May 2020 – Christian Frank

Shutdown, week eleven, lost

We’re at the end of the eleventh week of social distancing now, restrictions are easing, and the borders should reopen in two weeks. It could be a time to celebrate, but it’s not.

The institutionalized racism in the West has again led to one more death. Someone caught the murder on video, which is causing massive civil unrest all across the US. In Europe, we’re still failing to support the people at our borders, showing similar, completely inhuman behavior. Why is racism still a thing in 2020?

Black Lives Matter!

We’re also ignoring the climate emergency and fired up a new coal power plant.

Our government is looking to subsidize car ownership once again, as if we didn’t know that we need to rethink traffic radically.

Indigenous peoples all over the world are in danger because they’re protecting our environment.

I’m lost.

At least we can finally restart the weekly protests …

(Instagram, 5/31/20)

Shutdown, week ten, corona-style exams

We are still not taking care of the people at our borders, leaving them helpless and defenseless, so we had to rally again on Saturday. Shame on Europe!

Also on Saturday I sat my first corona-style exam, with ten feet between the students and wearing a face mask, a very strange experience. The university since changed all further exams this term to term papers. June is going to be busy!

The Corona shutdown is in some kind of weird in-between state – we’re still trying to distance socially, but at the same time we are reopening stores and restaurants; there’s even talk about vacation travel in summer.

Today (Sunday) was Seedot Community Day.

And I’m getting better at managing my Email.

(Gmail Inbox, 5/24/20)

Shutdown, week nine, IDAHOBIT

Today is #IDAHOBIT – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia, celebrated all over the world.

30 years ago, on May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization finally removed Homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – a huge step forward for LGBTIQ humans everywhere.

We’re also in the ninth week of the Corona-Shutdown here in Cologne, although we were able to lift so many restrictions that it no longer feels like a shutdown. Two more weeks and cinemas can reopen! If R, the reproduction rate, stays at its current level, that is.

Staying home and working from home is good for home improvement projects and at long last I was able to finish my new, all-flash NAS build.

(Case from Mini-ITX.com, 5/7/20)

Shutdown, week eight, Liberation Day

Friday was Liberation Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe and the end for the Nazi-Government in Germany. It also marks the end of the most atrocious crime in humankind, the murder of millions of Jews and other people in Germany and the occupied territories.

Never Again!

Never Forget!

Social distancing is still in effect, but our government lifted a lot of the restrictions – I hope all goes well and that we won’t be seeing a new wave and a second shutdown.

I’ll stop my “Shutdown” series on Instagram for now, though – stay safe!

(Stolpersteine, 5/8/20)

Shutdown, week seven, May Day

Seven weeks of social distancing now, the numbers are beginning to look better and next week might see some easing of restrictions; FOM has extended remote teaching until June though.

Friday was May Day, a pretty somber event without all the rallies, but I think we were able to get the message of solidarity across. Especially since we’re still failing the people at our borders big time – such a shameful behavior of our governments and our society! This is not what the EU was meant for.

On a positive note, walking with my buddy Machod helps me stay sane and in shape … ?

(Pokémon Go screenshot, 5/3/20)