The Huffington Post, an American news site, has decided to put up a German Huffington-style Post.
The Germans over the past decade, have kinda had an opportunity to avoid these political-style web sites, with confrontational-style attitudes. They watched from the sidelines and were probably happy that nothing came to challenge their standard newspaper-led news atmosphere. Course, German newspapers have been slowly losing readership over the past decade.
Anxiety in Germany over this? To some degree.
There's some fears over how this might hurt readership of German newspapers even more. There's fears over profitability of German news. There are probably fears over content and how things might become more confrontational (like US politics), and Germans would really prefer not to have this type of atmosphere.
Right now, statistics show (BDZV numbers) that around 19 million copies of newspapers are sold in Germany on a daily basis. If you consider a population of 80 million folks in Germany.....it's still a fair number....but it's five million less than a decade ago.
The "Huff" tends to pick political topics and lays out a strategy to get people addicted to the discussion and argue. The more, the better.
What happens with this mess? In a year or two.....some people will note that the SPD and Green Party are getting better than average coverage with the German "Huff", and the CDU/CSU folks will start to discuss a necessary add to the situation. I would hate to suggest Fox News coming to Germany....but we might see a Drudge-like vehicle or something similar.
Is it possible that Germans will just skip the German "Huff"? So far, Facebook and Google have gotten themselves a fair amount of negative news coverage. Germans are generally skeptical about their intentions. The German "Huff" might fall into the same pit in six months with limited readership.
I'm guessing that they have enough cash to last out twelve months before getting real sponsorship or ad's to cover costs. There's going to be pressure put on German companies to consider sponsoring the "Huff", which they may just decline and walk away from political intrigue.
Bottom line? If I were a betting person, I'd say that this new German "Huff" comes around and lasts for about four years....then folds up and is sold off to be downsized. Germans are awful stubborn, and they just might not pay much attention to what Huff says. In this case, the three little pigs might outlast the wolf 'huffing-up' outside....only because they were German pigs.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
German Cars
There is a curious story which came out this past week....Bloomberg News published it....on German car sales. It's significant to say that sales are lagging, and have been for over a year. Dealers, and you can see various ad's in your local German paper now on a frequent basis....are running deal after deal....to generate sales.
In some cases, if you look at the amount of discount on new cars in Germany....dealers are simply moving cars and taking the lowest possible profit...just to stay in business. It doesn't matter if we are talking Volkswagen, Audi, or BMW.
The most interesting statistic is one that comes out of Auto News....European car plants are capable of making 26 million cars a year. Currently? They make around 18 million cars. The slowdown is having an affect on the whole industry.
What this all means? If you are an American in German and desiring a new car....now is the best time in a decade to go over to a dealer and work up a deal. It used to be almost impossible work up a serious cut on the price of a car.....but you've got the ball in your court. Some of the dealers are offering a thousand Euro rebate right there on the spot....something you just wouldn't get a decade ago.
Yeah, you can't bring that car back to the US, but frankly.....if you were staying around for three to four years.....it's the best time to work deals.
In some cases, if you look at the amount of discount on new cars in Germany....dealers are simply moving cars and taking the lowest possible profit...just to stay in business. It doesn't matter if we are talking Volkswagen, Audi, or BMW.
The most interesting statistic is one that comes out of Auto News....European car plants are capable of making 26 million cars a year. Currently? They make around 18 million cars. The slowdown is having an affect on the whole industry.
What this all means? If you are an American in German and desiring a new car....now is the best time in a decade to go over to a dealer and work up a deal. It used to be almost impossible work up a serious cut on the price of a car.....but you've got the ball in your court. Some of the dealers are offering a thousand Euro rebate right there on the spot....something you just wouldn't get a decade ago.
Yeah, you can't bring that car back to the US, but frankly.....if you were staying around for three to four years.....it's the best time to work deals.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
The Soccer Tax Story
It was an interesting week to watch tax news and German journalists. Over the past two weeks, Uli Hoeneß, the director of the soccer club in Bavaria got himself into the tax news. Basically, it's come out that Uli found various ways to avoid taxes.....some legal....some potentially illegal....and some some of a ethical nature that draws discussion.
As this came out....the journalists came to discuss how some or potentially all of the soccer clubs might be involved in the mess, and how players may have various deals rigged up to avoid German taxes.
The shock factor? I'd say the public is mostly in a mild interest situation. They already know that tens of thousands of Germans avoid taxes by legal and illegal means. They know most millionaires or wannabe millionaires have people on the payroll to ensure the least amount of taxes are paid. The public knows that political figures do the same thing. And they are pretty confident that plumbers and roofers are trying their best to hide their true income. TV stars, actors, and singer? Oh yes....without any doubt.
For soccer fans....there's this worry now. Maybe the idiots in Berlin will sharpen up new tax regulations and starve off the soccer clubs.....sending the best players to Italy or Spain. You'd end up with probably ten of the best Germans players.....not even entertaining a contract with a German club.
The news media? It was a curious thing on Wednesday night....with ARD's 8PM news crew. They just aren't seeing a huge reaction by Germans......so they took the story to Spain where....almost twenty percent unemployment is killing the job situation in Spain. So the German journalists got tons of negative commentary from the Spanish. Does the German public care? I'm not sure if there's a huge thrust of public sentiment over the issue.
Bottom line? I'd expect all of the political parties to have tax sharpening as one of the big priorities for the elections in the fall. Sadly....German players better be prepared to play in Italy for 2014.....if you ask me.
As this came out....the journalists came to discuss how some or potentially all of the soccer clubs might be involved in the mess, and how players may have various deals rigged up to avoid German taxes.
The shock factor? I'd say the public is mostly in a mild interest situation. They already know that tens of thousands of Germans avoid taxes by legal and illegal means. They know most millionaires or wannabe millionaires have people on the payroll to ensure the least amount of taxes are paid. The public knows that political figures do the same thing. And they are pretty confident that plumbers and roofers are trying their best to hide their true income. TV stars, actors, and singer? Oh yes....without any doubt.
For soccer fans....there's this worry now. Maybe the idiots in Berlin will sharpen up new tax regulations and starve off the soccer clubs.....sending the best players to Italy or Spain. You'd end up with probably ten of the best Germans players.....not even entertaining a contract with a German club.
The news media? It was a curious thing on Wednesday night....with ARD's 8PM news crew. They just aren't seeing a huge reaction by Germans......so they took the story to Spain where....almost twenty percent unemployment is killing the job situation in Spain. So the German journalists got tons of negative commentary from the Spanish. Does the German public care? I'm not sure if there's a huge thrust of public sentiment over the issue.
Bottom line? I'd expect all of the political parties to have tax sharpening as one of the big priorities for the elections in the fall. Sadly....German players better be prepared to play in Italy for 2014.....if you ask me.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Germany: Internet Commissar
An internet commissar for Germany? Recommendations are going to the Bundestag to form up a position would be the watch-dog for Germans....protecting them from the terrible things around the internet.
For three years....there's been this committee working around all the various issues confronting Germans and the internet. Their recommendations this week.....rounded up to around 1,300 pages. Who would read the document? No one. Someone simply pulled out the bits and pieces to discuss in public. I'm guessing the document will quietly disappear into a couple of libraries and never be mentioned again.
As for the commissar position? There's anger and hostility from the youth of Germany over anti-pirating measures and the unfairness of someone knocking on their door to claim a thousand Euro in fines. There's anger over Google and its imagery of neighborhoods....with massive invasion of privacy. There's frustration over how private data is shared or used from company to company. There's an effort to go anti-Facebook because of their rules. The commissar would be the focal point to fight the bad evil internet for Germans.
Who would end up in such a job? I could see the political structure going in three ways.
The first pick for the job would be some inside guy who grins for the public but secretly and quietly works for Google and Facebook. The political guys would just see this as the best practical pick.
The second pick would be some professor from a university who has simply observed everything from a distance and commented publicly on the terrible things of the internet. The truth is.....he'd just listen and do mostly nothing except write reports.
Finally, the third pick.....to draft someone who has never really used the internet, and maybe works up an internet sweat for thirty minutes a week. A grumpy old guy with no agenda and no passion for the internet.
You'd have to accept living in Berlin, accept a salary of probably 140k Euro a year, get a government car, and agree to monitor Google, Amazon, Facebook and a host of evilness in the internet world. And you'd have to be agreeable to show up for TV appearances and discuss the modern era of technology. Maybe along the way....you'd actually educate people to accept the evil internet, because society is moving on and it's part of our bold new world.
I wish the guy well....but I suspect that he'll last twelve to eighteen months, then retire quietly.
For three years....there's been this committee working around all the various issues confronting Germans and the internet. Their recommendations this week.....rounded up to around 1,300 pages. Who would read the document? No one. Someone simply pulled out the bits and pieces to discuss in public. I'm guessing the document will quietly disappear into a couple of libraries and never be mentioned again.
As for the commissar position? There's anger and hostility from the youth of Germany over anti-pirating measures and the unfairness of someone knocking on their door to claim a thousand Euro in fines. There's anger over Google and its imagery of neighborhoods....with massive invasion of privacy. There's frustration over how private data is shared or used from company to company. There's an effort to go anti-Facebook because of their rules. The commissar would be the focal point to fight the bad evil internet for Germans.
Who would end up in such a job? I could see the political structure going in three ways.
The first pick for the job would be some inside guy who grins for the public but secretly and quietly works for Google and Facebook. The political guys would just see this as the best practical pick.
The second pick would be some professor from a university who has simply observed everything from a distance and commented publicly on the terrible things of the internet. The truth is.....he'd just listen and do mostly nothing except write reports.
Finally, the third pick.....to draft someone who has never really used the internet, and maybe works up an internet sweat for thirty minutes a week. A grumpy old guy with no agenda and no passion for the internet.
You'd have to accept living in Berlin, accept a salary of probably 140k Euro a year, get a government car, and agree to monitor Google, Amazon, Facebook and a host of evilness in the internet world. And you'd have to be agreeable to show up for TV appearances and discuss the modern era of technology. Maybe along the way....you'd actually educate people to accept the evil internet, because society is moving on and it's part of our bold new world.
I wish the guy well....but I suspect that he'll last twelve to eighteen months, then retire quietly.
A Untidy Clean-up of Cyprus and Germany
From this week, the German 'blessing' for the Cyprus bail-out....is done, finalized, and in the book. Germans will quietly grumble, and thousands of comments via journalists will be tossed around the next couple of days as everyone agrees to disagree over this whole deal.
Cyprus? Hostility exists over the deal and the unfairness of it in the end. The Cypriot rich, middle-class, and working-class....all lose in the deal. The only other view of this? They could have lost even more. It's kinda like being on a boat sinking, and commenting later that it was an old boat....probably not worth fixing or maintaining anyway.
The reality of Cypriot banking? They opened up their little banking system to take in just about anyone with cash. They rolled out the red carpet, and never denied any foreign individual from flying in....depositing massive sums of cash....and then went to work investing it. After a while, there was so much cash....that the bankers just couldn't make wise decisions anymore. They became stupid bankers, and just flushed everything down the toilet.
A German would look at this whole game and shake their head. They demand banking stability, in exchange for getting limited profits or dividends from their investment.
An end to this mess? No. I don't see calm positive nature returning to Cyprus for at least a decade. Everyone is affected, and will live in a meager lifestyle for a number of years. The German tourists to the isle? The negative words have been spoken, and I'm humbly guess that German tourism shrinks by half or more for this year and next.
Cyprus? Hostility exists over the deal and the unfairness of it in the end. The Cypriot rich, middle-class, and working-class....all lose in the deal. The only other view of this? They could have lost even more. It's kinda like being on a boat sinking, and commenting later that it was an old boat....probably not worth fixing or maintaining anyway.
The reality of Cypriot banking? They opened up their little banking system to take in just about anyone with cash. They rolled out the red carpet, and never denied any foreign individual from flying in....depositing massive sums of cash....and then went to work investing it. After a while, there was so much cash....that the bankers just couldn't make wise decisions anymore. They became stupid bankers, and just flushed everything down the toilet.
A German would look at this whole game and shake their head. They demand banking stability, in exchange for getting limited profits or dividends from their investment.
An end to this mess? No. I don't see calm positive nature returning to Cyprus for at least a decade. Everyone is affected, and will live in a meager lifestyle for a number of years. The German tourists to the isle? The negative words have been spoken, and I'm humbly guess that German tourism shrinks by half or more for this year and next.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Germans, Alcohol, and Drunks
For an American living around Germany....the extent of temptation is significant. Germans have spent generations brewing beer, developing wine categories and distilling just about every kind of alcohol that a man can imagine. You can sit at a local pub, and spend four hours sipping through various beers, and toss a shot of Jagermeister, than skip over to a peach brandy, and find yourself easily intoxicated.
So the question would come up....do Germans get drunk on evenings out? Most Germans have some self-established limit in mind when they enter a pub. They start with a certain beer, and maybe have the intent of leaving after the second beer two hours later.
If you look around your village....you tend to notice pubs all on a street, and guys simply walking home....not driving. This is one of the advantages of living in a small town, and the ability to walk home.
Drunken driving? You tend to notice that cops do set up check-points at the ends of a town on Friday and Saturday night. They look for a heavy traffic area, and might be set up by ten in the evening and run this for several hours. What a German will admit privately....they really hate this but it's a necessity. There's also this private fear....no German wants to be noted as a DWI (your license is in real jeopardy, with way of getting out of the mess). So if there was a point after work of stopping and having a few beers....like in the old days....they've stopped this attitude, and limited themselves to strictly one beer after work on the way home.
Drunks? Every village of a thousand residents....probably has five or six people who are excessive drinkers and ought to be on some program. The odds of them ever getting into a program? Their healthcare insurance would cover it.....but it's always a problem to get some guy to admit it's at that level.
Kids now drunks? Up until the 1980s....most everyone would have laughed and said no. The attitude today is that one kid out of ten is drinking (at age fifteen) on a regular basis and can't control their intake. Schools are noting this and the local social offices are now inviting themselves into situations on a weekly basis. Alcohol rehab programs for German kids are happening over all of Germany.
A problem? Germans aren't like Americans....with a political agenda of going after alcohol consumption. They might see the necessity of taking on the youthful drinkers and forcing some changes there. But overall? The cops will say they do a decent job and round up heavy drinkers each weekend. DWI accidents still occur, and newspapers tend to report the facts to the public.
A difference between the US and Germany? If anything....Germans aren't into the mixed cocktails that much, and on a typical evening....stick mostly with beer or wine. A pub in Germany with food offerings? Usually not, but your local restaurant pubs always offer up some pizza service or a bratwurst. And the late afternoons in July in Germany....at a beer garden...with trees covering you and offering shade....those experiences are worth a million bucks.
So the question would come up....do Germans get drunk on evenings out? Most Germans have some self-established limit in mind when they enter a pub. They start with a certain beer, and maybe have the intent of leaving after the second beer two hours later.
If you look around your village....you tend to notice pubs all on a street, and guys simply walking home....not driving. This is one of the advantages of living in a small town, and the ability to walk home.
Drunken driving? You tend to notice that cops do set up check-points at the ends of a town on Friday and Saturday night. They look for a heavy traffic area, and might be set up by ten in the evening and run this for several hours. What a German will admit privately....they really hate this but it's a necessity. There's also this private fear....no German wants to be noted as a DWI (your license is in real jeopardy, with way of getting out of the mess). So if there was a point after work of stopping and having a few beers....like in the old days....they've stopped this attitude, and limited themselves to strictly one beer after work on the way home.
Drunks? Every village of a thousand residents....probably has five or six people who are excessive drinkers and ought to be on some program. The odds of them ever getting into a program? Their healthcare insurance would cover it.....but it's always a problem to get some guy to admit it's at that level.
Kids now drunks? Up until the 1980s....most everyone would have laughed and said no. The attitude today is that one kid out of ten is drinking (at age fifteen) on a regular basis and can't control their intake. Schools are noting this and the local social offices are now inviting themselves into situations on a weekly basis. Alcohol rehab programs for German kids are happening over all of Germany.
A problem? Germans aren't like Americans....with a political agenda of going after alcohol consumption. They might see the necessity of taking on the youthful drinkers and forcing some changes there. But overall? The cops will say they do a decent job and round up heavy drinkers each weekend. DWI accidents still occur, and newspapers tend to report the facts to the public.
A difference between the US and Germany? If anything....Germans aren't into the mixed cocktails that much, and on a typical evening....stick mostly with beer or wine. A pub in Germany with food offerings? Usually not, but your local restaurant pubs always offer up some pizza service or a bratwurst. And the late afternoons in July in Germany....at a beer garden...with trees covering you and offering shade....those experiences are worth a million bucks.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Cyprus: A Continuing Saga
Most people watching the entire Cyprus banking episode, and the rescue situation....had this idea that things by this point would be neatly tied up, and only the blame game left.
This week, it was kind of noted.....that whatever was loaned to fill this void....wasn't enough.
The EU loan deal....which really brought a harsh reality to the Cypriot public, centered around ten billion Euro. Everyone at that point, felt it was enough. The truth this week? They likely needed roughly 23 billion Euro to survive. So the ten billion was mostly just to soften the situation and just give them breathing room for a few weeks to a few months.
I'm not an EU expert, but I'm guessing that they really feel foolish now, and doubting that anything can save Cyprus at this point.
Where would thirteen additional billion come from? It won't be the EU or Russia. I'm guessing most of the top level of current Cypriot government are sitting there in amazement at the mess that they were handed at the beginning of 2013 by the previous government. Blame is likely being discussed on a hour-by-hour basis.
From the French....came a nifty new expression..."a casino economy", in describing how the Cyprus banking system worked. Bankers were acting more as gambling bosses, than actual bankers. The high-stakes table was surrounded by rich Russians, and Cyprus simply played into the casino mindset....there are winners and there are losers.
With island unemployment hovering around fifteen percent (from the Cyprus Mail statistics), there's various efforts underway to find just about any work....even seasonal tourism requirements....just to get people working in some fashion.
The German angle to the mess now? If there was a slacking of faith in any positive outcome....I'd say the Germans are pushing it at full speed now. If the ten billion in the rescue effort is simply flushed down the toilet, Germans will end up being fairly negative and unwilling to help just about anyone in a near-future episode. This could easily turn into a top topic for the fall election.
This week, it was kind of noted.....that whatever was loaned to fill this void....wasn't enough.
The EU loan deal....which really brought a harsh reality to the Cypriot public, centered around ten billion Euro. Everyone at that point, felt it was enough. The truth this week? They likely needed roughly 23 billion Euro to survive. So the ten billion was mostly just to soften the situation and just give them breathing room for a few weeks to a few months.
I'm not an EU expert, but I'm guessing that they really feel foolish now, and doubting that anything can save Cyprus at this point.
Where would thirteen additional billion come from? It won't be the EU or Russia. I'm guessing most of the top level of current Cypriot government are sitting there in amazement at the mess that they were handed at the beginning of 2013 by the previous government. Blame is likely being discussed on a hour-by-hour basis.
From the French....came a nifty new expression..."a casino economy", in describing how the Cyprus banking system worked. Bankers were acting more as gambling bosses, than actual bankers. The high-stakes table was surrounded by rich Russians, and Cyprus simply played into the casino mindset....there are winners and there are losers.
With island unemployment hovering around fifteen percent (from the Cyprus Mail statistics), there's various efforts underway to find just about any work....even seasonal tourism requirements....just to get people working in some fashion.
The German angle to the mess now? If there was a slacking of faith in any positive outcome....I'd say the Germans are pushing it at full speed now. If the ten billion in the rescue effort is simply flushed down the toilet, Germans will end up being fairly negative and unwilling to help just about anyone in a near-future episode. This could easily turn into a top topic for the fall election.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Innocent Naive American to Arrive in Germany
Occasionally, I will offer advice to Americans....about Germany. Today's essay....is mostly designed for the American who has never been to Germany, and mostly wondering what to expect in the initial first seven days. It's a cut-to-the-chase....simplistic ten measure list that you might want to read over two or three times.
First, if God had ever designed a society that bound into absolute standards and expectations (the Border Collies of the human world).....the Germans are that society. They expect the train system to work correctly, and on time. They expect the autobahn signs to quickly get to the point and be blunt. They want streets clean, and roads built right. Just the first initial moments at the Frankfurt airport, and transiting to the luggage area, and onto the bus or car-rental area....ought to give you that impression of a society wanting things to fit right. The first hour on the autobahn ought to fill you with wonder over the way that things work.
Second, there is an enormous amount of creativity with beer and wine. They've spent generations to develop things that draw you back. As you sip a particular beer....bear in mind that it's in a bigger glass, and has more alcohol content than any American beer. If you do transit to a second glass....pick another brand or type and appreciate the different tastes and textures. Wine works the same way. Sadly, after two or three hours....you've probably had too much alcohol and need to walk back to the hotel room. Don't even think about driving.
Third, if you are staying at a German hotel....don't necessarily expect AC. If this is July or August.....just accept the fact that you need the window open and enjoy the fresh air. In May or June....you might need a good jacket. You might need a t-shirt. Weather conditions frequently change, and you'd best be prepared for just about anything.
Fourth, if you are a fairly religious person....don't go and expect others to be as moralistic as you. Germans tend to be a fairly open society, and some elements of dress or behavior....might be a bit shocking for some from rural areas of the US. Germans aren't mad or doing anything to insult you....it's just that time has passed in Germany and things have progressed on.
Fifth, a stop at a small town restaurant in Germany....could open your mind to dozens of new dishes....made in ways that you never dreamed. Yes, things are loaded with cheeses and various vegetables that you just haven't seen before. Remember that most restaurants hand out dishes with a fair amount of food....so don't snack in the afternoon, and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy a decent meal at a decent price. You might want to have a listing in English before you sit down, and at least start with the simpler dishes and move on.
Sixth, don't be overly shocked at prices. It's got the VAT already figured in when you stop at a shop and want to buy something.
Seventh, because all Americans tend to arrive between 8AM and noon of that day.....most everyone is dead tired and simply want to make it to a hotel or bedroom. The honest truth is that you need to find a way....through coffee or whatever....to try making it to at least 8PM that night. It's the only way to reset your clock. If anything otherwise, then limit yourself to a two-hour nap in the afternoon, and try to get back onto the right body clock.
Eighth, don't expect much of anything to be open on Sundays. Restaurants and gas stations are about the only thing that you will find open. If you need anything at a drug store or grocery....you'd best make it by 7 or 8PM. Don't expect small villages to have any store open past 6PM.
Ninth, it's ok to drink the tap water. German water is pretty exceptional. But....like ninety percent of all Germans will tell you....it's better to drink the store-bought stuff. My humble advice is to buy yourself a six-pack of small bottles on day one, within an hour or two after you arrive in country. By day two....buy a couple of larger bottles to keep handy. Oh, and yes, there is a deposit, and they'd like all glass and plastic bottles back. I know....it's a hassle....that's why they made it a law to pay a deposit. Water with 'bubbles'? Yes. So you want to be thinking about what kind of water you'd like to sip. Evian water....from France....usually is sold everywhere, and I'd highly recommend it. No bubbles or weird taste. Note, Evian water comes off the glaciers there....so it's pretty tasty for 2,000 year old water.
Tenth, most Germans under the age of thirty have a working knowledge of English. They appreciate it if you can toss a few German phrases around and are generally helpful if you get lost or into trouble. If you think you got yourself pretty damn lost.....ask questions and just play stupid. Germans will always seek to help you. A GPS? Yeah, if you rented a car....you might want to have one with you as you travel. A city map? Well....it's hand for the first day or two. Using the Metro or public transit system? Most have electronic kiosks that have English instructions around, and sell you a day-ticket.
Yeah, Germany can be like landing on Mars. Things are a little different. But it's not a bad place to get lost in, or have to wander around.
First, if God had ever designed a society that bound into absolute standards and expectations (the Border Collies of the human world).....the Germans are that society. They expect the train system to work correctly, and on time. They expect the autobahn signs to quickly get to the point and be blunt. They want streets clean, and roads built right. Just the first initial moments at the Frankfurt airport, and transiting to the luggage area, and onto the bus or car-rental area....ought to give you that impression of a society wanting things to fit right. The first hour on the autobahn ought to fill you with wonder over the way that things work.
Second, there is an enormous amount of creativity with beer and wine. They've spent generations to develop things that draw you back. As you sip a particular beer....bear in mind that it's in a bigger glass, and has more alcohol content than any American beer. If you do transit to a second glass....pick another brand or type and appreciate the different tastes and textures. Wine works the same way. Sadly, after two or three hours....you've probably had too much alcohol and need to walk back to the hotel room. Don't even think about driving.
Third, if you are staying at a German hotel....don't necessarily expect AC. If this is July or August.....just accept the fact that you need the window open and enjoy the fresh air. In May or June....you might need a good jacket. You might need a t-shirt. Weather conditions frequently change, and you'd best be prepared for just about anything.
Fourth, if you are a fairly religious person....don't go and expect others to be as moralistic as you. Germans tend to be a fairly open society, and some elements of dress or behavior....might be a bit shocking for some from rural areas of the US. Germans aren't mad or doing anything to insult you....it's just that time has passed in Germany and things have progressed on.
Fifth, a stop at a small town restaurant in Germany....could open your mind to dozens of new dishes....made in ways that you never dreamed. Yes, things are loaded with cheeses and various vegetables that you just haven't seen before. Remember that most restaurants hand out dishes with a fair amount of food....so don't snack in the afternoon, and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy a decent meal at a decent price. You might want to have a listing in English before you sit down, and at least start with the simpler dishes and move on.
Sixth, don't be overly shocked at prices. It's got the VAT already figured in when you stop at a shop and want to buy something.
Seventh, because all Americans tend to arrive between 8AM and noon of that day.....most everyone is dead tired and simply want to make it to a hotel or bedroom. The honest truth is that you need to find a way....through coffee or whatever....to try making it to at least 8PM that night. It's the only way to reset your clock. If anything otherwise, then limit yourself to a two-hour nap in the afternoon, and try to get back onto the right body clock.
Eighth, don't expect much of anything to be open on Sundays. Restaurants and gas stations are about the only thing that you will find open. If you need anything at a drug store or grocery....you'd best make it by 7 or 8PM. Don't expect small villages to have any store open past 6PM.
Ninth, it's ok to drink the tap water. German water is pretty exceptional. But....like ninety percent of all Germans will tell you....it's better to drink the store-bought stuff. My humble advice is to buy yourself a six-pack of small bottles on day one, within an hour or two after you arrive in country. By day two....buy a couple of larger bottles to keep handy. Oh, and yes, there is a deposit, and they'd like all glass and plastic bottles back. I know....it's a hassle....that's why they made it a law to pay a deposit. Water with 'bubbles'? Yes. So you want to be thinking about what kind of water you'd like to sip. Evian water....from France....usually is sold everywhere, and I'd highly recommend it. No bubbles or weird taste. Note, Evian water comes off the glaciers there....so it's pretty tasty for 2,000 year old water.
Tenth, most Germans under the age of thirty have a working knowledge of English. They appreciate it if you can toss a few German phrases around and are generally helpful if you get lost or into trouble. If you think you got yourself pretty damn lost.....ask questions and just play stupid. Germans will always seek to help you. A GPS? Yeah, if you rented a car....you might want to have one with you as you travel. A city map? Well....it's hand for the first day or two. Using the Metro or public transit system? Most have electronic kiosks that have English instructions around, and sell you a day-ticket.
Yeah, Germany can be like landing on Mars. Things are a little different. But it's not a bad place to get lost in, or have to wander around.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Germany and Airports
There's an interesting story over at Deutsche Welle concerning airports in Germany. The emphasis? Germany would appear to be peaking out over airports.
Added up....there are around thirty-seven airports with service on a daily basis (Wiki's stats). There are around another twenty airports, which mostly serve as sites for private owners of aircraft to park or operate their aircraft out of.
Most of the big airports....everyone is familiar with (Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich). Then you have the oddball airports. Hahn is a good example. Hahn operates mostly as a hub for Ryan Air. The operators of the Hahn would like to have more operations and have more than enough structure to handle that.....but so far, there's been little interest for other companies to operate out of the airport.
Sylt Airport operates mostly for the tourists or the upper crust residents of the region. Being an entry point to the island area....it's not exactly a place that most Germans would ever use.
Zweibrucken Airport is one that chiefly gets operated for tourists making runs down to the Canary Island, Greece, and Spain. On a daily basis for 365 days a year....there's probably only four daily flights out of the airport. But if you go down in May or June....there's probably another six to ten flights a day operated for tourists.
Of course, all of this drifts back to the question that Deutsche Welle brings up....profitability. I think if you took away the state and federal funding....the majority of airports in Germany would be shut down. There would probably be around eight airports able to run on their own, without the structured assistance. So there in....lies the problem. The public is sponsoring these airports to a significant degree, for the benefit of a certain group of society.
With government funding always in question....there's this future problem sitting out there. There are various hints that funding will be curtailed at some point in the next couple of years. For Hahn, without more business....they won't be able to lift themselves off the necessity of government funding. Ryan Air built a huge hub out of Hahn, but other than Ryan Air....there isn't much to brag about. Some thought that FEDEX or some other cheap carrier would have moved in and taken advantage of the lesser tax rate of the airport. That hasn't happened.
So, this bring us to air travel in 2020 within Germany. I'm mostly of the opinion that ten small regional airports are going to be cut off completely from federal funding, and probably even see their state funding decrease. Hahn itself might survive on....maybe with some unusual deal with China or Russia. Whether the Berlin Airport is ever finished....may dictate whether several regional airports around Berlin survive on, or get pushed into just private owner situations.
There's only enough business for a certain number of airports to survive on....and that's it.
Added up....there are around thirty-seven airports with service on a daily basis (Wiki's stats). There are around another twenty airports, which mostly serve as sites for private owners of aircraft to park or operate their aircraft out of.
Most of the big airports....everyone is familiar with (Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich). Then you have the oddball airports. Hahn is a good example. Hahn operates mostly as a hub for Ryan Air. The operators of the Hahn would like to have more operations and have more than enough structure to handle that.....but so far, there's been little interest for other companies to operate out of the airport.
Sylt Airport operates mostly for the tourists or the upper crust residents of the region. Being an entry point to the island area....it's not exactly a place that most Germans would ever use.
Zweibrucken Airport is one that chiefly gets operated for tourists making runs down to the Canary Island, Greece, and Spain. On a daily basis for 365 days a year....there's probably only four daily flights out of the airport. But if you go down in May or June....there's probably another six to ten flights a day operated for tourists.
Of course, all of this drifts back to the question that Deutsche Welle brings up....profitability. I think if you took away the state and federal funding....the majority of airports in Germany would be shut down. There would probably be around eight airports able to run on their own, without the structured assistance. So there in....lies the problem. The public is sponsoring these airports to a significant degree, for the benefit of a certain group of society.
With government funding always in question....there's this future problem sitting out there. There are various hints that funding will be curtailed at some point in the next couple of years. For Hahn, without more business....they won't be able to lift themselves off the necessity of government funding. Ryan Air built a huge hub out of Hahn, but other than Ryan Air....there isn't much to brag about. Some thought that FEDEX or some other cheap carrier would have moved in and taken advantage of the lesser tax rate of the airport. That hasn't happened.
So, this bring us to air travel in 2020 within Germany. I'm mostly of the opinion that ten small regional airports are going to be cut off completely from federal funding, and probably even see their state funding decrease. Hahn itself might survive on....maybe with some unusual deal with China or Russia. Whether the Berlin Airport is ever finished....may dictate whether several regional airports around Berlin survive on, or get pushed into just private owner situations.
There's only enough business for a certain number of airports to survive on....and that's it.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The Ten Things That An American Ought to Be Careful About in Germany
Remember, this is written by an American, for Americans (mostly).
First, if ever dealing with German cops....don't say anything stupid or act stupid. German cops are typically very professional and only stop you because you probably did do something of a violation. The minute you start acting goofy with them.....they can take you down, and cart you off to the police station. So when you drink out on the town in Germany....and the cops come to ask questions....be friendly. Don't go and do something really stupid.
Second, drinking. It's easy to guzzle down three or four German beers, and then realize that you just aren't in great condition to drive. So if you have to drive....you sip through one good beer, and then quietly call it a night. If you are drunk and the cops stop you....that license is gone for an entire year, and the money involved isn't anything to joke about.
Third, autobahns have various speed limits. Sometimes, you might think you are on a unlimited stretch....then suddenly come up on a 100kph sign. So you continually have to pay attention and adjust for speeds.
Fourth, construction zones on the autobahn. When they shift you over to a smaller lane....it is truly a smaller lane. It's typically just wide enough for a car to go on a straight and narrow path. There's a reason why you should only be traveling at 50kph in a construction zone. Don't take risks.
Fifth, follow the winter weather reports. If they say there's a hint of bad weather, and you were planning something on the road that day....don't do it. Germany is famous for having several inches of snow to fall in a short period of time, and you really don't want to be stuck between point A and point B, with no real spot to adjust your travel situation.
Sixth, don't board a train or subway car....without a ticket. The fine is usually hefty and not worth all the hassle involved. They will get their money in the end.
Seventh, getting lost is always an issue if you are traveling around in areas of Germany that you aren't familiar with. If there was a reason for having a GPS.....this is probably one of them. It even becomes a bigger deal when you've got a street address in Frankfurt, and start encountering one-way streets. So invest in a GPS.
Eighth, if you live in a house which is heated by oil.....you really ought to pay attention to the amount in the tank each month. I've worked with people who never paid attention to their heating oil, and woke up in January to find no heat....because of a lack of heating oil. To get on the schedule for a delivery? You could be talking about seven days. You really don't want to sit around for a week in winter....waiting on such a delivery.
Ninth, Germans tend to be curious people at what you paid for things. Don't overplay your hand and admit vast expenditures. It just ends up giving you a status that you probably would prefer not to have. When it comes to cars, vacations, and furniture.....everything relates to a status and the amount of money you paid.
Tenth and final.....American humor doesn't always work on Germans. So don't expect a laugh over some joke you heard from Leno or Letterman. It also works the other way....a German might tell a joke, and you have to pretend it's funny, but you really don't get it.
First, if ever dealing with German cops....don't say anything stupid or act stupid. German cops are typically very professional and only stop you because you probably did do something of a violation. The minute you start acting goofy with them.....they can take you down, and cart you off to the police station. So when you drink out on the town in Germany....and the cops come to ask questions....be friendly. Don't go and do something really stupid.
Second, drinking. It's easy to guzzle down three or four German beers, and then realize that you just aren't in great condition to drive. So if you have to drive....you sip through one good beer, and then quietly call it a night. If you are drunk and the cops stop you....that license is gone for an entire year, and the money involved isn't anything to joke about.
Third, autobahns have various speed limits. Sometimes, you might think you are on a unlimited stretch....then suddenly come up on a 100kph sign. So you continually have to pay attention and adjust for speeds.
Fourth, construction zones on the autobahn. When they shift you over to a smaller lane....it is truly a smaller lane. It's typically just wide enough for a car to go on a straight and narrow path. There's a reason why you should only be traveling at 50kph in a construction zone. Don't take risks.
Fifth, follow the winter weather reports. If they say there's a hint of bad weather, and you were planning something on the road that day....don't do it. Germany is famous for having several inches of snow to fall in a short period of time, and you really don't want to be stuck between point A and point B, with no real spot to adjust your travel situation.
Sixth, don't board a train or subway car....without a ticket. The fine is usually hefty and not worth all the hassle involved. They will get their money in the end.
Seventh, getting lost is always an issue if you are traveling around in areas of Germany that you aren't familiar with. If there was a reason for having a GPS.....this is probably one of them. It even becomes a bigger deal when you've got a street address in Frankfurt, and start encountering one-way streets. So invest in a GPS.
Eighth, if you live in a house which is heated by oil.....you really ought to pay attention to the amount in the tank each month. I've worked with people who never paid attention to their heating oil, and woke up in January to find no heat....because of a lack of heating oil. To get on the schedule for a delivery? You could be talking about seven days. You really don't want to sit around for a week in winter....waiting on such a delivery.
Ninth, Germans tend to be curious people at what you paid for things. Don't overplay your hand and admit vast expenditures. It just ends up giving you a status that you probably would prefer not to have. When it comes to cars, vacations, and furniture.....everything relates to a status and the amount of money you paid.
Tenth and final.....American humor doesn't always work on Germans. So don't expect a laugh over some joke you heard from Leno or Letterman. It also works the other way....a German might tell a joke, and you have to pretend it's funny, but you really don't get it.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
That One Germany Thing
On the list of forty topics to discuss with a German, this is probably closer to the bottom today, than near the top. There is acceptance to a united Germany, and a fair amount of heartburn over the tax business that is involved in bringing the lesser state into the better state.
German media avoids discussing the topic unless you come around to unification day, and then it's always a positive show over the undertaking.
The negatives? A 'westy' will talk of a 'easty' not appreciating the new Germany, or the amount of money that the better side of Germany put up for their inclusion. They will talk over the massive construction in the east, and how the west lost out on road construction. Education money was lost.....pension money was lost....even conservation money was lost....at least in the mind of the 'westy'.
If you bring out the topic with a eighteen year old German.....they mostly sit there in amazement and never can understand why things were split up....to start with. It's mostly because they slept though that history class in high school.
As an American.....traveling around....I can always note that minute when you know you've crossed the old border, and you just feel like something is slightly different. It isn't the same type road. You feel like the scenery is slightly different. After a while, you accept it and just proceed on. Maybe in a hundred years....it'll all blend right in and make perfect sense.
A generation or two will have to pass from this Earth....before everyone comes around to full acceptance. That's my belief. And that extra tax episode? Don't worry....it'll never end. That's German logic.
Cyprus at the Little Guy Level
Banks are open in Cyprus, with strict limits on how much you can drag out of your account. Currently? It's 300 Euro ($400 roughly). You could walk in each day and take the 300 out and mount up a bank in your house. Assuming things stay calm.....you could in the months to come....have all your cash out, and then close your account.
Not to say here, that the ultimate desire of the general public is going this way, but the lack of trust is in the turbo mode right now.
If this stays on track....I'd make a prediction by late fall that banking operations downsize and banks start to lay off their employees because there's just not enough accounts in local banks to keep operations going. What you do as an unemployed bank employee? That's a curious thing....there just won't be much of an alternate life situation to latch onto.
What the authorities started as a rule to control cash leaving the island was simple. You fly out.....you are limited to 1k Euro on your person (roughly $1,300). Passengers? They probably aren't checking each and every one.....but there's a fair number that are being taken into a private room and checked out. If you are carrying more cash? It gets confiscated....now becoming the government's money.
A waiver? It's an odd thing....the government actually developed a waiver and you simply apply with paperwork to show what the cash is for, and they stamp it. So as long as you ask permission....they seem to be working on an exit policy for Cypriot cash.
The odd piece to Cyprus and it's woes? The government is working on a plan that has various segments. One of the segments....since they know cash is being drained out of banks.....is to overturn the casino ban that has been in place for years. If the government starts a trend toward opening casino operations.....folks hoarding cash would be drawn to gamble with it. The tourist angle might also fit well into the casino operation deal.
What you end up on a daily basis...is a cash-friendly operation. Everyone feels more comfortable with cash. I would suspect that people eventually get to a point where they all carry around a couple thousand Euro on themselves daily, feeling it's normal. The new reality has arrived.
Not to say here, that the ultimate desire of the general public is going this way, but the lack of trust is in the turbo mode right now.
If this stays on track....I'd make a prediction by late fall that banking operations downsize and banks start to lay off their employees because there's just not enough accounts in local banks to keep operations going. What you do as an unemployed bank employee? That's a curious thing....there just won't be much of an alternate life situation to latch onto.
What the authorities started as a rule to control cash leaving the island was simple. You fly out.....you are limited to 1k Euro on your person (roughly $1,300). Passengers? They probably aren't checking each and every one.....but there's a fair number that are being taken into a private room and checked out. If you are carrying more cash? It gets confiscated....now becoming the government's money.
A waiver? It's an odd thing....the government actually developed a waiver and you simply apply with paperwork to show what the cash is for, and they stamp it. So as long as you ask permission....they seem to be working on an exit policy for Cypriot cash.
The odd piece to Cyprus and it's woes? The government is working on a plan that has various segments. One of the segments....since they know cash is being drained out of banks.....is to overturn the casino ban that has been in place for years. If the government starts a trend toward opening casino operations.....folks hoarding cash would be drawn to gamble with it. The tourist angle might also fit well into the casino operation deal.
What you end up on a daily basis...is a cash-friendly operation. Everyone feels more comfortable with cash. I would suspect that people eventually get to a point where they all carry around a couple thousand Euro on themselves daily, feeling it's normal. The new reality has arrived.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Germany and Pets
It's an odd story....Justin Bieber's pet monkey....flying into the Munich airport, and being seized. Basically, whatever paperwork that Bieber's team had done....wasn't complete or absolutely documented correctly. So the monkey is in some quarantine.
Getting out? It could take a week or two.
Over the year's that I lived in Germany....I've seen all kinds of pet issues pop up as folks tried to bring their dogs or cats into the country. My former boss spent a fair amount of time and effort trying to bring in his wife's birds.
Germans are strict about animals coming into the country. If every single document is not correct....then you don't get entry. They toss the animal into the local holding area where a vet ensures they get care and feeding, while you waste man-hours and probably several hundred Euro in getting the right forms done.
My general advice for anyone coming in for a short trip to Germany....leave your pets at home and avoid the hassle. If you are coming for a year or more.....accept the fact that it won't be simple or cheap to bring a pet into the country.
Getting out? It could take a week or two.
Over the year's that I lived in Germany....I've seen all kinds of pet issues pop up as folks tried to bring their dogs or cats into the country. My former boss spent a fair amount of time and effort trying to bring in his wife's birds.
Germans are strict about animals coming into the country. If every single document is not correct....then you don't get entry. They toss the animal into the local holding area where a vet ensures they get care and feeding, while you waste man-hours and probably several hundred Euro in getting the right forms done.
My general advice for anyone coming in for a short trip to Germany....leave your pets at home and avoid the hassle. If you are coming for a year or more.....accept the fact that it won't be simple or cheap to bring a pet into the country.
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