tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-231037432011-07-07T17:01:42.983-04:00this is my life blog - started early 2006 (the blog, not my life!) when I was about to discover the UN as a working environment, first in Afghanistan where the blog was a means to keep in touch with friends. In the meanwhile I just arrived in New York and the blog is my online diary, and I made new friends through it :-) join me if you like - welcome!pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.comBlogger4881100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-88663198960189881582009-06-28T17:50:00.002-04:002009-06-28T18:02:15.865-04:00

thanks to the ones reading my blog that I did not mention in my last post.a "scusi" to Phil from practicality blog. haven't been visiting u for ages, but I did catch up now. sorry to hear about your loss.myself, I just lost my godfather. he had a heart attack last year, got a bypass, there were complications, he was in intense care for weeks, they had to take his leg off, he got an artificial leg

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-1096881105152379792009-06-22T14:36:00.002-04:002009-06-22T14:49:36.864-04:00

... I will be buying the new MacBook Pro, 15 inch. my first mac, and I am not even really convinced that I'll be happy with it. but everybody tells me it's more than a hype, more than design, really good. let's see. I can still go back to some "wurst und brot maschine" later... ... and my laptop here is really going nuts. it keeps shutting off in the middle of anything or nothing, and sometimes I

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-31594735354398944402009-06-20T04:49:00.003-04:002009-06-20T04:52:12.927-04:00

I don't seem to manage to embed this thingy... what I want to say is I SUPPORT WORLD REFUGEE DAYcheck out http://refugeedaylive.org/

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-25224841771868424922009-03-30T16:21:00.003-04:002009-03-30T16:29:50.719-04:00

job is almost as good as on paperfound the absolutely fantastic great apartement I was dreaming of (well, I did not exactly dream about apartements at any point in my life so far, and Bern would not be the place either, but still)having a fabulous time with my parentslooking forward to visiting Argentina for almost three weeks, together with the best travel partners I know (my parents)loads of

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-3084317656087434522009-03-10T16:16:00.001-04:002009-03-10T16:17:47.144-04:00

du solltest an die Jahrestagung der Humanitären Hilfe kommen, Freitag 28. März!

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-58351108488792774752009-02-25T05:57:00.002-04:002009-02-25T06:03:50.999-04:00

talking about the news in Switzerland, the Tagesschau, 10 vor 10, BaZ and other mediocre sources.You spend a lot of time with biased, pre-judged and narrow-minded selection of news, strangely presented. It doesn't surprise me that Switzerland is not half as open, democratic and value-based as it claims to be. I even understand how it happens, and I find it difficult not to be sucked into the same

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-50186528273459238072009-02-17T08:22:00.002-04:002009-02-17T08:29:35.519-04:00

the title is the description of my re-integration process back home :-)I do feel a little home sick for new york. I only realised now how much I love new york. that is not a big surprise. I am generally rather slow on the emotions side, on realising who would make a great friend, or even realising that the guy(s) I spend time with are growing on me. I hardly ever get what I mean to others, unless

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-30246688639833832642009-02-09T16:55:00.002-04:002009-02-09T17:05:18.633-04:00

time to leave :-) still not time to settle down!New York is the one city, and I will dearly miss its diversity and possibilities. I will also miss some very good friends.but all in all, I want to move on. and going home is a nice perspective for the next about 3 years."home is the place where you know you are loved" - so it is several spots on this world that live up to this description for me,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-2061318174498706702009-01-22T13:51:00.003-04:002009-01-22T14:05:42.696-04:00

I was reading an article on mass executions in Iran, and realised with a little shock that I tend to forget how reality is in other countries.I lived there, but I forgot. I saw Kosovo from inside and from peacekeeper perspective, I lived and worked in Afghanistan, I've been to Darfur. I experienced Ghana. I saw Georgia in a troubled times with eyes wide open. I know the difficulties that people

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-12815772052222425832009-01-20T22:39:00.000-04:002009-01-20T22:42:54.221-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-9416360974154684542009-01-15T19:41:00.001-04:002009-01-15T19:43:07.903-04:00

all are safe and sound. hooray to a great pilot for bringing that plane down so smoothly and cheers to the flight attendants - it happens rarely enough that they are more than mere service personnel.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-17357358592635728072009-01-12T12:08:00.002-04:002009-01-12T12:08:51.257-04:00

Edward Hopper, Nighthawks

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-57224695327016086782009-01-06T17:09:00.000-04:002009-01-06T17:10:42.674-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-91205371386515385852008-12-29T13:50:00.001-04:002008-12-29T13:50:57.615-04:00

Statement of the Secretary-General CONTINUED ESCALATION IN AND AROUND GAZA I am deeply alarmed by the current escalation of violence in and around Gaza. This is unacceptable. I have been repeatedly condemning the rocket attacks by Hamas militants against Israel. While recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, I have also condemned the excessive use of force

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-39654057036983501362008-12-27T17:07:00.004-04:002008-12-27T17:16:16.906-04:00

I don't care who started what when and why. history will never let this place come to quiet, and all involved have failed miserably.I'm tired of sarcasm and cynicism as well. as it is not possible anymore to close my eyes, I retreat into myself. just, I lost faith in the saying "the first peace with yourself. the second with your neighbour. the third among nations" -but then again, I have

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-6375357911789373812008-12-10T17:59:00.002-04:002008-12-10T18:29:14.069-04:00

thanks to Peter on the road to the horizon for the link!!UPDATE: I am on 834 per game now. gotta stop this. btw, am going to las vegas next week!! am somehow scared at my ability to control myself when gambling.....

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-48802262949251520302008-12-04T00:05:00.003-04:002008-12-04T00:16:46.828-04:00

We think http://sharingmeanscaring.blogspot.com is written by a man (62%).this is what I found out using the Gender Analyzer site that Phil from Prac's Blog found somewhere in the world wild web :-) come on Hafez and Worldman and Travel Peter, try your blogs as well. guess with all the articles that Hafez is posting it will be a male outcome...yeah, how do they want to determine it anyway? style

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-58095457085581345332008-12-02T14:22:00.005-04:002008-12-02T14:44:16.506-04:00

I'd love to quote much more of this show... but you have to see it to really bathe in the language, and not just be crude...this post is about above band of cocksuckers. ha! I just LOVE Al Swearengen. and I love all characters because none of them is a classic flawless hero...apart from the fact that it isn't TV, it's HBO.... it's also gritty, dirty and foul-mouthed. this is good stuff. I took

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-22729082780005056362008-12-01T11:43:00.001-04:002008-12-01T11:48:32.785-04:00

I think I am giving up this blog. I hardly post anymore. guess I'll return to my private diary.but before that, I just want to half-share a little mean joy of mine.sometimes, there are persons you are working with that you just don't like. you don't appreciate. some slick arrogant self-righteous people that shine at aperos and are always funny, but in truth are just seriously immature.if that

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-5931196968787668152008-11-14T11:40:00.003-04:002008-11-14T11:42:25.307-04:00

very interesting article, made me take off my shoes while reading it!!http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/and also made me discover a great quote:"LIFE CONSISTS OF WHAT A MAN IS THINKING OF ALL DAY"have a beautiful life. it's your choice!

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-92165848610082603892008-11-13T17:11:00.002-04:002008-11-13T17:12:18.584-04:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32174989@N02/sets/72157608724709446/detail/

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-81971579583824575332008-11-11T11:19:00.000-04:002008-11-11T11:20:06.495-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-85578578936971597612008-11-09T16:10:00.002-04:002008-11-09T16:16:47.909-04:00

nothing ever helps. I guess abstinence is the only way for me to play that game ;-)or actually, kind of abstinence as well, having several lovers - so you don't particularly care if one fails to live up to expectations....

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-47094129601763857942008-10-30T11:14:00.002-04:002008-10-30T11:18:07.050-04:00

and you gotta read this as well - about Powells endorsement of Barack Obama on Hafez' blog...and if you have time, see this:

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-82384153500606056782008-10-28T14:23:00.003-04:002008-10-28T14:24:32.100-04:00

... it will just take the time of two train rides - mine from Bern, yours from Chur :-)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-53946864279330506612008-10-28T14:19:00.003-04:002008-10-28T14:22:38.348-04:00

and I could hear Amy Winehouse sing...

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-78718108893338930372008-10-26T09:59:00.003-04:002008-10-26T10:15:49.261-04:00

instead of being politically correct, I just admit publicly that I think this guy who is being interviewed is absolutely HOT. super gorgeous and fantastic in his calm manner when fighting breaks out... and admirable for his cool analysis of the situation.it is proof once again - we all know it, yet it strikes you again and again - it is ordinary civilians like you and I suffering in such

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-58939070547158921442008-10-22T10:27:00.002-04:002008-10-22T10:36:35.471-04:00

the caucasian mountains, Katchapouri, erratic politicians. South Ossetia so close but not accessible. sleeping at the cleaning lady's place because the office was full already, communicating to local drivers who know everything except for the little of obstacle of not having a common language. a field spirit of friendship and comradery above all organisational boundaries. the true meaning of

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-47640340088604705962008-08-30T06:41:00.002-04:002008-08-30T06:44:59.973-04:00

I like a big part of it. the american dream, the standing up together, the appreciation of history and remarkable persons as well as the little person from the street...but somehow, when you read all the speeches in one go - Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden - it makes you want to puke that apparently all that human beings achieve in their life, the most

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-85127480251551935182008-08-22T10:05:00.001-04:002008-08-22T10:08:06.144-04:00

am based in zugdidi, western georgia - i stopped calling it zucchini in the meanwhile, but I still get most of the names around here wrong. enjoying the field, looking for husband material, and having a fantastic time for my little (well not that minor) fetish for uniforms.pix are available on facebook. hafez, open up a facebook account....

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-81969508345901241872008-08-15T10:42:00.002-04:002008-08-15T10:43:45.117-04:00

I like the Georgian writing.(what, is that not the main issue of the pix?)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-27805563145433902572008-08-15T08:44:00.002-04:002008-08-15T08:49:35.933-04:00

a thousand impressions already, before I even leave New York for Tbilisi.very different reactions from friends and colleagues. some envy me, some are happy for me, some are proud to see that I succeed, others are concerned, some are downright scared.preparations are more or less done, I don't know how much money to take with me, but I've been to the dentist and got two things fixed (last minute,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-13919078056063278562008-08-11T12:09:00.001-04:002008-08-11T12:10:23.819-04:00

as part of UNHCR emergency team, will be going to Georgia :-))))))))

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-55263753844416112402008-08-11T11:24:00.001-04:002008-08-11T11:24:57.185-04:00

Monty Python's guide to the Darfur conflict Publisher: The SpectatorAuthor: Justin MarozziStory date: 10/08/2008Language: EnglishThe genocide publicised by movie stars is over, says Justin Marozzi. What must now be resolved is a civil war with unlimited breakaway factions — and Hollywood cannot helpIt wasn't the gleaming black helicopter parked on Second Avenue that raised eyebrows. New

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-29249857900851126612008-08-08T11:05:00.003-04:002008-08-08T11:15:43.329-04:00

and it is not even easy to blame anyone. as usual, things are complex. but one is left at awe how quickly still TODAY a tense situation can develop into war. bombing, tanks, like in the good old days - the only difference is, that all sides (yes, there is more than one party to the is conflict) have websites.trying not to get caught up in propaganda.... never has been easy, never will. I heard

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-22529489034570934502008-08-06T16:37:00.005-04:002008-08-06T16:55:29.198-04:00

in case you have not heard it yet (kinda likely, I don't think it will make big headlines) - there was a coup in Mauretania, some sacked military officers took revenge. the whole thing happened in a non-bloody way fortunately, but well, it speaks volumes about democratic elections.it makes you laugh, though, to read statements of UN, AU, African government officials. The best is the following, I

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-73673241323330653472008-08-06T11:27:00.003-04:002008-08-06T11:31:04.947-04:00

and thanks to all the others thinking of me caringly on my birthday. it was a lovely feeling, realising how many friends and great people there are in my life. all over the world. in real world, from work, from travel, from blogosphere. thanks to everyone!and now enough shmooze. gotta work on my sarcasm again, before I lose it completely!

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-12218737008525984862008-08-03T18:54:00.002-04:002008-08-03T19:00:11.091-04:00

yes, 4th of August is my b-day!!and can you imagine? it looks like I'm gonna spend the evening with a guy who has boyfriend potential!! not the usual hook-up and man-hunt thing (which I truly enjoy, and I'm good at playin' the game)... but this one is more serious and mature and everything. the downside is the 23 years age difference. given that I'm 32, maybe that's rather just potential for a

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-30392621966607930022008-07-29T12:25:00.004-04:002008-07-29T12:41:30.633-04:00

I do. and I just came to realise how little I actually know about HIV/AIDS. I'm thoroughly trained and informed about prevention, infection rates, UN action, different organisations, ARV treatment, mother-child prevention, the troubles in some developing countries for people to cope.but I realised lately, as a friend of mine got a positive test result, that HIV itself is almost "like diabetes" -

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-83129508594302324822008-07-28T10:46:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:42.125-04:00

I guess now that travelling and flying gets more expensive again, the mass of people is FINALLY out of the airports. nothing is worse than cheap airline passengers :-)(and now that I successfully pissed off most of the readers of this blog, on to the topic of the day lol)to gain access to people that are usually out of reach or not interested into the work of the UN, so-called "goodwill

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-17481807462865893592008-07-25T16:04:00.000-04:002008-07-25T16:05:25.502-04:00

A quiet humanitarian Source: The Washington Post | Publish date: 23 Jul 2008By Michael Gerson, The Washington Post KIGALI, Rwanda – Cindy McCain's first visit to this country, in 1994, was during the high season of roadblocks and machetes and shallow graves. Following a call for help from Doctors Without Borders, McCain had assembled a medical team with the intention of setting up a mobile

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-19147741644245474252008-07-24T21:04:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:42.282-04:00

bravo, Josef Hofstetter! you left a superb comment on that NZZ online article.Obama hat deutsch-amerikanische Geschichte erzählt und eigentlich nicht viel Neues gesagt. Interessant war, dass das Publikum applaudiert hat, obwohl vielleicht höchstens 10 % überhaupt verstanden haben, was er sagte. Warum haben die Leute applaudiert, als er mehr Truppen für Afghanistan gefordert hat, als er deutschen

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-11110291721037628242008-07-22T11:54:00.000-04:002008-07-22T11:55:21.905-04:00

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIIn light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-34172095268140491722008-07-21T11:39:00.003-04:002008-07-21T11:46:23.161-04:00

am disappointed. I'm looking for role models and am so eager to practice life-long learning, only to discover good role models are scarce, and life-long learning leads only to being considered over-qualified and intimidating to other people.the more training I attend, the more I experience in work life, the more disappointed I get about professionality and how well things are being done.the

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-89451464032197463902008-07-18T09:58:00.001-04:002008-07-18T09:59:47.864-04:00

New York is home.and summer here deserves its name :-)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-9218958412826692372008-06-12T23:34:00.003-04:002008-06-12T23:35:47.710-04:00

some interesting thoughts. not all to agree, not all conclusions very logical or sound, and the public is ... well, it is what society in general is. easy-believing and not very reflective. well, it's comedy after all :-)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-14262727650011979492008-06-11T12:21:00.002-04:002008-06-11T12:26:44.935-04:00

the heat wave in NY broke. wow. it's only 31 degrees celsius today, which seems actually nice and almost cool!just wanted to let you know that I'll be gone for a couple weeks. first to an emergency training in Norway - 10 days of robbing thru mud and being hijacked (at least that is what I expect!) - then a short weekend in Basel, then 10 days in Spain with my parents in their lovely villa, BBQ,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-63479878264420329502008-06-08T16:33:00.002-04:002008-06-08T16:46:45.671-04:00

if I'm an expert on one sickness/condition, it is cystitis. blasenentzuendung. when you feel like you have to go to the loo every 5 minutes, and fearing to go because it is pure torture - burning, and somehow a feeling of breaking, as if your intestines are leaking out.... nice, isn't it?I usually feel a little burn and then I just know, I have like 12 hours to see a doctor and get antibiotics.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-87301695809121871292008-06-04T10:44:00.001-04:002008-06-04T10:44:50.955-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-91324455915163094152008-05-30T10:16:00.000-04:002008-05-30T10:17:10.777-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-31836681106811361392008-05-29T13:08:00.001-04:002008-05-29T13:08:53.608-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-45216049693774297842008-05-20T11:58:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:42.873-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-1689052703195288322008-05-19T20:53:00.003-04:002008-05-19T20:58:54.887-04:00

ha! ha!! hahaha.... omg... apart from the fact that I do get totally americanized over here - having steak and fries for brunch in a diner... saying stuff like "whatever, like, OMG!!!" (well that not too much) but I start calling salespersons and cute security guys and any person on the street/shop "honey - sweetheart - cutie" - I do smarten myself up with urbandictionary.com and now know

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-3935186507228659122008-05-14T12:53:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:42.982-04:00

Maged, my friend and host in NYC during my first weeks of arrival, is still in a coma - almost 6 months now. his condition is stable, he's just not there... thinking of u, dude...a good colleague at work, blessed with a cute daughter and pregnant with a baby to come to see this racked-off world around July, is going through tough times as her husband developed a headache, then a migraine, to be

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-35756572903270004932008-05-07T08:18:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:43.191-04:00

For the lost sons and daughters of warwe can only swearon our sacred honorthat we will never forget their courageous sacrifice,and praythat theirs may be the last.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-18950583467580023132008-05-04T23:58:00.003-04:002008-05-05T00:06:29.557-04:00

I realised it tonight.when u go to this bar, where the barkeeper knows you and greets u with a special smile. when realise that everytime u showed up so far was with a different man by your side (lol - not gonna change that soon... too many great things r being offered ;-)I do develop roots in NYC. how could one not? it's such a great city. you just get it all. and i realised tonight... I was

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-15753609713348768222008-05-02T15:54:00.000-04:002008-05-02T15:55:32.117-04:00

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by thosewho haven't got it.George Bernard Shaw

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-77155964411503823952008-05-02T15:34:00.002-04:002008-05-02T15:48:23.832-04:00

a protracted refugee situation is one in which refugees find themselves in a long-lasting and intractable state of limbo.Their lives may not be at risk, but their basic rights and essential economic, social and psychological needs remain unfulfilled after years in exile. A refugee in this situation is often unable to break free from enforced reliance on external assistance.as most complex

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-34082580287403028472008-04-26T11:59:00.002-04:002008-04-26T12:03:40.714-04:00

we're all living in AmerikaAmerika ist wunderbarwe're all living in AmerikaAmerika, AmerikaWenn getanzt wird will ich fuehrenAuch wenn ihr euch alleine drehtLasst euch ein wenig kontrollierenIch zeige euch wie es richtig gehtWir bilden einen lieben ReigenDie Freiheit spielt auf allen GeigenMusik kommt auch dem Weissen HausUnd vor Paris steht Micky Mauswe're all living in AmerikaAmerika ist

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-50588940883277963972008-04-24T16:05:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:43.445-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-61790758845981015412008-04-21T13:57:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:43.453-04:00

why does it not show?? well, it does if u click on it.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-87696610061194369452008-04-18T14:05:00.002-04:002008-04-18T14:13:34.175-04:00

for a high level event at the UN on the issue of HIV/AIDS, I was tasked to provide my input on a suggested poster that basically links "high HIV prevalence and high AIDS mortality rates" to "more erosion of land" and "increase in attacks by wild animals".seriously.I mean, with all due respect for chaos theory, I don't think there is much value added in linking the pope's visit to NYC to rising

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-30214888088416060332008-04-17T09:41:00.002-04:002008-04-17T09:47:01.791-04:00

if I hate one thing, it is wasting food. so when I had those two eggs in my fridge before going on a 10 days trip to Switzerland(yes, UN paying for a training course in Geneva -- I so have NOT in the slightest a bad conscience for being alive and well-paid!! and I do not feel guilty for the bad in the world, either... and not responsible... and I love to work in chaos and emergencies BECAUSE I

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-37747883476113793112008-04-15T11:45:00.002-04:002008-04-15T11:56:57.106-04:00

a friend of mine told me to be more funny on my blog. to write about my men stories, parties, jokes. thing is, this includes bitching about people - ratting out on friends - writing mean remarks about people I know and dislike. this is for the time being in my diary. PRIVATE!! or, a bit more positively, soapy-soppy emotional entries about friends I love and adore.don't know what this blog is for,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-55874647710033780652008-04-14T18:34:00.001-04:002008-04-14T18:35:28.241-04:00

... in the midst of all those good-bye's, hello's and farewell's thought how it would be to leave your own skin for a while and watch yourself walk away?

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-60696597891255074352008-04-02T17:08:00.001-04:002008-04-02T17:08:42.482-04:00

«Shirin-Gol can’t remember what she thought a refugee camp would be like. Maybe she thought a refugee camp would be a friendly place where there were people who looked after the refugees, welcomed them and comforted them and told them everything would be fine. Maybe she thought a refugee camp was a clean place where every family had a hut or a room, where there where schools, doctors, nurses.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-87723933470766484432008-03-31T10:10:00.002-04:002008-03-31T10:20:06.352-04:00

everything was fine until I opened this message:Dear Colleagues,I wanted to thank you for your participation in the very constructive discussion of (insert the latest topic in the headlines) in (insert any fancy location). I feel we are making real progress as a system on this extremely important issue. Clearly we have a long way to go to realize our full potential, but we are on the right path.I

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-24309914054018697082008-03-28T13:51:00.004-04:002008-11-15T12:09:43.805-04:00

WFP: Josette Sheeran hopes to persuade her board at a meeting in June to shift her agency's focus away from emergency food aid and towards a wider remit. She wants to expand its role in surveillance, stockpiling and risk-insurance. She also speaks of targeting subsidies or vouchers "in ways that complement markets rather than distort them", as current subsidies often do. If this sort of clarity

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-72869181701766445252008-03-26T17:30:00.004-04:002008-03-26T17:53:04.090-04:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:10 AM (the alarm clock going off 700am)2. Diamonds or pearls? pearls3. Last movie you saw in the theater? the Kite Runner4. What is/are your favorite TV shows? 24, and lately The Wire5. What do you usually have for breakfast? bread or oatmeal or cornflakes or yoghurt and always black tea with a dash of milk6. What is your middle name? I don’t like it...

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-18536826077317866722008-03-24T10:09:00.002-04:002008-03-24T10:11:41.631-04:00

wow. just a lovely afternoon with a total surprising turn for some kids in Freetown. Love the beginning of the clip, when David Beckham just walks up and nobody has yet realised he's there :-)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-39651659448538511422008-03-22T13:27:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:44.042-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-47036219358057788872008-03-20T13:55:00.003-04:002008-03-20T14:02:53.016-04:00

( posting part of my spanish homework today!)ÚLTIMA ENTREVISTALa última entrevista fue triste.Yo esperaba una decisión imposible:que me siguieras a una ciudad extrañadonde sólo se había perdido un submarino alemány tú esperabas que no te lo propusiera.Con el vértigo de los suicidaste dije: « Ven conmigo» sabiéndolo imposibley tú -sabiéndolo imposible- respondiste:«Nada se me perdió allí» y diste

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-14579401510047136192008-03-19T10:54:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:44.276-04:00

excerpt from Stratfor analysis of Iraq war (to be read on Hafez' blog)Stratfor tries not to get involved in this sort of debate. Our role is to try to predict what nations and leaders will do, and to explain their reasoning and the forces that impel them to behave as they do. Many times, this analysis gets confused with advocacy. But our goal actually is to try to understand what is happening,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-18344531308153625912008-03-18T10:10:00.003-04:002008-03-18T10:14:24.475-04:00

KOSOVO: A Ukrainian policeman wounded in fierce clashes on Monday with Kosovo Serbs on Monday has died of injuries he suffered when a hand grenade was thrown. He was serving with UN police who were forced to withdraw from the Serb-dominated north of Mitrovica. (BBC) NATO troops held the line in the flashpoint town of Mitrovica in north Kosovo on Tuesday after riots by a hostile Serb population

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-90612889677690467302008-03-17T14:17:00.004-04:002008-11-15T12:09:44.927-04:00

let us just hope that the festive spirit among Kosovo-Albanians remains strong enough not to be provoked into a violent reaction. Pictures from today North-Mitrovica.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-59397696365542683692008-03-17T10:56:00.003-04:002008-03-17T11:06:47.731-04:00

where does corruption begin? New York is an extremely expensive city. if a highly qualified law professor with six kids is being proposed for a top-notch job at the UN, his government surely is happy about it - especially if it is a government who has not yet too many nationals on high positions within the UN.so when the professor says with regrets, I am sorry, but to the conditions of the UN (

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-14103354884495887862008-03-16T21:51:00.002-04:002008-03-16T21:56:05.396-04:00

is that there is always something special going on: today afternoon, went to see an egyptian movie, screened at the NY South Asian Film Festival in Tribeca. a great independent movie, really fun, never to be seen in a regular movie theatre.here the new york times reviewTwo people who are barely friends decide to get married in this satiric comedy drama from Egyptian writer and director Hala

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-78166088886095328162008-03-13T10:02:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:45.640-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-16234502931826832112008-03-12T22:39:00.003-04:002008-11-15T12:09:46.013-04:00

now that I have routine, know where to get my pellegrino in glass bottles (coz they do not recycle PET in New York..... tststs)... now that I tried out most sports classes in the gym of my building.... now that I've done and seen so much of NY that I still love it but yearn for something more... now that I've tried personal ads on craigslist and am having loads of blind dates and hell lot of fun

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-88742768516310903312008-03-11T23:56:00.002-04:002008-03-12T00:01:45.052-04:00

I have to agree with the russian, and the chinese, and south africa, vietnam and some other sceptical countries.if we do honor the UN charter, the Helsinki act of sovereignty and territory of states, and also SC resolution 1244 - if we do believe and subject ourselves to international law - then Kosovo should not be an independent state.and as the above mentioned states say - just because some

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-65339960825501617942008-03-10T21:27:00.000-04:002008-03-10T21:28:07.957-04:00

Si pudiera cambiar al mundoextinguiría la extinción,escucharía mas al viento,viviría con menos presión. Si pudiera cambiar al mundono habría hambre en las calles,no necesitarían aborto,no se harían cultivo los valles. Si pudiera cambiar al mundocambiaria esta canción,alargaría los segundos,para expresar mi pasión. Si pudiera cambiar el mundocensuraría la censura,valdríamos todos lo mismo,no

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-68406165800711316742008-03-10T17:02:00.000-04:002008-03-10T17:04:42.087-04:00

okay.I actually don't like mass emails and this mix of propaganda/entertainment that is flyin around the net those days. but I've received lately some mails from friends of mine that made me swallow real hard. people close to me who seem to fall to populist speeches. people being hostile to foreigners. people saying things like "if they don't like it here, they can go" - which sounds so true at

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-21310894589637451792008-03-05T12:05:00.004-04:002008-11-15T12:09:46.705-04:00

Where have all the flowers gone?Long time passingWhere have all the flowers gone?Long time agoWhere have all the flowers gone?Girls have picked them every oneWhen will they ever learn?When will they ever learn? Where have all the young girls gone?Long time passingWhere have all the young girls gone?Long time agoWhere have all the young girls gone?Taken husbands every oneWhen will they ever learn?

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-87956395828652969292008-03-04T13:25:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:47.070-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-63827661306008818492008-03-03T16:29:00.001-04:002008-03-03T16:30:51.651-04:00

just got the following mail from my former Afghan dari language teacher.... it does describe this hopeless feeling so well that I experienced in Herat at times... but there is also hope, laughter and burka....21st Century....We are becoming lesser by the day Our communication - Wireless Our telephone - Cordless Our cooking - Fireless Our youth - Jobless Our food - Fatless Our

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-36089519084412369422008-02-29T18:06:00.001-04:002008-02-29T18:08:14.509-04:00

http://www.kosovothanksyou.com/the most lovely website I've seen in a loooooong time :-)hasta luego

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-13395528145254503992008-02-28T11:16:00.003-04:002008-02-28T11:25:24.403-04:00

sometimes, you know things about your company that you cannot betrust to your boss, to your colleague - and maybe you would prefer to stay anonymous for fear of mobbing, losing your job. this can be the case. whistleblowers are often looked at as not very loyal but rather incorrect big-mouths. I guess in some cases this is true. many people lack courage of standing up for their opinion. however,

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-21427347881900903572008-02-27T12:30:00.003-04:002008-11-15T12:09:47.197-04:00

my contract has been extended, so I'll hang around in New York for another year!I feel the difference in the work. I now come guilt-free late to meetings, I do not blush anymore when being put on the spot ("... and what does UNHCR suggest?") and I am not shy to take the last two japanese sweets that the doctor from the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center brought to the meeting this morning! It was so

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-29246802436663940572008-02-23T06:21:00.002-04:002008-11-15T12:09:48.168-04:00

some more pix on my facebook account :-)

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-55194540861800224362008-02-17T15:30:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:48.786-04:00

the new flag the gratitude the contributors(slightly scared... after all, legally seen, this might have opened a pandora box) joy, joy, joy!!

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-17044544964507029382008-02-15T06:27:00.002-04:002008-02-15T06:32:04.289-04:00

d Fasnacht isch ummethe world keeps going round. Rambo aka Silvester Stallone just declared in an interview, "there will never be world peace". He said mankind will never learn, and there will always be new wars.true. lets just hope that when Kosovo declares independence coming Sunday, it will not go into rough and violent waters. it will be a beginning - but the story is just about to start. I'm

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-84023838032731674622008-02-11T14:14:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:49.560-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-38846926773887210562008-02-11T07:08:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:50.378-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-2790333924578316482008-02-10T09:11:00.000-04:002008-02-10T09:12:21.939-04:00

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2008/frozen-grand-central-station-p1.php

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-78666156166654556202008-02-10T08:35:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:50.499-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-21742527794629047212008-02-04T16:23:00.001-04:002008-02-04T17:01:45.388-04:00

did you know that the seven sins are not listed in the bible? they are in the bible, but not that easy to pick out. it was mainly Pope Gregory in the 6th Century who listed them, and then Dantes book/oeuvre Divine Comedy, a three-part work composed of Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise, outlining those sins.KNOW THYSELFLust (luxuria) -- lechery, adultery, bestiality, rape.Gluttony (gula) --

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-12323755505416946892008-02-01T12:14:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:50.676-04:00

This isn't just sort of an honor, it's a responsibility. GEORGE CLOONEY on his appointment as a United Nations peace envoy good. he is taking it seriously. however, some rules and procedures are not just there for the sake of having rules and procedures - so I quite agree with the Russian delegation:George Clooney said Thursday that his new role as a U.N.

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-27802328998400443832008-01-31T15:50:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:51.963-04:00

KabulKabul(far below 0 Celsius/28 Fahrenheit)PunjabBaghdadHebronHerat(I am tempted to say, my other home)HeratIndia(so much for incredible India!)and in China, the government announced "war" on the snow...

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-49234871073111195832008-01-31T13:14:00.000-04:002008-11-15T12:09:52.163-04:00

Canada.mmmhh.... I think I go and live there. reading science fiction, watching monty python, collecting wood for the fire, ice fishing, staring at the night sky undisturbed by light and people, praying that there is intelligent life somewhere up in space (y'know, coz they're bugger all down here on earth).

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23103743.post-48230339800570950322008-01-30T11:37:00.001-04:002008-11-15T12:09:52.465-04:00

pumucklhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822873360201821206noreply@blogger.com1