A new thread for the small and big news coming out of the Alpine republic.
Something that currently amuses me to no end:
http://www.tribute2009.com/
It's something organized by an Austrian group that makes annual awards: "World Awards", "World Women Awards", "Save the World Awards". At the latter Jermaine Jackson accepted an award in lieu of his just deceased brother Michael.
The same Jermaine is now promoting this tribute concert for MJ at Schönbrunn Castle where "world stars" will sing a collection of Michael Jackson's hits.
The concert is on the 25th of September, and the ticket prices range from 63 EUR through 518 EUR; tickets up to 135 EUR will have "limited view".
At this point, with tickets on sale the past two weeks, not one "world star" has been announced to make an appearance there.
My prediction: crash & burn of the attempt.
I suppose the local talent will show up in droves though... a big star like Jermaine Jackson coming to austria?
I look forward to hearing popular austro-german songs like "Ich hab' mein enkel im keller!" and "Mutti schmeckt wie Cordon Bleu"
Quote from: Syt on August 27, 2009, 04:23:01 AM
At this point, with tickets on sale the past two weeks, not one "world star" has been announced to make an appearance there.
They need to make it a reality show "Who Wants to Sing at the MJ tribute concert?" Then you'll have has-beens and wannabes up the wazoo trying to get in.
Quote from: Viking on August 27, 2009, 05:30:24 AM
I suppose the local talent will show up in droves though... a big star like Jermaine Jackson coming to austria?
I look forward to hearing popular austro-german songs like "Ich hab' mein enkel im keller!" and "Mutti schmeckt wie Cordon Bleu"
Only MJ hits. Jose Feliciano was rejected, because he wanted to sing a non-MJ song. That's the only name dropped so far, though.
I think Jermaine is deeply in the pockets of "WORLD AWARDS MEDIA GmbH EUROPE" sitting in Vienna who, as mentioned, presented him with a posthumous award for MJ. Somewhere on the page it says (or said) they want to hold this thing anually in various cities across the world.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire had a concession at Tientsin. :mmm:
It's official: Austrian Airlines (= AUA, which is the German equivalent of the English "ouch") will become part of Lufthansa:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iq49u4l8Exrma0bChUR8hPM-heDAD9AC0F3G4
QuoteEU clears Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines takeover
By GEORGE FREY (AP) – 3 hours ago
FRANKFURT — German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Friday the European Commission has approved its takeover of Austrian Airlines Group, allowing it start integrating the company in September.
Cologne-based Lufthansa is taking over about 42 percent of the shares of Austrian Airlines owned by the government for about euro336,000 ($480,000), according to the European Commission.
The commission also approved a euro500 million government restructuring program, which Lufthansa has said in the past would be necessary to reduce Austrian's debt.
Lufthansa also made a euro166 million offer for the free floating Austrian shares and has more than the necessary 75 percent for the takeover, Lufthansa said.
Lufthansa said it would extend the Austrian share purchase by about another week, but then envisions a squeeze out of the remaining minority shareholders.
The EU made its decision based on the condition that Lufthansa and Austrian give up some of their flights on the routes between Vienna and Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne and Brussels for competition reasons.
Lufthansa has been busy consolidating the airline industry, and is now Europe's largest airline by sales ahead of AirFrance-KLM.
In June, the commission approved Lufthansa's acquisition of a stake in Brussels Airlines. Last year, Lufthansa bought 80 percent of BMI British Midland — giving it a much greater presence at London's Heathrow Airport.
In 2008, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group carried 70.5 million passengers, flying to 242 destinations with a fleet of about 550 aircraft.
In 2008, 10.7 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines to 120 different destinations. Austrian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 91 aircraft.
Shares of Lufthansa closed 1.6 percent higher at euro11.31 in Frankfurt.
Quote from: Syt on August 28, 2009, 03:33:52 PM
It's official: Austrian Airlines (= AUA, which is the German equivalent of the English "ouch") will become part of Lufthansa:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iq49u4l8Exrma0bChUR8hPM-heDAD9AC0F3G4
QuoteEU clears Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines takeover
By GEORGE FREY (AP) – 3 hours ago
FRANKFURT — German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Friday the European Commission has approved its takeover of Austrian Airlines Group, allowing it start integrating the company in September.
Cologne-based Lufthansa is taking over about 42 percent of the shares of Austrian Airlines owned by the government for about euro336,000 ($480,000), according to the European Commission.
The commission also approved a euro500 million government restructuring program, which Lufthansa has said in the past would be necessary to reduce Austrian's debt.
Lufthansa also made a euro166 million offer for the free floating Austrian shares and has more than the necessary 75 percent for the takeover, Lufthansa said.
Lufthansa said it would extend the Austrian share purchase by about another week, but then envisions a squeeze out of the remaining minority shareholders.
The EU made its decision based on the condition that Lufthansa and Austrian give up some of their flights on the routes between Vienna and Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne and Brussels for competition reasons.
Lufthansa has been busy consolidating the airline industry, and is now Europe's largest airline by sales ahead of AirFrance-KLM.
In June, the commission approved Lufthansa's acquisition of a stake in Brussels Airlines. Last year, Lufthansa bought 80 percent of BMI British Midland — giving it a much greater presence at London's Heathrow Airport.
In 2008, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group carried 70.5 million passengers, flying to 242 destinations with a fleet of about 550 aircraft.
In 2008, 10.7 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines to 120 different destinations. Austrian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 91 aircraft.
Shares of Lufthansa closed 1.6 percent higher at euro11.31 in Frankfurt.
Next on Lufthansa's list is Czech Airlines :ph34r:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 28, 2009, 04:16:39 PM
Next on Lufthansa's list is Czech Airlines :ph34r:
:shifty:
On the other hand, German car builder Opel will likely be bought out by Austrian Magna group.
Syt tell me about your avatar; I am : intrigued.
The description is all you need to know.
True story. I was enjoying some of her shoots earlier. She's also known as Nessa Devil.
Quote from: Syt on August 28, 2009, 11:03:29 PM
On the other hand, German car builder Opel will likely be bought out by Austrian Magna group.
Very doubtful.
A couple days ago a tree on the prestigious Vienna Ringstraße was swallowed by the earth. Quite literally.
It dropped ca. 5 meters below, leaving only the top sticking out:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.derstandard.at%2F2009%2F08%2F31%2F1250723843288.jpg&hash=acefdd0b6277b87295f03351c83b9e1c6b68ea57)
No one really knows what might have caused it. The most likely theory seems to be that when the Ringstraße was created (in the location of the former city walls) a lot of the area was simply filled up, and that sometimes trees would be left inside that fill, rotting away and creating a hollow space.
The hole appears to be isolated and doesn't threaten to expand.
Naked Mole Rats.
What if it's related to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Earth
:ph34r:
Katherine to Jermaine: The Show Must Not Go On (http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/08/katherine-jackson-to-jermaine-the-show-must-not-go-on/)
QuoteKatherine Jackson and Jemaine JacksonKatherine Jackson and other members of her family are angry at Jermaine over the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna -- this according to various sources.
Members of the Jackson family along with others connected with the event claim Katherine was badgered into announcing her support of the September 26 event. The sources say Jermaine was complaining to his mom about all the bad press he was receiving and repeatedly asked her to support the Vienna event.
Our sources say other than Jermaine none of the other family members will be going to Vienna for the concert.
The sources say the family thinks it makes no sense to hold the first tribute event in a country that has no special connection to Michael Jackson.
One family member says it's another example of Jermaine doing what's best for Jermaine, regardless of what the rest of the family wants. The family member scoffed at the event, calling it "The Jermaine Jackson show."
The "stars" announced so far:
http://www.tribute2009.com/show.asp
QuoteTHE MUSIC: Michael Jackson's original band plays his greatest hits
[...]
THE DANCERS: Michael Jackson's partners on stage
[...]
THE SENSATION: Michael Jackson is on stage one last time
It will be the surprise of the evening: for THE TRIBUTE Michael Jackson will come on stage one last time. Just the way his fans worldwide loved him. And he will sing once again – together with brother Jermaine.
Jermaine Jackson: ,,Michael will return to us for one song. It will be a magic moment for all who loved his music."
Michael and Jermaine Jackson will sing a duet on stage at THE TRIBUTE. And millions of fans worldwide will witness that this is possible.
[...]
MARY J. BLIGE
AKON
NATALIE COLE
CHRIS BROWN
US 5
ANGELA BASSETT
SISTER SLEDGE featuring KATHY SLEDGE
One of those weird little tales that seem to happen only in Vienna:
A forty year old guy is trapped in an elevator. He's a devout catholic and prays for help. Shortly thereafter the fire brigade arrives and rescues him. Grateful, the man goes to a nearby curch and hugs a stone shrine in prayer for his deliverance. The stone, several hundreds of pounds heavy, topples over and crushes the man, killing him. :lol:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heute.at%2Fstorage%2Fscl%2Faufmacher%2Fnews%2Foesterreich%2F56932_m3w468h320q75v18280.jpg&hash=44d0f062e4480720a4e1b52adc5b4e51f90d73b8)
Quote from: Syt on September 09, 2009, 01:38:13 PM
One of those weird little tales that seem to happen only in Vienna:
A forty year old guy is trapped in an elevator. He's a devout catholic and prays for help. Shortly thereafter the fire brigade arrives and rescues him. Grateful, the man goes to a nearby curch and hugs a stone shrine in prayer for his deliverance. The stone, several hundreds of pounds heavy, topples over and crushes the man, killing him. :lol:
Should have hugged the firefighters instead. ;)
Police filed this under "suicide", btw, according to an online article. :D
Quote from: Syt on September 09, 2009, 01:44:09 PM
Police filed this under "suicide", btw, according to an online article. :D
:huh:
And "The Tribute 2009" has been CANCELLED. :lol:
Jermaine Jackson blames the short preparation time and the negative attitude of the media. :rolleyes:
P.S.: The event is instead moved to London's Wembley Stadium, June 2010.
From the official site:
QuoteAn additional reason for moving to London are the bizarre press reports filling virtually all the Austrian media regarding the event. Jermaine Jackson: "How artists who have won 10 Grammy Awards and sold millions of records around the world, and are able to sell out large stadiums are are termed "B-list artists", made fun of and generally disrespected, is something I just cannot understand. If these artists are not welcome in Vienna, London is more than happy to have them".
The promotional value that the City of Vienna has had, but now will lose is massive. According to the media evaluation of one of Britain's leading PR agency, Taylor Herring, the worldwide media coverage for THE TRIBUTE press conference in London last Wednesday was virtually unparalleled, with over 1 billion contacts – exactly 1,118,217,556. The TV coverage of THE TRIBUTE reached over 272,118,000 people and included reports on CNN, BBC News, Channel 4 News, ITV News and Reuters Television. The online coverage was no less impressive with 824,958,673 Unique Users, including BBC News Online, CBS News, The Sun Online, MSN, AOL video, CNN video and the Guardian.co.uk. 21,140,883 Print media readers were reached by reports on THE TRIBUTE in Great Britain, including all leading periodicals such as The Sun, Daily Star and the Evening Standard, with stories on the concert in Vienna. They were virtually positive in tone.
Of the artists mentioned above only these were still scheduled:
AKON
NATALIE COLE
US 5
ANGELA BASSETT
SISTER SLEDGE featuring KATHY SLEDGE
Habsburg family demands right to seek Austrian presidency (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/6198317/Habsburg-family-demands-right-to-seek-Austrian-presidency.html)
QuoteMembers of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty that ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire have asked for the right to run for the Austrian presidency.
Rudolf Vouk, their lawyer, said the family has lodged a request for the repeal of a 90-year-old ban that prohibits its members from being elected Austria's head of state.
"Such a disposition is no longer justifiable and contravenes the right to free and democratic elections" as well as the principle of equality before the law, Mr Vouk said.
The family's application to end the ban - a year before Austria's next presidential elections - was filed with the constitutional council, with a copy sent to Werner Faymann, the Austrian Chancellor.
The Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1438 to 1806, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 until its demise in 1918 with defeat in the First World War.
Since the proclamation of the Austrian republic in November 1918 and the abolition of the aristocracy, the family has been prohibited from contesting the position of head of state.
"After 90 years, the republic can start to have a bit more distant relationship with history," said Mr Vouk, who is representing Ulrich Habsburg-Lorraine, a Green councillor in Carinthia state.
The Austrian presidency - now held by Heinz Fischer, a Social Democrat elected in 2004 - is largely ceremonial, but carries significant moral authority.
Habsburg-Lorraine is a relative of Otto von Habsburg, the former crown prince who, in 1979, took German citizenship in order to be eligible to fight in the European elections, having renounced his claim to the throne.
For 20 years he represented Germany at the European Union and was a champion of the unpopular view that the EU should expand eastwards.
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
There was this Fritzl type character .. oh.. wait that was Australia, not Austria.
Quote from: Viking on September 18, 2009, 02:37:53 PM
There was this Fritzl type character .. oh.. wait that was Australia, not Austria.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sagen.at%2Ftexte%2Fgegenwart%2FIMAGES%2Fkangaroos.jpg&hash=e7e0feadf0b0a64a793502ab3c49935d9190d67a)
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
What could possibly go wrong with electing a member of an imperial dynasty to the presidency?
Quote from: Valmy on September 18, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
What could possibly go wrong with electing a member of an imperial dynasty to the presidency?
Can't imagine it being worse than the second vice president of parliament Dr. Martin Graf (Freedom Party) saying (before he had the office) that the borders of Germany were drawn randomly and that Germans should be able to freely prosper in Europe. Or (while having that office) calling the head of the Jewish community in Austria "a Godfather of the anti-fascist leftist terrorism".
Heard on the news this morning: a new sex ed film for teens is going online soon.
Some background: people of my generation grew up in Austria with something called "Sex suitcase", a suitcase with media appropriate for kids and young adolescents to teach them the "facts of life" which would be used in schools (meanwhile, in Germany, 6th grade ca. 1987, we had textbooks and movies - we also had to write short essays about petting etc.).
The Austrian family department is launching something currently dubbed "digital sex suitcase", of which the film will be a central piece. Title of the production?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sexwecan.at%2Ftitel2.jpg&hash=48477caf86ec57d98e076cf549fd026b7f922b40)
(Aimed at 14-16 year olds)
http://www.sexwecan.at/
Is that Bob the Builder or Obama's "sex we can?"
I bet the one on the left is bi-curious.
A screenshot from the movie. I presume they just discovere TEH PRON on the internets.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic2.orf.at%2Fvietnam2%2Fimages%2Fsite%2Foesterreich%2F200943%2Fsex-4_small.jpg&hash=90dfd14c5b9b02d1d8c54d390d528840969a3a11)
Quote from: Valmy on September 18, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
What could possibly go wrong with electing a member of an imperial dynasty to the presidency?
Absolutely nothing, ask the French.
Yay National Holiday!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.at%2Flogos%2Fat_national_day09.gif&hash=bd4b004292fc7b24e2ec85583aa252cc3330bedd)
Quote from: Winkelried on October 24, 2009, 10:55:34 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 18, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
What could possibly go wrong with electing a member of an imperial dynasty to the presidency?
Absolutely nothing, ask the French.
Well, some would say the Second Empire wasn't that bad until those uppity Prussians put an end to the play. Anyway we have the modern example of Simeon of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ex-Simeon II of Bulgaria. He was prime minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005 and afterwards returned to private life.
And IMHO if ex-kings are citizens like any other, they ought to possess the same rights than them. Applying special laws against them - and their descendants too - is quite unfair.
Quote from: Alatriste on October 26, 2009, 02:34:56 AM
Quote from: Winkelried on October 24, 2009, 10:55:34 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 18, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 18, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Considering the lenience towards Nazi fanbois in Austria after 1945 I think that the Habsburgs have every right to run for any office if they fulfill all other criteria.
What could possibly go wrong with electing a member of an imperial dynasty to the presidency?
Absolutely nothing, ask the French.
Well, some would say the Second Empire wasn't that bad until those uppity Prussians put an end to the play. Anyway we have the modern example of Simeon of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ex-Simeon II of Bulgaria. He was prime minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005 and afterwards returned to private life.
And IMHO if ex-kings are citizens like any other, they ought to possess the same rights than them. Applying special laws against them - and their descendants too - is quite unfair.
AFAIK the crimean war was of Nappy 3's own making. A totally pointless and avoidable war. But I agree with you about ex-kings being citizens and having the same rights, besides nowadays things seem to be somewhat more stable than in the 19th century.
Quote from: Syt on October 24, 2009, 02:03:08 AM
A screenshot from the movie. I presume they just discovere TEH PRON on the internets.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic2.orf.at%2Fvietnam2%2Fimages%2Fsite%2Foesterreich%2F200943%2Fsex-4_small.jpg&hash=90dfd14c5b9b02d1d8c54d390d528840969a3a11)
Suggested caption:
"I don't believe you can fit that in there."
Lol. :D
After getting kicked by the EU courts, Austria is forced to introduce a law about telecommunications data retention.
The guideline of the EU:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_data_retention#European_Union
QuoteOn 15 March 2006 the European Union formally adopted Directive 2006/24/EC, on "the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or of public communications networks and amending Directive 2002/58/EC" [1][2]
The Directive requires Member States to ensure that communications providers must retain, for a period of between 6 months and 2 years, necessary data as specified in the Directive
* to trace and identify the source of a communication;
* to trace and identify the destination of a communication;
* to identify the date, time and duration of a communication;
* to identify the type of communication;
* to identify the communication device;
* to identify the location of mobile communication equipment.
The data is required to be available to competent national authorities in specific cases, "for the purpose of the investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime, as defined by each Member State in its national law".
[...]
The Directive as adopted covers fixed telephony, mobile telephony, Internet access, Internet email and Internet telephony. Member States are required to transpose it into national law within 18 months - ie no later than September 2007. However, they may if they wish postpone the application of the Directive to Internet access, Internet email and Internet telephony for a further 18 months after this date. A majority of Member States have indicated that they will indeed exercise this option.
Austria's government has handed the job of drafting the bill to a human rights group with the aim of making the minimal possible implementation of the law.
Today the
Burschenschaft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burschenschaft) Olympia is celebrating its 150 years anniversary in the Imperial Hofburg Palace (they congregate there every year).
Police is on high alert because usually there's demonstrations by far left wingers against them. Olympia has rather, uhm, conservative ideas, as outlined in their current "News" segment:
http://olympia2.burschenschaft.at/aktuell/
My translation:
QuoteThe Time of Upheaval approaches...
It's nearly upon us: the 9th November comes closer. Occasionally called "Day of Fate of the Germans", several more or less important historical events [1918 revolution, 1923 Hitler putsch, 1938 pogroms, 1989 fall of the Belin wall] occured on the date. Should it be celebrated? Should it be ignored? Neither one nor the other, this is about actively building the future and not reviving the past.
Many Germans (and that includes the Austrians) are fed up: of politicians, bureaucracy, media, Political Correctness etc. Overall, however, this can be summed up as people not silently accepting being branded xenophobe, racist, nazistic, fascistoid, sexist etc. On the one hand it's welcome, that many re-think. After all, it's not fun in the long run to be categorized as mucky pup all the time. Nevertheless, the realiziation that the fish stinks from its head is not enough. The thought process which has begun some while ago can only be the beginning. Slowly but surely we are put into a spot to finally set actions to correct the mistakes of the past years and decades. Let's first sum up a few of the truths, however, which are a necessary basis for honest and upstanding politics but are hardly ever mentioned in public discourse:
1. Humans are not equal, except with regards to dignity.
2. Being part of a certain people is not constituted by acquiring citizen rights.
3. It's not a form of "discrimination" if unequals are treated unequally.
4. In most areas (e.g. Intelligence, Medicine, Sports, etc.) the biological ancestry is relevant.
5. The amount of immigration of the past decades is not an enrichment.
6. The "import" of strange people does not solve the financial problems of the social nets (e.g. health insurance, pensions).
7. There is not collective guilt or shame.
8. The history of the German group of peoples and cultures is significantly longer than the period 1933-1945 and should not constantly circle around that time.
9. Neither the FRG [Federal Republic of Germany] not the Republic of Austria have any special historical responsibility towards the rest of humanity or towards a certain people.
10. Freedom of opinion means being able to speak one's mind without fear of prosecution, even if the majority doesn't share or even opposes it.
Some of these 10 Points have recently been mentioned by Mr Thilo Sarrazin [sacked head of Federal Reserve in Germany, made remarks about the lack of economic usefulness of procreating unemployed Turkish families], an ideologically inconspicuous Social Democrat, who was "thanked" by being almost stoned to death by large parts of "the public". Finally he was "punished" for his openness by being removed from his duties which shall obviously coincide with the "condemnation" of his "deed".
But for what has he been punished? For speaking what every thinking person can see for himself? It's puzzling, but he is but an example among many who often fare worse (real threat of existence).
Be it as it may. Crying over spilled milk won't get us forward. It's much more important to know the past in order to learn from it. Only then it's possible to take the future in one's own hand. Everyone can do their small share, as not all of us are able to do grand things.
The following ten sentences and suggestions for action should be an incentive to think about matters and be creative:
1. Everything people have created can be reversed again.
2. Everybody who has immigrated can also emigrate again.
3. We were not asked at any point if we would agree with immigration, naturalization, opening of welfare etc.
4. Everything that happens does so because it's at least largely covered by laws, ordinances etc.
5. Laws, ordinances, etc. can also be changed, procided there's the required majorities.
6. All general conditions for a higher birth rate would be affordable if would start saving on the bottomless pits.
7. The usual media and their selected coverage should be consumed with special care or for pure amusement.
8. We as (Volks-)gemeinschaft [Volksgemeinschaft being a term used by Nazis a lot, trasnslating roughly as "ethnic community"] should declare the common, not the dividing our maxim and live our natural cohesion.
9. Nobody has forbidden us to treat people who share our heritage with preference in daily life.
10. Nobody has forbidden us to act as multiplicator within the family, among our friends or at the workplace and raise awareness. Raise awareness (and not convince) because there's more like-minded people that one would think.
Free after Ludwig van Beethoven: Let's reach into the jaws of fate not only on fate's day!
In that past they garnered reknown for supporting the 1960s South Tyrol bombers, or inviting David Irving over for a speech.
Quote from: Syt on November 21, 2009, 08:01:03 AM
Today the Burschenschaft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burschenschaft) Olympia is celebrating its 150 years anniversary in the Imperial Hofburg Palace (they congregate there every year).
Police is on high alert because usually there's demonstrations by far left wingers against them. Olympia has rather, uhm, conservative ideas, as outlined in their current "News" segment:
http://olympia2.burschenschaft.at/aktuell/
My translation:
QuoteThe Time of Upheaval approaches...
It's nearly upon us: the 9th November comes closer. Occasionally called "Day of Fate of the Germans", several more or less important historical events [1918 revolution, 1923 Hitler putsch, 1938 pogroms, 1989 fall of the Belin wall] occured on the date. Should it be celebrated? Should it be ignored? Neither one nor the other, this is about actively building the future and not reviving the past.
Many Germans (and that includes the Austrians) are fed up: of politicians, bureaucracy, media, Political Correctness etc. Overall, however, this can be summed up as people not silently accepting being branded xenophobe, racist, nazistic, fascistoid, sexist etc. On the one hand it's welcome, that many re-think. After all, it's not fun in the long run to be categorized as mucky pup all the time. Nevertheless, the realiziation that the fish stinks from its head is not enough. The thought process which has begun some while ago can only be the beginning. Slowly but surely we are put into a spot to finally set actions to correct the mistakes of the past years and decades. Let's first sum up a few of the truths, however, which are a necessary basis for honest and upstanding politics but are hardly ever mentioned in public discourse:
1. Humans are not equal, except with regards to dignity.
2. Being part of a certain people is not constituted by acquiring citizen rights.
3. It's not a form of "discrimination" if unequals are treated unequally.
4. In most areas (e.g. Intelligence, Medicine, Sports, etc.) the biological ancestry is relevant.
5. The amount of immigration of the past decades is not an enrichment.
6. The "import" of strange people does not solve the financial problems of the social nets (e.g. health insurance, pensions).
7. There is not collective guilt or shame.
8. The history of the German group of peoples and cultures is significantly longer than the period 1933-1945 and should not constantly circle around that time.
9. Neither the FRG [Federal Republic of Germany] not the Republic of Austria have any special historical responsibility towards the rest of humanity or towards a certain people.
10. Freedom of opinion means being able to speak one's mind without fear of prosecution, even if the majority doesn't share or even opposes it.
Some of these 10 Points have recently been mentioned by Mr Thilo Sarrazin [sacked head of Federal Reserve in Germany, made remarks about the lack of economic usefulness of procreating unemployed Turkish families], an ideologically inconspicuous Social Democrat, who was "thanked" by being almost stoned to death by large parts of "the public". Finally he was "punished" for his openness by being removed from his duties which shall obviously coincide with the "condemnation" of his "deed".
But for what has he been punished? For speaking what every thinking person can see for himself? It's puzzling, but he is but an example among many who often fare worse (real threat of existence).
Be it as it may. Crying over spilled milk won't get us forward. It's much more important to know the past in order to learn from it. Only then it's possible to take the future in one's own hand. Everyone can do their small share, as not all of us are able to do grand things.
The following ten sentences and suggestions for action should be an incentive to think about matters and be creative:
1. Everything people have created can be reversed again.
2. Everybody who has immigrated can also emigrate again.
3. We were not asked at any point if we would agree with immigration, naturalization, opening of welfare etc.
4. Everything that happens does so because it's at least largely covered by laws, ordinances etc.
5. Laws, ordinances, etc. can also be changed, procided there's the required majorities.
6. All general conditions for a higher birth rate would be affordable if would start saving on the bottomless pits.
7. The usual media and their selected coverage should be consumed with special care or for pure amusement.
8. We as (Volks-)gemeinschaft [Volksgemeinschaft being a term used by Nazis a lot, trasnslating roughly as "ethnic community"] should declare the common, not the dividing our maxim and live our natural cohesion.
9. Nobody has forbidden us to treat people who share our heritage with preference in daily life.
10. Nobody has forbidden us to act as multiplicator within the family, among our friends or at the workplace and raise awareness. Raise awareness (and not convince) because there's more like-minded people that one would think.
Free after Ludwig van Beethoven: Let's reach into the jaws of fate not only on fate's day!
In that past they garnered reknown for supporting the 1960s South Tyrol bombers, or inviting John Irving over for a speech.
John Irving or David Irving?
Quote from: Scipio on November 21, 2009, 08:05:42 AM
John Irving or David Irving?
David. Brain fart there.
Story in German:
http://kurier.at/nachrichten/wien/1969705.php
A female medicine student fell in love with a doctor during her working at a hospital. Over the course of 2 years she sent him 30,000 anonymous SMS, up to 140 per day. He keeps ignoring/deleting them. Eventually, she sends him worn underwear, sex toys and letters along the lines "You better not have someone else!"
She was dragged to criminal court, but the (female) judge says while she massively harassed the doctor this does not qualify as stalking, because it didn't damage his life in an unacceptable manner (the latter being part of the legal definition of stalking in Austria).
I wonder, though, what the ruling would have been if the roles had been reversed, with him sending all those SMS and packages.
Quote from: Syt on January 20, 2010, 02:24:35 AM
Story in German:
http://kurier.at/nachrichten/wien/1969705.php
A female medicine student fell in love with a doctor during her working at a hospital. Over the course of 2 years she sent him 30,000 anonymous SMS, up to 140 per day. He keeps ignoring/deleting them. Eventually, she sends him worn underwear, sex toys and letters along the lines "You better not have someone else!"
She was dragged to criminal court, but the (female) judge says while she massively harassed the doctor this does not qualify as stalking, because it didn't damage his life in an unacceptable manner (the latter being part of the legal definition of stalking in Austria).
I wonder, though, what the ruling would have been if the roles had been reversed, with him sending all those SMS and packages.
Maybe this should be included in a new episode of "Sex We Can"
Tomorrow marks the official high point of the Vienna ball season, the annual Opernball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Opera_Ball), a tradition loved and reviled at the same time. The high society (or rather those who believe themselves to be) will gather to celebrate themselves.
Every year, real estate tycoon Lugner (77) invited a "special guest". In the past those were Paris Hilton, Dita von Teese, Nicolette Sheridan, Terri Hatcher or Dolly Buster.
This year he invited Lindsey Lohan. "Unfortunately" she'll probably not make it because supposedly she can't leave the U.S. due to a parole violation. Lugner's new 20 year old girlfriend "Katzi" (kitten - she was these found to have been working for an escort agency until pretty recently) will be delighted.
Unrelated to Lugner, however, Katie Price will be present.
Wow, Austrian high society sure attracts the world's best and brightest to their events.
Aren't there any European bimbos he can invite?
Quote from: Barrister on February 10, 2010, 12:21:19 PM
Aren't there any European bimbos he can invite?
Not famous ones.
That's him and his current girlfriend, btw.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oe24.at%2Fmultimedia%2Farchive%2F00330%2Flugner_330422z.jpg&hash=2fcce7dbfadf16aadb37c5b30704edab8a6d7139)
20 year olds aren't what they used to be.
In a field in Upper Austria, a hole has been discovered. It's not a flaming gash, but it's about a foot or so wide and 20 feet deep. At the bottom is a hollowed space with something metallic. Investigations are ongoing. Martian Scout?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fooe.orf.at%2Fstatic%2Fimages%2Fsite%2Foeka%2F20120310%2Floch5_472.5044972.jpg&hash=1c45deefda606a3f4c5f70f8b0deed22375294a8)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fooe.orf.at%2Fstatic%2Fimages%2Fsite%2Foeka%2F20120310%2Floch3_472.5044970.jpg&hash=c9eaa33a213a84da0237cf24ccfc9dd74a918fa5)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fooe.orf.at%2Fstatic%2Fimages%2Fsite%2Foeka%2F20120310%2Floch2_472.5044969.jpg&hash=ec01291b880753454a4f1e858026bc465d58bc25)
Also, Austrian news magazin profil has an ad campaign that prominently features former finance minister Grasser (boyfriend of Fiona Swarowski of Swarowski stones fame). Grasser currently faces charges of corruption and embezzlement. (There's also currently a fact-finding committee busy examining corruption charges in various areas against basically all parties.)
The quote made me chuckle when I saw the source for it. :nerd:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alleswerbung.at%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fpressemeldungen%2F2012%2Fkampagnen%2Fkw-09%2Fprofil%2F%2Fprofil_CL_Februar2012_LO_04_grasser.jpg&hash=54482cfe975d9fb1a6c20fc03bf16d78dc02131f)
Guys over 30 who sport that kind of haircut should be executed as a matter of public policy.
Fake. Something going fast enough to go 20 feet deep doesn't leave a perfectly smooth hole.
That or it's an alien double bluff :ph34r:
Quote from: HVC on March 10, 2012, 01:33:23 PM
Fake. Something going fast enough to go 20 feet deep doesn't leave a perfectly smooth hole.
It turns out to have been an old bore hole when they were doing test drillings in the area.
Grisly new from Styria and nominee for unemployed most serious about staying unemployed:
A 56 year olf man cut off his left foot and burned it. The man has been unemployed for several years. He got out of job assignments by claiming bad health. Today he had been ordered by the unemployment agency to visit a public health officer to receive a thorough check up. Rather than receive a clean bill of health, he waited for wife and kids to leave the house, then went into the basement where the house heating was. He had prepared a circular saw and cut off his left foot. To make sure it couldn't be reattached he threw the foot into the furnace. He then called the police who found him with major blood loss, but his life could be saved.
Don't they keep finding left feet on the Vancouver shore? Might be an idea to check up on the umployed there. :P
Big corruption scandal breaking in Carinthia.
There were big corruption allegations about the bankruptcy of Carinthian state owned bank Hypo Alpe Adria. Most importantly, a consultant is on trial for creating an expertise of 6 A4 pages for which he charged € 6,000,000.-
While in the witness stand he pointed out that the heads of the conservatives (ÖVP) and of Haider's ex-party, rightwing populist FPÖ in Carinthia both asked him for their share of the money as "party donations". The FPÖ head in Carinthia stepped down (replaced by his brother). There's calls for new elections, but for that vote to take effect, at least 2/3 of the parliament have to be present. The ruling FPÖ steps out whenever it's brought up, making the vote impossible.
Meanwhile, two witnesses (experts who said under oath that the 6 million for the expertise were justified) in the trial refused to give testimony, because they're under criminal charges themselves for perjury. Also, the lawyer of the main defendant resigned her job because she's also under corruption charges.
This is a big case, but it's pretty typical for Austria. There's a huge inquiry still going on in Vienna about several corruption cases that involve all the big parties, but it's going nowhere, because none of the people seem to remember anything. On top of that, you have a high level FPÖ politician who refuses to resign after being sentenced by a criminal court after it turned out he used state funds for party publications.
There was a commentary recently that pointed out that the charges that German president Wulff stepped down for would barely make the front pages in Austrian papers. There's a reason they say, "The Balkans begins in Vienna."
The Balkans, or Italy, or both? :D
V
Both. :D
The motto is, "A bissl was geht immer." I.e. "There's always a possibility (for self enrichment)."
This puts Chirac(aille) to shame :(
And I thought that Vienna was somewhat like Paris pre-boboisation i.e Chirac times.
Last year, George Michael had to cancel his Vienna concert and spent a month with pneumonia in Vienna General Hospital, much of it in intensive care. His new single "White Light" is inspired by his near death experience.
In September he will make good on the concert (tickets from previous concert still valid). Also, he'll give an additional concert, with 1,000 free tickets given to the hospital. The hospital will use 300 tickets for themselves and sell the other 700 for charity.
:)
That's pretty decent and a nice PR move. :)
Yeah, a very decent move.
Right wing populist FPÖ head HC Strache published this caricature on his facebook page:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2Fs720x720%2F393789_10151042880513591_1367372038_n.jpg&hash=3c2071ca33ccf55db9851c5a7ac4afd410aa9de7)
The Banks - The Government - The People
They later changed it to this, after people complained that the caricature was anti-semitic:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F417209_10151044742258591_1139973401_n.jpg&hash=816c563c5858c338623a8bc6ab75e4abd916de6d)
On this same weekend, he posted an image of him next to a roast piglet at a village fest, with the caption "Isst Du Schwein, darfst Du rein" (If you eat pig, come on in.) He says it was not anti-muslim/-jewish, but a pun on an old joke about his party: "Bist Du Schwein, darfst Du rein" (If you are a pig, come on in).
A court in Graz has ruled that grabbing a woman's butt is not sexual harassment because the butt isn't a sexual organ. They dropped charges against a man who had done so and pointed out that such cases of "Anstandsverletzung" (indecent behavior?) are for the police to take up and fine for, not for criminal courts.
I have a feeling that this verdict will be appealed. Also, against the same guy there's charges from another woman that he made obscene gestures towards her and shouted "I wanna fuck! I wanna fuck!"
In other courtroom news:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgl.krone.at%2FBilder%2F2012%2F11%2F19%2FEstibaliz_C._Das_Gestaendnis_des_Grauens_vor_Gericht-Prozessauftakt-Story-341326_630x356px_3_g4CLqRqygYoVw.jpg&hash=309bacaeef2c4fb3f750cfb95d9fbf1407205b3b)
The former (Spanish) proprietor of an ice café is on trial with the verdict expected tomorrow. She killed two boyfriends with shots in the back of the head, dismembered them with a chainsaw and dumped the parts in tubs with concrete in the basement (the murders were two years apart). She seems to have a fetish for strong, dominant boyfriends. Only when she wanted to leave a relationship she couldn't do it and instead killed the guy.
When she was arrested in Italy, she was two months pregnant from her new boyfriend. She gave birth in jail - the kid is with her parents in Spain. Her boyfriend married her in prison.
And, unsurprisingly, the lady has been committed into an asylum for the criminally insane.
So how soon does she get out then? :P
She reminds me of Geena Davis.
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 22, 2012, 02:05:05 PM
She reminds me of Geena Davis.
Geena Davis is a homicidal maniac?
Quote from: Syt on November 22, 2012, 01:58:04 PM
And, unsurprisingly, the lady has been committed into an asylum for the criminally insane.
Eh, she's not bad looking. A little mousy with a big nose, but otherwise seems okay. The murdering thing is something of a problem.
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 22, 2012, 02:02:59 PM
So how soon does she get out then? :P
Actually, the chances are smaller of getting out of an asylum than out of a life term in jail. :P
Quote from: Razgovory on November 22, 2012, 10:16:59 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 22, 2012, 01:58:04 PM
And, unsurprisingly, the lady has been committed into an asylum for the criminally insane.
Eh, she's not bad looking. A little mousy with a big nose, but otherwise seems okay. The murdering thing is something of a problem.
Damn son. You think that is better looking tham Casey Anthony?
Casey Anthony had a bad case of duck face.
The press office of the Vienna branch of the right wing FPÖ (Haider's ex-party, 25% at last Viennese vote) has been suspended by his party after a magazine noted that some of his "favorite quotes" on Facebook are from songs of the Waffen-SS.
The ex-press officer claims he copied the quotes from another forum, not being aware of the original source. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 22, 2012, 02:05:05 PM
She reminds me of Geena Davis.
More Susan Sarandon to me.
(https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/308285915/susrom.jpg)
I was thinking Rebecca Pidgeon.