is possible in term of social functioning and what still needs attention.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Carpe Diem Haiku Land of the Free



Light flooding the Shire
Ho! The skylark flies and sings
Orcs keep to Mordor
 


Happy reveries
Between flowers and the grass
Lazy dog just blinks


Past the nights of fear
Strife and strain ebbing away
White doves in the sky