Umida Akhmedova is not allowed to show daily life in Uzbekistan.


A district court in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent yesterday found a prominent photographer and film maker guilty of slandering and insulting the Uzbek people. However, the judge decided to grant Umida Akhmedova amnesty in honour of the 18th anniversary of Uzbek independence, her lawyer said. Akhmedova could have faced up to three years in prison. She was charged for making the documentary “The Burden of Virginity” and publishing a book of photographs – “Woman and Man: From Dawn till Night” – which portrayed daily life in Uzbekistan. Her trial had been criticised by several international rights groups. Amnesty International condemned her conviction “simply for exercising her right to freedom of expression” and called for it to be invalidated.

Speedskating: the dullest spectator sport on earth...

Speedskating is (according to Time Magazine) the dullest spectator sport on earth unless you are sitting with the inexplicably rabid Dutch skating fans who treat skating against the clock as if it were the Super Bowl and World Cup final combined. So I wonder how many people will follow it this year at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Sorry Guys, but I am 96% Hetero...

As calculated at the stockholmpride website based to my facebook friends newtwork....

Ursulagate

Det här är fredrick federley, Svenska politiker. Han åkt till Gran Canaria och fått betalt för att skriva om det på Hanky. Han hävdar att det inte var han som åkte, utan hans drag-alter ego, Ursula. De gjorde ett reportage om ön inför en dragfestival, och det var ingen semester.
Sveriges tidningen Aftonbladet tänkte annorlunda och skrev en sensationell artikel om det. Även är Sverige det verkar svårt att vara vem du vill vara.... pfft.

Tough Guys

The 24th annual Tough Guy Challenge took place last weekend on South Perton Farm, near Wolverhampton, England. It is the safest most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world. If you joined you had to sign this statement: "It's my own bloody fault for being here". More then 5000 people did (600 didn't finish...)

Create your own Batman Comic

Well: one pic that is...

Shackleton's Whisky (on the rocks)

Five crates of Scotch whisky and brandy belonging to the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton have been recovered after more than 100 years in the ice. They were buried beneath Shackleton's Antarctic hut, his  expedition ran short of supplies on their long trek to the South Pole from Cape Royds in 1907-1909 and they eventually fell about 100 miles (160 kilometres) short of their goal.

Bicycle Train

Marc van Woudenberg won the Bicycle Mania Photo Contest with this very nice / sweet photo. He likes (amsterdam) cycles a lot as you can see at his blog.

Cartoons are ART - at least the prizes are...

At the recent Brussels Art Fair several cartoon drawings by Herge were on offer. Expect something to pay in the region of €200.000 plus. OOPS!
Herge is of course the most recognized artist in the world with TinTin But ohers like Franquin are catching up quickly. This original Spirou drawing is for sale for € 3500 at gallery 9.

Facel Vega FV2B



Facel Vega are really betautiful cars and the nice thing is that you can actually buy nice restored ones even today at Amical Facel Holland like this FV2B cabriolet, 1956 (unfortunately sold...)

Nothing More - Nothing Less

Michel Hania the candidate for the party student058 posed nude for the municipal election poster. To bad for the beer he holds in his hands and the rather skinny looks. The photo is taken by the way in the City Hall...

And the Oscar goes to... - the redux

Now that the nominations are known - it's time to make my previous predictions a little bit more plausible:

My (adjusted) prediction for this years Oscars:
1) Best Film - Avatar
2) Best Director - Quentin Tarantino  for Inglourious Basterds
3) Best Actor - Colin Firth in A Single Man
4) Best Actress - Meryl Streep in  Julie & Julia
5) Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
6) Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique for Precious
7) Best Foreign Film - The White Ribbon
8) Best Animation - UP

The end of Don't Tell Don't Ask?

Obama made a pledge during the election and repeated it during his first State of the Union. Now it seems that even the military are working on a way to end the ridiculous "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" policy - will it finally stop? Then all there is left is the Supreme Court proposition 8 ruling :-)
We're making progress!

Amsterdam: the city with GAY shopping bags

A couple a days ago a guy at the Spui Straat whom was carrying a shopping bag from Gays & Gadgets (from my friend Hans) was brutally attacked without any reason. In Amsterdam! See the security camera video:


Today Mayor Cohen gave Gay shopping bags to shoppers so for a while everyone was carrying a gay message - I like the reaction, but it is unbelievable that you are beaten up for the bag you have...

Lost something?...

What's the matter with guys nowadays: they all seem to be searching for something...

Google = Evil?

A couple of days ago my Youtube account was "suspended"... That is Google for terminated. Without any reason, explanation or possibility to complain. Just like that no more you in youtube :-(
It wouldn't be that bad if Google & Youtube were just normal companies: but we're talking about huge monopolies here - so actually i am screwed (and switching to vimeo)

Obama: change we -still- can believe in...


In his first state of the union Obama came back with a great speech - so will it turn out as we hoped for?

I need an Apple iPad!


It is actually an iTunes pad and a little disappointing (no camera - 64G - no multi applications running) - but hey: Can you live without it? So When and Where (to buy) are they only questions left...

Respect for Victor Muller


I have no idea how he did it: but it worked - Spyker now owns Saab. One way or the other Victor is the sort of guy who makes (the most unbelievable) things happen and takes great risks with confidence.  In that part he is an example for all entrepreneurs and a true descent of our VOC heritage. 

Kallbada


De simmar alltid i Sverige - sommar eller vinter eller mycket kall vinter. Brrrrrr....