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BCD 08.03.2023

Over the last decade of so, the University of Not-Bielefeld has increasingly targeted international students in a bid to become a more global player on the university scene. One “crucial” step in this direction over the past two years or so is having e-mails from central admin (including the President’s Office) in two languages: GermanContinue reading “BCD 08.03.2023”

BCD 07.03.2023

Those of you out there who, like me, are too cheap to pay to remove the ads from their mobile apps know all about this: the commercials for other apps that “challenge” your ego by saying (without any data, evidence, science, or apparently conscience) that “only 5% of people can solve this” or by showingContinue reading “BCD 07.03.2023”

Easter charade

The longer I think about it, the more convinced I become that Easter originated as an invention by historical admin types to “improve” our life quality. Think about it … We’re talking about one of the most important religious celebrations / holidays of the year (except perhaps in North America where John Oliver summed EasterContinue reading “Easter charade”

Going through the motions: conspiring while hiring

At the end of last year, my lab manager went into extended, part-time maternity leave for all of 2023 so that I needed to find a temporary replacement for her for the afternoons. The historical, first step in such cases was always to ask around the department to see if there was someone else whoContinue reading “Going through the motions: conspiring while hiring”

BCD 31.01.2023

When I first came up with the acronym BCD (bonehead comment of the day), I never realized that it would be so versatile. Or at least the C in it. Today, it again revolves not so much around a comment as it does a command. Yesterday evening, the University of Not-Bielefeld followed the provincial decreeContinue reading “BCD 31.01.2023”

BCD 23.01.2023

Not so much of a bonehead comment this time around as of a bonehead contraction … I’ve written a couple of times about how the Germans like their laws and about how they like referring to their overly long names with sometimes rather cryptic abbreviations. Today, I discovered perhaps one of the most unfortunate abbreviationsContinue reading “BCD 23.01.2023”

Spitting tacks

Last year was a year to remember. The war in the Ukraine. The death of Queen Elizabeth II. Deadly human-rights protests in Iran. Corona finally beginning to loosen its grasp. And earth-shaking tax reform in Germany. Well, maybe not earth-shaking, but at least earthy insofar as it had to do with property … The backstoryContinue reading “Spitting tacks”

Passing the b*ck

With Northern Germany’s annual attempt at winter being upon us again (dark, drizzly, not really cold, definitely not snowy), my thoughts at this time of year always turn not to Christmas (which to this Canadian requires snow), but to how the chain of responsibility inevitably seems to be tied to the ankle of the averageContinue reading “Passing the b*ck”

Excusez moi?

Ever wonder why so many semi-official signs on cars and trucks, at least in Europe, are in French? Ok. Not really that many, but still. CD (corps diplomatique) for embassy cars, convoi exceptionnel or the misspélled vehicule long for long vehicles, and, most recently, the rather macabre angles mort for vehicles with a large blind spot.Continue reading “Excusez moi?”

Oh Canada …

Although I spend a good amount of time in this blog taking potshots at German admin, admin remains a universal constant like death or taxes. (Just more painful and permanent than either. That being said, German admin has found a way to bureaucratize death too …) And a recent trip to Canada proved just thatContinue reading “Oh Canada …”