Tuesday

From Military.com:

“Tuesday, Service Dog Whose Story Raised Awareness of PTSD, Has Died”

A service dog that was thesubject of several books by an Iraqi war veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder has died. Tuesday, a golden retriever, was 13 when he died Tuesday in Burlington, according to Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, a service dog training organization that places dogs with veterans. Tuesday gained fame touring the country with former U.S. Army Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, who wrote the memoir "Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him." The book, the first of four written by Montalvan about his life with Tuesday, became a bestseller in 2011. It was credited with helping raise awareness of PTSD and the availability of service dogs for veterans. Montalvan was a decorated veteran, who was wounded in Iraq and earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. After he came home, his extreme PTSD often prevented him from even leaving his apartment, said Dale Picard, co-founder and executive director of ECAD. But that changed when he received Tuesday. The dog would nudge him awake when he had night terrors, or explore the house when Montalvan became concerned someone may have broken in, Picard said. He also would bring Montalvan his medication case when it was time for him to take his prescriptions. "Tuesday kept him calm, kept him so he could function," Picard said. "He began to participate in life again. Before this story, not a lot of veterans were receiving service dogs, because it wasn't well known how much benefit they would be." Montalvan became a leading advocate for military veterans' mental health and increasing access to more service animals. Since the book's publication, ECAD has placed more than 40 other dogs with veterans, Picard said. Montalvan took his own life in 2016. He had left Tuesday with family members and the dog was not with him at the time. Tuesday was later placed as a service dog with a Connecticut cancer patient. He died in the arms of that man, Gordon Schafer, at their home after being diagnosed with a mass in his abdomen.

^ Tuesday and the other service dogs like him not only provide a great service, but also a lifeline for those with PTSD. Tuesday also helped bring public awareness to service dogs and PTSD through Montalvan’s books and through touring the US. Tuesday was a service dog that did a great service to those during his life and hopefully that service will help others after his passing. ^

https://www.military.com/off-duty/2019/09/26/tuesday-service-dog-whose-story-raised-awareness-ptsd-has-died.html

APO/FPO Costs Rising

From Military.com:

“Treaty Deal Averts Military Mail Disruption but Cost of Shipping Overseas Likely to Rise”

The military mail system no longer faces imminent disruption, but service members may find increased costs to mail packages to and from overseas locations in the wake of new reforms. The White House announced Wednesday the United States will remain in a 145-year-old international postal treaty that President Donald Trump had threatened to leave by next month if changes were not made in how global price rates are set. The treaty governs postage rates for letters and packages mailed throughout the world. U.S. negotiators hammered out a compromise deal during an emergency meeting of treaty members held this week in Geneva, Switzerland, that gives the U.S. Postal Service flexibility in setting postage rates for incoming international mail. The Trump administration announced last year that America would withdraw from the Universal Postal Union treaty over growing complaints by some U.S.-based businesses that packages sent to the U.S. from other countries -- primarily China -- have much lower postal rates than packages mailed domestically. In some cases, that meant a domestic U.S. business paid more to mail a package across the U.S. than China was paying to ship all the way to America. The Geneva meeting resulted in an agreement by a majority of the treaty members "to adopt a comprehensive set of reforms based on the U.S. proposal," Peter Navarro, director of the White House's Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, told reporters during a conference call Wednesday from Geneva. The agreement gives the U.S. the ability to raise the postage prices for packages arriving from other countries. "This is the linchpin of President Trump's objective," Navarro said. The U.S. Postal Service said in a statement Wednesday that it would be allowed to alter its rates beginning in July. The agreement allows other countries to change their rates in phases over the next six years, the statement said. The agreement also supports development of advanced electronic customs data transmission to enhance safety and security, Navarro said. "This agreement will also transform an antiquated, discriminatory system into a modern and resilient one far more prepared to meet the new demands of the e-commerce and the increasing challenges of counterfeit goods and drugs, such as fentanyl, now being pushed like poison through the international mail system," he said. Asked whether consumers would pay more for shipping under the reforms, Navarro was oblique. "In America, we look at the whole package -- consumers, workers, manufacturers and the economy," he said, emphasizing the "great savings" the U.S. Postal Service would achieve by not subsidizing shipping from other countries. Later in the conference call, Navarro said: "We don't anticipate any significant price issues at all." CNBC reported that the changes would primarily affect international letters and packages under 4.4 pounds -- a category that takes in military mail and absentee ballots. Experts in international shipping have estimated shipping prices could rise anywhere from 125% to 600%, CNBC reported. The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, had been among those raising alarm about the effects on absentee ballots in the event the U.S. withdrew from the treaty. "More than 3 million American citizens living and serving overseas are eligible to vote, and most who vote return their ballots through the physical mail stream," the policy center said in a news release last week. "They already face obstacles such as transport time and distance, unreliable mail service, and censorship from foreign governments." Navarro said U.S. officials "were absolutely prepared to deliver military mail, holiday mail and voting mail" without disruption even if America had withdrawn from the treaty. With the new agreement, he said, "nobody will notice anything except over time we'll see a stronger, more stable U.S. postal system."

^ It is one thing for ordinary Americans in the US to have to pay higher prices to mail or receive things internationally and another thing entirely for US soldiers and their families stationed overseas to have to do the same. The main difference is that the majority of the soldiers and their families were forced to move outside the United States (on official Government orders) and many of those are in active warzones. These men and women had no choice. They are also risking their lives to protect every American back home. The least the US Government, the USPS, the US Military, Trump, Congress, etc. can do is make it so that people with APO/FPO military addresses receive special protections so that their mail costs don’t rise – even if it does for those back in the States. I lived in West Germany and in Germany and used an APO address. I have also sent mail in the very recent past to APO addresses and I worked one Summer at a US Military Post Office in Germany so I have seen the ins and the outs. I know what it’s like to be dependent on letter and packages from the US. I also know how mail gets from the US to the US Military Post Office overseas (well except for those going to a warzone since I never personally experienced that.) Even if the US Government has to make a law that puts a cap on how much a certain weight package going to an APO/FPO address should cost and any amount over that cap the US Government pays the difference on – rather than the soldier and his/her family – then that needs to be done before July 2020 when the prices will rise. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/09/26/treaty-deal-averts-military-mail-disruption-cost-shipping-overseas-likely-rise.html

Peepers

"I don't mind the leaf peepers. It's the maple syrup peepers you have to watch out for."

Day Of Languages

European Day of Languages

European Day of Languages History:

The European Day of Languages is a yearly event celebrating the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and emphasizing the importance of intercultural understanding. Today, there are over 200 European languages, 24 official EU languages and around 60 regional or minority languages, not including languages spoken by people from around the world that have migrated to the European Union.  The event was a joint effort between the Council of Europe and the European Union. Since its inception in 2001, the annual celebration has been spent encouraging lifelong language learning across Europe while promoting the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of the continent. The European Day of Languages is an annual event held on the 26th of September.

European Day of Languages Facts &; Quotes:

- 54% of Europeans are bi-lingual, 25% can speak three languages and 10% can speak at least three.

- English is the most widely spoken (38%) foreign language in Europe.

- 98% of people in Luxembourg can speak more than one language. However the lowest numbers in Europe are found in Ireland, Portugal and the UK, where only 60 and 61%, respectively, of the population can speak a second language.

- If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his hears. - Nelson Mandela

- One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. ‒Frank Smith

European Day of Languages Top Events and Things to Do:

- Start learning a new language, there are dozens of online courses and mobile apps such as, Duolingo, Byki or BBC Languages. Local schools and colleges often run affordable face-to-face classes too.

- Watch a film that touches on cross-cultural and interlinguistic communication: Our favourites are Spanglish (2004) Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006).

- Read some literature in another language. Most translations lose some of the original meaning and feeling of the work. So, be brave, use a a dictionary on an online translator such as Google or Universal Translator to read some of your favourite works in their original languages. Some of our favourite classics are:

Spanish: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

French: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Russian: The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin

German: The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka

Languages impact every aspect of life from education to social structure to culinary choices so try making some new food from a country whose language you do not speak. 

https://www.wincalendar.com/European-Day-of-Languages

Euro Languages

Age-Out Help

From the CBC:

“More help needed for kids with disabilities who age out of care system, parents say”

For most adults, their 21st birthday is an exciting time marking another step toward independence. However, for Deane Daprato, the son of Mark Daprato and Ijeoma Ross, turning 21 in June meant he became completely dependent on their care 24/7.  Mark Daprato lists some of their parental duties as including "Bathing, toileting him and feeding him," before adding jovially, "Oh, and being goofy with him and having lots of fun."  Deane Daprato has spastic quadriplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, meaning he requires help with pretty much all his basic needs. For example, he needs to be fed through a tube.  "And he's not in a motorized chair so if he needs to get from A to B he needs somebody to [push] him," said Ross, who shoulders a lot of this daily responsibility as she has the more flexible work schedule of the two parents. "I've got the most understanding boss in the world," she explained.   Growing up, Deane used to have a whole team of support around him, including speech therapists, physiotherapists, special needs educators and other social supports.  But at 21, people like Deane "age out" of this system and after they leave high school, opportunities to further their social development dry up. "It's like we dropped off a cliff," Mark told CBC News in a conversation about what they see as a gap in governmental support for adults with developmental disabilities.  Decades ago, people like Deane would often be institutionalized, but these "hospital schools," as they were called, closed in the early 2000s when the shift to at-home support was implemented.  These days, families can apply for funding for their adult children through Developmental Services Ontario and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which can help pay for support workers and respite care.  But with long wait lists and the baseline funding being just $5,000 a year, the Dapratos say the current care model hasn't kept up with the need or the demand.  "We've never felt more alone in this journey," said Daprato. And they're among the lucky families who can afford to pay out-of-pocket for additional support. "What about a single parent working two jobs because that's the situation they're in? I don't know how they can possibly get through this," Daprato told CBC News. 

Adult day programs scarce, underfunded 

Twice a week, Deane attends an adult day program at Steer Friends, which operates out of a church in Markham.  "We provide a life after high school," said program coordinator Jacqueline Hall-Fusco.  They do that by providing their 10 to 15 students with physical, music and pet therapy to continue their social development and by getting them out in the community so they can interact with people, which "is huge," Hall-Fusco said.  Her family started Steer Friends two years after her sister Stephanie graduated high school at 21 and, like Deane, was stuck in the house at risk of regressing. "it's a broken system," she said, and like the Dapratos, she would like the Ontario government to have another look at the care model.  Since Steer Friends is largely funded through donations and her family's pocket, she'd like to see support in the form of provincial funding. 

How this sailing program is changing the lives of people with disabilities

When asked whether the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services would consider having another look at the support model, a spokesperson for Minister Todd Smith said in a statement, "Our government is focused on delivering on our key commitments to the people of Ontario."  "We are constantly reviewing government programs, with a focus on improved delivery and better outcomes for all," Christine Wood wrote. Mark Daprato isn't giving up on the system he feels gave up on his son. He's hopeful for reform.  "What we know is that there's a massive inefficiency. Let's get that addressed. Let's get the needs of the parents addressed."

^ This is a major issue that is rarely addressed in Canada, the US or in most other industrialized countries. While there are many government programs to help the disabled most simply disappear when the disabled person turns either 18 or 21 leaving a huge void in their care, development and living. It is the same kind of system that simply abandons people in foster homes when they age-out at 18. A person with a permanent disability needs the same-kind of government services they received at 17 even after they turn 18, 19, 20, 21 or older. There should be new government programs geared specifically at the disabled that age-out of the youth programs. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/developmental-disability-care-reform-1.5294615

US Stays In

From the AFP:

“US set to stay in global postal union after reform deal reached”

The United States is set to remain in the UN postal agency after member states on Wednesday decided to reform the body to address Washington's criticism that its rules unfairly benefit China. The Universal Postal Union's 192 members agreed by acclamation to a compromise supported by the US to reform the system used to determine the rates countries' postal services can charge for ensuring that packages from abroad reach their final destination. Following days of intense negotiations in Geneva, the parties gathered for only the third extraordinary congress in UPU's 145-year history opted for a compromise under the looming threat of a US pull-out. President Donald Trump's administration announced last October that it planned to withdraw from the UPU in a year unless it underwent dramatic reform.UPU chief Bishar Hussein had warned Tuesday that if Washington did withdraw, it would cause a "total disruption" of the postal service in the country and dramatic hikes to consumer costs.

-Trump's 'objectives' met-

Trump's hardline trade advisor Peter Navarro insisted earlier this week that the US was well-prepared for "a possible seamless exit" if no acceptable reform agreement could be reached. But shortly before Wednesday's decision, he told the assembly that the reform proposal, which implies that countries will be permitted as of next year to gradually set their own rates for postal deliveries, "does indeed meet the objectives that President Donald J. Trump gave me." He vowed that if the UPU members voted for the proposal "in its entirety" the US would stay. "Let's get this done," he said. The standoff at the UPU, which sets international postal rates, came amid Trump's broader trade battle with China, with the US charging that the current system penalises American businesses. The agency, based in Bern, has until now determined what rates national postal services can charge for ensuring that packages sent from abroad are delivered to their final destination. It has long imposed lower prices for bulky letters and small parcels coming from emerging and developing countries, a group that still includes China.  Navarro has maintained that under the current system it costs more to send a package from Los Angeles to New York than from Beijing to New York, penalising US small businesses and manufacturers. According to Washington, it costs the US $300-500 million annually under the current system. The US had pushed for a radical and immediate reform of the UPU enabling members to "immediately self-declare rates", but that option was voted down on Tuesday.

^ I’m glad that the United States is going to stay in the Universal Postal Union, but am not happy that it will mean even higher shipping prices (as it is now it usually costs me to ship a present to a friend in Europe than the present cost to buy in the first place.) ^

https://news.yahoo.com/us-set-stay-global-postal-union-reform-deal-164241103.html;_ylt=AwrC1jEd6otdlDcAciLQtDMD;

Memorial Desecration

From the DW:

“Ukraine Holocaust memorial desecration 'not an isolated case'

A Holocaust memorial in southern Ukraine has been defiled with Nazi symbolism. It's the third such incident in a matter of weeks. This time, the anti-Semitic vitriol was directed at President Volodymyr Zelenskiy himself. The Bogdanovka Holocaust memorial was erected in 1991 Shock and embarrassment — the people of Bogdanovka, a village in southern Ukraine, are still coming to grips with the fact that someone defiled their Holocaust memorial with swastikas a week ago. The villagers condemned the defacement on Sunday at a ceremony commemorating Holocaust victims and those who saved Jews from death, one participant wrote on Facebook. "The villagers are shocked and say that none of them could have done this because they have great respect for this place," Anatoly Podolsky, head of the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies in Kyiv, told DW. Wonderful people live in Bogdanovka, agrees Boris Zabarko, a Ukrainian historian, publicist and chairman of the Association of Ghetto Survivors. Locals there "always take care of the memorial, it must have been someone from outside of town," he added.

Swastikas and a threat 

Bogdanovka is around 230 kilometers (140 miles) north of the Black Sea city of Odessa. After Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the area became part of the territory under Romanian occupation. In the fall of 1941, more than 54,000 Jews from Bessarabia and Odessa were interned in a camp at the village. Most of them were executed in December of the same year on the side of an embankment. Some people have compared the killings with the massacre of Babyn Yar in Kyiv, though the Bogdanovka murders are not as well known. A memorial to commemorate the victims was erected in 1991. Then last week, swastikas were sprayed on the monument and a note was left that contained threats to prominent Ukrainian Jews, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Should he implement his land reform, there would be "a second Holocaust," warns the message printed on a sheet of paper and taped to the memorial, referring to the new president's plans to lift the previous moratorium on the purchase and sale of agricultural land. Zelenskiy is regarded as an advocate of land privatization, currently halted by a moratorium that might fall by the end of the year. Many Ukrainians fear the privatization of land could spell the next stage of a sellout.

Meant to provoke?

It was the third desecration of a Holocaust memorial in Ukraine within just a few weeks. The deputy foreign minister and the Israeli ambassador have condemned the act and called for clarification. Michael Tkach, chairman of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, also condemned the crime but was critical of the fact that a previous incident in the same area received little attention. "The fight against anti-Semitism must be conducted systematically," he told DW. In general, according to his organization, "the level of anti-Semitism" in Ukraine is down this year. Volodymyr Zelenskiy is Ukraine's first Jewish president It is not clear whether the Nazi symbol sprayed on the memorial in Bogdanovka was meant to spread anti-Semitic sentiment against the still very popular new president. "It could be anything, even a provocation, but it's not an isolated case," said the historian Zabarko, adding that Holocaust memorials around the country have been repeatedly desecrated over the past five to seven years. "This can be both a genuine expression of a marginal Ukrainian radical anti-Semitic trend and a deliberate provocation," said Kyiv-based political scientist Andreas Umland, an expert on right-wing extremism in Ukraine. "It's possible it was just hooligans. The penalties for these types of crimes in Ukraine are relatively high and entail up to five years imprisonment. It cannot therefore be ruled out that this is a targeted action by a major political actor."

New Holocaust memorials unveiled

Anatoly Podolsky believes neither in a trend nor in a danger for the Jewish community in Ukraine. In fact, he sees "a positive trend" in the opposite direction. While multiple sites have been desecrated in September, a total of nine new Holocaust memorials were also inaugurated in Ukraine this month as part of the international "Preserving Memory" project, which is supported by the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies and the government. The "modern and touching memorials" are "a good answer to all looters" who want to damage the image of Ukraine, Podolsky said.

^ I believe this is part of the growing trend around the world against the Jews. It may have been directed more against the Ukrainian President (who is Jewish) but it is still against the Jews. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-holocaust-memorial-desecration-not-an-isolated-case/a-50567706

Impeachment Inquiry

From the BBC:

“Trump impeachment: Memo confirms president urged Biden inquiry”

The Trump administration has released details of a phone conversation in July that has triggered a US impeachment inquiry against the president. According to the notes, Donald Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to look into corruption claims involving the son of Joe Biden, Mr Trump's possible rival in next year's presidential election.  Concerns about the call were initially raised by a whistleblower. The Democrats accused Mr Trump of seeking foreign help to smear a rival. Under the US constitution, a president can be impeached for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours" - a procedure that can lead to removal from office. In July, Mr Trump froze military aid to Ukraine but he has insisted that this was not used to put pressure on the new government in Kiev.

What does Trump say about Biden in the call?

Mr Trump discusses with his newly elected Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, the 2016 removal of a prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, according to notes of their 25 July telephone conversation released by the White House. The US president is quoted as saying in the half-hour call: "I heard you had a prosecutor who was very good and he was shut down and that's really unfair.  "A lot of people are talking about that, the way they shut your very good prosecutor down and you had some very bad people involved." He continues: "The other thing, there's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution [of Mr Biden's son] and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the [US] Attorney General would be great.  Trump: 'It was going to be the call from hell. It turned out to be a nothing call' "Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it... It sounds horrible to me." Mr Zelensky says in response: "We will take care of that and we will work on the investigation of the case."  Thanking Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky says he stayed in Trump Tower in New York City during a previous visit to the US.  On the call, the US president also asks Mr Zelensky to work with US Attorney General William Barr and Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, to look into the matter, according to the notes. The Department of Justice said on Wednesday that Mr Trump had not spoken with the attorney general about having Ukraine investigate Mr Biden, and Mr Barr had not communicated with Ukraine.

What is the claim against Joe Biden?

Mr Trump and his conservative allies have focused on how Mr Biden, as US vice-president in 2016, lobbied Ukraine to fire Mr Shokin. Mr Shokin's office had opened an investigation into Burisma, a natural gas company on which Mr Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was a board member.   Other Western officials had called for Mr Shokin to be fired because of the perception that he was soft on corruption. Mr Biden last year told a foreign policy event how he threatened to withhold $1bn in aid to Ukraine unless Mr Shokin was removed. No evidence has come to light so far of wrongdoing by the Bidens.

How the controversy unfolded

18 July - President Trump orders White House aide to hold back almost $400m in military aid to Ukraine, report US media 

25 July - President Trump speaks with Ukraine's leader in a 30-minute phone call

9 September - Congress learns of a whistleblower's complaint about the call, but is blocked by the Trump administration from viewing it

11 September - Military aid for Ukraine is cleared for release by the Pentagon and US Department of State

23 September - Trump confirms he withheld Ukrainian aid, saying it was due to concerns about "corruption"

24 September - Trump says the aid was withheld so that other countries would pay more

What is the background of the call?

Mr Trump had promised that a "complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript" of the 25 July call would be released. But the details disclosed by the White House on Wednesday morning were notes of the conversation taken by US officials who listened in. The July call occurred days after Mr Trump directed the US government to withhold about $391m (£316m) in military aid to Ukraine. In the summary of the call, Mr Trump does not tell the Ukrainian president that US aid hinges upon him investigating Mr Biden. But Mr Trump stresses the importance of US financial support, before pressing Mr Zelensky for action on the Democratic candidate. "I will say that we do a lot for Ukraine," Mr Trump says.

What's the reference to 'CrowdStrike'?

In one of the most cryptic passages from the call, Mr Trump mentions a "server" and CrowdStrike. He asks Mr Zelensky to "do us a favour" adding: "I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say CrowdStrike... I guess you have one of your wealthy people... The server, they say Ukraine has it."  CrowdStrike is a cyber-security firm that was hired by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to investigate the 2016 hack of the party's email server. That cyber-breach led to the leak of numerous emails that embarrassed Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. CrowdStrike determined a pair of hacking groups with suspected Russian ties was responsible for the hack. Mr Trump has previously questioned why the DNC did not turn over the hacked email server to the FBI, instead of asking CrowdStrike to investigate. The US president told the Associated Press news agency in April 2017 that he had "heard" CrowdStrike was "owned by a very rich Ukranian". In the phone call with Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump appears to suggest the DNC server is stored somewhere in Ukraine. 

What's the reaction?

On Wednesday morning at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Mr Trump said it was the "single greatest witch hunt in American history".  "The way you had that built up that call, it was going to be the call from hell," said Mr Trump, who is up for re-election in November 2020. "It turned out to be a nothing call."  Speaking alongside Mr Trump at the event, Mr Zelensky told reporters: "You heard that we had a, I think, good phone call.  "It was normal. We spoke about many things, so I think you read it that nobody pushed me." "In other words, no pressure," interjected Mr Trump. But California Democrat Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters the phone call shows "a classic, mafia-like shakedown of a foreign leader".

What's happening with the impeachment inquiry?

The Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Tuesday threw her weight behind an official impeachment inquiry into the president's actions. A House vote to impeach the president could trigger a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Mr Trump from office. Congress' probe focuses partly on whether Trump abused his presidential powers and sought to help his own re-election by seeking the aid of a foreign government to undermine Mr Biden. Mrs Pelosi said such actions would mark a "betrayal of his oath of office" and declared: "No one is above the law."

How did the controversy arise?

The inspector general for the intelligence community wrote to the Director of National Intelligence in August about the Trump-Zelenksy call. A whistleblower from within the US intelligence community had filed a complaint about the matter.  Federal law requires such complaints to be disclosed to Congress, but the Trump administration has so far refused to do so. The US Department of Justice says the whistleblower had heard the information from "White House officials", and did not have first-hand knowledge of the call. The department's spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, said on Wednesday it had reviewed a record of the phone call, and determined "there was no campaign finance violation and that no further action was required". 

^ The more I learn about all of this the more I believe Trump did something illegal. It would be one thing if his call was to an American (while it would still be wrong I don’t know if it would be illegal), but the fact that it was to a foreigner and the leader of another country at that makes it much worse. With that said I think the Democrat-controlled House will impeach Trump over this and that the Republican-controlled Senate will vote to keep Trump in office. It will be a very long and drawn-out process that will distract us from other issues (like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, veterans dying at VA-run places, etc.) and in the end Trump will declare victory and will most likely be re-elected. Like I already said I do think he is guilty of making this call and threat to the Ukrainian President (and with-holding already approved aid until he got what he wanted) but I’m just not sure if giving him an even more God-like complex when he eventually wins is better than doing nothing until he is out of office. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49830588

1 Too Many

From Military.com:

“Alarming VA Report Totals Decade of Veteran Suicides”

The Department of Veterans Affairs released an alarming report Friday showing that at least 60,000 veterans died by suicide between 2008 and 2017, with little sign that the crisis is abating despite suicide prevention being the VA's top priority. Although the total population of veterans declined by 18% during that span of years, more than 6,000 veterans died by suicide annually, according to the VA's 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. The report did not take into account the possible effects of VA's programs aimed at outreach and removing the stigma of seeking help for mental health. Overall, though, the data show the suicide rate is increasing. In 2017, more than 6,100 veterans died by suicide, an increase of 2% over 2016 and a total increase of 6% since 2008, the report found. Firearms were the method of suicide in 70.7% of male veteran suicide deaths and 43.2% of female veteran suicide deaths in 2017, the report found. Of particular concern was the suicide rate among former National Guard and Reserve members who were never federally activated and therefore, did not receive VA services. Within that population, there were 919 suicides in 2017, an average of 2.5 per day, the report said. Some 12.4% of all military suicides in 2017 were among this population, the report found. Overall in 2017, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults, after adjusting for population differences in age and sex, the report said. The report and an accompanying statement by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie emphasized that the veteran suicide crisis went beyond the VA's capacity to address it, and must be targeted in a coordinated approach with local, state and private partners. "VA is working to prevent suicide among all veterans, whether they are enrolled in VA health care or not," Wilkie said. "That's why the department has adopted a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, using bundled strategies that cut across various sectors -- faith communities, employers, schools and health care organizations, for example -- to reach veterans where they live and thrive." The new approach was meant "to reach all veterans, even those who do not and may never come to us for care," Wilkie said. In his cover letter for the report, Dr. Richard Stone, the executive in charge of the Veterans Health Administration, said of suicide prevention that "We cannot do this alone; we call on our community partners to join us in this effort." "We will only be successful at preventing suicide if we break this work into actionable, manageable steps," Stone said.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

^ This report is extremely sad. Every one of those 60,000 veteran men and women was a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a friend and a hero. I don’t place complete blame on the VA for all of these suicides, but I know the VA could have and should have done much more to help these men and women in their time of need. The same should also be said about the US Military, the US Government as a whole and the American people. We, as a nation, promise so much to those that agree to risk everything to protect us and we often go-back on those promises once their military service is completed. We basically use them and then lose them. The US Government, US Military and the VA all need to start keeping the promises we made to help soldiers, veterans and their families before, during and after their service. Doing that we can help lower the 60,000 number to near 0. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/09/23/alarming-va-report-totals-decade-veteran-suicides.html

Court Backs Move

From the BBC:

“Franco exhumation: Spain's Supreme Court backs move to cemetery”

Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that the remains of dictator Francisco Franco should be exhumed. It backed the Socialist government's plan to move the remains from a state mausoleum to a less controversial site. An appeal by Franco's family against the exhumation and proposing an alternative site was rejected. The issue has divided opinion in Spain, which remains haunted by the Franco era. He won the 1930s civil war and went on to rule Spain until 1975. In a unanimous ruling, the court said it had decided to "completely reject the appeal lodged by the family in relation to Francisco Franco's exhumation". In a tweet (in Spanish), Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed the decision as a "great victory for democracy". Mr Sanchez's deputy, Carmen Calvo, said the exhumation would be completed "as soon as possible". The government wants to carry it out before elections on 10 November. Franco currently lies in a huge mausoleum called the Valley of the Fallen, alongside tens of thousands of civil war dead. Many revile the complex - just outside Madrid - as a monument to the triumph of fascism, and it has become a shrine for the far right. The government approved the exhumation in August.  It plans to put him next to his wife in El Pardo cemetery north of Madrid, where various other politicians are interred.

Why Spain's government wants to exhume Gen Franco's remains

Many descendents of Franco's victims support the move. "The idea that people who were killed by Franco's troops are buried together with Franco, it's very absurd, and they're still glorifying him as if he was the saviour of Spain," Silvia Navarro, whose great uncle died in 1936, told the BBC. But the family, who would rather he was not moved at all, wanted him to lie in a family crypt in the Almudena Cathedral - right in the centre of the capital. The government argued that the former dictator should not be placed anywhere where he could be glorified. It also said there were potential security issues with the cathedral site. The controversy comes at a time of political crisis in Spain, as the country prepares for its fourth general election in four years.

Possible boost for the Socialists

This was a resounding ruling in favour of the Spanish government, with the Supreme Court unanimously approving the exhumation.  Just as noteworthy was the court's rejection of a claim by the Franco family that if the exhumation should go ahead, the remains should be reburied in a crypt beneath Almudena Cathedral in central Madrid.  Although the family could now go to the Constitutional Court, many observers believe another appeal would not succeed. The government, which has seen its plan to exhume Franco repeatedly delayed, will now aim to carry it out as soon as possible.  There are some, relatively minor, hurdles still to overcome, such as securing the Catholic Church's co-operation, but if Franco's remains are moved by 10 November it would give the Socialists a boost in the general election to be held that day. 

What has been the reaction to the ruling?

Mr Sanchez said the government had always been guided by the determination to alleviate the suffering of Franco's victims. "Today is a great victory of Spanish democracy," he said.  "The Supreme Court has endorsed the exhumation of Franco's remains and his transfer to El Pardo. Justice, memory and dignity." Pablo Iglesias of the leftist Podemos party said the move was a "very important step" to remove a shame which had been present despite 40 years of democracy. But Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, said he would oppose the Supreme Court decision "because only Vox has the courage to defend freedom and common sense from totalitarianism and electoral propaganda tricks". Meanwhile, a spokesman for the main opposition Popular Party said he did not intend to devote any time to the question.  "I have no opinion... I respect the procedures of the courts," Alfonso Serrano said, quoted by Efe news agency.

How has Spain dealt with the Franco era? 

Unlike in Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany, defeated in World War Two, Spain's transition to democracy in 1975 was more gradual.  Though democracy is well established now, many believe the country has never faced up to its fascist past. There was an unwritten "pact of forgetting" during the transition. An Amnesty Law adopted in 1977 prevents any criminal investigation into the Franco years. Statues of Franco were removed and many streets were renamed, to erase obvious signs of the fascist past.  A Historical Memory Law, passed in 2007 by the socialist government at the time, recognised the war victims on both sides and provided some help for surviving victims of Franco's dictatorship and their families.  But the work to locate and rebury thousands of civil war dead has been slow and controversial.  More than 100,000 victims of the conflict, and the ferocious repression carried out afterwards, are still missing.

^ Hopefully Franco’s body will now just be removed from his shrine and buried elsewhere. This is a long 44 year issue that needs to be dealt with and finished with right now. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49807372

Ukrainian Call

From the BBC:

“Trump Ukraine call: Democratic calls for impeachment grow”

Trump confirms he withheld aid to Ukraine - but insists there was no "quid pro quo" Democratic calls to impeach President Donald Trump are gathering pace after it emerged he withheld aid to Ukraine, pressing it to investigate his would-be White House challenger Joe Biden. The House of Representatives' Democratic leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is meeting party members on Tuesday to consider impeachment. Mr Trump has acknowledged freezing the aid to Ukraine but denied wrongdoing.

What's the latest on Ukraine?

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he only froze military aid to Ukraine because he wanted European countries to contribute money, too. The Republican president also acknowledged pressuring newly elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call on 25 July to investigate US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Joe Biden has aggressively fought back against what he calls a smear  He told reporters "there was pressure put on, in respect to Joe Biden. What Joe Biden did for his son, that's something they should be looking at". Mr Trump and his conservative allies have pointed out that Joe Biden, while US vice-president, threatened in 2016 to withhold aid to Ukraine unless it fired a top prosecutor whose office had opened an investigation into a natural gas company where his son, Hunter Biden, was a board member. Other Western officials had also called for the same prosecutor to be removed on the grounds that he was soft on corruption. Ukraine's current prosecutor, Yuriy Lutsenko, told Bloomberg News in May he had no evidence of wrongdoing by Mr Biden or his son. Mr Trump's latest remarks came after US media reported that days before his phone call with Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump instructed his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, to withhold nearly $400m (£320m) in military aid for Ukraine. 

What does it take to impeach a president?

But the US president insisted on Tuesday that nothing untoward happened during the "perfect call". Later in the day, the US president told reporters: "Ask how his [Joe Biden's] son made millions of dollars from Ukraine... even though he had no expertise whatsoever, OK." Congressional Democrats are demanding a transcript of the Trump-Zelensky phone call, which the White House has declined to release. On Tuesday, Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful elected Democrat, is holding a closed-door meeting with House members to consider impeaching Mr Trump.  She has so far resisted calls among her liberal rank-and-file to attempt to remove the Republican president from office. On Monday night, the Washington Post published an op-ed by seven Democratic lawmakers - all with backgrounds in the US military and intelligence agencies - who said the "stunning" accusations against Mr Trump amounted to "a national security threat".  "If these allegations are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offence," wrote the lawmakers. "We do not arrive at this conclusion lightly."  The first-term representatives - Gil Cisneros of California, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria of Virginia, Jason Crow of Colorado, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan - all serve in districts previously held by Republicans. Adam Schiff, a top Democrat, said impeachment may be the "only remedy"  Nearly a dozen Democrats have come out in favour of impeachment over the last week since the Ukraine phone call controversy came to light. More than 145 House Democrats now back such a move - more than half of the party's 235 members in the lower chamber of Congress. But impeachment currently lacks the support of most US voters. A recent opinion poll found that 59% oppose removing the president from office.  Under the US Constitution, the House has the power to impeach a president for "high crimes and misdemeanours" and the Senate then holds a trial on whether to remove the president from office. But the Senate is under Republican control and is seen as highly unlikely to convict the president. Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were impeached, but the Senate did not convict them.

How is Biden responding?

Mr Biden - who has so far not joined calls for impeachment - will make a statement on Tuesday afternoon from his political heartland of Wilmington, Delaware. His campaign said the statement would relate to the president's "ongoing abuse of power". The Biden team has hit back aggressively at Mr Trump's Ukraine allegations, denying any wrongdoing.  Mr Biden told reporters on Saturday: "Trump's doing this because he knows I will beat him like a drum." He also raised his voice and jabbed his finger at a Fox News reporter, telling him: "Ask the right questions!" 

^ Right now I don’t know if impeachment is a good thing or a bad thing for the US. We are already a divided country and even the different political parties are divided among themselves. Even if impeachment were to start I  I don’t think it would lead to Trump being removed from office the same way it didn’t lead to Clinton leaving. What Trump did with regards to Ukraine and Biden was not right. If there was a question of wrong-doing by Biden or his son then it should have been handled through the correct channels and not by Trump threatening Ukraine and refusing them money that Congress already agreed to give them. It seems that Trump has become high on his Presidential power and we all know that those at the top only have one way to go – down. He also seems to forget that once he is out of the Presidency (by impeachment, by losing the next election or after his next term) he can be prosecuted for these and any other things he did. While I think the Democrats have over-reacted on some issues and handled them incorrectly (like the recent Congressional hearing on Corey Lewandowski which made the Democrats there look like bad comedians rather than elected officials) I do believe there is something to this Ukraine story. The main question now is how the Republicans and the Democrats will react to it and what, if anything, they will do. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49814529

Germany's Promises

From the DW:

“Germany promises US greater military involvement”

Defense spending and the Strait of Hormuz were on the agenda during Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer's trip to Washington on a mission to strengthen ties. US President Trump often criticizes Germany's military expenditure. German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Monday urged closer military relations with the US. In bilateral talks with her US counterpart, Mark Esper, Kramp-Karrenbauer promised Germany would show more responsibility in defense matters. Specifically, she voiced her support for a European marine mission in the Strait of Hormuz. "I made very clear that Germany is ready to be involved, but only in a European mission," she said. The US is leading an international operation in the key shipping lane. Washington hopes to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels, following Iran's seizure of an oil tanker there earlier this year. During the meeting at the Pentagon, Esper said that Germany needed to invest more in NATO. "German leadership is essential," Esper said. "It's more important than ever." US President Donald Trump has often criticized Germany for not spending enough on defense. Members of NATO agreed five years ago that each should spend 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2024. Germany estimates that spending in this area will amount to 1.36% of GPD by the end of the year. "I am sticking to the end goal of 2%. But for 2024, my goal is 1.5%," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. "It's not just about cash. It's also about international commitments."

Germany's role in NATO

West Germany officially joined the trans-Atlantic alliance in 1955. However, it wasn't until after reunification in 1990 that the German government considered "out of area" missions led by NATO. From peacekeeping to deterrence, Germany's Bundeswehr has since been deployed in several countries across the globe in defense of its allies.

Quick decision on Tornado replacement

Kramp-Karrenbauer also said she aimed to decide as soon as possible on how to replace Germany's aging fleet of Tornado fighter planes and would be working closely with Esper on the matter. At the start of the year, Germany dismissed the US-made F-35 fighter as a replacement. There were concerns it could adversely affect a Franco-German next-generation combat jet. "We made clear that ... the Future Combat Air System with the French was one of the reasons that ... we had to seek other solutions," Kramp-Karrenbauer said.

 Bundeswehr struggles with faulty defense equipment

Faulty tanks and grounded helicopters — today in the German military Frustrated soldiers and a defense system struggling to repair its way into a fully functioning military. And a new defense minister who will have to regain confidence from army representatives.

^ Hopefully these aren’t just promises (words) and will be backed with real action. If the German Government doesn’t want to give the German Military the funding, manpower, training and equipment the men and women who serve deserve then the German Government should give up its Military altogether – which would also mean leaving NATO. I can’t imagine how a German solider stationed in  a warzone, risking their lives, must feel knowing that their own Government doesn’t think enough of them to give them the tools they need to survive. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-promises-us-greater-military-involvement/a-50555610

Thomas Cook Chaos

From the BBC:

“Thomas Cook: How have overseas businesses been affected?”

Thomas Cook operated holidays to over 60 destinations worldwide  The collapse of Thomas Cook could have an impact on tourism around the globe, concerned industry professionals say. The oldest tour operator in the world was famous for its package holidays to more than 60 destinations. In some of these countries – such as Spain, Greece and Turkey – there is a fear that tourist numbers could drop dramatically.  At present, Thomas Cook's Indian, Chinese, German and Nordic subsidiaries will continue to trade as normal.  Spain was the company's main destination.  So far this year, more than 1.3 million passengers have travelled to Spain on Thomas Cook Airlines. That does not include a further 1.6 million passengers who travelled on Condor Airlines, in which Thomas Cook has a 49% stake. The airline says it is still operating.  Thomas Cook has a tax office in Palma with hundreds of employees, and also works with 20 hotels in the Balearic Islands and 20 in the Canary Islands.  José María Mañaricua, from the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Las Palmas, told El País that the collapse will have a "dramatic" impact on the Canary tourism sector. 

'Fates depending on Thomas Cook'

Turkey's Hoteliers Federation (TUROFED) has warned that the country could miss out on up to 700,000 tourists a year due to the collapse of the tour operator.  According to official data, about 40 million tourists travelled to Turkey in 2018, bringing in $29.5 billion (£23.8 billion).  The chairman of TUROFED, Osman Ayik, told Reuters: "There are a large number of small businesses whose fates depend on Thomas Cook, especially in Mugla, Dalaman and Fethiye."  He added that some small hotels in Turkey are still owed around £100,000 – £200,000 ($125,000-$250,000). Turkey's tourism ministry has said that it is working on extending a loan-based support package for the affected businesses.  There are currently 45,000 tourists in Turkey from the UK who booked through Thomas Cook. 

'A big blow to the industry' 

Goa, a winter holiday destination, was reliant on Thomas Cook charter flights which brought in about 2,000 tourists a week during October to March.  Savio Messias, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa said: "Thomas Cook is a very reputed company, bringing in British tourists.  "British tourists are loved by the local Goans and the hotel industry. Thomas Cook has been operating for the last 25-30 years in Goa and losing out on Thomas Cook is a big, big, blow to the industry." He added that several hotels face an uncertain future as they were entirely depending on Thomas Cook.  "It was a very good business which we are going to miss," Mr Messias said. 

Hoteliers owed money 

About 250,000 people travel annually to Cyprus with Thomas Cook, bringing an estimated €18.5 million (£16.3m, $20m), according to Cyprus' deputy tourism minister.  Savvas Perdios said that the loss for hoteliers and the wider economy is about €50 million. He added that hotels were owed money for July, August and even September.  Christos Efstathion, general manager of the Napa Plaza hotel told AFP news agency: "It's a big anxiety...it's not only the current guests, it's how to deal with the immediate, medium and long-term future for the hotel." He added that the hotel had 300 room nights booked through Thomas Cook until the end of this month with an additional 700 in October.  A further 50,000 tourists are stranded in Greece, according to the tourism minister.  Grigoris Tassios told local TV that hotels were expected to make losses on payments from the past two months.  He added that hotel companies would attempt to recover money from Thomas Cook in court.  "This is an earthquake on a scale of seven, now we are waiting for the tsunami," Michalis Vlatakis, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Crete said. 

^ This Thomas Cook travel chaos comes at the same time as the UK’s Brexit chaos and Parliament chaos. What is going on over there? There is no excuse for Thomas Cook to cause this “out-of-the-blue” chaos that is affecting thousands upon thousands of people around the world (both travelers and hospitality businesses.) The British Government (after they fix their own Parliament problems) needs to investigate those people at Thomas Cook and whatever British Government Department that overseas tourism to find out why this surprise travel chaos was allowed to happen. There should have been some warning which would have lessened all of this for those affected. It is strange to hear the British Government going out to “rescue” the people left stranded by Thomas Cook. I don’t see the US Government doing the same. Of course the UK has 67 million people and not all of them were travelling whereas the US has 327 million people.  I can understand a Government doing that for a natural disaster or in a warzone, but not in a situation like this. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49797807

Unlawful Suspension

From the BBC:

“Supreme Court: Suspending Parliament was unlawful, judges rule”

Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament was unlawful, the Supreme Court has ruled.  Mr Johnson suspended - or prorogued - Parliament for five weeks earlier this month, but judges said it was wrong to stop MPs carrying out duties in the run-up to Brexit on 31 October. Supreme Court president Lady Hale said "the effect on the fundamentals of democracy was extreme." The PM said he "profoundly disagreed" with the ruling but would "respect" it. A raft of MPs have now called for the prime minister to resign and some say they will attempt to force him out if he does not go of his accord. Mr Johnson insisted he wanted to outline his government's policies in a Queen's Speech on 14 October, and to do that, Parliament must be prorogued and a new session started. But critics said he was trying to stop MPs scrutinising his Brexit plans and the suspension was far longer than necessary.

Could a Queen's Speech still go ahead?

During a speech in New York, the PM said he "refused to be deterred" from getting on with "an exciting and dynamic domestic agenda", and to do that he would need a Queen's Speech. The court ruling does not prevent him from proroguing again in order to hold one, as long as it does not stop Parliament carrying out its duties "without reasonable justification".  A No 10 source said the Supreme Court had "made a serious mistake in extending its reach to these political matters", and had "made it clear that its reasons [were] connected to the Parliamentary disputes over, and timetable for" Brexit. But Lady Hale emphasised in the ruling that the case was "not about when and on what terms" the UK left the EU - it was about the decision to suspend Parliament.  Delivering the justices' conclusions, she said: "The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification."  Lady Hale said the unanimous decision of the 11 justices meant Parliament had effectively not been prorogued - the decision was null and of no effect. Speaker of the Commons John Bercow said MPs needed to return "in light of the explicit judgement", and he had "instructed the House of Commons authorities to prepare... for the resumption of business" from 11:30 BST on Wednesday.  He said prime minister's questions would not go ahead, but there would be "full scope" for urgent questions, ministerial statements and applications for emergency debates. 

 Where does this leave Boris Johnson?

Short of the inscrutable Lady Hale, with the giant diamond spider on her lapel, declaring Boris Johnson to be Pinocchio, this judgement is just about as bad for the government as it gets. Mr Johnson is, as is abundantly clear, prepared to run a general election campaign that pits Parliament against the people. And so what, according to that view of the world, if that includes the judges as part of the establishment standing in his way? But there is a difference between being ruthless and reckless.  And the scope and strength of this judgement cannot just be dismissed as some pesky judges sticking their noses in. Reacting to the ruling, Mr Johnson said it was an "unusual judgement", adding: "The prerogative of prorogation has been used for centuries without this kind of challenge.  "There are a lot of people who basically want to stop this country from coming out of the EU and we have a Parliament that is unable to be prorogued and doesn't want to have an election. I think it is time we took things forward." The PM said getting a deal was "not made much easier with these sort of things in Parliament or the courts", but insisted the UK would still leave on 31 October. Speaker John Bercow says the Commons will sit on Wednesday  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was due to close the Labour Party conference in Brighton with a speech on Wednesday, but brought it forward to Tuesday afternoon so he could return to Westminster. He told cheering delegates: "Tomorrow Parliament will return. The government will be held to account for what it has done. Boris Johnson has been found to have misled the country. This unelected prime minister should now resign."  Lawyers for the government had argued the decision to prorogue was one for Parliament, not the courts. But the justices disagreed, unanimously deciding it was "justiciable", and there was "no doubt that the courts have jurisdiction to decide upon the existence and limits of a prerogative power".  The court also criticised the length of the suspension, with Lady Hale saying it was "impossible for us to conclude, on the evidence which has been put before us, that there was any reason - let alone a good reason - to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament for five weeks". The damage is done Wow! This is legal, constitutional and political dynamite.  It is worth just taking a breath and considering that a prime minister of the United Kingdom has been found by the highest court in the land to have acted unlawfully in shutting down the sovereign body in our constitution, Parliament, at a time of national crisis.  The court may have fallen short of saying Boris Johnson had an improper motive of stymieing or frustrating parliamentary scrutiny, but the damage is done, he has been found to have acted unlawfully and stopped Parliament from doing its job without any legal justification.  And the court has quashed both his advice to the Queen and the Order in Council which officially suspended parliament.  That means Parliament was never prorogued and so we assume that MPs are free to re-enter the Commons.  This is the most dramatic example yet of independent judges, through the mechanism of judicial review, stopping the government in its tracks because what it has done is unlawful.  Be you ever so mighty, the law is above you - even if you are the prime minister.  Unprecedented, extraordinary, ground breaking - it is difficult to overestimate the constitutional and political significance of today's ruling. 

What was the court considering?

 Gina Miller led campaigners against the suspension of Parliament  The ruling was made after a three-day hearing at the Supreme Court last week which dealt with two appeals - one from campaigner and businesswoman Gina Miller, the second from the government. Mrs Miller was appealing against the English High Court's decision that the prorogation was "purely political" and not a matter for the courts.  The government was appealing against the ruling by Scotland's Court of Session that the prorogation was "unlawful" and had been used to "stymie" Parliament.  The court ruled in favour of Mrs Miller's appeal and against the government's.

How did those involved in the case react?

The SNP's Joanna Cherry said the PM's position was "untenable"  Speaking outside the court, Mrs Miller said the ruling "speaks volumes".  "This prime minister must open the doors of Parliament tomorrow. MPs must get back and be brave and bold in holding this unscrupulous government to account," she added. The SNP's Joanna Cherry, who led the Scottish case, called for Mr Johnson to resign as a result of the ruling.  "The highest court in the United Kingdom has unanimously found that his advice to prorogue this Parliament, his advice given to Her Majesty the Queen, was unlawful," she said. "His position is untenable and he should have the guts, for once, to do the decent thing and resign."  Former Prime Minister Sir John Major - one of the sponsors of the prorogation appeal - said it gave him "no pleasure to be pitted against a government and prime minister of my own party". "No prime minister must ever treat the monarch or Parliament in this way again."

What about other politicians?

Mr Johnson was backed by US President Donald Trump at a joint press conference at the United Nations in New York.  "I'll tell you, I know him well, he's not going anywhere," said Mr Trump, after a US reporter quizzed the prime minister on whether he was going to resign.  But reaction at home was far more negative. Scotland's First Minister, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, said the ruling was the most significant constitutional judgement in her lifetime, and it would be "unthinkable" for Mr Johnson to remain in office. Wales' First Minister, Labour's Mark Drakeford, said the court's decision had been a "victory for the rule of law" and the PM had "tried to play fast and loose with our constitution". In Northern Ireland, the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, said the ruling must be respected, while Sinn Fein's vice president, Michelle O'Neill, said Mr Johnson should resign. Other figures have taken to Twitter to support the court's decision, including former Tory minister Amber Rudd, who resigned her post - and the party whip - over the government's approach to Brexit.  The leader of The Brexit Party, Nigel Farage, said Mr Johnson must, "as a matter of honour", offer his resignation to MPs in Parliament on Wednesday. The decision to prorogue Parliament had been a "disaster", he added, and there must be a general election "before very long because Parliament and the government have ceased to function". Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who has been an outspoken critic of the suspension, said he was "not surprised" by the judgement because of the "gross misbehaviour by the prime minister".  He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme he was "delighted" the Supreme Court had "stopped this unconstitutional act in its tracks". Dominic Grieve said it was "perfectly obvious that the reason for suspending Parliament was bogus" But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said the court's decision was "the worst possible outcome for our democracy" and "an absolute disgrace". He told the same programme: "What we've got is a Parliament that's completely out of step with sentiment of the country."  Fellow Tory MP and chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group Steve Baker said the ruling was an "earthquake moment". He described the Commons as a "rotten Parliament" facing a "crisis", and called for a general election so a government with a majority could move forward. 

What happened before Parliament was suspended?

 Prorogation is a power that rests with the Queen, carried out by her on the advice of the prime minister. And at the end of August - shortly before MPs returned from their summer recess - Mr Johnson called Her Majesty to advise she suspend Parliament between 9 September until 14 October.  MPs had been expecting to be in recess for some of these weeks for their party conferences. But unlike prorogation, a recess must be agreed by a vote, and a number of MPs said they would have voted against it to ensure they could scrutinise Mr Johnson's Brexit plans.  The decision to prorogue prompted an uproar from the Commons, especially from MPs who had planned to take control of Parliament to force through a law to block a no-deal Brexit after Mr Johnson said the UK would leave the EU with or without a deal on the Halloween deadline.  Despite only sitting for a week, they did manage to pass that law ahead of prorogation and it received royal assent on 9 September. 

^ The Brexit drama continues in the UK. This is better than anything that the British television or film industry could make. You know you’re time is limited when you get the “stamp of approval” from Trump like Johnson did today. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49810261

Maple Love

Living in northern New England I get asked about maple syrup twice a year: in the Spring when it is tapped from the trees and made into syrup (I can sit on my balcony and smell it being made in all the different sugar shacks in my town) and in the Fall (when maple products are sold everywhere.) Today is the first day of Fall so I thought I would get ahead of the question I am usually asked.

One question people ask me is which maple syrup do I prefer (the ones produced in: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York or Quebec, Canada.) Maple syrup and maple syrup-made products are taken very seriously up here and even have different grades depending on their quality and color. 

 In the past 10 years I have done extensive testing with different products made with maple syrup from the different locations. I’ve had homemade maple ice cream, homemade maple candy, homemade maple doughnuts, store-bought maple ice cream, store-bought maple candy, store-bought maple doughnuts,  maple butter, maple taffy, maple beer, hot maple cider, maple-horseradish, maple-mustard, etc. 

A lot of the chain stores and restaurants nation-wide use store-bought maple syrup or a maple flavoring in their products and aren’t that good. I prefer the places that use and sell real maple syrup and maple-made products. There are several places right in my town that sell the maple syrup and products they produce and I try to get them whenever I can. When I can’t get those our market in the next town has a selection of regionally-made maple products.

To get back to the question: I really like a maple-mustard made in Maine. I have two maple syrups that I really like with one being made in Quebec, Canada and the other in New Hampshire. There’s a maple ice cream that is made in Vermont using real maple syrup and not maple flavoring (and I can get it in my local market seasonally.) After 10 years I can’t say which geographic location has the best maple syrup, but I can say which are my favorite locally or regionally made and sold maple syrup and products.

Maple Meme

Fall Festivals

 Best Fall Festivals and Fairs Across the United States

These fall and harvest festivals are the best way to celebrate the season. One of the best things about fall? You’re never pressed for fun things to do, be it something as simple as a nature walk or adventurous as a foliage train ride. With tidings of cooler temps and cozy dinners also comes an influx of autumn-inspired events across the country, all dedicated to celebrating the season. Whether you frequent an October festival close to home and want to branch away, or don’t know where to start to look in your area, we rounded up the best fall festivals happening across America. No matter which locale(s) you choose, prepare to immerse yourself in local foods, traditions, and cultures.  On the East Coast, you can indulge in new England’s finest fare at Maine’s annual Harvest on the Harbor, or face your fear of heights for primo hot air balloons during the Adirondack Balloon Festival event. You also won’t be sorry for heading to the North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival or the Circleville Pumpkin Show in Ohio for unbeatable fall treats and outdoor entertainment. And don’t forget to swing by our very own Country Living Fairs in Columbus, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia! If you’re planning a leaf peeping trip, a last-minute vacation, or just want to stay close to home, these fall festivals will inspire a special day out with friends or family.

1 Color Cruise and Island Festival

Where: Grand Ledge, Michigan

When: October 11-13, 2019

What to expect: Strengthen your sea legs, because it truly doesn't get any better than leaf-peeping from a boat (think Mother Nature's best foliage hues reflected in the water). Visitors to this longstanding festival can enjoy fall views while riding up and down the river, or cater to the other senses on the mainland with live folk music and warm, hearty fare.  For more information, visit grandledgechamber.com.

2 Coconut Grove Pumpkin Patch Festival

Where: Miami, Florida

When: October 26-27, 2019

What to expect: As evidenced by the name, the annual family-friendly event means thousands of pumpkins in every shape and size, ripe for the picking. But that's hardly all—spend the weekend playing bumper cars at the carnival, taking a stab at the corn maze (if you dare), and, of course, making multiple visits to the pumpkin food court and beer bars.  For more information, visit coconutgrovepumpkinpatch.com.

3 Harvest on the Harbor

Where: Portland, Maine

When: October 17-20, 2019

What to expect: What initially started as a celebration of Portland's up-and-coming food scene has now multiplied into a fully-fledged fest, local ciders and spirits and all. The three-day event—held in the famed "Foodiest Small Town in America"—attracts thousands thanks to its handful of acclaimed Maine eateries and locally-sourced beverages. If the beautiful fall foliage isn't enough to lure you to the East Coast, this should do the trick.  For more information, visit harvestontheharbor.com.

4 Murphysboro Apple Festival

Where: Murphysboro, Illinois

When: Dates haven't been released yet.

What to expect: Commemorate the local harvest with carnival rides, an arts and crafts fair, and lots of apples. For the strong-stomached, there's even an apple pie-eating contest.  For more information, visit enjoyillinois.com.

5 Duluth Fall Festival

Where: Duluth, Georgia

When: September 28-29, 2019

What to expect: Established to promote fellowship and raise funds for their historic community, the Duluth Fall Festival is a town-wide celebration. Get ready for concerts, carnival rides, parades, plenty of shopping—and the real star of the show—the local fare. For more information, visit duluthfallfestival.org.

6  Ellicottville Fall Festival

Where: Ellicottville, New York

When: October 12-13, 2019

What to expect: Timed perfectly to western New York’s peak foliage, this festival, which also features food, live entertainment, and carnival rides, is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and take in the autumnal vistas. For more information, visit ellicottvilleny.com.

7 Sever’s Corn Maze and Fall Festival

Where: Shakopee, Minnesota

When: Date hasn't been released yet

What to expect: Bring the whole family to this annual event to see incredible pumpkin sculptures and art installations, live music, and their 2018 “Under the Sea corn maze.  For more information, visit seversfallfestival.com.

8  Leavenworth Oktoberfest

Where: Leavenworth, Washington

When: October 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19, 2019

What to expect: Throughout the month of October, this quaint, Bavarian-style small town in Washington offers Oktoberfest activities, food, and live music in tents and outdoor spaces around town. For more information, visit leavenworthoktoberfest.com.

9 New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival

Where: Laconia, New Hampshire

When: October 18-19, 2019

What to expect: This epic weekend typically attracts 40,000+ visitors who come for the live music, beer garden, kid-friendly activities, and iconic jack-o'-lantern tower. For more information, visit nhpumpkinfestival.com.

10 Breckenridge Oktoberfest 

Where: Breckenridge, Colorado

When: September 6-8, 2019

What to expect: A Munich-style street party in the mountains complete with "oompah" dancers, schnitzel, and traditional polka music. For more information, visit gobreck.com.

11  Circleville Pumpkin Show 

Where: Circleville, Ohio

When: October 16-19, 2019

What to expect: Parades and delicious fall treats. Plus, more than 10,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, and gourds beautifying the streets! For more information, visit pumpkinshow.com.

12 Country Living Fair

Where: Ohio Village 

When: September 13-15, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day

What to expect: Our Country Living Fair continues this fall in two great locations featuring local vendors (like Berries in the Meadow shown here), seminars and demonstrations, delicious food, and a chance to meet our editors.

Where: Stone Mountain Park

When: October 25-27, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.

13 Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Where: Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Hailey, Idaho

When: October 9-13, 2019

What to expect: This town has turned its annual relocation of livestock from the mountains to their winter pasture into a reason to celebrate. Watch on as the streets fill with sheep! For more information, visit trailingofthesheep.org.

14 Adirondack Balloon Festival 

Where: Glens Falls, New York

When: September 19-22, 2019

What to expect: Ride in a hot air balloon, or watch from below as bright colors light up the Adirondacks. For more information, visit adirondackballoonfest.org.

15 Cranberry Harvest Fest 

Where: Wareham, Massachusetts

When: Dates haven't been released yet.

What to expect: A bright and colorful harvest on display, helicopter rides or tours of the surrounding bogs, cooking demonstrations, a farmers' market, and activities for the whole family. For more information, visit cranberries.org.

16 Autumn at the Arboretum 

Where: Dallas, Texas

When: Dates haven't been released yet.

What to expect: The highlight of this ongoing event is the pumpkin village, made out of 75,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds. For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org.

17 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival 

Where: Winterset, Iowa

When: October 12-13, 2019

What to expect: Celebrate the cultural heritage of Madison County's six covered bridges—five of which are on the National Register of Historic Places—with a parade, games, and entertainment. For more information, visit madisoncounty.com.

18 Sonoma County Harvest Fair 

Where: Sonoma, California

When: October 4-5, 2019

What to expect: Award-winning wines, winery competitions, cow-milking contests, and best of all, the World Championship Grape Stomp, where participants of all ages can join in. For more information, visit harvestfair.org.

19 Scarecrow Festival

Where: St. Charles, Illinois

When: October 11-13, 2019

What to expect: Vote for your favorite hand-crafted scarecrow while enjoying live music, a crafts show, carnival, and petting zoo. For more information, visit scarecrowfest.com.

20 North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival 

Where: Whiteville, North Carolina

When: November 2, 2019

What to expect: Parades, musical entertaining, and house tours abound in the town known as one of the top pecan producers in the state. For more information, visit ncpecanfestival.com.

21 Kona Coffee Cultural Fest

Where: Kona, Hawaii

When: November 1-10, 2019

What to expect: The oldest food festival in Hawaii celebrates the state's coffee pioneers, farmers, and artisans with farm tours, art shows, and a coffee cupping competition. For more information, visit konacoffeefest.com.

22 Hood River Valley Harvest Fest

Where: Hood River, Oregon

When: October 11-13, 2019

What to expect: Seasonal food, local arts, live music, and family-friendly activities. For more information, visit hoodriver.org.

23 Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 

Where: Cincinnati, Ohio

When: September 20-22, 2019

What to expect: Experience southwest Ohio's rich German heritage with authentic food, music, and beer at the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the U.S. For more information, visit oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.

24 National Apple Harvest Festival

Where: Arendtsville, Pennsylvania

When: October 5-6 and 12-13, 2019

What to expect: This festival is a total dream come true for anyone who loves apple picking season. For more information, visit appleharvest.com.

26 Warrens Cranberry Festival

Where: Warrens, Wisconsin

When: September 27-29, 2019

What to expect: The world's largest cranberry fest has become an international event with over 100,000 yearly visitors, thanks to marsh tours, local shopping, contests, seasonal treats and a parade. For more information, visit cranfest.com.

27 Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello

Where: Monticello, Virginia

When: September 21, 2019

What to expect: Garden tours, fruit and vegetable tastings, and gardening lessons to celebrate Thomas Jefferson's legacy as America's "first foodie." For more information, visit heritageharvestfestival.com.

28 Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

Where: Stowe, Vermont

When: September 29, 2019

What to expect: Three rounds of competitive "pumpkin chucking" where people of all ages launch pumpkins as far as they can using trebuchets. For more information, visit vtpumpkinchuckin.blogspot.com.

29 Fall for Greenville

Where: Greenville, South Carolina

When: October 11-13, 2019

What to expect: A selection of dishes from over 40 of Greenville's restaurants, which can be enjoyed while listening to live music. For more information, visit fallforgreenville.net.

30 Acadia Night Sky Festival

Where: Acadia National Park, Maine

When: September 25-29, 2019

What to expect: Ever look up at night in search of stars? This unique festival celebrates the park's starry night skies with events such as kayaking tours and photography workshops.  For more information, visit acadianightskyfestival.com.

https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g2588/best-fall-festivals/