Scrapbook Entry 6: NBA TV

NBA TV

This picture was made in our dorm on campus last semester. As one can see it depicts a photograph of a TV screen that was broadcasting a NBA basketball match. To be more precise one can see Lebron James, a superstar of the Cleveland Cavaliers. As an important information one should know that my friends and I are great NBA fans who try to follow the events that happen in the NBA daily. So the reason why I took this picture was to make my friends in Germany jealous because I have the rare opportunity here in the States to watch NBA games live on television without getting up in the middle of the night, as my friends in Germany would have to if they wanted to watch one.

Furthermore, one should be aware of the fact that even by purchasing “Pay-TV” in Germany, it would not be possible anymore to watch these games live. This is due to a contract that was made by in 2008 between “Premiere”, the German “Pay-TV” station and the NBA. The only way to watch NBA games live from Germany, is via the internet, which in turn requires a fast internet connection to enjoy the game without any further distractions.

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Scrapbook Entry 5: The shoe of Destiny

The shoe of Destiny

This picture was actually taken in Baltimore January 31, 2009 in a restaurant. As it is with most of my scrapbook entries, there is a story behind this one too.

At the end of last semester, a day before I flew back to Germany over the winter break, I finally decided to divest myself from my beloved shoes which I had for over 15 months at that time. So consequently I put them into the trash can before I went to the airport for my flight back to Germany...

On January 19, 2009, I came back to St.Mary's campus. I was dropped off at my place and entered our dorm. As soon as I entered my room and saw the trash can, looking the same as it had done when I left before the break. My shoes were still on top of the papers. I immediately thought that this had to be destiny, because to be honest, I didn't want to get rid of them. The mean a lot to me because they have been through a lot! However, the right shoe has a huge hole in it which can't be repaired.

Long story short, I decided to wear them another semester. As thing are now, I will leave them here at St.Mary's for good when I go back to Heidelberg...
But who knows what destiny has planed for me...

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Scrapbook Entry 4: Philosophenweg 18/1

The Philosophenweg 18/1

This picture was taken a day before New Year's Eve in 2008 in Heidelberg, Germany. To be more precise, it was taken in Neuenheim, the most expensive district/area in Heidelberg to live in.

It depicts a door bell with an integrated loudspeaker of a house on the Philosphenweg 18/1; a street that is located directly at the river Rhine at a mountain road. In order to understand the picture a little bit better, one should know that Philisophenweg (street of the philosophers) is the most famous street in Heidelberg because of the fact that celebrities and even former important German politicians used to have there residence there.

As a normal human being, it is nearly impossible to even get an apartment not to mention a property on Philosophenweg. It is just too expensive.
The story behind this picture is nevertheless a different one. The day for New Year's Eve, me and friends took a walk up to the mountains along the Philosophenweg. We were fascinated and electrified at the same time by the large mansions we saw next to each other on the Philosophenweg.

However, there was one mansion that stood out because it just seemed to be the perfect place to live in. The mansion's house number was 18/1, as the picture shows. The property was quite bigger in comparison to all the other ones on that street.
The mansion seemed to be in a perfect spot, high upon the mountain, so that it offered a beautiful view over Heidelberg and the surrounding countryside. One even had a clear view of the Heidelberger castle.
Unfortunately, we have never had the chance to get look inside the property because it was surrounded by a white wall that could only image what was behind these walls.
However, we declared this mansion the best place in which to live in all of Heidelberg. As a result of our excitement, we started to envision how we would spend our time living there. Of course we knew that this vision would never come true, however, we thought it to be worth dreaming about.
So we took a picture to remind ourselves of the dreams we share.

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Scapbook Entry 3: Before and after pictures

Before and after pictures

The two pictures shown depict two Coca-Cola cans. On the first picture they are still closed and on the second one they just have been opened. By taking a closer look at the second picture one might still be able to see a slight sign of fog rising up from the cans directly the moment after their opening. I call it the "ghost" of the can who finally gets set free.

The picture was taken at a turkish fast-food restaurant called "Yuffka" in Heidelberg, Germany.
Every time I go there with my friends we always eat the same food, namly a yuffka, some kind of wrap with vegetables and beef. Furthermore, we always drink the same soda, a Coca-Cola out of a can, not from a glas or plastic bottle.

The fact that the yuffka is somehow extremely salty makes you feel thirsty quite rapidly; and Since I have been studing in Heidelberg, it has become a costum for me and my friends or I should rather say a habit to open our Cola cans simultaneaously and try to see the "ghost".
So given the fact that you are extremely thirsty already after a few bites makes you drink the ice cold Cola very fast almost all at once. This, on the other hand, causes some kind of pain in your throat but, on the other hand, also makes you feel "released" and content.

However, I consider the picture everything BUT art. Although the activity of "drinking" is part of our everyday life, we probably don't consider it as something beautifully or something that makes us feel good.
Nevertheless, I like the story the picture tells. Who would have thought that people can get so much satisfaction from only drinking a soda when they are thirsty?!

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Scrapbook Entry 2: Where..."Perfection" happens.

Where..."Perfection" happens.

This picture was taken on a balcony in Heidelberg, Germany. As one can see it shows a six-pack of Coca-Cola bottles and a six-pack of Fanta bottles next to each other standing perfectly in the sunset of a cold winter day. The reason for the six-packs being out on a balcony was due to the fact that the fridge was already packed.


The picture was taken during winter break in Germany 2008/2009. I had edited this picture by writing something on it before I sent it back to Germany to jecoice my roomates by reminding them of the awesome time we had. The writing on the picture says; "Where..."Perfection" happens." This statement was copied from the NBA.com website commercial. To make it short, this drink represents "perfection" for me and my roomates because we like it so much.

But the main reason why I chose this picture is the fact that this beverage is my roomates' and my favorite drink back in Germany. Originally, it is also referred to as "Spezi". Spezi conists of 50 percent Cola nd 50 percent Fanta. In other words, a mixture of both of them. The best way to consume this drink is when both sodas are ice cold.

Although the picture might only represent a radom failed picture to most of its viewers, it has a special personal meaning for me. However, the way the two six-packs are depicted by the warm light of the sunset during winter time and the association and emotions (enjoyment and satisfaction) me and my rommates connect with them, makes it special in our view at least.

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Scrapbook Entry 1: The "Gun"

The "Gun"

The object on the picture probably looks familiar to all St.Mary's students who have been at the Arc. However, when I saw the "The Gun" for the first time, I was both, unsure of what is actually was and also excited about using it. "The Gun" is a machine constructed for the sport of basketball. With its long extensions which are connected with each other through a net, is has the ability to catch most of the missed shots on the basket. Its shape is perfectly adjusted to the shape of a basketball hoop.

It drew my attention immediately because, since I have been playing this sport as long as I can walk, I had never seen such a machine that makes it possible to work on your shot without always running after your missed shots. It furthermore has the ability to pass you the ball periodically. It is up to the user whether he wants the ball to be passed to himself every third, fourth, or fifth second. The user moreover can decide if he wants the ball to be passed always to the same spot or I am quite sure that those machines are not common usuage in Germany, even for professional teams.

In my eyes, this machine should not be considered to be some kind of art, because its only purpose is to make the basketball practice/workout more efficient.
However, I was deeply fascinated when I saw it the first time; and I can't wait to show this picture to my basketball colleagues in Germany.

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