US markets fell 200 points on news that Greece could be on the precipice of defaulting on its debt. Wait, haven’t they been talking about that all summer? Yes, but this comes after the Germans, key players in resolving the crisis, are now publicly saying that Greece may default in a messy way. [More]
germany
German Sprouts Not Deadly E.coli Culprit, Initial Tests Show
By 6.6.11
German sprouts are not the cause of the deadly e.coli outbreak that has killed 22 and sickened over 2,000, according to initial tests of samples from a farm that a German agriculture minister had earlier named as the epicenter. The retraction is only the latest in a series of confusing finger-pointings and “cucumber slurs,” and has left European consumers afraid to eat a salad. [More]
"Super-Toxic" E.Coli Strain Kills 18 In Europe
By 6.3.11
A virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant E.coli has left 18 dead in Europe, left over 1,800 sick, and touched off a continent-wide scare against all produce, suspected to be the source of the infection. [More]
DHL Pays Urban Denizens With Coupons To Deliver Packages
By 12.3.10
DHL is trying out a new program called bring.Buddy where regular people can pick up and deliver packages along their daily route that they’d be traveling anyway. In return, the recruits earn free train tickets, coupons and carbon offset credits. And, of course, badges. The goal is to reduce costs and carbon emissions within dense urban environments. [More]
Make All Your Bordello-Managing Dreams Come True Via eBay
By 9.3.10
We know times are tough and many of you are looking for work. So even if you haven’t given much thought to the idea of managing a bordello in Berlin, now might be your chance to get in on the ground floor of a (somewhat) recession-proof industry… in Germany. [More]
Nitpicky Bank Robber Outs Himself With Pissy E-Mails To Press & Police
By 8.19.10
A bank robber in Germany was so angered by inaccuracies given by police and reported in the newspapers that he felt compelled to send them indignant e-mails with his corrections. And while his correspondence might have served to clear up the public record of his robbery, they also led cops right to his doorstep. [More]
Lufthansa Pilots Put Strike On Hold For Now
By 2.22.10
Less than 24 hours after 4,000 pilots for German airline Lufthansa walked off the job, the strike was suspended as talks resumed between the flyboys and girls and the company. [More]
Stay Away From The Nigerian Tutoring Scam
By 6.18.09
Are you a student looking for a summer or long-term tutoring gig? Be sure to stay away from the foreign tutoring scam, especially if you’re looking for work on Craigslist.
Disguised As Dishcloths Pile, Man Hides Inside IKEA
By 3.6.09
Some German’s art project is to engage in “urban camouflage” by creating three different ghillie suits made of bulk IKEA items: piles of dishcloths, boxes, and shopping bags. Then he goes and “hides” out in the open inside the IKEA, blending in with his surroundings and only disturbing shoppers when he moves. Hilarious, brilliant! Here are the videos so you get the full effect:
Before Traveling, Make Sure AmEx Hasn't Canceled Your Card
By 2.7.09
Ronnie Sue’s recent trip to Germany was a financial nightmare. Though she warned her bank she would be traveling to Germany, when she arrived, she couldn’t withdraw needed cash. The bank gently suggested that Ronnie Sue draw cash from her credit card, and even offered to refund any cash advance fees. It wasn’t until Ronnie Sue whipped out her AmEx that she learned it had been silently canceled two days before she left…
94th Richest Man In World Kills Self
By 1.7.09
Adolf Merckle, the 94th richest man in the world, committed suicide this week. Stock speculation is hazardous to your health. [NYT]
Burger King Tray Liners In Germany Feature Cartoon Veggies With Boobs
By 8.15.08
Maybe Burger King in Germany isn’t the same sort of “kid centric” destination that it is over here? Idea Sandbox has made some um, interesting observations about their “Veg City” tray liners. This one is employs the “airport screening” metaphor to suggest that BK doesn’t let any shady veggies into their food.
Uproar Over Tiny Illustration Of Naked Statue In Children's Book
By 1.18.08
A German author and her publisher were thrilled when a U.S. publisher inquired about putting out a North American edition of one of her bestselling children’s books… until the U.S. publisher asked the author to airbrush some of her illustrations.
By 12.4.07
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It was fun (though not cheap) while it lasted—a German court has reversed last month’s lower court ruling against T-Mobile, meaning it can once again sell iPhones exclusively locked to its network. [Associated Press]
Premium Cola, The Ethical Cola Company
By 11.29.07
How about a cola company that does no advertising or marketing? Donates one cent per bottle sold to offset its carbon footprint? Where every customer can look at the company’s bank account, and if they disagree with how the founder is running things, can argue to have his share reduced? It’s called Premium Cola. There’s no salaries, no office, and no bosses, per se. All decisions are made equally by members of the cola collective. The drink is only sold to select locations in accord with the Premium Cola ideologies. Sound impossible to sustain?
T-Mobile Selling Unlocked iPhones in Germany
By 11.21.07
Ars Technica says that T-Mobile has been forced to sell unlocked iPhones in Germany for just under US $1,500. The (temporary?) unlocked iPhone sale is a result of a lawsuit brought by Vodaphone (which is part of Verizon here in the U.S.) that claimed locking a phone to one carrier violated German law.
German Advent Calendar Features Serial Killer
By 11.8.07
A cartoon advent calendar for kids, sold by the city of Hanover in Germany, has a tiny drawing of local serial killer Fritz Haarmann, who murdered 24 people during the 1920s. He’s holding a meat cleaver and peeking out from behind a tree, while happy men, women, and children enjoy the holiday all around him. He’s one of 24 famous people from Hanover who appear on the calendar; “It’s part of our history,” says Hans Nolte, the director of the town’s tourism board.
By 7.16.07
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With last month’s acute droppoff in American consumer spending, “Geiz ist geil” could be posed to become the next hot German import. [NYT]
