I Shall Not Be Moved

It is not known who wrote the song and when, only that the lyrics stretch back to the slave era. It later became a song used for labour and civil rights movements, for resistance in general (via).

::: Ella Fitzgerald: I Shall Not Be Moved: LISTEN 

::: Johnny Cash: I Shall Not Be Moved: LISTEN

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Glory hallelujah, I shall not be moved 

Anchored in Jehovah, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the waters 

I shall not be moved 

In His love abiding, I shall not be moved 

And in Him confiding, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the water 

I shall not be moved  

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the waters 

I shall not be moved 

Though all Hell assail me, I shall not be moved 

Jesus will not fail me, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the water 

I shall not be moved  

Though the tempest rages, I shall not be moved 

On the rock of ages, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the water 

I shall not be moved 

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the water 

I shall not be moved 

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

I shall not be, I shall not be moved 

Just like the tree that's planted by the water 

I shall not be moved  

lyrics via

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photographs of the amazing Ella Fitzgerald (Empire Room at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, N.Y., 30 March 1971, AP Photo/Ron Frehm) via and via 

Celebrating Eight Years. A Party "Werner Herzog Style".

'I like to party, if by "party" you mean sitting alone in a darkened room contemplating the futility of human existence.' 

Werner Herzog

An "interesting" year has passed. Many people suffered from the symptoms of the virus, many died, many got insane and turned to conspiracy theories ... the pandemic was launched by Asians, by gays, by the Jewish, by non-Christians, by foreigners, lizards are coming ... When beds become scarce, we are willing to sacrfice the old, the disabled as if it were the most natural thing and no discussion follows. Half of the people lost forever were in retirement homes. Surely more could have been done to prevent their deaths but societies couldn't care less. Because age is not part of the diversity discussion. And if people die in other countries, it is because these "others" don't have such an advanced health system as "we" do.

This pandemic surely showed us our approach to diversity, the bias there is, the prejudices, the discrimination. It showed us who has the power to at least turn something into a discussion and who doesn't. Let's celebrate, nevertheless, and hope that in autum we will be smarter. I wish you all the sunshine there is, health, happiness ... and would like to thank you, again, for (still) following this blog. Thank you and stay healthy!

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photograph (c) by MLM

Forced to Retire

Manuel Gräfe is planning to sue the German Football Association for age discrimination. When he turned 47 in the last season, he was no longer allowed to continue to work as a referee despite being in shape, good performances and enjoying his job. Gräfe points out that the German Football Associaton states to stand up for diversity and to fight racism and discrimination but is at the same time keeping up the age limit. 

In the Netherlands, the age limit was abolished about twenty years ago (via), FIFA announced to eliminate age limits for international referees in 2014 (via and via), the Scottish Football Association made the announcement in 2012 (via). 

"We have seen examples elsewhere of match officials maintaining standards beyond the previous cut-off of 47 and it will be a major benefit to us in Scotland." John Fleming, SFA's head of referee development

"The retirement age of a referee was 48 back in 2000, but today, luckily, we don't have an age limit." Mike Dean, Premier League referee

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photograph (PA Archive/Press Association Ima), 1963 via

LSD Abuse and Gender

Men are more likely to abuse LSD; higher drug use rates are found among males across all ages. According to a study carried out in the U.S. in 2010, the rate of lifetime psychodelic drug abuse was 22% among males and 12% among females. One reason mentioned in literature is that economic downturns and the associated feelings of hopelessness and frustration may lead to increases in substance abuse with men trying to find a way to escape after losing or leaving a job (via). For short-term and long-term effects see e.g. HERE.



photograph by Gil Rigoulet via