Women and politics

I hear the weekend knocking on the door but first this: This morning our prime minister Balkenende had to go to the Queen to seek a dissolution of parliament. This came as most MPs were dreaming of another dissolution — the summer recess. Hah, no holidays here for a while. Dutch Diva's rule, parliament collapses!

As I said BEFORE, Former Liberal MP mrs. Ayaan Hirsi Ali (or is it Magan) "..leaves Holland with a trail of social political damage behind her ". Little did I know that the fire was only starting. Whoever said Dutch politics is boring and full of back-room deals should have watched Dutch television this week.

Mrs. Verdonk (yes, the one I wrote about over HERE) , who was hoping to be elected to lead the Liberals VVD, cast doubt on whether Hirsi Ali was a Dutch citizen. In fact she even proclaimed that Ayaan never was granted citizenship because she provided false information. Then she lost the elections.

Enter mrs. Femke Halsema, the leader of the green-left GroenLinks. She tabled a motion of no confidence in Verdonk which then was supported by mrs. Lousewies van der Laan, the democrats66 leader.

To make a long story short, result is that we now don't know if we still have a parliament.

I say these prima donna's broke the political glass ceiling for sure. Hell, they even broke down the entire building!

Wild thing..

Here's some advise for all the ladies in the house: don't waste hubbies precious beer on housekeeping...

click picture or here:

Back to work now, busy week ahead! Enjoy!

Khalil on Robbie Williams:

Then Almitra spoke again and said... "And what of Robbie Williams, master?" And he answered saying: I forsee that DA from CafeDA will be invited to one of his (extremely fast sold out) concerts in the Amsterdam Arena. "But by whom will he be invited master?" And he replied with the words: He will be invited in the sky-box of his favourite accountancy firm!. "But master, will DA enjoy the show?" And then he said: Oh yes, knowing DA just a little bit he most certainly will enjoy looking at all the beautiful dressed up girls that are getting more and more excited along the way. Yes, believe me DA will enjoy himself because the ratio woman/men will be like 80/20 and the dreadful sound of the Amsterdam Arena won't even bother him..

Have a great weekend my dearest virtual friends, enjoy the now!

Khalil on marriage..

Then Almitra spoke again and said... "And what of Marriage, master?" And he answered saying: You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Now this is just wonderful isn't it? I've been pondering on marriage and relationships lately as I am not the best example in making them work. I believe there is a big difference between unconditional love for a child and love in a mutual relationship. I think - and don't get me wrong, I don't rationalize everything- that an adult relationship has got more economics in it. What's the return on investment? Is the relationship balanced? In a relationship 1 and 1 should add up to 3, not 3/4. I say unconditional love doesn't exist in human relationships (besides the parental). There's always the "what's in it for me issue too". And that's ok..or is it?

Hawking to earthlings: Get the hell out of here!

Yesterday, one of my all-time favourite scientists - dr. Stephen Hawking - visited the university of Hong Kong where he said that humans must establish a base on the moon and colonize Mars within the next 40 years if we're to avoid extinction from global warming or another flaming end catastrophe.

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said at a news conference in Hong Kong. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.

"We won't find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system," he added.
Space enthusiasts said Hawking's vision is achievable.

I think it is good Hawking blows the whistle because our planet is indeed being exploited without regard to the consequences as long as profit is assured and we don't need a big meteorite or another Katrina with the US prez Dubya at the helm to get totally ruined.

And I wouldn't mind exporting W Shrub with his prattling minions who personify the putrid decay of a bloated and corrupt political system, to a big black hole at the extreme other end of our galaxy.

But unfortunately this brilliant modern Noah forgot to mention that the best way to use space as the ultimate lifeboat is to go there without any human galactic refugees at all.

Operation Iraqi freedom

Prez Shrub was briefed by his top war mongers --ehh commanders -- Monday about how to deal with violence in Iraq as senior national security advisers gathered at his presidential retreat to chart how to help the newly named government in Baghdad.

After two days of hard labour, the culmination of the long and heated discussions in camp David is as follows: Operation Iraqi freedom means Iraq must be free of Iraqis.

Bush endorsed the views of his advisers. "I thought your assessment of the situation in Iraq was very realistic and I think your recommendations to us on how to win in Iraq - to have an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself, defend itself - BUT WITHOUT IRAQIS - your recommendations are valid," the president said.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt's advice to Iraqis who see TV images of innocent civilians killed by coalition troops: “Change the channel”..

Leaving Oxford

"And that sweet city with her dreaming spires, she needs not June for beauty's heightening"

-- Matthew Arnold --

.

Oxford University has got 39 colleges. The Said Business School is located at Templeton College.

.

Our class was 45 vp's, cxo's and directors from 21 countries. Good discussions and great professors that lecture at Oxford, MIT and Harvard.

.

.

.

These weeks students attend their finals. Students attend these finals wearing "subfusc" - formal academic dress -. Fellow students smear them with flower and everything else they find in trashcans to congratulate them afterwards..

.

.

I had a great time and met some wonderful new friends from Dubay, Quwait, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Australia and Europe. Now I'll go dust the tables and put the chairs outside.

.

CAFEDA has to be opened again next monday. Drinks will be on the house, spread the word!!

Hogwarts

Christ Church is famous not only for its beautiful cathedral but even more because of its role in the Harry Potter films. The dining hall (right) at Hogwarts gives you the impression as if you are part of the movies yourself.

.

.

.

Sheldonian Theatre opened in 1669. It was modelled after the ancient Roman theatre of Marcellus and is used for degree ceremonies as well as for concerts or lectures.

Blackwell's is said to be world's largest and famous bookshops (and expensive I might add :-) and is spread around Broad street with five shops.

The right picture is the famous "Bridge of Sighs". around New College and into Queen's lane.

.

.

.

This was fun..Back to Amsterdam now..