Monday, October 31, 2022
Trick Not Treat
^ If you see this clown come to
your house Trick-Or-Treating today please make sure to give him a trick and not
a treat. ^
Halloween Traditions
15 Spooky Halloween Traditions and Their Origins
Trick-or-treating,
Jack-O'-Lanterns, and creepy costumes are some of the best traditions of
Halloween. Share these sweet facts with friends as you sort through your candy
haul.
1. CARVING HALLOWEEN
JACK-O'-LANTERNS: Jack-O'-Lanterns,
which originated in Ireland using turnips instead of pumpkins, are supposedly
based on a legend about a man name Stingy Jack who repeatedly trapped the Devil
and only let him go on the condition that Jack would never go to Hell. When he
died, however, Jack learned that Heaven didn’t really want his soul either, so
he was condemned to wander the Earth as a ghost for all eternity. The Devil
gave Jack a lump of burning coal in a carved-out turnip to light his way.
Eventually, locals began carving frightening faces into their own gourds to
scare off evil spirits.
2. SEEING GHOSTS: Celtic people believed that during the
festival Samhain, which marked the transition to the new year at the end of the
harvest and beginning of the winter, spirits walked the Earth. Later, the
introduction of All Souls Day on November 2 by Christian missionaries
perpetuated the idea of a mingling between the living and the dead around the
same time of year.
3. WEARING SCARY
COSTUMES: With all these ghosts
wandering around the Earth during Samhain, the Celts had to get creative to
avoid being terrorized by evil spirits. To fake out the ghosts, people would
don disguises so they would be mistaken for spirits themselves and left alone.
4. GOING TRICK-OR-TREATING,
THE PAGAN WAY: There is a lot of
debate around the origins of trick-or-treating. One theory proposes that during
Samhain, Celtic people would leave out food to placate the souls and ghosts and
spirits traveling the Earth that night. Eventually, people began dressing up as
these otherworldly beings in exchange for similar offerings of food and drink.
5. GOING TRICK-OR-TREATING,
THE SCOTTISH WAY: Other researchers
speculate that the candy bonanza stems from the Scottish practice of guising,
itself a secular version of souling. In the Middle Ages, soulers, usually
children and poor adults, would go to local homes and collect food or money in
return for prayers said for the dead on All Souls’ Day. Guisers ditched the
prayers in favor of non-religious performances like jokes, songs, or other
“tricks.”
6. GOING TRICK-OR-TREATING,
THE AMERICAN WAY: Some sources
argue that our modern trick-or-treating stems from belsnickling, a tradition in
German-American communities where children would dress in costume and then call
on their neighbors to see if the adults could guess the identities of the
disguised guests. In one version of the practice, the children were rewarded
with food or other treats if no one could identify them.
7. GETTING SPOOKED BY BLACK
CATS: The association of black cats
and spookiness actually dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, when these
dark kitties were considered a symbol of the Devil. It didn’t help the felines’
reputations when, centuries later, accused witches were often found to have
cats, especially black ones, as companions. People started believing that the
cats were a witch’s “familiar”—animals that gave them an assist with their dark
magic—and the two have been linked ever since.
8. BOBBING FOR APPLES: This game traces its origins to a courting
ritual that was part of a Roman festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of
agriculture and abundance. Multiple variations existed, but the gist was that
young men and women would be able to foretell their future relationships based
on the game. When the Romans conquered the British Isles, the Pomona festival
was blended with the similarly timed Samhain, a precursor to Halloween.
9. DECORATING WITH BLACK AND
ORANGE: The classic Halloween
colors can also trace their origins back to the Celtic festival Samhain. Black
represented the “death” of summer while orange is emblematic of the autumn
harvest season.
10. PLAYING PRANKS: As a phenomenon that often varies by region,
the pre-Halloween tradition, also known as “Devil’s Night”, is credited with a
different origin depending on whom you ask. Some sources say that pranks were
originally part of May Day celebrations. But Samhain, and eventually All Souls
Day, seem to have included good-natured mischief. When Scottish and Irish
immigrants came to America, they brought along the tradition of celebrating
Mischief Night as part of Halloween, which was great for candy-fueled pranksters.
11. LIGHTING CANDLES AND
BONFIRES: These days, candles are
more likely than towering traditional bonfires, but for much of the early
history of Halloween, open flames were integral in lighting the way for souls
seeking the afterlife.
12. EATING CANDY APPLES: People have been coating fruit in sugar
syrups as a means of preservation for centuries. Since the development of the
Roman festival of Pomona, the goddess often represented by and associated with
apples, the fruit has had a place in harvest celebrations. But the first
mention of candy apples being given out at Halloween didn’t occur until the
1950s.
13. SPOTTING BATS: It’s likely that bats were present at the
earliest celebrations of proto-Halloween, not just symbolically but literally.
As part of Samhain, the Celts lit large bonfires, which attracted insects. The
insects, in turn, attracted bats, which soon became associated with the
festival. Medieval folklore expanded upon the spooky connotation of bats with a
number of superstitions built around the idea that bats were the harbingers of
death.
14. GORGING ON CANDY: The act of going door-to-door for handouts
has long been a part of Halloween celebrations. But until the middle of the
20th century, the “treats” kids received were not necessarily candy. Toys,
coins, fruit, and nuts were just as likely to be given out. The rise in the
popularity of trick-or-treating in the 1950s inspired candy companies to make a
marketing push with small, individually wrapped confections. People obliged out
of convenience, but candy didn’t dominate at the exclusion of all other treats
until parents started fearing anything unwrapped in the 1970s.
15. MUNCHING ON CANDY CORN: According to some stories, a candymaker at
the Wunderlee Candy Company in Philadelphia invented the revolutionary
tri-color candy in the 1880s. The treats didn’t become a widespread phenomenon
until another company brought the candy to the masses in 1898. At the time,
candy corn was called Chicken Feed and sold in boxes with the slogan "Something
worth crowing for." Originally just autumnal candy because of corn’s
association with harvest time, candy corn became Halloween-specific when
trick-or-treating rose to prominence in the U.S. in the 1950s.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Europeans Fall Back
To my European Friends/Family:
October 30th.
To my American and Canadian
Friends/Family: November 6th.
Past & Present Crimes
Today, in Russia, is The Remembrance Day for the Victims of Political Repression (Russian: День памяти жертв политических репрессий.)
It was observed by the Soviet Union
from October 30, 1991 until the USSR Collapsed on December 26, 1991.
It has been observed by the
Russian Federation since December 27, 1991.
Initially it only dealt with
remembering the innocent Men, Women and Children in the Soviet Union from
1917-1991 and in all the Eastern European Countries that the USSR occupied from
1945-1991 that the Soviet Communists falsely imprisoned, tortured, deported to
Gulags and murdered.
It is estimated that the Soviet
Communists murdered 15.6 Million Innocent Men, Women and Children in the USSR
alone. That number doesn’t include the Millions upon Millions of Soviet
Citizens that were imprisoned and lived or the Millions upon Millions of
Eastern Europeans living under Soviet Occupation that were imprisoned and lived
or imprisoned and murdered.
Since February 2022, the day also
remembers the Innocent Men, Women and Children in Russia that are actively and
publicly protesting the Ethnic Cleansing being done by Putin, the Russian Zs
and the Russian People in Ukraine and being sent to Forced Labor Penal Colonies
for 15 years.
It also remembers the Innocent
Men, Women and Children in Ukraine that are being imprisoned, tortured, deported
from Ukraine to Re-Education Camps inside Russia and murdered by the Russian
Occupation Forces.
It is estimated that the Russians
have murdered 29,125 Ukrainian Civilians since February 2022 (including in several
Massacres with their bodies dumped in Mass Graves like at Bucha and Izium.)
It is estimated that the Russians
have forcibly deported 402,000 Ukrainians from Ukraine and sent them to
Re-Education Camps inside the Russian Federation (including at least 84,000 Ukrainian
Children without their Parents.)
The Russians (whether they were
once called Soviet Citizens or currently Russian Citizens) have a long history
of Torture, Forced Deportation, Ethnic Cleansing and Murder of Innocent Men, Women
and Children.
Today, may be a Remembrance Day
inside Russia (although it is officially banned by Putin – since he has been committing
the crimes since 2000) it is important for everyone (especially Non-Russians)
to know and understand what the Russians did in the past as well as what they
are currently doing today: Torturing, Deporting and Murdering Innocent Civilians.
42,000
^ 42,000 Ukrainian Women defend their country
from the Russian invaders. 1,000 are in Command Positions.
Before February 2022, most were
Teachers, Doctors, Businesswomen, Housewives, Engineers, Students, etc.
Today they are fighting and dying
to protect their Families from the brutal Russian War. ^
Repression Victims
Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions
Today is Day of Remembrance of
the Victims of Political Repressions in Russia (День памяти жертв политических
репрессий.) It was officially remembered in the Soviet Union from October 30,
1991 to December 25, 1991 and in Russia since December 26, 1991.
The repressed were called the “Enemies
of the People” (Враги народа) by the Soviets. Punishments by the State
included summary executions, sending innocent people to Gulags, forced
resettlement, and stripping of Citizen's Rights. If one member of the family
was found to be an “Enemy of the People” then the whole family was considered
one and punished.
Repression was conducted by the
Cheka, the NKVD, the KGB and other State Organs. While Political Repression was
an everyday occurrence in the Soviet Union - as in all Communist countries -
there were special campaigns throughout the USSR’s existence (1917-1991.)
The Red Terror (1917 to 1922):
3,284,000 people murdered.
The New Economic Period
(1923-1928): 2,200,000 people murdered.
Collectivization (1928-1935):
14,400,000 people murdered.
Forced Psychiatry Treatments
Part 1 (1921-1955): 1,802 people murdered.
The Great Purge (1936-1938):
4,345,000 people murdered.
Holodomor Man-Made Famine
(1932-1933): 3,500,000 people murdered.
Katyn Massacre (1940):
22,000 Poles murdered.
Forced Population Transfers
(1930-1952): 389,521 Kulaks murdered, 400,000 Chechens murdered, 90,000
Poles murdered, 40,000 Soviet Koreans murdered, 5,400 Estonians murdered,
17,400 Latvians murdered, 28,000 Lithuanians murdered, 18,800 Finns murdered,
20,000 Hungarians murdered, 19,000 Karachais murdered, 228,800 Soviet Germans
murdered, 360,000 non-Soviet Germans murdered, 16,000 Kalmyks murdered, 23,000
Ingush murdered, 11,000 Balkars murdered, 195,471 Crimean Tatars murdered,
50,000 Meskhetian Turks murdered.
Gulags (1919-1953): 1.7
Million died as a direct result of their detention (doesn’t include those who
died from starvation, the extreme cold, forced labor, etc.)
Forced Psychiatry Treatments
Part 2 (1964-1989): Out of the 10,347 officially punished people 96% of
them were murdered through extreme usage of dangerous chemicals and medicines.
After Joseph Stalin died in 1953
and until Nikita Khrushchev was overthrown in 1964, the Soviet Government had a
process called Legal Rehabilitation (Юридическая реабилитация) in which
innocent men, women and children that were tortured, imprisoned and/or killed
or their relatives could apply to have them officially made full legal Soviet
Citizens again (with all the pensions and other benefits restored.
-
32 million men, women and children were officially Rehabilitated by the
Soviet Government from 1953-1964. 13 million of those were from the Russian
Civil War Period (1917-1923) alone. The vast majority of the Rehabilitated had
died during their official imprisonment.
From 1988-1991 different Soviet
Republics (like the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republics in April 1991)
of the Soviet Union created different Political Rehabilitation Laws. In 1993,
the Russian Federation created their first Rehabilitation Law.
-
From 1993 to 2004, the Russian Prosecutor's Office reviewed 978,891
applications for Legal Rehabilitation of which 797,532 were allowed and 388,412
were satisfied, 636,335 cases against 901,127 people were reviewed and 634,165
were recognized as victims of Political Repression and Legally Rehabilitated.
In 2004 the Russian Government stopped announcing official Legal Rehabilitation
numbers. That is when President Putin moved away from blaming Stalin and the
USSR to praising, promoting and
rehabilitating Stalin and the USSR.
Note: These are only the
men, women and children that the Russian Government has declassified that the
Soviet Communists officially admit to murdering from 1917-1991. The actual
number is much higher. It also doesn’t include the millions upon millions of
men, women and children that the Soviet Communists repressed and imprisoned and
that survived.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Special Books
From the 1800s until around the 1970s People around the world would cut-out articles and pictures from the newspapers and magazines and keep them either in a box or in special books to remember the important events and people of their time.
When I moved to my house in New
York I found a box containing 10 such special books from the 1920s-1960s. It
was really interesting to see. Since I couldn't find the Owner I still have
them.
I have seen other special books
from different countries over the years.
Since I started my Blog in 2005 I
have done a digital version of that. I keep a file on a USB Drive with what I
consider to be the important events and people of that year that I posted
about. I don't just copy and paste all
my blog posts from that year.
I have 15,740 saved in the past
17 years.
Friday, October 28, 2022
Honoring Help
From the AF Times:
“‘Part of our team’: 5
nonprofits honored for their military programs”
(Veterans Troy and Tracy Knowles
travel to a Phillies game on Aug. 17, 2019, as part of the PALS SkyHope's PALS
for Patriots program. Their volunteer pilot was Ken Conston. The organization
was honored Oct. 26 with a Fisher Service Award for Military Community Service.)
This year’s top winner in the
Fisher Service Award program connects volunteer pilots with injured and
disabled veterans and their caregivers — flying them at no cost to medical
centers, adaptive retreats and morale-boosting events throughout the eastern
U.S. “Our pilots love to fly veterans. … They look for the flights. They’re
passionate about giving back,” said Donna Collins, executive director of PALS
SkyHope. The organization provides the non-emergency medical flights to anyone
where distance is a problem, but for veterans, that expands to include other
programs that promote healing of the body, soul and mind, she said. The Fisher
Service Award for Military Community Service program provided a total of
$250,000 in grants from the Fisher House Foundation to PALS Skyhope and four
other nonprofit organizations for the innovative work they do to meet the
unique needs in the military and veteran communities. The five organizations were
chosen by a panel of judges from nearly 600 applications.
PALS SkyHope’s PALS for Patriots
program received the top award of $90,000, and four other nonprofits received
$40,000 each to expand programs that include free child care for military
families during medical appointments, training for military teen aspiring
entrepreneurs, no-cost comprehensive dental care for veterans, and grants for
extracurricular activities for military children. “The military service and
veteran service organizations are part of our team,” said Gen. John W. “Jay”
Raymond, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, in remarks at the
ceremony Wednesday, to an audience that included the current winners as well as
previous winners and other nonprofit organizations. This was his last public
event before his retirement ceremony Nov. 2, he said. Over the course of his
career, Raymond said, he’s witnessed many times where the work of nonprofits
has helped service members or their family. “It’s no exaggeration to say you
save lives and you change lives,” he said. “Nonprofits that take care of our
troops, veterans and families are essential to our nation. You are true
patriots. … “On behalf of all of us service members, we thank you. You make a
huge, huge difference. “Military life by its very nature entails sacrifice, and
not just by the service member, but by the spouse, the children, our loved
ones,” he said, citing the frequent moves, the separations, the multiple
schools, and high stress work environments that take a toll. Raymond said he
and his wife, Mollie, and their three children moved to Japan in the middle of
his daughter’s freshman year. She was assigned to write a one-sentence poem in
a class at Yokota High School. Raymond became emotional as he read that
six-word poem. “‘My dad serves and I follow’,” Raymond read. “It was very
powerful,” he said. To the representatives of nonprofits in the audience, he
said, “You are appreciated. Your work matters tremendously. Please keep doing
what you’re doing. We need you and we are a more ready and capable force, and
our nation is more secure because of you.”
(Space Force Chief of Space
Operations Gen. John Raymond speaks at the Fisher Service Award ceremony Oct.
26 in which five nonprofits serving the military and veteran communities were
honored. With him onstage are Dave Coker, president of the Fisher House
Foundation, and Kelly Facer, a senior vice president at Military
Times/Sightline Media Group.)
PALS for Patriots PALS SkyHope’s
PALS for Patriots program connects volunteer pilots with injured and disabled
military veterans and their caregivers to medical centers and events that
promote healing, Collins said. “It‘s important for their recovery. …
There’s a huge need out there, and treatment isn’t always close to home.” “We
would love to fly more veteran flights,” Collins said, “but awareness of our
program is one of our challenges,” adding that the Military Times Foundation’s
donation of $34,000 in advertising to each of the organizations will help with
that effort. Pilots volunteer their own time, their own plane and
furnish the fuel. For every dollar the organization spends, the pilots spend
$4, Collins said. An online system allows veterans to request flights. About 70%
of the flights are covered by the volunteer pilots. “If they can’t fly them, we
make sure to get them there on a commercial flight,” paid for by the
organization, she said. Since the program began, SkyHope has flown more
than 1,200 veterans and their families. SkyHope also has a relationship with
Major League Baseball, Collins said. “We coordinate with the various clubs to
make it a special experience for our veterans. Many of the clubs provide
skyboxes, give the veterans tours, picture opportunities and announce their
presence at the games.”
Armed Services YMCA For
decades, Armed Services YMCA has worked to provide child care options for
military families as one of its many programs, and junior enlisted families are
their priority. One child care option is no-cost drop-in care during medical
appointments. The “children’s waiting room” program is now offered at 12
locations, including a new one that opened at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Oct. 25,
said Dorene Ocamb, ASYMCA’s chief development and marketing officer. With
the $40,000 in funding provided by the Fisher Service Award, Ocamb said, they
hope to be able to open more locations. “We want the families to have this, so
they can take care of themselves,” she said. In most locations, the
program is in a small space within the medical facility, where families can drop
off their children at no cost for up to two hours as they go to medical
appointments or pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy. Reservations are
required usually about 24 to 48 hours ahead to reserve a spot. In some
areas, the children’s waiting room is located off the installation, perhaps at
an ASYMCA chapter. At Fort Hood, Texas, there are programs at Darnall Army
Medical Center and at two ASYMCA chapters off the base. This year, they’re on
track to provide care for about 4,000 children between the three locations, she
said. In the year since the children’s waiting room opened at Darnell,
the previous commanding officer of the hospital told ASYMCA they had seen a 30%
decrease in the number of no-show appointments, she said. “People are actually
able to keep their appointments when they have child care,” Ocamb said. “We
think this is a really important program for military families in helping them
get access to the health care they need, and helps the health care system
provide sufficient care to military families.” “Our goal is to be at
capacity every day,” she said. In some areas, where they don’t have the
children’s waiting room, such as San Diego, they provide a voucher for free
drop-in care at the installation child development center.
Everyone for Veterans Dr.
Theresa Cheng began offering a free dental day in 2008 to give back to the
community, and launched the Everyone for Veterans program in 2017. In the past
five years, the organization has provided dental care to more than 900 veterans
and their family members, said Jessica Elwell, the executive director.
Volunteers have logged nearly 5,800 hours of service across 34 states and have
provided nearly $1.1 million in comprehensive dental care and other essential
needs. The $40,000 award will be used to explore more opportunities to
help veterans and their families. “This grant makes a tremendous impact
in the services and the supports we are able to provide,” Elwell said. “With
this increase in capacity, we are looking forward to expanding our services to
more states, partnering with more dental professionals and dental schools and
serving more veterans than ever before.” Typically, a veteran in the
program will receive an average of about $3,500 in care, but there have been
cases where a veteran received as much as $50,000 in donated comprehensive and
restorative dental care. While the dental program is their primary
focus, they’ve also noticed there are other stressors for veterans that
volunteers may be able to address. The organization’s Wingman Program helps
point veterans to needed resources, and provides tangible goods and other
practical support, she said. Examples have included providing a mattress for a
veteran who had been sleeping in an armchair and giving warm weather clothing
and gifts to children of veterans during the holidays.
Our Military Kids Our
Military Kids was founded in 2004 to provide grants for extracurricular
activities to children and teens, ages 3 to 18, of deployed National Guard and
Reserve members and post-9/11 combat-injured service members. Each
activity scholarship is worth up to $300. “We are hoping to provide up to 133
OMK scholarships with this $40,000 grant,” said Michelle Criqui, marketing and
communications manager for Our Military Kids. Sports are the most common
activities they fund, she said, but they also send kids to fine arts classes,
camp, tutoring and many more. And there are some unusual requests they have
fulfilled, such as log rolling, bull riding, aerobatics camp, motocross,
sailing lessons, robotics competitions and opera singing. Since 2004,
OMK has provided more than 80,000 activity scholarships worth $31 million to
children and teens in all 50 states and four territories, she said.
The Rosie Network’s Kidpreneur
Camp The Rosie Network’s Kidpreneur program is one-of-a-kind effort,
offering full-service training and support to military teens, typically ages 12
to 17, who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs. The program was
launched in 2021 as a summer camp, and this $40,000 grant will help the
organization provide it year round, said Stephanie Brown, CEO and founder of
The Rosie Network. Each military teen will also receive a custom entrepreneur
workbook. The feedback “has been just out of control. It was amazing,”
Brown said. “There was no doubt we were going to do it again and just try to
grow it.” Kids today, especially military kids, have certain skills that
make them great entrepreneurs, she said. “They move, they have to reacclimate,
be the new person in town, and are outgoing.” They also tend to be
comfortable with technology. But it’s not just the program helping individual
military kids realize their entrepreneurial opportunities, she said. “It’s
really creating a network for them to help each other, to collaborate and
support each other. “That I find is the secret sauce, networking …
shared experiences, shared values,” she said. “Small business ownership
is the American dream. We’re helping to build the next generation of business
leaders. They will hire, they will give back and will in turn support military
families.” The teens can come to the program with an existing idea,
product or service, or they can come to the program in the concept stage, and
they’ll get help fleshing out their ideas, Brown said. “The first
Kidpreneur class I tuned in on, I couldn’t stop smiling. I had goose bumps,”
Brown said. “Why didn’t we do this 10 years ago?“
Military Times Foundation
partners with the Fisher House Foundation in the Fisher Service Award program,
previously known as the Newman’s Own Awards. “Military Times is proud to
support military-connected families and organizations like each of yours which
strive to improve lives of those in this community,” said Kelly Facer, senior
vice president for revenue operations at Military Times/ Sightline Media Group,
at the ceremony. “As is the case every year, our honorees exemplify the power
of community, cooperation and innovation in tackling the most important issues
for our nation’s heroes.” Since the program began in 1999, more than $2.75
million has been awarded to 200 nonprofits for innovative programs to improve
the quality of life of service members, veterans and their families. The Fisher
House Foundation is best known for its network of 93 comfort homes where
military and veteran families can stay at no cost while a loved one is
receiving medical treatment. The founder of that program, Zachary Fisher,
“taught us that there’s a dignity and majesty in the efforts of our armed
forces,” said Dave Coker, president of Fisher House Foundation. “It is well for
us to remember the noble deeds of those who have worn the uniform. That’s
something that guides us at Fisher House.” Over the past 20 years, Ken Fisher,
Zachary Fisher’s grand nephew, has continued that legacy. “Ken taught us that
‘thank you for your service’ is nice, but it’s not enough,” Coker said. “You
need to take that gratitude and put it into action in such a way that it
narrows that military-civilian divide. … “What I love about this [awards]
program is how we find others, other organizations and other leaders who are as
passionate and dedicated to supporting the military community as we are,” he
said. “It’s one thing to find them, and another thing to tell the story,”
adding that a big part of the effort is spreading awareness of what the groups
do. The judges for the awards were Mollie Raymond; Kelly Hokanson, spouse of
the chief of the National Guard Bureau; Tammy Fisher, trustee of the Fisher
House Foundation; Lynne Pace and Suzie Schwartz, both trustees as well as
spouses of retired generals; and Kelly Facer of Military Times.
^ It is important to recognize the hard work people and organizations/charities/companies do - especially when they are helping the Military and Veterans. ^
Poland Demolishes
From the DW:
“Poland demolishes 4 Red Army
monuments”
(Karol Nawrocki, president of the
Institute of National RemembranceKarol Nawrocki, president of the Institute of
National Remembrance)
Poland on Thursday dismantled
four communist-era monuments to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II.
The step comes amid historically strained relations between Warsaw and Moscow
that have deteriorated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "This is a
monument to disgrace, a monument of contempt of the winners over the
victims," the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, Karol
Nawrocki, said in Glubczyce, in the south of Poland, while workers were busy
dismantling the obelisk. "In 1945, the Soviets did not bring liberation,
they brought another captivity. They were capturing Poland and treating it as
booty," Nawrocki said, adding that the spirit of that system is still
present in the Russian Federation, which is killing civilians in Ukraine. Nawrocki
also stressed that Russian law prosecutes and sentences anyone removing Soviet
army monuments to up to three years in prison, even in foreign countries.Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the demolition of the monuments in Poland.
Symbols of domination Russia
argues that it liberated Poland when its forces drove out German Nazis at the
end of the war. Most Poles believe that the Soviet Union replaced Nazi occupation
with another form of repression. Since shedding communist rule in 1989,
Poland has been taking steps to remove symbols of Moscow's past domination from
the public spaces, and authorities have taken down several monuments and
plaques. Some have been moved to special storage. The drive does not include
cemeteries or current burial sites. Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier
this year has made the effort even more urgent. Poland supports Ukraine's fight
against Russia politically, militarily and economically. Since the
Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Soviet-era monuments have also been
dismantled or removed in Estonia and Latvia.
^ The Soviet Union and its Red
Army didn’t liberate Eastern Europe. They simply replaced one Dictatorship
(Nazi Germany) with another Dictatorship (the Soviet Union.) While the Nazis
occupied Eastern Europe for 6 years the Soviets occupied Eastern Europe for 46
years.
I agree that these monuments and
memorials should be removed, but they should not be destroyed or defaced. They
should be kept as historical evidence of the Soviet crimes – in museums
(including open-air museums) – where future generations can come and see what
evil was forced upon their country in the past. ^
https://www.dw.com/en/poland-demolishes-4-red-army-monuments/a-63576097
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Air Canada's Disability
From the CBC:
“Air Canada apologizes for not
letting blind woman fly with guide dog”
Air Canada is apologizing after
not allowing a passenger who's blind to board a flight from Toronto to
Minneapolis with her guide dog. Dena Wainwright, a 49-year-old Canadian who
lives in Minnesota, says she will never fly with the airline again after being
forced to leave Toronto by train, cross the border by car, and take a domestic
flight home, costing her more than $2,000. "Not to mention all of the
stress," Wainwright told CBC Toronto. "Being treated by Air Canada
employees like I was a criminal, like I was being held hostage, having them
speak to my daughter instead of me. Like I was too mentally impaired to have a
coherent conversation with the agent."
Wainwright's case isn't the first
time this year that Air Canada has run into controversy over the way it treats
passengers with disabilities. In September, CBC News told the story of Maayan
Ziv, an accessibility activist who travelled on Air Canada from Toronto to Tel
Aviv, only to find that her wheelchair was damaged after her flight landed. Wainwright works in technology and
accessibility as a vice president with Fidelity Investments. She's also
completely blind after being born with a genetic eye disease. Last week, Wainwright travelled to Toronto
from Minneapolis to celebrate her birthday with her daughter. She was also
travelling with her service dog Lilo, a five year-old black Lab. Wainwright says she was able to board and
travel on the Air Canada flight from Minneapolis to Toronto without any issues.
At check-in, Wainwright was asked if the animal was registered with the
airline, which she was not. "They said, 'Oh, that's OK.' They handed us
our boarding passes and said, 'Have a great flight,'" Wainwright said.
'It was humiliating. It was
demeaning' But when the group tried to board their return flight in
Toronto, Wainwright says the service dog was suddenly a major problem. She
says Air Canada staff told her that she could not fly with Lilo because she had
not filled out the paperwork required to bring a service animal in the cabin of
a plane. She says she was given the option of putting the dog in cargo,
which Wainwright says would not have worked since she relies on the animal for
help. According to Wainwright, the airline also said the dog could enter
the cabin if she "proved to them" that she had a disability by
presenting a National Institute for the Blind identification card. Wainwright
says she doesn't have a card, since she lives in the United States, where there
is no equivalent. "It was
humiliating. It was demeaning." Wainwright says she was also
offended by airline staff who, during the dispute at the airport, preferred to
speak with her daughter, who is not blind. In the end, Wainwright
travelled to Windsor, Ont., by train, crossed the border by taxi and went to
Detroit airport, where she was able to fly back to back to Minneapolis with
Lilo comfortably at her feet. "I
will never fly Air Canada again," she said.
Dogs must be registered, Air
Canada says According to Air Canada, service dogs must be registered with the
airline at least 48 hours prior to a trip. It's not clear why Wainwright wasn't
informed of this ahead of her flight or why she was able to bring her dog on
the first leg of the trip without any problems. Responding to questions
from CBC Toronto an Air Canada spokesperson called the situation
"regrettable" and said the airline has spoken with and apologized to
Wainwright. Dena Wainwright says she'll never fly with Air Canada again
after being stopped from boarding a flight with her guide dog Lilo. (Submitted
by Dena Wainwright) "Air Canada carries tens of thousands of
customers with disabilities successfully each year, but in this instance we did
not meet our usual customer service standards," the statement said. "We
do carry service animals but there is a process in place to ensure they are
certified in advance and it was not followed in this instance at the outset of
this customer's trip. We are reviewing internally why this customer was allowed
to travel initially without the proper documentation," the airline added.
Airline rules may vary Larissa
Proctor is a manager of guide dog advocacy with the Canadian Institute for the
Blind. They say guide dogs are commonly brought on board flights and should not
go in cargo as they are trained to curl up at a passenger's feet. While
it is common practice for guide dogs to fly in the cabin, Proctor recommends
that travellers find out the rules in place before travelling as they may vary
depending on the airline. "So
that might mean calling an airline in advance to find out what sort of forms
need to be completed. Typically they'll want some information about your dog,
like the breed and the weight of the dog," Proctor said in an interview.
They added that, on the other side, airline staff should treat people who
are blind like any other passenger and when in doubt about someone's
disability, they shouldn't hesitate to ask questions. "Most times,
particularly if you're talking to somebody who's blind or partially sighted, we
want to be spoken to directly as the customer," Proctor said. "So treat us like you would treat any
other customer."
^ Sadly, many airlines around the
world (like Air Canada) continue to treat the Disabled poorly. There should be
a Federal Law (in every country) and an International Law for International
Travel regarding the Disabled and traveling (by train, bus, plane, etc.) instead
of all the different rules by the Airlines, Bus Lines, etc.
Then when these Companies (like
Air Canada) mess-up they have to do a lot more than just apologize.
I have travelled with someone in
a wheelchair (never with a Service Animal) and know how frustrating, tiring and
embarrassing it is when you do everything right and are still treated like
trash. An apology is not enough and definitely won’t change things for the
better in future cases. ^
Final Approval
From Reuters:
“Final Mexican state approves
same-sex marriage”
(A man shows his bowtie as he
celebrates LGBTQ+ pride month with a massive wedding of same sex couples in
Mexico City, Mexico, June 24, 2022.)
Mexico's northeastern border
state of Tamaulipas voted on Wednesday to recognize same-sex marriage, making
it legal in every district across the country. The congress of Tamaulipas
approved to recognize equal marriage within its Civil Code, it said in an official
Twitter account. It comes the same month three other states approved the
statute, a long-awaited mark of progress for a country known for high levels
gender-violence. "Today is a historic day for the LGBTQ community and for
Mexico. Today we and our families are more visible, more equal, and we are a
country with more justice," said LGBTQ activist Enrique Torre Molina.
^ While some places (like Russia)
move backwards in time and make being Gay illegal again other places (like
Mexico) are moving into the future and giving Gays the same Equal Rights as
everyone else. ^
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/final-mexican-state-approves-same-sex-marriage-2022-10-27/
Russia Bans Gays
From the BBC:
“Russia to ban sharing LGBT
'propaganda' with adults as well as children”
(A pro-LGBT protest in St
Petersburg)
The controversial Russian ban
against promoting so-called "gay propaganda" looks set to be extended
to all adults. The move represents a toughening of an existing 2013 law, which
makes providing information about being LGBT to children a criminal offence. Those
convicted face large fines for promoting what Russia calls
"non-traditional sexual relations". The initial approval of the
extension was voted through by the Russian State Duma unanimously. Earlier this
week, officials had urged politicians in Russia's lower house of parliament to
enact the extension - portraying it as part of a broader battle over
civilisational values with the West and linking it to the decision to invade
Ukraine. Under the proposal, information about "non-traditional
lifestyles" or "the rejection of family values" would be
considered legally the same as pornography, the promotion of violence, or
stoking racial, ethnic and religious tensions. It also bans the "propaganda
of paedophilia" - which the Russian government often conflates with being
gay. Another element of the extensions prohibits information which might
"cause minors to desire to change their sex", a reference to
transgender people. If enacted, the law would allow any information on the
internet discussing LGBT topics to be blocked and films deemed to contain
positive depictions of being gay to be banned.
Human rights campaigners and LGBT
groups say the extension means that any act or public mention of same-sex
couples is functionally being criminalised. The wide-ranging ban also extends
to advertising and books - both non-fiction and literature - raising censorship
concerns from publishers, who have warned of the risk that it could even affect
classics of Russian literature. The law sets out fines of between 50,000
roubles (£705; $815) and 400,000 roubles, while non-Russians who violate the
ban face expulsion from the country. The bill has broad support but will first
be approved by the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation
Council, before it is ratified by President Vladimir Putin. On Monday,
politicians in the Duma heard claims from one of the law's key backers that the
information about LGBT people being shared with Russians was part of a
"hybrid war" being waged by the West against the country.
Alexander Khinshtein, the head of
the parliament's information committee, said Russians soldiers fighting as part
of the invasion of Ukraine were there to protect traditional Christian values. But
he saved some of his most trenchant criticism of the West for railing against
the cartoons South Park and Peppa Pig. He presented his colleagues with
screenshots of the TV programmes that he claimed were part of a war being
"waged against our society", directing his ire at the episode of
Peppa Pig in which Penny the Polar Bear appears with two mothers as a
particularly egregious example of this so-called propaganda. Khinshtein, an MP
from Mr Putin's United Russia Party, told the Duma that the "special
operation" - what the Russian government insists on calling its war in
Ukraine - is happening "not only on the battlefield, but also in the minds
and souls of people". His rhetoric follows that of the Russian president,
who has made being anti-gay a cornerstone of his domestic agenda and
authoritarian rule. In speech annexing four Ukrainian territories last month,
Mr Putin ranted about families with a "parent number one and a parent
number two" - in what has been interpreted as a criticism of same-sex
families. The head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has also
backed the new legislation. He has portrayed Russia's war in Ukraine as a
battle between those who support pro-Western gay pride events, and those who
reject them.
^ This isn’t that surprising.
Homosexuality was outlawed in the USSR until its collapse in 1991 and in Russia
until 1993. Even when it was legal Russians were scared of Gays and have been
attacking and killing them for decades. This only makes that fear legal. ^
Help Over Politics
From the BBC:
“Kevin McCarthy and Ukraine:
Could US elections impact on war?”
A warning by top Republicans that
they may reduce aid to Ukraine if they win control of Congress adds a
combustible ingredient to the looming vote. But would anything really change? A
video posted online by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence - set to the tune of US
heavy metal band Metallica - depicts what has emerged as one of the signature
images of the country's war with Russia. It shows the fiery streak of a US-made
rocket being fired upward, followed by a fireball lighting up the night sky as
it hits its target. The weapon, known as a High Mobility Artillery Rocket
System, or Himars, is one of 18 so far given to Ukraine by the US. It's part of
a huge assistance package of $52bn (£45bn) which is twice as much as all other
countries combined. Military experts and the Ukrainian government say this
support has been vital to their mission. "The Ukrainians would have been
overrun without it," said Mark Cancian, a former US Marine colonel and
defence expert at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. But
this pipeline of support could be thrown into doubt. Some Republican lawmakers
have questioned its merits as Americans struggle with rising bills.
What have Republicans said
about aid for Ukraine? Earlier in October, House Minority Leader Kevin
McCarthy - the top Republican in the House of Representatives - suggested that
a Republican-controlled Congress would be disinclined to write a "blank
check" for Ukraine. "I think people are going to be sitting in
a recession, and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," he
told Punchbowl News. Currently, his party are favourites to take control
of the House, the lower chamber of Congress which initiates all spending
resolutions, according to the US Constitution. As Speaker, Mr McCarthy would
decide which bills come to the floor for a vote. Other Republicans have
expressed similar doubts. In May, for example, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley
said that Ukraine aid is "not in America's interests" and
"allows Europe to freeload". The comments appear to have
highlighted divisions in the party, with former Vice-President Mike Pence
harshly condemning Putin "apologists" and members of his own party
that would "have us disengaged with the wider world". Similarly,
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has called on the White House to step
up assistance to Ukraine, saying the US needs "to do more to supply the
tools Ukraine needs to thwart Russian aggression". Notably, only
Republicans - 57 in the House of Representatives and 11 in the Senate - voted
against a $40m aid package to Ukraine in the spring.
Will the US actually withdraw
aid? There is growing concern in Europe about what might happen. "If
America pulls back, Putin could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat,"
Tobias Ellwood, a senior British MP who chairs the defence select committee in
parliament, told the Washington Post. But Ukrainian officials and
US-based observers say it is unlikely that aid will be significantly slashed in
the short-term, regardless of the outcome of the November election. Speaking
to the BBC in Kyiv, Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said that his
previous meetings with US lawmakers - which have included both Democrats and
Republicans - have left him confident. "I got a lot of signals that
it doesn't matter who will steer… bipartisan support for Ukraine will be
continued," he said. "I believe in that." John Herbst,
who served as US ambassador to Kyiv between 2003 and 2006, said Mr McCarthy
could be guilty of political posturing for the benefit of the right of his
party. "There's no doubt that on the populist, Trump side of the
party, there's scepticism about assistance to Ukraine, and even in a small
portion of that, some hostility to Ukraine, and some benighted respect for
Putin's Russia," he told the BBC. There is a good chance that
populist wing of the party will be stronger in Congress after the elections, he
added, but whether that pressure would lead to a cut in funding was an open
question. Democrats responded to the McCarthy comments by restating
their support but they have their own party rebels on Ukraine to keep in line.
A group of left-wing Democrats withdrew a letter that called for a
negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, after accusations they were
undermining President Joe Biden.
How does the US public feel
about the war in Ukraine? Polls suggest support is still high but there are
signs it has softened as the war drags on. Last month, 20% of Americans
said the US is providing too much help to Ukraine, according to Pew Research,
which is up from 12% in May and 7% in March. But there is still a large
portion of Americans in favour of continued assistance - 73% earlier this
month, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. While the long-term future of
US assistance to Ukraine is unclear, Mr Herbst said he believes public support
is likely to continue if politicians make a strong case. "You could
get both parties in the US, speaking in bipartisan terms and laying out the
dangers [of Russian actions in Ukraine]," he said. "If that
happens, I don't doubt that even two or three years from now, the American people
will remain all in as far as putting in the type of resources that we are
today."
^ The only thing that should
change between the US and Ukraine (whether the Republicans or the Democrats are
in power) is giving them more aid and weapons to defeat Russia.
Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing
doesn't have a political stance. ^
Thanksgiving Timeline
From NECN:
“Thanksgiving Timeline: When
to Shop, Prep and Cook for Thanksgiving Dinner”
Thanksgiving is about food,
friends and family. It’s also all about timing. Every home chef — and even
executive chefs — have a horror story about their turkey not getting done in
time. And that’s assuming you can find one. Save your shopping to the last
minute, and you might be having duck for Thanksgiving dinner (honestly doesn't
sound so bad, though...). To help you nail Thanksgiving dinner this year, TODAY
Food spoke with a few expert chefs with decades of experience, both personal
and professional, preparing America’s favorite feast. Whether you’re hosting or
bringing an assigned dish or two, grab a pen (or your iPad) because it all
starts now.
2-4 weeks out: Take stock,
make stock and order (or buy) your turkey Start zeroing in on the recipes
you want to try. “I like to have all my recipes selected or have an idea of
what I am serving by November 1st,” says Matt Abdoo, a frequent TODAY guest and
executive chef and partner at Pig Beach BBQ. You should also take inventory of
what you have in your pantry, and make a list of what you need. Now is also
time to start shopping. “The sooner you can do your shopping, the better,” said
Abdoo. “Anything frozen or shelf-stable, I make sure to buy at least two weeks
before Thanksgiving.” Erin Smith,
executive chef at Houston’s Feges BBQ (which boasts one of the best Thanksgiving
to-go menus in the city) also recommends you have your stock for the gravy and
stuffing made at this point. You can freeze it until Thanksgiving. “Having it
already prepared makes a world of difference,” noted Smith, who makes her
compound butters weeks, if not months, in advance, too. If you’re buying
it fresh, Max Tucci, author of "The Delmonico Way," also recommends
you order your turkey now. As long as you have room in your freezer, you can
buy a frozen turkey at this point, too. Then Tucci, who once made Thanksgiving
dinner for more than 100 people to bring them together after 9/11, says you
should make your menu. If you’re assigning dishes to others, you want to give
them at least two weeks to prepare.
4-5 days out: Buy your fresh
ingredients, start thawing your turkey and making desserts The weekend
before Thanksgiving is the start of game time. Start buying your fresh
ingredients, especially what you’ll need to prepare the side dishes you start
preparing two to three days out. It’s also when a lot of people start shopping,
so brace yourself. To beat the crowds, shop first thing in the morning or late
at night. “I like to shop usually an hour before a supermarket closes,” said
Tucci, who recommends you “stay away from midday” if you want a less stressful
experience.
Start thawing your frozen turkey
now, too. “The best and safest way to defrost your turkey is in your
refrigerator,” Abdoo said. “It usually takes around one day for every five
pounds.” For a 15-pound turkey, that would be three days. However, Abdoo likes
to be on the safe side and pull it out of the freezer a day or two early and
keep it in the fridge. According to Smith, now is also the best time to start
making the sweet stuff on your menu. “Desserts should be made first,” said
Smith, who insists you don’t have to worry about them getting stale. “The sugar
and fat help to keep desserts tasting and looking fresh.”
Remember: Desserts don’t have to
be homemade to be a hit. “For pies and cakes, I say, 'Why bake for yourself
when someone else can?'" said Tucci. If you go this route, order desserts
from your local bakery now.
2-3 days out: Start on your
sides and gather your remaining ingredients Unless you thrive under
pressure, start your sides on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
“Start with sides that reheat well,” recommended Smith. “Examples include
mashed potatoes, braised greens and green bean casserole.” This is also
when Abdoo makes his cranberry sauce (although he says canned cranberry sauce
is delicious). If you don’t want to start your sides this early, or you don’t
have time, at least make sure you have all of your ingredients on hand.
The day before: Peel and
cut your potatoes, clean and decorate your home, and start brining your turkey Thanksgiving
eve will be a busy day. If you haven’t started yet, peel and cut your potatoes.
Potatoes for mashed potatoes should be stored in the fridge, covered for water,
until you’re ready to cook them. Sweet potatoes should be stored, covered, in
their baking dish in the fridge. Basically, anything you want to cook or reheat
in the oven on Thanksgiving Day can be prepared today and stored in the fridge,
covered, in their baking or serving dish. You should also use this day to clean
and decorate, including setting your table. Smith always has her table set by
this point, despite having a 3-year-old in the house, because she knows she’s
going to spend most of the following day in the kitchen. The night before
Thanksgiving is when you want to start brining your turkey, whether you’re
using a wet brine or a dry brine. It needs to brine overnight.
Thanksgiving Day: Bring
your turkey to room temp, cook it, make the rest of the meal — and enjoy! Because
it takes the longest to cook, start with your turkey. (TODAY Food’s guide to
cooking turkey is a great resource for everything turkey-related you need to
know today.) So how long does it take to cook a turkey? “It takes around 15
minutes per pound,” said Abdoo, who has won national championships for
preparing poultry. So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, allow it to cook for at
least five hours. If you have a 15-pound turkey, you’ll need close to four
hours. Abdoo recommends you take your turkey out of the fridge three hours
before you plan on putting it in the oven. “Remove the turkey from the brine,
pat dry with paper towels and smear with room temperature butter,” said Abdoo.
“Then you can season it with salt, pepper and chopped thyme.” This is also when
he stuffs the cavity with garlic cloves and herbs before allowing the turkey to
sit like this at room temperature until it goes in the oven. If you don’t have
three hours, that’s OK, too. One hour should be enough. “This allows the turkey
to come to room temperature,” said Smith. “It gives the skin some time to dry
out further which will help make it crispy in the oven.”
While your turkey is cooking,
focus on finishing your sides. Start with sides that take the longest such as
candied yams, stuffing and green bean casserole. Then, make the mashed potatoes
and a salad, if you’re having one. After you’ve checked its temperature —
turkey breast is done at 170 F and thighs are done at 180 F — you can carve
your turkey and make the gravy. “I like making the gravy last minute for a few
reasons,” said Smith. “First, I like to use the pan juices from the turkey.
Second, I’m usually drinking wine on Thanksgiving so I will already have a
bottle open for deglazing, and finally, a freshly-made gravy avoids clumping
and thickening.” Last, put your desserts that need to be warm in the oven on
low-heat. Smith likes to add a fresh garnish before serving.
^ This is a nice little guide to
help. ^
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
In Kind
If Russia uses a Dirty Bomb or a Nuclear Bomb in Ukraine than the West should use the same on Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yaroslavl and other cities in Russia.
I have been to those cities and
like them, but if Russia uses a nuke or a Dirty Bomb than the only way to
destroy that kind of evil is in kind.
Russia's Crimes
From Frontline PBS:
“Putin’s Attack on Ukraine:
Documenting War Crimes”
In a 90-minute special
investigation, FRONTLINE and The Associated Press go inside Russia’s war on
Ukraine and uncover harrowing evidence of potential war crimes.
“Putin’s Attack on Ukraine:
Documenting War Crimes” draws on original footage; interviews with Ukrainian
citizens and prosecutors, top government officials and international war crimes
experts; and a vast amount of previously unpublished evidence obtained and
verified by the AP — including hundreds of hours of surveillance camera videos
and thousands of audio recordings of intercepted phone calls made by Russian
soldiers around Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv.
From award-winning director Tom
Jennings, producer Annie Wong, AP global investigative reporter Erika Kinetz
and her AP colleagues, the 90-minute documentary traces a pattern of atrocities
committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, focusing on areas near Kyiv, such as
Bucha, where some of the most shocking carnage was found.
FRONTLINE and the AP uncovered exclusive
evidence that links possible war crimes in Bucha through the chain of command
to one of Russia’s top generals — evidence that prosecutors hope might help
build a case against Russian President Vladimir Putin in court. But the joint
investigation also explores the challenges of trying to hold Putin and other
Russian leaders to account.
“Putin’s Attack on Ukraine:
Documenting War Crimes” is a FRONTLINE production with 2Over10Media in
association with The Associated Press. The directors are Thomas Jennings and
Annie Wong. The producers are Thomas Jennings, Annie Wong and Erika Kinetz. The
co-producers are Taras Lazer, Timothy Grucza and Scott Anger. The writer is
Thomas Jennings. The correspondent is Erika Kinetz. The senior producer is
Frank Koughan. The editor-in-chief and executive producer of FRONTLINE is Raney
Aronson-Rath.
FRONTLINE is produced at GBH in
Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided
through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting. Additional support for FRONTLINE is provided by the Abrams
Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Park Foundation,
the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund, with major
support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation,
and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen.
^ No one (Russian or Non-Russian)
can claim to not know what Putin, the Russian Military, the Russian Occupation
Authorities and the Russian People have done and are doing to Men, Women and
Children inside Ukraine.
The Russians are raping,
kidnapping, torturing and murdering Ukrainians simply because they are
Ukrainian - it's Ethnic Cleansing, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.
Anyone who doesn't support
Ukraine in every way possible is also guilty of these War Crimes, rapes,
torture and Murder!
You can watch the evidence here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSFjGXKS59Q
^
KSAR: Fundraising
From Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook:
We've got a fundraising update on
the enormous amount of work done the past few months! We've put together an
incredible volunteer fundraising team with years of experience, and they've
been busy. Led by Molly S, members include Penny A, Jane G, Rebecca M, Norma W,
Renate V, Patti G, Mary W, Joan M, and Cherie G, and this is a rundown of the
ways we're raising funds, links to donation options, and what the team has been
working on.
Website: is up and
running, and we'll be updating and fleshing out the information there,
especially on our adoptable animals. Through this website, we'll be sending out
monthly updates and newsletters, and people can sign up to receive these and
keep up with our animals. In tandem with this, we're now using MailChimp
service to send out update emails and special funding requests for particular
programs and animals.
www.kabulsmallanimalrescue.com
Grants: our team is
checking for eligibility of grants in money and in supplies/equipment and
applying for all possible opportunities. KSAR is currently working with an
accounting firm to complete our IRS third-party audit for the 2021 tax year,
which will make us eligible for more foundations and funding opportunities.
Cuddly: we've been
fortunate to again have Cuddly assist us with fundraising campaigns, the latest
of which can be found at
https://cuddly.com/donate/4913545/kabul-small-animal-rescue
GoFundMe: our main
fundraiser is still up and running here, so please check it out and pass
around:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/kabul-operations
PayPal: We are now set up
to receive one-time and monthly donations at:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/...
My Giving Circle: we are
now registered as a charity eligible for their quarterly grants, based on free
voting by our supporters. In addition, we're now registered to accept donations
through their site, so please visit, vote weekly, and share around. We are
currently 500 votes away from being in the top 10 US Domestic Charities, which
gives us the chance at receiving a grant from them:
https://mygivingcircle.org/kabul-small-animal-rescue
Patreon: we will soon be
launching a Patreon site, through which we'll give subscribers extra updates on
animals and operations here in Kabul.
Merchandise: We'll soon
have a 2023 calendar available for purchase. We've also still got some
wonderful t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, mugs, and other fun stuff available
on Bonfire, including this:
https://www.bonfire.com/we-stand-with-ksar/
The lifeblood of this
organization and our savior this past year has been the steadfast backing of
our supporters, and we are honored to have all of you with us as we plow
forward and give our best to the animals here. Please keep up the incredible
magic you do that keeps our lights on and bellies full. If you have ideas or
opportunities you want us to look at or would like to get involved formally in
our fundraising efforts, please email the team at and let us know. We are in
this together!
hello@kabulsmallanimalrescue.com
^ KSAR is owned and run by an
American Woman who is still in Kabul over a year after the US and the rest of
the World fled the Taliban. They not only help animals who have Owners inside
Afghanistan they also help animals whose Foreign Owners (working for the different
US/Western Governments) fled the country. They also help abused and abandoned
animals get the treatment and homes they need and deserve. ^
Quebec Split
From the BBC:
“Canada: Quebec separatist
party calls for split with British monarchy”
(Bloc Quebecois leader
Yves-Francois Blanchet said he believes the monarchy in Canada is "a thing
of the past.")
With the upcoming coronation of
King Charles III, the Canadian province of Quebec is resurfacing a debate on the
country's ties to the British monarchy. On Wednesday, parliamentarians will
vote on whether Canada should sever ties with the monarchy, after Bloc
Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet tabled a motion that forced a
conversation in House of Commons about the Crown. His move follows the refusal
of 14 recently-elected Quebec politicians to recite an oath of allegiance to
the King during their swearing-in to the provincial legislature, as required by
Canadian law. Speaking to reporters, Mr Blanchet admitted that his motion is
likely to fail, but he said the failure will show Quebecers that federal
politicians "prefer to support the King than the people".
In Canada, the monarch - now King
Charles - is the head of state. The monarchy serves a mainly symbolic role,
with the power to govern entrusted to the Canadian government. Changing the
current system would need approval from both the House of Commons and the
Senate in parliament, as well as the unanimous consent of all 10 provinces Members
of Canada's governing Liberal party have already said they will oppose the
motion. While Mr Blanchet's motion may fail, the future of Quebec politicians
who refused to swear the oath to the Crown remains uncertain. Their refusal
could lead to a bill that seeks to redefine the requirement to take the oath of
allegiance in the province - if they are able to sit in Quebec's legislature at
all - and political watchers say they are eager to see how the dispute unfolds.
Quebecers have long-opposed
the Crown Quebec's relationship with the monarchy is complex. Many
Quebecers are in favour of Canada being a republic rather than a constitutional
monarchy - a sentiment that is tied to the province's history of being a
French-speaking region that was once under British colonial rule. The
province has twice voted against independence in referendums, and the push for
Quebec sovereignty has weakened over the years. But Quebec politicians have
continued to put forward policies that seek to define the province as distinct
from English Canada. When tabling his motion on Tuesday, Mr Blanchet
said he believes Canada's tie to the British Crown is "archaic." "It
is a thing of the past, it is almost archaeological, it is humiliating,"
he said. Frustration with the oath of allegiance to the Crown isn't new.
As early as 1970, members of the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois, a separatist
provincial political party in Quebec, had openly opposed it. Their
opposition led to the creation of a second, supplementary oath in 1982 that
also pledges loyalty to the people of Quebec. Since then, politicians in
that province have had to recite both oaths before taking office. In 2018, some
recited the oath to the Crown behind closed doors in protest. Mr
Blanchet, whose party represents Quebec interests in the federal House of
Commons, said many recite the oath only because they have to. "We
are a conquered people that still have to swear allegiance to a conquering
King," he said. This sentiment was echoed by the 14 members of
Quebec's National Assembly, who have not yet recited the oath ahead of the
assembly's commencement in November - an unprecedented number of politicians to
do so. "What's happening now is really dramatic," said Daniel
Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, who
added the politicians may not be able to sit or receive their salary without
reciting the oath. "The Constitution Act of 1867 clearly states
that to become a member of a provincial legislature, you need to perform the
oath of allegiance," Beland said. "There is quite a bit of
suspense about what will happen." Ewan Suaves, spokesperson for
Quebec Premier Francois Legault, said the law is clear that politicians must
recite the oath in order to sit. But added that the premier, too, opposes it. "We
agree that it's time to end the obligation to swear allegiance to King Charles
III, but it takes a Bill in order to do so. And to present or pass a Bill, the
[members] must sit," Mr Suaves said.
How does the rest of Canada
feel about the Crown? Opinion polls suggest Canada as a whole remains
divided on the monarchy. In an Ipsos survey conducted following the death of
Queen Elizabeth II, half of Canadian respondents - around 54% - said their
country should sever its ties with the Crown. That sentiment is
strongest in Quebec, where 79% agreed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
however, has said the monarchy offers his country "extraordinary
stability". In response to Mr Blanchet's motion asking Canada to
sever its ties to the Crown, Mr Trudeau said "there is not one Quebecer
who wants the [Canadian] constitution reopened." Mr Beland said
that at a time when Quebec's independence movement has weakened, there has been
more emphasis on symbolic assertions of sovereignty - like refusing to take the
oath of allegiance. He added the refusal to take the oath could be a way
to seize political momentum by the Parti Quebecois, who lost seats in the
recent election. "This is about broad principles, but this is also
a lot about political posturing," Mr Beland said. Amending the oath
requirement is also a complicated task, and there is disagreement among experts
on how it can be done. Some believe a bill passed by the Quebec National
Assembly would be enough to replace or amend the oath of allegiance. Others,
however, believe any changes to the oath would require an amendment of Canada's
constitution. The latter, "of course, is much more difficult to
do," said Mr Beland, as it would require agreement from all of Canada's
provinces.
^ I would like to see Canada hold
a Country-Wide Referendum on whether to keep the Canadian Monarchy or not. It
was one thing when we had Queen Elizabeth II (she should have only been known Queen
Elizabeth I in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, etc. since there wasn’t
a first Queen Elizabeth in those places) as the first Canadian Monarch, but now
with King Charles III (he should be known as King Charles I in Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, etc. since there wasn’t a first King Charles in those
places.)
Holding a Referendum would solidify
whether the whole country wants the Status Quo or not (the same way the 1980
and 1995 Quebec Independence Referendums did.)
I personally like a separate Canadian
Monarchy (the Maple Crown.) I just don’t think King Charles is good for Canada
or the other Commonwealth Realms. He is 73 years old and has spent decades publicly
going against what he, as Heir, was allowed to do under a Constitutional Monarchy.
He gives his personal opinions and that is for the Politicians – not the
Monarch. At 73 he hasn’t and won’t change doing that.
I would like his Son, William, to
become King of Canada instead. Not only does he seem to understand the modern
21st Century World, but also the Traditional Royal World as well as
what an Heir and Monarch is and is not allowed to publicly do in a Constitutional
Monarchy. ^
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