AMD 6 -Ashley Britt

For the last AMD, I watched the Simpsons videos. Actually, I was only able to watch Bart's Tag as the other links were unavailable. I am definitely finding it much easier to catch words and phrases in Deutsche now. With videos such as this, I can listen for the words and phrases I know and then use the video to help fill in where I don't understand. Words and phrases I understood included Frühstück, Frühling, tot and Ich liebe Bier. Poor Bart had a rough day, but I would argue that the Robots was equally as bad. Overall, I enjoyed this AMD.

Recycling Kultur 6 -Ashley Britt

I actually quite enjoyed the article on recycling in Deutscheland. I think recycling is very important from an environmental standpoint, so the topic struck a chord with me. Their system is interesting. Here at UofM we have separate recycling binns for bottles, paper, and trash, but we don't have sub-categorized binns to separate green glass from brown glass (atleast not usually). While Americans do recycle, they don't usually aren't picky about which binn they put their used items in. Most of the time, even products that are obviously paper get thrown away if they have food remnents or some other substance on them. We wouldn't have as difficult a time deciding where to place our remnents as the Curry Wurst guy did.

Kapitel 6 - Kultur Texte - Emily Seidel

After reading these articles, I once again get the impression that the author over generalizes every topic he writes about. This time, specifically, with the articles "German Privacy: Come On In, My Door Is Always Closed" and "Division Hell: Worshipping the Garbage Gods". I find it very hard to believe that every person in Germany keeps their door closed at all times and that they will get very offended to the point of affecting "intercultural relations".

Also, I find it odd that the author in "Division Hell: Worshipping the Garbage Gods" is complaining about recycling. While we did not have specific bins for each different type of recycling, but growing up we had to sort all of the recycling at our house as well. Now, many cities have implemented machines that will sort the various types of materials for recycling for them. But even so, I don't find it too difficult to sort through a few different kinds of materials to help out the environment.

The article "Sex, Smut, and Shock: Bild Zeitung Rules Germany" seemed pretty typical to me. Most countries (where the government allows them to) have tabloids. I rather doubt that Bild Zeitung is all that much worse. It may base its stories on facts more often, but it seems like most Germans know that it is false. Also, I again feel like the author exaggerates when they say that EVERYONE reads it. He/She may live their life by tabloids, but I feel like this is not how the majority of Germans feel.

Kapital 6 - Terrence

Guten Abend! While reading most of these articles, I found myself severely indifferent. When I read Bild Zeitung, for example, I was extremely unimpressed. As little as I follow politics, I'm even less aware of the absurd tabloid style magazines that (loosely) report the news. Its shocking in ways that have become common place, and therefore no longer affect anyone. I would much rather read a plain newspaper than a magazine like this.

One of the articles I was a bit taken aback with was the one about how to enter an office/closed off place of business. I am most definitely the type of person who would always knock and wait to be invited in, even if the door was open (if I didn't know the person very well). So having to basically announce your presence, and then just barge right in would surely be a challenge for me. However, if I were to see someone do it, and know that such a thing was ok with that particular person (im sure some people would rather have you wait outside until they are ready for you) I would be willing to make my presence known and then stroll right in.

The author of the garbage article seems like a big fat baby. Is it really such a problem having your garbage/recycling color coded? Wouldn't you be able to look into each bin and see what was inside each of them, and then throw whatever it is you have into the proper basket? Or even if they are all empty, you could politely ask a stranger what goes into each can. Even if your unsure of what you would classify that particular object that you have as, you could once again just ask someone their opinion, and follow that. Worst case senario, you could just throw it into the "other stuff" can. I dont think german police officers patrol the garbage areas to ensure that everyone is disposing of their refuse properly.

The fact that student housing is so bad seems incredible. One would think that a university would be able to accommodate its students, or at the very least be able to help them find a suitable place of residence. It would be especially inconvenient for people who come from homes that are very far away from the university. The fact that universities don't have a "campus" layout wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, I think. It would give the students the opportunity to actually experience the real world, and see what life is like outside of their parents house.

I found these articles interesting, but not necessarily relevant to me. Still, I enjoyed reading them.

Kultur 6

Bild Zeitung: Ouch, that picture is harsh. Do people actually believe everything they read in Bild Zeitung? Why would they buy it if they didn't believe it? Is it just amusing? "We form your opinion so you don't have to" - that sounds sort of dystopian and scary. Are any of these articles going to be positive? It was founded by a guy named Axel...I think that says a lot there. Who is Natasha, and what does she have to do with anything? When I was in France I once found on the dining room table a tabloid, with a bunch of pictures of topless female celebrities at the beach. There were no bars or blurred-out parts. I was shocked, but this was nothing to the French. Oh yes, the picture of Angela Merkel changing. I read about that. I also read about how once she wore a dress that Americans considered to be to revealing.
Ok, I will knock loudly.
You're not allowed to use recycling bins on Sunday? That doesn't make sense. That's cool they're so environmentally forward though!