Friday, November 28, 2008

Slip'n slide

Belgium had snow before Montreal. So multiply that snow by five and add 20 degrees below zero and you have a Quebec winter. We started having snow only this week, followed by rain, followed by powder snow followed by slush. Guess it's safe to say that this year's winter will be nothing like last year's. Last year we were already digging ourselves out. Although I am still hoping for a white X-mas.

Something I can't let slide (as a blogger, as a web marketing specialist and as someone with a strong political opinion) is the whole Crem Blog incident. OK, first of all I am not a big fan of CD&V. Teaming up with separatists is unforgivable in my eyes, but more importantly this a conservative party. And per definition they are against change. And my core philosophy is that CHANGE is GOOD.
Regardless if he was drunk or not, making a fool of himself and wasting tax payers money, this whole incident clearly shows that this governing political party (in particular the Minister of Defense) is completely out of touch with the reality of the 21st century. Whether you like it or not your brand, your service, your reputation, your political party will be out there, in the clouds and people will be talking about you. It will define for you. It is the new word of mouth. Accepting this is a step forward, denying obviously backward. Participating is a leap forward. Wouldn't it have been more graceful if Mr. De Crem blogged about this, explaining why he was in NYC, that politicians are also humans and allowed to have fun and why he wasn't wasting valuable tax payers' money? Sadly, he doesn't even seem to have a blog.
Lesson: if you try to shut out the digital natives, they will shut you out. (see MarcPrensky.com).

Addendum: When I was in NYC last September, I saw Steve Stevaert in the Guggenheim. Ok, not as news worthy because he wasn't drunk, he wasn't chanting folkloric song and seemed to be there on his own time admiring art. Should I be afraid of losing my job now?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Lotsa California Pics


Golden Gate Bridge


GG Bridge


SF from the GGB


La Isla de los Alcatraces


Vintage ...


Vintage #2


T on stairs @ Lombard St.


Where are we?


Mine mine mine ...


Eating clam chowder out of sourdough bread bowl


Pier 39


Coit Tower


Parakeets of Telegraph Hill


Sentinel Building (Café Niebaum - Coppola)


Mission Dolores


Famous Fat Lady's


Yosemite Valley


Striking a pose


Californicated Fall


Pano shot of Yosemite


T in front of Half Dome


Me in front of Half Dome


Sunset


Sequoia


T & tree


T. & tree (again)


Pano shot Yosemite #2


I saw my first snow of the season in California!


C-c-c-cold!


Rock, pebble, rock, pebble ...


T @ Porter Creek vinyard (amazing Viognier)


Russian River Valley


Enjoying wine & pizza at F.F. Coppola's winery

Monday, November 10, 2008

Our apartment

Everybody keeps on asking for pictures of our not-so new apartment (we moved 6 months ago). So here you go ...








Belgium Pics

It's almost winter (at least here with the flurries announced tonight), so let's go way back to late spring when went back to the motherland.



It's this rascal's birthday today.



Making pizza.


Cooking with sharp knifes is sheer fun!


Les mamans.


Herr Grillmeister Tom


Aint they cute?


Surrounded by paparazzi.


Gigging with Mr. Van Dessel.


Mr. Van Dessel gigging with Mr. Stilker.


Corn syrup ... yummie!


Food coloring ... yummie!