I've got myself a normal lens for my D40x today. As the title says, it's a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, which acts like a 52mm analogue lens (hence "normal") and appears to be more light-sensitive and overall sharper than the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 that I've exclusively used before as it came in a kit with my camera. But that is no surprise, I've read before that normal lenses are sharper due to their fixed focal distance. In other words: I'm happy and immediately had to try out my new lens while doing my laundry. As soon as the weather is getting better I'm going to take it out to the Karlsaue, a landscape park here in Kassel.

I have 10,000 pageviews now. It has taken me over 6 years* according to the statistics dA provides me with. Thanks for having a look at my page however

I'm planning to get myself an AF-S DX NIKKOR 35 mm 1:1,8G in March or April (release date is "mid-March 2009"). Apparently it'll cost about €250 if I remember correctly, which is about €100 less than the current price of my camera... Oh well... But then I'm a bit annoyed about my 18-55 mm not being sensitive enough to shoot inside rooms when they're not extremely well lit. That is, without firing the flash. I should get an external flash as well sometime however. Indirect flashing is much nicer than making people blind all the time.


_{*) exactly 2,342 days, so 4.27 views/day ≈ 128.1 views/mo. ≈ 1,558.5 views/yr. on average (at the moment the average per day is around 9 views however)}

Today I have had the last exam in the series that has begun in November 2008 — today were my oral exams. I was very nervous, but in the end this was in vain. I was asked about priting methods and a couple of spontaneous questions about paper finishing. I've passed the exam with 92% so that all in all I should receive 83% on my final report, which I guess I will receive via mail during the next couple of weeks. I'm a learnt publishing assistant now.

Other than that I'm very sorry to leave Braunschweig tomorrow. Most of my belongings are already stuffed away in boxes. On the other hand, I'm happy to begin my "Civilian Service" (9 months long compulsory alternative social service for those refusing to join the army for basic military service) in Kassel in February.

Um ... Christmas is almost over, but nevertheless... Have a Merry Christmas everyone

So today I received the first results from my final exams, that is, the written part. The oral part is due on 9th January. However I scored almost as I predicted just from my gut feeling right after the tests:

• Publishing and Marketing: 81% (counts 40% of the final grade)


• Economy and Social Affairs: 84% (counts only 10% )


• Accounting and Controlling: 73% (counts 20%)

Accounting went better than I thought actually. Now, to receive a 'good' on the whole thing I need to be >85% in the oral exam (which counts 30%).

As for my left knee, it's slowly recovering finally, I am wearing a kind of bandage that's like a sock with silicon parts in it so as to support the knee joint. In addition, I was prescribed to take Ibuprofen for five days (i.e. until Sunday) because besides being a pain med it also works against inflammations apparently. So as it looks like I should be more or less fit again until January, which would be very nice after all.

Other than that, Happy (early) Holidays to you all