Near our house sits Europaplatz, where #Munich police cordon off a zone for drunk pyromaniacs to set off NYE fireworks. This photo from 2007 shows why we decline to participate. The smell the gunpowder still lingers in the air. Where’s the nanny state when you need it? #München #happynewyear

POP QUIZ: What is this sign trying to say? Both right and wrong answers welcome. #Munich #München #Haidhausen #dailywalk

It was only a light dusting, but #Munich officially squeaked in a white Christmas. Trust you and yours enjoyed the holiday, wherever you are. #München #Weihnachten #dailywalk

How did two non-believers like Masa and me end up with such an elaborate nativity set? Here's the story. And with it comes our sincere wishes for a great holiday season! medium.com/@martinkaraf...

How did two non-believers like Masa and me end up with such an elaborate nativity set? Here's the story. And with it comes our sincere wishes for a great holiday season! medium.com/@martinkaraf...

#Advent Vier. Christmas plates/Weihnachtsteller from 1913, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1931, 1932, 1951. Mainly Bavarian Rosenthal.

#Whamageddon2025 has turned into a blood sport! I thought I was safe with the New York Jazz Lounge Merry Christmas Playlist. But no! Betrayed by my own beloved jazz nerds! Be careful out there, Whamagedders. Trust no-one.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I do not make spelling mistakes. I make typing mistakes on tiny phone keyboards. I make cut-and-paste errors. I edit the front of a sentence and forget to make the verb agree with the subject. But I damn well know how to spell. OK? God forbid you should think me one of THOSE people.

I don't always post about work here on 🦋, especially when it serves "personal branding." But this essay is a recollection on the subject that you may find amusing. Enjoy! #branding #personalbranding www.linkedin.com/posts/martin...

#Munich #München #dailywalk #nightlystroll

What a kind, happy, relaxed fellowship of like-minded souls! Social media FTW! #BlueSkymeetup

Don’t often post about work here on 🦋, but this is nice news. Honoured to be a contributor to the Routledge Companion to #Fashion and Business. My chapter bears the enigmatic title “Culture: The Econometrics of Emotion.” Gay Card has now turned Platinum. www.linkedin.com/posts/martin...

The Zu Verschenken box is a nice German custom, where people leave unwanted items on their doorstep for others—often, tedious English-language books. Lately, though, I’ve noticed a lot of people getting rid of roller skates and blades. Why? I blame Lime scooters. #Munich #München #dailywalk

We observed Black Friday with the traditional solemnity and reverence that the holiday is due. A Quarter Pounder at the food court, a twofer on CKOne at Douglas, and a sweet deal on a 2TB X-Box S at the Media Markt.

I’m not an AI Luddite. I use AI tools every day. But I also know their risks and limitations, which are considerable.

On a continent with plenty of statues of the grand, #Munich honours more modest folk. This statue of journalist Sigi Sommer stands in the Rosenstraße, near his office at the Abendzeitung, where he wrote about the city’s high-life and low-life from 1949-1987. #München #dailywalk

Happy Black Friday, to all who celebrate. #Munich #München #Denglisch #dailywalk

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen. Bette Midler Franz Brüggen Eurythmics Manhattan Transfer (in Manila, no less) Dame Mitsuko Uchida, Fujiko Hemming, Nobuyuki Tsujii, and too many other classical concerts to mention.

He sees you when you’re sleeping He knows when you’re awake He knows if you’ve been bad or good So be good for goodness’ sake! He’s making a list Checking it twice Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice Apple Health is coming to town!

The manufacturer says it’s specially formulated to meet men’s unique needs, and I can attest that it does so admirably. It’s also quite a serviceable moisturiser.

Over breakfast, I like to answer a Quora question or two. This one came from a chap who wonders whether it's worth living anywhere else in Germany apart from Berlin. My Deutschland peeps likely will find my pro-Munich POV provocative. Go mad in in the replies, Leute! qr.ae/pC4mO9

Frankfurt Airport is the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal of the air. Change my mind.

1. After being closed for renovations, the #VillaStuck has reopened. My fave local museum, it was built by artist Franz Stuck (later Count von Stuck) in 1898 after he married a rich American widow. He was a teacher of Kandinsky and Klee, and the interior is dark and moody. …/2

Accountant: To deduct your home office, it must be a separate room with a lockable door. Me: Got it. Accountant: And you use it for ONLY for work? Me: Often, I use it to pick my nose. I’m sure the tax office will understand. Accountant: Don’t say that. It won’t make them like you. #lifeingermany

Halloween revellers. Or as we say in Bavaria, Protestants. #Munich #München #Munichbymorning #Halloween #Reformationstag #annualpost

Today’s Gratuitous #Denglisch: Fuck It. #Munich #München #dailywalk

I read somewhere that Stonehenge isn’t actually a henge. It’s just a monument inside a ditch. But it identifies as a henge. How should I refer to it and stay PC? One must respect its nouns.

Autumn leaves, autumn light. Growing up in #Adelaide, the changes of season were subtle. Few deciduous trees meant there was no real “fall”; the vintage marked the end of summer. I enjoy the contrast here in #Bavaria, with its distinct autumn. #dailywalk #Munich #München #Haidhausen #Lehel #autumn

Let’s be clear. We have ABSOLUTELY NO MORE ROOM for flea market finds, but that doesn’t stop us from visiting the #AuerDult three times a year. Always intriguing—and yes, we did buy some completely unnecessary junk because we can’t help ourselves. #Munich #Munchen #dailywalk

For Adelaide friends. Must confess, punk left me cold the first time ‘round, but I’ve started to dig it. Clearly, others feel the same. After almost 50 yrs, my pals from Black Chrome are back. Dark, cynical, nihilistic, and brilliant. BYO alcohol and Zoloft. #punk #punkrock #Adelaide

I can’t believe Bryan Ferry is 80. Nor can I believe my own age. Neither can I believe Robert Redford is dead, that Ringo Starr has released a country album, nor that Neighbours has finally been cancelled, like, for real.

On Tuesday, for a brief moment, I thought the Rapture had descended upon me. Turned out it was the third glass of wine.

#Oktoberfest has begun, officially kicked off today by the Costume and Riflemen’s Parade. The marshalling area by the Maximilianeum is not far from our place, so we get to see all the marchers gathered in one spot. A 🧵 …/2 #Munich #München #Bayern #Bavaria #morningwalk #dailywalk

A visual representation of the last website text I created, after the marketing, tech, sales teams - the CEO - all ‘improved’ it.

My husband just returned from visiting his family in Osaka. Here’s his suitcase. It’s snack time. #Japan

Late summer vibes in the park. #Múnich #München #Altbogenhausen #Maximilliansanlagen #dailywalk

Today’s Gratuitous #Denglisch: Loaded

Critics of sustainable energy cite concerns with peak loads and continuity. Australia addressed these. My adopted hometown of Adelaide has the world’s highest rate of rooftop solar. Weather patterns mean solar and wind complement each other. Next: tidal turbines at the mouth of Port Phillip Bay?

I like working from home. A Zoom shirt, doorbell pants, and you’re in business. #WFH #homeoffice #productivity #ItsaBrooksBrothersshirtactuallyjustsayin

When you live in a place where English is not the first language, you can never tell if this sort of thing is a mistake, or actually quite a decent pun. #Munich #München #Denglisch #dailywalk

I am not a Luddite. I download every app, use AI productively, and know how to game an algorithm. But we just got a new ultra-programmable microwave that demands I tell it how much a bowl of broccoli weighs. It makes me long for a knob.

I use an AI note-taker (read.ai) and it's brilliant. Summaries, transcripts, recordings, action points...but dubious "coaching" advice. Apparently, in my last meeting, I scored a gentlemanly C on Charisma, and got warned for 4 offensive, non-inclusive terms: "virgin", "stupid" x 2, and "crappy" 🤷

Today’s Superfluous #Denglisch: Love #Munich #München #dailywalk #munichbymorning

White-knuckled it through to 5.15 pm, but could hold out no longer. Worth the wait. A 2010 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, drinking like butterscotch candy. Cheers, and happy Independence Day, to all who celebrate unironically.

Does 4pm count as day-drinking?

I know Munich Airport very well indeed, and deal with the officials and systems often. Let’s say I’m not surprised. youtu.be/Eo2_q2_E7PY?...

Today’s superfluous #denglisch: Funsportstation. To be fair, though, “sport” is a legit Dudened-up German word. #Munich #München #Germany #Austria #morningwalk