It’s easier than you thought — but I haven’t tried it myself so I don’t know: how to rip a phonebook in half

expat slang of the day

For today’s expat slang we bring you two and a half:

Sp?ti or Sp?tshop (shpaytee) n., from sp?t (late) and shop (shop)– a convenience store open from 7pm to 2am. Also called Sp?tkauf.

This is actually what they’re called in German, but as far as I know they are a Dresden speciality. “Stores” are supposed to close at 8pm, but some enterprising lads have somehow found a loophole where they pretend to be bistros — albeit sans tables and chairs. Basically it’s the place to go when in need for beer, smokes, rubbers or dogfood. But the prices are lower than those of proper drinking establishments, making them a kind of coffeehouse for punks and the otherwise unemployed.

hol (hole) v., from holen (fetch, go get) — to go get. eg: I’m gonna hol me some smokes.

Almost every English speaking expat I know who can speak German (so that’s about three (?) people) let’s this one slip into his everday language. They can’t help it, it’s just too easy and fun.

K’hohlen v. from Kohle holen (fetch coal) — to fetch coal from the cellar.

Actually I just made this one up yesterday as I passed my roomie, Kolbe (coalba), on the way to the cellar. He was busy k’hohlben himself, which means Kolbe goes to get coal from the cellar.

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the
intelligent are full of doubt. – Bertrand Russell

Marking the day of her passing, here is a little bit about one of history’s most remarkable women: Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery, a narcoleptic, she escaped all the way to Canada only to return to the South time and time again to help others escape. Her courage was truly unfathomable.

My old friend Criss Cheatham of August Christopher has broken a world record for the longest concert by a solo artist.

Thanks, Mom, for the headsup.

I saw this 3d dragon video the other day and I was so intrigued i downloaded the plans and made my own dragon.

Upon completion of my little arts and crafts project I proudly showed my creation to Kolbe and Thomas individually. They both responded with, “n?. Doesn’t work. Maybe you taped it together wrong. They head is inside out.”

So today I filmed the little bugger with my camera, and guess what? The illusion worked. Here.

So I guess today’s lesson is that some illusion just work better on camera.

An interesting article that takes a skeptic stance towards the existence of the Force.

No one can hold a grudge longer than a dead man.