New SPHPBlog version
Sunday, January 2, 2005, 21:42 - Personal
Alex has released a new version of SPHPBlog: 0.3.7r
Most noticeable change is entry categories. I will be categorizing my posts in the coming day(s).

Yesterday I also moved my blog from my home web server (ADSL) to my external web server, so performance should be a little better for most of you.

I also updated the looks of my blog. The picture in the banner is a stitched together panorama photo that I took a couple of weeks ago from my balcony.
It hasn't the detail of the 2.5 gigapixel zoomable picture of TNO, but it still is a nice picture.


Happy 2005!
Saturday, January 1, 2005, 22:31 - Personal
Happy new year to everyone!
I wish you all health, money and the time to enjoy it!



The police
Friday, December 31, 2004, 00:16 - Personal
Last night something happened near my apartment building that attracted an ambulance, five marked police cars and two what I think were unmarked police cars.
The ambulance stopped just out of my view, but I saw an empty gurney being returned to it and then they drove off with sirens only a few minutes after they arrived. I suspect they could do nothing for the victim and where called to another location.

My first guess was something like the murder on Theo van Gogh, but then I would suspect the police to search the surroundings and they did not do that.
As it happened immediately next to an 18-story appartment building with free access I suspect it was a suicide jumper, although I'm not sure that would attract that much police attention.



In an attempt to find hot police info on the internet about it I came across this site that has a live police scanner feed of my police region Haaglanden. I have been listening to it for a while yesterday and today.

Most of the stuff isn't interesting at all. A lot of small fires and some arrests for lighting fireworks. The occasional accident.
At one point a police car was directed to an address where a man was threatening his wife with a knife. When the police arrived the man had left in his car, saying that he was going to get himself killed on the highway. A message was sent out to all listening units to look out for the car and to apprehend the man who was intoxicated with alcohol (at 11:00 AM!).
Very soon one unit had spotted the car and made it stop and arrested the man.

BTW I still don't know what happened last night, but it was fun to listen a little to this stuff.


Christmas menu
Friday, December 24, 2004, 22:05 - Personal
It is by now a tradition that my sister, my brother and I cook a full-size multi-course diner for the whole family (seven) on Christmas Day at my parents' house. I think having a good diner together and catching up is a great way to celebrate the holiday.
All shopping has been done by now. Tomorrow a large part of the afternoon is spent on preparation ("Mis en place") so in between courses only the final cooking needs to be done.

Tomorrow the menu will be as follows:
* Aperitif
* Creamy Celery Gorgonzola Soup
* Tomato-Ricotta Timbale
* Pork Filet with Apple and Ginger Stuffing / Mushroom Strudel with Nuts / Stuffed Tomatoes, served with Potato Truffle Gratins, Smoored Leek and Corn Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette
* Steamed Pears Sorbet
* Coffee

Merry Christmas to everyone!


rootz.nl
Saturday, December 18, 2004, 22:45 - Personal
If you ever happen to be in The Hague looking for a nice cafe-restaurant, I definitely can recommend rootz.
We went there Friday night with a couple of colleagues and had a great time. The food was very good, and the drinks were as well :)


Maarten Nijhoff
Sunday, December 5, 2004, 21:05 - Personal
Today I came across a great website of a fellow Dutchman: Maarten Nijhoff. I especially liked his photography section, with albums of all kinds of trips he made. But the website itself is made beautifully as well.
Have a look at it, and see if you love it as much as I do!


Mobile cranes
Saturday, November 27, 2004, 16:55 - Personal

For some reason I have an incredible fascination with mobile cranes. Yesterday I came across "Giant Cranes" on Discovery Channel, and I was hooked right again. Especially the Spierings Folding Cranes are absolutely totally awesome!
I started looking for some miniatures on the internet. Apparently they are called diecast models and with that search term I found some models. The most interesting one is this one. But I'm yet undecided whether I am really interested in buying a diecast model. The real life ones are so much more impressive!


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