The Center Of Berlin Vs German Restaurant In Ohio

Millions are getting ready to tune in to Barack Obama's speech at the Brandenburg Gate Victory Column in the center of Berlin this afternoon (at night in Germany). He promises a substantial speech while hundreds of thousands of Berliners watch from below with a level of excitement not seen since John F. Kennedy uttered the famous line "Ich bin ein Berliner" more than forty years ago. So as we wait, what, pray tell is John McCain doing?

From TPM:

Farah Hice, a hostess at Schmidt's Restaurant and Sausage Haus in Columbus, just confirmed to me by phone that McCain just walked into the restaurant and is staying for lunch.

Perhaps the goal is to mock Obama's speech, just as the RNC is trying to do by running ads in three places in the United States called "Berlin." But doesn't it risk making McCain look a bit small in comparison?

Hmm, we can't tell for sure about his motivation to eat schnitzel today but the ads are clearly an attempt to mock Barack Obama. Well, I hope the Senator from Arizona enjoys his lunch, while the world watches our next President make history.

Barack Obama: Live From Berlin

I tried his UstreamTV feed, but it just couldn't handle the traffic, so here is MSNBC's feed:

The Clash Of Beer And Bio-Fuel

German Brewmasters took up figurative arms against the fledgling bio-fuel industry, claiming that farmers are growing too many bio-fuel crops and not enough barely. In return, they claim Oktoberfest prices will skyrocket in order to maintain their premium product. Beer is serious business in Germany and this one could shake public opinion amongst the connoisseurs of ale everywhere.

From The UK Independent:

The head of the German brewers' association, Richard Weber, has caused outrage among friends of the annual Oktoberfest beer jamboree by predicting the hefty price rise. He pointed out that the German barley crop has been halved this year and that prices have soared by 50 per cent within 12 months. Poor-quality harvests, caused by unusually hot weather, have not helped either.

As a result, Germany's brewers, which insist on the purity of their beer and offer organic brands to emphasise their green-tinged credentials, have turned over a new leaf. They are now demanding an end to the use of crops to make fuel.

"The energy and food sectors are competing for the same raw materials and the same acreage," said Mr Weber.

These organic brewmasters are to be applauded for an attempt at producing beer without pesticides, but they are missing the big picture. Perhaps the "unusually" hot summer has something to do with the environment and how bio-fuels are playing a small part in combating climate change. Personally, I'd rather have more expensive beer so that bio-fuels can make a bigger difference in how we travel and move commerce.