German Joys

Turks Bring Chaos to Streets Again

One of the drawbacks of living in a tangy multi-ethnic neighborhood is those damned soccer championships.  Every night, some flyblown Country #1 you've never heard of plays against some other flyblown Country #2 you've never heard of, and one of them usually wins. 

This means that all the people in your neighborhood who come from Country #1 will pour out into the streets honking their horns, waving their flags, and stopping in the middle of the street to unleash mayhem.  Last night Country #1 was 'Turkey', a rather large nation located between Bulgaria and Yemen:

The kiosks run by people from both countries are often closed the next day, either out of post-victory celebration hangovers, or out of post-defeat mourning (hangovers).

While we're on the subject, can anyone recommend me a good book about soccer?  I know the basic rules and can follow the game, but I'd like a good general historical introduction, either in English or German, so I can really follow the sport and put everything into context.  (Yes, I'm serious).

Sunday Music Blogging

According to the YouTube tag, this is Albert Ayler on the soprano sax.  Anyone know what movie it's from?    

A Critical Commentary to German Criminal Law?

Hey there, it's me with another bleg.  This time it's an obscure legal bleg, so if doctrinal analysis of German criminal law doesn't interest you, feel free to stop reading now.

For the 4 of you who are still reading, the bleg is this: A friend of mine is currently doing some research on criminal-law reform for a small, charming country, and would like to learn something about German criminal law.  He can read German, and was interested in reading commentary on the German Strafgesetzbuch from a variety of perspectives.  I've sent him links to the big, mainstream commentary, but does anyone happen to know of a kritische Kommentar, something that's perhaps a little out-of-the-mainstream and independent/left?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I Want My Bunuel

You know, for a country that goes on and on and on about its precious Kultur, there are large and terrifying gaps in the availability of good movies on DVD in Germany.

Can anyone tell me where I can find a DVD of Bunuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (g) to buy or rent in Germany?  In the U.S. it's been brought out by the Criterion Collection, but I'd rather not have to fly back to the US to get a movie which was directed in France by a bleeding Spaniard.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Schopenhauer on Goodness

I recently read a quotation by Schopenhauer (in English) roughly to the effect that the truly good can be recognized by the fact that they don't go about drawing attention to their own goodness.  But for the life of me, I can't remember where I read this.  Can anyone help me out here?  I'd very much appreciate it.