ars electronica gala

I was at the Ars Electronica gala in Linz last Friday, where the Golden Micas were awarded to media artists. Some of the masterpiece were really amazing, above all the winner in the categorie of digital movies (or similar). The artists created a computer simulated of two snails in a dark techno style with fantastic music and everything very aesthetically, wow. The theme of this years festival is "simplicity: the art of complexity" and since I'm working in the field of usability, I also had to go to the exhibitions: some great work but some things were already from the last year and not so exciting. However, if you 've never been there - go there, it's amazing what is possible with new technology and creative ideas. http://www.aec.at/

broken mobile phone ...

... need a new one. if you have a working mobile phone that you don't need any more and would give away at a low price - i'm interested. thx

birthday present collage

brithday present collage,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

A collage of the birthday presents I got from my friends: a wonderful picture (a print by Hermann Nitsch that decorates my washing room - just kidding ;-), a gift coupon for breakfast and one for going to the cinema, a bottle of delicate Styrian wine and a thrilling book. (pictures taken the morning after celebrating my 2?th birthday)

thx to Regina, Ute, Ilo, Christine, Frank, Falco, Berni J., Berni S., Michi, Tom, Elisabeth, Irina, Laura & Wolfgang

comic on co-publishing

"Publish or perish" is a famous quote among scientist. I recently started my scientific career with a PhD and from time to time I publish papers with my colleagues -> see the Research part on this page. If you wonder why I'm never on the first place in the author list, read the truth on this comic on http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=562

volleyball, volleyball & volleyball

bernhard and bernd @ the beach,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

Rain and cold temperatures couldn't stop me: After 2 weeks abstinence I played beach volleyball on Thursday (training), Saturday (tournament) and Sunday (just for fun) and guess what I'll do this evening ;-) My body feels great now (even though I feel most of my muscles).

The photo shows a typical Austrian beach volleyball court in summer: it's raining. Bernhard and I played our third tournament together last Saturday and we nearly celebrated our first win. We lost against a drunk player and his partner in the first round (I hope I can forget this horrible match soon) and then we lost in a tight and high level game against a pretty good team. Maybe we have more luck next time.

on top

05082006(008)_800,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

Wolfgang & I were hiking this weekend . Hiking might be an overstatement, it was more like a long walk in a break of the otherwise constant rainshowers that are currently going down over Salzburg. We "climbed" the Nockstein with a height of 1043 metres above sea level, yess!!!

my summer of love

I was in the cinema yesterday and watched the British movie "My Summer of Love", directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. I expected a great story about expectations, dreams & love and a tragic end. Indeed the film combined all these elements with charming scenes of young naivety and funny criticism of religious fanatism. A great story about love with an end that brings one down to earth, but without exceding tragedy.
Interestingly my friend and I were the only men in the cinema, but never mind, I liked the film ;-)