banana joke

...now browsing by tag

 
 

Why Do YouTube?

Friday, January 9th, 2009

For those who wouldn’t have noticed it yet, this site has its very own YouTube channel. Don’t expect too much from the channel (yet!): we’re having exams and can’t make it as fancy as it deserves to be. This will change soon…

I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity (read: I want to make my break longer) and write a few words about my three favourite EU-related YouTube movies. Each video shows Europe from another, very original, perspective and fulfills a more or less educational function.

The first clip is a thorough and intellectually stimulating comparison between the EU and the Soviet Union:

The vid deserves a post on its own. I’ll write it in due time (= in a couple of weeks?). Don’t worry I didn’t forget I promised a continuation of the banana-related and Weiler-related posts!.

Another favourite is a movie on our hard-working MEP’s. Should this video be posted by someone who might one day apply for an internship in the EP? Aaaaagh, let this be a sign of my devotion to this blog and its readers:

The third and last clip is a touching (!) movie that promotes an EU program supporting the European film industry. Much has been written about this clip (also a part of my MA thesis is devoted to it: believe it or not!). I think (this is not a conclusion from my thesis though) that most people misunderstood the message at the end of the clip, which is “Let’s come together!”.

The exams will start now. Don’t expect the other 4 blog authors to post something any time soon.
They spend their time studying 18h a day…

Alla prossima volta!

PS: In case you would be to lazy to click on the link above:

“Twist & Shout” …

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

…or the comeback of the curvy cucumber

The size (or in any case the form) doesn’t matter any more for the EU.
A decision was taken on the 12th of November 2008 to get rid of the regulations regulating the over-regulated shape of fruit and vegetables sold in the EU.

So what?

As from 1 July 2009, you’ll finally have a chance to get in total legality either a completely twisted, 5% bent or 100% straight cucumber. Lucky you!

I think there are two noteworthy questions related to this story.
First of all: why did they need so long to understand that they “don’t need to regulate this sort of thing at EU level” (just quoting Mrs. Fischer Boel, the Commissioner for Agriculture)?

The second question is whether this is the end of the banana joke. I’m afraid it isn’t. I checked it twice: regulations on the shape of the yellow-skinned fruit were not abolished yesterday. The banana is not listed! Why would cucumbers enjoy more freedom than bananas? Just let them all grow naturally and accept them… in their diversity!

I’ll keep you up to date as soon as I get more familiar with banana-related issues.
Promise to work hard on that…

Have a nice weekend!

Sebastian