radhuspladset in kobenhavn

radhuspladset in kobenhavn
Originally uploaded by halobrien

So, we were watching Olbermann tonight, and as part of his "Oddball" segment, he showed what appears to be this video of a guy utterly failing to set a world record of splitting open coconuts by karate chops.

Behind him was a building I thought looked familiar. It would be the one on the far right of this panorama that I took during our day-long stopover in Copenhagen during our trip to Sweden in 2001.

Also, it's a bit pixelated, but you can see the DR (or Danish Radio, who also do their TV) logo up in the upper left corner of the video.

Lexicon entry -- thrice damned

So, if you haven't figured out what the tag "lexicon" stands for, it's for entries that explain a quote that has seeped into our speech as conversation or a catch phrase. (And no, that's not a royal or editorial "our," I'm talking about akirlu and me as a couple.)

Today's example:

(spoken slowly, in a German accent): "Damn... Damn... Damn..." -- Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Blackadder's Christmas Carol

Here's the full scene this comes from:

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[Scene changes to a room in Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria enters, followed by the butler, and approaches Prince Albert, who is wrapping something. He speaks with a ridiculous accent.]

Victoria: [knowing that Albert's wrapping a present for her]

What are you doing, Albert?

Albert: [hiding something] Nothing...

Victoria: Oh yes you are, you naughty German sausage! [sits]

Tell me what you're doing...

Albert: I just said; I'm not doing anything! Really, woman -- when you're busy ruling India, you don't tell me what you are doing... So why should I tell you what I am doing when I am busy wrapping up this cushion for your surprise Christmas present? Damn... Now I have only two surprise presents for you...

Victoria: Oh, dear Alby, don't worry -- I don't mind.

Albert: I do... I love surprises. [Hugs her, resting his head against her bosom; she enjoys it very much] Christmas without surprises is like the nuts without a nutcrack. [has a realisation, rushes to the tree, and begins unwrapping something] ...which is why I have bought you this surprise nutcracker-- Damn... Damn...

Victoria: Oh, darling Bobo, don't worry. [stands] Besides, haven't you forgotten something?

Albert: What?

Victoria: Our traditional Christmas adventure!

Albert: Oh, yes! Of course! The traditional Christmas adventure! Huzzah!!!...what traditional Christmas adventure?

Victoria: You silly soldier! You know: when we disguise ourselves as common folk and go out amongst the people to reward the virtuous and the good...

Albert: Oh, yes! Of course! Dummkopf! [stands] How could I forget? [he shouts something in German] [He reaches down, to pick up something and starts unwrapping it.] For it is for precisely such an outing as this that I have bought you my finest surprise present: this muff which I am going to give you tomorrow-- Damn... Damn... Damn... [As he falls to his knees, Victoria pushes his face into her bosom.]

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This came up today because I decided not to keep as a secret the fact I'd gone and ordered a number of DVDs -- the first season of Chuck, ditto Pushing Daisies, ditto Manchild. The last Ulrika won't care too much about, but the first two she will. I'd originally intended it as a surprise, but...

Damn... Damn... Damn...