Kackel Dackel!

A German toy: The Pooping Dachsund.

(Via The Weekly Standard.)

"And so you look at something like the 17th century Brandenburg Gate and you think – oh my, how splendid."

"Until you think about who passed through its gates and why. And you can’t help but recall all things having to do with military strength and conquest. And how are you supposed to process it? Are you supposed to smile for the camera? Pose, and with a person making a Euro by imitating a German soldier? On this cold day there are several such 'soldiers' for you to choose from: from the wars of the past century, from the post war Soviet presence here – pick your poison. In the alternative you can stand next to a bear."

The German muticultural ideal — "multikulti" — has "utterly failed," says Chancellor Angela Merkel.

As Germans slip further into the belief that the country is "overrun by foreigners."

How difficult — liberating? — it must feel for Germans to admit that they feel this way. Merkel is attempting to moderate: "We should not be a country either which gives the impression to the outside world that those who don't speak German immediately or who were not raised speaking German are not welcome here."

Impression. But what is the truth?

"The man drove up to a Hell's Angels clubhouse near Munich, wearing only a pair of shorts and carrying a puppy."

"He dropped his shorts and threw the dog, escaping on a bulldozer from a nearby building site."

The news from Europe, as reported by the BBC.

"German commentators say it is the end of hope."

"The World Bids Farewell to Obama."

"[Horst Schlaemmer's] campaign slogan 'Yes weekend' is inspired by Barack Obama..."

"... and he has pledged to replace Germany's national emblem - the eagle - with a bunny."

"'Unbending squirrel' blocks nuclear train delivery."

Headline of the day, from Germany.

In case you're having trouble picturing the newsworthy event, it looked like this:



And as long as we're over here in the news from Germany (in English): "Eastern German women considered 'less ditzy."

"It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new U.S. President."

We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment. Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like [Chancellor Angela] Merkel."

Re Obama-Fingers, the German fried chicken product.

Oh, yes, we are relaxed... until we're not.

And, by the way, not only are your chicken fingers racist, calling your Chancellor "stiff" is sexist. And if you think I'm stiff for saying that bitching about a woman's stiffness is sexist, that is doubly sexist.

More than twice as many 15-year-old German boys belong to neo-Nazi groups...

... than are active in mainstream politics.

IN THE COMMENTS: David said:

I wonder how American boys would stack up on this test? How many 15 year old boys are active in mainstream politics? Run the USA comparison based on street gangs vs. mainstream politics and we will look like Mad Max's utopia.

Amba said:

Yeah, since when were 15-year-old boys active in mainstream politics? They can't even vote yet, and there's no forbidden, secret-society fun in it. Stupid statistic.

Suddenly, the Swiss are inundated with nudist hikers, many from Germany.

It's called "FKK" — "free body culture."

Can you imagine a bunch of Germans arriving in America, thinking it would be okay to traipse about in the nude?

IN THE COMMENTS: bill says:

They're not wearing shorts, so they should get Althouse points for that.