Is your life deeper than the mirror you look into everyday?
Do you see the contours of the passage of time
The lines and creases that experience leaves behind?
Do you feel the pain of millions
the joy of thousands?
Do you hunger for justice, food and equality
Do you raise your fist in anger?
I wonder about you and where you are headed
is it a life of minutes or of days?
Are you waiting for the next thrill
the next tv drama?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, May 28, 2007
To Tame the Saxons
A short history lesson for ya'll this memorial day. What is now Germany and France were at one time part of the Holy Roman Empire led by Charlemagne. He was the first first German (Franken) to be crowned emperor by the pope. His seat of power was Aachen, the city at the three corners of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The octagonel cathederal that he built in the 8th century still stands today. But what made Charlemagne incredible in my eyes was that he was able to do what the Romans weren't able to do - he tamed the Saxons and pulled them into the fold. Living with a Saxon I can only say my hat is off to Charlemagne. Keep in mind that these are the same people, led by Herman the German (real name Arminius), that womped the Romans in the battle of the Teutoberger forest (right near where my Saxon grew up..) just a few years after Christ's death. The Romans never did conquer that crowd and never really dared to set foot into the deep dark forests inhabited by those nasty Saxons.
Anyway, check out Aachen, it's worth a real visit or at least a wikipedia visit. Architecture spanning the centuries and many buildings (15% of the original) survived WWII - so there is much to see. The cathederal is the most unique that I have ever seen. The history is amazing. This is where France and Germany were born. The treaty of Verdun after Charlemagne's death saw his empire split up into three, one empire for each son. Eventually this resolved into two -reflecting what is now France and Germany.
Anyway, check out Aachen, it's worth a real visit or at least a wikipedia visit. Architecture spanning the centuries and many buildings (15% of the original) survived WWII - so there is much to see. The cathederal is the most unique that I have ever seen. The history is amazing. This is where France and Germany were born. The treaty of Verdun after Charlemagne's death saw his empire split up into three, one empire for each son. Eventually this resolved into two -reflecting what is now France and Germany.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
I've Crossed Many Oceans
Wow - a big gap since my last post. A lot has happened since then: I've crossed the atlantic 4 more times. Toured the caribbean on a big boat and discovered new areas of the world that were better than I could have ever expected.
It's labor day here in Germany (and the rest of the world - except the US). Made me remember the good old days when the nightly news would show the Russian premier watching the mighty Russian army parade their painted piles of rust through the streets of Moscow. The thought that those scary missles were pointed straight towards our hearts was a sobering thought. But at least the threat could be seen, could be edified. Any of you remember?
Underscoring this flashback are the recent reports in the news here that the boogey man is back. The latest here in Europe is that American interests (and Americans) are being targeted by the un-seen terroristas. Ahh, makes me think back to the late '80s when I was looking under my car every morning to make sure somebody wasn't trying to get me. How silly was that??!!!
But back to May Day: They say you never step in the same river twice. I'm not so sure anymore. Can't you just picture Putin wearing a silly hat and a heavy overcoat reviewing the troops as they march with their painted rust through Red Square? This time around, I'm not bothering to look under my car.
It's labor day here in Germany (and the rest of the world - except the US). Made me remember the good old days when the nightly news would show the Russian premier watching the mighty Russian army parade their painted piles of rust through the streets of Moscow. The thought that those scary missles were pointed straight towards our hearts was a sobering thought. But at least the threat could be seen, could be edified. Any of you remember?
Underscoring this flashback are the recent reports in the news here that the boogey man is back. The latest here in Europe is that American interests (and Americans) are being targeted by the un-seen terroristas. Ahh, makes me think back to the late '80s when I was looking under my car every morning to make sure somebody wasn't trying to get me. How silly was that??!!!
But back to May Day: They say you never step in the same river twice. I'm not so sure anymore. Can't you just picture Putin wearing a silly hat and a heavy overcoat reviewing the troops as they march with their painted rust through Red Square? This time around, I'm not bothering to look under my car.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
4 Seasons
Is it just me or does it seem like the bill comes due after 40 for the life led in your twenties? I can't come up with any other reason for the maladies causing me to live an unnaturally healthy life. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be eating 5 portions of fruit a day or be thrilled with the effects of inulin (sick, sick, sick) in my multi-vitamin and mineral diet drink. I think I laughed as I sat on a bar stool on a friday night when I was 25 thinking about what would drive somebody to weight watchers - oh yeah and what the hell are "points" anyway? Guess what, I know what points are now...and I'm looking forward to my weight watchers lasagne.
Sigh.
I'm not looking for a pity party, 'cause I'm enjoying this phase, even if I've come to realize that this is probably the start of the end of the summer of my life. Sounds sick, even to me, but I'm actually getting a kick out of living healthy. Something inside me tells me it is a time to clean house to prepare for a - hopefully - very long autumn followed by an extended winter. Would I want to re-live spring? Nope, and here's why; I wasn't able to enjoy and appreciate a single glass of pinotage/cinsault then. I didn't have time to savour the taste of grilled salmon with noodles and a parmesan basil pesto. I didn't take time to write down my thoughts - just to name a few.
I'm living more, slower versus living less, faster.
Sigh.
I'm not looking for a pity party, 'cause I'm enjoying this phase, even if I've come to realize that this is probably the start of the end of the summer of my life. Sounds sick, even to me, but I'm actually getting a kick out of living healthy. Something inside me tells me it is a time to clean house to prepare for a - hopefully - very long autumn followed by an extended winter. Would I want to re-live spring? Nope, and here's why; I wasn't able to enjoy and appreciate a single glass of pinotage/cinsault then. I didn't have time to savour the taste of grilled salmon with noodles and a parmesan basil pesto. I didn't take time to write down my thoughts - just to name a few.
But that was Spring and Spring was beautiful.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Split Screen Reality
...in a car somewhere between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It's the only time of the year that the desert can be described as "lush" and it lasts just a few days...
Tom has his hands gripped tightly on the wheel and is already mentally in Vegas with a pair of dice in his hand. He's focused on the mountains in the distance and can't help but think that they seem to be walking away as fast as they drive - never really getting any closer. Damn, this drives takes forever.
Karin sees a cloud. A rare sight out here. It's pretty small and seems to be awfully lonely. As if by magic the cloud transforms into two. With that problem solved, her eye catches a reflection high up in the mountains - way off to the right. She imagines that it's broken piece of mirror lost by a long forgotten prospector and starts reflecting about his life - just as naturally as you put on your pants - she has created a wonderful world of gold, horses and a touch of little house on the prairie in her mind.
He's sure he just saw "disco lights". Yup here they come down the other side of the highway. Looks like they're after that - what is it? Looks like a beemer. Hard to tell from this distance.
Man, they are absolutely screamin. Yup, they're able to get away from the mountains without a problem. Oops, he's swerving now...hold on buddy. He grips the wheel tighter and watches as the now clearly identifiable BMW starts to quickly lose control - using up both lanes on the other side of the highway.
Her prospector is riding his mule through a desert valley of flowers. She comes to the surface long enough to perceive the colors of the desert bloom that have found their way into her story. The colors! Wow - she never imagined after all these trips to see colors like this out here. Fine paint brush strokes on a canvas dominated by large and awkward dimensions. She's transported. Absorbing the sights, taking it in; remembering, memorizing, absorbing. The clock stops ticking. She's alive.
Tom watches the BMW's first roll, the second and my god - that wasn't a body that just flew out the side window like a puppet? The action is just about parallel with their car now - he slows a little, but just a little, mindful of the truck behind him and stares to the left trying to remember the movie where he saw a scene just like that.
The accident and the bloom now behind them. The mountains getting closer: They turn to each other and say - almost simultaneously - while pointing behind them - one to the left and one to the right, "Did you see that?"
Tom has his hands gripped tightly on the wheel and is already mentally in Vegas with a pair of dice in his hand. He's focused on the mountains in the distance and can't help but think that they seem to be walking away as fast as they drive - never really getting any closer. Damn, this drives takes forever.
Karin sees a cloud. A rare sight out here. It's pretty small and seems to be awfully lonely. As if by magic the cloud transforms into two. With that problem solved, her eye catches a reflection high up in the mountains - way off to the right. She imagines that it's broken piece of mirror lost by a long forgotten prospector and starts reflecting about his life - just as naturally as you put on your pants - she has created a wonderful world of gold, horses and a touch of little house on the prairie in her mind.
He's sure he just saw "disco lights". Yup here they come down the other side of the highway. Looks like they're after that - what is it? Looks like a beemer. Hard to tell from this distance.
Man, they are absolutely screamin. Yup, they're able to get away from the mountains without a problem. Oops, he's swerving now...hold on buddy. He grips the wheel tighter and watches as the now clearly identifiable BMW starts to quickly lose control - using up both lanes on the other side of the highway.
Her prospector is riding his mule through a desert valley of flowers. She comes to the surface long enough to perceive the colors of the desert bloom that have found their way into her story. The colors! Wow - she never imagined after all these trips to see colors like this out here. Fine paint brush strokes on a canvas dominated by large and awkward dimensions. She's transported. Absorbing the sights, taking it in; remembering, memorizing, absorbing. The clock stops ticking. She's alive.
Tom watches the BMW's first roll, the second and my god - that wasn't a body that just flew out the side window like a puppet? The action is just about parallel with their car now - he slows a little, but just a little, mindful of the truck behind him and stares to the left trying to remember the movie where he saw a scene just like that.
The accident and the bloom now behind them. The mountains getting closer: They turn to each other and say - almost simultaneously - while pointing behind them - one to the left and one to the right, "Did you see that?"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Nastiness Pays
I never really thought about Rosie O'donnell. Saw her on TV...but never really ever did a Rosie contemplation. Until this week. Was watching the dual between her and the Donald in the media and suddenly, it went click. Rosie's right, Donald really sucks as a role model. But Rosie is part of the problem too.
It made me think about the fact that there's too much popular nastiness out there. Donald and the apprentice - making a game out of firing people. Come on, that's the kind of callous we really don't wanna develop. I've had to fire several people to save a company from going belly up and it was very, very difficult. The impact on the people fired: devastating. That`s why it should be difficult, rotten and nasty. I really don't like that show. A bunch of wannabees that can talk the talk but haven't a clue how to walk the walk, couple that with "the Donald" and I'm flipping the channel.
Simon Cowell is another example of pop-nasty. Hey - they've not only franchised the show to different countries, but also the personalities. We have a German version of Simon - his name is Dieter Bohlen (former Modern Talking popstar). I watch this show- and usually agree with Simon's opinion. But the difference is, I wouldn't say what he says - 'cause it's hurtful.
Just last month Simon became the highest paid UK TV personality ever...
It made me think about the fact that there's too much popular nastiness out there. Donald and the apprentice - making a game out of firing people. Come on, that's the kind of callous we really don't wanna develop. I've had to fire several people to save a company from going belly up and it was very, very difficult. The impact on the people fired: devastating. That`s why it should be difficult, rotten and nasty. I really don't like that show. A bunch of wannabees that can talk the talk but haven't a clue how to walk the walk, couple that with "the Donald" and I'm flipping the channel.
Simon Cowell is another example of pop-nasty. Hey - they've not only franchised the show to different countries, but also the personalities. We have a German version of Simon - his name is Dieter Bohlen (former Modern Talking popstar). I watch this show- and usually agree with Simon's opinion. But the difference is, I wouldn't say what he says - 'cause it's hurtful.
Just last month Simon became the highest paid UK TV personality ever...
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