Profound disappointment

Despite the title of this entry, I found this story, and most particularly the URL hilarious: "http://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article1259522/Kinder_muessen_draussen_bleiben.html". The English summary and discussion is here. The editors at Die Welt co-opted the "Dogs must stay outside" text seen on many shop windows, and discreetly applied it to children by sliding it in the path to the story.

Also at Die Welt this week, a citizenship test (in German). My results? I passed.

Deutschland Test 30/30
76% korrekt beantwortet
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Sie haben den Einbürgerungstest bestanden. Ihre Kenntnisse über Deutschland sind gut.

---

Tomorrow afternoon Chaz and I begin our trek to Laos, which has suddenly become a bit more challenging for us. Franz won't be able to travel with us as chief videographer, tour guide, and sunrise watcher. For us, our cultural instinct in light of his situation is to cancel our travels as well, and take the time to head to Munich to help him out, but he wouldn't have that. I don't know if that's a Austrian sensibility or just plain stubbornness on his part. Nonetheless, we're set on a course that while planned, won't be quite as much fun, and its disappointing.