The Hamburgersweets with sweets war not

This is not my mother language - but I like it. Perhaps I am making a fool of myself building sentences nobody understands - or even sentences everybody understands - everybody but me.

I will never understand English punctuation. I will never get into my head (and keep it there) which words are capitalized in a headline.

On the other hand: no English speaking person could up to now pronounce my name right: “Detlef Cordes”. So I called this blog “The Hamburger”, as I am living, writing and singing from Hamburg Sankt Pauli, Germany. Every English speaking person is familiar with the word “Hamburger”.

I know, it’s a rather cheap pun, but I enjoy it anyway. It reminds me of one of the greatest expieriences of my youth (3 ofs in 1 sentence, sorry): a delicious hamburger I ate at the American festival in Berlin. I never enjoyed any hamburger so much for the next 30 years.

Today I never eat hamburgers. I give my best to be a vegetarian, but if on occasions hunger for meat overcomes my better self I run to the Schnellimbiss (greasy spoon, take-out? There seems to be no translation for the word) to have a currywurst (pork sausage with curry).

But what on earth has that got to do with me not blogging in my mother language?

Life on the duck pond is not easy - nor is it peaceful. Watch the video and you will agree.

I wanted to use my version of the most famous German nursery rhyme “All my LIttle Ducklings” (”Alle meine Entchen“) as the soundtrack. But I decided to let the ducks speak for themselves.

Here you hear the quaking and drumming in 14/8 measure - it’s true, count it yourself.

Here is the Duck Video >>

Watch the video and listen to the drum solo

Drum solo! The highlight of each jazz or rock concert - at least for the male part of the audience.

“Hey, listen to this! Isn’t that amazing!”

The other musicians might even leave the stage, have a drink or a cigarette and the drummer goes on with his fascinating performance.

Over the years I have learned that the drummer has to be a team-player and together with the bass is the musical backbone of most songs in jazz, rock and pop.

A song might cope with a bad guitar-player, even with a not so good singer - but never with a mediocre drummer.

My drum solo on the kitchen sink may be far from amazing, but the sink sounds okay.

Here ist the video of my drum solo on the kitchen sink.

Watch the video and listen to the Song

Is it safe for a woman go to Dubai alone? Apparently it is. Sabine was very impressed by the hospitality and civility she encountered in the Emirates.

My wife went to Dubai and brought back these pictures. So I have not been there yet, but I flew with her in my mind. Sabines’s pictures and my song combine in this video.

The name “Dubai” already is a musical composition. The song came into my head by itself and I felt that it needs no further instruments, so it’s a cappella.

The Dubai Video >>

For some months now I have more or less succesfully tried to be a vegetarian. But the other day, when I was in the kitchen washing the green salad I simply could not stand it any more.

“I want meat! Give me meat!”

Because I wanted it fast I went to the “Schnellimbiss” to get a “Currywurst mit Pommes“, a pork sausage with curry sauce and french fries.

What is “Schnellimbiss” called in English? It´s not a “Greasy Spoon” or “Diner” because you cannot sit down in the Schnellimbiss. It serves only sausages, half chicken and french fries.

So I went to the Schnellimbiss and this is what I got:

It keeps it’s promise. It tastes like it looks …

The next time I feel the urge to break my vegetarian vow I am going to look at this picture first.

I don’t need a spiritual teacher - because I have a cat.

Not only does she show me how to focus my attention in a completely relaxed way, not to speak of her beautiful asanas, but my cat teaches me to take life as it comes.

The cat comes - or it does not. You cannot force it and only to a limited extend bribe it.

It´s difficult to accept: life is as uncontrollable as a cat.

There are speculations that The Wall Street Journal, one of the last strongholds of paid content on the internet might be completely available for free in the future.

Analysts expect a rise in revenue from online advertising after an expected increase in readership.

So has everybody to be in advertising who tries to make a living creating content on the web? Or are there other ways to make money out of intellectual property?

Regarding the realm of software Jason from 37 signals says: “People are happy to pay for things they find valuable.” - But aren´t they even happier if they find the things they want for free - even if those things are a little less valuable?

The New York Times might abandon TimesSelect, it´s section of paid content on the web, according to friendly neighbor New York Post. Paid content seems to be unsustainable.

But can journalists, bloggers, software-authors, musicians all make a living from advertising money? Mustn´t be there somebody who actually sells something worth to place an advertisement?