The Kraut Konspiracy

[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.S. I know, I know, Al Gore. But he's mostly European.

[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.S. I know, I know, Al Gore. But he's mostly European.

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/prospektb...93.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

[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 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-Re...6002692&sr=8-1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Mey
you can listen to a funny song by him down there

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

[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

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.