finding life.

so life (his bike) is stolen.  drew gets mad.  can’t do anything.  forgets.  goes to work on monday.  gets a text message at work.  unknown caller has found life (his bike).  drew wonders how this came to be.  drew picks up life, but unknown caller is not to be found.  drew returns the call later in the evening to learn that the unknown caller had thought it strange that such a cool old bike be abandoned in the bush in front of his house, noticed a receipt for a repair in june, called the bike shop, learned the name and phone number of life’s proper owner, and sent drew a text message in the middle of his morning english lesson.  life is back.  drew has life.  (the bike).

Fascist Garden Gnomes

The small Bavarian town of Straubing has been invaded by 1,250 fascist garden gnomes with their stubby right arms raised in a Hitler salute – all in the name of art.

Artist Ottmar Hörl, who has already displayed his provocative gnomes in Belgium and Italy, said it was the first public display in Germany. “It is a work that is meant to get people to think, to react,” he said. “I want to show that we all have far-right thoughts in our heads.”

The German artist found himself in hot water with his gnomes in July after prosecutors in Nuremberg launched an enquiry into whether displaying one of the diminutive figures in an art gallery was against the law.

Hitler salutes and Nazi symbols have been illegal in Germany since the end of World War II, but prosecutors accepted Hörl’s argument that the 40-centimetre (15-inch) figurines were ridiculing the Nazis, not promoting them. The artist said the garden gnomes – a popular symbol for Germany’s uptight petit bourgeoisie – were a perfect subject “to deal with a serious topic in a not so serious fashion and without accusation.” Hörl, who has designed other, less controversial, public art exhibitions and permanent installations, explained he hoped to draw attention to the rise of right-wing extremism in Europe.

Straubing’s Mayor Hans Lohmeier said the gnomes would be guarded around the clock after some “critical voices” about the exhibition, which started Thursday and will run until Monday in the town’s main square. “There are those who wonder what the heck we’re doing here. Others believe it’s endangering their children,” Hohmeier said. “But many have also realised what it’s all about.” The gnomes are also for sale on Hörl’s website – priced at €45 ($67) or signed by the artist for €120.

article from www.thelocal.de

Vocabulary Words of the Day

in·sou·ci·ance
Pronunciation: \in-ˈsü-sē-ən(t)s, aⁿ-süs-ˈyäⁿs\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from in- + soucier to trouble, disturb, from Old French, from Latin sollicitare — more at solicit
Date: 1799
: lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance

san·guine
Pronunciation: \ˈsaŋ-gwən\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English sanguin, from Anglo-French, from Latin sanguineus, from sanguin-, sanguis
Date: 14th century
1 : bloodred
2 a : consisting of or relating to blood b : bloodthirsty, sanguinary c of the complexion : ruddy
3 : having blood as the predominating bodily humor; also : having the bodily conformation and temperament held characteristic of such predominance and marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness
4 : confident, optimistic

my team

The Long Valley

Steinbeck’s collection of short stories captures his Salinas Valley, viewing it from various vantage points: a quiet family ranch, a hispanic renegade’s fearful eyes, a smoke-colored corpse hanging from a tree, or a garden of carefully mended flowers. The end product is a clearly detailed picture of this specific time in the American story which brings the place to life as much as the people in it. Steinbeck is a master of transmuting the mundane articles of daily living into richly patterned parables. Whereas other writers can bring characters to life through physical descriptions, Steinbeck’s talent is in articulating how actions explain character.

The longest, and probably the best story in the collection is called The Red Pony, and describes the Tiflin family ranch in the Salinas Valley. Jody Tiflin is the only child of the family, and his boyish vibrance, curiosity, and imagination make the story very fun to read. As the pages turn, Jody experiences the excitement and pain of growing up, taking on new responsibilities, leaving his childish ways behind, and coming to understand both the harsh and beautiful sides of life.

In this regard, Steinbeck not only pinpoints these feelings of maturation for Jody, but also for the entire country. As the Grandfather sadly states, “No place to go, Jody. Every place is taken. But that’s not the worst-no, not the worst. Westering has dies out of the people. Westering isn’t a hunger any more. It’s all done. Your father is right. It is finished.” Could Steinbeck have better described the awkward transition between pioneerism and modernism in the American mentality?

In reading these stories, I too, am sad that there are no more great frontiers. It changes how we regard ourselves in the world. Maybe we are less adventurous. More soft. More ready to accept defeat. My one hope is that at least some of this rugged strength has soaked into our national bones. I hope that as the American people continue to be presented with hardship and struggle, we are bolstered by a legacy of determined vision, and by a heritage of simple hard work and decency.

Much more than our politicians or our standing amongst other nations around the world, these aspects of my home make me truly proud to call myself an American.

carolyn’s ride this week.

courtesy of kreuz bad & heizung, carolyn is careening about lauf and nürnberg this week in her “twike” which is a three-wheeled, electric-powered automobile. it’s pretty cool, and to drive on the highway for about 4 hours costs about €1. how’s that for green?

A dialogue between a Painter and his Work.

staring accusatively at her maker
as if in doubting her own existence
she is allowed to doubt his as well,
she says not a word.

he, waits for the silent rage to pass
knowing it was he who painted those pointed brows,
that strain,
and nevertheless remains patient, composed, love.

oh maker, when the eyes flash, when the lips curl,
please be so kind
as to paint me once again
in a new canvas somber, broken, and sorry.

oh maker, when you look upon me,
please be pleased in what you see.

Superwife!

Today is my birthday, but as Carolyn is actually working today, and then has soccer in the evening, we decided to celebrate yesterday. I knew that she was super excited to give me my gift, but I had no idea what to expect.

On Wednesday morning, I awoke to her reentering the flat with a sack full of groceries, and a smile on her face! Happy Birthday! As I stumbled into consciousness, she made my favorite breakfast of French Toast. So great.

Then, a bit after 10am, our doorbell rang, Carolyn sprinted down the flight of stairs to the entrance of the apartment building, and after a minute, came back to tell me I could come with her. When I descended the stairs, I first saw two delivery men, and then behind them, an already worn in brown leather couch. Total surprise! Carolyn got a few hugs and more than a couple of kisses!

After a few minutes of negotiating it’s bulkiness, we finally managed to get it into the flat, and then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon finding the perfect space for it. If you know our apartment, you know that we don’t have all that much extra space, but this couch is perfect, and fits in so nicely with the rest of the apartment. And it’s super comfy…I love it!

So, thanks to my lovely wife for the terrific surprise, we shall share many lazy Sundays and movie nights on our new sofa! Wohoo!!!

WATCH: Sheriff describes raccoon

Woman in Lakeland, Florida attacked by a gang of 5…raccoons!?!

WATCH: Sheriff describes raccoon “gang attack” on Lakeland woman | 10connects.com | Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater

favorite quote, “not in all my years in Florida have I known of a gang attack by raccoons on an individual.” I’m sure that he’s probably seen his fair share of raccoon gang on raccoon gang violence.

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Music of the Week

Passion Pit
Phoenix
Radiohead
Matt&Kim
CocoRosie
Sunny Day Real Estate
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Monsters of Folk
The Antlers
Micachu and the Shapes
Yeasayer
Stars
Discovery
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
Kid Cudi w/ mgmt & ratatat

what are you listening to?