Tag Archives: UK

Field of Memories

Its been over 2 years, but I still go back there. The rims are actually in worse shape then they were back then, as if that were possible. Neighbors still walk through on their way home from work or the supermarket. You still have to be careful that the ball doesn’t roll into the street, in the direction of the Dutch marine base. The students still glance your way as they lock their bikes and head inside.

Back in the day, this court was bussling with activity on Thursday evenings or whenever our crew decided it was game time. 5 on 5, full court, half court, 2 on 2, we played it all. Rain… wind.. sun.. rain… rain. We played. It was Sweden vs Germany, Ireland vs. Norway, UK vs. Iceland, and of course, US vs. Canada. Man did we get our asses beat by team Canada. They even showed up in uniforms… we were baffled.

Some traditions never die in international Amsterdam. The pub crawls, the boat rides, the dinner parties, the meetings at Vondelpark. But one tradition that most definitely died after our year graduated, -never again was there a weekly basketball match. Never again was there a crew of people, who no matter how busy, or where their new apartment was, would find their way back to our sacred court for a match.

But I’m a bit like a ghost. I still haunt the court. I still run up and down and curse the wobbly rim, just like old times. People look over at me with blank stares, looking at the guy playing alone. I sometimes think they might be remembering those days as well.

See Me Live

Some of you seen me all live and fully clothed on the internets this afternoon. I talked a mighty talk bout podcasting, and I tried my bestest not to offend too many out there, but you know – the mouth, its got a mind of its own.

Still I think it went well. The audienced seemed chill and the virtual audience was pretty active and I loved seeing many of you asking me questions. Specially Joggl in Germany and BlondeButBight currently in the UK! Actually there were other questions from other friends, so thank you to all of you. Tomorrow I’ll see if I cant get a link to the archived video up.

Today I met Dijereedoo Jim, if I may baptize him with that blogname. He’s an Australian living here, but to simplify his identity in a few blog setences couldn’t do him justice. Among other things, we had a long talk about the yuppification of cities, since he had lived in the Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam back in 99, and it was then becoming, and is now, very trendy. The order seems to go, industrial wasteland, working class housing, artists, people who think artists are cool to live near, and then yuppies. With each level double the rent, while you’re at it.
Anyway I digress, the man rocks.

Tomorrow, it’s Stockholm for me, and Ill be podcasting of course. Soundseeing tours, with limited editing cause I gotta say, Garageband is simply not as cool as Audition. But, apparently MAC has a much cooler program called Soundstudio or something, and I must get it! Underground channels, can you help a new MAC bother out?

Sidenote: After the presentation a pair of MAC guys sat down with me and pulled out there 17 inch and 15 inch…. LAPTOPS… it was hot. I was sweaty. Those are so gorgeous machines, my baby 12 is a hotty too, but when you see those other chicas…. yowzah.

Eventually this blog will talk politics again, just not right now. Still, somebody should keep an eye on Bush, Congress, and the plan to drill in the arctic. I hear theyre reviving it bigtime.

Today’s Sounds: Dawn and Drew’s latest

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Bad Japan

Had a great first day as a podcast consultant for the magazine. Won’t say much more about it, cept that I thought alcohol flowed at the fishtank, at this place they drink in style- starting after lunch.

We got bigger fish to fry; today’s issue is the world. More specifically – I’m pissed off at the Japanese government. Few other nations, but Japan most of all, for this all-out effort to get a permanent seat in the UN security council.

Some of you may need a backgrounder. If you’re really against doing your own research, basically the UN-SC has five permanent seats held by the winning powers of WorldWar II. Recipe for disaster right from the beginning, a group of countries “win” a war and decide the world’s organization for peace and security should be run THEIR WAY. So the US, UK, France, Russia, and China are the only nations in the whole world that have permanent seats, as well as VETO power. 5 nations. Out of the entire world. Oh yeah there are 10 other rotating seats, whenever the music stops – isn’t that cute?

So I’m angry with Japan, and let me not forget Germany, because these two countries are licking all kinds of boots and trying oh so hard to create a new permanent seat for themselves. Japan and Germany, two nations that I normally look to for wisdom and experience, as they have been through it all historically, fighting to be a part of a flawed and unrepresentative body. Instead of demanding change or reform, instead of setting a global example, they just want a piece of the action. – LAME.

If this somehow doesn’t interest you, here’s a movie I think I helped develop, by that famous director xTx.

And if video doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe motorcycles do and you can listen to DucSloerie ride his Ducati somewhere near Amsterdam.

Today’s Sounds: Fugazi – End Hits

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Rise Up Zimbabwe

(a none rhyming poem)

Zimbabwe re-elected the president – again.

mr. president says he wants to stay in power til he’s a hundred.

powerful countries say they will fight tyranny around the world.

zimbabwe doesn’t have any oil or strategic location in southern africa.

hypocrisy? irony? stupidity? Inconsistency?

people are hungry. newspapers are closed. voices are murdered, arrested, silenced.

it’s time for an uprising, and not the kind with the guns or the invasions.

it’s time for scared people to get brave, and march into the presidential palace.

tear down the fences, open the gates, expose the emperor and the clothes he isn’t wearing.

do it now, do it without made in europe/us/russia guns. do it with made in zimbabwe strength.

that type of power and spirit cannot be imported, nor can it be quelled for long.

remember steve biko? remember patrice lumumba? remember ken sarowiwa? heros. then and now.

that’s my wish, as an outsider and cultural admirer, for you.

Today’s Sounds: Yeast Radio – Madge in Miami

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VBlogging Friends

I’m doing my tribute to video blogging today. But it’s hard to talk visuals when i have some kind of eye problem right now. In high school we used to call this pink eye or something, but I refuse to admit I could have such a thing. So I call mine, an eye irritation. But nevermind that, let’s talk about vblogging.

Don’t get scared, it’s not far off at all. Matter of fact, it’s already here. You know blogs (I hope), cause you’re reading one. And while the world may still send mixed signals in public, you also know about podcasting; sort of an audioblogging. So vbloging is the next step of course. In the natural progression, dating back to the typewriter, radio and television. People will (and are) record snippets of their daily lives, or a personal message, and publish it to their blog-style site. Direct, personal- media.

I know.. I know.. video bm? But think deeper, there are so many people in this world of internets. Obviously most of us can sneak a peek during work and read blogs. MAybe slightly less of us can pop on headphones or just load podcasts onto our mp3 players and listen to shows. So probably even less of us can sit and watch video blogs on our computers throughout the day. Even if those little handheld video players are getting more popular. But still… there are so many of you out there… some prefer text, others sound, and plenty — video. So, vblogging is definitely here to stay. Just ask the duke of the vblog… Anti. I think my favorite part of anti’s films are when he puts the caption under them with the title. It always has the little tag “a film”. Thats the part I love…. like “How to Brush your Teeth – a Film“

I playing with the Vblog system he recommends, but its far from perfect. Wanted to throw on a vb of my own here, but no dice. So instead I refer you to his work, as well as that of Madge Weinstein’s Insane Films, and the wide world of Vblogging. Look out world, it’s already here!

Today’s Sounds: Desperate Housewives is on lazy friday night Belgian TV

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