Although Germany is a lot like the US (especially Frankfurt -- where lots of US soldiers have been for a long time), there are some things that are kind of strangely different. Traffic lights, for instance. In Germany, when a red light is about to turn green, the yellow light comes on. So the red and yellow are on at the same time. It only lasts a second or two so you have to be quick to catch it. Flat Tobin wasn't quick enough. And he got his finger in the picture!