…sed mutato nomine te fabula narratur…

You know, one of those weekends where you have big plans, but in the end you just stay at home, sleeping late and being too lazy to even consider going to one of the many parties that I could have gone to (ok, ok, concerts – I’m not the type that gets invited to many parties). The snow didn’t help much either – even going to the gym was an ordeal, and then I had a flat tire to boot!

Oh well, I finally got to play some guitar again (although the deep cut I made in my index finger is making life tremendously difficult in that regard as well), saw Crossroads (not the Britney Spears one!), The Hangover, Charlie Wilson’s War, and, at the urging of The Nostalgia Critic, The Rescuers Down Under. I also thought some very deep thoughts about my thesis, and now I know what I am supposed to do again, so I guess it wasn’t a TOTAL waste, but still … it’s one of those weekends that just leaves you feeling slightly guilty. At least I didn’t have a hangover.

Only in Berlin can you brave half an hour of snowy streets to watch one slightly underwhelming (but promising) rocksteady ska band (loved the Skatellites cover, guys!), then one AWESOME Japanese ska-punk band (Japanese ska NEVER seems to disappoint – great stage show, great energy, great metal riffs hidden under the 2tone, and of course bowler hats!!), only to move on to a bar three doors down to play foosball with a bunch of coked-out Greeks who were way too good for our humble skills, before stumbling back home at about 3am.

Man, I love this city… Read the rest of this entry »

When I was in Sweden, staying at my friend Yvo’s place, I spent one morning just nursing a hangover in the apartment while he was out making money or something. Eventually, I switched on the TV and stumbled across one of these movies that almost instantly have you stop the zapping process because it is clear that something exciting is being broadcasted. Even though I had missed the setup, which usually means I don’t want to watch the rest of the movie anymore either (too confusing, plus I had a hangover), I decided to keep on watching – and that’s how I discovered Brick, a movie you may have missed.

Here’s a review…

Read the rest of this entry »

Listening to: Boysetsfire – Tomorrow Come Today and Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz

Just so you all know: I had intended to try and get some work done this weekend, but life, as usual, interfered with a vengeance. Oh well… my only real regret is that the batteries in my camera had died so I sadly cannot present any photographic evidence of my exploits until someone else decides to share pictures or send them to me. But, I’ll always have the memories of my first ever poker victory, and a fun-filled evening of bowling with a host of people I did not, or hardly, knew. That’s about all there is to it, actually, but if you really are interested, , by all means read on and I’ll provide  some details that are of no consequence whatsoever. But, there’s police involvement!

Read the rest of this entry »

Originally published on 6 April 2009, my first, and hopefully last, run-in with Berlin law enforcement is chronicled here. Contrary to what I found on the internet, the total fine amounted to EUR 123,50. I still think about it every time I pass that street…

Read the rest of this entry »

Four fabulous friends visited me in Berlin, and here is the report, originally published on 17 March 2009!

Read the rest of this entry »