Bits of Berlin

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

SnowSymphony Designs - Husky inspired

SnowSymphony have started releasing some of their print designs, inspired by all things Siberian Husky related. In this time of Maskenpflicht (mandatory mask wearing) what better way to show your affection for these creatures, than to have a personalised mask or T-shirt. The designs look sleek, and you can request a personalised catch-phrase or design through the website.

Check it out here:

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60904474

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Investing app for Europeans and beginners

Investing as a beginner in the stockmarket in Europe.

I realise this post is quite different to my usual posts about music, places of interest and general Berlin/German photography, but I have recently taken interest in investing into the stockmarket.

Through researching how to start trading through an app (rather than a personalised broker or bank), I came across many ideal looking apps such as Robinhood and Webull, only to discover that they are only available for American citizens, and not at all available in Europe.

Big sigh, plus a "thanks Apple App store" ...

However, further research led me to Trading212, which has no fees, and I have found to be very simple to use. I watched a lot of European and UK based YouTube reviews of the app, to see what the deal was (eg why no commission fees?), and surprisingly pretty much everyone had the same positive reaction and review.

So I got started.

The sign up process was very efficient, and there are more than enough stocks to start investing in, both UK, European and American stock markets. Plus a range of ETFs, REITs, and over 3000s individual stocks to chose from.

So far all appears to be working very well with the app and its accessibility. Less can be said for the Stockmarket's performance, but that is to be expected given the current climate.

And finally, the sweet deal: If you follow the following link, both you and I will be rewarded a free stock. I would recommend starting with the invest app, as the CDF is more complicated.

Do you want to get a free stock share worth up to ‎€⁠100?

Create a Trading 212 Invest account using this link www.trading212.com/invite/Gbasu6a4 and we both get a free share!

And if you do happen to follow the link and create an account, be sure to leave a comment below to let me know.

Enjoy trading,

MJT.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Wagner's GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

Hi all,

The Corona Virus pandemic and subsequent lockdown period has affected us all, not just in Berlin, Germany, or Europe, but the entire world.

Unfortunately the performing arts industry has been significantly impacted by the restrictions. In a city like Berlin, which is the only city in the world to support three state opera houses, for both performers and audiences alike, the lack of live opera performance has been sole destroying.

Though the houses are tentatively opening their doors for an initial 4 month season, it is unlikely that we will be able to enjoy the grandeur of the large scale operatic works.

Therefore I share with you here, a piano accompaniment to the final instalment of Richard Wagner's epic "Ring des Nibelungen" cycle: Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods).

If you love the music, I hope you enjoy this performance. If you are a singer, I hope that it is of some use for you practicing along to the accompaniment.

Please subscribe to the YouTube channel, and feel free to like and share the recordings.

Hopefully we get back to the live performances sooner rather than later.

MJT

Götterdämmerung. 1.Aufzug (First Act)

Götterdämmerung. 2.Aufzug (Second Act)

Götterdämmerung. 3.Aufzug (Third Act)

Monday, February 19, 2018

1 Euro per Day Public Transportation Tickets

It seems like every second day Germany is in the world press announcing ideas for reducing Carbon Emissions and improving its Public Transportation system.

When I observe even the smaller cities in Germany, the accessibility for residents to still take public transport is incredibly impressive. Even in a village in Thuringia of 80 residents, there is still an hourly bus connection.

And yet, Germany or germans are still willing to push to the extreme. An article in the Guardian on 14 February 2018 describes how in cities like Bonn, Mannheim, Essen and (hopefully) Berlin they are planning a test period for completely free public transportation use. The Guardian Article here.

Of course, this would require a massive overhaul of the system and far more frequent trains and trams to cope with the demand. But still, what a courageous step to take.

Regardless of what the test period demonstrates however, there is a second option currently being mooted and petitioned, which is a yearly transport ticket to be made available for €365, ie €1 per day.

You can sign the Petition here.

Again, whether this project is financially feasible should not be the sole purpose. This idea of making Public Transport more affordable and more frequent should result in roads being safer and less conjested, carbon dioxide and monoxide levels dropping, as well as general air and noise pollution being reduced, and surely more employment for the driving, maintenance and planning of the extra services.

Win win!

Now, if only I could also get my Deutsche Bahn tickets for that cheap...!

Friday, February 16, 2018

Donate to charities via online shopping

Charities are obviously a great and necessary thing.

But with so many organisations, persons and things needing assistance, sometimes the pressure surrounding our own life prevents us even contemplating how to help out on a volunteer basis.

We have recently become involved with a Charity called "Samjoden- Nothilfe" - which is a charity that fosters and adopts the nordic dog breeds into Germany. Their dedication to ensuring the dogs are fostered correctly and appropriately is admirable, and it seems that most of the people running the organisation are volunteers themselves.

https://www.facebook.com/Samojeden.Nothilfe/

While we plan to foster and eventually adopt another husky, I have been supporting the charity through a really fantastic link, which enables one to donate through online purchases. It doesn't come directly from you, but rather the business has an arrangement, which then passes the donation on from your purchase. It is called "we can help" and the link for the Samojden Nothilfe is directly here:

https://www.wecanhelp.de/485113001/shopsearch

For example, I now buy all my Deutsche Bahn tickets through the link, and the Deutsche Bahn then passes on a donation of €0,90 up to €4,50 depending on the type of fare. Ikea also have an arrangement of donating 9% of your purchase, and there are many many more businesses with this arrangement.

So the next time you are needing to make an online purchase and like the idea of helping out a charity directly, use the link and see the donations grow!

MJT

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss Open Day

After years of contemplating, debating and designing, the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Castle) is finally returning to the heart of Berlin. The weekend of June 24-25 gave Berliners an exciting taste of what is to be expected, by opening the (lack of) doors of the building site to the public's eyes.

Along Unter den Linden opposite the Lustgarten the Humboldt Forum Box now begins to look dwarfed against the growing Schloss, where the first example of historical-looking rendered external wall gives Berliners a taste of what is yet to come.

The inner courtyards could only give a conceptual impression of what is yet to come, with scaffolding still dominating the walls. Although it was interesting to observe that as per the perimeter walls, the inner walls of the Eastern Hof will be a combination of both modern and historical architecture. Three walls will be made to look like the original courtyard walls of the Prussian Residence, while the fourth and final wall, which already stands mostly complete, is a modern building design.

Statues and stonework were on display for the passing crowds, although clearly not yet in position. Regardless, the attention to original detail for this stonework is indeed impressive.

The middle and inner welcoming courtyard continues this idea of blending modern and historical architecture, with two opposing walls in modern design, while the other two yet to be bricked and rendered (plastered). On this occasion the courtyard welcomed visitors with food trucks and information stands.

A delight of the day for anyone interested in architecture was seeing the progress of the building works, particularly the combination of a prefabricated concrete shell, historical stone work and rendered brick to bring the whole structure together.

Walking in the entrance from below where the dome will soon be completed (a controversial debate whether the dome should be completed with a gold cross, as originally designed for the Prussian Palace but never actually realised) one enters the final "courtyard". Though an open courtyard in the original Schloss, the Humboldt Forum is covered by an impressive glass room. No-doubt giving more all-weather use to the space.

Live experimental post-modern electronic music entertained the visiting crowds, and hopefully the space is later used for a wide variety of performances and concerts.

A model gives the scope of what the entire Schloss will look like when completed (though not all white), including the covered west courtyard. Notice also the cross atop the dome...

Amusing was the post-it-note forum, allowing visitors to write their own suggestions about how the Schloss should be utilised and general commentary. Interestingly many commenting for and against the inclusion of the cross above the dome. Plus advocating for Bonanza Coffee and free entry. ;)

A few examples of the external wall now completed and with scaffolding removed.

Within the Humboldt Forum Box, which now has free entry, examples of how Berlin looked at the beginning of the 20th Century are recreated in models. Obviously centering around the Berlin Schloss, the differences in design are made far clearer (particularly the eastern end along the Spree, which was the first Residenz.

And if one has the time, a great deal of history regarding the original Prussian Schloss, its survival of the World Wars, but not of the Soviet control, which leveled the remains to build a parade ground instead. The asbestos filled People's Palace lasted even less than the DDR.

Berlin the ever-constant building site! Down below from the Humboldt Forum Box one gets a glimpse of one of the entrances to the U5 U-Bahn line being built underneath Unter den Linden - to run from Alexander Platz to the Hauptbahnhof.

Some more examples of the progress and stages of building. Concrete, windows, tar, bricks, stones, rendering.

Views from the terrace of the Humboldt Forum Box towards Alexander Platz and the TV tower, and across the road to the Lustgarten, the Berlin Dom and Altes Museum.

Finally some information regarding how the space of the new Berliner Schloss will be used.