You have probably already noticed that today we reached over sixty thousand page views this month. This, of course, delights me! And I owe it all to you, my esteemed visitors, followers and readers. You come here from all over the world: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, eastern Europe and Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia (Indian subcontinent) and Asia and, of course, Australasia.
I can’t thank you enough for all your support.
I don’t really know who you all are; but yet I feel that I do! I so look forward each and every morning to checking my visits overnight. Naturally, I check them constantly throughout the day as well. Many of you are regulars; though naturally I have no idea who you really are; I know only the countries, towns and cities you reside in.
I changed the name of this blog only a short while ago. I also made it trilingual. I also changed the focus of its content. I have made it much more gay-friendly, but hopefully not to the exclusion of my straight supporters. All my visitors mean a lot to me – gay or straight. In fact, you mean more to me than you probably know or realize. I feel that you are part of my family.
When I changed the name of this blog, I also decided to make its content more varied: I have introduced some new features like the ‘gay kiss of the day’, and I have added more music, and a cookery feature, too. My aim is to make the blog rather like a magazine: I want there to be something of interest for a broad audience, not just a select few. Naturally, when one makes such changes, there will be a certain amount of trial and error involved. So if I err from time to time, please bear with me.
Again, thank you all so much for your continued support. Without your support, this blog wouldn’t even exist. I send you all my very warmest of wishes. – Mark
If you wish to do so, you may contact me at markalexander.librabunda@gmail.com – I would welcome your comments.
Saturday, July 31, 2021
The Lincoln Project: Wayne Berman
New York : un sommelier incendiait les terrasses de restaurants rivaux
LE POINT : L’homme de 35 ans a été filmé à trois reprises en train de mettre le feu à des terrasses et à un tas d’ordures, ont rapporté les pompiers. Il a été inculpé.
Il mettait le feu à des terrasses de restaurants rivaux. Caleb Ganzer, un sommelier new-yorkais, a été filmé par des caméras de sécurité alors qu’il incendiait des structures en bois installées en extérieur par deux restaurants, l’un en janvier et l’autre en juillet, selon les pompiers de New York. L’homme de 35 ans a été inculpé, ont annoncé les autorités. » | Source AFP | jeudi 29 juillet 2021
American Carnage: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency
The Guardian View on Investigating 6 January: The Truth about the Storming of the Capitol
THE GUARDIAN: The attitude of Republican politicians to the committee shows exactly why it is needed
The investigation into the deadly insurrection of 6 January is not one but two processes. The first is an attempt to discover the truth about those events: not only what happened, but who, beyond the members of the mob, was responsible and in what ways. The second is the task of getting people to accept that truth – knowing that many will not.
Senior Republicans initially acknowledged the horror of the events and the culpability of Donald Trump, whose big lie of a stolen election triggered the assault upon the Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader – who is said to have telephoned the president urging him to call the rioters off as they tried to break through his office window – said that Mr Trump bore responsibility. He and others called for a 9/11-style independent commission. » | Editorial | Friday, July 30, 2021
IRS must turn over Trump tax returns to Congress, DoJ says »
Hong Kong Man Arrested for Allegedly Booing Chinese Anthem While Watching Olympics
THE GUARDIAN: Man allegedly also waved colonial-era flags while watching fencer Edgar Cheung’s medal ceremony at a mall
Hong Kong police have arrested a man on suspicion of insulting the national anthem, after he allegedly booed the Chinese national anthem while watching an Olympic event at a mall. » | Associated Press | Saturday, July 31, 2021
Hong Kong police have arrested a man on suspicion of insulting the national anthem, after he allegedly booed the Chinese national anthem while watching an Olympic event at a mall. » | Associated Press | Saturday, July 31, 2021
Best Middle Eatern Breakfast: Shakshouka / Shakshuka / شكشوكة
As Fears Grip Afghanistan, Hundreds of Thousands Flee
THE NEW YORK TIMES: With the Taliban sweeping across much of the country, at least 30,000 Afghans are leaving each week. Many more have been displaced within Afghanistan’s borders.
KABUL, Afghanistan — Haji Sakhi decided to flee Afghanistan the night he saw two Taliban members drag a young woman from her home and lash her on the sidewalk. Terrified for his three daughters, he crammed his family into a car the next morning and barreled down winding dirt roads into Pakistan.
That was more than 20 years ago. They returned to Kabul, the capital, nearly a decade later after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban regime. But now, with the Taliban sweeping across parts of the country as American forces withdraw, Mr. Sakhi, 68, fears a return of the violence he witnessed that night. This time, he says, his family is not waiting so long to leave.
“I’m not scared of leaving belongings behind, I’m not scared of starting everything from scratch,” said Mr. Sakhi, who recently applied for Turkish visas for himself, his wife, their three daughters and one son. “What I’m scared of is the Taliban.” » | Christina Goldbaum and Fatima Faizi | Saturday, July 31, 2021
Gaddafis Sohn Saif will zurück an die Macht
DIE PRESSE: Er residierte in einer Villa in Wien, war ein Freund Jörg Haiders und Kronprinz im libyschen Regime. Nach der Revolution 2011 endete Saif al-Islam in einem Kerker. Jetzt mischt er wieder im politischen Spiel mit.
Es war die entscheidende Schlacht, der Anfang vom Ende der langen Herrschaft des Gaddafi-Clans in Tripolis. Vor fast genau zehn Jahren, im August 2011, stießen Rebellen mit massiver Luftunterstützung der Nato in die libysche Hauptstadt vor. Zugleich starteten Untergrundgruppen in Tripolis einen Aufstand. Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi hatte damals seinen letzten großen Auftritt in der Stadt. „Die Menschen in Libyen stehen hinter uns“, behauptete er, als er im Kampfanzug nahe des Hotels Rixos al-Nasr noch einmal zu seinen Anhängern sprach. Dann stieg der Sohn und auserkorene Nachfolger des Diktators Muammar al-Gaddafi in seinen Geländewagen und brauste in einem Konvoi davon. Die Kameras internationaler Reporter fingen die bizarre Szenerie für die Nachwelt ein. Wenige Tage später war ganz Tripolis in der Hand der Aufständischen. Und Machthaber Muammar al-Gaddafi wurde zwei Monate später von Rebellen gelyncht.
Jetzt plant Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi sein Comeback. Nach einem Jahrzehnt, das von Flucht, Gefangenschaft und Leben im Untergrund geprägt war, will er zurück an die Macht. Und dabei geht er behutsam vor, Schritt für Schritt. Denn auf seinem Weg liegen gewaltige Hindernisse vor ihm. » | Von Wieland Schneider | Freitag, 30. Juli 2021
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Ludovic : « J’ai dit à ma femme : “Je suis amoureux, mais d’un homme” »
LE MONDE : La nouvelle saison du podcast « S’aimer comme on se quitte » est diffusée cet été. Dans ce cinquième épisode, retrouvez le témoignage de Ludovic, 49 ans, interprété par Medi Sadoun.
« S’aimer comme on se quitte » est une série de témoignages recueillis par Lorraine de Foucher et publiés par Le Monde. Pendant l’été 2021, Le Monde et Spotify diffusent la saison 2 du podcast issu de cette série. » | Le Monde | samedi 31 juillet 2021
Spotify : Écoutez l’episode ici.
« S’aimer comme on se quitte » est une série de témoignages recueillis par Lorraine de Foucher et publiés par Le Monde. Pendant l’été 2021, Le Monde et Spotify diffusent la saison 2 du podcast issu de cette série. » | Le Monde | samedi 31 juillet 2021
Spotify : Écoutez l’episode ici.
The Courage It Takes to Be Who You Really Are
Pedro Francke: Relief in Peru as Moderate Is Made Finance Minister
THE GUARDIAN: President Pedro Castillo completes his cabinet after causing shockwaves with appointment of controversial Guido Bellido as prime minister
After 24 hours of uncertainty and the worst Friday in years on the stock exchange, Peru’s new president, Pedro Castillo, has completed his cabinet, swearing in the moderate leftist economist Pedro Francke as finance minister, and in the process calming jittery investors and anxious Peruvians alike.
Aníbal Torres was also sworn in, as justice minister, on Friday, filling the remaining empty cabinet posts. The rest were sworn in late on Thursday, amid deep unease over Castillo’s choice of prime minister, Guido Bellido, who is under investigation for allegedly defending the Shining Path, a Maoist rebel group that killed tens of thousands of Peruvians in the 1980s and 1990s, and is also accused of making homophobic remarks.
In a pointed rejection of Bellido’s controversial views, Francke vowed to work “towards good living, with equal opportunities, without the distinction of gender, ethnic identity or sexual orientation” when he took the oath as minister. » | Dan Collyns in Lima | Saturday, July 31, 2021
Schön, sinnlich, erregend und erotisch: Ein queerer Kuß.
Friday, July 30, 2021
New Zealand Introduces Bill to Outlaw LGBT Conversion Therapy
REUTERS: WELLINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand introduced on Friday legislation that proposes up to five years in prison for practices intended to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, known as LGBT conversion therapy.
The proposed measures were aimed at ending such practices, which do not work, are widely discredited, and cause harm, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement.
"Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing," Faafoi said.
"Health professionals, religious leaders and human rights advocates here and overseas have spoken out against these practices as harmful and having the potential to perpetuate prejudice, discrimination and abuse towards members of rainbow communities," he added. » | Praveen Menon | Friday, July 30, 2021
The proposed measures were aimed at ending such practices, which do not work, are widely discredited, and cause harm, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement.
"Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing," Faafoi said.
"Health professionals, religious leaders and human rights advocates here and overseas have spoken out against these practices as harmful and having the potential to perpetuate prejudice, discrimination and abuse towards members of rainbow communities," he added. » | Praveen Menon | Friday, July 30, 2021
Wales Launches Plan to Become Most LGBT-friendly Country in Europe as Westminster Slides Backwards
PINK NEWS: The Welsh government has unveiled a new LGBT+ action plan and set out its hope to become the most LGBT-friendly country in Europe.
Key actions will include trying to devolve powers related to the Gender Recognition Act in order to reform it to benefit trans people; using “all available powers” to ban “all aspects of” LGBT+ conversion therapy; and increasing support for Pride events across Wales by sponsoring Pride Cymru, establishing a Wales-wide Pride Fund and appointing a Welsh Pride co-ordinator. » | Vic Parsons | Friday, July 30, 2021
Key actions will include trying to devolve powers related to the Gender Recognition Act in order to reform it to benefit trans people; using “all available powers” to ban “all aspects of” LGBT+ conversion therapy; and increasing support for Pride events across Wales by sponsoring Pride Cymru, establishing a Wales-wide Pride Fund and appointing a Welsh Pride co-ordinator. » | Vic Parsons | Friday, July 30, 2021
Anti-LGBTQ Megachurch Loses Lawsuit to Get People to Stop Calling Them a Hate Group
LGBTQ NATION: They said it's defamation and anti-Christian discrimination to call them a hate group. But free speech won the day.
A federal court rejected a Florida megachurch’s defamation and religious discrimination lawsuit over how the SPLC labeled them a hate group for their anti-LGBTQ statements.
In 2017, Coral Ridge Ministries Media in Fort Lauderdale, Florida filed a lawsuit against the SPLC after they appeared on the organization’s hate map as a hate group. SPLC says that Coral Ridge doesn’t just oppose LGBTQ rights – which Coral Ridge admitted in court – but that the megachurch portrayed LGBTQ people “as perverted and a threat to the nation.”
Coral Ridge said that SPLC defamed them because they aren’t really a hate group since they don’t commit acts of violence, even though the SPLC and other civil rights organizations don’t use the term “hate group” to only refer to violent organizations.
The church also sued Amazon because the AmazonSmile Foundation denied their application to raise funds on their platform due to their status as a hate group.
They also claimed that the organizations violated the Civil Rights Act’s ban on religion-based discrimination, saying that their anti-LGBTQ beliefs are based on the Bible. » | Alex Bollinger | Friday, July 30, 2021
Afghanistan: le tandem Russie-Turquie prêt à combler le vide laissé par les Occidentaux
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Malgré des positions à fronts renversés sur plusieurs théâtres d’opérations, la relation entre les deux pays résiste à toutes les intempéries.
Après avoir chassé les Occidentaux de Syrie, de Libye et du Haut-Karabakh, la Turquie et la Russie, main dans la main, s’apprêtent à prendre la place des États-Unis à Kaboul. Alors que les Américains se retirent d’Afghanistan après une guerre de vingt ans, et avec eux les autres forces de l’Otan, laissant le terrain aux talibans qui progressent à grande vitesse, la Turquie a proposé à Washington d’assurer la sécurité de l’aéroport de la capitale. «Qui tient l’aéroport tient la ville»,commente un officier général français.
En prenant l’aéroport de Kaboul, principale porte de sortie d’Afghanistan pour les étrangers, Ankara s’offre un levier sur les forces internationales qui resteront dans le pays, environ 500 soldats américains dans la zone verte et les expatriés, diplomates et humanitaires. En cas d’évacuation, ils dépendront d’Ankara pour assurer leur sécurité. Ou de ses supplétifs, car selon certaines sources, la Turquie pourrait exporter en Afghanistan, comme elle l’a déjà fait en Libye, … » | Par Isabelle Lasserre | Publié : jeudi 29 juillet 2021 ; Mis à jour : vendredi 30 juillet 2021
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Die Pandemie als Ausrede für leere Supermarktregale
ZEIT ONLINE: Großbritannien steckt in der Krise, die neue Infektionswelle belastet unzählige Branchen. Dass viele Probleme dem Brexit geschuldet sind, mag die Regierung nicht zugeben.
Lange konnten die britischen Supermärkte ihre Not kaschieren. Monatelang wurden Nudeln, Dosensuppen, Avocados oder Honig so geschickt in die Regale geschoben, dass gar nicht auffiel, wie mager die Auswahl wirklich war. Es geht nicht mehr, denn jetzt fehlen auch noch die Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter. So ist niemand da, der Zeit hätte, das dürftige Warenangebot zu Potemkinschen Dörfern eines Schlaraffenlandes zu sortieren. Plötzlich fällt auf, dass mehrere … » | Eine Analyse von Bettina Schulz, London | Dienstag, 27. Juli 2021
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This Administration: Shabby on Brexit; Shabby on Much Else Besides
Un baiser intense, affectueux et naturel
On Kissing: “The Best Feeling in the World”
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind of Love (Official Music Video)
An Innocent and Memorable Gay Kiss
Could Tunisia Fall under a New Dictatorship? | Inside Story
Jul 27, 2021 • Tunisia is often called the only success story of the Arab Spring. But ten years on, its democracy is looking fragile. President Kais Saied has defended sacking the Prime Minister and suspending parliament, saying he acted lawfully under the constitution.
Tunisia's biggest political party, Ennahda, is calling for a national dialogue. While some celebrated the President's decisions, others are warning of a return to authoritarianism. So could Tunisia return to dictatorship?
Presenter: Bernard Smith | Guests: Tarek Kahloui - Political analyst; Sarah Yerkes - Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Salih Yasun - Fellow, Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University Bloomington.
Tunisia's biggest political party, Ennahda, is calling for a national dialogue. While some celebrated the President's decisions, others are warning of a return to authoritarianism. So could Tunisia return to dictatorship?
Presenter: Bernard Smith | Guests: Tarek Kahloui - Political analyst; Sarah Yerkes - Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Salih Yasun - Fellow, Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University Bloomington.
Syria: Assad Attacks Former Opposition Stronghold with Missiles and Artillery
THE GUARDIAN: President attempts to crush simmering insurrection with unprecedented offensive against Deraa al-Balad
Bashar al-Assad has attacked a former opposition stronghold with missiles and artillery shelling in an attempt to crush a simmering insurrection, in an unprecedented development in Syria’s decade-long war.
Deraa al-Balad and its surrounds, a district of Deraa city in the southern province of the same name, was targeted with heavy weaponry in tandem with a ground push on three axes from two Syrian army divisions and allied Iran-backed militias early on Thursday morning, in a large offensive which continued throughout the day.
In response to the shelling, rebel gunmen launched counterattacks across the Deraa countryside, killing at least eight pro-regime fighters and capturing dozens of combatants at several military positions and checkpoints, local sources said. » | Bethan McKernan and Hussein Akoush | Thursday, July 29, 2021
Over Half of Brazilians Spend More Than They Earn – Survey
THE RIO TIMES: Debts are also a common issue among many Brazilians. A quarter of respondents (25%) have debts exceeding what they can afford to pay.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A survey of workers in Brazilian companies showed that more than half (or 55%) spend more than their salaries, while another 45% spend "a little less" than they earn.
The survey was conducted by financial consulting fintech Leve. In total, 700 employees from 16 companies were heard.
The goal was to draw a profile of workers' finances. According to Leve, the study drew a worrisome picture of Brazilians' lack of financial control. According to the survey, 35% of workers were only able to maintain their living standards for 3 weeks after ceasing to work. » | The Rio Times | Thursday, July 29, 2021
Subscribe here to read the full article.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A survey of workers in Brazilian companies showed that more than half (or 55%) spend more than their salaries, while another 45% spend "a little less" than they earn.
The survey was conducted by financial consulting fintech Leve. In total, 700 employees from 16 companies were heard.
The goal was to draw a profile of workers' finances. According to Leve, the study drew a worrisome picture of Brazilians' lack of financial control. According to the survey, 35% of workers were only able to maintain their living standards for 3 weeks after ceasing to work. » | The Rio Times | Thursday, July 29, 2021
Subscribe here to read the full article.
Lebanon: Why Is the Country in Crisis and What’s Happening? - BBC Newsnight
Jul 28, 2021 • As Lebanon grapples with a deepening economic crisis, fuel, medicine and food are becoming increasingly scarce. Why and what’s happening?
The country is now in a state of collapse - fuel shortages, power cuts, bare shelves and a plummeting currency. It is a financial crisis with deep roots in a fundamentally flawed political system.
Last year saw the mass resignation of the entire cabinet after the explosion at a port that killed more than two hundred. It was later discovered a storage facility had been holding dangerous chemicals that no one had bothered to move.
The BBC’s Jean Mackenzie reports from and asks how the country can get back to its previous life - booming with optimism, tourism, and confidence.
The country is now in a state of collapse - fuel shortages, power cuts, bare shelves and a plummeting currency. It is a financial crisis with deep roots in a fundamentally flawed political system.
Last year saw the mass resignation of the entire cabinet after the explosion at a port that killed more than two hundred. It was later discovered a storage facility had been holding dangerous chemicals that no one had bothered to move.
The BBC’s Jean Mackenzie reports from and asks how the country can get back to its previous life - booming with optimism, tourism, and confidence.
« Viktor Orban a une technique de stigmatisation désormais bien rodée »
LE POINT : INTERVIEW. Fabienne Keller, eurodéputée Renew, était présente lors de la Gay Pride à Budapest. Elle soutient le bras de fer de la Commission avec le régime d’Orban.
Désormais eurodéputée macroniste, Fabienne Keller a gardé de ses années à la mairie de Strasbourg le réflexe d’aller voir sur le terrain. Elle était le week-end dernier à Budapest lords de la Marche des fiertés pour se tenir aux côtés des LGBT hongrois au moment où le régime de Viktor Orban vient de passer une loi extrêmement contestée et qui lui vaut les foudres de nombreux leaders européens. La Commission a engagé une procédure d’infraction. Le plan de relance hongrois est suspendu jusqu’au 30 septembre. » | Propos recueillis par Emmanuel Berretta | jeudi 29 juillet 2021
Hungary to Hold Referendum on Anti-LGBT Law after EU Legal Action - BBC Newsnight
Jul 27, 2021 • Hungary’s national spokesman speaks to Newsnight to defend its controversial anti-LGBT law which will now face a referendum, weeks after the EU launches legal action against the country.
Hungary’s new law - which limits the teaching of homosexuality and transgender issues to under 18s - will face a referendum in the new year.
Viktor Orbán’s government calls it a 'child protection law' and says it keeps sexual propaganda out of schools, TV shows and adverts.
Critics say the law conflates homosexuality and paedophilia, and the EU has strongly condemned it as discriminatory and launched legal action against Hungary.
Emily Maitlis is joined by Hungary’s Secretary of State for International Communication and Relations, Zoltan Kovacs.
Hungary’s new law - which limits the teaching of homosexuality and transgender issues to under 18s - will face a referendum in the new year.
Viktor Orbán’s government calls it a 'child protection law' and says it keeps sexual propaganda out of schools, TV shows and adverts.
Critics say the law conflates homosexuality and paedophilia, and the EU has strongly condemned it as discriminatory and launched legal action against Hungary.
Emily Maitlis is joined by Hungary’s Secretary of State for International Communication and Relations, Zoltan Kovacs.
Classic French Recipes: Navarin of Lamb / Navarin d’agneau / French Lamb Stew
This is enough for 4 people.
Ingredients for the Navarin:
800g of lamb shoulder (boneless)
100g of carrots
100g of onions
2 cloves of garlic
20g of tomato paste
20g of flour
20g of butter
5cl of oil (with high smoking point)
1 bouquet garni
small bunch of curly parsley
small pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
6 boiling potatoes
For the caramelized onions:
250g pearl / small pickling onions
10g sugar
20g butter
Enough water to cover the onions.
How to glaze and caramelizedpearl onions – a step-by-step Demonstration
French Cooking Academy
Afghans Leaving the Country as US Troops Withdraw | DW News
China wertet die Taliban auf
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Mit ganz großem Bahnhof hat der chinesische Außenminister einen stellvertretenden Taliban-Führer empfangen. Peking signalisiert damit, dass es in Afghanistan eine größere Rolle spielen will.
Die Amerikaner hatten tagelang hart verhandeln müssen, um Wang Yi zu einem Treffen mit der stellvertretenden amerikanischen Außenministerin zu bewegen. Den afghanischen Taliban hingegen gewährte der chinesische Außenminister am Mittwoch den ganz großen Bahnhof. Zur Begrüßung des stellvertretenden Taliban-Führers Abdul Ghani Baradar führte Wang Yi respektvoll seine rechte Hand an die linke Brust, wie es in Afghanistan üblich ist. Baradar nahm dann in demselben Sessel in einem Hotel in der Stadt Tianjin Platz, in dem am Montag die stellvertretende amerikanische Außenministerin Wendy Sherman gesessen hatte. Solche Protokollfragen spielen in China eine sehr große Rolle. Ein Zufall war das sicher nicht. Die nach diplomatischer Anerkennung strebenden Extremisten wurden von Peking unmissverständlich aufgewertet. Die Frage ist, was China als Gegenleistung verlangte. » | Von Friederike Böge, Peking | Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2021
Quarantaine maintenue pour les Français au Royaume-Uni : «c'est excessif», dénonce Beaune
LE FIGARO : Le secrétaire d'État chargé des Affaires européennes a critiqué la décision britannique et a vanté l'harmonisation européenne.
En annonçant que les voyageurs américains et européens totalement vaccinés n'auraient plus à se mettre en quarantaine à leur arrivée sur le sol britannique, Londres a ouvert ses portes aux touristes étrangers. Mais les Français ne seront pas logés à la même enseigne, a précisé le gouvernement britannique hier, suscitant l'ire de Paris. » | Par Thomas Engrand | jeudi 29 juillet 2021
En annonçant que les voyageurs américains et européens totalement vaccinés n'auraient plus à se mettre en quarantaine à leur arrivée sur le sol britannique, Londres a ouvert ses portes aux touristes étrangers. Mais les Français ne seront pas logés à la même enseigne, a précisé le gouvernement britannique hier, suscitant l'ire de Paris. » | Par Thomas Engrand | jeudi 29 juillet 2021
$1 Trillion Infrastructure Deal Scales Senate Hurdle with Bipartisan Vote
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The vote was a breakthrough after weeks of wrangling among White House officials and senators in both parties, clearing the way for action on a top priority for President Biden.
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted on Wednesday to take up a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that would make far-reaching investments in the nation’s public works system, as Republicans joined Democrats in clearing the way for action on a crucial piece of President Biden’s agenda.
The 67-to-32 vote, which included 17 Republicans in favor, came just hours after centrist senators in both parties and the White House reached a long-sought compromise on the bill, which would provide about $550 billion in new federal money for roads, bridges, rail, transit, water and other physical infrastructure programs.
Among those in support of moving forward was Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader and a longtime foil of major legislation pushed by Democratic presidents. Mr. McConnell’s backing signaled that his party was — at least for now — open to teaming with Democrats to enact the plan. » | Emily Cochrane and Jim Tankersley | Wednesday, July 28, 2021
A Look at What the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Would Do »
Another Pie in the Face for Anita Bryant: Her Granddaughter Is Gay
ADVOCATE: It’s most likely Anita Bryant’s worst nightmare: Her granddaughter is gay and marrying a woman. Granddaughter Sarah Green talked about her relationship with the notorious antigay crusader on a recent episode of Slate’s podcast One Year, hosted by Josh Levin and focusing on 1977, a year when the nation seemed on the verge of great change.
Bryant, a beauty queen and pop singer, was a spokeswoman for Florida orange growers in the 1970s when she gained new fame with her opposition to gay rights. Miami-Dade County’s government adopted an ordinance in 1977 banning employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, making it one of the first municipalities to do so. Bryant, who had testified against the ordinance, was outraged at its passage and led a campaign dubbed “Save Our Children” to persuade voters to repeal it.
Along the way, Bryant became a darling of her fellow conservative Christians and an enemy of gay people and their allies; at one point, an activist threw a pie in her face. Miami-Dade citizens did repeal the ordinance, with over 70 percent voting to do so. The city-county government restored the ordinance in 1998 and added gender identity to it in 2014. » | Trudy Ring | Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Life is funny: So often in life, the very thing you have criticized others for doing comes back to you so that you yourself must deal with it. Moral and takeaway: Be careful what you criticize others for doing! – Mark
Watch Anita Bryant’s ‘pie-in-the-face’ incident here.
Jared Kushner Set to Move Away from Politics and Launch Investment Firm
THE GUARDIAN: Trump’s former adviser to launch firm in Miami, sources say / Kushner to publish book next year about White House role
Jared Kushner, a top adviser to former Donald Trump, plans to launch an investment firm in coming months, a move that will take him away from politics for the foreseeable future, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
Kushner, the former chief executive of Kushner Companies, who served as the Republican president’s senior adviser in the White House, is in the final stages of launching an investment firm called Affinity Partners that will be headquartered in Miami. » | Reuters | Thursday, July 29, 2021
An Exciting Kiss, Sensual and Erotic
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
‘Terror’: Crackdown after Protests in Cuba Sends a Chilling Message
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In a remarkable act of defiance, thousands of Cubans took to the streets two weeks ago and chanted “We’re not afraid!” Many are now terrified.
The courage many Cubans showed when they poured into the streets two weeks ago, chanting “Down with the dictatorship!” and “We are not afraid!” has curdled into fear for many. Hundreds have been detained, the police have staked out the homes of activists and, among government critics, there is a widespread sense that the crackdown is far from over.
Maykel González, an independent journalist taken into custody after the July 11 protests, has ventured out of his home rarely in recent days, frightened by the surveillance and harassment that other protesters are enduring.
“At any moment they could show up at my door,” said Mr. González, 37. “It’s a fear that’s with me from the moment I wake up.”
When Cubans, spurred by a severe economic crisis, erupted in a rare wave of public rallies, government critics on the island and abroad hoped the act of defiance would force the island’s authoritarian rulers to embrace political and economic reforms.
Instead, the response by authorities has been draconian. State-run media outlets denounce demonstrators as vandals and looters. Police officers have gone door-to-door making detentions. » | Ernesto Londoño and Daniel Politi | Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Capitol Riot Inquiry Invokes Emotional Police Testimony | DW News
Jul 28, 2021 • A special congressional panel dedicated to investigating the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 held its first hearings on Tuesday. The Select Committee on the January 6th Insurrection heard from four police officers who defended the building from the rioters.
Officer Aquilino Gonell said he and other police experienced "horrific and devastating" physical violence during the riot. Officer Michael Fanone said he was beaten and tased during the Capitol breach. He said he heard rioters say "kill him with his own gunr />
After the officers gave their testimonies, they were questioned by lawmakers during the hearing. Republican panel member Liz Cheney of Wyoming asked Gonell how it feels to hear former President Donald Trump call the mob a "loving crowd."
Gonell said Trump's remarks are "upsetting" and added that "it's a pathetic excuse for his behavior, for something that he himself helped create."
Some observers believe former President Donald Trump incited the rioters due to his false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged against him. Trump held a rally close to the Capitol before the riot, and urged supporters to "stop the steal" of the election.
Officer Aquilino Gonell said he and other police experienced "horrific and devastating" physical violence during the riot. Officer Michael Fanone said he was beaten and tased during the Capitol breach. He said he heard rioters say "kill him with his own gunr />
After the officers gave their testimonies, they were questioned by lawmakers during the hearing. Republican panel member Liz Cheney of Wyoming asked Gonell how it feels to hear former President Donald Trump call the mob a "loving crowd."
Gonell said Trump's remarks are "upsetting" and added that "it's a pathetic excuse for his behavior, for something that he himself helped create."
Some observers believe former President Donald Trump incited the rioters due to his false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged against him. Trump held a rally close to the Capitol before the riot, and urged supporters to "stop the steal" of the election.
Afghanistan : le cruel abandon des femmes
LE MONDE : Après le retrait des troupes américaines, les talibans sont désormais aux portes du pouvoir. C’est une catastrophe pour les femmes afghanes, qui vont se retrouver confrontées à la loi islamique dans son interprétation la plus dure.
Editorial du « Monde ». Morne retraite. Après avoir replié leurs troupes, les pays occidentaux engagés aux côtés des Etats-Unis en Afghanistan finissent en ce mois de juillet de rapatrier leurs ressortissants. Les plus scrupuleux ont emmené avec eux leurs collaborateurs et interprètes afghans, leur évitant ainsi des représailles certaines de la part des talibans, une fois leurs employeurs partis.
Peu glorieux, ce départ d’Afghanistan en est presque piteux, tant il ressemble à un abandon. La plus longue intervention américaine à l’étranger, lancée au lendemain des attentats du 11 septembre 2001 pour empêcher Al-Qaida de planifier d’autres attaques depuis son repaire afghan, s’achève vingt ans plus tard sur un triste bilan. Cette guerre a coûté la vie à des dizaines de milliers de civils, à plus de 3 500 soldats de l’OTAN et à bien davantage de militaires afghans, sans compter les blessés et mutilés à vie. » | Éditorial | mercredi 28 juillet 2021
Editorial du « Monde ». Morne retraite. Après avoir replié leurs troupes, les pays occidentaux engagés aux côtés des Etats-Unis en Afghanistan finissent en ce mois de juillet de rapatrier leurs ressortissants. Les plus scrupuleux ont emmené avec eux leurs collaborateurs et interprètes afghans, leur évitant ainsi des représailles certaines de la part des talibans, une fois leurs employeurs partis.
Peu glorieux, ce départ d’Afghanistan en est presque piteux, tant il ressemble à un abandon. La plus longue intervention américaine à l’étranger, lancée au lendemain des attentats du 11 septembre 2001 pour empêcher Al-Qaida de planifier d’autres attaques depuis son repaire afghan, s’achève vingt ans plus tard sur un triste bilan. Cette guerre a coûté la vie à des dizaines de milliers de civils, à plus de 3 500 soldats de l’OTAN et à bien davantage de militaires afghans, sans compter les blessés et mutilés à vie. » | Éditorial | mercredi 28 juillet 2021
Negative Covid-19 Tests Could Soon Be Required for All Arrivals in Germany | DW News
The Guardian View on Viktor Orbán’s LGBT+ Law: The Same Old Playbook
THE GUARDIAN: Hungary’s prime minister is once again stoking the politics of division ahead of an election
In his victory speech following a third successive election triumph in 2018, Viktor Orbán told jubilant supporters that the result gave voters “the opportunity to defend themselves and to defend Hungary”. For over a decade now, Hungary’s prime minister has skilfully galvanised his political base by cultivating a siege mentality. Three years ago, Muslim migrants were depicted as the enemies at the gates, whose entry would undermine Christian values and traditions. Other targets of choice have included George Soros, NGOs and, the Guardian’s recent Pegasus revelations appear to suggest, critical journalists placed under digital surveillance.
A new election requires a new threat. As Hungary emerges from the pandemic, Mr Orbán and his Fidesz party have entered campaigning mode ahead of a spring poll that is expected to be extremely close. Their baleful gaze has alighted on Hungary’s LGBT+ population and its potential to lead the young astray. Last month, MPs passed a law that prohibits depicting or promoting LGBT+ content to under-18s in Hungary’s schools and the media. The new legislation will heavily restrict the portrayal of LGBT+ people in the arts and entertainment, and elsewhere. Critics have compared it to Russia’s 2013 law against “gay propaganda”, which was duly followed by a disturbing increase in violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. » | Editorial | Tuesday. July 27, 2021
Viktor Orbán is a relatively short man (1.74m / 5’7”). Why am I not surprised? Dictators throughout history have tended to be on the short side. Adolf Hitler was just about Orbán’s height: 1.75m. Hitler tried to make Germany “judenrein*” in the Thirtie/Forties of the last century; now, we have Orbán trying to make Hungary “schwulenrein” in the Twenties of this century!
‘Judenrein’ means ‘cleansed of Jews’. I have started using the term ‘schwulenrein’, which would mean ‘cleansed of gays’. For surely that’s exactly what Orbán is trying to achieve in Hungary, even if he is not articulating the idea in such a crass way. (He knows better than to do that.) Please check out this link to the Jewish Virtual Library for 'judenrein': Judenrein.
Hungary and Poland are trying to demonize gays and rid their countries of them, or at least push them into the margins of society. Many “LGBTQ-free zones” are even being introduced! It’s truly disgusting. You will probably not be surprised to learn that Orbán is chummy with our Führer: BoJo. Is this a case of 'birds of a feather...'? – Mark
NB: The suffix ‘rein’ comes from the German verb ‘reinigen’, meaning to clean, cleanse, purify, purge or expurgate. 'Schwule' is a German word used in the vernacular meaning gays. Hence, 'schwulen' would be the adjectival form stemming from it. Ergo, 'schwulenrein' - purged of gays. – Mark
Unwiderstehlich, verlockend und schwul: Ein Kuß!
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Recipe: Classic French Onion Soup
Ingredients: here.
The French Cooking Academy.
On Brexit and Asylum
I’m sure that my followers, readers and visitors will be in no doubt by now about the fact that I was a staunch Remainer. Brexit was anathema to me. I was, and remain, opposed to the madness of leaving all our friends in Europe, by cutting ourselves adrift and sailing off in a rubber dinghy onto the high seas, in the vain hope that we shan’t meet with too many storms and drown while we’re at it. For, truth to tell, we don’t have an adequate supply of life jackets!
Many British people refuse to understand that we Brits are Europeans, inside or outside of the European Union. We are still Europeans regardless. Our country was once geologically and geographically part of the main continent of Europe. Further, just to give you an example, the Celts in Wales are said to have originated in Hallstatt in Austria. It’s near Salzburg.
However, for some inexplicable reason, many Brits are in denial of our European heritage. One gentleman I met whilst shopping prior to the Brexit referendum swore blind to me that we weren’t Europeans at all! The man to whom I refer is actually a very nice gentleman; but he is greatly mistaken on this matter. So, I asked him a few questions: “If we are not Europeans,” I asked, “then what are we?” I added: “Clearly, we are not Americans; we are not Africans; we are not Asians; so, what exactly are we?” Needless to say, he was unable to give me a sensible answer. Such is the level of denial in many quarters of the UK!
Since Brexit, our nation is in chaos. But why should we worry when we are led by BoJo? He and his band of merry men will surely fix it all! In the meantime, many of the shelves in the supermarkets are bare. I am now unable to procure many of my favourite items of food, such as my favourite French, unsalted butter. That’s completely gone missing from the shelves. Ditto, my favourite mineral water: Evian. Last weekend, when shopping, I noticed that not a single bottle of Evian water was for sale! Prior to Brexit, I could buy as many bottles as I wanted or needed. My favourite Spanish honey has disappeared off the shelves as well. This is to name but a few food items.
Moreover, I have had to give up buying many fresh vegetables. For starters, many of the shelves in the supermarkets are bare. Secondly, what is available perishes very quickly. To give you an example, I have always loved carrots, and I have always kept a plentiful supply of them at home. Recently, I have had to stop buying them, because for many weeks, I ended up throwing nearly all of them away: they would go black (mildew) even in my lovely, German fridge. And that’s in the salad-crisper!
The Brexiteer politicians try and tell us that these shortages are “teething problems”; they also try and tell us that the pandemic is to blame; and the “pingdemic," of course! (Too many people are being ‘pinged’ for self-isolation due to the Delta variant, apparently.) These may well be contributing to the shortages, but the real reason, as most people surely know, is Brexit itself! The politicians have gone and screwed up! But hey! We’ve got a blond bombshell at the helm now. What could possibly go wrong? And in any case, we now have blue passports again. Yippee! No more burgundy passports for the true Brit! As many Americans might say: What a deal already!
I’m hoping that my fellow countrymen will one day come to their senses and realise what they have lost by leaving the EU; but I am not holding my breath!
In the meantime, my idealistic side makes me dream of being given asylum by my French brothers and sisters in France. The Côte d’Azur looks awfully appealing from here. But I doubt that this would be possible. I don’t think that Emmanuel Macron would give serious consideration to granting asylum to a Brit, somehow. So I suppose I shall have to grin and bear it and shrug my shoulders and say, C’est la vie !
All Rights Reserved
© Mark Alexander
Many British people refuse to understand that we Brits are Europeans, inside or outside of the European Union. We are still Europeans regardless. Our country was once geologically and geographically part of the main continent of Europe. Further, just to give you an example, the Celts in Wales are said to have originated in Hallstatt in Austria. It’s near Salzburg.
However, for some inexplicable reason, many Brits are in denial of our European heritage. One gentleman I met whilst shopping prior to the Brexit referendum swore blind to me that we weren’t Europeans at all! The man to whom I refer is actually a very nice gentleman; but he is greatly mistaken on this matter. So, I asked him a few questions: “If we are not Europeans,” I asked, “then what are we?” I added: “Clearly, we are not Americans; we are not Africans; we are not Asians; so, what exactly are we?” Needless to say, he was unable to give me a sensible answer. Such is the level of denial in many quarters of the UK!
Since Brexit, our nation is in chaos. But why should we worry when we are led by BoJo? He and his band of merry men will surely fix it all! In the meantime, many of the shelves in the supermarkets are bare. I am now unable to procure many of my favourite items of food, such as my favourite French, unsalted butter. That’s completely gone missing from the shelves. Ditto, my favourite mineral water: Evian. Last weekend, when shopping, I noticed that not a single bottle of Evian water was for sale! Prior to Brexit, I could buy as many bottles as I wanted or needed. My favourite Spanish honey has disappeared off the shelves as well. This is to name but a few food items.
Moreover, I have had to give up buying many fresh vegetables. For starters, many of the shelves in the supermarkets are bare. Secondly, what is available perishes very quickly. To give you an example, I have always loved carrots, and I have always kept a plentiful supply of them at home. Recently, I have had to stop buying them, because for many weeks, I ended up throwing nearly all of them away: they would go black (mildew) even in my lovely, German fridge. And that’s in the salad-crisper!
The Brexiteer politicians try and tell us that these shortages are “teething problems”; they also try and tell us that the pandemic is to blame; and the “pingdemic," of course! (Too many people are being ‘pinged’ for self-isolation due to the Delta variant, apparently.) These may well be contributing to the shortages, but the real reason, as most people surely know, is Brexit itself! The politicians have gone and screwed up! But hey! We’ve got a blond bombshell at the helm now. What could possibly go wrong? And in any case, we now have blue passports again. Yippee! No more burgundy passports for the true Brit! As many Americans might say: What a deal already!
I’m hoping that my fellow countrymen will one day come to their senses and realise what they have lost by leaving the EU; but I am not holding my breath!
In the meantime, my idealistic side makes me dream of being given asylum by my French brothers and sisters in France. The Côte d’Azur looks awfully appealing from here. But I doubt that this would be possible. I don’t think that Emmanuel Macron would give serious consideration to granting asylum to a Brit, somehow. So I suppose I shall have to grin and bear it and shrug my shoulders and say, C’est la vie !
All Rights Reserved
© Mark Alexander
Ein Leben auf Mythen basiert
Je älter ich werde, desto deutlicher sehe ich, dass das Leben aus vielen Mythen entstanden ist! Zudem ist es mir auch klar, daß viele Geschichten früher Epochen die Basis für unsere Glauben und Benehmen heute sind.
Die alten Leute liebten es, Geschichten zu erzählen. Schließlich, hatten sie abends kaum andere Möglichkeiten, sich die Zeit zu vertreiben. Diese Geschichten wurden dann durch die Jahrhunderte mythologisiert und von einer Generation zur anderen weitergegeben. Dies sind viele der Mythen, nach denen wir heute leben. Es sind alles hübsche Geschichten, aber wie wahr sind sie?
Viele Leute in der heutigen Zeit benehmen sich als ob sie selber Vorbilder der Tugend wären und sehen gar nicht ihre eigenen Fehler. Sie sollten, vielleicht, einmal in den Spiegel schauen!
Oft kommen diese Leute und kritisieren das Benehmen anderer Leute, wenn es für sie besser wäre, daß sie vor der eigenen Tür kehrten. Sie benehmen sich oft auf einer Basis von Doppelmoral und Selbstgerechtigkeit.
Wie oft muß man hören Levitikus zitiert, daß es ein Gräuel ist für einen Mann mit einem anderen Mann zusammenzuliegen? Erstens, was gemeint ist mit dem Wort „Gräuel“ oder „Abscheulichkeit“ ist nicht was die Leute oft glauben. Zweitens, in Levitikus, wird das gleiche Word angewendet fürs Essen von Schaltier, weil sie Bodenfresser in den Ozeanen sind. Deshalb fressen sie den ganzen Kot am Boden des Meeres. Das ist denn abscheulich!
Levitikus steht auch, daß Leute sich nicht tätowieren oder piercen lassen sollten: Wie viele Menschen brechen heute diese Regel? Nach Levitikus sind Tätowierungen und Piercings auch abscheulich und strengstens verboten! Noch mehr: Zudem, nach der Bibel, darf man Schweinefleisch gar nicht essen. Das Essen davon ist abscheulich, so der Bibel. Das Essen davon ist eine Sünde in den Augen Gottes!
Man könnte eine lange Liste von Verhaltensregeln schreiben, Verhaltensregeln, die so oft ignoriert werden. Doch wenn homosexuelle Liebe das Thema ist, plötzlich fangen Leute an zu frömmeln! Es kommt einem vor als Rosinenpickerei.
Gleichgeschlechtliche Anziehungen hat es seit Menschgedenken gegeben, nun sind wir im einundzwanzigsten Jahrhundert und besprechen das gleiche Thema – ungelöst! Stellen Sie sich mal das vor! Leute debattieren immer noch unaufhörlich darüber und stellen in Frage, das Recht von einer Person, sich in eine andere Person verlieben zu dürfen. Es ist kaum zu fassen!
Ein großes Problem liegt darin natürlich, daß Leute verstehen gar nicht, was Homosexualität eigentlich ist! Leute sind sehr oft lüstern und denken nur an Sex. Versucht man gleichgeschlechtliche Attraktionen durch so eine Linse zu verstehen wird man immer im Unklaren und in der Benebelung stehen. Man wird auf keinen grünen Zweig landen!
Mehr zum Thema Homosexualität ein anderes Mal.
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
© Mark Alexander
Die alten Leute liebten es, Geschichten zu erzählen. Schließlich, hatten sie abends kaum andere Möglichkeiten, sich die Zeit zu vertreiben. Diese Geschichten wurden dann durch die Jahrhunderte mythologisiert und von einer Generation zur anderen weitergegeben. Dies sind viele der Mythen, nach denen wir heute leben. Es sind alles hübsche Geschichten, aber wie wahr sind sie?
Viele Leute in der heutigen Zeit benehmen sich als ob sie selber Vorbilder der Tugend wären und sehen gar nicht ihre eigenen Fehler. Sie sollten, vielleicht, einmal in den Spiegel schauen!
Oft kommen diese Leute und kritisieren das Benehmen anderer Leute, wenn es für sie besser wäre, daß sie vor der eigenen Tür kehrten. Sie benehmen sich oft auf einer Basis von Doppelmoral und Selbstgerechtigkeit.
Wie oft muß man hören Levitikus zitiert, daß es ein Gräuel ist für einen Mann mit einem anderen Mann zusammenzuliegen? Erstens, was gemeint ist mit dem Wort „Gräuel“ oder „Abscheulichkeit“ ist nicht was die Leute oft glauben. Zweitens, in Levitikus, wird das gleiche Word angewendet fürs Essen von Schaltier, weil sie Bodenfresser in den Ozeanen sind. Deshalb fressen sie den ganzen Kot am Boden des Meeres. Das ist denn abscheulich!
Levitikus steht auch, daß Leute sich nicht tätowieren oder piercen lassen sollten: Wie viele Menschen brechen heute diese Regel? Nach Levitikus sind Tätowierungen und Piercings auch abscheulich und strengstens verboten! Noch mehr: Zudem, nach der Bibel, darf man Schweinefleisch gar nicht essen. Das Essen davon ist abscheulich, so der Bibel. Das Essen davon ist eine Sünde in den Augen Gottes!
Man könnte eine lange Liste von Verhaltensregeln schreiben, Verhaltensregeln, die so oft ignoriert werden. Doch wenn homosexuelle Liebe das Thema ist, plötzlich fangen Leute an zu frömmeln! Es kommt einem vor als Rosinenpickerei.
Gleichgeschlechtliche Anziehungen hat es seit Menschgedenken gegeben, nun sind wir im einundzwanzigsten Jahrhundert und besprechen das gleiche Thema – ungelöst! Stellen Sie sich mal das vor! Leute debattieren immer noch unaufhörlich darüber und stellen in Frage, das Recht von einer Person, sich in eine andere Person verlieben zu dürfen. Es ist kaum zu fassen!
Ein großes Problem liegt darin natürlich, daß Leute verstehen gar nicht, was Homosexualität eigentlich ist! Leute sind sehr oft lüstern und denken nur an Sex. Versucht man gleichgeschlechtliche Attraktionen durch so eine Linse zu verstehen wird man immer im Unklaren und in der Benebelung stehen. Man wird auf keinen grünen Zweig landen!
Mehr zum Thema Homosexualität ein anderes Mal.
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
© Mark Alexander
Commentary: That a Catholic Priest May Be Gay Isn't Cause for Sadness
ADVOCATE: What's sad about the case of Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill, who resigned his post after allegations of using a gay dating app, is that clergy can't come out as gay and stay in the church.
“It is with sadness that I inform you that Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill has resigned as General Secretary of the Conference. … I ask for your prayers for Monsignor … during this difficult time” are the words of Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archbishop Gomez is referring to the resignation of Monsignor Burrill following an exposé about the priest’s use of the gay dating app Grindr. While I can’t read the heart or know the mind of Archbishop Gomez, I do want to reflect on his choice of words, noting a grievance with the word “sadness” and the phrase “difficult time.”
Notwithstanding the media rush to condemn the journalistic methods of the staff at The Pillar, who first reported about Monsignor Burrill’s alleged improper behaviors, journalists have once again boxed themselves in to the same old trope: shock and awe that a closeted gay priest might be investigated by conservative journalists hoping to make even more narrow the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Who can fault the team at The Pillar for seeking to remove from office those who do not adhere to the written catechism? Of course, their level of orthodoxy is repugnant, after all while closeted and safe hiding his sexuality, Monsignor Burrill sought to weaponize Communion and deny President Joe Biden the Eucharist at Mass. Even gay and conservative has no place in the Roman Catholic Church. » | Benjamin Brenkert | Saturday, July 24, 2021
Loving, Tender and Gay: A Lingering Kiss.
Monday, July 26, 2021
A Short Message to My Followers, Readers and Visitors
Fight hatred with kindness wherever and whenever possible: nothing is more disarming than kindness; love is more powerful still!
As a community, we need to strive for full acceptance. Tolerance is but a first step toward full acceptance. Ultimately, gays must be determined to settle for nothing less than total acceptance!
Arbitrary rules of behaviour stemming from centuries past are not an appropriate guide for life in the twenty-first century. Same-sex, same-gender attraction is not new and it is certainly not aberrant in a negative sense; it has existed since time immemorial and is commonplace even in the animal kingdom.
Although I am no longer religious, I am still spiritual; I believe in the existence of a Creator. And I am, indeed, we are, just as our Creator intended us to be. To argue otherwise is tantamount to saying that the Creator has erred.
Let no man ‘play God’ and demean your very existence. That person, too, is but one of God’s children; and God favours no-one above another, except, perhaps, based on behaviour and deeds. It is therefore the right of no man to withhold another man’s rights. We are all entitled, by birth, to a life of fulfilment, peace, and harmony. Let us go forward together on our mission. Let us break down barriers between the heterosexual and homosexual communities. We must show our very best side, attracting as little criticism as possible.
In recent years, it is noticeable that people have become far less tolerant of the lifestyles of others: many straight people are homophobic; many non-smokers are intolerant of smokers; many vegetarians and vegans are impatient of meat-eaters; many Orientals dislike the ways of the Occident, and the converse is often also true. And so it goes on! Without end!
This is no way to achieve harmony in this troubled world. So the only sensible maxim to live by is this: Live and let live. Or as is said in German: Leben und leben lassen! And in French, Vivre et laisser vivre ! It’s the only way forward for a peaceful and harmonious existence.
Look not for the differences between people; rather, look for the similarities. It will be a much better world to live in if we do, if we are guided by these principles. Long live peace! Es lebe Frieden! Vive la paix ! Remember: Love conquers all! !
All Rights Reserved
© Mark Alexander
As a community, we need to strive for full acceptance. Tolerance is but a first step toward full acceptance. Ultimately, gays must be determined to settle for nothing less than total acceptance!
Arbitrary rules of behaviour stemming from centuries past are not an appropriate guide for life in the twenty-first century. Same-sex, same-gender attraction is not new and it is certainly not aberrant in a negative sense; it has existed since time immemorial and is commonplace even in the animal kingdom.
Although I am no longer religious, I am still spiritual; I believe in the existence of a Creator. And I am, indeed, we are, just as our Creator intended us to be. To argue otherwise is tantamount to saying that the Creator has erred.
Let no man ‘play God’ and demean your very existence. That person, too, is but one of God’s children; and God favours no-one above another, except, perhaps, based on behaviour and deeds. It is therefore the right of no man to withhold another man’s rights. We are all entitled, by birth, to a life of fulfilment, peace, and harmony. Let us go forward together on our mission. Let us break down barriers between the heterosexual and homosexual communities. We must show our very best side, attracting as little criticism as possible.
In recent years, it is noticeable that people have become far less tolerant of the lifestyles of others: many straight people are homophobic; many non-smokers are intolerant of smokers; many vegetarians and vegans are impatient of meat-eaters; many Orientals dislike the ways of the Occident, and the converse is often also true. And so it goes on! Without end!
This is no way to achieve harmony in this troubled world. So the only sensible maxim to live by is this: Live and let live. Or as is said in German: Leben und leben lassen! And in French, Vivre et laisser vivre ! It’s the only way forward for a peaceful and harmonious existence.
Look not for the differences between people; rather, look for the similarities. It will be a much better world to live in if we do, if we are guided by these principles. Long live peace! Es lebe Frieden! Vive la paix ! Remember: Love conquers all! !
All Rights Reserved
© Mark Alexander
Peking wirft Washington „fehlgeleitete“ China-Politik vor
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Zum Auftakt der China-Reise der stellvertretenden US-Außenministerin Sherman macht Peking Washington dafür verantwortlich, dass die gegenseitigen Beziehungen „im Stillstand“ seien. Amerika müsse die „Dämonisierung“ Chinas beenden.
Die chinesische Regierung hat den USA eine „hochgradig fehlgeleitete“ China-Politik vorgeworfen. „Die chinesisch-amerikanischen Beziehungen sind im Stillstand und stehen vor ernsthaften Schwierigkeiten“, sagte Chinas Vize-Außenminister Xie Feng bei einem Besuch von US-Vize-Außenministerin Wendy Sherman in der nordchinesischen Stadt Tianjin. Die Beziehungen zwischen Peking und Washington steckten „in einer Sackgasse“. Die USA müssten die „Dämonisierung“ Chinas beenden, forderte Xie.
Mit Sherman besucht die bisher ranghöchste Vertreterin der amerikanischen Regierung von Präsident Joe Biden die Volksrepublik. Das US-Außenministerium hatte in der vergangenen Woche mitgeteilt, dass Sherman während ihres Aufenthalts Konfliktthemen ansprechen wolle. Vermieden werden solle aber, dass die Beziehungen zu China in einen „Konflikt“ mündeten. » | Quelle: AFP | Montag, 26. Juli 2021
Covid-19: le Royaume-Uni menacé de paralysie
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - L’«épidémie de cas contacts» entraîne des pénuries de personnel et ralentit des secteurs clés de l’économie.
Londres
Une semaine après le «Freedom day», le jour de la levée complète des restrictions anti-Covid en Angleterre, le pays souffre d’importantes perturbations liées à la forte augmentation du nombre de personnes forcées de s’isoler après avoir été en contact avec une personne contaminée par le virus.
Des trains annulés, de longues files d’attente dans les aéroports et une pénurie de personnel dans le secteur de la restauration sont quelques-unes des conséquences de ce que les tabloïds ont baptisé la «pingdemic», en référence au «ping» émis par les smartphones pour notifier la réception d’un message.
Entre le 7 et 14 juillet, plus de 600.000 personnes en Angleterre et au pays de Galles ont été soumises à une quarantaine après avoir reçu un message d’alerte via l’application Covid-19 du NHS, le système de santé publique britannique. Il y a huit jours, Boris Johnson lui-même a été contraint de s’isoler après une réunion avec des députés conservateurs.
La «pingdemic» est évidemment une conséquence » | Par Amandine Alexandre | Publié : dimanche 25 juillet 2021 ; modifié : lundi 26 juillet 2021
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Tunisia’s President Suspends Parliament and Fires Prime Minister
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The moves by President Kais Saied to take control of the country were seen as a threat to the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring protests. His opponents called it a “coup.”
CAIRO — Tunisia’s president fired the prime minister, suspended Parliament and took control of the country late on Sunday after large and violent anti-government protests across a nation struggling with deepening health and economic crises.
The moves by the president, Kais Saied, were seen as threat to the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring protests a decade ago. A leading political party, Ennahda, called it “a coup against the Tunisian democracy and its constitution” and “a betrayal of every Tunisian,” urging Mr. Saied to reverse his decisions immediately.
“Tunisia is the only Arab Spring’s success story and that story does not end here,” Ennahda said in a statement. “We call on every international supporter of democracy to come together to speak out immediately against this injustice and call for the immediate restoration of our Parliament.” » | Vivian Yee | Monday, July 26, 2021
Tunisie : le président s'octroie le pouvoir exécutif, Ennahdha dénonce un «coup d'État» »
Revealed: The Secrets of Seville Cathedral’s Banquet Set in Stone
For almost 500 years, the arch that connects the largest Gothic cathedral in the world with its Renaissance sacristy has offered visitors a sumptuous, if little glimpsed – and even less studied – vision of religious bounty.
The 68 beautifully carved plates of food that adorn the archway in Seville’s cathedral offer rather more than bread and wine.
There are pigs’ trotters and wild strawberries, aubergines, clams and oysters. There are peaches, radishes, a skinned hare with a knife by its side, a squirrel served on a bed of hazelnuts and a plate of lemons across which a small snake slithers. There are also cakes and biscuits and, more exotically, a dish of peppers newly imported from Mexico, which had fallen to Hernán Cortés and his men just over a decade before the carvers set to work.
The plates, which are all too often obscured when the huge wooden doors of the sacristy are open, are the subject of a new book by a Spanish art historian who has spent the past 11 years trying to unpick the secrets and meanings of the cathedral’s stone buffet.
“People don’t really see the carvings because of the doors and because they’re too busy looking at the sacristy dome,” said Juan Clemente Rodríguez Estévez. “But the carvings have been there for 500 years and have never been properly studied. They’ve gone unnoticed apart from being seen as a bit of a novelty.”
The arch, which was carved between 1533 and 1535, provides what Rodríguez calls a “snapshot of a seminal moment”. Its still-life carvings, he suggests, are chapters in the social, religious, economic and cultural history of both Seville and Spain as a whole. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Monday, July 26, 2021
The Way He Looks (2014) – Tender Gay Kiss
Oct 28, 2015 • The Way He Looks is a sweet Brazilian film about first love. It involves a blind boy named Leo (Ghilherme Lobo) who has developed feelings for his school friend Gabriel (Fabio Audi).
One night after a party, a drunken Gabriel kisses Leo and then pretends to have blacked out. Finally, as it always does, the truth eventually comes out.
The Way He Looks is the perfect film for any teenager, gay or straight, who yearns to find someone to accept him, regardless of his disabilities or flaws.
One night after a party, a drunken Gabriel kisses Leo and then pretends to have blacked out. Finally, as it always does, the truth eventually comes out.
The Way He Looks is the perfect film for any teenager, gay or straight, who yearns to find someone to accept him, regardless of his disabilities or flaws.
Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight
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