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To think or not to think

A friend of mine is a very smart guy. He even has a PhD in Philosophy. As a philospher he is also linked to the college where I lecture as well as to the University of Ghent and the University of Nijmegen. Apart from all that, he's a very nice bloke ;-). Anyway: I have added his website 'Philou' ( http://users.ugent.be/~idevisch/ ) to my links. If you ever feel like thinking hard and deep: check it out!

Bert and Ernie: 30 years older

This month (January), back in 1976, saw the birth of the Dutch version of Sesame street. Let's all just admit it: we loved to watch Bert and Ernie. I know I did. Funny how cartoon characters and puppets just don't seem to age. Now that I think of it: how's that for a solution for all those wanting to stay young forever? But then again, some of them are already a caricature by themselves...

Time-out

A lot of people have been asking me questions about my new watch lately. In order not to have to tell the same story over and over again: here's the truth. Yes, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Sort of.

It's my wife who bought me this watch as a new year present. A somewhat late new year present, but I've been told you can have new year activities all through the month of January. And, okay, I helped her pick. But still...

For those interested in the small details: it's an o.d.m. <mysterious v dd99>. Doesn't ring a bell? Good. Nice design, but nothing you want to show off with because certainly not expensive. Got it at Callebert's in Bruges, a must-go if you're ever in the neighbourhood.

If you ever do go there: let me know. We'll meet up for an espresso in the nicely decorated slow food bistro annex coffee shop upstairs. Just tell me what time you'd like to meet. Because now I can actually see how late it is. Yep: this watch really is amazing...

The child is the father of the man

             

Reading this recent post on pub-lic spaces made me think of one of Wordsworth's famous quotes: The child is the father of the man.

Yesterday, I took my bike out for the first time this year, just to prepare a bit for  next season. And at times like that, I cannot but acknowledge that these words are very true. Riding my race bike makes me think I'm Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Walter Godefroot, Lucien Van Impe, Sean Kelly,... I know: a 35-year-old pretending to be one of the cycling heroes from his childhood days is something most people will find a bit curious to say the least. But believe me: all those adult men riding their bikes as if their lives depend on it, do exactly the same. The question is whether they'll admit it.

One of my liveliest childhood memories is sitting at the living room table, playing with my toy cyclists. They were painted in the famous Peugeot, Molteni, Flandria,... colours. Each had a name (well, I gave them one - you can probably guess which). Of course, it wasn't until much later that I learnt who they really were, and how much they excelled in this wonderful but ever so tough sport as cycling. I no longer have these toys. Somehow they got lost. As a teenager I didn't really care. In my twenties, when I started cycling, I sometimes thought about where they might have ended up.

And now, having kids of my own, I regret the fact they're gone. Let's face it: deep down I'd just love to put them on the table again. Merckx first, of course. And if anybody would ask if I haven't grown too old for this, I could always say I did not put them there, but one of the boys. Still, I am not quite sure the stupid grin on my face would not betray me...

Perhaps I'll just settle for a retro jersey instead (Flandria: Godefroot, De Vlaeminck - St.Raphaël: Simpson, Anquetil - Molteni: guess...). If you'd like one too: you can look here, or maybe here. Let me know which one you got. Oh, and if you were to find my toy cyclists: let me know too, okay?

Belgians and their beers

More beer? Yes. Why? Simple: some time ago, I promised a regular visitor of this blog that I would be doing a/some post(s) on Belgian beer. And I try to keep my promises. My lazy side, however, tells me that I should not do a job that has already been done before. Makes sense, right? That's why I would like to link you through to this other Belgian's personal blog. And if you're a PR professional, you might also want to check his professional blog. Cheers!

Strange folk, those Americans (3)

Okay, I know what some of you may be thinking: here we go again for another "let's laugh with those stupid Americans" post. But let me be clear about this: I do not think Americans are stupid. Well, at least not all of them. But that doesn't mean we cannot uhm... be amused about some of the things they say and do. Just like they do the other way around, probably. Besides: laughing is healthy. And if you do not believe me, ask them.

Anyway: this struck me as... well kinda striking. I mean: Stella Artois is just another Belgian beer. An ordinary lager, to be precise. And not even the best one we've got. Right?

Belgian Prime Minister visiting USA

Sorry: this one's probably 'Belgians only'...

C-B in FOAM

1) Photography lovers already know. 2) His name is the cliché answer to the question "Which photographers do you look up to?" 3) His photos are on replica posters all over the world.

These are some possible reasons not to post this post. Or not to go to Amsterdam any time soon. But I am doing it anyway: until the second of April, the Photography Museum of Amsterdam runs a Cartier-Bresson retrospective exhibition. Want to come along? Just let me know. After all, you mind end up seeing the originals of this great work:

Trip down memory lane

Remember Levi's's/Levi's'/Levi's (how on earth do you write a genitive in this case?) Flat Eric? I do. Loved it. Love it still...

[via adjab or via milkandcookies]

Strange folk, those Americans (2)

I enjoyed reading this post on Pub-lic Spaces the other day. It sort of proves my point that the USA remains a wonderfully fascinating country filled with 'miraculous' contrasts. This is probably the only country where people are easily shocked by a half-naked breast while the pornography business is booming; where the word 'God' is mentioned  a billion times a day yet the death penalty is advocated by so many; where the most brilliant minds in the world work a couple of blocks away from where the functionally illiterate live; where the president is re-elected despite ongoing criticism. Or could the above postcard Hanneke Groenteman (a Dutch tv presenter) received some time ago become reality this year? It is, after all, Friday the 13th. Who knows what might happen... Anybody suffering from paraskevidekatriaphobia by the way?