After useless computer course, where I was send by district job office (AMS) together with other sad unemployed one month before national elections to improve unemployment rate statistics - I felt elated as if after six weeks of imprisonment.

We were forced to participate in this educational show under threat of losing allowance and had spent days in computer halls with archaic machines. Often what I did in the training group was observing how unemployed males flirted with big bosomed woman-trainer and for hours in the row listened to their small talks.
Yesterday after long walk  – now I don’t take tram or underground, because social center didn’t prolonged my reduced price transport card (Mobilpass),
I was gazing at closed doors of Sieben Stern café and recollected press-conference with communist leader Mirko Messner there, which I visited as one of only two interested photographers.
I made photo of homeless man, who was sitting at the bus stop drinking and inspecting his swollen foot (Look!)
When moving along Westbahnstrasse, I came across well known communist author and producer Kurt Palm. He looked as if he was just awaked.

And he preferred not to see me, as many other members of movement do. Being true to group solidarity they may suspect outsiders in anti-communist dirtiness, what in my case is not true. I find many communists are touching and cute.

I like, for example, Graz communist Ernest Kaltenegger with his round Buddha face, in spite of fact that he never gives me chance to say a word, because we both know how big IT is.

Political sympathies correlate only indirectly with personal moral and ethical values.
It seems, one can easier approach Joerg Haider or Heinz-Christian Strache, than their political opposites. Personal aura of Strache, as I could sense it, does not emanate secret arrogance, which often the case with Austrian benefactors of humankind.

Persons who officially claim to be protectors of poor and downtrodden,
in reality of personal contacts are often unreachable. Communists, according to my personal experience, have altitude to demonstrate their exaggerated humanity aspect and they want to be rewarded for this demonstrations. Like road with one side-movement, such people and organizations, expect to be supported for their virtual virtues, as, for example, many charity organizations do, when they talk about starving children in Africa intending to expand their budget.

Graz! I always dreamed to come back and embrace you. At last after year of absence I managed to make the trip with the train and visited traditional festivity VOLKSHAUSFEST on 6 of September, organized by members of communist party - with food, drinks and music. The atmosphere was rather friendly. The provisions were not free, and activists served visitors themselves, earning in this way for needs of the party

Party fans

Elke Kahr and Ernest Kaltenegger

Leaders of the movement, photographed by me in poor lighted conference hall (Bildungszentrum)

Equality and brotherhood

Group privileges

Poem from Herman Hesse

Stufen

Wie jede Blüte welkt
und jede Jugend dem Alter weicht,
blüht jede Lebensstufe,
blüht jede Weisheit auch und jede Tugend
zu ihrer Zeit und darf nicht ewig dauern.
Es muss das Herz bei jedem Lebensrufe
bereit zum Abschied sein und Neubeginne,
um sich in Tapferkeit und ohne Trauern
in and’re, neue Bindungen zu geben.
Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne,
der uns beschützt und der uns hilft zu leben.
Wir sollen heiter Raum um Raum durchschreiten,
an keinem wie an einer Heimat hängen,
der Weltgeist will nicht fesseln uns und engen,
er will uns Stuf’ um Stufe heben, weiten! (more…)

Chancellor Gusenbauer canceled summer party

” I am not in the mood to celebrate”,- said Austria’s chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. He had canceled his traditonal summer party.

All of the invitations were forwarded, but Gusenbaeur changed his mind and blew off the celebrations.
Last year this event was a full success.

One year later the situation is totally different. Gusenbauer seems to be at the low point of his political career. The party comrades are discussing his overthrow.

The Socialdemocratic party in Austria is in a big crisis, and their chancellor got the blame for it. Gusenbauer cannot hide his anger and disappointment about this situation. This makes it impossible for him to host a fancy celebration, and smile into cameras.

One million Austrian men are impotent

According to an article on the website of the Austrian Broadcasting, one million Austrian men are impotent (more…)

Feeling distantly curious about the car, I had no any thought it could concern me. However, my eyes were fixed at the fire escape staircase leading on the roof of the building.

I regretted being disobedient to Red Mistress. Moreover, my instincts told me I was in danger after talk with her.
Struggling with imperative to escape, I asked myself:
- What I am afraid of? Did I damage school property, steel money from the common safe or did I murder, harm or gave public insult to somebody? Why I must run and crawl like beast, seized with panic, if I know I am pure and innocent?

Three men in white gowns who appeared at the doors to interrupt my inner dispute (more…)

Group of people in Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna

Zhanna

It was sunny spring of 1982. The university alley of apple and peach trees was all pink lace of blossoms. The air was fresh and clear. But I was ascending marble staircase of main building with monument of Great Chief at the top feeling chill in my heart.

(more…)