It's easy to understand why the descendant of a 1930s era German-Jewish family would harbor ill feelings toward his family's homeland. However, understanding is precisely why Torkel S Wächter no longer hates the nation that fostered the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.

"My father, Michael, never discussed his upbringing even though he was obsessed with Germany, and I took that as an additional reason to despise the country," says Wächter, who was raised in Sweden. "We were never allowed to talk about it because the pain from the past was still alive in him."

After his father's death, Wächter opened the boxes that had remained sealed all of his life. They were filled with his father's and grandparents' diaries, letters, articles and other documents. From these Wächter wrote "The Investigation," a book that highlights questions about personal responsibility and evil during pre-war Nazi Germany.

In addition, the story of Wächter's family is retold on his website, www.onthisday80yearsago.com, in diary fashion. Posts about both personal and historic events appear on the day they occurred in 1933  -- the 80^th anniversary. It's an artistic/literary project called "simulated real time," a way of personalizing for readers events that were inexorably leading to world war eight decades ago.

Wächter says the documents not only revealed meaningful insights to his father's life; they offered a glimpse of a different Germany. It is one he has made his peace with. He explains why:

• Jews in Germany - the success story: Before the rise of Hitler, Germany had been a unique success story for Jews. From the 1700s to 1933, when there were roughly 522,000 Jews in the country, immigrants were able to flourish there. "It's much more difficult to hate something that you come to understand," Wächter says. "I've realized that my father actually loved the country - he had a great upbringing there. But because of what occurred under Hitler, he felt such betrayal and pain that he could never bring himself to talk about it."
  
  
• Friends of the oppressed: In his book, Wächter describes characters like Nazi and anti-Semite Werner Herbrechtsmeyer and the untrustworthy opportunist Carl Fraude. But also revealed are the close, supportive friends of the Wächter family - Franz Wegener, Hans Heinrich Sierau and Klara Henseler. While there were many desperate and ignorant Germans who happily took to Hitler's philosophy, many forget that German citizens also suffered mightily, both during the ascendancy and decline of Nazism," he says.

• A rich culture: Finding his father's hidden boxes led Wächter's to an investigation of both his father's past, and the German language and culture. Germany and Austria have produced many giants of western culture, including Goethe, Mozart, Beethoven and many of the most important philosophers, including Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Wittgenstein, who came from an Austrian-Jewish family.

"I've regained the German citizenship that was taken from my family 20 years before I was born," Wächter says. "I spend much of my time in the Federal Republic of Germany with my family, which includes Gustav Wächter's grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

About Torkel S Wächter

Torkel S Wächter is the son of a German-Jewish family that suffered under the Nazi regime. His book, "The Investigation," outlines the experience as recorded by his paternal grandfather and father. Wächter studied Economic History, Development Theory and languages at the universities of Lund, Melbourne and Barcelona, as well as Jewish Studies at Paideia, The European Institute for Jewish Studies and Architectural Restoration at The Royal University College of Fine Arts in Stockholm. After a stint as a fashion model in Paris and Barcelona, Wächter trained as a diver in the Royal Swedish Navy and then went on to an aviation career. During the 1990s, Wächter served as a First Officer with Scandinavian Airlines and frequently flew into numerous U.S. airports. In 1997, Wächter published his first novel, "Samson", and in 1999 he published the first Swedish e-book. Wächter lives in Stockholm and Barcelona with his architect wife; together they have four children.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the follow town hall schedule.

The following events are open to the press:

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013

10:15 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold "Our Opportunity. Our Iowa. Our Results." town hall

Fireside Pub & Steakhouse

205 S. 12^th St.

Manchester, IA

2:15 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold "Our Opportunity. Our Iowa. Our Results." town hall

Maquoketa Public Library

126 S. 2^nd St.

Maquoketa, IA

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013

10 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold "Our Opportunity. Our Iowa. Our Results." town hall

Tipton Family Restaurant

101 E. 4^th St.

Tipton, IA

12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold "Our Opportunity. Our Iowa. Our Results." town hall

Muscatine County Environmental Learning Center

3300 Cedar St.

Muscatine, IA

2:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold "Our Opportunity. Our Iowa. Our Results." town hall

Washington Public Library

115 W. Washington St.

Washington, IA

Des Moines, August 13, 2013 ? Twenty-two Iowans have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that will occur when Chief Judge Larry J. Eisenhauer retires September 30, 2013.

The nominating commission will meet on August 21 and 22, 2013, in the Iowa Supreme Court Courtroom on the fourth floor of the Judicial Branch Building to interview the applicants. The public is invited to observe the interviews in the courtroom. Immediately following the interviews, the commission will begin deliberations to select a slate of three nominees from the group of applicants. Once the commission selects its slate of nominees, the commission will forward those names to the governor. The governor will then have thirty (30) days in which to appoint the new judge.

A summary resume, completed questionnaire and writing samples for each candidate will be posted on the Judicial Branch website at:

http://www.iowacourts.gov/State_Judicial_Nominating_Commission/Application_Information/

The commission welcomes written comments from the public about the qualifications of any of the applicants. Comments must be submitted to the State Court Administrator, who serves as the commission secretary, by August 20, 2013. Comments may be e-mailed to SupCtNom@iowacourts.gov. Comments may also be mailed to the State Court Administrator, Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50319.

The 17-member commission is composed of a chair, who is the senior justice of the supreme court other than the chief justice, eight lawyer commissioners elected by lawyers licensed to practice law in Iowa and eight non-lawyer commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. With the exception of the commission chair, membership on the commission is limited to one six-year term. Terms are staggered. The Iowa Constitution requires that commission members be chosen without regard to political affiliation.

The applicants for the court are:

Alan H. Bjork, Johnston, Age 64

Attorney, Bjork McDermott Law

J.D. 1976, Drake University

Emily Gould Chafa, Johnston, Age 53

Administrative Law Judge, Dept. of Inspections and Appeals

J.D., 1987, Loyola School of Law

Susan Kay Christensen, Harlan, Age 51

District Associate Judge (appointed 2007)?Fourth Judicial District

J.D., 1991, Creighton University

Mark Dana Cleve, Davenport, Age 58

District Judge (appointed 1998)?Seventh Judicial District

J.D., 1981, University of Iowa

Matt M. Dummermuth, Robins, Age 40

Attorney, Whitaker, Hagenow & Gustoff, LLP

J.D., 1999, Harvard Law School

George Scott Eichhorn, Stratford, Age 58

General Counsel, Rueter & Zenor, Co

J.D., 1980, Drake University

Sharon Greer, Marshalltown, Age 55

Attorney, Cartwright, Druker & Ryden

J.D., 1982, University of Iowa

Peter Christopher Hart, Emmetsburg, Age 60

Assistant County Attorney?Dickinson and Emmet Counties

J.D. 1979, DePaul University

Samuel Paul Langholz, Ankeny, Age 33

State Public Defender

J.D., 2008, University of Iowa

David Larry Leitner, Johnston, Age 57

Attorney, Leitner Law Office

J.D., 1979, University of Iowa

Thomas Arthur Mayes, Des Moines, Age 43

Attorney, Iowa Department of Education

J.D., 1996, University of Iowa

Christopher Lee McDonald, Des Moines, Age 38

District Judge (appointed 2012)?Fifth Judicial District

J.D., 2001, University of Iowa

Jennifer Lee Miller, Springville, Age 42

Attorney, Wachtel Missry LLP

J.D., 1995, Cornell Law School

Douglas Robert Oelschlaeger, Cedar Rapids, Age 56

Attorney, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll

J.D., 1981, University of Iowa

Alan Roger Ostergren, Letts, Age 41

County Attorney?Muscatine County

J.D., 1997, Drake University

Rebecca Saffin Parrish-Sams, Cumming, Age 42

Attorney?Soldat & Parrish-Sams, PLC

J.D., 1998, University of Iowa

Michael Joseph Shubatt, Dubuque, Age 48

District Judge (appointed 2008)?First Judicial District

J.D., 1990, University of Iowa

Phillip John Tabor, De Witt, Age 54

District Associate Judge (appointed 2008)?Seventh Judicial District

J.D., 1984, University of Wyoming

Frank Cal Tenuta, Sioux City, Age 54

Attorney, Iowa Legal Aid

J.D., 1985, University of Minnesota

Jeanie Kunkle Vaudt, West Des Moines, Age 59

Assistant Attorney General

J.D., 1991, Drake University

Randy Lee Waagmeester, Rock Rapids, Age 60

Attorney, Waagmeester Law Office

J.D., 1978, Drake University

Molly  McConville  Weber, Waukee, Age 39

Law Clerk, U.S. District Court

J.D., 2000, Georgetown University Law Center

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There are currently 1.1 million professionals in the beauty industry, according to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. As this industry continues to grow, having a unique and broad skillset can be the deciding factor in landing that dream job. According to a survey by IES Abroad, 75 percent of students said they acquired skill sets outside the classroom that influenced their career path.

As part of the La 'James International College Global Learning Program, from Aug. 20 to 24, 42 students will travel to New York City to learn from industry leaders in a real world environment. The Global Learning program shows students the resources available to them and provides cultural exposure, networking opportunities and education from educators across the world.

During the trip, students will undergo cutting-edge beauty training at the Wella Studio in Rockefeller Center, tour the city and network with top and emerging stylists from across the country.