87: ID

 

 87 years ago today (August 17, 1938) Nazi Germany forced all Jewish Men, Women and Children in Germany, Austria and Occupied Czechoslovakia to add either “Israel” (for Men) or “Sara” (for Women) as their legal Middle Name so that it would be easier to identifiy who was and was  not Jewish.

They had to use this new “Official” Middle Name on all Legal Documents as well as on the Mandatory German Indentifcation Card (the Kennkarte.)

Refusing or forgetting to use this enforced new Name was punishable by imprisonment.

There are cases where German Jews who received an American Visa (or any Visa) to leave Nazi Germany were either refused a German Exit Visa (required to leave Nazi Germany) or refused entry into the United States (or any country) because their American Visa didn’t have the required legal name of “Israel” or “Sara” on it.

Sometimes that was because when the Visa Application was first made it was before August 1938 when the law was announced and the only way to make the name change was to reapply for a Visa and get a new Quota Number that was years-out in being called (someone who applied for an American Visa in November 1938 could expect to get a high Quota Number meaning they could expect to get their American Visa in 1943 – of course no one in 1938 knew that in 1943 World War 2 would be raging and the Jews would be murdered in German Gas Chambers.)

Sometimes it was because the Visa Application and all the other Documents had the mandatory name of “Israel” or “Sara” on it, but the signature didn’t.

Picture: 10 year old Robert “Israel” Spied Kennkarte from May 1939 with the required “Israel” on it. It doesn’t have the required “J” on it (but his International Passport did.) Robert was from Vienna and escaped the Nazis due to Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, a Jewish American Couple, who helped 50 Jewish Refugee Children (including Robert) immigrate to the United States.

Note: On October 5, 1938 the Swiss made the Germans identify who was Jewish on their International Passports (otherwise Switzerland would forbid all Germans entry into Switzerland) and so Nazi Germany added a “J” (for “Jude” or “Jew”) to Jewish Kennkarte and International Passports. Robert’s Parents were also able to escape the Nazis and reunited with Robert in April 1940.

In September 1939 the Germans then made the Jews in German-Occupied Poland wear a Blue Star of David on a White Armband on their outer shirt or coat.

The Jews had to use their Clothing Ration Coupons and their own money to buy these Armbands. It had to be a certain size, be clean and visible at all times.

Refusing or Forgetting to use this enforced Armband was punishable by imprisonment or death on sight.

On September 1, 1941 the Germans required all Jews living in Germany or in German-occupied territory wear a Yellow Star of David (with a “J” for “Jude” or “Jew” – sometimes instead of “Jude” written on the Star it used the local name “Juif” in Occupied-France or “Jood” in Occupied-the Netherlands) on their outer shirt or coat.

The Jews had to use their Clothing Ration Coupons and their own money to buy these Stars. It had to be permanently sewed on (not pinned), be a certain size and be clean and visible at all times. Refusing or forgetting to wear this enforced Star was punishable by imprisonment or death on sight.

The new law didn’t change the 1939 Identification Law in occupied-Poland. For example in German-Occupied Warsaw, Poland the Jews had to wear the Blue Star of David on a White Armband, but in German-Annexed Krakow, Poland the Jews had to wear the Yellow Star of David.

In May 1945 the Allies struck down the Racist Nazi Laws including the forced use of "Israel" or "Sara" and the "J." on all Kennkarte.

On January 1, 1951 West Germany started issuing its Mandatory Personalausweis to all of its Citizens (Jews and Non-Jews) and any reference to Race or Religion was outlawed.

On November 1, 1953 East Germany started issuing its Mandatory Personalausweis to all of its Citizens (Jews and Non-Jews) and any reference to Race or Religion was outlawed

More To The Story

That Senior Citizen counting out pennies at the Cashier probably raised a Family who are now all gone and they feel alone and just want some company.

That Family sleeping in their car probably works hard full-time and still can’t afford a decent place to sleep.

That Veteran sitting on the park bench probably risked his life on a daily basis to protect us and now feels forgotten.

There is usually more to the story than just what we see.

Genuine

 

Friday

 

Perfect Picture

 

This is the perfect picture.

It shows Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Summit in Alaska today (August 15, 2025) surprised and confused by the questions of the International Reporters – who mostly asked him about Ukraine and Russia’s War there.

In Russia, the Media is completely owned by the Government and there are no surprise questions allowed.

Teachers Preparing

 

64: Schumann

 

64 years ago today (August 15, 1961) 19 year old East German Border Guard Konrad Schuman escaped into West Berlin jumping over a barbed wire fence during the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Hans Konrad Schumann (March 28, 1942 – June 20, 1998) Born in Zschochau (now part of Ostrau, Saxony) during World War II, Schumann enlisted in the East German Bereitschaftspolizei (State Police) following his 18th Birthday. After three months' training in Dresden, he was posted to a Non-Commissioned Officers' College in Potsdam, after which he volunteered for service in Berlin.

On August 15, 1961, the 19-year-old Schumann was sent to the corner of Ruppiner Strasse and Bernauer Strasse to guard the Berlin Wall on its third day of construction. At roughly 4:00 PM, Schumann jumped over the barbed wire while dropping his PPSh-41 submachine gun, and was promptly driven away in the van by West Berlin Police.

West German Photographer Peter Leibing photographed Schumann's escape. The photograph, entitled "Leap into Freedom", has since become an iconic image of the Cold War era and featured at the beginning of the 1982 Disney film “Night Crossing.”

The scene, including Schumann's preparations, was also filmed on 16-mm film from the same perspective by camera operator Dieter Hoffmann. Schumann went from West Berlin to West Germany, settling in Bavaria.

In 1962, he met and married Kunigunde Gunda in Günzburg. They had a Son the following year. Schumann took up a new job at a winery and eventually at the Audi car assembly factory in Ingolstadt, where he worked for nearly 30 years.

From his jump to Freedom in August 1961 until the Fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 Schumann worried that the East German Stasi would try to assassinate him.

On June 20, 1998, suffering from Depression (from his years of worrying about being assassinated), he committed Suicide.

In May 2011, the photograph of Schumann's "Leap into Freedom" was inducted into the UNESCO Memory of the World Program as part of a collection of documents on the fall of the Berlin Wall.

He was one of the 4 Million East Germans who fled Communism for Freedom from 1945-1989.

80: Victory Over Japan

Today is the 80^th Anniversary of V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day) when World War 2 ended for most of the world.

Some celebrate it on August 14th. Some on August 15th (with the Time Difference) and some celebrate it on September 2nd - when the Japanese signed the Surrender Treaty.

One country doesn't celebrate V-J Day and that's Russia.

Russia is still at War with Japanese (they declared War on Japan August 9th (after the US had already dropped both Atomic Bombs and the Japanese were already going to Surrender.)

The Russians only went in at the very end to take control of North Korea, parts of China, parts of Mongolia and the Kuril Islands of Japan.

It is because of the Kuril Islands that Russia and Japan are still "fighting" World War 2 after 79 years - but as we have seen in Ukraine Russia isn't very good at fighting.

The Last Japanese Soldier to surrender and stop fighting World War 2 was Teruo Nakamura on December 18, 1974 in Indonesia (which was a Dutch Colony during the War) where he had been hiding and "fighting" since September 1944.

He was a native of Taiwan (then a Japanese Colony) and didn't speak Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian or English - he only spoke the Amis Language of his People so he was never told Japan Surrendered and the War had been over for 29 years.

Nakamura died in Taiwan in 1979.

The last Ethnically Japanese Soldier to Surrender was Hiroo Onodaon February 20, 1974 in the Philippines (an American Colony during the War) where he had been fighting since December 1944.

Onodaon only Surrendered when he received an Official Military Order from his Former Commander with the Emperor's Signature on it.

Onodaon died in Japan in 2014.

 

80: V J Day

 

Friday Eve

 

80: Steve Martin

 

Locker Lady

The first time I studied in Russia in 2002 I would go to a Sports Center (with an indoor-pool and an exercise area) at least once a week.

While there I met a Woman, Alla Nikolaevna, who worked in the Men’s Locker Room handing out the Locker Keys, cleaning the Locker Room and the Shower and the Bathroom.

She was in her 60s.

Note: Throughout Russia Older Women (in their 60s-90s) have to do menial jobs after they retire so they can make ends-meet.

The Average Russian Retiree only makes $237 a month.

 You see them everywhere (at Coat Checks, at Public Pay Bathrooms, as Street Cleaners, as Snow Shovelers, as Conductors on Public Transportation, as Janitors, etc.) Most are overlooked and not given a second glance.

Back to my Story: In 2002 I was just learning Russian and so wasn’t fluent in it yet.

I would go to the Sports Center and either swim (you were only allowed to swim laps) or go to the exercise room.

After swimming or working out I would take a shower and wait for the Friends I had come with (who were in the Female Locker Room.)

The Locker Lady – I didn’t know her name at first – saw that I was always waiting and after a few weeks asked me (in Russian of course) what I was doing.

I told her that I was waiting for Friends to finish up. She could tell from my broken Russian and thick accent that I was a Foreigner and asked me where I was from. I told her the US and she beamed with excitement saying she had never met an American before.

She then invited me into her room and made tea (Russians are obsessed with tea) and gave me some cookies and said I could wait in there whenever I wanted to.

At least once a week for the next 6 months I would hang out with Alla Nikolaevna (I always used her First Name and her Patronymic) for about 30 -45 minutes while the Others finished up.

We would have tea and I would bring some treat to go along with it (a cake, cookies, etc.) and talk about regular things.

Alla Nikolaevna had been an Engineer in the Medical Field and worked her whole life and had travelled across the USSR and even went to Communist Poland once (which was a big deal since 99% of Soviets weren’t allowed to travel outside the USSR.)

She survived the Collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 (along with her Husband), but during the 1998 Financial Crisis (when the Russian Government changed the Russian Ruble from 1,000 Rubles to 1 Ruble overnight) she lost her life savings.

Her Husband also got sick and died at the same time and she had to pay for his Medical Bills (Health Care in Russia is technically free, but you have to either bring or pay for your own food, blankets, medicines, etc.)

So she went from being a Retired Engineer to a Locker Lady.

In 2002 I saw her every week for 6 months and then set up her Mail.ru account so we could e-mail after I left.

When I went back to study in  Russia for the 2nd time in 2004 I went back to the Sports Center, but mostly to hang out with Alla Nikolaevna.

This time I was fluent in Russian and so there was no Language Barrier anymore.

On her Birthday I brought her her favorite Cake and a small present and we celebrated. Even her Co-Workers whom she had know for 6 years didn’t even know it was her Birthday and were surprised that I did.

When I left Russia again we continued to stay in contact through e-mail.

We kept in regular contact until her Daughter wrote me a Letter in 2013 saying that Alla Nikolaevna had passed away and that she had found my Letters and E-Mails at her Mom’s place and wanted to let me know.

There are many good People around Russia, the US and the rest of the World who many do not give a second glance to: the Elderly, the Homeless, the Hungry, Veterans, the Disabled, etc.

I’m really glad that I randomly met Alla Nikolaevna and made the effort to get to know her and keep in touch. She was a very interesting and funny person.

4: Kabul

Four Years since the Fall of Kabul (August 15, 2021.)

Here is a look at key dates since the Taliban returned to power four years ago, as United States and NATO forces withdrew from the country:

Aug. 15, 2021 — The Taliban march into Kabul as internationally backed President Ashraf Ghani flees the country.

Aug. 26, 2021 — Islamic State group suicide bombers and gunmen kill over 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops in an attack on the crowds trying to be evacuated at Kabul’s airport.

March 23, 2022 — On the day high schools are opening, the Taliban abruptly reverse a promise to allow girls above the sixth grade to attend school.

May 7, 2022 — The Taliban Virtue and Vice Ministry says women in public must wear all-encompassing robes and cover their faces except for their eyes. It advises them to stay home unless they have important work outside the house.

June 22, 2022 — A powerful earthquake hits a remote region of eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,100 people. The Taliban struggle with rescue efforts, underscoring a lack of resources and a reliance on aid groups.

July 31, 2022 — The U.S. kills al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike on a safe house in Kabul. American officials accuse the Taliban of sheltering him.

Sept. 30, 2022 — A suicide bomber strikes an education center in a Shiite area of the capital, killing dozens of people, including teenagers taking university entrance exams.

Nov. 10, 2022 — A nationwide ban on women using gyms and parks comes into force. The Taliban say they imposed the ban because women allegedly disobeyed gender segregation rules or didn’t cover themselves properly.

Nov. 20, 2022 — The Taliban lash 19 people, including alleged adulterers, in the first public flogging since their return to rule.

Dec. 8, 2022 — The Taliban execute a convicted killer before hundreds of spectators in the first public execution since the takeover.

Dec. 21, 2022 — The Taliban bar female students from attending university. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that bans female education.

Dec. 24, 2022 — The Taliban bar Afghan women from working with national and international nongovernmental groups.

July 4, 2023 — The Taliban order beauty salons to shut down for offering allegedly un-Islamic services like eyebrow shaping. The decision affects as many as 60,000 female entrepreneurs.

Sept. 13, 2023 — The Taliban hail China’s new ambassador with fanfare. Months later, the Taliban officially send their new ambassador to Beijing.

Oct. 4, 2023 — Pakistan announces a major crackdown on foreigners living in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans. The Taliban, the U.N. and rights groups condemn the policy.

Oct. 7, 2023 — A 6.3 magnitude earthquake in western Herat province kills thousands of people. More quakes follow, bringing further devastation to the area.

Nov. 15, 2023 - FlyDubai becomes the first international carrier to resume flights to Kabul after a two-year hiatus. AirArabia and Turkish Airlines follow suit.

Jan. 4, 2024 — The Taliban arrest women in Kabul for wearing “bad hijab,” the first official dress code crackdown since they returned to power.

Feb. 22, 2024 — The Taliban hold a double execution at a stadium in the country’s southeast while thousands of people watch.

May 11, 2024 — Flash floods in Afghanistan’s north from unusually heavy seasonal rains kill more than 300 people.

May 17, 2024 — Shooters open fire in central Bamiyan province killing six people, including three Spanish holidaymakers. It’s a blow to the Taliban’s plans to woo tourists. IS claims the attack.

June 4, 2024 — The Taliban publicly flog at least 60 people, including more than a dozen women, accused of crimes such as sodomy, theft and immoral relations.

June 4, 2024 — The leader of the United Arab Emirates meets a Taliban official with a U.S. bounty on his head over his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults. It highlights the growing divide on how to deal with the Taliban.

June 30, 2024 — The Taliban attend a U.N.-sponsored meeting in Qatar. Although it’s the third such gathering, it’s the first time the Taliban are attending. There’s backlash after Afghan women and civil society representatives are excluded.

July 30, 2024 — The Taliban say they no longer recognize Afghan diplomatic missions staffed by diplomats from the former Western-backed government.

In December 2024, the Taliban's Health Ministry banned women from being trained in Nursing and Midwifery.

July 4, 2005: Russia becomes the first Country to officially recognize the Taliban.

Four years on and life in Afghanistan remains horrible.

The Taliban continues to force Women out of Public Life.

The Taliban forces Girls as young as 8 to marry Taliban Soldiers.

The Taliban kills Homosexuals.

The Taliban continues to hunt down and kill the thousands of Afghans who worked with the US, the UK and any other Western Country from 2001-2021.

The US and other Countries continues to little to nothing to help those Afghans who helped the Americans and other Westerners.

The Taliban hunts down non-Muslims (mostly Christians) and forces them to convert to Islam or be killed.

The Taliban hunts down Muslims of other Sects and forces them to convert to their Sect of Islam or be killed.  

50: Rocky Horror Picture Show

 

50 years ago today (August 14, 1975) “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” premiered in the United Kingdom.

It premiered in the United States on September 26, 1975.

It stars: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien,  Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, Jonathan Adams  Peter Hinwood, Meat Loaf and Charles Gray.

It was made for $1.4 Million Dollars ($8,365,260.22 Dollars in 2025)and made $166 Million Dollars ($991,880,855.02 Dollars in 2025) at the Box Office.

Still in limited release in 2025, 50 years after its premiere, it is the longest-running theatrical release in Film History.

In many Cities, live Amateur Shadow-Casts act out the Film as it is being shown and heavily draw upon a tradition of Audience participation.

The Film is most often shown close to Halloween.

Today, the Film has a large International Cult following and has been considered by many as one of the greatest Musical Films of all time.

In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

I’ve seen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Frankenstein Castle in Darmstadt, Germany on Halloween 1995 when I was 14 years old; at College in 2000 and 2003 and in London, England in 2007.

I also saw this picture when I was in Dortmund, Germany on December 1, 2024.

50: RHPS

 

50 years ago today (August 14, 1975) “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” premiered.

80: All Fronts

80: All Fronts

2025 is the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War 2.

The United States is the only country that fought in every single Theater of World War 2.

The US fought from December 7, 1941 until August 14, 1945.

16,112,566 Americans served in the United States Armed Forces, with 291,557 killed and 671,278 wounded.

130,201 Americans became Prisoners of War, of whom 116,129 returned home after the War.

19,000 American Civilians (Men, Women and Children) were interned by either the Germans or the Japanese during World War 2 (1941-1945.)

5,000 American Civilians were interned by the Germans and 14,000 American Civilians were interned by the Japanese.

The US fought in the Atlantic Ocean Theater from 1941-1945 (US Occupied Iceland; US Occupied Greenland, Sank German U-Boats; Sent US Troop Ships to Europe with Soldiers, Weapons and Supplies, etc.)

The US Fought in the Caribbean Theater from 1941-1945 (Sank German U-Boats, Protected Shipping and Raw Materials, built American Bases on Non-American Islands, Protected Dutch Curacao and Aruba Oil from German Attacks, Len Lease, etc.)

The US Fought in the North American Theater from 1941-1945 (Sank German U-Boats off the coast of the US – Torpedo Alley; Protected Shipping Troops and Raw Materials; Stopped German Attacks on the US under Operation Pastorius , Stopped Japanese Attacks on the US – along the West Coast and The Aleutian Islands of Alaska which were occupied by the Japanese from 1942-1943,  Won the Battle of the Saint Lawrence, Lend Lease, etc.)

The US Fought in the Latin American Theater from 1941-1945 (Sank German U-Boats, Built American Bases on Non-American Countries, Carried out Espionage on the Germans, Lend Lease, etc.)

The US Fought in the Western European Theater from 1941-1945 (Lend Lease, Sent Undercover Agents of the Office of Strategic Services to German-Occupied Territory, Bombed Germany, D-Day Landings in northern France, Liberation of France, Operation Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge, Crossing the Rhine River into Germany, Meeting with the Soviets at the Elbe River, the Liberation of Concentration Camps, etc.)

The US Fought in the Eastern European Theater from 1941-1945 (Lend Lease, Sent Arctic Conveys to supply the USSR, Warsaw Airlift, etc.)

The US Fought in the Mediterranean Theater from 1942-1945 (Sent Conveys to break the Siege of Malta, Invasion of Sicily, Invasion of the rest of Italy, Invasion of southern France, Battle of Anzio, Liberation of Rome, etc.)

The US Fought in the North Africa Theater from 1942-1945 (Operation Torch – Invasion of Morocco and Tunisia, etc.)

The US Fought in the African Theater from 1942-1945 (Lend Lease, Protected against German Attacks, Shipped Raw Materials, etc.)

The US Fought in the Middle East Theater from 1942-1945 (Lend Lease, Sent Materials and Men to British Mandatory of Palestine, Protected Egypt, etc.)

The US Fought in the Antarctic Theater from 1942-1945 (Operation Tabarin, etc.)

The US Fought in the Australia/New Zealand Theater from 1941-1945 (Lend Lease, Protected against Japanese Invasion, Built US Bases, etc.)

The US Fought in the Pacific Theater from 1941-1945 (Fought the Japanese Island-To Island, The American Territories of the Philippines and Guam were Occupied by the Japanese from 1942-1945, Bombed Japan including the Doolittle Raid, Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Battle of Guadalcanal, Sank Japanese Subs, Burma Campaign, Battle of Saipan, Liberation of the Philippines,  Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of Okinawa, Dropped Atomic Bombs, etc.)

 

 

80: WW2

 

Strange Laws

From the DW:

“Germany's strangest laws: Why dancing can get you fined”

Germany can appear relatively laissez-faire compared to other countries. It's still possible to smoke in some bars and sunbathe nude in public parks, while 16-year-olds can legally drink beer or wine — the age limit is 21 in the United States.     But Germany is also heavily regulated — especially on Sundays and public holidays. From dancing bans to sandcastle building edicts and enforced silence on public holidays, the German rule book is also full of quirky, often outdated laws.

1. Good Friday dancing — and movies — ban  In most of Germany's 16 states, Good Friday is regarded as a "silent public holiday" where, since the middle ages, dancing has been forbidden. The capital Berlin has a relatively liberal approach to the dancing ban, or "Tanzverbot," which only happens from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Good Friday. But in the southern, largely-Catholic state of Bavaria, the prohibition runs for 70 hours from Maudy Thursday till Saturday. Penalties for those who violate the law can be as high as €10,000 ($11,600). Many other noisy activities are forbidden on this day of silence and religious observance, including car washes, rummage sales and moving house. Meanwhile, some 700 movies have been banned during silent public holidays in various German states. Among those listed under the "Public Holiday Index" are films such as "Ghostbusters," the seemingly harmless 1975 cartoon classic "Heidi" and Monty Python's 1979 religious satire, "Life of Brian."  But Germans have continued to demand their right to dance during the Easter period, and routinely protest the ban. Meanwhile, since 2013, an initiative in the city of Bochum in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has held a public screenings of "Life of Brian" in protest against the rule.

2. Forbidden: Mushroom picking by night, wild garlic by day It's illegal to pick mushrooms in the forest at night in Germany, mainly to stop people disturbing nocturnal wild animals.  It's also illegal to remove wild garlic at the roots for your pestos and soups. That's because wild garlic, which grows in damp, shady forests and thrives in floodplains, can be easily confused with toxic plants such as lily of the valley. Picking a hand bouquet of wild garlic leaves for personal use is generally allowed without a special permit in Germany. But uprooting the plants with their bulbs or picking leaves in nature reserves is verboten!

3. Sandcastles a no no on Baltic beaches Children cannot build sandcastles on many beaches on the holiday islands off the North Sea and Baltic Sea coast of Germany. As families flock to the ocean, the kids can swim but can't construct monuments out of sand or dig deep holes without risking a €1,000 fine. Building a sandcastle on islands like Sylt are banned for good reason: All the digging and movement of sand can lead to beach erosion. The Baltic resorts of Binz and Sellin on the island of Rügen allow sandcastles but a maximum height of 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) and a circumference of 3.5 meters (11.5 feet).

4. No lawn mowing on Sundays — or shopping Starting up the lawnmower or even using power tools on a Sunday in Germany will earn you the wrath of your neighbors — and potentially the police. The tradition of Ruhezeit, or quiet time, still reigns supreme on a Sunday that was long set aside for families and religious observance. Generally, you are prohibited from using all motorized garden equipment, including lawnmowers, on Sundays and even public holidays. Those who want to make a racket could be fined. The Sunday silence extends to the streets, with the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Shop Closing Law," a federal German law in place since 1956, banning retail stores of all kinds from opening their doors on Sundays and public holidays. While individual states have been given more leeway to make their own rules since 2006, Sunday shopping remains largely a no-go throughout the country, bar a few designated Sunday shopping days each year and very limited exceptions for certain shops.

5. Don't run out of fuel on the Autobahn  That's right, it's an offence to get stuck on the freeway in Germany when the fuel runs out.  In car-crazy Germany, drivers who don't adequately fill their tank before heading out on the Autobahn are regarded as negligent. They can therefore be fined for putting themselves and other drivers in danger as vehicles ironically roar past on highways without speed limits.  Stopping on the Autobahn is only allowed during emergencies. 

^ We always got in so much trouble from the German Neighbors, our German Landlord and the German Police for not being quiet during Quiet Hours - we were Teens so didn't care.

Of course as an Adult I follow the rules (like I did when I was in Germany in November and December 2024.) ^

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-strangest-laws-why-dancing-can-get-you-fined/a-73608011?fbclid=IwY2xjawMIaw1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjXL1rGS7Tdghkp9gs1zEIw7YK8jlsq8uPGFBhESKy283gGM29NsLZ7YkZHH_aem_fdInMAGlBB169fxPRG3JKw

Should Happen

 

This is what should happen on Friday.

Before

 

Middle Child Day

 

I Stand With

In a time where saying or writing this can get you physically and verbally attacked I will continue to say:

I am NOT Homeless, but I stand FOR Homeless Rights!

I am NOT a Woman, but I stand FOR Women’s Rights!

I am NOT Homosexual, but I stand FOR Homosexual Rights!

I am NOT in an Interracial Relationship, but I stand FOR Interracial Couple’s Rights!

I am NOT Jewish, but I stand WITH the Jews!

I am NOT Ukrainian, but I stand WITH Ukraine!

I am NOT a Veteran, but I stand FOR Veteran’s Rights!

I am NOT Disabled, but I stand for Disabled Rights!

Don’t let any Person, Politician, Religious Leader or Organization try to place blame or incite fear towards the above Groups.

They are merely trying to use them as Scapegoats so we don’t look too deep at the real reasons for our current problems.

Federal DC

From ABC News:

“What to know about DC Home Rule Act as Trump puts DC police under federal control”

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is putting Washington, D.C. police "under direct federal control" -- invoking Section 740 of D.C.'s Home Rule Act, which deals with control of the city's police force. "We're taking it back. Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I'm officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is -- and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control," Trump said.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday said D.C. will follow Trump's orders, but said the move underscored the need for D.C. to make its own decisions and advocated for D.C. statehood. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the department will work with federal partners, as it has in the past. "While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised," Bowser said. Trump has long threatened to take control of D.C., saying he wants to crack down on violent crime in the district although police statistics show that in the past two years, violent crime in Washington, D.C., has fallen dramatically.

D.C.'s Home Rule Act of 1973 allows D.C. residents to elect a mayor, members of D.C. Council and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. The act "is the result of the ongoing push by District residents for control of their own local affairs," according to D.C. Council. Still, under the act, there is congressional oversight. Congress reviews all legislation passed by D.C. Council before it can become law and has authority over D.C.'s budget. Additionally, the president appoints D.C.'s judges and D.C. has no voting representation in Congress. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act gives the president the ability to use D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department for "federal purposes" that the president "may deem necessary and appropriate." On Monday, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking command of D.C.'s police force. Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act does have some limitations. The emergency control will expire in 30 days, unless the Senate and House enact into law a joint resolution to extend it. Asked about the 30-day timeframe on ABC News Live, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the president has sent a "real clear message" about the direction he wants to take D.C. "I think at the end of 30 days, he will make the right decision as to what he is going to do at that point going forward," she said.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton -- the non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives from Washington, D.C. -- called Trump's decision "an egregious assault on D.C. home rule." "There are more than 700,000 D.C. residents, and they are worthy and capable of governing themselves," Norton, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday. "The ultimate solution to ensure D.C. has control of its own resources is passage of my D.C. statehood bill, which would provide D.C. the same protections the states enjoy." She says the move helps justify the need to pass legislation she has repeatedly reintroduced to establish statehood in the District of Columbia.

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin, in a statement, said he will be introducing a resolution in the House, pursuant to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, to reverse "this plainly ridiculous" state of local emergency and "restore full home rule powers to the mayor, council and people of the District of Columbia." It's unclear when the Maryland Democrat would introduce this legislation. The House is still on their August recess, but he could bring it up during a pro-forma session, which would mean he does not have to wait until next month to introduce it.

 On Capitol Hill, many Democrats have said the moves are a power grab by the president and a distraction from other matters, such as Trump's involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein files. "Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said in a post on X that "Trump's decision to take over the DC police isn't about public safety" and is "another attempt to distract from Trump's corruption and suppress dissent." Sen. Patty Murray said Trump's decision was a distraction. "He's a pathetic wannabe dictator who wants to distract you from his connection to the Epstein files, skyrocketing costs, and his weak job numbers," the Washington Democrat said in a post on X. Republicans have lauded the announcement, claiming that Trump is "making D.C. safe again." "President Trump is RIGHT. We can't allow crime to destroy our Nation's Capital," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X. "Every American should be able to visit and enjoy Washington, D.C. without fear. House Republicans support this effort to CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the beauty of the greatest capital in the world." Republican Sen. Josh Hawley applauded Trump's decision, saying on X, "Make DC beautiful — and SAFE — again!"

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dc-home-rule-act-trump-puts-dc-police/story?id=124548993

New Heat Wave

 

SCOTUS's Fall

 

10 years after the Supreme Court extended marriage rights to Homosexuals Nationwide, the Justices this Fall will consider for the first time whether to take up a case that explicitly asks them to overturn that decision.

Kim Davis, the former Kentucky County Clerk who was jailed for six days in 2015 after refusing to issue marriage licenses to a Gay Couple on Religious Grounds, is appealing a $100,000 jury verdict for emotional damages plus $260,000 for Attorney’s fees.

Davis is not the person to promote “Traditional Marriage” or “Religious Values.”

She has been married 4 times to 3 different Man.

Her first 3 Marriages ended in Divorce in 1994, 2006 and 2008.

Her 3^rd Husband is the Biological Father of her Twin. The Twins were conceived while Davis was married to her 1^st Husband (so much for “Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery.”)

I hope the Current Supreme Court finally does something right and keeps Gay Marriage legal across the United States.

I'm not Gay, but I'm also not narrow-minded or a Hypocrite (ie. pretending to be Religious and value Marriage when you have been married 4 times to 3 different Men and had Children from an Affair with 1 Man while married to another Man.)

Bob's

 

Sesame Photos

 

80: Krakow Pogrom

80 years ago today (August 11, 1945) the Krakow Pogrom occurred in Poland.

 

(Picrure: Marek Szapira, a Polish Jewish Student of the University of Warsaw, from 1934, stamped in 1937 with the inscription "Place in Odd Benches" (in the Ghetto Benches,)

Note: Marek survived the Warsaw Ghetto during the German Occupation and hid on the Non-Jewish Side.

During the 1969 Polish Government Anti-Jewish Attacks he was imprisoned by the Communists. He was released after 9 months and was allowed to move to Sweden (by giving up his Polish Citizenship.)

He died in 2002.

Marek Szapira shows the Pre-War World 2 Anti-Jewish Discrimination in Poland and the Post-World War 2 Anti-Jewish Discrimination in Poland.)

This was 3 months after the end of World War 2 in Europe and was not carried out by the Germans.

The Pogrom was carried out by Polish Civilians and Polish Communist Government Officials.

Before World War 2 in September 1939 there were 80,000 Jews living in Krakow, but by August 1945 there were 6,637 Jews (99% were Holocaust Survivors) living in Soviet-occupied Krakow.

On July 27, 1945 a Jewish Woman was brought to the local Communist Police Station accused of kidnapping a Non-Jewish Child.

Despite the truth coming out (that the Child’s Mother had asked the Jewish Woman to care for the Child) the rumors about more and more Child Abductions and Killings by Jews spread like wildfire.

On August 11, 1945 mobs of Poles attacked the Kupa Synagogue beating up those inside praying during the Sabbath and setting fire to the Torah Scrolls.

Jewish Men, Women and Children across Krakow were beaten and their homes destroyed.

There was one official Victim of the Pogrom: 56 year old Róża Berger, a Survivor of Auschwitz, who was killed while standing behind a closed door.

Polish Policemen and Soldiers actively participated in the Pogrom.

In total, 145 Suspects were arrested including 40 Militiamen and 6 Soldiers of the Wojsko Polskie (Polish Army.)

In October 1945, 25 People were charged with inciting racial hatred, robberies, and violence against Jews. Twelve of those charged were Polish Officers.

 Ten of the accused were sentenced to Prison.

The August 1945 Krakow Pogrom was one of a series of Anti-Jewish Pogroms carried out in Poland in 1945 and 1946.

Around 2,000 Jews (Holocaust Survivors) were killed by Polish Civilians and Polish Officials simply for being Jewish.

Due to these Pogroms and the Soviet Occupation of Poland 150,000 Jewish Men, Women and Children fled Poland for the West up until 1948.

People seem to think that Poland wasn’t Anti-Semitic (Anti-Jewish) until the Germans invaded in 1939.

Poland was part of the Pale of Settlement that Jews were required to live in by the Russian Czar from 1791 until 1917.

Russian Troops (along with Polish Civilians) regularly carried out Pogroms against the Jews during that time.

Things did not change when Poland became Independent in 1918.

The Polish Government created “Ghetto Benches” in 1935 that limited the number of Jews allowed into Polish Universities.

Jews that were allowed into the Universities had to carry a special ID Card stating they were part of the Ghetto Bench Quota and were to be segregated from Non-Jewish Students.

Traditional Polish Professions (Doctors, Lawyers, etc.) were also restricted to Non-Jews.

In 1938, the Polish Government revoked Polish Citizenship from tens-of-thousands Polish Jews who had lived outside the Country for an extended period of time.

When the Germans deported 17,000 Polish Jews from Nazi Germany to Poland in October 1938, the Polish Government refused to accept them and forced them to live in “No Man’s Land” between the borders.

It was only when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939 that the Jews were “allowed” into Poland where most were murdered during the Holocaust.

In 1968 Poland’s Communist Government started an official Government Propaganda Campaign against the Jews.

Attacks against the 40,000 Officially-Registered Polish Jews began.

14,000 Polish Jews were allowed to leave Communist Poland at that time by giving up their Polish Citizenship and never being allowed back in Poland.

Once Communism ended in Poland in 1990 things began to improve for the few Jews left in Poland.

 

It Was

 

80: Nagasaki Account

80 years ago today (August 9, 1945) the United States dropped a second Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

Nagasaki was one of the largest Seaports in southern Japan, and was of great Wartime importance because of its wide-ranging industrial activity, including the production of ordnance, ships, military equipment, and other war materials. The four largest companies in the city were Mitsubishi Shipyards, Electrical Shipyards, Arms Plant, and Steel and Arms Works.

80,000 People were killed by the Bomb and its Radiation.

Japan finally surrendered to the Allies on August 14, 1945 ending World War 2.

In 1945, US War Department (today the Department of Defense) estimated that an American invasion of the Japanese Islands (codenamed Operation Downfall) would have caused 4 Million American Casualties including  800,000 American Soldiers dying.

It would also have required 43,000 American Replacement Troops every single month from August 1945 until December 1946 (14 months) for a total of 602,000 Replacement Troops fighting in Japan.

It is also believed that 10 Million Japanese Soldiers and Civilians would have died.

This was based on the desperate tactics of the Japanese Soldiers and Civilians (using the Kamikaze Suicide Attacks throughout the Pacific Theater of World War 2 especially during the Battle of Okinawa – where every Man, Woman and Child became a weapon) and the Japanese belief that it was dishonorable to ever surrender.

From December 7, 1941 until August 9, 1945:

406,000 American Soldiers and 5,600 American Civilians were killed by the Japanese.

600,000 American Soldiers were wounded by the Japanese.

The dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved Millions of American, British, Canadian, Dutch, Australian, New Zealander, etc. lives and ended World War 2 completely.

80: Nagasaki

80 Years: Bombing Of Nagasaki

Purple Heart Day

Today is Purple Heart Day.

General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit on August 7, 1782 (during the American Revolution.)

After the Revolution ended in 1783 it fell out of use until 1932 when the Army Chief of Staff, Douglas MacArthur brought it back and renamed it the Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is awarded to Military Members who are injured and killed in combat, through an act of terrorism or by Friendly Fire. It acknowledges the physical sacrifice of service to the nation.

 Receiving a Purple Heart is an honor and comes with many Benefits from State and Federal Governments and Nonprofit Organizations.

Purple Heart Recipients qualify for a wide variety of Benefits, including Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Benefits and Fee Waivers, Special Discounts on VA Home Loans and Automatic GI Bill Benefits.

Many states also have special Benefits for Purple Heart Recipients. Several Nonprofit Organizations, such as the Purple Heart Foundation, have special Benefits and support for Service Members who have been awarded a Purple Heart.

An estimated 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded to U.S. Troops.

Purple Heart

 

Ok

 

Annemarie Dina Babbitt

Annemarie Dina Babbitt

Annemarie Babbitt née Gottliebová (who liked to be called Dina) was born on January 21, 1923 in Brno, Czechoslovakia (today Brno, the Czech Republic.)

In 1939 the Germans occupied Czechoslovakia.

Dina was studying at the School of Arts and Crafts in Brno, but was expelled in 1940 for being Jewish.

On January 28, 1942 (Dina’s 19^th Birthday) Dina and her Mother were arrested by the Germans and sent to  the Theresienstadt (Terezín) Ghetto outside of Prague.

On September 9, 1943 she was deported to the Auschwitz Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland.

She was kept in the Theresienstadt Family Camp (German: Theresienstädter Familienlager) along with 17,517 Men, Women and Children from the Theresienstadt Ghetto.

The Germans kept these Prisoners together and separate from the other Inmates of Auschwitz so that when the International Red Cross visited Auschwitz (as they had Theresienstadt in 1943) they would see healthy looking Families and overlook the Mass Murder being done all over the Camp.

In 1943 she was asked by fellow Prisoner Freddy Hirsch (a 28 year old German-Jewish Man who was in charge of the 600 Czechoslovakian Children at the Auschwitz Death Camp as he was in the Theresienstadt Ghetto) to decorate the Children’s Barracks.

She painted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the Barracks’ Walls to help the Children forget that they were in a Death Camp.

Note: Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” came out in 1937 and Dina had seen the movie many times before the War started.

On March 8, 1943 the Czechoslovakian Jews (including the Children) who came on the 1^st Transport 6 months earlier were murdered in the Gas Chambers when the Germans no longer needed them for the Red Cross (Freddy Hirsch also died either from Suicide or from being poisoned by other Prisoners so he wouldn’t make a scene and try to save “his” Children.)

Dina and her Mother, Jana, were one of the few of the Czechoslovaks to survive.

On February 22, 1944, German Doctor Josef Mengele (known as the Angel of Death-  for his sadistic experiments on Children  - especially Twins, the Roma and Sinti, Pregnant Women, Little People and others) forced Dina to draw portraits of the Roma Women before they were murdered.

In January 1945 Dina and Mother were sent on a Forced Death March from Auschwitz, German-Occupied Poland to the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp in Germany.

After the War Dina and her Mother went to Prague and lived there until September 1946 when they moved to Paris.

She learned her Father had died at Auschwitz in July 1944.

In 1949 Dina married Art Babbitt (a Disney Animator who created the Goofy Character) in France and they moved to the United States.

They had two Daughters, Michele Kane and Karin Babbitt, and three Grandchildren.

In 1954 Jana moved to the United States to be closer to her Daughter.

Dina and Art divorced in 1963.

Dina has worked for Warner Bros and Hanna-Barbera, among others.

 She helped create the famous Characters of Tweety the Bird and Willi E. Coyote

Dina’s Mother, Jana, died in Los Angeles, California in 1978.

7 of Dina’s Watercolors from Auschwitz are known to have survived and are being held at the  Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland.

Starting in 1973 Dina officially asked the Auschwitz Museum for her paintings back, but the Museum refused.

The US Congress officially became involved in trying to get Dina’s portraits back in 2003.

Dina fought for her Watercolors to be returned to her for the rest of her life.

Dina died from Cancer in California on July 29, 2009 at the age of 86.

Picture: Dina Babbit with a replica of one of her Watercolors she was forced to make of a Roma Woman in Auschwitz.

Time In Spain

 

Spain is in the Central European Time Zone (along with Germany and many other countries) despite it being in the same geographical location of the United Kingdom and Portugal (both countries are in the same Time Zone of Greenwich Mean Time and 1 hour behind Spain.)

The answer is not because of the sun, but because of Hitler.

Spanish Dictator Francesco Franco (who ruled Spain from 1939-1975) was an Ally of Hitler (even though technically Spain was Neutral during World War 2) because Hitler helped Franco win the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) by bombing Spanish Cities and on March 16, 1940 Franco switched Spain’s Time Zone to that of Hiter’s Germany (Central European Time.)

It became Permanent in 1942 to align with German-Occupied Europe.

Note: France, Belgium and the Netherlands also changed to the Central European Time Zone, but they were forced to by the German Occupiers (Spain was never occupied by the Germans.)

When Germany was defeated in 1945 Franco kept the Central European Time Zone (as did France, the Netherlands and Belgium.)

As a result, of this 1 hour difference Spaniards experience later sunrises and sunsets, influencing daily routines, meal times, and even work hours.

Late Meal Times: Spaniards typically eat Lunch around 2 PM and Dinner as late as 10 PM. This is much later compared to other European Countries.

Work Schedules: The Workday often starts later, around 9 or 10 AM, and includes a long Lunch break, sometimes lasting up to two hours.

Market Hours: Spanish Stock Markets open and close later than those in other European Countries, which can complicate trading.

Tourism: Tourists often find the late meal times and business hours confusing, impacting their overall experience.

Energy Consumption: The misaligned Time Zone can lead to higher energy consumption, as people are active during hours when it is darker outside.

Sleep Patterns: Spaniards often go to bed later and get less sleep compared to their European neighbors.

Poll

 

A July 7, 2025 Poll found that the majority of Americans like Pope Leo XIV (46%) in First Place and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (18%) in Second Place.

The

 

Opera

 

I've actually been to the Opera several times: in New York City; in Washington DC; in London, England, in Munich, Germany and in Yaroslavl, Russia.

But my favorite Opera is still with Elmer Fudd.

80: Hiroshima Account

80 years ago today (August 6, 1945)  the United States dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan a city of 280,000 people.

Hiroshima was an embarkation port and industrial center that was the site of a major Military Headquarters with 40,000 Japanese Soldiers.

80,000 People died instantly and another 34,000 People died from Radiation Poison days, weeks and months later.

When the Japanese Emperor and Government refused to surrender after the Bombing the Americans dropped another Atomic Bombing on Nagasaki.

In 1945, US War Department (today the Department of Defense) estimated that an American invasion of the Japanese Islands (codenamed Operation Downfall) would have caused 4 Million American Casualties including  800,000 American Soldiers dying.

It would also have required 43,000 American Replacement Troops every single month from August 1945 until December 1946 (14 months) for a total of 602,000 Replacement Troops fighting in Japan.

It is also believed that 10 Million Japanese Soldiers and Civilians would have died.

This was based on the desperate tactics of the Japanese Soldiers and Civilians (using the Kamikaze Suicide Attacks throughout the Pacific Theater of World War 2 especially during the Battle of Okinawa – where every Man, Woman and Child became a weapon) and the Japanese belief that it was dishonorable to ever surrender.

From December 7, 1941 until August 9, 1945:

406,000 American Soldiers and 5,600 American Civilians were killed by the Japanese.

600,000 American Soldiers were wounded by the Japanese.

The dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved Millions of American, British, Canadian, Dutch, Australian, New Zealander, etc. lives and ended World War 2 completely.

80: Hiroshima

80 Years: Bombing Of Hiroshima