The Economist has a short, wonderfully written article on the differences between American and British newspapers in reporting about Janet Jackson's breast. I had a great laugh this morning:

"The Economist, of course, deplores the degradation of the British press. As a service to American readers, who should know how low it has fallen, we reprint the picture below."

Next weekend will be Sasha's birthday (February 21st) and I'll go to see her then.

At the end of the afternoon I went to Amsterdam and picked up my ticket.

Jennie and I had dinner together tonight. The previous time she cooked hot pot, a great Chinese recipe.

I made a Bulgarian meal: a kyuveche with meat. We had ruska salata as a predish, a potato based salad with ham and pickles.

Of course we had a glass of rakia too; we finished the bottle of magnificient rakia Gesho gave me in Bulgaria. Boy, that is delicious stuff!

Smack the Pingu, the game that was such a success a little while ago, has been the inspiration for a lot of creativity.

Visit "Yeti Sports" for all the things that can happen to a penguin.

I'm back in Haarlem now. Milena and David brought me to the trainstation, and at 17:00 o'clock my train left. The trip went smoothly; I was listening to the radio and reading a book that Joris gave me for my birthday, 'Cryptonomicon'.

I was in Haarlem at 21:30 o'clock.

Yesterday was Milena's birthday party.

We first had dinner at home, with Roland and Helen, two good friends of David and Milena from Berlin. Milena made a Spanish recipe, rabbit in a sauce with almonds, garlic and white wine.

Around 20:00 o'clock we went to the place where the party would be. The bar was really nice. It was decorated in 70's style, with the appropriate wallpaper, lights and posters on the wall. A nice detail was that the cola that they served was of an old German brand that was popular around that time.

The place was called the "Trinkhalle". With my best German knowledge I thought that this just means "drinking place", but I was told that this name is more usual for a booth outside where you can buy bottles of beer and get drunk on the street. There were around 50 guests for Milena I think.

We danced a lot, and I talked to many people. I liked that a lot.

I saw Ricco, the newborn baby of Osamu and Maisumi. They came to say congratulations to Milena, so Ricco went to his first party (except for his birth-party, of course). A very cute baby, she slept through everything.

We here home around 3:00 o'clock, and we slept in till very late this morning.

I made a couple of pictures yesterday, you can see them here.

Milena and I went for a walk in the city this morning. We did some shopping and we had coffee, and later beer. There was a Starbucks in the main street of Frankfurt.

We had a really good 'bratwurst', a German sausage.

I took some pictures.

The square 'Alter Oper', with a huge soccerball.

A lot of musicians on the main square of Frankfurt (where David & Milena got married), in front of the city hall.

Musicians are leaving.

Shopping street.

Making bratwurst.

And... eating bratwurst.

The traintrip yesterday was wonderful. I don´t think I´ve ever been in a nicer train than this ICE. Quiet, fast, comfortable... it´s almost like a plane but with more space for your legs. I talked with a fellow-passenger until Duisburg, then I read a bit. The four hours to Frankfurt went quick.

David & Milena picked me up from the trainstation, and gave me a great welcome. We had some drinks at home, and we went out to a pub around their place later. We had German beer, of course.

The computer here in David and Milena´s house has a German keyboard, which is pretty much the same as a regular one expect that the `y´ and `z´ are switched -- a bit confusing.

I am leaving to Frankfurt!

My train leaves at 17:05 o'clock from Amsterdam Central Station so I'll go home now. I am really looking forward to the train trip and the weekend.

My suitcase is ready, and I took a magazine, a book and my coffee thing, so I'm fully prepared. I'll be in Frankfurt around 21:00 o'clock.

I'm going to visit David & Milena and I'll stay in their place. Saturday evening Milena will celebrate her birthday in a bar in Frankfurt.

It seems like Mr. Lazrak has decided to establish his own political party and to keep his seat in parliament. He was expelled from the far-left Socialist Party last Monday after he directed harsh criticism to Mr. Marijnissen, the party's leader, and after a disagreement on the donation of his salary to the party.

Of course, he has the right to do so. Formally he was elected on a personal title, and he has the constitutional right to stay in parliament. It healthy for intra-party politics if all the members of a political faction are sure of their seat, and don't run the risk of loosing their position if they disagree with the majority.

However, it is unfortunate that Lazrak decided to stay. I don't think his one-man faction will have a lot of added value to the Dutch parliament. He himself acknowledged that the disagreements between him and the party are not based on policy; in fact he said that he would almost always vote with the Socialist Party. Also, it is virtually certain that he won't be elected if there would be elections now, nor in a few years.

I would say: do the decent thing and give the seat back to the party.