While we have Arctic Cold now we
will get snow tomorrow and Saturday and then the Polar Vortex will arrive which
will affect 300 Million Americans.
Friday, January 17, 2025
Polar Vortex
Causes
I’ve been asked why I regularly write about: the Disabled, the Holocaust, the Military, Ukraine, Veterans and Animals.
I believe in keeping awareness up
on those that otherwise would be forgotten.
The Disabled have always been
kept hidden away from Society. From the 1800s-1974 there were “Ugly Laws”
around the United States and around the World. People didn’t want to see anyone
not like them and so they were kept in horrible conditions in basements and
Institutions where they were abused.
Not only were the Disabled hidden
away, but they were Forcibly Sterilized in Canada (from 1803-1982), in China
(from 1978-Present), in Czechoslovakia (from 1973-1989), in Denmark (from
1936-1976), in Nazi Germany (from 1933-1945), in East Germany (from 1945-1990),
in Japan (from 1907-1996), in Peru (from the 1920s-1998), in Sweden (from
1934-1976) and in the United States (from 1883-1978.)
Nazi Germany also murdered the
Disabled by Gas or Lethal Injunction. 300,000 Disabled People were murdered
between 1939 and 1945 in the Aktion T4 Program.
Even today, the Disabled seem to
be protected by Local, Regional and Federal Laws, but in reality the Disabled
continue to be kept as Second-Class Citizens (they are allowed to be paid below
Minimum Wage in many Places for the same work that the Non-Disabled do.)
Ordinary People tend to keep away
from the Disabled when they do see them rather than interacting with them.
The Holocaust seems to get a lot
of coverage everywhere, but when you look at the facts (85% of Americans were
found to be Anti-Semitic in 2023 with similar numbers across the World) then
you see that after 78 years little has changed.
6 Million Jewish Men, Women and
Children were murdered by the Germans and their Collaborators from 1933-1945.
11 Million Non-Jewish Men, Women
and Children were murdered by the Germans and their Collaborators from
1933-1945.
20 Million Jewish and Non-Jewish
Men, Women and Children were imprisoned in German Concentration Camps, Labor
Camps and Death Camps from 1933-1945.
Holocaust Denial may be illegal
in many places today, but Holocaust Admiring (People who believe the Germans
didn’t do enough and want to “finish the job”) grows every year with violent
attacks on Jews in the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Spain, Poland, Russia, etc.
The Military and Veterans seem to
get a lot of coverage everywhere, but when you look at the facts you see it
isn’t.
A Poll conducted in 1973 (when the US Military
Draft ended) found that 84% of every American either served or knew a Loved One
that served in the US Military.
A Poll conducted in 2019 found
that 0.01% of every American either served or knew a Loved One that served in
the US Military.
With less than 1% of all
Americans serving or knowing a Loved One who is serving in the US Military
little to no attention is really paid to what the Soldiers and the Veterans are
going through. A lot of people post or say things like “Thank You for your
service” and give no other thought to the Homeless, Disabled and Hungry
Veterans or the Soldiers away from their Families.
Ukraine seems to be everywhere,
but other than getting a few “likes” and many “Slava Ukraines” not much is
being done by the General Population to help end Russia’s Genocide against
Ukrainian Men, Women and Children. Putin is using the same excuses and methods
against the Ukrainians that Hitler used.
Every Man, Woman and Child around
the World that doesn’t side with Ukraine and do everything they can to help
them defeat the Russians is just as guilty of the War Crimes being committed
there as the Russians are themselves.
Abused, Abandoned and Hurt
Animals seem to be posted everywhere (on TV, Social Media, etc.) but other than
feeling sorry for what they see many people simply ignore what is going on.
Animals, especially Pets, are
seen as “Property” in many places so you can do whatever you want to them. Pets
need to be protected as the loving and living creatures they are.
Ever since I was little my Mom
told me one phrase over and over again: “Do Good.”
She showed me (through her words
and actions) to stand-up to Anti-Semitism when I was in 5th Grade in Germany,
to help Veterans, Soldiers and Military Families, to care for Animals and
shortly before she passed in 2014 she told me to do what I could to help the
Ukrainians after the Russians invaded and occupied Crimea – she went with me to
Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2007.
That is why I always write and
will continue to write about these often over-looked People and Animals.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Werner Goldberg
In 1939 the Berliner Tagesblatt Newspaper
showed this picture with the caption "The Ideal German Soldier"
("Der ideale deutsche Soldat").
This “Ideal German Soldier”
according to the Nazi Newspaper was in fact Werner Goldberg, a Jew.
Goldberg was born on October 3,
1919 in Berlin, Germany to a Jewish Father and a Christian Mother.
Under the 1935 Nurenberg Laws
Goldberg was classified as a “Mischling” (or “Half-Breed.”
On December 1, 1938 Goldberg
joined the German Army (as he was required by Law to do.)
He took part in the German
Invasion of Poland in September 1939.
It was at this time that Goldberg’s
picture was printed in the Nazi Newspaper as the stereotypical Aryan German
Soldier (despite the fact that he wasn’t Aryan according to the Nazis.)
After the Fall of France in May
1940 Hitler ordered all Mischlings out of the German Army.
Goldberg saved his Father from
Deportation twice and they survived the War.
After the War, Goldberg served 20
years in the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin (Berlin House of Representatives) in
West Berlin from 1959-1979.
Werner Goldberg died in Berlin,
Germany on September 28, 2004 at the age of 84.
Goldberg was survived by his Wife
Gertrud Goldberg, and their three Children.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Ceasefire Deal
From the BBC:
“What we know about the Gaza
ceasefire deal”
Israel and Hamas have agreed a
deal which could halt the war in Gaza and see the release of Israeli hostages
and Palestinian prisoners, the US and mediators Qatar have said. It would be
the most dramatic breakthrough in 15 months of war, which began when the armed
Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Details of the deal
reportedly approved by both sides have not yet been announced. Israel's Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were still several unresolved clauses,
which he hoped would be finalised on Wednesday evening. A completed deal would
see the war in Gaza stop and an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas
seized 251 hostages when it attacked Israel in October 2023. It is still
holding 94 captive, although Israel believes that only 60 are still alive. Israel
is expected to release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some jailed for
years, in return for the hostages. This ceasefire is expected to happen in
three stages, once the deal is announced. And while both sides are now said to
have agreed to it, Israel's security cabinet and government will need to
approve the deal before it can be implemented. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh
Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said the agreement would come into effect on
Sunday should it be approved.
Here is what could be in the
deal.
First stage The first
stage would last six weeks and see "a full and complete ceasefire",
US President Joe Biden said as he confirmed a deal had been reached on
Wednesday. "A number of hostages" held by Hamas, including women, the
elderly and the sick, would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners, Biden said. He did not specify how many would be freed. Israeli
government spokesman David Mencer previously said 33 hostages, also including
children, would be exchanged. Most but not all of the 33 hostages are thought
to still be alive, he said. Three hostages would be released straight
away, a Palestinian official previously told the BBC, with the rest of the
exchange taking place over the six weeks. During this stage, Israeli
troops would pull out of "all" populated areas of Gaza, Biden said,
while "the Palestinians [could] also return to their neighbourhoods in all
the areas of Gaza". Almost all of Gaza's 2.3 million people have
had to leave their homes because of Israeli evacuation orders, Israeli strikes
and fighting on the ground. There would also be a surge in humanitarian
aid deliveries to Gaza, with hundreds of lorries allowed in each day. The
Palestinian official previously said detailed negotiations for the second and
third stages would begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. Biden said
the ceasefire would persist "as long as the negotiations continue".
Second stage Stage two
would be "a permanent end to the war," according to Biden. The
remaining living hostages, including men, would be released in return for more
Palestinian prisoners. Of the 1,000 Palestinian prisoners Israel is
thought to have agreed to release overall, about 190 are serving sentences of
15 years or more. An Israeli official previously told the BBC that those
convicted of murder would not be released into the occupied West Bank. There
would also be a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Third stage The third and
final stage would involve the reconstruction of Gaza - something which could
take years – and the return of any remaining hostages' bodies.
What are the unanswered
questions about the deal?Getting to this point has taken months of
painstaking indirect negotiations, not least because Israel and Hamas
completely distrust each other. Hamas wanted a complete end to the war before
it would release the hostages, something which was unacceptable to Israel. The
ceasefire will in effect pause the war while its terms are carried out. However,
it is unclear whether it will mean the war is over for good. One of Israel's
key war aims has been to destroy Hamas's military and governing capabilities.
Although Israel has severely damaged it, Hamas still has some capacity to
operate and regroup. It is also unclear which hostages are alive or dead or
whether Hamas knows the whereabouts of all those who remain unaccounted for. For
its part, Hamas has demanded the release of some prisoners which Israel says it
will not free. This is believed to include those who were involved in the 7
October attacks. It is also not known whether Israel will agree to pull out of
the buffer zone by a certain date, or whether its presence there will be
open-ended. Any ceasefire is likely to be fragile. Ceasefires between Israel
and Hamas which have halted previous wars have been shaken by skirmishes and
eventually broken down The timetable and complexity of this ceasefire means
even a small incident could turn into a major threat.
What happened on 7 October
2023 and what has happened in Gaza? Hundreds of Hamas-led gunmen launched
an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, bursting through the border fence
and targeting communities, police stations and army bases. About 1,200
people were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken back to Gaza. Hamas
also fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Israel responded with a
massive military campaign, first by air and then a ground invasion. Since then,
Israel has attacked targets across Gaza by land, sea and air, while Hamas has
attacked Israel with rockets. Israel's offensive has devastated Gaza and
led to severe food shortages, with aid struggling to reach those most in need.
More than 46,700 people - the majority of them civilians - have been killed by
Israel's attacks, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
^ Hopefully this will end the War
and all the Hostages will be freed. ^
80: 2025
2025 is the 80th
Anniversary of major events in World History.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of Liberation of the 23 Main German Concentration Camps.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of the Liberation of the 900 German Sub-Concentration Camps.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of the Liberation of the 6 German Death Camps: Chełmno, Belzec,
Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz-Birkenau.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of the end of the Holocaust: the German Murder of 6 Million Jewish
Men, Women and Children.
It is the 80th
Anniversary of the end of German Murder of 11 Million Non-Jewish Men, Women and
Children (Poles, Roma and Sinti, Homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Freemasons,
Communists, Catholic Priests, Catholic Nuns, Political Prisoners, the Disabled,
etc.)
It is the 80th Anniversary
of V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) when Nazi Germany was defeated and Europe
and North Africa were free from German Occupation.
In the past 8 Decades some People
have tried and are trying to distance themselves from the War Crimes committed
in their name
An Example: The German Government refers everything to the
“Nazis” and not the “Germans” even though more Germans took part in the Murders
than the Nazis did.
Ordinary Germans did horrible
things from 1933-1945 to help in the Murder of 6 Million Jews and 11 Million
Non-Jews throughout Europe.
Ordinary Germans: Spied on their
Friends and Neighbors; Informed on People to the Regular Police and the Gestapo;
Received Reward Money for Informing; Stole the Personal Property of those
Arrested; Handed Out Starvation Level Rations; Helped Compile Arrest and
Deportation Lists; Turned their backs as Innocent Men, Women and Children were
marched through their Towns and Cities; helped keep the Cattle Cars moving and
the Railroads open to the Death Camps; They looked away as Concentration and
Death Camp Inmates worked in their Factories, their Fields and their Homes; They
looked away when Human Ash flew onto their Streets like Snow; They never
protested the Murder even when it was happening around them and worst of all They
Ignored what was happening right in front of them.
66 Million Germans were not
Members of the Nazi Party from 1933-1945.
8 Million Germans were Official
Members of the Nazi Party from 1933-1945.
Without the help of the 66
Million Ordinary German Men, Women and Children helping Hitler and the Nazis from
1933-1945 the Holocaust and their other War Crimes would not have happened or would
not have happened to the extent that they did.
Even after 1945 Millions of Ordinary
Germans looked away as Former Nazis and those who murdered Innocent Men, Women
and Children stopped their War Crimes and were welcomed back into German Society
as Teachers, Businessmen, Politicians, Judges, etc.
German Society (especially West German
Society) was full of Murderers roaming around free well into the 1980s.
Even today, the German Government
continues to pay Government Pensions to the Murderers and their Spouses for
their War Crimes committed from 1933-1945.
To say that the Nazis murdered 17
Million Innocent Civilians from 1933-1945 is wrong.
It was the German People who were
18 years or older in 1945 who murdered 17 Million Innocent Civilians from
1933-1945.
It was the German People who
helped the Murderers rejoin German Society after 1945 and go unpunished.
That is why you should use the
term “German” and not “Nazi” when referring to things like “German-Occupied
Europe” or German-Run Death Camp.”
I know the vast majority of today’s
83 Million Germans have nothing to do with the War Crimes, the Holocaust or the
Decades-Long Cover-Up, but that still doesn’t mean we should change the facts
and call them Nazi Crimes instead of German Crimes just to make People feel
better.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Baltic Sentry
From the DW:
“NATO unveils Baltic Sentry
pipeline, cable security mission”
NATO leaders gathering in the
Finnish capital, Helsinki, on Tuesday said European countries must be prepared
to face further incidents in the Baltic Sea and announced a new mission
designed to deter them. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after the
meeting that a new mission dubbed Baltic Sentry would include frigates,
maritime patrol aircraft, and a fleet of naval drones to provide "enhanced
surveillance and deterrence." "Across the alliance, we have seen
elements of a campaign to destabilize our societies through cyberattacks,
assassination attempts and sabotage, including possible sabotage of undersea
cables in the Baltic Sea," Rutte told reporters. NATO seeks to combat
hybrid warfare in Baltic region
Tuesday's meeting followed the
recent damage or disruption to a string of undersea power cables,
telcommunications links, and gas pipelines in the wake of Russia's 2022
invasion of Ukraine. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics acknowledged that with
more than 2,000 ships crossing the busy waterway every day, full coverage would
be hard to achieve. "Let's face it,
we can't ensure 100% protection but if we are sending a bold signal then I
think that such incidents are going to decrease or even stop," he told
reporters ahead of Tuesday's meeting. As
the leaders convened, Polish public TV reported a fresh incident of a Russian
"shadow fleet" ship circling around the Baltic Pipe that delivers gas
from Norway to Poland. Polish state
broadcaster TVP World had cited an unnamed Polish Foreign Ministry source. However,
the Foreign Ministry and military later said the event reported on Tuesday
"did not happen." "Shadow
fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains
around in violation of international sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine
war. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western
providers.
The leaders of Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden and European
Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty and Security Henna Virkkunen and
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended Tuesday's talks. Finnish police last month seized a tanker
carrying Russian oil, saying they suspected it had damaged the Estlink 2 power
line linking Finland and Estonia, as well as four telecommunications cables, by
dragging its anchor along the seabed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on
Tuesday that this and other recent incidents in the Baltic Sea, including off
Germany's northern coast, must be assumed to be part of a hybrid strategy. "It is important that we come together
here now and talk about how we can work together to ensure greater security in
the Baltic Sea region," Scholz said.
^ This is needed because Countries
like Russia are trying to disrupt things in Europe. ^
https://www.dw.com/en/nato-unveils-baltic-sentry-pipeline-cable-security-mission/a-71292043
Remission
From the BBC:
“Kate reveals she is in
remission from cancer”
The Princess of Wales has
revealed she is in remission from cancer after making an emotional return to
the hospital where she received treatment. In a message posted on social media,
Catherine spoke of her "relief" and said she remained "focused
on recovery". "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will
know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to
a fulfilling year ahead," the princess wrote in the post, which she signed
off as "C". Earlier, on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in west
London, Catherine thanked staff and empathised with cancer patients about the
"tough" treatment but reassured them there was "light at the end
of that tunnel".
It is the first time it has been
confirmed the princess is in remission from cancer. She announced her diagnosis
last March before she revealed in September she had completed her chemotherapy,
saying: "Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus." Cancer
Research UK says the word "remission" means that after treatment
there is no sign of the cancer. The charity says some cancers can come back so
doctors tend to use the word remission not "cure". In her message on
social media, Catherine thanked the Royal Marsden Hospital for its
"exceptional" care and for looking after her "so well". She
added: "My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked
alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn't have
asked for more."
'It's really tough' On
Tuesday morning, the princess had spoken to cancer patients at the Royal
Marsden with the empathy of her own first-hand experiences, in her most
significant solo royal engagement since her treatment ended. Catherine
told a woman who was having chemotherapy: "It's really tough... It's such
a shock... Everyone said to me, 'please keep a positive mindset, it makes such
a difference'." Arriving as a visitor now rather than as a patient,
the princess sympathised with those undergoing treatment - and described how
she was still feeling the long-term effects. "You think the
treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that's
still a real challenge," she said. "The words totally
disappear. And understanding that as a patient - yes, there are side effects
around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects."
Asked how she was feeling,
Catherine said she was doing well, but added: "Sometimes from the outside
we all think you've finished treatment and you go back to things. But it's hard
to get back to normal." The princess hugged Tina Adumou, who broke down in
tears as she told how her 19-year-old daughter is in the intensive care unit. Putting
an arm around her, Catherine looked emotional and told her she was in the best
possible place. The princess said: "I'm sorry. I wish there was more I
could do to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work
that's going on here, and for those who are going through treatment and having
such a hard time." Catherine added: "Are you okay? Yes?", then
said, smiling: "There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to
meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands."
The princess's visit was the
first time it had been disclosed that the Royal Marsden was the hospital where
she had cancer treatment. It is almost a year since the princess's health
problems were first revealed - with an announcement last January that she had
undergone abdominal surgery. Catherine then announced in a video statement in
March that she was in h early stages of receiving cancer treatment - and in
September released a video saying that her chemotherapy had ended. Since the
end of her treatment she has gradually returned to more public events,
including Remembrance Sunday and her Christmas carol concert at Westminster
Abbey, which were seen as positive signs of her recovery.
The princess has now made her
first big engagement of 2025 - a return to the hospital where she was treated,
going to see those who helped her at the Royal Marsden, which specialises in
cancer treatment and research. Catherine has become the hospital's joint royal
patron, with Prince William already a patron. Diana, Princess of Wales, had
been a previous royal patron. The Royal Marsden, which treats 59,000 patients
each year, was founded as a specialist cancer hospital in 1851.
Thin, purple banner promoting the
Royal Watch newsletter with text saying, “Get insider stories and expert
analysis every week, straight to your inbox”. There is also a graphic of Queen
Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Princess Catherine on a floral, white
background.
^ This is great to hear. ^
Monday, January 13, 2025
Romania Joining VWP
Starting from March 31, 2025, Citizens of Romania will be able to travel to the United States without Visas for short-term stays under the Visa Waiver Program.
That means that after March 31, 2025 the only Citizens of the European Union not in the Visa Waiver Program will be from Cyprus and Bulgaria.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program of the United States Federal Government that allows Nationals of specific Countries to travel to the United States for Tourism, Business, or while in Transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a Visa.
It applies to all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which also have an additional program with Waivers for more Nationalities; American Samoa has a similar but separate Program.
The Countries selected for the VWP by the U.S. Government are generally regarded as developed Countries, with high-income economies and a very high Human Development Index.
Other Visa Waivers exist for Citizens of certain jurisdictions (like Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caymen Islands.)
The Countries in the Visa Waiver Program:
Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece. Iceland, Ireland. Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
The Visa Waiver Program started in 1988 with the introduction of Visa Free Travel to the USA by the UK.
Argentina and Uruguay were part of the VWP until 2002 and 2003 respectively.
To be eligible for the VWP you must:
Have a Biometric National Passport
Apply, pay $21 and be approved for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online prior to travel.
Aspiring VWP Countries: Argentina (wants to rejoin), Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Uruguay (wants to rejoin.)
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Suwalki Corridor
From Facebook:
The Russian State Duma has
claimed it could defeat Lithuania within 24 hours and declared that “the
Baltics should belong to Russia.”
This statement came from Alexei
Zhuravlev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, in
response to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who stated that the
Kaliningrad Region historically belongs to Lithuania Minor.
“If we are revisiting the
outcomes of World War II, then the entire Baltic region should belong to
Russia, as it did before the revolution. That includes Vilna, now Vilnius,
which was the capital of the Vilnius Governorate of the Russian Empire since
1795,” Zhuravlev told RIA Novosti.
He also mentioned that Russia
“could benefit from the Suwałki Corridor” to ensure easier access to
Kaliningrad.
In typical Russian “diplomatic”
fashion, Zhuravlev urged Lithuania to “keep its mouth shut,” calling its army
“one of the weakest in the world” and claiming Lithuania would not withstand a
confrontation with Russia “even for 24 hours.”
^ The main difference between
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in 2025 from 1939 (when it was invaded and
occupied by the USSR) is that in 2025 Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are part of
the European Union, the Eurozone and NATO.
If Russia invaded them today all
32 NATO Member Countries (including the United States) would be forced to fight
against Russia due to Article 5's "an attack on one NATO Member Country is
considered an attack on all NATO Member Countries." ^
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Fire Damage
From Yahoo:
“Horrifying Before and After
Photos of Celebrities’ L.A. Homes Reveal Brutal Reality of California Wildfire
Devastation”
A series of bone-chilling before
and after images of celebrities’ multimillion-dollar Los Angeles homes has laid
bare the extent of the destruction caused by the California wildfires—revealing
a glimpse at the horrifying impact the blazes have had on many communities in
the area. Multiple stars, including Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Paris
Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Billy Crystal, and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag,
have lost their homes to the flames, which began in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7
and quickly spread to Malibu and Santa Monica, before four more fires began to
ravage other neighborhoods in L.A. While the full extent of the damage wrought
by the fires is not yet known, it’s estimated that the cost of the destruction
could be upward of $52 billion, according to AccuWeather. The flames destroyed
more than 2,000 structures, according to authorities.
Among the properties that were
razed were the mansions of celebrities. Several stars shared heartbreaking
images and videos of the smoldering remains of their homes. The fires continue
to burn, with two of the blazes—the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire—currently
at zero percent containment, according to Cal Fire. Five people are dead and an
estimated 179,000 people are currently under evacuation orders in several
areas, including the Hollywood Hills, Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. Dozens
of celebrities have spoken out to share their horror over the fires, with many
pledging to donate money to the victims who have lost everything in the
devastating tragedy. And while some stars have been lucky enough to preserve
their homes, many were evacuated with little information available about when
they might be able to return to their properties.
Adam Brody and Leighton
Meester
Leighton Meester and Adam Brody,
who wed in 2014, purchased the modern five-bedroom, six-bathroom Pacific
Palisades property for $6.5 million in 2019, property records show. In its
listing, the 6,000-square-foot home was described as an “impeccable” design
with “sensational ocean views.” An image of the property taken after the fires
had ripped through the couple’s neighborhood reveals a scorched shell with the
walls about to collapse. Neither Meester nor Brody have yet to publicly address
the destruction of their home. However, it is thought that the couple, who
share two children, made it out of the house safely before the fires. Described
in its original listing as a “beach chic farmhouse,” the property boasted
jaw-dropping views from its hillside location. The interior had been impeccably
curated by “powerhouse developer and interior design couple” David and Eliana
Rokach. “One of the best views that the Palisades has to offer, this new
construction home has it all,” the listing noted. “With incredible attention to
design and detail, this home offers the perfect floor plan flowing seamlessly
from room to room, not to mention dramatic views from nearly every room.” Before
the fires, it’s estimated that the property’s value had soared to close to $8.5
million.
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum Paris
Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum, watched their Malibu home burn down on
live TV. The reality TV star, whose family started the iconic Hilton
hotel chain, opened up about the loss of the home, which she and Reum purchased
for $8.4 million in June 2021. Video footage of the home, which was
located on the Pacific Coast Highway, shows the property was reduced to ashes.
Paris Hilton revealed she had been left “heartbroken” after watching her
Malibu mansion “burn to the ground on live TV” in the deadly Los Angeles
wildfires. Hilton, 43, who shares two children with her husband, Carter Reum,
revealed in a heartbreaking Instagram post that her coastal mansion had been
demolished by the Palisades fire. The reality TV star, whose family started the
iconic Hilton hotel chain, opened up about her grief over the loss of the home,
which she and Reum purchased for $8.4 million in June 2021, two years before
they welcomed son Phoenix in January 2023 and daughter London in November 2023.
“Heartbroken beyond words,” Hilton wrote while sharing live ABC7 footage of the
smoldering remains of her home. “Sitting with my family, watching the news, and
seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one
should ever have to experience. “This home was where we built so many precious
memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of
building a lifetime of memories with London.” The three-bedroom home, which
offered just under 3,000 square feet of living space, was located in a
jaw-dropping spot on La Costa Beach, on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway,
which was obliterated by the fires as they spread from the Palisades to Santa
Monica and Malibu.
Cameron Mathison and Vanessa
Arevalo “General Hospital” star Cameron Mathison, 55, shared gut-wrenching
footage of the smoldering remains of his family home, which he and his wife,
Vanessa, purchased in 2011, according to records. In a video posted to
his Instagram account, the actor revealed the devastation that had been wrought
by the flames, which obliterated his four-bedroom, six-bathroom dwelling. Only
the front pathway was left unscathed. Mathison broke down in tears in another
clip, which was posted on his Instagram Stories, as he drove past the remains
of his home and neighborhood, screaming in horror as he surveyed the
devastation. “Oh God, oh God,” he can be heard yelling as he pulls up to
the property, which he bought for $1.7 million but was recently estimated to be
worth upward of $3.5 million. He opened up in more detail about his
heartache in an interview with “Good Morning America,” admitting that he had
been “up all night” just thinking about all of the “irreplaceable” items that
had been lost in the blaze. “I can’t sleep, you know. I’ve lost my home
and everything I own,” he said. “I have this hoodie and two pairs of pants and
a pair of sneakers left. That’s it.” Mathison, who has two kids, noted
that the most important thing is the safety and well-being of his loved ones.
However, he admitted that it has been hard for him to overcome the agony of all
that he and his family have lost in just a matter of hours. “Every few
minutes we’re thinking about things that were in there that are irreplaceable …
the kids’ projects, their baby photos that were only [on] film, my childhood
photos. … There’s just so much. “Of course, that’s just stuff, and at
the same time, it is still very unsettling and so surreal. And again I’m just
thinking of the hundreds and hundreds of people who are going through the same
thing.”
Billy Crystal and Janice Crystal Billy Crystal, 76, confirmed in a statement to People magazine that the Pacific Palisades home where he and his wife, Janice, had lived in since 1979 had been razed. “Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,” he told the outlet. “Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of our children and friends, we will get through this.” He ended his statement with a message of hope: “We pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people, and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.” Crystal and his wife purchased the four-bedroom, six-bathroom home, which was built in 1936, for $435,000. Realtor.com® estimates suggest that it was worth upward of $7.5 million before it was destroyed, with some valuations reaching $9 million. An image of the couple’s property taken after the fire reveals a smoking pile of rubble. The tennis court appears to have been the only thing left intact.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
The longtime home of “The Hills” stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag was
destroyed in the blaze after the former revealed that the fires were racing
toward their three-bedroom property in a series of social media posts. Pratt,
41, and Montag, 38, who share two sons, said they were able to evacuate safely.
But they expressed their heartbreak over the loss of their beloved home, which
they purchased for $2.52 million in 2017, according to property records. Realtor.com
estimates that the property’s value had soared to around $3.8 million before
the blaze. In a TikTok video posted by Montag after they evacuated, the
mother of two sobbed. “It really comes in waves but I just really want
to go home,” she told her followers. “I want to see all my stuff and sit on my
couch. “I’m so homesick.” She later revealed that she’d fled her
home with only two pairs of jeans and two shirts, leaving everything else
behind in a desperate bid to get her family to safety. “The craziest
thing when packing for a fire is that your brain just freaks out,” she
admitted. “You’re like, ‘What do I need? What do I need?’ It’s so overwhelming.
Montag added that she managed to grab more clothing for her two children,
before noting that the most important thing is that the family made it out
safely.
John Goodman Hollywood legend John Goodman‘s longtime
California home also fell prey to the devastating wildfires. An image taken on
Jan. 8 revealed that the sizable dwelling had been destroyed by the blaze,
which also consumed other properties in the actor’s neighborhood. The
“Roseanne” star, 72, purchased the Pacific Palisades property in 2007 for $4.6
million. It is understood that the actor carried out extensive renovations in
the years since, expanding the property and adding new amenities. It is not
currently known whether Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth Goodman, were in
California when the fires broke out, or whether they were safely ensconced in
their New Orleans abode, which serves as their main residence. Goodman has yet
to release a statement about the fires and the devastation they caused to his
Pacific Palisades property. However, it is thought that he and his spouse, who
share a daughter together, are safe and were not in the home when it burned
down. It remains to be seen whether the couple will rebuild the property, or
whether they will choose to sell the land on which it once stood and give up
their Los Angeles residence once and for all.
Anna Faris
The Pacific Palisades home that
Anna Faris purchased for $4.9 million in 2019 was completely incinerated, an
afterimage of the property reveals. Faris confirmed through a
spokesperson that she and her family had made it out of their four-bedroom,
five-bathroom house safely. “Anna and her family are safe and grateful,”
said a statement issued by her team. The representative did not address
the condition of Faris’ home. However, an image taken of the property in the
wake of the fire reveals that it was destroyed, along with several other homes
on her street. Charred rubble now covers Faris’ 7,223-square-foot lot,
and the empty swimming pool suggests that the water in it was evaporated by the
staggering heat of the fire. All that remains standing are a few trees
along the street, which were likely planted to ensure the actress’ privacy.
Anthony Hopkins
Sir
Anthony Hopkins lost his latest Los Angeles real estate investment to the
wildfires, a stunning Palisades property that he scooped up for $6 million in
2019—having sold his former home in the same neighborhood just one month
earlier. Hopkins, 87, is understood to have made extensive renovations to the
home, which originally boasted four bedrooms and five bathrooms, offered 3,557
square feet of living space, and sat on a sizable 10,262-square-foot lot. However,
that home, which was originally built in 1940, has now been razed by the
wildfires, which left little more than a pile of ash where the legendary
actor’s stunning abode once stood. An image taken of the destruction reveals
just a few beams and pillars remaining of the property. It was one of several
homes on the street that were destroyed by the flames. It will no doubt
come as a heartbreaking loss to the actor, whose London home was also destroyed
in a fire in 2000—while his former Malibu residence, which he sold for $10.5
million in 2020, only narrowly escaped the terrifying Woolsey fire in 2018. That
blaze destroyed a home belonging to Hopkins’ neighbor but miraculously left his
waterfront home unscathed.
Eugene Levy
“Schitt’s Creek” star Eugene
Levy‘s Pacific Palisades home, which he purchased in 2006 for $2.4 million, was
also decimated by the wildfires, with images revealing the entirety of the
structure, save for the chimney, was razed. The home, which was built in
1950, served as a Los Angeles base for Levy and his wife, Deborah Divine, in
whose name the property is registered, according to records. Levy and
Divine, who share two children—Sarah and Dan, both of whom starred in “Schitt’s
Creek”—are primarily based in Toronto, where they raised their kids. They
maintained their home in Los Angeles for many years, no doubt so that the actor
could come and go for work. Although Levy has yet to comment on the
devastation that has befallen his neighborhood, he did reveal to the Los
Angeles Times that he was in the property when the evacuation order was put in
effect, telling the outlet that he got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic as he
fled his home. “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal
Canyon,” he told the publication via phone. “I couldn’t see any flames but the
smoke was very dark.”
Miles Teller
A $7.7 million Cape Cod owned by
“Top Gun: Maverick” star Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh, was all but
obliterated in the blaze. A photo of the residence taken after the flames swept
through their neighborhood reveals only the front gate and entry path remained.
Bought by the couple in March 2023, four years after they tied the knot, the
home was described in its original listing as a “gorgeous showpiece” that
boasted “360-degree views” from its rooftop deck, as well as ample natural
light in all of its rooms. The home had an open floor plan that was perfect for
entertaining, while a spacious driveway meant there was plenty of room for
guests to park. That driveway appears to have held several cars whose burned
shells can be seen in the afterimage of the home. The trees surrounding the
property are scorched, but still standing. While it’s thought that Teller and
his wife were not in the home when it went up in flames, they have yet to
comment on the fires.
^ It is sad to see all the
destruction. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, a Celebrity or an Ordinary
Person loosing your house and all your personal items (photos, heirlooms, etc.)
is devasting. ^
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/horrifying-photos-celebrities-l-homes-174140336.html
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Curious George
H. A. Rey and Margret Rey
H. A Rey (born Hans Augusto
Reyersbach in 1898 in Hamburg, Germany)
Margret Rey (born Margarete Waldsteinin 1906 in Hamburg, Germany)
Margaret Rey fled Nazi Germany
for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1935.
She met H.A. Rey in Rio where
they married and moved to Paris, France in 1936.
As the Germans were about to
occupy Paris in June 1940 the Reys fled on 2 self-made bikes with a manuscript.
They went through Spain,
Portugal, Brazil and then the United States.
Their Manuscript ”Curious George”
was published in the US in 1941.
It was an instant success and the
Reys wrote many more Curious George Books.
H.A Rey died in 1977 and Margret
Rey died in 1996.
Friday, January 10, 2025
Trump Sentenced
From Yahoo/People:
“Donald Trump Sentenced to
'Unconditional Discharge' for His Felonies. Here's What That Means”
President-elect Donald Trump
received a historic sentence on Friday, Jan. 10, from New York Judge Juan
Merchan, dodging jail time and instead getting "unconditional
discharge" for his 34 felony convictions. He appeared virtually from
Florida for his sentencing on Friday morning at the Manhattan Criminal
Courthouse in New York City. The hearing was scheduled at the last minute so
that the case could get closure before Inauguration Day, and Trump's frantic attempts
to cancel his sentencing were rejected by the New York State Court of Appeals
and U.S. Supreme Court. Before the sentence was handed down, prosecutor Joshua
Steinglass said that — while the Manhattan District Attorney's Office
ultimately recommended unconditional discharge out of respect for the office of
the presidency — he did not want to downplay Trump's "unsubstantiated
attacks" on the rule of law and his "coordinated campaign" to
undermine the jury's conclusion.
Trump — who will be sworn in as
United States president for a second time on Monday, Jan. 20 — was previously
found guilty by 12 jurors of falsifying several business records to conceal a
plot to tilt the 2016 presidential election in his favor. With the unanimous
guilty verdict, he became the first sitting or former U.S. president to be
convicted of a crime. His charges carried up to four years in prison at the
court's discretion.
What is unconditional
discharge? When Judge Merchan set Trump's sentencing date, he revealed that
he did not intend to put the president-elect behind bars. Instead, the judge
suggested, "unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable option
to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options."
Unconditional discharge is, in
effect, a non-punishment — a way that New York courts can acknowledge someone's
conviction as valid while simultaneously releasing them "without
imprisonment, fine or probation supervision." The sentence is allowed to
be handed out in cases where there appears to be "no proper purpose"
for imposing restrictions upon someone. Judges are required by New York law to
provide reasoning for their decision if they choose to go that route. Considering
Trump's imminent inauguration — and speculation that a sitting president's
sentence would need to be paused during their time in office anyway — Merchan
chose the path of least resistance with his sentence. Despite declining to give
Trump a punishment, Merchan's final judgment is not exactly how the
president-elect wanted things to play out: He remains a convicted felon. Still,
with a sentence now issued and the case closed, Trump can finally pursue a
proper appeal of his verdict after seven months. His attorney said on Friday
that he plans to.
What did Trump get convicted
for? Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records
on May 30, 2024, after spending more than six weeks on trial in Lower
Manhattan. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought an
unprecedented case against Trump that aimed to prove he not only falsified
financial records "with intent to defraud" — in this instance, to
mask a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in
the final days of his 2016 presidential election — but that he did so in order
to conceal a second crime, which elevates the charges from misdemeanors to
felonies.
In falsifying the records, the
DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an
illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election. Colloquially called Trump's
"hush money" trial, given that Daniels' hush money payment anchored
the narrative, the Manhattan case went far beyond white-collar crime. It was
the first of four criminal cases brought against the former president in 2023 —
three of which hit on themes of election interference. Through hard evidence
and exhaustive witness testimony, Manhattan prosecutors painted a portrait of a
former reality TV star who unlawfully tilted a presidential election in his
favor by conspiring with powerful friends to suppress information from voters.
Jurors' guilty verdict signaled
that — beyond a reasonable doubt — the evidence presented to them supported the
prosecution's story.
Trump's three other criminal
cases never went to trial, but in unrelated civil lawsuits since leaving the
White House, Trump has been found liable of committing fraud while building his
real estate empire as well as sexually abusing and defaming former Elle
columnist E. Jean Carroll. Each of those cases carried substantial fines.
^ Trump always wanted to be remembered
for something and now he is: the first Convicted Felon President of the United
States.
Anything he does from now on (good
or bad) will have an Asterisk besides it meaning it was done by a Convicted Felon
and not a Law-Abiding Citizen. ^
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Anita Bryant 1940-2024
Anita Bryant, a Singer and Anti-Gay Activist
is dead at 84.
Despite citing her “Traditional
American Family Values” she was divorced (going against Traditional Family
Values.)
She was the symbol of all that is bad when you hate.
14: Bob's Burgers
14 years ago today (January 9,
2011) “Bob’s Burgers” premiered on Fox.
The Series is centered on the
Belcher Family—Parents Bob and Linda and their three Children, Tina, Gene, and
Louise—who run a Burger Restaurant and often go on adventures of many kinds.
The Series Premiere, “Human Flesh”, drew in
9.39 Million Viewers, making it the highest-rated Series Premiere of the season
and finishing ninth in the ratings for the week it aired.
Since then, the series has grown
to be a critical and cultural success. In 2013, TV Guide ranked “Bob’s “Burgers
as one of the 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time.
A total of 286 Episodes have been
broadcast and a feature Film has been released.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
LA Fires
From Yahoo:
“Los Angeles wildfires live
updates: 5 killed, Palisades and Eaton fires spread across 26,000 acres with 0%
containment”
Torrance Firefighters are seen
gearing up to fight the Palisades Fire, as residents try to escape the
site in Pacific Palisades, California,
Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced
30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could
further escalate the blaze. (Photo by Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The number of deaths resulting
from ongoing wildfires burning in Los Angeles County has reportedly increased
to five, according to multiple local news outlets citing L.A. County Sheriff
Robert Luna. Tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate the region.
More than 1,000 structures have
been destroyed by the fires, which have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds,
low humidity and ongoing drought conditions.
According to the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, there are five
wildfires currently scorching Los Angeles County: the Palisades Fire, at more
than 15,800 acres; the Eaton Fire, at 10,600 acres; the Hurst Fire, about 500
acres; the Lidia fire, which has reached 50 acres, and the Woodley Fire, at 30
acres. Officials said the Olivas Fire was burning in Ventura County. All of the
fires were 0% contained.
^ This is really sad to see:
smoke in Hollywood, People fleeing with their pets. ^
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