Texan ID

From Reuters:

"U.S. appeals court allows Texas to implement voter ID law"

A U.S. appeals court on Friday allowed Texas to implement a law requiring photo identification at the ballot box, reversing a lower court decision that blocked the measure on the grounds it could be discriminatory against racial minorities.   In a 2-1 decision, a panel from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law, which was designed as a fix for previous voter ID legislation struck down for being discriminatory.  The panel said the new legislation enacted last year had “improvements for disadvantaged minority voters,” the latest chapter in a seven-year dispute over voter ID at the ballot box in Texas, the most-populous Republican-controlled state.  The move comes as several Republican-controlled states have pushed voter ID laws they say will prevent fraud at the ballot box. Democrats contend fraud is exceedingly rare and the real intention is to disenfranchise racial minorities, who typically support Democrats and are also less likely to have the required identification.  Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the decision.  “Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy,” he said in a statement.  Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which fought against the measure, said: “No law should be allowed to stand that is merely built on the back of a plainly discriminatory law.”  The state’s original law in 2011 was considered one of the nation’s strictest such measures and its opponents said could have excluded up to 600,000 voters.  After years of court losses, Republican Governor Greg Abbott in June signed the new measure, which relaxed some photo identification requirements.  The 5th Circuit judges said the district court in August made a mistake when it halted the law, seeing it as being tainted by the earlier measure struck down by the courts.  The 5th Circuit panel said the new law fixed the flaws of the previous legislation.  Both laws listed authorized photo IDs needed for voting, including a driver’s license, U.S. military ID, a U.S. passport and a Texas concealed handgun license.  The new law allows people who cannot produce an authorized photo ID to show other documentation, such as a utility bill, and sign an affidavit stating they had a reasonable impediment in presenting an authorized photo ID. Critics contend the new law could be used to intimidate voters, who could face several years in prison if they are found to have lied in affidavits.

  ^ I do not understand people who are crying about having to show a photo-ID to vote. For 17 years you have had to show a picture ID for just about everything (airports, airlines, buses, Federal and State buildings, etc.) My state has required a photo-ID to vote for around 5 years now and there doesn't seem to be any issues. The fact that people are still saying this new Texan law would "intimidate" voters who lie on their affidavits just shows that there are always people out there that are unintelligent and going to fight against anything just because they can and not because it is the right thing to do. They would rather protect a criminal (someone who openly lies on an official affidavit) rather than admit that they may be wrong. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-texas-voters/u-s-appeals-court-allows-texas-to-implement-voter-id-law-idUSKBN1HY31U

Threatening Shutdown

From Reuters:

"Trump threatens government shutdown in September if no funding for wall"

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to shut down the federal government in September if Congress did not provide more funding to build a wall on the border with Mexico.   “That wall has started, we have 1.6 billion (dollars),” Trump said at a campaign rally in Washington, Michigan.  “We come up again on September 28th and if we don’t get border security we will have no choice, we will close down the country because we need border security.”  Trump made a similar threat in March to push for changes in immigration law that he says would prevent criminals from entering the country. The government briefly shut down in January over immigration.   A $1.3 trillion spending bill, which Trump signed last month, will keep the government funded through the end of September. A government shutdown ahead of the November mid-elections is unlikely to be supported by his fellow Republicans who are keen to keep control of the U.S. Congress.  Trump cited the hundreds of Central American migrants traveling in a “caravan” as one of the reasons for strong border security.  “Watch the caravan, watch how sad and terrible it is, including for those people and the crime that they inflict on themselves and that others inflict on them,” said Trump.   “It’s a horrible dangerous journey for them and they come up because they know once they can get here they can walk right into our country.”  Migrants, who include women and children, have said they fled their homes in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras because of death threats from gangs, the murder of family members or political persecution.

^ While I do believe there should be a wall along the US-Mexican border I do not any politician (not even the President) should threaten or use a Federal Government Shutdown. It is a coward's way of trying to get their own agenda without regard to how it will affect the government workers (including soldiers) and their families. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-government/trump-threatens-government-shutdown-in-september-if-no-funding-for-wall-idUSKBN1I0018

Dog Cameras

From the DW:

"German military dogs may be equipped with camera systems"

A German engineering firm is hoping to strap advanced camera systems to the Bundeswehr's service dogs, according to a report in Die Welt. Aachen-based firm P3 was reportedly marketing its new canine camera system at the Berlin Air Show. The 5-kilogram (11-pound) system features a camera, a power supply, a wireless video transmitter, and a two-way radio system to send commands to the canines. The system displayed at show reportedly featured a 360-degree panoramic camera, but P3's other systems include thermal imaging or infrared sensitive cameras. The system would allow dogs to proceed ahead of soldiers for reconnaissance. "It's about supporting frontline troops," Managing Director of P3 Aviation Kai Rahnenführer told Die Welt. The wireless system transmits up to 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) and allows a controller to remotely issue commands to the dog. Other than the Bundeswehr, the company said it had interest from police and customers from the civilian market. Since at least 2011, Canadian firm K9 Storm Incorporated has been outfitting defense agencies with $30,000 (€25,000) camera-equipped, bulletproof dog armor. The Intruder product was reportedly used in the US Navy SEALs operation to assassinate Osama Bin Laden. The armor is reportedly strong enough to withstand fire from 9mm and .45 magnum handguns. In 2016, international conglomerate Honeywell was marketing a similar canine camera system that even included a radar system for navigation. It used a buzzer system to issue commands to the dogs. In 2015, US firm Cerberus was marketing a harness-mounted camera system for dogs which would spring up on command. The Bundeswehr uses dogs in a number of capacities, including dropping them from helicopters, assisting field soldiers, explosives and narcotics detection, mine detection, and for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. 

^ Police forces and militaries around the world use trained dogs to help keep people safe. If these cameras will aid in that than I am all for them.  ^

http://www.dw.com/en/german-military-dogs-may-be-equipped-with-camera-systems/a-43584804

Snow-Free

Thanks in part to today's rain my property is now 100% snow-free.

Cry Closet

From USA Today:

"Stressed over final exams? This Utah university has a 'cry closet' for students"

University of Utah students on the brink of tears during finals week have a space to let it all out.  The university's library has a "Cry Closet" now available for "stressed out students," a statement on the closet's door reads.  "The space is meant to provide a place for students studying for finals to take a short 10-minute break." And, there are rules listed: Knock before entering, only one person inside at a time, limit time inside to 10 minutes and turn the lights out before leaving. The closet, a free-standing woodshop project by senior Nemo Miller in collaboration with Tony Miller and David Meyer, was installed Sunday. It's lined with a black interior, and plush stuffed animals are inside.  "One aspect of humanity that I am currently exploring is connections and missed connections through communication," Nemo said in a statement. "It’s been interesting to watch the response to this piece about human emotions, and I’m proud to see the power of art in action." Photos of the project went viral Tuesday to praise and criticism. At least one person questioned if the closet was soundproof. A few people said there should be more of these around campus. The university acknowledged the closet's installation, which was approved by the school, was an attempt at humor but also a "work of art meant to provoke feeling, thought & conversation, which the artist has apparently done." The closet will remain in the library until the end of final exams May 2, the university said.

^ This seems to sum-up the true state of affairs (especially regarding the future of the country) very well. I would go into my cry closet over this, but I was taught to put my big boy pants on and deal with things.^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/04/26/cry-closet-utah-university-library/553082002/

UK's Shame

From the BBC:

"Alfie Evans: Legal battle toddler dies"

Alfie Evans, the 23-month-old toddler at the centre of a High Court legal battle, has died, nearly a week after his life support was withdrawn. The boy from Merseyside, who had a degenerative brain condition, died at 02:30 BST, his father Tom Evans said.  On Facebook he wrote: "My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings... absolutely heartbroken." The Pope, who took a personal interest in the case, tweeted: "I am deeply moved by the death of little Alfie."  He added: "Today I pray especially for his parents, as God the Father receives him in his tender embrace." Supporters of Alfie's parents, known as Alfie's Army, released balloons at a park in a tribute to the toddler. Alfie's parents lost all legal challenges to a court ruling allowing the hospital to withdraw ventilation. The boy had his life support withdrawn on Monday after being in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year. The legal campaign, launched by Mr Evans and Alfie's mother Kate James, attracted widespread attention and saw them clash with doctors over the child's treatment.  The case drew international support including from Pope Francis, who asked that "their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted".  Earlier in April, Mr Evans pleaded with him to "save our son" during a meeting in Rome.  The RC Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, said: "All who have been touched by the story of this little boy's heroic struggle for life will feel this loss deeply. "Now it is time for us to give Tom and Kate space to grieve their son's death and offer our prayers for him and consolation for all." The Bradley Lowery Foundation, named after the six-year-old boy who died after suffering from neuroblastoma, paid tribute to Alfie's parents, saying "they did everything they could for their little boy". Alfie, who was born in May 2016, was first admitted to the hospital the following December after suffering seizures, and had been a patient ever since.  His parents, who live in Bootle, wanted to fly the toddler to an Italian hospital, but this was rejected by doctors who said continuing treatment was "not in Alfie's best interests". Alder Hey Hospital said scans showed "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" and that further treatment was not only "futile" but also "unkind and inhumane". The couple heavily criticised medical staff, with Mr Evans suggesting his son was a "prisoner" at the hospital and had been misdiagnosed. Hospital bosses were backed by the High Court, which ruled in their favour on 20 February, after accepting medical evidence that there was "no hope" for the youngster. In a four-month legal battle, Alfie's parents unsuccessfully contested the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).  Alfie was granted Italian citizenship on Monday, with the country's government saying it hoped the toddler could have an "immediate transfer to Italy". However, two days later the Court of Appeal upheld a ruling preventing the toddler from travelling abroad after life support was withdrawn.  Supporters of Alfie's parents protested outside the hospital, prompting its bosses to defend staff who they said had endured a "barrage" of abuse. On Monday, a group of protesters tried to get into the hospital after the ECHR refused to intervene. Merseyside Police is investigating claims patients and staff had been intimidated. On Thursday, Mr Evans thanked supporters but asked them "to go home" so the parents could build a relationship with the hospital to provide the toddler "with the dignity and comfort he needs".

^ This is not the first time the UK's "Death Panel" of Doctors and Judges has forced those wanting to continue treatment off it in order to save money (rather than the patient.) The "Death Panel" wouldn't even allow the parents to take their son out of the country to try saving his life and save the British taxpayer their money. Doctor-Assisted Suicide (where the patient him/herself asks a doctor to help them to die) is illegal in the UK, but Healthcare "Death Panels" (where the patient and their families pleads with the doctors and the judges to allow them to live) are allowed. It is a shameful day for the UK, their NHS and their Judicial System. ^

www.bbc.com/news/uk-43933056

Changing Subminimum

From Disability Scoop:

"Senators Call For End To Subminimum Wage Amid Accusations Of Exploitation"

Subminimum wages for workers with disabilities came under fire this week as a group of U.S. senators called for an end to the “discriminatory” practice and an Illinois manufacturing company was accused of exploiting nearly 250 employees. Lawmakers sent a five-page letter to the U.S. Department of Labor on April 23, the same day that the department announced that Rock River Valley Self Help Enterprises had violated federal employment law and owed two years’ worth of back pay to workers who earned less than minimum wage. Seven Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, wrote that the lower pay “permits employers to discriminate against workers on the basis of disability status and unjustifiably sets low expectations for workers with disabilities.”  The lawmakers called for a phasing out of so-called “Section 14(c)” jobs where employers, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, apply for certificates that allow them to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Subminimum wages are based on the productivity of a person with a disability compared to someone without a disability. For instance, the letter noted that Goodwill Enterprises had paid some workers as little as 22 cents an hour. The senators requested information on how many workers with disabilities across the country are employed under 14(c) certificates and how much they earn. As of Thursday, the Department of Labor had not responded to the letter, Duckworth’s office said. In the Self Help investigation in Sterling, Ill., federal officials revoked the nonprofit’s certificate and said the group had failed to conduct proper time studies of jobs in order to calculate wages and had sometimes unlawfully paid workers with gift cards. “The Department of Labor is committed to protecting Americans with disabilities from exploitation in the workplace,” Ruben Rosalez, acting regional administrator for the agency, said. “When employers violate federal law and obstruct investigators, we take decisive action to protect vulnerable workers, their families and other employers who play by the rules.” The department said Self Help must pay all current workers at least the full federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour going forward and pay back wages. Self Help Executive Director Carla Haubrich issued a statement saying the organization had served the “developmentally disabled workforce” for 54 years. “We are obviously disappointed in the decision made by the United States Department of Labor, disagreeing with this outcome, but will take all necessary steps to comply with the decision as we pursue our available options to have the matter duly reviewed,” the statement said. According to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency, subminimum wage programs are primarily operated by nonprofit or state-run social service providers rather than private businesses. The programs are also ineffective at transitioning employees into the general workforce, the agency said. But other advocates and families say that jobs that pay less than minimum wage play an important role, especially for those with the most severe disabilities, by fostering self-esteem and productivity. 

^  I have longed said that I do not understand how a country or state can call something "minimum" when there are so many loop-holes that allow a company or agency to pay someone (disabled or not) below the minimum wage. There needs to be a law throughout the US that makes it illegal to pay the disabled anything below the minimum wage (State or Federal.) To continue to allow this open discrimination based on perceived abilities and worth is just wrong. ^

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/04/27/senators-subminimum-accusations/25025/

Simpsons 636

From MSN:

"The Simpsons Becomes TV's Longest-Running Primetime Scripted Series, Rubs It in Gunsmoke's Face - Watch "

With the airing of Sunday's 636th episode (Fox, 8/7c), The Simpsons officially becomes television's longest-running primetime scripted series. But Gunsmoke, which ran for 635 episodes from 1955 to 1975, isn't about to give up its title so easily. Fox on Friday released a special congratulatory video in which Gunsmoke's Marshal Matt Dillon challenges Maggie to a duel  which just goes to show how little of The Simpsons he's seen. After all, I wouldn't want to face off against Maggie, the baby that nearly killed Mr. Burns with a single bullet all those years ago. Following their little showdown, the video launches into a full-blown Gunsmoke parody, with each member of the Simpson clan spouting their infamous catchphrases. (You might second-guess Lisa's, but it's accurate.) 

^29 years and 635 episodes. I remember having to watch it on a small TV in the kitchen when it first came out and now it is on almost every day. I've also seen it in dozens of languages in most of the countries I have visited. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/the-simpsons-becomes-tvs-longest-running-primetime-scripted-series-rubs-it-in-gunsmokes-face-—-watch/ar-AAwqU9j

Airport Code

From the MT:
"Moscow Airports Enact Strict New Code of Conduct"

Three Moscow airports have banned passengers from sleeping on benches, sitting on the floor, and riding airport trolleys. Visitors and passengers at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports will face fines of 100-500 rubles for infractions such as placing baggage on seats and washing themselves in public toilets, according to new legislation passed by the Moscow region Duma. “People in staining and foul-smelling clothes, as well as those who use the airport for accommodation rather than hotels, could also be held to justice,” the regional administration’s website states. “This is especially pressing before the World Cup,” Oleg Grigoriyev, chairman of the regional Duma’s transport infrastructure committee, said Thursday.  Visitors will be informed of the extensive new rules of conduct via information stands. The bans do not yet apply to Vnukovo Airport.

^ I don't see how an international airport can force people not to sleep or sit on the floor - especially if they are in the secured-zone. The whole point of an airport is to be a place for passengers to wait for their flight (or the place to arrive from a flight) and if there's a delay due to weather, the airline, etc. then people are going to sleep and sit on the floor while they wait. I have slept in many airports around the world while waiting for a flight  - that is just what you do. It's not comfortable, but sometimes you  have to do what you have to do. ^

https://themoscowtimes.com/news/moscow-airports-enact-strict-new-code-of-conduct-61282

Prince Louis

From the BBC:
"Royal baby named Prince Louis"

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their third child Louis Arthur Charles. The couple's second son was born at 11:01 BST on Monday at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, weighing 8lb 7oz. A tweet from Kensington Palace said the baby would be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge (pronounced Lou-ee, not Lou-iss). The new prince is fifth in line to the throne. Louis is one of the middle names of Prince William and of the new prince's brother, George.  It was also the first name of Lord Mountbatten - his great-great-great uncle - who was killed by the IRA in 1979.  Lord Mountbatten had a strong influence in the upbringing of great-nephew Prince Charles and was described by the latter as "the grandfather I never had". Arthur is also one of the duke's middle names, and was a middle name of King George VI - the Queen's father.   The pool of names considered suitable for a prince is not large and yet, the wait between birth and public naming suggests there was some indecision about what to call the new baby.  It did give punters four days to place their bets, though - and most of them will be disappointed.  Louis certainly wasn't the front-runner as far as the bookies were concerned, but it is clearly a family favourite.  William and George both have it as a middle name.  But with its French and German origins, it will no doubt generate some eyebrow-raising, Brexit-related comment.  There will also no doubt be some confusion over the pronunciation (Loo-ee not Loo-iss).  What is certain is that we are unlikely to see much of Prince Louis of Cambridge in the coming months and years.  His parents remain determined to bring up all three of their children away from the public's gaze as much as is possible.   Bookmakers had Arthur as the favourite name for the prince, followed by James and Philip. Historian Judith Rowbotham said Louis is "not a traditional Windsor name" and a "little surprising" - but said it was still a safe choice for the royals. "It's very much an acknowledgement of a wider heritage," Dr Rowbotham said, adding that it is also "very much an affectionate tribute" to the Prince of Wales, who was "deeply devoted" to Lord Mountbatten.  Louis is the 71st most popular name for a boy in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The name was 38th out of the top 100 baby names for boys in 2004 but has been declining in popularity. In 2016, 911 newborn boys were named Louis by their parents compared to more than 5,000 who were named George.

^ I don't particularly care for the name "Louis" especially as pronounced "Loo-ee" (it sounds like a 1970s movie I saw where an Italian-American with a very thick Italian/New Jersey accent says to his friend "Hey Loo-ee" Hey Loo-ee! Whatcha doin'?" ) Hopefully Prince Louis will like his name when he grows up. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43922335

Amazon Hikes Price

From Yahoo:

"Amazon hikes up price of Prime to $119 a year"

Amazon (AMZN) announced on Thursday that it’s raising the price on Amazon Prime, its popular subscription service, from $99 a year to $119 a year. Starting May 11, anyone who signs up for a new Prime subscription will find they need to pony up $20 more per year than previously. For current Amazon Prime users, they’ll see a bit of a grace period, with Prime renewal prices climbing to $119 a year on June 16. As Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky pointed out on the company’s earnings call on Thursday afternoon, this is the second time Amazon has raised prices on Prime, with the first price hike occurring in March 2014. “We still think it’s the best deal in retail, and we’re continuing to make it better each day,” Olsavsky said on the earnings call. Since Amazon launched Prime in 2005, the subscription service has transformed the way shoppers experience online retail by standardizing 2-day fast shipping. The company has also added on a stable of media services for Prime users to enjoy, including video and music streaming. Indeed, Prime has become so successful, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced in mid-April a milestone of more than 100 million Prime users. Despite that, however, Prime is thought by many analysts to be a money-losing proposition — the company, instead, views it as a way to hook and retain shoppers — with some estimates suggesting the company has lost billions of dollars on Prime in more recent years because Amazon does not traditionally factor in a big profit margin into services and products like Prime. Its Kindle e-readers, for instance, are sold “at-cost,” meaning Amazon does make a significant profit off the sale of those devices. No doubt Thursday’s announcement is an effort on Amazon’s part to help ameliorate those losses, particularly as it continues to pour over $3 billion a year into the creation of original series and films. The news came as Amazon released first-quarter 2018 earnings on Thursday. The Seattle tech giant reported earnings of $3.27 per share on $51 billion in revenues for the quarter, blowing past estimates from Wall Street analysts, who were generally expecting $1.27 per share on revenues of $49.96 billion. Amazon stock surged over 6% in after-hours trading.

^ I use Amazon Prime and $20 seems like a pretty steep price hike. Maybe Amazon is taking on more then they can chew with all their different services. ^

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-hikes-price-prime-119-year-220821469.html

Occupying For Help

From the DW:

"Parents of disabled children occupy Poland's parliament"

Parents of disabled children in Poland receive very little federal assistance. Even the help they do get ends at age 18 — a practice that has been deemed unconstitutional. Now parents are demanding more state support.  For the last week, the halls of the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, have been occupied by the parents of disabled children. They are refusing to leave the building until their calls for more federal support are addressed. They are sleeping on the floors and caring for their children every day. Throughout that time the children's physiotherapists have often been denied entry into the building. More parents have been gathering on the streets outside with their children. But they, too, have been denied entry.  Krysztof Marciniak stands behind his son Grzesiek, who is sitting in a wheelchair. Grzesiek is 42 years old. He has Down syndrome and epilepsy. He smiles happily, raises his hand and gives the victory sign. His father has a less optimistic demeanor. "My Grzesiek has always spent his days at the local community center, it is the only way for him to take part in everyday social life," he says. "But now the community center in our neighborhood is being closed after 25 years. No one cares about people like us."  He also says he had to pay for his son's new wheelchair out of his own pocket because people suffering from Down syndrome or epilepsy receive no financial aid for them. The fact that Grzesiek has difficulty walking is not drastic enough for the state to help his family. For years, Krysztof Marciniak led a Warsaw association fighting for the rights of the disabled. Now, standing among the mass of protesters, he feels defeated. "We achieved nothing," he says. "We always have to go back and start from square one. We always have to fight."  Other demonstrators feel the same. "This isn't a new protest, we are just continuing the old one," says Iwona Hartwich, the protest spokeswoman. It was exactly four years ago that the parents of disabled children first occupied the Sejm — their demands were almost the same then as they are now. People who choose not to work in order to care for a disabled child receive €350 ($424) per month from the Polish government. But they can only receive that money if they have no other income, which means they cannot take part-time work. Yet, as soon as the child turns 18, even that meager payment expires. Back in 2014, Poland's Constitutional Tribunal deemed the rule unfair, however, the country's ruling national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), as well as its liberal predecessors, simply ignored the court.   In practice, that means parents who forfeited working so they could care for their sick children are robbed of their only source of income simply because the child turns 18. That is just one of the reasons that parents have flooded into Warsaw. They are also calling for the introduction of a €130 monthly care allowance, as well as an increase to the social security pension for disabled people, which currently stands at €170 per month. The government is only interested in compromising on the latter — raising the social security pension from €170 to €260 per month. Those affected say that is too little.  Many parents find the way in which the PiS portrays federal assistance for disabled children and their parents utterly cynical. In 2016, the ruling parliamentary majority passed a bill that envisioned a one-time payment of €1,000 for the birth of a disabled child. "But the ruling party could care less about what happens to the child and its parents for the rest of their lives," says an angry mother protesting outside the Sejm with her son. She holds a sign with the words: "Humanity is measured by how one treats the weakest among us." Although parents occupying the Sejm receive visits from politicians, none offer solutions to their problems. When President Andrzej Duda came to encourage parents to keep up the fight he was shown videos of his own election campaign. At the time, he loudly proclaimed that he would fight for the rights of the disabled but he has done nothing to help them or their families since then. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki promised protesters a "road map" but cautioned that federal coffers were empty. Nevertheless, the parents have no intention of giving up. More protests are planned. 

^ The disabled and their caregivers in Poland and around the world deserve more help and benefits. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/parents-of-disabled-children-occupy-polands-parliament/a-43555600

Offenses Register

From the DW:

"Nationwide register for anti-Semitic offenses in Germany – commissioner"

Germany's incoming anti-Semitism commissioner is to establish a central register for anti-Jewish crime. Meanwhile in the Bundestag, MPs condemned anti-Semitism and stressed Germany's friendship with Israel.  Felix Klein, Germany's first anti-Semitism commissioner told public radio that in order to better understand anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish sentiment establishing a central register is to be a priority when he takes office on May 1. "There has always been anti-Semitism in Germany, but it is more blatant now, more aggressive," he told rbb public radio. He stressed that there were already good regional initiatives, but that a nationwide register would help get "a good overview" of anti-Jewish offenses in Germany. His comments come just a day after thousands of people took to the streets of Berlin wearing Jewish skullcaps, known as kippas, to protest anti-Semitism and the attack on an Israeli by three Arabic-speaking men last week. Klein said that while there are concerns about anti-Semitism among some Muslim migrant, he is most worried about what he termed "secondary anti-Semitism, which lies at the heart of society…people who are prejudiced; supposedly funny jokes at the dinner table." "That's a challenge for our society, which can only be solved medium-to-longterm," he told rbb. He also said he wants to improve cooperation with Germany's Muslim associations, whose response to anti-Semitism, he says, could be "more coordinated."  Meanwhile, MPs in the German parliament, the Bundestag, marked the 70th anniversary this year of the founding of the State of Israel, with some lawmakers wearing kippas for the occasion. The Bundestag approved a motion brought by the CDU and CSU, the FDP and the SPD on Germany's historical responsibility and future friendship with Israel.  All parties agreed that "anti-Semitism must never again be part of Germany" and that Germany must be "Israel's guarantor," as Green politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt put it. The Left's parliamentary party leader, Dietmar Bartsch, called the fact that there was any anti-Semitism at all "shameful." SPD chair Andrea Nahles said that Germany was responsible for the killing of millions of Jews in World War II and that that "responsibility does not simply end, neither for subsequent generations nor for those who come to our country," alluding to anti-Jewish sentiment among some of the recent migrants to Germany from Muslim countries. "We will always and categorically defend Israel's right to exist," she added. Conservative CDU MP Volker Kauder stressed that anti-Semitism in Germany had been there long before the recent arrival of Muslim migrants after populist AfD politician Alexander Gauland said that "anti-Semitism should not turn into collateral damage of a misguided refugee policy."

^ Maybe this nationwide Anti-Semitism database will do some good, but it can't be the only thing the German Government and the German people themselves do to stop the raise in anti-Jewish attacks. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/nationwide-register-for-anti-semitic-offenses-in-germany-commissioner/a-43545539

Koningsdag

Anti-Jewish Germany

From the BBC:

"Auschwitz rap: German Echo music prize scrapped in anti-Semitism row"

Germany's music industry is abolishing its prestigious Echo prize, after an outcry over its award to a rap duo with lyrics denounced as anti-Semitic. German rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang won the hip-hop/urban prize for an album featuring verses comparing their muscles to an Auschwitz survivor. The music industry said it did not want the Echo to be seen as a platform for anti-Semitism. The brand was so badly damaged a completely new start was needed. Germany's Jewish community has faced a wave of attacks and threats in recent months, described by Chancellor Angela Merkel as "a new phenomenon" distinct from the old, far-right anti-Semitism.  "We have many refugees among whom there are, for example, people of Arab origin who bring another form of anti-Semitism into the country," she said at the weekend. Berlin and several other German cities were holding rallies against anti-Semitism on Wednesday. Those taking part were urged to wear kippahs (Jewish skullcaps) to show their support for the Jewish community.  Last week, two young men wearing kippahs were attacked by a man shouting anti-Semitic abuse in Berlin. One rally was called off in the Neukölln area of the capital on Wednesday after organisers said they were spat on and called terrorists. An Israeli flag was seized by a passerby. The decision to award Kollegah and Farid Bang the best rap album prize for their album JBG3 (Young, brutal, good looking 3) led to a succession of musicians handing back their Echo awards in protest. One of the tracks on their album, 0815, includes the line: "My body is more defined than those of Auschwitz inmates."  Another includes the words: "I'm doing another Holocaust, coming with the Molotov." Berlin-based conductor Daniel Barenboim said he was returning his prizes in protest at the rappers' lyrics which he condemned as "clearly anti-Semitic, misogynist, homophobic and contemptuous of human dignity". Rock singer Marius Müller-Westernhagen said he would be handing back the seven Echos he had won since the 1990s. Others include pianist Igor Levit and renowned musician and record producer Klaus Voormann, who designed the Beatles' Revolver album cover. But the most searing criticism came on the night of the awards when the lead singer of Die Toten Hosen spoke out on stage after winning the rock award. It was one thing to be provocative, but using misogynist, homophobic, far-right or anti-Semitic content was crossing a line, said Campino.  Kollegah, a Muslim convert, has apologised for his Auschwitz lyric.  He said on the night he did not want to engage in political debate. "We are here to party" he said.  The duo's record company, BMG, which has sold more than 200,000 copies of the album, said it was utterly opposed to anti-Semitism and pledged to contribute to a campaign against anti-Semitism. The Echo classical and jazz prizes, due to be awarded at the end of May, will also be affected by the German industry's decision to scrap the brand. In its statement the German music industry association (BVMI) said Germany had the third largest music market in the world and still needed to recognise artists who crossed genres and generations.  

^ This is the latest in overt Anti-Semitism found throughout Germany today. The fact that these rappers won in the first place and also the promotion of "Mein Kampf" play in Constance, Germany where those wearing swastikas get in for free and anyone who pays has to wear a "Star of David" shows how much Germans continue to hate Jews. Add to that the recent attacks on those wearing skull caps, those going to synagogues, etc. and you have a Germany that is ready to return to it's 1933 past. The German Government does little to nothing to stop these Anti-Semitic acts. I've heard some "Love To Hate Trump" people use Germany as a model-example. If that is an example on how to discriminate and attack Jews then they would be correct.  ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43897484

Alfie Evans

From the BBC:

"Who is Alfie Evans and what is the row over his treatment?"

Life support for seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans has been withdrawn following a lengthy legal battle between his family and the courts. The fight has attracted widespread media attention and seen his parents clash with doctors over the youngster's care. This is how the story unfolded.

Who is Alfie Evans?

Alfie was born to parents Tom Evans and Kate James, from Bootle in Merseyside, on 9 May 2016. He was first admitted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool in December 2016 after suffering seizures and has been a patient in the hospital ever since. Doctors diagnosed a degenerative neurological condition which they have not been able to identify definitively Alfie's parents and the hospital have clashed over what should happen to Alfie, who has been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year His parents said they wanted to fly him to a hospital in Italy but this was blocked by Alder Hey, which said continuing treatment was "not in Alfie's best interests".  The Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust went to the High Court to seek a declaration that "continued ventilator support is not in Alfie's best interests and in the circumstances it is not lawful that such treatment continue". Sitting at the High Court in Liverpool, Mr Justice Hayden began overseeing the case on 19 December. Alder Hey said scans showed "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" and that further treatment was not only "futile" but also "unkind and inhumane". But his parents disagreed and wanted permission to fly him to the Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome in the hope of prolonging his life. The Italian hospital, which has links to the Vatican, suggested operations to help Alfie breathe and keep him alive for an "undefined period". The judge said he would make a decision on what was best for Alfie if an agreement was not reached.

Who decides?

One of the dilemmas Alfie's case has raised is whether doctors are the right people to determine whether withdrawing life-support treatment is in "the best interests" of a terminally ill child.  One of the key arguments presented by his parents was that they should decide what is best for their son.  It was the same case made by the parents of Charlie Gard, the 11-month-old baby who died last year following a similar battle over his treatment.  The law in the UK falls somewhere in-between. The 1989 Children's Act makes it clear that where a child is at risk of harm the state can and should intervene. This means that the rights of parents are not absolute and the state has been emboldened to challenge the view of parents where they believe a child's best interests are not being served. If a public body disagrees with the parents' choices, they must go to court in order to override this parental responsibility.

What did the judges rule?

Mr Justice Hayden said doctors could stop providing life support for Alfie against his parents' wishes, saying the child required "peace, quiet and privacy". Mr Evans said he believed his son was still responsive, telling reporters outside court Alfie was "improving". But Michael Mylonas QC, representing the hospital, said: "One of the problems of this case is they [Alfie's parents] look at him and, barring the paraphernalia of breathing and feeding, he's a sweet, lovely, normal-looking boy who opens his eyes, [and] will smile..."  The hospital asserted that any movements by the child were "spontaneous seizures as a result of touching". Mr Justice Hayden ruled in favour of hospital bosses on 20 February and doctors were set to withdraw ventilation on 23 February before his parents embarked on a lengthy legal battle.

How the case unfolded

Alfie's parents refused to give up hope and took the case to the Court of Appeal on 6 March where judges upheld Mr Justice Hayden's decision. On 20 March, the couple appealed to the Supreme Court where justices refused to give the couple permission to mount another appeal. Despite this, their lawyers went to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after exhausting all legal avenues in the UK. But three judges ruled the submission "inadmissible", saying they were unable to find any violation of human rights.  On 11 April, Mr Justice Hayden then endorsed an end-of-life care plan for Alfie, setting a date to switch off life support.  Lawyers for Alfie's parents began a final legal bid to take control over the treatment of their son on April 16, claiming he was being "unlawfully detained". But this was rejected for a second time by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.  On 18 April, Mr Evans flew to Rome for a meeting with the Pope, pleading with him to "save our son".  Despite an urgent application to the ECHR on Monday, judges refused to intervene in the case, prompting angry scenes at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.  Within hours, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted 23-month-old Alfie Italian citizenship, hoping it would allow an "immediate transfer to Italy". Pope Francis then tweeted his support for the family: "I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted." But this last-ditch appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Hayden who stated that "Alfie is a British citizen" who "falls therefore under the jurisdiction of the High Court." The Italian Embassy has since clarified it was not trying to challenge any decisions made previously by the British courts.  A spokesman described the granting of citizenship as a "signal" to the judge that should he change his mind, they are ready to facilitate his transfer to the Italian hospital.  A further hearing then took place on Tuesday afternoon in which Mr Hayden said the case had now reached its "final chapter". He rejected claims by Mr Evans that his son was "significantly better" than first thought because he had been breathing unaided for 20 hours after doctors first withdrew life support. Alfie's parents then launched a further appeal against the order stopping them from taking him to Italy, which will be heard on Wednesday afternoon by a panel of three Court of Appeal judges, headed by Sir Andrew McFarlane.

^Another Socialist death panel (again in the UK.) It would be one thing if 1 parent was for and 1 against but both parents are for treatment. It is the doctors and the judges that are refusing treatment or even for him to go out of country so it wouldn't cost the Brits any more money. Well done NHS. If you want to have no control over your own life or the life of your children then you should move to the UK where uncaring doctors and uncaring judges will decide what you want (and base most of it on saving money rather than saving your life.) It is illegal in the UK for doctor-assisted suicide, but legal for doctor-judge "death panels." Go figure. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-43754949

Only Digital

From the BBC:
"Young can 'only read digital clocks'"

Do young people really struggle with traditional analogue clocks with hands? That's the claim in a debate between teachers - with suggestions that digital clocks are being installed in exam halls for teenagers. It follows a report in the Times Educational Supplement of a conference being told that pupils needed a digital clock to be able to tell the time. Malcolm Trobe, of the ASCL head teachers' union, said young people were much more used to using digital clocks. As such, schools could be trying to give them more help by letting students use digital clocks in exam rooms during the summer GCSEs and A-levels. "To adults it might seem second nature to use a standard clock face," said Mr Trobe, ASCL's deputy general secretary. But younger people were much more familiar with seeing the time in a digital format - on computers or mobile phones. "Young people find it a bit easier to use a digital clock - and if they're timing themselves for questions, it might make it less likely that they'll make mistakes," said Mr Trobe. He said, as an example, if students had to answer a question in 15 minutes, it could be easier for them looking at a clock with a digital format, if that was how they usually told the time. There were no official indications about taking down analogue clocks, he said, but such claims were being made by teachers on social media. One of the examples on Twitter being quoted is from a head of English, "Ms Keenan". But she told the BBC that the digital clocks that had been installed had broken down - and now had been replaced by a traditional analogue clock. She said it wasn't the case that a majority of students can't tell the time using such analogue clocks, but it could be a barrier for some. For the "digital generation", she said an analogue clock could be becoming an "anachronism". Will this be a trend for the approaching summer exams? Only time will tell.  

^ Sadly, today's youth don't know many basic skills that people learned for centuries. It isn't just using an analogue clock, but also using cursive, how to do research without the Internet, etc. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/education-43882847

What's Anzac Day?

From the Australian War Memorial:
"The Anzac Day Tradition"

What is Anzac Day?

Anzac Day, 25 April, is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

What does ANZAC stand for?

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as Anzacs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.

Why is this day special to Australians?

When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to establish a reputation among the nations of the world. When Britain declared war in August 1914 Australia was automatically placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany. The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated from the peninsula, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers had died in the campaign. Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war. Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the actions of Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign left a powerful legacy. What became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways in which they viewed both their past and their future.

Early commemorations

In 1916 the first Anzac Day commemorations were held on 25 April. The day was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services across Australia, a march through London, and a sports day in the Australian camp in Egypt. In London more than 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets; a London newspaper headline dubbed them “the knights of Gallipoli”. Marches were held all over Australia; in the Sydney march convoys of cars carried soldiers wounded on Gallipoli and their nurses. For the remaining years of the war Anzac Day was used as an occasion for patriotic rallies and recruiting campaigns, and parades of serving members of the AIF were held in most cities. During the 1920s Anzac Day became established as a national day of commemoration for the more than 60,000 Australians who had died during the war. In 1927, for the first time, every state observed some form of public holiday on Anzac Day. By the mid-1930s all the rituals we now associate with the day – dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions, two-up games – were firmly established as part of Anzac Day culture. Later, Anzac Day also served to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in the Second World War, and in subsequent years the meaning of the day has been further broadened to include those who lost their lives in all the military and peacekeeping operations in which Australia has been involved. Anzac Day was first commemorated at the Memorial in 1942. At the time, government orders prohibited large public gatherings in case of a Japanese air attack, so it was a small occasion with neither a march nor a memorial service. Since then, Anzac Day has been commemorated at the Memorial every year.

What does it mean today?

Australians recognise 25 April as a day of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held across the nation at dawn – the time of the original landing, while later in the day, former servicemen and servicewomen meet to take part in marches through the country’s major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal, and are held at war memorials around the country. In these ways, Anzac Day is a time at which Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.

The Dawn Service

It is often suggested that the Dawn Service observed on Anzac Day has its origins in a military routine still followed by the Australian Army. The half-light of dawn was one of the times favoured for launching an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were woken in the dark before dawn, so by the time first light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert, and manning their weapons; this is still known as the “stand-to”. As dusk is equally favourable for battle, the stand-to was repeated at sunset. After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they had felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. A dawn vigil became the basis for commemoration in several places after the war. It is difficult to say when the first dawn services were held, as many were instigated by veterans, clergymen, and civilians from all over the country. A dawn requiem mass was held at Albany as early as 1918, and a wreathlaying and commemoration took place at dawn in Toowoomba the following year. In 1927 a group of returned men returning at dawn from an Anzac Day function held the night before came upon an elderly woman laying flowers at the as yet unfinished Sydney Cenotaph. Joining her in this private remembrance, the men later resolved to institute a dawn service the following year. Some 150 people gathered at the Cenotaph in 1928 for a wreathlaying and two minutes’ silence. This is generally regarded as the beginning of organised dawn services. Over the years the ceremonies have developed into their modern forms and have seen an increased association with the dawn landings of 25 April 1915.

The National Ceremony

At the Australian War Memorial the National Ceremony begins with the traditional order of service, including the veteran’s march, Commemorative Address, laying of wreaths, hymns, the sounding of the Last Post, and observance of one minute’s silence, and the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia.

^ This is an important day in both Australia and in New Zealand. It shows the sacrifice that both countries and their citizens have made and are making to keep the world safe. ^

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day/traditions

Bypassing Veto

From UNIAN:
"Western nations find way to bypass Russian veto at UN"

Western powers seem to have found an effective way to bypass Russian veto on Syria probe at the UN Security Council. Ian Martin, a former UN official and Amnesty International chief, said: “The Russian veto need not be the end of efforts for collective action by the UN. The responsibility of asserting accountability for the use of chemical weapons, and for bringing an end to the horrors of the Syrian conflict, rests with the world community as a whole,” The Guardian reports. The proposal is known to have support among western officials fearing the absence of an attribution mechanism not only gives Syria free range to continue to use chemical weapons, but also to deliver a severe blow to the international world order. Western governments, worried that the impasse is weakening the wider authority of the security council, want to pick up a rarely used route, first set up in the 1950 Korean crisis. Called “uniting for peace”, it would enable nine members of the 15-strong security council to bypass a Russian veto and refer the matter to a full vote at the general assembly. It would then require a two-thirds majority by the general assembly for an attribution mechanism to be agreed.  The 1950 “uniting for peace” route was explicitly designed to be used when the security council could not meet its responsibilities over maintenance of peace. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said at the weekend that the world had entered a new cold war era where the threat of instability was greater than the previous cold war. The western powers have made concessions to secure a compromise UN resolution on attribution, but will not concede the principle that Russian could veto the inspection team findings on Syria chemical attacks.

^ This bypass should be used since some countries are abusing their power in the Security Council. ^

https://www.unian.info/world/10093403-western-nations-find-way-to-bypass-russian-veto-at-un.html

Anzac Day

Fixing The Past

From Disability Scoop:
"Lawmakers Seek Reparations For People Sterilized"

Rosie Zaballos liked to host playtime tea parties and was sweet to everyone she met. But her older brother worried that the 16-year-old, whom her family described as “a little slow,” might someday become pregnant. In his 30s and married, he had three kids of his own. And their mom was sick and needed help. So he took Rosie to be sterilized at a state-run hospital so she couldn’t have babies who might place an extra burden on the family. Rosie never came home. She died during the operation. This painful history, recounted by Rosie’s niece, Barbara Swarr, was rarely discussed in Barbara’s family when she was growing up in a Spanish immigrant neighborhood in Hayward, Calif., just southeast of San Francisco. But in the past few years, Swarr, now 70, has pieced together the details of her aunt’s short life and the prevailing attitudes toward immigrants, poor people and those with disabilities that allowed more than 20,000 Californians to be sterilized under the state’s eugenics law — often without their consent — over a 70-year period in the 1900s. “This was something nobody thought twice about. ‘If they are not all there, if they are Hispanic … make sure they don’t breed these inferiors,'” Swarr recounted with a mix of sadness and bitterness. Across the country last century, more than 60,000 people deemed unfit to reproduce were sterilized, many against their will or without their knowledge. It was a public health strategy embraced by 32 states under eugenics laws that advocated “better breeding.” It began at state prisons in Indiana and spread to two-thirds of the country, targeting people with mental illness, disabilities and anyone who exhibited “abnormal” behavior. California abolished its eugenics law in 1979 during Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown’s first term and apologized in 2003 under Gov. Gray Davis, also a Democrat. Legislation under consideration in the state’s Senate would go a step further to pay reparations, following in the footsteps of North Carolina and Virginia. The bill, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), would establish the Eugenics Sterilization Compensation Program for the living survivors of state-sponsored sterilization from 1909 to 1979. As currently written, the measure doesn’t specify the amount of state money survivors would receive — a detail that is still being hashed out by lawmakers. North Carolina lawmakers in 2013 set aside $10 million, and two years later Virginia authorized $25,000 for each victim. Researchers and advocacy groups estimate that roughly 800 survivors may still be alive today in California, although none have publicly come forward, whether because they’re ashamed of what happened to them or they just don’t realize they were victims. Skinner said she hopes that publicity surrounding her bill will encourage survivors to come out and speak out. “We are trying to ensure this is not forgotten,” she said. “It was a completely unjustified wrong that the state authorized and that the state implemented.” In California, state records described the women who were sterilized as “weak-willed,” “dependent on others” and “feeble-minded.” The reason for their sterilization: Their mental condition was “likely to become transmitted to descendants.” State law authorized medical superintendents at 12 state homes and hospitals to perform “asexualization” on patients — vasectomies for men and fallopian tube removals for women. Sonoma State Hospital carried out about 5,000 sterilizations, more than any other place in the country, according to records compiled by Alexandra Minna Stern, a professor at the University of Michigan and an expert on eugenics laws. Those records also show that Latinas in California were 59 percent more likely to be sterilized than non-Latinas. They were young girls and women who probably didn’t speak English well and ranked low on IQ tests, said Stern, who uncovered the state’s sterilization records in a file cabinet at the Department of Mental Health in Sacramento. In Southern states, African-Americans were targeted for sterilization. In Iowa, it was the poor. Being Hispanic, black or poor was characterized as a disability in those days, Stern said. “The way these laws played out, they impacted racial minorities, but it was through the disability lens, which makes it more insidious,” she said. California historian William Deverell, a professor at the University of Southern California, traces the eugenics laws to a time when social reformers believed they could perfect the human race for the betterment of society — much like agriculturists at the time were trying to perfect avocados or citrus fruits. “It’s such a fascinating moment because a lot of do-good human types were eugenicists,” Deverell said. “They had this notion they could bring perfection to bear even in the gene pool.” The hope, historians and advocates say, is that Skinner’s legislation will raise awareness about the sterilizations and the fact that they were little more than a vehicle for state-sanctioned discrimination. They note that these procedures occurred at state facilities as recently as this decade, when doctors sterilized 148 women in California prisons from 2006 to 2010, according to a report by The Center for Investigative Reporting. The bill requires markers to be placed at the institutions where sterilizations took place, and it calls for the creation of a traveling historical exhibit about eugenics laws. It’s critical to educate people about this aspect of California’s “dark history,” said Myra Dúran, policy manager for California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, a statewide advocacy group. “It’s important to find the women who were sterilized because it’s important to get their voices heard.” That’s what Swarr wants for her aunt. “I honor her by trying to find out about her,” said Swarr, who owns the house where Rosie Zaballos grew up. “I don’t want her to be forgotten. I don’t want her to be just a statistic.” 

^ This is a very sad part of the histories of many US States and there needs to be something done in every state that sterilized unwilling people. ^

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/04/24/lawmakers-reparations-sterilized/25012/