Tommy Schmidt’s great project “Kreuz am Rand” (”Cross at the Roadside”) will be presented today 8 PM at Metalab (Rathausstraße 6), as part of the Paraflows talk series.

Jeder kennt die Unfallkreuze am Rande von Landstraßen und jeder kennt das Dilemma ihrer beiläufigen Wahrnehmung: Kaum hat man sie erfasst und sich gefragt, was da wohl passiert sei, ist man schon wieder ein paar hundert Meter weiter gefahren. So lautet die Botschaft des Kreuzes an den einzelnen Verkehrsteilnehmer “halt an, halt inne, gedenke!”
Andererseits lässt die Verkehrssituation genau das nicht zu.
Unfallkreuze befinden sich am Straßenrand und sie befinden sich am Rande der Wahrnehmung. Es sind Kreuze am Rand.
“Kreuz am Rand” macht Unfallkreuze als Symbole individueller Schicksalsereignisse in ihren Details sichtbar – mit ihren Blumen, Gedichten, Porträtfotos und Kuscheltieren.
Und zwar in Form einer interaktiven Straßenkarte (Google Maps) für Unfallkreuze: kreuz-am-rand.de
Auf der Straße ist die Wahrnehmung des Verkehrsteilnehmers auf den Verkehr konzentriert, das “Kreuz am Rand” muss eine Randerscheinung bleiben. Im Internet aber richtet der User seine Aufmerksamkeit auf den dargestellten Inhalt.
Auf der Straßenkarte werden die Standorte von Unfallkreuzen markiert. Bei Berühren der Kreuze mit der Maus erscheint ein Fenster mit Angaben zum Kreuz, ein Foto des Kreuzes und ein Link auf eine Inhaltsseite, die weitere Fotos und Informationen, etc. zum Kreuz enthält: Unfallhergang, Gedichte, Charakterbeschreibung des/der Verunglückten, etc. Diese Inhalte werden von Angehörigen, Freunden, etc. bereit gestellt. Langfristig werden auch Fotos von “neuen“ Kreuzen, etc. von Usern angelegt (also nicht allein vom Künstler als Websitebetreiber). Schließlich wird kreuz-am-rand.de eine Plattform auf der sich Betroffene untereinander austauschen. Die virtuellen Kreuze leisten hinsichtlich Verfügbarkeit und Informationsfülle potenziell mehr als die realen.

Link

mjam is a great new web service for Vienna. You want to order food? Asian? But you don’t know who is delivering? And if the restaurants are good? Well. Try out mjam. It’s worth it.

As you might know, Europe’s largest open-air festival, the Danube Island Festival, was moved from its traditional end-of-June spot to September because of Austria’s role as Euro 2008 co-host this year.

I almost forgot about this myself, but the festival is set to take place this weekend already (Fri 5 through Sun 7). Apparently, it’s the festival’s 25th birthday this year, and just like last year, 2.000 artists will be performing, providing festival goers with 600 hours of entertainment, all in all. (The traditional fireworks on Saturday got cancelled, however..)

For some reason, I, myself, haven’t been to Donauinselfest for a few years now, but I intend on going again this year. If you do, too, you will find the programme search on the festival’s official website helpful.

Here goes a huge thanx to Mike from tupalo, whom I just met yesterday and who - being the impersonation of the vegan’s breaking news - briefed me on the latest hot vegan shit in Vienna; which again reminded me on a post I started weeks ago and simply forgot to upload here…

So here we go with a couple of spots that may fulfill your needs for vegan yumminess:

The Go Veg Diner, a place selling all vegan, healthy (they say) fast food - which totally reminds me of Yellow Sunshine in Berlin -, just opened its gates in 10th district, Favoritenstr. 156 (11am - 09pm, closed on Sundays).
Unfortunately, I haven’t made it there yet, but I believe it’s somewhat in the middle between Formosa, Rupps and Schillinger - and worth a visit for sure!

Now that we can finally have some summer feelings (can we? pleease? for more than three days in a row?), there IS a tremendous need for ice cream.
The Eissalon am Schwedenplatz, just a few steps ahead from U Schwedenplatz, has started a cooperation with VGT and now serves three different cups of vegan ice cream varieties, changing weekly.
Still, I’m possibly the biggest fan ever of Zanoni & Zanoni, Lugeck 7, who offer three kinds of delicious vegan ice cream (which they call lactose- and sugarfree, but in fact have been proven to be vegan by Charly Schillinger): jogurt - raspberry, vanilla jogurt - blueberry, and chocolate, if I recall right.

Also, WerkzeugH in 5th district, Schoenbrunnerstr. 61, is my new favorite place to hang out in the sun and have a delicious dirty soy chai latte - both way cheaper and way more luscious than Starbucks or the Coffeeshop Company, since they offer David Rio’s Chai selection there (unfortunately, the mouth-watering “Elephant Vanilla Chai” is not 100% vegan, but the still amazing “Tiger Spice Chai” is) -, and we therefore even moved our Sunday’s Team Dirty Chai over there! =)
Every Sunday, WerkzeugH offers a large breakfast buffet on a pay-as-you-wish basis, too (sort of like at Der Wiener Deewan - if you haven’t been there yet, go make sure to check out that place as well!); unfortunately, this is mostly non-vegan, but Manfred assured me they’re working on it.

And, last but not least: Mike showed me the most unbelievable and awesome thing ever: a pack of American Oreos he had just bought at the Coffeeshop Company at Thalia, Mariahilferstr. 99! I know they’ve been selling the european (as in: non-vegan…) Oreo cookies ever since, so seeing CC switching over to the vegan originals seems like heaven to me! Woohooo!

I was not at ImPulsTanz Festival’s opening party last year, but I attended the closing party, and ohhh, it was something different from the usual stuff, let me tell you. The crowd was very mixed, there were people from different countries, different age groups, many dancers, good music and lots of dancing going on - all in all a really nice party atmosphere.

Today at 10 p.m. starts this year’s opening party, and just like last year, it once again takes place at Kasino am Schwarzenbergplatz (.. which is a really nice venue, just as a by the way!). So, if you don’t have anything better to do tonight and have €10 to spare, I’d recommend going there!

More info!

PS: I can also totally recommend ImPulsTanz’s Festival lounge at Burgtheater. The nice thing about that is that the entrance is free!

You probably have seen this marketing campaign for some online betting site.

Our British artist in residence — Jesse Darlin’ — asked the great question: “Why is Austria Germany’s bitch?”

I don’t know.

This is the time of the year when the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform again for free tomorrow night, 9 p.m. at the Schloss Schönbrunn in the 13th District, exactly in front of the majestic Neptune Fountain. This is going to be an open-air event where everyone doesn’t need to reserve tickets just to see the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

If you don’t mind the crowd and standing up, it could be a feast just listening to Austria’s one of “best-known musical institutions.”

Georges Prêtre, who conducted the New Year’s Concert 2008, will be conducting the orchestra tomorrow. It is broadcast to over 50 countries world-wide via the ORF. Well, well, well…

According to the website, in case of bad weather an alternate date will be on Wednesday, June 5, same time, same place.

I didn’t have any idea that Austrians are patriots, too. I mean, just look at the Austrian national flag proudly displayed on every fifth car.

I have known the Austrians as a very reserved folk. They wouldn’t tell you how much they earn in a month or who they are going to vote. Thy wouldn’t play the national anthem in the cinemas before the last screening. And now look, flag euphoria is hovering in the air.

I am not used to seeing Austrian flags unless there is a Feiertag. Unlike in the United States where seeing Stars and Stripes is usual in many households, Austrians are showing that they are very proud of their country (or their national team, depends on how one sees it) just in time for the EURO 2008.

According to an article from Der Standard, the Austrians are also patriots.

Tatsächlich erweisen sich die Österreicher im internationalen Vergleich als besonders patriotisch. Bei einer weltweiten Umfrage des Meinungsforschungsinstituts der University of Chicago zum Nationalstolz aus den Jahren 2003 und 2004 landete Österreich auf dem vierten Platz, geschlagen nur von den USA, Venezuela und Australien. Besonders der “allgemeine Patriotismus”, der sich nicht auf besondere Leistungen bezieht, ist in Österreich stark ausgeprägt. Acht Jahre zuvor lag Österreich sogar auf dem zweiten Platz gleich hinter den USA - und beim allgemeinen Stolz auf Platz eins.

Sources 1 & 2

If we follow George Orwell’s definition of patriotism in comparison with nationalism, one can say that the many Austrians are darn proud of this Alpine Republic:

By “patriotism” I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.

An Austrian told me it is the standard of living in Austria that makes life almost perfect. It could be the country’s highest ranking when it comes to security and cleanliness, or the social welfare, the culture, etc.

The Austrians are not as flexible as the Americans or not as cosmopolitan as the other nationalities. But they love to travel and see other places. Thing is, most of them would rather stay with their own kind. Like going to Turkey or Dubai, but rather stay in German-speaking clubs provided by the travel agency back home. The majority of Austrians are proud of their language, their culture, their food. They aren’t comfortable and often refuse to practice or learn other languages. It doesn’t matter if they can. They won’t dare talk to you in other languages (for example, in English) but their own mother tongue. The reasoning is they live in a German-speaking country. To borrow Stormtroopers of Death’s song “Speak English or Die,” speak German or die???

To emigrate? No way! As much as possible they wouldn’t if they had the choice as they cannot imagine living somewhere else but Austria.

Of course, there are others who think that place is not important as long as they feel home.

If my observations are wrong, please be my guest to correct them.

In the end, a Viennese colleague finds the flag-waving just funny and should not be mistaken as bigotry.

In 1999 25 year old Nigerian, Marcus Omofuma, was killed during a forced deportation in Austria. He was handcuffed, chained and his mouth closed with adhesive tape by the three escorting policemen who claimed that the other passengers of the deporting Balkans Air flight should not be disturbed. Marcus Omofuma suffocated.

The Marcus Omofuma memorial, which was created and paid for by the sculptor Ulrike Truger, reminds of the violence against Omofuma. The stone was put up next to the opera building in Vienna without official approval and was therefore supposed to be taken down. However, in collaboration with the Green Party, a place for it was found between Mariahilferstra§e and Museumsquartier.

Currently the Weinviertel (a part of Lower Austria) is presenting its products and touristic services between Mariahilferstra§e and Museumsquartier — around the Omofuma memorial. A kinda surreal situation. The Gemütlichkeit and Fortress Austria. It’s like Weinseligkeit.

They also have a representation of Lower Austrian “Amethystwelt Maissau” (”the largest opencast amethyst vein in the world”).
Children can stir in dirt to find amethysts.
What a sad setting.

Austrian tourist industry. You rule.

Today, not one but two social & cultural events worth visiting are taking place in Vienna:

Free Open Air gegen Rassismus
One of the two is the Free Open Air gegen Rassismus, where a number of mostly (though not only) Austrian bands will be performing from 4pm onwards. This annual free open air event protesting racism traditionally takes place at the Rock gegen Rechts stage, which is located close to Rotundenplatz at the Prater. This year, musical styles range from hip hop to indie pop; headlining act is Shantel & Bucovina Club Orkestar.

Sshhh: our very own DaddyD will be hosting this event together with his FM4 partner in crime DJ Joe-Joe!

More information on & links to the artists who are going to perform (in German)

Wagenplatzfest
The other event is a party organised by the inhabitants of Austria’s only trailer park, Wagenburg/Wagenplatz Wien. (Note: those not familiar with the more “European” concept of trailer parks might want to check out this Wikipedia article on the topic!)

The programme starts at 5pm and includes film screenings and band performances, among other things. Food and drinks (of both the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic variety) will naturally be available as well. If you’re still being sceptic about the whole trailer park thing, I can assure you that while the party’s organisers (.. or at least some of them) have squatted before, the 4000m2 (!) of land they’re currently residing on is being rented legally!

PS: considering that it’s Walpurgis Night tonight, this party should prove fun!