Germans

(a story I wrote in November 2007)  Craigslist was successful, for once, last night! I finally got that European itch scratched! He tore my shit up. Seriously. I don't think I'll be able to have any type of sexual contact for a few weeks. I'm pretty sure I was a few thrusts short of having to get labial stitches. I had a pretty great night with this guy (who I will refer to a

(a story I wrote in November 2007)  Craigslist was successful, for once, last night! I finally got that European itch scratched! He tore my shit up. Seriously. I don't think I'll be able to have any type of sexual contact for a few weeks. I'm pretty sure I was a few thrusts short of having to get labial stitches. I had a pretty great night with this guy (who I will refer to a

Had a wonderful dinner at Momofuku Ssam Bar with Matthias and Beate Knebel, Clemens Busch, Gernot Kollman, Lars Carlberg, Peter and Danah Stein, Stefan Steinmetz, Chris from CSW and a lovely young lady from Von Beulwitz winery. Most of them had not been to NYC before so I wanted to take them right to the beating heart of the current food scene. Ssam Bar seemed a logical choice. It was loads of fun and a late night after a tough day it was a nice relief. There were lots of wines and here are the notes.Started off with a 2001 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Spatlese Trocken which was lovely but could of used a bit more air. It had lovely notes of celery, mineral, red fruits and some petrol. The palate was soft as a pillow but in no way lacking acidity. Just so elegant it started to inst

Austrian director Johann Kresnik’s production of Verdi’s Masked Ball is set to open in an east Germany opera house located in Erfurt. Kresnik claims his show, the stage set with the “ruins of the World Trade Center” to be a populist critique of “modern American society”, aimed at showing the “disparities between the rich and the [...]

Baltimore — (TFN): They may still be talking up the euro as a bastion of strength compared to the dollar. After all, everyone believes that Europe’s economic base is strong. After all, there are no “twin deficits”. Germany in particular likes to pride itself on being “Exportweltmeister” — export world champion. But how’s it going considering [...]

Germany: Two air force sergeants based at Fürstenfeldbruck with an "interest in cookery" are to be court martialed after making Blotwurst sausages using breadcrumbs, onions, spices, bacon - and their own blood.The pair were reportedly trying to increase the scale of their productions and had asked for blood donations from other servicemen and their families. Pictures of the cooking process were posted online by one of the two.The pair were only caught when another soldier approached military officials and said, "I have been asked to give blood for sausage-making and I want to know if this is against regulations." Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

German couple Michel and Jennifer Franchon Bernard did not expect they would be greeted by a crew of friendly airport staff members and a Sundanese jaipongan dance troupe upon arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on New Year's Day."What a surprise. We are very happy. We never dreamed of this happening. I couldn't even sleep because of the holiday," Michel said.Michel and his wife are visiting Indonesia for a two-week vacation. They said they would spend their first week in Jakarta and another week in Bali and Lombok.Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II picked the couple as the first air passengers to land at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for the new year.The couple, along with 256 others, arrived in Jakarta on a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore, which landed at 10

German couple Michel and Jennifer Franchon Bernard did not expect they would be greeted by a crew of friendly airport staff members and a Sundanese jaipongan dance troupe upon arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on New Year's Day."What a surprise. We are very happy. We never dreamed of this happening. I couldn't even sleep because of the holiday," Michel said.Michel and his wife are visiting Indonesia for a two-week vacation. They said they would spend their first week in Jakarta and another week in Bali and Lombok.Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II picked the couple as the first air passengers to land at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for the new year.The couple, along with 256 others, arrived in Jakarta on a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore, which landed at 10

Based on figures offered by the GfK research group, a broad improvement in German consumer spending is expected over the coming weeks and months to, uh, come. With figures on all spending indexes looking rosy, some optimistic experts even forecast that Germans might possibly spend over 700 euros more in 2008 than was spend during the current year. That will of course be the grand spending total for all German consumers combined, but still. A "willingness to buy has increased dramatically" said one beaming economic expert. "Of course a willingness to buy isn't actually "buying' in the strictest since, of course, but it has increased nonetheless. And that's a good thing. Isn't it?" "And although spending 700 euros might not seem like a whole lot of money once you divide up among 80 million people," another expert added. "Don't forget that a whole lot of these folks are really tight" "So this gives rise to hope that consumption will gradually live up to its

Always prepared to pass along good advice to someone else, German Economics Minister Michael Glos has called upon the United States to do something about the sliding dollar. “Hello, Earth to US, Earth to US,” he said before a less than amused Bundestag that represents, among other things, big important German exporters who are now slowly starting to feel the growing exchange-rate pressure doch (after all). “Puh-lease slow down the dollar's free fall now. It’s been fun, I’m sure, but I think we’ve all had enough. Bitte kommen (Do you read me?)” Speaking during a budget debate in the German parliament, Glos lectured Washington about not trying to “fix structural problems in the US economy” by devaluing the dollar. “We don’t understand why you would be trying to fix structural problems with your economy in the first place.” He said. “We have certainly never considered doing such a thing so why should you?” “Not even that economy (meaning the

Hey, this was definitely not abgesprochen (discussed with us first). First he and his ex-wife pull that disappearing Bulgarian nurse hat trick, then he lectures the Germans about the blessings of nuclear energy and gets all huffy with Angie about something called Europe, now Nicolas Sarkozy has hit a French-American home run at a joint meeting of the US Congress by hitting a French-American home run at a joint meeting of the US Congress. And this guy wouldn’t know a baseball bat from a baguette. Yesterday’s schmooze fest in Washington turned German stomachs two or three times in rapid succession at the very least. Not only did Sarkozy mange to charm the tight-fitting pants off of hundreds of American congresspersons by expressing (convincingly) his admiration and thanks to the United States and, through this, receiving absolution for having opposed the war in Iraq, he gets a standing ovation for clarifying once again that a nuclear-armed Iran was “unacceptable” for France.

According to a recent poll in Germany (via Hot Air Headlines), 25 percent of Germans miss the "aspects" of nazi rule. And, despite what's implied here, I highly doubt the National Socialists had any real respect for mothers at the time, no matter what that sick talk show host was saying. (Plus, isn't Germany usually described as the "fatherland" in contrast to Russia's being the "motherland"?)

Frank Rich has an excellent op-ed regarding public opinion over the Iraq war entitled The “Good Germans” Among Us. He begins: “BUSH lies” doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s time to confront the darker reality that we are lying to ourselves. Ten days ago The Times unearthed yet another round of secret Department of Justice memos countenancing torture. President Bush gave his standard response: “This government does not torture people.” Of course, it all depends on what the meaning of “torture” is. The whole point of these memos is to repeatedly recalibrate the definition so Mr. Bush can keep pleading innocent. By any legal standards except those rubber-stamped by Alberto Gonzales, we are practicing torture, and we have known we are doing so ever since photographic proof emerged from Abu Ghraib more than three years ago. As Andrew Sullivan, once a Bush cheerleader, observed last weekend in The Sunday Times of London, America’s “enhanced interrogation” techniqu

Germany's powerful energy companies got fresh political support Tuesday for a bitter attack on European Union plans to split energy producers from their distribution networks, with accusations that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Germany's powerful energy companies got fresh political support Tuesday for a bitter attack on European Union plans to split energy producers from their distribution networks, with accusations that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Germany's powerful energy companies got fresh political support Tuesday for a bitter attack on European Union plans to split energy producers from their distribution networks, with accusations that Brussels was destroying property rights and hindering investment.The criticism, led by Burckhard Bergmann, chief executive officer of E.ON Ruhrgas, amounted to one of the most stinging attacks leveled against Neelie Kroes, the European Union competition commissioner. Kroes has consistently taken a tough stance, particularly against Germany and France, for their refusal to "unbundle" the ownership of energy producers from the supply business.Kroes argues that breaking up the giants would promote competition and lower prices across the Continent.But Bergmann took issue with that, insisting that "there was no empirical evidence that unbundling would lead to lower network charges or that it enhances investment cross-border competition."Speaking at the European Autumn Gas Conference, he added:

Germany's powerful energy companies got fresh political support Tuesday for a bitter attack on European Union plans to split energy producers from their distribution networks, with accusations that Brussels was destroying property rights and hindering investment.The criticism, led by Burckhard Bergmann, chief executive officer of E.ON Ruhrgas, amounted to one of the most stinging attacks leveled against Neelie Kroes, the European Union competition commissioner. Kroes has consistently taken a tough stance, particularly against Germany and France, for their refusal to "unbundle" the ownership of energy producers from the supply business.Kroes argues that breaking up the giants would promote competition and lower prices across the Continent.But Bergmann took issue with that, insisting that "there was no empirical evidence that unbundling would lead to lower network charges or that it enhances investment cross-border competition."Speaking at the European Autumn Gas Conference, he added:

That the people’s pedagogue and Mr. Politainment himself missionary man Michael Moore “has a lot of bad qualities to flaunt… He is populist and polemical, oversimplifies everything, plays the patriot propagandist and is also fat and vain” was not really news to me. But that this could be written in German by a German and published in a “serious” German newspaper is quite shocking and revealing and news in and off itself. Let’s face it. This guy could do no wrong over here for years on end. There was a veritable Moore Mania breakout outbreak in this country and everybody who was anybody (and that’s practically everybody I know, by the way) proudly leafed throw his or her latest Michael Moore brochure in the U-Bahn on the way to work each morning - although I did actually catch a couple fans holding the things upside down once or twice. But times change and people change (not) and even everybody’s favorite American Nestbeschmutzer (one who dirties his own nest) gets b

Seymour Hirsch, the “presumably most unpopular disclosure journalist” the White House can possibly imagine, has exclusively disclosed to Germany that 1) George W. Bush believes in God and that 2) he believes he is doing said God’s Will. I mean, who would have thought that? These shocking revelations come on the heels of other brand new, unexpected and thoroughly shocking disclosers, like Bush actually wanting to “build Democracy in Iraq” and “this President has put it into his head to remodel the Middle East. He really believes in this.” Still reeling from these Revelations-type revelations, German readers’ jaws dropped even further when subjected to even more shocking news, although this time coming more in the form of tacit Hirsch admissions about how the so-called Surge is actually working even though everybody with any brains knows that it couldn’t and can’t and how he still refuses to let go of his personal Vietnam obsession he has been obsessing with for the

Joining the number of car manufacturers that have been concerned for the growing demand for environment friendly cars, German car manufacturing giant BMW has announced that they too would soon be producing and selling Hybrid cars. Within the next four years, BMW will be providing its own version of the phenomenal and popular hybrid car. Knowing the many innovations and excellent qualities BMW

That smell coming from that super-modern highclass luxury car, say an Audi A8, BMW7 or Mercedes- S class won’t be just fine Corinthian leather any more, but something a tad more toxic, if fuel-efficient: something like fried potatoes. That’s because investments in biofuels are picking up, including German interest in a 100 million Euro plant, probably near the sea capital of Varna, which would make Bulgaria a key player in the burgeoning drive to produce biofuels for cars, initially for luxury cars whose buyers can afford the changes needed to modify the vehicles.It has become clear that the biggest producer of such fuels in Europe, the German concern Verbio AG (Verbio Vereinigte BioEnergie AG) is checking the opportunities to invest in construction of a factory for biofuels in Bulgaria. The executive director of Verbio AG Klaus Zauter discussed the investment plans of the company during a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov. Verbio AG is looking for prop

That smell coming from that super-modern highclass luxury car, say an Audi A8, BMW7 or Mercedes- S class won’t be just fine Corinthian leather any more, but something a tad more toxic, if fuel-efficient: something like fried potatoes. That’s because investments in biofuels are picking up, including German interest in a 100 million Euro plant, probably near the sea capital of Varna, which would make Bulgaria a key player in the burgeoning drive to produce biofuels for cars, initially for luxury cars whose buyers can afford the changes needed to modify the vehicles.It has become clear that the biggest producer of such fuels in Europe, the German concern Verbio AG (Verbio Vereinigte BioEnergie AG) is checking the opportunities to invest in construction of a factory for biofuels in Bulgaria. The executive director of Verbio AG Klaus Zauter discussed the investment plans of the company during a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov. Verbio AG is looking for prop

Free SMS: Germans in a frenzy over impending Apple iPhone releaseIt seems, with T-mobile having secured the exclusive rights to Apple iPhone distribution in Germany, that those crazy krauts are getting riled up for the impending launch. Gravis, Germany’s largest Apple retailer, is reporting over 1,000 daily inquiries into the iPhone - with over 57,000 inquiries tallied to date.Textually says that Archibald Horlitz, head of Gravis, told Reuters that 58% of those interested in buying the iPhone would even consider switching carriers. If the US launch is any sort of precedent, German carriers better get ready to lose a substantial chunk of subscribers to T-mobile.Get ready for some iPhone-love, Germans! As long as you guys don’t get 3G, we’re not even the least bit jealous. But, if you are to get a 3G iPhone, then bully to you. In which case, send one our way, will ya?[Via: Textually]intomobile.com

Germans are brainiest (but at least we're smarter than the French) "Guns, Germs, and Steel" states that geography is a bigger factor in societal development than physical or cultural differences. Pat Robertson thinks cities are destroyed because of their sinfulness and Communists don't allow for any differences between peoples, believing competition between economic classes to be history's sole driving force. Well, this article presents another theory. The social theory one can infer from the article below would make explaining differences between nations easy ("well, they make more money because they're smarter,") but one should be wary of easy explanations; especially when it comes to something as complex as human beings. The "smart and dumb" explanation of society contradicts Diamond's book, the Marxist and the Theist answer to everything. Why can't it be a little of each? Because that would be complicated and smart people don't like complicated things. Guns, Germs, an

Some German DaimlerChrysler shareholders may be moving to rename the company back to Daimler-Benz, but not everyone from the Stuttgart side is ready to abandon Chrysler yet. Helmut Lense is one of the union representatives on the company Supervisory Board, the equivalent of a US board of directors. Lense spoke to the Detroit News and indicated that the employee representatives on the board would oppose any selloff that resulted in the dismantling of the Chrysler Group. If a sale must be made, then he would prefer to see another manufacturing company buy the group as opposed to a private equity fund like the Blackstone Group.[Source: Autoblog via Detroit News]Continued- ArticleCurrently, DaimlerChrysler management is in talks with manufacturers like General Motors and supplier Magna International in addition to equity funds Blackstone and Cerberus Capital. Lense feels that a big part of Chrysler's difficulty is an over-reliance on truck sales, which have been particularly hard-hit the

This machine which is capable of determining the actionby reading one's mind is developed by German scientistsat Berlin's Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience.This Exceptional Gadget is based on MRI(Magnetic resoncance imaging)that scans the prefrontal cortex region of your brain (which is wheredecisions are made) and can predict before you act.Out of the 21 people upon whom the tests were taken..it has successfully predicted in 71% of all cases...and do you remember the Tom cruise movie..i think it was minority report a similar type ofmechanism was there but that uses forecastors..and this uses only MRI . so do u want know whatyou want to do next...

According to the Turkish Daily News the Germans have beaten the British in ownership of property in Turkey. Whilst this may be good news for Germans living in Turkey the Turkish government are now examining the effects that overseas buyers are having on the country