Meine Klein Welt

Here’s Your Sign – Nov 9

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Bear-Shaped Bologna

Ok, so this really isn’t a sign, but I did find this in a local grocery store the other day. Maybe it’s a sign I need to get out more. I must admit I ate a lot of bologna as a kid, and my favorite slice was always the one pressed against the front of the package because it was indented with the Oscar Meyer logo.

Anyway. Just in case you needed more proof that bologna is a sketchy meat, here you go. Any meat that can be mass produced in the shape of a smiling bear is suspect at best, though I can’t imagine actually turning down the opportunity to eat a Bear-Bologna sandwich.

It kind of reminds me of a gummy bear…except made of meat. Random mystery meats…and flatter. Yeah…definitely flatter.

Here’s Your Sign – Nov. 3

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I saw this display in the grocery store across the street from our school recently. Interestingly the packaging even has English on one side. On the front it says:

“The power apple from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s home country”

On the side we have these further details:

Healthy and strong
“Arnold” the Incomparable

This apple grows and ripens at the foot of the Austrian Alps in Styria with its fertile soil and unique microclimate of warm days and cool nights. Lovingly tended by skilled and dedicated fruit growers in their small and medium-sized orchards it is a rich natural source of health, strength, and flavor.

The Arnold Apfel isn’t a just a gimmick, it’s a really good apple. Juicy and flavorful as advertised. I can also see why it’s referred to as “the power apple.” My muscle mass has increased by about 20% in the 5 minutes since I’ve eaten the apple. I’m not exactly sure what these Austrian fruit growers are “lovingly” injecting into these apples, but I sure hope I don’t have to take a drug test any time soon.

Here’s Your Sign – October 26th

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Euro Cup Countdown

This photo was taken about two months ago when the sun was still around in Vienna, so the numbers on this sign have dwindled by 60 days (Tage) or so.

If you don’t know, and you probably don’t since you’re most likely an American, Austria is hosting the 2008 European Soccer Championships next summer. They will be sharing the hosting duties with neighboring Switzerland.

As with most events of this nature the host country gets an automatic bid into the tournament even if they don’t belong there. And believe me, the Austrian soccer team just isn’t very good at all. They are so bad, that a group of Austrian soccer fans started a petition to try and revoke Austria’s automatic bid to the tournament.

Their appeal is to fans who appreciate aesthetically pleasing soccer: Nice passes, exciting dribbling skills, beautiful goals. You won’t see this if Austria plays, they warn.

Reportedly they have 10,000 signatures on their petition in only about a month’s time. And if you want to further support the cause you can even buy a T-shirt, which I totally would if they didn’t cost 20 Euro.

In any case you gotta love that home town team spirit. It makes me feel like I’m back in Philly the way these Austrians get behind their team.

Here is the official website where you can sign the petition: http://www.rueckgrat.cc/

A current news item with more details is found here if you’re interested: Fans campaign for Austrian team to pull out of Euro 2008.

Here’s Your Sign – October 19th

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Ice Cream ClosedThis is a new feature on my blog where I will take a picture of an actual sign in Vienna and comment on it’s meaning. I hope you enjoy it.

This is one of the first true signs that summer is over here in Vienna. It is the day when hundreds of ice cream parlors throughout the city close until the warm hints of springtime cause us again to crave a cold treat.

This particular sign is just a block or two from my apartment and makes the best After Eight Mint ice cream in town.

Roughly translated (very roughly), We thank our customers for buying and eating our yummy, yummy ice cream and promise to open back up in the spring with freshly made gelato for all.  Until then we hope your winter will be as nice and warm as ours is down in Italy.

Stay tuned next week for a new sign!