My new political weblog

What's Bush' latest spin on Iraq? Where does Kerry really stand on major political issues? How does the Electoral College work? Which candidate is leading in the polls? You'll find the answers for these questions (and more) in the Electionary, my other (new) weblog - which is all about American politics and the crucial presidential election 2004. It contains the latest news, facts, thoughts and insights about the campaign, but also tons of links regarding the political system in the U.S., explainers about the election procedure, the candidates & their "visions", polls and election predictions, recommendable political books and films. You can also browse through the fun stuff, such as political cartoons, silly games and funny short movies. And not to forget the famous Bushisms...

Philipp says good-bye to California

Great memories: Two dudes in a surfershop in Santa Monica.

Cruel! The alarm goes off at 5:30 AM - and it's the weekend! But there is no way out: Philipp's flight back to Switzerland is leaving soon. A cold shower and a strong coffee help us to wake up - and get on the freeway to the airport. We experienced some 'complications' at the terminal, but at the end it's all worked out. I am sure that during the flight - and maybe even now - Philipp still pictures himself relaxing at the beach, hanging out on the porch of the Coringa house, cruising through L.A. downtown or wining and dining at a fabulous Californian restaurant. A toast to our guest from Europe - we had a great time together!

Friend in town, 8

Philipp's last holiday. Since the winter season in Europe can be chilly and without much sunshine, he decided to take advantage of the Californian weather and spend the last day at the beach in Santa Monica again. A couple of dolphins apparently accompanied him during his swim in the cool ocean. Delicious at the beautiful Thai restaurant Saladang in Pasadena. Farwell drinks at the new and cool Bar Celona. We returned home soon since we have to get up early tomorrow - Philipp insists to catch an airplane. Plus: a selection of pictures of our tour through L.A.'s ecclectic gastronomy.

Blog for the best hot dog in L.A.

Here we go. A guy named Steve DoggieDogg launched the blogHotDogSpot where he trails the best hog dog stand in Los Angeles.

Invasion in Iraq illegal

United Nations secretary Kofi Annan said the U.S.' invasion in Iraq was 'illegal'.

Friend in town, 7

Darn delicious Martinis at the Dresden Bar.

I couldn't spend the day with Philipp because of my work. He went for a tour at the Universal Studios, the world's largest movie studio and theme park. In the afternoon he relaxed on the beach of Santa Monica. We all went for a fabulous dinner at the Indian restaurant Electric Lotus in Silver Lake. Afterwards we decided to go to the legendary Dresden bar (what a history!) whose popularity was even more elevated by the 1996 cult movie Swingers. We all enjoyed the attraction of this place, the jazz duo Marty & Elayne which is a real L.A. institution - with its performance of over 20 years.

Johnny Ramone dies

Punk rock legend Johnny Ramone has died of prostate cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was 55. Rest in peace. P.S. I definitely want to go see the highly praised documentary "End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones" which has just been released here.

Friend in town, 6

Philipp returns from his one week trip through California. We have dinner at the casual, but great Chinese restaurant Panang. Chilling out with yummy drinks at our favorite neighborhood hang-out, the Chalet bar. After his trip of 2000 driven miles, he is going to have a good night sleep.

Philipp's trip, 7

Continuing on the Highway 101. Relaxing at the idyllic Pismo Beach. Exploring one of the most beautiful (but also most expensive) coastal cities in California, Santa Barbara. (Unfortunately, Philipp didn't know about the existence of our all-time favorite seafood restaurant in the harbor of Santa Barbara, Brophy Bros. Clam chowder and Hallibut for next year's visit. Returning to the highway and heading towards Los Angeles. Arrival at the Coringa home in the early evening.

Philipp's trip, 6

On the road again direction South. Cruising on one of the most beautiful scenic route on the West Coast, the famous Highway No. 1. Enjoying the stunning nature and the beautiful shore (pictures) . Exploring Big Sur (more photos from the web), the last home (transformed into a library) of legendary author Henry Miller.

Media job blog

A great idea: A blog for jobs in the digital media industry.

Total freedom for content?

A report shows that the report shows the trend of the 'unbundling of content' from traditional containers (books, journals, CDs) and distribution methods (postal mail, resource sharing). As the boundaries blur between content, technology and the information consumer, the report shows how format now matters less than the information within the container.

Philipp's trip, 5

Visiting lots of attractions in San Fran. Among others: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge (live webcam) and the Golden Gate Park.
One of today's highlight: the Museum Of Modern Art. The great exhibition "Stir Heart, Rinse Heart" by the Swiss artist Pippilotti Rist unfortunately just ended two days ago. And another must-see exhibition, All About Art, with iconic images by Roy Lichtenstein opens in four weeks. But there was still plenty to discover at one of the best museums in the U.S.

Boulevard of unbroken dreams

Timeless art, great title, fabulous artist.

Before I left Europe I saw this poster by the fabulous Austrian artist Helnwein every morning in my favorite café. Today I rediscovered it in a art gallery in Hollwood. It seems that it definitely became my travel companion. I like it very much...

Starbucks Gossip

Finally. We latte lovers finally can keep track what the latest business activities of the largest U.S. chain of coffee shops, Starbucks, are. The new blog Starbucks Gossip keeps us posted on a daily basis. This is the latest labor of love by pioneer blogger and online journalist Jim Romenesko who also launched Romenesko Media News and the Obscure Store and Reading Room.

Philipp's trip, 4

Trip to San Francisco, one of the most beautiful and European cities in America. Exploring the west coast metropolis with its entire diversity. Too much stuff to mention. Decision to stay for three days in order to get to know this exciting city. Plus: Amazing photo galleries from the web.

Study: Bush judges most conservative on rights

Scary! A study of thousands of federal court cases has found that judges appointed by President Bush are the most conservative on record in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties. The study's authors say the re-election of Bush would give U.S. courts a strong rightward tilt that could last for years.