If one reads the Rough Guide to Switzerland one suspects that it is not the greatest fan of Geneva: “Geneva is an anomaly, the nearest thing the world has to a truly international city, and yet with nothing of the pizzazz such a description might suggest.” Yes, it is a special city, though certainly not… Continue reading Wrestling with the Republic
Questions of self-determination
It has been an interesting past 24 hours… Last night after completing my shift at Starbucks, I was spontaneously invited for a quick impromptu supper at my co-worker’s apartment. Augustin was a warm and welcoming host. I was fed well and drank well and the conversation was very interesting. We, of course, discussed issues of… Continue reading Questions of self-determination
How to convert this barbarian
Everybody’s talking at me I don’t hear a word they’re saying Only the echoes of my mind People stopping, staring I can’t see their faces Only the shadows of their eyes I’m going where the sun keeps shining Through the pouring rain Going where the weather suits my clothes Banking off of the northeast winds… Continue reading How to convert this barbarian
Pieces of flair
I was asked the other day by Roger, a Starbucks partner and shift manager, what was my favourite film, and I must confess the suddenness of the question had caught me off-guard, especially as it is so difficult to narrow down just one title from the many movies I have seen and enjoyed and in… Continue reading Pieces of flair
Questions of character
The human mind is a strange thing. This is a truism I have noticed since I first became aware of the world outside myself. This is a truism I still encounter on a daily basis whenever I find myself amongst other people. Two conflicting trains of thought converge and clamour for dominance in my mind… Continue reading Questions of character
Confessions of the Batman
A fortnight ago, before the breeze off Lake Constance turned brisk, Ute and I were visited by a denizen of the dark, a creature of the night. A bat had somehow found its way into our apartment. It was an hours-long struggle to get the helplessly lost and confused little fellow out. His visit (I… Continue reading Confessions of the Batman
The wonderful world of work
On three different occasions I have witnessed a co-worker cry. Many times I hear co-workers complain about their jobs. I recall a beloved co-worker Vanessa, of Macedonia, (a country in the throes of civil unrest on a scale not far removed from Syria’s problems), who remarked to me that the job was not at all… Continue reading The wonderful world of work
Hurrah for Folly-would
Gosh darn it… Why are those “liberals” so hard on “average” citizens? Why do liberals condemn ordinary folks so much for simply wanting to protect their families and homes? I mean, let’s just look at things from our point of view. We all know the surety of things we believe in… – When a white… Continue reading Hurrah for Folly-would
Leave the door open
I often find myself feeling weary and down-hearted when I make the mistake of finding out what is going on in the world outside my own little circle of life. More and more the media seems obsessed with fear-mongering and xenophobia. Fear the stranger. Fear those who are different. Those here by accident of birth… Continue reading Leave the door open
Along the Comedy Circuit
A few weeks ago, soon after our (I and She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) Sardinian adventures, the wife and I went a-walkin’ one weekend along a trail called the Witzweg (Joke Trail), a three-hour walk from one small Swiss hamlet, Walzenhausen, to another Swiss hamlet, Heiden. Not a bad experience, really. You get yourself to the Lake of Constance… Continue reading Along the Comedy Circuit