Dr Seán Ketchem
@cskwriter.bsky.social
An American/German in Berlin. Berkeley alum (Go Bears!). Erstwhile Texan. Credo: “There are other forces at work than those of evil. And that is an encouraging thought.”
Pinned
What I find fascinating about the German Railways winter timetable that just began is that's a sign of Berlin slowly becoming once again a significant international railway connection hub, a far cry from what it was a hundred years ago, but also a vast change from the city's isolated Cold War days.
Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 27, 2025
Can you sort 8 historical events?
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
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Puzzle #930
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December 27, 2025 at 7:14 AM
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Puzzle #930
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Puzzle #930
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December 27, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Wordle 1,652 4/6
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Chez Picard
You’ve just opened a Star Trek themed restaurant. What are you calling it?
Klingon Fried ChicKHAAAAAN!
Klingon Fried ChicKHAAAAAN!
You’ve just opened up a Star Trek themed restaurant.
What are you calling it?
Seven of Nine Madison Park
What are you calling it?
Seven of Nine Madison Park
December 27, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Chez Picard
"There’s no question that millions will watch the finale. When we do, I think it will be less because we’re really invested in a resolution unlikely to shock or delight, and more as a way of sinking back into the comfort it gave us during a cataclysmic moment from which our culture never recovered."
Stranger Things started out as a fun, clever, well-made little distraction from the hellscape of 2016. Then we all started living full-time in the Upside Down, a franchise-thirsty streamer stretched one season's worth of story into four, and—much like our brains—the show never recovered.
'Stranger Things' Was a Casualty of the Franchise Machine
How the nostalgic, well-made treat we couldn't help devouring amid the traumas of 2016 devolved into a content factory
time.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
"There’s no question that millions will watch the finale. When we do, I think it will be less because we’re really invested in a resolution unlikely to shock or delight, and more as a way of sinking back into the comfort it gave us during a cataclysmic moment from which our culture never recovered."
Dr Negation Particle
A Perspective on a Mortality
No Time for Adjuncts
A Perspective on a Mortality
No Time for Adjuncts
make a Bond movie academic:
Grading Never Dies
Grading Never Dies
make a Bond movie academic
The Spy Who Loved Me: Birthright Citizenship and the Law of Alien Enemies
The Spy Who Loved Me: Birthright Citizenship and the Law of Alien Enemies
December 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Dr Negation Particle
A Perspective on a Mortality
No Time for Adjuncts
A Perspective on a Mortality
No Time for Adjuncts
The Berlin-Wroclaw "Culture Train" ends its near ten-year run this weekend. Low ridership and a faster connection via additional EuroCity services (now even a night train) made the route no longer justifiable.
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
Kulturzug zwischen Berlin und Wrocław (Breslau) fährt am Sonntag zum letzten Mal
Lesungen, Ratespiele, Konzerte - in den vergangenen zehn Jahren war im Kulturzug nach Wrocław einiges los. Doch damit ist Schluss. Zwischen Mark und Niederschlesien gibt es statt Kultur nun schnörkell...
www.rbb24.de
December 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The Berlin-Wroclaw "Culture Train" ends its near ten-year run this weekend. Low ridership and a faster connection via additional EuroCity services (now even a night train) made the route no longer justifiable.
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
As Haussmann was to Paris, so was Hobrecht (born 31 Dec 1825) to Berlin: the urban planner whose ideas are still very much visible in the city we see today: buildings no taller than the width of the street, back courtyards letting in light, and a pattern of green spaces.
www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitr...
www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitr...
Ein Mann, ein Plan - und etliche Auswirkungen bis heute
James Hobrecht entwickelte Anfang der 1860er einen Plan für das wachsende Berlin: Mit Straßen, Plätzen - und Konsequenzen für heutige Altbauten.
www.rbb24.de
December 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
As Haussmann was to Paris, so was Hobrecht (born 31 Dec 1825) to Berlin: the urban planner whose ideas are still very much visible in the city we see today: buildings no taller than the width of the street, back courtyards letting in light, and a pattern of green spaces.
www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitr...
www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitr...
Well one thing that happened this holiday season is that I discovered there is a gay hockey player TV series. Not sure if we get it here in Germany (other than doing the VPN thing).
December 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Well one thing that happened this holiday season is that I discovered there is a gay hockey player TV series. Not sure if we get it here in Germany (other than doing the VPN thing).
Annual reminder that the Twelve Days of Christmas *start* on Christmas Day, they don't end on it. Though a nearly two-week revel was increasingly incompatible with post-agricultural rhythms, so the holiday was reduced over time.
Christmas ends on Twelfth Night, the day before Epiphany on January 6.
Christmas ends on Twelfth Night, the day before Epiphany on January 6.
December 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Annual reminder that the Twelve Days of Christmas *start* on Christmas Day, they don't end on it. Though a nearly two-week revel was increasingly incompatible with post-agricultural rhythms, so the holiday was reduced over time.
Christmas ends on Twelfth Night, the day before Epiphany on January 6.
Christmas ends on Twelfth Night, the day before Epiphany on January 6.
Oh the weather outside is frightful (-7C=17F)
December 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Oh the weather outside is frightful (-7C=17F)
The fun part about German Christmas is that it is multiple days. We're wrapping up Christmas Day 1, and tomorrow is Christmas Day 2. So if you didn't yet get what you wanted for Christmas (a degrading sexual domination relationship with Alexander Skarsgård, for instance) there is still a chance!
a man is standing in front of a painting of a gorilla
ALT: a man is standing in front of a painting of a gorilla
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The fun part about German Christmas is that it is multiple days. We're wrapping up Christmas Day 1, and tomorrow is Christmas Day 2. So if you didn't yet get what you wanted for Christmas (a degrading sexual domination relationship with Alexander Skarsgård, for instance) there is still a chance!
"Must be Santa" is a rejiggered version of a call-and-response song German immigrants to America used in the early 1900s to teach their children German: "O Du Schöne Schnitzelbank." It's fun! And the 2009 Bob Dylan cover is best of the lot.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE...
Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa (Official Video)
YouTube video by BobDylanVEVO
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:06 AM
"Must be Santa" is a rejiggered version of a call-and-response song German immigrants to America used in the early 1900s to teach their children German: "O Du Schöne Schnitzelbank." It's fun! And the 2009 Bob Dylan cover is best of the lot.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE...
Schöne Bescherung!
December 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Schöne Bescherung!
Ho ho ho Baby Jesus!
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Puzzle #928
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Strands #662
“Caroler's count”
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Strands #662
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December 25, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Ho ho ho Baby Jesus!
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"Trading Places" is a holiday must-watch in the Ketchem household. As cliché as that sounds, it probably could not be made today. For a broad comedy, it still cuts too close to the reality of racial and income differences in America.
watching my favorite christmas movie and what is possibly the great american comedy about class and race
December 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
"Trading Places" is a holiday must-watch in the Ketchem household. As cliché as that sounds, it probably could not be made today. For a broad comedy, it still cuts too close to the reality of racial and income differences in America.
Who remembers reading this holiday gem in middle school in the weeks before Christmas
December 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Who remembers reading this holiday gem in middle school in the weeks before Christmas
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, returned to his home planet in an attempt to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Tim know that SCROOGE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first Death Star.
Little does Tim know that SCROOGE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first Death Star.
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, eventually became a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Dawn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, eventually found himself on a planet called Third Earth, where he had a long-running quarrel with a group of anthropomorphic cats
December 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, returned to his home planet in an attempt to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Tim know that SCROOGE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first Death Star.
Little does Tim know that SCROOGE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first Death Star.
This is quite interesting. The South German tradition of decorating a Christmas tree only became widespread in Berlin when the advent of the railroads made bringing freshly cut trees from the Harz practicable on a large scale, thus greatly reducing the cost and effort of having a tree in one's home.
December 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This is quite interesting. The South German tradition of decorating a Christmas tree only became widespread in Berlin when the advent of the railroads made bringing freshly cut trees from the Harz practicable on a large scale, thus greatly reducing the cost and effort of having a tree in one's home.
If it is the 24th, it is time for the Christmas address by the President of Germany (who is the actual head of state, not the Chancellor).
And this will be the last time you will see Steinmeier broadcasting from Schloss Bellevue--it is closing until 2031 for renovations.
www.dw.com/en/germanys-...
And this will be the last time you will see Steinmeier broadcasting from Schloss Bellevue--it is closing until 2031 for renovations.
www.dw.com/en/germanys-...
Germany's Steinmeier: 'A light is shining in the darkness' – DW – 12/24/2025
In his Christmas address, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has highlighted the importance of community and togetherness — which he says are glimmers of light when the world seems dark.
www.dw.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
If it is the 24th, it is time for the Christmas address by the President of Germany (who is the actual head of state, not the Chancellor).
And this will be the last time you will see Steinmeier broadcasting from Schloss Bellevue--it is closing until 2031 for renovations.
www.dw.com/en/germanys-...
And this will be the last time you will see Steinmeier broadcasting from Schloss Bellevue--it is closing until 2031 for renovations.
www.dw.com/en/germanys-...
Christmas debate: the Kittenz keep insisting the lyric is "God and Satan reconciled" but I am pretty sure it is "God and sinners reconciled". And then Soda Pop went off on her annual "Prince Albert invented the Christmas tree" bit and I was like "stop now."
The Ketchem household is now ready for Christmas. Pony Boy has programmed a special Monty Woolley double feature, his star turn in the camp classic The Man Who Came to Dinner, and a wonderful supporting turn in The Bishop's Wife. Best Christmas movies ever!
![Edgar Montillion "Monty" Woolley (August 17, 1888 – May 6, 1963) was an American film and theater actor. At the age of 50, he achieved a measure of stardom for his role in the 1939 stage play The Man Who Came to Dinner and its 1942 film adaptation. His distinctive white beard was his trademark and he was affectionately known as "The Beard."[3]
Woolley was nominated twice for an Academy Award, for Best Actor in 1943 for The Pied Piper and for Best Supporting Actor in 1945 for Since You Went Away. He won a Best Actor award from the National Board of Review in 1942 for his role in The Pied Piper.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ndxd4h47nhylsdfke4x4arlk/bafkreih7c2cz6qzxskourvp4piymgpq6bnihfdfuqexoivuw7ouuqpj6mq@jpeg)
December 24, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Christmas debate: the Kittenz keep insisting the lyric is "God and Satan reconciled" but I am pretty sure it is "God and sinners reconciled". And then Soda Pop went off on her annual "Prince Albert invented the Christmas tree" bit and I was like "stop now."
A Christmas legend I have only ever heard in Germany is that Santa Claus was invented by Coca-Cola in the 1940s for advertising purposes. I had co-workers who tried to convince me of this. Yet you can easily find 1800s Currier & Ives and other images of a very similar Santa going back to the 1800s.
December 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A Christmas legend I have only ever heard in Germany is that Santa Claus was invented by Coca-Cola in the 1940s for advertising purposes. I had co-workers who tried to convince me of this. Yet you can easily find 1800s Currier & Ives and other images of a very similar Santa going back to the 1800s.
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Puzzle #927
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December 24, 2025 at 7:16 AM
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When I had room in my apartment for a proper Christmas tree with candles....
December 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
When I had room in my apartment for a proper Christmas tree with candles....