-City lights / Skyline book

Skyline book page 160
Words:
billboards, anonymity, neon signs, sky scarpers, high rise pollution, exhaust, fume, congested traffic, buildings, illuminated city, high crime rates, social differences

Skyline book page 162
Fact file London:
- London’s economic output is enormous
- Many minorities live in London (central London)
- prices for nearly everything are higher than elsewhere in the UK
- fast rising prices (housing)
- very good infrastructure hence the spending on public transportation are gigantic compared to the spending in the outer areas
- poverty in London is higher than elsewhere in the UK
- service sector is dominating in London

Problems:
high prices -> high wages / high cost of living / high crime rate

Skyline book page 162-164
It’s London vs. Britain:
The level of subsidy means the amount of money given to certain people to support them.

Fiscal transfers are just another expression for financial transfers.

Urban chic means a trendy live in a megalopolis such as London.

Working down the phone lines means someone working outside London with his phone or laptop and the internet by communicating with the people inside London “over the phone lines”.

When speaking of an Agatha Christie Britain one means the Britain as it is described in the author’s books. It is a generalized image of Britain and refers to a romantic vision.

The M25 is a motorway in England and often described as “the concrete border”. It divides the London area from the rest of Britain.

London is different from the rest of Britain, because of multiple things:
There is a greater diversity of cultures in London than elsewhere and the prices are also higher than in he outskirts or in the rest of Britain.
That means houses, accommodation, taxes and even parking fees are higher then in any other city.
London has an immense economic output.
It is Britain’s capital and therefore the centre of all political decisions.
London also has an administrative function for the rest of the country.
People living there are younger than people from outer regions and there is also a higher percentage of liberal people; that means they are more tolerant than others. Summed up you can say that the differences are the higher number of ethnic minorities, the higher costs for living, a higher living standard, a higher number of young and liberal people, as well as London’s economic, social, political and administrative importance.
It is not only because of those facts that many people work in the service sector, but also for the reason that London is a multinational gateway for services of all kind. Many companies have their headquarters in London.

Skyline book page 165-166
Can you hear me at the back?

The author criticizes multiple aspects of the town he lives in.
He is annoyed of the office blocks in the city centres, because of their location they are the reason for jammed roads.
The cars are the main cause for the increased noise level.
The leisure life is changed to a hectic one and it is no longer possible to sit down in a café in downtown hence there are none left.
Theatres and cafes cannot remain in the centre, because the estate prices are too high.
People can’t effort to live there either due to the high property prices.
As a result the city is merely used for working instead of living.
The author says that the high buildings look almost like identical boxes to him.

He uses the connotative image of Lego land to fortify the small, all alike looking image. Those boxes show how the architect’s restricted creativity.
The architects are not asking the people living there.
The buildings are planned for and not with the people.
The denotative meaning of Lego land is different from the connotative.
Lego land is a large amusement park in Denmark and Lego is also a box like plastic toy for children. One piece of Lego can be put on top of another piece.

Skyline book page 161
New York, Bono (U2)

The song “New York” by U2 deals with the megalopolis NY and how a single person living there sees the city with his eyes.
The song’s gist is that NY is offering a lot of freedom concerning choices. The city is a crowded and busy place where a different people from a diversity of countries live. The summer is hot there, almost depressing.
The singer says that everyone is happy but himself and his personificated friend “NY”. It seems like the person described there is in his/her midlife crisis.

His attitude towards NY is split into a positive and a negative one. On the one hand he likes NY and says he “found a friend to drown out the voices”, but on the other hand he says that the freedom offered by NY has the negative consequence of having too many choices.
Furthermore he says that NY has caused a midlife crisis for him, but he is also not leaving the city to ease the problems caused by that. That is a bit paradox.

Those lyrics feature several positive and negative aspects;
Some positive aspects are the many choices, freedom to choose, the hot summer, different cultures, a stimulating city.
Negative items include: too many choices, noise, voices, sounds, hot air which is uncomfortable, smog, cultural clashes, restlessness, hectic, anonymity.

London, by William Blake

The poem consists of four stanzas, with four lines. The rhyme scheme is a cross rhyme. The poem’s general attitude and mood can be described as a very depressive one. In the first stanza, which can be seen as an introduction, the lyrical I focusing the reader at the city of London in general. Therefore the reader gets a first impression of the city. The repetition of the word “charter d´” in the first two lines shows that many things are owned by capitalists. The parallelism in line four “Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” and the anaphora “In every…” in the first three lines of the second stanza show that there are no happy people and that everything is cruel. Words like “voice” (l.7), “hear” (l.8),”cry” (l.9) and” sigh” (l.11) create a special atmosphere, because the words are connected with sound. The third stanza shows that every member of the society and also every institution are involved in the depressive mood of the city. Blake personifies the church in line ten (“Church appalls ;”) to demonstrate, that the people who work for it are also responsible for the tragedy in London. The word “blacking” in the same line shows that the image of church is damaged. With the sentence in line 11 and 12 “Soldiers sigh runs in blood down Palace walls.” Blake wants to clarify that the government/monarchy is also guilty for the tragic events. The word “blood” and the “soldier” in this context stand for war, hate, dead and other negative associations. Blake wants to show that there exists no hope. Children often stand for hope. Therefore he uses many words, which reminds the reader of children, for example “infants, new born” as well as the metaphor “chimney-sweeper” in line nine, which stands for a child, too. In the last stanza the most serious problem of the society is demonstrated. The metaphor “Marriage hearse” in the last line of the poem, symbolizes that marriage is responsible for harlotry and every problems which are connected with it. The word “Harlot’s curse” in line 14 underlines this.
All in all it becomes clear that Blake wants to criticize the institution of church and government, which were both very powerful in the 19th century. He also criticizes the capitalists as well as the social force of marriage. These facts are after Blake responsible for the disaster in London.

Die Menschen sind der Welt verfallen, wenn sie sich nicht von ihren alten Lebensumständen trennen.

“Das Entsetzliche” (z.B. Industrialisierung, wilhelminisches Bürgertum, Krieg, kapitalistische Wirtschaftssysteme)
Reaktion auf “Das Entsetzliche” -> Der Aufschrei

- will nur gehört werden
- will “grauenhaften Lärm” übertönen
- Empfänger: Mensch/Gott
- einzige Möglichkeit zur Veränderung
- trennt den hinnehmenden Menschen von dem Expressionisten

Die Entscheidung; für /wider
“Wollen wir Befreiung?” Einzige Frage an das Leben
Die Entscheidung und der damit verbundene Aufschrei formen den Expressionismus. Er ist die Antwort auf eine Wirklichkeit (siehe “Das Entsetzliche”), in der wegschauen oder ignorieren unmöglich geworden ist.
Der Expressionismus ist eine Sendung, die nichts mehr von Schönheit weiß.

Die Verschmelzung von Realismus, Romantik und Symbolismus – analysiert und interpretiert anhand ausgewählter Textstellen des Steppenwolfes

Haupttextstelle: Seite 36, Zeile 35 bis Seite 37 Zeile 29

In den ausgewählten Textstellen wird die Kritik Harry Hallers an der Gesellschaft und sein nicht Zurechtfinden in der Welt deutlich. Im gesamten Buch lassen sich Elemente des Realismus, des Symbolismus, aber auch der Romantik wiederfinden.
In der ersten Textstelle kritisiert Harry die Gesellschaft in all ihren Facetten. Die Textstelle ist in Monologform geschrieben. Es werden Harrys Gefühle und Einstellung gegenüber seiner Umwelt deutlich. Der Ausruf “Ach” am Beginn der Textstelle weist auf eine Ablehnung hin. Um die Fülle von unverarbeitbaren Eindrücken und Reizen zu schildern, verwendet Harry verschiedenen Aufzählungen und Wiederholungen. Der Ausdruck “so sehr” in Zeile 2+3 soll das extreme Empfinden Harrys gegenüber seiner Umwelt widerspiegeln. Es wird deutlich, dass er einerseits das Bürgertum kritisiert und andererseits den Mangel an geistlichen Werten in der Gesellschaft vermisst. (” …so sehr bürgerlichen, so sehr geistlosen Zeit.”) Durch das Demonstrativpronomen “dieser” soll eine abfällige und distanzierte Haltung gegenüber des bürgerlichen Lebens geschaffen werden. Harry umfasst dabei die Architektur, die Geschäfte, die Poltik als auch die Menschen selber. Aus diesem Grund bleibt kategorisch gesehen kein Bereich über, um für seine Persönlichkeit eine Erfüllung zu finden. Die Personifikation des Wortes “Freuden” (Zeile 7 “von deren Freuden keine zu mir spricht!”) verdeutlicht, dass Harry in seinem derzeitigen Leben in keiner Weise glückliche Momente empfindet. Weder der kulturelle, der wirtschaftliche, der politische, noch der menschliche oder persönliche Bereich bieten Harry einen Zufluchtsort oder eine Identifikationsmöglichkeit. Seine Kritik umfasst alle sozialen und wirtschaftliche Bereiche des menschlichen Lebens. An dieser Stelle wird Harrys Bedürfnis nach einer Flucht aus der Wirklichkeit und die Sehnsucht nach alten Werten insbesondere alter Kultur deutlich. (Zeile19-21 “…was für mich Wonne, Erlebnis und Ekstase ist, das sucht die Welt höchstens in Dichtung…”)
Dieses Verhalten lässt sich in die Eigenschaften der Romantik einordnen. Die Person Harry Haller sehnt sich nach Sinnlichkeit, wird in ihren Monologen von der Sprache her jedoch eher als ein Realist dargestellt. Ohne Ausschmückungen gibt Harry seine Umwelt wieder. (“…überfüllte Eisenbahnen und Hotels, überfüllte Cafes, bei schwüler und aufdringlicher Musik…”) Durch die Wiederholungen des Verbs “überfüllt” wird Harrys Not vor Bedrängnis deutlich. Harry vergleicht sich selbst als ein Eremit (Z.6), der ein abgeschiedens Leben in Einsamkeit führt. Hier wird deutlich, dass Harry sich in der Welt nicht angenommen fühlt . Er kritisiert ausserdem den “American Way of Life” (Zeile 24 “… diese amerikanischen…”) und somit auch den Kapitalismus. Eine Welt, in der aus Harrys Sicht Konsumgüter, wirtschaftlicher Erfolg und Massenvergnügen an erster Stelle stehen.
In den Zeilen 31 bis 32 wird “die Welt” von Harry personifiziert, dadurch wird ihre Absolutheit deutlich. ( “….wenn die Welt recht hat…”) Durch die Personifikation der Welt, wird Harrys Außenseiterolle verstärkt. Es scheint als wäre “die Welt” ein in sich geschlossenes Medium, welches alle Bereiche umfasst und für Harry keinen Zufluchtsmöglichkeit bietet.
Diese Tatsache greift Harry als eine Art Bedingung auf. Wenn sich seine Empfindungen bestätigen sollten, dann sieht er sich selbst als verrückt an (Z.26 ” …dann bin ich wirklich der Steppenwolf”). Am Ende wird das Symbol des Steppenwolfs aufgegriffen, um Harrys “Gefühlschaos” zu verdeutlichen. Der Steppenwolf steht für die Abgeschiedenheit aus der Welt und für die Einsamkeit.
Hesse benutzt den Symbolismus um eine eigentlich nicht zu kreierende Verschmelzung aus Beiden zu erzeugen. Der Realismus wurde speziell vom Bürgertum getragen und gerade das Bürgertum wird von Harry kritisiert, um diesen Zwiespalt zu lösen bzw. ihn ertragen zu können versucht Harry die Existenz des Steppenwolfes aufrechtzuerhalten. Der Steppenwolf dient Harry als ein Grund für seine Orientierungslosigkeit und das nicht Zurechtfinden in der Gesellschaft. Ohne diese Fiktion würde die Person Hallers ihren letzten Lebenshalt verlieren.

Hermann Hesse, “Der Steppenwolf”

Die Verschmelzung von Realismus, Romantik und Symbolismus

Vgl. Textstelle: Seite 36, Zeile 35 bis Seite 37 Zeile 29

The poem consists of four stanzas, which have got six lines. The rhyme scheme in the first four lines is a cross rhyme, the last two lines end with a pair rhyme. Wordsworth uses many metaphors and similes in his poem to clarify the speaker’s happy experiences in nature. The manifold choice of words creates a peaceful, harmful atmosphere. There are detailed descriptions and a kind of a birds eye view in the whole four stanzas. The reader can very detailed imagine what the speaker describes. The simile in the first line, shows that the speaker is free, but also lonesome.
In the third and fourth line the poet uses the metaphor “a crowd, a host of golden daffodils” to compare the daffodils with people, because when thinking of “a crowd” you think of human beings. The personification in the last line of the first stanza (fluttering and dancing) underlines the association to a human behavior. The second stanza is also full of simile, but here Wordsworth compares the daffodils with stars. The verbs “shine” and “twinkle” and also the noun “milky way” leads to the association of stars and the universe. The expression “never-ending line” in the third line supports the image of the universe in this case. The sentence “Ten thousand….” clarify the “never ending line”. The personification in the last line “tossing their heads in sprightly dance”, is also a comparison to human behavior.
In the third stanza Wordsworth wants to amplify the peacefully mood, when he says “The waves besides them danced”. That means that not only the daffodils “danced” but also its environment.
The contrast between the lonesome feeling of the speaker on the one hand, but also the happy memories or experiences with nature one the other hand show that looking at the daffodils made the speaker feel better than he did before. This idea is supported by the last line of poem, where he says his heart “with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils” whenever he thinks of them.

In his article “The definition of terrorism” Brian Whitaker points out the American state department’s definition of terrorism and the problems which are connected with it.

The Headline of the article seems to be a matter of fact. The reader expects a precise definition of terrorism. In the subtitle it becomes clear that Whitaker doesn’t want to give simply a definition of terrorism but rather wants to illustrate that many definitions are influenced by self-interests.
The article can be divided into four parts. The first part deals with international terrorism figures, which give the reader a first overview about the terrorism definition problem. It is striking that there exists almost twice more terrorism cases in Europe than in the Middle East. To underline the contradiction between the reality and the announced figures the author uses the imperative “Decide for yourself whether to believe this,” to show that the reader has to be skeptical by reading the figures. By using the word “meaningless” and the quotation of the report “no one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance” the author emphasizes that there does not exist one general definition of terrorism. It becomes clear that the figures he meant before seems to wrong because of the definition problem.
In the second part Whitaker refers to the state department’s definition of terrorism. He uses a quotation to reproduce the definition. By using the word “key point” Whitaker wants to illustrate that terrorism is very often politically motivated. The political aspect differs terrorism from murder. Whitaker doesn’t mention the religious aspect of terrorism which becomes especially after 9/11 very important. Due to the definition that terrorism must be politically motivated in Saudi Arabia there wasn’t a criminal act published as terrorism act. Another problem is that after the definition of the state department a criminal attack can only called terrorism if it is an attack against people and not against property. In the third part Whitaker uses an example of the attack against the pipeline in Colombia which wasn’t called a terror act to convince the reader that a new definition of terrorism is required. He underlines his statement by giving another example for the definition problem.

Modern machines replace mass labour more and more. In future modern machines will do the work of many factory workers. Without people developing these machines there won’t be any production. That’s the reason why the global economy depends on high skilled educated workers. Exactly these skilled workers invent modern technologies which are needed for future.

If more and more people become unemployed the social peace is in danger. Social peace is very important for a society, because it contributes to an increase in general prosperity. Another social problem is that increased unemployment leads to increased financial problems and thus to crime. Political effects could be that the retirement pension and the social security such as health insurances are not ensured anymore.

A variety of jobs can never be replaced. In many areas of labour human intuition and intelligence cannot be automated or replaced by machines. Kindergarten teachers, nurses, school teachers, doctors, therapists, social workers and priests rely on emotions and intuitions everyday they work. Machines aren’t able to feel emotions and have intuitions yet like human being. Those people who invent new technologies and new medicine are required for the future.

Sachtextanalyse: “Wieder nur sch�ne Worte”, von Matthias R�b

Der zu analysierende Artikel “Wieder nur sch�ne Worte” wurde verfasst von Matthias R�b und ist erschienen am 16.09.2005 in der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung. Der Artikel thematisiert das Scheitern des UN-Generalsekret�rs Kofi Annan bez�glich des Gipfelabschlussdokuments des Weltgipfeltreffens in New York.
Die �berschrift des Artikels “Wieder nur sch�ne Worte” l�sst den Leser erahnen, dass es sich bei dem folgenden Artikel um eine deutliche Kritik handeln muss. Der Untertitel “Die Vereinten Nationen und die ewige Reformdebatte” macht sichtbar, dass speziell das UN- Gipfeltreffen in der Kritik des Autors steht.
Der Text kann in vier Sinnabschnitte gegliedert werden. Der erste Textabschnitt (Zeile 1-11) gibt eine Einf�hrung in das thematisierte Problem des Artikels. Es wird deutlich, dass der Autor nicht die inhaltlichen Schw�chen bei der Einigung des Gipfelabschlussdokuments kritisieren m�chte, sondern sich speziell auf Kofi Annan beschr�nkt. Der Konjunktiv “�h�tte�.werden sollen.” zu Beginn des Artikels zeigt, dass Kofi Annans Erwartungen nach Ansicht des Autors sich nicht erf�llt haben. Die Superlative “gr��te” und “h�chste” verdeutlichen die Bedeutsamkeit des Treffens im Allgemeinen aber auch die Bedeutsamkeit des Treffens speziell f�r Kofi Annan. Mit dem Nomen “Verm�chtnis” vermittelt der Autor das Bild, dass Kofi Annans Geschichte als UN- Generalsekret�r bereits zu ende sei. Durch den parataktischen Satz “Kofi Annan ist gescheitert.” verst�rkt er dieses Bild. R�b gibt zwar Angaben dar�ber, dass Annan bis zum 31.12.2006 sein Amt behalten wird, aber insgesamt wirken die Informationen sehr unkonkret, da sie mit Ausdr�cken wie “t�uschen” und “wahrscheinlich” �bermittelt werden. In einem Zitat (Zeile 7-10) des Generalsekret�rs wird das Gegenteil von vorher Berichtetem behauptet. Kofi Annan spricht davon, dass des falsch w�re den Prozess als gescheitert zu bezeichnen. Insgesamt klingt das kurze Zitat zuversichtlicher als die Angaben des Autors. Der Autor l�sst im ersten Abschnitt an vielen Stellen sein Werturteil mit einflie�en ohne dies an Fakten zu belegen. Adjektive wie “unerfreulich”, “unverdrossen” oder der Ausdruck “…f�llt die Bilanz d�nn aus.” erzeugen eine pessimistische Stimmung. Das Zitat Kofi Annans stellt eine Ausnahme dar, da es optimistischer klingt und versucht Gr�nde f�r ein eventuelles Scheitern zusuchen.
Das Problem der Vielf�ltigkeit der 191 Staaten, welches eine Einigung sehr schwer macht, wird im zweiten Abschnitt aufgegriffen. In dem zweiten Abschnitt (Zeile 12- 23) versucht der Autor die strukturell bedingten Schwierigkeiten der vereinten Nationen zu verdeutlichen. R�b kritisiert, dass jedes Land h�ufig versuche nur die Interessen der Staatchefs und nicht die der Bev�lkerung zu thematisieren Die Verben “verpflichten”, und “schulden” im Bezug auf die Regierungen zeigen die Abh�ngigkeit vieler UN- Vertreter. Die Betitelung “Club von Diplomaten” und die Information, dass viele UN-Gesandte nicht nach Bef�higung, sondern nur als Belohnung f�r besondere Dienste oder aufgrund von guten Beziehungen UN- Vertreter werden, macht die Kritik an der Zusammensetzung des Weltgipfeltreffens deutlich. Insgesamt f�llt auf, dass diese Kritik nicht an Beispielen belegt wird bzw. es fast so scheint, als w�rde jeder UN �Vertreter unf�hig sein seine Arbeit auszu�ben. Angaben wie “in den seltensten F�llen” oder “die nicht oft�ausgesucht werden” machen die verallgemeinernde Kritik deutlich.
Im dritten Abschnitt bezieht sich R�b auf das pers�nliche Verschulden Kofi Annans. Dabei wendet sich R�bs Kritik an den UN- Korruptionsskandal im Irak von 1996-2003. Seine Kritik wird vor allem in der Auswahl bestimmter W�rter sichtbar. Mit Ausdr�cken wie “schwere Vers�umnisse”, “gravierende M�ngel” oder “mutma�lich gr��te Korruptionsskandal” sollen Kofi Annans Fehler als UN- Generalsekret�r zum Ausdruck gebracht werden. Au�erdem verwendet R�b W�rter wie “UN- Hilfsprogramm”, “humanit�ren Programm”, “Not leidende Bev�lkerung” auf der einen Seite, und Begriffe aus dem kriminellen Bereich wie “Bestechung und Preistreiberei”, “Schmiergeldzahlungen”, “herauszupressen” und “Missbrauch” auf der anderen Seite. Anhand dieses Kontrasts in der Verwendung der W�rter wird die kritische Darstellungsweise des UN-Konflikts verst�rkt. Die Syntax ist �berwiegend hypotaktisch aufgebaut. Dadurch erscheint das Aufz�hlen von Informationen noch umfangreicher und somit die Anzahl der entstanden M�ngel von Seiten der Vereinten Nationen noch h�her. Der letzte Satz (“Annan bedauerte die Fehler und �bernahm die politische Verantwortung”) des dritten Abschnitts hingegen, ist sehr kurz gehalten. Hier wird, wie auch schon im ersten Abschnitt (“Kofi Annan ist gescheitert”), das Bild von einem UN- Generalsekret�r, der am Ende seiner Karriere steht vermittelt. Die kurzen S�tze werden beim Lesen schnell als Tatsache aufgefasst und nicht hinterfragt.
In dem letzten Abschnitt wendet sich der Autor wieder an einen Fehler aus der Vergangenheit Kofi Annans. Der Abschnitt greift den Inhalt des letzten Satzes des vorangegangen Abschnitts wieder auf und spricht von “beispiellosen Trag�dien”. Er bezieht sich dabei auf das von Seiten der UN nicht verhinderte Massaker in Ruanda im Juli 1995. Auch hier wendet R�b sich mit seiner Kritik an Kofi Annan. Er betont, dass Annan damals der Chef der UN-Abteilung f�r Friedenstruppen gewesen ist. Durch das Verb “nicht vermochten” wird R�bs Kritik an die Vereinten Nationen offensichtlich. Es scheint als w�rde er der UN unterstellen das Massaker absichtlich nicht verhindert zu haben. Um seine Unterstellung jedoch zu belegen spricht der Autor von Warnungen, auf die die UN nicht eingegangen sei. Nach dem gleichen Prinzip geht er auch bei dem n�chsten Vorfall, dem Anschlag auf den Sitz der UN- Mission in Bagdad, vor. Auch hier bezieht R�b die vernachl�ssigten Warnungen mit in seine Kritik ein. Dennoch werden bei beiden Geschehnissen die Gr�nde f�r das Ignorieren der Warnungen au�en vorgelassen. Die Ereignisse werden nur von einem Gesichtspunkt aus betrachtet. Hinzu kommt, dass sie als Grund f�r das Scheitern Kofi Annans auf dem Weltgipfeltreffen 2005 genommen werden. Jedoch ist vor allem der ausf�hrlichere berichtete Vorfall in Ruanda 10 Jahre her. Der Leser erf�hrt durch die Informationen aus der Vergangenheit keinen Zusammenhang zur heutigen Situation bzw. Gr�nde f�r die aktuelle Problematik.
Auff�llig ist auch, dass nach dem Informieren �ber die scheinbaren Fehltritte Annans, die Information �ber das Erhalten des Friedensnobelpreises f�r die UN 2001 erfolgt. R�b lobt au�erdem, dass Kofi Annans Aufstieg in der UN seit seinem Betritt 1962. Es scheint als wolle der Autor am Ende seines Artikels den UN- Generalsekret�r doch nicht ganz im Licht seiner negativen Kritik stehen lassen. In den letzten beiden S�tzen bezieht sich R�b wieder auf das Weltgipfeltreffen. Die S�tze sind wieder kurz gefasst. Der UN- Generalssekret�r wird als ein “sichtlich bedr�ckter Annan” charakterisiert. Der letzte Satz “Seine Rede klang nach Abschied” greift die von R�b vorher erl�uterte Tatsache des Scheiterns Kofi Annans wieder auf. Auch an dieser Stelle gibt der Autor keine weiteren Informationen weshalb die Rede nach Abschied klang. Er verwendete den parataktischen Satzbau, um sein Urteil als feststehend sichtbar zu machen.
Zusammenfassend f�llt auf, dass der der Text �berwiegend deskriptiv verfasst wurde. F�r den Autor steht das Scheitern Kofi Annans fest. Er versucht dies dem Leser zu vermitteln, indem er Begr�ndungen in dem strukturellen Aufbau der UN und in Fehlern der Vergangenheit seitens des Generalssekret�rs sucht. Dabei zeigt, er zwar auf, weshalb aus seiner Sicht Kofi Annan gescheitert ist, aber insgesamt wirkt seine Darstellungsweise nicht �berredend bzw. �berzeugend. Seine Absichten liegen vielmehr in der Vermittlung der Kritik an der UN Organisation bzw. des Generalsekret�rs.

Mirabilis (ICQ) started to give away ICQ # starting at 10000 so basically this is the 8039th number.

Anyway, I registered this PC when I was waiting for my dad in the office. I have always been interested in the Internet and always been reading stuff on the internet. Back then ICQ was announced in some news and I was so curious about this “new way of chatting” (before I was only using IRC – Internet Relay Chat) that I signed up.
Back then I didn’t have my own domain, not to dream of server or web space, so I was using a freemail service such as yahoo. Account registered, details entered (birthday, Nationality, Languages spoken, About etc) and then for long time (after some non-frequent use) nothing happened. ICQ kind of became unpopular for me, since all my friends were using IRC and no one could be bothered to sign up. So I kind of binned it, leaving the details “saved” on my (well actually this is quite important: it was not my PC, but my father’s companies one!) PC.

After two or three years, I can not really remember I started to use ICQ again, but I wasn’t really aware of my old account and thus registered a new one which I was from then on using more frequently to chat with my friends abroad. This was even long before anyone at school or in my class even knew ICQ as a chat tool, so much for the gap of internet knowledge at early times (not meant to glorify my internet use!).

Here is where it gets interesting, I think it was more a chain of coincidences, that lead me to my old ICQ account 108039: My father changed companies and brought home this particular PC (which I was using before, but then was given back to the office clerk, then back to my father for home use and so on.. back then (again) it was not very usual to format PCs every few weeks and forth)) and asked me whether I’d use it as a new router for our newly established DSL broadband internet access.

Since I didn’t have that much to do (contrary to today), I agreed to spend some time looking into things, googling for one-disk linux routers. But before I formatted thee ol’ mill, I had to look through files that had to be backup’ed. Under C:\Program Files\ I found something interesting which raised my attention. A folder called ICQ. Wow! I had discovered my old account! But I couldn’t login, since the PC was not connected to the Internet. So I had to go to the local PC store, get a compatible Ethernet card (one with a BNC clip – ugh) and set it up to connect to the net. Some hours later I was able to login using the saved password! And it worked! It worked out of the box like a charm!. You cannot imagine how happy and surprised I was to find all my old contact in place, people that I didn’t speak with for years.

But another problem occurred, I didn’t know the password but wanted to use the account from my own PC upstairs. After some research a found different programs that were able to unmask the stars and showed the password. The password I had it set was so stupid:
JAyJAy0208.
I used a program similar to the one I am using nowerdays, it is called SIW. See the information below (also links to download it).

SIW is a System Information tool that gathers detailed information about your system properties and settings. [...] SIW also displays currently active network connections, Passwords hidden behind asterisks [...] A standalone tool that does not require installation.

Get it at author’s website | direct download (exe) | torrent download | mirror (exe)

Anyway, I was using my new ‘old’ account on my desktop PC and decided to change the password to one that I was using for other services such as e-mail, bouncer etc.
It was lowercase letters and 6 digets only and contrary to the password I had used when I signed up (read above), JAyJAy0208 had a change of uppercase and lowercase as well as numbers.
In terms of security the old password was stronger then the one I selected.

This is, at least so I think, what lead to the loss of my account, from one day to the next I was unable to login anymore. At first it was some kind of issue with Trillian or the ICQ service in general, but since the error code was remaining the same (Wrong Password) for days I assumed there was something wrong with my account. Of course official e-mail to ICQ didn’t receive a reply, post in the forums where ignored or deleted and in general no one felt like helping. After some time I figured out that my account could have probably been hacked, because I was not even able to get to the security question which could be used to reset my password. Also most of my personal information was deleted from the account profile. The only things left were my date of birth, my nationality and my spoken languages. My name, e-mail address and nickname were erased.

I started to research things, and googled for sites where you could buy UINs on, here are two exemplary excerpts:

It seemed like as if people were willing to pay great amounts of $ for low diget ICQ account, such as mine (108039). I checked many sites, russian sites, turkish sites, czech sites, german sites and asian sites, to no success. So I started to add so called “UIN dealers or Shop owners” and asked them to acquire the UIN 108039 for me (I used another account and said I wanted this ICQ number badly and was willing to pay, just to check whether it was available from a pool of hacked icq numbers or not), but no one was able to get it.
So where was my ICQ number? Who owned it, or hacked it? Was it a database error or mistake by ICQ?
Obviously the account was not deleted because of inactivity because ELSE I could not have logged in initially and changed the password and then again used it for weeks before the loss occurred.

I was running out of ideas and started to accept the “loss”, I began to re-add the folks of my old contact list to my new account and let grass cover the hole for some days. I was then approached by some russian dude, who had read my post on the ICQ forums. He said that he was experiencing the same symptoms, and that he had gotten a contact to some ICQ admin (I am not allowed to write here, I promised) and that he was willing to share that with me for $5 to be transfered to him via western union. Quite promising I thought, also because he had sent me an e-mail log (conversation) with this particular admin and he seemed quite cool and helpful. Thus I decided to take the risk and pay the five bucks. I received the contact the day after, added the person and told him my story in short. I knew that this admin wouldn’t have loads of time and was also worried of his contact given around like a stray dog, so I summed things up, explained how I got the contact and my situation, said that I could proof that I was the legal owner of this ICQ account and so on. This admin was not working in the security/account department , so he couldn’t promise anything, and of course he had 100s of better things to do then to help out some random dude from the internet. But he was so kind to ask his mate who’d worked in the security department if he wanted to look at things. He told me that I had to convince this admin with good proof and reasons that I am the owner and not some scammer wanting to make some quick bucks!

So I scanned in my Identity Card, my driving licsence and my travel passport and sent it to his e-mail address. He printed it out and went with these documents to his friend in the lunchbreak, and the next thing I remember is that I received an e-mail from ICQ three hours later, saying that my primary e-mail address had been reset, to enter all new security questions and with a brand new password with lowercase, uppercase, digets and special characters. I logged in using this password and it worked like a charm! wow, amazing! I am so thankful, still.
The password is similar to this (of course this is not my password, duh): s&Bo$7i!

If there is anything, ever, that I can do to repay you guys, in case you read this, I will do my best to sort things out.

* As a response to increasing UIN theft of attractive or very short UINs by hackers, ICQ started to store email addresses previously associated to a UIN. UINs that are stolen with phishing or brute force techniques can since then be retaken by their rightful owners using the password retrieval service on ICQ.com, even after the associated primary email address has been changed or replaced by the hacker. This only applies if a valid primary email address has been entered into the user profile since 1999.

further reading (not encouraged actually)

That article does not contain the full and detailed description of system – at present it is impossible. We shall consider only general moments.

Earlier all was rather simple. In details of ICQ UIN was specified e-mail on which it was possible to send the password. Use for restoration of older e-mail’s kill newer. Who owned root primary e-mail (the first entered) – that owned UIN and always could send the password from UIN on this e-mail. It was the “classical” system of retrieve and it did not cause any difficulties in users in understanding of mechanisms of the work.

At the end of March, 2005 ICQ has added an opportunity of retrieve of the password through answers to the questions earlier established by the owner of ICQ UIN.

Has appeared two variants of installation of questions/answers to UIN:

1. Through page of questions/answers: /password/setqa.php.

We enter ICQ UIN and the password and at once we get on page of entering of questions/answers.

2. Through page of retrieve of the password: /password.

In the form we enter our UIN, ” Next>>”. At first use of this page you will need to send a code on primary e-mail. Then, using the received code to enter questions/answers. You automatically get the new password from UIN on the present primary e-mail.

After installation of questions – answers, we get two variants of restoration of the password from ICQ UIN:

1. Get the new password under the entered questions/answers to any e-mail.

On the /password At the left we enter UIN, we press ” Next > > “. Here it is necessary to reply established by us earlier and to specify anyone e-mail.

2. Get a code on primary e-mail, entering of new questions/answers, get the new password.

At already entered questions/answers to page of retrieve of the password on any e-mail hardly is lower than the first question there is a small reference “If these are not your questions & answers, click here.” it is used for change of questions/answers through getting of a code on e-mail.

Let’s note some features of new system:

1. That e-mail, entered in a detail of ICQ UIN, set as primary e-mail, it is necessary at first to enter questions – answers again.

2. Primary e-mail can work only once. I.e. after use of the code sent on primary e-mail, primary “killed”.

3. The ladder of primary, characteristic for “classical” system of retrieve here was kept. Certainly, with note, that primary can be used once.

4. To replace the established questions – answers it is possible only through getting of a code on e-mail..

New rules of work of retrieve were generated somewhere within one month and prior to the beginning of February 2006 all worked without changes while ICQ again has not changed a rule of work of system:

1. After installation of questions – answers new primary e-mail in UIN it is not entered.

I.e. in a detail of ICQ UIN e-mail certainly registers, but by system of retrieve it is not perceived. Because of it UINs in general without primary e-mails have appeared, questions – answers on which to change it is impossible.

2. Root primary does not disappear in general.

In the previous version ??????? all e-mails worked only once.

However the most interesting has taken place in June 2006:

1. On the page for installation of questions – answers /password/setqa.php Now one question, instead of two is entered.

For the user there is no special difference two questions – answers to use or one.

2. If in UIN questions – answers were entered throw the page /password/setqa.php it became possible to change the first question – answer.

At last users who have received in the last version of retrieve UINs without primary, with unchangeable questions – answers could change even one question – answer. However now in case of theft of UIN to return it through answers it will not turn out any more since the malefactor most likely will replace first of answers. It puts under a question introductions of system of confidential questions – to return number it is possible only through primary e-mail.

3. Many primary e-mails have ceased to work. As though them have simply removed from base ICQ.

For example, have killed almost all old primary which were once entered in numbers, have disappeared the majority e-mails which were entered till January of 2006 (then still it was necessary to put questions – answers that e-mail was fixed in base). Thus work e-mails, entered in the invisible being this year (without preliminary installation of questions – answers). A principle on which primary have disappeared it is not clear. It is more similar to failure in system, rather than on the planned change of logic.

It is obvious, that it is necessary for usual users ICQ only with the maximal attention and severity to observe all rules of ICQ-security, to keep number ICQ, since to hope for changeable system of restoration ICQ it is practically useless.

2. Prodi is off the opinion that the relation between the UK and Europe could be better than it currently is. He cannot understand why some people think that the EU wants to oppress the UK. (L.20-21) By using the colloquial expression “your fellow Europeans” Prodi wants to point out how absurd such an assumption of oppression is. To show that the EU is not a complete but an always changing organization Prodi uses the present progressive form “The Europe we are building” (l.22). To convince his audience that the European Union does not oppress national customs and cultures he uses a climax (to express our regional, national, and European identities without l 24-25). Prodi tries to compare the mixed culture situation in Britain with the situation of the EU to convince his audience that Britain is tolerant enough to fully accept the EU. By using the enumeration “England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland” (l.27) Prodi wants to show how divers and also tolerant the British mentality is. The expression “So I appeal to you” is a direct address to the audience. Prodi asks the British population to use its national tolerance in regard to the European Union. The word ?please? illustrates the importance of this sentence for Prodi. He uses the expression “European future” or “future of Europe” (l. 31+35) when he speaks of Britain’s policy to show how important the UK is for the European future. Prodi refers to Britain’s “island status” (l.36) to find reasons for its European isolation. To underline his assumption he uses a quotation of Winston Churchill in which he says that “each time the UK has to choose between Europe and the open sea, it will always choose the open sea” (l.37-39). The metaphor of the “open sea” in this context stands for national freedom and independence. The short sentences “That may be so. Britain is an island?”(l.39) show Prodi’s consternation concerning this fact. By using the word ‘But’ (l.39) Prodi wants to point out that there is still hope in regard to the relation between the European Union and the UK. The expression “deep down” (l.39) shows that the there isn’t a clear but more over a hidden connection between both.
The adverbs “culturally” and “historically” (l.40) illustrate the close connection between Britain and the EU. By using the anaphora “For their” (l.41-42) Prodi underlines his admiration towards Britain.
He cannot understand why the UK cultivates its relation to the USA but not to Europe which is far closer. The distance between the UK and the USA is shown by the number of ‘three thousand miles’. The nearness between the UK and Europe is illustrated by the verb ‘belongs’ (l.47). Prodi tries to find reasons for the close relation to the USA but he doesn’t find a right solution. The sentence ‘I don’t think it is the case’ shows that his previous assumption hasn’t been confirmed yet. It becomes clear that the main topic of Prodi’s speech is the relation between the UK and Europe. To emphasize his argumentation Prodi repeats arguments which he has mentioned before. (“Britain is culturally and historically part of Europe”) (l.52) Prodi uses a quotation of John Donne to show that it is very important for Europe that the United Kingdom won’t dissociate from it. At the end of his speech he says that Europe and the UK “could live without each other” but by using the enumeration “less wealthy, less strong and less secure” (l.58-59) Prodi points out that it would have negative consequences for both.
All in all it becomes clear that Romano Prodi is very emotionally influenced by the UK-European discussion. His speech is full of valuing words such as “proud”, “great admire”, “indispensable”, and “hope”. It seems as if it is very important to him that the UK increases its efforts to ameliorate their relation with the European Union.