The Big Donor Show

Each time when you think that commercial exploitation can' t go any lower you realize that there are always insane people pushing for new boundaries. Today Endemol, creators of excellent shows *note my sarcastic tone* like 'Big Brother' set the latest threshold. A new show will be launched in The Netherlands called ' The Big Donor Show' in which the public can vote for three candidates in need of kidneys. The winner gets the kidneys of a terminally ill woman who is also featured in the show...

It made me incredibly nauseous. Especially considering the fact that it will be aired by of all things *public* television... not some kind of crazy commercial station. I mean this is funded by government.

I don' t know what worries me more, the fact that a christian-democrat government is allowing funds to be spend on these totally unethical shows or what Endemol will think of next.

For more information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6699847.stm

New pictures at my deviantart account!

I *finally* uploaded some Rome pictures to my deviantart account. You can watch them here and click 'gallery'. :)

I also finished another paper today; one of the most complex I wrote so far. Its about revelation and enlightenment in 12th century scientific reasoning in Islam and Europe. I basically attack the modern western idea that Islam never went through a 15th century renaissance and enlightenment. This thought is fundamentally flawed because as early as the 9th century Islam has had its humanist philosophers. Without them Europe itself would probably not have known humanism.

I'll make a pdf-version available soon but I'd like it to be graded by my professor first. It is in dutch though but I am thinking of making an english translation this summer to sharpen my skills.

Update on life the universe and everything

Lots of news to discuss and extremely little time. My house is for sale and online at funda. Go watch it here and tell the world! The sooner it is sold the sooner I can move to Leiden :))

On the college front, I have been writing my ass off lately. Very interesting thesis in Euro-Islamic scientific relations in the 12th century which is due May 31st. When I am done I'll switch to prepare for my exams in ancient religious behavior on June 14th. When those exams have passed I'll write up my final thesis for this year on the position of the city of Haarlem and its nobility taken towards Jacoba van Beieren, countess of Holland in the strife of 1418.

And then...
Then
Then

I can relax :)

Oh and I went with Mark to a Marillion concert last week in Vredenburg, Utrecht. It was absolutely brilliant. As most of you know I am a huge fan of Marillion but never went to see them live. It was definitely worth it! :)

Anyways, this was just a quick post to let you know that I am alive, okay and just quite busy :) And I promise to post pictures of my Rome adventure during the Pentecost weekend! I really promise... at least, if I don't forget to ;)