The Kraut Konspiracy

[SleepyWitch]

hey, we've got a Philippino thread, so why not a "Kraut" one?
let's have lots of beer, horrible folk music and consipre to conquer the world :lol: JOKING.
NO AUSTRIANS! *JOKING*
all Kraut-philes (if there are any) are welcome, of course.

I'll start with some random pics

The Bumbag :sick:

http://jonnyopinion.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/bumbag.jpg

Waste Separation

http://www.nottuln.de/abfall1.jpg

Kitschy Castles

http://www.new7wonders.com/downloads/GERMANY/Neuschwanstein.jpg

The Cutest Cows in the World

http://www.ferientagungshotel.de/cms/upload/bilder/startseite_kuh_200px.jpg

The White Cliffs of..... Rügen!

http://npb.jamescook.nu/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/npb_0038_screen.jpg
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Kraut!
http://www.can-catering.de/upload/produkte/weisskohl.jpg

[crazefest456]

makes me want to wish I were German...COWS! and Waste Separation!!!

[manolia]

Wurst und Rotkohl *yummy* :D

[SleepyWitch]

makes me want to wish I were German...COWS! and Waste Separation!!!

:) you've got no idea how much fun waste separation can be :) can keep you busy for hours :) e.g. does a used hankie go into the "waste" or "paper" bin? if it's made from biodegradable paper, you could also put it in the "bio" bin, of course. or when you take bottles to the bottle bank, can you leave the caps on because they use a magnet to fish them out, or do you have to throw the caps in the "waste" bin... or perhaps the yellow bin, ... or is there a metal bank? or if you take an empty yoghurt jar to the bottle bank, do you really have to wash it first? what about the cap? :lol: these are extremely fascinating question :D

[Sweets America]

:) you've got no idea how much fun waste separation can be :) can keep you busy for hours :) e.g. does a used hankie go into the "waste" or "paper" bin? if it's made from biodegradable paper, you could also but it in the "bio" bin, of course. or when you take bottles to the bottle bank, can you leave the caps on because they use a magnet to fish them out, or do you have to throw the caps in the "waste" bin... or perhaps the yellow bin, ... or is there a metal bank? or if you take an empty yoghurt jar to the bottle bank, do you really have to wash it first? what about the cap? :lol: these are extremely fascinating question :D

Ehehehe, I love this. I must admit I am too lazy to make this waste separation.
Oh, I love the cow and the castle!

[SleepyWitch]

Ehehehe, I love this. I must admit I am too lazy to make this waste separation.
Oh, I love the cow and the castle!

heehee :) how many different bins do you have in France?

I'll post a profile of my state (Bavaria) one of these days and if I'm in a very good mood, I'll add a quiz (with a little prize for the winner)

[Sweets America]

heehee :) how many different bins do you have in France?

I'll post a profile of my state (Bavaria) one of these days and if I'm in a very good mood, I'll add a quiz (with a little prize for the winner)

I am not sure of how many bins we have here, actually. There must be one for plastic, one for paper, one for cardboard maybe, and one for glass. Where I live, they say 'Put your glass in the glass bin' but I have never managed to find where the glass bin was. :D My empty glass bottle is still on my table. :D :lol:

[Logos]

LULZ - maybe I'll start a CANUCK thread :lol:

Sleepy, the first German clichés that came to mind were sausage (?) (all those pale tasteless 'wursts') lederhosen, and of course OKTOBERFEST :D (which is a very big deal here)

[Scheherazade]

lederhosen Three cheers for lederhosen! :D

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3184/lederhosenzt6.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lederhosenzt6.jpg)

[SleepyWitch]

LULZ - maybe I'll start a CANUCK thread :lol:

Sleepy, the first German clichés that came to mind were sausage (?) (all those pale tasteless 'wursts') lederhosen, and of course OKTOBERFEST :D (which is a very big deal here)

yep, I know :) it's funny that all of them are Bavarian :) lederhosen, wurst and Oktoberfest I mean :)
I'm working on a profile of Bavaria, which I'll post soon so those of you who are interested can learn more about my state (I hope it won't be too boring, but if it is, you guys can read it when you're going through a spell of insomnia and it will help you :) ) I hope some of the other Germans will do the same for their state, so we can get a more balanced view of what Germany is like :)

[crazefest456]

does Bavaria have good pastries?

Here, in the U.S., I ate a donut called "Bavarian Kreme" and it tasted reeeeeaalllly good!

Oh and is German Chocolate Cake a german invention? I really love that too!

[SleepyWitch]

does Bavaria have good pastries?

Here, in the U.S., I ate a donut called "Bavarian Kreme" and it tasted reeeeeaalllly good!

Oh and is German Chocolate Cake a german invention? I really love that too!
yep, we have lots of different pastries here.
as for donuts, we've got these:
http://www.fulltravel.it/img/mini-630-1733.jpg
they are called Krapfen or Berliner (=Berlin donuts) and are usually eaten during the Carnival season (in February). the most traditional filling is rose hip jam, but nowadays they come in all kinds of flavours, e.g. custard, chocolate, strawberry, champaign,...
the only Bavarian Kreme one I've ever eaten was at Dunkin Donuts though. maybe it's an American invention?
http://mirandalandberg.eu/blogs/media/blogs/all/2007/200701_pics/30_Fashing_Krapfen_200703.jpg

there are many different types of pastry, e.g. these:
http://img.chefkoch.de/pictures/fotoalben/dd403439c29ed36459f0aae7ab770b5e/3987/full_dsc04458.jpg

do you mean this kind of German chocolate cake?
http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/64/43/23234364.jpg
yes, this looks typically German. there's a great variety of layered cakes like this. they are very rich and often have lots of cream in them.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest gateau):
http://www.schwarzwald.com/essen/kirschtorte.jpg

[Sweets America]

Aaaaahhhh, the BLACK FOREST!!!!! One of my favorite cakes!! Delicious!

[SleepyWitch]

hey, when is French-German youth friendship day? sometime in summer, isn't it? I've never celebrated it, although one of my ex-bfs is French. we should celebrate it together next time :)

[barbara0207]

Sleepy, the first German clichés that came to mind were sausage (?) (all those pale tasteless 'wursts')

Well, in Germany there are about 3 million different kinds of "Wurst" (um, maybe a bit less - but not much). Too bad you got one of the (few) tasteless ones ... :D

Have another try - perhaps Westphalian "Mettwurst". It's spicy, dried in the air. Very tasty.

http://www.fleischerei-hartwiger-petersen.de/images/mettwurst.jpg

When you slice it, it looks like this - a bit like salami, but tastes completely different:

http://www.marions-kochbuch.de/index-bilder/mettwurst.jpg

There is also Mettwurst for cooking, here with Grünkohl (kale):

http://www.cdu-rheingauviertel-hollerborn.de/Gruenkohl.JPG

[SleepyWitch]

ok, here's a quiz for you. I'll give you a week to solve it, i.e. it ends on Friday 30 Nov. the first 3 ppl who get all the answers right, win 2 postcards of Germany. if you want a postcard, you'd have to PM me your postal address, though.:( If you are under 18 please ask your parent's permission. :( Please, send me your answers by PM on 29 or 30 Nov, so everyone has a chance to do some research. please don't post your answers here! (German's can't take part, since it would be too easy for them)
(you can find the answers on the net, I've tested it and they are not difficult to find). so here goes.

Castle Neuschwanstein Quiz

http://www.neuschwanstein.de/images/neuschwanstein_01_771.jpg

1. When was Neuschwanstein built?
a) in medieval times
b) in the 16th century
c) in the 18 the century
d) in the 19th century

2. Who built the castle?
a) Sissi (Elizabeth), Empress of Austria
b) King Ludwig II of Bavaria
c) King Maximilian II of Bavaria
d) Charlemagne

3. what was the form of government in Bavaria at the time the castle was built?
a) absolute monarchy
b) constitutional monarchy
c) dictatorship
d) republic

4. Which hero did the owner of the castle identify with?
a) Siegfried
b) Marie Antoinette
c) Parzival (Percival)
d) Thor

5. how did the builder of Neuschwanstein Castle die?
a) drowned in a lake
b) shot by an assassin
c) fell off his/her horse
d) poisoned

[Sweets America]

hey, when is French-German youth friendship day? sometime in summer, isn't it? I've never celebrated it, although one of my ex-bfs is French. we should celebrate it together next time :)

I don't know when it is, but yes we should celebrate that together! :) :thumbs_up
Oh, I want to buy this castle that you put on your quiz. :D Seems like a nice place to live in! But, I would have to rename it, because I cannot pronounce that name!! :blush:

[Virgil]

I'll have some sauerbraten and a German beer. Can you recommend a beer?

But Sleepy did you have to call this thread, "The Kraut Konspiracy." "Kraut" is such a derogatory term, at least in the US. I know ifs about yourself, but still. People should not only not put down other identities, but they should especially not put down their own identity. Everyone should be proud of their identity.

[B-Mental]

http://www.cynicalnation.com/img/elephant_beer.jpg

Hey Virgil, try one of these... I lived in Germany when the wall came down(1987-1990), and took an overnight train from Bremen to Hamburg to Munchen to Oberammergau. I ended up in the hall, because there were no berths available on but tickets were still sold. Drank many of these thru the night.

[Virgil]

http://www.cynicalnation.com/img/elephant_beer.jpg

Hey Virgil, try one of these... I lived in Germany when the wall came down(1987-1990), and took an overnight train from Bremen to Hamburg to Munchen to Oberammergau. I ended up in the hall, because there were no berths available on but tickets were still sold. Drank many of these thru the night.

Thanks B-M. I've heard of Carlsburg but i never heard of Elephant beer. Whenever I've been in a German restaurant I've order German imported beer, but I can never remember which ones I've had,

[B-Mental]

In general, when it comes to German Bier the Southern Beers are my favorite. I love the Bier Halls in Munchen...and of course the enormous mugs of beer...Noch ein Mass Bier, bitte.

[crazefest456]

That's it, I'm packing my bags and flying to Germany. Black Forest Cake is a part of my childhood! My mom used to make it (in Pakistan) and I loved it! A small world, it is...

[applepie]

First, you are all making me drool:p Anyhow, big question. I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, and it was a mostly German settlement back in the day. We've this oddity of food called Goetta. It's oats, pork, and spices (I think) that is flattened and fried for breakfast. I digress:lol:... it's really good, but I've an aunt from Germany who disclaims all knowledge of it actually being a German food. Is it?????

[B-Mental]

I'm going to defer to Sleepywitch on this one, never heard of Goetta, but it sounds sort of like schnitzel.

[SleepyWitch]

That's it, I'm packing my bags and flying to Germany. Black Forest Cake is a part of my childhood! My mom used to make it (in Pakistan) and I loved it! A small world, it is...
haha, that's funny! :) where did she pick up the recipe?


First, you are all making me drool Anyhow, big question. I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, and it was a mostly German settlement back in the day. We've this oddity of food called Goetta. It's oats, pork, and spices (I think) that is flattened and fried for breakfast. I digress... it's really good, but I've an aunt from Germany who disclaims all knowledge of it actually being a German food. Is it?????
oats, pork and spices? :sick: and you ate that for breakfast? I must admit I've never heard of it. of course it all depends on what region in Germany you look at .. so it might be a regional specialty somewhere. It could also be Swedish or Norwegion, though, judging from the spelling/pronunciation.


But Sleepy did you have to call this thread, "The Kraut Konspiracy." "Kraut" is such a derogatory term, at least in the US. I know ifs about yourself, but still. People should not only not put down other identities, but they should especially not put down their own identity. Everyone should be proud of their identity.
yep, I know, but I picked that title on purpose because it's flashy :D plus, I'm also using it ironically. some people (mainly those from a small island in Europe, which they don't consider part of Europe) are obsessed with the idea that the Germans are constantly plotting with the French to invade that small island ;) I got to hear quite a lot of this when I lived on the small island for a year and found it quite funny (even though it was rather annoying) :lol:
I know most people from other countries don't have this stereotype, but still... in order to make life easier for those from the small island I'll admit upfront that I'm conspiring to invade it, so they'll know what they're up agains :lol: :D Hey, Sweets, are you with me? we'll forcefeed them dumplings with frog legs, OK?
no offence to our small-islanders on LitNet. I'm only joking and you guys probably don't believe in this stereotype


I'll have some sauerbraten and a German beer. Can you recommend a beer?
I agree with B-Mental, southern beers are the best (and of course I'm not only saying this because I live in the south). The problem with southern beers is that the best ones are local, so you probably won't get them in NY.
Out of the bigger breweries, Paulaner and Erdinger Weisse are OK. Paulaner is the one that is served at Oktoberfest.
don't try EKU (Erste Kulmbacher Aktienbrauerei) unless you want to lose weight the wrong way round :sick:
if you stumble on a small German restaurant in NY (not one that got OKTOBERFEST written on it in neon letters and has blokes dancing the Schuplattler in Lederhosen), ask if they've got Franconian beer (Franconia is the name of my region).


I don't know when it is, but yes we should celebrate that together! :) :thumbs_up
Oh, I want to buy this castle that you put on your quiz. :D Seems like a nice place to live in! But, I would have to rename it, because I cannot pronounce that name!! :blush:
it's not that difficult

nɔɪˈʃvaːnʃtaɪ̯n

Neu sounds like boy in English
sch sounds like sh in English (ship), or ch in French (château)
w is like v in English (van)
the a is long, a bit like star in British English (i.e. pronounced without the final r)
st is pronounced sht, like some Scottish people say shtop or shtraight instead of stop
ei sound like I or eye

see, German is easy, it took only 7 lines to explain the pronunciation of a whole word.. and a long word at that :D



Hey Virgil, try one of these... I lived in Germany when the wall came down(1987-1990), and took an overnight train from Bremen to Hamburg to Munchen to Oberammergau.
wow that must have been cool. I was a little kid at that time, the first thing I ever heard about the GDR was 2 months before the wall came down. the only vivid memory of it I have is that former GDR people bought tons of chocolate as soon as they hit the West because there was no chocolate in the GDR due to their planned economy going wrong

http://kalos-tuning.de/milka.gif

http://www.alpenverein.at/jugend/Home/News1/img/Milka_Kuh_Almprojekt.jpg

^^^^ If I'm not mistaken this brand of chocolate is Swiss, actually, but everyone thinks it's German

[Taliesin]

Actually, German pronunciation makes sense. More than English, actually, come to think of it.
We learned German for six years and all that we can remember is:
"Ich bin Peter, du bist Paul
Ich bin fleissig, du bist faul"
(there should be the letter that looks like b instead of ss in fleissig, but it is not on my keyboard)
Ohwell, we can remember more, We guess we could understand German text, however, to speak ourselves... we should start talking with some German or read something in German to brush it up.

[SleepyWitch]

Actually, German pronunciation makes sense. More than English, actually, come to think of it.
We learned German for six years and all that we can remember is:
"Ich bin Peter, du bist Paul
Ich bin fleissig, du bist faul"

hahahaha :) this is a funny one :) I've never heard it before :lol:
that letter is ß but I don't know what it will look like once I post my msg. dunno if the forum software supports it.

[Idril]

Can I be an honorary Kraut? ;) My grandmother was German, that has to count for something. To be German here means lots of Knoephla soup, Pfefferneuse and Fleischkuechle and Beck's beer, I prefer Beck's Dark.

[SleepyWitch]

Can I be an honorary Kraut? ;) My grandmother was German, that has to count for something. To be German here means lots of Knoephla soup, Pfefferneuse and Fleischkuechle and Beck's beer, I prefer Beck's Dark.

oh my god, Knöpflessuppe? hehe, you caught me off guard there :) I think it's from my mother's state (Baden-Württemberg) and/or from a region called Swabia (which straddles the Bavarian-Württemberg border). my mum made it when i was a kid.. it might also be from Silesia (Poland), coz my granddad is Silesian, but Swabia sounds more likely

edit: of course you can be an honorary Kraut :)

[Idril]

oh my god, Knöpflessuppe? hehe, you caught me off guard there :) I think it's from my mother's state (Baden-Württemberg) and/or from a region called Swabia (which straddles the Bavarian-Württemberg border). my mum made it when i was a kid.. it might also be from Silesia (Poland), coz my granddad is Silesian, but Swabia sounds more likely

edit: of course you can be an honorary Kraut :)


Thank you. :D

And I don't know if this helps at all but a lot of the Germans around here are German Russians so, I don't know if there was a particular area in Germany where a lot of those immigrants who made their way to Russia were from. My grandmother was from Pommern? Does that name make sense? I know it started with Pomme... My brother said it was an area where there were a lot of Scandinavian settlers once upon a time, way, way back but I think he might just be making that up to make us more Scandinavian than we really are. :rolleyes:

[SleepyWitch]

Thank you. :D

And I don't know if this helps at all but a lot of the Germans around here are German Russians so, I don't know if there was a particular area in Germany where a lot of those immigrants who made their way to Russia were from. My grandmother was from Pommern? Does that name make sense? I know it started with Pomme... My brother said it was an area where there were a lot of Scandinavian settlers once upon a time, way, way back but I think he might just be making that up to make us more Scandinavian than we really are. :rolleyes:

Pommern is in Poland today, but apparently some people regard the Baltic Sea coast of Germany as a part of Pommern, as well. hehe, I forgot my history lessons, but I think Poland and the Baltic region (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) had a lot of German as well as Russian settlements, as borders and territories in Europe kept shifting before the invention of the 'nation state' and even after.
edit: I think there were some vikings there too, but that must have been quite a long time ago :confused:

[Idril]

Pommern is in Poland today, but apparently some people regard the Baltic Sea coast of Germany as a part of Pommern, as well. hehe, I forgot my history lessons, but I think Poland and the Baltic region (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) had a lot of German as well as Russian settlements, as borders and territories in Europe kept shifting before the invention of the 'nation state' and even after.
edit: I think there were some vikings there too, but that must have been quite a long time ago :confused:

I got the impression from my brother that yes, it was a long, long time ago, as you said, in the era of the Vikings. He has this theory that while we are supposed mutts, Norwegian, Swedish, German and English, that the German and English sides may very well have Scandinavian roots...and it's possible I guess, since Vikings were in that area of Germany and our English roots seem to be of Norman origin but I just don't see why it really matters. :rolleyes:

Anyway....

It's interesting that Pommern is primarily in Poland, I didn't know that. I wonder...people who were born there while it was considered part of Germany and so consider themselves German, once it became part of Poland, are they considered, historically, German or Polish? Or is that a really touchy subject? The changing borders and faces of Europe just fascinate me. And I'm sorry I'm turning this into a history lesson. :blush:

[SleepyWitch]

Anyway....

It's interesting that Pommern is primarily in Poland, I didn't know that. I wonder...people who were born there while it was considered part of Germany and so consider themselves German, once it became part of Poland, are they considered, historically, German or Polish? The changing borders and faces of Europe just fascinate me. And I'm sorry I'm turning this into a history lesson. :blush:
haha, that's OK.
I think most Germans who lived in Poland or Czech Rep before the end of WWII were expelled or fled of their own accord when the Russians liberated Poland. Some of those who fled had their property seized and redistributed. That's what happened in Silesia (near the Polish/Czech border) and Sudetenland (Czech Rep.). Under the Beneš decrees, German Czechs (as well as other minorities) had their Czech passport confiscated and their property seized. Some people are outraged about the expulsion while some would say it's only fair, seeing as Germany invaded those countries in WWII. There are some associations of Sudetendeutsche who are quite stubborn about this and still demand today to be given back their land in Czech Rep or be paid a compensation. This is a hot issues in Germany because the the federal government tends to be level-headed and let by-gones be by-gones, whereas the former Bavarian Prime Minister supported the Sudetendeutsche against the Czech government. The new Bavarian Prime Minister is aiming for a compromise, though, so maybe this matter will finally be resolved after 60 years.

I think those people were considered both Polish and German or Czech and German. I'm not so sure about this... but my grandfather was born in Czech Rep. in 1911 and lived there until WWII started. He even married a Czech woman (his first wife, not my grandmother) and had a son. I don't think anyone was interested whether he was Czech or German. My grandfather was German, but he had a Czech passport. So I think dual nationality was quite common back then? When Hitler invaded Czech Rep, my grandfather wanted to join the Czech army to defend his fatherland (i.e. Czech Rep.), but they took his passport away and he had to flee to Germany.

PS: There's also the German state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), which is in the north east of Germany. this is the western part of Pommern.

[barbara0207]

Noch ein Mass Bier, bitte.


Here you are, B-Mental. And for everyone else on the thread, too.

http://www6.dw-world.de/de/images/c2c134703a0489f4419f3fff203d4a75.jpg

[B-Mental]

mmm vielen Dank, Fraulein Barbara0207

[barbara0207]

mmm vielen Dank, Fraulein Barbara0207

You're welcome. :D

But no more Frauleins in Germany. Nowadays there are only Herr and Frau. :p

(Please call me just Barbara)

Many people think Germany - that's just Bavaria. But I live in the north west - so here's a picture of a typical castle in Westphalia. It's a castle surrounded by moats and was built between 1540 and 1545. It was the home of the poetess you can see in my avatar.

http://www.emsauenweg.com/Servicecenter/Presse/bildarchiv/17burghl1.jpeg

In mountainous areas, castles were mostly built on steep mountains or rocks in order to defend them more easily against enemies. Where I live, the land is mostly flat, so water (moats) had to do the trick.

In case you're interested - here's a slide show of some 100 castles in Westphalia, some of them 500 years old or more. Just click on any of the castles shown, and a new page will open up. Then click on "W-Burgen Fotos" and the show begins.

http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travelwriter.at/a_pic/fotos/burg-huelshoff.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.travelwriter.at/ueber/schloesser-und-burgen/in-deutschland/nordrhein-westfalen/muensterland/index.shtml&h=150&w=200&sz=13&hl=de&start=8&tbnid=4NTzjfhxsWpbQM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2BBurg%2BH%25C3%25BClshoff%26gbv%3D2 %26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dde%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:de:official%26 sa%3DG

[papayahed]

der kugelscriber ist gelp.


My grandfather spoke german, I've always wished that I was old enough to ask him to teach me some german.

[Virgil]

Barbara - Thanks for the photo and the beer too ;) , but now I'm curious. Who's picture is your avatar?

[SleepyWitch]

thanks for the castles, barbara!

I've unearthed another treasure of German culture :D the incredibly funny Swabian folk song Uff der Schwäbsche Eisebahne (On the Swabian Railway). Swabia is a region that straddles the border between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg (a state in the South-West of Germany, next to Bavaria).
I found a very nice English translation on wiki. it's not very close to the original, but it rhymes :)

Drunken Swabians singing the song in Swabian dialect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XmY8khhfSM)

Lyrics: English Translation (abbreviated)(

1. Swabian Railroad Transportation
Stops at many a strange location
Shtoogert, Oolm and Beeberoch
Meckaboira, Doorlesboch.

2. On the Swabian iron horse
A farmer wants to ride, of course
Went to the counter, tipped his hat
Ticket please, and that is that

3. He had bought a goat that day
And so it wouldn’t run away
He tied it to the train’s caboose
With a strong and sturdy noose

4. Now, my goat, run straight ahead
When we stop you will be fed
Farmer said and lit his pipe,
Sitting down next to his wife


5. At a whistlestop he found
Only goat’s head dangling, bound
To the hook at train’s rear end
This was not what he has meant

6. Anger now grew in our peasant
Using words lots less than pleasant
Flung the head, what daring deed
Right before conductor’s feet

7. That’s the ballad, as you see
Of a tragic odyssey
Of a goat, a Swabian train,
A farmer cursing all in vain

Lyrics in Schwabian
1. Auf de' schwäb'sche Eisebahne
Gibt's gar viele Haltstatione:
Schtuagart, Ulm, ond Biberach,
Meckabeure, Durlesbach.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Schtuagart, Ulm, and Biberach,
Meckabeure, Durlesbach.

2.Auf de schwäb'sche Eisebahne
Gibt's au viele Restauratione,
Wo mer ess' und trinka ka',
Alles, was der Maga ma'.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Wo mer ess' und trinka ka',
Alles, was der Maga ma'.

3. Auf de schwäbsche Eisebahne
Braucht ma keine Postillone.
Was uns sonst das Posthorn blies,
Pfeifet jetzt die Lokomotiv.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Was uns sonst das Posthorn blies,
Pfeifet jetzt die Lokomotiv.

4. Auf de schwäbsche Eisebahne
Könne Küh' und Ochse fahre,
D'Studente fahre erste Klass,
S'mache das halt nur zum Spaß.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
D'Studente fahre erste Klass,
S'mache das halt nur zum Spaß.

5. Auf de schwäb'sche Eisebahne
Derfet Kieh' und Ochse fahre.
Biable, Mädle, Weib, und Ma,
Kurzum alls, was zahla ka.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Biable, Mädle, Weib, und Ma,
Kurzum alls, was zahla ka.

6. Wenn e Gleckle tut erklinge,
Tän glei älle z'samma springe.
Älles, was e Karte hot,
Möcht jetzt mit dem Bahnzug fort.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Älles, was e Karte hot,
Möcht jetzt mit dem Bahnzug fort.

7. Männer, die im G'sicht ganz bärtig,
Schreiet laut: "Jetzt ist es fertig"
Springet in die Wage nei,
Machet Löchle in d'Karte nei.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Springet in die Wage nei,
Machet Löchle in d'Karte nei.

8. Auf de schwäb'sche Eisebahne
Wollt emol e Beierle fahre,
Goaht an Schalter lupft de Hut:
"Oi Billettle, send so gut!"
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Goaht an Schalter lupft de Hut:
"Oi Billettle, send so gut!"


9. Oinen Bock hat er sich kaufet
Und daß er ihm it verdlaufet,
Bindet ehn der gute Ma,
A de hintre Wage na.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Bindet ehn der gute Ma,
A de hintre Wage na.

10. "Böckle, tu no wacker springe.
Z'fresse werd i dir scho bringe."
Also schwätz der gut Ma',
Zündt' sei Maserpfeifle a'.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Also schwätz der gut Ma',
Zündt' sei Maserpfeifle a'.

11. "Böckle, tue nuer woidle springe,
's Fresse wer' i dir scho bringe."
Zündt sei stinkichs Pfeifle a,
Hockt si zu sei'm Weible na.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Zündt sei stinkichs Pfeifle a,
Hockt si zu sei'm Weible na.

12. Wia der Zug no wieder staut,
D'r Bauer noch sei'm Böckle schaut,
Find't er bloß no Grind und Soil
An dem hintre Wagedoil.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Find't er bloß no Kopf und Seil
An dem hintre Wageteil.

13. 's packt de Baure a Baurezore,
Packt de Geißbock bei de Hore (=Hörner),
Schmeißt en, was er schmeiße ka,
Dem Konduktör an 'n Ranza na.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Schmeißt en, was er schmeiße ka,
Dem Konduktör an 'n Ranza na.

14. "So, jetz kannsch de Schade zahle,
Warum bisch so schnell au gfahre!
Du alloi bisch schuld do dra,
Daß i d' Goiß verlaure ha!"
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Du alloi bisch schuld do dra,
Daß i d' Goiß verlaure ha!"

15. Des isch des Lied von sellem Baure,
Der de Geißbock hat verlaure.
Geißbock und sei traurigs Ende':
Himmel Schtuegart Sapperment.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Geißbock und sei traurigs Ende':
Himmel Schtuegart Sapperment.

16. So jetzt wär des Liedle g'songe,
Hot's euch reacht in d'Ohre klonge,
Stoßet mit de Gläser a',
Aufs Wohl der schwäb'sche Eise'bahn.
|: Trulla, trulla, trulla-la, :|
Stoßet mit de Gläser a',
Aufs Wohl der schwäb'sche Eise'bahn.

[barbara0207]

Barbara - Thanks for the photo and the beer too ;) , but now I'm curious. Who's picture is your avatar?

It's Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, one of the most important German poetesses, who lived in the castle above (it's about 50 km from where I live). In my signature you can find the first stanza of her most famous ballad: Der Knabe im Moor (The Lad in the Moor). Unfortunately I can't find a translation on the net, and I find it very hard to translate as it's poetry and some of it may get lost in translation.

[Lily Adams]

I am of German descent. Hoorar.

*chows down sauerkraut*

Nice thread!

[SleepyWitch]

welcome to the conspiracy, Lily :)

[barbara0207]

http://www.wsv-rheine.de/upload/bilder/rheine_ems.jpg

Here's a picture from my hometown. The river that goes through it is called Ems.

http://www.golfdesign.de/img/pic/ref_bilder/rheine/Rheine_243_640.jpg

The River Ems outside the town.

[Virgil]

It's Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, one of the most important German poetesses, who lived in the castle above (it's about 50 km from where I live). In my signature you can find the first stanza of her most famous ballad: Der Knabe im Moor (The Lad in the Moor). Unfortunately I can't find a translation on the net, and I find it very hard to translate as it's poetry and some of it may get lost in translation.

Thank you Barbara. I'm afraid I know so little of German literature. Shame on me. I must find time to learn some. Lovely pictures of your home town and area. Did you take the one with the sunset? It is a magnificent picture.

[barbara0207]

Lovely pictures of your home town and area. Did you take the one with the sunset? It is a magnificent picture.

No, I can't take any credit for them, they're courtesy Google. :blush: But my father used to photograph a lot when he still lived, and he often did similar views of the river. That's why this photo appealed to me so much.

[Taliesin]

Pommern is in Poland today, but apparently some people regard the Baltic Sea coast of Germany as a part of Pommern, as well. hehe, I forgot my history lessons, but I think Poland and the Baltic region (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) had a lot of German as well as Russian settlements, as borders and territories in Europe kept shifting before the invention of the 'nation state' and even after.
edit: I think there were some vikings there too, but that must have been quite a long time ago :confused:

Estonia has a lot of German influence due to being conquered by Northern German Crusaders in th 13th century and them and their descendants becoming local manor holders and nobility. Lots of words have German origin and so on. They stayed here for quite some time, lost their lands mostly after Estonia's independence and most left before the Second World War.

Sleepy, if you are so keen on everybody belonging to the kraut conspiracy, then my great-great-great-great(give or take a few greats)-grandfather was a German baron's bastard.
:p

[SleepyWitch]

Estonia has a lot of German influence due to being conquered by Northern German Crusaders in th 13th century and them and their descendants becoming local manor holders and nobility. Lots of words have German origin and so on. They stayed here for quite some time, lost their lands mostly after Estonia's independence and most left before the Second World War.

Sleepy, if you are so keen on everybody belonging to the kraut conspiracy, then my great-great-great-great(give or take a few greats)-grandfather was a German baron's bastard.
:p
thanks for the explanation, Tal! yep, I heard about the Crusaders in Estonia, but I didn't know how long they stayed there etc. very interesting
bastard? what a harsh word to use about your great-great-great...grandfather! ;)
anyone can join the Kraut Konspiracy, whether they have German great-grand-bastards or not :D

[crazefest456]

haha, that's funny! :) where did she pick up the recipe?


I think it's because of my dad: he used to be some sort of engineer and had to fly around to Germany, China, UK, and the US...My mom would make him get recipes from those places, I guess. My dad bought a Chinese recipe book for her, so I think my family was one of the first (in Karachi) to eat authentic sweet and sour chinese rice with soup.

[SleepyWitch]

nobody's done the quiz yet?

[Whifflingpin]

When was Neuschwanstein built?

2. Who built the castle?


3. what was the form of government in Bavaria at the time the castle was built?


4. Which hero did the owner of the castle identify with?


5. how did the builder of Neuschwanstein Castle die?

[SleepyWitch]

aaaaaaaaargh,
Whiffle, please PM your answer to me, don't post them here

.
.

[Niamh]

I love that castle. *sighs* Its so fairytale....

[Whifflingpin]

Ooops - sorry about that.
Thanks Editor for repairing my blunder

[SleepyWitch]

it's OK Whiffle :)
if you want to take part, you can PM me the answers.

I've extended the deadline :)

(some of your answers were incorrect, by the way ;) admit it, it was all just a ruse to get a second chance :p *joking* )
__________________________________________________ ________________

Quiz Deadline Extended

Castle Neuschwanstein Quiz (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=484612&postcount=16)


hehee, this quiz seems to have gone the way of all promote-your-country schemes (i.e. down the drain).
I'll extend the deadline till Dec. 14. so if you wanna win some postcards, you've got two more weeks.

hint: if you search Neuschwanstein in wiki, there's a link at the bottom of the article that's got the answers to all the questions (in English ;) )

[Whifflingpin]

"if you want to take part, you can PM me the answers.
I've extended the deadline

(some of your answers were incorrect, by the way admit it, it was all just a ruse to get a second chance *joking* )"

No - I'm just a doughbake - but, at least my answers were my own. I thought at the time that my answer to 4 was probably wrong, Neuschwanstein has too much sparkle to be associated with the hero I chose.

Still, if no-one else answers, I win - but everybody knows that the game is not over, so get reading Wiki everyone - or better still "Royal Flash" by George MacDonald Fraser :lol: .

[SleepyWitch]

hehehe :) yep, if nobody else takes part, you win, but there's two more weeks to go:)

[B-Mental]

Gonna have some Bratwurst und Leinenkugel's tonight...Leinies is a beer from Wisconsin near my house...Its delicious. There is a huge German population in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee. Many of the German's situated themselves there, because the geography is similar. German influence is so great that the breweries "that made Milwaukee famous". The baseball team is called the Brewers. Bratwurst is actually the state sausage I believe.

Aufwiedersehen, B

[SleepyWitch]

hi guys, I've got some German music for you.
today I'll post some songs by the 70s/80s rock band Ton Steine Scherben (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton_Steine_Scherben)
I'll translate the lyrics for you. Sorry if the translation sounds wobbly...

1. Wir müssen hier raus (~We've gotta get out of here)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp2Q5QtE-eI

Im Bett ist der Mensch nicht gern alleine
people don't like being alone in their bed
und in meinem Bett ist grad noch Platz für dich.
and in my bed there's just enough room for you
Doch mein Alter ist fast jeden Tag zu Hause
but my old man is home almost every day
und ich glaub, er hat was gegen dich.
and I've got a feeling he doesn't like you
Für mich ist die Welt nicht mehr in Ordnung,
for me the world isn't OK anymore
nicht früh um Sieben und auch nicht nach der Tagesschau.
not at 7 a.m. and not after the evening news, either
Für mich heißt das Wort zum Sonntag "Scheiße"
for me the message on Sunday* is "sh!t" *[when a priest/reverend appears on the telly for ten minutes on Sunday and gives ppl advice for the next week]
und das Wort zum Montag "Mach mal Blau".
and the message on Monday is "take a day off"

Refrain:
Wir müssen hier raus! Das ist die Hölle!
We've gotta get out of here! This place is hell!
Wir leben im Zuchthaus!
We live in a prison!
Wir sind geboren, um frei zu sein,
We're born to be free
wir sind zwei von Millionen, wir sind nicht allein.
we're two out of millions, we're not alone
Und wir werden es schaffen, wir werden es schaffen.
And we'll make it, we'll make it

Mein Alter sagt, die Welt wird sich nicht ändern,
My old man says the world isn't gonna change
dabei weiß er ganz genau, was läuft.
but he knows how things are
Doch er glaubt, er vergißt die ganze Scheiße,
but he thinks he'll be able to forget all this sh!t
wenn er abends in der Kneipe hängt und säuft.
if he hangs around at the pub and gets drunk at night
Er sagt, der schönste Platz ist immer an der Theke,
He says the nicest place is at the counter
da hat er recht, zu Haus ist kaum noch Platz für drei.
and he's right about that because at home there's harldy enough room for the three of us
Darum bin ich auch den ganzen Tag auf Arbeit,
that's why I spend all day at work
man kann sagen, ich bin so frei.
you could say I take the liberty

Refrain...

Wir werden es schaffen.
we'll make it
Und was kann uns hindern? Kein Geld, keine Waffen,
What can stop us? neither money nor weapons
wenn wir es woll'n. Wir werden es schaffen.
if we really want it. We'll make it.
Wir sind geboren, um frei zu sein.
we're born to be free
Wir sind zwei von Millionen, wir sind nicht allein.
we're two out of millions, we're not alone

Wir sind geboren, um frei zu sein,
we're born to be free
Wir sind 60 Millionen, wir sind nicht allein.
we're 60 millions [the population of Germany at the time], we're not alone
3x Wir sind geboren, um frei zu sein.
Frei!

[SleepyWitch]

this one is bit more psychedelic, but really cool

Jenseits von Eden (On the other Side of Eden), Ton Steine Scherben 1981
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7avzr3IoQ

Heiß, heiß, kochend heiß,
hot, hot, boiling hot
heiß, heiß, hundert Grad,
hot, hot, a hundred degrees (centigrade)
heiß, heiß, glühend heiß,
hot, hot, boiling hot
heiß, heiß, blühend weiß.
hot, hot, brilliant white
Jenseits von Eden.
on the other side of Eden
Euphrat und Tigris
Euphrat and Tigris
Allah wollte es - so
Allah wanted it this way
Sechshundertsechsundsechzig
sixhundredsixtysix
schütze uns vor Gestern
shelter us from yesterday
Eins neun dreiunddreißig
one nine thirtythree
In 3D und Farbe
in 3D and colour
Dann ist Sendepause.
then there's a silent intermission

Das war der Wilde Westen.
that was the Wild West
Hält Gott die Zehn Gebote?
Does God obey the ten commandmends?
Ich will nicht,
I don't want you
daß du in schwarz gehst
to go into the dark
weil ich tot bin.
because I'm dead

Wo warst du im Krieg?
What were you doing during the war?
(literally:Where were you during the war
Weißt du, was ich meine?
Do you know what I mean?*
Ich war auf der Suche,
I was searching
du warst auf der Flucht.
you were running away
Hörst du die Räder rollen?
Can you hear the wheels rolling
Durchsichtig und klar
transparent and clear
Irgendwann in der Nacht
in the night
In Musik gebadet
bathed in music
Jede Blume hat ihren Schatten
each flower has its shadow
Zweitausend Lieder
two thousand songs
Zweitausend Tode
two thousand deaths (dead ppl)
Mamamama, warum hast du mich gebor'n
mummy mummy, why did you give birth to me
oder hat mich der Esel im Galopp verloren?
or did the galloping donkey lose me?

Ach ich spring ins Leere.
Ach, I jump into the void/emptiness
Halleluja Schwestern
Hallelujah, sisters
Ich hab den Text vergessen,
I forgot the lyrics
ich bin mein Fragezeichen.
I'm my own question mark
Doch ich komm morgen wieder,
But I'll be back tomorrow
gib mir deinen Segen.
give me your blessing
Liebe, was ist das?
love, what is that?
Das ist das Leben in der Stadt,
It's life in the city
was soll daran schlecht sein?
what's wrong about it?
Liebe kommt von unten.
Love comes from down there
Liebe hat schwache Worte.
love has weak words
Ach ich bin so müde.
I'm so tired
Ich geh hier nicht weg,
I won't leave here
geh zurück ins Meer,
I'm going back into the sea
such mir meinen Engel.
I'll look for my (guardian)angel
Wer ist hinterm Spiegel?
who's that behind the mirror?
(...alles ein mal wiederholt...)


*I'm not quite sure what these two lines refer to, but I think it's the rage of the 60s generation who found out that their parents were Nazi's and hushed it up. the kids were really furious with their parents for being such cowards

[PrinceMyshkin]

LULZ - maybe I'll start a CANUCK thread :lol:

Sleepy, the first German clichés that came to mind were sausage (?) (all those pale tasteless 'wursts') lederhosen, and of course OKTOBERFEST :D (which is a very big deal here)

"Pale tasteless wursts," you HOSER! You are talking about my beloved Weisswurst! Which I doubt you've ever had there in Lower Pleasantville!:flare:

[SleepyWitch]

"Pale tasteless wursts," you HOSER! You are talking about my beloved Weisswurst! Which I doubt you've ever had there in Lower Pleasantville!:flare:

wow, easy Prince!

[Idril]

Hey, Sleepy, speaking of 70's/80's German rock bands, do you recall a band called Nektar? My brother was obsessed with them when I was younger. They were a progressive rock band if I remember correctly, kind of a long the lines of Yes and Genesis...when they were good. :p

[SleepyWitch]

Hey, Sleepy, speaking of 70's/80's German rock bands, do you recall a band called Nektar? My brother was obsessed with them when I was younger. They were a progressive rock band if I remember correctly, kind of a long the lines of Yes and Genesis...when they were good. :p

Nope, sorry, I don't know them. I'll check them out :)

[Idril]

Nope, sorry, I don't know them. I'll check them out :)

I actually found a disc of their on iTunes, a live disc recorded in 2002 and I recognize a lot of those song titles. I think I'm going to buy it and burn if for my brother, it will be like a surprise Christmas gift...even though my side of the family doesn't really exchange gifts, that's why it will be a surprise. :lol:

[SleepyWitch]

I actually found a disc of their on iTunes, a live disc recorded in 2002 and I recognize a lot of those song titles. I think I'm going to buy it and burn if for my brother, it will be like a surprise Christmas gift...even though my side of the family doesn't really exchange gifts, that's why it will be a surprise. :lol:
is this the same brother who thinks you are Vikings? ;) :p

[Idril]

is this the same brother who thinks you are Vikings? ;) :p

Yes, that would be him. :lol: My Norwegian obsessed brother. :lol:

[SleepyWitch]

snakker du norsk?
heehee, I learned a little Norwegian in a course once, but I had to give it up because it clashed with another course. I'd like to take it up again some day (after I graduate).

[Idril]

I know a little, a few words here and there but nothing that would help me if I was stuck in Norway without a translator, although I would imagine I would learn pretty quickly if that was the case.

[SleepyWitch]

The winners of the Neuschwanstein quiz will be announced tomorrow

[SleepyWitch]

Hip hip hooray, we've got two winners! well done :)
papaya and Niamh sent me their answers and got 3 out of 5 right.
Originally, I said you have to get all of them right, but seeing as only you two took part, you win anway and you'll get 3 postcards each.
Please PM me your postal address (again), so I can send you the postcards.



1. When was Neuschwanstein built?
a) in medieval times
b) in the 16th century
c) in the 18 the century
d) in the 19th century
(one of you added that it was begun in 1869:thumbs_up )

2. Who built the castle?
a) Sissi (Elizabeth), Empress of Austria
b) King Ludwig II of Bavaria
c) King Maximilian II of Bavaria
d) Charlemagne
(one of you mentioned "Mad King Ludwig" :thumbs_up )

3. what was the form of government in Bavaria at the time the castle was built?
a) absolute monarchy
b) constitutional monarchy
c) dictatorship
d) republic
(this one was tough. Bavaria adopted a constitution in 1808 and another one in 1818. The 1818 constitution established a parliament, but there wasn't universal suffrage, freedom of the press or a full separation of powers yet)

4. Which hero did the owner of the castle identify with?
a) Siegfried
b) Marie Antoinette
c) Parzival (Percival)
d) Thor
(tut-tut; nope it's not Siegfried, as one of you said; you're lucky you didn't pick Thor ;))

5. how did the builder of Neuschwanstein Castle die?
a) drowned in a lake
b) shot by an assassin
c) fell off his/her horse
d) poisoned

you can read up about Neuschwanstein here: http://www.neuschwanstein.de/english/castle/ludwig/index.htm

[B-Mental]

bah I could have wiped the beerhall with minimum of 4 out of 5 with my eyes closed...I've been there twice already, about 18 & 22 years ago.

[SleepyWitch]

bah I could have wiped the beerhall with minimum of 4 out of 5 with my eyes closed...I've been there twice already, about 18 & 22 years ago.

heehee :) why didn't you take part in the quiz then?
I'll do another on in Feb. :p

[B-Mental]

Yes, maybe this time you will find something I haven't studied yet...like yodeling, polka-dancing, wine, beer, bread, cheese, animal husbandry, train schedules...oh wait I already know all of that....LOL...I can't wait, I might keep Larry the Leprechaun until the next quiz. Oh and by been there, I meant Neuschwanstein.

[SleepyWitch]

Yes, maybe this time you will find something I haven't studied yet...like yodeling, polka-dancing, wine, beer, bread, cheese, animal husbandry, train schedules...oh wait I already know all of that....LOL...I can't wait, I might keep Larry the Leprechaun until the next quiz. Oh and by been there, I meant Neuschwanstein.

I'll pick something dull then, especially for you :D e.g. the political system :p

[B-Mental]

oooh, I smell research in my future Sleepy.

[papayahed]

Alllllllll Riiiiiiiigghhttt!!!!!

Pay Attention next time B!!!!:lol:

[Niamh]

Woohoo!!!!
Yo B!
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/niamhking/smilies/themot13.gif

[SleepyWitch]

Hey guys, I've got some Xmassy stuff for you!

Silent Night in German (St. Thomas Boys Choir)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4puLybRGSAw

Parody of a Germany Christmas Song (Morgen Kinder wird's was geben)
this song was first re-written by the writer Erich Kästner, but this here is a different parody version (including some of Kästner's lines), I've given a (wobbly) translation below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO_X4j6PKFM


morgen kinder wirds nichts geben
morgen kriegt iher nichts geschenkt,
Kids, there won't be any presents tomorrow
mutter schenkte euch das leben,
your mother gave you your life
das genügt, wenn man's bedenkt.
and that's enough of a gift if you think about it.

einmal kommt auch eure zeit,
one day your time will come
morgen ist's noch nicht so weit.
but tomorrow's not that day.

Wir solln euch den Hals voll schenken,
we're expected to shove gifts down your throat,
sagt, was bildet Ihr Euch ein?
who do you think you are?
Könnt weder arbeiten noch denken
You can neither work nor think,
und wollt doch bescheret sein.
but you want to get presents anyway.
Ich weiß, dass Ihr Euch trotzdem freut,
I know you're looking forward to it anyway
morgen ist ein Tag wie heut.
Tomorrrow's just another day

Und Eure gemalte Grütze,
Your ugly paintings,
liebe Kinder habt Erbarmen,
(dear kids have mercy)
hängt blöd rum, ist zu nichts nütze,
hang around pointlessly and are totally useless
das könnt Ihr Euch wirklich sparen.
you can cut the painting
Ohne Euren Maltrieb,
Without your urge to paint
ham wer Euch noch mal so lieb.
We like you double as much

children cry
Singer: "Today's kids don't have any sense of humour, do they?"



hubby and me took some pics of the Nuremberg Christmas Market. Some of them are a bit blurred :(

Stalls at the Christkindelsmarkt + Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4255.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4265.jpg


Schöner Brunnen (The Beautiful Fountain/Well)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4263.jpg

Horses

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4258.jpg

Zwetschgenmännla (little figures made from prunes
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4239.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4237.jpg

Bratwurst in a bun (hubby's hands)

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4240.jpg

Sleepy with a cup of Glühwein (mulled wine)

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4242.jpg

Christmas tree decorations
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4247.jpg

Traditional candy (drops)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4248.jpg

Sleepy buying Lebkuchen (ginger bread)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4249.jpg

More Lebkuchen
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4251.jpg

[B-Mental]

Oh, man, that was cool Sleepy....great pics... I'll link some pics of the german things that Wisconsin promotes...Bratwurst done the Sconny way.

I loved the link....I was listening to silent night in Deutsch, while looking at the pics. Prost...B

[SleepyWitch]

glad you liked them, B-Mental :)
what's 'the Sconny way'?

[B-Mental]

Sconny is like a nickname for Wisconsin, USA. I wish I had a camera, I would take photos from my days in Germany and scan them, if I could find my photo albums...they are so cool.

[SleepyWitch]

Sconny is like a nickname for Wisconsin, USA. I wish I had a camera, I would take photos from my days in Germany and scan them, if I could find my photo albums...they are so cool.

yeah, that would be cool! I hope you'll find them :)


here's some more Xmassy links

a web cam of Nuremberg Christmas Market. (you can click where it says der letzten 30 Minuten to get a fast forward of the past 30 minutes. gives you a good impression of how crowded it can get
http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/index.php?navi=1&rid=2&artid=193

Opening of the Christmasmarket by the Christkindel (Christmas Angel/ Baby Jesus; = the woman in a golden angel costume). It's in German and a bit lengthy, but if you like Xmas kitsch it's just what you need :)
by the way, the Christkindel gives the opening speech from the top of the church you can see in the pics.
http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/index.php?navi=1&rid=30
click hier zur Verfügung

the homepage of the Xmas market in English, with pics and info:
http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/english/start.php

[B-Mental]

:santasmil :santasmil :santasmil Cool, I'll be checking it out all day...Merry Christmas SleepyWitch.:santasmil :santasmil :santasmil

[SleepyWitch]

Merry Christmas (Frohe Weihnachten) to you, too.

[B-Mental]

I always thought it was 'Frohliche Weinachten'?

[SleepyWitch]

I always thought it was 'Frohliche Weinachten'?

both are OK, I think

[B-Mental]

yeah the language kind of progresses...I haven't been there in a while, but when I was there we kept repeating the word wunderbar whenever a german speaker said it...then one young lady told me they now say wunderfol..or wundervol...can't remember the spelling, and that only geeks said wunderbar...oh well.

[Koa]

I love Krapfen :D:D:D
I studied German for 3 years at school.
I live not far from Sudtirol :lol:
During the summer, but not only, my city and most of all the nearby lake, become a German colony, which includes bilingual signs and menus :lol: (so much that we call any sunburnt Northern-looking foreigner "German", even if they might in fact be Dutch or Danish or who knows)
The Christmas markets we had in Manchester were impressively similar to those.

[SleepyWitch]

I love Krapfen :D:D:D
I studied German for 3 years at school.
I live not far from Sudtirol :lol:
During the summer, but not only, my city and most of all the nearby lake, become a German colony, which includes bilingual signs and menus :lol: (so much that we call any sunburnt Northern-looking foreigner "German", even if they might in fact be Dutch or Danish or who knows)
The Christmas markets we had in Manchester were impressively similar to those.

heehee, yep, there's a nice Xmas market in Birmingham, too, where you can buy Glühwein and Stollen at outrageous prices

[crazefest456]

:alien: Foooood...Caaaannddy...the gingerbread looks so rich and I didn't know that there's more than one kind! I'd lick the screen but I know it's filthy:p
I'm in love with the cute prune man on the moon....

Zwetschgenmännla (little figures made from prunes
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4239.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4237.jpg

Traditional candy (drops)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4248.jpg

Sleepy buying Lebkuchen (ginger bread)
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4249.jpg

More Lebkuchen
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4251.jpg

[Niamh]

Yummy!!!!!!!!!! I was eating Lebkuchan yesterday and today. Got some in Aldi.:D

[crazefest456]

You have an Aldi in ireland!?

[Niamh]

And Lidl.:D

[barbara0207]

Euch allen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein glückliches neues Jahr!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Great pics, Sleepy!

[SleepyWitch]

:alien: Foooood...Caaaannddy...the gingerbread looks so rich and I didn't know that there's more than one kind! I'd lick the screen but I know it's filthy:p
I'm in love with the cute prune man on the moon....

heehee, yep the gingerbread is very rich indeed. The original Elisen Lebkuchen may contain only ten percent flour, not more. They are made from ground nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts..), honey, candied orange and lemon peels, spices... There's other types that are allowed to be made with more than 10% flour. If you buy them from a high quality baker or gingerbread manufacturer they taste great, too, but the mass ones at the supermarket aren't that good.
The other stuff you can see in the pics (where the sign says "Früchtebrot") is fruitcake. It's got figs, dates, apricots, hazelnuts...

[chasestalling]

[QUOTE=barbara0207;500934]Euch allen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein glückliches neues Jahr!

auch

[Virgil]

Sleepy with a cup of Glühwein (mulled wine)

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/SleepyWitch/HPIM4242.jpg



:lol: Sleepy, you look like you're ready to go to the artic and explore the North Pole. How cold was it?

[SleepyWitch]

:lol: Sleepy, you look like you're ready to go to the artic and explore the North Pole. How cold was it?

heehee, I don't know may 0 or °C but the wind was very chilly.

[SleepyWitch]

lookie here, what barbara posted: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31364
it's a 'traditional' German New Years sketch, only we don't have a sense of humour, so we had to import some Brits to do it for us :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Sweets America]

LOL Sleepy, you look so funny on that pic!! You look a little anxious, you look like a little bunny standing in the middle of the road and seeing that a car is coming right towards its direction. :D

[SleepyWitch]

LOL Sleepy, you look so funny on that pic!! You look a little anxious, you look like a little bunny standing in the middle of the road and seeing that a car is coming right towards its direction. :D

hehehe :) my fingers where freezing and the sign behind my head said "WC" and I was trying to cover it with my head :)

[barbara0207]

Thanks for promoting my video thread, Sleepy!

And a very special HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and all visitors of the 'Kraut' thread!

[Schokokeks]

The Kraut conspiracy !!! :lol: :lol:
Sleepy, you're so hilarious !!
Count me in, then ! ;)

Adding to all those German treasures, I should post a picture of Heidelberg Castle, but I'm not in town at the moment, but I'll try to take one when I'm back there :nod:.

[SleepyWitch]

The Kraut conspiracy !!! :lol: :lol:
Sleepy, you're so hilarious !!
Count me in, then ! ;)

Adding to all those German treasures, I should post a picture of Heidelberg Castle, but I'm not in town at the moment, but I'll try to take one when I'm back there :nod:.

that would be cool :)
and once I've done my profile of Bavaria, you can do one of your state. uh,,,, I forgot where you are originally from???

[Schokokeks]

that would be cool :)
and once I've done my profile of Bavaria, you can do one of your state. uh,,,, I forgot where you are originally from???
Ba-Wü it is, but originally, I'm from the North (Westphalia), which is much nicer anyway than Bavaria where everyone utters uncomprehensible gibberish :p.

[SleepyWitch]

Ba-Wü it is, but originally, I'm from the North (Westphalia), which is much nicer anyway than Bavaria where everyone utters uncomprehensible gibberish :p.

Ge' Saupreiß, schau dosst weita kimmst! :D
hehe, if you can spare a minute (maybe during the next holidays) maybe you could post some stuff about Ba-Wü? I'll post my profile of Bavaria once I've finished my thesis.

[barbara0207]

Ba-Wü it is, but originally, I'm from the North (Westphalia), which is much nicer anyway than Bavaria where everyone utters uncomprehensible gibberish :p.

Ha, another Westphalian! Welcome to the Kraut thread. We're not too many so every soul counts.

I think I'll cook sauerkraut tomorrow. :D

[Niamh]

At least there are a few germans on the site. I'm practically alone:bawling:

[barbara0207]

At least there are a few germans on the site. I'm practically alone:bawling:

Aw, poor dear! I thought there were more of you because Irish literature is all over the place whereas German lit is hard to find. Does that console you a bit? :)

[Niamh]

:( Just a lot of people who like Irish Literature. I've seen a few Irish join up, but after a few posts they vanish!

[SleepyWitch]

:( Just a lot of people who like Irish Literature. I've seen a few Irish join up, but after a few posts they vanish!

:( but you can count us as honorary Irish people :) I read a geography article about German expats in Ireland once. There was this colony of Germans in Ireland and when other tourists came there, they were disappointed about the Irish. They asked "Where can we see the real Irish?" and the locals said "Oh, try the Germans over that way" because the Germans had all grown long red beards, played Irish musical instruments and sung Irish folk songs all day long :D

[Niamh]

:( but you can count us as honorary Irish people :) I read a geography article about German expats in Ireland once. There was this colony of Germans in Ireland and when other tourists came there, they were disappointed about the Irish. They asked "Where can we see the real Irish?" and the locals said "Oh, try the Germans over that way" because the Germans had all grown long red beards, played Irish musical instruments and sung Irish folk songs all day long :D

:lol: thats funny! And its weird that you called them expat germans seeing as the term originated from the irish going abroad!:D We are the Pats after all! (the Paddys and the Bridies:p ) It also put in mind of the term, more irish than the irish themselves!
Maybe i should set up a "Who wants to be Irish with me so i'm not alone!" thread.....

[SleepyWitch]

: It also put in mind of the term, more irish than the irish themselves!

yep, that's exactly what it was :) most Germans who live abroad are totally over-assimilated. for the first couple of years they will refuse to meet other Germans or speak German, but after a couple of years they give it up :)

[Niamh]

Thanks for the map btw sleepy!

[SleepyWitch]

Thanks for the map btw sleepy!

oh? you got my postcards?

[Niamh]

Yeah they arrived today!:p really pretty! I wanna see that castle:(
Think i might set up that Ireland thread. What you think? Do general info stuff and quizzes and be the only person in it spending all day talking to myself!:bawling:

[SleepyWitch]

Yeah they arrived today!:p really pretty! I wanna see that castle:(
Think i might set up that Ireland thread. What you think? Do general info stuff and quizzes and be the only person in it spending all day talking to myself!:bawling:

haha, maybe there aren't so many Irish ppl on here, but I'm sure there are loads more Ireland fans than Krautophiles. If there's a quiz, I'll take part :) I won't hurt me to learn a bit more about Ireland :)

[barbara0207]

Yeah they arrived today!:p really pretty! I wanna see that castle:(
Think i might set up that Ireland thread. What you think? Do general info stuff and quizzes and be the only person in it spending all day talking to myself!:bawling:

Call me a member! :D

[Schokokeks]

Ha, another Westphalian!
Nice to meet you, Barbara ! :wave:
Though I'm actually a Westphalian expat (there, used the term ! ;) ) currently studying in Heidelberg.

Adding to Sleepy's story about the German expats, I heard a radio feature by the BBC recently, arguing that it seems to be far more attractive to people to be "Celtic" and interested in "Celtic culture" than to be, e. g. Anglo-Saxon, or English, or even Germanic.

Oh yes, Niamh, do set up a quiz !!

[Koa]

At least there are a few germans on the site. I'm practically alone:bawling:

I like to be the unique member of my nationality here :D A few other Italians joined at times, but left pretty soon. I swear I didn't do anything to make them leave :lol:

[barbara0207]

Nice to meet you, Barbara ! :wave:
Though I'm actually a Westphalian expat (there, used the term ! ;) ) currently studying in Heidelberg.

Hi, Schokokeks - what a really sweet user name! :) At first I thought you were Dutch because of the 'koekjestrommel'.


Adding to Sleepy's story about the German expats, I heard a radio feature by the BBC recently, arguing that it seems to be far more attractive to people to be "Celtic" and interested in "Celtic culture" than to be, e. g. Anglo-Saxon, or English, or even Germanic.


Did they say why? - It also seems that more and more Irish people now try to preserve their language and heritage.

[Niamh]

I like to be the unique member of my nationality here :D A few other Italians joined at times, but left pretty soon. I swear I didn't do anything to make them leave :lol:

Yeah i believe ya!;)

Maybe its because of the romanticism associated with all things celtic Barbara.:p

[barbara0207]

Maybe its because of the romanticism associated with all things celtic Barbara.:p

Maybe. It's a good explanation because many people are looking for romaniticism and a little 'warmth' and magic in a globalized world that they perceive as cold and harsh.

[SleepyWitch]

Maybe. It's a good explanation because many people are looking for romaniticism and a little 'warmth' and magic in a globalized world that they perceive as cold and harsh.

yep, plus many people (even well-off people in the North) feel treated unfairly or as if they 'special' (only no-one can see it), so they identify with the Celts because they were displaced by the Romans+ Anglo-Saxons and are associated with druidism, magic, etc.

[Klingsor]

So here you are!

I wanna be part of this konspiracy, because I am from the banks of the Rhine.
(Originally I'm Westphalian, too.)

Nice to meet you here! :wave:

[SleepyWitch]

So here you are!

I wanna be part of this konspiracy, because I am from the banks of the Rhine.
(Originally I'm Westphalian, too.)

Nice to meet you here! :wave:

Hi :) Welcome to the Kraut Konspiracy an to LitNet :) looks like I'm outnumbered by NRW folks (Westphalians)

[barbara0207]

So here you are!

I wanna be part of this konspiracy, because I am from the banks of the Rhine.
(Originally I'm Westphalian, too.)

Nice to meet you here! :wave:

Yesss!!! Another one! Welcome, Klingsor. :D
This thread becomes crowded with Westphalians - though most of them 'expat'. I wonder what made them do it ...:(

[SleepyWitch]

So here you are!

I wanna be part of this konspiracy, because I am from the banks of the Rhine.
(Originally I'm Westphalian, too.)

Nice to meet you here! :wave:

Hi again. read the CV on your homepage last night and found it very entertaining ;) will read your poems when I've got more time

[Klingsor]

Hi again. read the CV on your homepage last night and found it very entertaining ;) will read your poems when I've got more time

Thank you. You're welcome.

I think there is really a south-german predominance in this thread. By this conspiracy the Bavarians pretend to be Germans, haha - but you failed! :D

Real German cows look like this:

http://www.gbiu.de/Hamsterkiste/Sachunterricht/Milch/kuh.jpg

[SleepyWitch]

Thank you. You're welcome.

I think there is really a south-german predominance in this thread. By this conspiracy the Bavarians pretend to be Germans, haha - but you failed! :D

Real German cows look like this:

http://www.gbiu.de/Hamsterkiste/Sachunterricht/Milch/kuh.jpg

yeah, if German is a synonym for Dutch in your vocab, I totally agree :D

[Klingsor]

yeah, if German is a synonym for Dutch in your vocab, I totally agree :D

Sure, the Dutchmen are some kind of German, too. They sing it in their national anthem: "ben ik van Duitsen bloed" ("I am of German blood"). I think the Dutchmen are at least as much German as the Bavarians. But they don't like to hear this (any Dutchmen here?) :D ... And unlike the Bavarians they went their way constantly and founded their own state - this is very laudable! (Now I need a smiley waving a Dutch flag, but they have none ... I take this instead: :santasmil , Santa Claus was a Dutchman, too ....)

But anyway, Sleepy, just go on posting pictures of these strange alpine animals, they are really cute ... ;)

[B-Mental]

Thank you. You're welcome.

I think there is really a south-german predominance in this thread. By this conspiracy the Bavarians pretend to be Germans, haha - but you failed! :D

Real German cows look like this:

http://www.gbiu.de/Hamsterkiste/Sachunterricht/Milch/kuh.jpg

If you look closely, that picture was taken in Wisconsin. What is the name of the breed? Is Holstein correct?

[Klingsor]

If you look closely, that picture was taken in Wisconsin. What is the name of the breed? Is Holstein correct?

Yes, Holstein is correct.

Wisconsin? You mean if I turn on the sound I will hear this cow speaking English with a German accent?

[B-Mental]

Well, I might be able to find some bilingual cows in Wisconsin....let me see. Uh-oh, the last bilingual Holstein left Wisconsin after an ugly cow tipping incident...whereabouts presently unknown...

[SleepyWitch]

Well, I might be able to find some bilingual cows in Wisconsin....let me see. Uh-oh, the last bilingual Holstein left Wisconsin after an ugly cow tipping incident...whereabouts presently unknown...

oh my God, how cruel! :)
I hope it didn't end up inside a Sconny bratwurst

[B-Mental]

Hmm, anyone for sauerkraut...I'm craving a bratwurst with stoneground mustard. MMMMMMMMmmmmn

[SleepyWitch]

this reminds me I haven't had any sauerkraut in years :( it's probably because i'm a veggie and sauerkraut usually comes with bratwurst or meat. next time I go to a restaurant with hubby, I'll ask him to order some meaty dish with sauerkraut.

[B-Mental]

I just love saurkraut, its tangy goodness, the overwhelming smell of heaven that accompanies it....sigh...Love at first pickling.

[barbara0207]

this reminds me I haven't had any sauerkraut in years :( it's probably because i'm a veggie and sauerkraut usually comes with bratwurst or meat. next time I go to a restaurant with hubby, I'll ask him to order some meaty dish with sauerkraut.


I just love saurkraut, its tangy goodness, the overwhelming smell of heaven that accompanies it....sigh...Love at first pickling.

Why don't you cook it yourselves? It's easy and quick. Here's a northern variety:

Fried Sauerkraut
Heat some margarine in a frying pan. Cut an onion into cubes. Fry until yellowish or light brown. Add a can/glass of sauerkraut. Fry until the sauerkraut is light brown. Add some water if you like. Add a pinch of salt and some sugar (according to taste). My husband also likes it if there are cubes of bacon in it. I don't, so I fry the bacon separately.

[barbara0207]

It's carnival again, and Monday is the day of the big parades. People wear fancy costumes, there are brass bands and big wagons concerned with different subjects, often national, international or regional politics. On the picture you see part of the parade in Cologne, one of the biggest and most famous ones in Germany. However, there aren't parades in all parts of Germany.

http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images_v2/002/509/487/20070213/dyn005_original_450_304_pjpeg_2509487_bc9444a20669 f3d0f67de44afc22852a.jpg

[SleepyWitch]

hey, thanks Barbara. I almost forgot about carnival! (half of my students are gonna get boozed up today and won't turn up tomorrow, but I forgot anyway :confused:


now that I've handed in my thesis, I'll start research on my profile of Bavaria. meanwhile, here's a link about tourism in Bavaria (in English). you can read about Bavaria's most beautiful cities here, for exammple

http://www.bayern.by/en/index.html

[SleepyWitch]

mwuuaaahaaaa, all the foreign language threads have been locked and the Kraut Konspiracy is the sole surviver mwuaaaaahaaaa. it's a good thing we all learn to speak English as part of our plans to invade England and conquer the world :D
on a more serious seriously, I'm sorry these threads got locked but it's understandable, seeing as the mods can't be expected to learn X number of languages so as to monitor what people are saying.

I still haven't found the time to write up my profile of Bavaria :(
but
I'll work on a new quiz over the weekend and post it by the beginning of next week. This time there will be two quizzes, actually, a dull and difficult one with a special prize and an easier one with less extravagant (but no less breathtakingly attractive ;) ) prizes. This time I'll give you a full month to do research, so you'll have plenty of time to figure out the answers. :banana: :banana:

[SleepyWitch]

- quiz news -
aaargh, still haven't done the quiz but I hope I can load it up tonight. I'm working on it... mentally.

- interesting link: news magazine (in English) - :banana:
meanwhile, here's a link to SPIEGEL International. DER SPIEGEL is one of Germany's leading news magazines. This site has (indepths) news about Germany, Europe and the whole world. What's more, it's in English and the online version is free. This week you can read about Kosovo, the U.S. presidential campgaign, tax fraud in Germany/Lichtenstein, Hitler's rise to power, ...and Nuremberg's one and only polar bear cub 'Snowflake'. They also do a 'pub quiz'

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,,00.html

[Virgil]

May I ask why people outside the US have such an interest in American politics? We read very little of other nation's politics in our papers, probably because the interest is not there. It's hard enough for Americans to care about their own politics. Why are other country's interested?

[Themis]

May I ask why people outside the US have such an interest in American politics? We read very little of other nation's politics in our papers, probably because the interest is not there. It's hard enough for Americans to care about their own politics. Why are other country's interested?

Because America's powerful. What affects you, affects us.

[Virgil]

Because America's powerful. What affects you, affects us.

But you have no power to affect it. You can't vote here. What ever happens, happens.

[Themis]

But you have no power to affect it. You can't vote here. What ever happens, happens.

No, what I meant is this: how America acts in world politics affects us. If you choose to start another war or make peace somewhere or acknowledge something (Kosova for example) affects us.
We are geared to you.

[SleepyWitch]

Because America's powerful. What affects you, affects us.

yep, I suppose that's the main reason why Europeans are interested in U.S. politics.
plus, most Europeans (especially Germans) are very keen to read about what's going on in the world (not only the U.S. but everywhere), although I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's to do with the school system, or the way the media cover international issues or both of them... I think with Germans, part of the reason is that they generally like showing off their knowledge. Also, politics is considered an appropriate topic for small talk! :eek: it's OK to discuss politics with a random stranger you've just met, just like the Brits talk about the weather!
maybe this is due to the "68ers". In the wake of the Civil Rights and hippie movements in the U.S. in the 60s, German youths became more interested in politics. They found out that their parents or grandparents had tolerated or even supported the Nazis and had hushed it up later. So the kids were really pissed of with their parents for supporting the Nazis and everyone became really interested in politics and it's still considered an integral part of people's lives to keep track of events so they can reach informed decisions and not fall prey to Nazis and other demagogues.

[Virgil]

No, what I meant is this: how America acts in world politics affects us. If you choose to start another war or make peace somewhere or acknowledge something (Kosova for example) affects us.
We are geared to you.

I can understand wanting to know the policies of our Presidents and Congress. But right now we're not even having an election yet. This is just the process of selecting the nominees for the two political parties. This is nity grity detail that I'm puzzled over why someone from another country would take interest in. Not only am I relatively oblivious to the leaders of other countries, but to go into the depth of the political parties, how they get selected/voted, and then the general contest I have had enough of that in my country :sick: let alone others.

[SleepyWitch]

I can understand wanting to know the policies of our Presidents and Congress. But right now we're not even having an election yet. This is just the process of selecting the nominees for the two political parties. This is nity grity detail that I'm puzzled over why someone from another country would take interest in. Not only am I relatively oblivious to the leaders of other countries, but to go into the depth of the political parties, how they get selected/voted, and then the general contest I have had enough of that in my country :sick: let alone others.

yeah, I can totally understand that. but as an American you don't need to be intersted in the elections in other countries, because you live in the most powerful country in the world. So other governments are likely to follow the lead of your government or, conversely, oppose your government, but the U.S. government is not very likely to model its policies on those of Panama, Lichtenstein, Germany, Austria or the Federated States of Micronesia. So what happens in other countries does not really affect your life all that much (or at least not in an obvious way), whereas what happens in the U.S. directly affects the lives of people in other places.
For example, the first thing our relatively new chancellor Angela Merkel did after she was elected was to engage in secrect talks with George Bush about attacking Iran and sending German soldiers there to fight. I don't want the Kraut Konspiracy to be locked, so I'll keep my opinion about this to myself (please do the same, Themis and Virge, OK?). But as you can see, who governs the U.S. can decide about whether German soldiers live or die. So it affects people's lives directly.

[mercy_mankind]

May I ask why people outside the US have such an interest in American politics? We read very little of other nation's politics in our papers, probably because the interest is not there. It's hard enough for Americans to care about their own politics. Why are other country's interested?

Sorry , but the American politics are linked with our politics.
If i want to read our politics I have to find the word "America" so it is important to read American Foreign Policy.

[Themis]

I don't want the Kraut Konspiracy to be locked, so I'll my opinion about this to myself (please do the same, Themis and Virge, OK?).

Of course.

[Virgil]

So what happens in other countries does not really affect your life all that much (or at least not in an obvious way), whereas what happens in the U.S. directly affects the lives of people in other places.


Not exactly. This silly global warming thing was mostly started by you Europeans. ;) Now which European politician started this nonesense, because I need a European to hate. :p :lol:

P.S. I know, I know, Al Gore. But he's mostly European. :lol:

[SleepyWitch]

Not exactly. This silly global warming thing was mostly started by you Europeans. ;) Now which European politician started this nonesense, because I need a European to hate. :p :lol:

P.S. I know, I know, Al Gore. But he's mostly European. :lol:
yeah, Tennessee (that's where he's from, right?) should join the EU. wouldn't it be fun to have a E.U. state in the middle of the US?

[SleepyWitch]

hey folks, I've just ordered 5 free tourism brochures of Baden-Württemberg (the state next to Bavaria, in the south western part of Germany). They're in ENGLISH :)
if you want them, give me a shout. I'll mail them to the first 5 ppl who want them (will need your postal addy for this).
you can also order them yourself for free here:
http://www.tourismus-bw.de/prospektbestellung_versand.6993.htm?lang=en

it's the one at the top of the list.
click "in den warenkorb"
then "zum warenkorb"
then there's a grey button "weiter zur Adresseingabe"
leave "Organisation/Firma" blank or fill in your work adress/company if you want it delivered there
"Vorname" = first name
"Nachname"= surname
"Straße/ Nr" = your street and street number
"PLZ"= postcode (zip code)
"Ort"= town/ city
"Land"= country. DON'T FORGET THIS! if you're in the U.S. you can put your state in there along with US, eg.: PA, USA

don't tick any of the boxes
click "Bestellen"
then there's some blabla: they will not charge you any fee unless you want to give a donation. they will include a pay slip for the donation (but you can throw it away). make sure the sum at the top says "0.00" though!
then click "Bestellung abschicken"

erhem, the quiz is coming up soon, I'm working on it :D

[SleepyWitch]

hurrah, I've finally finished the new quizes.

The rules
this time there are two quizes, an easy one and a harder one with cooler prizes. Please pick one and take part only in one of them.
this time, I'd like to see at least 5 participants all in all, because playing against yourself is too easy :) so badger your buddies to take part, if you want to win. if there are less than 5 participants, no one wins and I'll keep the prizes for the next round :D mean but effective, I hope :)
if you want a prize, you'll need to PM me your postal addy. if you're under 18, please ask your parents' permission.

first prize= all answers correct
second prize= whoever's got most answers right, but not all of them (if you've only got one answer right, I'll think of draconian punishments, though :))


>>>DON'T POST YOUR ANSWERS HERE! PM THEM TO ME ON APRIL 25<<<

the deadline is April 25, ie. you've got a month to do research. PM your answer to me on April 25. If there are more than 1 winner, the one who sent in their answers first gets the prize

Prizes
hard quiz
1st prize: a best of CD by German singer Reinhard Mey. Sleepy will enclose a translation of the lyrics, plus a special surprise goody
http://www.amazon.de/Immer-Weiter-Reinhard-Mey/dp/B0000089K5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1206002692&sr=8-1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Mey
you can listen to a funny song by him down there (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=544869&postcount=163)



Mey writes both sensitive and humorous songs, with subject matter taken mostly from his everyday life and surroundings. His themes include life on the road, his hobbies (e.g., flying), childhood memories, his family life and surroundings, and occasionally politics. Many of his songs are humorous and demonstrate Mey's extraordinary linguistic versatility. Mey's songs are characterized most by their expressiveness of language and their penetrating melodies.
Mey's politics tend to be moderate to left-leaning. He speaks out in particular for freedom and non-violence, and not only in his songs

(I bought the CD used on amazon, it is not burned or otherwise illegally obtained)

2nd prize:
the same special goody as 1st prize, plus 3 postcards of Germany


easy quiz

1st prize: special goody, 2 postcards of Germany
2nd prize: three postcards

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++

easy quiz
you can find the answers in this thread and on wikipedia (sometimes you have to click a couple of links; you can paste German words from here into the English wiki and it will find them+their entries in English)

1. when are Berlin donuts usually eaten?
a) Christmas
b) Easter
c) Carnival
d) throughout the year

2. Geography of the sausage 1
which cities/ regions are known for bratwurst?
a) Nuremberg, Thuringia (state); (and Regensburg)
b) Munich, Baden-Württemberg and Berlin
c) Munich, Heidelberg and Saxony
d) Frankfurt

3. Geography of the sausage 2:
what is a Weißwurstäquator (white sausage equator)
a) an imaginary cultural border separating die-hard weisswurst-eating Bavarians from ‘Northeners’, i.e. variously the river Main or Danube
b) an imaginary cultural border separating die-hard weisswurst-eating Bavarians from Austrians, i.e. the border between Germany and Austria
c) the middle part of a weisswurst, which is the most delicious bit
d) a machine used to make sure all weisswursts come in the same size, equator as in equal

4. Germans open their Christmas presents on
a) December 25, Christmas Day
b) December 24, Christmas Eve
c) December 26
d) January 6




hard quiz
you can find the answers on wikipedia (you can paste German words from here into the English wiki and it will find them+their entries in English) and here: http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/home1.html
(especially: Federal states, Society, History and Modern Life)

1. which are the two most populous states in German? + give their population figures (something like “5 million” is exact enough)
a) Brandenburg and Rhineland-Palatinate
b) Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria
c) North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria
d) Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hesse

2. How many states does Germany consist of?
a) 17
b) 18, not counting Berlin
c) 16, including the city states
d) 16, not counting the city states

3. These events all happen(ed) on a 9th November
a) Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), Kristallnacht (1938), Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch (1923)
b) parliamentary elections (every 4 years), elections for state governors (ditto), elections for mayors (ditto)
c) Treaty of Versailles (1919), Birmingham Blitz (1943), Revolution of 1848

4. which body of water is sometimes called Swabian sea?
a) Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg/Bavaria
b) Chiemsee in Bavaria
c) the Baltic Sea
d) the North Sea

5. The largest minority/immigrant group (not counting German repatriates from the ex- Soviet Union) are …., they immigrated there because….
a) Turks, because of Germany’s Muslim-friendly laws
b) Austrians, because Germany is so close to Austria
c) Africans, seeking political asylum
d) Turks, who came to Germany as ‘guest workers’

6. The German constitution is called…
a) Law of the Land (Landesgesetz)
b) Basic Law (Grundgesetz)
c) General Law (Allgemeines Gesetz)
d) Federal Law (Bundesgesetz)

7. The most popular fast-food in Germany is
a) Bratwurst
b) Curry
c) Burgers and Subs
d) Doner Kebap



Thanks for taking part and good luck!

[Lulim]

Hi SleepyWitch, this is an easy one for Franconians — It's only fair if I abstain … did you chose the deadline date for any special reason :confused:

[SleepyWitch]

Hi SleepyWitch, this is an easy one for Franconians — It's only fair if I abstain … did you chose the deadline date for any special reason :confused:

oh right, 20 April.. what was that? something horrid like Hitler's Birthday? I can change it to 21 if you want.
yep, the idea is that Germans abstain because it's too easy :( but thanks for visiting the Kraut Konspiracy :) which part of Franconia are you in? have I asked you that before?
edit: changed it to April 25. better?

[Lulim]

(…) which part of Franconia are you in? have I asked you that before?
It is Lower Franconia, Gerolzhofen, near Schweinfurt; not that far from your place …

changed it to April 25. better?
Yes – much better!
Are the winners to be announced here?

[tractatus]

Franconia, you use this term for all Germany?

[Lulim]

Not at all — only I don't like to be called Bavarian; Franconia is only a small region in the very heart of germany, and, yes, formally it belongs to bavaria …

[SleepyWitch]

Franconia, you use this term for all Germany?

lookie here, tractatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia

[SleepyWitch]

here's a funny song by Reinhard Mey from the CD that you can win in the quiz.
my wobbly translation doesn't rhyme, so it's only half as funny in English, but I've highlighted the rhyming words for your (edit: ooops, it's not on that CD, but it's funny anyway)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oUDFCbLPw0
Reinhard Mey - Ankomme, Freitag Den 13. Lyrics
Arriving Friday 13
Friday 13 is an unlucky day



Es rappelt am Briefschlitz, es ist viertel nach sieben
The mailbox rattles, it’s quarter past seven
Wo alles in der Welt sind meine Latschen geblieben?
Where in the world are my slippers?
Unter dem Kopfkissen nicht und auch nicht im Papierkorb
not under the pillow and not in the dustbin, either
Dabei könnte ich schwören, sie war'n gestern noch dort
but I could swear they were there yesterday
Also eben nicht, dann geh' ich halt barfuß
well, then I’ll do without them and just walk barefoot
Meine Brille ist auch weg, liegt sicher im Abfluß
My glasses have disappeared, too, I’m sure they’re in the drain
Der Badewanne, wie immer, na, ich seh' ganz gut ohne
of the bath tub, as always, well, I can see without them
Und die Brille hält länger, wenn ich sie etwas schone
and the glasses will last longer if I don’t use them too much
So tapp' ich zum Briefschlitz durch den Flur unwegsam
so I traips to the mailbox through the impassable hall
Fall über meine Dackel Justus auf ein Telegramm
I trip over my dachshund Justus onto a telegramme
Ich les' es Aufsteh'n mit verklärter Miene
I read it with a dreamy face while getting back up
"Ankomme, Freitag, den 13. um 14 Uhr, Christine
Ankomme, Freitag, den 13. um 14 Uhr, Christine!"
“Arriving Friday 13 at 14.00, Christine"
Noch sechseinhalb Stunden, jetzt ist es halb acht
that’s in six and a half hours, now it’s half past seven
Vor allen Dingen: ruhig Blut, mit System und Bedacht
keep calm now, be systematic!
Zunächst einman anziehn - halt, vorher noch waschen!
first of all, get dressed, hold on, wash before that
Da find' ich die Pantoffeln in den Schlafanzugtaschen
Then I find my slippers in they pyjama pockets
Das Telefon klingelt: Nein, ich schwöre, falsch verbunden
The Telefone rings: „No, I swear, you got the wrong number,
Ich bin ganz bestimmt nicht Alfons Jondrascheck
I’m definitely not Alfons Jondrascheck
- noch viereinhalb Stunden
only four and a half more hours
Den Mülleimer raustragen, zum Kaufmann gehen
take out the dustbin, go to the grocer’s
Kopfkissen neu beziehen und Knopf an Hose nähen
put a new cover on the pillow, sew a button on the trousers
Tischdecke wechseln - ist ja total zerrissen
change the tablecloth, it’s all tattered
Hat warscheinlich der kriminelle Dackel auf dem Gewissen
The criminal dachshund must be t he culprit!
Und wahrscheinlich war der das auch an der Gardine!
And probably he finished off the curtains, too!
"Ankomme, Freitag, den 13. um 14 Uhr, Christine!"
“Arriving Friday 13 at 14.00, Christine
Zum Aufräumen ist keine Zeit, ich steck alles in die Truhe
There’s no time to tidy up, I just put everything into the chest
Abwasch, Aschenbecher, Hemden, so, jetzt habe ich Ruhe
washing-up, ashtray, shirts, now I’ve got peace and quiet
Halt, da fällt mir ein, ich hatte ihr ja fest versprochen
Stop! Now I remember I had promised her
An dem Tag, an dem sie wiederkommt, wollte ich ihr
etwas kochen!
to cook for her on the day she returns
Obwohl ich gar nicht kochen kann! Ich will es doch für sie versuchen!
even though I can’t cook at all! I’ll try it for her anyway!
Ich hab' auch keine Ahnung vom Backen und back' ihr
I don’t know the first thing about baking, either,
trotzdem einen Kuchen
and bake her a cake, anway
Ein Blick in den Kühlschrank, drin steht nur mein Wecker
I have a look in the fridge, there’s only my alarm clock in it
Noch mal runter zum Lebensmittelladen und zum Bäcker
back to the grocer’s and the baker
Rein in den Fahrstuhl und Erdgeschoß gedrückt
into the lift and press the button for groundfloor
Der Fahrstuhl bleibt stecken, der Dackel wird verrückt
the lift gets stuck and the dachshund runs amok
Nach dreiviertel Stunden befreit man mich aus der Kabine
after three quarters of an hour I get freed from the cubicle
"Ankomme, Freitag, den 13. um 14 Uhr, Christine!"
“Arriving Friday 13 at 14.00, Christine”
Den Dackel anbinden vor'm Laden, aber mich lassen sie rein
I have to tie up the dachshund in front of the store, but me they let enter
Ich kaufe irgendwas zum Essen und drei Flaschen Wein
I buy some random food and three bottles of wine
Eine Ente dazu, - ich koche Ente mit Apfelsinen, -
and a duck, as well, - I’ll make duck with organges [tone: very pleased with himself, as if duck with oranges was a real deli
Für den Kuchen eine Backform, eine Handvoll Rosinen
for the cake I get a mould, a handful of raisins
"Darf's für 20 Pfennig mehr sein? Im Stück oder in Scheiben?"
would you like a bit more for 20 pfennigs, the whole piece or sliced?
"Ist mir gleich, ich hab' das Geld vergessen, würden Sie's
bitte anschreiben?"
”That’s all the same to me, I’ve forgotten my money,
would you please put it on my tabs?”
Ich pack alles in die Tüte, Vorsicht, nicht am Henkel anfassen
Sons reißen die aus!
I pack everything into a bag, „Watch it, don’t carry it by the straps,
they’ll tear!“
Na, ich werd' schon aufpassen!
“Yeah, I’ll be careful.”
Rabatz vor der Tür, der Dackel hat sich losgerissen
There’s a racket, outside, the dachshund has torn free
Und aus purem Übermut einen Polizisten gebissen
and bitten a policeman out of enthusiasm
Da platzt meine Tüte, es rollt die Lawine
My bag bursts and an avalanche is set loose
"Ankomme, Freitag, den 13. um 14 Uhr, Christine!"
”Arrive Friday 13 at 14.00, Christine!”
"Sind Sie der Halter dieses Dackels? Bitte mal Ihre Papiere!"
[Policeman:]”Are you the owner of this dachshund? Please show me your ID cards!”
Das ist mir besonders peinlich, weil ich Papiere immer
verliere
That’s very embarrassing for me because I always lose the ID cards
Ich schimpfe, ich weine, ich verhandle und lache
I rant, I weep, I negotiate, I laugh
"Das kennen wir schon, komm' Se mit auf die Wache!"
”Yes, we know your sort, come to the police station
Um die Zeit müßte die Ente schon zeit zehn Minuten braten
At this time the duck should have been roasting for 10 minutes
Und vielleicht wär mir der Kuchen ausnahmsweise geraten
and maybe I’d even have done the cake right for once
Und ich sitz auf der Wache, und das ausgerechnet heut'
and here I am, sitting around at the police station
Dabei hab' ich mich so unverschämt auf das Wiedersehen
gefreut!
And I was so insufferably looking forward to seeing her again!
Vielleicht ist sie schon da, und es öffnet ihr keiner?
Maybe she’s already there and nobody opens the door for her?
Jetzt ist's 20 nach vier, jetzt ist alles im Eimer!
Now it’s 20 past four and all is lost!
Da fällt mein Blick auf der Kalender, und da trifft mich der Schlag
The calendar catches my eye and I’m struck by lightning
Heute ist erst der 12. ...und Donnerstag!
Today it’s only Thursday, the 12th!

[tractatus]

Not at all — only I don't like to be called Bavarian; Franconia is only a small region in the very heart of germany, and, yes, formally it belongs to bavaria …


lookie here, tractatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia

Thanks both. I have learn this.

It reminds me a word we use, "frankofon", meaning is different:"French-speaking person "

[SleepyWitch]

Thanks both. I have learn this.

It reminds me a word we use, "frankofon", meaning is different:"French-speaking person "

I think the Franks/Franconians were a historical tribe/dynasty thingy who lived in and ruled parts of what is now France as well as parts of what is now Germany. hence the confusion.... I'm a bit hazy on the history, though.

[Klingsor]

I think the Franks/Franconians were a historical tribe/dynasty thingy who lived in and ruled parts of what is now France as well as parts of what is now Germany.

Yes, that's it: The Franks were a Germanic tribe. In 481 they founded the Merovingian kingdom. Their territory reached from the Atlantic coast in the west to Saxony and Bavaria in the east, so it encompassed the later kingdom of France as well as the German region Franconia.

[blp]

Ich studiere Deutsch mit eine Freunde von einem Freund, aber ich spreche (& schreibe) noch sehr schlecht, mit, wahrscheinlich, viele Fehler.

[SleepyWitch]

Ich studiere Deutsch mit eine Freunde von einem Freund, aber ich spreche (& schreibe) noch sehr schlecht, mit, wahrscheinlich, viele Fehler.

kannst mir auf Deutsch PMn wenn du Hilfe brauchst. you can PM me in German if you need help (I'm translating this so the mods can see what we are talking about and don#t have to close the thread).
wanna take part in the Kraut quiz (^^^^)? you can win a cool CD (please read the rules carefully)

[blp]

Thanks, Sleepy! At the moment, unfortunately, my lessons aren't happening because meine Lehrerin got a job at the Goethe Institute and, otherwise, her high paying corporate clients seem to take precedence. Honestly. And she calls herself a Marxist. (she really does). So at the moment, I'm not doing any German to need help with. But I might go back to working at it under my own steam, in which case, I'll certainly take you up on your kind Offerte.

I may have a go at the German quiz, but I probably won't do well at it.

That's if I can find it. Where is it?

[SleepyWitch]

Thanks, Sleepy! At the moment, unfortunately, my lessons aren't happening because meine Lehrerin got a job at the Goethe Institute and, otherwise, her high paying corporate clients seem to take precedence. Honestly. And she calls herself a Marxist. (she really does). So at the moment, I'm not doing any German to need help with. But I might go back to working at it under my own steam, in which case, I'll certainly take you up on your kind Offerte.

I may have a go at the German quiz, but I probably won't do well at it.

That's if I can find it. Where is it?

the link in my signature should take you there :)

[SleepyWitch]

so? who's going to take part in the Kraut quiz? raise your hand?
if you don't know how to find it, the link in my signature will take you there.
Please don't post your answers here. don't PM them to me before April 25. Please, read the rules carefully!

[SleepyWitch]

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winners of the April quiz. I've been going through a bit of a rough patch here. the winners will be announced on Thursday.
hugs,
Sleepy

[Niamh]

there was another quiz and i missed it! :eek:

[SleepyWitch]

there was another quiz and i missed it! :eek:

yep... BUT I'm still thinking about what to do because actually, both participants didn't read the rules carefully and sent in their answers too early. but to be fair, I should give them their price and make the rules easier next time.
anyway, there were two quizzes, a hard one and an easy one. I think both participants took the hard one. so I will repost the easy one for the next round and you can take part :)

[Niamh]

yeay!
Better send me a PM to remind me though!