Tag Archives: netherlands

Soldierblogger Homecoming

It seems I’ve gone back to being a nocturnal blogger, which is the only way I used to do it. It’s funny what you do differently… think, talk, write, depending on what time of day you do it. What time do you all blog?

So some of you may know about what are sometimes called Warblogs. (a name I don’t dig) I think a more accurate description would be soldier blogs, since they are -in fact- blogs written by soldiers. And if you’re familiar with the Communiqu?, you know that over the past year I’ve become fast friends with a soldier blogger, Chris Missick, stationed in Iraq. As I’m always telling people, despite different worldviews, Chris and I share important things in common: music and a love for blogging.

Well last week, in what came as a huge surprise to me, Chris Missick returned to the US, ending (i think) his tour of duty, and letting him be home with his fam in Calipornia. I was surprised because, though he said it would happen soon, in my mind it was always going to take longer than expected… like one of those things you try not to look forward to because the wait will make you grow restless.

Many of you might not read Chris, I’ve noted that bloggers are more likely to read writing they agree with. So if you agree with me too often, you might not wish to read someone who is patriotic, a Bush supporter, and an active participant in what is called “the war on terror.” But I decided long ago that I don’t read blogs solely for their politics, and since so many millions seem to agree with him, it might be interesting to walk in his shoes thru his blog.

Reading about his return home, I felt both relief and frustration. Relief to hear that my friend is home and safe… not to mention excited about the future. Frustration because I don’t agree with the idea that the American invasion of Iraq has made the world a safer place.

If you think about it, it’s basically a theory; many people believe their world is safer because the US forced Iraq to become a “democracy”. Many people also believe there is a bearded deity who lives in the sky and demands that people worship him. Again.. a theory that many believe. Neither holds much water with me.

My point was, prior to bitching about feeling safe or not, I’m glad to hear Chris is home and I look forward to his veteran blogging. Stories of him driving to the beach and getting the house that he has wanted.

Update on my macfund: I’m very excited… not only am I raising the necessary funds, but I’m feeling all warm and loved! Thanks to Green Catfish, Slykk, and a kind-caring mother.

Today’s Sounds: Accident Hash Podcast #8

Paris South Iberia Left

Before getting to today’s business, I got a lil announcement: I’ll be podcasting from none other then Par?s, France this weekend! Yes… thanks to hitchhikers.org I got hooked up with a bunch of students who rented a bus and are going down for the weekend.. 40 euros round trip, I couldn’t turn it down.

This means the AudioCommuniqu? will have a decidedly Fran?ais flavor to it and just wait for all the madness that comes out of bicyclemark in that environment. Remember April 2004, my last visit? Gotta make sure all my batteries are charged and equipment is ready, cause we’re talking soundseeing, interviews, language melange, etc.

I’ll also be visiting with a laundry list of my favorite people ever, who have all migrated to that city in the past years: Shakespeare who studied with me in Aix, BlueBerry Girl who handles the World’s Bank money, Big Jim who’s still settling in, and my Polish compadre who studied with me here in the ‘dam. I’m psyched… anybody need anything from Paris?

Onward to business. I consider myself an Iberian blogger, because my heritage and my legal status is tied to Portugal and hence, the Iberian peninsula. And sometimes, amidst all the stupidity and debauchery, Spain and Portugal do some cool shit that I like watching. Which is exactly what happened this weekend.

The political left is back in business in PT, with the socialist party taking a big ol majority. More importantly, my boys the Left Block, the thinkers, the guys who don’t dress well for parliament, they gained seats! Even the Communist/Greens gained, which is fun too. Don’t get me wrong, its typical political crap, less then 6 years ago they got all pissy with the socialists and kicked them the hell out, and now they welcome them back like potential saviors.. same shit.. hooray for democracy and its goldfish memory.

Also quite interesting, the Spaniards went to the polls.. well.. some of them, and they voted YES to the European Constitution. I understand some of the criticism out there about this document, but overall it promotes a standard of human rights that I think is a pretty good start, so I’m psyched the voters support it. Lots of countries in Europe, including my dear Netherlands and Portugal look like they might reject it in a referendum, but at the very least, it was cool to see Spain go for it.

What… you don’t like European Politics? 25 countries… 10 languages or whatever… how can you not be curious? I find it fun in a very watching paint dry type way.

For real fun, consult the HUN, my new daily read, and BigTanky who sent a nice email.

Anyone wanna go to paris from amsterdam friday? 40 euros round trip.. 2 spots left.. use the email.

Today’s Sounds: Slackers – The Question

Delay in the carpal Tunnel

When I’m not in the fishtank, my job involves sittin pretty in an office-type atmosphere. I love being up there because unlike in the fishtank, I’m not repeatedly interrupted by young, beautiful fish, who try to put spells on me which prevent any kind of work from getting done. But today my shoulder aching was noted by co-workers, and the conversation quickly switched to “Why Bicyclemark should fear the wrath of Carple Tunnel.” (also known in the netherlands as RSI.)They threw around all kinds of recommendations, mostly about finally buying an office chair, straightening my lazy back, etc.

I kept thinking of Tony Pierce, who has so often mentioned this horrible condition. So often I remember him making blog posts that simply say “I can’t post today because of the pain, here’s one from the archives.” I can’t believe I’m heading down that road… it’s actually quite scarey. Hell, I even appealed to Tony today for some words of wisdom. Come to think of it, he warned me long ago.

25 years old is the bicyclemark! That’s invincible age! I can climb mountains, run marathons, rub my tummy and pat my head at the same time, .. what’s this arm pain? Doesn’t it know who I am? Doesn’t it know that without the inkernet and computers, I’m done for? Thank the golden calf there’s podcasting, cause my voice never betrays me. You hear that voice… don’t fail me now!

Speaking of the pod, I just read the Dawn and Drew article in the US’s lamest national paper. For a paper that is normally quite journalisticaly-challenged, it’s a pretty decent fluff piece. And nice for DnD, my internet bitches.

Time to go check the Ma&Me blog. C’est cool.

Today’s Sounds: Waldemar Bastos – Angola, Minha Namorada

5 Star Hotel

I’ve shifted apartments here at the bicyclemark ranch. I now have a garden view, no more tourists looking in my window as I eat breakfast or play horn without pants on. Although I will miss the canal view, I’m quite content with the plum tree and the cat who interact with each other at my new windows.

Since I’ve just moved in (down the hall.. so it took me 4 hours to move to my new place) I figure why not celebrate by spending the night at a 5 star hotel in the heart of Amsterdam. Free of course, cause I know all the right people… I’m so looking forward to it.

While I go rough it in the lap of luxury, I’ve been watching Iraqi’s vote in make-shift booths with m16’s all around them. I keep forgetting who’s protecting who from who. Nothings says democracy like tanks in the streets and guns in your face. And man do my ears ring everytime they call it a historical day. Historical my ass… I remember when Saddam used to hold elections and you could only vote for him. This isn’t the same, but it isn’t that far off either. In both cases people will be treated as if they are threats to the government, arrested occasionally, and possibly tortured — since that’s an ok method to get your information.

The only news item I found nice was the story of Iraqi ex-pats who voted here in the netherlands. The images and stories were really… heartwarming and funny (dances and feasts surrounding the polling stations).

Today’s Sounds: Ani Difranco – The new one

Gift from Angola

I was riding home from bowling the other night, as usual my mind racing with all sorts of brilliant and unbrilliant thoughts. Over time, in Amsterdam, one develops this talent to just ride fast as hell, ignore red lights, and weave around traffic and kamikaze pedestrians. Sometimes a person or a car or some random thing catches your attention as you ride, and for those brief moments, you try to soak up the situation before you’ve ridden off.

On that night there were two dark skinned figures trying to cross in front of me. They hesitated, which told me they were from out of town. At that same moment, one of the men looked directly into my eyes. That happens sometimes,you’re riding and someone looks directly into your eyes for a split second. For me, it’s usually a beautiful girl riding in the opposite direction. But in this case the eyes staring at mine were those of a friend. They triggered a rush of mental images; memories. At first it was NYC 1999 and I had stayed late at the knitting factory, hanging in the green room discussing politics with the band. Then I was swept back to 2002, sitting in a tiny restaurant in Lisbon – “Agua do Bengo.”

The owner of this restaurant was the man behind those eyes, at least that’s what I felt in that eternal moment. I swore that I was seeing my friend Waldemar Bastos, beloved Angolan singer who had been exiled to Lisbon during the long civil war in his home country.

I kept riding, looking back the entire time. But I couldn’t see him anymore.. I stopped in hopes that he would be running in my direction, shouting my name. But no dice. I slowly rode in the direction of home, now completely buried in memories of our conversations, the nights where I’d come to the restaurant to help his wife serve dinner, and then after closing they’d cook a special meal for me while Waldemar pulled out the guitar and starting testing new songs on me. One night we sat there til the sun came up, singing together. He even handed me the guitar as said, “go ahead bm, I know you’re musician.” But I know better… I returned his custom acoustic right back to him with a smile.

Here’s where it gets better: This morning I went to do xmas shopping-browsing at a CD shop, and there in the featured artist section – Waldemar Bastos and his new release Renascence, on a DUTCH LABEL! He had told me last year, during our annual phonecall, that he had signed with a Dutch label. Shit with Warner Brothers and David Burn’s Luaka Bop project had gone bad, but now he was back…. in the NETHERLANDS! I just checked the show listings… tomorrow night at the Tropentheatre.. I’m going to see my friend. I sent him a text message with this story. I look forward to the euphoria when he sees me tomorrow, no one will understand the history behind the enormous hug we will share.

(….to be continued.. and in the meantime, go stare at the stars)

Today’s Sounds: Waldemar Bastos – Renascence

Sunday Pod People

If I can swing it, from now on, Sunday’s will be dedicated to Podcasting. No it has nothing to do with alien probes, or genetic mutations, it is –according to me– the next frontier of blog universe: frequently updated websites with audio posts (MP3’s) consisting of commentary, music, interviews, etc. Adam Curry can explain it better, and sure enough, he just moved from the Netherlands.

I used to think, “Podcasting? I don’t have one of those newfangled Ipod’s!”(yet) But sure enough, you don’t need that little white gremlin plugged into your ears and strapped to your arms. Even if they are kind of sexy. (?!) All you need is a microphone, computer, and a voicebox… even that might be optional. A good start to the world of podcasting is ipodder.org which Curry himself helps run. Don’t worry about not being tech savvy, you’re reading a blog, you’re already tech save- just go with it.

So my two picks of this weekend are The Nation Magazine’s Audioblog, which this week features Howard Zinn, one of my most favorite thinkers of all time. He talks about his new book “Voices of a People’s History” and how the world’s focus should now be on building a sweeping movement against the war. He also gets into how ridiculous the idea is that you can use war to diminish terrorism. He has long been saying, as have I,

"..we should look closely at the grievances

 of so many millions of people, especially in the middle east,

and examine whether or not those grievances are legitimate, 

and why they drive this small fraction of this population

to commit such acts."

Look at the cause, and see what isn’t being done to solve those problems..

My other pick is loft 405, broadcasting from a loft in Brooklyn, with good tunes and fun commentary.

So there you have it -podcasting, you’ll be ready when it comes up during dinner conversation. Then you can prove that you’re down with tech trends and show everyone you’re a nerd hip.

Today’s Sounds: Radio Nation Audioblog with Howard Zinn, with Jimmy Eat World – Clarity in the background