To Steven's right: Sabine, Christin's daughter in Law,
Left Foreground: Axel, Christin's Son.
To Sabine's right, her two sons, Johannes (11) and Jacob (9)
The Toastmaker
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Dinner after skiing
To Steven's right: Sabine, Christin's daughter in Law,
Left Foreground: Axel, Christin's Son.
To Sabine's right, her two sons, Johannes (11) and Jacob (9)
The Toastmaker
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Insanity has come to life.
There is a man in Austria whose name is Professor Erich Streissler.
The wonder is that he is a Professor of Economics.
He has come up with the most incredibly brilliant idea how Austria can repay its debts. Unfortunately this seems to be a case where the "cure" is worse than the "desease".
Even though the rating agencies still rate Austria as AAA, the country's debt is significant and everybody comes up with new ideas, except with the right one: The Socialist Party wants to "Tax the Rich". They have quite obviously not yet heard the story of the drop of water onto a hot rock, or as we say; A drop in a bucket... both sayings have the same meaning, which the Socialists have not yet figured out. The Conservatives want to raise all kinds of taxes and introduce many many new ones. That this will prevent any growth of the Economy is something the conservatives have also not yet figured out.
But back to Professor Streissler:
His brilliant idea is to simply "tax away" all interest paid by Banks on Savings Accounts. He figures that Austrians collectively have about 1,200 Billion Euros in Saving Accounts and he then indulges in some mathematics showing how fast the Debt of Austria could be retired.
Now I wonder: How long would it take me to transfer all my money which I have in an Austrian Bank to Canada? How long would it take any Austrian to transfer his/her funds from an Austrian Bank to a Bank in Germany, Swizzerland or any other of its neighbouring countries?
The run on the Banks by its depositors would likely make the run in 1928 onto American Banks look like a gentle stroll. Not a panicky run.
Professor Streissler is quoted: "Who needs Interests on their Savings?"
And this strange fellow calls himself and is called by others a "Professor of Economics"
God help Austria....
I have another idea which Professor Streissler would probably like:
"Who needs Savings ?"
Why not grab the 1,200 Billion Euros and pay all Debts?
Bertstravels.
The wonder is that he is a Professor of Economics.
He has come up with the most incredibly brilliant idea how Austria can repay its debts. Unfortunately this seems to be a case where the "cure" is worse than the "desease".
Even though the rating agencies still rate Austria as AAA, the country's debt is significant and everybody comes up with new ideas, except with the right one: The Socialist Party wants to "Tax the Rich". They have quite obviously not yet heard the story of the drop of water onto a hot rock, or as we say; A drop in a bucket... both sayings have the same meaning, which the Socialists have not yet figured out. The Conservatives want to raise all kinds of taxes and introduce many many new ones. That this will prevent any growth of the Economy is something the conservatives have also not yet figured out.
But back to Professor Streissler:
His brilliant idea is to simply "tax away" all interest paid by Banks on Savings Accounts. He figures that Austrians collectively have about 1,200 Billion Euros in Saving Accounts and he then indulges in some mathematics showing how fast the Debt of Austria could be retired.
Now I wonder: How long would it take me to transfer all my money which I have in an Austrian Bank to Canada? How long would it take any Austrian to transfer his/her funds from an Austrian Bank to a Bank in Germany, Swizzerland or any other of its neighbouring countries?
The run on the Banks by its depositors would likely make the run in 1928 onto American Banks look like a gentle stroll. Not a panicky run.
Professor Streissler is quoted: "Who needs Interests on their Savings?"
And this strange fellow calls himself and is called by others a "Professor of Economics"
God help Austria....
I have another idea which Professor Streissler would probably like:
"Who needs Savings ?"
Why not grab the 1,200 Billion Euros and pay all Debts?
Bertstravels.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
FRANZ BRANDL, Painter
Franz Brandl is a Painter, living in Bleiburg, Austria.
For ever inventive, one never knows
what he will come up with next.
He had a vernissage last night, exhibiting 30 of his latest works.
"At the Railway Station"
"Just One chair for All"
"The Lady in Red"
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Hills beyond
A few weeks ago, I drove my car way into the back country,
grabbed my cameras and hiked into these hills.
I saw a little bird here and there, but altogether it was
a most uneventful hike, when all of a sudden...
there he stood... a rack to be proud of, a girlfriend by his side
and putting the lie to all who called him "extinct in this area."
( see next entry )
A Stag and a Doe in the Hills
I was lucky to photograph the animal
which everybody said that it no longer exists
in our forests.
A mighty fine rack you carry, my friend.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Too busy to Blog
Well, it's been a long time since I last wrote something on this site. I have a perfectly reasonable explanation:
"I am writing a book"
.... doesn't everybody write a book? Well if not, you should. It's a wonderful excercise and keeps your mind fresh. What's the book about? You will have to wait until it is published and wins the Nobel Price for Literature.
You know what burns me? From a number of e-mails I know that there are some people who have been following this effort of mine... but rarely does anybody leave a comment on the Blog itself.
Due to my long silence it's likely that I've lost even those few readers, both in Canada and in Austria.
I even have a reader in the USA and New Zealand, who e-mails me with his comments on a regular basis.
Yes about my book: I've reached page 130 and who knows how much more I shall write....
So, till the next time I have a few minutes to spare...
Greetings from Austria.
Have you got some ointment for my typing fingers?
Bertstravel.
"I am writing a book"
.... doesn't everybody write a book? Well if not, you should. It's a wonderful excercise and keeps your mind fresh. What's the book about? You will have to wait until it is published and wins the Nobel Price for Literature.
You know what burns me? From a number of e-mails I know that there are some people who have been following this effort of mine... but rarely does anybody leave a comment on the Blog itself.
Due to my long silence it's likely that I've lost even those few readers, both in Canada and in Austria.
I even have a reader in the USA and New Zealand, who e-mails me with his comments on a regular basis.
Yes about my book: I've reached page 130 and who knows how much more I shall write....
So, till the next time I have a few minutes to spare...
Greetings from Austria.
Have you got some ointment for my typing fingers?
Bertstravel.
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