DAY 4 - 8 DAY CHALLENGE

Today it is about... 

…things you no longer believe

Religion – I find it hard to trust in something that you can’t see. I might be more of a science-girl and don’t believe in Religion but at some point, I do believe in a higher power. For some, it might be God, the flying spaghetti monster or an extraterrestrial. But there is something or someone up there who is the reason of us being on this planet.

BFF 4 ever – how the younger generation likes to call it. I don’t believe in friendships that last ever after. You might still get along with your best friend you know for over 10 years now, but at some point you meet less, call less, care less.

Love – I don’t believe in love. I do believe in having a crush or falling for someone but love in my opinion is nothing but respecting your partner. It comes when the feeling of falling for someone fades and you can still think of that person playing a big part in your life.

CAJ - Formula One - Experts' point of view

To make it clear how important or refreshing (how I like to call it) the new regulations are, I want to post some experts opinion and current standing of this season.

When the new regulations were announced last year, I wasn’t sure of how to feel about them. There were good points and also less beneficial aspects in my opinion. So, I started reading and observing what experts had to say and do!

Jean Todt, the so-called boss of Formula One (or to sound more professional) the President of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, was very calm and sympathetic from the beginning on. “Times are changing, and we must accept that,” he said at one his interviews. He gave us an impression that the new regulations are well-wrought and that there was no need to panic. But the second the new rules were announced, it was over for some teams:

·         huge changes linked with additional costs,

·         uncertainty if the car is going to work when it’s on track,

·         what if the ERS-system breaks (like it happened to Red Bull Racing several times last year)

and so on and so forth…

For Bernie Ecclestone, the so-called PR-Manager of F1, called the new engines a farce. This was seen as a humorously by many, as he is the one with the sharp-tongue in Formula 1 business. But he was not the only one thinking that way. Many teams and drivers agreed with him. "It is a very different way of driving and you have to forget a lot of what you have learnt in terms of driveability, the engine, the power output and the way you put the power down. It is so, so different." explained Jenson Button, British F1-champ, who was not satisfied by any changes made.

Now, after four races in this season, we can say that the cars are working – for some teams even perfectly. Red Bull Racing, the four-time-champion teams have lost their domination (thank god!) and passed it to Mercedes. This was a big surprise for many because to beat a “rich” team such an experienced staff is not everyone’s cup of tea. The reason why this happened is because Red Bull Racing had spent too less time for developing the engine and for many experts it is because they were just too confident.

Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo even suggested Todt to shorten each race by one lap to save fuel. This has been seen as a ridiculous suggestion and a cry for help for the grave situation that Ferrari is in right now. Even their team principal, Stefano Domenicali, had to resign last month because of poor results in the first races.

CAJ - Formula One - New Regulations

In my previous CAJ-Post, I talked a little bit about the main part of my CAJ: the rules and regulations of Formula One. In the beginning of 2014 Formula One cars have undergone big technical changes than they used to years before. The main philosophy behind the new rule changes was to make the car safer and more fuel-efficient. Before I start off with each new regulation, I want to sum up the main ones first. The main changes of a Formula One car are:

• New nose
• Front wing
• Rear wing
• Engine + Fuel
• Gearbox
• Energy Recovery System (ERS)
• Weight
• Exhaust

Shall we dive into the world of Formula One cars?

DAY 3 - 8 DAY CHALLENGE (...continued after months)

I started doing this list couple of months ago and today I went through my posts and realized that I'd totally forgotten about it! So, I thought I might continue with that challenge. 

Why am I doing it? 

I get to think about myself in a way I never think of that often and, to be honest, I surprise myself with my answers at times! 

Today's list is about... 

...the most unusual things you do every day!

That’s a tough one and “every day” makes it tougher! What am I doing every day that is not done by everyone?...

• I take time to think about my life and my future; sometimes anxiously but at times hopefully. Not everyone does that and maybe stop doing it would be a good thing for my mental health but I just think, unintentionally.

• I write short stories, poems, lyrics.. I love writing stuff! I do! Sometimes I just start off writing just to read later how I feel. When I read what I wrote, I realize what was keeping my head busy, what I feel, how I think about something. It’s like if some thoughts and feelings are hidden back in my mind, somewhere in dark and abandoned place in my head and they come into the spotlight by writing it down. 

• I paint small symbols on my arm or hand. Oh, that sounds weird. As I was thinking that, I realized that I have small heart painted on my hand. Yes, I do paint my hands and arms. Why do I do that? Well, I love tattoos but I am someone who’s interests and attitude change from time to time. Therefore, I think that I might regret a tattoo pretty soon. I might get one, but not in the near future. I still feel that I have space to grow and that means change! Let’s just wait and see…

• I daydream a lot! Today I thought of how it would be if I just go to Istanbul and knock at my friend’s door. Yeah, thinking of it now. I do daydream a lot.

That was it I guess. At least what I can think of for now! Hope, I can find time continuing this challenge. I like it! 

Description of ‘Napalm Girl’ (photography project)

Description of ‘Napalm Girl’ (group text)

The picture depicts a scene of tragedy taken in a moment of great sorrow. In the foreground of the picture, five children are visible running barefoot towards the photographer on a tarmacked street, followed by four soldiers dressed in uniforms carrying semi-automatic weapons. The boy closest to the camera on the far left of the picture is wearing a short, light shirt and dark pants. His facial expression reveals terror as he cries uncontrollably. The small child seen over his left shoulder is dressed in a long, light shirt and is turning his head, looking behind. The most heart-wrenching sight in this picture is the burnt and naked girl in the center. Her expression shows fear and anxiety as well as total incomprehension as to what is happening to her. Behind her on the right, there are two kids, a small boy and an older girl, holding hands. The boy is wearing what appear to be greyish pyjamas while the girl wears a white shirt and black pants. Their facial expression resembles the other childrens’, the girl almost looks as though she is crying to the viewer for help. The soldiers behind the kids don’t appear to be in any hurry. Behind them, an impenetrable cloud of smoke is spreading and is about to engulf the house with the gabled roof to the far right. The smoke is thicker in the top left corner of the picture and is slowly fading towards the top right corner. Next to the house on the left is a white board and to the boards left another soldier is visible, also walking towards the photographer. Left and right of the street is nothing but an empty grassland.

[283 words]

CAJ - Formula One - Intro

I’ve been asked many times why I’m interested in such a boring sport like Formula One and mostly people regret asking me that question because usually I start talking about it and try to convince them (unsuccessfully) to start watching it as well.

First of all, I love cars. The faster the better and Formula One cars are the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world! They can speed up to 350 km/h! Dude, that is fast! To reach such a speed many factors play a big role: electronics, aerodynamics, suspension, tires and so on... However, within my CAJ Project, I don’t want to talk about each and every part of a Formula One car. Actually, I do but that would be a challenge that I cannot accept for a project in such a scope and especially not when I have to attend other classes as well.

Let’s get back to the subject! Before I start of talking and posting about my CAJ, I want to talk a bit about general facts of Formula One.

·         Do you know why it is called “Formula One”? There are rules and regulations that every driver and team has to comply! These rules and regulations ‘form’ the Formula One sport.

·         A F1 season has a series of races all over the world and every the first ten drivers who finish the race get points from 25 to 1. At the end of the series of races, the driver who has the most points is the champion of the season. It is not only the driver who wins a title; also the constructor team with the most points is awarded.

·         Within the season, 9 out of 19 races are in Europe. Thereby, you can see that this sport is more spread and known in Europe than in other continents.

·         Since 1906, Formula One is the most popular racing sport in the sector of motorsports. Therefore a lot of companies make use of its popularity and billions of US dollars are spent annually just to keep this sport alive and additionally promote their brand by having their names on the cars, on the suit of the drivers etc. (sponsoring) The money is mostly or largely used for the development of the car, pay off the staff of the constructor teams (including drivers), pay off the track officials, organizers and so on.

I guess this was enough information for those who might read it. For me, personally, F1 has always been a passion and that’s why I chose it as my CAJ topic. Speaking of, my topic is not going to be about the car (like I mentioned above) but it is going to be about the new regulations set for this year’s season. The new regulations are being seen as a milestone for Formula One and I want to go into details in the following posts!

PS: For god’s sake, please watch at least one race with all the commentaries! You are going to enjoy it if you are into speed, cars and a bit of drama J

Narrative Article_losing to life

I’ve just hung up the phone. I have been talking to Loreen, my 6-year old daughter. She kept telling me how much she misses me and how bad her daddy’s cooking skills are. She is pretty smart for her age. That’s what everyone keeps telling me and that makes me proud and also a little worried. She is a kid who wants to know everything about life; so curious and sometimes pretty annoying with her infinite questions. Just like I was once and see where I’m now: in Kuala Lumpur; thousands of miles away from my family. While thinking of her, I drop my plane ticket. The man next to me picks it up and gives it to me. Guessing his origin, I thank him in Chinese: Xièxiè! I look at the board with the opening times of the gates. In less than ten minutes, I will be sitting in the plane on my way to Beijing for a conference. I promised myself to stop working or at least work less after Loreen came into my world. But my company needs me and I was dead certain that I could manage it. I still keep telling myself that I can but, truth be told, I feel torn apart.

These thoughts are keeping me busy till I take my seat in the plane. Before we take off, I prepare my documents I have to go through before we land in China. Half an hour after the take off, there was is a loud explosion. Almost everyone is torn from their sleep. A baby who was sleeping in her mommy’s cozy arms few rows behind me starts to cry. There is this smell of burnt machinery spreading in the plane. I start talking to myself, trying to calm down, “This cannot happen. No, we are not going to crash or explode in the air. I paid for this goddamn flight to bring me safely to my destination. No, God is not going to let this happen. God is going to save us.” It is just unbelievable how one’s faith can grow bigger within seconds. I had always imagined people screaming and crying in such a situation but no one is even twitching. Everyone is trying to figure out what is happening. Soon after, I hear the captain speaking in Chinese about there being complications and not going to reach our destination. Instead we are heading to the nearest airport. But where the hell is the nearest airport? Thinking of hell, we have heard another explosion. I try to figure out what it was: A plane has two engines and we heard two explosions. The air is getting thinner and the pressure higher. The captain is speaking again but before he even finishes his sentence I fall into sleep; into a long, infinite sleep.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EvtPWko-yQItXsn-AHesZQxfq5bprUG1fpfV2qNJ7yU/edit?usp=sharing

Narrative Text: “A Little History of Photography”

Original Version

So many stories to tell and I know that I am capable of fitting my life into a tiny old-fashioned frame. But I have been told not tell these stories to anyone because God knows of our pain and despair and he is the one to save us – not a devise capturing my sorrow. Therefore I look away and try to keep everything between me and God. Still, there is this art that is framed on a photo. He is standing next to me, my beloved fiancé, who is still trying to save me from my misery. Failing him is my tremendous fear and I cannot hide it. This breathy halo capture of our first attendance of church is a pose representing my life. Maybe those who see this photo will be drifted in thoughts about questions addressed to me: Who am I? Why are my eyes trying to say? Will she ever be happy? I do not feel like I will ever be. The magical value that such a device can bring about is beyond compare with a painting that puts on a spurious slight smile on every face it draws. No, the photography shows the friction of the second that reveals the truth of everyone. There might be day when I will be forgotten and my body lying in the dark six foot low and even though I want my name to engraved under this photo I took, one very day of my life.

[246 words]

Final (Revised) Version

I have so many stories to tell and I know that I am capable of fitting my life into an old-fashioned oval frame. But I have been told not to tell these stories to anyone because God knows of our pain and despair and he is the one to save us – not a devise capturing my sorrow. Therefore I look away and try to keep everything between me and God.

He is standing next to me, my beloved fiancé, Karl Dauthendey who is still trying to save me from my misery. Failing him is my tremendous fear and I cannot hide it. I love him but not in a way he expects me to do. I might be the one for him but he can never replace these feelings I have for Alaric. I have started a new life with Karl since Alaric decided to love other women. The day I heard this was the day I lost everything: my heart, my soul and my happiness.

This breathy halo capture of my first attendance of church with Karl is a pose representing my life. Maybe those who see this photo will be drifted in thoughts with questions addressed to me: What are her eyes trying to say? Why does she look so sad? Will she ever be happy? I do not feel like I will ever be. The magical value that such a device can bring about is not comparable to a painter’s work that puts a spurious slight smile on every face. No, the photography shows the friction of the second that reveals the truth of everyone. There might be day when I will be forgotten and my body lying in the dark – six foot low and even though I want my history to be engraved under this photo of ours on this very second of my life.            [317 words]

Peer Feedback

It was not clear from whose perspective I was writing. Therefore I had to mention one of the characters. I decided to mention Karl instead the fiancée, who is the narrator, because I wanted her to be a little mysterious.

Some narrative elements were missing. My dear fellow students suggested making up a story explaining her sadness; and that’s what I did J

I also reduced the amount of descriptive elements.

“The Photographer Karl Dauthendey with his betrothed Miss Friedrich after their first attendance at church, 1857″