A Court Story

 Up in Minden (population 84k)....NW Germany....a school case came up in court.

This  local public school had a mandated 'trip' (at least a night or two gone)....they leave the destination...but I'm assuming it's probably a trip to Berlin.  It's paid by the gov't.

So this Islamic girl and the parents said 'no-thanks'.  The school came back and said you have no real choice.

The parents said....the trip is not possible....she'd have to be escorted by a male relative.  School said 'fine'....they would allow some relative of the girl to come as well.

Parents said 'no, this won't work'.

Court comes back this week....says it's mandated, period. Whether she goes or not....I'm guessing 'not'.  Could the school fail her on this class situation?  It's possible, but I'm guessing it's not enough to hold her back.

It's an interesting case.   

School is basically saying....you need to 'act' German and live in the modern society.

Parents?  I would imagine they are waiting to get her to some marrying age, and she'll never be employed in the German system.   

My Assessment Of Five Guys Burgers In Wiesbaden

 Over the past two years....I've probably been there five times.  Yeah, it is a better burger than BK or McDonalds.....but you end up paying 24 to 28 Euro for the menu selection (unlimited soda).

Their problem is that it doesn't matter if you walk by at noon or 6 PM....there's never more than 10 people sitting there.  It's a great spot....to seat 100 guests.

By the time they pay rent (good location) and labor costs.....I doubt if there's any profit.  

Better to have much smaller spot/less rent?  I'd probably go and find a side-street, and cut my rent in half.

Three months ago.....the Dunkin-Donuts shop on the shopping district closed.....I hate to suggest it...but this is headed the same direction.

Three Things I Noted This Week

 1.  Sometimes.....I watch HR or SWR or NDR (the regional public networks) for news.

So....I was watching SWR and they do a report over a murder.  There's this report of a guy who murdered a gal....then shot himself.

Pretty rare/unusual.  About 30 seconds of info....then finished.

I sat and thought....there must be more to the story.  So I  go to social media,  and the rest of the story....involves the guy being Turkish, and the dead gal being a  Ukrainian woman.

Ninety-nine percent of Germans leaving the story as public TV told it?  Yeah....probably.

2. Just seems to be a LOT of public TV (ARD/ZDF) attention over French far-right politician Marine Le Pen.  

Apparently, she will be running for President in 2027, and higher than normal odds for her to win.

I guess some fear....her 'win' would drum up more AfD attention.

The sad thing....normally...Germans focus almost no attention on France, and now....ARD will probably make this a weekly thing.

3.   Just odd....the feeling of creation of crisis-after-crisis-after crisis....over and over....like a normal thing now.

Irrational acceptance of crisis-chatter....being normal?

Five Thoughts Over World Cup Action (So Far)

 1.  Success (profit) story for FIFA. Ton of money made.

2.  Lot of grumbling over seat prices....folks paying 800 dollars for a nose-bleed seat.  Same grumbling for transportation to get to the stadiums. Same grumbling over hotel prices.  

3.  Ref action so far....50-50.  I think there's more grumbling over 'calls'....than in past World Cup action.  They need to bring in 'AI' and assess value.

4.  Just wild how Argentina-Egypt game ended.  Egypt had the right players to be in the final four.  From remaining teams.....Argentina or France likely to be the winner.

5. I'll go and predict.....all the 'bosses' of FIFA are voted 'out' over the next six months....mostly over the Trump-red-card BS. 

I Spent The Entire Afternoon In The Wiesbaden Shopping District

 Six observations:

1.  Goth attire....is coming back. I thought it died off in 2015....but it appears that it's raging back.

2.  It's amazing to see a fair number of 13/14  year old young German ladies with extensive tattoo work....obviously not done in German (you have to be of age usually).

3.  There's simply no public parking situations for four hours in the city....for less than 8 Euro ($10).

4.  The short-term beer-garden is a huge draw in the center of shopping district.

5.  I'd say demographics-wise....approximately 5-percent of the female population of the city are head-dress situations.

6.  A new grab-and-go restaurant opening....Chinese-connected.  We have a Chinese grocery already open....next to the train station.

Nord Stream BS

So....a footnote....there was insurance coverage for the Nord Stream pipes....the ones blown up.

Insured by Lloyd's of London....for roughly 580 million Euro.

Once the Germans figured out the culprits (suspects from Ukraine)....they avoided uttering the term "terrorist attack."   Yeah...they suggested "sabotage." 

One is insured....the other is not.

Lloyds looked at the mess and said....the contract does not cover losses or damage directly or indirectly caused by armed conflict.  

German court?  They still suggest sabotage.  Brit court?  No.....terror action.

My general bet....in the end....to settle this....Lloyds probably will offer 20-percent of the payment.

Five Observations

 1.  When you are watching a German chat-forum (5 individuals usually).....if Frau X or Herr Y is an expert on something.....and the conversation drifts out of the topic to something that has nothing to do with their expert-status....DON'T give them any attention.  They are typically out of their 'zone' and offer little in terms of expert value.

2.  Both ARD and ZDF (the public TV folks)....will do anything possible to avoid negative economic news to the general public.

3.  Hype building up for more Sunday openings....oddly, the church and trade unions are totally against it.  The odd counter-punch?  Staying closed on Sundays....gives leverage to Amazon.

4.  When some German says his political stance is center-right.....he's mostly saying he's center-center-center.  I'd almost suggest that 50-percent of CDU-voters are this way now.

5.  For five years....the EU has mandated that members pay the EU budget €0.80 per kilogram (€800 per ton) of non-recycled plastic packaging waste.  For Germany....this amounts to 1.4-billion Euro a year.

So....Germany has finally decided....rather than taking this out of the general budget....they are going to create a special new tax....passing this to the companies....who will pass it to the consumer. 

The 1.4-billion Euro that was general budget spending?  It'll continue....just to be used for some other gimmick.

Your individual cost?  Around 16.60 Euro a year....per person.

What does the EU do with the 1.4-billion?  Unknown. 

Did FSK Grant a Rating For 'Citizen Vigilante' (the film)?

 YES.

The FSK (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft) granted a rating to Citizen Vigilante on 6 July.

Rating?  "Keine Jugendfreigabe / ab 18" (no youth release / from 18) specifically for theatrical/cinema release in Germany. 

Will it be shown in German kinos/theaters? I doubt it.  It might show up in a local small operation for two or three nights....probably more so in the eastern half of the country.

FSK forced into a rating?  FSK is not under the gov't in anyway....totally separated.  I suspect they eventually figured out....via the internet....probably a million Germans have already watched it.