Q-and-A

 1.  This electrical and natural gas brake that the German government has invented....isn't it relieving you of the extra cost, but handing you the cost back via taxes?

Yeah, but lets not discuss that part.  Germans presently think someone else is paying for it, when it's really themselves.

2.  Crappy TV ratings for the World Cup via ZDF (Channel Two)?

From the very first game televised.....to last night....the ratings are dismal.  WELT had an entire article this morning talking about the lack of interest.  You could run Rambo I or some funny video show with dogs.....wouldn't matter....World Cup action would still be low.

3.  German police union calling for real jail time for climate activists?

Yeah, and while it lingers a while with judges/prosecutors trying to just skip out on this....the public is leaning toward what the police union says....it's official crime and not a protest action.  Remember, on private property, with the owners permission, protest can happen.  On public property, you can only protest with the permission of the police, and according to some plan that you sign.  

4.  WELT article today suggesting major reform of public TV has to occur?

Well....lot of hyped-up feelings (negative) about ARD/ZDF.  But this whole discussion of reform has been going on since the 1980s when commercial TV arrived in Germany. 

ARD doesn't want to handle the topic because there would be a major shift in manpower, and one of the two news bureaus...would probably go away completely.

5.  Another reservist call-up in Russia?

There's this rumor on N-TV news this morning in Germany.....suggesting that another activation will occur in January.  Numbers?  No one says much.

Here's the thing...you removed 300,000 men from the commercial world of Russia already....plus the dead folks from the previous episode.  It would not surprise me if we were talking about another 150,000.

6.  New tax being discussed?

Finance Ministry is talking about a excess profit tax for just energy companies.  If you make 100 Euro 'EXTRA' profit....you'd have to cough up 33-percent.  Legal?  It'd be challenged because you aimed it only at energy companies.  

Wouldn't they assemble added costs under a operational cost.....as fake costs?  Yeah, and that's really a big gamble for the government to go messing with them and have this fakeness created out of thin air.

On happening?  I'd give it a 75-percent chance of happening.