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Welcome to my Blog! Anybody, providing he knows how to be amusing, has the right to
talk about himself. -
Charles Baudelaire In 2013 I started a series of photo albums on Blurb.com, named '36Exp' (a subject adressed in 36 exposures, a reference to the exposures on most common rolls of 35 mm film: 12, 24 & 36.). The books can be ordered directly from the Blurb.com website. The item immediately below this would be the latest posting.
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DEAD OF NIGHT by BARBARA NADEL | BOOKS ![]() This book caught my eye because the backcover opens with the sentence: 'Inspectors Cetin Ikmen and Mehmet Suleyman from Istanbul.. Inspectors Cetin Ikmen and Mehmet Suleyman from Istanbul are sent to a policing conference in Detroit. If I decide to read another book by Barbara Nadel it may have to do more with my interest in Istanbul than in any high quality crime writing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Nadel [27DEC12]
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SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF REVOLUTION | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]()
[23Dec2012]
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THOSE WHO KILL | CRIME DRAMA ![]() Those Who Kill - is another success for Scandinavian crime drama. In this box with 3 dvd's we had 6 gripping episodes.
Although originally planned to run for several seasons, Danish TV2 announced in October 2011 that there would be no further seasons made, due to falling viewer shares after the first few episodes. [22DEC2012]
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GOED VOLK by JOOST VAN DEN BROEK | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]() Bought this book this week, Goed Volk which translates as Good People. Dutch photojournalist Joost van den Broek has been hard at work for years now to make a name for himself as a photo journalist. http://focusmedia.nl/nieuws/van-den-broek.html [12DEC12]
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MAN RAY | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]() Recently acquired this book in the bargain section of my regular bookstore, quite pleased with it. Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky, 27Aug1890 – 18Nov1976) was an American modernist artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. He was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal. He produced major works in a variety of media but considered himself a painter above all. Ray's work was not appreciated during his lifetime, with the exception of his fashion and portrait photography; especially in his native United States. Nevertheless, his reputation has grown steadily in the decades since. Wikipedia, more... [12DEC12]
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DIANE ARBUS | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]() Today I visited the Diane Arbus exhibition at FOAM (Photography Museum Amsterdam). Diane Arbus (b.14Mar1923 – d.26Jul1971) was an American photographer and writer noted for black-and-white square photographs of "deviant and marginal people (dwarfs, giants, transgender people, nudists, circus performers) or of people whose normality seems ugly or surreal". In 1972, a year after she committed suicide, Arbus became the first American photographer to have photographs displayed at the Venice Biennale. Millions of people viewed traveling exhibitions of her work in 1972–1979 In 2006, the motion picture 'Fur', starring Nicole Kidman as Arbus, presented a fictional version of her life story.Diane Arbus on Wikipedia www.foam.org "Diane Arbus: The Weird and the Wonderful " on The Reel Foto (a blog about photography) [12DEC12]
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OLDER THAN MY OLD MAN NOW by LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III | MUSIC ![]()
This album 'Older Than My Old Man Now' is very nicely produced, glad I have instead of a mere download to my computer. The lyrics are included, produced in a nice booklet which also has portraits of guest appearances: Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Kate McCarrigle, Barry Humphries a.k.a. Dame Edna ('Remember Sex'', hilarious!) and Chris Smither. Other photos make this a very personal document. Great music by a master storyteller! [11DEC2012]
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CANDY STORE KID by IAN SIEGAL ![]() This is the first music I bought made by Ian Siegal: 'Candy Store Kid', by Ian Siegal and the Mississippi Mudbloods. [10DEC12]
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PING PONG by SIMON CARMIGGELT | BOOKS ![]() Simon Carmiggelt was a Dutch writer (b.07oct1913 – d.30nov1987) and columnist, who became particularly famous for his newspaper columns ('Kronkel', in Het Parool) and his appearances on tv (he read some of his work, this was early days of television). ![]() From www.dbnl.nl Simon Carmiggelt's anthology:
Kraaltjes rijgen (1958) Maatschappelijk verkeer (1965) [10DEC2012]
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ISTANBUL by ORHAN PAMUK | BOOKS ![]() When I went for my first visit to Istanbul last month, I took it upon myself to read Orhan's Pamuks memories on this city. On the back is written 'Turkey's greatest living novelist guides us through the monuments and lost paradises, dilapidated Ottoman villas, back streets and waterways of Istanbul - the city of his birth and the home of his imagination. My objection to the book is the often wishy-washy attitude of the author reminiscing on his youth, spoiled by his mother and relatives, lack of a sense in direction during his teenage years. While this may be an honest portrait of his formative years, for me it tainted an historic document on the recent decades of Istanbul. I did rather enjoy the many photos in the book, many if not most taken by the Turkish photographer Ara Güler (a link to his portfolio further down this page). [09DEC12]
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IN THE MOON OF RED PONIES by JAMES LEE BURKE | BOOKS ![]() Billy Bob Holland, ex-Texas Ranger and now with a criminal law practice in Montana, returns in In the Moon of Red Ponies. Wyatt Dixon, who once buried Holland's wife alive before Billy Bob had him put away, is released from prison and claims to have found religion. Holland also defends his friend, Native American activist Johnny American Horse, against framed-up charges. Johnny's girlfriend is the daughter of a U.S. Senator, and she's also the object of obsession from a local police detective with a CIA background. Johnny also has set his sights on a man who wants to be governor, claiming his biotech company has sold chemical weapons. Besides waiting for Dixon to return to his psychotic ways, Holland watches a government agent who's acting suspiciously in town. http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/in_the_moon_of_red_ponies/
It was my first book by James Lee Burke and while entertaining I could not warm to Billy Bob. [26NOV12]
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ISTANBUL PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM | PHOTOGRAPHY
![]() A recent visit to Istanbul made me stumble upon a truly fascinating photography museum with some gripping photography on display. www.istanbulfotografmuzesi.com [26NOV12]
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ARA GÜLER'S ISTANBUL PHOTOS | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]() I bought a book by photographer Ara Güler, photos taken during 1950s and 1960s. Truly excellent photography. Inspired me in no small means. The website www.araguler.com.tr shows many photos from the book, and many more. Phantastic photography. ![]() In 2018 he died at the age of 90. [26NOV12]
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DE KUISE DRINKER - SIMON CARMIGGELT | BOOKS ![]() Simon Johannes Carmiggelt (b. Den Haag, 07oct1913 – d. Amsterdam, 30nov1987) was a Dutch writer and columnist, who became esspecially famous for his newspaper columns in 'Het Parool' and by his tv performances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Carmiggelt [16NOV12]
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HEIMWEE NAAR NEDERLAND by MARTIN BRIL | BOOKS ![]()
For many years, Martin Bril drove around the country in his car, visiting the most obscure hamlets as well as larger cities in the Netherlands, making notes of his observations. Each and everyday this provided interesting material for his daily columns. His wry, Cheshire-cat-like grin is representative for his attitude in writing: positive, to be taken seriously... but not always too seriously! This book, published in 2012, compiles some 140 of his columns and in the back of the book, nicely in alphbetical order, is a list of places he wrote about. For those who may want to visit and compare notes. More: Wikipedia (Dutch) [12Nov12]
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THE HANGING GARDEN by IAN RANKIN | BOOKS ![]()
Another Ian Rankin novel that will keep you reading until the last page. [10NOV12]
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THE EAGLE (ØRNEN) | CRIME DRAMA ![]() Enjoyed the last series of Ørnen or as it is internationally know: The Eagle. Box 6 again has 2 dvd's with 2 episodes each each. These are Minos 1, Minos 2, Ithaca 1 and Ithaca 2. The series debuted on 10 October 2004 in Denmark. It won an International Emmy Award from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for best non-American television drama series in 2005. [04Nov12]
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CHRISTOPHER PAYNE | PHOTOGRAPHY ![]() Recently I visited the Dolhuys Museum in Haarlem (Netherlands) for a photography exhibition. The museum is the national museum for psychiatry. The exhibition was called 'Architectuur van een Ideaal' ('Architecture of an Ideal'), photos on display were by Jannes Linders (Dutch) and Christopher Payne (USA). Chris Payne travelled to various abandoned asylums in the United States and the result is the Asylum series. It also produced the sizable book 'Asylum', as depicted above. Screendumps of his website, below, show more of these images. Wonderful photography and the book is an excellent addition to my book collection. ![]() Christopher Payne's website is also worthy of further browsing! My photos of the Dolhuys exhibition HERE.. [03NOV12]
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RAPHAEL (RAFFAEL SANZIO) - PAINTER | ART
![]() Exquisite exhibition of work by Raphael, the famous Italian renaissance painter, in Haarlem's Teylers Museum. www.teylersmuseum.eu/rafael/ [02Nov2012]
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FREDERIC REMINGTON | BOOKS ![]()
Recently I was adding photos to my Traveloque pages, trips to the USA in 1990 and 1994. I relived my interest in the Old West, pioneers and mountain men. It also reminded me I had wanted to read more on Mr Remnington's work. Through Abebooks.com I ordered a book, Frederic Remington's Own West by Harold McCracken (Dial Press, 1960), which arrived today. ![]()
[31OCT2012]
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MARY GAUTHIER PLAYED THE PATRONAAT IN HAARLEM, NETHERLANDS | MUSIC
![]() Mary Gauthier was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born to a mother she never knew, Gauthier was adopted by an Italian Catholic couple in Thibodaux,LA. At age 15, she ran away from home, and spent the next several years in drug rehabilitation, halfway houses, and living with friends; she spent her 18th birthday in a jail cell. Spurred on by friends, she enrolled at Louisiana State Uni as a philosophy major, dropping out during her senior year. After attending the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, she opened a Cajun restaurant in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, Dixie Kitchen (also the eponymous title of her first album). Mary ran, and cooked at, the restaurant for 11 years! She then embarked upon a career in music; she wrote her first song at age 35. She sold her share in the restaurant to finance her second album, Drag Queens in Limousines, in 1998. That album won in the First Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song, and she was nominated for Best New Artist of the year by the Boston Music Awards. In 2002 her 3rd album, Filth and Fire, was named 'Best Indy CD of the year' by Jon Pareles of The New York Times, in 2002. She secured a record deal with Lost Highway, a division of Universal Music, in 2003. Her first major label release, in 2005, Mercy Now was on the top 10 list for the year in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News, and Billboard Magazine. Between Daylight and Dark, appeared in September 2007. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Gauthier My photos at Flickr.com [26OCT12]
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Americana / BLUEGRASS / Country by JEROEN SCHMOHL & GUESTS | MUSIC
![]() Americana music from Amsterdam, Netherlands! While this untitled album is mainly sung and produced by Jeroen Schmohl, one will see him mostly perform as one of the Tennessee Studs. They form an Americana band and play a repertoire ranging from folk to bluegrass music. Among their main instrumenents you will find dobro (Jeroen), pedalsteel, mandolin, banjo, telecaster, as well as a range of other instruments. Since 1999 the band plays regularly in Holland, but have also toured abroad. http://tennesseestuds.tumblr.com/ ![]() [24OCT12]
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FINE THE WAY IT IS (WYOMING STORIES) by ANNIE PROULX | BOOKS ![]() Fine just the way its is... Except it isn't, not by a mile. Wyoming isn't exactly a garden state and the people are hardy, unsentimental prairie folk. The 9 Wyoming stories in this book stretch over centuries. 'Family Man' is about a man, Ray Forkenbrock, looking back on his life while residing in a home, Mellowhorn Retirement Home. "No, I wasn't a goddamn rancher, I was a hand". "I worked for them sonsabitches. Cowboyed, ran with wild horses, rodeod, worked in the oil patch, sheared sheep, drove trucks, did whatever," he said. "Ended up broke". Forkenbrock allows his granddaughter Beth to tape his memoirs because he thinks it is time to share his memories and his knowledge that his father had started several Forkenbrock families in several counties. But he doesn't get it across. Very few happy endings here; Wyoming maybe fine just the way it, but people suffer and endure, and what do you want to do about it, anyway? Tits-Up in a Ditch is a story about a kid growing up with few chances and ends up in Iraq ('Eye-Rack'), hoping her life may improve with a career in the military; well, Iraq doesn't that do to you. But back in Wyoming a greater tragedy awaits her. Fine Just The Way It Is - abandon all hope. Great writing, but not for the sentimental. www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/books/review/ Annie Proulx on Wikipedia [24OCT12]
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THE EAGLE (ØRNEN) | CRIME DRAMA ![]() Enjoyed another series of Ørnen or as it is internationally know: The Eagle. Box 5 has 2 dvd's with 2 episodes each each. These are Calypso 1, Calypso 2, Thanatos 1 and Thanatos 2. The series debuted on 10 October 2004 in Denmark. It won an International Emmy Award from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for best non-American television drama series in 2005. [20OCT12]
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JOURNALISM V. PUBLIC RELATIONS | MEDIA ![]() When I read this quote by George Orwell: "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations”, I decided to make one of these for the Social Media, e.g. Facebook and Flickr... [15OCT]
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REVERIE by JOE HENRY ![]() My first CD of this engaging singer/songwriter and what pleasant surprise! He's been around, in this century alone he turned out 5 CD's. And he is a Grammy-winning producer! Reverie is produced as an acoustic guitar project and is considered to be more relaxed than any of his other work, at least that is what I've read. His lyrics (nicely produced in a booklet encloded with the CD, something I appreciate very much, you may gathered that) and his music will get closer attention from me! www.allmusic.com dekrentenuitdepop.blogspot.nl/2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Henry www.joehenrylovesyoumadly.com [14OCT12]
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KMAG YOYO by HAYES CARLL | MUSIC ![]() I' ve seen Hayes Carll perform twice and like the wicked lyrics of this Texan troubadour. He can be funny, melancholy, satirical as well as totally out of this world. Carll sings in a wheezy country twang, and his lyrics suggest the barstool wit of an engaging loser. 'American Songwriter' as well as others declared this KMAG YOYO 'Best Album of 2011' And this singer/songwriter did us the courtesy of enclosing his lyrics in writing with the CD, so I am doubly pleased with his music and hope to see him life again too. Oh, and if you are wondering what KMAG YOYO means: it is a military acronym for "Kiss My Ass Guys, You're on Your Own"… www.rollingstone.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_Carll www.hayescarll.com/ [14OCT12]
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THE GRIFTER'S HYMNAL by RAY WYLIE HUBBARD | MUSIC
![]() Again, the CD came without a songbook… And I seem to be not the only one objecting: "One of my beefs with The Grifter’s Hymnal is that you open it up to no words for the songs. Granted, in the MP3 age, a jewel case is no more than an expensive coaster, and by the way, as coasters go, Javi Garcia designed a pretty good one embodying Ray Wylie’s concept. But these words are too good to leave us guessing at."" www.savingcountrymusic.com/ My other 'beef' is that he should tour Europe: would love to see him life in action. www.raywylie.com [14OCT12]
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TEMPEST by BOB DYLAN | MUSIC ![]() Bob Dylan's 35th album. But who's counting. I started buying his albums, LP's, in the 1970s but have not bought them all. For the past few years I' ve been buying 'special selections' and boxes. But he isn't dead yet, far from it. Raving reviews for Tempest. "Lyrically, Dylan is at the top of his game, joking around, dropping wordplay and allegories that evade pat readings and quoting other folks' words like a freestyle rapper on fire." But when my 'deluxe' CD arrived by mail, I found it seriously lacking. Hasn't Mr Dylan's record label read about people downloading instead of buying the CD? And what does this CD do to counter that effect? Well, there is small notebook depicting early Dylan albums. Hence 'Deluxe'. But nothing on lyrics, no booklet, nothing. Calls himself a songwriter, but rather sees his own portrait, in many variants, rather than his lyrics. It'll be the last Dylan CD I've bought. Read more: www.rollingstone.com [14OCT12]
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STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG by KATE ATKINSON | BOOK The book opens with an event in 1975. This is in West Yorkshire, England, not long before the Yorkshire Ripper starts his killing spree; two police officers make a horrid discovery: in a locked flat lies the decomposing body of a woman and they find a child locked in with her, barely surviving. This is a story about siblings and other children. Parents and children. People who want to be a parent. Foster parents... Jackson Brodie appears much earlier on the scene than in the previous book 'When Will There Be Good News', in the present of course. Brodie is assigned by Hope McMaster (who lives in New Zealand) to find out about her biological parents. Jackson is still reeling from the theft of all his money by his fake wife and has no fixed adress of stay. Trust Kate Atkinson to confuse all, including the reader, to introduce another Jackson: Brain Jackson. Who is also a privat investigator. ![]() One of the police officers, who found the child in the flat, is Tracy Waterhouse; in the present she's retired from police and works as a security manager in a mall. And there is Tilly, an actress in the police series on tv, Vince Collier, reminiscing about her career and unfulfilled promises - and struggling with first stage dementia. Her role in all this? Well.. Atkinson’s characters tend to have bleak pasts, which she mines most expertly, often to the point of distraction. Jackson has never recovered from his sister’s unsolved murder. It chases him through all these novels, fostering his intensity and his protective concern for women. www.kateatkinson.co.uk [07OCT12]
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