A lawyer, according to Black’s Law Dictionary, is “a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person licensed to practice law. People who are legally practice law are named: lawyers, jurist, counselor, advocate, barrister, solicitor & notary service. Most countries requires at least 3 years of law study that gives the title of J.D. Juridical Doctor. The USA BAR exam gives a licence to act in court in a particular state. In the Netherlands only a procureur can file a lawsuit at the court. English common law system has both solicitor and barrister. My professional qualifications as a certified court mediator can be found in the official registers that specify in which fields of law you may practice. These are my qualifications as certified court mediator. More important is that you find a certified mediator-lawyer that is acceptable for all people involved and that the personalities match.
Law degrees
Since 1991 I am Master of Law & Legislation (LL.M.) In 1997 I finished my Doctoral thesis in Law and earned the academic title of civil law Doctor in Law (LL.D.). Because I studied common law in Berkeley also Juridical Science Doctor (J.S.D.) can be used. In the Netherlands LL.Master is abbreviated as “mr. surname”. Now how to note your academic titles into English? According to the law I am entitled to put “Dr.” in front of my name. Both in Dutch & English that would look like mr.dr.drs. Most of the time that is a slightly overdone 😉 So I used mr. Boelrijk J.D. that stands for juridical doctor, professionally practice law, being a lawyer or jurist. I legally practice law since 1987. So just to let you know: The Doctor of Juridical Science is Harvard Law School’s most advanced law degree for legal academics. My Academic titles “mr.dr.drs. Boelrijk” or mr. Boelrijk LL.D. M.A.
Berkeley
When you travel around the world it is sometimes hard to keep in touch with old friends. In my life I lived in Amsterdam, Berkeley and since a couple of years in South East Asia. For now it is nice to settle down for a while. In Phuket I found best of two worlds the Western organised business and the Asian more relaxed way of enjoying life. Phuket is out of reach for many people to visit so that is why using internet gives a boost to socializing with friends. That is why I will use the opportunities that internet gives. Back in 1991 it was really hard to find people who where also using the internet. 20 years later it as easy to find somebody at the other side of the world as to say hello “how are you” at the Berkeley campus.
Images of Sail Amsterdam
Now on the photography publishing site www.mpathy.nl wonderful images of sail. This year the perspective was a little different. It looks like working with photoshop but in fact they are real life sceneries. The images are not manipulated. Check out the details and the timing when things come together. Images Sail Amsterdam 2010 @MPATHY.nl Please comment
It is Raining, Hallelujah
It is Raining, Hallelujah! Better appreciate it. In Thailand August is raining season. Everything gets cleaned, fresh & shining. In Holland August is the high summer season so we expect that is dry, sunny & warm. Apparently there are climatological changes. The global warming resulted in a wet raining season in Holland in August. Sail Amsterdam is as Dutch say geheel in het water gevallen meaning falling into the water or not a success. This all depends on your definition of success. I would say that Tallships and sailingboats in general should always be! in the water. Rain gives beautiful rainclouds which makes my Sail2010 pictures so much more beautiful. Rain in Thailand is as beautiful! This is the time of the year that the Rainforest is singing. Sounds no where else to be heard: raindrops percussion on the rainforest canopy, how relaxing.
Old friends
Today I send a message to a 700 years old friend. I saw this saint last time two years ago and we made many children happy back than. This friend Sinterklaas was born 700 years or so ago. That was at the same time that Amsterdam was founded. I still have my “Citizen of Amsterdam 700 passport”. Much later I was volunteer of the Friday Night Skate organisation. We were proclaimed to be Amsterdam citizen of the Year. It is so nice if people appreciate what you are doing. In Holland it may take a couple of years before an official acknowledgment will be filed. But that means a rewarding message after so many years. Now most fellow volunteers and friends for live moved on. And are spread over the world. Maybe I will receive an message back from my friend Sinterklaas. Hopefully we will all sail home during the Sail Amsterdam in August 2010.
Compromise doesn’t work
Compromise doesn’t work. It is an easy way out that won’t last. In every days life we think we compromise but instead we give in on minor interests. When we would compromise on real issues with real important interests that would give a short time illusion of an agreement. If people compromise it is a signal of I want to finish negotiation, take it or leave it. As I noticed today again people who compromise will try to use that later against you. When it is about serious business compromise will lead to frustrations and arguments. It sounds strange but personally I try not to compromise on any agreement. I prefer to work together to find an agreement that fulfills everyone’s interest. I prefer to be creative in making a contract that keeps people happy and confident on the long term. Now I just have to make clear that I find the compromise no excuse for breaching the contract.
Driver license
Driving a motorbike is the last thing I would suggest. There are many accidents. Tourist do not drive a motorbike!! For the foreigners who are staying in Thailand for work buy a car. Better is it to get a Thai driver licence. This is how to do it: 1. get a work permit or a residence address certificate (300THB) from embassy or immigration office.
2. With that paper you go to transport department
3. bring passport with visa
4. bring copy of passport fotopage & copy of passport visa page 10THB
5. get a doctors report (not older than 1 month) 100THB
6. Bring your international driver license with translation in English (Dutchmen get this at ANWB). See Convention on international road traffic of 19 september 1968, 1949.
7. pay 105THB at registration desk
8. pay 110THB at the card supply desk
First time you get a Thai driver license for 1 year. Next time it can be for 5 years. Drive safely and please take care of the motorbikes
Babylon’s flowers
As a Dutchman I speak English. In rural Thailand not so many Thai speak English. As a Dutchman I was asked how to win land, where there was just water. First we had weeks of just being polite to each other and making jokes together. Then the work starts. The only way to communicate something like that is just put it into practice yourself. As we say in Holland “met de voeten in klei” working in the clay yourself. As finishing touch I suggested to plant some flowers. Then you are in Babylon. I speak English and two words Thai to a Thai gardener from the North. His co worker is from Phuket a totally different dialect. He is foreman for Burmese workers. When asking for flowers they put beautiful and strong red leaf plants. Then I suggested a tree and what I got was a beautiful scrub / tree with wonderful flowers. It good not be more beautiful!
posting
Why are people making weblog (blog) videolog (vlog) or soundlog (podcast)? Why am I doing it, I don’t know. For me it is something new and that means moving. Moving in new situations is the best way to develop yourself. For me at least as soon I am capable of doing something I am loosing interest. It has to be a challenge. It has to lead to unknown results, than it is a creative process. Will I make a vlog? I do not know how this will affect my image and I do not know what my image is right now. Lately I checked some interesting personal stories on YouTube. My friend likes to read biographies. I like to see the person telling his personal experience. My friend who is seaman writes beautiful personal stories. One time while on Sea he called me to discuss an incident. Again I realized that I like the closest communication to real time keep in touch.