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If we follow a linear timeline, this shot of the little girl is deceptive. Despite the heavily European appearance, I have not seen her here in Europe.

Here’s lookin’ at you, kid….

She’s looking out from behind bars. A scary prospect. Of course, she is momentarily at a coffee shop in the United States, tugging on the walkway railing, radiating her innocence. She is not held captive behind bars.

But we are all behind bars in this life. The bars of addiction, of lust, splitting us apart. They hate us because in our recklessness we have so much, our possessions are endless, and at this time we possess their world, and they want it back, of course.

Everyone in Vienna smokes, I have met nobody who doesn’t, and perhaps all of Europe, no doubt. And everyone drinks, again not restricted to Vienna. And passions run high here, they hold no reigns.

The freaky yet normal looking but obsessive nose-picking guy with the woman a few tables away sports a black t-shirt saying, “All your oil are belong to U.S.” Must be an inside joke…. (more…)

Awww, Vienna, ventana, windows on and on and on. I wonder what the death rate is for people falling from windows here. Everyone has windows and everyone at some time throughout the day looks out or sits in a window. I have never seen so many windows in one place in my life. Of course Sophia Loren made popping out of windows popular in Italy and Chet Baker jumped to his death in Switzerland. But they simply do not know how to build a structure here without tons of glass. It’s somewhat spectacular. No need for cameras everywhere, rest assured, someone is always watching.

Invest in glass — the industry must be booming here.

I am not sure what everyone is looking at, life, I guess. My host told me not to close the curtains while he is in London. I must find out what this cultural phenomenon is, though I doubt it is strictly relegated to Vienna, perhaps Europe overall. I recall Spain not being dissimilar.

The Internet is no different. You get the feeling your keystrokes are recorded. Like someone is watching…every tap…every click….

Revellers at Stephansplatz before Europe 2008 final playoff.

What an absolutely outrageous time to be in Vienna!

The Europe Cup playoffs are down to the wire when tonight’s game determines whether Russia or Spain will play against Germany on Sunday here in Vienna in Europe’s biggest soccer match. Fans took to the streets of Vienna today. Since I got here, hair-raising thunderstorms with ferocious winds, blinding lightning, and bomb-like thunder only add to the excitement.

What can I say but AYAYAYA! And… wish you were here? Watch it!