"It's so strange to be alive". This is a song by Emily Loizeau, a french-english singer, whom I really like. I went to see her a few months ago in Geneva, great concert and very good presence on stage. Anyway, it's not the purpose of this post. Nope. Rather, I was just thinking how strange for Ken Foster it is be alive. So unlikely.
This 30-year old guy was sentenced to death after his friend has shot Mike LaHood Jr, after a robbery back in 1996. According to a Texas law, Ken Foster deserved death penalty for being the driver, and thus co-inspirator (?), of the murderer. Following the recommendation of the Pardons board (6 votes to 1), the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, commuted Foster's sentence to life imprisonment. 6 hours before before the execution. 6 hours. It's definitely so strange to be alive. Especially for Kenneth Foster. Today.
Thank you Mr. Perry. Perry. So strange. That's also the first name of Perry Smith sentenced to death and executed after the famous murders in Holcomb, Kansas, related in Truman Capote's fantastic book, In Cold Blood.
I can't help quoting Norma LaHood, the murderer's victim mother (in the New York Times): "I’m filled with peace. I will mourn my son till I die, but I’m not forced anymore to relive his death".
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Global cooling
Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 11:29 AM
Place: Geneva, Switzerland.
Date and time: August 21, 2007 9:56am
Weather: rainy
Temperature: 14.0 degrees Celsius.
Place: Geneva, Switzerland.
Date and time: August 21, 2007 9:56am
Weather: rainy
Temperature: 14.0 degrees Celsius.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Pornography in Etosha
Etosha's the huge National Park in the north of Namibia. We spent three days there, going on safaris early in the morning and shortly before sunset. Unlike other parks in Botswana or South Africa, Etosha is really dry. The best chance to spot interesting things is to go directly to one of the (artificial) water points spread all over the Park.
On the first morning, we were about to leave one of these ponds when a herd of 20 thirsty elephants passed by to freshen up. Great. I had never seen an elephant (apart in those gloomy circus) and here there were 20 meters away from me. But let me come to the point. I guess you're waiting for the connection with this entry's title. Here it is. An hour later, we meet by chance a couple of sleepy lions. 5 meters away. Very impressive. Even though we were all gently seated inside the truck, to see the male roaring in our direction had something forbidding. 15 minutes, 264 pics, and a few videos later, we were about to leave this couple and let it sleep peacefully. When Frantz shouted at Rea. Stop it. Now. "They should copulate in 5 minutes"... Burst of laughter. Soon, I start the bets. They won't do it. This guide simply has an extravagant imagination. You've already guessed: 5 minutes later, the female stands up. Male follows. Pics (see the fantastic one below by Robert Dalaudière). Videos. 7 secs. Doesn't seem that impressive for human standards. Except if I recall this happens 150 times every half an hour.
During night time, a water point adjacent to the camping was illuminated. That was even better than during the day. Rhinos, giraffes, elephants, ... succeed. Until that couple of male elephants. Alone after the rhino had left the scene. One of the guys didn't seem very thirsty. He was moving all the time, going backwards, turning around itself. Dulcet. And here comes the (gay) parade. The elephants start to snarl the trunks. Crossing tusks. Convinced that things were going pretty well, one starts to mount his companion. No way. Not tonight. People are laughing discreetly. Time to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is another safari.
Etosha is a fantastic park. Huge and wild. And sometimes pretty hot too.
On the first morning, we were about to leave one of these ponds when a herd of 20 thirsty elephants passed by to freshen up. Great. I had never seen an elephant (apart in those gloomy circus) and here there were 20 meters away from me. But let me come to the point. I guess you're waiting for the connection with this entry's title. Here it is. An hour later, we meet by chance a couple of sleepy lions. 5 meters away. Very impressive. Even though we were all gently seated inside the truck, to see the male roaring in our direction had something forbidding. 15 minutes, 264 pics, and a few videos later, we were about to leave this couple and let it sleep peacefully. When Frantz shouted at Rea. Stop it. Now. "They should copulate in 5 minutes"... Burst of laughter. Soon, I start the bets. They won't do it. This guide simply has an extravagant imagination. You've already guessed: 5 minutes later, the female stands up. Male follows. Pics (see the fantastic one below by Robert Dalaudière). Videos. 7 secs. Doesn't seem that impressive for human standards. Except if I recall this happens 150 times every half an hour.
During night time, a water point adjacent to the camping was illuminated. That was even better than during the day. Rhinos, giraffes, elephants, ... succeed. Until that couple of male elephants. Alone after the rhino had left the scene. One of the guys didn't seem very thirsty. He was moving all the time, going backwards, turning around itself. Dulcet. And here comes the (gay) parade. The elephants start to snarl the trunks. Crossing tusks. Convinced that things were going pretty well, one starts to mount his companion. No way. Not tonight. People are laughing discreetly. Time to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow is another safari.
Etosha is a fantastic park. Huge and wild. And sometimes pretty hot too.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Geneva - Windhoek - Geneva
I'm just back from Namibia. 3 flights (and 24 hours) from Geneva.
Till recently, I knew very little of this large country, 1.5 bigger than France and roughly the size of Pakistan. Its density (2.4 hab/km2) is the second smaller in the world after Mongolia! I knew it before going there, but to see what these figures really mean is something totally different. Basically, a huge desert. Or, rather, deserts: Namib, Naukluft, Damaraland, Kaokaland, ... The deserts are so diverse that I never got bored during the 2 weeks I spent there.
I went with a group of 12 people, together with a guide, Frantz Thille, a helper (actually his son, Max) and a driver, Rea. Using a truck (see pic), we essentially covered the northern part of Namibia, visiting several highlights including the sandy dunes of Sesriem (magical!), the colony of sea lions in Cape Cross, granite mountains of Spitzkoppe, before spending 3 days in Etosha National Park. Great trip.
I had not done such an organized trek before, and I must say it was a really good experience. We camped for the two weeks (what else? don't expect too many hotels in the desert), alternatively in campings of bivouacking in the middle of nowhere. Surprisingly, I found it much less uncomfortable than I had thought before. The guide, Frantz, was extremely enthusiastic (and enthusiasming), perhaps even too much when we all wanted to go sleeping and he was keeping telling us everything about the origins of the Namibian people or any fancy African mammal of which he's a specialist. Btw, he wrote a very nice book which I fully recommend on the wildlife in African national parks (35 euros, sold out on Amazon). If interested, let me know I'll try a get some copies directly from him.
Speaking about animals, I'll post a new entry soon on Etosha. In the meantime, you can have a look at all the pictures of that trip, here. I find the dunes pretty photogenic. Sea lions a bit less (see video below).
Till recently, I knew very little of this large country, 1.5 bigger than France and roughly the size of Pakistan. Its density (2.4 hab/km2) is the second smaller in the world after Mongolia! I knew it before going there, but to see what these figures really mean is something totally different. Basically, a huge desert. Or, rather, deserts: Namib, Naukluft, Damaraland, Kaokaland, ... The deserts are so diverse that I never got bored during the 2 weeks I spent there.
I went with a group of 12 people, together with a guide, Frantz Thille, a helper (actually his son, Max) and a driver, Rea. Using a truck (see pic), we essentially covered the northern part of Namibia, visiting several highlights including the sandy dunes of Sesriem (magical!), the colony of sea lions in Cape Cross, granite mountains of Spitzkoppe, before spending 3 days in Etosha National Park. Great trip.
I had not done such an organized trek before, and I must say it was a really good experience. We camped for the two weeks (what else? don't expect too many hotels in the desert), alternatively in campings of bivouacking in the middle of nowhere. Surprisingly, I found it much less uncomfortable than I had thought before. The guide, Frantz, was extremely enthusiastic (and enthusiasming), perhaps even too much when we all wanted to go sleeping and he was keeping telling us everything about the origins of the Namibian people or any fancy African mammal of which he's a specialist. Btw, he wrote a very nice book which I fully recommend on the wildlife in African national parks (35 euros, sold out on Amazon). If interested, let me know I'll try a get some copies directly from him.
Speaking about animals, I'll post a new entry soon on Etosha. In the meantime, you can have a look at all the pictures of that trip, here. I find the dunes pretty photogenic. Sea lions a bit less (see video below).
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