German Of The Day: Cyber-Attacke

February 2, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: Dependency, Energy, Gas, German, Germany, Language, North Stream 2, Oil, Pipelines, Russia, Ukraine Leave a comment

That means cyberattack.

An oil storage and a supply firm? Why would anybody attack oil storage and supply firms in Germany these days? And who could have possibly done it?

Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack – Two companies involved in storing and supplying oil and other materials said Tuesday they have been hit by a cyberattack that has impacted operations in Germany.

Oiltanking GmbH Group and Mabanaft Group on Saturday discovered what they called a “cyber incident affecting our IT systems” and launched an investigation together with external specialists, the companies said in an emailed statement. They did not elaborate on the nature of the incident or address who might be responsible, and said they are working to understand its “full scope.”

This Is CNN?

February 1, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hypocrisy Tags: Blackmail, Dependency, Energy, Gas, German, Germans, Germany, Media, North Stream 2, Pipelines, Putin, Russia, Ukraine Leave a comment

How refreshing or something. What others (conservative voices) have been warning about for years and years has finally gone “mainstream” – as in North Stream 2.

Why Germany is so vulnerable to Russian blackmail – Roughly half of Germany’s natural gas imports come from Russia. That reliance will become increasingly important in coming years as Germany embarks on a simultaneous phaseout from coal and nuclear energy. Russia is also an important destination for German exports. And for historical reasons, German leaders have long desired close relations with Russia.

Slowly but surely, Germany has maneuvered itself into a position of vulnerability vis-à-vis the Kremlin.

Germany Urges Prudence?

January 23, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Dependency, Energy, Germany, Russia, Sanctions Leave a comment

When it comes to potential sanctions against Russia over Ukraine? Gee, I wonder why.

Germany’s Reliance on Russian Gas Limits Europe’s Options in Ukraine Crisis – Berlin is vulnerable if the West sanctions Russia over Ukraine and Moscow responds by cutting off exports.

German Green Government In Action

January 7, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings, Hypocrisy, Hysteria Tags: Germans, Germany, Government, Greens, Inflation, Nuclear energy, Politicians, Renewable energy, Taxation, Taxes Leave a comment

It’s brilliant, really. Or diabolical, if you prefer.

First create the current energy crisis by forcing the country to go down the ideological path to unreliable and unaffordable renewable energy, come what may, heavily burdening the German taxpayer, consumer and businessman in the process. Then promise aid to those most negatively affected by this crisis by burdening the German taxpayer, consumer and businessman even further. And still come out of it smelling like a rose. Aid here is just another nice word for taxation.

Germany’s soaring energy prices force government to promise aid – Headline inflation dips slightly, but energy costs still rising at double-digit pace.

New German Weapons Export Law That Won’t Actually Change Anything Now In The Works

December 27, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hypocrisy Tags: Arms, Arms exports, Business, German, Germans, Germany, Greens, Industry, Profit, Weapons, Weapons Exports Leave a comment

It won’t change anything but it will make us feel good about ourselves.

Compare the weapons export numbers for Germany this year with the numbers this time next year if you don’t believe me. Just have patience. Seen it a dozen times. It’s a recurring, calming ritual Germans like to perform. They seem to believe it reinforces their moral superpower status.

Germany: Baerbock vows new law to curb weapons exports – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said new weapons export control legislation is in the works. During its last few days in power, Angela Merkel’s administration approved almost €5 billion in arms sales…

Together with the United States, Russia, and France, Germany is one of the world’s biggest arms exporters, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

December 26, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hypocrisy Tags: Arms Sales, Exports, German, Germans, Germany, Pacifism, Profit, Weapons Sales Leave a comment

For arms exports!

Beautiful German weapons sale of the week. Because somebody has to admire them.

German arms exports hit new record during Merkel’s last days – The former government approved almost €5 billion in warships and missile defense deals as it prepared to leave office. New Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was then finance minister, has also received criticism.

Germany’s weapons exports reached a record level this year, thanks to the last-minute approval of deals worth nearly €5 billion ($5.6 billion) by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration.

Money For Nothing

December 22, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Hideology Tags: Debt, German, Germans, Germany, Interest Rates, Negative Interest Leave a comment

It’s magic. It almost seems like, I dunno, it’s too good to be true.

German government makes billions from debt thanks to negative rates – The German government made billions of euros from debt issuance this year thanks to negative interest rates on its securities, according to a letter, seen by Reuters, from Finance Ministry State Secretary Florian Toncar to a left wing lawmaker.

Tesla Model Ys Spotted In German Forest

December 21, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings, Hypocrisy, Hysteria Tags: Berlin, Bureaucracy, Germany, Tesla Leave a comment

Covered in red tape.

Several Tesla Model Y vehicles have been spotted at Gigafactory Berlin. Production has been expected to start any day, but official environmental approval is still uncertain.

Over the last year, Tesla has run into a lot of red tape while trying to get approval to start production at Gigafactory Berlin, a giant new factory located near Berlin in Brandenburg. Most recently, environmental groups had managed to obtain an extension of the public commentary period for the project, which delayed approval for another month. The new period concluded last month, and Tesla has been rumored to be on the verge of approval, but it has yet to happen.

Egypt

December 17, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Hypocrisy Tags: Arms, Arms Industry, Exports, German, Germans, Germany, Profits, Weapons, Weapons industry Leave a comment

Beautiful German weapons sale of the week.

Because somebody has to admire them.

Germany: Merkel government greenlit controversial arms deal with Egypt – Former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government approved controversial weapons exports to Egypt before leaving office. Critics of the move are hoping the new government under Olaf Scholz will adopt a stricter arms policy.

An ALDI In Berlin?

December 16, 2021 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy Tags: ALDI, Berlin, USA 1 Comment

What will they think of next?

Oh, not that Berlin.

A sneak peek at the new ALDI in Berlin – The fourth to open on the Eastern Shore, Berlin is getting its own ALDI. Take a sneak peek at the inside of the store before it opens Dec. 16.

Observing Hermann

“Was interessiert mich mein Geschwätz von gestern?”

Category Archives: Heconomy