Category Archives: Technology

A Walk along the Semmering Railway

At first glance, the landscape in the Vienna Alps looks idyllic. But the expert’s eye realizes immediately that something is missing here: a railroad! Because how are the people supposed to enjoy the picturesque landscape if they can’t get there … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, History, Photography, Technology, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

My secular Shabbat

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Texts. Readers of this blog will have noticed that I am a radical Atheist. But there is one religious idea that I have incorporated in my life, although in a secular version. It’s the idea of … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Philosophy, Religion, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 45 Comments

When Train Travel means Time Travel: on the Mennonite Express from Winnipeg to Toronto

Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. This is the third part of the crossing-Canada-by-train trilogy, hence my recommendation to read part 1 and part 2 first. Otherwise, the whole story will go haywire and derail like a freight train, setting an innocent town ablaze. … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Religion, Technology, Travel | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments

Car Cemeteries

Given how dearly many people love their cars, I am surprised they deposit them so carelessly instead of granting them a proper burial, maybe in the family mausoleum. That one person in Calgary put their old car in a hospice-like … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Photography, Technology | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Count the railcars, if you can!

Freight trains in Canada are really long. And the drivers are always nice enough to sound the horn when I wave at them. It was the first time that I saw a train with engines in the front, the middle and … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Technology, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

GDPR – Privacy Policy

Finally, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has come into effect, and there is panic all over the continent, as if there hadn’t been any data protection laws in force until now. And it seems like everyone slept through the … Continue reading

Posted in Law, Technology | Tagged | 6 Comments

Priorities in the countryside

Not even a proper toilet, but the tree has a satellite connection. (Photographed on the way to Savin Kuk in Montenegro.)

Posted in Montenegro, Photography, Technology, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Random Thoughts (16)

Finland has some weird sports competitions.  Each time I return to Europe, rents have doubled. Tweets cannot change laws, regulations or rules. Each time Donald Trump tries to do so, he should be laughed at. Why can’t Microsoft Windows move … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Czech Republic, Finland, Language, Military, North Korea, Philosophy, Poland, Politics, Religion, Sports, Technology, USA, World War II | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Random Thoughts (15)

If you are ever going to attend France’s National Day parade on 14 July, watch out for the pioneers of the Foreign Legion.  More Orwellian news out of Russia. Romania: “Look, USA, that’s how you do an impeachment. Quick and … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Books, France, Military, Politics, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Technology, Travel, UK, USA | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Why it’s not easy to talk to bloggers

I admit that one of the reasons for setting up this blog was that I had gotten tired of answering the same question more than once, even if asked by different people. The other danger of talking to bloggers is that … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Technology | Tagged , | 4 Comments