"Iconoclastic" - Bilderstuermerisch.
More perspectives on "Fahrenheit 9/11": On Point : Fury over "Fahrenheit 9/11".
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Spoiling It
"Spoiling It" – Etwas verderben.
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day here north of Boston. The temperature was around 25 degrees, a nice breeze carried a light sea scent, puffy white clouds scattered an otherwise perfectly blue sky, a day where you need to be outside. I did spent the morning outside with exercising and some work around the house and my plan for the afternoon was to see Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. I was afraid of spoiling the day and mood with, what I expected to be, a very sobering movie. While my frame of mind right after the movie did remind me of how I felt in March 2003 at the time of the invasion: extremely uncomfortable, angry, and in disbelieve, I also felt wide awake, very much alive and glad that such expressions of opinion are able to exist and that they are able to attract such a huge audience. Despite the beautiful day, the theater was completely packed at 4:00 in the afternoon.
By and large I agree with this New York Times review, "...while Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" will be properly debated on the basis of its factual claims and cinematic techniques, it should first of all be appreciated as a high-spirited and unruly exercise in democratic self-expression. Mixing sober outrage with mischievous humor and blithely trampling the boundary between documentary and demagoguery, Mr. Moore takes wholesale aim at the Bush administration, whose tenure has been distinguished, in his view, by unparalleled and unmitigated arrogance, mendacity and incompetence."
I highly recommend seeing the movie and I am glad that such self-expression is still possible. Not a spoiled day at all, a very good day.
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day here north of Boston. The temperature was around 25 degrees, a nice breeze carried a light sea scent, puffy white clouds scattered an otherwise perfectly blue sky, a day where you need to be outside. I did spent the morning outside with exercising and some work around the house and my plan for the afternoon was to see Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. I was afraid of spoiling the day and mood with, what I expected to be, a very sobering movie. While my frame of mind right after the movie did remind me of how I felt in March 2003 at the time of the invasion: extremely uncomfortable, angry, and in disbelieve, I also felt wide awake, very much alive and glad that such expressions of opinion are able to exist and that they are able to attract such a huge audience. Despite the beautiful day, the theater was completely packed at 4:00 in the afternoon.
By and large I agree with this New York Times review, "...while Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" will be properly debated on the basis of its factual claims and cinematic techniques, it should first of all be appreciated as a high-spirited and unruly exercise in democratic self-expression. Mixing sober outrage with mischievous humor and blithely trampling the boundary between documentary and demagoguery, Mr. Moore takes wholesale aim at the Bush administration, whose tenure has been distinguished, in his view, by unparalleled and unmitigated arrogance, mendacity and incompetence."
I highly recommend seeing the movie and I am glad that such self-expression is still possible. Not a spoiled day at all, a very good day.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Scorching
"Scorching" - Brennend, Stechend, Gluehend, Beissend.
Fahrenheit 9/11 opens today nationwide in the US. I can't wait to see it.
Fahrenheit 9/11 opens today nationwide in the US. I can't wait to see it.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Busted
"Busted" - Aufgeflogen, Ruiniert.
Attorney Bert P. Krages has published "The Photographer's Right"-guide on what one can and cannot legally do as a photographer.
Attorney Bert P. Krages has published "The Photographer's Right"-guide on what one can and cannot legally do as a photographer.
Multilingual
"Multilingual" - Mehrsprachig.
The Modern Language Association has a cool interactive map that lets you pick a state and a language to map out the density of speakers in the selected region.
The Modern Language Association has a cool interactive map that lets you pick a state and a language to map out the density of speakers in the selected region.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Outrage
"Outrage" - Empoerung.
Senate endorses ban on war dead coverage. "It's an outrage," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who had sponsored legislation to restore coverage of homecoming ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
I do not understand how unidentifiable coffins could possibly violate anybody's privacy.
Senate endorses ban on war dead coverage. "It's an outrage," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who had sponsored legislation to restore coverage of homecoming ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
I do not understand how unidentifiable coffins could possibly violate anybody's privacy.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Perpetual Motion Machine
"Perpetual Motion Machine" - Perpetuum Mobile, scheinbar von selbst laufende Maschine.
Perpetual motion machines are a class of hypothetical machines which produce useful energy "from nowhere." The existence of a perpetual motion machine is generally accepted as being impossible according to current known laws of physics.
Nevertheless, Bela Fleck describes the banjo as kind of a perpetual motion machine. Hearing him play almost makes one believe it.
Perpetual motion machines are a class of hypothetical machines which produce useful energy "from nowhere." The existence of a perpetual motion machine is generally accepted as being impossible according to current known laws of physics.
Nevertheless, Bela Fleck describes the banjo as kind of a perpetual motion machine. Hearing him play almost makes one believe it.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Constitution
"Constitution" - Verfassung.
European leaders struck a deal yesterday on a European constitution, the latest step in the gradual but creaking process toward a more united Continent. Let's see what happens until 2007.
European leaders struck a deal yesterday on a European constitution, the latest step in the gradual but creaking process toward a more united Continent. Let's see what happens until 2007.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Getting Out Of Dodge
"Getting Out Of Dodge" - Aus einem ueblen Ort oder einer schlechten Situation abhauen.
Dodge City, Kansas, was once a very dangerous place to live, therefore the phrase "Get the hell out of Dodge" was coined.
Given the current events you can probably imagine why I heard this expression being used today.
Dodge City, Kansas, was once a very dangerous place to live, therefore the phrase "Get the hell out of Dodge" was coined.
Given the current events you can probably imagine why I heard this expression being used today.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
"Should Have, Could Have, Would Have" - Hättste, Wennste, Könnste.
I should have started this project much earlier. About 10 years ago I started to write down pretty much every English term I had to lookup. I am still maintaining this list in a Word document which now contains about 2500 words, phrases and idioms. Unfortunately, at some point I, that is, my pedantic self, ordered all words alphabetically which I shouldn’t have done. The chronological order would have been so much more interesting, like a trail through my life. Oh well, too late. About 2 years ago I realized my mistake and from then on the chronology is preserved. I may revisit some of my notes for this project. Obviously not all lookups would have deserved to be mentioned here but I am sure there could have been some stories worth sharing.
Now, in addition to private diaries and vocabulary lists, we live in a world of blogs, public writings in reverse chronological order... let’s see how long I can keep this up. I really should...
I should have started this project much earlier. About 10 years ago I started to write down pretty much every English term I had to lookup. I am still maintaining this list in a Word document which now contains about 2500 words, phrases and idioms. Unfortunately, at some point I, that is, my pedantic self, ordered all words alphabetically which I shouldn’t have done. The chronological order would have been so much more interesting, like a trail through my life. Oh well, too late. About 2 years ago I realized my mistake and from then on the chronology is preserved. I may revisit some of my notes for this project. Obviously not all lookups would have deserved to be mentioned here but I am sure there could have been some stories worth sharing.
Now, in addition to private diaries and vocabulary lists, we live in a world of blogs, public writings in reverse chronological order... let’s see how long I can keep this up. I really should...
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Standstill
"Standstill" - Stillstand.
Barber and Shoe Repair Shop, Hamilton, MA.
I took this picture today on my way home after work. It is truly fascinating how time seems to stand still in some Massachusetts towns.
Barber and Shoe Repair Shop, Hamilton, MA.
I took this picture today on my way home after work. It is truly fascinating how time seems to stand still in some Massachusetts towns.
Sheer Beauty
"Sheer Beauty" - Reinste Schoenheit. More beautiful daguerreotypes can be found here and here. Amongst others there are galleries of Massachusetts and European daguerreotypes.
Monday, June 14, 2004
Pledge of Allegiance
"Pledge of Allegiance" - Loyalitaetgeloebnis. 8 Justices Block Effort to Excise Phrase in Pledge. An inconclusive decision by the Supreme Court on Monday left "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance while keeping the issue alive for possible resolution in a future case.
Bilingual
"Bilingual" - Zweisprachig. Being bilingual may keep your mind young. Juggling two languages can apparently slow mental decline. I am counting on that.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Daguerreotype
"Daguerreotype" - Daguerreotypie. I stumbled over a very interesting book about the portrait and Civil War photographer/producer Mathew Brady. To be continued...
Saturday, June 12, 2004
In The Same Vein
"In The Same Vein" - In diesem Zusammenhang.
NPR today: In the early 1980's it was apparently proposed classifying ketchup as a vegetable as part of Reagan's budget cuts for federally financed school lunch programs. In the same vein... there is a new hair color, it is called "bald".
NPR today: In the early 1980's it was apparently proposed classifying ketchup as a vegetable as part of Reagan's budget cuts for federally financed school lunch programs. In the same vein... there is a new hair color, it is called "bald".
Thursday, June 10, 2004
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
"As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls" – I don’t think there is a meaningful translation for this pun. I am assuming that it’s simply toying with the names of the Texan town Wichita Falls and the nearby Wichita River. I could be wrong...
The view from my office window is interesting, in a "principles of turn of the century industrial design"-kind of way. There is the stark concrete surface of the inner Cummings Center facade combined with distant plain roofs and fronts of single and multi family homes embedded in trees. However, more importantly, at times there are sounds, beautiful sounds! Sometimes, in the morning you can hear the distant playing and screaming of children echoing from a downstairs childcare facility. The sounds resemble exactly what Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays captured on their marvelous record As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls at the end of the title song. Beautiful!
The view from my office window is interesting, in a "principles of turn of the century industrial design"-kind of way. There is the stark concrete surface of the inner Cummings Center facade combined with distant plain roofs and fronts of single and multi family homes embedded in trees. However, more importantly, at times there are sounds, beautiful sounds! Sometimes, in the morning you can hear the distant playing and screaming of children echoing from a downstairs childcare facility. The sounds resemble exactly what Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays captured on their marvelous record As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls at the end of the title song. Beautiful!
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Creeping Restrictions
"Creeping Restrictions" - Schleichende Beschraenkungen.
Proposed ban on photography on New York City Transit ...just another example of creeping restrictions that are being imposed on photography in the name of "security".
Proposed ban on photography on New York City Transit ...just another example of creeping restrictions that are being imposed on photography in the name of "security".
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Uncalled-for
"Uncalled-for" – Unerbeten, fehl am Platze sein.
Sometimes fellow human beings make uncalled-for remarks or bad jokes that can be very disappointing, hurtful or simply annoying. Try to live with a mantra in your life, and that is, to not simply swallow and not vent when somebody or something is irritating, frustrating or insulting. Do vent! Politely and to the point, sprinkle in some humor if you can and if you feel like it. Do it. Venting certainly does not come naturally to people who fall into the more quiet and less combative personality category. But nevertheless, work on it. Vent. It helps.
Sometimes fellow human beings make uncalled-for remarks or bad jokes that can be very disappointing, hurtful or simply annoying. Try to live with a mantra in your life, and that is, to not simply swallow and not vent when somebody or something is irritating, frustrating or insulting. Do vent! Politely and to the point, sprinkle in some humor if you can and if you feel like it. Do it. Venting certainly does not come naturally to people who fall into the more quiet and less combative personality category. But nevertheless, work on it. Vent. It helps.
Horticultural
"Horticultural" - Gartenbau, gaertnerisch.
I finally started a gallery for my beloved Long Hill - Sedgwick Gardens. I highly recommend a visit of the estate, go during any season.
I finally started a gallery for my beloved Long Hill - Sedgwick Gardens. I highly recommend a visit of the estate, go during any season.
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Blowhard
"Blowhard" - Prahlhans, Angeber, Aufschneider. When I first heard this word I think I somewhat anticipated its meaning, as in to be a very boastful and talkative person, but thought that it was "blow hard", as in, metaphorically speaking, pumping oneself up in order to be bigger like cocks do for instance. Maybe that's where its roots are, I couldn't find more information. Anyway, it is a handy term to have in one’s repertoire since I am frequently amazed by people that are so very sure about their matters and like to show off. So, I am looking forward to the moment that will allow me to sprinkle in a casual: "Oh, don’t be such a blowhard."
Obviously it will depend upon who I am talking to. More likely, I will stand there, politely, ever so slightly nodding my head, smiling, being agreeable… I apparently have entered babbling territory, it's too late.
Obviously it will depend upon who I am talking to. More likely, I will stand there, politely, ever so slightly nodding my head, smiling, being agreeable… I apparently have entered babbling territory, it's too late.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Ornery
"Ornery" – Gewoehnlich as in "ordinary", or boese as in "mean", or uebel-gelaunt as in "disagreeable", or streitsuechtig as in "cantankerous" or... the list goes on.
I discussed the meaning of this word with a native-speaking coworker without reaching a clear conclusion. It is one of those words, like many, many others, I can’t quite get a handle on. Many terms are so multi-dimensional and highly context-specific. It can drive you nuts.
I discussed the meaning of this word with a native-speaking coworker without reaching a clear conclusion. It is one of those words, like many, many others, I can’t quite get a handle on. Many terms are so multi-dimensional and highly context-specific. It can drive you nuts.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
World Class
"World Class" – Weltklasse. Well, I know, you know... this is just a cheap transition into some shameless self-promotion.
PC World magazine has honored Groove version 3.0 Virtual Office Software with a 2004 World Class Award for Best Collaboration Tool in the mobile tools category.
Excellent!
PC World magazine has honored Groove version 3.0 Virtual Office Software with a 2004 World Class Award for Best Collaboration Tool in the mobile tools category.
Excellent!
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