5 Days in Berlin

People think I am crazy to go across the Atlantic just for a few days. But when you only get three weeks of vacation a year, you've got to take your opportunities when you can!

The main theme of this trip was to visit with dear old friends Dan Rosen and Noel Ponthieux, now living in London, who met me in Berlin to explore the city together. We are all New Orleans refugees, so there was a lot to talk about. Since living in New Orleans together, I have lived in Seattle and completed my master's degree at UM in Ann Arbor; they've sold their house in New Orleans (just before the hurricane) and emigrated to the UK. There was a lot of catching up to do.

We were all pretty wowed with the laid back, cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city.Inspired by a photo essay in the Berlinishe Galerie of life in Berlin in the 60s, we left harboring fantasies of starting our own Berlin commune, and planning German lessons.

Take a look at Dan and Noel's amazing dinner blog to get details on our Berlin dining adventures!

My complete posting of photos can be found here.

My Next Car

I've been driving a VW Beetle for the past 8 years. It's a pretty great car. Gives me very little trouble, and still going strong with all the abuse I have given it (been wrecked a few times, had to get a new engine once, etc.). I have been planning to run it into the ground. It has about 119K miles right now. And I've spent maybe $400 in repairs in the past 12 months. so it's still a good car. Especially considering I've paid for it in full now and having no car payment is pretty sweet.

HOWEVER, I am now in a unique situation in my life: I'm a commuter. Working in the perimeter of motor city rather neccessitates this: not much in the way of public tran, and the entire infrastructure here is very car-centric (roads named by the mile). I go 52 miles a day round trip to and from work, and probably another 150-200 miles a month for other needs like shopping or trips to Detroit or parks for recreation. So gas, being well over $3 now, is starting to add up as a major expense. People are surprised to hear that my car only gets around 22 miles to the gallon. Yeah. Not good.

So I've been thinking that the cost of gas may equal the cost of a new car if I were to get a very fuel effienct model. I was seeing these tiny little smart cars all over Berlin, and was thinking : why don't we have that in the US? But amazingly I saw one on the street in Ann Arbor this week! Apparently the Smart fortwo is now avaiable in the US, as of January '08!!! These get 40 miles to the gallon and go up to 90 miles an hour. Starting at $11,900.

I can't help but think that these are going to get pretty popular, considering gas prices are expected to surpass $4 a gallon this summer...

Obama - refreshing honesty

I was having a discussion recently with a friend about the Eliot Spitzer scandal, and his position was that considering the hypocrisy of the public arena, it is impossible to get into a position of power without lying to get there. I see a lot of holes in this view, although he definitely has a point.

It may be that Obama has just as many secret agendas as any other politician, but in general (and I am obviously not alone in this view), he seems to come across with refreshing honesty.

Case in point: check out this video where, contrary to Clinton's famous line-walking approach, Obama freely admits he inhaled:



To me, this is an example of how you don't have to compromise your integrity by lying to serve the public interest.

About time...

Yeah, I am the world's laziest blogger. At the moment I am just trying to survive this winter. Today is sunny, however, and I will now venture out with my dog to some adventure in the gleaming snow. But first I need some coffee. And decided to blog...

My reads: I am interested in the democratic primary. And in Berlin, where I will soon be travelling to (March). I've been there before, but it was some years past and just for a couple of days. My friends (from New Orleans) who are living in London are planning to meet me there. That is my next fun thing to look forward to...

I am addicted to Scrabulous. I am having games with friends from around the country. And my roommate.

I am studying the role of culture in knowledge management at the moment. Lots of implications for my current workplace.

Well, such is the life of a Michigan winter. I spend most of my time holed up with my cat and dog, trying to keep warm. Oh, and working, too, of course. Work is cool.

Where I work was just voted 2nd best place to work in America (Fortune). Which surprises me a little since Detoit was named the most miserable city in the US. But I do agree I work in a pretty swell place. I feel thankful for that.

Ok, time to bundle up and trudge the tundra.

New Kitty in the House

I've adopted a new kitten. I had a hard time naming him - so many good cat names - so I consulted T.S.Elliot's "The Naming of Cats":

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,

It isn't just one of your holiday games;

You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter

When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,

Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,

Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--

All of them sensible everyday names.

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,

Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:

Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--

But all of them sensible everyday names.

But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,

A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,

Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,

Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,

Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,

Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-

Names that never belong to more than one cat.

But above and beyond there's still one name left over,

And that is the name that you never will guess;

The name that no human research can discover--

But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,

The reason, I tell you, is always the same:

His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation

Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:

His ineffable effable

Effanineffable

Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

So, after a lot of contempation, I introduce: Romeo Cheddarpaws

Michigan Beer

Little known fact: Michigan has great beer! In the RateBeer.com list of the TOP 100 BEERS in the World in 2007, Michigan beers appear 5 times!!! In fact, a Michigan brewery, Bell's out of Kalamazoo, appears in the number 3 spot.

I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I have to say Bell's Oberon is one of the best I've ever had. Check them out. Also, The Jollly Pumpkin of Dexter, MI, (just down the road from Ann Arbor)has been recently distributed widely according to an Ann Arborite source that saw them shelved in Cali.