thank God ...

We are in December. And this year the December month will confrontate us with restrictions that are needed to get the virus a bit under control.

Intensive checks, everywhere, about our vaccination and even more for people who are not vaccinated.  
I not understand the  very few rules, that come, to me it could have been a bit more strict, but, alas, I understand the immense pressure of the shops and others who make a lot of money in this wonderful time of the year.

I do try to not wonder too much, about the night clock in the netherlands, and the open pubs here in Germany.
I can follow my own rules. I not need to wait until it is orderedk to wear a mask in the street. I do it from free will, because I think with that I can limit the possible infections. If the virus spreads, then not through me!
So.. the traditional Christmas markets are there. Not so crowded, and strictly controlled (I hope..). It is a different thing, because it is not the 'no Iworries, christmas is coming'  but it is the careful 'christmas is coming, but be careful with celebrating.
Some Christmas markets are huge (cologne), others are small, and rather more a family and friends gathering.

I debated with myself, if I should go to one, to visit some friends. That is one of thos small markets. 
I decided to go not.  I do not feel well, with, when there is a strict control, and then meeting friends, with who I, without any question, would not take the safe distance.
I am not afraid, but, as I wrote above, the virus should not spread through me.

In that optic, I am happy, that, a few days ago, I went photo shooting with my bestie. Us two, in the anonymousity of the big city. Yes, the double check at the christmas market, but no one there who knew us, and the hot chocolate was exactly perfect.  

Friends will miss me, this weekend. I don't feel bad about it. A bit sad, yes, I wished it would be different.
The decission to not go there, is giving me a good feeling. I not need to be scared about what can happen. I can prepare safely in the days to christmas. And, who knows, maybe I will go to one market, sunday. But then alone, so that I feel secure, and can face my dear ones  with a safe feeling, that all is fine and well'

And it is a sign of the crazy times, that >I, on foward, feel that I have to explain my decsion :) 

Time out

Sometimes it is just good to take a time out. 

And I thought that this time is a good time for such a time out, also, it is a time out :)

Better said, I decided to give a few people a time out.  Because I am tired.

I am tired, of reading the hate messages against people that have not vaccinated. 
I am tired, that people not understand, that I have problems with  an obligatory vaccination for everyone. I think that a democracy can not force everyone, to vaccinate. But I also think, that vaccination is the best way to fight against the virus, and any virus at all.

Anyway, as well as there are many anti-vaxxers,  who are blind for any compromise, there are as well people who blindly believe in vaccination.  Again, I believe in vaccination, but I have an open mind, I now and then can listen to arguements  of 'the other side'.

That all fits by my way of living. I listen, I look to all sides of the meddle. 
.
Now my point of view is... you can guess... MY point of view, and most people shall not agree with it fully.
When jpeople, who are very good in discussions, post a thing, and I react on it, like above, I was confrontated with a fanatism, that scared me very much. It is not a simple, I think you are wrong, but it is right away, well, we disagree, and a flood of sentiments come, not in facts, but in emotional  fears. I think that is it ,so many people are scared for the virus

Yes, I am scared as well  And I do NOT understand who is against the cure, the vaccination. And it scares me, very much, that people, who I consider as decent, considering people, react with the same agression as that the fanatic 'other side' reacts.

That are the people, that I want to give a time out. They mean too much for me to drop them off my FB friends lists, but  I NOT want to let me hurt by them.


 So, there is the silence. And it feels so good. Wow.. I love the peace in me, when I take distance from the behaviour, that is not doing me well.  I am grateful, that I not ended up, in communicating at the same level. Maybe you call me coward.  I call it, that I choose for peace in myself. My mental health is as important as my physical :) 

Time out.  But just for a very selective group.  :) I can recommend it!

 

Take your time

Let's talk about photos

I love photography. I love to watch photos from others, so that I can find ideas, how I can find new, or challenging, ways to make my photos. So that quite normal situations, get that different look and therewith a bit different kind of attention.

Nowadays everyone can make photos. The smarrtphones are pretty good, digital cameras are a booming market, everyone is able to make a quick picture of reasonable quality.

I like to show my photos at FaceBook, Instagram and Viewbug, and I am not the only one :)  
I am aware, that many people are much better photographers. And I always think, why that is.  
I more and more find out, that the secret in a good photo is in the time that you take for it. 

Looking to the motive (the 5 seconds rule), before clicking, in that time considering if another angle, another perspective, is maybe giving the photo a bit more.
Then, the knowledge of the camera comes to it. No matter what camera, they all have their own qualities, the (super)wide angle in Smartphones is cool, when you know what effect it has at your photo.
With my dslr I need to change objectives, to get all the things that roll easily out of a smartphone. 

One of the reasons that I make many photos with my camera, is, that it takes time. I have fun in taking photos, and as written above, one of the challenges is to find the proper look.

I see many people, sharing the same hobby as I, making photos, quick and cozy. Nice shots come out, but it is a bit different.  I think everyone can see the differencre between a photo that is shot , just to shoot , or a photo with who the photographer has an idea, a view he wants to give us. 

The social media are perfect places, to show your photos easily.  And when I see, what some photographers (what is in a name), how many photos they post,  then I do not feel like looking to them. Why?

Because most of the photos are the same, a kind of average photo, that 'anyone' can make, and in real makes indeed.

I think that that is the difference between a snapshot and photos.  Photos can be a kind of art. 
And I often think, that I can look as long to a photo, as the time the photographer took for the photo.
'
In that view I am so happy, that I can not see alll the work from sme specific photographers. It is not the amount that counts (or being everywhere where action is). It is the empathy, that the photographer has for his photo. And then you can photograph everything, and make it look intresting.

My advise. Take ttime.  Less is more.  

 

Elections in Germany

 

Tomorrow there are elections in Germany.  It will be a historical day, because, after very many years, we will get definitely a new president. Most likely a man, most likely a socialist. But, I will not do further speculations here. No one  who reads this cares, anyway :) 

Anyway, a lot of things happened, not one of the candidates has a clean list, and we shall need to deal with what happened in the past, and hope that it improves. 

Many election activities were there as well. Promises are made, folders are spread (e

nvironment?) and the social media were full of, more or less manipulated, propaganda. Intresting to see, how people react on this. The mass definitely listens to the media. They get fully upset, when one of the possible leaders burst out in laughter, when visiting a place where flood victims are. 

I wonder, how would we ourselves react, when visiting such places? The situation is overwhelming,and it is hard to control emotions. Something what is pretty important, when you want to become one of the world leaders. We see that it is not enough, to be a clown (US) to get the president title for a while.  

You got to be taken serious, with what you say, and what you do. You can also not ignore the things that happen, or say, well, it haooebs, and just leave it there.

Still, that all are human signals. No one is perfect.

Thhe  fascchist make it different. They simply are against everything, and just want to disorder the democracy. In contradiction to all othes, they refuse to respect the ground lauws in the country.  I wished that more people realise, that such parties are not alternatives, but a thread for our democracy.

Tomorrow we will now. I will look to the end results and nothing more.

The times are a changing II

The report of the IPPC is clear.

Our climate will change. It is not a question if, it is only the question, how fast.

The signs are clear, mother nature is very ill. Bush fires, temperature riisng, extreme weather conditions, floods, draught.

It gives us heeadaches, when we have to breath the smoke.

It gives headaches, when  there is a fire again, in a chemical laboratorium.

No one denies it anymore.

No one, but a handful of big shots.  Management of super companies, that rule the world.
The secret power of car industry, petrol companies, banks, weapon producers.  Institutions who do not care about human life.  Never did.

What to do now?  It is not that the next generation will be confrontated with the changes, but we, our generation as well, because it is happening now.

It is too easy to say, we can not stop it anymore.

When we say that, we know that the blackest thoughts will become reality. And worse.

Politics are chainerd by the money makers, the real power.  Politicians just are a face, the dirty workers, that are exchanged in a few years.

The nuclear pollution, the chemical pollution, the house pollution.  Look what still disappears in your waste bin. Are you separating recoycable products??

So, changes are made.

Take the car industry.  A big waste of fossile energy.  Also, time for a change.
And what happens?  One energy sourdce is exchanged by another.   Electricity Cars, that is saving the environment.

But how about the  production? How about the batteries, and all the resources needed?

So, let us take a bicycle, to help the climate.
But, it should be an electro bicycle.
Why???

Or we rent a little roller,bike to get through the city, instead of by car.  And we leave that electronic mini scooter right where we not need it anymore. In the bushes, in the water, in the park.

I can continue.  I will. But not now.  My thoughts to get active are getting form.  I will not complain, when there is no  bin, to put my waste in, when I am on my way.  I can take it home. 

And my coffee to go... In my favorite mug. :) 

Just a few thoughts.  The situation is really serious and we will get more to do with it, we will need to change our lives much more as with the virus.  what is peanuts, compared with what comes. 

Take action. Think new. NOW!!!

 

The times they are a changing

 We had a nice discussion, about people who are political engaged.  What means, that they are supporting a party, and think with them, about the ideas that might be good to work for.

Then the question came, why don't you join your favorite party, and do something?-#

My first reaction was like, Nooooo,  politics ate all lies, compromises and nothing good comes out of it.

But when I thought a second longer, I realized that that is exactly, why I should go in it,  and why I should do something, instead of just saying, it will not work.
Up to postive energy.

And of course I do not know how it will work out. But I do know, that I am able to do such. I have my thoughts, ,I k now wicch party to choose, and when I do nothing, nothing will change.  When I do  something,  I know that I, myself, will change.  And that is the drop. There it starts.  When I am able to change myself a bit, getting a stronger motivation about changes, and about what is already good, then I am able to create my world better. And then the world of all around me. Sometihng with inner rings, and other rings :)  

Writing this blog, I realize that I will do it.  And from now on I will write in German.  Not because I am good in it, but because it is close to where I belong now. :) 

Time for a change. And I am the change! 

The man in the mirror

Time for a bit of self reflection. 

Don't worry, it is less difficult as that you might think.

Let's take soccer, football, as example.

The UEFA forces itself to forbid the LGBT rainbow out of the stadium, as being a political statement.

When a national football Unite (in this case the dutch) decides, to give their fans, before the match, a rainbow flag... and the security (under the regime in Hungary) takes the flags off.

And during the game, the commercials around the field, show up in the rainbow colours.

So, the western world is slowly and steady finding control over the Corona virus. However, there are dangerous mutations, for what the vaccination is not enough.  The virus is not that agressive then, most of the time, but still, getting ill for COVID is nothing to wish people to get.

We keep distance, and when many people gather, we wear masks.

Not in the football stadium.  The UEFA (hey, that bunch again) insisted, that the English Wsembley Stadium should open for more audience.  Mainly sponnsors, of course.
In Hungary (hey, that country again) and Denmark, there were no audience restrictions. So, people from countries, where there are still strict protections, can go and cheer unprotected, arm to arm.

I stll wear my mask, in the srtreet, where it is free now to wear them not. In shops and Train it is, naturally, normal to wear it, and when I wear it already when I come from home, I cant forget it.  No one died from wearing a mask, right!

I will be careful. I will remain careful.  Even when I am vaccinated.  Because, I do not want to get ill. Not even a bit. And, maybe more important, I do not want to make you ill either.  I care for you. How about you?

I will go to watch the football match. I will cheer for 'our' German team.  But the fun, that is in the football games itselves, is heavily overshadowed by the brutal power of money, what does not care for people ... at all.   Things need to change!