Smoking - by Annika

Annika has read a text on "Second-hand smoking" in her English class. This is what she refers to in this post:

Many parents are ignoring warnings about smoking near children. I have read about a little boy, aged 5, who has lungs like his grandfather, so his mother quits the habit.
Second-hand smoke is also dangerous for people, not only for smokers. But the biggest problem is that smokers ignore the risk caused by the smoke for other people who want to live longer or who don't want to get lung cancer. Children also get harmed when their parents smoke in another room.
The best thing you can ever do is to quit this habit :-)

How the raven got its black feathers - by Klara

Klara has read a Native American legend in her English class and here's a summary she worked out:

The raven wants to make all the birds look different. He goes to the four Great Spirits with his idea and asks them for paints and brushes. The Spirits agree and the raven requires in exchange that the Spirits paint him the most beautiful bird in the world. When the raven is finished, he wants the Spirits to keep their promise, but he isn't content with the way they paint him. This makes the Spirits angry, and they pour all the paint over him so that all the colours mix into a deep black.
The raven's idea is clever, but his stupid and vain behaviour ruin everything.

What can we learn from this story?

Work experience - by Laura

In my Easter holidays I did a short internship as a bank employee. It lasted a week only. I had to enter data into the computer, and give out money to the clients.
It was an interesting experience, but I don't know if I want to work in a bank later on.

Bill Bryson on us Germans - by Moritz

Bill Bryson is an American journalist. In his book "Neither here nor there" he writes about a tour he took around Europe in 1990. The following text by Moritz refers to an excerpt from this book:

Bill Bryson often refers to Germany's history and how it was during a visit 20 years ago. Now I'm going to point out in which parts of the text he reflects on the "old" Germany.

Firstly, Bill Bryson remembers how the Germans were 20 years ago, describing them as fat and arrogant businessmen. Later on, he admits that he had this image of all Germans, except Germans who are younger than 25 years of age.

Secondly, he says that he cannot forgive the Germans their past because he thinks that all old Germans - even when they are friendly - could have participated in persecuting the Jews, so he is insecure about how to treat them. Bill Bryson calls these actions unpardonable and monstrous.

All in all I would summarize that Bill Bryson thinks of the "old" Germany in a very negative way because he just mentions the negative aspects of Germany's history.

What do you think? Do you agree with Bryson? Do you think he's wrong? Has anyone read the book?