Author Archives: Andreas Moser

About Andreas Moser

I am a lawyer in Germany, with a focus on international family law, migration and citizenship law, as well as constitutional law. My other interests include long walks, train rides, hitchhiking, history, and writing stories.

Borat or Bilo? No, it’s Nursultan in Kazakhstan.

Posted on 2010-11-07 by Andreas Moser

Four years after the release of Borat (or Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan as the full title is), Kazakhstan still doesn’t seem to have gotten over it. Borat, by and with Sacha Baron … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged Almaty, autocracy, Bilo, Borat, corruption, democracy, elections, Erkin Rakishev, films, gas, Hollywood, Human Rights, Kazakh, Kazakhstan, movies, Nazarbayev, Nurkadilov, Nursultan Nazarbayev, oil, OSCE, OSZE, parliament, parody, petroleum, Sasha Baron Cohen, spoof | 3 Comments

Fireworks for Bonfire Night 2010 at Blackheath in London

Posted on 2010-11-06 by Andreas Moser

Every first week in November, all over Great Britain fireworks are lit up for “Bonfire Night” to commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A group of English Catholics around Guy Fawkes had conspired to kill King James I and to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, London, Travel, UK | Tagged Blackheath, Bonfire Night, English history, fireworks, Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fakwes, Guy Fawkes Night | 4 Comments

Election Boycott – What is it good for?

Posted on 2010-11-06 by Andreas Moser

If this headline reminds you of the 1970 song “War” by Edwin Starr, then you already have your answer: “Absolutely nothing!” In pseudo-democratic to openly oppressive countries around the world, opposition parties and candidates regularly face a tough choice: Should … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Iran, Politics | Tagged Afghanistan, boycott, Burma, democracy, election boycott, elections, opposition, polls, voting | 1 Comment

Messing with Mythology

Posted on 2010-11-03 by Andreas Moser

Having no inclination for product placement, I still have to tell you what came to my mind when I was shopping for shaving equipment recently. I saw Gillette‘s “HydraGel” (pictured left) innocently sitting on the shelf, and I was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, History, Language, Libya | Tagged Greek mythology | 4 Comments

“The Foreign Correspondent” by Alan Furst

Posted on 2010-10-31 by Andreas Moser

I like spy novels and I have always longingly admired the profession of foreign correspondents. As I finally wanted to read one of Alan Furst‘s spy novels, all set against a historical background, it was therefore natural for me to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Germany, History, World War II | Tagged Alan Furst, Eric Ambler, espionage, Ian Fleming, James Bond | 5 Comments

Al-Qaeda 2.0: DIY Terror

Posted on 2010-10-30 by Andreas Moser

Remember Al-Qaeda? They used to scare us a bit by hijacking planes and blowing themselves up. With their nasty activities, they have caused us quite some trouble. Recently however, they seem to have experienced some problems of their own. Recruits … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Terrorism, Travel | Tagged al-qaida, Osama bin Laden, Richard Reid, Terrorism, Yemen | 8 Comments

Education Reform, Iranian Style

Posted on 2010-10-28 by Andreas Moser

I have already written about my total lack of understanding for UNESCO’s decision to award the hosting of the 2010 World Philosophy Congress to Iran. But as so often, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not avoid providing plenty of … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged brain drain, Human Rights, social sciences, Unesco, universities, World Philosophy Congress, World Philosophy Day | 10 Comments

MA Philosophy at the Open University

Posted on 2010-10-25 by Andreas Moser

Good news: I will be a student again! I have been accepted into a programme for an MA in Philosophy to begin in January 2011. Philosophy should be both interesting and challenging enough to enable my brain and my mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | Tagged distance learning, Open University, student, studying, university | 43 Comments

Where did I put that Nuclear PIN?

Posted on 2010-10-23 by Andreas Moser

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Shelton, has revealed in his book Without Hesitation that during the Clinton presidency, the codes that were necessary to launch America’s nuclear arsenal had gone missing for several months. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Military, Politics, USA | Tagged amimut, Bill Clinton, peace, Shelton, war | Leave a comment

A new Chess War?

Posted on 2010-10-23 by Andreas Moser

Alik Gershon has set a new world record for the most chess games played simultaneously by one player: He played against 523 people, moving from one board to the next in a Tel Aviv square. He only lost 11 of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War, Iran, Israel, Politics, Sports | Tagged Alik Gershon, Bobby Fisher, Boris Spassky, chess, Cold War, Gershon, Mahjoob, Morteza Mahjoob, Shimon Peres, world record | 2 Comments