Nah, haven't heard for ages from the bugger. Pass my regards if ever you run into him.
If 'next door' is West enjoy the skiing. Good slopes not yet overcrowded hence priced fair.
If it's West I wish you more luck, and sincerely hope you won't need it. But hey, maybe a jetski is more you?
I mean, both are adrenalin-inducers per se. Enjoy!
TD, European constitution (that applies to all nations) was voted today in the European Parliament by nearly 80% margin! The margin of victory was surprising even to those most optimistic. Every political party in the European Union member countries is represented in the EU as elected in the nationally run elections for the EU parliament, therefore the decision truly represents the minds of the European people. What do you have to say now?
I think you're missing the fact that there is so much mingling of cultures and races in Europe the last several years that differences have been diminished. Many of my friends in Greece are married to European girls. One is married to a Dutch, another to a Norwegian, another to a Russian nurse, another three brothers we call them the EU because each is married to a different nationality girl (British, Danish, French). One of my female cousins was married to a British guy. It's not as divided as you'd think it is. If we get the darn britts to join, we'll have a complete party:) and hey as we expand towards all directions maybe one day we'll have our friends in the deep southern hemisphere be part of Europe?!:)
regarding the latter that is closer to the truth than what you might think. However, expanding across the Atlantic is like bridging the Abyss so I'd exclude West from all those directions. A mere channel could be bridged but for some reason a bridge from Calais to Ulster seems more likely. Such would put London in the shade but, regarding the fact that hardly any real English remain there anymore, this probably will go unnoticed.
What I say now? Not really surprised, it only makes sense. Unification of the land was a given hence the standardizing on method of payment (after having reformed to the same tax-structure (VAT)) no surprise. After this system has proven itself to work consolidation of the groundrules need adressing, ergo a blanket constitution.
Now wait for Lech Walesa to decide that Venice's channels must be backfilled to save the buildings, however concurrently will grant a structured subsidy for the gondolas to be converted to zero-emission wheeled electric carts, part of that structure being the electric components have to be sourced from France.
Hope you're a patient man ;-)
TD, the visionaries in Europe have said it clearly: Europe must proceed to political unification and a common constitution is only the first step. Beyond this, Europe has a common military force, common weapon development programs, common space exploration program that now rivals NASA's one (just yesterday put an unmanned vehicle one of Suturn's moons), has literally no borders between its country members (I can travel with my national ID between countries), common currency and so on. National economic policies to a large extent are decided at the EU level, EU courts act almost like federal courts, and many nationally political matters are decided at the EU level as well. In other words, there is an EU body with legislative, executive, and judicial branches, which means there is a sort of a "federal" government. This only reminds me the evolution of the USA but in faster motion (Europe even had its own "civil" warS). Europeans have voted by very large overall margins of their preference of a European identity over their national identity. Europe is now larger than the USA and the FSU together. Europe has made it clear it's not anymore America's always agreeable cousin. At the end, the cowboy with his arrogance and "wars on terror" only solidified the resolve of Europe to split politically from the USA and become its own super power. Southern hemispherians are always welcome in the new land:)
I'm Northern, only live South. Got an EU passport because my roots grew 30 there, visit regularly, still can distinguish between local & import and remain in touch.
Wars scar, very deep also, and there've been many! That's what I've referred to with some of my previous ramblings, same with why they were, are and will be differently 'absorbed' than the US one's. Different countries, different languages, different creed & colour, cultures, religion, history, accents, customs, all combined with national pride and territorial feelings bound by their heritage, the latter going back for eons over many generations backed by living proof in people, buildings, monuments, customs and the like - no offence intende, meant or aimed, but that is quite different than a war amoungst settlers speaking the same lang, having the same origins and fighting amoungst others the same enemy and climate.
And THAT is why I think that on a 'federal' level they will agree, and have already done a lot, in a relative short period. But boiling down to street-level they will face an uphill fanatical battle wherever they look, simply for fear of loosing identity, for they are real countries Wtrav, not some backyards of someone else.
I also am convinced you know all of this, however am unsure as to how much EU you are, ditto for US, but I know we will agree on the substantial differences between these two continents - note the word used, not nations, for that bit is very far removed still. Unions yes, and why go further? No need at all, as long as everybody is happy under the same umbrella. The damn thing seems so popular that more want to be sheltered by it anyway, so I hunch they'll 'supersize' it soon :)
eventually there will be a Global Empire, surely you realize that? Yeah, we won't get that old, but our survival simply will necessitate drastic measures to keep order in the house called Earth.
toad, lol:) ohhh Argentina loving it. Diegito (you know The Great Maradona) was in a footbal stadium in Athens today (my favorite team's), he was presented in front of a crowd of fourty thousand who delivered a standing ovation. They offered him a T-shirt with his name and the holly number ten. Too late, they should have got him when he was hot. He was fat as an elephant, but you cannot forget the greater soccer player of all timeshe used to be. On the other hand, we got Rivaldo this last summer. Assume that you still follow some soccer news otherwise this must be all sound Greek to you::))
TD, am 50/50 right split in the middle between US/EU in terms of family background. I am not imperialistic, was just kidding:::))) (I have to use these symbols more often).
I have been thinking about living in Greece for the last three years. I have physical assets that I inherited and am planning to start my own business. Since last year, there was a change in government from kind of liberal to kind of conservative and they are about to introduce legislation that provides incentives for new investors (they give you up to 40% free money, pay up to 40% of your interest and leasing or you get up to 100% tax exemption for a decade). There is more, but you get the point.
I decided to leave my corporate job and high six figures. I'm an engineer in my background and have MBA from school consistently among the top three in the country (sorry to be the first to break jet's monopoly). I have changed jobs and industries since I graduated college from working at a trading desk in the exchange to private equity funds and then Fortune 100 corp in M&A dealings. Once you're sucked into the corporate in the culture, you're institutionalized and that sucks all the excitement as well. I am not a career guy, I'd say I'm rather an entrepreneur.
Anyway, we're going on a short trip to the southwest next week to warm up our bones a little:) and then off for three weeks in the Caribbean and then off to the land of Gods. I'll be in touch, it'll be hectic and challenging in the beginning until we become familiar with people and things and other. She is learning the language, which believe me is not easy, and I'm pretending to be learning Russian to give her incentive, just kidding::)) I want to learn Russian, it's very useful there with all the immigrants from Russia and eastern Europe it's like California with the Mexicans.
Bizz - anything to do with the infrastructure of (mobile) telephone networks or microwave comm's? If so you've got the eddress...
Attractive incentives indeed, I'm assuming you're buried in your homework now :) What's the reason they are attracting investments? There's always a need when they do: You need to know, I'm simply curious. I know Greece relies heavily on tourism but industry-wise I'm a bit in the dark - will do some scratching.
Best of success with your, let's call it your life's acclimatisation. Loadsa work but challenging and rewarding!
microwave like french toasters?:) no, TD I'm not building gen 3 mobile networks in the balkans:) I will let someone else fund this;)
These incentives are funded by EU programs (we discussed a few pargraphs above:). They aim at reviving specific areas of the country near the borders and some of the islands. The amount of the incentives depends on the geography of the business and sector. There are 3 regions. I will build a hotel near the beach on land that I inherited on an island. The geography is region 2, does not qualify neither for maximum incentives nor minimum. There are requirements such as so many people you need to hire and keep on payroll for every so much money they give you (obviously unemployment is a big factor all over Europe).
There are other industries where they believe they have strength and they want to attract investment. They have euro as currency, which by itself makes production costs soar especially if your revenue is in other currency. I also have a opportunities on the scanner for the importation of certain goods that would qualify under the new legislation specifically recreational, franchise and construction.
TD, I have your email, wireless is a sector that Greece is very well covered by existing investments, in fact they've been expanding in the balkans and eastern Europe. Other sectors they're doing pretty well is fast moving goods (Coca Cola's largest bottler outside the US is there, coke in the UK and Russia for example flows in Greek bottles:), services, mining, software, construction, recreational are also good sectors. Don't mention textiles and heavy industry, have all moved across the border to Bulgaria for cheap labor and some to China. The euro is a big plus and minus depending the business, but I think its strength is temporary.
Maybe you know the link:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gr.html
Don't absorb this info on it's own, at least compare it to some countries you know. But then it starts meaning something and is in fact quite informative.
Big in Beverages indeed, and hardly a surprise that a lot of industry has moved to Bulgaria. I know that they're the bottom of the scale of an international exhaust manufacturer labour cost-wise, however quite high on labour efficiency - amazing!
Being on the receiving end of the EU-scale could explain (probably does) the turn of the government, and it looks your timing is spot-on. Just don't get scarce when you get rich ;-)
Only the networks themselves can fund the rollout of G3, but this goes hand in hand with the supply & contruction of the stations. I'm involved in this, and only wish I could fund the lot (I'm sure you know what only the licences were auctioned for :)
Soooo, a Hotel eh?
HEY GUYS!! WTRAV will be able to put you up in a Hotel in Greece soon!!
Right - now I've got that off my chest, with it simultaneously overloading your mailbox with numerous requests of those lacking guts and wanting to meet a 'her' in Greece, for reason the non-required visa, I'll leave you to enjoy your holiday :))))
And don't mention it, was a pleasure ;-)