#Car servicing St Peters

[octuscle]

Fewer wheels, more balls

Stephen cursed everything. His parents, because they hadn't paid for him to study medicine and he had only become a nurse. St. Peter because he sent a shower of rain at the exact moment he rolled out onto the road on his new motorcycle. The mechanic, because he had offered him the motorcycle as a replacement for his car, which had finally died of old age. And himself, because he hadn't had the backbone to insist on having the car repaired and had this bike sold to him instead. Yes, he had taken his driver's license back then. But he hadn't ridden a motorcycle since driving school. And this beast, a twenty-year-old Triumph Rocket III, was far too big for his frail body. And with the silly rain overalls that the mechanic had given him, he looked more than silly.

Especially in this weather, Stephen hadn't expected to get home on his bike without breaking down. But even he was surprised that it should be so far after just four miles. With the last of his strength, the bike rolled under the highway bridge. At least it was dry there. And now? Stephen had no idea about engines. He was an ambulance driver. He knew all about cars. At least a little. But with motorcycles?

If you're at a loss, ask ChatGPT. Stephen pulled out his cell phone and described the problem. He was advised to remove the spark plugs and dry them out. Shit, yes, he'd heard about that. It was a common problem with that model year. He had an oily rag in his upperall. He dried and cleaned the spark plugs. And the machine started. Perfectly! Nevertheless, Stephen sent up a prayer to heaven. And it was answered. The rain subsided and he made it home without any further problems.

Stephen dried his bike and hung his wet leather suit on a hanger. His garage, which was also his own little improvised workshop, was kept tidy. That was important to him. Otherwise, he wasn't the tidy type… As he stood in front of the toilet in his wet underwear and pissed, it occurred to him that he could clean again. Shit, this was a man's household. And he worked in the Red Cross workshop on engines and car bodies. He didn't need a sterile environment. He still had some pizza left in the fridge. He didn't have to leave for work for another hour. That was enough for food, drink and a wank. Then he put on a dry leather suit, sat on his 140 hp baby and set off for work with the engine roaring.

Stephen liked the late shift. He could wait for the vehicles in peace and didn't have to constantly watch out for vehicles coming in and out. The bad weather also meant that there were fewer people on the road. There were fewer motorcycle accidents in particular. Stephen didn't care about the weather. He had once had a car. But he needed the wind around his nose. He drove in all weathers. Nevertheless, he preferred it when no bikers had to be taken to hospital after an accident. Here in the neighborhood you can. Most of them were at least distant acquaintances. I mean, Stephen was an authority in the biker scene. When it came to engines, nobody could fool him. And whether it was his Triumph, his BMW or his Ducati, he had every bike under control.

It was almost 05:00 in the morning. The replacement would be coming soon. Stephen was standing in the coffee kitchen with a couple of paramedics, smoking a cigarette. His parents had always wanted him to become a doctor. He was sure that he could do a much greater service to the health service with his job. And tomorrow it would continue, tomorrow he would give it his all again. But not today, today he was happy when his baby was in the garage and he was in bed.

It was 08:00 when Steve was woken by a honking horn. Shit, he had slept in his clothes again. It had been a long evening with the boys. And yes, he'd probably had one too many beers to drive home. But his machine knew the way. Another honk. Bloody hell, couldn't anyone wait these days? "I'm coming" boomed Steve's bass over the service station. Some fucking city slicker who was too stupid to fill up the tank himself. Steve had a hard time hiding his morning wood when he went to the gas pump to fill up the show-off Porsche. Steve positioned himself so that the driver had no other chance than to stare at the bulge in his pants. "That'll be 80 bucks, buddy," Steve grunted. "Anything else I can do for you?"

Steve had once seen a drawing of a gas station where the attendants not only refueled and repaired cars, but also served hot customers in other ways. It was some guy from Denmark, Sweden or something… Tim? Tom? It didn't matter. Steve turned around, his hand on his bulge. Three, two, one... He would have bet the 80 dollars that the Porsche driver would come up behind him. The first coffee of the day would have to wait. He had an ass to fill for now.

Interested in your own TF story? DM me, there's a community on Tumblr for that!

[simshousewindsor]

HENFORD, Windenburg (SNN) - - Queen Katherine honored her late father, George I, at a special memorial service Tuesday on the front lawn of Sumpterson Estate in Henford.

The Service of Thanksgiving to honor His late Majesty, who died last March at the age of 61, included several poignant tributes to the late monarch including musical selections from Whitney Houston, chosen by the King himself. Several of Houston's songs were inspired by King George and Queen Rowena's wedding day, palace sources confirmed.

The monarch, 31, was joined on the front row by her husband Rainier, Prince consort and two eldest children, Prince Phillip (7) and Princess Grace (4). The 5 month old twins, Prince Michael and Prince Samuel, were not in attendance.

The monarch also honored her beloved father through her style — and she wasn't the only one. Queen Katherine opted for the blue Duchess of XVIII dress by her favorite designer, @rustys-cc, teamed with a wide-brimmed hat by the same designer, while Grace wore the navy Little Lady of Dress & Hat by the designer.

The blue hue is the color of King George's official livery. Known as "Cavalier Blue," it has been used for staff uniforms and private cars since 1992.

Queen Katherine also wore The Windsor Sapphire brooch, one of the most famous pieces amongst the Jewels of the Crown.

Her Majesty was joined by several other members of the royal family including the Earl and Countess of Boykins, and the Earl and Countess of St Peters behind her on the second row. The royals also wore shades of blue.

Rowena, Queen Mother also wore a special shade of blue, along with The Cullinan III and IV brooch that was a subtle nod to King George; said to be one His late Majesty admired the most. Attendees, including the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Princess Anna, also wore the color.

Zarah, Queen Dowager chose black to honor her late son, also wearing the Royal Family Order of George I.

Dame Whitney, a native of Brindleton Bay, performed five of her hit songs, including 'I Will Always Love You'. King George was very vocal in stating that Houston was his favorite singer, and had the star perform at the palace on three different occasions during his reign.

The multi-hyphenated singer, actress and producer was invested by His late Majesty in the Order of the Companions of Honor and created Officer of the Order of the Windenburg Empire (OWE) in 1997 for her public service to Windenburg in arts.

She then received the prestigious CWE honor, which stands for Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the Windenburg Empire, in June 2022. (seen above)

Houston is the most awarded female artist of all time. Her list of awards include 2 Olivias, 7 Gramee Awards, 16 Simsboard Music Awards, and 23 Windenburg Music Awards, amongst a total of 416 career awards.

A close friend to the royal family since the early 90s, Dame Whitney's voice "filled the memorial with love", said one guest.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Saturday, July 1, 2023

July 1st_June 18

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker (movable holiday on Saturday closest to June 19th).

SAINT JOHN OF SHANGAÏ AND SAN FRANCISCO (1966)

In honor of the June 2nd feast of the great hierarch, ascetic, and wonderworker, John Maximovich of Shangaï and San Francisco,  we let Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, an eyewitness of the opening of St John’s coffin on October 12th, 1993, recounts the event.

Vladika John passed away in 1966 while visiting Seattle with the wonder-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. After the service, he went to his cell and was found reposed before the icon. The funeral was held in San Francisco, but not immediately, because it took a long time for all the bishops to assemble. Metropolitan Laurus (then Igumen Laurus) and Archbishop Averky (Taushev) traveled for three days by car from Jordanville - almost three thousand miles. Although Vladika John's body had not been embalmed, it showed no signs of decay before or after the funeral. San Francisco's Board of Supervisors had given the Holy Virgin Cathedral parish council special permission to bury the Archbishop within the city confines, under the church building. We used to have a storage room in the basement. This room was transformed into the sepulcher where Vladika John's remains were laid to rest.

People went to his tomb before the glorification, as with Blessed Xenia in St. Petersburg. Initially, they prayed for Vladika John, but then they started praying to him, leaving him their lists of names. And numerous miracles occurred. The veneration of Saint John and the process of his glorification began as a grassroots movement and was not one directed from above. His reverence was growing rapidly, and thus the question of his canonization arose relatively soon. However, it was a great miracle that a decision regarding his canonization was made.

At that time, the head of our Russian Church Abroad was Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), and it is no secret that he had not been favorably disposed toward Archbishop John. As a result, Vladika Vitaly was less popular in San Francisco. Nevertheless, Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev), the ruling hierarch of the Western American Diocese, told me after returning from the Synod meeting in September 1993: "You won't believe what just happened. At the Synod meeting, I suggested that materials for the possible glorification of Archbishop John be collected, and Metropolitan Vitaly unexpectedly said: 'Let's glorify him'!"

After this turn of events, it was decided to uncover Vladika John's remains. Archbishop Anthony invited Archbishop Laurus, to whom he was very close and trusted, and several priests, including an archimandrite who used to be Archbishop John's leading acolyte. The keeper of the sepulcher was also invited.

For some reason, there are particular days when every single detail is remembered. Father Alexander Schmemann reflects on this in his diaries. We can forget details of very important days: our wedding or ordination days, but some days and moments are always remembered. We recall every fact: the weather and the color of people's clothing. For example, although I served with Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev) for twenty years, I remember only certain moments well. I can close my eyes and feel him sitting nearby, see him separating his Panagia and Cross on his chest, and clearly see his facial expression. In the same way, I remember the day when holy Vladika John's relics were opened: It was like a small Pascha.

Most of us have never opened a coffin after twenty-five years after the burial. From a human perspective, I felt trepidation and some reluctance before St. John's remains opened. I was a young priest and honestly couldn't say I felt too comfortable around dead bodies. At about 9:00 p.m., we went down to the sepulcher and began serving a Panikhida. Our wives and children knew about this. Although Vladika Anthony asked us to keep this a secret, we convinced him we could not keep this a secret from our wives. They would ask where we were going at that hour. Vladika Anthony then gave us his permission to tell them.

They were waiting for us at home with great anxiety. Several days before the opening of the relics, a small delegation had gone down to the sepulcher to investigate things. The board consisted of three clergymen, one of them being a carpenter. The casket was in an aboveground concrete sarcophagus. The delegation needed to know in advance how the extremely heavy cover of the coffin would be removed. Because of their efforts, when we went to open the remains, we knew what needed to be done. Two-by-fours, a crowbar, sheets, and other items had been prepared. We lifted the cover of the sarcophagus and saw a corroded metal casket under it. The coffin was covered by a bishop's mantle, which had been put there on the day of Archbishop John's funeral. The mantle was intact. Then the coffin was raised slightly with ropes, but it started to collapse because it had completely rusted through in many places. So we put the two-by-fours under the casket to support it. The next step was to open the casket lid.

The key to the lid had been kept by one hieromonk for more than twenty-five years. He approached the casket and solemnly put the key into the keyhole, but the lid would not open. It has rusted through, and the lock did not work. Then our protodeacon got down to business and tried to force open the lid with a crowbar. He was a very strong Russian and weighed around 375 pounds. However, Archbishop Anthony disapproved of such use of brutal force, believing it is not proper and pious to open the lid in such a manner, so he stopped the protodeacon, crossed himself, closed his eyes, and started reading the 50th Psalm.

I would like to step back momentarily and recall the events that led to this. When my wife and I were deciding whether or not to move to San Francisco, she was quite hesitant because we would be living very far from family. In the Russian Church Abroad, we do not have such a strict policy regarding clergy assignments and transfers as in Russia. Usually, a bishop will propose, and the priest can either agree or refuse. The quandary is that many of our priests have secular jobs, and not everyone can leave his job because not every parish can provide its clergy with a decent salary. So we went to San Francisco for a "scouting" trip. I had more superficial reasons for moving there. I thought of the grand cathedral, the numerous youth, the large Russian population, and the active parish school. But my wife was a bit skeptical about those things. We saw the city, got to meet some of the clergy, and, right before our departure, were invited by Vladika Anthony to his residence. Archbishop Anthony lived alone. He did not have a cell attendant or a driver. He usually used the city buses and always carried a briefcase with him. He even put his food purchases in that leather briefcase when he went shopping. The Archbishop greeted us at the door, sat us down, and started cooking everything himself. When the food was ready, he faced the icon corner and said the Lord's Prayer. My wife later remarked that she had never seen anyone reading "Our Father" in such a way. Vladika Anthony was not simply reading a prayer; he stood before the living God, addressing Him. There was no formal element in his prayer. When we left Archbishop Anthony's quarters, I asked my wife: "Well, Lena, what do you think?" she replied: "With a bishop like that, one can live and serve anywhere." That was the deciding factor for us regarding our move to California

This same bishop was praying during the opening of St. John's relics. Vladika Anthony completed Psalm 50, took the lid, and quickly opened it. I believe we could not open the lid from the beginning because God wanted the relics to be uncovered by Archbishop Anthony, a man of high spiritual life and purity. The lid opened, and we glimpsed at St. John's vestments. Initially, they were white but now had become green. It seemed they were moldy. We then touched the vestments, which fell apart in our hands because of decomposition. When a priest is buried, his face is covered with an aer: the one used to wrap the Holy Gifts at the Liturgy. Such an aer was covering St. John's face. Archbishop Anthony crossed himself and raised the aer covering Vladika John's face. This was the moment when I saw Archbishop John's face for the first time. His face and body were intact - incorrupt - and we were looking at true relics.

Vladika Anthony appointed me as the photographer for this event. I was taking pictures with a film camera (this was in 1993). I ran out of the film and rushed home. All the lights were on in our apartment-it was like the Pascha. Although it was around midnight, my wife was waiting for me. I began saying loudly: "He is incorrupt! His relics are incorrupt!" I then grabbed some film and ran back to the sepulcher. Matushka started to phone others to share our joy. When I returned to the sepulcher, a sick boy was brought to the relics who was the son of one of our diocesan priests. Archbishop Anthony gave his blessing for the boy to touch the relics. And the boy was healed. Now he is entirely healthy, much taller than I, and plays college rugby. A wooden casket had been prepared in advance to replace the metal one that had rusted away. We placed the relics in the wooden coffin, closed it, and left the sepulcher praising God.

The preparations for the glorification were moving ahead quickly. New vestments were being sewn for St. John. We opened the relics again in several months to wash them and vest Vladika, but we needed to figure out how to do this. No reference book had detailed instructions on cleaning and preparing relics before a glorification service. Archbishop Anthony was searching all his books. He found some historical data on canonizations, including how St. Theodosy of Chernigov and St. Ioasaph of Belgorod were glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church. He also found some articles in the publication of The Church Herald and other old periodicals. There was some information there, but we had to figure out most things ourselves. In Russia, perestroika had only just begun, and the opening of relics was not yet widespread. There was nobody to ask. We washed St. John's relics using water, oil, and rosewater. Initially, his skin seemed light in color, almost white, but it turned a rather dark amber color after it was washed. I combed out his hair and beard (I even found several hairs in the comb afterward). We changed his vestments and left him in the sepulcher until 1994, when he was glorified on the day of his repose, July 2

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco was glorified as follows: First, the relics were brought from the sepulcher to the cathedral proper and placed in the center of the church. A Panikhida was then served, the last one for Archbishop John. At the end of the Panikhida, an icon of St. John, wrapped in a cloth, was laid upon the closed reliquary. The Panikhida finished with the words: "May God bless and give him rest, and by his holy prayers have mercy on us." After the Panikhida, the All-Night Vigil began, at which the stichera (verses) to the new saint were sung. During the litya, when a list of saints is remembered, St. John was mentioned for the first time: "Our father among the saint's John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker, whose glorification is presently taking place, and all the saints..." That Vigil was unforgettable!

Saturday, July 1st, 2023. St Jon's relics has been brought out of its shrine and sits in the middle of the church from Thursday to Saturday 

During the polyeleos, the Metropolitan came up to the reliquary, untied the icon of St. John on top of it, and two tall priests raised it on high so the faithful could see it. Afterward, the reliquary lid was lifted, and everyone could see St. John's relics. Immediately, all present did a full prostration, and the numerous clergy sang the Magnification to the new saint.

The glorification service was beautiful and genuinely conciliar, with the participation of numerous faithful. It was also one of the most important spiritual events in my life. And I will not cease to remark that our generation is highly blessed. Not one generation has received as many mercies from God as we have: We have not experienced wars and witnessed the rebirth of church life in Russia and the glorification of the New Martyrs and St. John. In addition to these blessings, we have seen and taken part in a tremendous and unprecedented miracle: the unification of the two parts of the Russian Church!

Archpriest Peter Perekrestov is currently archpriest of the Holy Virgin Cathedral “Joy of All Sorrows” of San Francisco, where St John Maximovich of Shanghaï and San Francisco reposes.

Source: Orthodox Christianity

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself. He became obedient to the point of death, even at the end of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

LUKE 10:38-42; 11:27-28 

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village, and a confident woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. 27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" 28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

[newstfionline]

Monday, April 10, 2023

When the moon unites Muslims, Jews and Christians (Clarin/Argentina) These days you may find some of your neighbors savoring an Easter egg or a Matzah flatbread, or others eating nothing at all until past sunset. Three important festivities are coinciding right now for the first time in recent memory, and they involve the major monotheistic faiths that account for half of humanity. For the Catholics and Protestants it is Easter, which will culminate on Easter Sunday on April 9. For Jews like myself, Wednesday was the beginning of Passover, commemorating our liberation from slavery in Egypt and the birth of the Jewish nation. Muslims are two weeks into Ramadan, the sacred month in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is generally very rare for the three faiths to see their holy dates coincide this way. We will have to wait some three decades for this coincidence to recur.

Pope at Easter: Pray for Ukrainian, Russian people, refugees (AP) In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a “climate of trust.” Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peter’s Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion. The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging “trust among individuals, peoples and nations,” Francis said Easter’s joy “illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.” “Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,″ Francis implored God in his Easter speech, ”Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families.” He urged the international community to work to end the war in Ukraine and “all conflict and bloodshed in the world, beginning with Syria, which still awaits peace.” Francis also prayed for those who lost loved ones in an earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey two months ago, claiming tens of thousands of lives.

E.P.A. Is Said to Propose Rules Meant to Drive Up Electric Car Sales Tenfold (NYT) The Biden administration is planning some of the most stringent auto pollution limits in the world, designed to ensure that all-electric cars make up as much as 67 percent of new passenger vehicles sold in the country by 2032, according to two people familiar with the matter. At the same time, the proposed regulation would pose a significant challenge for automakers. Nearly every major car company has already invested heavily in electric vehicles, but few have committed to the levels envisioned by the Biden administration. And many have faced supply chain problems that have held up production. Even manufacturers who are enthusiastic about electric models are unsure whether consumers will buy enough of them to make up the majority of new car sales within a decade. Rapidly speeding up the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States would require other significant changes, including the construction of millions of new electric vehicle charging stations, an overhaul of electric grids to accommodate the power needs of those chargers and securing supplies of minerals and other materials needed for batteries.

Thousands of doctors plan to walk off job again in England (AP) A four-day strike planned by tens of thousands of doctors in England next week could lead to the postponement of a quarter-million medical appointments, a National Health Service official said Saturday. Dr. Layla McCay, policy director at the NHS Confederation, said the impact is expected to be far greater than a three-day walkout last month by doctors early in their career that led to 175,000 appointments and procedures being postponed. The strike planned for Tuesday by so-called junior doctors would be the latest in a wave of disruptive labor actions by public sector workers demanding pay hikes to offset inflation that exceeds 10%. A cost-of-living crisis driven by sharp food and energy price increases has left people struggling to pay bills as union wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade.

Ukraine children back home after alleged deportation (Reuters) More than 30 children were reunited with their families in Ukraine this weekend after a long operation to bring them back home from Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea, where they had been taken from areas occupied by Russian forces during the war. Mothers hugged sons and daughters as they crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine on Friday after a complex rescue mission involving travel across four countries. Dasha Rakk, a 13-year-old girl, said she and her twin sister had agreed to leave the Russian-occupied city of Kherson last year because of the war and go to a holiday camp in Crimea for a few weeks. But once in Crimea, Russian officials said the children would be staying for longer. “They said we will be adopted, that we will get guardians,” she said. Dasha’s mother Natalia said she had travelled from Ukraine to Crimea via Poland, Belarus and Moscow to get her daughters. “It was terribly difficult but we kept on going, we did not sleep at nights, we slept sitting up,” she said, describing her journey to the camp. “It was heartbreaking to look at children left behind who were crying behind the fence,” she said. Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since Moscow invaded in February last year, in what it condemns as illegal deportations.

Leaked documents warn of weaknesses in Ukraine’s defenses (Washington Post) Leaked U.S. military and intelligence documents indicate alarming Ukrainian shortfalls in Western-supplied weaponry—especially ammunition and air defense—even as they show deep American penetration into Russian plans, equipment and manpower. The disclosures offer an extraordinarily detailed snapshot of battlefield conditions in the Ukraine war from late February and early March, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the rate of Ukraine’s expenditure of ammunition was “many times higher” than the rate at which its benefactors could produce it. That vulnerability and urgency still exists. The United States, NATO, the European Union and allies much farther afield have been furiously seeking more ammunition from South Korea to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the means to produce more themselves in anticipation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive that may just be weeks away. Air defense, to protect sensitive sites, military personnel and equipment and civilians, is also critical. According to one of the documents, a late February assessment from the Defense Department’s Joint Staff, Ukraine’s “ability to provide medium range air defense to protect the [front lines] will be completely reduced by May 23. UKR assessed to withstand 2-3 more wave strikes” from attacking Russian missiles and drones.

Chinese Christians arrive in US after Thai detention (Bangkok Post) More than 60 self-exiled Chinese Christians who were detained for overstaying their visas in Thailand have arrived in the United States, where they will seek permanent asylum in Texas. The asylum-seekers arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday night local time with plans to resettle in Tyler, 150 kilometres southeast of Dallas, the Dallas Morning News reported. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, a Texas-based Christian human rights organisation, confirmed their arrival in a text message in which he also thanked Thai and US officials for expediting the case.

China simulates striking Taiwan on second day of drills (Reuters) China’s military simulated precision strikes against Taiwan in a second day of drills around the island on Sunday, with the island’s defence ministry reporting multiple air force sorties and that it was monitoring China’s missile forces. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a brief visit to the United States. A source familiar with the security situation in the region told Reuters that China had been conducting simulated air and sea attacks on “foreign military targets” in the waters off Taiwan’s southwestern coast.

Once everywhere, Saddam’s image scrubbed from Baghdad (AP) Of his countless stories of his life as a hairdresser in Iraq, the one Qaiss al-Sharaa most enjoys retelling is about the day April 9, 2003, when he watched Iraqis and American Marines pull down the statue of Saddam Hussein in front of his salon in Baghdad’s Firdos Square. For the world, it became an iconic moment of the U.S.-led invasion; live TV coverage as Marines tied the statue to a vehicle to pull the statue down inflated it into a symbol of the end of Saddam’s quarter century rule. In reality, the Firdos Square statue was a minor part of the huge number of monuments and palaces that Saddam erected to show off his power. All his statues and images are long gone now, 20 years after that day. Many of his palaces and buildings have been repurposed for a new Iraq. But much of the hope that came in wiping away Saddam’s oppressive visual presence has also evaporated, burned away first by years of brutal violence and now by a wrecked economy and rampant corruption by the new political elite of sectarian-based factions. Firdos Square has been refurbished as a small park, funded by private banks. On a building towering over the square is a large mural of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani—assassinated in a 2020 U.S. drone strike—and Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. It is the sort of Shiite imagery that proliferates around Baghdad because of the domination of Iran-backed Shiite parties in the government. “This new garden that replaced Saddam’s represents the widespread corruption in Iraq today, underneath the nice greenery and fountains,” said al-Sharaa. He said that while he doesn’t miss Saddam’s rule he does miss “the rule of the law.”

Israeli military retaliates after rockets fired from Syria (AP) The Israeli military said its forces attacked targets in Syria early Sunday after six rockets were launched from Syrian territory in two batches toward Israel in a rare attack from Israel’s northeastern neighbor. After the second barrage of three rockets, Israel initially said it responded with artillery fire into the area in Syria from where the rockets were fired. Later, the military said Israeli fighter jets attacked Syrian army sites, including a compound of Syria’s 4th Division and radar and artillery posts. The rocket firings came after days of escalating violence on multiple fronts over tension in Jerusalem and an Israeli police raid on the city’s most sensitive holy site.

Can We No Longer Believe Anything We See? (NYT) Seeing has not been believing for a very long time. Photos have been faked and manipulated for nearly as long as photography has existed. Now, not even reality is required for photographs to look authentic—just artificial intelligence responding to a prompt. Even experts sometimes struggle to tell if one is real or not. The rapid advent of artificial intelligence has set off alarms that the technology used to trick people is advancing far faster than the technology that can identify the tricks. Experts fear the technology could hasten an erosion of trust in media, in government and in society. If any image can be manufactured—and manipulated—how can we believe anything we see? “The tools are going to get better, they’re going to get cheaper, and there will come a day when nothing you see on the internet can be believed,” said Wasim Khaled, chief executive of Blackbird.AI, a company that helps clients fight disinformation.

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 1.16

Beer Birthdays

John Stanton (1832)

M.K. Goetz (1833)

Geoff Kaiser (1978)

Michelle Wang (1979)

Five Favorite Birthdays

John Carpenter; film director (1948)

Dizzy Dean; St. Louis Cardinals P (1911)

Ethel Merman; singer (1909)

Lin-Manuel Miranda; actor, playwright, and composer (1980)

Sade; Nigerian-Englis pop singer (1959)

Famous Birthdays

Aaliyah; singer and actress (1979)

Vittorio Alfieri, Italian poet and playwright (1749)

Debbie Allen; dancer, actor (1950)

Fulgencio Batista; Cuban politician, dictator (1901)

Anne F. Beiler; businesswoman, founded Auntie Anne's (1949)

Jim Berry; cartoonist (1932)

Bob Bogle; rock musician (1934)

Franz Brentano; German philosopher and psychologist (1838)

Johann Conrad Brunner; Swiss anatomist (1653)

Harry Carey; actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (1878)

Joe Flacco; American football player (1985)

Dian Fossey; zoologist (1932)

A.J. Foyt; race car driver (1935)

Ralph Gibson; photographer (1939)

Anthony Hecht; poet (1923)

Marilyn Horne; singer (1934)

Barbara Lynn; singer-songwriter (1942)

James May; English journalist and television presenter (1963)

Andre Michelin; tire maker (1853)

Irving Mills; publisher (1894)

Ronnie Milsap; country singer (1944)

Dieter Moebius; Swiss-German keyboard player (1945)

Kate Moss; model (1974)

Albert Pujols; Dominican-American baseball player (1980)

Gabrielle Reece; volleyball player, model (1970)

Richard Savage; poet (1697)

Francesco Scavullo; photographer (1929)

Robert Schimmel; comedian (1950)

Peter Scheemakers; Belgian sculptor (1691)

Laura Schlessinger; right-wing talk radio blowhard (1947)

Johannes Schöner; German astronomer and cartographer (1477)

Robert W. Service; Canadian writer (1874)

Susan Sontag; novelist, essayist, and critic (1933)

Jim Stafford; pop singer (1944)

Margaret Wilson; author (1882)

[gscleanmbdetail]

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[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"ESCAPING MANIAC NEARLY STRANGLES ASYLUM ATTENDANT," Toronto Globe. October 5, 1933. Page 3. --- Timely Passing of Telegraph Boy Averts Tragedy at London ---- MONSIGNOR AYLWARD ILL --- (Staff Correspondence of The Globe.) London, Ont., Oct. 4. - Overcome by an escaping patient he had followed and attempted to subdue, William Wright, an attendant at the Ontario Hospital for the Insane, was almost strangled by the maniac this morning, and his life was probably saved by the timely passing of Arthur Blakey, a C.P.R. telegraph messenger, who saw the struggle and called for help. Blakey, while riding on Dundas Street East, at the asylum sideroad, saw two men scuffling, as he at first thought, in fun. But when Blakey saw one of the men fall to the ground and the other jump on him, he began to take serious notice. Next he saw the upper man pull a handkerchief from his pocket, and, slipping it around the neck of the other begin to strangle his victim.

Just at the moment two other men appeared running across a field, and Blakey called to them. The maniac thereupon released his victim and fled, pursued by the boy on the bicycle and the two attendants. The patient was soon overtaken, but, pulling a knife, he tried to slash his throat, but inflicted only a slight wound. While being taken back to the asylum, he complained that he was homesick and was trying to return to his home. He is a young and powerful man, and escaped while taking his morning exercise by jumping over a fence. Wright was driven to his home in a passing truck and soon recovered from the attack. The patient has hitherto been regarded as harmless.

Admits Robberies. Charged with a series of robberies in the London district during the past few months, Charles Woods of Clandeboye, arraigned in County Court today, pleaded guilty. He admitted robbing the C.N.R. stations in Forest and Exeter, the Harry Lankin service station in Lucan, and R. M. Bowman's general store in Denfield. In three cases, safes weighing 200 pounds or more were carried off. Roy Woods, a brother of Charles; Albert Fink of London, and Casey Blake of Sarnia were jointly charged with him in the robberies. They pleaded not guilty a were remanded until Provincial Officer Lankin, who is to give evidence, is relieved of strike duty at Stratford. It is expected the case will be tried tomorrow.

Charged With Receiving. Edgar Bedgwood of Waterloo Street, arrested by Detective-Sergeant William McCullough and Detective Gavin Monahan, charged with knowingly receiving goods alleged to have been stolen from a C.P.R. freight train, was arraigned in city Police Court to- day and remanded until Oct. 12. In the meantime the police are investigating his record. They informed the court they had recovered in the prisoner's home thirty-nine pairs of ladies' bloomers, nineteen bottles of mucilage, three tins of coffee and other goods said to have been stolen from a manifest train between Lon- don and Ingersoll. Bedgwood told the police he found the goods while walking along the tracks one morning.

Monsignor Aylward Seriously III. Brought to London in an ambulance a few days ago, Right Rev. Monsignor J. T. Aylward, rector of Our Lady of Mercy Church, in Sarnia, is very ill in St. Joseph's Hospital tonight, and fears for his recovery are held. He was rector of St. Peter's Cathedral here for many years.

Police Mistaken for Freshmen. Four plainclothes officers, riding in a scout car in the north end last night, were mistaken by Western University freshmen for belligerent and antagonistic "sophs" and the "freshies" pelted the inoffensive police with overripe tomatoes. The officers promptly accepted apologies and the incident was closed.

Today complaint was lodged with Acting Mayor Gordon Drake by Alderman L. S. Holmes, M.D., that two of his patients had been pelted with tomatoes by the students, and a strong protest was entered.

[europeas20]

Unforgettable Holiday in Rome: Top Experiences and 6 Amazing Hotel Deals

Rome, the eternal city, offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and cuisine that beckons travelers from around the globe. A holiday in Rome is like stepping into a living museum, where ancient ruins stand alongside modern cafes, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere. #RomeAdventures #EternalCity #ExploreRome #RomeTravel #WhenInRom Begin your Roman adventure at the iconic Colosseum, a marvel of ancient engineering and a testament to Rome's gladiatorial past. Nearby, the Roman Forum invites exploration, with its impressive columns and ancient temples that once formed the heart of the Roman Empire. Don't miss the Palatine Hill, where legend says Romulus founded the city.

Stroll through the charming streets of Rome and discover the Pantheon, an architectural masterpiece with its grand dome and oculus. This ancient temple, now a church, is one of the best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome and provides a serene retreat from the bustling city streets.

No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at the Vatican City, the spiritual heart of Catholicism. Marvel at the grandeur of St. Peter's Basilica and the breathtaking artistry of the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's frescoes cover the ceiling. The Vatican Museums house an extensive collection of art and historical artifacts, offering a deep dive into religious and cultural history.

For a taste of Rome's vibrant street life, head to the Spanish Steps and the nearby Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin into the fountain to ensure your return to Rome, as the legend suggests. The nearby Piazza Navona, with its baroque fountains and lively atmosphere, is perfect for a leisurely evening stroll or a relaxed meal at one of its many outdoor cafes.

Rome's culinary scene is another highlight of any visit. Savor traditional dishes like carbonara, cacio e pepe, and supplì at local trattorias. Enjoy a slice of pizza al taglio or gelato from a street vendor while you explore the city's picturesque neighborhoods. The Testaccio district is a food lover's paradise, known for its vibrant markets and authentic Roman cuisine.

Shopping enthusiasts will delight in Rome's blend of high-end fashion and quirky boutiques. Via del Corso and Via Condotti are home to luxury brands, while the eclectic shops in Trastevere offer unique souvenirs and artisanal products.

To experience Rome like a local, venture into its lesser-known areas. The Aventine Hill provides stunning views and a peaceful escape, with attractions like the Garden of Oranges and the keyhole view of St. Peter's Basilica. The district of Monti offers a bohemian vibe with its trendy shops, cafes, and vintage markets. Rome is a city that seamlessly blends the past and present, offering an endless array of experiences for every traveler. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or simply looking to soak in the city's vibrant atmosphere, a holiday in Rome promises unforgettable memories and a desire to return again and again.

Travel Resources Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 28 million reported accommodation listings, including over 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel guidance platform. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, and book experiences. Klook is a booking platform on which travelers can book hotels, cars, tours and activities, tickets to attractions, and shows at great prices. Hotellook is a service that helps you find and compare prices on hotels around the world, provided by a leading reservation system. Today, Hotellook.com offered to put together information on more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries. Hostelworld the global hostel-focused online booking platform, inspires passionate travelers to see the world, meet new people, and come back with extraordinary stories to tell. Hostelworld has more than 13 million reviews across over 17,000 hostels in more than 179 countries, making the brand the leading online hub for social travel. WeGoTrip is an online service for booking audio excursions and tours on 35+ countries on different languages (mostly english). Travelers can take audio excursions created by professional tour guides and local experts. Go City Multi-attraction passes for the top tourist destinations worldwide for up to 65% off the initial cost. Tiqets’ innovative technology ensures that travelers can book tickets on their phone at the last minute, receive their tickets directly in a digital form, and show their mobile phones in place of physical tickets to museums, places of interest, and attractions. Offers available passes in Europe and the US.

You can find the best car rental prices at QEEQ.COM. QEEQ.COM serves road trip travellers from different countries by working with car rental companies all over the world. Rail Europe is the leading distributor of European rail products. The company provides access to an extensive array of rail products from over 50 European train companies.  Intui.Travel is a platform for booking transfers in 175 countries from the best local transport companies. Read the full article

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

JOHN PAUL II & MEHMET ALI AGCA

POPE JOHN PAUL II became pope in 1978.

In 1981 John Paul II survived an assassination attempt. The assassin Mehmet Ali Agca was born in Turkey & in 1979 he murdered newspaper editor Abdi Ipekci & got life in prison. He escaped with the help of the militant group the Grey Wolves & fled.

            He went to Rome in 1981 and met up with three others. On 31 May 1981 two of the men sat in St Peter's Square & when the pope arrived in an open car to address the crowd. Mehmet shot at him four times which hit him in the intestine, finger & arm. Two ppl in the crowd were also wounded. The crowd grabbed Mehmet and Oral was able to escape. The pope was rushed to hospital, was operated on & survived.

            At the trial Mehmet behaved irrationally, he was ranting and claimed he was Jesus Christ. He later said he targeted the pope because he believed the pope was 'the incarnation of all that is capitalism.' He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

            In 1983 the pope went to speak to him privately. In 2000, the Italian president had him pardoned & he returned to Turkey to complete his sentence for murder. He was released in 2006.

            For security measures, the Pope started to appear in public in a bullet proof cart, the 'popemobile'. The pope died in 2005, aged 84 from poor health.

            In 2008 Mehmet requested to become a Polish citizen because he wanted to visit the popes tomb & wanted to partner up with Dan Brown on writing a book. In 2010 aged in his 50s he was found unfit for military service for having "antisocial personality disorder". In 2013 his memoirs were published and he visited the popes tomb in 2014.

            In 2016 he expressed interest in becoming a Catholic priest. Today he lives in Turkey & has no regrets of shooting the pope, as he believes it was part of a 'divine' plan.

#johnpaulii #popejohnpaulii #truecrime #mehmetaliagca #history #popemobile

(Sources: Alan J Whiticker, Wiki & news)

[hardynwa]

Police, Imo LP candidate disagree over church face-off

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 governorship election in Imo state, Attan Achonu, on Sunday, accused the police of attacking him and his convoy while on his way to church in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state. Briefing journalists in Owerri, on Sunday afternoon, Achonu said he was at Peter’s Anglican Church in Obibiezena community to attend its synod, having received an invitation from the church but surprisingly, policemen with thugs allegedly attacked him and prevented him and his convoy from gaining access to the church premises. He said that the policemen told him that he would not be allowed access to the church premises because the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, was at the church service. Achonu said that he confronted the policemen and questioned why he should be stopped from worshipping God in his state, but the policemen together with some thugs attacked his convoy and shot at his vehicles. He showed journalists as bullets riddled his vehicles, saying that the act was a deliberate plan to harm him and discourage him and his campaign organisation from working towards his victory on November 11. He said that the commander of the Tiger base unit of the state police command led the charge against him, saying that the officer refused to allow him to enter the church even when the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, spoke to him on the phone. Achonu said, “Today, I was attacked by policemen together with thugs working for the APC. Myself and my supporters were attacked and gunshots were fired at us. We were at St. Peter’s Anglican Church at Obibiezena in Owerri North to attend a church service. “I was duly invited by the church to attend its synod but policemen stationed Armored Personnel Carriers and thugs. They said I was not going to be allowed to enter the church, that the governor was worshipping there. “I confronted them and asked them why I should be stopped from worshipping God in my own state simply because the governor is there. I called the Director of the DSS who called the state Commissioner of Police who spoke to one officer Ola, who literally disobeyed the Commissioner of Police. A lower-ranking officer disobeying a Commissioner of Police! I have not seen this one before. “I confronted them but my wife held me and I was with a woman, I had to obey her. We turned our vehicles and went home. They attacked my vehicle and shot at them. If not that my cars were bulletproof, there would have been casualties. “I want to put the President of Nigeria and all Nigerians on notice about what Hope Uzodimma is using the police and thugs to do in Imo State. They want to annihilate us but I am more emboldened to lead this change. I am leading the change to liberate my people. “Imo people should come out and vote Labour Party and defend their votes so that we will take back our state. I am happy that everybody has embarrassed Labour Party in Imo State and we are working towards having the Imo State of our dreams.” When contacted, the spokesperson for the Police in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said that the police didn’t attack Achonu or his vehicles. The police spokesperson said “Nobody attacked the Labour Party candidate. We only advised him not to campaign in the area at the same time the APC candidate was campaigning in the area to avoid a clash of interests and possible breakdown of law and order in the state. “The Labour Party candidate didn’t inform us about his campaign in the area but the APC candidate informed us and we were there to provide security. The Commissioner of Police advises political players in the state to stop misinforming the public. This misinformation is capable of escalating things which may lead to breakdown of law and order in Imo state.” The spokesperson for the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, said that the LP candidate was misleading the public because he had seen that the APC would sweep the poll on November 11. He said that the APC was not deterred by the distractions of the opposition parties as it would continue to campaign in all parts of the state till the last day of the campaign as approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Read the full article

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade November Guber Polls: LP candidate escapes death as thugs allegedly open fire on his convoy Barely five days before the November 11 governorship elections in Imo State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Athan Achonu, was allegedly attacked in the state. Achonu’s convoy was attacked on his way to St Peter’s Anglican Church, Obibiezena in Owerri North Local Government Area, where he was invited to attend the church’s synod. It was gathered that his convoy allegedly ran into an ambush laid by some thugs, who had mounted a roadblock with an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), an All Progressive Congress-branded Sienna, and a Hilux truck. In a statement signed by Chibuikem Diala, the Director, Media and Publicity to Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation, made available in Owerri. The release reads, “One Oladimeji, a police officer attached to the Tiger Base Police Squad, Owerri, led the team of rough-looking policemen and gun-wielding Ebubeagu security operatives. “On approaching the roadblock, police officers in the Armoured Personnel Carrier started shooting at the convoy but missed the Wrangler SUV by the whiskers and hit the driver’s window of one of the bulletproof Lexus SUVs in the convoy. This could have resulted in a casualty if not for the fact that it was bulletproof. “They were shooting sporadically in full public glare in broad daylight. Even after the Police Commissioner spoke to the police officer Oladimeji over the phone, he refused to listen to him, insisting that because Uzodinma was coming that way, he would not allow Achonu to pass. “A young man identified as ‘TAKPE,’ backed by the police, was also shouting and threatening that the team must turn back, or else he would “destroy all the cars.” This scenario caused so much panic among the women in the convoy. “To avoid further confrontation, the DSS and other security officers accompanying Senator Achonu exercised restraint and moved the candidate and his team to safety. “It is sadder that the state police have sold themselves to Uzodinma to the point that even the state commissioner of police no longer has the power to control security matters in the state. “We demand an urgent probe into the activities of the involved culprits, including Officer Ola, and the state commissioner of police. We also demand that the chief thug ‘Takpe’ shown in the viral video be arrested and brought to book. “We also demand the immediate transfer of all compromised officers to avoid crises. We also want to make it abundantly clear that the Labour Party and its candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, alongside all lovers of democracy in Imo State, cannot be intimidated. “We call on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief of Army Staff, the Head of the Department of State Services, DSS, and relevant security agencies to weigh into the security situation in Imo State to avert bloodshed during and after Saturday’s election.”

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 1.16

Beer Birthdays

John Stanton (1832)

M.K. Goetz (1833)

Geoff Kaiser (1978)

Michelle Wang (1979)

Five Favorite Birthdays

John Carpenter; film director (1948)

Dizzy Dean; St. Louis Cardinals P (1911)

Ethel Merman; singer (1909)

Lin-Manuel Miranda; actor, playwright, and composer (1980)

Sade; Nigerian-Englis pop singer (1959)

Famous Birthdays

Aaliyah; singer and actress (1979)

Vittorio Alfieri, Italian poet and playwright (1749)

Debbie Allen; dancer, actor (1950)

Fulgencio Batista; Cuban politician, dictator (1901)

Anne F. Beiler; businesswoman, founded Auntie Anne's (1949)

Jim Berry; cartoonist (1932)

Bob Bogle; rock musician (1934)

Franz Brentano; German philosopher and psychologist (1838)

Johann Conrad Brunner; Swiss anatomist (1653)

Harry Carey; actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (1878)

Joe Flacco; American football player (1985)

Dian Fossey; zoologist (1932)

A.J. Foyt; race car driver (1935)

Ralph Gibson; photographer (1939)

Anthony Hecht; poet (1923)

Marilyn Horne; singer (1934)

Barbara Lynn; singer-songwriter (1942)

James May; English journalist and television presenter (1963)

Andre Michelin; tire maker (1853)

Irving Mills; publisher (1894)

Ronnie Milsap; country singer (1944)

Dieter Moebius; Swiss-German keyboard player (1945)

Kate Moss; model (1974)

Albert Pujols; Dominican-American baseball player (1980)

Gabrielle Reece; volleyball player, model (1970)

Richard Savage; poet (1697)

Francesco Scavullo; photographer (1929)

Robert Schimmel; comedian (1950)

Peter Scheemakers; Belgian sculptor (1691)

Laura Schlessinger; right-wing talk radio blowhard (1947)

Johannes Schöner; German astronomer and cartographer (1477)

Robert W. Service; Canadian writer (1874)

Susan Sontag; novelist, essayist, and critic (1933)

Jim Stafford; pop singer (1944)

Margaret Wilson; author (1882)

[cksmart-world]

SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart  

June 13, 2023

TRUMP'S NEXT ACT PROMISES TO INCLUDE MAGIC

It's time for liberals, progressives, Democrats, Independents and just about everybody else to recognize that we owe the once and future king, Donald Trump, a big thank you and vote of gratitude — where else can you get entertainment like this. It's so sidesplitting hilarious that it belongs in the pantheon of comedic slapstick right alongside “It's a Mad, Mad Mad World” and “Dr. Strangelove.” He would even make Shakespeare envious, although his work skews more toward “King Lear” than “Much Ado About Nothing.” What genius it takes to appeal to both hedge fund managers and coal miners, to yachtsmen and bikers, to white nationalists and bigots. For some he appears as “A Man for All Seasons,” although for many he recalls “The Madness of King George.” In any event he leaves his audiences on the edge of their seats, as though unable to turn away from a bloody accident accompanied by an organ grinder and monkey. Despite his age the hits just keep coming. His latest productions, “Hush Money for the Harlot,” “I Have a Secret” and “Winning Through Intimidation,” look to be blockbusters. Reminiscent of escape artist Harry Houdini, Donald's next act promises to include magic — or at least magical thinking: “I'm an Innocent Man.”

“PRIDE” BUS DRIVES GOP LAWMAKERS OVER THE EDGE

Now don't go thinking our nice white Mormon legislators have queerphobia. Not at all. When they flipped out over a UTA bus sporting an add that said “Work With Pride” scheduled to run in the Gay Pride Parade, it was to make state taxpayer funded entities follow their “true mission” — not because they're bigoted culture warriors. The bus ad was paid for by two local advertising agencies, ran in last year's parade and was in service until June 2 of this year when all hell broke loose. “This is causing me a whole bunch of drama right now inside my caucus,” Utah House Majority Leader Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, told the Deseret News.“[I]f we have state agencies that continue to go into the areas that are controversial, then all things would be on the table.” Yeah, like their heads. Think of it: If children saw that bus they could turn into drag queens. OMG. The “woke” ideology is stamping out good conservative discrimination and pushing the notion that even freaks have rights. What's going to happen when boys become girls and girls become boys. Who's going to do the housework? If men marry men and women marry women, who's going to have babies? And if women become men and men become women what's going to happen to our national religion — Football. God help us.

LDS LEADERS TO FAITHFUL: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

The top brass at the Mormon Church has done something mind blowing. They are advising the faithful to vote for political candidates who are more Christlike. Holy smokes! You're right Wilson, it's a real conversation stopper. Utah is a Red State and the vast majority of voters are Mormons who reflexively vote Republican, according to Salt Lake Tribune sports/religious pundit Gordon Monson. “It hasn’t mattered if candidates are inferior to their opponents or completely unsuitable for office. Candidates with an “R” next to their name are in and whoever they are running against are out.” OK, here's a test: when you hear the name Sen. Mike Lee do you think of Jesus Christ or a cripto-currency trader. When you hear the name Rep. Burgess Owens do you think of St. Peter or the peddler of multi-level marketing schemes. When you hear the name Chris Stewart do you think of St. Paul or a used car salesman. Maybe church bigwigs are aiming a too high. What if they just said, vote for people who aren't lying hypocrites and put country ahead of party. You're right, Wilson, we're being ridiculous. The whole point of religion is to keep people from thinking for themselves, kinda like the GOP. It is, after all, for their own safety — thinking could get them into some very deep... um, fertilizer.

Post script — That's going to do it for another beautiful week behind the Zion Curtain, where the staff here at Smart Bomb keeps track of gerrymandering so you don't have to. Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Georgia Republicans are guilty of gerrymandering to keep Blacks out of office, four Utah congressmen — Chris Stewart, Burgess Owens, John Curtis and Blake Moore — say the U.S. Constitution doesn't say stink about the practice, so you can take your Utah lawsuit, fold it five ways and stick it where the moon don't shine. They're talking about an action brought by the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government that alleges voting maps drawn by the Republican-dominated Utah Legislature look like a jigsaw puzzle made by a drunk. In 2018, Utah voters approved the formation of a non-partisan commission to draw voting maps. But it was summarily neutered by Republican lawmakers. Tribune soothsayer Robert Gehrke reminds us that the Utah Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to vote in free and fair elections. For their part, GOP lawmakers say everyone CAN vote and their ballot Does count as long as it's a Republican vote. See, a one-party state works just fine. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Well Wilson, we're still stuck in the Donald Trump nightmare. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up to a world without the scourge of Trumpism — the lies, anger and hatred. So what do you and the guys in the band have that might help us transcend the hypocrisy and rancor that define our political landscape, at least for a brief respite:  

'Twas in another lifetime one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm" I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove

And old men with broken teeth stranded without love Do I understand your question man, is it hopeless and forlorn? "Come in," she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

(Shelter From The Storm — Bob Dylan)

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[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"STREET RAILWAY'S NEW PROPOSAL," Kingston Daily Standard. October 4, 1912. Page 1. ---- Offers a Cash Bonus of $7,000 For More Paving ---- A PROGRESSIVE POLICY ---- Proposition is For Construction From G.T.R. Station to Division St. With Double Tracking. ---- As a result of the afternoon conference with Ald. Elliott, chairman of the Board of Works, referred to in yesterday's Standard, the Kingston and Portsmouth Electric Railway made another proposition in regard to paving of Princess street, to that committee the same afternoon. While financially it is somewhat better than the previous offer - "progressively" to use a term suggested by Ald. Fair - it is far in advance of the former proposition.

THE PROPOSAL. The proposal was this: That the Street Railway Company would pay a cash bonus of $7,000 for the paving of the streets along the car line from the Grand Trunk Station Princess street to Division street, double tracking to that extent; Besides this the city would erect 60 steel poles for wiring at a cost of $25 a piece and the company should have the salvage, the estimated value of which was placed at $1,900, the old telephone poles would be at the disposal of the Light, Heat and Power plant.

The propositions, as asked for by the committee at a previous meeting, to pave around the belt line and another on pavement from the foot of Princess street to Alfred street were not entertained by the company.

DIFFERENCES AND ADVANTAGES. The terms of the proposition would involve the placing of 2,250 feet of rails beyond the proposed 3,200 feet in the first offer, 5,450 feet in all. The cash bonus offered by the Company was $7,000 instead of $3,000, Leaving the matter of poles out, the proportion of this allowance for track construction was about the same as in the first offer, even after deducting an estimated value on the salvage of $2,000. The additional 84,000 would thus be reduced to 82, 000 for 2,250 feet, practically iden tical with $8,000 for 3,200 feet (as first proposed). At $25 a piece the 60 poles totalled $1,500, but as Ald. Latton pointed out they would do away with the necessity of curbs, and make possible wider streets, paying for their own cost in this way, not to mention the markedly superior features they possessed and the improved appearance they would give to the city's principal thoroughfare.

In addition there would be the salvage on the city's poles and on the Street Railway poles which the city would get, and which would amount, roughly, to about $850. The steel poles which would go up on each side of the street at intersecting corners, in addition to carrying power wires for the railway. could be utilized for the city's service, including street lighting. Being on both sides of the street the would obviate the necessity of live wires crossing the street for private consumption.

REVIEW POWER CONTRACT. The clause in regard to a five year renewal of the power contract with city at the same rate was of course retained. Because of this and the proposed changes in street wiring, the Board will have to confer with the Civic Utilities committee before taking action.

It was suggested that the company might agree to an all-year round 10 minute service if the offer were to be accepted and an effort will he made to have this embodied in the formal framing of the same. "Its the biggest and most progressive step we have yet anticipated in this department." declared Ald. Fair and his open statement was generally supported.

COMMITTEE IN FAVOR The committee decidedly favored it would have recommended the acceptance of the offer then and there but for the fact as pointed out by Ald. Harty the Civic Utilities committee and the City Solicitor will have to be consulted first. Ald. Peters in fact put a motion of acceptance, but reconsidered it till a meeting of the two committees could be held. This will be done at the earliest possible date

WHAT H. W. RICHARDSON SAYS. During his interview yesterday with Ald. Elliott, chairman of the Board of Works, Mr. H. W. Richardson, the president of the street railway, stated that although the railway was not financially in a position to make an outlay of $7, 000, he was prepared to go that far rather than have it said that the failure to pave Princess street was caused by the railway company.

[europeas20]

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The Air-Conditioned Apartment features 1 Bedroom, a Stylish Living Room, and a Fully Equipped Kitchen. Benefit from 24/7 Front Desk Assistance, Elevator Access, and a Scenic Outdoor Dining Area.

Conveniently located near Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's Square, with Fiumicino Airport just 15 miles away. Book your eco-conscious escape now - rated 8.4 for couples!

Explore the enchanting neighborhood surrounding St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, where timeless charm meets modern allure. Immerse yourself in the rich history, vibrant culture, and culinary delights that define this iconic district.

Travel Resources Hotels and Hostels Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 28 million reported accommodation listings, including over 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel guidance platform. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, and book experiences. Klook is a booking platform on which travelers can book hotels, cars, tours and activities, tickets to attractions, and shows at great prices. Hotellook is a service that helps you find and compare prices on hotels around the world, provided by a leading reservation system. Today, Hotellook.com offered to put together information on more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries. Hostelworld, the global hostel-focused online booking platform, inspires passionate travelers to see the world, meet new people, and come back with extraordinary stories to tell. Hostelworld has more than 13 million reviews across over 17,000 hostels in more than 179 countries, making the brand the leading online hub for social travel. WeGoTrip is an online service for booking audio excursions and tours on 35+ countries on different languages (mostly english). Travelers can take audio excursions created by professional tour guides and local experts. Tiqets’ innovative technology ensures that travelers can book tickets on their phone at the last minute, receive their tickets directly in a digital form, and show their mobile phones in place of physical tickets to museums, places of interest, and attractions. Offers available passes in Europe and the US.

Car Rental You can find the best car rental prices at QEEQ.COM. QEEQ.COM serves road trip travellers from different countries by working with car rental companies all over the world. The company offers its customers the widest set of car rental options and always strives to offer the most competitive price Read the full article