Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
Last week was the week I didn’t exist. Well, I knew I existed, but I couldn’t prove it to anyone. The document that confirms my identity was out of my hands. Renewing a US passport used to be a speedy affair: I’d walk into the consulate here in Munich and walk out two hours later with a new document. Now … >>
Fifty-six is too young an age for anyone to die at, let alone a pioneer and visionary. I call him that with some reluctance, because in certain ways, Steve Jobs has made my life more difficult. But his contributions to the advancement of human society cannot be overlooked. As computers go, I live in both worlds. At home, I use … >>
The word of the moment is “occupy”. It means so many useful things. You can ask someone: “Is this seat occupied?”, meaning “Is someone sitting here?” Rooms in a hotel can be occupied (meaning used or inhabited), as can office space in a building: “The Pilewski Tower has 70 percent occupancy.” You can be occupied, meaning you have something to … >>
It’s the last week of the Oktoberfest, and Munich is full of partygoers. Same procedure as every year, but with two differences: 1. Nearly all the German tourists are dressed up, which gives the whole thing more dignity; and 2. They are younger than ever. Most of the visitors I’ve seen are between the ages of 16 and 18. Young … >>
It takes only 30 minutes to fly from Flagstaff to Phoenix, Arizona; but 30 minutes can be enough to change your life. The propellers hadn’t yet begun to spin as the flight attendant, who resembled Hugo Chávez, gave his safety speech. “If you are seated in an exit row…” he said, his words becoming drowned in static. “If you are … >>
Strange things happen late at night — so strange, in fact, that one incident from 50 years ago still can’t be explained. On the evening of September 19, 1961, Barney and Betty Hill were driving home from a vacation in Canada. It was a clear, starry night, and as they followed Route 3 through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, … >>
Well, it’s been ten long years since those towers turned to dust; the memorial is being dedicated on that site on Sunday. The mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, is rotting away somewhere after being waterboarded 130 times. His boss, Osama bin Laden, is (supposedly) at the bottom of the sea. An attack of the same magnitude has not … >>
The cold, wet weather that lasted into the early part of August didn’t provide much of an incentive to go outdoors. Fortunately, however, this year has offered some very interesting reality TV. In January and February I found myself watching what I call the Egypt show, a touching soap opera that was on every night. That series ended with a … >>
I’ve lost count of the number of people here in Germany who’ve asked me if I’ve been on vacation recently. When I tell them I’ve shown up to work faithfully every day in August, they give me a strange look. Going to work at the hottest time of year is just not what you’re expected to do here. In the … >>
Regular readers of this column will know that I don’t like to revisit a topic — at least not right away. I like to give you something new every week. However, I can’t let this one go, because I’ve told only two thirds of the story. The cities of England (in reality) and the city of San Francisco (in fiction) … >>