Turfurkia Nederland

I’d love to talk shop, but here in the Amsterdam the international community is actually very into Turkey Day festivities. For myself the marathon begins today with Thanksgivin dinner at Toronto’s most famous chef in exile’s home. Canadian, and yet he’s cookin up a storm in honor of the great myth that pilgrims and native americans actually sat down and had food together.

Mañana its some mysterious thanksgivin day-2 action with a whole collection of americans who I don’t know. It’s always fun to attend an expat dinner when you know hardly a soul, plus I heard it’s catered and all I’ve got to do is bake a pumpkin pie. Incedently, thanks to the help of my darling, the artist formerly known as frisbee girl, I can hereby bake a pumpkin pie. It’s not gluten free, but she and I had a grand ol’ time bakin one up for the festivus, and we’ll soon expand to pecan.

To round it all off it’s Tofurkey at crazy doctor M’s apartment on Saturday night. I hear it’s a POT-LUCK which in this town, makes perfect sense.

It may pale in comparison to the wonderful turkey days we have back in new jersey, with all the delicious foods that only a portuguese-american family can cook up. But still, over here in the low countries, we do alright.

Rush Haunts Me

You’ve probably got a friend who likes Rush. I’m sure you have to think for a second, cause maybe you haven’t seen him in a while (and its definitely a HIM) but he was that good friend who was wonderfully intelligent and lived in what often seemed to be his own world… a world where Rush was the greatest band of all time and the lyrics and music of their songs could answer all of life’s questions.

For me it’s one of my greatest friends ever, who’s doing well, back in my beloved New Jersey. When I met him in high school, I can remember being in the outfield during softball games and just over from my position in right field… there he is in right-center… singing the lyrics to Limelight at a level that most of the outfield can hear. In the beginning I thought it was insane…. as I got to know the man, and yes, the music… I admit I even sang along. Thus beginning the tradition: as the years went by, different music projects, college, changing apartments, changing countries (in my case)… we always found time to cruise around in his car with 2112 or Roll the Bones playing, singing along at the tops of our lungs of course. While at first I may have found the man and especially the band unorthodox, the more i travelled, the more I missed my friend, and the more I longed to hear Rush… which had become like an old friend. A reminder of great times past and of how much I look forward to seeing him again.

As so of course it figures that around the bicyclemark ranch, my dear roomate and I have discovered this phenemenon in common. The friend who loves Rush, and the smile it brings to remember those times, listening to The Trees and crusing around some suburban american town. We’ve even become obesessed with finding a copy of the string quartet tribute to Rush, exit stage left, just to have a laugh and enjoy the odd charm that those classic songs bring.

And so it goes. No matter where I go, or how long it’s been, I hear Closer to the Heart and I’m transported back in time. More importantly; I remember a friendship that has survived many miles and many years, and I smile when I picture – a month from now – being back in that car with that music, and of course – the World’s Biggest Rush fan.

How a Nation Should Use A Surplus

Anytime you start to compare Canada and the United States, you always get those guys wrapped in the flag who denounce Canada as weak and proclaim their health system as falling apart and hated. And then you might hear a Canadian defend his/her health system and their extremely positive international image. As much as I hate to attract those dam people, I have to talk about the Canadian government’s budget surplus and how I believe they are acting as a prime example of how a stable, mature, and future oriented government SHOULD use their budget surplus. 13.4 billion canadian clams per year is roughly what we’re talking aboot, by the way.

So let’s see, how is the prime minister’s government planning to use it’s surplus:

  1. Personal Taxcuts, specifically including a cut for the lowest income brackets.
  2. Investment in education (brilliant idea not often followed by some!), for research and student funding (39 billion over 6 years)
  3. And for all ye maple syrup producers, a reduction in the corporate tax rate

And actually, before any of those, the biggest reason the Canadian government deserves a bit of respect is that they are one of the very few nations in the world that can balance a budget. Take note EU with your broken budgets, and US with your drunken spending on weapons of mass destruction distraction.

Update and Terrible News from Afghanistan

Brief update from yesterday; the Summit ended in a cloud of shame, disagreement, and protest. I give full credit to the people on the streets of Tunis, especially considering that could be kidnapped and beaten to death by local police.

And then there’s Afghanistan, where people keep dying amidst the typical chaos of post-western-invasion conditions. Earlier this week I noticed the German troop deaths. Tonight I read about the Portuguese deaths. Obviously I believe neither army should even BE THERE to begin with. The Portuguese and German governments should be held accountable as both countries are overwhelmingly against this farse of a war on terrorism, and yet they ignore the will of their citizens while stationing their young people in a war zone with no sign of resolution in sight.

Meh… its friday night and I wanted to write about non war related stuff. But with all the death and destruction orchestrated by national armies all over the world, there’s simply too much to talk about.

Oh and read me on Americunt today as well…

Little Green Laptops for the Poor

I was recently talking with a new friend, in Brussels, who was a frequent visitor to this here blog. And at some point in the discussion she said something that I’ve heard others mention to me as well. – While being critical and pointing out problems is good, coming up with solutions or suggestions will also be good. I felt it was a good point, though I fancy myself a critic above all, and let readers and better minds find solutions… something like that. I digress; I shall strive to pay more attention to solutions and at least glimmers of hope in my blogging.

But it is so hard to find the silver lining when I look at this World Summit on the Information Society. How bright and free can the future for information and society be, when you host the grand event in a one-party dictatorship? And of course, they decided before the meeting even took place, that in fact the regulation of internet domains will continue to be controlled by the American ICANN. You know, so the internet stays American and out of the hands of say – the world. But i guess I should expect nothing more from an event hosted by president Ben Ali who specializes in making journalists disappear and keeping European tourists nice and tan.

But wait— a ray of hope! Yes… if we forget just for a second about world poverty, hunger, injustice, lack of access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, health care, education.. oh the list goes on and on. – If we put all of that aside, the conference has shed light on a wonderful new invention that will bring laptops to the poor! The green machine, as they call it, will be rechargable with a crank, have wi-fi, and run on linux! There ya go little starving, traumatized, war-ravaged congelese youth… now run along and surf the net.

OK I’m using sarcasm, but I do love the idea of the anyone and everyone having computers. I just think there are, oh, a few basic needs that should get the same priority as laptops. But maybe if the summit tried to address those problems the Tunisian secret police would rush in and break all their computers and legs.