2007/09/02 New York
White pullover
Tanned
Saturday night 21:20 – once again I’m having dinner in good old Sant Ambroeus. Due to the holiday weekend it is not that crowded.
Next to my table about eight people are having dinner. They speak both English and Swiss-German.
Before the meal is finished a young man in the group stands up and leaves the room. He is tanned and he is wearing a white pullover. The pullover is obviously expensive but it would not have been my choice.
The other people in the group shout to the young man who is leaving: “Good work today.”
For some reason I think they are referring to his jetlag. He just got in from Switzerland and managed to stay up till now.
Fifteen minutes later a young woman says: “I wish I could be eighteen again.”
Twenty seconds later she says: “Roger told me to pay for you all.”
She gets up and pays the check. She is fairly attractive, busty, not too slim, and she is wearing a D&G skirt. Again I would have recommended another skirt to her.
The group is leaving, the waiter comes to my table and says: “You know who that was?”
I say: “No.”
“Roger Federer.”
In the newspaper I read that Mr. Federer defeated that afternoon a fairly unknown US player named John Isner.
It doesn’t come as a surprise to that Mr. Federer dines in Sant Ambroeus.
After all it was my German publisher, based in Zurich and Swiss-born who introduced me to this place.
Sant Ambroeus is the favorite hangout for a certain kind of Europeans. And aren’t the Swiss the quintessential Europeans?
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30 comments 
Manuscripta - NS Publieksprijs
Arnon, it was quite disappointing to have to settle for Kluun instead of you. I asked him to sign your book on your behalf.But I don't blame you for not being there as the highlight of the day was to be put in a speeddating train and be told off by a hardcore femist (she was drooling).
Noa
I wasn't invited.Sports, fashion and stock markets, I know nothing about them and I feel proud about it. Can we retrieve pride from ignorance?
@Arnon
You have got to be kidding. How could they overlook such a 'minor' detail? I truly missed you, how I would have enjoyed sipping whisky at a bar with you and ignoring all the usual suspects.Noa
Maybe the invitation never reached me.As L. Cohen sang:
“There were lots of invitations/
I know you sent me some/
but I was waiting/
for the miracle to come.”
Jan T
There is a distinction between esthetics and fashion. You buy a pullover because you like it don’t you? Mr. Federer’s pullover was just not very nice, and Mrs. Federer’s skirt was sexy but not classy. And I’m not into sports, but a certain kind of ignorance becomes snobbery. Of course nothing wrong with being a snob. But well.Thank you, mr Arnon, for writing about Jörgen. No wonder you win all those prizes.
Did you by the way visit the same school as Bas did? Stupid question of course, but relevant to me.
Did you by the way visit the same school as Bas did? Stupid question of course, but relevant to me.
Lin
Bas?Light
At the closing day of the Ansel Adams exhibition in the International Museum of Photography and Film, I overheard a woman say: "His use of light is really amazing".So why aren' t the Suiss in the EU? - perhaps thats why it still works so lousy - or: Switserland is what the EU would like to have as a modell?
D and G t-shirts on busty fronts: with big letters that looks funny ...
D and G t-shirts on busty fronts: with big letters that looks funny ...
Erik M
De jure Switzerland is not a member of the EU, de facto Switzerland cooperates on many issues with the EU. The other countries might not like it, the Swiss might not like it, the Belgians might disapprove, but the Swiss are in my opinion the quintessential Europeans. This is no reason to idealize the Swiss -- although there are many good things to say about their country. (The bad things about the Swiss are fairly well summed up by Friedrich Dürrenmatt in his book “Meine Schweiz.” I’m not sure if there is a English translation, anyhow the book is worth reading.)I regret having used the word ‘busty.’ All I can say is that Mrs. Federer seems to have a blossoming bosom. And the letters D&G were on her skirt. Once again read carefully
Oscar W
I hate to show my ignorance, but who is Ansel Adams?EU-DG
I think perhaps the Swiss democratical struckture would be interesting for EU (cantons as lands and they have referenda on main issues, altough i ' m not an Switzerland-specialist)OK on her skirt. Nevertheless sometimes i see DandG shirts from which each D and G are delimitating typical frontparts.
I try to read carefully, but when i saw you using Harnoncourt in your book we all thought you were another Generation Nothing-writer - so knowing H-court was special, in a dutchwriterenvironment where 'high'-culture is neglected or worse.
But now also the tlephonebookspot makes more sense to me - so in that case this little chat certainly was enchanting.
I prefer books originally published in the german language to read in german.
Arnon
Ansel Adams was an American photographer, known best for his black and white pictures of Western (American) landscapes. I dare admit that I was familiar with some of his work but not with his name and identity, prior to attending this exhibition.Arnon
I just remembered that a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to draw your attention to an installation by Laurie Anderson. It's part of the exhibition "The Missing Peace--Artists Consider the Dalai Lama" at the Rubin Museum of Art.Erik M
I never belonged to the generation nothing.You are misinformed.
Not everybody is able to read German books in German. This is not a private discussion.
I doubt it if the specific Swiss democratic would be suitable for the EU. I shiver when I think that as a country as Poland would apply the Swiss structure.
Oscar
Thanks. I'll visit the Rubin Museum of Art one of these days.@Arnon
‘Aesthetics is Ok for me. But you only did say: ‘She is fairly attractive, busty, not too slim, and she is wearing a D&G skirt. Again I would have recommended another skirt to her.
A D&G skirt means nothing to me – as in sports I am not familiar with those names - it does not say anything about colour, looks and so on. Sometimes I do feel a snob.
‘Aesthetics is Ok for me. But you only did say: ‘She is fairly attractive, busty, not too slim, and she is wearing a D&G skirt. Again I would have recommended another skirt to her.
A D&G skirt means nothing to me – as in sports I am not familiar with those names - it does not say anything about colour, looks and so on. Sometimes I do feel a snob.
I 'm not sure that Erik M said that you belonged to generation nothing, Arnon, i believe he said that they 'thought you were another generation nothingwriter'.
I think i read it carefully.
@Jan Thys
II don't know much about fashion brands either, but surely a D&G skirt pictures something, even if you never seen one.
I think i read it carefully.
@Jan Thys
II don't know much about fashion brands either, but surely a D&G skirt pictures something, even if you never seen one.
@Pablo Del Pueblo
You mean Dolce&Gabbana, yes? Now I remember the brand name from the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous”. You rang my bell, man, although it pictures nothing to me, sorry. Hey, I knew more than I realized. Whatever, ignorant or not, I will always be a kind of a snob, I am afraid.
You mean Dolce&Gabbana, yes? Now I remember the brand name from the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous”. You rang my bell, man, although it pictures nothing to me, sorry. Hey, I knew more than I realized. Whatever, ignorant or not, I will always be a kind of a snob, I am afraid.
VOTA TIRZA
For everyone who's interested, Tirza has been nominated for an 'audience's favourite prize', you can vote for it here:http://www.cpnb.nl/pp/2007/stemmen.html
Dolce&Gabbana
@Jan ThysIndeed. D&G brings the expression (excusez-moi le mot) "bling-bling" to mind, i guess. In which way do you consider yourself a snob? And are you proud of it? What effect does it have on the people around you? Do they think you're obnoxious?
Tirza forever
@NoaThe bastards do not accept Belgian voters. I will always vote for Tirza, whatever Arnon calls me or whatever dresses he wear.
I will have to wait till the announced fusion of the Nederland and Vlaanderen is proclaimed, I am afraid.
D&G
In Italy I was having dinner with two American girls. At one moment we were discussing haircuts of people at other tables.One of the girls said: 'That's a nice haircut of that girl over there.' The other turned around to check it out and said: 'Yes, I'd say it is very Dolce & Gabana.'
Snob
@Pablo Del PuebloI think I can only be aware that sometimes I am a snob, by people calling me a snob. I think identity is essentially what others grant you to be, although you can invent, reject or accept some identities yourself. I am most of the time pleased how people call me – I have been called many names, from a highly trustworthy person to a mere Boudewijn Buch character. If it is not too insulting I accept almost everything.
Furthermore about effects on other people, I do not have the habit of beating nor insulting man woman or children, although they sometimes suspect me of being too ironic. I think I am mostly very serious, especially when I am ironic.
Obnoxious is a nice word too, new to me. Thank you for your interest.
Jan Thys
Nothing wrong with being a snob, but don’t let it interfere with our (I dare to say our) task as amateur-sociologists.Pablo
I should have been more carefully. I mistakenly thought that Erik M himself thought I belonged to that generation nothing or whatever the name was. I apologize.No need for apologies, Arnon, it was an understandable misinterpretation, as I am still trying to figure out the rest of Erik M's post.
@Erik M
No offense, Erik M, your post "EU-DG" (posted on 03/09/2007 at 03:13) remains a bit of a mystery to me. One that needs no further discussion, really.
@Erik M
No offense, Erik M, your post "EU-DG" (posted on 03/09/2007 at 03:13) remains a bit of a mystery to me. One that needs no further discussion, really.
Manuscripta
@Arnon: not invited to Manuscripta? I think you were.: http://www.clubpropaganda.nl/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=42&task=view&id=124EM/me
perhaps my contributions are illisible or incohorent because i don't like the Enlglish language and use it therefore as less as possible. And otherwise i don't believe in more like deep discussions on subjects in logreactions. And translating Dutch terms into another language and then discussing them is perhaps useless.[ Add comment ]
