I owe the Germans an apology

Twice now I've repeated the story about the unemployed German woman who supposedly was about to lose her benefits because she refused to work as a prostitute.

Well, it turns out that the story is an urban legend. It never happened.

German government officials, while conceding the technical possibility given the way the law is written, insist that as a practical matter no woman would ever be placed in such a position.

Thanks to Eric Phillips for pointing out the hoax.