BethAnnBitt

You said it my friends @tor and @Metall.  In Kansas there will be a vote on August 2nd involving a state constitutional amendment to completely outlaw abortion.  We remain eligible to vote there and I emailed voter reg in Lawrence (a blue island in a sea of red) requesting absentee ballots.  Should be receiving them today.  My friends are working overtime to try and get the votes out.  The slimy "pro-lifers" set this up during a primary election where voter turnout is low and they worded the amendment sketchily to make one think "yes" is the way to vote if one favors abortion rights.  They know no lows.  🤮

I recently ended a horrid 2-year contract with Mobil-Debitel which I cancelled over a year ago.  I had my number ported to Telekom on a prepaid plan and they gave me a 25€ credit for switching.  I visited Telekom a month before the MB contract ended, filled out the paperwork, and the transition was seamless.  I am much happier and I will never go on contract again.

  It is, but as @Keleth points out it's not a traditional ferry experience.  The catamaran is relatively small, moves very fast, is low to the water, and has little outdoor seating.  The ferry from Konstanz to Meersburg is a real ferry with cars, trucks, buses, bikes and lots of outdoor standing and seating space on different levels.  There you can really take in the lake in a different way.  You can take the BSB ship to Friedrichshafen, but that is of course a much longer journey than with the catamaran, which is geared more toward commuters.  have fun in any case.  I love living on the Bodensee.   You can take the RE bus from Friedrichshafen to Konstanz and then the ferry ride from Meersburg is included with your 9€ ticket.  You can get off the bus during the 20 minute ferry ride.  It all depends on which type of experience you want.  All are interesting.

I think you mean the catamaran to Konstanz, which is a fun ride.  https://en.der-katamaran.de

Smoking in many US cities, such as Irvine, CA, is being banned, except at a  private residence or inside one's car. https://www.irvinestandard.com/2020/irvine-now-a-smoke-free-city/

One of my funniest moments was when a German HS exchange student came to live with us and didn’t understand how US History can be a subject, much less for 2 semesters!  😂. He learned there was way more to it than he thought and ended up loving the teacher and the course.  I also reminded him that actual US History predates European colonization.

Thank you for so clearly articulating the way many of us feel.  Sad and scary times indeed.

Actually, it’s Mitch McConnell who engineered it all.  Trump never could have done it without Mitch.  🤮 https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell/2022/06/24/heres-why-fall-roe-v-wade-part-mitch-mcconnells-legacy/7646604001/ IMO Susan Collins of Maine deserves blame for being hoodwinked by Kavanaugh, and RBG, who should have known better and resigned under Obama‘s watch while Dems controlled the Senate.  And more, too numerous to mention.  Quite a mess we are in now.  😔  

Although I’ve never done it, I can imagine someone with a return ticket landing here and heading out to find housing.  What happens then?  For years I flew b/f from the US to Berlin to visit my friend and never had a written invitation from her.  I remain perplexed.

I don’t quite understand.  My son (US Pass), who lives in Armenia, has never had to show such a thing when flying to Germany.  He was recently in Berlin.  No such question was asked.  Don’t UK citizens get treated like the citizens of the other „privileged“ countries that can visit 90/180 days?

I‘ve never seen a playground around here that allows dogs on the premises.  Most are clearly marked as such.  I love my dog, and he’s an adorable Pom mix, but he could scare a child, and he might pee or poop in the area.  I simply can’t believe it’s legal for any dog to go on a playground, leashed or not.  🤷‍♀️ IMO it shouldn‘t ever be allowed.

Watching the audience members is as chilling as watching Putin compare himself to Peter the Great.  And with this arrogant attitude who could believe he won’t want more?  What a smug thug he is. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/10/putin-compares-himself-to-peter-the-great-in-quest-to-take-back-russian-lands  

Exactly.  I am only checked when flying to my home airport in Zürich if I am coming directly from outside of Schengen, such as from the US.  I routinely fly b/f to Yerevan.  Coming back I am controlled just once, upon entry to the EU (Vienna or Athens) and never again.

The reader comments were as depressing as the content.  🙄  Truly disturbing what’s goin’ on.  I’m kinda losin’ hope.  😔 

It’s just mind boggling that people are against gun control laws, especially when guns are now the leading cause of death for children.  It’s truly a part of the American mentality that I can not relate to.  Even growing up in New Orleans I never ever saw a gun.  My parents must have been really been sheltering us.  🙏