Images of the mind

Older Spanish girl.
in her forties but so hot.
Got my knob tickling.

Sexy interim.
Golden hair, sun-tanned, slender.
But I am taken.

Russian financial.
Top notch; work, and body too.
My eyes kept roving.

Clad in sexy black
high heels, stockings, dress and blouse.
Stealthy looks my way.

But at home my wife,
sexiest woman of all.
It is her I want.
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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Images of the mind

Her arms 'round my legs
Her mouth on me warm and wild
Her wetness tastes sweet


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My dad is in hospital - continued

My dad is still in hospital, and he'll probably stay there for another two or three weeks. That could be a blessing in disguise as the temperatures here are nowadays 30+ degrees Celsius. My dad is doing well though he's complaining of pain in his back. The nurse explained to him that his body got rather ripped apart when the surgeons were operating on him, and that his body is now trying to get back to normal. That can be a rather painful experience. He's doing physiotherapy every day, and they took away the bandages that covered the incision. He looks rather flourishing nowadays and seems to be improving rather well.

Right out of surgery (13 July '06).
Epson R-D1
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Out of Intensive Care, on the nursing ward (18 July '06).
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Getting better (25 July '06).
Epson R-D1
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2 ZM
film: iso200; shutter time: 1/52 sec; aperture: f4

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My dad is in hospital - continued

After a terrific sporting day at school, my little girl and I went to visit my dad in hospital. Over the past couple of days he's been improving well.

Yesterday he was allowed to sit up a bit, even walk a few paces. And he's eating "solid" food again. Today the doctors will decide whether he can leave the intensive care.

A big "Thank you!" to everyone who left messages to wish us well. It was heart-warming to receive them. My dad isn't back to normal yet but he seems to be on the right track. We all hope he'll get well soon again.

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

My dad is in hospital - continued

Life sucks big time when a close relative, especially a parent, ends in hospital. But it sucks even harder when it seemed he was making a good recovery and then has a severe relapse. My dad was doing pretty well under the circumstances. He was transferred to a regular sick room in the hospital, he had removed the oxigen feed by himself the night before and the nurses had given him a mouth cap, he was talking and, though he was tired, he was bright and awake.

Last night, though, he suffered severe breathing problems, leading to hypoxia and anoxemia (lack of oxigen in blodd vessels, tissue and organs). It caused his blood pressure to drop again and he ended up being moved back to intensive care. I visited him this morning there. His situation seemed to have calmed and stabilised again. The nurse wasn't pessimistic about it, so I have good hope that my dad will pull through. One thing is that his kidneys might have suffered from this second hypoxia.

Pull through, dad! I know you're strong-bodied and strong-willed. If anyone can pull himself through this situation, it must be you. Besides, we have an appointment in Mongolia in two years!

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

My dad is in hospital

Yesterday morning, around 9.45am, my father was admitted to hospital. His abdominal artery had ruptured, which hadn't been detected by his physician the day before. During the night, he lost more and more blood and only by shere luck and chance did my mother call 112 in time.

My father was rushed to hospital. en route he had to be reanimated as his blood pressure had dropped so low his heart gave out. In hospital he was in the OR in minutes, where the surgeons did their magic to save my father's life. Those were the hardest, longest couple of hours I can remember.

By quarter past twelve the surgeon came to tell us they had done their job. A part of the artery had been removed and replaced, and my father had made it through the operation. He had taken the first hurdle succesfully.

My father was then taken to IC, where the nurses and doctors stabilised him, hooked him to all kinds of monitoring equipment, medication and IVs. After a while we were allowed to see him. He didn't look to good, of course, but he didn't look too bad either. But the surface reveals little about the internals. The doctor explained what had caused this rupture, what was done to remedy it, what they would be doing in the next 24 hours and, most importantly, what complications and dangers were still lurking out there.

By 3pm we had all visited my father. Now there was nothing we could do. We decided to go home, get some rest and food, and return later for the evening visiting hour.

My father in hospital.
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Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2 ZM
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I arrived a little later then the rest, with my little girl. We had told her about grandpa's condition. She was utterly surprised. When we arrived at the IC, I was told that my dad was showing some great progress. He was already awake, was able to understand us, even already trying to communicate with us. Of course, he still looked like crap but he couldn't have made us happier. The visiting hour was soon over and we had to leave. All of us were in an optimistic mode, though I guess we all had that little warning voice in the back of our heads saying: "Don't sell the hide yet...!"

My father in hospital.
Epson R-D1
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50/2 ZM
film: iso400; shutter time: 1/26 sec; aperture: f4

This morning my mother called me. She had called the IC to inform on my father's condition. He's strong and strong-willed (if not sometimes flat out stubborn) and during the night he had removed the breathing tube that was inserted into his throat. The nurses weren't too happy about that but allowed it anyway and had place a breathing mask over my dad's mouth.

It seems he's doing quite well considering the circumstances. If the doctors are satisfied, my dad might be moved to the Special Care Unit today.

Three cheers to the ambulance personel, the surgical team, the IC personel and everyone else who helped save my dad's life! You're too numerous to thank you all personally but you've all done a tremendous job. My father is still not out of the danger zone but thanks to all your good work at least he now has a fighting chance.

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Eric & Valerie in East Village

My little brother and his GF, Valerie, are in NYC. For three months! Have a really good time there, folks! They have a blog:

Valerie en Eric in NYC

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Keep our democracy alive

Political voices in Holland are calling for a ban on the burka, the garment that covers a woman from head to toe, and which is sometimes worn by certain muslim women. The ban is called for out of security reasons: a woman dressed in a burka cannot be recognised and identified from a security camera. A burka-wearing woman could remain anonimous for the eye of the world! The fear of terrorism is great in the land of politicians.

But where will it end? People wearing baseball caps or sunglasses are also hardly identifiable from a security camera. Shall we thus ban baseball caps and sunglasses too? And then?

Environmental, ecology and anti nuclear energy activists are also under (often illegal) close scrutiny from the authorities and monitored by the secret services. Some of these activists wear woolen socks and leather sandals Shall we thus ban socks and sandals?

Criminals undermine society by selling drugs to children, committing crimes and executing their opponents in the middle of the street. Some wear expensive clothes, sport shoes, gold watches or jewelry. Shall we thus ban those too?

Banning clothes or making it illegal to participate in ordinary (civil) activities, like photographing and demonstrating, is breaking down the democratic foundations and principles of our open and free societies. Once we, the people, let politicians do that deconstruction and let them get away with it, we're opening ourselves up for fascism, dictatorship and censorship. And our enemies will have won! The terrorists will have achieved their goal: the annihilation of the free and open Western democracies.

Fight terrorism but keep our civil liberties intact. Keep our democracy alive!

Technorati Tags : terrorism democracy politics ban security anonimity activist authority government crime demonstration open society free society fascism dictator censorship civil liberties
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Energy, now and in the future

While the US government is, slowly, admitting that energy preservation is necessary and setting up a program for youths, called Energy Hog, to make them aware about the use and waste of energy, in Holland they are now suggesting that nuclear energy is the way of the future. Mr Lubbers, who is chairman of the board of control of the Petten Energy Research Centre, claims that nuclear reactors have become safer and that nuclear waste is more and more recycled. "From a technological viewpoint we are ready for it", he states.

Greenpeace doesn't concur, and rightly so in my opinion. There's still no fail safe way to operate a nuclear plant, the risks of a meltdown or (near-)disaster are still very real, the consequenses of a meltdown or (near-)disaster are immense, nuclear waste remains highly radioactive for a 1000 year or more, safely disposing of nuclear waste is extremely expensive, and the risk that highly radioactive nuclear waste ends up in terrorist hands is slim but still there.

A real solution to the demand for energy would be the use of renewable and clean energy sources. None of these sources, like wind energy, solar energy, energy from biomass, etc., will provide the answer but combined they can, must and will. Combine these sources with preservation of energy use in cars, factories and buildings and we could soon be much less dependent on fossil fuels.

Technorati Tags : energy preservation Holland nuclear energy nuclear reactor nuclear waste recycling Greenpeace nuclear plant power plant meltdown radioactivity terrorist renewable energy wind energy solar energy biomass fossil fuel
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Fighting spirit

The metro station where, each morning, I take the metro to work and where, each evening, I get off to go home again, is quite notorious. The other platform receives the train to and from the airport. Tourists and travelers are often waiting there for their train. Pickpockets, bag snatchers and other verminous thiefs were quite aware of this. The lack of police control had turned this station in a heaven for small time criminals. People resisting were regularly roughed up, threatened with knives or otherwise forced to give up their possessions. The chances for a thief of being caught were virtually zero. Things had gone way out of hand but, though it took a couple of years, the local government took action and things have turned for the better now. The increased police presence on the station and the trains, camera monitoring, security fences, and the presence of security guards have even led to the arrest of a terrorist suspect. The man was wanted for questioning and possible arrest as he was suspected of being a member of, or at least supporting with physical and material means, a terrorist group here in Holland, the same group that's held responsible for last year's murder of Theo van Gogh, the dutch cineast. That the man was up to no good anyway can be concluded from the fact he was apprehended with a cocked and loaded firearm.

Police, government and local transport corporations have started an anti-terrorism campaign. People can report suspicious packages, unusual situations and suspiciouly behaving people to the authorities. In the light of the recent bombings in Madrid and London, this campaign is easily understood. I'm just wondering why now? This kind of campaigns have been around in London for at least the past 10-15 years. It couldn't and didn't prevent the bombings. What it does do, or at least what people hope it'll do, is give people more fighting spirit, make them alert and ready. No more fear is what we need.

Technorati Tags : terrorism Amsterdam public transport crime bombing police fighting spirit
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Sweet smell of autumn

It's half December. Late autumn in Holland. The weather is wet, grey and cloudy. It's windy too, so, even though the temperature is often closer to 10 degrees C than 5 degrees C, it feels nippy, sometimes outright nasty. The trees have by now mostly shed their leaves. The air smells of wetness and like a beer brewery. I like that smell, even when it becomes almost sickening sweet. The whole city is emerced in it, and thought the wind clears the air, still pockets of this fermenting hops smell linger in unexpected places. All of a sudden, the smell of beer drops on you like an ambush, like it was waiting in cover for a victim. Other times, a whif of air brings the sweet smell from around a corner, luring you, begging you to follow it. And what can I do? I must resist! I have other things to do, places to go, people to see. But it is so tempting to follow my nose, be lured into the unknown, and let myself be overwhelmed by this rich, sweet smell.

Technorati Tags : autumn Amsterdam Holland
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

El Día de Los Reyes

It's becoming X-mas and tensions are running high again. With all the gift buying, surprise making, money spending and planning there's hardly anyone unaffected. Even when you are as cool as a summer's breeze, the people around you have tempers like a hurricane. I, personally, like X-mas mostly because of the free time. I can't stand, however, that all the shops/ libraries/ any other places are closed and that I can't go out to do things very much. I guess this year we'll visit grandma and grandpa but what else are we going to do those days?

For those of us who have had enough of the pressure and tension of X-mas there's a little bright light. It's called the feast of El Día de Los Reyes. Let me explain to you about this feast....

In Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, children receive X-mas gifts not from Santa, but from los reyes magos - the three wise men. The three wise men leave gifts in the night of January 5, to be discovered on El Día de Los Reyes, January 6. Known as the feast of the Epiphany, the holiday makes a useful addition to your calendar, whether you want to add more spiritual meaning to X-mas or just relieve some seasonal pressure.

Have a family "undecorating" party on January 6. Spend the day taking down the tree and other holiday trimmings at a leisurely pace.

Have a quiet dinner of Mexican food afterward, if you want to lend a south-of-the-border flavor to the evening. Discuss what you liked about this X-mas season and what you might want to do differently next year. Think of it as "thinking out loud" time, though - not as a serious planning session.

Read the story of the Nativity and the three wise men who journeyed toward Bethlehem. While you're at it, read The story of the other wise man by Henry Van Dyke; it casts a slightly different perspective on the whole idea of X-mas.

Serve a rosca de reyes (king's crown), a crown-shaped sweet bread with small figures of babies baked inside. In Mexico, anyone who gets a piece with a baby inside has to give another party on or before Candlemas, on February 2, when the country's holiday season officially ends. A good way to extend the partying into the new year.

Make this the day you exchange gifts with friends. You'll avoid another must-do event on December's calendar, and you'll be able to put off some of your shopping until after the holidays, when you can take advantage of post X-mas sales.

The children's version of a king's crown takes different forms in different countries, but basically it's a cake with a trinket baked inside it. Whoever gets the piece with the trinket reigns as king or queen of the feast and gets to order everyone else around ' an extra-special treat if "everyone else" includes older brothers and sisters.

Children love to decorate king's crowns. Bake your own from a recipe - or simply buy a cake, cut a slit, and insert a bean or a trinket (or two trinkets if you want your feast to have both a king and a queen). Frost the cake in white icing tinted with yellow food coloring to achieve a crown-like shade of gold. Then turn the kids loose trimming it with "jewels" in the form of jelly beans, gumdrops, and gold and silver balls.

Make sure the babies, or whatever objects you put in your rosca de reyes, are too large to be accidentally swallowed. If you have very young children, use easily digestible "trinkets" such as big pieces of fruit.

Merry X-mas!

The story of the other wise man by Henry Van Dyke

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

World AIDS Day

Today is World Aids Day. For some time to remember. For others time to start thinking. Peace and wisdom for all.

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Iraq from the ground

To start, I'm not a fan of the war in Iraq or of the strong-arm methods the US pratices to get what they want from other nations. I'm not the only one, and I also know there are plenty of people who hold a different view. It's not my place to tell anyone I'm right in this case and they're wrong, so I won't. That the war has significant impact on many people and nations is, however, clear. What is clear as well is that the news reports in Europe mainly focus on the regular bombings in Baghdad, the ever increasing death toll among the US soldiery and (sometimes, when precious news time permits) the Iraqi population and the big boys in Washington.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find the blog by Michael Yon. It focusses on the regular grunt in Iraq, showing everyday life, their experiences on the streets, their encounters and, though the stories sometimes seem too peaceful or clean-cut, adds a level of realism to the war that is severly lacking in the news. The blog looks very professional, the stories are a good read, and in general I left the blog with perhaps not a better understanding of the war but at least a new angle of view, something that is in my opinion already a good thing. After all, it's better to found your opinions on two or three sources than on one, especially when that one is subject to availability and accuracy.

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Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

The end of an era

We moved our things to our new house several weeks ago. What was left was the tiny storage room we had in the attic. Last Sunday, I cleared out this storage room. Most things were papers, old magazines and old cd-rom's. After separating the old, useless stuff from the things that still have some value to me, I was quite surprised about the amount of garbage I had collected over the past seven or eight years.

This morning early, I went back to the old house to throw out as much garbage as possible before the garbage men would arrive. Some boxes had to be re-taped (or else they would fall apart), and everything had to be carried three flights of stairs but I managed to get rid of about two-thirds of the garbage. When the garbage truck arrived in the street, I was happy with the work I was able to in the hour that I had.

Now I'm waiting for the power company to drop by to remove the geyser. Last Thursday, I had called them to tell them I no longer wanted to rent it. I assumed it would just be an administrative thing but no. It seems they lost many geysers in the past (the apparatus is full of copper and people would sell the copper to the scrap yard) and now it's policy to remove the geyser when the rent is stopped. Fine policy, of course, as it saves the company expenses and thus on the price I have to pay as their customer but it also means I was very late in the week with informing them and was in no position to negotiate a good appointment. I need this geyser removed today because the rest of the week I don't have time, can't take time off from work and the rent for the house ends October 31. So, now I'm waiting for the technician to drop by. All I have to do is wait, until 6 pm at the latest.

Being here in the old house makes me think about the years I have live here. I don't really have specific tales to share with you but a few thoughts have come up. First of all, the house looks a bit bigger now that it's empty. I know it didn't get any bigger but it definitely feels roomier. Secondly, it's cold in here! Every summer it seemed like I was living in a baking oven. The south facing windows let in the sun all day, heating up the house until no amount of wind could cool the place anymore. In autumn and winter, however, the place was decidedly drafty and cold. Today it's raining outside and I can feel the cold draft coming through the cracks of the sills, even straight through the window panes. Another observation is that it's also quite a noisy house. I can hear practically everything that happens in the street below. With the current construction work for the new metro line, that is quite some noise. I can still clearly remember the time when trams ran through the Ferdinand Bolstraat till after midnight and that they made quite some noise too. Not to mention the noisy, often drunk, people returning home after a night's out, the freaked out dogs left outside the downstairs supermarket and barking like crazy until their master would return, or the most disturbing noise of the trucks that come from 6 am to restock the supermarket.

Now it's time to stop reminiscing and to look to the future. I had very good times here, and some bad times too. I was very happy here but also lonely at times. Now it’s at an end. We're already getting quite used to the new house, finding places for our things, placing new furniture, and enjoying the extra space we now have. A part of me is still here in my old house and it finds it difficult to leave, but most of me has said goodbye and is already in the new house. I'll be here a few more times this week to finalise things. I still have a few days to say goodbye completely.

As it is, the technician came around ten past eleven, and had left again in five minutes. He did take the geyser. I'm off to home now.

Technorati Tags : property moving house
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

More moving house....

Moving house is awful! It's darn nice to have a new house that's bigger, brighter and more comfortable to live in, but not only is the packing stressful (will we have it all done in time?!), on moving day you're working from morning till night just to get everything to the other house. You don't sleep much in those days, you're working like a slave, you don't get much rest and to boot you end up with a nice new house full with boxes and packed items that need a new place.

Another stressful part is to get all your mail delivered in the right place, to get all your contacts (especially the bank, the insurance company, your work, etc.). You don't realise until you move how much mail you get and how many address changes you need to pass on. Fortunately the mail company is willing to forward all your mail to your new address, for a fee. But that fee is small and the rewards are huge: no more worrying that you'll miss anything. And if you keep the envelops of the mail that got forwarded, you end up with a list of contacts that you still need to inform.

The worst part, however, is the cable company! Their online house moving notification service doesn't work properly. More than three weeks ago I filled out that service and was expecting at least some response within a week. Two weeks later, still nothing! So, I called them on their 10 cents per minute information number and was told they didn't have any record of my moving notification. The lady on the phone was very nice and placed another notification, and now, a week and a half later, we got a call that next week the technician will come by. And when then? Well, between noon and six! Meaning I'll need to take a half day off from work. Well, it seems that's the price we have to pay for a new house. :)

Technorati Tags : moving house property internet UPC TPG Post
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Moved house!

It's been a while since I last wrote here on the blog but I've been terribly busy. In the past week We've packed up all of our belongings and moved house. I hope never to have to move again. :) We all worked hard and slept little, and still had to go to work and school.

Then, finally, last Sunday, we moved house with the help of my parents, my sister and her partner, and two of my friends. I'm truly greatful for all of their help. They did a great job, worked hard, put up with the heavy boxes, and were a great mental aid to Sumiya and me. It's good to have parents, siblings and friends you can fall back on.

And now we all are tired, physically and mentally tired! Except Nomin, of course, who recouperates so easily that we both are a bit jealous (in a nice way). Both of us are getting better, though. A few more days, a few good meals and a bit more sleep, and we'll be good again.

Anyway, if we ever move house again I'll definitely consider using a moving company!

Technorati Tags : moving company property parents siblings family friends
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Vive La Fete in Het Patronaat

Last Friday, I went with Sumiya and my good friend Raymond to Haarlem to attend the free performance of the Belgian band Vive La Fete in Het Patronaat music hall in Haarlem. It was the celebration opening night of the renewed Het Patronaat and a free concert always attracts lots of people. This time it wasn't any different. Doors opened at 8.30pm and from the word "Go" it was clear that someone had made either a design error or made a big mistake with assigning crew to their tasks. Hardly had the doors been opened or they were already closed! As it turned out, the line waiting for the wardrobe was too long for the (inexperienced) crew to handle quickly. We waited for close to half an hour before we were let in again. Fortunately, all three of us could squeeze in this time, only to get stuck in the line for the wardrobe. A bit shoving and pushing and 5 minutes later, we were ready to go in, get something to drink, and wait for the band to show up.

Half past 9pm the band came on stage and set off. They gave away a wonderful performance! I can't remember having been to a better rock concert.

Vive La Fete is great! I love the combination of rock, punk, electro, new wave and techno house. I can't describe it, so you'll just have to listen to their cd's yourself. I enjoyed myself immensely and I'd wish the concert would have lasted much longer: an hour and a half simply wasn't enough. :)

To check out Vive La Fete take a look at the
Vive La Fete website
or at the
Vive La Fete official fanclub website

Vive La Fete.
Epson R-D1
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Vive La Fete.
Epson R-D1
Jupiter-8 50/2
Iso setting, shutter time & aperture unknown

Vive La Fete - Nuit Blanche
Vive La Fete - Grand Prix

Technorati Tags : punk electro punk Blondie rock
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Home owners, we are.

It's done! Yesterday we signed the deed to our new house and got the keys! Of course we dropped by the new house to take a look. It was still the same as in the morning when we went there for the final inspection. :) But this time we were the new owners, and that made the occassion a bit more special.

Thursday evening we bought a nice big oak dinner table. It'll be delivered next week. Now we only need a new washing machine, a couch set, new curtains, a new bed and table for Nomin, and... well, plenty of other things. I'll be broke for the next 6 months. :)

Technorati Tags : Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Data retention is no solution

Time is running out
Data retention is no solution



Data retention is no solution.

Technorati Tags : data retention terrorism crime
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

"Urban" in the news

The latest buzz word seems to be "urban". Well, perhaps not the latest (I heard the word being used in Dutch "youth" culture scenes over 15 years ago) but it's pretty well everywhere nowadays. The meaning has changed over the years as far as I can tell but, as usual with these buzz words, no-one actually knows what it means, and those who claim to know never seem to agree on the meaning. :)

Be that as it may, "urban" is cool and advertisers want to get on the band wagon. Fortunately, they fail to grasp the finer nuances of the scene and the more they try to commercialise the word, the faster the meaning shifts. Fast communications result in fast changing interpretations.

However, there are some admirable attempts to at least describe certain aspects of "urban". The article Urban in de Volkskrant on the New Media and Urban Culture blog (in Dutch!) is such an attempt. It's an interesting article about the Dutch "urban" radio station FunX, its audience and its reasons for being.

This article is well worth a read to understand at least a few aspects of what "urban" means. Just keep in mind that a few months from now the whole story could be different. Don't you just love modern culture? :)

Technorati Tags : urban Holland radio FunX buzz youth culture scene communications media
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Katrina aftermath

Hurricane Katrina was one the worst disasters ever to hit the United States. But a worse, social, disaster is lurking: the further erosion of civil and constitutional rights.

Admittedly, I vote for the political left (that is, European left, not American Democratic left!) so perhaps I'm a little biased but when it comes to what is now happening in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina should be a wake-up call to every woman and man, of every creed and conviction.

While people are desperate for reliable, independent information from the disaster area, martial law has been declared and journalists and photographers alike are under threat. Blackwater mercenaries, who roam and patrol the NO disaster area, block the free gathering of information with threats and violence. News gatherers are liable to be captured and placed in custody, effectively stemming the tide of unfavourable news of the current crisis.

This is an outrage, and one that could have far-reaching consequences for everyone. If a government is willingly blocking critical inspection of its workings and actions, the nation as a whole has a duty to oppose this attitude with every means available. If we sit back and lot it go, we'll end up with dictatorship. Ask your veteran grandpa what consequences that could have, and what the cost will be to remedy it.

For some critical thinking take alook at these links. Make up your own mind, and act accordingly.

Fifty Crows
Alternet
MediaInfo
Democracy Now
NPPA
Digital Journalist

Technorati Tags : hurricane Katrina disaster democracy journalist constitution civil rights Blackwater mercenary martial law
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Free concert of Vive La Fete

Vive La Fete, one of my favourite bands, will be playing FOR FREE in the "Grote Zaal" in music centre "Het Patronaat" in Haarlem on Fiday 30 September!

For more information, check Patronaat.nl.

I just love Vive La Fete. Their music gives me a good feeling, without being sugar sweet. In fact, their music is very reminiscent of 1980s punk and rock, with a seasoning of electro-pop, and a topping of joy and happiness. And the sexy blonde Els Pynoo isn't just "nice" to look at but also puts the voice to the songs in true punk way, adding much to the experience.

My favourite song is Maquillage (mp3). I can't get enough of that song, giving me energy and making me feel very lively.

Take a look at the
Vive La Fete website
or at the
Vive La Fete official fanclub website

Technorati Tags : punk electro punk Blondie rock
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

Shards of Mongolia: Celebrations and international poetry festival in Mongolia in 2006

For those of you interested in Mongolia and/or poetry, or perhaps is a poet, check out the announcement for an international poetry contest and festival in Mongolia in 2006 over on Shards of Mongolia.

You can still submit your poetry until 31 december 2005, so don't be late!
The prize winners will be announced in July 2006, while the award ceremony will be during the 26th World Congress of Poets, from 26 August until 3 September, 2006.
Both the announcement of the winners and the award ceremony will be held in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.

For more information on the festival, the contest or the 26th World Congress of Poets, you can contact Mr G Mend-Ooyo at mendooyo@magicnet.mn.

For more information on travel arrangements to Mongolia, you can contact us at shardsofreality at gmail dot com.

See you in Mongolia!
Technorati Tags : poetry Mongolia poetry festival poetry contest World Congress of Poets Ulaanbaatar Mend-Ooyo
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/

New blogs on Mongolia and (Rangefinder) Photography

Since a few days there two new "Shards of..." blogs. The first one is Shards of Photography. The blog describes itself as:

A record of my photography. Tips, information and news on rangefinders and SLR cameras, photography books, photography history, photographic art, travel photography, landscape photography and street photography. Reviews and links to information on photographers and photography websites and blogs. And I'll share my photos.

I prefer using rangefinder cameras and I've been very happy with my digital rangefinder. Positive aspect is that I'm now also using my digital SLR more often. It wasn't such a bad buy after all.

So, if you're into photography, and especially rangefinder photography, then come and visit Shards of Photography regularly. I'll be updating regularly. :)

The second "Shards of..." blog is Shards of Mongolia. The description goes:

A record of my travels to Mongolia, Russia and China. News, culture, photos, music, books, art, history, food, recipes, the environment and anything else related to Mongolia.

Mongolia holds a special place in my heart. My wife and daughter are Mongolian, so it's understandable I feel some sort of affection for their native country. But Mongolia means more to me. It's a place where I feel at home, where I enjoy going, where I have great relatives, and where I want to live in the future. For those who don't have the opportunity to visit Mongolia (and you can always contact me if you want information or have me arrange a trip or such), at least visit the Shards of Mongolia blog.

Technorati Tags : Mongolia rangefinder photography
Shards of Reality http://remylang.blogspot.com/