Jacob Christensen

I managed to run my head against things (or have my head run against things) both literally and figuratively. At least the physical wounds were superficial (but unpleasant)

Despite alle the doom and gloom in previous posts, it is still time to celebrate Christmas

It is perhaps worth remembering that November 11 is the anniversary of the 1918 armistice which ended World War I. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse which I photographed in Bruges this summer were not displayed as a memorial for the War and the dead but as it was Flanders and as those living at the time may very well have feared that some kind of apocalypse had come, they may still serve of a fitting reminder of a truly terrible war.

Just a thought which hit me watching the Danish/Swedish TV crime series “The Bridge”/”Broen“/”Bron“:

Many would probably see the main characters Saga Norén and Martin Rohde as national stereotypes with Norén as the formalistic, rule-oriented Swede and Rohde as the laid-back Dane, but if you have worked in both countries things are a bit more complicated. In fact, Norén (minus the sex bit) looks very much as the embodiment of the traditional Danish public bureaucracy which was excessively rule-oriented while Swedish public administration (just like Rohde) has a tradition of being oriented towards negotiations, consensus and the logic of appropriateness.

Of course, one shouldn’t make too much of a dramaturgical tool but the contrast between stereotypes and reality is fascinating.

Instead a glass (of something alcoholic, I assume) will be served before dinner.

Obviously, it is from Steven Paul “Steve” Jobs:

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

In case anybody still wonders: Mogens Lykketoft IS in fact an egghead:

I’ve had the day from Hell with flooding in my cellar, so: Apologies but I’m not really up to something today.

For those of you not on Tumblr.

Update: The jokers are really on a roll today. Here’s Lars and Helle debating.

PS: No, I’m not the person behind the Tumblr-blog. But I know who it is

If I remember correctly, the street looked like this the last time I visited Brussels. Which was in … AAAAARGH … 1998.

And this concludes the blocation blogging.