‘House’ for instance, is feminine: ‘la casa.’
‘Pencil,’ however, is masculine: ‘el lapiz.’

A student asked, ‘What gender is ‘computer’?’

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer’ should be a masculine or a feminine noun.
Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men’s group decided that ‘computer’ should definitely be of the feminine gender (‘la computadora’), because:
1.. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2 The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your salary on accessories for it.

The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine (‘el computador’), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have got a better model.

The women won

Thanks America!

I finally have a decent CD of this album instead of just download from eMusic.

I love it, love it, love it!

Poor Laika….

Today i went to Amsterdam to check out a band that goes by the name Nuff Said. I’m seldom overwhelmed by Dutch bands, but these guys surprised me. Good songs with some very catchy riffs. If i had to put a lable on it, it would be bubbly rock. It was a big bummer that they started at a ridicilous hour (11 pm) and i had to leave for the trainstation when the band was just starting to warm up.

Before that i enjoyed a very pleasant evening at Guys place, who introduced me to another friend of his. I’m terrible with names and although i think i remember hers, i’m not going to take a gamble. But what i know for certain is that she is very nice, articulate and totally into Frank Zappa. I could not have wished for better company.

It will be no surprise that at some point i had to mention Conny’s death. At this point all roads lead to Conny one way or another. I’m truelly amazed and grateful that this is never a bombshell that spoils the mood. That i can talk about this without being treated as someone who is suffering emotional leprosy. That what i am going trough is a human experience that others are interested in with the purest intentions.

Later on we cycled to the gig. I have never ride a bike through Amsterdam before and i really enjoyed it.
Amsterdam does not have the overwhelming beauty of Brussels or Paris, but it does have thousands of nooks and crannies where you can discover something unique. Amsterdam can be anything you want it to be. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it.

After the gig I enjoyed a twenty minute hike to the trainstation. It would have been a perfect evening
if it wasn’t for the following event. Right after the train left, the train hit something or to be precise, someone. I’m not sure if it was an accident or a suicide, but the event did make think on how much impact it has on so many different people. For what it’s worth, my thoughts are with all of them.

Carpe diem people! Carpe diem!

Har har har!

Newspaper De Volkskrant have asked the The guys of Boom Chicago to comment on the American presidential election. I leave it to you to decide if it is funny or not.

The idea itself is interesting. Maybe we Dutch should return the favour and start a Boem Amsterdam in Chicago. Wouldn’t it be great to make a show that would fill you in on all the details about the elections in the Netherlands? Who wouldn’t want to hear more about the clash between giants like Jan Peter Balkenende, Wouter Bos and Agnes Kant?

Hello? Anyone?

Today i found out that Robert has his very own channel on Youtube. So far i only have seen his last video, but i loved it. Not in the least on what he says about why we all aren’t driving electric cars yet.