Category Archives: Philosophy

Fan Mail: “Offensive Articles”

Posted on 2020-05-16 by

There are blogs where all the comments read “you are so right”, “totally agree!” and “you are beautiful”. Those are boring blogs. I am not unhappy about compliments, especially about my writing, but if there were no dissenting voices, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Azerbaijan, Philosophy, Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

My secular Shabbat

Posted on 2019-06-25 by

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Texts. Readers of this blog will have noticed that I am a radical Atheist. But there is one religious idea that I have incorporated in my life, although in a secular version. It’s the idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Religion, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 45 Comments

A Lonely Walk in the Snow

Posted on 2019-01-24 by

Humans who are cold can’t really be beautiful. Nature can. It looks like the perfect day for a long walk, with the sun shining from above and being reflected by the snow on the ground. So much light, and so … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Economics, Life, Love, Philosophy, Photography, Time | Tagged , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Big Dreams

Posted on 2018-07-13 by

I went on a date, which was of course a mistake. As we were cruising in her Volkswagen Golf, stopping at green lights and crossing red ones, she asked a straightforward question: “So, what do you want to do next … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Life, Love, Philosophy | Tagged , | 46 Comments

Why travelling with little money is the best

Posted on 2017-10-26 by

Dan Kieran writes in The Idle Traveller: If you have to rely on other people, you are forced to be open and engage with them, which quickly spreads the notion of friendship and community. One person leads you to another … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Economics, Philosophy, Travel | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Random Thoughts (16)

Posted on 2017-08-11 by

Finland has some weird sports competitions.  Each time I return to Europe, rents have doubled. Tweets cannot change laws, regulations or rules. Each time Donald Trump tries to do so, he should be laughed at. Why can’t Microsoft Windows move … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolivia, Education, Elections, Language, Military, North Korea, Philosophy, Poland, Politics, Religion, Sports, Technology, US election 2016, USA, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

How to do Adventure – a Guide in 24 Steps

Posted on 2017-03-09 by

From my current base in La Paz in Bolivia, I wanted to climb Chacaltaya. It seemed like a relatively easy mountain above 5000 m, and thus a good opportunity to set a new altitude record without falling into crevasses and battling with yetis. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolivia, Death, Environment, Health, Life, Philosophy, Photography, Time, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

After the Revolution

Posted on 2017-02-18 by

I am re-posting this article from 2015 because it seems that in Romania, the revolution is indeed never over: – – – This afternoon I had a brief exchange with a friend about the long-term effects of the Romanian revolution, probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Iran, Philosophy, Politics, Romania | Tagged | 8 Comments

Bury my heart – wherever

Posted on 2017-01-17 by

People ask me why I don’t go to a hospital when I am sick, when I get bitten by a bear/anaconda/piranha, when I have strange viruses, when I am bleeding from all orifices or when I have kidney stones (OK, … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Health, Law, Life, Philosophy, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 11 Comments

The difference between Peru and Bolivia, illustrated in random messages

Posted on 2017-01-13 by

Whenever I move to a new country, I receive e-mails from people whom I don’t know, welcoming me to their country, offering help and giving advice. That’s nice. As I am about to move back from Peru to Bolivia, I realized … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolivia, Education, Law, Peru, Philosophy, Travel | Tagged , | 7 Comments