Friends | Dominik Mayer – Products, Asia, Productivity

I Am No Color

When will facebook finally disable the possibility to “invite” others to use applications, to obtrude your (still) friends with total rubish. Today, a friend talked me into installing “What Color Are You?”. As usual, I didn’t let it put anything in profile, menu, etc. and nope, I do not want to invite up to 20 friends per day (!).

Next page, nine multiple choice questions. Yes I would like to live in a New York Penthouse and I have no idea what I would do if I saw a friend of mine cheating on his or her boy- or girlfriend. As you see, talking is not an option:

  • Walk away and pretend it never happened
  • Stop it right away and tell their boyfriend/girlfriend
  • Stop it right away and forget about it
  • Blackmail them for life
  • Join in the fun!

Eagerly, I clicked on the “What color are you?” button. But: No color. More friends:

Color invitation

I don’t know why there is a “Skip” button. In fact it doesn’t fulfill any function. You cannot be a color without spamming anyone. I rather be colorless. Application removed.

16 Days

One exam next Thursday, two more the Friday after next, then two days to clear out the apartment and I’ll be gone. Is there any time for a farewell party?

Better Off Without You

I mentioned before that I don’t appreciate the behavior of many facebook applications. A good example are all these walls. Fun, Advanced, Super, Giga, Mega, Monster Wall. No one can tell me they were made for the user. The only reason they’re still out there is because they spam around like hell.

While skyping with a friend we both checked out his facebook profile and I asked him about an item in his Mini-Feed. A mutual friend sent him something that looked like a blond girl:

Facebook

We clicked on it and it was… nothing. Niente. Nada. Nichts:

Facebook

But the fun continued. After clicking on the link I was forced to install Super Wall and found myself on a page with a dozen postcard images. I clicked next without selecting anything and got to another page where the application asked me to chose the friends I wanted to spam. I clicked on “Skip”, was sent back to the wall and found a message. A message I had sent. At least that’s what it says:

Facebook

Seems like all my friends got it… Arrrg. I hate spammers and now that crap made me seem like one. :x

And I got an empty post, too. From my friend, who also said he didn’t send it. Perhaps they’ll go broke one day. In the meantime, just fb-sw-5.png it.

Update: I hope this will help:

Facebook

Delta M

Four weeks until I have to be in Shanghai. No appartment yet. But a flight:

Itinerary Munich - Shanghai

I’ll arrive in Hongqiao rather than the modern Pudong Airport. It’s nearer and I better get my things to wherever I stay before exploring the city.

According to the lady of the Air China service hotline I may take thirty kilogram to Beijing but only twenty to Shanghai. Different regulations for international and domestic flights. Ok. I thought about sending some stuff by mail. Beijing, Shanghai. That shouldn’t take too long. A Chinese friend advised against it. Hm.

Hard Time

Preoccupied with Machine Components a friend forbids me to sing “Herzilein”. ;-) Not my kind of music but the two are so funny.

Anti

I don’t want to write on my semester thesis, don’t want to study for the exams, don’t want to clear out my appartment and don’t want to go to China. Although I have to admit that the images Jan and Michael took look quite good.

Munition

Just in case you want to torture someone, here’s what you need. I know what I’m talking about. I’m a victim.

Die Wildecker Herzbuben: Herzilein (According to Wikipedia Wolfgang Gliem, the one with the beard, is the second cousin of Bruce Willis)

Die Flippers: Bye bye Belinda

Die Flippers: Die rote Sonne von Barbados

Semino Rossi: Aber dich gibts nur einmal für mich

Boney M.: Rivers of Babylon

Disclaimer: I want to emphasize that I distance myself from these videos…

Here’s a good one for a positive ending:

Simon and Garfunkel: The Boxer

How Old Are You?

A friend studying psychology started a Skype chat to ask some friends whether they would take part in an experiment. She was looking for people between 23 and 29 years. Here’s one response:

A: (hi)

not 23 - born xx.4.84, you’re a bit too early :D

B: 1984 is ok

A: I see

C: :^)

A: well, then I’m on board :D

C: you are 23 when you’re born April 1984

you’ll be 24 now :^)

A: I see

shit

yes

C: (shake)

A: I had counted with 24 (blush)

I think I better hide…..

Leaving Sweden

Lappis

Another view of Lappis

Grillkrydderi

Previously mentioned Grillkrydderi

Fried noodles with Grillkrydderi

And the fried noodles I’d usually make with onions, basil, oregano and thyme. But if Grillkrydderi is the only thing available… ;-)

Breakfast/Lunch

Last combined breakfast and lunch with fried noodles, Kanelbullar, bread and margarine. That was one-week vegan’s first day back in his old life and the first time in Sweden that we could eat Kanelbulle together.

On the way to Universitetet

On the way to Universitetet

Light

Nice light

Flygbussarna terminal

Flygbussarna terminal

Check-in at Stockholm-Skavsta Airport

Check-in at Stockholm-Skavsta Airport

Boeing 737-800, Ryanair

Our plane arrived too late so we had to wait for an hour. The pilot was quite funny, he appologized and assured: “We’ll have you down there as soon as possible.” Then he asked everyone to be seated as soon as possible because: “We have to be airborne in ten minutes.” He didn’t even stop at the beginning of the rollway, just drove around the corner, speeded up and took off.

Weapon aboard

They take away all the nail scissors but sell canned peanuts with these sharp tops. I’d rather be threatened with the scissors.

Frozen car

Frozen car

Burger King vs. Gusticus

Burger King vs. Gusticus. Why is the first one closed at half past midnight?

Fried potatoes

Fried potatoes

Finally home

Finally home

Helsinki With Two Vegans

First view of Finland

A first view of Finland while disembarking

M/S Mariella in Helsinki

M/S Mariella in Helsinki

Finn's favorite letters

Finn’s favorite letters on a poster in the tram

Tourist intruding Finish living space

Tourist intruding Finish living space

Downtown Helsinki

Downtown Helsinki

Counter area of a Finish bank

Counter area of a Finish bank

Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral

Ship seen from Helsinki Cathedral

Ship seen from Helsinki Cathedral

House with display in Helsinki

Building with display

Helsinki Central railway station

Helsinki Central railway station

Vegetable cheese pasta

Vegetable cheese pasta, not vegan

Looking vegan food

Near central station, too expensive

Looking vegan food

Perfect restaurant with dishes without “any animal matters”. Doesn’t serve à la carte food until 3 pm.

Vegetarian chicken

Vegetarian chicken

Chinese restaurant with vegan food

Final destination

Rice noodles with vegetables

My Rice noodles with vegetables

Noodles with vegetables and separated egg

One-week vegan’s noodles with vegetables and separated egg.

Tofu

Hardcore vegan’s tofu with vegetables

Finish record store

Finish record store

Pedestrian lights in Helsinki

Pedestrian lights

M/S Viking XPRS being built in Helsinki

M/S Viking XPRS being built in Helsinki

Posters aboard M/S Mariella

Advertising for tax free shopping everywhere aboard M/S Mariella.

Temporarily Leaving Stockholm

Lappis

Lappis

Mind the gap

This display in the Stockholm Metro says you should mind the gap between train and platform. I couldn’t take a picture of the one saying you should pull the emergency brake in case of an accident. But why would you do this if the train won’t stop.

Drottningholmen

Drottningholm Palace

Kina Slott

Kina Slott

M/S Mariella

M/S Mariella in Stockholm

Pasta aboard M/S Marella

Pasta aboard M/S Mariella. Our vegan refused to eat it because it contained cream. One-week vegan removed all the cheese and started eating before we knew about the cream.

Food aboard M/S Mariella

What the vegan got instead. Not healthier but the poor little milk animal didn’t have to die for it. ;-)

Stockholm, Day Two

Closed Lidl in Stockholm.

Lidl, closed again.

Pastry at 7-Eleven

Pastry at 7-Eleven. The famous Kanelbullar are on the left side.

Bananas in a Swedish shop

All the little shops seem to sell bananas.

Noodles with Feta

Noodles with feta. My fellow travellers, a vegan and a one-week vegan, preferred to order it without cheese.

Sergels Torg at night

Sergels Torg at Night. I have yet to see Stockhom when it’s not dark…

How to use emergency breaks in the Stockholm Metro

How to use the emergency brakes in the Stockholm Metro. The question is: Why do you need an emergency break if it doesn’t stop the train?

Escalators with displays

The same Swedish escalators, but this time the displays show more information. I couldn’t take a picture of the one saying it didn’t work but a technician was on its way.

How to use an escalator

How to use an escalator.

2007 Ends in Stockholm

Boarding

Boarding

Swedish Escalators

Swedish Escalators at the Metro station Universitetet. They’re running much faster than the German ones.

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, the narrowest alley in Stockholm.

Out of Bavaria

  1. About half of the way from Freising to Frankfurt/Hahn is covered with construction sites.
  2. Most parts of the Autobahn have a speed limit.
  3. Swabia is a very hilly region.
  4. Nicotine gums help a smoker to smoke less, and the fellow travellers to avoid health hazards.
  5. Don’t eat pizza at Frankfurt/Hahn.
  6. While landing, the pilot has to turn off the cabin lights to comply with safety regulations.
  7. Flygbussarna bring you from Stockholm-Skavsta Airport to the city. No idea if everyone finally got a place.
  8. There still are subways on a sunday at 2:40 am.
  9. Fried spaghetti with barbecue spice taste good… despite a massive amount of salt.