I was very saddened today to hear the news http://www.theovangogh.nl/ about the murder of Theo Van Gogh, who was the great-nephew of Vincent, the Van Gogh who has caused so much excitement and speculation for my husband and me and many other people, since Tom and his friend have what is believed to be a photograph of Vincent. See stories: http://www.blauwefeniks.nl/forum/messages/208/4526.html -- also http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-0...htm?POE=LIFISVA. Apparently this filmmaker was murdered by Moslem terrorists.

(One of the links given goes to a forum with responses in both English and Dutch. Though I am supposedly part Dutch, I can't read or speak a word of it...so, I'm just trusting that it's all 'okay' stuff! I guess Henk could tell me, maybe. )

This is of course not exactly a concertina topic, true, but I almost feel strange if I don't say something about it.

At this point, I almost feel like I've lost a family member, though I am not one of the family, and am not even personally all that informed about Art or the great artists like the Van Goghs. (I do read a little here and there.)

My neighbor up the street is presently fighting in Iraq. Though my 'neighborhood' is not a close one -- people around here just kinda nod 'hello' and that's all -- I am constantly aware of this neighbor's absence, especially when I see the yellow ribbon and all that his wife has attached to the phone pole, indicating that a loved one is away at war.

I don't hate Moslem people at all, have personally met and known some, some that liked me and some that didn't. I am all for getting along peacefully; though, I don't know if that will ever happen, and I wonder what the world will be like in...five years or so.

As for the photo of Vincent, regardless of the outcome of how well it is ever received by critics, it's just been quite fascinating that this happened, and to my husband, since years before he found the photograph, he'd even had quite a strange dream in which Vincent Van Gogh appeared to him and gave him a painting lesson! When he told me, later, that he'd bought this photo and he thought it was Vincent, I just kinda said, "Oh, that's nice," thinking, "Hmm...yeah, okay...he's had too much sun today, I see....!!" Little did I know that it would turn out to cause so much excitement -- thanks in large part to Tom's friend, Joe.

Anyway, I had just said to Tom last night that, for some reason, I was feeling so completely sad, and felt like someone had died, and I felt like crying and didn't know why. I thought maybe my feelings were related to the recent intensification of the fighting in Iraq. I only heard the news this morning about the shooting, but I think that maybe that is what was making me feel so sad.

We must have peace! Where is it? What will it take?

Deae BB,
I note 128 hits to your message and zero responses. I feel your pain...

Alan.

Hmm. I remember the news story. Hadn't made the connection to you, though.
(I could join the discussion of whether it's really a photo of the van Gogh, but I won't. )


I am involved in intense discussions of this and various other philosophical (including political and religious) issues, but not here, please. (Personal emails are fine.)


A prediction and a hope rather than a certainty, but I think there will be more concertina players than now.


OK, I will say -- or rather quote -- something "political":
"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace." -- John Lennon

Oh, my!

How many blue boxes...?

NONE.
.. 1) Though I grow herbs and tomatos on my window sill (on the balcony in the summer), I get no agricultural subsidies of any kind.
.. 2) Here in Denmark, we handle our recycling differently.
.. 3) But I do have a red Hohner Erica.
.. 4) The phones here are entirely digital.

That's nothing to be proud of, Jim.

... actually, so do I.

I was just wondering Jim, if you did recieve a subsidy for your window box how much would you expect to get ?

On a serious note I am grateful that the members of this forum do not discuss in depth Politics and Religion ,they are interesting subjects and effect us all but many a strong and bitter argument arises from thase subjects(just look at the World situation) and for me it is a pleasure to click onto this site and just discuss the ins and outs of concertinas.It is however impossible to discuss anything without the odd bit of politics coming into the discussion like "Smoking and Do we get a fair deal from the Radio".These are fringe discussions however and we deal with the matter in a sensible way and if we continue along this path I for one will be happy to contribute.If we go the other route of a site I visited recently and start slagging off World leaders and Religious groups then sorry friends I am off,even if I agree with some of the comments.
On a personal note I am sorry to hear about your friend Wendy.
Al

Anyone can smoke on radio without me getting worried

In the partially devolved state in the UK, the Scottish parliament has just voted to ban smoking in public places. A local paper carried a cartoon showing a group of Scots lined up on the south side of Hadrian's wall to have a quick puff before going back to work.

just thought I would share that with you to lighten things up a bit.

Best wishes,

John
PS I think this is my 100th post - I will never catch up with Jim!

very funny Alan

and Jim - I think the blue boxes that Dave was refering to were the many hundreds you have just below where it says "heavyweight boxer"

John
You are right. To prove it, I made a screenshot:



congratulations John!


Alan, I agree with you. However Politics can have sometimes a spin off to music. When I saw (half awake) the 7 o'clock BBC news this morning, I picked up two words that to my (Dutch ears) sound very good as a title for a firm Hornpipe: "Bonking Boris".

P.S.: If I offend any of you, I am very very sorry . I do not know what it is (politically) all about, but I like the alliteration .

Since "blue box" subsidies are linked to limiting production, probably not much. One euro-cent? My production is already pretty limited, though I did pick three tiny tomatoes this week and often add scallions, marjoram, or basil to my morning eggs.

Politics being what they are, I should probably make friends with a few EU ministers, then get them to award me a handsome "blue box" subsidy in return for a promise to not buy a farm.

I suspect that Paul and Ken have joined with the WTO, so that to get any more blue boxes I will have to limit my production.

I'll keep the politics out of this forum but direct those interested elsewhere (Les Barker's Homepage). Les Barker is renowned for his humorous monologues. The Civilized World, found on the above page, while funny is certainly very serious in its message

Also his satirical songs and parodies. My current favorite is "Sloop John A."

My current favourite is the Deck of Cards ....

The twelve reminds me of the eyebrows on 6 armadillos ....

And we must not forget Arnold the Armadillo, a tale of unrequited love - he was an armadillo and she was a concertina!