Articles
About last christmas
Don’t worry, I will not throw you into Whamageddon. However, we must talk about Last Christmas. Let’s analyse this song for a moment.
Fourteen
Today is my oldest daughter’s birthday and that provides food for thought. It has to do with the idea that this fourteenth birthday has arrived much faster than I planned for example.
Attic
Some plaster had come down in the attic of my childhood home. That’s why I was cleaning that up. It was a good time to immediately clean up the entire attic. I wrote this the night after I finished it.
Who needs an agenda?
Planning is something my kids are very good at. They think so. When it turns out not to be the case, my question is for the umpteenth time: “Who needs an agenda?”
What have you been doing lately?
It’s a difficult question to answer, but I’ll try. I’ll do my best. Since many people keep asking the question “What have you been doing lately?” Especially because it’s so quiet on social media.
I disliked Putin long before the invasion of Ukraine
To dislike someone is a strong emotion. When I dislike someone, that person must have messed it up, according to me. I disliked Putin long before the invasion of Ukraine began. I must admit, it didn’t get better after the invasion started.
The way we camped
When I was four-years-old, I learned what it was like to camp. This was the first year that I was allowed to go on holiday with the rest of the family. These first years of camping holidays weren’t really a good example of camping holidays. It could have been possible that I myself would have…
The importance of Spirit Day
What makes Spirit Day such an important day? This article is based on a previously written Dutch article I wrote in 2021 for “Purple Friday,” the Dutch equivalent of Spirit Day, as it is known in the Netherlands. In 2023 I decided to also add an English version to this website.
A safe day for everyone who needs it
October 11 is Coming Out Day. A day that focuses on those who share their sexual orientation and/or gender identity with the rest of the world when they belong to the LGBTQIA+ Community. Is such a day necessary? Well, it’s a safe day for everyone who needs it.
What should you consider after installing WordPress?
An important question one must ask themselves is what to do after the installation of WordPress. What should you consider after installing WordPress? In this article, I will give you some tips.
The flags of the rainbow
On August 7, 2021 we went to the Pride Walk in Amsterdam. Due to the COVID measures, everything was a little different that year. Pride week was adjusted. The Pride Walk did go ahead. During this walk through Amsterdam, I saw many different flags and some of them I did not recognize. For me, as…
Prove you’re human
There is a big change that you are familiar with CAPTCHA. This is a way to prove you’re human and your intentions are good. The most used version of CAPTCHA is Google’s ReCaptcha. Did you know there’s another option to use?
Who has the biggest one?
This weekend, the world witnessed the news of Richard Branson’s space journey. Together with Jeff Bezos, he has the aspiration to send the richest of the earth into space. It has little to do with space travel. It’s like a game of “Who has the biggest one?”
It became a day when suddenly everything was different, it seemed
Een witte wereld. Daarin ontwaakten wij, net zoals veel mensen. Het werd een dag waarop ineens alles anders was, zo leek het. Even was COVD-19 of corona ver weg. Een winterse wereld zorgde daarvoor.
I thought about The Day the Music Died
Triggered by an article in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool I thought about The Day the Music Died. This happened long before I was born. People are still talking about the tragic accident of 3 February 1959. Why is that?
A meltdown about a red pencil and other homeschool moments
It’s the third week of the lockdown in The Netherlands and homeschooling, I think. It’s sometimes hard. Especially when you are confronted with meltdowns and other challenges. More about a meltdown about a red pencil and other homeschooling moments.
What about this thing called non-binary?
There’s a chance you read about the news that actor Elliot Page came out as a non-binary transgender this week. I found this a good moment to share my thoughts about all of this. So, what about this thing called non-binary?
A wallet, a plant and a sticker
There seems to be nothing in common with a wallet, a plant and a sticker. Until you find out what the story is. I will tell you more about these things and why they are related.
Maybe I’ve been in too long, but here’s my analysis of SpongeBob SquarePants
Due to the restrictions because of COVID-19, there is a slight chance I might have been indoors for too long. That could explain why I’m analyzing SpongeBob SquarePants. I already did so on Instagram. Now it’s time for a blog about this cartoon series (and movies).
The Moving Mountains Burger
A veggie burger for flexitarians. That is the Moving Mountains Burger. This vegan burger, rich in vitamin B12, is not only for those who no longer eat meat. This veggie burger is a product of a company that wants to change things in this world. The future is plant-based.
And now, business as usual?
The commemoration of the 75-year liberation of Auschwitz is over. We all heard and saw the stories of those who survived. And now, business as usual? After commemorating all of this, we should get back to things as they were? Like nothing ever happened?
It was always there and will always be there…
27 January 2020 is the day we pay our respect to the victims of the Holocaust. On this day in 1945, the concentration camp Auschwitz was liberated. I’m afraid I have some bad news for everyone with good intentions: it was always there and will always be there. I am referring to the way people…
Flashback to the year 2000 in photography
I wrote about the year 2000 in another article. I decided to write about photography, since it played an important role in my life. The year 2000 was important when it comes to photography. It’s time for a flashback to the year 2000 in photography.
Flashback to the year 2000
While everyone covers only the last decade, I decided to look further back in time. This is a flashback to the year 2000.
Visiting the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden
On Sunday (01-06-2019), I visited the botanical garden of the Leiden University: de Hortus Botanicus.
The Beyond Burger
Face it, the vegan burgers can’t be ignored. Ever self-respecting organization and even supermarket offer these burgers. This week, the Beyond Burger was sold for the first time in The Netherlands. I tasted the Beyond Burger. Time for a review of this burger, that generated a lot of media attention so far.
Why we should listen to what Greta Thunberg has to say
She isn’t a head of state, queen or president. She is therefore not allowed to speak in front of the European Parliament. Greta Thunberg is only sixteen years old, but she noticed there is a need for change. A change in the way we want to stop climate change. She became famous for her School…
Inspiration
It’s sometimes hard to describe inspiration and what it does. No everyone finds inspiration in the same things. On 10 January 2016 David Bowie left this world. For me, he has always been a great inspiration. Even when he is no longer with us, I can still be inspired by his music.
IKEA knows what is important!
Over the last few days, there’s been a lot of discussion about changing diapers in public restrooms. Unfortunately, these aren’t widely available. When I visited IKEA this weekend, I noticed that there is a possibility to change diapers in the men’s restroom. IKEA knows what’s important.
Ten myths about The Netherlands
That small country near the sea, that is mostly occupied by weed smoking people, who walk on wooden shoes. This is a blog about The Netherlands and myths about this country. Why? Because The Diligent Father is based in The Netherlands.
The Excuse Queen
My daughter is a very sweet girl. She is also one of those girls who can be called an Excuse Queen. She is capable of creating the most “beautiful” excuses. Sometimes these excuses are so creative. She isn’t the only one. There are more children who make up “great” excuses. I will focus on my…
We men, we screwed up – sorry for that!
Not every historical event can be considered as good ambassadorship for men. Throughout the centuries, “we” men screwed up and the bad news: we got away with this.
Thank you Philipp Franz von Siebold!
He was one of the first Europeans to teach Western medicine in Japan in the nineteenth century. Philipp Franz von Siebold loved plants and flowers. He loved them so much, that he decided to take many specimens with him to The Netherlands. Amongst those plants and flowers: the Japanese knotweed. Thank you, Philipp Franz von…
A letter for the world leaders
The organization ONE has written a letter that is addressed to the world leaders. The letter is signed by 140 celebrities. It’s time to do something about poverty and especially the poverty caused by the way women are treated.
Dr. Seuss was always right
I don’t mind admitting that I am an admirer of the work of Dr. Seuss. To me, he left us a great literary legacy. To me, Dr. Seuss was always right.