NY Observer > Germany http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/25828/feed Articles from Observer.com en Why We Miss Susan Sontag, Volume I http://www.observer.com/node/36777 At first glance, the cover of Susan Sontag’s final book—the  almost-complete manusc  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/36777#comments Arts & Culture Aristophanes Germany Los Angeles Times Susan Sontag Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:00:00 -0500 Regina Marler 36777 at http://www.observer.com MoMA Gets Biesenbached In Euro-Curator Stampede http://www.observer.com/node/36680 In Oct.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/36680#comments Arts & Culture Alanna Heiss Berlin Germany Klaus Biesenbach Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:00:00 -0500 Nicholas Boston 36680 at http://www.observer.com Before the Fall, Another World: Germany’s Others for Oscar? http://www.observer.com/node/36652 Florian Henkel von Donnersmarck’s The Lives of Others, from his own screenplay, has been chose  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/36652#comments Arts & Culture Berlin Bruno Hempf Georg Dreyman Germany Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:00:00 -0500 Andrew Sarris 36652 at http://www.observer.com Diane Keaton, I Say No! http://www.observer.com/node/36670 Diane Keaton graces the screen so rarely that when she makes an appearance of any kind, attention mu  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/36670#comments Arts & Culture Berlin Diane Keaton Germany Mandy Moore Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:00:00 -0500 Rex Reed 36670 at http://www.observer.com If the Nazis Did It... http://www.observer.com/node/53085 To the Editor:  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/53085#comments Germany Hamburg Richard Greens Ron Rosenbaums Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:00:00 -0500 Observer Staff 53085 at http://www.observer.com A Terrorist Attack on the City, 85 Years Before Sept. 11 http://www.observer.com/node/39098 It can happen here.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/39098#comments Arts & Culture Chad Millman Germany John McCloy Lehigh Valley Sun, 16 Jul 2006 20:00:00 -0400 Glenn C. Altschuler 39098 at http://www.observer.com Why I Hate Soccer http://www.observer.com/node/33377 Germany-Argentina. Two great teams, playing a great competition. And what does it come down to in the end, the farce of penalty kicks! And one of the best players in the stadium, Lionel Messif, has never taken the field. I hate this game.

In a great sport, the ending is marked by the greatest achievement—Maxi Rodriguez's left foot in overtime against Mexico the other night, a dream goal. Letting a great competition drain off into the stultifying gutchurning spectacle of Penalty Kicks is as demoralizing as, say, letting a baseball game be decided by a home run derby contest with coaches from each side throwing batting practice. Or letting a football game be decided by a field goal competition. Or a basketball game come down to a competition from the free throw line.

Please change this game. Give us endless substitutions, so the world can see Messif, and Ballack is not crawling up and down the field, and the score is 3-2 or 2-1, not 1-1.

Soccer fans, tell me why I'm wrong.

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/33377#comments Argentina Germany Lionel Messif Maxi Rodriguez Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:42:24 -0400 Observer Staff 33377 at http://www.observer.com Memo to Sports Editors http://www.observer.com/node/33222 On C-Span today, an executive for Amnesty International warns that 1 million men will enter Germany next month for the World Cup, likely resulting in an increase in trafficking of women. The Amnesty International web site speaks of the likelihood of "forced prostitution" surrounding the games.]]> http://www.observer.com/node/33222#comments Amnesty International Germany Sat, 27 May 2006 13:33:35 -0400 Observer Staff 33222 at http://www.observer.com My Editor and My Wife Criticize "The Da Vinci Code" http://www.observer.com/node/33179 I went into the Observer offices yesterday to see my editor. We're old friends. (Yes, Virginia, it is about who you know). I complimented him for the Sopranos cover of the Observer then I asked him what he was doing on The Da Vinci Code—why it wasn't in his paper. He said, "Are you crazy? It's a piece of shit movie based on a piece of shit book. Do you know anyone who thinks that's a good book, really? Do you know anyone?" I thought of a couple of people, but didn't want to open my mouth. "Mrs. Weiss doesn't like it, does she?" "She's read it," I said. (I haven't; it's not for me.)

When I got home I told my wife about the conversation and she agreed with my editor. She said, "It's not a very good thriller." "Then why did you read it?" "I read a lot of bad thrillers." I asked her to elaborate. She said, "It's badly written, formulaic, cliched, clunky, and shtik-driven. The book he wrote before has exactly the same structure. I think it's about the Pope."

I asked her why it was so successful—because of the Catholic church? She said, "No. It's the business of a thriller to make something scary up about something. You can say that the Nazis are going to rearm and take over Germany. That's what a thriller's supposed to do." I asked her again: "Well then how do you explain that it's been such a big hit?" "I can't. I'm mystified."

I don't usually stump my wife. I gotta get to the bottom of this.

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/33179#comments Germany Virginia Thu, 18 May 2006 10:19:14 -0400 Observer Staff 33179 at http://www.observer.com Trump: "A Friggin' Mortgage Company Opening" http://www.observer.com/node/34529
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"If you had told me we would have had this many people for a friggin' mortgage company opening--give me a break," said Donald Trump, speaking to several hundred people crammed into a lower level space at Trump Tower.

It's not typical that an 11 a.m. mortgage company launch could turn into a media circus.

"When Don [Trump, Jr.] and I struck the deal, we said, 'We'll have a new conference," continued Mr. Trump. "What we didn't expect was Extra!, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, and some of the other folks up here. Take a look Lois--my friend Lois [Weiss] from the New York Post."

Mr. Trump was joined by E.J. Ridings , the new company's President and CEO, and his son, who is also involved in the project. Sadly, Ivanka--who was scheduled to attend--didn't show up.

"The business they're doing is unbelievable," said Mr. Trump in typically, grandiose fashion. "Literally, we signed the lease a few months ago, they are going to take an additional floor."

And to appease the audience that was packed together (and the tourists riding up and down the escalator overhead, snapping photos on cell phones), Mr. Trump uttered the famous phrase. He told Mr. Ridings that the company needs to keep up with the current pace, or else....

"If it's not, E.J., You're fired!"

After Mr. Trump's short speech, the motley crew of reporters--ranging from Life & Style to National Mortgage News--pushed up to the stage where the developer was fielding questions.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/34529#comments Real Estate E.J. Ridings Europe Germany Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:54:15 -0400 Observer Staff 34529 at http://www.observer.com