Euro Follies

[Strelnikov]

As reported on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" program:

All Euro notes will be the same. Euro coins issued by the various EU countries will have a common "heads" design, but each country is allowed to put national designs on the "tails" side of the coin. Most will use a design based on their former national currency.

Someone in the German government took exception to the traditional German eagle. It has a lean and hungry look, as if it was about to say "Heute Deutschland, morgen Europa!" Horrors! So the Central Bank commissioned a new design, featuring a plump, friendly eagle instead.

Sounds to me like somebody has way too much time on their hands. Too bad Hal's away, I'd like to hear his take on this. Any other Germans here?

Strelnikov

 

[Strelnikov]

Actually, I think it was more like the eagle the Royal Air Force uses in their insignia. Churchill criticized it as being insufficiently bellicose looking during WWII, but it was never changed because of the cost of doing so.

(Strelnikov puts on asbestos underwear)

OK, Red Indian, I'm ready for your comment on this post. Flame away!

Strelnikov

 

[dvnc]

I'm guessin' red's away. Just can't see him not givin' ya the biz for this one, Strel. Fat eagles... hee hee...


dvnc

 

[omega]

It's hard to soar like an eagle when I'm surrounded by a bunch of turkeys

Benjamin Franklin may have had it right when he wanted the turkey to be the U.S. national bird.

 

[red indian]

Dont worry lads i,m here!

Nothing in that for me strell, not wishing to put too fine a point on it but its more about how the bird performs rather than how it looks and the eagle of the RAF did the job against the far more numerous German eagles!


As regards the euro I have to say I am very much a eurosceptic and I am glad that we opted out, we are by all definitions the worlds fourth largest economy, will joining the euro make us bigger? overtaking germany or japan? I think not.

 

[Daumantas]

Why is ANYONE still putting birds on their money?

We need some new money. I propose an Elvis coin.

 

[Marauder]

Hi! That other german Moderator speaking, Strel 🙂

Who cares what kind of bird they put on the coins? It's the bills that are the problem! They look like Monopoly-Money! It's true. There's a true news-report out there (Can'T find it anymore, unfortunately) about a scam-artist who payed with real monopoly-money and got away with it! The bills are all colorful... bright... That's not money, that's a joke!

On the matter of coinage - The Euro-coins (some of them, anyway) contain a large amount af zinc in their alloys. Some people are allergic to that metal. Puffy, red fingers time!

And what about that 'friendly, plump eagle' business? I looks like a chicken! And a badly drawn one, at that. *sigh* Suddenly money has lost much of its value...

I petition for the US of A to once more step in and help Europe! Please, please, please come over here and put things right! I would love to see germany occupied, with Myriads enthroned as supreme dictator and Hal as chancellor. Ozzy could design the new coinage and bills (Yenny-cash! Cool!), and Morandilas could take over the printing industry. Jeff and Kathy get to divide Television stations between themselves (Finally some quality entertainment!), and Dave gets to be head of parliament 🙂 Red Indian could be head of our diplomatic corps, and Biscuit and all those others out here - well, there's a TON of administrative positions to be filled...
Me? I'd be happy as the chief of police... hehe. Germany today, TMF-country tomorrow! Let's make it happen! 😀

 

[Strelnikov]

Monopoly Money

Marauder, I heard a report about a guy in France who paid his New Year bar tab with Euro Monopoly Money. Is that the incident you're thinking of?

Strelnikov

 

[Marauder]

Stel, that's very likely the report I was thinking of. I read it on the website of a gemrna newspaper, unfortunately the link has escaped me. I couldn't really believe it at first... but then I received my first Euro banknotes. After that, I was ready to believe most everything. 🙂

 

[red indian]

Question for you M

What does the average german think about the new currency? I am suprised how little resistance there has been (from an english perspective) to it dont you feel you are being asked to prop up the rest of europe financially?

 

[Marauder]

Red Indian, I have no idea what the average german thinks - I've thus far been able to avoid him 🙂
As for financing the rest of Europe - those sentiments have been uttered, but if I take a close look at the current gemrna economy, I strongly doubt that we are in any position to look at any other country down our noses. It's just a matter of time before the social economic system in our once wealthy country crumbles to dust, and despite claims to the opposite, out unemployment rates are through the roof. Nope, the Euro doesn't have much of an impact on the inflation rates over here. I can understand, however, that you british blokes have decided against the new currency. Which, to be blunt, kind of makes the point of calling it 'European currency' moot. This entire issue is a bad joke, really. It wa sa complete rush job. I just hope that the outcome won't be dramatic.

 

[red indian]

Past posting?

It seems quickly forgotten the enormous act of selflessness carried out by western germany in incorporating the old east germany in to your economy, and this burden I think turned out much larger then expected, and now it seems to me you are being asked to dilute your economic strength even further in order to benifit other weak and unstable economies.

I am not sure that our own position is as honourable as you feel, we are staying out for now but have not ruled it out in the future. This is not very fair in my view on the rest of europe who have taken the plunge, its rather like you saying to me that you have a good bet on a horse and me saying "well lets see how well its goes in the race and if it looks like winning one jump from the end I will put some money on" and thats just not cricket is it?

 

[Strelnikov]

British pols are just following the wishes of their electorate - nothing wrong with that. It sets a good example, if nothing else.

The same radio show that told of the German Eagle had man-on-the-street interviews with UK citizens. Most of them sounded like working class. One old gent said something like, "Pounds and shillings were good enough for my father, so they're good enough for me. If you ask me, they ought to bring back pints and quarts, and hanging too." Well said, old chap!

Strelnikov

 

[shark]

The 101st screaming turkeys?
Had to do it....