Category Archives: Habitudes

Be more like Freddy

June 25, 2026 By in Habitudes, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

German of the day: Amerikabild

That means image of America.

The soccer fan who is shaking up Germany’s image of America – For years, Germans have viewed the U.S. primarily through headlines and mostly negative news: Donald Trump, polarization, gun violence, and culture wars. And now an unknown German soccer fan named “Freddy from Germany” comes along, posts on social media about his first visit to a “Waffle House,” expresses amazement at a massive gas station with more than a hundred pumps and a shooting range right in the middle of an outdoor store—and suddenly, millions of people are seeing a different side of America…

Perhaps this World Cup ultimately says more about Germany than it does about the United States.

German of the day: Preisgestaltung

June 19, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means pricing policy.

U.S. Launches Trade Investigation Against Germany Over Drug Prices – Washington accuses Berlin of underpaying for innovative drugs. If the investigation yields corresponding results, punitive tariffs could even be imposed.

The U.S. has launched a trade investigation against Germany regarding drug pricing. According to several media reports, Washington intends to examine whether innovative drugs are systematically underpaid on the German market, causing U.S. patients to bear a comparatively high share of research and development costs.

Just because Jews aren’t allowed in our hotel…

June 5, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Hate Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Doesn’t mean we’re antisemitic.

We’re “sorry” you misunderstood that.

German hotel denied Israeli family’s booking with message ‘no Jews allowed’ – A German hotel is under fire after its staff told an Israeli family “there are no jews allowed” as they denied their booking this week.

The family had tried to reserve a room at the Hotel Zum Hirschen, a 120-year-old resort that sits on the Czech Republic border, through Booking.com on Tuesday.

Who’s your nanny?

May 9, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

A spoonful of sugar helps the government interference go down.

But we’re going to tax it anyway.

Germany’s sugar tax sparks ‘nanny state’ debate – Friedrich Merz’s government has agreed to introduce a sugar levy on soft drinks as part of its health care reforms. Critics have called it disproportionate interference, but dozens of countries already have such a levy.

The German government’s decision to introduce a levy on sugary drinks as part of its health care reform package has triggered a new debate on government interference in diets.

All the news that’s fit to print…

May 8, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: , , , Leave a comment

And any flavor you want, simultaneously.

Germany is toast! Germany doing better! Whatever.

German ‌industrial production ‌fell unexpectedly ​in March, decreasing by 0.7% ‌from ⁠the previous month, ⁠the federal ​statistics ​office ​said on ‌Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted ‌a ​0.5% ​rise.

German of the day: Realitätsverweigerung

May 7, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means denying reality.

A common German problem.

Op-ed on Bärbel Bas: That’s a denial of reality, Minister!

“No foreigners are exploiting our social welfare systems,” claims Labor Minister and SPD Chairwoman Bärbel Bas. Our Labor Minister. The woman who should know the facts and figures better than anyone. I wonder: What country does Ms. Bas live in?

Nearly half of all welfare recipients in Germany are foreigners.

Deeper ties to China?

May 3, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Smart move, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein).

Reminds me of those deeper ties to Russia right before the war in Ukraine broke out.

German state eyes deeper China cooperation in energy, innovation – Significant potential exists to deepen cooperation between the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein and east China’s Zhejiang Province, particularly in energy transition, hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, according to Daniel Guenther, minister president of Schleswig-Holstein.

His remarks come as the two regions mark 40 years of partnership, with both sides seeking to expand ties despite an increasingly complex geopolitical and trade environment.

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.