Oh lovely...

On February the 22nd mister George Bush will visit the NATO and the European Union in Brussels. Lovely, that'll mean not coming anywhere near Place Schuman that day, whether you drive a car, ride a bike or sit on the bus or the underground. And the Avenue Leopold III will probably be shut down as well. And did I mention I live somewhere in between these two spots?

It is funny how it always bothers me that the so-called world leaders get the privileges, and how I yap on about busses making detours and big cars rushing through the city with a motorised escort. It must be that the leaders of my country all seem so stupidly normal that I believe not one person in the world should get away with having something like an escort and a sirene when driving to -- oh, how extraordinary! -- their hotel.

Sorry, the link's in Dutch. BBC news did write about Powell's talk at the NATO yesterday, but I couldn't find a reference to the American president's visit.

Christmas Wish List

Tonight airs the very last episode of the first season of Carnivàle on canvas. We have this little tv with no cable and rather poor reception with its little antenna. So to enjoy this season to the full I'd like to get the dvd-box this Christmas. Unfortunately Amazon.co.uk doesn't ship it until March 2005, and Amazon.fr hasn't even heard of it.

Can I get a gift certificate instead?

Chewing gum is gross.

Bright colours, Johnny Depp in a top hat, Danny Elfman's music... Here is the teaser trailer for Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I've only recently reread the book because of the discussion if this was Dahl-worthy material and for me Tim Burton is spot on. Willy Wonka is completely and utterly insane and looks down on all the other kids, except Charlie, with much disdain. How I love him.