In 2005 monochrom teamed up with Miki Malör and the “Chor der Gegenstimmen” and staged a music show about national anthems. And finally the video is online.

eine musikalische reise. die ganze welt von a-z, durch ihre hymnen betrachtet. zum besseren verständnis der österreichischen identität.

nationen und die auf ihnen errichteten nationalstaaten sind eine historische erfindung. eine erfindung der bürgerlichen klasse. eine erfindung zur durchsetzung ihrer politischen und ökonomischen interessen. und das sind auch sie, liebe österreicher und österreicherinnen: erfindungen zur durchsetzung politischer und ökonomischer interessen. lassen sie dieses gefühl zu. singen sie mit!

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Link (Video download, German only)

I am completely numb because of the weather. The hotness makes me unable to do anything. Office is air conditioned, I think I’m gonna work 14 hours every day these weeks.

The information that the polar bears in the zoo in Schönbrunn are being fed fish flavored ice constipates my mind for at least an hour before letting go.

Newspaper had some ideas on how to spend the hot days, like these: sex in the morning best between 7 and 8 (I am already in the office then and at home it still had 29°C?) or go to the public pools at four pm (where do these people work?) .

Yesterday evening we opened the windows at around 10 pm to let in some cooler air. Turns out outside was still hotter than inside.

Incoherency is slowly taking over.

please finish this sentence: it is so hot today, …

- the concrete on the floor started to melt
- I had to buy another air condition to cool my air condition (hah, I wish)
- the coal for my barbecue wanted to get inside to cool off

I added a new categroy, “Sad Vienna”.

And this is really sad.
A lonely Hundertwasser column @ Vienna International Airport.

Finally (after a long, long time) we put a video of our musical “Udo 77″ online. It deals with the life and times of infamous Viennese society freak, industrialist and criminal — Udo Proksch.

Proksch is a fascinating figure in recent Austrian history. Born to a poor family he rose to become the darling of Austrian high society before landing in jail on a life sentence for sinking a ship and its crew in order to cash in on insurance of nonexistent goods. His perfectly tuned network of sponsors, friends and political functionaries could not hush up the scandal and many of his associates joined him in his fall from grace.

The (clearly nerd-compatible) musical was a cooperation with the Viennese Rabenhof Theater.

Sorry, German only.

Wie ein Societythriller von John Grisham liest sich die Geschichte vom Aufstieg und Fall jenes Mannes, der auszog, um ein Schiff im Sumpf der österreichischen Politik zu versenken. Wenn es wahr ist… Aber was ist wahr? Bei Udo Proksch verschwimmen die Grenzen zwischen Realität und Legende, bei seiner Biografie endet die Geschichtsschreibung. Proksch ist Mythos.

MusikerInnen: Otto Europa, Tunakan und Gollini (cheap), Vibemaster, Alfons Bauernfeind und Ingmar Versolmann (von Blockwerk), Arteom Denissov, Michael Mautner, Reinhold & Weiß, Matthias Kertal (von Mika), From Beyond Inc Allstars (Nitram Tamtin Vs Canon McQuadratin), Peter Dusl, Max of Prey, Richard Wientzek, Rupert Schellenberger, Fadi Dorninger, 100% Meskalin, Trishes.

DarstellerInnen: Alexandra Schmid/Anna Behne, Sonja Romei, Lukas Sartori, Christian Strasser sowie Homolka List, Johannes Grenzfurthner und Robert Stachel.

Please click

monochrom / Video Download
Blip / Embedded Video

A talk by Douglas Irving Repetto (Columbia University, New York), founder of dorkbot, and Jan De Pauw (IDeA, department Rits, Erasmushogeschool Brussel).

Highly recommended!

Friday, July 13, 6-8 PM @ Freiraum, MQ.

Link

Where is this corner?

I give you a hint. One of the streets would be called “Exit street” in English.

Location: Naschmarkt.

Currently there is a big discussion about child benefits in Austria. The rule is: for every kid there will be child benefits payed for by the government. The amount is 436 € per month for three years. Yes, that is a lot, because the last conservative government wanted people to stay home and have kids (and not party and have sex without getting kids, as one minister put it.)

Unless the mother or father staying home to tend to the kid earns more than 14.600 € aside, then they don’t get anything. It doesn’t matter how much the other parent earns by the way.

After the Kinderbetreuungsgeld runs out there is Familienbeihilfe, another 150 € per child and month unless the annual income is less than about 8.500 € until the kid is 18 (or 26 if it goes to university). (If you need counseling on these matters, better not ask anybody blogging, but someone at your local council or magistrate.)

Anyway, now it seems that 2 in 5 recievers of child benefit earned more than that on the side and now face having to pay back 2-5.000 € per year.

This matter is even more interesting, when taking in account that the average income in Austria of employed people is 16.600 € net. (info from www.statistik.at, which is becoming one of my favorite sites for hard facts.) That means that 2 in 5 parents claiming to stay home are actually working full time. Otherwise I would like to know what kind of part-time jobs those are, because I’d switch instantly.

The _wonderful_ Extra Action Marching Band from San Francisco (Kah-li-for-nee-ah) is on tour and today they’ll give one of their glorious concerts in the Arena!

After my talk in Metalab I’ll definitely head towards Erdberg!

Link