35: Kuwait's Liberation

35 years ago today (February 28, 1991) The United States liberated Kuwait from Iraqi Occupation.

(American Soldiers liberating Kuwait City, Kuwait.)

Saddam Hussein invaded and occupied Kuwait on August 2, 1990.

The United States led a Coalition of Nations (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kuwaiti Government-In-Exile, Luxembourg, Morocco, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia,  Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom) to liberate Kuwait.

Saddam also fired 42 Scud Missiles on Israel in January and February 1991 killing 2 and 4,100 Building damaged.

The fleeing Iraqis set fire to 700 Oil Wells in Kuwait which cost Kuwait $157 Billion US Dollars, but also damaged the coastline and soil and caused harm to American and Coalition Soldiers (Gulf War Syndrome) with 250,000 American Veterans suffering from it.

The last Oil Well wasn’t capped until November 1991.

650,000 American and Coalition Troops helped liberate Kuwait.

35,000 Iraqi Soldiers were killed during the Liberation of Kuwait.

206,000 Iraqi Soldiers were killed during the 1st Gulf War.

150,000 Iraqi Soldiers surrendered.

190 Coalition Troops were killed (148 of them were Americans.)

776 Coalition Troops were wounded (including 458 Americans.)

Over 1,000 Kuwait Civilians were killed during the Iraqi Occupation, another 600 Civilians went missing (375 were found in Mass Graves.)

300,000 Kuwaitis fled the Iraqi Occupation.

The 2^nd Gulf War started in 2003.

Saddam Hussein was arrested on December 13, 2003, tried and found guilty of Crimes Against Humanity and hanged on December 30, 2006.

In August 2007 I visited Kuwait with my Mom and my Dad. He took us to many sights he had been to during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

We went to The Al-Qurain Martyrs' Museum where 19 Kuwaitis fought the Iraqis on February 19, 1991 (12 Men were killed and 7 were severely wounded.)

Khamenei Dead

From the BBC:

“Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, state TV reports”

Iranian state TV has just confirmed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead.

Khamenei, the hard-line cleric in charge of Iran for 37 years.

Born in the north-eastern city of Mashhad in 1939, the son of a religious scholar, Ali Khamenei joined the religious opposition movement of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1962.

After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Ali Khamenei became deputy defence minister and helped organise the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

When Khomeini died in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts - a council of clerics - chose Ali Khamenei to be the new supreme leader, changing the constitution to allow him to take charge even though he had not achieved the required rank among Shia clerics.

Ayatollah Khamenei has maintained a firm grip on Iran's politics and its armed forces since, suppressing challenges to the ruling system, sometimes violently.

He also consistently taken hard-line stances on external matters, including the ongoing confrontation with the United States, of whom he remained suspicious. He had also repeatedly called for the elimination of the State of Israel - publicly questioning whether the Holocaust occurred.

There have been seven Presidents of Iran to serve during the rule of Khamenei, who has six children.

^ This is great news for both Iran and the World. ^

Rare Disease Day

 

Mauthausen

 Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria (2 hours from Vienna.)

(The Stairs of Death at Mauthausen)

It was opened in 1938 (several months after the German Invasion and Annexation of Austria.)

The Camp held Political Prisoners, Soviet POWs, Jews, Homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Roma and Sinti, Anti-Franco Spaniards, etc.

9,000 Anti-Franco Spaniards were held at Mauthausen. Many had escaped from Spain after Franco’s Fascists won in 1939 and lived in France. In 1940 German invaded and occupied most of France (the whole part of France was occupied in 1942) and the French Vichy Pro-German Collaborators and the Germans deported the Spaniards to Mauthausen.  5,166 Spaniards were murdered at Mauthausen during the War.

Note: My Great-Grandfather helped save 2 Catalan (called Spaniards by the Germans) Relatives from Mauthausen when the US was still Neutral in 1941. He wasn’t able to get some other Relatives out of Mauthausen or other German Concentration Camps, but sent them Red Cross Packages every month (some they received some the Germans stole.)

In 1944 a Women’s Camp was created at Mauthausen.

Mauthausen was known for its extreme torture even among the other Concentration Camps in German-Occupied Europe.

Prisoners were forced to work in a rock quarry in both extreme heat and extreme cold and snow.

Each Prisoner was made to carry a 110 lbs. block of stone up 186 steps (known as the Stairs of Death) with hundreds of people walking in front and behind you. If one person stopped they were trampled on by the other Prisoners or shot by the Guards.

On May 5, 1945 Mauthausen was liberated by the Americans.

90,000 Men, Women and Children were murdered here.

Notable Survivors of Mauthausen include: Nazi Hunter, Simon Wiesenthal and Medal of Honor Recipient Tibor "Ted" Rubin

Neverending

“The Neverending Story” Book ends at 400 pages.

“The Neverending Story” Movie ends at 94 minutes.

Think about it.

Purim Party

I went to a Virtual Purim Party tonight.

I have never been to a Purim Party before (Virtual or In-Person.)

I didn't stay long, but what I did notice in my short time is that 8 of the Ukrainian Jews at the Virtual Party were down in their Bomb Shelters in Ukraine celebrating Purim as were 3 of the Israeli Jews (down in their Bomb Shelters in Israel celebrating Purim.)

This should not be happening.

Whether they are in Ukraine, Israel, the UK, Germany, the US, Canada, etc. they should not be in Bomb Shelters fearing for their lives.

What's Going On

From BBC Live:

“US-Israel attacks on Iran”

US and Israel launch an attack on Iran, as Trump confirms "major combat operations" are under way

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says his country launched a "pre-emptive" attack on Tehran

Explosions were heard in five cities in Iran, including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah, as well as in the capital Tehran - images show smoke rising

Israel says Iran launches retaliatory strikes

The IDF says Iran has fired missiles towards Israel in response to the attack. In a statement, the IDF says: "Sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel". The Israeli Air Force is operating to intercept and strike threats, it adds

Donald Trump has announced the US has started "major combat operations" in Iran accusing the Iranian regime of waging an "unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States". The US President released a video on Truth Social in the early hours of the morning in the US, shortly after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital Tehran.

What did he say? The US president says Iran can never have a nuclear weapon" and explains that is why Operation Midnight Hammer struck Iran's nuclear programme at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Trump claims Iran has rejected every opportunity to renounce its nuclear ambitions and continued to develop long range missiles that can threaten allies in Europe, US troops overseas and "could soon reach the American homeland" He says the US is going to raze Iran's missile industry to the ground and "annihilate" its Navy. Trump says that the Iranian regime has chanted "Death to America" for 47 years. "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties," he adds. "The hour of your freedom is at hand," Trump says to the people of Iran and calls for them to "take over your government"

Attack On Iran

 

Traitors 4 Winner

From USA Today/Yahoo:

 “'The Traitors' Season 4 finale — Find out who won, plus a shocking betrayal”

Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the Season 4 finale of "The Traitors."

Maura Higgins said players have to find at least one person to trust on "The Traitors," but like most of the faithful in Season 4, she learned the hard way that placing her trust in the wrong person can be fatal. The Irish TV personality made it to the final five after "Dancing With The Stars" performer Mark Ballas was the final player to be "murdered" in front of the group. That left Olympic skating besties Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir (Faithfuls) in a tight battle versus singer Eric Nam and snake wrangling hearthrob Rob Rausch (Traitors). All eyes were on Maura Higgins, who started second-guessing whether her closest ally and fellow "Love Island" alum, Rob, could have secretly been playing her all along. At the final roundtable, Maura had listened to both sides and trusted her gut in making the right decision. But was it the right decision?

Did the Traitors or the Faithful win? After Johnny Weir was voted out in a 3-2 vote and later Tara in a 3-1 vote, the remaining traitors, Rob and Eric, had successfully allowed the traitors to triumph. Yet, the game wasn't finished as two players decided to banish again.

Who won 'The Traitors' Season 4? "Love Island" star Rob Rausch was the sole winner of "The Traitors" Season 4. He is the first traitor to win the U.S. game since Cirie Fields' victory in Season 1, as the two most recent seasons saw multiple faithfuls win. With only three players remaining, Maura and Rob voted to banish Eric, leaving Rob with the total prize pot of over $200,000 as the last remaining traitor to make it to the end.

Who is Rob Rausch? Rob Rausch is a 27-year-old professional snake wrangler and a reality TV personality from Alabama. Before his success on "The Traitors," he rose to fame as a Casa Amor bombshell in Season 5. He returned as a primary star in Season 6, where he shared several romances with contestants like Leah Kateb and Andrea Carmona.

Who were 'The Traitors' in Season 4? "The Traitors" in Season 4 included: Former "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Candiace Dillard Bassett. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Lisa Rinna, "Love Island" breakout Rob Rausch., Celebrity parent Donna Kelce, the mother of Jason and Travis Kelce, was the first "secret traitor" whose identity fans were not privy to until the end of Episode 3.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/traitors-rob-rausch-apologizing-maura-042800726.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Traitors 4 Pictures

“The Traitors US” Season 4 Pictures:

Expert

 

Renée Lemaire

Renée Lemaire

Renée Lemaire was born on April 10, 1914 in Bastogne, Belgium.

Her Parents ran a Hardware Store in Bastogne.

She was a few months old when the Germans invaded and occupied Belgium during World War 1 (1914-1918.)

When the Germans invaded and occupied Belgium during World War 2 (1940-1945) she was 26 years old and working in Brussels as a Nurse at the Brugmann Hospital.

Renée was the Fiancée of a Jewish Man arrested in Brussels by the Gestapo earlier in the War.

Brussels was liberated by the Allies on September 3, 1944 and Bastogne on September 10, 1944 and so Renée thought it was safe enough to travel from the Capital to her Parents’ House.

Renée, who was 30 years old, was in Bastogne when the Germans started a Counteroffensive in and around Bastogne (called the Battle of the Bulge) on December 16, 1944.

By December 20, 1944 the Germans had completely surrounded Bastogne (the Siege of Bastogne.)

As a Nurse and unable to return to her work in Brussels, Renée started working as a Volunteer Nurse in a Makeshift Basement Hospital set up in the Sarma Store on Rue de Neufchâteau for the American Military Surgeon, Jack T. Prior, of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion.

Working alongside another Volunteer Nurse, Augusta Chiwy—a 23-year-old from the Belgian Congo (Burundi) who had arrived in Bastogne on December 20^th Renée tended to Hundreds of Wounded American Soldiers with nothing but scraps of cloth, fed the Patients unable to feed themselves, bathed them, distributed the few Medications they had available and lifted their Spirits.

On Christmas Eve 1944 a Direct Hit from a German Bomber at 8:30 pm destroyed the Makeshift Hospital (killing 30 American Soldiers instantly.)

Renée didn’t run for cover. She went back into the burning building and saved 6 Wounded American Soldiers.

When she went in to save the 7^th American Soldier the Ceiling collapsed on her and killed her.

30 Bodies were recovered from the Ruins of the Makeshift Hospital (one of them being Renée Lemaire.)

American Military Surgeon Jack T. Prior gave her remains to her Parents.

Renée Lemaire was buried in the Communal Cemetery of Bastogne.

She is known as the “Angel of Bastogne.”

The Battle of the Bulge lasted until a German Defeat on January 28, 1945.

8,407 American Soldiers were killed, 46,170 were wounded and 23,000 were captured by the Germans.

1,462 British Soldiers were killed.

3,000 Belgian Civilians were killed.

Note: Augusta Chiwy continued to be a Nurse after the War and died in 2015 at the age of 94.

Wash Hands

I waited 45 minutes and not one Employee came to wash my hands.

Slava Ukraini

 

Thank You

 

With everything that is going on please take a moment to stop and think about those people who work tirelessly:

- Doctors, Nurses, Orderlies, 911 Operators, EMTs, Police, Fire, Soldiers. 

- Those taking care of the Elderly in Nursing Homes, Respite Care, Group Homes, Individual Homes, Hospices.

- Those taking care of the Disabled in Respite Care, Institutions, Group Homes, Individual Homes.

- Soldiers that fight and protect us around the globe.

- The Volunteers and Organizations that care, feed and house the Homeless.

- The Food Banks that feed those that are in most need.

- Humane Societies, Animal Shelters, Animal Charities and Veterinarians that protect, treat, feed and care for abused and unwanted animals.

I know I am grateful for all of their hard work and dedication.

Ugly Laws

 

From 1867 until 1974 most places across the United States had “Ugly Laws.”

These Subjective Laws were created in order to remove anyone deemed “ugly” from public sight.

These including the Poor, the Elderly, the Homeless, the Disabled, etc.

People charged under these Laws received a Fine ($50 or $1,095 in 2026 Money), Jail time, a Work Farm or an Almshouse.

The first recorded arrest related to an “Ugly Law” was in San Francisco, California, in July 1867, when a former Union Soldier, Martin Oates, was arrested (just 2 years after the American Civil War.)

The “Ugly Laws” were used to help support and enforce Segregation, Eugenics and Institutionalization.

These Laws were randomly enforced by Law Enforcement and randomly punished by the Courts.

Sometimes you could get arrested and jailed just from walking in public with dirty hands even if you were coming from work and other times if you were missing a limb even if it was while fighting as a Soldier in the US Military.

Maybe

 

4: Leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Leaders from Europe in Ukraine to remember the 4^th Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2026.)

4: Maps

 

4: US

Since January 2025 the United States has ended 99% of its Aid to Ukraine.

Some Americans may say that is a good thing because it means American Money is now being spent on the American People.

In fact, since January 2025 every American Family has paid an extra $1,000 due to Tariffs placed on them by American Politicians.

When the US gave American Money to Ukraine the majority of that money had to be spent buying American Weapons, Equipment, etc. inside the United States providing jobs to Ordinary Americans.

Some Americans may say that cutting Aid to Ukraine is a good thing because it also means the United States is ending its role in International Conflicts and focusing instead on improving the lives of the American People inside the United States.

In fact, since January 2025 the United States has attacked 7 Countries (Iraq, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Nigeria and Venezuela); verbally attacked our long-standing Friendly World Leaders (Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, the European Union, the United Nations, Ukraine, etc.); has threatened to annex Canada, Greenland, Venezuela and Cuba; has supported our long-time Enemy World Leaders (ie. Russia, Belarus, China, etc.); expressed interest in regaining an American Base in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan; expressed intertest in regaining the Panama Canal; has expressed interest in an American Takeover of Gaza; etc. while at the same time ending Health Care Coverage for Millions of Americans; firing 316,000 American Workers from Federal Jobs; cutting Social Benefits to Children, the Elderly and the Disabled, etc.

On the 4^th Anniversary of the start of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine as Thousands of Ukrainian Men, Women and Children are being tortured and shot into Mass Graves by the Russians; as Millions of Ukrainian Men, Women and Children are living without heat and electricity in freezing temperatures due to targeted Russian Attacks on its Infrastructure; as Millions of Ukrainian Men, Women and Children wonder why the United States is abandoning them (especially since all they are asking for is Aid to help them continue to defend themselves) the people of the United States are also wondering why American Politicians are abandoning Ukrainians as well as the American People.

4: Damage

February 24, 2025 is the 4 year Anniversary of the start of Russia’s War in Ukraine here are pictures of different aspects of the War: this shows the damage throughout Ukraine caused by the Russians.

They say a picture speaks a 1,000 words so hopefully we will see the true horror and devastation that Ukrainians are dealing with because of the Russians and we continue to support Ukraine.

4: Soldiers

February 24, 2025 is the 4 year Anniversary of the start of Russia’s War in Ukraine here are part of the series of pictures of different aspects of the War: This one is about Ukrainian Soldiers defending their homes.

They say a picture speaks a 1,000 words so hopefully we will see the true horror and devastation that Ukrainians are dealing with because of the Russians and we continue to support Ukraine.

12 Or 4 Years

Ukraine has been fighting Russia for 12 years (since March 2014.)

Ukraine has been partially occupied by Russia for 12 years (since March 2014.)

Ukrainians have been dying from the Russians for 12 years (since March 2014.)

Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine is now 4 years old, but Russia’s War in Ukraine is 12 years old.

If you, a Non-Ukrainian, think you have War Fatigue hearing about Ukraine think about what the Ukrainians actually going through the War are dealing with.

If Ukraine doesn’t get the Weapons, the Money and the Medical Supplies they need Ukraine won’t be able to stop Russia and Putin won’t stop at Ukraine.

No one is asking any American Politician to do anything dangerous (like risk their lives) to help Ukraine.

All they have to do is give Ukraine the means to finish the job that Russia started.

Ukraine Tired

 

Painted Bob

 

4: By The Numbers

Russia’s War In Ukraine By The Numbers:

4 = The Number of years since the main Russian Invasion and Occupation of Ukraine started

12 = The Number of years since Russia Invaded and Occupied Crimea in Ukraine

5.9 Million = The Number of Ukrainians who have fled Ukraine

3.7 Million = The Number of Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes for other parts of Ukraine

26% = The Percentage of Ukrainian Territory that Russia occupied at the height of the War in 2022

19.4% = The Percentage of Ukrainian Territory that Russia currently occupies

58,495 = The number of Drones, Missiles and Bombs that Russia has dropped on Ukraine

24,000 = The Number of Russian Military Equipment and Vehicles that Ukraine has destroyed

5 Million  = The Number of Ukrainians currently living under Russian Occupation in Ukraine

1.2 Million = The Number of Russian Soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine

356,680 = The Number of Russian Soldiers killed in Ukraine

621 = The Number of Russian Civilians killed inside Russia

6,000 = The Number of North Korean Soldiers killed in Ukraine

$245 Billion US Dollars  = The Amount of Money China has given to Russia for its War in Ukraine

26 = The Number of Years that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been Dictator of Russia

71% = The Percentage of Inflation in Russia in 2026

1,000 = The Number of Western Companies that have left Russia

143 Million = The Current number of Russians living inside Russia

148 Million = The Number of Russians that lived inside Russia in 2021

180,000  = The Number of Russian Criminals (including Rapists and Murderers) released from prison in order to fight in Ukraine

1,000 = The Documented number of Murders committed by Russian Soldiers who fought in Ukraine on Russian Civilians after returning to Russia

1 Million = The Number of Russian Civilians who fled Russia and have stayed away since the War

20,000 = The Documented number of Russian Civilians arrested by Putin for protesting the War

10  = The Number of years a Russian Citizen can be imprisoned in a Russian Forced Labor Penal Colony for calling what Russia is doing in Ukraine as a “War”

140,000 = The Number of Ukrainian Soldiers killed by the Russians

15,168 = The Number of Ukrainian Civilians killed by the Russians

41,534 = The Number of Ukrainian Civilians wounded by the Russians

$1 Billion US Dollars = The Amount of money that it costs Russia every single day of its War in Ukraine

$300 Billion US Dollars = The Amount of money that the Russian Central Bank has outside of Russia (in Western Institutions) that it has not been able to use since the War started

$33 Billion US Dollars = The Amount of money that Sanctioned Russian Individuals have outside of Russia (in Western Institutions) that they have not been able to use since the War started

$300 Billion US Dollars = The Amount of money that Ukraine has received in Military and Humanitarian Aid

2,881  = The Number of Ukrainian Hospitals and Medical Clinics destroyed or damaged by the Russians

19,000 = The Number of Ukrainian Children that the Russians have abducted from Ukraine and brought to Re-education Camps inside Russia

Monday

 

1945 =2026

 

Today (February 23^rd) is Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russian: День защитника Отечества) in Russia.

It remembers the Russian Soldier who is committing War Crimes against innocent Men, Women and Children in Ukraine.

The Russian Soldier of 2026 resembles the Nazi Soldier of 1945 in everything they do.

Here is hoping for a Russian Defeat in Ukraine soon.

Roman Zhuk

 

 This is Roman Zhuk (Ukrainian: Роман Жук.)

Before February 2022 he was a Photographer and Social Activist.

He founded a Public Environmental Organization called Chysto.de which cleans the garbage people leave around the Transcarpathian Sea.

He and his Wife, Lena, also made and sold Jam from Carpathian Berries (Processed Yafina, Raspberries, Mountain Blueberries and even made Cherry Blossom Jam.)

After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 he joined the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Bridge as part of the Scout Artillery Platoon.

As Lena recalled, Roman went to War from the rear city of Mukachevo with the words: "We must end the enemy now so that our Children do not have to fight."

Roman was killed by the Russians on May 26, 2022.

The whole City gathered for his Funeral in Mukachevo in May.

Lena asked people not to come in black, but to wear embroidered shirts and carry Fresh Flowers or Tulip Bulbs. Which were later planted in front of Mukachevo State University, where Lena and Roman studied at one time. They will bloom in Spring - in memory of an incredible man who lit the hearts of Thousands of People with his kindness and love for the Carpathians.

UK's Holocaust

The Holocaust In the United Kingdom

(A Sign on the German-Occupied British Channel Islands during World War 2.)

The United Kingdom Mainland was never invaded by the Germans during World War 2, but the British Channel Islands of: Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, Herm and Alderney were occupied by the Germans from June 30, 1940 until May 9, 1945.

Prior to the German Invasion of the British Channel Islands most of the Local Jews were evacuated along with 30,000 Non-Jewish Civilians.

British Law made it illegal for People (including Jewish Refugees who fled the Nazis) from Germany and Austria to enter Great Britain and so many German and Austrian Jews were stuck in the British Channel Islands when the Germans invaded.

There were 50 Jews living on the British Channel Islands when the Germans arrived.

In October 1940 the Germans made their first Anti-Jewish Law on the Islands which made the British Channel Island Police Force register and identify all the Jews.

The British Channel Islands Police Force and the British Channel Island Government actively collaborated with the Germans during the Occupation.

The Jews on the Islands were forced to turn in their radios, hand over their property, have a red “J” (for Jude or Jew) on their Identity Card and could not be outside their home except for 1 hour every day.

In April 1942 the Jews on the British Channel Islands were rounded-up by the Germans (with Local British Channel Island Police and Government Officials helping) and deported to France.

From France they were sent to the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland where they were all murdered.

The Germans also brought 16,000 Forced Laborers from eastern Europe to the Sylt and Norderney Concentration Camps they built on the Island of Alderney.

Many of the Forced Laborers were Jews and many of them were murdered by the Germans.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945 and the return of the British Government to the British Channel Islands little effort was made to bring those who had Collaborated with the Nazis, including with the Holocaust, to justice.

Buckle It Up

 

83: White Rose

83 years ago today (February 22, 1943) the Members of the White Rose (German: Weiße Rose) were put to death.

The Group conducted an Anonymous Leaflet and Graffiti Campaign that called for active opposition to the Nazi Regime (including in Nazi War Crimes against the Jews.)

Their activities started in Munich on June 27, 1942; they ended with the arrest of the core group by the Gestapo on February 18, 1943.

They, as well as other Members and Supporters of the Group who carried on distributing the pamphlets, faced show trials by the Nazi People's Court (Volksgerichtshof); many of them were sentenced to Death or Imprisonment.

The Group wrote, printed and initially distributed their pamphlets in the greater Munich region. Later on, secret carriers brought copies to other cities, mostly in the southern parts of Germany.

In July 1943, Allied Planes dropped their sixth and final leaflet over Germany with the headline The Manifesto of the Students of Munich. In total, the White Rose authored six leaflets, which were multiplied and spread, in a total of about 15,000 copies.

Hans Scholl (aged 24 years old) and Sophie Scholl (aged 21 years old), as well as Christoph Probst (aged 23 years old with a Pregnant Wife and a Child) were executed by Guillotine four days after their arrest, on February 22, 1943.

In the end, 29 People were accused of being Members of the White Rose. 16 were executed, and 13 were given Prison Sentences ranging from 6 months to 10 years.

Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl, Christoph Probst and the other Members of the White Rose didn’t have their Arrests and Death Sentences voided in Germany until 1998.

The last Surviving member of The White Rose, Traute Lafrenz, who turned 100 years old on May 3, 2019 and was rewarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on that same date, died on March 6, 2023 in South Carolina, USA.

Picture: Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst – 1940s.

50 Million People

Over 50 Million Americans from DC to Maine are bracing for Severe Winter Weather tomorrow into Monday.

New York City is under a Blizzard Warning for the first time since 2017 and Boston is under a Blizzard Warning for the first time since 2022.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm during the Storm.

Remember to check-in on: Children, the Elderly, the Disabled, the Homeless and Animals.

A Sad 50th

The Winter Paralympic Games will turn 50 years old this year.

The first Winter Paralympic Games was in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976.

Sadly, the 50^th Anniversary of the Paralympic Games will be overshadowed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) allowing Russia back into the Games to compete under the Russian Flag.

After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee banned Russian Athletes from competing in the Games under the Russian Name and Flag.

They were allowed to compete as Neutrals.

In 2026 the International Olympic Committee kept the ban on Russian Athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Games (except as Neutrals.)

In 2026 the International Paralympic Committee is allowing Russian Athletes to compete in the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games under the Russian Name and Flag.

Sadly. The International Paralympic Committee is tarnishing its 50^th Anniversary and its International Image by supporting the return of Russia and the War Crimes they are committing on innocent Men, Women and Children in Ukraine.

The International Paralympic Committee is also setting-back Disability Rights by promoting Russian Mass Murderers over doing what is right.

I used to have huge respect for the International Paralympic Committee and all the Athletes participating in the Paralympic Games, but this year I have lost all respect due to their decision to allow Russia to compete.

Friday

 

Tariffs

From Yahoo Finance:

“Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s blanket tariffs”

The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs, ruling that he did not have the authority to impose them under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court scrambled the US trade landscape with a decision announced Friday striking down the centerpiece of President Trump’s second-term tariff program. The 6-3 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump came just over one year into Trump’s second term and after skeptical questioning from key justices during oral arguments last November. It appears set to immediately halt a massive section of Trump’s tariffs announced last year on “Liberation Day” using a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The law gives the president the ability to declare an economic emergency and take action but doesn't specify tariffs as a remedy. “IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs," read the decision by Chief Justice John Roberts.

It was a complex ruling with varied opinions and dissents stretching to 170 pages. Roberts captured the central legal issue, writing that Trump had asserted "the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope." The text of the law, he wrote, “cannot bear such weight." The decision does not appear to address the question of eligibility for tariff refunds, which is likely to lead to a complex legal process for companies. The ruling upholds two lower courts — including the US Court of International Trade — that previously found Trump did not have the authority to impose global tariffs under IEEPA. Joining Roberts in the majority were Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, who also wrote concurring opinions, alongside liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh offered dissenting opinions after a conservative push to uphold Trump’s tariffs. Trump has continued to float new tariff threats nearly weekly on a wide array of fronts, from countries doing business with Iran to new duties on French wine.

'An imposition of taxes on Americans' The central question for the court was whether the law implicitly empowers the president to impose tariffs or whether Trump’s action was an illegal usurpation of “the power of the purse” that is the responsibility of Congress as laid out in the Constitution. During oral arguments in November, swing justices ask a series of skeptical questions, with Roberts asking perhaps the most pointed questions. He posited that regardless of why a president makes his moves, "the vehicle is an imposition of taxes on Americans, and that has always been the core power of Congress." He expressed further skepticism that any president’s foreign policy prerogatives could "trump that basic power of Congress."

The ruling made similar points and was a striking blow for Trump and his team, who have promised to replace the tariffs using other powers if they are struck down. Trump and his team had seized on the law to declare a variety of economic emergencies over issues ranging from fentanyl to trade imbalances, and impose blanket tariffs in response. Trump set the stage for the decision with weeks of comments playing up the consequences of the ruling. On Thursday, during a stop in Georgia, the president proclaimed that "without tariffs, you know what, everybody would be bankrupt, the whole country would be bankrupt."

Companies have been preparing for refunds since the arguments in November, even amid uncertainty about the result. At stake is more than $175 billion in revenue that has been collected under this law, according to the Penn-Wharton Budget Model in a new analysis for Reuters. Costco (COST) made headlines recently when it became the biggest name to join the ranks of businesses pre-emptively suing the Trump administration to ensure future eligibility for refunds. The lawsuit called Trump's IEEPA tariffs "unlawfully collected." The company told a federal trade court it "seeks relief from the impending liquidations to ensure that its right to a complete refund is not jeopardized." The Supreme Court arguments featured a discussion of what possible refunds could entail. "It seems to me like it could be a mess," Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/supreme-court-strikes-down-trumps-blanket-tariffs-151806658.html

Household

 

Russia In Paralympics

From CBS News:

“Ukraine protests as Russians cleared to fly their flag at Paralympics”

Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.

The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags. The ban was issued in response to Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "The IPC can confirm that NPC [National Paralympic Committee] Russia has been awarded a total of six slots: two in Para alpine skiing (one male, one female), two in Para cross-country skiing (one male, one female), and two in Para snowboard (both male)," the committee said in a statement. "NPC Belarus has been awarded four slots in total, all in cross-country skiing (one male and three female)."

The 2026 Paralympics begin on March 6.

Immediately after the invasion in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee effectively barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in Olympic and Paralympic Games under their national flags. A decision the following year permitted athletes from those countries to participate in Olympic Games as neutral competitors, but national symbols, including flags, anthems and team uniforms, remained prohibited. Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, strongly condemned the decision and said officials from the country would not take part in any Paralympic events, though Ukrainian athletes would still compete. "The decision by the Paralympics organisers to allow killers and their accomplices to compete at the Paralympic Games under national flags is both disappointing and outrageous," he wrote on social media. He stressed that Ukrainian athletes — who have often performed well in Paralympic competition, finishing second on the medals table at the 2022 Beijing Games — would not take part in the boycott.

Some European officials also condemned the decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under their flags - which could, if the country takes a gold medal, see the first playing of Russia's national anthem at an Olympic or Paralympic event in years.

European Union Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef said he would join Ukraine in boycotting the Paralympics opening ceremony, calling the decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag "unacceptable." "While Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues, I cannot support the reinstatement of national symbols, flags, anthems and uniforms that are inseparable from that conflict," Micallef said.

Lisa Nandy, the U.K. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, also condemned the decision. "Allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags while the brutal invasion of Ukraine continues sends a terrible message," Nandy said, calling it "completely the wrong decision" and urging the IPC to "reconsider this decision urgently." The debate highlights the challenge for Games organizers of keeping the Olympics as free as possible of politics. Earlier this month, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics for wearing a "helmet of memory" depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia.

CBS News has asked the International Paralympic Committee to comment on the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flags.

^ This is a huge mistake on the part of the International Paralympic Committee. They are promoting Russia’s War Crimes in Ukraine by doing this. I am usually in favor of supporting the Paralympics, but not in the case. ^

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ukraine-protests-russians-cleared-fly-170453490.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Treat Animals

 

Andrew Arrested

From the BBC:

“Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.”

Thames Valley Police confirmed it had arrested a man in his 60s in Norfolk on Thursday and was carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. He remains in custody, it said. King Charles III said the "law must take its course" in response to Andrew's arrest, and that the police has his "full and wholehearted support and co-operation". Police had previously said they were considering investigating Andrew over allegations relating to his association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They were reviewing allegations Andrew shared confidential material with the disgraced financier, after communications between the two were among files released by the US government.

This is the first time Andrew has been arrested. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Thames Valley Police said that, following a "thorough assessment", a formal investigation had now been opened. It also said earlier in February that it was assessing a separate allegation that a second woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew in 2010. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time. Thursday's arrest is not in relation to any allegations of sexual offences. On Thursday morning, vehicles believed to be unmarked police cars were seen at Sandringham - the King's Norfolk estate, where the former prince has been living since leaving his home in Windsor, in Berkshire.

The BBC understands that Royal Lodge - Andrew's former home in Windsor Great Park - is being searched by police after a number of uniformed officers were seen beyond the gates. Thames Valley Police said it was not naming the arrested man "as per national guidance", and warned that as the case was now active, care must be taken to avoid being in contempt of court. Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: "We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time." Norfolk Constabulary told the BBC it was "supporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office". The former Duke of York served as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, travelling globally and enjoying privileged access to senior government and business contacts around the world.

In 2010, Andrew appears to have forwarded government reports from visits to Vietnam, Singapore and China to Epstein, files relating to the late financier recently released by the US Department of Justice appear to show. The documents also appear to show Andrew forwarded information on investment opportunities in gold and uranium in Afghanistan to Epstein. Under official guidance, trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial, or political information about their official visits. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing over his association with Epstein. He has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment on the specific allegations in relation to the release of millions of Epstein files in January.

The former prince previously faced allegations from another woman, Virginia Giuffre, which were settled out of court. She alleged she was made to have sex with Andrew on a number of occasions, including on Epstein's private island Little St James in the early 2000s. The settlement reached between the two made no admission of wrongdoing on Andrew's part.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx28yel4811o

What's Lent

When Does Lent Start and End in 2026?

Key Facts

The start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, is on February 18th, 2026.

Lent is a 40 day period of fasting and prayer leading up to Easter.

Lent ends on Holy Saturday, just before Easter Sunday.

The word "Lent" comes from the word "lecten" which is Anglo-Saxon meaning "spring" and refers to the lengthening of days.

During the Lenten season, Christians engage in various traditional rituals and practices as a way of preparing spiritually for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Fasting is common during Lent and involves giving up certain foods, activities, or habits as a form of self-discipline and spiritual reflection. Many Christians also attend special worship services, reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, and seek to grow in their relationship with God during this period. The Lenten season serves as a time of repentance, self-examination, and spiritual renewal in preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter.

When Is Ash Wednesday 2026 and the start of Lent? Lent begins each year on Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday. This year, Ash Wednesday is on February 18th, 2026. Lent consists of six weeks leading up to Easter and ends either on Maundy Thursday (April 2nd, 2026) or Holy Saturday (April 4th, 2026), depending on the denomination or tradition you follow.

What is Ash Wednesday? On Ash Wednesday, worshippers attend a special church service where they receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. The ashes are typically made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The imposition of ashes is accompanied by the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or a similar expression emphasizing mortality and repentance. The ashes on the forehead serve as a visible symbolic reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance.

Why Does the Date of Lent Change? The date of Lent changes every year because it follows the church calendar, which is based on the moon's lunar cycle. Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus' resurrection, is held on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Since Lent lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, its start date also changes each year. This means Easter can happen anytime between March 22nd and April 25th. The way we calculate the date was set by the Church long ago at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 to keep it in line with the Jewish Passover and the Bible's timeline of Jesus' resurrection.

When is Lent in 2026 and how long is it? Lent is 40-days long and begins 46 days before the Saturday of Easter weekend. Since Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, April 5th, 2026, that puts Lent beginning February 18th, 2026. Lent is only observed Monday-Saturday each week because every Sunday is considered a celebration of the Resurrection.  The 40-day duration is symbolic and represents the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry.

When does Lent End in 2026? Since 1969, Catholics have ended their Lenten fast on the Thursday before Easter, known as "Holy Thursday" or "Maundy Thursday." In 2026, this falls on April 2nd. Traditionally, however, Lent has ended during “Holy Week,” on “Holy Saturday," which is Saturday, April 4th, 2026.

When is Fat Tuesday? Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday, will be February 17th, 2026. Fat Tuesday is the day that precedes Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. It is called "Fat Tuesday" because it traditionally marks the last day of indulgence and feasting before the 40 days of fasting and repentance observed during Lent. The word "shrove" is derived from the Old English word "shrive," which means to confess one's sins and receive absolution. Shrove Tuesday is often associated with confession and the practice of shriving, where Christians would confess their sins and seek forgiveness in preparation for the Lenten season.

When is Palm Sunday?  Palm Sunday will be March 29th, 2026. This is the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and it is the last Sunday of Lent. It is a joyful occasion, with the congregation often receiving palm branches during the service.

When is Maundy Thursday? Maundy Thursday is on April 2nd, 2026. Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the day in Holy Week that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples. It is a significant Christian observance where Jesus instituted the Eucharist, washed the disciples' feet as a symbol of humility and service, and foretold His betrayal. The term "Maundy" is derived from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning "commandment," referring to Jesus' new commandment to love one another as He loved them. In the Catholic Church, Lent ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. This marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, a separate liturgical period leading up to Easter Sunday.

When is Good Friday? Good Friday will be on April 3rd, 2026. Good Friday is the day in Holy Week that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. It is a solemn and reflective day for Christians, marking the sacrifice and atonement for sins through Jesus' death. Holy Saturday is on April 4th, 2026. Holy Saturday is the day in Holy Week that falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is a day of quiet anticipation and reflection on the time when Jesus' body lay in the tomb before His resurrection, symbolizing the transition from the crucifixion to the resurrection in Christian tradition. While Catholics end lent on Thursday, many Protestant denominations observe Lent until Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

When is Easter? Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, April 5th, 2026.  Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, signifying victory over sin and death. It is the central event of the Christian faith and is observed with joy and worship on the first Sunday following Holy Saturday, symbolizing new life and hope.

What is Lent fasting? Can you eat meat during Lent? Throughout Lent, most Christians adopt a period of fasting, repentance, prudence, and spiritual development. The meaning of the Lenten season is to use this time for reflection on Jesus Christ, to recognize his affliction and his atonement, his life, death, burial, and resurrection. Christians who keep Lent commonly make a dedication to fast or to give up something, like smoking, watching TV or social media, or a food or drink, such as sweets, chocolate, or coffee. Some Christians also take on a Lenten observance, like reading the Bible and spending more time in prayer to draw nearer to God. Catholics traditionally abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent. However, fish is typically allowed, which is why you'll often find fish fries and seafood specials during this time. On other days during Lent, eating meat is generally permitted unless one chooses to maintain the abstinence throughout the season.

Is Lent a Federal Holiday? No, Lent is not a federal holiday, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Christmas Day is the only religious celebration observed as a federal holiday.

What is the History of Lent? Early Christians knew the significance of Easter called for appropriate preparations. The first remark of a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for Easter is seen in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325). It is considered that the custom may have arisen from the early church tradition of baptismal aspirants enduring a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for their baptism at Easter. Eventually, the Lent season developed into a time of spiritual commitment for the whole church. Through the primary centuries, the Lenten fast was very stringent but loosened over time.

What Happens on Ash Wednesday? During Mass (for Catholics) or worship service (for Protestants), the priest or pastor will usually share a sermon that is penitential and reflective in nature. The mood is solemn - many services will have long periods of silence and worshipers will often leave the service in silence. Usually, there is a responsive passage of Scripture, usually centered around confession, read aloud about the leader and congregation. Attendees will experience communal confession, as well as moments where they are prompted to silently confess sins and pray. After all of this, the congregation will be invited to receive the ashes on their foreheads.

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/when-is-lent-start-date-and-timeline.html