German Elections

The German federal elections take place at the end of this month, and I know almost nothing about the candidates. It feels so strange not to be familiar with the candidates and their platforms. However, I don’t watch local news, read a German newspaper or have any German friends so it makes sense that I would be in the dark on the ins and outs of German politics. Also considering that I can’t vote here and the elections will have very little bearing on my day to day life, it would be an exercise of futility to spend the time learning about the candidates. Nevertheless, it makes me feel a bit like an outsider in Bonn.

There are political posters all over the city. If (like a large section of the American population) I based my vote on the physical appearance of a candidate, I know exactly who I wouldn’t vote for. I would have eliminated a lot of people based solely on their pathetic posters. I don’t have a lot of confidence in a candidate who isn’t smart enough to surround himself with people who can put out a decent political poster in which the candidate doesn’t have a heavy drinker’s red nose, grey teeth and pasty white skin or have a pose that makes him look like a complete idiot. I mean how hard is it to use a few Crest Whitening strips and some self tanner?

I saw one poster the other day that is a complete copy of the Rosie the Riveter poster from the 40s when women began working in factories to take the place of men who had left for the war.

Another political candidate actually compared her cleavage with that of Angela Merkel’s saying that they have more to offer! I’m not sure what if anything saggy old boobs will do for German politics but she obviously things it gives her a leg (or should I say boob) up on the competition.

Namenstag (Names Day)

I recently discovered a new holiday. Europeans celebrate their Name Day just like they would celebrate a birthday. Birthdays tend to be more intimate affairs with just immediate family while your Name Day is more widely celebrated. Logistically this makes sense. Obviously more people can remember your first name whereas they might not be able to remember your birth date.

Common first names are assigned to a particular day and are generally based on religious figures with that same name. For example, someone with the name Peter or some derivative of Peter would have their Name Day on the day that St. Peter died.

Today's Name day names are Ingrid and Emmerich. So Happy Name Day to anyone with those unfortunate names. If we name our little girl Sabine, her name day would be August 29th.