Blogger Insider, second edition Cebern Dodd Harris IV (that's how he calls himself at least) asked me the following ten questions. Check my questions and his answers in his weblog Ipse Dixit.

1. You haven't posted lately. Did you go on vacation? Yes. I have been in Southern France in Brouilla, a small village close to Perpignan. From there you have a nice view of the Canigou, one of the highest and most beautiful mountains of the Pyrenees. I went with my girl-friend Catherine (Q4) and we stayed at her mother's new house. We had beautiful sunny weather and drank and ate very well which is quite normal in France. We made day trips to Argeles at the Mediterranean, Prats-de-Mollo in the Pyrenees and Perpignan.

2. Have you ever been to North America? Yes. I was in New York State in 1979, in California in 1997 and in Massachusetts in 1999. I especially loved Sonoma County (great wine, forget Napa) and Cape Cod. Not to forget Big Sur and San Francisco, the most beautiful city I know. Very nice beer this Anchor Steam.

3. You worked for the European Commission. Will a federal state of Europe result in more homogeneity across the Continent? I doubt it. Europe is so bloody weak politically nowadays as historically France, Germany and Great Britain have always been enemies and they still cannot speak with one voice as they have different interests. Just take the Israel-Palestinia conflict. France has been on the side of the Arabs for a long time. Germany still cannot be against Israel because of what we did to the Jews from 1933-45. And what really sucks about Europe is the loss of language. In Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg they have their own Eurospeak, a kind of pidgin English with many stupid acronyms in it. I also left Luxembourg to regain a proper language and to have less superficial relations. Don't know if I succeeded.

4. This may be on your blog somewhere, but if so, I haven't found it: Married, single, seeing someone? see Q1.

5. You admire Leonard Cohen for the serenity evidenced by not having a lot of conviction about his own opinions. Are you that serene? Do you aspire to be? I would not admire him for his serenity if I were as serene. I like his modest attitude towards his opinions. That he does not take himself too seriously. Opinions are always subjective (only a part of the whole picture) and never right so yes I would like to be as detached from my opinons as Leonard Cohen is.

6. Since you haven't gotten around to doing it yet, why not tell us now why Camus was wrong? Shit. I knew this would happen. I should never announce anything in this blog. But ok I was thinking of Sisyphus which I consider as the focal point of Camus' philosophy. All Sisyphus (who stands for the modern man) is doing (in Greek mythology he is punished for something but that is not important for Camus I guess) is rolling this stone up the mountain and when the stone reaches the top it rolls down again and da capo ad infinam. Sisyphus' life has no meaning. My view is different. Though I have not chosen to live as a human being on planet earth I somehow feel the challenge to find out the meaning of my life here. I have not found it yet but that does not mean it does not exist. I would find it presumptuous to say my life is useless. Life is such a miracle that it cannot be totally futile I feel.

7. Should Basic Statistics should be a required course in high school? Though I studied statistics I do not really care about this. I guess not.

8. You like making 5 Item Lists, it seems. What are your Five Songs You Can Never Get Tired Of? Five is such a ridiculously small number for songs I like, but as you asked it, just what comes to my mind: A Forest by The Cure, Lucky Jim by The Gun Club, Julia by The Beatles, Transmission by Joy Division and Panic by The Smiths.

9. Is there any rhyme or reason to when you decide to post in German rather than your more usual English? Or is it just to provide some balance occasionally? Usually more personal and philosophical posts are in German. I did not want to write about too many personal things in this weblog. That's why it is mainly in English.

10. What's the referent for "sex and sunshine" as the title of a blog that focuses mainly on music? There is none. When thinking of a name "sex and sunshine" came to mind. Two of the most important experiences in life of which I still have not had enough. The music thing came later just to make clear that my site is not an adult site. The music blog which inspired me was Josh blog though he writes in a totally different way about music. His writing his precise and conscientious. Mine is vague and allegorical at best.