Riots on the Street in Kampala

I was not sure, whether anyone has not yet heard about the “strange” behaviour of the local police forces. I guess they wanted to play around with their “toys” and thus used rubber bullet guns and tear gas wildly and in huge quantities against demonstrators whose only weapons were the placates expressing their political point of views regarding the intended changes to Uganda’s constitution and sticks and stones – if at all…. To put it mildly, it is a bit odd to use such massive force. But what shall you expect in a country, where just sentences are seldom[1] and lynch murders for pick pocketing is not uncommon and where police men do not attend psychological trainings and that kind of things.

Speaking about demonstrations in Uganda: Usually it is only a bunch of young people who run too fast, whose placates cannot be read, whose shouting cannot be understood and who would be stupid to attack the supporters of the ruling powers or/and the police forces.[2] So, I ask you: Do they pose any thread against anybody? Do the heavily protected riot police officers would have to defeat them in such an inappropriate manner?

What is a worrying sign for me is – and I almost do not dare to say that – not the violent police action. No. Actually, it is the undemocratic decision taken by the people in charge who did not permit this demonstration. This would have been a great opportunity to show the world that Uganda is developing towards a democratic society, which allows the opposition to speak out in public. However, I guess it is still a long way to go.

If I would be asked whether I am pro or against the third term, I would always answer the following (and be in line with most “official” expatriates in this country):

Whatever decision regarding the constitutional changes be made, it should be democratic and according to the rule of law and representing the free will of the Ugandan people. If the majority of Ugandans decide that the current president deserves a third term, then this shall be the case. However, if the opposite is demanded by the majority of the people then this vote must also be respected and peacefully followed.

Considering the language used by M7 supporters, I doubt, whether a transition to another president would be peaceful. And I am also not sure, whether there is any “good” alternative for M7. But that is fortunately not my business for I am not an Ugandan, who has to vote.

The following Item wasDelivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. (http://www.irinnews.org):

KAMPALA, 28 June (IRIN) - Police on Tuesday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse dozens of demonstrators in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, who had taken to the streets to protest against a plan to amend the constitution to remove presidential term limits.

The protestors claimed the plan was intended to allow President Yoweri Museveni to seek another five-year term in office.

They carried placards and banners denouncing the proposal by some members of parliament to remove a clause in the constitution that limits the president's tenure to two five-year terms, ahead of elections in 2006.

Under the current constitution, Museveni, who seized power in 1986 after waging a five-year guerrilla war against previous regimes, cannot run again because he would have served two terms as an elected president.

Kampala police chief Benson Oyo Nyeko said the organisers had defied a police order not to stage the demonstration.

"They wrote to us yesterday [Monday] asking for permission to hold a demonstration," Nyeko added. "The permission was not granted but they insisted on going ahead, so we had to stop them as they marched towards parliament," he said.

The police had cordoned off the Constitutional Square in the city centre from where the organisers of the demonstration planned to start a procession on Tuesday, the day parliament was expected to end its debate on the amendment.

The organisers, however, convened in another part of the city before beginning their march towards parliament.

"Several of our youth have been arrested and I am now going to the police to plead for their immediate release," Olivia Kamya, an official of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party, said.

"We shall not stop," Kamya added. "We shall either die, be beaten up and maimed or we shall be free."

One placard read: "Uganda is destined for doom if Museveni is to be allowed to stand again."

MPs opposed to the constitutional amendment are outnumbered in the 300-member parliament, but they have dominated debate.

"You are going to open doors for the military option of getting to State House," Odonga Otto, an opposition MP, warned during the debate.

Local government minister Tarsis Kabwegyere said, however, that there was no reason to worry as democracy had been entrenched in Ugandan politics.

"Under this government, we have entrenched democracy, weakening the routes of dictatorship," he said.

Museveni has not openly declared his intention to run for a third term. However, several senior government officials - believed to be closely allied to the president - are leading the controversial parliamentary campaign to lift the limit on presidential terms.

[ENDS]

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2005

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[1] By the way: I recently read about a case in the U.S. where a man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for stealing a TV set from a white man. The thief is black and the crime took place in the sixties. So, we should also never forget where we come from and how long it took “us” to reach the current level democracy.

[2] Actually, I suggest some proper demonstration training in Europe. If they want to get the full scope experience of how to demonstrate peacefully and violently, I propose a trip to Berlin^st. This would be a life-time experience which would cover every aspect of demonstrating. I suggest the same for the police forces because at the same time, I also think that the police forces in Berlin are one of the most experienced in Germany. They underwent a tremendous transition form a police force similar to the one in Uganda as of today to a psychologically trained and well behaved – that is my personal opinion.

On Lesbianism and Divorced Women

There are some things that have made me furious and among them there is this strange and for me unexplicable attitude towards homosexuality and the depriving situation that women face. In yesterday’s The New Vision were examples for both.

One was on the gossip page, where the local “high-society” reporter, Timothy Bukumunhe[1], reports about the two rugby games, which tool place last Saturday. I do not care about that game a lot. I mean it is more interesting than soccer but I do not give a shit about it. What was remarkable about that gossip reporter was more the way he described the way Ugandan rugby fans called the defeating Kenyan women rugby team members.[2] Apparently the Ugandan fans asked the female Kenyan players, whether they brought their girlfriend and whether they came to enjoy the physical proximity to their (female)[3] Ugandan competitors. And that was apparently considered as an extremely rude offence.

Isn’t it just too ridiculous to waste any space in a newspaper for it.[4]

Another, and more serious issue, is the treatment of women in marriages. A horrible story was in yesterday’s The New Vision. It was about the marriage of a woman with an MP and her battle against/with the institutions which are supposed to help her. Apparently, there remains a lot to do in improving the situation of women/mothers, who are abused by their husbands and who seek justice after divorce. To cut a long story short, there is no support for the woman and no institution feels responsible for her. So, the father and divorced husband can do whatever he wants. Disgusting!

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[1] Do you recall him? It is the same reporter who was invited to the orgy on an island.

[2] And I have to assume that he has stuck to the ethic rules for Ugandan journalist, so what he wrote is the truth and nothing else…

[3] The first “female“ in this sentence was to point out that I am talking about the women’s game. The second “female” in the sentence is not that nice any more. I wanted to allude to the observation that not all of the female players would also necessarily qualify as swimsuit models – which is probably not intended and necessary but considering the goal to achieve equal gender opportunities, I have to conclude that women can and do go to watch Rugby because of the attractive outward appearance of the players whereas men can have a beer or uncommon (physical) preferences if they find female rugby players attractive. This is somehow gender insensitive. N.B.: This is basically a quote from a British lady, who was wondering last Friday, why any men would want to watch a women’s rugby game if they are a) significant others (i.e. homo-, bi- or heterosexual partners of a player), b) parents or siblings, or c) black and hitting on the white female players.

[4] Unless, you do not have anything else to write about…

Oh, how true it is....

Found this in today's inbox:

Dead iPod Remembered As Expensive
VENTURA, CA—A third-generation, 30-GB iPod, serial number AP356372, died early Monday morning at age 2. "I'll never forget all the great music it used to play during my workouts," said the late iPod's owner Sarah Zartman at a brief memorial held over the junk drawer. "It was convenient, portable, and really pricey—almost $500." Zartman said that, had she known the iPod's lithium-ion battery would have such a short lifespan, she might have spent more time listening to it. AP356372 is survived by a BlackBerry.
Source: The Onion

Unfortunately, this is true. The batteries suck.

Women are strange

So, recently I posted that I was so happy for one of my best friends having a girl friend. I explicitly waited some weeks before I added her name in my PDA (no, I do not mean public display of affection gallery but my personal digital assistant - unfortunaltely the general wisdom of the Americans came up with the same abbreviation for two completely unrelated things). Anyway, back to the topic. This lady decided to break up the relationship because: She does not want to have a distant relationship over the summer time because she could not meet her friends as often as without a boyfriend.

Sorry, but there are some things wrong. First and foremost: There is not such thing as a summer, where she lives. And if I were a her, I would rather visit my friends place in Munich, whenever I could, than staying in her ugly corner of the country. Anyway, considering her educational background, I should not be surprised... "computer sciences". Maybe, she prefers to spend time in her dark room's corner instead of enjoying the parks and lifestyle cafes and restaurants and lakes and mountains in and around Munich together with my great best friend. I simply do not get it. He is such a wonderful person. Why does he always run into such strange women? I should go back and do what I am best in: Matching couples ;-)

No pills against Lovesickness?

There are I came across an internet site, where you can by pills against lovesickness. Seriously. It is even written on the package: http://www.liebeskummerpillen.de/start.html

If you are wondering, how I found this site: I was asked to buy a certain song online. But since I was not sure anymore about the title and the group, I googled both and ended up with a link to a forum for people suffering from lovesickness and out of curiosity I clicked all my way through to the "root" of the site...

Anyway, I am hungry....

Separate Cold and Hot Water Taps in the UK

Can anybody please explain why the Brithish Empire has not brought forward any engineer who was able to apply common human sense and combined the cold and hot water into one single tap? And why is it that no British engineer thought about putting both taps closer together. I mean come on, this is not brain surgery. Or is it me who is just too stupid to understand this bath room secret. can anybody disclose the secret how H.E. the Queen herself washes her hands without burning the left one and freezing the right?

Home sweet home...

Finally I made the big move - okay and finally the sun was shining and I had time to take some pictures before my usual and delicious Sunday morning brunch at the ARA.

And thanks to my sub-landlord, I could even enjoy a wonderful dinner (though without meat) ;-) Thank you!

Showers and Internet and basic Furniture

Finally, I found out why I liked to move into a house with "nothing". I think it was a kind of attempt to find out what my basic needs are.

I know it:

• power and running hot and cold tap water...
• bed with cotton bed covers
• any reading lamp
• my laptop
• my books and papers
  
• wardrobe
• book shelves
• working refridgerator
• simple desk or table
• any chair
  
• basic internet connection
• very well working shower

So, for now, I have everyhing despite the desk/table, chair, internet connection and the well working shower. Tomorrow, I will buy a table and a chair and in the afternoon, I should get a trial internet access. However, what will remain on my wish list is the well working shower. I have to add at least five more minutes to the time I usually spend in the bath room (at that has never been short) to remove all shower gel, shampoo and what else one uses.

But interestingly, there is nothing else, I really need or would miss. And that was exactly, what I had in New York. I should try it out next time I live in Frankfurt again. Hm, okay. Admitted I have never been a fan excessive furniture.

My dream home is a loft with parkett and almost no furnture (bed, dressing room, table, desk, chairs, sofa, TV, internet and a simple kitchen with a big refridgerator...)

Living in a house without TV and Internet plus my two cents worth on "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"

It is fantastic. I finally do not call wildly surfing the internet "doing research" any more. I concentrate on the papers etc already readily available on my laptop and get things done.

As regards to the TV: I do not miss it. There is a cinema in town and I have movies on the laptop, too. So, if I need some distraction, I can get it. Yesterday e.g. I saw "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" - that was poor German TV niveau. There was a minimum plot, nothing really unforeseeable and well I did not realize the frequently cited "special tension" between the two actors. And the story was also bad. Okay, admittedly the sound system was terribly working so me and others did not understand all dialogues properly - maybe there was some hidden messages, which I am not aware of... The story: Two assasins are married with each other and both of them not knowing what the other really does for their living, both are bored and visit a counselor. Then, someone decides to kill both of them and orders each of them to kill the other... So far so good. The happy end is - And I hope, I may disclose it here: Both live happily ever after, because they found out that one is a masochist and the other a sadomist. So.... And why did the Ugandan media council not intervene in this case?

Today, I will see "The Interpreter"... Hope, it will be better.

Short update

Saturday:
Moved into the house, prepared my bike, watched "Lost in Translation" and went to bed

Sunday:
Woke up at 4.15 a.m., waited until 5.45 a.m. and started the cycling part of the Triathlon at 7.30 a.m., went home at 1.30 p.m., had a shower, did not sleep, read newspapers and a book, had dinner at Le Café de Paris with a (very) nice French friend and had to speak French to whole evening...

Monday morning:
Am still terribly tired...


House:
wonderful.
No TV, no internet, no fridge - if there is one thing I hate, it is warm beverages...

Moving

Moving is something that I hate. You must leave a place you are used to and you go to a place, where everything is unfamiliar, empty, unprepared etc. It is not that you go home for some time, you just to your "new" home. And this "new" is something, which I prefer as an attribute for my electronic toys but not for my home...

Anyway, I will let you know about the first night in the new home...

What I am definitely going to miss will by my nice view, my nice neighbour, and I will miss most my internet connection.

One come, one gone.

Today, I was happy for one of my best friends and sorry for another. One has found a nice girl friend, the other broke up. But the latter confirmed me that everything was okay and it was based on a mutual agreement and I indeed believe what he said. We spoke on the phone for quite some time and I am convinced that it was the best for both of them.

And my other friend has really deserved this luck and I wish them all well. He is such a nice and caring person and we have gone through thick and thin and his last girl friend was such a vulgar asshole, so he really deserves better. I am really looking forward to meeting her. Maybe they are coming to Uganda... I would like to have my friend around. I miss all of them.

ICQ and Blog Comments and other Writing

Have you ever been contacted by a stranger on ICQ? Usually those a women with strange entries in their profiles like "Town: !§=E)!RF"O§"!=)"$1" or similarly strange combinations of signs, numbers and letters (sometimes also in Hebraic, Chinese, Kyrillic etc.). I usually deny the contact without any reasons - yes, I am selective ;-)

Well, recently, I was contacted by someone with - surprisingly - decently normal entries. Therefore, I accept the contact (still not knowing the sex) and it turned out to be a nice conversation. Even better. I was in German, so did not have to think before writing ;-)

And I had been thinking about uninstalling ICQ, because my friends now turn to Skype and MSN Messanger. But now I will keep it.

Today, I also received my first comment from someone, I do not know, who regularly reads these lines. This was also surprising. I still cannot believe that anybody might be interested in the strange thoughts of an overweighted, technical gadgets loving, single (but not searching - have I found yet?...) middle-aged man, who is in a kind of quarter-life crisis (shall I enter the humanitarian aid world...) and who is not sure whether the decision to move into a house was a wise one (no worries, dear colleague, I will move in on Saturday and I will enjoy it. I just hate moving.) So, where was I stuck? Yes. I have unknown readers.

I also hope that my Doktorvater will like what I have edited. I am far behind my schedule for my Ph.D. and I am not sure, whether I will can allocate more time to it. Yesterday, I wanted to update my bibliography and I ended up being taken out by a neighbour because she wanted company and a reason for not working too late. Today, I wanted to start early on the bibliography update and the editing of the letter/email to my Ph.D. supervisor (German: Doktorvater). But guess what? Yes, I had dinner with one of my American colleagues. Okay, I asked him for a reference letter before, so I could not turn down his invitation to dinner. I just think, I will have to learn to say "No".

Speaking of saying "No": I did clearly signal a "No" recently, and I am still proud of it - but I will not mention the occasion here. Just so much it was just a completely inappropriate offer, which still causes me some headaches. Those who speak German or know someone who speaks German, may check out the respective attempt of a logic decision making process in a previous blog.

Supersize me - no thanks

Finally, someone - no not someone: The New York Times reveals what I have been preaching for years. Fashion is not made for small brickshit houses like me. Being 5.55 (1.69m), I hardly find any fashionable cloths, which fit.

Okay. Admitted. Whoever has seen me, knows that I am not so much into fashion. But in principle I would like it. Oh, now I sound stupid. Okay, another attempt. When I want to buy blue jeans (yes, I like them!), it is hard to find some, which are not designed for androgynous men. Fortunately, a lovely female fellow student took me on a shopping tour, when I came back from the U.S. in 2001. She showed me an amazing fashion shop, which immediately showed me stuff I liked. Furtermore, the salespersons and my friend decided what would look good on me and even now, some four years later, the same salespersons recognise me and I really enjoy shopping there.

But when it comes to business outfits, it had been a nightmare until I changed to tailor-made suits. Okay, this sounds snobbish, doesn't it? Of course, I do not wear them (often) in Uganda. Actually, I almost never wear a suit here. Just a pair of trousers, a shirt and a neck tie.

Speaking of shopping: I am still undecided on whether I should buy a real watch, therefore I postponed the decision until December. Based on the place I will work at by then (and the salary), I will make a final decision, whether I will make me a nice Christmas present or not.

And did you watch "Supersize me"? I watched it on the plane from Nairobi to Dubai the other day. And guess, what I had for lunch in Dubai? Right!. A Quarterpounder, French fries and a big Coke ;-)

New Department

Well, since just recently, I am in this new department and it is so familiar. Men making commonly known jokes, deals, tickets, rates, quotes - all those very familiar vocabulary. I am back into trading. Unfortunately, "only" as an advisor. However, it makes me thinking again about what I should (or shall I say will) do from September onwards.

Months ago I met a peacekeeper and I really appreciate their work (I mentioned it before) and I had a look at their website... But actually, I think, I would not qualify for them. My profile is just too different. Had I studied what I initially wanted... Well, but it is too late to complain about it, I guess.

Nevertheless, I appreciate to be among "men" again, which whom I can speak about favourite beer sorts and other favourite liquors and who are looking forward to a beer (or more) after office on next Friday. Before, I was surrounded by born again christians, who - I assume - did not really appreciate my life style. I like to have some drinks on the weekend but (un?) fortunately I can always remeber what happened the next morning. But instead of going to church, I like to run in the morning and read the newspapers.

So, I guess, I will have some good laughters with the new colleagues, although their expectations will cause some sleepless nights... It is indeed a challenge!

Ever thought about buying a watch?

I do not mean a usual 60 EUR Swatch, I mean a real watch. A watch you buy and give to your son[1]. So I have been tempted to buy one for years and now I have bought this watch magazine which portrays two of my favourite candidates… Well, basically it means no holidays[2] this year. And there is also the common “rule” that one never buys an expensive watch but get it as a gift. But lacking a significant other[3], I think I can disobey this general convention and buy one, can’t I?

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[1] Or if you are in the lucky position to have more than one, you can buy more than one „real“ watch, isn’t that cool? And for the girls, you may have to find something different unless they like men’s watches, which is probably not very likely.

[2] My last „real“ holiday was ten years ago in Norway. I do not count the short trips and the trip after graduation. The latter was not really relaxing: Eight male graduates on a small Greek island…

[3] This should NOT be read as „I am desperately looking for someone“!

Hm, what shall I write about?

I am happy. I do not why, but since I am back, I enjoy being back home again. Everything and everybody is so familiar.

What has not changed is my terrible failure to remember names. I cannot help it. On Wednesday, I spoke with someone and could remember her name and on Friday again but yesterday, I did not know her name any more. Unfortunately, she and her friends still knew my name. What a shame. So wird das nie was mit den Frauen - just kidding. There has no further intention been involved. She has a boyfriend in New York.

Yesterday, we wanted to join the Mexican party at the Marines' House. Considering the start at 4 p.m. (for the kids), it turned out to be over at 7.30 p.m., when we arrived.

Anyway, I trained my French during a nice dinner (admitted: I trained it passively by just listening), during which I learnt a lot about the complexity of humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. So, it was basically the first hand experiences about which I read before. Shocking, eye opening and thrilling. I wished I could say the same about my job...

Another shocker after midnight: The Sheraton seems to pick up business on the weekend again. Astonishing.

War in the DR Congo

When I was in Germany, I was surprised to find the situation in the DR Congo portrayed in various publications. From the F.A.Z. to the German edition of the Playboy, they all wrote about the forgotten war in the Congo. This morning, I found a more analytical article in the Economist compared to e.g. the one in the Playboy (well, this is not really surprising since the latter is only famous for its interviews, isn't it).

However, instead of comparing these completely different publications, I would like to focus your attention on another forgotten cruel war, which should have stopped years ago. Just read the following excerpt and judge yourself:

"Congo: Africa's unmended heart"
(...)
Even by the standards of war, some of the atrocities in eastern Congo are shocking. Zainabo Alfani, for example, was stopped by men in uniform on a road in Ituri last year. She and 13 other women were ordered to strip, to see if they had long vaginal lips, which the gunmen believed would have magical properties. The 13 others did not, and were killed on the spot. Zainabo did. The gunmen cut them off and then gang-raped her. Then they cooked and ate her two daughters in front of her. They also ate chunks of Zainabo's flesh. She escaped, but had contracted HIV. She told her story to the UN in February, and died in March.
(...)
The Economist, 9th June 2005

Some friends of mine are regularly on peacekeeping mission in the DR Congo and the company I currently work for advises two universities in the DR Congo, thus I have had an idea of what has been going on there. However, I fear that the situation might not improve soon. And given the fact that there shall be election within the next 12 months (well I am pessimistic and do not believe that there will be an election by the end on June), the (artificial) equilibrium will be destroyed and I fear that war will break out again. Unless, the peacekeepers use their weapons and/or western investors send mercenaries...

Okay, and now I realise that I should go back and read some "good" books to get my peaceful mind back in order... I am astonished how many times, I became angry reading about "failing" or slowly progressing peace mission and my first idea has happened to be intervention with brute force instead of seeking compromises through negotiations.

Is this a sign of:

• wisdom, i.e. negotiations will always fail when different tribes/people have troubles in Africa?
• desperation, i.e. no other means of conflict resolution has been successful?
• ignorance, i.e. let them kill each other?

I am not sure. I just want them to realise that one can live with each other peacefully. But what if they stop their violence? How can on ensure an sustainable peace knowing that some of the fellow Congolese were involved in the war and killed? Is it really possible to forgive them? What about the next generations?

I am German and I am still surprised and happy that we were forgiven by most and I do not want a genocide or any other act against humanity to happen again.

Why can't we just realise that a liberal society, where everybody respects each other, is best for all of us? Why do people still enforce their will with pure force? And why do I consider to intervene with pure force, too?

If I had a weapon and had witnessed the inhuman acts of the soldiers as cited above - I honestly would not know what I had done... I would proabably have lost my temper and I believe it would be just. Nevertheless, I admire everybody on peacekeeping missions. But please do intervene if non-combattants are attacked. I believe they deserve undoubtedly protection, and this encompasses in those cases the killing of the attackers...

News about Northern Uganda on IRIN

Today it was Uganda Day on Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). There were eight articles about the situation in the North of Uganda on IRIN. I recommend to read them all. It reflects the challenges posed by the amnestie granted for those rebels that surrender and the problems faced by former LRA child soldiers when they come back to their villages. Furthermore, there are also interviews with the President and a prosecutor from the ICC.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=47568&SelectRegion=East_Africa&SelectCountry=UGANDA

Feminism

Finally, I "found" a feminist, who reflects my points of view... It reflects a well balances liberal school of thoughts. Finally:

http://www.ifeminists.net/index.php
http://www.lewrockwell.com/mcelroy/mcelroy-arch.html

Joke: Blond girls and emails

Ein Mann gräbt gerade seinen Vorgarten um, als seine Nachbarin, auffallend hübsch, aber auch auffallend blond, zu ihrem Briefkasten gerannt kommt, diesen öffnet und anschließend laut wieder zuknallt. Der Mann denkt sich nichts böses und schuftet weiter, bis Sekunden später die Blondine erneut erscheint, wieder den Briefkasten öffnet und ihn ein weiteres mal laut zuknallt. Der Mann ist leicht irritiert, arbeitet jedoch weiter. Als dann aber die Blondine ein drittes mal zur Tür herauskommt, den Briefkasten öffnet und lauter und wütender als je zuvor zuknallt, kann der Nachbar seine Neugierde nicht mehr weiter zügeln und fragt: "Gnädigste, haben Sie ein Problem?" "Das will ich meinen", ruft die Blondine voller Wut, "mein Computer behauptet felsenfest, ich hätte Post!"

Joke: Roles in marriage

Ein junges Paar in der Hochzeitsnacht. Der Mann, ein muskulöser Protz, schmeißt seine Hosen auf das Bett und sagt: "OK, zieh dir diese an!" Sie tut es und sagt: " Sie passen nicht, sie sind viel zu groß!"

"Genau", sagt er. "Ich bin der Mann in der Familie und hab die Hosen an. Das darfst du niemals vergessen!"

Sie wirft ihm ihr Höschen hin: "Versuch doch diese einmal!" Das Höschen geht bis an seine Knie und nicht weiter. "Verdammt!" sagt er. "Ich komm nicht rein!" "Genau!" sagt sie, "und so wird es auch bleiben, bis Du deine Einstellung änderst !!!

Coldplay X&Y

This is a fucking brillant album. Awesome!

When we were young...

I love it. I have received this one several times I can still enjoy it and that is why I post it:

Vor 20 Jahren...
Als ich noch ein Kind war, haben mich die Erwachsenen immer zu Tode gelangweilt mit ihren ätzenden Abhandlungen über ihre eigene ach so harte Jugend, und wie schwer sie es hatten auf dem 25 Kilometer langen Fußmarsch zur Schule jeden morgen, Hin- und Rückweg immer bergauf und barfuss in ganzjährigen Schneestürmen die jüngeren Geschwister huckepack zu den einräumigen Schulgebäuden tragend und trotzdem immer ein glattes Einser Zeugnis gehabt trotz ihres Vollzeitjobs nach der Schule in der Fabrik für 35 Pfennig die Stunde um die Familie vor dem Hungertod zu bewahren!

Und ich hatte mir geschworen, wenn ich erwachsen werden würde, den Jugendlichen niemals so einen Bullshit aufzutischen wie schwer ich es hatte, und wie leicht die es haben................

Aber...
Nun, da ich das reife Alter von 30 erreicht habe, kann ich es nicht mehr verleugnen...
Die Jugend von heute hat es so verdammt gut! Ich meine, verglichen mit meiner Jugend lebt ihr im Traumland Utopia! Und ich hasse es zu sagen, aber ihr Kids von heute wisst gar nicht , wie gut Ihr es habt!

Ich meine, als Kinder hatten wir kein Internet. Wenn wir was wissen wollten, mussten wir in die Bücherei gehen und es uns verdammt noch mal selbst raussuchen!

Und es gab keine Email. Wir mussten tatsächlich Briefe schreiben, mit einem Stift auf Papier! Und dann mussten wir den ganzen Weg zum Briefkasten um die Ecke gehen und es dauerte manchmal eine ganze verdammte Woche, bis das Teil ankam!

Und da war kein MP3 oder Napster! Wenn du Musik klauen wolltest, musstest Du zum Plattenladen gehen und dir die Riesen-Platten selbst stehlen! Oder wir mussten den ganzen Tag am Radio warten um Lieder auf Kassetten aufzunehmen und dann hat der Moderator ins Ende reingelabert und alles versaut!

Wollt ihr wirklich wissen, was hartes Leben ist? Man konnte nicht einfach Sex downloaden! Du musstest einen Penner mit ´ner Flasche Schnaps bestechen, um dir einen Playboy vom Kiosk zu besorgen! Entweder so, oder du musstest dich mit den Damenunterwäsche-Seiten aus dem Otto Katalog begnügen! Das waren deine Möglichkeiten.

Wir hatten nicht diesen ganzen technischen Kram wie Anklopfen beim Telefon. Wenn du telefoniert hattest und jemand wollte dich anrufen, war besetzt! Und wir hatten nicht diese Display-Teile auf dem Telefon. Wenn's klingelte, hattest Du nicht den blassesten Schimmer, wer dran war. Konnte Dein Boss sein, Deine Mutter, Dein Drogendealer oder ein Geldeintreiber, du hattest keine Ahnung, musstest abnehmen und das Risiko eingehen...

Und Handys hatten wir schon gar nicht! Um was mit Freunden zu besprechen, mussten wir da hinlatschen, wo unsere Eltern uns nicht hören konnten.

Wenn die Straßenlichter angingen, hatten wir zuhause zu sein, sonst gab's den Arsch voll!

Gar nicht zu reden von den modernen Spielkonsolen mit hochauflösender 3D Grafik und 895 Megadings Sound und so. Wir hatten mit Glück einen Atari mit Spielen wie Space Invaders und Asteroids und die Grafiken waren schlicht Scheiße! Du warst ein kleines Quadrat auf der Scheibe und musstest deine Fantasie benutzen! Und nix mit verschiedenen Levels oder so. Immer und immer das gleiche Bild.

Im Kino gab's keine ansteigenden Sitzreihen. Alle Reihen waren auf einer Ebene und wenn vor Dir ein Großer saß, hast Du nix mehr gesehen!

Klar, wir hatten dann auch Farbfernsehen. Aber da waren 3 Sender, das Erste, das Zweite und das Dritte. Einige hatten auch DDR 1 oder ORF. Aber wir hatten kein Kabel und keinen Videotext! Du hast in die Hörzu gesehen, wenn Du wissen wolltest, was es gibt. Und es liefen schon gar nicht den ganzen Tag irgendwo Musikvideos wie auf VIVA oder MTV. Nein, wir mussten verdammt noch mal warten bis Peter Illmann mit seiner Formel 1 jeden Samstagabend uns die neuesten Hits servierte.....

Versteht ihr kleinen Arschgesichter eigentlich, was ich sage? Das ist genau, was ich meine. Ihr Kids von heute habt es so verdammt gut. Ihr kleinen verweichlichten, verwöhnten, undankbaren Biester habt es viel zu einfach heute.

Vor 20 Jahren hättet ihr keine 5 Minuten ausgehalten!

Leaving Germany... again...

I am about to leave my apartment in Frankfurt again. I am kind of sad. I like sitting at my late "first" mom's home office desk with the ugly and uncomfortable office chair. Sometimes I am wondering, why I keep them. I do not know why, but there are few things from her left and once I decided to keep it. I have never asked my parents and they never questioned, why I have both. But apparently they have not bothered.

I am not indifferent any more. I know what I want... until I am back in Kampala... I like having my honest friends around me. People I can trust. There are not many of this kin in Uganda and some of them will leave soon. That makes me sad.

I hope that by 17th September 2005 (our second and bigger reunion), I will know, where I will work from October onwards. As I said, right know, I would love to go to the office on 12 Taunusanlage, B tower, 37th floor... Well, we will see.

Tomorrow, Coldplay's new album will be released. I am going to buy one. I will have to cut my stay at the office short in order to have sufficient time to do the last time shopping for my colleagues and also some remaining items for myself. What I have not found and will probably not find is an Egyptian dress, which is unfortunate. So, I will not go there. I do not want to be the only uncool guy without a fancy custume.

Reunions

Yesterday was the day of reunions.

First, I met my former dancing partner and she still looks as good as some years ago, albeit her three year old son (, who seems to be a very active boy...). Well, all those thoughts and feelings were immediately back... Funny. It was as if nothing has ever changed. Okay, there is now the little boy. Funnier. Last time I saw him was just shortly after my graduation and he was always crying on her arm but not when I held him.

Later we had our 10 years school reunion. I had been indifferent until I was picked up by my friend. Then I became kind of nervous, because I did not know what to expect. But it was great. It was a very nice evening and I am looking forward to our next reunion in September.

Being a Banker in Frankfurt

I love it. It is all so familiar. The Fressgassfest with men in suits, the ladies in business dresses. And all those beautiful women everywhere... Ah... I ran around in a beige suit yesterday, met some bankers, went shopping in the sun, had a Coke in a posh café and in the evening I ran with some other 58.000 people the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge.

Today, I have another meeting with my previous employer. Again another day in a suit...

I enjoy Frankfurt. It is a pleasant life if you are here for holidays and interviews only. But it gets tough, when you have to work here. The area I had a meeting with yesterday will be restructured (i.e. people will leave the department/bank), internal competitors strive for more business and do not stop interfering with your business area, mobbing is common, working late/party hard is a must, time for family and friends is scarce but hey! No risk no fun & We are still young!

Hotel Ruanda

There are probably a lot of movies which one should not watch in a plane if you are sensitive[1]. One of them is definitely “Hotel Ruanda”. I had never intended to see this movie for a good reason. I knew what I would expect and how I would feel about it: Sad, deeply moved and horribly angry. And I was right.

Accidentally I started watching the movie and I could not resist watching it. It started with so very familiar scenes. The same landscape, buildings, cars, etc. It was so similar to Uganda. It was all so familiar. And then all of a sudden (at least for me) the horror started and nobody from the international community intervened. Well, why should they? They had no interest. That was the explanation given in the movie.

And I felt ashamed. I have never been an uninformed person. I have followed the news, yes. But did I care? No, I would be lying if I confirmed. I did not care. I did not!

God, I would nobody ever again experienced such massacres again. I would never ever again the west stay out of the terror hiding behind diplomatic statement like: “Yes we observed acts of genocide.” Jesus, why do those people in charge not use their common sense and intervene for mere humanitarian reasons?

But maybe I am bigot, too. I know about the situation in the North of Uganda and all the other crises regions and do I do enough or even anything against it? I feel extremely helpless.

I am now happy that the movie is over. I had been crying almost constantly during the last hour of the movie or so. But I did not feel ashamed about it. I mean, what human being cannot be touched by watching it.

I honestly hope that this will never ever happen again. But at the same time, I fear that it is still everyday practise in several parts of the world and nobody intervenes. This is just too unfair. It is not just…It is not human…

How can those murderers been called human beings? Do they deserve to be treated, i.e. judged like human beings? Yes. They must, otherwise this vicious circle that needs to be broken. And that is one of the many reasons, why the Bush administration is wrong in having Guantanamo Bay (and maybe even more detention centres we are not aware of.

Please let us stop this! Let it never happen again.

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[1] Or more precise: If you tend to start crying if you see people in miserable sitautions.