Not a joking matter
Wednesday, December 19. 2007
It's a well known fact that Germans have no sense of humour, and anyone who has been in Cologne in February can confirm this. But with the deadline for the implementation of the Single European Joke in 2009 fast approaching, the Federal Government has been busy implementing measures aimed at bringing the country's humour levels up to international standards and establishing it as a global player in the increasingly competitive worldwide laughter services market.
At the macro level, measures such as the establishment of the elite Deutsche Hochschule zur Förderung des Lach- und Humorwesens are being hurried through the Bundestag, and in 2008 Germany will be marketing itself under the slogan "Deutschland: Land der Hilarität". However, it's the average German in the street who will make the decisive difference: although many know large sections of the Monty Python sketch corpus off by heart, it's up each individual Bundesbürger to develop an active "culture of humour" which can be integrated into everyday conversations. To this end state governments are intervening at the micro-level and are setting up local "Joke Tuning" workshops such as the one pictured below, where ordinary citizens can have their comical creations evaluated by qualified experts, who will suggest improvements and offer coaching in all aspects of person-to-person comedy.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
Hi there,
i think you should mention that the picture don't has any relationship to your mentioned workshops
I know the "Joke tuning"-shop at Lichtenberg and how you can see on the sign, the shop is much older than these strange and unnecessary workshops
(I hope that my english was understandable)
i think you should mention that the picture don't has any relationship to your mentioned workshops
I know the "Joke tuning"-shop at Lichtenberg and how you can see on the sign, the shop is much older than these strange and unnecessary workshops
(I hope that my english was understandable)
Let's hope there won't be another crisis in the Grand Coalition. A former CDU minister claimed in all earnestness: "Die Spaßgesellschaft gefährdet den Standort Deutschland mehr, als es die von der Industrie so gern beklagte Überregulierung je könnte." (Alexander Gauland "Die Welt" 27.03.2001.) Sorry, there is no way I would be able to translate this very serious German sentence into English. Anyone give it a try?
OK, I'll give it a shot:
You are all having too much fun! Back to work!
OK, a little loosey-goosey there. How about:
The culture of hedonism endangers Germany as a place to do business more than over-regulation - industry's usual gripe - ever could.
Clunky, I know.
You are all having too much fun! Back to work!
OK, a little loosey-goosey there. How about:
The culture of hedonism endangers Germany as a place to do business more than over-regulation - industry's usual gripe - ever could.
Clunky, I know.
On the one hand you've got Joke Tuning, on the other, you could die for lack of an ambulance!
Is "Joke-Tuning" really a registered trademark, as the sign suggests? I suppose no-ones got grounds for complaint if their car repairs don't fit the bill.
Markus: where do you write in English (and presumably need these translations for)?
Markus: where do you write in English (and presumably need these translations for)?
Who,What,FAQ
Who
Mount Penguin is technically British, but has lived in Berlin for like yonks.
What
This is a blog of odd stuff he comes across in everyday life, etc. Bit of a lucky dip really.
FAQ
I did originally intend to put together what one day might be the ultimate Berlin FAQ. Due to global warming that hasn't yet happened, but nevertheless if you have any questions about Berlin, feel free to ask them here and I'll see if I can find an answer...
Meanwhile...
Do come and visit my other blog where there's likely to be more hot penguin action.
Comments
about Notice of Blog Suspension
Fri, 07.03.2008 14:42
I don't know what you're smoki ng, but I'm sure a lot of peop le would be interested to find out.
Fri, 07.03.2008 14:42
I don't know what you're smoki ng, but I'm sure a lot of peop le would be interested to find out.
about Notice of Blog Suspension
Fri, 07.03.2008 12:28
HOW DO YOU DO… BEING A BERLIN ER Wanna swastika shaped be er mug? Like climbing walls? Stay in the UK Histo [...]
Fri, 07.03.2008 12:28
HOW DO YOU DO… BEING A BERLIN ER Wanna swastika shaped be er mug? Like climbing walls? Stay in the UK Histo [...]
about There's nothing like the taste of home
Sat, 01.03.2008 14:31
I hope the squids and whales d idn't get you. It's March 1st and there is a distinct lack o f blogs.
Sat, 01.03.2008 14:31
I hope the squids and whales d idn't get you. It's March 1st and there is a distinct lack o f blogs.
about There's nothing like the taste of home
Mon, 11.02.2008 12:50
Welcome in your new job as the Japanese Ambassador to Blackp ool... eh lass, let's go üü p tüüer..
Mon, 11.02.2008 12:50
Welcome in your new job as the Japanese Ambassador to Blackp ool... eh lass, let's go üü p tüüer..
about There's nothing like the taste of home
Sun, 10.02.2008 23:11
Hmm, yesterday I went past whe re the whale place was but for got to look out for it. I'll l et you all know in the r [...]
Sun, 10.02.2008 23:11
Hmm, yesterday I went past whe re the whale place was but for got to look out for it. I'll l et you all know in the r [...]
about There's nothing like the taste of home
Sun, 10.02.2008 23:02
....and hope you enjoy the "sc ientific" whale steaks!.
Sun, 10.02.2008 23:02
....and hope you enjoy the "sc ientific" whale steaks!.
about Cheesecake at 30,000 feet
Sat, 09.02.2008 21:06
The fish contains soya sauce. You can buy them for a few cen ts at the Asian supermarket in the Alexanderhaus on Al [...]
Sat, 09.02.2008 21:06
The fish contains soya sauce. You can buy them for a few cen ts at the Asian supermarket in the Alexanderhaus on Al [...]
about Cheesecake at 30,000 feet
Sat, 09.02.2008 21:03
Nope, made the plane - but onl y just due to late departure f rom Tegel (a broken-down airpl ane tug) and Charles de [...]
Sat, 09.02.2008 21:03
Nope, made the plane - but onl y just due to late departure f rom Tegel (a broken-down airpl ane tug) and Charles de [...]
about Cheesecake at 30,000 feet
Sat, 09.02.2008 01:25
What's in the fish? Is it perhaps Whalemeat juice?? Gathered of course, under "lab oratory conditions" and [...]
Sat, 09.02.2008 01:25
What's in the fish? Is it perhaps Whalemeat juice?? Gathered of course, under "lab oratory conditions" and [...]
about Cheesecake at 30,000 feet
Fri, 08.02.2008 22:26
Nein, nein, no comprendo. Blog ging? From a PLANE? No, you mi ssed the flight, didn't you?
Fri, 08.02.2008 22:26
Nein, nein, no comprendo. Blog ging? From a PLANE? No, you mi ssed the flight, didn't you?
about Fernweh
Fri, 08.02.2008 02:29
All the very best for your big , long, exciting journey today . Hope it's the start (or cont inuation) of something w [...]
Fri, 08.02.2008 02:29
All the very best for your big , long, exciting journey today . Hope it's the start (or cont inuation) of something w [...]
about Hard Gay
Sun, 03.02.2008 18:30
Nice to make your (blog) acqua intance, and some interesting info on HG - I totally missed out on the phenomenon an [...]
Sun, 03.02.2008 18:30
Nice to make your (blog) acqua intance, and some interesting info on HG - I totally missed out on the phenomenon an [...]
about Hard Gay
Sat, 02.02.2008 21:15
You might be interested in thi s little thought about Hard Ga y. The comedy works on many l evels. But who cares if [...]
Sat, 02.02.2008 21:15
You might be interested in thi s little thought about Hard Ga y. The comedy works on many l evels. But who cares if [...]
about Hard Gay
Tue, 29.01.2008 21:58
So it's not the Japanese versi on of Sacha Baron Cohen (isn't he bringing out a 'Brünö' fil m sometime soon?) then?
Tue, 29.01.2008 21:58
So it's not the Japanese versi on of Sacha Baron Cohen (isn't he bringing out a 'Brünö' fil m sometime soon?) then?
about Fernweh
Tue, 29.01.2008 13:35
Well, you can put your name do wn for some fantastic deals on used IKEA furniture for a sta rt. Provided the global [...]
Tue, 29.01.2008 13:35
Well, you can put your name do wn for some fantastic deals on used IKEA furniture for a sta rt. Provided the global [...]
Calendar
|
August '08 | |||||
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Archives
Categories
Quicksearch
Syndicate This Blog
Legal Notice
This blog is © Copyright all time The Owner™.
I keep a team of highly motivated intellectual property lawyers in my basement who are fed only on diet yoghurt, so watch out.