Tag Archives: US

bicyclemark71: The Dutch War Problem and Relationships in the Netherlands

Join the Mindcaster and myself as we sit in my garden and tackle cultural issues, especially relationships and civil unions in the Netherlands. (experimenting with a microphone… hence the odd sound)

AudioCommunique #71(mp3)
28min+, 80kbps, 16Mb+

Topics Include:
The Misuse of Public Funds by the Bush Admin
The Dutch government won’t share their intel on the Iraq War
Relationships, Living Together, and Civil Unions in the NL
The progressive aspects of culture here we forget about
Privatization of Electricity
Ryanne’s Video Blog is mentioned

Music Includes:
João Donato – Bye Bye Brasil
Bill Frisell – Perritos (Intercontinentals)
Lali Puna – Alienation (from Remixes and B-Sides)
Jay Unger – Ashokan Farewell
Lenin and Zelia Duncan – Naturalemente (from the João Donato Song Book)

Throwing Disc in a Few Hours

Apparently the frisbee team is playing against Arnhem in a few hours, and I’ve agreed to fill in for some missing players. I’ve never been to Arnhem and I wonder if the idea that since Amsterdam is that capital they will fear us, holds any water.

I mention these mundane daily life details because my mind is sort of on that, and it’s late, and I hope I don’t drop too many discs tomorrow. Beyond that its Saturday night and Ive been to three different meet-ups and this is an exhausting way to live. But instead of blogging about these useless details any further, I recommend you:

1 – Check what Madame L is up to
2 – Read the overflow of info from Lindsey
3 – And finally, the greencatfish, ladies and gentlemen.

Blonde But Gone

This post is about ex-pat life and the people who make up your life. Actually it doesn’t matter if you’re an expat, I’m sure where ever you live, you’re in the business of surrounding yourself with people you admire, enjoy, learn from, and just plain feel like “your people”. For many, family is a good source of this as well… unconditional love, I think they call it.

So as expats or anyone living too far from their family, those people you allow into your life and who’s life you’re allowed into, they act as more than just those you like to hit the town and drink one down with… they are vital components of who you are and the manner with which you go through life. They are your second family. And anytime one of those family members leaves, even if it isn’t forever, a part of you leaves as well.

Too dramatic, you think? It’s normal in an international city, says you? Perhaps. But last night the Mindcaster, myself, and some other friends, celebrated in honor of the departure of the great BlondeButBright. The famed blogger, academic, feminist, social critic, and pigeon hater. We joked and danced and even drank a bit, I think to both soak in some last moments for many months and to mask some of the sadness to see our friend go.

Fear not Amsterdam, BBB will certainly be back in 2006, refreshed and ready to once again take this town by storm. Until then, we’ll always have incriminating photos to make us smile thinking of that last crazy autumn night.

bicyclemark70: Whats Happening in Darfur?

An important interview with a friend who just returned from the refugee camps on the border with Darfur, Sudan.

AudioCommunique #70(mp3)
27min+, 80kbps, 15Mb+

Subjects Include:
Donahue
Is my show about Amsterdam or World Affairs – a response to listener mail
An interview with my friend Fannie direct from Montreal
A recommendation for action

Music Includes: (im tired of the amazon associates links)
Orchestre Baobab – La Rebellion
Phillip Glass and Ravi Shankar – Offering
Coheed & Cambria – Wake Up

My Ho Chi Min Trail

There was one specific New Jersey summer, when I was 16, that I picked up a copy of “On Revolution” – selected writings of Ho Chi Min. The book was 25 cents, and I recognized the name as one of those personalities from history that public school education teaches you was basically evil. Of course I was a skeptical kid, -still am-, so I knew I had to read the words of this alleged tyrant.

Though many of my memories from that year may have faded a bit, I still remember that book and how it captured my mind and my heart. Nevermind if you like him or don’t like him. Nevermind the good or bad he may have done in his life, I’m speaking about the person that came through in that book. To me, those words were filled with passion and dedication to basic principles, about the right of people not to be colonized or enslaved, and also to determine their own collective future. A bigger point that stood out for me, was how he spoke about patriotism. I can’t remember the exact quote, but I think it was that the greatest crimes in the history of the world have been committed in the name of patriotism.

That statement has always stuck with me throughout my life. I had always found all the flag waving and patriotism in the US unsettling. I actually felt a similar odd feeling when I lived in France and observed the patriotism that sometimes shows its face there. And when I look at this so called “WAr on Terrorism” and all the propoganda that comes with it, I can’t help but think of Ho Chi Min’s simple but often ignored conclusion.- The greatest crimes in the history of the world, continue to be commited in the name of patriotism.

By the way I’ve finally gotten back into reading Back To Iraq which is one of the best and first sources of blog journalism in Iraq.