Hostage in Austria

[Guinevere]

I adore Austria - my great-great-grandmother is Viennese. Next time you're in Vienna, hop another short train to Budapest.

I'd also recommend Saltzburg and Passau, two wonderful charming old cities, each rather different, but different directions from Vienna.

[Guinevere]

Vienna is on the other side of Austria, Gob.

Next to Germany

Vienna isn't next to German at all -- its on the borders of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

[dales]

Favorite son, perhaps Hermann Goehring. Founded voestalpine, the biggest employer in town.

For the record, the $15 Euro hamburger, a 4 euro bottle of coke, a couple euros for a bit of cake and a tip, and it's $30 for lunch. American Express don't lie.

I believe it, I'm glad I was there 45 years ago when the dollar was ACTUALLY WORTH SOMETHING and the old man was footing the bill.

[dales]

Vienna is on the other side of Austria, Gob.

Next to Germany

Vienna isn't next to German[y] at all -- its on the borders of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

No, but the Eagle's Nest is a fact which you neglected to include in your quote.

[Guinevere]

Eagle's Nest is in Bavaria, which is *in* Germany. It does overlook the Austrian alps though.

[dales]

DUH!

I was there in 1965, when were you there?

[Guinevere]

1975, 1989, 1999. Hope to get back in the next 2 years.

[dales]

Yeah, It's a wonderful part of the world.

[rubato]

Hitler was a would-be PAINTER. He lacked the education to be a would-be architect.

Try to stay up, alright?



yrs,
rubato

[dales]

WAS MIT IHNEN FALSCH IST - retart?

[Lord Jim]

Hitler was a would-be PAINTER. He lacked the education to be a would-be architect.

He was a would-be both you friggin' ignorant buffoon....

He was rejected by the art academy in Vienna, (twice) and it was recommended to him that he apply to the architecture academy, but (the one thing you got right) he needed a high school diploma for that and he didn't have one....

But that doesn't negate the fact that he considered himself gifted in that area and had a great interest in it, just as he felt about his artistic talents...

If you knew anything about Hitler or the history of that period, (which you have demonstrated over and over again that you manifestly do not...in fact you seem to know even less about that period of world history than just about anything else... which is saying something, given how little you know about anything...) you would know this....

[dales]

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love me
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I know that one and one is one
And if this one could be with me
What a wonderful this would be

I don't claim to be an 'A' student
But I'm trying to be
Maybe my being an 'A' student baby
I can win my love for me

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love me
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

But I know that one and one is one
And if this one could be with me
What a wonderful this would be

With Apologies to Sam Cook

[dgs49]

Based on an absurdly small sampling, I have concluded that the national sport in Austria is.....Ball Busting.

Countless times over my couple weeks, in both company and that of my hoped-for customer, I saw people take grotesque advantage of very minor differences in authority level to belittle, ridicule, and generally make miserable their co-workers who happened to be just a little bit lower in the pecking order.

Even in relatively minor matters, the subordinate was made to look foolish, stupid, or incompetent. Even in cases when the "superior" AGREED with the subordinate, they would start the conversation with insulting, belittling remarks, only to conclude with, "well, it's OK, but I just wanted to see why you did it the way you did."

Austrians are definitely different from Germans and Luxembourgians. And of course, the French, Italians, and Spanish are, relatively speaking, from other planets altogether.

[dales]

I think people the world over try to make their sub-ordinates appear stupid. This I believe is a very human trait. Perhaps it is more apperent in Austria due to a pecualiar pecking order within that organization for which you work for.

The Germans were famous for this behaviour during WW2 and it helped them lose the war.

Or you surrounded yourself with a bunch of neurotics.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I think people the world over try to make their sub-ordinates appear stupid.

I did it with everyone, not just sub-ordinates. It was an ego thing to make me look better/superior. It's a defect of character that I am working on.
The 12 steps, not just for alcoholics.

[dgs49]

I don't see that in my own workplace, and have never seen it generally in any of the 20 or so companies where I've worked as an adult.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that people perform better when they are treated with respect.

The kinds of exchanges I witnessed would, in time, result in physical violence in a U.S. workplace. At some point you would just refuse to take it.

[dales]

If everyone did the 12-Steps the world would be such a better place!

[dales]

I don't see that in my own workplace, and have never seen it generally in any of the 20 or so companies where I've worked as an adult.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that people perform better when they are treated with respect.

The kinds of exchanges I witnessed would, in time, result in physical violence in a U.S. workplace. At some point you would just refuse to take it.

Going postal?

[dgs49]

Ed Zachary.