The Stasi wasn’t all bad

September 9, 2024 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

They were good at secret house searches, for instance.

Will German police get to do secret house searches?

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office wants to secretly break into homes as part of anti-terrorism measures. That is currently prohibited, but the interior minister has far-reaching plans.

At first glance, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser’s (SPD) proposal is reminiscent of a method practiced by the “the Stasi,” the Ministry for State Security of the former communist East Germany, whose secret police infiltrated the homes of suspected regime opponents in order to tap their phones.

At second glance too.

Let’s not jump to conclusions

September 6, 2024 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

He’s just a suspect for now.

Just because he was already known to Austrian authorities as an Islamist and purchased his weapon illegally the day before in Salzburg and his shooting rampage in Munich occurred on the anniversary of the Palestinian terror attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics in which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered and in the immediate vicinity of the Israeli consulate doesn’t really mean that he was a real Islamist terrorist or anything. Let’s wait until all the facts are in.

German police kill suspected Islamist gunman in shootout near Israeli consulate – German police shot dead an Austrian suspected Islamist gunman in Munich on Thursday in an exchange of fire close to the Israeli consulate, prompting politicians to stress the importance of protecting Israeli sites in the country.

Help me Rwanda

September 5, 2024 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Help, help me Rwanda.

Help me Rwanda yeah. It’s time for them to depart!

Germany: Migration commissioner proposes Rwanda deportations – Joachim Stamp accused Russia and Belarus of encouraging migration to the EU as part of their “hybrid warfare.” These migrants should be sent to a third country such as Rwanda, he suggested.

Last one out turn off the lights

September 4, 2024 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oh, sorry. Green energy already turned the lights off for you.

Germany in crisis: Intel and Volkswagen mull a multibillion-dollar withdrawal from the country.

For the first time in its 87-year history, Volkswagen is considering shutting down plants in Germany, where it employs around 300,000 people, as the company ramps up efforts to save €10 billion in costs…

Reuters reports that Intel will consider pausing or halting plans for its €30 billion ($33 billion) factory in the east German city of Magdeburg as the semiconductor manufacturer looks for cost savings. Germany had committed €9.9 billion ($10.9 billion) to the project when it was announced in June last year.

It’s kind of like the 80-20 rule

September 2, 2024 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Only different.

Whereas with the 80-20 Rule (aka Pareto Principle) 80% of a company’s revenue is generated by 20% of its customers, when it comes to German elections, 80% of voters are very conservative regarding certain issues (“irregular” migration, for instance) but are ruled by 20% of those who aren’t.

German government reeling after state election defeats – The results of state elections in Saxony and Thuringia are disastrous for the parties that make up Germany’s coalition government. What will be the nationwide consequences from the regional votes?

German of the day: Straftäter

August 30, 2024 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means offender, criminal.

More German of the day: Handgeld. That means “hand money” as in token payment or signing bonus.

A new business model is born. Come illegally to Germany, get free room, board and medical for years, commit felonies, get more free room, board and medical for years, then get flown back home (to Kabul) with 1,000 euros hand money as a reward.

The plane has taken off (the first one in three years) – Germany deports numerous criminals to Afghanistan.

The German government has deported 28 Afghan criminals to their home country. This was confirmed by the Saxon Ministry of the Interior. Spiegel” had previously reported on this. According to the report, a charter flight took off from Leipzig to Kabul at 6.56 a.m. on Friday morning.

The Afghans had been brought together from various federal states. The deportation was organized by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, with the support of the Chancellery. According to the report, each of the deportees received 1000 euros in hand money, according to the authorities. A doctor accompanied the flight.

She should come to Berlin!

August 29, 2024 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

This European City Was Just Named the No. 1 Solo Travel Destination in the World — and It Has Affordable Hotels and Food – Berlin came in at the top, followed by Vancouver.

Some things are better done alone. While travel is often marketed as something to do with your partner, friends, or family, traveling solo has some real perks…

German of the day: Den Angaben zufolge

August 28, 2024 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means “according to the information provided.”

You know, like “according to the information provided, the attacker was a 26-year-old German.” Right. Of course. Stay tuned.

German police fatally shoot knife attacker in Moers – Suspect killed after attacking pedestrians with knives in Moers.

A German sword?

August 27, 2024 By in Hard Facts, History Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Made in Japan?

Sword found in 19th-century German cellar is something much older — and from far away. Hidden under a street in central Berlin, an ancient artifact was discovered in war rubble…

Based on the other items found underground, archaeologists assumed the sword was a parade weapon used by a German soldier. It was passed to the Museum of Prehistory and Early history to be restored…

The wood handle and some of the cloth wrapping was preserved, allowing archaeologists to see a motif on the handle. It was an image of Daikoku, one of the seven gods of luck from Japan, archaeologists said. He was holding a hammer and rice sack, his known attributes, and was surrounded by motifs of chrysanthemums and a waterline…

The sword was a Japanese wakizashi, and, based on the artwork, was dated to the Edo period by archaeologists, a time ranging from the 17th to 19th century.