Have you ever woken up feeling stiff, even after getting a full night's sleep? Maybe your back feels uncomfortable after sitting at work, your shoulders become tight during the day, or you feel tired whenever you try to stay physically active. These little problems can slowly affect your daily routine and make activities you once enjoyed feel difficult.

Many people blame these feelings on busy schedules or getting older, but everyday habits also play an important role. Spending too much time sitting, avoiding exercise, and ignoring muscle discomfort can affect the way your body moves.

The good news is that you don't need to become a fitness expert to start taking better care of yourself. Finding the right combination of movement, strength training, and professional support can help you work toward a healthier lifestyle. This is where flexology physical therapy & pilates becomes an interesting option for people who want to improve their physical well-being and enjoy everyday activities with greater confidence.

Are Your Everyday Habits Making Your Body Feel Tired?

Think about a normal working day. You wake up, check your phone, get ready, travel to work, and spend several hours completing different tasks. By the time you return home, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind.

Unfortunately, this routine can leave very little room for physical activity.

Sitting for extended periods, looking down at screens, and repeating the same movements throughout the day may contribute to muscle tightness, poor posture, and reduced flexibility.

You might notice that your neck feels uncomfortable after working on a laptop or your lower back becomes stiff after a long drive.

These experiences are worth paying attention to. Making time for movement can help you develop healthier habits and support better physical function.

Physical Therapy Is Not Just for People With Injuries

Many people think physical therapy is only necessary after an accident, surgery, or serious sports injury. However, it can also help individuals who want to improve mobility, strength, and everyday movement.

Physical therapy focuses on understanding how your body works and identifying areas that need attention.

A qualified physical therapist can assess your movement patterns, discuss your concerns, and recommend suitable exercises or treatment techniques.

Depending on your individual condition, physical therapy may support people dealing with:

• Back and neck discomfort
• Muscle stiffness and tightness
• Sports-related injuries
• Limited joint mobility
• Balance and coordination difficulties
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Challenges with everyday physical activities

The aim is to help individuals improve their physical abilities and become more comfortable with daily movements.

Pilates Makes You Pay Attention to Your Body

Pilates is different from many traditional workouts because it focuses on controlled movements rather than speed or heavy lifting.

It combines breathing, flexibility, balance, posture, and core-strengthening exercises. Each movement encourages you to understand how your body responds and how different muscles work together.

Even simple exercises can challenge your muscles when performed with the correct technique.

Build a Stronger Core

Your core muscles help support your body during everyday activities. Walking, bending, lifting, and maintaining balance all involve these important muscles.

Pilates includes exercises that target the abdominal muscles, lower back, and pelvis to help improve strength and stability.

Improve Your Flexibility

Tight muscles can make simple movements uncomfortable. Pilates incorporates stretching and controlled exercises that may help improve flexibility and range of motion.

With regular practice, you may find certain movements becoming easier and more comfortable.

Develop Better Posture

Long hours spent sitting at a desk or looking at a mobile phone can encourage poor posture habits.

Pilates helps develop body awareness and strengthens muscles that support proper alignment. It also encourages you to become more conscious of how you sit, stand, and move.

Work on Your Balance

Good balance is important at every stage of life. Pilates exercises challenge your stability and coordination, helping you develop greater control over your movements.

Why Combine Physical Therapy With Pilates?

Physical therapy and Pilates have different approaches, but they can complement each other when used appropriately.

Physical therapy focuses on improving movement, addressing physical limitations, and supporting recovery. Pilates adds controlled exercise that can help develop flexibility, muscular strength, and body awareness.

For example, someone experiencing recurring back discomfort may benefit from a professional assessment to understand possible movement problems. Based on their condition, a physical therapist might recommend strengthening exercises and introduce appropriate Pilates movements.

Similarly, someone recovering from a sports injury may need rehabilitation before returning to more demanding physical activities.

Combining these approaches can provide a structured way to work toward individual goals. However, exercises should always be selected according to a person's physical condition and abilities.

You Don't Need to Spend Hours in the Gym

One reason people avoid exercise is that they imagine it requires a strict schedule, expensive equipment, and hours of physical effort.

In reality, building a healthier routine can begin with simple activities.

You can start by taking short walks, stretching appropriately, and including regular movement breaks during your working day.

Different people may also have different reasons for exploring physical therapy and Pilates.

Office Workers: Sitting for long hours can affect posture and flexibility. Appropriate movement exercises may help support better mobility.

Busy Parents: Looking after children and managing household responsibilities can be physically demanding. Building strength may help with everyday tasks.

Older Adults: Suitable physical activities can support balance, strength, mobility, and independence.

Fitness Beginners: Pilates offers an opportunity to learn controlled movements and gradually develop physical confidence.

Active Individuals: People who enjoy sports may want to work on flexibility, stability, and movement quality.

The best starting point is one that matches your current abilities rather than trying to follow someone else's fitness routine.

Small Changes Can Improve the Way You Feel

You don't need to completely change your lifestyle to become more active. Small improvements can make physical wellness easier to maintain.

Here are some simple habits worth adding to your day:

• Take short walking breaks between work sessions.
• Avoid sitting in the same position for too long.
• Practice appropriate stretching exercises.
• Pay attention to your posture while working.
• Stay consistent with your physical activity.
• Allow your body enough time to recover.
• Choose exercises that match your fitness level.

These habits may seem simple, but they can help you become more aware of your physical needs.

Remember that consistency matters. A comfortable routine you can follow regularly is often more useful than an intense workout plan that becomes difficult to maintain.

Professional Guidance Can Make a Real Difference

Every body is different. Two people may experience similar discomfort but have completely different movement patterns and physical requirements.

This is why personalized support is important.

A qualified professional can evaluate your condition, understand your goals, and recommend suitable exercises. This is especially valuable for individuals managing injuries, recurring pain, or mobility limitations.

With https://flexologystudios.com/sports-therapy/, individuals can explore the connection between professional physical care and mindful movement. The focus is on developing healthier movement habits while working toward realistic fitness and mobility goals.

Rather than choosing random exercises online, professional guidance can help you understand which movements are appropriate for your needs.

Start Giving Your Body the Attention It Deserves

It's easy to spend the entire day taking care of work, family, and other responsibilities while forgetting about your own physical health. But your body supports everything you do, from completing everyday tasks to enjoying time with the people you love.

You deserve to move comfortably, feel stronger, and enjoy activities without constantly worrying about physical limitations.

You don't have to make dramatic changes overnight. Start with manageable steps, stay consistent, and seek professional advice when needed.

A healthier lifestyle isn't about pushing yourself beyond your limits. It's about understanding your body, making time for movement, and choosing habits that help you feel better every day.

Last week, my family and I went to a kids hair salon not too far from our home. I usually dread it because my older one doesn’t like haircuts ever since his first one. I was surprised my younger one was the complete opposite.

Calm. Makes me wonder if my sons have opposite personalities. I’ll see until my younger one’s next haircut.

#children #family #haircut

The train this morning was one hour delayed. I stood in the chill autumn air, by the train station, watching the sun rise over the tracks, fingers frozen.

I thought then, that the sky looked as if someone just poured a bunch of dirty watercolours and pink over the paper, like even God couldn’t be bothered to render the sky properly on this fine day.

And I am now back on my way home, black windows and I am lulled in the train car like some sort of baby. Looking at these other people who could’ve been my friends maybe? In another life or this life,

Dozing a little bit, uncertain how long I have been sitting here, contemplating.

Was this a day well spent? Who knows!

Do you consider these forks in the roads, so much in life is just luck, be it good or bad. I would’ve been a train driver, maybe, had I not met my wife when I did.

Or I could’ve worked with forklifts at the postal terminal if I didn’t become a UNIX man instead.

And I have no clue what I would’ve felt then

And I wouldn’t have been the same person even

Maybe

It is all very transient, I think.

Mhmm

The Democrats must not squander their victory

Image by Ivča from Pixabay

Not everything went well yesterday. Washington passed a law that will make girls sports as demeaning and terrible for cis girls as much as for trans girls. Some girls will prefer not to play at all, accomplishing the Right’s main goal of damaging women’s rights. Trans boys and men continue to be left out of these conversations even when we’re making progress for trans people in sports. While actions like Washington’s directly harm trans people, the goal is and always has been to harm women. Among cis women, BIPOC will always face the worst outcomes of these actions because the definition of “normal” is always pegged to whiteness. This action won in one of the “lefty” states. Even our strongholds are not immune to the fascist tool of defining out groups and using them as a cudgel to manipulate The People into harming their own interests.

Expect (and prepare to fight) more anti-trans laws and regulations. Too many who betrayed us had too good results yesterday so the festering turd of those aching to betray us will be emboldened by the cry of “it’s what the voters want.”

We the people overcame gerrymandering and voter suppression by sheer numbers. Those we send to Congress must take radical action to ensure the voice of the people is never again threatened by anti-democracy forces. The Democrats must do the work they failed to do when Biden was in office. We must make a new and stronger Voters Rights bill to guarantee that every eligible voter is automatically registered, voting day is a federally recognized and mandated holiday with full pay, and each district is not gerrymandered.

Roe must be enshrined into federal law. We must pass our first real law granting the right to privacy at the federal level, learning from the failures of the GDPR so that we can have the best privacy law in the world. We must have a right to repair law to protect Americans from disposable electronics that are designed to be prone to failing prematurely. And we must have universal healthcare.

As Jessie Gender recently reminded us, we’ve been through this cycle before: Democrats win, squander their victory, and leave Americans as desperate as ever, leading to another wave of GOP victories.

#USPOL #BlueWave #Democrats #Democracy

nous sommes cailloux cherchant leur juste agencement

mais posés là de tout notre grave poids englués dans l'asphalte

en vaine attente du puissant torrent qui saurait nous rouler comme ballons dans l'herbe

nous rouler dans l'herbe

---

photo © Anemone Nemorosa @SensitiveSyl@beige.party

Tech Missteps & Lost Opportunities

There I was, shooting the breeze with my old mate Duncan over a Sunday braai, the smoke curling up into the African sky as we chewed the fat about life, tech, and everything in between. Duncan wasn’t much of a talker—quiet bloke, kept his cards close—but when he did open up, it was worth listening. Tragically, he took his own life during the COVID pandemic, just another statistic in that godawful mess. Hit me hard; he was a proper buddy, and I had no inkling of the demons he was wrestling with inside. Rest easy, boet.

Our chat that day veered into why Madge Networks, a company where we had both worked at back in the day, went tits up. I’d scribbled about it before, but hashing it out with Duncan brought it all back. My take? Madge had a solid solution in hand and went hunting for a problem to fit it, all while piling on one bad strategic call after another. Truth is, when a company craters like that, it’s never just one reason—it’s a bloody avalanche of them. You’ve got the obvious surface-level cock-ups, the mid-layer blunders propping those up, and then, if you dig deep enough, the root causes lurking at the bottom. No single villain in the piece, but a chorus of them singing in harmony toward disaster. I’ll lay out my two cents here, but I encourage anyone reading this to chip in—the full picture’s probably a group effort.

If you’re hunting for the gold standard in tech brain farts, look no further than Kodak. They bloody well invented the digital camera, the very thing that gutted their film empire, but they were too busy squeezing every last drop from their legacy cash cow to spot the digital tsunami barreling down. That wave also smashed Polaroid, another innovator caught flat-footed. Madge was like a precursor to that duo: they nailed Token Ring networking to perfection but should’ve pivoted hard into silicon for the Ethernet and WiFi juggernauts on the horizon. Instead, they dabbled in mergers and acquisitions without the street smarts that made Cisco kings of that game. Ironically, Cisco did float an offer to buy Madge, but it got knocked back. As we say out here on the Highveld, “Eish!” What a missed shot.

My own run-in with Madge kicked off in ‘93 or ‘94, installing their FDDI adapters into NetWare SFT III servers. They were the only ones that didn’t crash the whole setup—rock solid. From then on, I was a Madge fanboy through and through. As that guy from Remington shavers said, “I joined them.”

Any yarn about Madge has to circle back to their “Switching to ATM” fiasco. It sounded dead clever at the time, sophisticated, even, but it was clumsy as hell and completely missed the boat on the desktop market. Silicon for everyday connectivity was never heading ATM’s way. Back then, the big debate raged between Token Ring and Ethernet, and the verdict was Ethernet won out. But let’s be real: users ditched both for wireless radios—WiFi steamrolled the lot. Funnily enough, today’s Ethernet tech borrows more from Token Ring than you’d think, especially on the fibre side, where standards trace back to FDDI (remember that relic?). As an aside, one of Ethernet’s dumbest holdovers is its tiny frame size—pathetic, really. Token Ring was streets ahead in design on that front and plenty others. And get this: now we’ve got Ethernet rings per G.8032 specs. Talking rings, Token Ring’s source route bridging was a masterpiece compared to Ethernet’s limp transparent bridging. It let you build massive Layer 2 domains without broadcasts melting everything down; Ethernet had to lean on Layer 3 to catch up.

All that sweat poured into Token Ring MACs? In hindsight, Madge could’ve redirected it to ride the storage or wireless wave that was cresting. The real driver wasn’t video or those Jetsons-style fantasies pushing ATM—it was high-speed storage needs. ATM touted QoS as its killer feature, but Ethernet cracked that nut with higher-level protocols and shaping, all at a fraction of the cost thanks to years of price drops. These days, most priority multimedia traffic runs on traffic shaping—not as fancy as ATM’s QoS blueprint, but it gets the job done. Sometimes. I’m into SD-WAN and know it well. In the last few years those shaping protocols have improved with an example being fq-codel and CAKE.

Then there was that late-’90s idiocy: some ponytail in marketing decided to overhaul the corporate identity. Changing your look never boosts sales—it’s a fool’s errand that only lines the pockets of ad agencies. No company’s pulled it off without a hitch, yet they all queue up to try. Classic case? Coke’s New Coke debacle; they had the muscle to backpedal, but Madge? Not so much. Ditching those lightning bolts for brown cardboard boxes? Utter tripe. Went from unique and punchy to bland as dishwater.

And don’t get me started on the Lannet acquisition in 1995. When I chatted with folks there later, they swore blind they were an Ethernet outfit through and through. Madge, though, heard what they wanted and jammed a square peg into a round hole. Mismatch from the jump, and it showed—Lannet got spun off and sold to Lucent by ‘98.

By 1997, the writing was on the wall: Madge slashed 700 jobs—a third of the workforce—scrapped their ATM push entirely, and shuttered their San Jose HQ to retreat back to the UK. They admitted to overreaching without the resources to duke it out with the big dogs. The company limped on but finally folded in 2003, another victim of Ethernet’s relentless march. Hindsight’s 20/20, but Madge’s story’s a cautionary braai-side tale: innovate or die, but pick your battles wisely, or you’ll end up just another tech fossil in the dust.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

When its not a flock

Humans have long been captivated by birds, not just with their graceful flights and vibrant plumage, but also through the whimsical and often poetic collective nouns assigned to their groups. These terms of venery, originated in medieval England as part of hunting traditions, where knowing the proper name for a gathering of animals demonstrated one’s sophistication. Many trace back to the 15th century, appearing in works like The Book of Saint Albans, a collection of hunting lore attributed to Juliana Berners. Over time, these names have evolved, some drawing from observed behaviours, superstitions, or sheer linguistic creativity. These are the ones which are more than the generic flock of birds.

Let’s start with one of the most infamous: a murder of crows. This term likely stems from folklore associating crows with death and omens, as they were often seen scavenging battlefields or around carcasses. The word “murder” evokes their supposed propensity for mobbing and killing weak members of their own kind, though this behavior is more myth than fact. It first appeared in English literature around the 15th century. Closely related, an unkindness of ravens or a conspiracy of ravens draws from similar dark associations. Ravens, like crows, were linked to mischief and ill omens in medieval times; “unkindness” may refer to legends of ravens abandoning their young, while “conspiracy” hints at their intelligent, scheming nature. These terms were popularized in The Book of Saint Albans.

Moving to waterfowl, a gaggle of geese applies when they’re on land, evoking the noisy, chaotic sound they make— “gaggle” comes from Middle English for babbling or cackling. In flight, however, they become a skein of geese, referring to a thread or yarn, perhaps inspired by the V-shaped formation resembling a skein unwinding. These distinctions highlight how context-specific many collective nouns are, with roots in Old English observations of bird behavior. Similarly, a lamentation of swans captures the mournful trumpeting calls of these elegant birds, a term from the medieval era that poetically anthropomorphizes their sounds as sorrowful cries.

For raptors and predators, the names often evoke power or strategy. A parliament of owls is one of the most evocative, linking to ancient Greek mythology where owls symbolized wisdom (accompanying Athena, goddess of reason). The “parliament” suggests a wise assembly, though its modern popularity surged with C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. It may have earlier roots in Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls.

A wake of vultures (when feeding) alludes to a funeral wake, given their role as scavengers circling death; this term emerged from observations of their feeding habits in the 19th century or earlier. A cast of falcons borrows from falconry, where “casting” means releasing birds to hunt, a practice documented in medieval hunting texts. Less common but striking are a brigade of martial eagles, perhaps inspired by the military connotation of “martial” (warlike) and their aggressive hunting in groups, though its exact origin is obscure and may be a modern invention based on behavior.

Shorebirds and waders have equally descriptive terms. A siege of herons refers to their patient, besieging stance while hunting fish, first noted in The Book of Saint Albans. A flamboyance of flamingos perfectly captures their vivid pink hues and showy displays, with “flamboyance” deriving from French words for flame or flair, likely coined as flamingos became more studied in zoos and wild habitats.

A dive of kingfishers evokes their plunging hunting technique, a more recent term based on direct observation rather than ancient lore. An irritation of hadedas are those creatures in our gardens here in South Africa who drive us nuts. An impi of lilac-breasted rollers who are venerated by the Zulus. A sneer of penguins as they look like butlers. A squadron of seagulls as they bomb in unison. A strafe of fish eagles as they fly in when hunting fish. A shag of turtle doves, just because. A tsotsi of cuckoos as they always stealing. A camouflage of Piet My Vrou’s as you can never find our see them. An ambush of Kieviets, as that is what they do! A state capture of Indian Mynahs because of the Guptas. A haunting of sacred ibises as that are flying ghosts. A dazzle of sunbirds as the catch the sun. A catwalk of Hoopoe, because they prance like models. A skinder of Secretary Birds, because that is what a pool of typists do.

Among smaller birds, personality shines through. A descent of woodpeckers describes their habit of spiraling down tree trunks, a name from noting their vertical movements. A charm of hummingbirds reflects their enchanting, jewel-like appearance and hovering flight, when these new world birds gained popularity in Europe. A scold of jays nods to their loud, scolding calls when alarmed, while a mischief of magpies highlights their thieving, playful reputation in folklore. A trembling of finches may refer to their fluttering wings in flight, and a quarrel of sparrows captures their noisy disputes over food or territory—these terms often stem from 16th-17th century naturalist writings.

More exotic or regional names include a plague of grackles, alluding to their large, invasive flocks that can overwhelm areas like a biblical plague, a term popularized in North American birdwatching circles. A confusion of guinea fowl describes their disorganized, panicky group behavior, originating from African introductions to Europe in the Renaissance. A congregation of weaver birds straightforwardly refers to their intricate woven nests forming communal colonies where they sing like members of a church. Rarer still are a peloton of hammerkops, borrowing from cycling jargon for a tight group (hammerkops look like cyclists with helmets), and a dive of kingfishers, as mentioned earlier.

These collective nouns remind us of the rich interplay between language, culture, and nature. While some have ancient roots in superstition and hunting, others are modern inventions inspired by behavior. My personal favorite has to be a flamboyance of flamingos—it’s just so vividly fitting for those leggy, pink spectacles strutting through shallow waters, bringing a touch of extravagance to the avian world. Whether you’re spotting a murder in the treetops or a gaggle on the pond, these names add a layer of delight to birdwatching.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

Awkward

It was one of those balmy Jozi evenings, just as the world was tentatively shaking off the grip of the COVID pandemic. I’d been invited to dinner at the home of an old school friend in Parktown, that venerable suburb where grand Herbert Baker-designed homes still stand like silent guardians of a bygone era, their red-tiled roofs and stone facades dotted along tree-lined streets. The invitation promised a low-key gathering—nothing fancy, just good food, wine, and conversation to reconnect after the isolation of lockdowns. Little did I know it would devolve into one of the most surreal and uncomfortable encounters of my adult life.

The guest list was small: my friend, his father (a warm, retired businessman with a penchant for marketing), and a neighbor named Rex, a retired South African judge who’d hung up his robes a few decades earlier. Rex was in his eighties, sharp-eyed and impeccably dressed in a crisp shirt and trousers, exuding the kind of authoritative presence that comes from years on the bench. At first, the evening unfolded pleasantly. We sat around a wooden dining table laden with homemade bobotie, fresh salads, and a robust bottle of local Pinotage. Conversation flowed easily—reminiscences about school days, the quirks of Parktown’s history, and the shared relief of emerging from pandemic restrictions. Masks were off, vaccines were in, and there was a palpable sense of normalcy returning.

But as the main course gave way to dessert, the tone shifted. Rex, perhaps emboldened by a second glass of wine, steered the discussion toward the pandemic itself. What began as mild skepticism quickly escalated into a full-throated rant about conspiracy theories. “It’s all Bill Gates’ doing,” he declared, his voice rising with conviction. “That man’s not content with his billions—he wants to control the world, Illuminati-style. The vaccines? Just a ploy to track us, make more money, and play God with humanity.” He went on, citing vague “sources” from fringe online groups and social media echo chambers that amplified such nonsense, painting Gates as some shadowy puppet master behind global events using microchips hidden in vaccines.

I listened politely at first, but as someone who’d built much of my career around technology, I couldn’t let it slide unchallenged. “With all due respect, Judge,” I interjected calmly, “I’ve spent my entire professional life using, supporting, and deploying products that originated from Bill Gates’ company. Microsoft has been a cornerstone for so many of us. Gates? He’s just a plain old nerd at heart—a brilliant one, sure, but his philanthropy, especially in medical causes, strikes me as genuine. He’s poured billions into fighting diseases like malaria and polio, not to control the world, but to make it a better place. It’s about giving back, not some sinister plot and there are no microchips floating in vaccines.”

The room fell silent for a beat. Rex’s face reddened, his judicial composure cracking like thin ice. Then, without warning, he leaned forward and barked, “Fuck off.” The words hung in the air, crude and jarring, utterly out of place in this refined setting. My friend froze, fork midway to his mouth; his father cleared his throat awkwardly, staring into his plate. I blinked, staring back at Rex, wondering if this was the onset of senility or just a flash of unchecked temper. Had the pandemic’s isolation frayed his edges, or was this the real man beneath the robe?

The rest of the evening limped along in strained politeness. Dessert was eaten in near silence, punctuated by forced small talk about the weather and local events—anything to avoid the elephant in the room. As I drove home later, winding through Parktown’s shadowy streets, I couldn’t shake the unease. How had this man, entrusted with presiding over courtrooms and dispensing justice, harbored such irrational beliefs? How could someone so unbalanced in temperament have wielded the gavel, deciding fates with the weight of law? It was a stark reminder that titles and authority don’t always equate to wisdom or restraint. In the end, that dinner wasn’t just awkward—it was a window into the fragility of reason in an age of misinformation.

But, hey, the world is full of those.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

Christmas

As December rolls in, like clockwork, I dust off my well-worn copy of Love Actually and settle in for the ritual viewing. It’s the quintessential Christmas movie, one that never grows old, with its heartfelt message of love, connection, and holiday magic distilled into pure Christmas essence. For me, Christmas isn’t just a holiday, it’s a tradition that seeps right into my bones, a visceral pull that feels as innate as breathing.

Being German by heritage, I suppose I’m a tree worshipper at heart, a bona fide tree hugger with roots that run deep. My earliest act of arboreal devotion was to a wild fig tree that sprawled outside the window of the dusty farmhouse where I spent my youth. I’d gaze at it for hours, imagining it as a guardian spirit. And it’s no exaggeration to say this reverence is in my blood; our family has over 500 years of documented history intertwined with Christianity, tracing back to the very door in Wittenberg where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, sparking the Reformation. That legacy pulses through me, even if my own beliefs has evolved.

Growing up in New Hanover, the local Lutheran church embodied the season’s splendor. Each year, a massive pine tree would be hauled inside and positioned proudly beside the altar, a towering symbol of evergreen hope. It wasn’t adorned with modern electric lights but with real candles, each one carefully ignited using a match affixed to a long stick—a ritual that filled the air with the warm flicker of flame and the faint scent of melting wax. The sight was mesmerizing, almost sacred. Afterward, the church’s brass band would strike up hymns, their notes resonating through the pews like a communal heartbeat. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the church bazaar became a highlight, bustling with stalls selling handmade ornaments—delicate glass baubles, wooden carvings, and glittering stars that we’d hang on our own trees at home.

No Christmas memory is complete without visits to my grandmother Bertha, whose kitchen was a haven of holiday delights. She’d serve her traditional Butterkuchen, that buttery yeast cake dusted with sugar and almonds, alongside Zirupskuchen, a syrupy treat that melted on the tongue. Those flavors are the very taste of Christmas for me, evoking warmth and nostalgia in every bite. Even now, living in Johannesburg, I scour the shops each December in search of authentic Lebkuchen—those spiced gingerbread cookies that transport me straight back to my roots.

My parents would put on a Boney M cassette in the Mercedes Benz. We would listen endlessly to “By the Rivers of Babylon”. I’m still transported to the back seat of that car, wedged between my boet and sis every time I hear that song.

My sister shares this passion for the season and takes charge of our family gatherings, orchestrating a sumptuous dinner on Christmas Eve. We skip the fanfare of Christmas Day altogether, honoring the German custom of celebrating on the night before, the Heilige Nacht, or Holy Night. If possible, we seek out a church service where we can join in singing “Silent Night,” its melody wrapping around us like a familiar embrace. The tears come unbidden, rolling down my cheeks without shame, a release of all the accumulated joy and melancholy of the year.

At its core, Christmas for me is about giving—everyone deserves a present, not something extravagant, but a token that’s personal and meaningful, chosen with thought and care. And here’s my confession: for all the Christian heritage in my veins, Christmas isn’t truly religious to me. Sorry, Jesus—it’s something deeper, more primal, woven into my DNA. It’s a potent brew of ancestral echoes, a pause for reflection amid the whirl of life, blending the simple pleasures of tree hugging and Süßigkeiten—the sweets that make the season sparkle. I suppose some might brand me a heretic for saying so, but by choice, I’d leave my Christmas lights twinkling all year round. Their soft glow is too beautiful to confine to just one month. That’s me—unapologetically enchanted by a primitive festival’s enduring magic.

My favourite apostle is Thomas who would always go to first principles, and Christmas is not about the myths but being nice as the first principle.

Window shopping

As a young boy growing up on our family farm in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, the simple rhythms of rural life shaped my world as I learned the land’s secrets from my father’s calloused hands. But come December, a magical ritual broke the monotony—the annual pilgrimage to Pietermaritzburg for window shopping. This wasn’t just any outing; it was our prelude to Christmas, a shimmering promise of the holiday’s joy wrapped in the cool evening air. The town lay about 30 kilometers away, a journey that felt like crossing into another realm, where the dirt roads gave way to bustling streets alive with lights and laughter.

We’d pile into the Mercedes—my parents, siblings, and I—after supper, when the sun dipped low and the night sky began to twinkle like the decorations we’d soon behold. Pietermaritzburg, with its colonial charm and vibrant energy, was a far cry from our isolated homestead. The main streets pulsed with holiday cheer, shops aglow with festive displays that drew crowds like moths to a flame. But none captivated us more than Stuttafords and John Orrs, the grand dames of the retail scene. Their windows were masterpieces: elaborate tableaux of twinkling trees, mechanical Santas waving merrily, and piles of wrapped gifts that sparked endless “what if” dreams in my childish mind. We’d stroll from one to the next, pressing our noses against the glass, oohing and aahing as the displays unfolded like storybooks come to life. My mother would point out the elegant dresses, my father the sturdy toys, and we’d all imagine what treasures might find their way under our modest tree back home.

Those evenings were pure enchantment, but one particular Christmas Eve outing etched itself into family lore, recounted at every birthday and holiday gathering thereafter with equal parts horror and hilarity. I was not yet going to school, and was wide-eyed and overwhelmed by the urban spectacle. As we lingered before John Orrs’ magnificent window—a veritable winter wonderland of faux snow and animated reindeer—nature called with urgent insistence. Being a farm boy through and through, accustomed to relieving myself against a tree or in the open fields without a second thought, I saw no issue with the matter. So, right there on the bustling sidewalk, I sidled up to the window, dropped my shorts, and let loose a stream against the glass. To my innocent logic, it was as natural as breathing; the city lights reflected in the puddle at my feet like some impromptu holiday art installation.

The gasps from passersby were immediate, but it was a stern-faced lady nearby who broke the spell. She turned to my mortified mother, who was frozen in shock, and quipped dryly, “At least he shook it.” My parents whisked me away amid apologies and stifled laughter, the incident becoming an instant legend. Back on the farm, it was retold with embellishments—how the window nearly steamed up, or how I waved cheerfully to my reflection mid-act. Even now, decades later, as we gather around the table, my sister inevitably pipes up with, “Remember that time in Pietermaritzburg?” and the room erupts in chuckles. It was a lesson in the clash of worlds: the untamed freedom of rural life meeting the polished propriety of the city. In those windows, I didn’t just see holiday dreams; I glimpsed the boundaries of my own innocence, forever marked by a boy’s bold blunder.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

Redefining disabled

The world is obsessed with labels, and few words carry as much unintended weight as “disabled.” It’s a term that’s thrown around casually in medical forms, policy discussions, and everyday conversations, but what does it really mean? At its root, “disabled” suggests a fundamental lack, incapability, brokenness, or deficiency. It paints a picture of someone who is inherently less than whole, forcing them into a perpetual battle to prove their worth against the so-called “able-bodied” norm. But here’s the truth: no one is truly “disabled” in the way this word implies. We’re all navigating life’s challenges, and physical or cognitive differences don’t equate to incapacity. Instead, they often forge extraordinary resilience, creativity, and strength.

Think about it: every day, we all have to prove ourselves. The entrepreneur pitching their startup, the artist unveiling their work, the parent juggling chaos, none of us get a free pass. Why, then, do we burden some with a label that screams limitation from the start? It’s time to retire “disabled” and embrace a narrative of human potential. Let’s look at some real-life heroes who shatter this myth, proving that what society calls a “disability” is often just a different path to greatness.

Stephen Hawking | The Mind That Defied Gravity

Take Stephen Hawking, the brilliant physicist whose name is synonymous with black holes, the Big Bang, and the very fabric of the universe. Diagnosed with ALS as a young adult, Hawking gradually lost the use of his limbs and voice, relying on a wheelchair and a speech synthesizer. Yet, did this make him “disabled”? Far from it. He authored A Brief History of Time, a bestseller that made complex cosmology accessible to millions. He held the Lucasian Professorship at Cambridge, the same chair once occupied by Isaac Newton. Hawking’s intellect soared beyond physical constraints, challenging our understanding of time and space. He once quipped, “My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.” If that’s “disabled,” then sign me up for the club. Hawking wasn’t limited; he was liberated by a mind that refused to be confined.

Lord Nelson | Victory on the High Seas, One Arm at a Time

History is rife with examples, and few are as swashbuckling as Admiral Horatio Nelson. The British naval hero lost sight in one eye during the Siege of Calvi and had his right arm amputated after the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Battle-scarred and physically altered, Nelson could have retired to a quiet life. Instead, he led the Royal Navy to decisive victories, most famously at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he crushed Napoleon’s fleet and secured Britain’s dominance at sea. Nelson’s famous signal, “England expects that every man will do his duty,” wasn’t uttered from a place of pity or concession, it was a rallying cry from a leader who embodied unyielding determination. His “disabilities” didn’t hinder him; they became part of his legend, proving that true capability lies in strategy, courage, and will.

Douglas Bader | Reaching for the Sky, Legs or No Legs

One story that hits particularly close to home for me is that of Douglas Bader, the RAF fighter pilot whose biography, Reach for the Sky, I’ve devoured multiple times. Bader lost both legs in a flying accident. Doctors said he’d never walk again, let alone fly. But Bader, with his trademark grit, fitted himself with prosthetic legs and badgered his way back into the cockpit. By World War II, he was commanding squadrons in the Battle of Britain, piloting Spitfires with acrobatic flair and racking up multiple aerial victories. Captured by the Germans after being shot down, he even attempted multiple escapes from POW camps, once famously trying to climb out using his artificial legs as leverage. Bader’s life screams defiance: “No matter what, you can achieve.” As a Spitfire ace, he wasn’t just participating; he was excelling in one of the most demanding arenas imaginable. Fuck yeah, indeed—that’s the spirit that turns obstacles into fuel.

These aren’t isolated cases. The list of such trailblazers is endless: Frida Kahlo, who channeled chronic pain into revolutionary art; Beethoven, composing symphonies while deaf; or modern icons like Paralympic athletes who redefine speed and strength. What unites them isn’t a shared “disability”, it’s an unwavering refusal to let circumstances define their narrative.

The Personal Lens | One Eye, Infinite Perspectives

On a more personal note, living with one eye changes things. Depth perception shifts, your brain rewires to adapt, and everyday tasks like driving or catching a ball require a bit more finesse. But at its core, it’s not a deficit, it’s a distinction. It makes you rare, forcing a unique way of seeing the world (pun intended). You notice details others miss, anticipate movements differently, and build resilience that “two-eyed” folks might never need. It’s a reminder that differences aren’t disabilities; they’re superpowers in disguise. Society’s labels try to box us in, but embracing our uniqueness unlocks potential we didn’t know we had.

Redefine

Disabled is a word that creates barriers where none need exist, fostering pity instead of empowerment. Instead, celebrate the human spirit’s adaptability. Whether you’re Hawking unraveling the cosmos, Nelson commanding fleets, or Bader soaring through dogfights, the message is clear: capability isn’t about perfect bodies—it’s about unbreakable minds and hearts.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

From the Mid-American Conference.

Today's game of choice finds the (3-5) Ball St. Cardinals football team traveling to Hadley, Massachusets to play the (4-4) UMass Minutemen. This game has a comfortable start time scheduled for 6:00 PM CT and I hope to be able to listen to the radio call of all 4 Quarters before heading to bed.

And the adventure continues.

Dromentemmers Beurs in het UHS

Wilt u meer weten over goed dus tam dromen. Heeft u last of kent u mensen die last hebben van wilde dromen kom dan naar de Dromentemmer Beurs in het Universeel Handelsgebouw van Smægmå.

Zelfs de wildste dromen doven ze daar vakkundig uit, verwijderen ze uit u slaap en zelfs dagdromen, op die manier leert u dromen zoals het hoort, veilig, geruisloos, gewaardeerd door de gemeenschap van goeden en hun goederen. Wilde dromen zorgen vaak voor vreselijke gebeurtenissen of een gestoorde rem slaap, u ogen worden veel te driftig in die krappe kassen.

Bij de beurs voor dromentemmers komen wel 400 vaklieden allen bezig in zeer uiteenlopende technieken om dromen terug aan banden te leggen, in de lucht te houden, zodat ze handelbaar blijven en niet langer ontsnappen aan alle droom controle mechanismen opgericht om juist dat te voorkomen. Niet iedere droom is geschikt voor het nachtleven, kan uitkomen, mag dat ook niet. Onze markt kooplieden weten alles over goede getemde dromen en ook over alle foute wilde, kennen het verschil, de regels rondom dromen in het wild. Wat je moet doen zodra een droom wild wordt, wanneer je moet ingrijpen en bij welke persoon aanwezig of werkzaam bij een van de bij de beurs aanwezige standjes je moet aankloppen om verergering ervan in te tomen.

Wilde dromen zijn een groot gevaar voor onze totaal cultuur en moeten ten eerste gemeden worden, ten tweede eenmaal toch daar gecontroleerd worden, en ten derde verwijderd uit ons systeem. Elke dromentemmer is in tenminste een van deze opties gespecialiseerd. De beurs is behalve nuttig ook gezellig, er zijn rustige artiesten voor op de achtergrond, eten dat door anderen voor je wordt klaar gemaakt, geserveerd zomaar gewoon voor je geld, er zijn leuke winkeltjes voor een groot scala aan apparaten allemaal heel onnatuurlijk ontstaan uit goedkeurenswaardige getemde dromen, diverse uitbaters van vooraf gedroomde tamme dromen die je zo kunt kopen en dan later thuis op het gepaste moment op bank of bed zonder enig gevaar met je hart gerust gaan liggen dromen. Deze beurs is geschikt gemaakt voor alle leeftijden (aanbevolen) een heerlijk uitje voor alle risico mijdende gezinnen, alle gezinnen dus.

De entree is 36 euro voor (jong) volwassenen, 10 voor kinderen van 6 tot 14, 7,99 voor kinderen tot 6, en gratis voor honderd jarigen, baby's en zeer rustige, normale huisdieren.

Let wel, voor entree moet u langs onze beveiliging door de dromenscanner mochten er restjes wilde dromen worden waargenomen kunnen wij u sommeren huiswaarts te keren of u kunt eventueel een paar uur verpozen in de quarantaine kelder tot al het wild gedroomde uit het lichaam is verdwenen en dan alsnog volledig gezond alles leren om dergelijk leed in de nabije toekomst te voorkomen.

Tot zo dan, bij de Dromentemmers Beurs in het UHS. Droom net, Droom tam!

11.4.2026

朝携清露行 暮落斜阳归 问霞君远渡 漠寞若浮舟

How to Solve Word Problems Without Getting Confused

By Andrew Collins, Founder of Calc Solver

Word problems confuse many students, and usually the math is not the hard part. The hard part is translating a story into numbers. Once you learn a reliable method for that translation, word problems become ordinary problems with a few extra sentences.

Read Twice Before Writing Anything

The most common mistake is rushing to calculate after one fast read. Read the problem twice. On the first read, get the story: who is involved, what is happening. On the second read, hunt for the math: quantities, relationships, and what is actually being asked. Two slow reads save far more time than one fast read followed by a wrong solution.

Underline the Numbers and the Question

Mark every number and its unit: 12 apples, 3 boxes, 4 dollars per box. Then mark the exact question — what single value must you find? Many students solve for the wrong thing because they never isolated the question. Writing the numbers and the question separately turns a paragraph into a clear starting point.

Translate Words Into Math

Math has a vocabulary. “Total” and “combined” usually mean add. “Difference” means subtract. “Each” and “per” usually mean multiply or divide. “Twice as many” means multiply by two. Learning these signal words turns translation from guessing into a routine. When a sentence confuses you, rewrite it in your own words first, then translate that simpler version.

Solve in Small Steps

Big problems become easy when split into small steps. If a problem has several stages, solve one stage at a time and label each result. Do not try to hold the whole chain in your head. Write each step down, even if it feels obvious. Written steps are easy to check; mental chains are easy to lose.

Check Against the Story

When you get an answer, read it back into the story. Does it make sense? If a problem asks for the number of students and your answer is 2.5, something went wrong — people do not come in fractions. If an answer should be smaller than the starting amount but yours is bigger, recheck your operation. This final reality check catches more errors than any other habit.

Practice With Steps

Word problems improve with practice, but only if you practice the method, not just the answers. A free step-by-step platform like calc solver shows the full working of a problem, so you can compare your translation and steps with a correct solution and see exactly where your reasoning diverged. Read twice, translate carefully, solve in steps, and check against the story. Follow that routine and word problems stop being confusing — they become the most satisfying problems to solve.

De Bond Tegen Efficiëntie Nieuwsbrief

4,5

Welkomstwoord

Hoi

Eindelijk is het ons tegen heug en meug gelukt om weer een nieuwsbrief samen te stellen en verzenden naar ongewenste berichten electronische postvakjes van al onze 110 miljoen leden en vele anderen wiens IP adressen en toebehoren toevallig of met opzet zin in ons bezit zijn gekomen. We hebben alle nieuwtjes waarschijnlijk verzonnen maar ze zijn daarom voor uwer brein niet minder nieuw, zo zit dat nou eenmaal.

Natuurlijk hebben we de afgelopen periode, tussen deze en de eerdere nieuwsbrief niet altijd stil gezeten, we hebben het nodige gedaan om ons het werk te beletten of juist niet, we deden aan afleiding, willekeurige promotie en deelden prijzen uit en we verklaarden voor gek. Dat is wat we doen om te doen alsof we niets zinvols doen met onze energie, de energie waarvan amper genoeg kan worden opgewekt om zo te werken zoals wij werken, omslachtig dus.

De Niet Efficiënte Loterij

De rede achter deze brief, dit belangrijke bericht voor u, ons alom gewaardeerde lid, u, de belangrijkste persoon voor ons voortbestaan, die soms wel soms niet contributie betaald, op tijd of veel te laat, het is ons om het even, te laat levert echter wel meer activiteit op. De bron van deze mail is de voorlopig eenmalig georganiseerde grote niet efficiënte loterij. Wij hebben bij deze mail het lot nummer bijgeschreven onder de kop. Elk lid, alle 110 miljoen leden, hebben zo'n nummer, een 1, 2, 3 of een 4. Straks trekken wij de loten voor onze vijf hoofdprijzen waarbij we na het trekken van de vier lootjes deze weer terug gooien in de grabbel zak en nog een keer een 1 2 3 of 4 trekken voor prijs vijf, zodat ook deze hoofdprijs in u handen valt.

De prijzen zijn

Prijs 1 – 10 miljoen Smægmåånse Døllār

Prijs 2 – Een dagtochtje met de kinderen of huisdieren voor vele miljoenen winnaars op 5 december naar de Kwakkelwinter Efteling (met eigen vervoer, transport kosten kunt u eventueel terugkrijgen, mits, zie bijlage 5 tot en met 15 voor alle regels waaraan u moet voldoen om gebruik te kunnen maken voor deze regeling)

Prijs 3 – Een make-up setje voor huiskatten van ons eigen merk OnEviviciëntie

Prijs 4 – 10000 Smægmåånse Døllār

Prijs 5 – Een lidmaatschap op ons Bond Tegen Efficiëntie Films en Serie kanaal, een dankzij onze sponsorbijdragen door werkloze losers gegraven kanaal gevuld met kringloop dvd's waarin u kunt vissen naar afgedankte series en films op schijf of vhs.

De kans is dus heel klein dat u niks wint, er zijn maar 2 mails verzonden met nummer 6 in de header en maar 1 met 4,5, alleen zij missen een geweldige hoofdprijs, ze gaan niet naar de efteling, maken hun poes of kater niet op, vissen wel zeker naast ons kanaal en krijgen geen centjes, dat is nou eenmaal hun lot, zoals bepaald door ons.

Ik denk dat u na het lezen van dit bericht wel heel gelukkig bent. U hebt iets goeds gewonnen en alleen maar omdat u bent vergeten u lidmaatschap niet te verlengen of omdat wij u aanvraag omdat te doen niet serieus hebben genomen. Sommige zaken zijn ook gewoon niet te doen, zeker nu het onze hackers steeds vaker lukt zichzelf te hacken en als gevolg daarvan zijn wij niet langer in staat onze mogelijk aanwezige administratie te ordenen op de meest onlogische wijze.

De administratie

Over administratie en orde gesproken wij hebben besloten leden niet langer te ordenen op hoogte van hun inkomen of op het aantal kinderen maar op het aantal letters in hun voornaam. Dit omzetproces heeft de maatschappij een poosje heel veel werkplaatsen opgeleverd, wij hebben daarom besloten iets dergelijks voorlopig niet weer te doen.

Bestuursveranderingen

Het bestuur is nog hetzelfde als bij de laatste nieuwsbrief, dit is trouwens voor het eerst sinds de oprichting van onze nieuwsbrief redactie, wel hebben we besloten dat de voorzitter nu de taken doet van de secretaris, de secretaris die van de penningmaestro en die weer van de voorzitter en de vice voorzitter maakt de wc schoon, zo houden we het voor iedereen spannend.

De agenda

Na veel soebatten hebben we eindelijk de nieuwe agenda ingevoerd. Een jaar bestaat vooralsnog uit vijf partities elk opgedeeld in 3 4 of 5 stukjes en elk van die stukjes in minsten 11 onderdelen, ieder onder bevat 56 cellen en tijdens zo'n vast jaar komt er elke dag wat in zo'n cel en gaat er wat uit.

De cel structuur aka de evenementen agenda

We hebben het volgende gedaan en het andere gaan we doen, zijn het van plan of hebben het overwogen, sommige staan zelfs al vast.

De bonte ochtend, partitie 4, stukje 3, onderdeel 16, cellen 23-45

Een heerlijke ochtend vol toneel, rollenspel, zang en dans en nog veel meer vertier allemaal georganiseerd in het medisch centrum van Smægmå buiten hun medeweten om, kom ook.

Eens ooit, documentaire projectie

De film avond waarin de nog te maken documentaire over de ongeschikte mensen van de afdeling complete infrastructuur bezig met lijden aan hun eigen werkzaamheden te zien zal zijn.

Bond Tegen Efficiëntie Kermissie, partitie 5, stukje 1, onderdeel 13, 14 en 16, alle cellen

Ook dit jaar trachten we onze kermissie te laten draaien, wentelen, stijgen, dalen, hobbelen, botsen, kermen, jengelen en tieren zodat iedereen ongeacht alles het ontzettend naar zijn zin heeft als ze het tenminste kunnen ontlopen.

Er was eends

De volgende drie evenementen zijn al geweest en kunnen daarom beter niet weer bezocht worden tenzij u graag teleurgesteld omloopt, kom er dan vooral op terug.

1 De vliegtuigtellingsdag boven het meest kwetsbare natuurreservaat van Smægmå.

2 De wedstrijd vijf dubbelparkeren voor pakketbezorgers bij en rondom ons hoofdkantoor

3 De bond tegen efficiëntie ledenvergadering rondom de huidige stand van zaken

Mededelingen

In de store is de nieuwe winter catalogus verdwenen, zou de persoon die dit schitterende drukwerk onder in zijn lade heeft liggen dit kunnen melden bij de afdeling winter catalogi zodat we de fans hiervan, de catalogus, niet de afdeling, het boekwerk daar bij u op kantoor kunnen inzien.

Het postvakje van lid 344246 zit te vol, is het mogelijk dat u het vakje groter maakt zodat het minder vol lijkt?

Er zit in de sector 56 een vertraging van 20 minuten tussen de verzending van de nieuwsbrief en de ontvangst, dit komt door nalatigheid van een persoon of meerdere.

Het weer veroorzaakt mogelijkerwijs hinder.

De contributie gaat voor sommige leden flink omhoog voor anderen niet.

Tot zover alle niet ter zake doende mededelingen.

U kunt niet reageren op de nieuwsbrief, wij zien het nut daarvan niet in omdat dat ons beter bevalt.

Ik dank u namens de hele Bond voor het bezitten van een malebox namens,

V

Penningmaestro Bond Tegen Efficiëntie

Today was a day I have been waiting a long time for.

I came to the realization that my life does have a stark contrast from my peers. I was carefully and delicately reminded that I carry quite a bit more baggage than the average person. For many reasons, many that are inadequate to bring up here, I represent both a large and small percentage of “real” people. I bring a much different background and diversity to my community. Every day, I have to be ready to go out there and defend, educate, and represent people like me. It is exhausting. Absolutely, horrifyingly exhausting.

While today represents many things, I am reminded of what hope, optimism, and empathy can bring to the table. It is hard to be in such a vulnerable position, but I will never back away from the challenges and benefits that I represent. Nothing is ever black and white, I don’t know when people will come to this realization. How could it be so difficult to understand that you can have limitations while protecting human rights? You can have protections while limiting public benefits. There are lots of things that can have equal and fair balances, why does everything have to be an extreme?

Today, I am refilled with a deep layer of hope and optimism that I fear I had lost. I am grateful for all the people who constantly defend democracy. I recognize that it was not my situation alone that resulted in this deep movement, but all the issues that humans care about – democracy, equal rights, environmental protections, healthy economy, and much more – that have resulted in this phenomenon.

I remember reading history books in high school and constantly wondering why I would ever care about any of it, or how it affected me. Now, more than ever, I understand the impact of policy, the magnitude of historic events, civil rights movements, and political balances.

The right words are out of reach as I truly process what is happening around me. It is one of those days that you know 5, 10, maybe 20 years from now will be written and played out into history books. I wish I had a more insightful reflection of this moment, however it is late… and I have to be up early tomorrow. At least, it is a new tomorrow, a more hopeful tomorrow, a tomorrow that promises new opportunities and a more equitable future.

Thank you for your message. I am currently out of office — but will return at the end of the month.