Friday, April 15, 2016

Betty MacDonald and the last laugh


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





Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter April includes the updated Betty MacDonald fan club essay ' Betty MacDonald and Dorita Hess '. 

There is also an article about Betty MacDonald fan club letter collection.

We are looking for signed or dedicated first editions in great condition with dust jackets by Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard Jensen for our fans.

Betty MacDonald Memorial Award Winner Wolfgang Hampel  and Betty MacDonald fan club research team are working on an updated Betty MacDonald biography and new Betty MacDonald documentary.

Dearest new Betty MacDonald fan club fans you'll receive a very important message by Betty MacDonald fan club event team.

This message includes a very nice Betty MacDonald fan club surprise and many info on our current Betty MacDonald fan club projects.

Join one of our Betty MacDonald fan club research teams, please. 

Thanks a million in advance for your outstanding support.

Let's talk about Betty MacDonald fan club book cover contest.

We introduce a very beautiful book cover by famous author, artist and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

You can vote for your favourite Betty MacDonald book cover.

Deadline: June 30, 2016

Betty MacDonald fan club book cover contest winner will be  owner of a signed first edition of one of Betty MacDonald's books.  

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli  and our 'Italian Betty MacDonald' - Betty MacDonald fan club honor member author and artist Letizia Mancino belong to the most popular Betty MacDonald fan club teams in our history.

Their many devoted fans are waiting for a new Mr. Tigerli adventure.

Letizia Mancino's  magical Betty MacDonald Gallery  is a special gift for our Betty MacDonald fan club fans.


Enjoy a new breakfast at the bookstore with Brad and Nick, please.

Great Betty MacDonald fan club ESC news will be published on Betty MacDonald fan club blog.

It's a fact that Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany have been robbed winning Eurovision Song Contest several times.

A wonderful Betty MacDonald fan club ESC surprise for Betty MacDonald fan club ESC fans from all over the world is waiting for you.


Send us your ESC 2016 votes, please.

12 points for 1st place and until 1 point for your 10th place.

You are not allowed to vote for your own country.
 
Deadline: April 30, 2016

We are going to publish Betty MacDonald fan club ESC TOP 10 in alphabetical order.

Don't miss the chance to win two Grand Final ESC 2016 tickets.

It'll be very exciting.

Who will be Betty MacDonald fan club ESC winner 2016? 

Have a nice Friday,
 

Carina 


Don't miss this very special book, please.







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Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles

Germany

German Chancellor Merkel allows investigation of satirist Böhmermann

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. 

In a widely anticipated press conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that prosecutors should pursue charges against Jan Böhmermann. The satirist broadcast a poem that allegedly insulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"The outcome is that the German government will give the authorization in the current case," Merkel said, stressing that the decision "means neither a prejudgment of the person affected nor a decision about the limits of freedom of art, the press and opinion."
Merkel also announced on Friday that her government will draft a proposal to replace the current law that criminalizes insulting foreign heads of state, making it "dispensable in the future."

Satire - who will have the last laugh?

Erdogan pressed charges against Böhmermann for insulting him personally and as a foreign head of state, which is illegal under German law. In order for an investigation against Böhmermann to begin, the inquiry needed the approval of the German government.
The private defamation case could result in a one-year prison sentence for Böhmermann while insulting a foreign head of state can be punished by up to five years in jail.

Coalition spat over satire

During Friday's press conference, Merkel admitted "there were different opinions between the coalition partners - the conservatives and the SPD (Social Democrats)" in coming to a decision.

The infighting was made apparent by coalition partner reactions on social media following the announcement.
The SPD's parliamentary head, Thomas Oppermann tweeted his disapproval: "I think the decision is wrong. Prosecution of satire because of 'lese-majeste law' doesn't fit with modern democracy."


The general secretary of Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), defended the Chancellor's decision on Twitter, writing: "The government takes the rule of law seriously. Even when it sometimes hurts."

Justice Minister Heiko Maas - a member of the SPD - said the decision on whether or not Böhmermann's poem was satire or defamation, is entirely up to the courts.
"The question of whether Böhmermann's comments were satire or defamation will be decided nevertheless by the courts in accordance with the law and independent of whether the request for prosecution is granted or not," Maas told reporters.
Maas also confirmed Merkel's desire to do away with Germany's antiquated defamation law at the heart of the case. He tweeted: "We want to abolish paragraph 103. Special provisions for insulting foreign heads of state has fallen behind the times."


"Deliberately offensive" poem

Böhmermann read his sexually explicit poem about Erdogan two weeks ago during his comedy show on German public broadcaster ZDF. The poem was supposed to illustrate what would not be allowed in Germany, in contrast to an earlier satirical song that poked fun at Erdogan with milder language.
 
Merkel previously defended the satirical song as being 
protected by the right to freedom of expression, but she later criticized Böhmermann poem as "deliberately offensive."


German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a statement on Turkey's request to seek prosecution of German comedian Jan Boehmermann  

The Böhmermann case has sparked a diplomatic crisis for Merkel.
On Thursday, Böhmermann declined to sign a "cease and desist" order from Erdogan's German lawyer, while ZDF defended the poem as "legally permissible" under German law. ZDF did, however, remove a video of the poem's broadcast from its online archive.

Merkel to travel to Turkey

The Böhmermann case has unleashed a diplomatic crisis for Merkel, who has had to defend freedom of speech in Germany as well as downplaying Ankara's political influence as the two countries work together to implement a controversial EU-Turkey refugee deal.

It was also announced on Friday that Merkel and top EU officials will visit Turkey on April 23. The trip is meant to be a "follow-up" to the EU-Turkey deal to stem the flow of migrants into Europe.

European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans will accompany Merkel to the southern Turkish town of Gaziantep, which is home to many Syrians who fled the civil war in their home country.
rs/sms (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)

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