Zürich, 30 December 2015 Last night (29 December), supper at a Mexican restaurant, followed by the film Carol at an arthouse cinema. Ute (my wife) introduced me to a spot that advertises itself as “the most exciting street to shop in Zürich“, Im Viadukt Markthalle. The railway company had a substantial influence on the city’s urban… Continue reading Canada Slim and the Push for Reformation
Category: Psychology
On time
Zürich, 29 December 2015: “What is time? If no one asks me, I know. But if I wanted to explain it to one who asks me… I plainly do not know.” (Augustine, The Confessions) “On 21 June 1995, the longest day of that year, a unique clock was set in motion in the shop of… Continue reading On time
Canada Slim and the City of Spirits
Zürich, 29 December 2015: “Zürich´s relationship to the world is not of the spirit, but of commerce.” (Carl Jung) “Not so long ago, Zürich was famed chiefly for being the cleanest, most efficient city in Europe – prim, but devoid of soul.” (Rough Guide to Switzerland) There is the city everyone assumes Zürich to be:… Continue reading Canada Slim and the City of Spirits
The road not taken
Wienachtsdorf am Bellevue, Zürich, 23 December 2015: The book I bought today, among other books I spoiled myself buying in Zürich before meeting my wife and enjoying the splendor that is Zürich´s Christmas market, is mentally burning a hole in my backpack. The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Science Fiction ponders the question: What happens… Continue reading The road not taken
Beams, motes and mocassins
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how… Continue reading Beams, motes and mocassins
Working for a giant
As regular followers of this blog know, I have two jobs: freelance teacher and part-time barista. I work as a humble part-time barista for the largest coffeehouse company in the world, Starbucks. And I can´t deny that this results in mixed feelings. I am older than this upstart of a company. In fact, I am… Continue reading Working for a giant
Snowflakes from Nazareth
Recently in my (far too) regular visits to Facebook I stumbled across a cartoon that made me smile so I forwarded it along to others without thinking too much about it at the time. “Don´t be absurd! Nobody made us! We evolved by chance from snowflakes!”, says one snowman to the other. “Sorry, but all… Continue reading Snowflakes from Nazareth
Dark discussions
I asked Reggie, my American cousin in all but bloodline, why Americans are responding with such fear and suspicion to Syrian refugees. He responded that I should not be so surprised considering how America treats its minorities already resident there. Why, I asked Reggie my ebony brother, was there so much violence against black folks in… Continue reading Dark discussions
Saints and monsters
It was with the greatest pleasure that I spent most of the first two days of December in my favourite European City, Freiburg im Breisgau, the “capital” of southwestern Germany´s Black Forest. I have in two previous posts briefly touched upon my last visit to Freiburg (Sign of the Times / Victims of the Machine)… Continue reading Saints and monsters
And no birds sing
I hardly knew him. He was never in my classes in high school. We never hung around one another. His brother and I, though the same age and level, never really knew each other, except by recognisable face in the hallway or presence in the classroom. Until the high school reunion two decades later, I… Continue reading And no birds sing