Michael Americans find the typical swimwear worn by German tourists hilarious. I was not aware of this fact for a long time and often went swimming in the typical German and tight swimsuits, called "speedos" here in America. I received many strange looks.

Angelika Europeans have always scoffed at the fat Americans. That 2/3 of the American population struggles with being overweight and 1/3 are medically considered obese is no secret here in the USA either.

Michael "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This is the official motto of the United States Postal Service (no joke!). The motto is borrowed from the ancient Greeks, 430 BC. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote this sentence about the riding messengers of Xerxes, the King of Persia.

Michael In the USA, the financial activities of every citizen are closely monitored by three private companies: Equifax, Trans Union and Experion. I mentioned this briefly in Rundbrief 05/2001 . When you open a bank account, apply for a credit card, or take out a loan for a house -- bam! a notification goes to the three. On the other hand, when you apply for a job with a company or show interest in renting a new apartment -- bam! the company or landlord will ask the three about your financial situation.

Michael Now there's one new reality show: "The Apprentice", in which the real estate tycoon Donald Trump finds a CEO for one of his companies via television.

Michael Due to a recommendation from Mr. Huber, who was enthusiastic about a concert of the band "Kraftwerk" in Bavaria, and claimed that no one still snaps the tweeters as elegantly as they do, I bought a ticket for their concert in San Francisco and was enchanted!

Michael Ha, here's another crazy idea! However, the best ideas come to me in the most impossible situations and if I don't write them down immediately, I forget them as quickly as they came. That's why I've been accustomed for years to jot down any jolt of brain activity immediately. Of course, I don't always have pen and paper with me and when I'm cycling through the city or creativity strikes the train, it's hard to write it down. That's why I've been carrying a small digital dictaphone with me for some time now. Everywhere: on trips, in the car, on the bike, on the plane and even in the gym.

In our last newsletter, we reported in detail about the issuance of marriage certificates to same-sex couples in San Francisco ( Rundbrief 03/2004 ). Over 4,000 couples were able to marry before the California Supreme Court temporarily stopped this act of civil disobedience on March 11th. As previously announced, supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage are preparing for a lengthy legal battle in California. On the other hand, in the state of Massachusetts, the dream of same-sex marriage has been a reality since May 17th. Homosexual couples receive the marriage certificate with all the rights and obligations granted to heterosexual couples in Massachusetts. However, congress has stipulated that in 2006 the voters will decide whether same-sex marriage will remain in Massachusetts. But until then, the wedding bells will definitely continue to be ringing.

For weeks, the newspapers have been full of discussions and debates about the torture that American soldiers committed in Iraq. Smart minds are discussing how it happened and what should be done about it. Politicians, psychologists, philosophers, and the general public are all voicing their opinions. There is also a wide range of reactions: deepest indignation, soothing, and blame. I was not surprised by the behavior of the American soldiers, because in other wars, such as the former Yugoslavia, there have always been completely inhumane behaviors from all sides. The fact remains that a democratic state has already lost when it sees war as a legitimate political means.