After almost two months in the States, I'm finally in Europe. I got to spend two nights in Amsterdam before I left for a conference in Geneva. While struggling through a jet lag I'm having a hard time concentrating on the speeches at this conference.
I've been playing with my new gadget, the EeePC 900, a 1kg PC, mine runs on Linux. I'll write a review soon.
San Francisco -> LA
San Francisco is the best city I've visited in the States. The feel about the city is freer, more liberal and artistic than most other places I've been to. SF attracts the most interesting people, some of whom I met at the hostel I was staying at (Hostelling International City Center - highly recommended).
San Francisco Rocks
'been walking around and soaked up San Francisco. I hope I'll be able to concentrate on my work today though. Tomorrow I'm off to Yosemite National Park.
San Francisco Update: Cruising the Castro
I joined a guided tour of the Castro District this morning, to learn more about the gay history and culture of San Francisco. I also got invited to a party in a park here, that was fun. Now I'm chilling in my hostel.
If you ever go to San Francisco, I recommend "Cruisin' the Castro - Historical Walking Tours", by Kathy Amendola: (415) 255.1821, www.cruisinthecastro.com
San Francisco,California,gay,Castro,travel
If you ever go to San Francisco, I recommend "Cruisin' the Castro - Historical Walking Tours", by Kathy Amendola: (415) 255.1821, www.cruisinthecastro.com
San Francisco,California,gay,Castro,travel
A Day in Venice Beach and I Got Pierced
Yesterday I went to Venice Beach with my friend JR, we both got pierced. (And I get pimples from eating meat.
Amsterdam 2028? 1: A bid for the "Sustainability Olympics"
Click here for part 2: Amsterdam 2028? - 2: green logo for a green olympics?
The Netherlands is considering a bid for the 2028 Olympics, themed: water and sustainability. The location is not yet decided upon. The definitive decision should be taken by 2011 to finish the legal procedures in time.
Amsterdam (with its suburban twin town Almere) seems to be the most likely candidate. Some arguments why Amsterdam is the likely candidate: (1.) 'Amsterdam' is a strong brand, and (2.) Amsterdam already hosted the Olympic Games of 2028 and other big sports events, and (3.) Amsterdam already attempted to host the 1992 Olympics but lost to Barcelona.
The venues and the Olympic village may be built on artificial islands in the Markermeer, a former branch of the North Sea. Amsterdam prepares for the bid by sending a lobby to the Beijing Olympics.
Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second largest city is also considered a candidate. A stadium for 75,000 spectators is already proposed for the 2016 Dutch-Belgian World Cup (Soccer) bid, which can also be used for the 2028 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Eindhoven - the 5th city in the Netherlands and home of multinational electronics corporation Philips - is also petitioning to host the 2028 Olympics.
The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) organizes "NL 2028 - Olympic Fire", an exposition on what it would mean should the Netherlands organize the 2028 Olympic Games.
Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Olympics are Melbourne (AU), Vancouver-Seattle (CAN & USA), and, Belgrade (Serbia).
Do you think the Netherlands/Amsterdam is capable to host the 2028 Olympics? Do you like the idea of a Dutch Olympics?
Do you like the theme: sustainability and water? - Aren't sustainability and the Olympic Games a little bit of a contradiction? To host the expected 6 million visitors, new roads have to be built, more water has to be drained... and what about the millions of passenger air miles, accompanied by megatonnes of CO2 emissions...
Pictures: NL 2028 logo - Netherlands Architecture Insitute (NAI); Rendering renovated Amsterdam Olympic Stadium - Na-ma Architecture and Tom Bergevoet Architecture, Het Parool; Markermeer Venue Map - T. Balder, Het Parool.
Olympics,2028,Amsterdam,Netherlands,Olympic bid
The Netherlands is considering a bid for the 2028 Olympics, themed: water and sustainability. The location is not yet decided upon. The definitive decision should be taken by 2011 to finish the legal procedures in time.Amsterdam (with its suburban twin town Almere) seems to be the most likely candidate. Some arguments why Amsterdam is the likely candidate: (1.) 'Amsterdam' is a strong brand, and (2.) Amsterdam already hosted the Olympic Games of 2028 and other big sports events, and (3.) Amsterdam already attempted to host the 1992 Olympics but lost to Barcelona.The venues and the Olympic village may be built on artificial islands in the Markermeer, a former branch of the North Sea. Amsterdam prepares for the bid by sending a lobby to the Beijing Olympics.
Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second largest city is also considered a candidate. A stadium for 75,000 spectators is already proposed for the 2016 Dutch-Belgian World Cup (Soccer) bid, which can also be used for the 2028 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Eindhoven - the 5th city in the Netherlands and home of multinational electronics corporation Philips - is also petitioning to host the 2028 Olympics.
The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) organizes "NL 2028 - Olympic Fire", an exposition on what it would mean should the Netherlands organize the 2028 Olympic Games.
Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Olympics are Melbourne (AU), Vancouver-Seattle (CAN & USA), and, Belgrade (Serbia).
Do you think the Netherlands/Amsterdam is capable to host the 2028 Olympics? Do you like the idea of a Dutch Olympics?
Do you like the theme: sustainability and water? - Aren't sustainability and the Olympic Games a little bit of a contradiction? To host the expected 6 million visitors, new roads have to be built, more water has to be drained... and what about the millions of passenger air miles, accompanied by megatonnes of CO2 emissions...
Pictures: NL 2028 logo - Netherlands Architecture Insitute (NAI); Rendering renovated Amsterdam Olympic Stadium - Na-ma Architecture and Tom Bergevoet Architecture, Het Parool; Markermeer Venue Map - T. Balder, Het Parool.
Olympics,2028,Amsterdam,Netherlands,Olympic bid
Ebook Readers: The Big Test
In the past weeks I had the chance to use three of the most popular ebook readers: the Sony PRS 505, Amazon's Kindle and iRex's iLiad.
Earlier, I reviewed the Sony Reader PRS 505, which I use now. For the review click here. This time I'll compare the three most popular ebook reader devices.
The criteria I use are: connectivity, availability of contents, usability, and price.
Sony's PRS 505 ('Sony Reader')
Connectivity
In contrast to the other readers, the PRS 505 does not have a wireless connection. Contents are first downloaded on your computer. A USB connection connects your computer with the reader.
In my opinion, this is not too much of a disadvantage, unless you want to read daily or weekly publications. That would require you to connect your computer to the internet and your reader every time you want to read.
The reader's battery is also charging while being connected to your computer.
Contents
Probably the biggest drawback to the PRS 505 is the fact that Sony's bookstore has relatively few titles. Sony introduced its own ebook format '.bbeb' , which can only be read through Sony's software. Although, Sony has a contract with some publishers, for instance Routledge, and, Penguin, the quantity does not compare with Amazon's Kindle.
The PRS 505 is compatible with more document formats than Amazon's Kindle (i.e. .txt/.rtf/.pdf), however, it does not read the popular 'mobipocket' format. Up until now, Sony does not have a contract with news publishers. Online newspapers are not available on the PRS 505.
Personally, I would like to see Sony introducing a news feature. However, without wireless connectivity, it will be annoying to have to log on to your computer first every time you want to read the news. (You might as well read it on your computer)
Usability
The Sony Reader looks great. The device is very easy to use. Bookmarking pages is just a simple click. Some PDF renderings are too small, but the landscape function allows you too read most PDFs. For most documents three letter sizes are available, for PDFs two. Documents are automatically adjusted to fit the screen.
Price
The Sony PRS 505 is not yet available in Europe. Sony plans to introduce its reader this year. The US price for Sony's reader is $ 299. Sony recently released a dark blue version, and a James Patterson Special Edition at the same price.
Order at: Sonystyle.com
iRex iLiad
Connectivity
The iLiad comes in two versions. The book version does not have wireless connectivity. Connection to the internet is similar as with Sony's reader. The more popular (and expensive) standard edition of Iliad has wireless connection. This wireless connectivity allows for quick (news) downloads.
Contents
iLiad, in contrast to the other two devices, does not have its own online bookstore. The systems runs on Linux and therefore much content is independently created. Content availability will thus depend on user activity and popularity of the device. Of the featured ebook readers, the iLiad reads most formats, including the popular mobipocket format. Therefore, iLiad already has quite an impressive content availability. iLead also has a contract with the Dutch daily 'NRC Handelsblad' and the French 'Les Echos'. More news feeds are in the making.
iLead is produced by the Dutch iRex corporation, and seems to focus on Europe as its main market, while the other devices are mainly focusing on the US. Much of the content available for Sony and Amazon's Kindle are therefore not accessible for the European audience. iLead is therefore - contents wise - still the best choice for European consumers.
Content supply is likely to take a flight, now that iRex Technologies reached an agreement with UK bookstore 'Borders' to sell the device in its stores.
Usability
iLiad has, by far, the most features of all ebook readers. However, the complexity of the many features, does not make the iLead more usable. For instance, the many letter sizes available can be handy, but since the size is not automatically adapted to the screen size, it will often require to a lot of scrolling.
iLiad also has the unique note making feature. The touch screen allows writing on the device. This is a very promising technology. However, at this point making notes is not possible in every document. Moreover, the notes are not easily exported to other devices, such as your computer. Notes are stored in a separate document from the document you make the notes for.
The iLead is the largest of the three devices. This is certainly not a drawback, since it makes the device the most readable. Moreover, the 16 color grey scale allows for the best contrast of all ebook readers.
Technologically, the iLiad is by far the most advanced of the three most popular ebook readers. However, the usability suffers from a unnecessarily complex and not so intuitive menu.
Price
'The world's most complete e-book reader' comes at a hefty price. The standard edition (ed. 2) costs $ 699. The book edition (without wireless connectivity) costs $ 599. European prices: €599/€ 499. Order at: iRex Technologies.
Amazon's Kindle
Connectivity
Amazon's Kindle comes with wireless connectivity, comparable to the iLiad's standard edition. Probably, Amazon will introduce faster connectivity soon. Wireless connectivity allows quick downloads of the many news titles available with Amazon.
Contents
Amazon, being the biggest online book seller, uses (or abuses) its position to introduce its own format that can only be read by the Kindle. This allows for a huge library that is only accessible to the US consumer. However, Kindle also reads PDF now. The popular mobipocket format (also by Amazon) is also supported.
There is a bulk of newspapers and magazines available for the Kindle, among them: The International Herald Tribune, Le Monde and The New York Times.
At this point Amazon's Kindle is the absolute winner if it comes down to the availability of content. (That is, when you're living in the States.)
Usability
Although not being as slick as Sony's reader, the Kindle is actually not as ugly as is sometimes suggested. Its menu is clear and the instructions are very intuitive. The contrast of the screen is high. Highlighting and note making is easy through the side bar and the keyboard.
Price
The Kindle is not yet available in Europe. Amazon has not yet announced the introduction in Europe. The US price is $ 359.
Order at: amazon.com
Conclusion
Although I use Sony's PRS 505, I have to say that Kindle is probably the best choice for US consumers, and iRex's iLiad seems to be the best choice for Europeans. The iLiad reader is technologically the most advanced, however the usability suffers from technological complexity. Moreover, the iLead comes at a hefty price (although the book edition is $ 100 cheaper). Amazon's Kindle is the winner when it comes to contents, although for the European consumer much of the contents is not available (due to rights issues).
Finally, I sum up the advantages and disadvantages of the three devices:
* iLiad standard edition
** for the European market iRex definitely has most to offer
*** Amazon's and Sony's online titles are only available in the US.
iLiad,Sony Reader,Kindle,iRex,ebook readers, comparison
Earlier, I reviewed the Sony Reader PRS 505, which I use now. For the review click here. This time I'll compare the three most popular ebook reader devices.
The criteria I use are: connectivity, availability of contents, usability, and price.
Sony's PRS 505 ('Sony Reader')
Connectivity
In contrast to the other readers, the PRS 505 does not have a wireless connection. Contents are first downloaded on your computer. A USB connection connects your computer with the reader.
In my opinion, this is not too much of a disadvantage, unless you want to read daily or weekly publications. That would require you to connect your computer to the internet and your reader every time you want to read.
The reader's battery is also charging while being connected to your computer.
Contents
Probably the biggest drawback to the PRS 505 is the fact that Sony's bookstore has relatively few titles. Sony introduced its own ebook format '.bbeb' , which can only be read through Sony's software. Although, Sony has a contract with some publishers, for instance Routledge, and, Penguin, the quantity does not compare with Amazon's Kindle.
The PRS 505 is compatible with more document formats than Amazon's Kindle (i.e. .txt/.rtf/.pdf), however, it does not read the popular 'mobipocket' format. Up until now, Sony does not have a contract with news publishers. Online newspapers are not available on the PRS 505.
Personally, I would like to see Sony introducing a news feature. However, without wireless connectivity, it will be annoying to have to log on to your computer first every time you want to read the news. (You might as well read it on your computer)
Usability
The Sony Reader looks great. The device is very easy to use. Bookmarking pages is just a simple click. Some PDF renderings are too small, but the landscape function allows you too read most PDFs. For most documents three letter sizes are available, for PDFs two. Documents are automatically adjusted to fit the screen.
Price
The Sony PRS 505 is not yet available in Europe. Sony plans to introduce its reader this year. The US price for Sony's reader is $ 299. Sony recently released a dark blue version, and a James Patterson Special Edition at the same price.
Order at: Sonystyle.com
iRex iLiad
Connectivity
The iLiad comes in two versions. The book version does not have wireless connectivity. Connection to the internet is similar as with Sony's reader. The more popular (and expensive) standard edition of Iliad has wireless connection. This wireless connectivity allows for quick (news) downloads.
Contents
iLiad, in contrast to the other two devices, does not have its own online bookstore. The systems runs on Linux and therefore much content is independently created. Content availability will thus depend on user activity and popularity of the device. Of the featured ebook readers, the iLiad reads most formats, including the popular mobipocket format. Therefore, iLiad already has quite an impressive content availability. iLead also has a contract with the Dutch daily 'NRC Handelsblad' and the French 'Les Echos'. More news feeds are in the making.
iLead is produced by the Dutch iRex corporation, and seems to focus on Europe as its main market, while the other devices are mainly focusing on the US. Much of the content available for Sony and Amazon's Kindle are therefore not accessible for the European audience. iLead is therefore - contents wise - still the best choice for European consumers.
Content supply is likely to take a flight, now that iRex Technologies reached an agreement with UK bookstore 'Borders' to sell the device in its stores.
Usability
iLiad has, by far, the most features of all ebook readers. However, the complexity of the many features, does not make the iLead more usable. For instance, the many letter sizes available can be handy, but since the size is not automatically adapted to the screen size, it will often require to a lot of scrolling.
iLiad also has the unique note making feature. The touch screen allows writing on the device. This is a very promising technology. However, at this point making notes is not possible in every document. Moreover, the notes are not easily exported to other devices, such as your computer. Notes are stored in a separate document from the document you make the notes for.
The iLead is the largest of the three devices. This is certainly not a drawback, since it makes the device the most readable. Moreover, the 16 color grey scale allows for the best contrast of all ebook readers.
Technologically, the iLiad is by far the most advanced of the three most popular ebook readers. However, the usability suffers from a unnecessarily complex and not so intuitive menu.
Price
'The world's most complete e-book reader' comes at a hefty price. The standard edition (ed. 2) costs $ 699. The book edition (without wireless connectivity) costs $ 599. European prices: €599/€ 499. Order at: iRex Technologies.
Amazon's Kindle
Connectivity
Amazon's Kindle comes with wireless connectivity, comparable to the iLiad's standard edition. Probably, Amazon will introduce faster connectivity soon. Wireless connectivity allows quick downloads of the many news titles available with Amazon.
Contents
Amazon, being the biggest online book seller, uses (or abuses) its position to introduce its own format that can only be read by the Kindle. This allows for a huge library that is only accessible to the US consumer. However, Kindle also reads PDF now. The popular mobipocket format (also by Amazon) is also supported.
There is a bulk of newspapers and magazines available for the Kindle, among them: The International Herald Tribune, Le Monde and The New York Times.
At this point Amazon's Kindle is the absolute winner if it comes down to the availability of content. (That is, when you're living in the States.)
Usability
Although not being as slick as Sony's reader, the Kindle is actually not as ugly as is sometimes suggested. Its menu is clear and the instructions are very intuitive. The contrast of the screen is high. Highlighting and note making is easy through the side bar and the keyboard.
Price
The Kindle is not yet available in Europe. Amazon has not yet announced the introduction in Europe. The US price is $ 359.
Order at: amazon.com
Conclusion
Although I use Sony's PRS 505, I have to say that Kindle is probably the best choice for US consumers, and iRex's iLiad seems to be the best choice for Europeans. The iLiad reader is technologically the most advanced, however the usability suffers from technological complexity. Moreover, the iLead comes at a hefty price (although the book edition is $ 100 cheaper). Amazon's Kindle is the winner when it comes to contents, although for the European consumer much of the contents is not available (due to rights issues).
Finally, I sum up the advantages and disadvantages of the three devices:
- Sony PRS 505: Connectivity -- / Contents --*** / Usability ++ / Price ++
- iRex iLiad: Connectivity ++* / Contents -+** / Usability -- / Price --
- Amazon's Kindle: Connectivity ++ / Contents ++*** / Usability ++ / Price +-
* iLiad standard edition
** for the European market iRex definitely has most to offer
*** Amazon's and Sony's online titles are only available in the US.
iLiad,Sony Reader,Kindle,iRex,ebook readers, comparison
What Connects Leiden and Los Angeles?
Another masterpiece in the Getty Center is Gerard Dou's 'Astronomer by Candlelight' (1655). Gerard Dou (1613-1675) is perhaps the most famous of the Leyden 'Fijnschilders' (fine painters). Ever since, no other school has approached the photographic realism of the Leyden fine painting school. One of the school's most famous pupils is Rembrandt H. van Rijn (often mistaken for being an Amsterdammer, but really a Leydener). In Rembrandt's early work the realism is clearly inspired by Leyden fine painting.'Astronomer by Candlelight' is a beautiful example of how Dou played with light. The flickering of the flame almost make your eyes tear. Then there is the minute reflection of the different textures of different objects. In spite of Dou's realism, the canvas is not stiff and formal, rather it is warm and inviting.
Of course, Leiden (old spelling: Leyden) being my home town, I am not really neutral about many of (historical) Leydeners' achievements. Nonetheless, there are pretty good reasons to admire Leiden's artistic heritage. (And there's many places to admire Gerard Dou... St. Petersburg, Paris, London, The Hague, Amsterdam, Tokio,...)
At the Getty Center
Yesterday I took the chance to see more of LA. I went the the Getty Center. Housing the art collection of oil magnate Jean Paul Getty, the museum was founded by Director of the J. Paul Getty trust Harold Williams.
The introduction film at the museum will tell you how eager Getty was to bring art to the attention of all people. However, the museum was also built to get rid of millions of spare dollars to keep the trust's tax exemption status.
The museum covers pretty much every art from and every period, focusing on European art. The collection does not quite measure up with other great museums of the world, since the Getty Museum is really a latecomer. Nevertheless, the trust's war chest, valued at more than 4 billion USD, made some nice purchases. Among them 'The Entry of Christ in Brussels' by James Ensor and Vincent van Gogh's 'Irises'. I was excited to see the Entry of Christ, the work is so critical of Ensor's contemporary (Belgian) society and at the same time the composition is so movie-like, with different frames telling the disconnectedness of different people to truth/Christ/religion/themselves... (fill it out).
The other impressive piece of art must be the museum premises itself. Perched on a mountain, the buildings by American top architect Richard Meier overlook the LA area. The blinding white architecture hurts the eye under the Californian sun. Take some time to adjust to the lights when inside the buildings to see the collections.
Waarom zijn Amerikanen vriendelijker?
Ik geniet van Amerikaanse service. Je wordt snel geholpen, mensen spreken je aan, zijn alert om jou direct van dienst te zijn... een hele andere ervaring dan in Nederland.
Zou er een (markt-) institutionele oorzaak zijn waarom mensen hier in Amerika vriendelijker zijn dan in Nederland? Het hoge loon en de goede arbeidsvoorwaarden in de Nederlandse servicesector en detailhandel vereist hoge arbeidsproductiviteit, met andere woorden: weinig mensen worden ingehuurd voor te veel werk, zodat geen aandacht meer is voor een stukje vriendelijkheid of zelfs beleefdheid.
Ik ben er niet voor om de Amerikaanse arbeidsmarkt te kopiëren in Nederland, maar ik moet toegeven dat die ook voordelen heeft.
USA,Nederland,service,economy,labour
Zou er een (markt-) institutionele oorzaak zijn waarom mensen hier in Amerika vriendelijker zijn dan in Nederland? Het hoge loon en de goede arbeidsvoorwaarden in de Nederlandse servicesector en detailhandel vereist hoge arbeidsproductiviteit, met andere woorden: weinig mensen worden ingehuurd voor te veel werk, zodat geen aandacht meer is voor een stukje vriendelijkheid of zelfs beleefdheid.
Ik ben er niet voor om de Amerikaanse arbeidsmarkt te kopiëren in Nederland, maar ik moet toegeven dat die ook voordelen heeft.
USA,Nederland,service,economy,labour
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