Sunday, April 27, 2025
The World Will Tremble
I just finished watching the 2025
Film “The World Will Tremble.”
It is a true story about two Jews
(Szlama Ber Winer and Mordechaï Podchlebnik) who escaped the Chełmno (called Kulmhof
by the Germans) Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland in 1942.
The Chełmno Death Camp was operational
from December 8, 1941 to April 11, 1943 and again from June 23, 1944 to January
18, 1945 and saw 200,000 Men, Women and Children murdered in that time.
Chełmno used Gas Vans to murder People.
Men, Women and Children arrived
at the Camp, told to mark their bags so they could get them back after they
were “Disinfected” from Typhus.
They think went inside the Mannor
where they took off their clothes and
walked down the hallways until they found themselves looking at the back of a
large Van where they were then beaten into it.
The doors were closed and locked
and exhaust gas was pumped into the back while the Van drove out of the Camp,
into the forest and to large Open Pits.
The People inside could be heard
screaming, praying and banging on the doors for about 20 minutes until they
were all dead.
The doors were then opened and the
Sonderkommando (Special Unit– a Group of 15 Jewish Prisoners forced by the
Germans to dig the large Pits, bury the Bodies and then go through the Personal
Belongings of the dead to send back to Germany.
Many of the Sonderkommando had to
bury the bodies of their own Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Wives and
Children.
Szlama Ber Winer and Mordechaï
Podchlebnik were part of the Sonderkommando.
Szlama Ber Winer was born
in Izbica Kujawska, Poland on September 23, 1911.
On January 10, 1942 Winer was
deported from the Izbica Ghetto to Chełmno to work in the Sonderkommando.
On January 14, 1942 the Germans liquidated
the Izbica Ghetto sending Winer’s Wife and Children and the rest of the Ghetto
Population to the Gas Vans at Chełmno. Winer had to bury his own Family.
Mordechaï Podchlebnik was
born on June 16, 1907 in Kolo, Poland.
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On January 3, 1942 he was
deported to Chełmno.
On January 13, 1942 he was forced
to bury his Parents, his Wife and his Children.
On January 19, 1942 both Szlama
Ber Winer and Mordechaï Podchlebnik escaped from Chełmno and went to the Grabow
Ghetto where they described in detail the death process at Chełmno.
The Report made it to the Polish
Government-In-Exile in London and was broadcast on the BBC in 1942. It was the
first account of the Holocaust to the outside World.
The two then separated.
On April 10, 1942 Szlama Ber
Winer was caught by the Germans and sent to the Bełżec Death Camp where he was
gassed. He was 30 years old.
Mordechai Podchlebnik went to
different Ghettos in German-Occupied Poland telling the People there about the
murders going on.
When the Soviets liberated Poland
in 1945 Podchlebnik when to Lublin and then back to Kolo.
In September 1945 he went to a Displaced
Person’s Camp in Germany.
He married Dora Kurzfeld from
Będzin, a Seamstress and Former Prisoner of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
In 1946, their Son Jakob was
born.
In 1949, he and his Family left for Israel
(where their Second Son, Jon, was born.)
On June 5, 1961, Podchlebnik was
a Witness in the Trial of Adolf Eichmann, and two years later in the Trial of
the Staff of the Chełmno Camp in Bonn, West Germany.
Mordechai Podchlebnik died in
Israel on September 11, 1985. He was 78 years old.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Pope Francis' Funeral
From the BBC:
“World bids farewell to Pope
who told people to 'build bridges, not walls'”
Pope Francis has been buried in
Rome after a funeral ceremony and procession attended by hundreds of thousands
of people and many heads of state. The first South American pontiff passed away
on Monday aged 88, marking the end of a 12-year pontificate. As the Italian
capital woke up to a hazy morning, teenage pilgrims, nuns and priests of all
denominations filed silently down the streets leading to the Vatican. Many of
the streets around St Peter's Basilica were closed - both to allow the flow of
visitors and for security reasons, as more than a hundred foreign dignitaries
were expected to join the funeral mass.
More than 8,000 Italian police of
different branches were out in force, as well as firefighters, medics, canine
unit handlers, volunteers, members of the armed forces and even park guards. Many
had been called in from all sides of Italy to be in Rome today - resulting in a
rather joyous blend of accents from across the country, from the Sicilian to
the Milanese. By 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) much of the square was already
full.
Jessica, 22 and from Mexico, and
Cyril, 20 and from the US, had arrived at dawn to secure a front row spot to
the funeral mass. "We never thought we'd be this close. We sacrificed a
little sleep to be here but it's worth it," said Jessica. She's a Catholic
and said her relatives in Mexico would "never believe it" when she
told them she had been at the Vatican for the Pope's funeral.
As heads of state and foreign
dignitaries took their places to the right of the altar, hundreds of
photographers in the press area on the roof of the colonnade snapped their
cameras furiously, hoping to capture a candid image of US President Donald
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose last meeting in
February gave rise to a combative exchange in the Oval Office.
But soon after, as a striking
photo of the two men sitting on two chairs inside St Peter's began to
circulate, it emerged that they had already met for around 15 minutes before
the service began. Later, Zelensky said the meeting "had potential to
become historic, if we achieve joint results". No more details were
shared, but some on social media later joked that, given the setting, the
meeting had been a "miracle".
Photos showed that UK Prime
Minister Keir Starmer, Trump, Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron had
also all met in the Vatican.
From the bright red of the
clergy's habits to the muted grey and blue of nuns' veils to the rainbow sun
hats worn by pilgrims, all morning St Peter's Square was a riot of colours
glistening in the sun. Hymns played out on giant speakers, occasionally drowned
out by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, as drones and seagulls
crisscrossed over Michelangelo's dome.
Yet the voice of 91-year-old
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re rang loud and clear as he presided over the mass.
The service's structure was very similar to that of any Catholic funeral mass,
although the readings were done in many different languages and all hymns were
sung in Latin. Outside St Peter's, a crowd the Vatican later said numbered
200,000 applauded as large screens showed Zelensky take his seat. There was
also applause when the Pope's simple wooden coffin was brought out. The crowd's
applause marked some other salient moments - such as when Cardinal Re, as part
of his homily, remembered the Pope's commitment to migrants and peace. He
mentioned that the Pope's first trip had been to the Italian island of
Lampedusa, the port of arrival in Europe for many migrants who make the
perilous journey across the Mediterranean, and recalled the mass the Pope
celebrated at the US-Mexico border. "War, he said, results in the death of
people and the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. War always leaves
the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat
for everyone." The cardinal emphasised that Pope Francis had repeatedly
urged the world to "build bridges, not walls". "It was good to
hear that on a day when so many heads of state were on St Peter's Square,"
a woman called Maria told the BBC. She and her friend Grazia had flown in from
Sardinia especially for the funeral. "It was a message especially for
them, I think, because it's them who decide whether there's going to be war or
peace, not us... Let's hope something made it through to them." "Otherwise
them being here was just pure hypocrisy," added Grazia.
During communion, a procession of
white-clad priests made its way down St Peter's Square, carrying golden
chalices full of wafers for communion, as many in the large crowd moved forward
to receive the hosts. Soon after, Cardinal Re blessed the Pope's coffin with
holy water, before burning incense in a thurible - a symbol of cleansing - and
the basilica's bells tolled three times after the blessing of the coffin was
carried out. After some brief mingling, world leaders started making their way
out of the basilica. Their motorcades then filed out of the Vatican. Within an
hour Trump was reported to be back on Air Force One, while other leaders held
various informal meetings in Rome. Meanwhile, the Pope's coffin was carried
through Rome in a slow procession to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore for
burial.
Authorities said 140,000 had
lined the streets, clapping and waving as the hearse – a repurposed white
popemobile – crossed the Tiber river and drove past some of Rome's most
recognisable sights: the Colosseum, the Forum and the Altare della Patria national
monument on Piazza Venezia. Once the coffin reached Santa Maria Maggiore, it
was taken inside and the live broadcast ceased.
Pope Francis was buried in the
righthand side of the church, near a beloved icon of the Virgin Mary, at around
15:00.
Visitors, pilgrims and the clergy
vacated St Peter's Square quickly. Many could be seen minutes later in the
numerous cafes, restaurants and pizzerias of the historic Borgo Pio
neighbourhood nearby. Grazia from Sardinia said the funeral had made a big
impression on her. "It was wonderful to meet in a single square with
people who come from every corner of the world and to live a shared moment.
This is the legacy of the Pope," she said.
Officials said the day had
unfolded without any major incidents. "Four hundred thousand people shared
a historic and emotional moment, and thanks to everyone's commitment the day
took place in a solemn and serene way, without critical issues," said the
head of the Civil Protection, Fabio Ciciliano.
The city of Rome and the
Catholics of the world will now be preparing for the next momentous event - the
conclave, which will select the next Pope. A date has not yet been set but it
is thought it could start as early as 5 or 6 May, after the Novemdiales - the
mandatory nine days of mourning - are over. With 135 cardinals set to attend,
it will be the largest conclave in modern history and one of the most
unpredictable. Over the past few days, cardinals wandering around Rome were
hounded by journalists trying to get a steer on what the conclave might yield. After
the funeral, too, the Cardinal of Tonga Soane Patita Paini Mafi was approached
by the media as he made his way out of St Peter's Square. After a South
American pope, is it time for an Asian one, he was asked. Cardinal Mafi laughed
and pointed to the sky. "Only He knows," he said.
^ A fitting Tribute to a great Man.
^
Reuben Namibia
This is Reuben Namibia.
He rescues animals like Cindy
(pictured) in Namibia.
I bought a shirt with Cindy on it
to help him and because I like his videos.
He is on Facebook, Tik Tok and
Instagram as well as his online store at the following link:
Lets Bring The Light
I ordered 2 Candles (one as a
gift) from this place.
It is run by a Ukrainian Family
who fled to the United States in 2022.
I wanted to show them and other
Ukrainians that I (as an American) still support them.
They have daily videos
(about their life, etc.) on Tik Tok and Instagram.
Check out their online website at
the following link:
Friday, April 25, 2025
Pope's Work
Pope Francis’ Funeral will be
held tomorrow.
For those that don’t know the
Pope is the Leader of the Catholic Church which has 1.3 Billion People.
Pope Francis is known as “The
People’s Pope” because he sought to be accessible to the Ordinary People as
well as bringing more Transparency and Openness to the Catholic Church.
Here are some of the things Pope
Francis did (for both Catholics and Non-Catholics):
2024 Synod on Synodality
(Described as the culmination of Pope Francis's Papacy and the most important
event in the Church since the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s): Francis
allowed Women to vote in the Catholic Synod of Bishops for the first time.
Institute for the Works of Religion
– IWR - informally known as the Vatican Bank): Often criticized for corruption,
money laundering, etc. Francis restricted the IWR in 2019 after first authorizing
a Pontifical Commission in 2013 (when he first became Pope) to look at the
allegations. In 2014 he removed 4 Cardinals in charge of the IWR.
Canonizations: Francis canonized
Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin (the first married Couple to be named as Saints
together) in 2015, Mother Teresa in 2016 and Óscar Romero in 2018.
Francis also canonized three of
his Predecessors: Pope John XXIII in 2014, Pope John Paul II in 2014 and Paul
VI in 2018.
Consistories: Francis
created 163 Cardinals from 76 Countries across 10 Consistories (making the
College of Cardinals less European-dominated.)
Covid-19: Francis led the
Vatican and every Roman Catholic Church through the Covid-19 Pandemic. He
cancelled his Public Audiences to prevent People from getting sick, encouraged
Priests to visit the sick and Health Care Workers, created the Vatican COVID-19
Commission to listen to concerns and develop responses for the future and
preached that getting the Covid-19 Vaccine was a “moral obligation.”
Role of Women in the Catholic
Church: In January 2021, Francis issued Spiritus Domini, allowing Bishops
to institute Women to the Ministries of Acolyte and Lector which were
previously reserved for Men.
In April 2023, Francis announced
that 35 Women would be allowed to vote at the Sixteenth Ordinary General
Assembly of the Synod of Bishops ("just over 10%" of all voters), marking
the first time Women are allowed to vote at any Catholic Synod of Bishops.
Apologies toward Indigenous Peoples:
In 2022 Francis both apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in its abuses in
Canada (Forced Assimilation, Residential Schools and the Mass Number of Unmarked
Graves as the Schools) but he travelled to Canada and described the Canadian
Roman Catholic Church’s role as “Cultural Genocide. “He also begged for
forgiveness for these crimes.
Sexual Abuse Response: In
2017 Francis admitted he mishandled the case of the Italian Priest, Mauro
Inzoli, who had been convicted of abusing Children.
He openly admitted the Catholic
Church had “arrived late” in dealing with Sexual Abuse Worldwide.
In 2019, Francis defrocked
Theodore McCarrick, a former Archbishop of Washington, who maintained a
prominent position in the Church for decades despite repeated reports of Sexual
Misconduct against him dating back to the 1980s. Francis also publicly released
the findings of a 2020 Report on McCarrick.
In February 2019 Francis convened
a Summit on Sexual Abuse.
He abolished the "Pontifical
Secrecy" privilege in Sexual Abuse cases, clarifying that Bishops do not
need authorization from the Vatican to turn over materials from Canonical Trials
upon request of Civil Law Enforcement Authorities.
In November 2021, Francis thanked
Journalists for their work in uncovering Child Sexual Abuse scandals in the Church.
He also thanked Journalists for "helping us not to sweep it under the
carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims".
Francis has apologized for Sexual
Abuses by clergy in the United States and Ireland.
Modifying Papal Funeral and Burial
Requirements: In 2024, Francis approved a second edition of Ordo
Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Liturgical Book prescribing Papal Funeral Rites,
in order to make his Funeral Rites similar to that of a Bishop.
He also modified the Papal Burial
Requirements to no longer include the traditional three coffins of cypress,
lead, and oak, opting to instead be buried in one zinc-lined wooden casket.
Pope Francis will also be the first Pope since
Leo XIII (in 1903) to be buried outside the Vatican. Plans are made to bury him
in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. He had a "great devotion" to
the Salus populi Romani icon kept there.
Church Governance: Francis
called for Decentralization of Governance away from Rome and for a Synodal
manner of decision-making in dialogue with the people. He strongly opposed Clericalism
and made Women Full Members of the Church's Dicasteries in Rome.
Environment and Climate Change:
In October 2023, in advance to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP28), Francis issued the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum
(Praise God), in which he called for decisive action to against the Climate Crisis
and condemned Climate Change Denial.
In 2024, Francis organized a Climate
Summit that issued a Planetary Protocol for Climate Change Resilience including
three Pillars: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (while prioritizing
nature-based solutions), Climate Change Adaptation, and Societal Transformation.
Option for the Poor: In
September 2024, Francis renewed calls for a Universal Basic Income, as well as
higher taxes on Billionaires.
Homosexuality: In July
2013, Francis televised "Who Am I to Judge?" Statement was widely
reported in the International Press, becoming one of his most famous statements
on Homosexuals.
In other public statements,
Francis had emphasized the need to accept, welcome, and accompany Homosexuals
including Children.
He also supported Same-Sex Civil Unions
as legal protections for Homosexuals.
In a January 2023 interview with
the Associated Press, Francis denounced the Criminalization of Homosexuality
(which he called "unjust.")
International Relations:
Cuba: Francis played a key
role in the talks toward restoring full Diplomatic Relations between the U.S.
and Cuba, announced in December 2014.
Israel and Palestinian
Territories: In May 2014, Francis visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Francis offered symbolic gestures to both sides in the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict.
He invited Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to a Prayer Summit at the
Vatican—both accepted.
Francis condemned the Hamas-led Attack
on Israel on October 7, 2023.
From October 2023 until the day
he died, he spoke with the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip every night.
Migrant and Refugee Issues:
Francis made the plight of Refugees and Migrants "a core component of his
pastoral work" and had defended their rights in dialogue both with Europe
and with the United States.
In April 2016, Francis, along
with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronimos II of Athens,
visited the Moria Refugee Camp on the Greek Island of Lesbos in order to call
the attention of the world to the 2015 European Migrant Crisis. There, the
three Christian Leaders signed a Joint Declaration.
In February 2025, following the Election
to a Second Term of US President Donald Trump there were mass deportations and swinging
cuts to International Aid by the new Administration, defended by Vice President
JD Vance, a Catholic, by recasting the Catholic idea of ordo amoris (the right
ordering of one's love) as a justification for Nativism.
Francis wrote what had been
described as "an extraordinary and excoriating response to US Bishops".
He cited the parable of the Good Samaritan, described the ordo amoris as the
love that "builds a fraternity open to all, without exception" and criticized
the focus on solely Family, Community or National Identity as
"[introducing] an ideological criterion that distorts social life and
imposes the will of the strongest.”
In the Muslim World: Francis
condemned the persecution of Christians by ISIS and supported the use of force
to stop Islamic Militants from attacking Religious Minorities in Iraq.
In January 2018, Francis met
Yazidi Refugees in Europe, expressed his support for their right to Religious
freedom, and called upon the International Community "not to remain a
silent and unresponsive spectator" to the Yazidi Genocide.”
In February 2019, Francis visited
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the invitation of Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan. Francis became the first Pope to celebrate Mass on the Arabian
Peninsula, attended by more than 120,000 Attendees.
In March 2021, Francis held a
historic meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite Cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali
al-Sistani, and visited Ur, a site traditionally identified as the Birthplace
of the Prophet Abraham. He and the Iraqi Cleric urged the Muslim and Christian Communities
to work together for peaceful coexistence.
In September 2024, Francis
visited Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim Population, where he
attended Inter-Religious Dialogue in Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta and was
welcomed by the Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.
Francis and the Grand Imam
additionally signed the Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024, underscoring that
the values common to all Religious traditions be effectively promoted to
"defeat the culture of violence and indifference" and promote
reconciliation and peace.
The Declaration was also read and
attended by Representatives from other Religions, including Protestants,
Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians, and Folk Religions.
Russia and Ukraine: Following
the February 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, a major escalation of the
Russo-Ukrainian War, Francis visited the Russian Embassy in Rome, an
unprecedented action.
He called Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy to express "sorrow" as the Vatican worked to find
"room for negotiation" to end the War.
At a September 2022 Interfaith Event
in Kazakhstan, Francis urged Patriarch Kirill not to become an "altar
boy" of Putin.
In a September 2022 Press Conference,
seven months into the War, Francis said that it was justified for Ukraine to
defend itself.
In early October 2022, Francis
for the first time directly appealed to Putin to halt the "spiral of
violence and death" in Ukraine.
Summary: While Pope Francis
did many great things he was a Man who also made mistakes. He worked to reform
the Catholic Church and the World, but didn’t always go far enough.
I hope the next Pope will follow
the examples of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis and go even further to make
the Catholic Church and the World a better place.
80: Elbe Day
80 years ago today (April 25, 1945) the Soviet Red Army and the US Army met at the Elbe River in Nazi Germany – cutting the country in two.
2nd Lt. William Robertson (U.S.
Army) and Lt. Alexander Silvashko (Red Army) were the ones in the famous
picture of the event.
After the War, Silvashko returned
to his native Ukraine to find his Family and his village wiped out. Army comrades from Belarus encouraged him to
settle there in the small village of Morach where he spent the rest of his
life.
Robertson went on to study Medicine
and became a noted Neurosurgeon in Los Angeles.
Silvashko and Robertson did not see each again
until 1975, when détente between the United States and the Soviet Union brought
them back together in Moscow to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their
meeting on the Elbe.
Bill Robertson died in 1999 and
Alexander Silvashko a few years later.
80: Meeting
80 years ago today (April 25,
1945) the Soviet Red Army and the US Army met at the Elbe River in Nazi Germany
– cutting the country in two.
2nd Lt. William Robertson (U.S.
Army) and Lt. Alexander Silvashko (Red Army) were the ones in the famous
picture of the event in 1945 and 1975.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
12 Hour Wait
A 17-year-old Boy died under the
rubble after a Russian Missile Strike on Kyiv.
His Friends waited over 12 hours, hoping he
was alive.
He'd walked a Friend's Dog the
night before.
Now he is gone. His Mom died too.
His Dad, a Soldier, was killed
earlier.
His 14-year-old Sister is hospitalized.
Russia is targeting Civilians
including Children in their War Crimes in Ukraine.
Golfing
While Trump helps destroy the United
States from within as well as Internationally all he cares about is playing
Golf.
Win-Win
Sadly, some Americans don’t understand how American Aid to Ukraine worked.
The US Government gives Ukraine
its old Weapons and Equipment and then goes to American Factories with American
Workers (like these 117 Production Sites in 71 Cities) to replace the old with
the new for the US Military.
So not only are we doing the
moral thing in helping Ukraine, but we are also helping the Ordinary Americans
who work at these Production Sites as well as other Businesses in those Towns.
It’s a Win-Win!
Map Key:
Dark Green = BAE Systems
Dark Blue = Boeing
Orange = General Dynamics
Yellow = Lockheed Martin
Red = Honeywell
Purple = RTX Corporation
Light Blue = L3Harris
Pink = Aeroinronment
Light Green = Northrup Grumman
The Toll
Today is Armenian Genocide
Remembrance Day.
(Map of the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey.)
The Turks murdered 1.5 Million
Armenian Men, Women and Children from 1915 to 1922.
The Turks murdered them by
drowning people in rivers, throwing them off cliffs, crucifying them, on Death
Marches and by burning them alive.
The Turks also kidnapped 100,000
Armenian Children forcing them to convert to Islam and giving them to Turkish
Families.
The Turks forced 100,000 Armenian
Women to convert to Islam and marry Turkish Men or be killed.
The homes and property of the
Armenians were given to Turks.
The Armenian Genocide erased
Armenian Culture and Life that had been in Turkey for 2,000 years.
The Turks consider the Genocide
necessary and justified to establish a Turkish Nation-State.
It continues to be illegal, in
Turkey, to call the murder of the 1.5 Million Armenians in Turkey a Genocide
(as it does in Pakistan and Azerbaijan.)
Countries and Organizations
around the World officially call the murder of the Armenians by the Turks a
Genocide:
The Catholic Church (in 2015),
The International Association of Genocide Scholars (in 1997), The European
Parliament (in 2015), The Council of Europe (in 2001), The Union for Reform Judaism (in 1989), The
Central Council of Jews in Germany (2015), The Mercosur Parliament, the Latin
American Parliament.
Argentina (in 1993), Armenia (in
1988), Austria (in 2015), Belgium (in 1998), Bolivia (in 2014), Brazil (in
2015), Bulgaria (in 2015), Canada (in 1996), Chile (in 2007), Cyprus (1975),
the Czech Republic (in 2017), France (in 1998). Germany (in 2005), Greece (in
1996), Italy (in 2000), Latvia (in 2021), Libya (in 2019), Lithuania (in 2005),
Lebanon (in 1997), Luxembourg (in 2015), Mexico (in 2023), The Netherlands (in
2004), Paraguay (in 2015), Poland (in 2005), Portugal (in 2019), Russia (in
1995), Slovakia (in 2004), Sweden (in 2010), Switzerland (in 2003), Syria (in
2015), The United States (in 2021), Uruguay (in 1965), the Vatican (in 2000)
and Venezuela (in 2005.)
Parts of these Countries
Recognize the Armenian Genocide:
Australia (New South Wales, South
Australia and Tasmania), Belgium (Flanders), Brazil (Ceara, Parana, Rio de
Janeiro, and Sao Paulo), Canada (Alberta, British Colombia, Ontario and
Quebec), France (Corsica), Iran (Tehran), The Philippines (Manila), Spain
(Aragon, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Catalonia, Navarre, La Rioja), The
United Arab Emirates (Aby Dhabi) , The United Kingdom (Scotland and Wales), All
50 US States and DC.
Ukraine's Humanity
12 People were killed and 90 were
wounded (including Children) by a Russian Ballistic Missile strike on Kyiv,
Ukraine today.
Russia fired 70 Missiles and 150
Drones with Weapons on them on Residential Areas of the City.
Despite being wounded and scared
the Ukrainian People searched the rubble of their destroyed homes for their
Pets and saved the scared Animals.
Russia may no longer have its
Humanity, but Ukraine continues to have their Humanity.
The US should NOT support Putin
or Russia.
The US SHOULD support Zelenskyy
and Ukraine.
Approval Ratings
Trump’s current Overall Approval
Rating is 59%.
That means 59% of all Americans (Republicans,
Democrats and Independents) don’t approve of him or his work.
2% of Americans were unsure.
39% of Americans approve of him
or his work.
*As of April 22, 2025*
Here is a break-down of what
Americans also think of his work in specific areas:
Tariffs = 59% don’t support.
Federal Government Cuts = 55% don’t
support.
Use of Executive Orders to Govern
= 51% don’t support.
Should follow a Supreme Court
Ruling = 88% support.
Trump’s Policies are weakening US
Standing Around the Globe = 62% agree.
Trump’s Support for Russia = 97%
disapprove
With Regards to Ukraine:
59% of Americans continue to
support Ukraine despite Trump no longer supporting them.
4% of Americans are unsure about
supporting Ukraine.
37% of Americans do not support
Ukraine.
I regularly get asked (especially
from my Foreign Friends and Family Members) why we don’t just hold a “Vote of
No Confidence” to force Trump out if so many Americans do not support him.
Sadly, the United States is one
of the few Countries where we do not hold a “Vote of No Confidence” on our Politicians
or Congress (that is a Parliamentary System thing and we don’t have a Parliament.)
The only ways to remove Trump
from power is:
1. If
he dies in Office.
2. If
he becomes incapacitated (25th Amendment.)
3. If
he resigns from his Office.
4. If
he is Impeached from Office.
As we have seen the Republican Politicians
in DC (both MAGA and Non-MAGA) openly support everything Trump does (the Non-MAGA
are scared and the MAGA are brain-washed) so there is very little chance of
Impeaching him.
Bottom Line: The vast
Majority of Americans do not agree with how Trump is running/ruining the United
States both Domestically and Internationally.
Note: I am neither a
Registered Republican nor a Registered Democrat. I am a Registered Independent.
I follow what our 1st President George Washington believed: to Vote
for the Person and not the Political Party.
I have voted for Republicans in
the past and I have voted for Democrats in the past.
I am one of 59% of Americans who
does not agree with Trump or his Overall Policies.
I am one of the 97% of Americans
who does not agree with Trump or his support for Russia.
I am one of the 59% of Americans
who supports Ukraine.
Book Order
I loved ordering these.
Once a month I would order them
from Germany and get them in the mail.
It’s how I got “The Boxcar
Children” (along with many other books.)
I got Books 1 through 101 as well
as 21 of their Special Books and their Cookbook.
I still have all of them down in
my Library.
Love Hurts
Donald is not happy with Russia.
It is so sad when your Master
doesn't love you the way you love them.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Bad Deal
Both Trump and Vance today went after Ukraine and Zelenskyy because Ukraine refuses to recognize that Crimea is Russian (it has been Ukrainian since Russia gave it to Ukraine in 1954.)
These 2 Politicians (Trump and
Vance) are so out of sync with what is going on in Ukraine (Ukraine has been
fighting Russia since Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014) and
think by appeasing Putin (Trump’s Master) that Russia will simply stop fighting
in Ukraine or anywhere else.
It didn’t work with Hitler in
1938 and it won’t work with Putin today (Putin has used Hitler’s playbook since
2014: invasion, fake Annexation Vote, War Crimes, targeting Civilians, etc.)
Maybe Vance should focus more on
his Eyeliner and Trump on his Orange Glow and let real Leaders focus on
Ukraine, Russia and everything else.
It is fun, though to watch Putin play
Trump over and over again and Trump constantly following for it.
The U.S. was expected to present
its “peace plan” today in London. But after the main details of the plan leaked
yesterday, the talks were suddenly delayed.
Why? Because the U.S. proposal is
completely unrealistic.
According to the leaked plan,
Russia would receive:
•
De jure recognition by the U.S. of its control over Crimea
•
De facto recognition of Russia’s occupation of nearly the entire Luhansk
region and parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia
•
A promise that Ukraine will not join NATO
•
The lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014
In return, Ukraine would get:
•
A vague “security guarantee” from a handful of European countries —
without U.S. involvement
•
The return of a small portion of the Kharkiv region currently under
Russian occupation
• Ambiguous promises of reconstruction aid
Naturally, this plan would be
rejected not only by Ukraine but also by its European allies.
Beyond its moral and strategic
absurdity, Ukraine couldn’t even implement it legally. Ukrainian territorial
integrity is protected by the Constitution. Neither Zelenskyy nor Parliament
has the authority to cede territory.
Any such decision would require a
nationwide referendum. But to hold one, a ceasefire must first be reached and
martial law lifted. Even then, it’s inconceivable that the Ukrainian people
would vote to give Crimea to Russia.
This reality is now clear to the
U.S. administration, which is why the negotiations were postponed.
Of course, the U.S. could still
try to shift the blame onto Ukraine—accusing it of being unwilling to
negotiate. But given that Trump loudly promised to end the war within 24 hours
of taking office, such a failure would be another disaster and an embarrassment
for him.
And yet, I think this is the most
likely outcome: The U.S. will blame Ukraine for refusing to capitulate. The
talks will collapse. And eventually, the U.S. will lift sanctions on Russia.
And just like that Trump “will make Russia great again.”
Diada de Sant Jordi
Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint
George’s Day!)
In Catalonia today (April 23rd)
It is also The Day of Books and Roses when books and roses are given out.
St George's Day
Happy Saint George’s Day to my
English Friends.
Saint George is the Patron Saint
of England.
Final Arrangements
From the BBC:
“World leaders from Trump to
Zelensky to attend Pope's funeral”
Pope Francis's funeral will take
place on Saturday in St Peter's Square, the Vatican has confirmed, with
hundreds of thousands expected to attend. The head of the Catholic Church died
of a stroke on Monday, aged 88, less than 24 hours after leading an Easter
address. He had been in poor health after recently battling double pneumonia.
A host of world leaders and
royals - including Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, the Prince of Wales, and
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, home to the biggest Catholic
population in the world - have confirmed their attendance. Thousands of
mourners have already flocked to Vatican City, carrying flowers, crosses and
candles and reciting prayers.
On Tuesday, the Vatican released
further details of the Pope's final 24 hours. Francis, who had recently spent
five weeks in hospital, was slightly apprehensive about appearing on the
balcony on Sunday. "Do you think I can do this?" the Pope asked his
personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti. Strappetti reassured him and moments
later the pontiff appeared on the balcony, blessing the crowd gathered in St
Peter's Square below. The following morning at around 05:30 local time (03:30
GMT), Francis began to feel unwell. An hour later, he waved at Strappetti
before slipping into a coma. "Those who were near him in those moments say
he didn't suffer," the Vatican said in a statement. "It was a
discreet death."
What happens before the
funeral?
On Wednesday morning, Pope
Francis's body will be taken in a procession led by cardinals from the Chapel
of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, where he will remain in an open coffin
until Friday to allow mourners to pay their respects. Just before the
procession, a moment of prayer will be led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin
Farrell, who is running the Vatican in the wake of the Pope's death. The
Vatican has released photos of the Pope's body lying in the chapel at Casa
Santa Marta - his residence during his 12-year papacy - dressed in a red robe
with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand. The general public
will be able to visit St Peter's Basilica from 11:00 to midnight on Wednesday,
07:00 to midnight on Thursday and 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday. Bucking tradition,
there will be no private viewing for cardinals, at Pope Francis's request. The
Pope's coffin will also not be raised on a pedestal. BBC graphic titled:
"Vatican City: The permanent seat of the Pope." It shows the
locations of St Peter's Square, St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and
Casa Santa Marta.
What time will the service
take place? The funeral will start at 10:00 in the square in front of St
Peter's Basilica. Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from
across the globe will take part. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal
Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service. Cardinal Battista Re will deliver
the final commendation and valediction - a concluding prayer where the Pope
will be formally entrusted to God - and the pontiff's body will be moved to St
Mary Major for the burial. A nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales,
then begins.
Who is attending the funeral? Huge
crowds are anticipated on Saturday, with as many as 250,000 people expected to
attend the funeral. Many heads of state and royals have confirmed their
attendance, including Prince William, US President Donald Trump, Spain's King
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and French President Emmanuel Macron. Other
political figures who have announced they will attend include: Brazilian
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Polish President Andrzej Duda, EU
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky, Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, Francis's home
country, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Italian Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni
Where will Pope Francis be
buried?
Pope Francis, who famously
eschewed some of the pomp of the papacy during his life, will continue to break
with tradition in death. Historically, popes are buried in triple coffins in
marble tombs inside St Peter's Basilica at the heart of the Vatican. Pope
Francis requested that he instead be buried at Rome's Basilica of St Mary
Major. He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest
outside the Vatican. In his final testament, Pope Francis also asked to be
buried "in the earth, simple, without particular decoration" and with
the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus. His body was moved
into the Santa Marta chapel on Monday evening, and his apartment formally
sealed, the Vatican said.
When is the new Pope elected? Following
the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect a successor. The
dean of the College of Cardinals has 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to
Rome once the Pope is buried. Several names have already been floated as
potential successors, with more likely to emerge in the coming days.
^ I hope this is a fitting
tribute to an amazing Person. ^
Stepping Back
From the BBC:
“Musk signals 'significantly'
stepping back from Doge as Tesla profits plunge”
Tesla boss Elon Musk said he will cut back his role in the Trump administration as the company's latest profits and revenues showed a plunge during the beginning of the year. Sales have slumped, and the brand has faced backlash as Musk became a political fixture in the new White House administration. On Tuesday, the firm reported a 20% drop in automotive revenue in the first three months of 2025, compared to the same period last year, while profits fell more than 70%. The company warned investors that the pain could continue, declining to offer a growth forecast while saying "changing political sentiment" could meaningfully hurt demand. The recent dip in the company's fortunes comes amid outcry over Musk's role in President Donald Trump's new administration, which Musk acknowledged has taken his focus off the company. Musk contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to Trump's reelection. He also leads Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to cut federal spending and slash the government workforce. Musk's political involvement has sparked protests and boycotts of Tesla around the world. He said the "blowback" comes from people who "will try to attack me and the Doge team". But he called his work at Doge "critical" and said "getting the government house in order is mostly done."
Tesla brought in $19.3bn
(£14.5bn) in total revenue in the quarter, down 9% year-on-year, according to
the new numbers. That was less than the $21.1bn expected by analysts, and came
as the company cut prices in a bid to woo buyers. Musk's "time allocation
to Doge will drop significantly" starting in May, he said, adding that he
will spend only 1 to 2 days per week on government matters "as long as the
president would like me to do so and as long as it's useful." Trump's
tariffs on China also weighed heavily on Tesla, the company indicated. Although
the vehicles Tesla sells in its home market are assembled in the US, it depends
on many parts made in China. "Rapidly evolving trade policy" could
hurt its supply chain and raise costs, according to the company. "This
dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful
impact on demand for our products in the near-term," Tesla's quarterly
update said. Musk has clashed on trade with other Trump administration figures,
including trade adviser Peter Navarro. Earlier this month, he called Navarro a
"moron" over comments Navarro made about Tesla. Navarro had said Musk
is "not a car manufacturer. He's a car assembler, in many cases."
On Tuesday, Musk said he thinks
Tesla is the car company least affected by tariffs because of its localized
supply chains in North America, Europe and China, but he added that
"tariffs are still tough on a company where margins are low." "I'll
continue to advocate for lower tariffs rather than higher tariffs but that's
all I can do," he said on Tuesday. Tesla said artificial intelligence
would contribute to future growth, though investors have been unconvinced by
such arguments in the past. Shares in the company shed about 37% of their value
this year, as of market close Tuesday. They were steady in after-hours trading
following the results. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, called
expectations "rock-bottom" after the company said earlier this month
that the number of cars sold in the quarter fell 13%, to the lowest level in
three years. The firm faces fierce competition, Mr Coatsworth said, warning
that potential disruption to global supply chains as a result of Trump's trade
war also creates risks. "Tesla's problems are mounting," he said.
^ Finally some good news. ^
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Crimea Is Ukraine
Apparently, some people including
American Politicians still need to be told that Crimea has been part of Ukraine
since 1954, continues to be part of Crimea even though it is currently occupied
by the Russians and Crimea will always be part of Ukraine.
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