Cop That!

Has Anyone Seen This Missing Police Car?

Austria's top police officer is fuming after thieves made off with her official car - which was parked right outside her house. Andrea Raninger, head of the country's Federal Criminal Police, had to report the theft of the $45,000 Toyota RAV4 stolen to her own officers. She had been set to leave her home in Vienna for work when she discovered it was missing.

FOOTNOTE: Oh, what a feeling!

The Atmosphere’s Electric

Croc Shock

Crocs sandals have been banned from Austrian hospitals by health chiefs over fears they might cause heart attacks or damage life support machines. Staff have been told that the footwear can generate static electricty. Now the city's biggest hospital, SMZ Ost, has banned the shoes from operating theatres and the casualty department.

FOOTNOTE: Sole survivors.

The Right Exposure

Your Advice Will Help Merisi Make Her Decision

Raindrops on roses. I took this shot with a Pentax K10 digital SLR.

Her wonderful photographic essays from Vienna, Austria, have held my attention for several months, but now Merisi wants your help. In her own words: "Would there be any way that you could ask for opinions from your vast readership?" Yes, I’m always happy to help a fellow blogger and I’m sure you’ll support me on that.

Merisi wants to buy a digital SLR and wants your advice and guidance. She writes: "I am still thinking about staying with Sony. I love the Zeiss lens of my little pocket camera very much, I feel insecure reguarding other brands. I was looking into the Sony Alpha 100, but my husband says I should go for the Alpha 700 (Euro 700 or 1.500 resp., with an 18-70mm lens). In the film days, I used a Pentax and had a professional Nikon, still have, somewhere."

Whatever your opinion, please leave a comment here for Merisi. It doesn’t matter whether you leave a couple of words, one sentence or a long, detailed message. It’ll be a great help to Merisi and could become a great reference point for other bloggers who have the same dilemma.

Some months ago, I started answering readers’ photography-related questions on my Get The Picture posts on this blog. In this case, since I’m familiar with the terrific variety of Merisi’s work, I’ll start the ball rolling by telling her to invest in the Pentax K10D (a digital SLR) with a versatile 18-200mm zoom which is great for a) travelling and b) having a variety of options with a single retractable lens. But Merisi and I both want to know what your advice is ….

Bloom or bust. I also shot this using a Pentax K10 digital SLR.

Prose And Cons

Really A Sick Individual

An unemployed conman lived in Austrian hospitals for three years after tricking more than 90 clinics into admitting him with fake illnesses. The man, 59, from Muerzzuschlag, treated the hospitals like a hotel and stayed in 93 across the country. But he was caught out when he claimed he had been suffering from dizzy spells after being knocked off a motorbike. Doctors grew suspicious when they could find no other injuries and checked with other hospitals.

FOOTNOTE: Bedside manna.

Minding Their Pees And Queues

This Baker Wasn’t Just Watching His Dough

You think your boss is tough? An Austrian baker who made his staff pay for time spent in the toilet has been forced to end the practice to avoid a court case. The owner of the Eisenstadt bakery recorded toilet visits on a computer and took the value of the bathroom time off their annual holiday bonus. A former employee took the case to the local labour court and the businessman ended the practice before the case was scheduled to go to court today after being told it was illegal.

FOOTNOTE: Was he flush with funds?