Punk Smurf pens a bilingual blog

Watch this space for an update.

Watch this space for an update

You’ve probably seen it or heard about it since it’s all over the news: the reported 63% to 34% victory by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sparked turmoil and rioting within Iran. Personally, I was surprised by the big difference as I had expected both candidates to get about half of all the votes, and that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared himself the winner nonetheless. The latter happened. I don’t know if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad really got the majority (whatever the actual majority of votes is) but if young people went out of their way to vote for reformist opponent, Mirhossein Mousavi, and are now crying fraud on the outcome of the elections (risking severe beatings by the police), it makes me wonder. Supporters of defeated moderate Mirhossein Mousavi are being arrested. That makes me wonder even more. Hearing that It’s obvious the younger generation want change, and I hope for them it’s gonna come soon.

Talking about elections; it seemed the majority of Europeans voted right. Whether it’s due to the economic crisis or something else, I don’t think it’s alright. (I voted left.) Read about the Dutch elections from a Canadian point of view.

A Catholic woman is suing a gay couple after her son got placed into their care when she was unfit to take care of him herself. The reason for suing couldn’t be lamer than that; if the couple was deemed unfit, I don’t think her kid would be placed in their care in the first place.

Floating belly up in the Pacific, this is the body of a giant blue whale - killed by a passing ship. (How on earth could you NOT notice running over or bumping into something large as that?!)

The body was found by researchers from Oregon State University in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California. How sad is that?

Chastity Bono, the 40-year-old daughter of Cher and the late Sonny Bono announced her decision earlier this week to undergo a sex change. Chastity will be known as “Chaz” from now on.

Bono’s publicist said, “Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity. He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by loved ones. It is Chaz’s hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his coming out did nearly 20 years ago.”

Read the entire statement on GLAAD.

Kudos to Chaz for coming out as trans; it takes courage to do that. I’m sure he’ll be turned into a spokesperson because he’s famous. (But I think he already knows that.) The good thing is that it might pave the way for other trans people.

A women’s prison in Virginia is - apparently - separating lesbian inmates from straight inmates. Based on appearance. How dumb is that?

The Ausiello Files reported that Stephanie March is staying a little longer on SVU - woo-hoo! While the length of her commitment has yet to be finalized, March’s Alex Cabot will assume ADA duties for only part of the season, as producers have cast a wide net to search for other ADA types as well. NBC had no comment. I’m stoked!

The school censoring a sixth-grade student’s presentation of gay rights activist Harvey Milk has been forced to apologise. Right on!

Towleroad.com offers two views from the High Line Park I blogged about earlier this week. Check them out here.

The ever gracious Terry Moore talked to Publishers Weekly about Echo, his up and coming Strangers in Paradise omnibus, and other works. Read about it here.

My friend Sacha called to tell me Sass Jordan is back on the road and will be playing Westerpop in August. I hope I’ll be able to catch that show!

Ourstage.com interviewed Serena Ryder. Read it here.

You’ve probably heard Gert and Sarah Bettens - aka K’s Choice - are currently working on a new album. Fans in Belgium rejoice: K’s Choice are headlining Belgian festival Dranouter on August 7. (I looked it up; it’s near the coast.)

I rest my case...

As read on Towleroad.com:

A memo detailing recommendations from the Council of State of The Netherlands was leaked to Christian newspaper Nederlands Dagblad this week suggesting that schools there can ban gay teachers. The memo is the result of a study undertaken following the firing of a gay schoolteacher in the central Netherlands village of Emst.

NRC Handelsblad reports: “The Council of State, the highest advisory body to the Dutch government, says religious schools can exclude gay teachers if they behave in ways that go against what the institution stands for, even if it’s outside the classroom. According to the advisory paper, schools are not allowed to discriminate, but they do have a right to make specific demands of their staff. European guidelines entitle schools to ‘demand explicit loyalty from their staff’ to pass on their values, the council says. Those demands have to be directly related to the foundations of the school or other religious institutions. The current anti-discrimination law in the Netherlands states that even religious schools are not allowed to let the “single fact” of someone’s sexual preference, race or gender be a factor in the hiring or firing process. But the law leaves room for so-called “additional behaviour” to be factored in. A teacher could be dismissed for “a certain lifestyle” that goes against what the institution stands for; a relationship with someone of the same sex could be qualified as such.”

Late last year I heard “The 59 sound” and “Old white Lincoln” on Dutch alternative rock station Kink FM, and it immediately grabbed my attention: The Gaslight Anthem sounded like the boys are heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen AND 80s New Wave band The Cure. They’re more punk than both of them, without sounding like neither The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Black Flag nor The Clash.
(I’ve read that The Gaslight Anthem’s toured with Springsteen and Dave Matthews.)
Lyrically, singer Brian Fallon seems to have a similar approach to writing songs to fellow New Jersian Springsteen: they are about avarage Joes and Janes (with names like Joe, Jimmy and Mary). Easy to relate to.
In the break between opening act and headliners Petra and I enjoyed people watching. There were preppy boys, punk girls, skinny dudes, and full figured ladies. Age wise anything between high schoolers to young parents. And tattoos. Many people with tattoos.

When the foursome from New Jersey take to the stage the venue is positively buzzing: The Gaslight Anthem recently played Pinkpop and apparently made a good impression - despite the early hour (noon).
The boys were looking energetic and ready to convince more people to join their growing fanbase. The Effenaar was packed, and the emergency exits were opened in order to let fresh air in.
Despite the bad mixing the band sounded alright. Brian Fallon took several moments to talk to the audience, to thank them for seeing them on a rainy Tuesday night.
Petra and I had fun recognizing the two covers The Gaslight Anthem played as intro to two of their own songs: “Stand by me” and “What becomes of the broken hearted”. (I’m not sure the younger folks in the audience got it, though.)

The only downside to the concert: they played a little over an hour (too short) but Petra and I had a good time and we both enjoyed the music. By the time we got outside it was raining. By the time I reached the city limits it was pouring. The longer I was driving south, the harder it seemed to be raining. I was definitely driving much slower than normal (as did most others). Halfway home it was raining down so hard all I could see was water streaming down, water in front of me (instead of road surface) and tail lights some 100 meters in front of me. By then I was driving the speed of a snail - with almost a dozen cars following me.
I was glad I drove instead of taking a train: a short walk from the venue to the train station would have soaked me to the bone. And I’m not sure a 30-minute-trainride and a second soak (10-minute-walk home) would have done to me… Anyhoo, all in all The Gaslight Anthem delivered.