Flooding in Central Europe

Photos of the terrible weather and its effects.  #13 especially caught my eye.

Felix Baumgartner Jumps Into History

Austrian Felix Baumgartner wows the world with the Red Bull Stratos Mission to the Edge of Space.  I watched the jump live, and it was amazing.  Kudos, sir!  UPDATE: BOTW reminds us that Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger did a massive jump too in the 1960s.  Kittinger was on hand for Baumgartner's leap today.

A Rebuttal to Christoph Waltz

Here is a German response to Austrian Christoph Waltz's provocative accusation that Germans have no sense of humor.  Via gentle German reader Marian, here is the Berlin Laughter Project!

LOL: Christoph Waltz on the Differences Between Germans and Austrians

"Like the difference between a battleship and a waltz."

Oscar-winning actor Waltz is, of course, Austrian (Viennese).  He's hilarious.  Oh, and if you haven't seen him in "Inglourious Basterds," you really must!  He is absolutely fantastic.

Quirky Euro Files: The Pastafarian Austrian Driver's License

Ah, religious freedom can be a hilarious thing.  Well, good on Mr. Alm also for having a personality and not being afraid to show it!  Now to quote him: "My headwear has now been recognized by the Republic of Austria."  LOL!

Quirky Asia Files: The Chinese Knockoff of an Austrian Village

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?  Still, isn't this a little .... much?

Quirky Euro Files: Austrian Man Fined for Yodeling

What's the world coming to if a man can't yodel in his own yard?   Just for fun, check out this 12-year-old kid yodeling!

Barking Mad At 10,000 Feet: Meet This Austrian Special Forces Paratrooper

Check out the awesome photo at the news link.

Here's a hilarious blurb from the news story:

The explosives sniffing pooch - a member of Austria's version of the SAS - took part in Operation Cold Response in Norway along with British special forces and Royal Marines assault teams.

. . . "It's something he does a lot and he's very comfortable with. He has a much cooler head then most recruits," said one operation trooper.

GOOD BOY!

Well, I see canine heroics have kicked it up a notch since Lassie found Timmy in the well.

Nerd Journal: MM Fascinated By The Picture Table for Small Spaces

This seems like an ingenious idea! Perfect for tiny little nerd-apartments? It's probably too expensive, though!

Here's more from the Austrian designer. Oooh, I like the mirror option too.

Right now, actually, I have a yen to do something -- anything! -- to my apartment, the Nerdcave. It's probably off to IKEA for me! As a grad student friend once told me, "If it weren't for IKEA, none of us would have any furniture at all! We'd all be living on the floor."

Idiotic Statement of the Day: Racist Rant from Austrian Journalist

You know, over the course of the election, I've heard all kinds of racially-based statements (most of them were stupid, such as the "if you don't vote for Obama, you're racist" meme or the grossly oversimplified "racist America" babblings in the international media).

But nothing I've seen or heard yet even comes close to this utterly unhinged, racist rant from Austria. Culprit: veteran journalist Klaus Emmerich.

BONUS: He still says Americans are racists. (So much for the idea that we should vote for Obama to "prove" that we're not racist. Vote for him, and we're still racist, apparently. Well, I didn't vote for him at all, so am I some kind of double-bad racist? Going on!)

DOUBLE BONUS: He is supposedly an expert on the US. I guess Mr. Emmerich didn't pay much attention to pieces of American history known as the abolitionist movement, the Emancipation Proclamation, the American Civil War, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the civil rights movement, etc.

TRIPLE BONUS: he makes a sexist comment about Michelle Obama. She's just "a black, very good-looking woman."

Looks like Klaus just had his Dan Rather moment. It's a good thing Klaus is retired, I suppose! But it's sad, really, how after a long and solid career of journalism, he has to do something so revolting.

Euro Notes: Hang Onto Your (Monetary) Euro Notes

Euroland is feeling the chill. Bank bailouts are in progress, and now different nations are scrambling to shore up their shaky finances:

Sweden became the latest European country to offer protection for bank deposits, after the German government offered blanket guarantees Sunday to all private savings accounts. Austria and Denmark also did the same.

Britain’s government on Monday scrambled to find ways to help the country’s ailing banking sector and even considered a part-nationalization of the industry. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling on Monday continued to consult with advisers on ways to stabilize the banking sector, which may include a recapitalization financed by taxpayers, said a person at the Treasury who declined to be identified because the discussions are private.

Stocks fell sharply in London, Paris and Frankfurt on Monday.

New bailouts were arranged late Sunday for two European companies, Hypo Real Estate, a large German mortgage lender, and Fortis, a large banking and insurance company based in Belgium but active across much of the Continent. Under the agreement, BNP Paribas will acquire the Belgium and Luxembourg banking operations of Fortis for about $20 billion.

Well, it looks like another addition to the Financial Apocalypse soundtrack is due.

Free Music: Gregorian Chant

Because nobody rocks the house like the Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz near Vienna, Austria. Get a free download of the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus." Cool!

Oh, and here is the monks' website.