* cababarant *

Monday, September 18, 2006

NY Times discovers that the Dutch ride bicycles

The most obvious story ever appeared in the Times the other day: Newsflash-- the Dutch ride bicycles! The article is all about how in the Netherlands, there are more bikes than people, that people ride their bikes everywhere and that they often times spend lots of money on bikes. I was looking for the actual piece of news, like "a new innovative type of bike takes Holland by storm", or "Dutch are putting motors on their bikes", but there was nothing like that in the article. Anyone who's ever been to Holland-- okay, anyone who's ever heard of Holland-- knows this already, NY Times! They also tried to make it newsworthy by saying bike sales are up because of the increase of leisure time and sensitivity toward the environment. However, there are no actual statistics in the article to back this up-- just a quote from some guy who spent $3000 to buy his daughter a bakfiets (basically a bike to haul your kids around in-- and that can be purchased for cheaper than that). Personally, I'm guessing that bike usage and purchase in the Netherlands has probably been consistently popular since, oh, bikes have been invented.

I think there are actually a couple of more interesting stories here. One, is that our friend Isaac told us that the weird thing is that suddenly everyone he knows back in New York is riding a bike. The other potential story I think, is the Dutch attitude toward bikes. We were leaving for school this morning and noticed all the teenagers headed to school on their bikes. The more perceptive observation is that no matter how cool, or stylish, the Dutch still all drive crappy-looking bikes. And are okay with it. I still haven't totally figured it out-- I know it has to do with practicality, as well as the alarming rate of bike theft in this country-- but it doesn't totally explain why even teenagers aren't driving hot trendy bikes and scooters. But, on the other hand, I have to really admire the attitude. There is something universal about a crappy bike: you can be rich or poor in this country, but the crappy bike is the Great Equalizer.

Row upon row of crappy bikes outside the Leiden train station

A reminder of what my own busted down bike looks like (albeit, a British bike)

NY Times: In the Netherlands, Life Runs on 2 Wheels (Sometimes 3)

posted by sheryl | 12:14 PM | comments (0)

Monday, September 11, 2006

Yes, I live in the Netherlands

And yes, I have a third kid on the way (just a few more weeks and counting!). So does that mean we'll have to get one of these?

Spotted by Kyle on Noordeinde in Den Haag, so naturally he had to bust out the camera

I mean, I'm not Dutch, but damn!

posted by sheryl | 12:14 PM | comments (0)

Federer creams Roddick in U.S. Open: Okay, I think I'm done watching tennis for the year

So no one has to put up with obnoxious tennis posts anymore. But I thought I would leave it off with some typical Federer quotes (from the NY Times article) after winning. I'm just waiting for "I'm King of the World!" to come out of his mouth. I mean, the man does not exactly have a flair for modesty.

Federer: "He [Roddick] had a terrible game; I took advantage," Federer said. "From then on, I didn't look back. I started to feel better, play more freely, and in the end, I played unbelievable."

Federer: "It's funny, you know, because many things were similar," Federer said. "He [Tiger Woods, who was sitting in the Federer camp in the stands] knew exactly how I kind of felt out on the court. That's something that I haven't felt before, a guy who knows how it feels to feel invincible at times."

Oh yeah, and what was with that? Why is Tiger Woods such a punk sellout? There he was in the stands, between those two blond European ladies (one of whom is his Swedish wife who symbolizes the "I'm-a-minority-who-has-finally-made-it" message loud and clear), cheering for the most dominant player in the game against an American on American soil the day before the anniversary of September 11th. Okay, I know the September 11th thing is a stretch. And I'm not a crazy freedom-fries patriot either. But to quote GOB Bluth, Come On! The dude was still in the Swiss guy's camp at the U.S. Open of all places. And who cheers for Federer anyway? I guess it's an invincible-guys-unite kind of thing: so happy together. Imagine me and you, I do, I think about you day and night, it's only right....

NY Times: Federer in a Class by Himself

It's us against the world!

posted by sheryl | 8:44 AM | comments (0)

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Blake circa 1990

Looks like I'm not the only one with an appreciation for Agassi's Nineties Bad Fashion Sense. James Blake, seeded 5th in the U.S. Open, wore an Agassi ensemble circa 1990, including hot pink spandex bike shorts. Awesome.

Unfortunately, no fake mullet to complete the look...

Here's the original:

I guess Blake decided against the matching hot pink headband.

Sports Illustrated: Blake pays tribute to Agassi

posted by sheryl | 8:50 PM | comments (0)