#442: Fake terror threat, monster data centre, Friedrichsstraße

79 X-mas markets

The Ringbahn is, in fact, a dog’s head.

Dear 20 Percent,

Is it just me or are people getting nicer here? As I’ve mentioned before, I spend a lot of time on public transport with my two sons (4 and 6) thanks to the unfortunate collusion of several factors: housing, language, the location of appropriate schools and kindergartens.

Last spring and summer, I felt I was getting a lot of hostile looks from mostly older Berliners as my children shouted, wrestled, dropped crumbs, soiled the seats with their boots, generally kid-spread. And yesterday a man in his twenties complained to my face that we had pushed ahead of him into the crowded S-Bahn.

I said, “Sorry, it’s not easy with small kids” to which he replied, “Still. You don’t have to push.” He sat next to us, stonefaced for the rest of the journey. “Get over yourself, bro,” I wanted to tell him.

Despite this minor incident, most people do seem more empathetic and friendly these days. Is it the run-up to Christmas? Did they change something in the tapwater? Or am I smiling more — triggering a cascade of empathy? No clue.

Thanks to those of you who showed up at the first 20 Percent News Quiz. I had a lot of fun. The next one will be Wednesday, December 10. Sign up for free!

Maurice

PS: Thanks to this issue’s sponsor, Genau Genau language school! More from them below.

Fake terror threats against schools?

This, however, is the stuff of parents’ nightmares: On Sunday, threats of violent Islamist terrorist attacks against 20 Berlin schools circulated through various chat groups — the police received 900 calls from scared parents. By Monday, police announced there was no immediate cause for alarm: “The Berlin police have no information about specific dangers or threats to the schools concerned or other schools.” The purpose of the threats is apparently “to spread targeted misinformation designed to create and spread uncertainty, fear, and terror among children, young people, and parents in Berlin.” One sign that it was fake was the fact that one of the schools mentioned hasn’t existed since 1945. Authorities suspect a link to Russia, since the message first appeared on Telegram in Russian, only to be then spread by a local YouTuber. Police have increased their presence near the schools mentioned.

Another Friedrichstraße makeover?

I was in Friedrichstraße yesterday — let’s face it, there’s no reason to go there unless you work in the area. Back in the corona era, the previous city government attempted to make the uncharming Mitte street car-free with banged together plywood furniture and “pop-up” bike lanes. Pretty much everyone hated it. The Right said it scared away shoppers; the Left said it was a half-assed attempt to pedestrianise. Now the administration under Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has presented a new plan to add some trees and fences, and remove markings and parking spaces. Cars will still be allowed. At least it looks permanent this time. The Greens have praised the plan, the AfD trashed it because they think trees and cargobikes are woke or something.

We can AI too

On the eve of today’s Summit of European Digital Sovereignty in Berlin, Schwarz Gruppe, the owner of Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains, is investing €11 billion in a data centre in Brandenburg’s Spreewald region. The facility is designed to house 100,000 GPUs. Pols and suits broke ground at the site on Monday. Schwarz is calling the project a milestone for Europe’s digital sovereignty — and wants to sell cloud and AI services to European clients.

🍺 🥨 Germany-wide news 🥨 🍺

🤨 Germany to resume arms exports to Israel

⛅ €60 million for international climate adaptation fund

🤨 Auction of Holocaust artefacts in Germany cancelled

🤨 AfD praises US designation of Antifa group as terrorists

Events this week, curated by The Next Day Berlin

🔉 Analogue Foundation presents Lyra Pramuk (live)
Thursday, 20.11, 7 pm – 11 pm. ZENNER, Alt-Treptow 15, 12435 Berlin. Tickets: €35
Lyra Pramuk in an intimate live set: voice, electronics, and a kind of sacred, slow-burning energy, with Sufi whirling and an experimental opening. For those interested in ambient, vocal experimentation, and deep listening.

🇯🇲 Berlin united for Jamaica
Thursday, 20.11, 7 pm – 6 am. Badehaus Berlin, Revalerstr. 99, 10245 Berlin. Tickets:
€10-20.
Overnight dancehall and reggae fundraiser supporting post-hurricane recovery in Jamaica, with all proceeds going to HELP Jamaica!. Highlights: Mal Élevé, D-Flame, Bianca Ciocca, and Ganjaman.

🎸 Nation of Language + Westerman
Friday, 21.11, 8 pm – 11 pm. Columbiahalle, Columbiadamm 13-21, 10965 Berlin. Tickets: €47.64
Brooklyn’s Nation of Language brings shimmering, danceable new wave/post-punk with big synth lines and shoegaze glow, joined by Westerman‘s art-pop.

🥘 Sunday Paella Night at Bar Perla
Sunday, 23.11, 5 pm – 9 pm. Bar Perla, Falckensteinstr. 9, 10997 Berlin. Price: You pay what you think it’s worth - it’s donation-based (min. €5)
Family-style paella in a tiny Spanish-leaning spot in Kreuzberg: big pans, shared tables, end-of-week mood. Good if you’re craving comfort food, easy conversation, and a low-key way to close the weekend.

Factoid

Where else do you get a Bloody Christmas market themed around heavy metal and donating blood?

This is insane: Berlin will have 79 Christmas Markets this year — many are already up and running, like the generic one at Potsdamer Platz that opened on Halloween. Surely, despite the Christmas markets originating in the south of the country, Berlin has become the undisputed world leader in options to stand around in the cold with some Glühwein. Check out the list, there really is something for every Holiday vibe!

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GENAU GENAU offers German Language Training (A1–B1) in hipster Kreuzkölln: small groups, lots of humor, flexible formats, grammar boot camps, conversation courses, a free and colorful cheatsheet, online options, coffee from freshly ground beans, and excellent tea. Prices range from €49 to €199. The semester pass for €99 per month (6-month term, up to 12 x 90 min. per week, limited to 50 registrations) is very popular! Don’t be lazy! Register with the voucher code 20PCNT for two free trial lessons instead of one: www.genau-genau.com. Gym German? Ja, genau!

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