Tag Archives: UK

When did it go Friday?

It’s probably best to stop talking about the visitation records that are being broken on this site. Two days ago yet another new record of 32 was set, mostly thanks to new visitors from Denmark! Welcome Denmark! I know I’ve got some great friends up there, maybe I’ve made some more.

I’ve put off writing about the Hubble Space Telescope for the last month, but it’s most certainly on my mind. I’ve heard it described as the single most important scientific instrument ever – and perhaps rightfully so. The hubble has allowed the people of earth to look far beyond this solar system, and discovered other galaxies, as well as answers regarding the orgins of our own galaxy. It has been doing so for fourteen years, and this past January an American NASA official decided not to conduct its scheduled maintenance, via a shuttle mission. This as a result of all the shuttle flight hysteria since the Discovery crash. Without the maintenance, the hubble won’t be fit to last more than a few more years…. effectively blinding us from the universe, and holding us back from making further discoveries. I find this to be insane. Therefore I support the movement to save the Hubble and carry out the maintenance.

I’ve found the time to really enjoy this spring weather here in Amsterdam. You can tell it’s spring not only by the weather, but by scenes such as this:



Which I’ve managed to ride around and photograph. This season also brings back the tradition of barbecues on roof-tops and in gardens, and long hours spent drinking something cold in the sun. It’s a bit of the lazy life for Amsterdamers when the sun decides to show up.

Today’s Music: Ani DiFranco – Up Up Up Up

Another Night of Horn

I’d like to say thank you to all you internauts out there, my blog set a new record for visitors yesterday… 26 in one day. Yes I know it’s a modest number, but I’m a modest guy, if you can ignore the narcissism of all this. My England visitors are increasing, and I suspect that my participation on livejournal has led a few people to wander over. If that’s your case, welcome!

I listen to alot of radio during the course of the day. Over breakfast and lunch, I’m tuned to the BBC Worldservice, in the late morning, if I can, I’m tuned to Dutch public radio. In the afternoon I tune into RFI – French Radio International, and I rarely miss Democracy Now, Off the Hook, and tons of other shows on WBAI-NYC. Late night I lose out on alot of sleep cause I’m still listening to my boys Ron and Fez in DC on WJFK. I even do what I can to contribute to the show with instant messages. Today it was the BBC that really had my attention, their program: Europe Today, did a special on Talinn, Estonia, and how the city (as well as the country) is changing with its entry into the European Union only one month away (May 1st!). In this segment they chose to focus on all the mobile phone companies that moved their factories there, reason: NO TAXES. Apprently they get huge tax breaks. Which reminds me of the type of strategy Portugal has to attract foreign investment. I’m an opponent of such deals. Those companies should contribute to the community.. not just come in cause its cheap… hire some people… fire some people.. and get out. I’d call this the dark side of joining the EU.

On a lighter note, I wish I was this guy:

It took him more then ten years to build his very own monorail system in his yard! How cool is that? Not very cool says you? OH I disagree… I’d ride in circles.. happily.

Today’s Music: Vinicious Cantuaria – Sol na Cara

Stole my heart.. that South Africa…

Sad news this morning from V in South Africa… she was so upset… her laptop (my laptop) was stolen from her office in Cape Town, while she was out at lunch. I felt bad for so many reasons, first and foremost because she really needed it, and anytime you get something that important stolen, it hurts. Second cause that’s my old laptop… my trusty old friend.. clunky yet somehow still hip enough to be wanted. I was looking forward to its return, I was going to make it a lynux machine. Dream postponed I guess… Now my laptop, filled with stickers from WBGO-Newark, Ajax-Amsterdam, Amnesty International, and Ben-n-Jerry’s ice cream, has found its way into the clandestine electronics market of Cape Town. I can only hope it brings joy and internet access to those who never had it. If you’re reading this blog from my stolen laptop.. I hope you grow to understand what you’ve done. Here is the last known photoof said laptop, taken last week… pictured is V working happily.

Now onto brighter news – In only 8 hours, I’m off to PARIS for the first time since 1996! Yes, I may have passed through there during some of my travels, but I’ve not actually set foot on Parisien ground since I was 16! I’m truely excited! Especially to be spending time with B and P who live happily with their girlfriends in that fair city. I shall be travelling via Thalys, which is great; a smooth, sleek TGV ride… I’ll take tons of photos, before even getting off the train.

Haiti Update: President Aristide, who has not resigned, arrived in Jamaica this week. Not sure what his plan is considering his enemies have taken over Haiti and the US supports them. Still, it’s of interest that Jamaica as well as the rest of CARICOM acknowledge that Aristide was the victim of an illegal coup propped up by the Bush Administration.

Paris… je vien!

Today’s Music: Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderment

Out my window I hear spain

As I glance out my Amsterdam window, I notice there’s quite a bit of sunlight lately. Take that all you NL critics who complain it only rains! Plus the days are getting longer… which is great.. I feel less guitly for sleeping in. I hate to jump the gun, but spring is in the air.. and that means outside bbq time and long aimless bike rides to taunt sheep and look at all the lovely people on their hip-n-cool boats. Here, have a look outside my window for yourself (yeah there’s commonly a car parked there):

Briefly I’ll touch on an issue that’s getting alot of attention, and perhaps rightfully so – The Spanish Election. First, I’d like to express great joy and the downfall of J.M. Aznar. I’m a huge critic of his policies and attitudes. He not only turns his back on his European Partners, he uses terrorism as his red-herring for military and political goals. So good riddance! In comes Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who I’ve followed for the past two years (not literally!) and am interested to see him take the helm. He’s not a revolutionary. But he may have something increasingly few leaders have – A SPINE!

Oh hey… my favorite Portuguese blogger helped me find a great report on the state of journalism in America. Its all here on a very sleek website. Want the highlights? Basically big media companies are losing their audience. To which I say – YOU DID IT TO YOURSELVES MORONS! And it’s supposed to get worse because without the audience.. they’re cutting back on things like… REPORTING! Brilliant! There’s no money because people don’t like us, so we’ll do an even worse job thanks to huge budget cuts! That’s why we’ll all better off right here in the blogosphere, where the air is cleaner. Sniff Sniff.

Today’s Music: Faudel – Samra (RAI music)

Flash.. AHH AAHHH

In less than 1 week I shall be on a TGV/Thalys train to Paris. As a train-o-file, I’m excited just to be getting on such a smooth ride… even if it has been around since 97 or so, it still seems so high-tech. So today when I noticed that they’re working on a China to Europe connection, I got super excited. At some point in my life, I hope to ride on such a train… Europe to China! Across Russia and Kazakstan! One day, oh yes.

This year there’s a conference that no one should miss, it’s called “The Fifth Hope: Hackers on Planet Earth.” It’s taking place in New York City and it will bring together some of the most creative and original characters in the tech world! You can hear more about it and get a general idea of the nature of this conference my listening to Off the Hook or Off the Wall at 2600.com I’m going to see if I make it out there in July, it’ll be sad to miss this one.

Fantastic documentary film that I’ve not yet seen, “Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus” It’s about the SOUTH of the US. It looks disturbingly interesting. And the music features some truely original artists. I’ve missed my chance here in Amsterdam, but I’ll be renting it over at Cult Videotheek ASAP.

Today’s Music: Curtis Mayfield – I forget the album

Part Time Lover

There has been an increase of UK residents visiting my blog in the past week, I’d just like to take the time to welcome them! Today I was totally enjoying the London Underground Blog and this video of a guy sliding down a huge escalator, that she had posted on there. Public transport stunts are the best.

So I grew up in NJ, as you may well know, and I was glad to read that unlike that coward Bloomberg, the mayor of Asbury Park and Governor McGreevey, have legally recognized gay marriages. They join the mayor of Seattle and of course, “America’s Mayor” San Fran’s Gavin Newsom. Hooray for my homestate! Oh and one last thing about gay marriages… I completely agree that this whole anti-gay marriage push is horrid. However, it should not underscore my distaste for the institution of marriage in general. Overpriced ceremonies, showers, gifts, clothing, food… I could care less for it. Nevermind the fact that I find it has become devoid of meaning. What Im saying is, in many ways – sure you should have the legal right, but why participate anyway, in such a crap tradition. Civil Unions all the way!

This week I bought a Portuguese book on weblogs by Mr. Antonio Granado a great journalist in Portugal. His blog has become the way I start the day, and we’ve even exchanged emails, which is great. I must become a well rounded scholar in the realm of weblogs and online communication! Speaking of which, my article on alternative journalists was submitted today to a scholarly journal in the states… I’ll be posting it on my website this week, as well as announcing if and when it gets accepted. Oh, and anyone in the Amsterdam area, an article of mine came out in this month’s “Insiders” published by the ISN. The online version should be available shortly. See, I’m earning my self-proclaimed title of a “journalist!”

Today’s Music: Art Blakey- Feelin Good (love that Caravan)