Hmmm, some interesting questions are raised here. When living in a country/society that still carries many physical, if not psychological, scars 60+ years after the last war ended, one often tries to put things in perspective.

Imagine that on 9/11, six hours after the assault on the twin towers and the Pentagon, terrorists had carried out a second wave of attacks on the United States, taking an additional 3,000 lives. Imagine that six hours after that, there had been yet another wave. Now imagine that the attacks had continued, every six hours, for another four years, until nearly 20 million Americans were dead. This is roughly what the Soviet Union suffered during World War II, and contemplating these numbers may help put in perspective what the United States has so far experienced during the war against terrorism.

The rest of the article here.

From our very own Landeszeitung Luneburg:

A GERMAN newspaper has apologised for accidentally placing a utility company advertisement for “the gas of tomorrow” inside a full-page story on the Nazi killing of Sinti (Gypsy) people in Auschwitz concentration camp.

This is actually almost a year old, but it was brought to my attention yesterday. The article is here.

Du alter Hase!

Fat German Rabbits to Feed Poor.

An east German pensioner who breeds rabbits the size of dogs has been asked by North Korea to help set up a big bunny farm to alleviate food shortages in the communist country. Now journalists and rabbit gourmets from around the world are thumping at his door.

Kill da Wabbit!

Kill da Wabbit!

About a block from our house, a bridge called the Reichenbachbrücke is being rebuilt. The construction will last about a year and it has already led to a significant increase in traffic driving past our house as a result of drivers taking detours due to the bridge being closed. As a result of the new bridge, a few trees have to be cut down. A few local environmentalists are not cool with that. In fact, they are outraged, OUTRAGED! I tell you. So outraged that they have climbed up into the trees and won’t come down. They have brought tarps and sleeping bags with them along with lots of food and warm clothing. They have hung up a large sign between two of the trees with a clever slogan: “Kopf benutzen, Bäume schützen, Bäume benutzen.” A few people from all over Germany have joined them. Those that don’t fit in the tree have pitched a tent below and they are acting as a sort of support team for the tree dwellers.

Way to stick it to The Man, man.

That’ll show ’em.