1. The German Bundestag voted last night and agreed to drop for 3 months (June, July and August) the gas tax (will drop if you figure VAT into it as well.....35.20 Euro cents). Diesel will be less so.....only going down (with VAT figured) by 16.7 Euro cents.
How bad is the fuel price currently? Yesterday, I drove by the station, and it was 2.10 for E-10 fuel.....per liter.
What'll happen after 1 September? I suspect people will be shocked at the retreat effect. My advice.....enjoy it while you can.
2. The 9-Euro Bahn ticket? That was passed, but it has to pass the Landtag situation and the gov't only put 2.5-billion Euro into the pot to cover 'losses'. The Bahn and states have said it's not enough (careful not to say what it should be....I'm guessing they want a minimum of another billion Euro).
On making use of the ticket? You can't use it for inter-city/ICE fast travel....it's designed for local or regional travel. I would strongly recommend against trying to use it for weekend travel, because of the massive crowds expected.
3. Weather shift? Several storm fronts passed through Germany yesterday, and the prediction for today....with heat mixed in.....a perfect situation for tornados to form.
4. Monkeypox reported in five European countries. Pretty good odds it'll be reported in Germany by early next week.
5. I noticed Mercedes making a statement that the end is coming for the A and B class series of vehicles. They were typically cars made for the working-class folks. Where they go next? More luxury-class vehicles.
6. Some hint of weapons delay for Ukraine by Chancellor Scholz? Some political chatter is going on....that Scholz is dragging his feet and wants delays built into the system. This is triggering some ill-will with his partner party....the FDP. It's also drawing negative CDU attention.
7. What the German Constitutional Court said about the mandated Covid vaccination requirements for those in the health field? Basically, they said that the Bundestag is within their 'power'. They aren't saying the shots make sense. Based on the Constitution....they can be mandated. How many folks in the medical field still are not vax'ed up? There is no number to trust, but I would estimate it to be near 10-percent. How they make up for the manpower losses if those are let go? It's best not to ask that question.
For those wondering if the Monkeypox shot is next? I would imagine by January of 2023....it'll be hyped-up and folks getting lined up for it.
8. Interesting new German comedy coming to the kinos/theaters....entitled: 'Stasikomodie'. Might be worth seeing....comedy over old DDR (East Germany) and how the Stasi was corrupted to a great degree. You can see the trailer here.
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