Tag Archives: portugal

Mike’s Revolution

So its time….time to talk about F-911, because it came out (in the Netherlands) last night, and little ol’me was there. I’m sure over in North America, this conversation is so “last month” but hey, its about much more than a film.

First off, I have been a Michael Moore fan almost since the preverbial day one. Actually since “The Big One” which doesn’t really qualify as “day one” but what can I say, I’m young. I’ve read all his books, and seen most episodes of his shows. After seeing this film, its safe to say Mike has come a long way. No, not really stylistically.. but in terms of power. In this film, every cop and senator seemed to immediately know who he was and they were careful not to brush him away like so many in past movies that wind up looking like idiots. The power-elite of the US clearly recognize him as a force to be rekoned with, and as a lowly blogger living abroad that few -if any- leaders would take seriously (cause they’re bastards), I’d call this a tremendous feat on his part. (and his crew)

Another thing about this movie, it caused me to be ashamed, frustrated, sad, lost, bored, entertained, bored again, and then just tired. Afterwards I noticed everyone, including myself, engrossed in long debates and discussions outside the theater/caf?. This is also a great accomplishment on the part of a director, causing debate.

I was more interested in how the audience received it, than the film itself. I found myself feeling very American, which happens occasionally. As such, I didn’t find the film to be funny, I was saddened and angered (though I was fully aware of the inter-relationships of government, corporations, and terrorism. Yet the audience, which I would guess to be 90% Dutch, seemed to laugh the whole time. I’m still wondering about this. Why so much laughter? Do they realize this class-clown basically rules the world? Do they realize their own troops are also involved in this twisted invasion? It seemed more like a show for them. I think Michael Moore’s work has that effect on Europe, he presents material that is interpreted more like a sideshow- the sideshow of the United States… and people watch in awe.

I could go on and on. But those are my main points. I thought the film was weak for my taste, but I think it is an important film, that needs to be seen. Most of all, after such a mediocre movie overall, I thought he made an excellent conclusion.. that bears repeating over and over. – It is the people who come from the worst places in America.. the poorest people, who are the first to be sent to fight in the name of the country where they live in such horrible conditions. In doing so, they allow the class structure to remain intact, with the rich and powerful on top, reaping all the benefits, and the poor staying marginalized and going off to war.

OK fine, thats really my interpretation, but he did say something like that.

In other news I’m working on having a guest blogger while I’m in Portugal next week. I’ll still be blogging there, but I’m not sure how consistantly, so this way I could have someone garunteeing my every-other-day policy. Plus, Guestblogging is such a cool practice.

Note to self: In next post talk about Iran, because I keep having more and more to say on that subect. Also talk about Iraq-kidnapping theories/reponses.

Today’s Music: The Used (because of my boy Jeff)

Part of the System

There’s a Portuguese family living around the block from me. I know this because on many mornings I step outside and there’s a very Portuguese looking mother walking her toddler and saying things like “Anda filha… vamos ver o pai.” On one of these days I had my Portugal football jersey, she noticed this and smiled saying “bom dia!” I said “bom dia” back, and we chatted about the odd Dutch weather, as if we didn’t know how bizarre it could be. Recently, walking back from the Edah, I noticed a nametag on a door “Far?a da Silva” or something like that. I knew right away that was the house, that and the Portuguese embroidered curtains – gave it away. When I look out my kitchen window I can see their yard. I recognize it because it looks like all the yards I remember growing up in the Ironbound (newark). Its hard to put into words, but you just know when you’re looking at a Portuguese yard: The one fruit tree (peaches/apples/pears), the tiny vegetable garden with makeshift scarecrows made of empty bottles, the small grill for sardines… these are the key factors.

Moving past my random neighborhood reflection, a discussion was started in my last post-comments about blogging and as D-Rock put it

“From the outside looking in to the blog world it’s the realm of politico tech-geeks. I mean MS Word doesn’t even recognize blog as being a word. One of the great thing about the blog world is there are no controls on information and the really horrible thing about the blog world is that there are no controls on information. The creator of the blog is their own judge, jury and executioner with no checks on the accuracy of their information and with scores of new blogs being created everyday who the hell knows who to listen to.”

One of the first things I notice about D’s comments is the question of fact checking/information control. There’s this inherent idea that prior to blogs, media had an acceptable fact-checking system. I’d guess most media users agree or at least used to agree. Especially because the NYTimes has a little office called fact-checking, so they must be into it. By response from a blogger point of view is that fact-checking is in the eye of the beholder, as is accuracy and accountability. Over time, I believe you will see, and I’m already seeing, certain bloggers gain legitimacy just because they’ve been at it for a while and they are very transparent with their links/sources. I try, to some degree, to do this as well, I give you my insane opinion, and I’m sure to provide links to my sources so that you may all decide, for yourselves, what you think.

There’s a good example of how blogging is changing and being legitimized with the upcoming Democratic convention. I hate to be yet another blogger linking to Jay Rosen, but he definately breaks it down in his recent post about bloggers being accredited at the convention. I’m not going to talk about it too much cause its already being beaten to death in the blogosphere, but it is definately interesting that bloggers are being recognized as a legitimate force that cannot be ignored.

There was some other stuff I wanted to get into related to money and how much so-called “wars” cost. It is mind-bloggling how much is spent on the Iraq circus. FT had a good graphic on it yesterday, and of course on the net you can always find a simple yet effective site like this one.

Today’s Music:Terry Lee Hale – Tornado Alley

Hard to Blog

Well the situation has worsened. Besides being uncertain about how to spell w-o-r-s-e-n-e-d I am, apparently, not allowed in my current poor-excuse for an apartment, to get a phoneline! Yes.. the hypocracy and stupidity of Amsterdam and Amsterdam landlords. The moron in charge of my apartment, who’s not supposed to know I live there (apparently), is hoping the city government won’t know her last tennant died. I not only suspect that she killed him, I suspect my landlady is a nutcase and she’s depriving me of my human right to have a phone and hence – internet. UNACCEPTABLE. I have prepared a strategy, but my liberation day won’t come until September. For now, its back to computer labs, where I have managed to find wi-fi.

I have ten minutes to continue this blog, as far as Portugal goes, hats off to the Greeks.. they were just better. Portugal’s selfishness made me quite sad.. they are pampered individualists… I liked the Greek team’s German infuenced precision and collectivity.

Sadly, my neighbor in the Hague – Slobodan, the future of his trial at the ICC is in jeopardy because of his health. Sad news. Especially since I think its cute how long he’s kept this trial going. Who knew he’d be such a good lawyer.

Go learn about WIKI’s, Will is talking about them and they are super useful. Computer labs closing. Woa is me and me new netless life. I’m going to – gasp – read a book tonight.

Today’s Music: Elvis Costello – When I was Cruel

On to the Final

This is not a blog about sports. Its about things I observe and world events. But tonight its sports.. at least briefly. I’ve just returned from “Sport-Club Os Lusitanos” where an enclave of about 100 Portuguese people took over the street, spilling out of the club that as I walked in, reeked of celebration and yes-sweat. Both of those the bi-products of a 2-1 victory of over non other than the country where I now live – Netherlands.

I loved the energy at the club and on the street, especially in comparison to the utter sadness and silence from most of Amsterdam, where Dutch fans seemed either shocked or just wanting to forget. To their credit, they were quite civil. People on the street noticed my shirt, some smirked, most shouted “Portugal!” and waved as if to say – “yeah you’re ok.” Either that or… “If I could Id knock you off that bike right now.”

Anyway.. in the final Im predicting Czech-Portugal… and as much as I love the Czechs… I want Portugal to win that one… what a sweet story that would be.

Back real life, keeping in mind that football is a fantasy and our lives don’t actually improve if our favorite team wins. Transparency International has released their annual survey on corruption and corrupt nations. I’ve been reading the stats… overall corruption in political parties is the biggest frustration for citizens worldwide. YET- In the United States, people surveyed didn’t believe their parties were corrupt!? The Republican and Democratic parties aren’t corrupt? Imagine that. I also noted the high concern for corruption in utility companies, especially in the developing world. If you consider most of the countries have their utilities controlled by foreign multinationals, that may be a clue as to who brings corruption.

I may soon take Jeff Jarvis’s Buzz Machine off my primary blogroll. I grow tired of reading him daily.. especially when he spends his time badmouthing leftists and denouncing Michael Moore as the devil. I can understand being critical.. I’m in favor of that. But Jarvis is getting to damn conservative… I could stand to read that maybe only once a week instead of daily.

Today’s Music: Bill Frisell – The Intercontinentals (loving it)

Wacky Tall

Lots of unexpected things in my daily life and in the world. Starting with the small stuff, while giving two lovely ladies a tour of the Pijp, we ran into a open garden day where you could visit people’s gardens and they give explanations. The house we visited belonged to a British gentleman and he had great stories of how bad that neighborhood was in the 70’s. Prior to that garden visit, we had amused while running into this man and his wacky bike. I fought the urge to ask if I could try. I did manage to understand how you get on, first one foot on the back peg.. then you climb higher.

Speaking of climbing higher. I really didn’t think it would happen, but Portuguese Prime Minister Dur?o Barroso is the next president of the European Commission. Very odd. I dislike the man and his right-of-center privatization policies in Portugal. Now he’ll take his act to Brussels. This could be considered a liberation day in Portugal, ding dong the dork is gone. (what.. it’s catchy!)They had better have elections now! First off an elected official should never leave his post to take another job, that’s an insult to his electorate.. didn’t he take some vow to fulfill his duties? And if you do leave your post for another job, there shouldn’t be some “appointing” of another Prime Minister.. that sound more like a monarchy to me.

Big woop.. today was the so called “handover”… foreign troops still run the place. American firms still control most of the jobs. Violence is still plentiful. And the new government was appointed, not elected. But what really gets me is not the handover so much as the hypocracy that Iraq deserved to be liberated, yet Sudan’s genocide and years of carnage don’t warrant the same action.

Today’s Music: Alkaline Trio – Good Mourning

Midsummer Spending

Well it happenned. I didn’t want it to happen… but a few hours ago… it became reality that the Netherlands will face Portugal in the next round of the Euro. I can still hear the beep-beeping outside. I’ve talked enought about football lately, so Ill stop there.

So Michael Moore’s new film is out in the states. I looked it up, won’t arrive in here until late July. Stupid American-European distribution gap…. why was the Matrix able to come out on the same day world wide? At any rate, I’m enjoying the initial reactions from people, my good buddy in Queens told me that opening night people were clapping throughout the film (which could make one go crazy I suspect). He also said that at the end the audience gave it a standing ovation. Interesting. Still, I must acknowledge the backlash against this film and Moore in general. It’s hard to tell if its growing or not, but I see it often in the blogosphere.

I noticed the insane shopping list from the US Senate for military spending. Majikthise highlights the:



*$25 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

*$70 billion for planes, ships and weapons, “surpassing even the buildup of the 1980s”

*3.5% military pay raise along with increases in other benefits

*$10.2 billion for planned missile defense program, for which operational tests must begin in 2005

*Go-ahead for further research on 2 new nuclear weapons: a low-yield “mini-nuke” and a high-yield “bunker buster”



Any nation/group/individual that researches new nuclear weapons is insane. As usual I’m ashamed to be associated with such a government. Nevermind the overwhelming number of neglected children, elderly, and adults all over the US versus the money spent on “star wars”.. thats sort of a tradition. But seeking to produce the most destructive weapons the earth has ever seen, thats just baffling.

Today’s Music: Noir Desir – Des Visages des Figures