Letty

"Mia Toretto: Want some of this?

Dom Toretto: Yeah.

Mia Torettoa: It's spicy.

Dom Toretto: I like it hot.

Mia: Dom, what are you doing?
You reached first, you have to say grace.

Dom: Thank you, Lord, for blessing this table.

Mia: With food, family and friendship."

(Brian O'Conner is also sitting at the table quietly, just the three of them.)

Director Justin Lin and the team of writers did a nice job of bringing back the fourth edition back home instead of spinning it off.  Though I really liked the lineage that they kept all the characters and plot connected in the series.  The scene above is somewhere in the middle of the movie but that scene takes you back to the original when the crew introduced in the first movie use to say grace when they ate.  Mia had to remind her brother.

"Mia Toretto: Why don't you tell me why you dragged me here, Brian?

Brian O'Conner: You know they're going to capture Dom. Maybe worse.
I don't want you getting tangled up in this. So stay away from him.

Mia: That's what you have to say to me after five years? All of a sudden, you care what happens to me.

Brian: What I did to you was wrong. I'm sorry. It was... It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

Mia: I'm sorry, too, Brian.
I'm so sorry that you had to come into my home and pretend to love me.
I'm so sorry that you ripped my family apart.
I'm very sorry that was hard for you.

Brian: I lied to you.
I lied to Dom.
I lied to everybody.
That's what I do best. It's why the Feds recruited me.

Mia: Maybe you're lying to yourself.
Maybe you're not the good guy pretending to be a bad guy.
Maybe you're the bad guy pretending to be the good guy.
You ever think about that?

Brian: Every day.

(She gets up walks a few feet and comes back standing there)

Mia: I always wondered, why did you let my brother go that day?

Brian: I don't know.

(He knows, he just wasn't prepared to answer then)

(She walks out)

This conversation at the coffee shop is a significant expression on what this sequel is about, along with what was to come from what happens to Letty.

Later in the scene at the house after dinner, when the emotions have settled and they connect again...

Brian: You asked me why I let Dom go.
I think it's because at that moment,
I respected him more than I did myself.
Yeah.

One thing I learned from Dom is that nothing really matters unless you have a code.

Mia: And what's your code, Brian

Brian: I'm working on it."

(Good Fight Scene)

This one had a little more heart than it did flash or adrenaline, everything from the personal beef with Dom and Fenix to emphasizing love doesn't have to be a normal relationship.  Put 'da 1970 Charger with the supercharger sticking out the 426 (switched over to "electronic injection") back.  I liked the primed out gray Chevelle better than when it was in red with black stripes because if you're potentially going to wreck a car, don't do it all prettied out.  The meat in the sandwich was the 1970 Charger, Chevelle SS, Camaro F-Bomb, the lettuce and tomatoes were Brian's blue Skyline and the yellow Tjaarda Mustang mod, the bottom bread is the Buick GNX  in the beginning and the top bread is like the Acura NSX, 1970 Charger (yes mentioned again) and the Pontiac Trans AM combo in the end.  The other cars are like Mayonnaise and Mustard.

skins - 3rd, 4th

I admit that in High School I admired one girl, maybe two but not at the same time and no others.  The girl I dated as a Senior in High School was a friend of a classmate.  I was in class, forget what subject, this girl who never paid me any attention dropped her pen to the left of me.  In High School we have these tables in which you can only exit out of your seat from the left because the tables had a arm rest where it blocks exiting to the right.  The only way she would be able to pick up the pen is to lean over and stretch to pick it up or get out of her seat and walk to my row to pick it back up.  I picked the pen up for her.  She smiled and it started with her saying hi to me every once in a while.  One day after school she said hi again and we started talking with two of her other friends.

A show I use to watch growing up was The Wonder Years, skins is the complete opposite end in contrast.

I hate when I am hanging out, oh wait, I am an adult now, I hate when I am socializing and my peers point out a girl and pressure me to go over and say hi.  I use to have no problems doing it when I was younger but now I am older, less flirtatious and a little more inhibited.  There is another reason why I hesitate sometimes.  I am particular about choosing my mate, I am looking for someone that will compliment and accept my unique character and then thus I in her.  So, I hate when I am pressured to make a connection when I don't feel it's right, maybe even if it could move to something good or she is very attractive.  Any case, if I find someone right, I think I can move on my own will, not someone aiming my focus for me.  I like what I like, not what someone else thinks I should be liking.

The American version of skins is in it's fourth episode on MTV.  The third episode focused on Chris Collins, he wakes up with a big boner that will last throughout the episode because of some pills.  He comes downstairs to find a wad of money left by his mom in an envelope that has a label addressed from a utility company.  They count it and find it's a thousand dollars or more.  The question presented to him by Tony is: "How are you going to spend it?".  The answer in the next scene is a big party, the next morning he can't even afford to pay the pizza guy the full amount due.  He tries to sell some of the electronics to make some money but eventually sells a wheelbarrow, but instead of accepting cash, he trades for drugs.  His mom has some issues and left.  His dad who he later tries to visit wants nothing to do with him.  It's fount out during this scene he has an older brother, Peter Collins, who has died, Peter Collins was the good child.  It seems that the family has been through some turmoil.  He's left in a messed up house with graffiti and even the toilet has been taken.  The worst part is, there's a stranger in his house who kicked him out.  He's lucky to have his friends and a teacher he is crushing on who later takes him in.  In the end you see him taking some more pills, estrogen pills.

The fourth episode focuses on Cadie, a girl who is seeing many psychiatrist being someone who seems to be having mood issues and has a psychological issue with pigeons.  Through all her psychiatrists she is getting prescription pills, some are for her depression.  When Cadie was originally introduced into the skins crew of friends, she was supposedly set up to help Stanley lose his virginity.  This episode is now giving a little more detail into her character.  The first three episodes and characters also has the a similar introduction, she is waking up to her home life.  Her mom in the episode makes a comment that "feelings are not real" and she makes her daughter feel her ribs, displaying she is thin or in good shape.  Her vanity is engulfed in beauty, right now being in a television show based on that, beauty.  Cadie's father has his total interest in animals.  He hunts them and seems like a taxidermist.  Cadie is being used originally to vouch Stanley is not a virgin and now for her access to pills.  That's what she gets invited to this party for, her pills.  As if that were not bad enough, she finds it out through Tea.  What's even worst is she then gets molested by an old pervert but she willingly allowed it out of emotional sadness when she finds out that Stanley is not her love, boyfriend.  That idea that she had Stanley as a boyfriend was one of the only thing that made her happy, it helped snap her out of her mood issue a little.  In a parallel topic: Stanley is still in love with Michelle not Cadie, Tony's girlfriend.  Tony is still obsessed over Tea from episode two when they had there connection.  After Tea took a mood enhancer from Cadie's pill supply, you see Tony glaring at Tea making out with another girl.

---It's interesting what brings someone's attributes to our forefront, I'm not even talking about love.  Just what does bring their traits to our attention?

---Kids and even adults associate with others based on what you have and use others for what they have.

---The media does not do well to help on the topic of child abuse because the media opens up the subject or idea to those that would not have this in their minds, causing the topic to be more widespread to those that would have not have that as even a considered thing to do.  From the last year of Elementary School and throughout Junior High School, I walked home alone, not once did it occur to me that I would have to deal with such a issue that would traumatize a kid.  So it is understandable that a kid would not know what to do or know how to react unless an adult helps them or they would not bring out the issue until they were an adult.

---Yes, watching this show, though it was not like this for me growing up, brings me back to moments in High School, which I enjoyed.  Drugs weren't even an issue until High School and even by then the "Just Say No" slogan worked, it was in my brain.  Though I did have my first beer before High School, at the age of thirteen or fifteen.  I had two supportive parents though both worked and I would only see my mom until 10pm or later and my dad twice a week.

---The interesting terminology that came out of the episode that raised my eyebrow like The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) were two phrases: Hetero-normative and Gender-Coercive.  The Asian looking girl that was kissing Tea said "this party is so hetero-normative" and "your friends are totally gender-coercive".  These words are not simple words of the day meant for progressive vocabulary learning, but words of the neo sexual deviance wave.  My un-politically favored opinion is that homosexuality is not a good thing because without the hetero-normative part, there would be no more normal production of offsprings.  There's also the normative part of me that does not want to see two men in sexual acts, maybe two women (it's arousing).  My view is still hetero-normative and I do not want to be desensitized.  There's been a liberal movement trying to coerce culture into accepting non-hetero-normative ways as being okay.  That is completely okay because differences have the right in freedom, but do it in your own place, don't intrude on my place.  The gender-coercive part I understand, after all I am Chinese and knowing the government of the country my father came from, has the one child policy.  If you were restricted to only have one child with severe enforced punishment for not obeying, would your choice for an offspring be male or female.  In Chinese society, the male is considered strong, not just physically but as someone that can bring home the bacon, a provider.  The male preserves the surname in Chinese culture, the surname is an important lineage because it sort of describes your ancestry.  In Chinese culture the female is considered to have a role of wit, beauty and home maker, even though in the manufacturing era, like the American manufacturing era in the early-mid 1900s, women are making their way to the work place and some are gaining grounds on better rights.  In China, the ratio of men outweigh women and the gender-coercive side sometimes involves extreme measures to get a boy.  But the way she implied it is there is no difference between a guy and girl, which is neo sexual deviant thinking, no thanks.

---I like the show.  Kill the critics.

Han

Everyone likes Vin Diesel, he made the first one pop.  The two main sexy female characters Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez also added a little eye candy to the movie.  Along with the action and of course the modified cars like the blacked out 1995 Honda Civics (the first car closely associated to my life was a red 1995 Honda Civic), RX-7 mod and the 1970 Charger (I like the classic version better than the 2006-2011 model, I almost bought one).  The Fast and the Furious (2001, first one)  is about the clan of rebels doing what the title states, living, fast and furious because who wants to be held down on a nine to six job?  In order to facilitate their lifestyle of modified cars, which a small kit can be thousands of dollars, they have to think beyond a normal job.  In the end, Brian O'Conner, the undercover officer assigned to catch the rebel clan has to make a choice on being law abiding or go with his better judgment of being honorable to the rebel lifestyle.

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) was a little more about upgrading and hot flashing the modified cars, it included the Camaro (Yenko Edition), the pinked out 2001 Honda S2000 and of course the ejector seat (my favorite) Challenger.  The first and second, both, has adrenaline but I think Tyrese gave it a "fuck all, give me mine" attitude.  This one, also had a little on viewing one's character and a touch on loyalty and honor, sort of like the first, just a change in the plot.

I can't say The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) was my favorite but I liked it a bit more because it separated itself from the others a little, maybe because the Japanese are a unique breed.  I also did sort of drift once with a Toyota Echo.  I had a two door Toyota Echo that was very fuel economical.  It was so small that I once drove down a strip of road to make the green light at about 40 miles an hour to break properly in time to steer a nice left turn.  I think proper drifting involves a good steering and breaking technique.  The speed, distance and how many drifts in your repertoire depends on the size of your car and how well you maneuver the aspects of movement.  Physics say's something about v=d/t with some weight in it, lol.

DK does not stand for Donkey Kong.  The movie focuses on the student's love for drifters, they admire this nephew of a Yakuza boss.  He is the Drift King.  His partner Han does not really care too much about being named top drifter, in the movie he explains why.  Han is after girls, the glamour, nice cars, he likes the money but above all...

"Sean:  Why'd you let me race with your car?
 You knew I was gonna wreck it
 
Han:  Why not?
 
Sean:  Cause it's a lot of money
 
Han:  I have money
It's trust and character I need around me.
You know, who you choose to be around you lets you know who you are
And one car in exchange for knowing what a man's made of,
that's a price I can live with

Look at all those people down there
They follow the rules, for what?
They're letting fear lead them

Sean:  What happens if they don't?

Han:  Life's simple, you make choices and you don't look back"

Sometimes you have to light the fire with gasoline soaked matches.

I haven't seen the fourth yet: Fast and Furious (2009).  Maybe tonight

skins

The snow fall in New York City this 2011 winter so far is about, what, six already?  I wasn’t really counting but I believe two of them hit us pretty hard.  In all this snow, I have been taking the subway because it’s better to leave the car where it is and take mass transit.  I can move it because I shoveled it out but no one else on the street seems to be moving their car, they're still covered and surrounded by snow.  If I drive my car and when I come back, I'll lose my spot.  I don't have a driveway.  I was watching the news that people have been leaving their garbage can to reserve their spot in front of their house, after all it is reasonable for whoever's hard work to shovel the area out to retain the spot.  How fair is it that you leave for even five minutes to the grocery store and the spot gets taken, unfair.

I saw ads for it twice, on the subway trains, is the only reason I wanted to check out the new MTV series called “skins”.  Originally I thought it was going to be about some teenage reality series with a bit more baring skin or something like that.  “skins” is a remake from a running hit show from the UK version of “skins”.  The first episode leads to I guess one definition of the name of the show: marijuana skins, rookies (more knowledgeable users use a bong or pipe because you get a better "high" from the fumes than smoking it).  In part from when they were going to smoke some marijuana in the SUV they stole at a rich kid's party, but searching for some marijuana skins they start moving around and accidently sink the SUV they stole in a body of water.  I say one definition because there is also the rated PG barring of clothing in the show.  It’s said to be about a show illustrating what teenagers really do in today’s times in High School, in this version is specifically plotted in Baltimore, Maryland.  The main topic of the show is sex: this episode focuses on one of the characters losing his virginity, now in High School, this topic is at the top of the agenda list.  The show begins with the main male character getting out of bed working out and viewing a nude neighbor, he then notices I guess is his sister coming home from a party with no shoes, clothes hanging off her and eyeliner washing down her eyes.  He blares the music as a distraction so his sister can come in unnoticed by their parents.  The rest of the beginning scene involves him messing with his father by purposely hogging the bathroom and locking the door so his father can't get in, later his father says something like: "you think I'm your bitch"?  Dysfunctional family at it's best.

The second episode of the American version of "skins" (2011) focuses on a teenager, named Tea, played by Sophia Black D'Elia who is a lesbian on the show.  It's been a week since I watched, so the part where I remember the show starting off is in class when Tea is staring at a guy in front of her, that, or dazing off. Unknowledgeable about her sexual preferences I assume she likes him, then another girl in front of Tea looks back glaring her way.  They make eye contact.  When class ends, a note lands on the other girl's desk, Betty; the note reads something like: "Northern Soul".  Scene flashes forward: you see Tea getting into a club with a fake ID that looks nothing like her, but bouncer lets her in.  Inside are all teenage girls dancing with some hip foot work for their age.  Betty shows up, they dance and in a one, two three scene you see Tea and Betty kissing and then with some vivid lesbian sex scenes.  A few other scenes from the show I recall include: the male main character, Tony, is set up on a date with Tea by their fathers not knowing all the details of their children's lives, Tony and Tea actually know one another from school, so I guess they play along and find that both their parents have mob connections.  They hang out on a playground Merry Go 'Round drinking Vodka talking a little more personal on a one to one level involving their sex lives.  Eventually in the heat of the moment they get so into each other that they have sex.  The funny part in the three seconds sex scene that past by when it ended is a comment by Tony after Tea starts laughing is: "normal girls like it"; and the other scene worth writing about involves a conversation between Tea and Tony, where it was addressed that Tea's father probably gave up being a top mob member after his "family disowned him", in order to pursue love with his wife, Tea's mom, possibly for marrying a Jewish wife.  This last note, along with some other plots in the episode shows the contrast between Tea's father and Tea who is not after commitment. -Play and Dance to: Wade In The Water by Marlene Shaw - Album: Anthology

So this is the depiction of today's youth via the view of MTV: marijuana smoking and liberal leaning to the left sex.  I mean we all chased after sex in our High School years, but I don't recall it being like this.

My Executive's Addiction

Well not really, but this title sounds catchier to read.  I had a brief discussion with the Vice President of Operations of the company I work for on the addictive effects of video games on today's youth.  My input into the conversation was that video games, in my youth, helped me develop some of my motor skills, like driving.  I am an excellent driver, not a professional or an expert, but good enough to be attentive and responsive in terms of maneuvering around the objects in the speed I accelerate without any accidents, ever, maybe a bump or two.  I don't believe my motor skills or other balancing of visual responses were totally attributed to video games but using that remote to control the objects on the screen on my Nintendo could have helped in development.  There's a notion going around in the media that today's youth are addicted to media like video games.  I mean when I was a kid all I wanted to do was go home after school and watch television or play video games.  Why would I want to pay attention to the topics of my teacher and come home to do homework or study some more?  Of course every kid wants to come home and relax to some leisure of video games.  A family member, which I will not identify relation, not my dad or mom because they were busy working, who was a part time guardian, limited my television watching to two hours a day after school.  So what is there to do after school instead of television or video games, well how about socializing or other activities using your brain or sports?

There's a quote from the movie Lord of War that goes something or precisely like this: "I never understood what separated recreational drug users from habitual".  Well, my view is now you have to balance the two, leisure and hard work-stress.  In addition, the limit of stress on an individual from studying too much, meaning over strain from studying too hard can cause withdrawal symptoms because if the pressure is too great then the person will dislike and withdrawal.  It's a chemical brain function thing.

The Vice President of Operations states it just doesn't apply to teenagers, it applies to us as adults as well; look at the way we text and drive which can lead to accidents and is now a law against texting and driving.  It's true; my perspective on it is if there is no chemical addiction to it like marijuana, then it shouldn't be too hard to keep off right?  But it's a joy sensation left on the memory taste buds that lingers in the brain that says that whatever/specific addiction, like to video games or media, something that brings us leisure pleasure, an escape from homework or work stress.  Like chocolate, I already tasted how pleasurable, or whatever benefits chocolate provides, the sensation is in my brain from the first time I tasted it, so can I ever really lay off chocolate?  I probably can but in my brain, I crave it.  The issue I guess chocolate does not give my brain a chemical imbalance of being a downer and or upper with a stronger sensational crave as narcotics.  The problem the Vice President of Operation states is "parents should have more control."  I guess that law against texting while driving is the control.  I totally agree, because I have texted in the past while driving and my focus is on getting a letter in to the phone and not the road.  The law and fine for driving while texting is a good path on control, let's keep and enforce it in every state.  In the bigger battle against a stronger addiction like narcotics instead of media, the topic is we in America do not have the budget (it's so large already) to fight the stronger force of usage (demand for the product).  How do we create a program that will increase the budget to fight narcotics which will not take away from government health care or schools?  Addiction affects America's economy.

Weak

Definition (from three sources):

Likely to fail under pressure

Amsterdam

This is a re-post

Written: Sunday, August 15th, 2010

4:43am Amsterdam

10:43pm New York

Completed: Thursday, August 18th, 2010

11:03am New York

5:03am Amsterdam

The three top descriptions I can give of Amsterdam is expensive, attractive and culturally relaxed.

This was my first trip to Europe, not because I could not afford it, I was going to go last year but laziness did not allow me to obtain my passport in time.  In previous years I just put it off.  Amsterdam, Italy, Greece, Russia, or Ukraine were my top choices, in that order.

Amsterdam is a walkable, bikeable, bus, tram and smart car likeable city.  It's commuter friendly without obnoxious traffic.  Most cars there are much like the Nissan Versa or Toyota Matrix.  The SUV or truck like Ford Explorer or Range Rover are rare there.  I only saw one gas station in my entire trip within which you would consider the city radius.  When I unpacked my luggage and stepped outside my hotel room for the first time, I was in culture shock once again, I loved it.  There are taxis waiting to rip you off outside the airport and within the straats of Amsterdam but not as many and not in such a rush/busy way like it is in New York City.  If you ever drove or taken a taxi in Manhattan you know what I mean.  All aspects of catering to a class of retail are separated by long but close "Straats" (Streets) or "Grachts" (Canals).  I learnt to walk, "alot", I never do so here in New York City because I currently drive a BMW and buy Metrocards, it's free to walk.  If you are accustomed to walking or looking to get into it, Amsterdam is great for that, within an hour or so I walked from north to south then visa-versa and then more so.  I took a taxi once, from the Centre to the Southern part of Amsterdam where my hotel was.  I hear it's a little more to and from Schiphol airport.  I took the bus, like the tram, is a few Euros and change one way.  There are shops like Mac Bike that rent bicycles for the day or less by the hour.  They divide Amsterdam into several parts: the Centre, Plantage, South Belt, Pijp, Jordaan and Museum Quarters, each part in my rough estimate the proximity of Central Park.  Don't quote me on that, I am a techie by trade not a geographer.  If you're looking for Amsterdam's immigrant food population, bars, a party, gambling, marijuana, shrooms, herbs, a prostitute or to get arrested you go to the Centre.  The Centre is comparable to a smaller European version of Vegas.  If you want to see animals and windmills to the Plantage, museums and canals to the Museum Quarter, the Jewish population probably to the Jordaan (the Anne Frank museum is here), the Pijp or Southern Belt for shopping.  I went to experience culture in each and every aspect.  I posted some photos on my old deleted Facebook.  It's funny how New York City is full of the very same I used to but now seldom or never attend: clubs, bars, museums, tourist attractions I say "blah" to but when I am a tourist else where, I "wow".

I stayed in a hotel on Stadhouderskade in downtown Amsterdam on the border of the Southern Belt and Pijp, you can compare it close to like staying  at a hotel on Fifth Avenue near Central Park mixed in with tid-bits of each of downtown New York City.  I can only compare.  The hotel is 50 yards from a tiny bridge over a scenic canal that connects only a few feet to Holland Casino and onto Leidsestraat and Leidsegracht.  I am literally a small walk from the Heineken Experience, the Rijks or Van Gogh Museums and upscale shopping stores like Burberry and Louis Vuitton.  Before I did my research or my visit, whenever someone mentioned Amsterdam, I thought five iconic things Amsterdam is known for: it's in Holland: European blondes, weed and prostitution are legal there, canals and windmills.  As a matter of fact, I did not know Dutch is the national language, nor did I know Euros was their currency.  I fount that the canals are beautiful, day and night.  I fount only certain parts of Amsterdam have windmills, it's like only the country side will have corn or cows in America.  Weed is not legal there but "accepted" or "liberal", it's licensed to be sold and smoked in coffeeshops, and you can possess a small amount without being sentenced to a serious violation.  It's like crossing in the middle of the street here in New York City, you can get fined for it because it's not legal, but police will look the other way.  But I read urinating in public gets you in worst trouble, go figure.  They have these smelly partitions in some areas, just thin dividers of metal the size of cardboard in some busy streets to pee.  Licensed prostitution is only available in about ten streets.  Yes, I did tour the Red Light District.  I heard in mid-2000 there was a massive clean up of "doing dirty" like Rudy Guilliani did to Time Square.  The Red Light District is a big tourist attraction.  The area is full of bars, homes, food vendors and shops mixed in right next to the red lighted doors.  Yes, men and women, both, tour the area.  On any given day couples with strollers, maybe even a child or two (not sure why any parent would even bring their kid to such an area, even if just passing by), groups of horny sixteen year old students and of course the mass of guys that tease and really go in.  I admit some of those girls standing there are very attractive, some are guys, some you just want to pass by and then there are these regular looking girls that look like they do it because they need extra cash for food and rent.

The Dutch are a beautiful people.  The iconic look: blonde and blue eyes, it's true, they exist.  I had the privilege of socializing with someone of the iconic look.  Not everyone in Amsterdam, Holland is blonde and blue and that's beautiful also.  Besides the smidgen of sin like laxed weed usage and legal prostitution, the people and city are beautiful.  I heard some people can be racist, I did not witness such on my trip.  Amsterdam seems to be a harmonically open cultural city.  The people of Amsterdam love to be an audience to anything out of the ordinary such as: unordinary tattoos, transvestites or modified cars.  I saw four cross dressers walk down a street and attention they got, here in New York City, they would have gotten a look, a giggle and walked away ordinary but there focus and the cameras came out.  On a straat called "Nieuwe Vijzel" this old Cadillac rebuilt sleek and flashy got so much attention like if it were the new 2011 electric Mustang.  I am Chinese with tattoos in odd places, I got a little attention.  One of the center with a monument of what looks to symbolize an erection has several of these popular people in costumes like Freddy Kuger or a Monster.  A picture with them probably cost a Euro or two, they get attention.  I guess the Dutch or their tourist came to see something unordinary.  The city seems to be open to immigrants.  While in Amsterdam, there are streets of several Chinese, Thai, Middle Eastern and Argentinean restaurants.  Food and non edible products in Amsterdam are expensive.  One morning pastry from a bakery cost me three Euros, it looked like one of the Boston Cream donuts at Dunkin' Donuts that cost ninety cents, but when I bit into it, the dough was airier and cream smoother, like an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond on his trip to Italy where he was sick but a local Pizza shop opened his sense of wonder.  When I say expensive, I compare the same product for the same value you would get in New York City, Manhattan.  The price on items bought in Amsterdam with Euros comparing it to the prices in Manhattan bought with the dollar, Amsterdam is more expensive.  The local pharmacy was selling a nail clipper, to keep my appearance appropriate, for four times what I could get it in New York City.  A bottle of 20 once Cocoa Cola or their Spa bottled water from most vendors is two Euros.  A slice of pizza is close to three Euros, they dare call it New York style pizza, looks plastic and sitting there for days.  The popular pancakes cost about seven to eight Euros and an average beer is five Euros.  My average tasting rib eye steak about eighteen Euros (An Argentinean Restaurant: forgot the name but it doesn't matter, because the quality of most will be of the same, maybe there will be one or two exceptional ones but almost all have some form of the country's name in the restaurant's name).  Unlimited spare ribs cost twelve Euros (At an Al Argentino Restaurant Steakhouse the host and decor felt like I stepped from the streets of Amsterdam into Argentinean gaucho country, there's more than one: the one I went to served it not too bad but rustic and very meaty.  The host, though nice, said I could only order two racks because I did not order a side, what a gimmick, that's not as advertised but I could not eat more), I downed my two racks.  I know my ribs.  I've tried them in many styles and places, like: if they were really good like from Blackjack's Southern BBQ in South Carolina/Jim 'N Nick's in Georgia or Big Wong's Chinese style in Chinatown New York, I could maybe go for thirds).  Cannabis coffeeshops are everywhere (many parts of the city smells of it, it's pleasant for someone like myself who appreciates such an aroma in the air occasionally, especially on an un-sunny/warm day).  Recreational usage is not bad at all but that's where it should stay, the problem is when it becomes a habit or an addiction.  Don't get me wrong, I like the stuff. My opinion is cannabis should not be legalized in America beyond medical use because the effects of people abusing cannabis would outweigh the revenues and reduction of criminals illegally selling it.  It would create open access to it and would increase availability.  It would increase fatalities and cause more psychological problems.  I believe the advocates of legalizing cannabis are the addicts/close to, for profit or have not thought the side effects through.  Nothing wrong with a beer or a shot of Jack Daniel's after work but look what alcohol abuse does and a non-drug like cigarettes affects healthcare cost.  Maybe we should legalize it beyond medical use only to be allowed for sale or used in coffeeshops in designated areas of Northern California.  It would probably lax crime by sending those who really want marijuana isolated to that area.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "No, it's not time for that (legalizing marijuana), it's time for a debate."  The side of me that would vote in favor of Proposition 19 is only relevant because I believe in freedom but with too much freedom, there's room for bad things.  Americans are not like the tourist or people of Amsterdam.

I read gaining employment is easier if Dutch is spoken along with English.  I also read owning property has government controlled rules.  The government, the people that run it are smart: to contribute to the economy, tourism to Amsterdam is about three to four million people annually.  But New York City is estimated to get 47 million.  The tourism is not the only economic upturn. Along side tourism is the corporate, finance, and technology sectors, their export of Dutch products and beers like Amstel and Heineken also contribute.  The country itself came as a runner up in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, losing in the championships to Spain but by just one point.  Did I mention blondes, male and especially female?  Amsterdam's flag or symbol is XXX.  I like Amsterdam, and have a positive likely hood to return.  But it lacks products and culture that New York City has.  Visa Versa.

(Edited From Original)