#made a mistake its bernd

[skydreamplayzz]

Because I had nothing better to Do. I drew simple before somthing happend to his eye. (not sure wich age i wanted it to happend to him but imma say 5-6 and he's 11-14 years) I still Need an idea what even happend- idk. I Need ideas -

[coochiequeens]

Uproar in football stadiums: There can't be two genders

24th matchday, FC Ingolstadt vs. Dynamo Dresden: Banner in the Dresden fan block "THERE IS ONLY ONE RIDICULOUS DFB... AND TWO GENDER".

A fan poster claims there are only two genders. The DFB sports court punishes this. Now mass protests are breaking out in stadiums. Is a super-woker DFB embarrassing itself? Are football fans queer deniers? Is the over-political DFB president making a mistake once again? Or is the gender debate simply reaching a new dimension?

The scandal began as a real satire. The German Football Association's sports court has imposed a fine on Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen because fans there claimed that there were only two genders. The DFB is the world's largest sports association, Bayer Leverkusen is top of the Bundesliga and on the way to the championship - the stage for the gender criminal court could hardly be bigger. The club has to pay a total of 18,000 euros “because of discriminatory, unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of its supporters”. Fans held up a banner at the game against Werder Bremen that read: “There are many styles of music, but only two genders.”

The incriminated banner triggered a rather cheerful discourse between harmless rival fan groups from Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen. Bayer Ultras had described themselves as the supposedly cool "Raverkusen" in a choreography in the game against Freiburg, whereupon the Werder fans countered the Leverkusen team as music philistines in the subsequent game with a "Beer King ≠ Techno Club" banner. They responded with the now scandalized Bayer banner “There are many styles of music.” With the reference to the "but only 2 genders", the Rhinelanders probably wanted to make fun of the left-wing orientation of the Bremen Ultras after they had mocked their own taste in music. Such fan teasing is normally part of the rich, coarse and universally laughed-at part of German football culture.

But the fact that the DFB is now trying to publicly punish the Leverkusen fans as inhumane gender deniers is causing a lot of football fans to shake their heads and feel indignant. To justify its punitive action, the DFB wrote on From federal politics, the Green Party's sports spokeswoman, Tina Winklmann, immediately supported the DFB, saying the poster was "inhumane and discriminatory."

Discussion about DFB leadership breaks out

Many fans see it differently and simply do not want to be banned from the idea that there are two genders. The DFB's punitive action is therefore triggering a wave of similar sanctioning actions in other stadiums. Dynamo Dresden supporters displayed a giant banner that read: "There is only one ridiculous DFB... and two genders!" The DFB now also wants to take action against this with penalties. In Braunschweig, fans made a giant banner with the inscription “Dear Sir or Madam, Period.” In Cottbus you could read meters high: "There are only 2 genders - both despise the DFB". In Chemnitz they read in giant letters: "There are only two genders, even a blind person can see that! DFB fan shop: men, women, babies and children". The fans were referring to the two-gender DFB shop.

Now the DFB should actually punish all possible clubs and fan groups, because new “two-gender” posters are added every weekend. But behind the scenes there is also a discussion about the DFB and its leadership.

Some criticize that the DFB is putting unnecessary additional strain on the already heated relationship between the DFB, DFL and fans because of the planned investor entry into the DFL. Others criticize the DFB, which is becoming increasingly left-wing politicized and demonstratively “woke” under its president Bernd Neuendorf. The long-time SPD professional politician Neuendorf works closely with the SPD Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in his positioning for demonstrative diversity. Joint party membership sometimes leads to over-political actions, as was the case at the World Cup in Qatar, when the two staged the one-love prank.

The appointment of Andreas Rettig (liked to be called "Antifa-Andi" in the scene) as the football association's new sports director is also seen as a demonstrative signal for activist association management. In November 2022 he appeared as spokesman for the SPD and gave a lecture in Bochum on the topic of “The social responsibility of professional football”. One of the oddities of the DFB's politicization is that the Hamburg communications agency BrinkertLück was hired under Neuendorf. She was in charge of the SPD chancellor election campaign for Olaf Scholz, and today BrinkertLück is the “lead agency for the DFB product world”.

Freedom of expression and biologists' resistance

The two-gender scandal is attracting attention beyond the football scene because it is an example of where the boundaries of what can be said lie in the diversity debate. The DFB penalty decision acts like a political correctness edge in the gender culture war currently taking place. The fact that, in addition to biological sex, social gender identity should also be respected and tolerated is widely undisputed, even among football fans. Since 2018, in German civil status law, gender entry has been possible in addition to male and female.

The great resistance to the DFB language police is explained less by the lack of tolerance towards queer footballers and more by the question of what one is allowed to say in public and what is not. If the sentence "There are two genders" is really criminalized and publicly stigmatized, then the deep freedom reflexes of the open society will be violated. Because the gender debate, like all other debates, is subject to the constitutionally protected freedom of expression.

Germany's most prominent biologist, the Nobel Prize winner Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, even vehemently advocates the principle of two genders: "Of course there is a spectrum when it comes to gender, the social sex, while when it comes to biological sex there is only female or male. Over. End." The Federal Government's Queer Commissioner, Sven Lehmann, however, claims: The view that there are two genders is unscientific. There are many genders. The Nobel Prize winner responded to this in an "Emma" interview : "That's unscientific! Mr. Lehmann may have missed the basic course in biology." And further: "It is completely clear that transsexuals should not be discriminated against. If people are treated badly, that is bad. But they cannot impose their ideas on everyone as facts." If the Nobel Prize winner were to say something like that in the football stadium, the DFB would fine her.

Translated into English by google

[wp-blaze]

Surviving Parent Hood

Nobody talks about the pain you feel inside when the love your child has for you dies When they look at your hard work & aren’t satisfied When nothing you do for them is right No matter how hard you try You can see the distaste  for you in their eyes When you thought y’all were […]

[hcadology]

ok but pls consider that after Agnes disappears and Doris leaves, Egon Tiedemann ended up raising both Claudia and Tronte on his own i mean Tronte and Agnes were living with them and Tronte legit had no one else and nowhere else to go and Egon 100% would have just been like  well i suppose you better keep staying here (i don’t think this is ever explicitly stated so kind of a headcanon but it makes sense like where else would tronte have gone? agnes was his only family!) I am so here for 1950s single dad Egon and Claudia is so right when she says that he is a good person and the world doesn’t deserve him. does he make mistakes, absolutely. but i think that’s another one of the core themes of Dark - that good people can do awful things, and that awful people are capable of positive actions as well. 

also what is up with the tiedemanns and abandonment like  (not taking original world into account with this just the spinoff worlds)

egon’s wife leaves/claudia’s mum leaves claudia’s dad dies (ok i mean we know how that went down and yes he was terminally ill but it was a death before its time (no pun intended) and she never meant for that to happen and she literally was trying to get him to move in with her and regina!) claudia’s daughter dies  regina’s dad LMAO FUCK BERND WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BERND OK regina’s only friend disappears (mads - not that deep a friendship i think but still the closest thing to a friend that regina had prior to meeting aleksander)  regina’s mum disappears regina’s husband dies (he dies before her in jonas’ world during the apocalypse) / aleksander’s wife dies (martha’s world she dies first)  regina’s/aleksander’s son disappears bartosz’ mum dies/bartosz’ dad dies (his mum in martha’s world, in adam’s world he gets displaced prior to them both dying but still) bartosz is displaced in time (and forever separated from his parents oh wait they both die nvm)  bartosz’ wife dies 

me realising that regina from jonas’ world ends up getting left behind by EVERY SINGLE PERSON that was important to her (until claudia at least comes back but at that point regina is dying herself): fuck i made myself sad 

also on this thought can we pls remember that bartosz’ last words to her were i’m coming back i promise and that was the last she ever saw of him. 

me also realising that bartosz never got to say goodbye to ANYONE not even his wife legit he came into that room probably excited about the baby and she’d already gone also him never getting to make good on that promise to his mum (see above): i made myself BIG sad 

[charcoalgrillcalne]

5 Different charcoal grills in comparison - our test or guide 2020

There is nothing like grilling with a charcoal grill. Only it exudes such a wonderful mixture of different aromas in connection with crackling fire noises. The https://charcoalgrillshub.com/ an unmistakable original, favorite of all grill lovers and the basis for many beautiful garden parties or family celebrations.

It is available as a freestanding grill , kettle grill , indoor grill or smoker . But you can make a lot of mistakes both when choosing the grill and when grilling yourself, and grilling fun ends in disaster. That is why we present you in our large charcoal grill comparison on the best models of each category and give you many useful tips for a successful grill pleasure.

1. Tepro Toronto, charcoal grill with shelf, stainless steel

This charcoal grill from Tepro Garten GmbH is a very high quality, versatile model with many great extras. The first notable highlight is its uncomplicated construction, which is completely without screws, just by plugging the individual parts together. 

Once the Tepro Toronto is set up, you can grill both directly and indirectly. For indirect grilling, simply close the lid. So that the charcoalWhen the lid is closed, it continues to glow and does not go out, there are special openings on the sides that ensure a balanced air circulation. 

The thermometer built into the lid shows you the exact internal temperature of the grill. With indirect grilling, you always know when it is time to add more charcoal or add more oxygen.

There is an extra coal flap for adding coal, which is a big plus when it comes to handling. Just like the attached rollers, which enable you to use it flexibly in terms of location and make assembly and dismantling much easier. 

The Tepro Toronto surprises with other little extras, such as an integrated bottle opener, a practical warming surface, a shelf and a hook for your grill utensils. An overall very successful, high quality and reliable grill with many individual uses.

Product features:

Type: Charcoal grill with lid

Dimensions : height 107 cm, length 67 cm, width 115 cm

Weight:  26.3 kg

Material: stainless steel

Type of grill: indirect and direct grilling possible

Grill grate : enamelled

Dimensions grill area: approx. 56 x 41.5 cm

Dimensions of the warming surface:  53.9 x 24.1 cm

Extras: grill surface with removable grill insert, bottle opener, hooks for grill cutlery, rollers for pushing the grill, warming surface, shelf, temperature display

2. Taino Hero XL Smoker Bayamo - optionally with accessories

For a grill of this size and features, the Taino Hero XL is priced in the lower class. Nevertheless, it is a stable and overall very satisfactory design. Of course, no premium materials are to be expected in this price range, but this in no way diminishes your barbecue experience. 

The Taino Hero XL is set up and ready for use within an hour. Unfortunately, the smoke escapes not only through the chimney provided for this purpose, but also through the side ventilation. But only minimally. 

Overall, it makes a good impression and delivers very good grilling results. If you use the Taino XL with the lid closed, you should never grill unattended, because the heat in the grill naturally increases and the food cooks accordingly faster. The pull-out ash drawer is particularly practical, which enables uncomplicated cleaning after grilling. 

Just as practical is the height-adjustable charcoal grate, which can be adjusted to the desired height using the externally attached hand crank. There is a built-in thermometer on the lid so that you always have an eye on the current temperature.

Product features:

Type: Charcoal grill with lid, smoker

Dimensions : 124 x 66 x 113.5 cm

Weight:  64 kg

Material: stainless steel

Type of grill: indirect and direct grilling possible

Cooking grate : 1 x cast iron and 2 x porcelain-coated grids

Warming rack : chrome-plated

Dimensions grill area: approx. 57 cm x 42 cm x 1 cm

Dimensions of warming surface: 54 cm x 24 cm

Extras: adjustable air supply via 2 valves, bottle opener, temperature display, 2 fold-out side shelves, rollers for pushing the grill, footrest

3. Landmann grill chef, BBQ funnel grill Inox

The grill chef of the well-known Landmann company is a very simple but extremely solid funnel grill. It is set up relatively quickly and is stable. If you value a good grill result without many extras and gimmicks, you are well advised with this grill. The funnel shape ensures a very efficient heat distribution, which means that the charcoal burns on and through very well. 

However, this type of construction uses a little more charcoal, as the grillage is of course further away.

The chrome-plated grill grate with a grill surface of 48 x 46.5 cm offers enough space, even for larger quantities of food. You can adjust its height comfortably and without burns using two wooden handles. 

There is a crank on the fireplace that you can use to regulate the air supply and thus also the temperature. With a purchase price of around € 55 you can purchase a reliable charcoal grill with very positive customer ratings overall.

Product features:

Type: Funnel charcoal grill

Dimensions : 54.5 x 22 x 22 cm

Weight:  1.5kg

Material: stainless steel

Type of grill:  direct grilling

Grill grate : chrome-plated

Dimensions grill area: 48 x 46.5 cm

Extras: removable ash drawer

4. Berndes charcoal grill, kettle grill

Now we come to the first kettle grill in our charcoal grill comparison. This is from Berndes, which has specialized in the manufacture of high-quality cookware for more than 100 years. 

Due to the extensive experience in all aspects of cooking and cooking, the expansion of the product range to include the universally popular grill is close at hand. The Berndes kettle grill is of very high quality, which you notice immediately when you set it up. 

The material enamelled with porcelain feels very high quality and stable and has an extra heat-resistant handle on the deck.In the lid there is also a thermometer for the internal temperature and ventilation for the embers. After grilling, the ash ends up in a practical collecting container under the grill so that you can easily clean it. 

The charcoal compartment can also be made smaller with two dividers so that it only gets very hot in the middle and you can use the edges of the grillage to keep it warm. A really recommendable, high-quality kettle grill for direct and indirect grilling.

Product features:

Type: kettle grill for charcoal

Grill height: with lid 97 cm

Weight: 9.3 kg

Material: bowl and lid enamelled with porcelain

Type of grill: indirect and direct grilling possible

Coal grate: Ø 31 cm, for firing the coal

Grill grate : chrome-plated

Dimensions grill surface: Ø 44.5 cm (enough for 10 sausages or 5 steaks)

Extras:  ventilation regulator on the lid and at the lower end of the kettle, thermometer in the lid, removable ash collector, storage area at foot level, grill hood made of polyester, Berndes grill tongs, ventilation, wheels for moving the grill

5. Farmer PortaGo 11527

The question of whether you can buy a really good grill for just under 15 € is answered quickly. Landmann's PortaGo is amazingly stable and particularly practical. 

Because you don't screw it, but just plug all parts together, it can be assembled and disassembled very quickly. This means that you can also transport it wonderfully and take it with you for camping or camping. The sturdy windscreen included in the scope of delivery is particularly practical. 

The fire bowl is reinforced with enamel and the chrome-plated grill grate has two practical handles so you can easily adjust the height. For very little money you can buy a recommended, simple charcoal grill that fully fulfills its purpose.

Product features:

Type: charcoal grill

Dimensions : 36 x 29 x 45 cm

Weight:  2 kg

Type of grill:  direct grilling

Grill grate: chrome-plated

Dimensions grill area: 33 x 26 cm

Extras: wind protection

Read More!

[hannobehrens]

Concerning the completely messed up debate surrounding Özil’s resignation:

Everybody’s losing

Mesut Özil resigns with a bang - and mere minutes afterwards two camps are forming in Germany. A really stupid reaction. Unfortunately one that fits the debating culture of this year 2018 all too well.

Yesterday Mesut Özil set off a bang. People in Germany had been waiting for it, Özil’s critics as well as his fans, you just like me, and Özil delivered in a manner that we wouldn’t have expected of him, whose public persona had always been rather restrained and taciturn: elaborate, well thought out and extremely belligerent.

In three texts spread out throughout the day he initially and for the first time spoke out about meeting the Turkish president Erdogan, went on to criticise - without giving any names - German media and DFB sponsors and eventually declared his resignation from the German national team. One reason being that, according to Özil, DFB president Reinhard Grindel had acted in a racist and amateurish manner.

Three texts we could have great discussions about. Texts in which Özil brings up issues that concern not only us - media, experts, fans - in our football bubble. They concern this heated country as a whole. What’s German at all? Do people with a German passport and Turkish roots still live here on probation? What does identification mean? And can a political office really be separated as unscrupulously from the person serving that office as Özil claims in the case of Erdogan? There are no easy answers to any of these questions. And yet - just about nine seconds after the publication of each text - a thousand easy answers were given.

If you want to gauge where the debate surrounding the ex-NT player - as so many other debates these days - is going so glaringly wrong you just have to take a closer look at the responses to Özil’s first statement. Yesterday around 1pm, under the header „I/III Meeting President Erdogan,“ Özil published a text in English language, in which for the first time he spoke himself about meeting and taking a photo with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 



In it, among other things, Özil writes: „I get that this may be hard to understand, as in most cultures the political leader cannot be thought of as being separate from the person. But in this case, it is different. Whatever the out-come would’ve been in this previous election, or the election before that, I would have still taken the picture.“ At 1:12 pm news service “SID” published the following “breaking news”: “Özil: Would take photo with Erdogan again”. Another ten minutes later this sentence, that Özil never wrote, was circulating on the internet. In the comment sections underneath: chaos.

Anger flaring up in people who either didn’t make the effort or were just simply incapable of reading the original text. Expectable hate from trolls who wouldn’t have even needed the mistranslation to let off their opinions. Which in turn led to the immediate formation of #TeamÖzil on the other side. In-between? Barely anything.

And of course you have to criticise this mistranslation by a big German news agency. And question why other publishers just took it on like that. And yet you also have to criticise that first statement that Özil fired off into the internet yesterday around 1pm. Can a 29-year-old man, who was born and went to school in Gelsenkirchen, really not care whether he’s meeting Frank-Walter Steinmeier or a president like Erdogan, who’s imprisoning journalists, teachers, judges and students by the thousands and without trial? Can a 29-year-old man who’s signing contracts over millions of Euros really be that naive? Can a footballer absolve himself of all things political because he’s talking to a campaigning president only about football? No. Absolutely not.

And yet the majority of people pounced on this one false quote. Which poisoned the debate before it could even begin to get substantial at all. Which will, in turn, probably prompt Özil and his fans, not few of whom have a similar family background as the football star himself, to retreat further into the wagon circle [(?) (stronghold?! I have no idea how to translate that! „Wagenburg“. Like in the ‘wild west‘…?)] A disastrous development.

And there definitely are reasons for Özil, and those who stand by him unconditionally, to retreat into the Wagenburg. As Özil describes impressively and aptly in his second and third statement. Because of course the tide turned against him and of course - as opposed to “Bild’s” claims - it is unbelievably racist when an SPD(!) politician like Bernd Holzhauer refers to Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogan as “two goatfuckers”.

And of course DFB and its president failed to take a clear stand against these racist sentiments. Quite the opposite: By giving two authorised, meaning: proof-read interviews right after dropping out of the world cup - like Oliver Bierhoff and Grindel did - in which Mesut Özil is portrayed as the person mainly at fault for the embarrassing sporting display, they put grist to the mill of all those who had long been publicly defaming Özil out of purely xenophobic motives. Who unacceptably mingled their hate with the sport and were just waiting for an opportunity to piss on somebody like Özil.

Even though, from a purely sporting perspective, for nearly ten years Özil has constantly been one of the best five German footballers. He plays efficiently, assists goals, creates chances and regularly scores himself. He makes his teammates better, he won the FA cup three times with Arsenal, with Germany he won the world cup. And yet even as a footballer he’s been polarising opinions for years.

Some love him for his brilliant passes and the effortlessness he radiates even in the most densely crowded opponent’s box, others accuse him of always disappearing in important matches and drooping his shoulders too easily. Somebody completely neutral on Özil? Barely existed even before the Erdogan photo, actually even throughout his entire career. Everybody’s always had an opinion about him, from “alibi footballer” to “genius”, the whole spectrum covered, “comedians” like Oliver Pocher mocked his appearance, English fans payed tribute to him with special chants/songs. You were either for him, or against him.

Now all that is repeated. In favour or against, one side or the other, good or bad. Unfortunately though with this issue there is no good side. Only one thing on all sides: losers. Özil because he’s reviewing his own behaviour without a spark of self-criticism. Grindel and Bierhoff because they’ve been kicking a player already down on the ground just to save their own skins. German football because perhaps the most talented player of an entire generation doesn’t want to and won’t help it anymore. And all the yahoos preferring to charge forward blindly onto a minefield rather than avoiding all the explosives with care. Which is extremely infuriating. Because, after all, a little care could actually help this discussion which has so far been just completely messed up.

[Disclaimer: This article was written by Max Dinkelaker of German football magazine 11Freunde on 23 July 2018. (It’s still on their homepage in this form now on 25 July at 9:30pm CET). This is a translation by me - I’m not affiliated with 11Freunde in any way beyond being a quite regular reader - and it’s probably full of mistakes, sorry. Char made me do it. (I wish there was a way to turn this into small print.)]

(Translation by @ohneweiterebedeutung)

[xtruss]

No Respect For Putin: How a Call For Cooperation with Russia Ended a Vice-Admiral’s Career

The row has consumed Berlin’s top brass and sparked a row with Kiev

— By Tarik Cyril Amar, a historian from Germany working at Koç University in Istanbul on Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe, the history of World War II, the cultural Cold War, and the politics of memory.

Kay-Achim Schönbach © Bernd Wüstneck / picture alliance via Getty Images

The head of the German navy, Vice-Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, has resigned in the wake of a scandal in which he faced accusations of being too pro-Moscow. Speaking at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, India, Schönbach had argued that Russia, under its president Vladimir Putin, was fundamentally not interested in taking Ukrainian territory, but, rather, wanted respect from the West and, in particular, to be treated as equals.

In his view, the West should offer that respect, for three reasons: because it would be easy, because Russia and its leader deserve it, and because Europe needs Moscow as an ally against China. Schönbach also appealed in the name of religion, describing himself as a committed Roman Catholic and maintaining that Russia’s Christian identity points to the need for partnership between the country and other mostly Christian nations. As for Crimea, he was frank about his conviction that it would not return to Ukrainian control.

The talk was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, which may have been fatal for his career. If his statements had not been so readily available, perhaps they would have passed unnoticed.

Instead, they caused great consternation, both internationally and at home in Germany. Schönbach, being virtually certain he would be dismissed, acted first and handed in his resignation, which was immediately accepted.

Ukraine’s response was quick: the German ambassador in Kiev, Anka Feldhusen, was summoned for what was, in essence, a rebuke. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, who, ironically, loves to lecture Germans in a tone sorely lacking in respect, barged in as well. In a classical illustration of what the Germans call “nachtreten” – roughly translatable as kicking someone already down – Melnyk could not let the opportunity pass to speak of “German arrogance and megalomania” in general.

With almost comical predictability, once on his high horse, Kiev’s anti-diplomat also delivered a shining example of Godwin’s Law – that is, the weird but common compulsion to bring Nazi references into everything.

For future historians, this will be an intriguing sequence of events: A very high-ranking German officer – in conjunction with a naval mission in what he calls the “Indo-Pacific” to demonstrate Western resolve against China – gives a talk at a top-notch Indian think tank. Because we live in the age of the World Wide Web, his statements are easily available in full, in essence, everywhere. Thus, they rapidly cause international trouble. An object lesson of the effects of globalization, the rise of India and China, and multipolarity.

Whatever you think of Schönbach’s statements, while it would be wrong to demonize him, it would be no better to present him as an icon of “free speech” suppressed. Of course, he has a right to his private opinions, but he made the serious mistake of mixing them up with his official function, speaking in full uniform and informing his Indian hosts that his talk would reflect both his personal point of view and that of his government.

He was right, therefore, to cut short the whole affair by resigning. He was, as an absolute minimum, very incautious, as he himself has publicly acknowledged with more honesty than many outgoing politicians have shown. And that is reason enough for stepping down, because every sailor, especially a high-ranking vice-admiral, must avoid giving the impression of interfering with the political leadership’s prerogative to determine and articulate policy, even – maybe especially – when that policy is less than persuasive.

In fact, the current case is evidence that the German system of military-political relations is working better than, for instance, the British or American ones, where through-and-through political statements and brute interventions by military top brass are quite common. When then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn seemed within reach of the prime minister’s office, for instance, a British Army general threatened to stage a mutiny if the Left ever came to power.

When consistently unstable former – and perhaps future – US President Donald Trump was on the ropes and more out of control than usual, the chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, engaged in high-grade foreign policy by assuring China it would not be attacked by the US. That may well have been necessary and, in that desperate situation, the right thing to do. But celebrating such actions is still wrong. Because the fact that they are needed is evidence of a massive failure at the core of American power. At least with regard to the way in which he handled his own error of judgment, Schönbach deserves respect for doing better than most politicians and quite a few Western top brass as well.

And what about the substance of Schönbach’s remarks? They require the making of distinctions. His hunch that Russia and Putin want respect, even if a little monocausal, makes much sense, especially in view of the fact that both have repeatedly been shown disrespect.

And in international politics, as in life in general, respect is not a matter of mere decorum – not at all. On the contrary, struggling for recognition is what states do all the time, because it’s an elementary, indispensable resource. Think of it as the crucial point where ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ power meet. Or to put it very simply, the more respect a state is accorded, the less it has to fight for it.

Schönbach’s critics should also be fair enough to note that the vice-admiral was clear that, hedged with an irrelevant “probably,” Putin deserves respect as the leader of a major country. Or, put differently, whatever you think of him, his views, and his actions, his office as president of Russia in and of itself requires respect. And, again, that makes perfect sense too.

The head of the German navy was on much thinner ice when talking about China. That was, if you will, his real tragedy. More open-minded and sensible about Russia than some of the critics now piling on, Schönbach himself is still needlessly caught up in the misguided anti-Chinese rhetoric of the current batch of Cold War re-enactors. It’s an irony of history that what cost him his career is, in a way, Germany’s militarily irrelevant and politically mistaken participation in an American-dominated drive to confront China: If the German navy had not sent a token ship to do its share of strutting about off China’s coast, Schönbach would probably never have ended up in that fateful meeting in India.

Schönbach’s “religious-civilizational” argument also fails to convince. First of all, Putin is not, as the vice-admiral seems to think, an atheist. Secondly, and more importantly, Christianity is not a good criterion for alliance-building or for defining adversaries (and I write that as someone who shares with Schönbach at least a Roman Catholic upbringing). Even the case of India, where Schönbach gave his talk, already contradicts making it one. And there is no reason to confront China because of religion. As a matter of fact, if we take the Christian Gospels seriously, then reconciliation and peace among all humans must be the aim.

Last but not least, Ukraine. Again, Schönbach’s critics should remain fair. He did not, actually, question Kiev’s and the West’s policy of not officially recognizing Crimea as Russian. He only said that returning the peninsula to Ukraine’s de facto control has become a futile policy. You may agree or disagree, but there is no direct challenge to Berlin’s official line here – merely a politically indiscreet exertion of realism in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Likewise, Ambassador Melnyk’s allusions to Nazism are entirely misplaced. In fact, they constitute a much worse scandal in and of themselves. Neither Schönbach nor Germany in general deserve this kind of trash talk from Ukraine – a country that, in reality, Berlin has massively supported. The German Foreign Ministry should have summoned the Ukrainian ambassador for this misconduct, and Kiev would do well to replace him. He comes across as self-advertising and offensive. Some Germans may pretend to like being crudely and unfairly lectured, but many certainly do not. Such ‘diplomats’ do a disservice to Ukraine’s own interests.

Yet what will be most interesting about the Schönbach affair for future historians is the obvious mismatch between what many in the West know to be a fact and the Western narratives that will be spun. It is the lack of realism in Western policy that Schönbach has really stumbled over. It is bizarre, for instance, that a simple statement about owing Russia and its leadership elementary respect can now be misconstrued as somehow undermining Western unity and resolve. If those things are so fragile and allergic to reality, the West has much more to worry about than the head of Germany’s navy.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

[sciencespies]

Yep, cheap wine really does taste better if you increase the price tag

https://sciencespies.com/humans/yep-cheap-wine-really-does-taste-better-if-you-increase-the-price-tag/

Yep, cheap wine really does taste better if you increase the price tag

In 2002, one of the most prestigious restaurants in New York City served four Wall Street workers its most expensive bottle of wine: a US$2,000 Mouton Rothschild from 1989.

After it was decanted, the host of the group, a self-reported wine connoisseur, twirled his glass, took a sip and began praising the wine for its purity. Blissfully ignorant, the group had accidentally been given the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, a Pinot noir valued at just US$18.

This story might sound like a flight of fancy, but growing research on the psychology and neuroscience of wine-tasting suggests mistakes like this are made all the time, although true wine experts often know better.

One of the first studies to explicitly manipulate the price of wine in a realistic tasting session has found a cheap glass becomes far more pleasant when participants are told it has a higher price. 

The experiment was conducted during a public event at the University of Basel in Switzerland. To entertain visitors, the psychology department kindly contributed a wine tasting session.

The event drew 140 participants throughout the day and consisted of a 15-minute session of wine tasting. For each tasting, participants were given their own table and told not to communicate with others also involved in the event – that way their views of the wine wouldn’t be influenced.

Six small glasses of wine were then placed on each table, and visitors were told to taste each and every glass in a specific sequence fully randomized for every individual. After each sip, participants were instructed to clear their palates with a swish of water and rate the wine for pleasantness and intensity.

Half the glasses held three different wines without any price information. The remaining glasses contained three different wines of low, medium, and high price with the retail tag clear to see.

In each case, one, two or none of these price-tagged wines had been labeled deceptively. If they were mislabeled, the retail price displayed was either four times higher, or four times lower than the real cost.

When the price of the wine was hidden, researchers found no difference in pleasantness ratings, no matter the actual price.

On the other hand, when the price of wine was mislabeled and deceptively up-priced, pleasantness ratings also increased. For instance, when a low-cost wine was tagged to appear higher in price and exceeded that of the mid-priced wine, participants tended to enjoy the low-cost one more.

“Thus, in wine may lay the truth, but its subjective experience may also lie in the price,” the authors conclude. 

Beyond sheer enjoyment, this study is the first to assess the perceived intensity of blind tastings in a real world setting, and it suggests that most wine drinkers are able to determine something different about more expensive wine – they just don’t enjoy that difference as much.

In short, while the intensity of expensive wine might taste more obvious, it seems the pleasantness of that glass doesn’t always add up to the cost. 

These results largely fall in line with previous studies, which have found manipulating wine prices can actually change how pleasant they taste, while the intensity of the wine stays relatively consistent with its price. 

In 2008, researchers used functional MRI to scan participants while they tasted wines that were deceptively labeled. When the price of a wine was increased, participants reportedly enjoyed the flavor more, while intensity ratings remained the same. 

In 2017, follow-up research was able to confirm these results. Scanning the brains of those tasting wines, researchers found increasing the price of the product once again improved subjective reports of flavor without changing its perceived intensity.

What’s more, this deceptive pricing increased activity in the medial orbitofrontal cortex of the brain, which is thought to encode for experienced pleasantness. 

“The reward and motivation system is activated more significantly with higher prices and apparently increases the taste experience in this way,” said behavioral economist Bernd Weber from the University of Bonn in Germany in 2017. 

Such studies have allowed us to better understand how marketing might influence our brains and our perceptions of pleasantness, but few experiments have replicated these effects in a real-world setting. Previous fMRI studies fed wine to participants through plastic tubes, which means the color and smell were not taken into account, just the price and taste.

This has helped narrow down confounding factors, but it also misses out on several of the ways experts normally judge wine.

The current study is more realistic, measuring both pleasantness and intensity “to get a more comprehensive understanding of the influence of price on consumer’s experience.”

Unlike previous studies, the authors found decreasing the price of an expensive wine by four fold did not change the overall wine ratings for its pleasantness among laypeople. Only when the price was deceptively increased, did the average person seem to prefer the wine more.

These differing results might have occurred because of the more realistic wine-tasting experience, which allowed participants to also take into account the smell and color of the wine they were drinking. The noise of the event might also have influenced their other senses, possibly reducing or canceling out the effects of the price information.

“These cues could have potentially lowered the impact of the price information on wine ratings, as participants did not only pay attention to the price information presented,” the authors suggest. 

The Wall Street workers who ordered their US$2,000 bottle of wine in 2002 are a good example of exactly this. Their table was in a celebratory mood, “clearly enhanced by the wine”, before they were informed of the mistake.

When the owner of the restaurant told them and apologized, the host supposedly replied, “I THOUGHT that wasn’t a Mouton Rothschild!” 

Nearby, a young couple who ordered an US$18 bottle of wine found they were actually indulging in something far more expensive. 

“Both parties left Balthazar happy that night, but the younger of the two left happier,” the owner recalled on Instagram last year.

Sometimes, life is sweeter when you don’t know the truth.

The study was published in Food Quality and Preference.

#Humans

[f1chronicle]

hey btw the green gloves and boots is just an edit i made of pics from a bernd maylander photoshoot in 2009 at the malaysian gp so its not like news or anything

Oops, our mistake 😂 Nice work on the edit though. 

[architectnews]

This Is Schönau! Mannheim

This Is Schönau! Mannheim Buildings, Germany Architecture Competition Images

This Is Schönau! Mannheim Design

25 Nov 2020

This Is Schönau! Mannheim Urban redevelopment

Design: BOARD, Rotterdam, NL

Location: Schönau, north of Mannheim, Germany

This Is Schönau! Diverse, Connected and Communal

BOARD takes diversity and communal living to the next level.

The Rotterdam-based architecture office BOARD – known for producing and publishing MONU Magazine on Urbanism – takes diversity and communal living to the next level with their urban design project “This Is Schönau! Diverse, Connected and Communal” that reached the final phase in a competition for a new neighborhood in Schönau, a district in the north of Mannheim, Germany.

1: View of the new quarter from a north-westerly direction with the redesigned tram loop in the background

2: Site

6 Blocks and 3 Open Spaces

To create a new connecting center with a social cohesion in Schönau, we propose to network this new center as far as possible with the surrounding streets and paths. This creates 6 city blocks and 3 open space zones. With open but space-encompassing u-shaped buildings, a clearly structured urban area is created. The different depths, heights and typologies of the buildings will enable diverse living spaces for different target groups.

3: 6 Blocks and 3 Open Spaces

4: The new quarter

5: View from the southwest with the block with the bee garden in the foreground

The Block

A semi-public footpath runs through 5 of the 6 blocks connecting the semi-public green inner courtyards and the new quarter with its context while opening up the blocks even further. Nevertheless, the open u-shaped blocks create intimate spaces and a sense of security that the existing row buildings did not provide. On the edge of the blocks are private gardens for the ground floor apartments. All apartments are accessed from the outside of the block.

Schönau Square, Tram Forum and Community Park

The redesigned loop of the tram with 3 different multifunctional open spaces will contribute to a positive and secure identity of the new center. In the center the “Schönau Square” is being built with trees, benches and a sports field; in the south the “Tram Forum” with a new tram stop, a temporary market and a stage in front of the youth center; and in the north, the “Community Park” with opportunities for urban agriculture and the “Schönen Au”, a body of water that stores rainwater.

6: The Block

7: Schönau Square, Tram Forum and Community Park

8: A clear but Varied Urban Structure

A Clear but Varied Urban Structure

The 6 city blocks create a clear but varied 1- to 5-storey building structure, which relates to the building heights of the surrounding area, but whose density remains flexible. The grocery store and the commercial uses will be located on the ground floors of the eastern blocks. Commercial uses would also be possible in small form within the quarter. Common areas for the quarter are proposed for some of the taller buildings.

9: 4 Building Typologies in Each Block

4 Building Typologies in Each Block

In order to provide living spaces for different income groups, age groups and household sizes, 4 different building typologies are created in each block, which differ from one another in terms of the access (through which the residents can access the green inner courtyards), building depth, building height and orientation. So “garden living” is being created on the ground floors and “gallery living”, “city living” and “district living” on the upper floors.

10: Sections

11: 5 Green Courtyards and 1 Roof Garden

5 Green Courtyards and 1 Roof Garden

The 5 green inner courtyards with their different themes and plantings – inspired by the interests and geography of Schönau – will motivate the residents to appropriate the spaces contributing to a feeling of belonging and community. The existing playground becomes one of the courtyards. There is a “flower garden”, “tree garden”, “learning garden” and a “bee garden”. Additionally there is a “roof garden” on the grocery store and all existing trees that have been preserved receive signs with information.

THIS IS SCHÖNAU – Building Information

Title: This Is Schönau! Diverse, Connected and Communal Project: Urban redevelopment Date: September 2020 Type: Limited 1-phase realization competition Organizer: City of Mannheim, Germany Participants: Final round: 14 Location: Mannheim, Germany Site: Schönau, a district in the north of Mannheim

Programme: Residential development with a public space around a tram stop Surface: 4.6ha Status: Competition Awards: Finalist Team: Bernd Upmeyer, Chiara De Mattia, Maria Heinrich

BOARD

BOARD Office Profile:

BOARD (Bureau of Architecture, Research, and Design) was founded in 2005 and is active in many fields: as an architecture, urban design, and design practice, as a research board and as a platform for comparative analysis on urban issues through its bi-annual journal MONU – Magazine on Urbanism. BOARD won several prizes recently in prestigious international architecture and urban design competitions. Among others: The House of Arts and Culture in Beirut, Lebanon; The Estonian Academy of Arts in Tallinn, Estonia; and The New Headquarter for Wexford County Council in Ireland.

In 2006 BOARD collaborated with STAR – strategies + architecture and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) to update the study “The Image of Europe” that was exhibited in April 2006 in the centre of Vienna, Austria during Austria’s presidency of the European Union.

Since 2012 BOARD is part of the group, led by STAR, that has been chosen as one of the new six teams of architects and urban planners appointed by the Atelier International Grand Paris (AIGP) to be part of the Scientific Committee for the mission: Grand Paris: pour une métropole durable. The work of BOARD has been exhibited all around the world and in places such as Moscow, Berlin or Paris.

Bernd Upmeyer is the founder of BOARD and editor in chief of MONU – Magazine on Urbanism. He studied architecture and urban design at the University of Kassel (Germany) and the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands).

From 2004 until 2007 he taught and did research as Assistant Professor at the department of Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Planning at the University of Kassel. In 2010 he taught as Adjunct Professor at the department of Urban Design at the HafenCity University Hamburg.

In 2012 he was a guest critic at the Berlage Institute‘s first-year postgraduate research studio “Anarcity”. In 2013 he lectured and participated in a discussion about architecture, urbanism and media at Strelka’s Urban Studies Session in Moscow.

Upmeyer frequently writes for international publications and magazines. He holds a PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in Urban Studies from the University of Kassel (Germany). Upmeyer is the author of the book Binational Urbanism – On the Road to Paradise. The book examines the way of life of people who start a second life in a second city in a second nation-state, without saying goodbye to their first city. Upmeyer coined the term “binational urbanism”.

BOARD employs an international team of architects and planners and collaborates with national and international external consultants and specialists.

This Is Schönau! images / information from Dutch architects BOARD, 251120

Drawings, text and images © BOARD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Location: Mannheim, Germany, western Europe

Mannheim Architecture

Mannheim Buildings

Architecture in Mannheim

MVRDV with Traumhaus redefine affordable suburban housing Design: MVRDV partnered with Traumhaus image © Made by Mistake Former US Army Barracks in Mannheim

Kunsthalle Mannheim – German Architecture Competition Architect: von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) image © gmp Kunsthalle Mannheim Architecture Competition

Ephemerality and Architecture MOINOPOLIS Mannheim

Architecture in Germany

German Architecture

German Architecture Designs – chronological list

German Architecture News

German Buildings

German Architect

Karlsruhe building designs on e-architect:

Karlsruhe Medical Centre Design: gmp – von Gerkan, Marg und Partner Karlsruhe Medical Centre

Constitutional Court, Karlsruhe Design: West 8 Constitutional Court Karlsruhe

Comments / photos for This Is Schönau! in Mannheim page welcome

Website: MVRDV

The post This Is Schönau! Mannheim appeared first on e-architect.

[sportifynews]

1:09

Two clubs made offers for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the Arsenal captain signed a new three-year deal, Dharmesh Sheth tells The Transfer Show

Two clubs made offers for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the Arsenal captain signed a new three-year deal, Dharmesh Sheth tells The Transfer Show

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal.

The 31-year-old’s deal had been due to expire at the end of the season, but he has now ended speculation by extending his stay at the Emirates.

The Arsenal captain scored in their opening-day 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, with first-team manager Mikel Arteta hinting after the match a new contract was close.

Gunners on the rise under Arteta?

Arsenal transfer rumours

Get Sky Sports – All channels £23 a month

“Signing for this special club was never in doubt,” Aubameyang said. “It’s thanks to our fans, my team-mates, my family and everybody at this club that I feel like I belong here.

I believe in Arsenal. We can achieve big things together. We have something exciting here and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

“I believe in Arsenal. We can achieve big things together. We have something exciting here and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.”

Arteta added: “It was important for Pierre-Emerick to stay with us. He’s a superb player with an incredible mentality. Being the player to have taken the least amount of time to reach 50 goals with this club tells you everything you need to know about him and his way of working.

“He’s an important leader for the team and a big part of what we’re building. He wants to be up there with the best players in the world and leave his mark. He can achieve that here.”

Aubameyang scored 22 goals in the Premier League last season and netted twice in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final to secure their place in the Europa League.

The Gabon forward also scored – and converted the winning spot-kick in a penalty shootout – as Arsenal beat Liverpool to win the Community Shield.

Since his move to Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, he has scored 55 goals in 86 Premier League games.

Technical director Edu said: “It’s clear Auba loves the club and everything we stand for on and off the pitch. He’s obviously a very important part of the team so we’re all delighted he has committed his future to us. It’s a big boost for everyone – fans, team-mates and staff.”

Auba: ‘I want to leave a legacy at Arsenal’

After announcing the extension via a live steam on the club’s Instagram and Twitter accounts, Aubameyang stated his desire to follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp and become an Arsenal legend.

“Of course I knew about Arsenal before I arrived, everybody knows how special this club is,” Aubameyang said.

“I’ve seen incredible players. Passionate players. Invincible players. I dream of being one of them, amongst the best, and staying in the hearts of the fans forever.

“I want to become an Arsenal legend, just like Thierry, Wrighty, Adams and Bergkamp. Too many to mention.

“My dad is my biggest inspiration and he was captain of his club and his country, so it means so much to me to be the captain of this special club. I want to leave a legacy, this is where I belong. This is my family.”

Insight: ‘Two offers for Auba before new deal signed’

Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth on The Transfer Show:

I spoke to a couple people close to Arsenal earlier on Wednesday, this represents a huge deal, a huge coup for Arsenal because I’ve been told – they won’t tell me the clubs – there were two major offers for Aubameyang during this transfer window, which didn’t get leaked out.

Two big clubs. So then you have to go and give a bit of credit to technical director Edu and Mikel Arteta, because Arteta has always said it’s not about whether Aubameyang wants to stay at Arsenal, we have to convince Aubameyang that we have the ambition to fulfil his ambition, that we’re going to sign the right players for him to commit another three years, to make sure he’s at a club that’s winning things.

The FA Cup victory might have gone some way into persuading Aubameyang that the direction Arsenal are going is the direction he wants to go in. You have to give a lot of credit to Arteta because he has effectively persuaded Aubameyang that this is the place for him.

Analysis: This deal is a sign of where Arsenal are heading

This is a great deal for Aubameyang, says SSN’s Dharmesh Sheth

Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth:

Arsenal fans can breathe easy – finally.

No need for ‘Announce Aubameyang Contract’. It is done. He has signed. And for the player, it’s a great deal. Three years in fact.

There were some dissenting voices. Why give a 31-year-old that length of contract and that much money (reportedly £250,000 a week)? Simple. 72 goals in 111 appearances. Since he made his debut, nobody in the Premier League has scored more than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

This deal, though, is perhaps a sign of where Arsenal are heading.

“Hopefully we can convince him that this is the right place for him and that he has a future here”. The words of first-team manager Mikel Arteta when asked about Aubameyang in February.

Turns out Arteta and Arsenal have convinced him.

The new contract on its own will delight Arsenal supporters, but what it signifies could provide reasons to be optimistic about where the club is going.

Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth

An eighth-placed finish may say otherwise, but it appears Aubameyang is buying into something. Under Arteta, Arsenal have beaten Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League. They won the FA Cup thanks in no small part to victories over Manchester City in the semis and Chelsea in the final – Aubameyang scored twice in both matches.

In those games Arteta’s tactics were lauded, tactics which brought the best out of his main man. Add to that, Arteta has shown a ruthless streak – ask Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi. Undoubtedly, the strength of the manager will have been a huge factor in Aubameyang’s decision – as will the ambition of the club.

There is an acceptance Arsenal need to be creative in this transfer window, but make no mistake, Aubameyang will have asked about potential signings. Are they bringing in players to help challenge for a top-four place, and dare I say it, the title? Aubameyang must think so.

There are changes behind the scenes. Head of football Raul Sanllehi gone, managing director Vinai Venkatesham taking over the role with an accompanying rallying cry. “There is much work to do to return Arsenal to the top of the game where we belong, which is what our fans rightly demand.” A view no doubt shared by Aubameyang.

The new contract on its own will delight Arsenal supporters, but what it signifies could provide reasons to be optimistic about where the club is going.

Transfer Centre LIVE!

Transfer Show: Could Arsenal swap Lacazette for Partey?

Arsenal head of football Sanllehi leaves

Arsenal in advanced talks for Runarsson

Arsenal are in advanced talks with Dijon over the signing of goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson.

The 25-year-old Iceland international has two years remaining on his contract with the French club having joined from Danish side Nordsjaelland in 2018.

Arsenal are in the market for a back-up ‘keeper to compete with youngster Matt Macey, having accepted a £16m bid from Aston Villa for Emiliano Martinez.

The 28-year-old Argentinian is expected to complete the move to Villa Park this week.

Martinez has two years remaining on his contract at the Emirates and impressed when stepping in for first-choice ‘keeper Bernd Leno when the German was injured in June, but the Gunners are actively looking to generate funding for further outfield signings in this window.

Transfer Centre LIVE!

All the latest news, analysis and rumours from the window in one place.

The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5.

A domestic-only window for trades between the Premier League and EFL then runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5pm. Follow all the news and analysis on Sky Sports News and across Sky Sports‘ digital platforms, including with our dedicated Transfer Centre blog.

Transfer Talk podcast

Every week throughout the window, the Transfer Talk podcast digs into the biggest storylines in the Premier League and around Europe, with debate and analysis from some of the most well connected reporters in the football world.

Download and subscribe in the link above, or find us wherever you get your podcasts.

original source

The post Aubameyang signs new three-year Arsenal contract appeared first on Sportify News.

[scrumptiousqueenglitter]

Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his teams first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece.

Olympiakos may be prolific and unbeaten in domestic competitions, but its first Europa League game of the season was more like a reality check for the Reds, who went down 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Thursday.

The Gunners have had a patchy season to date, but have kept alive their only hope for some silverware this season after emerging victorious from a battle that is always hard to give at Olympiakos.

The Greek side will feel hard done by the result, as the match was fairly balanced, the two sides shared possession and chances and both got close to scoring – except that only Arsenal did so when presented with an 81st minute  from a clever pass by brilliant Bukayo Saka to the path of Alexandre Lacazette who made no mistake from close range for the night’s sole goal at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno denied Olympiakos early on in the second half, while Arsenal’s Sokratis Papastathopoulos was himself denied by the woodwork at the closing stages of the match.

The second leg at the Emirates next Thursday will not be easy for the Greeks, especially given the absence of defensive stalwart Ruben Semedo who got booked again, while there is also the small matter of the Super League derby between Olympiakos and PAOK on Sunday.

[hekate1308]

I just remembered something you guys might like. 

There’s a right wing party in Germany called the AFD (Alternative for Deutschland - alternative for Germany). Just think alt-right, it fits the bill.

One of its best known politicians is called Björn Höcke. 

Now in 2015, a newspaper made the mistake of calling him Bernd instead of Björn. He started ranting into a camera how someone could possibly get his name wrong. 

Enter die Heute Show. 

Die Heute Show is a German satire show, and they thought his reaction was absolutely delightful. So they decided to do one thing: 

They just call him Bernd Höcke out of principle. 

And ever since then, people have been slowly getting confused as to what his real name is. 

By this point, even news anchors get it wrong. 

In short, a satire show has decided to make the right wing look ridiculous by simply giving one of their politicians a different first name and it’s working. 

[sportsleague365]

Freddie Ljungberg was forced to settle for a point in his first game as Arsenal manager as Norwich City held the Gunners to a 2-2 draw. The Swede, appointed on an interim basis after Unai Emery’s sacking, watched on from the Carrow Road dugout as both sides threw caution to the wind in an exciting game. Freddie Ljungberg cut an animated figure on the Carrow Road touchline in his first gameAFP or licensorsWith Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka in midfield, there were signs of encouragement for the Premier League winner in his first game in charge. But lapses in concentration and poor defending cost the Gunners’ yet again on the road, making the chasm between them and the European top spots even wider. The Canaries remain in the relegation places, but Daniel Farke will be pleased by what he saw from his troops – continuing to play good football in spite of their lowly league position. For Arsenal, they host Brighton and West Ham in their next two games – fixtures the fans and their new boss will be hoping to achieve maximum points from ahead of a busy festive period. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his tenth goal of the seasonAFP or licensorsThe match got off to a far from ideal start for Ljungberg, as Teemu Pukki fired Norwich in front with a 21st-minute effort that took a big deflection off Shkodran Mustafi. Arsenal quickly had a chance to level the scoreline when Zimmermann was penalised for handball and the Gunners were awarded a penalty. Tim Krul saved Aubameyang’s initial spot-kick, but the Arsenal skipper made no mistake after VAR intervened to order a retake for encroachment. But the Canaries retook the lead in first-half stoppage time. The Canaries at least deserved a point from the gameGetty Images - GettyOnel Hernandez had time on the left wing to pick his pass and teed up Todd Cantwell to beat Leno with a composed finish for a 2-1 half-time advantage. Having cancelled out Norwich’s opener, Aubameyang was at it again in the 57th minute. The ball found its way to the Gabon international from a corner and he fired home another equaliser from just outside the six-yard box. Bernd Leno pulled off a fantastic diving save to deny Kenny McLean at the other end soon after. More to follow… #NorwichCity #PremierLeague #FreddieLjungberg

[gadgetsrevv]

Man Utd 1-0 Arsenal LIVE: Score, Scott McTominay breaks the deadlock before the break | Football | Sport

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL | MCTOMINAY (44)

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Lindelof, Young, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Pereira, James, Rashford

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are surprise inclusions in the Manchester United XI

Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers come in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Dani Ceballos

Scott McTominay opens the scoring with thunderous strike from outside the box

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

52: Corner to Arsenal… which is completely wasted. It’s played short and David de Gea strolls off his line to pluck it out of the sky. Lucas Torreira then decides to go it alone but shows too much of it to Paul Pogba. Cleared.

Chance! Aubameyang has space to drive into and crosses for Torreira, who can’t adjust his body and connect with a half-volley. Difficult chance for a midfielder – had it been the other way around – it could be 1-1 at Old Trafford.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

49: The Red Devils are controlling the ball nicely since the resumption. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have had virtually all the ball with Arsenal defending patiently.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

47: Arsenal haven’t won away against Manchester United in league competition when conceding a goal since November 1977. Still, records are made to be broken and all that…

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

45: And we’re back underway folks. No changes for either side. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side really need a win here – but they’ll have to do something they haven’t done for a few months – score a second goal!

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Twitter round-up

Jamu: No matter the result today Unai Emery needs to go. Negative team selection, no creativity in midfield. Ceballos & Ozil in place of Xhaka & Saka would have bossed that midfield & created chance after chance.

Com: Xhaka scared of the ball and duck it. What a shame!

Lamied: Bar the goal, it’d been a dreadful half. Arsenal let United keep the ball almost as if they knew we wouldn’t be able to hurt them if we don’t get a count attack,and truly,we did score via a counter attack eventually. Sad we can’t cut a defence open without a counter!

Shay: Emery has absolutely no clue what he is doing. Get him out ASAP, Freddie Ljungberg caretaker manager (heck even player) until end season.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL

HT: And that’s the break. Pretty low quality affair brought to life in the final minutes of the half and the boot of Scott McTominay. It does actually appear that Granit Xhaka ducked out of the way to avoid a ball flush in the face. Not a very captain-y thing to do…

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 ARSENAL | MCTOMINAY

44: GOAL! Manchester United need a hero? Step forward, Scott McTominay!

Marcus Rashford does well to keep Daniel James’ wayward cross from crossing the byline and rolls it back for the advancing McTominay to leather past Bernd Leno with the help of a slight deflection.

That is Scott McTominay’s first goal at Old Trafford.

42: Waste! Marcus Rashford with a chance to give the hosts a valuable lead before the break. He sets off and strolls beyond Chambers but the striker stalls, dithers and eventually scuffs it at Sokratis.

Double save! Manchester United turn a corner into last-gasp defending in the blink of an eye. Pereira slips at the crucial moment and Saka is played in. His effort is parried wide by De Gea and Guendouzi can’t beat the Spaniard with the follow up.

39: Saka being taught a wee lesson in… gamesmanship shall we say. Young clearly tugs his shirt but the referee warns the teenager for complaining. Rashford on the left for now, with Lingard or James as the nine.

Young pushes his luck a bit too much when flying into Guendouzi. Booked!

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

37: Pepe and McTominay has a clash of knees in the middle. The referee awards the free-kick to Arsenal, and after a quick VAR review, changes his mind and gives it to the hosts. Pretty much the highlight of the action so far. Stay tuned for more incidents like this…

36: Pretty dreadful quality tonight. Aubameyang beats the United centre-backs to a lofted pass but having brought down the cross, Nicolas Pepe tamely strikes at David de Gea.

34: Andreas Pereira chops down Nicolas Pepe on the counter and the referee decides to book him. Pretty nasty looking challenge.

And it gives us the chance to see David Luiz in set-piece action… or not. Wow, that was horrendous. Grant Xhaka punts the ball up high… and it dribbles out. Ironic cheers from the home supporters.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

32: A moment of quality! Finally! We’ve waited 32 minutes for that as Andreas Pereira ghosts past David Luiz before forcing a good diving stop from Bernd Leno. The former Chelsea defender was beaten all ends up there.

And from the sublime to the ridiculous as Saka lays it on a plate for Pepe, who balloons it over with a first-time strike.

30: Booked! Silly from Rashford, who chases for a lost cause and slides in on Sokratis. Looked like the studs were up there and Kevin Friend reaches for his pocket.

27: Eh? Arsenal have a free-kick on the left flank. They send all the lads up from the back but Nicolas Pepe inexplicably punts it straight out of play. Unai Emery is the picture of frustration watching that.

25: Daniel James should be going direct at the already booked Calum Chambers, but decides to pass it backwards to nobody. Luckily Scott McTominay is there to mop up the danger and get his side on the front foot again.

Chance! David Luiz brings down a set-piece near the byline and flashes a cross through the penalty area that Aubameyang is close to connecting with.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

22: Yellow? Nope. Jesse Lingard follows the breaking Bukayo Saka before clipping his ankles but referee Kevin Friend lets him off with a warning. Bit unfair considering Calum Chambers was carded for exactly the same thing.

19: Bernd Leno is a bit hesitant when going to take a goal kick short. Marcus Rashford spots it and rushes him and the German is forced to send it long. OK, that’s not an electric update – but it does show that Solskjaer and Co are doing their homework.

16: The Red Devils are dominating possession tonight but that’s probably by design. Arsenal will know that United’s biggest threat is on the break and aren’t prepared to hand them that advantage.

13: Ashley Young with a chance to send in a great cross from the right… goes begging as he knocks it straight out of play. The Arsenal fans enjoyed that one. If you listen carefully, you can hear every Manchester United supporter writing a mean tweet about him..

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

11: Booked! Bit early for that, Calum! Chambers won’t let Daniel James pass him and is prepared to go in the referee’s book for it. Just the 79 minutes plus stoppage time to survive…

10: Gareth Southgate in the house tonight. He’s not wearing the waistcoat or a plastic rain coat. Rebel. Kasper and Peter Schmeichel too. Edu, Raul Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham among those representing Arsenal.

7: Nice bit of interplay from Daniel James and Lingard down the left channel, but a popped pass to Paul Pogba sees the Frenchman blast it straight at Granit Xhaka.

5: “We’ve got Saka and Xhaka, but no Wan-Bissaka,” says Martin Tyler, who sounds extremely pleased with himself. No early action to discuss with the ball opening most of its time skidding around the middle of the park.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

3: The eagle-eyed Gary Neville has spotted that Axel Tuanzebe is actually playing at left-back this evening. Ashley Young starting on the right tonight against Bukayo Saka. bloodbath.

Corner to Arsenal as Tuanzebe heads a lofted pass aimed for Calum Chambers behind. The Gunner play it short and the delivery is eaten up by Harry Maguire.

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 ARSENAL

1: Y’all ready for this? Terrific, we’re underway at Old Trafford. Still hammering it down and both managers have sensibly got their big coats on.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Here they come!

19:55: No Roy Keane-esque style antics in the tunnel I’m sad to report. All quite civil between the two sets of players. The weather hasn’t done a thing to subdue supporters – everyone’s up for this battle.

Flithy…

19:50: Pretty grim up north this evening folks. It hasn’t stopped raining for a few hours and the surface is primed for a defensive mistake or two.

Just checked the forecast, and it’s not likely to stop anytime soon. Pleasant day on Wednesday though… if that’s any consolation.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

He needs to dominate!

19:48: Roy Keane has told Paul Pogba what he needs to do tonight – dominate. Simple enough I suppose.

“To dominate the game, it’s as simple as that,” Keane said on Sky Sports.

“Show a bit of courage, get on the ball and make things happen. We’ve been very critical of Paul over the last few years, but when he’s out of the team, as we saw at West Ham last week, he’s probably still is their best player. His mentality has got to be right though.”

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Twitter reaction

Frank: For United and Arsenal to challenge, they’ll have to sell ALL their midfielders and defenders! The Goalkeeper-ship and Striker-ship positions are well covered up! With both clubs benefiting by appointing a Director of Football each

Mehrad: Ole shouldn’t be playing Pogba and Rashford if they are not fully fit he will make the situation worse like he did last year.

Grant: Baffles me how Ashley Young who has been a complete liability is starting ahead of Rojo who (this season) has been pretty decent.

Think you’re being generous to Rojo there, Grant. He’s not had the chance to prove himself as a liability yet is more likely.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Glory days

19:40: If you could have the Bruce Springsteen song playing in your mind while reading this – that would be helpful…

Roy Keane believes Manchester United are better equipped to return to the top of English football than Arsenal.

“I would probably have to say United,” he said on Sky Sports. “I just think United are always capable of going out and spending more money than Arsenal basically.

“Obviously if things aren’t going well over the next few months, I think Ole’s mentioned already they’re on the look out for a striker, they’re obviously short of one. I think United have got more money I suppose to try and go out and get better players.”

Unai Emery says Mesut Ozil is not injured. Purely a tactical decision. This Emery vs Ozil fight is beyond tiresome. Needs to be addressed in January. Arsenal are in no position to have a 350k a week player sitting home doing nothing #MUNARS https://t.co/YWhkoxA90x

— Uche Amako (@UcheAmako) September 30, 2019

Where’s Ozil?

19:35: Yes, the least popular feature of our Arsenal live blogs returns with the German not involved for the umpteenth time. I think we’re at the stage when Ozil starting is bigger news to be honest with you.

Asked where the playmaker was this evening, Unai Emery did his best to avoid the question.

“Today I decide the team and the squad,” the Arsenal manager said. Thanks for that, Unai.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

The captaincy debate

19:30: Not that we haven’t spoken about this to death already…

Unai Emery backed Granit Xhaka to win the fans over after the Swiss midfielder was named the club’s new captain following a dressing-room vote.

Xhaka, who has captained Arsenal six times this season, finished ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil in the voting process.

And absolutely nobody is pleased with the decision. Nobody I tell ya!

“He (Xhaka) is mature, he has experience. We are living under pressure and criticism, as a coach, as a player, as a club,” Emery said.

“I spoke with him, we want to change that outside opinion (of him). The respect he has inside is very important. I trust and believe in him. He is a good man, a good professional, a good player.”

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Battle of the youth!

19:25: Should be a very interesting night with all these youngsters looking to prove themselves against each other.

Matteo Guendouzi goes up against Scott McTominay in the middle of the park. Good chance of blood and thunder with those two.

Makeshift (kind of) right-back Axel Tuanzebe is tasked with stopping Bukayo Saka down that left channel. Easier said than done.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Ole’s the man?

19:20: He certainly thinks so.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident he is the right man to take the club forward despite a shaky start to the Premier League season.

United are 11th in the standings with eight points after six games but the Norwegian said he can get the 20-times champions to once again compete with holders Manchester City and leaders Liverpool.

“I’m not doubting myself. If I doubted myself, then I think the rest of the world would as well,” Solskjaer said.

On a completely unrelated note, I’m just having a look at the odds for the next Manchester United manager. Poch is favourite, Massimiliano Allegri and Laurent Blanc in behind.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Twitter reaction

Anukram: Arsenal and Manchester United need to rethink and restructure their current wage structures I think. Their glorious histories are not enough for players to come and play at these clubs anymore. Money and wages are important too.

Richard: Leicester proved it’s not just about money. Belief in your system patience and luck all play a part. And of course you need the manager to have good players and play to the teams strength. Hopeful Arsenal fan.

Rezaa: Looking at the Line Ups, there’s nothing between the 2 teams. Good attacks, poor defence. 3-3

I really do hope you’re right, Rezaa.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Team News – Manchester United

19:10: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes three changes from the West ham defeat.

Axel Tuanzebe, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba come into the starting XI with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata missing out. AWB is out of the squad altogether through injury.

Marcus Rashford is passed fit despite those injury concerns, which means 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood has been left on the bench.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Team News – Arsenal

19:05: Youngest player klaxon! Bukayo Saka becomes the youngest player to start for Arsenal against Manchester United in the Premier League, aged 18 years and 25 days. Bit of pub ammunition for you guys there…

Unai Emery makes two changes to the starting XI from the team who beat Aston Villa 3-2 in their last Premier League game.

Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers start, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Dani Ceballos are on the bench.

The sides

19:00: Interesting, very interesting. Here are the line-ups for today’s games and there’s quite a few surprises.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Lindelof, Young, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Pereira, James, Rashford.

Subs: Romero, Rojo, Williams, Fred, Mata, Matic, Greenwood.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka.

Subs: Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Willock, Ceballos, Nelson, Martinelli.

The standings…

18:55: I think you know full well the standings and how the sides have performed in the opening six fixtures – but I’m contractually obliged to force-feed you this information…

Manchester United are 11th in the standings with eight points after six games – level on points with Sheffield United.

But three points tonight would see them leap into sixth – above Chelsea on goal difference.

As for Arsenal? Well… 11 points in six games and one victory away from knocking West Ham out of the top four.

The Gunners are actually in very good goal scoring form – averaging over two goals a game. But the unconvincing win over Aston Villa and the dismal 2-2 draw with Watford show the same old vulnerabilities are there at the back.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

Evening…

18:50: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.

In days gone by, I would have started this blog by asking unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

Now, I’ll ask what happens when team incapable of keeping a clean sheet meets a side who simply can’t score more than one goal in 90 minutes?

Not as catchy, is it?

Not since Emmanuel Adebayor scored the only goal of the game in September 2006 have Arsenal left United with three points.

Since then, United have had the better of their battles but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are out of form and have a lengthy injury list heading into tonight’s meeting.

Should be a very interesting night indeed. Team news and line-ups arriving any moment now.

Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)

MANCHESTER UNITED vs ARSENAL – TEAM NEWS

Paul Pogba is a doubt for Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Arsenal because of a swollen ankle.

The Frenchman returned to action for the first time since suffering the injury at Southampton last month but the issue has flared up again, leaving the midfielder touch and go to face the Gunners.

Forward pair Anthony Martial (thigh) and Marcus Rashford (groin) are unlikely to feature while Phil Jones is definitely out but fellow defender Luke Shaw returned to training on Friday after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint.

Arsenal could hand a Premier League debut to Kieran Tierney at Old Trafford.

The full-back was injured when he joined from Celtic but made his bow in the Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest, with Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding also making long-awaited returns in midweek.

Alexandre Lacazette (ankle) is missing and Emile Smith Rowe (concussion) is also out.

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Late night thoughts

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I posted any sort of personal content on here; however, today something happened that made me once again contemplate the future of mankind, and I think the following is important for all of you, so I appreciate everyone reading through this, thinking it through, adding their own ideas, discussing etc.. Please no hate speech of ANY form.

Today, my home country Germany held their general election. Results are tumbling in, and the right-winged populist party AfD seem to have received a whole of 13%. This means that for the first time since the NSDAP & Hitler, a right-winged party has made it into our parliament. Concurrently, the conservative CDU (Merkel's party) has lost a whooping 9% and the social democrats (SPD) have lost almost 6%. (None of the numbers have been confirmed since not all votes are counted & checked yet, but these are reliable predictions.) Let's not even talk about how the pro-business liberals FDP, who decide to ignore climate change, are mathematically the only possible coalition party, I don't want this to escalate into one big rant about capitalism and it's ruining the planet and mankind.

What I actually want to address is the fact that the AfD was founded merely four years ago as a right-liberal alternative to the established partys; just two years later, its founder Bernd Lucke was replaced by Frauke Petry, who was considered strongly right-winged at that time. By now, another mere two years later, she is considered (by both outsiders and party members) as way more moderate than the rest of her party; in fact, AfD members have called her things like 'too soft' & 'too left'. Someone, who not long ago was deemed clearly right.

Why am I talking about the history of some German party? Because it is an excellent example how populists and fascists operate.

The AfD's deputy chairman, Alexander Gauland, has been known for his nazi-similar politics for years. By now, many members have attracted the attention of our Federal Intelligence Service; the party also has several links to other nazi movements. This is not how it started out though. Over the course of just one office term, it has changed from an anti-euro party to a right populist party whose members openly scream their hate speech against immigrants, muslims and any political left or middle party at people on the streets (I've seen it happen just yesterday), and who damn Germany & its system but in the same sentence talk about 'our holy homeland Germany', exactly like the ""official"" Nazis did and do.

Now, I could spend hours analyzing how and where and when this whole thing went downhill and what the governing partys and Merkel and the media did wrong in dealing with the AfD, but to be honest, it would be no good at all. Today's results show that apparently we are unable to learn from our own history (the NSDAP started out very similar, and although it would be wrong to generalise both times, we need to stop downplaying this issue).

What I would rather like to address is how many people are succumbing to the pull of populism in the last few years. And this is not a problem only Germany is dealing with; it is happening in democracies all around the world. I have my own theory why, because this has happened before, but only the facts that it is based on are scientifically confirmed, so don't expect me to be a reliable source for what's going on in the world.

A proven fact is that we are in the wake of the third big change of mankind: digitalisation (the first one being sedentarism, the second one industrialisation). Now, what we could witness during industrialisation is very similar to what is happening right now: rapid changes and development in sciences, society and politics, with one part of society pushing further and further towards progress and the other part being overwhelmed by the new fast pace of the world, followed by a rise in conservative and then right-winged, nationalistic and populistic tendencies (see e.g. imperialistic ideas that caused WWI). Now, industrialisation happened over the course of about a century; digitalisation has genuinely begun only about 10-15 years ago and has already developed much quicker. Again, this is not a confirmed parallel, just my understanding of things; however, change does cause people to get scared, and the more change happens at the same time, the more confusing it gets, causing people to feel lost among all the new developments, wishing for the old days and clear structures (-> rise in nationalism, the homeland as one last solid way of identification). Now, what does anxiety directly lead to? Rejection. Which leads to? Hate. You probably all have experienced it yourselves, when you were afraid of doing something, but you were scared to express it, so you just said you don't like it and that’s why you're not doing it? As someone with a lifelong experience with anxiety, I can confirm I have done this multiple times, and I have also often witnessed it with friends & family.

Anxiety leads to hate. So? Exactly. If people are scared and they hear someone loudly screaming about restoring old values, without the 'scary new things', they will gladly follow that voice, if it only sounds confident enough. Never mind facts, people vote with their guts, and if someone makes them feel safe, they get their support (see Trump for example).

The least of the people who have voted for right-winged people or partys, anywhere around the world, are actual populists or Nazis. Yes, there is a (way too large) core of these people, but they are NOT the majority. Most of them are scared jump-on-the-bandwagoners. Now, I am not making excuses for their behaviour, their choices and their views; I am just saying that telling a scared person that they are wrong or ignoring them does not help. Neither does telling these things to an angry person for that matter (as anger often comes from hate which comes from fear, etc etc). Fighting hate with hate is NOT a solution and never has been. I am the first person to feel the burning need to punch any person in the face who tells me that 'muslims are evil and their religion should be banned' or bullshit like that, but we NEED to refrain from physical violence, and, what's even more important (because this is a mistake that many, many people, including me, make or have made), insulting others & treating them without respect for their beliefs. And yes, this also goes for nazis (hear me out).

Yes, OBVIOUSLY they are wrong, their views and actions are disgusting and should have no place in our world whatsoever. But tell me, have you ever been told that your opinion sucked and that you should go to hell and it made you go 'Hm, maybe they're right, I'm gonna reevaluate my world view'? No. Being told that you're wrong, being insulted only increases your protest. So what you are really doing when you're supporting things like punching nazis etc. is promoting them. Obviously, they are in the wrong. Obviously, about 99% of the things they believe are wrong, and they need to be called out on that. But: BE RESPECTFUL. You don't have to actually respect them, I know it can be hard, but show them the respect they deny others. To be honest, anyone who says things like 'I am not gonna treat people with respect who disrespect others like that' is being egoistic. Believe me, I get your point, I really do. But if your goal is to actually convince someone, YOU HAVE TO BE THE BIGGER PERSON. YOU have to be the one to take a deep breath and say, 'hey, I disagree with you on everything I have heard you say so far, but let's talk. Let's discuss. In a respectful way.'. This is not just a quick concept of mine, by the way: Any ex-nazi can confirm this. What brought so many of them around was the people they were hating on inviting them in.

Yes, they often behave like monsters, but every human being just has the basic need to belong. If you want someone on your side, TAKE THEM IN. Be opening, be welcoming, without supporting or ignoring their unacceptable views. Show them that their ideas are not welcome, but show them that they as basic human beings are welcome. How do you expect someone to join you if you tell them, hey, you suck, but please be on our side because we are right and you are wrong?

If you genuinely want to convince someone to be a considerate, accepting person who lives in unison with others, this is the only way.

If you only want to shortly relieve your

anger, go on and punch nazis. Fight, insult, hurt them until enough life and dignity has been taken on either side for you to realise that violence does not end violence, and hatred does not end hatred, and that the only way to overcome and find peace is through love.

[wristwatchjournal]

The Petrolhead Corner – Breaking An Almost 80 Years Old Speed Record

Pendine Sands in the UK, Daytona Beach and Bonneville Salt Flats in the US, Hakskeen Pan desert in South Africa and Ehra Lessien in Germany. All places where, throughout history, land speed records have been broken. Specifically selected and/or built tracks that provide near-perfect circumstances; very long, very straight, very flat. One of the most emblematic records, however, is the land speed record set on an albeit closed, but very public stretch of road. And quite recently this record, which stood for almost 80 years, was broken by the mad scientist from Koenigsegg.

Mankind has had an ever-present and unquenchable appetite for all things related to speed. This is also the reason why there are hundreds of different categories in racing or land speed records. In the latter category, you’ll find numerous regulated classes. The most prominent one is the absolute land speed record, currently in the hands of the Thrust SSC at 1227.986kph. Back in 1997, this was the first time a land vehicle broke the sound barrier and that achievement hasn’t been matched or surpassed since. The team of Bloodhound LSR (we covered it when still known as the Bloodhound SSC and partnered with Rolex) wants to have a crack at it, by setting a goal of 1,000mph or roughly 1,609kph. It has been in development for several years no, with a top speed run scheduled for fall 2020.

Other than that, there is a land speed record set on public roads which is considerably lower in terms of top speed, and thus you would imagine broken a bit easier perhaps. But, as we are about to disclose, it took almost 80 years of technical progress to break it!

The record stems from one of the darkest periods in modern history as it was set by Nazi-backed Mercedes-Benz in 1938. On Friday the 28th of January in 1938, Mercedes-Benz lined up their W125 Rekordwagen on a closed section of the German highway with Rudolph Caracciola behind the wheel. The car had a 5.6-litre V12 engine producing 736bhp, an insane amount of power for that time. The Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen was a sleek-looking machine, with enclosed wheels and a long, swooping body to reduce drag as much as possible. Opening up the bodywork for cooling was deemed as unwanted as it would potentially cause too much friction. As a solution, blocks of ice were put in front of the radiators. Eventually, Caracciola achieved a top speed of 432.7kph (268.9mph), a record that stood until November of 2017.

On that very same day in 1938, Auto Union attempted to break the record as well, only to be trumped by Mercedes-Benz. With Bernd Rosemeyer, an equally legendary Grand Prix driver as Rudolph Caracciola, behind the wheel of the Auto Union Streamliner. Rosemeyer was warned by Caracciola about strong winds and was advised against attempting to break it. He went for it anyway, only to veer off track on his return run due to a sudden gust of wind, sending the car into a field, ultimately killing its driver. On his attempt though, he did achieve a higher top speed than his Mercedes-Benz competitor but since no return run was completed the record wasn’t valid. This tragically ended the career of one of the legendary drivers in the pre-war Grand Prix era.

Enter Koenigsegg. The Swedish manufacturer of hypercars, a term coined by founder Christian von Koenigsegg, is no strangers to records as they have several of these in their name. Producing some of the most powerful and fastest road cars on earth, they push the envelope with every single car they develop. The first model, the CC prototype was already an unconventional machine, mostly due to the unique construction of the doors, with a sort of double scissoring motion when opening and closing them. Since its launch in 1994, the brand has continued in their pursuit of building the ultimate road car. One of the few brands to succeed in making a name for themselves and finding a sustainable market of clientele, with astonishing models like the Agera, Agera RS, One:One, Regera and the latest Jesko and Gemera hypercars. 

Alongside some incredible engineering and ground-breaking innovations, Koenigsegg achieved to break several records with their cars. One of which is the record of 0-400-0 set by the Agera RS in a mindboggling 36.44 seconds. Imagine that, accelerating from zero to 400 kilometres an hour to begin with, and then slowing down to a dead stop in a little over half a minute! Here’s footage of that 0-400-0 record-breaking run:

But the topic of this article was about breaking that land speed record on a public road, held by Mercedes-Benz for almost 80 years. It just so happens the same car (Agera RS) by the same brand (Koenigsegg) broke the record on a closed section of public road in the Nevada desert. The tricky thing is you need a road straight enough to be able to reach speeds like this, and wide enough to allow room to swerve, which is inevitable. It also needs to be flat enough to not have the car jump and skip over bumps and run the risk of losing control. Remember that at 250 miles per hour you are covering 110 meters every second! Any mistake at that speed is disastrous, to say the least. 

On the 4th of November 2017, Koenigsegg lined up their then top-tier Agera RS for a top speed run and a crack at the nearly 80-year-old record. Bear in mind the stipulation for this record being attempted on a public road. The current fastest production car in the world is a Bugatti but the record was set on the Volkswagen owned Ehra-Lessien testing grounds in Germany, so not a public road. Important detail! The Koenigsegg Agera RS was introduced in 2015 and packed an all-mighty twin-turbo 5.0 litre V8 punch; 1,160bhp. In markets where E85 fuel is available, the power output is even higher. Combine this with a curb weight of just 1,325 kilo’s you end up with a very, VERY fast car. 

A closed section of a Nevada highway, just outside of Las Vegas was the stage for the attempt at the record. If you look at footage from the top speed run, you can see the surface is far from flat and smooth. A run like this, to be officially certified, requires a run in both ways within an hour. The combined average of the two is recorded as the official achieved speed. Despite being rear-wheel drive only Koenigsegg has made an impact on how good their cars launch off the line. Traction is pretty much key, especially on a dirty, bumpy stretch of a public road. Here’s the official video of the event:

In the end, Koenigsegg test-driver Niklas Lilja set off quite calmly, but eventually managed a top speed of 457.49kph (284.55mph) in the first run. What is both astounding and surprising in the footage is how stable the car is, despite the obvious weaving from left and right (follow the white stripes to see what I mean). On the return run, the top speed was a bit lower, at 436.44kph (271.19mph) due to a headwind. The two-way average for the attempt was an incredible 449.97kph (277.87mph). Again, looking at the footage of the run, just check how fast the car accelerates from 200 to 300 kilometres for instance (only 7 seconds!) and how much ground the car covers at that kind of speeds. And what makes this achievement that little bit extra special is the fact that where the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen was a purpose-built machine, the Koenigsegg Agera RS is a road-legal car. So, in theory, at least, you and I could attempt the same thing! We only need 7,7 million dollars to buy one!

All in all, Koenigsegg broke 5 records with their Agera RS during this attempt. Since then even faster, more powerful cars have been introduced, like the Jesko Absolut. No clue on whether it would be able to break the record or not, or even if Koenigsegg will attempt something like this again in the future.

Car and Driver explains the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen and its 1938 record in detail, where Top Gear has the details about the five records set by the Agera RS in 2017.

The post The Petrolhead Corner – Breaking An Almost 80 Years Old Speed Record appeared first on Wristwatch Journal.

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