bengston

Fashion victims

I was going to rant about this sooner or later... Yesterday it struck me again and I wondered what makes women fashion victims and how on earth they collectively manage to wear almost the same thing the very same day?? I work in large building with about 1500 co workers. This gives a pretty good idea of what figures we are talking. Yesterday I noticed, that a good 80% of the women were wearing dark skirts, cord type fabric and the omnipresent leather boots. Fair enough that's fashion but jesus is there only one type of skirt you are allowed to wear? And why are women following those "rules"? Nothing against a well dressed person but I draw a line between style and mindless fashion followers.

The FIFA Worldcup Calculator

This (688.5K) nice little Excel file shows, that you can actually use Excel to do something meaningful. You can calculate the whole WC in advance and plan the way of your team to the final. Download it and feel free to use. I have no idea who owns the copyright of this :)

Die Frischlinge

I have just laughed off myself in front of the telly watching "Die Frischlinge" on ORF1. I think I've heard colleagues talk about the show but never saw it before. And what have I missed! The show is about improvisation. Three "freshmen" candidates need to improvise together with three "allstars". Situation comedy at its best. All spontanous and very cool. I'll be watching again.. for sure.

This could be me :)

I'ts in fact an ad of Zurich's night bus service.

Broken Flowers

I went to see Broken Flowers on Thursday. I suggested other films but thanks to Tom we went to watch this great film! A wonderful story and a strong Bill Murray in the main role as Don Johnston make this one to see. Here a top quote from the film:

Don Johnston: [to Lolita] "That was quite an outfit you weren't wearing earlier"

Coop Fine Food

I am more a Migros type of person. In fact I get terribly lost in a coop store up to the point to get angry for not finding what I want and for not knowing what it costs but clearly knowing it will be more expensive than anywhere else. However yesterday, when I went grocery shopping at coop I noticed the Fine Food brand which I have seen bevore but not in every corner of the shop. I was curiously sneeking around the store trying to discover all Fine Food products available making it a pleasure for once. In fact they seem to have quietly built up a whole line of top line food products in that neat Fine Food design that looks ever so tempting. If I'm right Migros will start the same but I doubt it will turn out as stylish. That way at least you know why you go to coop and don't need to be shocked anymore when looking at the receipt on your exit from the store.

Most unusual data losses 2005

I found this list over at Inside IT. It's in german only but funny! Top 10 of data losses in 2005, published by Kroll-Ontrack, a company specialising on data recovery.

I want TRSP (the real simple phone)

Honestly... do you use the camera in your phone? For that I have a camera. Do you listen to music with your mobile phone? Ever since Siemens SL45 released the first mp3 phone this has been a flop. I don't surf on the web on my phone (yet) and I don't download ringtones. I used it as a phone. Which is why I still use this Nokia 6100 But the industry is not listening... All they aim at is the young, the beautiful, the hip. More and more functions are crammed into smaller devices by the month. I keep hearing from people that their phone is lame, that they want one just to use as a phone and to write text messages. I agree. And I want The Real Simple Phone (TRSP). No bullshit. Just a very sturdy body, a big screen, large buttons, a simple and logical menu, long battery life and *discreet* ringtones. The phone has an easy to use phonebook, a pristine sound quality and nothing else! Is that too much to ask? And no, I don't want a elderly people's phone such as this Kyocera phone

edit: Here and brandnew one of the two recommendations of forrester research regarding portable multitasking devices: "Only add functions that don't detract from the core application. Although they don't detract from voice functions, camera phones -- with their low resolution, hard-to-focus lenses, and small screens -- won't replace consumers' standalone digital cameras. But there are distinct times when consumers will opt for their camera phone: when they want to quickly share a photo with friends (26%) or when it's the only camera they have with them (37%)."