Welcome to the Heart of Europe

Shirtz'n'Pix... this webpage is full of pictures, but there is still space.

T-Shirts are fun. As are kids. Together they form an unbeatable combination. Here are a few new pictures happy faces and people. And so this page serves as a vehincle for more pictures under the motto: "Don't take everything too serious." Especially not this page!

Smiley Face

Mister Slap Rediscovered. The sentence "Tonight I am going to watch D-i-d-i" by a late grand-aunt still echoes in my ears. One of those buried childhood memories that resurface unexpectedly. One fine day, we rediscovered German slapstick of the 1970's in form of the cult show "Nonstop Nonsense", which some of us had followed as a child. When it was on TV, we were allowed to stay up late. It featured a clumsy comedian with nick name Didi (in the very first show still called "Mister Slap"), who also recorded a number of songs, starting with the self-critical confession: "With that face, one cannot succeed!" Maybe the guy was not beautiful, but he was not afraid to make fun of himself and made everyone laugh. He succeeded in the end and even had several box-office hits - thinking of "Didi the Doppelganger" and "Didi and the Revenge of the Disinherited". At the same time, he encouraged others not to give up, while stumbling through life. Maybe, there is a Didi in all of us?

Efforts with a Smile. In his autobiography, "Who constantly makes efforts with a smile", Dieter Hallervorden reveals his secret to groundbreaking success: In the mid to late 1970's, the prime time show "Nonstop Nonsense" - with a comedy style was largely based on body language - managed to reach an audience of a size that later only Champions League games could attract. Structurally, the cult-figure Didi was some kind of ancestor of Mr. Bean, for the wit of both characters came mostly from situation comedy and facial expressions. At the same time, the show helped the public television broadcaster in fulfilling its educational mandate. For many parents connected the permission to their offspring to stay up late and watch the show with the demand for carefully completed homework and good grades. The show usually concluded with an acted out joke. One of them showed prisoners killing time by playing grocery shop. They would imitate the entry door bell and order the unusual: "Palim-palim, I would like to have a bottle French fries!"

Superguys... armed with a squirt gun!

Peek-a-boo through... a Donut hole.

A new bike... super-cool stuff we got from a very good friend!

Legend of Darth Didi

Contrast Program. In contrast to highly intellectual research in connection with writing a scientific paper in late evenings, early mornings and on busy weekends, it had been some kind of relief to revisit long lost childhood memories of most ridiculous nature in form of "Nonstop Nonsense", "The Didi-Show" and "The Subtenant". It even went as far as convincing my son to create the fictitious online game character "Darth Didi", who despite of being pushed off a cliff apparently survived on an overhanging rock- as cartoon characters always do - and took his creator out in an ambush by using the element of surprise. However, D.D. didn't survive for long, as the most experienced player created yet another character to get his revenge and silence the Star Wars-comedian forever. But now for something completely different...

To the Point. To tailor communication effectively and precisely to a certain audience requires time for planning short and to the point statements. A correspondence between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the maid of honor in Weimar once contained the quote: "Sorry for writing this long letter I didn’t have time for a shorter one!" When we take the time that Goethe was apparently missing for his correspondence, we can transport complex information simply and accurately, as we manage to focus on the essential parts of the message. Which increases our chances to be understood in the right way. Have I lost you already with this lengthy thought?

Sandwich Talk. There are tricks that are taught as part of professional communication training. Such as the sandwich concept. After starting conversation with a warm "How are you," heavy criticism may follow in the middle part, while the closing should contain a positive outlook or even praise. On top of language, there are cultural differences. Which include a minimum of manners, even in relaxed situations, as a form of showing respect to others.

On the sunny Sunday walk: A picture with... heads!

Photo art and also scarfs are fun... especially, if truly handmade!

Go to the next page to see a Slideshow.