Thank you to everyone who donated
something (their money, clothes, food, toys or their time) to any Charity or
Organization around the United States and the World on Thanksgiving (last
Thursday), Black Friday (last Friday), Small Business Saturday (last Saturday),
Cyber Monday (last Monday) or Giving Tuesday (yesterday.)
^ Here is how many (and the
longest a Raid lasted) Russian Air Raids each major Ukrainian Area has gone
through in just 9 months of this War.
Kyiv (the Capital of Ukraine) has
been bombed by the Russians 610 times for a total duration of 25 days, 16 hours
and 50 minutes.
What this doesn't show is how
many missiles and drone-bombs (estimated to be 4,700) fired on Ukraine or how
many Ukrainian Men, Women and Children have been killed by the Russians. ^
From Disability Scoop:
“Sensory-Friendly Santa Coming
To Hundreds Of Locations Nationwide”
(Liam Munnelly visits with Santa
during a sensory-friendly event at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Ill. in 2017.)
As the holiday season gets
underway, hundreds of malls will offer individuals with disabilities a special
opportunity to meet with Santa Claus without the hubbub that such visits often
entail. Roughly 500 shopping centers across the U.S. will host sensory-friendly
events with Santa this year. The reservation-only opportunities will largely
occur outside of normal business hours to provide a less crowded environment
and limit wait times. Santa and other event staff will be trained to
accommodate individuals of all ages with disabilities and lighting and music
will be reduced to ease sensory concerns, according to Cherry Hill Programs,
which organizes the Santa experiences.
Jennifer Schell Podoll, senior
vice president of constituent engagement at Autism Speaks, which helps put on
the events, said that sensory-friendly Santa offers families of those with
disabilities the opportunity to engage in a holiday tradition that many take
for granted. “At Autism Speaks we are dedicated to promoting solutions that
help create a world where all people with autism can reach their full
potential,” she said. “Our work with Cherry Hill Programs has brought us one
step closer to that vision in creating opportunities for every kid to be a kid,
and in allowing all families to embrace the magic of the holiday season.” Most
of the sensory-friendly Santa events will be held this coming Sunday and they
are open to “people of all ages and abilities,” organizers said. There is no
cost to register or attend, but there will be photo packages for sale. The
events are dubbed “Caring Santa” at Simon mall locations and “Sensitive Santa”
at Washington Prime Group malls.
^ It’s important that every child
be able to experience all the joys of the Holidays. ^
From the MT:
“In Photos: Russia's Autumn
Round of Military Conscription Gets Underway”
(A young conscript at the
Novosibirsk train station waiting to depart for military service.)
(Conscripts getting on a bus
outside a recruitment center in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.)
(A conscript puts on a uniform at
a muster station in the Kaliningrad region.)
(A Russian Orthodox priest
blesses young conscripts at a draft office in the city of Simferopol in
Russian-annexed Crimea.)
(A conscript departing from
Sevastopol looks through a train window as his family waves goodbye.)
Russia's autumn round of military
conscription began a month later than usual this year due to the country's
"partial" mobilization drive and is scheduled to run until Dec. 31.
The campaign, which enlists men aged between 18 and 27 for their compulsory
year-long military service, is one of two that take place annually in Russia.
But this year, many awaiting their call-up papers this year will worry what
exactly their military service might involve as Russia's war with Ukraine
enters its 10th month. The autumn call-up is expected to draft 120,000 new
conscripts into the army. Despite pledges from the military authorities that
none of the new servicemen will be sent to fight in Ukraine, there remains
widespread skepticism about the claim.
^ Every year Russia has 2 Drafts
(in the Spring and in the Fall.)
Every Russian Man 18-27 has to serve. Because
of Russia's War in Ukraine this year's Fall Draft of 120,000 Conscripts was
delayed.
On September 21, 2022 Russia
Mobilized (the first time since World War 2) between 300,000 to 1 Million Men
aged 18-70 and shipped them off to die in Ukraine after 5 days to 1 week of
training.
Russia lacks: modern weapons,
modern training, uniforms, food, transportation, body bags and coffins for all
of these Cannan-Fodder Soldiers who are expected to just go to Ukraine and take
a bullet before either being abandoned by Putin there or their Families have to
find ways to get their bodies brought back to Russia where they have to be
buried in secret since officially there is no War in Ukraine (only a "Special
Military Operation") and saying otherwise gets you sent to a Forced Labor
Penal Colony for 15 years.
Putin is already starting to
prepare Russian Children aged 6-17) to fight and die in Ukraine through
numerous brainwashing forced military activities in every Russian Elementary,
Middle and High School. Soon there won't be any Russian Men left except 6 feet
underground.
^
After watching "How The
Grinch Stole Christmas" my Dog wanted to dress-up as the Grinch and made
me be Max the Dog - with antlers. So we did.
From News Nation:
“What rights does the Respect
for Marriage Act protect?”
On Tuesday evening, the U.S.
Senate passed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that aims to
protect same-sex marriages in the U.S. on the federal level. Though the act
does not completely protect rights granted by the Supreme Court’s 2015
Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex unions, it does protect
some, should that decision be overturned. Getting federal protection on the
books gained further prioritization after the Supreme Court voted to overturn
Roe v. Wade earlier this year. While abortion rights under Roe were considered
by many to be settled via precedent, the overturn decision (Dobbs V. Jackson’s
Women’s Health Organization) added fuel to codify Obergefell — in addition to
Justice Clarence Thomas calling Obergefell “demonstrably erroneous” in his
Dobbs opinion.
Though the Respect for
Marriage Act as passed does not codify Obergefell, it does:
Protect existing same-sex
marriages, even if Obergefell is overturned
Ensure that all states must
recognize same-sex marriages as long as they were performed in a state where
same-sex marriage was legal at the time. The marriage would have to be
recognized as valid even if new same-sex marriages are banned in that state
Repeals the Defense of Marriage
Act, also known as “DOMA.” This controversial 1996 legislation federally
defined marriage as only between a man and a woman
Protect interracial marriages as
valid in all states, even if Loving v. Virginia, which overturned bans on
interracial unions, were to go the same way as Roe
The Respect for Marriage Act
does not:
Force states to issue same-sex
marriage licenses if Obergefell is overturned
Force states to recognize
polyamorous marriages (more than two partners)
Force nonprofit/religious
organizations to provide services to or for same-sex ceremonies
The U.S. Senate passed the bill
Tuesday evening in a 61-36 vote. Twelve Republican senators voted along with
Democrats to wrack up the 60 votes needed for approval. The Respect for
Marriage Act now returns to the U.S. House of Representatives for a second
time. The legislation was previously approved by the House but the
additions/clarifications around religious organizations and polyamory mean the
House must now re-approve it. The House vote is expected to come next week. If
approved, the legislation would move to Pres. Joe Biden’s desk for a signature,
which is expected. “With today’s bipartisan Senate passage of the Respect for
Marriage Act, the United States is on the brink of reaffirming a fundamental
truth: love is love, and Americans should have the right to marry the person
they love,” Pres. Biden said in a statement Tuesday.
^ Hopefully, the Supreme Court
doesn’t overturn Obergefell or Loving, but it’s good to know that if they make
those stupid decisions then there are Federal Protections that would be
in-place even in States that decide to go back to the 20th Century
and discriminate against Interracial Marriage and Gay Marriage. ^
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/what-rights-does-the-respect-for-marriage-act-protect/
From War Paws’ Facebook:
“War Paws is feeling
heartbroken.”
We have a very sad story to
tell….. On 08 Nov 2022 we learned the news that an American teacher living in
Baghdad with his family had been shot and killed. Stephen Edward Troell had been working at the
Global English Institute and he and his family were happy and settled when this
tragedy occurred.
Stephens family have returned to
the US but sadly had to leave behind Shadow the cavapoo whilst a plan could be
made to bring him home to them.
Shadow arrived with us last week
and is now in foster with our shelter manager and he is doing well and loving
being able to play with her dogs but we need to get this lovely little boy home
to his family where he belongs.
This is such a sad story to have
to bring you so close to Christmas but we would really appreciate your help in
getting him home. Qatar Airways have
kindly reduced the flight costs for Shadow but we do still need to raise £2100
or approx $2500 so we can make this happen.
Please help us to do this by donating if you can and sharing our posts.
This fundraiser will accept
donations in £, €, $ USD, CAD, AUD so please don’t be put off by the default
currency showing as £.
https://warpaws.org/donations/help-us-send-shadow-to-the-us/
^ This is very sad, but hopefully
will have a good ending. ^
A person I know from Russia – where I studied twice (I won’t post her name or picture so Putin’s Zs don’t send her to a Forced Labor Penal Colony for 15 years) told me her Grandmother’s story.
The Woman lost her Son during the
Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989.) He was Drafted into the Soviet Army. He was buried in secret and his Family were
forbidden, by the Soviet Communists, from speaking about it.
The Woman lost her Grandson
during the Second Chechnya War (1999-2009.) He was Drafted into the Russian
Army.
The Woman lost her Great-Grandson
during Russia’s War in Ukraine (2014-Present.) He was Drafted into the Russian
Army. He was buried in secret and his Family were forbidden, by Putin’s Zs,
from speaking about it.
The Woman not only realizes that
her Loved Ones are gone, but also that they all died a senseless death. None of
them died a Heroic or Moral Death, but as Cannon-Fodder as part of Soviet War
Crimes or Putin’s War Crimes.
From the BBC:
“Ukraine war: The surrender
hotline for Russian soldiers”
(A woman at Ukraine's
headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War)
The Ukrainian government has said
a scheme it created for Russian soldiers to surrender is getting up to 100
enquiries a day. The "I Want To Live" project was started in
September. By calling a hotline or entering details through messenger apps,
Russian troops can arrange the best way to surrender to Ukrainian forces. Officials
in Kyiv say they've had more than 3,500 contacts from invading personnel, as
well as their families. There's been an apparent increase since Russian
President Vladimir Putin mobilised hundreds of thousands of Russian men, and
since the city of Kherson was liberated. The BBC has been given recordings from
some of the calls.
As the dark hallways suggest,
Ukraine's headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War isn't immune to
the power blackouts which plague the country. In a small office we meet
Svitlana, not her real name, a Ukrainian call handler who speaks to Russian
soldiers daily. They can either get in touch over the phone or on most
messenger apps, such as Telegram and WhatsApp. She explains the evenings are
busiest, when troops have more spare time and can sneak off and make a call. "First
of all, we hear a voice, mainly male," she explains. "It's often
part-desperate, part-frustrated, because they don't fully understand how the
hotline works, or whether it's just a set-up. "There's also curiosity
because many call not to surrender but to find out how they could if needed.
It's different every time."
Svitlana isn't allowed to tell us
how many Russians she's helped, or exactly how it happens. They're just told to
share their location before being given further instructions. Some Russian
soldiers also get in touch to provoke them, she says, although she doesn't
think all of them believe the Kremlin's baseless claims that Ukraine is run by
Nazis. "We can't judge an entire country," she says. "The
majority of them are worried about their lives." Svitlana also recalls a
call from one man who lived in occupied Crimea and had been mobilised to fight
against his own family, and country. It seems Moscow has now blocked the phone
numbers from being reached inside Russia. Calls from either a UK or Russian Sim
card are greeted with an error message.
"Ask yourself a question -
what are you fighting for?" says the dramatic voice-over in Ukraine's
"I Want To Live" propaganda video aimed at Russian soldiers. Explosions
appear in sync with evocative music, and there are images of Russian soldiers
apparently surrendering before two phone numbers are shown at the end. They're
even told to wave a white flag if they're too close to the front line. This is,
of course, part of the information war. The anatomy of Ukraine's attempts to
weaken Russian morale. On the walls of Svitlana's office are pictures of
Ukrainian prisoners of war. They're all thought to still be alive, and this
hotline is central to Kyiv's efforts to bring them home. Once they surrender,
Russian prisoners of war (PoWs) can be used as currency in future exchanges. According
to the Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin is also carrying out more
prisoner of war exchanges as it tries to soothe critics from inside Russia. There
are thought to be thousands of PoWs on both sides, but the exact numbers aren't
clear.
(Vitalii Matviyenko, who leads the I Want To Live project, says it was created to help save lives of those who surrender)
"We especially want to
target the partially mobilised who not only can't fight but are thrown in as
cannon fodder," says Vitalii Matviyenko, who heads up the scheme. "This
project was created so their lives will be guaranteed if they surrender
voluntarily." For outnumbered Ukraine, it's also hoped it will soften the
belly of their larger invader.
^ Ukraine is doing everything it
can to both defend itself against the Russian missiles and bullets as well as
trying to save EVERY life. The more Russians that surrender the better it will
be for when Russia is eventually defeated. ^
From the BBC:
“Oath Keepers: Two members of
far-right militia guilty of US sedition”
The leader of a far-right militia
has been found guilty of plotting to stop US President Joe Biden from taking
office after the 2020 election. A jury found Oath Keepers founder Stewart
Rhodes guilty of the rare charge of seditious conspiracy following a two-month
trial. He plotted an armed rebellion to stop the transfer of power from Donald
Trump to Mr Biden, prosecutors said. Four more were on trial with him related
to the 2021 Capitol riots. Three of the group - Jessica Watkins, Kelly Meggs
and Kenneth Harrelson - went inside the building during the attack. Meggs was
also found guilty of seditious conspiracy on Tuesday. Both Rhodes and Meggs now
face a maximum 20 year sentence on the charges. Harrelson, Watkins and a fifth
member, Thomas Caldwell - were found not guilty of seditious conspiracy. All
five of the group members were found guilty of obstruction of an official
proceeding. Rhodes, who prosecutors say acted as a "battlefield
general" during the riots, was also found guilty of tampering with
documents or proceedings. He was acquitted of two other conspiracy counts. Supporters
of then-President Trump, a Republican, stormed Congress on 6 January 2021 in a
bid to thwart certification of Joe Biden's White House election victory.
So far around 900 people in
nearly all 50 states have been arrested for taking part in the riot. The
verdict comes after three full days of jury deliberation. The panel in
Washington DC met once before taking a weekend break for the Thanksgiving
holiday, before meeting for two more days this week. Speaking outside the
courthouse following the verdict, lawyers for Rhodes said they were not pleased
with the outcome, but that it isn't a clear-cut victory for the prosecution
either. "It's a mixed bag," said lawyer Edward Tarpley, adding he is
grateful the jury found the defendants not guilty on some counts.
This was the first conviction of
seditious conspiracy since 1995, when 10 Islamist militants were convicted for
trying to plant bombs at New York City landmarks. The Civil War-era charge was
first enacted to stop residents of southern states from fighting against the US
government. In order to be convicted of seditious conspiracy, prosecutors must
prove that two or more people conspired to "overthrow, put down or to
destroy by force" the US government, or that they planned to use force to
oppose US authority. Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of
Minnesota and a former US Department of Justice lawyer, said the conviction of
Rhodes is significant because it shows that a seditious conspiracy charge is
"a viable and legal path for punishing the most serious anti-democratic
conduct" in the country. He added the mixed verdict proves that juries are
able to apply the conviction responsibly. The verdict is also a confidence
boost for the justice department, Mr Rozenshtein said, in their quest to
prosecute more people in relation to the Capitol riots. Officials argued that
Rhodes stashed dozens of weapons in a hotel room in Virginia, just across the
Potomac River from Washington DC, and planned to bring them into the city in
the event of mass civil disorder. During the trial, defence lawyers said that
the fact the weapons were never used - or even brought into the city -
bolstered their argument that the Oath Keepers were on a purely defensive
mission, intending to protect protesters and keep the peace inside and outside
the Capitol. Among the defendants, two are from Florida, one is from Ohio and
one is from Virginia. Rhodes, the accused ringleader, is from Texas. The
attackers, as well as more than a dozen other members of the group, were found
guilty of seditious conspiracy. The Oath Keepers were founded by Rhodes, a
former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, and has sought to attract
to current and former members of the US military and law enforcement. Over the
past decade, members have shown up at a number of protests and armed standoffs
across the country. More Oath Keepers members, along with members of another
far-right group, the Proud Boys, will go on trial on seditious conspiracy
charges later this year.
^ This is a great step for the
United States to start to put aside the Attempted Coup by these Domestic
Terrorists. ^
I saw someone post complaining that they ordered something that was supposed to be delivered Same-Day, but is now delayed until tomorrow.
That must be so difficult to deal
with. When I order something online it takes at least a week to get to me.
That includes from Amazon (there’s
no 2 Business Day Delivery anymore.) Amazon flies their own planes to a major
airport just 1 ½ hours from my house and has a Distribution Center near there.
That includes ordering from
Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. and having it shipped to the local store and
then having to pick it up 6 towns away from mine.
Even if I don’t order something
and just go to a store the selection is not that great no matter where you go. That
includes driving 1 ½ hours to a city.
Whether it is coming from Boston
(3 hours away) or by a Distribution Center (1 ½ hours away) everything tends to
take 1 – 4 weeks to arrive. I have to plan ahead, as much as I possibly can, to
make sure I have everything when I need it.
Today is Giving Tuesday.
I like to help a Charity or
Organization that helps: Soldiers, the Hungry, the Sick, Military Families, the
Homeless, the Disabled, Veterans or Animals – or any combined group like Sick,
Disabled, Homeless and Hungry Veterans who have Animals.
If you need ideas on places to
donate (or buying their merchandise to support them) here are ones I support
with their links:
Kabul Small Animal Rescue:
NH Food Bank:
https://nhfoodbank.org/?fbclid=IwAR1khGnZaOJ4FozUo3sU9i7pSvEAWoI35QE5U1XZ0zdH7yfm7zVOopLc_SM
War Paws:
https://warpaws.org/fundraising/
Koda’s Mission:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/kodasmission
Carolina Waterfowl Rescue:
https://www.cwrescue.org/?fbclid=IwAR3JWX3yJBnk6Dy0J9E2kXnrahiet3Eipuw31V8WWrujgnsiclgynzdq4Go
Northeast Avian Rescue:
The Bridge House:
Toys For Tots:
https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/forms/simple/Default.aspx?sl_tc=homepage
Greater Good – Good Packs:
https://greatergood.org/good-packs
Greater Good – Ukraine Packs:
https://greatergood.org/our-response-to-ukraine-crisis
Habitat For Humanity:
Wreaths Across America:
Paralyzed Veterans of America:
The EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation:
https://eodwarriorfoundation.org/
The NH Humane Society:
https://nhhumane.org/donate?fbclid=IwAR2iteFsQc37_WG7l4d6j86qLGBZ2TOzUD35gzw2DuerBolELu5-0TsoG_w
United 24 – Ukraine:
https://u24.gov.ua/?fbclid=IwAR21Vtgcsl8KsbFiMhohdfDJ25vgvH1x1LiCEOI8Yp7thxX65qA8Kajr_Sc
If you can’t donate food, money,
clothes, etc. but still want to help then you could repost a Cause so others
can see it, you can shovel a Neighbor’s Walkway, you could just check-in on
someone whether you know them or not.
From Wreaths Across America’s Facebook:
Wreaths Across America Patriot
Pairs make a great holiday gift!
When you order a Patriot Pair -
one balsam wreath is sent to a recipient of your choice. Your purchase also
sponsors a second wreath that will be placed on the final resting place of an
American veteran on National Wreaths Across America Day!
Show that you support the mission
- or give a great gift! - and honor a hero at the same time:
^ I ordered one of these Patriot
Pairs this year. One wreath is going to honor my Sister-In-Law’s Father in Texas (who passed, but was a Veteran) and the other wreath is going to
my Brother and Sister-In-Law’s house in Colorado to honor my Brother and my Nephew
who are currently serving in the Military.
That is on top of the wreaths I
ordered to be sent to my Mom’s grave in New York (as a Military
Spouse), my Grandfather’s grave in New York (as a Veteran), my Great-Uncle's New York (as a Veteran) and a Complete Stranger’s grave here in my
State (as a Soldier.)
Wreaths Across America Day (when
all the wreaths are placed on the graves of Veterans, Soldiers and Military
Spouses across the United States) is December 17, 2022. ^
People are posting Christmas
pictures (since it's after Thanksgiving.) Here's the star that marks where
Jesus was born - The Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem, the West Bank (Israel)
- My Sister and I visited here on October 9, 2017.
When I was in 6th Grade I had a Teacher in Germany give me an F on my Chanukah Presentation - I will retell that whole story at a later date as I do every year. My Mom saw I was more concerned with getting the F (my first bad grade ever) than about the fact that the Teacher was Anti-Semitic.
My Mom sat me down and told me
about the Holocaust and that was one reason we were living in Germany. She then
told me that it wasn’t just the Germans who were anti-Jewish and it wasn’t just
during World War 2.
She told me a brief history about
the Anti-Semitic examples from different countries and in different time
periods. She told me about the Pogroms
in Czarist Russia, the Inquisition in Spain, the Anti-Jewish Campaign in
Communist Poland. She also told me about the KKK and other anti-Jewish hate
groups in the US.
She said that it didn’t matter
that we are Catholic. That many people (Friends and Strangers) were Jewish and
that we had to help them as we would help anyone who was being attacked.
My Mom’s example of helping
others and teaching me got me interested in the Holocaust and how people could
do these kinds of things to others.
It’s why I eventually worked at
the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, why I went to Israel and why
I have visited so many Holocaust places and memorials around the world: Canada,
the US, Aruba, the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Israel,
Cyprus, Ukraine, Russia, etc.
Anti-Semitism may seem like
something in the past yet it is not. It is a very real and dangerous trend that
come to the surface after being just below the surface for so many years. It is
not just an "Old World Problem" in Europe, but found in every single
Country including the United States.
From Now To Love:
“Windsor Castle unveils its
beautiful 2022 Christmas decorations!”
The Royal Collection Trust has
unveiled Windsor Castle's Christmas decor for 2022! The Grand Staircase of the
castle's State Apartments have been adorned with garlands while festive foliage
and wreaths have been fastened to gates and lampposts throughout the castle's
grounds. And in St George's Hall lies the heart of Windsor Castle's Christmas
decor: a 20-foot Nordmann Fir tree which is decorated with hundreds of
beautiful, glittering ornaments and twinkling fairy lights.
Visitors will be able to tour the
holiday displays throughout Windsor Castle and see all the wonderful
decorations for themselves. But those who visit the royal family's ancestral
home on December 8, 9 and 12, will be in for an extra special treat as carolers
are set to perform in St George's Hall (where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
had their wedding reception). If you're unable to make it in person, or just
can't wait to see the castle's decor, here are all the beautiful decorations
Windsor Castle has put on display this year.
^ This is very festive and nice
to see since this is the first Christmas since the Queen passed. ^
https://www.nowtolove.com.au/royals/british-royal-family/windsor-castle-christmas-75786
From Yahoo:
“Jill Biden Unveils White
House Holiday Decorations, Complete with Life-Sized Replicas of Commander and
Willow”
Jill Biden on Monday unveiled
this year's White House holiday decorations, the results of months of planning
and coordination between the first lady, the executive residence staff and a
team of more than 150 volunteers. The 2022 decorations are themed "We the
People," and feature 83,615 holiday lights, 77 Christmas trees, a
gingerbread house bedecked in 40 pounds of icing — and nods to the White House
pets: German Shepherd Commander and cat Willow. Dr. Biden unveiled the
decorations alongside National Guard families Monday, invoking the memory of
the Bidens' late son, Beau, a former member of the Guard. "As a fellow
National Guard mom and grandmom, I wanted to welcome National Guard families to
help us open this holiday season as my honored guests," she said.
"Your service is the embodiment of We the People."
In a welcome letter in the 2022 White House Holiday Guide, the president and first lady expanded on the theme, writing: "For this year's holidays at the White House, we hope to capture the spirit embodied in the very idea of America: We the People. During your visit to the People's House, through rooms full of history and holiday décor, in the mirrored ornaments and reflective lights, our hope is that you feel at home and find yourself in the great story of America. May the promise of We the People light our path forward into the New Year and bring us together always."
According to a press release, the
White House holiday planning began in the spring months, and Dr. Biden chose
the theme and inspiration for the decorations by mid-year. Each room of the
White House is decorated in this year's theme, which the White House explains
in a release is meant to symbolize "what brings us together during the
holidays and throughout the year." The East Wing Lobby, for instance, is
bedecked with holiday greenery and red cardinals — meant to signify the
presence of lost loves ones — lining its columns and beams. In another nod to
lost loved ones, the first Christmas trees featured on the White House tour are
adorned with mirrored Gold Star ornaments — a representation of fallen service
members.
In the China Room, decorations
like garlands of wooden spoons, measuring cups, rolling pins, and cookies
represent old family traditions. In the Vermeil Room, acts of kindness are on
display via oversized presents wrapped in patterned paper and spools of ribbon,
including two boxes in which replicas of the Biden family pets — German
Shepherd Commander and cat Willow — can be seen playfully hiding inside. The
Blue Room is anchored by the centerpiece of the holiday season: an 18½-foot
Concolor Fir that stands floor to ceiling and required the removal of a
chandelier to accommodate its full height. Adorning this year's tree are
handmade renderings of the official birds from all 57 states, territories, and
the District of Columbia, "illustrating the beauty and strength that comes
from unity," the White House said in the release.
In prepared remarks during
Monday's official unveiling of the decorations, Dr. Biden noted that her
travels across the country helped inform this year's theme. "Over the last
two years, I've traveled to almost 40 states — to rural counties and big
cities," she said. "Again and again, the Americans I've met have
shown me the Soul of our Nation. I've seen it everywhere I've gone: When our
country comes together, we are stronger. What we share is so much greater than
the things that pull us apart. The Soul of our Nation is -- and always has been
-- 'We the People.' And that is what inspired this year's White House holiday
decorations."
Among the other notable pieces of
holiday decor is the annual gingerbread replica of the White House, made with
20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 pounds of
pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate, and 40 pounds of royal icing. A new
addition to the White House collection this year is a menorah created by the
Executive Residence Carpentry Shop using wood that was removed from the
building during a Truman-era renovation in the 1950s. The White House expects
to welcome approximately 50,000 visitors during the holiday season.
Additionally, a variety of virtual interactive viewing experiences will launch
on digital platforms this year.
^ Regardless of who is President
I like to see what the White House looks like decorated for Christmas. This
looks very festive. ^
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jill-biden-unveils-white-house-155854506.html
I loved going to the School's
Computer Lab and playing "The Oregon Trail."
It was so fun to put the names of
people you didn't care for (especially your Teachers) and see that they died of
Dysentery or that a bear had gotten them.
From DW:
“Global governments urge China
to respect COVID protests”
The United Nations also called on
Chinese authorities to respond to protests "in line with international
human rights law," and refrain from arresting people simply for taking
part. The US, the UK and Germany were among several countries who expressed
support for protests in China over the country's zero COVID strategy.
What have world leaders said about the protests in China?
Washington supports the right of people in
China to peacefully protest, a US National Security Council spokesperson
said on Monday. "We've long said everyone has the right to
peacefully protest, here in the United States and around the world. This
includes in the PRC (People's Republic of China)," the spokesperson said.
"We think it's going to be very difficult for the People's Republic of
China to be able to contain this virus through their zero COVID strategy."
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Beijing to "take
notice" of the protest. "Protests against the Chinese
government are rare and when they do happen I think the world should take
notice, but I think the Chinese government should take notice," he said.
He added that it was "clear that the Chinese people are deeply unhappy
... about the restrictions imposed upon them." The co-leader of Germany's
Green party — part of Germany's ruling coalition — meanwhile praised the
protests, saying that they showed the "bravery" of many people. "It
is impressive and unusual to see that these protests are occurring and that
there are these slogans," Omid Nourpour said, referring to chants directed
against President Xi Jinping and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"Images [of the demonstrations] testify to the bravery and despair of many
people."
What are the reactions to arrests so far?
The UN called on China to respect the right to peaceful
protest. UN Human Rights Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters on
Monday that people should not be detained for simply protesting. "We
call on the authorities to respond to protests in line with international human
rights laws and standards. No one should be arbitrarily detained for peacefully
expressing their opinions," he said. The European Broadcasting
Union (EBU) also condemned the "volatile" situation concerning news
crews operating in China and attempting to cover the protests. "The
EBU condemns in the strongest terms the intolerable intimidation and aggression
directed against EBU member journalists and production crews in China," it
said in a statement. It referred to the arrest of and physical attack on
a BBC journalist covering the protests in Shanghai, as well as the
"harassment" of another journalist with the Swiss broadcaster RTS
while he was reporting live, among other cases.
How German businesses in China
reacted to the protests The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (DIHK) meanwhile condemned the zero-COVID policy's impact on German
businesses in China. "The lockdowns that have now resumed as well
as the increasingly protectionist economic policy are a major burden for German
companies in China," DIHK head of foreign trade Volker Treier told the
German dpa news agency in Berlin. He added that the lockdowns have
pushed several German companies to realign their supply chains and resort to
networks outside the country. He also noted Germany's dependence on
China for raw material, however, which stands in the way of abandoning the
Chinese market completely.
How did the protests in China start?
Protests broke out in Beijing and Shanghai over the weekend.
Demonstrators condemned strict lockdown policies aimed at containing the
COVID-19 pandemic. Demonstrations spread to various cities outside of
mainland China on Monday, as people showed solidarity with the protesters.
^ 1 Billion Chinese are finally
starting to stand up for themselves against their Communist Government’s stupid
and unsustainable Zero Covid Police which has been in place since 2019. ^
https://www.dw.com/en/global-governments-urge-china-to-respect-covid-protests/a-63919243
From EuroMaiden’s Facebook:
Today the ministers of foreign
affairs of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland
came together to Kyiv for a visit.
"We are in Kyiv today in
full solidarity with Ukraine. Despite Russia's bomb rains and barbaric
brutality Ukraine will win!" Lithuanian FM Mindaugas Mikulėnas tweeted.
"Back in Kyiv. Today I am
back to show Norwegian solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Our support for
the Ukrainians in their rightful struggle for freedom remains firm,"
Norwegian FM Anniken Huitfeldt tweeted.
From War Paws’ Facebook:
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday!
Giving Tuesday was created in
2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the last
decade, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of
people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
You can volunteer your time;
donate money; share your skills; campaign for something; donate goods, food, or
clothes; organise a community event such as a street or park clean-up or a
coffee morning. The list really is endless.
And on 29 November, BE PROUD!
Tell the world how proud you are to donate to, volunteer for or in any way
support a good cause.
We have set this fundraiser and
hope that people will help us out this Giving Tuesday but if you cannot donate
there is still plenty you can do to help us, you can share our posts, collect
some used postage stamps, sign up to Amazon Smile, Give as you Live and Easy
Fundraising and raise free donations whilst you shop or maybe head over to our
Don't Send Me a Card page and send greetings cards to loved ones!
Americans spent $9 Billion Dollars on Black Friday this year, $7 Billion Dollars on Small Business Saturday yesterday and are expected to spend another $11.2 Billion Dollars in the next 24 hours - for Cyber Monday.
That is $27 Billion Dollars in 4
days on just presents and non-essential items.
When you are buying so many
presents please take a moment to remember: the Veterans, the Homeless, the
Sick, the Hungry, the Elderly, the Disabled, the Ukrainians suffering in the
dark with no heat or water from Russian Bombs and Bullets and Animals.
Cyber Monday is a good day to
donate online to help those that need a little extra hand.
When people ask me my age I quote the line from the 1947 Christmas Movie "Miracle On 34th Street" and tell them that: "I'm as old as my tongue and just a little older than my teeth."
After watching a Holiday Movie in Ukrainian and Russian (which made me think about the 2 side dishes from my earlier post) I was also reminded about how I was awful using the Metric System when I was in Russia and Ukraine.
When I was in Russia they had a
strict system to buy food in the stores (except in the Modern Supermarkets.)
You couldn’t touch anything – everything was behind the counter. You would look
to see what each section had to offer (even the smallest stores had many
Sections – in a Food Store one section would be for milk, one for meats, one
for vegetables, one for frozen, one for drinks, etc.) Then you would go to the
specific Cashier Register (касса or Kassa) for that section and only tell the
price of everything in that section. Each price was put on a receipt and you
paid the total for that section.
You then took your receipt back
to the counter in that section and when it was your turn you told the person
the items you wanted and they marked the price off the receipt and then, for
some reason, tore the top and handed it back to you.
You had to do that in every
section of the store that you wanted to buy something. It took a lot of time and
a lot of thinking.
I would go to the Deli Section of
a Store and see what they had and then try to remember what a Kilogram looked like
in Pounds, etc. I then went to the Deli Kassa and gave them the price for each
item I wanted, paid for it and then went back to the Deli Counter where I would
tell them I wanted 3 Kilograms of cheese or meat (not realizing that that was
equal to 6 Pounds.) I was usually very surprised by how much food I always got –
sometimes I would be given 2 different kinds of cheeses or meats because I had
already paid for it and they didn’t have enough in-stock.
You also had to bring your own
bags. Some stores allowed you to buy cheap bags from them otherwise you would
have to go outside to one of the many old Women standing in the hot sun, the
rain or the snow selling bags - it was
how they tried to earn some extra money since their Government Pensions were
all but useless.
If the Old Babushkas weren't
selling you bags they were shoveling the snow, brushing the streets, clearing
the leaves or on their hands and knees handwashing the stairwells. Life in
Russia was and is very hard because they spend all their money on Foreign Interventions
(like Wars, Hacking, etc.) rather than taking care of their own Citizens -
including the Disabled and the Elderly.
It may not seem like a big deal to
buy 6 lbs. of cheese or 6 lbs. of meat, but you have to remember Russians, like
most of the world, buy their food every day or every few days. They don’t do a
big shopping trip like we Americans do and most of their food doesn’t have preservatives
to last that long.
When I was in Kyiv they mostly
had the Modern Markets with 1 Register for the whole place. I did buy some
cheese and meats that had to be weighed and paid for in Kilograms, but unlike
in Russia – where you paid first and then they weighed everything – in Kyiv
they weighed it for you so you could see how much you were getting and then you
paid for all your different items at once (like in the US.)
I am okay with using Celsius and
converting it to/from Fahrenheit, but I still have trouble with Grams and
Kilograms and converting them to/from Ounces and Pounds. If only the World used
our American Custom Units (I mean they use our Language, our Music, our Shows,
our Movies, our Clothes, our Food, our Money, our Technology, etc.) things
would be easier for everybody.
There are two side dishes I really miss having from my time in Russia (when I lived in Russia twice and visited Russia three other times) as well as having them when I was in Kyiv, Ukraine. I also got to have them in New York City, in Germany, in Cyprus and in Israel because of the all the Immigrants from the Former USSR living there.
Olivier Salad (Ukrainian: Салат
Олів'є - Russian: салат Оливье)
Korean-Style Carrots (Ukrainian:
Морква по-корейськи - Russian: Морковь
по-корейски)
They may only be side dishes, but
they were really good. I would go to the old-style Former State-Run Stores
where you can’t touch anything, to the indoor Bazaars, to the outdoor Bazaars
or to the Modern Supermarkets and get them on my way home from School.
There are so many different
versions of the Korean-Style Carrots and everyplace you would go would give you
a sampling taste. They were really good whether they were from a market or from
a Farmer.
I haven’t been able to find any
to buy here in the US (outside of NYC) or with nationwide delivery across the
country.
From Toys For Tots’ Website:
“75th Anniversary of Marine
Toys for Tots Program”
The 2022 holiday season marks the
75th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program! Please join
us in a special Nationwide celebration of this significant milestone.
For over seven decades, the Program
has evolved and grown exponentially having delivered hope and the magic of
Christmas to over 281 million less fortunate children. Now, in our 75th year,
the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program also provides year-round support
to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus helping
to fulfill the hopes and dreams of millions of families and children in need
across our great Nation.
This anniversary year will
provide opportunities to highlight the Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for
Tots Program on a National level with opportunities to share our rich history,
heritage, and the tremendous community support we receive each and every year.
We are proud to have this occasion commemorated by famous American Pop Artist
Charles Fazzino. The net proceeds from the sales of his official anniversary
poster shown below will go directly towards our mission.
Events and engagements across
the Nation will energize the American public and focus support to:
Highlight our extraordinary Reserve
Marines, past and present
Highlight the impact that the
Toys for Tots Program offers communities Nationwide
Highlight and thank community
leaders, Corporate Sponsors, organizations, and volunteers
Most importantly, support
children in need of every family seeking holiday help
Please join us in celebrating and
recognizing the extraordinary efforts of the Reserve Marines and countless
volunteers who have selflessly supported over 281 million children in need. We
ask you, our faithful supporters, to be in our ranks as communities across the
Nation come together in support of a common cause of helping children in need
through the Marine Toys for Tots Program. We are 75 years strong!
^ In the past 75 years the
Marines and Toys For Tots have given 627 Million Toys to 281 Million Children
that otherwise wouldn’t have had a Christmas or Chanukah Present.
You can donate a new, unwrapped
toy at countless locations across the US or even go online and pick out a
Virtual Toy to donate. ^
While Putin (in Moscow) lied to
Russian Mothers the other day (that their Sons died for a heroic cause and are
going to Heaven) snow blanketed Kyiv.
Even with all the Russian Bombs,
Drones, Missiles, Bullets and War Crimes and without Electricity or Water Kyiv
and the Ukrainians continue to hold both the Military and Moral Ground.
What's Advent
Advent is the period of four
Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to
Christmas Day!). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus
into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare
and remember the real meaning of Christmas.
There are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent.
The first, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came
into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second can happen
now as Jesus wants to come into our lives now. And the third will happen in the
future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not a baby. Advent Sunday can be from the 27th November
(which it was in 2016) to the 3rd December (which it was in 2017)! Advent only
starts on the 1st December when Christmas Day is on a Wednesday (which will
happen in 2019)! No one is really sure when Advent was first celebrated but it
dates back to at least 567 when monks were ordered to fast during December
leading up to Christmas. Some people fast (don't eat anything) during advent to
help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus's coming. In many
Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days and starts on
November 15th and is also called the Nativity Fast. (Advent also starts on
November 15th in Celtic Christianity.) Orthodox Christians often don't eat meat
and dairy during Advent, and depending on the day, also olive oil, wine and
fish. You can see what days mean now eating what foods on this calendar from
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In medieval and pre-medieval times,
in parts of England, there was an early form of Nativity scenes called 'advent
images' or a 'vessel cup'. They were a box, often with a glass lid that was
covered with a white napkin, that contained two dolls representing Mary and the
baby Jesus. The box was decorated with ribbons and flowers (and sometimes
apples). They were carried around from door to door. It was thought to be very
unlucky if you haven't seen a box before Christmas Eve! People paid the box
carriers a halfpenny to see the box. There are some Christmas Carols that are
really Advent Carols! These include 'People Look East', 'Come, thou long
expected Jesus', 'Lo! He comes, with clouds descending' and perhaps the most
popular Advent song 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel!'.
There are several ways that
Advent is counted down but the most common is by a calendar or candle(s).
Advent Calendars: There are many types of calendars used in
different countries. The most common ones in the UK and USA are made of paper
or card with 24 or 25 little windows on. A window is opened on every day in
December and a Christmas picture is displayed underneath. In the 19th Century,
German protestant Christians counted down to Christmas by marking 24 chalk
lines on a door and rubbing one off every day in December. Paper calendars were
first popular in Germany in the early 1900s, although people made their own
ones from the 1850s. There's a debate about exactly where and when the first
mass produced calendar was printed - but it was certainly in Germany in the
early 1900s. During World War II, the production of Advent calendars stopped
due to a shortage of cardboard. When they were first made, scenes from the
Christmas Story and other Christmas images were used, such as snowmen and
robins, but now many calendars are made in the themes of toys, television
programmes and sports clubs. Some of these types of calendar even have
chocolate under each window, to make every day in December that little bit
better! I used to like those when I was a little boy (and still do now!!!)! The
first calendar with chocolate in it was made in 1958, although they only became
really popular in the 1980s. Some European countries such as Germany use a
wreath of fir with 24 bags or boxes hanging from it. In each box or bag there
is a little present for each day. There are also now all different types of
Advent Calendars used to sell and promote different products including chocolate,
perfumes, alcohol and beauty products. You can even get advent calendars for
your pets with dog or cat treats in them! The world's largest advent calendar
was made in 2007 at the St Pancras Train Station in London, England. It was 71m
tall and 23m wide and celebrated the refurbishment of the station. The most
expensive advent calendar ever was made in 2010 by a jewellers in Belgium. It
was made of 24 glass tubes each containing some diamonds and silver! It was
worth about $3.3 million (€2.5 million | £2.1 million)!!!
Advent Candles: There are two types of candle(s) that are
used to count down to Christmas Day in Advent. The first looks like a normal
candle, but has the days up to Christmas Day marked down the candle. On the
first of December the candle is lit and burnt down to the first line on the
candle. The same is done every day and then the rest of the candle is burnt on
Christmas day. Lutheran Churches in
Scandinavia used 24 little candles to count down through December from the
1700s. An Advent Crown is another form of candles that are used to count down
Advent. These are often used in Churches rather than in people's homes. The
crown is often made up of a wreath of greenery and has four candles round the
outside and one in the middle or in a separate place. Sometimes a more
traditional candelabra is used to display the five candles.
One candle is lit on the first
Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so on. Each candle has a
different meaning in Christianity. Different churches have given them different
meanings, but I was taught the following:
- The first represents Isaiah and
other prophets in the Bible that predicted the coming of Jesus
- The second represents the Bible
- The third represents Mary, the
mother of Jesus
- The fourth represents John the
Baptist, Jesus' cousin, who told the people in Israel to get ready for Jesus'
teaching.
The middle or separate candle is
lit on Christmas Day and represents Jesus, the light of the world. In Germany
this fifth candle is known as the 'Heiligabend' and is lit on Christmas Eve. In
many churches, the color purple is used to signify the season of Advent. On the
third Sunday, representing Mary, the color is sometimes changes to pink or
rose.
