Magere Hein

Dutch poet and author Gerrit Komrij died yesterday, aged 68. It's quite a shock, especially since I completely missed that he was ill. Here's a sample of his work: Het Onzichtbare Labyrint The Invisible Labyrinth Er is geen vrijheid in de zandwoestijn, There is no freedom in the desert sands, al staan er nergens hekken, nergens palen. Despite the fact there are no stakes or fences. Het is maar beter - als je vrij wilt zijn - If to be free’s your aim, then your best chance om sierlijk door een labyrint te dwalen. Is stylish roaming through a maze of trenches. Je stoot dan op veel dwang, in gang na gang, Along each path you take you’ll meet with much maar loopt de kans ook niet ten prooi te vallen Coercion, but so doing won’t fall prey to aan plompe hekkenslopers, met hun drang Gauche demolishers of fences, to such naar één cachot, één helse cel voor allen. As seek one hellish jail all are conveyed to. Ze zien je niet. Je zit heel fraai gevangen. They fail to see you in your clever lair. Laat anderen gerust door ruimten razen, Let others rush around in space unbounded, woestijnen scheppen, in hun fél verlangen Creating deserts, in their wild desire naar vrijheid, laat ze volkeren verbazen For freedom, and let nations be dumbfounded met internationale strijdgezangen. By international anthems, hymns and airs. Er is, dacht ik, geen hoop voor zulke dwazen. For fools like that, I thought, all hope’s unfounded. Translation © 1998 John Irons regards, Hein

I'm slightly sceptical. CERN have been obliged to retract claims before. What it all means is beyond me, quantum mechanics already makes my head spin, modern particle physics is beyond me, I can't keep those particles apart. With all this noise it's perhaps a good idea to shift attention to the little bugger's namesake: Peter Higgs. 83 and in good health, it seems. One for 2015 or so, I'd think. regards, Hein

The general has been sacked for piss-poor performance. I'm going for a king now: Bhumibol Adulyadej. regards, Hein

Sometimes that peaky feeling can take a long time: I'll send the expression "a radius of 50 square metres" to our Department of Cruel and Unusual Logic. regards, Hein

Seven years later there seems to be some movement in this matter: The Jerusalem Post quotes Al Jazeera that: If this turns out to be real, it seems Arafat was indeed poisoned. Edit to add: Al Jazeera claims Arafat's widow wants his body exhumed. Next question: by whom? Polonium isn't exctly stuff you buy by the pound at the chemist's. regards, Hein

Spanish F1 test driver Maria de Villota has suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash during testing in Cambridgeshire. According to BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who witnessed the crash: I don't think she'll be promoted to racing driver anytime soon. regards, Hein

Got 8. I guessed a few correctly. regards, Hein

Isn't a tyre iron the weapon of choice in such circumstances? regards, Hein

I've given the Polish general another go. regards, Hein

Dutch actor Piet Ekel, world famous in the Netherlands for his role as Malle Pietje in '60s children's comedy series Swiebertje1, died this morning, aged 90. The main cast of Swiebertje is now extinct. 1Here's a picture of the lead role, Swiebertje, played by Joop Doderer (1921 - 2005): regards, Hein

* Riddance. My favourite dance. regards, Hein

Of course I'll attend. I intend to take the train there and back again as often as needed to entertain my esteemed (and thirsty) guests. Sounds good enough to spend a few hours in. Cocktails are not my thing really, but an oude jenever or korenwijn is nothing to be sneezed at. I hope you lot can live with a relaxed approach to touring the city and sight-seeing. I'm already reading up on Amsterdam and what can be done there to keep you interested, but I'm not planning a schedule. How about a Celebrity Death Tour? Several well-known people died there, including Chet Baker (Prins Hendrikkade), Theo van Gogh (Linnaeusstraat) and, inevitably, Rembrandt (Rozengracht). regards, Hein

And so think I. I'm not particularly fond of Phil Collins' solo work and Genesis albums after Abacab, although good songs can be found on most. My love for Genesis remains though. Just a few days after release I got ...And Then There Were Three..., the first LP record I ever bought1. After that I've acquired almost all they've recorded. I regularly put Seconds Out on my stereo, preferably loud. 1I did buy a few singles before and had already shoplifted Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols regards, Hein

Not dead just in the same condition as Ariel Sharon and has been since 1990 (1966?) I have strong reasons not to comment on Euro 2012 in general; let "I feel your pain" suffice. regards, Hein

Sad news indeed. I've known of his existence for over 30 years. And so young! While his case isn't identical, he's in the same league as Martha, the last passenger pigeon, who died September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo. Sic transit, and all that. regards, Hein

He was tried under Scots law, but there was no jury. Just judges. I don't think he got a fair trial. I'm not quite sure that being tried by jury automagically makes the trial fair. In the Netherlands there's no such thing, all trials, civil and criminal, are before magistrates. There are many legal rules which have the goal of ensuring a fair trial, including appeals, reviews and the possibility to substitute magistrates who seem partial. I have no reason to believe our trials are unfairer than trials by jury. regards, Hein

General Rubbishes, he's one of the junta, innit, with General Elections and General Approval? regards, Hein

Get killed by wolves. regards, Hein

I can imagine doing that, just in case she wakes up. regards, Hein

The Netherlands' oldest woman, Anna Goorman-Dommerholt, died yesterday, aged 109. The Netherlands' oldest person, Cornelis Jacobus Geurtz, a man of 110, lives in my home town Rotterdam. regards, Hein

I should have know better than to listen to that tune. The good ones are supposed to die young. Nothing wrong with jazz, I must have spent years listening to it, but that style isn't my thing. regards, Hein regards, Hein

I'd skip the peas and add some chopped beef, oregano and basil, but for the rest it sounds much like what I like to eat. regards, Hein

What people do to avoid watching England play in Euro 2012... regards, Hein

Don't you mean this thread? Yes. Somehow I got them confused. People who lean toward the supernatural may find deep meaning in my mistake, but I blame drink. regards, Hein

The news about his health It did not escape our attention. regards, Hein