Live uit de Metropool van de Achterhoek! 2010-08-19T22:01:38+01:00 arnoadmin http://www.minispace.co.uk/blog/index.php ak@arnokempers.com tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace Pivot Copyright (c) 2010, Authors of Minispace 2010-08-19T22:01:00+01:00 2010-08-19T22:00:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1705

All quiet on the Minispace front. An opportunity therefore to post an oldie, from my glorious Mini-past ...Somewhere in Scotland

minispace 2010-08-01T20:36:00+01:00 2010-08-01T20:36:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1704

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a grass, originally from the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize (784 million tons) and rice (651 million tons). Globally, wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than either maize (corn) or rice, the other major cereals. In terms of total production tonnages used for food, it is currently second to rice as the main human food crop, and ahead of maize (corn), after allowing for maize's more extensive use in animal feeds. Emmerich - Wheatfield

minispace 2010-07-23T18:50:00+01:00 2010-07-22T20:08:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1703

I hereby unilaterally declare total independence to the part of the Netherlands previously referred to as 'de Achterhoek'. From this moment on it will be referred to as The United Republic of the Rearcorner and Other Places. UN judges say it is allright for Kosovo to declare unilateral independence, which means so can we. Yes we can!Below a map of the new and glorious Republic. The part in Green is the glorious Republic itself, the parts in Red are disputed. Although historically ofcourse, they belong to us. The Red part on the extreme left is a mistake, but we quite liked it so we'll dispute it all the same.Below our flag. It's the symbol of our land.All Hail to the Republic ! A nation once again.UPDATE: we've been officially recognised by the Old Peoples Republic of Lambsdowne. We'll send a little blanket, a cardigan and some slippers as a token of friendship. To save costs our ambassador will also be their ambassador. /UPDATE

minispace 2010-07-14T20:13:00+01:00 2010-07-14T20:10:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1702

There's just been a heavy storm here and I've seen firetrucks driving past left, right and center. But how boring can they be. They are all so municipal and without and kind of coolness. They even sound uncool in my opinion; iiiiieee awww. Boring. Now the Americans do this a lot better. They know how to iiiieee awww. Don't think so ? Compare the two clips below and decide. If I were a Dutch Firefighter, I would go completely NUTS by that puny irritating obnoxious little iiiiieee awww iiiieee awww sirene ... brrrrr. Clip on the left: Dutch (boring)  -  clip on the right: American (cool)

minispace 2010-07-13T18:15:00+01:00 2010-07-13T18:15:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1701

Has anyone seen my life ? It was here the last time I looked ....

minispace 2010-07-13T17:29:00+01:00 2010-07-13T17:29:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1700

Oh well. Apart from the karate-match last sunday, I suppose they've done pretty well. So let's be positive. One of the nice things about this little country is that we will not distracted from a party by a mere second place ie. lost final. The Germans left their fans in the cold and sneaked away despite playing terrific football (better than Holland in fact). They can only enjoy a cup. I feel sorry for them. They 'apologised' to their fans, I mean really .... As you can see from the picture on left and the YouTube clip, the Dutch can enjoy a really good effort as well. About half a million people greeted the team back. I'm happy about the fact that I do not live in a 'winner-takes-all' kind of country. Life's too short for that. We're a happy bunch ... sometimes.

minispace 2010-07-12T18:19:00+01:00 2010-07-06T22:17:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1699

We appear to be in a World Cup Final.UPDATE - Well, the Final certainly gave a new meaning to Dutch 'Total Football' ... /UPDATE

minispace 2010-06-24T18:26:00+01:00 2010-06-24T18:25:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1695

Well finally, the Boomchickas Video is online .... make sure you switch to HD.

minispace 2010-06-15T21:36:00+01:00 2010-06-15T21:20:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1694

What a scream. First FIFA/Budweiser ejects 36 very healthy looking Dutch girls for wearing orange mini-skirts (granted, it was clear a certain beer-producing company was behind it, but still very well done) and then some poor English pundit looses his job over it! * ROTFL * Bavaria 1 - Budwater 0 

minispace 2010-06-14T20:47:00+01:00 2010-06-14T20:46:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1693

There could be worse places to work I suppose. Watching football AND getting paid ... Holland vs Denmark  (2-0)

minispace 2010-06-13T11:20:00+01:00 2010-06-13T11:15:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1692

Kann Ich endlich mal mein nr. 1 Jugend-Kultklassiker Die Vorstadtkrokodile (1977) an meiner DVD Kollektion hinzufuegen. Einfach nicht zu kriegen auf DVD. Aber jetzt dank Einsfestival und der DVD-rekorder meines Vaters ... Und hier noch die Musik die dazu gehoert ... "Gerade bei Erwachsenen, die in den siebziger Jahren Kind waren, sind die Vorstadtkrokodile nach wie vor beliebt; in entsprechenden Foren erscheint der Titel immer wieder auf der Wunschliste der Filme, die wieder einmal im Fernsehen gezeigt werden sollten. Eine Kopie des im 16-mm-Format gedrehten Filmes wurde von "Matthias-Film" auf DVD vornehmlich für pädagogische Zwecke herausgegeben. Dies ist momentan die einzige Möglichkeit, den Originalfilm außerhalb der TV-Wiederholungen zu sichten. Für die Filmbildstellen wurden im Originalformat nur 20 Kopien gezogen. Eine Kopie befindet sich (allerdings in mangelhafter Bild-und Tonqualität) im "Landesfilmdienst NRW".

minispace 2010-06-09T22:51:00+01:00 2010-06-09T21:37:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1691

Elections in The Netherlands. Likely outcome: Conservatives (VVD) and Labour (PvdA) going head to head with no clear majority, various smaller parties needed to form any sort of government. In other words, we'll not have a government for months and likely to have new elections very soon. The political Blunder of the Century sofar: the reigning CDA party choosing JP Balkenende again as their main man straight after the government fell in March. He's just cost them at least 20 seats ... after 8 years and 4 governments we sort of got tired of him. Everybody knew that except a few people at CDA-HQ. We'll wait and see who will be our new PM. It's either Mark Rutte (VVD) or Job Cohen (PvdA). Interesting detail; many PvdA-voters are muslim-immigrants; Job Cohen is of Jewish descent.  And to show the paradox: the PVV of our national anti-more-muslim-immigration troublemaker Wilders is winning big time and might become the third largest party. What a wonderful country. 22.15: Breaking: Balkenende has resigned as party-leader. He's not even going to Parliament. Nice for all who voted for him .... 23.15: Amazing: we only have a few exit-polls and all party leaders are treating it as if these are definitive results .... 23.20: Amazing 2: we had to vote with paper and pencil again this year ... welcome in 2010 ... 23.25: Cool: Twitter is down due to the whole Dutch nation twattering ... 23:40: Quote of the Day: "Job Cohen looks exactly like the British Gas Service Engineer who looks after my boiler.  In fact you never see them together so it could be the same chap - although over here he calls himself Peter."

minispace 2010-06-06T12:36:00+01:00 2010-06-06T12:36:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1690

Football itself doesn't interest me all that much, but I do like the majority of silly humor surrounding major championships ... Those poor Germans always have to suffer in Dutch commercials ...

minispace 2010-06-05T12:45:00+01:00 2010-06-05T12:45:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1689

Doetinchem - Themansstraat

minispace 2010-05-31T21:38:00+01:00 2010-05-31T21:38:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1687

Short film section. Made for my German collegue, who will have to endure much during the coming World Cup. I hope this will cheer him up.

minispace 2010-05-30T12:03:00+01:00 2010-05-30T12:03:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1686

I'm not into motorcycles but I do love roadmovies and Hopper sure made a great one ... 

minispace 2010-05-27T18:52:00+01:00 2010-05-27T18:50:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1685

Eh, yes, kinda bought this. It's difficult to explain. Eh ... well ... you can make calls with it too you know. Slowly moving towards the Dark (Apple) Side ...

minispace 2010-05-20T20:02:00+01:00 2010-05-20T20:02:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1684

Glastonbury UK - an average shop there

minispace 2010-05-18T22:03:00+01:00 2010-05-18T21:55:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1683

Saw the movie 'Broken Flowers' the other day, really liked the soundtrack. This is the title song. More here.

minispace 2010-05-11T23:08:00+01:00 2010-05-11T23:08:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1682

A bit late, but at least it means I've got a huge backlog to catch up to ...

minispace 2010-05-11T22:41:00+01:00 2010-05-11T22:41:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1681

I've barely left the UK and the Tories have taken over ....

minispace 2010-05-11T21:32:00+01:00 2010-05-11T21:32:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1680

Wales - Hay-On-Wye

minispace 2010-05-07T00:43:00+01:00 2010-05-07T00:16:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1679

Live from England. Election Night. Swings, Hung Parliaments, Exit Polls, the lot. And what a heartwarming thing it is. Or better: total chaos. I went along to a Polling Station myself this evening only to be turned away because we were apparantly 'at the wrong Polling Station'. The 'right' Polling Station was at a methodist church a few hundred meters down the road from the other one ... eh?  It's like voting in the Congo; people are turned away from Polling Stations because the queues were too long and they closed. Other Polling Stations had no more ballot papers so people couldn't vote. It's all rather exciting. At least they got it right in Stroud, district Cam East (where I went) ; there were 4 staff for 2 voters. Kudos for Nigel Farage of UKIP - it's by far the biggest effort someone has put in to gain publicity at the last moment, crashing to the ground in a light aircraft. Excellent stunt! Dutch politicians can learn from this. More later ....

minispace 2010-05-05T16:27:00+01:00 2010-05-05T16:27:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1678

It's been a while, but will be back in England tomorrow for a visit to the Bristol area. That is, if a certain Icy ashcloud doesn't ruin things. They still drive on the left, do they?

minispace 2010-04-25T09:54:00+01:00 2010-04-25T09:54:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1677

An undisclosed wood in Germany During the shoot of a new Boomchickas video.

minispace 2010-04-19T20:20:00+01:00 2010-04-19T20:15:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1676

The new candidate for the Office of Prime Minister in the Netherlands. I present to you: Nick Clegg. The man's half-Dutch (that's more than our Royal family) and beats people like Cohen, Balkenende and Wilders hands-down.  Cannot embed, you'll have to watch proof of his Dutchness via THIS LINK. Vote for Nick ! Oh, go on ...

minispace 2010-04-17T18:53:00+01:00 2010-04-17T18:53:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1675

Doetinchem Sky - No White Lines ....

minispace 2010-04-15T21:28:00+01:00 2010-04-15T21:21:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1674

A TV-set somewhere in Doetinchem, Netherlands watching glorious ITV1 HD for free Welcome Britons in the world of a Political Party Leaders Live TV-Debate. A historic clash eh?  It's more a timid skirmish as far as I've seen it sofar. We've had this TV-format for a while now in Holland (ie. rest of the world) and I have to say, you've copied it very well. It's all rather dull and not very exciting. The UK needs a Wilders or a new type of Thatcher or something to liven things up. It's just not gonna happen with this lot ... and guess what, you can vote them out ...

minispace 2010-04-15T19:36:00+01:00 2010-04-15T19:36:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1673

Doetinchem - Icelandic Evening Sky

minispace 2010-04-12T21:08:00+01:00 2010-04-12T21:04:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1672

Well nice! I knew I passed that damned Google Streetview car sometime last year ... My face isn't even blurred out. So here is my statement. I have no choice. STATEMENT Yes, I was on the Braamtseweg in Doetinchem sometime in 2009. I apologise for my irresponsible and selfish behavior, which includes infidelity as I did not drive a Mini Cooper at the time, but a mere Ford Ka. I therefore had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame. I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. For all that I have done, I am so sorry.... I owe it to my family to become a better person, I owe it to those close to me to become a better man. ... I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. END OF STATEMENT The shocking evidence is below. Not suitable for kids. Doetinchem - Braamtseweg (Google Streetview)

minispace 2010-04-05T18:37:00+01:00 2010-04-05T18:37:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1671

Nu weet ik dat ik met een bepaalde bedoeling naar de supermarkt ging afgelopen zaterdag. En nu pas weet ik weer waarom eigenlijk. Heb dus geen afwasmiddel meer, dat wasset ... had wel veel ingeslagen die dag, maar dus geen afwasmiddel merk ik nu net (dit gegeven kan bij mij zomaar wekenlang onopgemerkt blijven, ik was er met 2 dagen vertraging dus nogal snel achter voor mijn doen)

minispace 2010-04-02T15:06:00+01:00 2010-04-01T13:02:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1670

Amsterdam - Studio Plantage Na afloop van de uitzending van 'De Wereld Draait Door', 31 maart 2010.

minispace 2010-03-30T19:35:00+01:00 2010-03-30T19:35:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1669

Morgenavond heb ik een avondje echte real-life 3-D televisie. Ga naar DWDD en P&W om daar als klapvee te dienen. Heb al een visum voor de Randstad gekregen en ook alle inentingen zijn al gedaan. Maar wat moet ik lezen; Paul Witteman is afwezig. Laurel zonder Hardy. En nu is vanwege de voetbal DWDD ook nog eens 10 minuten korter. Ik voel me belazerd want ik moet wel de volle 7 Euri entree betalen. Pff. Ombudsman, doe er wat an !

minispace 2010-03-22T20:16:00+01:00 2010-03-22T20:16:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1668

As 3-D is all the rage, I've decided that I cannot postpone the launch of my new 3-D-blog any longer. So here goes. It's live now. You do not require funny glasses or any of that sort of nonsense. My blog can be viewed in 3-D without any of these gadgets. All you require are 3 bottles of wine or any 12%-plus alcoholic beverage in large quantities without eating anything and hey presto: glorious 3-D ! Happy viewing ! (Minispace recommends viewing this site using LSD)

minispace 2010-03-07T20:56:00+01:00 2010-03-07T20:55:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1667

My parents are on holiday hence I have to take care of this now for a while. Do not be fooled, it is an evil manipulative monster. It's also a big fan of the musical 'Hair'. I've got its hair all over me now ... and I hate that.

minispace 2010-03-07T15:51:00+01:00 2010-03-07T15:51:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1666

Leuk die Myspace-vriendenlijsten, kom je nog eens wat tegen op de luie zondagmiddag ... I present to you: Thee 50's High Teens ... konnichiwa.

minispace 2010-03-04T11:24:00+01:00 2010-03-03T20:19:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1665

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen Doetinchem. And what a heartwarming thing it is. Behalve een paar treurige borden aan de rand van de weg heb ik er weinig van gemerkt. Mij is dus ook opvallend weinig duidelijk geworden welke partij nou wat precies gaat doen in Doetinchem, de Metropool van de Achterhoek, the Centre Of The Universe As We Know It. De websites van de verschillende partijen maakten me ook al niet veel wijzer. Veel gebakken pixels. En mensen die nog minder fotogeniek zijn dan ik. Ik mag dus stemmen, maar da's het dan ook wel. Omdat ik toch vind dat ik mijnen democratischen plicht moet vervullen heb ik daarom voor een andere insteek gekozen. Ik kies gewoon puur op een persoon. Zomaar eentje. En omdat ik helemaal niemand van welke partij dan ook ken heb ik gewoon een achternaamgenoot uitgezocht. Deze beslissing werd gemaakt in het stemhokje. Zwevend of wat ? De gelukkige is daarom geworden: Dirk Jan Kempers ! D66 (had ook SGP kunnen wezen, maakt me niet uit). Nu heb ik alleen een probleem. Waar is Dirk Jan ? Dirk Jan bestaat bijna niet. Er is over de beste man niets, maar dan ook helemaal niets te vinden op het Grote Wijde Interweb. Ik wil wel eens weten op wie ik gestemd heb. Maar ik kom er niet achter. Allicht, hij staat met naam op de D66 DTC website (op plaats 12 hetgeen een eufemisme is voor 'onverkiesbaar'). Maar verder is de man behalve onverkiesbaar ook onvindbaar. Wie isset? Geen Hyves, geen Facebook, geen persoonlijke website. Nada noppes. En dat voor een partij die zich "de jongerenpartij bij uitstek" noemt. Bestaat Dirk Jan Kempers eigenlijk wel? Digitaal in ieder geval niet. Saillant detail: D66 eist totale transparantie van Raadsleden. Waarom ga je op een kieslijst staan als er niks, maar dan ook helemaal niks over je te vinden is ? Waarom zou ik dan op je gaan stemmen onder normale omstandigheden ? Gekken zoals ik zijn er natuurlijk altijd waardoor je een verdwaalde stem krijgt, maar niet voldoende om iemand de Raad in te helpen. En daar wil Dirk Jan toch in ? Dirk Jan Kempers, jij moet het voor mij gaan doen. Mijn verwachtingen zijn hoog gespannen. JIJ moet de problemen in Doetinchem voor mij gaan oplossen. Ook al woon je in Gaanderen. Maar het zou wel leuk zijn als er iets meer dan je naam bekend zou zijn, kan ik je groeten op straat enzo. Enne, wellicht familie dusseh, die bouwvergunning, daar komen we wel uit he, nudge nudge, wink wink ... Om een bezopen verhaal kort te maken; waarom staan er eigenlijk nog personen op die kieslijst ? UPDEET: Dirk Jan Kempers heeft het niet gered. Weg stem.

minispace 2010-02-21T12:29:00+01:00 2010-02-21T12:29:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1664

Exclusive from our foreign correspondent: To save time and for the avoidance of doubt, Balkenende has tendered his resignation in respect of his 5th coalition govt.  Granted it hasn't been formed yet but he believed it prudent to make it clear where he stood.

minispace 2010-02-09T20:29:00+01:00 2010-02-09T20:29:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1663

Emmerich - Boomchickas live at Zum Fritz

minispace 2010-02-06T22:32:00+01:00 2010-02-06T20:19:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1662

Alsjemenou. Mijn oude huis is te koop. Dat wil zeggen, mijn oude studentenhuis. Kerkerinklaan 44, Santpoort-Noord. Waar ik van 1990 to 1998 heb gewoond. En met veel plezier mag ik wel zeggen. Al heel lang wilde ik een keertje terug, gewoon om weer eens te kijken hoe het er nu van binnen uitziet. Maar gelukkig is er Funda. In de tijd dat ik er woonde was het huis in eigendom van de heer en mevrouw Zuyderduyn. En zij woonden er al vanaf dat het gebouwd werd in de jaren '30. Met dito interieur. Het is daarom voor mij best schokkend te zien hoe wit het er nu uitziet. Want in mijn beleving is het huis donkerbruin. Tja, het is aardig up-to-date gemaakt. Ik heb in totaal drie kamers bewoond; twee op de bovenste verdieping en eentje op de eerste verdieping. Een korte tour door het huis: . ...

minispace 2010-02-02T19:54:00+01:00 2010-02-02T19:30:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1661

Er zijn zo van die rapportages waardoor ik me eigenlijk wel verheug op dat Powned. Ik kan het filmpje in kwestie niet embedden dus ik plaast maar gewoon een linkje via het screenshot onder. Mijn favoriete moment begint bij minuut 2:00. Ik voel overigens wel een beetje voor de man in kwestie. Maar tis toch wel grappig ...

minispace 2010-01-29T17:07:00+01:00 2010-01-29T17:07:00+01:00 tag:pivotpowered,2010:minispace.1660

I have just discovered ... my collegue is a Trekkie !! Arrgh

minispace