What a downer

I thought that student politicians were bad when it came to collaboration for the common good vs. own agendas.

But as always the grown-ups are much worse :-)

Terror, freedom fighting and fashion

When you walk down the street why not do a bit of advertising for a guerrilla group? Recently a Danish company started selling t-shirts printed with the logos of guerrilla movements that are included in terror lists of both the EU and the US. If you buy a shirt you will even support the organisations with 35 DKK.

Is buying and wearing such a shirt a statement of fashion or politics? And what about the producers - are they terrorists?

Last year a second Danish t-shirt company was in the spotlight because of a provocative design: a shirt printed with the image Pope John Paul stated "only good guys die young".

It is a very thin line between being provocative and making doubtful political statements. To me, the John Paul t-shirt is sophisticated and humourous while the new guerrilla shirts overstep the line.

The website of the guerrilla t-shirt company, Fighters+Lovers, states:

Fighters+Lovers is greatly in debt to the stylish classic coolness of Palestinian fighter Leyla Khaled and the funky outrageous style of Colombian guerrilla commander Jacobo Arenas. Our Collection 2006 is inspired by the style and principles of these legendary fighters. Let them bring it on. You rock!

And further down:

Look great & stand up for freedom!

Without doubt this is storytelling by the book. The story of freedom fighters & fashion icons. The story of a t-shirt that will bring you liberation, individuality, power and respect.

But while enjoying the smooth rethorics of the webpage it is also important to keep the story about doubtful political methods, abductions and hostage taking in mind. In the world of today freedom movements are a grey zone. Political consumerism isn't about making statements - it's about really knowing what you're buying!

Next-door neighboor

Last night I witnessed a break-up. I woke up around two to the sound of my flatmate next door and her boyfriend having an intense conversation. Suddenly they stoppeddiscussing and a few seconds later I heard the outside door slam. I guess that was a break-up.

It reminded me that it feels terrible - getting left or leaving someone in the middle of the night.

Forgotten favourite song

They say
he has two gods
They say
he has no fear
They say
he has no eyes
They say
he has no mouth

They say hey that's really something
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd
They say 'Jump'

"Jump They Say" by David Bowie

Sunday afternoon. Listening to old CDs, drinking tea, checking my messages, reading blogs when I really should be working.  

Over and done with

The front page of my recent exam paper. The last exam of this semester - yes! For those interested this is my conclusion:

In this assignment two major causes for the very limited coverage that Danish media did of the Bergen Summit have been pinpointed. Both of them reflect basic dilemmas for media and authorities in representative democracies. Firstly that Danish media did not monitor the arena of educational politics closely enough to spot summit stories that fit their criteria for European news. Secondly that Danish politicians and interest groups were insufficient in communicating the national relevance of the summit. As a consequence, the Bergen Summit turned out as a ‘solonolo story’: it failed to ‘circulate’ the Danish public sphere and did not facilitate any public debate.

One of these days

For the past few hours I've struggled to find to music that would suit my mood. I have been in desperate need for some sort of background music to kick-start the article that I, to be honest, should have begun (and completed) yesterday.

Finally, I found it! In desperation I listened to DR Barometer playing Wonderwall (by the way I strongly recommend DR desktop (a brilliant application if you want to listen to Danish internet radio!) and found out that the perfect soundtrack would be my old Oasis CD. So I dusted off (What's the Story) Morning Glory?.

This CD has not seen the inside of a CD-player since I was sixteen. Actually, I was convinced that I would never listen to it again. But right now it's just perfect - who would have known that day should come?

Some might say that sunshine follows thunder
Go and tell it to the man who cannot shine
Some might say that we should never ponder
On our thoughts today cos they hold sway over time

Some might say we will find a brighter day
Some might say we will find a brighter day