Hungary

A very meaningful step not to allow the neo-Nazis to capitalise on the Church's authority (see the link). But look at this quote: "One should not exaggerate the division between church and state, Novák remarked."

What's this? We've seen priests go political, but when politicians claim to perform 'religious acts' and claim any religious authority, that's more than dangerous. Well, you can also argue that this is one of the least dangerous acts of Jobbik.

Now it will, of course, depend on individual priests cooperating with one side or the other.

The reason why I was inspired to write about this is in the entry of last week. It seems like I caught a cold, so I'll be breaf, but there is one point that really interests me as a wannabe gender researcher.

I'm in Budapest, and it's really enjoyable to be here in summer and have my very limited knowledge of the Hugarian language rushing back to me. The crisis landscape is the same as in Lithuania - every fourth window or so says "kiado" (for rent). I've seen only two homeless people so far, at the first try I met a Hungarian speaking very good English as I looked for a ticket office, and Hungarians are NOT making out in public anymore, and there is a strange statue near the CEU. Some things change, and some don't. Also, there's a new Hummus bar on Oktober 6 utca, which is convenient for students. Hummus bar is where foreigners look for good vegetarian food and nice services, as it's not inscribed in the faces of the staff there that they hate the job. Aviad, and Israeli expat and the person who used to run the first Hummus bar, is now in the new one, he's cool just because his name is exactly like my name read backwards, but what makes him even cooler is that with some effort he can remember people who frequented the place a year ago

Somehow the city looks lively, vibrant and relaxed, more than before.