Some sun in Amsterdam never hurt anyone. It's nice to be riding along and you see your shadow unincumbered by the grayness of clouds gone by - clouds that cut the sun off from reaching this city - clouds that turn beautiful canals into pits of death. I'm amazed at the wonderful life that sun brings to this city. Cafe's are busy with people enjoying a beer, couples staring intently into each other's sparkling eyes or simply the lonely stranger, coffee in hand, eyes closed, loving every second of sun that hits her face. It's a wonderful site and one which I hope we see lots more of in Amsterdam soon. 

I've often wondered what it must be like for Leo to meet the ducks face to face, so I decided to check it out for myself. When I later looked at this picture, I found myself scared and at the time, thinking I should run. 

making an entrance

I was out walking the other day with my dog, Leo, and I came across this hole in a tree. Standing there wondering what such a hole might be used for, I noticed these beautiful green parakeets (or something of the nature) flying around in the trees, singing to the sun. It's kind of funny seeing these tropical birds at all when you are walking in Amsterdam. Nonetheless, I kept walking unsure what to think.

I circled around again though and sure enough, this little green bird emerges from the hole. Imagine that. In Amsterdam. Nature. It made me happy.

don't quite understand...

Walking through the streets of Amsterdam, I'm amazed at the number of signs, posters, and flyers around. I guess the part that amazes me most is that I have no idea what most of them are advertising - are they even advertisements at all...? I walked past this shop the other day and was so perplexed. What is the point...?

So, it made me start thinking about the point in general. We are bombarded with sensory overload, but what's the point...? What is the reason for such things...? Do we need it...? Have I ever bought anything because I saw it on a poster...? I was thinking - do the staples of life ever get advertised...? I mean, I've never seen an advertisement for flour, or tap water, or sugar. I suppose there were some famous commercials for milk a few years ago - the milk moustache, but for the most part, our true needs are never advertised. Newer cars, newer gadgets, newer things - these are the advertisements that clutter our vision, infect our ears and bombard our brains.

It makes me long for the mountains where the peace and tranquility of simplicity surrounds and where creation sings in it's glory. I long for the trees, which carry no advertisement other than beauty. I long for the smells and fragrances of life that are found only in the pines. I long to hear birds uninterrupted by the cacophony of autos and buses. I long for a rock outcropping where my view is nature, obscured by neither skyscrapers nor concrete.

What is the point anyway...

One of the best I've seen...

I saw "Million Dollar Baby" last night. There is no doubt in mind why this movie won so many Oscar's. It was brilliant. It has everything - great directing, great acting, great story. It's truly one to be seen. Check out this review from Roger Ebert.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041214/REVIEWS/41201004/1023

An Epidemic unlike any other....

The Aids epidemic is one that many of us in Western Europe and the United States cannot understand. It Western Culture we attribute it to drug use, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality - which may not be fair assumptions in the first place - but in Africa and now India and China, the AIDS problem is turning into the single greatest epidemic ever to face humanity. This is an issue we simply cannot ignore.

Check out this article to learn more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4317019.stm

God in America...from the beginning

An interesting article on God and the founding forefathers...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/weekinreview/27kirk.html?