Tag Archives: Language

German of the day: “Die Deutschen können es nicht lassen”

March 1, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

That means “the Germans just can’t stop doing it.”

Calling people Nazis, that is. One person in particular. They just can’t see that they’re getting lonelier with every passing day. But once they do, they’ll suddenly be gleichgeschaltet (brought into line) like everybody else and Klassenbester (best of the class) again.

The Germans have a word for what’s happening in Trump’s America – As the president lays waste to the rule of law, too many Americans are experiencing ‘Gleichschaltung” — being brought into line.”

German of the day: Ins Ungewisse schrumpfen

February 24, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helections, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

That means to “shrink into obscurity.” Like the German Greens just did.

They got their asses whooped, in other words. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

The Greens shrink into obscurity – The Greens finish in fourth place in the federal elections. It is still unclear whether there is an option for power – but the battle to interpret the result has already begun.

German of the day: Das tut man nicht

February 22, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

That means “one doesn’t do that.”

As in insult politicians. Otherwise we’ll arrest you. “Speech raids” are a thing in Germany.

Germans are being arrested for insulting politicians — we need to protect free speech so it never happens here.

The First Amendment is our sacred safeguard against becoming a censorious hellscape — like Germany, where insulting a politician can land you in prison.

Even supposedly “free” Western countries are liable to crack down on free speech at a moment’s notice, as a recent “60 Minutes” segment makes clear.

German of the day: Abzug

February 21, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means withdrawal.

Vance floats US troop withdrawal from Germany over free-speech concerns – The U.S. vice president links continued military support to Berlin’s speech policies.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday night suggested that the Trump administration could reconsider its military presence in Germany, tying continued American defense commitments to Berlin’s stance on free speech.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Vance took direct aim at Germany’s handling of online speech restrictions, warning that the American public would not support funding the country’s defense while its government cracks down on political expression.

“Think about this,” Vance said. “Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course, they’re not.”

German of the day: Niedrigenergiehaus

February 20, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

That means low-energy house. You know, a Green energy house?

This low-energy house looks like it had plenty of energy to me.

On Wednesday evening, the fire department was called to Schönberg in Schleswig-Holstein: A deafening rumble shook the neighborhood! There was an explosion in a single family house that blew away an entire wall…

The initial assumption is that a lithium battery storage system in the low-energy house could be the reason.

German of the day: Bedrohung von innen

February 14, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Higher Education, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means threat from within.

At Munich conference, US VP Vance warns European allies of ‘threat from within’ – Vice President JD Vance warned European allies attending the security conference in Munich, Germany, against “the threat from within,” arguing that European governments are exercising extreme censorship and have failed to adequately get a handle on “out-of-control migration.”

“The threat that I worry the most about vis a vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor,” he said Friday. “What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.”

German of the day: Anschlag

February 13, 2025 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means attack. As in terrorist attack. As in the next one.

Munich: Söder speaks of attack – driver 24-year-old Afghan – A car has driven into a crowd of strikers in Munich. At least 28 people were injured, including children. Bavaria’s Minister President speaks of a “suspected attack”. The driver of the car was an Afghan asylum seeker.

German of the day: Größenwahn

February 12, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Humor Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means megalomania or having delusions of grandeur.

Also see Lachnummer. That means being a joke or a laughing stock.

Annalena Baerbock: Russia wanted to prevent me from becoming chancellor – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to thwart the US Gaza plans. Talks with partners are underway, she said on “Maischberger” – and emphasized her claim to power within the Greens.