Or was it death and taxes? Anyways, if you absolutely positively must auction yourself off online somewhere, don’t do so at a German site.
This of course being tantamount to prostitution, and with Germans taxing their prostitutes at 50% of their earnings, you could, well, really get screwed or something.
„Die Brünette hatte sich eine höhere finanzielle Entschädigung erhofft.“
I mean President. Actually, “supreme federal notary” is probably the best term for it. Hey, somebody’s got to do it.
The degree of power actually conferred upon the President by the Basic Law is ambiguous. However, in practice, holders of the office treat it as a ceremonial, non-political one, and act in accordance with the advice and directives of the Federal Government.
“Mr Koehler’s re-election is a symbolic victory for Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of national elections in September.”
Vatertag (Father’s Day in Germany): „Motley crews of men drink until they drop, either in traditional fashion, tugging a handcart full of beer and spirits across the countryside, or by downing schnapps in a local bar.“
But this year a company in Brandenburg has come up with an alternative alcohol-free present for dads: tank-driving lessons. “Tanks fascinate all boys, big and small,” the Panzer Fun Driving School wrote in a recent press release. “We offer trips in armored tanks, driving around Germany’s biggest playground for men — it’s an ideal gift for Father’s Day.” Too late, Vatertag was yesterday. Maybe next year.
Tanked up for Father’s Day.
Wait a minute, let me think. Sure, I guess it is.
“Even we notice the crisis,” one of them (one of two painted figures who stand as if frozen in front of the Brandenburg Gate) complained during a rare coffee break in which they were allowed to open their mouths. “We’re not getting the trade that we used to.” The pair were charging tourists €1 apiece to be photographed with them.
At the former Checkpoint Charlie site, the desires of undiscerning Berlin visitors are even better catered for. The area is awash with tour buses. Hot dogs are being churned out by a fast food bar called “Snackpoint Charlie” and a replica wooden hut surrounded by sandbags simulates the original Allied checkpoint.
“In an attempt to cash in on a perceived “Ostalgie” or nostalgia for the former Communist state in the east, politicians have come forward with revisionist remarks about its former regime.”
Into their lives it will creep. It starts when they’re always afraid. You step out of line and they come to take you away…
Like many Native American tribes who used to believe that you can steal someone’s soul by taking their photograph, Germans still do. Or at least they seem to when it comes to Google’s nifty spiffy high-speed Street View panoramic photo mapping service.
A German „data protection regulator“ (that’s kind of like a medicine man over here) has warned Google that he will be forced by forces beyond his control to pursue unspecified sanctions if they don’t send him written guarantees (in Wolf’s blood) that they will stop taking pictures of everybody’s souls already.
German privacy law forbids the dissemination of photos of people or their property without their consent. It probably also forbids disseminating descriptions of them, too, or mentioning their name out loud or talking about them when they are not there or even to them when they are (not that you would want to, this is all hypothetical) because they might think that you want something from them or that you’re out to get them or something and then that vicious spiral of distrust, fear, loathing and paranoia starts spinning all over and over again and again. And we don’t want that.
Anyway, it’s funny how Germans still believe in the soul at all, I find. There’s no God over here, I’m told, but souls are still in? Whatever. Say Käse (cheese). Ha, ha, just joking.
„Sie fürchten Eingriffe in die Privatsphäre, außerdem könnten Diebe auf diese Weise Wohnungen ausspähen.“
When Germans stop flying off on vacation, it’s all over. The number of German passengers fleeing the country (mostly for vacation) sank a record 9.3 percent during the first quarter of this year.
Records show that the biggest drop in bookings was seen with those flights to the United States, this down nearly 18 percent, meaning some 1.9 million less German visitors than in the first three months of 2008. And this is Obama-America now too, you know. Oh my God we’re all gonna die or something.
„Die Zahl der von deutschen Flughäfen aus startenden Passagiere sank im ersten Quartal um 9,3 Prozent und damit so stark wie seit 15 Jahren nicht mehr.“
OK, ancient caveman porn. Tip of the hat to Pat.
It’s even become peinlich (embarrassing) for German politicians now (and that takes a lot), this nutty idea about forbidding paintball. But they meant well, right? They always do.
It’s all about cosmetics, I guess, and blinder Aktionismus (politicking, or doing things just for the sake of doing things). There can’t be many countries out there with stricter weapons controls than the ones Germany already has (maybe North Korea or someplace like that?), but that wackos still go nuts and kill people with guns here and elsewhere, and unfortunately always will, regardless of the local gun laws or paintball culture, well, that’s just another sad, prosaic little fact .
Why not address real weapons issues, pacifist German politicians? You know, like German weapons exports? Those seem to be completely out of control (you’re still number three in the world – go Germany!). Where’s the politicking there? I know, I know; who cares? Nobody, nobody does here. You can’t care about something you refuse to recognize, much less talk about. Getting upset for a few minutes about paintball is a whole lot easier than addressing a real issue, and less embarrassing in the end.
„Beim weltweiten Waffenhandel gehöre Deutschland zu den führenden Nationen, heißt es im Jahresbericht des Bonner Friedens- und Sicherheitsforschungsinstituts. Lieferungen gingen auch in problematische Empfängerländer wie Angola, Ägypten oder Pakistan.“
Observing Hermann 