Enjoy my latest podcast with a very special guest. Merry Heiligabend!
July 23, 2011
vor 14 Jahren
Mittwoch, 24. Dezember 2008
Sightseeing with Savannah
Much to my delight, Savannah arrived on Monday after an exhausting trip halfway across the globe. Yesterday we saw all the sights in downtown Berlin.
I haven't gotten a chance to write any captions yet but you can see the pictures here.
Merry Christmas Eve!
I haven't gotten a chance to write any captions yet but you can see the pictures here.
Merry Christmas Eve!
Sonntag, 21. Dezember 2008
Are You Sick of Christmas Yet?
If not, take a look at some photos of the Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg Christmas markets that I took this week. Here's a preview.
Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt is in the middle of Berlin, just off Unter den Linden (the Champs Elysee of Berlin). It's a market between two big churches.
Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg is in the western part of Berlin and it is where there's a big old castle. Well, by "old" I mean reconstructed, like everything in Berlin besides the Gedächtnis Kirche.
Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt is in the middle of Berlin, just off Unter den Linden (the Champs Elysee of Berlin). It's a market between two big churches.
Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg is in the western part of Berlin and it is where there's a big old castle. Well, by "old" I mean reconstructed, like everything in Berlin besides the Gedächtnis Kirche.
Freitag, 19. Dezember 2008
The Love for Three Oranges
Here's a clip from the opera I went to last night, (I didn't take it, I found it on YouTube), Prokofiev's "The Love for Three Oranges" at the Comic Opera.
It was fun and fantastical and very confusing. I have no idea who the guy in the spoon is, or who anyone else is or what happened for that matter. At any rate it helped wash the taste of the Mozartpocalypse out of my mouth. Or eyes. Or brain. Or whatever. You get it.
Mittwoch, 17. Dezember 2008
Deutsch-slapped! Second Installment
My friend Bruce and I got Deutsch-slapped yesterday afternoon taking pictures at the holocaust memorial.
Granted, we were not exactly being somber and reflective. My excuse is that Bruce (who studies "visual culture" in Sweden) had just reassured me that he took a class in which they learned about this particular memorial and how it was designed for people to be able to play there. I *know* it doesn't sound plausible but who am I to argue with the Swedish education system?
There are men whose job it is (of course) to stand by the holocaust memorial and tell people not to have fun. "No jumping! This is a holocaust memorial!"
Deutsch-slapped!
If one really is supposed to play at the holocaust memorial (I know, I can't believe I believed that) then they shouldn't have put it in Berlin, where playing, even where it is not strictly verboten, is still regarded with suspicion.
And then last night I met Halley and her brother, Trey, at Palm Beach, an absurd little bar where the floor is covered in sand, the heat is jacked up to 85 degrees, and "Cocktail Happy Hour" starts at 6 pm and ends at 5 am.
Shortly after the waitress brought our drinks, I was telling them about getting Deutsch-slapped earlier that day, when the waitress showed up with another drink for Halley. The waitress left both full drinks in front of her and explained very politely that Halley had accidentally ordered both of these drinks, each from a different waitress (she thought they were the same woman) and so she must pay for them. "You must only order your drink once. Do you understand?"
Deutsch-slapped!
And this morning as I was jaywalking across a silent street, an old woman with a walker yelled something (I know not what) at me from across the street. I don't think she was telling me to be careful.
Deutsch-slapped!
Granted, we were not exactly being somber and reflective. My excuse is that Bruce (who studies "visual culture" in Sweden) had just reassured me that he took a class in which they learned about this particular memorial and how it was designed for people to be able to play there. I *know* it doesn't sound plausible but who am I to argue with the Swedish education system?
There are men whose job it is (of course) to stand by the holocaust memorial and tell people not to have fun. "No jumping! This is a holocaust memorial!"
Deutsch-slapped!
If one really is supposed to play at the holocaust memorial (I know, I can't believe I believed that) then they shouldn't have put it in Berlin, where playing, even where it is not strictly verboten, is still regarded with suspicion.
And then last night I met Halley and her brother, Trey, at Palm Beach, an absurd little bar where the floor is covered in sand, the heat is jacked up to 85 degrees, and "Cocktail Happy Hour" starts at 6 pm and ends at 5 am.
Shortly after the waitress brought our drinks, I was telling them about getting Deutsch-slapped earlier that day, when the waitress showed up with another drink for Halley. The waitress left both full drinks in front of her and explained very politely that Halley had accidentally ordered both of these drinks, each from a different waitress (she thought they were the same woman) and so she must pay for them. "You must only order your drink once. Do you understand?"
Deutsch-slapped!
And this morning as I was jaywalking across a silent street, an old woman with a walker yelled something (I know not what) at me from across the street. I don't think she was telling me to be careful.
Deutsch-slapped!
Dienstag, 16. Dezember 2008
DEUTSCH-SLAPPED
Guten Tag Herr Phillips,
vielen Dank für Ihren Auftrag. Wir freuen uns über Ihr Interesse für o2 DSL.
Zu unserem Bedauern müssen wir Ihnen mitteilen, dass wir diesen Auftrag aus internen Gründen nicht weiter bearbeiten können. Wir hoffen auf Ihr Verständnis und verbleiben
mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr o2 Team
************************
Good day Mr Phillips,
many thanks for your application. We are pleased by your interest in o2 DSL.
Regrettably, we must share with you that we can no longer work on your application due to internal reasons. We hope you understand and remain
with friendly greetings
your o2 Team.
*************
Understand? What am I supposed to understand exactly?
So German. So formal. So mystifying.
This reminds me of a word my friend Halley uses. When a German tells you you're doing the wrong thing, that something you thought was harmless is verboten, guess what? You just got Deutsch-slapped.
vielen Dank für Ihren Auftrag. Wir freuen uns über Ihr Interesse für o2 DSL.
Zu unserem Bedauern müssen wir Ihnen mitteilen, dass wir diesen Auftrag aus internen Gründen nicht weiter bearbeiten können. Wir hoffen auf Ihr Verständnis und verbleiben
mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr o2 Team
************************
Good day Mr Phillips,
many thanks for your application. We are pleased by your interest in o2 DSL.
Regrettably, we must share with you that we can no longer work on your application due to internal reasons. We hope you understand and remain
with friendly greetings
your o2 Team.
*************
Understand? What am I supposed to understand exactly?
So German. So formal. So mystifying.
This reminds me of a word my friend Halley uses. When a German tells you you're doing the wrong thing, that something you thought was harmless is verboten, guess what? You just got Deutsch-slapped.
Montag, 15. Dezember 2008
Freitag, 12. Dezember 2008
German Word(s) of the Week
Das Gammelfleischparty (GAH muhll flysh PAHtee)
Savannah told me about this wonderful word, which was just voted "youth word of the year" by one of the big German dictionary publishers.
Like most German words, Gammelfleischparty is compound. 'Party', you know. 'Fleisch' means meat. 'Gammelig' means old, rotten, or corrupted. Put it all together and it literally translates 'rotten meat party'.
Figuratively, of course, it means a party consisting mostly of people over 30. Yeah. You heard me. Over 30.
If your German's decent you can find the rest of the candidates here.
The word that got second place this year is Bildschirmbräune, or 'computer screen tan', which refers to the pallor of a computer nerd. In Germany a tanning salon is a Bräunungstudio, literally, a 'browning studio'.
I also like number three, unterhopft, literally, 'under-hopped'. That's what you are when you're not drunk enough and you need more beer.
Germany, sometimes I love you.
Savannah told me about this wonderful word, which was just voted "youth word of the year" by one of the big German dictionary publishers.
Like most German words, Gammelfleischparty is compound. 'Party', you know. 'Fleisch' means meat. 'Gammelig' means old, rotten, or corrupted. Put it all together and it literally translates 'rotten meat party'.
Figuratively, of course, it means a party consisting mostly of people over 30. Yeah. You heard me. Over 30.
If your German's decent you can find the rest of the candidates here.
The word that got second place this year is Bildschirmbräune, or 'computer screen tan', which refers to the pallor of a computer nerd. In Germany a tanning salon is a Bräunungstudio, literally, a 'browning studio'.
I also like number three, unterhopft, literally, 'under-hopped'. That's what you are when you're not drunk enough and you need more beer.
Germany, sometimes I love you.
Donnerstag, 11. Dezember 2008
Christmas Markets and Parties
Here are a couple pics from the Christmas market in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. It was waaaaay too charming.
I also went out more than a person should this weekend. But on Monday I had seven new facebook friends, so I guess it served a purpose. And I got to go to a 20's-themed party, which is something I've always dreamed of. Not everyone was as good of a sport about it as Halley and I were though.
Oh, and here's the Radio Tower in Charlottenburg that I mentioned in my last podcast.
I also went out more than a person should this weekend. But on Monday I had seven new facebook friends, so I guess it served a purpose. And I got to go to a 20's-themed party, which is something I've always dreamed of. Not everyone was as good of a sport about it as Halley and I were though.
Oh, and here's the Radio Tower in Charlottenburg that I mentioned in my last podcast.
Mittwoch, 10. Dezember 2008
Dienstag, 9. Dezember 2008
What is an American?
Ever since S asked me whether I was thankful to be an American, I've been trying to figure out what that means.
I still don't know. But it's fun to probe.
Like most cultural classifications, being an American seems to be a vague property. That makes it unlike being an American citizen, which is pretty cut and dried. I mean, supposing Charo has citizenship by now, whatever she doesn't have is what being an American is in the sense I mean it.
One thing that has nothing to do with being an American is race. It's not like that in Berlin, where it seems to me that national identity is thought of as more than just a matter of culture, language and citizenship. All black people are African. People with Turkish parents are Turkish, even if they've spent their whole lives in Berlin.
Can one become an American by choice, or is it just something that happens to one?
I think the answer is yes, but if so it's a matter of acquiring a second nature, not just doing or saying a certain thing. One cannot just become an American, but one may make choices that lead one to become an American.
Can one stop being an American? If so, can one do so by choice?
I don't think so. Or, at least, once one is an American it would be very hard to stop being one. John Walker Lindh, for example, was and is an American.
Is it easier for some people to become American?
Yes. Canadians, for example.
Is it harder for some people to become Americans?
Yes. Canadians, for example.
What's the fastest way to seem like an American?
Use the word 'ain't'.
More on this theme later.
I still don't know. But it's fun to probe.
Like most cultural classifications, being an American seems to be a vague property. That makes it unlike being an American citizen, which is pretty cut and dried. I mean, supposing Charo has citizenship by now, whatever she doesn't have is what being an American is in the sense I mean it.
One thing that has nothing to do with being an American is race. It's not like that in Berlin, where it seems to me that national identity is thought of as more than just a matter of culture, language and citizenship. All black people are African. People with Turkish parents are Turkish, even if they've spent their whole lives in Berlin.
Can one become an American by choice, or is it just something that happens to one?
I think the answer is yes, but if so it's a matter of acquiring a second nature, not just doing or saying a certain thing. One cannot just become an American, but one may make choices that lead one to become an American.
Can one stop being an American? If so, can one do so by choice?
I don't think so. Or, at least, once one is an American it would be very hard to stop being one. John Walker Lindh, for example, was and is an American.
Is it easier for some people to become American?
Yes. Canadians, for example.
Is it harder for some people to become Americans?
Yes. Canadians, for example.
What's the fastest way to seem like an American?
Use the word 'ain't'.
More on this theme later.
Montag, 8. Dezember 2008
Freitag, 5. Dezember 2008
Burgeramt/Frühstücksklub
These fabulous people eating gross food are: Catherine, Jill, Jason, and Halley.
Donnerstag, 4. Dezember 2008
Special Thursday Podcast
That's right, liebe Leute, there's a new podcast in town, and it's not even your Weihnachtsgeschenk!
This time I muse, opine, and cavil about the "best burger place in Berlin" and other assorted delights.
This time I muse, opine, and cavil about the "best burger place in Berlin" and other assorted delights.
Dienstag, 2. Dezember 2008
German Word of the Week
schlagfertig
Schlagfertig (SCHLOCK fair tikh) literally means "blow-ready", as in, ready to trade blows. It is an adjective describing someone who is quick-witted.
Incidentally, mit Schlag is one way to order your mocha or hot chocolate. It comes with a "hit" of "beaten" (whipped) cream, aka Schlagsahne. And if you want some liquor in it, order it mit Schuss, "with a shot".
Schlagfertig (SCHLOCK fair tikh) literally means "blow-ready", as in, ready to trade blows. It is an adjective describing someone who is quick-witted.
Incidentally, mit Schlag is one way to order your mocha or hot chocolate. It comes with a "hit" of "beaten" (whipped) cream, aka Schlagsahne. And if you want some liquor in it, order it mit Schuss, "with a shot".
Montag, 1. Dezember 2008
Abortive Panorama Bar Visit
Herr Professor Dr. Phillips has no new podcast for you today, due to the fact that he was outside Panorama Bar at 4 am on Saturday taking this picture.
He didn't actually make it inside, because waiting in line for half an hour in the sub-zero temperatures removed his will to dance. And getting home at 6 am removed his will to podcast the next day.
Not to worry: as a Berlin institution, this particular three-story techno warehouse in the former east will probably still be there the next time he is seized by such an urge.
He didn't actually make it inside, because waiting in line for half an hour in the sub-zero temperatures removed his will to dance. And getting home at 6 am removed his will to podcast the next day.
Not to worry: as a Berlin institution, this particular three-story techno warehouse in the former east will probably still be there the next time he is seized by such an urge.
Donnerstag, 27. November 2008
Dankbarkeit
I am thankful...
that abusing coffee doesn't cause a hangover
that listening to an iPod doesn't cause cancer
that cursing is not illegal
that people can't hear what I'm thinking
for the Käseteller at the FU
that I can effortlessly summon the English words for effortlessness, summoning, and pinky toe
that I have reached 28 without falling apart, breaking down, freaking out, or screwing up (too much)
that no one whose services I currently need is on strike
for navy blue
for the collared shirt, the v-neck sweater, the sport coat, and jeans
for martinis
for autonomy
for taste
that we all get to be young for a while
that ignorance, provincialism, and naivete are all curable
for second nature
that cosmopolitanism is not the same as multiculturalism
for the stability of platonic relationships
that opinions, insofar as they diverge from the truth, are inconsequential
that I was born in New York
that I live in Berlin
Und ich bin auch dankbar, dass ich manchmal ein bisschen Deustch sprechen kann!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Thanksgiving
that abusing coffee doesn't cause a hangover
that listening to an iPod doesn't cause cancer
that cursing is not illegal
that people can't hear what I'm thinking
for the Käseteller at the FU
that I can effortlessly summon the English words for effortlessness, summoning, and pinky toe
that I have reached 28 without falling apart, breaking down, freaking out, or screwing up (too much)
that no one whose services I currently need is on strike
for navy blue
for the collared shirt, the v-neck sweater, the sport coat, and jeans
for martinis
for autonomy
for taste
that we all get to be young for a while
that ignorance, provincialism, and naivete are all curable
for second nature
that cosmopolitanism is not the same as multiculturalism
for the stability of platonic relationships
that opinions, insofar as they diverge from the truth, are inconsequential
that I was born in New York
that I live in Berlin
Und ich bin auch dankbar, dass ich manchmal ein bisschen Deustch sprechen kann!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Thanksgiving
Mittwoch, 26. November 2008
German Word of the Week
Schnapszahl (SHNAHPS tsahl)
Oh, the fascinating things one learns watching German kid's shows.
In my last podcast I promised you another Schnaps-based German word, and this time it's Schnapszahl.
According to the LEO online German dictionary, the English translation of Schnapszahl is "a multidigit number with all digits identical". Schnapszahl literaly means "Schnaps number".
So 11 is a Schnapszahl. So are 666 and 9.99.
What makes a number a Schnapszahl? The fact that when you drink too much Schnaps you tend to see double.
American kids are missing out on a lot having to grow up watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.
Oh, the fascinating things one learns watching German kid's shows.
In my last podcast I promised you another Schnaps-based German word, and this time it's Schnapszahl.
According to the LEO online German dictionary, the English translation of Schnapszahl is "a multidigit number with all digits identical". Schnapszahl literaly means "Schnaps number".
So 11 is a Schnapszahl. So are 666 and 9.99.
What makes a number a Schnapszahl? The fact that when you drink too much Schnaps you tend to see double.
American kids are missing out on a lot having to grow up watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.
Dienstag, 25. November 2008
Staabi
So it turns out the Staabi is, like, not a public library. It's more like a national archive. Which explains a lot, and makes me have to take back most of what I said in yesterday's podcast.
But this really is sauerkraut juice.
Anyway, see more pictures of how cool it is inside the Staabi and other Berlin sights (and sites) in my latest Picasa album.
But this really is sauerkraut juice.
Anyway, see more pictures of how cool it is inside the Staabi and other Berlin sights (and sites) in my latest Picasa album.
Sonntag, 23. November 2008
New Podcast
It's always too early for Christmas. I effortlessly remain entzaubert despite the quaint Weihnachtsmärkte breaking out all over Berlin. Oh, and a trip to the "Staabi" gives the lie to German socialism.
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