The next euro whammy? Now it’s time to assist Portugal. Bring out your Microcurrency, Germany. But don’t spend it all at one place.
“The alternative currency is not some gimmicky fundraiser. It may look a little like Monopoly money, but the chiemgauer is real. One chiemgauer equals one euro. It’s been around for eight years, almost as long as the euro, the common currency now used by 16 of the 27 EU members.”
Observing Hermann 
For my next trip to the Finanzamt, I’m going to ask them if they take Chiemgauer. They seem to take just about everything else I have, so I’m sure that won’t be a problem.
I’m surprised Portugal is the next country rattling the tip cup. Their Moody’s rating is a bit worse than Spain’s or Ireland’s, but since the two Iberian economies are so closely intertwined, I figured it would be Spain or both at the same time. Maybe Spain should let the World Cup defeat settle a bit before they ask for a “lil’ sumin'” to get them through 2010.