Month: September 2016

Chronological this time, so here we go with some sum ups of the last week and some features at the beginning of this sunny week in Berlin (actually, we had the best summer here compared to the rest of Germany regarding sunshine…).

Global development… at least the G20 (i.e. 10% out of 194 ‘states’ (19 leading industrial and emerging countries plus Europe)), signed the Climate Agreement, now with the US and China onboard; migration control, global economic development and territorial claims: still being discussed and global economic growth to be enforced. Of course, China showed off as one of the big leaders, economically, but did not handle Obama with care – really not polite at all.
Red wine? A toast? Where is the whisky?!
Chancellor Merkel had a midnight talk with President Putin (Did they drink Vodka?); results? Other eye-to-eye meetings of course happened and we will never have a clue what they have been talking about, will we?

local politics… Well, Mrs. Merkel, she might have been sidetracked by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections here in Germany, in her electoral district. Being absent, the arena has been opened – for political opinions and party leaders who present themselves as the good family guys in the neighborhood but in fact perhaps are pure racists (know the joke: ‘Oh, I am pro foreigners. Everybody should have a slave.’?). It is not easy to explain that a state that ranks as number 6 regarding area, with about 1.6 million inhabitants is not willing to integrate 2% migrants (i.e. a small town, about 32.000 new people). ‘But the area is covered with lakes!’ Exactly, so use them.

‘But we ourselves we do not have a job yet!’ ‘We will not be safe!’ ‘They destroy our beautiful homeland!’ Well, hey, have a look around then and tell us something about beauty… but right, you have an unemployment rate of 9%, but this is to address to the government and to your local locals at the same time and their idea of centralizing job centers e.g. or leading communities – that in fact did not work out apparently. And may be, after the World War II when Mecklenburg and Hither-Pomerania united there have been crucial contracts been made? And the EU grants – have they been placed the right way? There has been a profound article about it in last weeks’ The ZEIT (print version).
New people, new ideas, new collaborations – take the chance… and welcome not only the tourists. And safety? Regardless the migrants, tell me: Do you feel safe at the moment?
An internal Allensbach survey for the SPD shows that economic stability alone is not the key
to feel safe.

When the cat’s away the mice will play, the AfD did it in MV and Mrs. Merkel is not amused …
so, hey, have an eye on them and a closer look how they develop their programs. Advice for the other parties. And calm down a bit: MV is – regarding number of inhabitants – no. 14 among the 16 states here. MV? Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, some just call it Mäkelburg-Vorpommern or Meckerburg-Vorpommern… kiddin’ a little, of course, but without humour you’re lost, I can tell.

plus some sports…

Leaving the political stage for a second – had the chance to visit the ISTAF outdoor meeting
in Berlin last Saturday.
ISTAF? IFA, I know about, yes, of course, hey, but ISTAF? Are you sure? Ah, ISAF! Again no?
Tell me…

Berlin celebrated the 75th anniversary of ISTAF, the world’s greatest track and field meeting regarding spectators and tradition. Actually, we have 2 ISTAFs here per year,
in the Olympic Stadium (outdoor), and indoor since 2014 in the late O2 world now Mercedes-Benz-Arena.

We saw old and new Olympic heroes, some now under suspicion being doped… Dietmar Mögenburg, Astrid Kumbernuss (first woman ever who aims at gold medals in both the Olympics and Paralympics), Christina Obergföll’s very last emotional javelin throw (I just entered
the stadium in that very moment, lucky to see it) and so on. Actual Olympic winners like
Braz da Silva beaten by the Greek Filippidis, Hermaphrodite Semenya Caster –
and a very competitive – in my eyes – 3,000m Steeple Chase race where the German ladies
did a very good job.
Harting brothers, new promising Javelin throwers including the Gold Medalist Thomas Röhler. Liked the school sports races (run-like-you-like style or hidden new methods/ materials to be tested?), the mix is good – and having the rollies on the track as well is a promising sign.
But please, do not speak about the ‘German Leichtathletikherrlichkeit’ – this is really too old school. Ask Mrs. Caster. Otherwise – or for that very reason? – and because of the cannibalizing effects of other events – the number of spectators will continue to decrease. This year we had 44,500 only… so do not mix too much in your laboratories. Otherwise you have to change starter lists; Mrs. Caster will run with the men as well as with the women – she ran the 800m here in
1 minute 55,68 seconds – there is still room to beat the 1 minute 43,31 seconds of Mr. Lekuta Rudisha – too far away? You’ll never know…

One could see and almost feel that the timing of the ISTAF in an Olympic year is really tough. This explains to a great extend why athletes I have been waitin’ for did not show off.
But although the athletes seemed to be worn out – some of them could reach personal bests. Incredible? But it is written… (reminds me of an old comic I read when I was little – some spooky strange stories, comic style…).

100m Men always is a catch – and this time I could watch it in the winner’s zone.
All in all – *Happy not having forgotten my spyglass*

this week began with some funny tale tells…

 

If you want to re-register your local legal parking license here: just quit on checking the physical letter of the Administrative Office for Citizens, get physical yourself instead (hi hi), so down the stairs to your car, check it out, up the stairs again and then you can decide if you have to have a new badge or re-register the old one. OK, done. But then: at the ‘Amt‘ they tell you that you definitively have to bring your old badge – even if you have to search in your waste for it, bring it (do they really want to have strong smelling waste on their desks?) or, easier (?), make a statement on oath… SIGH, shall I always carry a bible or lawyer then under my arm to make this kind of statement?  Or is one sitting right next to the administration officers?
Or do they have a service to drive me to court and back again?

… and ends resp. opens the art season: Berlin Art Week – check it out… enjoy art in different locations, like Berlin can do it.

I will end this post with a few art cites from Niklas Maak’s diner speech of the 39th member’s meeting of the ‘Verein der Freunde der Nationalgalerie’ (they do not want a translation?) here in Berlin: “Wenn wir nicht aufpassen, wird am Kulturforum ein gediegener, funktionaler Karton für drei Privatsammlungen errichtet, der nicht viel verändert.” (talking about the planned new Museum of the 20th century… ‘If we don’t pay attention, a solid, functional carton for 3 private collections will be located at the Kulturforum that will not change much.’
Means, ignoring the place and the cross over of 20th century art.

This will definitely not be a representation of 20th century art, and “(…) – für die Kunst der Moderne, aber auch für die Stadt des 21. Jahrhunderts. Die Geschichte der Berliner Avantgarden sollte uns dafür Verpflichtung genug sein.” /'(…) – for Modern art, but also for the city of the 21st century. History of Berlin avant-garde should be sufficient commitment enough for us.’
Case closed?