Category Archives: Politics
“A Spy at the Heart of the Third Reich” by Lucas Delattre
“A Spy at the Heart of the Third Reich” would be one of the best spy novels I have ever read, if only it was a novel. But even better, it’s a true story. It’s a cliché that the best stories are … Continue reading
A Party for Bashar al-Assad
Dictator, mass murderer, war criminal. That’s Bashar al-Assad. In a European capital city, a celebration is held in his honor. That’s freedom of speech. Thus observed by me in Budapest in April 2015, on “Heroes’ Square” fittingly, between the Palace of Art and … Continue reading
Next trip: Moldova and Transnistria
My birthday will be on 6 July. Strictly mathematically speaking, I will turn 40 then. Searching for a way to postpone this event or to prevent it altogether, an ingenious solution came to my mind, thanks to my legal education, … Continue reading
Romania celebrates Same-Sex Marriage
That was quick: On 26 June 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that states must allow same-sex couples to get married. Still on 26 June 2015, responding with their usual speed, efficiency and compassion, all Romanian municipalities and government agencies declared their … Continue reading
Mexican Nazis
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. During my upcoming travels in Latin America, I won’t need to worry about money. Whenever I will run out of funds, I can work at a college or university and teach German and European history. The demand … Continue reading
When the US Supreme Court sounds like a cheesy romance novel
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s final passage in the majority opinion for the US Supreme Court in Obergefell v Hodges, in which the Court mandated all 50 US states to allow same-sex marriage. A bit too cheesy for my taste, but I welcome … Continue reading
Did you notice the Irony? (20) EXPO Milan
Ever since the Watergate scandal, the suffix -gate is used to denote scandals, cases of corruption and other complex illegal activities. At this year’s EXPO in Milan, Italy, the planners or architects have already provided for the likelihood of corruption, … Continue reading
A harmless church
When churches look like this, I like them. Nobody is being indoctrinated here anymore. Nobody is being preached hokum here anymore. No longer does a medieval organization attempt to influence life and politics from here. No longer is this a place where … Continue reading
How dangerous are trees?
On Europe’s most romantic boulevard in Târgu Mureș, Romania, these signs were nailed to the trees a few months ago: “ATTENTION!” the signs scream out in two languages, (mis?)informing the public that these are “sick trees undergoing treatment”. People are warned … Continue reading
Târgu Mureș: Time for Treevenge!
The municipality of Târgu Mureș in Romania is on a tree-cutting mission. This morning, they have begun to fell trees on Europe’s most romantic boulevard. I am dedicating the following film to all those in city hall who are involved in … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 