Il Molino

 After the last class of the semester yesterday, one of my students asked us "what do you think about the Molino?" 

I responded "Oh, it's great. I like that it's a counter-culture space right in the middle of Lugano." 

The student kind of looked down and said "Oh...no...they demolished it Sunday morning at like 2am..." 

Here is what it used to look like

 And here's all that remains

If I can say anything about this town this whole thing is shocking but is not very surprising. Il Molino was an autonomous collective space that was occupied by the kinds of people that I'm certain were looked down upon here in Ticino. Punks, vagrants, squatters. One of the few positive memories I have in this town was when I went to a performance of a piece on Frida Kahlo along with a vegan tamale dinner. Another time I went to a screening of the wonderful film "La Mujer Fantastica" about an Argentinian trans woman. This was the kind of thing that went down at this place: interesting, unique, against the grain. I'm really sad that it's gone and angry that the conservative government here chose to demolish it in the middle of the night, probably to avoid public spectacle. There were folks living there that now have no place to go...

I just hope that the fight still continues

Patience

Watching most of my folks in the US and elsewhere get appointments, first doses, and second doses has me feeling some typa way. It's wild to me how Switzerland, the pharmaceutical capital of the world, is somehow tripping over itself to get enough vaccines to vaccinate a national population smaller than that of New York City. And yet here we are. I also want to recognize that vaccine apartheid is real and the vaccine situation in the Global South makes me furious at the greed and ineptitude of people and structures that uphold such stark inequity. As always, the oroboros of capitalism exists to consume itself as the whole thing will most likely come back to bite the Global North if something isn't done. 

Now, because of who I am as a person, I've taken to maintaining an Excel spreadsheet with all the data relevant for my region. 

 

It's really telling that a lot of the information is coming from the German part of Switzerland (because most folks here including the ones at the regional newspaper it seems have decided that Covid is over). At the moment it seems as though Moderna is experiencing delivery delays, which is unfortunate because my region decided to rely predominantly on Moderna for its supply. I haven't seen anything in the news or on the websites to indicate that it will pick back up but I'm guessing it has to at some point. It's all very confusing and I'm trying to make sense of it the best I can. But I suppose when it all comes down to it, all I can do is wait. 

I did manage to get an appointment in Zurich. According to the Bundesamt für Gesundheit (Federal Health Office) it is perfectly legal to be vaccinated in another canton. But it would surprise me approximately zero percent if I were to make the trip up there only to have some crusty old white dude be like "no...because, reasons." So we'll see how that goes.

You will be attacked by zombies

Recently, I've delved back into the world of video games. While I was living in Vancouver, I purchased a Switch which was a game changer (haha). I immediately downloaded Animal Crossing and Pokemon Sword, because I'm basic and I like to have fun. But then I also got into the final fantasies for nostalgia purposes. I had never played FF12  and it seemed like a good one so I eventually made it to the magical world of Ivalice to distract me from this mundane plane of existence.

 

As I was jauntily exploring one dungeon or the other, I became stuck and decided to seek advice. I've always been the kind of person who checks the internet for strategy guides, tips and tricks, insider info. I just like to be informed and the anxiety of missing out on the best weapons and items always led me to avail the internet for its hidden knowledge. I think it has to do with my need for control and assurance that I'm doing the right thing. If x, then y. That type of thing.

 

So, I was reading this strategy guide and it was filled with the usual directives BUT the phrase "'you will be attacked by zombies' but don't worry" stuck with me. How nice to be told in advance that you'll have to deal with the undead horde. Things that are actively trying to harm you. All you have to do is follow this advice and the threat will be eliminated and you can go back to doing whatever it is you were trying to do.

It'd be nice to have a guide out here.