Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Betty MacDonald, an unique house and satirical stories



image
Betty MacDonald in the living room at Vashon on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

there will be a new Betty MacDonald fan club CD available with Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel.

More info are coming soon. 

I’m reading Betty MacDonald’s or Wolfgang Hampel’s books or like now I’m listening to Betty MacDonald’s sister Alison Bard Burnett. 

Alison Bard Burnett shares very funny and witty stories with us that I have to laugh all the time.

She is terribly witty. 

You can feel that Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel had lots of fun.

I can imagine sitting in Sydney’s house in the University District drinking lots of coffee and listening to these wonderful storytellers.

Betty MacDonald fan club honor members will be included in Wolfgang Hampel's new project Vita Magica.


One of Wolfgang Hampel's Vita Magica guest readers was a famous politician.

Next Vita Magica guest reader will be very famous satirical writer Michail Krausnick.

We hope Wolfgang Hampel and Michail Krausnick won't have any problems with Mr. Erdogan. 

( see article below )

We hope to hear from  Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli  very soon. 
 
Don't miss a new breakfast with Brad and Nick, please.
 
Mount Rainier National Park is a magical place.

This entry could be next  ESC 2016 winner.



According to my opinion France, Germany, Poland, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine are my favourites.

I can't wait to see next Betty MacDonald fan club ESC 2016 TOP 10. 

It'll be published very soon. 


Yours,

Daniela




Don't miss this very special book, please.






Vita Magica 

Betty MacDonald fan club

Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund    












Linde Lund shared Rita Knobel-Ulrich's photo.
Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles 



Culture

Klaus Staeck on Böhmermann case: 'A big mistake for Merkel'

Intellectuals in Germany have criticized Chancellor Merkel's decision on the Böhmermann case. Klaus Staeck, former president of the Berlin Academy of Arts, accuses the chancellor of caving in to the Turkish president. 

Artist Klaus Staeck. Copyright: dpa - Bildfunk

DW: The German chancellor has authorized an investigation of satirist Jan Böhmermann. What is your reaction?
Klaus Staeck: I was anticipating that. The chancellor had already made a mistake when she claimed that the Böhmermann satire was deliberately hurtful. To that, she has now added another big mistake. She was in a bind and had to choose between Mr. Erdogan and freedom of expression. To get out of the dilemma, she opted for Mr. Erdogan.
More concretely, what is Merkel's mistake?
We have a separation of powers. We have courts that decide for us if something is an insult. I've personally had the "pleasure" to stand trial 41 times because of my satirical work. Luckily, I have always been vindicated. Therefore, I have also always had great confidence in the courts.
In Mr. Böhmermann's case, it remains to be seen whether there will be a trial at all. Prosecutors must first file charges. I nevertheless believe that Mr. Böhmermann stands a good chance of winning in a German court. They've always been very protective of freedom of expression, at least so far.
Your predictions in the Jan Böhmermann case sound optimistic, but you have also criticized his poem as being "below the belt."
The question is not whether the poem is good or bad satire. I do not know if it has earned its stars in the satire hall of fame, yet I'm on Böhmermann's side, regardless of how good or bad I think this poem is. Freedom of expression outweighs these considerations. One way or another, Mr. Böhmermann has a legitimate claim.
Do you believe this decision restricts freedom of opinion and artistic expression in Germany?
The decision shows the weakness of the government and of Mrs. Merkel herself. Whether this case will weaken freedom of expression remains to be seen. It would be a disaster if someone who tramples freedom of expression in his country were able to prevail over a democratic country on this issue. It's terrible to even think about it.
But in this case, I'm convinced that the judge will decide in favor of freedom of expression. That is the supreme value to be considered here, and not Mrs. Merkel's dependence on Turkey for the refugee deal. To save it, we're obviously showing servile deference. That's the real background of Merkel's decision.
Was the chancellor stuck in a dead end?
Yes, and she is still stuck now. The decision was passed on to the courts, where it ultimately belongs. Through her hasty condemnation of the poem, Mrs. Merkel has already given her rating, which certainly encouraged Mr. Erdogan to lodge his complaint.
You have also faced trial because of your provocative work. What are your recommendations for Jan Böhmermann now?
Stay calm and avoid self-censorship: That would be the absolute wrong way to go. Satire cannot exist without risks. Everyone in this job knows that. Beyond that, look at all of the expressions of solidarity Mr. Böhmermann is getting now - I wish I had had that kind of support during my trials.
Klaus Staeck, born in 1938, is a German graphic designer, cartoonist and lawyer. He was president of the Academy of Arts in Berlin from 2006 until 2015.

DW recommends



Chancellor Merkel has allowed German authorities to launch an investigation into satirist Jan Böhmermann. Turkish President Erdogan requested the inquiry, saying he was insulted by a Böhmermann poem. (15.04.2016)  

German comedian Jan Böhmermann has not signed a "cease and desist" letter, increasing the likelihood that the case may be taken to court. German broadcaster ZDF has defended his controversial poem to prosecutors. (14.04.2016)  

Böhmermann: How a German satirist sparked a freedom of speech debate

How free is speech in Germany? After a satirical TV show targeting Turkey's President Erdogan, German comedian Jan Böhmermann faces legal action - and has sparked a massive debate on freedom of speech in Germany. (14.04.2016)  

What Turkish media say about Böhmermann’s Erdogan poem

Satirist Jan Böhmermann’s obscene poem about the Turkish president is dominating headlines both in Germany and Turkey. We sum up the response from Turkish media. (13.04.2016)  

  • Date 15.04.2016
  • Author Interview: Jan Bruck / eg
  • Related Subjects Angela Merkel, Jan Böhmermann
  • Keywords arts, satire, freedom of expression, Jan Böhmermann, Erdogan, Merkel, Klaus Staeck
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    Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Win Easily in New York Primary

    By PATRICK HEALY and MAGGIE HABERMAN

    mp and Hillary Clinton won big in the state.


    By ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS on April 19, 2016. 

    Donald J. Trump wrested back control of the Republican presidential race on Tuesday with a commanding victory in the New York primary, while Hillary Clinton dealt a severe blow to Senator Bernie Sanders with an unexpectedly strong win that led her to declare that the Democratic nomination was “in sight.”
    The Queens-born, Manhattan-made Mr. Trump was poised to take most of the 95 Republican delegates at stake, substantially adding to his current lead over Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and significantly improving his chances of winning the Republican nomination. Mr. Cruz came away with no delegates, a major setback, while Gov. John Kasich of Ohio had a shot at picking up some in Manhattan and the capital region.
    Mrs. Clinton’s decisive victory ended a string of wins by Mr. Sanders and gave her more delegates than her advisers expected. Her base of support was Long Island, the five boroughs, and upstate cities, with female and black and Hispanic voters turning out for her in especially strong numbers.
    The two hometown winners beamed throughout their victory speeches, but it was Mr. Trump who particularly seemed like a different candidate. As he spoke in the lobby of Trump Tower, there were no freewheeling presentations of steaks and bottled water, as in the past. There was no reference to “Lyin’ Ted” or “Crooked Hillary”; he called his opponent “Senator Cruz” instead, and made no mention of Mrs. Clinton. He also took no questions from the news media.
    And his speech sounded more presidential than any other he has given on an election night — a focused, tightened message about trade and the economy as he prepares to campaign in states hit hard by manufacturing industry losses. The speech reflected the growing influence of Paul Manafort, whom Mr. Trump empowered to help him win the nomination and who has taken on a greater purview, including messaging.


    Get highlights and analysis.

    “Our jobs are being sucked out of our states,” Mr. Trump said. “One of the big problems is economy and jobs, and that is my wheelhouse.” He said, twice, that he was going to get up and go back to work for the nomination on Wednesday morning, a clear message about the intensity he is bringing to the fight.
    In the Democratic race, Mrs. Clinton was set to win roughly 30 more delegates than Mr. Sanders, out of 247 at stake. She already had a lead of more than 200 delegates in the race.

    Smiling broadly throughout her victory speech, Mrs. Clinton drew cheers as she thanked her adopted home state and then boomed, “Today, you proved once again, there’s no place like home.”
    “The race for the Democratic nomination is in the home stretch and victory is in sight,” Mrs. Clinton added, reflecting the overwhelming mathematical advantage she has in delegates.
    Sanders advisers had said that beating Mrs. Clinton in her adopted home state represented one of their campaign’s best opportunities to damage her candidacy and sow doubts about her strength as a general-election nominee. On Tuesday, however, Mrs. Clinton drew deep support among women and blacks — two groups that have been essential for her in many states — while Mr. Sanders was outpacing her among white men and people under 45, according to exit polls.




    “Bernie Sanders got very negative attacking Hillary Clinton and dividing the party in New York, and I think he now has to ask himself if he wants to keep going down that path,” said Jay Jacobs, a Clinton supporter who is the Democratic chairman in Nassau County on Long Island. “After New York, we’re moving into a phase of the campaign where we have to start uniting the party.”
    Mr. Sanders and his team spent Tuesday looking past New York. Mr. Sanders held a rally at Pennsylvania State University in State College on Tuesday night, then flew home to Burlington, Vt., and spoke to reporters just after the race was called.
    “There are five primaries next week and we think we are going to do well and we think we have a path toward victory,” Mr. Sanders said.
    He also expressed concern about the closed primary system in New York and said he hoped it would change in the future. “Some three million New Yorkers were unable to vote today because they were registered as independents,” Mr. Sanders said. “That makes no sense to me.”
    The Sanders campaign spent roughly $2 million more than the Clinton campaign on television ads in New York. The magnitude of the loss — both in the popular vote and in delegates — was steep for Mr. Sanders, who said he intended to get “recharged and take a day off.”



     
    Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont spoke at a rally at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa., on Tuesday evening. Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

    Within the Trump campaign on Tuesday night, euphoria mixed with eagerness to move onto a number of states that are likely to be friendly to Mr. Trump. There have been other pivotal points in the Trump campaign, moments when he was described as becoming newly serious. It never stuck with the famously shoot-from-the-lip candidate. But Mr. Manafort is someone whom Mr. Trump views as something of a peer.
    No matter the margin of victory, New York Republicans gave Mr. Trump a restorative psychic boost after weeks when Mr. Cruz scored a big victory in the Wisconsin primary and outmaneuvered the Trump campaign in Colorado, Wyoming and elsewhere in winning and electing delegates backing his candidacy.
    Mr. Trump now has clear momentum heading into the next week’s primaries — so much so that he evinced fresh optimism on Tuesday about ultimately getting to the 1,237 delegates needed to capture the nomination.

    “I think I’ll get there,” Mr. Trump said in an interview before the polls closed.
    New York has not been home to leading presidential candidates in both parties since the 1944 campaigns of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas E. Dewey, so the voting by Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump merited unusual news media coverage on Tuesday morning. As a light mist fell, Mrs. Clinton and former President Bill Clinton cast their votes at an elementary school in their adopted town of Chappaqua.
    As news photographers and cameramen kept encroaching on her while she tried to vote, Mrs. Clinton finally shooed them away. “Guys, it’s a private ballot,” she said.


    Graphic: New York Exit Polls


    The Democratic vote was marred by major irregularities at polling places across Brooklyn. The city comptroller’s office announced that the Board of Elections had confirmed that more than 125,000 Democratic voters in Brooklyn were dropped between November and this month, while about 63,000 were added — a net loss that was not explained.
    Mayor Bill de Blasio described “the purging of entire buildings and blocks of voters,” while the comptroller, Scott Stringer, said his office would audit the Board of Elections.
    Mr. Trump voted for himself midmorning in New York City, which he called “a great honor” as he entered his apartment building. In the interview later, Mr. Trump described the experience of seeing his name on the ballot, saying he was moved by the enormity of what it means. “It does sort of hit you,” he said.
    Mr. Trump won majorities in all regions except for rural upstate areas. Some Republicans questioned why Mr. Cruz spent so little time in upstate New York, where Mr. Trump’s support two weeks ago was softer than it appeared. Instead, Mr. Cruz devoted his time mostly to the city and to fundraising.
    The primary was a seminal moment for Mr. Trump, both tactically in terms of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, and mentally, as he tries to right the ship after a rough couple of weeks that prompted him to reshuffle his small team of advisers, adding the seasoned campaign hand, Mr. Manafort.
    The coming weeks will test whether Mr. Trump can temper his message and his style for a new phase of the race, one where running a traditional campaign matters more than his ability to rally crowds. Indeed, Mr. Trump’s tone throughout the day was focused on what he repeatedly called, in interviews, a “corrupt” and “rigged” nominating process.
    Alfonse M. D’Amato, the former United States senator and a backer of Mr. Kasich, said the New York results would be critical for Mr. Trump to rebound in his fight with Mr. Cruz.
    “This will give him momentum that he needs after his setbacks,” Mr. D’Amato said.
    Yamiche Alcindor contributed reporting.
    Find out what you need to know about the 2016 presidential race today, and get politics news updates via Facebook, Twitter and the First Draft newsletter.
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