Scientists are Genius'!!

I was reading an article today about the analysis of iron in red soils and it was all very technical until I reached this second of two reasons why certain numbers were chosen to be used in a particular equation, "they are easy to remember." I suppose that when you have complicated concepts on your mind, it's best to keep some things as simple as possible.

The Funny Mirror

This mirror used to belong to Christin, but at some point it broke, and she said that I could have it. I think it makes for a fun photo with the curvy lines. And of course, in a fun photo I have to make a funny face.

Good Friends Come in Smiley Faces

When I was feeling blue one day in the Erlangen geomorphology lab, Ute drew this smiley face on the inside backcover of my notebook. Ute is a good friend.

German Language Tip

When Germans want to address an American in a teasing way, be it affectionate or cruel teasing, then they use the word "Ami". A few days ago I was chatting with a few older women and one them was trying to explain a concept to me. I was having difficult understanding and so she said (affectionately), "Awwww, die Ami versteht nicht" (Awwww, the Ami doesn't understand).

Culture Fact of the Day

In Germany, parents are not only given a tax reduction, but also receive approximately 100 Euros per month for each child they have until the child reaches an age when it can independently support itself and legally subscribes to being independent.

Contrast this to China where parents are permitted one child and taxed for every additional child.

The Germans argue that the native German race is dying out so they need to provide an incentive for increased childbirth.

The Chinese argue that they have too many people and can't support such a huge population, especially if multiple children were permitted.

I wonder though, would it really be good for Germany if everyone decided to start having lots of children? Could the country really support an exploding population? Or is it better that the birth-death triangle is inverted, at least for a few hundred years? I know, I know, they fear that if they allow that, then there won't be any more Germans around in a few hundred years.

Shadow of the Past

I love seeing these "shadows" of buildings that once were.

Cottbus Tierpark (Zoo)

Cottbus has a zoo! And it's just a short bike-ride from my house! I paid my furry and feathery friends (the scaly boa constrictor was not a friend) a visit yesterday.

My favorite animal was the zebra. The babies are just a few weeks old!

I was amazed at the birds who turned their heads 180 degrees and then hid their bills under their feathers.

That's a random little girl mimicking a Gibbon monkey.

Those creatures with all their tails up in the air are Ring-tailed Lemurs. I thought they were cute and strange for walking around with their tails up.

Computer Background of the Moment 2

Last summer I wrote some of my thoughts up on post-it notes and taped them on my bedroom wall. The swarm of notes increased as the summer went on. Sometimes one note would answer another. The four notes here are just a glimpse of the wall. To see more, visit Flickr and look under the "Summer 2008" set.

Belgian Fish!

My apartmentmate Christin informed me that the order of the colors on the fish: black, yellow, red, is that of the Belgian flag. So, apparently we were eating Belgian fish, and not German fish, from Austrian waters.

(Please refer to blog entry "Computer Background of the Moment" to see the photo.)

German Fish!

I was looking at my computer screen wallpaper when I realized the fish had fins in the colors of the German flag! The colors are a little out of order, but the black, yellow, and red are all there. Take a good look at those fins, my friends. I think we have a case of German patriotism in Austrian waters.