FundamentallySound Blog

20:05, 14.04.2004
Unbelievable. What list has my name been put on that gets me put in the "potential threat" category every time I travel to America, or one of its puppet states, in this case, England. Right now I am sitting in the detention area of the London Stansted airport, was just told that I can't use my cellphone because this is a "secure" area. I have been waiting for thirty minutes now, and I can't even call my friend to tell him I'm going to be late, because I'm being detained. They have my passport, and have not given me any reason for this nonsense, other than that one of her colleagues needs to "question me further." Last time something like this happened, I was leaving San Francisco and was nearly physically molested by a security guard, to confirm that I wasn't a threat to anyone. I was not made for this world of border patrols and guilt until proven innocence. I wish they would just let me go back to Holland, people are a little less paranoid there.

09:47, 15.04.2004
After being detained for four hours last night at the airport, and interviewed/interrogated/searched/humiliated by a vile little man with beady eyes who was enjoying his intensely British-style egomaniacal power trip, at my expense, WAY too much (incidentally he called me a smart ass, because I pointed out the absurdity of his detaining me while there might be slightly more valuable ways for immigration officers to be spending their time, given the current state of the world), it was determined that my papers are not in order for the secondment with Blast Theory for which I was invited to this lovely country, the immigration officers doing me the "favor" of booking a flight back to Rotterdam tonight, at which time the pilot of the aircraft will determine whether or not to return my passport after leaving UK airspace.

The pathetically humorous disconnect between the way people actually live and the ridiculous rules made by governments is laughable. Every time my passport is stamped by some border patrol, I feel like I am participating in a game that appears to be about some thing, but in reality is meaningless, an empty artifact left over from international relations long ago. Maybe someday every race will have impregnated every other race enough so that all people are just dark yellow, and the whole world will join the EU, then things will be much simpler and more rational. Anyhow, I think I will spend my afternoon in London watching Brazil, a film that seems more relevant to my life all the time.