Beautiful Ribe

Inside the Medieval Cathedral, expressionist religion.

Perspective Lines

The northern coast of Germany, looking NW.

Open Source

I made this today.

Please watch in full screen.

Street art from my neighborhood

This will be an ongoing feature.  I've found some interesting things in the public sphere.  They are now part of my everyday ritual.

Any name ideas?

Nolde's Garden, a place for the expressionist

My developing optimism

You get lost in a crowd because of me.

Medieval Ribe, watched and watchful

A frame story. 

The coast of northern Germany, two ways

Freetown Christiania

Along an old rampart in København lies one of the most unique places on Earth.  Christiania began when a group of idealists/artists/hippies decided to move into some old army barracks on the outskirts of town.  They created their own society.  Ownership, discrimination, power...these do not exist in Christiania.  Homes are not for sale.  To live in Christiania, one must be approved by a board of community members for one of the rare vacancies.  Ideologies must align.  Everything is decided by discussion.  Voting doesn't exist, only unanimous decisions. About 750 people call Christiania home, but the free and creative spirit attracts an enormous amount of visitors (especially locals). This is the land of ideas.  I don't think that this is paradise, but it's an interesting 40-year-old experiment in idealism.  So far, Christiania has remained untainted by outside government and capitalism.  Christiania has a few rules, though:  No hard drugs (translation: hash and only hash is sold freely in the streets without any legal ramifications), no fireworks, and no weapons.  The police in København attempt raids every now and then, but riots usually break out as tens of thousands of young Danes swarm into Christiania to revolt.  Christianians themselves are too peaceful to riot, but they cannot help the fervor and support of the outside community.  As I was told by a native Christianian, the locals built a Clown Army a few years back to battle the police through passive aggression because of increasing pressures from a newly-elected right-wing government. "You can't beat a clown because then it gets sad and cries.  No one wants to see a clown cry." So for now, Christiania seems to be in a perpetual state of legal and political limbo.  Here is a picture of a community house from the more suburban part of the city.  More updates on this place to follow.  My Danish culture professor took our class on a tour here, her choice.  Most Danes love it and want to share it with the world. Maybe I will start posting random anecdotes I've heard while in Christiania--I already have some great stories.  As you leave Christiania, a signpost says, "You are now entering the EU."

When I look to the west

Translation

I find this to be very funny.

Twilight hour in the city

Danes are the happiest people in the world.

There is a common conception throughout the world that Danes occupy a very happy existence.  (http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/world-happiest-countries-lifestyle-realestate-gallup-table.html)

When asked about this, one of my Danish professors said, "That's because all of the depressed people just kill themselves."

Reconciled. 

Thank you for so graciously inviting me

into your park.  I will obey all the rules.

If I lived in Europe,

I would probably own this car.  Accord equivalent.