Tag Archives: germany

The Biggest Bather Of Them All

Boaters in Hamburg, Germany’s Binnenalster Lake, enjoyed an up close and personal moment with Die Badende, or The Bather, a new sculpture by artist Oliver Voss. Those are some lovely knees, lady. Keep reading »

2 Santas Rob A Supermarket

“Ho ho … this is a hold-up.” That’s what I imagine two guys in Berlin saying when they walked into a supermarket yesterday wearing Santa costumes—red coats and big, bushy white beards. When a cashier asked them to take off the costumes, they pulled out guns and demanded all the money in the register. The cashier obliged and they ran off into the sunset. A police officer later said of the two, “They didn’t look like they were going to be passing out any presents when they came in.” We hope he was joking, but we just can’t tell .. [Newser] Keep reading »

Your Grandma’s A Whore! Check Out “Frauenzimmer,” A New German Documentary

One film in particular has shaken up the Berlin International Film Festival taking place this week: “Frauenzimmer,” a documentary by 28-year-old filmmaker Saara Aila Waasner which follows three grandmother-aged women who work as prostitutes in Germany. Yes, prostitutes! Christel, 59, boasts of the demand for older women; Paula, 49, runs a bordello; and Karolina, 64, is a dominatrix who works in an S&M studio. Waasner said she wanted to show “the real people behind the job” and how some female sex workers find the job to be empowering, not exploitative. We just have one question: How soon until “Frauenzimmer” — or “Silver Girls” in English — opens in the U.S.? [The Local DE]
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Get The Look: Berlin Chic

It’s now been 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then, the city has emerged as a cultural tastemaker—call it a design town, if you will. So, of course, its residents tend to be well-dressed. But don’t expect cookie-cutter outfits or pretty-girl get-ups. Berlin chic is about edgy sophistication, customization, and avant-garde designers. Add a dash of subtle gender neutrality, and you’ve got a rad German vibe. After the jump, some tips for how to rock it. Keep reading »

Cleavagegate: A German Politician Uses Her Boobs In A Bid To Get Elected


What’s the big issue these days in German politics? Sex appeal. Vera Lengsfeld, a conservative candidate running for parliament, is generating controversy over a campaign billboard she posted in her voting district. The billboard uses an unauthorized photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and shows both middle-aged women sporting very, very revealing tops that expose “Real Housewives”-level cleavage. Across the bottom, the billboard reads, “We have more to offer.” Merkel is shocked by the photos and so are many Germans. But the billboard does seem to have served its purpose. Lengsfeld is getting quite a bit of attention, even if has nothing to do with her politics. Do you think her girls can get a woman elected? Keep reading »

Swan Dumps Swan Boat In Tragic Love Affair Gone Wrong

You may or may not have heard about the black swan in Münster, Germany, that fell in love with a boat that’s shaped like a swan. Back in 2006, Petra the swan formed an attachment to the swan boat, always following it around and sleeping next to it. Petra stayed by the boat’s side until last spring, when she befriended some real swans and abandoned the inanimate object of her desire. Now it seems that Petra is missing. She disappeared from the Aasee lake three weeks ago, and many fear she may have frozen to death or been eaten by a fox. However, all hope is not lost. Petra may have been spotted at a lake 100 km from Münster. No one knows why she left her longtime home, but something tells me she’s still in search of her one true love, seeing as the boat romance didn’t work out. [Spiegel] Keep reading »

Couple Who Met At Nazi Death Camp Just Celebrated 50 Years Of Marriage

When Herman Rosenblat was a teenager, he was in a Nazi death camp in Schlieben, Germany. Roma Radziki, a girl a couple years younger, worked at a farm outside the camp. The two saw each other on opposite sides of the fence one day and Roma threw Herman an apple. This continued every day, but the two never spoke because they were scared the guards would see them. Then, one day Herman told Roma she wouldn’t see him anymore. He thought he was going to die, but then the Russians came in and liberated the camp, and Herman ended up going to London to be an electrician. Meanwhile, Roma went to nursing school in Israel. Later, Herman moved to America and a friend told him he wanted to fix him up on a blind date. Reluctantly, Herman went, and as he and his date talked about their wartime experiences, Roma mentioned throwing apples over a fence to a boy. Herman said, “That was me” and proposed to her that night. Two months later she accepted, and this year, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. [AP] Keep reading »

The Daily Squeeze: Teen Divorce Rates, German Professors, David Spade’s Child, And Female Authors

  • A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 48 percent of those who marry before 18 are likely to divorce within 10 years. Good luck, Bristol and Levi! [NY Times]
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    Authentic Sound Of Music Theme Wedding Now Possible

    For a truly special wedding, get married in the chapel at the von Trapp family’s villa near Salzburg, Austria. The house, featured in The Sound of Music, is opening as the Villa Trapp hotel. Of the 700,000 people who take a trip to Salzburg and spend the night, 40 percent come because of The Sound of Music. “It was almost a feeling like ‘you’ve come home’,” said Lana Wright, 53, of New Zealand, her eyes tearing up as she stepped off a tour bus. “Finally I have arrived, arrived somewhere where I was supposed to be, somewhere that I was supposed to see.” Salzburg is one of her favorite things? [Reuters] Keep reading »

    No Cuddling Allowed In Germany

    Taking a trip to Berlin this summer? After you learn a few key phrases, you should know something about the beds. Couples are not meant to sleep in the same bed, writes Michael Gorra on The Smart Set. “Each person in Germany is meant to sleep under his own covers…No snuggling under a common blanket.” While double beds might be sold, they’re only meant for people who sleep alone. Instead, two single mattresses are put side by side with separate bedding for each. It saddens me to know that people in Germany are missing out on spooning and such, but they’re probably getting better sleep. [The Smart Set] Keep reading »