Indifference. A term every political economics student is ranting and raving about. When an individual is indifferent about option A or B, then he/she values both equally and thus considers them as good or as bad as the other.

Meh Magazine. Go buy it or don't... Whatever. I dont care. *Shrugs*. · by shammonds on flickr.com

Meh is the more casual term for it and I wish I could have “Meh” go mainstream in German as well. I’m working on it. philafication.com proudly presents the word of all-time:

Expression: Meh
A word used to show indifference.
Example: “Barack Obama, you are the first Black president, do you think you are ready to take office?”
“Meh.”

It’s basically a short version, and thus is ideal for text lingo, for I couldn’t care less about it. The German language lacks an equivalent of equal efficiency and thus needs to adapt the English. Resistance is futile.

The image attached shows the Face of Meh. On Meh Magazine. Get it at the newspaper stand near you or don’t… whatever. For only 1.50 I guess.

I’m sure you’ve seen me make that kind of face once or twice.

Here’s some German expressions that’s worth mentioning in this compelling case of Lingo Bingo…

• Das juckt mich nicht.
• Das kratzt mich nicht.
• Das tangiert mich perifär.

Whereas English has taken over a large proportion of “the language of choice” for most blog entries, we all know that I speak both German (mother tongue) and English (as a second language). I cause a load of hits on online dictionaries pages since I can’t always stand vague interpretations by me, myself and I.

In beta.

My “dictionary of choice” has been dict.leo.org for quite a while. Also I used to look up words on pons.de a long time ago, but I was really not enjoying the user experience.

But what do I find out now? Pons was entirely overhauled and revealed a new approach to online dictionary (compared to the sloppy thing they had before). Now,pons.eu/dict/search(in Beta status, how trendy of them) offers registered-user only suggestions and contributions,pronunciation assistance (mp3 format) and a unique display of words that groups results according to their meaning (something I definitely miss on dict.leo.org).

I can’t wait to check out the new old kid on the block* and see how it will fit my daily use with looking up words. Is it going to replace dict.leo.org? I’m undecided, but really attracted…

*Mini Lingo Bingo: The new kid on the block is a phrase to describe someone who has just appeared or is new. It is not only used for new people entering a social circle, often used in context with a company entered a new market. The german equivalent is “der/die Neue sein.” An example: Google’s Gear browser solution is the new kid on the block and will be tested really hard. – Google’s Gear Internetbrowser ist der Neue und wird hart beurteilt werden.

Having Started my studies of International Business Administration on Wednesday was next big thing coming up for me in the last week. Therefore, I needed to move. Get out of the countryside and dive into the urban flair of Vienna was the ultimate devise for me the last couple of days. Luckily I was spared with the whole odysee-like search for the perfect apartment and got to move in a family apartment in the 7th district of Vienna: Neubau. Sweet home, Neubau…

Been there, done that. Here is what Dan Barham adds to his picture: We spent $200 on cardboard boxes for our impending move. Of course, I did what any self-respecting person would do and built an awesome fort.

Plus, don’t miss the new announcement for philafication.com at the end of the post. My newly acquired marketing skills make you read the whole post. Jump, do it.

Literal Liberal translation of the quote below: Who hears butterflies laugh, knows what clouds taste like. Everyone who can hear a butterfly’s giggle, hands up? Anyone? Anyone?

I ran across this quote on the huge blackboard hovering over the food/drink distributing spots (okay, whatwould you call it? Bar where you can watch them cook?) at the Vapiano. A resteraunt I’ve “frequented” a lot lately! Best pasta (Linguini Pesto) and best pizza (Pesto con spinaci). But that is meant as a sidenote, I hope it still qualifies as A Picture A Quote entry, or should I – considering myunexhaustive talkiveness – rename it to A Picutre A Quote and A Buttload of Phil’s Senf (Senf is German for mustard; a proverb for someone’s – slightly cheap – opinion – “As in wanna hear my 2 cents on that story?” English equivalent of to give/add my 2 cents.) Boom wacko (what a neat term for, woo, suprise, surprise), it just turned into a mini retro Lingo-Bingo. What would a psychotherapist say about this chain of associations? Massive and severe blogging deprivation. I guess.

Wer Schmetterlinge lachen hört,
der weiß, wie Wolken schmecken. (by Carlo Karges, 1951-2002)

Flying Yellow Butterfly · photo by M-Louis on flickr.com

The choice of language, namely French, to illustrate a dialogue of incomprehension, I assure you, is totally accidental. Not · illustr.byGuacamole Goalie

Whenever an attempt to communication or action fails, people get very creative when they encounter a lack of understanding. Both German and English have a vast repertoire listing expressions ofincomprehension.

Proceed In The Face Of Utter Incomprehension -Of course, people should always follow that rule, however, we have so many ways to let others know that we just didn’t get what the heck he or she was talking about. Buh-n-howf?

I know that I have neglected my German entries a lot lately, but I just don’t feel like posting anything German. It’s not that I am having a writer’s block or I’m missing German word wit. No, it’s not that. So, as an apology, I’m now concentrating on German idioms and proverbs. There you go. I came across with these in the last two weeks. A collection, quasi.

Rot Rot Rot ist alles was ich sehe, Rot Rot Rot ist das wofür ich lebe!

Having a weakness for another language makes you do weird things. Sometimes I encounter a phrase or joke in German that I have a hard time translating, where the internet bears a hand*. Most of the times this gets me the solution, I feel satisfied and can move on with life. Here is an example of hard-to-translate-phrase. German to English gave me a spinning head*…

There are moments in life where you feel this sudden surge of hormones (mostly adrenaline) that tell you the meaning of your existence. The chore that you are supposed to be able to tick of at the end of your life, the obligation that you fulfill with – hopefully – good grace. It seemed to me that yesterday this special moment occurred to me when I was talking to an old friend (he happens to be from Vorarlberg, servas). I was using the omnipotent, omni-pretty-much-anything phrase “Duh” and all I got was a sad, cheerless “What does it mean, man?” This post is supposed to clear up some things.