The Awful Truth

Yesterday I read an article in a Swedish daily about the blogosphere. The article, written by Karin Ström whose boyfriend, mother and friends are all active bloggers, addressed the discrepancies between these real-world persons and the romanticized images of themselves that they convey through their weblogs.

It made me think. So, to somewhat offset the latte/avocado/iht-fetish prevalent on Rawls & Me I have decided to publish this uncensored piece of my life. The picture was taken late one evening when Gabriel and I desperately craved for some energy. And boy, did we get it?

STINT

Late autumn means time to write a new application to STINT (The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education). Following my visit to Rutgers earlier this month, I am now firmly committed to spending the spring semester of 2008 at their department of political science with Stephen Eric Bronner as my supervisor.

Since my application was turned down last year, I find myself warranted to break my vow of silence (which I have not been good at keeping anyway) and publish a draft of the application here on Rawls & Me. So, all suggestions on how I can improve this year’s application are more than appreciated!

(the picture was taken the day after Nilla and I visited Rutgers, the beach is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area showing NYC in the background)

Red eye flights help the stars out

Returning from the Americas. Flight level 330 on an eastbound track, just passing over Labrador with landing estimated at 6:44 a.m. local time in Copenhagen. Looking back, the trip has been incredible, both academically and personally. I have met Stephen Eric Bronner and finally decided on a semester at Rutgers. Nilla and I have discovered the Southwest, Terra de encantado, with all its natural wonders. And I have (almost) been without my weblog for two weeks :-)

Which brings up the real topic of this post. I regret to inform you that Rawls & Me will be discontinued indefinitely. It has been great writing and I am very happy for all the comments I have received but right now I feel like, just that, taking a break with the posting. Cheerio!

Εuδαιμονία

The word "eudaimonia" came back as a distant echo today. Apparently, someone had found out about the far-future vision I portrayed in my master thesis more than three years ago. This is one thing I like with the internet, its timelessness. Talking about which, thanks to Blogger I am even able to go back in time and add new posts :-)

I have now migrated to Blogger Beta. After some initial problems with my profile it seems to be working smoothly. As for those of you interested in the future of Rawls & Me I have even added a audio clip to the profile.


Finally, I encourage you all to set aside one of these dark autumn nights to watch Donnersmarck's debut movie, Das Leben der Anderen. Ein Genuss und sehr zu empfehlen!

Sandy Hook with Nilla

Tonight Las Vegas, tomorrow L.A.

Late afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada. Outside, police sirens hunting each other down the streets. Somewhat unreal to be back in a large post-modern city after days out in the wilderness; Sedona, Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. Nilla and I have been travelling on endless roads through fiery-red canyons, taken hikes along waterfalls and eaten some very delicious Mexican seafood. And now, the West and its great cities.

Rediscovering America makes me once again aware of to what extent this is a country of paradoxes. And a country divided in its soul about what its proper aims should be. The progressive idealism, the sense of common purpose and the bold vision of a community beyond ethnicity are all still there. But so are the racial divides, the rampant commercialism and the way too sweet bread. Contradictions.