In general, at least for Americans (remember, we aren't intellectual or high-society)....we do know that when the 'fat lady stands and delivers her encore'....the show is over.
Well...today, 'Mutti' (Chancellor Merkel) stood up (actually sat there)....delivering the 'end' of phase one for the Coronavirus. We now embark (at least in the very near future) upon phase two....the recovery.
Dramatic? No. The Chancellor did her professor-style commentary....all logic....no political hype....no six guys standing around her to demonstrate anything. A slight grin, and it was over.
Seventy to eighty days, and it's over....the 6th of May 2020....Corona ended (well, in the Merkel-vision).
Dead at this point? Just over 7,000 at this point. Infected since day one? 167,000. However, I should point out....without mass testing....you have no true idea how many were infected. Some virus experts say that another 500,000 were infected, and showed marginally any symptoms. And remember....that's out of a 83-million population.
Remember too....the German rule was that you had to be noted with Corona....to die from it. You didn't have dimwitted German doctors stamping everyone who died, even from cancer or AIDS....as Corona-dead. The number is pure and actual.
A big deal? Well....it brought us to a recession, and tangled up vacation plans for forty-odd million Germans. It left some Germans stuck in Cape Town, Auckland, Sydney, and Peru. It hindered some Germans who can't cook, by limiting access to restaurants.
If you frequented bars and pubs prior to Corona.....you bought your beverages at the grocery and quietly sat on the balcony because of the ban-rules....listening to your wife hype on the woes of life or conversing over Corona 'this-and-that'. It wasn't the same as being with Henz or Manfred, but it was better than nothing.
You got stuck at home with your kids, and trying to help them with assigned home-work....to discover that you lost a vast amount of knowledge since the 7th grade, or that your kid is nowhere near as smart as you were in the 7th grade. You also lost your patience being with the kid....twenty-four hours a day, without any city park, or kid-companionship for the 'lovely' children.
You sat through hour by hour lectures by hundreds of experts, doctors, journalists, legal minds, and dimwitted politicians. At some point, you even wore out your 'mute-finger'....hitting it so often.
Some will admit that they read seven years of books....in that two-month period. Others will admit that they used more than 300 man-hours doing wall-paper work around the house, landscaping work, or rebuilding a 1966 Opel engine.
Some didn't miss much of anything.....continuing their heroin habit, or sipping through two bottles of vodka at the city park.
Some learned that they were absolutely essential for their job.....some learned they were absolutely non-essential.
Some learned to market new disinfectant type products, and made a wise path to their economic future.
Some battled the Coronavirus.....some battled Corona mental woes/stress (trying not to get it)....some battled and lost.
And now? The Chancellor says we move on. The fact that it's the sixteen Premier-Presidents (the state governors) who are dragging her and the cabinet? Best not to mention that part of the story.
A bold new world opens, and we'd best jump on the 'train'.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Soccer Restarts
16 May, soccer will restart in Germany.....with 'ghost' games (no fans allowed in the stadiums).
Problems? Well, there is a LOT of chatter that various clubs in both the first and second league are nearing bankruptcy (13 total clubs).
Normally, the season would end on 16 May, but provisions now exist.....to run up to the last day of June.
My guess is that all of the clubs will make it to the very last game, and in the month of July.....then you start seeing legal actions to declare bankruptcy. Unknown quantity is really the question left.
As for the start-up of the next season? Mid-August would typically be the start-up point. More 'ghost' games then? Probably. And the financial woes continue? Probably true. If you weren't bankrupt by the end of June.....a month or two into the new season would drag up this problem for a few more clubs.
As for the next time that fans might be able to attend games? I don't see this happening in 2020. Maybe after the vaccination business is started, and everyone carries their Corona-card around with them.....that might be resolved.
Problems? Well, there is a LOT of chatter that various clubs in both the first and second league are nearing bankruptcy (13 total clubs).
Normally, the season would end on 16 May, but provisions now exist.....to run up to the last day of June.
My guess is that all of the clubs will make it to the very last game, and in the month of July.....then you start seeing legal actions to declare bankruptcy. Unknown quantity is really the question left.
As for the start-up of the next season? Mid-August would typically be the start-up point. More 'ghost' games then? Probably. And the financial woes continue? Probably true. If you weren't bankrupt by the end of June.....a month or two into the new season would drag up this problem for a few more clubs.
As for the next time that fans might be able to attend games? I don't see this happening in 2020. Maybe after the vaccination business is started, and everyone carries their Corona-card around with them.....that might be resolved.
German Pubs and Restaurants Open?
9 May, fully open.
A fair number of food operations were open....strictly for take-out or delivery. But this will help to resettle public opinion, with bans lessening.
Expect a lot of Germans over this weekend to be eating out.
A fair number of food operations were open....strictly for take-out or delivery. But this will help to resettle public opinion, with bans lessening.
Expect a lot of Germans over this weekend to be eating out.
Car 'Bonus' Money, Gone?
The Merkel crew met up with several Premier-Presidents (state governors) yesterday. A number of topics were discussed, but the idea for a 'cash-for-clunkers' type program was the big thing on the table.
What the German car companies, and at least three Premier-Presidents wanted....to jump-start the car industry, and save jobs....was a bonus deal.
On the table? Two amounts. For a older gas/diesel car.....buying a new gas/diesel car....3,000 Euro to each person buying a new German-made car. The second amount? If you bought a hydrogen, hybrid, or E-car, 7,000 Euro.
Lot of talk, and finally at the end....the Merkel crew said that they'd meet again in June, and talk more.
Negative feeling? The Environmental Minister (SPD), appears to have taken the position that only the second option (hybrid, hydrogen, E-Car) ought to be on the table.
The problem here with this logic? Hydrogen offerings are slim to none. Hybrids are generally around but out of a hundred Germans who be interested in the 7,000 Euro free-money deal.....there might be ten to twenty who'd drift over to chat on hybrid cars. E-cars? Once you've done the research, and looked at the options....the 7,000 Euro won't be near enough for the top brands that are on the market.
The trouble with the current situation is that the German economy is geared toward car production and sales. If it's not performing.....you got a sagging economy. By June, the economical situation will demand some type of bonus deal to exist. It's just a matter of waiting for bigger problems to solve your dilemma.
What the German car companies, and at least three Premier-Presidents wanted....to jump-start the car industry, and save jobs....was a bonus deal.
On the table? Two amounts. For a older gas/diesel car.....buying a new gas/diesel car....3,000 Euro to each person buying a new German-made car. The second amount? If you bought a hydrogen, hybrid, or E-car, 7,000 Euro.
Lot of talk, and finally at the end....the Merkel crew said that they'd meet again in June, and talk more.
Negative feeling? The Environmental Minister (SPD), appears to have taken the position that only the second option (hybrid, hydrogen, E-Car) ought to be on the table.
The problem here with this logic? Hydrogen offerings are slim to none. Hybrids are generally around but out of a hundred Germans who be interested in the 7,000 Euro free-money deal.....there might be ten to twenty who'd drift over to chat on hybrid cars. E-cars? Once you've done the research, and looked at the options....the 7,000 Euro won't be near enough for the top brands that are on the market.
The trouble with the current situation is that the German economy is geared toward car production and sales. If it's not performing.....you got a sagging economy. By June, the economical situation will demand some type of bonus deal to exist. It's just a matter of waiting for bigger problems to solve your dilemma.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Bavaria Path
In the last hour or two....the state of Bavaria has announced their ban rules are going to change.
The larger stores (furniture, clothing, electronics, etc)? Open as of next Monday.
Beer gardens? Open as of 18 May.
Indoor restaurants? Open 25 May.
Hotels? Open 30 May.
Putting Merkel's crew at a difficult point? Listen, there are now sixteen different agendas and plans at work...so what the Chancellor says....doesn't really matter.
What happens now?
By next week, I expect over a quarter million Germans to be dealing with Bavarian hotels, and trying to arrange their summer vacation situation. If international traveling is not possible.....then accept the fact, and just schedule up your seven to ten days in Bavaria.
The beer garden attraction? Figure a nice warm summer, a cool Bavarian beer, with a overflowing plate of Schnitzel and pan-fried potatoes.
The larger stores (furniture, clothing, electronics, etc)? Open as of next Monday.
Beer gardens? Open as of 18 May.
Indoor restaurants? Open 25 May.
Hotels? Open 30 May.
Putting Merkel's crew at a difficult point? Listen, there are now sixteen different agendas and plans at work...so what the Chancellor says....doesn't really matter.
What happens now?
By next week, I expect over a quarter million Germans to be dealing with Bavarian hotels, and trying to arrange their summer vacation situation. If international traveling is not possible.....then accept the fact, and just schedule up your seven to ten days in Bavaria.
The beer garden attraction? Figure a nice warm summer, a cool Bavarian beer, with a overflowing plate of Schnitzel and pan-fried potatoes.
Another 'Cash-for-Clunkers' Deal?
Another cash-for-clunkers deal coming? Well....maybe, if you follow ARD morning news this morning.
The German car industry needs people to get active buying cars, because if they don't....the whole job situation gets tangled up.
The SPD and CDU leadership? Willing to discuss the matter.
What might come? One of two paths. First, they could offer you a deal (say in the 8,000 Euro amount (my humble guess)), if you were to buy an E-car and swap your old diesel or gas car in. Second, they could offer you an amount of several thousand (probably no more than 5,000 Euro) if you swapped the old diesel or gas car in) for just a plain regular gas car.
The problem here is that a fair number of Germans (I'd take a guess of 75-percent) have marginal interest in the E-car business, and most of the reason is the cost level (the better cars being more than 40,000 Euro). Even with a 'gift' from the government of 8,000 to 10,000.....it might not be enough to flip the public over.
As for the gas car deal? It'd probably have to be a car in the 10-year or older situation, and the new car would have to be German-made. If you shoved 5k Euro into the hands of a quarter-million Germans.....they'd snap at the deal and visit the dealer within a matter of days.
As for the speed of this deal developing? My humble guess is that they'd have the whole thing lined up and agreed upon by the end of May, with a final closure on the offer by the end of 2020. I admit, it's an interesting offer, if it works out this way. If it's just a deal for E-cars.....don't count on that much interest.
The German car industry needs people to get active buying cars, because if they don't....the whole job situation gets tangled up.
The SPD and CDU leadership? Willing to discuss the matter.
What might come? One of two paths. First, they could offer you a deal (say in the 8,000 Euro amount (my humble guess)), if you were to buy an E-car and swap your old diesel or gas car in. Second, they could offer you an amount of several thousand (probably no more than 5,000 Euro) if you swapped the old diesel or gas car in) for just a plain regular gas car.
The problem here is that a fair number of Germans (I'd take a guess of 75-percent) have marginal interest in the E-car business, and most of the reason is the cost level (the better cars being more than 40,000 Euro). Even with a 'gift' from the government of 8,000 to 10,000.....it might not be enough to flip the public over.
As for the gas car deal? It'd probably have to be a car in the 10-year or older situation, and the new car would have to be German-made. If you shoved 5k Euro into the hands of a quarter-million Germans.....they'd snap at the deal and visit the dealer within a matter of days.
As for the speed of this deal developing? My humble guess is that they'd have the whole thing lined up and agreed upon by the end of May, with a final closure on the offer by the end of 2020. I admit, it's an interesting offer, if it works out this way. If it's just a deal for E-cars.....don't count on that much interest.
Monday, May 4, 2020
The 'Forced' Situation
In the last couple of weeks, new attention in Germany has focused upon the idea of a vaccine for the Coronavirus being delivered....maybe within the next four months (being extremely opportunistic). I have my own doubts about this, but for the sake of the argument.....lets assume they are correct.
So the discussion comes with the idea that EVERYONE in Germany would be required to take the vaccination. Some folks (unknown quantity) are saying that they don't want the vaccine, or that the government cannot make you take it.
N-TV has a great short piece and discusses the idea to some degree, and I would recommend it.
The problems I see? There might end up being five or six different vaccines, and you have to wonder if testing is at the best rate for what you expect. The odds of getting the vaccine, and having a rough five-day period of illness? Back around 30 years ago, I had a flu-shot which triggered a 48-hour flu-like period for me. It's the only time that I ever had that reaction.
Some folks, purely on defying the government or 'good order' will refuse the shot, period.
Cost of the shot? Still the big unknown, but I would imagine it's a minimum of forty Euro.
Politically triggering some discussion on how you'd force people to take it?
So sit back and be entertained by this phase when it arrives.
So the discussion comes with the idea that EVERYONE in Germany would be required to take the vaccination. Some folks (unknown quantity) are saying that they don't want the vaccine, or that the government cannot make you take it.
N-TV has a great short piece and discusses the idea to some degree, and I would recommend it.
The problems I see? There might end up being five or six different vaccines, and you have to wonder if testing is at the best rate for what you expect. The odds of getting the vaccine, and having a rough five-day period of illness? Back around 30 years ago, I had a flu-shot which triggered a 48-hour flu-like period for me. It's the only time that I ever had that reaction.
Some folks, purely on defying the government or 'good order' will refuse the shot, period.
Cost of the shot? Still the big unknown, but I would imagine it's a minimum of forty Euro.
Politically triggering some discussion on how you'd force people to take it?
So sit back and be entertained by this phase when it arrives.
Resistance2020?
What is Resistance2020?
Well....via social media and various opposition groups.....this group is developing in Germany, and aiming to become a political party.
The chief claim? They say (no one can prove it true or false) that they have as many committed members as the AfD Party, or the Linke Party.
So the Corona crisis has created this odd opening, where people oppose the ban business, and the government strategy.
Where this is going? There's a fair amount of disenchantment going on....financial woes hitting just about everyone.....frustrations over the bans....and a uneasy view of the next twelve months. It is the perfect atmosphere to throw the 'finger' at the coalition government and the various parties sitting in the Bundestag, and wish for a totally different management crew.
The odds of this taking off? Unknown. The crew leading them? Mostly unknowns. But there is this history of Germany, especially in the 1920s and 1930s....where chaos reigned, and oddball groups came to exist....mostly because of bad decisions and negative public perceptions. So you can't tell where this is going.
Well....via social media and various opposition groups.....this group is developing in Germany, and aiming to become a political party.
The chief claim? They say (no one can prove it true or false) that they have as many committed members as the AfD Party, or the Linke Party.
So the Corona crisis has created this odd opening, where people oppose the ban business, and the government strategy.
Where this is going? There's a fair amount of disenchantment going on....financial woes hitting just about everyone.....frustrations over the bans....and a uneasy view of the next twelve months. It is the perfect atmosphere to throw the 'finger' at the coalition government and the various parties sitting in the Bundestag, and wish for a totally different management crew.
The odds of this taking off? Unknown. The crew leading them? Mostly unknowns. But there is this history of Germany, especially in the 1920s and 1930s....where chaos reigned, and oddball groups came to exist....mostly because of bad decisions and negative public perceptions. So you can't tell where this is going.
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