The Off Topic Topic

[alfred russel]

Had an interesting yet kind of a weird conversation with my wife's co-worker the other day.  She's from Bosnia-- her family came here in the 90s as refugees from Mostar.  Her dad was actually in a concentration camp for a period of time.  She acted a little odd when I asked her ethnicity (though I guess I struggled to find a way to ask that gently) & just said she was from a 'mixed ethnic' family-- I'm guessing she was more or less Bosniak.  She seemed to think that her parents having been communist party members was the reason they were bullied and oppressed during the war, rather than their ethnicity.

Anyway, she seemed surprised (if not a bit freaked out) that I knew as much as I did about Bosnia and the wars.  So I didn't want it to feel like an interrogation.  Hope to extract more info & anecdotes next time I talk to her.  I've only ever met a handful of people from that rather fascinating part of the world.

I was thinking about starting a thread on the war crimes trials related to the disintegration of yugoslavia. They seem to be somewhat adrift, and I don't remember discussing it here.

[Syt]

I've only ever met a handful of people from that rather fascinating part of the world.

Come to Vienna.

[Tamas]

Had an interesting yet kind of a weird conversation with my wife's co-worker the other day.  She's from Bosnia-- her family came here in the 90s as refugees from Mostar.  Her dad was actually in a concentration camp for a period of time.  She acted a little odd when I asked her ethnicity (though I guess I struggled to find a way to ask that gently) & just said she was from a 'mixed ethnic' family-- I'm guessing she was more or less Bosniak.  She seemed to think that her parents having been communist party members was the reason they were bullied and oppressed during the war, rather than their ethnicity.

Anyway, she seemed surprised (if not a bit freaked out) that I knew as much as I did about Bosnia and the wars.  So I didn't want it to feel like an interrogation.  Hope to extract more info & anecdotes next time I talk to her.  I've only ever met a handful of people from that rather fascinating part of the world.

Be careful you western people have no idea about the Balkan sensibilities. Eg.  Never ask her if she is a gypsy :p

[Syt]

WTF is Merkel wearing?

[fhdz]

Those aren't just pants; those are SUPERPANTS

[Valmy]

Oh sure if a male politician wore giant fluffy pants nobody would bat an eye but because women are solely judged by their appearance...

ok nevermind pretty sure people would notice if Obama was wearing giant fluffy pants.

[Malthus]

WTF is Merkel wearing?

Some kind of hideous GIANT offspring of business casual and bell-bottom pants? 

[The Brain]

Michelle looks mannish.

[The Brain]

I find Merkel's outfit Star Warsian.

[Malthus]

Oh sure if a male politician wore giant fluffy pants nobody would bat an eye but because women are solely judged by their appearance...

ok nevermind pretty sure people would notice if Obama was wearing giant fluffy pants.

You could hide a whole other Merkel in those pants. 

[Iormlund]

ok nevermind pretty sure people would notice if Obama was wearing giant fluffy pants.

Can't touch this!

[DGuller]

Maybe she's carrying a bazooka in an ankle holster, and wearing loose clothing to conceal it?

[fhdz]

ok nevermind pretty sure people would notice if Obama was wearing giant fluffy pants.

Can't touch this!

[Admiral Yi]

Can't touch this!

[The Brain]

Can't or won't?