Possible reasons for not blogging (accumulated in 4 years):
Nothing interesting going on. Too many interesting things going on.
Can’t find the right words to express myself properly. Too many words in my head and it’s hard to sort them and put them into intelligible sentences.
Feeling observed. People watching who shouldn’t be.
Too busy. Too bored.
No working internet connection. Too busy surfing other sites.
Too depressed. Too annoyed. Too sad. Too indifferent. Too happy. Too touched. Caring too much.
Forgot I had a blog.
More?

That leaves many occasions in which I should be able to blog yet I’ve been finding it increasingly harder to write more or less regularly these past 2(?) years. Why o why?

It’s Saturday and I’ve been working all day. How sad is that? I have to. Deadline’s drawing near. I need a Time Manager® who kicks my arse every time I procrastinate!
And after that, it’s packing, moving (in 2 weeks), going to classes, meeting new people.
I don’t want to think about how much money I’ll have to put into my apartment. Furniture! Argh! There goes all my money for Japan ;_;

National elections are taking place in this fine country tomorrow and I’m quite worried about the outcome. The newspapers have been telling us for weeks that “the elections have already been decided” because “we all know there has to be a change” – so how about the whole country doesn’t go and cast their votes if we presumably already know the results?

As far as I’ve observed the current situation among friends, family and acquaintances, the elections have not been decided yet. People aren’t so sure whether they are supposed to vote for someone in particular just because the newspapers and television tell them to. Isn’t everyone free to decide for themselves? Isn’t it everyone’s God damn responsibility to have an opinion of their own and decide for themselves and not let themselves be fooled by the spin doctors?

I’ve never been indecisive about my vote. As indecisive as I am otherwise (…), I have my political principles and never try to compromise too much so it’s always the same party that gets my votes. I do not feel myself completely represented by this party but voting is all about finding the party you agree with the most (and not completely), isn’t it.

I have said many times before that I’m not satisfied with the system of representative democracy. It’s the best solution for the time being but that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t criticize its faults and think of possibilites to improve it.

Any sort of “direct” democracy without representatives wouldn’t work at the moment, considering the lack of necessary means to realise such a system. Which in itself is a sad thought because only an immediate system like that would provide complete freedom by letting every individual be an autonomous part within the political system itself.

When you’re underage, you are legally represented by your parents. Your parents make decisions in your name. It is up to them to let you disagree with them and do what you want. Being represented by someone else does not give you the oportunity to make your own independent decisions. It is an illusion to think of a situation like that as complete freedom because you have someone else make decisions for you.

Ideally, the representatives should in exchange feel a responsibility for the ones in whose name they act and work for. When you don’t act responsibly and don’t think of the needs of those you represent, you’re abusing the power that’s given to you. Alas, the always responsible, selfless, impartial, omniscient human being doesn’t exist on this planet and thus isn’t able to take over political responsibilities ;) And that’s why it is so important think and act for ourselves!

Considering what tomorrow might bring, I would like to end this by stating that I do not want to see myself politically represented by an unemotional female toad in the next four years.

This year’s Biennale in Venice proved to be quite amazing again, featuring a fantastic line-up that made me feel sad as I couldn’t be there myself :(
(My only solace now is the Berlinale Film Festival which I’ll be able to attend next February.)

Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was awarded the Golden Lion for Best Film. Gay cowboys, whee! (One of them being Jake Gyllenhaal ♥) Ang Lee is the man for Westerns with a difference. (Think Ride with the Devil.) And of course, he is a brilliant director in general; The Ice Storm is one of my favourite movies ever made.

Speaking of The Ice Storm, Elijah Wood, who was in that film, also attended the Venice Film Festival to promote Everything Is Illuminated, the movie adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s extremely well-written, hilarious and moving novel of the same title. The few trailers I’ve seen suggest that the film is just as weird and funny as the book and I hope it will find its way to a cinema near me very soon :)

Ang Lee was handed his award by none other than Hayao Miyazaki. If that wasn’t wonderful enough, Hayao Miyazaki received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement! I am overjoyed and proud of the fact that a European film festival acknowledged again what an outstanding film maker Miyazaki is.