The Sentinel Amsterdam vol. 5 #16 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 5 #16 – 11 September 2012

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

feature

culture

FRANCE: brouwerij CAMPING ‘t ij AU NATUREL PERSPECTIVES LIFESTYLES TRAVEL OPINION

review TECHNOLOGY ART FILM

MUSIC TRENDS RECOMMENDED SPORT

Contents

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright. If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentinelpost@gmail.com.

CONTENTS

In this issue feature

P. 04 culture p. 34 perspectives

France: Camping au naturel ‘Carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent’

P. 42

Brouwerij ‘t Ij

Natural Revolution

‘The Dutch have always been independent thinkers’

‘People forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth ‘

SPORT p.64 sport p. 68 more:

On the volley

The Gold Room

travel p. 22 Australia’s next virgin ART p. 30 TOOTS 90

‘Keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants’

Café/BAR Review p. 40 Café De Jaren star beer guide p. 50 ’t Ij IPA RECOMMENDED p.54 Spotted p. 56 Where is this in Amsterdam? Film Review: Room 2c p. 57 Trends p. 58 A fashion of (s)ports Technology p. 62 TechBit: Sio-Bytes CLASSIFIEDS

ColoPHon The Sentinel Amsterdam e-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Valeria Scimia, Eva Haan, Simon Owusu, David King, Dirkje BakkerPierre and Simon Joseph

Editors – Gary Rudland & Denson Pierre Design, realisation and form – Andrei Barburas & No-Office.nl Webmaster – www.sio-bytes.tumblr.com Webhost – Amsterjammin.com

FEATURE

FRANCE:

‘Get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques, practices and eco-sensitive education’

FEATURE

AU NATUREL

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season, at the end of August. The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques, practices and eco-sensitive education, using this area, known for expansive camp sites, beaches and family tourism, as a prime example. We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour, since only this can really save us in the medium term. Alert levels are set at fragile, ecologically, politically and of course financially, so austerity, sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us.

FEATURE

‘The fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous café-bar overlooking a tremendous valley’

FEATURE

‘Back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and, as it was translated to me, the story of how politics touches us all at all times’

As it so happens, the last time I was in France was at another fraught, pre-election period here in the Netherlands. The economy was rather more buoyant, travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern, quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde, rightwing, Dutch politics, led by Pim Fortuyn. He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny. On 6 May 2002, I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks, to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France, on my way to Grambois; a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away. Soon after I set out, in the company of my then common-law wife, who comes from that part of the world, we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system. I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral, bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up. The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time. We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous café-bar overlooking a tremendous valley. As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers, it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight, as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region. We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

spouse’s mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation. On our eventual return, we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension. We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence, seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing, bordering on extremist cohorts, in the election for the French presidency. It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start. There, back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and, as it was translated to me, the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail. Ten years later, there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election, in an effort, it must be hoped, to stop the same peculiarly insane, right-wing, race and faith hate as before; clouding the agendas that should be priorities, such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet. The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers, as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world. I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate, voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life.

‘There is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world‘

FEATURE

‘Unending kilometres of sunflower, maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle’

The Salt Masters To Dutch eyes, this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands. Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay. Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times: salt. From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France: 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Re’ takes just over 2.5 hours in shared driven transport. Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness, all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent. No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower, maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle, than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (http://www.marais-salant.com/ ). This quaint, tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area, which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years. The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen, water-channelling complex, highlighting the

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables. This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way, but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment. For many years, following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining, due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines, the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild. As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs, prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs, demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours, one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity, economically speaking. In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn, leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals, such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island, which continue throughout the winter. Our own guide, Brice Collonier, typically, I imagine, studied Fine Art during his winter breaks. The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt). This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural, earthen, evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools. It is

‘The area, which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years’

FEATURE

‘The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt)’

then heaped to dry out, aggregated, quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine. For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method. It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed, considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years. A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator. I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest, not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware. Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite. Before we entertained thoughts of dinner, we would be salved by fresh, cool, drinking water. Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (www.village-center.fr ). This site carries a coherent message, making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving. As well as instruction on aspects of modern day eco-label camping, it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site.

A short drive away, after we had spent some good time at the camping site, we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night, in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (www.thalasso-iledere.com ), a few minutes walk away. I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that, with a near full moon moving across a clear, evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left, seen through huge glass-panelled windows, this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine. Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch, but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine, light taste of the local organic beer (Re’ La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground. Partners on this trip: www.franceguide.com/nl www.poitou-charentes-vacances.com www.terralannoo.nl www.airfrance.com

‘This site carries a coherent message, making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving’

feature

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travel

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next virgin

travel

‘I never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Oz’ By Eva Haan

It all started when I saw a picture of a friend celebrating Christmas on a beautiful beach in Australia with the biggest smile ever on her face. Tired of snow, constant cold weather and haunted by winter depression (I was still living in Estonia at the time), I made the decision there and then that next year, same time, I would be the one posting the happy pictures. Now, five years later, I am here. OK, it took a bit longer than expected but I never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Oz. After three weeks back home in Estonia and some tearful goodbyes I head off to Amsterdam to collect my luggage. I spend another 24 hours cruising the city that has become my second home and, before I know it, I am making my way to Schiphol airport. My destination is Sydney, via Singapore; altogether 19 hours of flying. After check-in I grab a quick bite to eat, find my gate and take a seat in the waiting area. At this point I am calm as ever, still not totally getting my head around what is happening. The first 12-hour flight to Singapore goes quite quickly, thanks to the extensive movie collection on board. The second 7-hour stint to Sydney actually feels longer, but that is mainly due to the emotional parade that kicks in halfway there. First comes fear, in the form of a lot of ‘what ifs’. What if I can’t find a job and have to ask my parents to buy me a ticket home after two months? What if I don’t make any friends? What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a hand? After about half an hour of what ifs I laugh to myself and realise I am driving myself crazy, and it is time to stop with the negativity. Hope and positivity return. I begin to feel butterflies in my stomach when I look at the screen and it says 40 minutes to landing. Forty minutes until my big adventure and new life on the other side of the world truly begins. It is not even possible to explain the excitement I feel at this point. This is it! I am about to arrive in the country I have dreamed about coming to for years. The big ear to ear smile is there for a good reason and there is no trace of worry. Having come from rainy Amsterdam, truth be told, I was

‘What if I don’t make any friends? What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a hand?’

expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmth. Things did not quite work out like that, however. What is in fact waiting for me are stormy winds and cold rain. Does that ruin my mood? Not at all! I would not have cared if it was snowing (it is winter here, after all); I had made it to Oz and that was all that mattered. This was the moment I knew I had made the right decision coming here and I could not have been happier. Sydney is such an interesting city to explore. There is the business district with long streets filled with skyscrapers everywhere you look; Oxford Street with cool shops and bars, plenty of museums and galleries; Kings Cross for crazy partiers and so on. But there is also the more natural side with all the beautiful beaches and parks. The first time I go to Bondi Beach, I sit there for hours mesmerised by the beauty. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of what Australia has to offer. In the meantime, I have also been outside of Sydney with some nice Estonians I met on the way, who own a car, to Palm Beach and other spots in the region. It seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcards. My first few weeks here have been quite eventful, I must say. I arrived with no plan really, thinking that I would figure things out as I go. It was never my idea to stay in Sydney too long, but to travel around and not settle down anywhere too quickly. Also, having spent a couple of days there, I knew that, although it is a great city to visit, I would not want to live there; too busy for my taste. Consequently, I have found my way to Melbourne. After just one day here I can already say I feel much more at home. It is also a big city but is more spread out and feels more relaxed. I have decided that this is where I am going to stay for a couple of months, to try out the whole finding a job and a place to live side of Australia. This much I can say – I have travelled and moved between countries more than once in the past and this is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their country; even people you have just met offer to help if they can. All these smiling and positive people are what help you most when you are dealing with a big change like this. I find them truly inspiring.

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I was expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

05 25

feature travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sydney is such an interesting city to exploreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

05 27

feature travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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ART

TOOTS 90 EXPO

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ART

CULTURE

‘There should surely be another association formed around beer, with Heineken having arguably the world’s best known brand’

Brouw

35 05

CULTURE feature

‘Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer’

werij ‘t Ij By Denson Pierre

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills. For the more urbane visitors, or new arrivals, there should surely be another association formed around beer, with Heineken having arguably the world’s best known brand.

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers. Having not visited for some four summers, on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago, when I first began my own quality beer research.

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production. They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing, since the successful craft brewers, over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making, are now tremendously successful and huge brands, which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste.

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij ‘t Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard, if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseur’s chest. This establishment can be counted among Amsterdam’s great pleasures. There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers, especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK, some ingredients are imported from Flanders). The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition. The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafés Zouk, Proust, Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago. They have managed to keep the place’s spirit alive, as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way, to the point where Brouwerij ‘t Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences. Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013, when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby.

The original spirit of independence did, however, lead to alternative thinking in 1985, when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer. Over the years, the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike. The clientele is forever topped-up by

Brouwerij ‘t Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and, in conclusion, I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine, contemporary story. I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig), tastes and pricing structure of our village city.

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdam’s skyline, where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter), or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from. In fact, I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised, scientifically processed, star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world. Or, indeed, with Dutch casual drinkers, given the ridiculous, bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts, along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country.

CULTURE

05 39

feature CULTURE

‘This establishment can be counted among Amsterdam’s great pleasures’

‘Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013, when production space will expand considerably’

CULTURE

feature CULTURE

‘Brouwerij ‘t Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste’

05 41

The Natu ral Revo lution perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Since the very beginning of time, we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

‘Enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other, increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods’

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been man’s friend, even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return. Since the very beginning of time, we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves. With industrialisation, people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent, sell and possess. For many years we have been busy with television, media and everything that could entertain us and make us ‘richer’, forgetting about what we already had and always have had.

perspectives

‘Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations’

‘It doesn’t have to start big – not everyone is into farming or making soap’

perspectives

‘We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries’

Lately, however, due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world, there has been a global tendency towards rediscovering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation. More and more people are becoming interested in farming, for example, especially organic farming, and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves. The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities, with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other, increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods. People are starting to build their own machines, to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase. Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food, or homemade cures and beauty products. Some years ago, for example, the soap-making community spiked. People, male and female, all over the world started making their own natural soaps. Fragrant and beautifully packaged, they immediately became a hype. Think of the shop Lush, a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products. Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us. A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions, explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware. Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations. I asked my elders about this, some of whom had survived the great wars, and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance, ‘la dolce vita’, as we called it in Italy, when many possibilities and new hopes arose. They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy. So we forgot about certain skills, because we thought we no longer needed them. But the illusion did not last long or, more accurately, it was doomed from the very beginning. We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries. No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost. But, to my surprise, some people are reacting positively, re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living, forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always).

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived, appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we don’t change some things about our environment and lifestyle. It doesn’t have to start big – not everyone is into farming or making soap – but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way. The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes. Most of the population travels by bicycle, even over reasonably long distances, or uses (efficient) public transport. The air quality is therefore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily. Allergies, which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations, seem to be related to pollution. This doesn’t surprise me greatly, since I am from Rome, whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles. I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands. So, if our bodies naturally prefer clean air, clean water, organic food and so on, we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living. We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents. If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves, we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies, minds and wallets. If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability, there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere. The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners, knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters, farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens, so you don’t need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution. There are many ways, many trends, ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today. I say, let’s take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us.

‘So, if our bodies naturally prefer clean air, clean water, organic food and so on, we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living’

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cafe/bar review

Café/Bar Review Café De Jaren ‘A fine, centrally located space’

cafe/bar review

‘A recommendable café for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with style’

By Denson Pierre

Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22, Amsterdam

City gem Café De Jaren is a fantastic meeting place for those with business budgets or a few extra euros to do lunch in a fine, centrally located space. It remains the best of Amsterdam’s grand reading cafés, its very high ceilings and exceptional terrace providing an ambiance conducive to important social meetings (lunch dates) and casual business meetings. It seldom turns into a session bar in the evening, possibly due to its pricing structure, and not having sampled the restaurant aspect of the business, this cannot be given the Sentinel seal of approval. Nevertheless, De Jaren remains a recommendable café for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with style and character in the old city. www.cafedejaren.nl

star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

‘t Ij India Pale Ale (IPA) (7% A.B.V.)

‘This unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard, fair-priced, session selection’ This provocative and full-bodied IPA differs appreciably from many other beers of its ilk and, despite its strength, avoids an overwhelming taste of alcohol. From the tap, its frothy, nose-tingling aroma provides the immediate impression that this unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard, fair-priced, session selection. From the bottle, you will detect the subtle difference in taste brought about by the second fermentation during storage, providing additional joy.

A pleasantly surprising find, given the many other beers for which Amsterdam’s foremost craft brewers, Brouwerij ‘t Ij, are already famous. It illustrates the brewery’s development and pre-eminence on the competitive, local craft brewing scene. ‘t Ij IPA is brewed and served at Brouwerij ‘t Ij, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. www.brouwerijhetij.nl

AMSTERDAM Sentinel recommended Greenhouse, Amsterdam Zuid, 22 August, 2012

R ecomm

ended

We find the best, most fun, most typical, exciting, or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you; an easy way to feel like a local.

Photo: Marco Dignum

9 3812 SZ Amersfoort RECOMMENDED

5 75 - Fax 033 454 35 79 Connoisseurs Delight To Be Seen and -Tasted mproef@eurogifts.nl : www.eurogifts.nl

Cafe Tisfris Cafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks, funky pillars and terrace. Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for “yummy” refreshments.

55 Fun, Drinking & Music

ORDERNUMMER: 60 ARTIKELNUMMER: 65

Opera Prima Patisserie Bistro Traiteur The best place in town for lunch, exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering, both private and corporate!

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions.

St. Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdam Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdam www.tisfris.nl www.operaprima.nl

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink. Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam.

Incanto Incanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance. The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines.

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. During summer there is a large, sunny terrace and during winter, an open fireplace!

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Neighbourhood cosy

Café Oporto Café Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits.

Planet Rose Planet Rose is the first Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands, which specializes in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features a daily changing selection of Jamaican/ Caribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experience while dining with them!

Vibes Vibes is a relaxing cafe/cocktail bar /art gallery with a large selection of coffees, herbal teas, homemade cakes and an amazing card of cocktails, made with fresh fruit, by a professional cocktail bartender. Enjoy our Italian kitchen in a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net/home

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdam www.planetrose.info

Jan Pieter Heijestraat 137 Amsterdam www.wix.com/vibes137/vibes

SPOTTED

Where is this in Amsterdam? Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

Film review

Room 2c film By David King

Magnolia (1999) A corker of a movie that weaves together the lives of various individuals and brings them together in a maelstrom of forgiveness and frogs. Tom Cruise is the stand-out act but he is so well supported by the entire ensemble that each performance could be considered the leading role. The soundtrack and dialogue will remain with you for a long time, as will the glow from being thoroughly treated to something special.

Room 2c film By dpmotions

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) In this, the pick of the films based on the original Gene Rodenberry creation, we find that Ricardo Montalban has abandoned his fantasy island and has instead been banished to a distant planet and left to wither. What Captain Kirk and crew did not bank on, however, was that Übermensch Khan and his clan would not only endure but would eventually come to threaten the starship Enterprise’s very existence during a seminal portrayal of battleships in epic combat, powered by dilithium crystals, in space. Ceti eel anyone?

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The concept is the same, even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

trends

Natural (S)election By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

It’s election time all over again. Posters are being put up. Flyers are being posted. Empty promises hang in the warm summer air like soft white clouds, side by side with snide remarks and evil gossip. Not just here in the Netherlands but also in the country our more recent governments like to see as their spiritual leader and role model: the United States of America (land of the free). Now, what do people wear when they want to be elected as leader of a country? These people are mostly men, so we are focusing on the style of male politicians. Number one: an as-boring-as-possible dark-blue or dark-grey suit with a white shirt and a blue or red tie. Sometimes, if they go for a seriously stylish appearance, the suit might be black. It is practically the same here as it is in the US; the only difference is that Dutch candidates tend to buy suits that don’t really fit properly. But the concept is the same, even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendly. The suit is for speeches, debates and official appearances. This is substituted for a polo shirt or open-necked shirt with blue jeans (not too dark, not too light), combined with white sneakers or brown leather shoes, when they want to look

casual and act as though they are just normal people, like you and me. Actually, the Dutch elections are probably the most unfashionable thing I could ever think of (and for that matter, since Femke has gone, also the most sexless thing on the planet). Harry Potter hairstyles, bald patches, poorly-fitting clothes, old-fashioned ties, frumpy dresses, wire-framed glasses… I am sure there must be a shop somewhere, where all Dutch politicians buy their clothes with special government discount (and a low-budget house photographer must take all their photos). America has another problem. Even if Obama wasn’t a huge success in office, he tends to dress well. His opponent is swimming in cash and can also afford to look like a successful person. How is the American electorate going to choose between them? You would hope that their respective positions on things like guns, gay marriage, taxes, abortion and religion would be the deciding factors. But, of course, there’s the small matter of the number of TV commercials they can afford, too. It will be a hard act to follow for our local contestants, who lack the Americans’ budget, charisma, sense of style and, apparently, Photoshop. Fortunately, elections in the Netherlands are about more important things than fashion… Aren’t they?

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TechBit: Sio-Bytes

Striking empire ‘Apple, innovation, patents and the industry as a whole is debatable’ By Simon Owusu

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away... It is a dark time for innovators. Although the Samsung phones and tablets have been punished, Samsung still pursues innovators from their hidden bases and copies them across the industry. Evading the dreaded copyists, a group of revolutionary innovators, led by Jonathan Ive (Apple Senior Vice President, Industrial Design), has established a new secret plan in the remote location of Cupertino. The evil Samsung, obsessed with copying the next big thing, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of the industry… Taking up where I left off in my previous article, Apple had accused Samsung’s phones and tablets of being in likeness to Apple’s own crown jewels. Fast forward to the present and the jury’s verdict is in. Samsung has lost to the tune of US$ 1 billion (in a US court), so far, in what is a huge blow to the company. What this means for Samsung, Apple, innovation, patents and the industry as a whole is debatable. To understand the implications, one has to understand the reasoning behind the verdict; why Samsung lost and what comes next for both companies going forward. Subject to the judge’s ruling in this case, which is due on 20 September, the jurors’ verdict was that Samsung ‘wilfully’ infringed Apple’s patents: that Samsung went out of its way

to copy Apple, knowing full well that Apple’s patents existed and that it was violating them. The jurors wished to make it clear in their verdict that any company, be it Apple, Google, Samsung or Microsoft, could not just copy its competitors without repercussions. The US$ 1 billion awarded in damages was excessively high, in order to serve as a warning to companies to think twice before modelling their products on other companies’ designs. This message was addressed to the entire industry and not just Samsung.

‘A warning to companies to think twice before modelling their products on other companies’ designs’ Samsung lost because the evidence showed that it had really produced a Samsung ‘iPhone’ instead of a Samsung smartphone. A turning point in the court case concerned Google, which supplies the Android operating system for Samsung devices. Having remarked on the stark resemblance to Apple devices when Google first saw Samsung’s offering, the company tried to dissuade Samsung from pursuing that course. Samsung’s management disregarded this advice, however, and went ahead, choosing not to disclose to their designers the warnings raised by Google’s senior staff, which was in contrast to Samsung’s copyist strategy. Ultimately, trade dress came into play and swayed the final verdict in Apple’s favour. Trade dress is a legal term that generally refers to (characteristics of) the visual appearance of a product or its packaging that signifies the source of the product to consumers. Trade dress protection is intended

technology

to protect consumers from packaging or product designs that imitate other products; to avoid consumers buying one product in the belief that it is another. In a survey commissioned by Samsung in Best Buy stores, to determine why so many Samsung tablets were being returned, one of the most common reasons cited was because consumers wanted an iPad and thought they were purchasing one when they bought the Samsung tablets. Many have argued that such a verdict is against innovation and the culprit is the US patent system, pointing out that similar cases outside the United States have not been upheld in Apple’s favour. However, to quote Garret Murray “I’m not a fan of software patents, but I am a fan of ethical and respectful business practice”. Take away the flaws in the US patent system and, ultimately, what Samsung has done is not respectable business practice. Being caught cold by the success of the iDevices, Samsung had two paths they could have taken: either shamefully copy or respectfully innovate. Palm Inc, another smartphone manufacturer facing the same crisis (drastically becoming insignificant in Apple’s wake), decided to innovate and developed WebOS, which powered its phones and the HP TouchPad tablets. Sadly, WebOS, as innovative as it was, failed commercially. Nokia also tried to innovative with Windows Mobile 7 powering its phones and this has yet to take off. Those that neither innovated nor copied were pushed further into obscurity (e.g. Motorola, Sony Ericsson and RIM). Some say that Samsung had no other choice but to copy Apple and innovate based on its winning formula. However, Samsung achieved a large and profitable market share by

essentially cloning the iPhone and iPad, and the end result was that the majority of devices look like iDevices. Samsung did not add anything to the mix, so where was the innovation? Inventions and innovations don’t always pay off, and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copy. Samsung’s weakness or fear of innovation has led to this point of blockage. The upside of the verdict is that, now, Samsung will have to differentiate its offerings by law, which should lead to more choice on the market and better product innovations. To those who say innovation has been hampered by this case, I say this: Apple reached its lofty position by innovating and not by copying what was successful at the time. A lesson can be learnt from this. The iPod, iPhone and iPad were breakthrough devices born out of innovation and they differentiated themselves from everything else around. Take heed Samsung, go forth and innovate! What is next for Apple is the reason they brought this case to court in the first place. Apple, in all secrecy, probably already has the next ‘industry changer’ in its hands and wants to make sure that, when it does see the light of day, its limelight is not stolen by copycat cloners. Once again, Apple is laying down dots that we will all connect later on.

‘Inventions and innovations don’t always pay off, and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copy’

sport

On The Volley â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I found myself watching countless events, covering nearly every sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

sport

‘All in all, the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm, emotion and the will to take part’ By Simon Joseph

A Talking Point The summer sunshine and a break from it all have lent a hand in taking my mind off the start of the football season and helped keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants. Besides, there were also the Olympic Games... When I decided to give up football for a year, I didn’t intend this abstinence to extend to other sports, although I’ve never really been as fanatical about running or swimming as I was about football… Until now. When the Games come around, I usually watch some athletics. Nothing much, just a bit of track and field. Not this time! I found myself watching countless events, covering nearly every sport, from Archery to Wrestling, every day, for all 16 days. Never before has indoor cycling been the source of so much intrigue and excitement; never have I been so captivated by canoeing or touched by table tennis. Never before had I managed to sit through even a few minutes of a swimming race, let alone six consecutive nights of them. Previously, any form of rowing or sailing would make me turn the telly over, badminton made me leave the room and anything vaguely equestrian made me feel physically sick. Not anymore! I even discovered that I could enjoy watching such so-called sports as diving and synchronised swimming – which apparently tests lung-busting endurance, athleticism, artistry and technical skill to the limit – and I watched them with intent, gleaning facts and stats about teams and individuals, notching up minutes and hours spent either glued to a screen, or reading about them on the Internet. So when Team GB pipped the Netherlands to the post in the show-jumping one Monday afternoon, I found myself jumping up and down on my sofa! But then who could have failed to be charmed by the sporting excellence on display in London during those two magical weeks? All those ‘great moments’ to look back on, such as Super Saturday, when Team GB took six golds, including three in 45 minutes. What about Mo Farah taking the 5,000m gold just a few days later, or David Rudisha smashing the 800m world record? And let’s not forget the Jamaican sprinters clean-sweep, but also Nicola Adams, the first woman in history to become an Olympic boxing champion; and Oscar Pistorious, aka the Blade Runner. The only medals I consciously turned my back on were the footballing ones.

After watching the heroics of the Olympic Games, a return to the whingeing melodramatics of football and some of the world’s highest paid entertainers would seem a little hollow. Take Victoria Pendleton, for example. When she was unfairly disqualified in her first event, we didn’t see her or her team waving their hands in the judge’s face. When nervous athletes started before the gun, and were subsequently shown a red card, they didn’t look to the skies and ask themselves, “why always me?” they just walked away. Obviously upset but with all their dignity as professionals intact. All in all, the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm, emotion and the will to take part. How sport should be played. No arrogance, time-wasting or cheating. The only deviation from the otherwise impeccable sporting behaviour was Shin A-lam, or the Incredible Sulk, who carried out a 75 minute sit-down protest because she lost her fencing match. But this came after arguably one of most controversial moments of the entire two weeks. Eventually, she was led away by officials in floods of tears, only to return moments later to contest third place. If London was the sporting lens through which the whole world was watching, perhaps, then, even the English Premier League may have learnt something about dedication, professionalism and fair play? Looking back on it all now, was it just me or was everyone so enchanted by the stars of London 2012? Was it genuine interest in proper athletes pushing themselves to their limit, or was it the suave seduction of televised sport? Maybe it was all down to my craving for competition, my longing to cheer on a team, or even individuals, and get those particular neurochemicals associated with sport in full flow. Whichever it was, I’m left with mixed feelings of admiration and emptiness. Perhaps it’s never going to be the perfect time to give up the old addiction and relish in the accomplishments of other sports and their competitors. I’m not looking forward to the start of the weightlifting season or thinking about following water polo on a more permanent basis. But for two weeks at least, a life without football was a life worth living.

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The Gold Room By Denson Pierre

Something is brewing in West London and a couple of FFG-CL managers are on to it, forcing the rest into some very early season rethinking. Chelsea look absolutely awesome as an attacking force and, now they have seemingly settled on their defensive configuration, could be the team to beat this season. With the other five, or so, potential pacesetters fluffing their lines somewhat, the ideal circumstances may exist for, ironically, the luckiest footballer in history to flourish. Three seasons ago I gave up on Fernando Torres, as his profligacy had become intolerable to me. Torres is a very good goal scorer but he has always needed a high number of chances served up to him in order to convert them. He is, of course, remarkably talented and technically pretty excellent, when in form. Form, though, has been his Achilles heel since he left Atletico Madrid. This may sound odd given that he did have one outstanding season (2007-2008) at Liverpool, in terms of goals scored (24), but that Liverpool team included two of the best opportunity providers of the time (Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard). I have always wondered how many goals a clinically consistent striker would have tallied with the same level of service. From 2008 onwards Torres managed to remain in Liverpool’s

first team, following which, for some unknown reason (given his lack of form and injuries over the intervening three-year period), Chelsea made him their lead striker purchase at a cost of some €60 million. During the same period, incidentally, he was instrumental in Spain winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and, later, Euro 2012, even collecting the Golden Boot for his three goals. Torres’ chapter in history has been written and later generations will not recall that none of his Euro 2012 goals were key in any way and that the Spanish team was so overwhelmingly full of opportunity creators that a fit David Villa might have scored 10 goals in the same tournament. Spain without Villa played a no-striker system and Torres only made his way into games to score ‘easy’ goals late on, against shattered and demoralised defenders. Chelsea are recreating some kind of West London Globetrotters of Premier League football with an attacking midfield overload of tremendous individual and collective flair and effectiveness. If only because there will be a very high number of chances created by the ball bringers this year, between them and Fernando Torres, who is in the fortunate position of being Chelsea’s only real option as centre forward, it can only mean loads of goals. Even if Fernando manages, once again, to be the bungling-thenbeautiful striker of the past few seasons, I fear FFG-CL managers may be forced to buy him to cover the many goals and points he will inevitably score, if only by virtue of being fit enough to play.

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