Category Archives: Politics

Belgium goes into extra time

Posted on 2019-09-12 by

Those who are familiar with the weather in Belgium will understand why everyone here wants to leave for vacation as much as they can. That creates an enormous demand for house sitters and cat carers. Hence, immediately after house sitting … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium, Language, Politics, Travel | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Does the Federal Republic of Germany even exist? A discussion with a “Reichsbürger”.

Posted on 2019-08-07 by

Many years ago, someone walked into my law office, showed me a notice about some traffic fine and explained, confusing our respective roles in the attorney-client relationship, why he definitely wouldn’t need to pay the fine. According to him, the … Continue reading →

Posted in German Law, Germany, History, Law, Military, Politics, World War II | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Ceaușescu in North Korea

Posted on 2019-06-19 by

When I lived in Romania, some people said about the long-term dictator, who was overthrown in 1989: “You know, in the beginning, Ceaușescu was not even that bad. After he came to power in 1965, he distanced Romania from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War, Economics, History, Music, North Korea, Politics, Romania, Travel | 13 Comments

Brexit and EU Elections

Posted on 2019-05-13 by

One could almost think that this Brexit isn’t going anywhere. Because three years after a referendum in which a narrow majority voted, ostensibly, against fellow Europeans being part of the political decision-making process (and for British people being excluded from … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Europe, Politics, UK | Tagged | 3 Comments

Splendid Isolation

Posted on 2019-05-03 by

This house in Newquay is a good symbol for how Britain sees itself in Europe. The house probably believes that it is self-sustainable, while relying heavily on commerce and cooperation with the mainland. In the Cornish Guardian, a letter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Politics, Travel, UK | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

What kind of Brexit do you want? No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

Posted on 2019-03-27 by

With only a few hours left before the Brexit deadline and with the United Kingdom still unclear about what it wants to do, British Members of Parliament were presented with eight options today, some of which they had already refused … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, UK | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Communism in Canada?

Posted on 2019-03-25 by

With elections less than a month away in the province of Alberta, political placards are sprouting faster than crocuses. “Communism coming soon,” I read on one, coincidentally as I was walking to the grocery cooperative, and I thought: “Well, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Elections, Politics, Travel | 4 Comments