Is The German Mini-Job System In Trouble?

 Well....the mini-job status was simple.

You as a shop/store....hire a guy/gal to work minimum hours over the month....making a max of 603 Euro for the month (no taxes/pension).  It was mostly designed for women with kids.....to have a part-time situation

What came up in recent  years.....there's no pension.

So these older folks....upon reaching 67....had nothing.  They'd turn to the welfare office....who had to pay them some type of 'pay-deal'.  Eventually, the CDU-CSU woke up....realizing the system can't continue this way.

What happens?

Some believe that part-time jobs will dissolve drastically.

Shooting

 German police are in the early stages of a homicide investigation.

Six adults dead (one died at the hospital).  Shooter captured by the police (alive).

Occurred mid-afternoon....at or near a mother-child welfare facility (Mutter-Kind-Einrichtung) in the Dankersstraße area of Stade, Lower Saxony.  This is about 30 min driving west of Hamburg.

Victims at scene: four women and one man (all adults).

Ethnic info/names?  No....nothing released yet.

Note: Shooter arrested getting out of his car (Mercedes AMG 43 model).  Appears to be five-plus years old....something in the 20k  Euro range (if in good condition). 'Status-car'.  

Pool Assaults

 Police operations over the weekend at Frankfurt, Griesheim, Kriftel....at regional public outdoor swimming pools.

Plain assault, and alleged sexual assault.

Based off what the news says.....pools have been shutdown until facts are established.

Magnet for trouble?  Up until the past 20 years....you just didn't hear of brawls or sexual assaults at German public pool.  Now?  Some of them have gone and hired 'security' and bouncer-folks.

Burnham

 Andy Burnham gave his UK-I'm-going-to-be-your-PM speech this AM.

What I got out of it?  Well....he says to fix all of the UK problems...he'll need 10 years.

I had to quit at some point where that was said.....being unable to take anything serious.

I am reminded of a used car I owned....continually broke....the mechanic finally said something to the effect....'look, I can fix this once and for all but it'll cost you ten times the value of the car'.   The catch was....I  simply dump it and buy a brand new vehicle.

The UK needs a 'Jesus'....somebody very likeable like a Merkel but without a lot of BS or promises.

This UK-Jesus....does he/she even exist?  I doubt it.

Is anyone buying the 10-year plan guy? 

EU Regulating

 Starting 19 July (2026).....the EU is banning all big clothing manufacturers from throwing away unsold clothing and shoes.

Path left if unsold?  It must be reused, recycled, resold at a lower price, or donated to reduce waste.

For the most part....I think they are aiming at low-end/cheap crap.

So if this were a 3-pack of cheap T-shirts....selling for 12 Euro....laying there for a year....you can't just throw it away.  This reminds me of a 2019 purchase I made via Amazon....where the T-shirts arrived, and I realized they were crappy stock....basically lasting through the summer....then thrown out.

What'll happen?  I would imagine that they create a XXL box of clothing items....mixed-up....sold for 15 Euro (telling you the original value was 250 Euro).  You order....finding that 90-percent was crap, and throw it away yourself.

28 June 2026: Germany: 7 Stories

 1.  This AM....first rainfall in 4 weeks for my 'valley'.  Temp dropped 10 degrees C....sitting at 20 C (68 F).  

2.  Number of Germans noting public TV (ZDF/ARD) 'slant'....on evil air-conditioning.  Basic idea....if you buy/install a unit....you are speeding up  climate change.

I will say....if 50-percent of the public over the next year buy a unit....the grid will probably have some problems in supporting the 'load' on particularly hot days.

3. Odd police event in Kehl (Baden-Wuerttemberg). Around 50-to-60 French men....arrived, and tried to  enter the local German public pool....without paying.

4.  ZDF's tv show....'Fernsehgarten' (Sunday musical show)....has a studio situation....open-air....with people paying to enter.   So folks have noticed since the summer  season started up....ZDF refuses to sell alcohol (only water/sodas allowed for sale).  Network suggests consumption problem.

5.  Putin had a crisis summit/emergency meeting....relates to fuel shortages in Russia.  The suggestion is....he will open emergency reserves.

Just a suggestion....I doubt that the folks in charge of the reserves....have much to 'share', and if there is some reserve.....it's probably enough for 30 days at best. 

Amazing....those 'evil-Nazis' of the Ukraine bringing Russia to its knees.  Yet, the emergency operation continues on.

6.   SPD having talks...wants to raise booze-tax....20-percent higher.

7.  ARD (public TV, Channel 1)....ran a Brennpunkt (emergency status show) over the weekend.  Chatter?   Heat-wave.

Mobility researcher Andreas Knie was invited.  He says....there must be an immediate halt to new construction, massive changes to economic life, and radial planning approach.

Yeah....if you watched it and got hyped-up....it probably scared the crap out of you.

'Freddy' Comparison

 I follow the travels of 'Freddy' (German visiting the US for the World Cup).  He takes a photo about every couple  of hours....writes a comment or two, and a million-odd people follow him.

So it occurred to me....he's simply a German version of Alexis de Tocqueville....the French guy who came over in 1831....observed a lot of the US....wrote two volumes of a highly popular book about the nation.

If you haven't read 'Democracy in America'.....well worth reading....in how things work/evolve in America.  Freddy is simply doing a 2026-version.

Q-and-A: Heat/Germany

 1. Are there any German rules/laws preventing AC?

No....don't be silly.  

In my village of 4,400 people and  roughly 2,250 residences....I'd estimate that 300 residences have heat-pumps/installed AC units (my dentist has AC in each room). I'd also guess that 1,300 residences have a roll-around unit (like I have).

2. The worst scenario?

You live in a roof-top apartment, and after the 5th day of 34-plus C....the place never cools off at night.

3. Are there any clothing required rules for bus/rail travel?

The past week....I noted a couple of guys on the train.....sport shorts/no-shirt. Gals?  Tube-tops and sport shorts.  There might be rules, but they aren't going to enforce them.

4.  Weather for  July?

Well....today peaks at 35 C (95 F)....chills off by 8 degrees C for 10 days.....then the 34-to-40 C temp returns....probably for two weeks.  August is anyone's guess....might be a 3rd wave of 40 C.

5. How many public buildings have AC?

In Wiesbaden? Probably 5-to-10 percent.....mostly because of cost-factors. Schools?  Zero.

6.  Public buses having AC?

The label on the door says 'AC'....but lets be honest.....it probably works up to  32/33 C (93 F).  Temp up to 40 C......don't go riding after 1 PM.

7.  Why do more French people die from heat....than Germans?

Various theories on this.  

Some belief that any French gal/guy dying  (of  anything)....if they die on a day of 35 C (95 F).....the doctor automatically labels them  dead from heat....even if they fell down a stairway.

Some Germans believe that French nature to consume wine all day.....also plays a role.

Lot of BS, if you ask me.

8.  Heat wave causing Germans to eat out 'late'?

Germans (majority) prefer to eat between  5 PM and 7 PM.  Past month....this has slipped to a 8 PM  to 10 PM deal.

9.  Can you find a AC unit to buy?  

I walked into a hardware store (OBI) yesterday....for some repair items.   AC unit on display.....sign indicates next shipment in mid-July.  Fan selection?  Near zero.

10. If 38 C (100 F) were the norm for summer....say 30 days in June/July/August?

I would imagine mandatory-siesta-mandate (gov't talk going on) would occur.  I also think 80-percent of homes would acquire AC units.  I also believe the grid  would be UNABLE to support the draw of power.