In the 18th century, the Barbary threat became serious. In July 1785, two American boats were returned to Algiers; In the winter of 1793, eleven American ships, their crews in chains, were in the hands of the dey of Algiers. To ensure the freedom of movement of its commercial fleet, the United States was obliged to conclude treaties with the main Barbary states, paying considerable sums of money as a guarantee of non-aggression. With Morocco, treaty of 1786, 30,000 dollars; Tripoli, November 4, 1796, $56,000; Tunis, August 1797, 107,000 dollars. But the most expensive and the most humiliating was with the dey of Algiers, on September 5, 1795, “treaty of peace and friendship” which cost nearly a million dollars (including 525,000 in ransom for freed American slaves). , with an obligation to pay 20,000 dollars upon the arrival of each new consul and 17,000 dollars in annual gifts to senior Algerian officials...

Obwohl sie unterschiedlicher kaum sein könnten, sind Arthur und Felix beste Freunde, gefühlt schon immer – der eine ein pedantischer Spießer, der andere ein auf der Überholspur lebendes Schlitzohr. Um seinem abgebrannten Freund zu helfen, leiht Arthur ihm seine Krankenkarte für eine Untersuchung im Krankenhaus und erfährt so, dass Felix todkrank ist. Weil Arthur es nicht übers Herz bringt, Felix geradeheraus die Wahrheit zu sagen, verheddert Arthur sich so sehr, dass schließlich Felix denkt, sein bester Freund liege im Sterben! Und so beginnt Felix, sich um den kerngesunden Arthur zu kümmern. Am Ende lernt Arthur das Leben (neu) kennen und Felix begreift, was es heißt zu lieben.

Is. This. My. Son? No matter how often Tobias Wilke poses this question, there's always only one answer: Yes! Tobias, can't believe his eyes when he comes to the airport to pick up his 17-year-old son Finn – and learns that Finn is now calling herself Helen and wearing girls' clothes. Finn/Helen reveals that she's always was a girl, and that she used her year abroad in San Francisco to pass the "everyday life" test. This is required by law for everyone preparing for the sex reassignment surgery they will undergo upon reaching majority. Reactions from Helen's friends, acquaintances and schoolmates cover the entire gamut from derision to solidarity. Especially Helen's father, a well-known chef, finds it difficult to accept a situation he cannot understand. But Helen nearly always finds the right words - and humor - to counterbalance the ignorance and jeers of those around her. It is the beginning of a long, winding road towards the sexual identity she is convinced is hers.