Sonntag, Juli 30, 2006
Time Lapse
I meant to write about something entirely different, yet that'll have to wait one more post. I just came across a poem that was introduced to me as being marvellous. I didn't think too much of it as I started reading it - but somewhere along the way it grabbed my attention.
Current Music: Mew - Snow Brigade
The Quiet World
by Jeffrey McDaniel
In an effort to get people to look
into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.
When the phone rings, I put it in to my ear
Without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.
Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.
When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.
by Jeffrey McDaniel
In an effort to get people to look
into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.
When the phone rings, I put it in to my ear
Without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.
Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.
When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.
Current Music: Mew - Snow Brigade
Donnerstag, Juli 13, 2006
Awww...
(when a picture says more than a thousand words)
Current Music: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Sleep is Wrong
EDIT: Hmm, well, I just realised that really that is quite a few words, and very little picture... but you know what I mean ;) .
Dienstag, Juli 11, 2006
Mushroom
A mutant one. That is what the shadow of my head reminded me today, when the sun stood low. It must be the bunch of hair curling forwards again from behind my cheeks.
And so that this post isn't completley devoid of content - visit leekspin.com. It made me smile, I hope it'll make you smile, too ;) .
Current Music: Beirut - Postcards from Italy
And so that this post isn't completley devoid of content - visit leekspin.com. It made me smile, I hope it'll make you smile, too ;) .
Current Music: Beirut - Postcards from Italy
The Only Exam I've Ever Failed...
... I have apparently been set up to fail. It happened a few weeks ago. I had dreaded the exam for nearly two years then, but knew that the sooner it would come the sooner I would know how I would do in it. I failed it. It is the first exam I have ever failed, properly failed. And that made my week. But let me explain ;) .
The exam was the medical check-up to see whether I was fit for the army in Germany. The system here works in stages. First, you are invited to the medical test. There they examine you head-to-toe, including an examination of testicles (any medic who can explain to me why the german army is interested in my family jewels??), before subjecting you to an ability test to see which part of the army you would be suitable for. The next stage would be to see whether you want to join the army, or do civil service. Alternatively, one can do a volunteer option, as long as it is recognised (which aren't that many). And after that you're in the system. You can make an appeal to a decision made by them at any stage during this process. Many people make the formal request to be freed from military service, and do civil service instead. I would have done that, too. Now the problem is that you can make the request as early as the medical check-up, and indeed, they ask you whether you want to do so several times. But you can also do it later. And currently, much more people are needed for civil service than for the army. It is therefore easier to be considered "fit" if they know you don't want to join the army later, anyways.
I kept my options open, and said I'd be interested in joining the army. They examined me, the doctor kept telling me I had to take more care of my health, and that my back and my knee looked horrible. Whether I had any pain, he asked, and when I replied I didn't, he was astounded and said "well, with that back you should do"... I had to go to another doctor the next morning, who only confirmed what I had hoped - I was unfit for the army, I failed the medical test, I will never hear from them again, and I will be able to do a volunteer option without leaving Germany illegally and committing treason :) .
Today I found out I've been more or less set up to fail. My own doctor examined my back and knee today, and didn't find anything severe. They are both damaged, but not nearly as badly as they made it look. Wondered whether it would be appropiate to drop off a good bottle of wine with a note attached "thank you - my doctor told me today you made me a present" at the army office for the doctor there, hmm... ;)
On another note: I passed an exam, too. The first part of my driving lesson, the dry theory, is done and over with, as of yesterday afternoon. Now for the practical sometime next week, hopefully, and then maybe there'll be a wild niko out on the roads of Europe...
Current Music: Mew - The Zookeeper's Boy
The exam was the medical check-up to see whether I was fit for the army in Germany. The system here works in stages. First, you are invited to the medical test. There they examine you head-to-toe, including an examination of testicles (any medic who can explain to me why the german army is interested in my family jewels??), before subjecting you to an ability test to see which part of the army you would be suitable for. The next stage would be to see whether you want to join the army, or do civil service. Alternatively, one can do a volunteer option, as long as it is recognised (which aren't that many). And after that you're in the system. You can make an appeal to a decision made by them at any stage during this process. Many people make the formal request to be freed from military service, and do civil service instead. I would have done that, too. Now the problem is that you can make the request as early as the medical check-up, and indeed, they ask you whether you want to do so several times. But you can also do it later. And currently, much more people are needed for civil service than for the army. It is therefore easier to be considered "fit" if they know you don't want to join the army later, anyways.
I kept my options open, and said I'd be interested in joining the army. They examined me, the doctor kept telling me I had to take more care of my health, and that my back and my knee looked horrible. Whether I had any pain, he asked, and when I replied I didn't, he was astounded and said "well, with that back you should do"... I had to go to another doctor the next morning, who only confirmed what I had hoped - I was unfit for the army, I failed the medical test, I will never hear from them again, and I will be able to do a volunteer option without leaving Germany illegally and committing treason :) .
Today I found out I've been more or less set up to fail. My own doctor examined my back and knee today, and didn't find anything severe. They are both damaged, but not nearly as badly as they made it look. Wondered whether it would be appropiate to drop off a good bottle of wine with a note attached "thank you - my doctor told me today you made me a present" at the army office for the doctor there, hmm... ;)
On another note: I passed an exam, too. The first part of my driving lesson, the dry theory, is done and over with, as of yesterday afternoon. Now for the practical sometime next week, hopefully, and then maybe there'll be a wild niko out on the roads of Europe...
Current Music: Mew - The Zookeeper's Boy
