Posted: 01^st February 2010

'Un'word of the year 2009

For the 19th time, an independent Jury nominated the German 'un' word of the year. They are words which may look harmless but have a very negative meaning. Last year's word was betriebsratverseucht, meaning as much as being contaminated by a works council. Apparently, you may not be considered for a job in certain companies if you've worked in a company with a works council and want to change to one without a works council. Coming close second was a word Chancellor Merkel coined while talking about migration problems: Flüchtlingsbekämpfung, which would translate as 'refugee combat'. The Financial Crisis was the word of the year in 2008, but a related word, 'bad bank', was nominated 'un'word for the stock exchange.

It is an interesting word for a fascinating system: banks get rid of their debts and departments which aren't profitable by creating just such a bad bank, and assigning all their junk to it. Shame this doesn't work for you and me. If we have debts, we still have to pay them. And with the economy being still down, it is extremely easy to get into debts. Incredibly many people have lost their jobs and still do. From July on, I'll be one of them. My boss is going to close the unprofitable shop where I've worked for more than 15 years. Now wouldn't it be nice if my boss could just found a 'bad shop' and I could keep my work place?

Fortunately, the Post Team and contributors are volunteers anyway, so there isn't a job we could lose due to a financial crisis – well, as long as the BBC doesn't go bankrupt, that is.

Once again, we present you with a brilliant issue. We have a new columnist, em ma6, whose first article you'll find below. The Duke of Dunstable is back with news from the Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture, and there's lots more. Enjoy.

B'Elana

• 
  A Life on the Ocean Wave


Emma boards the cruiser

• 
  Babe Among the Stars


Chinese New Year and St Valentine

• 
  Rear View


A dangerous short-cut

• 
  The Fast Cartoonist


A case of 'overdressed'

WISH-FULFILMENT?

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  Platypus dancing


Meanwhile, on the forepaw of advertising...

• 
  The Reluctant Gaijin in Japan


My home is my castle

• 
  Weight of Reason


A crazy idea - can it work?

• 
  Fragmented


Don't miss your enunciation lesson...

ONCE UPON A TIME

• 
  Gheorgheniplex


Which Side are you on?

• 
  In Living Memory


The 1960s

• 
  The Communist Plot that Worked


Dmitri and the Red Scare

• 
  Bertie and the Beast


Don't Cats Always Land On Their Feet?

Chapter Nine, Part Six

• 
  Announcements
  


Meets, sites, events etc

• 
  The Eighth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture


Mark the Date in your Calendar

• 
  Email the Post Team
  


For submissions and editorial feedback

• 
  The Post Readers' Forum
  


Chat about The Post with other readers and the Team