CafeDA

Still alive my friends and extremely enjoying it

2008-03-09T10:41:00.005+01:00

My dearest blogfriends, don't you worry 'bout a thing. I'm still very much alive and having a wonderful time together with my loved ones. Have been building a new company in Amsterdam (now 30 employees, you'll find us here: http://www.c-strategies.com ) an have an interim job as global director at a Nasdaq company and started a Phd candidacy alongside. Still am so much in love, every time I look her in the eyes I feel like summiting Evertest..

Hope you guys are fine 2, be well!!!!

Amsterdam greetz,
Dimitri

slick

2007-08-13T14:05:00.001+02:00

Perfect relationship?

2007-06-20T09:32:00.000+02:00

And we haven't been away even for that long but it takes a few days to kick start those batteries again. I will post some Nepal and everest pictures later on but first this: while in Nepal I read about the Polish man who awoke after 20 years of coma. Huh?

It is the stuff of fairytales and happy endings, the story of a Polish railway worker who woke up to a new world of plenty after falling into a "coma" 19 years ago when Poland was still communist. Grzebski was transferred from one hospital to another to undergo treatment until finally his wife opted to bring him home and care for him herself. There may not have been a miracle in Grzebski's revival, but the story of his wife's dedication has struck a chord with diehard romantics. Grzebski is now making the acquaintance of 11 grandchildren. lol..

Grzebski told he has been aware that the days of communism, rationing and interminable queues to get the little that was available in the shops, had long ended in Poland.

But he has still not got over a recent trip to the local supermarket.
"There are no queues. You take what you want and as much of it as you want. You don't need ration tickets like during the communist era," he marvelled.

If it were the Netherlands the poor man would all of a sudden wake up to a country in decay, satellite dishes, burqas, multicultural violence, exploded crime figures and huge taxes to maintain a government that even Kafka didn't foresee. Anyway..

So is this the perfect example of matrimonial loyalty? What does it take to make a marriage work?

I say that within a good relationship you should never let each other down when one or the other has got his or her week moment. You should be faithfull, supportive, loving, respectful and caring. bla bla bla and so on

Now what's your number one ingredient for the perfect marriage or relationship cake?

Wikicopy on marriage:

A marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract. The most frequently occurring form of marriage unites a man and a woman as husband and wife.[1][2][citation needed] Other forms of marriage also exist; for example, polygamy, in which a person takes more than one spouse, is common in many societies.[3] Beginning in 2001, the legal concept of marriage has been expanded to include same-sex marriage in some jurisdictions.[4]The reasons people marry vary widely, but usually include one or more of the following: legal, social and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love.[5][6]A marriage is often declared by a wedding ceremony,[7] which may be performed by a religious officiator, through a similar government-sanctioned secular officiator, or (in weddings that have no church or state affiliation) by a trusted friend of the wedding participants. The act of marriage usually creates obligations between the individuals involved, and in many societies, their extended families.[citation needed]

post ceremonial pics

2007-06-02T11:07:00.001+02:00

After the wedding some pictures were taken in the Potala Palace gardens. At night special (wedding?) fireworks lightened up the palace.

Now we are preparing for the real honeymoon which will take us via Mount Everet base camp to Kathmandu. CU later, hope you enjoyed the pictures. Kind regards, Ursula and Dimitri..

Wedding certificate

2007-06-02T10:31:00.000+02:00

Scarfs are given for blessings. After the ceremony we received an authentic stamped wedding certificate from the lama of the Drepong monastery. It appeared that we were the first to be given such a paper. I believe we gave them a new business opportunity idea :-)

Now the actual marriage

2007-06-02T10:17:00.001+02:00

We entered the main kitchen where the treasurer monk was receiving the donations and changing them into smaller yuan bills so they can be handed over to each of the 300 monks present during the ceremony. Off course we could not refuse the traditional butter tea..and another round..

A pack of Yuans left for the monks that were on duty or not in the house. Drepung monastery houses around 600 monks.

Some Pictures of a Buddhist Wedding part 2

2007-06-02T10:08:00.001+02:00

Atop the Jokhang monestary, the most sacred of them all in Tibet. On the right on the Jokhar square in our traditional Tibetan wedding outfit before we went of to Drepong.

Prayer wheels at the Potala Palace

Some Pictures of a Buddhist Wedding part 1

2007-06-02T09:54:00.000+02:00

Panda Park in Chengdu, China. Buddhist offering spot in Tibet on the right.

A non-typical honeymoon

2007-05-31T12:54:00.000+02:00

My dear friends, thank you for all your kind wishes. Yes I am still alive but quit my job two months ago and c0-started two new private companies and as a writer/editor for a Dutch magazine so had to work very hard to make it happen.

Three days ago we arrived in Lhasa, Tibet where we will get married tomorrow (Deo Volente). As Ursula experienced some severe altitude sickness I did not blog yet and we had to postpone our ceremony until tomorrow. Luckily she recoverd after a few days. Tomorrow I will try to post some pictures that we allready made.

Our hotel is opposite the Jokhang tempel and today is the most sacred day in the year so the Bokhar square is packed with pilgrims that procrastinate.

Back tomorrow, after the wedding I hope :-)

Amsterdam, Sold! For $50,000!

2007-03-31T07:17:00.000+02:00

Amsterdam, one of the landmark business in Second life, modeled on the city’s red light district, and specializing in adult content, was sold for $50,000.

The previous owner, whose avatar is called “Stroker Serpentine”, says he sold the iconic virtual destination “to focus on a new, bigger adult business”. Little is known about the city’s new custodian, except that he is — perhaps appropriately — from the Netherlands.

My city is one of the first places that most first-time players visit in Second Life, mostly due to the ‘titillation factor’. It has been the meeting place for members of the Dutch Parliament. It been featured twice on CBS News. It has appeared on numerous multi-media outlets throughout the world. It remains a focal point on the SL landscape.

An excellent investment I say. Every day more than 50,000 cybermen visit this cybertown to see a little cyberbooty. I predict that the cyberbuyer will recoup his cybervestment in less than a month.

by "Dimitri Alexandre"

Too young to die

2007-03-21T10:56:00.000+01:00

On the 5th of March, two very beautiful women, Susana and Peronne, were called back to the light way too young. Yesterday we were told that our 22yo niece Martine decided to leave earth as well. May their beautiful souls rest in peace..

We are alive, therefore we will die. This is the simplest, most obvious truth of our existence, and yet it is so hard to come to terms with it. Truly respecting death and its inevitability brings, paradoxically, a relaxing of the fear of death, along with a heightened sense of the importance of life and of what we choose to do with the time we have. So live now and take good care of yourselves and your loved ones...

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.

In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by.

This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

-- Shakespeare --

Slick and his Column

2007-03-21T09:30:00.000+01:00

DA007

2007-03-02T16:03:00.000+01:00

This week I was asked for a 007-like fotoshoot for a Dutch magazine: here are some results

It was fun to do although they needed to shoot about 600 pics under very warm lights to get a few good results (no America's next top model huh). This magazine asked me to start a column on Dutch network-events, gala's and parties. Who better to aks then the Netherlands biggest alcoholic. (just kidding off course:-)

DA MBA and thoughts on Tibetan marriage

2007-01-31T10:56:00.000+01:00

I know, I know, I have been the worst blogger in history of mankind. I am not even trying to apologize anymore. Thing is that there's not enough time in one day. Had to finish my studies, which I did. Had to work like crazy to prevent from drowning in the political arena and had to attend too many new years gala's and parties. Also made a new website for personal business. Click here to have a look if you like. Most of the precious free time however I'd rather spend with my loved ones then sitting behind the desk I have noticed. And that's a good sign as far as I'm concerned.

These days we are also preparing our Tibetan wedding. We have decided to get married in Lhasa by means of a Buddhist ceremony and then travel through Tibet and Nepal somewhere in May.

Siddhartha (later known as the Buddha), was married and had a family and so in this respect it is quite natural for Buddhists to marry and have children. In fact, in the Mahamangala Sutra the Buddha spoke of many aspects of family life as those things which would lead to happiness and blessings:

Supporting one’s father and mother
Loving one’s wife (or husband) and children
Being generous and having a sense of duty
Helping relatives and acting blamelessly
Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and listening to the Dharma

Clearly the idea of duty and support needs to be understood in the context of Indian society where the extended family is quite important and a sense of maintaining traditions a priority. However, it can also be seen that developing these attitudes will also help someone towards achieving Enlightenment as each of them will gradually lead to a person becoming less focused on their own needs and more towards those of others. It is this attitude which will ultimately lead to greater compassion for all living things (for more information on this see An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics (GCSE)).

It is also important to note how marriage and family provide opportunities to apply the The Five Precepts

The Five Precepts

To refrain from killing or harming living things.
To refrain from harming another human includes making sure one's actions do not lead to emotional suffering. In the context of marriage both partners should make sure the other knows how much they are valued. There should be a positive attempt to always express appreciation for the other person. Taking someone for granted is the root of many problems between a husband and wife.

To refrain from taking what is not given.
In this modern age of an increased sense of equality between men and women it is important that duties in the household are shared. It is wrong for men to presume that only women should take care of the family and the home. Assuming such an attitude may take away from time the woman has the right to spend elsewhere (E.g. Meeting friends, hobbies, relaxing, chatting with their partner...).

To refrain from sexual misconduct.
Applied literally this means husbands and wives should not have affairs (see below). However, it could also apply to the quality of their sexual relationship. Sex should be a natural expression of closeness between a husband and wife and should reflect the quality of their whole relationship. A good sex life normally means one has a good relationship. Doing things the partner may not wish to do, or insisting on sex when the other person does not want it, are examples of 'unskillful actions' which can lead to emotional suffering. This is clearly against the first precept. (For more on this see Buddhism and Sexual Ethics.)

To refrain from false and wrong speech.
Marriages should be based on truth. Neither partner should hide anything from the other (unless it is to do with buying a present!). Also, neither partner should be afraid of saying anything to the other. Many marriages fail because one or both partners have been afraid to communicate their true feelings about the other person (or the quality of their relationship). HOWEVER, speaking the truth does not mean being nasty! For a Buddhist, speaking the truth would have to be balanced by the first precept. It is possible to do tremendous psychological and emotional harm to a person simply by what you say to them.

To refrain from drink or drugs which cloud the mind.
For a Buddhist remaining clear minded is important as it keeps them focused and allows them to remain in control of their feelings and emotions. Many affairs have begun due to drunken antics at an office party. Many partners have also been the subject of abusive behaviour at the hands of a drunken spouse.

To our friends

2007-01-01T21:31:00.000+01:00

Friday CONTEST day..

2006-12-01T12:29:00.000+01:00

Last contest won by Canadian Princess Veena. She was the first to discover La Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain. Oh, by the way: On top of the church we got engaged. "Erm..Say what?" No kidding!!
Veena please e-mail the adress where I can send you the souvenir. Sorry Gary and Lisa, correct answer but only prize for first answer available :-)

Allright; now for this week. First one to guess right will receive an appropriate Amsterdam souvenir!

Any ideas? I'll send souvenirs all over the world. Even to Australia, Moscow, Oslo, Dubhay, Japan and Lebanon!! Who's first??

Saturday update: Again I have to help you guys out. Might as well send souvenirs without having a contest :-) Here's a picture of the entire city:

A Bishop that likes little children and Frau mit Schnurrbart

2006-11-19T20:54:00.000+01:00

Today was the day that St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Sinterklaas, f.k.a. The Bishop of Mira, arrived on the Amsterdam Dam square. Sinterklaas is well known as the children's biggest friend. Now many Bishops nowadays are well known to be very friendly to little boys but this Bishop has another wonderful feature: He exploits black servants who crawl down your chimney to enter your house. Anyway, I won't go that way today. I too lie to my son about his existence and hope he'll forgive me when he's old enough to know it was all about mall marketing to sel us useless stuff.

We arrived in time, I bought myself a Hazelnut Latte and my son a hot chocolate. He managed to get in front at the fence and stood first in row. I tried to get as much children in front of me but couldn't avoid to let an entire Mediterranian looking family in front of me while I wasn't paying attention. No problem, "let them integrate into our culture" I thought, they might enjoy this charade.

This family (their children in particular) was very annoying. They yelled to everyone and started bullying my son. He got pushed and tried to find eye-contact with me. From a distance I told him to stay put and that he would be allright. Now he is only six but rather tall for his age so he started pushing back telling his 10 y.o. neighbour that he should loose weight because he didn't fit in between. I didn't like it but so far no reason to get upset. Hey, " that's just what children do", I thought. That's when this ugly woman started intimidating my son. Pulling his jacket and telling him to get lost. "Lady, leave him alone and mind your own business", I yelled at the woman twice. She didn't comply.

She continued pushing and pulling his jacket. My son got upset and started crying. And I got furious, man did I loose it for a moment. I elbowed myself to the front and told her that I warned her twice and that if she would ever lay a hand on my son again "I will kick your husbands ugly ass because I don't hit women, not even women with a moustache like yours". Then I turned towards her husband and told him to "tell her I am blood serious" looking him straight into the eyes with the most vicious look I had in years. Problem solved..

Now I do not approve of my behaviour and it sure isn't the Buddhist way I would normally prefer but this is just a little example of the problems we face daily in our Dutch big cities. We have been tolerating too much and now we've all grown apart. Young Morrocan pupils terrorize teachers and even terrorize entire neighbourhoods. People no longer dare to stand up against their violence and their parents have lost them in between cultural differences.

The CEO of Blackberry told me last week that the little Canadian town where he grew up welcomed a dozen Dutch families after WWII. They immigrated to Canada to start anew. Every year, with Dutch liberation day in sight, they would plant a couple of hundred tulips on the town square to remember the victims of war, to celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands and to thank their Canadian neighbours for their warmth and hospitality. They were grateful, very grateful. That's how they are seen by their Canadian neighbours, the grateful Dutch neighbours. Last year, many Canadian towns celebrated the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands in a way that we in the Netherlands even didn't do.

And that's just the way it works to my opinion. You earn your respect in a new country through gratefullness, not through agression, repression and violence.

I rest my case..

Friday CONTEST day..

2006-11-17T14:30:00.000+01:00

First one to guess what this is

and where I have taken this picture

receives an authentic Amsterdam souvenir

(no Gary I won't ship over no cannabis :-)..

Good luck and have a nice weekend my friends..

Sunday update:

Would you be blogging..

2006-11-13T22:25:00.000+01:00

if someone made you feel like this?
.
Would you be wasting time, worrying about a new start, a new future..
.
if someone made you smile like this?
.
Would you hesitate for more than one second to seize the day together and live the now..
.
if someone made you happy like this?
.
Would you?

Bush Administration, Halloween 365 days a year..

2006-10-31T17:11:00.000+01:00

N o one likes us-I don't know why

We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try

But all around, even our old friends put us down

Let's drop the big one and see what happens

We give them money-but are they grateful?

No, they're spiteful and they're hateful

They don't respect us-so let's surprise them

We'll drop the big one and pulverize them

Asia's crowded and

Europe's too old

Africa is far too hot

And Canada's too cold

And South America stole our name

Let's drop the big one

There'll be no one left to blame us

We'll save Australia

Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo

We'll build an All American amusement park there

They got surfin', too

Boom goes London and boom Paris

More room for you and more room for me

And every city the whole world round

Will just be another American town

Oh, how peaceful it will be

We'll set everybody free

You'll wear a Japanese kimono

And there'll be Italian shoes for me

They all hate us anyhow

So let's drop the big one now

Let's drop the big one now

-Randy Newman

The end of suffering

2006-10-19T08:41:00.000+02:00

May the sound of the bell penetrate deep into the cosmos.
Even in the darkest spots living beings are able to hear it clearly.
So that all suffering in them cease. Understanding comes to their heart, and they transcend the path of sorrow and death.

The universal dharma door is already open; the sound of the rising tide is already heard clearly. The miracle happens.

A beautiful child appears in the heart of the lotus flower. One single drop of this compassionate water is enough to bring back the refreshing spring to our mountains and rivers.

Listening to the bell I feel the afflictions in me dissolve. My mind is calm, my body relaxed. A smile is born on my lips.

Following the sound of the bell, my breath brings me back to the safe island of mindfulness. In the garden of my heart, the flowers of peace bloom beautifully.

"The End of Suffering" by Thich Nhat Hanh (click to listen)

Carpe Diem Dimi

2006-10-03T13:52:00.000+02:00

I have been the most terrible blogger lately for which I hope you accept my sincere apologies. Thing is that I still don't have internet at home, my personal life has been a rollercoaster and I have been flying around the world for work lately. So seen a lot, happened a lot and been very busy.

That's why I decided to spend extra quality time with my son this weekend doing funny kids stuff together . On friday we build ourselves a kite and flew it over the Amsterdam dikes adjacent to my backyard. This was real fun because the kite rose to great hight. Then we played football and we baked ourselves some pancakes. You should have seen the kitchen afterwards. On Saturday we decided to visit the movies. Monsterhouse was playing and we were in for some excitement.

However, on our way to the movie theater a terrible accident occurred right in front of our eyes. An older bicyclist forgot to give way to the car in front of us and got knocked of his bike. In fact, he instantly became airborne and had an aweful landing - head first- with a thud on the asphalt. I still have the image on my retina. My son was reading the Donald Duck so luckily he missed it.

I parked the car crossways in front of him so no cars could pass, told my son to stay put and started helping. The car driver allready supported the old man but lots of blood was oozing out of his head wound. Me and some bystanders tried to keep the old man concious but after a few minutes he passed out, re-appeared and then went into a shock because of the many injuries and blood loss. By the time the ambulance arrived we guessed he had litttle chance that he would make it to the hospital. I don't know how the story ended but I hope he survived. If not, may God bless his beautiful soul.

So, our father and son pleasure weekend turned out a little different then I planned it to. And allthough we still had the most wonderful Sunday, the message send to me was crystal clear:

Seize the day. Or to quote the Roman poet Horace: "Enjoy the present and don't worry about the future, as in It's a beautiful day, so forget tomorrow's test--carpe diem!"

To all of you I say, go fly your kites today, bake some pancakes, open your best bottle of wine tonight and enjoy the now 'cause life may be shorter then you expect it to be.

Take care and Memento Mori my virtual friends!

What is love? 'Tis not hereafter;

Present mirth has present laughter;

What's to come is still unsure.

In delay there lies no plenty,

Then come and kiss me sweet and twenty;

Youth's a stuff will not endure.

"from Twelfth Night, by W. Shakespeare"

Thank you George Muthaf@%#king Bush

2006-09-14T13:33:00.000+02:00

Thank you George Muthaf@%#king Bush
By Vanessa German

thank u for makin it easier for me to get a tech9 or AR14 than a pap smear & a good education
thank u from the first boy i kissed who u sent off to fight your war in iraq he returned home only by telegram & in a box

thank u from me from my body from the woman i love that i want to marry & call my wife without u bible thumpin daggers & demanding constitutional amendments to prevent us from loving this revolutionary love (az tho we cud soil the sanctitiy of marriage)u cud nevah touch my love or fuck with my love its just the right u seek to deny us so we must fight for it in the end it's all a matter of voice of excercising choice & flexing the muscle of democracy which shudn't be pigeon holed marginalized or constitutionaly compromised under the pretense that who i love kiss fuck hold hands & make family withiz destructive to the fiber that quilts the fabric of america which ironically happens to becotton that notoriously bloody lily white thread that my grandfather & hiz fathers fathers before picked by hand in mer rouge louisianai hav not forgotton that i am america that my blood iz in these rivers & at the roots of these red wood treesi know that this country was built on the backs of blacks that were shackled strapped & stacked slashed gashed taxed & then cashed in on like cattle

i hav not forgotton that i am america & even tho u want me to be quiet & invisible i will not i hav decided that if u r not with US then u r against US US the 99% of the population that makes less than 1.2 million dollars a year the 43 million people that hav no health care the 14 million children that got left behind that go to bed hungry every night if u r not with US then u r against US & we understand that terror iz not always guns & knives & otherwise explosive devices of evil sometimes terror iz just making no living wage going day to day pay check to pay check praying that no one gets sick

terror iz not knowing which of ur sonswill fit the description & die while reaching back pocket for identification to prove he iz american but not american enuf to live freeterror iz being 13 having no access no choice & taking matters into ur own hands

terror iz being a woman begging for emergency contraception when u've been raped taken by force & foresaken just like the constitution after the presidential election of 2000 which u did not win u stole like a purse off the shoulder of an old lady making america ur bitch

didn't anyone ever tell u when u take shit that's not urs u give it back & apologize

but no. we realize that u mr bushr just the figure head the smoke screen the sony nike gmc tommy hilfiger blue jeans brand name of a regime of evil so vicious & arrogant u hav the audacity to murder in my name & call it justice

call it liberation long time come when all it really iziz economic imperialism or occupation which iz the same thing hitler did in poland austria & hungry ...if u really wanted to liberate u cud hav liberated delbert orr africa janine holloway africa micheal sims africa or mumia abul jamalit wasn't 6 weeks it waz 17 thousand lives not just american lives but human lives how sacred are they tell me answer me tell me how sacred are they

stop trying to convince us that justice iz always this bloody that liberation costs babies & mothers & homes & sons& lovers & fathers & dignity& truth & purity & hope & democracy

thank u mr bushfor showing us that we must fight everyday for our freedom as tho we r fighting for our lives obviously u r not going to beat a path of justice to our front doors

this is my requiem for the last four years my premptive strike on the next four years this iz my love poemto america even tho he took u by force violated u forsook u before they eye of god made u barely recognizable to the rest of us

i still love u baby he can not shame u before my eyes u r beautiful i will fight & die for u r the people & i am u this iz my love poem to america

Ich bin ein decadente Berliner!

2006-09-14T11:51:00.000+02:00

Just to say hi to you guys quickly in between my traveling:

A week ago I was invited to cruise the Amsterdam canals on a jollyboat.

Not only did we have wonderfull weather but the atmosphere was marvellous. Fyi: I'm the guy holding the camera.

After the tour we visited the Amsterdam Wester Church. After church a great diner and just the magnificent evening ending..hmm.

Anyway to continue the story of my decadent life;

I was invited to Berlin this week together with my colleague directors of our company. We stayed in the famous Adlon hotel Unter den Linden opposit the Brandenburger Tower. We drove around Berlin in old Trabants, flew over Berlin in an old Dakota, sailed on the Spree river on a longboat, visited almost every monument such as The Reichstag, Checkpoint Charly, you name it, and had great diners. Oh, and we did some working by the way. But not too much I have to admid..

So, to finish this little show off: next week I will be in New York, Philidelphia and Wayne to visit my American colleagues. You should not have mercy upon me. Nope, I don't feel sorry for myself either.

Just wondering if the customs allow me to pass the American border since I have been bashing Dubya for a while. We'll see.

So for now I say: farewell my friends. I have to pack my bag again. Hope to see you again on my return in two weeks. Take care!!

Our journey back to Ithaka

2006-09-05T14:55:00.000+02:00

Back to work again my virtual friends. Summer holidays were very nice. I could hear my son laughing at the other end of the swimming pool –first year that he could actually swim alone- while I drank a nice rosé and read a few good books.

Two of them were The Iliad and The Odyssey. The latter epic details the adventures of Odysseus on the journey home from the war and the troubles he finds in Ithaka when he arrives there.

During the 10 year journey from Troy back to Ithaka, Odysseus had many encounters that prolonged his journey home. He has to free his men from the Lotus-Eaters, the Cyklops giant, Polyphemus, and the enchantress Kirke. He traveled to the underworld, where he receives valuable information to help him continue his trip home.

This new knowledge that he received helped him to have a safe passage from the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. But, he could not save his crew when they violated commandments by slaughtering and eating the cattle of the sun god. Through this action their ship was struck by a thunderbolt and only Odysseus survived. He swam on the island of the nymph Kalypso, where he became her lover, was held prisoner, and lived there for seven years. He built a raft and sailed for Ithaka, but once again he ran into Poseidon's furious storm and was shipwrecked on the island of the Phaiakians where he told his tale of wandering at a banquet in the palace. After his fabulous tale, he was allowed onboard a Phaiakian ship, given untold riches, and deposited, sleeping, on his home island.

Once he returned home, he still had problems. After being gone for twenty years, Penelope had remained faithful. But the palace was occupied by a group of suitors who were waiting on Penelope to pick one of them to marry. Odysseus arrived at the palace disguised as a beggar and saw everything in disarray. He slaughters the suitors and cleansed the palace before Penelope sees all the blood and bodies. But, then he had to deal with the anger families of the suitors. But Athena stepped in and told the people of Ithaka that there would be peace and that the King of Ithaka was home.

The parallels I found, while reading the book, with our lives – or at least mine- were striking. Aren’t we all on a journey back to our own Ithaka and don’t we all have to face many endeavors along the way? We have to fight our demons, we get struck by thunderbolts and fall in love with a nymph on an unexpected moment (and then become a prisoner in love too, huh, say what? :-)

Question that remains: Will we find our Ithaka in distress and occupied by a group of suitors once we arrive? Will we get frustrated and have remorse of not having lived life to the max? Or will we realize just in time that it’s the journey that matters and ENJOY THE NOW?

You tell me…

Salud Amigos!!!

2006-08-12T15:18:00.000+02:00

The weather over here in Amsterdam is truly freaking me out. We've had a serious heatwave that now is broken by a tropical monsoun. It's really pouring cat's and dogs since last week and it ain't gonna stop soon they say.

So, intended upon escaping the heat excesses and monsouns of mainland Europe, I am headed to the Spanish Canaries for its more consistent climate. Even so, last week's hot weather in Gran Canaria also reflected the unusually high temperatures in the Spanish Peninsular as well as much of Europe.

Sin problema: a grande cervesa fria at the Maspalomas piscina will do the job just perfectly.

So, 'have to close CAFEDA for a while and I hope to see you back within a few weeks. Enjoy your holidays, I will too :-)

Salud Amigos !!!

Another 50 innocent civilians killed in Lebanon

2006-08-08T08:12:00.000+02:00

If you prefer main stream media coverage on Lebanon, don't watch George Galloway here!!

Israeli air strikes killed more than 50 people yesterday, making it one of deadliest days for Lebanon in the war. And while diplomats wrangle over a UN draft that makes 1000 people killed and more than 915.000 people homeless. CEASE FIRE NOW, STOP THIS MADNESS!

DON'T READ THIS

2006-08-07T11:17:00.000+02:00

According to Human Events these are the Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries:

The Communist Manifesto
Mein Kampf
Quotations from Chairman Mao
The Kinsey Report
Democracy and Education
Das Kapital
The Feminine Mystique
The Course of Positive Philosophy
Beyond Good and Evil
General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money

Honorable Mentions include:
The Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich
On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B.F. Skinner
Reflections on Violence by Georges Sorel
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Madness and Civilization by Michel Foucault
Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Mead
Unsafe at Any Speed by Ralph Nader (???)
Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud
The Greening of America by Charles Reich
Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

Interesting list to heat up the fireplace although my pick would be The Holy Bible and -Quran ex aequo on numbers 1 -20 !!

Mea Culpa

2006-08-04T10:46:00.000+02:00

I must have been the worst bartender in Amsterdam lately and all of you must be raging thirsty. You see, the thing is, that my service provider got bankrupt and I lost the home internet connection. Besides that, I have been redecorating my home last weeks. The glassroom has become a small atelier with several painters easels and a lot of charcoals, brushes, knives and other handy tools. Now when I get home from work, I cast off the monkey suit, poor myself a nice glass of Ott Rosé, open the garden doors, smell the fresh summer air, put on some Motown music and let creativity flow. You may check out AtelierDA for some first results if you like..

Click here for a short visit to ATELIER DA

Next to that my drum teacher is getting me up to speed and making me exercise some difficult stuff. I have been following lessons with Cesar Zuiderwijk from the Golden Earing, (e.g. Radar Love) for the last half year now and his valuable tips and tricks are really starting to pay off. We have exercised drum strokes, Snare drum techniques, Double Bass Drum Techniques, Hand & Foot Coordination, Drum Fills, Drum Solo Techniques and so on. Sometimes we just play together.

I started out with lessons from students from the Amsterdam conservatoire but that didn't work as I am to pigheaded and self-willed and definately don't want to read notes. But when one of the best European drummers says your technique sucks, it just sucks. No discussion possible. 'Guess that's the only way it works for me. Next week I will get a new Internet connection so my virtual life can get back in order and CafeDA will be the most enjoyable (Bush bashing) virtual Amsterdam cafe again.

Until then...take care my friends and enjoy the weekend!!

"I am sailing, I am sailing, 'cross the sea"

2006-07-24T13:38:00.000+02:00

Last week I was invited to go sailing for six days in a row (24/7).

The aim was to sail the boat of a friend to the south of France. This would be too easy so we decided to round England as well.

Which meant non-stop sailing, night shifts, stormy weather, lot's of sun, dead tired after 6 days but quite the fullfilled person.

Sailing on the Spinaker (what's the English word for that?) through the canal is great fun. You have to remain focussed because the boat can trip easily..

At night you could see several constellations, satellites flying over, ufo's and when focussing enough the lights of UK and France on the side..

There were 4 of us on board and each had his own bedroom. But after 6 days of sailing the boat looked like a pigg-hole and there were some strange odours hanging around. I was ships cook too and managed to get only one person sick. But that could be because he ate my hamburgers too (and I sticked to cheese sandwich)..

Now I am having trouble gettin' up to speed back over here in Holland as we still are sailing that serious heat wave all together. I need a cold one!

Says the chimp to the poodle at G8:

2006-07-20T11:30:00.000+02:00

Who said Dubya is a cowboy? He's a straight up gangsta! And what about his right to the point diplomatic approach: "You see, the ... thing is what they need to do is to get Syria, to get Hizbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over." This man is a scandalous disaster! And Tony?

- INSERT DEEP SIGH HERE -

190

2006-07-12T10:48:00.000+02:00

At least 190 Indian people died because of seven deadly train blasts. Train cars packed with commuters were blown apart and television images showed ghastly footage of bloodied limbs and dead bodies in the wreckage. It was one of the worst such attacks in India in recent years.

My heart goes out to the families of the victims.

This post I wrote in January after visiting Mumbay:

"Several months ago I was invited to go on a business trip to Mumbay, India. It was the most impressive trip that I had in years. Yesterday, a blogfriend asked me about this trip and my feelings about it. I’d like to share my answer to her question with you because it evoked a lot of emotions again. You might know better than me that India is a country of contradictions between the majority living in extreme poverty and the ultra rich happy few. It’s also a country of beautiful and wonderful people as I’ve experienced.

One night we were invited by the Dutch ambassador to have diner in one of Bollywoods best restaurants named “Khyber”. We had diner being surrounded by various famous film-stars and well known locals. We quickly forgot about world’s misery and had a great time.

When we left the restaurant we were guided towards the bus when all of a sudden a litte beggar girl dressed in rags appeared in front of me. She had to be about five or six years old and had the most beautiful big brown eyes that laughed at me like little shining stars. The policemen yelled at her to get lost but I couldn’t resist to kneel down and look her straight into her almost hypnotizing eyes.

I asked her her name and she started to jabber words to me that I couldn’t understand. I opend my hands to her and she put her’s in mine. We then looked eachother in the eyes as if we were talking without words. All of a sudden she pulled back her hands and gave me a heartwarming hug that seemed to last forever. At that time I felt a feeling of compassion I have never felt before. It felt like both of us were at the centre of the universe. As tears rolled down my eyes, she all of a sudden stopped embracing me, looked me straight into my blurry eyes for a while and laughed at me with the same intensity as she did before.

In a split second she then dissapeared jumping across the street like a puppet on a string. I suddenly realized I wasn’t alone in this world and looked up at the rest of the group to find everyone crying. The ride back to the hotel was a quiet one with people snuffling and passing handkerchiefs. I looked out the window somewhat confused and watched Mumbay pass by, wondering what happened back there. I felt humble and man I felt alive.

Alive like I have never felt before…"

Please share some moments of silence with me..

Opposites don't attrackt!

2006-07-11T13:21:00.000+02:00

When I grew up (stil do) I tended to think that being able to buy expensive goods was a sign of being succesful and having a house with a swimming pool was the ultimate goal to reach. Little did I know.. I had to learn the hard way and I guess I haven't finished learning on my 37th and that's ok too.

Today I took a test (try it yourself) on economic and social preferences and found myself at the opposite side of myself at age 26. Back then I was the Neo Liberal Authoritarian (upper right quadrant) and today the results position me between the preferences carried out by Dalai Lama, Ghandi and Nelson Mandela (I scored -5 and -3). Huh..Isn't that funny? In ten years time a complete change of mind and heart..(Am I a schyzofrenic?)

Now, this test is only a funny test and my name does not belong amongst those great persons in any way but one thing is very true: the testresult positions me at the opposite side of Dubya Bush. And guess what:

That's exactly where I want to be!

Namaste

2006-07-10T12:28:00.000+02:00

.
With all the power of my arms,
.
With all the intelligence of my mind,
.
With all the love of my heart
.
I pay my due respect to the soul
.
-Within you...

Happy birthday mr. President

2006-07-07T11:36:00.000+02:00

"Let me just say this: it's a lot younger than you think,'' the president said yesterday as he accepted birthday greetings from a Canadian reporter during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
.
Unfortunately hundreds of thousands did not reach the age of 60 in good health, worse: tenths of thousands dindn't reach the age of 60 at all. Thank you mr. President! Thank you so much...

Don't use in combination with alcohol!

2006-07-04T14:33:00.000+02:00

Now did someone forget to check the boiler plate on side effects of his medicine prescription? Click pic or here.

Normally this Imam gets after Friday prayers and announces to the people:"I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new anti USA media campaign. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."

I..

2006-07-04T12:31:00.000+02:00

have been tagged by Veena from Toronto and have to reply on my blog so here goes:

I am thinking about...
.. finishing my studies before summer holidays, balancing out a new way of living and running the NY marathon next year.

I said...
.. "did I just say that?"

I want to...
..at least contribute something during my life, try out different ways of doing it and enjoy trying!

I wish...
..people would be more compassionate

I hear...
..airplanes flying over. Dang, they changed flight routes again..

I wonder...
..what happens if our mortal life ends.

I regret...
..having said things that sounded well at that time..

I am...
.. but a humble pilgrim, finding his way and smelling the flowers.

I dance...
..barefoot in the playground with my son.

I sing...
..quietly while playing the guitar, aloud when home alone and even louder in the car..

I cry...
..during a movie or a beautiful play, sometimes in real life too..

I am not always...
..easily satisfied..

I make with my hands...
..humble paintings, some music, the Ikea cupboard and too much memo's and reports..

I write...
..about happenings, people and circumstances in my life that surprise me and make me wonder.

I confuse...
..birth dates with telephone numbers. That's why I frequently call the wrong person too late.

I need...
..to enjoy the little things and give everything I have got to make things work

And finally...
..oh no, I am not there yet. Story continues. Thx for reading and take care!

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll

2006-07-02T08:21:00.000+02:00

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens, bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests, ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy, and enchanted
As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
.
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast, thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift, half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain, beneath the thresher’s flail:
.
And ‘mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And ‘mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!
.
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
.
A damsel, with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song
To such a deep delight ’twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.
.
-- Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge --

Hmm,

"And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,

As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,

A mighty fountain momently was forced"

That makes you wonder, right?

After an intense Laudanum (opium) trip Coleridge’s Freudian symbolic words became some sort of mystical erotic paint.

And the Abyssinian muse strumming her dulcimer finishes it to the three pillars of our life's pleasure dome:

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll!

Women and politics

2006-06-30T18:05:00.000+02:00

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..

2006-06-25T22:50:00.000+02:00

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:

2006-06-23T18:51:00.000+02:00

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..

2006-06-17T10:07:00.000+02:00

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!

2006-06-15T15:24:00.000+02:00

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

2006-06-13T07:21:00.000+02:00

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

2006-06-09T11:16:00.000+02:00

"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

2006-06-09T10:39:00.000+02:00

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.

2006-06-09T09:55:00.000+02:00

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..

Oxford arrival

2006-05-30T15:17:00.000+02:00

Lala Kabbalah : Mugabe, Bin Laden, Hitler and Dubyaa !

2006-05-25T15:57:00.000+02:00

Just a final one for the road..now I'm off. CU!

( click here for full story of Madonna bashing Bush )

"I'll be back"

2006-05-24T16:23:00.000+02:00

These days I have little time to blog working abroad and all. Next week I will be studying in Oxford(UK). I could promis to keep posting but finding time will be difficult. So I say "Bar is closed for now but I'll be back" ..soon!

Cafe DA will open up again in two weeks! Hope to see you back and take care for now. DA

(Ambigram courtesy of David A. Holst, click pic for more examples)

" I'm a fu$%^ng panda. Go look it up "

2006-05-20T12:03:00.000+02:00

A giant panda goes into one of those expensive and pretentious restaurants serving French/Asian fusion cuisine and takes a table for one. The surprised waiter for that table explains unctuously that his name is Marcel, he will be your server tonight, and we 'ave a number of specials (he is French), etc., etc.

The panda listens impassively to the list of $27 chili-pepper encrusted swordfish specials and so on, and then orders a delicately flavored dish of young bamboo tips and mixed greenery served with steamed jasmine rice. On finishing his meal, the panda gets up, reaches into his fur for a handgun, brings down the waiter with one shot, and calmly heads for the door.

The head waiter is near the door and exclaims in shock, "Oh, monsieur, what 'ave you done? You 'ave killed Marcel! Why 'ave you done zis, monsieur? You 'ad some problem? Ze service was not acceptable?" The panda scowls at him and says, "I'm a fucking panda. Go look it up." He stalks out into the night.

The baffled staff huddle round the compact encyclopedic dictionary that they keep on the premises, and turning to Panda, giant, they read this:

Panda, giant. Large bear-like animal, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, with distinctive black and white markings, related to raccoon family. Rare; found only in bamboo forests of Tibet and western China. Eats shoots and leaves.

The good 'ol days..

2006-05-19T17:50:00.000+02:00

It must have been about 37 years and 9 months plus a few or something ago. I still remember it as if it were yesterday. I was living together with a few million happy campers in a warm and cosy place. That morning we were told that this cute little egg was to be released and man she was told to be something else..

From that announcement on I had this strange feeling of competition. I just had to win that race at every cost. So when the race was declared open by a loud and intense "Yessssssss" I swam like hell. I swam as if my life depended on it. Millions of competitors I left behind. I was in the best shape ever. Man, I would have swom to the moon and back if I had to.

As I could almost smell victory coming I saw that little big mouth bragger swimming just past by me. No way I was going to let him win. I caught him by the tail and kicked him in the teeth. One more down and just a few more inches to go. I gave it my utmost effort and redirected all my energy to my final strokes.

I won!

Millions of them losers I left behind.

My life hasn't been the same since..

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

2006-05-19T15:37:00.000+02:00

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

-- William Wordsworth -

The Dutch, The Brave Ones! (--or are we??)

2006-05-18T15:07:00.000+02:00

My freaking country is doing it again. Last week has been all about one of our MP's Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a prominent critic of fundamentalist Islam. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Dutch Somali-born MP, has lost her Dutch citizenship because she provided inaccurate information when applying for asylum in the Netherlands back in 1992. The fact that she did so is, however, something which she already revealed years ago, and - until just a few days ago - that appeared not to have been a problem. Anyone in distress would lie for shelter by the way. Now, a bewildered Ms Hirsi Ali plans to leave the country to go and work for Dubya's conservative think tank in Washington DC.

A few months ago, The Court of Justice in The Hague -in a court case the neighbors of Hirsi Ali had started against her since they feared her presence is a security threat- allready came to the decision that Ayaan Hirsi Ali must leave her protected house in The Hague within four months.

More than half a century has passed since WWII but not much has changed. People still ask the police to remove their persecuted neighbors instead of giving them shelter. Holland is a country where everybody loves to talk about solidarity but solidarity is seldomly shown when private lifes are effected.

Hirsi leaves Holland with a trail of social political damage behind her and I doubt if Dubya will tolerate her autonomous radical and liberal behaviour in his ultra conservative Christian anti gay thinktank (American Enterprise Institute) for more that three months. However, I hat-tip Ayaan for her courage and perseverance and congratulate the Dutch muslim fundamentalists with this victory. With the compliments of the Dutch government off course :-(((

On Self-Knowledge

2006-05-17T07:44:00.000+02:00

And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge."
And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.

You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.

The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
b
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.

Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."
Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."

For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

--Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"--

Great Britain not so great?

2006-05-12T11:37:00.000+02:00

According to the research commissioned by ADT, 83 per cent of Britons feel this country has a growing problem with anti-social behaviour. This view is reflected in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. When asked about the problem in Europe, 76 per cent of the 7,000 people taking part in this survey across the region thought Britain had a problem with anti-social behaviour – more than any other country.

The study, devised with help from the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at University College London, reveals the way Britons perceive problems facing this country:

Booze culture is fuelling anti-social behaviour in Great Britain, with 68 per cent of people questioned feeling alcohol was a key contributor to the problem
A breakdown of discipline in homes and schools is also seen by 79 per cent to be a major influencing factor in anti-social behaviour
Nearly half of those questioned (49 per cent) thought stricter sentencing would help reduce the problem
Six out of ten people would be unlikely to challenge a group of 14 year old boys vandalising a bus shelter
Three quarters said young people aged 14 to 25 were most associated with anti-social behaviour

If we only look at our daily Dutch anti-social behaviour and just imagine that things are even worse on the other side of the pool.... I vote better education throughout Europe - and stricter sentencing-

An totally irrelevant blogpost

2006-05-07T11:29:00.000+02:00

I promised myself that I would do some serious studying today but it's not working out like I planned (huge understatement). My mess is a real desk and I get distracted by almost everything. I hop from piano to drums and guitar trying out new combinations. - I now am able to combine bass drum and hi-hat with my feet while playing guitar- . Which is absloutely ridiculous and irrelevant because I still have to fill out tax forms, clean up and do some serious laundry.

This means getting up real early the rest of the week to compensate. It must be my greatest attention span crisis in years. And now the sun started shining too.. Darn!

- insert deep sigh here -

The great decider, click pic for short animation

2006-05-07T10:19:00.000+02:00

A busy week it was..

2006-05-07T08:40:00.000+02:00

First off to Germany, then Paris and luckily Spain was cancelled. As per many requests I took some pictures. Hope you enjoy. Here's some pictures from tuesday morning (6.00u) somewhere in the German river Main valley shot from my hotelroom balcony:

We had organized a social event for our European colleagues who flew in for the testing of our European Datawarehouse: we had to play the sax together. This was great fun and I fell in love immediately with the instrument.

Fridaynight I was invited at the Scheveningen Kurhause for diner. I stayed over and relaxed at the Scheveningen boulevard the other day. Blue skies, beach and sun. It should allways be like that..

Last picture taken for Gary..

This afternoon I am invited for the Dutch Cup-final AJAX - PSV . Should be fun too since hooligans have been warming up the entire week. CU later!

Queens day

2006-04-30T20:59:00.000+02:00

This weekend the Netherlands celebrated the birthday of our previous queen. It's a national holiday and many people visit Amsterdam because of the events that are organized. On Queens Day you are allowed to sell personal stuff so the centre of Amsterdam turns into a gigantic market place. Last week my son asked me to buy him a new computer game. I told him that he could earn it himself by selling some of his old toys on the market. This weekend he earned his new game himself (6 y.o.) with a little help of his girlfriend (and us of course). First lessons in economics..

I had to park my ride on the safety island, as many people parked it on the pavement. Normally you get towed away but on Queens day they are more tolerant.

Kids were elated the entire day, we ended up exhausted but fulfilled. Took the day off tomorrow to do some studying. Have to finish my dissertation somewhere in June and have to clear some backlog. It has been a crazy week abroad and attending round tables, unable to blog. Next week will be about the same. Frankfurt, Paris and Barcelona. See you later, take care..

Whining and dining

2006-04-25T14:54:00.000+02:00

Today I am invited at The Vanenburg Kastle together with some MP's, managers and scientists. We are discussing the Dutch economy getting up to speed within an hyper competitive and mature market. Main question is: how do you realize profiable growth through excelence in compliance? Many companies find themselves hindered by the overload of compliancy regulations nowadays.

I will defend the thesis that they should stop whining about it and start spending energy on identifying possible advantages. Compliance (Sarbanes Oxley 302 & 404 for example) is all about having better and more effective (internal) processes. Normally I stirr off the group until diner time and then when several glasses of wine are consumed and the day is wrapped up they usually love me or hate me from the bottom of their hart. Both are fine, as long as they have an opinion.

Habemus Condomium

2006-04-24T17:47:00.000+02:00

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini has publicly backed the use of condoms among married couples to prevent AIDS transmission. This weekend, the BBC reported that Cardinal Martini, one of the Church's most distinguished cardinals, said that in couples where one had HIV/AIDS, which could pass to the partner, the use of condoms was "a lesser evil". I Say: HUH..TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!!

The middle aged Christian Politburo, which runs many hospitals and institutions to help AIDS victims, opposes the use of condoms and teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the best way to stop the spread of AIDS. Pope was unavailable for comment but adviced to put ice cubes in them to keep the swelling down.

Times and blogs they are changin'

2006-04-22T22:21:00.000+02:00

Dear friends,

Hope you like the new layout but I have seemed to have lost my side bar content. It has sunk to the bottom on my laptop. Can anyone give me advise on how to fix it? I believe Granny Ann had the same problem once but I can't recall her post.

Thx in advance,
DA

Aisha, take off that Burqa!

2006-04-22T13:02:00.000+02:00

My multicultural country is having a serious identity crisis. These days, the country's immigrant melting pot is feeling more like a powderkeg. The latest spark in our mini culture war came this week from the social affairs alderman (who is Morrocan himself)for the city of Amsterdam, who says women who wear burqas are having trouble finding jobs. His solution? Take it off or lose your benefits.

Ahmed Aboutaleb has proposed introducing legislation that would allow the city to cut welfare payments to women who insist on wearing a burqa if it can prove the full-body covering is the reason she can't find a job.

Sometimes my country makes me sick.

2006-04-22T09:25:00.000+02:00

Kosovar schoolgirl Taida Pasic lost her court appeal yesterda against the decision to expel her from the Netherlands.

Pasic has been involved in a high-profile battle with Immigration and Integration Minister Rita Verdonk since the start of the year. The judge in Amsterdam found that the Minister acted correctly when she refused to grant Pasic, 18, a residence permit to allow her to finish her VWO secondary education in the Netherlands

Pasic's family fled from Kosovo to the Netherlands when she was 12. The IND decided the family could not stay and they were given money to leave voluntarily. Taida said she returned to complete her schooling in the hope of going on to study law at university.

Immigration officials came to the school in Winterswijk at the beginning of the year and put her in handcuffs in front of her classmates. She was initially placed in a deportation centre but has been staying for some time with the family of a school friend.

This girl -to my opinion- is an exemplary student for our Dutch youth. She shows courage, perseverance, was rewarded good grades and desired to go to university. And what does my freaking country do? We just kick her out of the Netherlands because that's our law. Sometimes my country makes me sick.

Newkula

2006-04-21T15:12:00.000+02:00

Last night we were listening to Dubbya speaking on BBC about the nuclear threat of Iran. He couldn't pronounce the word NUCLEAR. "Newkula" or "Newclear". We were laughing our asses off every time he used the word. Can someone please let him know that he is making a gigantic fool off himself over here in Europe. Even we can say nuclear in English. "Newkula" huh..

New Dutch car design for near future

2006-04-19T07:18:00.000+02:00

At least 55 percent of Dutch people believe they are too fat. While 53 percent have tried on one or more occasions to tackle the problem, few have achieved satisfactory results, according to research by market research firm Motivaction on behalf of television programme 'Netwerk'. Experts estimate about 50 percent of the population is overweight. Government campaigns on obesity have had little impact, Motivaction said.

What's your guess?

2006-04-17T20:24:00.000+02:00

1. Shrub just released some poisonous gas;

2. Powel gave the Germans an appropriate greeting during their Berlin visit;

3. Powel smells the finger he uses to please Dubya;

4. .............................

What's your guess?

A crocodile is longer than it is wide

2006-04-17T19:39:00.000+02:00

I should be cleaning the kitchen sink, fill out my tax forms or study but I am not capable of doing anything useful at the moment...

So now I'll prove you that a crocodile is longer than it is wide :

Lemma 1. The crocodile is longer than it is green: Let's look at the crocodile. It is long on the top and on the bottom, but it is green only on the top. Therefore, the crocodile is longer than it is green.

Lemma 2. The crocodile is greener than it is wide: Let's look at the crocodile. It is green along its length and width, but it is wide only along its width. Therefore, the crocodile is greener than it is wide.

From Lemma 1 and Lemma 2 we can conclude that the crocodile is longer than it is wide.

OK, up to more bull^s%^&*, anything to avoid doing things that have to be done anyway..

I say Archimedes was wrong!

2006-04-17T18:58:00.000+02:00

x = (Pi+3)/2

2x = Pi+3

2x(Pi-3) = (Pi+3)(Pi-3)

2Pix-6x = Pi^2-9

9-6x = Pi^2-2Pix

9-6x+x^2 = Pi^2-2Pix+x^2

(3-x)^2 = (Pi-x)^2

3-x = Pi-x

Pi = 3

Islam neither conflicts with Dutch values nor undermines human rights

2006-04-17T13:11:00.000+02:00

A study conducted for the Dutch government has concluded that Islam neither conflicts with Dutch values nor undermines human rights, with welcoming Dutch Muslims hoping for a fresh start.

After three years of research, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) affirmed that Islam, in principle, neither conflicts with democracy, nor human rights nor Dutch values. It advised The Netherlands and the European Union to reach out to Islamic movements which embraced democracy like Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The study concluded that some Islamic movements are fully backing democracy and are in no way an obstacle to it. It also recommended that the government communicates with and offers aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government.The United States and the European Union have suspended direct aid to the new government, like Russia which pledged urgent aid.

Dutch Muslims have seized celebrations of Prophet Muhammad's Birthday earlier this April to introduce their religion and prophet of Islam to non-Muslim Dutch.

Europe’s main rights and democracy watchdog, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), expressed concern in May last year at the increasing Dutch intolerance towards the Muslim minority and the "climate of fear" under which the minority was living.

Islamophobia gained momentum in the Netherlands after the November 2004 killing of director Theo van Gogh by a Dutch-Moroccan after directing the first film of Hirsi. There are one million Muslims in the Netherlands, mostly hailing from Turkish and Moroccan origin.

Yawning pay gap in European Union

2006-04-17T12:25:00.000+02:00

A yawning pay gap exists between rich and poor countries in the European Union, with German and Dutch workers earning six times more per hour than equivalent workers in Slovakia.

According to Pay in Europe 2006, a report published this month by the Federation of European Employers (FedEE), the top ten countries and territories in the European pay league are

1: Denmark, 2: Norway, 3: Switzerland, 4: Liechtenstein, 5: Luxembourg, 6: Germany, 7: Guernsey (Channel Islands), 8: Isle of Man, 9: The Netherlands and 10: Finland.

At the bottom of the league table are 44: Albania, 45: Ukraine, 46: Bulgaria, 47: Belarus and 48: Moldova.

Dear President Lukashenka,

2006-04-17T09:34:00.000+02:00

With this writing I want to express my concern about the detaining of peaceful demonstrators by the security forces during demonstrations following the recent presidential election results in Belarus. I would like to remind the Belarusian government that it is a state party to the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19 of this Convention states that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression".I am calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those peaceful demonstrators who have been detained by the security forces during the demonstrations. The Belarusian authorities must ensure that international human rights standards are fully observed during policing operations and that demonstrators are not subjected to beating or other forms of ill-treatment. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to address this matter.

Yours sincerely,
DA

It's time

2006-04-15T18:14:00.000+02:00

It must have been three or four o’clock in the morning. I was sound asleep when all of a sudden I felt a cold breeze blowing through the bedroom. I woke up somewhat frightened and saw this amazingly bright light at the foot end of my bed. My heart pounded at an incredible pace and it felt like my throat was being squeezed. The light constantly changed its form and color and then all of a sudden, in the middle of the light the shape of a woman appeared.

She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Her blue eyes were as radiant as little stars and she smiled in a very peaceful way. I calmed down and watched her for a while. Her body seemed to be in a state of flux. It looked solid but it was more like a dense cloud of energy.

“Who, who are you”, I stumbled. The words barely came out of my mouth. “I am the light”, she replied. Her voice sounded warm and peaceful but she didn’t speak, it was as if she projected the words in my head. “I am here to take you with me”, she said. “What do you mean, take you with me”, I asked her. “Well, it is time to get back to the light, back to infinity”. “But why do you know me and how did you find me”, I asked her. She smiled, “Well, that wasn’t so difficult as we were one already”, she said.

“I don’t get it”, I said. “What do you mean with one?” She apparently was amused. “Did you forget that you and me are the same?”. “Did you forget that we both belong to the same field of energy?” “I guess so”, I stumbled. Her remarks confused me. “But why are we separate then, why aren’t we the same?”, I asked her. “Well you see Dimitri, you have temporarily been detached from the field”. “The light is constantly trying to achieve a higher level of energy but every now and then, some energy materializes and that’s what happened to you”.

“But what about all the people around me, my job, my house, is that also part of the oneness?”, I asked her. “In a way it is”, she said. “When you are disconnected from the field you create your own world with infinite possibilities”. “Your mind then sort of materializes your thoughts as if it looks like the world you created is real”. “You say that my time has come and I have to go back to the light but how do you know it is time?”. “I mean why now?” I asked her..

Before she could answer my question the alarm-clock rang. I woke up and found her gone. Five o clock in the morning. My flight leaves at six. Have to shower and hurry to the airport. I turned on the light. Then all of a sudden I felt this cold breeze blowing through the bedroom…

Tour de France

2006-04-15T10:54:00.000+02:00

Had to travel through France this week. From Amsterdam to Paris, from Paris to Besançon with Train Grande Vitesse, from Besançson to Dyon, from Dyon to Paris and from Paris back to Amsterdam.

Rehabilitating Judas

2006-04-09T22:50:00.000+02:00

After being lost for nearly 1,700 years, the Gospel of Judas was recently restored, authenticated, and translated. (full info here)

Biblical accounts suggest that Jesus foresaw and allowed Judas's betrayal.

As told in the New Testament Gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus for "30 pieces of silver," identifying him with a kiss in front of Roman soldiers. Later the guilt-ridden Judas returns the bribe and commits suicide, according to the Bible.

The Gospel of Judas, however, gives a very different account. The text begins by announcing that it is the "secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week, three days before he celebrated Passover."

It goes on to describe Judas as Jesus' closest friend, someone who understands Christ's true message and is singled out for special status among Jesus' disciples.
In the key passage Jesus tells Judas, "'you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.'"

Kasser, the translation-project leader, offers an interpretation: "Jesus says it is necessary for someone to free him finally from his human body, and he prefers that this liberation be done by a friend rather than by an enemy.

"So he asks Judas, who is his friend, to sell him out, to betray him. It's treason to the general public, but between Jesus and Judas it's not treachery."

The surviving copy of the gospel was written in the third or fourth century A.D., but the text was known prior to A.D. 180. In that year St. Irenaeus—then the bishop of what is now Lyon, France—published Against Heresies, a volume intended to help unify the Christian church.
St. Irenaeus's method was to savage alternative theological views and interpretations—including the Gospel of Judas—which he referred to as "fictitious histories."

The newfound account challenges one of the most firmly rooted beliefs in Christian tradition.

Now the most famous antichrist appears to be an enlightened soul, who realized that the betrayal was part of God's master plan to save humanity by having his son crucified. So Judas, being the big man that he was, decided he could live with his soiled place in posterity if it meant everyone got to go to heaven. Other heretical movements advanced ideas such as the notion that Judas was actually crucified in the place of Jesus.

Woke up this morning

2006-04-09T11:52:00.000+02:00

Stepped outside on our Amsterdam bedroom balcony overlooking the polder: ahhh SUN and blue SKY

I stretched my arms and filled my longues with fresh air -insert deep breath here-

Put on my running shoes

and ran a few miles along the dike behind our house

along the pumping station "The Lynden" (1849) which is still active. It originally was steam engined but runs on electricity now and is fully automated and digitally connected to three other pumping stations that keep our feet dry in the "Haarlemmermeer polder".

As early as 1643 Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater proposed to endike and drain the lake Haarlemmermeer. Similar schemes, among which those of Nikolaas Samuel Cruquius in 1742 and of Baron van Lijnden van Hemmen in 1820 are worthy of special mention, were brought forward from time to time. But it was not until a furious hurricane in November 1836 drove the waters as far as the gates of Amsterdam (flooded the land where our house is build), and another on Christmas Day sent them in the opposite direction to submerge the streets of Leiden, that the mind of our nation was seriously turned to the matter.

On August 1, 1837, King William I appointed a royal commission of inquiry; the scheme proposed by the commission received the sanction of the Second Chamber in March 1839, and in the following May the work was begun.

Ahh....what a great way to start off.

Enjoy your Sundays too my blogfriends !!!

Paralyzed

2006-04-08T21:03:00.000+02:00

Last week we celebrated our annual top 200. This is when we invite our European top management to a gathering where we share annual figures and future strategy. Since we are being taken over and delisted from the stock exchange within a few months it was in fact a very strange meeting. Many people asked me about their jobs and future roles. I tried to be as positive as possible but what can you say if in fact you can't tell anything at the moment?

Since I'm kind of a jobhopper -at least I was (gettin' older now), I don't worry too much about having or finding a job. But a lot of my colleagues do and this has a kind of paralysing effect on many of them. Today I felt the same for the first time in my life. I felt benumbed and indeed paralyzed. Tried to study but it didn't work. Ended up at 14.00h with mrs. in our favourite brasserie in Amsterdam where we just enjoyed eating and drinking and sharing thoughts with the owners.

I am going to sleep early tonight and take a deep breath tomorrow morning. I have to be positive again monday morning, that's what I am payed for. And I will be..

I wish you all a pleasant and relaxing weekend.

P.S. I'm gaining weight, you see that? It's the pants right?

"a pawn of Washington"

2006-04-05T11:15:00.000+02:00

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez used his 'traditional' Saturday television talk at the weekend to lash out at our Defence Minister Henk Kamp, calling him a "pawn of Washington", who allegedly helped spread the lie that Venezuela is planning to launch an attack on the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. Chavez said Kamp's comments are part of a US-led campaign to put his country in a bad light.The United States wants to use the Antillean island of Curacao as a springboard to launch an attack on Venezuela. Venezuela wants to seize control of Curacao and the other Antillean islands of Aruba and Bonaire. We will be holding a large military exercise in the Caribbean this spring, together with the US, France and other countries, as a way of sending a warning shot to Venezuela. These are the main ingredients - whether true or not - in a war of words that's been raging like a bushfire since the beginning of last month despite efforts to bring the situation back to some semblance of reality.

Many Dutch residents would be more than happy to hand over our Falkland Islands, the Netherlands Antilles to the pawn of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez. They are nothing but a corrupt bunch of cocaine addicted would be politicians. So please take it Hugo, have it for free, consider it our wedding gift and enjoy!!

It's the pants right?

2006-04-02T08:44:00.000+02:00

15 years ago:
"Honey, do these pants make me look fat, what do you think?" She asked me. "No dear, those are nice jeans. No the pants are just lovely", I replied. "No....it's your ASS that makes you look fat dear, not those pants"

10 years ago:
"No the PANTS are just lovely"

today:
"hmm"

I must admit to have been somewhat rude, blunt and grumpy at times. I even admit to be a pain in the rear to live with from time to time. Hell I would agree instantly if you would say that I've behaved like a selfish arrogant SOB during my younger years. But all of that has changed. I have aged, matured and have smoothened the sharper edges.

But after several relationships and years of wisdom I still haven't found the right response to her question. She deserves my honest opinion, I won't lie to her. But even when I don't say a word she goes "what are you looking at?, What's wrong?, It's the pants right?"

Ahhh...women....

37

2006-03-25T09:06:00.000+01:00

Alone

.
From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were — I have not seen

As others saw — I could not bring

My passions from a common spring —

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow — I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone —

And all I lov'd — I lov'd alone —

Then — in my childhood — in the dawn

Of a most stormy life — was drawn

From ev'ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still —

From the torrent, or the fountain —

From the red cliff of the mountain —

From the sun that 'round me roll'd

In its autumn tint of gold —

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass'd me flying by —

From the thunder, and the storm —

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view —

-Edgar Allen Poe-

Happy birthday to me..

Favourite Trekkie

2006-03-19T20:31:00.000+01:00

DELTA QUADRANT UPDATE BIO-FILE: Seven of Nine. Species: Human (assimilated by Borg as a child but severed as an adult, retaining portion of cybernetic implants)Full Name at Birth: Annika HansenParents: Magnus & Erin Hansen (both assimilated by Borg ca. 2356); only known surviving relative is an aunt, Irene HansenPlace of birth: Tendara Colony, SD 25479Marital status: SingleLast recorded assignment: U.S.S. Voyager (no formal assignment or rank)Current status: Returned to Alpha Quadrant with Voyager in 2378.

Wouldn't mind some assimilation there. No, my resistence would be futile!!

Greatings , Locutus of Amsterdam

The Spanish Inquisition

2006-03-19T12:31:00.000+01:00

The Spanish Inquisition was an historical institution founded under Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile in 1478 to suppress heresies within the Catholic Church. The Inquisition was primarily under the control of the Spanish monarch, with only the Inquisitor General appointed by the Holy See.

In the history of the Catholic Inquisition, the Spanish Inquisition is especially well-known, particularly in the nature of the auto de fe, or trials, of supposedly converted Muslims, Jews, and Illuminists. This Inquisition also gave rise to the Peruvian Inquisition and the Mexican Inquisition, which continued until those countries split off from Spain.

Torquemada documented some of the torture techniques. A favorite was tortura del'agua (water torture), in which the victim was strapped to a rack, his mouth forced open with a rag, and water was then forced down the throat so that the victim felt he was drowning. In another technique, the garrucha, the victim's hands were tied behind his back at the wrists; the victim was then lifted off the ground by the wrists. The 'Spanish chair', a device used to hold the victim while the soles of their feet were roasted, was certainly in existence in Spain during the period of the Inquisition. It is uncertain, however, whether it was actually used by the Inquisition.

I guess some guys really paid attention during history class.

L' Histoire se repète once again and now "The war on terror" doctrine is misused as a safe-conduct to violate human rights, invade foreign countries, kidnap, torture and execute human beings in concentration camps in a battle for oil.

I am the sun

2006-03-18T21:46:00.000+01:00

I am the great sun, but you do not see me,

I am your husband, but you turn away.

I am the captive, but you do not free me,

I am the captain but you will not obey.
.

I am the truth, but you will not believe me,

I am the city where you will not stay.

I am your wife, your child, but you will leave me,

I am that God to whom you will not pray.

.
I am your counsel, but you will not hear me,

I am your lover whom you will betray.

I am the victor, but you do not cheer me,

I am the holy dove whom you will slay.
.

I am your life, but if you will not name me,

Seal up your soul with tears, and never blame me.

- by Charles Causley -

Dutch government furious

2006-03-18T21:07:00.000+01:00

A few posts ago we discussed euthanasia of terminally ill children.

Now my government is furious after an Italian minister this week branded my country‘s euthanasia laws as akin to the policies of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Our Prime Minister Balkenende is expected to raise the matter with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi next week at a European summit.

"This is scandalous and unacceptable... it is not the way to get along in Europe," Balkenende said on Friday. Italian Parliamentary Relations Minister Carlo Giovanardi told a radio program on Thursday that Nazi thinking was re-emerging in Europe through Dutch euthanasia laws and a debate on the killing of children with deformities. '

Dutch media estimate about the lives of 15 to 20 disabled newborns are terminated each year.

Three years ago Berlusconi was himself in trouble for telling a German politician who was haranguing him during his debut at the European Parliament he should play a Nazi concentration camp guard in a film.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

2006-03-12T11:08:00.000+01:00

This year, my Sinncity Amsterdam celebrates the 400th anniversary (15 July 1606) of the world-famous 17th century painter Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). This is why the greatest Dutch painter of the Golden Age is put into the spotlight throughout this year. I recently was invited to see some of his wonderful artwork.

Van Gogh Museum presents an exhibition by the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum featuring a remarkable confrontation between the two geniuses of Baroque art: Rembrandt van Rijn and his Italian counterpart, Caravaggio. In this first exhibition over 25 monumental paintings, by the masters of chiaroscuro, from various international museums provide a visual spectacle with powerful images of love, emotion and passion. Rembrandt-Caravaggio shows exclusively over here.

His great painting The Sacrifice of Isaac left an overwhelming impression. Off course because of the technique but to be honest more because of WHAT is painted. The ALLEDGED love that Abraham displayed towards God by his willingness to sacrifice his only beloved son. Muslims, Jews and Christians praise Abraham for this socalled act of love. Every father in the world is probably directly floored by this painting.

I could take the road of ethics now and ramble on the book "Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard. The work begins with a meditation on the faith of Abraham when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac, as told in Genesis chapter 22. Then follow the "Problemata," which address three specific philosophical questions raised by the story of Abraham's sacrifice:

Is there a theological suspension of the ethical? (That is, can Abraham's intent to sacrifice Isaac be considered "good" even though, ethically, human sacrifice is unacceptable?)
Is there an absolute duty to God?
Was it ethically defensible for Abraham to have concealed his purpose from Sarah, Eleazar, and Isaac?

In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard introduces the "knight of faith" and contrasts him with the "knight of infinite resignation." The latter gives up everything for a great cause and continuously dwells with the pain of his loss.

I won't go that road today..

No, I believe that Abraham must have been totally insane. Thats my belief today.

(Update: Rembrandt upper left and Caravaggio lower right. I see Abraham despair in Rembrandts painting but a decisive and cruel Abraham in Caravaggio's)

Balkan Butcher Slobodan Milosevic dies in jail

2006-03-11T18:03:00.000+01:00

(Breaking news on every channel over here) Milosevic, who was defending himself against 66 counts for war crimes allegedly committed in Bosnia, Kosovo and Croatia in the 1990s, suffered from chronic heart problems and high blood pressure. A few hours ago he was found dead in his cell in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Next to genocide he used mass rape as a war tactic.

Too bad for all his victims that this mass murderer can't stand trail anymore. I'll sing him a last song though:

(To the tune of "Piano Man" by Billy Joel)

It's nine o'clock on a Thursday
There's a large crowd out by parliament
There's a general sitting next to me
He got rid of Sebrenica's men
.
He says "Son can you find them a group to hate
Or I'm not sure how all this will go
It's sad and it's sweet, but we blew it complete
Rigging elections everyone knows"
.
la la la de de dala la de de da da da
.
Give us a speech Mr. Slobodan
Give us a speech tonight
Cause we're all in the mood for a genocide
It's the one thing round which we'll unite
.
Now Croatia was just a starting point
Mass murder we started with glee
But we quickly did move to the Bosnian Groove
And man didn't those muslims flee
.
And I told them we'd never lose Kosovo
Kept Albanians repressed you know
I was sure that it would all make me a star
If they would get out of that place
.
(chorus)
.
The secret police are all friends of mine
Who rule with a gun and a knife
They work with the army, who never would harm me
And for me took many good lives
.
But the populace practices politics
And attack the police with stones
Yes, they share in a dream called democracy
But it's better when I rule alone
.
(chorus)

It's a pretty good crowd for a couple days
And the grim reaper gives me a smile
Cause he knows that it's me, who just might have to flee
But we did some good work for awhile
.
And the rabble sounds like a carnival
And they claim I rule only with fear
But they supported all of my genocides
With what sounded a lot like a cheer
.
(chorus)
.
Courtesy Mark Hoolihan and the hoolinet.

Terrorist judgement breakthrough

2006-03-11T10:32:00.000+01:00

Only a mile away from our house, there is the heavily protected Amsterdam Osdorp court. Yesterday many roads were blocked and streets were full of media.

Dutch judges convicted nine men of belonging to a terrorist group, a landmark verdict that concludes promoting a violent version of Islam can itself be an act of terrorism.

The case opens a new way for prosecutors to stop potential terrorists and for the Netherlands to tackle the broader problem of the spread of radicalism among Muslim youth.
Lawyers for the men said they will appeal.

Two men received 15- and 13-year prison terms for attempted murder after a clash with police during their arrest. One received a five-year term for possessing a loaded machine gun.
The rest were sentenced to up to two years in prison. All were found to have spread hateful propaganda among their friends and on the Internet, encouraging Muslims to join a holy war against the West.

Though most sentences were short, the judgment was sweeping.

"Anyone who preaches hate and violence lays the basis for committing crimes directed at instilling fear among the people and destroying Dutch democracy," said Judge Rene Elkerbout, reading the three-judge panel's ruling. "This is what the suspects contributed to. The court weighs that heavily against them."

Hurray for Holland I say! I hope many countries follow..

Orange arses..

2006-03-11T09:47:00.000+01:00

Sales of orange replica Nazi helmets aimed at Dutch football fans attending the World Cup have trebled since they were banned from Dutch stadiums this month, the helmet's producer said yesterday.

Football's governing body in the Netherlands, the KNVB, banned the helmets ahead of a Dutch friendly against Ecuador in Amsterdam earlier this month, saying they were offensive.

"We are now selling three times the previous average daily volume," said the helmet's producer Florian van Laar. "We are thinking of sending the KNVB a gold helmet in thanks," he added.
His firm sells around 5,000 to 7,000 orange helmets per week and has added helmets in the national colours of Australia, England, Germany, France and Italy to its range.

"This is simply meant as a joke," Van Laar said.

Some joke..My two cents: Anyone wearing that helmet is a big arse!

Rockaby baby..

2006-03-05T18:00:00.000+01:00

In the next few weeks, my country will become the first to allow the euthanasia of young children with incurable illness. A committee will be formed to decide when "baby euthanasia" is warranted.

The clinical director of pediatrics at the University Medical Centre in Groningen, has admitted participating in four "assisted neo-natal terminations." He has drawn up a protocol that has been adopted by the government, saying euthanasia can be considered only in cases with "unbearable suffering," with parental consent and consultation with other doctors.
"If a child is untreatably ill there can be horrendous suffering that makes the last few days or weeks of this child's life unbearable,"

Now the question is: are you going to leave the child like that or are you going to prevent the child from suffering?

Suitcase loss costs KLM EUR 200,000

2006-03-04T14:41:00.000+01:00

A judge in the Philippines has ordered Dutch airline KLM to pay a fine of EUR 200,000 for losing a suitcase more than seven years ago. Dr José Tiongco was travelling with KLM as an envoy of the Philippine authorities in November 1998. He was scheduled to give a lecture at a conference held by the World Health Organisation in Kazakhstan.

He flew from Amsterdam to Frankfurt with KLM but his suitcase did not follow him. This meant he had give his lecture in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers — something that damaged his credibility, the judge agreed. KLM is appealing the decision.

I guess the guy never visited an ICT conference. It's good to see I'm not the only one taking myself too serious sometimes..

Size does matter

2006-03-04T14:20:00.000+01:00

Study: For gay men, penis size does matter..

A new Dutch study at Utrecht University concludes that the length of his penis is key to a gay man’s self esteem and his view of his body in general, the South African Press Association and Dutch Press Agency reported. Most gay men regard a large penis as ideal, and self-esteem is linked to the size of the sexual organ, said Liesbeth Woertman, a sexologist and senior lecturer in clinical psychology. The study by Woertman involved 251 gay men, at an average of 29. "Our study reveals that how gay men see their penis has considerable influence on how they value themselves in general," Woertman told media outlets. "It is not known whether if there is a similar link in heterosexual men, but there are various reasons for assuming that the self-image of heterosexual men is linked to how they evaluate the most characteristically masculine part of their body."

ANTI anti Mohammed cartoons demonstration

2006-02-26T18:04:00.000+01:00

Yes. We did it again..

Amsterdam now is worldwide leader in ANTI anti Mohammed cartoon demonstrations. Yesterday there was a demonstration on the Amsterdam Dam Square (central square) where people demonstrated for freedom of speech (local government permitted the demonstration). No flags were burned, no one was killed luckily but there were some riots. Police had to separate demonstrators and anti anti anti demonstrators.

I guess now we're the first in ANTI anti anti Mohammed cartoon demonstrations as well..

Following I found on the Dutch demonstration web:

"Demonstration 25th of February 13:00 hours. Location: Dam square, Amsterdam -final update:Permission for the demonstration has been received. The council has requested to end the demonstration at 15:30 hours in order to free staff for the commemoration of the 1941 February-Strike. This event is held elsewhere. Flags and texts:In Holland, little is prohibited. However, texts containing expressions of racism (ethnic or cultural), calls to violence or hate, are prohibited. NO NAZI SYMBOLS, these will not be tolerated. The main theme is continued freedom of speech. It is also a protest against the religious frenzy and solidarity with those who suffer from it. It is not a demonstration to deliberately insult populations or parts of populations.How to get there:The Dam square is near Amsterdam Central-Station (see map) at the end of the opposing street 'Damrak'. For information on public transport, please use links below. Food&Beverage:Plenty of outlets in the area but if many come, they may be flooded. It is advisable to bring water. Water can also be useful if someone accidentally uses a lighter a bit clumsy.Toilet facilities:None. The original plan (see previous update) has been cancelled partly due to the duration of the demonstration. Security and safety:There will be police present. The police are neutral. We hope they treat us correctly. They hope we treat them correctly.Small factions have made some threats and attempts to intimidate. It is difficult to assess how serious these attempts are. The council has requested these factions to demonstrate elsewhere. As a precaution, it is advisable not to bring children. One can ask oneself if children are conscious of what the demonstration is about.Because accidents can happen, a small medic first aid kit can be useful.Weather forecast Saturday (KNMI)-update:Sun 60%, rain 10%, temperature 4 °C, wind NE -4."

Europe has no hope of eradicating bird flu

2006-02-26T17:46:00.000+01:00

(Telegraph news)

"Although the virulent strain of avian influenza arrived inside the EU less than two weeks ago, it is now a fact of life, European Commission officials said. The warning came as EU officials approved plans by France and the Netherlands to vaccinate millions of birds against the disease. The British Government yesterday reaffirmed its opposition to vaccination, arguing that it could lead to the "silent spread" of the disease."

There we go. Now it is spread all over the world and here to stay I guess..

Glamour Stiletto Run

2006-02-26T16:31:00.000+01:00

I shouldn't be so serious all the time so I thought I'd post something lighter for you: The Glamour Stiletto Run

Ladies block your agenda on March 9th, fly over to Amsterdam, bring your high heels (at least 7 cm) , run 70 meters through the PC Hooft street without breaking your leg, end up first and win €10.000.- you can spend at D&G, Luis Vuitton and so on just across the street.

The Strike of February 1941

2006-02-26T12:48:00.000+01:00

On 25 February 1941 Amsterdam was seized by a general strike in protest against the persecution of the Jews. One day afterwards the strike spread to the Zaanstreek (Zaan-area), Kennemerland (Haarlem and Velsen), Hilversum, Utrecht and Weesp. In Amsterdam public transport came to a complete standstill and nearly all other council-services went on strike as well. Tools were downed in shipbuilding and steel industry in the North of Amsterdam, at the company of Hollandia-Kattenburg and also in large multiple stores like Bijenkorf. City-wide shops and offices were closed. Many pupils left their classrooms. That day large crowds of people were constantly on the move in the centre of Amsterdam. Restrained emotions sought a way out, people wanted to openly oppose the German occupation troops, that had attacked our country on 10 May 1940 and no longer disguised their intentions to force their regime on us.

The statue of The Dockworker commemorates the Strike of February. It is at the Jonas Daniël Meijerplein. By striking, the people showed their protest against the razzias held on February 22nd and 23rd. On that occasion 427 Jewish men at the age of 18 to 35 years were rounded up at the Jonas Daniël Meijerplein ande deported to the concentration camps Mauthausen and Buchenwald. They died within a year.

The Germans were baffled. They had never come across a strike against anti-Semitism and persecution of the Jews. Yesterday there was a ceremony in Amsterdam where several guests spoke about the happening 65 years ago. Amsterdam is still a city where racism, anti-semitism and discrimination will not be accepted by its residents.

Solidarnosc, round two..

2006-02-25T13:56:00.000+01:00

The responsibility of human autonomy.

When I grew up in the seventies, my country was in a changing process from agricultural focus to becoming more industrialized. Companies like Philips, KLM and Shell were booming and growing exponentially. Local farmers united in corporations and many farms closed down because of lack of succession. This had a major impact on our society. There was huge demand of disciplined, specialized and rational workers. Exploitation of humans as company assets resulted in increased focus on human rights, solidarity, emancipation and more democracy.

But the changing from agriculture to industry didn’t stop there. The introduction of computers and internet created another big change and with a pace never seen before. The post-modern information society that we live in today has new cultural elements like independence, insecurity, competition and hedonism. Our Western countries, have changed from a society built on a trust in authorities to being a society where individual freedom (of speech) and autonomy is stressed, from a society built on a rather homogeneous religious foundation to being a pluralistic and secularized society, from stability to agility.

Bloggsville is a good example of the virtual societies we mingle in nowadays. Our children exchange kudo’s in their virtual worlds and although they will be connected 24 hours a day, they will be very individual and independent persons. Micromarketing on personal level will be the new way of selling services and goods within a few years time. When I was 18, my world was about 100 square miles. Now I have contact with the other side of the earth (the up-side-down-people :-) on an almost daily basis and the world is my oyster where I fly about.

It is our human nature to survive and get the best possible living standard for ourselves. We would like to exploit the world but only for our 100 square miles area of responsibility. That’s where the equation fails. Our post-modern individuality is perhaps the greatest gift of life but it comes with a huge and heavy weighing responsibility.

Since the world is my oyster now, the starving people in Africa ARE my responsibility too. Child labour in Pakistan IS my responsibility as well. Closing our eyes and turning our backs makes us lousy examples of human beings. I have not precisely identified my role in this responsibility as I know many of us haven’t. We have to remain alert in our new society though and look after the weaker brothers and sisters. It is time for a new wave of solidarity, but now it has to be organised on a global level..

Global solidarity is MY responsibility. I will take it.

What's your thought?

In 38 seconds to the 56th floor..

2006-02-25T10:54:00.000+01:00

Let yourself be transported in 38 seconds to the 56th floor of the Montparnasse tower. You are in 200 meters height at the doors of the highest restaurant in Europe: "Ciel de Paris".

This week was all about Brussels and Paris for me. I invited our group IT directors for a two day Paris meeting. We had a great diner in Ciel de Paris overlooking Paris. Fabulous restaurant!

Traveling via Paris airport Charles de Gaulle is becoming a real pain these days.

I fly very frequently and have all sorts of cards, iris scan badges, quick airport acces, vip valet parking and electronic tickets. Anything possible to make my traveling life efficient. It normally takes me about half an hour to leave from home and be seated in the plane. In France however, you can prepare as much as you like. Forget about it. The French customs and security check has gone bazurk. I had to queue up for 45 minutes to be frisked by a sweaty fat guy. Had to take of shoes and belt and was yelled at to move on. Many people miss their flights because of this which causes a lot of stress and frustration. Ahh..la belle France...

When I arrived back in Amsterdam, the Dutch airport Schiphol was a mess too.. But I guarantee you this area will look brand new next week.

I may be very critical to my country some times but if there's one thing we do well than that would be organizing things to maximum efficiency. France on the other hand..(-deep sigh-)

The older the berry, the sweeter the juice?

2006-02-24T18:02:00.000+01:00

Saw this article on the internet this week:

How older women snag younger guys

"She's hot -- and she knows it. At 41, Chicago comedian Tracy Tedesco is beating back guys in their 20s like she was giving away Xboxes. Tedesco is the definition of an "urban cougar."The label used to be an unflattering characterization of middle-aged, boy-hungry single women. But as more women shed the traditional taboos about age and dating, the name has been taken on as a badge of empowerment by sexy, older professional women who prefer the physical and spiritual qualities of younger men. Look no further than the celebrity world for proof that the movement is growing. Some of Hollywood's hottest actresses have taken on younger mates, and a number of male celebrities in TV and music have chosen girlfriends who are several years their senior"

Older men getting younger girls are lucky. Older women getting younger men are cougs?

Anyway, there's grape juice and wine...but then there's vinegar too, eh..

Say Cheeeeese

2006-02-20T21:26:00.000+01:00

My Ellis Island alike country -the Netherlands- will roll out the next phase of its tough integration policy next month when it introduces compulsory Dutch language and culture tests at 138 embassies, the immigration minister said today. The 30-minute computerized exam will determine if newcomers are prepared for Dutch life, said Rita Verdonk. "If you pass, you're more than welcome. It is in the interest of Dutch society and those concerned."

The program begins March 15 at Dutch embassies around the world. Verdonk is the architect of some of the government's toughest measures to stem new immigration and to expel applicants who have been rejected, putting her at the center of the national debate over the traditional image of Dutch tolerance. "What's tolerance? I think tolerance has become confused with indifference," she responded during a rare meeting with foreign reporters. "As far as image goes, I'm here to protect the public interests and I don't think our image will suffer," she said.

European Union nations largely praise the Dutch policies, Verdonk said, while Moroccans and Turks told her they are happy with the policies and want her "to keep up the good work." Immigrant families, often isolated from the employment market because they don't speak Dutch or face discrimination, account for 33 percent of the country's poor although they make up less than 20 percent of the population. Unemployment rates for nonnative youths are in some cases three time those of native youths, reports the AP.

I think we should teach immigrants to speak English. There are only 16 million out of 6 Billion people speaking Dutch. Who cares? Teach them to speak English and they have a better chance of getting employed and when we do send them back they have at least learned a language that matters. I feel ashamed of our so called tough integration policy.