Swiss signals - where do you want to go today?: December 2005

Friday, December 30, 2005

-10 this morning ... Moins 10 ce matin

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Antibiotics ... Antibiotiques

Si le choix était à faire, quel est le dernier confort moderne à lequel vous renoncerez ?

Ma réponse est le titre de cet article - execo avec l'eau potable.

C'est l'autite (c'était ça la cause de la fièvre) de Kalia qui m'a poussé à faire cette réflexion. Dans ces temps de fête et d'accumuation de 'bins' supplémentaire, je me suis aussi demandé quel serait le minimum qu'il faudrait pour vivre heureux. C'est un peu le revers de médaille de la constatation que le 'bins' supplémentaire ne rend pas plus heureux.

Car, une fois que nos besoin essentiels (encore à définir) sont satisfaits, les choses supplémentaires ne rend pas forcément plus heureux. Pire : plus on a de choses, plus il faudra dépenser pour sentir le même 'effet'.

Je n'ai pas encore eu le temps de vraiment réfléchir à mon 'minimum', mais ce livre (in English) reçu l'année passée m'a fait pas mal réfléchir à la relation entre l'argent, l'inégalité et le bonheur.

If you had to choose, what would be the last modern comfort that you'd relinquish?

My answer, (together with drinkable water) is the title of this post.

The question came to me because of Kalia's ear-ache (the cause of the fever, as it turned out). And also, in this Christmas period of accumulation of extra junk - I wonder what would be the minimum belongings necessary to live happily. In a sense - having realised that extra stuff won't make you happier, how much stuff could you give up without being any less happy?

Because once your essential needs (not yet defined) have been seen to, extra stuff doesn't necessarily make you any happier. Worse still, the more stuff you have, the more you'll have to spend to get the same 'rush'.

I haven't really had the time yet to work out my own answer, but this book has made me think on and off about the relationship between money, inequality and happiness.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Fever ... fièvre

Première grosse fièvre pour Kalia aujourd'hui - c'était un peu paniquant pour les nouveaux parents que nous continuons d'être. On n'a pas l'habitude de voir notre petite choupette pleurer sans cesse et bouillir du front.

Finalement, entre Dafalgan, petit bain frais, câlins et siestes, ça a l'air de se stabiliser, on espère vivement que demain ça ira mieux !

On pense que c'est des molaires qui s'annoncent, mais on n'est pas encore allé voir.

Feverish baby today, bit scary for 'new' parents such as we. We're not used to having Kalia cry non-stop for hours on end.

In the end, with calpol, a cool bath, cuddles and naps, she seems to be a bit better, and we hope it will be all over by tomorrow (and also that we'll be able to sleep the night).

We think it's probably molars on the way, but haven't checked.

Apart from that, life is showing no signs of slowing down for Christmas, in fact it seems to be going so fast, I'm not sure whether we'll even have time for a breather...

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Reading ... Lecture

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Problems aiming? ... Problèmes de visé ?

(Cliquer sur l'image pour voir une version aggrandie).

(Rough translation)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

A new trend has been recently observed, whereby certain persons are having problems aiming their pee.

In the interests of all concerned, we ask you to respect the cleanliness of this place, by applying these simple rules:

If you are PRETENTIOUS, take a step closer, it's not as long as you think.

If you are ABSENT-MINDED, undo your flies and not your jacket, that way you won't pee in your trousers.

If you are too SMALL, stand on a stool.

And finally, if you can't PEE STRAIGHT, stand sideways!