and another year begins...

And another year begins...

Since 2015 is already a few days old but January is not over yet, I think it is not yet too late for some New Years resolutions. I know what most of you might think now “Who needs another list of resolutions nobody will keep?!”, and I think you are right. I never kept not even one of my former resolutions and that is why I decided that this year I don´t want to change how I look, how much sports I do- or not do, or what I eat or drink, this year just I want to change my attitude. 

So my resolutions for 2015 are to try to be happy, to stop worrying about things and just do them, to stop looking back at the past and to let go of the things I did wrong so I can look into the future and all the chances she provides. Furthermore I want this to be the year in which I don´t necessarily need to find a lot of new friends but I want it to be the on in which´s end I can say that I have been the best friend I could to the once I already have and that I have not lost the friendship of someone who is important to me.

That is how I want to be like in 2015, I am curious if I will be satisfied with myself when I read this post again at the end of the year...

In this spirit, have a wonderful 2015 :)

p.s. Another attitude I will definitely change in 2015 is my attitude towards blogging frequently so I never have that much stress again like I had today ! I guess I have learned my lesson...

good blog

What a good blog looks like

This post is compulsory and I was not really keen on doing it to be honest but than I found this blog http://fortymillionminutes.blogspot.com, I have not read all of the posts because of a lack of time but the first one from October 2013 called “Can you spare five minutes?” instantly caught my interest, got under my skin after just a few words and also got me thinking. A reaction I honestly did not expect when I first clicked on the link with that ominous name.

Another blog I quite liked was http://haddockandhotdog.blogspot.co.at/2013/11/once-upon-time-in-america.html, I choose to look at this blog because I wanted to find an explanation on that quite crazy name, what I found were post about various topics, some of them I liked some of them I did not find that interesting, like the one about chestnuts.

The last blog I want to mention is http://www.evas-english-blog.blogspot.co.at/2014/12/american-accent-wanted.html, the name does not sound really creative but some of her post where really funny and even helpful especially the one in which she described the problem she has with the English language because she is from Tirol and the one before that called “American accent wanted”.

So to sum up I would say that a good blog does not necessarily have to have a creative, or outstanding name, although it throws attention to it, it is more important that the whole blog is appealing like the headings of the blogs, how a topic is presented, … I also think it is more interesting to read about things you never heard about or thought about before, even if they are serious topics like organ donation, than to read about e.g. dictionaries.

Valentine´s Day

Valentine´s Day

 

I have just recently posted about Valentine´s Day, but this post will be about how Valentine´s Day is celebrated in different cultures since a lot of us I think don´t even know why we celebrate it in the first place.

Christian Church

Valentine´s Day was first celebrated as a feast day for one or several saints named Valentine who died as martyrs. One of them might have been Saint Valentine of Rome who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to the legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer and wrote her a letter before his execution signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Pope Gelasius made February 14 a official feast day for the whole church in 469, but it was canceled from the roman calender in 1969.

Japan

In Japan the holiday first introduced in 1936 by a chocolate-company when it ran an advertisement aimed at foreigners, other factory followed soon after. Differently than in our society only women give chocolate to man, the amount and quality of the chocolate shows how much she likes the man, but it is not only about liking somebody in a romantic way. So office ladies also give chocolate to their co-workers this is called giri-choko (from giri "obligation" and choko"chocolate") unpopular co-workers just receive "ultra-obligatory" chō-giri choko, cheap chocolate. It is also common, especially among girls, to give chocolate to friends - tomo-choko; from tomo meaning "friend". But of course they also give chocolate to their loved one honmei-choko (favorite chocolate).

I guess after all this chocolate giving it is necessary to mention that chocolate companies make half their annual sales during this time of the year...

In the 1980s the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association launched a successful campaign to make March 14 a "reply day", where men are expected to return the favor to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. They are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times more valuable than the gifts they received themselves. Returning a present of equal value would been that you are cutting the relationship, not returning a gift at all would mean that the man sees him self as superior. This day is called “White Day”, because of the purity of the color white.

Brazil

In Brasil something like Valentine's Day is know as “Dia dos Namorados” ("Lovers' Day", or "Boyfriends'/Girlfriends' Day") is celebrated on June 12, probably because that is the day before Saint Anthony's day, known there as the marriage saint, when traditionally many single women perform popular rituals, called “simpatias”, in order to find a good husband or boyfriend. Couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards and flower bouquets. So if you want to have your peace for Valentine´s Day it is a good idea to go to Brazil because they don´t celebrate Valentine´s Day on February 14 at all because it usually falls too little before or too little after the Brazilian Carnival.

Saudi Arabia

 

Saudi Arabia has illegalized Valentine's Day because they don´t think about it as an Islamic festival. You can even get arrested for celebrating Valentine´s Day.

South Korea

Ins South Korea Valentine's Day is celebrated similar than in Japan, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. But different than in Japan they also celebrate April 14, called Black Day. On this day those who did not receive anything on 14 February or March go to a Chinese-Korean restaurant to eat black noodles and lament their 'single life'.
Furthermore the 14th of every month marks a love-related day in Korea, although most of them are obscure. From January to December: Candle Day, Valentine's Day, White Day, Black Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Wine Day, Movie Day, and Hug Day.

The day of love?

Valentines Day - The day of love?

Its the middle of January which means nothing special for most of the people, but for all the single women it means that the worst day of the year gets closer and closer- February 14 – Valentines Day. A day full of happiness, love and joy for all the women in relationships, a day full of stress for men in relationships, a day full of drunk, easy to pull women for single men and a 24 hour, red- blinking, heart-shaped reminder of how much you suck when it comes to relationships, for all the single ladies – so much about the day of love.

But honestly what is the sense behind Valentines Day nowadays? Do we really need a special holiday to remind us the be nice to the ones we love and to be thankful for their love? Isn't that kind of sad? Besides, I don´t know what impression you people got, but I think that Valentines Day stopped being the day of love long ago and instead became the day to boost the economy. Since who is it who tells us to buy our loved ones huge expensive presents to show our love, because otherwise it would mean that we don´t really care about them?- the economy, and various advertisements of perfumeries and jewelers. Of course it is nice to get a bouquet of beautiful flowers, but I for my part would every time choose a man who shows me his love not with presents but with little gestures 365 days a year over one who tries make up all his faults with jewelry one day a year.

So in this spirit, don´t let too much depend on that day no matter if you are single or in a relationship! :)

P.S: And to the ones who still feel desperate to be alone on valentines day, two encouragements:

1^st Valentines Day and carnival saturday are on the same day this year so go out and party!

2^nd if you don´t feel like partying the 14^th is also the day of the movie premier for “fifty shades of grey”, so grab your girls and enjoy the movie ;)

Harry Potter

I have to confess... I am an addict... a Harry Potter addict! :D I am into the books, the characters, the story and the whole world since I read the first page of the very first book, that was when I was about 8, and now at the age of 19 I am as bewitched from this story as on the first day. I even still refuse to talk to people who haven't read at least on of the books and I am still sure that I won´t marry a man who have not read all the HP books. Call me crazy, but Harry Potter was my childhood and when the series ended it nearly felt like I have lost some of my own dearest friends... But luckily there are a lot of freaks like me and so the story might have ended but there are still a lot of pages on the internet to reminisce about the good old times, to take quizzes, or even to find out more about the world of Harry Potter and about J.K. Rowling's new projects. Some of this pages and quizzes I want to present you today.

pottermore.com

The most important page of all is of course pottermore.com, the official fan page on which you can not only find a lot of quizzes and background information about the world of HP but also new short story's J.K. Rowling wrote about some of the characters. Furthermore you can test you dueling skills by challenging other students to a “Wizard Duel” and brew portions, all for free, you just have to sign in. 

click here to visit pottermore.com

The wizarding world of Harry Potter – Orlando Studios

 

This must be heaven for every HP fan! There are two different theme parks, “Diagon Alley” “Hogsmeade” but if you have a “Park-to Park” admission ticket you are not just allowed to vised both of the parks but also to take a ride in the Hogwarts express from on to the other! Besides you can dine at the Leaky Cauldron, shop at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, get ready for an adventure on the multidimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and a lot more fantastic things are waiting. I HAVE to go there! Look it up on the internet because even the web page looks amazing, the intro video is great and you can even take a virtual walk through Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Click here to go to the page 

The HP expedition in Cologne

For all the ones who can´t afford to travel to one of the Harry Potter worlds in Japan or the US there is a HP expedition in Cologne since October 2014, in which 1000 of original props from the movies are on display. 

Click here to find out more about it

Ever wondered which HP character you would be? 

Take this quiz!

OMG- I am Draco Malfoy... :( I guess I have to take the quiz again...

Test how good you really know HP: 

Ultimative HP quiz 

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

I guess everyone knows the figure of Sherlock Holmes since he is likely to be the most famous detective in modern literature. But in today's post I don´t want to talk about the original story of Sherlock Holmes, but about its modern television adaptions, in particular “ Sherlock” and “ Elementary”. I have to say that I normally hate modern adaptions of books, plays or anything else because in my opinion it is the worst you can do to a story, but I have to admit that I adore these two adaptions because they are simply awesome.

For the unlucky ones who haven't got the pleasure the hear or read about Sherlock Holmes and his fellow Dr. Watson yet, here is a short summery to get a impression of the original plot and its characters:

Sherlock Holmes was invented by the Scottish author Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 19h century, which is also the time in which the story is set. Holmes is a genius, with a photographic memory, an incredible knowledge about science and a passion to solve crimes. He is the best detective known, some even think his abilities are magical and with his fellow Dr. John Watson he solves a lot of difficult cases. John is not only Holmes roommate in the famous 221b Baker Street - London but his only friend since he is nether interested in friendships nor able to keep some since he is permanently offending people and suffers from a lack of empathy. Sherlock also never takes an interest in women, with the exception of Irine Adler but a real relationship between the two of them is never mentioned since she only appears in about two of the 56 short stories and 4 novels about Holmes. Another important character is Sherlock´s archenemy James Moriarty, the only man equal to him, but he who uses his abilities for the evil.

Elementary

 

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu

Elementary the US adaption of Sherlock Holmes, but in my opinion it is just loosely based on the original story since not just the plot is very different also the characters. The show takes place in our times New York city, Sherlock Holmes, is a british former consultant of Scotland Yard, who was sent to one of the cities rehab center to fight his drug addiction which was caused be the sudden murder of his girlfriend Irene Adler. After he left the center he got a so-called Sober companion, a person which helps newly recovering addicts to stay sober, Dr. Joan Watson. Dr. Watson moves in with him in order to help him stay sober and gets involved in his work as consultant for the NYPD and after some time even so interested in his work that she ( oh yes, Watson is a women!) decides to quit her shop and start a new career as Holmes trainee.

I guess even after that short introduction to the plot it is clear that elementary really is very different to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, but I think this is nothing bad even the opposite, it is interesting to see how Sherlock, who never gets in touch with women in the book and is a real womanizer in the TV show, suddenly have to cope with a woman following him around 24/7 and after some time even becoming his partner and friend. Another thing I really think of as great is how they connected the characters of Irene Adler and Homes archenemy Jamie Moriarty, which is also a woman in this adaption. I don´t want to explain how they did this, but I assure you it will blow your mind!

Sherlock

 

Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch

 

“Sherlock” is the British adaption of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle´s story, although it is also set on a modern background, today's London, it is much closer to the original story than “Elementary“ especially when it comes to its main protagonists. So Holmes is as crazy and antisocial as ever, although in this stories he does have contact with women, but just to use them in order to get important information to solve his cases. A funny thing is that despite his lack of interest in women nobody things Sherlock is gay, but Watson, who is engaged, is permanently asked if he is in love with Sherlock, which annoys him a lot. 

"Watson is not gay"

What really is different is how Sherlock solves his cases, because since the story is set in the 21^th century he uses all the modern electronic devices. I think the way they illustrate the use of this devices is pretty cool, since they don´t just film e.g the mobile phones screen when Sherlock gets a message, no they let the message appear in mid air like thoughts are shown in comic books. They also use this method to show how his thinking process works, so a lot of words and facts pop up in mid air, and change, and get connected to other ones really fast – it is kind of difficult to describe this, but really impressive when you look at it.

A character that gets much more attention than in the books is Jim, in the orinal story James, Moriarty he is mentioned from the 1^st episode on but he killed himself after ruining Sherlock`s life at the end of the 2^nd session, but although I don´t want to spoil anything there is a surprise at the end of the 3^rd session having to do with him...

I don´t want to tell too much about the plot because it would ruin the show for everyone who haven't watched it yet, I just want to say that it is really, really worth watching because it is not just full of tension but really funny and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson are doing a really good job and are incredible actors.

crazy European laws

Laws

I personally always thought that the sense behind laws is to make it easier for us people to live together, to save us from injustice and to ensure that we are all treated equally. But after finding those laws listed below I really started to question my prior view, because, at least to me, they make no sense. Although I have to admit that some of them a quiet funny, so have a laugh.

I choose on purpose to just talk about funny European laws in this post, because the American ones deserve an own post since they are hilarious.

UK

For most Europeans those people from the island- UK-always seemed a little weird, after reading these laws you might agree.

It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

So if any of you wanted to make a will including the wish to be driven to your funeral in a cab, I am very sad to tell you you can not to this in the City of London.

One question that accured to me after reading this law is what happens if somebody dies during a drive in a cab? Does the driver has to stop immediately and through the corpse out of the car??

It is an offense to be drunk and in charge of a cow in Scotland.

This law is part of the (alcohol) Licensing Act of 1872 and actually also includes horses and steam engines. So if you want to get drunk, better get a nanny to watch over your cows.

The death sentence still applies if you allow your pet to mate with a pet from the royal household without due permission.

Note to self – do not take the dog for a walk around St. James’ Park any time soon!

It is illegal for a Member of Parliament to enter the House of Commons wearing a full suit of armour.

This is really a pity, since every member of parliament must really, really wish to sit for hours in a conference in a full suit of armour, not to mention how comfortable it must be if you want to visit the restroom.

Throughout England, pregnant women are allowed to deliver their babies in any public place and even use a policeman helmet if necessary.



France

It is illegal to name a pig ‘Napoleon’.

It is illegal to kiss on railways.

An ashtray is considered to be a deadly weapon.

Imagine trying to kill someone with an ashtray... seems like a tough job to do for me..!

Germany

Of course our dear neighbours in the north can not be missed in this list.

During Octoberfest no person is ever legally drunk – no matter how much alcohol they have consumed.

It is against the law to mention the date 1966 in any football ground.

Unless you want the German fans to start crying or going berserk.

It is illegal for ones car to run out of gas on a highway.

Greece

It is illegal to dance naked in the Acropolis.



Switzerland

It is legal to consume Absinth, though it is illegal to produce, store, sell and trade it.
So how is it than possible to consume Absinth? Maybe if you accidently fall into a well which produces natural Absinth because it is magical?

It is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM.

A man may not relieve himself while standing up, after 10 PM.

The combination of the last two laws is really gross.

Sweden

During the long hours of winter darkness it is illegal to complain that you wish it were sunny.

We should really adopt that law into the Austrian law, just changing it into “ During summer it is illegal to complain that you wish it were sunny”. Although it would decrease our conversations in summer to about 50%.