Category Archives: Economics
Modern Mecca
Is it still the Kaaba (the black box in the arena) which is supposed to be the holiest site in the world, or has Mecca just become another place to worship dollars and riyals (and a copy of Big Ben)?
Why Eastern Europe cannot accept more Refugees
Dear Western Europe, it seems you are in sulk about our unwillingness to accept more any refugees. It hurts us to hurt your feelings, so please allow us to explain things from an Eastern European perspective. We are certain you that … Continue reading
A polite coffee
At a café in Sibiu, Romania: One coffee – 6 lei One coffee please – 3 lei Good morning, one coffee please – 2 lei Polite, as I always am, I get a really good deal here. 2 lei are 50 US-cents.
Twitter share price below IPO price
Less than two years ago, when Twitter went public, I was the lone voice warning you against buying their shares. Then the share price initially went up like a rocket and I didn’t get a show on CNBC. Now however, the … Continue reading
Easily Confused (51) Economic Systems
Communist centrally planned economy: Capitalist free market economy: The main difference seems to be that nowadays, young people do the queuing themselves instead of sending their mothers. That’s progress. (Auf Deutsch.)
Easily Confused (48) Bank Holiday
Bank holiday in Britain: Bank holiday in Greece:
Did you notice the Irony? (20) EXPO Milan
Ever since the Watergate scandal, the suffix -gate is used to denote scandals, cases of corruption and other complex illegal activities. At this year’s EXPO in Milan, Italy, the planners or architects have already provided for the likelihood of corruption, … Continue reading
How to become a Millionaire
I don’t know why so many people are obsessed with becoming millionaires – or of those who already are, with becoming billionaires. I don’t get the point of collecting more wealth than you can spend. But oddly enough, without striving … Continue reading
The effects of FATCA?
For more than 10 years, I have been helping clients to obtain German citizenship. Those who have German parents, grand-parents or further removed ancestors either are German already (often without knowing it) or eligible for naturalization under less strict conditions than other applicants. … Continue reading
Why I don’t play the Lottery
Because it’s a Soviet scam, a Communist charade: In the novel Twelve Chairs, Ilja Ilf and Evgeny Petrov describe how the Soviet Union organized steamship tours, accompanied by orchestras and dance groups, whose goal it was to get people to sign … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 