Whose fault is it ?

I have been chastised because I seem to have placed the fault of Greece's economic misery onto the shoulders of the Tsipras government.

I am totally aware that the previous governments of Greece mismanaged the economy to a devastating degree. 
Tsipras and his "Far Left Party" inherited a broken country, which I think, could have been repaired over a long period of time with the help of the rest of Europe, but not with ultra left wing political philosophies, and not by insulting the Lenders by calling them "terrorists" and "leeches".
I suppose that the rest of Europe also erred in lending moneys which they knew or should have known, the borrower could never pay back, thereby getting deeper and deeper into the financial hole.

Smarter men than I will have to work out a plan of recovery.

I assure you though, that with the economic ideas of the Far Left, such a recovery cannot be achieved.
Each and every country which has ever tried to make Communism work, had to finally admit failure.
Read your history.

Now, if we are faced with a situation where an interest bearing loan will not help, because the borrower is not now and will not be in the foreseeable future in a position to repay the loan, principal and interest, there is, it seems to me, an alternative:
Instead of a "loan" make it an interest free "grant", or an outright "gift". 
May I remind you of the "European Recovery Program" (Marshall Plan), through which, in 1948, the USA pumped 130 billion in today's US dollars into a devastated Europe.
Then, it was done to create a strong business partner, to stem the rise of Communism,  as well as for so-called altruistic reasons.

There is little or no sense in lending moneys, the majority of which, it seems, must be used to pay the interest on previous loans.

If Greece, who is, after all, a member of the European community, must be helped on its feet again, then make it a gift, tied to certain conditions which should be designed to prevent a recurrence of this economic travesty.



Bertstravels
wishes it had the final answer.

Hell's Angel ?

Yanis Varoufakis, the "former" Minister of Finance of Greece had left his post, mounted his iron steed and drove off into the Aegean Sunset.
He leaves behind a country which, together with the communist president Tsipras he managed to steer into financial chaos of never before experienced dimensions.

I will not attempt to solve this country's economic woes, leaving this gargantuan task to greater minds.

Let me just make one observation:

Below is a picture which, I am certain, appeared in most of Europe's news papers.
It shows our hero on his motorbike. ( Is it an H.D. ? ) well clad, with proper scuff resistant motorcycle clothing and a visored helmet, all designed to protect him in case of a wipe-out.
On his back seat, his handsome wife, in a low cut, short sleeved 
T-shirt, no helmet, just a shock of long blond hair protecting her head.

May  I draw a conclusion ?
Yanis Varoufakis is concerned about his own well being.
He rode his political motor bike, with an unprotected country behind him on the rear seat, totally exposed to an economic wipe out.

Yanis seems to care little about his country, or his wife.

Yanis dresses appropriately because he is aware of the danger.

Yet he exposes his wife to this known risk to life and limb ?

This must tell us something about this man.

aren't they just beautiful ?

Each and every year fields of sun flowers catch your attention and practically force you to use your camera.
They may look the same each year, but somehow they excite me all over again.

What a game !

I haven't been up this late since I played the string bass in a Jazz Band, when I was 16 to 19 years of age. Then Carnival Parties often lasted until 4 and 5 O'clock in the morning.

Last night I stayed up until almost 4 AM to watch the Final game in the 2015 women's world cup of soccer, played in Vancouver, Canada, before a sell-out crowd of 54,000 enthusiastic fans.

It started at 1AM and 3 minutes later the US team was leading 1:0 over the Japanese side, by a lovely goal scored by the US star player, Carli Lloyd.
No sooner had the Japanese women shaken the shock out of their heads, when at the 5th minute mark Carli struck again. 
The Jubilation knew no end, and I was cheering like a madman, sitting in front of my TV with only my dog, who knows zilch about soccer. When I cheered crazily, Doggy-Dog-Dog (that's his name) barked madly.
The Americans played brilliantly coached soccer, against a Japanese Eleven who, understandably, was in some disarray.
Comes minute 14 and Lauren Holiday scored for the Americans, making it 3:0.
Two minutes later, at minute mark 16 comes one of the goals one witnesses only rarely:
Carli Lloyd again accepts a steep forward pass, crosses centre line, sees the Japanese goal keeper out of her goal, at about the 16 meter mark and takes a "Hail Mary" shot, lobbing it over the Japanese keeper right into the net for US goal 4.
After Ogimi hits the back of the US net, we go into the half time break, with a score of 4:1.
An American "own goal" narrows the score to 4:2 and the Japanese start to play soccer the way they know, being the winner of the last world cup, also against the USA.
In the 54th minute the redemption of the Americans is complete, When Heath nets goal number 5, to make the final score:

                                    USA 5 - Japan 2

In spite of the almost lop sided result, with sleepy eyes I watched an exciting game of soccer.

Bertstravels
could watch more of the same.

Farm architecture

Each piece of wood has a purpose.

Did I ever show you this before ?

The Health Club of Bleiburg !

FIRST DAY OF JULY

TO ALL CANADIANS 

IN CANADA AND ABROAD

THE VERY BEST WISHES

TO CANADA DAY !

LET'S GIVE SOME THOUGHT ABOUT 

HOW  LUCKY WE ARE 

TO BE CANADIANS: 

CITIZENS OF THE  GREATEST COUNTRY!