Friendship is no matter of origine

The other day i went to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. This is from architecture an interesting place and it just has been restored. It's beautifully made and when the weather allows it the terrace is big enough for you to enjoy the sun and the view on the river Spree. But the place is also known as an exhibition/congress/fair center (there was partyed the gay movie award this year, the "Teddy's") and a concert hall focusing on (like its name says it) the cultures of the world and the acceptance of them. The event was organized by both german and turkish parts for a show in common with RIAS KAMMERCHOR and TÜRKISCHES KONSERVATORIUM BERLIN. As you may already know the turkish community is in the city important and after years in their own area and isolated events (the alternative CSD in Kreuzberg is one of them) the city and the state start to get involved and try to make both worlds accept themselves. The picture above show how far they try to go creating an integration's plan. That is to say how strong mentalities are and how people stay on their position. German being afraid of invaders (too late daaaaaaarrrrrrrrrling) and Turkish who say that they had to adapt themselves alone, why not carrying alone now, they don't need each other. Neverthelss the good will of many make that they are all humans and must live together so it's worth trying. The event made play together a german classical music choir and a turkish orchester. They played their part each other and sometimes they played together either a classical text or a folk turkish song. We felt that the german choir was not at its ease with the folk music and the turkish orchester the same with the classical. But all this created an ambiance very interesting. We even had some speech of the integration office and people from the turkish press based in Berlin and also from Deutsche Welle which I like very much. As expected the Turkish made the ambiance (htye all arrived full family with babies) but of course the folk is more entertaining than classical music. You feel in those people an energy when they are together. Teenagers were there to support their friends in the turkish orchester and the families were not afraid to dance or clap hands to show that they were there. We had some traditional dances as well and all this made a special moment to share, especially after the concert when we had the dinner-cocktail and we could all share our point of view with a nice glass of wine and turkish food. L'amitié

Instantanés

Health is money

The health system in Germany is something nobody understands. Even German themselves can't explain how it works and if it's worth or not. It's like the tax declaration. Even as a simple underpaid employee with no other income than your salary you need a tax adviser to help you fill your declaration. We start to misunderstand health and money. I agree a state needs a good health insurance system and I know that in France we are very lucky to have such a good system when other people have nothing. Nevertheless some complain because our government (actually any french government) tries to find a solution to the financial blackhole made by the health system. The last example is that the french ministry of health created a scale of franchise : everytime you go to the doctor, buy medicine or use sanitary transport a part of the expense is not reimbursed. You have to know that in France almost anything is money transparent, meaning that thanks to the health card in our possession it is rare you have to open your purse. The taxes on your payroll are very high but you can't blame the fact that it works pretty well. It is in the nature of the French to complain and to disagree about everything before accepting a debate and I agree that it costs are heavy, the population gets older and we like to have sex but not to have children so in the end there will not be any money at all for any health insurance. I accept the fact that to demonstrate for a good cause (and the security of being cured is an important one) but being hold of maximum 50€ (again per visit/buy medicine/transport, per year and cumulate each other) is not that bad. Because the french indirectly pay this amount some people who have strong life disease never have to pay anything. And anyone in the country has access to this system. The French should have a quick look at my direction and I could tell them that on the other side of the Rhin it is definitely another story and I am pretty sure, even if they would carry on to argue (but just for the purpose of it) they will accept the fact they're lucky. Here you don't have one but two systems and it is also with two levels of health security and cares. And you pay everything yourself (a part is taken by the company you work for and it is mandatory and nobody helps you to choose your insurance) and every quarter you have to pay a franchise to be able to carry on receiving cares. I disagree with the fact that a doctor in front of me, the patient but soon the customer, complains because the product I use (and prescribed by his colleague) is too expensive. I answered peacefully that I deeply regret that the german health system is focusing on the money and not on the cares to the people and if i use this medicine it's maybe because it cures me. German does not like to argue because they think that everything they say is law, impose themselves everywhere they go and do not even imagine there could be another point of view. So when this little Froggy is there it makes the appointment much shorter (which i was happy with, this man is so unfriendly). I can't wait to try the dentist : I made an appointment for next week and the secreatry asked me which amount I was ready to pay !!!!!??????? The more you pay, more time you can spend on the chair and receive more cares. The story never says if my teeth will receive the cares they deserve. So if i understand correctly when in France the system is sinking, in Germany if you can't pay you receive no health cares but the insurance is mandatory, what is wrong with the picture ? Sometimes i can't help thinking of The bionic woman and ask myself who would pay for the surgery if for any reason it was requested. No question the law will interfere. Anyway I am a big fan of this 70's serie (sorry not the new one) which has a little plus. Maybe because it was the fact to receive extraordinary capacities in an ordinary human body with an ordinary life. Everyone at school wanted to have a sky diving accident thinking that maybe Oscar will come and give you those bionics elements. I thought it was lost forever and i would not be able to view this serie again. I had a little nostalgia for years until the other day when I had the big surprise to find season 1 & 2 in a very good quality (technics improved). Making quick research on internet I noticed the web site of the The bionic woman and so i could trace the complete story. As usual you think that you are alone in the world having liked something and then you notice millions on earth share the same. I enjoy the noise when the bionics is used. I like the (today it seems bad, our eye is trained) special effects, i like the stories which surf on the events of the world (cold war, supernatural events, out of space species ...), it is like a review of what happened in the news at this time and whatever happens someone will be there to help us. So it is with great pleasure that I am back now in those days thinking that I am a young boy watching TV at my parents' house on wednesday afternoon. There is a "no disturb" sign on the front door.

Instantanés

The General

I made this picture exactly 19 years ago and the other day passing by I could not help myself taking it a new time. It's like after all this time I noticed that both of us are still there. Lucky him he didn't change because the 19 years can be seen on my face. It's like a Dorian Gray portrait. Well the general never moved because to come back there took me some years and some events. But I was kind of happy to see this again and it made me think how interesting life can be and how many surprises you can get from it and at the less expected moment. I had to pay the general a tribute

(i don't know who this statue represents, i just call it like that) so that is why the picture is there tonight.

Instantanés

Fool's gold

Sometimes at the Cinestar theatre you can get tickets without knowing what you will see. It can be a good or bad surprise. Cameras and mobiles are taken at the front door to avoid piracy. Tonight was Fool's Gold : not necessary but an OK movie to have a quiet evening and a chocolate ice cream. The public was mostly american and they started to laugh from the first image which I did not really understand but I learned you can feel many things a different way. This time sincerely spoken I did not feel anything. Nevertheless the picture is nice, actors are good and the landscape reminds you of your best holidays. Forget about the story and the scenery.

Au nord ...

This is a movie you will probably never hear of. You just need to know that it is since this month the best entry in France, ever. It even had more entries than "La Grande Vadrouille" with De Funès and Bourvil and that was 40 years ago with 17 millions people who went to the theatre. France is a dual country divided by the River Loire. Whenever you hear the weather news there is a big chance it will be said that it's raining north of the Loire and sunny south of the Loire. And it's not a cliché. But the film is full of clichés. But they are true. Anything you can imagine about people from south and north of France are there and it is probably the reason why this movie has so much success because I think French are not afraid to make fun on them. And for one time there is no word about Paris. The plot is simple. A manager of a postoffice in south of France wants to be promoted "on the sea" and try to do anything to succeed. And he does but the "wrong" way and is moved to the north of France. The real one. Because for the postman, the north of France, when you live on the riviera, does not go further than Lyon ! And it starts. Up there it's raining all the time, it's north pole, people never grew up from stone age, they're drunk all the time, it's depression and you just don't want to go there. True. Nobody does. But from all clichés you have of this region you have to remember beautiful (true) things : I spent one year with people of the north some years ago and they are the friendliest french people. Ever. It is true you don't understand a word they say when they speak to each other because their language is different. More flemish than french, due to the proximity with Belgium. And the most beautiful thing said in the film : when you arrive in this part of France to (try) make a living you cry twice : one time when you arrive, the other time when you leave.

Instantanés

Comme si, comme ça

My issue with the German can start from early morning. Either they don't say "good morning" (actually it's the best of all even if you believe it's impolite ... it is I agree), or they wait you to tell them "good morning" because you arrive at work after them (true !, i've been told so) or if you are in good terms with the one you welcome the next question will be : "how are you ?" and that is not to ask. Because since I've been in Germany for the first time (and it's been a while ago) I don't remember having heard anything else than complaints. It's never going well. The French will don't ask yourself "how are you?", he/she will ask you if you're ok and you will answer yes. The German has always something wrong. They are chronic sick from the body and/or the mind. The one I met this afternoon, "so you're ok?" "comme si, comme ça" (meaning more or less could be better). It's not that I want to know, daaaaaaaarling, I am just being polite but next time I will not ask because I don't want your sadness on me. I don't have the reason why It's like that. Coming back from work on the bicycle as usual I was driving on the sidewalk because Alexanderplatz is a nightmare of work in progress these days. Believe me this sidewalk on Karl Marx Allee is the biggest ever. It did not keep on this old man of threatening me with his stick because I was there instead of being on the road. Talking about other things I like politics but I don't think it's good to share your ideas with anyone, especially with your friends. It's too much purporse of arguing. Anytime we started at dinner table you could be sure it was catastrophy. Nevertheless it's part of our life. What I dislike most is tabloïds coming in politics and the best example at the time is our french president and his (new) wife. No matter if we agree or not with his actions, although we don't hear much thanks to the press but if there is one thing we can agree with is that this man and his communication office know how to use medias. Whenever there is a big event in the french political life you can be sure that something will happen in his private one. So medias will focus on it and not to the interest of the people. I only regret humans are more interested on things happening to our celebrities than with their future life. Maybe theirs is too sad and they want to concentrate on something in else. Take for example : Kadhafi comes in France and put his tent in the garden of the palace ? our president get divorced. Visit to the UK ? he puts his (new) wife in front of the cameras to play Jacky O. dressed by Dior. And guess what ? when they arrived in London, Christie's put in auction a nude photo of her 20 years ago. And of course not a word of what happened during this visit. Lately we just don't hear a thing because the olympic flame takes all attention. They started to demonstrate in the UK but in France it took all its importance because the flame just put out. China uses the event as a bad thing for France and suddenly they are the good ones. China gives as well advices to the french politicians ! Our president found all this "a bit sad". No word about Tibet ? Can't wait to see what will happen in the US where the flame is now but there must be for sure some strong activists nearby. The olympic comitee will soon decide to stop the journey or not. To finish with something unexpected a male "doctor" wanted to cure its female patients from arthritis (he said it comes from something evil) practising cunilinghus. Surprised or not only one patient laid a charge against him. I guess it must be a "good" treatment after all.

Instantanés

The fox and the city

It is true I can see foxes from my office. I know those animals when they are hungry can be very brave. Because the city is "under construction" all the time (even Alexanderplatz is changing with a new building in the center !) the nature of Berlin is also changing. I guess that very soon we will not be able to take pictures anymore of the wild from my window. I can see on each free parcel there will be soon concrete, here a departement store, here a stadium, here a hotel (a new one). The plan of the city is so made that they don't build to keep a patrimony they destroy to create new. Strange they want to physically erase their past. I am afraid that sooner or later Berlin will lose what made its particularity.

Pirates of the sea

It could be the title of an action movie but this a true story. A french cruising ship has been taken over by pirates. You think the best stories you find at the theatre but sometimes life makes it more unbelievable. The ship is since last Friday under control of the pirates. French ministry of defense tried to take contact with the pirates but without success. That means we don't know why they did it neither their request. The ministry says they follow the ship thanks to satelites so they have a clear image of what is happening on board. Military follows from far the ship which is sailing south of Somalia. The Prime Minister informs that the priority is to keep safe the 32 people on board, mostly Frenchs. All this seems a bit strange but we can't help wondering why is sailing a luxury cruising boat in front of a country, certainly one of the poorest of the world. Who's provoquing who ? Let's hope for a happy end.

Instantanés

The day before you came

There is this special moment when you're alone among people with loud music that you feel kind of lost. People don't dance anymore but leave. Cristal ball keeps on turning. And you stay there. Finishing your x drink. All your friends left or found someone for the night. It's the end of the party. Men kiss each other. Other are drunk since a long time and you start wondering : what am i am doing here ? Isn't it time to go back home ? Yes it is. In those moments i wish you could be here ... With me. But you're not. And rattling on the roof I must have heard the sound of rain The day before you came

Tonight ...

Klub International

Reconnected

I never thought both of them would ever a day play together again. It must been what ? ... 25 years we heard Yazoo sing for the first time "Don't go", we danced, danced and danced again on this track and we still have it in our ears not everyday but almost because a lot of remixes today take a part of the track (this laugh of Moyet at the start of "Situation"). They last (Moyet said once) 8 months. It was the time when groups appeared and disapeared in a snap of fingers, made one successful song and did something else. We heard Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Bananarama, Imagination, Bronski Beat ..., all UK groups that today are standards of this time : the 80's ! Yazoo made one album so far and endless Best of, Remixes, ... appeared since. They played "live" at "Top of the Pops" many times and it was also the start of the video clips. Now they come on Tour. I am not sure the concert will last a long time because they have not so many songs and I'd be curious to see what kind of public would come. We all grew older and to see a public of 40's something can be quite funny. At least we'll share all the same revival. I remembered last year Depeche Mode played at the Waldbühne (a wonderful place in the forest for summer concerts) and even if the group carry on to evoluate we were almost all from the same generation (concert was a bit disapointing and was too short ... and expensive for what we've got but fans are fans). Anyways, Yazoo will play here in Berlin and worldwide. I didn't know it was so famous and seeing them play in San Francisco makes me realize how famous this name is. Both Clark and Moyet have since then successful carrier and even if I am not a big fan of Erasure I still believe Moyet has a peculiar talent with her voice (best album "Hometime"). Even on "Upstairs at Eric's" the compositions I prefer are made by Moyet. Most of the time I prefer B-sides that is why you will hear a beautiful (but sad and brings not so nice memories) Winter kills .

Instantanés

The smiling therapy

Look at you in the mirror before leaving home in the morning and find yourself attractive. If not change clothes/haircut/deo/diet/whatever. Put the music you like in your ears but not too agressive, it must be one that allows you to dream/make your videos in your head/the lyrics remind you a good memory, you know the one you're a star and everybody loves you/you have a voice everyone wants to hear/you play so well the part all think it's real life. Take your bike, put the seat under your ass and feel the smooth air. Oooohhhh this feeling of being the master of the road. Everyone is looking at you, you're smiling, people smile back at you, thank you, you made my day, you will have a great day, it's wonderful.

And then you have a flat tyre (again).