Emag 28

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Have you ever come across a situation or something that you couldn’t explain? Even if you searched the internet for an answer, you couldn’t find why or how it happened? I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point or another; sometimes we even get frustrated because Google doesn’t have enough results to satisfy our curiosity. Life is full of mysteries, as you’ll discover in this issue of eMAG. A mystery can come in so many different shapes and sizes, from falling in love with someone you thought was not your type to visiting a place so far away from home you thought you’d only dreamt of it. In the different sections of this issue of eMAG you’ll find articles that focus on these mysteries one way or another. Some articles take mysteries you’ve probably heard of and try to find an explanation for them. Others look into our surroundings and make us question if everything we know is true because most of the time finding a scientific explanation is not enough and we’d rather believe in the magic behind it.

Just sit down and relax while you read about the different mysteries this world has got to offer. Who knows - maybe this summer you’ll embark on a mysterious adventure yourself? Life is a mystery after all.

Author, Layout & Pictures: Roma Rodriguez

Your Editor-in-Chief, Roma

eMAG is an independent non-profit magazine published twice a year, by students, for students.

It is part of a University of Augsburg Language Center course, as well as the Begleitstudium Problemlösekompetenz. Everything related to the production of the magazine is conducted in English. The aim of eMAG is to entertain and inform the university community about international, intercultural and local topics in the English language. As part of its philosophy, every semester eMAG donate an advertisement to a local charity. We also regularly publish articles on our website www.eMAG-augsburg.de.

The content of individual articles does not necessarily reflect the team‘s view and opinions. print run: 1,500 | price: for free | published: Jul, 5th 2016 | printed at: Senser Druck GmbH | copyright: 2016 eMAG. All rights reserved. | www.eMAG-augsburg.de

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Table of contents 6

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14

35

Whole Wide World 20 30

8 Mysteries of the World

The call of the deep Of legends on a dollar bill Please defrost me in 300 years Somewhere over the rainbow Secure, Contain, Protect Becoming Hermione Ball Lightning

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Keep It Local

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The unsolved mysteries of the Moai The Devil’s Marbles Diving in a sea of stars The Voodoo experience A legendary trip around Scotland An MBA at the University of Dayton Watch Read Listen

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Do you actually know where you live?

Yes, I do Mystery of muggle quidditch solved!

Slenderman spotted in the Siebentischwald?

The tale of the evil washing monster Meow!

Meet my best boyish buddy We will rock you(r life)!

Why always so critical?

Horoscopes

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Kulinarische und literarische VerfĂźhrung...

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MYSTERIES OF THE WORLD eMAG 28.indb 6

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The call of the deep Something lies below Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface. At its deepest point, the ocean floor lies about 11 km below the surface. Its average depth is about three and a half km. Sunlight reaches down only 1 km – the onset of the so-called “midnight zone” - before being absorbed completely. Experienced divers can reach roughly 40 metres before they need highly specialized equipment and years of training to survive.

Delving into the darkness

The draw of the deep

Unknown origins

It’s really no surprise that even in today’s age, in which we are discussing missions to Mars and can launch rockets into space and have them land on the planet again, the deep sea is still one of the great unknowns. Nonetheless, the depths fascinate us. What could await us down there? New life forms - that’s for sure. We find them on every expedition into the darkness. Bizarre creatures that seem like they have been ripped straight from our worst nightmares. Most of them turn out to be harmless, mostly because of their size and the fact that they will obviously never come into contact with humans anyway, but that doesn’t stop us from feeling uneasy. Just think about what goes though your mind when you see a drop off in a lake.

Maybe there’s a giant fish down there, just waiting for something to venture into its realm. The unknown scares us, even on such a small scale. Just imagine how much more fearsome the predators of the deep sea must be.

Researchers use these instruments to record ocean noises like whale calls, sounds caused by massive icebergs breaking apart or running aground on their voyage from the poles, or underwater earthquakes that could potentially cause tsunamis. But every now and again they find sound signatures that do not fit the established categories. They are too loud, triggering sensors that are thousands of miles apart, or too structured for random background noise. Some of them have been registered only once, like “The Bloop”, a sound that was recorded in the Pacific in 1997 and puzzled researchers for years until a similar signature was detected during an ice quake.

Others have been heard regularly over decades, like “Upsweep”, which sounds almost like a siren, just much slower and much louder.

Many of these phenomena have been explained through seismic activity or other known natural events, but some remain a mystery.

The depths may be very inaccessible for us, but maybe that motivates us even more to try and find out more about them. One way that has turned out to be extremely versatile is the use of underwater listening posts. Formerly used to monitor the movement of submarines during the Cold War, today they have a much more peaceful function.

A mystery unsolved What causes these unidentified sounds? Is it just an ice field breaking apart, sending ripples through the sea with every fragment that breaks free, or is something else going on deep below the surface, at a point that we cannot possibly reach? All we can do is listen and wait. And maybe we will find an answer at some point. Or maybe the answer will find us.

Author: Andreas Böhm; Layout: Taimi Schalle; Pictures: Roma Rodriguez

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Of legends on a dollar bill Is this really George?

Needless to say, the order of the “Illuminaten” is one of the most famous secret societies in the world. This is partly because of Dan Brown’s novel “Angels and Demons” (2000). Conspiracy theories about the order are endless - with one even leading back to the first president of the USA, George Washington.

The beginnings The origins of this secret society can be traced back to Professor Adam Weishaupt, who founded the order of the “Perfektibilisten” in Ingolstadt in 1776. First they chose this name to refer to a key idea: the perfection of human nature by means of education and upbringing. But after two years of debating the name, they finally decided to change it. From then on, they called themselves the order of the “Illuminaten”. How illuminated Weishaupt and his followers actually were remains open, though. According to Weishaupt, it was an honor to be admitted into the “Illuminaten”, as Adam Weishaupt didn’t accept everybody that applied.

Conspiracy theories People love constructing speculations and conspiracy theories, don’t they? Having one more mystery in your life, though, seems to be one way of making it more exciting. Questions like “Who exactly rules the world?” and “Is there one organization that rules the world?” might come to mind. Some even say the order of the “Illuminaten” controls and dominates the world. And conspiracy theorists say the “Illuminaten” constantly exercise control over the world’s population and manipulate history. The “Illuminaten” are, for example, said to be responsible for the French Revolution, WW I and II. Is this simply humbug or mere speculation?

Adam Weishaupt & Washington The story has it that around 1785 Adam Weishaupt, after Europe had banned secret societies, had to hide in Gotha. After this, all evidence of Weishaupt’s whereabouts vanished. In the meantime, the USA had won the War of Independence, which ended with the Treaty of Paris.

As the first ever election of a president wasn’t until 1789, Adam Weishaupt had enough time to cross the ocean. Rumor has it that General Washington was killed in a battle and because Weishaupt’s appearance seemed to fit Washington’s, he was elected president instead – obviously as George Washington. Adam Weishaupt, apparently fluent in English – at least in the written word – had no major problems impersonating the late General. The only issue was his intonation and pronunciation: apparently there was a slight hint of German. Thus, he decided not to hold Washington’s big speeches anymore but write everything down instead. Sounds unbelievable? Well, take a look at some “evidence” below.

The one-dollar bill Everybody knows the one-dollar bill: green on the back, greyish on the front and teeming with symbols. The front of the dollar note shows a picture of George Washington. But is this really George Washington’s likeness or Weishaupt’s; as no one had cameras to prove either one, it will remain a mystery. The first symbol and thus sign of the “Illuminaten” is the

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tiny owl in the upper right corner, which can be found next to the number one. The owl is a symbol of the “Illuminaten”: owls are considered to be intelligent - just as Adam Weishaupt thought of his order. The back of the note hides many more symbols. The Great Seal, for example, depicts a bald eagle. In German this means “Weiskopfadler” – which refers to Adam Weishaupt himself (weiss = white, Haupt = head). It could also be interpreted as Adam being the first man, ergo, first president of the USA. Another important symbol is the all-seeing eye of god and the pyramid with its 13 steps. One part of the system of the “Illuminaten” was the “Secret School of Wisdom”, which had a hierarchy of “Minerval Assemblies”: 13 steps to climb on a pyramid. The eye describes great architects.

As the “Illuminaten” wanted to create a new world order, they saw themselves as a kind of architect. The text on the inscription below the pyramid basically calls for a new world order. Another symbol, the Roman number MDCCLXXVI refers to the year 1776. The Order of the “Illuminaten” was founded on May 1, 1776. Other symbols are not that important for this theory.

Do you need more convincing or was that enough?

Authors, Layout & Pictures: Melanie Schuster, Susi Tallmadge

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Please defrost me in 300 years How mankind plans to trick death The dream of living forever is as old as mankind, and if we look back in time, we can proudly say that we’re making good progress in achieving immortality. While many hundreds of years ago, during the Middle Ages, many people died not long after their 30th birthday, today, chances are, you can live up to the age of 100 years, which is nothing less than seventy years closer to an endless life.

For some, however, seventy years more don’t seem to be enough time, especially if we consider that it took us around 600 years to achieve this. But, as the human race tends to do, we came up with a way to solve this problem and the solution, ladies and gentlemen is called: cryonics. “What on earth is that?” you might think. Let me explain.

The Greek word cryos means “ice cold” and pretty much sums up what cryonics is, namely a technique for freezing people’s bodies shortly after their death with the idea of defrosting them in the future; thus bringing them back to life, curing their cause of death and rejuvenating them will all be possible.

Essential steps for a successful freezing and defrosting process For a successful freezing and defrosting process the following steps are essential: first of all, the body should be frozen as soon as possible after death, to a temperature below minus 130°C. At this temperature all chemical reactions in the human body stop, the decomposition processes that normally start soon after death can’t happen and the body remains as it is. In order to guarantee such a low temperature for many hundreds of years, cryonics makes use of liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of minus 196°C. To avoid damage to the cells while freezing the body, patients’ blood is carefully replaced by an anti-freeze liquid before they have cooled down.

Once the patients have been fully frozen, they are placed head first into a container with liquid nitrogen, where they can comfortably await future. Why head first, you might ask? The answer is simple: in case some of the nitrogen escapes from the container over the hundreds of years, it will not be the brain that is damaged first, but the feet, which will hopefully be easy to replace upon rebirth.

The first person to come up with the idea of freezing and later defrosting and reviving people was Robert Ettinger, who, in his book “The Prospect of Immortality” published in 1962, describes his plans to fulfil mankind’s dream of an endless life. He founded the Cryonics Institute, where he is now stored in a nitrogen tank next to his two wives waiting for a second life.

Immortality has its price But, as you can imagine, immortality has its price and it is a very high one at that: around 200,000 Dollars have to be paid for the all-inclusive immortality package. Thankfully, high costs have never been a true obstacle for us humans on our path towards progress.

Therefore it’s not surprising that over 100 people have already taken up a freezer in the Arizona desert in the storage building of

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the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, another organisation that offers cryonic services. Those who feel freezing the whole body is too costly shouldn’t despair, because another option is just preserving the brain, with the idea of receiving a new body in the future.

One problem remains One problem remains, however, for people who might be interested in waiting out medical progress in a freezer. The procedure is illegal in Europe, which is why European patients must be transported to the US to be placed in their temporary resting place. Transportation from a German deathbed to the nitrogen tank in the US takes about five days and patients are cooled down to 0°C for their journey.

As we know, 0°C is not cold enough to stop chemical reactions in the human body, which means decomposition of the body is only slowed down and not stopped. The damages to the brain are severe, supporters of cryonics fear and demand a change in German laws.

Until then crossing the Atlantic Ocean remains the first step towards immortality.

Author: Noemi Hehl, Katja Rollinger; Layout: Deborah Ghezzi; Pictures: Noemi Hehl, Lucy Hehl, Katja Rollinger

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Somewhere over the rainbow Pots of gold and bridges to other dimensions

“After every storm there comes a rainbow” – this is a saying people often think of during bad times. But have you ever wondered why rainbows are so fascinating? They appear when water droplets break the sunlight into the seven colours of the spectrum. In addition to being a scientific phenomenon, people also associate joy, luck and happiness with rainbows. But did you know that there are actually lots of myths and legends about this natural spectacle? #1: The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – Irish folklore This myth is based on many different stories that got mixed up and combined into one – the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Some say the legend originates from the Celts, who lived in Ireland before Christianity was introduced, while others think that rainbows often appeared to end at burrow mounds or megalithic tombs, which were entrances to the Tuatha de Dannan (“tribe of gods”, the supernatural race in Ireland) or the world of the fae. Realistically, the treasure, the famous pot of gold, is never attainable, as rainbows are circles and therefore have no end. And everyone sees another rainbow because of the different viewpoints. One thing you might already know is that the pot of gold is buried and guarded by the mythical creature, the leprechaun. He can be tricky or sometimes the opposite, generous and friendly. If you ever catch a leprechaun, he will grant you three wishes: what would they be?

Fun fact: Leprechauns are actually protected under EU law. A region in Ireland is officially protected because of the 236 Leprechauns that apparently live in Ireland.

#2: Bifrost – The rainbow bridge You might have heard about this myth because of the popular Marvel movies about Thor (the god of thunder) and his adventures. For all those who don’t know anything about it: its origins can be traced back to Norse mythology. Bifrost is a rainbow bridge that connects Asgard, the world of the “Aesir” (tribe of gods), with Midgard, the world of humans. The bridge was magically created by water, fire and air and only gods and those who die in battle were able to use it. It’s guarded by the god Heimdall, but during Ragnarok, the doom of gods (the end of the world), the bridge is destroyed by the frost giants, another tribe of spiritual giants. #3: The rainbow snake – Australian Aboriginal mythology This is the incredible myth about the rainbow snake. It’s the Creator in the Dreaming, which is an infinite period of time that began with the creation of the world and never ends. People, animals and eternal beings like the rainbow serpent itself are all part of the Dreaming.

For the Aborigines, the rainbow serpent is the creator of the world and all creatures. It doesn’t have a gender and it dominates the sky and the ground, as it can give fertility by creating rain. It sucks up all the water during the dry season and spits it out as rain during the wet season. Not everything is as good as it seems, though, because the rainbow snake can also bring about disease or chaos. Actually, this myth is known in many tribes all over the world and in each one they call it differently. Anyway, concerning the Aboriginal myth, rainbows signify humanity as they are associated with the creation of life.

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#4: Other legends → The Sumu of Honduras and Nicaragua refer to rainbow as walasa aniwe, which means “devil”. People don’t go outside and hide their children to keep them from looking or pointing at the rainbow till it disappears. → For Buddhists it’s the highest state achievable before attaining Nirvana,where individual desire and consciousness are extinguished. → In Hawaii, there’s the legend of the rainbow maiden Kahalaopuna.

It says that Kahala could be seen playing wherever the light of the sun or the moon touched the misty rain.

So these are the myths we found the most interesting, but there are several others from all over the world. So now you might want to go out and try to find the pot of gold and the little leprechaun at the end of the rainbow. It won’t be easy, so good luck! Maybe you’ll meet Thor and his thunder to ask advice from or even Kahala playing in the sky.

Have fun!

Author/Layout/Pictures: Deborah Ghezzi, Rebecca Pichler

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Secure, Contain, Protect An archive full of mysteries

“Secure, Contain, Protect” – This is the main objective of the SCP Foundation – an organization taking care of classified matters of national and international security. Working at great risk all of the time, its members actively detain monsters and keep track of weird phenomena around the world to keep you safe. Of course, their work doesn’t end there, as the organization also spends a lot of time studying these so-called “SCPs”. These studies include experiments on behavior and potential threat, and can, in some cases, be very dangerous. Their containment and experimental research is published in the form of scientific reports, which are all stored and accessible in their archive. Today, the archive consists of around 3,000 (!) reports and keeps growing.

That does sound weird... But what exactly is an SCP? As most things you know may come in all shapes and sizes, so do SCPs. Their appearances vary from a simple toaster to obscure shadow people and never-ending staircases. To make cataloging much easier, each anomaly is given a number. These catalog numbers also provide anonymity those who have been classified as SCP by the Foundation. Many different SCPs have been detained, amongst them the following three: The first SCP ever to be detained was classified as euclid (see info box) and was given the number SCP-173. It’s a Weeping Angel, a statue that snaps your neck from behind if you happen to break eye contact. Pretty scary, right? In Northern Canada, Foundation researchers found a giant lake containing a strange red liquid, that seems to function as a portal for dangerous entities of unknown origin. As it is huge, SCP-354 was given a classification as keter, and a whole research area was built around it.

But my favorite report is the safe SCP-1867. Hidden behind that number is Lord Blackwood, a nineteenth-century Englishman and naturalist. Doesn’t sound very weird, you think? The thing is, Lord Blackwood is actually a sea slug unaware of being one that communicates via telepathy. The Foundation suspects that his mind was somehow transferred to the body of a sea slug, but how that happened remains a mystery.

No, for real now, what’s the SCP Foundation all about?

I bet you’ve figured out by now, that this can’t possibly be a real organization. And you’re right! The SCP Foundation is actually an online writing community founded in 2008. The reports are entirely fictional, written by people like you and me.

However, the community is very well known for its strict writing policies for submitting an SCP and the emphasis on a clinical, scientific tone. Before they can be published, the articles have to be uploaded to a forum where everyone can give immediate feedback to the author, to improve the writing and reading experience for everyone. The goal is to create a scientific report that sounds convincingly real for the reader. Members can up- and downvote each article, creating a list of top-notch reports and stories. Yes, stories! The archive itself not only consists of the SCP Database, but also of the Foundation Tales, where some people write whole novels about SCPs or the Foundation itself, and, of course, the Canon Hub, a selection of different canons and alternate universes, where the tales are set.

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So, you’re into sci-fi, urban fantasy, creepypastas or other weird stuff?

If you answered at least one of these affirmatively, this might be a website just for you. You don’t have to be a member to read through the huge archive, but be careful not to get sucked in too much! Once you’re in, it’s hard to get out, and there are many mysteries yet to be discovered! Or perhaps you’re a passionate writer and would like to contribute? Anyway, the website is really worth a visit... but probably not at night!

Find out more on: http://www.scp-wiki.net/ The Box Test A metaphoric approach to containment levels • Safe – Simply put the SCP in a box.

Does it stay there? Cool, it‘s safe then!

• Euclid – The SCP might leave the box on its own, unless actively contained.

• Keter – You have to put intense effort into keeping this SCP inside a box.

Author: Mélanie Fournier ; Layout: Anna Reinbold ; Pictures: Mélanie Fournier, Brigitte Köberlein

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Becoming Hermione Wicked witches and silly students

I always wanted to be a witch. I’m sure some of you still remember the complete and utter disappointment when you didn’t get a letter from Hogwarts on your eleventh birthday. I personally never really got over that and so I decided to relive some of that glory now that I’m an adult (more or less).

Since I’m never going to be as powerful as Willow Rosenberg (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer for all you young whippersnappers out there) or as badass as Hermione Granger (I really hope you know her) I needed to settle for something closer to my own abilities. For starters, I tried some random spells I found on the internet. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have started by trying to summon a demon.

confused, as if he had just crossed the veil between worlds. Or as if he had just seen a grown person scatter daisies into a pot, murmuring something creepy, in the middle of the night, in a park.

On second thought, he might not have been a demon at all. Maybe he was just a lonesome wanderer. Someone who’s surely going to be more careful now when walking alone at night. After all, who knows what could be out there … wicked witches maybe … or silly students …

I made use of my trusty old pot (cauldron) from the kitchen by putting it into the flames, which immediately extinguished my measly attempt at a fire. Then I put some water into the pot and added some daisies and dandelions (magical herbs).

With my chopstick (wand) I stirred the potion, mumbling some random words that sounded appropriately magical to me.

Just when I wanted to finish the ritual by adding some of my own blood by using a butter knife (ceremonial blade), I realised that I had forgotten the pebbles from my driveway (guarding crystals). Those were supposed to be arranged around my ritual space in order to shield me from any evil influence.

I stopped immediately but behind me stood a hooded figure … by that I mean that he was wearing a hoodie. Admittedly that wasn’t very demonic but I wasn’t going to complain; it was my first summoning after all. He did seem a little

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Author, Layout and Pictures: Lisa Bittner

For my first incantation I gathered some classic ingredients or rather the student version of them. I was on a budget after all. So I adjusted the ritual to my skills and to what I had lying around. At midnight I went out into the park behind my house and tried to light a fire … which failed miserably. I thought I knew how that works, turned out I didn’t. What I could find around the park only amounted to some burning sticks.

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Ball lightning Physics or mystery?

Sometimes you may think you have seen a lightning ball flying through the sky which suddenly disappears. This phenomenon is one of the most mysterious, dangerous physical phenomena, namely, ball lightning.

What is ball lightning?

This rare aerial phenomenon is caused by a very strong, charged magnetic field, which is created during a thunderstorm. It is generated by a cloud-to-ground lightning strike, in which silicon molecules are released and agglomerate with each other, and, with the help of oxygen, turn into very hot plasma which finally disappears or explodes with a big bang. These lightning balls are colored, even multi-colored.

The possible explanations Ball lightning has also been seen on days without thunderstorms. A possible interpretation of the process was given by a Russian physicist, Pyotr Kapitsa.

He proved that the origin of this phenomenon was radio waves and gases in the troposphere. But we can´t find radio waves which are that intense. Another hypothesis developed by the University of Innsbruck doesn’t clarify this phenomenon either: ball lightning can also sometimes be the result of a very big, intense magnetic field which influences the perception of our brain and the retina perceives light, where there is not. So although there are many hypotheses, we still don’t have a definite answer.

New discovery: the colored spectrum The only proven thing is the colored spectrum, which was discovered in 2014 by researchers of the Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou, China. However, we can´t be sure what its origin is, but it is possible to try and create ball lightning artificially. Eli Jerby and Vladimir Dikhtyar, from the University of Tel Aviv in Israel, created a laboratory version of ball lightning using a “microwave drill.” The device consists of a powerful energy source (a 600-watt magnetron) taken from a domestic microwave oven and uses a powerful microwave beam to bore through solid objects. The researchers aimed the beam through a pointed rod and into a solid object made of glass, silicon and other materials. The energy from the drill created a molten hot spot in the solid object; when the drill was pulled away, it dragged some of the superheated material along with it, creating a fire column that then collapsed into a bright fireball that floated and bounced across the ceiling of the metal enclosure.

So...

Meteorological and physical phenomena are both small reasons of why our world is so beautiful, however this sense of mystery is lost when we try and find an explanation for them.

Author: Althea Mandelli; Pictures: Althea Mandelli & Gianmario Giacometti; Layout: Yo Vogel

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Whole Wide World

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The Unsolved Mysteries of the Moai Meet the silent giants on Easter Island Lots of unsolved mysteries can be found all over the world, like monuments left behind by ancient cultures or hieroglyphs that can’t be deciphered. One of these “monuments” can be found on an island in the Pacific Ocean, a 30-hour flight from Germany; on Easter Island, giant statues called ‘moai’ have puzzled archaeologists for decades! The stone colossi are placed all over the island and even though some of the statues had been destroyed, tourists can still marvel at almost 900 of them. And even though some of the riddles connected to the moai have been solved, there are still dozens of unanswered questions.

What was the purpose of the moai?

It seems clear that the Rapanui, the native people of Easter Island, built the moai to commemorate their most important late ancestors, like priests or tribal chiefs. Their souls, believed to be god-like, protected the tribes, and the statues were seen as important links between this life and the afterlife. At the same time, the colossi were the expression of a competition between the different tribes on the island, which meant that the figures got bigger and bigger over time. And the taller the moai of a tribe were, the more powerful and respected their leader.

Author: Henrike Wilhelm; Layout: Sarah Ehrmann; Pictures: Juan Ignacio Gaete

Why did the construction of the moai come to a halt?

Today, the majority of the ceremonial locations where the moai can be found have been destroyed; the statues were toppled a long time ago. But why did the Rapanui, who had put so much effort into building the stone giants, destroy their own work? The most probable theory is that the Rapanui needed more and more wood to build their sacred statues, so, not very surprisingly, they slowly deforested their once green island. Without wood, the construction of the moai stopped,

and after some time, the people on Easter Island turned away from their ancestral cult and started to seek new gods they could pray to. So toppling their former ceremonial figures seems to be the logical reaction to renouncing their religion.

How could the colossi be moved?

Scientists have conducted different experiments that could explain how the statues were moved to their ceremonial spots. It is, of course, possible to put the colossi on tree trunks and roll them from A to B, but they could also have been moved upright with the help of ropes, which in a manner of speaking made them “walk”. This would also explain the emergence of the legend that the moai walked to these locations at night after their construction had been completed.

More and more mysteries And the list of mysteries around the moai seems to be endless: in 2012, Easter Island Statue Project archaeologists made a huge discovery. The moai aren’t just – as was believed the whole time – heads. All those years their upper bodies were buried underneath the surface! Some turned out to be 7 metres high! But as you might already have guessed, this discovery only gives rise to a new question: How were the Rapanui able to bury those huge statues?

The scientists have also discovered pictographs on the back of some of the moai. But what these signs in “Rongorongo”, the language of the Rapanui, say is probably going to be a riddle forever, as the meaning of the hieroglyphs can’t be deciphered and probably never will.

So it seems that the stone colossi will remain mute forever…

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The Devil’s Marbles More than just a handful of rocks The Devil’s Marbles, also called Karlu Karlu by Aborigines, are one of the big mysteries in Australia’s Northern Territory. Although the Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve is located 393 km north of Alice Springs and 760 km south of Katherine - i.e. in the middle of nowhere - tourists from all over the world make their way to the mystical landscape in Australia’s red centre every day. But what makes the Devil’s Marbles so appealing?

How it began…

When I visited this mysterious place on a guided tour in 2013, I didn’t really know what to expect. There were fifteen of us, plus our tour guide, who came across as a typical, easy-going Aussie. After an adventurous drive through the red desert with temperatures over 50 degrees, we arrived. The first thing I was struck by was the overwhelming silence, and after I had looked around, I felt that the place was really special. All around us were huge rounded rocks, which looked like they had been sculpted by man into oversized marbles.

A natural phenomenon?

Mesmerised we listened to our guide, who explained that the huge, red granite boulders were actually a natural phenomenon: the result of rock reaching the surface from below and being exposed to millions of years of erosion. But what makes the rocks so special is the way they’re arranged. Many of them seem impossibly balanced on top of each other, even though they can be up to six meters across, while others have been split cleanly down the middle.

About Rainbow Serpents and Devil Men But what fascinates me the most is the place‘s great significance for Australia‘s indigenous people. According to the Aborigines, the Devil’s Marbles are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent. The importance of the Rainbow Serpent is really hard to explain to non-Aborigines, but for them it’s a creator god, a giver of life because the link between snake and rainbow symbolizes the cycle of the seasons and the importance of water in their lives.

This is not the only story linked with the Devil’s Marbles. According to the Dreamtime, the Aboriginal understanding of the world and its creation, every sacred place has its Dreamtime story and so do the Devil’s Marbles. For example, Aborigines say that the Devil Man, whose name is “Arrange”, was walking through the area and making a traditional hair-string belt worn only by Aboriginal men. As he was twirling his hair, he dropped some on the ground which then turned into the boulders.

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As I was standing in front of this unreal scenery and soaking up the unique atmosphere, all the Dreamtime stories started to make sense. I wouldn’t have been surprised if a huge, glittering snake had emerged from a pair of split boulders or if Arrange, the Devil Man, would have passed by and said “hi” to me.

No matter what is behind the Devil’s Marbles or the origin that people believe in, it will certainly always be a mysterious place.

Impressum

Author & Pictures: Carina Lamb; Layout: Deborah Ghezzi

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Herausgeber: Sprachenzentrum der Universität Augsburg, Abteilung English I Universität Augsburg, D-86135 Augsburg T: +49/821/598-5189 E-Mail: info@emag-augsburg.de Redaktion (verantwortlich): Roma Rodriguez, Peter James Druck: Senser_Druck GmbH, Bergstraβe 3, 86199 Augsburg T: +49/821/906490 Auflage: 1.500 Exemplare Anzeigen: Für in den Anzeigen verwendete Bilder sind die Werbekunden selbst verantwortlich; die Redaktion übernimmt für Verletzung von Bildrechten keine Verantwortung.

7/4/2016 5:20:12 PM

Diving in a sea of stars "The mystery of glow-in-the-dark plankton" Have you ever experienced anything that made you feel like you’re in a different world? Something so mysterious that you couldn’t find words to explain it? I have. It happened on the famous hippy island in the south of Thailand “Koh Phi Phi”. ‘On’ is probably not very accurate, as the most amazing, breath-taking adventure that my friend and I had happened under water near the noisy and vibrant island.

It was a warm night in March this year. During the day we went on a boat trip all around the tiny islands nearby. I thought the day couldn’t get any better. After sunset we had dinner at the beach and at the same time the nightlife of Koh Phi Phi started. Loud annoying electronic music, drunk people and thousands of men throwing burning sticks and balls all along the coast.

We got involved in a conversation with some locals and an American tourist. Our tour guide Wan offered us to show us the “glowing plankton” for free. We decided to go with him and jumped on his longtail boat. When we arrived at the place where he told us we can see the

plankton, we were a bit sceptical. It was almost midnight and we didn’t really know what dangers could be under water. Finally, we took the opportunity and put on the snorkel masks and dived into the water. Wan moved his legs very fast and suddenly it appeared: thousands of tiny sparkling dots all around us, the mystery of the socalled “glow-in-the-dark plankton”. Some people call it sea of stars or underwater fireflies. For those who have experienced it, it’s an unforgettable moment.

It’s a very rare phenomenon. The glow is caused by “bioluminescence”, which comes from “bio” meaning life, and “lumin” meaning light. The plankton don’t glow by themselves; it’s basically a chemical reaction between the living organisms and enzymes which produce the unique glow. They produce this light in order to distract and startle fish and other potential predators.

Thailand is not the only place where you can find it. In the Maldives, Puerto Rico or even much closer, the North and Baltic Sea. Even though it was just one fantastic night of others during my time in Thailand, this night-trip was probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life so far. I really recommend everyone who has the chance to see it: go for it! Don’t be scared of the deep sea. It’s definitely worth it!

Author & Pictures: Isabelle Zint; Layout: Yo Vogel

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7/4/2016 5:20:14 PM

The Voodoo experience It’s not just dolls and needles

Whenever people hear the word voodoo, they usually think of one thing and one thing only: dolls. Utterly creepy dolls. Used for the sole purpose of inflicting pain on those who seem to deserve it, whether it’s a rival in the run for a job, your neighbor, who constantly pisses you off, or your cheating boyfriend.

The concept is fairly easy. You just need a picture or some hair belonging to the certain someone you despise and attach it to the doll. Then you stick a needle into various body parts of said doll and voilà: excruciating pain at a bargain price. This is how voodoo works, right?

Wrong! Pop culture has made us believe that this is the way voodoo works. Hollywood, I’m looking at you. In reality, voodoo is something completely different. Today, three different types of voodoo exist in

this place that circles around the sun. West African Vodun is basically the origin of voodoo. Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo both got started during the eighteenth century, when African religions were introduced to the French colonies with the many, many slaves that were brought to the Caribbean and America.

All three types have certain similarities. In ceremonies, which involve a lot of drumming and dancing, people try to contact their gods and spirits. During these ceremonies, some of them might fall into a trance. This happens whenever the spirits get a hold of a person.

Contrary to the western depiction of voodoo, these spirits, who are called Loa in both Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo, are not evil.

Even the Pope knows that, since voodoo is accepted by the Catholic Church, and the two religions coexist peacefully.

But how come voodoo is considered something diabolical? It all started out with a book called Haiti or the Black Republic. Written

by Spenser St. John in 1884, the book describes voodoo rituals as animalistic and cannibalistic. And of course, whenever something is written in a book, it’s common sense for most of the so-called civilized Western world to accept it as fact, even though, if we stop to think for a second or two, it becomes totally clear that it is fiction.

So to all you ex-boyfriends out there: lighten up. Your ex-girlfriends can’t use voodoo dolls to punish you. But I’m pretty sure they will find another way to make you cry.

Author & Layout: Yo Vogel; Pictures: Roma Rodriguez, Yo Vogel

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7/4/2016 5:20:15 PM

A legendary trip around Scotland Meet four mystical characters

If you’ve ever been to Scotland you’ve experienced it yourself: legends and scary stories wait around every corner. So meet four charming characters from Scottish mythology below: a faithful little dog, a cruel poltergeist, a supernatural water horse and a horrible cannibal.

Greyfriar’s Bobby Myths don’t always have to be cruel. In fact, this one is quite heartwarming. Greyfriar’s Bobby was a little Skye terrier that lived at the end of the nineteenth century.

And apparently he was also a true soul. When his owner, John Gray, died, Bobby is said to have spent the rest of his life (14 years!) on his grave at the Greyfriar’s kirkyard, Edinburgh. Today you can visit Bobby’s tomb, as well as that of his owner, plus a statue of Bobby next to a pub that’s named after him.

George Mackenzie If you want to visit Bobby from the story above, I’d suggest you do this in daylight. Greyfriar’s kirkyard is said to be one of the most haunted worldwide. The ghost of Sir George Mackenzie creeps around the tombstones at night. In the seventeenth century he tortured thousands of religious rebels that were imprisoned in a part of the yard. When he died years later, he was buried right around the corner. You can enter his mausoleum and the prison. But remember: there are reports of people that left these places with bruises, scratches or even broken fingers.

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The Kelpie Hiking around enchanting lochs and lakes in Scotland is awesome. But if a little lost dark pony appears, don’t pat it(s head) (no matter how cute it is)! This could actually be one of the supernatural water horses you can find near Scottish waters. If you get involved with this creature, consider having your grave underwater.

Sawney Bean It’s still not quite clear if this insane family existed or not. Sawney Bean, his wife and their 46 children and grandchildren are said to have killed and eaten thousands of wanderers. Even if the legend isn’t accurate, there might be of truth to it: when this family lived, there was a great famine in Scotland.

And who knows what such a situation makes people do? The next time you’re in Ballantrae, South Ayshire, you can try to find the cave where they used to put their victims.

All rather enchanting, isn’t it? If you’re interested in learning more about the fascinating places and characters of Scotland, you could join one of the countless guided tours. Or even better: look for these mysteries on your own (if you dare).

Author/Pictures: Laura Annecca ; Layout: Rebecca Pichler 7/4/2016 5:20:22 PM

An MBA at the University of Dayton

Interview with Augsburg graduate student, Christian Voit

eMAG: Christian, tell us a little bit about who you are.

Christian: My name is Christian Voit and I’m 26 years old. I recently finished my Master’s degree in Information-oriented Business Administration. In addition, I’ve been working at the FIM Research Center as a student assistant for five years, where I plan and hold lecture-accompanying practice sessions for courses like the fundamentals of programming (it@bwl), among other things.

What exactly is it like to study in an MBA program and what was your motivation for obtaining an MBA? The MBA (Master of Business Administration) program might not sound fundamentally different than my German Master’s degree; however, the MBA is much more practically oriented and interactive than a traditional German graduate program. Usually it takes 2 to 5 years to graduate (depending on whether you’re a full-time student or studying while in full-time employment). Our workload was pretty high, since we had to finish the whole program in 9 months. Also, compared to a normal exchange program, our choice of courses was relatively regulated, because 11 of our 14 courses were requirements to complete the program. Nevertheless, it was definitely the greatest experience of my life to date.

You recently spent a year abroad at the University of Dayton. How did you get that opportunity?

Early on, it was clear to me that I want to spend some time abroad, preferably in the US. Therefore, I applied for all subsidized exchange programs that the University of Augsburg has with US schools. Luckily, I got the chance to go to Dayton together with two other students of the University of Augsburg. The long-standing exchange program is well organized, which reduced the effort of planning and organization for us.

Dayton is not necessarily a wellknown US city. What’s it like?

Dayton, Ohio is Augsburg’s partner city since 1964. That’s probably one of the reasons why the Faculty of Business and Economics of the two cities have established an exchange program over the last 20 years which is currently supervised by Prof. Dr. Brunner and his chair. Dayton is primarily known for the Wright brothers‘ invention of powered flight and has about 150,000 inhabitants and 11,000 students at the University of Dayton. Although this might sound smaller than Augsburg, the student life is much more intensive, since almost all students live directly on campus.

Author: Manfred Schoch; Pictures: Christian Voit; Layout: Roma Rodriguez

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What was student life in the US like? Did you get a chance to travel?

Since almost all students live either in dorms or houses directly on campus, the community feeling is very intensive. Every day there where BBQ’s or house parties on campus – and the University of Dayton is known as being a great party location (yes, it’s almost like in the American Pie movies!).

During our breaks, I traveled as much as I could (e.g. 20 hours to Miami, Florida, by car) and after my graduation (which was a great experience, by the way), I was able to do a typical west coast road trip.

What are your plans for the future now that you’re back in Augsburg?

I’m already in the last semester of my graduate program and I just finished my master’s thesis parts of which were submitted for publication at an academic conference. After that, I will continue working at the FIM Research Center as a research assistant and work towards a PhD. Having worked at FIM for many years as a student research assistant, and with my first insights into academic research, I feel like this is the right next step in my career.

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Watch.Read.Listen.

Watch: Zodiac When in the late 1960s several murders take place around San Francisco, the mysterious serial killer Zodiac starts mocking both the police and the public. He does so by sending encoded messages to big newspaper agencies and by playing with the citizens’ fear. Spanning more than two decades, the story follows the struggles of cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who becomes obsessed with finding the real criminal behind the morbid phantom. But while journalists (Robert Downey Jr.) and police inspectors (Marc Ruffalo) are competing for more hints and media attention, the Zodiac killer disappears without a trace.

Based on true events, the 2007 movie shows how both violent obsession and unrestrained curiosity can lead to ruin. Director David Fincher, who is known for his excellent thrillers, manages to keep us on the edge of our seats and leads us cleverly through a labyrinth of clues and suspicions. Will the unfolding mystery be solved? Watch and find out.

Read: Good Omens The End is nigh. The Apocalypse is about to happen. Which is bad news for the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley, who are quite content to live their lives as representatives of Heaven and Hell on earth and have become good friends in the meantime. So they decide to stop Armageddon together.

To do this they have to face the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse: War, Death, Famine and Pollution (Pestilence has retired due to modern medicine). They also have to stop the Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy named Adam, who doesn’t know that he is destined to bring about the end of days.

Good Omens is a 1990 novel, written collaboratively by authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It won several awards and is featured in the BBC’S “The Big Read” poll, a list of Britain’s best-loved novels. It’s packed with absurd humour and a fast-paced plot full of twists. Will the angel and the demon be able to stop the End of Days? Read and find out.

Listen: Welcome to Night Vale A dog park where both humans and dogs are not allowed to enter, a great howling coming from the post office and a vast underground city underneath the bowling alley are just a few of the completely normal features of the small desert town of Night Vale. Local radio host Cecil Palmer introduces us to this charming community where librarians are the worst monsters your children could ever encounter and houses technically don’t have to exist. His news show provides the citizens of Night Vale with announcements and advertisements from their town – and the weather, of course.

Welcome to Night Vale is a bi-weekly podcast, created in 2012 by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, who continue to be the main writers to this day. Cecil Baldwin voices Cecil Palmer, with frequent guest stars joining him. The show is available free of charge on ITunes and YouTube and has spawned multiple live shows and a novel. So join us in a place where every conspiracy theory seems to come true. Will the faceless old woman who secretly lives in your house or the five-headed dragon win the mayoral elections? Listen and find out.

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Authors and Pictures: Taimi Schalle, Anna Reinbold, Sarah Ehrmann; Layout: Sarah Ehrmann 7/4/2016 5:20:26 PM

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Keep it local

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Do you actually know where you live?

Augsburg: facts and myths Well, of course, you know where your house is located! But we are talking about Augsburg here – the town of the Romans and the Fugger. That is at least what most people associate with our ancient city’s history.

What we want to tell you instead is a bit more off the radar and so we enter the realm of legends.

1. Amazons Long before even the first Romans were in power (around 2400 BC), there was an Amazon queen called Marthesia who conquered the town between Lech and Wertach. She left her trusted women behind to continue her campaign and they led the settlement towards a brighter future.

2. Legend of Cisa “Cisaris” - that is what our city was once called. The City Hall Square where you often relax in the sun was once a place of worship to the goddess of fertility – Cisa. Next time you’re enjoy yourself there, take a closer look at the Perlach Tower. She’s sitting at the top watching over her city.

3. Romans From Cisara to Augusta Vindelicorum: you probably know that the Romans played a huge role around here since they founded the city in 15 BC. Many things still remind visitors of that time, one the relief of the “Sieben Kindeln” (eng.: Seven children). It shows six children playing. But where’s the seventh, we hear you say? Well, it probably drowned and lies in the coffin next to the other children. The legend says that this relief was made for a Roman officer to remember the loss of his beloved child.

4. The Stone Man In the middle of the Thirty Years’ War a baker saved Augsburg from being conquered by the Swedish army by throwing fake bread loaves over the city wall. The (gullible) enemy soldiers believed that the people weren’t yet starving within the city and gave up their siege. Unfortunately for the baker, the enemy shot his arm off before leaving. He died soon after, a hero, which is why he got his own statue to commemorate his feat.

5. He does it like the Fugger’s dog “He does it like the Fugger’s dog” - have you ever heard this saying? One of the powerful men of the Fugger family once had a dog that was very smart. His furry friend even went grocery shopping for his owner. One day, he returned home without the sausage he was supposed to bring. Mr. Fugger was angry as he thought his dog had eaten everything.

But he hadn’t. At least not on his own. On his way home, the dog was attacked by stray dogs that wanted to eat the meal he was carrying. When he realized he had no chance against them, he simply joined in.

Author & Pictures: Laura Annecca & Taimi Schalle; Layout: Taimi Schalle

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YES, I DO! The mysterious ways of love

It all started at the University of Augsburg back in 2010. I’d just come from Brazil to study German for a year in a language school and Raphael was doing his Zivi. I was 22; he was 20. We had friends in common and were both invited to the well-known “Jura Party”, which takes place every year on campus. The date was June 10th – how could I forget? The perfect summer night, interesting people, good music, laughter and joy. Life seemed so uncomplicated. I couldn’t speak German very well at the time, so we started our first conversations in English. His German accent made him even more charming than he’d already looked and had me completely right there.

To marry or not to marry – Is getting married before graduation possible?

Almost a year later, he proposed to me in a helicopter above the waterfalls of the Iguazu River in Brazil. My father raised his eyebrows.

My mother went crazy. His parents said nothing. We all know that awkward silence. That moment when others think you’re too young to do it. Despite everything, we were quite sure we were making the right move and wanted to grow old together. However, we had no money. In the meantime, I started a second degree in linguistics and Raphael began to study geography. Four years of engagement had passed until we finally dared to tie the knot. Yet, our finances had not changed at all, so we both got part-time jobs and hoped the money would be enough for two students to marry.

Yes, I do (it myself)! – A student’s DIY wedding

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If you have a low budget or want something done well, do it yourself!

The DIY spirit inspired us so much that we started to get more and more creative throughout the wedding process. Despite of all the stress at university, we spent the weekends working on handicraft stuff together. We made pretty much everything you can imagine: from handmade rustic wood signs, to the invitations, the wedding ring holder, the photo booth, the candy bar and all the decoration – even my own make-up, hair and nails. Our friends and families weren’t spared the hard work either. Raphael’s mother made the wedding cake and his father played live music at the party. It was so, so beautiful!

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Is getting married while at college a good idea?

We’re generally expected to go to college, get a steady job and then get married. That’s how the regular plan works. Saying “I do” as an undergrad is a whole different story. I don’t think that there’s an optimal time in life for things to happen – some of them just do. One great advantage about marrying young is that you can build a life together, you’re not set yet, and everything’s flexible. And if I may give you one piece of advice, it’d be for you to follow your heart, whatever it takes – this has always worked for me and after all, love’s a mystery we experience sooner or later!

And they studied happily ever after…

One year has now passed and not much has changed since then. As married students, we still share all our bills and live the life we had before. Raphael’s been writing his master’s thesis in India, while I’m finishing my linguistics degree. Some way to go, one dream at a time!

Author: Gabrielle Pinheiro Machado Rehm; Layout: Lisa Bittner; Pictures: Carito Photography

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Authors & Pictures: Ricarda Rosenbaum, Cassandra Aßmus; Layout: Anna Reinbold

An exclusive interview with Muggle Quidditch Captain Johannes Lotz As we already reported in previous issues, muggles all over the world have been spotted playing their own, quite unusual way of Quidditch.

Until now we have not been able to solve the mystery of how they could find out so much about our world, but now we have the answer!

Our ministry official Arthur Weasley, head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, has managed to organise an interview with a German Muggle Quidditch captain. Therefore, he sent his daughter Ginny Potter, senior Quidditch reporter for the Daily Prophet, to the University of Augsburg in order to interview the muggle Johannes Lotz.

Daily Prophet: Hello Mr Lotz, can you tell us since when the Quidditch Team of the University of Augsburg exists and who founded it?

Lotz: Hello, so, our Quiditch team, the “Augsburg Owls”, was founded in summer semester 2015 by myself, all the money that I get for it is spend on equipment.

Let us know, how does your version of Quidditch work and what are the main differences to real Wizarding Qudditch?

First of all, the main difference is that we don’t fly. Everything happens on the ground, but still broomsticks are an essential part the sport.

The positions and players are nearly the same as in wizarding Qudditch, but of course, we don’t have flaying balls. So, the Quaffle, which has to be thrown through one of the three loops by a chaser, is replaced by a volleyball. Then, for Bludgers, which are used by the

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beaters to push other players off their broomsticks, we take American dodgeballs. Last but not least, our snitch is embodied by a neutral person, who enters the game after 18 minutes and wears a tennis ball in a sock attached to their back that has to be caught by the seeker.

In general, this sport is comparable to muggle sports like handball, rugby or lacrosse. Each team consists of 7 players who play on a pitch that has the size of an American ice hockey field.

According to what criteria do you choose your team members?

Well, the great thing about the sport is that everybody can join and it is one of the few sports, where man and women can play together in one team. Since it was founded on the American east coast it is very open minded concerning gender. You don’t need to have any special skills, but you should be motivated to take part in some endurance exercises that are taken for example from handball.

Who set up the rules for Muggle Quidditch and are there official matches against other teams?

We have the International Quidditch Association (IQA), which set up a rulebook of about 170 pages that is regularly expanded and reworked. And of course, we also have official tournaments. There are matches nearly every weekend in Germany or internationally.

This year is also the first time for the Muggle Quidditch world cup to take place in Germany in Frankfurt am Main with participating teams from countries all over the world.

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So, Quidditch seems to be quite popular in your world at the moment. How do you think it’s fame will develop?

Yes, the popularity definitely increases. In Germany it is still in its beginnings, but every year two or more new teams are founded at the universities. At this time, 15 German teams exist, 8 of them University teams. In other countries, especially the US and Canada, it’s already developed much further.

Now to our final and most important question: How did you come to know about Quidditch and what made you found your own team here at the university? (laughs) This is a long story. So, one of my friends’ friend is British. He went to study in Oxford, where he joined a Quidditch team. Now, his sister, who studied in Germany, heard all about his great experiences and found a muggle Quidditch team as well. So we set up a team of friends and really enjoyed it. As I study Global Business Management, I had to do a project and Quidditch came to my mind and that’s how it all started with the Augsburg Owls.

And you want to know, how I came to know about Quidditch? Well, there is an author called Joanne K. Rowling, maybe you’ve heard about her, and she wrote about it in her famous “Harry Potter” books.

In 2001 she even released an additional book called “Quidditch through the ages”, which I can only recommend as a basic lecture.

So now we know for sure: It’s really that Joanne K. Rowling woman! That means our concern about somehow being observed by muggles has fortunately turned out to be wrong. However, after reading this, you might fear now that we have revealed our true identity to the Muggle World. But do not worry! Of course we used the Obliviate spell on the muggle afterwards to let him forget about our little meeting.

And always keep in mind, with a little help of magic, every mystery can be solved.

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Slenderman spotted in the Siebentischwald?

Interview with a (possible) survivor

It is Friday, the 13th of May, when a group of seven young students decides to go on an evening walk along the river Lech after having intensely celebrated someone’s birthday. Having passed the LuftPanorama-Hochablass, one couple splits off from their friends to stroll through the dark forest back to their university accommodation.

Holding each other’s hands, the two love-birds don’t even notice the strange figure staring at them from behind the trees. Following them, the creature creeps closer and closer… until an icy shudder forces the couple to turn around! The figure is standing right behind them, less than 2 metres away.

Petrified by its horrifying appearance, they are unable to move, but neither does the creature. It just keeps staring. Finally, they grab hold of themselves and begin to run, straight ahead, as fast as they can, stumbling over roots and sticks, none of them even daring to look back. They reach Haunstetten and keep running until they make it to their flat, lock the door and close all windows, waiting for the liberating sun to rise and free them from this ghastly horror.

Now, how did I come about this story? Two months later I was walking my dog through the Siebentischwald when I saw a young man sitting on a bench staring towards the tree line. He seemed mentally absent.

Quite obviously, he needed to talk to someone and being the friendly person that I am, I sat myself down next to him and asked how he was feeling. That was when he told me the entire story that you, dear reader, just read yourself and I asked him for an interview. A monster in Augsburg or quite simply just too much alcohol in his bloodstream perhaps? The answer to which may forever remain a mystery.

Interview: Me: So, you are telling me that you saw a monster? Here? In the Siebentischwald? Are you sure you didn’t just have too much to drink?

Peter: No, this… thing… I know he was there! Not ‘he’, it was there!

Me: Okay, can you please describe what ‘it’ looked like?

Peter: It was tall… it… it appeared to be wearing a suit, but… its arms were too long, they almost touched the ground! I… I’ve never seen anything like it! And it had no f#%@ing face! It just kept staring at me!

But… no, it had no eyes! Oh my god, what did I see?

Me: That sounds an awful lot like Slenderman. What about your girlfriend, how does she cope with having survived that horror?

Peter: She claims that she was too drunk and can’t remember anything after the party… but I don’t believe her! It was all too real!

Me: Thank you, Peter, for this absolutely fascinating, yet flabbergasting interview and for sharing your story with me! I hope that Slenderman is not actually coming for you!

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Author and Layout: Jonas Meier; Picture: Kamber Yilmaz

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The tale of the evil washing monster It’s alive!

When I was little, I had a ritual. Every night, I would neatly put all my Barbie dolls back into a huge basket. But in bed, I was absolutely sure that they would come to life and continue going about their day once I had fallen asleep. I could never prove this, of course, since I was asleep while it happened, but my notion was kind of confirmed when Toy Story was released.

What I didn’t know then was that there is something else alive in every house around the globe, which actually shouldn’t pose a threat at all: the washing machine! Turns out this harmless-looking household device is in fact not a machine but a monster. A washing monster, to be exact. I know you probably think I’ve completely lost it, but hang with me for a second here.

Ever wondered why there’s always one sock missing when you do your laundry? Or have you ever taken your closet apart in search of panties you knew had to be in there somewhere but were nowhere to be found? Gotcha! That’s where the evil washing monster comes into play. It’s not only alive; it also has to eat and drink like any other living species. The drinking part is fairly easy, since there’s plenty of water to go around. Come to think of it, it’s actually more of a cocktail: water with a hint of detergent. Yet life is just not fun without a tiny snack to chow down every now and then. And when there’s a lack of something truly edible, the washing monster devours the next best thing: our socks, gloves, panties, etc. It actually demonstrates how smart it is right there by only eating the smaller pieces of our wardrobe.

The evil washing monster works quickly and efficiently I know you’re now probably wondering how monster does all this and keeps on getting away with it. So here is how it all goes down: the round part at the back of the drum of the washing monster opens up while washing and out shoots a lizard-like tongue and snatches the first little piece of clothing it comes across. Once it sucks the sock or panty in, it washes it down with some softener induced water and closes everything back up in time to avoid any awkward moments or unwelcome questions. Yet the real horror takes place behind the drum. Our beloved clothes are now stuck in a fiery Freddy- Krugerlike underworld. They are trapped, doomed, sure to be digested soon and there is now absolutely no way to escape the claws of the evil washing monster.

Not all washing monsters are evil But what about the clothes which wash up again? Here you need to understand that washing monsters were once told that they had to be evil to survive. But like the monsters in Monster’s Inc., there are washing monsters that think it’s wrong to feed on innocent clothes.

And so, plagued by their guilty conscience, they spit the sock right back out before anyone gets suspicious.

If you’re now curious about your washing machine being an evil washing monster or a deeply misunderstood, peaceful washing monster that occasionally falls off the vegetarian wagon, then you just have to listen closely next time you happen to be roaming around your closet for a missing piece of clothing in vain. If you can hear a low, creepy chuckle in the distance, that’s when your evil washing monster knows that it has fooled you once again, and that once again you have failed to add it all up.

Author & Pictures: Alisa Lechky Layout: Jonas Meier

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7/4/2016 5:20:51 PM

Meow!

Uni Augsburg’s most famous VIC This is what the Campus Cat sent us by e-mail. We felt the need to Things you didn’t know about common Uni-Myths share his statement with you: Do you know the stereotypical law student called “Konstantin” or “Justus/Justus Meow meow meow! Meow meow. That’s what I tell most people about Aurelius”? I bet you thought he was just a myth but no! I know people. Konstantin myself. You know I’ve been interviewed a dozen times already. It can Justus Aurelius is a good friend of mine. That whole construct about “Konstantin” be quite annoying at times to be a VIC, a very important cat. being a typical law student was started by him. He studies economics and has a sweater, pullover, watch and car online shop start-up. Clever guy! His invention of Who I am and what I do the primary school “Mausis”… watercolour sales also went through the roof, as everyone wants to make fun of them. By the way, you might or might not know an But those reporters always thought I could just do kitten things. But app called “Jodel”. That was my own invention. Perfect place to report, judge and I want to clear things up once and for all: I’m Leon, an Italian-born, make fun of stuff I see all day long without someone noticing that I’m a cat. You charming, good-looking student. I have a lot of other nice character should try it out! traits - ask the ladies! I’m in my 14th semester of Comparative Literature, Latin and Informatics. But I’m better known as the awesome Fitness tips by Mr. Cat Campus Cat! Hell yeah, I’m the real star of this University! You know, Augsburg is too small for a cat of my value. I should be at Harvard or Another thing: looking sharp while getting fed all the time. Many humans are something! I mean I was in articles. And not just a few. For being lazy, asking how I do that. You guys seem to struggle a lot trying to get in shape. My sunbathing, getting cuddled by cute students (ohhh those soon-to-be simple answer: Run! Run a lot! Be late for lectures! Be late for trains but catch primary school teachers are sooooo nice!), fed and occasionally doing them at the last second! You want to buy beer? Run to the supermarket seconds a photoshoot for those cat-lovers out there. Doesn’t this sound like the before it closes. Simple as that. Core muscles, biceps, triceps. It’s the cool version best student’s life EVER? of parcouring.

How do I do it

Tips for the Gentlemen

Well, I’m gonna tell you a little bit of what being a good Campus Cat is all about! Being famous can be hard at times. Firstly, it’s a lonely life…

I mean there are no lady-cats around the campus - it’s just me… The teachers are cute, I like them. But cuddling with a cat is way better.

Sometimes I wish I was part of the CCC - the “Campus Cat Couple”. So at times I find myself sitting in the library over some deep books by Plato and stuff with a bottle (or two) of good old Gustl (Augustiner Weißbier for you Preußen and Erstis!), the holy grail of studying. Makes me sad at times, but then I see the law students secretly ripping out pages from books so the others have a disadvantage. Just as evil myself! Ever searched a book in the library but could not find it at all even though it should have been there? Well, I’m an informatics student. I just note all the books you guys for on OPAC and then, poof, they’re gone.

One last note for the guys: Ever wondered how I manage to get cuddled by so many ladies? Well, first of all some nice fur isn’t too bad and secondly I have Italian ancestors! So a little bit of southern temperament isn’t too bad either. But if you have any other questions just come and ask! I’m always around. Office hours are when I want to have them.

So, these were a few insights to my secrets. If you liked what you read please like my Facebook page, subscribe to my Youtube channel, follow me on twitter, Instagram, snapchat and Google +.

P.S. I just met a cute economics student who told me all about marketing.

Author: Sven Wandel; Layout: Taimi Schalle; Pictures: Phong Hang, Anita Schedler

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Meet my best boyish buddy The mystery of boyfriend jeans The rain patters on the window and the sky looks as if it isn’t quite in the mood to let the sunshine through its heavy, sick and grey clouds. Inside the library some students are pacing up and down with enormous amounts of books, trying to carry them back to their tables safely. Other students are yawning; some are looking desperate, while others are catching up on some sleep. And then there is me, sitting in front of a load of books, waiting for inspiration to strike and praying that the rain will stop when I have to leave the library.

This sounds somehow absolutely depressing, but (yes, there is a but) there is something that can really cheer me up. Yes, I’m wearing my best boyish buddy, my new boyfriend jeans.

Okay, now I can explain my deep love for these jeans. Of course, like any other love story, everything started with a little crush. But this crush turned into a real, honest love. Yes, maybe this is a bit over the top, but to be honest, when I’m at work, university or just strolling around with my dog, I’m always more than happy to wear the comfiest, most casual-looking and stylish jeans I’ve ever bought. And it’s not just me! Have a look at some editions of the to-die- for-stylish Vogue, the millions of hip bloggers who currently pop up and, of course, all those way too beautiful (and honestly way too skinny) models. But in my opinion you don’t have to be some kind of Victoria’s Secret model to wear these jeans. Everybody, everywhere around the world can wear boyfriend jeans. From pipsqueaks to beanpoles, from the slim type to the curvy girls – everybody should enjoy the freedom of this boy-ish buddy. And this might be the mystery: every woman can easily wear these jeans with their laissez-faire look and their go-witheverything informality. You probably possess one, two or ten pairs - if not, get some, try them and you’ll love them.

Wearing “boyfriend” jeans- a gender question?

A declaration of love to a (not so) mysterious obsession First I should clarify - maybe some of you have never enjoyed the liberty of these baggy jeans. A typical pair of boyfriend jeans is designed to look a bit loose, undone and masculine, as if you borrowed them from your boyfriend. If you’re more a fan of tight-fitting skinny jeans, I’m really sorry to disappoint you, because boyfriend jeans are completely unlike their straight siblings.

Do you know those people who are always complaining, discussing and searching for arguments? Yes, the topic of boyfriend jeans has even aroused the attention of those grumpy people. Some argue that women can only wear boyfriend jeans if they’ve a partner they can borrow a pair of trousers from. And they complain that this trend suggests that females should be smaller and thinner than men. I’ve really tried to understand such trains of thoughts and have come to the conclusion that it’s ridiculous. I’ve never spared a thought about the fact that I have to have a partner to wear boyfriend jeans, or that this trend might cause a gender discussion. Don’t we have real problems to rack our brains about?

So please, just wear whatever you like: tiny skinny jeans, casual-looking mom trousers or just cozy sweatpants. Nobody should judge your style. You should feel comfortable with what you’re wearing even if you don’t have a boy or girlfriend. You just need to find out who your best jeans buddy is and then maybe your crush will turn out to be real love.

Author, Pictures: Julia Huß; Layout: Luisa Köhler

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7/4/2016 5:21:19 PM

We will rock you(r life)!

Charity article about the mentoring program

Rock Your Life... sounds catchy, right? You can rock your life by listening to Queen or by joining a rock band. But what if you’re not that into rock music? How can YOU rock your life without head-banging on stage? Fabienne Schulte, chairwoman of the Rock Your Life! project in Augsburg, answers this question by giving you an insight into the mentoring program that builds bridges between pupils, university students and companies.

• First things first: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your ideas about the motto “Rock your life“?

Well, my name is Fabienne Schulte, I’m 24 years old and I am studying geography at the University of Augsburg. For me, the motto “Rock your life” means that you have the opportunity to implement your personal ideas, fulfil your dreams and that you’re supported (by others) on doing so.

• What is it actually all about?

Every year in October, we initiate one-to-one mentoring relationships for a period of about two years. In these two years, university students mentor young pupils from the Mittelschule who are about to graduate. The program is not only about helping them to finish school; its aim is also to help them to have a perspective in their future lives. This means that the mentors help the young people to find out about their personal strengths and about the career they would like to pursue one day.

Part of the RockYourLife team around Fabienne Schulte (blonde girl)

• How did you find out about the project?

In the summer of 2014 I was looking for a job via JobMensa and even though I was actually looking for a paid job, it attracted my attention.

So I decided to apply for the foundation seminar.

• So what exactly fascinated you about the project itself?

It gives you the chance to be personally involved in creating and achieving something in cooperation with others. I was thrilled by the idea to being part of a project that has been so effective in over 45 cities all over Germany. Apart from that, I liked the idea of starting something from scratch by launching the program in Augsburg.

• How can someone get involved?

There are two options: In October, we’re going to start a new round of mentoring pairs, so those of you who would like to accompany pupils on their way to graduation from school and into a career are more than welcome. We’re also always looking for new members to support, for example, the networking team that builds bridges with local companies, or the mentor-coordination team that makes sure the mentor-mentee relationships succeed. Besides, it’s good to know that just because we’re working with pupils and therefore withschools, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to study education.

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• So if someone decides to become a mentor, what would be their tasks in detail?

Before matching partners, we have a kind of speed-dating event in order to give mentors and pupils the chance to get to know each other. Thus, we want to make sure that we find the most suitable pairs. After this, it’s up to the mentors to decide what activities they want to do with their mentees. On the one hand, they’re supposed to help with school stuff and applying for an internship or a job. On the other hand, and more importantly, they should be a friend and a support in any kind of situation the pupils need help. Normally, the couple meets up once a week or so and does mostly fun stuff.

• Why is becoming a mentor worthwhile?

It’s common knowledge that volunteering is not only about giving; it’s about getting something back as well. What’s special about Rock Your Life is that since we’re soon going to be in the same position as the pupils are now, namely trying to find a profession you are passionate about, we can personally profit from the experience we gain during the program. One last thing I would like to mention is that we’re still in the process of establishing and stabilising Rock Your Life! in Augsburg. So anybody who wants to help us in this process and wants to become part of an amazing team is more than welcome to join us.

A little recap...

• non-profit organization that builds a bridge between pupils, university students and companies.

• mentoring program supporting pupils (Mittelschule) during their last two years of school.

• How can YOU rock your life? Become a mentor or part of the organization team • for more details check the website (www.rockyourlife.de) or contact us via Facebook

Authors: Elisa Herbig und Leonie Schweikert Layout: Jonas Meier Pictures: Bettina Schmid

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7/4/2016 5:21:25 PM

Why always so critical?

A mid-year resolution about being more positive In between goals is a thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed.

Sid Caesar (Jazz musician) Noticing too much self-doubting At the beginning of the semester I caught myself again thinking and talking negatively about some aspects of my life. I couldn’t appreciate enough what was good about it. Some negative thoughts were about my grades, which, in my opinion, could have turned out better, while others were about the feeling of procrastinating the whole time, being older than other students in the same semester, feeling unsure about my future after university, and comparing myself to others too much. But it’s not only me, I think. I know that many of my friends feel the same; many of you probably do as well, even though your doubts might be of a different nature.

Being confident instead improves success But why do we doubt ourselves? Isn’t it the most counter-productive thing we could do, and which effectively leads us nowhere? Self-doubt only helps us to stagnate and stops us from achieving things we could if we believed in ourselves a bit more. Why is that so? Because it leaves us with the feeling that we’re not good enough: so either we don’t even try new things, as we already think beforehand it is not going to work out, or we aren’t as successful as we could be with a bit more optimism and self-confidence. In fact, scientists have proven that when you believe in yourself, the outcome will be a lot better than if you don’t.

Critical reflection is healthy Of course, generally speaking being self-critical isn’t inherently negative, as it has always been human nature to strive for something better. In order to be better, you should critically reflect your life once in a while.

But it should be constructive and realistic, rather than only seeing something bad in everything. Think about how you see your friends when they aren’t feeling so good because of what they’re like and what they do. I bet you’re the one who still sees the good things at such times because everything can’t be as bad as your friend imagines. Can’t we try doing this for ourselves as well? Being our own good friend?

Be a friend to yourself In the end, you’re the one you spend most of the time with – why not choose to treat yourself in a more friendly manner, which you deserve anyway. Embrace what you have, what you have achieved and where you stand right now.

Author, Layout, Pictures: Luisa Köhler

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7/4/2016 5:21:47 PM

Horoscopes

A load of rubbish or something to swear by?

So I was sitting at the hairdresser’s the other day, reading one of those thrilling gossip rags in which they report about the most scandalous things when a neatly illustrated scorpion caught my eye. The horoscope section – right in between the Royals and the lifestyle section...

So why do people believe in horoscopes?

What is certain is that astrology cannot be scientifically proven. Lots of studies and tests demonstrate that astrological predictions rely on vague statements and generalized assumptions that are bound to be true for someone. Yet millions of people rely on it and even alter their lives based on horoscopes.

Is it because they are part of a nonscientific, inexplicable world which contrasts with a world which is becoming more and more transparent? According to psychologists, we’re all willing to read personal meaning into vague descriptions, which is referred to as the “Barnum Effect”. Plus, blaming Mars for our problems at work makes things so much easier. However, horoscopes are fun for those who don’t take them too seriously and definitely bring a little more mystery into our lives! When I checked my bank account the other day, I nearly fainted. Somehow I had gained €472.00 overnight! They had finally transferred the money I was getting back from my income tax declaration. I was glad I didn’t have to worry about money this month. And then I thought “wasn’t there something in my horoscope...?”

Astro(il)logical When I read the astrological prediction for my upcoming week I chuckled. The financial part read: “Good news Aquarius! Thanks to Jupiter’s position you won’t have to worry about your finances this week...”. The funny thing was that it was the beginning of the month, my bank account was nearly empty and BaföG would only be coming at the end of the month. I couldn’t help wondering what kind of people believe in such garbage.

And I got an answer to my question! My hairdresser Maria read my mind and told me an anecdote about crucial events in her live that had been predicted in a horoscope.

Not really convinced, I did a bit of research in the evening. Can you believe that you get 4,000,000 hits if you google “daily horoscope”?

My “personal” horoscope I decided to give it a try and consulted www. horoscope.com. For the next day it said: “You just can’t do everything at once, Aquarius.

Try to reduce your stress and recuperate and don’t pressure yourself to perform today.”

That’s as vague as it can be, I thought, and closed the laptop. Call me narrow-minded, but that’s where my experiment stopped.

I had never really considered astrology something which is true, partly because I’m realistic and partly because I can’t stand incense sticks.

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Author/Pictures: Melanie Pfanzelt; Layout/Pictures: Rebecca Pichler 7/4/2016 5:22:17 PM

eMAG 28 Team

Roma Rodriguez Editor-in-chief

Layout

Lisa Bittner Layout team leader

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Peter James Course Coordinator

Advertisement

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Luisa Kรถoรถhler Deputy Editor

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7/4/2016 5:22:23 PM

Website

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Nadine Ellinger

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Cover: Lisa Bittner, Roma Rodriguez Pictures: Rebecca Pichler Models: Julia HuĂ&#x;, Manda Table of Contents: Roma Rodriguez Pictures: Roma Rodriguez Last Page: Lisa Bittner Pictures: Taimi Schalle

Section dividers: Main Topic: Taimi Schalle Whole Wide World: Jonas Meier Keep It Local: Anna Reinbold & Sarah Ehrmann

Katja Rollinger Melanie Pflffllanzelt

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Proofreaders Peter James, Heather Bradley Special thanks Press and support: Klaus Prem and Michael Hallermayer Finances: Michaela Kottmayr Guest Author: Manfred Schoch

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