Kapitel 3 blog and Kultur - Madeline Thibault

     The first article I read was called "An Obsession Explained". This article talked about how German is famous for its beer and seen as there national drink but to those in Germany it is just a pleasant way for them to clench their thirst. The article was talking about how if you ever visit Germany you will see that people drink beer when they are at work or during the afternoon. Something that I found very interesting was that they serve beer at the movie theaters and at McDonalds! Germany is home to 1,274 breweries which churn about 5,000 different beers. They also give a description of some German beers and tell you where you should get them and how you will feel the next morning. 

     The second article I read was "Capping the Bottle". This article talked about how German politicians are looking to put a ban on public drinking. The article states that as much as these politicians wish they could put a ban on the drinking laws, it is a lot harder than it looks. They have tried to put a ban on alcohol before but the ban was very short lived because the court found that the ban was too broad. People also think that it is unfair to put a ban on beer when there are some people that drink it peacefully and don't disturb the public. Others say that "a public ban is not a suitable solution". According to Schulz; "Prohibition is not a lasting and peaceful solution," he says. "It requires too many police officers. Anyway, drinkers are citizens too, with the same rights we all have"

     The third article I read was about German fast food. The German fast food places are called "Imbiss" and you are able to find one in every city or village. This article talked about the different things they recommend you get at one of these fast-food restaurants. The vinegar pommes sounded really good to me and is something that I would definitely order. I also thought it was interesting that they sell noodles at a fast-food restaurant. In most American fast-food places, that is something that you hardly ever see. 

     The fourth article was called "The Dark Side". This article was talking about how pessimistic the Germans can be. They are always going to be brutally honest with you. Chances are if you tell one of your German friends about something exciting that happened to you, you will not get the response that you necessarily desire. German opera is the same to that of peoples response because it typically ends in flames of doom. The author states that she believes they long for a lightness so the next time your German friend gives you a harsh response; laugh and tell them to lighten up. 

     The fifth article I read was "Teutonic Humor". This article talked about how German has a pretty good funny bone. The article states that: "Self-deprecation, irony, sarcasm, and a sharp wit are to be found in abundance -- and often you have to really be paying attention." The article lists and explains the four different types of stereotypes that the SPIEGEL ONLINE has come up with. They include, The Bavarian, The Rhinelander, The Berliner, and The Hamburger. 

Seite 95 "Mealtimes in German speaking countries"
      They have five distinct mealtimes. Breakfast is considered a nutritious breakfast and many families consider it a family meal. Around 10:00 in the morning, many Germans take a break for their "second breakfast". The main hot meal of the day consists of three courses.

Seite 97 "The Metric System"
      Used when shopping, measuring body weight and height, and measuring distances between cities. Gasoline is sold in liters and some drinks are sold in centiliters. Meats and breads are sold by the Kilo. To say how far a city is away from your current location, one would say weit von: Heidelberg ist 20 Kilometer weir von Mannheim.

Seite 106 " Heidelberg and Mannheim"
      Heidelberg was spared devastation of aerial bombing in World War II. Mannheim on the other hand was badly damaged. Heidelberg has a great reputation for its academic tradition. Mannheim has a reputation for its industrial innovations. It is the home of the mechanical and electrical engineering firms and car makers.