At some point long past the limits of a normal attention span, when the speaker took a deep breath and announced solemnly: "And then we see that we are pure love", I whispered (not very discreetly) to the photographer next to me, "Do you think she will stop now?" The photographer shook her head and whispered (equally indiscreetly), "No, she hasn't quoted The Little Prince yet. I'm sure she won't relent until she mentions that line about only seeing clearly with the heart." The photographer was both right and wrong.

Last Sunday the Linz0nein* website launched the Buffet Plunder Blog: the great free-food-for-all action for the European Capital of Culture year Linz09. As with most great ideas, in principle it is quite simple. The more I think about it, though, the more I imagine that this project has the potential to trigger some magnificent disasters.

As the city of Linz prepares for the European Capital of Culture year Linz09, controversy and dissatisfaction have been increasingly spreading. The following is a statement from the Freie Szene, the independent art scene of Linz, on the current situation.

Maschine brennt / Up in Smoke

Statement on the current culture-political situation in Linz from the Freie Szene, the independent art scene of Linz

What does culture need?

Hubert Grillberger, singer and guitarist of the Linz band Austria Knochenschau, died on 13 February, shortly before his 60th birthday. He will be sadly missed.