Well I’m coasting in for splashdown on the Mars Trilogy, and it’s been a most enjoyable trip. I’m sorry to see this ride end. It’s been almost 2000 pages of densely written prose, but it’s been a constant companion for the better part of a month. I’ve spent my days looking forward to getting to a place where I can sit down and read for a while. Anyway, Danik, thanks for coming along. It definitely helps to chat with somebody while on a long read.
Anyway, I was clumsily trying to compliment the German people by saying they’re a laid-back version of the Swiss. What I mean is they’re like the Swiss except more easy going, less uptight, less obsessive-compulsive. You know, they’re more fun to be around. And even though when you’re in Germany you’ll still get scolded for crossing against the little red man, in Switzerland I think they feel obligated to run you over if you’re crossing against the little red man. They won’t even brake or swerve away from the offending pedestrian. I believe they’d actually speed up and swerve into a walker who has the audacity to disrespect the little red man. To do otherwise would be contrary to living in a well-ordered society. You see, if you let the small stuff slide, you might as well let everything go. Letting someone cross against the little man is just a hair’s breath away from anarchy.