Podcasting since 2004; Conversations, conflicts, adventures and monologues from around the world.
Progressive, green, defender of minority rights, critical of the bush administration, none of these things are usually associated with the state of Utah. But the city of Salt Lake marches to the beat of a very unique and active drum. My friend Catherine joins me at my beloved soup stand here in Amsterdam, to discuss the mayor Rocky and the priorities of his government.
Rocky Anderson’s Wikipedia Entry
It is liberating, when you’re at a party and someone asks “where do you work?”, to respond: I DON’T. And don’t smile. Just give a look that says – this makes perfect sense, what I’m telling you. The person talking to you will look confused. She might laugh. Or just change the subject. Chances are she won’t try to get your number. But it is still liberating!
Tomorrow at the fishtank, I’ve requested the finest pies in all of Amsterdam. Cause hell, it is my goodbye-you-lost-your-job party and when they asked what food I desire, without thinking twice I said BAKKERSWINKEL.. which bakes up magic.
Then lots of people will come eat these pies with me. It will be fun but it will also be uncomfortable. Especially when someone asks “So what will you do next” and I’ll say NOTHING. And some will laugh because they’ll see in my eyes that Ive got plans but I also don’t give a shit about 9 to 5 jobs anymore.
Of course there’s more to this: That same girl who asked me on the dancefloor about my job and then felt odd when I said NOTHING. Just when I thought she would walk away, she asked one more question that cleared everything up: “But aren’t you the bicyclemark that people talk about.. with the radio on the internet and the videos?”
Suddenly I do smile and I do remember that there’s more than nothing up head. There’s me.. and my work. Not the punch the clock go to meetings type of work, but my work; my podcast; my vlog. That which falls somewhere between journalism, art, commentary, nothingness, chatter, and exploring the world through people. Thats what is next.
Turns out she has a boyfriend. Ah well, I still get the best pie in Amsterdam.
I barely have time to sit and eat a bowl of soup, so pardon me everyone who’s been emailing or skyping… I simply have no time and it is going to get worse this week.
The good news is, lots of interesting podcasts and a whopper of a vlog series are all in the can for the coming weeks. So hooray for content.
And now, a photo from my recent nyc visit.
When I heard that my friend and blogger inspiration, Mr Tony Pierce, was driving down the eastern US heading towards New Orleans, I immediately send an email. “We gotta do a podcast about what you see in NOLA” I told him. And of course he said ‘yes’. (we’re still working out the logistics)
But when I looked yesterday at photoeassy on LAist, and even better, his videoblog entry interviewing a high school girl in the NINE WARD, I had to watch it again. I sat back in my chair and once again felt inspired. Not that I had forgotten, but it reminded me of what I love about being a citizen reporter through personal media. The spontaneity of it all, the rawness, the honest curiousity. Free of that desire to look polished and clean and perfect… focusing on the message. And through his posts, I certainly heard a message about what is or IS NOT happening down in New Orleans.
For tonight I’d simply like to recommend you check it all out, all his writing from the big easy.. and especially that video. I know it may not connect with you, but from where I sit, this was excellent work and important when it comes to telling a story without expensive cameras and executive producers.
Yes I did!
The Free Masons have always been a wacky bunch in my mind. Funny people who probably have funny handshakes and hide themselves in the mysteriously funny buildings that have almost no windows. That and I figure they control the world and its money.
Last weekend I noticed the Amsterdam area Free Masons carried out a mini-media blitz to get the word out that they were having open information days where anyone could come into their lodges and ask mason-people questions. It was 3am and there I am watching the replay of the local news as I ponder what will become of my life once I am unemployed. I jumped out of my seat – FREE MASONS, I’M THERE!
So after being turned away, strangely enough, on the weekend. Last night I took a bunch of people from work with me and we visited with the main free mason lodge in Amsterdam. Yup.. it was us and the brothers. Even the grand cleaver was there.. maybe.. I mean I think.
First impressions: for a building that is so impressive on the outside, especially with the little ornate details around windows and doors, inside the building screamed of MEN. As in, brown, yellow, brown, colors, old brown furniture, and yes… lots of old men.
As we walked in the door, all the grand poobas and junior poobas seemed insanely friendly. Every single person doing that very Dutch thing where they shake hands and tell you their full name… as if I’m going to remember every mason-boy from the mason lodge.
Hmm.. I’m being mean. These guys deserve better than this. They were so dam nice it was kind of nice when it wasn’t creepy. A really kind ex-school teacher from the middle of nowhere (Drenthe) Netherlands came to sit next to me. Didn’t ask me much of anything. Let me ask all the questions I wanted.
Unfortunately the answers were all either lame or lame. Why aren’t women allowed? Why don’t lodges have windows? Are you political? Are you a sect? Whats with the dollar bill? Do you control governments? Are you racists? Do you parade around in robes and swords?
No matter what the question, the answer always seemed to lack something. Every other answer was “you give your own meaning to what you do here” or the most common answer “no we’re not, we don’t, we won’t”. Even the dollar bill explanation was vague and wikipedia could probably explain it better.
In the end we got to sit in their temple room, which was like a funky planetarium with astrological symbol thingies on the walls. I felt like Leonard NiMoy’s voice would start at any moment and explain the universe. but instead they fed us more crap about symbols and self improvement and knowing yourself. Bah.
One interesting factoid, apparently the Heineken family were or are masons. They built or acquired the bulding for the Masons. And get this. the red star in the Heineken insignia: masonic symbol! AAAAAH!
All in all, a hilarious and perhaps enlightening exprience. I tried to keep my distance from the recruiting types, ate lots of cookies and drank my share of apple juices. Free Masons know how to party. Sadly they didn’t allow me to take pictures or video, and even sadder, they didnt give the full tour so I didnt get to touch a certain book on the shelf and get whisked away to their secret room of torture.
You’ve won this round Free Masons! But I’ll be back. (no I wont)
