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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

April 2, 2008

Hot Turkey leaves EU cold

Filed under Life in Europe

Turkey’s constitutional court has decided to accept the request by the country’s attorney general to open proceedings on whether to ban Turkish prime minister Erdogan’s party from politics. A stalemate possibly lasting months will be the result. Read more…»»

April 3, 2008

No incognito for "Flat Stanley"

[with comments]     Filed under Family

The day before my flight back to Germany I received an unusual letter from my grandson Sean. He sent me "Flat Stanley" who was to accompany me on my trip. Read more…»»

April 7, 2008

A 60 year old reformed reformer

Filed under Life in Europe

This week Germany’s former foreign minister Joschka Fischer turns 60. Like other prominent people who had problems completing school (among them Albert Einstein, Bill Gates and Adolf Hitler), Fischer never finished school. Not bad for a fellow who has lectured at Princeton. Read more…»»

April 10, 2008

40 years ago in Prague

Filed under Life in Europe

On a cool sunny day spring was evident today as I rode public transportation from Prague’s airport to the nearest subway station. The trees are turning green, blossoms are sprouting and people are wearing lighter coats as the temperatures are in the low 50s. 40 years ago the outdoor temperature wasn’t the only one raised by a Prague spring. Read more…»»

April 13, 2008

Kopierstube Barth

Filed under UCG-Germany

Today I was in Dresden visiting our members Rainer and Margit Barth. They have had a photocopy shop for over 25 years, dating back to German Democratic Republic (East Germany) days. Read more…»»

April 16, 2008

Council of Elders nominee

[with comments]     Filed under Council of Elders

"It is an honor to be nominated by your peers for the Council of Elders," was the first part of an email I received last month. Read more…»»

April 20, 2008

Future class clown?

Filed under Family

At the age of 13 months, granddaughter Maia already seems to know what a camera is. Read more…»»

April 24, 2008

This was no cinch (Zinch)!

Filed under UCG-Germany, UCG-Holland

It apparently took some time to verify the votes, but Kayleen Hannaway, who attends the Salem, Oregon UCG congregation, has been declared the winner of the Zinch "Sweet Diggity Dawg" scholarship competition, netting her a $20,000 scholarship for her studies at Vanderbilt University. Read more…»»

April 28, 2008

Goodbye Tempelhof Airport

Filed under Life in Europe

In Berlin’s first-ever referendum an initiative to save historic Tempelhof airport failed to reach the required level of support needed to pass. The world’s first airport to offer regularly scheduled civilian flights will be closed in October. Read more »

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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