Berlin vs. New York Round IV
4 October 2007
Why do people live in New York ? There is no relationship between them. Except for an inner electricity which results from the simple fact of their being crowded together. A magical sensation of contiguity and attraction for an artificial centrality. This is what makes it a self-attracting universe, which there is no reason to leave. There is no human reason to be here, except for the sheer ecstasy of being crowded together.
Jean Baudrillard, America 1989
I moved back to Berlin.
I don't know what it is about New York, but it drives me slowly insane. My visits back there over the years have been enjoyable and I figured I should go there to find some new destiny. After 9 months I get worn down by the arrogance and the noise and especially the high rents and food prices. Worn down by always chasing money to fill somebody else's pocket.
Most everybody in New York is trying to get somewhere. That's the point of The City : you go there to make it. So if you aren't Donald Trump, you still haven't made it and you still have to hustle. Everybody is hustling all the time. It rubs off on everyone. I figured it would do me good to get back in the game, but as soon as I got there I didn't feel like playing.
It has to be said that New York and Los Angeles are at the center of the world, even if we find the idea both exciting and disenchanting. We (Europeans) are a desperately long way behind the stupidity and the mutational character, the naive extravagence and the social, racial, moral, morphological, and architectural excentricity of their society. - JB, America
He also says that the Europeans will always be Bourgeoisie. Damned straight, that's why the pastries are so much better here. America is advanced like Derivitaves. Their moral value system is also strangely abstracted in the same way. Perhaps Bush believes that his account will eventually show a Moral Profit if we would only give him a little time, yes the moral hedge fund is down at the moment but ...
I'm back in my old apartment in Berlin now, right off of the canal with the street market and the swans. As soon as I got here I felt more relaxed than I have in months. My ears have finally stopped ringing (somebody needs to take a big bottle of WD-40 to the subway in Union Square) and my meditation feels like I'm making progress again rather than just attempting to keep myself out of the loony bin. I distinctly feel like I'm home.
more posts in Berlin
- Welcome to the West
I was in a bar a few weeks back, drunk, talking to some people and listening to this girl tell us about growing up in East Germany. Just to paint a picture: she was very attractive, blond, very lively and also a bit drunk. She mentioned the dolls that they used to have, an Eastern German version of the Barbie Doll and I accidentally joked something like "were the dolls named Helga ?" — she slapped me. Lightly, but to ...
- Mauerfall: people still have the power
I never get tired of watching this. No-one is sure of what to do tonight here in Berlin. I suppose just wander around and look for random and true emotion. The planned actions seem too planned, though I will drop by the mauer-mob project. What might happen if we riot against the banks: One more crowd pleaser, this from Goodbye Lenin. The mother has been in a coma and missed the fall of the wall and re-unification. Under doctor's ...
- live on herbstradio friday
Achtung Taxifahrers ! Radio - that thing that you hear when you are in the taxi. I'll be playing on it on the newly set up Herbstradio UKW-Frequenz 99,1 MHz this Friday night in Berlin. You can also listen online: http://www.herbstradio.org/ On Thursday, no wait ... right now ! 1 AM Thurs Sept 17 : they are playing Rupture's excellent Mudd Up! show (originally broadcast on WFMU), DJ Zhao at 3 am, Awesome Tapes from Africa at 4, Hakim Bay ...
- We have liftoff
Berlin TV tower - lift off from Fabian Tischer on Vimeo.
- Full index for Berlin
- Welcome to the West
more posts in New York
- Dutty Artz interview on XLR8R
My NY fam here being interviewed for XLR8R:
- when it happens
In case you all hadn't noticed, the world is falling apart. I posted here back on September 11th, 2007 that the finance world was going to fall apart. http://crucial-systems.com/For_those_of_you_that_dont_pay_attention_to_the_world_of_finance The reason I fled New York was that I could see quite clearly that the wheels were going to come off that wagon and the US may very well collapse into chaos. Alarmist, yes. That's what alarms are for. The solid truth is that the financial markets always precede the real ...
- viel spaß im ausland
This is the green card that they give foreigners when they land in the Great US of A: Do you have a communicable disease; physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict ? (Well that eliminates half the planet right there) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; ... or are you seeking entry go engage in criminal or immoral ...
- I am legend
For some reason all the cool people are hating on the new Will Smith vehicle. People who haven't even seen it declare that they don't like it. I liked it. So there. As a former New Yorker its awesome to see New York totally devoid of people. I'm not quite sure where the lions come from. Any movie that features the near total extinction of mankind is usually somewhat enjoyable. You get to see Will scrunch his face up and ...
- Full index for New York
- Dutty Artz interview on XLR8R
more posts in currently
- Video Art by satellites and turtles : its the new Auteur Theory
POV video from STS-124. No film director or composer could make anything this epic. Even Stanley Kubrick would tone it down or try to resolve it to edits and angles. The adrenaline builds, and at 2 minutes your mind beings to blow. The ending is truly beautiful, don't miss it. A camera gets lost in Aruba on November 11, 2009. A turtle finds it on January 15, 2010, films this refreshing shoegazer video and becomes a YouTube celebrity. The camera ...
- Dubstep has peaked
Google Trends "dubstep" But soon the vuvuzela will be forgotten about, right ?
- You are now entering the Republic of South Africa
From Jozi and Cape Town, South Africa 2010 Lloyd is from Zimbabwe and lives and works in George, SA. Every 3 months he goes home. His wife works in the US embassy and might go to India next year. He's trying to build his house, brick by brick, so eventually when he moves back he'll have some place to retire in. We chatted a bunch during the night bus. Lloyd is from Zimbabwe and lives and works in George, SA. ...
- Murungu in Baghdad
I must admit that while I walked across the bridge to Zimbabwe Bob Marley started playing in my head. Sunny, windy, I'm smiling to myself. But they wouldn't let me in because the visa sticker is too big for the remaining space in my passport. I walked back to Zambia; they wouldn't let me in unless Zim stamped a denial. Back to Zim. Self-important immigration guy is on break, lady wants to gossip with friends and not listen to confusing ...
- Full index for currently
- Video Art by satellites and turtles : its the new Auteur Theory
Solar Life Raft Ingredients
Timeblind
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coltan and cassiterite Timeblind
The unmixed ingredients from Rupture and Shadetek’s Solar Life Raft. Including two tracks by me: Coltan and Cassiterite and Space Cadet (which came out on last year’s 12” on Version)
I’ve been waiting/yearning for Coltan and Cassiterite to come out for much of last year. I was about to release it myself just to relieve my own tension waiting for it. Anyway, its on a good home: The Agriculture and the reviews have been great so far.
The title refers to two of the minerals that are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are components in portable electronics like cel phones. Its one of the unfortunate driving forces behind continuing warfare among the militias in the Rwanda/DRC border area.
Avail at boomkat: http://➯.ws/⚥ SLR in 320kMP3 and Flac
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1 Nadine says...
Hey,
I was carefully reading what you were writing about Kuduru and your meeting with Calyx…I am organising an exhibition on Kuduru and Luanda and I would like to contact this guy, could you give me a hint were I could find him.
Here is the page were you were writing about him. I adore that music, and would like to have contact to people to share opinions and some news…
http://crucial-systems.com/159483/Kuduro_African_Rave_Techno
Thanks a lot, best for you
Nadine
Posted at 6:32 p.m. on October 4, 20072 says...
yo, sent you some info.
I was just watching a bunch of amazing kuduro videos on youtube. they are in my player at the bottom of this page. check the one legged guy on top of the car !
I like this genre of african video: just people dancing anywhere and everywhere and then edit all the best stuff together.
its very break dancing / capoeira.
Posted at 9:42 p.m. on October 6, 20073 Chrisanthi Veloudakis Greece says...
I hope you see this..the last time we saw each other was when i was eating breakfast at Eastman's cafeteria..a looong time ago..you may not remember me..but i do!You are one of the few people that stayed with me in my mind after i left Rotchester.I always wanted to contact you..but i didn't know how.. Posted at 6:31 p.m. on November 5, 20074 andrew says...
hey,
i was looking for a comparison of berlin with another city as I was recently in the German capital for a visit. i like it so much there (i'm living in Freiburg). I enjoyed reading your musings between the two cities.
cheers.
Posted at 7:56 p.m. on April 1, 2009