Monday, January 31, 2011

CLUESO singt Mitnehmen



Ist nicht so wild -- komm, lass mal sehen!
Von links nach rechts, wie steht der Wind?
Ey, schau mal raus, sitzt du bequem?
Wenn nicht, ist kein Problem - Ich krieg' das hin. --I can accept that; I get it.

Ich kann dich, wenn du willst, gern ein Stück mitnehmen,
Und es geht los von jetzt auf gleich wenn du dich traust.
Doch wir umfahren den Rest und nehmen Wege, die wir noch nicht kennen,
Denn ich steh' nicht gern im Stau. ---> I don't like being stuck in traffic jams.

Siehst du, jedes Bild taucht einfach auf,
Und es lenkt sich fast wie von allein.
Kein rotes Licht, dafür mehr blau.
Du hast kein‘ Plan - und wir brauchen kein‘.

Ich kann dich, wenn du willst, gern ein Stück mitnehmen,
Und es geht los von jetzt auf gleich, wenn (du) dich traust.
Doch wir umfahren den Rest und nehmen Wege, die wir noch nicht kennen,
Denn ich steh' nicht gern im Stau.

Hier und da komm' ich auf die Idee,
Einen andern Weg zu gehen,
Mal verspielt und mal gefasst.
[Ich steh' nicht gern im Stau]

Ich kann dich, wenn du willst, gern ein Stück mitnehmen,
Und es geht los von jetzt auf gleich wenn dich traust.
Doch wir umfahren den Rest und nehmen Wege die wir noch nicht kennen,
Denn ich steh' nicht gern im Stau.

Ich kann dich, wenn du willst, gern ein Stück mitnehmen
Und es geht los von jetzt auf gleich wenn dich traust
Doch wir umfahren den Rest und nehmen Wege die wir noch nicht kennen,
Denn ich steh' nicht gern im Stau, ich steh' nicht gern im Stau.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

REVOLVERHELD: Halt dich an mir fest

Hold onto me -- tightly -- mit Marta Jandov

SONGTEXT:
(Du) hast mich lang nicht mehr so angesehen, -- (ansehen = to look at)
hast mir lang nichts mehr erzählt. -- (erzählen = to tell)
Unsere Fotos hast du abgenommen, -- (abnehmen = to remove; take away)
-- weil dir irgendetwas fehlt. -- (irgend•etwas = ~ anything at all; fehlen = to be absent from)
Du rufst mich an und sagst, du weißt nicht mehr -- (anrufen = to call up)
weißt nicht mehr, was dich berührt. -- (berühren = to move; be touched by)
Die letzten Jahre haben dich aufgewühlt -- (aufwühlen = to churned up)
und dich nur noch mehr verwirrt. -- (verwirren = to confuse)

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt. -- (zerreissen = to tear up; shred)
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt. -- (wissen = to know a fact)
Ich kann dich verstehen. -- (verstehen = to understand)
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt. -- (bleiben = to stay)

Ich lass' das Licht an bis du schlafen kannst,
doch du wällst dich hin und her.
Schläfst die Nächte von mir abgewandt,
bist du einsam neben mir?

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehen.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Siehst du den Weg aus dieser Dunkelheit?
Willst du raus? Ich bin bereit.
Das kann nicht alles schon gewesen sein.
Ich glaub an uns und unsere Zeit.

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
-- Ich lass dich nicht gehen.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Killerpilze | Lieb mich oder Hass mich

Etwas lustiges (something humorous) zum Sankt Valentinstag!


Killerpilze | Video: Lieb mich oder Hass mich: "Killerpilze | Video: Lieb mich oder Hass mich"

--> Es geht um ein Fernsehprogramm. Welches?

--> Was sind Pilze? (Mushrooms!)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Fährt man auch im Winter Rad?

Wie wäre es (how would it be), wenn wir Straßen nur für Fahrräder hätten (if we had streets exclusively for bikes?)?

Hier ist ein kleines Video aus Münster.

--> Kannst du Münster auf eine Landkarte finden?




Die Musik finde ich auch schön, aber es ist Schade, dass sie auf Englisch ist.
ALSO: Hier ist ein Deutsches Lied über Radfahren -- von den Prinzen.

--> 120 Kilo pro Stunde ist er gefahren?? Wirklich? Was glaubst du?




" Nur Genießer (connoisseur; plural) fahren Fahrrad, und sind immer schneller da."

--> Sind wir beim Radfahren "immer schneller da?"

--> Wann fährst du gern Rad?

--> Wohin fährst du?

--> Fährst du mit Freunden?

--> Macht es dir Spaß?

STREETDANCE in Deutschland

Was gibt es in Deutschland zu tun?

Hier, zum Beispiel:



(OK to miss the intro. Start watching at 2:00)

Wo gibt es hier in RI solch eine (such a) Tanztruppe? Auf die Straßen?


Und jetzt, was denkt ihr vom Lexy und K-Paul??? "Do the German Clap"

VORSICHT! (Be careful! Here: Warning!) Es gibt ein Paar Szenen, die ich in der Klasse nicht zeigen wuerde. (There are several "questionable scenes". . .)




Ist dieses Stück "Kunst?" (Would you consider this piece "ART?")

Zum Sankt Valentinstag: Eine Verabredung? (A Date?)

Deszö thinks he's got a date, but he has a few surprises.



Die Gäste (guests) singen zum Schluß (at the end) ein Lied für Jenny?

--> Was für ein Lied hören wir?

--> Was wird danach gesagt?

Leica Freedom Train

This news broke fairly recently, as the family had wanted it kept private. It is a powerful story from an age that continually fuels our passions. Doing the right thing is often not the easiest choice, but it is worth fighting for.




Leica was permitted leniencies, because they were a successful, international company. They stayed successful because they supported the National Socialists' war effort. It was their optics in those Panzers. The Luftwaffe used Leica optics as well.



Perhaps it is because of the family having navigated on both sides of the line that they chose to keep the records closed regarding all the "employees" and their families, whom they succeeded in sending to their foreign offices from 1933 to 1939. There will always be controversy surrounding this era.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

EMANUELA von Fette Brot

Lass die Finger von Emanuela --




--> Wohin fährt die Band?

--> Was ist passiert?

--> Warum ist das passiert?

LAGER WALDSEE

Was kann man im Sommer machen?






Eine Geschichte über Heinz und David:

Hier essen sie Knödel: Sie schmecken gut.



--> Was machen sie auch?

--> Was haben sie am Ende vor?

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mehr Peter Fox; Haus am See

Für DICH, Havenlöwe!
Lange hast Du nach MEHR PETER FOX LIEDER gesucht.

Das offiziele Haus am See Video liegt leider (unfortunately) nicht mehr bei YOUTUBE. Aber hier ist eine Schulprojekt aus der 9. Klasse in einer Schule Namens Melibokusschule. Wo liegt diese Schule? Das weiss ich nicht.

--> Was denkt IHR ALLE über diese Schularbeit?

--> Welche Worter könnt Ihr verstehen?




DOCH! Beim weiter-suchen habe ich ein TEILCHEN (little part) dieses Video gefunden. Naja, Peter Fox, woran kaust Du beim singen?



(Ich sehe gern die Musiker, als sie spielen.)

--> Wie sieht Peter Fox aus als am Ende?

--> Warum das?

Friday, January 21, 2011

ALEX' Kanal: DYNAMITE

There seems to be lots of Germanized pop hits on Alex's Channel.

Here's a trio rocking the club.



---> Are you familiar with any of the other songs he's uploaded to YOUTUBE?

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Legibility and Learning

The following link leads to an article which presents a critical study regarding the results of learning via Kindle- or other spoon-fed type reading system. According to the study, such an easy-to-follow delivery makes learning more of a snooze; more difficult through which to retain information.

STUDY

What do you make of the study?

If you have glanced inside many of the books in the corner bookshelf in Classroom 209, you'll find much of the them are printed in a Suetterlin Script, a script introduced in 1915, and eventually taught in all German schools by 1935. After 1941 under Adolf Hitler, schools streamlined once again, and began teaching the current script we read easily today.


Suetterlinschrift




However students of German in the USA continued to learn the language from books printed in Suetterlin Script for many years. --> Do you think such a script would be a set-back in our quest to learn German?

--> How much of the above text can you decipher?

--> According to the study above, changing away from the less legible Suetterlin Script was a setback. Do you agree?

Monday, January 17, 2011

GERMAN-AMERICAN Community Finds Its Voice


<-----------(Current issue)

-----------------> (Publisher)

Here's the commentary by GERMAN WORLD Publisher, Petra Schürmann, in the January 2011 issue -- (Auf Englisch) :

Have you noticed...how many German surnames appear in American politics?

I'm thinking of Treasurer Timothy F. Geithner, and the recently elected new Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, as well as the countless German surnames among representatives and senators, such as Heidepriem, Daschle, Ehrlich, Shuster and Gerlach.

But do these politicians give the German-American community any political influence in the USA? So far, definitely not.

Even though Germany is America's most important partner in Europe, has the third largest economy in the world, and although 43 million Americans, according to the 2000 Census, are of German descent and are thus the largest ethnic minority in the USA, Germany plays no role in the US media and politics. Even a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Los Angeles was covered by the LA Times with a mere photo and a two-line text.

The opening of the first national German-American Heritage Museum in Washington DC in March... put German-Americans in the limelight for the first time, with a focus on their history and their achievements. And slowly, we are seeing what looks like a new trend in American politics, too.

Not only did John A. Boehner talk openly about his German descent in a TV interview with Diane Sawyer, Jim Gerlach from Pennsylvania has recently issued an initiative for creating a German-American caucus in the US Congress. At a gala event of the German Society of Pennsylvania on October 3 commemorating the 20th anniversary of German reunification he spoke in detail about his plans: "My growing awareness of my familiy's German roots and the rich German heritage in my Congressional District has led me to take actions in the House of Representatives to foster a greater appreciation of and fortify the German-American connection. (..) The Caucus will be an informal, bipartisan group of Members of Congress dedicated to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the US and Germany. It will highlight our current economic ties with Germany and draw attention to the German-American heritage and achievements German-Americans have made in building the United States. The House already has well-established caucuses focused on issues with India, Pakistan, Switzerland, Mexico, and Albania to name a few. I believe it well past time to establish one focusing on the German-American experience."

Don't you think that it is finally time to honor the achievements of German-Americans in building and developing the United States of America?

Jim Gerlach has already found support from the nonprofit organizations.......

I hope that many members of the US Congress from both parties will listen to and follow Jim Gerlach's request. After all, Germany is still America's most important partner. Reason enough to a sufficient number of American politicians to step forward and help launch this caucus, either because of their German descent or their interest in Germany and Europe.

--Petra Schürmann

Germany's Solar Millennium to build World's Largest Solar Project -- in California

Old news: From October 2010.

Check out the GREENTECH ARTICLE

The German Confederation

As we prepare for Midterms, take a look at the map of Germania 200 years ago. (Bottom of link below)

On your way there, there's a 4 minute video (overdubbed into English) explaining what the celebrating is all about this time, as, especially Brandenburgers are glancing back 200 years to the death of the 'Mother of the Nation': Queen Luisa of Prussia.

The German Confederation: "The German Confederation 1815-1866 (Deutscher Bund). The dominant states are Austria (yellow) and Prussia (blue)"

Fascinating, right? Let's get back to that map.

--> Where's Poland? -- It's part of Prussia (dismembered in 1795), as is a good part of France.

--> See also the large area of Hanover?

--> What country is Silesia today? (In Saxony, near Görlitz, the city of Bautzen still maintains the language and other strong Silesian elements.)

--> What about Bohemia?

Groundbreaking in Oakland: Austria's DOPPELMAYR Cable Car



Doppelmayr Cable Cars Wins Another High-Profile Bid in the US – The Austrian-based company celebrates its largest contract in company history

January 3, 2011 by Anja Knorr

The top management of Doppelmayr Cable Cars (DCC) flew in from Austria for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in Oakland. Construction of the new automated 3.1-mile-long people mover that will provide convenient service between Oakland’s airport and the public transportation hub at the Oakland Coliseum, is scheduled to be completed by 2014. Traveling at a maximum speed of 31 miles per hour, the bi-directional system will initially consist of four trains of three cars each and will carry 1,492 people per hour per direction.

This new contract is DCC’s largest single contract to date as well as that of its 118 year-old parent company, which is the world’s leader in Cable Transit. Competing with Bombardier, Mitsubishi, and Poma/Leitner for the intensely sought-after $ 361 M contract, DCC earned the BART project with its proven advantages and outstanding record, offering the most cost efficient and environmentally responsible solution. In addition, Doppelmayr was awarded a $100 M, 20-year operations and maintenance contract for the system.

DCC and its civil construction and design partner, Flatiron/Parsons Joint Venture, started with the design, engineering and mobilization in November, shortly after the contract was signed on September 23, 2010. It is the third cable car contract for DCC in the US. There are already two DCC cable liner shuttle systems operating in Las Vegas at MGM and Mandalay Bay. – gw/ps

Martin Luther King in Berlin, 1964

Bitte sehr!


Martin Luther King with Robert Abernathy, overlooking the site at the Berlin Wall where a shooting had just taken place (the freedom-seeker fleeing the German Democratic Republic was hit, but survived).

Lies mehr, über diesen Besuch -- auf ENGLISCH, HIER:


Did you know that Martin Luther King's father's MIDDLE name was self-selected? He officially changed his name from Martin King, after a lengthy stay in Germany, during which he became highly impressed with Martin Luther's life and work. Thus, we celebrate the famous German Reformer's name as well on this holiday.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Cross-eyed opossum captures hearts in Germany

Cross-eyed opossum Heidi sits in her enclosure at Leipzig zoo in eastern Germany. Heidi, who is not yet even on public display, has become an Internet hit, winning more than 65,000 "friends" on the social networking website Facebook.

Das Opossum = die Beutelratte
cross-eyed = schielend


BERLIN (Reuters Life!) January 11 2011 by Eric Kelsey

She's middle-aged, gray-haired and stays up all night. Still, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum is Germany's biggest media sensation, and she has not even made her debut at the Leipzig Zoo.

Yet Heidi appears to be the next in a line of animal celebrities in Germany. The 2-1/2-year-old opossum has a growing Facebook following pushing 80,000 fans, sparked a popular song on YouTube and will soon star as a plush toy. However, the public will not get their first glimpse of the opossum until July, when the zoo opens its tropical wildlife exhibit.

The zoo had no inkling of what a cause-celebre the cross-eyed opossum would become when Heidi along with her sister, Naira, and a male opossum arrived from a zoo in Denmark in May.

"The Heidi sensation was surprising and unplanned," said Leipzig zoo spokeswoman Maria Saegebarth. "It's great that there has been a lot interest, but we had nothing to do with the media hype."

Heidi first appeared in Germany's mass-circulation newspaper Bild last month. The zoo has no plans to change its upcoming tropical exhibit because of Heidi's ticket draw.

"We understand that Heidi has become so popular and that people will want to see her," said Saegebarth. "But that will not change the zoo's strategy with the exhibit -- she's one animal of many."

Still, Heidi is the most recent example of animal celebrities in Germany in recent years, which includes Knut the polar bear in Berlin and the recently deceased Paul the octopus in Oberhausen, western Germany.

Knut became internationally famous as a cub when the Berlin zoo hand-reared him after he was rejected by his mother in December 2006. The zoo earned 1 million euros ($1.30 million) along from marketing Knut products in 2007.

Paul the octopus was an international sensation this past summer when he correctly predicted the results of each of Germany's World Cup soccer matches and accurately tipped Spain to top the Netherlands in the final.

Demand for information about Heidi has been so high the zoo has dedicated a portion of its website to answering Heidi-related questions, such as why she is cross-eyed.

Zoo officials believe that Heidi's crossed eyes could come from a poor diet when she was young, causing fat deposits to develop behind her eyes -- neither of which causes her pain or poses a health risk, the zoo said.

Poor vision is not much of a problem for Heidi, the zoo said. As a nocturnal animal, opossum's rely heavily on their sense of smell instead of their sight to get around.

Die LORELEI strikes again!

Und das hat mit ihrem singen
die Lorelei getan . . . . .



AP – Tug boats secure a tanker carrying 2,400 tonnes of sulphuric acid after the barge capsized at the river …

AP Associated Press Thursday, January 13, 2011
Acid-laden tanker capsizes on Rhine in Germany

BERLIN – A tanker loaded with sulfuric acid capsized on the Rhine river in Germany on Thursday, and special cranes and more than 100 rescuers struggled to right the vessel and find two crew members who remain missing.

There was no immediate word on why the ship capsized, the shipping office in Bingen said. Two other crew members were rescued from the ship, which overturned near St. Goarshausen, in western Germany, early in the day.

"Suddenly the ship just disappeared from the radar," said Martin Mauermann, the head of the Office of Water and Shipping in Bingen, adding that could mean the vessel submerged completely before turning on its side and floating to the surface.

"It's an abstruse case," he said.

The 360-foot (110-meter) long tanker was carrying 2,400 tons of sulfuric acid. There were no indications that the load was leaking and initial measurements carried out downstream from the scene showed no abnormalities, the shipping office said.

Yet given the difficulty of righting the vessel, leakage of the chemicals cannot be ruled out, Kurt Beck, governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state, told reporters.

"It is possible that we won't be able to right the ship with the cranes," Beck said.

Authorities closed a stretch of the Rhine to shipping. The river, swollen from melting snow caused by a recent spate of unseasonably warm weather has flooded the Rhine and its waters were running fast.

The German-owned ship was on its way from the BASF chemical company in the southwestern German city of Ludwigshafen to Antwerp, Belgium.

The accident happened on a picturesque stretch of the Rhine near the famed Loreley cliff, where the river runs 370 feet (113 meters) wide and 82 feet (25 meters) deep, making it one of the most dangerous bends in the river.

Legends of a beautiful maiden on the Loreley singing to sailors passing on the waters below are told to have cost countless men their lives.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

German Vocabulary: Airports!

As we prepare for our Oral Exams, it's interesting to focus on just this one set of vocabulary: IT'S EXTENSIVE, RIGHT?!

AH! Language learning takes TIME! --Let's not be impatient, but rather, step by step, enjoy the ride together, okay?

Good luck with your preparations, everyone!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

68% Japanese students study German

68%! This figure is so fascinating to me, since I'd be thrilled if even ten percent of our NKHS student body were clever enough to find their way into our German program. (Numbers like twenty percent; forty-; sixty-; nearly seventy percent seem-- radical!)

Furthermore, since the Japanese also learn English (making German their third--or so--language), their world is certainly worthy of our curiosity. They're on to something. These are the kids who will be some of your chief competitors. After all, interest in all things Asian is breaking the lock on the world's pop culture, which the US has enjoyed since post WWII.

Are Asian teens so very different from us?

Maybe you'll enjoy this peek into an Asian (South Korean) boy's band, TVXQ. They incorporate an English chorus. Let me know what you think of their choreography; sound; message.

Purple Line:



Did you see elements of the Asian society, which might eclipse the current fascination there is with Times Square?


Meine kleine Prinzessin (acappella)



Diese Band scheint (=seems) DBSK in Asien zu heissen.




Hier: Noch eine Band aus Süd Korea, SHINee.
"Nur" 12 Millionen HITS auf diesem Lied: LUCIFER.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

What Will Our Exchange Partners Find Different in RI?




PUBLISHED Jan. 4, 2011, in GARNET VALLEY PRESS: NEWS (with several edits by rsb)

German exchange students spend three weeks in Garnet Valley

On Sept. 22, German students from Städtisches Gymnasium Straelen came to Garnet Valley to learn about all things American. Strälen, Germany is a nice town a couple minutes away from the Dutch border. Naturally, like practically everyone else in the world, the German exchange students wanted to experience something new and their school offered them that opportunity. Twenty exchange students arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport, where many of them shared their first hugs, handshakes and smiles with their American hosts, whom they would live with for the next three weeks.

When the Germans came to America, they did not only step into a different country—they stepped into a country full of people with a different lifestyle. There are many similarities between German and American culture, but there are also plenty of differences. Before the exchange, not a single one of the Germans had ever ridden a school bus. Before they entered our homes, the German students had to ask adults for rides to various places only occasionally. Germans usually travel by bike or foot or train as their daily source of transportation, and it’s very common for young people to utilize these methods of transportation. Several of the Germans had never had a Philly Cheese Steak, and convenience stores such as Wawa were altogether unfamiliar to them. What is typical in an American’s daily life is different from a German’s way of life and so does it go for any country that is ever compared to another.

When in Garnet Valley High School for their school days, the exchange students followed their hosts from class to class, observing how American classrooms work. In Germany, students do not have their major classes every day, and they usually don’t have class every period. When they don’t have class, they can go home; they are not required to stay in school and home is just a bike ride or short walk away. At Garnet Valley, the Germans got to experience life with block scheduling, school buses, and classes all day, every day.

Frau Robinson, GVHS’s German teacher, and the two teachers who came with the exchange students organized trips to enhance the guests’ learning experiences. The trips arranged for the German exchange students were to Valley Forge, Washington D.C., New York City, Lancaster, and Philadelphia. Their biggest trip was to New York City, where they spent three days in “The Big Apple” (WOW!--rsb) shopping and sightseeing. In Lancaster, they learned about old German settlers in America, especially the Amish. For the trip to Washington D.C., both the Germans and the hosts walked from the Lincoln Memorial, quickly stopped by the White House for pictures, and then spent the rest of the day in the vicinity of the National Mall. They also got to see what a real D.C. rally is like. For the trip to Philadelphia, both the Germans and the hosts visited Independence Hall and walked down South Street for a very memorable last day of their American experience.

Well before the end of their visit, the hosts and Germans had become great friends through a number of experiences provided by their teachers and their families. The Germans are not the only ones who learned from the exchange; the hosts learned from it as well. To say the least, they came, they saw…and then they left: to prepare for the return visit by the Garnet Valley Exchangers in Strälen next Spring! It will be hard to wait.

This article was written by GVHS student Suezette Waals and appeared in the GVHS newspaper.

While our GAPP Exchange is the only one like it in Rhode Island, there are hundreds of such exchanges around the USA (with over 25 partner schools in each of these stats: California; Illinois; Indiana; Massachusetts; Minnesota; New York; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Texas; Washington; Wisconsin).

Dein OHRWURM - Wise Guys

Dieses Lied bleibt im Ohr, oder?



Songtext

Ohrwurm --- Musik/Text: Daniel Dickopf,
------------Arrangement: Erik Sohn
------------Leadgesang: Clemens

Hallo, hallo, ich bin //: dein Ohrwur :// x2
Ich summ' den ganzen Tag das immer gleiche Lied,
es sitzt in meinem Kopf und geht nicht weg.
Hab' alles ausprobiert, damit es sich verzieht,
doch leider hat das alles keinen Zweck.
Ich renne durch die Straßen, konzentrier' mich auf den Krach,
ich dröhne mir die Ohren voll mit Beethoven und Bach,
die Fünfte Sinfonie verklingt mit viel "Tata!",
mein Ohrwurm sagt, "hallo, ich bin noch da!"
Hallo,...Ohrwurm (X2).
Weil ich in deinen Ohren steck, u ich geh' hier nie mehr weg.

Ich geh' jetzt tanzen, vielleicht lenkt mich das ab.
Doch plötzlich gibt es eine Schlägerei!
Die Gläser fliegen, doch ich entkomme knapp
und lande schließlich bei der Polizei.
Meine Freundin holt mich ab und zahlt die Kaution
Und fragt mich auf dem Rückweg nur, wo ich ab morgen wohn'.
Sie sagt: "Ich hab' genug. Ich verlasse dich!"
Mein Ohrwurm sagt: "Was soll's? Du hast ja mich!"

Hallo,dein Ohrwurm,...
Ich bin zwar nicht grad virtuos,
doch du wirst mich nie mehr los!

Vier (4) Uhr nachts, Freundin weg, ich krieg' kein Auge zu,
hab' immer noch das blöde Lied im Ohr.
Ich wälz' mich hin und her und finde keine Ruh
und komm' mir langsam ziemlich fertig vor.
Allmählich dreh' ich durch! Wenn ich nicht sofort schlafe,
dann bin ich morgen tot! Ich zähle jetzt mal Schafe...
Es funktioniert. Ich merke, dass ich müde werde.
Doch plötzlich singt die ganze Herde:

Hallo, hallo, ich bin dein Ohrwurm, dein O (x2)
Ich bin ziemlich penetrant,
sonst wär ich nicht so bekannt!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Oracles as Predictors for the New Year


Last year, our German Club melted wax (instead of traditional lead), and promptly dropped the wax into water. Using a decoder, we identified the shape of the wax to determine which direction our year would lead us.

I remember that some were bound to go traveling, while others were expecting romance to blossom, and others had various character traits selected as needing attention.

This year, our German Club will use a different determiner than melted wax. We'll use GUMMIBÄRCHEN! That's right. Each of us will, with our eyes covered, pull 5 different Gummibärchen from a bowl. Then, we'll turn to the German Gummibärchen Oracle.

Based on the combination of colors as found on the following CHART,

we'll get a sneak preview into this first year of the new decade.

Hope you can make it to German Club this week! Of course, you're welcome to try this any time. Feel free to share your results here!

Das Haus, UND viel MEHR!







Zuerst gibt es hier ein paar schöne Häuser in Deutschland.

Sind sie nicht interessant?

Wie sind sie unseren Häusern anders?

Wie werden sie gebaut?

Wer könnte vielleicht darin wohnen?



Um mehr über Deutsche Häuser, und auch über das Leben in Deutschland zu lernen, besuchen wir ein Deutsches Haus im Internet.

Dieses Haus habe ich beim Goeth-Institut gefunden.

Um weiter zu kommen muss man weiter klicken.
Klick zuerst DAS HAUS, unten!
Dort ist ein einfaches Haus zu sehen.
Klick an dem Tür•klingel (doorbell).
Dann auf dem Pfeil (arrow),
um in das Haus rein zu kommen
(to be invited inside the house).



DAS HAUS

Es gibt ein Wohnzimmer, wo man über
• Deutsche Literatur (Erzählungen; Fabeln und Märchen; Gedichte und Balladen; Romanen und Dramen; Neue Literatur);
• Schornsteinfeger (chimney sweeps);
• Fernseh- und auch Radio- Sendungen in Deutschland;
• Musikinstrumente;
• Klassische Musik;
• Museen;
• Landschaften und Ausflugziele; und den
• Alltag in Deutschland;

lesen kann;

eine Küche, wo man über
• den Lebensform: Wohngemeinschaft (WG);
• Lebensmittel;
• Essgewohnheiten;
• Mülltrennung (recycling; trash separation); und
• Rezepte -------------> lesen kann;
es gibt hier auch einen Kalender;

einen Garten, wo man über
• die Jahreszeiten (seasons);
• Gartenpflanzen (gardening);
• Gartennützung
• Möbilität und Verkehr ---------> lesen kann; und

einen Keller (cellar), wo man über
• Tiefkühlprodukte (frozen foods); und
• Radfahren ------------> lesen kann.


Wenn man nach oben geht, dann kann man
• weiter oben auf den Dachboden hin, wo es über das Reisen (vacations and travel) geht;
• in den Fitness-Raum, wo man über Golf, Formel-1; Tennis; und Fußball lesen kann;
• in das Bad, wo man etwas über Wasserverbrauch (water usage) findet;
• in das Schlafzimmer, wo man über Einkaufen lesen kann;
• in das Arbeitszimmer; wo es Hintergrundbilder für den Computer, Infos zur Geographie Deutschlands; und auch etwas über Währungen (currency; enchange rates) gibt.

Viel Spaß beim lernen!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Werbung (Advertising) zum Neujahr 2011

Are German ads different than ours?




Wortschatz

gesamt = entire
wichtig = important
aufrichtig = genuinely
gesund = healthy
die Freude = joy
der Erfolg = success

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Kaiser Franz Joseph von Hapsburg und Kaiserin Sisi (Sissi; Elisabeth)

It's hard to find any royalty better loved than this pair from. In the previous post, Violinist André Rieu mentioned that the audience had just been able to welcome the royal pair from the mid 19th century into one of its main addresses: Schönbrunn Castle. Here "they" are, arriving:




I'm not sure of the significance of the Kaiser's green hat, but this hat was also seen in the ballet. Anybody know?


The concert included this bit of humor with the first contra bass player from France. Please chime in: Do you agree with the audience that this is a funny piece?

der Schmied = the blacksmith
Er will sein Instrument stimmen = He wants to tune his instrument.
ausziehen = to undress


Vienna Konzert, Schloß (Castle) Schönbrunn

Mit Andre Rieu: The Kaiserwalz.



Ever since the mid-40's, there's been a festive holiday waltz-concert in Vienna on New Year's Day, initially to boost spirits, and offer hope for a more sensible future. Waltzes written by Joseph Strauß and also his father are predominently featured in these concerts.

Vienna's New Years Concert is now something that some families book for generations in advance; is broadcast to millions world-wide; and involves not just the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but also the Vienna State Opera Ballet, along with famous hosts and guest conductors. Of interest is that the Italian city of Sauremo provides lavish floral decorations every year.

Rather than select a scene from this winter concert to include here (there are already at least 5 posting on YOUTUBE from today's concert) I selected a short sample from a warmer, outside concert, where the dancing which takes place inside the Castle is viewed on large screens next to the Orchestra.

Waltzing is Austria's "thing." I'm not sure if it will ever go out of style. I'm told that Viennese kids prefer to take dancing lessons in their free time, rather than skateboard or play video games, which are more prevalent here.

--> What are the chances that waltzing will take hold with the youth here in RI?

ARD TV Märchen und MEHR!

1. Märchenfest!

Watch some of your favorite Fairytales HERE

These don't stay posted long. Today, the offerings are

-- The Kaiser's New Clothes
-- The Master Thief
-- Table, Set Yourself!
-- The Princess and the Pea
-- The Blue Light
-- Rapunzel

---> along with several interesting trailers.


2. Anfang des 20. Jahrhundert schrieb Thomas Mann sehr interessante, aber schwere Bücher. Nachdem ich die kleine Nouvelle, DER TOT IN VENEDIG, sehr genossen hatte, wollte ich BUDDENBROOKS lesen. Mit 700+ Seiten kam ich nie dazu.

BUDDENBROOKS ist ein langes Buch, das Thomas Mann schrieb als er 26 Jahre alt war.

Der Roman folgt eine sehr erfolgreiche Deutsche Familie, die Buddenbrook Familie, als sie nach mehreren Generationen immer weniger Erfolg hatten.

Gestern habe ich, dank ARD TV im Internet, Teil 1 im Fernsehen anschauen können.

ACH! Die Kostüme! Die Straßen und Gebäuden! Das Leben im 19. Jahrhundert war viel anders als heute.


...ACH...I'm still looking for it again. The film may have been replaced. I'm still hoping to catch PART 2 sometime soon. So, here's the trailer:




3. Auch jetzt bei ARD: Dürrenmatt's BESUCH DER ALTEN DAME !

Im Theaterfest wird sehr oft Szene aus diesem Theaterstück gespielt.

Natürlich weiss ich nicht wie lange diese Sendungen hier zum abspielen bleiben werden. Aber es wird immer gute Sendungen hier geben. Schau mal nach!



Since I didn't find the link, I'll insert this YOUTUBE footage of scenes between the scorned girlfriend, and the daughter, of "doomed" Alfred Ill of Güllen.

Ein Geschenk zum NEUJAHR: ALLES NEU v. PETER FOX!

Warum nicht: Hier im Neujahr, ein LIEBLINGSLIED: ALLES NEU!





Hey! Alles glänzt -- so schön neu!

---- Everything glistens; so beautifully (brand) new!

Jede Szene finde ich noch interessanter, als die frühere Szene.
Ganz zum Schluß kommt das Cold Steel Drumline: WATCH OUT!


SONGTEXT PETER FOX: ALLES NEU

Ich verbrenn’ mein Studio, schnupfe die Asche wie Koks.
Ich erschlag meinen Goldfisch, vergrab ihn im Hof.
Ich jag’ meine Bude hoch, alles was ich hab lass ich los. (Eh...)
Mein altes Leben, schmeckt wie 'n labriger Toast.
Brat mir ein Pracht-Steak, Peter kocht jetzt feinstes Fleisch.
Bin das Update, Peter Fox 1.1.
Ich will abshaken, feiern, doch mein Teich ist zu klein.
Mir wächst 'ne neue reihe Beißer wie bei 'nem weissen Hai. (Hou...)

Gewachst, gedopet, poliert, Nagelneue Zähne.
Ich bin euphorisiert, und habe teure Pläne.
Ich kaufe mir Baumaschinen, Bagger und Walzen und Kräne.
Stürze mich auf Berlin und drück auf die Sirene.
Ich baue schöne Boxentürme, Bässe massieren eure Seele.
Ich bin die Abrissbirne für die d-d-d-deutsche Szene.

Hey-, alles glänzt-, so schön neu.
Hey, wenn's dir nicht gefällt, mach neu. (Hou...)
Die Welt mit Staub bedeckt, doch ich will sehn wo's hingeht.
Steig auf den Berg aus Dreck, weil oben frischer Wind weht.
Hey-, alles glänzt-, so schön neu.

Ich hab’ meine alten Sachen satt, und lass sie in 'nem Sack verrotten.
Motte die Klamotten ein, und dann geh’ ich nackt shoppen.
Ich bin komplett renoviert, Bräute haben was zu glotzen.
Kerngesund, durchtrainiert, Weltmeister im Schach und Boxen.
Nur noch konkret reden, gib mir ein ja oder nein.
Schluss mit Larifari, ich lass all die alten Faxen sein.
Sollt' ich je wieder kiffen, hau ich mir 'ne Axt ins Bein.
Ich will nie mehr Lügen, ich will jeden Satz auch so meinen.

Mir platzt der Kopf, alles muss ich verändern.
Ich such’ den Knopf, treffe die mächtigen Männer.
Zwing’ das Land zum Glück, kaufe Banken und Sender.
Alles spielt verrückt, zitternde Schafe und Lämmer.
Ich seh’ besser aus als Bono, und bin 'n Mann des Volkes.
Bereit’ die Welt zu retten, auch wenn das vielleicht zu viel gewollt ist.

Hey-, alles glänzt-, so schön neu.
Hey-, wenn's dir nicht gefällt, mach neu! (Hou...)
Hier- ist -die -Luft -verbraucht, das Atmen fällt mir schwer.
Bye Bye ich muss hier raus, die Wände kommen näher.
Die -Welt- mit -Staub- bedeckt, doch- ich- will -sehn -wo's -hingeht.
Steig auf den Berg aus Dreck, weil oben frischer Wind weht.
Hey-, alles glänzt-, so schön neu. HEY!! Cold Steele Drumline