28
June
2005
All of a sudden my life has turned really busy, because the prof decided that he wants my last Anthropology paper before he leaves - on July 19. Not quite sure whether he realized that that’s only three weeks away. In any case, I’m now weathering the heat and humidity locked up in my room, typing up notes. Yes, it’s about as fascinating as it sounds…
In other news, I’ve moved chocolate dream to my new host, DreamHost. It’s a slow process, as I really don’t have the time for stuff like that. But everything seems to be working so far, so that’s good.
And with that I have to face the outside and go to therapy. Wish me luck! 
Posted: Life
23
June
2005
Except that it’s not quite as lovely anymore. Temperatures have been well over 30°C for several days now, with nights not really cooling off. I mean, I like sunshine and warmth - but this heat just totally immobilizes you. Even sitting makes you sweat, not to speak of leaving the house and cycling into town. We always close all windows and shutters around 8.30 in the morning, to keep the (relative) cool in - and then we settle down with lots of water and the occasional cold foot bath.
Feels paradox to be cooped up inside instead of going to the open-air pool or sitting at the Rhine, but there’s too much that I have to do. The deadline for my last anthropology paper has been pushed forward to July 19, because that’s when the prof leaves town. Not quite sure that I can make it - 25 pages in English, and I only got the books I need to use this afternoon - but I’ll try. Wish me luck - and a cool brain…
Posted: Life
19
June
2005
It’s been absolutely lovely the past few days. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to really enjoy it, because I had a two-day workshop for my class ‘The African Occult’, for which two anthropology big-shots, Jean and John Comaroff, came expecially from Chicago. Was very interesting, but also very, very tiring.
Now it’s over, and with it my last presentation, possibly the very last one before the ‘big one’ for my MA thesis in about a year’s time. I also figured out the topic for my last anthropology paper - and discovered that the prof would like me to turn it in in a month at the latest. And here I thought the pressure would drop at least for a little while… Joy!
But hey, the semester is almost over and, all in all, I’m right on schedule. If I don’t slack off too much (or get distracted *g*), I should be able to write my two final papers before leaving for Japan on September 10, giving me a free head to start preparing for my thesis next year when I get back in October. So I guess I won’t be really seeing the sun all that much this summer… Uni just has to be my priority right now. /end pep talk
Posted: Life
13
June
2005
While sitting in class today, bored out of my skull, my mind started to meld thoughts of writing for Zündstoff and my love for travel. And suddenly, on a whim, I decided to start a little travel writing project, called Fernweh (’longing for travel’), for which I’m looking for more participants. So if you’ve ever dreamed about traveling or have some good experiences to share, in the form of fiction, essays or artwork, please do consider signing up!
I set the deadline to October 31, mostly so that when winter comes, we will have a beautiful collection of ‘Fernweh’ inducing texts and art… Really hoping that people will participate, because this could be something really nice, I feel!
Posted: Resources
5
June
2005
A friend of my mother’s just called and told her about something incredible that happened to her son, which makes me wonder whether I really live in such a civilized country…
Apparently, his apartment was basically invaded by four policemen, without a warrant and under false pretenses (’a neighbour heard a child cry’). In reality they were looking for dope - which, admittedly, they found (he’s a dry alcoholic but still smokes and even grows a little bit for his personal use) - but the whole thing must have happened in such an insulting and rude way (for example they made fun of him when he wanted to call his mother) that it puts to mind a police state, not uber-civilized Switzerland… Also, they took his cell phones and all the money he had, as well as the dope stuff. Tomorrow he has to go to the station - I wonder how that will go. He’s trying to reach a lawyer (not really possible on a Sunday) and has already written a letter to the Minister of Justice in Basel.
I’m not condoning his drug use - although possessing weed is semi-legal in Basel, as long as it’s small quantities, he deserves all the legal ramifications. But he definitely didn’t deserve being treated by the police in a way that I can’t imagine is legal in any way. In my mind - if someone’s a law officer, they have to obey the law, no matter with what kind of people they have to put up with on a regular basis. That’s how our system, our society works - people have rights and there are rules that have to be followed by everyone. Human Rights aren’t just a phrase, are they?
I mean, someone else that my mom knows was stopped by police riding his bike at night - and slammed against a wall so hard that eventually they had to bring him into the emergency room. But not before dragging him to the station and hassling him there.
It really makes me question in what kind of country I live where stuff like this is allowed to happen… And that on the very day when I was so excited that the new partnership law was accepted by the people!
Posted: Life
1
June
2005
So I uploaded the photos I took at FedCon to my Flickr account - feel free to check them out!
Posted: Fandom, Photos
