Starting ‘history’ at date of your own birth or foundation

German chancellor receives Kalergi Prize from the hands of some Liechtenstein aristocrat

Among other things this text is about the history and present day importance of the highly acclaimed insanely insane count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi. This count produced absurdly racist texts, yet an award named after him has been handed to numerous presidents and prime ministers (and one violinist). It is preferably presented by men of nobility.… Continue reading Starting ‘history’ at date of your own birth or foundation

Churchill and a pantomime baddie

I never heard that expression before: ‘pantomime baddie’. About half a year ago it already became clear to me that I was going to cancel my membership of the International Churchill Society. Another half year earlier I became a member after finding out what a great source of information it provided (see both ’embedded links’… Continue reading Churchill and a pantomime baddie

That iconic serviceman in India 2002

Detail of oilpainted work in progress.

To me this is an absolutely iconic scene. It is based on a photo made in India in 2002. You had to combine that photo of US marines raising the American flag on that decisive moment in WW II in the battle of Iwo Jima with that photo featuring ‘Napalm girl’ Phan Thi Kim Phuc… Continue reading That iconic serviceman in India 2002

Churchill Boulevards and Orwell lanes

Churchill Laan, Eindhoven Netherlands

The city of Eindhoven is located in the south of the Netherlands. With almost a quarter of a million inhabitants Eindhoven is number five in size in the Netherlands. It had some fame as the hometown of the multinational company Philips and football club PSV.I was in this city for a four-day course of the… Continue reading Churchill Boulevards and Orwell lanes

Lunchtime Now and Then

Lunchtime workers 2023 cellphones
Lunchtime 2023

The differences are many, but making this lunchtime photo reminded me of that very famous one of workers on a beam in New York. Not sure if three or just two of these are checking their cellphone.Most of my posts in this category ‘observations’ -even the very first one, about a decaying banana leaf– mention… Continue reading Lunchtime Now and Then

Tears of relief at Swedish Superiority

Tears of relief (Can you spot them? Literally?)

This particular and personal story about tears of relief is actually an appeal to read a long, recently translated text of mine: this one. One could blame my emphasis on the idiocy of using that inappropriate use of the term ‘pyramid’ on the fact that worked as a math teacher. I advice you to switch… Continue reading Tears of relief at Swedish Superiority