I have taken a leap of faith and decided to purchase a computer. One of those 'notebook' things. For me, a book is made of parchment or paper, and you write notes in it. This thing is not made of either, and if you write on it, it will ruin its lovely antireflectie LED-scherm. We (that's me and my stuborn personality) got over this technicality and managed to turn it on without any problems. Then I was asked to register, accept updates, tune-up options, etc... I would be lost were it not for those helpful "recomended" lables, helpful tips provided free of charge by Karl capitalist who is trying to sell me what it recommends I buy. At this point I start to get a bit cynincal. And with cynincism, I feel back on familiar territory. So I reject everything that even smells like contact with the outside online world and the greasy hand adding the half-pence to the pence. Everything, that is except for antivirus stuff. But still, I feel I kind of wasted some money if I shut myself off completely from this virtual world. Without the internet, this notebook is really just a weight. So that is where you come in, you the magnificent followers of theunbearableroutine. I was hoping you might be able to give me some advice as to responsible computer use. Also if this advice can have the colour of anti-capitalism then I would be so much the happier.
1. Should I turn on "search and install updates authomatically"?
2. Should I allow tune-ups?
3. Should I register the computer? ( I see no good reason for registering the computer; if they offer a gimmicky material or monetary incentive to register then I consider this a reason against registering)
4. This has Norton security for 60 days. Where can I get a good anti-virus, open source and for free?
5. This computer has Microsoft internet explorer. Should I try to get something else? such as firefox or elephant?
6. Windows 7 is the operating system. What do you think of Vista, or Linux instead? where can I get them. This has a single core processor 1.66 GHz.
7. There is only a startup version on Office on it. What is a good open source office to use, including word?
Any help that better people than myself can give me is greatly appreciated,
Aog?N
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
There is no hidden agenda, forget about it
yesterday, I decided to vacate the forum rather earlier than usual and cycle to Ede-Wageningen. And what a cycle that was, I had to deal with hedge trimmers, blocked cycle lanes, bicycle families, cars driving on the wrong side of the road, a dropped lucky hat, faulty roundabouts, two bulldogs fighting over a pice of steak... I haven't played MarioKart in 10 years but I needed all the skills I still remember to get me to the trainstation alive.
In the trainstation I met marcel, and ola, (who also managed to get through BennekomWorld level 3 in one piece) and we went to see a lecture by a certain well known, former World Bank policy maker, advisor to Dutch development people, Haiti expert, Oxford professor, deposer of Jamaican 'crooked' Transport minister, author of three world-shaking books, pioneer in the study of economies of conflict, and coiner of the phrase 'blood diamond'. I hardly need to say who he is...
Anecdotes, our hero had many:
He had us in tears when he told us of a personal encounter with some African finance minister ("one of the few honest ones") who asked him personally, what kind of gender policies pleases donor countries?
He shocked us with news that Africa's urban poor is bearing the brunt of global food crises, that Africa is the last frontier of sub-soil resources, which will be imminently extracted "by hook or by crook, probably by crook", (they are all crooks, apart from the honest guys who he has had personal encounters with and make for wonderful anecdotes), so get ready for armagedon or accountability, the choice is theirs, and ours.
He enlightened us with news that my ideology is blinding me to practical, scientific solutions to the global food problem such as large-scale commercialisation of African agriculture and GMOs. By extension I am assuming that my idiotic ideology is forcing me to ask stupid questions like, will simply increasing food production solve this problem? what about distribution and access to food produce? Isn't there already too much food being produced globally that it has to be dumped? Well luckily I now know that such questions are unscientific hot air and I won't trouble my pretty little head over them anymore.
Finally, this great man, who humbled himself so much to give us this great talk, he ended on a hope-filled note, full of inspiring vibes, based on the kind of scientific rigour that only the greatest, most altruistic, most honest and accountable people such as he can comprehend. After establishing, once and for all, beyond a shadow of a doubt and subject to the most demanding criteria social science has to offer, the now indisputable fact that “Twitter brought down one of the most entrenched autocracies of the last few decades” (Egypt), he presents his world-saving solution: it is now up to us to "use information flows such as Twitter to build critical mass movements of informed people that Africa so badly needs".
I was in tears. But just to be sure, questions were asked from a middle eastern (ie suspicious) looking man and a Latin looking woman, about what type of information is to be shared? and what is the hidden agenda of the West? "There is no hidden agenda" he bravely replied, "forget about it". down with this sort of talk, that is the stuff of failed revolutionaries from the 60s and 70s. How dare they poison our solutions boutique with their unaccountable discourse?
- No what we need is information that helps wealthy Sudanese diaspora get richer. http://peacediv.com/
I am amazed, inspired, to write this blog, sharing this information with Africa and the world. Thanks to this blog (inspired by our (and your) saviour, his greatness) Africa can now build accountable institutions of governance.
Aog?N
In the trainstation I met marcel, and ola, (who also managed to get through BennekomWorld level 3 in one piece) and we went to see a lecture by a certain well known, former World Bank policy maker, advisor to Dutch development people, Haiti expert, Oxford professor, deposer of Jamaican 'crooked' Transport minister, author of three world-shaking books, pioneer in the study of economies of conflict, and coiner of the phrase 'blood diamond'. I hardly need to say who he is...
Anecdotes, our hero had many:
He had us in tears when he told us of a personal encounter with some African finance minister ("one of the few honest ones") who asked him personally, what kind of gender policies pleases donor countries?
He shocked us with news that Africa's urban poor is bearing the brunt of global food crises, that Africa is the last frontier of sub-soil resources, which will be imminently extracted "by hook or by crook, probably by crook", (they are all crooks, apart from the honest guys who he has had personal encounters with and make for wonderful anecdotes), so get ready for armagedon or accountability, the choice is theirs, and ours.
He enlightened us with news that my ideology is blinding me to practical, scientific solutions to the global food problem such as large-scale commercialisation of African agriculture and GMOs. By extension I am assuming that my idiotic ideology is forcing me to ask stupid questions like, will simply increasing food production solve this problem? what about distribution and access to food produce? Isn't there already too much food being produced globally that it has to be dumped? Well luckily I now know that such questions are unscientific hot air and I won't trouble my pretty little head over them anymore.
Finally, this great man, who humbled himself so much to give us this great talk, he ended on a hope-filled note, full of inspiring vibes, based on the kind of scientific rigour that only the greatest, most altruistic, most honest and accountable people such as he can comprehend. After establishing, once and for all, beyond a shadow of a doubt and subject to the most demanding criteria social science has to offer, the now indisputable fact that “Twitter brought down one of the most entrenched autocracies of the last few decades” (Egypt), he presents his world-saving solution: it is now up to us to "use information flows such as Twitter to build critical mass movements of informed people that Africa so badly needs".
I was in tears. But just to be sure, questions were asked from a middle eastern (ie suspicious) looking man and a Latin looking woman, about what type of information is to be shared? and what is the hidden agenda of the West? "There is no hidden agenda" he bravely replied, "forget about it". down with this sort of talk, that is the stuff of failed revolutionaries from the 60s and 70s. How dare they poison our solutions boutique with their unaccountable discourse?
- No what we need is information that helps wealthy Sudanese diaspora get richer. http://peacediv.com/
I am amazed, inspired, to write this blog, sharing this information with Africa and the world. Thanks to this blog (inspired by our (and your) saviour, his greatness) Africa can now build accountable institutions of governance.
Aog?N
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The unbearable routine in India
- Around 7.20 AM get up and get ready and have breakfast with relatives
- Around 8.20 AM take the Metro to work… Not a nice experience as it is really really packed… But thank god that there I a separate ladies department, as it can be sometimes really disgusting to be squeezed in between 4-5 male Indians (and very smelly as well)…
- Walk to work about 20 mins.. Nice exercise.
- Find a place on the third floor of the teri building (usually I have to hope that someone is sick)
- Office gets very packed by 10 AM
- Around 12pm I start getting hungry and just think about food (stupid Wageningen routine)
- 1 pm lunch… Usually with all the expats (local Indians do not join us and don´t ask us to join somehow)… We have three kind of canteens to select from.
- After lunch we go the “Chai-Wala” on the road… The best and cheapest tea ever!!! 5 rupees (about 10 cents or so) for a small cup…
- Get back to work… Usually very unproductive as I am very tired and Laurens comes online slowly :)
- In the evening I wait for my supervisor, that is when she usually has time… But this as well does not work out 95 % of the time…
- Around 6/7 pm go back home… Horrible traffic back…. Usually get into a very bad mood and annoyed…Delhi really has too many people
- Get back to the relatives… Hear everyday that I came tooo late… Talk to aunt and uncle… Go to my room for 20 mins… Then the wife of my cousin comes and we talk again… Dinner… Around 11 pm my cousin comes back from home….Talk again…
- around 11.30 PM go to bed…Talk to Laurens or parents or other relatives in India… And then go to sleep at around 12.30 AM….
- Around 8.20 AM take the Metro to work… Not a nice experience as it is really really packed… But thank god that there I a separate ladies department, as it can be sometimes really disgusting to be squeezed in between 4-5 male Indians (and very smelly as well)…
- Walk to work about 20 mins.. Nice exercise.
- Find a place on the third floor of the teri building (usually I have to hope that someone is sick)
- Office gets very packed by 10 AM
- Around 12pm I start getting hungry and just think about food (stupid Wageningen routine)
- 1 pm lunch… Usually with all the expats (local Indians do not join us and don´t ask us to join somehow)… We have three kind of canteens to select from.
- After lunch we go the “Chai-Wala” on the road… The best and cheapest tea ever!!! 5 rupees (about 10 cents or so) for a small cup…
- Get back to work… Usually very unproductive as I am very tired and Laurens comes online slowly :)
- In the evening I wait for my supervisor, that is when she usually has time… But this as well does not work out 95 % of the time…
- Around 6/7 pm go back home… Horrible traffic back…. Usually get into a very bad mood and annoyed…Delhi really has too many people
- Get back to the relatives… Hear everyday that I came tooo late… Talk to aunt and uncle… Go to my room for 20 mins… Then the wife of my cousin comes and we talk again… Dinner… Around 11 pm my cousin comes back from home….Talk again…
- around 11.30 PM go to bed…Talk to Laurens or parents or other relatives in India… And then go to sleep at around 12.30 AM….
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Power Cut
In fact, I was writing something but then the routine was broken,... the power went,... and did not come back so far :). So just some quick greetings to you guys!
Hope you have another great weekend, Aogán (thx for the share!) and of course all the others! Not sure what I will do but things come very spontaneous and unexpected here anyways!
Greetz!
Anna
Hope you have another great weekend, Aogán (thx for the share!) and of course all the others! Not sure what I will do but things come very spontaneous and unexpected here anyways!
Greetz!
Anna
Friday, January 14, 2011
how I broke my routine
Last night in de overkant I went to the toilet and I used ANOTHER cabin than the one I usualy use. Before that I ALWAYS used the one on the left and last night I decided to use the one in the middle. To take it even further, second time I went I used the one on the right. No doubt I went there more times but do not remember which cabin I used. Anyway, I see it as a major development. You know, I want to break free from the unbearable routine. By all means.
Greetings to you all.
Ola
ps: I may not go to the market tomorrow. For a change. I'm not sure about Emmaus though.
Greetings to you all.
Ola
ps: I may not go to the market tomorrow. For a change. I'm not sure about Emmaus though.
My life is so unbearable routine
Greetz
My life in wageningen is unbearably routine at the moment. I get up everymorning and work on my thesis. I'm quite enjoying this at the moment, though. To break the routine I will do two things: 1) Start blogging and try to revive ths blog for all of us whohave our own unbearable routines but who don't get to share the mundaneity with others because we all live in different parts of the world. 2) this weekend I will perform the following cultural activities:
Friday: Attend a dinner in my house. A housemate is moveing out after livving at the farm for 8 years so tonight he is having a dinner in his honour, which I am attending.
Saturday: Market day. I have not been to the markt since 18th of december so now is a good time to go again.
Saturday evening: Wageningen Blues Festival is on again (kindof). It seems the stichting that used to organise this festival are not doing it anymore. So the pubs in Wageningen decided to organise it themselves. So that is where I will be, in all the pubs.
Sunday Afternoon: Blues Festival part2. There is a spillover from the satruday blues. Two bands will be playing,one in XL and one in Café Jo Jo's. Café Jo Jo's is one of three pubs in wageningen that Ihave not yet been in so I think this sunday is the time to try somewhere new.
Any wageninse people who are bored with their routines are welcome to join me on any and/or all of these activities. UNfortunately tanya will not be joining. my routine was briefly disturbed this week by tanya, arriving in wag for two days before heading off to germany, and then india. Best of luck in India and keep in touch, let us know how your routine shapes up over there.
That is it from me.
Ag?on
My life in wageningen is unbearably routine at the moment. I get up everymorning and work on my thesis. I'm quite enjoying this at the moment, though. To break the routine I will do two things: 1) Start blogging and try to revive ths blog for all of us whohave our own unbearable routines but who don't get to share the mundaneity with others because we all live in different parts of the world. 2) this weekend I will perform the following cultural activities:
Friday: Attend a dinner in my house. A housemate is moveing out after livving at the farm for 8 years so tonight he is having a dinner in his honour, which I am attending.
Saturday: Market day. I have not been to the markt since 18th of december so now is a good time to go again.
Saturday evening: Wageningen Blues Festival is on again (kindof). It seems the stichting that used to organise this festival are not doing it anymore. So the pubs in Wageningen decided to organise it themselves. So that is where I will be, in all the pubs.
Sunday Afternoon: Blues Festival part2. There is a spillover from the satruday blues. Two bands will be playing,one in XL and one in Café Jo Jo's. Café Jo Jo's is one of three pubs in wageningen that Ihave not yet been in so I think this sunday is the time to try somewhere new.
Any wageninse people who are bored with their routines are welcome to join me on any and/or all of these activities. UNfortunately tanya will not be joining. my routine was briefly disturbed this week by tanya, arriving in wag for two days before heading off to germany, and then india. Best of luck in India and keep in touch, let us know how your routine shapes up over there.
That is it from me.
Ag?on
Monday, August 9, 2010
The inconvenient truth about WUR
Almost all of us are out. Wageningen is empty. But even out of this emptiness brilliant ideas emerge. Sharp minds of some of us never sleep. Take a look at this:
WUR. You think that it stands for Wageningen University and Research Center? Many think so but they live a lie. The truth deserves to be unveiled. Now. Finaly. W for Wageningen, it doesn't change. U for Unbearable. R for Routine.
WUR. You think that it stands for Wageningen University and Research Center? Many think so but they live a lie. The truth deserves to be unveiled. Now. Finaly. W for Wageningen, it doesn't change. U for Unbearable. R for Routine.
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