Wolfgang Maehr

That spending CHF 100 (approx. EUR 65) a day is no art in Zurich – however spending less should actually be considered so – is no news at least for me. As soon as I enter the city to “do business” by buying some things, eating something or paying some bill or whatever, I need to withdraw that amount and at the end of the day all of it is gone. After the first surprise, the second shock, the third recalculation of the four items purchased, the enlightenment comes as step four only to be followed by regret as five. Going for Christmas shopping with bigW of course is a tough challenge for my purse (and an intense experience for body and soul) and having all presents already laying at home is crucial for avoiding bigger expenses. — read more ›

Who has not made the experience of meeting good friends again after a longer while and all seems like just a few minutes (or maybe hours/days) ago? Happened to me when I met Trevor and Elin again. The interesting part of this observation was that in the beginning all was exactly the same as the last time we met. We even had the same clothes as 2 years ago. Nothing changed, neither they or I. Mystically the two years of experience (yes, a lot of stuff had happened in the meanwhile to me) suddenly had disappeared – I was myself in late 2004 again. But then, after a while we all started to slowly morph back towards our current personalities. I don’t think that we arrived at our current state until they left but at least we were more like everyday than at the beginning of the meeting. — read more ›

So, just finished packing the presents and except of writing christmas emails to my dear ones, which I will do during the next days, and of course the lack of snow all is ready for having a nice Christmas. From the materialistic point of view I have to say that I am really satisfied with my presents this year, so that I am already so happy by the things I am giving that it almost does not matter what I will get. :)
From the emotional point of view this year’s celebration of love is again spent without a love. However do did I learn this year (and also by meeting so many friends on my way home for Christmas) that even if there is nobody there who says “I love you”, it does not mean that there is nobody who loves you. And even more important that this has not to keep me off loving people (some specific ones more and all other ones still somehow). A big warm “Thank you” to all of you! — read more ›

Never come home with a huge ToDo list because:
a) Time will pass much faster also because of time spent talking to parents and hanging at home. And
b) Loads of last-minute plans (also thanks to my dad) that just take up tons of time. — read more ›

I really miss the snow this year. Not now around Christmas in specific, but generally had far too much to be in winter mood. Therefore I am glad to have found Snjor. Finally it is snowing! :D

So today I arrived back at my parents house. Thanks to all contributing to my nice journey. It was my pleasure to meet you all. Thank you for the hospitality. — read more ›

So I’m on my way to my parents for Christmas. Left Oslo yesterday morning to reach Gothenburg around lunchtime and staying there for 12 hours (meeting friends at four single-dates and one class party). Left then by bus towards Copenhagen at 0210 to arrive at 0630. The driver of Lavprisekspressen even said that they might want to put internet into all busses… — read more ›

Found this interesting post on affective design about unconscious, emotional decisions. For any perfectionist twin this is definitely also worth reading. :)

This weekend Prof. Muhammad Yunnus and the Garmeen Bank are awarded with the Nobel Peace Price here in Oslo. Police and security forces around town and CNN reporting and interviewing live out of the City Hall, form the very same tiles I have walked on… funny thought. — read more ›