Where does racism belong?

Despite being fueled by populists and actual neo-nazis more and more people are convinced that racism isn't normal. Some state it belongs in the past but I say it belongs nowhere. Not in the past, not on the workfloor or the supermarket and not on the police force.

(Now ex-) Cops in the American city of Torrance were caught spray painting a swastika (click) in a suspect's car in april 2021. December 2021 Torrance police officers were caught sending eachother text messages that showed they're racists. Cases in which suspects were handled with brute force and police officers from the Torrance district acted as witnesses in the courtroom are now being re-investigated.

And that's good. Violence against suspects should never be condoned. When they are treated worse than others, just because the colour of their skin is darker than that of said police officers, it's a sign that racism runs deep.

Unfortunately not just in the Torrance police force but also in other police forces, on the workfloor, in the supermarket and other places where people fear others just because of the colour of their skin.

Here's a clip that shows that people - no matter the colour of their skin - don't have to be afraid of cops, like they are in 'the land of the free':

It may have been 'normal' to be scared of people who look different from us, some 30,000 years ago when it was of vital importance to belong to a group of people but most people have evolved into people who know that there's only one race of people these days: the human race.

Unfortunately, some have not evolved.

How can we help racists evolve into normal, caring people?

I think we should start with calling racists racists. 

I'd like you to share your thoughts and ideas on the matter. 

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Let's go get Al

Do you believe it will all be ok?

I've named this ladder 'Al Gore's solution'

for a reason.

So come with me to ride it out.

Can Al come?

Sure! I'm sure Al will make a great addition. Just put him in the back.

We'll have to pick him up first.

Al's not your ladder? Okay. Where is Al?

Last time I saw him, he was in the barn, chasing his own tail.

There's always room for people who chase their own tale.

Let's go get Al.

Yes,

let's go get Al.

=================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

How should an apology be made?

It's almost the end of the year. According to the calender used in the white, Anglo-Saxon part of the world. Traditionally people contemplate their lives and maybe even realise they should apoligize for any wrongdoings.

When it's a genuine and heartfelt 'I am truly sorry, my beloved', that beloved person will know. If not, that person just may not love you back. Or is completely numb for signs like body language, intonation and facial expressions. 

Some recommend an apology to sound like this: 

Personally I would like an apology to be coming from the person him- or herself, not from a lifestyle coach or a behaviour therapist. It reminds me too much of the methods that pick up artists use when they practice in front of a mirror to look and sound sincere while they're preying on people they consider weak.

How would you like an apology to be made? And how do you apologize yourself?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

No one is to blame (a poem in a picvoice)

In the dark nobody sees 

you're living in the shadows.

You can turn a corner 

but it all looks the same

You can run through the boroughs,

chasing a flame.

You can treat life like a game,

changing the rules as you go

You could even change your name

but in the end you will find

that no one is to blame.

=======================

Also available as picvoice:

(Music: Ad Visser - Ouverture in S)

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Is the law for everyone or just for people who don't look like you?

Good news is that finally right wing extremists have to answer for their loathful behaviour. In Florida three people got jailtime for commiting voter fraude. So I guess Trump and his sheep were right: there was voter fraude in the 2020 elections: three of his fans were caught casting their votes twice. The three are white, elderly rich people. Not exactly the demographic group their hero had in mind when he said: 'They are committing voter fraud (click)!' One of them got arrested while being on a luxury cruiseship. All three are residents of The Village in Florida. You know, that neighbourhood with nice white old people who call themselves christians.

I guess their defense will state they were only sheep who simply did what their Great Leader ('Führer' in German) asked them to do (click).

Also in America a self proclaimed 'Proud Boy' was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for breaking the law. And not regretting it. He went to Portland to fight protesters and used excessive force to hurt innocent people. The judge didn't agree with his 'defense': self-defence. People who defend themselves do not travel for miles, armed and all, to simply hurt anyone who has a different skincolour than they and claim 'self-defense'. If you still feel sorry for 51 years old Alan Swinney, I reccomend you read this article.  

Even members of government bodies don't escape their racially based conducts anymore. Like in Sweden where former Immigrant Minister Inger Stojberg (click) got jailtime for illegaly separating married immigrant couples. 

'When you break the law, you go to jail.' Isn't that what white rightwing people like to say? 

What do you think: should the law be applicable to anyone or just to people who don't look like you?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Before (a poem. Now as a picvoice!)

Something in the way her hair moved

when she rode her bike.

Something in the way she smiled

when she looked at a random child

playing with its mother.

Something in the way

she didn't seem to notice

an upcoming truck.

Something in the way

she pulled on her brakes

and put her feet on the street,

almost falling over,

smiling at her own clumsy self,

taking her time to continue her way.

There was something about her

that told him

- with absolute uncertainty -

he had never seen her before.

===================

Now in a picvoice!

(Music: Bicycle Race - Queen)

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

The world needs leaders who think like scientists and act like entrepeneurs

Countries need strong leaders. Leaders who know when to listen. To the people but also to scientists. A real leader convinces his people to think for themselves and to rely on people with actual knowledge of the subject on hand if they're unsure what to do.

In the USA a leader told his people not to listen to scientists. Unfortunaly the people listened and thousands upon thousands died. Because they believed in their Great Leader. A leader who secretly didn't listen to his own advice and got himself vaccinated. Recently it was discovered he not only contracted the virus but willingly affected others while knowing he had it. When he was treated for Covid-19, healing him (click) cost the American taxpayer over half a million dollar. Fun fact, eh?

'Yes, but also vaccinated people died so vaccins don't work.'

True. Just like people still die in car crashes despite wearing seat belts.

But a lot less than befote seat belts were mandated.

The people of Turkey believed in their Great Leader ('Führer' in German) to help the economy. In stead of taking advice from the countries best economists he convinced his people and himself that his own economic theory should be put in practice. Consequential the Turkish Lira plummeted in value (over 30 percent in just two months) and the people of Turkey are getting hungry because their wages and allowances like pension or not sufficient to pay for basic necessities like rent and food.

'Erdogan believes that high interest rates cause high inflation – the exact opposite of conventional economic thinking – and has insisted he would keep rates low.' is a quote from this article (click) on the subject.

The government of Sweden listened to the people (click) and didn't issue a lockdown or mandate facemasks. Until it was too late and thousands of Swedes had died. Unnecessarily. A lot more per thousand civilians than neighbouring countries with leaders who díd listen to scientists. 

Also when it comes to climate change, the leaders of the world tend to listen to the people but mostly to the few largest companies that have everything to gain by not making the shift from depleting the Earth from oil and coal to using more renewable sources. If governments don't start listening to scientists in stead of personal friends in the oil and coal industry, the planet and our children will suffer the consequences.

Unfortunately the world seems stuck with leaders like Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte who held a speech at the 2021 Climate Change summit in Glasgow: 'It's true that the government of The Netherlands should talk less and do more about climate change; let's talk about it some more.' 

The world needs - and deserves - leaders who think like scientists and think like entrepeneurs.

Read this article to learn more.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Shared by a few (a poem)

I miss you, darling.

And the smell of mascara 

mixed with that of stale beer and sweat 

in a dressing room in the early morning. 

When complete strangers have become friends for life 

for one glorious night. 

And give eachother a final hug 

before they put on their shades and go out. 

Into the dawn of a new day. 

With a grin and the memory of a secret, 

only shared by a few.

===============================

And here the same piece in my voice,

with a picture and music. 

Real Gone by Sam Taylor & His all time Jazz:

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

About cause and effect

Have you heard that joke about the doctors who didn't believe in vaccines, held a conference about alternative treatments and contracted COVID-19? It's not a joke:

Seven anti-vaccine doctors fell sick after gathering earlier this month for a Florida “summit” at which alternative treatments for Covid-19 were discussed.

Turns out: in stead of taking Ivermectine, not contracting the virus and claiming that's because of Ivermectine you might as well state: 'Every Sunday I walk around with a banana in my ear and I am still alive. That proves that habit works against dying.'

You see? Even smart people can make the mistake to find a correlation where there is none.

Famous example: in a certain American state there were a lot of arsons. It also happened to be a state with a large density of people of colour. People drew the conclusion that black people must be causing arsons. Makes sense, right? Wrong. Turned out that because there were a lot of people of colour, the Ku Klux Klan was very active in the region and they made a hobby out of setting houses, cars, crosses, churches and sometimes even people on fire.

People also falsely assumed - and still do - that people of colour more often than white people, are prone to committing crimes. Not true. It's mostly a matter of racial profiling.

'Yeah, but numbers don't lie!' No, but people do. And numbers are often either incomplete or simply made up.

Recently people noticed that a lot of people who are in IC with symptoms of Covid are vaccinated and 'that proves vaccins don't work!' No, it doesn't. Following the same logic one could state that seatbelts don't work because 'almost every person that got killed in a car accident was wearing a seatbelt. That proves seatbelts don't work!'

See how stupid that is?

If you still don't, let me give you another example:

'When the number of storks went down, so went the number of babies being born. That proves storks deliver babies.'

So please think carefully before you share a conclusion, based on numbers. It there really a correlation?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Dreaming of Love (a #poem)

Once mysterious,

now mundane.

Soon forgotten,

dying in vain.

With the waters rising

dreams came true

which wasn't surprising

'cause I knew you.

Like grains of sand

our memories collided

with you by my hand

our faith was decided.

Through mists of time,

guided from above

we found a rhyme,

dreaming of love

===========================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Denying something exists does not make it go away

Sometimes I simply don't understand people. Why would anyone deny covid-19 is a serious health risk for millions of people and why would people deny the fact climate change is a real and dangerous thing, mainly caused by us, people?

Do people need to get ill themselves or lose a loved one to covid before they understand their favourite populist or information channel is wrong?

Do people really need to see their house destroyed before they realise climate change is real and the cause of more floods, draughts and tornadoes?

Apparently so because a lot of people are stupid.

If you don't want to believe me or actial scientists in stead of a random stranger who claims she (it's often women who share fake news) has done her 'own' research and 'proofs' her 'own' theory that just happens to float around in the exact same words on thousands of other social media accounts, perhaps you could listen to Elon Musk:

'Yes, but I have a good immune system and can combat all diseases with ease!' 1. That's a very selfish thought because maybe someone that you infect (like you grandmother or a co-worker) might not have such an amazing immune system as you have. 2. If you have such great trust in your immune system, why are you so mortally afraid of a vaccin or of wearing a facemask? 3. Why are you at least as stupid as Herman Cain? Anyone could get seriously ill or even die from the virus. And no, it's not 'just a simple flu.' Only simple people think it is.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

To her (a short story)

He knew that she knew that he knew that she liked him. Or so. 

His hunch was proven on his last day at work. 

She approached him resolutely and gave him a recent passport photo. 

On the back was the text: 'This way you won't forget me', followed by her name, 

three x-es and a phone number which he suspected to be hers.

In the plane the next morning he felt his cheek that still softly glowed 

from the kiss she had planted on it. 

When she made virtual contact half a life later 

and sent a photo he recognised her straight away.

He had indeed never forgotten her.

Her features were of a classic beauty. She had aged some but was more beautiful 

than she had been in his thoughts. 

By the looks of it the years had been kind to her 

and in the time that passed she had had a son, or so her understood.

His heart fell when the realisation that another had beaten him to it hit him. 

After a few months of correspondence he found out that she was a single mother 

and he silently uttered a tentative cry for joy. 

It was up to him now to make a move but did he dare? 

Or should he leave the next step to her?

===============================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Do you live in an actual democracy or is your country ruled by a few families or networks of friends?

In a true democracy politicians are chosen because of their skills and expertise. Right? Yeah. That would be nice but simply is not true. Well, not always. The American political system is an example of where this is not the case. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will most likely become the next governor of Arkansas. Because her father was governor Mike Huckabee. So America is back to the old system where a few families rule. Remember the Bush family? Two presidents and a governor. Hillary Clinton was close to follow in her husband's Bill's footsteps as president. 

Politicians running for important seats put a lot of money and effort in obtaining that seat. They have extensive networks of 'friends' who sponsor them in exchange for financial or social advantages. Mostly financial: you give a candidate a million dollars campaign money and he or she - when 'elected' - makes sure you get a government contract or some tax deal that's worth more than a million.

That system has nothing to do with democracy but everything with favoritism. In Dutch 'vriendjespolitiek', 'little friends politics'. 

People don't choose a politician because of is or her ideas and how that person is planning to implement those ideas. They choose the candidate with the most money/the best network/the best public relations campaign. And because they already know someone. The people of Arkansas saw Sarah Sanders often on television when she worked as a spokesperson for President Donald Trump. 

Politicians and other marketeers know that people tend to trust someone they have often seen more than someone who is a new face to them.

British politics is famous for its 'old boys network'. A lot of high ranking politicians just happen to come from the same college. 20 out of the 55 British Prime Ministers went to Eton. 90 out of the 360 Conservative members of Parliament made millions running other companies while only officially working as a politician. Geoffrey Cox only spoke to parliament in real life once. When he voted he did so online. From the Virgin Islands. And speaking of Britain: the people voted to leave the EU because they were tricked to do so by businessmen who literally paid politicians to go for a 'Brexit' because they didn't want to answer to new EU-rules on tax evasion (click).

Former Dutch Minister of Traffic Camiel Eurlings later gave KLM some extra landing rights as a member of EU-Parliament and by pure coincidence landed himself a nice job when he stepped down as a politician. He became president of Royal KLM Airlines. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte used to work for Unilever.

The Philippines are ruled by either the Duterte or the Marcos family. People with a different last name hardly stand a chance te becoming president.

There are literally thousands of examples like above worldwide. And there's nothing we can do about it. Neither can the politicians who actually fight that system and actually do care more about the people than their own wallet, familie, friends and ego. And maybe we could think before next time we vote. Instead of voting for the politician with the best PR-manager we could ask him or her how he or she intents to keep the promises made in flyers and on Twitter. And then decide depending on their answers. 

What are your thoughts on this? Do you live in an actual democracy or is your country ruled by a few families or networks of friends? Do you know of a country where most politicians are actually chosen by the people, based on their skills and expertise?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

That one night (a short story)

He walked around like one of the undead and she was simply stunning. 

That, too, fit well in the party theme that evening: 'Vampires and werewolves'. 

He didn't dare talk to her but fired on by a friend and some alcohol he approached her.

A few weeks later she went with him to the beach. 

She rubbed suntan lotion on his back and it took a while 

before he was able to get up without exposing himself. 

He was hot and not just from the sun.

A week after that she came to dinner. 

Pure nerves made him ruin the food. 

But she ate on unperturbedly and told him she liked it. 

That's when he knew that they were good.

That night she was 'too tired to go home' and so she slept in the guest room. 

As did he.

And it didn't end that one night.

================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Being a feminist is not about hating men showing their appreciation for women.

'The internet and - to be more precise - social media is a curse: only negative stuff and when you see something nice you feel like you're underachieving because people only share pictures and stories about how wonderful their lives are!'

I'm sorry for all the haters but that simply isn't true. First of all: it depends on your personal filters. If you only want to see bad news, that's all the algorithms will show you. If you only look at pictures of smiling friends, that's all you get to see.

Social media is not much different from real life: when was the last time you ran into an old friend and he or she said:  'I'm in a bit of a pickle, could you loan me a hundred bucks?' in stead of: 'I'm doing great, really. All's fine! You?' 

Did you answer honestly that you're in a terrible divorce, your mother just died and you lost your job six months ago? No. You 'd probably say something like: 'I'm a happy single, won't listen to my mother anymore and decided to stop working for a while to enjoy life while I can.'

It's the same when people have encounters on social media. When someone does post something like 'I hate my life because chemo sucks, I lost my sense of taste, can't enjoy sex anymore. The only thing preventing me from wanting to die is wanting to see my ex die first.' we often don't know how to respond. Just like in real life.

But just like real life the internet too is full of wondrous, hopeful, funny, inspiring, information that puts a smile on our faces.

Wrinkle the Duck enjoyed people (and who knows how many ducks were watching, cheering on one of their kind?) by participating in the marathon of New York.

And how about this family that teaches people through TikTok about the do's and don't when interacting with a deaf child?

And here's one badass young lady you might see at the Olympics one day:

Paige Tobin knows how to handle a board!

~

Strangely enough there are people out there who are apparently só dissapointed in life they can't help themselves and just have to make negative comments:

When I reacted to this clip of Paige (click) stating how cute and badass I find young Paige and noted a young man showing his respect for her and her moves by helping her out of the skating pit, a lady just had to type: 'No, she is nog being helped. How dare you make this about a man again?' Or words in that order.

To me it looks like said responder doesn't know that being a feminist is not about hating men showing their appreciation for women.

The lady clean out stated the young man was not helping his young co-skater. In my humble opionion she was either lying (To make a point? Which point could that be?) or didn't watch the clip until the end but refused to admit that she didn't because she didn't want to be called out as someone who has formed an opinion before looking at the straight facts.

What do you think? Did the young man in this clip (click) help Paige? Did he do so out of respect and camaraderie or to show the world that in his opinion women can't do anything without the help of men?

===============================================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Introduced (a short story)

Darkness had already fallen when he was standing at the bus stop early in the evening. 

He had arranged to meet a friend and was planning to take the last bus home at the latest.

Then she caught his eye and he changed his plan. Even if it was sub-consciously. 

A bus pulled up but it wasn't his. She got on, turned towards him with a question in her eyes 

and he followed.

Without a word she sat down and he took the seat next to her. 

Their hands sought and found contact. Their fingers played entangled lovers 

while they deliberately kept their eyes averted from each other. 

Too dangerous.

After an all-too-brief eternity the bus pulled up to her stop. 

She got up, walked to the exit and only then turned her face in his direction. 

He caught the look in her eyes with his heart and she whispered her name to him.

Without a sound his lips formed the words 'I know.' 

Which was true. 

After all, in his dreams he and she had already been introduced.

====================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Are you prejudiced? Are you sure?

All heterosexual men are sexists.

All gay men are promiscious and like leather.

All feminists are lesbians.

All young women can't defend themselves and need protection.

All children and pets are cute.

All black men have a large penis.

All politicians are corrupt.

All unemployed people are lazy.

All conspiracists are crazy.

All Muslims are terrorists.

All Christians are religious zealots.

All immigrants are thieves and rapists.

All punks and goths are anarchists.

All addicts are stupid junkies.

All managers are psychopaths.

All women who say 'no' actually mean 'yes'.

All men constantly think about sex.

All artists are too lazy to work.

All boys want to play with cars.

All girls want to play with dolls.

All teachers vote for leftwing politicians.

All white people are racists.

All black people never discriminate.

All millionaires are crooks.

All racists are fascists.

All socialists are communists.

The list goes on and on.

I'm sure you can think of a few more misconceptions.

You may even believe a few but are ashamed to share which ones.

But there's nothing to be ashamed of because we all have prejudices.

Unfortunately, we are often led to believe some of these prejudices are facts.

Why? Because we feel comfortable to be part of a group. An important part of being in a group

is to be prejudiced towards other groups. 

Only one prejudice is true: we are all prejudiced.

What's important is how we deal with prejudices.

Those from other people as well as our own.

Have you ever been discriminated against because of a prejudice? How did you deal with it?

If you notice someone else is prejudiced, how do you react?

If you notice you yourself are prejudiced, what do you do about it?

What do you do when someone tells you you are prejudiced?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Their Connection (a short story)

Decades ago,

in a different time

and in a different space

was the last time they met.

She had changed 

the colour of her hair

but not the colour of her soul.

That was radiant as ever,

just like her eyes.

She remembered him

but not his name.

Names were not important

at the time and place

that they once shared,

just like their connection.

===========================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Are your fears justified?

Quiz question: how many people where killed by trans people? Close to zero. So why are people afraid of trans people? On the other hand: people who changed gender somewhere in the course of their lives have all the more reason to be afraid of people who are afraid of them: Dozens of transgender and non-binary people get killed a year. In America alone. Hundreds more are beaten. Thousands more are being discriminated against.

Here's a list of reasons The People (meaning stupid, white conservatives) are afraid of and the respective number of people that actually die from said reasons, worldwide:

Transgenderism: zero (Not counting suicides amongst them and the killing of transgenders)

Homosexuality: zero (Not counting gay people being murdered because they are gay)

Bisexuality: zero

Having dark skin: zero (It's a misconception that people with dark skin are dangerous because they have dark skin)

Sharks: eight (approximately on average a year. Worldwide)

Wearing facemasks: three. Maybe. Tops.

Vaccins: twenty. (Based on the three people in America who most likely died because of an anti-covid vaccin)

Communism: zero ('Communism' doesn't kill people, some communists kill people)

Socialism: zero (See above)
Islam: zero (See above)

Antifa: ten (No hard figures can be found but it's possible that people got killed in 'antifa' riots)

Terrorism: 16,000 (including 300+ by white, rightwing extremists. In America alone)

Now that we have established that the reasons Trump-supporters, racists, anti-vaxxers, covidiots and other dumb people are afraid are really not that lethal, let's look at what dóes kill people. Approximately and worldwide:

Heart disease: 12 million

Hunger: 8,5 million

Stroke: 5 million

Obesity: 4,5 million

COPD: 2,5 million

Covid-19: 2,2 million

Respiratory infections: 2 million

Flu: 650,000

Malaria: 600,000

With Covid-19 being the number one cause of death in America and number three in Europe, one can't help to wonder: why are conservatives more afraid of wearing a facemask (three deaths a year) than they are of catching Covid-19 (over 2 million deaths a year)?

Here's an interesting article for those who want to learn a bit more.

You may have noticed that death from overweight (obesity) is on the rise and even kills more people than the coronavirus does. Amongst children obesity surpassed starvation in the numbers killed. While a third of all produced food is destroyed instead of eaten. 

Perhaps we shouldn't worry about wars (they didn't even make it into the top ten of causes of death!) and not even Covid-19, although it ranks number five. Perhaps we should worry about the food lobby putting way too much sugar, fat and salt in our food.

Besides all that's mentioned: what is really the most dangerous thing we can do? I'll give you a second to think about that.

The answer is: being born. You see, everyobody who does that eventually dies.

================================================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

To be (a short story)

She didn't think so herself

but her eyes formed a glimpse

into her captivating soul

and he knew not

of a more invigorating smell

than that of her unwashed hair.

Sometimes he could not grasp what moved her

but hoped she allowed it to be him.

Because that's what drove him in his new life:

to be satisfied with 'to be'.

=========================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

We have become numb. Can we change?

It's quite easy to bump into someone in the streets who looks at a phonescreen instead of watching his or her surroundings. I like to actually bump into them and start a conversation. 

Enthousiastically I will tell them about this amazing hub I discovered: 'It's just like the people you are chatting with are actual people! There are millions of challenges on multiple levels. The games and puzzles range from extremely simple to practically insolvable. You can see well rendered explosions, smell burned rubber when you witness a car chase. There are playgrounds for children, special 'bedrooms' for adults (if you get my drift. *wink*). Sounds amazing, right? Just one caveat: your avatar has no extra lives.'

'Great! What's the app called? I'll download it right away!'

The sad thing is, quite a few people will actually go to The App Store or The Play Store to find an app called 'Reality'. Those in power love the fact we have become numb. As long as we find instant gratification through an application on our smartphones, we don't seem to care about the world around us.

Can we change? Sure. All we have to do is put our phones in our pockets and not ask Siri but a local resident for directions to a nice restaurant in Paris.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Dinner (a short story)

On arriving home he found a note in which he was invited to come over to her place.

He was just about to ring the bell when the door opened. 

His heart pounding he pushed the door open wider and entered.

The living room was lit by no more than candles 

that were placed in a circle on the floor. 

In the middle sat a girl in her early 30s. 

Dressed in a grinlike smile and a new négligé.

The garment concealed little and he was flooded by warm feelings. 

As he walked slowly toward her she kept looking at him with a sweet smile.

They didn't exchange any words. None were needed.

They didn't make time for dinner.

===================================

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

The value of social media during lockdown

It was March 2020 and a killervirus swept the planet, resulting in worldwide lockdowns. Social interactions became limited. Very limited. Bars, clubs, restaurants closed and parties became virtually non-existent. Tough times for extravert people. Like me.

So I turned to social media to stay in touch with friends, colleagues, family members and even neighbours. I was lucky to have met a lovely lady just before the lockdown who agreed we would only hug eachother and no one else.

Dozens of people I was in contact with I met one by one: sharing coffee, fears and thoughts while sitting - 6 feet apart - on a park bench or in my garden. Others I saw only via videocalls or contacted via texting on different applications.

I never realized with how many people I only stayed in touch via Messenger or Instagram Direct Message. Until the Facebook algorithm decided to lock me out of my accounts. I received a ban 'for three days' for supposedly publishing a 'sexually explicit' post. Which I didn't. Or perhaps it was because I wrote about a burlesque show. The flyer for that show contains some semi-nudity. Other times the Facebook A.I. told me that my account was disabled because someone complained about my posts but my favourite reason Facebook gave me was that my account was discontinued 'for reasons unknown'. That makes it all clear, doesn't it?

For my daily portion of social media I turned to Twitter where I became more active than I was ever before. I found a new way to challenge my skills as a writer (click) and made a couple of hundred new online friends. Good times!

I did a little research and soon found out I'm not the only one who lost access to his account without much hope of retrieving it.

My guess is that the Facebook Artificial Intelligence went rogue. Explaining the outage of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp for six hours, beginning of October 2021. That several Facebook employees could not leave or enter several rooms at their headquarters during that time because someone decided it was a good idea to connect the electronic doors to their own Facebook-servers had me in stitches and reminded me of Dick Maas' movie 'De Lift'. Done again in English as 'Down':

The most likely scenario is that someone holding a grudge reported my Facebook account. The A.I. automatically suspended that account 'pending an investigation'. There are no people at Facebook momentarily actually investigating claims and after 30 days the acount is disabled without the right to appeal. 

Why anyone in their right mind would report a Facebook account that did not actually break the Facebook rules? No idea. The person could be an angry and childish ex, simply bat shit crazy, mentally very confused of really, really bored. Or a combination thereof. Your guess is as good as mine. 

All my posts, my photos, my reactions, my Messenger messages, contact data, acces to my mother's 'In Memoriam' page, group memberships, likes...gone. Only the Facebook A.I. has all that data now.

Anyways: I'm back on Facebook as well as Instagram with new accounts. Ready to connect with the world again. If you missed me on those social media platforms, please feel free to add me again.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Food for thought (a short story)

Yes, he was drunk. How else did he get here?

If he had been sober he would never have knocked on the door of her hotel room.

Without alcohol in his system he would never have dared beg her for a night kiss.

When he stood in front of her she had just taken off her clothes. 

The blue-grey ensemble looked really good on her. He liked what he saw very much. 

And yet he woke up in the room next to hers. The room of her best friend. 

As it turned out he was sharing (and apparently had shared) 

two single beds pushed together with two other young ladies and an other young man.

None of them were prepared to tell him what had happened that night

 but the twinkle in their eyes gave him food for thought. 

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

In countries with more guns, more people are murdered

When there are too many people in Africa, deny them food and the means to grow food. You know they will die from starvation. When there are too many people in America, make them buy guns. You will know they will use them to kill eachother.

In 2020 30% more Americans where shot and killed than in the precious year. Still not as many as in the 80s and 90s but still over 20,000 people in the United States of America were shot to dead. Murdered. In 2020 alone.

On average 5 out of 100,000 people in America end up getting murdered. In The Netherlands it's one tenth of that: 1 in 200,000 Dutch people gets murdered.

How terrible those figures may seem, even the USA doesn't make it into the top 20 of countries were people are most likely to get murdered. 

Is there an evolutionary advantage to killing other people? Do men kill more than women or are women simply less often caught? Libraries full of books have been written on the subject 'Why do we kill?'

There is no simple answer. But perhaps we could try and find out why Amercians are ten times as likely to kill eachother than the Dutch. Could the gun lobby have anything to do with it? As in 'more guns equals more shootings'? Hint: we don't have an active gun lobby in The Netherlands.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Cherish (a short story)

The man next to him showed him his fresh scars and told him that he had been a retired CIA agent for almost two years now. He waited till the man next to him stopped bragging about secret operations that he once carried out for his government.

When his travel companion was finally asleep he ventured a look over his right shoulder. Two seats further back and on the other side of the isle of the bus she sat.

'-flowers-flowers-' reverberated in his head. Part of the lyric of a romantic song that suddenly came to him.

Earlier that day they had discussed through body language that any action that was to take place would have to take place now. In the dead of night. They were behaving like the excited young twenty-somethings they felt they were. And which in fact they were.

It was pitch-black because the bus was driving through a stretch of desert land. The last lights, belonging to a roadside cafe and pump station, had been left behind some two hours ago.

The soothing hum of the motor had lulled most passengers to sleep. -flowers-flowers-. In the back a junkie lay rambling and profusely sweating. He hadn't had a shot for too long. A man in a fisherman's hat seemed to be reading but hadn't turned a page in at least 20 minutes and had probably dozed off as well.

This was their chance. The friend she was travelling with and who sat beside her was snoring softly and he took his chance. 

-flowers-flowers-

Seldom before had a kiss tasted so delicious and so forbidden.

The address she gave proved to be false. But the memory of that kiss was one that he would forever cherish.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Brexiteers want migrants to come to England

The Daily Mail and The Daily Express want millions of immigrants to come to England.

Yes, you read that right. The most racist and xenophobic tabloids in the UK want foreigners to come and live in England. A far cry from their headlines over the pas few decades:

                                                                    (Click to enlarge)

The tabloid press (Mail & Express) are begging for immigrants -- to save our Christmas. pic.twitter.com/E6Tx4sznZ5

— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) September 24, 2021

They thought it was a good idea to get rid of millions of foreigners 'because they're stealing British jobs and are too lazy to work' but now they want them back.

Racist Britons had no idea that the British econonomy (like all economies) for a great deal rely on foreign workers. Simply be looking at numbers they could have known. But instead the listened to right wing politicil leader Nigel Farage and his friends. 

Approximately 14 percent living in Britain was not born there. Why can't people simply realize what it means to kick out 1 in 7 people out of your country? The Polish lorrydriver, the Indian foodstand, you kids' French teacher, the Dutch employer at some tech company, the French nanny, et cetera.

What would English Football look like without the 330 out of 519 players in the Premier League?

How can people be so misguided that they think it's a good idea to live in a country without foreigners?

But you can't say that most people who voted Brexit are stupid. Can you? Oh, yes you can. Because it simply is stupid to be racist.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

He wanted more! (A short story)

When he saw her it appeared that she had been born from the power of his desire.

The past months he had woken up every day knowing that the time was right for an encounter.

In his thoughts he had called at least a 100 times 

and every time with the same result. In his fantasy their date went to full satisfaction.

He realised he would have to clean his house. What if she agreed to come with him straight away?

Finally he found the courage to meet her and so he found himself in a pizzeria with her. 

The pizza undoubtedly was delicious but that was beside the point.

What did matter was that her thigh was pressed against his 

and because of it he had trouble keeping the conversation going.

The wine tasted fine.

He wanted more!

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Are you genetically superior?

Can you imagine not having been born? Probably not. Yet every year thousands of pregnancies are being terminated. In a few scenario's I can understand why: when the pregnancy is life threatening to the mother, and when she was raped but other than that? No. Still: 90 Percent of all British parents end the pregnancy when they find out their child will be born with Down's syndrome. 

In The United States of America around 70 percent of infants with Down's are never born. Because their parents don't want them to. Apparently parents want 'the perfect child'. Of course you want your child to be healthy and happy. But kids with Down's cán be happy and healthy. If given a chance that is.

There was an article that said Icelandic parents are the worst and abort 100% of all foetuses with Down's. It was in an American newspaper. So for the most part untrue. 

However, the fact remains that in most countries women (it's seldom the father who chooses) can decide if they find a defect reason enough to end a pregnancy. 

Do we really want a world without people with all kind of shortcomings? A world without Stephen Hawking, Frida Kahlo, Andrea Bocelli and all those other people who are considered 'handicapped' but also inspired so many others to overcome disabilities and give the world so much in art, science, sports? Who decided that people with disabilities aren't fully functioning human beings and should be terminated?

Who are we to decide who lives and who dies? 

I know and have known several people with several kinds of disabilities. None of them I consider sub-human. Yet society does. Why do you think that society only wants some kind of 'Übermensch' to walk the Earth? And isn't that one of the things we hated the Nazis for?

Here's what I think of people (not just men) who think they are more worthy of life because they are 'genetically superior':

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Perhaps not (a story)

They were sitting in the back garden of a mansion that was hundreds of years old. 

At some point - according to unconfirmed but lasting rumours - 

deserted soldiers from the army of Napoleon had sought refuge here. 

And found it.

It was a lovely summer's eve and the warm temperatures of the day 

were preparing for the night. The wood chips and sticks in the fire basket 

did their best to heighten the mood. 

It worked.

She was sitting on his lap and they were smoking a cigarette together.

Both stared into the fire and listened to the flames' lively struggle for oxygen.

Both saw and heard something else. 

Or perhaps not.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Are you being useful? Who decides you are and why?

'I don't have the time' is a sorry excuse and basically means: 'I prefer to spend my time in a different way than others.' We all are given the same amount of time. It's okay to watch Netflix, read, take long walks, play the guitar as a hobby...it doesn't mean you're not useful to society. Sometimes not standing in the way of others is a good contribution. Over the course of years (I was born in 1967) I've learned you don't have to be 'useful' all the time. But that wasn't always the case:

My most extreme busy day (I used to let life live me instead of vice versa) was when I got my son to the daycare center at 7 in the morning to be home for a meeting of the local Socialist Party fraction at my place because it would save me traveling time. At 08:15 I went to work, leaving my comrades with the dishes. 

On my lunchbreak (back when I worked at The Amsterdam Dungeon. Great times: shouting at German tourists, telling Dutch tough guys to hand in their phones when the thing went of during the show and they answered the call, removing a Russian who actually drew a gun on me but I managed to usher out as the character I played...) reading a budget proposal for that night's counsel meeting, hurrying to the daycare center to pick up my son, picking up a pizza on our way home, waiting for the babysit, hurrying to that evening's counsel meeting, not waiting for the afterdrinks, calling the babysit to check if she and my son were okay, hurrying to a nightclub were I worked from eleven till four, coming home around five, finding the babysit asleep, take a shower, drink coffee, fixing breakfast for my son, the babysit and myself, walking to the busstop together, saying thank you and goodbye to the babysit, taking my son to afterschool and go to work.

Reading back how my life was I already get tired. How did I manage? For one, I was somewhat younger as this was around 2006.

Now I'm in my fifties I'm glad I've learned to enjoy a quiet afternoon at the waterfront, just contemplating, looking at the birds, the water and the clouds. 

Without worrying for a moment people may not find me 'useful to society'.

I try not to have too many appointments but sometimes life doesn't agree with me and my agenda doesn't look like a series of appointments but more like a level in Tetris. 

It will slow down again, I'm sure of it. This is just temporary.

Who decides who and what is useful anyway? Do you consider yourself useful to society?

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Unavoidable (a short story)

Their love was forbidden and they knew what they did was wrong.

Tomorrow they would wallow in negative feelings but first there was tonight...

Let me

take you 

in my arms

Let's

- as if time does not exist -

float 

on a sea of guilt

that threatens our fellow man.

Is it wrong to turn our heads away from what is

unavoidable?

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Do you have a minute?

When people ask me 'Do you have a minute?'

and I answer them 'No' they see that as encouragement

to interrupt my work or train of thought. 

They don't acknowledge my denial as an answer to their question. 

Let alone that they leave or hang up the phone.

Why is that?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who encounters this form of rudeness.

Of course I asked people why they ask me their questions or tell me about their problems or challenges anyway but never received an actual reply. Usually they get angry or mumble an uninspired fake apology.

Some are simply rude but most are extremely bored. I understand that (well, I don't because there is always something to do. If not for yourself, there's always a family member or a neighbour that could use some help and there are millions of unread books) but why do they assume I am bored too?

Some mistake my 'no' for not being interested in them as a person or their story. To be totally honest, I really am not interested in their complaint that the neighbour refuses to teach his cat not to shit in their garden or their favourite Netflix-series has been canceled. 

When I have the time I am usually willing to listen but strangely enough people aren't always happy with my remark: 'If that's the biggest problem in your life, you're one very lucky human being.'

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Is reading a news article really that difficult?

'To read the entire article and see all the pictures, click the link in the tweet.'

Apparently a lot of people seem to think the 280 characters in a tweet, posted by a news agency contain an entire article. Therefore they need to be told to click the link embedded in the tweet.

Have people become numb to the news? Do they not care anymore? There must be a reason why they don't take the time to read actual news articles. I flatout refuse to believe they really do not know how.

Could it be people simply stopped to care about what happens to other people?

In the thirties of the previous century a group of people was treated as second rate citizens.

The general populace did not seem to care:

'Who cares? I'm not Jewish so it doesn't bother me.'

Only a decade later Jews were rounded up and killed.

Most people still didn't care 'Because I'm not Jewish and I don't even have Jewish friends.'

Things changed a little when their neighbour Mo was taken from his house:

'Why take my neighbour? I know he's Jewish but he has never done any harm!' 

But most decided to close the curtains, pretending it didn't happen.

Now jump to our time: will you do something when your Muslim neighbour Mo is taken from his home, simply because he is Muslim?

Is this a made up scenario? Not at all. It happens all around the world. On a daily basis. And most of us simply close our curtains, pretending we don't see.

I like to think I wouldn't but the truth is I simply don't know how I would act.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Every Cent (a short story)

Her thoughts were drifting in a language he did not understand. And even if he could read her mind and even if he could comprehend her words, he would not understand them.

What he did understand was the kiss she gave him. She smelled and tasted of red wine, poured from a bottle that had been open too long. He cherished the moment which he knew would not last. There was her friend. With a new round of drinks. 

She looked like a lady who had just stepped out of the billboard for a Spanish cult film and he danced with her. With his hand around her waist he was entranced. 

She pressed against him and his heart was warmed by the sweetness of her heart.

She whispered in his ear: 'I haven't had sex in two years. Will you come and have coffee with me soon?'

Half an hour later a transvestite told him: 'Trust me, she is worth every cent.'

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Virtual conversation with an angry pensioner

'Foreigners are just too lazy to work and still get money!

Why should I pay for their lifestyles!?'

'You are a pensioner and never worked a day in you life, madame.'

'Yeah, but my hushand worked really hard for my pension!'

'So you're okay with someone else working

so you can reap the benefits?'

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Time (a short story)

He pushed his way through the clearly visible smoke and the not too large crowd. Followed closely by a comrade. Through a hatch which wasn't recognisable as such at first glance the two disappeared into the wall.

Through a knee-high spyhole she was watching their actions. Within minutes the first man opened the hatch from within and walked away -ignoring smokers, talkers and drinkers- to the adjacent room where one could clearly hear a party being in full swing.

In the body posture of an animal that is ready on all fours to contribute to the survival of the species she managed to report that the other man was still in the room on the other side of the wall, glancing around him as he waited.

Waited, with the impatiently anticipating attitude of someone who is at the agreed location but is suddenly unsure of the agreed time.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Why I love Star Trek

In the made up world of Star Trek the human race has evolved beyond prejudice. Money is abolished, it's normal to have women in high positions and everyone works in their preferred work of expertise. An artist can fully devote his or her time to art, an engineer can be an engineer, writers write and all basic needs are met. Those who want more than just their basic needs are free to work to acquire more. Basically it's an utopia, a 'perfect' world. All major problems in the series basically only occur on other planets. 

As a teenager I failed to notice the problems that face(d) the crews of the different ships with the names 'Enterprise', 'Voyager', 'Discovery' and on the space station 'Deep Space Nine' are of course direct hints at problems we have been facing the last couple of decades: Aids ('Pa'nar Syndrom'), racism ('They are black on the right side of their face and we are black on the left side. That makes them inferior!'), inequality and so on.

'Should holograms that can think have the same rights as humans?' may sound as a strange question. But just think that a few decades ago women in 'our' world were considered beings who couldn't think for themselves and were therefore withheld the right to vote. Or to buy a house without written permission from her husband.

Star Trek is a philosophical exercise in what it would be like to live on a planet Earth where it doesn't matter what race or sex you are or identify as and handicapped people are simply considered people. For example: one of the most famous engineers (Geordie la Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation) was born blind and an entire episode revolves around a women in a wheelchair. 

In the Star Trek:Discovery series there are several lhgbti+-characters, mostly being portrayed by lhgbti+ actors. Who simply play crew members. Remember the first woman on tv in a high command position? That was in Star Trek. Remember the first televised kiss between a caucasian male and a woman of colour? That was in Star Trek.

Watching Star Trek is one of my favourite ways of escapism: a trip out of this current world of ours in which equal opportunities for everyone are not as common as we sometimes like to believe. 

Does everyone have the right to vote? In Belgium for instance voting right for women only exists since 1948. Can everyone marry the person they want? Homosexual people in The Netherlands only since 2001. Can everyone study what they want and where? The average yearly income of parents who have a son or daughter at Harvard is $450,000.

Can every child grow up without the fear of dying from starvation or being bombed or receive basic education and medical care? Absolutely not.

We have a long way to go. Until the day arrives we are a truly enlightned people, I simply live my life. And watch Star Trek.

Only thing is: there are so many Star Trek series (and more on their way!) that it's really hard to watch them all. If only we would live in a world in which all basic needs are met and I could spend all my time on my favourite passtimes: my family and friends, writing and watching Star Trek. 

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Certain (a short story)

From the corner of his eye he saw her taking pictures of him and the people he had just met. 

She saw him looking and zoomed in.

He flirted with the camera but really with her. 

She lowered the device to show him she was smiling at him.

The dimple in her cheek deepened.

The little hat looked cute on her and it didn't look like she had dressed up. 

She didn't speak his native tongue and he didn't speak hers.

That didn't stop them from making advances.

A little later he had her number. But she didn't have his. 

A few weeks later he saw her again. 

In a dressing room she gave him a little kiss and then went to work.

With the taste of her lips on his he did what he had to do. 

Most lost the game that he played but he felt a winner even if he did lose sight of her.

One day he would see her again, of that he was certain.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon