I never thought that I would ever see and hear an Opera by Richard Wagner. "This dude is much too heavy for me... I'm glad if I can get to Mozart, or Verdi... but Wagner ? Never !"
Well, last week, Christin and I drove to Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany, which is, you might as well call it, The Cradle of Wagner's Operas. The story of the Bayreuth Festival Theatre in itself is an interesting one. I will not here talk about it, but might I suggest that you Google it?
"Parsifal" is a story about "Knights of the Grail", "The Grail" itself and the "Holy Spear" ... at last it is a story about "Good and Evil"... with, you guessed it, Good winning out in the end.
As happens often, nowadays, when an old work is performed, it is clothed in modern garb and placed in modern times.
Let me tell you, to see instead of a Knight a fat grown-up kid in a sailor suit with three quarter length pants prancing about the stage will not fill you with solemnity and awe. To see German soldiers in black uniforms marching around, and Swastika Flags hanging from the ceiling is also not an awe-inspiring novel idea depicting "Evil".
In fact it is more a silly joke.
For two of the three acts a bed, centre stage, is the main attention grabbing prop. People on it disappear only for others to re-appear on this bed... all of this achieved by a simple trap door installation, handled so poorly that it presents no mystery... it's simply a trap door equipped bed... a little like the barber chair of Sweeny Tod. It's almost laughable in its primitive simplicity.
The whole farce (because that's what it must be) is almost at an end and writing is projected onto a semi-translucent curtain.
You will not believe this, because although I saw it, I experienced a feeling of disbelief: The message was, and I am repeating it from memory and translating it from German into English, but I promise you, this is approximately what it said:
" Dear Visitors! Please do not engage in political discussions while in the area of this theater, but honour the work of art....."
The audacity of the producers of this Opera is truly mind boggling. Now they "ask" (please) not to express a political opinion while in the area of the Festival theater.
How long will it take for them to "demand" that political opinions are not to be expressed about this work anytime and anywhere? And then will come their favourite phrase: "It is verboten to express a political opinion..."
Even if I am not to read into this message any sinister prohibition, whose breach will have dire consequences
I must question the wisdom of the producers who treat their audience like a group of children whose behaviour and discussion themes must be controlled by such a message.
It is simply outrageous and ultimately stupid to issue such a message: People who think, will not permit themselves to be thusly controlled.
I must confess that I did not have the courage to "booo and whistle" when this assinine message appeared. I now regret my timidity, since, I am certain, others would have chimned in had I started.
Now I must make another confession: Wagner's music is simply utterly beautiful... in fact, the very moment that I am writing this, I am also listening to a recording of this Opera and I will listen to it again tonight without any distraction by a stupid stage production or writing about it.
Probably, I'll just get me a glass of good wine, sit back, close my eyes and listen.
Okay, James Levine and the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra:
HIT IT.
Bertstravels
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
I'm First !!! No! I'm First!!! No, I'm First.... well, who the hell is first?
China, Russia and Germany abstained from resolution 1973 ...of the U.N.Security Council.
Now, that the Rebels seem to have won the struggle, everybody seems to be concerned about their "goodies"...
China let it be known that it expects that its investments in Libya will be safe guarded.
Russia issued similar statements.
Austria's Business Delegate to Libya suggested that China and Russia may well suffer some consequences for their position in the Resolution 1973 vote, but he is certain that German Chancellor Angela Merkel "has ironed out" the situation quite well and that therefore he does not expect any negative consequences for Germany's position.
Austria itself is right in line with (for its) major investments: Oil, Medical Products, Road Construction,
Austria's leadership, in particular that of the Province of Carinthia, were on good terms with Gaddafi
and the then Provincial Premier of Carinthia, the right wing Joerg Haider, called Mr. Gaddafi "his good friend" at a time when Ronald Regan, the President of the USA referred to Gadaffi as " the mad dog of the Near East". May we assume that Mr. Regan knew something Austria's Leadership was unaware of?
It is also interesting to note that European voices are always very quick in their condemnation of "Amerika"
(by which they mean the US of A.) suggesting that Amerika gets involved only when oil interests are at stake, thereby conveniently forgetting that three countries claimed oil-exploration rights from the post-Saddam Hussein Irak: China, Russia and France. The USA, for whatever reason, filed not a single claim for such activity. These things are, however, quickly forgotten, if ever they were known by the European accusers.
Whatever the outcome of the current struggle in Libya, whatever other dictatorship will replace that of Muammar Gaddafi, (to expect a Democracy in Libya would be hoping for too much), one thing is for certain:
Political Doublespeech will bloom and prosper.
quick! somebody hand me a dictionary
Bertstravels.
Now, that the Rebels seem to have won the struggle, everybody seems to be concerned about their "goodies"...
China let it be known that it expects that its investments in Libya will be safe guarded.
Russia issued similar statements.
Austria's Business Delegate to Libya suggested that China and Russia may well suffer some consequences for their position in the Resolution 1973 vote, but he is certain that German Chancellor Angela Merkel "has ironed out" the situation quite well and that therefore he does not expect any negative consequences for Germany's position.
Austria itself is right in line with (for its) major investments: Oil, Medical Products, Road Construction,
Austria's leadership, in particular that of the Province of Carinthia, were on good terms with Gaddafi
and the then Provincial Premier of Carinthia, the right wing Joerg Haider, called Mr. Gaddafi "his good friend" at a time when Ronald Regan, the President of the USA referred to Gadaffi as " the mad dog of the Near East". May we assume that Mr. Regan knew something Austria's Leadership was unaware of?
It is also interesting to note that European voices are always very quick in their condemnation of "Amerika"
(by which they mean the US of A.) suggesting that Amerika gets involved only when oil interests are at stake, thereby conveniently forgetting that three countries claimed oil-exploration rights from the post-Saddam Hussein Irak: China, Russia and France. The USA, for whatever reason, filed not a single claim for such activity. These things are, however, quickly forgotten, if ever they were known by the European accusers.
Whatever the outcome of the current struggle in Libya, whatever other dictatorship will replace that of Muammar Gaddafi, (to expect a Democracy in Libya would be hoping for too much), one thing is for certain:
Political Doublespeech will bloom and prosper.
quick! somebody hand me a dictionary
Bertstravels.
POLITICAL DOUBLE SPEAK
The UN Security council passed Resolution 1973 (2011) in which it, among others, declared the air space over Libya a "no fly zone". It also gave its members the authority to enforce such a zone by taking "all necessary measures".. Germany "abstained" from a vote on this resolution.
Germany also decided not to participate in the enforcement of this resolution, but left it in the hands of France and Great Britain. The largest part of this effort was carried (what else is new) by the United States of America and their Stealth Airplanes. The U.S.A left the official command over the air strikes in the hands of France and Great Britain.
Germany of a sudden finds itself as "the odd man out" in the effort to remove from power one of the most brutal dictators in recent history. In order to somewhat mitigate this loss of face, the German Foreign Minister states that it was correct not to participate in the air attacks against Gaddafi's Libya, but rather to participate in specific sanctions against Libya. ( He did not enumerate the nature of these "specific sanctions".)
Further, Germany offered a credit of 100 Million Euros for the new rebel government.
The epitomy of political double speak, however, was uttered by the German Chancellor, Mrs. Merkel:
"All of us share the aims of resolution 1973, irrespective of our abstaining from or agreement to this resolution."
In other words: "Don't judge us by what we actually do, but judge us by the Double Speak we utter."
Hey, please introduce me to an honest politician...
Bertstravels
Germany also decided not to participate in the enforcement of this resolution, but left it in the hands of France and Great Britain. The largest part of this effort was carried (what else is new) by the United States of America and their Stealth Airplanes. The U.S.A left the official command over the air strikes in the hands of France and Great Britain.
Germany of a sudden finds itself as "the odd man out" in the effort to remove from power one of the most brutal dictators in recent history. In order to somewhat mitigate this loss of face, the German Foreign Minister states that it was correct not to participate in the air attacks against Gaddafi's Libya, but rather to participate in specific sanctions against Libya. ( He did not enumerate the nature of these "specific sanctions".)
Further, Germany offered a credit of 100 Million Euros for the new rebel government.
The epitomy of political double speak, however, was uttered by the German Chancellor, Mrs. Merkel:
"All of us share the aims of resolution 1973, irrespective of our abstaining from or agreement to this resolution."
In other words: "Don't judge us by what we actually do, but judge us by the Double Speak we utter."
Hey, please introduce me to an honest politician...
Bertstravels
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Bleiburg: The Swimming Pool
Even without this backdrop this Swimming Pool would be
absolutely first class.
It's olympic size, the water at all times cristal clear,
when it gets a little cool, a solar heating panel warms it up,
so that enjoyment is guaranteed.
What you don't see, because I, the photographer, stood with
my back to it, is a lovely "Gastgarten" where colourful umbrellas
allow you to enjoy Fried Chicken or many other local delicacies,
without melting in the blazing sun.
Now add to this "The Petzen", the local ski hill of some 2,300 meters,
much loved during the summer season by hikers and serious climbers,
and you got yourself an unbeatable combination.
Okay, let's go for a swim.
Bertstravels.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Is this "Democracy" ???
Sometimes I am close to dispair. ....
Let me give you a short summary of the background of this story:
There is a man in Carinthia, by name of Uwe Scheuch. Uwe came up through the ranks of a right wing political party until he finally made it to Leader of the FPK, the "Freiheitliche Partei Kaerntens" (The Liberty Party of Carinthia) and to Deputy Premier of the Province of Carinthia.
In January of 2010 Carinthia's Prosecutor began investigating charges against Uwe, the Deputy Leader of the Party in Power, for Corruption. The charges were based on an accusation, fortified by tape recordings, in which Uwe, during a conversation with a wealthy Russian indicates that he could certainly assist in obtaining Austrian citizenship for this potential investor, but that he expected that some of the money would flow into the party coffers. That, Uwe said, (in English) "is part of the game".
On the 2nd of August, a courageous Judge, Liebhauser-Karl, after having heard extensive evidence, found Mr. Scheuch guilty as charged and pronounced a sentence of 18 month Jail, only 6 of which unconditional.
Of course, Uwe, as is his right, filed an appeal to the higher court.
So far, so good: There are corrupt officials and courageous judges everywhere.
It is extremely difficult, however, to imagine the storm of outrage which broke loose: The Premier of the Province called the Judge incompetent, questioning if the judgement had been the same if Mr. Scheuch belonged to a different political party and classifying Mr. Scheuch's remarks to the potential investor, as "Kaffeklatsch" (Coffe-house chatter)
Then came letters to the Newspapers, one of them suggesting that "if this were happening in Calabria
( A Maffia Stronghold ), the Judge would be dead by now.
Other death threats came via mail and e-mail.
Is this the way in which citizens of a civilized country react to a judgement of their court?
The sad story continues:
There is a lovely city in Carinthia, called Villach:
The good citizens of this city had a "Kirchtag" , a big party with music, and general merry-making, ending in a long parade.
Wolfgang Schneider, thought it would be funny to stand on the side lines of this parade, dressed in a T-shirt with the self inscribed logo: "Uwe geh in Haefn...it's all part of the game" ( Uwe, go to jail ... it's all part of the game.) Some members of Uwe's political party, the FPK, did not like this inscription, and commenced a physical attack against Wolfgang, attempting to tear off the offending t-shirt. Then these hooligans called the cops, insisting that Wolfgang be arrested because "he obstructed their parade route."
The police officer asked wolfgang to "move on".. Wolfgang insisted on his right to stay there (This is a public place, he suggested)... The Police officer considered this an affront to his authority and before Wolfgang Schneider, an Austrian Citicen, who simply stood on the side of the road, watching a parade go by, realized what was happening, he was lying on his stomach, on the street, his arms bent back and hand cuffs snapped in place. He was arrested and charged with : "Actions against Public Order."
As Wolfgang said, he was most disturbed at the non-chalant manner in which bystanders accepted these happenings....
So, here we have it:
A Politician (Provincial Deputy Premier) convicted of Corruption (appeal Pending)
The Provincial Premier saying "I do not accept this judgment"
Other high ranking Politician pronouncing the Judge "Incompetent"...
Death threats against the Judge
A Citizen viewing a parade, wearing a t-shirt expressing his opinion
Political hooligans attacking this man
A cop disrespecting this citizen's right to be in a public place.
Oh, my dear Austria... where goest thou ????
Find me a Democrat
Bertstravels.
Let me give you a short summary of the background of this story:
There is a man in Carinthia, by name of Uwe Scheuch. Uwe came up through the ranks of a right wing political party until he finally made it to Leader of the FPK, the "Freiheitliche Partei Kaerntens" (The Liberty Party of Carinthia) and to Deputy Premier of the Province of Carinthia.
In January of 2010 Carinthia's Prosecutor began investigating charges against Uwe, the Deputy Leader of the Party in Power, for Corruption. The charges were based on an accusation, fortified by tape recordings, in which Uwe, during a conversation with a wealthy Russian indicates that he could certainly assist in obtaining Austrian citizenship for this potential investor, but that he expected that some of the money would flow into the party coffers. That, Uwe said, (in English) "is part of the game".
On the 2nd of August, a courageous Judge, Liebhauser-Karl, after having heard extensive evidence, found Mr. Scheuch guilty as charged and pronounced a sentence of 18 month Jail, only 6 of which unconditional.
Of course, Uwe, as is his right, filed an appeal to the higher court.
So far, so good: There are corrupt officials and courageous judges everywhere.
It is extremely difficult, however, to imagine the storm of outrage which broke loose: The Premier of the Province called the Judge incompetent, questioning if the judgement had been the same if Mr. Scheuch belonged to a different political party and classifying Mr. Scheuch's remarks to the potential investor, as "Kaffeklatsch" (Coffe-house chatter)
Then came letters to the Newspapers, one of them suggesting that "if this were happening in Calabria
( A Maffia Stronghold ), the Judge would be dead by now.
Other death threats came via mail and e-mail.
Is this the way in which citizens of a civilized country react to a judgement of their court?
The sad story continues:
There is a lovely city in Carinthia, called Villach:
The good citizens of this city had a "Kirchtag" , a big party with music, and general merry-making, ending in a long parade.
Wolfgang Schneider, thought it would be funny to stand on the side lines of this parade, dressed in a T-shirt with the self inscribed logo: "Uwe geh in Haefn...it's all part of the game" ( Uwe, go to jail ... it's all part of the game.) Some members of Uwe's political party, the FPK, did not like this inscription, and commenced a physical attack against Wolfgang, attempting to tear off the offending t-shirt. Then these hooligans called the cops, insisting that Wolfgang be arrested because "he obstructed their parade route."
The police officer asked wolfgang to "move on".. Wolfgang insisted on his right to stay there (This is a public place, he suggested)... The Police officer considered this an affront to his authority and before Wolfgang Schneider, an Austrian Citicen, who simply stood on the side of the road, watching a parade go by, realized what was happening, he was lying on his stomach, on the street, his arms bent back and hand cuffs snapped in place. He was arrested and charged with : "Actions against Public Order."
As Wolfgang said, he was most disturbed at the non-chalant manner in which bystanders accepted these happenings....
So, here we have it:
A Politician (Provincial Deputy Premier) convicted of Corruption (appeal Pending)
The Provincial Premier saying "I do not accept this judgment"
Other high ranking Politician pronouncing the Judge "Incompetent"...
Death threats against the Judge
A Citizen viewing a parade, wearing a t-shirt expressing his opinion
Political hooligans attacking this man
A cop disrespecting this citizen's right to be in a public place.
Oh, my dear Austria... where goest thou ????
Find me a Democrat
Bertstravels.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
BLEIBURG 2 - ST.VEIT 3 --sorry -
the prettiest Center Forward
at the ceremonial kick-off
Three against one : 's no fair.
This one found the upper left corner.
An alert 'keeper.
I was worried that this would be a "blow-out".
In the First Minute: 1:0 for St. Veit.
5 minutes later: 2:0 for St. Veit
in the 10th minute: St.Veit pulled ahead again: 3:0
Then Bleiburg woke up to the fact, that this was a Soccer Game...
not Diddly-Winks.
Nothing much happened in the rest of the first half.
Then in the second Half a Penalty shot for Bleiburg
made it 3:1
a little later, a beautiful goal made it 3:2 and Bleiburg was in the game.
But, alas, that's all she wrote.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
from "AAA" to "AA+
Well, it happened....
remember my mention in an earlier entry in this Blog of the irrational statements made by several high ranking officials of the European Union? Statements such as "we must not permit an American Rating Agency to damage our currency, the Euro.." ..suggesting that the downgrading of the notorious spendthrifts like Greece, Ireland, Portugal etc. was done by the three American Rating Agencies in an effort to damage the Euro....
It was suggested by these very same intellectual lightweights that these rating agencies "must be smashed"
and so on ad nauseam...
Yes, now it happened: Standard and Poor, one of the three American Rating Agencies, downgraded the Credit Rating of the U.S.A. from AAA to AA+
Now what are the E.U. officials going to say? That S&P is trying to destroy the US$ ? That S&P must be smashed because they downgraded the Credit Rating of their own country? Not likely ....
They will probably come up with some other harebrained coccamamy idea.
Let's examine what S&P said to justify their downgrading: (summarized and abriviated) ..
Efforts to reduce U.S. Government Spending were not enough. The Deficit Reduction must be more significant.
Let me also quote a columnist of the Washington Post, Ezra Klein:
"Standard & Poor is downgrading their estimation of our political system and not our actual ability to pay our debts. Indeed, the past 36 hours offered a stunning demonstration of the market's faith in our ability to pay our debts. Stockmarket panic of the last few days sent investors rushing to buy U.S. Treasuries."
It is, of course, most unfortunate that the two parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, could find a solution to the increase in the borrowing limits only after prolonged, down to the last minute, haggling and in a downwatered version which really pleases no-one, and which, in the long run, does not solve the ultimate problem. The U.S. government simply must find a meaningful deficit cutting solution to this perennial problem.
I do not believe that an accross the board increase in taxation is the answer: This step usually reduces the ability of the private sector to increase production, thereby increasing jobs, and consequently increasing taxes payable. I also do not believe that the modest advances in social benefits which President Obama was able to achieve should be taken back or modified.
From reading many opinions expressed by pundits and people in the know I do believe:
1.)The United States of America should extricate itself from wars into which it partially was lured by the UN, should let the European Union carry more of this burden and consequently reduce the budgetary provisions for the Pentagon to a reasonable level.
2.) Some of the "tax shelters" for very rich individuals and corporations should be allowed to expire. Although I admit that the removal of a tax shelter is tantamount to the increase in taxes payable, this would limit such an increase to those who benefitted by regulations passed during the Bush aera and which were meant to have an expiry date.
3.) Welfare- and Unemployment payments should be controlled and paid only to those in need.
4.) Rampant duplication of Government Service positions must be eliminated.
I suppose there are many many other ways in which this problem can be managed. All it takes is Good Will by both political parties and the conviction that the results of a deterioration of the economic position of their country is to the detriment of ALL of its citizens, irrespective of their individual political orientation.
Sell me a Treasury Bill
Bertstravels
remember my mention in an earlier entry in this Blog of the irrational statements made by several high ranking officials of the European Union? Statements such as "we must not permit an American Rating Agency to damage our currency, the Euro.." ..suggesting that the downgrading of the notorious spendthrifts like Greece, Ireland, Portugal etc. was done by the three American Rating Agencies in an effort to damage the Euro....
It was suggested by these very same intellectual lightweights that these rating agencies "must be smashed"
and so on ad nauseam...
Yes, now it happened: Standard and Poor, one of the three American Rating Agencies, downgraded the Credit Rating of the U.S.A. from AAA to AA+
Now what are the E.U. officials going to say? That S&P is trying to destroy the US$ ? That S&P must be smashed because they downgraded the Credit Rating of their own country? Not likely ....
They will probably come up with some other harebrained coccamamy idea.
Let's examine what S&P said to justify their downgrading: (summarized and abriviated) ..
Efforts to reduce U.S. Government Spending were not enough. The Deficit Reduction must be more significant.
Let me also quote a columnist of the Washington Post, Ezra Klein:
"Standard & Poor is downgrading their estimation of our political system and not our actual ability to pay our debts. Indeed, the past 36 hours offered a stunning demonstration of the market's faith in our ability to pay our debts. Stockmarket panic of the last few days sent investors rushing to buy U.S. Treasuries."
It is, of course, most unfortunate that the two parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, could find a solution to the increase in the borrowing limits only after prolonged, down to the last minute, haggling and in a downwatered version which really pleases no-one, and which, in the long run, does not solve the ultimate problem. The U.S. government simply must find a meaningful deficit cutting solution to this perennial problem.
I do not believe that an accross the board increase in taxation is the answer: This step usually reduces the ability of the private sector to increase production, thereby increasing jobs, and consequently increasing taxes payable. I also do not believe that the modest advances in social benefits which President Obama was able to achieve should be taken back or modified.
From reading many opinions expressed by pundits and people in the know I do believe:
1.)The United States of America should extricate itself from wars into which it partially was lured by the UN, should let the European Union carry more of this burden and consequently reduce the budgetary provisions for the Pentagon to a reasonable level.
2.) Some of the "tax shelters" for very rich individuals and corporations should be allowed to expire. Although I admit that the removal of a tax shelter is tantamount to the increase in taxes payable, this would limit such an increase to those who benefitted by regulations passed during the Bush aera and which were meant to have an expiry date.
3.) Welfare- and Unemployment payments should be controlled and paid only to those in need.
4.) Rampant duplication of Government Service positions must be eliminated.
I suppose there are many many other ways in which this problem can be managed. All it takes is Good Will by both political parties and the conviction that the results of a deterioration of the economic position of their country is to the detriment of ALL of its citizens, irrespective of their individual political orientation.
Sell me a Treasury Bill
Bertstravels
Friday, August 5, 2011
The BUSHMEN OF THE KALAHARI
The Chief of the family has just unearthed
a liquid filled tuber.
Finely shaved it provides much needed liquid.
Besides these tubers, they dug up and presented to us truffels.
We had an entire evening meal consisting of
slightly roasted truffels.
With two stones the Bushmen, or San
still know how to make a fire.
Although I'm sure that nowadays they prefer to use matc hes.
Sitting on the ground, they sing and clapp their hands
while the men dance rhythmically around them.
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