Apparently, police officers with an Islamic background can be sworn in with an appropriate vow: “In naam van Allah, de Barmhartige Erbarmer, en hij is mijn getuige dat ik dit beloof” (roughly: “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, and he is my witness to this promise”). Today it became clear that the… Read more »
Yearly Archives: 2008
Mea culpa
From the land of what the hell was I thinking when I wrote that, presented without any further comment: “First of all, I never sing off key,” said Meat Loaf (born Marvin Lee Aday), calling from his Los Angeles home. “The thing that has irritated me to no end is, maybe my voice isn’t so… Read more »
First lines: Dolores Claiborne
You mustn’t read Dolores Claiborne, they say, ‘cus it’s just some old woman sittin’ with some coppers, tellin them the story of her life, and how she killed that no-good husband of hers. Just some fine advice that I’ve been given. But in my quest to read every book that Stephen King has written, it… Read more »
Brel est mort, vive Brel!
Thirty years ago today, Jacques Brel died. To be quite honest, I know next to nothing about him, apart from that he was supposedly quite an influential composer, lyricist and performer. And that some of my favorite singers have covered him. So here are some links to some Brel covers on Youtube for your enjoyment,… Read more »
First lines: The Alchemyst
No, this is not that Paolo Coelho book about following your dreams. This is that book about twins in pursuit of the Book of Abraham the Mage, which contains the secret to life everlasting and might just as well bring on the total destruction of the world if it falls in the wrong hands. You… Read more »