the PICNIC

so, shawna and i decided to start looking into festivals and things here in the city to be a part of to start networking more effectively within the arts and culture community. there is SO much to do in this city.... there is no way that any one person can do all that is available here in this city. I also want to go to every museum, and this city has more museums than any other city, so this is going to be something to tackle! anyway, this next week, there are som really exciting things going on... we looked on http://www.iamsterdam.com/visiting_exploring/what's_on/what's_on_text/2007/global_warning and found this http://www.picnicnetwork.org/set-5958-en.html.... it is a convention/festival that is geared for the most cutting-edge/innovative

/creative/cultural/tech and science/arts/music orgs adn companies in the world. you register for it like you would a myspace and people become your friends and invite you to their "pitches" (for new ideas), workshops, etc. the first guy that invited me to be his "contact" is a guy that is pitching a motor oil that you never have to change that is earth-friendly! i have no idea what on earth he could have created, but that is the king of stuff that i am talking about. the cost for this thing is almost 1000euro, but for all of us poor people, there are over 50 workshops/discussion groups, a huge party for two nights that presents many of the newer music, dance companies, audio/visual technology, who-knows-what-else (this is at http://www.discovery07.nl/), a network of city games that is being put on that is ageless and interactive using the CITY as your playground, and a free screening to see the latest in coming cinema... the CineGrid 4k!!! All of that is FREE!!! So, I have signed up for all kinds of workshops ranging from web marketing and business development, to global communities and the CineGrid 4k. going to the party (hopefully bringing my friend Dieuwke - pronounced doo-ka) and dragging the kids to some of the games that are going on. that is just one festival before the end of the month. i think there are 2 others that need to be checked out. and of course, shawna will be in poland with wanda, the art-gallery neighbor, so i get to fly solo... should be interesting and fun! (she is really not-thrilled that she can't go ;) ) so, we are receiving affirmation that what is going on here is good, right for the moment, and God is opening doors for us to take this to the FRINGE of the cutting edge! very encouraging! more on this later as it progresses...