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'Liberal' means the ideology is based on freedom. 'Social' means the ideology is based on caring for eachother. What is wrong with that?

Don't you think? Grey, wet weather, commercial pressure, end of year bills, short, dark days... Could December be more miserable?

Currently I am working in an office environment, doing administration. But I have grown to hate my job. I've had a few burnouts and I have discovered that I am not doing something close to my own core values, competences and interests. Tests have shown that I am more artistic, but also that I have a complete lack of ambition. I have a slightly above average IQ (122), but I only ever finished higher secondary school, just because school was boring. I'm 48, Dutch, living in the Netherlands. I like writing, I am good with words in both Dutch and English, I like travelling (never can afford it however), I like photography and I am interested in art, theatre, film and television, science, cars, history and loads of other stuff.

Another test said that I should be a production designer or art-director in film or television, but I have no education in that field, no experience, no network, nothing. I also can't afford to pick up an education again, to get me nearer to something like that, besides that, I am probably too old to start at the bottom of the ladder in that business.

So what sort of work should I do? What job pays my bills, keeps me happy and is within reach?

I am a man and I like wearing leather pants. The problem is I can't find shops (online or in the Netherlands or Belgium) that sell men's leather pants in other colours than black or brown.

Any tips?

Here in the Netherlands we have a compulsory health insurance. I think this is a good thing. But the costs of it are spiralling out of hand, because the legislation allows the insurance buffs to fill their pockets with, basically, my money. (I'll explain, if anyone wants to know)

The most basic personal health insurance costs on avarage 90 euros per month in premium. And then you still have to pay about 375 euros per year yourself. For a just-below-average income, that is about a month's worth of net income.

This basic insurance includes visits to the GP, costs of medicin and care at a hospital. If you want to include dental care, physiotherapy, diet-advice, glasses, other specific care or extended international coverage, it will easily add 50 euro to the monthly costs.

So I am curious: How much does your health-care scheme cost per month? Which country is that in?

I do much prefer 'Sane people'.

Counties like Turkey (only partially in Europe), Israel, Georgia, Armenia, Kazachstan and Azerbeidzjan are clearly in Asia. Perhaps the Netherlands team can try their hand at the Africa-cup or something then as well?

Israel is not in Europe.

My cats usually sleep most of the time. One of them likes to sleep on a shelf with an edge of about an inch high, with his paws or head over the side. If I would sleep like that, my leg would get numb (pins and needles) after a while. Don't cats get that?

Has anyone ever found proof for the suspicion that modern electronics are programmed to break down just after the (legal) warranty time? (In order to make you buy new stuff, because repairs have been made ridiculously expensive.)

In the Netherlands, most public services used to be ran by the government. Think railways, postal service, water supply, health care, electricity, etc. Ever since these services have been privatised, prices of the services have gone up. Am I right in saying that market economics (competition between manufacturers, demand dictates production and price) do not work in the public sector, because the goods/services in this sector are a necessity? The consumer has no choice but to buy the products, to stay alive in modern, western society. Manufacturers don't compete because they will always make a sale, regardsless of the price?

I have a little winter cold at the moment. You know; a runny nose, stiff joints, a little cough. Nothing that bothers me much, but there is this fluttering in my ear that is really annoying. Every little sound causes my eardrums to flutter, to rumble. As if every sound triggers an overreaction in the little bones in my inner ear. It sounds like someone tapping with his fingers on the skull around the ear.

Does anyone know what causes this (apart from that cold I have), what actually happens and what I can do about it?