Bakker Bugle Blog Say it three times fast. In Luxembourgish.

23 September 2010

What was behind the big protest?

Filed under: france,germany,luxembourg,politics — Will @ 22:32

Why did thousands of people come to Place Clairefontaine last Thursday? As always, there is a simple answer that glosses a complex situation.

The simple answer is that Luxembourg’s government changed the laws in a way that many consider unfair to people who work in Luxembourg but live across its borders.

Not satisfied with that? (more…)

17 September 2010

A little late to the big protest

Filed under: culture,luxembourg,politics — Will @ 16:45

I tell you what, let’s forget the fact that you’re coming a little late to the party and embrace the fact that you showed up at all. *

I like a good protest as much as your average expat — much more, probably. Yesterday’s demonstration in Luxembourg’s center promised to be a big one. At the end of July, after Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker announced his intention to go ahead with budget reforms over the protests of unions and other groups, those disregarded organizations announced the September protest. So I noted 16 September, 5:30pm, on my calendar and started reading the politics section of the newspaper more carefully.

Protests in Dublin, while I was there, could be large or small, but they were always long. As in the US, they usually took about an hour to get warmed up. So, at about 6:15 yesterday, I walked to Place Clairefontaine to snap a few photos and to learn how to dissent publicly in the Luxembourgish style. I wanted to met Anita for the walk back home, so I thought, “Boy, this timing worked out perfectly!”

Here’s what I found on Place Clairefontaine. (more…)

7 September 2010

Vertigo at the Schueberfouer

Filed under: entertainment,luxembourg,photos — Will @ 11:18

The Schueberfouer will end Wednesday, so we visited one more time this Sunday. It was packed! We took lots of photos, of course, to give you a feel for the event.

Objective Number One: Ride the big swings!
(more…)

1 September 2010

Your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s Labor Day sale

Filed under: consumer,culture,luxembourg — Will @ 17:32

“The Big One-Day Retail Sale is dead.” If someone told me that, I’d find it quite plausible. Between “Low Prices All the Time” and Amazon.com, I wouldn’t expect a frugal (American) consumer to wait for a sale to purchase something. You might wait for the next generation of a gadget, or check prices all over, but to wait for a big sale with a specific date in the future?

When I see an ad for a one-day sale, I assume it’s little more than a scam to create false urgency.

Oh, there’s Black Friday, of course. (And Woot, I guess.) But even the post-holiday sales have been lackluster for years. The upcoming Labor Day sales seem more like an excuse for lazy advertising than a real chance to score a bargain.

“Not so, in Luxembourg,” I was told, by several Luxembourgers. “You must go to the Braderie on Monday. Stuff is really cheap. All the stores will have bargains.” All the stores? You mean that they cooperate and all have sales on the same day? “Yes,” they said, “It’s always the same. Go to the Ville-Haute.” (more…)

27 August 2010

Best of the Week: News, 27 August 2010

Filed under: luxembourg,news — Will @ 17:00

First, the news of the last several days, courtesy ARA City Radio. Please note the changed link to their local news. Also note that the headlines are our own editorial responsibility.

Lots of news from the Luxembourgish Department of Obviousness
CEPS/Instead has been conducting a survey into attitudes to immigrants. For the first time they’ve looked to see if men and women have different feelings about migrants here, and also what immigrants themselves think of other immigrants. The survey found that both men and women are equally concerned over the impact of immigrants on Luxembourg society. Immigrant men and women worry that more immigration will mean more competition for jobs. Indigenous men and women seem more worried about their impact on social security and crime figures. But second generation immigrants seem to start sharing the concerns of the indigenous population the longer they live here.
And in another important piece of social research, National Statistics Bureau STATEC has discovered that wealthy people are generally happy. Researchers say people with high incomes feel better about life than those who struggle financially. 94% of people in the survey’s top income bracket said they satisfied with their life. Only 71% of the poorest surveyed said things were going their way. But its not just about money, the researchers say. They also found that the more educated a respondent was, the more likely they were to feel positive about life.
Unions and Employers: Fighting together against change
Unions and Employers have joined forces to condemn proposed legislation to prevent harassment at work. LSAP deputy Lucien Lux has been trying to get his legislation adopted for nearly 9 years. (more…)

18 August 2010

Get ready for Schueberfouer!

Filed under: culture,entertainment,luxembourg,photos — Will @ 19:37

In just two days, Luxembourg will hold the 670th annual Schueberfouer.

Try to wrap your mind around a tradition that old. More than 30 generations.

As an ex-pat, I’m interested in looking at it from the perspective of cultural integration — or how long it takes to be considered a native. (more…)

20 July 2010

Tour de France: Way Back in Belgium

Filed under: europe,france,luxembourg,photos,sports — Will @ 21:34

This year’s Tour de France is one of the most exciting in recent memory, especially after yesterday’s events.
The Course Car Two weeks ago, the Tour began with a few stages in Holland and Belgium. I attended two stages within a two-hour drive from Luxembourg.

First up, the Bruxelles-Spa stage, which was the first day of a real bloodbath that set the tone of the Tour until it reached the Alps. Here’s the link to the slideshow, which includes thorough notes on the drama of the day. (If you don’t see the descriptions, click on “Show Info” in the top-right corner.)

A 90 minute drive brought my companions and me to a wet and windy spot in Basse-Bodeux, Belgium. (more…)

22 June 2010

A little history of National Day

Filed under: culture,entertainment,luxembourg — Will @ 12:30

Tomorrow, June 23, is Luxembourg’s national holiday. The big party is tonight, in anticipation of the torch-parade and the fireworks display just before midnight. We had a great time last year, as we shared on this blog: Post 1, Post 2, Post 3. In preparation for National Day 2010, we offer you a bit of history, cribbed from the City of Luxembourg’s website. (more…)

11 June 2010

A day in my life at the BBB&B

Filed under: B&B,entertainment,europe,luxembourg,travel — Sharon @ 18:26

[Editor’s Note: Sharon is a founding member of the Friends of the Bugle. Due to our recent crisis in content-generation, the Bugle’s editors foresee an expanded role for Friends of the Bugle. To learn more about this exciting development, please contact us!]

I was a guest of the Bakker Bugle B&B just a few weeks ago. I could tell you how much fun we had traveling & enjoying time with our friends & their hospitality, as well as Belgium beers, wine, and food, but instead here is a snippet of what Will & I did one day……
In the park
We decided to walk around the city center in Luxembourg City, then the crazies came out… but this isn’t about them…it’s about us. (more…)

31 March 2010

This week: A Dog’s Life

Filed under: entertainment,luxembourg — Anita @ 14:43

The excitement this week? Taking care of a friend’s dog, who we’ll call Sylvester (to protect the innocent).

The dog in question is an adult labradoodle, and he is a very well-behaved and friendly companion for walks and playing catch.

There are dog parks all over Luxembourg City, but they are the kind of muddy, befouled mess you’d expect for early spring. Still, it was great fun to play catch without a leash. (more…)

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