Erwin_Br

It all happened very fast.

I wanted to vote for Jake, but the page was still loading. Just as I clicked the checkbox it scrolled a few pixels down. And now I clicked Tim. But it was an accident!

How closer the things happen around us, the more we care. It's how we humans work, I guess. If my next-door neighbour dies, even though we hardly spoke or saw eachother, it's going to affect me more than when someone I've never seen before dies a few blocks further down the road. I guess that's how it also works on a greater scale. --Erwin

Windows is more backwards compatible with their stuff than Mac. It's one of the reasons why Mac's are generally more stable. The other significant reason is because it doesn't need to run on a zillion different configurations. --Erwin

Normally I'm not a fan of one-issue parties, but I'm content with 2 seats for the party animals. (And I'm not even a vegetarian or vegan.) The media is focusing a bit much on the VVD right now, which seems logical, but their defeat isn't that spectacular compared to that of the PvdA. I mean, the PvdA had the huge advantage of not being involved in leading the country, so they got *really* punished, if you know what I mean. I don't see the current results as a major cry for a left wing government either, to be honest. Most people still voted CDA, which is quite remarkable since they executed some of the most unpopular policies ever. What people want, from how I see it, is a more social government, but without the massive change and the uncertainty that ensues from change. CDA seems to be able to provide that stability. The question is, who's gonna take care of the much-needed sociability? Can you imagine CDA ruling together with SP, for example? Heh. Interesting. --Erwin

Geert Wilders won 9 seats. That's just unbelievable. It's going to be very interesting to see how our new government will form. Last time it took as much as 5 months to form a cabinet, which was a record I believe, but I wouldn't be surprised if it would take even longer this time. --Erwin

True. That's why I'm disappointed that GroenLinks doesn't mention anything about addressing the problems Europe-wide. I mean, we like to play a big role in Europe, right? We're one of the biggest ''Europe investors''. Can't we at least use the power we yield with this money to raise a voice? Your concerns about the environmental effects are noble, but people still want and need to travel. And if they can't reach their destinations through Schiphol, they'll reach it through Heathrow or any of the other airports around us. GroenLinks wants to enforce stricter environmental norms for Schiphol, which creates unfair competition. The amount of passengers won't decrease, like I said because they'll just fly via these airports, so it doesn't really help. What's even more appalling is that GroenLinks wants to raise Kerosine taxes, in an attempt to make flying less attractive. Well, what can I say? I believe this would indeed help decrease passengers... But only DUTCH passengers, and passengers flying via Schiphol. The last group will simply, like I said, choose to fly via London or something. And as a Dutchman you're really out of luck when everybody around you can fly and see the world for affordable prices, and you can't. Sorry for the constant GL bashing, but I just can't help myself. It's a party with the right intentions and the wrong solutions. It's a party which I disagree with the strongest of them all. Except for Groep Wilders. --Erwin

You're totally right. Maybe I didn't word myself too well there, but the reason why I'm reluctant about voting D'66 is not because they made a mistake. It's about where this mistake has lead them. A party that lost its credibility, gravity, and most importantly, its power. The sad thing is that, like you said, the VVD had the biggest part in this. I'm sure they're being punished by the voter as well, but not as badly as they deserve. --Erwin

D'66 and I aren't really conflicting on the, for me, important issues, which is a good sign. I do have feel some hesitation, though. Not because of their program obviously, but because of how they screwed up only a while ago. Today D'66 doesn't seem to be able to make a difference anymore, making my vote kind of powerless, and maybe even pointless. At least, that's how it feels. --Erwin

Groenlinks has the right intentions, but I strongly disagree with their stance on certain issues that I find important. I disagree with their stance on Schiphol, for example, because I *do* feel it's an important asset to our economy, and it *does* need to expand. I also disagree with the extra tax on flying, which will make it more difficult for me to travel overseas. PvdA is the only party that I support on Schiphol, because I don't agree with VVD and CDA on selling it out either. (I'm an opponent of privatizing altogether) Groenlinks ideas about the mortgage interest issue are totally unacceptable to me as well. They want to ditch it altogether, which will make it even harder for me to buy a home (which I'm currently trying to do). SP's policy would be much more fair in this regard. Frankly, though, I'm with CDA on this issue: Hands off! And finally, their 'paradepaardje', the environment. The environmental changes we're facing are taking place on a much larger scale, making it pointless to restrict the things we do between the borders of our puny country. I believe it will hurt our economy and only advantage the big industries in China and the USA, who of course continue to pollute our world, and on a much larger scale to boot. I've read the short version of their program, and I couldn't find anything about what to do about this problem in cooperation with Europe. If you want to fight pollution, fight for it on a larger battleground. I do agree with a lot of things (Euthanasia being an important one), but unfortunately for them there are more parties with a similar stance on these subjects. --Erwin

If there are two important points, there's always party X that I support on point 1, and party Y that I support on point 2. And it gets really annoying when party X is left, and Y is right. Does that make sense? --Erwin

You're a doctor? Hopefully those poor saps die before you get your hands on them. --Erwin

Wow, compared to what happened in the US yesterday, the PS3 release in Japan went ultra-smooth: http://www.washingtonpost...1/17/AR2006111700325.html and YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyKWWVXNMYo About 30 miles away, another shopper was beaten and robbed of his new PlayStation 3 just minutes after he bought it at a store in Manchester, police said. Andrew Templeton, 20, and David Wiggins, 28, of Sullivan, Ind., were assaulted by two teens after waiting for 36 hours at a Super Wal-Mart, police said. Elsewhere, two men wearing black ski masks and sunglasses made off with five consoles after holding two employees at gunpoint at an Englewood, Ohio, video game store Thursday night, police said. A Pennsylvania teenager was also robbed of his new PlayStation by a man who tapped on his car window with a handgun in Allentown, police said. In some places police had to fire rubber bullits to control the masses. --Erwin

I got the same question. --Erwin

I've always had to choose between lesser evils. Not once did a party convince me 100%. I'm one of those 'floaters', if you know what I mean. This time I'll probably vote for a right-wing party, because I don't want to see a full left-wing government. (I'm not happy with a full right-wing government either, though) My problem right now is that I agree with a lot of SP's and PvdA's points. Especially on the health care issue. On the economical issues I tend to agree more with VVD and CDA. It's frustrating! Groenlinks is a party I'll never vote for, because they're leaning too much on principles and are not realistic. The SP used to be the same way (against everything, but without feasible alternatives), but I'm glad they've changed. --Erwin

They still haven't fixed their infamous memory leak. --Erwin

Finished it. Loved it. --Erwin

OMG!!! You're blocking innovation! The animation industry needs to move on! Evolve or die! --Erwin

Tiel reminds me of Jomanda and Flipje. Oh, and traffic jams. Lots of traffic jams. --Erwim

First it's Then it quickly becomes It's not bad, but just a little too repetitive to my taste. --Erwin

Yeah, I used to play that game with my dad. We'd take turns and help each other out with some of the more advanced puzzles. My dad was even more hooked than I. I believe he almost beat the game too, with only 2 or 3 levels to go. --Erwin

Hmm... B5's monologues aside, their sets were awfully campy as well. They must've thought a lot of coloured lights would hide the poor quality of their set piece designs. --Erwin

Knightrider, man! Knightrider! I actually considered buying a Trans-Am a few years ago when I saw some re-runs. --Erwin

My cycle skills are at max after trying to finish that level at least 100 times. Seriously. I never finished it, and it stopped me from playing the game. --Erwin

I finally saw War of the Worlds this weekend. Well, I didn't get bored for a second because it was almost a non-stop thrill ride. Very spectacular with impressive special effects. So that is good. The part when they're taken by the machine, in that cage, with the grenades was too much, though. And Dakota Fanning, who I admired in the miniseries 'Taken', was very annoying throughout the entire movie with her constant screaming. The ending felt a little forced and abrupt. Oh, and Cruise isn't a believable harbour worker. And I suddenly got the urge to play Half-Life 2 again. --Erwin