New Year, why January 1?

While waiting for 2012 a.d. I was wondering: If we are counting years since the birth of Christ, why does the New Year begin on January 1, not December 25?

Thank you, Ms. Wiki for explaing that! In the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire new year began when consuls first entered office. So it used to be May 1, later March 15 and later January 1. Then came almighty Julius Caesar and introduced the Julian calendar saying that we should use January 1 as the first day of the new year. And we listen to him ever since*.

*ok, not all agreed at once, if interested, I bet Ms Wiki can tell you great bed time stories about that!

P.S. The New Year celebrated on the night before Advent in Trikata this year was great! I don't feel that I need one more New Year this year.

...!

ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ buıʎnq ɹǝʌǝ ɯı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ ʍoʍ

How WAS and WILL BE change to IS

Here comes a loooong (but really worth reading) quote from the book "The supernatural ways of royalty" by Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton:

God lives outside of time. When God said, "Let there be light," He not only created night and day, He created time. The spirit world lives in the timeless zone. Picture time like a train moving through the Lord's Kingdom. The engine represents the beginning of time and the caboose symbolizes the end of time. God is able to get anywhere on that train. He knows what's going to happen in the future because He has already been there.

...

When Jesus died on the cross He descended into Sheol and rescued all those who were imprisoned by the devil (Eph 4:8-10). He was gone from earth for three days, yet He passed from a time zone into a timeless zone.

...

Because Sheol was an eternal place, existing outside of time, we were also captive there! When Jesus descended into Sheol, took the host of captives and ascended to Heaven, we were with Him!

/Wow! It sounds so true! God is the creator of time. He IS with us now. He IS with us in every moment in the past and He IS with us in every moment in the future.

Yoghurt cake - fantasy that can't be shaped by limitations

A day

-How much do we have?
-A day.
-You can do a lot during a day.

This quote from In Time movie is so true! Except that we don't know if we even have a day.

BUT

You can do a lot during a day!

Waiting for Christmas

MATLAB - updated

%Today I was first introduced to MATLAB
%As a SAS fan I looked at Example 1 and thought - SAS can also do that

%Example 1

A = [1 3 4; 2 5 9]

%When it came to transposing this matrix, and solving diferential equations...
%or drawing a cos graph or dividing 1/0 or even better dividing 0/0
%maybe Im not aware of something, but SAS cant do that, right?

% A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Note some days later: SAS, I'm sorry... How could I imagine that you can't do that! At least I know that you are smart enough to divide by 0!

About languages

In Latvia, they are planning to collect signatures to make HTML and C++ official national languages.

http://www.diena.lv/blogi/vaks-parakstus-lai-html-un-c-plus-plus-atzitu-par-valsts-valodu-13915064

Happy about free Latvia

out of order

Mūsu uzņēmumā ir saplīsis baumu aparāts. Pagājušā nedēļā iesniedzu atlūgumu, bet vēl līdz šim kolēģi par to nebija baumas nekādas dzirdējuši. Tā nu nācās pašai arī viņiem pateikt.

For all who are tired

Reading day

Definition (short version of the one given by Wikipedia): Day set aside exclusively for study and reading.

Today I will have my readying day with kilos of books and materials waiting for me. Some rules: birthday parties are allowed during this day, knitting - not.

Nobody can fail

There is an extremely easy way how to become unpopular. Go into politics.

People love just populism. As soon as you start doing something, you are a looser.

Road to Assisi

Should the road to Assisi be a road of meditation, peace and putting aside everyday worries?

But it was a run - from one city to other. And then suddenly in Gratz, Austria we came to some church with peaceful garden. Just one tree in a middle of walls, but so fulfilling silence disturbed only by grasshopper sounds and some people of our group whispering admiration of the beauty of this (Mariana?) church.



Next morning in a Austria - sun arising over just mowed meadows.



I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. /Ps 121:1



In a heat we had (+30C and more) even adults couldn't resist paddling through fountains



Can't guess what is the reason to put laundry outside in a middle of the city. Are the rooms so small? Or they are just used to that?



Guess what is that!?



In case you were not lucky enough to guess, it is part of WC - installation to be used to flush water.

And here - me and my best friend :)



Luckily our road to Assisi safely lead us to the city. Here it is - beauty of it in night



There is some monk sitting on the stairs at St.Chiara church, reading someting in a language I don't understand. And people gathering around him and listening.



Assisi - morning! No wonder Francis was amazed by the power of Creator.



Days were so hot that I already started to see angels.



Some more impressions - vineyards, full of grapes



And tower in San Marino



To sum up - too many impressions for such a short time. I think I would enjoy more just staying in Assisi all the time and then coming home w/o seeing anything else. We were looking for peace, humility and moderation proclaimed by Francis. What we found was running around, taking pictures, buying souvenirs... All I long for is another chance to be there and just spend time in peace.

I am still on the road to Assisi. It is not finished yet.

Caution! Someone working above

Best sign to notice in a church after a prayer: Caution! Someone is working above.

Pack&Go

Sometimes it is great to leave everything behind. No email connection. Hopefully no stressful phone calls from work or university. Just pack and go.

Out of office auto reply

Dear Sender,

I'm currently on vacations with limited access to my email. Your message is important to me. I will respond you after my return on 19th of September.

Regards,
I.B.

------
Why couldn't I add this to my Yahoo mail? Would be much easier - 2 weeks without worries of receiving some important mail and missing the right moment to respond.

50M37H1NG 1N73R3571NG

7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 4PP4R3N7LY 0NLY C34R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15.

because of love

There are so many good things that HAVE TO be done. There are so many in need.

But in all these millions of works in your to-do-list, there is one that shouldn't be lost. Love.

Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

There is poor to help, sick to heal, job to be done, exams to be passed and many other needs in this world. But God is the one in control of every situation. If He gives you a wish to help, that's great. But there is one thing that He asks from you. Love. Great love to Him from all your soul, great love to Him with all your mind. And love to other people.

How about trying this out? Say just a week - try to do what you do just because of great love to God and love to other people?

Is that what I still want? Or is it just beautiful dream but boring reality?

Daļa no manis

- Vai Jums ir caurlaide, vīza?
Šis ceļš ir uz Paradīzi!
- Kāds ceļš? Tā daļa no manis!
Sapņiem pirkt atļauju? Neesmu radis!

- Piedodiet, nelaidīsim!
- Pretošos!
- Projām dzīsim!

- Tā daļa no manis, tā labākā,
gadiem caur ilgām uzpostā,
auklētā, mīlētā, ilgotā,
tā mana dzīves, ikdienas rota!
- Šī zona ir apmeklētājiem slēgta!
Piekāpiet citreiz, saruna beigta!

...un aizveras vārti, tie noklaudz bargi.
Es palieku ārā, iekšpusē sargi.
Man noslēgta daļa, daļa no manis.
Atņemta tā, vai atgūt to spēšu?
Es cīnīšos kamēr uzvarēšu!

what it takes

Do you want to be part of a miracle?

Do you know what it takes to be part of a miracle? It takes to face impossible situation. Do you still want to be part of a miracle?

Do you want to make a significant difference in this world?

Do you know what it takes to make a significant difference? It takes a significant sarcifice. Do you still want to make a significant difference?

Be prepared. But don't be afraid.

I never finish anyth

Most people would be happy to never encounter a bear, but in case if you need to find one, you need to search for bear's footprints, not to quit and follow those of rabbits, even if they are much easier to find.



By the way, actually here I'm talking about finishing important things in general, just about finding a bear that was escaped from our national park.

While you were sleeping

Last night we were not reading late night fairy tales, we were not watching sleep-well cartoons or playing cards till we fall asleep. We were coloring our nails pink and finding the pinkest clothes we have






Almost ready! Still when we saw others no time was needed to agree - next year we have a vacancy for costume designer. Ladies in pink were even not close to the most surprising costumes, but still, it was our first try!






3, 2, 1... And here we go! We are so fast that we even can't be captured in a photo.



Part of the run - through smoke while light was blinking all the time.



Happy pink finish! 4km done.



In the next picture - the person who woke me up next day at 7am. By throwing pillows on me and saying that it is time to prepare breakfast.

Stop and wonder

I want to stop for a while and grasp the feeling of wonder.

Wonder that not only Father can change people, but He actually does.
Wonder that not only He could create a person that loves others, shares with money, food and place to live with those in need, but He actually does.
Wonder that those questions you had in mind (and in mouths of your friends) are the thoughts also attacking others.

Wonder and encouragement. To be different. Because, even if it sounds crazy, God is more powerful than our craziness. If believing that He loves us and wants to give us the best things, we just need to trust and fall in His arms.
Even if that sounds crazy.

Our Creator is still creating us

His plans in our lives are greater than we know and dare to expect.

Thanks!

Diary of Lois Lane

It is very hard to be on one team with Superman. He assumes that I can work and think as fast as he does, which is not true of course.
It is hard. It makes me consume a lot of chocolate and coke. I hate and love it at the same time.

Is there anything left?

So, from the list of places I want to live are excluded countries/places:
- near nuclear power plants
- with frequent earthquakes, volcanoes, whirlwinds
- far from sea/ocean
- where my believes would be persecuted
- with poor social policy (small welfare, few holidays, short vacations)
- and with frequent thunderstorms. Ups, I just excluded Latvia...

Why did I even start?

I prepared that research proposal. And now I am missing one signature. Even don't know really who must sign it as each "important person" confess that they really are not so important and don't have right to sign that paper. So I am being sent from one to another and time is running out...

But somehow I feel that I won't regret much if I don't get it done. Though, it would force me to spend nights with this research and come closer to the happy end of my thesis.

almost funny bureaucracy

I am writing a reseach proposal to apply for a grant. Didn't believe that I can get it, so I didn't start this writing of application till the last day. Ok, last day is tomorrow, but if I started at 10pm today, doesn't it also counts as last day?

I still don't have much hope for this, but at leat lazy-me lost and I started to prepare the documents. It is almost 1am and I am planning to get up at 6 tomorrow to finish some last parts before meeting my mentor. Then get some signed papers from the dean (hopefully he is not on vacations!) and then proofread and make the proposal look nice. Lots of work tomorrow!

Actually, writing applications for funds and conferences is not the best part of studying for PhD. Doing the research is fun. Doing the administration tasks is not fun at all. Except, if it is 1am and brain is not much working any more. Then almost anything can seem funny.

Alone in desert

I live in a country where they love SPSS not SAS...

Can't see a way to change it, unless SAS gives away free licences to universities. :sad:

Visiting SAS Global Forum this year was like spending few days in oasis.

First grade math (about counting on the fingers)

Today I said to my colleage that I had headache yesterday. I have had this problem less times than I can count on my fingers.

She said that maybe I have been drinking. LOL. Would need even less fingers to count this action.

Keep up your faith. Jesus is comming. Maybe much sooner than we expect.

Tired

Is quitting what I'm doing the right option or just running away from my duties? Is it being smart or being a chicken?

Maybe one more week of summer-doing-nothing would help.

Gideon Bible

I wasn't told about Jesus by friends or pastors. It was a small, blue Gideon Bible where I found the Lord's prayer, where I first really got to know God.

God's word is so powerful!

difficult choice

I was using different computer so, to easily find the document I created, I named it by my name ieva.doc

Later, when finished and closing it, Word asked me almost existential quetion. Do you want to save changes to Ieva?

I clicked "Yes".

Sea

One of the few reasons why Riga is better than Cesis.

Sea you!

Privātmājas cilvēks

Es biju, esmu un būšu.

Volleyball vs. Opera

Have you ever tried playing volleyball at 1am outside with no lights on? Anyway, castle park is quite a good place for doing that; there is a large area of pavement where previously were benches and people sat watching opera.

Anyway, I think playing volleyball in dark is more fun than watching opera and trying not to fall asleep.

About birthday presents

Some years ago she gave me a great birthday present I still cherish. It was this video:



Now I asked her, what she wants for her birthday. Just an orchid, she answered.

what we did today

We will need some energy



And we should warm up



To smile for a camera



And RUN!



And in case we are lucky and don't get lost during the way



Reach finish and smile for the camera again!

Because you want to, not because you have to

With +20C and blooming flowers and trees there is so much energy that I could spend all day outside and no energy at all that could be dedicated for sitting in room and studying. So today it was extreemely difficult to motivate to go to school (only good reason was that I had to give presentation today). All these questions starting with "why" were running through my head.
Not the right time to read a blog post discussing if it is worth studying or over-working. But I read it, so even more "why"s.

I think it is absolutely true. Life happens every day. Also now. BUT sometimes long term commitments increase integral of happiness function. Even though today I really hated that I have to go and study, in general I love it. And though I don't know if my degree will be needed, I do it because I like it, not because it will bring me some benefits in future. It is sad that so many people miss also this long-term excitement about things they do.

Race for a french bread

Roadblock: You have to buy all ingredients for the party tomorrow. Including sliced french bread.
To complete this we went to Ruks, Maxima, Supernetto, another Supernetto, open market, Markets, Rukitis, Solo, Mego, Top, Elvi, another Top, Zvirbulis, Labais, another Solo and another Solo. Last 7 of them was just searching for that specific bread.
Hope this will be a non-elimination leg as we spent 3 and a half hours on this trip.

Pizza delivery

I'm sitting in my room, sad or maybe just troubled about some not finished works and not pleasant conversations that I will need to face soon.
Then - someone clapping at the door and bringing in a pizza for me! Just so, without a reason. It is one of those nice moments that reminds me why I like to live in our commune.

Aš bėgu

Today we went out for a run. It was a training for marathon (hey, also training for running 5km on a marathon day can be called as training for marathon!).
First lap was easy. At the second I started to fight with myself not to stop but finish it as well. I did it. Then, after some stretching, we were ready to run one more lap.

I think it is so true also in friendship. Beginning is easy. Then after some time there are some problems and you fight with yourself with so many arguments why you should stop. But if you continue, you can go far beyond and meet the joy that comes along and could not be seen from the starting point.

Friendship is not a sprint. It is marathon.

And here is a song about running. And frienship as well.

Ne tikai zināt, bet saprast un piedzīvot Dieva mīlestību

Manas sirds vēlēšanās un lūgšana bija, kaut viss būtu tik jauki un vienkārši kā sākumā, kaut būtu tā degsme, kas bija, kad sāku ticēt.

Ikdiena un pasaule notrulina, tā pat nemanot aicina uz kompromisiem. Man liekas, ka visā tajā biju par dziļu iebridusi un pavisam noteikti saviem spēkiem nevarēju no tā visa tikt vaļā. Un tā nebūt nav patīkama sajūta, vien bailes pazaudēt saikni ar Dievu un Viņa mīlestību.

Bet nometnē vakar vakarā... pēc pielūgsmes un kopējām lūgšanām bija iespēja, ka kāds cits arī par tevi aizlūdz. Un tieši tas man bija vajadzīgs - kur vairs pati netieku galā, kāds cits lūdz.

Neparasti, bet laikam loģiski - Dievs piedod un pieņem. Un kad vairs kompromisu celtais mūris nav mūsu vidū, ir tik jauki just Dieva klātbūtni un Viņa mīlestību. Un, škiet, tikai tagad ne tikai zinu, bet arī kaut mazlietiņ nojaušu un saprotu, ko nozīmē tas, ka Dievs mani mīl.

Ir brīnišķīgi būt attīrītam un piepildītam ar Viņa mīlestību. Un tagad mana lūgšana ir to atkal nepazaudēt.

Joy, joy, joy - Christ is rissen!

P.S. It is in Houston. People dancing in joy of His resurrection.

Houston, we got a problem

After 25 hours since I left my hotel room in Vegas, finally I reached Riga. The only problem was 3-hour flight delay in Houston, but luckily I was able to catch my next flight on time.

It was a great week, but happy to be home again

About statisticians and programmers

No, we are not boring people. We just get excited about boring things

In a city that never sleeps

I understand why it doesn’t sleep. If there are so many visitors from other countries, sleeping is just impossible becuase of lag in time zones.
I was extreemely tired, went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 4am with no signs that I could fall asleep again (it was 1pm LV time!). But I did, I just need to adopt to new time.

How I felt in love with this city:


Day started with walk in the city and looking at it from the top of Stratosphere tower. There, at the top of 330 m building I dared to try big shot ride (scariest part was not shooting up, but something like free fall 50 meters down).

Sign before the rides:


Just nice:


From the top:


View from the city:

Passport control, security check, passport control, customs, security check

Maybe my destination city makes them suspicious. I was questioned a lot at the first security check in Amsterdam. They were suspicious where am I going? Why? Questions continued through out the way.
First thing they do with visitors in the United States – take finger prints and pictures. So now Government knows everything about me.
When entering the United States everyone also needs to fill out customs declaration form: are you bringing in any disease agents, snails (seriously!), or other dangerous products, like for example food! I did. So they took my 2 bananas away. And (because I was honest enough to admit that I actually have some food in my baggage), they continued to carefully examine ALL my hand and checked in baggage by taking out all items and looking for more food or Latvian sausages. So I was involuntary relieved also from some tulip bulbs that was perfectly packed and sealed with tulip picture, but as nowhere was written that they are tulips, they were not allowed (because they could be food – for example – nuts!). I had another bag with tulips, only there was also description that they are tulips. So I was allowed to „import” them in the US.
Even after Amsterdam’s airport this one seems huge! I had to take an air train (don’t know why it is called so – just some kind of train/metro mix) to go to another sector where my next flight will departure. But here everywhere there are some staff members to ask for help. Everyone is so americanly-friendly. Just random people in that train chatted with me like an old friend, flight attendant joked that he was not informed that there are princesses flying today, guy who collected check in baggage offered to spend this time till my flight together, and even that customs’ officer which took away my bananas was very friendly. Though it is just culture, that is a kind of culture I like.

Picture about everything that I saw from NY (because I spent time only in airport)

About useful/dangerous items in baggage

One of the most valuable things in my baggage is an alarm clock. Function: increase the quality of sleep because I don't have to be worry that I will miss waking alarm in my mobile.

When putting this clock back in bag I am smart enough to take its battery out. I think drear police officers wouldn't understand what eventually is ticking in my bag.

Amsterdam

Today I stopped in Amsterdam before my next leg to some country a little bit further.

I didn't fell in love with this city. Maybe a little bit more sunshine could help. But it seemed so uniform, with so little things to be amazed about. Ok, maybe I missed the charm of smoking weed that this city could offer?

Still, there are some nice things I want to share.

No wonder that Van Gogh loved to draw not only sunflowers, but also blossoms:




I think giving daffodils for birthday in Netherlands could not be a wise decision. They are everywhere (where they could be - because not many green areas or parks here anyway)



Attracting customers:



And my room I have deserved (you see almost all of it because it is around 2,5*2,5 meters):



(To say truth, it is in different hotel, not the one that gives their customers what they have deserved). But I like my room - there is free wi-fi, what else do I need?

am·bas·sa·dor

1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary).
2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.
4. an authorized messenger or representative. Abbreviation: Amb., amb.

Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2011.

Daylight saving time

Just lovely. Woke up at the time I usually do - 7.20. No matter that clock was adjusted by daylight saving time and it was only 6.20 in old time.

Should I confess that I went to bed already 5pm yesterday?

Dienas atziņa

Ievārīt putru ir vieglāk nekā mēģināt pagatavot kaut ko pēc receptes.lv

Peace and joy

Nothing has finished yet. But today I have peace and some kind of joy. Our company has created web site where colleages from different countries can express their support to colleagues in Japan.

Most of those comments were about being in thoughts and prayers with that nation and wishes that God may help them (interesting - in company when rules of behaviour asks to leave religion outside the office).

It is good to know that we are united.

Test of sanity

Today my colleage tested my sanity by asking what do I think about Da Vinci Code. She knows that I go to church and defend opinon about absolute truth, Jesus as savior etc. that is not something majority would vote for, so it seemed that she tested how freaky I actually am. :)

I passed the test by saying that I think it is fiction, but not starting to talk about defamation, conspiracy against church or something like that.

I was smart to keep my mouth shut and not to tell her that I am taking all precaution to avoid consequences of nuclear crisis as much as possible. Even though the official theory is that we are in absolutely safe place in another part of the world. Then she would question my sanity for sure.

Eggs, fish, apple seeds

Why does it look like that the end is really close?

Iceland, Egypt, Japan.. It all sounds like in prophecy from the book of revelations.

Should we be ready?

If the body has accumulated enough iodine, radioactive iodine is less dangerous. There are special pills, but iodine can be found in some special salt, eggs, fish and apple seeds.

I went to a shop and bought salt with iodine, fish and apples. I had some eggs already at home.

But it isn't about surviving some nuclear power plant explosion. Question is - are we ready for the second comming of Jesus Christ?

I can feel prepared to meeting Jesus (though, usually I don't much feel like that), but if we really believe that He is comming, shouldn't we invest everything to tell the world about Him? Nothing else matters... So say we, and tomorrow again - we go to work and do some job with a possibility to testify only to few colleagues...

Anyway, good luck with surviving and meeting Jesus!

разоблачать

New Russian word for today. Expose, unmask.

Good way to survive is not to pretend. Even if разоблачение hurts, it is better than living in lies.

upgrades v1.2

Life goes up! I can use swimming pool for 45min at a price lower than I pay daily for my lunch!

Of course, we could look at this from another perspective - cafe near my work is way too expensive.

First solo surgery

Today was my first solo surgery. I was prepared well and attendee granted a lot of time and care for that, but left me alone saying that I can manage it.

OK, patient survived. Actually I would say that these 1 and a half hours were quite successful. I managed to fix accute problems, though didn't enter the second stage as felt that patient would better continue that next time.

Some bruces left, but at least that part of a job is done. They will let me to do that again? Hope that also the same patient wouldn't be too disapointed seeing me as his resident again.

@-'-,--

Lithuanians, happy independence day!

P.S. Title of this post is supposed to be a rose, not cursing

Did you hear her hit the water? Cos I didn't.

Today for the first time I hear the story or Peter Pan. I watched a film (2003). And it was so great! Felt like a child that first time listens to a fairytale grown ups know by heart.

Film was great (fact that I repeated this sentence twice should surely convince you).

Rumor has it that...

...I'm in love. Too often I make too salted food.

Maybe that it is better than if there were rumors that I don't know the proportions of spices that should be added to food.

Done. 10 minutes before February.

Started after Christmas

Navigation

Aiming at the moon, even if you miss it, will land you among stars.