BERLIN GRAF

so. graffiti's everywhere here- and with a new city comes new styles and new names to get attuned to- theres so much, that i haven't even begun to document it, but here are some flicks to get a preview.

S IS FOR SUNDAYS, AND SUNDAYS ARE FOR SKATING.

Because 75 percent of the city fails to open, i'm constantly looking for things to do on a sunday... and its always a scramble on saturday night- to get groceries for sunday, or buy this or that to keep you occupied for the next day. Thankfully the Art museums and Galleries are open, and yesterday i went to an indoor skatepark called Skatehalle who also realizes that people are alive on sundays. There are 2 outdoor parks in berlin, but berlin is not a city you would exactly come to for its perfect weather... actually- i am pretty positive that there hasnt been a day with no precipitation since ive arrived.

SO Berlin Skatehalle is massive, with a redbull half-that has to be 12 feet tall or somthing- 4 foot bowl, and mini, and various street courses-i have video of it, but ill have to post it later- so here are a few flicks.


i brought the only friends i have here in berlin: jasper (10), louie (8) and Autur (11)-

CTM- Club Transmediale 2k9

"festival for adventurous -music and related visual arts"

heres the website: http://www.clubtransmediale.de/festival-09.html

We went to the opening night of this fest yesterday, and arrived just in-time for the second half of a Dub documentary entitled: dub echos-i think they start the fest with dub- because it was the beginning of the 'dj' - thus the beginning of electronic music.

so anyway-- we wait in the guestlist line for the show (ikes work is sponsoring the event) and this line was easily 4 times longer than the regular line. When we finally enter, it felt like stepping into the interworkings of a futuristic/ cosmic 3-d version of a flash website. Lights flashing everywhere, projections on everywall, and crazy visual illusions above the bar to display the drink list. The space, decor, and overall atmosphere was really amazing- check out a short clip and photos:

(sushi room, fully equipt with zen painting, and pebbles for a floor...)
Lounge-
1 of 2 stages - w/ projections surrounding the whole area


(stage)
another lounge- those letters were really coming off the wall! like styrophome installation or something!



- dancefloor- before dj went on stage.

MORE G-10 PHOTOS

Richard Avadon Exhibition - Martin Gropius Bau- Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. -

*' the chicago 7' - didnt know much about this group before the exhibition. But pretty interesting poltical pranksters. - funny how their style looks like what is back in fashion now-

'the factory'- really impressive larger-than-life portraits of Andy Warhol and the other 'factory' inhabitants/workers/artists

(no cameras were allowed, so sorry for the slanted/ not quite composed- photos ;)

2009 ACHIEVEMENTS THUS FAR...

1: I learned how to whistle.  I finally pulled myself aside, and said- this week I will learn to whistle.  I put my mind to it... and wow. At 23 years old, I can finally whistle (Although it is only on an inhale) 

2. I made money without having to work!!!  I found 20 euro on the street on my way home!  

3. I have finally spotted wild boar- I have been looking, searching, asking, and waiting... and then one winter day heading out to babysit by train- I saw them!  Take a look :)

making cookies.

So I really would like everyone to have cookies. And only about 5 years ago, I discovered that they are one of my favorite things to eat. I mean . . . they were always good, but- never something i craved. Of course I mainly just eat the cookie dough, and if someone wasnt always there, asking if I was planning on just eating the whole bowl of dough, making me think twice about it, I would probably never cook a cookie ever. So heres a recipe that you should try, to make everyone ( or atleast a large piece of your community) happy with some cookies.


CRISPY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

40, 000 lbs. sugar
30, 000 lbs. butter
192, 000 eggs (yolks only)
1, 000 lbs. molasses
120 lbs. vanilla
500 lbs. baking soda
700 lbs. salt
42, 000 lbs. flour
32, 000 lbs. chocolate chips

Bake at 340 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes. Makes 200 million (45 to 50, 000 pounds) chocolate chip morsels. No preservatives.

NEW YEARS EVE II

It was like a war-zone out there, on the streets around Brandenburg gate- explosions everywhere, small fires on the street, people scattered around- but everyone was in great spirits! It was new years! The strange thing was- when the clock struck 12- there were counting down, and cheers, but no stranger-to-stranger contact...no hugging left and right, and definatly no confetti. It was strange amongst a mass of a half-a-million, you still felt like you were alone.

NEW YEARS

MOVED IN

Neues Wohnzimmer (New Livingroom)
Neues Kuchen (New Kitchen)

Neues Badezimmer (New Bathroom)

Neues Schlafenzimmer (New Bedroom)

G10 PHOTOS

NEW FLAT: BERLIN MITTE

Finally. after days of searching, emailing and visiting wg's, We found our dream spot :) http://www.wg-gesucht.de/1401636.html Check out the photos. This is the site we had to look on, translate, and navigate! I will say, I now know many words in german that have to do with house amenities. haha

We move in on the First, or second. And Our roommates said that Visitors are always welcome! so! See you in berlin, stay with me for free.

NEW DIGI :)

Two days ago my new camera arrived after a long journey beginning at B&H photo in Newyork to Jenny's new place in Chicago and then all the way to Berlin Germany, where I thought I was going to get charged 17.5 percent because of Duty fees! To my surprise, being a student granted me a 100 discount from this duty/tax charge! So happy birthday to me! That is the best student discount ive seen. So here it is: The lastest, the Greatest, and by far, the most expensive birthday gift I bought for myself: the Canon G10:

THE REAL PINOCHIO

I cant be sure, but I think- my nose is getting bigger. I don't exactly have evidence- but i mean- look at this! i mean i know its not a close up, but just use your imagination... thankfully- there is a solution!

And if this doesnt work, Rudolph is in season!

1. • Understand cartilage: Cartilage is malleable connective tissue that protects bones from rubbing together too much so whatever you do to it will not move.
   • Cartilage is also used by the body to shape and support other structures, including the nose.
   • Over a lifespan cartilage can be replaced by bone in certain areas, including the nose.
   • Cartilage can be manipulated because it is made principally of water, about 70% of cartilage is water.
   • Cartilage can be redistributed with movement, but cannot be made smaller with pressure.
   • Other components of cartilage include collagen, proteoglycans, and chondrocytes, proteins and cells that help support and build the cartilage.
2. Understand that to make your nose temporarily smaller using this method you are doing home surgery by manipulating the cartilage in your nose.
3. Wash or moisten your nose area. This isn't compulsory, but it's a little easier to do this on smooth skin.
4. Hold the top of your nose with your thumb and index finger.
5. Slowly bring your fingers to the sides of your nose. Don't press or pull because this might make the nose bloat up a little bigger and can damage the cartilage.
6. Do this for two to three minutes, starting at the top of your nose each time.
7. Repeat about 50 times a day or even more.
8. The results may be visible in 2-3 months time.
9. As soon as you stop, and if you have not permanently disfigured your nose, your nose will return to its normal shape.

wow looks like i found a new hobbie!!! hahaha

more on noses:

http://dienekes.110mb.com/texts/greekmorphological/

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/Azgaser/p3.html

http://www.jstor.org/pss/984657

http://www.enotalone.com/article/3988.html

WHO KNEW... YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO WASH WOOL.

I actually did know, but I didnt know it was wool. Plus, It's as ridiculous to say that sheep can't get wet!! I mean if wool shrinks so much... wouldnt the sheep too when it rained? I guess i never gave a sheep a bath...

When I took on this babysitting job, they called it 'kidtending', and some 'light house keeping' Well apparently it is more like being a maid, cook, and friend for the household... I felt like Alice Nelson from the Brady Bunch... but instead of a perfect day, this one was near perfect until I did the laundry.
I arrive at their household 2 hours before the boys get home from school. In this time, I am to gather the laundry from the rooms fold all the blankets and put them at the foot of the beds, do the dishes, iron what is necessary, and make lunch for the boys upon their arrival-

Well I was doing laundry, and for one particular item- it was on the ground in a ball in a bedroom- id say that is a sign of laundry. I should have known it was wool, but my goal is to clean the clothes, and on to the next task. I checked for a tag, there was no tag... so i washed it- and it came out as a miniaturized version of what it was an hour before... too bad I wasn't Alice, or else Mrs. Brady would have happily given her shrunken sweater, which was now the perfect size for her a young girl- to her daughter Cindy. And then, Mrs. Brady's teeth would have sparkled when she smiled at Alice while saying " no apology is necessary, Alice, We are just happy that we have such a sweet maid like you, who would tell me the truth, and mistakes are just part of life-and this is for the best". Fade to Credits, End episode.

My episode wasnt as picturesque. It ended with a dear apology letter stating that I am quite embarrassed, and that I would be happy to replace it- Her response: the sweater is quite expensive, so I dont think you would want to do that- and it was my favorite Jumper that I owned. Thank you very much.

We will see if they will be calling me again to watch the kids-

LIONS, TIGERS, AND BOARS!!

Wildlife is not the first thing you think about when you are exploring a new metropolis. And although i have yet to see one, I am really on the hunt for a pack of wild boars that are living in Berlin! Supposedly these things are aggressive, hungry, and quite populous and within the City of Berlin alone lives 10,000 boars! This mammal, like the Sasquatch and Unicorn- have been spotted on multiple occasions, but this creature is so abundant, that it is more hopeful that I see one. I will update the site when there is a sighting or hint of one. Look at the Babies! they look like little antelope- How am I ever going to smuggle a Grey Giant back home, let alone a baby boar?

Here are a couple of articles on the BOAR WAR IN BERLIN
(ive been researching it for sometime now---)

http://www.nwf.org/NationalWildlife/article.cfm?issueID=104&articleID=1316

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,583377,00.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Berlin-
tiergarten_luetzowplatz_herkules_20050506_p1030068.jpg

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/24115/newsDate/04-Mar-2004/story.htm

Oh! and it happens in HONKKONG too !

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/bizarre/news/article_1431929.php/Wild_boar_is_shot_dead_after_five-hour_rampage_in_Hong_Kong

PUFFY SHIRT

so... i know im a bit quirky... but, i honestly dont think that this shirt is that crazy- am i wrong? I need some opinions- or does it remind too much of that seinfeld episode -

BERGHAIN TIL 6 IN THE EVENING

If you dont feel like going there at open (midnight), and you are too tired to go there at 2 am... just go at sunrise, or noon the next day- no worries it doesnt close till 6 pm on sunday and there will, no doubt be people there from the night before, the bald, topless- super buff gay crowd will have thinned out a bit, but the bass and the music goes the whole way through. Minimal Techno in the main room (berghain)- and Chicago house in the smaller (but still large) room called Panarama bar upstairs - im not sure why one place has two names, but i suppose its big enough to. Anytime you do decide to go, there will for sure be a line. We left at 530am and there were about 150 people waiting to get through security and in the club. You wait in line like there is a rollercoaster at the other end, but instead its just another line- one for guys and one for gals to get patt down and have your camera put aside before entering. No cameras- no mirrors in the bathrooms- just raw concrete, and your experience kept in your memory. Ike is convinced it was a missile/ gun factory- but i think it was actually a train storage building way back when- either way its supposedly the techno centre of the world right now! It was a really good night- before a full day of babysitting the 2 devil children (1.7 years old and 7 months old) all on 3 hours of sleep.