Don't Go And Burden Society Thought

 There is ONLY one culture/society....that I respect with no questions asked.....the Japanese.

In their language....they have this expression: "Meiwaku wo kakenai."  It basically means....don't go and burden others.

As a guest of Germany (I consider this my status)....I often think of myself....not putting a burden on Germans, the culture, the society, the locals, the police or the gov't.

In fact, I put so much into this don't-burden-others....that it bothers me when I see others (non-Germans/visa-holders) who go out of their way to burden society.

I even press this thought (avoid burdening) when viewing German politicians/journalists....they ought to 'owe' something themselves to society....avoiding burden.

The key issue?  There's probably several million folks now in Germany....with some crazy agenda....to cause burden upon society.  

Fixing this?  We might need to bring in several hundred-thousand Japanese....to bring change.

A Clinic Story

 About five weeks ago....I had Shingles (bad)....on the forehead....spending 6 days in a local Wiesbaden clinic. The way Tricare (my mil-health-insurance) works.....I pay a portion up front, then present itemized bill....getting paid back (roughly 4 weeks later).

Well....I had to talk to the clinic guy today....who manages the bill business.  I won't mention the name of the clinic.

I was expecting a itemized bill this week.....to present to Tricare. 

I visit 'Karl', and he says....it won't be for a while.  There's this story.

Karl works in a 2-man office....the 2nd guy (junior employee)....left....about a month before I entered the hospital.  In the way that Karl told the story....this guy (I'll give him the name 'Woody').....had been slow in getting bills out...maybe going back to the fall of 2025.....real-slow.

Woody had lost interest in the work, and frankly....seemed not to care.  Gen-X guy (I didn't say it to Karl, but it probably explains the lack of attention.  

So....Karl keeps the patients coming in and making money for the hospital...but without Woody (or his replacement)......the hospital is not receiving the money.

I asked Karl...about the replacement.

Well...he/she has been hired, but won't arrive till mid-July. Then there's training. Then there's stuff to clear up from 2025.....then I'll eventually get my bill for Tricare.

Why this all matters?    The bill is roughly 7,500 Euro....of which I had to pay 50-percent (with my Visa-card). Luckily, because of 'Donald'....it's been a great investment year (don't say this to my wife).  So I can pay the 50-percent myself, and quietly wait to be repaid.

I asked Karl....so when will my bill come? Well....he finally says....probably late August....meaning I pay the remainder  around the end of September,  and Tricare will reimburse me by late October.

I told this story to my brother.....who related he often gets lab bills...10 to 12 months after the 'event'.  I shake my head.....the system is crapped up.

How many bills is the Clinic sitting on....via the private patients?  I would imagine at least 300 of us.  Way over a million Euro....maybe two to three million.

This  Woody-position a candidate for AI?  I think so.

Russia, Fuel, and Reality

 This AM....I watched a fresh new Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow area....hitting a fuel depot/refinery. From looks/damage.....normally, they could probably be up and operational within 2-to-4 weeks....however, where you procure the 'parts' is unknown (if you can't buy it from France or Germany).

So the German news went to a commercial service in Russia....asking about fuel issues.

Presently....in the greater-Moscow area....there are 25 regions which are  either fuel-less, or marginally getting fuel.  Even if your station gets fuel....there are usually limits of 20-liters presently for sales.

Some folks have started to talk of agricultural requirements (for diesel), and that fall harvest are just three months away.  The only way they'd reach production for diesel....is to lessen production of gas.

Naturally....some comments are directed at a fall harvest problem, and grocery problems for Moscow's population.

If you asked me.....is Putin smart enough to grasp all of this?  I have my doubts.

National food shortage by December?  I'll just say that shopping will  be an adventure, and a massive collapse would require EU assitance.....to a degree that we've never seen before.

How Should You Interpret The Merz-Era With Blackrock?

 I know it's a shock, but Merz only worked for Blackrock for four years.  It may seem like a decade....but it's not.

It's a resume-filler.

So....does the four-year period mean anything about managing a business or money?  He basically sat around with other money-minded folks....talking money....developing a Blackrock strategy.  That's it....nothing much else.

The funny thing?  His whole sales-pitch is that he was the guy that Germany needed to reverse job-losses....control taxes (deflate would be used here)....and give financial hope to the German masses.  To be honest.....no one else had this type of resume-filler within the party....so he had zero competition.

Eighteen months into the job....you get the impression that the Blackrock years didn't really amount to much, and the question is....even if Merz leaves 'early'....is there anyone within the CDU-CSU...with a background or ability to fill the shoes?

My landscape view?  The CDU-CSU-SPD coalition basically needs things to last 'as-is'....to January 2029 (the next schedule fed-election).  Even if another 100,000 jobs dissolve in 2027....the public has to just accept the trend (suck it up).  The next guy (assuming it's not Merz)?  Well....Blackrock experience won't amount to much....the public learned that lesson. Maybe they can find a retired soccer-coach, TV-reality star, or awesome environmentalist for the job of Chancellor.

How This Elon-ZDF Court Path Will Go (My Humble View)

 Elon basically hired a German 'cage-fight' lawyer....who probably won't back-down or be delayed.

The lawyer gave an interview yesterday.....saying he's going back over 3 years to view all statements made by ZDF journalists.  By the commentary, he's looking both at the news stuff, and public forums.  How much is laying there to be analyzed?  Unknown....but I would assume probably over 50 statements that might be 'dragged' into court.

ZDF at this point?  Their lawyers are now probably demanding a total review of all statements they made for three years....which could probably require at least ten folks and three months (my guess).  

Toward fall....the lawyers are going to have a intense chat with the ZDF chief-executive and board....asking if they have any willing nature to settle with 'some' cash (like a million Euro).  'No' is the likely response, and then the question is....if Elon wins, and the court says to pay up 10-million Euro.....do you have the cash ready to distribute?  Things will head 'south' after that.....with a long talk about cutting the budget for 2027/2028....borrowing money to settle.

Meanwhile....there's going to be some kind of weird arrangement where the lawyers sit each evening in the news room, and control content/commentary....to the point that journalists get pretty hostile about being controlled.

The end-game here....worst case possible?  I  would suggest that the damning collection of anti-Elon comments might drag the pain up to 20-odd million Euro and force a massive cut in ZDF services (not just for a year).  I'm not saying it's the end of ZDF....merely a forced evolution where the news might be cut by 50-percent and a fair number of journalists exiting the organization.

The anti-public TV Germans reacting?  They've waited years for ZDF to screw with the wrong person, and it appears that Elon Musk is their 'hero'.  The sad thing is that the money that Elon 'takes'.....is public-money, and it's not easily replaced.

How The Seats 'Game Will Unfold In German Elections

 It doesn't matter if you go and talk state-elections, or the federal-election....it's about gaining seats.

So if you were a conservative-voter  (likely to vote for the CDU), and the talk goes to Afd winning but being unable to form a gov't....then conversation switches to the CDU  Party (in 2nd place) having to partner-up with not just the Greens or SPD....but possibly the BSW folks, or the Linke Party. 

You sit there pondering this, and realize that fair  amount of the coalition  agreement....will be some agenda you can't agree with.

In this reality.....in the week or two leading up to the election....you as the conservative-voter....now contemplate the impossible.  You might vote AfD....just to ensure a somewhat conservative agenda.  

In this game.....the AfD folks who got normally 40-percent of the vote....now edge closer to 50-plus percent on seat.  The CDU? It drops from 20-percent....to 10-percent.

Nationally?  You could play the same game.....where the public is so disenchanted with a left-agenda.....AfD is the only path that makes sense.

I'm not saying this is positive, or anything....just that it's a coalition game. 

Explaining Buc-ee's To A German

 I do have a small audience via my blog to Germans (probably in the 50-to-100 range).  So  my wife asked (after my recent trip to the US) to explain Buc-ee's.  This is the shorter version....designed for non-Americans.

This commercial group.....designed a gas-station....where you'd  have them 3-to-4 hours apart...with 100-plus pumps, and a 'front' that is probably the size of a soccer field.

Yeah, there is a car-wash....traveling great distances, I admit....you don't really prioritize a clean car, but it is priced reasonably.

Inside?  Well....the freshest and most spacious toilets that mankind can build.  

Food?  There's a crew preparing brisket around the clock.  There's a 2nd crew preparing 'sweets' (chocolate).  There's probably 300-odd types of chips or items to pick from.

Yeah, I admit....NO sit-down area  or table....they want you to buy it....return to the car, and eat there.

If you were going somewhere a gift might be appreciated....they have probably in the range of 2,000 gifts.

I would imagine the typical couple....after they fuel, and wash the car....spend  about an hour with the toilet, and procuring food/drink.  Then they return to the interstate.  

Could something like this survive in Germany?   There are three to five states (Bavaria, Hessen, B-W, Thuringia, and NRW) where you could probably space 15 operations along the autobahn. The question is....would brisket be a magnet for Germans? (I'm not so sure)

A trucker-Buc-ee's a more attractive deal?  If you offered trucker-parking, showers, and a sit-down area....yeah.

Buc-ee's dissolving gas-stopping in adjacent towns?  Yeah, I'd say that most towns near a Buc-ee's have lost 40-percent of their business. 

Late Night TV BS

 There were two  interesting 'talks' last night...via the 'Markus Lanz' talk-forum show.

First....the FOCUS online correspondent Sascha Adamek....gave a assessment that the Muslim Brotherhood in Germany....has infiltrated 'some' German political parties (plural).

He didn't suggest which ones....obviously, it's not AfD.

At the national level?  I doubt it....more than likely...in several metro-cities, and maybe a state or two...they've talked their way into positions/committees.

The problem here....if you said which parties....people who tend to vote that way....might question things.

Second, there were several folks connected to Islam on the 'Marus Lanz' show.  At some point.....the pro-Islam gal...gave a position against the ban on young girls in the German school system wearing headscarf's.  Minutes pass, and the topic of Islamic kids doing the Ramadan stuff (no food/water during daylight hours)....which she seemed not to have a problem.

For years, it was pretty clear....Islamic teenagers/kids were 'free' from the mandate.  I'd say since 2015....lot of peer pressure going on.

Trying to make it fifteen hours straight...in summer heat....without hydrating...is a clear safety concern. It's bad enough that adults attempt it....but you end up with 12-or-13 year old kids attempting it?

 Clearly, the problem is.....you get into a German class where seven of the twenty-odd kids are on the no-hydrate agenda....putting peer pressure on the non-Islamic  German kids not to sip water in class, and parents start to complain about wrongful peer-pressure.