MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS

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TYSTNAD

© ANNE VAN DER ZANDEN


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SINTERKLAAS

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WINTER WINDOWS

Though the news is claiming it has been snowing in this part of the country, I haven't seen a flake here in Nijmegen. I'm sitting in front of my computer in an oversized River Woods jumper (It has been my grandfather's. Oversized is an understatement), listening to Villagers, Sea Wolf, Midlake and other representative winter tunes. I was ready. I am ready.

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WIE ZOET IS...

Zie ginds komt de stoomboot uit Spanje weer aan.
Hij brengt ons Sint Nicolaas, ik zie hem al staan.
Hoe huppelt zijn paardje het dek op en neer.
Hoe waaien de wimpels al heen en al weer.
Zijn knecht staat te lachen en roept ons reeds toe:
Wie zoet is, krijgt lekkers wie stout is, de roe.
Oh lieve Sint Nicolaas denk ook eens aan mij,
en rijd dan niet stilletjes mijn huisje voorbij.

I was planning on improving my Speculaas/Chocolate cupcakes for a while and today I finally had the time to do it. I will post a recipe ASAP.

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NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

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ACCIDENTALLY, NOT ON PURPOSE

Last friday my head had an unpleasant meeting with the pavement. My teeth didn't like it very much, so they decided to break up with me and fell out. The cause: My terrible cycling skills and temporary equilibration problems. Bikes are dangerous, you know! Do not ever underestimate them.
Anyway, I look like this now, but less cute:



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IN-EARS

The newest additions to my CD-collection are in!
From left to right, it's the new Kings Of Leon Come Around Sundown, Klaxon's Surfing The Void and... Villagers! That last one is going to be my soundtrack for Autumn 2010! Just amazing. I will write a review for each one of these CD's soon.

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HAPPY 10-10-10

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NIGHTLY BAKING BUSINESS

Why? Because I felt like baking a cake at 1 AM? No, it's my brothers birthday party today, and I'm known for my apple pie, cupcakes and everything else you put in an oven, so I couldn't let my family down. Even though I had a very busy and tiring day.
I went to a band named Kensington at a radioshow, hosted by Eric Corton. The fact is that the other night, I went to another event comme ça so I was pretty tired already. But I guess baking is much more fun than sleeping anyway, haha.






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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday to my little brother! He turned 16 today!

*Photograph by me.
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HEALTHY FOOD

Healthy? Not really! But my cooking-skills... well. Let's say, I hope I will marry a chef! Or anyone who is less gastronomically handicapped than myself. My perception of cooking:




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SAN MARINO

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MY NAME IS BENNY BLISTO

Since I keep spamming about Go Back To The Zoo's album Benny Blisto on twitter, I figured I could just use my blog for it instead.

THE RELEASE-PARTY (AMSTERDAM)
I have been to the release-party of the very first album of Go Back To The Zoo yesterday. I brought a camera, but I forgot to charge the battery so it was useless. The setting was amazing, the Westerunie in Amsterdam suits the band very well. In a corner there were four tv's showing Lars, Bram, Teun and Cas. The stage was filled with amazing stuff. The kind of helter-skelter that I would fill my house with (or as my mom would say: junk) It was very crowded and I'm sure I have seen more handsome guys than I have seen when I was two weeks in Italy. But since everybody keeps saying I have bad taste, that could have been a bad thing for others. My brother was feeling a little uncomfortable being tall, because he wanted to be in front to watch the show. But well, we stood there anyway. The show was amazing and very well set up.

THE CD-PRESENTATION IN KROESE (NIJMEGEN)
I wasn't feeling quite well, so it didn't really feel good to stand in a crowded place like that. But well, it was my hometown and I felt like buying the CD again, haha. So my brother bought a second one too, and we had it autographed! By Torben and Andrew, haha. The band played 4 songs and recorded a promo for 'De winkelwagenshow' whatever that may be...

THE CD
First of all, I love the artwork in the cover-booklet. I don't know who made that drawings (PvdS?) but I admire that person.
The CD consists of a combination of up-tempo rock songs and a couple slow ones. Still, every song is danceble and gets me in a good mood. Hit singles Electric and Beam Me Up (which featered in a Nike ad.) and Hey DJ are very catchy.
A very pretty song on this album is House On Fire. A lot of the critics don't like this song, but it's actually one of my favorites on the album! The instrumental parts sound a little bit like The Antlers, but Cas' voice gives it just that raw edge that it needed.

The songs on Benny Blisto with the number of how much I listened to them (in 2 days and explicitly on iTunes)
Electric (5)
I'm The Night (See You Later) (10)
Beam Me Up (6)
Hey DJ (8)
Gotta Wake Up (8)
Nicer (11)
House On Fire (12)
Fuck You (13)
Oh No (We Stayed) (11)
Sweet World (8)
I Lov It (8)

The album purchased at bol.com, Free Record Shop, Kroese (I recommend that store) and on iTunes.

DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE, LITTLE BASTARDS.

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SO IF I WAIT FOR A HOLIDAY

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IT IS

MOD_PYTHON ERROR

ProcessId: 20972
Interpreter: 'www.cartaematita.it'

ServerName: 'www.cartaematita.it'
DocumentRoot: '/var/www/cem/'

URI: '/img/no_smoking.jpg'
Location: '/'
Directory: None
Filename: '/var/www/cem/img'
PathInfo: '/no_smoking.jpg'

Phase: 'PythonHandler'
Handler: 'django.core.handlers.modpython'

Traceback (most recent call last):

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1537, in HandlerDispatch
default=default_handler, arg=req, silent=hlist.silent)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1229, in _process_target
result = _execute_target(config, req, object, arg)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/mod_python/importer.py", line 1128, in _execute_target
result = object(arg)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/modpython.py", line 228, in handler
return ModPythonHandler()(req)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/modpython.py", line 201, in __call__
response = self.get_response(request)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/base.py", line 122, in get_response
return self.handle_uncaught_exception(request, resolver, sys.exc_info())

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/base.py", line 166, in handle_uncaught_exception
return callback(request, **param_dict)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/views/defaults.py", line 23, in server_error
t = loader.get_template(template_name) # You need to create a 500.html template.

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/template/loader.py", line 81, in get_template
source, origin = find_template_source(template_name)

File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/site-packages/django/template/loader.py", line 74, in find_template_source
raise TemplateDoesNotExist, name

TemplateDoesNotExist: 500.html

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OK GO

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BJORN

Anton Corbijn inspired picture for a schoolproject.

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MONSIEUR, JE T'AIME

ISN'T HE the most handsome guy you have ever seen? I'll tell you: OUI! Parçe que il est français. As is the photographer Sacha Dumain. Qui j'aime aussi!

I had a french oral today for my semi-finals. Well, the finals of this year at least. It went pretty well! I had a free subject to talk about and I chose le floorball. I had prepared a presentation which contained text for at least 10 minutes, but my teacher only let my say three sentences! :( This because he wanted to test my conversation skills. I got an 7,5!

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BLESS THE DAY

WHEN I AM KING - TIM KNOL




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WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?

I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT OLD NEWS, since the collection is a couple of years old. But I just can't say how much I love the Wildfox 'Nobody's Perfect' Astrology Tees! So simple, and yet so funny! I wish I could get my hands on a cancer-piece, since (obviously) cancer is my zodiac sign. But at the moment, only the Aquarius, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra, Leo, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aries signs are still on stock. That's bad luck for me, but if you're one of these signs, you should get one!

I really love the 'characteristics-line' under the sign. And I must say... the cancer sign line does really fits me, since I looooooooove to fall in love. (Unfortunately, I fall very hard...) And I'm pretty sure the other signs have a hint of truth in their lines. My brother is Libra and pretty undecided. But after all... who isn't?

Well, I just love the tees. Go get yourselves one!



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brun björn, var är du?

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SMOKE

I wanted to add some smoking pics... But, my computer is being a fuckass.
I'll upload them later.

In the meantime, here you have some smoking hot tunes to fire up your iPods and other musical devices:
Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors - Editors
Smoking On The Balcony - Go Back To The Zoo
Cigarettes In The Theatre - Two Door Cinema Club

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SEX AND THE CITY II?

I hate Sex and the City! So I followed up Jake's 'advice' and went to see Prince Of Persia again, haha.
Well, maybe I shouldn't say that I hate SATC. I haven't even seen the film yet, so who am I to judge. Nice short blog, huh.
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Since I've seen Donnie Darko, when I was about 12 years old, I've always had a little crush on Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was very eager when I heard he was going to play the title role in Prince Of Persia! I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I have played the PoP-games too. I'm not a big fan of gaming, but Prince Of Persia is actually a really cool game! I'll confess that I also like Battlefield Bad Company and Assasins Creed. But don't blame me, my little brother is to blame, because he gave me Assasins Creed for my birthday! And I also play Little Big Planet... And Singstar... OMG. I am a gamer!

Well. That was actually not why I wanted to write this blog. I wanted to commend the movie! Jake itself is already a good reason to go (and certainly don't let the neanderthal long hair look scare you away), but the story is pretty good too.

"I would just like to say to all the ladies out there, I know this is a big weekend for you in Nort America. This (stands up and points at his body) is Sex and the City - and if you want to see Sex and the City 2 - just see my movie twice!" - Jake Gyllenhaal to MTV Canada

Amen!

6.02.2010

EVERLASTING FESTIVAL

I totally forgot to post my pics of the Everlasting Festival! Shame on me. Well, better late then never. The Everlasting Festival is a small music festival, powered by the students of a school in Uden. The artists that play on the festival are mainly local bands and musicians. This year's performers were Boef & De Gelogeerde Aap, Fakkelbrigade, The 101's, Only Seven Left, Wrong Medicine and, last best, Go Back To The ZOO! It was an amazing night and I shot some pictures:






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PINKPOP

Mando Diao, Editors, Green Day, John Mayer, Moke, C-Mon & Kypski. Just a couple of the amazing artists on this year's Pinkpop saturday! The weather was great, at least 25°C during noon and refreshing rain in the evening. Mando Diao was energetic as always. It was too bad that most of the people standing besides me weren't Mando Diao fans, but were already there to stand front row for Green Day. They started off with The Quarry. Björn and Gustaf know how to work the crowd, so eventually even the Green Day fans were having a really good time. It was wonderful hearing Mats playing the intro of A Decent Life. CJ was running around the stage and Samuel... well he's my hero! He is the most underrated member, but the way he beats the drums... fucking amazing!

Listening: Incubation - Joy Division
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SURREAL BLUR

The first day of school was a blur.
A stressful, surreal blur.
I got in trouble for the
most random things.

Seems familiar? It's from the movie Mean Girls and just popped up in my head this morning. Not that it was my first day at school, but stressfull it certainly was.

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250 Films You Should Have Seen

In this month's Quest Magazine, there was a map with the 250 Best Films Ever Made according to IMDb. So I got a pencil and checked all the films I have already seen. And I was staggered to see I could only check 23 of the 250. And apparently, I have never seen any of the 'Universally Acclaimed Masterpieces. Shame on me. (Well, I have seen The Godfather, but not the second part.) But these are the films I have already seen:

- Donnie Darko
- Back To The Future
- The Wizard Of Oz
- Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
- Roman Holiday
- The Green Mile
- The Sixth Sense
- Låt Den Rätte Komma In (Let The Right One In, if you're Swedish isn't flawless)
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
- C'era Una Volta Il West (Once Upon A Time In The West)
- American History X
- The Matrix
- The Lion King
- Finding Nemo
- The Incredibles
- Ratatouille
- The Godfather
- The Bourne Ultimatum
- The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
- The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
- The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
- Batman Begins
- One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Want to see how you score? At Vodkaster.com you can find a similar map of the one I used.

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IT'S NOT WHAT YOU LOOK AT THAT MATTERS, IT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
henry david thoreau

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PROUD TO BE THE NEW GENERATION

If your Ducth, you might have already heard about this new so-called underground creative project Factory Fox. These innovators have, just like me, a strangely good feeling about 2010 becoming a very special year. At the 1st of February I watched their website to go online, and I must say that it looks very promising. They also launched a small T-shirt line with fresh and original designs. I'm definitely keeping an eye on their progress!



Want to see what I'm talking about: FACTORY FOX BLOG, FACTORY FOX TWITTER

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THIS IS NOT A BLOG

Do you know Wreck This Journal? Remember the tasks such as: make a mess, destroy, play with dirt and take this book in the shower with you? Than I have some news. Keri Smith, the author of Wreck This Journal has made a new book, but apparently, it isn't a book. Well, it starts as a normal book, but after completing all the crazy assignments, the only similarity with a book is the clustering of papers. This Is Not A Book is filled with original new pages, all starting with 'This is a...'. An amazing way to spend your boring sunday afternoons!

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GO BACK TO THE ZOO

Snow. So inconvenient sometimes. I went to the KABK/School of Arts today but I don't think The Hague has ever been this slippery. The school was so inspiring, but so big. I was dazzled when I came in but after I while I felt right at home. It was such an improvement comparing to the St. Lucas School in Boxtel.

After that, I attended a small performance of Go Back To The Zoo for That's Live, a Dutch radio show on 3FM. It was amazing! I really like their sound and I am impatiently waiting for their first album to come out! So if you have never heard of them, you definitely should listen Electric, Beam Me Up or Smokers On The Balcony. Though the audio above isn't from the performance, it's still a great acoustic version of 'Electric' in Amsterdam to give you an impression.

It was actually quite an accomplishment that I was in time because just an hour before the performance, I was still in The Hague and I had to take the train to Hilversum. And since it was still snowing, I was concerned the trains were delayed, or even worse...
But I was in time, even half an hour early actually!

Here are some pictures I made tonight.







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