Despite what you may think...

The year has come to an end but this financial crisis facing the globe remains resilient. However, is it all what is cranked up to be? Instead of Santa this year will we be seeing the horsemen of the apocalypse riding a sleigh in the foreseeable future? I beg to differ. This Christmas Marlyn Monroe pictures are being sold for untold sums and there are stampedes in Walmart's when the seasonal shoppers are faced with the prospect of buying. All in all this reflects basic truths that it's business as usual for the world. We have been hearing of meltdown for too long, purchasing power has not shrunk its simply been realigned. The Orient is finally able to challenge western dominance and the traditional middle class has to rethink its options. Sharing wealth 'nouveau middle class' is the only viable alternative. So yes, the world survived the great depression, the OPEC embargo- this is a walk in the park...


A.B.P

Breaking Away from the Past- A Clash Disparaging Histories

German political history is arguably shaped by four important periods- The period of the German empire (1871-1918), the period of the Weimer Republic (1919-1933), the period of the Third Reich (1933-1945), and the period that saw the division and unification of Germany (1945-1990)- and Germans have constantly struggled to either identify of break-away from these periods in its history because of its conspicuously negative symbolism.
And so it is no surprise that Berliners find themselves at another cross-road where they have to choose between accepting the past or re-writing and perhaps refining it.

I’m talking of course about the controversial site where the Palace of the Republic- a landmark that emphasized the division of East and West Berlin- once stood. A Prussian-era style Palace once stood at this site until it was destroyed and replaced by a communist-era style Palace. Now a united Germany wants to tear down the remnants of a brutal political era and re-write history by erecting a baroque style building with a modern inside.

I guess Germans still find themselves having to grapple with the realities of the past but in a different kind of way which makes tempted to draw a certain comparison with Hungary which still kept this dark part of its history as is evident from the communist statutes still littering the city of Budapest.

Germany's BayernLB to slash 5,600 jobs

The world financial crisis is now storming it's way across Germany, it's latest victim the German state bank BayernLB. The Geramn state bank is planning to cut it's workforce down to 29 percent roughly 5,600 jobs by 2013. As Germany's economy is showing signs of weakness, it is hard to not speculate if the economy would effect the politcal stability of Germany in the future. It would be hopeful that the German government stays strong and does not deteriorate into something less desirable like it has happened in the past.

Laura K.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/01/AR2008120100472.html

A Great President

The soon-to-be former ambassador to Germany from the U.S. has a lot to thank George Bush for and he shows it. When recently interviewed by a German newspaper, "Berliner Zeitung," Ambassador William Timken unflaggingly showed his support for Bush. According to Timken, he was sent there about three and a half years ago to strengthen the relationship between Germany and the United States, and he has done just that. He claims that, the countries "two governments and leaders now work well together." When asked how he felt about Obama, Timken said that he is less experienced than his opponent was but, nonetheless, he hopes that he will be a good president. When there was a massive Obama rally in Berlin, Timken enforced a ban on State Department workers to attend the event. In theory this was to show neutrality, but the Huffington Post nailed Timken saying he is "widely reviled in Germany for his ignorance of foreign affairs." Timken was the President and CEO of a roller bearings manufacturer The Timken Company before taking up the post in Germany. He will be finishing in January.