tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259417402024-03-08T00:42:19.877+01:00Born for bikingManuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-65264096208115662912013-06-21T16:02:00.001+02:002013-06-21T16:20:15.812+02:00Meeting the 92-year-old bike girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhXY3BIOSnlOnkZpvhg53FtFeobWEg8UX3bvYQBvO7lFR-0npBbqwLTWCR9FgeG94rriieI-qjasJgdyTss7AHxrROxqRGTDqdrXjZTxonMwNQdByIb46LyYpkQxaAX_mIXf8gw/s1600/1025398_10151533352058789_890642714_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhXY3BIOSnlOnkZpvhg53FtFeobWEg8UX3bvYQBvO7lFR-0npBbqwLTWCR9FgeG94rriieI-qjasJgdyTss7AHxrROxqRGTDqdrXjZTxonMwNQdByIb46LyYpkQxaAX_mIXf8gw/s320/1025398_10151533352058789_890642714_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These days, I like to bike down to the riverside of the Danube, find a nice and quiet spot next to the water and sit down with a book to read for an hour or two, as long as I feel like it. Just me and a book and nothing to disturb our quality time together.<br />
Today, as I was sitting there, an old woman came past. She was slowly strolling along the riverside with her rollator, on her face the sincerest, happiest smile that you can imagine. I thought "WOW! She is <i>really</i> enjoying just walking and feeling the sunshine on her skin. This is awesome." And a part of her smile passed onto me.<br />
<br />
When I was done reading and started packing my stuff, the old woman came back. She stopped next to me and we started chatting about the flood, about getting old, and about sports.<br />
As we are standing there, she tells me that she is 92 years old and pretty much has been doing sports all her life, and always enjoyed it. She tells me she used to bike a lot, until her 80s - then her children, two sons, took the bike away because they deemed it too dangerous. She tells me how great that bike was, taking her place she would never have been able to go otherwise.<br />
And before my eyes, the 92-year-old woman transforms into a lively bike girl with more than 70 years of bike experience under her skin.<br />
And now, she tells me, her power is slowly decreasing, at 90+. She tried swimming, but the last time it didn't work that well anymore. She thinks it's because she has not enough power left in her arms.<br />
But still, she tells me, even if swimming doesn't work, she walks down the Danube every day. Up and down between the two bridges that cross the river, watching what the flood has destroyed and enjoying the sun. She wears a shirt with short sleeves. Her shoulders and arms are bare. "It doesn't look that nice anymore", she tells me and points at her upper arms. "But I don't care anymore about that." She smiles.<br />
<br />
We say goodbye. I remember her smile, this wonderful, radiant smile as she passed me in the sunlight.<br />
<br />
Tonight, for summer solstice, I raise my glass to you, 92-year-old bike girl, and wish you many more strolls and smiles along the Danube river.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-87259664642174108982013-01-14T16:58:00.000+01:002013-01-14T16:58:06.643+01:00Biking in WinterMy bike is in my cellar. It is waning away in a drab life between flowerpots and nails (I hope the nails stay away from the tires). Come spring, it will awaken again to new glory.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
Or should it awaken earlier? Today, I saw a cyclist driving down my hill on a snowy road. I'm not driving<br />
- under 7 degrees celsius<br />
- when it rains<br />
- on snow.<br />
<br />
Or so I thought. Who knows what might be in the winter to come.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-44343393013067467232012-07-19T16:28:00.001+02:002012-07-19T16:30:41.938+02:00Who loves cyclists?There are odd, cyclist-hating people running around these days.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I was cycling home from work, taking a different route to stop at a small organic market. Part of that route involved a one-way-road going ... not my way. So I used the walkway for about 20m. No living human being was using the walkway. There was just one bored waitress standing next to it, near the tables of the cafe she's apparently working in. Doing nothing. Just as I approached her, she started to move ... sloooowly, across the walkway, got a menu, and moved back ... sloooowly ... which was just the moment I had reached her. At which point she stopped, looked at me - I looked back, smiled - and she told me to get off the bike, because I'm not allowed to drive my bike on the walkway.<br />
I continued driving without having said anything. I had no heart for a discussion, since she didn't seem like a person with whom discussing makes much sense.<br />
<br />
Of course, she's right. But granted that there was no one using the street, I wasn't running over or endangering anybody, and granted that I share the bike lanes with:<br />
- cars<br />
- lorries <br />
- pedestrians<br />
- joggers<br />
- roller skaters<br />
- skateboarders and<br />
- wheelchair users<br />
I'm inclined to see certain roads as shared space and not privately owned by certain types of roadusers.<br />
And, let's be honest, this whole thinking of "This is my stuff and this is your stuff and don't touch my stuff or I'll be angry" has made this world a somewhat annoying place to live in already.<br />
<br />
But that was yesterday. Today is a different story.<br />
<br />
A story I still don't understand...<br />
I was cycling to work. Fully legally on a small road that is used by pedestrians, dog owners (yes, they are their own category), cyclists and - very occasionally and in a restricted way - cars. So I was cycling, and at some point I noticed a man somewhat ahead of me. First he was walking, then he stopped. I came closer. He turned around. Still I came closer. Then he lifted his fist in a quite menacing way, as if he wanted to punch me or throw a stone at me.<br />
"Hm", I thought, giving him the benefit of the doubt. "I'll just try and see if I get hit by a stone."<br />
I didn't get hit, neither by a stone nor by a fist. But as I drove past him, he yelled "Drive nicely!!!"<br />
Nope, I wasn't going particularly fast. I'm not a speed biker, I'm a pleasure biker. A pleasure biker who has no clue what's up with people these days...Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-67888210490957539952012-07-06T10:50:00.000+02:002012-07-06T10:50:03.274+02:00My lane and your lane:-)
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIXrmoiuwnWxDTmqx9IuyesHi2KkLcnDtSAhj-tj0QKYHn2l9bDlAHqOdH5LPKwSFRnNexF9odYT5NkziuLi_WKLXVe8jUtpJfJWMeXDQ4aoG6Bdfdm4OhW01Iz9_wTLbGMCoJg/s1600/radlane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIXrmoiuwnWxDTmqx9IuyesHi2KkLcnDtSAhj-tj0QKYHn2l9bDlAHqOdH5LPKwSFRnNexF9odYT5NkziuLi_WKLXVe8jUtpJfJWMeXDQ4aoG6Bdfdm4OhW01Iz9_wTLbGMCoJg/s400/radlane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-73117148027265739512012-07-04T17:24:00.000+02:002012-07-04T17:24:13.299+02:00Hellfire reloadedAnd here they came. I knew there was something wrong with not sweating like hell at 30 degrees on a bike. Today, the last 500 metres, I was dripping. The last 500 metres is basically 5 minutes up a hill.
The reason why is because today there was a carrotmob in Linz in 7 shops. So I bought two pairs of linen trousers for my vacation in Japan (30 degrees will be heaven over there), some foodstuff and borrowed, ahem, 10 books from the library. Thus I had some additional weight on me. Nevertheless, I was full of endorphines from the nice carrotmob-shops (and the books!). They all offered free carrot cake :DManuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-52243522124683059372012-07-02T17:30:00.001+02:002012-07-02T17:30:57.462+02:00In the fires of hellIt's hot. Since I'm currently learning Japanese, that would be あついです。
Temperatures are at 33 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 4 degrees. I expected to DIE, cycling home from work today. I didn't. Actually, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Mostly the bike is moving by itself, and there is WIND. How awesome is that?
Granted, the last 800 metres were a bit tougher and less fun, because they go uphill. But the rest of my 8 kilometres were more than enjoyable. I can do with more fires of hell, if they feel like this.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-75128720673681202262012-06-26T15:28:00.002+02:002012-06-26T15:28:26.517+02:00There's nothing better......than getting a radiant smile from a fellow cyclist on the way home from work.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-38518424270374646452012-05-10T18:02:00.001+02:002012-05-10T18:02:24.945+02:00Bike quotes'When I go biking I am mentally far, far away from civilisation. The world is breaking someone else's heart.'
Diane Ackerman
'When the spirits are low. When the day appears dark. When work becomes monotonous. When hope seems hardly worth having. Just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.'
Arthur Conan Doyle
'Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world.'
Grant Peterson
All of these quotes are great ... but this one might fit me best:
'Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.'
Mark Twain
Gotta love sentences that start with "if" ;-)Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-55505627373529614912012-04-26T23:37:00.000+02:002012-04-26T23:37:45.669+02:00VictoryI think I've managed two weeks of biking without almost crashing into anything (well, except for two schoolgirls, but they weren't looking, so it was their fault). I also saw someone today who was cycling worse than me. That must mean I'm improving. Yay.
There've been lots of people running in the past week, probably because of the Linz marathon. It's also been raining a couple of days, so I missed out on two days of biking. Which just makes me happier when I can finally get on the bike again.
Two things I've noticed:
- I'm becoming much more considerate for the needs of cyclists now (e.g. when I'm walking) and try to make space for them in areas where I know it can get crowded and annoying (even when I'm not seeing any cyclists). Everybody should switch between driving by car, by bike, walking and taking public transport, just to know the needs and obstacles of other people. That surely would improve the tolerance on the streets.
- I'm saving shitloads of money. Because I'm not stopping at the bakery or the supermarket on the way home or to work, I've spent 100 Euro less on food this month!Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-3080388543545818902012-04-10T19:37:00.002+02:002012-04-10T19:42:56.500+02:00ObstaclesI've been pondering on the greatest dangers to the urban biker:<br /><br />- Cars<br />- Pedestrians<br />- The street itself (border stones, I hate you)<br />- Road works<br /><br />My bet is on the last point. All crashes and near-crashes I've had so fare were due to road works. My second bet is on the street itself - sometimes combined with cars. Usually cars that block the bikelane. They certainly make biking more of a hassle. I think for the next election, I'm rooting for the party that promises to provide a better biking infrastructure.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-2105673675143914802012-04-03T21:26:00.004+02:002012-04-03T22:21:31.343+02:00Born for bikingWillkommen zurück.<br /><br />Seit einer Woche fahre ich Rad. Das war mein Neujahrsvorsatz. Diverse Faktoren haben dafür gesorgt, dass ich mit Stichtag 26. März damit anfing, mit dem Rad in die Arbeit zu fahren. Das schöne Wetter war ein Punkt dabei.<br /><br />Das Fazit der letzten Woche:<br />- Beim Radfahren bekomme ich viel stärker mit, wieviel Leben es in den Straßen von Linz gibt. Und das überträgt sich. Freude schöner Götterfunken könnte mein Soundtrack für jede Fahrt sein.<br />- Bisherige Abschlussliste: 2 Kinder (eines zu Fuß, eines am Rad) und ein Taxi<br /><br />Die Kollision mit dem Taxi war heute. Es lag <span style="font-style:italic;">nicht</span> daran, dass mein Bruder mir am Wochenende sagte "Fahr auf der Straße, nicht am Gehweg. Die Autos haben viel mehr Angst vor dir als du vor ihnen." Ich war tatsächlich dabei, von der Straße auf den Radweg zu wechseln, als mir der Randstein in die Quere kam - und ich auf dem Taxi, das halb hinter dem Radweg stand, landete. Der Taxifahrer war ein echter österreichischer Kerl. Kümmerte sich natürlich sofort um sein Auto. Wenn mir eine junge, attraktive Rothaarige auf der Motorhaube landen würde, wäre mein Auto nicht meine erste Sorge.<br /><br />Mal sehen, was ich noch so ramme. In der Palliativmedizin heißt es, man soll nicht dem Leben mehr Tage geben, sondern den Tagen mehr Leben. Für's Radfahren gilt wohl das selbe Motto.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-79029322188671428182010-03-23T15:18:00.006+01:002010-06-04T22:54:11.912+02:00Five years leftAmusing and interesting video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM6AqXS8BrY&feature=player_embedded" target="blank">how newscasts are produced</a>.<br /><br />I'm delighted to see how many campaigns are pushing people to take action for a better future at the moment. Here's a <a href="http://www.wecanendpoverty.eu/" target="blank">poster contest</a> for a campaign to increase the visibility of the Millenium Goals in the struggle against poverty (gosh, are there really only five years left?).<br /><br />---<br /><i><br />Gerade wir wieder ordentlich auf die Schokolade gedrückt. Neben dem kurzen Neste-Greenpeace-Spot gibt es einen geringfügig längeren Beitrag in der ARD Mediathek über Kakaobohnenernte in Afrika und Kindersklaven aus Burkina Faso: <a href="http://mediathek.daserste.de/daserste/servlet/content/4007988?pageId=&moduleId=432744&categoryId=&goto=&show" target="blank">Kindersklaven für Schokohasen</a>. Mahlzeit.<br /><br />Dafür noch etwas zur Erheiterung: <a href="http://www.anonymekoeche.net/?p=1389" target="blank">Was ein Navi noch nie gesagt hat (aber sagen sollte)</a></i><br /><br />---<br /><br />Photos from the medieval fair in Waxenberg:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg663tqBrBULfUSR8JZugjxNpKEiNBH61dy7Gd5_cdA7_IFq2woVEMYdHiK7tglFTVsrZNdUXS6m3wHH3Ij2n9mnREBKY5TUQGmGfuUzC2H8tM3UdGnfIVaIkBH1wTf9Z-RxHWsqA/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg663tqBrBULfUSR8JZugjxNpKEiNBH61dy7Gd5_cdA7_IFq2woVEMYdHiK7tglFTVsrZNdUXS6m3wHH3Ij2n9mnREBKY5TUQGmGfuUzC2H8tM3UdGnfIVaIkBH1wTf9Z-RxHWsqA/s200/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023777778847074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16oTfyMNkVk-TnBMLey8W_qIBa1R5k7hWn__364vAcF_5zpKTzsjW8FIHm9pH-0dYXw8k4Thf_1WX4X-fDl0W50FUcyZIBeidYNr26Ls7WI6CqCB8JyZwiBZ3WeQJNF3TgDVj7A/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16oTfyMNkVk-TnBMLey8W_qIBa1R5k7hWn__364vAcF_5zpKTzsjW8FIHm9pH-0dYXw8k4Thf_1WX4X-fDl0W50FUcyZIBeidYNr26Ls7WI6CqCB8JyZwiBZ3WeQJNF3TgDVj7A/s200/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023770546271026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl9GZXF-oMdu7v4GeJLhpMVoD7BXlK9gun8FWiTLYSvPGT39KsuFhC4Vb0HnqvR03oQewLVxzpz36K6WYRIY8LtAIEpXsSEGBuCA61y0K_YmpirZ_68rCMfOHmSNB9ZGR8HulFw/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl9GZXF-oMdu7v4GeJLhpMVoD7BXlK9gun8FWiTLYSvPGT39KsuFhC4Vb0HnqvR03oQewLVxzpz36K6WYRIY8LtAIEpXsSEGBuCA61y0K_YmpirZ_68rCMfOHmSNB9ZGR8HulFw/s200/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023765994998338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiipR4dAwOmMRC2RphXSKJGN_DBcslQBybZlgX5OrDVUcI5wokjotac5p8uG-_ge0zbccZzn7YmIAvgE8ci5qWasf0gypCx_LgHZ-Oe39DVOV9SEJygLdnjUskfVeg2h0gYnrXXw/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiipR4dAwOmMRC2RphXSKJGN_DBcslQBybZlgX5OrDVUcI5wokjotac5p8uG-_ge0zbccZzn7YmIAvgE8ci5qWasf0gypCx_LgHZ-Oe39DVOV9SEJygLdnjUskfVeg2h0gYnrXXw/s200/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023763901105314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DKHOcQVXr6oBAECeEcugO2FOlylNYTWwvNuPGHh_6wAeTCzc-mrvfW1RU4gPXLjqGcM6ufdLALOmYIDGVZSgbdAOCmPrveZGlVzvRSkNXXl_OJ7wOE3p7uEfvMg6vF6UG3ozdg/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DKHOcQVXr6oBAECeEcugO2FOlylNYTWwvNuPGHh_6wAeTCzc-mrvfW1RU4gPXLjqGcM6ufdLALOmYIDGVZSgbdAOCmPrveZGlVzvRSkNXXl_OJ7wOE3p7uEfvMg6vF6UG3ozdg/s200/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023761033810466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C61FLldmV5dGS5QeLgOc0vF-yNvwmXpDt9lIcHrxfzCJ_7BWPNRflrqewSpsNH_W-AlNd3rx5qutLrHBVOtGWjiVVrPDEpEiEUrGMxprQgU9gSdD0jwU4NgpIO227h5D8CH3dA/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C61FLldmV5dGS5QeLgOc0vF-yNvwmXpDt9lIcHrxfzCJ_7BWPNRflrqewSpsNH_W-AlNd3rx5qutLrHBVOtGWjiVVrPDEpEiEUrGMxprQgU9gSdD0jwU4NgpIO227h5D8CH3dA/s200/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479023947457367618" /></a>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-55384870281533661522010-03-04T16:41:00.008+01:002010-03-07T18:35:01.423+01:00Spring, spring, springWatched <i>Sherlock Holmes</i>. I didn't expect any similarities to the original Sherlock, so I wasn't disappointed. It's a neat film. I enjoyed it.<br />A lot was changed in comparision with the original books. I'm not a die-hard detective novel fan, so I don't mind. It makes me wonder why, though. There isn't much left of what Sherlock was in the 19th century. You still have the deductive intellect and the affinity to the night. But, also, now you have sex and action. <br />My theories are that either people don't like a perfect hero anymore, because they cannot relate to them. Sherlock is pretty much perfect, when it comes to the standards of the time in which he was written. Dr. Watson's role was also spiced up. There's no top-down hierarchy anymore. Instead, you have a flat hierarchy. What does that tell us? The western world still has mostly top-down hierarchies, and I don't think most people want to change it (do I hear yells of "anarchy!"?).<br />Maybe a pure detective movie wouldn't work anymore. Not enough action. Nothing to get women into the theatres.<br />Who knows?<br /><br />***<br /><br />Now there's a video game on guerilla gardening. You can see pretty neat stuff on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINlzv6lZys" target="blank">this video</a>. Screaming flowers. And there will be puppies.<br /><br />I swear, Subterranean Press publishes the prettiest books (probably also the most expensive ones). Now there's a <a href="http://subterraneanpress.com/index.php/2010/03/05/neil-gaiman-neverwhere-limited-edition-update/" target="blank">limited edition of Neil Gaiman's <i>Neverwhere</i></a>. Awesome book. Pretty, pretty edition.<br />(But why does the market practically force consumers to have a credit card to acquire all the neat things?)<br /><br />***<br /><br />Some tiny illustrations I did for work:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNN6jJsSOq6L8c5XzWNwnf8Tm9LBKfOhI6wWBdjzbz_bphL9CRI49VleCJPg7XpKDFyzV1Gyki0dSo1LimMH9staYNQpSYdlVBGZtmMTBNqqutTaPnWRiY0kSd3kYF49oIu0XHCQ/s1600-h/oekolilli_k.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNN6jJsSOq6L8c5XzWNwnf8Tm9LBKfOhI6wWBdjzbz_bphL9CRI49VleCJPg7XpKDFyzV1Gyki0dSo1LimMH9staYNQpSYdlVBGZtmMTBNqqutTaPnWRiY0kSd3kYF49oIu0XHCQ/s200/oekolilli_k.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444809455672243890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6-Dkyj3iS4wFfLJ87YhFFkf0NgOiHDoQtHrdPV3FEesJ6thtYwAP-GWf6SrpEhFrcEeQEq1jIoRHloaPZSwjpH5ZXiCIwmmTIjSGB2HL2wm6WZ0QSZngoqWaRSgyfGIQMuTrXQ/s1600-h/Untitled-2_k.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6-Dkyj3iS4wFfLJ87YhFFkf0NgOiHDoQtHrdPV3FEesJ6thtYwAP-GWf6SrpEhFrcEeQEq1jIoRHloaPZSwjpH5ZXiCIwmmTIjSGB2HL2wm6WZ0QSZngoqWaRSgyfGIQMuTrXQ/s200/Untitled-2_k.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444810131415551634" /></a><br /><br />There's a colored version of the latter somewhere...Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-22936346490095046452010-01-29T16:21:00.000+01:002010-01-29T16:41:08.149+01:00Winter wonderlandSome <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZfbTlYpKYo&feature=player_embedded" target="blank">look into the future of transport by plane</a>.<br /><br />It's been snowing massively. Just beautiful. This is what my way home from work looked like on Wednesday:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITbr1m7to4Bgag8xMXsqrqkF778LepnPqU7GhBEOYRWDJRoiipDgU0_n0DmZSL2wILe_ObEKvhsA58cSKkqr9rAv3QqqdXlI7886btuC4Nj2JwWhOvwOnPlvPNJZsobiOO4lqsw/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITbr1m7to4Bgag8xMXsqrqkF778LepnPqU7GhBEOYRWDJRoiipDgU0_n0DmZSL2wILe_ObEKvhsA58cSKkqr9rAv3QqqdXlI7886btuC4Nj2JwWhOvwOnPlvPNJZsobiOO4lqsw/s200/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432187155204088834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIBPa2B0smau9ymKx0FnQCd7jMaJKTDbO4XOQOLYFvJLi8noEYEA3MhjQQA8RJUpo-HgLmFGyoUZz7OIV3Ay4b9dZC6jK52KZXIEZVdjylxLKmBSVFwZJ6vIDeQXOYKJHsx40dQ/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIBPa2B0smau9ymKx0FnQCd7jMaJKTDbO4XOQOLYFvJLi8noEYEA3MhjQQA8RJUpo-HgLmFGyoUZz7OIV3Ay4b9dZC6jK52KZXIEZVdjylxLKmBSVFwZJ6vIDeQXOYKJHsx40dQ/s200/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432187148566605346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmP1eWs8A4iwTeGl-tuLp8-ZpS3k3SK6Z82aBrN1siu-pTk20G48p6k6nO5f7mjU8N_wvgPI7rbUYBXhUR_zQm_H23-0PHQr0WkLycno54BX0ZTZE0zADNt3bpAy4c2kJ9VNUsg/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmP1eWs8A4iwTeGl-tuLp8-ZpS3k3SK6Z82aBrN1siu-pTk20G48p6k6nO5f7mjU8N_wvgPI7rbUYBXhUR_zQm_H23-0PHQr0WkLycno54BX0ZTZE0zADNt3bpAy4c2kJ9VNUsg/s200/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432187144347578194" /></a>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-89663678042650531202010-01-06T02:20:00.001+01:002010-04-26T10:28:32.145+02:00The Visual and the LexicalSome interesting points concerning my diploma thesis topic from the PhD thesis of A. Hall (<i>The Meaning of Elf and Elves in Medieval England</i>):<br /><br />- Looking at the linguistic treatment of the word "aelf", they are not small and invisible<br />- Elves have sometimes been related to (fallen) angels. If you leave aside the "fallen" part, elves are related to holiness. This explains why Thomas Hardy, in <i>Jude the Obsucre</i>, compares the female main character twice with an elf or calls her elfin - thus stressing her purity.<br />- In the 8th century, aelf still connotated males only. It wasn't until the 11th century that the term could also denote females.<br /><br />***<br /><br />The cinemas in Linz seem to be overrun because a. it's vacation time and b. <i>Avatar</i> is on. It's seriously impossible to reserve a seat at the evening screenings, unless you want to sit in the first four rows. Despite this, I managed to see it (in the afternoon).<br /><i>Avatar</i> is awesome. I love it. Finally, after probably a year of bad films, one worth watching (except for <i>Up</i> and <i>District 9</i>, maybe). The creature design is so-so (in general, it's pretty obvious where the film drew its inspirations from, starting with the overall story down to most creature designs). The birds are neat. So are the winged frogs and the avatars/Na'vi. Most impressive of all is the landscape design. The beauty, colourfulness and richness of the plant life is sheer overwhelming (which is probably good and necessary, if you think about the gist of the story). The cinematography was good, too. I likefd how depth and perspective were used and played with, especially in the intitial sequence. That made the 3D effect even more impressive. Later it was used in a more subdued way, which I think I prefer when it comes to 3D. It just makes you feel at home with the technology, because it seems natural. When the technology is shoved into your face, it rather screams "Look at me. See how cool I am. The special effects are all you need to pay attention to. Ignore everything else."<br />The acting was very convincing. Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver did an outstanding job both as humans and in their avatars. Cameron has created a bunch of very likable characters (I'm thinking particularly of Trudy here).<br /><b>-Minor spoiler warning. Don't read on if you haven't seen the film yet-</b><br />The story - yes, it was predictable and has been there before (multiple times). Does it matter? I think not. Most stories have parallels to stories that have been here before, because, well, we're all human and pretty much the same stuff makes us all tick. We write stories that we'd want to read ourselves, so it's clear that they have certain common denominators. The message of <i>Avatar</i> is an important one, and it hurts not to have it repeated.<br />For me, the film reminded me that I have wanted to read into various indigenous cultures for some time (too much stuff I want to read). Their culture, their belief system, their rites, and, most importantly, their place in today's globalised world. And not just the major, known ones, like the Native Americans or Aboriginees. Like with languages, there's a multitude of cultures out there which are dying every moment. I can only imagine the knowledge and individuality that has been lost in this process. To learn about and listen to them is, I believe, an enriching journey.<br /><br />***<br /><br />An awesome video of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FcQQ3PTRpc" target="blank">Eiga doing oji waza</a>. My eyes are getting watery when I watch this.<br /><br /><br /><i>Mit dem neuen Jahr kommt auch eine neue Ausgabe des vierteljährlich erscheinenden Fanzines für Spekulative Fiktion (Fantasy/SciFi/Horror/Mystery) <b><a href="http://www.specflash.de/" target="blank">Specflash</a></b>. 90 Seiten an Kurzgeschichten, Interviews, Artikeln und Rezensionen laden zum Lesen ein. Das Hauptthema der Ausgabe sind Vampire. Empfehlenswert ist vor allem Udo Eickenbergs Kurzgeschichte "Die letzte Prüfung", die auf die Entwicklung der Menschheit in den nächsten 150 Jahren blickt.<br /><br /><br />Ich koche ja gerne und oft, und probiere fast täglich neue Rezepte aus. Bei der Rezeptsuche und beim Foren-Lesen kommt man dabei stets über das beliebte Wort "lecker". Mittlerweile kann ich's nicht mehr sehen. So geht es wohl nicht nur mir, denn beim Stöbern in einem ausgezeichneten Koch-Blog, kam ich über <a href="http://www.anonymekoeche.net/?p=271" target="blank">diesen Eintrag</a>. Viel Spaß beim Lexikon-Erweitern!</i>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-6211596754602927222009-12-31T19:03:00.007+01:002010-04-26T10:30:11.488+02:00Goodbye 2009Another year gone. Good year. I'll miss it.<br /><br />There's an old (2006), but very entertaining speech of Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent's Dinner - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s" target="blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYZF3It848&NR=1" target="blank">2</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAvFM4TYQKU&NR=1" target="blank">3</a>.<br /><br />I made a quick painting inspired by a song from <i>La Tarantella</i> by Galeazzi, Beasley, Arpeggiata and Pluhar. It's a collection of (I think) mostly folk songs rendered in the style of Italian classical music. I don't like classical music, but I like this CD. The background of the collection is the old belief that those who are stung by the tarantula can only be cured by dancing - which was only possible if you could find the tune that "fit" the very tarantula. Could be slow and calm, could be fast and energetic. Lovely belief, ne?<br />(Just as cute as the belief about the <i>Rauhnächte</i> - twelve nights - which says if you have white linen hanging outside during the night, the death will come and take it down, only to return during the following year to wrap you in it.)<br /><br />And a photo of the Christmas present I made for my brother and his girlfriend. It's a Baroque game:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXy-ZBm_Xc6J-YueeyTQfDL-tRJ_VyPPohBTaydKJU6SDy2LtM2ZnDwwqQiycQ4oLzv7WofMRADdtdIHi6q6R99cQukkc_Fr8Z-_gLc8qlJI5DpLrP_txblnWnzvo7Ky_HwpP7A/s1600-h/eulenspiel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXy-ZBm_Xc6J-YueeyTQfDL-tRJ_VyPPohBTaydKJU6SDy2LtM2ZnDwwqQiycQ4oLzv7WofMRADdtdIHi6q6R99cQukkc_Fr8Z-_gLc8qlJI5DpLrP_txblnWnzvo7Ky_HwpP7A/s200/eulenspiel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421516512868541090" /></a><br /><br />I can paint, but I can't make cookies to save my life. Those two can. They made New Year's cookies. Best cookies I've tasted in my life so far. Plus, they look awesome:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsF4RFJnIW1Bz3JDulhofL43qukij_A7TaxFdfVGDnfOS1HwgFKFQ6q4jy_5mXyC8txcFlBfQ9By9CjcqoM1woeuvo0sTF7CpnlUTnfhEpqpN11gjgN81S0-WIOghG_tYybxXRg/s1600-h/kekse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsF4RFJnIW1Bz3JDulhofL43qukij_A7TaxFdfVGDnfOS1HwgFKFQ6q4jy_5mXyC8txcFlBfQ9By9CjcqoM1woeuvo0sTF7CpnlUTnfhEpqpN11gjgN81S0-WIOghG_tYybxXRg/s200/kekse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421516690384707954" /></a>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-17049285688539964392009-11-09T16:27:00.002+01:002009-11-09T16:30:32.290+01:00HouseworkI needed a lampshade...<br /><br /><br />So I made one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfqq1nFKEUYmN5fSxISPgSyH8Hp7wSct6-_KNBbZmDwJGz-h_JSb-Tgt0CkkFFNfwThEQ_f5XwRhEP4xZ01E7GgxIq9pDTXaUd7HDCTYT9hOs1DObBcGZkjhyhm_ADuiqP6hg1Q/s1600-h/lampenschirm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfqq1nFKEUYmN5fSxISPgSyH8Hp7wSct6-_KNBbZmDwJGz-h_JSb-Tgt0CkkFFNfwThEQ_f5XwRhEP4xZ01E7GgxIq9pDTXaUd7HDCTYT9hOs1DObBcGZkjhyhm_ADuiqP6hg1Q/s200/lampenschirm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402126235085425234" /></a><br /><br />It's far from perfect and I'm not really a successful do-it-yourself person, but it's 100% made by myself and a unique item, which makes it superior :)Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-28898521637304676122009-10-31T13:50:00.003+01:002009-10-31T14:01:40.330+01:00SamhainShortly ago, I finished reading both of George R. R. Martin's <i>Dreamsongs</i> volumes. They are collections of short stories and scripts for TV episodes of all kinds of genres that Martin is popular for (Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror). I can't say that I loved all stories, as I did in his collection "A Song for Lya and other stories" (which is an awesome book except for the multitude of editorial errors.<br />Anyway, <i>Dreamsongs</i>. What's really nice about the books is the variety they present. You can experience the whole of Martin's range and see if you like e.g. his SF-stuff as much as his Fantasy works. I'm still primarily a Fantasy lover, so the Science Fiction didn't appeal to me as much. But I discovered to my great surprise that I really liked his horror stories. Who would have guessed?<br /><br />Today is Samhain (and Halloween, yeah, but that's by far not as appealing). Which means, for me, a time to withdraw and recollect. Time to remember and honour those who touched my life, those who came and went.<br />Have a good Samhain night.<br /><br />***<br /><br /><i>Und für die Interessenten aus Linz und Umgebung: KendoLinz startet mit 5. November einen Grundkurs für alle, die schon immer diese wunderbare Kampfkunst ausprobieren wollten. Jetzt ist ein guter Zeitpunkt dafür ;)<br />Einfach auf <a href="http://www.kendolinz.org" target="blank">www.kendolinz.org</a> schauen für nähere Informationen.</i>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-50237419315779553732009-09-27T17:30:00.005+02:002009-09-27T18:17:00.275+02:00MoviesElection day is pretty much over. I guess it could have been worse, but I'm not exactly thrilled about the results.<br /><br />Watched two movies recently, both very recommendable. The first was Pixar's <i>Up</i> in 3D. I'm not really one for special effects, but the 3D in both <i>Up</i> and <i>Ice Age 3</i> amazed me. Moreso in the former, because Ice Age pushed the effects right into your face, while Up was more subtle. It felt like being in a wonderful, colourful 3D universe, with the 3D being natural rather than special. Nice.<br />The film itself (apart from the 3D) was quite good, too. I don't remember that any film I've watched so far has managed to make me cry in the initial 10 minutes. Pixar are masters of their craft. Particularly the non-verbal scenes right at the beginning are phenomenal. It takes an artist to create an attachment to a character with only images in such a short time.<br /><br />The second movie was <i>District 9</i>. The trailer made me wonder if the movie had a plot. It had. The film shows some gritty, believable Science Fiction with a couple of plot holes and many open questions, which offers much material for discussion. It is also highly critical of society and has all of the good stuff - funny dialogue, intriguing background and for the mainstream folks blood and action. Good soundtrack, too. And the documentary style which the movie uses appeals to me greatly.<br /><br />***<br /><br /><i>Vor zwei Wochenenden war ich auf der Wearfair, der Messe für ökologische und nachhaltige Mode, die zum zweiten Mal in Linz stattfand. Auch wenn die Kritiken die Messe als eher klein und noch aufstrebend betiteln, fand ich sie recht beeindruckend - schon umfangreich und mit vielen Ausstellern. In Linz gibt es ja nur eine handvoll Lokalitäten, wo man derlei Kleidung kaufen kann. Großteils ist man leider auf den Online-Versand angewiesen. Aber die Messe hat mir auch gezeigt, dass das Segment auch in Linz im Wachsen begriffen ist, und zumindest die Wearfair ist ein guter jährlicher Anlaufpunkt, um sich bei Bedarf mit Kleidung einzudecken.<br /><br />Auf dem Weg zurück zur Straßenbahn kam ich dann noch über eines der Projekte des Kranken Hasen, den ich seit meiner Visite beim Haus der Geschichten kenne. Ich mag die Aktionen, die der kranke Hase bringt - Tanzen zu unhörbarer Musik, auf Leute in der Einkaufsstraße wirr einreden und, wie in diesem Fall, eine Baumdisco. Die Dinge sind so schön skurril, kurios und abseits der Norm, dass man sie doch nur mögen kann. Denn was ist schon normal.</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXAI56fCFgUrzIS4j7kQwSXe48QC3_l0Kl2tpbPEl3h1wkeJG1uL5wtt3XhThejUwxQ66Ey_NebSvS0EleFZ3Abmu2zfJzfVE0YaR8et0BlCu_x3r_adNF6LHt6tbsCnbIqkzYw/s1600-h/baumdisco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXAI56fCFgUrzIS4j7kQwSXe48QC3_l0Kl2tpbPEl3h1wkeJG1uL5wtt3XhThejUwxQ66Ey_NebSvS0EleFZ3Abmu2zfJzfVE0YaR8et0BlCu_x3r_adNF6LHt6tbsCnbIqkzYw/s200/baumdisco.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386181743513435458" /></a>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-26070839462558655692009-09-01T22:58:00.006+02:002009-09-01T23:19:08.681+02:00Your soul is a riverLots of things are changing. It's amazing. It is also kinda weird to feel everything evolving so quickly, especially when you notice it's not just outside. The galaxy inside you moves at a much faster pace than the one outside, and you just stand there, baffled by the realization of your capabilities. I can only repeat, life is awesome.<br /><br />I've been reading loads of books, since I'm not longer bound by the reading list of my thesis or my exams. So I'm using the time I have left to make book loans from the uni library. Can't read all I want because there's not enough time (umm, two weeks until I return to Salzburg for maybe the last time). But I'm certainly reading quickly, and working through 7 books in 2-3 weeks.<br /><br />Most of them get internalized into my mental bookshelf of ideas and thoughts. One that I enjoyed exceptionally much was Patrick Rothfuss' <i>Name of the Wind</i>, a fantasy trilogy (I think). The first part of the series. It's probably a bit cliché. A brooding, strong protagonist, his helper, magic, love. All the good stuff. It also reminds me a bit of the Dark Elf trilogy. But it's very enjoyable. And Rothfuss loves Whedon. We're all family here.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Diesen Sommer konnte ich auch einmal den Baumwipfelweg besteigen, eine Holzkonstruktion 30m über dem Waldboden. Ziemlich cooles Teil.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSMmv4wgcyfqhV-doU81KM5DDZh51gLSomhpkRv6Xgmc4t11_suVE8fRCrIINDJ5tkXAoY4FQFQs-rvQP_c_BmuIHMQcCoCn1vy1lcCw7U0LsTa2H9Ol0dG91wYfgZERb08S_6Q/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSMmv4wgcyfqhV-doU81KM5DDZh51gLSomhpkRv6Xgmc4t11_suVE8fRCrIINDJ5tkXAoY4FQFQs-rvQP_c_BmuIHMQcCoCn1vy1lcCw7U0LsTa2H9Ol0dG91wYfgZERb08S_6Q/s200/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376610510456084658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygA_y_pX7DWoISAqKvGb4V3JMBd2ogGtl3qLVrFMSnnG0WGHDkO4l1QVf3W-RbRVSpmJvTvK2o-iKvCYaOGofGqtffKbeh4-UngScppo3TJRaBY5HwP4Q5g-btHAtoYdc-bmvqg/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygA_y_pX7DWoISAqKvGb4V3JMBd2ogGtl3qLVrFMSnnG0WGHDkO4l1QVf3W-RbRVSpmJvTvK2o-iKvCYaOGofGqtffKbeh4-UngScppo3TJRaBY5HwP4Q5g-btHAtoYdc-bmvqg/s200/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376610506018873090" /></a><br /><br />Und diese Woche war ich subversiv unterwegs. Gestern auf dem Weg zum Hermes-Paketshop (coincidentally, auch der Weg zum Kendo-Training) habe ich dieses eine LoveGuerilla Plakat aufgehängt. An der Straßenbahnhaltestelle, direkt auf der Werbetafel. Hab mich dabei ganz evil gefühlt ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvC6fJ7-pbNPH3_HLqUo-uKLy3BN1-RJKOmQVpwrSqBNN5YZfKDlPyU6mV8bJ1vCz1byeCHNfgUuak7WHVvvEVX03C926Ay1uue9JbsUKSeDnRkBT__isnluBZwFZQuuNH1ppzw/s1600-h/guerilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvC6fJ7-pbNPH3_HLqUo-uKLy3BN1-RJKOmQVpwrSqBNN5YZfKDlPyU6mV8bJ1vCz1byeCHNfgUuak7WHVvvEVX03C926Ay1uue9JbsUKSeDnRkBT__isnluBZwFZQuuNH1ppzw/s200/guerilla.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376610969606709074" /></a><br /><br />Heute kam ich dabei dann zuuufällig vorbei, als ich komplett unbeabsichtigerweise wieder den Weg zum Kendo-Training einschlug. Meine Erwartung war, dass jemand das Plakat entfernt hätte. Unautorisierte Plakate auf Plakatwände kleben und so. Doch nein, es war noch da. Und zwei der Streifen fehlten bereits. Was braucht es mehr, um etwas Wärme im Herzen aufkommen zu lassen?<br />In den nächsten Tagen verunstalte ich dann die Kulturhauptstadt mit ein paar mehr Plakaten. Spread the love.Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-63144196630898914692009-07-15T23:36:00.004+02:002009-07-16T00:10:25.879+02:00EntertainmentI feel bad for only fulfilling 15 of <a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/07/100-basic-geek-skills-for-geeks/" target="blank">100 basic skills for geeks</a>. Ah, it seems my nerd days are over.<br /><br />Instead, I find myself enjoying <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVmTVzz2SOc" target="blank">this Kendo video</a> way too much. I want to play it over and over again, just to enjoy that feeling of pure love that Kendo gives me and to exult in the joy of <i>gogi</i>. Every inch of that video speaks through body language (which I'm probably only reading because I understand at most 5% of what is said ... taisho, shimpan, shiai, ippon, yuko datotsu, tehehehe). The people clapping, the kenshi's utter look of bewilderment. Pure love.<br /><br />Another lovely film is this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY" target="blank">stop-motion production</a>. Very cute.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Der Rechberger Mittelaltermarkt fand wieder statt, und nach dem wunderbaren Erlebnis letztes Jahr hatte ich natürlich hohe Erwartungen. Leider wohl zu hoch, denn dieses Jahr fand ich ihn etwas enttäuschend. In der Lagerwiese waren "Löcher", wo letztes Jahr Gruppen waren, und einige der hochwertigen Händlerstände, die mir noch gut in Erinnerung waren, fehlten auch. Dafür gab's Jonglage zum Mitmachen und die Möglichkeit einer Quickie-Hochzeit.<br />Das Ambiente ist allerdings unschlagbar, daher: Nächstes Jahr wieder!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27gNC7mGDXZFKDJsQ2GFhChWEazIiakyhBLeL7FvMSzqQgslG4gGsoTNfbHVxJi_vk3pL80m_FlB_CVFeiwOnzB2k-3Vb7X3alwtmjad59HmRY5K9qdpVvgIowA2jlRlxa1FS8w/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27gNC7mGDXZFKDJsQ2GFhChWEazIiakyhBLeL7FvMSzqQgslG4gGsoTNfbHVxJi_vk3pL80m_FlB_CVFeiwOnzB2k-3Vb7X3alwtmjad59HmRY5K9qdpVvgIowA2jlRlxa1FS8w/s200/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358812535210269058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xmfr5ZcGzaAc2C4ppS7CadtiFwfFS_h7mnuNyBeugAo43b4KNKIOEEgoul55qWUP0b7AlbMscOkiMnttCQz6PRHk46ZHSdgSAse4VDWfUi7bs297rd-qp2reoVeSKLvmIr8bow/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xmfr5ZcGzaAc2C4ppS7CadtiFwfFS_h7mnuNyBeugAo43b4KNKIOEEgoul55qWUP0b7AlbMscOkiMnttCQz6PRHk46ZHSdgSAse4VDWfUi7bs297rd-qp2reoVeSKLvmIr8bow/s200/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358812531235101394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFnTo9WdfmuoYvTCi2fbKP0HMzNKntHIEG_nBXSAfC3vQajcGX5cD4KOMbmLD63YIkXwSWgaS7rFIUIWS0ljp_dWcE6EsFxSQYeavxlAFgqQko_OlN12auDC_2moKWVHjCgDlRA/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFnTo9WdfmuoYvTCi2fbKP0HMzNKntHIEG_nBXSAfC3vQajcGX5cD4KOMbmLD63YIkXwSWgaS7rFIUIWS0ljp_dWcE6EsFxSQYeavxlAFgqQko_OlN12auDC_2moKWVHjCgDlRA/s200/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358812526990525650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_3lUIeS1iEpD7dPmqa4WMCyAnKO23DedYMzuvMWcUzxbGDgApI2ddCtd_JZ1nhb25pmax41t9zABJJLGUuUEDjLgyYKAYlskexJf3jEi77BiaHunFrcjQhMAYErbtxxl0w_HEA/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_3lUIeS1iEpD7dPmqa4WMCyAnKO23DedYMzuvMWcUzxbGDgApI2ddCtd_JZ1nhb25pmax41t9zABJJLGUuUEDjLgyYKAYlskexJf3jEi77BiaHunFrcjQhMAYErbtxxl0w_HEA/s200/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358812521497588194" /></a>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-22319473039372892622009-06-13T22:50:00.001+02:002009-06-13T23:09:28.856+02:0021 Steps to EnlightenmentWhile I was gone, Joss Whedon's <i>Dollhouse</i> started to kick in real good and came to a (temporary) finish. Looking at the big picture, I didn't like the first couple of episodes too much. They had potential, but only so much as the series as a whole had - the premise, plot, etc. After five episodes, though, all the good stuff came rushing in. I became involved by all the plot reveals and turns and, above all, the fantastic acting that most of the characters showed (all except Eliza Dushku). And Alan Tudyk in the final episode - hell yeah! Rarely have I seen such a fun and entangling acting. The world needs more well acted multiple personalities. The quality of acting made me feel compelled to re-watch several episodes of <i>Firefly</i>; which is probably the only series that I regularly re-watch (I sometimes watch the first episodes of Buffy before I get bored, don't ever watch B5, although I dream of <i>Star Trek Voyager</i>).<br />The second season looks promising.<br /><br /><i>Auf WDR gab es eine Diskussionsrunde über die Trickserei, die im Lebensmittelbereich mit Kunden gemacht wird. Das ganze kann man sich per WebTV <a href="http://www.wdr.de/tv/hartaberfair/sendungen/2009/20090527.php5?akt=1" target="blank">hier</a> ansehen und ist sogar viel unterhaltsamer, als ich angenommen hatte.<br /><br />Ein weiteres interessantes Detail, über das ich stolperte: Man vergleiche die Pringles-Wikipedia-Einträge in englisch und deutsch. Der deutsche ist ungleich kritischer und zeigt, was für ein Mist in den Chips eigentlich drin ist. Im englischen keine Spur davon.<br /><br />Recherchebedingt war ich im Haus der Geschichten. Eine nette unterrepräsentierte Kulturstätte, die tief berühren kann, wenn man sich darauf einlässt. Auch schön, dass sie interaktiv ist - was mich dazu veranlasste, einen Teil meiner eigenen Geschichte dort zu lassen. Fotos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-bixJRvPjyv4AGzkyKH2Losnhu4LKh5dtLWFqNSCepAEH8b05JErfs-bPLqR9O-6CVTqSqW3Fxzy8b4xJAET21TCJnOAbaAMUqtA-xkp26BjtCbOJvhuAeU1TH4SVb7JR0LNtA/s1600-h/hdg3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-bixJRvPjyv4AGzkyKH2Losnhu4LKh5dtLWFqNSCepAEH8b05JErfs-bPLqR9O-6CVTqSqW3Fxzy8b4xJAET21TCJnOAbaAMUqtA-xkp26BjtCbOJvhuAeU1TH4SVb7JR0LNtA/s200/hdg3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346920124675072210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WnVGGbApDCiut7R8pGLsHyK5nCbAFzESHPMOEGTNGV3D-QdULICnWOAlxjtDPxK-t2Cihi4AH1QnzA_BO8uB7ZUurYfzj2yrxJr1Y9_9yalq6jkqzS5gQbWQd96HnBvaMQ0LAw/s1600-h/hdg2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WnVGGbApDCiut7R8pGLsHyK5nCbAFzESHPMOEGTNGV3D-QdULICnWOAlxjtDPxK-t2Cihi4AH1QnzA_BO8uB7ZUurYfzj2yrxJr1Y9_9yalq6jkqzS5gQbWQd96HnBvaMQ0LAw/s200/hdg2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346920124693832322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT0sK6GPBC4tMsHgEVkFD3UH4KLZHCpX9-W0zKatmevhu2LdKQ7xMKJs93QZOw_eE7BX0B9NukpQTZrO3SJokiizzG2HvCdrAOhE1nMRgAD9IaiPc8_LHmEweQ5MaL78JXitKNw/s1600-h/hdg1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT0sK6GPBC4tMsHgEVkFD3UH4KLZHCpX9-W0zKatmevhu2LdKQ7xMKJs93QZOw_eE7BX0B9NukpQTZrO3SJokiizzG2HvCdrAOhE1nMRgAD9IaiPc8_LHmEweQ5MaL78JXitKNw/s200/hdg1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346920121181118322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1n5lV7r88HNsAtxJQXRtPcPEFJiOppeHQwoMHMCLZSDRFkhD7Jgfm-9Scg94I_o-G_sGfWWe1VBwVLt9sR-w_NW9FfXUbqZf4Z69CHig1cPokHnom_5H0h2lVNXGNZtMZ2BtvA/s1600-h/hdg4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1n5lV7r88HNsAtxJQXRtPcPEFJiOppeHQwoMHMCLZSDRFkhD7Jgfm-9Scg94I_o-G_sGfWWe1VBwVLt9sR-w_NW9FfXUbqZf4Z69CHig1cPokHnom_5H0h2lVNXGNZtMZ2BtvA/s200/hdg4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346921895637053858" /></a></i>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-48165681102805691042009-05-28T11:22:00.005+02:002009-05-28T14:46:14.167+02:00Among the LivingI'm back. I have tons to write, and I'm writing tons, only in tons of places. Sort of ;)<br /><br /><br />There's a bad photo of the costume I designed and made some time ago:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfDhqEeCJPapClHQdYfc6C7XtCDu4vlIlD4jz8S3wvBv-s7YZob4QDZaGKNg5qz5d_n7mjPHwo17QsxUsVRZamwiAWBaPLeOi0xquPFrZ0UL5EEbCnRTed6jQkkZ6GPGLYhGBWw/s1600-h/carnival.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfDhqEeCJPapClHQdYfc6C7XtCDu4vlIlD4jz8S3wvBv-s7YZob4QDZaGKNg5qz5d_n7mjPHwo17QsxUsVRZamwiAWBaPLeOi0xquPFrZ0UL5EEbCnRTed6jQkkZ6GPGLYhGBWw/s200/carnival.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340804503948988674" /></a><br /><br />In April, there was an exhibition on Japanese art in Salzburg. I wrote a report on it <a href="http://kendo1.sytes.net/manuela.hoflehner/Lists/Beitraege/ViewPost.aspx?ID=12" target="blank">here</a>, with photos.<br /><br />In the Biologiezentrum Dornach the exhibition "Gefangen in Bernstein" is currently taking place. Quite nice for a short afternoon trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIGRn_7gy_wNDXVZ3JHOhs4DrEkOFf9Em6NfFUUO9HbZb2udvZz_RycWZqbPP7-8riz5KnWplHRXrqKV4E2e15DsoBBfFzvJdY65Jm_ZupfRD42QgqKTnL96NCMNpFzNwAD9SNw/s1600-h/bernstein2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIGRn_7gy_wNDXVZ3JHOhs4DrEkOFf9Em6NfFUUO9HbZb2udvZz_RycWZqbPP7-8riz5KnWplHRXrqKV4E2e15DsoBBfFzvJdY65Jm_ZupfRD42QgqKTnL96NCMNpFzNwAD9SNw/s200/bernstein2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340811322867626690" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMjOFQawA2DunwUL_9iroqseE8PBSpIOe5Ly4A8Mi8V3yPCzV11v4JNnyUGK3qfiMVjPLOaLx4oOHTkZIg3kpixrW-LUUai8_qrOT2MTyL87QWqqKwjPblKVgX_L58Nl22p4aRQ/s1600-h/bernstein1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMjOFQawA2DunwUL_9iroqseE8PBSpIOe5Ly4A8Mi8V3yPCzV11v4JNnyUGK3qfiMVjPLOaLx4oOHTkZIg3kpixrW-LUUai8_qrOT2MTyL87QWqqKwjPblKVgX_L58Nl22p4aRQ/s200/bernstein1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340811318628737682" /></a><br /><br />This Saturday, there will the the <a href="http://www.fairplanet.at/" target="blank">Fairplanet Festival</a> in Linz. A week later, there's the <a href="http://www.pga.at/index.php?id=1790" target="blank">Fest der Sinne</a> in Wels. In September, we'll have another installment of the <a href="http://www.wearfair.at/" target="blank">Wearfair</a>. Nice!<br />(I just wish the Wearfair didn't always take place when I'm out of town.)<br /><br />I'm also now co-habiting with six Kendo-infested beings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRPXszG7Wrp0ouAeCwwrcgKcPzT7_vTUROW9bXaClfDSfDc3i1WLoS-YweMo5iDg49an9Z-Z5ds0TbkMCL5lMaPSSwjxgvZgVJL6INy-R_7ApQnzD_-GAnI7vfizn8eb12B_0A/s1600-h/tomaten1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wRPXszG7Wrp0ouAeCwwrcgKcPzT7_vTUROW9bXaClfDSfDc3i1WLoS-YweMo5iDg49an9Z-Z5ds0TbkMCL5lMaPSSwjxgvZgVJL6INy-R_7ApQnzD_-GAnI7vfizn8eb12B_0A/s200/tomaten1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340812724026365906" /></a><br /><br />And because I adjust to all kinds and tastes, I have given them both names:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFSFn76yfV4cKOmpgZU-1iVFsxY9ZH2orLZQ-PbW58c6rb-szJMTb9TnMukCZ-LwX8xiAgI9UcpKgGTzel85dv1UTm1C8JoqFzzNEE1KgEMlCgx1jpQHncYW4ctryArnon6yinQ/s1600-h/tomaten2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFSFn76yfV4cKOmpgZU-1iVFsxY9ZH2orLZQ-PbW58c6rb-szJMTb9TnMukCZ-LwX8xiAgI9UcpKgGTzel85dv1UTm1C8JoqFzzNEE1KgEMlCgx1jpQHncYW4ctryArnon6yinQ/s200/tomaten2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340812730064713010" /></a><br /><br />and numbers:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8_QqMMZX-yt1XQokJM-WuyY2BIkeb4j-aphelwG4Ec6s4zAfHiRg59rkUhpmhodMKrs-65m5mJ8msEsVW1XDg3oaovCSPlSeX8zcX1WgJmBl_F7GD9CHIswuVfbvksj65c-GjA/s1600-h/tomaten3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8_QqMMZX-yt1XQokJM-WuyY2BIkeb4j-aphelwG4Ec6s4zAfHiRg59rkUhpmhodMKrs-65m5mJ8msEsVW1XDg3oaovCSPlSeX8zcX1WgJmBl_F7GD9CHIswuVfbvksj65c-GjA/s200/tomaten3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340812734827948626" /></a><br /><br />And I also <b>revamped my website. Go <a href="http://www.endara.net/" target="blank">check it out.</a></b>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-56551215581034261572009-03-25T23:56:00.003+01:002009-03-26T00:13:55.619+01:00Goodbye, LifeThat was a short visit. Hope to see you again in a couple of weeks.<br /><br />As you might have noticed, this and the last posting lacked the picture/painting I had intended to post with every blog entry. Alas, I still have no camera, and the cam on my phone stopped working as well, so I can't take photos of the stuff I produced in the last couple of weeks. But since I'm probably going to disappear again for a few weeks, there won't be that many postings without pictures. Quid pro quo. Or something like that.<br /><br />Watched Watchmen. Then read the comic (which, surprisingly, was available in our University library; I love my English department for its open-mindedness). I liked the film. It was intriguing, partly confusing and left certain stuff open (which is neither good nor bad). Upon reading the comic, I figured the confusing stuff mostly came from the changes that had taken place for no conceivable reason. The film seems to push the vigilantes into harsher good/bad-directions, while the comic leaves them pretty much in the middle-field. The comic also and unsurprisingly explains their behaviours better. It's nice to have such well thought-out and complex personalities in the superhero genre.<br />I guess Heroes tries to follow that direction a bit, since its characters are quite grey, as well, but that might just be due to a general lack of a well thought-out concept, resulting in a change of character-direction in order to surprise the viewer <i>again</i> by putting the character into the other party. (Yes, Heroes is slowly starting to bore me.)<br /><br />What does not bore me, but rather gets better bit by bit, is Joss Whedon's new show, <i>Dollhouse</i>. While I'm not too fond of Faith's, err, Eliza Dushku's acting, I like the direction of the show and hope it gets beyond the damsel-in-distress stage.<br />I miss Joss' humour. It's what made <i>Firefly</i> brilliant.<br />Still, lots of potential in the show.<br /><br />***<br /><br /><i>In Linz eröffnete vor einigen Wochen die Tolouse-Lautrec Ausstellung in der Landesgalerie - eine sehr empfehlenswerte Ausstellung mit vielen beeindruckenden Bildern des Malers der Pariser Bordellszene. Mich beeindruckten vor allem die verschiedenen Stilrichtungen, in denen die Gemälde angefertigt wurden, und natürlich begeisterten mich am meisten die Bilder, in denen deutlich der Einfluss der japanischen Malerei zu sehen war. Hat mich auch etwas überrascht zu sehen, dass der japanische Einfluss damals schon so groß war. Und weil das so toll ist, geht's demnächst in die Sensai-Ausstellung in Salzburg.</i>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25941740.post-59377721851827563012009-03-14T08:03:00.000+01:002009-03-14T08:31:26.470+01:00Hello, LifeWell, life has me back. For a while. The question is whether this is a good or bad thing, considering that life's a bitch and all.<br /><br />But, disappointingly, there are only a few links to post. The rest will follow (soon, as my former Arindal colleagues would have said).<br /><br />To begin with, I have a nice <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NRQpeL-88I" target="blank">video on guerilla gardening</a>.<br /><br />On the other side of a mirror, there's a shocking article on the <a href="http://www.tagesspiegel.de/zeitung/Die-Dritte-Seite;art705,2703300" target="blank">consequences workers making antique style jeans face</a>. The cynical part of me thought "How handy. With stuff like that, you can both make fashion and kill people."<br />Then it came to me that this thought isn't so ironic after all. Fashion and death are actually closely linked together - sweatshops, ridiculous beauty ideals, pesticides in the cotton plantations, etc.<br />Sad world.<br /><br />For something more positive:<br />Very exciting <a href="http://balak01.deviantart.com/art/about-DIGITAL-COMICS-111966969" target="blank">deviation about digital comics</a>. I love the interactive-ness and it feels so much more alive than traditional comics.<br /><br />And to finish off, two in German.<br /><br /><i>Ich bin ja nicht so der Fan von Raps, <a href="http://www.nachhaltigkeitsrat.de/veroeffentlichungen/audio-video/rapucation-guten-appetit/" target="blank">Der hier</a> hat's mir allerdings angetan. <br /><br />Nachdem im deutschene Raum die Petition zum Grundeinkommen so gut durchgegangen ist, hier ein <a href="http://www.kultkino.ch/kultkino/besonderes/grundeinkommen" target="blank">Film über's Grundeinkommen</a>. Sehr interessant und informativ.</i>Manuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14530096452462356702noreply@blogger.com6