Posts
29/05/2004
Killer Bees?
That was kind of spooky just now - I was sitting outside on the terrace, peacefully reading my newspaper and working on my tan when, all of a sudden, a menacingly low, humming buzz started out of nowhere. And then I saw it - a huge bee colony was swarming just a few metres above my head in the air and slowly moved towards the little burn in the neighbourhood. Fortunately, that wasn't too close an encounter of the first kind.
IQ 175?
There's this German spiritual distance healer (how do you translate Geistheiler?) advertising his services in today's newspaper, saying that he's got "175 IQ points" and provides a "100.00000 % Heilungsgarantie" (sic! - and so sick, too). Well, I suppose he's got his 175 points by taking the test 175 times...
28/05/2004
Schubert, Janacek, Beethoven &c
I mostly enjoyed this evening's cultural outing with a ballet performance on Schubert's Death and the Maiden, performed by the Amar Quartett. I just love string ensembles for their expressiveness, if well played. Admittedly though, I prefer my recording to the Amar's performance of tonight. If you ask nicely, I might put it up on the sidebar ...
Like i was saying, I did enjoy the really classical stuff. But as with all well meaning directors, the audience first had to endure some more recent works, namely Janacek's Kreutzersonata and Gavin Bryars' String Quartett No. 1, obviously also with some ballet thrown in, au sujet "En passant" and "Beauty 2.0". Now, call me reactionary, but I just don't get it. Take the case of the Kreutzersonata: I have been a fan of that piece by Beethoven for a long time, and I still love it, but I didn't have the foggiest that it was about that Tolstoj story until I saw the program! Reactionary - they don't like it when it gets obvious that they're just too dumb. Dumb - that's me. Anyway, the second bit was - conveniently - Beauty 2.0: we get the following images on scene: a flamingo (!), a breakdancer, an athlete, a face upside down and a kid with dog. And obviously some dancing. See above - but don't get me wrong: the individual elements were fine (I haven't heard such eery flageolets as in Bryars Quartett in a while!), it was "just" the combination.
Schubert was quite another story though - very well (and comprehensibly, even to hillbillies such as myself) thought out and choreographed. Not to talk about the execution, which was just flawless. I am always extremely fascinated by adaptions of materials in different media. Examples? The present ballet adaptation of Schubert's Quartett, the movie adaptation of the same, an old video adaptation (which I failed to find a reference to) of the Kreutzersonata, the way the Swiss author Friedrich Duerrenmatt adapted his "Stoffe" to paintings (go see them here, it's worth a visit!) - et j'en passe. I guess Almadovar's quote really holds true that everything in art is either biographical or plagiarism. Dissenting views, anyone?
Like i was saying, I did enjoy the really classical stuff. But as with all well meaning directors, the audience first had to endure some more recent works, namely Janacek's Kreutzersonata and Gavin Bryars' String Quartett No. 1, obviously also with some ballet thrown in, au sujet "En passant" and "Beauty 2.0". Now, call me reactionary, but I just don't get it. Take the case of the Kreutzersonata: I have been a fan of that piece by Beethoven for a long time, and I still love it, but I didn't have the foggiest that it was about that Tolstoj story until I saw the program! Reactionary - they don't like it when it gets obvious that they're just too dumb. Dumb - that's me. Anyway, the second bit was - conveniently - Beauty 2.0: we get the following images on scene: a flamingo (!), a breakdancer, an athlete, a face upside down and a kid with dog. And obviously some dancing. See above - but don't get me wrong: the individual elements were fine (I haven't heard such eery flageolets as in Bryars Quartett in a while!), it was "just" the combination.
Schubert was quite another story though - very well (and comprehensibly, even to hillbillies such as myself) thought out and choreographed. Not to talk about the execution, which was just flawless. I am always extremely fascinated by adaptions of materials in different media. Examples? The present ballet adaptation of Schubert's Quartett, the movie adaptation of the same, an old video adaptation (which I failed to find a reference to) of the Kreutzersonata, the way the Swiss author Friedrich Duerrenmatt adapted his "Stoffe" to paintings (go see them here, it's worth a visit!) - et j'en passe. I guess Almadovar's quote really holds true that everything in art is either biographical or plagiarism. Dissenting views, anyone?
27/05/2004
Minority Report
Do you know Minority Report? I just watched it, and it's a really quite smart SciFi movie - despite of Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg & Hollywood! ;-) But the fact that issues such as free will as opposed to destiny and an anti-totalitarian, viscerally sceptical message predominate over some fine action, smart product placement and cool gizmos probably prevented it from becoming a real runner. So I guess we won't see too much of that where this came from ... pity!
Today, I remembered an article which I read in the plane to New York. It's about how the Feldenkrais method teaches to re-learn movements and hence reconfigures the neurological map of your body. I have to get my dad to try that - maybe it's a helpful therapy against his Parkinson's disease. Let's hope!
NO! DON'T go there!!
Well, I warned you, didn't I?! Here is a worthy successor. Thanks to Expatter for showing the world what it had been sorely missing without even knowing!!
Today, I remembered an article which I read in the plane to New York. It's about how the Feldenkrais method teaches to re-learn movements and hence reconfigures the neurological map of your body. I have to get my dad to try that - maybe it's a helpful therapy against his Parkinson's disease. Let's hope!
NO! DON'T go there!!
Well, I warned you, didn't I?! Here is a worthy successor. Thanks to Expatter for showing the world what it had been sorely missing without even knowing!!
26/05/2004
Hippocrates was right!
Have you been complimented on your sweet breath lately? Well, it may be time to go see the doctor then, since this may be indicative of a galloping diabetes!
According to this German article in NZZ, small US firm Menssana has developed a technology to screen the ca. 3000 volatile compounds which may be contained in your breath for indications of health problems like breast cancer, angina pectoris or a tumor of the lungs. Impressive! And I like the firm's name (is it presumptuous to have one with a latin name?) - it certainly takes a healthy mind to come up with something like that to further the healthy body!
On a less seriously scientific note, the second of my almae matres, i.e. Edinburgh University in its Edit Magazine lets it be known that the phenomenon well known to Guinness drinkers of sinking bubbles is not the product of the drinker's imagination gone haywire under the influence of the sombre brew, but rather well proven scientifc fact! Who would ever have doubted that it's Good for You?! Hooray and Slanshe to that!
According to this German article in NZZ, small US firm Menssana has developed a technology to screen the ca. 3000 volatile compounds which may be contained in your breath for indications of health problems like breast cancer, angina pectoris or a tumor of the lungs. Impressive! And I like the firm's name (is it presumptuous to have one with a latin name?) - it certainly takes a healthy mind to come up with something like that to further the healthy body!
On a less seriously scientific note, the second of my almae matres, i.e. Edinburgh University in its Edit Magazine lets it be known that the phenomenon well known to Guinness drinkers of sinking bubbles is not the product of the drinker's imagination gone haywire under the influence of the sombre brew, but rather well proven scientifc fact! Who would ever have doubted that it's Good for You?! Hooray and Slanshe to that!
24/05/2004
Death & the Maiden
Cool! I just won two tickets for this Friday's performance of this in Basel! Thank you, Stadttheater!!
Who wants to come along?
Who wants to come along?
23/05/2004
22/05/2004
Kurt Dreier
Happy Birthday, Fratello mio!
Oh, if you're surprised about the slight difference in spelling of the surname - he is my brother alright! The difference comes from the fact that our grandfather thought Dreyer with a Y looked snappier than just with an ordinary I (to which view I fully subscribe, of course). So he started spelling it that way, regardless of what the spelling was in the official documents. My dear brother, regularly Swiss that he is, reverted back to the official spelling again for his family branch. Interestingly though, my official documents, for the first time in family history, are all spelled with a Y - so I guess that will be a challenge to future genealogists!
Oh, if you're surprised about the slight difference in spelling of the surname - he is my brother alright! The difference comes from the fact that our grandfather thought Dreyer with a Y looked snappier than just with an ordinary I (to which view I fully subscribe, of course). So he started spelling it that way, regardless of what the spelling was in the official documents. My dear brother, regularly Swiss that he is, reverted back to the official spelling again for his family branch. Interestingly though, my official documents, for the first time in family history, are all spelled with a Y - so I guess that will be a challenge to future genealogists!
21/05/2004
The Sun never sets over Schoenenbuch
Ok, that may be wishful thinking on my part. But I completely forgot to mention something important! I have a mobile phone subscription with Sunrise which up until a week ago was virtually useless in Schoenenbuch because there was as good as no reception. I took Sunrise because they have the best offering, in my view, and you need mobile phones when you are just that - mobile! When I was at home, I just forwarded calls to voicemail.
But not any more! Thanks to the expansion of the network, the reception is great now, so you can actually call me anytime AND expect me to pick it up! Apparently, we are not quite as paranoid about mobile phone antennas as other areas. I'll never understand how people can use phones all the time, and yet complain when they get an antenna in their vicinity, that's just pure hypocrisy and double standards if ever there were such things!
So, thank you, Sunrise!
But not any more! Thanks to the expansion of the network, the reception is great now, so you can actually call me anytime AND expect me to pick it up! Apparently, we are not quite as paranoid about mobile phone antennas as other areas. I'll never understand how people can use phones all the time, and yet complain when they get an antenna in their vicinity, that's just pure hypocrisy and double standards if ever there were such things!
So, thank you, Sunrise!
New addition
Please note that starting today, I will occasionally add a piece of music to the sidebar which I like particularly well. Have fun!
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