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
Tag: philosophy
We´ll always have Paris (2): Some thoughts
Since the summer of 2014, ISIS has transformed the politics of the Middle East. These jihad fighters combine fanaticism with military expertise and have won spectacular and unexpected victories against Iraqi, Syrian and Kurdish forces. ISIS has spread from Iraq’s border with Iran to Iraqi Kurdistan and to the outskirts of Aleppo, the largest city… Continue reading We´ll always have Paris (2): Some thoughts
All you need is cafuné
Earlier today I mentioned that everyone has, or ought to have, a list of ten books they would rescue from their burning building. I have already named two: Ronald Gross’ The Independent Scholar’s Handbook and Richard N. Bolles’ What Color Is Your Parachute?. (See Hope for the Hopeless: Brave New World and Underdog University of… Continue reading All you need is cafuné
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
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
Under the skin
Oh, narrow, dark and humid streets rising like crevices to an unforgiving sky. I long for a Cathedral, a fine old pagan stone fortress, just for its refreshing cold atmosphere. I would even settle for a baroque, homely, altar in a corner hole in the wall, just to squat in the corner and enjoy the… Continue reading Under the skin
Why we walk backwards
Female deities with inscrutable smiles, the Stele di Nora (a stone tablet showing in Phoenician characters the first recorded occurrence of the name “Sardinia”), and spindly, highly stylish, innovative and quirky bronze statuettes of varying sizes are just some of the things possible for viewing at Cagliari’s Museo Archeologico. This is Sardinia’s premier archaeological museum… Continue reading Why we walk backwards
Why I write
Who am I? Why am I writing this blog? Legitimate questions. I am Adam Oliver Kerr, aka Canada Slim. In my travels across Switzerland, and eventually the world (I hope), I explore the places I encounter with a curious and open mind, wanting to know “What makes a place special and unique?” Sometimes it is… Continue reading Why I write
The Quiet Traveller
“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.” (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching) “Learn to relax and find meaning in the experience. When you are forced to let go of the haste of normal life, it teaches you truths about yourself you had no idea you longed to know. A… Continue reading The Quiet Traveller
Through the looking glass
Everyday there are constant reminders of the difference between how we are perceived and how we perceive ouselves, between one´s reputation and one´s self-image. Yesterday I dropped into St. Gallen for a day of “Adam is good to himself today”. Chatted with Starbuck´s colleagues, had a meal and a movie with my good friend Adrian,… Continue reading Through the looking glass