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The Bridge and Auxiliary Control ....

FIFA: we need more censorship

FIFA will censor World Cup match action being shown on giant screens inside the stadium after replays of Argentina's disputed first goal against Mexico fueled arguments on the pitch.

Angry Mexico players protested to referee Roberto Rosetti after the screens in Johannesburg's Soccer City showed Argentina forward Carlos Tevez was offside before he scored the opening goal in a 3-1 victory on Sunday.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Monday that replaying the incident was "a clear mistake."

"This will be corrected and we will have a closer look into that," Maingot told a news conference Monday. "We will work on this and be a bit more, I would say, tight on this for the games to be played."

Right ... the problem isn't getting the call right, it's insufficient censorship to keep people from knowing you got it wrong.

Count me among those that will never buy a ticket to a FIFA international event, if the goal is to keep the paying customer from actually getting any *benefit* from those giant screens except to be exposed to advertising.

Come fly with me

As Mark Webber can now attest, this is never a view of the sky that you want to have from your Formula One car at 190 mph ...

Not fabulous ...

The sun comes out ...

... and with it the party boats.

Wow ...

First France, now Italy ... OUT! What a wild Cup it has been so far.

Power to the People

Good story in the New York Times about the impact of social networking technology on the Chinese labor movement:

The Web and digital devices, analysts say, have become vehicles of social change in much the way the typewriter and mimeograph machine were the preferred media during the pro-democracy protests in Beijing in 1989 — before the government put down that movement in the June 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown that left hundreds dead.

 A looming question now, in fact, is whether and when the government might seek to quash the current worker uprisings if they become too big a threat to the established social order. Already, the government has started cracking down on strike-related Web sites and deleted many of the blog posts about the strikes.

The instant messaging service QQ, which is accessible via the Web or mobile phone — and was perhaps the early favorite network of strike leaders because of its popularity among young people — was soon infiltrated by Honda Lock officials and government security agents, forcing some to move to alternative sites, strike leaders say.

"We’re not using QQ any more,” said one strike leader here. “There were company spies that got in. So now we’re using cellphones more.”

No offense Shakira

But if I never hear that Waka Waka song once the World Cup is over, it will be okay with me ....

Holland 1, Japan 0

Well this town is now floating on air and the canals are filled with boatloads of revelers.  I'd never heard Satellite Sports just ERUPT like that for a goal, but when Holland finally broke through the stubborn Japanese defense, the solid orange crowd in the upstairs bar went ape.

I think that says it all about how England fans reacted last night

More fun with banking

There was an envelope from ING waiting for me in yesterday's mail and I thought "my ATM card already?"

No.  A letter in Dutch along with all my original application paperwork, which made me think there was a problem.  Back to the bank to ask "what's the problem?"  The letter said I didn't have a permanent Amsterdam address.  I do.  Fortunately I'd brought my paperwork for that with me to the bank this morning, and they copied it and sent my application back in.

We'll see what happens.

Too much healthy exercise, I guess

After I returned from my bike ride out in the country on Wednesday, I developed a mild chest cold that produced a naggy cough and woke me up once an hour that night, which continued through Thursday.  Time to find a pharmacy, I guess!

Slept better last night but not well, and the weekend is here.  Have to keep taking it easy, eating healthy, trying to get sleep where I can.  Back to work on Monday, can't be sick.

Getting out of the city

Got some advice from the locals on good places to ride my bike on a sunny day ... took the ferry across the river to North Amsterdam and rode out toward Ransdorp and Schellingwoude ... pretty little harbor villages, very nice (flat) countryside to ride through.

Signal Strength

Testing has now established that yes, I can get onto my wireless network from across the canal when I am sitting at an outdoor table at Greenwoods, the breakfast cafe directly across the Singel from my apartment.  Good for you, XTM-23.

This is good, now I can reliably read the morning paper while having breakfast.  Although I still like Cafe Nielsen more as a breakfast place.

I do remember who he is ...

It's amazing how rapidly you stop caring about domestic politics once you leave, though!

Matisse to Malevich

Just went to see the current show at Hermitage Amsterdam, which is a collection of Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky and their contemporaries.  Good stuff.

Home office desk ...

It's a work in progress.

Vacation .... sort of

I am on my planned vacation this week since I will *not* be at the partner conference in Istanbul. Hoping to explore a little of areas nearby Amsterdam on the bike and watch a LOT of World Cup (Netherlands open action today, so that takes care of today ... nobody else will be working in this town after lunch today).

But first ... my residence number came in the mail from the city government, time to try to open a bank account!

*update* -- ABN-Amro wasn't open until 1 pm ... man there is a World Cup game for Holland at 1:30, I know nobody will be paying attention then! Fortunately the ING branch closer to my apartment was open and my paperwork is being processed, I should have a Dutch ATM card within 7 working days (Friday would be nice though, ppl).

Burj Dubai, Day & Night

Sailors everywhere understand

Love the quote from 16-yr-old Abby Sunderland about what knocked her boat out of an around-the-world attempt:

"The long and the short of it is, well, one long wave, and one short mast."

That's gotta sting ...

England's keeper, Robert Green

Call me crazy ...

... but I'll take the weather I came home to over the 95+ humid weather in Dubai:

Dubai

Land of the mega-malls ...

Niche market

Well okay then .... my neighbors across the canal:

Central Station, morning commute

The train always beats driving

Vondelpark, lunchtime

Got out for a little bike ride at lunch today when the sun came out ... the Vondelpark is pretty big!

Local strawberries .... just as good as at home.