ING and Oyak, be Happy

The ING group bought yesterday Turkish Oyak bank. A Turkish friend of mine challenged me by saying: ING is German. Holy Cow, the Orange lion is our national symbol. Some other people were saying that this is bad for the Turkish national interest. I don't think ING won't sell it back to Turkish investors if they get some good net profits. But are there any?

These pictures are of ING headquarters in Amsterdam. Yes, the Netherlands is well-known for its architects, only of course among other architects and project developers around the world...


We call this organic architecture. Lots of space for the employees, green, light and water.


This building replaced the old headquarters in 2002. There are 120.000 people working for ING worldwide.



The entrance already gives a good impression of the interior, it looks friendly.


An open garden 'inside' the building!


The Berlage meeting room, where they planned the 'coup' in Turkey..)) The interior, in contrast with the exterior, is 'antique'.

Retirement

On the left the house I want to buy...hehehe..))

Doing PR for free...

Just added some people to my blog. Of course my Super Hero in Istanbul.
But also Derya, a Turkish woman in Dubai, and Bertus from the Netherlands (you have to learn Dutch - easy language if you understand English).
And a friend from India, on duty to get his MBA in Canada: Great blog Priyank.
And then the Turkish invader in Moscow... Bad, bad, they are Slavic, Christian Orthodox... and we Dutch invaded already Russia..)) But at least, it's fun to read your blog. And in case you don't know it: I invaded Istanbul...can you stop me..))

Hamas in action...

Hamas took over control in Gaza. After opening the prisons and by setting rapist, thieves and killers free, they first started looting and destroying Christian churches and schools. Then they looted the house of former president Arafat. Disgraced all of his work, awards e.g. the Nobel Price for Peace. The next step they took was the announcement that Christians can only continue living safely in the Gaza Strip if they accept Islamic law, including a ban on alcohol and on women roaming publicly without proper head coverings. Including teaching of Islam law and religion at Christian schools. Read it here.
Not that long ago Hamas was on an official visit in Ankara. On invitation by R. Erdogan. Do you think they still have contact?

A shot from Beirut

I could not resist to upload this picture here. It's made in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. This image is priceless. Although there is some kind of civil war going on, these people look feeling confident.

Good ads

These ads are made by DDB London. Good ones. Turkish advertisement lacks creativity, although its level is increasing.


I can tell you that it takes weeks to produce these pictures.


Click on the images to enlarge them.

Women in Iran

I got some shocking pictures of Iran. The most disgusting was a woman hanged on the street. This picture was taken 2 months ago. Between the time this picture was taken and my putting it on my blog are 2 months. Since then, 67 people have been executed. 17 on the street...
Do you want to see more? Interested in how women are beaten up? Or do you want to hear the stories in the Gaza strip, where women are now 'protected' by men?....

What I don't like

is another question...
The winner takes it all, was and still is the case in Turkish politics.
AK party got 31% of the votes and ruled the country 'regens a terra per propositum'.
The winner takes it all. Compromize and learn what consensus means, if you want to enter the EU. Dictating is a no donner (kebab)....

I love AK party

Yesterday, some people accused me that I love AK party.
Do I? No, I don't love them, but I agree with them.
Tried to explain why, and then, the same rhetoric as ever: 'You Europeans like AK party since they want to use the EU to get their Islamic agenda through'. I replied: 'Which agenda'? And: 'Who is your informant there?'. The last question was a little bit too much for them, since they don't know how to handle these kind of questions. Merely, the answer is like this: 'Uh, I read it...somewhere'. Come on guys (and girls), use your senses: who benefited the most of the last five years of reforms? Yes, you...
And five years ago you considered EU citizens as holy, now I am a piece of shit...
Do I love AK party, no, I only agree with them...that's all. And for your information, I don't tell you 'shit'. Capite?

EU bashing: narro quisquam, tantum sermo ut vos teneo qua vos sermo super

And more to follow...I promise...

Real men don't cover their faces

These are Hamas 'free fighters', looting the Gaza strip with the help of their clans, notorious about their drugs trade, slavery, women trafficking and everything Moses once forbids. And, they opened all the prisons as a sign of good governance. Well, ladies, don't go on the streets uncovered, and without at least 5 male body guards. Don't think that it's about religion there, it's all about the tribes and clans.

Women can not show their faces anymore under Sharia law, but are men now subject to these laws as well? Looks like the first group are 'friendly' forced and the second group doesn't want to be recognized...Maybe they forget to shave themselves? Or do they have something really to hide...their identity? Or is it simply macho behavior?

Speculations and rumors

Came across an article today about Turkish decision makers and the Hudson Institute in Washington DC. You can read it here. Do we have to take this seriously? We call this time of the year in the Netherlands 'komkommertijd', which means, journalists don't have anything to write about - because of the summer season - so they write stories. Always good to read nonsense on the beach, on holiday, or lazy at work.

Anyway, now Turkey will go to the polls on July 22, still no interesting news about their programs, since the political parties in Turkey are fighting with each other more than planing an appropriate Campaign. None of my business, but since EU biasing is Turkey's favorite sport, I am here, standing strong.

The USA, country where investigation journalism has a good history and reputation - think about Watergate, Iran gate, Abu Ghraib prison, Guantanamo bay, is still setting the benchmark worldwide. Al Jazeera is challenging them, but only with horrible pictures and shootings.

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal, Washington Post and many more are covering world affairs more sincerely than in Turkey, which is drowning itself in Capitals, Colors and screaming headlines. In EU countries, and merely the USA journalists, conduct ethics and how to interpret news these days. And they separate facts from fiction. Here is a good site about that. And I recommend each Turkish journalist to read this book. The Elements of Journalism. Also Le Monde and El Pais are worth reading.

In general, bloggers are considered as more reliable than newspapers. Many journalists have their own blogs these days. Since they have to follow their newspapers' policies, blogging became another outlet for them. I found an interesting blog about the Middle East, where people from Palestine, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq etc. are talking like good neighbors. Please, visit that blog. You will get the latest updates about what is going on over there, in particular: Gaza strip and on the West Bank.

And Turkey, yes, there is a boom in blogs. Some interesting, some informative, some give a different perspective than main stream media, and some are boring. But what bothers me is the level of news: too often I see articles starting with: When, If, Why, Where...exactly that leaves too much room for speculations. And besides this, most journalists are badly informed. Especially about world affairs since they are monolingual.

Amsterdam Airport

Don't get married in Vegas, get married at Schiphol Airport...

And take off for Vegas, to get divorced...a new business line created by Hans A.H.C. de Wit..

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is voted as the best European Airport.
Yes, they are doing a good job.
Please let KLM follow this trend, especially after their merger with Air France...!!

Teach your children well

I am always surprised how quick foreign media are reacting about developings in Turkey; their Turkish counterparts can learn a lesson from them. Even Al Jazeera is quicker. There is no 24-hrs up to date web site based newsletter, only Zaman is doing okay with a quick update.

Erkan, on his blog already made us aware that President Sezer of 'valede des republica of Turkey' vetoed the new package of elections reforms the current government proposed. And Sezer will bring this package to the public, which means: are the people of Turkey intelligent enough to vote for their president or a bunch of fist fighting deputies? Maybe an intelligent test for wannabee's politicians would help? Just an idea...))

The current government is an legal elected one, but some people in the opposition have the arrogance that people, who voted for AK Party are stupid and ignorant, that they even don't deserve to vote. Right, they are poor, but what have that to do with democracy? Okay, everybody must follow the military and their imposed military doctrine (started at pre-elementary schools, and ends the last year at one of the non top 500 universities in the world). Auw...

Would love you to show trembling children at the age of 9, who on 'Children's day (a day for Children not for the military) who are reciting Ataturk his words. Poor confused kids. Looking to their moms and dads if they fail 'Ataturks test'. Ataturk would be worried by so much idiotery. Child, be child and don't take too much crab for granted.

Ha, therefore, a lot of Turkish students get educated abroad. Molding is an important process in students life: be critical, find your own way, and think freely. Not in Turkey. Get your grades and leave the rest to Father State. So Turkey is still holding up with North Korea and Myanmar. Bravo!

Now, I am waiting until the Turkish mobs, or Turkish 'Gestapo' picks me up...just missed (on invitation) the high level security and democracy seminar in Istanbul. At least, I feel some protection by the NPD...

Like father, like son...?

Yesterday, the Sisli court in Istanbul, found several journalists of Agos, Armenian/Turkish daily, not guilty of trying to create undue influence on the judiciary for articles criticizing the conviction of former editor-in-chief of the paper, Hrant Dink.
In the meanwhile, Hrant Dink's son, Arat Dink, will be prosecuted for insulting under penalty code 301, 'Turkishness'. Arat republished an interview of his father, where he talked about the Armenian Democide...exactly the reason why he was killed...
Will he follow his father? During the funeral of Hrant Dink, while passing the MHP party building, there were sounds of Cat calls coming out these 'nationalists' buildings...Yes, wolfs playing for cats...

Turkish NGO's active in Europe - part 1

Yes, this will be a long story how Erbakan's Milli Gurus just ripped off 20.000 Turkish people of their savings, how the fascistic MHP likes to play for police agent in the Ruhr area, Hamburg, East of the Netherlands by selling women, fraud, provocations and intimations, and last but not least, how the Turkish government tries to influence the Dutch, Belgium, French and German politics. This will be an unheard story. Hope to silence all the 'followers' of the main stream Turkish press (looks like high school newspapers - but I have a special taste).
Than, only than, after you see what is going on, you can comment and call me a bastard, imperialist, asshole, colonialist etc. Enfin, the usual words I get...

Wanted

This is Vedat, a good friend of mine...and wanted by many men and women, for different reasons. Anyhow, he is for sale now..)) And I have 24 hrs. to collect some money out of this. He is a Dental surgeon, speaks fluent English and German, and of course Turkish, 38 years already, no kids, no history of broken marriages...
Please contact me if you are interested. You have exactly 24 hrs...time is ticking...))

Women rights in Turkey

Last week, my blog friend Erkan and I had a tough discussion with a pretty well educated Turkish girl, staunch Kemalist. According to her, women got less rights in Turkey under the current government. We argued that the opposite was true, and she became furious. If we both men were supporting the Sharia?! In the end, we put some facts of the European Stability Initiative (ESI) report on the table: Sex And Power In Turkey: Feminism, Islam and The Maturing of Turkish Democracy. Read it here.

Today, Mustafa Aykol, an Islamist Capitalist writer - see picture above, and a person I met a couple of times, wrote an excellent story about the myths of Kemalism. Read it here.

It's always a pleasure to read his stories. For sure one of the few independent thinking columnists in Turkey. Another one is Orhan Kemal CENGIZ.

Fly Pink

Always thought that pink was the color of gays. But the new airline Fly Pink also hijacked this color for them (read: women).
What happened. An English airline is offering tailor made 'shopping breaks' (yes, you can not shop in the plane, only drink pink champagne and get your pink nails manicured) from John Lennon Airport Liverpool to Paris: for women - or girls, depends how you describe yourself - only. Shopping, shopping, shopping...and who is paying for this..))
Good, it's now waiting on a carrier which flies men only. That would be fun...A nice Boeing 747, in Black and Yellow colors. And the stewardesses, they can be female...

What I missed in the Turkish press

The hero of Turkey, the new elected French President, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, had a meeting last week at the G-9 with the President of Russia, Putin. Sarkozy arrived too late at the press conference, forgot to put in his ear the device for translation, and was significantly in a good mood. For sure, he didn't drink water, but some strong liquor. Nothing bad about that, but it was all over the news in Europe, except not in Turkey, where the guy is considered as a hero..))