Color Eggs


The Amsterdam family had the traditional Easter meal today. A day early, without colored eggs, and this year no joint was passed around. But the basics were there, Crazy Dr. M’s new pad, good people, great food, including my internets-reknown veggie lasagne.

Funny thing bout easter, its not like any of us have religion, but its the four day weekend we adore, and the time of year (sunny, mild, etc) which makes us all suddenly say “happy easter” as if we’re into the whole thing.

A bit lethargic with all the time off, but I’m also worried about Angola and an outbreak of a deadly fever. If you didn’t know, Angola has a very special place in my heart. Never been there- yet lots of ties, culturally and personally. Ive always had this side-dream that I would someday work for the UN there, since I can handle lots of the languages, and maybe help the country back on its feet after decades of civil war that only recently ended. Anyway I’m following events as best I can, worrying, cause that’s easy to do from my comfy computer seat.

A Fresh podcast goes to you tomorrow. Lots of new things to talk of, and treats for the ears. Now you go and see the Torontonienne who got her camera back and NoCoins who got a swirly at the bowling alley.

Today’s Sounds: Tina Turner – Some Random tracks i downloaded

Wish the Pope

I don’t like the pope. Hate might be a strong word, but that geezer must be dam selfish. Maybe it isn’t his choice. Maybe his handlers are the idiots. Whomever is responsible, somebody throw in the towel… use some common sense and stop pretending your number one dude is capable of doing his job. HE ISN’T.

Obviously by now you might have noticed I’m a non-theist. I think religion is fine if that’s what you’re into, but I’m not interested beyond knowing a bit about every religion and admiring/understanding certain aspects. Though I do love the SWISS Guard and their striped pajamas and spanish colonial helmets. And perhaps its also worth noting that my family was traditionally catholic… maybe thats why I got strong opinions bout the POPEMAN. Him and his POPEMOBILE… are holding an entire population back. If there were a young pope… an able pope.. then at least he could address the outdated, close-minded policies of the religion. People talk shit about muslims, these fuckers only recently admitted the spanish inquisition was a bit harsh. Nevermind how long it took them to admit they fucked up during WWII. You want a fun google seach, try ” Pop Apologizes for Church” you get a long-ass list.

They should be a modern religion, with leaders that address issues that matter NOW and apply all their ancient laws to PRESENT day. Get over the DIVORCE THING. Look into the REALITY about AIDS. And quit being assholes about homosexuality. While you’re at it.. dear vatican types… why don’t you look a little deeper into the problem of priest kid touching. It might help to understand what’s happening to these holydudes and how you can avoid such terrible crimes in the future.

But alas… none of this happens. You get the same ol pope, who can barely breathe, let alone lead a religion into the future. Times like this make me feel bad for those close to me who are dedicated catholics. They deserve a better pope then this geriatric crap. The man should either die or retire, anything beyond that is selfish as HELL.

Here’s a blogger who I’ve been reading for a long time. He’s religious, I think, and has kicked around the idea of retiring lately. (at least.. how he would retire from blogging)

Today’s Sounds: Jaga-Jazzist with Motorpsycho

Lets Get Ady

It’s true, I’m the first to shout “PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS.” I hate how capitalism and commercials find there way into areas of life where they once didn’t exist. Like when perfectly good public electricity, water, or rail systems are sold off as if it will benefit the consumer. (which it rarely, if ever, does) As a pretend journalist, I especially hate seeing ads larger than the friggin article that I’m reading. I don’t go crazy, but I do get that much closer to going over the EDGE.

The same goes for my blog reading and podcast listening. One thing I love about the blogo-podo-sphere is that it’s young, and the colonizers haven’t come to civilize us with their free market religion. By us I mean.. most blogs. And so, because blogging is sometimes about bouncing discussions around, I wanted to continue a piece of the discussion that Tony’s decision to put ads on the busblog sparked.

So despite my hate for ads, as a person with a rapidly growing readership and the accompanying bandwith costs, I know how this great hobby can become quite the expense. I even got a second donation this week, and I must say I’m most thankful.. the person threw 15 dollars my way. That’s way more then I’d ever ask of anyone, but it definitely inspires me to work harder at blogging and podcasting, as well as eases my pain when I look into the virtual wallet.

Sometimes tho, donations aren’t enough it seems, and so many bloggers have gone the way of googleads (which don’t earn you shit I hear) or other ads. In some cases I don’t even notice… like on WinterofDiscontent’s (where I think I saw googleads), but in some cases, like Wonkette (no offence to that blog pioneer)the ads have pissed me off to the point where I simply don’t read that blog anymore. Where do I draw the line? Well I’m not sure… I think when there’s as much ad space as there is content, that’s when I start losing it.

Of course I still cheer when a blogger says no ads… EVER. Hell.. I’m saying it right now. NO ADS FOR ME. But shit.. you never know…

So in the end.. it’s a grey area… but I support the individual blogger’s right to do what they want with their own blog. Fucking ads might be a necessary evil for some, and bravo to we who manage to stay away from them; cause it keeps our shit pure. Double bravo with sugar ontop to those who leave tips to bloggers in order to help out and avoid the ad monster. Oh -I better go practice what I preach, and leave a tip somewhere myself.

And this post has nothing to do with the fact that I won a raffle on the busblog. I’m serious… stop thinking that. And go bring the beef.

Today’s Sounds: Old 97’s – Tracks that xtx Sent me

On Death

Human memory is an amazing thing. I attended a wake this evening for an old friend. By old friend, I mean someone I knew throughout high school, and hadn’t spoken to in 6 years. Still I think we had fond memories of one another and both knew bits and pieces about each other’s recent life-adventures, as information gets around in NJ suburbs.

As I stood in line… one of the longest lines I’ve ever seen as these things, I kept scanning the crowd. Suddenly, areas of my memory which had been long packed up in grey matter, were reactivated. I looked at photo collages and remembered that high school actually happened. I looked at faces that I couldn’t give names to anymore, people who smiled at me, and somehow, I couldn’t remember. Basically, I hugged and kissed anyone who looked like they deserved it… which was mildly entertaining in such an excessively somber occasion. Sometimes I wish people would spent less time mourning the dead and more time celebratin’ them… for the great people they were.

At dinner I asked my parents, quite seriously, that if I ever die young, they should make sure to have a big party with lots of good ska/jazz/punk/80’s/world music. They can take all the money some people spend on flowers and whatnot, buy some healthy exotic foods, and fly in my favorite people from around the world (who maybe can’t afford it). Everyone will be required to tell a story relating to me, and someone should record those stories on mp3 to pass onto to future generations who will look at MP3’s the same way I look at A-Tracs. Photo-collages are encouraged, and beautiful ladies saying things like “I was secretly in love with him” will also be appreciated. Hell, the men can say it too, that’s flattering. And for fucks sakes, its my death party, so no images relating to religion and keep your prayers to yourself, cause I worship the golden calf and she’s all I need. Oh and of course, everyone should blog about it… I want a blog shrine dammit.

Anyway, my original point- lots of respect and love for all those loved ones we’ve lost recently, especially my old friend.

Tomorrow, perhaps ironically, a new installment of “I See Dead Historical Figures”, featuring Jazz Bassist and Statesman Charles Mingus.

Today’s Sounds: Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Disc. 1 (found it behind some boxes)

Clash of Stupidity

I didn’t even want to give this discussion any attention, but here I go, head-first, just for today:

I swear the Dutch masses dream of a holy war. They seem to foam at the mouth to talk about “the muslims.” I guess it’s a reoccurring thought nowadays, in certain countries – the US versus THEM. There’s a slight tinge of fascism and racism in the winter air, and it has been there for at least 2 years.

A controversial and beloved film director was murdered/assassinated in cold blood by what turns out to be a Moroccan extremist, complete with a note condemning the director’s criticism of Muslim culture. The whole country goes nuts, as if there isn’t an assassination per season around here. (oh yes there is!) Now anyone, including myself, would agree murders are bad and they should not occur. But they’re calling it an attack on free speech, and I don’t feel like explaining that even when you have “free speech”, it is still possible that psychos get angry and violent. Others, politicians especially, use this event to fuel their xenophobe rhetoric: that Muslims aren’t integrating in Dutch culture; fascist-populism at its finest. Hell, now they’re calling it terrorism!

And so the latest, today – a Dutch Muslim school was more-or-less bombed (“explosion,” they report) The press says it could be a “revenge” attack, I guess meaning its revenge from Dutch folk. So here we are again, US versus THEM. I wonder if the Reichstag is burning? Soon I’m sure Sammy P. Huntington will be elected prime minister, so he can orchestrate the holy war.

But don’t believe the hype good readers. Plenty of tolerant people and policies in the people’s republic of Amsterdamage. I’m referring to those of us who don’t buy into the sweeping generalizations. Who get our hair cut at Atlas Kapsalon, where Majid and Mohammed greet you with coffee, a newspaper, and a smile. Who appreciate the people who were brave enough to leave their lives behind and start over in Amsterdam, regardless of race, class, sexual preference, or religion.

White Christians have carried out some of the most disgusting mass murders and wars the planet has ever seen, but I’m not going condemn the kid from Virginia sitting next to me, based on that.

Today’s Sounds: www.tsf.pt Radio Portugues

The Drock Files

Sometimes Drock writes me emails that are works of art… modern art… pop art. So without further adue… another one from the D-Rock files:


    Bicyclemark writes: I just remembered something… flashback… you wrote a check to me before I left DC… you were all fuckin sleepy… and in the memo part you wrote “Hot Sex”

    As if that shit wasn’t funny enough… I passed that check to dad for him to deposit… man did I feel weird handing my dad a check with a memo “hot sex” I just said to him ” dont mine the memo.. thats Drock being funny.

    Dad said nothing.

    Drock replies: Yeah that shit was fun…the check thing… I think your dad wrote in “Sextet” to hide the pain

By now you must be ready to spontaneously combust after those US presidential debates. I never heard so much goddam agreeing, once again I swear they were gonna make out on stage. They both love guns, war, xenophobia, faux tax cuts, religion, the middle class, the American worker and announcing that they have “a plan.” You can try focusing on the differences all you want, but the sad truth is, there aren’t that many. So in all my cynicism and nylism… I seek inner political peace. And miniclip.com has provided just the Oasis I need. Experience for yourself the joy of “The Hip-Hop Presidential Debate.” My personal favorite move is the W “Money Walk”, plus his gang of Baby Rice, Hollyburton, and Big C look like one badass crew. While you’re there look into Royal Rampage, where GWB and the Queen shoot up the town. Actually the list of fun goes on, most involving Bush and Kerry in awkward positions.

Moving away from that dead horse, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Deconstructionist– aka Asia- is studying to be a brain surgeon. Thus making her the first future brain surgeon blog that I read, which is quite exciting. I’m hoping I learn more about my own melon through her teachings. Plus, if that weren’t enough, she’s interested in BOTH pinball AND history. Two very intensive disciplines, both of which require good thumbs.

This weekend being my first ever time off since becoming a daily blogger, I’ve started to worry about the effects of so much writing on my wrists. My desk is actually a table and its far to high off the ground in relation to my chair. I’m like a toddler reaching for the cookie jar… for hours at a time. Whenever I read about Tony Pierce’s arm problems… spiders crawling up his arms… I worry about my own future. Then again.. he is 111 years old, and did have a great love affair with Anna Kournikova (photoessay alert – click through), so maybe there are benefits.

Today’s Sounds: Stars – Live Last Night.. still echoing in my head