Germany Decides

I love how CNN covers elections. No matter what country they're talking about, it's always "[country] Decides" as the title of their in-depth coverage. Ok, so anyway now it's Deutschland's turn. So far I've taken great delight in telling flyer-hander-outers for the various political partys that "Ich darf nicht waehlen, bin Auslaender!" - meaning, can't vote, I'm a foreigner. At least I don't have a collection of leaflets cluttering my already too cluttered apartment.

BUT if I could vote, I would go for Angie - that's Angela Merkel, head of the CDU. Two main reasons: 1) she's a woman. Germany is a country that is ruled "by men, for men" (a line I got from Spiegel.de). Even in this day and age, women are somehow supposed to graduate from college, then go straight to being housewives and mothers. A working mother is called a "Rabenmutter", which is not complimentary, I assure you. In other words, they're about 40 years behind everyone else in northern Europe. Even France is more sensible! So, we need a woman as head of state - especially one like Angie, who has her PhD in some scary science field, and has been divorced. Let's hear it for reality.

2) The CDU/FDP platform is a lot more awake to the economic realities of globalization than the SPD and the Left Party. We can't afford our social system. Jobs will head out to cheaper countries whether we like it or not. The population is ageing. These things are true no matter what your political tendencies are. The answers are harsh, and there is a bit of "survival of the fittest" involved - but we can no longer hide from China and India. People there are willing to work much harder for less. (Suggested reading, Thomas Friedman, who has a lot to say on this subject). The answer for expensive, developed countries is innovation - and that is an attribute that Germany, scarily, lacks. (see this article from the Guardian online). Now why does all this rigmarole concern me? Because my taxes are too dang high. And looking to get higher if any leftists keep power. Believe me, I'm not a huge fan of wild west capitalism. But enough is enough! Get government spending under control, get some flexibility in the job market, and let me take some of the money I earn home!!!!

BTW, I got my iPod nano. LOVE IT!!!! It's way too cute for words, but it works great too! Am now listening to John Coltrane, had Don Giovanni excerpts on earlier. Think maybe I'll add some Kanye West to the mix, just to change things up a bit. Of course, it's got those "mug-me" white headphones, but that doesn't seem to be a big problem in Germany. At least I hope not.

Oh, and I'm going to Scotland in 2 weeks!! I'll be going on a church retreat in the area of Loch Lomand. I'll be flying Ryanair (let's hear it for discount airlines), and I will be renting a car. Second time to drive on the left. Watch out!

Giving in to social pressure

I rarely do this - really. But I saw the new ipod nano, and had to have it! I already have a 512MB flash player, but the only thing I really like about it is the radio. Anyway, I've always considered my self above the mass inclinations of our consumer society - but, God, this thing just looked so cool! So I bought it. In black. With "Beebon" etched on the back. Two mitigating factors, though. I get a 10% discount on apple products through my company, and I bought the cheapest one, the 2GB-er.

Actually, this is just plain retail therapy to combat some major stresses in my life. And since I'm on a diet, pizza and a tub of ice cream is out. So retail it is...Though going to church helps, but that's only once a week. But wait! My church has sermons on mp3, so I'm actually being spiritual by buying this thing (of course, I could listen to them on my old player, but only a few fit at a time, 'cause they're about an hour long).

On a totally different note, just found out that my half-brother has Alzheimers disease. I'm totally shocked. He's much older than I am, more like an uncle, so we've never been super close. But it's really upsetting to me. I'll find out more when I talk to my niece (his daughter) this weekend. A lot of my family members have developed serious diseases as they get older, so it seems that my own dreams of dying in bed at age 102 are just not going to happen. Well, I guess that's why it's important to learn to be happy in spite of your circumstances (think Philippians 4:12 in the Bible). Especially when I read about things like the 30 people found dead in a nursing home in New Orleans after the hurricane. I can't imagine...

Anyway, so I bought an ipod.