Leave your bike unlocked….

Last Friday I have been watching a tv show/quiz….. and one of the questions was;

if you leave your bicycle UNlocked, can you get a fine of;
a. you will not get a fine
b. fine of 30 euros
c. fine of 70 euros
d. fine of a higher amount

With this question I was totally convinced; you will NOT get a fine…!!
Oooooh I was WRONG…!!
The correct answer is; a. fine of 30 euros

Uh…. what…??

So – our society is really this far..??
Probably you will get the fine because you are tempting a thief to steal your bicycle..??
This way the world is turned around uh..??
Next step will be;

“Yes judge; I took all those 150 bikes….- but you know what……??
I am not the one who is guilty…!! Those people left their bikes UNLOCKED…. this way they did something totally AGAINST THE LAW…..!!
IF they would not have done that, I would not have been able to take those bike…. See; I didn’t steal them – I took them…. And uh… those previous owners of the bike; they still should get their 30 euro fine….!!”

And you know what……?
When you go to the police – reporting your bike stolen; first thing the police is normally saying “sorry – we have a lot of stolen bike; there is not really a chance we can help you“……–> but – be careful to not mention you forgot to lock it… cause then you will hear “sorry – we have a lot of stolen bikes, there is not really a chance we can help you….. AND it is your own fault and because of that “fault” you will get a fine of 30 euros

I have been laughing about a lot of ridiculous laws – but wow…. this law IN HOLLAND….. (number 1 country with bikes)…… it did not make me laugh…. it made me SAD!!

 

Apple; iPad should face lawsuit..??

Sorry – I am also doing it… I am also going to talk about “IT”….
It has been all over the news…. and also on “all the blogs”….. the newborn child of Apple; the iPad….
(weird name uh..??)

All kinds of positive news…
- the looks
- very handy
- not toooo expensive
All kinds of negative news…..
- no multitasking..??
- what is new about it – my netbook can do the same LESS EXPENSIVE

But that is not going to be my topic….
I am wondering; we all remember the lawsuit of the EU against  Microsoft.
Since that lawsuit – it is all clear; Microsoft is not allowed to “just make their own browser (IE) the main browser in their operating system”….
All of a sudden; Microsoft is forced to also offer software of the competition.

And now the iPad… Read more »

 

In time of crisis; booking my holiday…!

Last year I spent my holiday in the USA and Canada….  a nice circle from Toronto – Niagara – Washington – New York – Toronto
I had a lot of fun….. saw amazing stuff…. so – I really had a great time.

So; busy with making plans for my next holiday -> I am thinking of the following one; Houston – New Orleans – Orlando – plane to Toronto.

All this is starting in Holland…. – so lot of preperation; I need a plane – I need hotels – I need a car….

So – I thought “in time of crisis – the prices should be lower OR at least the same….”….

Especially after my little “failure of last year”; I booked my plane ticket and a week later – our Dutch Government announced they would stop a certain airport/plane tax….
THIS would have meant; my plane ticket about 60 euro cheaper…
But okay – this would start after the 1st of July…. – I traveled before that date….so => just “bad luck”. Read more »

 

Bono’s “freedom speech”

Today I read a piece written by Bono of U2 – a column in the New York Times….
In all honesty – I didn’t read it totally; same as his lyrics… kind of boring….!

But – there is a part in which he is talking about Intellectual Property Developers… how we should “ban” the file sharing…
According to Mr.Bono – the music industry is almost destroyed – and he hopes the other industries (movie, gaming) are able to stop the p2p/filesharing community.
He is talking about controlling the traffic between computers….

This guy – who is talking about all kinds of freedom and people being equal….
This same guy, who is asking 85 euros for a normal (ring) concert ticket,….. is telling me that I should not get music for free…..!
Uh…. but how do you expect me to be able to pay 85 euros..??
I am selling one arm – one leg….. and “steal” a couple of U2 songs; because I would like to be know if I also like the new songs of U2 => otherwise it would be ridiculous to go to your concert….. wouldn’t it…?

And then take away my freedom…. check all my email/computer traffic.
Sure; make the mailman go through my envelopes…. maybe have the police make a monthly check in my home; just to be sure I don’t have illegal stuff in my house….

Oh yeah – one more thing; once a while I am paying for a dvd (some rental – some buy) => don’t you think it is strange I have to look for a minute to a screen which is telling me that I should NOT WATCH illegal DVDs…….
So – they let me pay – to watch such a thing……
Shouldn’t you be putting this on the illegal movie – instead of my legal version…??

Source; the New York Times – Ten for the Next Ten

 

US Health reform; I just hope…..

As a lot of people know; in Holland we do have good health system. Everybody is covered (uh… insured..??)….. so – if we have to go to the hospital; the main thing will be = HELP THAT PERSON…
Yep – a real good situation….

BUT; pls know – this is not for free…!
We, the Dutch, are paying a lot of money for it…..

See; I don’t have any problems with paying for it… and even “a lot of money”…. ah well – if we are all covered and safe….!!

So – what is the problem Sjeltur…??

Well; I am paying every month 120 euro to be covered very well. Yep – I am not even paying “the full amount” – because I do think there are some risks I “should take”…..
And with me; all the Dutch are paying a similar amount… some less and some more; depending on the coverage…
But we are all covered for the “main things”….

And every year; this amount I need to pay is rising…. I know – everything is getting more and more expensive… and yep – every year I am also earning a bit more….
One of the problems with this price rising; it is also rising because the insurance companies have problems with getting their money….
Yep; some are just not paying their bill……. and in these times of recession – I even do understand it a bit….
But those “non paying people” are creating a circle; they are not paying, because it is a lot of money……, but because of not paying – the price will be higher next year….; more reason to not pay the bill…..

In the past; the main part of the health insurance would be paid via the earnings people get;
so – I work – my boss is (forced) paying a bit from my salary to get me covered….
People on welfare; the Government would first take off the part of health insurance…..
Perfect; everybody pays in time….

I have no idea how the US Government will do all this; one advice – DO NOT LET THE PEOPLE PAY MANUALLY…..!!

 

Turn Times Square into Art Square

Okay – maybe this all sounds like a weird idea…., BUT; I really do like the idea…..

AS you all know; I went to New York last (early) summer -> and yep – I have been on Times Square.. and most of my attention went to the people on the street (and sitting on their chairs); WATCHING THE ADVERTISEMENTS…!
Why would you spend your time watching huge billboards…??
I have no idea….!!

But this week; some tweets of Ernst-Jan Pfauth (DutchProBlogger) caught my attention; “We’re Gonna Replace All Advertising on Times Square with Art. Here’s How“…..
Just a simple idea; get the money AND the artist to put nice art on the big light screens on Times Square…. and make Times Square (for the first time…?) look REALLY NICE….!!

Lets see if the Dutch can change New York (again)…..!!

Details; the Times Square to Art Square page

 
Bono's

Bono’s “freedom speech”

Today I read a piece written by Bono of U2 – a column in the New York Times….
In all honesty – I didn’t read it totally; same as his lyrics… kind of boring….!
But – there is a part in which he is talking about Intellectual Property Developers… how we should “ban” the file sharing…
According to [...]

Other posts in News

Apple; iPad should face lawsuit..??

Apple; iPad should face lawsuit..??

Sorry – I am also doing it… I am also going to talk about “IT”….
It has been all over the news…. and also on “all the blogs”….. the newborn child of Apple; the iPad….
(weird name uh..??)
All kinds of positive news…
- the looks
- very handy
- not toooo expensive
All kinds of negative news…..
- no multitasking..??
- what is [...]

Other posts in Comp

Leave your bike unlocked....

Leave your bike unlocked….

Last Friday I have been watching a tv show/quiz….. and one of the questions was;
if you leave your bicycle UNlocked, can you get a fine of;
a. you will not get a fine
b. fine of 30 euros
c. fine of 70 euros
d. fine of a higher amount
With this question I was totally convinced; you will NOT get [...]

Other posts in Fun