Quote from: MeltingMan on September 12, 2023, 19:46:55So the number has almost halved.

Why? Pandemic? Or a new law (which came in 2017 I think?)

"Compassion & kindness even in these vicious times.
Vision not Division.
Barbarism in a world gone mad ....it is up to you to be cool, be kind and courageously confront the darkness..
it is more important to spread the light than fear the dark .."
Michael Des Barres
posted this on his FB

Quote from: UlrichWhy? Pandemic? Or a new law (which came in 2017 I think?)

I'm sorry if I only answer now. I didn't want to deepen the topic even more. I know nothing about the new law, but I could imagine that demography also plays a role. So the prostitutes I got to know (there were only a few) were very young. To what extent it affects someone I know has to show the time. My wound healing from summer has not yet been completely completed. That has priority at first.

No problem about the (late) reply & get well soon. 

This article (German) says the number has risen (after pandemic):
https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2023-09/prositution-sexarbeit-anstieg

This occupational union ("Berufsverband") has a clear opinion about any suggested "prohibition":
https://www.berufsverband-sexarbeit.de/index.php/sexarbeit/freierbestrafung-kriminalisierung-menschenhandel-schwedisches-modell/

QuoteStudien und Community-Reports zeigen, dass das Schwedische Modell zwar für viele Nachteile für Sexarbeitende sorgt, dabei aber weder weniger Sexarbeit stattfindet, noch Menschenhandel oder sexuelle Ausbeutung reduziert wird.

In short, my opinion is: we need to find better ways to avoid forced labor and human trafficking!

Quote from: WDRProstitution bans in at least 23 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia
Municipalities can set up restricted areas if they are convinced that the practice of prostitution poses a threat to young people or so-called "public decency". A NRW-wide query by WDR shows that there are restricted areas in at least 23 cities across the country (as of April 2023). Many prostitutes suffer from this.

Thank you for the well wishes. Originally I was only supposed to stay in the hospital for one night for observation, but it ended up being six nights in total because bleeding occurred after the first outpatient dressing change. I now have mail from my health insurance company. They offer me additional private insurance. At the same time I have to pay an additional EUR 80. Fortunately, someone who has additional training in wound management is looking after me. Things are slowly improving. 

Thanks for the news article. Let's leave it at that (topic is probably not interesting for most visitors of this forum)-

Good to hear you're being looked after by an expert. 

Quote from: MeltingMan on July 27, 2023, 11:08:11After I on 11.07. received a direct threat, I thought it wise to remain silent.

A (little) threat I received (by aforementioned person outside this forum) made me think of this post. He wrote something about visiting me (which I would not want) adding that there were "ways to get inside" if I wouldn't open (which I read as a threat to break in).
I just answered "no thanks", my next step will be a "screenshot" and reporting it if the person ever goes on about this in any way. 

QuoteOne might say in these troubled times, why are you smiling. That is called defeatism.. my shock and empathy is not diminished. If I keep smiling, others will too. And they will have compassion for the veterans that served this country. For those who care about others all sisters and brothers, and everyone in between.. it is almost incomprehensible to view the images coming onto our TV screens and social media. I pray for peace and have done every day for many years. Much love to you all. Be kind, be cool, and be courageous.

Michael Des Barres (again on FB)

Quote from: J. FleischhauerThis company really torments its customers

Unfortunately, I have to confirm that, and the DB tortures its domestic and foreign passengers indiscriminatingly, which is particularly embarrassing. Now the main travel time before Christmas is imminent. It is quite possible that things will go better in passenger transport, but the DB is like a permanent patient with whom no more cure    helps and no money injection, it may yet so high and justified. None other than Mr. W. has called for a splitting of the company. Indeed, that could be a real course. It may have been missed in the 1990s or should I say have been avoided? I have got to know the DR and the Mitropa and of course the glorious time of night trains does not come back, but remove stops or set entire routes still, I think the DB has exaggerated so far that it fulfills its legal mandate only to a limited extent - and our neighbors are rightly annoyed. 🎄

Quote from: MeltingMan on December 20, 2023, 11:06:36None other than Mr. W. has called for a splitting of the company.

Yeah, great, so we can blame 2 or 3 (or more) different companies in the future for tormenting the customers... 

Quote from: UlrichYeah, great so we can blame 2 or 3 (or more) companies ...

I did not mean it like that. I regularly used DB's long-distance services until 2010. Crowded platforms and trains were a temporary phenomenon. I worked around them when possible. Changing locomotives due to technical problems usually only took thirty minutes. There were no doors blocked or the train completely missing its destination.   So it was already clear to me in 2012 that I didn't like taking the train anymore - unlike before. In addition, the DB has given up its punctuality targets by 2070(!). A split-up (I avoid the word break-up) had already been recommended earlier by the EU Commission for a large automobile manufacturer, but this company is in trouble anyway and, of course, they can afford expensive law firms, etc. Long story short: I would like to use the long-distance services again more frequently, but I, and many others, will probably not see another DB, unless the dominance of the automobile manufacturers in the Ministry of Transport is ended and/or there is at least one "real" railway worker on the board of the DB, and not just business economists and educators. Merry Christmas! 

Quote from: MeltingMan on December 23, 2023, 11:07:08I did not mean it like that.

I know, I was joking (a little bit, but also a bit serious, because that might happen)!

(There is a private company already running some trains here in our federal state, they had some problems too...)
https://bahnreise-wiki.de/wiki/Bahngesellschaften_/_Anbieter_in_Deutschland

Some time ago I wrote about the new fiber optic network and the aggressive advertising that accompanied it. Although our house wasn't supposed to have a connection - the landlord and the majority of residents were against it - only one tenant has now ordered one for his apartment. The work on this is imminent. The line has been in front of the house since last year. It's just strange that all "old" tenants will have to accept a moderate rent increase from March 1st. Now I've been paying a little more in additional costs since last year, and the tenant in question is paying more anyway because he moved in later, but what bothers me is that I can no longer rely on verbal promises from the landlord - and that after 17 years! Now I don't want to join the German Tenants' Association again. I just left a month ago. In addition, the resident in question owns property in his home country and may receive income from rentals, meaning he can afford a fiber optic connection. There is still radio silence. No note on the door etc. To be continued.

I'm really in a time machine! 

It's not just that I listen to old music from '94 or '84. Tonight or tomorrow I wanna go to a cinema to watch "Dune", just like I did in 1984!!

Today it was a strange coincidence: I had an appointment at the savings bank. Then I walked through the spa park and read the inscription on a monument: (...)"in eternal memory - a spa guest - March 22nd, 1886".