I love those new long underground trains. They give me this feeling as if the train ride would go on forever. I always have worked and currently work about an half hour from the office, but have to change lines twice. A longer ride might be cool! Reading a book or whatever takes time - imagine the possibilities! :-)
Uff. I can´t stand this weekend any longer. Stayed at home all weekend long. I´m having a bit of a cold. Watched Grey´s Anatomy season 1 on DVD. Checked the music guide after almost every episode. Glad it´s over. Can´t wait for season 2´s DVD.
The weather these days is really rather like late summer than autumn. More photos
Today I nearly didn´t get my morning coffee at the office. The other company hosted on your floor was moving out, and my coffee cup disappeared for a few hours. But I´m drinking way too much coffee anyway - hence, sometimes it´s good to slow down (great picture).
On the other hand, getting to work is a bit faster right now, since as the U6 underground railway´s station Gumpendorferstrasse is closed - due to constructions works - the trains moves right along. I guess it would be better if there wouldn´t be a station after all. Did you notice, the slightly awkward english translations - something like "Closed of Gumpendorfer station" - being pasted over a few days later?? Hm, that´s Vienna.
I´m disappointed about the TV coverage of the president´s arrival in Vienna. A short welcome scene at the airport and when the entourage starts to roll, the cars leave the airport, heading for the (closed) highway - TV is showing a report comparing Bush´s visit to that of Jimmy Carter in the late 70-ies.
Really, what I expected was what you know from the Tour de France: Motorcycle cameras joining - "moto1" in front, "moto2" behind. Instant uplink to a helicopter. Live views from above. Closed streets. Traffic at a standstill while the president moves along. People standing behind police patrols, waving hands or peace flags.
Real live coverage to bring the full picture right into your living room and conflicts between journalists and police authority - something like:
Ein Hubschrauber unseres Fernsehteams wurde von einem Hubschrauber des Innenministeriums am Einfliegen in den gesperrten Luftraum behindert.
Well, no action.
Vienna is getting ready for George W. Bush. Photos taken at the Konzerthaus with a Nokia 6230i phone.
Tonight I was at the Karlsplatz area and saw a big group of bikers, possibly also skaters, cruising through late Viennese night (at about 23:45). However, I was to far to actually see anything - except the usual police cars following the group. Anyone got any hint?
I was on my way home back from monochrom´s taugshow, an really weird event I not sure why I attended (and spent €7, not counting the beer).
I like the term Problembär (.mp3). Probably the word of the year, at least in German. Among other problems, the bear is not obeying traffic rules:
Der Autofahrer und ein nachfolgender Motorradfahrer hätten den Bären gesehen (via Spiegel Online).
Der car driver and the following motorcycle driver have seen the bear. However, the bear hasn´t seen them and crashed into the car.
Life. Death. Agony. Horror. Fear. Love. Youth. Blood. And puppets. Worth watching. I liked it!
Uups - I missed it. Good idea, though. (Karibische Nacht @ Die Wäscherei, via Gunther).
In case your Polish isn´t as good as mine - the sign says: "Caution! Good dog - but I have weak nerves"
I just had an interesting dream: In that dream I read a magazine with an article titled "How to make a building more secure". Well, not just any building, the building was presented as being "the CIA building" (in Langley, perhaps?). There was a photo of a dark building, with steps leading up to dark doors (obviously) and people walking up or down - much similar to the T-Center building here in Vienna. On one page, there was a photo of elevators with doors with red cables and a text saying that a special gas - not unnamed, but I forgot it - is pumped into the elevator shaft to cool it down in case of fire. Well, whatever that is for.
The Langley building has though been portrayed in several movies, even with people breaking into the headquarter of the CIA and more. Besides all those movie scenes I remember, though, that the langley building is white. Well, it´s not dark - you cannot trust those dreams.
Today I learned another German word used in English, just as kindergarten and rucksack. Heck, the latter is even related. The word is "abseil", in the meaning of alpinist saying "I´ll abseil down to you" (a quote from Touching the Void). In fact, this is from another book, but more on that soon when I finish that book.
Weather is strange. As I´m about getting a cold, I notice people experiencing the weather in various ways. Some wear deep winter clothes. Ok, then it´s really cold in the mornings. Some wear clothes appropriate for autumn - and well, in October it is autumn. Some still think its summer - heck, today I´ve seen kids with T-shirts and shorts - in the evening! Though maybe I feel things a bit different, now that I´m getting a cold.
I did it!
I´ve seem this thing (more pictures) on yesterday´s hiking tour (see previous post) at Kampalpe (near Spital am Semmering, Austria). What´s this? What is it´s purpose? Please comment!
A lightning rod perhaps? In the middle of the mountains?
Yesterday, I´ve been hiking with the girls - at Kampalpe near Spital am Semmering. Going up was a bit complicated - we had no clue where the path was. Least there was another group following use - they though we knew the right way. Enjoy the photos!
[Note: I´ve deleted a few photos of the other group for copyright concerns.]
On the weekend I was hiking with the girrrls. Great weather for touring the mountains.
Today was a horrible day, a least in the morning.
I work on Mariahilfer Strasse, which is really in the city center with no parking space around, or actually, with no free or cheap parking space. So I commute by underground trains. Now and then, about once a week, I take the car to go to the fitness center in Oberlaa in the evening.
I drive from the 13th district, where I live, to the Park&Ride garage in Erdberg and continue on towards the office on the U3 underground. OK, that´s a long detour, but usually it´s quite fast.
Today, it wasn´t. Due to an accident close to the St. Marx exit (my destination actually) northbound, there was a huge traffic jam on the highway ("Süd-Ost-Tangente") - up to 17 km. Very slow as only one lane at the accident area was accessible, and during helicopter rescue the high was closed for 20 minutes. [No, I didn´t see the helicopter.]
Instead of driving about 30 minutes, driving time was 2 hours; resulting in getting into the office at about 10:30. Horrible!
Mary Roach: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Very very good!
Scott Berkun: The Art of Project Management
My 2nd project management book.
Hannes Stein: Endlich Nichtdenker
Not a book for idiots, actually!
Kara Knafelc: Tokyo
Japan. Ah. What more should I say?
