… our complementary view to the busy side of life
In past articles I have written about international cooperation on company level. But there is also a lot to say on a purely private level. In my family and circle of acquaintances I am not the only one who has moved to another country to live with their partner. And during an exchange of experiences with other “impacted” people I have discovered interesting parallels.
Continue reading “International Relations – from a private perspective”
Let’s start with a neutral version of the smart-ass, the know-it-all. Basically, the same applies here: Nobody likes know-it-alls! Unless he is a „Bezzerwizzer.“ Because Bezzerwizzer (corrupted German for “know-it-all”. Mattel couldn’t come up with a better name in English.) is a family game published by Mattel at the beginning of the new millennium. It is a knowledge game based on games like Trivial Pursuit or shows like “Who wants to be a millionaire? We realize that wise guys and bezzerwizers are not marginalized, they are a mainstream of our time.
Continue reading “What does CORONA have to do with toilet paper? – An attempt at an anal -ysis (Part 2)”
At first I was just amused, the first phase of the CORONA pandemic was somehow strange. Searching for relevant information about this dangerous pandemic, or, depending on my perspective, some new sort flu, I stumbled over and over again over the involuntarily funny contributions to toilet paper hoarding. Reports of brawls in supermarkets, toilet paper purloiners in hospitals and family tragedies with (but mostly without) toilet paper were the order of the day. Americans, Australians and many other nations shared a new fondness for beautifying their homes with rolls of toilet paper. OK, the French also hoarded large quantities of red wine and the Dutch experienced an additional run on their coffee shops – to quickly stock up on marijuana before they closed.
Continue reading “What does CORONA have to do with toilet paper? – An attempt at an anal-ysis (part 1)”
Dear listeners, let me welcome you to our live feature here at Harlequin Radio on “Conspiracy Theories and Fake News”. Of course we have again invited guests, whom I will introduce to you in a moment, but please participate directly. Our lines have already been open for an hour and we look forward to your contributions. My name is the Harlequin von Zurich and today I am pleased to welcome as guests: Mark Twain, Frank Zappa and Oscar Wilde.
Continue reading “Great Minds Think a Lot”
So far, dear readers, I have presented many savoury (and mostly fried!) variations of Dutch cuisine. Today we’re going to talk about the afternoon – and the nice habit of ordering a piece of cake with your coffee on the way.
My colleague BCO, who in February in his article “Too much bloody choice!” shared with us his traumatic experience of ice cream selection in the Ben & Jerry’s factory, should be delighted in Dutch cafes, because often the selection consists only of “appeltaart with cream” and “appeltaart without cream”. Life can be so simple!
Continue reading “And for coffee there’s – appeltaart, vlaai and poffertjes!”
I often get the urge to write in reaction to things that have a negative impact on me. Not necessarily just aggravations. Often it is people making things too easy for themselves. I notice time and again, for example, that there are spelling mistakes on many signs, or that journalists, who ought to be trained in this area, cannot get their grammar right. I’m neither a language specialist nor a purity fetishist, but I do believe that it doesn’t hurt to at least make an effort when you do something. It makes your own statements and actions a lot more credible.
Continue reading “The thing about decisions”
This emancipated woman obviously had not heard that according to Christian conviction only Jesus could walk on water. The most ingenious home-made filter system I have ever seen, together with a “guardian angel” – what a day.
(The picture was taken in 2012 while visiting the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing – also known as “the Egg”. )
…that’s what we thought until now. Far from it! As this sign from Switzerland proves, whatever is allowed must first be permitted. Or are we Swiss so meek that we have to be explicitly persuaded to do something legitimate?
Only companies that constantly question themselves and have the courage to make new discoveries and break fresh ground remain stable. Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of “creative destruction” is more relevant than ever!
Who has the courage to do this?
(This sign seen hanging on the fence of a major construction site at Coventry Railway Station.)
“Zigger-zagger, zigger-zagger, oi oi oi!” is a battle cry that has been used for ages in sports and booze-ups. (Apparently originating in Germany and since adopted by Chelsea FC supporters.) Here now especially adapted for open air sex: ” Zigger-zagger, zigger-zagger hay hay hay”.