Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B Flat Minor, Op. 31 | Seong-Jin Cho

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Maintaining this blog is more difficult than it needs to be because I am working without any information on its demographics: I have no idea of your ages, your first language, or sexual orientation, or even whether your out of the closet. (Are most of my visitors gay or straight? Please bear in mind that this blog had been going for twenty or so years before it ever became gay-friendly.) Further, I do not know exactly what percentage of my visitors are English-speaking, German-speaking, or French-speaking, especially as a first language.

I also do not know whether I’m bringing you, my visitors and followers, what you want to see, read or watch. In short, I am working in the dark.

For this reason, I ask you now to please be so kind as to email me with your thoughts and ideas on what you think of this blog and on how you think it could be made better. I want to improve this website in any way I can. Basically, as well as pleasing myself, I want to please you. That is very important to me.

For this reason, I ask you now to consider helping me by emailing me with your thoughts. Do you like this blog, and if so why, and if your think it can be improved, how it could be improved. This would be very helpful to me. It would also make my work so much easier.

You can email me at the address markalexander.librabunda@gmail,com . Rest assured that anything you write me will be in the strictest of confidence.

Warm wishes to all,

Mark

Phil Collins: Everyday | 2016 Remastered

Provided to YouTube by Laika Network | Views on YouTube: 2,612,359

Après le Brexit, Boris Johnson se prépare à un «hiver du mécontentement»

Boris Johnson à son arrivée au congrès annuel du Parti conservateur, le 3 octobre à Manchester. BEN STANSALL/AFP
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Suite à l’envolée du prix du gaz et la pénurie de carburant, le premier ministre va devoir s’expliquer au congrès annuel du Parti conservateur.

Correspondant à Londres
Le grand large, on le sait, recèle souvent moins de dangers que le cabotage en vue des côtes. Boris Johnson en fait en ce début d’automne la singulière expérience. À Washington, il a eu son moment de gloire en compagnie de Joe Biden, pour célébrer le joli coup en Asie-Pacifique. Le retour en terre britannique a été plus rude. Les foyers de crise se multiplient et le gouvernement semble ne plus savoir où donner de la tête. La presse conservatrice l’accuse même de «l’avoir enterrée dans le sable», incapable de s’attaquer aux problèmes par incompétence. Et le premier ministre pourrait se trouver confronté à ce qu’on appelle ici un grand «hiver de mécontentement».

Comme toile de fond de la conférence annuelle du Parti conservateur qui se tient jusqu’à mercredi à Manchester, Boris Johnson aurait pu rêver mieux. Le Covid ayant dématérialisé le raout de l’an dernier, c’est pourtant la première fois que les tories se retrouvent depuis leur rezzou électoral de décembre 2019, qui a offert au vénérable parti sa plus solide majorité depuis trois décennies. «BoJo» voulait se servir de ce congrès pour tourner la page de dix-huit mois de pandémie et relancer son mandat. Mais le message est obscurci par les files de voitures devant des stations-service à sec. » | Par Arnaud De La Grange | dimanche 3 octobre 2021

Brexit Shortages - Clueless Government Has No Idea How to Deal with the Shortages

Oct 3, 2021 • The pandemic and Brexit resulted in hundreds of thousands of EU workers leaving the UK and not returning causing severe labour shortages in many sectors including transport, care, health, food and construction.

The reason why they have not returned is because of new entry requirement which include paying for work visas, health insurance and having at least £1200 to support themselves initially. This has left the UK economy with severe labour shortages whilst the loss of tax revenues generated by those EU workers.

The government has no idea how to solve this problem except by talking about 'training up our own people and paying them a lot more money' Many of 'our own people do not want the jobs previously done by EU workers and paying them more will only result in higher prices without an increase in productivity.

With an ageing population, we will need immigrants to fill the vacancies caused by Brexit and this will inevitably mean that we will have to find workers from Third World countries.

James Taylor : You’ve Got a Friend

Mount Salem Kitchen: How to Make Tafelspitz the Classic Austrian Way

Tafelspitz nach österreichischer Art

INGREDIENTS:

-1 large yellow onion, halved horizontally (unpeeled)
-1 lb. beef bones, roasted at 400F [200C] for 30 minutes
-1 tri-tip (beef triangle), about 1½ lbs. (substitute with top round sirloin)
-2 large carrots (or 4 narrow ones), peeled and cut
-2 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced
-1 small celery root, peeled and sliced
-1 T. sea salt
-15 black peppercorns
-4 juniper berries
-1 t. mustard seed
-2 bay leaves
-2 cloves garlic, peeled
-1 leek, rinsed of soil and sand, sliced
-8 ‘branches’ flat-leaf parsley, tied

METHOD:

1. Slice onion in half (don’t peel it) and place it cut-side down on a hot skillet; sear until blackened. While this is happening…

2. Rinse beef bones and tri-tip (beef triangle) in cool water; roast beef bones as directed, then place them and the beef Triangle in a pot large enough to hold them; fill ¾ with cool water, turn heat on high, and add the blackened onions.

3. Prepare the carrots, parsnips, celery root as directed, and separate into two equal parts; place half of each vegetable into the pot and set the rest aside. Add the Sea Salt, black peppercorn, juniper berries, mustard seed, bay leaves and garlic cloves.

4. When the pot is in a rolling boil, skim the scum that rises to the surface during the first 15 minutes; reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 1 ½ hours, or until the beef is tender.

5.When the beef is almost tender, remove it from the pot and strain all the solids out (consider serving the beef bones with a knife and toasted bread: spread the morrow and enjoy). Return the broth to the pot with the beef, and then add the reserved vegetables (carrots, parsnip, celery root) as well as the sliced leeks and the parsley. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

6. Remove the beef and slice it against the grain. Onto each plate or bowl, lay several slices of beef and then use a slotted spoon to add vegetables from the pot; spoon broth over the top and then garnish: add 2 T. of the apple/horseradish on top of the beef, then sprinkle minced chives and the dill fronds. Serve immediately.

Taliban Threaten Women Who Defy Working Bans | DW News

Oct 3, 2021 • When the Taliban were in power in Afghanistan in the late 1990s, women were shut out of education and could only leave their homes in the company of a male relative – this time around, 40 million Afghans are waiting to see if the new Taliban government will now try to turn back the clock on twenty years of advances for the country’s women. For Afghan women in the media, the signs aren’t looking good – the country’s state broadcaster has already taken all its female journalists off air. DW’s Nick Connolly has been to meet a radio journalist who’s in no mood to give up.

UK Calls in Military, Recruits Civilians to Drive Trucks | DW News

Oct 3, 2021 • The UK's armed forces are to start delivering fuel to gas stations across Britain, in an effort to ease a supply crisis which has brought much of the UK to a standstill.

Hundreds of filling stations have run dry, causing chaotic scenes as drivers panic-buy and attempt to stockpile fuel. The government is blaming a lack of truck drivers, and unprecedented demand driven by scare-mongering. Critics point to the fact that many foreign truck drivers left the country because of Brexit.

Fancy a UK visa? Maybe you should quickly become a truck driver. But bear in mind: You might be thrown out again at Christmas.

The UK government plans to issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign truck drivers. The move comes after gasoline shortfalls and empty supermarket shelves.

The UK lacks about 100,000 truck drivers. They are needed to deliver everything from gasoline to groceries. The shortfall has caused panic buying.

Many blame the pandemic and above all, Brexit. But while many countries in Europe face driver shortages, some experts say unless companies in Britain offer significantly higher wages, it remains unclear how many workers will take advantage of the short-term visas.

Face au scandale des abus sexuels, comment l'Église forme ses futurs prêtres

Célébration chantante quotidienne dans l'église du séminaire, concélébrée par six prêtres. Axelle de Russé
LE FIGARO : REPORTAGE - Prise dans la tourmente, l'Église de France continue d'attirer des jeunes désireux de devenir prêtres. Alors que la commission Sauvé rend ses conclusions le 5 octobre sur les agressions sexuelles dans l'Église depuis quatre-vingts ans, Le Figaro Magazine est allé à la rencontre de ces appelés, au Séminaire international d'Ars-sur-Formans, dans l'Ain.

« La sexualité imprègne toute la vie. Y renoncer signe mon existence. » Tout en passant les vitesses de sa Peugeot un peu ¬cabossée, frôlant de ses doigts le chapelet en bois auquel pend une photo en noir et blanc du curé d'Ars, Roch Valentin se prête au jeu des questions indiscrètes. Chargé depuis huit ans de la formation d'une quarantaine de sémina¬ristes en Bourgogne, dont l'âge oscille entre 20 et 35 ans, ce prêtre est sans ¬détour. Que faire avec le désir sexuel, la frustration, la solitude, le célibat, quand on a choisi le sacerdoce ? «Aujourd'hui, toutes ces questions ne sont plus tues dans l'Église. Au contraire, nous les prenons en charge, promet-il dans un tournant pris de ¬façon un peu trop serrée, sur cette jolie route de campagne. Pour moi, l'équi¬libre de nos élèves est la clé. Nous veillons à ce qu'ils soient des hommes complets, heureux dans leur vie. » Idéal de chasteté » | Par Guyonne de Montjou (texte) et Axelle de Russé (photos) | vendredi 1 octobre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

For His Sake, and Britain’s, Now Is the Time for Boris Johnson to Ride Off into the Sunset

THE GUARDIAN: He could resume his career as an entertainer and we might get a PM worthy of the office

A new prime minister might begin a reset of relations with our European neighbours, such as is impossible under Johnson.’ Photograph: Reuters
At the end of The Magnificent Seven, most delightful of all westerns, there is a scene in which the elderly Mexican village sage says to Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen: “Your work is done.” It was time for the farmers to take over again. Following which, the two gunfighters rode away, to massacre evildoers elsewhere.

We shall dismiss scepticism about whether Boris Johnson can plausibly be compared to either Brynner or McQueen, but suggest that this is a good moment for the prime minister’s chums to put to him the old Mexican’s proposition: “Your work is done.” We might then return our governance to people willing to be interested not in farming, but instead boring stuff such as keeping the gas on and making sure children attend school.

What’s more, how do we keep Britain functioning between today and Christmas, when the foreign lorry drivers’ and turkey-feeders’ temporary visas will expire? There is no immediate prospect of evicting the incumbent from Downing Street against his, or perhaps Mrs Johnson’s, wishes.

It may be possible, however, to start convincing the couple that their interests would be well served by an early bath. The prime minister could tell his host of admirers that he has delivered Brexit and the Covid vaccination programme and averted a Corbyn premiership.

Whatever view we take of his record, he is assured of many pages in the history of the times. Only Nigel Farage has been more influential in reshaping our politics. Johnson can resume his rightful career as an entertainer. His memoirs, entwined with the diaries that he has assuredly been keeping (to the discomfiture of everyone who has spoken to him privately since he took office) will be worth millions. He might explore new terrain by becoming a devoted family man.

Almost none of the above is designedly facetious. If Johnson quits soon, he can remain famous, become rich and escape the protracted descent awaiting him if he lingers, eventually to vanish beneath the flock of poultry returning to roost in Downing Street. » | Max Hastings | Sunday, October 3, 2021

Gay Quote: Frank Kameny

Photo thanks to the Guardian. It is taken fron his obituary in the Guardian, to which there is a link below.
“Dr. Frank Kameny is widely hailed as one of the most prominent figures of the United States LGBTQ rights movement. …

In 1971, Kameny became the first openly gay candidate for the US Congress when he ran in the District of Columbia’s first election for a non-voting Congressional delegate. After his defeat Kameny and his campaign organization created the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Washington, DC, an organization that continues to lobby government and press the case for equal rights.”

The following is one of his many quotes:

“The person who really needs the psychotherapy (…) is not the homosexual youngster who gets dragged to the psychiatrist’s office by his mother, but the mother, to releive her anxieties about his homosexuality.”

[Source: News 18.]

Dr. Kameny died in 2011. Here is his obituary in the Guardian.

More ‘Hot’ Than ‘Cute’!

Again, my thanks go to El Chulo Dominicano, who has some of the very best photos of gay kisses on Pinterest.

Cute

Niedlich / Joli
With thanks to Wattpad and El Chulo Dominicano and, of course, Pinterest for this lovely photo.

Mass Protests in Brazil Call for Jair Bolsonaro’s Impeachment

THE GUARDIAN: Crowds parade through cities as polling shows president’s ratings sinking to new depths

Protesters in Rio de Janeiro were addressed by politicians calling for a united opposition to Jair Bolsonaro.Photograph: António Lacerda/EPA
Tens of thousands of protesters have returned to the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities to demand Jair Bolsonaro’s impeachment, as a poll showed the Brazilian president’s ratings had plumbed new depths.

Huge crowds paraded through downtown Rio on Saturday to voice their outrage at Bolsonaro’s response to a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 people and dealt a heavy blow to the South American country’s economy.

“We have come to shout at the top of our voices: Bolsonaro’s place is behind bars,” Carlos Lupi, the president of Brazil’s Democratic Labour party, told thousands of flag-waving demonstrators who had gathered outside Rio’s municipal chamber under a ferocious midday sun.

“This crook who uses the Bible to trick the people … This worm! This wretch! He must go to jail!” Lupi bellowed to cheers of approval. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro | Saturday, October 2, 2021

You Can’t Level Up by Raising Taxes on the Poor, Tories Tell PM

THE OBSERVER: Top MPs warn No 10 over plans for equality as Conservative conference gets under way in Manchester
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The prime minister, Boris Johnson, visits the site of the new children’s hospital at Leeds general infirmary on Saturday 2 October. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/AFP/Getty Images
A group of senior Conservative MPs has broken ranks to openly question how Boris Johnson can deliver on his promise to increase prosperity in poorer parts of the UK while at the same time raising taxes for working people and cutting benefits.

As the prime minister arrived in Manchester on Saturday night for his party’s first full conference since its thumping 2019 election win, Johnson insisted he was ready to take the “big, bold decisions on the priorities people care about – like on social care, on supporting jobs, on climate change, tackling crime and levelling up”.

But among Tory MPs, including some who won their northern or Midlands seats from Labour on the back of Johnson’s promise to “level up” the country, there was growing concern that tax rises and cuts to universal credit may fatally undermine their constituents’ trust in Johnson and his ability to deliver for people in more deprived areas. » | Toby Helm, Michael Savage, Phillip Inman and Harriet Sherwood | Saturday, October 2, 2021

I have said before and I'll say it again: Boris Johnson has a poor grip on economics. He is a classicist; he is not an economist. Not only does he not understand economics, he is clueless, too. One thing that he doesn't seem to understand is this: The economy must work for everyone, not just the superrich. There are going to be very many people hurting this winter because of the cuts in benefits and the rising energy and food prices. For the poor and less well-off, this is a huge problem. Doubtless, the superrich will keep on partyng. Energy price rises and rising food prices will mean little to them. But for the less well-off, it will be a huge deal. Have a heart, Boris. It's the Christian way. – © Mark

Die Kaviar-Connection (1/2) | Doku HD | ARTE

Sep 24, 2021 • Die 2-teilige Investigations-Doku deckt auf, wie Diktatoren in Zentralasien und im Kaukasus ihr Ansehen verbessern und Menschenrechtsverletzungen vertuschen, indem sie westliche Politiker bis tief in die europäischen Institutionen hinein bestechen. Die Dokumentation zeigt aber auch, wie ein gut organisiertes Netzwerk von Investigationsjournalisten zur Gegenwehr schreitet.

Die zweiteilige Investigation schildert, wie die Enthüllungsjournalistin Khadija Ismayilova wegen ihrer mutigen Berichterstattung über das korrupte Regime in Aserbaidschan ins Gefängnis kam. Ihre Enthüllungen betrafen die persönliche Bereicherung des Präsidenten Ilham Aliyev und seiner Familie an den Bodenschätzen des Landes. Die Folge „Die Macht des Geldes“ beschreibt außerdem den Aufstieg der neuen Diktatoren in den kaukasischen und zentralasiatischen Gebieten nach dem Niedergang der Sowjetunion.In dem Film werden die Mechanismen der berüchtigten „Kaviar-Diplomatie“ erklärt. Diese von Aserbaidschan eingesetzte Lobby-Strategie zielt darauf ab, das Ansehen der Scheindemokratie auf der internationalen Bühne zu verbessern – mit Hilfe internationaler Sportveranstaltungen, Einladungen von Stars aus der ganzen Welt und Geschenken an westliche Politiker. Die Rechnung ging auf, denn immer noch drücken europäische Eliten trotz eklatanter Veruntreuungen und Menschenrechtsverletzungen ein Auge zu. Die aktive Kaviar-Diplomatie aserbaidschanischer Gesandter fruchtete sogar im Europarat: Ein kritischer Bericht über politische Gefangene in Aserbaidschan wurde in der Parlamentarischen Versammlung überraschend mehrheitlich abgelehnt.Parallel dazu schildert der auf organisierte Verbrechen spezialisierte rumänische Enthüllungsjournalist Paul Radu, dass Journalisten wie Khadija Ismayilova inzwischen gelernt haben, dass sie an Einfluss und Gewicht gewinnen, wenn sie sich auf internationaler Ebene vernetzen.

2-tlg. Doku von Benoît Bringer und Laurent Richard (F 2021, 55 Min)

Un séminariste transgenre embarrasse l'épiscopat américain

Mgr Jerome Listecki. Darren Hauck / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
LE FIGARO : Née femme, cette personne aurait trafiqué son certificat de baptême pour entrer au séminaire après une opération de changement de sexe. Un évêque américain propose dans une note interne de vérifier le sexe de naissance des candidats au sacerdoce.

C'est un sujet épineux qu'a abordé Mgr Jerome Listecki, président de la commission des affaires catholiques au sein de la conférence des évêques catholiques des États-Unis. L'archevêque de Milwaukee, dans le Wisconsin, a en effet alerté ses confrères au sujet de plusieurs cas de séminaristes transgenres. Dans l'Église catholique, seuls les hommes sont autorisés à accéder à la prêtrise, rappelle-t-il dans une note interne datée du 22 septembre, et qui a depuis fuité sur Internet. Les évêques considèrent, en se référant au Code de Droit Canon qui régit le gouvernement de l'Église, que cette exigence s'applique au sexe de naissance, et refusent donc le sacerdoce aux femmes qui ont eu recours à des opérations de changement de sexe. » | Par Le Figaro | vendredi 1 octobre 2021

Mahan Esfahani – Bach: Goldberg Variations (Medley)

On his new album harpsichord star Mahan Esfahani approaches one of the greatest masterpieces of the Baroque repertoire with fresh eyes: Bach’s incomparable Goldberg Variations. The music featured in this video includes Aria da capo, Variatio 11 a 2 Clav. and Variatio 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav from the "Goldberg Variations”.

NastassjaCanCook: Country-style Beef Stew | “My Grandmother's Recipe”

Sep 25, 2021 • I usually make this stew either in a fast cooker or slow cooker, but today I want to show you how to make it in just the oven. My grandmother used to make this stew quite often and it was cooked in traditional Russian stove known as a pechka.. This stove was the heart and soul of country living. It made food, baked bread and also gave heat in winter days to warm up the house.

INGREDIENTS:

2 lb stew meat [UK: stewing steak]
2 large onions
1 cup beef stock (or water)
1 cup tomato puree
3 tbsp clarified butter (ghee)
4-5 cloves
minced garlic 1 tsp coriander
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp chili pepper
1 bay leaf

The meat, the METHOD and the cooking pot:

Best cuts of beef for stew are chuck, sirloin or boneless short ribs. This dish is made entirely in the oven and does not require any pre-cooking. The secret is in the temperature of your oven. Add all ingredients to a cast iron Dutch oven [UK – casserole]

Place in the oven (uncovered) at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour.
Mix it and cover it either with the lid or foil.
Lower the temperature of your oven to slow a cooking temperature of 220°F (120°C) and cook for a further 3 - 4 hours.
Total cooking time would be 5 hours and will result in a thick sauce, full of flavor. The meat will be very tender.
Serve with mashed potatoes or noodles.
Vegetables like: carrots and mushrooms can be added at the end, when there is about 1 hour of cooking time left.
Enjoy!