When US president Barack Obama announced the death of Osama Bin Laden (OBL) on national television, he claimed “justice has been done”. The question is of course: who’s justice? Certainly not justice by international standards. If you look at the way things unfolded, there are many questions one can raise with his course of action. In fact: in this case the “justice” that was served was nothing else but revenge. Revenge for 9/11 2001 and the ghost chase the US government was on since 9/11. Don’t get me wrong: I totally understand revenge and I don’t shed a tear about […]
Epic T-Mobile #FAIL
So in February this year I decided to get myself a new phone with my T-Mobile subscription. Since an iPhone 4 was way too expensive, I decided to get a high-end Android phone. The idea is that I give either that phone or my Samsung Galaxy S, to my girlfriend in the US as a birthday present. After some careful considerations I decided to get the HTC Desire HD as it packs almost the same specs as my Samsung. Now, one would think that the easiest way to order a phone would be online: after all it is 2011, right? Well, […]
Android it is
After considering my options for a long time, I finally decided what I am going to get in terms of a new phone. Knowing that a new iPhone is probably around the corner and knowing that there are many new Android phones coming out right now as well, it had to be a compromise of some sort. So I opted for a one year contract instead of two year contract (T-Mobile Flex +Internet) and ordered myself a HTC Desire HD. Yup: I opted for Android – again. Biggest reason for me to do so: it’s a whole lot cheaper than an […]
iPhone 4 or Android?
Ok, I admit: this falls into the “luxury problem” category. But it is a problem nonetheless: in about a week I need to take a decision on renewing my current T-Mobile mobile phone subscription. This means I can choose a new phone as well. I am still torn between getting an iPhone 4 or another Android phone. Which is it going to be? Well, I am leaning towards Android at the moment. If you have been following my blog, you know I have been really interested in getting an Apple iPhone 4 ever since it got launched in June 2010. […]
How to win a battle but loose the war
We all know about (Internet) piracy and the media industry. We all know how the media industry struggles with todays reality but still thinks that they can survive by clinging on to their old and obsolete business model. Now, in Holland we have a rather funny way of dealing with copyrights and the legalities of pirated movies/music. Dutch law says that downloading a pirated movie/music (even though you now you didn’t buy it) is legal. Yes, you read that right: I can download ANY pirated movie/music without fear of being prosecuted. Also, making a copy of a movie/CD (in case you did […]
Chuck Norris eat your heart out!
Man, you have to see this to believe it. Maybe this is Chuck Norris’s mother?
What if: Steve Jobs and his iPad in Dragon’s Den
Here in Holland (and in many other countries) we have a series of reality television programmes called “Dragon’s Den“, featuring ‘wannabe’ entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. It is quite a fun format: the contestants always (think they) have a very profitable business idea, but just lack funding (one can wonder why). So they pitch their idea to five (very) rich, successful entrepreneurs: aka the “dragons”. Before each show the contestants name an amount of money that they need to get, and the rules are that if they do not raise at […]
2011 here we come
Here we go again: yet another year has past us by and we’re all still here. Given all the problems we had in 2010 it’s a small miracle I would say. Hopefully 2011 will be the year of recovery. Recovery from the economic crisis. Recovery from the natural disasters. Recovery after a year in which Holland suddenly turned into a right-winged, prejudiced, short-sighted country bringing a frustrated nut-case to power. So, on the threshold of a new year it is good to leave all that was bad about the past year behind us and move on. So, to all my readers: a happy new […]
Information wants to be free
Todays arrest of Julian Assange the infamous journalist, internet activist, whistleblower and WikiLeaks frontman, shows exactly why citizens of so called democratic countries should mistrust their governments. You don’t have to believe in conspiracy theories to see that this case is the perfect proof that the US Government will stop at nothing to keep their dirty secrets from leaking out. And somehow they have Sweden on their side: a very strange ally. Something extraordinary is going on. The allegations – that’s all they are right now – against Assange would normally never have lead to Interpol issuing an international arrest […]
TEDx Amsterdam started
One of the cooler events on this planet – the TEDx conference – has started in Amsterdam. TEDx is a spin-off from the famous TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) conferences that are held regularly in the USA. As TED gained massive popularity due to the interesting speakers and subjects, it is almost impossible to get a ticket. As an alternative TEDx is an independent program that offers people to enjoy a TED-like experience with TEDx Events they organize, design and host themselves. For those that can not attend the TEDx Amsterdam, here is a live stream so you can follow […]