Goodbye

Some people are apparently getting upset about my blog. To bring an end to this upset I decided to close this blog. I have hurt and upset people - for which I pay my price. Thats for sure.And needless to say I am sorry, but I want to do it nonetheless.

I was delighted when I was introduced to Blogging to me as a different form of expression. Starting in February of this year blogging over the last 10 months or so has helped me an awful lot to work out some personal stuff but also experience a different way of addressing issues to another audience than in a conversation or letter, email, sms, etc. In this instance it doesnt matter how real or virtual it is. It also doesnt matter who many or how few people are reading this. It is not a Blackboard or way of announcing things that should be dealt with in another way. This and other things I have learnt from it.

At this point just this: As good an outlet it has been, it also has been inlet for things getting to me. Some good, some bad. I have to close this window for now. But also learn more about blogging - legally, intellectually and psychologically. I might be back, I might not.

I d like to thank every body everybody who has followed my blog and wish you all the best for the future and good luck.

Hanno

P.S.: Welcome to the new world. And may God save you, if it is right that he should do so.... ;)

Mephistoteles

Ich bin der Geist, der stets verneint! Und das mit Recht; denn alles, was entsteht, Ist wert, daß es zugrunde geht; Drum besser wär's, daß nichts entstünde. So ist denn alles, was ihr Sünde, Zerstörung, kurz, das Böse nennt, Mein eigentliches Element.          I am the Spirit that denies! And rightly too; for all that doth begin Should rightly to destruction run; 'Twere better then that nothing were begun. Thus everything that you call Sin, Destruction - in a word, as Evil represent- That is my own, real element.

Is Love alive?

Another weekend creeps towards its inevitable end. Another November coming to an end. Another year is about to turn. Winter.

Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson: Winter Song

One of the best things about Ireland...

...are the random acts of kindness. In 20 years of experiencing and 10 years of living in Ireland to this day I am always caught by these random acts of kindness. Somebody walks up to you and does something completely unexcpected and real nice. These people can be acquaintances but preferrably they are strangers (we all are strangers almost everywhere...). For example 20 years ago I was somewhere in Ireland trying to hitchhiking home. As it was getting late afternoon that day and I didnt have money to stay somewhere I decided to take a bus. Now, there was this busstop and while I was waiting another shower (after a year in Ireland you barely notice this "moisture") soaked me but I didnt care. Anyways, some 50 yards up the road an old lady came out the house and walked to the busstop. She told me the next bus would be another hour away and invited me to her house for a cup of tea (in 1992 they didnt have these fancy coffees - and cappucino was a horse....). At the time I was wearing a black leather jacket had long hair and 6'4" (1.90m) tall. Would you let any stranger (who was also very skinny and looked very hungry) into your house? She gave me towel so i could dry my hair and we had the loviliest conversation ever.

Dont ask me what we were talking about, or what her name was or where in Ireland it was. But I will never forget this cup of tea and sandwiches she made for me. And I also remember the feeling I had when the bus arrived (we nearly had missed it, but the driver was waiting when she signalled hin to wait form the porch) and I was sitting then on the bus - warm, dry and well fed. And at that time I had not given myself the time of the day. It was the best ever.

Followed closely by the second of the Ten Best of Random acts. When I arrived in Galway in November of 1992. Being very hungry and no money in my pocket again I arrived with the bus (it really was a luxury to afford a lift when you have no money at all) and was walking with a man who I had a brief conversation with on the bus across Eyre Square. He then invited me to an early lunch (I must have looked really really hungry). Just like that.

Whenever I am seriously fed up with the home of my choice these things happen. I dont know any other place in the world where you have this. It can happen everywhere but in Ireland its part of the lifestyle. And you do it to other people as well. No big deal. it just costs you a minute of your life. or an euro or two. But it certainly makes your day. Not because you are great. F... that. No, its the randomness of it all. Or as the Irish would say:

What goes around, comes around...

another one along those lines:

Be always nice to a stranger, he could be a friend

Sadly the Irish losing it a bit. the same in the north of wales. Like Ireland "slightly" developed and the people are pissed off. And in 2011 the UB40 Song is all actual again: Money is too tight to mention... No, for oldstyle - go to the south of wales. Not that developed, not that efficient. but more human and nicer. Quality of life - the essential bit the irish lost when they started dancing around the golden calf...

February 2011

was a lifetime ago....

The events in my personal life of the last months of 2010 and beginning of 2011 until now do require some musictherapy, so here it goes:

Goo Goo Dolls: Iris

and break it did.... And it was foolish of me to think, that it ever could have gone somewhere. But I dont regret any of it.


She says: Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.

Seriously, Natalie, I wish you get it, with happiness and all. And even though it still hurts but may you get there.

Personally I am not sure and still thinking about it. Actually there is very little right now I am really sure about, but I guess that is one of the inevitable parts of the journey, the bit they call picking up the pieces after falling apart and before getting up again. I am slower than others and I hang on longer than others, but that is me. What is on the cards next though? For the first time in my life I am thinking about getting a house. A small house, like a cottage or so. Here in Ireland. But it would be my house.... well, that would be an interesting one, have not done something that big before. Because its a big one, like real big. I am not there yet, but we ll see.

Coldplay - Fix you

Rascal Flatts - Broken Road

Taj Mahal - Take a Giant Step

Katy Perry - Not like the movies

Philip Poisel - Halt mich

Hope...

Neill Young  - Soundtrack Deadman

The New Radicals - Someday we'll know

  

Even though it was never meant to be, i like to think, that this would have been possible. In the best of all possible worlds, that is...

Thought of You - by Ryan Woodward 

 

The Truth and nothing but the truth in one sentence...

 

Trading Yesterday - Shattered (MTT Version)

And Ive lost who I am
And I can't understand
Why my heart is so broken

I carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
                                    i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)



by Edward Estlin cummings (1894-1962)

And I will not stop doing so....

Judgement

Good judgement comes from a lot of experience which comes from bad judgement.

Quote from The Mechanic

Politics

Politics is the art of preventing people from busying themselves with what is their own business.

Paul Valery

The tune is earworm material

and for some people its worth looking at the lyrics.

Gym Classe Heroes: Stereo Hearts

"Stereo Hearts"

[Adam Levine:]
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
And turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

[Travie McCoy:]
Gym Class Heroes baby!
If I was just another dusty record on the shelf
Would you blow me off and play me like everybody else?
If I asked you to scratch my back, could you manage that?
Like yea [scratched], check it Travie, I can handle that
Furthermore, I apologize for any skipping tracks
It's just the last girl that played me left a couple cracks
I used to, used to, used to, now I'm over that
'Cause holding grudges over love is ancient artifacts

If I could only find a note to make you understand
I'd sing it softly in your ear and grab you by the hand
Just keep it stuck inside your head, like your favorite tune
And know my heart's a stereo that only plays for you

[Chorus:]
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
And turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh to sing along to my stereo

[Travie McCoy:]
Let's go!
If I was an old-school fifty pound boombox (remember them?)
Would you hold me on your shoulder wherever you walk
Would you turn my volume up in front of the cops (turn it up)
And crank it higher everytime they told you to stop
And all I ask is that you don't get mad at me
When you have to purchase mad D batteries
Appreciate every mixtape your friends make
You never know we come and go like on the interstate

I think I finally found a note to make you understand
If you can hit it, sing along and take me by the hand
Just keep me stuck inside your head, like your favorite tune
You know my heart's a stereo that only plays for you

[Chorus:]
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh to sing along to my stereo

[Bridge:]
I only pray you'll never leave me behind (never leave me)
Because good music can be so hard to find (so hard to find)
I take your hand and hold it closer to mine
Thought love was dead, but now you're changing my mind

[Chorus:]
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh (Gym Class Heroes baby!) to sing along to my stereo

Yeah

Standing with Stones

A Journey through megalithic Britain and Ireland. Done by Non-archaeologists. A great programme! Beautiful photography and very interesting views and good questions. And because it was done by non-archaeologists, they get away with stuff, you d be hanged as archaeologist.... :o)

And I like the soundtrack, all spacy and mystical.... 2 hours I didnt regret last night, the same way I didnt regret the red wine that went with it....

Just click on the following 13 parts once the first part is finished.

Want to know more? Here the film-makers website: http://standingwithstones.net/

Moments 2

Thanks to Summertime here is an add-on to Moments.

Shangri-Las - Past, Present And Future

(The past), past, well, now,
Let me tell you about the past.
The past is filled with silent joys,
And broken toys,
Laughing girls and teasing boys.
Was I ever in love?
I called it love.
I mean, it felt like love.
There were moments when,
Well, there were moments when...

(Present), go out with you?
Why not.
Do I like to dance?
Of course.
Take a walk along the beach tonight?
I'd love to.
But don't try to touch me,
Don't try to touch me.
'Cause that will never happen again,
Shall we dance?

Instrumental break.

(The future), tommorow?
Well, tommorow's a long way off.
Maybe someday I'll hold
Somebody's hand.
Maybe somewhere,
Someone will understand.
You know I used to sing,
"A tisket a tasket
A green and yellow basket."
I'm all packed up and I'm on my way.
And I'm gonna fall in love.
But at the moment it doesn't look good,
At the moment it will never happen again.
I don't think it will ever happen again.

PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Written by: Artie Butler, Jerry Leiber & George "Shadow" Morton.
Produced by: George "Shadow" Morton.
Performed by: The Shangri-Las11a2-1966.
Appears on: "Past, Present & Future" (B-side: "Paradise" 45 RPM)-1966, Teen Anguish, Vol. 2-1972* The Red Bird Story-1991*, Leader of the Pack-1992, 1999, 2003 & 2004; Myrmidons of Melodrama-1994 & 2002, The Shangri-Las Greatest Hits-19963, The Best of the Shangri-Las-1996, 1999 & 2003, The Very Best of the Shangri-Las-2000, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection-2002, Gold Collection: Feelin' Groovy-2004*, The Leaders of the Pack-2005, Golden Legends: The Shangri-Las-2006, The Shangri-Las Remembered-2008, et al. (*Compilation of various artists.)

Moments

everybody has them. Some more than others. Some sooner than later. Pity most of us dont notice because we were too young and too busy with something else. They are normally over in a whiff. And yet they are to die for.

No matter how much and how often you get it in the neck, you can't stop chasing them. And then they happen when you stop looking. Taking the eye off the "ball" for a moment. And thats when the moment happens...

If you look at it with business perspective you should never "invest" in enterprises like love or care. The "returns" do not justify the resources put into it, and yet - it will take split seconds once you get the the scent...

Ah sure, feck it...

On another unusual mild november evening the full moon is unusually low sitting in the sky, so close as if you could grab it. And if you bring your jumper you could be sitting at the dock of the bay and take it all in.....

Otis Redding: Sitting on the dock of the bay

The secret of successfull writing

An archaeologist who I know once said, when asked what the secret of successful writing is: Place your behind in a seat and keep it there.

I keep wondering, if he left out an important piece of information: the magic chair!

Now, that would be an artefact to have. Forget the arc of convenant, the holy grail or the magic cartpet. find me the magic writing chair.....

Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride

In another but similar (and by far not as nice) way Manfred Baron von Richthofen put it:
Success flourishes only in perseverance - ceaseless, restless perseverance.

And on another glorious day...

...on the savage coast besides writing a research design what strikes me, is how we are often humming away songs without really listening. Take a "random" musician who you might have labelled as shallow and poppy and listen to their lyrics. And then you realize, boom, heavy and deep... My lessons for today: LISTEN, WATCH, READ.

Buddy Holly & The Crickets-It Doesn't Matter Anymore

(Sweetheart wont like that, really)

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5

(Boss not happy, but he doesnt care either.... ;o)

Galwegian New Years Resolution No. 1

must be every year sworn upon by thousands of Galwegians: next year I will walk the Prom every single day..... Needless to say there are not as many who actually do it. 

On a day like today (in NOVEMBER) you simply HAVE to. Sadly I didnt bring my camera, so I borrow a picture which is close enough to capture the gloriousness and beauty of the Prom in Salthill, Galway.

Source: http://www.geograph.ie