I looked up the motor oil for my car; it's still about the price I would expect (high compared to US normal, not exorbitant) and allegedly available at the nearest branch of a large German retail car parts chain, as is the transmission oil.

... think I'll pick some up if they do indeed have it.

Our gasoline is well into the 2.20+ EUR/liter range, and diesel is even more.

... quite the reverse.

Certainly not Germany - I renewed mine at the city's immigration office, which was even helpful enough at one renewal to point out that I was likely eligible for a permanent residence permit and supplied the list of documents to bring back to apply for that.

German: 10^6 is "Million," 10^9 is "Millarde," and 10^12 is "Billion"

Hence why in financial markets, a 10^9 billion is called a "yard" (from milliarde)!

To anyone who sees the parent comment as a non-sequitur, note one of the names in the partnership discussed at the beginning of the article.

Quite something to see neither Jared nor his in-laws mentioned here

Congratulations on your Einbürgerung! That was an uplifting read.

My experiences with German bureaucracy have been similarly positive. The rules are the rules… but the rules are the rules, and can be contemplated at home in one’s own time, on one’s own private computer.

Acres upon acres of parking lots.

That'd be fine if there were any payphones still around...

Instead, we’re shoving out people who had already chosen America, and scaring a bunch of others off.

I think you meant “jus soli” (“law of soil”) - “jus sanguinis” means “law of blood.”

You are right!