The other day I came across something funny. It is called Holophonics, which is 3D audio. The best way to listen to them is using the biggest headphones you can find.
There are a lot more. Just use "holophonics" as keyword in search engine.
And this one is even better:
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Queen's Day 2008
Yesterday (30th of April) was Queen's Day here in Holland. Which is a BIG thing here. Bcos on this day you can see the normally dull, cheap and decent Dutch go WILD! And believe me, that can be quite shocking at times. Check out here for an example (also click on the links in there).
Let me first explain to you what Queen's Day is exactly. It is NOT the birthday of our present queen (which a foreigner might think), it is the birthday of her late mother, Princess Juliana. She was loved very much by the ppl, and on her b'day a lot of things where going on, and you could even go to the palace and congratulate her personally. When Beatrix took over, she decided that, out of respect for her mother, 30th of April will still be Queen's Day, even though Queen Beatrix's b'day is on 31th of January.
But for most of the ppl it doesn't matter who's b'day it is, it is just a great day to party. It already starts the night before. All the streets in A'dam (and other cities) are turned into "open air bars" and ppl drinking and dancing everywhere on the streets. YES, it is allowed to drink alcohol here on the streets. Well, actually it is not, but the police will turn a blind eye, unless you are really misbehaving.
Another tradition is the "vrijmarkt" (free market), which means that everyone is allowed to sell just about everything (within certain limits of course). In the big cities it already is turned into a professional market with professionals selling their stuff.
In the villages it still is the way it is meaned to be. Little kids selling their old toys, and other stuff.
Basically, an ideal situation to get rid of your old junk,........OR to buy some more old junk!
Also you can see some examples of the entrepreneurship that every Dutch have inside, no matter how young:
<-- Here you pull one of the ropes, which has a price attached. -->
Here you can bet which
goldfish will finish first.
Anyway, we kept it calmly, and just strolled around in a nearby town.
Anyway, my advise to you is, if you ever wanna visit Holland, make sure that you plan 30th of april in the trip. Believe me, it's worth it!
Let me first explain to you what Queen's Day is exactly. It is NOT the birthday of our present queen (which a foreigner might think), it is the birthday of her late mother, Princess Juliana. She was loved very much by the ppl, and on her b'day a lot of things where going on, and you could even go to the palace and congratulate her personally. When Beatrix took over, she decided that, out of respect for her mother, 30th of April will still be Queen's Day, even though Queen Beatrix's b'day is on 31th of January.
But for most of the ppl it doesn't matter who's b'day it is, it is just a great day to party. It already starts the night before. All the streets in A'dam (and other cities) are turned into "open air bars" and ppl drinking and dancing everywhere on the streets. YES, it is allowed to drink alcohol here on the streets. Well, actually it is not, but the police will turn a blind eye, unless you are really misbehaving.
Another tradition is the "vrijmarkt" (free market), which means that everyone is allowed to sell just about everything (within certain limits of course). In the big cities it already is turned into a professional market with professionals selling their stuff.
In the villages it still is the way it is meaned to be. Little kids selling their old toys, and other stuff.
Basically, an ideal situation to get rid of your old junk,........OR to buy some more old junk!
Also you can see some examples of the entrepreneurship that every Dutch have inside, no matter how young:
<-- Here you pull one of the ropes, which has a price attached. -->Here you can bet which
goldfish will finish first.
Anyway, we kept it calmly, and just strolled around in a nearby town.
Anyway, my advise to you is, if you ever wanna visit Holland, make sure that you plan 30th of april in the trip. Believe me, it's worth it!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Alec's first pets
"It is with great sadness that I have to inform you, that in the night from Saturday to Sunday, one of Alec's new pets, "Goldfish 2" passed away. Even though the actual cause of death remains uncertain, suicide cannot be ruled out."
Last Saturday we have bought 2 goldfish for Alec. After all, you can't start early enough with teaching him respect and responsability for all living creatures. We have been "preparing" him all week for this event. And finally we went to the garden centre, to the pet department. At first we passed by the big fish, you know, the Koi-carps. And since they just re-arranged the place, and we couldn't see the other part, we were already afraid that we had to buy a EUR 25,- fish the size of Alec's arm. Luckily, we saw the other department with the more suitable pets. We picked out 2 small fish, a fishtank and a small plant for oxygen supply. Alec was sooooo happy. The fish had to go where ever he went. When he was outside, the fish needed to be put on the table outside, and when he was inside, the had to follow as well. Of course fish aren't as mobile as alec, so we had to slow him down and tell him the fish needed to be put somewhere calm.
In the evening, he waved goodnight to the fish, and had to have them close.
Well, you already guessed it. In the morning one wasn't moving anymore.
Alec already knew what happened:"'isje kapot" ("fish broken"), "batterij op" ("battery empty"). it sure is a nice way of putting it, and it saves a lot of explaining about "going to heaven" and/or "becoming an angel" (yet).
Last Saturday we have bought 2 goldfish for Alec. After all, you can't start early enough with teaching him respect and responsability for all living creatures. We have been "preparing" him all week for this event. And finally we went to the garden centre, to the pet department. At first we passed by the big fish, you know, the Koi-carps. And since they just re-arranged the place, and we couldn't see the other part, we were already afraid that we had to buy a EUR 25,- fish the size of Alec's arm. Luckily, we saw the other department with the more suitable pets. We picked out 2 small fish, a fishtank and a small plant for oxygen supply. Alec was sooooo happy. The fish had to go where ever he went. When he was outside, the fish needed to be put on the table outside, and when he was inside, the had to follow as well. Of course fish aren't as mobile as alec, so we had to slow him down and tell him the fish needed to be put somewhere calm.
In the evening, he waved goodnight to the fish, and had to have them close.
Well, you already guessed it. In the morning one wasn't moving anymore.
Alec already knew what happened:"'isje kapot" ("fish broken"), "batterij op" ("battery empty"). it sure is a nice way of putting it, and it saves a lot of explaining about "going to heaven" and/or "becoming an angel" (yet).
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Me and Ajax
First of all, I am sorry for not posting here for a loooooooooong time. I have been very busy at work, and also haven't found any inspiration lately (or too much inspiration to choose from).
Anyway, I am back. And what a topic I can write about this time. People who know me personally, might fall off their chair.
I have been to a soccer match last sunday. And not just any seats, no....in one of the SKYBOXES!
And I had a great time!
I have never been so interested in soccer. Sure, I went to Amsterdam, with friends whenever Ajax or the National team was playing. And yes, I yelled and cheered just as loud as the next man. But I never had that passion, that feeling of US and THEM. And never really understood the fanatical passion of some supporters. Like the Feyenoord supporter who had a tattoo of one of the players on his shoulder.
Untill now. I've always said to myself, that I wanted to go to see a soccer match, if only just once in my life. Just to feel the atmosphere, the bond between the supporters.
And now I had an invitation from a befriended GSA (General Sales Agent) who we have done a lot of business with, to go to the match of the year. The last match of the season, with a chance of Ajax winning the championship. The opponent wasn't really a match, they won quite easily. However, all depended on the results of other matches being played simultaniously.
Unfortunately THAT didn't happen. For a while it looked like it, but in the first few minutes of the second half the team that was suppose to loose in the other match (PSV) scored a goal. It immediately influenced the atmosphere in the stadium. We had view on the area where the (in)famous F-Side was seated, and immediately we saw fights between supporters who got fustrated because their team wasn't going to be champion. And despite the way they stick to their team (beating everyone that critise their team, etc), I do admire their passion and the (unintended (?)) self-sacrefising for their team. And not only the Ajax-supporters have this, but ALL supporters, whether it's PSV, Feyenoord or AZ.
But what struck me the most is the farewell-party of John Heitinga. You just felt the bond between the supporters among themselves, and between the supporters and John Heitinga. He has been with Ajax ever since he was 7 (so I heard) and was living and breathing Ajax.
Anyway, this was my first soccer match, but it sure might not be my last. Hans & Frank, if you read this, TNX for the invite, and the great day!
John Heitinga's Farewell
Anyway, I am back. And what a topic I can write about this time. People who know me personally, might fall off their chair.
I have been to a soccer match last sunday. And not just any seats, no....in one of the SKYBOXES!
And I had a great time!
I have never been so interested in soccer. Sure, I went to Amsterdam, with friends whenever Ajax or the National team was playing. And yes, I yelled and cheered just as loud as the next man. But I never had that passion, that feeling of US and THEM. And never really understood the fanatical passion of some supporters. Like the Feyenoord supporter who had a tattoo of one of the players on his shoulder.
Untill now. I've always said to myself, that I wanted to go to see a soccer match, if only just once in my life. Just to feel the atmosphere, the bond between the supporters.
And now I had an invitation from a befriended GSA (General Sales Agent) who we have done a lot of business with, to go to the match of the year. The last match of the season, with a chance of Ajax winning the championship. The opponent wasn't really a match, they won quite easily. However, all depended on the results of other matches being played simultaniously.
Unfortunately THAT didn't happen. For a while it looked like it, but in the first few minutes of the second half the team that was suppose to loose in the other match (PSV) scored a goal. It immediately influenced the atmosphere in the stadium. We had view on the area where the (in)famous F-Side was seated, and immediately we saw fights between supporters who got fustrated because their team wasn't going to be champion. And despite the way they stick to their team (beating everyone that critise their team, etc), I do admire their passion and the (unintended (?)) self-sacrefising for their team. And not only the Ajax-supporters have this, but ALL supporters, whether it's PSV, Feyenoord or AZ.
But what struck me the most is the farewell-party of John Heitinga. You just felt the bond between the supporters among themselves, and between the supporters and John Heitinga. He has been with Ajax ever since he was 7 (so I heard) and was living and breathing Ajax.
Anyway, this was my first soccer match, but it sure might not be my last. Hans & Frank, if you read this, TNX for the invite, and the great day!
John Heitinga's Farewell
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Riders on the storm
Sorry to all the Doors-fans out there, ending up on my blog hoping to find some info on their favorite band, but this has got nothing to do with the Doors. I just needed to nice title to go with the subject on hand. You see, the other day I read an article in the newspaper about those appendixes to contracts you need to sign when you want to hire a band or artist, the so called "riders". When you want to have a band or an artist performing for you, they will show up for their gig only if certain demands have been met. Those demands are all written in the riders, and can vary from funny to damn-right outragious. One of the most famous ones is of course the one from the legendary rockband Van Halen, who demanded a big bowl of M&M's, with ALL the brown ones removed!
When I first heard it, I thought it was a bit excessive, although funny. I already was picturing the stage-hand going through an huge pile of bags, manually removing (and maybe even eating) all the brown M&M's, till he won't be eating them for the rest of his life.
Now I just read that this demand had served a purpose. Since the band always toured with complicated and some sensitive equipment, it needed some expert set-up. After one of the roadies almost got electrocuted, due to a bad connection, they needed something to be able to check if their conditions were met. That's were the big bowl came in. Whenever they found a big bowl with M&M's they knew the other part had read their contract. Pretty smart, huh?
And how about miss Britney Spears? She wants an UNLISTED OUTGOING ONLY telephone line (note the capitals). If the number of that phone line is published, the promoter gets a $5.000 fine. "Sorry, wrong number!".
And you all might know that Amy WINEhouse does her name justice. So, it may not come as a surprise that her dressing room demands is filled with alcoholics or coctail ingredients. Just a few items: 2 bottles of red Rioja wine, 1 case of beer (NO STELL OR CARLING!), 1 large (what else?) bottle of vodka, 1 bottle of champagne, 1 bottle of Courvoisier. I sure hope it's not for her alone, but considering her reputation, I fear the worst.
And she is not the only one requires alcohol. On each rider there is some alcoholic beverages.But the one from Sheryl Crow cuts the cake. She orders a drink specifically for that day, i.e. on tuesday 1 bottle of Bombay Gin and a large bottle of Schweppes Tonic.
Another funny one. Legendary hardrock band Guns 'n' Roses has listed on their wanted list "1 assortment of adult magazines (i.e. Playboy, Penthouse)
Did I mention any Diva's here already (besides Amy Vodkahouse)? Don't think so. Well, for starters there is the ever so lovely Christina Aguilera. Contact the local police station before booking her to perfomr for you, as she requests a police escort from and to her hotel.
As you already might have noticed, all links end up on the same place on the net, and that is The Smoking Gun. Here you can find a whole list of riders of all sorts of artists. Go and check it out. One tip, DO check out the one from Iggy Pop! That one is just hilarious!
Just a small fragment on his rider on how his dressing room should look like: " You know what really would be nice? If you could make his room look less like a typical rock & roll dressing room and more sort of......Interesting? Are you with me? Just let someone loose with a little bit of artistic flair..er, do you know any homosexuals?"
When I first heard it, I thought it was a bit excessive, although funny. I already was picturing the stage-hand going through an huge pile of bags, manually removing (and maybe even eating) all the brown M&M's, till he won't be eating them for the rest of his life.
Now I just read that this demand had served a purpose. Since the band always toured with complicated and some sensitive equipment, it needed some expert set-up. After one of the roadies almost got electrocuted, due to a bad connection, they needed something to be able to check if their conditions were met. That's were the big bowl came in. Whenever they found a big bowl with M&M's they knew the other part had read their contract. Pretty smart, huh?
And how about miss Britney Spears? She wants an UNLISTED OUTGOING ONLY telephone line (note the capitals). If the number of that phone line is published, the promoter gets a $5.000 fine. "Sorry, wrong number!".
And you all might know that Amy WINEhouse does her name justice. So, it may not come as a surprise that her dressing room demands is filled with alcoholics or coctail ingredients. Just a few items: 2 bottles of red Rioja wine, 1 case of beer (NO STELL OR CARLING!), 1 large (what else?) bottle of vodka, 1 bottle of champagne, 1 bottle of Courvoisier. I sure hope it's not for her alone, but considering her reputation, I fear the worst.
And she is not the only one requires alcohol. On each rider there is some alcoholic beverages.But the one from Sheryl Crow cuts the cake. She orders a drink specifically for that day, i.e. on tuesday 1 bottle of Bombay Gin and a large bottle of Schweppes Tonic.
Another funny one. Legendary hardrock band Guns 'n' Roses has listed on their wanted list "1 assortment of adult magazines (i.e. Playboy, Penthouse)
Did I mention any Diva's here already (besides Amy Vodkahouse)? Don't think so. Well, for starters there is the ever so lovely Christina Aguilera. Contact the local police station before booking her to perfomr for you, as she requests a police escort from and to her hotel.
As you already might have noticed, all links end up on the same place on the net, and that is The Smoking Gun. Here you can find a whole list of riders of all sorts of artists. Go and check it out. One tip, DO check out the one from Iggy Pop! That one is just hilarious!
Just a small fragment on his rider on how his dressing room should look like: " You know what really would be nice? If you could make his room look less like a typical rock & roll dressing room and more sort of......Interesting? Are you with me? Just let someone loose with a little bit of artistic flair..er, do you know any homosexuals?"
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Happy New Year!!
Here I would like to wish you all a Happy 2008!
May all your wishes come true this year. I hope you all had a good New Years Eve. You spend it with the family, or with friends?
For us, we decided to take things easy, this year. We have been to Paris and Disneyland this X-mas (pics too follow), and Alec had enjoyed himself a bit TOO much, becoming a bit ill from too much excitement. So we just stayed at home, I bought some fireworks (read here about that crazy dutch tradition), we had some oliebollen, and woke up Alec before hell broke loose.
Nothing much, nothing special.
May all your wishes come true this year. I hope you all had a good New Years Eve. You spend it with the family, or with friends?
For us, we decided to take things easy, this year. We have been to Paris and Disneyland this X-mas (pics too follow), and Alec had enjoyed himself a bit TOO much, becoming a bit ill from too much excitement. So we just stayed at home, I bought some fireworks (read here about that crazy dutch tradition), we had some oliebollen, and woke up Alec before hell broke loose.
Nothing much, nothing special.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thank God it's X-mas
As you might already have found out, it is nearly X-mas, and I don't know about you guys, but for me, it is always a special time. The whole atmosphere changes here in Holland after "that old fart with his white horse" is gone. Lights start to appear on the houses, shops have a little more different appearance, more friendly, welcoming. It just makes the early sunset a little more bearable.
And I know that X-mas has been heavily commercialised, and that the Dutch coziness ("gezelligheid") is forced upon us with even greater force than normal, but somehow I don't really mind.
Today, we went on a shopping-spree in Amsterdam. Well, not really a spree, since we didn't really buy much, and were more window-shopping. But just the whole atmosphere is just so friendly, with the lights, and the X-mas decorations in the shops.
Of course there were also the huge amount of tourists, coming to Amsterdam for the shopping, or smoking certain products Amsterdam is famous for, or both. Somehow it just adds up to it all.
Still, I am missing the X-mas markets like they have in Germany. We actually had planned to go to Dusseldorf or Koln, but since Alec has been ill this week, we decided to take it a little easier
this weekend.
I don't know if you ever been to a German X-mas market, if you don't, just hop in the car and go. It really is worth it. Oh, and don't forget to bring your appetite!
A few years ago, Amsterdam made an attempt to have a X-mas market to. I am not sure what they had in mind with it, but it just was hilarious, if you are used to the German ones. Only the Beurplein had a few stands (for those of you who know Amsterdam) and that's about it. On their defence, Amsterdam isn't really a city where you can have a market like that, with those narrow streets, and all.
Anyway, we probably won't go to a X-mas market this year, but we sure will go next year.
Meanwhile I am just going to enjoy the Dutch "gezelligheid"!
And I know that X-mas has been heavily commercialised, and that the Dutch coziness ("gezelligheid") is forced upon us with even greater force than normal, but somehow I don't really mind.
Today, we went on a shopping-spree in Amsterdam. Well, not really a spree, since we didn't really buy much, and were more window-shopping. But just the whole atmosphere is just so friendly, with the lights, and the X-mas decorations in the shops.
Of course there were also the huge amount of tourists, coming to Amsterdam for the shopping, or smoking certain products Amsterdam is famous for, or both. Somehow it just adds up to it all.
Still, I am missing the X-mas markets like they have in Germany. We actually had planned to go to Dusseldorf or Koln, but since Alec has been ill this week, we decided to take it a little easier
this weekend.
I don't know if you ever been to a German X-mas market, if you don't, just hop in the car and go. It really is worth it. Oh, and don't forget to bring your appetite!
A few years ago, Amsterdam made an attempt to have a X-mas market to. I am not sure what they had in mind with it, but it just was hilarious, if you are used to the German ones. Only the Beurplein had a few stands (for those of you who know Amsterdam) and that's about it. On their defence, Amsterdam isn't really a city where you can have a market like that, with those narrow streets, and all.
Anyway, we probably won't go to a X-mas market this year, but we sure will go next year.
Meanwhile I am just going to enjoy the Dutch "gezelligheid"!
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