1. I haven't read much on it....but former Chancellor Merkel's book has been out for a couple of weeks....700-odd pages.
This AM....commentary by Focus on one part of the book, where she goes briefly in detail over the asylum/migration period (2013-2020).
The blame or the era? She shifts it mostly to Germans who wouldn't be supporting the pro-asylum position....not upon herself or the gov't.
I'll just say in the 2013 to December 2015....it was a highly supportive public....probably in the range of 70-percent supporting her policy....5-to-8 percent highly critical/negative, and the remainder asking questions which could not be answered. After 1 January 2016...it went to 10-to-15 percent highly negative, and near 50-percent asking extremely difficult questions (especially over the criminal aspects, and the cost).
I'll also say....most all world leader tend to live in a 'bubble'....so what they think....might not reflect upon reality.
2. Black Friday shopping levels? I was in Wiesbaden for all afternoon on Friday....just a lot of shoppers, with various deals. We are in a recession, with some store-fronts empty/closed. But people are spending money.
3. Watching N-TV news this AM....brief talk came over health insurance rates in Germany. The various companies now admit that cost has gone up and some type of rise in your contributions has to occur in 2025. What the 'gap' is (missing funds) by the end of 2025? 14-billion Euro. Yeah, huge chunk.
4. This is the weekend where a critical service of Telecom ends....the use of the number '11833'. This was the number you'd call....get an operator....to ask for the number of some business or person. For a hundred years, it's been around. Ended.
5. Up in the state of NRW yesterday.....truck-driver went 'crazy' and took to some very dangerous maneuvers....at least 20 Germans injured on the autobahn before police could halt the truck.
6. The wife and I ended up last night at two spots.
The first was a Norwegian-like tee-pee tent with a fire in the middle of it....smoking up salmon. I actually rate the experience as 5-star. However, it was smokey-as-hell inside of the tent, and total cost (drinks and food, with tip) was 100 Euro for 2 people.
The second was Wiesbaden's only authentic sports bar. The nation-wide shortage of pub-personnel? Well....we ended seeing this in a major way....number of tables open. Once seated....it took around 35 minutes before the waiter came around, and another 40 minutes before the drinks got to the table.
Most all bars, cafes, and restaurants in Wiesbaden complain about the problems in finding 'help'. I'd reflect upon it....having the shortage....is denying you a chance to make profits.
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