A quarter of a century ago, one driver’s mistake opened the door for the beginning of a legend.Jaap Grolleman explains the story of Bertrand Gachot, Michael Schumacher and the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. Twenty five years ago, the paths of two promising talents intertwined. The career of the one who seemed destined for greatness halted, […]
“Don’t ask, don’t tell,” was the slogan used by the Clinton presidency in 1994, to resolve the issue of gay acceptance in the United States military. It seemingly solved the problem, precisely by leaving it unresolved. It’s exemplary for the past decades. In an unprecedented way we’ve seen social, environmental and political problems succeed each other in rapid succession, as […]
Great (largely successful) attempt of accessibly applying ancient Chinese philosophy to today. (Just want to put one small FU here to the authors for implying the world is made by humans (and we can therefor alter it) and that environmentalism is nonsense.)
Ender’s Game is one of my favourite books. It’s not that the literary form is of such advanced prose, but the story and the inner-mechanics of the protagonist are par to none. Ender’s Game is a book about rational thoughts and emotional struggles — told through children — which are present in us all.
This was written two years ago as a answer to the question, ‘What is your favorite scent?’, on Quora, and it still rings true to this day. My favorite smell is that of the Veluwe, the area which I think of as my home ground. I don’t live there anymore now, but every time I […]
Murray Walker famously said: “If is a very long word in Formula One. In fact, if is F1 spelled backwards,” while David Coulthard put it as following: “If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.” F1’s record books are littered with events that hinge on circumstance, down to luck, or lack of it. And […]
The year I was born, my dad passed his motorcycle license, and for as long as I have memories, my dad — wearing a distinctive grey with blue and red jacket — rode a Yamaha FZR400: a lightweight race bike, which screamed loudly as he revved it on our driveway. Recently, my dad got onto […]
One of the things I learned at Vandebron is that nearly all people are willing to help, but barely know how. Whether it’s big subjects like climate change, or slightly, like offering a stranger a ride home, there’s often something holding people back — but there’s definitely a powerless hero hiding in all of us. Once you understand […]
On the Blaak in Rotterdam — dwarfed by modern offices — stands an old bank building. The brick walls carry a red tile roof, under which an art academy nests. In its front two plane trees stand, and there’s a quote above the door that reads: “I have to change to stay the same.” Four years I went […]
