Fat is Fast

 I have a few thoughts about fatbikes. People often ask me whether the bike is fast and whether it is physically difficult to ride…

First of all, I went through a period where I tested all kinds of MTBs, from the original standard 27.5 bikes to the rise and mainstream adoption of other wheel sizes like 29 and 27.5+.

Based on videos from the USA showing a group riding trails and rocks, jumping through forests, I discovered the fatbike. I also watched videos from Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) testing fatbikes, and I decided to try buying a good one myself. For damaged roads, dirt and forest paths, rough terrain, but also softer terrain like sand and pebbles, crossing streams, and easier climbing in off-road conditions, it seemed like a very universal solution for different environments. Surprisingly, a good fatbike is also great for jumping.

After testing all kinds of terrain, including easier uphill riding on rough surfaces, I concluded that I personally prefer riding a 26x4 fatbike rather than struggling on a 27.5+ or 29. Not to mention snow. Even on a good 29er, riding through rough snowy terrain is terrible. MTB 26x4 tires are similarly tall to MTB 29-inch sizes, but they are four inches wide.

Secondly, I found it amusing that riding fatbikes is being restricted in Amsterdam. This topic is actually quite openly discussed in the Netherlands. Fatbikes are faster and, compared to normal bicycles, can be quite dangerous because of that. A nation where bicycles are the main form of transport understands this well.

In a way, I share the Dutch approach, and the bicycle is also my main means of transportation now, for example when commuting to work. However, compared to the Dutch cycling infrastructure, riding on damaged terrain with normal tires is uncomfortable, so using an MTB fatbike on rough surfaces makes more sense. In the Netherlands, I would mainly want to ride a fatbike along the beach by the sea, where it would be ideal because the tires do not sink into the sand. Fatbikes were originally designed for these kinds of soft terrains as well as harsh conditions.

Since I mentioned transport, like in the Netherlands I also prefer public transport. In the Netherlands, public transport is generally faster, more precise, and less noisy because the government itself wants people to use public transport instead of cars. The same applies to bicycles and cycling infrastructure. It is also connected to sustainability, which the Dutch government strongly promotes: fewer emissions, less pollution, and less use of natural resources. Recently, different train discounts have also been discussed for this reason. The Dutch government is actively trying to encourage people to use public transport more often.

In the Czech Republic, sustainability, including public comfort are often ignored and perceived as restrictions. In my opinion, what is truly limiting is outdated oil-based infrastructure that feels closer to the third world. Modern infrastructure in the Netherlands is far more modern, faster, and quieter.

Huis van Oranje

 If I told someone because carrots are also orange thanks to the Netherlands, many people would probably think it’s fake.

For most of history, that simply was not the case. Carrots existed in many colors — purple, white, yellow, and red. The orange variety that dominates the world today only became popular in the early modern era, mainly thanks to Dutch agriculture, which I have mentioned several times already as highly inspiring.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, agriculture and trade developed rapidly in Netherlands. Dutch farmers experimented with cultivating different vegetable varieties and gradually bred more stable and tastier orange carrots.

And thanks to the strong Dutch trade and logistics network, which I have also mentioned before, orange carrots quickly spread across Europe and later to other parts of the world.

The orange color is also linked to a high content of beta-carotene, which the human body converts into vitamin A.

And just to add a bit more Dutch… who knows who is behind New York City? Today’s New York City was originally a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam. The Dutch founded it around 1624 on the island of Manhattan as part of the colony of New Netherland.

A world without human freedoms and rights

 The idea of equality carries within it a paradox that may ultimately lead to the denial of the human being itself. If people are naturally different, then every difference creates the potential for hierarchy. Differences in intellect, talent, ambition, creativity, or will create differences in influence. And differences in influence gradually create inequalities of power. The moment a society decides to eliminate all hierarchies completely, it comes into conflict with human nature itself.

Human beings are not static creatures. They long for growth, self-overcoming, creation, knowledge, and progress. Yet progress means movement forward, and movement forward creates differences between people. Some think faster, some create more, some lead, while others follow. Absolute equality therefore could not tolerate true individualism, because individualism itself is the source of inequality.

If a society without any hierarchy were to exist, it would have to control not only the economy or social relations, but human thought itself. Intellect would become a problem, because differences in intellect create differences in influence. Ambition would become a problem, because it creates movement and progress. Individuality would become a problem, because it disrupts the uniformity of equality. Such a society would have to constantly ensure that no one “stands out.”

This is where the similarity to Nineteen Eighty-Four emerges. Not necessarily in the form of a traditional state, but in the principle of absolute control in the name of a higher idea. In Orwell’s world, that idea is power. In a vision of absolute equality, equality itself could become the new authority, total power over mind of all beings. The control of language, the restriction of thought, and the suppression of individuality would not serve to protect the state, but to preserve the uniformity of society. 

The paradox of such a system is that the attempt to eliminate hierarchy creates a new and even deeper form of domination. Power would no longer exist only within institutions, but within the very principle of equality itself, which would define the limits of human expression. A person would cease to be a unique individual and instead become a function of the system. Individuality would be seen as a threat to the stability of the collective order. 

Equality lead not to the liberation of humanity, but to the removal of what makes humans human — difference, individuality, and intellectual freedom.

Drink spiking

January 2022

 I already mentioned the unusual situation in drum and bass—that in January 2022, at a well-known Prague club, after accidentally entering the backstage area, I saw fans chanting Sidney SN. I also mentioned a likely case of drink spiking. It was probably an opiate; I was still experiencing hallucinations on the evening of the third day, when I was calmly lying on my bed while the shadows of objects in the room were moving. The strange thing was that despite the hallucinations, I was at the same time extremely calm.

A recent Beat Sexism survey was published: According to the survey by the organization Beat Sexism, around 32–33% of respondents had personal experience with so-called drink spiking (meaning that a drug or another intoxicating substance was added to their drink without consent). Out of 1,041 responses, 336 people reported personal experience, which is 32.3%. More than 91% of them were women. The most common age group was 19–24 years old. The research was focused mainly on young people in Prague, especially students and visitors of nightlife venues.

If the survey is accurate—which it most likely is to some extent—although chanting the name of a liquid drum and bass artist is rare, drink spiking is quite widespread in Prague.

I also wrote that these very experiences with events in Prague are among the reasons why I do not want to visit Prague. For me, it is a dangerous place, not only because of poisonings at events, and I prefer daylight events outside of Czechia. And the fact is that since 2022, I have not attended any event in Prague.

HelloFake 2027

 I’ve seen some surprise about real wages or spending in certain countries compared to the HelloSafe Prosperity Index 2026, which once again doesn’t match the reality of European countries for me either.

I have my own rough TOP 20 worldwide ranking based on median wealth per adult (typical real assets of ordinary people – the closest measure to “how wealthy people really are”). The data varies depending on methodology (UBS / Global Wealth Report), but over the long term it generally looks like this:

1. Switzerland

2. United States of America

3. Hong Kong

4. Australia

5. Luxembourg

6. Denmark

7. New Zealand

8. Singapore

9. Netherlands

10. Norway

11. Belgium

12. United Kingdom

13. Canada

14. France

15. Sweden

16. Taiwan

17. Ireland

18. Japan

19. Spain

20. Germany

 What is important:

* This is not about “how much the state earns,” but how much wealth an average person actually has (real estate, savings, investments minus debts).

* That is why some countries with high GDP (for example Qatar or Ireland) are not ranked highly here – their numbers are distorted by corporations or inequality. Czechia is not there either, because Czechs are generally not as wealthy as people in those top twenty countries.

If we are talking about average income, wages, or nominal wealth, then for example Czechia is poorer than the residents of the United Kingdom or France.

The HelloSafe Prosperity Index works with data where:

* low unemployment does not rule out low wages, underemployment, or real poverty

* low relative poverty does not mean comfort

* high home ownership among the older generation does not mean affordable housing (for younger people, for example)

* PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) may suggest “good purchasing power,” but for example rent and high energy prices can completely change that paper reality

If you look at the real feeling of living standards, some countries definitely do not feel like TOP 20 richest countries in the world.

For example, the mentioned index suggests that the gap between the extremely rich and the extremely poor is not as huge in some parts of Europe as it is in the USA. Fewer extremes mean a smaller gap between social classes, while greater equality does not automatically mean a good standard of living or determine what someone with an average income can actually afford.

When it comes to living costs and wages, I calculated how much I would have left on average each month from the salary in a social services (with my practice) in the Netherlands after covering my usual, basic expenses (this is food, pharmacy, cosmetics, electricity, insurance, clothing) or maintaining a my usual “minimalistic” lifestyle. The amount would be probably €1,700 to €2300 per month, depending also on spending on things such as clothing. The upper limit of possible savings is approaching the salary of a management of a smaller social service facility in Czechia, such as a care home with around 50 clients.

White like the Moon

 

        Even as I was traveling at dawn, the sun was white like the moon. Someone also asked whether it was the moon. I thought it must be because of the weather warning. 

At the same time, it was beautifully warm, early-spring weather. In the afternoon, it felt like summer clothing would be enough. But the sun remained white. It was pleasantly warm at the beginning of March—so much so that it made me want not to rest along the way, but to keep going. I also felt a strong urge to see buildings and parts of the city in different places under the glow of that white, yet warm sun. 

That day I walked 44,954 steps. It was fascinating how the buildings and city districts were illuminated by rays of a white sun, close in color to the moon, pushing me to keep walking further and further. The warning at the time was about Saharan dust. It doesn’t happen everywhere, and for some people it was surprising—even at dawn, wondering whether it was the sun rising or the moon.

EDM 2018 as the Peak of One Era and the Changes After the Pandemic

 Because of my relationship with techno music for instance, some people may be surprised by my attitude. But I also like EDM, Martin Garrix (Garrix also brought my person to Dua Lipa because his collaborations with Dua Lipa), Alesso, or MATTN from the female DJs for example. 

What saddens me is that many things changed after the pandemic. To this day, I regret that I did not visit Tomorrowland in 2018. I see it as the peak point for EDM, and also the peak point of the time when EDM was dominant at Tomorrowland. Attendance was also at its peak.

Honestly, I am not very enthusiastic about the fact that Tomorrowland became something else after the pandemic. And EDM gave way out. It may be a case for sociologists to explain why. In practice, I no longer have much interest in visiting Tomorrowland. I wanted to experience the EDM atmosphere and community there, and that time is gone…

Drum and bass is also visible at Tomorrowland today. In the past, it was mainly the Belgian Netsky at a Belgian festival who stood out. I like Netsky. Although there may now be people performing at Tomorrowland from DnB whom I personally like, I still do not like that DnB is now common at Tomorrowland. I do not like it in relation to the EDM community and to the experiences I may never have had.

When I look at the changes at Liquicity Festival, in my opinion it is similar. 2022 was the break point, after which what came next is no longer something that attracts me. I also see some similar reasons there as at Liquicity for why the changes happened. But at Tomorrowland among these reasons is not a person :D

 2018 as a Symbol of the Peak

The year 2018 can be seen as one of the strongest moments in Tomorrowland’s history. At that time, the festival benefited from the peak of EDM popularity, massive international interest, and an atmosphere that had been building throughout the previous decade. Mainstage culture, festival anthems, big melodies, and euphoric moments were still at the center of the festival’s identity.

At that time, Tomorrowland did not represent only a music event, but also a cultural phenomenon. For many fans, it meant a place where the global EDM community came together. That is exactly why, for many people, 2018 is associated with a feeling of the peak — not only in production, but also emotionally.

 EDM as the Dominant Identity of the Festival

In the pre-pandemic period, for years EDM at Tomorrowland was perceived as the main language of the festival. Progressive house, big room, and the festival sound defined the character of the main stages and the overall image of the event. Names such as Martin Garrix, Alesso, Hardwell, or Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike were symbols of that era.

That does not mean that other genres did not exist. Tomorrowland was always musically broader. The difference was in what formed its dominant identity and what most people automatically associated with the festival.

 Changes After the Pandemic

After the pandemic, festival culture changed, and Tomorrowland changed with it. Styles such as techno, afro house, tech house, or harder modern directions of electronic music, including neurofunk gained more space. If someone longed to experience the atmosphere of the peak EDM era, they may feel that they will never experience it now. 

EDM 2018… Both weekends were sold out in about an hour. With a capacity of around 400,000 visitors across two weekends, the festival was already fully established as the biggest EDM event in the world.

Dumb and Dumber

 Western Europe is known as a place where people can communicate using one language. English serves as a kind of navigational tool that is expected from everyone if it is not their native tongue.

I had an experience on a trip. During March on the journey from Brussels to Strasbourg, a French woman was sitting next to me. In the seat ahead of us was a lady from Brazil, apparently living in France. In front of her was a darker-skinned woman also living in France. Across the aisle sat a Spaniard. And behind him was a girl — I don’t know where she was from.

On the highway, you could start to feel wind inside the bus. I was quietly amused when I saw the French woman take off layers down to a T-shirt after she had sat beside me. Someone on the bus had left a window open or opened one. For a moment, nobody knew where the draft was coming from. It was still dark outside. It turned out to be a roof window, with cold air blowing directly into someone’s face.

First, a discussion started in English about where the wind was coming from. The French woman asked what was happening. I said that the roof window was open. The Spaniard tried to close it. But meanwhile, the lady who had become friendly with the Brazilian woman passionately insisted that he should leave the window open. Her reasoning was that the bus needed fresh air.

Everyone seemed quite surprised by the confidence of that lady — that the younger generation, which all of us were, were complaining about the cold, while the older woman saw it only as fresh air.

Maybe she did not realize that icy wind was blowing directly into someone’s face. She was sitting in the seat in front of the window. Of course, the French woman immediately put her jacket back on and was probably covering herself with a scarf as well.

To me, the whole situation was almost comical. When the bus was moving fast and smoothly on the highway, you could really feel it on your body and face. After a while, the Spaniard threw his jacket directly over his face. I started wondering whether my own face was freezing too, while laughing at the sight of the Spaniard with his winter jacket draped over his head. This weird situation reminded me the movie Dumb and Dumber, where these idiots ride through freezing weather across America on a tiny motorbike and end up frostbitten. I thought to myself, “That’s going to be us in a minute…”

The girl sitting behind the Spaniard finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked us whether the window really had to stay open, or what was going on. Spaniard said that he was closing the window, but the lady wished it to remain open. Once the girl said that, the Spaniard silently stood up to that older lady. He went to close the window again.

This time, the older lady did not object.

Across all those languages — French, Portuguese, Spanish, maybe Irish, Czech language I know, and others — we managed to communicate on the bus in one language. If someone had not known that language, they would have been lost when it came to solving problems on the bus. 

The approach as a Mirror of Economy

 In the article The Landscape as a Mirror of Society, I wrote about Dutch land management, which is clearly visible at first sight. 

The Netherlands is also considered 

the second-largest exporter 

of food in the world... 

This is mainly about the value of exports, not the number of tons of food produced. 

As in other areas of the economy, the Netherlands is also remarkable in how much it can earn from exports.

I already wrote in the above-mentioned article about Dutch farming, and the truth is that the Netherlands uses high-tech greenhouses, precision agriculture, automation, and innovative cultivation methods. Thanks to this, it is able to achieve high yields even on a small area and with lower resource consumption.

A one of the major roles is played by the connection between farmers, companies, and research institutions. Dutch Wageningen University & Research is globally known for its research in agriculture and food production.

Another key factor is strong logistics, especially the Port of Rotterdam. Goods quickly reach both European and global markets. The Netherlands also functions as an important trade hub. Thanks to its strong ports and logistics centers, goods from all over the world are in the Netherlands and are then distributed further to other countries.

Last but not least, a major reason is that instead of focusing on cheap commodities, the Netherlands concentrates on products with higher value due to quality, specialization, or technology. These include seeds, greenhouse vegetables, flowers, cheeses, dairy products, or processed foods. 

Life Shorter by One Hour

 I feel like I’m missing an hour of my life. First of all, back in autumn I left daylight saving time on one of my watches—my favorite ones. I keep catching myself thinking that the time shown on the watch is the real current time. And that brings me to the second point: I’m missing that hour of life in my life. Because of it, I can’t keep up with what I want to do. I wish a day had 28–32 hours.

Now I associate this with the loss of that hour. A 24-hour day feels too short to me, and on top of that, according to my own watch, I’ve even lost an hour of my life. It’s no longer five in the evening—it’s six. I always pause, realizing the watch is now set correctly, and it’s already six. The same goes for the morning. It’s already so late, when it feels like it should be an hour earlier.

In fact, I feel like I’ve lost two hours of my life — one hour in the evening, and another hour in the morning.

Lekker

 Hah… I recently mentioned that I like hip hop, among other music genres.

At the Happs mix, I also mentioned that Amsterdam is sometimes perceived as a kind of “black sheep,” but I said that I don’t see it that way, that this isn’t like a hip hop track mixed into Happs.

Additionally, I talked about Christmas in Amsterdam. In my opinion, Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful places in Europe during Christmas. I love the real Christmas atmosphere there. 

I also wrote a lot about how I perceive the Netherlands as a genuinely safe country. Sometimes it gives me an indescribable atmosphere, one I find hard to find elsewhere: The West Coast of Europe.  

I came across a video on Dutch Instagram, belonging to a Dutch girl, Somi Linda aka driplist. The video’s description says, “Dutch rappers: I was raised by the streets…” This video is another one, in my opinion, that captures what I often write about the Netherlands. I laughed when I saw this video for the first time.

Experiences Over Statistics

 Recently, I wrote about Grand Est in France. The truth is that, statistically, French cities often rank among the most dangerous in Europe. In many cases, this is true not only statistically.

Grande Île de Strasbourg 

I wrote about Grand Est intentionally because cities in Grand Est, such as Strasbourg, do not rank among the most dangerous cities.

 I don’t like statistics. Safety statistics, including those from Eurostat, are based on reported cases. Reality can be different, and from experience, it is. In Czechia, cities have everyday crime that Eurostat does not cover, I think. This is precisely because it concerns safety—things are either not reported, or people don’t see that reporting would solve the problem, or the issue does not turn against the person reporting another. In many Czech cities, people complain that they are afraid to be outside during the day, let alone after dark. Eurostat, however, shows nothing like this.

„definitions and counting of official crime vary between countries, and comparisons between countries can therefore be misleading“ European Commission 

The same goes for cost of living. Statistics often deal with prices but not with wages, for example. When statistics claim that living costs are lower somewhere, income is not taken into account at all. This is just one example of how statistics fail when it comes to cost of living or poverty.

I don’t know exactly how Strasbourg compares statistically to cities in Czechia, for instance. However, my impression is that Strasbourg itself is safer and calmer than cities in the Czechia. For example, at night, a drone is enough to cover many areas and monitor moving people. In Czech cities, a drone would not be sufficient in similar places.

At first glance, this might seem like excessive control. But the situation is clear: Strasbourg is calm at night in these areas. People are practically absent, homeless people or drug users are minimally visible—or rather, they are simply not there—and the space is well monitored. In such a case, a drone is sufficient for prevention and monitoring.

The contrast with many Czech cities — statistically different places — is stark. In city centers and main areas, movement of various “undesirables” is common even during the day—homeless people, drug users, thieves, or even worse. People often fear intervening, even when something happens that would require a reaction. In such an environment, a drone would not be sufficient—the area is too lively.

It is also clear that official statistics, for example Eurostat in my view, do not provide an accurate picture. They are based only on reported cases and often do not reflect how people actually feel or how safe their daily environment is. In cities, people regularly experience fear from everyday crime, complain about the situation, which statistics almost never capture.

Strasbourg, which I used here as an example, is, from the perspective of nighttime calm around the center and safety, simply a “different world.” Drone there work as an effective supplement for prevention. In similar Czech cities, this approach would fail because the dynamics and concentration of problematic groups in the center and main areas do not allow for simple technological monitoring.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, drones began to be used in France to monitor compliance with lockdown measures and the movement of people in public spaces; this practice was subsequently restricted by courts due to privacy concerns, which led to the adoption of legislation in 2023 that legalized the use of drones and established conditions for their deployment—officially for purposes such as maintaining public order or preventing crime.

So calm and a sense of safety in a city are not just about statistics or technology, but about the actual reality, the visibility of problems, and the experience of the people who live and move there. Strasbourg shows that sometimes it’s enough to simply have a space where people “normally aren’t” for prevention to be effective. In my view, if there were a society that denied the existence of crime, Eurostat would evaluate that society as perfectly fine.

I don’t even need to mention why so many people outside of a country know me. This is also something that could be sociologically questioned. 

The Dutch CCTV

 I had an arguments about why the Netherlands is a pretty friendly country and seems to be safe.

  Yet, 

the fact that the atmosphere in the Netherlands often feels more relaxed: 

 Dutch cities also tend to have CCTV networks, integrated with AI-based monitoring and real-time alert systems, and you can be everywhere immediately warned by police through loudspeakers on the street or in a park about your behavior without any intermediary.

Once, for example, I experienced a situation where someone who was trying to have a “picnic” in a Dutch park was warned over the police loudspeaker. It was quite a shock, because in other parts of the same park man can clearly see people sitting on benches and for example they smoking a joint, since THC is legal in the Netherlands. But this particular area is more nature protected.

Another example is this experience where a Czech bus drivers tried to enter the Maastunnel in Rotterdam, and they were immediately warned over the loudspeaker by police and given instructions to back out of the tunnel entrance. People in the cars near the tunnel were quite surprised by the event. The yellow bus had to turn around in the bend of cars in front of the tunnel. Traffic into the Maastunnel was blocked because of it. At first, I was surprised that the bus drivers didn’t know where to go in Rotterdam towards Centraal Station, and then that they drove into a Maastunnel meant for cars, which caused the incident. In the end, though, I couldn’t help laughing at the confusion they caused and how they were being instructed over the loudspeakers by police, they were shocked because this immediately CCTV system and loudspeakers itself. It was such a typical “Czech” decision to “just cut it off there and see what happens”. The bus drivers probably didn’t know about CCTV networks in Rotterdam and police loudspeakers which a one can find all over Rotterdam. The truth is, it was crazy to want to go into a tunnel with passenger cars. 

When Euphoria Turns Into an Opponent

 Recently, I read that in the United States there has been a significant increase in THC use in recent years. Along with this, a phenomenon known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) has been appearing more frequently.

 THC, which many perceived as a beneficial, calming, or medicinal substance, has in some cases turned into an opponent.

THC often acts as a means of inducing euphoria, relieving various types of pain, and improving appetite. However, in some cases—especially with chronic use—it transforms into the opposite of what it was meant to provide.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is precisely that opposite, and it appears to occur in many chronic THC users.

From experience, I have encountered this in certain individuals as well. They often appear tired, weakened, lacking appetite, frequently vomiting—yet they continue using THC, believing they will overcome the condition, or perhaps due to a perceived dependence. This is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

I looked into 

 the reasons behind CHS:

 The endocannabinoid system is a part of the human body—it regulates mood, appetite, stress, and pain perception. When this system is stimulated externally over a long period of time, it adapts. It reduces sensitivity. It recalibrates. It searches for a new balance: The paradox is that the more a person tries to stabilize their experience through an external substance, the more they may disrupt the body’s ability to stabilize itself.

What is striking is the cyclical nature of this phenomenon: Nausea → THC use → short-term relief → deeper destabilization → further use.

The body sends a signal, but the mind interprets it through past experience: “This has always helped me.” And it is precisely this memory of relief that sustains the cycle.

Physical exhaustion, dehydration, and loss of strength during CHS episodes are symptoms. The body loses electrolytes, cannot eat, sleeps poorly. The body is under strain. Psychological apathy, irritability, or anxiety when abstaining point to another kind of dependence—not necessarily dramatic, but quiet: dependence on external regulation of one’s internal state. The user may find themselves in a vicious circle, aware that THC no longer benefits them, yet unable to stop using it.

The phenomenon of CHS is not merely a medical complication. It is a reminder that any long-term artificial amplification or suppression of a system changes its fundamental setting.

Not every long-term cannabis user will experience this condition. Reactions are individual. Genetics, frequency of use, THC potency, and nervous system sensitivity all play a role. But for those in whom this cycle develops, 

  the solution…

 is paradoxically simple—though psychologically demanding: complete cessation for at least an extended period of time. A return may be possible, but likely only in the form of occasional use rather than chronic use.

Made me laugh

 “If someone doesn’t like it, they probably should work on themselves.”

 

 Sometimes ChatGPT can be amusing. Over the past four days, I’ve been feeling abnormal tired, so I consulted ChatGPT about my current lifestyle.

In the chat, I also mentioned my daily fitness routine. And ChatGPT’s response to my push-ups made me laugh:

 1500 push-ups a day is an extreme volume (sometimes I do even more, up to 2000).

Honestly — that’s more than most professional athletes do for a single muscle group in a day.

To be even more precise:

 In bodybuilding, a high weekly volume for one muscle group is considered roughly:

• 10–20 working sets per week

You’re doing 1500 push-ups a day. Even if I count that as 50 sets of 30 reps, that’s 350 sets per week of a single movement.

That’s a completely different league of volume.

Carrie as a Warning: When Society Fails the Individual

Carrie 2013

 I’ve already written that I like Chloë Moretz because in her films she often portrays what she herself feels, or she chooses roles that have a clear purpose. One of the strongest examples of Chloë Moretz being true to herself, for me, is The Miseducation of Cameron Post. During the U.S. elections, Chloë Moretz also spoke about her identity and expressed concern about the possibility of Donald Trump being elected.

Recently, I rewatched Carrie (2013). This remake of the classic story by Stephen King depicts a teenage girl who is systematically humiliated by her classmates and psychologically suffocated by a fanatical religious upbringing at home.

“I just want a normal life…”,  Carrie 

After watching the film, I was left with questions. For a moment, I was even uneasy about whether the film could be seen as inspirational or as justifying mass murders, which sometimes happen for reasons similar to those the film portrays. Mass shootings are more frequent in the U.S., but such social phenomena are not limited to one country.

The film ultimately feels more like a warning, I think — that when a person is mocked, ignored, or oppressed over a long period of time, something accumulates inside them. Carrie releases this accumulated pain in a destructive way, killing everyone — maybe in distrust of everyone, including those who stood by her. 

Once again, I see in Chloë Moretz someone who accepts a role because of its deeper intention.

And this is where the film asks an uncomfortable question: What happens when a collective systematically destroys an individual — and can later even pretend it knew nothing about it? In Carrie, this is very clear: collective bullying is not just about a few “bad individuals.” It is a group dynamic. And groups have a strong tendency to protect their own image.

It is true that the bullying, humiliation, and rejection of Carrie are carried out by society in the film, yet in the end almost all of them are massacred — except for one person, who later testifies in court about the unbelievable events.

The climax at the prom is not a triumph. It is a tragedy. Carrie does not kill only those who hurt her. In a state of emotional overwhelm, she destroys everything. The film makes it clear that violence is not justice — it is collapse.

In my view, the film does not say that revenge is the solution. Rather, it points to the possible consequences of the systematic oppression of an individual.

Carrie also has supernatural abilities in the film, specifically telekinesis. When I think about the reasons why I like Chloë Moretz, I wonder whether there is also intention in this aspect. In a way, oppressed individuals may become more aware of systems of oppression for the sake of their own survival; they may learn to read people more accurately and develop an understanding of reality that is inaccessible to anyone except the oppressed themselves. In the film, however, there is something deeper about controlling reality. At the very beginning of the film, Carrie saves herself precisely through this power.

In the context of various societies where systematic oppression, bullying, and isolation exist, Carrie functions as a warning. Chloë Moretz portrays a character who is not a symbol of evil, but a symbol of society’s failure. And perhaps that is why the film provokes such strong emotions — it forces to reflect on where individual responsibility ends and where societal responsibility begins. 

“Different country, different customs”

 Sometimes I wonder how certain observations could be formulated so that they don’t sound “harsh”. On the other hand, I’ve already shared Nukivalent’s streams, for instance. She has an interesting critique of cultural and social habits. On her Instagram profile, videos often appear in which she points out various cultural and social patterns.

I think that if Nukivalent were Czech and pointed out cultural or social habits in clothing or in self-care, and in Western European countries—such as the everyday norms in the Netherlands or in Germany—she would receive heavy criticism, even if what she said were true. The same could be said about many parts of France and values there. 

But the truth is still the truth—it can be seen and even felt. And I laughed when I saw Nukivalent’s streams for first time, because there is a truth about cultural and social values.

In a way, the criticism from DnB ravers of Central Europe that I wrote about after Hospitality at Melkweg in the autumn is enough for me. However, I don’t generally see those typical Dutch “norms” within these communities. They are commonly visible at Dutch techno, tech-house events, but not at similar drum and bass events. I saw no one the person there. Yet in the eyes there, something glows differently than is natural. 

It would be possible to talk not only about outward things, but also about inner ones, which are just as visible externally. In some country, there is a saying: “Different country, different customs.” That proverb captures it well. I recently wrote about my “azureness,” which someone say is visible in me when I return from the Netherlands. I stand by the idea that if I had to explain what I mean by identities, it is difficult to explain something that someone does not know, does not perceive, or perhaps does not even acknowledge—likely because of their own social habits.

But this is not only about the Netherlands. Other Western countries also have values that are hard to find elsewhere, or do not exist at all. I would dare to say that also about someone’s in interest, I can claim that someone similar is not exist elsewhere, and they could be misunderstood because of their identities. And these values are visible in everyday life, or the same, within their professions. This is something no one will convince me could be otherwise. 

I know it from myself — sometimes I think I’m doing something that isn’t even around me. But I do it because I perceive it as something natural. And when I go further west, I see all around me what I mean here. And much more — sometimes I see a glow in the eyes that I don’t see anywhere else at all. 

Azure-tinged

  I hold many reasons close for this land— but here’s a quiet one: Ducks in the streets. Not lost, not out of place, but gliding calm through canals and streams, unstartled by the human pace. They swim like the city belongs to them too. And perhaps it does. Kralingen’s swans nest in still corners as children wander close, no rush, no fear—just a soft balance between feathers and footsteps, roots and routines. There is something sacred in a city that lets life be. Cleaner reality, and people who’ve learned to move with the rhythm of skyscrapers. In Kralingen’s hush, I see intelligence in ivy, ethics in botanic, a culture not only of words but of care. And in Zuiderpark, summer breathes through grills and laughter, a community of coexistence forming over shared bread and sun, beneath leaves that catch every language and send it back as joy. At Essenburgpark, the city bows before a quiet grove— not out of guilt, but respect. And above it all—Erasmusbrug, that swan of steel spanning the river’s grace. Its cables hum like harp strings in the wind, connecting not just land to land but idea to ideal. Skyscrapers rise like glass reeds against the Dutch sky, not to block nature— but to coexist with it. Reflection, not domination. Even in stone and steel, there is room for the soul. This is development not just of roads, but of rhythm. Of harmony between the naturalism and the made. There is no wall between person and pond. No border between culture and root. There is a peace here that doesn’t need to shout. A cultivated silence. Aesthetic. The Beauty of steel and the heritage.

 I’ve learned that I even tend to become “azure” after returning from the Netherlands. What someone may see is a my favorite Dutch city. And not only that – it is also the climate of the Netherlands as a society, a system, and a culture. 

Whether it is the openness of the space that comes from the North Sea and flows through the city without obstacles, or the air that does not stand still. Air is not just a mixture of gases – in the Netherlands it feels cleaner and fresher. It is also a different reflection of how society thinks. It is not only about having a cleaner and more aesthetic environment. 

In a different country, the air is not only worse in terms of toxicity, but also mentally burdened – with a different form of toxicity. 

In the Netherlands, the air is different. It flows. And flow means movement. And movement means life. Society is more open, less grounded in a limiting way, freer, less prone to extremism, it does not stink, it thinks more. Civilization is built so that people can enjoy its beauty. Even the infrastructure does not hold a person down. 

Where things like cycling, open space, modern urbanism, more aesthetic greenery, and less stagnation are supported, the air is lighter. Not only physically, but mentally as well. 

I have also mentioned several times that I recover quickly in the Netherlands – for example from a respiratory illness, which may not in fact be purely respiratory, but psychosomatic. 

People create the air themselves. In some places it is heavy on its own, and elsewhere it is lighter because people are able to naturally radiate through their own culture. I have written before that if the Netherlands has been described as first in quality of life 2026, it has its obvious reasons, which cannot go unnoticed if someone truly embraces this for themselves. 

And such a person may naturally be perceived that way within a certain society when they return from a place where things function in a way that feels closer to them.

 Released 2026-02-04

 

   “Words belong to those who have experienced it.” 

  G’day!

 Sidney SN 2026 is here with a brand-new drum & bass mix.

Sidney wasn’t exactly keen to mix something new after Discotheque, a mix he enjoyed. But then again, he could say the same about Orangery or plenty of his other mixes.

The Netherlands — especially its coastline — is something Sidney SN associates with Australian coastlines. 

Recently, the Netherlands a survey (Numbeo Quality of Life Index) ranked as number one in the world for quality of life. Another survey (Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection) named Australia the second safest country on the planet.

Both the Netherlands and Australia inspire me, and that happs runs right through Sidney SN’s music.

 Happs 

 is a new Sidney SN mix to kick off 2026. In a way, this year marks an anniversary — ten years ago, back when he was still just Sidney (without the SN), Sidney mixed his very first liquid drum & bass set.

The mix is almost entirely liquid drum and bass, but there are rare exceptions that might not sound like drum and bass, even though they were released by the best drum and bass labels. In the end of the mix is also mixed a hip hop track. I also like hip hop.

Sometimes people say that Amsterdam slightly distorts how the Netherlands is seen. But ordinary people aren’t like these Red Lights mixed with Dreamcatcher in the end of the Sidney SN mix. 

All words belong to those who have experienced it...

Tracklist:

 Overgrown by Pola & Bryson  (Shogun Audio)

 Want U Bad by Solah  (Hospital Records)

 Keeping Pace by Pola & Bryson  (Shogun Audio)

 Waiting For Me by Bob x Subwave  (Hospital Records)

 Caliban by Etherwood  (Hospital Records)

 Moonwater by Aftertones  (Ledge Sounds)

 Bell Tune by LSB  (Footnotes)

 Talk To Me by Koherent feat. Riya  (Shogun Audio)

 Liberated (by Kraedt) Kolosu Remix  (Ledge Sounds)

 Want U by Anaïs  (Hospital Records)

 Dreamcatcher by Wagz  (Metalheadz)

 Red Lights by Brandom Strife 

Shutdown the Dissolution II

 In Shutdown the Dissolution I mentioned social services in relation to my own person. 

And since I often speak about the Netherlands, which inspires me, I could also name something from a visible fundamental systemic differences between how social services function in Czechia and in the Netherlands.

I am certainly not the only one who can see these systemic differences, nor the only one who has gone through—or is still going through.

 The Netherlands:

 The state has long relied on a relatively consistent strategy in the field of social care: It rather prefers working with a smaller number of workers who are well prepared, professionally qualified, and systematically supported, rather than employing workers without the required education and experience.

 Czechia:

 In social services, there is often an effort to quickly fill staffing capacities regardless of the level of preparedness.

 The Netherlands:

 In this model, the client is not perceived as an “experimental object.” The system is set up to minimize situations where procedures are searched for only during the provision of care.

 Czechia:

 The system is often set up in such a way that procedures are sought only in the course of providing care.

 The Netherlands:

 The worker is not exposed to expectations of improvisational adaptation without sufficient support. Responsibility is clearly structured, defined, and enforceable. Social services cannot excuse themselves by citing staff shortages or systemic failures—every actor knows exactly where their role begins and where it ends.

 Czechia:

 In the Czech environment a man often encounter situations where people without adequate professional preparation enter direct care. Training is usually brief, focused mainly on operational basics, and there is an implicit assumption that the worker will somehow manage. 

Responsibility here is often not systematically anchored—it is not clearly set but rather transferred ad hoc onto individuals (even onto individuals without any education or experiences). 

 The Netherlands:

 Emphasis is placed on structure, predictability, and continuity of relationships. Every intervention has a professional rationale, and workers know exactly why they choose specific procedures. The client is not an object of improvisation but the subject of long-term planned care.

Czechia:

 Work is often reactive—interventions come only at the moment of escalation (even by workers without any education and experiences) and a large part of decision-making rests on individual intuition and the worker’s momentary assessment rather than on clearly defined structures.

The Netherlands:

 In the Netherlands, qualification is not understood as a formal requirement but as a basic tool for protecting the client, the worker, and the system itself. Entry into the profession is gradual and conditioned by specific education, supervised practice, language competence, and mandatory ongoing training. Without meeting clear criteria for education and practice, it is not possible to perform given roles. In other words, without clear education and experience, no one is allowed into direct care.

Czechia:

 In the Czech system, requirements for workers in social services are often lower or bypassed for operational reasons. When entering direct care, appropriate education or prior experience is often not required. Workers in social services may have no education or practice at all. They are often thrown in at the deep end and expected to somehow cope. The result is a system that can fill shifts in the short term—often it appears that the primary goal is simply to cover shifts—but in the long term this leads to worker burnout, client insecurity, and above all the absence of clearly defined care approaches. This results in inconsistencies in work methods, crisis resolution, and interventions themselves, weakening both the quality and continuity of the service provided.

 The Netherlands:

 The Dutch approach seeks to protect all parties involved simultaneously. It protects the client by minimizing the risk of care failure. It protects the worker by providing time, competence, and professional support. It protects the social services through clearly defined rules of operation, and it protects the entire system by limiting the need for constant crisis management in “emergency mode.” This model places higher demands and means a slower entry into the profession, but its result is fewer traumatic situations, fewer failures, and less pressure to rely on improvised solutions.