Comments for Martin Westlake

Comment on The Super Bowl by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:14:16 +0000

Bradshaw was about to score a touchdown with just over a minute left, putting the Giants ahead 21-17. Had he stopped before getting into the end zone, as he tried to do, the Giants would have been able to run the clock down to a couple of seconds, then kick a field goal, and win the game by an 18-17 score without the Patriots ever having a chance of coming back. Now the Patriots had one minute to score a touchdown and win the game, and if Tom Brady’s ‘hail Mary’ pass would have been caught by one of his receivers in the end zone they would have won.

Of course the Giants would have taken the risk of never scoring that field goal and lose the game, if Bradshaw had not scored the touchdown. Chances of making a close field goal are 9-1, so there is always a 10% chance that the shot is blocked or misses the goal. I don’t know what the chances are of the Patriots scoring a touchdown with one minute left, but I like the odds in favor of scoring the touchdown, which is what Bradshaw did. Clearly the Patriots though they had a better chance of scoring a touchdown than of blocking a field goal, that’s why they let Bradshaw through.

Comment on Maradona by Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:05:56 +0000

yes, Hugo, we have all heard about the two mere mortals

Comment on The EU as peacemaker by Jane

Jane — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:57:05 +0000

Finally got around to reading your blog and wanted to thank you for your kind words.

There has been a lot of interest in the opinion since . Hopefully it will contribute to a revitalised debate on the subject

Comment on Verdi’s Macbeth at La Monnaie by Salome at la Monnaie - Martin Westlake

Salome at la Monnaie - Martin Westlake — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:44:15 +0000

[...] Salome. Unfortunately, Scott Hendricks, whom we had seen and admired at la Monnaie two years ago in his brilliant interpretation of Macbeth, was ill but nevertheless bravely mimed his portrayal of Jochanaan. Martin Zehetgruber’s [...]

Comment on A modern royal household by The Danish Crown Prince and Princess come to the EESC - Martin Westlake

The Danish Crown Prince and Princess come to the EESC - Martin Westlake — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:42:04 +0000

[...] key event with no prior publicity, which was just fine. After all, the reason for their visit was the exhibition that the Committee is currently hosting about their official residence, Frederick VIII’s restored palace in the Amalienborg [...]

Comment on Daniel Jacob, 1950-2011 by Stojan de Prato

Stojan de Prato — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:12:30 +0000

Dear Martin,

I’ve sent a mail to Daniel today and got Delivery Failure reply. I googled a bit and found this link. Since I have been out of Brussels since August the news of his death eluded me. Last time we met was in July, he didn’t complain of any disease. I’m shocked and in grief. What happened?

Looking forward to your answer,

Best regards.

Stojan de Prato

Senior correspondent on EU and NATO affairs
“Forum” Croatian weekly newsmagazine

Hecimoviceva 13
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

mob.hr +385 91 6300 663
sdeprato@gmail.com

Comment on Over the Alps by balloon… by Martin

Martin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:09:48 +0000

That’s right, Per! You can still visit the ruins of the old Spanish fort and this time we came across a smaller Spanish fort on the flood plain that is still in excellent condition. To take another example I happen to know, in Bolognese dialect there are still traces of the city’s time as capital of the cisalpine republic. Lire, for example, were referred to as ‘franci francese’!

Comment on Over the Alps by balloon… by Per Sommerschield

Per Sommerschield — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:57:20 +0000

There are magnificent views of the Pian di Spagna from the windows of my brother’s old house, above Dascio. This is old Spanish Lombardy – even the local supermarket’s called “Fuentes”.

Comment on Of euros and cents, lire and pfennigs… by Per Sommerschield

Per Sommerschield — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:33:39 +0000

If their value as scrap metal is greater than their face value then they’re bound to disappear (this I believe was the problem with lire coins in the 70′s). Keep an eye on those small cent coins – they’re made of steel and… copper!

Comment on Fateful errors… by Per Sommerschield

Per Sommerschield — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:20:30 +0000

The sort of story in which Hitchcock excelled..

Comment on Fateful errors… by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:45:02 +0000

It’s easy to see how you could be mistaken for an angry farmer though

Comment on Garibaldi, a European patriot by Alfonso Scirocco (Jr)

Alfonso Scirocco (Jr) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:49:08 +0000

Thanks for this blog. Especially in periods of crisis and discouragement, there is an even greater need for leadership, idealism and courage. As we learn from history, questioning (or even dismantling) Europe and going back to national interests and “empty chairs” is no option.
And thanks also for referring to the book written by my oncle, an “idealist without idelologies” passionate about Garibaldi and his extraordinary qualities.

Comment on Maradona by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:55:06 +0000

Excuse me, possibly the world’s greatest player ever? Have you heard of Pele and a Dutchman called Johan Cruyff?

Comment on Of euros and cents, lire and pfennigs… by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:52:19 +0000

I was also thinking about the penny. It costs the US Mint three pennies to produce one and they still produce them. No wonder the US economy is not doing as well as it could.

Comment on Of euros and cents, lire and pfennigs… by Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:12:32 +0000

It reminds me of a West Wing episode when Sam was asked a reason why The White House could not support a bill to abolish the penny.

“It turns out the majority of pennies don’t circulate. They go in jars and sock drawers. Two-thirds of the pennies produced in the last 30 years have dropped out of circulation.”

Comment on Debating the financial crisis by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:57:01 +0000

Staffan is a bit unclear on how to break out of the austerity-growth deadlock, with all due respect.

Comment on Debating the financial crisis by Steve Lindsey

Steve Lindsey — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:43:19 +0000

Yes, let’s give more money & financial oversight of member countries budgets to an organisation thar cannot get it’s own finances in order and properly audited.

Comment on On meeting myself by On seeing how I’m getting on - Martin Westlake

On seeing how I’m getting on - Martin Westlake — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:23:08 +0000

[...] in on the process as a privileged spectator was a thoroughly absorbing experience. As I wrote in a previous piece, John Howard is much better at being me than I [...]

Comment on DSK by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:45:19 +0000

I doubt that he’ll get into the Guiness Book of Records with that, or Ms. Diallo for that matter

Comment on DSK by Martin

Martin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:35 +0000

He has never denied that a consensual act occurred. The journalist’s analysis seems to indicate that the act(s) in question must have occurred within six or seven minutes…

Comment on DSK by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:22:16 +0000

He may have been framed, but it appears that he was a rather willing victim.

Comment on The reform process and working conditions by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:08:13 +0000

Where did you get that picture? If I’m not mistaken it was taken in one of the plants where Frederick Winslow Taylor installed his ‘scientific management’ system.

Comment on Graffiti: good and/or bad? by Alex Vella Gera

Alex Vella Gera — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:50:20 +0000

I recall a fantastic piece of graffiti art between Gare Luxembourg and Etterbeek station. It has since been erased. Fortunately it was immortalized on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC9jE0czgZ0

Comment on Graffiti: good and/or bad? by Peter Dean

Peter Dean — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:50:45 +0000

Graffiti is just plain bad. In the current exhibition at the Villa Boghossian there is an installation with a real bare tree trunk in front of a white wall onto which is projected the shadow of the trunk and a video where branches and leaves sprout from the trunk and then fall and die until it is bare again. And the blue swimming pool still echoes with the sounds of long-gone parties.

Comment on A real nowhere man by Peter Dean

Peter Dean — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:32:11 +0000

He’s been listening to Talking Heads.

Comment on The Magritte Museum – a rare privilege by Chopin at the Water Palace in Warsaw - Martin Westlake

Chopin at the Water Palace in Warsaw - Martin Westlake — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:19:48 +0000

[...] moments of unforgettable cultural privilege for which I will be forever grateful: for example, my time alone with Magritte’s Empire of Light; the Escher museum in The Hague just last week; and now, this evening, Chopin at the Water Palace [...]

Comment on Intergenerational solidarity by Martin

Martin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:53:16 +0000

Spot on. What I also find fascinating is the whole philosophical nexus around the question of intergenerational solidarity. In particular, are our democratic systems designed to cope with the concept of the interests of future generations? An idea for a (sci fi) treatment of the theme has come to me but I suppose I’ll have to wait until this job is out of the way before I can write it up properly.

Comment on Intergenerational solidarity by Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:38:02 +0000

Whilst I do not have a problem with the concept of intergenerational solidarity (or intergenerational fairness as they call it in the UK) in principle, I do have a big problem with the direction this concept is heading.

On the one side you have AGE Platform Europe representing the interests of older people, arguing that older people should continue to benefit from all the state subsidised services for free that they have benefited from up until now. AGE continue to arguing for higher and better protected pensions, more benefits for older workers etc.

Meanwhile at the other end of the scale, young people are experiencing the highest unemployment rate for a generation, have to pay for university education, have little or no hope of buying a property, will find it hard to progress in their job because of older people staying on in the workplace etc….and then on top of this they are expected to pay a large tax bill for pensions they will never benefit from.

I think it’s time for some solidarity in the other direction!

Comment on Mendès-France and the fate of the European Defence Community by Martin

Martin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:01:44 +0000

Thanks, Massimiliano. An entirely valid point. I often wonder if Europe would be quite as advanced as it is today if the Assemblée nationale had passed the bill… It would be a good subject for a counter-factual historical essay! Martin

Comment on Mendès-France and the fate of the European Defence Community by Massimiliano Moretti

Massimiliano Moretti — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:18:56 +0000

Dear Mr Westlake,
James McAllister in his book “No exit: America and the German problem” answers your question.

«Even if Mendès-France or any of the preceding French governments had been able to assure the passage of the EDC, it is foolish to believe that this would have ended concerns about German power or lead inexorably to the creation of the political superstructure that would have transformed the states of Western Europe into a United States of Europe capable of acting as a third great power».

Comment on Light pollution? by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:01:12 +0000

This is precisely why it is hard to get some sleep in New York City.

Comment on Potentially lethal madness by Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:09:34 +0000

Martin, I have read your blog for a couple of years now but never commented (as I nearly always agree with you )

However, on this post I felt I had to respond and agree with you (this time publically)! I go past the JDE everyday and this section of road is totally unsuitable and poorly designed for the safe movement of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Having the EESC building sit right on Belliard is less than ideal anyway, but the road design and traffic control system here exacerbate a bad situation.

I hope you might raise the matter again with Brigitte Grouwels.

Comment on Reducing the Belliard lottery of life by Potentially lethal madness - Martin Westlake

Potentially lethal madness - Martin Westlake — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:28:59 +0000

[...] above the railway bridge. Faithful readers of this blog may remember that already in February 2009 we met with the then transport minister Pascal Smet to point out the dangers to pedestrians lurking in this road. To his credit, the lights at this [...]

Comment on Horst Reichenbach by Frantzis Argyropoulos

Frantzis Argyropoulos — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:33:55 +0000

Dear Martin

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to communicate with Mr Horst.
I am based in Kos island and I am specialized in Tourism Management and development. Details you can find in my web site http://www.veranoconsultancy.com

I am interesting to know if will be any task for Kos and Rhodes island regarding Tourism.
It will be my pleasure to provide my knowledge for a prosperous growth in our region

Yours Sincerely

Frantzis Argyropoulos MSc

Comment on Horst Reichenbach by Martin

Martin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:54:16 +0000

Dear Dimitrios,

I have passed on your message.

Best wishes,

Martin

Comment on Horst Reichenbach by DIMITRIOS KOUTSOVITIS

DIMITRIOS KOUTSOVITIS — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:31:53 +0000

Dear Martin

i have the willingness to assist the Task Force For Greece to accomplish its goals , as i have lived and studied in U.K. with various working experience.
it would be grateful if you can pass my information to them.
thanks in advance
Kind Regards

Dimitrios

Comment on Mario Sepi, 30.10.41-10.10.11 by bloggingportal.eu Blog & Support » Blog Archive » Week in Bloggingportal: Euro Default Mode

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:22:07 +0000

[...] this week Mario Sepi, former president of the EESC, passed away earlier this week. Our thoughts are with him and his [...]

Comment on John Fitzmaurice Memorial Lecture by Baroness Jan Royall delivers the John Fitzmaurice Memorial Lecture - Martin Westlake

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:46:46 +0000

[...] House of Lords, deliver this year’s John Fitzmaurice Memorial Lecture (I had the privilege of delivering it last year). Like me, Jan knew John very well and for a long time. We cannot always have speakers who knew the [...]

Comment on Third year as SG over already! by Martin

Martin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:08:02 +0000

I was appointed for five years renewable, Hugo. But in general there are no hard and fast rules. The original secretaries-general of the institutions stayed for ages (Emile Noel stayed at the Commission for twenty-seven years!) but the rule of thumb now seems to be around ten.

Comment on Third year as SG over already! by Hugo Kijne

Hugo Kijne — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:17:25 +0000

How many years can you be in the SG position, or is there no term limit?

Comment on EESC’s Design 2011 prize by Statue Sales Blog

Statue Sales Blog — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:49:15 +0000

Ageless Design…

[...] C member Luis Miguel Pariza Castanos honoured for his work on immigration [...]…

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Martin

Martin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:03:05 +0000

There is nothing pessimistic or Malthusian in the post.

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Steve Lindsey

Steve Lindsey — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:13:45 +0000

“Resources are finite” ?

Known resources maybe, but we moved from wood to coal to oil to nuclear and I’m enough of an optimist to believe we’ll keep on moving forward.

And please don’t bring George into a serious discussion, he’s not known as Moonbat for nothing

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Martin

Martin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:13:10 +0000

Touché again. In addition, I am uneasy about how we reformed sinners give solemn warnings against the delights of the sins we have enjoyed so much for so long. I’ll be in touch about lunch (my shout). All the best, Martin

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Bruno

Bruno — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:22:28 +0000

It’d be great to meet for lunch.
You’re a gent, but personally, I’m very suspicious of policies that are given the Malthusian imperative of rising population and diminishing resources.
Resources are finite but our relationship to them through invention, innovation and society is not.
Demographics and natural limits always seem to me, historically as well, to be about shutting down choices – and are usually, like Malthus, proved to be worng.

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Martin

Martin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:55:08 +0000

Dear Bruno,

Touché! I have changed ‘alternative’ to ‘other way’ and thank you for pointing out my intellectual laziness. It is true that TINA is ideologically laden, though I used it unthinkingly (trying to keep the blog up to date in a busy week – weak excuse, I know). However, I maintain the simple underlying point. Put simply, if we rely for our energy on finite resources then, sooner or later, we will, logically, run out. And then what? Presumably, we must switch to ‘another way’. What that should be, how to get there and when seem to me to provide plenty of opportunity for voting and contesting. Meanwhile, TINA is firmly back in her box! (Lunch sometime?)

Martin

Comment on Horst Reichenbach by Martin

Martin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:40:00 +0000

Dear Sotirios Skoufis,
With your understanding, I have passed on your message to the three gentlemen in question and leave it to them to get in touch with you.
All best wishes and hang on in there!
Martin Westlake

Comment on Horst Reichenbach by Sotirios Skoufis

Sotirios Skoufis — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 03:29:06 +0000

Dear Martin,

Dear Rapid Data

I am trying to contact the new Task Force for Greece, in particular Mr. Horst Reichenbach.

I am a Athens based business man and investor, and I can help the Task Force Greece to achieve its goals, as I have lived, worked and studied in Germany for 10 years.

Please be so kind and send me his contact details, or the contact details of Mr. Jorgen Holmquist or David Wright.

Otherwise I can send you my information to pass it on.

Thank you vey much in advance.

Skoufis Sotirios
L.Katsoni 8
16673 Voula Greece
Tel:+302108991395
Fax:+302109658757

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Bruno

Bruno — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:11:41 +0000

“There is no alternative” – an ideology with a very dodgy pedigree indeed Martin, truly the EU is her heir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJAHDwxG0jQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_is_no_alternative
TINA is anti-politics (and of course anti-democracy) what’s the point of voting/contesting something when “given limitations on finite resources and demographic developments there truly is no alternative”?

Comment on The EESC debates the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) by Martin

Martin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:38:26 +0000

I have read a few, Steve, including this one: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/jun/18/matt-ridley-rational-optimist-errors