Yellow Jacket Diaries

Fours years (and counting?) From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (17 hours old)

Sunday was the fourth anniversary of my arrival here in Berlin. And, as the blank screen in front of me for the last half hour verifies, I can't think of a single thing to say about it.… more

Kings of Leon - Rememo From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (1 day old)

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The Berlin Wall, 1961 - 1989 From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (2 days old)

Today, as every Monday morning, I had class with a group of German pensioners. This morning, I asked them what they were up to on this day twenty years ago, the day the Berlin Wall fell. On Novembe… more

Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (4 days old)

Is Jarvis Cocker the coolest man alive (aside from yours truly, of course)? I think so. See Exhibit A below. … more

The queen is dead, long live the queen From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (8 days old)

There have been a few personnel changes in La Casa del Rampage of late, but one in particular amused me endlessley. Here is a cleaning schedule made by my ex-housemate, who, at best, can be described… more

Arcade Fire - Ocean Of Noise From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (8 days old)

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Guns N' Roses - November Rain From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (9 days old)

Meh. … more

A whiny, whiny whinge From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (9 days old)

I got fined on the train today. I probably deserved it, after several years of travelling with various different kinds of invalid ticket, and up until today had never been too bitter about having to c… more

A list From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (13 days old)

As of 1700 tomorrow: - no more shouting in my ear - no more dealing with individuals who have no appreciation of the potential benefits of spending time with me in a classroom - no more sand in m… more

Better late then never - Poland pics From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (17 days old)

Morskie Oko I hope I never have to pronounce that - climbing it was easier At the top of, er, that mountain I can't pronounce - 2,172m On the way up Rysy, Poland's highest Getting steeper Hurrah!… more

The Hives - Hate To Say I Told You So From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (19 days old)

Here's to the end of the most difficult week on camp ever. … more

Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (24 days old)

I LOVE Frightened Rabbit, and I love their new single. … more

Green man! GREEN MAN! From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (25 days old)

I got hit by a car today. No need to worry, bar a slightly bruised cheek and a scratched elbow, I am perfectly OK. My friend alleges that after a stressful event such as a car accident, the victim fee… more

The White Stripes - Hardest Button To Button From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (26 days old)

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Tatra trail From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (29 days old)

It's 0800 on Saturday morning on the top of Zawrat, a peak in the Polish Tatra mountains 2,159m above sea level. It's cold, it's foggy, it's rainy and visibility is little more than nil. I am terribly… more

More mountainous marauding From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (36 days old)

Tomorrow I am off to climb this mountain: It's called Rysy and, at 2,501m, is Poland's highest mountain. I'll be staying on the shores of this little lake: It's called Morskie Oko and lies a… more

Identity From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (37 days old)

So Ireland has voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the Lisbon Treaty, and the whole of Europe has breathed a sigh of relief. On a personal level, this will mean that I have to spend a lot l… more

Nationwide intelligence test From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (40 days old)

Ireland affirms its commitment to the European Union within which the member states of that Union work together to promote peace, shared values and the well-being of their peoples. Or does it? T… more

The White Stripes - We're Gonna Be Friends From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (47 days old)

Here's one for all the hardworking teachers out there (today I am not one of them). … more

Mustafas - best kebab in Berlin by miles From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (47 days old)

Seeing as a quite large amount of the people who are reading this have also tried a Mustafas kebab, it won't surprise most of you that I was there again during the week. After all, I did have a visiti… more

Challenge Rampage From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (49 days old)

I don't know what provokes it, but it seems that people challenge me to do ridiculous things on a basis so regular that I really should wonder about what gives them the impression that I am the sort o… more

Digitally enhanced From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (54 days old)

No, I am not airbrushing out my pimples and imperfections (what imperfections!? I hear you holler) - my little finger has finally been released from its gauze prison. It is definitely still a littl… more

My new babies 2 From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (55 days old)

A friend of mine became a father late last year. He described his feelings towards his newborn son to me when he was about a month old. He was frank, brutally so. In an effort to convey how his fee… more

My new babies From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (56 days old)

Another friend has left Berlin (bringing it to a friendship-circle decimating five in the last month) and has left something very special in my care. Fishies! They don't have names yet, apar… more

Vote YES! From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (58 days old)

It's coming up to election time here in Germany, and to get into the spirit of things, I am proposing a little vote on a very important topic: If drinking alcohol did not produce a nasty hangover t… more

The Strokes - Barely Legal From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (61 days old)

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Lost in translation From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (61 days old)

About six months ago, in a rare and since-unrepeated bout of proactivity, I contacted a few translation companies looking for work. One of them was particularly impressed with my test translation, but… more

Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (62 days old)

I woke up with this in my head this morning. I think it's referring to my desire for an unfusty head. … more

The Postal Service - Natural Anthem From Rampage ^team in Bleeding Ears (64 days old)

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iSuck From Rampage ^team in Der Himmel über Berlin (64 days old)

It's Saturday night. A guy is making his way slightly unsteadily to what seems like the 87th party of the weekend. He's got two beers in his bag and a kebab in his hand. Bits of the kebab are scat… more