Fr - Dezember 17, 2004

Respekt!! Stefan Raab!


TV Total Turmspringen, live from the olympic hall in munich. Very entertaining. Single diving and synchron diving from the 3-m. Who dove? Actors, sports people, comedians. They were quite brave, doing all kinds of dives with varying difficulty, and skill(!), some with only four days preparation!
[excuse any garblewarble, I'm dead tired right now, will look over when awake]

They were good enough. I'm anew astounded that Stefan Raab manages to pull up something like that, and how professional he is about it. They followed the official rules for diving, had qualified judges from the sport, trainers, judges, alumni. The participants really made an effort - no fun jumping or anything silly, real dives!
They did two rounds to qualify for the final, and then two final rounds. Same in the synchronous. After the official presentation of prizes they had a "Mut-Springen", a dare so to speak, to jump head first from the 10m tower. Don't underestimate that - I'm reckless and fond of water but haven't gotten over the 5-m yet, so there. My deep respect! They all had guts, even some who definitely are unsportyness personified (Lukas Hilbert who earned major plus points here) or suffer acrophobia (Elton, and that's being afraid of height. He sync jumped something he hadn't even done once before!!!).

They had fun, some made good dives, others fucked up royally. The crowd loved them all the same, if only "for going out there and falling on your face" to quote Stefan. He himself fell badly on his back which turned bright red in return, a musician (Ben) hit the water face first, sporting a red cheek afterwards. Another still had a black eye from the training and a girl had her thigh bruised. The water is very hard when you hit it wrong, so it's not Pillepalle what they did. It was grand entertainment.

Moderating forces were Ingolf Lück, Sonya Kraus and Olli Pocher, the latter was wickedly talked into doing the dare-jump by his colleagues and the crowd. He did it, like a couple of the others, and he wasn't the only one who could be seen shaking, with a sinking belly. First mentioned ended the day by jumping off the tower with his suit still on.
There were true Rampensäue everywhere - the comments reached from lovingly over naughty and rude to crude, i.e.:
- "That's yesterday's bruise" (on a young girls thigh)- "It could also be cellulitis or a burst varicose vein" (Olli Pocher)
- "Let's see how it will spray in the audience when the girls are jumping" (Ingolf Lück; where spray in german would be a rude form of ejaculating)

Soloists ~ Winner: Lucy from the No Angels Pop group. Only girl in the finals! They played the wrong hymn, though, hehe.


Synchronous ~ Winner: two handball professionals. Males with blessed bodies! They were really in sync, after all handball is a group sport and they are used to coordinating their moves.

--> read about it in german or watch clips on Stefan's homepage www.tvtotal.de! (pictures their ®™)

Posted at 03:34 Uhr     Read More  

Das häßliche Entlein


Watching "The Swan" on tv. For those who wonder at the title, it's a fairy tale where the ugly duckling turns into a beautytiful swan.

Take some ugly (?not really, just low-in-self-esteem) women, give'em new teeth, liposuction a trainings program and psycho counselling. Woohoo. I watch it although I don't like the concept. There's a lot you can do by yourself, and they appear simply lazy. Moderating is Verona Feldbusch - I really don't look down on fuller females, but the dress she's wearing isn't doing it with her statue. She looks formless, like a Leberwurst. With breasts showing x_x
I wouldn't like to give my handiwork as a surgeon to those who aren't really suffering. If you suck one's fat away and they live as oblivious and ignorant as before, they'll lose for again, anyway. Damn those greedy doctors who sell their soul to the filthy lucre :(
Being an aesthetic surgeon to rebuild victims body parts of accidents/ violence/ disfiguring diseases is something entirely different. I'd be proud to be able to do that. Allright, throw those in, too, who's self esteem really can't be cured by the consulting specialists. I have a heart today ;-)

Posted at 01:46 Uhr     Read More  


Do - Dezember 16, 2004

Ford Fiesta TV commercial


Cute discovery of the day.

Basically, the car is miniature and black and drives on the playground, acting as puck which the players are pursuing vividly. Of course it scores a goal and comes to a halt in there, victorious. A sweet one. The car itself? Don't ask me, I'm not interested in boring everyday cars ;-)

Posted at 07:36 Uhr     Read More  


Sa - Dezember 11, 2004

Jackie Chan's got a new label and I missed it?!



//...Jackie Chan has unveiled his own line of upmarket menswear, the JC Collection, at a fashion trade show in Guangzhou, China...// [just-style.com - nov'04]

//...is hoping to develop a fashion brand for all Chinese and bring it to the world stage.
(...) Chan's garment collection carries a label with a logo comprising a Chinese graphic of the dragon and the English word Jackie. In promotion, Jackie held an informal fashion show for his collection, modeling the line himself.//
[fibre2fashion.com]

^0^ - YAY! I say! And don't I notice that he does look younger than 50 on the poster with his bare chest *grins*. Nice seeing you like that, Mr. Chan.

As you can see this is really old news. Old as in 2003! I think, that's just a proof that I'm not obsessing over him.

A n y w a y - he's making men's wear , and I shop in men's stores on principle! They have better fitting stuff which actually enables you to move in it! I'm not the type of girl that likes being caged into girly wear. I'll be having a good look and look forward to maybe buying some in the future. The black and orange shirts look good. Like the Logo, too! Although... he does say he aims at males between 28 and 40. Huh, everybody knows men are late-developers, so I surely pass as equal to a 28yo male with my well matured *cough* female 26 years, ne? Just to qualify for the t-shirts.

I didn't bother to be thorough in my research, because everyone interested can google it or probably already knows about it - and my priority was to get it up quickly... guys, isn't that what we all want?

Have fun and if you love me, buy buy buy Jackie's stuff for me. Eh he hee! Just joking ^_~ But have something related to him that you don't need or that I can't get back in good ol' germany? Gimme... I already have one Jackie Chan tea can from Hong Kong - and no, I didn't keep the tea for god's sake, it's empty of course. Remember, not obsessing here :D

If you're too lazy to google, have a tiny reference here OR read the the excellent article where I snagged the piccies for my .gif (all originals their ® of course!) it's from here:

I still can't believe I missed that; on the other hand I never really searched for Jackie's stuff -hell, I'm not even in a fan club. Does that make me one sloppy fan? Yare, yare, I'll pay them a visit for updates on him, they're the place to look for them.

Posted at 11:34 Uhr     Read More  

Jackie Chan *squee!*


At "Wetten Dass" just a few minutes ago ^__^

*melts into a happy puddle"

And he's opened a label. Jackie Chan wear. I waaaaannnnnnnnnnnnttt it!!!!!!! I'm sure it's functional and comfortable, I just can't picture him standing for something, even if he didn't design it himself, that is tacky and unfunctional. He's such a practical guy.
Did I mention that I adore him?! I do XDDD

Looking on the web some people said some mean things about him having a huge ego and being a not-nice person. I have to defend him here because I absolutely despise needless bashing.
Jackie Chan will always be my favorite martial artist! He was, is and will be the only "celebrity" whom I would really like to meet one day; although I hate to call him that because he doesn't really fit in the cliché for that - which celebrity travels with only two sets of underwear and launders them him/herself every evening? I usually think one shouldn't bother actors/singers privately, just because they're doing good jobs in movies etc. But I've practically grown up with Jackie movies around, I have adored his abilities from the beginning, and I have an immense respect for him. The opera academy wasn't a provider of a perfect childhood, and I just admire his spirit - going through hell and still growing up to be a cheerful, caring person; caring for his country and the future generations. He's amazing, and whatever behind-the-scenes takes or interviews show, he seems to be genuinely nice.
When my first ex-boyfriend met him '96 at the airport in HK, he didn't notice anything superior or nasty. At least at that judgment I trust him. [But else he was/is is a _dense_ little spineless worm. Ah, it felt good to mention that. Luckily I didn't meet someone dense after that, he he]
One shouldn't forget that he *is able* to do a lot! Fighting, stunts, choreographing, directing, even _cutting_ movies and being actively supporting various other organizations. Give him a little credit, he has any right to be self-confident.
I agree that he's better off fighting than acting, but everyone has flaws, right?

I think he's an icon of our time, and a man of a last generation of, brutally trained to perfection, performers. Yet he's grown to be one sweet person. I know plenty of people who had a perfect life and grew up to morons :D

Back to the news:
Jackie Chan about his next plans for a movie. This made me smile - that's so him:
"The one I am most excited about is a new Edward Yang movie, which is a drama. I've always really wanted to do more drama, but in Hollywood, no one is going to pay me that much money to do drama. Edward's movie costs only $3 million, and I'm not taking an actor's fee for that, so it's quite risk-free. I can afford to make one or two noncommercial films. It doesn't matter if no one watches them. I've worked so hard for so many years to satisfy other people, I think it's time I did something for myself."
[Read the whole article: "in dialogue ~ jackie chan, actor", here at TheHollywoodReoorter.com. dated Nov.11, 2003]

He's also chatting about his project to support young talents by building a new -- ah, read it yourself. It's a very nice interview.
It isn't brand new? So sue me :P

P.S. Note that his latest funny movie "In 80 days around the World", is set in Berlin, too, amongst other places ^0^
I haven't seen it yet but Arnold Schwarzenegger and others debut as well, and it's looking very amusing.

Posted at 11:06 Uhr     Read More  


Fr - Dezember 10, 2004

"Das Blut der Templer" in a nutshell


Blergh! Taught me - once again - not to watch german action movies. It was SO BAD! Dont.Ever.Watch.It. It was worse than the remale of Dune, which I also despise!
I'll give you a short review that will leave you with as much insight as I now have, but saves you three hours - Same disappointment in shorter time, what a bargain ^_^ And I will point out whenever something is stolen from "Blade"!

Take some everyday guys and give the woman in charge silly costumes exclusively shiny silk robes in silver or velvet dresses, provide the men in either ratty looking wannabe knights robes, or in s/m worthy leather/latex costumes most likely inspired by any futuristic anime movie. Note: The bad boys are shiny, the good ones ratty. Still, none is attractive, so shame on you film makers! Then chose sceneries that range from city to village, modern mall/airport to a monastery castle (WTF?!). Oh yeah, give them fast cars and fancy swords to slash around with, but - at all cost - avoid giving them proper sword practice!!! Finish the plot with a tragic battle around the Gral™ and let the good win.

It's not that we don't have the techniques and choreographer, or even the actors (although I'd be cautious with estimations of those). Adapting things from successful or great movies isn't bad either. As long as you get inspired and don't just copy! Also, when you copy, do it right. What they did is, they took good effects and overdid them until they were bad. A private note to the Bad guy No 1: Alright, he wasn't pretty but not ugly either. I actually approve of his very laid back evil style, it reminded me of some good, classic evil guys from anime mangas. His charisma was cool and menacing enough to make him one attractive-through-evilness guy. But.They.Ruined.It. My initial genuinely approving gaze was brutally violated by the evil guy's flobbly wobbly belly. NO self-loving, boastful, showing-off evil guy would allow himself to be in such poor physical shape. Nope. Don't buy that.

~

Here it is - the condensed Plot:
Opening: Fancy title fonts in metallic optic (STOLEN FROM "BLADE")

Scene of the past:
Bad Knights: hanging out in front of church
Good Knights: approach church

//sword wielding, everyone looking very unable, Bad guy No1 looks menacing *cough*, lazying off on his car (!) and starts slashing some good guys. But other good Knights, namely Good Knight No.1 and his Best Friend And Comrade™ enter church anyway. Woman in charge with shiny costume aka Mommy™ is baptizing baby. Gets overwhelmed, Baby taken. Ratty Good Knight No1 tries killing baby but succumbs to puppy-eyes for reasons discovered at the end of the movie. (of course, else there'd be no Plot!).

Baby grows to very average looking boy. Good Knight No1 is father figure, now known as Good Knight And Keeper™. Boy is in monastery school. This all kept secret from the Good Knight's organization, mind you. Boy ogles The Girl™ and gets beaten by other boy. Boy learns he's equipped with healing superpowers. Unfortunately, so does doctor in hospital.//

Bad guy No1 kidnaps boy after fighting Good Knight And Keeper™ and Best Friend And Comrade™:
"This is your mother, I'm (your) evil uncle. We are good, the guys who raised you want to kill you. Welcome to the family" - Boy: "Huh?Mama! *cries* How mean the others were! And you! How could you not tell me for 18 years! But I forgive and love you!" (Note that Mommy™ wasn't allowed visiting hours by the kidnappers).\

Boy learns sword handling *COUGH!* from Evil Uncle™. In first lesson, Evil Uncle™ stabs him, because he can, and because he likes behaving like a prick while looking superior and menacing.

Boy goes back to kill former father figure, Good Knight And Keeper™. And to steal The Gral™ on mommy's order.
Oops! He finds out his gruffy keeper IS his REAL father. Boy acts mercy and is known as Hero Boy™ from now on.
(The acting-mercy-business isn't shown until the second part, but when Hero Boy rams his sword down everyone knows it's just going into the stone floor)

THAT WAS FILM NO.1.

ON TO FILM NO.2:

Hero Boy™ changes sides again and ignores fact that he liked his mother, who, besides, had a nicer mansion, nicer cars, more money and better clothing style. Good Knight And Keeper-No-Real Father™, Hero Boy™ and The Girl™ escape through obligatory secret door. The Gral™ is stolen by Evil Uncle™.

Best Friend And Comrade™ of Good Knight And Keeper -No-Real Father™gets killed by Evil Uncle™. Not that Best Friend And Comrade™ couldn't have gone through the same secret door like Good Knight And Keeper -No-Real Father™, noo waay!

//sword wielding. poor attempts at plot.//

Hero Boy™ finds out he is the link between the two old knight organizations. Uh hu. Thus very important. (STOLEN FROM "BLADE")

Mommy™ still craves immortality and it's side effect of mighty power. Realizes that Hero Boy™'s blood is the key (STOLEN FROM "BLADE").

Before Hero Boy can blame his father for keeping aaall these things secret from him, Evil uncle™ kills him. Good Knight And Keeper -No-Real Father™ dies, but not before giving his son the all mighty and power-ish Tempelmeister Schwert™ (another item everyone was lusting after).

Old monk and teacher of Hero Boy™ kills Evil Uncle™.

//more sword wielding, character angst, slight romance lead to The Ceremony which means to activate The Gral™ and make beautiful Mommy immortal.//

Blood of Hero Boy™ triggers magical Gral process (STOLEN FROM "BLADE"). Very bad FX effects come to light here. The Gral™ looks like a giant piece of wobbling liver! Mommy drinks _stuff_ although Hero Boy promises to stand by her side "You don't need it, Mommy! I'll be there for you" - Mommy: "Sluuuurrrp!" (Note: she gets no blood on her face/lips althouh her hands are full of it when she lifts them up to Sluurrp).

Mommy feels mighty and saunters down stairs, feeling mighty. Breaks down. Dies. (death part STOLEN FROM "BLADE")

Wounded monk, Hero Boy™ and Heroine (The Girl™) leave to a most likely happy ending.

~

German film industry can be so disappointing. I feel ashamed of my country for this one -_-;;

Posted at 11:35 Uhr     Read More  

Skeletal Systems by Michael Paulus


That's the way to go! This made me gasp and laugh. As being slightly in touch with medical science and fond of cartoons, I can only approve and spread the word - who hasn't wondered?

Citation from his website:

"A character study of 22 present and past cartoon characters.
Animation was the format of choice for children's television in the 1960s, a decade in which children's programming became almost entirely animated. Growing up in that period, I tended to take for granted the distortions and strange bodies of these entities.
I decided to take a select few of these popular characters and render their skeletal systems as I imagine they might resemble if one truly had eye sockets half the size of its head, or fingerless-hands, or feet comprising 60% of its body mass.
(...)
Twenty-two of these are currently on display at Stumptown Coffee/Belmont in Portland, Oregon the month of December 2004 "

Posted at 09:59 Uhr     Read More  

sex ed today (BBC.co.uk/teens)


Stumbled over this just now, thanks to the b3ta newsletter. First I thought it was fake. But it isn't. Well, it surely is amusing. Oh, and educational, of course. I encourage and support sex education, no question ;-)
Personally, I find the second one is the sweetest. Give'em boys the reassurance they need! It is plainly sweet.

Watch the BBC dealing with the kiddie's most important question: Am I a Freak?!
"Hello Teens Team. We'd like a series of animations about vaginas, boobs and periods please." Your wish is our command!

Epidode 1 is called Funny Flaps
Need I say more

Yes, there's also a lads' section. See Episode 1: Willy Wonky
(>> click on titles to go there <<)

Posted at 09:08 Uhr     Read More  


Mi - Dezember 8, 2004

closely followed by...


Nokia. Connecting people. And also entertaining people. They have a very succinct spot airing on MTV Europe.
My commercial of choice in december/2004. Ta daaa!

Sum it up - It's bright. Many colours. Strange sounds, beepy electronic music with stops (love them!), beats. It rocks. Thoroughly computer animated I believe; white background. One phone. Splitting into it's parts. One particular plate (backside?) speeds away to recruit a swarm of same natured, different colored versions. You find yourself sucked into a steadily to the beat progressing production scene, assemby lines and machines amiss.

It's incisively demonstrating the possibilities of variation, leaving you with the feeling that you absolutely want to see that again. "It's a new phone - every day"

Posted at 11:43 Uhr     Read More  

Citroen C4 Commercial


Seen on TV. It's really good although it has nothing to do with the specific features of the car.
...
Try again.

It's really good because it has nothing to do with it. Strange you say? This paradoxon mirrors the 21st century's selling strategy numero uno, applicable to many successful ads and commercials today. Instead of a products actual functionality being the determining factor for success, it's the entertainment value that seems to pave the road to success.

Synopsis: Basically, this spot is eye candy for all former Transformers™ (tv cartoon series) fans! The unnoticeable car unfolds itself to a transformer-like robot and starts dancing to some funky tunes.

It's really made nicely, and was my favourite spot in the month november/2004. I hope the file turns up online soon, so I can grab it. Hear that Citroen? Up it on your homepage for people to see!

He is hot. The robot, not the car. The car's as boring as most other cars out there ^_~

Posted at 11:28 Uhr     Read More  


Do - Oktober 21, 2004

Jackie Chan


Yesterday on TV.
He
is
so
amazing
.
I wished there'd be more like him.

I always was his fan and I admire him for the incredible work he has done. The documentary was nicely made, and made me love him even more. Martial artists like him won't exist anymore, and I dread the day he'll disappear. He went through the hell of the chinese opera school, which let him unfold his potential and talent.

He is an excellent fighter in traditional martial arts, and very inventive (just think of the fictional styles he presents in his older movies). He's a top fight scene choreographer, he can set up the cameras quickly, he can cut the films himself and is faster than the computer doing it (this was new to me, but he actually cut Rumble in the bronx all by himself! I bow to you!). He is not an excellent actor. Some later movies are close to boring because they tried to put in much acting. I like the inventive fighting scenes, the rash plots of the Hong Kong movies. The documentary reported how these were not fit for the american audience, but I say the american audience isn't fit for the movie's style. Maybe you need asian genes to fully appreciate and understand such things. For example, as one director said, asian style fights show not the blow connecting, but the reaction - the opponent flying away or falling - whereas the american films show the whole process, so the american spectators can follow it. Again, maybe asian genes enable you to better abstract, I don't know.

I knew he was good, already when he wasn't popular in europe at all. I had seen movies in indonesia, that was still on laser discs. He's putting all his efforts into what he's doing, and it pays off. He's genuine; his smiles are warm and true, and just looking behind the scenes in the outtakes shows you what a nice guy he is in private. It's very cute to see his childish glee when he swims with a shark or touches another creepy crawler. Or to see him joking around with his crew, or to do a silly happy dance. My love for him expresses in a deep respect, like a pupil loves, honors and respects his master, and for me he's still the only person I'd like to meet some day.

I don't call him a celebrity, because it doesn't suit him. He's travelling with two undergarments only, washes one every day, while wearing the other one, when staying in a hotel. He's down to earth. Respect. Lovely guy, really.

Honestly, guys like Johnny Depp and maybe also Orlando Bloom are sexy, but I love the characters they play in movies. I like to watch them look good. Meeting them would excite me to some extend, but I don't need to be a groupie fan girl, kicking and screaming to see them in real life one time. They have their life and they deserve their privacy. Same for sexy singer Morten Harket. Experiencing him on stage is intoxicating, but meeting him in private wouldn't necessarily add on it. Those cute guys need to pose so often, and maybe they despise the constant nag. I like and enjoy their work, and that is fine.

Jackie Chan is making total works of art, he may not have the beautiful look, but he has a beautiful mind. His films are made to entertain, and his goal is to make martial art look easy and swift, avoiding blunt violence. He is a man of great spirit. Maybe I'm interested, because I'm a bit of am aspiring martial artist myself. I'd like to say a few words to him, certainly nothing he hasn't heard before, but I'd like to honor him and pay him my respect.
I have never written him a letter, I'm not member of any fanclub. I just believe he is a wonderful person, and maybe I'll meet him coincidentally and get my chance. That'd be really nice!

Yeah, that wasn't much of a review of the documentary, but the ones who care to look will see what's special about him in his films. He's always putting all of himself in there, and that gives it the irresistible charm. Also, I could spend days on writing a worthy homage, but again - those who know his movies and respect the artist will already know what I can't express so easily with a couple of hastily scrabbled words.

Posted at 11:43 Uhr     Read More  


Mo - Oktober 11, 2004

today's news


Christopher Reeves has died in hospital today, due to heart failure. Sad story. It was in the news, and they always started with the words "superman is dead". I think he deserves to be noticed as more than just superman, as himself, that is. I would have liked him to get to the point where he could have left his wheelchair again, after all he fought harder than many others to achieve that and really would have deserved many more years. What sad news. He sure is alright wherever he is now. RIP

Side note: got injected with cortisone today, in the tissue next to the achilles tendon. Yikes! Doesn't hurt much fortunately. Got encouragingly patted on head by my doc, knowing I'm afraid of injections. I just hope it will really make a progress in healing, I'm keen on sports again.
Yare, yare, walking feels awkward -_-;;
(the word awkward looks awkward too, what a strange language english is, ne?).

Posted at 10:21 Uhr     Read More  


Mi - September 15, 2004

baby, i like your look, but...


Well, look what just honored my inbox - if that doesn't look interesting and adorable... but I'm not convinced yet. Although I'm a huge fan of FFF, it just seems to be a bit bulky. Will need to see and touch. And will it stand stable enough? Would be a pity if that fragile looking hold just bends/ breaks/ slips out. Won't it heat up thus damaging the display in the long term? Will you still be able to screw it open, exchange, modify and lead... erm, not that I'd *ever* do that, no no *sheepish grin*. Like the smooth back. Like the one cable exit. Drive? At least now the disc comes flying out sideways should it decide to blow up and shatter to pieces that turn into vile missiles.

Also, Apple is proudly comparing the new iMac to the iPod, putting them into the same category. Well, in that case I just say: I have a new whitePod and Belkin's voice recorder and e v e r y two minutes ( ! ! ! ) the engine's up and running and I have the hard drive's spinning noise steadily accompanying the recordings. Just so you know. But I'm open to hear reviews and give this babe a chance.

That's what Apple says:
"The display is the computer - Innovative engineering makes iMac G5 a beauty to behold and a beauty to use. Form truly follows function with all of the computer, including power supply and stereo speakers, enclosed within the widescreen flat-panel display."

Here some piccies. I could love it, but you wanna tell me the whole thing won't start humming and vibrating when you're doing hardcore working? Before my mac life, I thought of them as just well designed but crappy inside. Now I hope Apple is not just trying to get us over the flash design, but is indeed delivering a shiny and functional (!) new toy as advertised. Please. Me likey prrecciousss...

Posted at 11:10 Uhr     Read More  


Di - September 7, 2004

tobacco plague - and no future perspective detectable


Just heard it on the radio alarm that woke me up at 8.00 AM. Channel unknown, some news program. Yes, 8 AM. I decided to get up early (yes, for me it is early indeed, at least in my "lecture free time"). Actually, these news made me jump out of the bed in raw anger.

The german green/red government is planning to discontinue the planned tax on tobacco, because "(...)the sales have been going down. People apparently buy less cigarettes".

WHERE'S YOUR PROBLEM?!?

Okay, they already included that money in the plans for the health insurances (for pregnancy care), but ever thought of the benefit of having actually a regression in smokers or their consumption? Health-wise? Just to mention babies who are exposed to mommy's and daddy's smoking habit prenatally: Prematurity, low birth-weight, immensely boosted asthma risk... I spare myself going into details about the burden of all the old people with smoking induced CODs... don't you too enjoy that raspy, wet smoker-cough from the depths of a pair of tortured lungs in the morning, when you face yet another one in the public transport who sounds like bringing down death over you? (Yes, and I do acknowledge the fact that some CODs have different causes. Just to make my point clear.)

I've been against smoking and bringing up ugly discussions concerning it, since I went to elementary school - *all* my ex-classmates 'til graduation may vividly remember that - and my opinion has not changed. To make it clear: If you smoke passionately and your lung/leg falls to parts, your hair/nails turn yellow and you die a tary death, it's fine with me. No pity here. But please don't bother ME with your toxic fumes! I like my body complete and non-stinky, please.

I see the governments problem with the lost income that they counted on. But when they made the glorious plan of introducing these taxes, didn't they take into account the fact that it could, instead of bringing them more money, lead to less consumption?!! Well, it is not THAT illogical a thought, now is it? Which again would bring another benefit, in the long term rather that having the fast gain in the purse.
If you can't THINK of some effect like this yourself (shoosh, out of your government seat immeadiatly!), there's still the option of watching comparable causalities: higher petrol prices lead and are still leading to less usage of the car; unless you live off your car.
But this is something even I already learned in school (and it means something if I did): People who rule state or economy seldom decide in favor of something that will let them gain nothing now, but bring a much wider benefit in the future, they lack so-called future perspective. And that's why I'm clueless which evil to chose whenever an election is.
My understanding of f.p. also makes me stop indulging in enraging news, and enjoy less fun now, for the benefit of a higher chance to pass my Physikum at the end of the month :-P

Posted at 08:48 Uhr     Read More  


Mo - Mai 10, 2004

Stefan Raab is ::amazing::


Max, his newly found talent is competing at the European Song Contest this week. To the occasion, Stefan Raab is making his show TV Total from Istanbul for the following days, starting today. He receives guests from germany and local turkish stars. Today he sported an old-fashioned inspired golden Sultan costume with a turban and gold glitter all over. He's truly shameless, but I like it!



Now the amazing thing: He had joked a couple of days ago that they would sing his Song "Can't Wait Until Tonight" in turkish.
They just aired Stefan Raab's show - five minutes ago - and Stefan sang it in turkish! Together with Gülcan and Max, but he sang the main part himself. Olle Rampensau! What a fantastic marketing strategy. He absolutely has *the* nose for successful ideas!!! Respect! I bow before you *bows and waves imaginary musketeer hat*. Even the band played tunes with a turkish touch. I wish I had it on record.
Even if he often is over the top of stupidity, Stefan Raab is a genius! I love when he sings. When he comes up with a really weird idea like this, at least he doesn't just leave it to his crew, he always takes part himself. Very fair. He will gain LOADS of sympathy points in turkey with this action. RESPECT!

I have liked him when he was still in his very tiny VIVA studio, with embarrassing glasses and a terrible hairstyle. I also liked him in the bigger PRO 7 studio. He then sold his sould and started hosting his program daily, what lead to a major loss in quality (with quality I mean fun, because the show never had a real high pretension except finding the bloopers of fellow tv formats).
Like with Will Smith as the Fresh Prince, I knew he would get more popular, because he was an original. I have doubted him in the meantime, but he showed that he can still do it. Mr. Pulleralarm - Mr. Entertainment!

This was so good. Made me really happy. It's good to see when people don't take themselves to serious. ^_^

Pics: Stefan Raab when he sang at the Contest "Wadde Hadde Dudde Da" (made 5th place!) and Stefan with Max this year. Good luck!


Posted at 11:35 Uhr     Read More  


Di - Mai 4, 2004

Königin des Klos


Oh noooo! Kandoo has done it again! New ad, similar text. The Kandoo frog (? wasn't it a crocodile last time) rolls out a red carpet to the loo and the little girl jumps down the aisle, happily mastering the task. Böhhh.

The annoyingly enthusiastic sounding women who speaks the background text is announced as the queen of the loo. And she has a "Königlichen Popowischer" which I feel free to translate as "regal ass wiper". This ad is such a nuisance!

Posted at 12:38 Uhr     Read More  


Mo - Mai 3, 2004

Das Werder Baumblütenfest


The so-called "Treeflower-festival" is the second largest village fair in germany (next to the famous Oktoberfest!).
Werder is a small island close to Berlin which is stormed by hundred thousands of people during the one-week festival, which this year took place from 24.4.04 until 2.5.04. It is *of course* very little about graceful flowers, it's merely another excuse for heavy drinking! To pay admiration to the famous Obstwein (fruit wine) is the main purpose of this occasion!

"125. Baumblütenfest in Werder eröffnet - 10 000 Zuschauer - Werder/Havel (ddp-lbg). Mit dem traditionellen Festumzug hat am Samstag in Werder das 125. Baumblütenfest begonnen. 58 Gruppen mit festlich geschmückten Wagen und insgesamt 2500 Teilnehmer zogen durch die Stadt. Zirka 10 000 Zuschauer säumten ihren Weg. Der Umzug sei der bislang längste und schönste in der Geschichte des Baumblütenfestes gewesen, sagte Werders Marketingleiter Walter Kassin.(...) Während des Festes laden zahlreiche Verkaufsstände mit Obstwein, Säften und anderen regionalen Produkten zum Verweilen ein. (...) Das Baumblütenfest in Werder ist nach dem Oktoberfest in München das zweitgrößte Volksfest in Deutschland. (Internet: www.baumbluetenfest.de)"
(24. April 2004, 14:57 Uhr, Article found here ) Official hp: http://www.baumbluetenfest.de/

On the last day the streets to Werder were closed because of overcrowding of the island, which lead to displeasure amongst the excluded who had to turn back!
The marketing people make it sound as if you only went there to enjoy the weather, the flowers, have a cake and a coffee and, yes, maybe even a small sip of the traditional creation. But not only people who live in Berlin know the truth. Market vendors love the occasion, I may quote one I know, because after a few glasses the purse sits lose as never and the sale's running nicely.
Negative messages are kept quiet; this year four people died, two had a cardiac infarct and one woman was trampled to death. But didn't anybody notice? To close with another quote: "After you had your share to drink, you don't really pay attention anymore". Prost!

Posted at 12:33 Uhr     Read More  

new police tactics


That the 1st may riots were less grave than in the past years is apparently due to new police tactics.

A speaker confirmed they had put emphasis on prevention rather than the usual purely defensive actions. He said that the police had brought officers specially educated in social skills. Whenever a group of youths had been spotted, one of the "social officers" had gone over to them and declared to stay there for the rest of the day.
Hehe, I can imagine it really turns you off when you're hanging out with your buddies trying to heat yourselves up for some troublemaking and then an "eco-Cop" comes by and starts prattling. Uh oh, serious mood killer!

Posted at 02:38 Uhr     Read More  

scandinavian movies


I just love them! Tonight I watched "Der einzig Richtige". (Translated maybe "The Only Right One"?)
It was as usual very entertaining and sported this special sense of humour that I dare call "typical" danish.

"Der einzig Richtige" - Regie: Susanne Bier - Drehbuch: Kim Fupz Aakeson
Cast:
Susanne Rossi, "Sus" - Sidse Babett Knudsen
Nils Bech, "Niller" - Niels Olsen
Lizzie Heinzen - Soes Egelind
Andrea Rossi, "Sonny" - Rafael Edholm
Stella, Kollegin von Sus - Paprika Steen
Merete "Muller" - Sofie Grabol
Knud, Kollege von Niller - Lars Kaalund
Mgala - Vanessa Gouri

PLOT: It is the story of two couples who both want children but don't seem to be able to conceive; it shows that the young woman Sus doesn't really want a baby and purposely avoids the fertile days, but her italian husband Sonny insists. When she finally gets pregnant she finds out he betrays her and kicks him out although she still wants him somehow. The other couple is adopting a child from Burkina Faso after Niller finds out that his spermatozoa are a lazy bunch of mutineers. Unfortunately on the day the child arrives, his wife is killed in an car accident while fetching milk form the shop.
As in many of those sweet danish movies the protagonist's lifelines cross at some point and they end up all together. My absolute favourite Niller is working for a company that builds kitchens and meets Sus in the beginning before she gets pregnant. They somehow click but as both are married nothing happens. Until later the by-then-widower Niller returns to fix up the kitchen and by-then-single Sus and him have a hot liaison on said kitchen furniture. Of course there's lots of trouble in the way: Niller's terrible sister-in-law Muller is having the (unrequited) hots for him and is a pain in the ass with her pseudo-psychological talking (7! years of studying, still lacking the last exam and basically being totally ineligibly for the field). Then there is the social worker that wants to take the adoptive daughter away after finding out about the wife's death. Also, Sus is thinking about an abortion, gets fired and has several frustrating encounters with Sonny. In the end all is good, the ones who love each other marry and will be happy ever after. Very funny details in the movie is for example Sus' clumsy girlfriend Stella who suffers from being a tall luscious blonde, and the running gag is Niller's obsession for kitchen metaphors.
It's a friendly sweet film and it made me think I should start building a danish movie collection. I just love them, especially in the OV because it makes them sound really funny (and sometimes the jokes aren't quite fit for translation). Don't be insulted if you're a danish reader, Come on, what name is "Fupz"? Danish is a funny language and I love listening to it. Actually, the first time I ever heard it I got a fit and couldn't stop laughing. There.
Amazing remark to this movie: no exposure of male nudity. I know a handful of movies that I could just identify as danish because they included scenes with naked male genitals hopping over the screen (well, not on their own of course), something that the Danes are obviously less shy about than germans or others like - OMG - americans.

I do recommend this film, it was funny!
Other recommendable danish films are "Små Ulykker", "Italiensk for Begyndere" (2000), "Nightwatch" and more with titles I've forgotten, take any Dogma film ("Mifune" etc).
Recommendable islandic movies: 101 Reykjavik (2000) and the short erotic film "On Top Down Under", both starring the sympathetic Hilmir Snær Gudnason (pictured below)

Posted at 02:06 Uhr     Read More  


So - Mai 2, 2004

old but funny!


I don't know why but that only happens in denmark
The story went around the world but was altered slightly. Apparently he said in an interview on danish television that he was in for hemorrhoids not moles. Doesn't change the outcome though.

Artikel vom 6. Juli 2002 / Quelle: Blick Click here to read it online. Scan found at Svene's weblog .

Posted at 10:13 Uhr     Read More  
1st May update
Top 100 annoying VIP's worldwide
1st May
Discard of *these* doctors, please!
Theremin
Perlweiss
Prinz des Pipimachens Part 2
Max, das Tier!
Prinz des Pipimachens
Bum-lady
Arghh!!!
Its so easy, anyone can use it!
>_< unfair!
Ford Ka and the pigeon
LOL! Tolkien humour and more
LOTR - The dangers of M.Doom
Fast spreading MyDoom worm marks first big attack of 2004
worm, hungry. Not related to worm, mydoom.
(...)
Perlweiss Beauty Perls
middle earth idol rules
bum-boom
annoying TV Ads
ipod mini
Crikey!
Too much forgiveness
(b)log
Holy teflon toxicosis!
John Doyle
Today's news: "Streik!“ – jetzt auch an der Humboldt-Uni
why so much about the strike?
A small step for Berlin, but a big step backwards for it's education
a few days ago...
protests unheard
Demonstrations
Why do we finish school then, anyway?
it's all about money
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm
He eats Yoghurt precisely to the gramm!
Gel heals wounds more quickly
X-rated! prudeness in medicine?!
Vernissage
The Medaillon
Animal documentary on MDR
Police Horses 2
Police Horses

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