No Thaw Turkey

From Today.com:

“Butterball introduces cook-from-frozen turkey for a no-thaw Thanksgiving”

The largest turkey producer in the U.S. wants to save you time this Thanksgiving by eliminating the dreaded thaw. Butterball just introduced its Cook from Frozen Premium Whole Turkey, which customers can simply remove from the freezer and pop into the oven on the big day. The company says there’s “no thawing, no mess and no stress” involved in the preparation of its new product. “From frozen to fantastic,” reads Butterball’s product page. “No more need for planning days in advance to thaw, dealing with messy necks, giblets, or touching raw meat. Forget about basting or brining. That means more precious moments spent with loved ones and less time on kitchen stress.” Butterball tells TODAY.com that its cook-from-frozen turkeys are prepared with a specially-formulated brine (with water, sodium phosphate, spices and natural flavors, according to its website) that will keep the bird moist throughout roasting and that the neck and giblets aren’t included to make it easier to prepare. (Sorry to your gravy.)

Here’s how it works:

Remove the outer packaging and run the inner packaging under cold water while massaging it.

Remove the turkey from the inner bag by gripping and tearing it.

Place turkey on a rack in a 3-inch-deep roasting panbreast-side up.

Brush or spray turkey with oil.

This turkey doesn’t need to be basted, brined or seasoned, but if you’d like to add your own personal twist to it, you would sprinkle on your favorite flavorings at this point.

Pop it into a (recommended) 325-350 F oven. How long you cook it depends on its size, but Butterball recommends you start checking its temperature after 4 hours, until breast and thigh reach 170 F. The average cook time is about 5 hours, but ovens may vary.

And no, you cannot and should not stuff this turkey, as it would pose a food-safety risk. Your stuffing must be prepared and cooked separately, making it more of a dressing. The 70-year-old company says it doesn’t set prices at retailers, but the suggested retail price for its cook-from-frozen turkeys is $2.49 to $2.99 per pound. These turkeys will run 10 to 14 pounds, with an average of 12 pounds.

The new product is now available at Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and Publix stores, and can also be purchased at select Walmart locations and select Kroger and Kroger banner stores like Fred Meyer, Fry’s and Ralph’s. Customers can use Butterball’s store locator to find their closest retailer that sells it. Butterball’s new turkey is meant to simplify your holiday cooking schedule, but just so you’re aware, the FDA says it’s safe to cook a turkey directly from the freezer — it’s just going to take longer to hit your Thanksgiving table. “A solidly frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer to cook than a thawed turkey,” the FDA says on its website, adding that if a turkey is only partially frozen, it still will take longer to cook. Butterball’s cooking calculator estimates that a turkey can take anywhere from 2 hours to more than 6 to cook. So, unless you pop your 30-pound frozen turkey in the oven at least 12 hours before dinner, you might want to remember to thaw it. Nicole Johnson, director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line told TODAY.com that the ratio for thawing a turkey in your refrigerator is 24 hours for every four pounds of turkey meat.

^ This is interesting. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/butterball-introduces-cook-frozen-turkey-015543099.html

Jobs

^ Watch out for those that just want to scare you rather than actually keep you safe. ^

Zelenskyy's Plan

From the BBC:

“Zelensky presents 'victory plan' to Ukrainian parliament”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented MPs with a long-awaited "victory plan" that aims to strengthen his country's position enough to end the war with Russia. Zelensky told parliament in Kyiv the plan could finish the war - which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 - next year. Key elements include a formal invitation to join Nato, the lifting by allies of bans on long-range strikes with Western-supplied weapons deep into Russia, a refusal to trade Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and the continuation of the incursion into Russia's western Kursk region. The Kremlin dismissed the plan with a spokesman saying Kyiv needed to "sober up". Addressing MPs on Wednesday, Zelensky also criticised China, Iran and North Korea for their backing of Russia, and described them as a "coalition of criminals". He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "gone mad", describing him as bent on waging wars. Zelenksky said he would present the victory plan at an EU summit on Thursday. "We are at war with Russia on the battlefield, in international relations, in the economy, in the information sphere, and in people's hearts," he told parliament.

The plan outlined by Zelensky consists of five key points:

Inviting Ukraine to join the Nato military alliance The strengthening of Ukrainian defence against Russian forces, including getting permission from allies to use their long-range weapons on Russian territory, and the continuation of Ukraine's military operations on Russian territory to avoid creation of the "buffer zones" in Ukraine

Containment of Russia via a non-nuclear strategic deterrent package deployed on Ukrainian soil

Joint protection by the US and the EU of Ukraine's critical natural resources and joint use of their economic potential

For the post-war period only: replacing some US troops stationed across Europe with Ukrainian soldiers

Three "addendums" remain secret and will only be shared with Ukraine's partners, Zelensky said. In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, residents who spoke to the BBC were mostly supportive of the plan. "We should not give up territory," Anatoly said, adding that he hoped Ukraine would still have a chance to join Nato and would also get more support from its allies. Nadia said everything depended on what security guarantees Ukraine would be able to get. Another woman, Maria, stressed that "people want to end the war as soon as possible".

Zelensky's plan was presented to US President Joe Biden, as well as presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, back in September. Key allies such as Britain, France, Italy and Germany have also reportedly been shown the plan.

On Wednesday evening, Zelensky spoke to Biden to brief him about his "victory plan". He also thanked America for a new $425m (£327m) defence assistance package for Ukraine, which included air defence systems and long-range weapons. The White House said the package comprised "a range of additional capabilities", including air defence and artillery systems, as well as ammunition and hundreds of armoured vehicles. It said of Zelensky's "victory plan" that "the two leaders tasked their teams to engage in further consultations on next steps". Last month, US officials were quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that the Biden administration was concerned that the plan lacked a comprehensive strategy, and was little more than a repackaged request for more weapons and the lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles. Analysts both in Ukraine and the West have also suggested that the White House is keen to show that it wants to avoid further escalation with Russia in the run-up to the US presidential election.

But Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Zelensky's Servant of the People party, reiterated his leader's playing down of concerns about what a Trump win would mean for the war. He told BBC Newshour that "no matter who becomes the next American president, he or she will have to follow American interests and it is in the best American interest to support Ukraine".

Zelensky's conditions for peace are increasingly at odds with the situation which surrounds him. In front of MPs, he acknowledged the growing fatigue in his country. His own tiredness was etched across his face as he said that "victory has become for some an uncomfortable word and it’s not easy to achieve". National morale has gradually been crumbling under the weight of a mounting death toll, a controversial mobilisation law and never-ending Russian assaults on Ukrainian territory. It’s increasingly thought any peace deal would have to involve Ukraine conceding territory in exchange for security guarantees. However, there was no hint of a compromise to bring the end of the war closer. Instead, Zelensky doubled down on wanting to force Russia to negotiate and to not cede Ukraine’s territory, through the strengthening of his own military. Merezhko stressed that Zelensky's speech did not hint at any territorial concessions, which he described as "out of the question". He also claimed his extensive plan could be implemented with the agreement of his allies, and not Russia.

In public, Zelensky evidently still sees this war as existential, and warned of Russian President Vladimir Putin continuing to strengthen his position. He also seemed to frame his vision as an investment opportunity for Western allies in terms of natural resources and economic potential. The Ukrainian president wants his exhausted troops to keep fighting. But with his army so reliant on Western aid, his "victory plan" will need the approval of the next US president.

Reacting to Zelensky's plan, Nato's new Secretary General Mark Rutte described it as a "strong signal" from Kyiv. "That doesn't mean that I here can say I support the whole plan - that would be a bit difficult because there are many issues that we have to understand better." Mr Rutte added: "I am absolutely confident that in the future, Ukraine will join us [Nato]." Immediately after Zelensky finished speaking, the Kremlin rubbished his "ephemeral peace plan," saying Kyiv needed to "sober up". The only way the war would end was Ukraine to "realise the futility of the policy it is pursuing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

^ Ukraine needs to defeat Russia and the West (the US, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, etc.) need to continue to support Ukraine. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0z8gg5v14o

Trump's Health

From the AP:

“Trump would be the oldest person to become president. He's not sharing health details”

If he wins next month's election, Donald Trump would be the oldest person in U.S. history to be elected president. Yet the 78-year-old Republican nominee refuses to disclose new details about his physical or mental well-being, breaking decades of precedent. There have been limited snapshots of Trump's health over the last year. After he survived an attempted assassination in July, Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, a staunch supporter who served as his White House physician, wrote a memo describing a gunshot wound to Trump's right ear. And last November, Trump's personal physician, Dr. Bruce Aronwald, wrote a letter describing him as being in “excellent” health with “exceptional” cognitive exams. He noted that “cardiovascular studies are all normal and cancer screening tests” were negative. Trump had also “reduced his weight.” But those communications didn't address more fundamental questions about Trump's health, including his blood pressure, exact weight or whether he has continued using previously prescribed medication for high cholesterol — or even what testing he underwent. His campaign has also not disclosed whether Trump has been diagnosed with any diseases or received any mental health care after the assassination attempt.

That's giving his political adversaries, including Democratic rival Kamala Harris, an opportunity to raise questions about his age and ability to execute the duties of the presidency into his 80s. “It makes you wonder: Why does his staff want him to hide away?” Harris asked recently as she needled Trump for withholding medical records, opting against another debate and skipping an interview with CBS' “60 Minutes.” “One must question: Are they afraid that people will see that he is too weak and unstable to lead America? Trump's doctors have long been opaque about his health, such as when his team at the White House initially downplayed the severity of his 2020 hospitalization for COVID-19. His representatives ignored multiple requests from The Associated Press to provide more detailed information about his status for this story.

Drawing a contrast with Trump In an effort to draw a contrast with Trump, Harris released a letter from her doctor on Saturday that went into far more detail about her medical history including a list of exams and the results. The letter said she has no heart, lung or neurological disorders, is at low risk for heart disease and up-to-date on cancer screenings. She takes medication for allergies and hives. She wears contact lenses, and her only surgery occurred at age 3, when her appendix was removed during an intestinal-related procedure. While the letter didn't specify her weight, the 59-year-old vice president was declared to be in “excellent health” and to possess "the physical and mental resiliency” required to serve as president. Still, it’s unclear that age will be a significant factor for voters. Polls found that voters were significantly less concerned about Trump’s mental capacity and physical health than they were about President Joe Biden's when he was still in the race. Since Harris replaced Biden on the ticket, Trump’s advantage on the issue has diminished. The dynamic is ironic for Trump, who spent years assailing the 81-year-old Biden's age, depicting him as frail and unable to manage the challenges of the presidency. After a disastrous debate performance in June, Biden's fellow Democrats began openly raising similar concerns, ultimately prompting his decision to withdraw from the race and back Harris.

There’s no requirement that candidates release health data. But presidential nominees traditionally disclose medical records voluntarily given the demands of the job, particularly if there are concerns about their age. In 2008, Republican nominee John McCain opened more than 1,000 pages of medical documents for the public to examine. At 72, he would have been the oldest president elected to a first term. Facing scrutiny over his advanced age in 2019, the then-77-year-old Biden released a three-page note from his doctor. The last thorough report on Trump's health came in 2019, when he was still president. That checkup classified him as obese with a weight of 243 pounds and a body mass index of 30.4, which raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other problems. That report also revealed increased dosages of medication for high cholesterol. While Trump doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke, he has long avoided exercise other than golf and loves fast food. As for his family history, his father had Alzheimer’s disease late in life, one potential risk factor. Trump’s allies point to his active public lifestyle as evidence that he’s not on the decline. Trump is a frequent golfer and an engaged host during social functions. He takes questions from the press far more often than Harris. He often speaks for more than 90 minutes at his rallies, standing the entire time and often ignoring the teleprompter.

Trump often rambles through his public appearances Still, Trump's public appearances are often marked by rambling. He regularly confuses timelines, events and people. Trump has confused Republican rival Nikki Haley with former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He confused the location of a major military base. He mistakenly said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán led Turkey. Trump regularly acknowledges questions about his age and health during public appearances. On Sunday in Arizona, Trump mocked critics who declare him “cognitively impaired” because he “mispronounced a word.” “They say, He’s cognitively impaired!” Trump teased. “No, I’ll let you know when I will be. I will be someday — we all will be someday. I’ll be the first to let you know.” Without further information, simple life expectancy of the average American man shows Trump has about a 79% change of surviving a four-year term, said aging researcher S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois at Chicago, who studies presidential health and echoes the call for candidate medical records. The younger Harris has a nearly 97% chance of surviving a first term in office, he said. When it comes to the presidency, “it’s not about age, it’s about function,” Olshansky cautioned.

^ When you have something to hide with your Health (including your Mental Health) you refuse to make the details public. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-oldest-person-become-president-163156952.html

Happy Sukkot

 

Sukkot starts tonight.

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish Holiday that comes 5 days after Yom Kippur.

Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the protection God provided for the Children of Israel when they left Egypt.

Here is a picture I took when I was in Jerusalem, Israel in October 2017 – during Sukkot.

Sukkot

From Chabad:

“What Is Sukkot?”

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection G‑d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot by dwelling in a foliage-covered booth (known as a sukkah) and by taking the “Four Kinds” (arba minim), four special species of vegetation. The first two days (sundown on October 16 until nightfall on October 18 in 2024) of the holiday (one day in Israel) are yom tov, when work is forbidden, candles are lit in the evening, and festive meals are preceded by Kiddush and include challah dipped in honey. This is immediately followed by Shabbat, which begins on Friday evening, Oct. 18, and concludes at nightfall the following day. The intermediate days (nightfall on October 18 until sundown on October 23 in 2024) are quasi holidays, known as Chol Hamoed. We dwell in the sukkah and take the Four Kinds every day of Sukkot (except for Shabbat, when we do not take the Four Kinds). The final two days (sundown on October 23 until nightfall on October 25 in 2025) are a separate holiday (one day in Israel): Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah.

The Significance of Sukkot Of all the Jewish holidays, Sukkot is the only one whose date does not seem to commemorate a historic event. The Torah refers to it by two names: Chag HaAsif (“the Festival of Ingathering,” or “Harvest Festival”) and Chag HaSukkot (“Festival of Booths”), each expressing a reason for the holiday. In Israel, crops grow in the winter and are ready for harvest in the late spring. Some of them remain out in the field to dry for a few months and are only ready for harvest in the early fall. Chag HaAsif is a time to express appreciation for this bounty. The name Chag HaSukkot commemorates the temporary dwellings G‑d made to shelter our ancestors on their way out of Egypt (some say this refers to the miraculous clouds of glory that shielded us from the desert sun, while others say it refers to the tents in which they dwelled for their 40-year trek through the Sinai desert).

Dwelling in the Sukkah For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah and otherwise regard it as our home. Located under the open sky, the sukkah is made up of at least three walls and a roof of unprocessed natural vegetation—typically bamboo, pine boughs or palm branches. The goal is to spend as much time as possible in the sukkah, at the very minimum eating all meals in the sukkah—particularly the festive meals on the first two nights of the holiday, when we must eat at least an olive-sized piece of bread or mezonot (grain-based food) in the sukkah. The Chabad practice is to not eat or drink anything outside the sukkah. Some people even sleep in the sukkah (this is not the Chabad custom).

Taking the Four Kinds On each day of the festival (except Shabbat), we take the Four Kinds, recite a blessing over them, bring them together and wave them in all six directions: right, left, forward, up, down and backward. The sages of the Midrash tell us that the Four Kinds represent the various personalities that comprise the community of Israel, whose intrinsic unity we emphasize on Sukkot. Every day of Sukkot we say Hallel, a collection of psalms of praise (Psalms 113-118) as part of the morning prayer service. Every day aside for Shabbat, we recite Hallel while holding the Four Kinds, waving them in all directions at certain key points in the service, which are outlined in the siddur (prayerbook). Afterward, we circle the bimah (the podium on which the Torah is read) holding the Four Kinds, reciting alphabetically arranged prayers for Divine assistance known as Hoshanot. The seventh day of the holiday is known as Hoshanah Rabbah. This is the day when our fates for the coming year—which were signed on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur—are finalized. On this day, we circle the bimah seven times. We also say a short prayer and strike the ground five times with bundles of five willows (also known as Hoshanot)

Sukkot in the Holy Temple In the days of the holy Temple in Jerusalem, there was a special regimen of sacrifices that were to be brought on the altar. On the first day, no less than 13 bulls, two rams, and 14 lambs were to be sacrificed. Every day, the number of bulls was depleted by one. All in all, 70 bulls were brought, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. Along with Passover and Shavuot, Sukkot is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three annual pilgrimages, when every male Jew was to be in Jerusalem. Every seven years, on Sukkot, the king would read aloud from the Torah to the entire nation—men, women and children. This special gathering was known as Hakhel.

Water and Joy On Sukkot, G‑d determines how much rain will fall that winter (the primary rainy season in Israel). Thus, while every sacrifice in the Temple included wine libations poured over the altar, on Sukkot, water was also poured over the altar in a special ceremony. This ritual engendered such joy that it was celebrated with music, dancing and singing all night long. This celebration was called “Simchat Beit Hasho’evah.” Even today, when there is no Temple, it is customary to hold nightly celebrations that include singing and dancing (and even live music during the intermediate days of the holiday). This holiday is so joyous that in Talmudic times, when someone said the word chag (“holiday”) without specifying which one, you could know that they were referring to Sukkot. The Torah tells us that after the seven days of Sukkot, we should celebrate an eighth day. In the diaspora, this eighth day is doubled, making two days of yom tov. On the final day, it is customary to conclude and then immediately begin the annual cycle of Torah reading, making this day Simchat Torah (“Torah Celebration”). Although the eighth day follows Sukkot, it is actually an independent holiday in many respects (we no longer take the Four Kinds or dwell in the sukkah). Diaspora Jews eat in the sukkah, but without saying the accompanying blessing (there are some who eat just some of their meals in the sukkah on the eighth day but not the ninth). The highlight of this holiday is the boisterous singing and dancing in the synagogue, as the Torah scrolls are paraded in circles around the bimah.

Final Note By the time Simchat Torah is over, we have experienced a spiritual roller coaster, from the solemn introspection of the High Holidays to the giddy joy of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Now it is time to convert the roller coaster into a locomotive, making sure that the inspiration of the holiday season propels us to greater growth, learning and devotion in the year ahead.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4784/jewish/What-Is-Sukkot.htm

Pet Grooming

 

81: Rome Raid

81 Years ago today (October 15, 1943) the Germans raided the Jewish Ghetto in Rome, Italy.

(Settimia Spizzichino)

Jews had lived in Rome since 66 AD.

In 1555, Pope Paul IV ordered the imprisonment of all the Jews of Rome in an area of the Sant'Angelo District, between the ancient Portico d'Ottavia and the bank of the Tiber.  The place, enclosed by walls, was equipped with doors that were closed from dusk to dawn and was soon called a "Ghetto"

 In 1825, Pope Leo XII enlarged the Jewish Ghetto with an additional block of the current Via della Reginella.

In 1848, Pope Pius IX demolished the walls of the Ghetto and liberalized the residence of Jews in Rome.

 The District, however, continued to be inhabited, for the most part, by Citizens of the Jewish Religion and still referred locally as the Jewish Ghetto.

The Italian Racial Laws (Italian: Leggi Razziali) were created by Mussolini in 1938 and modelled after Nazi Germany’s.

Additional Laws stripped Jews of their assets, restricted travel, and finally provided for their confinement in Ghettos throughout Italy.

The Deportation of Italian Jews outside of Rome began with the German Occupation of Italy in September 1943.

The Deportation of Rome’s Jews started on October 15, 1943.

The Italian Police in Rome, unlike in many other parts of German-Occupied Italy, did not participate in the arrests of Jews, and the General Public objected and resisted such arrests.

For these reasons, a sizeable proportion of the Jews in Rome avoided arrest and survived the Holocaust, often hiding in the Vatican or other Catholic Institutions.

Pope Pius XII's role in the Holocaust is mired in controversy with some saying he did nothing including not speaking out about Hitler or the Jews of Europe to others saying he secretly helped the Jews (especially those in Rome.)

Settimia Spizzichino was the only Woman to survive both the Rome Ghetto Round-Up and the Auschwitz Death Camp.

The 5th of 6 children, Settimia Spizzichino was born into a Family in the Jewish Ghetto of Rome on April 15, 1921.

Her father, Mosè Mario Spizzichino, was a Book Dealer. Her Mother, Grazia Di Segni, was a Teacher at the Jewish School.

On October 16, 1943 she was Rounded-Up and Deported to Auschwitz, along with her Mother, 2 Sisters and Neice.

They arrived at Auschwitz 6 days later where the Germans held their infamous Selection.

Settimia’s Mother, Sister (Ada) and her Child were immediately gassed to death.

Settimia and her Sister, Judith, were selected to work moving stones.

When the Soviets were close to liberating Auschwitz in January 1945 Settimia became one of the 58,000 Inmates forced on a Death March by the Germans. She was sent to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in Germany where she was liberated by the British on April 15, 1945 – her 24th Birthday.

Out of the 689 Women deported to Auschwitz with her, 47 Women were chosen to work and of those 47 Women Settimia was the only Woman to survive the War.

She returned to Rome where she often spoke to Educational Groups about her experiences.

Settimia Spizzichino died on July 3, 2000 at the age of 79.

Redistribution Agent

 

Stasi's 10 Years

From the BBC:

“Ex-Stasi officer jailed for 1974 Berlin border killing”

(Czeslaw Kukuczka)

A former East German secret police officer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for murdering a Polish man attempting to flee to West Berlin 50 years ago. The man, named as Martin Manfred N in court papers, is now 80. He shot Czeslaw Kukuczka in the back at Friedrichstrasse station in 1974, after he had entered the Polish embassy claiming to be carrying a bomb and demanding to be allowed to leave to democratic West Germany. Details of the killing remained unknown for decades after the Stasi secret police shredded files relating to the case before communist East Germany reunified with the West in 1990. Berlin prosecutors filed charges against him in 2023 after persistent investigations by historians and Polish authorities.

On 29 March 1974, 38-year-old Kukuczka, a firefighter, entered the Polish embassy on East Berlin's Unter den Linden boulevard with a briefcase. The father of three said - falsely - that he was carrying a bomb. He demanded to be allowed to leave for West Berlin. Stasi officers gave him an exit visa and some West German money and escorted him to Friedrichstrasse station, which was still served by trains from the western side of the city.

Kukuczka passed several border checks inside the station. However, before he could make it to the western part of the station, a man approached him from behind and shot him in the back. A group of schoolchildren from Hesse in West Germany were among witnesses to the killing. One gave evidence at the trial that she had seen a man shoot Kukuczka before "people in uniform" sealed off the passage. Details of the case were uncovered by historians, who tracked down related files in the Stasi archives. Documents linking Naumann to the killing, which had been shredded, were reconstituted using a purpose-built machine. Kukuczka's family was never officially told of his fate. His ashes were sent to his wife some weeks after he had been murdered. The case was brought to trial after Poland issued a European arrest warrant for Naumann in 2021.

The trial has been seen as holding special historical significance in Germany, similarly to trials of surviving Holocaust perpetrators. Martin Manfred N always insisted on his innocence. His lawyer has said there was no proof he carried out the killing. East Germany was created from the parts of Germany occupied by the Soviet Union after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. It was a communist dictatorship, while West Germany - created from the American, British and French occupation zones - was a capitalist, democratic state. In 1990, both countries reunified to form modern Germany.

^ Slowly, but surely it seems the Germans are starting to take bringing justice for the Victims of the East German Communists now that 34 years have passed since the Collapse of Communism (and 50 years since this Crime.) ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kdyl90dewo

Ukrainian Kursk

From the Moscow Times:

“As Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion Rages for a Third Month, What Is Happening on the Ground?”

(People a temporary accommodation facility for evacuees from border areas in the Kursk region.)

Russia’s southwestern Kursk region bordering Ukraine has been engulfed in battles with Kyiv’s troops for over two months. Ukraine has claimed over two dozen Kursk region settlements since launching its surprise incursion on Aug. 6, in the most significant cross-border attack on Russian territory since World War II. With most of the territory captured by Kyiv remaining under Ukrainian control, the region’s residents continue to express dissatisfaction and fear for their safety. The Moscow Times assesses the current situation in the region:

Military developments The Kursk region remains one of the primary battlegrounds in the ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces. In August, Kyiv claimed it had controlled over 1,250 square kilometers of Russia's territory, including 92 settlements. Apti Alaudinov, the head of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces unit who has become one of the main speakers for Russia’s counteroffensive in the Kursk region, claimed on Monday that about 50% of the territory captured by Ukraine during the incursion had been retaken. Among the latest recaptured settlements in the Kursk region were Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky, Russia’s Defense Ministry said last week.  However according to the U.S.-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), after two months of fighting in the Kursk region, Ukraine still controlled most of the territory previously seized in Russia’s Kursk region as of Oct. 13.

Zelensky Says Ukrainian Forces ‘Holding the Line’ in Kursk Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Moscow had attempted to push back Ukrainian positions in Kursk but that Kyiv was "holding the line." Among the settlements still under Ukrainian control is Sudzha, a town of about 5,000 people that is home to a key gas transit hub between Russia and Europe, according to ISW.

Social consequences More than 112,000 Kursk region residents have been displaced from their homes since the start of the incursion, 12,300 of whom have been placed in temporary shelters, Russian officials said. At least 308 people, including 11 children, were injured during the attack, according to local authorities. Moscow also accused Kyiv of forcibly taking more than 1,000 Kursk residents during the incursion. Presidential human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said Monday that she “received messages regarding more than 1,000 such people from relatives trying to find them.” The Moscow Times could not independently verify Moskalkova’s claims and Ukraine has not yet responded to the accusations. In total, over 8,000 Russians were officially recognized as victims of the attack, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported last month. To help them, the Russian government last month allocated more than 6.2 billion rubles (about $62 million).

Public sentiment Residents of the Kursk region continue to voice their frustration over the authorities' inaction more than two months after the incursion began. “First, they let them [Ukrainian forces] through, and so many people died. And now they're bragging about ‘liberating’ our own towns and villages,” resident Natalia Kartseva said in a comment on the VKontakte social media site. Another Kursk resident, Nikolai Pakhomov, appeared to share similar views. “Has our Kursk region already been liberated? … The ones responsible for allowing the Ukrainians to breach our border haven’t been punished yet! Is anyone even planning to give the public the names of those responsible? Or have they already been transferred to other positions?” Pakhomov wrote on social media. In an effort to address the aftermath of the incursion, Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov, last week approved a new executive structure for the regional government that includes the creation of a Borderland Restoration and Development Ministry. However, this move has also sparked dissatisfaction among the local population. A Kursk resident named Anatoly Sudakov voiced frustration, stating that it seemed like a waste of resources. “Another case of sitting around doing nothing and wasting the budget, if you ask me,” Sudakov said on VKontakte. “How can we even talk about recovery right now when part of the region is under occupation and another part is in an active combat zone? What exactly are they planning to restore?”

^ Putin and his Nazi Z Military can’t even liberate the parts of Russia that have been occupied by Ukraine for nearly 3 months now (the first time Russian Territory was occupied since 1945.) That really says something about the coming collapse of Putin’s Regime and the liberation of all of Russia as well as the end of Russia’s War Crimes in Ukraine. ^

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/15/as-ukraines-kursk-incursion-rages-for-a-third-month-what-is-happening-on-the-ground-a86691

820 Changes

From AF Times:

“Pentagon changes discharges for 800-plus vets kicked out for being gay”

About 820 veterans previously kicked out of the military for their sexual orientation will have their dismissals upgraded to honorable discharges following a year-long review of their service records. The upgrades were announced Tuesday morning by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who said the effort was undertaken “to redress the harms done by ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and other policies on these former service members.” The review was prompted by complaints among veterans that the process for upgrading discharge status was overly complicated and adversarial. The changes mean that those veterans for the first time will be able to access certain VA education, health and financial benefits, a potential windfall for them and their families.

The military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy was put in place in 1993 as a compromise to allow some level of military service for gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals. But advocates said the policy was enforced erratically and discriminatorily, and forced those troops to keep secrets about their personal lives from friends and commanders, to the detriment of unit cohesiveness.

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' repealed 12 years ago today, forced thousands of LGBTQ+ troops to leave the military under less than honorable circumstances. Nearly 13,500 service members were forced out of the military under the policy, according to Defense Department records. The policy was repealed in 2011, allowing LGBT individuals to serve openly in the ranks for the first time. In his statement Tuesday, Austin said that because of military review policies in recent years, 96% of the individuals forced out of the service under the law have now been awarded honorable discharge status. “We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all our troops, including the brave Americans who raised their hands to serve but were turned away because of whom they love,” he said. “We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country.” Defense officials said individuals eligible for upgrades because of the most recent review will be contacted by department staffers on next steps for getting appropriate paperwork and benefits applications.

^ Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a horrible policy. While 820 Soldiers kicked out for being Gay will now get Honorable Discharges and access to Full Benefits I am curious to know about the other 12,680 Soldiers that were kicked out for being Gay and still don’t have Honorable Discharges. ^

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2024/10/15/pentagon-changes-discharges-for-800-plus-vets-kicked-out-for-being-gay/

WCD

White Cane Day

White canes were introduced in the 1930s as a way of assisting visually impaired pedestrians to travel independently. They also helped motorists identify and yield to people using the white cane, and their use has been protected by law in the United States since that time. White Cane Safety Day, October 15, was established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson in an effort to raise awareness of people who carry a white cane.

What is the White Cane Law? “A totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a predominately white cane (with or without a red tip), or using a guide dog, shall have the right-of-way. The driver of any vehicle approaching this pedestrian, who fails to yield the right-of-way, or to take all responsibility necessary precautions to avoid injury to this blind pedestrian, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. This section shall not preclude prosecution under any other applicable provision of law.” – Vehicle Code #21963

Safety Tips For People Who Are Sighted Stop your car at least 5ft. from a crosswalk. Pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind may use the sound of your engine to locate crosswalk boundaries. If any part of your car is in the crosswalk, they may misjudge the safe area. Avoid honking at individuals using a white cane. People who are blind or visually impaired have no idea why you are honking. It is okay to ask if assistance is needed. Ask the person who is blind or visually impaired for permission before trying to assist. If the person asks you to help guide them, offer your arm. They will hold your arm just above the elbow to follow your path.

https://brailleinstitute.org/white-cane-day

White Cane Day

 

Europe's Halloween

From Euronews:

“From Satan’s Bridge to the living dead: Europe’s spookiest Halloween adventures”

From Satan’s Bridge to the Headless Horseman, here's how to spend Halloween in Europe. Trick or treat, it’s that time of year again. But if tacky decorations and piles of sweets aren’t your thing, why not immerse yourself in some of Europe’s finest storytelling traditions for spooky thrills that get you closer to local culture? From Romania to Iceland, these are the best places in Europe to explore the myths, legends and local traditions that have inspired the season’s celebrations - and horror stories - throughout time.

Take part in the Ritual of the Killing of the Living Dead, Romania There are few places more synonymous with Halloween than Transylvania. But before Bran Stoker’s Dracula was even a whisper of a story, Romanians in Sighișoara have been easing their departed loved-ones’ journey into the afterlife through the Ritual of the Killing of the Living Dead.  “Romanians are a superstitious people,” explains Hertha Todea who runs Halloween tours to Sighișoara. “The undead (or strigoi in Romanian) are spirits of the dead, who do not reach the world 'beyond' after the funeral, or refuse to return 'there' after visiting their relatives. They are very dangerous for the living: they take the lives of close relatives, bring diseases and other suffering." “The Ritual of the Killing of the Living Dead is performed exactly as traditional old burial rites were to ensure the passing of strigoi. We want to introduce visitors to traditional Romanian folklore from before the legends of Dracula, and show them that many of the elements used in the ritual - candles, incense, garlic, holy water and basil - are things we still use today.” If you take part, expect to gather around a 'strigoi' in a coffin as if you were grieving friends or family. With a priest presiding, you’ll pass round the coffin three times - to symbolise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - holding candles to guide the captive soul into the light.  A three-day tour with Transylvania Live, including the Ritual of the Killing of the Living Dead costs from £599pp (€715) and departs 1st November 2024.

Traditional Samhain celebrations. Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Celts wore masks and lit bonfires to ward off evil spirits and demons at Samhain, the harvest festival that marked the beginning of winter. A time, according to Celtic folklore, that the boundaries between this world and the next become blurred and spirits (or Púca) and fairies walk the earth.  The traditions of Samhain reverberate as today’s Halloween - trick or treating started life as soul cakes baked and given to children and the poor, the carved pumpkins on our doorsteps trace their roots back to the hollowed-out turnips used to carry the burning embers home from Samhain bonfires.  At County Meath’s Púca Festival you can hear tales of shapeshifting creatures from Irish storytellers, learn about the traditions of the Celtic New Year, and experience the heady ritual of the lighting of the Samhain fire - with a few contemporary twists. Tickets can be booked via the festival website.

Party by Satan’s bridge, Italy The devil himself did a great job constructing the 11th Century Ponte della Maddalena in Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany - it’s still standing today. Legend has it that St Julian, finding it too difficult to complete the construction, entered into a pact with Satan to finish the bridge in return for the soul of the first being to cross it.  You’ll meet the devil in all manner of guises at Borgo a Mozzano’s Halloween Festa held on 31st October each year. The highlight is a town-wide procession evoking the spirit of Lucida Mansi, a beautiful 17th Century Italian noblewoman who, the tales say, killed her lovers by throwing them into a pit full of spikes when she was done with them. Entry to the festa is free.

Beware the Headless Horseman in the Black Forest, Germany Dare you venture into the deep dark woods? Follow in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm and curate your own collection of myths and legends in the forests of Germany that inspired the dark original tales of Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood.  Legends here tell of witches and werewolves and eerie encounters under the dense firs that will make your spine tingle as you explore. Use a local guide on hikes along the Black Forest’s myriad of trails so you can listen to spooky stories along the way and watch out for the headless horseman fated to ride among the trees for eternity, cursing any who cross his path. 

Commune with ghosts in Iceland Few places in Europe have a stronger tradition of folklore and storytelling than Iceland. Here, sagas passed down through time tell tales of a land inhabited by elves (the Huldufólk), trolls and ghosts. Listen to 24 of these traditional ghost stories at the Ghost Center in Stokkseyri on the south coast - a small immersive museum dedicated to sharing the most chilling portions of Iceland’s epic stories. Or, take in some of Iceland’s most spectacular rock formations which are said to be petrified trolls turned into stone in the sunlight.  Take a tour of southern Iceland and the black sand beaches near Vík í Mýrda and you can marvel at the Troll Rocks (Reynisdrangar) that jut out of sea just off the coast. Be careful as you explore though, while Icelandic trolls must hide during the day, they feast on human flesh and will lure unsuspecting people into their caves.

^ I didn’t know about these places. ^

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/10/13/from-satans-bridge-to-the-living-dead-europes-spookiest-halloween-adventures

Aid Can Wait

From the Hill:

“Johnson: Additional hurricane aid ‘can wait’ until Congress is back in session”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday said passing additional hurricane aid for states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton “can wait” until Congress is back in session after the election. CBS “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan asked him why he thinks it’s fine to wait until November for Congress to pass more aid for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton victims. “Well, it can wait because, remember, the day before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and then went up through the states and wound up in Senator Tillis’s state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated 20 billion additional dollars to FEMA so that they would have the necessary resources to address immediate needs,” Johnson said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was part of a bipartisan group of senators to sign a letter urging Senate leaders to think about bringing lawmakers back into session this month to enact disaster legislation before the end of the year. House lawmakers have also urged Johnson to bring the chamber back into session. A group of Democrats sent a letter last week asking him to do so, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) posted on the social media platform X, “If Congress goes into a special session we can get it passed immediately. This needs to happen. @SpeakerJohnson call us back.”

The continuing resolution Congress passed to avert a government shutdown last month allowed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use the fund’s fiscal 2025 resources faster for disaster response for the duration of the nearly three-month stopgap, allowing the agency access to a roughly $20 billion pot starting Oct. 1. But it notably excluded any additional FEMA funding. Johnson said that as of Sunday, less than 2 percent of the already passed funding has been distributed. He said FEMA needs to “do its job” and disperse the funds to the affected communities.

FEMA officials say they have sufficient resources to respond to the pair of hurricanes until Congress returns, but they also indicated nearly half that money is already spent. The Speaker said the affected states, including Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, need to assess the damage from the storm and calculate their needs before requesting more money from Congress. “As soon as that is done, Congress will meet and in a bipartisan fashion, we will address those needs, will provide the additional resources, but it would be premature to call everyone back now,” Johnson said.

^ In case you wanted to know what the Politicians (in this case the Republicans from the top down) thought about those who lost everything to the Hurricanes.

They don't care about you. Only about themselves and their Elections. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/news/johnson-additional-hurricane-aid-wait-133237390.html

Thanksgiving!

 

Columbus Day

 

Dog Pyramid

 

Where Tacos Live

 

Canadian Vs American

This Monday (October 14th) is Thanksgiving in Canada.

Unlike Thanksgiving in the US (which is on November 28th this year) where Americans can only celebrate with their Family on that Thursday in Canada you can celebrate with your Family Today, this Weekend, on Monday or throughout the whole weekend.

Be Included

 

Working Undercover

 

Northern Lights

Stunning Images of the Northern Lights: October 2024

(Saratoga, New York)

(Boston, Massachusetts)

(New York City, New York)

(USA)

(Canada)

(Alberta, Canada)

(USA)

Note: I do not take these pictures. 

Northern Lights

 

Entry/Exit Delayed

From EuroNews:

“EU delays (again) new electronic system for border checks, floats phased-in approach”

The Entry/Exit System is a comprehensive reform to modernise checks at the EU's external borders and promote information-sharing. The European Commission has decided to delay the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the bloc's automated registry for short-stay travellers that was expected to come into force on 10 November. The announcement was made by Ylva Johansson, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, at the end of a meeting of EU interior ministers on Thursday where the issue was discussed. "10th of November is no longer on the table," Johansson told reporters, noting that Germany, France and the Netherlands had declared their unreadiness. "I hope we can start as soon as possible but there's no new timeline so far. This also depends on the legal assessment that we will do and we're working on it right now." Johannson spoke of "some concerns when it comes to the resilience of the system."

As an alternative, she said, the EU could introduce the EES in a phased-in manner "with a little step by step going into the system, not a Big Bang of all border crossing points at the same time." However, that approach is not foreseen under the current regulation and "targeted amendments" to the legal text would be required to make it happen. At any rate, she stressed, the gradual introduction would not start on 10 November.

What is the Entry/Exit System? The EES is a comprehensive reform that dates back to 2016 and had been repeatedly delayed. Its main purpose is to modernise checks at the EU's external borders and replace the traditional physical stamping of passports. It will apply to non-EU citizens who come to the bloc for visits, holidays or business trips and stay for a total duration of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Once the system goes live, visitors will have to provide their passports on arrival, alongside having a photo of their face taken and their fingerprints scanned electronically. All entries and exits from the passport-free Schengen Area will be recorded. The collection of biometric data and the sharing of information in real time are meant to help authorities crack down on those who overstay their short-term visas and commit identity fraud.

All member states, except Cyprus and Ireland, and four Schengen-associate countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will take part in the scheme. Passports in Cyprus and Ireland will continue to be stamped manually.

^ I'm glad the EU (well the Schengen Area of the EU) is not going to start using the Entry/Exit System on November 10th as planned since I will be going to Spain and Germany (both in the Schengen Area) on November 19th.

I won't have to have my Picture Taken, my Fingerprints Taken and more importantly I will get the Immigration Stamp in my Passport (my American Passport is from 2019 and is empty of Stamps - so is my Canadian Passport by the way, but I'm not bringing that one with me.) ^

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/10/eu-delays-again-its-new-entryexit-system-for-short-stay-travellers2

This Is The Way

 

Yom Kippur

 

Hurricane Milton

From AOL/AccuWeather:

“Deadly and destructive: Hurricane Milton by the numbers”

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, at 8:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday. The storm has knocked out power to millions of people in Florida and has caused at least 10 deaths. As residents pick up the pieces, these are some of the astounding numbers associated with the destructive storm. AccuWeather preliminarily estimates the total damage and economic loss from historic Hurricane Milton will be between $160 billion and $180 billion. After making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, Milton will go down as one of the most damaging and impactful storms in Florida history, along with Hurricane Helene's estimated total damage and economic loss of $225-250 billion just two weeks ago, which resulted in significant damage from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the southern Appalachians, where a catastrophic flooding disaster occurred.

Hurricane Milton is the fifth hurricane to make landfall on the Gulf Coast this season, after Beryl, Debby, Francine and Helene. The 2005 and 2020 hurricane seasons also had five. Only the year 1886 had more, with six hurricanes making landfall in the Gulf that season. Milton is the third hurricane to hit the state of Florida this year. No other year on record has more than three. After an early pause, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is now above normal by all measures.

Although most customers in Florida who lost power from Helene were restored before Milton approached, 100,000 customers had lost power in Florida because of the new storm by Wednesday morning. As Hurricane Milton got closer to the coast, numbers spiked, and 2.5 million had lost power by midnight. Outages were still going up Thursday morning, eclipsing 3.5 million. Hardee and Highlands counties reported that nearly 100% of customers were in the dark. In the wake of Hurricane Milton, the death toll has risen to at least 10 people. St. Lucie County on Florida's Atlantic coast has confirmed five deaths, attributed to tornadoes that touched down during the storm, WPBF News reported. In St. Petersburg, police confirmed two storm-related deaths. Volusia County has also reported fatalities, with Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood confirming that three people died in his jurisdiction.

At the St. Petersburg Albert Whitted Airport, 18.87 inches of rain fell during Hurricane Milton. In just one hour, the rain gauge recorded 5.09 inches, an extremely rare rainfall rate. As Milton moved across Florida, an AccuWeather/Ambient Weather rain gauge recorded 16.67 inches at Lakeland, 32 miles northeast of Tampa. The storm surge at Naples, Florida, reached 5.78 feet above normal tide, nearly a foot higher than Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26 and almost 3 feet above Hurricane Debby on Aug. 4. At Fort Myers, the gauge rose to 5.26 feet, slightly above the crest reached during Hurricane Helene at 5.12, but short of the 50-year record set by Hurricane Ian of 7.26 feet on Sept. 28, 2022. Instead of the water rising in Tampa Bay, a tidal gauge downtown, just north of the storm's landfall where winds were from the land, experienced a "blowout tide" or anti-storm surge. This happens when high winds from a tropical storm or hurricane blow from the land instead of the ocean, temporarily pushing water in bays out to sea. The water level fell to nearly 5 feet below normal as winds blew water in the bay out into the Atlantic Ocean. The strongest wind gust reported during the storm was 105 mph at a WeatherFlow weather station in the Egmont Channel, southwest of St. Petersburg. The Bradenton and St. Petersburg airports also gusted to 102 and 101 mph, respectively.

National Weather Service offices in Florida issued 126 tornado warnings as Hurricane Milton approached. There were 45 tornadoes reported to the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado killed several people in St. Lucie on the east coast of Florida. The record-holder for tornadoes spawned by a hurricane is 120 with Hurricane Ivan in 2004. In 2023, Hurricane Beryl spawned 68 twisters Hurricane Milton's central pressure fell to 26.64 inches of mercury (902 mb) on Oct. 8, making it the fifth-strongest hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic Basin and the second-lowest for this late in the year. Milton's sustained winds were estimated at 180 mph, and only five Atlantic hurricanes have had estimated winds higher than Milton's.

^ Hopefully the people affected will get the help they need now and in the future. ^

https://www.aol.com/deadly-destructive-hurricane-milton-numbers-200706149.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALXC6sEE2FNqEUru20xenNH7QAmtVv0tLSb5TSRuSOrTEt3zX7FjxpmUu0qLq70zWt9kT0AHuDNAoZ2cU-snSqZdgVkLYqC3yrNcrC-FgSXbnDBuuVQF454T-x95M9DCnXNA7GUnzvwNNWI9wAJYiPRGKa-PuS6HCXu_qjxKHSWc

Milton Pictures

Hurricane Milton In Pictures

Ethel Kennedy

 

Ethel Kennedy, Widow of Robert F. Kennedy and Sister-In-Law of President John F. Kennedy, has died. She was 96 years old.

Ethel Kennedy was born Ethel Shakel on April 11, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois and was the 6^th of 7 Children.

Ethel was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut and attended the All-Girls Greenwich Academy, and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the Bronx in 1945.

In September 1945, Ethel began her College Education at Manhattanville College, where she was a Classmate of her future Sister-in-Law Jean Kennedy.

Ethel first met Jean's Brother, Robert F. Kennedy, during a ski trip to Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec in December 1945.

She received a Bachelor's Degree from Manhattanville in 1949.

Robert and Ethel were married in February 1950.

After Robert graduated from Law School, the Family settled in the Washington, D.C. area and Robert went to work for the Justice Department.

In 1956, the Kennedys purchased Hickory Hill from Robert's brother John and his Wife Jacqueline.

The 13-bedroom Estate was situated on 6 Acres in McLean, Virginia (west of Washington, D.C.).

 Ethel sold Hickory Hill in December 2009.

In 1960, Ethel's Brother-in-Law John F. Kennedy won the Presidential Election, at which time he appointed Robert to the post of Attorney General.

On November 22, 1963, Ethel learned of her Brother-in-Law’s assassination from her Husband after the FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, called their home.

In 1964, Ethel supported her Husband while he campaigned for and won a seat in the United States Senate representing New York.

She urged her Husband to enter the Democratic Primary for the 1968 Presidential Election.

She was with her Husband on June 5, 1968 when he was assassinated, by Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Robert Kennedy was buried close to his Brother John at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert and Ethel Kennedy had 11 Children over nearly 18 years of Marriage: Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Maxwell, Douglas, and Rory (who was born 6 months after Robert was assassinated.)

Kahleen served as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003.

Joseph served as a Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1999.

Robert Jr. ran for President in the 2024 until dropping out.

David died in 1984.

Michael died in 1997.

Kerry is the President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center.

Ethel Kennedy founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (now known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights) in 1968.

Since the 1968 she not only raised her 11 Children by herself, but also worked on different Social Causes.

In 2014, Ethel was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On October 8, 2024, Kennedy was hospitalized after suffering a Stroke.

Ethel Kennedy died October 10, 2024 at the age of 96.