This is not about any real or alleged might of (private) rating agencies — you know, the ones roughening up the financial markets these days.

Given the recent influx of news about downgrades of banks and nations, I simply start to wonder what will happen when the triple-A category empties out (which it will — the last few nations will be ejected as a consequence of currency explosions (CHF) and forced bailouts of others (EU).

Will the whole circus start anew? And if so, why do we even pay any attention??

Gosh do I wish that people started to form their own opinions again.

NP: Fila Brazillia: Power Clown

Unbeknown to the participants of last week’s “Euro Summit” in Brussels, the clueless leaders of Europe in whose hands it lies to save our asses have been recorded on film. I do not understand why they are dressed up, but I understand now why things are as they are.

It has been a while since I last ranted about the Deutsche Bahn, our national train service monopoly. Out of necessity, I’ve since become one of their frequent travellers. Together with the spiffy, silver card, I received a pamphlet, in which the advantages of frequent travellers are listed.

When I compare those advantages to what was promised, I cannot help but notice quite a few differences to my disadvantage. Since I refused to believe that the Deutsche Bahn could be this stupid, I double-checked with the service hotline, and I now have the information to report:

1. While the website promises “free access to DB lounges for two”, the pamphlet clarifies this: free access to DB lounges for you and your partner, provided each of you owns a first-class, long-distance ticket. What they left out: Oh, you don’t need the frequent traveller status for that, the ticket suffices. Or, put differently: the frequent traveller status does not give you any access to the lounges. False advertising, anyone?

2. The pamphlet explains that there are special seat areas reserved for frequent travellers. However, one must not be a frequent traveller to use them. So should I expect people to prompt me to show my card or clear my seat. And should I be expected to prompt people to flash the card or leave? Not feasible, anyone?

3. I am told that I get priority treatment at the counter, except there is only one counter (in Munich), usually with a line of people for 1st-class and frequent travellers. All other travellers get delegated to 12 counters by an efficient number system, which means one is better off picking a number and standing in line. The other day, a lady came and flashed her frequent traveller card, expecting people to make way, but obviously noone did. Did they actually think about this, anyone?

I don’t need to go into detail on the other “benefits”: they claim that there is special, reserved parking, but that’s probably only on paper. They claim reductions in hotels and rental cars, but probably limited to availability, they claim exclusive events, but those are likely the ones noone goes to anyway. And they claim a service hotline, but it’s a premium-rate number.

So all in all, Deutsche Bahn have once again managed to disappoint. The frequent traveller card does not give any benefits. It rather makes me regret having spent so much money on this company. Scratch “frequent traveller”, make it “repeat idiot”.

NP: Steven Wilson: Grace for Drowning

An e-mail by Andreas Schamanek had me revisit the topic of archiving web pages.

Andreas pointed me to the MHT format, which bundles HTML pages and their dependencies into a plain text file using MIME. Internet Explorer apparently already handles this format, and UnMHT provides software for the other browsers. As Firefox 6 is not yet supported, I went to try the Mozilla Archive Format extension, which seems to do the same thing and works quite well — so well (on first sight) that I wanted to share it with you.

NP: Tortoise: Standards

Today, German politicians decided, that Germany be liable for up to 211 billion Euros for the debts of other EU countries. Or, put differently: the politicians put the money of the current and future generations on the line for a country that lived way above its capabilities for too many years.

When the EU was founded, it was explicitly stated that no country needs ever be liable for any other. I understand that politics is hard, and letting Greece (and others) fall down might carry heavy, unforeseen consequences. Also, I understand that the Greek people are mostly innocent in all this and that the fault lies with their politicians and other corrupt entities in the nation.

However, what’s happening these days is beyond the comprehensible.

If I were in a non-Germany EU country, I’d rejoice and continue making debts. It is likely that this won’t be the last time that our politicians cave in to pressure by other nations who have a lesser understanding of budgeting and saving.

Since I am German, I can only shake my head, look to Berlin and ask myself whether this is the final straw that broke the camel’s back. How the heck do the people over there ever want to regain the trust of their people? Politics has become the game of pleasing each other, who cares about the people? And the German politicians are (once again, remember credit default swaps?) at the forefront of this stupidity.

To me, there is only one solution to Greece’s debts: make sure that what happened can never happen again, and then cut the debts, or slice them in half. Let the banks carry the weight, for it was them who gave out the loans too liberally. And if this forces a bank or two to default, let it happen, for fuck’s sake. The consequences might be dire, but they’ll subside. And that’s surely better than trying to pretend that we can keep juggling this heavily inflated financial system.

Instead, the executives, elected to carry the trust of the people, are setting precedents for other countries to follow Greece, for it is likely that they wil be bailed out. By us. That is not the way to teach anyone the basics of economy: you can only spend as much as you earn, without exceptions. Debts will only come around to hurt you. I could puke.

NP: Godspeed You Black Emperor!: F# A# ∞

For those who care or wonder: the reason why I hold a white icepack to my cheek here at Debconf11 in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Hercegovina, talk fairly little and try not to smile is because I had one of my wisdom teeth removed this morning by one of the local dentists.

Some might cringe at the idea of submitting yourself to such a treatment in Bosnia, but I have to say that Doctor Saša Dabić did a splendid job, even though we weren’t really able to communicate a lot. Still, 45 minutes after I entered the office, I saw my tooth on the table and was able to leave again.

My tooth had been building up an infection for several weeks, and it was starting to become unbearable. Therefore I decided to simply bite the bullet, after having seen the x-rays and judging that it wouldn’t be too hard to remove. It wasn’t, the pain is now minor, the swelling mostly under control, the drugs are beer-compatible, and you all should just enjoy while I cannot talk — for tomorrow I’ll be back!

Today is World IPv6 Day. Please take a moment to test your connectivity, and if you are not IPv6-enabled yet, then send an e-mail to your provider or hoster and ask them for “native IPv6 connectivity” on your uplink.

Do it even if you do not know what I am talking about or you don’t care. The reason is quite simply that we’re already too late and hence should act without further delay.

If IPv6 network effects do not pick up and adoption rate increases, the big players will drive up the prices for everyone. Then you will find yourself locked in and paying. Or you simply won’t be able to address individual computers anymore but always be forced to proxy via commercial providers and forced to say “how high” when they ask you to jump. Remember that they are commercial entities who might claim to act in the interest of their customers, but you are actually second to their profits.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions if you want to know more.

PS: Google, having been so vocal about World IPv6 Day, I would have at least expected you to change your logo today!

NP: Monkey3: 39 Laps

We’ve known for a while and want to keep it no longer secret: New Zealand’s famous band The Phoenix Foundation are in Europe at the moment, and will come to Switzerland on 17 and 18 February to play in Lausanne and Zurich.

Penny went ecstatic when she found out and joined the street team, and we now have no excuses but to go to both shows.

I am certainly looking forward. Even though I haven’t really warmed up to their last two outputs (Buffalo and the Merry Kriskmass EP), their earlier stuff is heart-warming good-mood music that should put me back into chilled NZ summer mode. Choice!

NP: The Phoenix Foundation: Buffalo

Dear Debian: I haven’t had much of a chance to stay in touch lately, but I don’t want to forget to wish you well on this 17th birthday of yours. You have set standards and you continue to do so. You are the operating system of choice, and you excel at it. Keep up the level of quality, and keep up the spirit. I am looking forward to more contact in the future.

Thanks to everyone who has dedicated and (or) continues to dedicate their time to our project!

Love, -m

Bravo Greenpeace Switzerland! At Nestlé’s annual shareholder meeting 2010 last week, you descended from the ceiling in the middle of the presentations with flyers and a banner asking for the company to take responsibility for their reckless actions in Indonesia.

Thousands of square kilometres of forest are cleared every day so that companies like Nestlé can make vast sums of money off consumers.

Meanwhile, Orangutans outside the venue were protesting Nestlé and asking for a break (copying Nestlé’s own slogan “Have a Break! Have a …”). The Orang Utans are pushed towards extinction by capitalist interest.

One of my closest friends was part of the act, and he recounts breaking into the ventilation system before sawing through the ceiling, and descending on a rope. The police detained them for more than 24 hours, but the message has been sent.

Bravo!

Read more (and watch videos of the spectacular descent) on the Greenpeace webpage, the Greenpeace press announcement and their blog (all in German), or on 24heures (in French). Planetsave has a decent coverage in English.

NP: Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery