MARK ALEXANDER – ESSAY: We in the Occident are raised on lies and make-believe. People in the Orient are no different, except that the stories they are told and forced to believe are different from ours. But for our purposes today, let us stick to the fabulous stories we are fed from birth.
We are fed these stories throughout life: it goes on from the cradle to the grave. The crap keeps on coming our way unrelentingly!
It all starts at birth. The early crap is pretty and pretty harmless. It stretches from the tooth-fairy to Father Christmas coming down our chimneys at Christmas. I am not quite sure about those hapless kids who live in houses that don’t have chimneys (but that’s a story for another day). Having travelled through the sky on his pretty little sleigh, packed full with parcels and presents for the children in the whole wide world, being drawn by his helpful and extremely hard-working reindeer: Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph (the most famous and helpful of all the little critters).
Then, when we have grown up a little, that story is moulded a different way: we are told about the story of Jesus, the shepherds who watched their flocks by night, and the three kings who brought the baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh.
All well and good and pretty harmless. Children lap it up, as indeed did I.
As one gets older, one learns to modify the story to make it easier to swallow and a tad more believable.
The problems with all these stories, myths and legends is that some people never seem to grow out of them. They believe them throughout life. Never coming to the point of realising that whilst there might be an element of truth in some of these stories, much is simply embellishment and make-believe.
However, the children’s stories are generally rather harmless. But as we age, we get told far more nonsensical stuff. We are taught to fear the Almighty and the all-seeing God. Such myths are told to us to control our behaviour of course, told to us to make us behave in a way that the authorities can control us in an acceptable way. This is where it starts to get sinister.
Then, as we get older, the government gets involved. At this point the real nonsense starts being told! And it is truly unrelenting. In recent years, we have had scares about the eating of eggs, the drinking of coffee, the big one about the eating of saturated fat, the amount of salt we eat, the exercising myth, the extreme dangers of smoking cigarettes and tobacco. Smoking. Ah, that will make you prematurely wrinkled, give you all manner of cancers, your hair will fall out, as will your teeth, you will lose your limbs and become impotent! Moreover, you will stink to high heaven of that awful substance called tobacco. Your teeth will be yellow and your gums will shrink and bleed. Smoking is the root of all evil in today’s world. Naturally, most of it is a load of BS.
Then we come to the myths and legends told us by the politicians. Lizzie Truss and Kwazi Kwarteng’s crap, for example, is the latest nonsense we have been told. The utter crap that cutting taxes for the rich will shore up growth. IT WILL NOT! And nor will giving more money to the richest in society trickle down to the middle and working classes. They sold us that crap back in the Eighties under Thatcher. What we ended up with is a wealth gap today not seen since the Gilded Age and a society built on greed and egocentricity. Who cares for his neighbour anymore? You can forget Christianity with such a politico-economic doctrine. All you will get is a widening wealth gap, a growth in foodbanks, a growth in homelessness, more selfishness and a society based on greed.
I shall add more to this another day. Suffice it to say that we are being led by liars and incompetent fools. We are being force-fed nonsense. We need to change course if we truly wish to save the Occident. In the UK, the Tories are incapable of the course change.
© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
What Happened When Her Entire Family Came Out
Coming out is a most liberating experience. It is difficult to explain to a straight person the feelings one experiences. It is also often difficult to explain to a straight person why it is so important to come out. Many straight people, perhaps most of them, just don’t get it. They have no understanding of what it does to one to live a life that isn’t authentic. Ignorance about being gay abounds. So many straight people think that being gay is about sex. It is not; sex, at least as far as I am concerned, is the very least of it. I don’t even like the term homosexual; rather, I prefer the term, which I made up, homo-emotional. Homosexual has got the S-word written into it; homo-emotional, by contrast, means that one gets one’s emotional support from a member of the same sex. It is perfectly possible to be ‘homosexual’ and not engage in sex at all! Go figure that one out!
It takes a long time to come to terms with one’s sexuality; indeed, some people never do. But even when one does, it is a long, winding and painful road to travel. But once one is out of the closet, there’s no going back. Only real men can come out. Coming out is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign of strength and, often, of masculinity. Weak men could never come out: they wouldn’t have the courage to do so.
All I know is this: Coming out doesn’t solve all of one’s problems; but I would never ever wish to return to the closet. It would be unthinkable. – © Mark Alexander
Lederhosen, eine Zigarette, ein Bissel plaudern und, ich vermute, vielleicht auch noch ein wenig Liebe zueinander | Reupload
Meet Iran's Gay Mullah Forced to Flee the Country - BBC News | 2016
Two Bears Life: We Can Get Married! Gay Couple Talks about Marriage Equality in Austria | 2017
Panorama (1995) - An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales - Diana / Martin Bashir | Reupload
IMF Criticises Kwarteng Again over Tax Cuts and Energy Package
THE GUARDIAN: Fund says chancellor’s measures have made Bank of England’s battle against inflation more difficult
Kwasi Kwarteng has come under fresh fire from the International Monetary Fund after the Washington-based organisation said his tax cuts and energy support package had made the Bank of England’s battle against inflation more difficult.
The IMF used its prestigious world economic outlook (WEO) to criticise the scale of the stimulus provided by the chancellor and the blanket nature of the price cap on gas and electricity bills.
It said the UK was on course for a sizeable slowdown in growth from 3.6% this year to 0.3% in 2023 but said its forecasts had been made before Kwarteng delivered his mini-budget on 23 September. » | Larry Elliott in Washington | Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Kwasi Kwarteng has come under fresh fire from the International Monetary Fund after the Washington-based organisation said his tax cuts and energy support package had made the Bank of England’s battle against inflation more difficult.
The IMF used its prestigious world economic outlook (WEO) to criticise the scale of the stimulus provided by the chancellor and the blanket nature of the price cap on gas and electricity bills.
It said the UK was on course for a sizeable slowdown in growth from 3.6% this year to 0.3% in 2023 but said its forecasts had been made before Kwarteng delivered his mini-budget on 23 September. » | Larry Elliott in Washington | Tuesday, October 11, 2022
«Die Leute sagen: Wann und wie ich sterben möchte, geht nur mich etwas an. Das ist ein Trugschluss»
NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Emmanuel Macron möchte den Franzosen die aktive Sterbehilfe ermöglichen. Doch Widerstand regt sich ausgerechnet bei den Palliativmedizinern. Ein Arzt erklärt, weshalb.
Vincent Morel beschäftigt sich beinahe täglich mit einem Thema, das die meisten am liebsten weit von sich schieben: dem Ende des Lebens. Der 52-Jährige begleitet seit rund zwanzig Jahren Menschen zu Hause, im Heim oder im Spital während ihrer letzten Lebenstage. Inzwischen leitet er zudem die palliative Abteilung des Universitätsspitals in Rennes. Mit einer gewissen Beunruhigung verfolgt Morel die Debatte über eine Liberalisierung der Sterbehilfe in Frankreich, die seit dem Sommer Fahrt aufgenommen hat.
Präsident Emmanuel Macron hat bei mehreren Gelegenheiten deutlich gemacht, dass er die derzeitige Gesetzgebung reformieren will. Bis anhin ist in Frankreich nur die passive Sterbehilfe erlaubt. Der Präsident will bis Ende 2023 auch eine Form von aktiver Sterbehilfe möglich machen, in welcher Form, ist unklar. Bei Morel sorgen diese Pläne, wie bei Tausenden von Palliativmedizinern, für Unbehagen. Er gehört der französischen Gesellschaft der Begleitung und der Palliativpflege (SFAP) an, die die Vorbehalte ihrer rund 16 000 Mitglieder in die Debatte trägt. » | Nina Belz, Paris | Dienstag, 11. Oktober 2022
Vincent Morel beschäftigt sich beinahe täglich mit einem Thema, das die meisten am liebsten weit von sich schieben: dem Ende des Lebens. Der 52-Jährige begleitet seit rund zwanzig Jahren Menschen zu Hause, im Heim oder im Spital während ihrer letzten Lebenstage. Inzwischen leitet er zudem die palliative Abteilung des Universitätsspitals in Rennes. Mit einer gewissen Beunruhigung verfolgt Morel die Debatte über eine Liberalisierung der Sterbehilfe in Frankreich, die seit dem Sommer Fahrt aufgenommen hat.
Präsident Emmanuel Macron hat bei mehreren Gelegenheiten deutlich gemacht, dass er die derzeitige Gesetzgebung reformieren will. Bis anhin ist in Frankreich nur die passive Sterbehilfe erlaubt. Der Präsident will bis Ende 2023 auch eine Form von aktiver Sterbehilfe möglich machen, in welcher Form, ist unklar. Bei Morel sorgen diese Pläne, wie bei Tausenden von Palliativmedizinern, für Unbehagen. Er gehört der französischen Gesellschaft der Begleitung und der Palliativpflege (SFAP) an, die die Vorbehalte ihrer rund 16 000 Mitglieder in die Debatte trägt. » | Nina Belz, Paris | Dienstag, 11. Oktober 2022
The Blasphemy of Ashraf Fayadh
More German Businesses Go Bankrupt amid Weak Economy, High Inflation | DW News
A sharp uptick in the number of German firms beginning insolvency proceedings is raising eyebrows in Europe's largest economy. Some 762 firms declared bankruptcy in September — a 34% increase from the same period last year.
And the upward-trend is set to continue this month and the next, according to the Halle Institute for Economic Research. Its new report suggests that by November up to 40% more companies could be beginning insolvency proceedings, compared to the same period last year.
And the upward-trend is set to continue this month and the next, according to the Halle Institute for Economic Research. Its new report suggests that by November up to 40% more companies could be beginning insolvency proceedings, compared to the same period last year.
Wales: Skeletons: Remains of 240 People under Haverfordwest Store
BBC: The remains of more than 240 people, including children, have been unearthed by archaeologists working on the remnants of a medieval priory found beneath a former department store.
The "hugely significant" discovery was made under the old Ocky White building in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Archaeologists believe the ruins are from St Saviour's Priory, founded by a Dominican order of monks in about 1256.
One expert said it offered a "window into medieval Haverfordwest".
Ocky White was a popular store for more than a century before its riverside premises closed in 2013.
Site supervisor Andrew Shobbrook, from Dyfed Archaeological Trust, described the priory as a significant complex of buildings with dormitories, scriptoriums - rooms devoted to writing and manuscripts - stables and a hospital.
"It's quite a prestigious place to be buried. You have a range of people, from the wealthy to general townsfolk," he said.
It is believed that the graveyard could have been used until the early 18th Century. » | Aled Scourfield, BBC News | Tuesday, October 11, 2022
«Die Mehrheit der Priester im Vatikan ist schwul» | Sternstunde Religion | SRF Kultur | Reupload
Mit seiner These, wonach die Mehrheit der Prälaten, Bischöfe und Kardinäle des Vatikans schwul seien, generierte der französische Soziologe und Journalist Frédéric Martel im Frühling 2019 viel Aufmerksamkeit, aber auch Unverständnis.
Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.
Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.
Sternstunde Religion vom 29.3.2020
Frédéric Martel’s book, SODOMA is available in many languages. The book is a bestseller. I have bought it in French – the original language it was written in. I took delivery of it yesterday from Amazon.fr . I have already started reading it. It promises to be a very good and interesting read, too. Actually, it’s a long book; there are nearly a thousand pages. It is very well-researched. By all accounts, even Pope Francis has read it! – Mark
Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.fr .
Here is a link to the same programme in English.
Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.
Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.
Sternstunde Religion vom 29.3.2020
Frédéric Martel’s book, SODOMA is available in many languages. The book is a bestseller. I have bought it in French – the original language it was written in. I took delivery of it yesterday from Amazon.fr . I have already started reading it. It promises to be a very good and interesting read, too. Actually, it’s a long book; there are nearly a thousand pages. It is very well-researched. By all accounts, even Pope Francis has read it! – Mark
Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.fr .
Here is a link to the same programme in English.
Wie werden wir in Zukunft lieben, Eva Illouz? | Sternstunde Philosophie | SRF Kultur
Unverbindlichkeit in der Liebe ist hoch im Kurs. Doch die neue Freiheit hat ihren Preis, sagt die weltbekannte Soziologin Eva Illouz: Die romantische Liebe ist gefährdet wie nie zuvor. Wie sieht denn die Liebe in Zukunft aus? Werden wir vielleicht sogar Roboter lieben?
Mit ihrem Buch «Warum Liebe weh tut» landete die israelische Soziologin Eva Illouz 2012 einen Bestseller. Sie erwies sich darin als eine Dolmetscherin moderner Liebesverhältnisse und zeigte, woran die Liebe in Zeiten des Kapitalismus krankt. Zu diesen Krankheiten gehört, dass wir uns vor lauter Angst, einen potenziell besseren Partner zu übersehen, gar nicht mehr binden.
In ihrem neuen Buch «Warum Liebe endet» untersucht die Soziologin, wie Liebesverhältnisse misslingen und warum es zu einer neuen «Kultur der Lieblosigkeit» kommt. Mit Eva Illouz spricht Barbara Bleisch.
Sternstunde Philosophie vom 17.03.2019
Buch: Eva Illouz: «Warum Liebe endet». Suhrkamp, 2018
The same programme in English here.
Mit ihrem Buch «Warum Liebe weh tut» landete die israelische Soziologin Eva Illouz 2012 einen Bestseller. Sie erwies sich darin als eine Dolmetscherin moderner Liebesverhältnisse und zeigte, woran die Liebe in Zeiten des Kapitalismus krankt. Zu diesen Krankheiten gehört, dass wir uns vor lauter Angst, einen potenziell besseren Partner zu übersehen, gar nicht mehr binden.
In ihrem neuen Buch «Warum Liebe endet» untersucht die Soziologin, wie Liebesverhältnisse misslingen und warum es zu einer neuen «Kultur der Lieblosigkeit» kommt. Mit Eva Illouz spricht Barbara Bleisch.
Sternstunde Philosophie vom 17.03.2019
Buch: Eva Illouz: «Warum Liebe endet». Suhrkamp, 2018
The same programme in English here.
Zu Tisch... Gallura: Sardinien | ARTE
Der Honig, den Franca Corda und Renzo Cosseddu von den Wabenwänden ihrer Bienenstöcke schneiden, ist etwas Besonderes. Er wird im Spätherbst und Winter geerntet, wenn die Arbutus-Bäume in der Gallura im Nordosten Sardiniens blühen. Der bittere Honig (miele amaro) versüßt manches Gericht, so Seadas - mit sardischem Peretta-Käse gefüllte Teigtaschen - oder Niuleddi, Mandelkekse.
Im Nordosten Sardiniens wächst der Arbutus-Baum. Er beginnt erst im Herbst und Winter zu blühen. Der Corbezzolo-Honig versüßt nicht nur so manches sardische Gericht, seine Inhaltsstoffe helfen auch gegen Erkältung, Bronchitis und tun dem Magen gut. Franca Corda kann von dem bitteren Honig nicht genug bekommen. Sie wendet die mit Peretta-Käse gefüllten Teigtaschen, Seadas, darin und backt mit ihm Niuleddi, Kekse, die zu besonderen Anlässen gereicht werden. Mit ihrer Schwiegertochter Mattia, ist sie sich nicht immer eins, wenn es darum geht, wer von den beiden den Teig kneten und wer die leichteren Arbeiten machen soll. Spätestens beim gemeinsamen Essen mit der Familie ist aber wieder alles gut. Dann serviert Franca die Gallura-Suppe, das typische Gericht der Region.
Esskulturreihe, Regie: Cristina Ricci und Holger Preusse (D 2021, 33 Min)
Verfügbar bis zum 07.01.2023
Im Nordosten Sardiniens wächst der Arbutus-Baum. Er beginnt erst im Herbst und Winter zu blühen. Der Corbezzolo-Honig versüßt nicht nur so manches sardische Gericht, seine Inhaltsstoffe helfen auch gegen Erkältung, Bronchitis und tun dem Magen gut. Franca Corda kann von dem bitteren Honig nicht genug bekommen. Sie wendet die mit Peretta-Käse gefüllten Teigtaschen, Seadas, darin und backt mit ihm Niuleddi, Kekse, die zu besonderen Anlässen gereicht werden. Mit ihrer Schwiegertochter Mattia, ist sie sich nicht immer eins, wenn es darum geht, wer von den beiden den Teig kneten und wer die leichteren Arbeiten machen soll. Spätestens beim gemeinsamen Essen mit der Familie ist aber wieder alles gut. Dann serviert Franca die Gallura-Suppe, das typische Gericht der Region.
Esskulturreihe, Regie: Cristina Ricci und Holger Preusse (D 2021, 33 Min)
Verfügbar bis zum 07.01.2023
FAZ: Ukrainischer Soldat nach Raktetenangriffen: „Was die Russen tun, ist jenseits aller Normen“
Journeyman Pictures: Sex, Revolution and Islam | Trailer | Available Now
If you wish to purchase this new documentary, click this link and follow the links provided.
Putin’s New Military Commander, General Surovikin, Is a ‘Nasty Piece of Work’
"The latest general to be top, General Surovikin, is a particularly nasty piece of work."
Putin’s new military commander Sergey Surovikin "knows no limit to war", international politics professor Scott Lucas tells #TimesRadio
Putin’s new military commander Sergey Surovikin "knows no limit to war", international politics professor Scott Lucas tells #TimesRadio
Professor Tim Wilson: Kwarteng and Truss Have Cheated the Nation
Monday, October 10, 2022
أحبك كثيراً يا حبيبي
In Full: Nicola Sturgeon Says Economic Case for Independence Will Come Next Week
Nicola Sturgeon says independence isn't a "miracle cure" for Scotland's economy, but claimed the country "can do so much better than this".
Closing the SNP's annual party conference in Aberdeen, Scotland's first minister said the economic case for independence will be published next Monday as she doubled down on her push for another referendum on 19 October 2023.
Nicola Sturgeon tells SNP conference: ‘We are the independence generation’: First minister promises ‘steady hand on tiller’ while offering reassurance to those opposed to UK exit »
Great speech, Ms. Sturgeon! Scotland deserves its independence. Doesn't Wales deserve independence too? Westminster is a shambles under the Tories; it would be no better under Labour, either. Westminster no longer speaks for the Celtic fringe in this dis-United Kingdom. The English wanted to go it alone; so let them do so! We in the Celtic fringe want to re-join the European Union as independent nations. The Welsh will never have true prosperity being ruled by Westminster. Don’t we in the Celtic fringe deserve better? – © Mark Alexander
Closing the SNP's annual party conference in Aberdeen, Scotland's first minister said the economic case for independence will be published next Monday as she doubled down on her push for another referendum on 19 October 2023.
Nicola Sturgeon tells SNP conference: ‘We are the independence generation’: First minister promises ‘steady hand on tiller’ while offering reassurance to those opposed to UK exit »
Great speech, Ms. Sturgeon! Scotland deserves its independence. Doesn't Wales deserve independence too? Westminster is a shambles under the Tories; it would be no better under Labour, either. Westminster no longer speaks for the Celtic fringe in this dis-United Kingdom. The English wanted to go it alone; so let them do so! We in the Celtic fringe want to re-join the European Union as independent nations. The Welsh will never have true prosperity being ruled by Westminster. Don’t we in the Celtic fringe deserve better? – © Mark Alexander
UK Announces Sanctions against Iran’s Morality Police
THE GUARDIAN: Move comes in response to violent suppression of protests over death of Mahsa Amini in police custody
Iran's riot police stand in a street in Tehran, Iran on 3 October. Photograph: Wana News Agency/Reuters
Britain has announced sanctions against Iran’s morality police in its entirety as well as its national chief and the head of its Tehran division in response to the violent suppression of protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
The morality police have been responsible for the street patrols forcing women to wear hijab and attend re-education classes on modesty and chastity. Amini was stopped by the morality police over her clothing while walking in a park in Tehran and taken into detention.
Similar sanctions have already been imposed by the US and are set to be imposed by the EU.
Apart from the Iranian morality police as an institution, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said sanctions were being slapped on its chief, Mohammed Gachi, and the head of its Tehran division, Haj Ahmad Mirzaei. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Monday, October 10, 2022
Back in the 1960s, feminists in the West burnt their bras. Iranian women today should do something similar: All Iranian women should burn their hijabs/chadors en masse. Take them all to the public square and just burn them! What can the morality police or authorities do if everyone does the same thing? There’d be no hijabs left in the country to wear! Defy the reactionary old fogies! – © Mark Alexander
Britain has announced sanctions against Iran’s morality police in its entirety as well as its national chief and the head of its Tehran division in response to the violent suppression of protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
The morality police have been responsible for the street patrols forcing women to wear hijab and attend re-education classes on modesty and chastity. Amini was stopped by the morality police over her clothing while walking in a park in Tehran and taken into detention.
Similar sanctions have already been imposed by the US and are set to be imposed by the EU.
Apart from the Iranian morality police as an institution, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said sanctions were being slapped on its chief, Mohammed Gachi, and the head of its Tehran division, Haj Ahmad Mirzaei. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Monday, October 10, 2022
Back in the 1960s, feminists in the West burnt their bras. Iranian women today should do something similar: All Iranian women should burn their hijabs/chadors en masse. Take them all to the public square and just burn them! What can the morality police or authorities do if everyone does the same thing? There’d be no hijabs left in the country to wear! Defy the reactionary old fogies! – © Mark Alexander
Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Independence ‘Makes the Case for Optimism’
THE GUARDIAN: First minister uses SNP conference to promise steady hand compared with Westminster mayhem
Nicola Sturgeon giving her keynote speech on day three of the Scottish National party conference in Aberdeen. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Nicola Sturgeon has told the Scottish National party’s annual conference that independence makes the “case for optimism” in troubled times, and promised Scotland “a steady and compassionate hand on the tiller”.
The first minister spoke of the “massive responsibility of me and my government” to help Scots through the cost of living crisis, as she spoke to delegates in Aberdeen at the party’s first in-person conference since the pandemic.
Contrasting the UK government’s plans to “bundle [asylum seekers] on to planes like unwanted cargo”, Sturgeon emphasised Scotland’s international responsibility to stand with those in Iran, Afghanistan, Russian [sic], Belarus and Ukraine.
Sturgeon’s blunt assertion that she “detests” the Tories, made on the Laura Kuennsberg TV show on Sunday morning, attracted criticism from opponents and dominated Monday’s front pages, but she did not baulk at describing the tax cutting package announced by the UK government as “unconscionable”. » | Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent | Monday, October 10, 2022
Nicola Sturgeon has told the Scottish National party’s annual conference that independence makes the “case for optimism” in troubled times, and promised Scotland “a steady and compassionate hand on the tiller”.
The first minister spoke of the “massive responsibility of me and my government” to help Scots through the cost of living crisis, as she spoke to delegates in Aberdeen at the party’s first in-person conference since the pandemic.
Contrasting the UK government’s plans to “bundle [asylum seekers] on to planes like unwanted cargo”, Sturgeon emphasised Scotland’s international responsibility to stand with those in Iran, Afghanistan, Russian [sic], Belarus and Ukraine.
Sturgeon’s blunt assertion that she “detests” the Tories, made on the Laura Kuennsberg TV show on Sunday morning, attracted criticism from opponents and dominated Monday’s front pages, but she did not baulk at describing the tax cutting package announced by the UK government as “unconscionable”. » | Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent | Monday, October 10, 2022
The Gay Holocaust | Complete Documentary : The Pink Triangles | Reupload
Premiered Jan 21, 2021 • The vastly ignored history of Germany's war on gay men during World War 2. A special note: Trans women were also persecuted but Germany categorized them as gay men so there's no official records to refer to.
Patreon: www.patreon.com/jamessomerton
This documentary contains material which some people will find very disturbing. Viewer discretion is therefore strongly advised. It is not suitable for children. – Mark Alexander
Patreon: www.patreon.com/jamessomerton
The Pink Triangles - The Story of the Gay Holocaust (Complete Documentary) from James Somerton on Vimeo.
Pink Triangles
Ignorance abounds! Is there really any hope for humankind? – © Mark Alexander
Risking Death to Tell the Truth: Saudi Arabia’s LGBT+ Community
With the recent takeover of Newcastle United by The Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF) more questions over Saudi Arabia’s attitude towards human rights have arisen. Primarily the treatment of the LGBT+ community.
The Athletic Adam Crafton has spoken to LGBT+ people in Saudi Arabia about the awful conditions they live in and what they think of Newcastle's takeover.
Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.
The Athletic Adam Crafton has spoken to LGBT+ people in Saudi Arabia about the awful conditions they live in and what they think of Newcastle's takeover.
Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.
Professor Tim Wilson: Nicola Sturgeon and Liz Truss
Iran Executes 2 Gay Men over Sodomy Charges
Das Dritte Reich - Das wahre Gesicht 1938-1945 | Reich und Republik, Folge 5
Filmmaker Ken Burns Talks about His Latest Series ‘The U.S. and the Holocaust’ | DW News
Washington early summer 1939. In the Caribbean Sea, somewhere between Cuba and Florida, the MS St. Louis is waiting for the green light from Washington to enter Miami.
There are almost 1,000 war refugees on board the ship from Hamburg. Almost all are German Jews who want to get to safety in the USA.
But US President Franklin D. Roosevelt refused entry.
This is a key scene in the three-part TV documentary 'The U.S. and the Holocaust' which argues that although the United States absorbed around 220,000 Jews during World War II, far more could have been saved.
There are almost 1,000 war refugees on board the ship from Hamburg. Almost all are German Jews who want to get to safety in the USA.
But US President Franklin D. Roosevelt refused entry.
This is a key scene in the three-part TV documentary 'The U.S. and the Holocaust' which argues that although the United States absorbed around 220,000 Jews during World War II, far more could have been saved.
Iran Has One of the World's Highest Execution Rates | DW News
Sunday, October 09, 2022
Billy Ocean : There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) | Official Video | Reupload
Liz Truss on Verge of Major U-turn on Real-terms Benefits Cut
THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Tory MPs warn PM she would lose vote on increasing benefits only in line with earnings rather than inflation
Liz Truss is teetering on the edge of performing another big U-turn as Tory MPs warned she would lose a vote on delivering a real-terms cut to benefits while new research showed the move could push an extra 450,000 people into poverty.
Despite desperate pleas for party unity from senior ministers after weeks of bitter infighting, the row over welfare threatened to overshadow the prime minister’s attempt to reassert her authority when the Commons returns from recess on Tuesday.
Fresh threats of moves to oust Truss if she digs in were also being discussed by MPs over the weekend, while senior Tories, including former chancellor George Osborne, warned the Conservatives ran the risk of a wipeout at the next election for embarking on a “political experiment”. » | Patrick Butler, Social policy editor | Sunday, October 9, 2022
Liz Truss is teetering on the edge of performing another big U-turn as Tory MPs warned she would lose a vote on delivering a real-terms cut to benefits while new research showed the move could push an extra 450,000 people into poverty.
Despite desperate pleas for party unity from senior ministers after weeks of bitter infighting, the row over welfare threatened to overshadow the prime minister’s attempt to reassert her authority when the Commons returns from recess on Tuesday.
Fresh threats of moves to oust Truss if she digs in were also being discussed by MPs over the weekend, while senior Tories, including former chancellor George Osborne, warned the Conservatives ran the risk of a wipeout at the next election for embarking on a “political experiment”. » | Patrick Butler, Social policy editor | Sunday, October 9, 2022
Loneliness Is Worse for Your Health Than Smoking Cigarettes
I really, truly believe this. I have never believed that smoking tobacco is as harmful to health as they have made it out to be. Put simply: People have been fed a load of crap!
The devil is in the dose, as it is for everything. Eating and nutrition is essential to life; but if we eat too much, especially certain foods like carbs and sugars, eating is no longer essential to life, but injurious to it.
The old adages, “enjoy everything in moderation” and “a little bit of what you fancy does you good” are important to bear in mind here.
I believe that if we eat nutritious food (and not too much of it), do not overindulge in alcohol, sleep plenty and worry little, a few cigarettes won’t do you too much harm. That is my theory and I am sticking too it.
If you listen to the so-called experts on smoking and tobacco today, you would be forgiven for thinking that enjoying a cigarette is the very worst thing you can do for your health. Smoking has become the bête noire of our age. If you smoke, you will lose all your hair, your teeth will fall out, you will suffer from unhealthy gums (gingivitis), you will probably lose a limb or two and you will cough yourself to death.
I am sure that there are some unfortunate people for whom this scenario might be a reality; and for those people, I feel sorry. But I can assure you that this has not been my experience of smoking. I have smoked twenty cigarettes a day for most of my adult life. Despite this, I have a very full head of very dark hair, a mouthful of teeth, unwrinkled skin, and my eyesight is very good. I have never suffered from a cough either.
Tomorrow is October 10th. It will be six months since I smoked my last cigarette. I have had no cravings since I stopped. However, there is a pleasure missing in my life: the enjoyment of a smoke. For this reason, I am toying with the idea of whether I should take up the habit again. I have yet to decide. I would add that I am sick to death of the bullshit that the medical profession and the politicians feed us re smoking. – © Mark Alexander
CNN: 'United for Neda' Song
Related.
Remembering Neda
This documentary cannot be embedded because it is age-restricted; it must therefore be viewed on YouTube itself.
I remember Neda’s tragic death. It moved the world. Here is a link to the documentary. Be aware: It is not for the faint-hearted. But in my opinion, all those who can watch it, should watch it. It will make us all aware of the needless suffering in Iran.
Furthermore, I am posting this today because Iranian women are currently still suffering so much because of the brutality of the Mullahs and the authorities in that country.
Personally, I think it would be so much better for Iranians if the Peacock Throne were restored, if Iran had a Shah and Shahbanu again. It would bring so much dignity and stability to the country. A Shah ruling as a constitutional monarch? What could be better for Iran in these troubled times? © Mark Alexander
God Loves His Creation: Whether Gay or Even Straight!
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