Category Archives: Habitudes

What military?

April 4, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

What service?

Young German men refusing military service – Military service remains voluntary in Germany. However, with the Bundeswehr needing more soldiers, conscription could soon return. But an increasing number of young men are choosing to opt out.

Phil Werring is thinking about refusing to serve in the military. He does not want to join the German army, the Bundeswehr.

“They always say it’s about defense,” the student told DW. “But I don’t see the threat situation and therefore I have no interest in completing compulsory service in the army.”

Military service remains voluntary in Germany, but that could soon change. The army needs at least 60,000 additional soldiers in the next few years.

“A rare rebuke of Trump?”

March 24, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts Tags: , , Leave a comment

Coming from a German? In Germany?

I’ve never yet heard a German say anything about Donald Trump that wasn’t a rebuke.

German president calls Iran war a disastrous mistake, in rare rebuke of Trump.

This is, by the way, the same German president who went out of his way to celebrate the Iranian revolution – “For a long time, Germany stood firmly by the Iranian regime.”

The Left is anti-Israel?

March 17, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

No way. Who would have thought that?

And I thought I was a slow learner.

German Antisemitism Commissioner Leaves the Left Party Over Anti-Israel Stance, Lack of Support Amid Death Threats – Andreas Büttner, the commissioner for antisemitism in the state of Brandenburg in northeastern Germany, has resigned from the Left Party, citing a rise in antisemitism within the ranks, relentless personal attacks, and a party climate that has become intolerable.

“I struggled with this decision for a long time, as I have felt a deep connection to the party over many years,” Büttner wrote in a letter to the party leadership, as reported by German media.

“But I have reached a point where I must acknowledge that I can no longer remain a member of this party without betraying my own convictions,” he continued.

War damaging German economy almost as much as Germany is

March 8, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

And that’s saying a lot.

Energy bottleneck in Middle East is damaging German economy – Expensive energy, rising prices and disrupted supply chains are all bad news for economic growth. The German government is alarmed by events in the Middle East.

When the US and Israel attacked Iran, the response was not long in coming. Iran is no longer allowing ships to pass through its coastal waters. The Strait of Hormuz, the bottleneck in the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the global oil trade passes every day, is now effectively blocked.

After the attack, the price of oil immediately rose sharply. Prices for gasoline and diesel also skyrocketed at German gas stations. Depending on the region, premium gasoline even went as high €2.50 ($2.89) per liter. The average price for diesel is currently just over €2, which is €0.30 higher than before the attack on Iran.

48-hour planned chaos!

February 24, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

But then it’s right back to the regular 24/7 unplanned chaos.

So chill already.

Germans Face Travel Chaos As Transport Workers To Strike – Public transport workers across Germany will stage a 48-hour strike from Friday as talks over pay and conditions stall, a union said, potentially sparking travel chaos for millions.

The Verdi union, negotiating on behalf of about 100,000 workers, said Tuesday it had decided to ramp up pressure on local authorities after making little progress in annual negotiations.

Genocide! Genocide again? Yawn.

February 22, 2026 By in Habitudes, Helplessness, Hideology, Hysteria Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Double parking is genocide these days, people.

Get a little more original, please. Or get a life already, Berlin Film Festival.

German minister walks out of film festival after claim of Berlin role in Gaza ‘genocide’ – A German minister walked out of the awards ceremony of the Berlin Film Festival after a prize-winning director accused Germany of complicity in the “genocide” committed by Israel in Gaza.

Social Democratic Environment Minister Carsten Schneider left the ceremony on Saturday evening because of “unacceptable” remarks, his ministry says.

Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib, who picked up a prize for Best First Feature Award with his “Chronicles from the Siege,” said in his speech that the German government “are partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel. I believe you are intelligent enough to recognize this truth.”

No Good Men

February 13, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, High Art, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Originally titled “Men No Good,” it’s a film about no good men who are just no good.

So you can bet everybody who’s anybody will want to see it at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, which is also no good, but at least run by women.

Berlin Film Festival 2026: Opening Gala, ‘No Good Men’ Premiere & Red Carpet Gallery – The 76th Berlin International Film Festival rolled out the red carpet today for the opening film and the world premiere of No Good Men by award-winning Afghan director Sharbanoo Sadat, starring Shahrbanoo Sadat, Anwar Hashimi, Liam Hussaini, Yasin Negah, and Torkan Omari at the Berlinale Palast.

The Berlinale launched with a festive opening ceremony led by Festival Director Tricia Tuttle and Jury President Wim Wenders. The evening featured the introduction of the International Jury and the presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear to Michele Yeoh, with Sean Baker delivering the tribute.

Don’t burp your house

February 3, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Home Cooking Tags: , , 1 Comment

It’s no fun. Believe me. Don’t do it.

Germans do it with sub-zero temperatures outside. People with any sense don’t do it at all.

‘House burping’ is a cold reality in Germany. Americans are warming to it.

The often mandated German practice of airing out homes no matter the season has strained and even ended relationships, but it’s gotten a boost on U.S. social media.

After moving to Berlin from Honolulu, Wyatt Gordon was surprised when his new German roommate marched into his bedroom at 8 a.m. and threw open the windows.

It turned out that his cohabitant, Laura, maintained a strict ventilation regime. Three times a day, at precise times, all the windows in the apartment needed to be opened. It didn’t matter whether it was the dead of winter or a weekend morning, or if Gordon had company. Rules were rules.

How does Germany deport people?

January 28, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

By not deporting them.

A few thousand, tops. While an average of 250,000 flow in each and every year.

It’s a joke. But fewer and fewer Germans are laughing.

How does Germany deport people? – Germany does not have masked ICE officers or an equivalent agency, but both Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his predecessor have done all they can to accelerate deportations. Here’s how the process works…

The German Bomb is bombing again

January 23, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , Leave a comment

They ought to consider putting together a real army first.

The German bomb: Much ado about very little – Discussions about a “German bomb” are like Dracula. No sooner has one killed the Transylvanian vampire than he rises again from his coffin. Since the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, when candidate Donald Trump seemed to indicate that the U.S. might no longer be willing to protect its allies, some German observers have argued that an eventual loss of the U.S. “nuclear umbrella” would make a national nuclear arsenal indispensable…

Alas, the debate about German nuclear weapons is back again. Fueled by transatlantic disagreements, most recently over Greenland, the idea of Germany acquiring its own nukes appears to have again gained salience. Proponents argue that thinking about a German bomb must no longer be a political taboo, since it is the logical consequence of a ruthless realpolitik assessment of the situation. But is it?