Marriage, Equality, and What Really Deserves State Support

Right now, the media is full of heated debates about whether same-sex marriages should be given the same legal recognition as “traditional” marriages. The discussion isn’t just about symbolism—it’s about practical matters too: tax advantages, legal protections, and social rights such as adoption. As someone who is deeply interested in this topic, though not eligible to vote in Germany myself, I’ve been thinking a lot about what lies at the core of the issue. To ground my thoughts, I went straight to the source: Article 6 of the German Constitution (Grundgesetz). It says: Marriage and family enjoy the special protection of…

Magnetic Field Therapy – Science or Snake Oil?

As some of you know, I occasionally dive into the world of homeopathy, esotericism, and alternative medicine. One concept that stuck with me from the past—both as a skeptic and as a once-curious believer—is magnetic field therapy. So, I recently took the time to read up on it again. The result? As always, a mix of lofty healing promises, dubious mechanisms, and a whole lot of commercial noise. Sprinkle in wellness marketing, internet scams, and some "miracle devices," and you've got a familiar recipe. Here's what I found when I took a closer look. What is Magnetic Field Therapy? Magnetic…

Customer is King!

Has Germany become a service desert? What is service, and do I have a right to it? Recently, I placed an order in an online shop. Somewhat surprised, I had to realize, after the order—yes, I could have checked before—that the shop only accepts advance bank transfers. In my opinion, a bit outdated and already not very customer-oriented. But, well, said and done. I ordered and transferred the money. This was at the beginning of calendar week 36. In calendar week 37, I was on vacation and hoped that upon my return, my package would have arrived at the office.…

Can sugar heal?

The answer is: No! (Unless you eat enough to get full.) Always, I encounter people in my everyday life who take homeopathic remedies and spend a fair amount of money on them, believing that homeopathy can make them healthy. Is that really the case? What is homeopathy? Why does it work, and why not? Often, I find myself in discussions with advocates of the sugar pill. Why do people take homeopathic remedies? Why Schüssler salts? Right from the start, I am not the absolute homeopathy expert, but I have read into the subject to some extent and would like to…