100 Days of War

 So five observations:

1.  Russia has more or less proven they aren't in the same league as the US, UK, etc.  

2.  The days of pure tank-versus-tank warfare?  There might be some limited situations, but I think 75-percent of the scenarios are weak in terms of tank use.

3.  Generals that come and go?  Some died in the war....some were fired.  

4.  A whole lot of Russians tend to believe that Putin is the second coming of Christ.

5.  If I'd tried to script this for an exercise for the Pentagon a year ago....no one would have believed it.  A war started over Nazis.....with 500-odd Russian tanks rusting away on the streets and roads of Ukraine. 

Odd Landscape Photo

 

Took this photo about four weeks ago from the rear of the house....sun setting.

Color comes from African 'sand' that came up with a storm front.  

Orange dust left on cars.  

Discount Deal

In my mail today, the Bahn (railway folks) offered me a pretty good deal.  If I wanted the 25-percent off for a year for each 2nd class ticket.....22 Euro off the card (normally set at 56.90 Euro for a year).

For the 50-percent off card?  The one-year price would normally be 234 Euro but they were offering 94 Euro off that price. (note 2nd class travel)

Bahn having a shortage on travelers?  Well....yeah.  Covid really set people to being guarded on travel.  For 2019, I actually had the 50-percent off card and probably saved around 250 Euro for the whole year of travel.

Railway Accident

Top news of the afternoon....major rail accident in mid-afternoon near Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria).

Near the town of Burgrain.

Cause?  Still unknown.

Presently, a couple of cars on the side.....three dead minimum.   Around 30 wounded. 

Shooting Episode in Saarbrucken Today

 Ongoing event.  What the cops say.....they were directed by some judge's order....to conduct a home-search.  They showed up.....the occupant (male, 67 years old) reacted in a harsh way.  

Shooting started up at that point.

One officer hit (appears he's wounded), and a second policeman wounded by flying glass.

More officers on the scene presently.

What the search was about?  Unknown.

Update: Older guy is dead (killed himself).  This raid was about a perceived mental imbalance and judge wanted audit of weapons.  Just looking at this....probably should have done the raid already two years ago.  

Oktoberfest Prices?

 In case you were interested....yes, Oktoberfest is scheduled to occur this year.  

Prices for the beer stein?  Well....minimum price of 12.60 Euro....up to 13.80 Euro.  

Yeah, it's up from 2019 (the last time it was held)....about 15 percent.  

(Remember a stein is 1-liter of beer)

Two steins is probably enough for most guys (gals should stop at one).  If you go past that recommendation....the kind medics will bring you to 'throw-up' hill and lay you there to get over your situation.  

Q-and-A

 1.  Covid chatter going on?

Well....just about everyone is expecting a wave (or two) to occur in the fall.  So, the experts (not the political folks) are starting to prepare for the state-federal roundtable business (probably in August) to list the actions to take.

Masks to come back in full-scale?  No doubt, but it's hard to see the bars/restaurants shut down again.  

2.  Croatia adapting to the Euro?

Officially, on 1 Jan 2023, the Kuna will evolve into the Euro.

3.  Frankfurt likely to get a new mayor?

Pretty much a sure-bet at this point.  Feldmann's party (the SPD) is fired up to write the script that he goes away.  There's not a single day on social media or via news media that the negativity on the guy comes up. But Feldman seems pretty confident in himself.....that this negativity will just all go away one day.

4.  Hot water being turned off in a school district?

To save on energy bills....the Lahn-Dill school district (locally around the Giessen area) has said it's ordering zero hot water.  Probably going to be some upset folks in the winter time, but I kinda agree.  Wouldn't surprise me if all state/public buildings go this way over the next year.

5.  Germans watching the Johnny Depp court episode?

Well....marginally.  If you stayed with public TV (ZDF/ARD)....you just knew some case was going on between Johnny and the ex-wife.  If you watched the commercial networks (RTL, Pro7, etc).....then you got a 3-minute update per day.  

German News

 1.  Gas tax relief went into effect this morning, so locally, the prices range from 1.79 Euro per liter to 1.89 Euro (E-10).  

2.  Lot of hyped-up worry about Monkeypox starting up in Germany in next couple of days.  Rock Am Ring starts on the 3rd, runs through Sunday.  Lot of speculation that sexual activity at the concert (usually a good bit going on) will send the numbers up.