'Streamers'?

 Last night, via ZDF (public German TV, Channel 2)....ran Frontal (news documentary show).  So the highlight...for roughly 10 minutes....was a piece about 'streamers'....the 'most-evil' folks on Earth (my wife was convinced of this by the end of the 'talk').

So....I needed a true explanation of 'streamers'.  This AM...I asked Grok (AI).  In Germany today, a Streamer (feminine: Streamerin) usually means a person who does a broadcast (live video) over the internet.  Typical platform used?  X/Twitter, YouTube, Kick, TikTok, etc. 

In most cases....they play some 'game', chat with somebody, cook, perform make-up attention, etc.

Paid?  Oh yeah....nobody does it for free.

So this Frontal episode was solely about AfD (the party) using 'influencers' or 'streamers'.  

At the conclusion....I wondered....the journalists only alerted on AfD....were the other parties using 'streamers' as well?

OH YEAH....AI then went to detail the environmentalists, the Greens, the BSW folks, and Linke Party.  SPD and CDU marginally 'helped'?  Yeah, that was the amusing part of the story...the two parties in desperate need of 'help'/votes....weren't using 'streamers'.  

Why leave these 'streamers' out of the story?  Unknown.

Fuel Chaos Brewing?

 Locally, for me, E-10 gas is sitting at 2.33 Euro per liter this AM.  Saudi hype....some shipments are not going to occur over the next month.....is worrying folks, and suggesting prices might get to 2.50....maybe even 2.70.

So....the Merz coalition is discussing eight ideas. Listed?  (I read these off a Focus business article....which I consider reliable):

VAT reduction : Lowers the gross price, but triggers high tax losses.

Reduction of energy tax: Relief is provided by a fixed amount per liter.  EU problem...there are minimum tax rates mandated.

Fuel discounts: They can take effect quickly, cost the state billions, and primarily benefit frequent drivers.  Four months ago....this was a temp-fix.

Fuel price cap: Limits the price immediately, but can cause market distortions and additional government costs.

Excess profit tax: Merz has already rejected this option. It could have skimmed off extraordinary profits from oil companies, but would not have directly lowered fuel prices.

Lowering the CO2 price would make fuels cheaper, but would weaken the incentive to protect the climate.

Direct aid: This could provide targeted relief to particularly affected households, but would need to be organized and financed.

Mobility allowance: Could support low-income commuters with their travel costs, but does not lower the price of fuel at the pump.

My guess?  In approximately ten days....a fix will be created....with two of these suggested ideas (of the eight)....going halfway on each.  Time limit?  Probably fixed to end in early-to-mid January 2027.

This being easily fixed if the war in Ukraine ended, and gas-trading were to settle back with the Russians?  Well....that comes up as a discussion topic daily.

How fast will the fuel escalation occur? I'm one to believe that E-10 could already be near 2.60 by the end of next week.  

CDU-SPD-CSU....Power Parties of the 1960s

 Up through the 1970s....the combined vote of the CDU-CSU and SPD Parties....usually ran around 85-percent. 

Today, I looked at the most recent poll...if you combine the three....it ranks to 31-percent.  Only three out of ten German voters would vote for one of the three.

Five Observations

 1.  More Malaria?

Well....two more cases near the Frankfurt Airport (near Schwanheim....about 5 km north of the Airport...closer to the river).

What the authorities are suggesting....if you have a fever of any type....go to the doctor and ask for a test.

2.  The Chancellor is discussing gas-price-relief.

Price for E-10 per liter?  Near 2.35 Euro.  There's some discussion that in the past day or two....Saudi Arabia has given notice....some deliveries will not be on time.  The hype?  You might see prices escalate up to 2.50 (this is public opinion not gov't opinion).  

3.  Court case in Bavaria going on....Police-woman raping a 14-year old girl.

I had to get 5 lines into the story...where they finally say....transwoman.

To convict the lady....they need the 14-year-old girl to make a court appearance....which is a 50-50 odds situation.

4.  'Super-cell' activity noted for Wed in the northern one-third of Germany.  Will be pretty harsh weather.

5.  Sabotage reports across the Netherlands this AM....30-odd locations (railway points).

EU Social Media Chatter

 The EU stood up today and says in some way....it wants to introduce a law on social media usage. Accounts should only be available from 15 years old.  

Age verification?  Mandatory for everyone. The costs of the regulation are to be borne by the operators.

I pondered upon this....they (the EU)....can't really say how age 15 was selected.

Then this cost issue....no, the cost will be handed down in various ways to the media companies themselves....you can call it a fee, or tax, or whatever....but the individuals will pay in the end.

The simplest 'fix'?  Treat it the same way as Lotto 'entry'.  Print out a card....write your ID card number and name....walk to the village post office, and have them verify you in the system....stamp it, and you get into the 'system'.  The post office would charge a Euro or two for the service.

Satisfying the EU?  I doubt it.

EU regulating this in some fashion, and having a cost of 15 to 20 Euro?  That's my bet.

Fresh Poll For Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Election

 Likely to be last one before Sunday's election, from Forschungsgruppe Wahlen:

AfD likely to 'win' with 37 percent, and SPD in second place with 34 percent.

Greens at marginal 5 percent, CDU at 7 percent, and Linke at 10 percent.

If AfD can't form a coalition?  SPD gets the nod, and likely forms with Linke, Greens. 

15 Sep 2026: Germany: 7 Stories

 1.  Munich murder trial opening up.  Yemen guy came to Germany....brought kids (they weren't his apparently)....brought the legit wife.  Wife wanted to report the fraud.  Husband beheads the wife to prevent her from reporting.   Based on charges....if convicted of all of them....he'd remain in a German prison for remainder of his life.

2.  Some task force being created in the city of Berlin....to examine hefty rent prices.  They'd have some power to bring landlords into court....prosecute.  

3.  New YouGov national poll: AfD at 29-percent, CDU-CSU at 18-percent (down 2).

Greens up (1) to 16-percent.  SPD at 13-percent (up 1).

Linke at 10-percent (down 2). FDP at 5-percent and BSW at 4-percent (up 1).

4.  Offenbach city: 60-year old guy shot dead in front of grocery.  Witnesses noted some guy.....shots (plural) reportd....shooter escaped.

5.  WELT: Some rumor started up.....this weekend is another state election (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).  Chancellor Merz will be among key top leadership of CDU-CSU.  As the story goes....if there are terrible numbers for the CDU in this state election....he'll ask for a vote of confidence to continue.  If you read polling for the state....best numbers are 6-to-7 percent.  Some folks believe it's possible that it'll be less than 5-percent (meaning no seats in the state assembly).  

6.  New E-Polo from VW.....under 25k Euro.....hot item.....already 30,000 orders in the system for it.  

7.  Furth: some local pool 'mystery'......pool authorities report up to around 100 pairs of flip-flops being stolen during the season.  

Sweden: Curious Deal

Sweden currently....has a government deal....if you are guest-migrant with a pre-2024 residency permit.....they will pay up to 600,000 SEK (roughly $60k)....per household....to voluntarily leave the country.  

Basically, they hope you will take the money, and leave....without a lot of drama.

So when they say household....they are suggesting the husband and wife...with the kids.

How many have taken the deal?  171 folks.

In the past month....the right-wing politicians got into the middle of this.  They want the deal expanded....to include regular Swedes.  The plan  would read.....you have decided Sweden is not the place for you....you've reviewed options, and chosen to leave.  You were born here.....you went to school here, and no longer feel the citizenship is worth keeping.

The  gov't folks are mostly shaking their heads....this exit deal was only intended for migrants.