A collaboration with his wife Nancy led Ed Kienholz to create his most richly textured work of art in The Hoerengracht, his reconstruction of Amsterdam’s red light disctrict.

A nice girl like you, in a place like this? US sculptor Ed Kienholz’s ‘The Hoerengracht’ is an unflinching replica of Amsterdam’s seediest quarter Photo: ED and Nancy kienholz, courtesy of LA Louver, CA

Back in the early 1960s every school boy knew about Amsterdam’s Red Light District, where the ladies of the night sat in windows to be inspected by their clientele. I was on my first visit to Amsterdam, in a party of fifteen year olds being taken around Europe by a kindly Jesuit. Late one afternoon, three of us peeled off from our visit to the Rijksmuseum, cashed our cheques at American Express, and ran off to ogle what we imagined would be a bevy of Playboy bunnies striking provocative poses behind plate glass windows. Instead, what we found were half a dozen friendly grannies in their underwear (some literally knitting) whose waves and smiles seemed to promise us milk and cookies, not the longed for experience we would later have to repent. The story is not irrelevant to the exhibition opening tomorrow at the National Gallery.

For the next few months, we can all take a stroll through The Horengracht (Whore’s Canal) – a hugely ambitious life size reconstruction of a few seedy streets in the stews of Amsterdam created in the mid- 1980s by the late Ed Kienholz and his wife Nancy Reddin Kienholz. Under black- out conditions in the Sunley Rooms, illuminated doorways and windows festooned with blinking red fairy lights and strips of red neon beckon seductively. As you move closer, you discover the `reality’ behind the glamour: life- sized plaster figures of women (actually life -casts of the bodies of the Kienholz’s friends), each in the down-at-heel room where she plies her trade.

Though we cannot go inside the houses, the installation turns every viewer into a voyeur. It is exciting to peer into a sleazy lounge where the occupant is offering her body for cash, and annoying to find ourselves standing in front of a drawn curtain, imagining what must be going on behind it.

Read more at:

Kienholz: The Hoerengracht at the National Gallery

Niet alleen in de Haagse PvdA-afdeling ontstond teleurstelling bij de vaststelling van de concept-kandidatenlijst 

Ook bij de PvdA-afdeling in Amsterdam lopen de emoties aardig op. We hadden al gehoord over Lodewijk Asscher als mogelijke lijsttrekker. Vervolgens vernamen we dat de Raadsfractie werd gehalveerd. Maar de heibel nam toe. Ze zijn begonnen aan de grote opruiming. Tja, en toen kwam er flink Gedonder in de Amsterdams PvdA-tent. 

PvdA-veteranen mogen de raad niet in

Parool 16.11.09  AMSTERDAM – Enkele veteranen in en rond de Amsterdamse politiek wacht morgen een teleurstelling, omdat ze hun naam niet terugvinden op de kandidatenlijst van de PvdA voor de raadsverkiezingen van maart 2010. Enkele veteranen in en rond de Amsterdamse politiek wacht morgen een teleurstelling, omdat ze hun naam niet terugvinden op de kandidatenlijst.

In tegenstelling tot 2006, toen de partij grote winst boekte, is het dringen voor een verkiesbare plek achter lijsttrekker Lodewijk Asscher.

Oud-provo Luud Schimmelpennink, raadslid in stadsdeel Centrum, viel volgens een aanwezige aan tafel in slaap. In de deelraad heeft hij een naam op te houden op dit gebied. Het verhaal gaat dat zijn collega’s in de deelraad gaan slapen zodra Schimmelpennink wakker wordt om te spreken.

Actrice Cox Habbema was ook van de partij, maar komt volgens een ingewijde niet op de lijst. Hetzelfde geldt voor Els Verdonk, stadsdeelbestuurder uit Zuidoost, die in opspraak kwam door de aanbouw van een serre. Wiel Janssen, vorig jaar door wethouder Asscher weggestuurd als directeur Jeugdzorg, zou evenmin de lijst halen. Verder is meer dan de helft van de twintig zittende raadsleden inmiddels afgehaakt, al dan niet gedwongen.

Achter Asscher volgen de wethouders Carolien Gehrels en Freek Ossel. Van de fractie keert in ieder geval de vicefractievoorzitter Frank de Wolf terug, terwijl Michiel Mulder en Peggy Burke goede kans maken.

Uit de deelraden hopen de fractieleiders uit De Baarsjes (Rik Winsemius) en Geuzenveld (Robby Rijssel) op een verkiesbare plek. Net als Martin Verbeet, stadsdeelvoorzitter in Oost, en zijn oud-collega Arco Verburg uit De Baarsjes. 

Zie ook:

Asscher verbindt lot aan Marcouch (11-11-09)

PvdA kiest voor veiligheid (07-11-09)

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2010 – Gedonder in de Amsterdams PvdA-tent

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2010 – Amsterdam ruimt op

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2010 – nog steeds heibel bij de PvdA in Amsterdam

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2010 – Raadsfractie PvdA Amsterdam gehalveerd

Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2010 – Amsterdam Lodewijk Asscher lijsttrekker PvdA

Yet again some time of absence from the blogging world. However this time it has been strictly time-strain.

Those who have me on the wonderful social network Facebook knows that I’ve been in the Hague for the IFLRY General Assembly this weekend. It was great fun, seriously intense and as always just plain wonderful. The new manifesto was accepted, although with less support than hoped for, and so was my resolution on North Korean refugees in China. Also the big election is over and there is hence a new bureau that I have great hope for and confidence in.

Right now I’m sitting at a hostel in Amsterdam (attending the IFLRY seminar on Human Trafficking) trying to figure out how to make time for everything. Especially I’m preparing for my supervisor-meeting for the thesis, for next Tuesday.

Below is a direct copy of an email trail between Optus and myself. The first entry (that is, my initial inquiry in mid September after about 3 weeks away) should put you in the picture. There are 7 exchanges from Optus over many, many, many weeks, all from a different person each time. Not a single word has been edited, omitted, added or disguised to protect the identity of the innocent.

It’s worth reading, if you’ve ever been shocked by an outrageous or unexplained balance on an account, be that your credit card, bank statement, phone or utility bill. There may even be a moral to the story … but you’ll have to read each entry and make it all the way to the end to work that out. Fix a drink and sit down; it’s sometimes a long and bumpy ride in the world of corporate customer care. For the record, the disputed amount was just over $1000 (this over and above the regular monthly spend of about $60).

———————–

Dear Optus, we have a problem.
Take a look at my history of usage and you’ll see something unusual for the last bill (# 0438 361 772).
Yes, I am overseas with the iPhone diverting all calls to voicemail. I have never accessed voicemail from overseas.
I have never made a call from it either here in the Netherlands – where I’ll be for most of my time away – and you can see from the statement the limited number of SMSs I’ve sent.
I never access email or use the Internet from the phone.
So I’m wondering what all these Roaming charges are??
Can you please explain. But before that, terminate all services, including whatever this roaming stuff is, but keep the number active. I have switched off the phone permanently, never to be used until I return to Australia in March next year.
But we need to sort this outrageous charge out, as I’m sure you understand.
Thanking you in advance for your prompt explanation.

Regards,
Grant Doyle

Dear GRANT

We have received your billing enquiry, and will get back to you within 5 working days.
As always, thanks for choosing Optus.

Kind regards,
The Optus Billing Team

Dear Grant

My name is Joy and I will be assisting you today with your International Roaming enquiry.

I can see that the charges on your account are not in relation to calls that you have made but rather voicemail, text and GPRS.

If a received call is diverted to VoiceMail because you do not answer or because your phone is busy, you will also be charged the international call rate for the applicable zone to divert the caller back to your VoiceMail box in Australia.

A review of your account shows that the majority of roaming charges are for GPRS data usage when accessing the internet with your iPhone.

These GPRS charges can also be accrued if you have automatic downloads in place such as Push Email.

As requested I have removed the Roaming features from your service and you will no longer be able to access international roaming. If you wish to change this please let us know and we can reactivate the feature. Your number will remain active and your monthly service fee on the $39 iPhone plan will remain unchanged unless you tell us otherwise.

Please note, roaming charges may take up to 3 months to appear on your statement as we rely on the overseas carrier to forward the details to us. This could mean you will still have some charges billed to your account from the period when the roaming was active.

While using International Roaming, your account would be billed according to the fees and charges for the overseas network you are accessing at the time. The rates charged depend on the network you access in each country. Details are available by visiting www.optus.com.au/autoroam.

I can confirm that the account charges are correct, it is not possible for charges to be passed onto your account other than by the use of your SIM card. Our representative has noted on your account 21 June 2009 that you were advised of the charges when activating roaming.

I can see that you have had your iPhone with Optus since August 2008 and your $39 cap plan has been a good choice for your normal usage.

I trust this information is of assistance and provides you with a solution to your International Roaming enquiry.

For further enquiries please reply by email or contact our Customer Care Centre on 133937 or if overseas on + (or the international exit code) 61 2 8082 5678.

Yours sincerely

Joy
Web Servicing Team
Optus

—————————————-

Thank you Joy,
A couple of points:

The phone was set up to automatically divert to voice mail, so as not to incur such fees. I can’t recall ever accessing voicemail in the 5 weeks I’ve been away. There is no need because the updated voicemail message says to contact me via an email, due to my extended absence.

These GPRS fees: I don’t have push email (whatever that is?), or automatic downloads set up, never have. I live online via my laptop due to my full time studies here in the Netherlands, so I have NEVER used the iPhone to do this. So why the charges now? No such charges occurred while I was using the phone in Australia, and as I’ve done nothing to the settings, why does it supposedly happening now?

These are the things I need answers to.

The iPhone was never intended to be used here while I’m in the Netherlands studying anyway. I bought a pre-paid SIM soon after arriving to use with an old Nokia handset I brought with me from Australia, and this works perfectly well for the few local calls and texts needed.

I use the iPhone primarily as a portable music player and travel alarm. That’s it. And you can see this from the statement, given the minimal texts I’ve actually sent from it.

So I hope you can still see my frustration and concern at these excessive charges. As indicated earlier, this account will not be settled with these ‘unknown’ fees.

I have turned the phone off, and never to use again while away. This is a major inconvenience, as you can understand, due to the reliance I have on many of the iPhone’s functions, apart from the actual phone.

So Joy, why and how were these GPRS charges accrued to my account when I did nothing to activate such a service?

Appreciate any other telecommunication insights you can add in resolving this very worrying matter.

Thank you again for your kind and considered response. Until next time …

Kind regards,

Grant Doyle

Dear Grant

My name is Alex and I will be assisting you today with your International Roaming enquiry.

I am sorry to discover that you have some concerns regarding your most recent statement, and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the issues you have raised.

Upon reviewing your account, you have not been charged any voicemail charges on your latest invoice. Please refer to page four of your latest statement, and you can see a $0 value next to your voicemail deposits.

After investigating the GPRS details you have supplied, I can confirm that these charges have been recorded and billed correctly. GPRS charges can only appear on your statements if the phone is turned on.

Please refer to the following settings where the iPhone automatically connects to GPRS, settings can be found at:

Setting > General > Network > Data Roaming > ON/OFF
iPhone Operating System 2.0 – Settings – Email – Fetch New Data – Set Push to OFF
iPhone Operating System 3.0 – Settings – Email – Fetch New Data – Set Push to OFF

For further information, please refer to your iPhone user guide which can be found online at the apple website.

Once again, please accept my apologies for the inconvenience caused and l hope this information has been of assistance to you.

For further enquiries please reply by email or contact our Customer Care Centre on 133937 or if overseas on + (or the international exit code) 61 2 9342 5678

Yours sincerely

Alex
Web Servicing Team
Optus

————————————

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the update.

As I understand it, and believe me, I’ve done some research on this in the last week, data roaming can only accrue charges if you actually browse with Safari mobile, try to access Gmail or use other such data services from the iPhone. Yet I’ve not done any of these the entire time away, when the outrageous fees were apparently billed.

This is my confusion and continuing frustration. Maybe you can clarify the situation?

The push mail settings you explain below were already off, have always been off; as I never have, nor will have, any need to automatically fetch data. I performed this manually on occasion in Sydney. So how is it the phone may have gone into Push mode without me altering the settings?

This is my confusion and continuing frustration. Maybe you can clarify the situation?

Thanks in advance. Oh, Alex, one more thing: I seem to recall the account is due for payment in the next few days. I won’t be paying in full, as already mentioned. Certainly these contentious GPRS fees will be deducted.

So how do we avoid the ensuing ‘late payment’ reminders of increasing veracity until we resolve this accounting matter?

Again, thanks in advance for your prompt response.

Grant

Dear Grant

Thank you for your response. My name is Hayley and I am appreciative to be assisting with your account charges enquiry.

As previously advised, the GPRS charges incurred whilst roaming are correct and do need to be paid. I appreciate the concerns you have raised, however Optus are not able to remove these charges.

We are more than happy to assist with a payment plan if you require this, and our friendly Financial Services team can be contacted on 1300 300 418 for assistance.

I am pleased that you are now aware of how these kinds of charges can result when you are travelling, and if there is anything further we can educate you further on, simply respond to this email and we will be glad to clarify for you.
I have been reviewing your last few accounts and would like to let you know that you can keep a closer eye on your usage using the free iPhone usage application. The application is great because it is free to download and use.

With this new and exciting application Post Paid mobile customers are able to;

-view your unbilled usage for eligible iPhone plans
-view your last four bills
-pay your bill via credit card

If this application is of interest to you please visit the Apple website of www.apple.com.au or the App store on your iPhone for more information, or send us a reply and we can assist with any questions you may have.

Yours Sincerely

Hayley
Web Servicing Team
Optus

——————————————–

Hi Haley,

What happened to Alex and Joy, I wonder?
I don’t really see anything new in your response Hayley.
The specific questions I’ve outlined have not been addressed at all.
Can someone look into this, perhaps?

Also, I would like you to reactivate the global roaming on my phone. I think Joy informed me at the outset that she managed this, so I’m guessing you can switch it back on. I want to test something, before taking this conundrum further.

Also, as I asked in the last email, what happens with my overdue account (for non payment of the GPRS charges)? I would expect you put some hold on the letters of demand and any threats before the issue is fully resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. And Haley, we’re not there yet.

Looking forward to meeting more of your team.
Please let me know when the global roaming is back on.

Thanks in advance for your prompt response.

Kind regards,

Dear Grant

My name is Wilson and I will assist you with regarding your concerns surrounding your Optus Mobile account.

I am sorry to hear of your ongoing billing difficulty, and I can appreciate the concerns that you have raised.

Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience caused in relation to the different respondents to your web enquiries. This is due to Optus responding to your enquiries in a timely manner. I can assure you our Web Servicing Team representatives review all contact notes to ensure your enquiries are addressed appropriately.

If customers wish to dispute any mobile charges on their mobile account, it is in the customer’s interests to pay any invoices in a timely manner. As unpaid accounts can incur Late Payment fees and collections process.

If the dispute outcome has determined mobile charges have been billed incorrectly, the necessary credit adjustments are applied on your mobile account accordingly.

In the event you are unable to make full payment, Optus is more than happy to discuss any payment arrangements with you.

I have extended your current balance of $755.23 which was due on the 7th October up until the 20th October. If you do require more time than this please contact our credit services team on 1300 300 418 to make a payment arrangement. They are available from 8.30am until 7.00pm Monday to Friday, and from 9.00am until 6.00pm Saturday (AEST).

As requested, I have reactivated Optus AutoRoam on your mobile service.

The roaming feature does not incur any additional access fees, and allows you to access networks from a large range of both popular and more unusual destinations.

While overseas you will be charged for outgoing calls and SMS from your service, as well as any incoming calls. You can view details of these costs, as well as the available AutoRoam destinations by visiting www.optus.com.au/autoroam.

These charges will be itemised on your monthly Optus account in Australian Dollars however as we rely on the overseas carrier to forward the details to us they may take up to 3 months to appear on your statement. These calls and messages are not included as a part of the included value of your current rate plan.

When travelling between countries and regions, you may need to complete a manual network selection to ensure your handset maintains a connection with the local mobile network. Normally this option is within the ‘Networks’ or ‘Settings’ area of your phone’s menu, however further information on how to do this can be found in your handset user manual.

As you have been informed of the billing charges surrounding Optus AutoRoam.

I can confirm Alex and Joy have been very helpful in providing assistance with deactivation advice to turn of data settings on the Apple iPhone handset.

After checking our systems, I can confirm the mobile charges have been billed correctly and stand as valid.

I trust this information is of assistance and provides you with a solution to your billing enquiry.

Wilson
Web Servicing Team
Optus

—————————————–

Thanks Wilson,
The one question I asked at the very start of this has not been addressed by you or any of your colleagues in all this correspondence.

What and how does a phone start to pulling and pushing GPRS data without any change in the phone’s settings? This is the issue at stake, it seems.

No such ‘pushing/pulling’ was active while the phone was in use in Australia. I do nothing to the settings, not that I even know how, I switch on the phone in the Netherlands, use it for a handful of texts (and do not change any settings), only to discover on my first bill while away the $700 plus of such charges. Please explain, is all I ask.

And for the record, it’s not a matter of not being able to pay. So the October 20extension is not warranted, but thank you nonetheless.

I am asking that the account be put ‘on hold’ or something until the matter has been resolved. So intimidating threats from you of late payment fees and collection services doesn’t help our reconciliation relationship, don’t you agree?

And just out of interest, hypothetically speaking, what happens to someone’s outstanding (unpaid) balance if they instigate actions with the telco ombudsman? Surely, that account is put on hold, or something similar, while the matter is sorted one way or the other. Surely you wouldn’t be sending late payment penalty notes or threats of collection services until the issue had been adjudged?

Maybe I’m wrong?

So 2 questions in this email. Could the next respondent please address those.

Thanks in advance for your prompt response because I’m sure you want to clear this query from your active list as much as I do.

Grant Doyle

Dear Grant

My name is Alison and I will be assisting you today with your enquiry regarding data roaming charges billed to your service.

I am happy to provide further clarification of these charges and how they vary when you travel overseas.

iPhone handsets have a setting which allows your handset to automatically roam and search for a Wi-Fi network where ever you are located. When in Australia, your national roaming and internet connection is automatically covered under the data allowance for your ‘yes’ $39 iPhone rate plan. Therefore, you may not have noticed that it is continually roaming for a data network.

When you travel overseas, if you do not turn the automatic data roaming setting off, your iPhone will continue to roam and automatically search for and access a Wi-Fi network where ever you are located. As you are overseas, this is no longer a national charge but rather, an international data roaming charge and not covered under the national data allowance provisioned in your plan. Therefore, your iPhone is continually accessing International data roaming and accruing data charges not covered under your standard plan.

When using an iPhone overseas, it is important to leave the setting for Data Roaming on the default which is ‘Off’. To change the International Roaming Data setting you go to Settings > General > Network > Data Roaming Option. You can set this to On or Off as you like.

Underneath this setting, there is a warning message which says ‘Turn Data Roaming off when abroad to avoid substantial roaming charges when using email, web browsing and other data services’. As the iPhone constantly uses data, switching this setting away from the default of ‘Off’ to ‘On’ results in the iPhone working in exactly the same way as it would when using your home carrier, Optus.

With regard to your query concerning your account status and payment in a situation where charges are being investigated or disputed, I can advise that, as per Optus billing terms and conditions, it is your responsibility to ensure that your account status is kept up to date. In the event of an outcome where it is deemed that charges are billed incorrectly, your account will be credit or adjusted accordingly once the dispute is resolved.

We do understand that there are circumstances where charges may not be able to be paid by the due date. In this instance, we recommend you contact our Credit Services team to make a suitable payment arrangement.

They can be contaced on 1300 300 192 and are available from 8.30am until 7.00pm Monday to Friday, and from 9.00am until 2.00pm Saturday (AEST).

Please note that failure to make a suitable payment arrangement, or to pay in full, may impact you on any future credit applications made within Australia. As a credit provider, Optus refers unpaid accounts to mercantile agents for resolution. If necessary, outstanding accounts may be advised to the credit reporting agency, Veda Advantage, for noting.

I trust this information is of assistance and provides you with an answer to your query concerning data roaming charges billed to your service.

For further enquiries please reply by email or contact our Customer Care Centre on 133937 or if overseas on + (or the international exit code) 61 2 8082 5678.

Yours sincerely

Alison
Web Servicing Team
Optus

——————————

Hi Alison,

Sorry I haven’t replied sooner but I’ve been away; first, Paris, and most recently in Bruges, where the chocolate is very good.

You say:

So it’s pay up first and then we’ll sort out the dispute later? This doesn’t seem a very equitable relationship at all. Which has been part of my issue from the outset.

The other issue is this. After having spent many minutes on your help desk phone line prior to departing in order to work out what to do with my account etc during the impending 7-month absence, at no time did the Optus employee advise to switch the default date roaming off, which you seem to belatedly mention below. If someone didn’t know about this, then how are they expected to action the best settings. This seems to me to be a glaring omission in your advice to me prior to departure.

Beyond this though, your explanation doesn’t make sense. If my iPhone in Australia, ‘picks up’ a WiFi network, why is that data charged to me, when I’m ‘piggy backing’ so to speak, off the WiFi provider’s network? That’s nothing to do with me proactively and directly downloading email to the phone (or browsing) over the Optus network, which I fully expect to pay for. And which I have not attempted once since being overseas.

My home has a secure wireless network. The iPhone accesses this because of the password being set up. And I can surf the web on the phone via this network and not incur any charges because it’s piggy backing off our Bigpond wireless network? Right?

The same thing applies at my university library. If I so chose to use my phone there for email or web browsing, it utilises the university’s network, not my Optus account? Right?

So how is the Starbucks cafe in Amsterdam any different if my iPhone ‘picks up’ their free WiFi network for customers? If I did do this, the phone is simply ‘piggybacking’ off the Starbucks provided network; nothing to do with Optus or the partner carrier in the Netherlands.

This is my dilemma. And I don’t think we’re at the bottom of it yet; what do you think?

Regards,

Dear Grant,

My name is Kylee and I will be assisting with your enquiry today.

In regards to the charges you incurred while travelling please be advised that Data Roaming from your iPhone must be turned on by yourself.

As per the terms and conditions of the yes iPhone $39 plan you receive Free access, browsing and downloads in Optus WiFi hotspots. Within the terms and conditions it also states that the plan does not include International Roaming. As International data roaming and accruing data charges are not covered under your plan you have been charged for this access.

In the event that a customer has a billing dispute Optus does recommend that they continue to pay charges not being queried on their account. A protection can then be placed on the account to prevent any Financial Services action on any charges in dispute. Should you wish not to make payment on the charges you are querying you certainly have that option. However on this occasion, Optus is confident that the charges have been billed correctly and your iPhone would have provided you a warning prior to accepting data roaming ability.

Optus appreciates the opportunity to clarify this matter for you.

For further enquiries please reply by email or contact our Customer Care Centre on 1300768453 or if overseas on + (or the international exit code) 61 2 8082 5678.

Yours Sincerely

Kylee
Web Servicing Team
Optus

————

Hi Kylee,

Thank you for the prompt response.

However, I think it a bit presumptuous you suggesting that clarity has been provided with your email.
The confidence displayed in assuming that I was informed of all such data charges and ramifications for the default settings of an iPhone were most definitely not provided in the half hour or so I spent on the phone to the Optus help desk prior to my overseas departure.

I think there is an onus on Optus to fully inform customers of the potential that I seem to have  inadvertantly experienced through no active fault of my own. This is not ignorance on my part, nor deception on yours. I believe now that there is a more thorough duty of care expected of Optus, specific to the iPhone, in these very common and general circumstances.

It is for this reason that I wish to put a hold on, or protect, that outstanding amount of my account, pending further inquiry and investigation on my part. The financials:

I paid today all other non-GPRS data fees for the latest account due 06 November. That was $67.19.
This still leaves a total amount outstanding (and in dispute) of $957.43, by my records. It is this amount/component I want to ‘quarantine’ until a resolution is arrived at to the satisfaction of all parties. This you suggest in your email, seems possible.

Kylee (and all your colleagues I’ve met this past month or so), I realise and fully appreciate you have an important job to do, and that you work with templates to achieve strict outcomes. This is to be expected. But you must also appreciate my situation, to display a modicum of empathy, for this customer, which I acknowledge must be a mammoth task, given the vast Optus customer base.

So, in the short-term, please advise what I need to do to put the disputed amount on ‘hold’ or protection, “to prevent,” as you say, “any Financial Services action on any charges in dispute,” despite the confidence you express on behalf of Optus is being absolutely and unequivocally in the right.

Oh, one final thing: As a freelance journalist (you might have guessed from the nature of my writing? but I shouldn’t be so presumptuous), I’m working on a consumer interest story related to this very issue. So in the interests of professional courtesy, I will be quoting many of the responses from yourself and your colleagues in the proposed article. If Optus has an issue with this, could you please direct me to the appropriate media people for further discussion.

Thanking you again in advance for your prompt response to my 2 queries:

1. How to protect or put on hold the disputed amount
2. Direct me to your media people or general counsel if Optus has issues with me quoting freely from our correspondence in my proposed article.

Kind regards,

Dear Mr Doyle,

Optus Ref N#: 1883228

Thank you for your correspondence, regarding the billing of International Roaming Data charges and Optus Customer Service. Optus welcomes your feedback and the opportunity to address your concerns. Firstly, I would like to apologise on behalf of Optus for any distress or inconvenience that you may have experienced in connection with this matter.

Optus constantly strives to be our customer’s best service experience and it is of concern to us to hear that your expectations were not met by Optus in this instance. Optus Customer Service Representatives are trained to resolve the customer’s query on the first contact where possible and Optus sincerely regrets that your enquiry was not handled in an appropriate manner. I have forwarded your concerns to the Management of Customer Service.

As a Gesture of Goodwill and without admission of liability Optus will waive the current balance of $957.43 on your Optus Account Number 86357776000170.  As you have been advised the Data Component and International Roaming features have been removed from your service as such you should not receive any further charges for International Roaming Data. Please note that currently your account reflects a nil balance.

Should you have any further queries or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact myself on 0280859082 or via return e-mail.

Regards

Paul Newman

——————————-

Paul,

How do you survive going through life with such a famous moniker? Sorry.

Anyway, I am extremely humbled by this outcome. Contrary to some of the earlier responses by your colleages, this was never about the finance or inability to pay, but rather, me seeking a thorough explanation of what happened, and how?  All my subsequent inquiries merely sought this clarification.

And if that had occurred promptly, efficiently and transparently, then I most likely would have paid the charges, and learned a very costly lesson.

So I sincerely thank you for this good news. My faith in Optus has been partially restored, but rest assured, though I am only a small-spend customer, I shall be an advocate for your brand.

Good luck and thank you again.

Regards,

Grant Doyle

Ahora que si no te gusta viajar en Turibús o te parece muy caro, otra manera de disfrutar de esta Ciudad de México es la bicicleta, este medio de transporte que se utiliza con frecuencia en las ciudades europeas como Ámsterdam, Sevilla, Madrid  y mas. Ahora la Ciudad de México te permite recorrer parte de sus lugares más turísticos de la misma manera, sobre todo los domingos en donde en el Zócalo, Paseo de la Reforma, Chapultepec, y las Avenidas Juárez y Madero que van al centro y a Bellas Artes cierran la circulación a los coches en este día de descanso  de 8:00 am a 14:00 hrs, para convertirlas en ciclo pistas únicamente para uso de bicicletas grandes y pequeñas. No te preocupes no tienes que traer la tuya desde donde vengas, sólo tienes que pedir una prestada de manera gratuita en uno de las ciclo estaciones que puedes localizar en el link de abajo.

http://www.ciudadmexico.com.mx/mapas/cicloestaciones.htm

http://www.sma.df.gob.mx/sma/index.php?opcion=27&id=406

Amsterdam’s hottest sneaker boutique Patta teamed up with Converse and Le Le to create a special anniversary pack, which has recently hit retailers.  The pack features a Letterman inspired, reversible varsity jacket along with two of Converse’s most iconic styles: the Chuck Taylor and the Pro Leather 76.  The entire collection is now available at HUF.

De sluiting van de Stubnitz is representatief voor de teloorgang van creatieve ruimte in Amsterdam. Creatieve ruimte is per definitie niet reduceerbaar tot een steriele ruimte die voldoet aan de droom van de protocolbeminnende ambtenaar. Op de Stubnitz zou harddrugs zijn aangetroffen. Dit is een interessant gegeven aangezien harddrugs overal gebruikt waar hard wordt gedanst. Echter, slechts een enkele tent wordt om deze reden gesloten. Naar mijn idee komt dit doordat de opsporing van druggebruikers biased is. Locaties die het imago hebben van strikt, mainstream, commercieel, begrijpelijk & bekend, populair bij de massa en schoon worden meer met rust gelaten dan locaties die het imago hebben van alternatief, populair bij een minderheid, vreemd, onbegrijpelijk, niet-commercieel.  Want onbekend maakt onbemind. Dat achter het imago van mainstream grootschalig drugsgebruik kan vinden blijft doet geen afbreuk aan de vooringenomenheid.

Duidelijk is dat er een verschil is in behandeling door gemeente en politie van uitgaansgelegenheden wat betreft drugscontroles. Dit verschil in behandeling benadeelt de alternatieve scence en bevoordeelt de commerciële en mainstream scene. Maar wat is de oplossing voor deze ongelijke behandeling? Naar mijn idee is het niet de oplossing om dezelfde drugsrazzia´s te houden in plaatsen als de Heineken Music Hall (zie video). Drugsgebruik is nu eenmaal onderdeel van het uitgaan voor een aantal mensen, meestal alleen in een bepaalde periode van hun leven. Dit is slecht nieuws voor iedereen die een steriel Amsterdam als droom heeft, waar Amsterdammers handelen naar wenselijke verwachting. Voor iedereen die een Amsterdam als droom heeft waar de nadruk ligt op het scheppend vermogen van de grote verscheidenheid aan mensen, op de schepping van dingen die nog niet vooraf bedacht en gewenst zijn in beleidsagenda´s en protocollen, dan is het drugsgebruik van een aantal mensen in een bepaald deel van hun leven niet eens nieuws. Het is onderdeel van een stad waar de voorwaarden en grenzen van creatie niet van tevoren vastgelegd zijn in protocollen.

Het probleem van Amsterdam is haar obsessie met beheersbaarheid en veiligheid. Het besturen van een stad vraagt om reductie van complexiteit om überhaupt een plan voor de gemeenschap te kunnen maken. Echter, beheersing kan nooit een doel op zich zijn, maar is een middel om ergens toe te komen. De reductie van complexiteit om het verlangen tot beheersing te realiseren mag daarom geen leven op zich gaan leiden om het makkelijker te maken voor politici, beleidsmakers en ambtenaren. Want wanneer beheersing een doel in zichzelf wordt, wordt creatieve ruimte per definitie bedreigd. Dit is het geval met de sluiting van de Stubnitz maar ook bijvoorbeeld het kraakverbod en de broedplaatsen. Amsterdam wordt een saaie en dode stad gedomineerd door de macht van de beheersbaarheid, voorspelbaarheid en commercialiteit.

Ook veiligheid krijgt een onterecht en onrealistisch hoge prioriteit. Hoe kan een stad met zo´n verscheidenheid aan mensen, doelstellingen, belangen inzetten op 100% veiligheid, ofwel 0% risico? Dat kan alleen ten koste van veel gaan. Onder meer gaat het ten koste van de creatieve en onvoorspelbare ruimte. Met de inzet op nul risico – een utopie in zichzelf – gaat meer verloren dan gewonnen: een risicovrije stad zal men nooit krijgen zolang er Mensen (ipv robotten bijv.) wonen met een enigszins vrije wil. En Amsterdam is een stad van mensen met een enigszins vrije wil, haleluja.

De oplossing is daarom gelegen in een herschikking van de prioriteiten op de agenda: de utopie van een volledig veilig / risicovrij Amsterdam moet verdwijnen en vervangen worden door realistischer ideaal van een scheppende stad die zorgt voor basisveiligheid waar het noodzakelijk is (bijv- diefstal, agressie en geweld maar ook controle op langzaam rijden in woonwijken) uitgaat van meer eigen verantwoordelijkheid en meer acceptatie van risico´s. Dit betekent dus verder dat de obsessie met verregaande reductie van complexiteit en beheersbaarheid tbv ambtenaren, beleidsmakers en politici daalt op de agenda en Amsterdam als creatieve scheppende stad moet stijgen op de prioriteitenagenda. Stap één is het opnieuw verstrekken van een vergunning aan de Stubnitz.

Schrijf ook een paar regels met een vraag aan de gemeenteraad van Amsterdam.  Zo’n verzoek heeft officieel een raadsadres. De raad is verplicht hierop te antwoorden. Via de website van de gemeente kan je een raadsadres versturen: https://www.amsterdam.nl/gemeente/gemeenteraad/contact/mailformsubhomes/formulier_raadsadres

In the approximately two weeks since my last post I have had the flu, not the swine, but it was pretty bad. I was laid low, I didn’t do any walking, but I did watch all the Dexter episodes available from series 1 to 4, which I found extremely satisfying. Mmmm. Almost two weeks ago the mad scientist and I went to Amsterdam. I was still sick and it rained the entire 4 days we were there, but it was great. What a great city Amsterdam is; the architecture,;the people; the bikes; the canals; the beer. We went through the red light district late at night and the mad scientist was surprised at how appalling she found the sight of skanky females pressing their bodies against the windows in the sleazy alleyways of the red light district. I was bemused to hear her reaction, wondering what exactly she had expected to see? Her father, the crazy chemist, recalls being in the red light district 40 years ago and commented that the women were quite homely types, knitting whilst waiting for customers, oh how times have changed!

We didn’t see inside one museum or art gallery, we didn’t see many of the sights, we didn’t eat any of their much talked about cheese and we didn’t eat enough of their amazing stroopwafels, but we did hire bicycles and I was almost rundown by a taxi cab, which is an everyday occurrence apparently and the mad scientist had the best haircut of her life. As such, Amsterdam will require and deserves at least one more visit before we depart Europe, which is fine because I could easily live there!

I must admit to having not read anything substantial in the past two weeks or so and to have not heard anything exciting. Although a few weeks ago I did stumble upon this band and hope to see them next week in Bern for 15 bucks. Gotta love a bargain. http://www.myspace.com/thesonsarealreet

Daha önce yazılarımdan birinde bahsetmiştim, 17-18 Kasım tarihlerinde Hollanda’da Helal Forumu düzenleniyor ve Intertek organizasyon partneri olduğu için ben de bu foruma  katılıyorum. Bu nedenle şu anda organizasyonun düzenlendiği Den Haag‘da, otel odamdayım.

Hollanda kraliçesinin yaşadığı şehir olan Den Haag’a ilk kez geliyorum ama kalabalık ve bol aksiyonlu Amsterdam‘dan da, sanayi şehri Rotterdam‘dan da oldukça farklı olduğunu söyleyebilirim.Şehir çok sakin ve yemyeşil. Şehrin göbeğinde büyük bir otelde kalıyorum ama hemen yan tarafımızda girsem içinde kaybolacağım hissini veren koca bir koru var.Şehrin içine doğru yürüdükçe ağaç miktarı azalmıyor, yaya yolunun paralelinde devam ediyor.İstanbul’un en büyük eksiği bu benim için, gönlünüzce zaman geçirebileceğiniz yeşil alan yok şehrin içinde.Burada yaşayanları oldukça kıskandım.

Öğlen yemekten sonra kısa bir yürüyüşe çıkıp fotoğraf çekme şansım oldu, bu güzelliği sizinle de paylaşmak istedim.

Here we have an exciting poll for you to take part in. In our previous post we highlighted the growing popularity of Festive Breaks to the continent, as opposed to staying put here in the UK. What we would like to find out is where your ideal festive break would take you?

We’ve included destinations throughout the continent so most of you should have been to at least one of these places over Christmas and New Year. The winner will be crowned with the coveted Cheap UK Ferries ‘Best Festive Breaks Destination’ champion  -a title that they are all desperate to get their hands on, so make sure you vote for your favourite!

Thanks for taking part.

Are you an expat in Amsterdam and feel like you have something to say?

The Expat Center, in association with the lofty iAmsterdam campaign, is producing a short film to be used by companies and organizations for purposes of training and helping in relocation.

The type of stories they will be looking for are:

• Personal impressions of the Dutch
• Experiences with civil service
• Experiences in your place of work
• How international you think the Amsterdam metropolitan area is

I would take part, but… I’m pretty sure they’re going to be looking for nearly all positive responses, since this video will be shown to future expats who know nothing about living in the Netherlands.  If only they were looking for negative stories – I have some great ones!  Oh, the Dutch.

If you are interested though, they are looking for about 20 people who can share their stories on Tuesday, December 1st.  Check out the iAmsterdam website for more information.

Ontwikkel voorstel Art City Amsterdam

De kop van het Java eiland is de laatste prominente ontwikkellocatie in het zuid-oostelijk deel van de IJ-oevers. Nu valt, gezien de malaise in de ontwikkelarij, er weinig te ontwikkelen, maar wel moeten ambitieuze plannen kunnen worden ontwikkeld om hier wat goeds aan de srad Amsterdam toe te voegen. De Gemeente zou zijn beleid van terughoudendheid moeten laten varen en hier starten met ‘grootse meeslepende’ plannen. Hierbij alvast een voorstel van een mogelijke invulling met een museum, een galerie-boulevard en woningen.

Frederik van Simaey @ Tegenboschvanvreden

Sara van der Heide @ Diana Stigter

Christian Friedrich in opbouw @ Fons Welters

Pepo Salazar @ Upstream Gallery

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Akiko & Masako Takada en Femke Schaap @ Metis

Have just come back from my first ever visit to Amsterdam where I was a guest at the wonderful annual Radioday run by the Foundation for Media Communications.  At least a couple of hundred former offshore pirate staff and listeners attended, making it both a reunion with people I haven’t seen for years, and a chance to put faces to names of people who have been buying Shiprocked.

There were some great panel discussions, including a very interesting one on Laser 558 / Laser Hot Hits, an interview with Keith Skues and a talk about AFN.

I spent an hour on stage in conversation with Nigel Harris, who also has a book out about his radio days (review here when I manage to get hold of a copy – it was sold out on the day). Nigel is such an easy and interesting person to talk to, the hour just flashed by.

A great day, very well organised – can’t wait for next year’s one!

Nigel Harris (left) and myself on stage

An hour chatting to Nigel just flew past

Radioday at the Casa400 Hotel in Amsterdam

I hab deen to the most lovely cities in europe. Made Paris, London, Amsterdam on just three days. How wirde to wake up in london after partying till 3 a.m. in Paris. London rocked the most. Some impressions of Jonas (cam) and me.

Paris has been a wonderful stop on my travels, so much so, that I extended my stay a few days… But foreign languages and foreign cultures have their pitfalls. I disovered that in my last two days in Paris.

I decided to take the train to Amsterdam, to explore what freedom of expression really means, so went off yesterday to buy my ticket – easy enough and 94 Euros saw me booked on the train, 2nd class, to Amsterdam, leaving today. Except, that when I arrived back at my hostel – I am staying in hostels on this part of my holiday and it is great fun – I found that my ticket had vanished, disappeared, it was no more….. Oh well, a few drinks and some good company at the bar watching France win the football, got me over this loss.

So this morning, after not sleeping that well for some reason – I found myself going over and over what might have happened to my train ticket – I got up early and went back to Gare du Nord to buy another ticket. I explained that I had lost mine, but the French lass was not that sympathetic and in fact I had to pay 20 Euros more for the second ticket, still 2nd class – not sure why. This all took me much less time than I had allowed, so to pass the time had a second breakfast at a cafe on the street – coffee au lait and croissant – and waited for my train to leave. Now, I had no clear idea, from my (second) ticket, where I was sitting, except I had an aisle seat, no 107.

The departure time finally arrived and I made my way to the train, which seemed miles long. I asked directions to my seat (not something a man usually does) and was, rudely I thought, mayeb it was just the  French, directed further down the train and finally settled down in seat 107 for the 4 hour trip to Amsterdam. Luxury seats, onboard wifi and power point for the laptop. So I felt good. But then the announcements came, to say this train was going to Cologne, via Brussels, with no mention of Amsterdam. And I heard this announcement in 4 languages, French, Dutch, German and finally English, so I guessed it was correct. Hmmmm, maybe I am on the wrong train, but as I begin to gather up my things, the train starts moving, so what the heck, I am on, and I am going where it is going. 

Luckily a conductor came along after 15 minutes, during which time I imagined myself ending up where I didn’t want to be, to check tickets and he informed me that I was on the wrong train, but luckily the right train was attached, even further up front, and I would be able to change when we arrived in Brussels – a 5 minute stop to delink the two trains. So I finally found my correct seat, also 107, on the forward train, but in much more cramped seats, no wifi and no power point for my laptop – but I have arrived safely and right on time, in Amsterdam.

The good news and happy ending to this slightly more stressful trip, is that my hostel is within easy walking distance from the train station and right in the middle of all the action, the coffee shops, the red light district and all the activities that Amsterdam is famous for. So I guess I won’t get much sleep tonight.

A few months ago, after attending an art exhibition in Amsterdam, I met Jesus at a busstop, but I forgot. But I found the photo’s back!

I guess the photo in the photo is a pictural version of Deuteronomy 32:35. A frame story, as it were.

In 1999 Jesus ran for the provincial elections, for the Central Democrats, but was not chosen. A sad event, for which the Jews were to blame, and the foreigners, and the Queen, whose abduction he demanded. But more later!

Amsterdam’s Subliminal skateshop entered the ‘Rollend Holland’ contest, where skateshops battled each other with montages of their teamriders. Apparently Subliminal won best soundtrack and 7ply (Rotterdam) won the whole contest. So with out any further a do: Subliminal’s entry. Hopefully more will follow.

Stubnitz_FightClub

motorship stubnitz | MySpace Video

For centuries Amsterdam was proud of being a tolerant city. Its recent “vertrutting” undermines this.

MS Stubnitz, ‘the ship of 100 subcultures’, is a representative of the diverse and tolerant cultural spirit of Amsterdam.
For unjust reasons the ship has been shut down by the City of Amsterdam, leaving this independent cultural hotspot and its crew in limbo: unable to operate the ship and unable to leave Amsterdam.

Please support the Stubnitz by signing the petition at:
www.clanrewired.com/Steun_MS_Stubnitz_in_Amsterdam.html

Details on the illegitimate closure of the Stubnitz can be found in the document “Bezwaargronden” (in Dutch).
www.stubnitz.com/0/temp/files/091106Bezwaargronden_bl.pdf

Take notice of the manifesto “Tolerant Amsterdam” here (in Dutch):
http://tolerantamsterdam.jimdo.com/

All information taken from: http://www.myspace.com/stubnitz

Back in Amsterdam for a week, before going to Houston. Miserable weather , grey and wet (typicall for November). But nice to be back home for a while.

Bij de kapper /chez le coiffeur/at the hairdresser

De passage à Amsterdam pour une semaine, avant de continuer sur Houston. Temps gris et humide, typique pour un mois de Novembre. Mais cela fait du bien d’être de nouveau à la maison, même si ce n’est que pour une courte durée.