Freiburg is on fire!?

In the last couple of weeks, and especially today, a large number of protest are going on all around Austria, Germany and other European countries as part of teh so-called Bildungsstreik. This is (or is supposed to be) a map of all universities where students are taking part in the protest against the the past introduction of tuition fees, the Bologna reform and other education related issues..

Unsere Unis auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen

Here in Freiburg, a demo with ruffly 5000 participants just ended and the main auditorium is occupied by students since Monday night. More info on twitter and on the corresponding website. The motto is "uni brennt" or "Freiburg brennt" (Uni/Freiburg is on fire), which is catchy yet, due to the implied violence, problematic.
We'll see where this goes. I wouldn't go as far as claiming that the broad student protest movement is "back", but there is certainly something going on. And the protest and demands are even slightly more differentiated and creative than in the past. It's also interesting to see the participation of high school students. Might add my 2 cents later, yet first I have to get back to... studying.

Don't Be A Fool Like the Rest of Us.

In class today this really cool video by the Gossip was referenced and it was completely appropriate and in context. Sometimes I really like my degree program.

It's shot in Portland, OR, by the way.

Ruins of a Term Paper

After a few glasses of white wine..

I spend the weekend with a good old friend of mine and his girlfriend in their new house deep down in Bavaria. And though we got along perfectly (twas just like in the old days - maybe better) and I managed to get along with his new friends, I thought about the people from school I don't get along with all that well. Either by intention (didn't care to much about them during school already) or because we just live to different lives by now and have to different approaches at things. And it'll probably get worse in next few years. After all, it's only been 5 years since graduation and no one of us is out of college by now. Or pregnant. Or married. Or (financially) successful. Oh boy.

And just by coincidence. Kettcar released their okayish (-5 points for the end) new video for "Am Tisch". A song about the same theme, same atmosphere I just described.

Who needs Kindergarten anyway?

Spam is usually annoying. Page after page after page of penis eNlargEment and African off-shore banks. But sometimes Spam can be fun. Or remind you, that there could've been an easier way to live your life. If it would work.. Ah, all that hassle with endless hpurs spend reading and studying and writing exams and essay. Once I'm finished (with the first step) I learn that even my pre-school was superflous! Earning a degree as easy as ordering a pizza! (Btw: Might that be the last use of voicemail?)