Advent, Advent ... 
"It is winter," says R., our now well-half years, "if there's snow outside and inside it is Christmas." It is winter
think I when starts the shopping stress.
This is not meant to buy gifts. That's like over here equally over there and get through but now greatly simplified by eCommerce and years of experience.
As a traditional German faithful to me but they are important in the Advent season so some handicrafts. And get to the "ingredients" is, in this country is a nightmare.
begins with the Advent wreath on it. Wreaths of fir or pine green you have here, nice even with red ribbons and bows. But hang vertically on the doors, and of course without the candles.
That there would be no candle for Advent wreaths in America was to see then. If one still from Germany. The problem is the candles. For days I am in the first Years wandering to find some who have the right red and the right size - and NOT to heaven stink.
unscented candles are something quite exotic. Before candle shelves of my regular dim olfactory overkill. Is it at amazon.com "unscented candles" as a search term are offered almost exclusively white votive candles.
After all sold to the local stationery stores passable copies. Apparently they had to withdraw those but the perfume in hand again until - how else could explain that a perhaps six inches high and three and a half inches thick Kerzchen costs $ 4.20? That is the discount price, just like taking an entire package of eight. You really need but also because it even with four candles with pure Sunday-use does not make it to Christmas.
Then: the homemade calendar for the grandparents, with photos and artwork of the children. I'm old fashioned and like to do it by hand, with scissors, glue, etc. But all blank calendar from a single colored box, with a not too large, open space? Not applicable.
The only alternative is virtual crafts on the Internet, where to place their digital photos at the party in the formats and vordesignte the printed result gets sent to you. But how do I get Rs finger paint pictures or Ns lovingly drawn Starfleet battleship in there?
DIY here means that one paints by numbers on anything yet on it glued plastic eyes or glitter, or both. Christmas Cookie Decoration sets purchased and finished cookies with red, white and green sugar sprinkled pearls.
Take "Michael", a large retail chain for artists and craft supplies. Even before the entrance scare from wire baskets full of plastic pumpkins still left from Halloween and Thanksgiving, brightly colored and dirt cheap. Inside blaring and it trundles on all shelves. Dancing reindeer, hip-swinging Santas, poinsettias singing. Seasonal goods, freshly arrived from China. There
also craft sets are many, where everything is tailored ready and rightly placed in the correct order so that the tinkering is done with a manual in a few minutes. This is made even less as a frozen pizza before baking, sprinkle with cheese or with vorgeschreddertem bag. all formats for short attention spans.
are not finding the other hand, such as solid cardboard craft in primary colors or unpainted wooden balls. Felt it is only with a self-adhesive side. Blank calendar of course not at all.
Nevertheless: Also this year we have an Advent wreath, the spruce needles for real smells and stinks of scented candles. Also this year, fir trees from Pennsylvania's forests and offered not only to unfold plastic trees (with or without jewelry).
The best thing about the American Christmas tradition is, of course, that the decorated trees at the beginning of December, up one - and not only on Christmas Eve. The streets look pretty festive this out for weeks, and from outside, you can fortunately not know whether plastic or real pine stand in the living rooms. (We remain, however, also true to our tradition, on the Photo is why the Christmas tree from last year to see)
misleading and what is new so everything came up at Christmas time -. the Candy-shitting Christmas sheep for example. And just in Chicago bus stops on behalf of the company were equipped with force hot air blowers. So are the people waiting in cozy warmth - and also in a homey scent festive roast. Referred Namely , using seductive fragrances, for finished turkey fills the Stove Top brand
Christmas dinner to almost do it yourself, so to speak ...
(Princeton Post XXIII)
New game?
yes I will now not be a spoilsport. That was first elected a black U.S. president, is undoubtedly a historic moment in a class.
But - why you should believe now, everything will be different and better here now that I can not get into his head. reward
The party of "W" Bush with yet another presidency that could and could not even be somehow true. But SOOO big is Obama's lead in the polls now not back down. Even the turnout is already no more than a record, at best, a percentage point more than in 2004, it is now. Because this time was able to motivate the Democratic team player, traditionally Republican voters disenchanted with politics, however, remained at home. So, America wanted a change, sort of, but still not so clear.
Here in Princeton, first, the relief was great. In the city nearly five times as many voters have voted for Obama as McCain, blue for what had previously been to read the many garden-white-red posters with the rising sun. "Now we can see you at our next meeting, at least in the eyes," emailed Betty, in their book club I'm the only foreigner.
just patriotic Americans, they beyond national borders were looking out, at last ashamed for their country or at least cared about its reputation abroad. Due to the disastrous climate policies. Because of the Iraq war, because of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. You could feel it, it was often said even.
Nevertheless, at the Obama enthusiasm many not really ignited. "Ultimately, I'm against McCain rather than vote for Obama," says Debbie, who had by-election campaign sticker on the stroller of her daughter after all, identified as "Obama Mama". For the inauguration, but she wants to go to Washington and also take her six year old son. "Because it is such a historical moment."
Will America reinvent themselves - or has it already - because Obama has become president? If you look at the candidate of his shadow cabinet: Hardly a new face, all veterans, many from the Clinton era. Does not look like the first break.
How should it be, asks Chris, a journalist and nonfiction author who observed the U.S. imperial power for decades inside and outside. Obama had finally become part of the Washington establishment. Who actually wanted to change, would have voted for the Green Ralph Nader. "But they have chosen a better pop star."
Chris sees the U.S. economically and politically with the abyss, "and there is nothing that Obama could do about it." He counts for a lot of reasons for his pessimism: the impoverishment of the middle class and the impoverishment of the people at the bottom of society. The loss of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs. The disastrous state of infrastructure, visibly ailing bridges as well as on the decline of the public school system. The newspaper death. The excessive waste of energy on all levels, from industry to air conditioners, clothes dryers and SUVs.
Even this election, he reads as a symptom of an incurable disease, the hubris of the imperial power: even the Americans praised himself for the fact that they had made a black man as president, and declared all again World, look, we are the best we can achieve anything if we want to.
Chris lives of his books, and provocative theories sell better. The forecast, the American empire is doomed, has probably produced as many sellers like their counter argument that the U.S. is just really anything is possible, also a new beginning. Represented approximately by the Harvard political scientist Joseph Nye , quoted straight back in the mirror and of course now widespread optimism.
And what does the art? It is hard to remain optimistic when the extremely successful - and frighteningly gloomy - HBO series " The Wire" does. A portrait of the American city, here it is is not Baltimore, it blacker. Here the police do not win against the bad guys, and here no one really wins.
"I did not start as a cynic," protested "Wire" writer David Simon in a lecture to students in his hometown of Baltimore. 20 years ago he was still clearly more confident. But whenever this country - whether at national or local level - since an election had said Simon, had taken a decision against its institutions the value of the people and for the value of money: "Capitalism has become our god. "
The lead America in the fall, believes Simon, because fewer and fewer 'have-alls" are complicated by more and more "have-nots" inward-. At this point, he also sees the racism of our time at work. When whites want to look in the suburbs, no TV reports about the predominantly black drug-hell of the cities, if they continue to zap because they think that I care about anything that has to do with my life nothing
. Not ten miles from our idyllic-rich small town this is Trenton, the capital of New Jersey. A world as it describes "The Wire." The nothing in common with our here.
has
order for the remains there, for example, Princeton's streets and public parking spaces between zwei und sechs clock in the morning absolutely no parking. Who has not yet Garage parking permit who does not live in town or is on residents to visit has to look in the night here, nothing. And to protect its citizens in a place does with 30,000 inhabitants, in which a car theft "big news" is two police authorities. That in the times in which economic crisis was still the question.
"We are a society are unwilling to take seriously their own problems under the microscope," wrote Simon after the "Wire" series to his audience . The American culture shun all Contradictory and complex, or just looking for simple solutions. "We like to excite and provoke, but we are opposed to a hard, painful analysis of situations which could bring us at the end to recognize our problems -. What would be the crucial first step to a single one to solve it"
"The Wire" is about "the America we pay for and tolerate," said Simon. "Perhaps it is possible to pay for, and demand, something more."
Now that America assumes the money, will probably not have much choice but to hope for a miracle. Shows that it still the "land of opportunity" may be also the change in thinking. And as things now Obama has the greatest miracle potential. If not he just the latest and most spectacular "Exciting" was.
(Princeton Post XXII)
crisis scenarios
Dagmar has once again consider carefully whether they should make the German course at the Princeton Adult School for $ 150 anyway. She is unemployed in their late 50s and more recently. "Merrill Lynch" she says, only smiles, resigned. Whether they still find a new job, or whether you have saved enough by now to retire, is unclear. Your 401 (k) balances, the tax-favored savings plan with the Creating U.S. workers money for old age is melting, in record time. "Right now, it's probably already better to invest in education," David says sarcastically when they check the issued for the course.
Phil remembers his orders, that grows the financial crisis on general economic crisis. Hardly anyone can still expand the attic, affords a complete kitchen renovation or a new bathroom. Only "odd jobs" he could do at the moment, says the self-employed craftsmen, minor repairs, such as occur constantly in the typical single-family homes. Today he is glad that he also had built up a customer base as a "handyman". Drains, repair, install new lighting, hang pictures, all for $ 40 per hour. Phil and his wife expecting their second child in November. It must stop sufficient for four.
Ann is worried about the market value of their company. She works as a consultant for a technology company with a diverse range - including alarm systems, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, medical equipment, fittings and steel components for the automotive industry. "After all, we sell real products, we produce something that is needed on the market," she says. But despite a good financial year, the share price in recent weeks is almost broken in half. Poor prospects for investment and jobs.
David fearing for his job already acute. He works for an advertising firm in New York - and their advertising budget crisis-stricken companies emphasize first together. With his wife he is now considering whether both are to sacrifice their last dollar savings and pay off the mortgage on their semi-detached house. Then at least the roof over your head for now would be safe.
While all of these people are still waiting on how much they get the impact of the financial crisis to feel Andrew Dechet looks far beyond that. The 40-year-old Princeton graduate and partner of private equity firm Texas Pacific Group, three years ago most hated Müntefering grasshopper presented as a keynote speaker at his former University of the crisis in power point format: Turbulent Graphs and charts, the losses are already priced in, almost ticked off, movement brings a new profit opportunities. Not all capital is destroyed, many billions are just waiting to be re-invested. Good for his business. to generate
Dechet job is not to obtain, industrial jobs, but attractive returns; for wealthy investors, but also to pension funds. Companies bought on credit, wrote the debts of the company concerned in the balance - if the benefit goes well, supposedly all, it goes wrong, the acquired company is sitting on the debt, not the so-called investors. Smart.
In Dechet world is as "smart", who without the use of capital and with the help of a junk mortgage at reasonable interest rates for two years a house "owns" that he could never afford the rent. Increases the interest rate to Priceless, press one of the bank the keys in his hand and moves on. In Dechet world has bad luck, who is busy at the moment, pure skin where the crisis properly, reach retirement age and 401 (k) balances finds shrunk to less than the subsistence minimum.
How does it work now? Frank Schirrmacher is threatened in the FAZ after the "bankruptcy of the metaphysics of the market " our social order, expressly not by the too-human greed each individual, but by the decoupling of economic elites from the rest of society. He quotes the American evolutionary biologist and geographer Jared Diamond: "After Diamond increasing willingness acting elites to ruin a company, in proportion to their ability to isolate itself from the larger society economically." These elites "feel safe," said Jared, " because they are very concentrated and occur in a manageable number. . They are by the prospect of fast, secure profits motivated, while distributing the losses always a very large number of individuals "
Now they have gone too far, concludes the German intellectuals: "The crisis not only changes the world. It changes the thinking. "
not for the wonder child of the Anglo-Saxon world of finance. Dechet also examined according to the rapid decline of the power-point curves: "the world changed", but naturally responds in the negative. The crisis he read no break, no end, he tells them as part of the cyclical economy - although in this round of unusually violent eruptions. That the American investors and consumers could ever be as sustainable as pessimistic about the Germans, he may not even imagine: "I am sure that in the end, the American consumer will always be optimistic." some point it goes up again.
To the extent it is - be flexible and to invest in education, then one should Dechet student who asks where he is soon to get a job: "Go to grad school!" - Make your doctor.
we leave the final word to the newly anointed Nobel laureate in Princeton, Paul Krugman . He wrote earlier this month under the title "Edge of the Abyss" safe to New York Times , is currently only one thing: "The next administration's economic team had better be ready to hit the ground running, because from day one it will find itself dealing with the worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression. "
(Princeton Post XXI)
depression instead of Obamania?
After 20 minutes debate snored the first two already. Maybe it was
to the late hour, 8 pm in Oxford, Mississippi for nine clock is the evening on the East Coast, makes plus a half Hour Obama versus McCain 10:30 pm, there are hard-working Americans during the week at home and in bed
Not this Friday evening, da. had eight "liberals", Democrats reported with Obama poster in the front yard (and a fairly neutral observer from Germany) Rees next door arrived at the debate watching. With Chardonnay from California, Bordeaux, France and Italian prune cake for dessert.
It is the first TV debate between Obama and McCain, and the first thing you notice: All here to see the Illinois senator in the White House - but the euphoria of the pre-election months is almost nothing left to feel. Not even in this part of Princeton, a stronghold of the "liberals". At that time, the spring rains Obama supporters at junctions of commuter traffic on and off jumps, had to "change" - brought about and "Yes We Can" posters, a new political era.
It ausgerappt itself. Obama's lead in the polls is dramatically shrunk - despite, or perhaps even because of Sarah Palin. And one of the most discussed topics at this evening is a investigation, according to the first black presidential candidate by these poll numbers even had to remove six to seven points. Because so many Americans in the "polls" just did not want to admit that they would vote on racial grounds in the voting booth just made for the white candidate.
The Wall Street Blues is now the tone. "Hopefully, with the core melt in my stock portfolio at least to not that once again a Republican is elected," a mid-sixties Erin says sarcastically. Like almost all here, in a country without a PAYG pension system, they see their pensions disappear. He makes the envelopes with his depot extracts certainly no longer, says a senior lawyer. has
Of the two candidates on this evening not a convincing answer to how he intends to deal with the financial crisis. 700 Billion Dollar Bailout - Yes or No? Eggs to the question about both. McCain repeatedly confused capital allowances (depreciation) and dividends (dividends), such as the round registered maliciously.
Obama is strangely untouched, despite visible effort to populist movements. He does not fire in this debate format, where the live audience at the venue express Emotion ban - no cheering, no boo is permitted. Not even applause.
In Rees' living room is no enthusiasm, if all you McCain bemäkelt paternalistic, at times almost hostile behavior. As I said, the first fall asleep after twenty minutes, in the meantime from dawn to four eight spectators away.
"It's still Obama's to lose," the lawyer said at the end. Sounds more evocative than convinced. Had Al Gore over then said yes too. And what if all the euphoric first-time voters, count on the Democrats this time so much hope to see their political messiah now rightly turn to normal candidate format? Almost
unnoticed in the din of the banking Götterdämmerung the barometer of optimistic sentiment has fallen, not into the abyss, perhaps, but still noticeable. would hardly anyone might have in the Texas roar of McCain adviser Phil Gramm agree that "recession mental" at best a view of America and made fun of his countrymen that they had no guts more, were " a nation of whiners " has become - sissy country.
NZZ author Andrea Keller goes so far as a "moral crisis " speak, "which engages deeply in the collective soul of household". Your impression: The finding of Peter Sloterdijk "primacy of mania from the depression" in the psycho-dynamic association of the USA still. The implosion of the financial industry has also shaken the economic foundation and fundamental pride of the nation. Since it does not help when Obama, who is always the "change" conjured, now even the phrase has at hand, that had "we Americans" have overcome other crises. So much but no one wanted to change.
Hard to say, what are the group in Rees' living longer fear that the crisis completely out of hand and threatens their economic existence - or that the crisis might not be hard enough to fail. That the same people who have to answer for in their view, the misery, with the help of hundreds of billions of tax payer but somehow still get the curve. That they get away and still be rewarded on top with another victory in her party.
any case, she was now determined yet, in the final weeks before the election on the phone extensively to recruit potential Obama voters, sighs my neighbor, Alex, when we step out after the debate in the warm September drizzle. Rees also wants to get up early on Saturday morning in order to be in New Brunswick as a campaign "volunteer" schools. Steamed
optimism is already. But not broken.
The little things
few days before our return to Princeton, I met with Daniel on Kollwitz Platz. Daniel had worked for five years as a correspondent in Washington, before returning to Berlin two years ago. We talked about politics (why has it made Angela Merkel at the top political and Hillary Clinton not), the economy and society (whether the high oil price itself converted the Americans for driving small cars).
Once there, however, went to the personal experience of living in the U.S., we all agreed: It is not the big issues that determine the Native or foreign feeling in the other country. But first of all the little things that in the typical condition for new immigrants probably a strong increase in sensitivity amazing dimensions can take.
During his first year in Washington, told Daniel that he had stocked up on every flight to Germany in the drugstore with shower gel, shampoo and toothpaste. So great was the desire for familiar smells and proven effects in a foreign land. And I remembered immediately the fact that one of the most important packing cases v of our containers or two years, this little box of soap, deodorant sticks and cream cans was that we had hoarded before departure at "Ross" in Berlin.
Today Daniel buys a lot of small things in his favorite "drugstore" whenever he returned to the USA verschlägt. Things he missed, since he has moved away from Washington.
From our second summer trip to Germany and of course we have brought back a lot. Clothing and shoes in particular. (Other European consistent preferences for either - Furniture - too heavy, or - food - imposed import bans.)
But Shampoo? Shower gel? bought virtually nothing. Apparently I'm used to the local produce, since the first hour of our supplies from Germany are exhausted. We now have a whole series of small things in life in New Jersey appreciate. Such that it itself is not a problem in a small town to shop on Sunday evening at 8 clock fresh fish or vegetables. That you get at any department store and supermarket cash paid free of charge and thus save time and money to cash machines. (When I think of the Saturday morning queue at the Post Bank ATM at Prenzlauer Allee ...)
As we have enjoyed the other hand, in Germany, in the corner store and the same for a beer and a bottle of wine carry - no extra for "liquor store" to have to go! Letting the boys playing and climbing naked on the beach, without incurring a penalty. Or make a call to a public authority, both friendly to get uskunft and competent A . (Yes, I know from he telephoned one of you already with the U.S. IRS.?) Such small - once - of course, can move with a certain distance suddenly very strong at the center of everyday perception.
Now we are back here. And conjured while around us the specter of an Moose beset Sarah Palin is that soon only a heartbeat from the power of America's nuclear arsenals could be removed, we find it beautiful that nobody in this country forecloses his front garden with fences. And are pleased that the Arzthelferi n one days before the screening calls appointment so that you can not forget him.
Without doubt: On the whole, this country can put off quite a bit. Eight years of Bush / Cheney. Big SUVs, where the eye can see. And now: bad debts and wild bets, the Wall Street lay in ruins.
In the small, everyday things, however, it is amazing attractive. Hard to say why this diffuse power of the pleasure principle at all distances (which over the last two years is manifested also more likely to have at least not reduced) can not escape. Perhaps the gratitude the foreigners who move every sign of affection especially hungry in itself?
Perhaps the attraction has a strong ability to hide unpleasant and see things positively. To worry, but always desired to keep for possible ch and feasible - in doubt, just on credit. We Germans are not so good in it. But: Let's see if this mentality to withstand the pressure wave of very large financial market crisis is ...
The most reliable integrated force at the end probably has the force of habit. A personal milestone on the long path of small described steps: Even after a whole summer in Europe like the taste of tap water from New Jersey American Waters now completely normal.
That was not always so. After the move two years ago, I have every week for months two, three gallons carried water from the eco home, because even the chlorine smell of the "tap water" was intolerable - not to mention the taste completely.
N., then six, needed only one way, two weeks to find the local tap water tasty.
(Princeton Post XX)
