Friday, January 01, 2010

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Same procedure as every year

If counted well the Germans today can watch Dinner for one (The 90th birthday) - history here - twelve times at different times on various TV-channels.
Very strange folks, the Germans.
Well, judge for yourself.

Tiny tip-off: Be absolutely determined not to laugh.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ah ... now ... I see ...

There are very many people who read simply
to prevent themselves from
thinking.
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799)

Sorry, I am reading

Thursday, December 24, 2009

I am sure! Am I?

Yes!
Yes, to the question I have sometimes been asked.
This agnostic will be enjoying the days to come.
Given Christ would be the very one he is said to be;
and given you believe what you have been told:
Are you sure he would our preparations for what we call Christmas not call Christmess?

We do not need any god to know that it is go(o)d to be go(o)d to one another.

Yes. We bought a (killed) tree.
Ah, and again having the privilege to do the washing up when the ladies of the house are baking all those most delicious cookies!

Talking we are, joking we are, listening to one another we are, washing up I am. :)

And not seldom I would hear: Ah, Sean/Popoye, why would you think to need reminding us of so drastically of what happens in this world?

And, despite feeling guilty for spoiling their happiness, I'd say: 'Just to remind us of that we are very lucky.'

Not always - and how good I can understand - they would appreciate my words.

But for sure: I do appreciate their (hands') work.



Yes!

I do like - almost I had written: I love - our annual rituals.
And still, like last year: My 'Merry Christmas' post will not fill your hearts with joy.
It would not be my intention, anyway.

Having written this: Enjoy the togetherness with those you love. Be kind to one another. Very probably, any sign of kindness - may it be some sparkling eyes, a (very) kiss, a tender hug - well, you know what I mean, hm? :) - will be appreciated; more than any (expensive) present.

I am sure!

Am I?

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

For the time being

Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!

Shakespeare, Othello 3∙3∙350

That's not enough!



The thoughts are free, who's able to guess them?
They fly by like nocturnal shadows.

No man can know them, no hunter can shoot them,

with powder and lead: The thoughts are free!


I think what I want, and what does delight me,
yet always in stillness, and as it's complying.

My wish and desire can no one deny me

and so it will be: The thoughts are free!


And if I am thrown into darksome a dungeon,

all this would be but vain an endeavour,

because my thoughts tear the gates

and walls apart. The thoughts are free!


So I will renounce my sorrows forever,

and never again with whims will plague me.

One can in one's heart always laugh and banter

and think thereby: Die Gedanken sind frei!


(translation in progress :) sj)

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Universal dialogue

Human masters: Globally, temperature must not exceed 2°C!

Universe: ...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Pain(t)ing history or: Human's got talent

Why would I while pondering about what Kseniya Simonova painted in sand (see previous post) suddenly come to think of Péter Esterházy and Patrick Desbois?

A touching story it was; a story in which - as a commenter stated - she 'united a grief of our people [i.e. the Ukrainian people], and also glory and pride, especially the victory over fascism'; a touching patriotic story that won her the contest "Ukraine's got talent".
Now is her specific talent such great that
the sand-paintress could have painted any story in the sand to win the equivalent of 125,000 dollar, would you agree?

Any story?

Would she have enthusiastically been awarded the winner, had she told a story about those Ukrainian countrymen who enthusiastically welcomed the invaders and joined them? Those Ukrainian countrymen who helped to humanly, i.e. not (!) bestialically* kill Jews and Sinti and other human beings they obviously also considered subhuman?

Do I hear anybody say this would not have been clever an idea?

Well, such kind of (hi)story would not fit to any nations glory, hm?

Human's got talent to repress certain unpleasant details.
Some human's got even talent to deny certain unpleasant details.

End of the beforegoing.

And now to the opening question. As for Patrick Desbois, just follow this link, and - in case you speak English, French and/or German you will understand why I came to think of him. You won't find anything in Russian and Ukrainian, though.

As for
Péter Esterhazy: I felt reminded of one sentence in his aureate speech when in 2004 he was awarded the Peace Price of the German Book Trade. Basically he said: All European nations do love the Germans. Blaiming them does spare us to deal with our own history.

The peace of the night.


* I decided to spare you details; at least for now.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Holding out

All flowers of Seanhenge have departed. All flowers? No. not all —

for some indomitable autumn asters,

and marigold

still hold out against the frosty invader.


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Too late, man!

Extremely exhausted

from watching Mrs J. digging and setting various bulbs

I intended to take a tiny nap, but ...

... alas!