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 MoreAllgemein
If 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: […]
Read MoreIs it a lie?
How to make better judgement calls when you are confronted with video “evidence” in a discussion.
Read MoreA Good Life
I 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 MoreTomb of Annihilation
A 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 […]
Read MoreWhat Dungeons & Dragons Can Do To Your Soul
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 MoreWas meine Oma mich lehrte
Die einflussreichste Person in meinem Leben war meine Großmutter. Sie wurde im Deutschen Kaiserreich geboren; erlebte zwei Weltkriege, die Mondlandung und Microsoft 95. Während des Krieges ging sie nach Dresden, um ihre Tochter aus der “Landverschickung” nach Hause zu holen, und zwang die Schulleiterin, ihre Tochter zurückzugeben. Dann brachte Oma […]
Read MoreThe Collector
The umbrella spread fear and terror. To the left and right, visitors to the museum leapt out of the way to avoid the eight pointed sticks that held the bright yellow fabric of the umbrella in shape. The reddish light of the alarm reflected off the surface of the umbrella […]
Read MoreDer Sammler
Der Regenschirm verbreitete Furcht und Schrecken. Links und rechts sprangen die Besucher des Museums aus dem Weg, um den acht spitzen Stöcken auszuweichen die den knallgelben Stoff des Schirms in Form hielten. Das rötliche Licht von Alarmleuchten reflektierte von der Oberfläche des Schirms, während er bei jedem angestrengten, schmerzhaften Schritt […]
Read MoreVista del billón de dólares
“¿Qué es eso?” “¿Te gusta la vista? Párate aquí, puedes ver toda mi instalación: Los paneles solares que siguen al sol, la micro turbina eólica y, en el otro extremo de la propiedad, la granja vertical y mi pequeña cabaña de madera. Allí escribo la mayoría de mis novelas”. “Sí, […]
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