50 to 7 you say? what does 50 : 7 mean?
well, I'm sorry to tell you, that's the end result of the final game in the Football World Championship.
that's American type football.... The participants: U.S.A. vs CANADA...Hard to understand. It seems as if a team of amateurs from the 5th division, played against the top pro team. In soccer terms, it looked as if Willowdale United had played against Manchester United. It was painful to watch...
signing off....
Bertstravels.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
BOY, IS IT EVER HOT HERE !!!!
I am really glad that we have a pool:
this afternoon the mercury rose to +36 degrees....
A dip into our pool feels truly GREAT.
this afternoon the mercury rose to +36 degrees....
A dip into our pool feels truly GREAT.
Quotes from "Der Standard" and other ruminations...
The "Standard" is probably the most renowned and respected Newspaper in Austria. It's articles always seem to be well researched, its reporting unbiased and without hyperboly.
"Der Standard" quotes "the best known Economist of Italy, University Professor Tito Boeri" as follows:
"If the economic growth (of Italy) cannot be kick started, an improvement of the country's financial position is unlikely."
The "Standard" then graphically shows a number of data depicting Italy's economic situation:
Budget Deficit: in % of the G.D.P. climbs from 3.3 in 2006 to 5.3 in 2009 and down to 4.3 in 2011.
The limit allowed by E.U. Regulations is 3%.
Total Debt: (as a % of GDP) : in 2006 = 107%, in 2011 it will rise to an estimated 120%. The E.U. Limit is set at 60%. In other words the indebtedness of the Country of Italy is now exactly twice the size as the limit set in Maastricht.
Italy's politicians say: There's nothing to worry about. We have everything under control...
Italy's Economists say: There is everything to worry about, the country's economy is out of control.
The Rating Agency Moody's has announced that it will consider the need of a second assistance payment package for Greece to be the equivalent of a failure on the part of Greece to meet its payment obligations.
A completely sensible decision: If you are in financial trouble and you must obtain a loan from the bank, and then you cannot make even the first interest payment on this loan, and borrow more money to finance an even bigger debt, then I would consider your "Credit Worthyness" to have hit rock-bottom.
In light of all this it is interesting to note the attitude of some of the politicians of the European Union:
(See my comments of yesterday) Today's Standard reports as follows:
EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier demands a "disempowering" of the U.S. Rating Agencies.
As written in this Blog yesterday, "Justizkommissarin" Viviane Reding demands a "destruction" of these rating Agencies. In any event, they must be prohibited from rating the credit worthiness of any country which has obtained a loan from the EU and other sources. Which is, as they call it here, "under the EU umbrella."
What do those calls for the "smashing" (Zerschlagung) and/or for the gagging of private firms, who, as I read it, are guilty of nothing but the reporting on and rating of the Financial Strength of large companies and countries remind you of?
Well, don't be shy... say it.. call a spade a spade... It sounds to me like the dictatorship which Europe survived not so long ago.
Greetings from Austria
Bertstravels.
"Der Standard" quotes "the best known Economist of Italy, University Professor Tito Boeri" as follows:
"If the economic growth (of Italy) cannot be kick started, an improvement of the country's financial position is unlikely."
The "Standard" then graphically shows a number of data depicting Italy's economic situation:
Budget Deficit: in % of the G.D.P. climbs from 3.3 in 2006 to 5.3 in 2009 and down to 4.3 in 2011.
The limit allowed by E.U. Regulations is 3%.
Total Debt: (as a % of GDP) : in 2006 = 107%, in 2011 it will rise to an estimated 120%. The E.U. Limit is set at 60%. In other words the indebtedness of the Country of Italy is now exactly twice the size as the limit set in Maastricht.
Italy's politicians say: There's nothing to worry about. We have everything under control...
Italy's Economists say: There is everything to worry about, the country's economy is out of control.
The Rating Agency Moody's has announced that it will consider the need of a second assistance payment package for Greece to be the equivalent of a failure on the part of Greece to meet its payment obligations.
A completely sensible decision: If you are in financial trouble and you must obtain a loan from the bank, and then you cannot make even the first interest payment on this loan, and borrow more money to finance an even bigger debt, then I would consider your "Credit Worthyness" to have hit rock-bottom.
In light of all this it is interesting to note the attitude of some of the politicians of the European Union:
(See my comments of yesterday) Today's Standard reports as follows:
EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier demands a "disempowering" of the U.S. Rating Agencies.
As written in this Blog yesterday, "Justizkommissarin" Viviane Reding demands a "destruction" of these rating Agencies. In any event, they must be prohibited from rating the credit worthiness of any country which has obtained a loan from the EU and other sources. Which is, as they call it here, "under the EU umbrella."
What do those calls for the "smashing" (Zerschlagung) and/or for the gagging of private firms, who, as I read it, are guilty of nothing but the reporting on and rating of the Financial Strength of large companies and countries remind you of?
Well, don't be shy... say it.. call a spade a spade... It sounds to me like the dictatorship which Europe survived not so long ago.
Greetings from Austria
Bertstravels.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Just some Comments
All you need to do is look at my Blog and you will note that I am mostly concentrating on Pictures. Only rarely do I post an opinion about what goes on in the world. That, however, does not mean that I don't have an opinion. In fact, some people tell me that I am "the most opinionated" person they know. (I don't think that's a compliment.)
This time I would like to say a few things about the financial crises experienced by some European countries.
Everybody knows how many Billions of Euros it took and will take to prevent the financial collaps of Greece, Ireland, Portugal... Now the worry concentrates on Italy. A country, lead by a playboy-politician, of 60.3 Million inhabitants, creating a Gross Domestic Product of 1,549 Billion Euros, and carrying a Debtload of 1,843 Billion Euros, or, 119% of its GDP.
So far, so good. The American Ratings Agencies, Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch, having examined the performance of these countries, have downgraded their credit worthiness... what were they supposed to do? Upgrade them???
So now comes the "Justizkommissarin" (don't you just love the name) of the EU, Mrs. Viviane Reding, and thunders: "We cannot tolerate American Private Companies to destroy our currency, the Euro. These rating agencies MUST BE SMASHED. Either", she continues, " the G20 States in unison decide to smash those three rating agencies, or the G20 challenges the U.S. to make 6 out of the above mentioned 3 Rating Agencies. Also, she continues her diatribe: It must be forbidden for these rating firms to downgrade a country's credit rating, if this country is under the European Euro Umbrella.
Just how she intends to go about "smashing" three American companies, or how simple she thinks it will be for the US government to break three privately held companies and make six out of them, the good "Kommisar" does not say. Instead of urging the wastrel countries to adopt a saner, more realistic, operation of their affairs, she insists that the Agencies which observe and report on the financial strength or weakness of large firms and countries should be "smashed" and broken into pieces. Would it make a lot of difference whether 3 or 6 sources report on the financial difficulties of countries ? And why Kommisar Reding thinks that the credit worthiness of any country which needs to get a loan "from the bank" must not be examined and reported upon she also does not explain. According to her: Telling as it is "Must Be Verboten"....
If ever there was a case of "Shooting the Messenger".... surely this is it.
But, hey, that's the way we do it here in Europe: If something goes wrong, try and find an "American Cause".
If Greece wastes money hand over fist, if Italy now seems to get caught by its own wasteful governance, for Goodness Sake... Do not blame Greece! Do not find fault with Italy, or Ireland or Portugal...
No no no no... find the fault in the American Rating Agencies... as if they had anything to do with the fact that these countries ran up debts in excess of their respective GDPs ... under circumstances which makes a normal payback almost impossible.
Yes! This seems to be the European answer to all of its problems: "Blame the Americans."
This time I would like to say a few things about the financial crises experienced by some European countries.
Everybody knows how many Billions of Euros it took and will take to prevent the financial collaps of Greece, Ireland, Portugal... Now the worry concentrates on Italy. A country, lead by a playboy-politician, of 60.3 Million inhabitants, creating a Gross Domestic Product of 1,549 Billion Euros, and carrying a Debtload of 1,843 Billion Euros, or, 119% of its GDP.
So far, so good. The American Ratings Agencies, Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch, having examined the performance of these countries, have downgraded their credit worthiness... what were they supposed to do? Upgrade them???
So now comes the "Justizkommissarin" (don't you just love the name) of the EU, Mrs. Viviane Reding, and thunders: "We cannot tolerate American Private Companies to destroy our currency, the Euro. These rating agencies MUST BE SMASHED. Either", she continues, " the G20 States in unison decide to smash those three rating agencies, or the G20 challenges the U.S. to make 6 out of the above mentioned 3 Rating Agencies. Also, she continues her diatribe: It must be forbidden for these rating firms to downgrade a country's credit rating, if this country is under the European Euro Umbrella.
Just how she intends to go about "smashing" three American companies, or how simple she thinks it will be for the US government to break three privately held companies and make six out of them, the good "Kommisar" does not say. Instead of urging the wastrel countries to adopt a saner, more realistic, operation of their affairs, she insists that the Agencies which observe and report on the financial strength or weakness of large firms and countries should be "smashed" and broken into pieces. Would it make a lot of difference whether 3 or 6 sources report on the financial difficulties of countries ? And why Kommisar Reding thinks that the credit worthiness of any country which needs to get a loan "from the bank" must not be examined and reported upon she also does not explain. According to her: Telling as it is "Must Be Verboten"....
If ever there was a case of "Shooting the Messenger".... surely this is it.
But, hey, that's the way we do it here in Europe: If something goes wrong, try and find an "American Cause".
If Greece wastes money hand over fist, if Italy now seems to get caught by its own wasteful governance, for Goodness Sake... Do not blame Greece! Do not find fault with Italy, or Ireland or Portugal...
No no no no... find the fault in the American Rating Agencies... as if they had anything to do with the fact that these countries ran up debts in excess of their respective GDPs ... under circumstances which makes a normal payback almost impossible.
Yes! This seems to be the European answer to all of its problems: "Blame the Americans."
Saturday, July 9, 2011
...disandat...
close-up of a rose in our garden.
a rose is a rose is a rose
Tonc Feinig:
Simply a great keyboard player.
Stefan Taler
A basist of the highest caliber.
Christin is baking bread...
she says: "It's better than the store bought stuff."
you know? she may be right.
in fact: she IS right.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
DISANDAT
If you don't look at these (above and below)
IN THE LARGEST POSSIBLE FORMAT
you might as well not look at them at all.
The church of Heiligengrab (Holy grave)
between a field of sun flowers
and "The Petzen".
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