Dark Crystal Prequel

From the BBC:

“Netflix's The Dark Crystal prequel: What you need to know”

Make no mistake, we are in the middle of a streaming war. As Disney prepares to enter the market later this year, Netflix needs to look to its laurels. The latest weapon in its arsenal? A puppets-only prequel to a relatively obscure, 37-year-old fantasy film. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is released on Friday, featuring many of the original puppeteers and an impressive voice cast including Lena Headey, Natalie Dormer, Alicia Vikander, Mark Hamill and Taron Egerton. So what was so special about The Dark Crystal? And why revisit it now?

Ancient History

Another world... Another time... In the Age of Wonder. Or, to put it another way, 1982. Wham!, Shakin Stevens and Rene and Renato ruled the Top 10. In the news: the aftermath of the Falklands War and the birth of Prince William. Another time indeed. And it was into this world that a rather unusual film was released. That film was The Dark Crystal. And if you'd laid a bet at the time that it would still be loved and talked about in 2019... let's just say you'd have got decent odds. When Jim Henson announced he wanted to use his puppetry genius to create a fantasy film that was rather dark and even a bit scary, film companies were initially fairly sceptical. After all, he was best-known for creating the multi-coloured, anarchic, Muppet Show.

His new pitch was rather different. 

Inspired by the work of British artist Brian Froud, Henson and his collaborator Frank Oz wanted to use their puppetry skills to create an intensely-realised, dark fantasy movie. "We've done so many happy, full-of-energy shows," Oz told the BBC at the time, "now we're just going on the darker side a bit. A more complex, textured side." In the end, the pair were only given funding for the project by agreeing to also make another Muppet film straight afterwards.

Potted Plot of the original film

The once-flourishing world of Thra is in the grip of darkness, ruled over by the cruel Skeksis. These vulture-like creatures draw on the power of a mystical crystal to stay alive. And, fearful of a prophecy, they have wiped out the race of Gelflings. Or so they think. In a hidden valley, protected by the peace-loving urRu, lives a single Gelfling named Jen.  He must set out on a quest to heal the Dark Crystal and restore light and harmony to Thra. Audiences and reviewers seemed hesitant at first, with the New York Times suggesting that Henson's famous leading lady Miss Piggy might have been tempted to greet The Dark Crystal with the words "quelle bore". Perhaps it didn't help that Spielberg's E.T was released at the same time. But history has been much kinder. So much so that after years of rumours swirling about a follow-up, Netflix decided to pick up this series - originally planned as an animation.

The timing, arguably, could not be better. 

Thanks in no small part to Netflix's own series Stranger Things, nostalgia for all things 1980s is red hot. (One Stranger Things character even had a Dark Crystal poster on his wall.) Coupled with that, Game of Thrones has brought fantasy crashing into the mainstream, with all the online chat, memes and fan theories that brings. Netflix will certainly be hoping so, as they battle to keep control of an increasingly crowded marketplace.

First look

Self-confessed Dark Crystal nerd, Radio 1 Newsbeat's Chris Smith, got a sneak peek at the first episode of Age of Resistance. "It's clear that this is nothing short of a labour of love for showrunner Louis Leterrier, the Henson team and a hugely dedicated and talented crew. "The puppets and costumes are meticulous - the attention to detail is mind-blowing. "And this is more than a simple remake. The world depicted in this prequel is far larger and richer than the settings used in the original film. "There's darkness there too, with a few behind-the-sofa moments for younger viewers. "If you found the 1982 film a little creepy, get ready for things to move up a gear. "For me? Nerd heaven. I loved every second - bring on the next nine hours! "But will it go mainstream and become puppet Game of Thrones for millennials?  "Not even Aughra could predict that."

^ I loved the 1982 “Dark Crystal” as a kid and am just about to start watching “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.” ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48785443

Directv's 8 Weeks

From the BBC:

“AT&T, Nexstar end eight-week dispute, channels returning to DirecTV, U-verse and AT&T TV”

After an eight-week blackout, access to Nexstar stations is being restored to DirecTV and AT&T U-verse subscribers. In a joint statement Thursday, AT&T and Nexstar said they reached a new multiyear deal that allows the 120 stations, which include ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliate stations, to return on DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse platforms. The stations went dark at 11:59 p.m. local time July 3 after Nexstar and AT&T were unable to reach an agreement. “Our customers want more choice and value and we are pleased to deliver that through this new agreement with Nexstar and its many local stations,” Rob Thun, AT&T Communications senior vice president of content and programming, said in the statement. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal and said they regretted the inconvenience. Keith Hopkins, senior vice president, distribution, Nexstar Media Group Inc., said in the statement, "this new multi-year agreement will allow us to continue delivering our stations’ leading network and sports content as well as local news and other programming to AT&T subscribers in our markets." This year, there have been more than 200 blackouts industry-wide, which is a record for a year, AT&T previously said in a statement, noting it was a 20% jump over the 165 blackouts in 2018. Another dispute remains unresolved: Dish Network and Sling subscribers lost access to 21 Fox Sports regional networks more than a month ago on July 26.

^ After 8 weeks we have finally gotten all of our channels back. Directv only gave us $5 for using us  as their pawns . ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/08/29/at-t-nexstar-dispute-ends-stations-returning-directvverse/2156291001/utm

Dangerous Dorian

From USA Today:

“5 things that make Dorian a dangerous hurricane”

After walloping the Caribbean as a tropical storm, Hurricane Dorian is forecast to hit somewhere along the east coast of Florida early next week as a major and dangerous hurricane. And forecasters warn that Dorian could be a treacherous storm. Along much of Florida’s east coast, as the storm approached, shoppers rushed to stock up on food and emergency supplies at supermarkets and hardware stores and picked the shelves clean of bottled water. Lines formed at service stations as motorists topped off their tanks and filled gasoline cans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency throughout the state and asked President Donald Trump to declare a pre-landfall disaster as well.

Here are five things that make Dorian a dangerous hurricane:

It's forecast to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane 

Katrina, Maria, Harvey and Sandy are all infamous names belonging to some of the worst hurricanes in history. But where do these names come from? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center said Dorian is expected to reach Category 4 strength as it approaches Florida: "Dorian is forecast to become a dangerous major hurricane later and maintain that status as it heads for the northwestern Bahamas and the Florida peninsula." An upper-level low pressure system has brought some southwesterly shear, which has prevented Dorian from strengthening rapidly, the hurricane center said. But the storm is expected to enter a more favorable environment in the next day, "which should allow its structure to become more well developed," forescasters said. If it hits as a Category 4, with winds of 130 mph, the damage could be catastrophic: "Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls," the hurricane center said. "Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed." A hit from a Category 4 hurricane means that "power outages will last for weeks to possibly months, and long-term water shortages will increase human suffering. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months."

It could hit anywhere along the east coast of Florida – or even Georgia or the Carolinas

Although the current forecast shows landfall along the east coast of Florida, there is a chance the storm could curve up the coast before hitting land, perhaps even tracking into Georgia or the Carolinas. The hurricane center said that the track guidance becomes less clear beyond 72 hours, primarily because of model differences in the strength of a ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic that will determine Dorian's path. "The spread of the ... models and the various guidance is still considerable at days 4 and 5, and it is too soon to specify where along the Florida east coast the greatest impacts could occur," the hurricane center said. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty said that "a very small fluctuation in the overall weather pattern will have a large influence in where Dorian ultimately tracks and how it impacts the continental U.S."

There's a risk of life-threatening storm surge

Storm surge – the surge of seawater that comes ashore as a hurricane makes landfall – is often the deadliest and most destructive part of a storm. In fact, only 8% of hurricane-related deaths are caused by strong winds. Almost half are because of storm surge, the Weather Channel said. The hurricane center warns that "the risk of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast has increased, although it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge will occur."

It could make a second landfall

Though it's forecast to hit somewhere along the east coast of Florida, there "is certainly a chance that the storm could drift into the Gulf of Mexico and produce a second landfall," noted University of Georgia meteorologist Marshall Shepherd in Forbes. "For now, the entire Florida and Southeast coastal community should be on alert. Even if you live in the eastern Gulf Coast states, I wouldn't completely take my eyes off of the storm yet," Shepherd said.

South Florida is already sodden from an extremely wet August

It's been a soggy month and summer in south Florida, so any rain that falls from Dorian will hasten and exacerbate flooding. How wet? Both Miami and West Palm Beach have seen over a foot of rainfall this month, which is about twice as much as average, the National Weather Service said.  And regardless of the exact track of Dorian, heavy rains are expected to occur over portions of the Bahamas, Florida and elsewhere in the southeastern United States this weekend and into the middle of next week. The hurricane center warns that as much as a foot of rain could fall from Dorian across the southeastern U.S.  "Dorian's slower movement as it nears the coast could cause major flooding," the Weather Channel said.

^ I am curious if my friend that lives in Tampa, Florida and just last week said they preferred Florida weather over the snow and cold of the Northeast still thinks that way with Dorian’s projected path and potential destruction. As I told my friend when a Nor’easter snow storm hits you just stay home, but when a Hurricane hits you usually have to evacuate (either before, during or after the storm.)  ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/29/hurricane-dorian-5-things-make-dangerous-hurricane/2151572001/

Stealing From The Blind

From the BBC:

“Bangor men who stole from blind busker jailed”

Two men have been jailed for stealing from the guitar case of a blind busker in north Wales, in what the judge called "an appalling case". Chris Chadwick-Parnell was playing outside WH Smith in Bangor when it happened. A video taken by a passerby was seen by 10,000 people online. Gary Williams, 51, denied stealing from the 23-year-old but was found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in jail. Alan Fothergill, 43, admitted theft and was jailed for 26 months. "This is how low drugs have made you both stoop," said Judge Huw Rees sentencing the pair at Caernarfon Crown Court. The jailed pair were told by the judge they were "both deliberate thieves"  Mr Chadwick-Parnell had been playing on 26 June, his guide dog at his side, when the cash was taken from his guitar case by Big Issue seller Fothergill, of Bangor. He handed the cash to Williams, who is also from Bangor, and he put back £4 - a fraction of the amount taken - into the case. Mr Chadwick-Parnell's usual daily takings were about £70 and the judge told the two men they had targeted a highly vulnerable victim because he was disabled.  Mr Chadwick-Parnell said he didn't "feel safe working outside" as a result of the theft  In a statement, Mr Chadwick-Parnell said he could not busk anymore because of what happened, which had caused financial problems for the expectant father.  Judge Rees told the two men they had both lied in interview, the one blaming the other, and added: "Your previous convictions are truly appalling. You are both deliberate thieves."

^ It is crimes like this one that shows how dangerous addicts can be. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49528934

Holocaust By Bullets

From the DW:

“Germany remembers 'Holocaust by bullets' in Ukraine”

Between 1941 and 1944, German soldiers and police shot and killed more than 1 million Jews in Ukraine. The German government now wants to raise awareness of this chapter in history.  They are sites of horror that many in Germany have even never heard of: Samhorodok, Ljubar, Plyskiv. In each of these places, more than 500 Jews were executed by the Wehrmacht, SS soldiers and the German police. Hundreds of mass executions were carried out by Nazi death squads in Ukraine. "The Holocaust by bullets deserves a place in our memory. However, that it is yet to happen," said Uwe Neumärker, director of the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The German government now wants to raise awareness of the so-called Holocaust by bullets. This week, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas opened an exhibition in Berlin called "Protecting Memory" to commemorate the murdered Jews, Romas, prisoners of war and the mentally ill in what is nowadays Ukraine. "Until this day, despite the incomprehensible dimensions of these crimes, we see that this chapter of the Holocaust has received too little attention," said Maas. The exhibition features places in Ukraine where for decades there has been nothing demarcating sites where mass executions took place. Memorials are now gradually being set up: This can be a stone plaques bearing an inscription or just a group of benches, where people can meet to sit and remember the past. These are places of remembrance and "symbols of our responsibility, our crimes," as Uwe Neumärker puts it. His foundation has been working with Ukrainian organizations to design the monuments collaboratively.

Living on mass graves

Ukrainian photographer Anna Voitenko has been documenting progress at the new memorials with her camera. She has experienced the transformation of bucolic landscapes into monuments first hand: "Sometimes, the places were so beautiful with blooming meadows and fields, and then you remember what happened there." She said that conversations with victims' relatives were often traumatic: "Sometimes by the end, everyone would be crying," Voitenko told DW. She recalled a time where she stood alongside a Ukrainian Jew on a wildly overgrown picturesque hilltop. Then she realized they were standing on a mound of bones and skulls . And her companion said to her, "I could have ended up here." It is important that these monuments are set up, says Voitenko. "Otherwise people might end up living on gravesites unaware of what happened there." The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, sees the exhibition and the new monuments as part of a project "explicitly supporting the Ukrainian people." Melnyk is well aware of the fact that almost every Ukrainian family was affected by the Holocaust: "Every third Jewish citizen who was exterminated by the Nazis lived on the territory of today's Ukraine." As few people in Germany seem to know that, Melnyk sees an "urgent need for action."

Students must learn of the Holocaust in Ukraine

The Ukrainian ambassador also spoke of his son, who went to a German highschool where he learned nothing about the Ukrainian victims of the Nazi regime — something that left him "perplexed and disappointed." Melnyk asked the German foreign minister that appropriate changes be made to German schools' curricula. He is also calling for a monument to be set up in Berlin to commemorate the Ukranian victims of the Nazi regime. As a first step, the German Foreign Ministry has pledged close to €2 million ($2.2 million) to support the "Protecting Memory" project and its plans for new monuments, educational programs, and further historical research. In times of increasing anti-Semitism and the rise of right-wing populists, Maas believes remembering German history is more important than ever. The exhibition, which will initially be on show at the Foreign Ministry, will then go on tour to educate as many people as possible about the Holocaust in Ukraine.

^ I’ve known about the mass graves in Ukraine and other locations in Eastern Europe for as long as I have known about the Holocaust. It seems that 70+ years later the Germans are finally doing what should have been done in May 1945 – remembering the innocent men, women and children they murdered to make sure their crimes are not repeated. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-remembers-holocaust-by-bullets-in-ukraine/a-50211165

Language Violations

From the CBC:

“Air Canada ordered to pay French-speaking couple $21K over language violations”

Thas ordered Air Canada to pay $21,000 to an Ottawa couple for repeated violations of their French-language language rights, including seatbelts on which the instruction to "lift" the buckle was marked only in English. Michel and Lynda Thibodeau filed 22 complaints in 2016 with the commissioner of official languages for alleged offences under the Official Languages Act. The pair complained that planes' emergency exit door signs were either in English only, or the English words were in larger font than the French ones. They noted seatbelts were engraved with the word "lift" with no French-language equivalent. They also complained that a French-language boarding announcement made at the airport in Fredericton was not as detailed as the English-language one. The two say Air Canada systematically violated the linguistic rights of francophones.

Apology ordered

Following the ruling, Michel Thibodeau told CBC News that he and his wife were "very happy" with the outcome. "The law is very clear that in Canada [for] francophones and anglophones, the language rights are protected by the Charter. And signage must be of equal quality," he said. "My expectation is that within a couple of months, we will be able to fly on any Air Canada plane, and finally signage will be in both official languages." The airline argued the Thibodeaus were interpreting the Official Languages Act too strictly, and claimed the law doesn't require it to treat the two languages identically but in a substantially similar way. On the issue of the seatbelt, it was the manufacturer's decision to mark the word "lift," Air Canada said, noting that a fully bilingual message on how to use a seatbelt is delivered before takeoff. Federal Court Justice Martine St-Louis disagreed. She ordered the airline to write letters of apology to both complainants and to pay them damages totalling $21,000. 

No plans to stop flying airline

The Thibodeaus have complained about Air Canada's language act violations before. Their last legal case against the airline went to the Supreme Court of Canada. The two lost, however, after the country's highest court ruled Air Canada didn't have to respect the language laws on international flights. Michel and Lynda Thibodeau awarded no money over lack of French on Air Canada flight Despite their multiple legal battles with the airline, Michel Thibodeau said he and his wife have no plans to stop flying Air Canada. "It's not me that should be changing airlines," he said. "It's [Air Canada] that should be serving francophone customers in the same way that you're serving anglophone customers."

^  This lawsuit was clearly done to prove a point and not to make money. The point being that Canada is not as bilingual or multicultural as Canadians and the rest of the world may think. It continues to be a White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, English-Speaking country despite 50 years of official legislation promoting bilingualism with English and French. There continues to be official legislation that states only a Protestant can be the King or Queen of Canada making it show official favoritism over one religion than all the others (like the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other countries do.) 

Since September 1969 Canada is only officially bilingual at the Federal level.

-     -  The only officially bilingual Province is New Brunswick (since 1969.)

     -   The Territories of: the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut include English and French (as well as other Aboriginal languages) as their official Territorial languages.

       -  Quebec is the only officially unilingual Province with French as its sole language (since 1974.)

English is the mother tongue of 56.9% of Canadians and French is the mother tongue of 21.3% of Canadians. In total 85.6% of Canadians have a working knowledge of English while 30.1% have a working knowledge of French.

Percentage of Canadians with knowledge of the French and English Languages (as either a mother tongue or a second language) by Province and Territory:

1.)    Ontario: 4.4% (French), 78% (English)

2.)    Quebec: 93% (French), 9.8% (English)

3.)    Nova Scotia: 3.8% (French), 95.4% (English)

4.)    New Brunswick: 31.6% (French), 69.2% (English)

5.)    Manitoba: 3.8% (French), 84.4% (English)

6.)    British Colombia: 1.6% (French), 80.1% (English)

7.)    Prince Edward Island: 4.1% (French), 95.5% (English) 

8.)    Saskatchewan: 1.9% (French), 92.1% (English)

9.)    Alberta: 2.2% (French), 85.7% (English)

10.) Newfoundland and Labrador: 0.6% (French), 98.5% (English)

11.) Northwest Territories: 2.9% (French), 88.9% (English)

12.) Yukon: 4.8% (French), 92.2% (English)

13.) Nunavut: 1.4% (French), 45.5% (English)

The numbers and facts across Canada show that 50 years of being officially Bilingual at the Federal Level has not worked to increase the knowledge and use of French across the country. In fact it has had the opposite effect in English-speaking Canada. Canada may have all the right language laws at the Federal Level, but in practice it has failed mainly due to the ordinary Canadian’s rejection of it in their everyday lives. Recreational marijuana has done more to unite all the Provinces and Territories across Canada since it became legal in 2018 than Bilingualism has since it became legal in 1969. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lynda-michel-thibodeau-french-language-rights-air-canada-1.5265126

75: GI Bill

From Military.com:

“The Legacy of the GI Bill”

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill, it was a testament to optimism. Though the landings at Normandy were only two weeks old -- with American GIs fighting in bloody hedgerows, where gains were measured in yards not miles -- Roosevelt saw inevitable triumph and was preparing for the peace to follow. With the fight for victory underway, Leo R. Croce was stateside learning how to pilot a bomber. He would eventually deploy to England and do his duty for democracy. He served in the 8th Air Force, which sustained some of the highest casualty totals in the war. Somehow, Croce survived 35 missions flying through flak and enemy fighters in the skies over Germany. When the war ended, he and millions of his fellow combat veterans returned home to start families and find work. The GI Bill paved the way for them to make a successful transition from military to civilian life. As the ringing of bells marks the start of a new school year for many students and teachers, at Leo R. Croce Elementary School in Livermore, California, the story of the school's namesake provides a history lesson in the transformative power of the GI Bill. Croce was one of 7.8 million World War II veterans to utilize the GI Bill for education and training purposes. Upon graduation, this group excelled as it entered the workforce, creating a thriving middle class and launching a period of prosperity previously unknown in human history. In 1988, Congress determined that for every dollar spent on the GI Bill, the economy got seven dollars back. But the GI Bill did more than fuel American prosperity; it transformed lives. Veterans were able to return from the nightmare of war and secure the American dream. It helped Croce earn a college degree and teaching credentials from the University of California at Berkeley. He would serve his community and impact the lives of future generations for 41 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, vice principal, principal, associate superintendent and superintendent. Ultimately, a school was given his name. The legacy of the GI Bill continues today. In fact, veterans are utilizing this benefit and proving that they are at the top of the class on campus. They are more likely to graduate, to have a higher grade point average, and to earn academically rigorous degrees in fields of business, science, technology, math and engineering compared to their peers, according to one report. Veterans are an asset to our workforce, and our communities as well. Like Croce, today's veterans continue to give back to their communities. According to the 2016 Veterans Health Civic Index, "veterans are more likely than non-veterans to vote, contact public officials, volunteer, give to charity, work with neighbors to fix problems in the community, and attend public meetings." After signing the GI Bill, Roosevelt said, "It gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down." Seventy-five years after the signing of this bill, Croce and millions of veterans have returned the favor. Leo R. Croce Elementary School is a reminder that veterans don't need their names inscribed on monuments or memorials to testify to their service and sacrifice.

^ The GI Bill was a great way to show the men and women who served in World War 2 that their country not only supported them with words, but with actions (ie benefits.) The GI Bill has changed since 1944, but it continues to our pride and commitment to the men and women who risk everything to keep us safe. ^ 

https://www.military.com/history/legacy-gi-bill.html

Weekend Wait

^ And a long holiday weekend at that. ^

Disabled Costumes

From Disability Scoop:

“Target Offering Costumes For Kids With Special Needs”

The Halloween costume search just got a little easier for kids with disabilities. Target is offering a selection of costumes designed specifically for children with various special needs. The adaptive collection — which features everything from princess to pirate outfits — includes sensory-friendly looks with flat seams and no tags as well as costumes designed to blend with a wheelchair or walker. What’s more, some costumes in the Hyde & EEK! Boutique offer large openings for easy dressing and a hidden spot in the front for abdominal access. “Every child deserves to bask in the fun of a special moment,” said Julie Guggemos, senior vice president of owned brand management and product design at Target. “We hope these creations will spark some huge smiles — and bring a little extra joy to our guests’ everyday lives.” Guggemos said the costumes build on the success of the adaptive and sensory-friendly children’s clothing options that Target has rolled out in recent years. And, Guggemos said the Halloween styles have already proven a hit. When they became available for pre-order on Target’s website recently, several items sold out within days. But, the retailer said it’s working to get the costumes back in stock online by early October.

^ This is great because it will give more options to children to celebrate Halloween. ^

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2019/08/27/target-costumes-kids-special-needs/27070/

Storm's Path

^ This reaffirms why I would never want to live in Florida or anywhere in the Hurricane Belt. I will take Nor'easter snowstorms any day. ^

Citizenship Change

From Military.com:

Here's Who's Affected by New Citizenship Policy for Children of Troops Serving Overseas 

A policy clarification from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service published Wednesday does not revoke automatic citizenship for children of U.S. citizens born abroad, including troops and federal workers, Homeland Security Department officials said Wednesday. But it will make adoptions and paperwork more complicated for some families of U.S. service members and as well as citizens who haven't been in the U.S. for a while. USCIS issued a policy alert Wednesday that changes and spells out what it considers residency in provisions related to citizenship. The policy states that "Effective October 29, 2019, children residing abroad with their U.S. citizen parents who are U.S. government employees or members of the U.S. armed forces stationed abroad are not considered to be residing in the United States for acquisition of citizenship. Similarly, leave taken in the United States while stationed abroad is not considered residing in the United States even if the person is staying in property he or she owns." The text of, and early reporting on, the new regulations ignited a ferocious backlash on the internet by those who interpreted them as a revocation of birthright citizenship for those born to U.S. government employee or troops serving abroad. The policy goes on to say that "U.S. citizen parents who are residing outside the United States with children who are not [emphasis Military.com’s] U.S. citizens should apply for U.S. citizenship on behalf of their children under [policy] must complete the process before the child's 18th birthday."

Here’s who the policy affects:

- Children who live with their U.S. parents abroad but who did not acquire citizenship at birth, including infants and children adopted overseas.

- Children born of non-U.S. citizens who are adopted by U.S. citizens.

- Those whose parents became U.S. citizens after the child's birth.

U.S. citizens who do not meet the residence or physical presence rules needed to transmit birthright citizenship, such as a person born overseas with birthright citizenship who never lived in the United States. Children who did not acquire citizenship at birth are not considered to be residing in the U.S. just because their parents are citizens, the policy states. Under the new policy, these parents will have to apply for U.S. citizenship for their child. According to the policy, a U.S. citizen born in the United States “generally meets the residence requirement as long as he or she can present evidence to demonstrate that his or her mother was not merely transiting through or visiting the United States at the time of his or her birth.” By law, most babies born to U.S. citizens overseas become U.S. citizens at birth. The new policy "[does] not affect anyone who is born a U.S. citizen, period," USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli said in a statement to Military.com. "This does not impact birthright citizenship. This policy update does not deny citizenship to the children of U.S. government employees or members of the military born abroad," Cuccinelli said. The policy does not affect children born of two U.S. citizen parents who have maintained a residence in the U.S. before the child's birth, nor does it affect those who have received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Citizenship acquired at birth; those born to a foreign national and a U.S. citizen parent who has physically been in the U.S. or one of its territorial possessions for at least five years; or unmarried parents if the U.S. citizen parent meets certain requirements. USCIS did not provide any reasons for the policy update, other than to "define 'residence' as it relates to citizenship for children of certain U.S. government employees and members of the U.S. armed forces who are employed or stationed outside the United States, to conform with the definition of residence in the Immigration and Nationality Act." "This policy aligns USCIS process with the Department of State's procedure, that's it," Cuccinelli said. It remains unclear how many children will be affected by the new rules, which go into effect Oct. 29, but it will have an impact on the families of U.S. troops who are not U.S. citizens and are not married to a U.S. citizen, as well as any children adopted by service members stationed overseas. From 1999 to 2010, roughly 80,000 non-citizens were members of the armed services. About 5,000 legal permanent residents join the armed services each year.

^ Talk about confusing. If you are born to even 1 US citizen parent that is officially stationed overseas (with the US Military or the US Federal Government) then you should automatically get US Citizenship regardless of how long your US Citizen parent did or did not live in the US prior to your birth. My sister could have had a problem with this when she was born too, but luckily both of my parents met the US residence requirement when she was born (which was even longer than it is today.) if they didn't then she would have had to become a naturalized US Citizen even though my Dad was on official orders overseas by the US Military before, during and after her birth. Talk about the US Federal Government saying “Thank You” to the men and women who risk everything and are forced to go overseas. This is a disgrace. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/08/28/heres-whos-affected-new-citizenship-policy-children-troops-serving-overseas.html

Germans Lacking Boots

From the DW:

“German troops wait 8 years for new combat boots”

Since 2016 the German military — the Bundeswehr — has planned to provide troops with new combat boots. Now soldiers must wait longer to be properly equipped, something one member of parliament described as "grotesque." German troops will have to wait until 2022 to receive new combat boots due to "limited production capacity in industry," media reported. The inability of the Bundeswehr to equip soldiers with basic footwear adds to a series of scandals over lack of equipment and questions over combat readiness in the NATO member.  Since 2016, the Bundeswehr has planned to provide soldiers with two pairs of "heavy combat boots" and one "light combat boot," instead of a standard "all-season boot."  The rollout was to be completed by the end of 2020, but has now been pushed back to mid-2022, Berlin daily Tagespiegel reported, citing a Defense Ministry response to a parliamentary inquiry. The Defense Ministry told the newspaper: "Due to limited production capacity in industry the schedule could not be kept." Frustrated soldiers and a defense system struggling to repair its way into a fully functioning military. And a new defense minister who will have to regain confidence from army representatives. According to the parliamentary inquiry, around 160,000 of 183,000 soldiers have received their first pair of heavy combat boots. However, troops have not received the second pair. Only 31,000 soldiers have been issued the light combat boot. "It seems quite grotesque that it takes eight years to equip troops with new footwear," said Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of parliament from the opposition Free Democrats who requested the information from the Defense Ministry. "After all, this is not a question of fashion but one of safety. Imagine firefighters extinguishing fires in slippers," she said.

 Germany's role in NATO

West Germany officially joined the trans-Atlantic alliance in 1955. However, it wasn't until after reunification in 1990 that the German government considered "out of area" missions led by NATO. From peacekeeping to deterrence, Germany's Bundeswehr has since been deployed in several countries across the globe in defense of its allies. Soldiers have complained about the comfort and quality of the standard-issue all-season boot. Some buy their own boots, which is against regulation but often permitted. The extended waiting time for the new combat boots was criticized by the Commissioner for Armed Forces, Hans-Peter Bartels, in his most recent annual report. "Unfortunately, the output process slightly diminishes morale," he noted. "Recruits, according to the perception of many senior soldiers, would be treated preferentially in the issue of new models." Seasoned soldiers, who still get the previous model when exchanging boots, feel like second-class soldiers, he said.

^ This is just one more sad fact the men and women in the German Military are forced to deal with. The former German Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, who was in office for nearly 6 years did little to nothing to give the right equipment, training or support to the German Military (including those fighting in warzones) and this November she will become President of the European Commission so you can imagine what she will do (or I should say not do) there too. Not only the Germany Military but the German Government does not seem able to meet the basic needs of the men and women working for them. You often read about all the German Government officials (including Merkel herself) who couldn’t make an important meeting or event because there was no working German Government plane. There is clearly something wrong going on within Germany that needs to be fixed right away – starting with giving basic things like boots to their soldiers. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/german-troops-wait-8-years-for-new-combat-boots/a-50191037

Dorian

 From the BBC:

“Tropical Storm Dorian: Puerto Rico braces for possible hurricane”

The US territory of Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency as it braces for a tropical storm churning through the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Warnings are in place for the islands of Martinique, Saba and St Eustatius. Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Dorian to develop into a hurricane in the next 24 hours. By Tuesday morning, the storm was 96km (60 miles) north-west of the island of St Lucia, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph (85km/h), according to the NHC. In Puerto Rico, a territory still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017, there are fears of power cuts and damage from strong winds.  Up to 15cm (6in) of rain could fall in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, where swells along coastlines could cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions", forecasters have said.  The governor of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez Garced, who declared the state of emergency for the US territory on Monday, has called on its more than three million citizens to prepare. About 360 shelters would be open across the island, the governor said.

Where is Storm Dorian expected to hit? 

The storm is expected to pass south-west of Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane, on Wednesday night.  "Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves close to Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola," the NHC said. On Thursday, Dorian is forecast to make landfall in the Dominican Republic, before moving past the Turks and Caicos and south-eastern Bahamas on Friday.  According to the NHC's latest projections, the storm could make landfall in the US state of Florida late on Friday night or early Saturday morning.  Tropical storm warnings have been lifted for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Why is Puerto Rico so concerned? 

Puerto Rico is still vulnerable after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island in September 2017, killing an estimated 2,975 people and causing a humanitarian crisis. A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggested Maria had caused $90bn (£73bn) of damage in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  Since Maria hit, Puerto Rico has struggled to repair its infrastructure and power grid, with Mr Trump signing a $19bn disaster relief bill for the island.  Ahead of Storm Dorian, Puerto Ricans have been alert to the dangers, stocking up on water, food and generators in preparation. Zaida Garcia, a resident on the island, told ABC News that "everybody's going bananas" as the storm approaches. "We can't afford another one, I'm telling you. We can't afford another one," she said.  In a statement, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said, although Dorian is less severe than Maria, it could still "have a significant impact".

^ Hopefully Puerto Rico and the other areas threatened by Doran will be spared any damage or death. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49486154

Dubbing Or Subtitles

Netflix Streaming dubs most of its shows and movies while Amazon Prime Streaming subtitles most of its shows and movies. Most of the time I prefer to watch a dubbed show/movie rather than read the subtitles. Right now I am watching «Лучше, чем люди» called "Better Than Us" in English (literally "Better Than People") on Netflix and guess how I am watching it - dubbed or subtitled? Neither. I'm watching it in the original Russian since I can.

Student Watching

From the BBC:

“Facial recognition: School ID checks lead to GDPR fine”

A watchdog has penalised a local authority for trialling facial recognition on high-school students in Sweden to keep track of attendance. The Swedish Data Protection Authority (DPA) fined the Skelleftea municipality 200,000 Swedish Krona (£16,800, $20,700) for flouting a privacy law. The trial involved tracking 22 students over three weeks and detecting when each pupil entered a classroom. This is the first time that Sweden has ever issued a fine under GDPR.  The General Data Protection Regulation, which came into force last year, classes facial images and other biometric information as being a special category of data, with added restrictions on its use. The DPA indicated that the fine would have been bigger had the trial been longer.  According to technology magazine ComputerSweden, Swedish authorities decided to investigate after reading media reports of Anderstorp's High School's trial. The local authority told Swedish state broadcaster SVT Nyheter in February that teachers had been spending 17,000 hours a year reporting attendance, and the authority had decided to see whether facial-recognition technology could speed up the process.

'Fairly safe'

The trial, which took place in autumn 2018, had been so successful that the local authority was considering extending it. Jorgen Malm, who oversees Anderstorp's High School and Naturbruk's High School for the municipality, told SVT that the technology was "fairly safe". According to the DPA ruling, although the school secured parents' consent to monitor the students, the regulator did not feel that it was a legally adequate reason to collect such sensitive personal data.  The regulator noted that although some parts of the school could be deemed to be "public", students had a certain expectation of privacy when they entered a classroom. It said there were less intrusive ways that their attendance could have been detected without involving camera surveillance. As a result, the DPA found that Skelleftea's local authority had unlawfully processed sensitive biometric data, as well as failing to complete an adequate impact assessment, which would have included consulting the regulator and gaining prior approval before .

^ This is a very creepy thing done by the school. I can understand using facial recognition to track criminals and terrorists, etc. but not for things like this. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49489154

NHC Inside Hurricanes

Why is the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida? That would be like having a National Volcano Center inside an active volcano.

Updating Parks

From CBC:

“More than trees and tents: Parks Canada looking to update its image”

Parks Canada will soon launch a brand refresh, aimed at placing more attention on national historic sites, such as the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. (Brett Ruskin/CBC) Parks Canada says it's best known for managing the country's national parks, but wants to let the public know there's more to the agency than just trees and tents. According to a request for proposals published last week, the agency is seeking to hire a contractor to refresh its branding.  "The organization currently has challenges in communicating its purpose and the broad range of its responsibilities in a consistent, clear and compelling way," the document said. In addition to Canada's network of 46 national parks, the agency is also responsible for 171 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas. The agency's brand recognition jumped in 2017, when it offered free admission to all its sites for Canada's 150th birthday celebrations. Still, much of the focus was centred on national parks. Beaver stays, but font and colour may change The broad goal of the project is to create a consistent brand identity. The hired contractor will be asked to consult with stakeholders and write a "corporate summary" — a single paragraph that explains what Parks Canada is, and what the agency does. Since the hiring process is underway, Parks Canada officials declined to do an interview. They did, however, answer questions via email. "This project will focus on consolidating the visual appearance and communications of the brand identity," wrote Megan Damini, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.  The project's scope of work asks the contractor to review the current brand's visual style, voice, colour and typography. The request for proposals lists the value of Parks Canada's signage at approximately $40 million. While the brand refresh will update many aspects of the agency's public image, it's likely the basic signage will remain unchanged, since the cost to modify it would be so high.  Specifically, the contractor will be asked to "consider the lack of Indigenous language support, and provide recommendations to renew Parks Canada's typographic standards, including the potential to commission a bespoke typeface."  However, "there are no plans to change the Parks Canada [beaver] logo," wrote Damini. The consultation phase of the rebranding will be complete next spring. The refreshed brand will be launched in early 2021.

^ A basic rebranding will hopefully show more Canadians and foreign tourists what Parks Canada has to offer and will entice more people to visit the different parks and historical sites (or to go back to ones they have already been to.) I've been to many parks and historical sites run by Parks Canada in: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and hope to go to many more (especially in different provinces and territories.) ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/parks-canada-branding-history-sites-1.5259701

Signed Books

I have a vast library (and even more books still in boxes from different moves.) While I have quite the collection my 22 books written and autographed by Holocaust survivors are my most prized. I got most of them while working at the Holocaust Museum in DC. I had an autographed book by Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel, but a co-worker gave it away by mistake (at least I got to talk one-on-one with Mr. Wiesel for just over 2 minutes and that can't be given away.) Of the 22 signed books I do have all of the writers have sadly passed away.

VA Legacy

From Military.com:

“Millions of Veterans to Be Memorialized Online in VA Legacy Project”

The Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this month launched the Veterans Legacy Memorial project, aimed at memorializing online forever the more than 3.7 million veterans interred at the 136 national cemeteries run by the VA's National Cemetery Administration. The project will begin with the basics on each veteran's memorial page -- name, dates of birth and death, dates of service and other information usually included on a headstone, according to a VA news release Monday. No final decisions have been made, but the future capabilities of the memorial project may include the opportunity for families, survivors and other veterans to add photos and share memories of the deceased veteran on the memorial page. In the future, veterans buried in private cemeteries with headstones provided by the VA may also be added to the online memorial, officials said in the release. "Veterans Legacy Memorial ensures 'no Veteran ever dies' by honoring the legacy of our nation's Veterans, not just in our cemeteries, but in a new and innovative digital setting," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement. "It enhances the onsite national cemetery experience and extends the experience to those who otherwise are unable to physically visit the cemetery." The National Cemetery Administration, working with the VA's Office of Information and Technology, built the architecture for the site, starting with the information contained on every veteran's headstone. The initial phase of the memorial project will allow the public to search the site for veterans, find out where they are buried and read the basic details of their lives and service, the VA said. The Veterans Legacy Memorial will cover only the 136 cemeteries administered by the National Cemetery Administration and does not include national cemeteries run by the military, such as Arlington National Cemetery, which is administered by the Army, or overseas cemeteries managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

^ The VA’s National Cemetery Administration already allows you to find a veteran and their spouse that have died and are buried in a National Cemetery on their website. It includes their name, birth and death dates and a short summary of their military career (or in the case of a spouse: the military career of their loved one.) I guess this planned Legacy Project will be slightly different in that it will have actual picture of the headstone – although this article doesn’t specifically say that. I think there should be a digital and accessible website that has the names (with a picture of their headstone and maybe a picture of the deceased) and birth/death dates and what they did in the Military for all veterans that are in a National Cemetery or received a headstone from the NCA and are not buried in a National Cemetery. I would also like to see a digital website that has the same for every veteran (living and dead.) That would be a much harder and bigger project. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/08/27/millions-veterans-be-memorialized-online-va-legacy-project.html

Starved Update

From the BBC:

“St Helens care worker jailed over starving patient death”

A care worker who left a severely disabled woman to starve to death at home has been jailed for gross negligence manslaughter.  Tracey Burrows, of St Helens, lied to bosses about her patient not being at home leading to cancelled care visits. Liverpool Crown Court heard Julie Cleworth, 43, who had had a stroke, was found dead on 9 February 2017 after four days without food or water. Burrows, 56, who denied the charge, was sentenced to three years in prison. Burrows was aware of Ms Cleworth's "total dependence on others", the judge said  Ms Cleworth - described by the prosecution during the trial as "helpless as a baby" - was put in bed by ambulance crews upon release from hospital. She was completely immobile and reliant on care workers for her basic needs, with a care plan requiring two care workers to visit her five times a day. Later that evening, on seeing Ms Cleworth's house in darkness, Burrows did not get out of her car to check on her. However Burrows, of Sherdley Park Drive, told her employers Unite Healthcare she had looked in every room of the house for her, the court heard. Subsequently, the firm cancelled care visits.

'Helpless in bed'

A post-mortem examination revealed Ms Cleworth had developed ketoacidosis, a condition in which toxins build up in the blood stream as a result of starvation. In sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt QC said: "Your neglect of Julie Cleworth set in motion an unbroken sequence of events which led directly to her death." He added Burrows "neither intended nor actually foresaw the consequences" of her actions "One can only image the terror which must have overcome Julie Cleworth as she lay helpless in bed, realising that she had been abandoned and left to starve to death." Following the nine-day trial, Ms Cleworth's mother Hilary Kenny said: "I've got justice for her." Det Insp Craig Turner of Merseyside Police said Burrows was "in a position of trust" and "has abused this trust". "Although this is a really awful series of events, I hope this sentencing brings some closure to Ms Cleworth's family."

^ This is a follow-up on an earlier post. While I am glad she was found guilty for her crime 3 years in prison hardly seems long enough for basically torturing (through starvation) a person to death. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-49482851

It's Monday

Suing Clerk

From Reuters:

“Kentucky clerk who refused same-sex marriage licenses can be sued”

In a 3-0 decision, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati said Kim Davis can be sued in her individual capacity, though sovereign immunity shielded her from being sued in her former role as Rowan County Clerk.  Davis claimed that Obergefell v Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, did not apply to her because she stopped issuing licenses to everyone regardless of sexual orientation, and the plaintiffs could have obtained licenses elsewhere.  But the appeals court called the Supreme Court decision “as sweeping as it was unequivocal,” and said the respective couples - David Ermold and David Moore, and Will Smith and James Yates - could try to show that Davis acted unreasonably.  “In short, plaintiffs pleaded a violation of their right to marry: a right the Supreme Court clearly established in Obergefell,” Circuit Judge Richard Griffin wrote. “The district court therefore correctly denied qualified immunity to Davis.”  The decision upheld rulings by U.S. District Judge David Bunning in Covington, Kentucky and returned the lawsuits to him. Both couples are now married.  Davis lost her reelection bid as Rowan County clerk last year. She is now retired, according to Mat Staver, the founder of Liberty Counsel, which represented her.  “At the end of the day, she will ultimately prevail. She had no hostility to anyone, given that she stopped issuing all marriage licenses,” Staver said in an interview.  “The broader issue is what accommodation a court should provide someone based on their religious beliefs,” he added. “It’s a matter of time before such a case goes squarely before the Supreme Court.”  Michael Gartland, a lawyer for Ermold and Moore, said his clients may ask the full 6th Circuit to review the sovereign immunity issue. “No matter what happens, we’re going to trial against Ms. Davis in her individual capacity,” he said.  Kash Stilz, a lawyer for Smith and Yates, said his clients were pleased their lawsuit can continue.  The appeals court also upheld a separate attorney fee award to other couples who were denied marriage licenses by Davis.  Both decisions came two hours after another federal appeals court said two Minnesota videographers, Angel and Carl Larsen, could sue the state for requiring them to film same-sex weddings though it violated their Christian beliefs.  The immunity cases are Ermold et al v Davis et al, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Nos. 17-6119 and 17-6233; and Smith et al v Davis et al in the same court, No. 17-6120 and 17-6226. 

^ This former clerk should be sued. When the Supreme Court made Gay Marriage legal throughout the whole country she refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples first. She openly discriminated against the couples because they were gay and in doing so she openly broke the law. She only stopped issuing marriage licenses to all couples later on. I really hope she gets sued and is used as an example of what public officials should not do. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-kentucky-weddings/kentucky-clerk-who-refused-same-sex-marriage-licenses-can-be-sued-idUSKCN1VD284

Andersonville

Andersonville

(A depiction of Andersonville Prison by John L. Ransom)

From February 1864 until the end of the American Civil War (1861-65) in April 1865, Andersonville, Georgia, served as the site of a notorious Confederate military prison. The prison at Andersonville, officially called Camp Sumter, was the South’s largest prison for captured Union soldiers and known for its unhealthy conditions and high death rate. In all, approximately 13,000 Union prisoners perished at Andersonville, and following the war its commander, Captain Henry Wirz (1823-65), was tried, convicted and executed for war crimes.

(Andersonville prisoners and tents, southwest view showing the dead-line, August 17, 1864)

Andersonville: Deplorable Conditions 

(A Union solider who survived Andersonville.)

The first inmates began arriving at the Andersonville prison in February 1864, while it was still under construction. The facility became necessary after the prisoner-exchange system between the North and South collapsed in 1863 over disagreements about the handling of black soldiers. The stockade at Andersonville was hastily constructed using slave labor, and was located in the Georgia woods near a railroad but safely away from the front lines. Enclosing some 16 acres of land, the prison was supposed to include wooden barracks but the inflated price of lumber delayed construction, and the Yankee soldiers imprisoned there lived under open skies, protected only by makeshift shanties called shebangs, constructed from scraps of wood and blankets. A creek flowed through the compound and provided water for the Union soldiers; however, this became a cesspool of disease and human waste.  Andersonville was built to hold 10,000 men, but within six months more than three times that number were incarcerated there. The creek banks eroded to create a swamp, which occupied a significant portion of the compound. Rations were inadequate, and at times half of the population was reported ill. Some guards brutalized the inmates and violence broke out between factions of prisoners.

Andersonville: Prison Commander Wirz Executed 

(Henry Wirz)

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee (1807-70) surrendered his Confederate forces to Ulysses Grant (1822-85) at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War. The following month, Henry Wirz, the commander of Andersonville was arrested for the murder of soldiers incarcerated at the prison during the war. Wirz was born in Switzerland in 1823 and moved to the United States in the late 1840s. He lived in the South, primarily in Louisiana, and became a physician. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the Fourth Louisiana Battalion. After the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia, in July 1861, Wirz guarded prisoners in Richmond, Virginia, and was noticed by Inspector General John Winder. Winder had Wirz transferred to his department, and Wirz spent the rest of the conflict working with prisoners of war. He commanded a prison in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; escorted prisoners around the Confederacy; handled exchanges with the Union; and was wounded in a stagecoach accident. After returning to duty, he traveled to Europe and likely delivered messages to Confederate envoys. When Wirz arrived back in the Confederacy in early 1864, he was assigned the responsibility for the prison at Andersonville. Wirz oversaw an operation in which thousands of inmates died. Partly a victim of circumstance, he was given few resources with which to work. As the Confederacy began to dissolve, food and medicine for prisoners were difficult to obtain. When word about Andersonville leaked out, Northerners were horrified. Poet Walt Whitman (1819-92) saw some of the camp survivors and wrote, “There are deeds, crimes that may be forgiven, but this is not among them.”Wirz was charged with murder and conspiracy to injure the health and lives of Union soldiers. His trial began in August 1865 and ran for two months. During the trial, more than 100 witnesses were called to testify. Though Wirz did demonstrate indifference toward Andersonville’s prisoners, he was, in part, a scapegoat and some evidence against him was fabricated. Nonetheless, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Just before he was executed by hanging in Washington, D.C., on November 10, 1865, Wirz reportedly said to the officer in charge, “I know what orders are, Major. I am being hanged for obeying them.” The 41-year-old Wirz was one of the few people convicted and executed for crimes committed during the Civil War.

(Andersonville National Cemetery, June 2011)

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/andersonville
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_National_Historic_Site

Homer's Quote

Homer to Queen Elizabeth II: "Americans are the children of the British. I know we don't call as often as we should, and we aren't as well behaved as our good two shoes brother Canada, who by the way has never had a girlfriend... I'm just saying." The Simpsons.

75: Paris Freed

Liberation Of Paris (French: Libération de Paris)

(As Allied troops enter Paris on August 26, 1944, celebrating crowds on place De La Concorde scatter for cover from small bands of remaining German snipers.)

After more than four years of Nazi Occupation, Paris is liberated by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. German resistance was light, and General Dietrich von Choltitz, Commander of the German garrison, defied an order by Adolf Hitler to blow up Paris’ landmarks and burn the city to the ground before its liberation. Choltitz signed a formal surrender that afternoon, and on August 26, Free French General Charles de Gaulle led a joyous liberation march down the Champs d’Elysees.

War Background:

Paris fell to Nazi Germany on June 14, 1940, one month after the German Wehrmacht stormed into France. Eight days later, France signed an armistice with the Germans, and a puppet French state was set up with its capital at Vichy. Elsewhere, however, General Charles de Gaulle and the Free French kept fighting, and the Resistance sprang up in occupied France to resist Nazi and Vichy rule.

Liberation Debate:

The French 2nd Armored Division was formed in London in late 1943 with the express purpose of leading the Liberation of Paris during the Allied invasion of France. In August 1944, the division arrived at Normandy under the command of General Jacques-Philippe Leclerc and was attached to General George S. Patton’s 3rd U.S. Army. By August 18, Allied forces were near Paris, and workers in the city went on strike as Resistance fighters emerged from hiding and began attacking German forces and fortifications. At his headquarters two miles inland from the Normandy coast, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower had a dilemma. Allied planners had concluded that the liberation of Paris should be delayed so as to not divert valuable resources away from important operations elsewhere. The city could be encircled and then liberated at a later date. On August 21, Eisenhower met with de Gaulle and told him of his plans to bypass Paris. De Gaulle urged him to reconsider, assuring him that Paris could be reclaimed without difficulty. The French General also warned that the powerful Communist faction of the Resistance might succeed in liberating Paris, thereby threatening the re-establishment of a democratic government. De Gaulle politely told Eisenhower that if his advance against Paris was not ordered, he would send Leclerc’s 2nd Armored Division into the city himself. On August 22, Eisenhower agreed to proceed with the Liberation of Paris. The next day, the 2nd Armored Division advanced on the city from the north and the 4th Infantry Division from the south. Meanwhile, in Paris, the forces of German General Dietrich von Choltitz were fighting the Resistance and completing their defenses around the city. Hitler had ordered Paris defended to the last man, and demanded that the city not fall into Allied hands except as “a field of ruins.” Choltitz dutifully began laying explosives under Paris’ bridges and many of its landmarks, but disobeyed an order to commence the destruction. He did not want to go down in history as the man who had destroyed the “City of Light”–Europe’s most celebrated city. The 2nd Armored Division ran into heavy German artillery, taking heavy casualties, but on August 24 managed to cross the Seine and reach the Paris suburbs. There, they were greeted by enthusiastic civilians who besieged them with flowers, kisses, and wine. Later that day, Leclerc learned that the 4th Infantry Division was poised to beat him into Paris proper, and he ordered his exhausted men forward in a final burst of energy. Just before midnight on August 24, the 2nd Armored Division reached the Hótel de Ville in the heart of Paris. German resistance melted away during the night. Most of the 20,000 troops surrendered or fled, and those that fought were quickly overcome. On the morning of August 25, the 2nd Armored Division swept clear the western half of Paris while the 4th Infantry Division cleared the eastern part. Paris was liberated. In the early afternoon, Choltitz was arrested in his headquarters by French troops. Shortly after, he signed a document formally surrendering Paris to de Gaulle’s provincial government. De Gaulle himself arrived in the city later that afternoon. On August 26, de Gaulle and Leclerc led a triumphant liberation march down the Champs d’Elysees. Scattered gunfire from a rooftop disrupted the parade, but the identity of the snipers was not determined.

Aftermath:

Food Crisis:

Whilst the liberation was ongoing, it become apparent that food in Paris was getting scarcer by the day. The French rail network had largely been destroyed by allied bombing so getting food in had become a problem, especially since the Germans had stripped Paris of its resources for themselves. The allies realised the necessity to get Paris back on its feet and pushed a plan for food convoys to get through to the capital as soon as possible. In addition surrounding towns and villages were requested to supply as much of Paris as possible. The Civil Affairs of SHAEF authorised the import of up to 2,400 tons of food per day at the expense of the military effort. A British food convoy labelled 'Vivres Pour Paris' entered on August 29 and US supplies were flown in via Orleans Airport before being convoyed in. 500 tons were delivered a day by the British and another 500 tons by the Americans. Along with French civilians outside Paris bringing in indigenous resources, within ten days the food crisis was overcome.

Resistance Over Collaboration:

The Uprising in Paris gave the newly established Free French government and its President, Charles de Gaulle, enough prestige and authority to establish a provisional French Republic. This replaced the fallen Vichy State (1940–1944), and united the politically divided French Resistance, drawing Gaullists, nationalists, Communists and anarchists into a new "national unanimity" government. De Gaulle emphasized the role that the French had in the Liberation and made it clear that Paris liberated itself rather than was freed by the Allies.  De Gaulle drove the necessity for the French people to do their "duty of war" by advancing into the Benelux countries and Germany. He wanted France to be among "the victors", a belief that they escaped the fate of having a new constitution imposed by the AMGOT threat like those that would be established in Germany and Japan in 1945.  On August 28th, the FFI, called "the combatants without uniform", were incorporated into the New French Army (nouvelle armée française). The New French Army was fully equipped with U.S. equipment, such as uniforms, helmets, weapons and vehicles, and they continued to be used until after the Algerian War in the 1960s.

In Popular Culture:

Filmography:

La Libération de Paris (1944):  La Libération de Paris ("The Liberation of Paris"), whose original title was L'Insurrection Nationale inséparable de la Libération Nationale ("The National Insurrection inseparable from the National Liberation"), was a short 30 minute documentary film secretly shot from August 16th to 27th by the French Resistance. It was released in French theatres on September 1s

Is Paris Burning? (1966)

Diplomacy (2014)

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-liberated

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Paris

75: Paris Liberation

(American troops march down the Champs Elysees - Paris, France -  Aug 29, 1944)

Barcelona Crime

From the BBC:

“Barcelona crime wave tarnishes boom in tourism”

Several violent robberies, including the mugging of a foreign diplomat, have drawn attention to a wave of crime in Barcelona that is alarming residents and the local authorities. The Afghan ambassador in Spain, Humayoon Rasaw, was robbed on Sunday night in central Barcelona, when several assailants threw him to the ground and took his watch. Mr Rasaw suffered a leg injury in the attack. A few blocks away, also on Sunday night, a 91-year-old French woman suffered head injuries when thieves grabbed her necklace.  Meanwhile, a German tourist was treated in hospital after being mugged two days earlier in the same area. Barcelona city hall's head of security, Albert Batlle, has described the situation as "a crime crisis", and statistics seem to confirm that this trend began well before the summer. Overall, crimes increased by 9% during the first six months of this year, compared with the same period in 2018.  Violent crimes were up 31% over the same period (with a rise of nearly 60% over the last three years), while robberies with force against businesses were up 66%.

'Out of control'

"It's time to admit the situation is out of control," said Luis Sans, president of an association representing businesses on the Passeig de Gràcia, a major street running through central Barcelona. But while the authorities and the police acknowledge that the Catalan capital is struggling to cope with this trend, they do not see one clear cause driving it. The Catalan government has agreed to step up police patrols in Barcelona  A city of 1.6 million residents, Barcelona drew 16 million visitors last year. Pickpockets and other petty criminals have long been operating in tourist-heavy areas such as the Ramblas boulevard and the Ciutat Vella neighbourhood that surrounds it.  An official at city hall says that the rise in crime in the city is "a collateral effect" of Barcelona's meteoric rise as a tourist hub since it hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. Yet the crime wave has also been attributed to the Spanish legal system. Courts' interpretation of a 2015 reform of the penal code means that first-time petty criminals rarely go to prison and even those caught reoffending will often pay a fine rather than going to jail, if they steal items worth less than €400 (£367). "The legislative and judicial powers are not managing to provide a response to a specific problem in our society: repeated theft," Andrés Maluelda, of the law firm Molins, told El Periódico newspaper. The current legal framework, he said, offers a degree of impunity to professional thieves.

Political wrangling

Others are blaming the presence of unaccompanied immigrant minors in the city.  Alberto Fernández of the conservative Popular Party (PP) said earlier this year that 80% of these children, who are mainly from Morocco, "end up in criminal circles and undermine coexistence" in the neighbourhoods where they live. Statistics supporting Mr Fernández's claim do not appear to be available and city hall, led by the leftist mayor Ada Colau, says no such link should be made. "The presence of these unaccompanied minors in Barcelona is a social problem," says a city hall source. "[But] we never associate their presence here with the increase in crime." Although the political opposition has accused Ms Colau of being soft on crime, she has boosted the city's security budget. Last year funding to fight crime increased by 16%, according to official figures, followed by a rise of 11% in this year's budget.  Also, the Catalan regional government has agreed to deploy 300 extra police to the city in September, following a plea from city hall, which said it lacked officers on the street. Besides thefts, an upsurge in violent deaths in recent months is also a concern. In June, a South Korean woman who was visiting Barcelona with a government delegation died from a head injury after falling when a thief grabbed her purse. Such incidents have brought bad publicity to a city loved for its sunshine, beaches, bars and monuments.  But its head of security insists the problem should not be exaggerated. "Barcelona is still a safe city in comparison with others, like Paris, London or Rome," said Mr Batlle. "This is a big, complex city and there are many factors at play," said a spokesperson for the Catalan police, pointing out that the force had increased its arrest rate in a bid to stem the rise in crime. "We don't believe there is one cause behind all this."

^ This is a sad trend. I have family and friends in Barcelona. Hopefully all the government officials (the Barcelona City Government, the Catalan Government and the Spanish Government in Madrid) will start doing more to make the city safe again. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49409625