Social bookmarking in plain English

A couple of weeks ago I posted some videos from the folks at Common Craft explaining wikis and rss readers in plain English. Even my colleagues understood them. Here's the latest from the same creative team explaining the genius of social bookmarking sites like delicious. I wonder who will be the first to add me to his or her network.

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Belgium united

This country is going to the dogs, if our politicians are to be believed. Two months after the elections they are still trying to figure out how to form the new government. In order to justify their ineptitude they're blaming the deep divisions between French- and Dutch-speaking part of the country. Divide and rule, you know. Well, some people down here in Belgium just had enough of it. Some started a campaign on Myspace and changed their pictures with the flag. It's not that we're Belgian nationalists but we're against any further division according to language, race, belief or whatever. The people are united as one!

BTW, it reminds me of my favorite Husker Du song:

It's not about my politics
Something happened way too quick
A bunch of men who played it sick
They divide, conquer

For those under 30 or over 50: Husker Du was one of those bands that helped me through the 1980s.

This one's for Leterme: Divide and conquer live!

Summer festivals

I prefer to monitor the summer festivals on the radio and the internet. Music festivals are more like a mega-party these days. It's not about the music anymore and that's a pity. Moreover it's expensive. Sure, I missed some nice concerts again at this weekend's Pukkelpop festival. Sonic Youth played Daydream Nation. And there was Cocorosie, one of the most exciting bands around these days. Are the Casidy sisters weird or just plain nuts? I don't know but you really have to check them out. The Hairnet Paradise video is a good start. It's amazing what they do with a kazoo and a couple of toys.

Call me with ello mobile

Since last month I switched mobile phone operators and chose ello mobile. It's an interesting business model. Ello mobile donates profits from its mobile phone services to selected charities. Recently they also selected a human rights project in the Philippines. Gabriela is now also supported by ello mobile and that convinced me to do the switch. If you happen to live in Belgium and would like to check out this service, please refer to their website www.ello-mobile.be.

Back from Kinshasa

After two weeks in the RD Congo, visiting Lubumbashi and Kinshasa, I'm back in town. It was a heavy schedule and we definitely worked hard with the wonderful team of EDS. They're doing such a great job in the popular neighbourhoods of Kinshasa. We hardly had any time to discover the city but still the atmosphere of Kinshasa gets under your skin. There is probably no better way to pay respect to it than with Franco's ode to the city where he is still considered one of its greatest musicians ever. Wait for the moment an aide hands him his blue Gibson and you'll know why.