WalawalaMuciwawa

Rushed

2009-06-25T05:00:00.002+02:00

The last trip to the Rhein was such a rush, I didn't have time to meet up with some friends I wished I could have....Dr. AF would have been one of them, taking up a new position in the city of Mainz, my one regret was that the weekend was all locked out with little room to maneuver...for now, I am back at Since 1819, not quite sure what the future holds...

Bereit.

2009-06-09T21:24:00.002+02:00

Finally at the airport, all checked-in and ready to fly. I miss home already, but sitting here, sipping a latte macchiatto and seeing double rainbows does alleviate a little of that home sickness. It was a good trip. Wasn't without its hiccups, but thank God it all went through. Can't wait to go back to family & friends. I know for sure a ton of plastic awaits :)

Muss schon wieder los!

2009-06-05T08:23:00.002+02:00

Back again along the Rhine. Listening to Ten Shekel Shirt (Meet with Me)and it's an instant throwback to the days when I was here. I hadn't expected this trip (was told within less than a week to fly). Planning to meet MW and family this weekend. A truckload of work to settle, and in as much as being away from the frenetic pace of things of the Island on the Equator is a welcome respite from the demands of life in the City, call of home beckons nonetheless. I guess sometimes it takes going to somewhere else to have one realise home is where the heart is. Perhaps some photos along the way, but for now, it's back to work.

3 Days And A Wake Up

2008-08-17T10:41:00.003+02:00

... to Since 1819. For now, it's time for Sunday Midday Service.

Soon

2008-08-10T11:21:00.002+02:00

Once again, the season, except this time round, it'll be the last after 6 long years. It is likely, that the WalawalaMuciwawa will close for it's time. We return to Since 1819, for long term.

Smashin'

2008-07-24T23:27:00.001+02:00

Relisten

2008-07-19T11:36:00.003+02:00

"On Fire", Switchfoot, The Beautiful Letdown (2003)

They tell you where you need to go
Tell you when you need to leave
Tell you what you’ll need to know
Tell you who you need to be

But everything inside you knows
There’s more than what you’ve heard
So much more than empty conversations
Filled with empty words

And you’re on fire
When he’s near you
You’re on fire
When he speaks
You’re on fire
Burning at these mysteries

Give me one more time around
Give me one more chance to see…
Yeah
Give me everything you are
Give me one more chance to be near you
Ah yeah

When everything inside me looks like
Everything I hate
You are the hope I have for change
You are the only chance I’ll take

When I’m on fire
When you’re near me
I’m on fire
When you speak
And I’m on fire
Burning at these mysteries
Mysteries... (mysteries)
Mysteries…
(Mysteries)

(You’re on fire, you’re on fire)
I’m standing on the edge of me (you’re on fire)
I’m standing on the edge of me
I’m standing on the edge of me
I’m standing on the edge of me
I’m standing at the edge of everything I’ve never been (you’re on fire)
And I’ve been standing at the edge of me, standing on the edge…(you’re on fire)

And I’m on fire
When you’re near me
I’m on fire
When you speak
Yeah
I’m on fire
Burning at these mysteries...
These mysteries…
These mysteries…
Yeah oh… mysteries…
You’re a mystery…

Wieder hier...

2008-07-04T22:17:00.002+02:00

The last time I posted was in April...it's the 4th of July here, in a place where they don't really celebrate 4th of July. The medication is getting to me...there's some virulent strain of the flu virus dancing around at the office...

Noteworthy

2008-04-26T15:11:00.008+02:00

Every once in a while, you stumble upon advertising gems like the one above (see the GIF here). Spotted on a creativity banner promoting BBC's Motion Gallery Archives. Brilliant.

It's Here

2008-04-25T23:40:00.003+02:00

Reflections

2008-03-30T21:08:00.002+02:00

It's interesting what a bout of stomach flu can do to change one's perspectives on just what is important in a person's life. Philip Yancey sums it up best, the way I felt over the course of the weekend, recovering from a week of running around at the office, as well as playing the role of chauffeur for practically the entire week - well, it's a good way to get to know the road system here once more - and take relish in the joys of a car sporting a manual gear shift. Lest I forget, this is what I had intended to update in the first place, quoting Yancey in verbatim:

I am trying to keep before me the crystalline vision I had while lying strapped to a backboard for seven hours. What we spend so much time and energy on (finances, image, achievement) matters so little when you face the very real possibility of imminent death. What matters reduces down to a few basic questions. Who do I love? Who will I miss? How have I spent my life? Am I ready for what’s next? So, how do I keep those questions in the forefront as I come to my desk each day and face piles of paper and blinking electronic messages? How do we sustain the vision of Easter on the other 364 days a year?

I have learned how thin is the thread that separates life from non-life, and how comforting is the knowledge that I am not alone on this journey. I have learned these things in a way that I doubt I will ever forget. I thank all of you who have prayed and sent messages of encouragement.

Once Again

2008-03-29T20:22:00.004+01:00

Back again after a couple of months. Decided to feature a picture that DT (a.k.a Snowman) that best described the feeling of coming back to Deutschland - it was Winter, and it snowed. I'll be here for a month plus once more, but I'm actually looking forward to the trip back in May. I think all these years here finally point towards where home is. And I'm glad I found the answer. I know the updates to Since 1819 have been few and far between..., but I will endeavor to change that, hopefully ;)

Away For A Bit

2007-12-04T17:33:00.000+01:00

Will be away for a while - the past three months have felt more like three years. Check Since 1819 for more updates during this time away. Should be back next year.

Chamber Orchestra

2007-11-11T23:57:00.000+01:00

What started out as a casual evening watching Family W dish out some classical magic turned into nothing short of an auricular catharsis of sorts. It's hard to put a finger on it, but they don't write music like they used to. These days, it's often that they loop a couple of bars and heap on layer upon layers of relatively less complex textures into one cantankerous cacophony of brain jarring/numbing aural dissonance (depending on how you look at it). Not so with Mozart. No so with Mozart...or Macello, Donizetti and possibly Rubinstein and Schostakovitsch. Solos by MW (Mozart) and NW (Rossini) dazzled the audience. And to top it all off, you get treated to a modern worship band performing side-by-side with a chamber orchestra. Respect to the sound crew who managed to pull of this difficult mix (those in that line of ministry will understand just how tricky this can get). I like my weekends this way. It's just right.

Also Reading

2007-11-04T23:07:00.001+01:00

A while back, I was reading Yancey's book on prayer. Well, I happened also to be reading that which he wrote before Prayer. It's great stuff - time to read and digest, in time for the home trip coming up soon. Then it'd be time to discuss with the good folks from Epainos. Miss you guys.

Essen-Münster & Back

2007-11-04T22:48:00.000+01:00

First off, to all who prayed for Godspeed - a big thank you once again. It made the difference! And so it was. Weekend day trip to the Ruhrgebiet and Münster for some pieces of prized ceramics. You'll see them in the pictures. But perhaps what was more interesting, were the historical bits that came with the trip.

Shaft XII of the former coal mining facility was quite a sight to behold. More information on this architectural icon can be found here. And if you want to make your way there personally, look here for more information. Give it a couple of hours. There's plenty to see. And if time permits, take a look at the design school (actually the Zollverein School of Management & Design) a little down the road.

They were practising some baroque pieces in the church and the acoustics in there were just stunning. For all the music boom box technologies that we have these days - they don't quite match up to what they used to have. It totally brings a whole new meaning to the word ethereal.

Ok, parting shot of the Rathaus (Town Hall). No no, this is not a plug for that particular Cafe (but I do confess I like the City Mugs-They're nice). Considering the fact that the facade of the Town Hall looked like THIS some 63 years ago, they've done a tremendous job restoring this building.

Now Reading

2007-10-31T00:14:00.001+01:00

To be honest, I've never quite been a Yancey fan, that is until now. I don't think it's coincidence that I was led to this book. First, JY mentioned it was definitely worthwhile reading material, then I "chanced" upon his book at the W residence...then this book lands in my hands (was a present). More reflections as opportunity permits.

Freising-Munich-Nuremberg & Back

2007-10-29T23:06:00.001+01:00

Thank God for Journey Mercy (and guidance to be honest). Probably the last long trip for a while to come. Not that I'm complaining. Home never looked so good. After more than 60 months of a nomadic lifestyle, it's time to call it a day and really contemplate heading back home. I mean, really. Was away over the weekend visiting PS and EB, new parents of JB. Met up too with JS and TS. Pictures first, this time round. Words later. To all those who generously offered prayer support, many thanks!

Eternal Perspective

2007-10-18T21:51:00.001+02:00

You can count on The Jackrabbit on Godly Counsel in times like these. In the light of our discussions over dinner with Boss and hacker, I'm reminded of the way God works with us.

George Marshall said:
"We must stop setting our sights on the light of each passing ship; instead we must set our course by the stars"

Nuff' said. Time to live it out. Thanks bro.

Weekend In The Vosges

2007-10-15T01:13:00.000+02:00

You really can't summarise all that happened within the span of a full weekend in the confines of a single, readable blog entry. The week started off pretty rough, but wrapped up in the way beyond one's imagination - and that's a good thing, because often, that's how God works. The 7 of us headed out into the Alsace region of France for a little hike. There were tons of picture that we took (honest...there were at least 3 Canon IXUS's there...no, this is not a plug for Canon..but the new 800 series with IS really delivers), but for now, we'll just post a vid (pardon the 320 x 240) to sum it all up. More pics to come in due course.

Chroma Prolific

2007-10-01T23:25:00.000+02:00

As promised, the weekend in review. It's pretty mad out here during the weekdays, but weekends like these make things a tad bit better. Special thanks to StMt for the invite to join the wonderful folks who form the Pit Crew - that's where all the action really is. Chilling winds notwithstanding, the smell of prime grade fuel and rubber compound coupled to the heat of exhaust and it's characteristic burnt-metal aridity more than makes up for the cold weather.

Tradition has it, that if all else fails, there's always the golden lemon as a consolation...oh well. The crews sure know how to take things in their stride.

Nürburgring

2007-09-29T23:33:00.000+02:00

It was the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft - Lauf 8, that's the way the Germans say it, and I LIKE IT! What it actually means is: BFGoodrich long distance championship - Race 8.
Lots of pics and all from where I spent most of my time with the Pit Crew (Box 29, with the GTW racing team and their Porsche 996 GT3), but for now:

I've deliberately kept the file small (with a slight loss of res', but hey, small price to pay) so ye folks can play it quick. More to come.

Testify

2007-09-24T20:38:00.001+02:00

Rescued. One word sums it up. It was unfortunate my trusty steed (not so trusty now) aged...and its engine just died on me as I was heading into the A59. Caught at the crossroads in Kreuz Flughafen, it was one of the most unpleasant experiences to date. I tried calling KH to help, but could not give a fix on my exact position (then), and wracked my mind to trace the path I had taken home from the office - it was to no avail (and it was unnerving trying to pace up and down the Autobahn trying to get a fix on my position with giant trucks whooshing past you, and even flipping your warning triangle placed a good 50 m away from the rear of your car), I might as well have spoken Greek to him. After what seemed like eternity of thumbing through the street directory - (and ADAC edition, a most recent addition - picked up at the petrol station last week after the one that I had been using was nicked), trying to turn off all power consuming devices (lights, radio, air conditioning) I prayed out of desperation for God to send me and angel. Yes, you heard that right - I prayed "Lord send me an angel." And He did just that. Moments after that prayer was uttered, a call came "The ADAC truck is on the way to you, I've given him your number", said KH. You should be able to direct him to your location.
Here in Germany, the ADAC Emergency crew that operates along the Autobahn (and off it), they are known as the Yellow Angels - HOW CAN I NOT STAND AMAZED AT HIS POWER AND PROVIDENCE? I am exactly that - amazed.
I was home within the hour. The car was restarted somehow - and was able to drive on its own power back to the home of RL (who was also informed by KH that I was stranded on some strange location). And they brought a replacement car too...a spanking new Audi A6 station wagon...I am just speechless. Thank you Lord for Your providence. Thank You for sending the ADAC man (I never got to know his name, save for the fact that he stayed to ensure I was ok in the Audi), for KH and RL.

Rest

2007-09-23T22:59:00.000+02:00

The two weeks here have felt like two months to be honest. The office is a madhouse. But thank God for weekends such as these. It was back to the Blackforest with family W, a home away from home in more than one sense of the word. There are a ton of pictures to describe the weekend, but these are the highlights. And yes, once more, the REAL black forest cake (Schwarzwälder Torte) reprises its role of filling the stomach of a sojourner.

Week In Review

2007-09-15T23:32:00.000+02:00

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Wieder

2007-09-10T21:11:00.000+02:00

Long flight, long train ride, long meeting, long time before lunch. Hit the ground running, as usual, but it was good to be back. Lag is kicking in fast. Need rest...

Coming Soon

2007-09-02T18:34:00.000+02:00

Watch this space...

A Matter Of Perspective

2007-06-08T05:24:00.000+02:00

After 12 hours in the air, delays at the runway, heavy traffic before landing and all that hoopla (honestly, the announcements made by some particular air crew should have been dispensed with...he might as well have been mumbling to himself...couple to that some poor radio discipline and absolutely embarrassing diction (thankfully no embarrassing conversations)....oh whatever, it doesn't matter). Point is, flight arrived safe. I'm home and dry...and stewardesses on duty did a mighty fine job looking after the passengers. At the end of the day, it's really the things that matter, that matter. It's good to be back.

Pfingsten 2007

2007-05-30T22:03:00.000+02:00

Caloric Blast From The Past

2007-05-30T21:58:00.000+02:00

Hey, what can I say...it used to be, that the Tap, JackRabbit and myself'd load ourselves full of German cuisine out here at this favorite kiosk of ours (ok...or rather that deemed the most convenient by the law of proximity....)...now it offers freshly grilled pork chops. Me likes. It's been quite a while indeed. Place still looks the same, save some minor changes to the interior decor.

Weekend Away

2007-05-21T23:41:00.001+02:00

Met up with the Ws once more after close to 17 months away. MW is a year older, a year wiser. Was fab spending the weekend with the family. Let the pictures speak...

The Nordic Trip

2007-05-21T23:37:00.001+02:00

Long overdue for posting...but better late than never.

Where The Romans Were

2007-05-01T19:16:00.000+02:00

Weekend went by in a blur. PS and EB are going to be parents soon, caught up over some nice local fare, and toured the city where the once mighty Romans established much of their trade and vineyard stores. Then caught up with +K online who's now in the land of grey summers....and then, the surprise chat with GA and AL. Always amazing speaking to them. All of them. A reminder that the Great I Am is still out there, and totally in control =) Thanks people, you're fab, anywhere around the world! =)

Colours

2007-04-20T00:30:00.000+02:00

30.5 °C In April

2007-04-15T01:02:00.000+02:00

It's not often you get the kind of temperatures associated with high summer here in the second week of April. So when the sun is out, the locals get out there and play. And play they do by the lakes, the fields, and naturally, by the grills. They call it, Grillfest - no less. It's regular fare being served up on this hot Saturday evening, a mandatory Pilsner, some fine cuts from the gourmet butcher, and nice briquette ambers. This, is Troisdorf.

Some Days...

2007-04-12T00:03:00.000+02:00

Some days, a picture says it all for you. Today's one such...felt truly blessed via Keen Karat. It's simple. And amazing.

Easter 07'

2007-04-09T19:09:00.000+02:00

Been a while since the last update. Much has happened, and no better way to update than after the Third Day of Easter :)

Third Day

2007-04-08T19:58:00.000+02:00

On the Third Day, we cooked. Present: Elf, NNM, SturmBooster and AdlerBooster all inclusive. Simple fare. But it was good fun after so long. Great to see you all again :)

PTL!

2007-03-22T00:51:00.000+01:00

Got Net, will post. For starters.

Zurück

2007-03-18T17:25:00.000+01:00

After barely 15 months, I'm catapulted back into the land of Wurst and Bier. I mean, really. Home Net is still not exactly up (not exactly cos' the hardware is there, but just landloard just not hooked it up yet). Right now, some kind soul in Church allowed me the luxury to post and surf in the Net, and just keep in touch with home. One doesn't realise how dependent one is on the Net till it's gone for a while. In the office, when the Net is down...that means you pack up and go home. Leisure wise, when the Net is down, it means, no chat, no emails, no Blog....zilch.
But at least for now, I have the quiet countryside (sorry folks, no pictures yet) to keep me company and plenty of time to reflect and think about life, God and the path ahead.
It's been barely a week since I set foot on this place and a little town called Kriegsdorf. Let's see how things go.

Home

2005-12-19T03:50:00.000+01:00

The 7 day exercise did indeed come to a close within the time for which it was declared. It has been close to 2 months since the last update, but not without reason. Owing to a sudden turn of events, the Greasemonkey has been called up to head home, for good (or at least an indefinite amount of time). The 7 day exercise was all about a pack up, and ship out (hence PUASO).
The Walawalamuciwawa has been, and will always be a collect of the going-ons out of an Island along the Equator, and so, it is with a fair degree of sadness that it'll cease to be updated for a long long time to come...but rest assured, that should another post come online again, it'd mean, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Random XS is in business again, and that, is something I pray for.

Sunday

2005-10-30T17:39:00.000+01:00

Along the Rhine. Sunday. Morning service on Day 6 of the 7 Day Exercise. Present were the Jackrabbit, Adler Booster, Sturm Booster, Neonanomakro. The report continues...

Ora et labora

2005-10-29T23:59:00.000+02:00

Day 5 of the 7 Day Exercise. Decided it was time to visit PS and EB. Been a long time since I'd met up with them in the city of Mainz. An early morning drive was of the order. It's a good way to avoid the jams (and on the A61, there is a high propensity for it to get into that sort of a mess). We met round 1000 hours. Breakfast was fine. The view was even better.

Save for the fact that the weather was a tad bit foggy, it still afforded one a fairly fab view.

Spent most of the day trekking through the vineyards and woods surrounding that region. Occassionally, you spot an odd outpost.

Else, you spend the other bits of the day marvelling at the sights and sounds that flood your senses.

Kloster Eberbach. Home to some very fine wines, as well as the venue where they filmed Name of the Rose almost 2 decades ago.

97 km

2005-10-28T23:59:00.000+02:00

97 km and nothing important happened today. The JackRabbit, The Tap and yours truly, the Greasemonkey himself, travelled 97 km north of the Rhine and embarked on a mission to get a ceramic mug. Shop closed at 2000 hours. Turns out we got stuck in traffic along the A4, cruising at an average of 0 km/h....it wasn't likely we were going to make it. But we finally did, and in... 2 hours and 20 minutes (which is an absurd amount of time to negotiate 97 km of flatlands). Time of purchase: 2000 hours. Objective complete.

Seven Day Exercise

2005-10-24T19:07:00.000+02:00

Today marks Day 1 in a Seven Day Exercise. What is the Seven Day Exerciese? It's one of those motivational things really. There are some simple exercises such as fitting shapes into their corresponding slots, you know, like those things babies play with (read hollow sphere with stars, squares, crosses and all sorts of different shapes for a corresponding plug form to fit into).
It's quite an experience really. It involves some careful planning, sorting, boxing, taping and labelling. Sounds simple, but it's quite the opposite. There is a time limit too. I have to complete it in Seven Days.
Tonight, we'll catch the Brothers Grimm...at the local Cinemaxx. Then I continue with the Seven Day Exercise, which will end sometime next week. They say the results will be announced late next week, so I am quite eager to see how it turns out. Oh, and there will be photos too.

Leaf

2005-10-18T03:17:00.000+02:00

It's amazing the multitude of thoughts that arise from something as simple as a leaf settling on your windscreen. The textural analogs between the natural and the synthetic, the transient nature of life etc. But rather than indulging in too much retrospect, I'd rather enjoy that very moment I realise I am actually afforded the luxury to do so if I wanted to. Life's simple pleasures can often really be right before us.

Day Trip

2005-10-16T01:26:00.000+02:00

There is a certain magnetic appeal about Autumn that just cries out for it to be photographed, no matter where you are. A day trip to Düsseldorf proved to be a most rewarding endeavour. The weather was magnificent to say the least. The pictures attest to the idyllic pace of life in what is one of the region's most affluent cities.

The family of bridges along the Rhine river make for an interesting study in symmetry:

One might expect it to be another big city overrun with gargantuan shopping arcades, drab and industrialised, and a skyline screaming of rapid development gone amok,

but the truth might actually be quite contrary to that assumption.

Herbst

2005-10-14T19:07:00.000+02:00

This Autumn looks promising...whatever "promising" is supposed to mean. But the city itself is lit during the evening in a nice, warm glow. Looking skyward, the evening hues linger on for quite a while, which gives one plenty of photo opportunities. A lone church clock tower presides over the town of Au, giving it a focal point for the town folk as migratory birds fly overhead in tight formation. It's quite a sight.

Then we come to the topic of pumpkins. They come in all shapes and sizes, and have a certain texture about them that just want to make you "feel" them. Just make sure it ain't a mouldy one.

Did a quick check on the mileage on the trusty old steed...it's a whopper. I love the number 7.

Single Malt

2005-10-12T08:38:00.000+02:00

We (RS, JS and I) decided to drink to the success of The Massive Op (amongst many other things). And what better way to toast to the tune of a 10 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was what we sampled:

Founder's Reserve it said. Single Malt it was. And this was how it appeared to me after well, a bit:

It was a heady mix, I assure you.

Massive Op

2005-10-11T11:26:00.000+02:00

Operation P.U.A.S.O. It ain't no auntie calling or the likes, but it's probably one of the biggest projects that the three folks up here along the Rhine are going to be preoccupied with for the next few weeks. The end result? Time will tell. For now, Operation PUASO is a go. Green for go.
Time to Blog has been scarce these days...even for random posts.

Autumn Leaves

2005-10-09T09:00:00.000+02:00

It's that time of the year, finally here. The streets get filled with red and gold, and before the onset of Winter, it is actually nice.

Jacques Prévert, Joseph Kosma and Johnny Mercer sure knew what they were doing when they wrote the Autumn Leaves (or Les Feuilles Mortes for the purists)...and Nat King Cole's rendition of it still ranks amongst the best.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit

2005-10-03T17:59:00.000+02:00

And so it marks the days leading up to the East-West divide coming to an end, and thereafter, the Wall crumbling down, a good 15 years ago. And the Red Timberwolf aptly sends her greetings with a calorie-cous pile em' high-with-sugar-licous mudcake from halfway round the globe in the land where the a giant rock can change colours. There, you get plenty of sand, you can plenty of desert, but there's only one place you find them all vultures, desert, mud and dessert all under one roof.

Hang Out

2005-10-03T17:21:00.000+02:00

Autumn's finally here, not that I was waiting for it. It's nice, for the initial part at least. Where are the leaves turn orange and brighten up the area with that warm orange glow, it's nice. But when Winter kicks in and one gets a lesson on the different shades of grey, then you get the feeling you are in some sort of a cold, industrial part of town...in a way, it reminds me of Manchester somewhat...but we all know how the summers from that part of the world is like, don't we?

Fremantle Foliage

2005-10-01T04:41:00.000+02:00

A while ago, the vivacious Red Timberwolf uncovered one of the Jackrabbit's covert operations down under...his carrot enterprise. This time round, she has opted for a more mellow endeavour, choosing instead to express her artistic flair through the lens. Truth be told, she's really good at this.

Lotus Paste Hits Town

2005-09-30T22:02:00.000+02:00

The Dynamic Duo are back (and the Random XS tags along...naturally). And along came a whole compliment of surprises. Parcels and gifts galore (that's the reason why the Random XS tags along) ...

Mind you, the both hit the ground running, but as with many things in life, they came prepared. Tools of the trade, ready at hand to savour a taste of home.

The Tap wasted no time in tackling those giant Lotus Paste filled-double-yolked-vacuum-sealed confectionary. In fact, the three closed in upon the poor unsuspecting mooncakes with voracious zeal.

Happenstance

2005-09-30T14:01:00.000+02:00

It's back to basics. The simple things. A bustling city square. Horse driven carts. The clear blue skies, and a piping hot cup o' black brew topped with a frothy crown...happenstance of souvenir cup art and an incidental conjecture from the images that they evoke.

In Theory

2005-09-30T13:47:00.000+02:00

The thing about going all the way out to some big time something-mart type of outfit is that you end up buying loads of stuff thanks to the encouragement of economies of scale. That being said, you find that the fridge is soon bursting at the seams with things hitting their sell-by date and you're back to square one when things start getting moldy and you head back to the nearest supermarket to part with your hard earned dough for more of the same. Things get even more complicated when you head out on an empty stomach...walk into the store and you're a sitting duck for everything that is screaming at you to be bought.

J. Deuce

2005-09-30T03:13:00.000+02:00

He has the ability to frame the ordinary and make it look anything but. Meet J.Deuce, currently on his tour of duty in the land of the red Maple Leaf, shaping the future of architecture in an Island along the Equator. Kudos to this brave young lad for venturing out there to make a difference.

Wok the Talk

2005-09-29T23:12:00.000+02:00

Was in conversation with Lilac Couture today. She having been just in town from London for a quick vacation. There are certain things that never change, and thankfully so. Suffice to say, it's nice to hear from her again, this time round a lady on a mission. We decided that a massive cook out session would be of the order, soon. So, for initial try outs, it was a quick stir fry with pork filet in sesame oil marinade, with chopped celery thrown in for good measure. This is another random post.

Day Trip

2005-09-29T12:45:00.000+02:00

In an excursion to the land of exquisite pralines (not forgetting home to the EU Parliament), Sturm Booster made two extraordinary spots. And no, these aren't CGI effects. They're hot off the sensor of an IXUS400.

One has to admit, she has a good eye for stunning architectural facades.

Abschiedsfeier

2005-09-27T22:10:00.000+02:00

The weekend rounded up pretty well. Family B organised a farewell party, Deutschland styled for the Tap and the Jackrabbit. The Random XS, being the freeloader that he is, tagged along...naturally. But he paid his dues, and made sure everyone had a little something to take home with him, or her. Tea, a walk in the woods, juicy turkey roast, dessert...the works. It will be one of those days you'd look back upon with fondness when in the dense tropical rainforest jungle , dancing to the tune of reservist training. Oh the wonders of it all...

Fire It Up

2005-09-22T10:40:00.000+02:00

Back home, we got em' Honda Civic hatchbacks and Type Rs with souped-up spoilers, sport rims and electric blue livery, thumping to the beat of the latest trance-rave-techno bass tube electronica. Here, they got the Golf.

But when a Golf gets an MPV make over, standing 9.5 cm taller than it's ubiquitous, sporty brethren, and having LED tail lights (which thankfully, you don't have to add on your own in some garish rainbow color) with a claimed drag coefficient of 0.32 to reduce wind noise....you just HAVE to take it for a spin.

Business As Usual

2005-09-21T16:11:00.000+02:00

Nobody would have guessed that the JackRabbit actually ran his own private farming enterprise down under just across the other side of the Equator. Nobody. Except the Red Timberwolf.
Meet the only one who can go toe to toe against the legendary Jackrabbit (and put up with his XBOX mayhem as well). The charm extraordinaire captured this brilliant spot during one of her travels. Hats off to The Red Timberwolf. She is the only one who can discover the truth about The Jackrabbit.

Frosty

2005-09-20T11:31:00.000+02:00

The last hints of Summer green seem to cling on reluctantly. But this year round, it looks almost as if it's just going to jump straight into Winter. You get into the garage at close to 6 am in the morning, check the thermometer in the car...and it reads 16°C. You get out of the garage and drive a bit, and then it reads 7°C. You drive to the office....and it finally reads 4°C. And I thought Autumn was supposed to come, the orange glow was supposed to envelope the city and so on and so forth...but I really should not be complaining. The Tap and the JackRabbit are probably freezing their pink cherry er...whatever... cheeks in the Alps at the mo I reckon.
I prefer to think about whether or not I am going to get my lunch today ...

The Simple Things

2005-09-16T21:55:00.000+02:00

It's the simple things that count. Nowadays, this means watching that silver lining form around those inspiring cloud formations as the evening hum of the cityscape winding down at the end of the day plays on in the background. Life's simple pleasures of sight and sound.

Entertaining Angels

2005-09-16T00:39:00.000+02:00

It has been said that we sometimes meet angels along the way without even knowing it. I might have just met mine not too long ago. Here's what happened:
Travelling along the Autobahn with constant 20 minutely updates regarding the latest Stau Information can take some getting used to. Most of the time, it doesn't really affect you, and if you happen to get into one, you'd most likely be out of it in a matter of minutes through stop-and-go traffic. This time round however, the traffic situation got critical when a trucking accident caused a major jam spanning 7 km under the hot afternoon sun. The rescue teams responded in due course, with great efficiency and professionalism. Traffic cleared the way for the emergency vehicles as they made their way to the scene of the accident. Being right at the tail end of the jam, I decided perhaps it was a good idea to go through one of the Bundesstrasse and make my way out of the mess before it made me late for a house group meeting. It wasn't long before I was hopelessly lost. Circling endlessly within the vicinity of Ludwigshafen, running low on fuel and with no spare cash in case the petrol stations didn't accept credit cards, it was a case of desperately trying to find my bearings with my grossly rudimentary ADAC map and hoping for God to extract me from this potentially long drawn mess.
Then I looked up. And there she was.
CITROËN bearing a similar area license plate as the trusty old OPEL steed. "Follow Me" it seemed to beckon. I took my chances, thinking perhaps that the chances of such a car in such a far out area of town (well, not that I really knew where I was really...so it had to be pretty far out) could only mean that she was heading back to the same region as I was, along the Rhine.
I thought if the car was on a visit to some little village...then well, I'd be in a rut. So I tailed the car, hoping that it would get me out of this mess I was in, hoping that the worse would not be realised. The car continued, past countless roundabouts, little quaint towns, vineyards and the works. I turned off the air condition as a desperate fuel saving measure (which was almost in the red). And then it happened. The CITROËN stopped and flicked on it's signal lights. I pulled up along side and asked where they were headed. Their response was that they were trying to find their way out too, and that I could follow.
What ensued was one of the most interesting journeys I have had to date. They made sure I followed behind, making sure I was able to match their cruising speed. At roundabouts, they made sure traffic was clear so I could follow, and at traffic light junctions, they never tried to beat the orange lights so I won't be left behind. Eventually, they led me back on the highway again and I was in familiar Autobahn territory once more.
At a narrow pass, I waved them goodbye and expressed my heartfelt thanks.
CITROËN XX XX 2729, you both know who you are. Here's a massive thanks for that chance meeting and tremendous help you rendered. God Bless, and thanks for being such considerate guides for a fellow sojourner. It meant a lot to me.

In Conversation

2005-09-15T23:45:00.000+02:00

Was in conversation with Dr. Ti, Keen Karat and JS today, not forgetting S2. Figured it was high time for a change of pace in the life lived thus far. It has been said that the Blog has been somewhat cryptic, and perhaps it has been understandably so. But perhaps that will be set to change, maybe not here, but perhaps in it's new guise somewhere else in the near future. But all agreed, it is a season for change. Autumn beckons. By the time Winter is over, I believe the metamorphosis would have been in full swing. Thank God for Him being around while it happened.

Journey to the South East

2005-09-13T08:55:00.000+02:00

And so the Elph will be Equator bound soon, come end of the year. Stay tuned for the latest, as the journey begins first, due East. This will be interesting.

Grease Talk

2005-09-12T11:23:00.000+02:00

Weekends are a good way to unwind. It's funny that when one's in school, weekends signal the tide over of Friday night's party. You'd carry on till it's Sunday, and then dread the coming of Monday...only to look forward to the next weekend in sight.

Nowadays, it means a sleep-in, papers, and some grease-excessive bacon and eggs breakfast and some solid catch up or discussion with a couple of friends over a hot cuppa and some marmalade. Then comes the groceries for the week and some work out to make sure that the calories heaped in during the morning don't get into places they were not supposed to...not when the next IPPT is due and the threat of RT looms overhead...

City Driving Essentials

2005-09-11T20:57:00.000+02:00

In a candid conversation with Dr. Auto Focus, we decided that the following were some of the car park essentials for any discerning driver:
1. Compact Forklift (small but powerful)
2. Parking lot painting kit (you park the car, the kit paints the lot)

Neat.

Nostalgia

2005-09-10T14:48:00.000+02:00

Feeling a tad bit nostalgic when the Random XS saw this on the Web lately:

It has been close to two decades since Metal Armour Dragonar was screened. Interesting they have come up with a website once more. Another Random post.

Go South West

2005-09-10T13:43:00.000+02:00

And so it was with a heavy heart that the crew bid Dr. Red Bull and GB farewell, as they headed to the land of the Brave Matadors. Farewell too, we said, to the fabulous place that was their residence for the past few years. The kitchen where it all happened, the sumptuous Tuscan Cuisine served to countless guests, all of whom would readily agree was the best around.
Free City and the little village they lived in will indeed be a lesser place now that they aren't here anymore.

But we will always remember the fab' times both in, and out of University with the Legendary Dr. Red Bull and family.
A testament to his packing genius:

It has been said, that the Volkswagen Polo can manage a lot...we just hadn't realised that it was THIS lot. Way ta' go. All the best Dr. Red Bull and your family. Success and Godspeed.

Gone with the Flow

2005-09-07T19:07:00.000+02:00

Everyone has their moments. The Jackrabbit, in a moment of sneaky brilliance, spotted this one of the legendary Tap. An empty glass, an empty BOTTLE, The Tap out cold on the couch...this is as good as it gets.

The Elph Writes

2005-09-07T01:37:00.000+02:00

All the way from the Land of the Rising Sun...it's good to hear from the Elph, old school.

To drive the point across, this one's definitely an Old School classic:

Drive on Monday

2005-09-06T17:15:00.000+02:00

After the lunch-less fiasco, the Random XS DID indeed get some chow. With the first day of the week behind him, it was time for an evening wind down at some no-brainer fast food joint... where plenty of €1 deals abound.

A quick snap of some of the major institutions here in the land of Wurst, viewed through the Golden Arches for effect.

And then it was back to cruise control, gliding through what's often quoted as the last bastion of freedom in a highly legislated, bureaucratic juggernaut.

Lunch Less

2005-09-05T13:34:00.000+02:00

Whilst that would be a productivity improvement plan for some, a dietary exercise for others, or a pathway to some masochistic joke, it definitely is not for the Random XS. This is proving to be another case of history repeating itself.
One gets promised "Oh, I'll call you back." So I hold my ground, hold my stomach...until a time comes where I go "Dump it. Abandoning post....I'm getting my lunch."

Tick Tack

2005-09-02T17:49:00.000+02:00

That was what it all boiled down to. Tack it right. The instrument:

The Dynamic Trio (JackRabbit, Tap, XS) spent the entire day producing mixed-media pieces for a private viewing Art Exhibition. The theme: Speed of Sound. Working their way through massive wooden frames, the three set about mounting their canvas. And mount the canvas they did...after close to 50 frames...the three earned themselves a good evening's rest. What better way, to wrap things up, than with smooth Irish Cream:

Smooth.

Firmware

2005-09-01T19:00:00.000+02:00

Firmware /ferm'weir/ n. Embedded software contained in EPROM or flash memory. It isn't quite hardware, but at least doesn't have to be loaded from a disk like regular software. Hacker usage differs from straight techspeak in that hackers don't normally apply it to stuff that you can't possibly get at, such as the program that runs a pocket calculator. Instead, it implies that the firmware could be changed, even if doing so would mean opening a box and plugging in a new chip. A computer's BIOS is the classic example, although nowadays there is firmware in disk controllers, modems, video cards and even CD-ROM drives.

I love it, especially when it makes your overall user interface look this much better than it was before...ahhh, ways of keeping the customer happy.

Simplicity

2005-09-01T13:18:00.000+02:00

For a while, one was getting worried if phone giant Nokia was loosing touch with it's designs. But thankfully, it appears that they are once again back on track with some really slick designs after what appeared to be design bedlam with some of the worst handphones ever conceived (think 7250(i)...dancing lights and looking like something out of HALO2..a phone for the Covenant Elites...*grunt*)...
Enter the 6030.

Simplicity personified. Good ergonomics (ok...they had to add another button and mess about with what we're normally used to....) and a phone without a camera, fancy gadgets and all. Just plain simple SMS, call, and ok, and FM radio. I like it.

Evening Cruise

2005-08-31T00:57:00.000+02:00

On the way to house group this evening, this scene popped up.

It's nice to see the last few days of this Summer wrapping up nicely. Along the Rhine, it can get warm as well, though the humidity isn't altogether that bad. Signs of the impending Autumn abound,

Still, one can hold out hope that the day after will be better than this one, though there really isn't much to complain about as far as Tuesday went.

And so one retires indoors for an easy wind-down. Along the way came this:

It's a Tap and Random XS Co-op. A simple toast, for the crew to complete their mission and head home. Zum Wohl!

Operation Dinner Out: Aftermath

2005-08-30T15:13:00.000+02:00

The Operation was a success. The pièce de résistance of it all - the giant Puten (turkey) steaks the crew got, in plate, pan and any other receptacle. Portions were enough to feed a Battlion. The team took no prisoner. Here's a quick recap, before the Op:

After a three-pronged attack and a couple of finishing strokes with stragetically placed surgical strikes (hmmm....so much for strategic...and surgical), this was all that was left:

Not much at all. And so, the evening wrapped up with the Random XS running into a fair, long lost acquaintance...

Tools Of The Trade II

2005-08-30T01:38:00.000+02:00

After more than 18000 shots, the good ol' trusty IXUS 400 has finally earned some well deserved vacation in the tropics, somewhere near an Island along the Equator. Running the next lap - The IXUS 40, already clocking close to 3000 shots. Credit must be given to the superb engineering from the folks at Canon Inc. This gem:

... has been serving up some of the finest pixels there are. This gem:

... has been serving some of the finest shots on court. Kudos to the marketing division...but here, we'd like to call it the IXUS.

Travel, A While Back...

2005-08-29T16:19:00.000+02:00

It is with great fondness, that the motley crew here think back of the times spent doing tours of duty with another Urban Hero: Lakopi.
Lakopi and the team goes back a long way. Going through the Baptism of Fire on a mission in Prague:

Street fighting, house to house. The JackRabbit and the Lakopi fighting side by side, taking shots in the streets, behind cover.
Here's another view of Lakopi, with his other half, scoping out for their next target. In the far end of the picture is a glimpse of things to come...father and son.

This is Prague from a while ago:

Moving forth in time, things nowadays are much quieter. Take five, atop the one of the hills overlooking the city, with a cup of Illy, nothing less.

J.A.M.I.S

2005-08-29T14:57:00.000+02:00

Just. Another. MTB. In. Service. That's what Dr. Titan has been up to of late. Meet his trusty new steed:

Make no mistake though. When Dr. Ti says this is a utility bike, it means it's a utility bike - heavily used and pressed into service, this ride will cut it's teeth in the months to come together with it's owner. This is Man-Machine-Interface in motion.

The S-man Speaketh

2005-08-29T14:37:00.000+02:00

Joining the ranks of D-SLR users, the S-man gives his two cents worth regarding this new gem.

Read what he has to say here amongst his other musings.

Operation: Dinner Out

2005-08-27T19:46:00.000+02:00

Today marks the return of the motley crew. Back in Free City right here at the University, we meet together with Dr. AutoFocus, MC Ticino, Dr. RedBull are back in full force, and we head out for a catch up dinner. Weather here is fab, with the Summer winding down, and hopefully Autumn will at least be kind and forgiving, not some farcical Winter early-arrival. But first of all, we need to assemble at our meeting place and set off to a yet-to-be-determined dinner menu. Nonetheless, Operation Dinner Out is a go! Let's see how it works out.

Test Drive

2005-08-25T18:46:00.000+02:00

And so, The Tap, and the "whines-until-the-players-want-to-club-his-fancy-paws" JackRabbit finally returned to Wurstland. Elph headed off towards the Land of the Rising Sun...and The Random XS made his way to Free City. It was a night drive. The Good - Practically no traffic. The Bad - You pull up at every rest stop and doze off. Some trucks decide to leave their engines running, and you've lost your whole night's rest. Coffee has no effect...it makes you pull up along these rest stops even more....those diuretics.
Thereafter, the Random XS had to report for duty. He ran into this:

Step on it. Advanced flushing systems. Comes in kid size too.
The highlight of the day was the test drive of this recent release:

The new B-Class, 1.8 litre.

Handled like a fly-by-wire plane more than a....er....tractor.

Working on 2 hours of sleep ain't fun. Time out for now. Be back later.

Tech-no-Logic

2005-08-24T02:24:00.000+02:00

Dr. Titanium just got some tech from the equator courtesy of Master Chief.
It comes decked out with features....

Shoot 1.3 megapixel (software interpolated) photos
Create high-quality, 640x480 videos with the advanced VGA CCD sensor
Add live video to your favorite instant messenger: MSN® Messenger, AOL® Instant Messenger™ (AIM®), Yahoo!® Messenger, and Windows® Messenger
Attach it to any notebook with universal mounting bracket
Store it in carrying case with cable management
Make live video calls
Edit movies with studio-quality software
Email video and photos easily
Get closer with digital zoom
Conduct online video conferences and calls using Windows® Messenger or Microsoft® NetMeeting
Speak your mind with the built-in microphone
Add video to your eBay® auctions with SpotLife™ VideoSnap
Create fun animated films
Create web albums, broadcast live video and audio, and set up a web cam
Stylish and rugged aluminum body
2-year limited hardware warranty

Looks really slick, comes with TWO, yes TWO installation CD-ROMs as well...and requires you reboot your system enough times to cancel your conversations and restart the whole system again for it to be fully operational. Whatever happened to good old Plug-n-Play?
Funny thing is, Dr. Titanium's friend from overseas messaged him and he had to decline the conversation cos' he had to restart his PC after having gone through TWO installation CDs worth of software...his friend asked "Was it a Logitech Quickcam?". Guess you can't fault the manufacturer for a worldwide guarantee to work the same way wherever you are.

Return of the (Jack)Rabbit and The Tap

2005-08-24T00:16:00.000+02:00

The (Jack)Rabbit returns together with The Tap today for their last tour of duty in Sausage Land. Inward bound on Equator Airlines, they should arrive round noon. Wonder what goodies they have brought with them this time round? The Random XS has spent the last few days depleting their food supplies with glee...Well, one has to eat to defend the fort, no?

Before Sunset

2005-08-22T23:27:00.000+02:00

The weekend called for a little bit of travelling. Not that the Random XS minds, but it's about 400 km up north along the Rhine river. The day started off like this:

Summer this year was definitely wierd. It definitely does not feel like summer. But then again, the greens that pop up all around are definitely welcome. The drive across the Rhine was fine. Drive into the sunset (yes, those are minute bug-splats):

The Random XS has become increasingly reliant on this:

An interesting caffeine light dose. An experiment done by EvanGelica (EvG)...both the XS and EvG did pause for a mo to look at the curious brew. The caffeine extraction must have been thorough...this is another Random post. Call it the late night effect.

The Elph Cooketh

2005-08-18T14:57:00.000+02:00

Today was the baptism of fire for the Elph. Sushi was her game. The results in various progressive stages. Here's how it started:

and it continued, and there was more progress:

and until eventually, you get an entire army of them:

Hai. Itadakimase.

Cold, Wet and Almost No Food

2005-08-15T14:25:00.000+02:00

This is turning out to be one warped summer. It's been pouring for the whole morning (so much for drizzle...) and it's freezing indoors (fabulous insulation...keeps the cold from last night in....). Under such circumstances....one dreams of a hot plate of this:

RevS cooked up this fantastic King Prawns sautéed in red wine and finely chopped onions with rice and red peppers on a whim...when he found out that the Random XS was visiting late one evening on an empty stomach. "I'll cook when I get home." Random XS said. But RevS would have none of that. "You're not going home on an empty stomach!" he quipped, and whipped up that spicy seafood cuisine. It was the best stuff the Random XS had tasted in ages.
The evening continued with a conversation that inevitatbly led the topic of Schwarzwald, which at this time of the year, is supposed to look like this:

But having witnessed what appears to be a migration of the Monsoon season to Central Europe, one tends to stay indoors and watch DVDs on devices such as this:

And rely on loads of that thick black brew squeezed out of a warehouse load, of these:

So as it continues to pour out there into those misty hills up yonder, let's just sit back, and be thankful, that a giant can of Maggi mozzarella and tomato Penne was ready at hand to help stave off what would almost certainly have turned into another episode of missed lunch.

Drizzle

2005-08-15T10:47:00.000+02:00

The Summer had barely come and gone and it looks almost like Autumn will be skipped. Temperature variations are going totally Random. Fingers freeze as the typing continues. This week looks set to be marked with meetings, coordinating a couple of parties here and there (to meet) and cruising along the Autobahn once more. It's easy to tell when it's a Monday. Even the sky is grey and the mists tease the canopy that hides the thick foliage of the Black Forest.

Coffee-Industry & Electric Bumblebee

2005-08-11T17:00:00.000+02:00

Been a while since the last entry. Was out in the Black Forest a bit back. Coffee stain art fascinates the Random XS...precisely because it's so Random. Look at the above image for example...Coffee (stain) -Industry...smoking chimneys...an imaginary old industrial city skyline by the riverside. Art in all it's spontaneous goodness. This was after some serious carbo-loading with fat-laden Blackforest Cherry Cake...all in good measure as preparation for a 12 km hike. Pace was ok, view was fab...weekend worked out well.
One can't quite get away from civilisation though...with signs like this:

Bar code and price/inventory tag behind..."corporate designed" warning any potential hapless hiker who might just zap him or herself against this electric fence.

This fella' however, hadn't the foggiest idea...or just plain simply didn't give a hoot about what was going on around him...not even the fact that there was a lens staring down at it for the longest time and the close proximity of a perilous electric fence. No, he figures sporting the same colour scheme (well, almost) as that electric-fence warning sign grants him the same degree of immunity. To a certain extent...he may be right.

40 Years since

2005-08-09T08:31:00.000+02:00

So today is the day. All those fireworks, mobile column displays and aerobatics, coloured smoke screens and cheering crowds. It's happy independence/birth-of-the-nation day. Would be interesting to see the bash that is to be in 10 years time when the Nation celebrates it's 50th. Am just wondering how they are going to up the ante with all the previous accomplishments that they have been having with all those sychronised parade drills and stuff....well, Happy National Day Singapura.

Late nights and Quarter life crisis

2005-08-01T00:21:00.000+02:00

A couple of years back, it was often to have night vigils. Late night suppers and all...study marathons and even chats. It is funny that as a student, one thinks about life after exams, then when that finally comes, one reminisces about life of a student.
Nowadays however, it gets increasingly difficult to stay up late. Quarter life crisis. But time moves forward. So what next? When can one take the present, as a present?

Summer in the City

2005-07-30T23:55:00.000+02:00

It's here. Temperatures soaring and all....this city is in for the burn. A brief reprieve can be afforded though, through these:

It's the Bächle. Legend has it that if one accidentally slips into one of these, you'd end up marrying one of the locals. At any rate, it only happens IF it is genuinely accidental. Most of the time, one sees this:

A refreshing change of pace...

Illy

2005-07-30T19:21:00.000+02:00

Essentials. Somehow, computers and coffee have a knack of coming together...and in the past, a trip to the System Administrator's would see the C3 combination: Cigarettes+Coffee+Computer.
Still, me likes my Illy.
Here's what they say about Illy's Ground Roasted'.
A good way to get through those 200 page Tome reports especially when used in combination with one of those stove top contraptions called Brikka.

The Grease' cooketh

2005-07-30T15:33:00.000+02:00

And so it was, the greasemonkey cooketh...breakfast this morning...the usual scrambled eggs with Wurstchen, bacon and all that greasy goodness. Courtesy of the usual suspect, the Random XS. Top it all off, with some real deal drip-brewed coffee and some nostalgia, and you get a breakfast like no other.

Grease Deluxe. Wurstchens, scrambled eggs with Fleisch/Saftschinken and greasy bacon in all its oily glory.

Stau = Germany's National Obsession

2005-07-29T19:15:00.000+02:00

Call it the most hated word, call it a national obsession, whatever you call it, it still is a pain when it hits you. And not once, not twice, but three times in a row. Traffic Jams...the radio blares incessantly "Stau am A3 zwischen Frankfurt und....bla bla bla...fuer 20 km...." almost every 20 minutes. You gotta hand it to them Germans, they are really efficient when it comes to reporting this sort of thing. And the funny thing is, all of a sudden, it all clears up.Or, how about this, hailstorm sound clips playing through the national airwaves after a distraught resident of the Blackforest reports his windscreen has been shattered...or, even the rear one. They probably had baseballs falling from the sky. But to be honest, it DID sound like someone was playing drums on your car...save the fact that your car IS the drum. Typhoon struck the outer reaches of Cologne a cople of days ago...hailstorm does a windscreen smashing galore in the south west...I really don't want to know what is next.
Except that dinner is chicken curry. That's some form of familiarity for you. Guten Appetit meine Damen und Herren.