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This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders Portugal, Haven of Kale The arrival of Bertus Dijk’s first book brought a flood of childhood memories. Even then, I found Portugal to be a dark country, the darkest I had ever visited in my youth. It wasn’t until 1975 that the merciless church…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders By now, I have most of the books by Albertus Dijk (1924-2005) on order. At the time of the philosophical critique in Trouw of his philosophy book, the man was already seventy years old and was dubbed “a disgruntled student” in that review by…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders The Disappearance of Bertus Dijk I came across the poems of Nicanor Parra with tears in my eyes, which were once translated into Dutch by Bertus Dijk, a name that didn’t release much dopamine in my brain. A brief search led me to this…

This article is based on this dutch article of Martijn Benders ### Can We Talk About the Content? Sometimes I let typos remain in my poems. It’s not out of mischief, but because I believe that a typo can sometimes hold meaning. In this case, for example, I accidentally wrote ‘Left Lastert’ instead of Left…

This article is based on this dutch article of Martijn Benders A Fiery Plea I usually give half of the space in my collections to other poets. This invariably attracts criticism from “review centrists” that it could all have been more concise. Yes, indeed, I could have just included myself in the collection, Einstein, but…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders. In Nigeria, twice as many children are born as in the whole of Europe, says Omtzigt, presenting it as a demographic problem “we need to talk about.” But when you inquire further—since this was supposed to be a lecture about solutions—no, it turns out…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders Where were you during the renowned Elsevier lecture by the eminent Omtzigt? The memorable speech in which we were informed about the necessity of a roof over our heads for our existential security. Simultaneously, we were invited to a dialogue about an uncomfortable topic:…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders: link The lawyer of the Literature Fund requested a one-month postponement, and it was granted. My case against the Literature Fund is now scheduled for October 22, 2024. This prompts me to erect a paywall—as I will be discussing matters relevant to the case,…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders In today’s society, where freedom of speech should be a fundamental pillar, it’s disturbing to notice voices challenging this freedom. One such voice is Marcia Luyten, a participant in mainstream media, who displays a shocking lack of understanding of this essential concept. Luyten, affiliated…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders ### Censorship Baked into Your Software (2) In the Schatzkammer of Sacred and Secular Treasures of the Habsburg dynasty in the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, one of the many Veronica’s Veils that Catholics sniffed out as possible relics is preserved. The cloth bears an imprint…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders. Atrocious Bad Taste Where? At Lowlands. Rarely have I heard a band sing so out of tune in such an infantile manner. No, I have never been to Lowlands. I prefer to avoid such orgies of mass animation, but this year I took a…

This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders What preceded: A misplaced neocon in the Literature Fund pontificates that the Jewish refugee Adorno had no right to criticize America since he should have been grateful for being able to flee. The Grateful Refugee is, of course, an archetypal right-wing theme. First, you…