Angelika Everybody knows San Francisco's Chinatown. Even those who have never visited San Francisco are familiar with this Asian district through many films. Who could forget the chase scene in the classic "What's Up Doc?" through the Chinese New Year parade? Even though today's "Chinatown" has probably too many cheap and kitschy souvenir shops, it still remains a must-see for every tourist, and we too enjoy strolling through the narrow, colorful streets.

Michael On December 13th, I took the train and my bike to work as usual. When the train stopped at Mountain View station, I hopped on my bike, pedaled, and as usual, zoomed across the pedestrian bridge that leads to Yahoo! in Steven's Creek Park. Unfortunately, I didn't think about the fact that the bridge floor was made of wet wooden planks when I leaned into the ramp like a Formula 1 motorcyclist and, bam!, I was on the ground.

Michael Every day, while riding my bike across the grounds of Lockheed Martin to Yahoo!, I notice a signboard with the updated terror alert scale at the gatekeeper's. It ranges from "Low" (green), to "Guarded" (blue), "Elevated" (yellow), "High" (orange), to "Severe" (red). For months, the pointer has been in the middle at "Elevated".

Michael Living in America, you definitely see a lot more great deals to purchase stuff. A new PC from Dell with Intel 2.8 Ghz and 512MB RAM and 17 inch LCD screen for $575? No problem. However, such things are always only available for a few hours somewhere, often only online, and one would have to be constantly on the lookout to get wind of it.

Michael This month's top product is unfortunately (not yet) in our possession. Rather, we found it in a cottage in Sonoma County, to which we retreated to for two days after New Year's. The place had a shower with a "Mr. Steam" button. Attached to it was a highly modern built-in device that produces such hellishly hot steam in the shower at the push of a button that you can hardly get any air. Unsurprisingly, a small sticker on the outside of the shower pointed out that "Mr. Steam" is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart problems.

Michael Although already two years old and from Great Britain, I only recently discovered it and was enthralled: Coldplay's second album (after "Parachute"), "A Rush of Blood to the Head" strikes a quiet tone, but the melodies stick in your head: Recently I kept humming the refrain of "Politik" for an entire day. The tune reminds me of the band "The Alan Parson's Project" which I used to appreciate a lot, although you "No-Dialtoners" probably don't know what that is. By the way, in the U.S., "No-Dialtoners" are people who were born around 1990 and have never heard the dial tone on the phone because they only use mobile phones where there is no dial tone. Should I admit that I even remember that there used to be no continuous tone when you picked up the receiver, but rather an intermittent beep? Ugh, ugh, my bones!

Michael Recently, a funny letter from the main post office in San Francisco flew into the house: too many mail carriers are being bitten by dogs and this can't go on like this! In the letter in Figure 1 you can read that in such a case the dog owner has to go to court and can expect a fine of up to 1,000 dollars.

There is actually hardly anyone in Germany who reports on the USA in an informed and balanced way. Two extremes stand out: On the one hand, the "Huzzah!"-shouters, mostly well-situated entrepreneurs, who annoy everyone in Germany and idealize American conditions. At the other end of the scale are the America-haters, who have never been to the USA, but know how to tell horror stories about the "American Way of Life".

Angelika We have been complaining a lot in the newsletters lately about American health insurance, but never mentioned that there is also a government provided health insurance, which may sound surprising in hard-core capitalist America. It's only for retirees, and it's called "Medicare". A glorious exception! Every retiree can join this government provided health insurance, starting at 65 years of age (for now). People under 65 with certain disabilities or diseases like severe permanent kidney failure are eligible for Medicare benefits. The whole thing is financed by the state withholding 1.45% (as of 2005) of the employee's gross salary. The employer also contributes 1.45% - a similar principle as you know from Germany. Self-employed workers pay 2.9% (employer plus employee contribution) into the pot. As a rule, one has to have paid contributions oneself or through one's spouse for at least 10 years in order to receive benefits later. The system of "Medicare" was founded in 1965.

Angelika Since I'm already at it: There is actually a health insurance program for the poorest of the poor in America. It's called "Medicaid" and was also introduced in 1965, originally for families receiving welfare and people with disabilities. It is funded with state and federal tax dollars. The states are subject to state guidelines, but have a lot of leeway in how they design Medicaid. Now it's not enough to be a poor slob to qualify for Medicaid, you have to belong to one of the following groups: children; pregnant women; parents with children still dependent on their care; people with disabilities; seniors. A 30-year-old single without children and no disabilities can be poor, but won't qualify, unless they live in a generous state that expanded the categories mentioned above. Otherwise they join the 45 million uninsured.

Angelika Surprisingly, we keep meeting Germans in San Francisco who have won their American Greencard in the lottery. Recently, it occurred to me that we haven't reported yet that since 2003, the required application can only be transmitted electronically - including the obligatory photograph. Apparently, the procedure is supposed to be more accurate and prevent errors. Maybe some of you have already played since then and can tell us about it. I find this step into modernity almost a bit sad, because sending one's biographical data and photograph on a simple sheet of paper was not without a certain charm ( Rundbrief 06/2000 ). And the guidelines for the envelope to be used will remain unforgettable. Ah, the good old days!