Trip to the Past
Well, I was searching for two DVDs which I have misplaced and, as per usual, you find everything but what you're looking for. That's how this weekend of trawling through boxes turned into a trip into the past and history.
Amongst the stuff I stumbled upon was the rest of my mother's aunt's literary leftovers. Her library provided some intesting insights into the German mindset during WW1. A trilogy about the Weltkrieg published in 1915(!) was amongst highlights of that collection. Some of the books contained old advertisements and were handed out for free. Interesting principle. Particularly odd was the 1930s opera guide with lyrics. Finally, I also recovered my copy of "Do Not Fraternise", the reprint of the booklet that was given to American soldiers before they were deployed to Germany at the end or immediately after the last war. Made me wonder about the stuff they teach American soldiers about Afghanistan or Irak.
Well, I also found some kids books from my childhood, most notably Paddington Bear and Noggin the Nog. I've never been so aware, how international the books were that formed part of my childhood because they were read to me in German. And given that they were of British origin, it gave me a belated sense of foreboding. I was convinced that they German books about foreign places. I remember being shocked as kid when I learned that Astrid Lindgren wasn't German. How could she write so perfectly in German when she lived in Sweden? And really, how could Noggin the Nog (a paticular favourite of mine) be English when it was about Norsemen. Wherever Norse was, it wasn't Paddington which was England.
Quote of the Day:
"American beer constitutes the successful attempt to dilute water."
Georg Hackl, the "Speeding Weißwurst", former German luger
Comic of the Day:
Amongst the stuff I stumbled upon was the rest of my mother's aunt's literary leftovers. Her library provided some intesting insights into the German mindset during WW1. A trilogy about the Weltkrieg published in 1915(!) was amongst highlights of that collection. Some of the books contained old advertisements and were handed out for free. Interesting principle. Particularly odd was the 1930s opera guide with lyrics. Finally, I also recovered my copy of "Do Not Fraternise", the reprint of the booklet that was given to American soldiers before they were deployed to Germany at the end or immediately after the last war. Made me wonder about the stuff they teach American soldiers about Afghanistan or Irak.
Well, I also found some kids books from my childhood, most notably Paddington Bear and Noggin the Nog. I've never been so aware, how international the books were that formed part of my childhood because they were read to me in German. And given that they were of British origin, it gave me a belated sense of foreboding. I was convinced that they German books about foreign places. I remember being shocked as kid when I learned that Astrid Lindgren wasn't German. How could she write so perfectly in German when she lived in Sweden? And really, how could Noggin the Nog (a paticular favourite of mine) be English when it was about Norsemen. Wherever Norse was, it wasn't Paddington which was England.
Quote of the Day:
"American beer constitutes the successful attempt to dilute water."
Georg Hackl, the "Speeding Weißwurst", former German luger
Comic of the Day: