Catching up back in the Netherlands

** It was a busy week in the US without a break and, despite having fun catching up with friends and kids, it still feels good to be back in the Netherlands. My son came back here with me: we'll spend a few days here and a few days in Rome, catching up on life's next steps. I asked him what he wanted to see or do while over here: running the car around the Nürburgring Race Track turned out to be high on his list. I'd never even heard of it, supposedly the most difficult and dangerous track in the world, now open to the public just south of Koln. One more thing to add to the list of places to go, things to see...

** It's also nice to step back and away from the saturation coverage of President Bush again. The Supreme Court decision last week, directing 5-4 that the Guantanamo detainees have their day in court to face their accusers, brought out his predictable arrogance of "Just because I have to accept what the Supreme Court did, I don't necessarily have to agree with it." It's all bluster, backed by a chorus a talking heads warning that people will die because of this ruling. It is discouraging to hear: the European Trip doesn't sound like it went any better. At least he wasn't dancing this time.

** The many blog posts about the Oranje-Fever didn't do justice to the actual flood of decorations, endorsements, and commercial connections everywhere referencing the team and the tournament. A Welpie now graces my front window, fostering stronger cross-Atlantic ties with my smitten neighbors. Shameless, I know. Still, I have stopped short of putting the Tournament Browser on my web site. I've already been advised not to plan any meetings for after 3 pm tomorrow because everyone is going home early to watch the match.

** Sea-Tac Airport has announced that, in an effort to relieve congestion in security lines, they will ask people to voluntarily assign themselves to one of three subgroups: "Frequent Fliers", "People who think they need help", and "Families with children". Are there really any circumstances where someone would voluntarily assign themselves to any line but the first one?

** There is a lot of talk about how people are increasingly living "Connected" lives because of the ubiquity of mobile Internet platforms and social networking applications. I think that we are actually living more "Extended" lives. Because we can keep in touch so many people so easily, it feels like the world just as easily becomes our stage. It's largely an illusion to believe that they are all listening and interested.

However, I was surprised at a recent scientific conference by the number of acquaintances who knew more about my activities (and interests) than I expected because they's read my LinkedIn entry. It's a bit spooky: I find myself trying to remember when I would have seen this person to tell them all of the things that they seem to know.

Networking photo credit: Kevin Dugan