Yesterday I got to see a beautiful exhibit of the winners of the 2010 World Press Photos competition, showing at the old church in central Amsterdam. The annual contest highlights the best news photography from around the world in various categories. I was astounded and moved by so many of the winning photos, which are…
Living the Quaker Values: Truth
Today I am considering the all-important Quaker value of Truth. Speaking Truth is one of the bedrock principles of Quakerism that undergirds much of our actions in the world. Quakers have traditionally refused to take oaths, even when required by law, because we believe that swearing upon a Bible pre-supposes two different standards for telling…
(Re-)visiting the Anne Frank House Museum
This morning, I popped over the Anne Frank House museum, which I haven't visited for a long time. In the intervening years, the curators have built a whole new multimedia wing of the museum and just recently acquired from another Dutch archive the actual physical diaries of Anne Frank. So I was looking forward to…
Dancing with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cheryl’s Inspiring Story (video)
I've been meaning to blog this up for awhile, but here it is. Seattle-based Lindy Hopper Cheryl Crow shares this inspiring video about her own experiences as a dancer with rheumatoid arthritis. I have several uncles and aunties who have trouble walking down the street because of various pains and disabilities. But when the music…
Mickey Mouse… in Dutch (video)
I'm loving being in Holland, and in general have a fondness for Dutch people and their culture. That said, their language just still sounds so weird to me. And double-plus weird coming out of Disney characters. Enjoy. I just wish this video had a bit more Donald Duck in it. Maybe he's been speaking Dutch…
Living the Quaker Values: Worship
The Quaker form of worship is one of the most unique aspects of the Religious Society of Friends. Our practice is so simple as to barely qualify as a religious service at all. A Quaker worship service ("Meeting for Worship") is composed of two of more Friends sitting together in silence for typically an hour. …
Living the Quaker Values: Silence
I'm spending a few days in Amsterdam on holiday, with no particular itinerary. So I think I'm going to treat it like a mini-retreat and do some reflective work I've been meaning to do for awhile. I recently read Robert Lawrence Smith's sweet little book A Quaker Book of Wisdom. The book reminded me of…
Balboa Demo by Laura Keat and Jeremy Otth at Frim Fram last night (video)
Here's a sweet little balboa demonstration by LA-based Laura Keat and Jeremy Otth at the Yehoodi Frim Fram Jam dance last night. I'm not much of a balboa guy, but even I have to admit this is pretty tight. [Link to original video.]
Every Morning in the Rik Household (pic)
ME: I have a long email I need to get out the door in the next two minutes! CAT: I'm falling asleep in your arms. ME: Sigh.
Off to Amsterdam Tomorrow!
I will be in the land of tulips and windmills starting on Saturday for a little vacation, crashing at a friend's place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. No real plans other than relaxing, biking around, connecting with some local folks, and eating a lot of belgian fries with war sauce. Oh and apple tart. And Indonesian…