Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love Sesame Street? It has become a part of modern life and almost everyone’s TV childhood memories.
Finally there is a great Sesame Street video archive with LOADS of videos, all very well tagged and named. Too bad I can’t link directly to videos - but I guess this will come later.
I have to go now - and watch all videos of the cookie monster!
Since 1st January of 2002 the Euro is the official currency for most members of the European Union. After a lot of protests and grumbling it is now widely established, loved and a very stable currency. A true competition for the American Dollar.
I think it’s still a great idea to have different backsides for each coin and country. There are many great designs out there - and some new ones will be coming some day (I am talking to you - you lousy and hesitant Brits and Swedes):
Click image to get a MUCH larger collection.
Did the Euro hurt Europe and it’s economies? So far nobody has a definitive answers. Germany is slowly recovering - but not from the Euro, but the cost of reunification. Italy is down, but because of Berlusconi’s bad economic policies. France is picking up speed, Spain is doing well, so are Austria, Holland and Belgium.
The strong Euro helps European to cope with high oil prices and cheapens import. But it doesn’t help exports much. Still Europe is doing well …
Happy Euro-Day everyone! Collect as much Euros as you can - there is is only a limited supply … good thing European don’t get their money from a private institutions like Americans and their privately held Federal Reserve Bank.
Click image for more elephants.
Just wondering what the elephants thought about the young lady.
Congratulations to Saudi Arabia, Russia and Hugo - you are even richer now. For the rest of the world it means higher costs for petrol, food, travel and goods.
Only in the last 25 years the oil prices exploded - thanks for wars, embargos and greater demands. Visit this website to learn more about the development of the oil prices since WWII. Very interesting!
Documentary / each ca. 50 minutes
Another great historical documentary by Bettany Hughes. I think this should be mandatory in each school in democratic countries to serve as education and a warning to all future generations.
China, America and Europe are trying hard to keep their influence in Africa. But the continent itself seems at war with itself. While many backwards Asian countries have made the leap into the 21st century - Africa seems plagued by it’s own old problems: superstition, backward social concepts, corruption, tribalism and slavery. Africa loved to complain about the white man fucking the continent. These days Africa abuses itself.
But cultural and political evolution is painful. It was painful for Europe and why should Africa be any different. It is of course very nauseating to watch progress from a "higher" and richer point of view.
Should richer democratic countries intervene? Or has our intervention really made a GOOD difference? To be honest - I think we should trade and deal with Africa like with any other nation, we should respect their sovereign status (as stupid and bloody as it might get with Zimbabwe, Darfur or Rwanda). Africa has to stand up for itself.
The real trick question: how do we keep others from no longer interfering? Like in the case of China and their protection of the killer government?
Thanks to edosan for sending me this one.
A new year - and 364 shiny new days to go! Somehow I don’t really connect with all these strange festivals and old religious festivals like Christmas. But it is important to celebrate the passage of time - to set personal milestones to measure what has happened in one’s life.
*Thanks to xtine for sending this lovely old German blast from the past.*
Apart from computers everywhere and portable communication devices the future ain’t how it was sold to me as a kid. But maybe I am simply stuck in that 1950’s - 60’s space age mentality?
But who wanted to have global climate change and the return of religious fundamentalism in the future?
I want that vision of a happy, clean, secular, social, healthy and progressive future back! Damn it!
I am not a 100% sure but I think this is evening in Europe. Since the planet rotates counter clockwise this should be the transit into darkness.
We just had winter solstice and started a new year - can we have summer soon! Please? Pretty Please?! I miss freestyle jogging with my friends … a lot …
Hmm, he obviously he can run and hide - pretty well. It is odd that the global war or terror seems to have forgotten the world’s top terrorist.
I am a big fan of game art - like these Zelda images styled like old church windows.
Click frames to get bigger ones.
In my art postings or rarely have paintings with their frames. But a good frame can really improve a picture.
Documentary / Channel 4 / 55+ minutes
It’s always good to check from time to time who you are and who we are. Some nice insights about humans, apes, brains and our heritage in this documentary.