Thursday, September 29, 2016

On the matter of female beach attire....



The matter of female beach attire was a topic of note this summer.  As is wont to be the case by times, I had something to say on this matter too; once in the form of an Op-Ed piece, and once again in the form of a letter.  Both posted to the New York Times; neither published. 

But I post them now for your reading pleasure. Do peruse.  I would welcome comments both pro/contra. 
Enjoy.
New York Times.  Op-Ed  the Editor. August 17th, 2016

Like millions of television viewers the world over watching the Olympics, I am in awe of the Olympians sporting achievements and their physical conditions.

In my opinion this is particularly apparent with the female beach volley ball players.  In their dainty nearly nothing attire, one can only stare unbelievingly at physiques that leave one at a loss for superlatives. 

Or am I the only person in the whole world who is so distracted by those abs of steel, and the women´s gravity defying posteriors, that I can barely concentrate on their amazing playing skills?

But, should that be the aim of beach volley ball?  - Staring at bodies that place the meaning of the phrase´beach bod´ firmly in the stratosphere.

The male volley ball players on the other hand are covered from shoulder to knee in loose attire which, unfortunately in my opinion, leaves nary a hint of a tuned ab or a toned posterior.  But, at least one can focus on the male participants´ sporting abilities.

The Egyptian competitors Nada Meawad und Doaa Elghobashy,  the latter complete with hijab  put paid to question of whether more or less body coverage influences playing ability;  in spite of their youth and inexperience at international levels Mses. Meawad and Elghobashy gave their German opponents a respectable run for their money in the qualifying rounds.
  
So the question is not whether coverage or the lack thereof enhances/inhibits play.  I suggest, rather, it is about what is comfortable for the players and what might focus the viewer more on the players amazing athletic skills.

To this end, might I suggest a middle ground in the garment design of Olympic beach volley ball players might be in order.  Perhaps a little more coverage for the women participants, so one can focus more on their awesome playing than their awesome physiques. And perhaps a tad less coverage for the male players, so that their musculature as well as their playing skills might be admired.

There is an additional consideration, as commented on by a successful female athletic on the U.S. university sport circuit, with whom I am acquainted:  She would love to have pursued beach volley ball at competitive level, but chose not to  because  she ´would feel uneasy wearing those ´itsey bitsey bikinis´ while competing´. 

I wonder if there are other young woman out there who passed on beach volley ball for the same reason?

Yours etc....


To The Editor, New York Times Letter Page

Following on from the article:  France’s Burkini Bigotry

 AUG. 24, 2016

I am Irish, with very pale skin and freckles.  My family has a history of skin cancer. In short, I have to do all I can to avoid the sun.   The Burkini, which covers from head to toe with only face, feet and hands not covered, would be a wonderful solution for me.  And certainly less messy than constantly slathering on factor 50 sun protection cream.


In fact I am surprised that medical professionals the world over are not telling everyone to put on a burkini before hitting the beach


I know France has had to deal with a LOT these last two years with dozens of people killed by bigoted religious fanatic murderers.  However I suggest, most respectively, that the response of holding women at gunpoint for covering up their bodies on the beach seems well a bit like bigotry to me.    

I am not sure what swimwear of any sort has to do with preventing religious fanatics from carrying out senseless murders.  Certainly I can understand that a covered face could be a serious security risk. But burkinis are not about face coverage.  
 
Another thought. What would happen should my 92 year old grandaunt who is a Catholic nun and always wears her religious habit, decided to take a stroll on the beach in Franch?  Would she too be held at gun point?
Yours etc....

Sunday, September 18, 2016

You know the way you remember that when you are a child all the summers were warmer, sunnier, funner than they are now. Well I had one such summer and it was THIS summer!.

Yes, I enjoyed eight weeks plus of un-interrupted funner, sunnier, happier days that I ever remember.... One of the best weekends of an already great summer was when my baby brother - Wady X, came to visit.  No time was wasted not having fun that weekend:


Time of arrival: 17.38

Time of first dip:
 17.52  





And then for our luck there was a `Jazz Konzert am See`  so after our swim we enjoyed rest, relaxation and a picnic with the dulcid tones of CZICHOWSKY & BUCHER & KÜHN  in the background.




Next morning breakfast on the terrace....







Followed by a swim...










 


   and some ´interesting´ sightseeing in the locality....



Followed by more R. und R. in an ambient setting..




























All this R. und R. set one up for a sampling of the local brew....

 





















and .... for another swim..
Later in the evening, there was an introduction to the local cuisine in the world famous (in some places)  Hof Höfen......



And more from Bier Garten Hof Höfen where we enjoyed a fine dollop of German culture  - there was a great side story:

...It seems the owner as a young boy lived in a nearby village where his family owned one of only two restaurants in the village.   His family and the owners of the other local restaurant were ´not at all on good terms`.  But as the young boy grew to become a young man, he fell in love... with the daughter of the owner of the other restaurant
After a while of secret rendezvous-ing.  They went public.  And got married.  As is oft wont to be the case, a few grandchildren later, both families were the best of friends.
Now they have three thriving establishments: his family´s, her family´s and theirs.  Und noch was:  the couple are very open to bringing in hard working immigrants to work in their various establishments, the employees find the work situation so good, that they bring in others from their countries of origin.   There is just nothing at all awful with this story or what.  I tell you, Romeo and Juliet would have been mad jealous, if that had not gone and done themselves in!
                                                           -----------------------------
So all this doing nothing much on Thursday set us up for a busy day of fun on Friday:

First a boat trip to Reichenau Island where as Wady X put it, we enjoyed a sissy cycle.  First stop was the beautiful Böhler gardens; it is a private garden and a true labour of love which to the world´s  great good fortune, the public can enjoy.... It is stunning.  As you can see below...


Being in awe of Böhler´s garten was followed by a gentle-stroll-of-a-cycle to one of my favorite corners of the island.  It is indeed literally a little corner; a very quiet little spot am See in the shade of a  tree.  Perfect for soaking the feet with a cup of what every you are having yourself.



Followed by a full body soak with a cup/bottle of what ever you ´re having yourself .
So after swimming, sipping and siesta-ing for an hour or three, we headed back via bike und boat to Allensbach to prepare for den Sonnenuntergang Bootfahrt.  Or to you non-German speakers the sunset boat trip.














A real bonus for this us - apart from the clement weather and stunning sunset I mean,  was Helga was there to entertain us.

Hegla is a character in Allensbach... and a MOST respectable character too let me hasten to add.   Helga is the Queen of Fastnacht; for over 40 years she has been involved with Allensbach´s  Fastnach.  -  Which is like Mardi Gras, only with clothes on.
Helga is famous for her wit, music and perhaps most of all for her skill at what they call Mund-Art.  Mund-Art is everything that hoch Deutsch or High German is not.  Prior to the railway arriving in Germany, communities lived relatively isolated and developed their own local variation of the German language. The Volkssprache, the language of the folk so zu sagen, Mund-Art is a source of great pride to many locals, not least Helga.  The same Helga, it must be clarified, is a most educated, refined lady, but, she has killer Mund-Art.
 - And boy Mund Art is a killer for us foreigners too; we who have enough trouble with hoch Deutsch have to content with dialects which to compare makes English as spoken in  the Scottish Highlands, or south east Kerry in Ireland sound like it is spoken by the Queen herself.  The Queen, as in Elizabeth,  not Helga.
 And spare a thought for foreigners who try to learn German in Switzerland; even here in Germany they use subtitles when Swiss people are speaking on the T.V.
... So,  back to the sunset...





After all that ´busyness´on Friday we took it slower on Saturday....

The day started with ... yes...a swim.


Followed by a bit of watching the world go by....


Followed by another swim...













The final evening was enjoyed in the shade with a cool beer and b.b.q on the ´Acker Weg`. 




















On the final day we set off to Birnau Church where the weather was as good as it was when Herbert and I walked down the aisle there seven years ago this weekend...


As always visiting Birnau is a... 


....surprise!
































Aha, I bet you did not expect that in our little neck of the woods!






Then one final swim... before taking the ferry to the train to get the plane...
.... Now was that a great few days of summer in Allensbach or wha!  If I wasn´t me, I´d be jealous of me.  Heck I am me, and I am jealous of me!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Amazing Photographs of our World. - Just in case you sometimes forget how Beautiful our World is... If only we would leave it so!

So this photographer Richard Sidnes lives in New Zealand;  he created this project for his Bachelor of Visual Communication Design.  The project ´Speechless` took ten over ten years to make. 

The areas were photographed, and videoed when he was working on Expedition Vessels; areas included are the North and South Polar Regions and other remote areas of great beauty and natural interest.  

FYI: Mr. Sidnes graduated with honours.  And you don´t have to wonder why when you see the beautiful images in the link below....

Have a nice day dear reader/viewer!