Go vest, young man

Bullet-proof vest, I mean.

You may be tough and you may be a German football (some say soccer) star, but when it comes to playing in next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, sicher ist sicher (it’s better to be safe than sorry).

That’s why Germany’s footballers will be expected to wear bullet-proof vests next summer, and stay as near their hotel as much as possible. Even while playing, I guess. Sicher ist sicher.

“The possibility for the players of moving outside of the hotel boundaries should be kept to a minimum.”

PS: Here’s a related article, sort of.

Johanna W.

Beautiful German of the week.

Because somebody has to admire them.

Nostalgia grips city, no vaccination in sight

October 23, 2009 By Hermann Observer in History Tags: Nostalgia 1 Comment

Swine flu was gestern (yesterday). With the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall rapidly approaching, residents of Berlin are now being faced with a much more formidable viral infection: Cold War Nostalgia.

It’s infected hundreds of thousands here already, quite some time ago actually, and although it tends to strike harder at those living in the so-called “East”, it can hit anyone at anytime, even non-German types like you, whoever you are.

And it’s gotten much worse these days too. Or at least I have to assume as much, having read that article up there.

“It’s hard to believe that on one side of the wall there were Mercedes, and on the other side this.”

Please make him go away

October 22, 2009 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes Tags: Racism 3 Comments

In his latest Black Like Me gig, “Schwarz auf Weiß” (black on white, get it?), investigative reporter type Günter Wallraff is highlighting rampant racism in Germany, again. And again and again and again. And again.

Only this time even anti-racist groups seem to have grown tired of his not all so shocking and certainly not so originally provoked instances of discrimination here. Some are even daring to call his techniques treacherous.

Wer hat Angst vorm schwarzen Mann – in blackface?

Waiting for Godot

October 21, 2009 By Hermann Observer in History Tags: The Berlin Wall 1 Comment

Obama in Berlin? That was then, this is now.

“Nobody should get too hung up over President Obama’s decision, reported by Der Spiegel over the weekend, to cancel plans to attend next month’s 20th anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Germany’s reunited capital has already served his purposes; why should he serve its?”

“Barack is Too Busy”

No class system medicine here

October 20, 2009 By Hermann Observer in Health Tags: Swine flue Leave a comment

German politicians are rushing to deny that they are receiving a better, safer swine flu vaccine than ordinary Germans are (the first of 50 million doses arrived in Germany yesterday).

It’s actually way better and tons safer.

“The fact that politicians and top civil servants in ministries will be vaccinated with a vaccine other than the people is a terrible sign. Today politicians must take what they recommend.”

“The weekend scandal has drowned out a second debate which has been raging in recent weeks in the US and which has also found resonance here in Germany: whether such a massive vaccination program is necessary in the first place.”

More talent than you can take

October 19, 2009 By Hermann Observer in Humor Tags: Farting 1 Comment

Well it’s more than I can. And you thought America had talent, and of course it does. But can you do this?

This guy calls himself Methane Man and he was brought to you by RTL’s Supertalent Show on German TV over the weekend. And yes, he did make it to the next round. Although, of all people, judge Sylvie Vandervaart voted against him (van der vaart, get it?).

“Supertalent farts its way into the nation’s heart”

PS: This guy was British.

PPS: Isn’t methane supposed to cause global warming or something Germany, huh?

Öko-Romantik pur

October 18, 2009 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes Tags: Greenpeace Leave a comment

It’s time for more environmental romanticism again or something. Damn. This is turning into a new Volkssport over here. When not climbing the Reichsstag or other tall buildings in single bounds, Greenpeace activists in Berlin feel compelled to climb victory columns (there aren’t that many here either), the very place where another great Romantic once held a very romantic speech, back then, a few months ago, when everybody was still, uh, romantic. Before the election, I mean.

It’s an unhealthy mix between alpine climbing and messiah complex. Or a healthy one depending upon who you ask. A typical German one (see the Gnome post below)? Unfortunately not.

„In Kopenhagen 2009 Geschichte schreiben, Frau Merkel: Klima retten!“