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What's your favorite German word?
I do not speak German. My father was a native German speaker (born in Vienna, Austria), but he rarely used it at home (except for some deliciously long curse words that I wish I knew). I took Latin and Spanish in high school and Spanish in college, so I have never learned any German other than a stray word here or there and the numbers from one to twelve.
English is a Germanic language, but some German words are able to describe things that single English words have trouble emulating. German, it seems, is a language that loves to combine adjectives and nouns in various arrangements to form new, long, and extremely descriptive words. Such German words have apparently become very popular in English these days, so much so that www.Germany.info offers a Word of the Week on their German Missions in the United States website. They even have a Word of the Year. For 2013, it was Wissensdurst, which means "thirst for knowledge." As a teacher, I like that one.
I blame it all on Volkswagen ("the people's car"). I think this craze began with Fahrvergnügen, which means "driving enjoyment" and which was the centerpiece of a VW advertising campaign back in 1990. It spawned some pretty funny parodies—like "Fahkengrüven."
Today, one often hears the term schadenfreude, which is a loanword from German. Sometimes it is spelled with a capital letter because even common nouns are capitalized in German. It means "pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others," and Kossacks have enjoyed plenty of it this week, courtesy of Chris Christie and goats.
But my own favorite German word is Gretchenfrage. The English idiom to replace it might be "The $64,000 Question." The website explains the origin and meaning of Gretchenfrage this way:
Isolda Dychauk as Gretchen and
Johannes Zeiler as Faust
in a scene from the film "Faust."
Gretchenfrage, which literally means “The Gretchen Question,” is a reference to Goethe’s Faust. Gretchen is the leading lady in Faust, and she plays the foil to Mephistopheles, the devil. She represents Faust’s salvation, Mephistopheles his damnation. In the second half of the play, she asks Faust, “Do you believe in God?” to which he famously replies:
“My darling, who dare say:
‘I believe in God’? You may,
Ask a priest or sage and you’ll receive,
What only seems to mock and stay
The asker.”
This question – do you believe in god – is the Gretchenfrage in Goethe's Faust. It is a question that cuts to the heart of the matter. It is a blunt and direct question and the answer must be weighed heavily.
Determining the
Gretchenfrage in a given situation can be helpful. It is often what I search for when trying to get my students to understand a story or an essay. If I can ask the right question, I can unlock the meaning for them. In
Hamlet, famously, the
Gretchenfrage is clearly stated:
To be, or not to be, that is the question...
I suspect that finding the right question to ask is often the key to discovery. Instead of asking "Why does the sun move across the sky?", Copernicus asked, "Why does the sun
appear to move across the sky?" Contrary to right wing belief, Charles Darwin is not famous for answering the question "Did life evolve?" He and many other scientists of the 19th century already understood evolution to be an observed fact. The
Gretchenfrage that Darwin addressed was "How does evolution operate?" His answer was, of course, the process of natural selection. Expecting wingnuts to understand this concept is like expecting the Cubs to win the World Series. It's an exercise in futility. They can't get past "observed fact."
So I like the word Gretchenfrage. I plan to talk more about it in a future diary. Go ahead and browse the list if you wish, Newdists, and then decide:
What's your favorite German word?
Image Credits:
Gesundheit courtesy toonsup.com
Fahrvergnügen courtesy redbubble.com
Gretchen (© picture alliance / dpa) courtesy germany.info
To blog or not to blog courtesy cepylant.wordpress.com
Sun moving across sky courtesy apod.nasa.gov
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
•
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
• Las Vegas Kossacks: Kosmail miracle11
• Vermont Kossacks: Kosmail 4Freedom
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
• Mexican Kossacks - Formed: Apr 14, 2013, Organizer: roberb7
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks - Formed: Oct 27, 2012, Organizer: boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kosmopolitans - Formed: Aug 2, 2013, Organizer: highacidity
• Silicon Valley Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2013, Organizer: Glen The Plumber
• Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2013, Organizer: EagleOfFreedom
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
• San Diego Kossacks Founded by La Gitane, Formed: Nov 18, 2011
• Massachusetts Kosmopolitans Founded by mem from somerville, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
by Chrislove ♥ for Houston Area Kossacks
Our intrepid Houston Area Kossacks got together again. It was time for socializing after all the Battle Ground Texas work many of them did last year. Here's to gearing up for more work this year.
Chrislove is the group organizer and he can be seen in the photo below on the top right:
Top L-R: doraphasia, cosette & Chrislove
Bottom L-R: htowngenie & MarciaJ720
L-R: mjbleo, Mary, flekk17 & TDDVandy
Please visit Chrislove's diary for amazing food pr0n photos! Enjoy! You can join Houston Area Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chrislove.
by peregrine kate ♥ for Motor City Kossacks
A polar vortex could not stop six Motor City Kossacks from getting together on January 4th. Kudos, all! ACA Daily Kos celebrity, Brainwrap attended and brought the group up to date on his work.
Even folks from the White House are quoting his figures now. He also observed how odd he thought it was that the mainstream media (and governmental) sources were 1) not talking to him directly, seemingly content to take his numbers as valid, and 2) not conducting similar statistical aggregations on their own. We shared his astonishment, but agreed that he is doing an important job.
Also in attendance were prolific diarist BFSkinner, user ID 162795 and has been around since long before 2008. Amber6541, famous pootie/woozle diarist with an old user ID of 157580 and sydneyluv, who beat them all with the user ID of 132330. Long timers, these three!
Discussion included Michigan's crucial statewide elections in 2014 and the need to displace Rick "the Nerd" Snyder.
As hosts for upcoming NN14, the Motor City Kossacks are ready for their first meeting with the NN14 staff this January 9th. peregrine kate expressed the need to hear from as many politically radical, grass-roots organizers in Detroit during NN14 as possible and coalesce all this collective energy. All who attend this early meeting will get to shape the agenda. Please kosmail peregrine kate to attend this important event.
Here's one photo:
L-R: Four Motor City Kossacks: Amber6541, Brainwrap, sydneyluv, BFSkinner
You can still recommend peregrine kate's diary and see many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can join Motor City Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to peregrine kate.
:: Events Currently on the Books for Kossacks ::
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Sunday, January 12th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
Meet in the back room. This venue is wheelchair accessible.
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. blue jersey mom
3. rubyr
4. kathny
5. joanbrooker
6. oxfdblue
7. mattc129
8. Bethesda1921
9. No Exit
10. thankgodforairamerica
11. ericlewis0
12. Mets102
13. plf515
14. MBNYC
15. Design the Future
16. gchaucer2
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Maybees:
mconvente
Ian Reifowitz
Laura Clawson
Rosalie907
andgarden
wader
isabelle hayes
Dave G
jonnym
Batya the Toon
Its the Supreme Court Stupid
313to212
melanctha
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup THIS SUNDAY, Jan 12: Come in from the Cold!
Saturday, January 18th
LA Kossacks First Anniversary Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: PitFire Pizza
5211 Lankershim Blvd. • North Hollywood
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. susans
3. Otoelbc
4. Chiwere
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks - 1st Anniversary meetup, Saturday, January 18 - PitFire Pizza, North Hollywood
AND
Saturday, January 25th
Tennessee Three Star Kossacks & Nashville KosKats Meet-up
TIME: TBA
LOCATION: TBA (Please send suggestions to marykk)
[Address] • Nashville
ORGANIZER: Send marykk a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. marykk
2. Sandy on Signal (Guest of Honor)
3. Land of Enchantment
4. jnhobbs
5. ZenTrainer
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, January 25th
Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
SPEAKERS:
Asheville City Councilman Gordon Smith
Sarah Zambon from the League of Women Voters.
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Cantina
10 Biltmore Plaza • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. davehouck
2. LamontCranston
3. randallt
4. joieau
5. Gordon20024
6. flwrightman
7. Otteray Scribe
8. emmasnacker
9. GordonNC (UID 5123 & City Councilman) GUEST SPEAKER!
10. cultjake
11. DawnN
12. Captain Sham
13. Mrs Sham
14. SteelerGrrl
15. SteelerGuy
16. Alecia
17. Mr. Alecia
18. Nic Goodman
19. Sarah Zambon (League of Women Voters) GUEST SPEAKER!
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Maybees:
Munchkn
One Pissed Off Liberal
people power granny
Burns Lass
Aviator Doc
stellaluna
eternallyvigilant |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville Update-Guest speakers!
Sunday, January 26th
SFKossacks Welcome matching mole to San Francisco!
TIME: TBD, daytime car trip to the Delta for birding with lineatus
LOCATION: Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
2548 Grizzly Island Road • Suisun City
lineatus will have a spotting scope and a few spare pairs of binoculars, so novices can have something to use.
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. matching mole
3. navajo
4. tgypsy
5. kimoconnor
6. Kestral
7. bwren
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Maybees: |
TIME: TBD, evening event for city folk and to celebrate dharmasyd's and kimoconnor's birthdays!
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. matching mole
3. navajo
4. dharmasyd
5. side pocket
6. norm
7. kimoconnor
8. Glen The Plumber
9. remembrance
10. TLO
11. bwren
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Dawn Chorus: Preview of Coming Attractions
Tuesday, January 28th
Silicon Valley Kossacks SOTU Watch Party
TIME: TBA
LOCATION: Lusty's Home
Address given privately to RSVPs • Silicon Valley
Event will be potluck, please bring a side dish to complement a crock-pot main course provided by Lusty. Desserts and tasty beverages are needed, also.
Discussion will be about how the Silicon Valley Kossacks can use their group effectively to support Mike Honda since he is being primaried.
ORGANIZER: Send Lusty a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Lusty - Crock-pot main course
2. Glen the Plumber
3. remembrance
4. TLO
5. navajo - wine
6. BroadBlogs
7. BayAreaKen
8.
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Maybees:
Cali Scribe
Mr. Cali Scribe
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Send
navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?