Christmas Vacation.

Happy Holidays!

Vacation, one of the few things that separate people from animals. The time when you can drop the worries and take it easy and simply relax.

One of the best things with winter is Christmas and one of the best things with Christmas is the vacation. And to get the most out of the Christmas vacation one should be where there is snow, family and friends. Which makes it logical to go back to the old country in the north. Soon I'm heading to Sweden to celebrate Christmas. And since I take my vacation serious The Best Stuff I See will be back next year.

But don't worry, I guess you haven't read all that's in the archives. Some of the favorites this years must be The Garlic Tea, Afghan Opium, Revdes, The AK47 and of course The Good with Fall series.

With that said I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And before we know it it's 2010 and The Best Stuff I See will be back stronger and better just like all of you.

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NES Medal.

The veterans of the 80's.

Clean, fun and very nostalgic. Supermandolini plays with the notion that the only war some of us took part in was a digital one.

A really clean design and one of the better ideas for a accessory in a long while. Perfect for anyone of the 80's generation.

This might be the only medal some of us actually can wear without it being strange. The medal that is a pin is not to big and will look good on pretty much any jacket. And for the one that can't identify with the NES console Supermandolini has also made medals for the Super Nintendo, Sega 16-bit console and one for PlayStation.

If you haven't put this on your Christmas list, now is the time to do it.

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Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Christmas Everyday.

Some things truly would make it like Christmas Everyday.

Smokey Robinson is one of the people who created Motown. Somewhat of a legend in the music industry. Both as a artist but more for his work as a producer and record executive. And together with The Miracles they had hit after hit. For them to make a Christmas Album is just logical.

It's surprising that the song doesn't appear on more Christmas collection albums. Especially since it directly makes you think of that one person.

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Good with Winter. Part 2

The Christmas Cartoons.

Cartoons and Christmas are two things that go well together. And we all have our favorites.

A Christmas without cartoons is not a real Christmas. Where I come from there are two cartoons that almost everyone watches, that's Donald Ducks Christmas and The Story of Karl-Bertil Jonssons Christmas eve (Eng:Christopher's Christmas Mission). Even if Donald tries very hard and there is always a couple of funny moments in there, the favorite is Karl-Bertil.

The story of Karl-Bertils Christmas eve is that of a Robin Hood story. When Karl-Bertil realizes that there are people suffering in this world he tries to spread some happiness by taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

The Cartoon was make in 1975 and has been played on Swedish TV every Christmas Eve since. It makes it not only a tradition but also a interesting trip into how it was and looked in 1975. Some of the things they say are simply amazing in a strange way.

I can hardly wait to sit down in the couch with friends, family and loved ones and just enjoy this very good thing with winter.

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Nike Dynasty High LE.

Color me crazy.

The over all view is that the dynasty is a legend. Here it is in one of it's cleanness but also most attention grabbing color combos.

In earlier Sneaker Mondays Nike has dominated with it's high tops. Today is clearly not an exception. As pointed out winter tend to make people buy dark shoes, a majority of the new sneaks that are released are black and other dark colors. So it's nice to see a clean high sneaker with some color.

The one thing is that you might need to know Korean to be able to get them. The only place that I find then is at the Korean web shop of the company Kasina. But we might get lucky and they will hit a store near you.

So for the one that likes color and clean sneakers this is a perfect Christmas gift.

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The Office Christmas Party.

Free Drinks.

The tradition of The Christmas Party is one to participate in with extreme caution.

In this season of winter holidays most workplaces arrange to have a Christmas party. Maybe the one time a year when a majority of your co-workers will get together in a festive setting. Depending on your place of work this can be a good time or it can be a tragic reminder that the only reason you know these people is because of your job.

When taking part in such a Christmas party the only thing to really keep in mind is not getting drunk. This is easy in theory, but when in a situation where there are free drinks, forgetting is not that hard.

It all comes down to the line - Don't shit where you live. Or in this case where you work. Even a otherwise small mistake can (in the mini universe that is a office) get drastic repercussions.

So been careful, it might just save you your job.

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UrbanEars.

Like Art for your Ears.

Stylistic and clean. The new brand UrbanEars goes in the right direction. Bringing it down to the minimal, highlighting design and use of colors.

The new (self proclaimed) design collective UrbanEars goes away from brand stamped products and instead underline the clean design and importance of sound and comfort. But the thing that makes them stick out is the share number of colors that each headphone is available in. Each model comes in 14 different colors.

Let's just hope that the brand doesn't get associated with the wrong crowd. That might come down to the prize, but what is the prize for a set?

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Bon Iver

Blindsided.

Guitar, beat and a voice.

Pretentious or not Bon Iver delivers. The one searching for indie singer-songwriter music should definitely be satisfied with this project of American Justin Vernon.

The label 4AD dropped the album For Emma, Forever Ago back in 2008, but Bon Iver also released a EP names Blood Bank with four new songs on it earlier this year.

A tranquil winter song.

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Good with Winter. Part 1

Preparing for Christmas.

There is no hiding from it, Winter has begun. But like fall there are a number of good things with this cold season.

Preparing for Christmas does not only mean getting the food and the gifts. To be able to really enjoy Christmas one has to be in the mood. And how is that done. Of course it's different from person to person but there are a couple of things that will help. First, one has to realize that Christmas will never be like when we were kids. It's not gonna be like that one Christmas when everything seemed to be perfect. Trying to get that back won't work.

Instead one should try to figure out what they really like about Christmas. There really aren't any do's and don'ts. It's your Christmas, you can do what ever you want with it. If that means eating only one thing or just watching movies then that's great. That's your Christmas.

And then just like always, group activities. Have a Christmas party, go with friend shopping for gifts and of course one thing should be present, the Christmas music.

Well what can I say...

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Supra "The Gunny"

Muska Skytop.

It's Monday and Mondays mean Sneakers.

Supra has made a classic with the Skytop. And here is that classic in a all gray TUF limited edition. Supra is a up and coming brand and it really is this model that has brought them there.

This one is really a winter sneak. Dark in color and made from a material that can stand up against the weather. The down side as always is that it's expensive and will be hard to find. But for the one that has the money and the luck to find it this will be a true contribution to any good sneaker collection.

Clean is really the way to describe em...

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The Dry Martini.

Classy Classic.

The most well known cocktail of them all. This one is for the pros.

This one is really simple to make, just take 5,5 cl of gin and mix it with 1,5 cl of dry vermouth, add a olive and you are done. Of course you should mix the gin and vermouth in a shaker with ice and then poor it in a chilled martini glass. That goes without saying.

Even if this is a very basic and simple drink, people take it very serious. I'm sure there are hundreds of dry martini clubs out there and they all know the perfect way of making the perfect dry martini. just like there are thousands of people who have a big bar all set up for the making of martinis.

The reason I post about this drink is because everybody should know about it and that it's one of the most stylish drinks you can drink. But the truth is that I don't like the taste. This is the type of drink I know I will enjoy when I'm 50. So until then I will enjoy other drinks but know that when I'm older I will be able to drink with real class.

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Moloko

The Time Is Now.

Good song, was it really 9 years ago that it was released?

Came to think about this song the other day in a weak state of fever and pain. I like the song and the video. There's something uplifting and in the same time depressing about it. Or maybe it's Róisin Murphy's voice that makes the song what it is.

What is really amazing is that is was released 2000. That is 9 years ago. I know it was now yesterday that I heard this song on the radio but 9 years. Time really does move fast.

That's it for me today, I hope I feel better tomorrow so that I can post something a bit more interesting.

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The Pain.

Is no fun.

I know that I'm rambling on about being ill, but when you're in pain there is not much else to think about.

Since the last couple of days I have been laying in bed with fever. I have gotten a infection in my throat and this is really painful. One of the worst things is that is hurts like hell to swallow. You have no idea how many times you swallow a day until it hurt to do so. You should all be happy that it dosen't hurt when you try to do something as normal as to drink a glass of water.

Between the headaches and the fever nightmares the only thing I can manage to do is to watch movies and feel sorry for myself.

This is also the reason why the posts the last couple of days might seem familiar, when everything hurts, even writing here is something that takes a lot of effort.

But soon I should be feeling better and then everything will be back to normal.

In the mean time all I can say is -Fuck you pain!

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Wave Power.

The Power of The Wave.

By merely tapping in to 2% of the oceans power we would have enough energy to sustain the needs of the entire earth.

A wave can mean so many different thing for different people. It can be a source if joy or fear, a spiritual entity that gives inner peace but it can also mean pure and clean energy for everyone on this planet. And to this day it's still not used.

My question is why we haven't already done this. Is it really so hard to figure out? There are a lot of different ways to collect this energy. One of them should work.

I will do my part, every time I meet a state official I will mention this.

But my real wish at this moment is the get better, this illness is really shitty. Everything hurt all the time. So some advise to all of you, don't get ill, it's not worth it.

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Classic Clean.

The Stan Smith.

A classic clean sneak that will never fail you.

I know that I have already posted about The Stan Smith from Adidas before but it's so clean that I feel I have to do it again. That and the fact that I am ill. And when being ill everything is a lot of work. Just sleeping is painful at the moment. So this is for the people who have missed the Stan Smith sneaker.

This sneaker is one if not THE tennis sneaker. It carries the name of Stan Smith who was one of the biggest tennis players of all times. The classic lines and the crisp white and tennis green makes it a sneaker that will work everywhere and at any time. So if you're ever in doubt about which sneaker to get. Check out one of the many variations of the Stan Smith.

Now it's time for me to sleep the feverish sleep. I hope I don't get nightmares and wake up every five minutes like I did last night. It's painful, that's all I can say.

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The Caipirinha.

Sweet and Sour.

The all time favorite of The Republic of Germany. This is what I think when someone says drinks.

I know what you're thinking, you're thinking that this is a summer drink. It is. I'm not saying anything against that, what I am saying is that in times of darkness and cold we need to be reminded about warmer times. We sometimes need to feel that there will be another summer. With that logic it's time for a Caipirinha.

This is how you do it. Cut half a lemon in four wedges. Put the lemon in a glass and poor 4 teaspoons of crystal sugar over the wedges. Use a muddle or a wooden spoon to press the lemon and sugar together. Poor crushed ice to the rim of the glass and then poor in 5 cl of cachaca. Stir and you're done. This is the original recipe, as it's served in Brazil. Here bars serve the drink with lime. That also tastes good, just make sure they use cachaca (the sugarcane spirit) and not something else.

The Caipirinha is so well liked here in Germany that it's gotten a nickname that is known to all, The Caipi. Because of it's popularity you can get it anywhere and often to a good prize. And since the Caipi is ordered a couple of times a night the bartender should have gotten the hang of it by now.

I really do need to be reminded that after winter comes spring so I'm definitely gonna enjoy a Caipi later on tonight.

Have a great weekend and don't hurt yourself under the influence of sugar and alcohol.

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Black Shirt with White Collar.

Like a White Collar Criminal.

The simplicity of white on black. There is something English over the whole thing.

A lot of us are stuck between our young style and a style that could be considered more grown up or adult. We still like the type of clothes that we had before but we are also looking around for something else. I haven't decided what that would be just yet, but there is not just one way to go.

One could try to combine the two. Or you can simply wear what the hell you want, when the hell you want to. If you have the means to have different styles on different days then you should do that. It makes the whole thing more fun.

And you should start with a black shirt with a white collar. The contrast between the white and the black makes the white look brighter and the black darker (he same goes for other color combos). What you get is a very clean shirt. A shirt with a more grown up look. And if you get a good one then this type of shirt will be good on it's own, you will not need a tie for instants.

In my mind this shirt is a key to a style that take inspiration from a English criminal look. Think London scam artist and the rest is merely organisation questions. After all the English have known for a long time how to have a grown up style, even the criminals.

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Damien Rice.

Cannonball.

"When you know that you just don't know."

This is the type of music that can get you down on a Sunday or that can make a walk just that much more bittersweet. Somehow there must be a part in us all that wants to get that feeling. I don't know why. Most of the time we search for happiness, but sometimes It's like we are putting effort into getting sad.

It's simply a nice song. I think I will listen to it one more time.

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Adidas Scarf.

It's blowing cold out there.

If you have the cash, you should keep yourself warm with this scarf from Adidas Originals.

The scarf is a important piece, it does not only keep your throat and neck warm but it also compliments your style. That is if it's the right one. Get the wrong one and everything else you're wearing will look like shit. Okey, maybe not shit but it will not make you look better.

One way to go is to get a lot of different scarfs so you always have one that will go with what you're wearing. Another way to go would be to get one maybe two that are fairly neutral in color that can be combined with almost anything. Like this one from Adidas. Black and white with a cool pattern. It seems pretty big as well which makes it something to have all winter. The only down side with this one is (as it so often is) the prize. 200€ they want for it. I can hardly believe it. 200€!, damn. They try to justify it with the fact that it's made from cashmere. But still, that is damn expensive.

I will not get this one but I will try to get something like it. It will not be easy. It's always hard to find exactly what you are looking for.

Why did I go and lose my scarf?

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Reebok The Pump.

Twenty Years of Pumping it Up.

Twenty years ago Reebok launched the Pump. One of the classics that is now riding the wave of retro sneakers. It's been made in a lot of different colors but this is the original.

The Pump is a clean sneaker, actually one of the few times that Reebok got it right. It combines white, blue and orange. Which is one of the better color combos. But this is truly a classic. It has been seen in movies, TV-show and of course on the basketball courts. Back then people really used this sneak for playing ball, something that is probably not happening today.

It is a good sneaker that will go well with almost anything, one just has to watch out. Combining The Pump with to "freaky" clothes might make you look like a kid. You might end up looking like a 80's brat trying to hard to fit in with the cool guys on the basketball court. But then again that might be exactly the look a lot of people are going for. All I'm saying is that it doesn't work for everyone. Everyone can't pull that off.

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Tequila Shots.

Mexican Stand Off.

Drinking Tequila Shots can be dangerous. The risk of getting hurt is high.

Tequila is one of the hard liquors that is fairly easy to drink straight. To drink a tequila shot in the classical way you need salt and lemon wedges. You simply put a little salt on your hand between the thumb and the index finger. In the same hand you also hold a lemon wedge with the index finger and the thumb. You hold the shot in the other hand. Then you start by first licking up the salt, then you drink the tequila and as a finish you suck on the lemon wedge. The three tastes goes very well with one another.

My personal favorite way of drinking a tequila shot is that of the once world famous tennis player Björn Borg. To do that you first lick up the salt, then you drink the shot, but instead of sucking on the lemon wedge you simply smash it across the room.

Just remember to be careful, tequila has a way of going straight to the head. So be wary of people who suggest having a tequila drinking competition. It can easily end up in a Mexican stand off situation where everybody involved will feel pain.

It was some time ago since I felt that pain, but I can still remember it. Back when I used to drink tequila every weekend I could drink an entire bottle without a problem. I know I can't do that now but if the opportunity arise I will surly give it a try.

And with that I would like to say -Have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday with more of...

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Picture Lamp.

Design Your Own Light.

Small, simple and clean. Sure to brighten up the room.

A room always need a lot of light, especially this time of year. A room needs a big source of light for when you're cleaning. It also needs smaller lights to make the room look good. This lamp is the second kind, it's purely a decorative source of light. It's the type of lamp that you can put in a bookshelf to brighten it up or something to hang on the wall. It's not that big so you can also put many of them next to each other. It's actually only 8,2cm x 8,2cm x 13,5cm big. But what it lacks in size it makes up in looks.

The idea with this lamp from Komat is to make your own design. You simply put a picture, a message or a drawing between the two shards of Plexiglas and you have a individual deco lamp that you can change when ever you like it. But keep in mind that the light illuminates the picture from behind, so you should probably go with an already bright picture.

This is something that I would put in my bookshelf if the prize was a bit kinder. But to you that have cash and lots of it, I say - Go for it!

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Röyksopp.

This Must Be It.

Another one from Röyksopp. A bit darker a bit colder.

This Must Be It comes from the album Junior, the same album as one of my favorite songs (Happy Up Here) is on. Röyksopp has managed to bring a nice sound that works well with Karin Dreijers extraordinary voice. A voice that can be hypnotising at times. And the result becomes something that can be described as a darker and sadder chill-out music.

But seen in the right mood it's not a negative song. More like a song to put as a soundtrack for an old memory. But it's not something that you should listen to when you're feeling alone in a big empty room. Do that to often and you're not gonna be a fun person. Or a happy one at that.

Anyways, it's time to kick back, play the song and enjoy.

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Good with fall. Part 5.

The Dinner.

Food and friend, what can be a better way to spend a Tuesday evening.

So far November has been a classic fall month. Leaves on the ground, rain and a couple of rays of sun. We can all feel that the even darker time is on it's way. But before I start talking about fat men in red and what to get your dad this year, let's just see what can be good with fall one more time.

I have heard people saying that the best way to the heart is through the stomach. And I can understand that. I mean the breastplate is very hard to get through so it's logical to cut up the stomach in order to reach the heart. Less bone that's in the way. But if you're not preforming surgery I would recommend something Italian to get to someones heart. A nice Italian pasta dish to be specific.

It's not that hard to have a nice dinner. Like most things the preparations are important. Meet up with the one or the ones that are cooking directly after work. Go to the a bit nicer supermarket (you know, the one where they actually have all the ingredients) and do the shopping. Buying food is always more fun with friends. Feels less of a chore. Oh, and what's really important is to get a good wine. Because if you somehow mess up the food you at least have some good wine.

When you're back in the kitchen, start the cooking. Follow a recipe that looks good. Drink some of the wine as you are cooking. Just see the whole thing as one of Jamie Oliver's TV-shows. In fact, why not dress up as Jamie Oliver and try to act exactly like him. I would be rolling on the floor laughing if one of my friends did that. Of course that might depend on the performance. But still fun.

When you are done with the cooking it's time to just enjoy the food. Time to enjoy the company of the people or person you're with. When removing stress and just taking it easy any dinner will be something that's good with fall.

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Adidas Forum Mid Plant Pack

Plant a didas.

Sneaker Monday is here with a Adidas sneak that is so clean i actually gets a bit dirty. Strange how things can work out.

Earlier this year Adidas released a line of sneaker that are suppose to be inspired from nature. They took five different classics and remade them in all white with a brown sole. And to top if of the only details are the Adidas logo turn into a plant.

This is the kind of sneaker that I like. Clean lines all in white. To bad that it's so expensive. A normal Forum mid can be bought for around 80€, but for this one you need to pay out and extra 50€. But then again an extra 50 might not be so bad since you get the false feeling that this shoe some how will be good for the environment. It has a plant on it, it must be ecologically friendly.

Playing on such things is dirty. It's to be expected from a multi international corporation. I would get angry but they keep making such clean sneakers. Damn you Adidas!

On a different note, How was your weekend? All I can say about mine is that you should have seen me. I managed to do some great party moves on my way down the stairs. It might not have been pretty. But it was one of those things that I wish was on tape. Kind of.

And remember. You stay classy Internet!

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The Bloody Mary.

A Drink and a Meal.

The red drink that brings the taste combination of vodka and tomato. Perfect for Friday the 13Th.

Another classic that will make any Friday a good one. Here goes. 4cl of vodka in a highball glass with ice. Fill up with tomato juice. Add one dash of celery salt,Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and lemon/lime juice. Then if you like it a 1/8 of a tea spoon of horseradish. Garnish with a celery stalk and a lemon/lime wedge and you're all set.

The origin of this cocktail is disputed. Some say it was invented in the 20's in Paris and others say that this is a drink from New York. Either way it's a tasty drink. And as it contains tomato juice it also makes you full. It's like a snack or a small meal. That is probably why it's often used as a pick-me-up for the day after. Gets rid of the hangover and you don't have to eat breakfast. Perfect for the person on the go.

But a Bloody Mary is a drink that should be enjoyed in the evening. Don't be afraid, order it tonight and you might not need that 5pm french fries serving.

Tonight I'm going to the Sushi Club. The only question is if Sushi works well with Bloody Marys.

Have a great weekend! And remember that there is an entire world out there just waiting for you.

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The Simple Chair.

Sit with Style.

Multifunction made easy, a chair that doubles as a small shelf.

This "Number Seven Chair" by Jacobsen is a classic. 3 million was manufactured of the original and since then there have been a number of remakes and copies. With all right. It's a clean, basic form and it will work with every type of design scheme.

The last couple of years furniture like this has had a big revival. Different forms of pressed wood furniture. You can see them in design stores everywhere. They have a 60's/70's feel to them. Even if this chair hit the market in the 50's.

A chair like this will look good all on it own. Put it at the table or use it as a shelf to put something small on. Your bag or a plant. Anything that you think deserves a spot of it's own. I think I would use a chair like this as a night stand. A perfect place for an alarm clock.

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Junior Senior

Move Your Feet.

They might be from Denmark, but I'm not gonna hold it against them.

Simply a great song. I rediscovered it the other day when I asked a friend for songs that would cheer me up. It worked. Not only because of the song itself but also because of the video. Nice pixel art that could have been taken directly from a NES game.

Check the stick figures dancing, some of those moves could easily be used on the dance floor. The thing that really makes this video is the squirrel. A Delorean driving, hoarse jumping, booze drinking son of bitch of a squirrel. Why didn't I think of that.

Jesper "Junior" Mortensen and Jeppe "Senior" Laursen are now working on their own solo projects. We will see if they manage to come up with something as good as this song.

Don't stop the beat.

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The Garlic Tea.

Tea with Garlic.

It sounds disgusting, even terrifying. But it cures what ills ya.

There are good things with autumn but there are also things that are awful. One of those things is a cold. A cold hits you with no mercy. Headaches, coughing and a sore throat. When you think about it it's strange that we can go into space but we can't fix a normal cold. When technology fails, you need to find a different way.

One of the worst things with a bad cold is the sore throat. You know the one that makes it hard to breathe and impossible to swallow. Sure, cough drops might soothe a couple of minutes. But do you want something that really works you need to go with the garlic tee.

This is what you need to do. Boil water. Put tea of choice in the hot water. Press two or more garlic cloves in the tea. Then two teaspoons of honey. Stir and let is stand for a couple of minutes. Now you have a homemade remedy that will make you breathe with ease again.

This secret from the highlands of Sweden needs some getting use to. But when you have, a cold will not get the better of you.

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Nike Blazer High Vintage

Like when it began.

Dirty Vintage that brings you back to the days of Sneakers past.

Nike seem to be the only ones that are putting things out there. In this weeks Sneaker Monday we have the Nike Blazer. It's a clean high top with black on grey leather. The sole is out of vulced gum with what seems to be pre-made discolorations. So for the person that is not a fan of fresh out of the box sneaks this one is ready to go. I especially like the orange swoosh on the tongue.

This sneaker will go very well to any style. But for you skinny jeans boys and girls this one or a sneaker like it will truly be a addition to your collection.

Did you all survive the weekend? I almost didn't. But hey, before you know it another one will be right here. So keep you head high and you will reach higher heights.

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The Gin and Tonic.

Drink it up.

6cl of gin. Ice. Tonic. And a lime wedge. So simple, it works every time.

This classic long drink is a drink that works every time. Weather it be in a expensive hotel or neighborhood bar. A Gin and Tonic will not break the rules of etiquette. Irregardless on where you are in this world there will always be a norm and a standard. In Berlin, beer is that norm. And normally it's the norm for all men to drink beer. But what if you don't like beer or you just don't feel like drinking beer one evening?

The long drink list can sometimes be to much. The strange names don't tell how it will look or how good it will taste. The solution is simple. Order a Gin and Tonic. Tastes good, looks good and it's sure to work.

Just leave it to the English to turn a cure for malaria into a drink that will always be in style. Back in India during the British colonization malaria was wide spread. Tonic contains quinine which helps against malaria. But the tonic at the time didn't taste so good so to help it go down they put some gin in the mix.

And it's because of the simplicity and the fact that 1800's high society created it that makes this one a classic. A classic that I plan to enjoy this evening and maybe even the evening after that. I dare say it's weekend in Berlin. Ta and Cheerio!

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Neon Green Shoe Laces.

Mr Lacy.

We can just run and hide or we can stand up and fight the darkness.

The fashion circle might be going away from the 80's but there is still time. And what is more 80's than something in a nice neon color? Sure it might count to late 80's maybe even early 90's, but who really cares about the exact second when we have a chance to use them once more.

The only thing to think about is not to use to much. You have to have a specific style to make a neon colored jacket work. What will not be to much is a pair of shoe laces. They can either make your old sneakers look cool in a retro way or they can make all eyes turn to your new sneaks.

But that is not all. Some bright colors will help in the fight against the darkness. The darkness that the season is giving us. Also against the darkness that we chose with our clothes. Everybody is walking around in black and dark blue. It doesn't help. It's dark enough as it is. I must admit that I to am walking around in black clothes, but to my defence I am also sporting neon green shoe laces.

Now all that is needed is a way to incorporate some neon color somewhere else to make it match.

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Phoenix.

1901

The Pop/rock/electro tunes from Phoenix are about to hit the city.

Soon Phoenixs tour will hit Germany and Berlin. A lot of people will surely be standing in line to see them. Since the band has been getting good reviews it's just a matter of time before they get to play the really big arenas. Which is probably their aim.

They have been influenced by bands like Air, Cassius, Empire Of The Sun and Daft Punk and combined that with a classic rock band setup. What you get is a mix that is nice to listen to.

Can't say that I'm such a big fan that I will get tickets, but I like this song. So have a listen and forget about whatever could be troubling you.

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A Clockwork of Orange.

Alex and his Droogs.

Kubricks film adaption of Anthony Brugess book might not be that far away. At least not when it comes to the electro scene.

When seeing many of the artists that make it big in the electro scene I can't help but to think of Alex and his droogs. People seem to have opened up their minds to a fashion that not long ago would have bin seen as strange.

Only the other day at Halloween I saw not one but two Alex. But that was not all. At least 20 or more were dressed in a way that easily could have been taken from one of the street gangs in A Clockwork Orange. Sure, at Halloween it's not strange to see a Alex but to see so many in a club that is not fully branded as a electro club. That means that this fair city must be overcrowded with people just waiting to put on the bowler hat. A bowler hat or sparkling military jacket.

The Droogs of Berlin do not look as hard as Alex's but thank to places like Bar 25 it is just a matter of time before you will see them on a weekend that is not carnival.

So, Stanley probably had it right. Soon we will be sitting in a bar like The Korova Milkbar getting really for a bit of the old ultra-violence.

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Nike Dunk High North Pack.

Ice Cold.

When it gets colder the sneaks get warmer.

Ah Monday, the sneakiest day of the week. This time around it's another Nike high top on the menu. Classic Nike high top design with a blue, black and white color combo makes this a very clean sneaker. The black is leather so they should keep warm and hopefully dry as well. Simple but powerful. An addition to any sneaker collection.

As I pointed out in previous Sneaker Monday posts, the sneaker market change with the seasons. No more is white the color of choice. The sneaks that come out now are darker. I personally am not a fan of this. But what can you do. Keep looking.

And when I've bin looking around I have noticed something new. The latest trend among the sneaker companies is to combine sneakers with normal shoes. Half sneak half boot and so on. Or sneakers but in leather and with colors that make them look nothing like a sneak. We will see if they can make a cool one. I haven't seen a single one that looks really good.

And now to try to recover from the weekend. It's hard to realise that the older you get the harder the hang over hits you. But Karaoke was fun...

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The Digital Camera.

Party Camera.

That which is no documented, never happened. To make it live forever you need to take a picture.

This camera and it's docking station from Sony doesn't only take pictures. It has face recognition but also recognizes when you are smiling. The camera will actually wait to take the picture until the person in it is smiling. No more sad faces. It will look like your always having fun.

And soon there will be cameras that recognize faces and to whom they belong. You can then tell your camera that that's "Todd" and the camera will recognize him. Spooky.

But on this one the docking station also has a very nice feature. It can be uses as your private little party photographer. Just turn it on and the camera will automatically take pictures. It will turn and spin around just waiting for the best shot.

It's the perfect camera for party's. Because when your at a party the risk or better yet the chance of you getting drunk is high. Pictures taken when you're drunk are more fun when your actually taking them. The day after thing are seen in a different light. With a camera like the TX1 you really just need to point and shot. Even a monkey could do that.

Let's document when we all go Monkey Mad.

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Sushi.

The Sushi Club.

Sometime you just feel a need for a certain type of food. Today that type of food would be Sushi.

Sushi has a long history, the first versions of it goes back as far as to the 14th century. But the type of Sushi that we know today was created in Edo (now Tokyo) in the beginning of the 19th century. It was created as a fast food. Fast to make and easy to eat. The Japanese are always one step ahead.

The whole idea of this Japanese food is brilliant. Fresh food that tastes great and that is great for you. Sushi manages to bring the basic tastes together in a way that in lack for other words can only be described as fresh. The health aspect of Sushi is also a good one. There is almost no fat, it contains good carbohydrates and is high in protein. If we would eat food like this more often our medical bills would be a lot smaller.

So get together with some friend and make some Sushi. It's not hard at all. That's what I will do tomorrow. I just hope that I somehow can make my favorite, Kaziki Nigirzushi the one with swordfish.

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Max Berlin.

Elle et Moi.

Don't know what it means but it sounds good.

Listening to a song can have many different meanings for different people. This becomes very clear with songs in other languages. Someone that understands french will listen to this song from Max Berlin and think one thing. And I will listen to the exact same song but with something different in mind.

This is true in all things. What you are hearing and understanding from a song is different. Your past experiences make you have very own view on everything.

I don't know who made this song and I don't know if the person behind the name Max Berlin has made any other songs. What I do know is that I like the song.

So enjoy.

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Skydiving.

Falling Free.

The ground is heading your way at a speed of 190 km/h. And the only thing you need to do is let go. Let go and just fall.

I find myself thinking back to those times. Standing in the door of a plane seeing the world 5000 meters below. My heart racing as I feel the wind that I'm soon gonna be a part of. The noise of the plane and then the signal. That second when I realise I'm falling. I weigh nothing and I'm floating above the world.

If you haven't jumped out of a plane yet you have really missed something. I believe that it's something that all people should do at least once in their lives. I'm even gonna say that skydiving is something that everyone should do once a year. Because the feeling you get is priceless. After you jumped things will look better, feel better and food will even taste better.

And we who live in the western world. We who are lucky not to be forced to struggle just to eat, should risk it and with that get some perspective. Be reminded that we are truly alive.

Just thinking about it now makes my heart beat faster. I really need to find somewhere to jump.

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Nike SB Zoom Air.

Where's the Sneaks at?

Sneakers, that's what Sneaker Monday is all about. Obviously. But lately the number of clean sneaks have bin going down.

This time of year is not what you would call The Sneaker Season. It all changes when the leaves start falling. For some reason less and less sneaks hit the stores. And you can see it on the streets as well. Less sneaks and more normal leather shoes. It is like everybody feels a need to be more serious. People must be looking out the window and saying to them self's -Autumn, again? Well I guess it's time to get serious. And off they go to buy loafers.

For the ones that don't feel the urge to be too serious here we have the Nike SB Zoom Air. It's from Nike SB so of course it's going to be a low sneaker. A simpler sneak but really clean. Classic lines and colors. I especially like the color combo.

Stay tuned to The Best Stuff I See five days a week, every week.

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Rug it out.

Perfect Fit.

"That rug really tied the room together. " The Dude.

And yes a Persian rug does tie a room together. It is amazing how this rug can look good in any home. Off course it's not going to change the room from one to another but in it's own way it will make the room look better.

Even if you have a fake, and most of the times you should get a fake. These rug's are often made by children in a country far away. A fake will more likly be a machine made rug. But it will still give a feeling of luxury. And it's always nice to rest your bare feet on the red and soft treads.

It fits very well with black and will go perfectly with the black leather couch and off course the red chair and the lamp.

My weekend has already started. A long one can make a lot of difference. Make the best of it and we will see each other on Monday with more...

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Afghan Opium.

Bringing the world to it's knees.

Yesterday the UN came out with a report about the wast production of opium in Afghanistan. Urging the world to take the drug situation in Afghanistan more serious.

The report from the UN Offices on Drugs And Crime (UNODC) tells a hard story. A story of a country run by the production of Opium and other drugs. The statistics show that this is the source of income for not just Talibans and the terrorists. The country it built on growing poppy. 3,3 million of the Afghanistan population are working with producing opium. Even the president Hamid Karzai has bin known to own poppy fields.

The problem is that Afghanistan manages to stand for 92% of all the opium in the world. 900 tons leave the country every year. And that's not all, 350 tons of heroin is also exiting the country annually. Only 2% is stopped from leaving the country.

This is the source. This is why the war goes on. This is why people are still scared. If the opium would stop flowing the money would run out. Without that money terror and suffering would be a thing of the past for a lot of people. It's the drug money that is fueling the Taliban.

My question are -Why was the opium problem not a major issue in the beginning of the Afghan war? -Why are the U.S and their allies not smart enough to see that this is the source?

What is need now is a substitute for the opium. Support the farmer so they can make money by growing something other than poppy. Deal with the wide spread corruption and lives would not only be saved in Afghanistan.

For more check The UN's web page www.un.org or the direct link http://tiny.cc/Zlitz

I will do my part as well. I will not do heroin or opium. Not that I have before. Okay, but that one time doesn't count ;)

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The XX.

Night Time.

Nice bittersweet music.

The XX is a new band from London that released their first album now in August. They play a melodic, serene and heart full music. It's easy to get pulled in to it. Some music has that effect. When listening to it you stop what you are doing and you just listen. This song did that the first time I heard it. There is something about the melody and her voice.

They had a concert here in Berlin last week. A friend of mine was there. He told me that they were very nervous. That they were to nervous to speak to the audience and that they played the songs exactly as in the album. Not feeling secure enough to improvise on stage. He also pointed out that they almost seemed surprised that so many people came to their concert. Despite all that they managed to please the crowd.

Things must be happening very fast for them.

Stuff might not be happening that fast for me but I would like to say thank to everyone and I will see you all later tonight.

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Good with fall. Part 4.

The Board game.

Risking it all for the sake of glory.

The Good with fall series might sound like something you would do when you are (like the men in the picture) a bit older. I disagree with that. Sure, these are activities not limited by age. But when facing the fact that the cold times are upon us, remembering what's nice and cosy will just make the whole thing a lot easier.

One of these good thing is the board game. The lineup of games that are available will be to long to write here. But the classics are always guarantied to bring a hour of two of fun. My favorites are Monopoly, Risk and Trivial Pursuit.

Just like with the Movie night this is something that needs some preparation. First you need to get a good group of friend together. Invite them over on a weekday. All the Good with fall things should really be done on a weekday, if possible. It's all about making the time count. In the long run it's not good just living for the weekend.

You all help out to cook a tasty dinner. And after that a bottle of wine or some beers and the board game of the evening. Conversation has a tendency to move in fun directions when a bunch of friend get together over a board game. I have heard banter and talks I would otherwise never have heard over the monopoly board.

And the feeling of winning is not bad at all.

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Nike Tennis Classic.

Cleanliness is a virtue.

Sneaker Monday is here. This week a look at the classic Nike Tennis shoe.

This is Nikes answer to the Stan Smith. And it is a very good answer at that. The clean lines that is to be expected from a tennis shoe combined with the all present swoosh. This is a type example of a clean sneak. Clean lines and not to much. A shoe that will work with almost anything. And it can be worn at work as well as at a more fancy occasion.

Even if the stores now turn to more fall and winter designs the white sneak is always cool. It's not the warmest or most convenient option but that doesn't matter. No really. At least not if you live in a city.

Was your weekend just as hard as mine? I think I'm still hung over from Saturday night. But that is to be expected when hitting the WG-Partys. In The Weekend Wars there's no rules and all bets are of.

Stay tuned for a great week.

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The Pre-Party

Get Ready.

The party before the party. Not something to be underestimated.

I so simple, just tell a few people that you're having a Pre-Party and before you know it there is a bunch of people talking and drinking in the living room. The true power of the Pre-Party is that it doesn't have any of the pressures that a normal Party or WG-Party might have. The people at a Pre-Party are more likely gonna be people you know or friends of friends. This fact creates a very relaxed environment. A place where a lot of good conversations take place. Or perhaps a nice drinking games.

It doesn't have to be a lot of people there for it to be good, after all it's "only" a Pre-Party. And just like the foundation is the most important thing for a house The Pre-Party is for a night of partying. The Pre-Party is truly the foundation on which great thing can be built. If you have a good time there what ever happens afterwards will surely be good.

So have a Pre-Party! Get some friends and friends of friends together. Have some nice conversations, drink some beer and listen to some music. And when the mood is on top hit the town. There's also the chance that the Pre-Party turns in to The Party. It has happened before and it's always bin fun.

Enjoy the weekend! The Best Stuff I See will be back on Monday with more good stuff. And remember that Berlin really is the place to be. See you out there...

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The Knife.

Stay sharp.

Even in a city-environment a knife can come in handy.

A knife is really a tool with a hundred if not thousands of uses. It's the most important item for survival. It's not that much different in the city. Of course it can be used for defense but that's not what I'm advocating. Because there are risks pulling out a knife. If you don't know how to use it, it can end up hurting you more than your enemy.

I was thinking more about the way they use it in certain parts of France. People there always carry a knife. A folding knife that they have in their pockets. It's not for hunting or fighting but for eating. Instead of using the knifes you get in the restaurant, you use your own. People do this to show off that they can afford a beautiful knife. A knife that is sure to cut through any steak. That and tradition. This might be seen as a snobbish thing to do and it really is. But wouldn't be cool to do.

Besides you never know when you find yourself in the woods in use of a sharp knife.

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Patrick Wolf.

The Magic Position.

"Music is a magic fact" to quote a Swedish reggae legend.

Songs have the power to get you thinking or feeling something that you didn't a second ago. From one to the other a new thought enters your mind. I think that's the fact Mr Persson was talking about.

Patrick Wolf released his forth album The Bachelor this summer but this song is from The Magic Position. He's a talented musician that manage to hit both a happy and sad note with this song. The text is that of a pure love song but somewhere in the melody/video is a element of sadness. I might be wrong. But none the less a very good song. It deserves a good listen.

Not your type of music? Then let me know what is by sending a mail or using any of the other channels of communication.

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Good with fall. Part 3.

The Movie Night.

A movie you wanted to see for a while and some friend can be more than enough.

A movie night has to be done right. And when it is, it can be wonderful. It can be an escape from everything. An escape to a different world. There are some key elements for a good movie night.

First is the movie, it has to be a movie that is entertaining and that has a good production value. You might get tempted to get a movie from some "the best movies ever list", this could be a mistake. A too serious movie can be too much for a movies night. It's suppose to be fun, not depressing. Most of the time a movie that is a bit stupid will makes everybody have more fun, because it's so easy to make jokes about the movie. And if this is a romantic movie night then the same applies but it's better if you have a movie with a more sexy undertone.

Once you picket the right movie it's time to move on to the surroundings. Make it cosy. Light candles and get rid of the bright lamps. Get extra pillows and blankets in the couch. Or even better, make the bed super cosy.

Get your favorite snacks and drinks and you are all set to have a movie night where the cold and windy weather can't get to you. Just snuggle up and enjoy.

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Air Jordan 1 High Strap

High Jordan.

Sneaker Monday gives you the High Strap Jordan.

Welcome to an autumn Sneaker Monday. I hope that you had a nice weekend because now a new week starts with new sneakers and new chances. And as the season is changing the sneaks change. The new sneakers that are being released are no longer white or have bright/light color combos. Now it's going towards darker colors and more discreet details.

Like this Jordan. It's a classic Jordan design just that it's a little bit higher and of course it has a strap. But if you don't like the strap you can always take it off. The material is also a bit different. Not just normal leather but also a special mix fabric that is designed to keep your feet try. Which comes in handy if you're in Berlin at the moment.

Clean black with yellow details. Easy to match with and the yellow makes this sneak a eye catcher. Always a good thing.

Stay tuned this week as the fall series goes to part tree, the music keeps spinning and new things amazes.

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The Mini Fridge.

Food for thought.

Where are you if your thinking about buying a mini-fridge?

We have all come along way. We can build machines that can break down matter to its smallest peaces. We have harnessed the power of the atom and can send people in to space. But what do we do with all this potential? We get ourselves in the position where we want a mini-fridge.

Is it because we are so lazy that we have invented a gadget that can cool and that's so small we can have it anywhere. We can have it anywhere and we do have them everywhere. Next to the couch, under the bed or in the car.

But is it just out of sheer laziness that we do this or could this be a entire new way of living. If we were able to store food exactly where we needed it, perhaps the kitchen could be integrated completely with the living room. More and more people are already saving space by having one part of the living room as the kitchen. A open kitchen. And we eat less and less often in the kitchen anyway. It should be possible to integrate the two so you have the things to cook and eat around you but you still have the comfort of the living room. Want a drink, right there. Chop a onion without leaving the sofa, anything will be possible. This is just the start of the idea, it still needs some work but I can see it in front of me - The Living Kitchen! The perfect solution for compact living.

Hell, I want a Living Kitchen. But for now I have to settle for a mini-fridge because I want to be able to chill a couple of beers or the tonic before heading out to see what might be happening in the city.

Have a great weekend. See you next week for more...

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Revdes.

With Reverse Destruction.

Berlin is a city full of small stores and new brands. Here's one of them.

Revdes is a fairly new brand that has produced a lot of nice t-shirts and hoodys. The designs make use of colors and shapes in the best of ways. Also using glow in the dark elements, you don't see that very often. Simply said, it's my kind of brand. You can see that a lot of ingenuity went into the making. And the fact that the brand is always moving forward just gives Revdes more plus points.

The designers and founders of the brand are Richi and Hans. They are starting up small but it will just be a matter of time before you can see their designs in stores close to you. If you're in Berlin, make sure that you stop by their store at Simon Dach Strasse 21. If you can find it that is. It's not the biggest of stores. You can also see the stuff on their web page revdes.com.

I should make time to get over there next week, they have some new tees that I haven't seen yet.

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Elster Club.

Forty Days.

Last Saturday I was in a club and this band was playing.

Elster Club plays a type of electro/pop/wave that is very easy to like. Two guitars and all the beats on the synthesiser. Which is a very refreshing band setup. The three guys Christian, Johannes and Tomas has managed to find a sound that is top-notch live. Normally when going to a club gig the sound has a tendency to be overwhelmed by the drums.

It doesn't happen often but sometimes you just need to hear a song ones and you immediately like it. It is like you've already heard it a couple of times and that you would like to hear it a few more times. This was the case with all the songs Elster Club played the other night.

It would not surprise me if this is a band that everybody knows about in a year or two. And if that happens you know where you heard of them first.

For more of their songs check myspace.com/elsterclub or their YouTube channel.

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