For A Friend

Yesterday, I received news from my dear friend P. that her mother had passed away. I knew that the last few weeks had been rough on my friend. When I spoke to P. last, she was dividing her time between her family in London and her elderly mother who had suddenly become quite sick in Germany and was in the hospital. She was wondering if she was making the right decisions for her loved one, how many medical interventions were too many and hoping...

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Wimbledon Condos Filling Up Fast!

Now this is what I call recycling. Take a used Wimbledon tennis ball, drill a small hole into it and presto, you have a one family home for harvest Mice. Wouldn't it be cool to come up with something like this for New Yorkers who will never be able to afford a 1.5 million dollar studio condo in Gotham? To all you architects out there: put on your thinking caps!"New Balls,Please" For Mice Homesfrom the BBC :http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1406612.stmAnimal...

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When New Yorkers Dream

Nobody dreams as big as New Yorkers. I guess its because we live in a BIG town. So I was kind of interested when I found a post on my favorite Brooklyn blog called "Brownstoner" It has a forum on which people can ask general renovation advice, contractor recommendations and other questions of interest to brownstone dwellers.This particular poster wondered about the feasability of putting a lap pool into his brownstone basement. The answers from...

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Style, Style, Style!

Westminster Dog Show Finalists Form Elite Iditarod Team!Goofy but funny! From my favorite spoof newspaper "The Oni...

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More Musical genius

Respect!You remember those one-man-band acts sitting in the subway, those musicians who played guitar, operated a drumset with their feet and blew into a harmonica? Yes, those guys. A few days ago, I posted a video of a guitarist who added a musical element with a spoon. Todays clip is of Alex Depue, who makes his violin sound like a whole band. Really co...

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New Yorkers 1, Wal-Mart 0

Like every one here in New York City, I hate Wal-Mart and what it represents. But like every New Yorker, I visit one when I am in the suburbs. Its kind of a love-hate relationship, or rather a hate-love relationship in this case. In general, I am against chains. America's main streets are starting to look eerily similar, what with the Starbucks, Gap, Banana Republics, Barnes & Nobles and Pottery Barn stores. It does not really matter if...

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Let Me Serenade You With A Spoon

This guy is amazing. Another great find on the internet. Before you say that I have too much time on my hands, let me tell you that I have a killer cold. On this, the first really warm, incredibly beautiful spring day here in New York, I woke up feeling like sh-t. Hardly seems fair. I am hoping to feel better tomorrow so that I can start working in my front yard. I am itching to get out there and get my hands dirty and to play with the earthworms....

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Lea Is Number One

Sorry you guys, but I have to dedicate an entry to this little cutie. I am so proud of her. Her name is Lea Rocholl. She goes to school in Soest, Germany and just won First Prize in her First grade class for reading. Lea happens to be the daughter of my little cousin Jens in Germany, Hi, Lea " Wir sind Alle Stolz Auf Dich!" Küsschen von uns Allen aus Brookl...

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Bloggers vs. BBC Reporters

Every day, I bring you news from Brooklyn and the rest of the world. That is the lot of the blogger, slaving away alone on the computer to bring you news and entertainment. And if I need to replace a lightbulb, I take care of that too. (Come to think of it, I need a new one over my kitchen counter. I'll have to take care of that today.) Thank God I am not working for the B.B.C., because I would be sitting in the dark until a specialist comes...

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Princess Charlene!

I don't know about you, but I find it scary that Prince Charles looks better as a woman than his own wife, Camilla, does.But what is even more perturbing is that Charles has a resemblance to Sarah Jessica Parker. Forgive me guys, its Sunday night and I need some trivia in my life before Monday morning rolls around aga...

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Contextual Design Only

I love Brooklyn and I love our Brownstone neighborhoods. They are worth protecting for future generations. My husband is very engaged at the moment to try to downzone our entire neighborhood in order to protect its unique character. Consisting of mostly two or three story buildings made of either brick or brownstone, it it hard to keep developers from coming in and squeezing a 6 or eight story monster in between a row of old townhouses. Downzoning...

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Ugly Dog Of The Week!

Maybe there are no ugly dogs, just ugly owners who make their pooch walk around looking like this. The poor creature above seems absolutely ambarassed. He looks as though he is wearing booties around his legs. And a pompadour on his head. Poor creature. What do you think?To see the other entries of my zany Ugly Dog Contest, click on the archive file on the right hand side. Or simply mail me your ent...

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The Coke Side Of Life Just In Time For Passover

I may be crazy, but Coke out of the original thick glass bottle still tastes better to me than the one out of cans or, blaaah, the huge one-litre plastic bottles. The stuff in the glass bottles tastes less sweet to me and sure has more fizz. I know that Coca-Cola uses different ingredients and formulas for their brews even from country to country. Below is confirmation of the fact that Coke is not always Coke. Not being much of a soda drinker,...

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News From My Hood

Hey, what's happening to my neighborhood? First, all the little mom-and-pop stores where forced out by high rents and replaced by chain stores and banks and now, we have bank robberies almost every week. Oh, how I hate the "New and Improved" Brooklyn. It is starting to be too much like Manhattan. There was a reason why we moved here intead of across the East River ( yeah, I know, we could not have afforded Manhattan anyway 20 years ago, but...

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Hey Sista, Vote For Me!

As promised, I am continuing with my Vote 2008 updates. So far, I have posted info on Giuliani, Barack and Edwards and on a petition to convince Al Gore to run. I have not however covered Hillary yet. Don't know why. I am cautious of Hillary. She is super smart of course, has real life experience in the White House and we would get her husband Bill in the bargain if she wins. But there is something that bothers me about her. Can't quite put...

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Mickey Mouse Government In Iraq

It's never easy to go from a dictatorship to a democracy, especially if you add religion into the equation. It has been four years since the United States invaded Iraq. Did we really think that Iraq was going to get on its feet in that period of time? Yes, the country is moving forward, but sometimes, it seems as though every baby step is followed by three steps backwards. Below is an interesting take on the inefficiency of Iraqi's Government.Friday,...

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Election 2008: Chris Rock's Take

Astute observation by Chris Rock. I missed his opener for Saturday Night Live. But thanks to You Tube, here is a repl...

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How To Get Upgraded To First Class!

I am always envious when I see the people in first class, as I schlepp through the cabin of an airplane. Some of the seats in the luxury part of the aircraft are just amazing. The legroom is enough to make one turn green with envy. So imagine my interest in the story below. Turns out that simply dying on a plane may get you the coveted upgrade we have all been longing for. Who knew?From The Sunday TimesMarch 18, 2007BA sat corpse in first classSteven...

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Sarkozy's Many Bodyguards

My French friend Violaine just sent me this picture of Presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozi's campaign headquarter. Pretty intimidating,no? Ironically, the banner displayed reads: " Lets image the France of the future "( obviously after voting for Sarkosy's party) Pardon me for asking, but what kind of trouble are they expecting? Of course I had to investigate this and the candidate further. So here is some background information. Any...

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VIAGRA NOT INCLUDED

It's not bad being a senior citizen in Germany. After reading the Spiegel Magazine story below, I imagined the A.A.R.P. Association here in the U.S. running an ad about 50% off brothel services. I guess this won't happen here any time soon. U.S. senior citizens are way too busy running across the Canadian border getting their meds at a reasonable price. Better pick up some Viagra too if planning a visit to Germany.German Brothel Offers 50-Percent...

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RASCAL: UGLY DOG OF THE WEEK

Yet another ugly dog for our contest. They just keep on getting better! This entry was sent to me by his owner Dane Andrews in California.The dog's name is Rascal. He is a hairless little beast. He is not shaven as Dane points out. Thanks for the picture....

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A STAR IS BORN!

The cuteness factor comes into play big time on this video! Someone, quickly, get her a recording contr...

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How Green Is My City!

Today is Saint Patrick's Day. Here in New York City, its a huge deal. After all, this town has a huge Irish population. Or rather Irish/American population. Today, everyone in the city is Irish, a lame excuse to go out drinking in an Irish pub.I am Irish too. After all I have a very Irish last name. People confuse my German accent with an Irish one. Especially if I tell them my name. An old lady once squealed: ' Oh, you sound as though you...

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Kate Havnevik - Unlike Me

Yes, maybe a bit slow, but Kate Havnevik's voice is way too unusual to make this song kitschy. Listen to it and leave a comme...

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Pretty Darn Great Country!

Americans love their country. As they should, of course. What still surprises me after decades of living here is with which conviction they will tell you that it the "greatest country in the world." Pretty darn great, but THE greatest? I bet other countries beg to differ.Generally, I myself am very careful about making such declarations about any country. My native country, Germany, used such self-agrandizing expressions way back, and look how...

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L'Ego Du Bloggeur!

Have you ever googled yourself? But wait! Who am I kidding. Of course you have. Doesn't everyone? Anyway, whenever I googled Katia Kelly in the past, a site about a young Brazilian with the same name would pop up. That was disturbing enough. Then there was a second one that always made me cringe : " Euro Sex Parties Brings You Katia". I imagined old friends clicking on that page and saying to themselves; ' Damn, she was not that hot looking...

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Edgy Comedy

Here is a brilliant little sketch by Palestinian- American comic Aron Kader. It was part of the "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour" on Comedy Central, the first TV stand-up show with all Middle Eastern--American comics What can I say? Its razor sharp! Watch ...

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BEWARE MY LONG, SHARP FANGS!

For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis or even know me personally, you know that I have had some gum issues. Yup! Gum, that pinkish stuff that holds your teeth in their socket. The proceedure from hell started innocently enough with my dentist mentioning that my gums had receded a bit too much and that I should see a specialist. Well, it has been quite an ordeal. I won't bore you with the gory details. Suffice it to say that...

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Ugly Dog Of The Week!

DONALD TRUMP IS A DOG!Well, maybe this one is not ugly but..the comb-over is too mu...

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THE NEXT GENERATION!!

I must be getting older! That realization comes to me everytime I come across the offspring of musicians and actors who were famous when I was young. That next generation is ready to leave its mark on my children. Has so much time really elapsed?Below is a video by Charlotte Gainsbourg, grown-up daughter of French chanteur Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. Not bad! She has a better voice than her father and mother ever had.The Songs That We...

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Le roi,c'est moi!

All righty, what's better: winning half of the $390 Mega Million Jackpot as Ed Neighbors, the Georgia trucker did this week or finding out that you may be the last king of France (and the first Indian one to boot.) For all you history buffs out there, this article is for you. And for my french friends, let me know if you are even aware of the fact that the next french Bourbon king lives in Bhopal.Found in India: The Last King of FranceAngelique...

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Download This!

I am not a hoarder. I know this for a fact because if there were a term for the exact opposite of a pack-rat, that would describe me to a T. I am a compulsive Throw-Awayer. I have been known to discard useless stuff in the house and then accusing my family members of having misplaced that object when they ask for it. It does not happen too often, I assure you. Mostly, they never notice that the object made its way to the Salvation Army years...

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Priceless!

This is a truly beautiful little short movie by Tim Burton about a little boy named Vincent Malloy who thinks he is Vincent Price! Narrated by Vincent Price! It doesn't get any better than th...

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America's Prudish Side

The following is an article written by one of my husband's business acquaintances. I thought that it would be interesting for all of you European readers to see how prudish America still is. While Germany is in the process of realizing that they may have gone too far overexposing their kids to porn on nightly television , the U.S. is still bowing to its prudish side. MY VIEW: Can you say ‘scrotum’?By Felice CohenIn Todya's New York Metro NewsHey...

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The Great Teacher!

pictured: Mary GordonBelow is an interview by N.P.R's Leonard Lopate with the three finalists of the Story Prize, a prize handed out for best story writing. Rick Bass, Mary Gordon, and George Saunders talk with Lopate about their work and the craft of short story writing.Mary Gordon is my daughter's creative writing professor at college. After listening to her speak...

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