#Conspiracy

For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of WWII

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:12:00 +0200

For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of WWII:

This is a link to a great, touching and sad story I just finished reading.. Wow.

A short trip to Istanbul

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:11:38 +0200

A part I’ve ordered for my hi-fi system finally arrived. Which means I can listen to beautiful music in my music-room again. What a perfect time to sit down and finally write a little bit about my Turkey trip.

So, with a friend I went to Istanbul for just 4 nights. And that is just not enough time for this city. At the departure gate the city makes you feel “I don’t want to leave yet”. Yes it’s a good place..

So my friend arrived on another flight and we met up at Atatürk-Airport. I was a little bit drunk because I’ve been seated next to a Russian girl and a girl from the Kurdish part of Turkey (which isn’t an official name of course), and we’ve emptied 3 small bottles of wine each talking and laughing throughout the trip. This was one of the best airplane flights I’ve ever had. I think I also learned a thing or two..

From the airport we took a taxi downtown where our hotel was. It was maybe a 25 minute ride. The taxi broke down once on the way, but I think that’s not a common thing to happen. Istanbul seems very developed, more so than some Eastern European cities. However, the traffic is a catastrophe. Our taxi got stuck a few hundred meters from the hotel, which was located just near Taksim Square. So we paid the driver and walked the rest of the way.

It was already spring there. The air was very pleasant at night. And the streets were full of people. All sorts of shops were still open, even though it was close to midnight. At one corner some folks were arguing, at another they were hugging each other. Just a general breeziness everywhere. Music for different tastes mixing into something slightly confusing. Something told us we would drink a lot of coffee here..

It felt a bit like Rio de Janeiro for me. Another city that doesn’t go to bed. And something that I was expecting didn’t occur: There were no hustlers trying to sell us things all the time. Or trying to scam us. Turns out, the Turks are laid-back folks. But if you approach them with a question or just for fun they are very open and very friendly indeed. Friendly like Romanians, actually.

Skipping the details of our arrival and itinerary, I’ll just talk about my impressions from now on.

Turkish people seem to hang out in groups a lot. Especially in night-life it seems you rarely will see anyone alone.

Oh yes, nightlife. Before that begins you go out to eat. Well, schedule 3 hours for your meal. It’s a big deal and while we were mostly done in slightly over an hour the other guests always were in the middle of things when we arrived, and still in the middle of things when we left. Big family meet ups take time, I suppose. You need to talk to everyone. I wouldn’t mind hanging out in one of those restaurants with my family..

And while I’m on the subject of eating. The food is excellent. It’s many things you know from Turkish restaurants abroad ( but how many of the dishes offered did you really try? ), plus some things I never tried before. I can’t recollect the details, but I remember having tears in my eyes from some hot tomato thing.. Food? Thumbs up in Istanbul! Definitely.

I kind of expected the Turks not to drink much alcohol. You know, because of Islam and all. Well, I was wrong. They drink a lot. :) Yes, there are cafes on rooftops ( don’t miss those when you visit ) that only serve hookah and tea. But in general Turks drink alcohol. And since this paragraph has to do with my silly religious prejudice, I can also mention that 99% of women don’t wear any head scarves and so forth. Think tight jeans..

But, you get the prayers several times a day. This makes for a nice atmosphere. Especially when the prayer chant is mixing with the music from the club next door that is still open even though the sun is up.

Back on the street there’s one thing to say: Some are crowded as hell. To the point where it seems futile to go certain ways. Especially at night.

Well, we rarely left Beyoglu unless we went for sightseeing in Fatih, but there was always many people on the streets. Day and night. Or in the trams. ( Don’t make the mistake to take a tram at rush hour. Unless you can make yourself really thin I suppose.)

Well, what is there to see?

A fucking lot. (As proud owners of the Museum Pass) we just looked at the most important things which include the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The palace. Beautiful. But my highlight was the Archaeological Museum. Top-tip.

It’s like walking through time. You get the Greeks, you get the Christians and finally the Ottoman Empire. There’s something great walking through these exhibits. Turkey is such a key part in human history, it’s all there. Even Egyptian caskets and so forth. (It’s always nice to see caskets, skulls and ruins, anyway.)

Yeah, if I go back, I’ll go visit that Museum again.

And yes, there’s the markets. With all the haggling going on. And many more mosques. And there’s the boats that go across the Bosporus to Asia. Which we also did. The best thing about that was the sunset when returning to Europe. Will all the ships calmly going their way and the great old city unfolding in front of us.

About people we’ve met.

I already said the Turks were laid back. I really liked every one we met. The girls can be very beautiful. But they never leave their group long enough to make a successful approach.. Sigh. Well, we met some. One was a history student that taught us a bit about the conflict with the Kurds. Another we met showed us some fantastic places (bars, clubs, even a concert we saw because of her) we would not have found otherwise. We met some foreigners from Sweden and Norway. And I’ve hugged many people, I don’t know how many. Yeah, Istanbul really made us feel good

Perhaps it was the first days of spring. Perhaps it was our expectations. But I really left with a nice warm feeling in my heart. And my travel companion said something that can be roughly translated into something like that, too. :)

Now I want to go back and I also want to see more of Turkey.

You know how there’s a place you visit and you think, yeah, that’s nice. But some places feel like you could imagine to live there. They feel like a good home. The vibes match your vibes. There’s chemistry.

I never expected it. But it really might be like that in Istanbul for me. I don’t know. I suppose I would have to return to find out for sure.

But I can recommend Istanbul to everyone. It’s a very beautiful, very romantic destination. Should I have a (serious) girlfriend again, I will take her there. So she can fall in love a little bit more. (And me, too) Istanbul will help with that. No question about it.

( P.S.: Turkish Airways is a great airline. First time I really enjoyed an airplane meal! )

Neurons

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:38:00 +0100

Do you know this feeling when you really think long and hard about a specific problem? When you try to wrap your head around it? When it really wears you down? It makes you hungry and sleepy.

It happens when you learn a new language. When you try to understand a mathematical proof. Or why some detail of life presents itself the way it does?

That exhaustion while contemplating new, complicated things is actually your brain rewiring itself. Neurons connect with each other in new ways. It requires a lot of energy.

And that’s when it suddendly seems to click at some point with most things.

Your brain has made these new connections and through deliberate practice they are becoming strong. Your thoughts can now flow effortlessly through them.

You pick a task that seems difficult (because it is) and you eventually develop a new skill or a new way of thinking, because you were determined and you had faith in yourself that you could do it. That moment when you get it is probably the best feeling in the world.

It cannot be matched by winning the lottery. It cannot be matched by having the most awesome sex. A large number of people constantly congratulating you cannot do that. You have earned it. For yourself. And your mind and body make sure you get a reward. Happiness. Pride.

Don’t believe me? Try it out. Pick a project. It’s absolutely fantastic. See you in a few weeks.

…

Another way to reach that moment of bliss is by slowly exposing yourself to a different way to see the world.

Perhaps you start to question things more often. You start suspecting there’s a ton of bullshit around everywhere. Laziness. Selfish beliefs. Pretty lies. You start to understand the world, your world, in a more direct, stronger way.

After a while, maybe you even start to imagine that you can separate an ocean just to walk across it with dry feet. That’s how big the discovery is.

It’s the same thing. Your brain has re-wired itself. The neurons have re-connected themselves.

The mind is actually two minds. One is slow and needs a lot of power to operate, but it can grasp new things very quickly. By doing it, it programs the other one, which is extremely fast, it’s your autopilot-self, but it needs to be programmed slowly.

Perhaps it simply comes with age. Or it occurrs every few years. When you reach an interesting stage in your life. A cycle ends and a new cycle begins. With an improved you.

Because you have spent your time wisely. You wasted little of it. You read different books. You took your time to be alone and think about stuff. Important stuff. Like “Why did I do X?” or “Why did Y happen?”. It took time to really get to to the bottom of everything. You were constantly questioning things from your own, private vantage point.

What you get in return is opinions that are your own. Confidence in your own truths. Not somebody else’s.

Sure, you might be wrong after all. But if you did everything to the best of your ability, it’s much less likely than it would be in the opposite case where you just took in everything from outside.

In the past, perhaps you saw something happening to someone. Something amazing. And because you did not understand how it came to be, you attributed it to chance. Fortune or misfortune.

But then you start to understand. And it makes sense. Something that was far out suddenly seems easy to do. And you know you have the skill to pull it off.

Well, that changes everything.

Just went to the gym in Poznan. Next door was a girls aerobics...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:53:26 +0100

Just went to the gym in Poznan. Next door was a girls aerobics class. Incredible people there.. Now I think one can be a foreigner, and still have a great time. Also people seem much friendlier than last night.

Perhaps we started off in the wrong place. I am enjoying my coffee now and everyone I’ve met today was incredibly nice. Also it probably helps when I exercise my horrible polish with them..

Also: this is my first post written on the tumblr phone app!

Xenophobia in Poland?

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:10:17 +0100

This is almost too silly to write about it, but it seems like there’s a sort of racism towards foreigners in Poland. And it at least feels like its quite wide-spread. Of course it could have been bad luck to overhear such things a few times in one evening. I talked to two people and they mentioned the problem, but this could have been just coincidence, too. Anyway, if it is a real thing, then it’s of course very stupid. I don’t have time for such nonsense.

This is not happiness

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:32:38 +0100

Biology is funny. Last night I’ve met a girl and two hours later it was clear she would stay over. I don’t even liker her. And when I walked her to the station and she got on the train I was glad. Every time I realize how much I dislike one night stands with random girls afterwards. This is not happiness.

Brace yourselves

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:29:54 +0100

Spring is coming.

Photo

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:37:25 +0100

Early Bird

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:53:36 +0100

I think I’ll reorganize my life and wake up every day at 5 o’clock. Like I did today. At 5:45 I had a shower, breakfast and coffee. At 6:30 I was at the gym, at 8:00 I did my shopping, and now I’ll go work for a bit. This is excellent. The evening is completely free now. And I’m not even tired, that’s thanks to the gym.

I think I’ll repeat that a few times and see if I can keep it up.

Good Morning, Tumblr.

Another positive review for Romania

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:32:01 +0100

We worked hard this week on a project and on Friday the customer reviewed our work. He’s kind of an asshole, doesn’t express himself clearly and then gets angry because we didn’t understand what he meant. But he was happy when he saw our results and after work even invited us to drinks. So we went to nearby bar and had a few beers.

It’s an international company with people from all over the globe working there. One engineer in particular is from Bulgaria. He talked how he’s flying home soon and plans to go back by car. However, he would take the route through Serbia, because he’s afraid to go through Romania.

He didn’t say it clearly, but apparently he is expecting to be robbed, then sexually assaulted and then stabbed to death on Romanian roads.

So of course I told him about my experience in Romania and that I’ve been in Bucharest and in the mountains and how safe and friendly everything was.

And then the asshole client chimed in. He said that he’s been to Romania before, too, and that Bucharest is one of the best cities in Europe. And that it’s safe.

He told a story how he once broke down with his car there and had to have it fixed. When he left, he accidentally left his wallet in the repair shop, and it was full of money. He didn’t know the repair guys and he could have lost the wallet anywhere afterwards. But a few minutes after he left the repair shop he was called and they said he forgot his money.

So yeah, the Bulgarian guy shouldn’t be worried. And my asshole-client seems to be not so bad, after all.

And nothing against Serbia, I’ve met great people from there when I was living in Croatia, but if I had to bet which place is safer and friendlier, I’d go for Romania.

Romania people, marketers and government: You really need to do something about your image. I’ve heard from a friend in London that there’s an Anti-Romania poster-campaign rumor. What the hell.. Everyone in Europe seems to think you are thieves and cheats. I keep running around telling people the opposite if they ask, but clearly more needs to be done.

Perhaps you should organize more student or trainee-exchanges with western countries. Or host a few sports events. I enjoy car racing. Perhaps there’s a place in Romania where I can rent a car and do some rally drifting? I don’t know. (I should google it.)

Anyway, I’m just randomly babbling here. But if more people would give Romania a chance, they would clearly rethink their prejudice.

Just saying.

That’s all from me. Enjoy your weekend, people.

I have followers.

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:57:00 +0100

Just clicked around Tumblr for a bit. Looks like I have quite a few followers! Thank you, you are all wonderful people.

Also, 95% of you seem to be cute girls.. hmm. I should create an email address so that you can tell me when you come to my country. So we can have coffee. (But probably I’ll just get beaten up or something.)

Do ya’ll even use email? It seems to be an old people thing to do.

When you have a soulless boring corporate-job one day, you’ll have an email address. But most of you are from eastern Europe I suppose, so you will take your job seriously but not too seriously. Do you know what I mean? You gorgeous people.

I have readers!

When I was a child I and two friends ran a school paper. But there was another one already, so there was competition. But unlike them we made up all our news. So it was more entertaining and we sold quite a few. We also had a deal with some company, and we put free advertising CDs on every issue. This was a genius marketing move, until people found out that the content of those CD-ROMs was worthless crap.

Anyway. Yes, you should also start something. While your friends watch stupid TV shows or get wasted, you should be working on something. Something little or something big.

Here’s old guy advice.

For one, don’t stare at your smartphone all the time. It will make your neck stiff and you will be killed by a bus, because the driver was checking his Twitter.

Then, start something. And: Travel. There’s nothing better.

But don’t fall for the tourist-traps. For example: You can get up to Big Jesus in Rio for free if you don’t mind some climbing and wild monkeys looking down at you from the trees. I tried. And in Japan you don’t need a hostel room. You can just sleep in an Internet cafe. They have lockable compartments with comfy couches. They have showers there, too. And Internet. Things like that, be creative. Couchsurf, why not. And always negotiate the price for everything else. Especially in countries where it doesn’t get cold at night.

Ha. I’ll go to Turkey soon. It’s probably where they invented negotiating. I will learn from the best. I will bring back a fake Rolex watch. And cheap Kobe Bryant basketball shoes.

Anyway, I want to do my laundry now.

Have a good night, girls.

Girls in Eastern Europe

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:34:00 +0100

Just had a talk with a friend who commented that in Croatia all these very young women are pushing baby strollers. He wondered why that is.

In University by accident (Once, I opened the door and she kissed me, mistaking me for somebody else - on the cheek though) I had a relationship with a married Romanian girl. She didn’t have a child, but she got married when she was 18. To spite her parents. And to move out.

Later I met a Bulgarian girl who left home almost exactly the day she turned 18. She engaged on a voyage that could be made into a movie, including crime and whatnot, just to finally settle down in Germany. I have written about her before.

I have more examples, but the point is, that perhaps there’s a strong urge in young people to get out of home and into the world. I think especially in girls. Boys in those countries made a less, shall I say, independent-seeking impression on me.

I respect people that go after their goals, instead of munching off mommy and daddy until they finally leave university, and home, at the age of 30. I have no time for these people.

But of course there’s more. There’s femininity, the desire to hook up with a good guy and be a good girl. Perhaps I have no idea what I am talking about, but this is just my experience and interpretation of events.

There’s probably also the libido. Call me even shallower (even though I think it is the opposite of shallow), but eastern european girls are much more passionate.

On my last trip to Romania I had the best first kiss of my life. I can’t imagine drugs being better. The passion, horniness and loveliness of it was amazing. Compare that with some German girls I kissed.. Man, I can’t even compare that.

Perhaps it’s just my genes that match up better with EE-girls, though.

I wrote before that I don’t want to get married. But if I did, I am 100% sure it would be a girl from these parts.

Btw. My next trip is going to be Turkey. Finally, I am going there. Any of you been and has any tips for me? (Is it even possible to comment on Tumblr? I don’t know.)

"I was full of prejucide when i went there, but once you get to know some normal Ukrainians and they..."

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:56:15 +0100

“I was full of prejucide when i went there, but once you get to know some normal Ukrainians and they invite you to their home, all the effort they put in is really touching.”

- A friend of mine that just came back from his holiday. He was very reluctant to go, but he had a fantastic time. :)

This album is becoming my favorite music to wake up to lately.

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:24:20 +0100

This album is becoming my favorite music to wake up to lately.

Travel Tip in Germany

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:26:00 +0100

This weekend I’ve been invited to go to the boat expo in Düsseldorf and we also spent the evening partying in town. My verdict: It’s a great place to have fun! (In Germany.)

The people are very different from Munich, Berlin or Hamburg. It feels almost as if going to another country. Perhaps it is the proximity to the Netherlands, who knows. They are very talkative and talk to you like you’re an old friend. Especially over beer.

They drink those small beers (0.25 litre glasses) and if you finish one, you immediately get the next one unless you put your coaster on top of the glass. We had a lot of these last night.

I’ve been told that Düsseldorf people are “superbly shallow”. The guy who explained further said that it’s very easy to find someone to drink and have fun with, but one should not expect making new friends easily.

I don’t know. But if you plan a Germany trip then include Düsseldorf and it’s many bars to your itinerary.

Here’s a picture of a beer:

Winter, I don't care

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:48:06 +0100

In the past I used to get sad or even slightly depressed in the winter months. My productivity was low and I slept more. I gained weight each year.

This year is like last year. No depression, whatsoever. High productivity, normal sleep. I’m actually happy most of the time, I don’t need anything particular or anyone particular around me. I am a happy, smug guy.

The secret?

The workout. Moving heavy weights 3 times a week. I am sure it must be it. It’s just impossible to feel sad when you see your biceps grow bigger and the weights you can lift get heavier.

Sad? Bored? Too fat? Go to the gym. I promise you will feel good. And it will stay with you if you make it part of your life’s routine.

This view of the “Extreme Deep Field” is beautiful...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:31:59 +0100

This view of the “Extreme Deep Field” is beautiful and humbling. And it only shows a small very small area of space.

I found this here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/xdf.html

Another ex is getting married

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:33:00 +0100

A few weeks ago I saw a Facebook update of my ex girlfriend from 10 years ago. She just got married in the United States. I am happy for her.

Today I woke up because my phone rang. My ex girlfriend from 2 years ago asked me something about a little business deal we are having and then told me she just got engaged.

Wow. I had to swallow for a second.

I am a little bit envious for this guy that will marry her.

Of course, I wouldn’t marry her, because as much as I like (and love - now more in a platonic way) her, we never got along on some key things and our relationship ended with endless fights and disagreements. It was truly like we were from different planets. But at the same time I always have had great respect for her.

You know, as a guy, you meet a lot of women. Most are plainly not for you. They are not your type, and you are not theirs. Or there’s some friction with regards to lifestyle and expectations. Some don’t even behave like women. They are basically annoying men in female bodies. Others are idiots.

I am lucky to have been able to date some great women. And she is one of them. And this is why this guy is lucky.

Despite the fact that we eventually did not go along, let me write up the things that are great about her. And I’ll just list it as a blueprint for what makes a great girl.

Here we go:

She is feminine and expects a man to lead her and protect her, as well as offer her emotional support. But she despises a whiny man or a man that is more emotional than her.
She is in great shape because she’s been doing sports since childhood. She’s competitive when she puts on her training clothes, but stops to be once she takes them off again.
She is smart, understands things that require me to really ponder them, almost immediately. And she has great insights on abstract topics and an opinion on important issues. But she will not push that opinion on others, but have it available when you ask her.
She absolutely loves and enjoys sex and has no hangups about it. For her it’s an expression of life and happiness. She loves to fuck with great enthusiasm.
She likes just the right kinds of music and books (and even can explain exactly why).
She cares about others and is giving. She often puts the wellbeing of friends and family above her own and is always there when you need help.
She is very reliable. I haven’t met many people that absolutely and definitely stick to all commitments they make. If she says she will do something it will be done. Period.
She works hard. She doesn’t expect anything to come from others and has learned to rely on herself. She still needs other people to feel good, of course, but she doesn’t expect anything for free.
She wants to be a mother.
She loves to travel and easily connects with strangers. (Which has led to all sorts of interesting adventures in the past for me.)
She’s smarter and better educated than me and unless some unlikely thing happens this girl will put her stamp on this world and, I am sure, make it better in small or big ways.

Those are the things why I consider her fiancee one of the luckiest guys there are. He will have a wife which is one of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to know.

I am a little bit melancholic about it, but mostly I am happy for her. After all, we are friends now. We recently talked about the realisation that we are much better friends than we ever were a couple.

So that is good.

He’s absolutely right of course.

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:03:12 +0100

He’s absolutely right of course.

Leaving a City

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:10:50 +0100

Leaving a city. What a strange feeling.

I just came back to pick up a few things from my old apartment. And to throw away most of the rest.

Here I lived. Worked. Slept. I have lost contact with most of the girls that have slept with me on this bed. I am still keeping in touch with one. Perhaps I’ll ask her if she wants to grab a coffee before I leave. After all, I am am moving considerably far away now. We can catch up on stuff. And I want to give her the apartment keys. Since I am keeping it for a few more months, she can do whatever she wants here. Have friends that visit sleep here, perhaps.

They say it’s easier to leave than to stay.

In a way that is true. New adventures await those who leave, and for those who stay it’s often the same old.

My new apartment, in the new city, is perfect. Spacey and bright, but most of all: In a superb neighbourhood. The kind of neighbourhood I’ve always wanted to live at. In a city that I consider superior to this old one.

But still. The old city has it’s good sides. There’s good people here. Friends, that I will miss.

But you know.. I think our happiness also depends on which city we live in. And not just a little. But to a considerable degree.

I never felt that this was the right city for me.

It was like a good looking trap. On the surface it has everything one likes, and more. I am talking about Munich, and it’s a nice looking, very safe place. In summer, the beergardens are nice. In winter, the mountains are near. (If you haven’t tried skiing, try it. It’s great.) Countries that I like very much, most notably Romania and Croatia, are closer. And, the airport is fantastic. But that only matters to travel-addicts I suppose.

The trap is that it’s still not the best place to live. Not when you are young at least. Maybe not even when you are old. There’s many small annoyances. There’s a different mentality than the place where I am from. And, for what it’s worth, there’s not enough good bars. :)

But mostly it’s the folks. Now, I don’t want to bash Bavarians. They are considerable nice folks. Hard-working, too. But there is a quality about them, and I can’t really put my finger on it (at least not without sounding like an idiot), that I dislike.

Perhaps it’s just me, who has grown up far away. I am just used to different people.

Aaaanyway.

I am excited about going away. In winter I often felt low on energy, a bit lethargic. The days are just too damn dark for a guy that is powered by sunlight. But not this time. I feel charged up. I want to do things, handle my business, shake things up.

2012 was a good year. Bad things happened, sure. One thing in particular really made me think. Like I had to sit down and think it through. But that was valuable. I feel like I filled a gap in my judgment and in my worldview. Besides that, I have reached all my goals I have set for myself in December 2011.

This year my goals are continuing on this path. I feel that I have put down some groundwork. And you know, if you work hard on yourself then it’s likely that a time will come where you can earn the rewards of your hard work.

I won’t slack off. I won’t go easy on myself. But I’ll make sure to get a healthy amount of sleep every night.

And, looking around my old apartment now, I will make sure not to amass as much stuff.

For example. A few years ago I dated an au-pair from Russia. She was a wonderful girl and I was sad when she left. When she did leave she gave me some strange decorations for my apartment. I never liked them, but I kept them. For sentimental reasons. I will throw them away now. These things are meaningless, even though the memory of her is beautiful. I wonder what she is up to nowadays..

Yep, lots of stuff can go. We are not defined by the things we own. I want to own less. The fresh start in the new city is a perfect time to start living by this rule.

Finally,

I do not know who you are, anonymous reader. But if you ever considered moving far away then consider this: Why the hell not this year?

If you think that would make 2013 awesome for you, then go for it.

I know I am.

And 2013 will be all about awesomeness.

Happy new year!