There’s a photo from Reuters that’s all over the web today. Has been for a few days already, and it’s disturbing. It’s not at all nice. It’s the opposite of nice, even. It’s a shot of a little boy who’s drowned & washed up on the beach. I’m not putting it here, but I… Continue reading Don’t look at the photo of his lifeless body on the beach unless you’re prepared to do something about it
Author: Ken
Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head
‘Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe so müd geworden, daß er nichts mehr hält. Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Stäbe gäbe und hinter tausend Stäben keine Welt. Der weiche Gang geschmeidig starker Schritte, der sich im allerkleinsten Kreise dreht, ist wie ein Tanz von Kraft um eine Mitte, in der betäubt ein großer… Continue reading Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head
Another chapter in the book of Fafa
The last week has been filled with adventures while my mother was in Germany. She made her annual European trip, which included a week in France, and then she and I met up in Strasbourg before our return to Munich. She loves Munich – as I’ve often mentioned here, we lived here in the… Continue reading Another chapter in the book of Fafa
Avoiding the Dancing Plague while in Strasbourg
A quick jaunt through Strasbourg on the way home with my mother in tow, and this was one of the nicer shots I got. What a beautiful city that due to its history has all the trappings of a French metropolis while still heavily influenced by its German past. Oh, and I found something curious… Continue reading Avoiding the Dancing Plague while in Strasbourg
A church door and a few thoughts about Prague
I’ve heard it said that when you get back from a trip & someone asks how it was, you’ve got a small window of opportunity to answer about your journey. Before long, their thoughts move on to what’s in front of you rather than where you’ve been. So according to that logic, I’ve got to… Continue reading A church door and a few thoughts about Prague
Tanz in den August
On the last night of April, there’s a tradition here that you stay up late & dance your way into the First of May. It’s something that apparently originated in medieval times or perhaps even farther back in history. What frivolity – all in the name of welcoming everybody to the month of May.… Continue reading Tanz in den August
serenading those of the feline persuasion in my best owl voice
Normally, I provide the source for photos/artwork when I include it here, but this is something that was included in a comment thread & I’ve got no idea where it originated. If I find out, I’ll definitely come back and mention where it came from. The drawing certainly reflects some nicer moments of the… Continue reading serenading those of the feline persuasion in my best owl voice
At the Marienplatz in the wee hours
Before even most locals are awake & certainly the tourists are still dozing, this might be the nicest time of day to be wandering through the streets of Munich. The light is certainly nice for photos, and there’s an expectancy in the air. What might this day in Bavaria’s capital hold in store… Continue reading At the Marienplatz in the wee hours
Goethe’s dapper collection of well trimmed bums
Have walked by this statue countless times, normally at night, and never paid much attention to who it was. Sure enough it’s Goethe. Who? Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. You know him, right? I associate him with Weimar. I’ve written about him elsewhere, and I’m sure I could riff on him here if I put… Continue reading Goethe’s dapper collection of well trimmed bums
Somehow empty without her
Joking about the statue having her own action figure on social media, I got plenty of questions about exactly where she was. At the entrance to the western side of the Ludwigsbrücke that goes over the Isar River in Munich there are several pylons, each of which has its own statue. There are two… Continue reading Somehow empty without her