Karaoke In Berlin
By Max | October 3, 2008
Yesterday started out slow, but turned into a lot of fun. I spent the morning trying to hunt down a sports bar that was showing the PSU replay game. The first place I tried is supposed to get the correct network, but when I arrived at 10:30am, I discovered that they didn’t open until 3pm. I didn’t want to give up that easily so I headed to another place called Oscar Wilde. It’s an Irish bar that is also supposed to get NASN, the American sports channel. Their website said that they opened at noon, and I thought it would be cool even if I could catch the 4th quarter. Unfortunately when I arrived I saw that they didn’t open until 4pm. That really pissed me off. I hate it when places leave the wrong information up on their websites. So I missed the PSU game. I did however find an internet cafe that is cheap, open late and appears to allow streaming video from the myp2p.eu site. Tomorrow I am going there to try to watch the Lions murder Purdue.
After getting beat down by the sports bars of Berlin, I headed back to the hostel to relax a bit before figuring out my evening plans. I ended up meeting two Australians and one Dutch guy. We headed to the hostel bar where to my surprise it was karaoke night! I quickly put in a song and rocked the place even though I have a cold. Just in case you’re wondering karaoke in Berlin is about the same as America. Everyone sang English songs, and most people had really poor song selection. No one wants to hear your version of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” no matter how good you are. Way to bring down the evening Mr. Danish guy.
After we each sang a song we headed out to try to find a real bar. On the tram we met some younger folks who looked like they knew their way around and we ended up joining them. They took us to a real Berlin warehouse party. It was awesome even though it wasn’t really my scene. The place apparently only runs once a month or so. We were the only out-of-towners there. There were two floors both playing really obnoxious techno music with lights and smoke and everything. It was a blast. When I left at 5:00am there were still a lot of people dancing their asses off. I guess today is some kind of German national holiday, so no one has school or work. The rumors were true. Berliners like to party I guess.
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VP Debates Tonight!!
By Max | October 2, 2008
I am going to have to watch the highlights of this one on Youtube, but I am hoping for some good ones. With this matchup of one candidate known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and another for, well, being one of the dumber people alive the only thing that can save a total debacle is a moderator who likes to pull punches. Although I am sure the moderator won’t really go to work on these two, I am eager to see a couple decent highlights.
Just in case you haven’t seen Sarah Palin’s pageant video…
Here’s a fun website:
http://interviewpalin.com
And here is an artist’s represenation of what she might look like naked…
No I am not the artist. 
Topics: Politics | 3 Comments »
Ich Bin Ein Berliner
By Max | October 1, 2008
So I just arrived in Berlin. This city is huge. I am making it my personal mission during my stay to see a Penn State football game one way or another. I have a couple ideas. Apparently, NASN -the American Sports Network- is broadcasting a replay of PSU-Illinois tomorrow. Its too bad I already know the score, but it would be cool to see that. Apparently there are some sports bars here that can get NASN. Another option is to use myp2p.eu. I just found out about this website, but it looks like you can go to an internet shop and get games broadcast over the internet. Of course, it seems to be a pirate site, but you gotta do what you gotta do. It doesn’t look like NASN has any live games broadcast on Saturday, so I hope I get lucky with this internet option.
Now I know what you’re going to say, “Why go all the way to Europe to watch football?” I don’t think you understand. 90% of my mental well being depends upon PSU winning games during football season. It has been killing me not to see them play this season. I thought I could handler missing some cupcake games, but I can’t. Especially not when they are ranked 6th in the country and have a decent shot at the Big Ten championship this year.
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Late Trains In Italy
By Max | September 30, 2008
You know what they call late trains in Italy? Ritardo!! My friends, I don’t think the Republican VP nominee would be on time if she were a train in Italy. Her wheels spin just a little too slow, and it is cracking my shit up. Did you know that there is statiscally a 20% chance of someone John McCain’s age dying within 4 years? That means Sarah Palin could easily be our next President. I for one am excited about the prospect of another Presidential comedy show! You thought Bush was good for a laugh? Check out this video…
For some reason I am reminded of another beauty contestant. Lets hear it for Miss Teen SC!!
So lets all cast a vote for McCain and let hilarity ensue! A vote for comedy is a vote for America.
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Vacation From The Comfort Of Your Own Job
By Max | September 30, 2008
It might be time for me to move on. I have been having a blast here in Munich, but I should probably see some other stuff while I am in Europe. Since many people have expressed their intense jealousy for my obscenely long vacation, I thought I would put the next leg of my vacation up for a vote. Thats right, you get the opportunity to live vicariously through me in the exact way that you want to. I have about 1 week left. Here are my options:
1. Stay in Munich – its a huge party here everyday, but I have to sleep outside in a tent village
2. Legoland – Its a theme park built from legos, a picture is worth 1000 words…
3. Eagles Nest – This is where Hitler went on vacation. Someone told me the Sound of Music filmed parts there.
4. Belgium – I don´t know why I want to go here, but why not. I hear the beer and chocolate are good.
5. Berlin – There are supposed to be some massive parties in Berlin
6. Lake Geneva, Switzerland – Its Central Europe’s second largest lake.
Topics: Europe, Max | 4 Comments »
I Love The Smell Of Oktoberfest In The Morning
By Max | September 28, 2008
Here is a picture of the camp ground where I am staying.
It was nice and sunny yesterday, but today its cold again. Unfortunately, I have gotten sick. The weather combined with the lack of sleep and drinking has finally caught up to me I guess. My friend Tom left this morning, so now I am on my own and I am not sure what I want to do. I am going to hang out at Oktoberfest today and try to take it easy, but I am going to have to leave Munich if I don’t feel better soon because sleeping outside can’t be good for my cold, even though I have a super warm sleeping bag now.
I have heard Berlin is a huge party city, so I think I might go check that out. There are a few more sights here in Germany that I want to see. I want to go somewhere warm, so maybe I’ll check the weather in Italy or some other place farther south. Going back to Krakow is another option. I had a lot of fun there.
Also I just checked the scores and Penn State is leading the pack in the Big Ten. Only Northwestern remains unbeaten, and they haven’t played anyone. I expect to rank in the top 10 this week, and we’ll be the favorite in every remaining game as long as we keep winning.
Thats me and Tom at the Oktoberfest entrance.
Two is better than one right?
This is our table in the Hofbrau Tent. The two guys sitting in front of us are really drunk Australians.
How many of these girls do you think are legal to drink in the states?
Bonus question: How many are legal to drink in Germany?
Topics: Europe, Max | 6 Comments »
On My Mind
By Max | September 24, 2008
Europe is a blast, but here are the first two things I am going to do when I get home!
Watch a lot of this.
And eat one of these!
Still haven´t run across a card reader, so I don´t have any Oktberfest pictures uploaded yet, but it is definitely a spectacle. The funniest thing I have encountered is when the whole beer tent full of Germans starts belting out a rendition of Country Roads by John Denver.
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Baby, Its Cold Outside
By Max | September 19, 2008
Andrew and I made the brilliant decision to buy blankets instead of the more expensive sleeping bags yesterday. Today, after a night of camping in Munich, we immediately headed to the department store and bought sleeping bags. It was so cold, I frooze my ass off. I think I got about 3 hours of sleep and spent the rest of the night shivering. I would make a horrible eskimo. Now that I have the most insulated sleeping bag money can buy (after last night $1000 seemed reasonable for a sleeping bag, fortunately it was much cheaper), I am ready to give it another go.
Today we took a train to Neuschwanstein Castle.
The castle was built in the 1800s buy King Ludwig II as a tribute to the composer Wagner. Apparently the good king spent too much money on it and died mysteriously at age 40. Immediately after his death the work on this castle and 3 others he was building stopped. It definitely looks like its straight out of a fairy tale. So much so, that it has been said Disney used it for inspiration for the design of the Magic Kingdom castle.
Tomorrow starts Oktoberfest, so I am super excited!! Hopefully I’ll get some warm sleep.
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Europe Picture Update
By Max | September 18, 2008
I am all checked in to the campground and it is a little chilly, but nothing I can’t handle. The bigger worry now is rain. It hasn’t rained on us the whole trip, so hopefully it holds while we’re camping. I found an internet cafe with some card readers, so here’s some photos from the trip.
The Roman ampitheatre in Pula.
Think I’d make a good gladiator?
Yes, this was the main attraction in Pula. It was too cold for swimming.
I spent about an hour in Venice in between trains.
After Venice, we arrived in Zermatt which is at the foot of the Matterhorn in the Alps.
The hills are alive with the …
It was a balmy 38 degrees, so these guys were off duty.
Yes I yodelled!
Topics: Europe, Max | 3 Comments »
Camping in Munich Today
By Max | September 18, 2008
I am in Zurich, getting ready to head to Munich to go camping for Oktoberfest. It’s kind of cold, but don’t worry, we’ll have whisky.
I have a lot of awesome pictures to post, but these swiss computers don’t have card readers. I probably won’t have internet access for awhile, so I’ll post when I can…
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