The search is over.

While I was playing around with the song list for the contest and worked on the standings, I noticed that I completely forgot a song. It was 'Totally Natural' by '...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead'. At least I don't remember nor did I see any further mention of them. So there's that. Alice didn't giess, just like everyone else. And while I'm at it, and since Christina refuses to do it, i will pick April's neighbor. Just a sec. Alright, the winner is Snagley Snagley Snagley or (TRI SNAG).
Now that wasn't all that hard. Okay, gotta add it to the sidebar and then it's time to do dishes.

Clean your ears.

Yes indeedy, the sing-song-sing-along contest is back. In full effect, new and improved. Thanks to the space Geocities is offering for free, you will now guess songs from little song excerpts. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it? Well, it ain't! Also you can check out the current list of contest songs by clicking on a link I will provide after writing this post in the sidebar. Now don't expect nothing pretty, but it is much easier than handling the tables in Blogger. So here it is, the next song to guess in the contest, and the first to be guessed from actual sound, not just lyrics. It's gonna be so much more fun. I just hope this is not in violation of any copyright laws. If so, I apologize and kindly ask for permission to enjoy the music that I purchased with my readers, so that they may purchase the music they encountered here themselves. Heck, I should be getting money for the advertisement. So let's just call it even Mrs. Recordcompanyrepresentativeorlawyer. Just out of the goodness of my heart. I love you all. Can't say it enough.

Blurry black gate.

As I might have mentioned before, my HTML-knowledge is entirely self-taught and not very profound. But I want to show pictures on our blog and decided not use Picasa. I thought it is just as easy to upload the pictures to some free server space (I will use Geocities via Yahoo) and incorporate them in my posts using the img tag. So far, I have created an index page, a subdirectory for the pics and uploaded a pic Christina took of the Porta Nigra in Trier. The index page will merely link to each image with text. I hope it will develop into something more sophisticated in the future, but for now it will do. So this post is to see what happens when I insert the image:

Now I will see what this looks like, and then fiddle with the attributes.
Update #1:
Whoa, waaaaay too big, let's use the width attribute.

Update #2:Now that's better, but too small, also wouldn't you like to be able to click on the image and see it by itself? I thought so, so let's try all that. And center it maybe.

Update #3: Okay, centering didn't work, but now you click on the picture and it will display in a new window or tab. I also think the size is about right and won't distract from the image too much. So look forward to more pictures coming up. And I will try to learn how to wrap text around images and stuff like that.

Update #4: Okay, so I couldn't wait, now, as you can see, the text wraps around the image, centering is not something I want anymore, but the text is too close to the picture. I'll have a look at the template.

Update #5: Since Yahoo Photos has unlimited space for pictures, I decided to only use smaller versions on the geocities space, and have the link go to the Yahoo album. Hope it works.

Update #6: Alrighty, after giving up yesterday, I stumbled upon the stylesheet element that controls the images in my posts. And I fixed the border and spacing of text and image. Nobody probably reads this anymore, but I'm glad I figured it out. Also I'm playing with it a tiny bit more, but no more updates.

Love letter.

Did you miss me? Cause I missed you. I know, I know, I'm sorry, but last week was very busy. We had three guests from the US. One of them was our friend Michelle who used to live in Indiana and moved back to Pennsylvania. She came with two of her friends and we had a pretty good time I think. I won't mention any negatives, just because I don't feel like it, and it would ruin the mood. Where was I? Oh yeah, missing you. While we were showing them Bremen, the Dom, Rathaus, Roland and Böttcherstrasse, I couldn't stop thinking about you.
We also went to the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen and looked at everything there and afterwards visited Celle. Yes, of course I could have called or something, just to let you know I was alright, but I think it doesn't hurt tzo act like adults. No no no, don't get all offended, like I said I thought about you the whole time. I promise. In Bremerhaven we looked at an old submarine and the North Sea. And then I took them back to Amsterdam, ate lunch there, and drove back home. Why didn't I write after they left? Well I started this here post, but then we went to visit little Collin in Mainz and couldn't finish. Oh, and he is so sweet. He turned 4 months yesterday and is already a lot bigger than when we first visited. Saturday we just hung out with Kelly while Steffen was pouring concrete for a patio-type thing outside with his brother. We ate Fleischwurst with the family that night and got up late the next morning. After a tasty lunch prepared by Kelly we took a walk, a pretty long one in my opinion but it was fun, ate ice-cream and made it home without getting rained on too much. Then it was time to head home already, which meant driving for me and sleeping for Christina.
Today I already washed some sheets and have another load of clothes in the washer. I need to work on some school stuff, but it's Monday. What? Oh now this is all funny for you. Well you know what, I really didn't miss you at all. There! And your feet smell like wet dog. Yeah, and, and...Hey, where're you going? I was getting mad at you, you can't just leave. This is serious! Ah, heck I was done anyway. No use in talking to you.
Tell you what, that internet is hard to please, can't do nothing right.

Why I like Janelle.

Despite the problems we had at first, I do like my car. She starts fine, uses little gas and is just what I need. The stereo isn't awesome, but does the job, even though my CD player is getting old. She's a '95 Opel Astra Caravan, and has not let me down, except for of course the initial difficulties, but that's all over now. When we moved from Trier, I had a whole bunch of stuff in her, that I never thought would fit, but it did. And I just love the fact that I have plenty of room for the things I need to transport. Like our closet, various furniture we have and on and on. Yet on Monday we couldn't fit something in. But no problem, the thing easily fitted on top, where she has these two rails for installing bike carriers and such. So we just strapped what we needed to transport (I won't bother explaining, it would take too long, but it was part of our bed and 140x200 cm large) on top and it was no problem. That's why I like her. So far I had no problems transporting any of the stuff I needed to transport.

Wild horses couldn't drag me away.

Okay, so let's not get all worked up about the last post. Here's someting more fitting to my intellectual abilities. Well it's actually about nothing, but I decided to write in here more, to actually make it more like a journal of my amazing life. I would like to say our amazing life, but Christina doesn't wanna participate, and you are not begging her enough. She's got some important things to say, so encourage her.
Yesterday the second episode of Lost aired on TV over here, and Christina and I both somewhat enjoy the show. We saw the first one as well, which luckily ran again on Sunday so we could catch the beginning of it, which we missed last week. The camera work is a little annoying in my opinion, but the stories are interesting. Everybody's got a secret and the boogieman will eat them all. Don't get much better than that. Some things are a little obvious but hey, it's TV. Other than that, we don't really dig TV anymore. It's all the same shit on there (big revelation). I mean it can be fun to watch a little here and there, but I prefer other things I guess. Like playing games on our SNES. That must have been one of the best things we ever bought.
Oooooh. Let me tell you about shopping at flea markets. I bought the SNES on Ebay and it came with an adapter for US games, which wouldn't play ours. But okay, we could live with that. There is one such adapter though by Fire, which is the latest that was made, and it plays almost all games. We saw that at a flea market in Löhne and did not pass it up. We also bought a pineapple slicer there, something we have been looking for for quite a bit now. Hmmm, tasty fresh pineapple. In Bremen, there are two flea markets every weekend. We went to one of them last Sunday, and I got some kickbutt records. For great money too. Unfotunately, I am totally broke now, but my job is gonna pay, so no worries.
On the records:
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominoes - cover is not in the greatest condition, but the record is alright except for some dirt on the 3rd side, where for about 3 revolutions there is a noticeable klicking noise. Will try to get it of with proper cleaner.
Jackson Five Greatest Hits - All I would ever need from them. Awesome songs. Motown.
Diamond Dogs by David Bowie - The last one that was somewhat missing in our collection (we're not buying the minor 80s recordings).
And last, but not least, Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones - Yes, the original Warhol cover with a real zipper on the front. In near mint condition (go ahead call me a nerd). And the paper that came with it.
And all these for a very fair price. Now I need to get a new record crate. Mine's full. And don't even think about telling us what happens on Lost.

Solar cells on every roof.

On Saturday, a column ran in the New York Times by Nicholas D. Kristof, calling for a change in energy policy towards a more environmentally sound solution (to use NYTimes slang). The proposal was, that since global warming and CO2 emissions are such a big threat, we, well he meant the USA in particular, so I should say they, should expand the nuclear power facilities. Why? No emissions. But what about the 'spent fuel' a.k.a. nuclear waste you ask? Kristof says

"Radioactive wastes are a challenge. But burdening future generations with nuclear wastes in deep shafts is probably more reasonable than burdening them with a warmer world in which Manhattan is submerged under 20 feet of water."

First of all, that burden in the deep shafts will possibly outlast all of humankind. We don't even know the effects it might have in the future, and it would be foolish to think that the containers that are used for storing will last forever. Secondly, global warming can still be stopped. He makes it seem like we have to accept it that sooner or later the polar caps will melt. NO! If we actually reduced CO2 emissions now, by installing filters or whatnot, not just in Western countries, but all over the world and shifted towards alternative energies, not just bit by bit and a little here and there, but on a larger scale, I think there would be no need for nuclear plants. Of course I'm no expert so I don't really know. But to think of nuclear power as a safe and clean source of energy seems ridiculous to me. What about nuclear pollution of our rivers? What about increased cancer and leukemia rates in people living near nuclear power plants? What about possible accidents?
So when I saw today, that 7 letters to the editor on the subject were published on their website, and most fo them were not against the proposal, I felt the need to write about it myself. I think that trying to install more nuclear power plants, even if they are safer than older ones, is like giving in to the reluctance by some to reduce the emission of green house gases. Because that's what needs to happen to stop global warming. And power plants alone are not responsible for it.
Okay, I better stop before I start spinning in circles and rambling endlessly. Comment or I'll eat your shirt.

I have no idea how those glasses could break.

Today I went to eat lunch with Christina at Subway, and in the upstairs eating area, you have a great view of the security guard protecting the jewelery store on the corner. Now, as exciting as that was already, a van DPD van stopped to deliver some packages. Is it okay to mention the company, or will I get sued for this later? Okay, I made up the company name, can't remember, so let's just call it Parcels Galore Ltd (PGL). So this guy is getting the packages out of his truck and putting them on his pushcart. He starts with these little ones, that seem kinda heavy though. They're wrapped with brown paper, and the one on top is about as big as, ah, I don't, but it wasn't very big, like a bigger book or something. Then he takes out these huge white boxes. And yes, you are right, he puts it right on top of the other stuff. It's all wobbly and stuff but he keeps putting another box on top. Of course now the thing is not holding up anymore, and instead of restacking, he just pulls the little brown package out a little so it won't fall. One more box and he's done. He begins fiddling inside the van. And the pile of boxes is moving. Close one, it's still standing. He keeps fiddling. The pile moves again after a slight breeze. It's going, going, no, still standing. Guy still fiddling, boxes being moved by air again. Still standing, still fiddling. And finally the boxes fall, towards the guy and van, under the van and on the street. Good one buddy. And what does he do? Stacks them like he had them to begin with. You freaking genius!
I mean he probably put them in order of delivery, but it wasn't that many packages that he couldn't have shuffled them around once he gets to each place. Or change his route of delivery. He was just walking to stores and stuff that must be within, well, walking distance anyway. Looks like somebody needs to go Parcel University for some classes on stacking boxes. It's fun to watch people work.

Thanks Alice...

...for letting me stay for two nights, feeding me delicious meals, letting me use your computer, letting me use your shower, making me tea and putting up with me. I enjoyed the stay and still owe you an ice-cream. Hope I didn't get on your nerves too much.
And while I'm at it: Why did only two people claim to be the 1000th visitor? Heck, really it was only one person, since Jeannie actually offered ME ice-cream and got it all turned upside down. It was your big chance to get some free ice-cream from yours truly. Of course now it's too late. Maybe next time I'll offer a different food. How about rabbit stew?
What do you think about that site anyway. Somehow I don't understand some of the hate mail this person gets. Rabbits are eaten every day, my Grandpa actually had some for food and they weren't all that bad. Not my favorite though. He also used them as lawnmowers. I don't feel like it's extortion. It's more like, if you want him to eat a different animal, you pay him money. As far as I'm concerned he can eat a shoe, no money from me. I mean, if I had a pig, and was raising it to get butchered (as my family used to do when they still had a stable) no one would even care. Pigs gets eaten every day. Plenty of them. Now if I told you that if you gave me X amount of money to eat some cow instead, or maybe even a vegetable soup, would you consider that extortion? I certainly wouldn't. And Toby is treated very well as it seems, so PETA can't really complain.
In other C & C-Lo news, I succesfully went to Trier to sign up for my thesis and the final exams. Hooray for me (Thank you). I also turned in my last Hausarbeit for German as a foreign language on the fundamentals and development of German 'Getrennt- und Zusammenschreibung'. Gets your heart racing doesn't it? I tried to focus on the recent changes of the spelling reform, which incidentally got reversed in part last week. I didn't look into the rationale for changing it back to the old way, but I think the whole debate about it was a little ridiculous. At least in parts. But let's not go into detail.
Geez, what else? How about you tell Christina to post? She complained that I took over, as evidenced by the inclusion of Neighbor of the Month (NotM), so I told her to pick the neighbor this time and post about it. Why don't you guys tell her to post too. She likes reading and getting comments. Alright, plenty of reasons for you to comment. This post, by the way, was lost by Blogger, and I had to rewrite. AGAIN. I hate this crap. I'm looking into moving to a new service or setting it up with MoveableType but there are several problems. #1: I would have to find a free service that lets me move my blogger stuff. #2 As much as I would like to use Moveable Type, I don't know how to install CGI scipts and such, at all. Plus the free version only allows one author per blog. And we are two. If anyone knows a different software I could use, let me know.
Okay, that's it for now. A-Holla!

Triering it up.

People, people, people, let me tell you. The world is a crazy place.
Well after that great start this post will surely become one of your all-time favorites. I'm in Trier at the moment, trying to get everything together so I can sign up for my thesis and tests. And after that I'm finally done. It's the semester break right now, but there are plenty of new students about. I had two encounters. While I was locking my stuff in a locker for the library this girl asks me where she can find the Studentensekretariat, which is where you go for any official general business here. I told her 'V-building'. She didn't know where that was so I explained and off she went. Hope she found it, but you can't really miss it. Then while eating at the Mensa, a group of Italian (at least I'm pretty sure they were) exchange students sat around me, which is something Germans would never have done. And not because it's me, but because we just don't do that. Crazy foreigners. Anyway, I was eating my soup and this guy beside me is trying out his German and asks his friend 'Willst Du es schmecken?', and she is like, you wanna say 'probieren', the difference being between trying and tasting. In German however, 'probieren' should be used in this case. No wait, that's not how I wanted to word that. I meant to say, it's highly more likely and common for a speaker to use 'probieren' in this case. The other sounds odd in this context and might not be interpreted right. Yeah, that is much better. Okay, so they end up asking me and I tell them 'probieren' and that 'schmecken' isn't what he wants to use there.
And those were my two encounters for today. Now it's back to work in the library. I miss Christina.