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| Contents |
Issue No. 282 -- 29 March 2004 |
Editor's Message
Quote/s of the Week
Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week
Bits and Bobs
The Legal Beagle
Help Desk
Where are they now?
Club and Other News
Humour
Recipes
Sports News
Credits and Contact Info
Subscribing and Unsubscribing
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These from me:
Victory belongs to the most persevering.- Napoleon Bonaparte
The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive and discoverers. - Jean Piaget
And one of my personal favourites...
You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi
These from Maya (Friday Mind Massage)
The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. - William James
Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof. - John Kenneth Galbraith
Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. - Winston Churchill
Forever is composed of nows. - Emily Dickinson
Happiness is a how, not a what; a talent, not an object. - Hermann Hesse
It would be a terrific innovation if you could get your mind to stretch a little further than the next wisecrack. - Katherine Hepburn SAW Advertisement
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| Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week |
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Maduna vows to arrest soccer star
This from the Star
Justice Minister Penuell Maduna has expressed his disgust with a high-profile soccer personality who has allegedly beaten his wife so badly she had to be treated in hospital.
"That person will be arrested and justice will be done," Maduna said angrily.
Maduna broke the news at the launch in Pretoria of an Integrated Domestic Violence Training Programme.
Maduna said society should take more responsibility in the fight against domestic abuse.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=qw1080557101467B265&set_id=1
Positive SA News – Branding, Trade and Investment Mission to the USA
The United States is one of South Africa’s key markets, as well as a source of many of the products and services that help South African companies compete internationally. In the first four months of 2003, South Africa’s trade surplus with the US (the additional amount exported over the amount imported) increased to $734 million from $467 million over the same period the previous year. At the same time, South Africa is the largest market for US exports in sub-Saharan Africa, reaching $2.4 billion in 2002.
With this strong and growing relationship between the two countries in mind, the US Commercial Service of the US Embassy in South Africa and the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) are putting together a Branding, Trade and Investment Mission to the US for businesspeople in June. Delegates will visit the leading business cities of New York, Chicago and Atlanta from 11-19 June 2004.
The objective of the mission is to make key thought leaders in the US aware of the economic and business successes that have been experienced in South Africa over the past ten years, to change perceptions of South Africa, and encourage trade and investment between the two countries. In particular, the message being carried by the South Africans will focus on building trade and investment confidence in South Africa by dispelling stereotypes and focussing on what is going right.
30 top South African businesspeople have been chosen to showcase the South African brand, represented by the catchphrase “South Africa: Alive with Possibility”, and business opportunities in our country. Some of these businesspeople will include members of the US Chamber of Business in South Africa. But what makes this mission different is that these top businesspeople will be asked to sponsor an accompanying emerging business person, someone who may not previously have been exposed to international markets and whose business could benefit enormously from the networking opportunities presented by the trip.
Mission delegates will take part in half day investment conferences in each of the three cities, as well as acting as spokespeople for South Africa to the media, giving presentations, and attending individual business appointments with 12-18 US companies pre-qualified by the US Department of Commerce. The aim is also to get a balance between trade and investment, and between buyers and sellers of goods.
The US Embassy and the IMC are both confident that this mission will mark the opening of the next chapter in South Africa’s prosperity by rolling out the South African brand in the world’s biggest market. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a delegate on the mission or a buyer or seller in one of the participating cities, you can get more information by visiting http://www.imc.org.za/2004/branding_mission_brochure.pdf.
For interesting and exciting news about developments in South Africa, subscribe to the International Marketing Council’s regular BrandSA newsletter by visiting http://www.imc.org.za/goodstuff.htm or http://www.imc.org.za/subscribe.asp. You can also visit the South African gateway website at http://www.safrica.info.
Holding love
This from Tony Chilvers hunter@thos.co.za
I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with a little water and held it before me, and said this: You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love. As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers around it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds. This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love...
They try to posses it, they demand, they expect... and just like the water spilling out of your hand, Love will retrieve from you. For love is meant to be free, you can not change its nature. If you have people you love, allow them to be free beings. Give and don't expect. Advise, but don't order. Ask, but never demand. It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice.
It is the secret to true Love. To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no Expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring.
Massage Your Mind – A Mindful Road Trip: The Ultimate Family Adventure
It's the beginning of spring break, and we're heading south. That's all we know.
Our family is greatly anticipating what may be our last road trip for a long, long time. There's a lot of excitement in our house right now as we are shifting into a whole new phase for each of us.
My husband is launching a new business. I am writing a book. Our 17-year-old daughter is preparing for college in Nova Scotia in September. Our 16-year-old daughter is heading to Brazil for a year-long Rotary Exchange in July. Our 14-year-old daughter is playing a sport for the first time in her life. Our 13-year-old daughter is considering transferring to an arts magnet school in order to immerse herself in her passion-- dance.
This is the end of an era. In a few months, we will never have all four of them living at home again. The next year will bring all kinds of changes, and we feel we need to grab this chance to hit the road together in our trusty, dusty minivan.
It's time for our favorite kind of vacation--the make-it- up-as-you-go meander through undiscovered (to us, anyway) territory. We'll get up really early, jump in the van, and just go. No reservations. No schedule. No destination in mind.
We love this no-goal travel. We learned years ago that the happiest times we spend together are those in which we are free to experience each moment as it comes without planning the next.
Back in 1998, we decided in one day to pack up the kids and take off to India and Nepal for three months. It's not as though we simply quit our jobs and left. That would have been far easier.
We had plenty of responsibilities--we owned two small retail businesses, an import/export company, an old commercial building with a leaky roof, and a house we had just finished remodeling.
We felt restless and ready for adventure, and making the choice to go was instantaneous and unanimous.
We sold one business, liquidated another, put the third in a coma. We found someone to take care of the leaky roof, and another to stay in our house. We yanked the kids out of school and within six weeks of making our decision boarded a plane--six excited travelers carrying six small backpacks.
The girls were 7, 8, 10 and 11. People thought we were insane.
The first two months we spent in India visiting the former host families my husband had lived with during his own Rotary Exchange when he was 16. The third month we had reserved for Nepal. We planned to fly into Kathmandu and spend four weeks on our own. We had no agenda, no reservations, no contacts. We weren't the least bit concerned about it.
From the very first day, it was clear this was going to be a really special experience for our family. We found a clean, friendly hotel, the Red Planet, with a room big enough for six of us. It was $15 a night. Our window faced the rear of a nightclub, and we giggled ourselves to sleep as Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson were blasted from the speakers outside. One of our daughters became quite adept at unclogging the toilet and bathtub drain.
We wandered the curving streets, marveling at the sights and sounds. Each meal was an adventure as we made it a point to invite single diners to join us. We met fascinating people of all ages from around the world.
Highlights include dashing into a tiny Italian restaurant during our first two hours in Kathmandu as we were caught in a torrential downpour--our first rain since leaving Oregon. A hilarious but fairly sleepless night sharing a tea house room with rats. Children, especially young boys, trailing us everywhere we trekked. Breakfast on our roof with a breathtaking view of the Annapurnas. Ducking to avoid spider webs dripping with dew while riding elephants in the early morning. Exploring richly scented temples. Spontaneous dancing in the streets.
We have never, ever laughed more than we did on that trip. I had to use an asthma inhaler--not for any allergies, but because I laughed so hard that I started wheezing! Every single day was full of absolute joy and discovery. It didn't matter in the slightest what we were doing. We were together, we were exploring, and we were having the time of our lives.
Granted, a road trip to southern Oregon isn't nearly as exotic. Still, what we learned in Nepal is the magic of being in the moment. Our kids discovered the power of being present and open to whatever the day may bring.
It's a priceless lesson we feel fortunate to have learned early. That trip was the gift that keeps on giving. It provided a shining example of true mindfulness for our growing daughters.
We're heading south. Our intention? To be together. To explore. And to laugh our heads off.
I'll bring my inhaler.
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Copyright 2004 Maya Talisman Frost
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her course, Massage Your Mind!: Defining Your Life Philosophy has inspired thinkers in over 70 countries, while her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, serves up a satisfying blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief. To learn more, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com. Thanks for thinking!
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52 Best Stories
Seems my mail problems have got me unsubscribed. Sandy and his stories should be back soon.
One Man’s Australia
The first casualty of war... is truth...
...and we have a Federal election coming on. Hence more political commentary this year than usual.
Our Prime Minister thinks we are fools. At the very least, presumably, he hopes enough of us are. His Government's absurd behaviour since the bombing atrocity on Madrid's peak-hour train system on the 11th offers no other explanation. Why pretend the bombings would have had nothing whatever to do with Spain's support for the United States invasion and occupation of Iraq unless it is that John Howard fears voters could blame him for making the same policy mistake?
It stands to reason Spain's strong support last year for US policy on Iraq cannot be dismissed lightly as a motive for the bombings. Yet the Howard Government ridicules any such suggestion. In the same breath it concedes al-Qaeda fanatics could have been responsible, it rejects absolutely the premise al-Qaeda would have done so for reasons concerning Iraq.
The protestations of various ministers since Friday, including the Prime Minister, have been ludicrous if not pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows that what would be concerning Howard most are the domestic political repercussions in what is already a difficult election year.
He is under siege from a rampant Mark Latham. The last thing his Government needs is heightened voter concern, if not outrage, over Iraq, Howard's worst and most obsequious foreign policy decision - and it was his decision.
On Friday 12th, in the immediate aftermath of the bombings, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, was dissembling on Melbourne radio: "We are a target of al-Qaeda because of what we stand for. This idea you can be an apologist for al-Qaeda by suggesting that, in some way, we can be targeted because we fought for the freedom of the Iraqi people can in no way, I think, be accepted."
That Australia "fought for the freedom of the Iraqi people" is another of the Government's convenient lies since the failure of US and British forces to find a single "weapon of mass destruction" after the invasion. Yet two nights ago Howard was insistently telling ABC television that there was no link between the Madrid bombings and what this meant for the increased risk of al-Qaeda reprisals in Australia.
On Sunday 14th, three days after the bombings, Spain's voters, in a country of 40 million, dumped the eight-year-old right-wing government of Popular Party leader Jose Maria Aznar, for the Socialists' Luis Zapatero in a result as conclusive as it was unexpected. Four years earlier Aznar's government had been comfortably returned in a voter turnout of 55 per cent. On Sunday 14th it was just as decisively ousted in an election turnout of 77 per cent, one of the highest on record in a country where, unlike Australia, voting is not compulsory.
It appears that a lot of angry Spanish voters knew exactly what they were doing, whatever their reasons.
John Howard's Government is eight years old, too. A coincidence. But what happened on Sunday morning had nothing to do with coincidence when the head of the Prime Minister's personal staff and chief toe-cutter, one Arthur Sinodinos, phoned "to have a word" with the head of Australia's Federal Police, Commissioner Mick Keelty, at the Nine Network's Sydney headquarters.
In US terms he is the equivalent of the Head of the FBI.
Keelty had just told the Sunday program: "The reality is, if this turns out to be Islamic extremists responsible for this bombing in Spain, it's more likely to be linked to the position Spain and other allies took on issues such as Iraq. And I don't think anyone's been hiding the fact we do believe that, ultimately, one day, whether it be in one month's time, one year's time, or 10 years' time, something will happen."
That was a bad move by Commissioner. Honest to be true, but utterly unwanted when his Prime Minister was saying the opposite.
The Australian broke the story of the Sinodinos call on Tuesday 16th. The paper said that Sinodinos had "rebuked" Keelty. When the Prime Minister's chief spin doctor, Tony O'Leary, was asked to comment, he confirmed Sinodinos had phoned Keelty about a "potential media problem".
Not a problem for the Government, he insisted – but a problem for Keelty! What O'Leary called "a media handling problem" for the commissioner. He also confirmed that Sinodinos rang Keelty only "after a conversation with the Prime Minister". O'Leary did not have any detail. That is left to the voters’ imagination.
On Tuesday 16th, according to a Canberra source, Keelty got another call from the Prime Minister's "office". This time he was "asked" not to make any further media appearances for the time being. In other words, please keep his mouth shut, thank you. The pain in Spain is secret Prime Minister's business.
So on Tuesday 16th when push came to shove, he became just another victim. Now, he says, without explanation, that he was “taken out of context”.
This is what Keelty said on the Sunday program, a standard view of every expert in the world who is not compromised by connections with George Bush and his cronies:
Interview: Mick Keelty March 14, 2000
Reporter: Jana Wendt
With Europe still reeling from the worst-ever terrorist attack on its soil, and the people of Madrid still counting their dead and wounded from the series of bombs that ripped through packed commuter trains in the heart of the Spanish capital, the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, will talk to Jana Wendt about the implications for Australia. The inevitable question: could it happen here?
Transcript
JANA WENDT: Now back to the Madrid massacre, and as we've seen in the news, Spanish police have arrested five people over the bombings, including three Moroccans. The other two were said to be Spaniards of Indian origin.
Spain's Interior Minister said the five were arrested after a mobile phone was found inside a bag packed with explosives on one of the trains. The Government says mobile phones were used to set off the bombs, just as they were in the Bali bombings.
And if the massacre in Madrid was revenge for Spain's part in the Coalition against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, then the implications for Australia could be very serious.
I'm joined now in the studio by Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty.
Commissioner, thank you very much for joining us this morning.
MICK KEELTY: Morning, Jana.
JANA WENDT: Have you had communication with your Spanish counterparts?
MICK KEELTY: We've been doing our liaison through our Federal police who are based in London, and the London Metropolitan Police. And there's also a Spanish police officer based in London.
JANA WENDT: So what conclusions are you drawing from what we now know about this attack?
MICK KEELTY: Well, I think the arrests early this morning indicate that some of the early predictions about who might have been involved are starting to shore up now in terms of Islamic extremism. But we have to let the investigation run its course, like we did in Bali. We have to let the evidence emerge from the investigation, and then make our determinations from there.
Because unlike, for example, intelligence agencies and others who quite properly make statements and make predictions about many of these things, the law enforcement role is to provide the evidence and use that evidence as fact.
JANA WENDT: There are certain elements that have already been discussed. Like, for instance, the use of mobile phones, the use of copper wiring in the detonators, I understand. With your experience in the Bali investigation, are you making any connection with the modus operandi here?
MICK KEELTY: Well, certainly when you look at the way that the bombings occurred – multiple bombings, timed very closely together, and you look at what happened in Bali, and the application of mobile phone technology in the Bali bombings, and also the Marriott bombing, where a mobile phone was also found on the deceased – it is technology that has been made available, unfortunately, for the wrong reason. And we have seen it being used to detonate blasts before.
That – that's not to say, though, that ETA has not used that technology before either. We know that jus before Christmas there was a – an attempt – well, there were bombings by ETA, in Spain, on a train. And we know that just last month – in fact, three weeks ago – there was the arrest of an ETA suspect with 500 kilos of explosives.
So I mean, we do have to keep an open mind, but certainly the arrests this morning are indicating that, you know, they're probably much closer to Islamic extremists than otherwise.
JANA WENDT: And given once again your experience in Bali, do you think that there is something that AFP officers can offer their Spanish counterparts in this particular situation?
MICK KEELTY: Well, not only AFP officers. I think one of the things that we've done in the – certainly in the last 12 months – is with the support of the Australian Government is been able to deploy to places like The Philippines, to Mindanao and Devao, to the bombings there. To Riyadh. To the bombings there. And each time we go to the scene of one of these blasts it increases our knowledge about the technology being applied by the terrorists. It also increases our capacity to understand how best to approach the investigations that must follow, and how best to prepare ourselves here in Australia.
JANA WENDT: Well, Commissioner, that brings me to the question that most Australians are asking themselves. Could this happen here?
MICK KEELTY: Well, I think we've said all along this is an uphill battle. This is a marathon, not a sprint. The reality is, if this turns out to be Islamic extremists responsible for this bombing in Spain, it's more likely to be linked to the position that Spain and other allies took on issues such as Iraq. And I don't think anyone's been hiding the fact that we do believe that ultimately one day, whether it be in one month's time, one year's time, or ten years' time, something will happen.
And no one can guarantee it won't. And I think there's a level of honesty that has to exist here in terms of what the problems are here, not only in Australia but in our region.
But on the threat level, the threat level here in Australia hasn't changed. It still remains at medium. It has been at medium for some time for an attack on Australians in Australia.
JANA WENDT: Well, let's look specifically at the train system. I mean, Spain, obviously, is a Western liberal democracy with a long history of dealing with terrorism, and yet it was caught helpless in this situation. Are we in any better a position here?
MICK KEELTY: Well, when you look at where Australia's at compared to many other countries – I'm not saying in direct comparison to Spain – but we've – we've exercised a lot of scenarios. We've developed a lot of scenarios, both at the Commonwealth and state levels.
We're about to go into a major exercise – Mercury '04, which will exercise the national counter-terrorism plan that's been put in place. We do have blue prints for – not only for trains – but also for other critical infrastructure. Not only in transport but also in communications.
We've seen things like the blackouts in New York that teach everybody lessons about, you know, critical infrastructure and business continuity, and how to prepare yourself. And I – I've got to say that the commitment of the people in the Commonwealth as well as the states and territories, has been very focused on dealing with these very types of issues.
JANA WENDT: But this comes down, I suppose, to the grass roots, doesn't it, Commissioner? How safe is any Australian on let's say a Melbourne tram, or for that matter a Sydney ferry?
MICK KEELTY: Well, you've got to be practical about it. I mean, you know, this is the trade off. The trade off we have for aviation security, for example, is that we have a number of levels of security between when a person enters the airport and when a person steps onto the plane.
The trade off anywhere on security is just how much liberty and how much freedom has to be given up for people to be able to access, you know, not only transport, but public places. And the reality is that, you know, it is a large task.
But equally I think that people should not be despondent. I think there's two things – one is that they should be confident that everything that can be done is being done. The work of the Australian intelligence community is very highly focused. There are some very dedicated people there, who have an almost impossible task in trying to predict the even before it occurs, and you put that in a crime context, I mean, we wouldn't have a criminal problem in Australia if we were capable of being able to predict crime before it occurs.
So it is a very, very large task, and we have to keep it into some context.
I think the other thing is we can't walk around despondent. We really just simply have to be vigilant, and that's what, you know, the national security hotline was created for – so that the community will be the first people who will recognise something is out of order, or something is at odds. And that's why the national security hotline was created.
JANA WENDT: Commissioner, just a quick final question. How honest – honestly – can you be when you're asked about issues like this? Safety on public transport in Australia?
MICK KEELTY: Well, certainly intelligence that we have about any incident needs to be shared at the appropriate time, but also that has to be balancing out scaring people from, you know, even stepping onto a train or a ferry, or going into the lift of a high-rise building. I mean, the whole thing is about a question of balance. About keeping some perspective and some common sense about the issues that we face.
JANA WENDT: Commissioner Mick Keelty, I thank you very much for your time this morning.
MICK KEELTY: Thank you Jana.
JANA WENDT: Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty.
Honesty? Was he joking?
That’s the last thing the government which ordered Australian troops to invade another country despite the wishes of the majority of Australians wants. The last thing!
Howard’s Government now claims that a Spanish pullout from Iraq would hurt the war on terror.
Bullsh!t. The first thing the new Spanish leader said was that fighting terrorism was his first priority. The Iraq war has exacerbated the terrorism threat, as every sensible international affairs expert, and the CIA, warned at the time.
Northern Lighties
Well. Well. Well.
Who would have thought it?
Myself actually. And millions of other Canadian voters. And the Auditor General. But NOT the millions of sheep who have voted this corrupt bunch of jackals into power over the last ten or so years.
For those of you who would like the actual phrase, it is "absolute power corrupts absolutely". Which, given that the Auditor General has just released a report on the total corruption surrounding the Liberal Party and it's actions as the Government of Canada, has once again been proven to be correct.
There have been mumblings about corruption in certain departments for some time and a while ago I wrote about a minister who incredibly, actually got caught and was shipped off to Denmark as an Ambassador. We thought that it was as a punishment for being caught rather than for any wrongdoing. Well guess who was at the centre of this little shindig this week?
That is right. Same fellow. More information though and this time he was sacked as the Ambassador and is currently being bought home. Probably as a scapegoat to protect all those Ministers still in Government who should have known what was going on.
Such as Prime Minister Martin.
He denies this vehemently of course. Which means that, as he was the Minister of Finance at the time, he is either lying or a total fool. Which is not all that comforting when you consider that he is leading the nation at the moment.
I will be kind to Martin and point out that most of the theft of funds took place under the Prime Ministership of Jolly Jean Cretin. He of the Teflon fame. As almost all of the "misplaced" money went to Quebec and more specifically to what appears to be carefully selected Quebec based people who, to put it kindly, were "supporters" of Jean, first, and the Liberal Party later, it comes as no surprise that Martin knew little of what was taking place.
If you factor in the rampant, unaccountable and totally arrogant bureaucracy in Ottawa then maybe he has a point.
In a nutshell what happened was that millions of dollars were siphoned through Crown Corporations to various Quebec based agencies ostensibly to promote the illusion that Canada is a single unified country. This began to take place after Chretien very nearly split Canada in two with his ill conceived referendum back in 96 that was defeated by the narrowest of margins in Quebec.
The concept that an advertising campaign promoting the advantages a unified Canada has is good but what actually took place is not. Simple as that.
Almost all of it was siphoned through the Public Works Ministry, which is where the disgraced Minister Gagliano was in charge, and seems to have used Crown Corporation companies such as Canada Post, VIA Rail, The Business Development Corporation and for some reason the RCMP and the Port of Montreal!
The RCMP is particularly galling given that they are the police agency that is charged with investigating this breach of public trust. In fact they are the people charged with investigation the last little bit of theft that was uncovered by the Auditor General last time. A year later, and, once again, thanks to the good work done by Sheila Fraser (The A-G) we have now discovered even more corruption and that the Mounties aren't above some eyebrow raising activities themselves. Including secret bank accounts, disappearing documents and about $3 million that was given to them through one of the designated agencies used expressly for that purpose.
It appears that all of this was part of the almost $300 million silent slush fund used by the Government to supposedly convince Quebecors that the rest of Canada really care about them. By displaying that famous Canada trademark that we see festooned on every conceivable public event.
How it worked could have been lifted straight from the local Mafia book of tactics on money laundering.
Money was thrown at people and events by using three "lieberal friendly" advertisement agencies in Quebec. The money was given to them from Public Works, they took a "fee" and then passed on the balance to the designated recipient.
In the case of the RCMP $1.7 million was funnelled through for a fee of $250,000. Which is not bad going when you think about it.
Even better is that over the last four years this netted these agencies over $100 million!!!
In the case of the RCMP about the only stipulation that was expected of them in order to receive nearly $3 million this way was that the RCMP had to display the Canada Logo at their 125th Anniversary celebrations. Which, to add insult to injury, the RCMP is required by regulation to do anyway!
In fact the only tangible evidence that the RCMP actually put the money to good use are six horses and two new horse trailers.
Other areas of concern were the Indian Affairs department that seems to have forgotten how to track $1 BILLION. As this involved land claim settlements there is some worry about the procedure involved here never mind the competency of the individuals involved in administering that amount of what is a considerable sum of taxpayer’s money.
Even the $101 million on Government jets (Bombardier, which just surprisingly enough happens to be a Quebec based company or in keeping with the spirit of the intention behind the theft….qu'elle surprise..)
Most of the outcry though involves the hundreds of millions involved in "contracts" for dubious activities that were awarded to the "lieberal friendly" advertising agencies and the fact that they were used to siphon funds to crown corporations, and others, illegally.
In fact you know just how excessive a slap in the face this whole affair has become when even the Toronto Star makes a half-hearted attack on the Lieberals for stealing from the public. Although they did go into damage control mode later in the week.
This week though just seemed to carry on with more and more information coming to the fore about the total lack of responsibility on the part of the Government and the people who supposedly represent the citizens of this country.
Aside from the fact that Martin was Minister of Finance, V-P of the treasury board, a senior Cabinet minister from Quebec, a member of the Quebec Lieberal caucus AND an MP from Montreal, at the time and therefore responsible for all the money flowing out of the coffers there was the even more damaging report that the Liberals had actually "under reported" the amount of money that the Government had spent on Martins shipping companies.
Which have been a source of irritation to many due to the conflict of interest this ownership has created. Even when he "sold" his shares to his children!
Still not to be outdone along comes our Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, an affirmative action, political patronage appointment by the Liberals again. She of the typical Liberal delusion of grandeur "let them eat cake" mentality when it comes to believing that she is grander, better and more worthy than the scum she has been appointed to represent. Supposedly.
Last year Her Grand Highness and Empress of Canada decided that she, and an entourage of fawning toadies, would represent Canada in the northern part of the world by arriving in various countries and letting those less fortunate fools living in blissful ignorance there, bow down in supplication and kiss her dainty little claw.
It was reported that we, as Canadian taxpayers should be grateful to her for spending $1million of the taxpayer's money to bring enlightenment to the backward Scandinavian and Russian countries.
Only this week it turned out to be $5million and rising. Another event that was "under reported" apparently.
And their local Ontario Lieberal cousins are faring no better by the way. At the weeks end the Ontario Government seemed set on a course that would have the unions thinking about strikes. In addition, of the 250 odd promises that Dulton and his henchmen promised the gullible of Ontario, only one seems to have been kept. That of raising taxes on cigarettes. Way to go Dulton, you sure showed us your tough side there.
So now we wait while Martin makes the decision as to whether he will call an early election next year. At one stage the leadership disarray in the new Conservative Party of Canada meant that it was the right time to do that but it looks like the average citizen has at last woken up to the fact that they have been lied to, stolen from, hoodwinked and generally abused by a system, Government and political party that thinks they are imbeciles and this latest slap in the face is beginning to be painful enough to make them think at last.
We live in interesting times here.
Ramblings Of A Francophobe
Mike is busy this week and will be back soon.
Boertjie Worldwide
Ray will be back soon.
Phuket Tales
Nadia will be back soon.
Changing Lanes
Sandra will be back soon
Grounded in the earth, reaching for the sky
Is the Universe Friendly?
"It takes a while to learn to follow your inner leadings. You're called upon to explain your logic when you have none or defend your intuition when you aren't sure of it. You argue even though you sense that argument is no longer appropriate. This seesawing continues until you learn to listen for the inner voice and rely on it." The late Shale Paul, Personal Effectiveness Coach
As we grow in our spirituality it is as though we have muscles that are strengthening - "spirituality muscles." We learn to count more and more often on our inner knowing, and as we do so we grow more, so that we trust that inner knowledge more, so we live more in congruence with the universe, so that we grow more, and on and on in a spiral of spiritual growth, even if that growth is not always comfortable.
Through this growth we learn to trust that the universe IS friendly. (That famous quote was not made first by Albert Einstein, to whom it is often attributed. It was British psychical researcher and philosopher F. W. H. Myers who first stated that the most important question is "Is the university friendly?" Whether Einstein was quoting him or came to the thought separately I have no idea.) But it is difficult to maintain our serenity if we are unable to trust that, at least if we try to live in congruence with its laws, the universe is friendly.
With this in mind, I'm here quoting from the ending of the book that I wrote long, long ago, almost, it seems now, in a different life. The book was a study of psychokinesis (also known as PK, telekinesis, or mind over matter) and the scientific - and other - research that had been done on it. Perhaps it wandered a little away from what most people think of as mind over matter, but it seemed to me that there was a connection.
The title of the book was To Stretch a Plank: A Survey of Psychokinesis. The title came from a Sufi teaching story that I discovered at one of those fortuitous and apparently random moments just at the time that I needed it.
In the story, the boy Jesus of Nazareth was said to have been working alongside Joseph in the carpenter's workshop. A plank that was needed was not long enough. Jesus pulled on it, and stretched it. That was not the focus of the story. The focus, says the story, was on the attitudes of the people who heard about the event.
Some said:
"This is a miracle, therefore this child will be a saint."
Others said: "We do not believe it, do it again for us."
A third party said: "This cannot be true, therefore exclude it from the books."
Writes the author, Idries Shah, "The three parties, with their different feelings, yet got the same answer because none knew the purpose and the real significance lying within the statement: 'He stretched a plank.'"
Having explained this at the beginning, I circled back to it at the end, when I spelled out the conclusions to which I came based on a years of study and of picking the brains of many researchers. The rest of this article constitutes the final seven paragraphs of that book.
"It may be that the real business of PK has no relation to its conscious use. Perhaps this is why some religions speak against deliberate use of psi, not because it is evil, but because its basic function is to work unconsciously. Perhaps this is why results achieved by conscious PK in experiments are usually so infinitesimally small. PK may be truly relevant only in the kind of... situation that bring about those "lucky coincidences" that make the universe seem friendly indeed - for those who approach it as friends.
Perhaps this is the real significance of the statement "He stretched a plank" (though in any Sufi tale there are many layers of significance).
In its way perhaps the stretching of the plank WAS a miracle, but that was not what was significant, for, as psychologist Abraham Maslow once wrote, "Miracles as such do not matter. The only thing that matters is their Source."
Nor was stretching a plank significant as an attempt to prove to the skeptics that such a thing could happen.
Least of all would it have been significant for those who would have excluded the incident from the books - though for them it could have been the most significant. Their fear may indicate an awareness, conscious or otherwise, that such an event might mean the restructuring of their world view.
Perhaps the real significance lay in the simple fact that the need of the carpenter and his Son was met (always bearing in mind the difference between need and want).
It is a long step from deciding whether dice can be influenced by the mind to deciding that perhaps, if you get your head straight, the universe will automatically tend to fulfill your needs. It is a long step, but, if it is true, it is probably the most important step that anyone can take.
All else follows."
Special times this month
Dates and descriptions obtained from http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/
Do not be confused by the fact that some celebrations occur on different days according to different religions. For example, celebrations for those of the Orthodox Christian faith, some of whom adhere to the Julian calendar and some to the Gregorian calendar, often differ from those of most western Christian faiths. For more information about the history behind this confusion, see
www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp.
Celebrations marked with one asterisk actually begin at sundown the previous day. Those marked with two asterisks may vary by date according to location. Also, because the Islamic calendar is moon-based, some dates may be off by one day, depending upon location.
March
26 - Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra) - Zoroastrian
April
3 - Lazarus Saturday - Orthodox Christian celebration of the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus.
4 - Palm Sunday - Christian celebration of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The day begins Holy Week. It is observed by worship celebrations and parades using palm branches.
6-13 - Pesach (Passover) * - Jewish 8-day celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The story of the Exodus is recounted, and the ongoing struggle of all peoples for freedom from internal and external tyranny is celebrated.
8 - Maundy Thursday - Christian observance of the first Lord's Supper during Holy Week.
8- Hana Matsuri - Japanese Buddhist flower festival invoking a plentiful harvest.
9 - Good Friday - Christian remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.
11 - Easter - Christian and Orthodox Christian - The most holy of Christian sacred days. The day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his death by crucifixion. Observances include worship services beginning at sunrise, special music, feasting, and parades.
12-13 - Pesach (Passover) last two days - Jewish
14 - Baisakhi - Sikh - the day commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, a distinctive Sikh brotherhood.
16 - Lord's Evening Meal - Jehovah's Witness (Christian) primary annual celebration taking place in the evening.
18 - Yom HaSho'ah * - Jewish commemoration of the Holocaust.
21 - Ridvan begins * - Baha'i commemoration of the twelve day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was God's messenger for this age. Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the festival.
23 - Saint George Day - Christian remembrance of a person who, in the 4th century, was a martyr and became an ideal of martial valor and selflessness.
29 - Ninth Day of Ridvan - Baha'i
30 - St. James the Great Day - Christian recognition of the martyrdom of the Apostle James the Great in 44 c.e
30 - Beltane * - Wicca celebration of the conjoining of the goddess with the energy of the god in the sacred marriage which is the basis of all creation.
Copyright 2004 Diana Robinson, PhD., PCC. This newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in its entirety only, including this copyright line. I enjoy receiving feedback, suggestions, and questions for Grounded/Reaching. To give feedback, please e-mail me at mailto:Editor@ChoiceCoach.com.
Dollarmakers
The Rich Get Richer and the Poor get Poorer
A man heard about a very wise man who lived on a mountain. He decided to test the wise man, so he approached the wise man with a small bird in his hands behind his back, so that the wise man couldn’t see the bird. His plan was to ask the wise man if the bird behind his back was dead or alive. If the wise man said it was dead, he would let it fly free, thus proving the wise man wrong. If the wise man said it was alive, he would crush it, again proving the wise man wrong. A Double Bind. He wanted to see the wise man’s reaction to being proven wrong. When questioned, however, the wise man thought for a while and then replied, “The answer to your question lies in your own hands.”
We’ve heard that the rich get richer and that the poor get poorer. We see that the middle class is slowly, but surely, disappearing in North America. People are concerned, and rightly so. The dramatic shifts in socio-economic realities are progressing unhindered. “Job security” is a thing of the past and downsizing, outsourcing and shifting jobs offshore to India, Mexico and China is in full swing. The older we get, the more vulnerable we become if we don’t have the money to maintain our security and dignity. Yet our pensions are obviously not going to be sufficient, given that we’re living longer and the state of the new economy.
If you feel that your middle class status is slowly slipping away from you, you’re not alone. The rule of 72 – divide the amount of annual interest you’re getting on your savings into seventy-two, and that will give you the amount of years it will take to double your money – tells us that at 4% compound interest, it will take you eighteen years to double your money. And what will it be worth then? Many people have no savings and a lot of debt. We buy things we can’t afford, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like and who don’t care. Many people have second jobs, yet they’re still sliding into more debt. And after so many people lost up to 40% of their life savings in the last stock debacle, we’re careful of stocks and bonds.
So, why do the rich get richer while the poor get poorer? The rich have their money work for them to make them more money and they create residual / passive income. They have their own businesses and all the great tax benefits that go along with that. They hire good financial planners and accounting experts. The poor do what everyone else does and “play it safe” and make their bosses rich. The wise man invests in his own business and mortgage and the poor man invests in other peoples’ businesses and mortgages.
If the answer is to get into your own business, why don’t we all do it? Fear. We’ve seen Uncle Patrick lose his shirt in a business and we’re afraid that we’ll follow suite. We listen to the wrong people – bank managers and other employees – that’s like asking a virgin about childbirth – and we believe all sorts of myths and lies about getting into our own businesses. If we do what poor people do, we’ll get what poor people get. I’m sure you’ve read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by now. If not, drag yourself away from your computer and get into the nearest bookstore ASAP. If you can’t leave your computer, order it from Amazon.com. But BUY the book. Then, unlike the majority of people, READ it. Then, like the very few, IMPLEMENT the ideas.
There is a business opportunity available right now for $11,000 that will get you an absolute minimum of 76% return on investment, part time. There is a $45,000 business that will dramatically change your financial situation. Another $45,000 investment will make you 36% return on investment with a few hours work a month. If you can borrow the $45,000 for 18% and get 36%, you’re doing what rich people do. Yes, you can get into a great business for $45,000 and even get financing. Check out the Myths of Business and the Fifteen Critical Criteria on my website, www.dollarmakers.com, and decide if you want to get richer or poorer. The only people who say money isn’t important are people who don’t have any. My friend here in Canada’s Father died of a heart attack while waiting for a heart operation, because my friend couldn’t afford to send his Dad to the States for an operation. Money is important.
It's been said that you're a victim once, and after that you're a volunteer. Someone else said, "If you want something you've never had before, you must be willing to do something you've never done before."
We hold the future in our own hands. Let’s not kill our financial futures, but rather create financial freedom and prosperity. My company sells businesses from $10,000 to $110,000.
Robin Elliott, Vancouver, Canada. www.dollarmakers.com
Our Legal Beagles are available for all your relevant queries... please continue to send in any queries you have for them and we will get them answered for you free of charge!
We have expanded our circle of helpers to include New Zealand and Europe. Remember that sometimes it takes a while for the relevant ‘Legal Beagle’ to answer. Also please remember that the advice is offered as a free service, THOS and SAW are not personally responsible for the content.
Remember to check out questions and answers on the Web site before you send your query in - it might be the question you are wanting to ask!
No queries received this week.
Please remember that these 'pleas for help' are published in good faith. I print them for you to read and choose to answer or not.
Nobody needing help this week.
Hi Maureen
My name is Jill Gray (nee Anning) from Gosport Hampshire in England and I am attempting to establish contact with Cheryl Lock born March 1954 in Cape Town.
Her father was in the South African Navy and came to England about 1967. I went to school (Privett Secondary Modern) with Cheryl and kept in touch until about 11 years ago, I know she married Matty Ross in the early 80's and had a daughter Catherine born June 1984, I believe she was divorced some 10 years later.(last contact was Natal)
I would love to make contact again and hope that you may be able to help even if it just another contact/source I can try.
Many thanks for your time.
Jill Gray
j.gray640@ntlworld.com
Canada
Chris Cocks bestsellers FireForce and Survival Course being re-printed as one.
There are two kinds of wars: those fought on battlefields with guns and bombs, waged by elders against their enemies; and those fought within a man’s soul with conscience and remorse. The one is external, a public war for all the world to witness; the other intensely private, glimpsed at by only a few.
Innocent young men are molded into soldiers by ingenious craftsmen, through a process of “dehumanize and reconstruct” into professional killing machines. But in times of peace that process is never reversed, i.e. “deconstruct and re-humanize” into functioning members of society.
Chris Cocks’ journey begins with Fireforce in which he catalogues his three years’ combat experience in 3 Commando, The Rhodesian Light Infantry. His naiveté destroyed by basic training he enters a unit often compared to the French Foreign Legion. This compelling account tells of the combat method developed by the Rhodesians, and perfected by the RLI, involving airborne troops parachuted into action against the never-ending tide of the guerrilla enemy. The mental and physical strain on a Fireforce soldier was almost unbearable – with ground troops always in desperately short supply, the same men were at times dropped into as many as three contacts a day.
Although Fireforce has been written with an unforgettable pathos and humour, it tells of face-to-face combat in the bush and death at point-blank range. It is a book, which does nothing to glamorize or glorify war.
Survival Course explores the brutal reality faced by a soldier when he realizes he’s now just an ordinary man – no longer the hero, misunderstood by most and alone in his quest for the “normality” of civilian life. It is a downward spiral into self-recrimination and guilt, the nightmares eased only by the escapism of drug and alcohol abuse. But ultimately the battle is a story of hope and re-awakening.
Although these two books are completely juxtaposed their essence is so intertwined that one should not be perceived in isolation of the other, for no war leaves a soldier unscarred and no self-destruction is without source.
Chris is in the process of re-writing both titles which will include new stories and pictures. It’s being printed in Canada under Rhodesiawassuper. www.Rhodesiawassuper.com
First 500 copies will be available autographed. Don't be disappointed and add yourself to the want list. E-mail Rhodesia@shaw.ca and in the subject line place. ADD TO WANT LIST FOR FIREFORCE, SURVIVAL COURSE.
We are shooting for a release date of July 2004 with a retail of $39.95
Italy - Milan
Editor’s note: Showing my ignorance I headed this as Spain – apologies – should be Italy!
Dear Maureen, I thought it would be nice to tell the SAW readers here in Italy about what we have organised for the EAST RAND YOUTH CHOIR that is going to be here in the Milano area to participate in a Choral Competition in Riva del Garda from 4th to the 8th April. They will be singing in Veduggio(Milano) in the parish church on the 2nd April at 21.00, and in the Cesate(Milano) parish church on the 3rd April at 21.00 . It would be nice for the South Africans to come along and hear among others some folk songs as well. I am inclosing the repertoire of our concert nights.
Thanks Jaccie Cavenaghi (organiser)
For any questions please e-mail me at mxcave@tin.it
Oosrandse Jeugkoor Toer Repertoire - 2004
1. Crucifixion - Adolphus Hailstork - Traditional Spiritual
2. Halleluja Loof Die Here - Gordon Young Hallelujah praise the Lord.
3. The Lamb - John Tavener - a poem by William Blake
4. Fair Phyllis - John Farmer
5. Abendlied - Josef Gabriel Rheinberger - Luke 24,29
6. Die Trane Die Rol - Traditional Afrikaans Folksong
7. Motet 2 - Martin Watt - Jeremiah 29:12,14
8. Gloria - Arr: Richter Grimbeek - Glory be to God almighty.
9. Benedictio - Urmas Sisask - Go and spread the gospel of truth all over the world.
Pouse
1. Gloria -(Traditional Kenyan Folk song) - Glory be to God.
2. Vela Vela - Niel Van Der Watt – Traditional - Lookout we're coming.
3. Masithi Amen - Traditional Sotho - Give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
4. Inisiponono - Traditional Zulu - I have a friend in Durban.
5. God Only Knows - Brian Wilson
6. I'm Gonna Sing -Traditional Arr. Moses Hogan
7. Heal the World - Michael Jackson
8. Circle of Life - Elton John
9. Praise His Holy Name - Keith Hampton
10. Irish Blessing - James E. Moore - Afrikaans words: Petru & Ida Gräbe
UK - London
My sister is running this year's London Marathon and her Charity is the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund. She's organised a Charity Fund Raiser in London (Baker Street) on the 3rd of April: A Night At The Races, where you can bet on filmed races. There will be raffled draws with prizes. And I was wondering if any fellow South African's that are in London, would like to come out for a fun night out and support a worth-while charity. I've attached our poster if you can get it on the Newsletter or if there is any response could you forward it?
If anyone is interested, they can contact my sister:
petamv@yahoo.com
Thank you again!
Regards
Jacques
They said it in court
This from Captain Ken ski@flatwater.com
Some oldies but goodies from the American legal system.....no offence intended to Julian....:-)
Cheers,
Ken
These are really funny - I have heard them before but I laugh every time. I have the book, and these are actual quotes from court transcripts.
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan
Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.
Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 pm.
Q: And Mr.. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample
Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.
Please send in any recipes you and your family likes – I will be adding them into the new SAW site – check them out!
It will soon be Hot Cross Bun time... and here is a great recipe for you to try if you fancy making your own this year.
Bryanna’s low fat vegan hot cross buns - makes 32 buns.
These little spicy buns are traditional in English-speaking countries on Good Friday, but they originated before Christianity. They are so much better than the squishy, sickly-sweet store-bought buns.
To the Vegan Sweet Bread dough recipe below add while kneading:
1 c. dried currants or raisins
2/3 c. candied fruitcake mix or chopped mixed dried fruit
1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. each ground ginger and allspice
Form the risen dough into 32 balls and place them in two nonstick or lightly-oiled 9x13" baking pans, leaving a little space between the rolls. Let rise until doubled. Cut crosses in the tops of the buns with a razor blade just before baking as directed.
Brush the hot buns with Sweet Bread Glaze (below). Make crosses on the tops of the buns with a thick Soy-Sugar Glaze or White Maple Glaze (below) , flavored with a few drops of pure almond extract.
This is a great basic dough for breads that usually call for eggs and butter-- it's light and moist and just slightly sweet. I'll give you a few variations, but please experiment by adapting your own favorite sweet breads to this dough.
2 c. warm water
1 pkg. or 2 and 1/2 tsp. regular baking yeast
1 c. leftover mashed potatoes (1/2 lb. russet potatoes, cooked and mashed)
OR 1 c. instant organic mashed potato flakes mixed with 2/3 c. boiling water
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. soymilk powder
1/4 c. maple syrup
1/4 c. light unbleached or white beet sugar
1 T. lemon juice
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. turmeric
5 c. unbleached white flour (you can use up to half wholewheat)
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, combine the water and yeast. When the yeast has dissolved, add the mashed potatoes, wheat germ, soymilk powder, syrup, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and turmeric. Mix in the unbleached flour. Knead well for 5 to 10 minutes (using as little flour as possible if kneading by hand-- the dough should be soft and a bit sticky).
Place the dough in a greased bowl which will allow for doubling of the dough, turn it over to grease the top, and cover with plastic wrap, or place inside of a large plastic bag (to prevent the dough from drying out). Rise overnight or for 8-12 hours in the refrigerator (this dough handles best when cold).
Several hours before serving, shape the dough into two loaves, or 16 large loaves, or 32 small rolls, according to the variation recipe you are using. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-45 minutes, depending upon the size and shape of the loaves or rolls. (Solid round or pan loaves may take as long as 45 minutes; long, braided, or ring loaves about 30 minutes; small rolls 20 minutes.) Cool on racks and decorate as directed in the variation recipe.
Bryanna’s Sweet Bread Glaze
This is brushed onto hot baked breads for a sweet, shiny glaze.
Heat equal parts of non-dairy milk and maple syrup together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Do Not Boil, or it will curdle.
Bryanna’s White Maple Glaze - makes 1/2 c. (can be soy-free)
This can be used on sweet yeasted breads, tea breads, cupcakes, etc..
1/2 c. good-tasting powdered soymilk (such as a light tofu beverage mix-- do not use bulk soymilk powder) OR rice milk powder
4 T. Grade A light maple syrup
1/4 tsp. vanilla or other flavor extract
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly in a bowl. For a thin glaze, spread it on the hot bread or cake. For a firmer glaze, spread it on the cooled bread or cake.
Bryanna’s Soy-Sugar Glaze - makes about 1/2 c.
For a sweeter glaze that gets a bit crusty, try this easy one. If you use unbleached sugar, it's more beige than white. It's good on baked doughnuts or muffins baked in miniature bundt pans.
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. soymilk
2 T. isolated soy protein powder
1/4 tsp. vanilla or other flavor extract
Melt the sugar and soymilk together in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, or microwave in a microwave-safe small bowl for 1 minute. Beat in the soy protein powder and vanilla with a hand blender or electric mixer. Spread on hot cake, etc.
Balfour requests probe into medal controversy
The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Ngconde Balfour, has instructed the organisers of the South Africa Games that took place in Buffalo City last week, to investigate the circumstances around a Gauteng tennis player, apparently not receiving her medal.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?
Sehwag reaches 300 landmark
Multan, Pakistan - Virender Sehwag become the first Indian batsman to score 300 runs in a Test innings during the opening match against Pakistan on Monday.
The 25-year-old from Delhi hammered 38 fours and six sixes to raise his triple-century - the 18th in cricket history - off 363 balls and in 497 minutes.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?
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