We do not always see what we think we see
Very impressive proof that
April 13, 2007
February 20, 2006
Kids these days...
Computer games are overrated and can lead to mild distress with children. Here is proof:
http://www.break.com/index/patiencechild.html
It's twice as good if you know the most ugliest German swearwords...
September 12, 2005
Das Keyboard for Übergeeks
Here is a great gadget you need to own:
A keyboard without any character imprintments. Kuckstu hier:
August 25, 2005
1337 goes 7353
Internet kids use several numeric characters as replacements for alphanumeric ones. Their movement has become famous under the name 1337. If you are uncertain what this is, some elite pages will explain this to you, e.g. www.1337.net.
Now, since N47ur31ich is a little bit older to be 1337 himself, I leave this up to younger generations. However, we used pocket calculators in school. If you remember what these things are, you have probably done some 1337-like things with it, just as we did back in the 80's and 90's. You type in a number, turn the calculator 180 degrees and you can read the word.
Yes, the good ol' times! How cool was it (in Germany at least) to show someone a 7353 for the first time. We called it Losing your 7353-Virginity. Most certainly accompanied by the words: "Here, that's what you are!!" Our innocent victim did not get it: "What's 7353?" You finally turn the calculator and say "Read this!" (together with a big grin). After a while the victim gets the hoax and all of a sudden you get to learn some new cool swear-words. After all, 7353 was the equivalent of ESEL (Donkey).
Yes, yes, we were young and innocent and definitely not 1337. But now, I have found a great page which gives you ALL the English calculator words mankind has ever thought of! WOW, that must have been a boring day in school!
Just visit www.langmaker.com/calculatorwords.htm to go to 7353-heaven! Oh, and while you are there (in heaven, I mean) join me in my prayers:
Let's hope kids these days are more 1337 than 7353!
Oh, BTW, if you want to read this article in 1337-language ---> it is just one click away!
July 4, 2005
Doing 3 things at once...
... can lead to some issues...
I was thinking about providing alternative blog entry titles for this one:
...more suggestions are welcome...
July 3, 2005
Do you know this woman?
What do computer nerds do if they break up with there girl friend? Here you go...
http://www.planetdan.net/pics/misc/tetka.html
But try to be nice to her!!
June 22, 2005
Sky Tanking
There is a great new D-English term around:
Sky Tanking
...as seen today on a fueling vehicle at Munich's airport.
June 4, 2005
Googling for naturelich
Inspired by Germany's recent discussion about simplifying (or re-inventing)) German orthography I will report about googling for results on my pseudonym.
Naturelich is an artifical word. It is similar to the German word natürlich - which can be translated as:
As you can see, natürlich is a very diverse word in the German language. Just as irritatingly diverse as this blog. If a native speaker of the English language has to pronounce natürlich, I have found it best to spell it like this: naturelich [Note: The ch at the end will still be difficult, though]. In the process of making the decision to use this word as my pseudonym, I was googling for the word and found some hits, where people had made spelling mistakes (trying to avoid the ü-character aka u-Umlaut and replacing it be ue). And since the one year anniversary of this blog gets closer and closer I started googeling again for the word.
And, guys, you won't believe this! I am not only a spelling mistake. I exist in reality, in Georgia, in the United States of America! What I found is published by the FLAG organisation (Foreign Language Association of Georgia) in their 2001 conference program:
[quote] Character Education in the FLES Classroom? Aber naturelich! – Margita Haberlen, Austin Elementary School, Dunwoody, GA. The presenters will show that it is not only possible to reinforce the state mandated character education program in the foreign language classroom, but that it is also a wonderful means to enrich and enliven it. The handouts, based on work with elementary students, can be easily adapted for older German students. German – all levels. [unquote]
So, apparently Margita was using the term naturelich in her classroom long before this blog. And it prooves: the term is really existing: they use it in Georgia to teach their students the German language. It is not a spelling mistake. I am not a spelling mistake. Naturelich is something which can be put to good use when educating small kids. What an exciting coming-out. Don't you think =8)
I really feel better and relieved now.
May 6, 2005
Captain's Log: Vatertag - Supplemental
May 4, 2005
Naturelich in denglish...
In earlier days I had warned you about this site being in denglish. Now, let's make this a bit more concrete:
As You Me So I You - Wie Du mir so ich Dir
Down-Beat - Niederschlag
Everything For The Cat - Alles für die Katz
Give Not So On - Gib nicht so an
Give Someone A Running-Passport - Jemandem den Laufpass geben
Hold The Air On - Halt die Luft an!
I Believe Me Kicks A Horse - Ich glaub mich tritt ein Pferd
I Break Together - Ich brech zusammen
I Only Understand Railroad Station - Ich versteh nur Bahnhof
It Knocks Me Out The Socks - Es haut mich aus den Socken
Me Goes A Light Open - Mir geht ein Licht auf
It smells me - Es stinkt mir
Now Is The Oven Out - Nun ist der Ofen aus
Nothing For Ungood - Nichts für Ungut
Pig-Strong - Saustark
Poor Tits - Armbrust
Such A Piggery - So eine Sauerei
Stinking-Home - Pforzheim
The Closedholder - Der Zuhälter
The Falling Umbrella Jumper - Der Fallschirmspringer
The Page-Jump - Der Seitensprung
The People-Car-Factory - Das Volkswagenwerk
The Picture-Umbrella - Der Bildschirm
The Sea Young Woman - Die Meerjungfrau
To Come On The Dog - Auf den Hund kommen
To Come In Devils Kitchen - In Teufels Küche kommen
To Go Strange - Fremdgehen
To Lay Someone Around - Jemanden umlegen
Wood-Eye Be Careful - Holzauge Sei Wachsam
You Are Going Me On The Alarm-Clock - Du gehst mir auf den Wecker
You Are Going Me On The Cookie - Du gehst mir auf den Keks
You Can Me One Time - Du kannst mich mal
You Have A Jump In The Dish - Du hast nen Sprung in der Schüssel
You're On The Woodway - Du bist auf dem Holzweg
You're a lucky mushroom - Du bist ein Glückspilz
In the shortness lies the spice - In der Kürze liegt die Würze
March 30, 2005
Amaztype
Another Link of the day (found on the Amazon webservices blog): Amaztype runs a query against Amazon web services. Enter a word like U 2 and Amaztype generates the word from product images found via web service at Amazon (com, uk, ca, jp). Very cool. Click on the background to zoom in and hover the cursor over any art cover to view more details. Currently you can query books, music and DVDs. Below you can find one still image example.
March 14, 2005
Quotes of German soccer players
Have you ever noted a soccer player say something really funny? They are not trained like politicians and sometimes their honesty can be real fun. A German website covers all the best quotes:
http://www.ja-gut-aeh-ich-sag-mal.com/
Naturelich's favorites:
Andreas Brehme
Bedanken möchten wir uns auch bei den Fans, auf denen wir uns immer verlassen konnten.
Jürgen Klinsmann
Da sind meine Gefühle mit mir Gassi gegangen.
March 13, 2005
Star Wars - The ASCIImation
New Zealand's Simon Janson has made an incredible Star Wars movie which is available on his site: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/. Enjoy!
March 1, 2005
Wheather in Basel
Back in Basel again. Besides work, not much is happening here, so I have to talk about the wheather. :-)
The temperature is freezing and I still need to get something to eat. Yesterday I crossed Wettstein bridge and almost froze to death. These days everyone seems to be complaining about the weather. In German we have a word for this: Waschlappen! You can read a funny piece on this by following the link below.... (in German only)
February 17, 2005
Cost of war in Iraq
American taxpayers are made aware of the fortune the government spends on the war in Iraq. This initiative is sponsored by CostofWar.com.
Please note the sarcasm in my post (category assignment!)
Cost of the War in Iraq
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Also, I think reducing it to a monetary figure (whatever the increase) does not suit the topic either. I mean there are people dying on both sides!
February 14, 2005
Google's Happy Valentine Logo 2005
Seen today on Google!
February 13, 2005
The Dark Room
Try to leave the Dark Room at Woolythinking.com
February 8, 2005
Fun on Spreeblick blog...
Something for our younger German speaking friends out there: Spreeblick blog contains a wonderful article about three smart guys which have been very successful with Jamba...
February 6, 2005
Life can be so beautiful
The luxuries of life can be so beautiful!
As seen in Lisbon 2003...
January 30, 2005
Barbie and Ken go Star Trek
Barbie and Ken go Trek. Read the news on Headless Hollow blog...
December 3, 2004
Incredible remix
Have you ever felt fed up of the ding and chord sounds of your favorite operating system? Well, here is your chance to see what modern technology is capable of doing with these...
November 20, 2004
Bloggercode
As of today, this blog has now an official blog code.
My blogger code: B2 d t k- s u-- f- i- o+ x- e- l- c (decode it!)
November 15, 2004
FBI is watching you
The following news is spreading rapidly across the net:
The FBI has a new way of tracking terrorists.
Enjoy...
November 13, 2004
Häggor
For the German reader only...
..//////.
.(o)(o)..
..(__)...
...(_)... Guden Tach!
....(_)..
...(_)...
...(_)... Isch binn en Häggor aus Leibzsch,
..(_)....
..(_).... un diss iss mein ärster sälbstprogrommirder
...(_)...
....(_).. beesartscher Combjuderworm.
.....(_).
......(_)
.....(_).
....(_).. Da isch noch nisch so viel vorstehe vom Combjuder,
...(_)...
..(_).... iss diss en manueller Worm.
.(_).....
..(_)....
...(_)...
....(_).. For die Fungtiohnsweise von dähm Worm iss es ärforderlisch,
....(_)..
...(_)... daß Se mir ä bissel hälfen tun.
...(_)...
..(_)....
.(_).....
..(_).... Löschen Se nu bidde
...(_)...
....(_).. alle Dadeien von Ihror Festpladde
....(_)..
....(_).. und schickense den Worm
...(_)...
...(_)... an alle, die Se kennen.
..(_)....
.(_).....
.(_).....
.(_)..... Oder noch bessor annersrum!
..(_)....
.. (_)... Bäsden Dank for Ihre Mitorbeid
....(_)..
November 12, 2004
Papa Schlumpf
Last week, I always had to pass the name tag shown above. I always had to think of a person with a white Zipfelmütze... Funny, that parents with surname Schlumpf (Smearf) decide to give their child a name starting with P. Papa Schlumpf, is this tolerable?
September 5, 2004
Iconwars
You have to see what-happens-at-night-on-your-desktop.
July 15, 2004
Banana problems anyone?
Ever had problems with your banana? The major problem for people today is to keep it perfectly shaped as it is now, without bruises or scratches. Yours has about the right length, supreme form and healthy looking color? It gives your friends an appetite? Well, now is naturelich the time to protect your banana.