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Archives: December 2004
MarsEdit 1.0fc3: final candidate release
MarsEdit 1.0fc3 is a final candidate release. Will it or won't it be a serious competitor for Ecto?
Testing now...
Some first remarks:
-I am missing the iTunes tool... :(
-the icons on MarsEdit are surely better...
-Missing the drag and drop for images -working fine in Ecto, although some things are missing there too-
-Adorable image insert, with left, center or right outline, which is missing in Ecto.
-Missing the text tools of Ecto and easy HTML tagging, which is a drop down in MarsEdit: unconveniant...
Overall idea: Ecto: get a better lay out....
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Technical stuff
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Radio 1 interview
Some personal critiques on the interview:
-wow, man, I was expecting to hear Kurt and Jetteke in my ears, but was stunned to hear myself loud and clear in the headphones. It explains my hesitation when talking about my 'school'. Anyhow, considered 1 second to say 'cut' and restart. But then again, no mistakes were allowed..
-too many euhs
-my Flemish sounds pretty General Dutch -as we have to speak it officially...-, so i am pretty happy about that.
Want to hear it for yourself? Listen here, and click on 'Herbeluister laatste aflevering'
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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First violin, second violinFirst violin, second violin
The story of Wissam Tayam, the Palestinian violinist who played for Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the Beit Iba checkpoint near Nablus, aroused widespread public debate. But the women of Machsom [Checkpoint] Watch, whose Horit Herman-Peled filmed the incident, say that they saw no particular significance in it because they are exposed every day to much worse scenes. The women were even disappointed about the stir the picture of the musician created, when a picture of women and children crushed in the "carousel" (as the checkpoint's revolving door is called) goes by unnoticed.
The incident raised a number of questions. Among them: Is there place for association with pictures of Jewish musicians in the death camps, or is this another case of cheapening the Holocaust? Herman-Peled was shocked both by the banality of the incident and the indifference of those present, including the members of her own organization.
A video of a boy playing a violin at a checkpoint caused a public debate, while other incidents didn't do anything.
The first official reaction of the IDF Spokesman, received by Haaretz last Wednesday, stated that the incident was a case of "insensitivity" of soldiers at the checkpoint, who "deal with a complex and dangerous reality."
Anybody in Israel will tell you the difficult circumstances soldiers are in. Is this Palestinian a bad guy or not?
Is his guitar holding a bomb?
During the past year, 16 terrorists were caught in that checkpoint. Just two days ago it became known that a terrorist who sowed death in the streets of Israel smuggled in the explosives in a guitar. It may be that once burned by a guitar, one will be careful of a violin.
Correct. No doubt about that.
But yet, sometimes there seem to be 2 weights in the balance:
This week it was announced that a case, where soldiers shot at a vehicle belonging to the Nablus Municipality, killing Ahmed al-Karini, had been closed after the soldier who shot al-Karini had already been punished at a disciplinary hearing. The punishment: a week in military jail and another week's suspended sentence.
When asked for an interview, it is almost impossible to explain what Israel is about.
People here don't know the normalities, nor the real abnormalities.
We don't know where to situate the actions because we don't know the society nor the culture.
When a soldier shoots a kid, do we know in which pressure he is, what he saw or experienced in his past.
When we see a suicide killer, do we know who he is, what happened to him, and for which reasons he is doing it?
Who are we in Europe to judge?
And yet, why wouldn't we? Why wouldn't we say to 2 nations: 'hey guys, you are going crazy...'
Do they realize when he calls for a war 'In the name of God', or they call for a 'Jihad' -holy war-, or they say they are 'the Chosen People' they are all talking about the same God they re referring to?
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Living in Israel
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Ask Mozes...
While researching some topics, I found this amazing site: Ask Mozes.
With answers on: Are Jews Normal?
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Living in Israel
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Ex-employees of Sabena found new airline
BEAP (Belgian Employees Aviation Promotion) is giving more info tomorrow.
Be aware, the first thing they will open up with is 'Cheap flights for new start'
Better to be fast!
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Genetically engineered plants detect land mines by changing color
Genetically changes, good or bad, gets a different approach when reading this article:
When the roots of these GMO flowers hit nitrogen dioxide (which leaches into the soil from buried land mines), the plant changes color.
Link
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Linking context
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Thoughts on G*d
My grandmother had a happy birthday last weekend.
We were all sitting on the table and enjoying talks on nothing and everything.
I always knew my grandparents on my father's side as quite religious and in that way, going to church every Sunday.
Me I am not such a believer. I mean, what does it matter? Do I go to heaven? I will never know. Do I live twice? Well I don't remember a life before, so what? Is there a god? Well if there is, where the heck is (s)he?
My father opposes these thoughts. And in away, doesn't expect anybody to make a statement upon them.
He believes. He believes in the Resurrection.
I don't. Can you believe all the death coming out of the graves?
And suddenly my little grandmother made this tiny remark, putting my world upside down: 'Where would they all stand if they get out of the graves?'
My grandmother that always seemed so convinced about going to church revealed another side 'I decided not to think about all this stuff, and to this day, I am happy about that, not to bother. What does it matter?'
My grandfather, for a long time chairman of the 'ChurchFactory' -the organization that leads a church- shocked my world as well.
'We have to admit, when we look at this world, that is infinite in the big and the small, there has to be a power that created it. Because there was something before it was created...' continued by 'But the Church did so much wrong... They invented all this... stuff.'
And my grandmother 'We were not allowed to read the bible, or we would be not faithful', and my grandfather 'And they didn't want to change the view of a flat world, because it endangered their position... And all the treasures they have hidden between the walls in Rome'
Those 2 people, who I thought to know, suddenly revealed something so different. From my view of so many years of going to church as loyal christians, they changed in somebody they probably were all the time. Only I don't know who they really are.
What are their thoughts, their concerns, their fears, their happiness?
What is it to be old?
Is it harder to believe, or easier?
Is their God harsher?
Or softer?
Does it exist?
Posted on December 2, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Relevant
And in the end
the love you take
is equal to the love
you make
by The Beatles, 'The End', Abbey Road.
cited by a dear friend.
Posted on December 3, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Blog defined
Meriam-Webster declared yesterday that based on lookups in their online dictionary, the "#1 Word of the Year for 2004" is (drumroll and eyeroll)... "blog."
Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.
Also-rans include "incumbent,""insurgent,""hurricane," and "peloton," defined as the "main body of riders in a bicycle race."
Link
Posted on December 3, 2004
in Technical stuff
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Driving through Ghent...
And suddenly I feel home again, a smile comes on my face.
I love this city, I truly do.
Time to find an apartment and move to where I belong...
Posted on December 4, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Looking for an apartment
Depending on financial status and hopefully well ending job applications, I am looking for a nice (cheap) apartment in the center of Ghent.
I am one person only, no need for many extra's, but center is preferred.
Can be with roommates -if I do have my own room...-
People who have good tips, please mail me.
Posted on December 4, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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The Photographer As Activist
See a lecture with Sebatio Salgado here
Posted on December 5, 2004
in Linking context
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tools to remain competitive
Paul Allen has this fantastic list of tools to stay competitive as a "I have outsourced everything"-entrepreneur:
"PayPal. Many small companies exist on revenues that come through their PayPal account. It is quick and easy to setup a PayPal account and collect payments from PayPal users and from credit card owners.
eBay. Imagine the power of being able to reach tens of millions of buyers by listing items for sale on eBay. If you haven't tried this for your business, you've got to. Hundreds of thousands of people make a living on eBay.
OSCommerce. Good open source developers can develop a powerful ecommerce web site on top of this open source package. Worldhistory.com will soon launch it's ecommerce site built on this platform for less than $1,000. Besides OSCommerce, SourceForge.net lists hundreds of additional open source software projects that are available for download.
eLance. To find developers for your next project, you can post a project description on eLance.com and get several (sometimes dozens) of bids for your project. You can quickly see the portfolio of projects the developers have already completed, and choose your developer.
Alibaba. Alibaba is trying to become the leading business-to-business e-commerce portal in the world. The company raised $82 million in venture capital earlier this year. If you need to find a manufacturer in Asia or anywhere in the world, for that matter, to produce your products; or if you want to import and sell anything, chances are Alibaba will put you in touch with the right companies."
Save it and try all of them.
Posted on December 5, 2004
in Linking context
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Egyptians release Israeli 'spy'
Egyptians release Israeli 'spy':
Egypt releases an Arab-Israeli man jailed on spying charges in return for six students held by Israel.
2 remarks:
1. This means that Egypt and Israel are talking! -which is good news-
2. Israel releasing an Arab-Israeli man. Don't want to sound too negative. But it sounds as if it was a spy... ;)
Posted on December 5, 2004
in Living in Israel
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Carrie's looks
I found this amazing site....
Sex in the city, the site, offers ALL the looks of EVERY episode of SitC....
This is a link for Tamar....:
http://www.hbo.com/city and click on Scrapbook if you want to see the amazing links...
Posted on December 5, 2004
in Linking context
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Belgium is not that bad... ;)
Just read 2 positive notes in a Belgian newspaper:
1. Belgians are richest citizens in the Eurozone
--> 1 Belgian in 4 has more than 50.000 Euro, without counting real estate etc. (I am wondering who those Belgians are, I guess they are our grandparents... Because young people don't have this money.)
2. Flanders is in top 5 of education, worldwide.
--> We seem to be champion in matematics, are in the top for solving problems, is second for reading (after Finland) and is fifth for science.
I wonder if 1. has to do with 2...
Posted on December 6, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Big Media is not listening
Another quote of Dan's We the media.
"Journalists are beginning to get it." [...] "However, I'm still not convinced that Big Media is doing the most important thing: listening. We are still in a top-down mode and don't realize that the conversation is more important than our pronouncements. I see progress, but not enough".
found at Loic
Posted on December 7, 2004
in Linking context
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Bush Gives $20 Million Directly to Palestinians
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Wednesday resumed direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority as part of a renewed push for peace following the death of long-time leader Yasser Arafat.
Huh? Yasser, fill in those papers for USAid!
Posted on December 8, 2004
in Living in Israel
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Cell Phones Work as Tour Guides
Sightseers in major cities no longer need a tour guide or travel book to point out local landmarks. Several startup companies now offer tours delivered by cell phones.
Imagine being guided through Ghent by Kamagurka, while the gps in your mobile locates you and nice spots and this while Kamagurka is telling you all the buzz.
Yep, indeed, good idea.
Posted on December 8, 2004
in Technical stuff
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PhotoBlog new visitor records
14.466.993 hits
1.529.714 pageviews
Today beyond 15 million hits.
Posted on December 9, 2004
in Projects - PhotoBlog.net
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Good Old Phones becoming popular again
They finally understood it: phone bills have to go.
If I am not mistaken, we are on Scarlet already. So Guido, check it out...
Posted on December 9, 2004
in Technical stuff
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Bush in Brussels?
Bush will come to Brussels on Feb. 22.
I wonder what will happen. Certainly some demonstrations can be expected.
Posted on December 9, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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To scare you guys!
Hot laptops could cause infertility:
Men should keep their laptops off their laps because they could damage fertility, according to a new medical study released today...
Posted on December 9, 2004
in Linking context
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The Six Myths of Creativity
1. Creativity Comes From Creative Types
As a leader, you don't want to ghettoize creativity; you want everyone in your organization producing novel and useful ideas, including your financial people.
2. Money Is a Creativity Motivator
People put far more value on a work environment where creativity is supported, valued, and recognized.
3. Time Pressure Fuels Creativity
Time pressure stifles creativity because people can't deeply engage with the problem.
4. Fear Forces Breakthroughs
Creativity is positively associated with joy and love and negatively associated with anger, fear, and anxiety.
5. Competition Beats Collaboration
When people compete for recognition, they stop sharing information.
6. A Streamlined Organization Is a Creative Organization Creativity suffers greatly during a downsizing.
Posted on December 10, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Halliburton Work in Iraq Tops More Than $10 Billion
Halliburton Work in Iraq Tops More Than $10 Billion:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Halliburton, the Texas company once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, has been given more than $10 billion worth of business in Iraq so far despite critical audits and investigations into its work.
I remember reports of this BEFORE the war in Iraq, where a Belgian philosopher put his opinion and got remarks of being anti-America, anti-semite, and loads of more anti's.
When in Iraq, in 2002, I realized the game was going to be on power and on money.
The people in the street came to us and asked: Do you think a new war will come over us?
Back then, in April 2002, the answer on that question was still far away.
Journalists sitting together in one hotel room in Hotel Palestine from dusk till dawn, in Bagdad centre, were making prognosis of the future.
I wonder how today a Colin Powell feels, after knowing they gave him the wrong evidence for WMD, or how a Hans Blix feels, seeing what a horrible war is being fought, although he kept on convincing to do more weapon-inspections.
What is this war about?
It surely wasn't about the WMD...
Posted on December 10, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Canada to Move on Gay Marriage
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Supreme Court of Canada gave the federal government the go-ahead on Thursday to legalize gay marriage, prompting Prime Minister Paul Martin to announce plans to introduce a redefinition of marriage early next year.
Go for it, Anitas and girl.
Posted on December 10, 2004
in Linking context
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While checking for flights...
I found this:
At ryanair.
Flying for free???
And while checking the details I indeed found this solution:
Somebody wants to join me for a christmasshopping in Barcelona?
Posted on December 10, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Yuschenko's face...
Weeks ago there was already a rumor on different sites.
I remember telling it to my mum or sister, when he appeared in the news. She didn't believe me.
Today it is confirmed: Yuschenko was poisoned...
The difference is huge. From a handsome guy into an old man.
Dioxin...
We had a dioxin crisis here in Belgium, many poisoned chickens, that, indeed, were eaten by people.
But I don't remember one case of such deformation of the skin.
Imagine how much he ate...
via CNN.
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Yuschenko's name
Well, while browsing the news it is quite funny to see they write Yuschenko in the Netherlands like Joesjenko and in Belgium like Joesjtsjenko.
We are talking the same language, aren't we?
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Linking context
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Fallujah, where did you go?
Oh yeah, we hear about Iraq in the news, about the amount of new dead, or fights here and there.
But how's Fallujah, or the people behind?
Where do they live now. What happens to them.
This kind of background news is something I miss in the daily news, where there is a focus on fresh things, not on the life time stories behind.
How things are going in Fallujah? Horrible it seems.
How things will be going? Even more frightening I think.
Back to Iraq gives an interesting opinion.
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Linking context
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MarsEdit 1.0 Reviewed
The final release...
And yes. Ranchero did keep his promise to change some of the things.
Nice look and feel.
An ITunes script is inserted.
Nice image-import with super maintaining, but misses the drop and resize feature of Ecto. -Although, Ecto misses a resize option of the thumbnail too...-
I would opt to have the preview as a drawer -I hate all those different windows-
And a faster reach to the tags would help -I don't want to select a drop down first...-
But hey, he is convincing me...
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Technical stuff
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iZoom
iZoom must be the sweetest freeware I found until today.
It is great. A little application of only 293kb that resizes your pix in a blink. Perfect for blogging. No more opening of high res images with PhotoShop, and resize them manually.
Great also for making smal icons in the right size.
Hmmmm. I like.
Only for mac.
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Technical stuff
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Sunday, bloody Sunday
by G.W Bush.
Fabulous...
Posted on December 12, 2004
in Music
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New future of advertising?
Home-Brew IPod Ad Opens Eyes:
An animated ad for Apple's iPod made by a schoolteacher is thrilling buzz marketers. Forget word-of-mouth -- the future of advertising is in professional-looking ads that go viral. By Leander Kahney.
Posted on December 13, 2004
in Linking context
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Google to scan famous libraries
The libraries of some of the world's most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google.
Or the Unlimit of my knowledge...
Posted on December 14, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Belgium-Israel
Today Belgium signed an agreement with Israel to make better trade, cultural exchanges and much more.
The signing was pretty important, because Israel needs these cooperations to get out of an economical impasse.
Belgium in that matter said at the beginning of the intifada that it would not support any side, until they started peace talks.
These peace talks started recently, and they keep word.
More cultural exchanges between Israel, Palestinian areas, and Belgium, is something I support.
It could become an interesting dialogue.
Me for that matter, am going to present work in a gallery in Tel Aviv, in May.
Nothing political, just art ;)
Politics... Belgium is as good in playing 'Janus' as many others.
While so called supporters for the Palestinians -see trial against Sharon etc.- big deals were done through the Antwerp scene of diamonds. And when there was a crisis in this area, when some politicians wanted to oppress Israel by boycotting their products, as fast the oppression was recalled, because of a fear of loosing the Antwerp diamond-scene.
Diamonds are forever...
Posted on December 14, 2004
in Living in Belgium, Living in Israel
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Comes in handy: Craig Froehle's Digital Photo Printing Worksheet
If you have ever wondered how big you can print your digital photos, then wonder no more, as Craig Froehle has published a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that will work it out for you.
"One question I get asked a lot by friends and family is “how big can I print this digital photo?” My answer is always “it depends,” which then requires a lengthy discussion of pixels per inch and viewing distance and other mundane topics.
So, I put together a little Excel spreadsheet that should help you determine what size prints you can make with reasonable quality based on the size of the digital photos you have. You can get it here or click on the screen capture below (you have to have Microsoft Excel to use the file)."
Website: Digital Photo Printing Worksheet
Posted on December 14, 2004
in Linking context
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The Kids Aren't Alright
UNICEF last week released its annual report on the state of the world's children. What it found isn't encouraging.
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Santa Claus Wishlist
Santa Claus Wish List
001. A nice and quiet life when I am 30
002. A busy and noisy life before
003. A ticket to Tokyo -Did it, now Hong Hong second time and longer, and Shangai please-
004. A ticket to New York -but a second is ok- third one?
005. To make a photodocumentary on crimes, without showing anything of that crime.
006. A nice bottle of bubbles for a nice evening in the park with my friends
007. A stay over in the famous architectural hotel in the middle of Patagonia
008. A brand new apple g4 with Mac os x. sooooo beautiful. -but a new Photo-Ipod and Airport dock might be nice... Okok, a nice 23/30 inch screen...
009. Get .verzameld werk. Of Herman de Coninck .Best poet ever.
010. A house to live in, and beautiful designed furniture
011. A brand new canon D10. So I don't have to scan anymore. -became d20 thanks to the thief that stole it and my insurance company
012. Sunset in Masada.
013. Only nice jobs instead of the few things I do for money.
014. The paradise key of atypyk. With the key of paradise attached...
015. Loads of books to read in Hong Kong, New York and Patagonia and elsewhere.
016. Make a documentary in Kosovo.
017. A cruise on the black sea.
018. Go on a trip with a cargo ship.
019. Live abroad for a year. - became 2...-
020. A phone that has a planner and decent contact list -Nokia N80-
021. A key hanger that whistles back when I whistle so.
022. Do a parachute jump.
023. Make my own company.
024. Fly in ulm.
025. Sleep in the desert.
026. That beautiful bag in that shop in tlv... Toda raba, angel mine.
027. Make short trips at least once in a month. .can be repeated.
028. A balloon flight.
029. Work in a library/bookshop.
030. Publish a book.
031. Take Sunday as Sunday and stay in bed till noon and after that enjoy life.
032. Make a trip in Latin America. -Included: Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Peru, Mexico and Rio-
033. Get that beautiful iSight from Apple to see friends on the other side.
034. Benji jump
035. Go to red sea again. And sleep in husha. -Go again with lover-
036. Visit Cairo. -must be the most difficult thing in life since I don't get there...-
037. Visit as many countries as possible before I am dead.
038. Follow English classes .to write decently. And Spanish.
039. Motorcycle to drive into sunset.
040. Accompany flight in F16.
041. Learn php to make my web life easier. -or find the perfect programmer...-
042. Create a nice blog with a lot of readers.
043. Publish another book.
044. Make a perfectly ok picture.
045. Say one line on one moment to one person and be perfectly sure about it.
046. A beautiful person that tells me fairytales before I fall asleep.
047. A baby. To tell stories every evening.
048. Dreamsdreamsdreams...
049. Realizing those dreams.
050. Moremoremore...
updated Nov 2006
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Wishlists
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Journalist on the spot
What bothers me the most in the news today is the so-calles journalists on the spot.
What news there might be, there always seems to be somebody there. Even if the event already finished and there is nothing to see anymore.
Like today, for example: a kidnapping of a bus in Greece. Nothing to see except for the Greek news-images, but yes, a foreign correspondent on the phone, telling us nothing new.
Or, the next item, a journalist standing in front of the court where several hours before was decided that Marc Dutroux lost his appeal.
The thing is, if they would actually add something to the news, it would be great.
But saying.
'Yes, dear news-reader, what you just said is right' and then repeat everything, while in the back of the speaker, there is only the empty court by night. It sucks. And I truly don't understand why even the national television keeps on doing it. It is a pure waste of my time, and it could have been used to actually add something interesting to that news, or even put another item in the end of the news.
Like today, the memorial of the battle of the Ardennes.
Well, that added something to my knowledge...
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Wish List For Difficult Holidays
You are always welcome to support my travels by sponsoring me through Pay-pal on this site. Most appreciated!
Check also my AmazonWishList
<10 euro
-Polish for my Motorcycle (Auto 5)
-Filmticket
-Key hanger Atypyk
-Anything Atypyk
10 euro <#<25 euro
-Original T-shirt (anywhere, as long it is very original)
-Tshirt from LaFraise.com
-Books: literal thrillers
-DVD at AmazonWishList
-Apple iTunes Gift Certificates
-L Word DVDs
-Ready Made
-Anticon Hoodie
>25 euro
-Super bag, With great lock (airplaneseatlock). (Shop in tlv Salamestreet. No price known.) Toda raba, angel mine...-USB Key-Cool asics sneakers
>100 euro -nice bag for new portable (do not buy without me...)
-dark lightdesign
-Nabaztag wifi rabbit for enjoying new media
-iPevo wireless wifi phone for skype
-bluetooth GPS for Nokia N80
-Airport from Apple for streaming music
-Flight NY (connections.be)
-Flight Cuba (airstop.be)
-Digital Canon
-Sony Ericsonn z610 -HD Iomega 250 gb or bigger ;) or a second one, don't trust HD's
-iPod Video (60 gb)-Intel Mac Mini Dual Core for Media Center-Multifunctional printer with scanner
-30 inch Apple screen
-Projector to view movies on big screen (www.sony.com)
-Home Theater-New MacBookPro, 15 inch (www.apple.com)
-iPhone (to be released)
-iTablet (to be released ;) )
Checked November 2006 (heck those lists get fulfilled...)
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Wishlists
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Battle of Bastogne
Some interesting info on that famous battle of the Ardennes in the aftermath of a war...
A journal of those days can be read here.
Here is the description of the Battle of the Bulges according to wikipedia, with this interesting info: In numerical terms, it is the largest battle the United States Army has fought to date (76,890 Americans were killed).
Here you can even download a game 'The Battle of Bastogne'.
I recommend this story to read. It captures most of info.
(Tamar will recognize some of the city names ;) )
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Linking context
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Artists and politics.
Radio 1 interviewed me some time ago on Jewish artist, 'How do they deal with the political situation'.
I remember that question as odd.
The answer is diverse, and contains as many diversities as there are Jewish artists. Just like a similar question in Belgium 'How do Belgian artists deal with VB' might end up with as many answers.
The image above is from a friend of mine. Jossi is a painter, and although his paintings are extreme vague and off politics, I found this one in an early collection that has something to do with his daily life.
I guess people in Israel just have to deal with their daily life, and thus it reflects in their doing. For a painter in his paintings...
Jossi is a great painter, and I simply forgot to ask him how much his paintings cost, because I would surely buy one. -He is gonna be big, I tell you...-
Enjoy his poetic whisperings...
Posted on December 15, 2004
in Friends around
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Pope Condemns Same Sex Union as Attack on Society
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul on Saturday condemned same sex marriage as an attack on the fabric of society and called on Catholics to combat what he said was aggressive attempt to legally undermine the family.
(from Reuters)
Well.. the pope still thinks?
Posted on December 18, 2004
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Cuba and USA in political incident
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba unfolded two gigantic billboards on Friday in front of the United States diplomatic headquarters in the island, with photographs of the tortures in the Abu Ghraib prison of Iraq and the word "Fascistas" together with a Nazi swastika.
The images were put up after Cuba demanded that the United States Interests Section in Cuba take down a Christmas billboard with a shining ornament that says "75," in allusion to the dissidents imprisoned by the Cuban government in 2003. The billboards unfolded by Cuba show Iraqi prisoners bleeding and hooded during torture by soldiers in Abu Ghraib with a caption that says "Made in Usa" in the middle of the high-traffic Malecón of Havana.
Three days ago, James Cason, chief of the US Interests Section in Havana, declared that president Fidel Castro was threatening the diplomatic office with reprisals by saying that "there would be consequences" if they did not take down the billboard referring to the imprisoned dissidents. Reuters observed on Friday morning the work of unfolding the billboards in front of the North American Special Interests section
Link
Update: More info in English: Link
Isn't this a great way to have a fight? ;)
Posted on December 18, 2004
in Linking context
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For cold rainy days
Canon has nice stuff for -small/big- kids.
3D Paperart, in downloadable A4 sheets to print.
Perfect for rainy days.
Check it here
Posted on December 19, 2004
in Linking context
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French journalists freed in Iraq
Militants in Iraq free French reporters Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, held hostage since August.
Happy christmas to you guys.
Posted on December 21, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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Pantone Designer Stuff
If only my mom wouldn't know, I would probably buy this bag...
If only I didn't have a room full of nice bags...
Pantone offers know beautiful stuff and let's you adjust to your birthday color.
Enjoy shopping.
Posted on December 21, 2004
in Design
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Bollywood fun
Check this link for some funny Bollywood songs.
Music out of the west combined with Hindi songs.
Funny and yet beautiful in a way. Enjoy.
Posted on December 23, 2004
in Linking context
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Battered dollar hits another low
The dollar falls below the $1.35 level to a new record low against the euro as data fuels new concerns about the US economy.
This also means the Euro hit another record.
Time to go to NY for us, since it is cheeeeap now.
Posted on December 23, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Made you think...
Seems like we are in for this for another 4 years...
Thanks Zappatic
Posted on December 24, 2004
in Linking context
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Tsunami hits coasts
All the newspapers are full of the disaster.
And they should be.
A disaster on christmas, aid should be started immediately, and in a way I even wonder why aid programs like they were there in the eighties, didn't take place yet.
I remember back in '89, the falling of the Ceaucesco, in Romania, and suddenly the aid that was started to help all those little kids.
Television did what it could and raised loads of money in programs that were watched intensively.
Today, spectacular news and yes Red Cross leaves, just like Medecins sans Frontieres. But no similar aid programs in cooperation with television.
No big moneycollecting. What changed?
Only shocking television. Why?
Because it hit several coasts and it is said to be the biggest hit in decades?
Or because there are so many tourists in that area?
Why do so little people remember Bam, last year December 26, 2003?
26,271 people were killed, as many as today are being counted.
I don't remember making soo much fuzz about it then.
I asked a friend and she said 'Bam?', where is 'Bam'? and later 'There were not that much death there'
The media does have an impact on our perception.
Today everything is bigger, worse, more horrible and scarier.
Am I just imagining or are we living in a world of fear...
Posted on December 28, 2004
in Living in Israel
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Soon in Minard
Priscila Bistoen, one of my old teachers, and friend, is doing '10 years of'.
No compilation cd's but a series of exhibitions in Ghent.
Promising and a tour to do.
At the same time, she releases a book. Check it out.
PS: In coop with PhotoBlog.
Photo: Perfect Rose © Priscilla Bistoen
Posted on December 28, 2004
in Linking context
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US author Susan Sontag dies at 71
Author and activist Susan Sontag, widely regarded as one of America's leading intellectuals, dies aged 71.
She was an extraordinary writer with an extraordinary view on things. Critical on the truth. One that this planet could use. Check NYT for recent articles of her, like her vision on the use of media in the Iraq war.
Posted on December 29, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Tsunami part 2
Pic ©ap
The article of yesterday didn't mean I am not touched.
I am.
We cannot imagine...
As pumasnlittleworld states:
Just what does it takes for one to be happy and contented?
to have someone you love to reciprocate your love?
to have an ideal job with a more than ideal pay?
to go to taiwan for a mayday concert as dreamed?
or.... just to have youself and your loved ones to be alive and safe and sound?
the last one, i am sure, without any doubts or hesitation.
but still, one to two months later, after the world has moved on from the tsunami tragedy, when we no longer see devastating footages of homeless people mourning for their loved ones, and corpses lying around and being hastily buried, will we still remember how fortunate we are? will we still be contented just by being alive and breathing?
Posted on December 29, 2004
in Limit of my knowledge
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On being a photographer
The ultimate aim is an oscillation between self and subject with the images being a physical manifestation of this supercharged interface between the spirit and the world.
Posted on December 29, 2004
in Linking context
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Changes
I wonder what their dreams were. What they wanted to be.
And how things changed.
What are your dreams? Did you stick to them? Or did you let them go?
Posted on December 31, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Happy 2005
Today is the last day of 2004, so time for my wishes.
I wish you whatever you want, and much more.
I hope 2005 might bring dreams, memories and stories.
2005, a year to start, fresh start.
A new lay-out for this site. With some add-ons (You surely have to click on the extra-button, a section which will be enlarged during the coming year)
2005, also a worse start for others.
I want to ask you to take a minute for the Tsunami-victims, who cannot enjoy happiness in this period.
One euro is nothing for us, for them it might be a vaccin to save a person.
In Belgium: 000-0000012-12
Worldwide: check Medecins without Borders, Red Cross and Unicef.
Posted on December 31, 2004
in Living in Belgium
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Reach out.
1212.be Belgian Humanitarian Organizations
American Red Cross International Response Fund
AmeriCares South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund
Direct Relief International International Assistance Fund
Médecins Sans Frontières International Tsunami Emergency Appeal
Oxfam Asian Earthquake & Tsunami Fund
Sarvodaya Relief Fund for Tsunami Tragedy
Save the Children Asia Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund
UNICEF South Asia Tsunami Relief Efforts
Posted on December 31, 2004
in Linking context
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