New words in Denver
On December 29, the Denver Post reported on new words entering the common lexicon (thanks to Karen – I’ll send you your Christmas card next year). At the top of the printed edition was prairie-dogging: when the heads of office workers pop up over dubicle walls in response to a loud voice or noise. I wasn’t too impressed with blogosphere, podcast or vlogs, and chattering classes is presumable new only in the USA. But there’s a longer list there.

Air Berlin

Free trip to Portugal
The translation company Lingo24 (of Aberdeen, Romania and points east) has a competition for a company slogan – the prize for those in the UK is a trip to Portugal and accommodation for three nights. The slogan has to be snappy and translated into another language. Deadline is February 14.

Busted without help

Lidl, Romford, December 2005.

This weblog will soon be closing down for about two weeks, at which time comments will be closed to avoid spam.

This optician’s on the Grüner Markt in Fürth reminds me of the Optician’s sketch by the Two Ronnies – they would have found an A or a K immediately.

The Nürnberger Nachrichten recently tested Lebkuchen to find the best (I’m surprised the link still works – it probably won’t for long). The result was obvious, but I suppose one must allow them to indulge themselves.

Nach dieser Absolution liegt schon im ersten Durchgang die Bäckerei Düll aus der Mathildenstraße 28 vorne. Ihr weißer Elisenlebkuchen holt Note 1, weil er üppig und perfekt aussieht, gut duftet und seine mit Feingefühl dosierten Gewürze lange nachschmecken. ‘Saftig und dick’ entfaltet auch das Schokoladenexemplar (1 minus). Mit Piment, Kardamom, Muskat und mehr, dezent, aber anhaltend im Abgang, entlocken die Düllschen Produkte Tester Reitzner den Seufzer: ‘Wirklich eine ganze Mahlzeit.’ Und eine gute dazu. Qualität hat ihren Preis: Fünf Stück kosten 8,95 Euro.

(Following the absolution (of Pope Benedict with regard to Lebkuchen in general – he likes it), Bäckerei Düll of Mathildenstraße 28 leads the field in the very first round. Their white Elisenlebkuchen gets top marks (1): it looks luxurious and perfect, it smells good, and its judiciously measured spices linger on the palate. The chocolate-covered version is also ‘succulent and thick’ (1-). With allspice, cardamom, nutmeg and more, subtle, but with a long finish, the Düll Lebkuchen leads the tester Reitzner to sigh, ‘Really, a whole meal in itself’. And a good one. Quality has its price: five cost 8.95 euros.)

Man kann Düll Lebkuchen auch übers Internet bestellen, sowie per Telefon und Fax. Die Bilder auf der Website sind irreführend schlecht.

Elisen Lebkuchen is the name of the most expensive quality, only a maximum of 7% of which is flour – the rest is fruit and nuts. The local bakeries make Lebkuchen that is slightly soft and chewy, not dried out.

Düll (English and German)

Eur-Lex ändert sich (nicht ganz fertig).

Eur-Lex is about to change to this interface.

(via LAWgical)

The Times Online also has David Pannick’s review of 2005:

Cartoon of the year was by Pat Byrnes in The New Yorker. One lawyer says to another, “Remember, we can only afford to do all this pro bono because of how much anti bono pays”.