HO- HO HO! Rating the books of our ESL -class

1) Finding Forrester
2) Of Mice and Men
3) Flowers for Algernon
4) The Five People You meet in Heaven
5) Shane
6) The Alchemist
7) The Old Man and the Sea
8) The Greek Myths
9) Animal Farm
10) Outliers
11) Syrup
12) The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
12) A Christmas Carol
14) Beasts Of No Nation

The Child in Us

When we put “Christmas” in Google we will find 498,000 results, nearly half a million. That’s not really surprising. Of course most of the results are about advertising, are commercials. Still, there are thousands and thousands of results about the meaning, the tradition, the history of this very holiday - Christmas is THE event of the year. To many of us Christmas is a time for children. Bringing back memories, making us feel like we used to feel: once again we ARE little boys, we ARE little girls with eyes and mouths opened wide, breathless starring, exited- with red cheeks and ears. With glistening in our eyes. We get lost in the miracle, the spirit of this very days. But what exactly is it that makes us feel like a child again, what is it that makes us sing Christmas carols in the street, bake cookies, decorate the house, get a Christmas tree, put on a candles? It is the time when we rediscover the child in us. The child that is hidden during the rest of the year. Once we’re an adult, curiosity, naivety and playfulness are gone. But- most of all: innocence. If we could see ourselves as a beloved child again, we might remember our innocence. This is our chance to leave everything behind us, to make a brand new start. It’s got nothing to do with buying things, buying Christmas- but to live it. Live it as a child. Once a year we- even as an adult- are allowed to- welcome to- behave, to act and to feel like a child. To exhale what bothers us and to inhale what cheers us to be reborn again. A brand new start. Being innocent again. Like our children. It’s our children that will live our future, our dreams. And the present to us, the grownups, is to share their behavior, their spirit.

Comparing our life to “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

Talking about “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell I can say that, looking at some points in this book is comparable with what I’ve heard from some friends of mine. For example the 10,000-hour rule that says that it takes plus/minus 10,000 hours of practice, of exercise to be really good in something. Whether it is sports, programming computers, playing music or others. This friend of mine, let’s call him Michael, he is a remarkable piano player and painter in Hamburg, Germany. He is playing in big concert halls, his paintings are exhibited in the big galleries. One day he told me about his point of view about how long, in average, it takes to get successful as an artist. Yes, he too, he confessed this thesis. He really had the gift to play piano much better than others, he started in an early age to practice. Still, the first six, seven years were just hard work. Of course, as a child and later as a teenager Michael had other things in his mind, friends, girlfriends, parties etc. But- as Gladwell says in his book, after about 10,000 hours he began to be successful with what he practiced all the past years.

3rd “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

Another interesting and exiting part in “Outliers” is when Malcolm Gladwell writes about the “culture of honor”. That’s how this extraordinary author calls people from the south, people that are – since generations- mostly cowboys and having their live stocks. Of course these people are living in a society full of violence because to fight was kind of their daily business. They were forced to prove that they are brave, that they are strong. Being strong was the only guarantee to survive. They had to protect and to defend what they had. So- during generations- these peoples’ violence rate was of course much higher than the one from the people living in the northern parts of the country. The people in the northern parts mostly were farmers, so there was no need for fights, no need for violence because it was not necessary to protect or defend fruits, corn etc. Because of this fact these people, during generations, lived their lives more peacefully.

2nd - “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

As we said before, “Outliers” by bestseller author Malcolm Gladwell is a book about success. Gladwell brings in the point of the 10,000 hours-rule that says to be really good – or successful- in something it takes about 10,000 hours of exercise, of practice. Well, that’s a long time, for sure. But as Malcolm Gladwell is able to prove in his statistics it is a matter of fact that it always took people that long to really be successful. Bill Gates, in his school time was programming computers during about seven years which was in accumulation 10,000 hours. The amazing success of the Beatles was only possible because of their contract they had in a bar in Hamburg, Germany. When they arrived in Hamburg they were only one of hundreds of unknown bands. But part of the Hamburg-contract was that they had to play eight hours, seven days a week. Only because of this high number of hours they were playing- exercising- they reached the goal of a 10,000 hour training.

“Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

In our English Class we read the book “Outliers” by bestseller author Malcolm Gladwell.
“Outlier is: a) something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body or
b) a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample.”
Reading this book we find out exciting facts for example that a high IQ is not necessarily a guarantee for success, there also is the need of being creative. Once you are upon the so called threshold it is no more that important weather your IQ is 130 or 200. With a very high IQ it is more important to be, as I said before, creative but also to have practical intelligence. This means that we have to be able to really communicate, to let others know what we like, what we want and what we are able to do. Some people are “talkers”, others are “listeners”. In daily life and- to become successful- it is much more helpful to learn the skills of being a talker, being active.

About “Animal Farm” by George Orwell

For our English class we had to read the classical book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. It is an allegory about the animals at The Manor Farm that overtake the farm to rule it by themselves. In the beginning of the story the tortured creatures rebel, they attack and chase away the farmer, his wife and men to overtake The Manor Farm. They change the name into “Animal Farm”, then create seven commandments, like “Animals are good, Humans are bad”. But the most important one says that “All Animals are Equal”. In their beginnings they live in harmony and do efficient teamwork. The pigs do all the brainwork because they are the smartest race and soon they also do all important decisions. After a view decades the pigs make the other animals work harder for less food. They betray the others, they change the commandments for their own good. The pigs now live separated in the farmhouse, start dressing like humans, drink alcohol and behave more and more like men. They terrify the other animals and even kill some of them for the prove of their power. At the end of the story, when the pigs invite some farmers for an inspection, they look and act like them, think like them. Like their last, faked commandment that says: “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”. I think that this popular, outstanding story is an excellent example that indicates the high value of the idea of communism, the ideal of an equal society. But in most cases, like in the times of Stalin, it is adorable ideal to think about it but nearly impossible to practice.

Does our birth date affect us?

The statistics in the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell say that people that are born in January, February or March have a better chance to become a successful hockey player than people that are born at the other months. The reasons that are given are that the fact of being born at the beginning of the year includes the advantage of being some months older than the other children and because of this fact this children are steps farther than the others. Personally, I think that this fact doesn’t count too much. For example, I grew up as an only girl with four brothers, two of them older and two younger than I. Because of that I grew up as a tomboy, I learned how to run, climb trees, play soccer and fight.I was rough, I was tough. And after I got the female genes and I behaved like a boy during my childhood I was lucky of getting influenced by both sides, the male and the female side. I think that this was a gift, although my poor mother used to say that she rather had four more boys than a daughter like me.

The History of Thanksgiving

The roots of Thanksgiving are some when in 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and native Indians shared a big harvest celebration. This first harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation between the colonists and the native Indians. Although people thought that this was the very first Thanks giving ever, historians found out that the native Indians had a big harvest feast, ceremonial dances all the years before, in 1621 it was only the first one that the colonists and the Indians had together, the first one ever that they shared. The food they had this time of course was not pumkin pie or mashed potatoes, instead it was fowls, deeres, lobster, seal and swans. The colonists didn’t use forks, they used spoons, knifes and their fingers. They mostly were eaten in two courses, it was mostly meat and later sweets like puddings. Vegetable was not always available during these days. Because the pilgrims and Indians had no refrigeration, they dried lots of their food, such as meet, fish but also corn and herbs. They had their most important and biggest meal of the day at noontime. The woman this time spent almost the whole mornings cooking. Dinner this time was a much smaller meal at the end of the day and breakfast was mostly the previous day’s leftovers.

Source: Kathleen Curtin, Food Historian at Plimoth Plantation

Riding the Bullet (by Steven King)

Some weeks ago we had to read the story Riding the Bullet by Steven King. The short story tells about 21 year old student Alan Parker. He is at the University of Maine when the neighbor Mrs. Mc Curdy calls and tells that his Mom, Jean Parker had a stroke. To get home he does thumb riding, the first car is driven by an elderly man. After many miles, when he gets out of his car it is nighttime and he walkes to the cemetery nearby to have a little rest. When he wakes up he reads one of the names on a graveyard, George Staub. After a while, standing on the road again, an old Mustang-car stops. The driver, a young man, is a weird character, he tells Alan that his name is George Staub, like the one on the graceyard. Alan notices that the driver has black marks on his body and stitches around his neck like someone had put his head back on his body. George Staub asks Alan about “Riding the Bullet” and says that he has come back from death and that he will take either Alan Parker or his mother with him. Alan tells him to take his mother. Then he wakes up, because he just had banged his head on a marker. When he finally comes to the hospital he finds out that his mother is well. He finds a sticker “Riding the Bullet” and keeps it. His mother recovers soon, she lives 7 more years and they have a very warm relationship. But he always keeps the sticker “Riding the Bullet”.

Willem de Kooning

Willem de Kooning (1904 – 1997) was born in the Netherlands. He was an expressionist, doing abstract paintings, action painting and he followed the so called New York School. This was the time of Jackson Pollock, Arshile Gorky and Robert Motherwell and others.In 1926 De Kooning emigrated to the United States, working on a ship. When he finally arrived New Jersey, he first started working as a house painter. In 1927 he moved to a studio in Manhattan. In 1929 he met the painter Arshile Gorky, they worked together and became good friends. In 1935 De Kooning won the Logan Medal of the Arts, later, in 1938 under the influence of Gorky, De Kooning did series of male figures, later, in the early 1940 he started his famous series of Woman in a geometrical style. What was figurative in the beginnings became more and more abstract during the years.

Cy Twombly

Cy Twombly – his real name is Edwin Parker(CY) Twombly Jr.- (born 1928)- is a wellknown american painter. He is doing his paintings in a calligraphic style, many of them are graffiti paintings with mostly grey background. He has his exhibitions worldwide. In his work he crosses the lines between drawing and painting. For example in some of his best known paintings from the late 1950s to early 1960s he practiced cursive “e”s on a school blackboard. Twombly also did many paintings with classical myths and allegories as background, for example his painting “Apollo and The Artist”. He did his studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), later at Washingtonand Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In 1950 to 1951 he studied at the Art Students League of New York and met Robert Rauschenberg. He had his first solo exhibition at the Kootz Gallery in New York. His paintings during these years were influenced by Kline and Paul Klee. In 1952 he travelled to Spain, France, Italy and North Africa. In 2008 Twombly had an exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, his first solo retrospective in 15 years. This high talented artist is aged 81 years, he lives in Lexington, Virginia and Italy where he still is active.

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992) was a successful, irish figurative painter. His paintings became popular because of its violent, erotic character that often show masculine figures in isolation, such as glass, steel or in geometrical cages with scarying backgrounds. It is known that Bacon often visited slaughterhouses to get his inspirations. In his beginnings he worked as an interior decorator and designer of furniture. Once he said that he started his career so late because he didn’t find any subject that really interested him in his early years. His first big success was in 1944 when he did the triptych ”Tree Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion”. Because of this work, in 1940-1960s he got the reputation as a world famous painter. In the middle of 1960 he mainly did portraits of heads of his friends. He used to say that he imagines like in series and he focused on single themes for longer periods of time (like Papal heads, crucifixion and later single and triptych heads series.) In 1971 his lover George Dyer became suicide and after that his paintings became more and more personal, like looking inside and focusing on the different sides of death. His masterpiece in 1985-1986 is called “Study for a Self Portrait-Triptych. In the late 1940s he did the great series of portraits – inspired by Velazquez- of Pope Innocent X. Bacon, famous for his dreadful paintings, had two big Tate retrospectives during his life time.

Velázquez

The spanish painter Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, (1599-1660) was very successful in his period, he was one of the most important and famous artists at this time. He did his paintings in the baroque period. Most of his themes were kind of historical and cultural, he painted many portraits of the spanish royal family. His masterpiece was Las Meninas (1656). Another prove of the importance of Velázquez's art even today is the fact that Pablo Picasso, as a homage to Velazquez, in 1957 did 58 variations of Las Meninas in his typically cubistic style. In the beginnings of the nineteenth century Velázquez’paintings mainly were taken as a model from realistic and impressionistic painters, for example Edouard Manet. But also other modern painters were influenced by Velazquez, such as Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali. One of his most important paintings is the portrait of Pope Innocent X in 1650. Many decades later, in 1950, the irish painter Francis Bacon did another portrait of Pope Innocent X, inspired by this amazing artist. So- in this sense, this extraordinary artist is still alive.

“Finding Forrester” by James W. Ellison

We just finished the novel “Finding Forrester” by James W. Ellison in our English class. Our teacher wants us to focus on characters now, to do some exercises. So I focus on the character of Jamal, the main character in the book. Jamal, a sixteen year old black male teenager is raised by his mother, the father left the family years ago. That’s when Jamal, he felt betrayed of not having a strong, guiding father- the ideal of every young boy. Someone to look up, someone to ask a little boy’s questions. Questions his mother never would be able to answer. At the same time he was desperate because of the agony his beloved mother was going through, her loneliness without a husband, the heavy load of raising two children all by herself without any support. “God knows it wasn’t easy bringing up a young male in the South Bronx without a father-especially a young black male.” Because Jamal can sense how much also his mother suffered. It seems like Jamal never forgave his Father for leaving, when thinking of him it always was full of bitterness or resentment, full of dark thoughts. Reading and writing was his way to escape, his way out of his sad reality.

Tako’s Presentation about “Factories in Big Cities”

The homework from our professor was to do a presentation about a free topic for a debate. It should show what’s the benefits and the problems, but also our statement of the topic. Today our classmate Taco presented his topic with the title “Factories in Big Cities”. He brought in different examples about how terrible the big factories effect the environment. I think he did a good job on researching the different examples, but the way the presentation was created was more a report than a debate. Indeed it was like a long list of different damages the factories are causing. It was done in a way a reader or the classmates would of course agree- but there is nothing left to debate, to discuss about because the statement was missing. But I’m sure that Tako understood the advices from our professor and will do a great job at his second draft.

The Clear Arguments of Celine’s Presentation

I think that my classmate Celine did a good presentation about the topic of pros and cons of Caesarian section. In these days it appeares to be kind of hype, kind of fashion that more and more woman give birth to their babies by Caesarian section and not the way it was meant to be by nature. Celine was very clear with her argument when she said that giving birth to a baby by Caesarian section is a very aggressive act to both, to the mother and the baby because the gynaecologist has not only to cut the belly but also the uterus. And this of course also means another risk to both, a risk that is just not necessary. I also learned that giving birth to a baby the natural way, through the birth canal- what is of course more painful to both- causes a biochemical reaction that bounds mother and the fetus. Of course if there are any kind of complications or an emergency, Caesarian section is the only solution.

Child Soldiers in Africa

There still are children misused for wars, and this dramatic fact has a long and sad history. In past children where misused in the American Civil War, they were used by the Nazis and also in Iran. Many countries in Africa misuse child soldiers, today like it was in the past. These countries are: Angola, Algeria, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. Africa has the largest amount of child soldiers, with an estimated 200.000 of the total world estimate of around 300.000 child soldiers. But why do or did some countries misuse children in their wars at all? The answer is very simple, they are easy to influence and to manipulate. Another point is the fact that their education is on a very low level and their environment is unstable. Most of them lost their families and because of their naivety they become very loyal to the leaders. --- So, these wars are not fought by rebellious children. These wars are fought by children without childhood. Their childhood and innocence was stolen from them and all what is left is fear and desperation.

It Sometimes Rains in Southern California

I‘ve heard that it was at about the end of February when it rained the last time. --- SPLASH! All of a sudden South California is busy to search for umbrellas. Found it, unfold it because here it is, "Here Comes The Rain Again" like Eurythmics sang. On my way back home I watch an elderly man at his front yard. Seems like he missed rain, like he has been waiting for a long, long while. As he senses me, his eyes seem to ask "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’ --- I cross 11th street, watching a little boy. Four, five years old, the host in his right, a little light blue Goofy-umbrella in his left hand. South Californians are used to water their plants. It’s bizarre. It was only last week when I thought that it’s true, it “Never Rains In Southern California". It’s just nine weeks ago that I moved here from Hamburg, North Germany. I KNOW rain. I know how it feels when it starts raining and just doesn’t stop for weeks. It’s the main reason why I moved to L.A. because “I can’t stand the rain” like Tina Turner once said. Now it’s time to think it all over. Hey, can somebody hear me? “Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head”. It’s just not fair! "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?"

All these Worms

Yeah, I really love these early mornings. Like my friend does. Well, thinking it over, it’s more HIM who likes it so much. Because- actually, I always was much more that kind of an owl, a person that enjoys to sleep in. Things have changed since we met. Anyway, my friend gets up at 5:00. Every single morning. Ok, not correctly because on Sundays he loves to sleep in to really be relaxed after a tough week. On Sundays, lovely Sundays, the alarm rings late, at 5:15. To him there is always a good reason to get up early. There are so many things you can do in the mornings, my friend argues. Like sports. He enjoys to go to the gym - I bet he’s the only person there at this time. He might even be the only person in the whole City that gets up in the middle of the night. Sometimes he likes to do his runs in the night (that’s how I call this part of the morning). Yesterday he asked me to join him. - “What? Do you know what time it is?” - “Of course, and that’s the best time of the day, the best time to run. Get up! Early bird gets the worm!” An old saying, and -I’m sure it makes sense. To BIRDS. But- what the heck shall I do with all these worms?

Friday Night, Pepper and Parmesan

How I love to go out for dinner on Friday nights. To me it’s the perfect end of a long week and a relaxing way to start the weekend. Tonight we’re at our favorite Italian restaurant, the Pasta Factory. Our pasta is just served and my friend wants to know how my week was. I open my mouth to answer but get interrupted because the waiter wants to know if everything is fine. “Yes, thank you, it’s delicious”, and “yes, the wine is tasty too.” I try to answer my friend’s question but a different waiter, breaking our conversation again, is faster. “Would you like to have black pepper on your pasta?” We want it. The waiter disappeares. “Ehh-what did you ask me?” I’m now asking my friend. “Oh, just how your week….” “Would you like to have some parmesan on your pasta?” another waiter wants to know. “Oh yes, thank you! I had a great week. How was yours?” I answer his question. The waiter looks at me (he seems to be a little confused). My friend laughs out loud. “Could it be you’re just tired?” he wants to know. With the mouth full I ‘m just able to nod yes. After a little while my friend has finished his noodles and because I like to make little brakes I’m still eating. I just have a gulp of wine when the black-pepper-waiter finds a chance to and take away our plates. “But- but I haven’t finished yet, can I ...?” I stutter. - “Of course! I’ll bring you the bill in a minute!” the parmesan- waiter answers.

Sleeping in- the Perfect Start for a New Day

Sundays are perfect because you finally can sleep in. I think sleeping in is the perfect start for a new day. When you get up at noon-ok- half of the day is already done but you had 6 hours extra sleep. What- if daily done-,makes 30 hours a week . Ok- you might have to look for a new job (halftime)- because most companies want their employees to appear in the early morning. Another good reason to sleep in is of course the fact that you don’t have to drive during rush hours anymore, what saves extra 30 minutes daily, 3 more hours weekly. Next, all the lines like in the supermarket, bank, hairdresser, car wash. Let’s say another 30 minutes each day, 3 more precious hours a week. Continue counting all the time you’ve spent talking to your family and friends on the phone- one hour a day at least; so add 5 more hours to the time you’re saving now (because it’s too late to call your Mom at 9:30 p.m. when you’re finally home from work) so we are at the summit of 49 hours. Just add another 8 hours you would have spent socializing with neighbors, going out for dinner with friends or to the movies. Makes totally 49 extra hours to sleep in. You might not see your family, your friends again. After some time you might be without social contacts at all. But, no problem. -You still can get up early on Sundays.

The Miracles of Early Mornings

I love early mornings because you can makes experiences you wouldn’t if you get up too late. It’s 5:00 a.m. when the alarm’s shouting at me: “GET UP! GET UP! GET UP!” -This new bed is too high to just roll out softly, I miss the edge and -like at least once a week- fall with a loud crash. Yeah, the wooden planks still ARE hard. This morning it’s the left elbow. Could be worse. “GET UP! GET UP! GET UP!” Finally I find the little switch, SILENCE. -The water, coming out of the pipe, takes a long while to finally get warm. It switches from hurting ice cold to burning hot into a second. I never get it right. I tumble out to the kitchen, put on the coffee machine, it chuckles at me. It worked yesterday. There must be laws that allowe some coffee machines to work only three times a week. We got one of them. Ok, black tea will rescue me. The water heater is doing a good job, it heats up with a strange crackling noise. No water in it. No problem. Next is to put on the notebook to do another blog for my homework. The title is “The Miracles of Early Mornings”. The tea smells a little like dried cat’s pooh, I burn my tongue and throat as I check my schedule at the timer, noticing it’s -Sunday. --- Twelve steps to my warm, soft bed.

Unexpected Help

Last Friday, on my way to College I had a wonderful experience of unexpected help. I love to bike to the college in the morning- and I like to bike fast. This morning, just at the corner Lincoln Boulevard/Ozone, the chain of my bike jumped out and this kind of bikes, cruisers, don’t have front brakes. That’s exactly what I needed. I nearly crashed into the wall at my right side but somehow was able to stop just before. I never fixed the chain before but luckily my friend showed me weeks ago how to do it. So I started to fix the back wheel , it went ok. I just wanted to start with the front part, holding the chain it in my right hand, full of grease, when a young man crossed the street toward me. “Can I help you?” I shook my head no. “Thanks, I’m fine”. He came closer, and without asking again he just raised up the back wheel, fixed the front part, moved the pedals. “I did this a hundred times, I’ve been biking all my life. Here”- offering his left arm - “clean your hands, this sweater has to be washed anyway”. He wished me to have a great day and disappeared. -It took only two minutes, maybe three. But this unexpected help from a stranger changed my day from a good into a GREAT day. Thank you, stranger.

Nothing better than Roasted Chestnuts

Yesterday my brother Peter brought back old memories from my home country. He told me that he will have chestnuts for dinner. These kind of chestnuts you will find in the southern part of Europe, like Austria, where I was born. When fall sneaks in and colors the leaves into bright yellow, orange and shiny red it’s chestnut season. Harvesting them is a little “dangerous”, you always will get in touch with the needles of the skin, protecting the nuts. So- peeling them takes a little while. But with a pair of leather gloves, the good ones, you’re protected. I takes a basket full to feed four persons. Next step is to cut them crosswise. That’s ought to be done with a sharp knife, the cut needs to be on the brightest part of the fruits, or else they would crash uncontrolled when heated. Wait till it’s dark- for the atmosphere- that’s part of the recipe, light the fire, then put the chestnuts into a big iron pan. Shake it loose and make sure there are stories told, could be fairy tales or old memories. Shake the chestnuts again- loose. One more story to be told. Now they are well done. - Nothing better than roasted chestnuts!

Contact with Sharks at Marina Del Ray

I never before saw sharks in nature. We are at “Mother’s Beach” in Marina Del Ray for my first stand up paddeling exercises. It’s my premiere on a longboard, my friend is giving my some hints, shows me how to hold the paddle, to keep balance. I go out and after a little while I’m feeling pretty comfortable on the board. I do big circles, then decide to paddle back to the beach where my friend is waiting, being in good mood because it went so good. All of a sudden, down on the ground, some huge, dark shadows are catching my eyes. The biggest one, about my size, is closed to my left side, four feet. Not more. It’s a fish. A big one. The sun is reflecting in the water, it takes a moment to figure the shape of this creature, the sharp triangle on it’s back. A shark! There, from the right, comes another one followed by one smaller animal. So closed to the beach the water isn’t deep, not even two feet. Two of the sharks are about my size. I’m focusing, holding up the paddle, stirring in the water. What a breathtaking trill! The whole appearance takes two, three minutes- then they make a sharp left turn to the open sea and disappear. Only some moments later, back at the beach I jump off the board and a young man yells to me “Sharks! - Get out! Get out of the water!” It takes a little while till the small group, mostly surfers, come to me, asking me if I saw them. I get to know it was sand sharks. Inquisitive, shy- but harmless. But – one thing for shure: I will not forget this experience with this power- and graceful creatures.

The Enormous Increase of Global Organized Mafia

Journalist Misha Glenny can be called an Underworld investigator because he researches the background of global organized crime. Whether it's drug smugglers in British Columbia, weapons- or oil smugglers in Eastern Europe, Japanese yakuza or Nigerian scammers, to research this magisterial work Glenny penetrated the convoluted, globalized and franchised modern underworld - often at considerable personal risk. In the old days Mafia was organized nationwide. These days are past, Glenny shows us that the today’s Mafia is organized worldwide and with an extraordinary increase of 15 % during only the last two decades. The main reason was the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Then it increased because there were more than 14.000 people from security services (like KGB in Russia) fired. United Nations recognized that this is a mighty industry and it should be taken very seriously. Society ignores this world, but Glenny suggests that conventional law enforcement might not be able to combat a problem whose roots lie in global instability.
(Source: Profile on Ted com)

Breathless Mountain Biking on Santa Monica Mountains

We leave the house early on that Sunday morning, drive down Pacific Coast Highway and turn right to Tobago Canyon. Since weeks I am waiting for this day. It will be a great challenge for me. My first mountain bike ride ever. Since weeks I trained for this day, now I’m ready to go. We meet our friends at their house in the mountains, they are ready. We fix our water bottles, put on the helmets and cross the street. The mountain bike I’m riding is a perfect partner, it’s a Santa Cruz. We start climbing the path up to the top of one of the mountains. Craig, a professional trainer, is giving me some last hints, showing me how to brake in curves. As we climb up I find out the hard way that it takes lots of experience to chance the gears when the path is really steep. We go up further and after about one hour my legs feel like they are burning. I’ m breathing hard, closed to give up- than- there we are! We made it, we are on the very top. The view is amazing, all the peaks around us, the canyons. We just enjoy the moment, the sensational look around, inhaling the nature. After a little break and refreshing we start our way back. Down we go, faster and faster. I’m feeling the wind in my face, it’s hard to steer on the stony path with this speed but at the same time it’s just thrilling, exciting. Breathless I do the last brake when we reach the street , knowing that I will put this adventure on my list to do it again. Soon. That’s for sure.

About Dan Ariely’s Movie why we think that Cheating sometimes is OK

Dan Ariely, an economy scientist, did different experiences about the topic of cheating. He found out that people act different the way they cheat. For example when there are limits, if they under control, they cheat less. Also, and that’s another interesting point, when you remind people of their morality. Like for example when the experience includes a honor code, the ten commands, or swearing on the bible. But in the experiences people acted totally different when the damage is directed towards strange people or on distant objects. In this case the personal fudge factor was a big one. So we can say that it seems like humans need to be able to look into the mirror and feel- at least, not too bad about themselves.

The Adventure of Kayaking

Kayaking in the Pacific Ocean is a beautiful, amazing adventure. Early in the morning we take Pacific Coast Highway direction Malibu to meet our friends. We unload the pretty colored kayaks from a trailer and carry them down to the water. It’s a big group, ten people are showing up. The trainer gives some advises, some hints. Then we’re ready, we push our little boats into the water, jump in and start paddeling. Passing Malibu Pier we go out, further and further. It’s a sunny morning, we watch pelicans fishing and little silver herings in schools in the clear water. Then- all of a sudden we see them cruising: Dolphins! A group of six animals, three of them babies. How powerful and elegant! One of them swims in front of us, stops and comes back facing our group. What a magical moment. After a while they dive into the water and disappear. Later on we do two little races out on the ocean, we all have fun and just enjoy paddeling in the water, to watch and experience nature. What an amazing, beautiful adventure!

Evelyn Glennie- a deaf percussionist

Evelyn Glennie got deaf when she was only twelve years old. But she is one of the most successful percussionists in the world. She was born 1944 in Aberdeen, Scotland. She started a kind of revolution in the way that she insisted at the music university to become a professional musician even with her handicap. This took a long time and many fights to proof that she was able to listen with her whole body, able to feel the rhythm, the beats. She can listen by touching a wall with her hands and the floor with her feet. So her way to sense music is a totally different way from the usual way. It’s just amazing to see her acting, beating the drums and other instruments just by feeling the rhythm.

Open Senses

I’m starting at Arizona Street- 2nd Street to explore the Santa Monica’s Farmers Market. It’s Saturday morning and the crowd appeares to be tired after a long week. But now- here we go! Wild strawberries. I MUST try. Of course. The sensational taste reminds me to my childhood back in Austria, Europe. A flashback. Next stop, the sweet, juicy Persian lemons and Asian pears. Then I find almonds, hickory smoke roasted, orange honey roasted. More variations. Going further to exotic vegetables and fruits like Kosher Pistachios by Santa Barbara Union of Orthodox Jewish (sensational flavor), at the next stand green, orange and black Cherry tomatoes. Little yellow Teardrop tomatoes. Watching a full filled table with fresh seafood covered with crashed ice I can smell the salty air from Sea. Summer and Luna oysters, silver shimmering in the ice. Next to it I see Tuna and Carlsbad mussels. The sound of hundreds of people seems like a big, loud humming cloud and after being in it for about two hours I feel dursty. I buy fresh squeezed pineaple juice. Refreshing. On my way back I focus a man, his dark skinned face covered with long rasta dread locks. Wearing traditional African fabrics, robed around the torso. His hair and long beard is all silver. He offers micro greens, healing food and healing body care products. He’s smiling all the time to the people, sun, heaven. With his warm, deep voice he asks me what I’m writing in my little notebook. After telling him that it’s part of my homework for SMC I have to promise him he will get his part. So-, there it is, Medicine man.

Did people understand the short story Sterling’s Decision?

I feel that people understood the story because I did it in a way that was straight and clear in structure. Like the plot- it should be easy to understand the action. For the two characters, Sterling and the little Boy, I used words like pictures to describe their feelings, to tell what they’re thinking. In my opinion people can also picture the settings in the story, like the backside of the mainstreet and the patio. I think that I was successful in my style because the story has got a kind of straight line from the very beginning to the end. The main idea and purpose of the story is to give an example that someone is able to think his whole life over. I think people understand this message after reading the story.

At the Indian Restaurant

It’s my first time to experience Indian food. I walk in the “Golden Gate”, a fancy Indian
restaurant at Santa Monica Boulevard. Its an exotic atmosphere, dark tables and chairs made
of heavy black wood. Hudge multicolored carpets are hanging on the ceiling. The original Indian
Taj Mahal beer comes in big bottles, it’s not having too much flavor like local beers. The
Vegetarian Curry is served in little metal pots with many different vegetables like eggplants,
beans, carrots, paprika and tomatoes. It is very taste, spicy and I can sense ginger, lemon gras
and other exotic herbs. We also get rice mixed with peas in a big plate, very tasty, enriched
with Curry. I enjoy this intense flavors and it was my first- but definitely not my last time in an
Indian Restaurant.

The Atmosphere at the Anniversary of “THE WIZARD OF OZ”

Saturday night at Culver City Hall Courtyard, the audience is waiting for the 70th Anniversary to be started. There are many parents with their children. At the right side of the screen the Fire Department is offering fresh prepared, salted popcorn for free. A long line of children,
teenagers and parents are waiting to get their portion in little red plastic helmets. The popcorn’s smell is in the air, mixed with the sound of the tune coming out of the speakers. It’s windy, a little fresh tonight. Parents are having blankets with them, covering the little children’s bodies. The tune, well known by the parents, as they’re joining it. “Over the rainbow” from the left, the right side. Like a big cloud enfolding happy people, sharing magical moments, the magic of this night . - Joy. - Clapping hands when the scenes are showing familiar pictures, the speakers bringing well known words. Then – the final scene. When young Judy Garland as Dorothy is speaking her last words “There’s no place like home” people are clapping, yelling. What a touching, connecting atmosphere.