Tag Archives: UK

Shark Bite

Ladies and Gentlement: Shark Bite or Motorcycle injury? I thought to post this picture without Drock’s permission… it fits well on my blog, like a high school diploma over a fireplace – if you’ve got those.

The PT countdown has begun, Tuesday morning I’m hopping aboard a TAP flight to Faro and I’ll begin my vacation proclamation there. Heading straight to Lisbon after a swim in the ocean and dinner with my favorite Portuguese-Canadian now living in Algarve. During that time I’ve chosen a very special person as my guest weblogger… and he’ll be posting every other day, as per my commitment to all the readers out there. I’ll write up a proper intro on monday. Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest in guestblogging, I think I’ll have another week of guestblogging at the end of the month where I will have someone else. Oh, and of course I’ll still post during that time, I just don’t know how often.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi is one of the most elequent webloggers I know. That that I really know him personally, but his weblogging style is such that I feel like I do. Add to that, he’s Vice President of the Iranian parliament, which make’s me further admire him because of his genuine-ness despite his position of power. Compare his blog to the bland, fake, and stupid blogs from folks like G.W. Bush or John Kerry… they should call Mr. Abtahi and get some tips on how to blog.

Anyway I mention this Iranian gentleman’s blog because he wrote one of the warmest descriptions of the Austrian president’s funeral and his experiences on that day. If the manner with which he blogs is any hint of the caliber of young leaders in Iran, than I say the future looks bright. Despite the stupidity from the US state department, once again trying to manufacture hatred and conflict with Iran over the alleged Nuclear will of Tehran.

I’ve been heavy on the politics of late, not sure what it means. Probably nothing, world affairs have always been a huge concern for me, so that’s what I write about – beyond life observations.

Some basic ideas on the process of hostage taking in Iraq. I grow tired of the boring rhetoric from those who say “The Phillipines made a mistake by giving in to terrorism, it sets a bad example.” The fact is, kidnappings would continue regardless. There is no method to this madness. Look at the US, they – of course- hold their ground and don’t give in to kidnapper demands.. yet kidnappings continue. Phillipines gives in, remove their troops, and kidnappings continue. It really doesn’t matte how a nation responds, these are not groups that use a whole lot of reflection and method in their acts. This is desperation, and thus – illogical thinking. So nevermind “appeasing” or staying tough — this will continue.

I did have an idea on how to reduce the kindnappings: Don’t cover them. You always see the same setup, masked men holding a guy in front of them – POSING FOR A CAMERA. So lets imagine there’s no camera, or that the video never gets shown, you’ve then ruined their main priority, getting on TV. So then what good is kidnapping if no one knows about it? Anyone following me here? It goes back to the old “if a tree falls and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” question.. only its a bit more complex.

Note to self: Introduce Guestblogger, and talk about China and how my blog is getting big there.

Today’s Music:Death Cab for Cutie – PHotoablum

Tributes

It is now official. As of September I will be moving back to Oude Schans (Center of Amsterdam). This means that I won’t have to change the background of my blog just yet, because I’m still living on the ground floor of the white building you can see just to the right of these very words. I’m very pleased to be returning to the center of it all, the heart of tourism and canal life. I’m guaranteed a place there until January as my comrade is off to Bolivia to seek wisdom and other stuff you can cram into a thesis.

Actually on the subject of Bolivia, I’ve been trying to decide how I personally feel about the recent vote on expanding their natural gas exportation. The result of the vote was a YES, but as usual I’m very skeptical of liberal democracies. I’ve heard reports that the US and other foreign gas companies where heavily in favor of and pushing a YES vote. Furthermore I’ve read that the questions that were voted on were far too difficult for citizens to understand.

On the other hand I’ve heard this result means that the government will have more control over national resources, instead of foreign companies.

I think I’m starting to see the bigger picture: the president and his government want to make the big bucks and so do – more importantly – the big corporations. But the people might rebel and physically remove the government in the face of such a decision, as they pretty much did to the last president. So they devise a so-called democratic referendum which no one really understands, thus – down the line citizens won’t complain because they technically asked for their natural resources and countryside to be plundered in the name of progress.

The way that Doc Searls pays tribute to his family members via his website/blog is truly admirable. I hope that one day someone in my family will do the same. And I’ve decided to start working on a similar site for my grandparents on the Rendeiro and Fonseca sides. Photos, biographical info, stories. Placing them on the internet is as good a tribute as any, and for me – quite inspiring.

Note the Google Search function in the toolbar of this blog. This allows you or I to search my blog for certain subjects. I already started entering random words to see what weird shit I talked about.

Today’s Music: The Rasmus – Dead Letters

The Lance Dance

Lance is cool. The way he climbs a hill, crosses a finish line, shakes the Champaign bottle, or does an interview in French. Oddly enough, one of the biggest reasons I like him is that he’s an American, from Texas (I think.. right?).. yet he’s the king of the Tour de France, a very European competition — OK global really. To me, it’s a little like having the US soccer team win the world cup.. I think it would be nice. At any rate, he’s well on his way to winning his sixth tour.. which I think makes him a minor god. He comes across as extremely polite, modest, and worldly. And I’m enjoying watching him do it. On the other hand, I could understand how annoying it must be to cycling fans who want someone else to win.. nevermind those “other” cyclists. (note.. if you’re reading this blog for the first time, it is NOT usually about cycling at all!)

The SF Bay Guardian, one of my most favorite weeklies in the world, features a MUST READ story about the FCC and media consolidation. Incidentally the weekly now has a great new web layout. By must read I mean, if you haven’t already given up on the idea of having choices, representation, and freedom in your information diet. Camille Taiara writes it, when I did my graduate research on Alt Press, I tried my damnedest to get her involved.. but alas all I got was a “I’m to busy Mark” response email. Fear not Camille… I forgive you and still adore your work.

F-911 arrives in Amsterdam this week. And I’m going to do something highly unlike me… I’m going to the premier. Normally I watch movies one year after they’re out.. if I ever do at all. I just saw Lord of the Rings III… the whole time I felt like I was the last guy watching this film. Which, by the way, should have ended sooner, too much bullshit at the end.

And just to carry on the discussion or thinking about blogging as a huge global conversation, check out how Mathemagenic breaks it down. One think I noted from this post is how many bloggers out there – DON’T USE TRACKBACK! I trackback all the time.. in my sleep even.

Today’s Music: Been singing that new Maroon 5 while riding my bike.

Done it Differently

Someday I will be crowned Free-Tour of Amsterdam King, and my reign will be brief but legendary. Scores of visitors come and go these days: friends, old-friends… friends of friends, girlfriends of friends.. bring me your tired, huddled masses, yearning to breathe weed. It has left me quite exhausted, probably because I find myself telling the same funny squatter story so many times in one week. Still – don’t get me wrong – I love visitors.

There’s a question going through my head over and over again right now, besides “should I pour myself another hot chocolate,” it concerns the anti-war movement before the invasion of Iraq. Brooke at Bitter Shack of Resentment is working on a book which focuses on the successes and failures of the movement. And what should be done differently if this should ever happen again. (which of course, it will) So as a very active pacifist, I’m asking myself this very question, expecting some fantastical answer.

On the one hand, I know what the movement did right. Mass mobilization…as I wrote about back then, millions world wide on the streets expressing their disapproval of this military invasion.

But what should have been done differently, because in the end it did not stop what happenned.

Maybe nothing could have been done, because those with all the power have the ultimate say in these matters. The only thing I could think of is to really place ourselves in the paths of the machines, like the heavily criticized human shields were supposed to. But maybe that would still be seen as impossible and insane. One thing that should be pointed out is that we have not yet seen the full effect of the mass mobilizations in 2003. I’m referring to the political reprisals, which have been seen in Spain, Poland, and parts of Latin America. Where people have used the vote to express their dissent, even if it is now a bit late. We have yet to see how this will unfold in Britain, United States, Australia etc. But the signs are there, for instance in Japan or the Netherlands, where seemingly the entire population disagrees with their governments participation in this invasion, and they won’t forget that when they next go to the polls.

I guess I still haven’t answered the question, but i still think its too soon.

F/911 has reached the UK. Decent article in the Guardian related to that. Just a little bit further and it will be here at last!

Here’s one of those do-not-miss internet thingies. The Dick Cheney “Go Fuck Yourself” famous quote tshirts! They’re sellin like hotcakes. Maybe I’ll find one in Brussels this weekend.

Today’s Music: Bela Fleck – Communication

VP Eye Candy

The following is a shortlist of things I’ve done in place of when I would usually be net surfing:

  • Watching hours of TV, especially TV5 Secials

  • Sewing new yellow curtains

  • Reading “The History of Gay New York” by this Chauncey guy.

  • Showing visitors L and D around, and visiting the sex museum which is well worth the 2.50 entry.

    • This is what my life has become, that and finding Wi-Fi randomly in this city.

    I’m sure some might want me to talk about the Edwards VP announcement. Honestly, the first thing I think when I see these two together is: “Damn.. these boys are white.” I can’t say exactly why that’s the first thought, but its immediately what I notice. They are so dam white it’s annoying. I’m well aware that the other party is and has always put forth two white dudes, but for some reason – Kerry and Edwards symbolize the desire to sell a ticket to white America… making them feel “comfortable” like these guys are pure as a newborn lamb. (cause lambs are pure, Im telling you.) James Ridgeway calls the ticket “Business as Usual” which I think is another good point.. same old formula.. nothing new for the US.

    So as part of my new increase in television exposure, last night on TV5 I was emgrossed in a special on the state of Israel. Pardon the pun.. but MY GOD. What a wierd place. Again, pardon me for being culturally disrespectful for a moment, but Israel is a strange-ass country. Things I learned:

    Civil marriages are not possible in Israel! Only Orthodox.

    Everyone is automatically in the military unless you decide to study religion for a living. (I forget what thats called).

    If you choose to study religion as your occupation, you are paid to do so by the government, apparently for your whole life.

    The Shinui party is the fastest growing party in Israel and they are tired of the old traditional close-minded thinking.(I think I like them)

    Orthodox types hate cameras and if you point one at them they seem to flee.

    In summary, Israel is a strange country with policies that I think are not only unique, but unsustainable. But hey, that’s just me. I would appreciate being corrected by one of my wonderful Israeli readers.

    Today’s Music: Midtown – Living Well…

    MY Broken Internet Heart

    Well, the inevitable happenned.. though I wasn’t expecting it. My neighbor with the speedy Wi-Fi signal that I was tapping into.. he up and moved out this morning! Took his whole family with him. (which makes sense) I was crushed. At first I thought ” He must be doing spring cleaning in the summer.” Or ” Maybe he just unplugged the net while he moves boxes around.” Alas, it is not just an exercise in boxing, he’s gone. And using my keen detective skills I can see that my Wi-Fi is also. So, farewell Sitecom (XS4All) we had some good times together. Now a larger crisis looms, I have no net and no phoneline. Phase one – phoneline begins wednesday.. until then, I’m down with the masses in a *gasp* computer lab. Which means I can’t laugh at the screen (or talk to it) and I have to remember all my passwords.

    In my last post I believe I denounced Jarvis for being too damn conservative. Which I still maintain that he is. But, as Tony Pierce so quickly made me realize, it is not cause for me to take him off my blog roll or stop reading him. I had almost become one of those who only listens to opinions he likes. Which would make me fit in well in the Whitehouse.

    So look, I’m gonna come right out and say it, Saddam Hussein put on a decent defence and I don’t think he’s far from the truth on some points. Among them:

  • Refusal to recognize all illegitimate court – If you think about it, the country was taken by force, so who’s more legal – a dictator or an occupier?

  • The trial is a show for Bush’s re-election – It is indeed odd the timing of this trial

    • I also thought Tarik Aziz was mounting an interesting defence with the whole “you cannot convict me for crimes which were committed by a government” thing. Actually Aziz is wrong on that one though, they can and will.

    Overall the case is obviously a circus, a shadow of trial that really should have taken place in the Hague. All this serves to further undermine the International Criminal Court. But I’ll stay tuned anyway.

    Oh yeah, and Fuck Thomas L. Friedman and his moustache. Barbara Ehrinreich is thankfully writing in his place for a month or so.

    Today’s Music: REM – Reveal