I am trying to learn German using car websites.?

Siddharth

I am just at the finishing level of A1 German in my German class, and I thought of trying to learn to read some German by reading some articles. I love cars and I follow websites such as autoblog and jalopnik quite eagerly, and I thought if those websites had a german equivalent, it would be nice, but they aren't there, and what other german auto websites would be interesting enough? I mean, I did try to read a few articles from auto-news.de and automobil-produktion.de (Google Translate for the words, rest I try to figure out by myself), but while they do make for informative websites, they aren't jalopnik-ish. What are some interesting automotive websites in German preferably like jalopnik?

Answer
Yours is a nice, if unusual method. I've used that in the past and it works fine, although somehow delimited by the technical language - German, as any other language, is MUCH MORE, so make sure also to move on.
One of the features of German as a technical language is that it has the highest INTRINSIC precision, leaving least space for interpretation. This in itself simplifies communication, but requires a higher level of rigor than English or most other languages.
so you should first of all learn PROPER terminology, then spread out to more informal one, which is why I would suggest a few useful sites, not necessarily close to the one you cite:
http://www.kfz-tech.de/ (among other things, contains a well-compiled EN-DE glossary of terms)
http://www.adac.de/ (the German equivalent of the AA, an international-level service, very well documented, with many car-relate topics)
most German equipment manufacturers (BOSCH, HELLA, EBERSPAECHER...) have excellent sites in several languages. Those are the world leaders who actually "write the book" on car technology.
As a very good DE-EN dicitionary I suggest LEO (http://dict.leo.org/).
Keep up the good work.

I'm looking into getting a new car, any opinions on an Audi?

tom_carla

I'm planning on buying a car within the next 6 months. I really like Audis a lot but I've heard good and bad things about them. I like the A4, but if they're too much of a hassle I'll look at something else.

Answer
I'm assuming you like the Audis because of their looks, performance, interiors, etc. Yes, they are quite excellent in these aspects (especially the interiors, which are really attractive).

As far as reliability, maintenance, service - there's good and bad news. The A4 in recent years has become a more relia ble model, probably more so than the A6, its bigger brother. I think Consumer Reports has rated them to be at least average or better than average - which is based on ownership surveys. Are you buying new or used? If you can get new, or at least a certified pre-owned, you will have some things covered.

Whatever model you get, in any case, you will really need to pay strict attention to maintenance schedules. Audis aren't cars that you can just forget about in terms of regular maintenance - they are German luxury/performance cars. They are not cheap to maintain or fix. You can save quite a bit on service costs if you go to an independent garage as opposed to a dealer service center, but it will never be like getting a Honda or Ford serviced in terms of cost.

I would suggest you get in contact with local Audi clubs who can advise you about their experiences with ownership and where to find good service facilities. Good luck!

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I'm looking into getting a new car, any opinions on an Audi?

german car news image

tom_carla

I'm planning on buying a car within the next 6 months. I really like Audis a lot but I've heard good and bad things about them. I like the A4, but if they're too much of a hassle I'll look at something else.

Answer
I'm assuming you like the Audis because of their looks, performance, interiors, etc. Yes, they are quite excellent in these aspects (especially the interiors, which are really attractive).

As far as reliability, maintenance, service - there's good and bad news. The A4 in recent years has become a more relia ble model, probably more so than the A6, its bigger brother. I think Consumer Reports has rated them to be at least average or better than average - which is based on ownership surveys. Are you buying new or used? If you can get new, or at least a certified pre-owned, you will have some things covered.

Whatever model you get, in any case, you will really need to pay strict attention to maintenance schedules. Audis aren't cars that you can just forget about in terms of regular maintenance - they are German luxury/performance cars. They are not cheap to maintain or fix. You can save quite a bit on service costs if you go to an independent garage as opposed to a dealer service center, but it will never be like getting a Honda or Ford serviced in terms of cost.

I would suggest you get in contact with local Audi clubs who can advise you about their experiences with ownership and where to find good service facilities. Good luck!

What does it mean to find a dead bird on your doorstep?

Q. Today I found a tiny blue tit tucked under my front door. My cat died a month ago so it couldn't of been her. Also, I have like a mini roof thing on top of my front door so there's no way it could have fell on the doorstep. The car is also directly in front of the driveway so I doubt it flew into the door. I heard some superstitions and that it represents death, is this true?

Answer
It represents death but death represents change too. You might want to see what this particular bird means as an animal totem.

I found some information online for you. For me if the animal message is coming from a dead one than there is a change coming that relates to that animals "totem traits". So for example if a particular bird talks about prosperity then a dead one of those birds could be talking about a change in career, receiving money from a death, pulling out of an investment etc.

So focus on your life and see what's going on in relation to the bird's meaning and then add the element of the fact that it's dead which most times is referring to change, endings which bring new beginnings etc. and not death.

In this case here's what I found online:

A few years ago I bought a second hand Vogel Orakel, a German oracle deck with real and mythological birds.
This is what the book says about the blue tit (in short):

Sign of emotion.
Affirmation: everything new inspires me.

You are always looking for new things to inspire you. Communication and exchange are vital for you. Your curiosity is endless, which may bring you to many new places. You like to find out secrets from other people - but consider, that if you do, you also gain a part of their life energy. Be careful that you have no more than a healthy curiosity and don't use it to fill an emptiness inside yourself.
You are a source of vitality for friends and neighbours. All the people in your surroundings are important to you.

You love the interaction with others, and enjoy the lighter side of life.
At the moment you should just go with the flow, which will give you strength and harmony.

http://www.tarotforum.net/archive/index.php/t-80615.html
******************************************************************

There is more to that thread above if you go to the link.

Here is the interpretation I like but I wanted to give you some options:

Blue tit
Perseverance, quick reaction, problems, joy, positive news, attention to detail. It is important that you act quickly with any problems or difficult situations, this will avoid bigger problems. You will receive some surprising and positive news, important to pay attention to small details especially with anything legally binding. There will be several opportunities for enjoyment and fun, take full advantage of them. A time to be aware of all what is going on around you, and not to take risks or be complacent.

http://www.theseer.com/totems-birds.htm

So with the above considered, maybe find the message that relates to you and take the message a little more seriously than you normally would and fit in the element of change.

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Is there an alternative to using children car seats on airplanes ?

german car news image

Agnes

I am travelling with my toddler soon who is 24 months old. I cannot bear the hassle of bringing his car seat with me on that plane, as it is very bulky and i heard you can be prevented from using it in the aircraft. Does anyone know of any alternative to provide seat safety/comfort for a toddler on an airplane ? Thanks.

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lot with my own kids.

Yes there is an alternative to a car seat. It's called a CARES harness;

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

Here it is on the FAA's website;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

It's easy to carry and safer than using an adult seat belt alone, which don't fit toddlers very well. People who have used it, really liked it. So far, I've never heard anyone complain...

The other plus is that it is now approved by a number of different national air authorities. This is still an issue with car seats.
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/in-flight-documents.php

One niggly complaint is that the child's legs stick out when using this. Other parents have countered that their children were very comfortable and simply sat cross-legged on the seat (I suggest bringing slippers anyway). Yes, children can sleep comfortably in it.

The biggest minus is the price. It's $75 for something that can ONLY be used for the flight. It's not approved for use in a car. Meanwhile, there are very light, easy to carry car seats for as little as $40-50, good seats that car seat techs like. It's a myth that seats have to big, bulky and expensive to be safe (although Britax does make some nice seats...)

If you search with "CARES harness Ebay" or "Craigslist", you'll see that some people have started renting these gizmos out. I can't tell you much more. I would actually suggest buying one and then selling it on once it's outgrown by your last child.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you need a car seat at your destination, it's really risky to check them. They are considered "delicate items" and the airlines wont take responsiblity for any loss or damage.

I'm making this point because on my last long-haul flight, three of our four bags didn't make it. I saw at least two car seats while I was looking for my bags but I had no worries. We had our car seat with us and my daughter was safe for the 2 hour drive home. The bags were brought to us two days later.

A CARES harness seems a good deal if you are leaving somewhere that you don't need a car seat, like visiting a big city where you'll be taking mostly public transportation. Or, many grandparents keep car seats for their visiting children and grandchildren. Never rent a car seat with a rental car company. They are infamous for being old, dirty, expired and you don't know the seat's "history" (like if it's been in an accident). I had a bad experience and I'm not alone. Don't risk your childs' safety this way!

Just to clear up some of what you mentioned, if you are in the U.S. and you have a seat for your child and bring a FAA approved car seat for that child, IT CANNOT BE REFUSED. Your right to use that seat is protected by LAW. This is not the case elsewhere in the world. I have had my American car seat removed by Lufthansa (German), Iberia (Spain) and Ryan Air (Irish but doesn't allow any car seats in any form anyway).

If you are flying a non-U.S. company, search with the name of the airline followed by "children" to get to the page with information on what they require in car seats. Sometimes too, I have "gotten away" with my American car seat on Lufthansa and once on Air France.

Since your child is 2 years old, they cannot sit in your lap. Almost all airlines have this rule, although some are flexible with round trip tickets. The FAA is strict about it. Someone mentioned double seat belts. Some foreign airlines still use these but they are dangerous and banned by the FAA in the U.S.

As far as getting a car seat through the airport, I manage it flying alone with three children since each was 4 months old. There are contraptions like this to get car seats through airports;
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html

Some complain that it's hard to get on and off the cart. I saw one on my last flight and it does roll nicely and the child can ride in it.

Another product makes the car seat into a backpack and some parents get creative with bungee cording their seat to the stroller.

I simply use a small metal luggage cart and an extra bungee cord to secure it. My 3 year old could actually ride in this and it saved me major money and I check the stroller (she hardly needs it anyway anymore unless she's tired).

Honestly, it doesn't have to be too horrible taking the car seat with you but weigh up the facts and make an informed decision based on your specific circumstances, budget and needs.

About eight years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for a local newsletter. I kept it on line, adding to it over the years and then put it on a blog to help other parents (and my flying partners). It's based on both my professional and practical experience as flying with my children. People have written in from all over the world and contributed. It's totally non-commercial, my little personal mitvah so feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

My contact information is at the end.

Do what works for you and have a good flight!

I'm looking into getting a new car, any opinions on an Audi?

tom_carla

I'm planning on buying a car within the next 6 months. I really like Audis a lot but I've heard good and bad things about them. I like the A4, but if they're too much of a hassle I'll look at something else.

Answer
I'm assuming you like the Audis because of their looks, performance, interiors, etc. Yes, they are quite excellent in these aspects (especially the interiors, which are really attractive).

As far as reliability, maintenance, service - there's good and bad news. The A4 in recent years has become a more relia ble model, probably more so than the A6, its bigger brother. I think Consumer Reports has rated them to be at least average or better than average - which is based on ownership surveys. Are you buying new or used? If you can get new, or at least a certified pre-owned, you will have some things covered.

Whatever model you get, in any case, you will really need to pay strict attention to maintenance schedules. Audis aren't cars that you can just forget about in terms of regular maintenance - they are German luxury/performance cars. They are not cheap to maintain or fix. You can save quite a bit on service costs if you go to an independent garage as opposed to a dealer service center, but it will never be like getting a Honda or Ford serviced in terms of cost.

I would suggest you get in contact with local Audi clubs who can advise you about their experiences with ownership and where to find good service facilities. Good luck!

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What topic should i talk about for my oral exam?

german car news image

Mlex

I need to come up with a topic to give a short speech on for my german class. It has to do with our majors (mine is marketing) and germany. I cannot think of anything to talk about. If anyone has any ideas i would really appreciate it! Thank you!

Answer
You should just pick a German company that has had international success and talk about what it is about their advertising/marketing that has helped make them successful.

You could do this with a lot of companies, but I think the most prominent example would be Mercedes-Benz. Everyone has seen their comercials, and have a positive perception of the company. They have done this by associating their product with luxury and high quality "German engineering".

Or you could just talk about German luxury cars in general, many of which have successfully done this- Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi

Here's an article that talks about how this is more of a perception than a reality:

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/05/are-german-cars-reliable-myth-german-engineering.html

How do people use mind control weapons?

shatter..

I have been informed that people torture victims by using mind weapons, for example, letting them hear voices or thinking people are talking behind their backs. Then they slowly turn everyone against them, wrecking cars, property, stealing etc. How do people use energy or mind power to do this?

Answer
Mind Control Weapons were weapons which use Drugs, Electronic Chips âimplantâ, Nano technologies âimplantâ or Microwaves and Electromagnetic waves to subvert an individual's sense of control over their own thinking, behavior, emotions or decision making by attacking brain and nervous system.
The development of mind control weapons had a long history.
Nazi researchers used concentration camp inmates to test a cocaine-based "wonder drug" they hoped would enhance the performance of German troops. (http://www.amphetamines.com/nazidrug.html , 19/11/2002)
There were plenty evidences proving that Mk-ultra (America's Central Intelligence Agency brainwashing project) existed.
(http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/proof-mkultra-exists )

Even government still covered Electronic Chips âimplantâ, Nano technologies âimplantâ mind control weapons, many researchers had developed implantable electronic chip that may help establish new nerve connections in the part of the brain that controls movement or even alters emotion, thought.
(http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/information-about-brain )

In 2002, the Air Force Research Laboratory patented precisely such a technology: Nonleghal weapon which includes (1) a neuro-electromagnetic device which uses microwave transmission of sound into the skull of persons or animals by way of pulse-modulated microwave radiation; and (2) a silent sound device which can transmit sound into the skull of person or animals. NOTE: The sound modulation may be voice or audio subliminal messages. One application of Voice to Skull is use as an electronic scarecrow to frighten birds in the vicinity of airports. Many mind control victims also have claimed to be harassed by Voice to Skull technologies.
(http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/introduce-v2k-voice-to-skull )

It is possible to read someone's mind by remotely measuring their brain activity, researchers have shown. The technique can even extract information from subjects that they are not aware of themselves.
( http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/information-about-mind-reading )

Microwave mind control weapons and Electromagnetic mind control weapons combine with high technology such as satellite; it is hard for victims to find evidences. Some articles had started to report that government developed electromagnetic mind control weapons.
Air Force Wants Neuroweapons to Overwhelm Enemy Minds
(http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/11/air-force-looks-to-artificially-overwhelm-enemy-cognitive-capabilities/ , 2/11/2010)
DARPA looking to control the minds of soldiers
(http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/darpa-control-soldier-mind-q410/, 4/11/2010)

Patents were also the proving of well development of Mind Control technologies. ( http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/mind-control-patents )

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What does it mean to find a dead bird on your doorstep?

german car news image

Q. Today I found a tiny blue tit tucked under my front door. My cat died a month ago so it couldn't of been her. Also, I have like a mini roof thing on top of my front door so there's no way it could have fell on the doorstep. The car is also directly in front of the driveway so I doubt it flew into the door. I heard some superstitions and that it represents death, is this true?

Answer
It represents death but death represents change too. You might want to see what this particular bird means as an animal totem.

I found some information online for you. For me if the animal message is coming from a dead one than there is a change coming that relates to that animals "totem traits". So for example if a particular bird talks about prosperity then a dead one of those birds could be talking about a change in career, receiving money from a death, pulling out of an investment etc.

So focus on your life and see what's going on in relation to the bird's meaning and then add the element of the fact that it's dead which most times is referring to change, endings which bring new beginnings etc. and not death.

In this case here's what I found online:

A few years ago I bought a second hand Vogel Orakel, a German oracle deck with real and mythological birds.
This is what the book says about the blue tit (in short):

Sign of emotion.
Affirmation: everything new inspires me.

You are always looking for new things to inspire you. Communication and exchange are vital for you. Your curiosity is endless, which may bring you to many new places. You like to find out secrets from other people - but consider, that if you do, you also gain a part of their life energy. Be careful that you have no more than a healthy curiosity and don't use it to fill an emptiness inside yourself.
You are a source of vitality for friends and neighbours. All the people in your surroundings are important to you.

You love the interaction with others, and enjoy the lighter side of life.
At the moment you should just go with the flow, which will give you strength and harmony.

http://www.tarotforum.net/archive/index.php/t-80615.html
******************************************************************

There is more to that thread above if you go to the link.

Here is the interpretation I like but I wanted to give you some options:

Blue tit
Perseverance, quick reaction, problems, joy, positive news, attention to detail. It is important that you act quickly with any problems or difficult situations, this will avoid bigger problems. You will receive some surprising and positive news, important to pay attention to small details especially with anything legally binding. There will be several opportunities for enjoyment and fun, take full advantage of them. A time to be aware of all what is going on around you, and not to take risks or be complacent.

http://www.theseer.com/totems-birds.htm

So with the above considered, maybe find the message that relates to you and take the message a little more seriously than you normally would and fit in the element of change.

Does anyone feel that the Hadron Collider in Switzerland poses any real danger to the world?

Work in Pr

It was mentioned in my local news paper this morning as a concern. I had never heard of it before so I looked it up on Wikipedia and this is what it said about it under "Safety concerns".

"Concerns have been raised that performing collisions at previously unexplored energies might unleash new and disastrous phenomena. These include the production of micro black holes, and strangelets."

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer
CERNs web site states that we have not been destroyed by effects of cosmic rays and micro black holes will evaporate.

However, cosmic rays travel too fast to be captured by Earths gravity, and Hawking Radiation is disputed and contradicts Einsteins highly successful relativity theory. Collider particles smash head on like a car collision and can be captured by Earths gravity, and relativity predicts micro black holes will not decay (Hawking called Einstein doubly wrong, yet it is Einstein who is repeatedly found to have been correct in his theories). There is currently no reasonable proof of LHC safety, LSAG (LHC Safety Assessment Group) has been trying for months to prove safety without success. I hold the minority opinion that it may not be possible because it may in fact not be safe.

Cosmic Rays from the legal complaint.

any such novel particle created in nature by cosmic ray impacts would be left with a velocity at nearly the speed of light, relative to earth. At such speeds, . . . , is believed by most theorists to simply pass harmlessly through our planet with nary an impact, safely exiting on the other side. . . . Conversely, any such novel particle that might be created at the LHC would be at slow speed relative to earth, a goodly percentage would then be captured by earths gravity, and could possibly grow larger [accrete matter] with disastrous consequences of the earth turning into a large black hole.

Professor Dr. Otto E. Roessler hold the minority opinion that there may be a very real danger from the Large Hadron Collider (translation from German at www.lhcconcerns.com/LHCConcerns/Forums/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=52)

If this thing is so safe, why arent CERN scientists allowed to express any personal fears they might have about this Collider?

Alleged in the legal action: Chief Scientific Officer, Mr. Engelen passed an internal memorandum to workers at CERN, asking them, regardless of personal opinion, to affirm in all interviews that there were no risks involved in the experiments, changing the previous assertion of minimal risk.

(Statisticians generally consider minimal risk as 1-10%).

JTankers
LHCConcerns.com

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