Opinions – Karin's New Adventures

The real reason why YOU shouldn’t buy an EV now

Karin Brenig — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 13:25:10 +0000

I love driving an electric vehicle! I'm thrilled to be part of an exclusive club of "insiders" - the few who actually get it - and I'd rather have things stay like that for as long as possible. So, all you people on the fence, please don't buy an EV. You'd ruin the experience for those of us who already drive one.

Hairy Affair

Karin Brenig — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:51:22 +0000

Karin cuts her own hair and is contemplating different hairstyles.

When Farmers hang up their Boots

Karin Brenig — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:07:53 +0000

silent farmers' protest: just hang up your boots.

Speed Trap Kirchseeon

Karin Brenig — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 13:48:24 +0000

the newly installed speed trap in Kirchseeon paid for itself within the first 10 days. It continues to generate considerable revenue.

Office Space

Karin Brenig — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 14:10:08 +0000

I'll give you my opinion about different styles of office spaces: open concept, cubicle farm, classic office, and home office.

Managing our Trash – and my Parents’ too

Karin Brenig — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 14:55:06 +0000

Moving back to Germany I anticipated a few obstacles and a little bit of “reverse culture shock”, but about important things – like work, housing, health insurance, politics – not about something as mundane as trash. I vaguely remembered, that Germans separate their trash – but I didn’t expect to see the system that far […]

COVID-19 Positive

Karin Brenig — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:47:16 +0000

The world has been in a state of paralysis for over a year now. Our basic constitutional rights have been violated. We can’t move about, we can’t meet, many of us can’t work, we can’t shop, we can’t go out to eat or see a movie. We feel like we aren’t allowed to live – […]

Old Skills applied to new Situations

Karin Brenig — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:40:24 +0000

When I started cutting my own hair about fourty years ago, I had no idea that this particular skill would come in handy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because hairsalons, like many other personal services, have been locked down in an attempt to reduce the number of new infections in Germany, people here are getting anxious. If […]

“No soup for you, EU” the new Business Model?

Karin Brenig — Tue, 29 May 2018 20:47:50 +0000

The recent deadline for serious worldwide enforcement of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation prompted hectic activities with many international companies to cook up new (hopefully compliant) privacy policies. Discussion of the subject matter is full of misconceptions, uncertainties, questions, worries, fear of legal consequences, and outrage on both sides of the fence. What people […]

Can’t even trust “Made in Germany”?

Karin Brenig — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 20:30:43 +0000

Some companies don’t seem to hesitate when it comes down to maximizing profits. Consumers’ health doesn’t matter. You have to be vigilant, continuously expect to be taken advantage of, even with – or especially with – something as innocent looking as gummy bears. Some of you may know that I am a huge fan of […]

Microsoft – neither “micro”, nor “soft”?

Karin Brenig — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:17:33 +0000

I’ve used Microsoft’s products professionally and personally since 1995, you could say I am a loyal customer. In the early days I would have claimed to even be a fan. Over the years, though, the company has changed so much, that I feel the compelling urge to shake my head at their “business practices”. The […]

Helping, without helping too much

Karin Brenig — Wed, 24 May 2017 00:26:47 +0000

Helping people is a good thing, right? We are being taught early in life that you answer “yes, of course” when somebody, anybody, asks for your help nicely. As we get older, wiser, more experienced, it seems only natural that we will be asked for help more often. It can be flattering to find your advice highly […]

Hey, Microsoft, stop pestering me, please!

Karin Brenig — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 21:47:00 +0000

I've been using Microsoft's operating system(s) on various computers since version 3.11 of Windows. Each new version brought some improvements, some new features, some limitations, and some new bugs. I learned to live with all things Windows - after a...

Make or Buy?

Karin Brenig — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 12:40:00 +0000

As a software developer I've had to make that decision many times - is it better to simply make what you need, or should you look to buy existing solutions? I personally like the feeling of power that I get from being self-sufficient, so I tend to lea...

Entitlement?

Karin Brenig — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 00:37:00 +0000

Between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Halloween lots of people in costumes, mostly younger children with their parents, tour our neighborhood to ask for candy.They speak the magic formula "trick or treat", and I offer the bowl with candy saying "tak...

RNC Membership Renewal?

Karin Brenig — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:42:00 +0000

Really, what are they thinking? I don't consider myself a Republican. Actually, I am not a Democrat either. This kind of "either-or" categories is inadequate to describe my political views. I may be a green liberal conservative socialist.Tod...

The Science, or the Religion, of RO Water

Karin Brenig — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 14:59:15 +0000

In the light of our recent city water odor episode the discussion about "good" or "bad" reverse osmosis filtered water called for renewed investigation. I've heard both sides of the arguments, but maybe there are new, more recent, studies? Maybe commo...

City Water stinks!

Karin Brenig — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:26:00 +0000

For the past four days our tap water has had an awful, foul, chemical smell to it. It makes me gag when I take a shower.City officials were quick to tell us that this has a natural reason - it's because of the melting snow. Strange, though, that we've...

What’s the Use of Primaries?

Karin Brenig — Mon, 05 May 2014 14:41:00 +0000

Tomorrow I will have a chance to vote again. It's just primary elections, but still - I'll go vote. Primaries may seem a bit confusing, because you don't really vote anybody into any office - yet. You just help one party to decide whom they will put up for their candidate(s) in the next general elections, November 4th this year.

The technicalities of primary elections vary slightly from one state to another.

According to Ind. Code §§ 3-10- 1-6, 1-9, Indiana holds so called "open primaries". That means voters do not have to declare a party affiliation upon registration. You may choose to vote on either party's ballot during primaries. You have to choose one single ballot for one distinct party, though.

Some other states have what is called "closed primaries". In those states you must declare yourself as affiliated with a specific party when you register to vote, and then consequently can only vote for that party in the primaries.

Whether your state holds open or closed primaries, and whether or not you participate, or what party's ballot you vote on, has no bearing on the next general elections. On general elections' ballots you will get to see all candidates, from all parties, who were pre-selected during primary elections.

Maybe that's why participation in primaries is usually low.

No more Candy Crush.

Karin Brenig — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:32:00 +0000

Enough already! Level 149 of this silly time-waster was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I got rid of it. Deleted and uninstalled it. Now I am surprised that it took me over 9 months to realize this game is a huge waste of my time, the wo...

to update or not to update….

Karin Brenig — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:03:00 +0000

When it comes to change, I find it exciting and frightening at the same time.In the world of PC software, change is called "update" - and vendors want us to believe that an update is always a change for the better. I develop software for a living, so ...

Tax Appeal, Anyone?

Karin Brenig — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:58:00 +0000

It seems like not too long ago that I had to play that exact same game - appealing our annual property assessment.I personally believe that my primary residence should not be taxed at all, because I already paid taxes twice on that money. First, ...