Kevin.German110: September 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sachsen (Saxony)

State Location: 51°1′37″N 13°21′32″E

Population: 4.16 million

Size relation: Roughly 1/10 of MN

Significance/Uniqueness: 240 museums, home to microchip, publishing,and pocelain industries.

History:

Saxony was part of a Duchy from the early middle ages. The current state of Saxony started with Heinrich I, who was the first Saxon ruler to reign as King of Germany. He came from the Harz (northern Germany mountain range), and entered the area of today's Saxony. in 1453, the duchy became a Electorate of the Holy Roman Empire. Saxony used to be a lot bigger but after the Seven Years' War (1756-63), the Napoleonic wars, and the Austro-Persian War (1866), Saxony lost a lot of land because they always ended up allying themselves with the losing side against Prussia, who acquired almost 3/5 of Saxony territory, which led to the current size of Saxony. After WWI, Saxony became a republic. After WWII, it became part of the GDR, and on October 3, 1990, it became a free state again.

Sources :

http://www.saxonytourism.com/index2.php

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/area.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony

http://www.mapzones.org/Saxony.html

German Trivia Group 1

1. What are the two restaurants/bars in Germany where you can dine completely in the dark?

Unsicht-Bar in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg (http://www.unsicht-bar-berlin.de/)

Nocti Vagus in Berlin (http://www.noctivagus.com/)

2. Germany is the second most populous country in Europe. Which is the first?

Russia

3. On Saturday, September 25th, Munich will be hosting a pop sensation. Who is it? Where are they from?

Kate Nash, Britain

4. What German ruler backed Martin Luther from very early on, and ensured his safety after he was declared an outlaw?

The Duke of Saxony

5. What German state rapidly rose to a first-class miliary power between 1670 and 1740?

Prussia

6. Who is this?

Richard Wagner

7. Who is this?

Franka Potenta

8. What was the name of the movie where German actress Angelica Domröse plays the sister of a Man named Jens?

Die Legende von Paul und Paula

9. These three men founded a video game company located in Germany, what is the name of their company and who are they?

Company name: Crytek

Brothers: Cevat, Avni and Faruk Yerli

10. Who spoke at the Ingolstaedter Muenster church in Ingolstadt, Germany on 24.4.10?

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defense Minister Karl-Theodore zu Guttenberg, in a service for four soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

11. Why were King Ludwig the Second's castles opened up for tourism shortly after his death?

To pay for the cost of building them.

12. Which of King Ludwig the Second's castles in Bavaria was the only one to be finished before his death?

Linderhof

13. What is the oldest flowering plant in Germany?

A rosebush at St. Mary's Cathedral in Hildeshein

14. What are the 7 inhabited Frisian Islands?

Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Baltrum, Langeook, Spiekeroog, Wangerooge

15. This character from the Shrek movies is based off lore from Lower Saxony.

The Pied Piper

16. What do the colors of the NRW flag represent?

Green - the River Rhine; White - the White Horse; Red - the Red Rose

17. Which political party had the greatest percent of votes in the May 9th, 2010 election in NRW?

Christian Democratic Union, with 34.6%

18. What was the precursor to the treaty of Westphalia?

The Concordat of Worms

19. What street is this building on?

It is the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, located on Werderscher Strasse in Berlin.

20. This structure is a key location in which German film?

Run, Lola, Run (in English) or Lola Rennt (in German).

21. Held in Berlin, what are the German equivalent to the British Pop Awards?

Echo Awards

22. What famous novel, anonymously written in the early 13th century, ends with the death of all key characters?

Nibelungenlied

23. Where is this statue and what is it depicting?

It is in Bremen, Germany, and it is depicting the Bremen town musicians.

24. Which German car was the first one to be built solely outside of Germany?

The BMW Z3

Monday, September 27, 2010

Trivia Questions 1-15

What are the two restaurants/bars in Germany where you can dine completely in the dark?

—Germany is the second most populous country in Europe. Which is the first?

—On Saturday, September 25th, Munich will be hosting a pop sensation. Who is it? Where are they from?

—What German ruler backed Martin Luther from very early on, and ensured his safety after he was declared an outlaw?

—What German state rapidly rose to a first-class miliary power between 1670 and 1740?

—Who is this?

—What was the name of the movie where German actress Angelica Domröse plays the sister of a Man named Jens?

—These three men founded a video game company located in Germany, what is the name of their company and who are they?

—Who spoke at the Ingolstaedter Muenster church in Ingolstadt, Germany on 24.4.10?

—Why were King Ludwig the Second's castles opened up for tourism shortly after his death?

—Which of King Ludwig the Second's castles in Bavaria was the only one to be finished before his death?

—What is the oldest flowering plant in Germany?
—
What do the colors of the NRW flag represent?

—Which political party had the greatest percent of votes in the May 9th, 2010 election in NRW?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

My observations about the top 20 Radio stations in Germany

At surfmusik.de I found and listened to the top 20 radio stations in Germany. I did not listen to them for very long, because that would take a long more time that I have to spare. For the time I did listen though, I found out a few things to make comparisons to American radio stations.

Most of the top radio stations in Germany came from North-Rhine Westphalia. This is probably because it is the most populated state in Germany. A lot of the music was similar to music in America; there were artists such as Lady Gaga, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Mike Posner. Some stations were only in German and others were mixed with English and German music. Some contrasting features included the presences of several techno stations, which arent common in America (at least not in MN) and the language of some songs, I was lucky enough to catch a song with lyrics like this: IM HIGH, IM DRUNK, IM ALL F***ed UP! That language certainly doesnt appear in American radio.

Overall, the German radio stations were similar to the American stations, and one could certainly find a station in Germany that sounded like an American Station. A lot of the music has the same "sound" that is current and popular right now. The only big differences that I noticed was the spoken language and the lack of censorship that would be found in America.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Middle Rhine Valley

Facts about the Rhine River –

1230km (~764miles)

Countries - Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Netherlands

Many castles, cities, and vineyards on the river make up the main attractions. In the earliest history of Europe, small settlements developed around this river and grew into the towns that still exist today. During the middle ages, rich land owners built up castles along the banks mostly as strategic fortified strongholds. The owners put up tolls on the roads and river in exchange they would protect travelers from robbers. It was also difficult to maneuver with the many different currents. The biggest current was the Binger Loch which, at one point, took 40 horses to pull a ship through it. In the Thirty Years War between 1618 and 1648, the Rhine was a main amphitheatre for battles and several castles were destroyed. New lords and landowners rebuilt many of the castles in later centuries.

Well Known Areas

Lorelei Rock – This rock is 120 meters tall and is the source of myths and folklore. Most famously is a story about a siren who would lure sailors in with her singing, sending them crashing into the rock cliff.