Dutchvlog

Samsung Wave S8500 - Firmware Upgrade Tutorial

2010-09-02T13:32:00.003+02:00

The latest smartphone from Samsung, the Wave s8500, launched in the spring in this year is rapidly finding it's way into the mobile market and therefore into the pockets of proud new owners all over the world.
Teething and compatibility problems are to be expected from a new device using the new, bespoke Samsung Bada OS; but it is now September, many months after the launch and the internet is becoming crowded with messages from owners begging for help regarding a wide variety of issues.

At the time of the launch the device was not compatible with Windows 7. Since then this issue has been resolved and the device “should” be compatible with both the 32 and 64bit systems. However using the Wave with the 64bit system is still problematic as I and many others have discovered, witness the response to this last video and the multitude of messages on internet regarding this issue.
Updating my device firmware with Kies and windows 7 eventually caused the device to freeze. Only after reinstalling Kies and many attempts to bring the device back to life via the recovery mode did it eventually work, but the relationship is still far from harmonious.
Many new owners are even having great trouble in getting their PC to recognize the device via Kies.
Many settings have to be checked before the device is ready to talk to the PC. Otherwise it just won’t work!

These fundamental issues do raise the question “Does one have to be a Geek to be a Wave owner?”
Not all new owners will be happy with the hours of puzzling required to get the device to do what you want it to do when you want it to do it! They just want to buy it, configure it and use it and not spend days looking for answers on internet.

So there’s allot of tweaking to do for Samsung before the wider “non geek” user community can enjoy carefree user experience. Lets hope they do because when and if you get this device configured and working it is truly amazing.

So, this last video may help the non geeks like me on their way. Its best watched in full screen mode or directly at YouTube >> click here

Shakespeare Theater Diever - Much ado about nothing.

2009-07-15T12:13:00.006+02:00

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YezWeCan - SIBfest - Levend Schaakspel

2009-06-29T12:39:00.005+02:00

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Het Levend Schaakspel van Musapha Eljamouni (Schaakschool Zeeburg) en Simone Hoogervorst (Serafijn) heeft terecht 1e prijs gewonnen voor het mooiste gepresenteerde initiatief op het Samen Indische Buurtfestival op 16 mei jl. Met heel veel inzet en bijzonder veel creativitiet hebben ze een onvergetelijk visuele spektakel gemaakt. Het was een van de hoogtepunten van een mooie dag. Is dit niet een goede voorbeeld van community art? Kijk naar de video - de beelden spreken voor zich.

Contact Schaakschool Zeeburg: meljarmouni@online.nl

YezWeCan - Dank aan de Indische Buurt

2009-05-29T22:47:00.001+02:00

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Op zaterdag 16 mei heeft onze festival plaatsgevonden. Het was meer dan een groot succes vanwege de enorme inzet van alle betrokkenen. Dit is een korte sfeerimpressie van een indrukwekkende dag - met een hele grote dank aan iedereen die heeft meegewerkt. YEZWECAN!! (meer clips binnenkort)

YezWeCan - Denk Tank Sociale Wat?

2009-05-29T22:28:00.001+02:00

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Wat is een Denk tank Sociale Cohesie ? De nieuwe Denk Tank Zeeburg is op 25 mei jl geintalleerd. YezWeCan was erbij.

YezWeCan - Samen Indische Buurtfestival

2009-04-20T22:46:00.003+02:00

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Op zaterdag 16 mei 2009 worden de Timorplein en de Sumatrastraat in Amsterdam omgetoverd tot een bruisend festivalterrein ten behoeve van het Samen Indische Buurtfestival. Er komen een culturele markt met presentaties van buurtprojecten, een podium met buurttalent, een kinderdorp met alles erop en eraan, een levend schaakspel en 's avonds een openluchtbioscoop - hapjes, drankjes en veel gezelligheid. Iedereen is welkom.
Kijk naar de clip. Kijk voor meer informatie op www.samenibfestival.nl

YezWeCan - Timorplein Buurtconcert - Emine Igdi

2009-02-10T11:16:00.004+01:00

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Het eerste Timotplein Buurtconcert heeft plaatsgevonden op zaterdag 24 januari j.l. in Studio K. Vele muzikale talenten uit de Indische Buurt en Zeeburg hebben wereldmuziek uit alle windstreken ten gehore gebracht voor een zeer enthousiaste zaal. Er is gedanst en geluisterd naar muziek uit Marokko, Turkije, Chili, Nederland en Suriname slechts enkele van de culturen die ons buurt rijk is.
Het Buurtconcert is een idee van Emine Igdi, lid van het denktank sociale cohesie Zeeburg. Tijdens het concert heeft zij aan Jos Zandvliet de MC uitgelegd hoe het idee tot stand is gekomen en wat zij ermee beoogd.
Behalve muziek en dans was er ook gelegenheid buurtinitiatieven en projecten te promoten onder de concertgangers. Kortom het buurtconcert was een geslaagd evenement en zeker voor herhaling vatbaar.
Behalve de vele vrijwilligers uit de buurt die aan de organisatie hebben meegeholpen werd het concert mede mogelijk genaakt door de Timorplein Community, Cybersoek en het Stadsdeel Zeeburg.

YezWeCan - Studio 52nd Maakt Theater

2009-01-27T21:15:00.002+01:00

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De problemen waarmee opgroeiende kinderen in de Indische Buurt, Amsterdam worden geconfronteerd zijn natuurlijk niet helemaal uniek. Al in 1981 heeft Willie Reale, een sociaal gemotiveerde acteur uit New York het 52nd Street Project opgericht. Door middel van een bijzonder manier van theater maken geeft hij de kinderen uit achterstandswijken de gelegenheid een kijkje te nemen buiten de harde wereld waarin ze leven.

Fanneke Verhallen uit de Indische Buurt is naar New York geweest een is zeer geïnspireerd geraakt door het 52nd Street concept. In de clip vertelt Fanneke over Studio52nd, haar Nederlands interpretatie van het Amerikaans concept.

YezWeCan TV - Midwinter DroomTocht

2008-12-20T12:07:00.003+01:00

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Dit jaar is op 12 december voor de derde keer De Midwinter Droomtocht gehouden op het Ambonplein en het Obiplein. Het feest wordt gezamenlijk georganiseerd door buurtbewoners, basisscholen de Waaier en De Evenaar en Stichting Asri. YezWeCan TV was er vanzelfsprekend bij om de fantastische sfeer vast te leggen. Het actualiteitenprogramma Netwerk van de NCRV was er ook bij met een cameraploeg. Ze zijn bezig een portret te maken van de Indische Buurt en haar bewoners dat wordt uitgezonden op 24 december a.s. Er waren lekkere hapjes en drankjes, pindasoep en poffetjes. Er waren optredens van een gospelkoor, dansgroepen en rappers. Het hoogtepunt was de Droomtocht zelf; een lampionnenoptocht voorgegaan door de feestelijke blazers band Jalan Jalan. Kortom de warme kerstsfeer en vrolijk getoeter heeft de komende feestdagen op passend wijze ingeluid.

YezWeCan - Motivatie TV

2008-12-11T15:44:00.004+01:00

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YezWeCan TV Brengt de Indische Buurt in beeld. Het is de spreekbuis van alle buurtprojecten, intiatieven en bewoners die meewerken aan onze gezamenlijke doel - een betere Indsiche Buurt.

YezWeCan - Kick en Thaiboks Dojo Amsterdam

2008-11-30T21:17:00.005+01:00

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Een van de gewaardeerde verenigingen in de Indische Buurt in Zeeburg is de Kick en Thaiboks Dojo Amsterdam. Het is slechts twee jaar geleden begonnen en wegens een overweldigend succes barst nu al uit z'n voegen. Het biedt de jongens uit de buurt een onderdak waar ze goed thuis voelen… aan het einde van de les zijn ze letterlijk niet weg te slaan. De meiden willen ook trainen maar er is geen ruimte. Er wordt dus nu druk gezocht naar een oplossing voor het ruimteprobleem. Zij trekken samen op met de buurt en het Gemeenschapshuis Buurtinitiatief om de leefbaarheid in de Indische Buurt een positief impuls te geven.

Dutchvlog - Yezwecan Community + Arts

2008-11-15T11:34:00.004+01:00

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Stem op StreetsmArt voor het BesteBuurtPlan

2008-11-01T23:18:00.006+01:00

Er is iets te geks aan de hand in de Indische Buurt !

StreetsmArt is een sociaal-artistiek buurtproject om een centrum voor kunst en cultuur te maken in onze buurt. WOW!!
Ze willen een plek maken waar buurtbewoners, kunstenaars van verschillende pluimage jongeren, ouderen, kortom iedereen samen kunnen komen en …... Het is ook een plek waar jonge buurtbewoners de gelegenheid krijgen in contact te komen met verschillende kunstuitingen en hun talenten te ontdekken en ontwikkelen. Vanzelfsprekend hebben StreetsmArt en het Gemeenschapshuis Initiatief krachten gebundeld om zich in te zetten voor een dergelijke plek.
StreetsmArt is een van de buurtprojecten genomineerd voor de BesteBuurtPlan prijs van de NCRV. Vanzelfsprekend zou de impuls dat StreetsmArt, de Indische Buurt en Zeeburg zou krijgen met het winnen van een dergelijke prijs met geen toetsenbord te beschrijven!! Kortom…het moet dus winnen. Daarom is jouw stem nodig. Het is makkelijk en kost slechts een paar seconden maar die ene stem van jou is van oneindig groot belang voor de Indische Buurt.
Vanzelfsprekend kan StreetsmArt ook de steun van jouw buren, familie en vrienden (ook in Australië, Mongolië en Siberië) gebruiken, dus stuur dit bericht door - al is het maar een keer.

STEM OP STREETSMART NU ! - CLICK HIER

Elhou en Ella gezellig samen.

Elhoussaine Hmimou is ambassadeur voor het StreetsmArt buurtproject. Het is ook nog echt Ella Vogelaar Minister voor Wonen Wijken en integratie. Zie ook de artikel in de Echo 22 okt 08 click hier

Bedrijfsfilm - online video commercial

2008-10-01T18:14:00.013+02:00

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Deepstream.nl New Media verzorgt jouw online video commercial - van concept tot laatste click. Click hier voor meer info

Deepstream.nl New Media is meer dan alleen een ervaren videoproductiebedrijf uit Amsterdam gespecialiseerd in online video. Onze dienstverlening gaat een flink stap verder.

Wij kunnen elke stap in het proces van videoproductie, vanaf het bedenken van een concept tot het online distribueren van het uiteindelijk video, en alles daartussen, voor ons rekening nemen. Het is dus niet meer nodig je aan te melden bij tien verschillende bedrijven om tot een productie te komen

Deepstream verzorgt jouw online video van concept tot laatste click. Wij beiden de volgende diensten; concept, script, regie, high definition videoproductie, montage en post productie, hoogwaardig video encoding en distributie op internet.
Onze creatief, ervaren en enthousiast professionals kunnen verassend snel jouw productie online zetten voor zeer interessante tarieven. Er is geen beter manier om jouw product of jouw dienst te presenteren dan met online video. Maak gebruik van onze nieuwe product;- een compleet verzorgt online video infommercial van zestig seconden voor jouw website voor maar € 999,-- ex.

Voor meer informatie ga naar onze website www.deepstream.nl

Dutchvlog Goes to Ghana - #2 How to make Fu Fu

2008-09-17T21:00:00.004+02:00

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How to make Fu Fu the Ghanaian way - this time with a cassava and plantain mix. You either love it or you hate it.

Dutchvlog Goes to Ghana - #1 Outward Bound

2008-09-11T23:40:00.005+02:00

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Het Flevopark Festival - The Making Of

2008-09-05T13:45:00.005+02:00

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Zeeburg is een snel groeiend, dynamisch, veelzijdig en divers stadsdeel van Amsterdam. In de laatste jaren is Het Oostelijke Havengebied herontwikkeld en is het nieuwe eiland Ijburg gebouwd. Dit zijn nieuwe, welvarende en moderne wijken van Zeeburg en vormen een scherpe tegenstelling met de oudste wijk van het stadsdeel, de Indische Buurt.
De Indische Buurt heeft een zeer diverse bevolkingsamenstelling en biedt onderdak aan meer allochtonen dan autochtonen en deelt dan ook samen met de aangrenzende Transvaalbuurt en Oosterparkbuurt veel van de sociaal maatschappelijke problemen die een dergelijke demografie met zich meebrengt.

Na 2001 ontstond vanuit de buurt initiatieven om de cohesie van een buurt met zo veel diversiteit te verbeteren. In 2008 is een daarvan uitgemond in Het Flevopark Festival. De Stichting Indische Buurt Wereldwijk en een leger aan vrijwilligers hebben vanaf begin dit jaar koortsachtig samengewerkt om het feest te bouwen, voor de buurt en voor de stad. Hier maak ik een documentaire over " Het Flevopark Festival - The Making Of ". Verwacht eind 2008. Het is dus nog in de maak - maar hier is alvast een trailer.

Ron Langdon

Shakespeare Theater Diever - Macbeth Trailer

2008-06-24T14:51:00.002+02:00

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Shakespeare Theater Diever hebben dit jaar gekozen voor een van grootste theatrale meesterwerken ooit; William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Wederom heeft regisseur Jack Nieborg op geniaal en nauwkeurige wijze de script in Nederlands vetaalt zonder een enkele concessie te doen. En dan hebben we de hoofdrollen van Lord and Lady Macbeth gespeelt met ijzingwekkende overtuiging door Dick van Veen en Josien Kragt. Zij laten zien wat de consequenties van ernstig doorgeschoten ambities kunnen zijn. De Diever spelers zullen weer jouw aandacht stevig vastgrijpen en niet loslaten totdat al het nodige bloed is gemorst. Overtuig jezelf en kijk naar de trailer.

Videotrailer: Produced Amsterdam by Deepstream.nl New MediaAmsterdam
Amsterdam

Flevopark Festival 2008 #2

2008-05-19T23:14:00.003+02:00

Vrijwilligers Gezocht voor de Flevopark Festival 2008

Click hier en meldt je aan

Flevopark Festival 2008

2008-05-08T21:34:00.007+02:00

Kom naar de eerste Flevopark Festival op 24 en 25 mei in Amsterdam. Het is GRATIS en de LINE UP is te gek. Voor meer details en het volledig programma ga naar http://www.flevoparkfestival.nl/ . Dutchvlog wil be there !

Dutchvlog - "Mobile Suica"

2008-05-01T21:59:00.005+02:00

Tja, het is een beetje stilletjes geweest rond Dutchvlog in de maand april. Dat is jammer want we waren weer lekker op gang met de TN&NM - Tech News en New Media - show en wat nieuw tutorials. De stilte heeft een aantal oorzaken. Ten eerste hadden we begin april 'serious system failure' waardoor we een weekje niets konden doen en vervolgens een computer met een lege harde schijf van de monteur teruggekregen. Ten derde hebben we de eerste problemen meteen aangegrepen om onze systemen te verbeteren met het toevoegen van een High Def montage systeem uitgerust met een harde schijf die NOOIT uit kan vallen. Er komt nog bij dat wij het druk hebben met opdrachten voor Deepstream.nl New Media onze videoproductiebedrijf. Dus zoals je ziet komen we even handen tekort.

Over een weekje zullen wij weer gaan publiceren, allereerst met de laatste deel van TN&NM - Welke Video Host en vanzelfsprekend komen er nog wat tutorials aan.

Ondertussen wil ik graag een juweel van een vlogje met je delen; zo een die je toevallig tegenkomt in een nachtelijk surfaanval. Kage uit Japan laat ons zien hoe hij een frisdrank uit een automaat besteld en dan meteen betaald met zijn mobile telefoon gebruikmakend van het al in 2001 geintroduceerde Suica ( Super Urban Intelligent Card ) systeem. Kort, helder en echt mooi gedaan. I love this type of media!

Dutchvlog Tutorial # 15 - Compressie met Quick Time Pro

2008-03-31T14:17:00.005+02:00

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De eerste demonstratie van een Quick Time movie op een computer was alweer 17 jaar geleden in 1991. Quick Time is de verzamelnaam van de multimedia architecture van Apple waar de webbrowser plugin, en de media player onder vallen. Inmiddels is Quick Time een van de meest gebruikte video types op internet. Na het oorspronkelijk .mov type zijn er inmiddels veel meer typen verschenen die op een andere manier worden gecomprimeerd. Het maakt hoge kwaliteit videobestanden die verrassend klein zijn en goed via internet kunnen worden getransporteerd. Het is bovendien nu ook voor Windows computers beschikbaar.

Het exporteren van een Quick Time Movie direct vanuit je montagesoftware levert vaak een teleurstellend resultaat op tenzij je de meest recente professioneel gereedschap hebt. Vaak is een plugin of een extra stuk gereedschap nodig om de gewenste resultaat te bereiken. In dit tutorial gaan we op een PC click voor click een dv avi bestand comprimeren met de H264 codec met de Quick Time Pro software van Apple om een .mov bestand te maken.

Meer Gratis video tutorials bij www.dutchvlog.nl

Dutchvlog - Beter video Maken - Basisuitrusting

2008-03-20T21:29:00.004+01:00

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De tweede webisode in de serie Beter Video Maken gaat in op de minimale basisuitrusting van de videoproducer. Zoals bekend heeft Dutchvlog een hekel aan geld uitgeven! Met digital video is het ook niet meer nodig! Met een DVcam en een PC kan je nu de kwaliteit van een grote filmproductie van 20 jaar geleden makkelijk evenaren mits je een paar basis principes onder de knie hebt. Buiten je PC en je Dvcam kan je al met een paar honderd euro de kwalitiet van jouw video oppeppen tot profi proporties.
Als jouw kijkers zich niet hoeven storen aan slechte techniek, hebben ze meer oog voor de inhoud van jouw werk en daar gaat het uiteindelijk om? Wij beginnen bij wat je nodig hebt om te vloggen en kijken hoe je heel eenvoudig je mogelijkheden verder kunt uitbreiden. Vanzelfsprekend vind je alles hierover - en nog veel meer bij www.dutchvlog.nl

Dutchvlog - TN&NM-Welke Video Host ? #2

2008-03-04T11:16:00.006+01:00

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Tech News en New Media #2 - Welke Host #2 - JumpCut & Stage 6

In de tweede webisode van de miniserie kijken we naar de twee video hosts JumpCut en Stage 6. JumpCut is een klein host van Yahoo die het monteren en uploaden van je clips, en foto's niet alleen makkelijk maar ook lollig maakt. Je hoeft niet een zelf montage software op je pc te hebben, je kan gewoon online monteren met de online editor. JumpCut is uitstekend geschikt voor de beginner of degene die geen zin heeft in moeilijk gedoe,
Het kijken naar Stage 6, een bijzonder host van DivX.Inc, hebben wij naar voren gebracht ter ere van zijn opheffing!? Het is 28 februari jl van de lucht gehaald.
Met de HD markt nog in rep en roer over de dood van HD DVD is het opmerkelijk en jammer dat zo een veelbelovend host, specifiek bedoeld voor HD DivX plotseling uit beeld verdwijnt. Dutchvlog was net op tijd bij om de laatste dagen vast te leggen voor dat het voor goed verdween.

Vanzelfsprekend zijn alle relevant en informatieve links gepost bij Dutchvlog - Links en Tools

Dutchvlog - TN&NM - Welke Video Host ? #1

2008-02-24T23:59:00.012+01:00

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Bekijk de webcast Full Screen - Click to play Flash
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Dutchvlog TN & NM - Tech Nieuws en New Media

Internet wordt steeds sneller en de manier waarop nieuws en nieuwe technologie om zich heen grijpt dus ook. Web 2.0 heeft zich al genesteld in onze dagelijkse leven en biedt ons duizelingwekkend mogelijkheden om van alles te doen; produceren, publiceren, communiceren, gezamenlijk iets bouwen - het gaat maar door. Het leven zonder New Media is al haast ondenkbaar.
Gelukkig hoef je al dat vernuftige pret allemaal niet zelf te zoeken of bij te houden want Dutchvlog doet dat nu voor je in de nieuwe webcast - Tech Nieuws en New Media.

Welke video Host # 1 - blip.tv en YouTube

De wazig, haperende Quick Time en Flash video's en de lange download en buffer tijden zijn haast ongemerkt tot het verleden gaan behoren. Er doet ook een gerucht de ronde dat internet video "is here to stay. "
Een steeds groter wordende deel van de wereld is aangesloten op breedband en zit lekker voor de computer internet video te bekijken in plaats van voor de buis. In een hysterisch gegrabbel om het succes van YouTube en de bijhorende financiële vruchten na te apen zijn in de afgelopen half jaar ontelbaar gratis video hosting sites als paddestoelen op het web verschenen. De meeste zijn om te huilen maar er zit ook wel een aardige tussen
Dutchvlog heeft een beetje rondgesnuffeld en is enkele sites tegengekomen die iets bijzonders te bieden hebben. In een serie van drie webcasts worden zijn bevindingen uit de doeken gedaan. We beginnen alvast met twee van de grootste en compleet tegenovergestelde marktleiders YouTube en blip.tv

Dutchvlog - Beter Video Maken - Turbo Intro

2008-01-29T15:16:00.000+01:00

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This is a bilingual post. The clip is in Dutch and the text is obviously in English. The Dutchvlog video blog has a sister site www.dutchvlog.nl (in the Dutch language) intended to provide tips, news and information about all aspects of online video and videoblogging. It has recently added a number of new pages including The Best Web Shows - Links and Tools (still under construction) and How to make better Video. The clip above is an introduction to the new series "How to make better video" in an attempt contribute to a better general quality of online video. The pages will be complemented with new, informative clips on a regular basis and the updates will be announced on the Dutchvlog.nl homepage. Finally, if you don't speak Dutch…..learn it!

Dutchvlog - The Dutch Bang into 2008

2008-01-03T08:32:00.000+01:00

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Dutchvlog - Autumn Palette

2007-12-01T16:18:00.001+01:00

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This is but a fragment of my autumn in town and country

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Flash Video (.flv)

2007-09-27T11:45:00.000+02:00

Click To Play

Internet People by Dan Meth

Internet People is yet another entertaining indication of how much the viewing culture, in the broadest sense, is developing. A computer illiterate TV addict would have absolutely no idea what this is about! Dan Meth, of the animation studio www.methminute.com produced both the animation and the song. He is obviously completely and passionately involved with new media. It was posted at every conceivable popular host and within days it had been watched more than 15 million times and is now probably the most watched animation on internet - not on tv. Each viewer made that conscious click!

This bubbling production centres around many of the popular video bloggers around the world - the true internet people. It includes Ask a Ninja, ZeFrank, Lonely Girl, Geriatric 1927, Rocketboom to name but a very few and many of which could have been found in my Vlogroll - literally for years
The new online culture is progressively distancing itself further from the mainstream in its powerful advance and shows that age, colour, creed or culture are no impediment to be a successful videoblogger.

It also shows how painfully far the Netherlands is lagging behind in the use of new media despite its high broadband connection density and superb infrastructure. Here in general, it has not progressed beyond posting abusive or "Donald Duck" media on YouTube. I sadly suspect that the Esmee Denters syndrome is merely incidental!

Hey Dan thanks for letting me share …..good on ya mate!!

Dutchvlog - Shakespeare in Diever

2007-09-11T17:15:00.002+02:00

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The Vlogumentary

Yes - All the world is a stage, but some places are more a stage than others, ay, there's the rub; and Diever is without question one of these places.
This small hamlet of scarcely 2200 inhabitants produces a Shakespeare play in Dutch once a year and has been doing so since 1946 when Midsummer Night's Dream was staged for the first time. Now, sixty one years later, enthusiasts from all over Holland and beyond converge on the open air theatre in the forest just outside the village. This year the staging of the romantic comedy, As You Like It, pulled a full house at every performance.

Jack Nieborg is the third resident director of the theatre. He is responsible for the monumental task of translating the plays into Dutch. With the Arden Editions as his blueprint, and whilst remaining close to the original plot, many of the Shakespearean metaphors and allusions are transformed into a more contemporary form. He is however surprisingly successful in retaining much of the entertaining Shakespearean linguistic dexterity so unique to the genre. It remains unmistakably Shakespearean.
In March of every year the first creative meetings take place. During the course of the next four months the creative teams develop and refine all aspects of the production. At the end of July the dressed rehearsals are staged. The cast consists of the local farmer, the baker and the candlestick maker and provide an extraordinarily professional and entertaining performance throughout the months of August and September.

It remains a mystery to me to see how such a small hamlet can produce such spectacular performances. It must be the firm foundation of community spirit, commitment and above all the love and enthusiasm for the magic of Shakespearean theatre. There are only three theatres in the world permitted to fly the Stratford flag - and Diever is one of them. In one word - brilliant!

Links
Shakespeare Theatre Diever - Home page
Cast -As you like it
Wiki - As you like it
Tourist information Diever

Herman Broodplein Amsterdam

2007-07-18T19:04:00.001+02:00

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When one has lived in a city as long as I have in Amsterdam the familiar love-hate relationship starts to creep up on you unnoticed with the passage of time. The city is presently executing the mother of all redevelopment's around the central station area. Although one understands that a city is a constantly changing organism and that sometimes major surgery has to take place it does not make the prolonged chaos and disruption any easier to bear.

But at long last small parts of the redevelopment are coming to conclusion, showing that the years of mess and noise are perhaps worth the wait. Part of the new Amsterdam Central Library - OBA - was opened to the public last week. The new library certainly is worth it. No expense or effort has been spared to create a cultural palace of note.
A new reading area has been created in the art and music section and has been dedicated to the late Herman Brood - a fitting tribute to one of Amsterdam's most turbulent and sensational eccentrics. On the 11th of July the Herman Broodplein was officially opened by his daughter Holly and his widow Xandra.

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Quicktime (.mov),
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Dutchvlog in Da Hip Hop Club 06/03/2007

2007-03-22T20:09:00.001+01:00

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Brakko Trixxx and MO the Poet on stage.

Ok - in the Brakko and MO interview we heard how they thought. Now they show us what they can do on stage. The lights go down, the beats start and in the Boom Bap they spit with rhythm, content, and flow obviously enjoying every second of it. I like these guys.

Contact with Brakko and MO at brakkotrixx@hotmail.com or leave a comment on this video-blog and we will pass your message on.

A Scream in the wind for Theo van Gogh

2007-03-19T14:33:00.002+01:00

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On the 2nd of November 2004 Theo van Gogh - a Dutch film and TV maker, writer and much loved pain in the butt was viscously slaughtered by a home grown radical Moslem. This event changed the Netherlands for good and in many respects it will never be the same again.
Luckily one thing has not changed - the immense inertia of the much-cherished Dutch bureaucracy. After two and a half years of nation-wide disagreement, debate, discussion, court cases, bad tempers and general unpleasantness a monument to Theo, his life, his work and above all his championship of free speech was unveiled just a stones throw from where he was murdered. This was obviously another attempt to strike while the iron is just rusting away.

The sculpture, created by Jeroen Henneman, represents the layered profile of a scream. The outside layer is screaming whilst the innermost layer is silent.

Big Up to Theo

Dutchvlog in Da Hip Hop Club 06/03/2007 - Brakko en MO

2007-03-14T21:26:00.001+01:00

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Interview Brakko Trixxx and MO the Poet.

On Tuesday the 6th of March the weekly Hip Hop Club on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam was graced by the performances of both old and new blood. The Amsterdam rap legend CIA Funky Fresh provided the old and Brakko Trixxx together with MO the Poet provided the new.

As always the artists were filmed by Dutchvlog during their interview. This time Kiddo Cee talked to Brakko and MO two talented artists from the infinite bubbling lake of DutchHop - the Amsterdam Bijlmer. These two young up and coming producer / MC's distinguish themselves in the emerging Hip Hop Scene not only by their realistic and relevant musical and textual approach but maybe even more so by their social engagement and conviction. It was both refreshing and encouraging to listen to them and I had the feeling I had learned something from these two wise young men. Hence the Brakko and Mo interview is being broadcast uncut in its entirety.

Unfortunately for the English speaking viewers the interview takes place in Dutch (street slang) ....you can always watch the performance in the post after this.

Dutchvlog in Da HipHop Club 27/02/07

2007-03-04T19:04:00.001+01:00

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The Hip Hop Club now every Tuesday at Studio 80 Amsterdam

Shit! You missed the Hip Hop Club in Studio 80 again last Tuesday. Stand Up host Rachid Larouz has clearly warmed up and found his spot. He and his friends culturally skin all creeds present and more. This time the crowd was graced with the spit of true polder-hop originating from the heart of reclaimed sea - Lelystad. Ir. Leyly would be proud of the misical fruits that his labours have brought forth -G-Blood, 81 Project and the Dodeneters. They are just some of the combinations who reside under the umbrella of Rackador Records. The Dodeneters represent a new branch of Flavoian hip hop called Horror Core in which the end of the world is redefined - if you ask me poignantly relevant. As we know however, it is ultimately all about the beats.

Dutchvlog in Da HipHop Club 20/02/07

2007-02-24T12:27:00.000+01:00

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The Hip Hop Club now every Tuesday at Studio 80 Amsterdam

Thanks to Heron we can now feast our ears on the freshest hip-hop talents in Amsterdam at the HipHop Club every Tuesday night in Studio 80 on the Rembrandtplein. The kick off last Tuesday was hosted by Stand Up Rachid Larouz who will bust your sides, followed by MC's Kiddo Cee and Merage. Come and get inspired. Support your MC and make some noise at the hot-hot Hip Hop club.

Live audio stream from the club every Tuesday at www.hiphopclub.nl

Next week
27/02/07 :- Dodeneters & 81 project >>>> Be There !!?!

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Cable Conference 2007 Amsterdam # 5 - CDS

2007-02-15T01:28:00.001+01:00

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As cable consumers we like to sit back, use and enjoy all the services delivered to us by the cable networks and service providers. However, behind the scenes an enormous amount of creative energy, high tech innovation, investment and planning is needed to give us what we want. The Dutch cable consumer is already accustomed to a high quality cable network in a country with one of the highest broadband connection densities in the world. This is however not necessarily the case in the rest of Europe.

Diarmuid Kelly from CDS, one of the organisations that help build the digital highways that we use, talked to Dutchvlog about the role that CDS plays in providing the infrastructure that is needed to keep the increasigly demanding consumer happy.

This is the last in the Cable Conference 2007 series. I would like to thank Wolfgang Blau for inviting Dutchvlog - and special thanks go to Brandii Burke (my New Media companion) for her great camera work and her support during the conference.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video (protected) (.m4v), Flash Video (.flv)

Cable Conference 2007 Amsterdam # 4

2007-02-09T23:06:00.000+01:00

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A quick round of the HD ready exhibitors.

Cable Conference 2007 #3

2007-02-09T01:43:00.000+01:00

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The backdrop for this years Conference is the Five Star Okura Hotel in Amsterdam.

Cable Conference 2007 Amsterdam #2

2007-02-06T23:57:00.000+01:00

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I had a peek at the effort and precision it takes to keep 600 Cable Network bosses happy and networking in a Five Star Hotel.

Cable Conference 2007 Amsterdam #1

2007-02-06T22:47:00.000+01:00

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Day zero - preparation!!

Full Moon in East Amsterdam

2007-02-04T01:15:00.000+01:00

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Digital VlogFlu

2007-01-31T23:34:00.000+01:00

Ten minutes ago this vlog was half a page of mixed up source code of the CSS flavor. The digital spirits are obviously punishing me for placing the DutchBloggies badge proudly in the sidebar, an operation I have performed in a similar form a thousand times with satisfactory outcome.

BUT NOW DUTCHVLOG HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A DUTCHBLOGGIE the digital spirits have decided to tease me. Yep when I republished the blog - I got the dreaded Blogger >>> A Serious error has occurred <<< message. I can often click out of these potentially disastrous events and wipe my brow when all is well, but not this time. Yes - I know I should have saved a copy of the template but I didn't.

The only way to save the posts and comments was to transfer to Blogger Beta and choose a new template.

So Dutchvlog ain't lookin the way it usually does right now - its got Digital Vlog Flu.
Hopefully the paroxysm will only last a few days - so keep watchin while I Pimp my new (and empty) Blogger Beta Vlog

Dutchvlog - Bravo blip

2006-12-22T15:37:00.000+01:00

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I have been happily using blip.tv as a video host for a year now and it never ceases to amaze me.
Having an aversion for anything "mass" my primary impulse was to avoid places like YouTube despite its world wide exposure and mythical success. The same also goes for DailyMotion. Furthermore perusal of the Terms of Use of both hosting services reveals a horrifying commercial reality. By agreeing to the aforesaid you grant the host permission to do whatever they like to your carefully sculpted visual creations - to cram it full of commercial messages of their choosing should they see fit.
Naturally the money for the hosting servers has to come from somewhere but the appeal of internet video is that you were able to escape the ineffective TV commercials that are crammed down your throat as frequently as is practicably tolerable. This overtly commercial foundation will eventually be the catalyst to its decline.
blip.tv maintains a more sustainable philosophy. You as author of your video material remain the boss. Commercial messages will only be attached to your clip if you grant permission. This also means effectively that you are not bombarded with commercials whilst browsing the UGC of others. Furthermore as UGC becomes more intricate and creative the prospect of it being defaced with commercial crap becomes even more unattractive. Nevertheless, unmistakably aroused by the sound of $1,5 billion dollars, the value that Google attached to YouTube, YouTube clones are popping up all over internet as is to be expected. In a year you will be able to buy them on e-bay for some loose change with a failing commercial TV channel thrown in for free.

Blip frequently update and improve their service and each time it is a pleasure to see how creatively they accommodate the needs of the serious videoblogger.
They have introduced a Show Page on which you may present your cinematic wares including a trailer for your Show. If anyone has a handle on the future of internet video it's blip.

Not having the patience to develop a custom trailer I have cooked up a Dutchvlog collage for the meantime. Click on the collage.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video (iPod) (.m4v), Flash Video (.flv)

Dutchvlog in Africa

2006-11-25T01:54:00.001+01:00

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Whatch the video. The images speak for themselves! Meanwhile the media coaches laugh all the way to the bank and Dutchland gets the democracy it deserves.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video (protected) (.m4v), Flash Video (.flv)

Comments welcome!

Politicized #1

2006-11-15T23:21:00.000+01:00

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Whilst I type, the Dutch TV exudes more political debate between primary candidates of the major parties. It is more of the same appalling and meaningless "€10 this way" - "€20 that way" ;-"Yes you did" - "No I didn't" provincial pre election bla bla spiced up unintelligible statistics having ultimately a marginal influence on the real quality of life.

I certainly heard no mention of a report published this week by leading marine biologists concluding that with the present rate of deterioration of marine life there will be virtually no fish left in the seas by the year 2050. Integration; presently the country's most pressing issue has been demoted to an empty sociological buzzword. Nor have they mentioned how they aim to tackle the deepening international divide between east and west. The concept of culture, as in the arts, has certainly no place in these Dutch pre election battles, nor the pending European reliance on unstable Russian energy sources.

Of all the wasted hours of Dutch pre election BS I have witnessed in the last weeks the governments Foreign Policy was not mentioned once and I would have to go to great lengths to recollect mention of an issue such as Global Warming. Nor even the fact that Nation of China undoes all the annual environmentally friendly measures taken by the EU collectively in a mere 84 days....or even the passionate romance flowering between Africa and China....or the fact that Global Warming is warming Africa the most.

Since the murders of Pim Fortyn and Theo van Gogh Holland has become hopelessly lost, polarised and politically fragmented in every conceivable political hue and the politicians scramble - as if in the most undignified way they possibly can - to secure, if not kidnap the votes of an undecided segment which has never been so large, confused and volatile……so without any sign of visionary leadership on the flat Dutch horizon I wish them goodnight…….and good luck.

Meanwhile the Dutch media coaches laugh all the way to the bank and Holland gets the politics it deserves!

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video (iPod)/(.m4v)

The Vloggies - Awards

2006-11-09T15:32:00.000+01:00

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If you weren't able to make it to the Vloggies this past weekend in San Francisco, then you can experience the magic in this super condensed version of the awards festivities. Irina Slutsky along with Daniel McVicar hosted this seminal event in front of a crowd of over 300 screaming vlog fans. Enjoy!

Episode links: The Vloggies, Laughing Squid Photos, Podtech, Dan McVicar

Cross posted from Geek Entertainment TV

Promenade - Water, Bridges and Paint !

2006-10-24T23:05:00.000+02:00

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Wherever you are in Holland you are never very far away from water. Just two minutes walk from my house, the North Sea Canal wriggles through Amsterdam towards the North Sea and is always busy with transport barges carrying bulk goods and containers to and fro. It forms part of a complicated infrastructure junction where waterways, motorways and cycleways thread through each other.

A number of bridges stretch across the canal including the Nescio Bridge, a brand new slender, suspension bridge intended for pedestrians and cyclists. The older Schellingwoude Bridge, intended for light local traffic has become a lively message board for local graffiti artists some of whom are extremely talented. I pass by frequently to see if there is anything new and there usually is. It is constantly changing and there are hardly any accessible surfaces left that have not yet been virorously decorated. This spot is strangely bustling with energy produced by the multiple messages that have been left behind.

I tried to capture the contrast between these two spots during one of my promenades. I Like where I live - its always interesting.

Music - Wie is de Baas (Who is the Boss -from the recent album 4 da Streets Part 2) is courtesy of Black Mosart - and the rapid Dutch rap is by Klaas. You can find more rap in the clip Inside Hip Hop Amsterdam, also to be found on this vlog.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video/iPod(protected) (.m4v), Flash Video (.flv)

Drenthe II - Harvest Day in Lhee

2006-08-18T15:55:00.001+02:00

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Naturally, different rural communities all over the world have their own flavour of celebrating the harvest. The annual harvest day at Lhee is also however a village fair celebrating historic rural culture specific to the region of South-West Drenthe. The local people here are obviously very proud of their traditions and take a great amount of trouble to put on the best display they can. As you can see this area has a strong regional identity.
Old trades, handicrafts and agricultural methods are displayed as they were practised until not so long ago and passed on; be it not in practice but in memory. It's nice to forget the profound changes that agricultural practices have undergone in the last thirty years just for one day.

Late that afternoon there was a heavy shower and at dusk it produced the right conditions for the bonus material at the end,- with the horses prancing through the mist. I could not resist posting it because magical moments like this also have everything to do with genus loci of Drenthe.

In the coming autumn season Dutchvlog is again going be exploring more urban themes in Amsterdam.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Dutchvlog goes to Drenthe

2006-08-05T00:20:00.001+02:00

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Each posting is an adventure from beginning to end, from inception to hitting the upload to internet button. I never have a preconceived idea of what the end result will be like. I also frequently ask myself what DutchVlog is about? Its about what I see around me , what I encounter, what I feel and of course it has to be Dutch. The V-logs I've done recently also include the passions of others;- the Blues, Hip-Hop, the Dutch songs of Life - whatever, they always seem to be charged with something or other.

This V-log is about an extraordinary region in the north of Holland divided between the counties of Overijssel and Drenthe where time has been arrested to conserve a historical Dutch landscape and all that thrives upon it. It used to be adjacent to the sea until a new polder was added to the west at he start of the last century. To me this is as close as is gets to the scenes depicted in the paintings of Salomon van Ruysdael.

Of course the Four Seasons of Vivaldi would have been perfect as musical backdrop until I called the licensing authorities to ask how much 4min. 30sec. would cost on a video-weblog …€1600,00 at least! A very harsh reality.

Fortunately I found Justus Smits (from the Pianovlog) prepared to help out. So I loaded the rough cut into my camera, played it back on his TV and recorded his improvisations on my mini-disk……its not as easy as it seems but in retrospect it's 1000 times more fun and more meaningful than simply ripping the music from a CD. I have seen the light and I can recomend this method to anyone who wants to use (legal) music on thier vlogs. Many thanks Justus.

If you ever want to see a piece of the real Old Holland you should visit this area. It never fails to surprise and impress with its simplicity, it's beauty, it's peace and it's quiet. Here you can listen to the silence.

Btw - thanks to all those who have recently left (genuine) encouraging comments at different locations.

Links

Chateau Hotel De Havixhorst
Natuurmonumenten - De Wieden

Das Nou Drenthe

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

2006-05-28T00:22:00.000+02:00

Inside Amstedam - Appivlog

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Appi is a happy, self confessed, ripe hippy of the Amsterdam flavour who takes life day by day and sings the songs life in the Dutch language. He has developed a show with his own music and lyrics called Gekkenwerk (Mad mans work) and hopes to get it on the road by autumn of this year. In his first number …Een Goed Pensioen (A Good Pension) his sings of what life could have been like had he behaved himself and pursued a respectable career. Here the punch line is ”…..now it’s too late”!

In his second number he sings of a Casanova who wants to escape the unsophisticated rural provinciality of Veendam, a sleepy small town in the north of Holland which excels only in being exactly that. Via internet-dating he seeks his self realisation amongst wealthy, freethinking ladies of the big city. This song obviously has a large autobiographical component.

This is a selection from “Gekkenwerk en andere Rosse Liedjes”

More from Appi in the autumn and if you don’t speak Dutch……learn it!!

2006-04-10T22:21:00.000+02:00

INSIDE HIPHOP AMSTERDAM

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When urban culture hooks up with the digital era anyone can contribute to the exploding Hip Hop scene. Anyone can put a PC and a beat box in their bedroom and pretend they are rappers and use this art form to communicate what’s on their mind. Even the Dutch Minister Donner of the Justice Department and Mayor Leers of Maastricht use this channel of communication and think they are rappers. But are they?

Like everything else an infinite number of hip hop variations and flavours has emerged:- good rap, crap rap, the ubiquitous commercial big boob and bum rap – which is more akin to porno than music – and of course the real rap. The real thing. Whatever, the rap seems to be here to stay, just like the computer. The real rap comes from the streets. It is about the streets and is intended for the streets. In Amsterdam there is an enormous body of positive creative energy producing good and real hip hop music. Dutchvlog went Inside Amsterdam and spent some time with Black Mosart and Just da Rhymes from Greenfield Productions.

Greenfield Productions is firmly anchored at the creative apex of the scene and demonstrates great musical and creative potential. After a busy and intense year of working with a host of different artists the have just released their new album 4 da Streets Vol II completely independently. They even service the distribution themselves just as many of their fellow artist do. It is also amazing to see how they form alliances, working relationships and friendships during the creation of an album with 23 differing, and authentic hip hop numbers. Compare this to what Leers and Donner attempted and you will feel and hear what real hip hopis and what is not.

This stuff is good. Even my mother who is now 77 thinks its great so you should definitely check it out.

Sales points in Amsterdam are Boudisque, Britain, Patta, Fat Beats, Pico, Café Five Star and music stands on the Amsterdam markets.

Information about Greenfield Productions can be found at www.blackmosart.com

For contact or booking send a mail to fordastreetspart2@hotmail.com. You can also leave a comment on this vlog and we wiill pass on your request.

INSIDE AMSTERDAM - PIANVLOG

2006-03-30T17:15:00.000+02:00

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I’ve often wondered what impression the Damrak provides to visitors of Amsterdam? As far as first impressions go, the stretch of Amsterdam between the Central Station and the Dam Square is probably one of the most important. It is however crammed full by stinking snack bars and tourist boutiques selling expensive but useless crap of unimaginable ugliness, and manned by employees who rarely speak decent Dutch and obviously do not come from this neck of the woods. If that were my first impression I would run away frothing, screaming and deluded – as I often do. Whenever I visit a strange city, I like to look beyond the repulsive tourist boutiques and see if I can sense what makes this particular place unique. Finding out what the real natives do usually provides an interesting trail to a city’s hidden, living potential.

If a tourist were to wander beyond the inanimate city exterior in the right place at the right time, for example at Mascha Rutten’s Décor Studio at Sloterdijk they may see Justice Smits exercising his passion; playing the blues on a grand. At the distinguished Artists Club Arti et Amicitiae on the Rokin they may find him at the big black grand beneath a famous Breitner rolling out Softly as in the Morning Sunrise in the spacious classical hall. If they are especially lucky they might see him together with singer Marion Bentoera at Café ‘t Bruine Paard on the Prinsengracht whilst an audience is riveted to their blues. This is what brings Amsterdam to life! This is what goes on beyond the facades - on the inside of Amsterdam.

In the series Inside Amsterdam, DutchVlog is going to reveal just some of the uniqueness that distinguishes Amsterdam from everywhere else. In the next episode DutchVlog will go inside the bustling Hip Hop Amsterdam – so check your life insurance and brace yourselves!

BOOKING

If you would like more information about Justus Smits or to book him you can send a mail to jcasmits@xs4all.nl or call (int.) 00 31 (0)20 6814773 (local) 020 6814773. You can also leave a comment on this Vlog and we will pass on your request.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: music-video, amsterdam, blues, dutchvlog, netherlands, dutch, culture

2006-03-03T22:20:00.000+01:00

IRIS Music Video

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Utrecht is a provincial city in the geographic centre of the Netherlands. Although it is smaller than Amsterdam, the historic centre is just as impressive with its canals, waterside bars and restaurants, and a fun place to be in the summer when the many terraces are bustling with pretty girls. Check it out some time.

The music scene however is bustling and buzzing all the year round and produces a rising star now and again such as Iris, a 19 year old R & B singer dancer. She already provides lively shows with her dance group and her first CD will be released within a couple of weeks. Go for it Iris!!

Godfried van Utrecht is a painter, photographer from Utrecht who is moving more and more into the realm of video production. With simple means and creativity he has been able to capture Iris and produce this promotional clip to help her on her way. DutchVlog applauds anyone who takes charge of their media and its distribution and is always prepared to provide a platform for emerging artists.

Links / Info

Mangagement : irismusiq@hotmail.com tel. 00 31 (0) 6 - 42 09 83 11

Bookings : Twilight Productions info@twilightproductions.nl

tel 00 31 (0) 348 - 44 40 35 / 00 31 (0) 6 - 55 16 19 90

Music Production and Lyrics : 2 Bounce Productions - Utrecht

2006-02-06T20:45:00.000+01:00

60 second Vlog Promo

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This is a 60 second promo for vlogging presented in the Dutch language by 11 year old Zowie de Mol: Media Tycoon / Media Guru!

2006-01-15T15:39:00.000+01:00

CoffinVlog

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The Death of Reality TV may have been caused by the Euthanasia Show!!

Vlogging is slowly getting talked about - and thought about.
It was amusing to see how the network that broadcast the vlog item on Dutch TV last week immediately ran away with the idea that vlogging will be the ultimate reality TV. It was as though a gasp of relief bellowed through the creatively barren mainstream medialand - “At last; a new angle to revitalise the perishing reality tv concept”.
The penny has obviously not dropped yet; how can you compare an apple with a pear?
The DNA of the mainstream network reality TV and the reality of the vlog are fundamentally different both in the driving force that creates them, their production methods and the motives that effect their inception.
It’s obviously going to take a while for mainstream media to adjust their frame of reference – by which time it will be too late!
Being humane, unlike the sensationalist networks, I hope to soften the distress caused by the passing of a lucrative media era by pointing them to a location where they can obtain a magnificent, made to order coffin (in the form of a tv studio) for their redundant ideas – or should we apply euthanasia?

I am presently trying to set up a first vlogger in Ghana.
Coffins - by Papa Willy - Teshi Road (near Labadi) - Accra Ghana (no e-mail!!!)

LINKS
More coffins from the BBC picture archive
Travel Guide Ghana Lonely Planet
Africa Guide Ghana
Ghana Web Ghana homepage

2006-01-04T23:01:00.000+01:00

Vlogging Holland - TV crew film vloggers in Amsterdam

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Today I was filmed vlogging in Amsterdam and later interviewed by a crew from Dutch RTL 4 television. Later Gabe and Gabe from Xolo were interviewed by the same crew about of vlogging and it’s progress in Holland. (unfortunately all in Dutch) They are going to run an item on Dutch national television coming Friday (if not then Monday). This is great exposure for vlogging and I am chuffed to have taken part. But it is above all a massive mothervlogging tribute to the toil of Freevlog, FireAnt , Steve Garfield, Gabe McIntyre (get ya bandwidth ready) and all the other inspirational front liners who have put so much effort into getting this great vlogging message across to so many people. Good on ya guys. Events like this confirm that we are getting somewhere – and makes it even more worthwhile.

2006-01-02T15:45:00.000+01:00

Big BooomVlog - Dutch DIY Fire Crackers

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In the sparsely populated rural province of Drenthe in northern Holland, the young farmers gather on the village green of Dwingeloo and set off their do it yourself fire crackers in the week preceding new year. As always, the bigger the bang the better the cracker. Commercially available fire works obviously no longer suffice so these guys make their own. In this old custom they usually use old milk cans as a combustion chamber. They add carbite and water, which forms a highly explosive mixture when ignited. The resulting explosion produces a loud big bang and a pretty decent shock wave which shakes you to your marrow. The sound can carry more than 20km across the fields and if you want to hear anything the next day it’s best to wear ear protection. The continuous improvement of the crackers has culminated in the cannon seen in the clip. Naturally this practice is strictly forbidden by law - although the police traditionally make no effort to spoil the fun. If fireworks are supposed to drive the evil spirits away – you can be sure that their ain’t none around here no more!

Happy New Year - DutchVlog - Both shaken and stirred.

JogVlog Interuptus

2005-12-12T21:33:00.000+01:00

click here to view vlog interuptus

At this time of year the Netherlands suffers from acute blue-sky deficiency. Today was a rare exception. The sky was deep blue so I went for a jog and decided to vlog it. Not one hundred meters from my house, I was stopped by a motor policeman who had obviously found my activities intolerably suspicious. Being totally taken aback I was unfortunately unable to shoot the first part of the questioning procedure but unobtrusively turned my camera on as the exchange progressed.
I’m glad I got something otherwise I would not have believed it myself. After extensive communication with police base camp the officer was compelled to concluded I was not an extremist terrorist and bid me on my way.
I did finish the JogVlog although by now I was no longer in the mood to do what I had in mind. I wasn’t anywhere close to a controlled area. The Amsterdam Police are extremely jumpy and they are not shy about it .I think GabeMac would agree.
Considered on a local level however, although I dislike getting stopped and questioned by the Dutch Police who are notoriously cerebrally deprived and impolite, two minutes walk from my house in the other direction, young men parade around provocatively in jalaba’s doing their best to mimic Bin Laden. The neighbourhood is a notorious feeding ground for the fundamentalist Hofstad group who are presently being tried for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts. One minute further on from there marks the spot where Theo van Gogh the film director was brutally murdered by an affiliate of the group. The existence of this active terrorist cell came to light when one of it’s key members was discovered filming potential targets such as the parliament buildings, the national airport, electricity generating plants and the national security agency’s head office….with a dvcam!

HampiVlog

2005-12-12T00:13:00.000+01:00

The Queens bath tub at Hampi

click to start video

Hampi - Once the capital of the Vijayangara Empire
Now a World Heritage site.

In 1522 a Portuguese traveller, Domingo Paes wrote “Hampi is as large as Rome and very beautiful to the sight, the best provided city in the world”. It is now a World Heritage Site.
By the measure of the middle ages Hampi was an immense, powerful, wealthy and thriving metropolis, strategically well protected by mountains and rivers from unwelcome intruders . Its environment was permeated with rich, fertile vegetation providing all that was needed to sustain the city comfortably, and more. It was also a religious centre and a seat of learning in a intensely beautiful décor of palaces and temples sculpted out of the mysterious volcanic, moonlike, landscape of hard granite.
This place is truly the genus loci tangibly personified. It’s reputation became known far and wide but especially, and more importantly with the Moguls to the north who found the existence of place so close to paradise intolerable and made it their prime mission to see that it was destroyed.
In one blow, the city of Hampi was violated and every single sculpture and palace defaced. To destroy something made of massive granite requires extreme conviction.
The Virupaksha Temple seen in the video was the only building spared and therefore still standing to this day.
Yet another example of senseless destruction driven by ignorance, hatred, greed and intolerance.

This video is a short compilation of many hours of footage shot in 2000 on a Cannon X65 Hi8 so the quality leaves much to be desired but it's good enough to give a good impression of this amazing place.

LINKS
Hampi in the (vlog)map
World Heritage
Karnataka Toutist Bureau
More pictures and foto's

St. NickVlog - Christmas Dutch Style

2005-12-06T02:30:00.000+01:00

click here to start video

Saint Nickolas - the Dutch Christmas

In Holland the festive season starts somewhat earlier than elswhere. For centuries, as legend would have it, Saint Nickolas comes to Holland on a boat all the way from Spain to celebrate his birthday on the 5th of December. Well in advance of this happy event, young children put out a shoe containing a carrot which is intended for St. Nick's white horse Schimmel (dutch for mildew). He is known coloquially as Sinter Klaas - which is not the only close similarity to Santa Claus.
If the children have behaved themselves throughout the year they can expect a present from St.Nick. Of course it is too much work for St.Nick alone to deliver all the presents on time to all the children's shoes, so he has a host of helpers who all are niknamed Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). They are mischievous young men with frightening deep black skin (?). Apart from St.Nicks presents they also carry canes to punish the children who have misbehaved in the preceding year. Young Dutch children are often petrified by these frivolous black strangers from Spain who add to the mystery and the excitement. The Black Petes deliver the presents by way of the intended recipients chimney!
This embeded tradition is the start signal for a month of extreme overindulgence - not only because in keeping with the rest of the overcommercialised world, the Dutch also celebrate Christmas.
On the 2nd or 3rd of January they are shocked back into reality, feeling guilty about their waist lines and their shrunken bank balances. So in short over here - it's just the same....but different!

DutchVlog 1 - Is it cool to vlog in Amsterdam

2005-11-28T23:41:00.000+01:00

DutchVlog 1 - Is it cool to vlog (In Amsterdam)?

3 min 53 secs

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Precisely two weeks ago I suddenly became chronically digitally aroused after watching a short news item on the Dutch RTL4 TV channel. It featured this fresh new stuff from New York called vlogging and a few clips from RocketBoom. I was astounded. So I immediately got into my mouse and googled as fast as I could to RocketBoom and before you could say “digital cut” I was watching his vlogselency Mr Verdi. It got very late that night – and every night since then. (so if I am incoherent now and again I’m sure you’ll forgive me). But I have to face it ; I’m hooked! Thank God - I mean Bill Gates – that there is also this Yahoo group where I can openly ventilate my overindulgence without feeling ashamed! (Steve Garfield also has bags under his eyes now and again so I don’t feel so isolated – but in his case it ‘s well worth it because he makes really funky stuff – thanks Steve). I would have thought by now, after two weeks, that the vlogmap of this microscopic marsh, called Holland, would be completely red with vlog balloons when considering the raw statistics;- The Netherlands has the second highest relative density of domestic broadband connections in the world after South-Korea – and the general level of computer literacy is also extremely high. But it does not seem to be the case. Strange! The number of vloggers in the whole country can still be counted on three hands. In my opinion vlogging and the vlogger are the best thing since sliced bread. Dutch television is so abominably bad it makes my stomach turn and it's only going te get worse. The complete media landscape here is going to undergo comprehensive overhaul very soon – naturally for the worse – so TV in Holland is as good as dead! It has always been a sickly child since it's inception. Thank God – I mean Bill Gates – that we have cable so channels from Belgium, France, Germany, UK, Italy are spuwed into our living rooms. The lack of vlogging her must change! So I have decided to hang a website www.dutchvlog.nl onto this vlog to try and encourage a bit more activity over here. The Dutch could use it! Eventually it will also be in Dutch simply explaining that the vlogoshere exists, how to get around and directing them to Freevlog as a start.
This stuff needs exposure. It should not be kept from the world for one second longer than necessary! Comments welcome!

SailVlog - Sail o5 Amsterdam

2005-11-28T20:45:00.000+01:00

Sailo5 Amsterdam - Tall Ship Festival

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Sometimes a city is momentarily transformed, leaving it’s daily metropolitan struggle and strife to focus on and celebrate its roots. Such was the case in last August in Amsterdam. I live in the transformed and revitalised harbour area on the eastern side of the central city, on a group of islands called Zeeburg and surrounded by water. This location is often the stage for the four yearly Tall Ship Festival - this year it was Sail o5. All the famous operational Tall Ships from all the great seafaring nations of the world – from Chilli to Iceland - gathered here, just around the corner from my house, to show themselves proudly to Europe. Within the space of four days more than three million visitors came to see the unbelievably spectacular event. For these four days Amsterdam was momentarily released from the stranglehold of the blanket of shock, disbelief and shame of an event the year before that changed the city for good - and from which Amsterdam has not yet recovered. In these for days Amsterdam was imbued with some of the magic that drew me to this city in the first place many years ago, and there was a true and tangible sense of civil pride. You could see and feel what an incredible place The Port of Amsterdam must have been a hundred year ago and more, when those elegant, slender masts still adorned the waterfront, beckoning young men to adventure in far off places. History was truly alive and kicking. Just around the corner from my house in the other direction, now just over a year ago, another event took place in a very dull and ordinary shopping street around nine in the morning when everybody was on their way to work. Theo van Gogh, the director, filmmaker and criticaster was ritually slaughtered by a radical Moslem in the middle of the street. After shooting him several times the assassin calmly attempted to ritually decapitate Van Gogh with a ceremonial knife but ceased his efforts due to lack of progress and calmly walked away commenting “he had it coming to him” in perfect Dutch to an astounded onlooker. The trail has gripped the nation for the past year as the unimaginable details became public bit by bit. These were indeed truly difficult parts of reality to deal with. But for those four days Amsterdam again acquired the frivolous innocence for which it was famous.