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Would You Like Pee With That?
by dag on Mar.05, 2009, under Uncategorized
Okay, the Dutch are fuckin’ weird. I mean at first I was running into things that sounded funny and don’t work well when translated into English. For example, a large chain of banks here is called Rabobank. Yes, I feel safe storing my money at Rabobank. This is one business that’s not going to catch on in English speaking countries without some serious rebranding. I believe it’s owned by the same people who run Hoolduppa Liquorstoor. (note, have yet to actually see any Hoolduppa Liquor Stores but I bet they’re around somewhere) Maybe they’re just in it for the insurance money?
But that’s just words that translate funny. I’m sure there are lots of Englilsh words and brands that sound hilarious in Dutch. Then I came across a chain of stores that sells French fries, or “frites” as they’re known on the continent. And this is their logo / mascot:
That’s right, the logo for a company that sells food is a peeing cherub. I believe it’s actually a famous statue or something. But it gets better. I don’t speak Dutch, but some things are pretty clear without translation.
Yes, it is a fast food chain called “Mannekin Pis.” Here is one of their vans:
The logo on the van is even better, as it appears the cherub is actually peeing directly on the fries…
Needless to say, I did not buy fries from this place. Although I’m sure they don’t actually use urine as one of the ingredients. Then again, who knows? Like I said, the Dutch are fuckin’ weird.
When Buying Tickets, Always Enunciate Clearly
by dag on Mar.02, 2009, under Uncategorized
I guess the lady at the airline ticket counter misheard me when I asked for a ticket to Amsterdam. I thought it was odd when the clouds started to get pixelated, and this horribly familiar music started to waft out of the air. And now here I am in, oh god…
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Kinetica Art Fair, London
by dag on Mar.02, 2009, under Uncategorized
This weekend I went to the Kinetica Art Fair, an exhibition of kinetic and interactive and otherwise contemporary art. Mad props to Jodi for letting me know this was going on. I took a ton of video and tried to upload it all, and thus I found out for the first time that YouTube will only allow you to upload 10 videos per day 🙂 So I got a couple more to put up later.
Arts et Métiers Station, Paris Metro
by dag on Mar.02, 2009, under Uncategorized
I shot these vids a couple weeks ago when I was in Paris, and only rediscovered them today. Definitely the coolest looking subway station I’ve been in, although still not as cool overall as Kendall station in Boston, ’cause that’s interactive.
Photos
by dag on Feb.27, 2009, under Uncategorized
Mainly inspired by my final day in Paris, seeing La Musee de L’Orangerie, another impressionism and post-impressionism museum. Also some contemporary photography and other work in some small galleries nearby.
Rodin Museum
by dag on Feb.27, 2009, under Uncategorized
I am so glad I checked this place out. I was wondering why there weren’t more famous Rodins in Musee D’Orsay and other museums, and where the really famous ones were. Well, they’re all in this one place, the Rodin Museum. Here’s a sculpture I remember from my childhood, when I seem to recall we had a miniature bronze of this guy. But I can’t remember where, and as I think about it it’s been ages since I’ve seen it. Whatever happened to that anyway?
As it so happened, I arrived at an amazing moment in the history of this sculpture. Before my eyes…
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Paris, London
by dag on Feb.27, 2009, under Uncategorized
So that was Paris. I like being able to stay somewhere long enough to really get a feel of the city. In many ways, Paris is a lot like New York. Except the subway is bizarre and confusing, the locals are quite rude, and nobody speaks English. Wait, actually it’s exactly like New York 🙂
Nah, Paris is unique and beautiful and I love it. Already miss it.
Back in London again, just for the weekend, to catch the Kinetica art show, a contemporary exhibition of moving and interactive art.
I guess if Paris is like New York, London is more like Boston. It’s smaller than Paris, more stonework less gilt and ironwork, less crazies and beggars. Fewer museums and less to see. But still a good time.
Took the train back this morning, in daylight this time. Still didn’t get any sort of sense of the Chunnel, from the train it basically seems like just a really really long tunnel. Not sure what I was expecting, I just wish there was some way to better appreciate and experience that feat of engineering, which in many ways dwarfs the more visible stuff like the Eiffel Tower.
Okay, time to post some of the stuff I didn’t get a chance to before.
Le Tour Eiffel
by dag on Feb.21, 2009, under Uncategorized
I’ve got some more pictures to go up here soon, but that’s enough time in front of a computer.