Truthiness

European politics, with the exception of the British, are in my opinion boring. For that reason I like a person as Sarkozy; ever witnessed a president who gives a 2 hour press conference for 500 journalist where he or she answered all the questions?
Turkish politics are different. Politicians are always insulted but at the same time they are offensive against everyone who criticize them. And with a press which don't know the difference between facts and fiction and between private and public information, you get a colorful mess.
How different are the USA politics. In this election year everything turns around 'truthiness': doesn't matter if something is true, as long as it looks like that it's true.
But can you prosecute people under this word?..))

European Capitals of Culture

1985 Athens
1986 Florence
1987 Amsterdam
1988 Berlin
1990 Glasgow
1991 Dublin
1993 Antwerp
1994 Lisbon
1995 Luxembourg
1996 Copenhagen
1997 Thessalonika
1998 Stockholm
1999 Weimar
2000 Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels, Santiago, Helsinki, Cracow, Prague and Reykjavik
2001 Porto, Rotterdam
2002 Bruges, Salamanca
2003 Graz
2004 Genoa, Lille
2005 Cork
2006 Patras
2007 Luxembourg
2007 Sibiu
2008 Liverpool
2008 Stavanger

Fear or being misinformed?

Below you will find a comment, published on TDN forum, of a British friend of mine who lives in the Netherlands.
I don't say that I agree or disagree with him, but it shows how bad the Turkish Republic is doing its PR, relying on the USA to enter the EU.

Very often you hear (mostly Turkish) diplomats telling the world just how strategically (militarily) important Turkey is for the security of Europe and especially the EU.
Nope! The EU is not looking for an extra army. These people sometimes forget that there are enough nuclear powers in the EU, not to speak of far more advanced armies as it is already.

There is also this story about being 'a bridge between the West and the Muslim world'. Nope! EU has it's own institutions and channels for this. They don't need some kind of broker or middle man. Anyway the Turks will never be accepted by the Arabs as a go between.

How about Turkey being the most important energy hub for the EU? Nope! Useful but not the most important. Again the EU has it’s own institutions and channels for this and again there is no need of yet another broker.

Then you have the story about how beneficial Turkey’s accession would be for the job markets in the EU, how this would solve the social welfare costs for the aging population of Europe.

Turkey’s accession would be for the job markets in the EU, how this would solve the social welfare costs for the aging population of Europe. Nope!

Truth is, is that although unemployment in the EU is at an all time low, still more than the half of the social welfare recipients in the EU are immigrants (1st 2nd and even 3rd generation) from outside the EU. A big proportion of them are Turks (or shall we say Turkish passport holders). Why should this trend change once Turkey is in the EU? They will just create an even bigger burden on the tax payers then they do now.

Its up to you to comment.

Turkey and the EU

It became clear the last weeks that the Turkey will never be an EU member.
The hopes were high until last year, but its obvious that the Turkish government stalled the reform process which makes it necessary for each aspirant member to fulfill its obligations. No excuses anymore. So simple is that. In the meanwhile, the EU moves on.
While some Turkish columnists believe that Turkey is the only country which is left out by the EU, they forget that Israel and Morocco where immediately rejected by the same council. And it shows how badly the Turkish public is informed about the EU process. Not the EU but the current Turkish government are using the EU as a carrot.
Its for me simple: deeply in their heart both sides don't want to go further, but for the sake of promises which were made long time ago, they keep on talking.
I remember ten years ago a discussion, in the Netherlands. People don't want that 'Turkish generals have a say' in EU politics. They have a say in the NATO.
If I see how careless they still deal with this for Europeans sensitivity issue, its the best to opt out and look for another option. Together with so many issues, it really doesn't make sense to talk further. Turkey has to become a democracy first, a real one. No place for radical Kemalism, and or radical Islamism.

Euro against the US Dollar?

I moved in August 2002, from Miami to Istanbul. Immediately, a Turkish company hired me as an International Communication manager. My first advice to them: 'Change your contracts from US dollars to Euros, which they didn'. The US Dollar/Euro was 1.10. Now almost 1.50. Other companies which I helped since then, changed their contracts into Euro contracts. Below a compilation of articles and my opinion regarding the Euro-US Dollar situation. I predict that that the Euro will go up to 1.75 against the US Dollar by the end of 2008 (the people who told me that I was nuts in 2002/3/4/5/6 etc. are the same people who are telling you that I am an idiot by saying this)
Maybe some candidate on the presidential front in the USA have some really good new ideas. For sure not the Republicans candidates: The USA is in depth with the EU for 600 billion Euros (no dollars) now. In fact, the European consument pays the depths of the Americans. He...and soon we will have a 'Free of Green Bucks zone's': stop with hedonism and greediness...))

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The decline of the dollar, symbol of US global hegemony for the best part of a century, may have become so entrenched that some experts now fear it is irreversible.

After months of huge and sustained turmoil on the money markets, lack of confidence in the world's totemic currency has become so widespread that an increasing number of international traders are transferring their wealth to stronger currencies such as the euro, which recently hit its highest level against the dollar.

The problem is so serious that there are people who in July or August might have been thinking, 'I'm paid in dollars, how annoying' for whom it's now a question of, 'Do you have a job; do you have a bonus?' "The collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market in the US, which is fuelling the dollar unrest, has already brought down one British bank, Northern Rock, and has forced others to declare vast losses.

Huge numbers of US homeowners are still cushioned by introductory interest rates set when they took out loans in 2005 or 2006. When these introductory offers run out, their interest payments will increase, setting off another wave of defaulting and repossessions. And the dollar is enduring its rockiest spell in recent memory.

Kenneth Froot, a Harvard university professor and former consultant to the US Federal Reserve, warned: "Part of the depreciation [of the dollar] is permanent. There is no doubt that the dollar must sink against periphery currencies to reflect their increase in competitiveness and productivity."

Professor Riordan Roett, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told Bloomberg News: "There is a loss of confidence in the dollar and the US. It may only reflect the widespread dismay with the Bush administration, but it is obvious that the next administration, of either party, will have a steep uphill struggle."

As well as reaching its lowest level against the euro, which has been trading at more than $1.48, the dollar has also fallen to its lowest level against the Canadian dollar since 1950, sterling since 1981, and the Swiss franc since 1995.

Its plight was made still worse by a jarring signal from China that it was switching to other currencies.

Cheng Siwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, told a conference in Beijing: "We will favour stronger currencies over weaker ones, and will readjust accordingly. "The warning was reinforced by a Chinese central bank vice-director, Xu Jian, who said the dollar was "losing its status as the world currency".

China has stockpiled £700bn worth of foreign currency, and has only to decide to slow its accumulation of dollars to weaken the currency further. Last month, in a humiliating turn of events, the central bank in Iraq, four years after the United States invaded, stated that it wished to diversify reserves from a reliance on dollars.

Korea's central bank has urged shipbuilders to issue invoices in the local currency and take precautions against the weakened dollar, and three of the world's big oil exporters, Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, are demanding payment in euros rather than dollars.

Iran insisted that Japan should make all its payments for oil in yen, rather than dollars.

Warren Buffet, who is reputedly the richest man in the world, was asked on the US network CNBC last month what he thought was the best currency in the world to own now.
He answered: "Not the US dollar."


The Wall Street Journal ran an online poll asking people which currency, they would prefer to be paid in.

The euro came top, ahead of sterling, with others such as the Canadian dollar, yen and Swiss franc trailing far behind.

One respondent wrote: "Being an expat in Europe with a European employment contract, I am paid in euros, and happy to get paid in euros, and shop in the US, just as long as the cycle lasts through my retirement, so I can pick up pension in Europe and retire in the US."

The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates twice since September to revive the US economy, but the cuts – combined with the possibility that more were on the way – made the dollar less attractive to investors.

Christopher Heywood, director of tourism PR for NYC & Company, said he expected the dollar crisis to attract yet more British shoppers. "The savvy traveller who's coming here for the shopping can really get a bargain. They're coming with one suitcase and leaving with two or three," he said."We have people coming over here even for weekend trips to shop for the famous brand names. People are coming for the department stores that everyone around the world knows, but also for the boutique stores out of the centre of Manhattan, anything from Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue to Bleecker Street in the West Village and SoHo."

In fact, all the bully talk about Europe and the EU is to keep our citizens unaware for upcoming dangers: does the USA needs wars?

Visa's, visa's and visa's.

As Turkey doesn't make any progress with integration in the European Union, where it wants so desperately be a member of (while many Turks say they don't want to be a member as an answer to the growing resistance in Europe against Turkey as a member of the EU),
the ruling by the European Court of Justice, caused controversy in Turkey. And it continues.
Today, TÜGİAD called for action. Their points are made upon believe not on facts.
This week we had a business luncheon with the some Turkish newspapers guru's. Their complain was that most of their staff members cannot speak English, can not read it well, and interpret, what most of the time comes in by wire, wrong.
To make it short: as Turkey wants that their citizens can freely travel to Europe, it has to change its attitude, since it looks like that the EU is always wrong and Turkey is always right.
To give you a full insight about Turkish citizens rights in Europe, please read the following thesis made by a Turkish PhD student.
For people who are unaware about current EU legislation, by December 21, the EU labor market for some countries such as Poland, will be open. More than 2 1/2 years after they formally joined the EU. Why should the EU give a privileged status to Turkey when it failed to implement agreement after agreement. And let the Generals do their dirty business.
Read the complete report here.

Within the family...

Derya put yesterday an interesting article on her blog.

All about marriages within the family. You can read her entry here.
For me is it amazing that some Islamic scholars in the Sharia law still defend these kind of practices.
Marriages in medieval Europe were often arranged, especially in the aristocracy and royal families to protect family possessions or extend them. Most of these marriages were often
between first degree cousins. Which is not called incest but inbreeding.

In most of the Western world, while incest generally describes forbidden sexual relations within the family, the applicable definitions of family vary.
Within the United States, marriage between first cousins is illegal in some states, but not in others.
In twenty-four states marriages between first cousins are prohibited, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances. Utah, for example, permits first cousins to marry only if both spouses are over age 65, or at least 55 with evidence of sterility; North Carolina permits first cousins to marry unless they are "double first cousins" (cousins through more than one line); Maine permits first cousins to marry only upon presentation of a certificate of genetic counselling. The other states with some, but not absolute, limits on first-cousin marriage are Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
First-cousin marriage without restriction is permitted in nineteen states — Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia—and the District of Columbia.

First-cousin marriage is illegal in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas (such marriages may not be performed after 1 September 2005, although previous marriages are still recognized), Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming, although the United States Constitution has been interpreted as requiring these states to give "full faith and credit" to such marriages performed in other states.

Yet, in the absence of a United States Supreme Court ruling, the scope of the Full Faith and Credit Clause is not clear in this context, especially as it would have implications on whether states were required to recognize marriages commenced in Massachusetts between same-sex couples. There are conflicts and courts have interpreted the clause differently. Some states, such as Wisconsin, have marriage abroad laws that make marriages by their residents in jurisdictions in order to circumvent their state's marriage restrictions null and void, and marriages contracted in that state to avoid restrictions in another jurisdiction likewise void.
The definitions of incest and inbreeding are distinct. Incest describes socially taboo sexual activity between individuals who are considered to be too closely related to enter into marriage. In other words, it is a social and cultural term.

Inbreeding describes procreation between individuals with varying degrees of genetic closeness, regardless of their relative social positions. It is a scientific term, rather than a social or cultural term.

With the exeption of Sweden, the USA has a total different view about this matter.
While in the Middle East the discussion is going on, who cares for all those retarded children born out these kinde of marriages? Culture relativisme still rules parts of the world.

Globalisation in the balance

A recent report released but the Pew Research Center on Global Attitudes has revealed waning support for economic globalisation in Europe and the USA, contrasted to Asia where support for globalisation is on the rise in the emerging economic giants of China and India. For some people this is easily explained, everything was fine when we locate manufacturing plants in Turkey or China, but not ok when the tables turn and Chinese and Middle Eastern interests buy into 'Western Interests'. The 'West' should be mature enough to realise that everything has costs and benefits. Check out John Ralston Saul , or Joseph Stiglitz for some meaningful insight into globalisation.

But perhaps the most interesting fact revealed by the report (for this blog at least) is the declining support for separation between church and state and an increased skepticism of democracy working in Turkey. The report indicates that this may just be a reflection of 'anti-western sentiment'. Both of these are causes for concern for Europe as well as Turkey, and if it is a reflection of anti-western sentiment, even more so. All too often Western countries just treat anti-western sentiment as an immutable fact of life as the air we breath. What Europe should be considering is what is causing this sentiment in the first place and what, if anything, could be done to resolve this perception. Turkey too, has to undergo some introspection and seriously decide how its future is going to look like.

Also, now is not the time for Europe to act like a spoilt schoolchild who takes his ball home just because he isn't winning the 'globalisation game', and instead it should take a more pro-active role in defining and shaping Globalisation without waiting for the US to take the lead. In so doing it can address both the concerns of its Member states, future and neighbouring states. In this way it can peel away that false divide that is West and East, in the same way it successfully peeled away the false divide between European Member states. A unique achievement. Hopefully, in this manner it can discover a unifying constant with Turkey that is in both regions interest. Of course in so doing, both sides have to understand that there are costs and benefits involved. But i believe the benefits of closer relations far outweigh the costs involved.

Common sense prevails...

The EU emerged from a 2-year institutional crisis. In the end, everybody got what it wanted: Bulgaria, Italy, the UK and Poland were battling for extra demands.

It's obvious that when a small country, like now Portugal, holds the EU presidency, there is more chance that progress can be made. We saw that in the past, especially during EU presidency of the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The new reform treaty is significantly different than the Constitutional Treaty of 2004 which was rejected through referendums held in France and the Netherlands.

Here you can read the differences.

EU, Schengen, and some idiots in Cyprus

Turkish Foreign ministry makes it also clear: visa is still required.
That especially Turkey has to deal with suspicious immigration- and custom officers is also related to the following.
Last week, a former high ranked official (2000-2006) of the Dutch Immigration Office published a book. Turkish people were allowed under a special law to get their spouses, husbands etc. over. After three years this person got a permanent residency and work permit. But what happened, after three years the couples divorced and announced that they planned to marry again with an other. So one person was able to get 8 people a residency etc. Clearly misusing the system.

Now last week, the State Secretary of Justice, announced a general pardon for 30.000 asylum seekers and illegal 'stranded' people. Only those with a criminal past or those who repeatedly lied about their identity will be sent back. There were so many cases pending which was a burden for all the courts in the Netherlands.

That Turkish doctors and dentists can not practice their profession in the Netherlands is normal; there is a well regulated health system, and contact between patient and caretaker must be in Dutch. If they learn Dutch, they still have to go through all kinds of tests.

For journalists the restrictions are tough, too. Just 10 days ago a Turkish friend, who happens to be a journalist and writer as well, asked me to help her/him with a Schengen visa. Since he/she travels at least once a month on invitation to different EU countries, she/he became so tired to get all the time a new visa. But I could not help. Next to that, a Schengen visa is not always, but in general, valid for all the EU member states.
Let me give you an example: Cyprus, the Southern part didn't sign the Schengen Acquis until last year. I was in the northern part with my wife, and wanted to go to the southern part. What happened on the Green Zone, is the most disturbing cross border experience for me, and I crossed a lot of borders. First, I have a Dutch/European passport. But since it was issued in Istanbul they started questioning me where I lived etc. I said: 'in Amsterdam and Istanbul, and none of your business' - my blood was already boiling. Anyway, they could not deny me access. Then, my wife showed her passport with her Schengen visa. They didn't allow her in. I started to make a scene and 'their boss' came over. He saw the fire in my eyes! Okay, he went into his office and started talking for 15 minutes. Came back, took me apart and said: 'I am sorry, you are right'. I told him to f.ck off, and we walked over the border, drank a cola and walked back and made pictures of the guys (not allowed..) but I was very quickly back...in northern Cyprus: safe.

Turkey does not belong in Europe: Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed on Thursday he did not believe Turkey should be admitted to the European Union, while calling for a "true partnership" with the mainly-Muslim nation.

"I do not believe that Turkey belongs in Europe, and for a simple reason, which is that it is in Asia minor," Sarkozy said in a prime-time interview on TF1 and France 2 television.
Continue reading here.

Living in Sin; the Ankara agreement

The last days I got emails from people who were confused about the Ankara Agreement and Ankara protocol.

Ankara agreement was an initial agreement to set up a sustainable cooperation between Turkey and (by then) the EC.

Ankara protocol was signed and ratified by the Turkish Government in 2004 but never fully implemented by Turkey, due to domestic nationalistic pressure.

Interesting detail in the Ankara agreement is that it excluded any Turkish born citizen of any political position in the EC. However, at the moment, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany have Turkish born politicians in their parliaments. The Netherlands even has a State minister of Justice, for Immigration. She has both the Turkish and Dutch citizenship.

The Ankara agreement never became really into force since Turkey never harmonized its laws with the EC, EEC or the now called EU.

Turkey applied in 1987 to join the EC, but was rejected. But finally in 1995 a Custom Agreement was signed. Still, Turkey didn't fulfill its obligations regarding harmonization of its laws with now the EU; Political, social and economical.

The ECJ is indeed the highest court but it doesn't have a say about the Community Acquis.
Simply: it has to follow the CA and its treaties.

And last but not the least: every lawyer knows that the law always will be interpreted 'in the spirit of the law, and not by the letter'. Which, of course, authoritarian states, don't acknowledge. Here we see the main difference in perception by the EU and Turkey.

Decision by European Court of Justice has been misinterpreted

Let me first say that I completely agree with President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in this.
Some restrictions both in Europe and Turkey are discriminatory. And both sides have to work closely to overcome some problems.
When TDN published their article it was mainly based upon a telephone conversation between one of their journalists and the lawyer of the Turkish businessmen.
Again, when Turkish business people have true intentions to do business in Europe, a visa will be granted easily.

By this, today's article:

ECJ ruling not an answer to visa restrictions for travelling Turkish citizens

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

CANSU ÇAMLIBEL BRUSSELS-Turkish Daily News

A decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last Friday granting two Turkish citizens residence permits in the United Kingdom has been misinterpreted, stirring debate among the Turkish public on whether Turkish entrepreneurs would be exempted from visa obligations while travelling to countries within the European Union (EU).
President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, referred to ECJ's ruling while speaking about visa restrictions applied to Turkish businessmen, at the ''Window to Turkey'' conference in Brussels. Hisarcıklıoğlu said TOBB was not able to bring all of its harmonisation committee members for a visiting program in Brussels last week since the delegation was not granted a visa by the Belgian embassy in Turkey. Addressing EU officials Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We need your support to solve this visa issue. Turkey should not be treated like Russia or the Ukraine in the visa negotiations. Turkey's association relations have the necessary legal background to solve this visa issue.” Hisarcıklıoğlu urged EU member states to take the recent court decision seriously.
Continue reading here.

The Ruling

Had a battle on this blog about the heading: Turks don't need EU visa's anymore.
Anyway, this person is going on and on.
I can tell from own experiences that it is not so simple as he now is saying that in fact everybody can start up a business all around the EU. Let me give one example: I went with Turkish top orthodontists to the Netherlands to look for possibilities to establish a practice there. The EU ruling in this is simple: you have to learn the language of the country where you want to practice.
The ruling of the ECJ is in fact very simple and can be read here.

If you want the full arrest, take a look at this, and you have to read only the points 50, 54 and 57. The funny thing of the whole ruling is that the European Commission supported Veli Tum and Mehmet Dari, the two Turkish nationals. Since they want to uphold the European treaties.
The main goal of Ankara agreement (and additional protocol): integration of Turkey in Europe. With the acquis communautaire as binding factor. The chapter free movement of persons is not even opened for Turkey.

Fake ID's on Internet

Posing as a reputable company on the Internet is incredibly easy. In fact, building a seemingly legitimate corporate Web page can be as straightforward as copying and pasting from the real thing.
As a result, companies in the USA and West Europe are increasingly falling victim to fraudsters that are using "spoofed" e-mails and Websites to trick their customers into sharing credit card numbers and other personal information. These kinds of corporate identity attacks undermine customer confidence and loyalty, ultimately costing a business dearly in customer service issues, bad publicity and lost revenues.

But what about people acting on Internet using a fake identity?
The Dutch Minister of Justice, Mr. Ernst Hirsch Ballin announced earlier this week that there will be a new law in the Netherlands, which makes using a fake identity on Internet, with the sole purpose of having sex with children, illegal. Especially people who are in a chat box to seduce minors. In October it's expected that the EU will adapt this law for all the countries within the EU. But what about dating services, interactive (sex)blogs etc.? Curious what the next step will be.

What will happen with Brussels, the EU, Nato..))

For the past days King Albert II of Belgium has been consulting the members of the Crown Council. He is seeking their help to solve what the Royal Palace itself calls the Belgian "political crisis".
The last time the Belgian King summoned the Crown Council because he had lost confidence in the elected politicians was in 1960, during the crisis surrounding the independence of Belgium’s Congo colony.
Apart from 1960, the Crown Council has only convened on four occasions during Belgium’s 177 years of existence: in 1870 at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, in 1914 on the occasion of the German ultimatum to Belgium, in 1919 for the Treaty of Versailles, and in 1950 at the return from exile of Albert II and his father, King Leopold III, a notorious anti-Semitic Nazi collaborator.
Recently the conservative French newspaper Le Figaro published a column by Alexandre Adler in which Adler urged the French President Sarkozy to prepare for the annexation of Wallonia by France.
Adler said Sarkozy should not miss this historic opportunity "to govern an enlarged France". He referred to the example of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who in 1990 grabbed the opportunity to incorporate East Germany into the German Federal Republic.
Last week a survey in the Netherlands showed 77% of the Dutch in favor of reuniting the Netherlands and Flanders. It is becoming increasingly clear with every passing hour: Belgium will break up. The Flemish will join Holland and the Walloonies will re-join Froggystan.
And the Dutch can not make jokes about the Belgians anymore...

Survey on perceptions of quality of life in 75 European cities

Looks like the citizens of Istanbul, Napoli and Athens are the least satisfied.
Athens has another thing in common with Istanbul...)
Read here the full report.

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis has an exotic name, and an interesting and impressive background.
What I don't understand is why he, as an intellectual, is using all kind of inappropriate language to get his message across. His writings in the American Chronicle are sometimes good for a laugh. But most of the time, it's irritating to see a person of this caliber falling in platitudes.
Here is the last part of his three pieces: "The Impossibility of Muslims’ Integration in Europe".
I am just waiting for the day that he will come with some solutions instead of random accusations only.

Austria never learned from its past

Yes, Vienna is well organized and beautiful. Its New Year's Concert is widely known. But politically, it never learned from its past.
After the 'welcomed Anschluß' in 1938 (Hitler was Austrian born), anti-Semitism never disappeared in the country of Strauss and Mozart. And it seems that now Turkey and the Turkish people are their targets.
As Emre put on his blog how Austria undermined Interpol's activities, it did the same with the EU in 2000 when it was diplomaticly isolated when Mr. Haider, a far right politician who won more than 25% of the popular vote in Austrians' 2000 elections, and created a turmoil in the EU. Parties who are flirting with fascism and racism are not welcome (be aware MHP).
In 2006 Austria took over the presidency of the EU. I never saw any positive contribution to the EU since they joined the club in 1995.
This article is symptomatic for Austria. And here is an observation of the EU-Austrian crisis in 2000.
Conclusion: Austria has problems with 'foreigners'. When I worked in Czech Republic (1999/2000), now an EU member as well, there were so tough restrictions for Czech people to cross the border with Austria. And in fact, nothing changed: Hungarians, Slovakians and Czechs are still not allowed to work there.
Racism is still a part of Austrian society.

The weather

Looks like the UK gets more rain than needed. And we, here in South East Europe, are suffering. Since June the 10th it's at least 28 degrees. Today 32, later this week up to 38 in Istanbul.
Lived for 2 full years in Miami where it is summer from mid February until mid December (other two months are considered as 'spring'). In the mid of the Summer, June until October, the temperature was never higher than 32 degrees. But I had the ocean in front of me, and of course a huge swimming pool. (...)