2008/05/27 Baghdad
Roll and knead
In the name of security
This morning I went to the CPIC (Combined Press Information Center) to pick up my badge. For this I underwent an iris scan and my ten fingers were being fingerprinted.
I had to roll my fingers from left to right, this maneuver was not without difficulties -- I got help from a female soldier who pressed and rolled my fingers tenderly.
I’m not sure about her rank; I was smitten with her soft hands. To a certain degree the taking of my fingerprints could be described as an erotic experience. While she was rolling my fingers I was wondering if she would roll and knead (some of the fingerprints were not recognized by the computer the first time, it was a lengthy process) the fingers of all journalists coming to Baghdad or that she would knead and roll and massage my fingers a little bit longer, all in the name of security of course.
There is tenderness in Baghdad; you just have to be open for it.
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19 comments 
You dirty old man!
Will there be any of your short stories on Radio 6 in the near future? I miss them.
Will there be any of your short stories on Radio 6 in the near future? I miss them.
Jan T
Next week I'll start again. The VPRO was not very flexible and it's hard for me to be available at certain times while in Iraq.Also my cell phone is not working in all areas.
Arnon
J.G. Ballard's theory is that we need a little violence and danger in our lives to feel alive. He even suggests that the boring affluent (sub)urban consumerist lifestyle will generate risk-taking and violent actions because there is a fundamental lack of "rawness". He also connects violence and danger with sex. (He's actually written a few too many books about this theme now.) I wonder if this finger-rubbing erotic tenderness was a uniquely Baghdad experience, or if you could imagine the same situation in Amsterdam or New York?To Arnon Grunberg
You said of Geert Istendael's work: 'Er zijn belangrijkere dingen aan de hand.' (I paraphrase.) I assume you would argue something similar of Kristien Hemerechts’ work.Recently she published a pamphlet, on male sexuality in literature. Among others Coetzee’s work is portrayed as immoral towards women. From the interviews, and a pre-publicized excerpt it wasn’t clear what whether it was immoral towards women reading the book, or women portrayed in the book.
As you find yourself – for the time being – in a war zone, I assume that you have troubles of different sorts on your mind. Nevertheless letting you know this, didn’t seem unsuitable to me.
Carlos
Didn't Houellebecq write about Ballard? Or am I mistaken?This could never have happened in New York or Amsterdam. As a foreigner you get fingerprinted upon arrival in the US. But don't think that an immigration officer will tenderly kneed and roll your fingers.
Pjötr
Is the pamphlet published? If yes, which publishing house and what's the title?To Arnon Grunberg
All information you asked for can be found at Querido's website:http://www.querido.nl/boekboek/show/id=101003/dbid=17704/typeofpage=66357
The interview I referred to is published on www.nrcboeken.nl
the prepublicised excerpt is available through www.standaard.be. I assume you are not an abonnee, would forwarding it to Johannes be welcomed?
Rectification
the word 'abonnee' is erroneous. 'Subscriber' is the English word for it.I apologise.
Rectification
Once again I apologise:'prepublicised' should be 'pre-published'.
fingerprinting
Arnon,From experience I can tell you that it is done in about the same manner in the Netherlands. The Male officer taking my prints told me it is called "gewipt en gerold". It might be me, but that did give the experience a slight erotic ring.
@Pim
‘Gewipt and gerold’ does not have any erotic connotation to me. It sound to me as ‘deceived and fucked’ (Maybe that is exactly what it is).
‘Gewipt and gerold’ does not have any erotic connotation to me. It sound to me as ‘deceived and fucked’ (Maybe that is exactly what it is).
And Now for Something Completely Different. Seen on Dutch TV – VPRO:
http://conflictsforum.org/
http://conflictsforum.org/
Jan Thijs
I guess not everybody is turned on by the same things.Pjötr
Thanks. I just order the book and fyi I do have a subscription to de Standaard.But to be sure, please send the text to Johannes.
Rolling and kneading is standard procedure in a manicure. Now I understand why you are so found of Irina.
I'm making fingerprints of my own the last couple of days. I put some desktop-glue on my hands, rub it out and let it dry. When it's dry it forms a film which you can peel off. What you get is a thin piece of skin. Love it.
Dens
Are you alright?@ Dens
A touching image. An almost grown up playing with glue. My favourite glue is woodworker's glue.I'd admit that I've been better, but I can't complain.
Woodworkersglue is fine, but too white to make some fun with it. (The fun I have that is)
Woodworkersglue is fine, but too white to make some fun with it. (The fun I have that is)
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