Reckless Reality |

The graceful robotic penguins were unveiled by German engineering firm Festo this week.

Using their flippers, the mechanical penguins can paddle through water just like real ones, while larger helium-filled designs can “swim” through the air. The penguins are on show at the Hannover Messe Trade Exhibition in Germany.

Each penguin carries 3D sonar developed by EvoLogics in Berlin, Germany, which is used to monitor its surroundings and avoid collisions with walls or other penguins. Read the rest of this entry »

The watercolours are early examples of the fascist’s work and were painted during his twenties, when he was a struggling artist.

The array of 13 pieces is expected to attract great interest and could fetch thousands of pounds at an auction next month.

Among them is a self-portrait by the infamous German leader. Signed with the initials A.H., the picture of a man sitting on a stone bridge appears to depict the Austrian-born politician’s trademark side-parting. Read the rest of this entry »

The Berlin city government has appointed 4,000 civil servants, police officers and train drivers as “good mood ambassadors” in an €200,000 effort to rid perceptions that the German capital is a gruff and ill-tempered place.

“A few years ago we did a study that showed that non-Germans consider Berlin a place full of grumpy and boring people,” said city spokesman Richard Meng. “We need to show the world that this is not true.” Read the rest of this entry »

Men dressed as ‘Krampuss’ take part in a parade at Munich’s Christmas market, December 7, 2008. Young single men will wear the traditional attires known as ‘Krampusse’, consisting of animal skins and masks, with large cow-bells to make loud and frightening noises and parade through the city. They follow ‘Saint Nicholas’ from house to house in December each year to bring luck to the good and punish the idle.

One may think of Hitler only as a political figure when looking back in time, but the opening of three tunnels planned out by him reveals us into the unfolding mind of a man whose vision went beyond ordinary.

The tunnels are 16 metres (50 feet) deep and were constructed in 1938 as part of an underground network beneath a series of enourmous buildings designed by Nazi architect Albert Speer.

One of the buildings was supposed to be the biggest domed hall of the world.

These underground plans were never completed because of World War II, but they were part of a greater scheme for the Third Reich (now known as “Germania”) as a symbol of power, Berlin being the “Capital of the World” as Hitler had intended.

The tunnels are not open for the public for reasons of security but visits can be arranged.