Back in 2017 I wrote this short piece. I think the events of the last nine years show that I had a point. The Treadmill by Chris Pyak The Treadmill I run 6km on the treadmill whenever I can’t find an excuse. I’m doing fine walking when the speed is […]
Read MoreIf you want to take a glimpse into Germany’s future… (Press “play”) https://www.destatis.de/bevoelkerungspyramide/#!y=2020&a=20,62&g&s=m A few facts to make you think: 61 years is the real retirement age for most Germans.1971: 30% of Germans where younger than 20 years.2031: 33% of Germans will be older than 61 years. The results:1970: Social insurance added 26.50% to labour costs.2015: […]
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How to make better judgement calls when you are confronted with video “evidence” in a discussion.
Read MoreI promised my wife: “We will have a good life, no matter how hard you have to work for it.” She simply looked at me and said: “No.” Well, worth a try… Now we are sitting in a nice cafe called “with love” in the more posh part of Santander. Evgenia takes […]
Read MoreA long-lost temple, deep in the jungle. Your path: overgrown. Your senses: overwhelmed. Colors, smells, movement, noises. Wait—movement, you said? The poisonous green snake lunges straight for your eyes. You raise your dagger to deflect the attack, but— Too late. Pain flares as the snake sinks her fangs into the […]
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by Chris Pyak The tip of the cigarette butt glows red inside the cusp of the tiny hand that is holding it. Dried skin blocks the light from spreading into the early night. The cigarette swings up in an ark and its owner takes a slow, long drag. The red […]
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People completely underestimate how much a role-playing game like #DungeonsAndDragons can mean. Yesterday a player shared with me how moved he was when he heard for the first time *directed at him*: “How do you wanna do this?” I see shy people bloom. I see overlooked people get praise. I […]
Read Moreby Chris Pyak The two of them were both so frail. Parts were failing, because frankly: They were super old. Ninety years one of them, 92 the other. One of them could hardly see, the other was nearly deaf. But never have I seen a pair that together created such […]
Read MoreRead from start. “There, your wedding bed awaits”, my colleague joked. The humour of nurses tends to skip sophistication and goes right to the punch-line. Who knows if your audience will still be alive by the end of the joke? The hospital room was once again calm and clean. Klärchen, […]
Read MoreRead from the start “Can you feel this?” he asked and offered his open palm to me in an invitation. As soon as he felt my hand close by he grabbed my index finger with his fist. “Got you!” he laughed. Then he gently let my fingers feel the pink […]
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