Learn Another Language. . .

A second, third, or even fourth language besides the one you grew up speaking will open you up to all kinds of new possibilities and experiences.

Enjoyed one of those all-too-rare linguistic experiences the other day during my horror cinema class as a small group of students led the day's discussion on the wonderfully creepy Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In (2008). Early on, the people leading discussion at the front of the room had trouble pronouncing a few of the Swedish cast and crew members' names that they had projected onto the screen at the head of the room and asked for help.

In my best Stockholm Swedish accent, I supplied the necessary information, and then proceeded to say a few simple things to them in Swedish before switching over to Norwegian for a few moments. Once all 15 students in the class had picked up their lower jaws from the floor and settled down again, one young woman asked, "How many languages do you speak?" I replied that I had varying abilities in eight besides English, which absolutely knocked them for six as the British say.

Pandemonium reigned again for several minutes as they digested that. Maybe not a big deal to people who have grown up elsewhere and gone through different school systems where languages (and grammatically more complex ones at that) are given a much higher priority than here in the good ol' US of A, but in my tiny corner of the American Midwest, it blew 'em out of the water, to put it lightly.

However, I occasionally stumble across an article about some linguist somewhere or other in the world, who has fluency in 40 or 50 languages, and suddenly I don't feel so smug or accomplished anymore. To paraphrase Kermit the Frog, it's not easy being an aspiring polyglot.

The point is, though, that learning another language or two will set an average guy apart and help make him, well, not so average anymore, which isn't a bad thing after all. Linguistic competence in another language besides English is just one more tiny way to kick up your everyday style a few notches. Try it and see.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

The Problem of "Business Casual" Attire. . .

This is how it's done. Business Casual the RIGHT way, ladies and gentlemen. Even during the summer months. A photograph (taken by Studio B Portraits ) which appeared in 425 Business Magazine in May 2017. T his post on the problem of business casual dress began as a quick postscript to a previous blog entry last week but quickly grew and grew as additional thoughts occurred, were developed in more detail, and revisions made. So much so, that it seemed, eventually, like a better idea to make the initial P.S. afterthought into its own entry . Are ya ready, Freddy? Then, here we go. . . ------------ U nless you actually plan to sell beach snacks and trinkets on Cozumel, become a serial barista, or greet customers at a fancy nightclub after taking out huge student loans to attend university somewhere for four or five years, plus an MBA afterward, it's really a better idea to err on the side of (somewhat) more formal work at...

Friday on Campus Style. . .

S omewhat atypically, I was on campus for several hours today helping with an interview that is part of a larger documentary project on which a colleague and I are working. Although I am behind the camera (I'm the audio guy in fact), what better reason does one need to dress presentably? Exactly. Everything worn, barring the recently purchased University of Wisconsin socks, a gift from the Grand Duchess, has been in the rotation for a while now. And, of course, there was the Panama hat, which I'll wear until we pass October 1st when the felt fedoras reappear. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Tan Suit Tuesday. . .

W hile it's now after Labor Day here in the U.S,. we still have almost three weeks left of summer according to the calendar. And since today was bright, sunny, and pleasantly warm (though far from hot), it seemed like a perfect opportunity to trot out my tan cotton suit and tan loafers/belt. Slightly disheveled, yes. And the shoes need some Renovateur to moisten 'em up But not a bad overall look if I might be so bold. -- Heinz-Ulrich

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