tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63239067910001236852024-03-05T21:08:38.820-08:00TheOtherSideOfTheLizardQuote: Dear Blogger user, Your blog, at <a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/">http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/</a>, has been identified as a potential spam blog, etcetera etcetera, et mult autres.<br>
It was probably the cheese-doodles. Somebody in the Blogger Team just HATES cheese-doodles. Nebbech.<br>
The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-37236382860468772452023-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:002023-07-25T13:44:09.065-07:00ON THE YELLOW CRANE PAVILION; THE POEM BY CUI HAO昔人已乘黃鶴去, 此地空餘黃鶴樓。<br />
黃鶴一去不復返, 白雲千載空悠悠。<br />
晴川歷歷漢陽樹, 芳草萋萋鸚鵡洲。<br />
日暮鄉關何處是, 煙波江上使人愁。<br />
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Sik yan yi sing wong hok heui, chi dei hung chyu wong hok lau,<br />
Wong hok yat heui pat fau faan, paak wan chin joi hung yau yau;<br />
Ching chuen lik lik hon yeung syu, fong chou chai chai ying mou jau, <br />
Yat mou heung gwaan ho chyu si, yin po gong seung si yan chou.<br />
<br />
昔人 = Sik yan; people of the past.<br />
此地 = Chi dei; this place.<br />
一去不復返 = Yat heui pat fau faan; once gone not returning, gone forever.<br />
載 = Joi; year, anuum.<br />
悠悠 = Yau yau; remote, distant, long or far, lasting for ages.<br />
歷歷 = Lik lik; past occurence, historically, time upon time.<br />
漢陽樹 = Hon yeung syu; hanyang trees, type of willow gloriously yellow in Autumn, district of Wuhan.<br />
鸚鵡洲 = Ying mou jau; Parrot Island. 鸚鵡 = Ying mou; parrot.<br />
日暮 = Yat mou; at end of day, dusk.<br />
煙波 - Yin po; smoke haze and waves; mist covered water.<br />
<br />
Cui hao (崔顥 'ceui hou'): Tang dynasty poet, died 754. <br />
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The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-42650303456200224822020-09-22T11:25:00.000-07:002020-09-22T11:25:06.201-07:00CROSS POST: YOUR PERVERSE FANTASIES: HOBBIT DAYIn yet one more exercise in pointlessness, the interweb has decided that today is "Hobbit Day". It being Bilbo Baggins birthday or some such idiocy. So pipesmokers on various forums are posting selfies with their long-stemmed Hobbit-like pipes. <div>As a celebration of fictional cutesy-poo, this is irritating but harmless.<br />
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[In further reference to which, please see: <a href="https://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2019/03/curious-americans.html"><b>Curiosity</b></a>]</span><br />
<br />
I tried reading Lord Of The Rings. Failed. Got through the first volume, found it pointless, got most of the way through the second, same result, did not assay the third. Had lost interest. Yeah, okay, I suppose Tolkien was a ruddy genius, fine.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NvpbpqM-rE8xrgpFbuOoNY6LaWb3IAi2Utwd3mhnSQzu1cWXRs7wKtksVJFBCXNVkUwW6Xmdlt_gmtexNtArXBgevUFy2plPtT-zQitpc0SHSCUj7U98bE2Bp5xMQ36-ro3K6E1wF7I/s1628/Stalin+with+pipe.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NvpbpqM-rE8xrgpFbuOoNY6LaWb3IAi2Utwd3mhnSQzu1cWXRs7wKtksVJFBCXNVkUwW6Xmdlt_gmtexNtArXBgevUFy2plPtT-zQitpc0SHSCUj7U98bE2Bp5xMQ36-ro3K6E1wF7I/s320/Stalin+with+pipe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tolkien himself also smoked a pipe. Many men did at that time. I am not vested in Hobbits, Wizards, or Orcs. Visually the movies are stunning. Precious, but stunning. Best watched with the sound off and heavy metal on the turn table.<br />
<br />
There is no indication that Hobbits in his books smoked decent tobacco, and on the whole they seem simple-minded and rather coarse, probably much like he imagined the common people to be. So they probably smoked Saint Bruno Flake. <br />It's just like them.<br />
<br />
Additionally, they seem to have had eating disorders, horrible dress sense, and were borderline alcoholics.<br />
<br /><br />
Tolkien probably wanted to be like that, but just couldn't make himself do it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tolkien himself smoked Capstan Navy Cut, a medium Virginia flake of hallowed reputation, which during his day was commonly available and often considered somewhat pedestrian. Sometimes he switched to Fribourg & Treyer Gold, and during periodic fits indulged in Gold Block (perfectly horrid) or Erinmore Flake (bizarre, but strangely appealing).
I like Capstan Navy Cut. <br />
It's really a rather decent pipe tobacco.<br />
<br />
Sometimes Erinmore.<br />
Guiltily.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have never tried Herzegovina Flor.<br />
A large leafed Oriental tobacco.<br />
Beloved of brutal pederasts.<br />
And probably Hobbits.<div>Also Gandalf.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUszXZZ_v2rzAXdBy6Hd3Z5UA_DzvI0ETYloWm6IaeySq8AwEhlLDJcNsbPB93F291_7jzlOFBM5gY7MU1uVzm1zwOqZW3DhIpE6eXrl2g2kd9QnCJvK2zeVKAPHmHWRWMStIqYnLgDtg/s1600/ZUN+FIVE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUszXZZ_v2rzAXdBy6Hd3Z5UA_DzvI0ETYloWm6IaeySq8AwEhlLDJcNsbPB93F291_7jzlOFBM5gY7MU1uVzm1zwOqZW3DhIpE6eXrl2g2kd9QnCJvK2zeVKAPHmHWRWMStIqYnLgDtg/s1600/ZUN+FIVE.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2010/01/big-heap-of-tobacco.html"><span style="font-size: 78%;">TOBACCO INDEX</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================== </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">==========================================================================</span></div></div>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-477396883777507702020-08-26T11:50:00.001-07:002020-08-26T11:50:29.768-07:00MORE PIPE PICTURESMore recent pipe drawings from my other blog.<br /><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJht9TrBM8XvtFk2AJOncICFrLU49jl-Z4No3AIfcrzQh_-OwNF-iw3VBqxc1dgmxVu92fcSmYn9VGcQBBQuiNqVbcnQfi7u18E_mAL1-yRyRT-ATNilifqoS_CTCABtYaXGFTLsbdRrZ/s1600/Comoy+Sunrise+Canadian+299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJht9TrBM8XvtFk2AJOncICFrLU49jl-Z4No3AIfcrzQh_-OwNF-iw3VBqxc1dgmxVu92fcSmYn9VGcQBBQuiNqVbcnQfi7u18E_mAL1-yRyRT-ATNilifqoS_CTCABtYaXGFTLsbdRrZ/s400/Comoy+Sunrise+Canadian+299.jpg" width="400" height="293" data-original-width="1105" data-original-height="810" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECONbkuKWAec2Iy9P1Hhi2QijeqgYq_dXCIPE4yDbdFFLxkgK5u6pyCMZT4mgBO7IGOMu0DztBOu0IyRYvxHKn8AZ6mP7Qm_u5IeAru5OD5QHodG18Qxbp0winwqG4rGSgzceb-7mF1eP/s1600/Kaywoodie+squashed+apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECONbkuKWAec2Iy9P1Hhi2QijeqgYq_dXCIPE4yDbdFFLxkgK5u6pyCMZT4mgBO7IGOMu0DztBOu0IyRYvxHKn8AZ6mP7Qm_u5IeAru5OD5QHodG18Qxbp0winwqG4rGSgzceb-7mF1eP/s400/Kaywoodie+squashed+apple.jpg" width="400" height="250" data-original-width="1446" data-original-height="904" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGQlUL78_xwQ_s6MJXP790zIhGXUGnuKZLY30Dtgklke-DjdqBs_wDvzRtIbixsagdRwHKJvL9V9JFPIo34ipC0LFobrs-0VOZ-ik6yvAbHcVba_uVQ1xQieU4hhc61A6hVixNmLzzQcy/s1600/Kaywoodie+unstamped+straight+Rhodesian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGQlUL78_xwQ_s6MJXP790zIhGXUGnuKZLY30Dtgklke-DjdqBs_wDvzRtIbixsagdRwHKJvL9V9JFPIo34ipC0LFobrs-0VOZ-ik6yvAbHcVba_uVQ1xQieU4hhc61A6hVixNmLzzQcy/s400/Kaywoodie+unstamped+straight+Rhodesian.jpg" width="400" height="250" data-original-width="1446" data-original-height="904" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlzOaplqBcqnRwKnY1-U7EOTydMrai2FEjWuGIJXOGw1kipehFwkaac8VNV1obxzmdB51R8tQTNLirUawqjec5jpEQDWKpHwE11yrinIVKBJiSEBKL5TLMlBA508b25MDxqnLQpnCRIrn/s1600/No+name+bent+bull+dog+late+eighties+acquisition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlzOaplqBcqnRwKnY1-U7EOTydMrai2FEjWuGIJXOGw1kipehFwkaac8VNV1obxzmdB51R8tQTNLirUawqjec5jpEQDWKpHwE11yrinIVKBJiSEBKL5TLMlBA508b25MDxqnLQpnCRIrn/s400/No+name+bent+bull+dog+late+eighties+acquisition.jpg" width="400" height="286" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1145" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqFpZEiCKS9Q6CPJ2feSnd8nuOwnT8tQfPVs0sXwBH4zwusyB1ZiCbL7mMPoSsCmWmEldrQitTvkQb2ozWhq28A2bjcnMKIr1t7pOinA0wEpIRqxeLtUy7eypZbOxTgjrlTsewDeO4ETD/s1600/Stanwell+Sandblasted+Billiard+Handmade+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqFpZEiCKS9Q6CPJ2feSnd8nuOwnT8tQfPVs0sXwBH4zwusyB1ZiCbL7mMPoSsCmWmEldrQitTvkQb2ozWhq28A2bjcnMKIr1t7pOinA0wEpIRqxeLtUy7eypZbOxTgjrlTsewDeO4ETD/s400/Stanwell+Sandblasted+Billiard+Handmade+12.jpg" width="400" height="263" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="957" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-tW_kgheIpxGbMs8-BlShyphenhyphenaF82krcS25OAsK6tXxRoPLI34AeyV7yVmU1TXl2C5FS7VJmvYEIPLmdaZg_xsFuyVmbHlOKNCzlRuMbAdP2hci5SWjf8xTw4dOcdPqjEuaZF6LQ_R59o39/s1600/Comoy+Grand+Slam+Liverpool+Marty+Pulvers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-tW_kgheIpxGbMs8-BlShyphenhyphenaF82krcS25OAsK6tXxRoPLI34AeyV7yVmU1TXl2C5FS7VJmvYEIPLmdaZg_xsFuyVmbHlOKNCzlRuMbAdP2hci5SWjf8xTw4dOcdPqjEuaZF6LQ_R59o39/s400/Comoy+Grand+Slam+Liverpool+Marty+Pulvers.jpg" width="400" height="297" data-original-width="1535" data-original-height="1138" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />
All drawings done during August.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2010/01/big-heap-of-tobacco.html"><span style="font-size: 78%;">TOBACCO INDEX</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================== </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">==========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-37578624940350951782020-08-17T23:22:00.002-07:002020-08-17T23:22:51.581-07:00SEVERAL RECENT PIPE ILLUSTRATIONSSeveral drawings of pipes that showed up on my other blog, using 'Paint' on the computer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqzy5ji-POGEnmuS6bgeIzfKE9HLrw886wSBCjNiUFw3G4VUj0ngCNMAnZ2hd2PwueLEvGPNoZuVa6w3tKova9SGiS6pjeBNeGl2iHZIJUMcC3GKGmvDOfA-aMw3NuPCTtIstDLyUbG_I/s1600/Peterson+Standard+System+Shape+307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1354" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqzy5ji-POGEnmuS6bgeIzfKE9HLrw886wSBCjNiUFw3G4VUj0ngCNMAnZ2hd2PwueLEvGPNoZuVa6w3tKova9SGiS6pjeBNeGl2iHZIJUMcC3GKGmvDOfA-aMw3NuPCTtIstDLyUbG_I/s320/Peterson+Standard+System+Shape+307.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gradually my draughting skills are improving.<br />
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<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-54994592720890037482020-03-11T12:16:00.004-07:002020-05-17T14:01:51.149-07:00SITTING ROOM, DRAWING ROOM; YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!Here, for reference purposes, is the dialogue from the Monty Python sketch "The Golden Age of Ballooning" where two German people discover that the entire German cabinet has changed their interior decorating paradigm.<br />
It's in Dutch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh kijk! Het is de kanselier!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Wat? Prins von Bulow? Hier?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij komt hier?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nee, hij IS hier."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh, dan moet ik mijn oude uniform gaan aandoen."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij zal het niet merken, Helmut. Hij is dood."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Dood? Hier?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja. In onze zitkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Dit is onze zitkamer, schat."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nou, je weet wat ik bedoel."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"De woonkamer!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja ... maar het is een soort zitkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nou kijk toch!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Welke is Von Bulow?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh, ja ... en admiraal Tirpitz!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"En Von Muller ... en mijnheer Reichner... en Hollweg en Von Graunberg..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Dat is niet von Graunberg, deze is von Graunberg ... dat is Moltke ... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij is veel ouder dan ik dacht."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij is een slimme man, ja."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"En Zimmermann ... en Kimpte ... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Wat zullen we doen, Helmut?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We moeten de regering bellen."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Dit IS de regering, Helmut."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oh jee."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Het is een grote eer om zoveel leden van de regering dood in onze zitkamer te hebben."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Woonkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, nou ... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Er zijn geen leden van de regering dood in onze woonkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, je weet wat ik bedoel."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Misschien moet ik een beetje spietsjen of zo?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Geen spietsj, Helmut, nee ... "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Zullen we een kop thee voor ze maken?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Het zou verspilling van thee zijn."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Maar we moeten wel iets doen, zoveel belangrijke mensen in onze salon, toch?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We kunnen ze een beetje organizeren."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"En een lijstje maken."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, ja. We zouden de ministers voor binnenlandse zaken tegen de muur kunnen zetten, en die voor buitenlands hier tegen de klok."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"En zouden we ze alfabetisch sorteren?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nee, nee - leg de schoonste bij de deur."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nee! Dat is Von Bulow! Hij moet hier gaan."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Dat is mijn leesstoel!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij is de rijkskanselier van Duitsland, Helmut."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Oké ... maar ik denk dat hij beter tegen de klok was geweest, weet je."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nee, hij zou er niet mooi uitzien onder de klok."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ik zei niet onder de klok. Ik zei tegen de klok."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Welnu, dan zouden we de klok niet kunnen zien!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"We zouden de minister van Koloniën onder de klok kunnen zetten. Hij is erg klein."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nee. Koloniën zijn interne aangelegenheden. Hij moet tegen de muur gaan."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Weldra kunnen we een lijstje maken."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, wacht even! ... Wie is dat bij de kattenbak?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ik weet het niet. Ik heb hem nog nooit eerder gezien."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij is geen lid van de regering. Haal hem hier weg. Zet hem in de woonkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Hij is in de woonkamer, mijn liefste."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, nou je weet wat ik bedoel."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Zet hem in de zitkamer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Ja, in de zitkamer, het is allemaal hetzelfde."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
It's a thing of beauty.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================== </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">==========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-83197816874092956062020-02-26T12:50:00.000-08:002020-02-26T12:50:14.500-08:00TRUMP AND DISEASE? TWEET!It is instructive to see what Trump tweeted about Ebola back in 2014. As an indication of the mindset he will show dealing with the Wuhan Corona Virus.<br />
<br />
In short, he was fearmongering, and he used nonsense tweets about Ebola as part of his election campaign. The public in the red states lapped it up; not surprising, seeing as his entire campaign was xenophobic.<br />
<br />
From VOX: <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/2/26/21154253/trump-ebola-tweets-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR0lTJyxQwKzoz38hs5sOIj-jzZQQbpRnrhZUyc1V_frB7M1SfX_vBnZStU">Trump, corona virus threat; Aaron Rupar@atrupar</a><br />
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<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What a difference five years and winning a presidential election makes.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the summer and fall of 2014 — less than a year before he officially launched his presidential bid — Donald Trump posted about 100 mostly panicked tweets about the Ebola virus. Many of them attacked then-President Obama for his handling of the outbreak, and some of them went as far as to accuse the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of lying about what was going on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">America is now confronting the possibility — or even likelihood — of a coronavirus outbreak within its borders. The novel virus and Covid-19, the disease it causes, could quickly become President Trump’s problem, and it’s instructive to look back at what had to say about Ebola and Obama’s response to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Spoiler alert:</b> None of it is reassuring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trump used Ebola to make a bunch of reckless attacks against Democrats in the lead up to the 2014 midterms, then promptly dropped the whole thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trump’s first tweet about Ebola came on July 31, 2014 — the day before a State Department flying ambulance brought two American health workers back to Emory University, home of the CDC, from Monrovia, where they had contracted the virus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<i>Ebola patient will be brought to the U.S. in a few days - now I know for sure that our leaders are incompetent. KEEP THEM OUT OF HERE!</i>” Trump wrote.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ebola patient will be brought to the U.S. in a few days - now I know for sure that our leaders are incompetent. KEEP THEM OUT OF HERE!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next day, Trump demanded that the health workers not be brought back to the US — “Stop the EBOLA patients from entering the U.S. Treat them, at the highest level, over there. THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS!” he wrote — and followed that up by insisting that they “must suffer the consequences” for going to Africa in the first place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The U.S. cannot allow EBOLA infected people back. People that go to far away places to help out are great-but must suffer the consequences!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the days that followed, Trump said the US government “must immediately stop all flights from EBOLA infected countries or the plague will start and spread inside our ‘borders,’” and started attacking the CDC, whose leadership at the time was calling for calm and arguing that closing the borders in the manner Trump suggested would only make things harder to manage.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Same CDC which is bringing Ebola to US misplaced samples of anthrax earlier this year http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/health/cdc-anthrax-ziploc-bags/ … Be careful.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In September and October, Trump turned his fire to President Obama, calling him “dumb,” saying his refusal to stop flights from Africa was “almost like saying F-you to U.S. public,” and claiming in an Instagram video that “he should be ashamed.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trump even accused the CDC of intentionally spreading misinformation.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ebola is much easier to transmit than the CDC and government representatives are admitting. Spreading all over Africa-and fast. Stop flights
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In comments that previewed the nativism of his presidential campaign, Trump attacked a Liberian man named Thomas Eric Duncan who traveled to the US with Ebola but only became symptomatic once he arrived. Trump suggested Duncan had sinister motives and called him to be prosecuted just four days before he died in a hospital.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This Ebola patient Thomas Duncan, who fraudulently entered the U.S. by signing false papers, is causing havoc. If he lives, prosecute!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beyond attacking Obama for not banning flights from Africa, Trump also blasted him for appointing Ron Klain to coordinate the government’s response to Ebola.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">”It’s the wrong person,” Trump said during an October 2014 appearance in Iowa to stump for Rep. Steve King (R-IA). “Do we need more people? Do we need more bureaucracy?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In late October, Trump went as far as to call for Obama’s resignation after Craig Spencer, a doctor who had treated Ebola patients in Guinea, became symptomatic in New York City and was diagnosed with the disease. Spencer promptly isolated himself and made a full recovery — but Trump wouldn’t let that get in the way of his narrative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If this doctor, who so recklessly flew into New York from West Africa,has Ebola,then Obama should apologize to the American people & resign!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By the end of the month, Trump had explicitly turned Ebola into a campaign issue.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">John Foust is a liberal who supports ObamaCare and opposes Ebola travel ban. Send Conservative @BarbaraComstock to Congress!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even though Trump was a private gadfly at the time, all of this had an impact. His unhinged tweets were covered both by right-wing and mainstream media, and Trump pushed the same talking points during Fox News appearances. As Dr. Steven Hatch detailed for Mother Jones back in 2017, Republicans running for office that year ended up taking cues from Trump’s talking points:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trump’s social-media outbursts were among the earliest shots fired in the political war over Ebola. The timing of the Ebola outbreak could not have been more propitious for Republicans, many of whom echoed Trump’s calls for a temporary travel ban. In the run-up to the 2014 midterm elections, the specter of a lethal African virus being spread through the United States by migrants stoked fears not only among the GOP base, but also among many voters who leaned Democratic. By October, two-thirds of respondents to a Washington Post/ABC News poll said they favored restricting travel from Ebola-affected countries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But after the midterms came and went on November 4 — elections in which Republicans gained nine Senate seats and 13 House seats — Trump lost interest in the issue. He only posted two tweets about Ebola after the midterms, with his last one coming on November 10.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>@realDonaldTrump</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A single Ebola carrier infects 2 others at a minimum. STOP THE FLIGHTS! NO VISAS FROM EBOLA STRICKEN COUNTRIES!
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trump’s hysteria about Ebola was overblown. The virus did not spread in the United States. There were only two deaths from the disease in the country, and both of them were people who contracted it in Africa. It’s hard to argue that the Obama administration’s response was anything but competent and effective. But, reality aside, fear-mongering about Ebola served as a useful political cudgel for Trump, who at the time was publicly mulling whether to run for president.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
[CUT]<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— Trump’s first budget proposal contained proposed cuts to the CDC that former Director Tom Frieden warned were “unsafe at any level of enactment.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— Congress mercifully didn’t agree to any such cuts, but as recently as February 11 — in the midst of the outbreak — Trump proposed huge cuts to both the CDC and the National Institutes of Health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— Perhaps because his budget officials were in the middle of proposing cuts to disease response, it’s only over this past weekend that they pivoted and started getting ready to ask for the additional money that coping with Covid-19 is clearly going to cost. But experts say they’re still lowballing it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— In early 2018, my colleague Julia Belluz argued that Trump was “setting up the US to botch a pandemic response” by, for example, forcing US government agencies to retreat from 39 of the 49 low-income countries they were working in on tasks like training disease detectives and building emergency operations centers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— Instead of taking such warnings to heart, later that year, “the Trump administration fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure,” according to Laurie Garrett, a journalist and former senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
[SOURCE: <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/2/26/21154253/trump-ebola-tweets-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR0lTJyxQwKzoz38hs5sOIj-jzZQQbpRnrhZUyc1V_frB7M1SfX_vBnZStU">VOX</a>.]
<br />
<br />
The article from Vox illuminates a problem.<br />
<br />
Of course, there are still dumb hosebags who get their moral compass from Trump, and believe he's been sent by the almighty. Bless their hearts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================= </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">=========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-15427516302252311432019-08-13T12:06:00.001-07:002019-08-13T12:17:30.333-07:00MODERATE PROGRESSThe following dates from 1911, when the Strana Mírného Pokroku v Mezích Zákona (SMPVMZ) published it's Party Manifesto in the run-up to the elections of that year, in Czech, but also in German, the language of the Hapsburg Empire; Manifest der Partei des maßvollen Fortschritts in den Grenzen der Gesetze.<br />
<br />
<br />
The platform of the candidate for the Vinorhady election district, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaroslav_Ha%C5%A1ek">Jaroslav Hašek</a>, consisted of seven well-considered points.
<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SEVEN POINTS</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reintroduction of slavery.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The nationalization of janitors, precisely like in Russia, where every janitor is simultaneously a police informer.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The rehabilitation of animals.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The institutionalization of feeble-minded Members of Parliament.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reintroduction of the Inquisition.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Judicial immunity for priests and the Church ("In cases where a schoolgirl is deflowered by a priest").</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The mandatory introduction of alcoholism.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Source document: <a href=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Party_of_Moderate_Progress_Within_the_Bounds_of_the_Law?fbclid=IwAR32s7-xd_u1NjHFEMDpddA39MNRkyjMFdFSkhoyiQmIYrlMpqvG_wVoJds">PMPWBL</a>.<br />
<br />
Almost everywhere on the globe, the fourth point has already been put into practice. The fifth and sixth points are largely in effect too, with minor variations, all over the developed world.<br />
<br />
Jaroslav Hašek, were he still alive, would love it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ich sage, weil wie alle vernünftigen menschen, ich fest davon überzeugt bin, dass es in Cisleithanien nur mäßiger fortschritte im rahmen des gesetzes muss sein.<br />
<br />
<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-1942178300288398762019-06-22T22:31:00.004-07:002019-06-22T22:36:05.832-07:00FRANCES HUI: I AM FROM HONG KONG, NOT CHINAApril 21, 2019<br />
From the Berkeley Beacon, Emerson College Student Newspaper.<br />
Opinion, by Frances Hui.<br />
<br /><br />
I am from a city owned by a country that I don’t belong to.<br />
<br />
Britain colonized Hong Kong as a consequence of the Opium War in 1842. While China gave up part of Hong Kong permanently to Britain—the New Territories, which makes up 86 percent of Hong Kong, was also under British control in a 99-year lease. In 1997, when the lease ended, the British government decided to give all of Hong Kong back to the People’s Republic of China, known just as China today, as a “special administrative region” subordinated by China’s government.<br />
<br />
To eliminate panic caused by the change, China promised to practice “one country, two systems,” which guaranteed that everything in Hong Kong would stay the same and operated on a separate political system from other cities in China for 50 years.<br />
<br />
China appoints a chief executive every five years after a conditional election among the election committee. Hong Kong’s legal system is embedded within a supreme law called the Basic Law, while citizens elect their legislators in the Legislative Council every four years.<br />
<br />
I grew up learning that my city’s core values were rooted in the freedoms granted by the Basic Law, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of press and publication. Myself and many people from Hong Kong take pride in being somewhat politically separated from China, which is governed by the Chinese Communist Party that notoriously censors the internet and imprisons dissident people in China. Many citizens even call themselves “Hongkonger” which the Oxford Dictionary later adopted in 2014.<br />
<br />
The outbreak of the Umbrella Revolution, a 79-day occupying movement in 2014 when people asked for universal suffrage in electing the chief executive, put a spotlight on people’s ethnic identification. According to a poll by the University of Hong Kong, as of December 2018, 40 percent of citizens identify themselves as Hongkongers, as opposed to 15 percent who define themselves as Chinese. Less than 4 percent of the young generation ages 18 through 29 identified as Chinese in 2017, according to HK01.<br />
<br />
Hongkongers ally with Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, which lost control of mainland China to the communist party in the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Unlike Hong Kong, Taiwan has almost no governmental connection with China. Taiwanese citizens even possess the right to elect their president, governors, and legislators democratically. However, people from Taiwan face the same identity crisis as Hongkongers.<br />
<br />
One of my Taiwanese friends at Emerson adopted the “Chinese” identity, even though she told me she loves Taiwan. She said she does not feel strong enough to fight over her identity with her Chinese friends. Last semester, after my friend and I presented a final project about China’s “re-education camps,” where they hold more than a million Muslims in China for genocide, a Chinese student discredited our presentation for being too political.<br />
<br />
International students from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and other places in relation to China face backlash for not identifying as Chinese. Chemi Lhamo, the newly elected student union president of the University of Toronto Scarborough, received hateful comments on her social media because of her Tibetan identity. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures calling for Lhamo to step down because of her pro-independence statements regarding Tibet and Taiwan.<br />
<br />
“We strongly disagree with Lhamo’s political statements and her participation in political campaigns that were clearly against Chinese history, Chinese laws, and Chinese students’ rights,” wrote a student who started the petition online after Lhamo was elected in March.<br />
<br />
Chinese international students have become a prominent group at most U.S. schools in recent years. They made up nearly 60 percent of Emerson’s undergraduate international student population in fall 2018, according to the college’s Impact Report on Internationalization.<br />
<br />
While it is globally agreed that Hong Kong and Taiwan are different entities from China politically, socially, and financially, it is important for colleges to be politically correct by educating themselves on international politics.<br />
<br />
During my orientation in last fall, the School of Communication’s presentation about international exchange programs listed my hometown as “Hong Kong, China.” This move might flatter most of the Chinese students at Emerson, yet it upsets me to see how unaware the college is to this topic.<br />
<br />
If the college promotes their education abroad programs to broaden students’ global vision, they must be more cognizant and knowledgeable of the places they accept students from and send students to.<br />
<br />
I have never felt so desperate to find other people from Hong Kong and advocate for my culture. I recognize the absence of that voice on campus for Taiwanese, Hongkongers and other Chinese minority groups.<br />
<br />
At my previous college in Seattle, faculty members hosted a panel that I spoke on alongside other students from Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. Throughout the event, we touched on similarities and differences between the three cultures and educated the audience on controversial advocacy in Hong Kong and Taiwan. At the end of the panel, everyone seemed to leave with lingering curiosity to continue the conversation and an understanding of differences between us.<br />
<br />
Instead of avoiding sensitive political topics to stay away from conflict, there should be more discussions on these issues to provide different students with an inclusive platform to voice their opinions. Everyone, including students from China or Hong Kong, should keep their minds open for new information and perspectives so as to learn from others.<br />
<br />
It’s easy to exclude dissidents, but that only reinforces the problem and enlarges the gap between different nationalities. People should acknowledge the differences and participate in those conversations, despite all of the political tension within these places. This is important to provide a comfortable environment for people to identify themselves as who they want to be.<br />
<br />
Although it was difficult facing judgment and disdain as one of the few Hongkongers at Emerson, I will strongly hold onto that identity because I am proud and I want to tell people where my actual home is.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
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SOURCE: <a href="http://berkeleybeacon.com/person-of-color-column-i-am-from-hong-kong-not-china/">http://berkeleybeacon.com/person-of-color-column-i-am-from-hong-kong-not-china/</a><br />
Article above cited in its entirety, for dissemination purposes.<br />
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The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-18191125959531422882019-06-14T12:12:00.001-07:002019-06-14T12:13:01.574-07:00TOBACCO PIPE REPAIR - STEMS ETCETERARecommended by fellow pipe smokers, because in a way we're all anal-retentive and detail oriented, and after recent experiences with the guy on the East-Coast (I had to spend several hours doing "corrections" on stems he did for my own pipes, dammit), I finally decided enough is enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
MIKE MYERS<br />
Walker Pipe Repair, LLC<br />
1210 Franklin Boulevard<br />
Ann Arbor, MI 48103<br />
Tel.: 734-945-1691<br />
<a href="http://www.walkerpiperepair.com/">http://www.walkerpiperepair.com/</a><br />
<br /><br />
RICH LEWIS<br />
Lewis Pipe & Tobacco<br />
825 Nicollet Mall Suite 165<br />
Minneapolis Mn 55402 <br />
Tel.: 612-332-9129 <br />
<a href="http://www.lewispipe.com/repair.htm">http://www.lewispipe.com/repair.htm</a><br />
<br />
<br />
As of this writing, I haven't yet had stems done at either of these establishments. But when I do, I will report back. Both were recommended by people who have a keen eye, regard for quality work, huge experience with prize pipes, and extremely high standards.The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-44365754656792433072019-06-14T11:41:00.000-07:002019-06-14T12:57:34.405-07:00PIGS AND PAUL DONOVAN: 中國豬 Everything you need to know about Paul Donovan, USB, his comment, hideously offended Chinese internet users, and forced apologies, right here in one tasty package: <a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2019/06/lets-be-dense.html">DENSE</a><br />.<br />
<br />
Synonyms for 'dense' are: thick, heavy, opaque, soupy, murky, smoggy, impenetrable; concentrated, condensed. Also: stupid, unintelligent, ignorant, brainless, mindless, foolish, slow, slow-witted, dull-witted, witless, doltish, blockish, dunce-like, simpleminded, empty-headed, vacuous, vapid, halfwitted, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, obtuse, bovine, lumpish; gullible, naive; informalthick, dim, dumb, dopey, dippy, dozy, cretinous, as thick as two short planks, thickheaded, chuckleheaded, dunderheaded, wooden-headed, fat-headed, thick-skulled, muttonheaded, boneheaded, lamebrained, birdbrained, peabrained.<br />
<br /><br />
Obtuse. I like that word. Obtuse. In common parlance it usually means deliberately blockheaded.<br />
<br /><br />
Again: Paul Donovan, Chinese pigs, and "It matters if you are a Chinese pig. It matters if you like eating pork in China."<br />
<br />
中国猪,中国的猪<br />
<br />
Pig is good.<br />
<br />
<br />
The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-84965469056358215912018-11-09T10:02:00.001-08:002019-06-11T12:32:22.380-07:00BENADERET'S PIPE SHOPParked here for future reference:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Benaderet's Cigarette, Pipe and Tobacco Shop</span><br />
215 Sutter Street<br />
[Formerly at 566 California Street]<br />
San Francisco.<br />
<br />
Owners: Robert and Edith Rashaw<br />
Robert Rashaw: born 1916.<br />
Edith Edna Rashaw: born 1916.<br />
<br />
Store still extant in the late seventies. No longer there by the eighties.<br />
At one point, they had Egyptian cigarettes made for them.<br />
Their house pipes were usually by Comoys.<br />
There are also Benaderet Sasienis.<br />
More research required.<br />
<br />
<br />
Quote: "<i>Benaderet's Inc., was California's oldest pipe and tobacco store when it went out of business in 1980. Sam Benaderet was a tobacconist from New York City who came to San Francisco in 1915 to work at the Panama Pacific International Exposition. An immigrant to the United States from Turkey, Mr. Benaderet decided that he liked the West Coast's Mediterranean like climate. After the Exposition closed, he stayed to open his own tobacco business. This new firm produced custom private-label cigarettes for men's clubs. A lavish retail store was opened in the late 1920's that quickly became a mecca for tobacco connoisseurs.</i>"<br />
Source: <a href="https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/benaderets-cigarette-pipe-tobacco-288283709">https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/benaderets-cigarette-pipe-tobacco-288283709</a><br />
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Note: I often bought tobacco there when I was in college.<br />
<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-31533176209101055962018-09-08T19:29:00.000-07:002018-09-08T19:45:24.545-07:00PUTTING HONEST MERCHANTS OUT OF BUSINESS<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;" type="cite">
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004163" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On September 11, the Marin County Board of Supervisors (BOS) will introduce an ordinance to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the unincorporated areas of the county. The ban includes menthol, mint and wintergreen. There are no exceptions for adult only retail tobacco stores. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004168" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In addition, the draft ordinance does not specify a penalty regime, leaving the development and adoption of rules and regulations to the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services. Of note, in the findings clauses on page 3, please see the highlighted language regarding mint and wintergreen. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004174"><span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004175" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marin County BOS Meeting Details:</span></b><span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004176" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004179" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">--date / September 11<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004182" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">--time / 9:30 </span><span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004183" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A.M.</span><span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004184" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004187" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">--location / Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 330, Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span id="m_4278889959276018010yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1536152703515_1004193" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Retailers and industry stakeholders should contact county supervisors to express opposition the flavor ban.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Marin County Board of Supervisors</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Damon Connolly</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">District </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>1</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>dconnolly@marincounty.org</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">(415) 473-7354</b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Katie Rice</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">District </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>2</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">krice@marincounty.org</b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>(415) 473-7331</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Kate Sears</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">District </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>3</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">ksears@marincounty.org</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">(415) 473-7331</b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Dennis Rodoni</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">District </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>4</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">drodoni@marincounty.org</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">(415) 473-7331</b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Judy Arnold</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">District </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>5</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>JArnold@marincounty.org</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">(415) 473-7331</b><br />
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The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-51670352729242016632018-06-27T13:18:00.002-07:002018-06-27T13:18:46.483-07:00ELIZABETH WARREN: CAGESReport on the visit to the McAllen holding facility.<br />
<br />
Begin cite:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Elizabeth Warren</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">June 26 at 14:30 · </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday morning, I flew to McAllen, Texas to find out what's really happening to immigrant families ripped apart by the Trump administration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's one thing that's very clear: The crisis at our border isn't over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went straight from the airport to the McAllen Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing center that is the epicenter of Donald Trump's so-called "zero-tolerance" policy. This is where border patrol brings undocumented migrants for intake before they are either released, deported, turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or, in the case of unaccompanied or separated children, placed in the custody of Health and Human Services.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the outside, the CBP processing center looks like any other warehouse on a commercial street lined with warehouses. There's no clue about the horrors inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before we could get in, CBP insisted we had to watch a government propaganda video. There's no other way to describe it – it's like a movie trailer. It was full of dramatic narration about the "illegals" crossing our border, complete with gory pictures about the threats that these immigrants bring to the United States, from gangs to skin rashes. The star of the show is CBP, which, according to the video, has done a great job driving down the numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then an employee described what we were about to see. "They have separate pods. I'll call them pods. I don't really know how they name them." Clearly they had gotten the memo not to call them what they are: cages. Every question I asked them had a complicated answer that led to two more questions – even the simple question about how long people were held there. "Nobody is here longer than 24 hours." "Well, maybe 24-48 hours." "72 hours max." And "no children are separated out." "Well, except older children."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The warehouse is enormous, with a solid concrete floor and a high roof. It is filled with cages. Cages for men. Cages for women. Cages for mamas with babies. Cages for girls. Cages for boys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The stench – body odor and fear – hits the second the door is opened. The first cages are full of men. The chain link is about 12-15 feet high, and the men are tightly packed. I don't think they could all lie down at the same time. There's a toilet at the back of the cage behind a half-wall, but no place to shower or wash up. One man kept shouting, "A shower, please. Just a shower."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked the men held in cage after cage where they were from. Nearly all of them were from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I asked them how long they had been there – and the answers were all over the map, from a few days to nearly two weeks (72 hours max?). The CBP agents rushed to correct the detained men, claiming that their answers couldn't be right. My immigration specialist on the trip who speaks fluent Spanish made sure the men understood that the question was, "How long have you been in the building?" Their answers didn't change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cage after cage. Same questions, same answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next we came into the area where the children were held. These cages were bigger with far more people. In the center of the cage, there's a freestanding guard tower probably a story or story-and-a-half taller to look down over the children. The girls are held separately in their own large cage. The children told us that they had come to the United States with family and didn't know where they had been taken. Eleven years old. Twelve. Locked in a cage with strangers. Many hadn't talked to their mothers or fathers. They didn't know where they were or what would happen to them next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The children were quiet. Early afternoon, and they just sat. Some were on thin mats with foil blankets pulled over their heads. They had nothing – no books, no toys, no games. They looked shell shocked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then there were the large cages with women and small children. Women breast-feeding their young children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we went over to the mamas with babies, I asked them about why they had left their home countries. One young mother had a 4-year-old child. She said she had been threatened by the gangs in El Salvador. She had given a drink of water to a police officer, and the gang decided she must be in with the police. The longer she spoke, the more agitated she got – that she would never do that, that she understood the risk with the gangs, but that the gangs believed she did it. She sold everything she had and fled with her son to the United States.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One thing you won't see much of in the CBP processing center? Fathers caged with their children. After pressing the CBP agents, they explained that men traveling with children are automatically released from the facility. They just don't have the cages there to hold them. Women with small children, on the other hand, could be detained indefinitely. I pressed them on this again and again. The only answer: they claimed to be protecting "the safety of the mother and children."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">CBP said that fathers with children, pregnant women, mothers of children with special needs, and other "lucky ones" who are released from the processing center are sent over to Catholic Charities' Humanitarian Respite Center for help. That was my next stop in McAllen. Sister Norma, her staff, and volunteers are truly doing God's work. Catholic Charities provides food, a shower, clean clothes, and medicine to those who need it. The center tries to explain the complicated process to the people, and the volunteers help them get on a bus to a family member in the United States.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sister Norma introduced me to a father and his teenage son from Honduras. The father said that a gang had been after his son, determined that the boy would join the gang. The only way for the boy to escape was to run. The man left his wife and four daughters in Honduras to bring his son to the United States. His only plan is to find work here to send money home to his family. His cousin lives in New Jersey, so CBP sent their paperwork to the local ICE center in New Jersey, and they would soon begin the long bus ride there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley provides a lifesaving service to people of all faiths and backgrounds, but with a humanitarian crisis in their backyard, they're clearly stretched as thin as it gets. With more money and volunteers, they would gladly help more people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked Sister Norma about the women and babies who were in indefinite detention. She said her group would open their arms and take care of them, get them cleaned up and fed and on a bus to a family member – if only ICE would release them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"This is a moral issue. We are all part of this human family," they say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next, I met with some of the legal experts on the frontlines of this crisis – lawyers from the Texas Civil Rights Project, the Border Rights Center of the Texas ACLU, and the federal public defenders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gave them a rundown of everything I'd seen so far in McAllen, particularly when it comes to reuniting parents and children, and they raised some of my worst fears:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Trump administration may be "reunifying" families, but their definition of a family is only a parent and a child. If, for example, a 9-year-old crosses with an 18-year-old sister – or an aunt or uncle, or a grandparent, or anyone who isn't the child's documented legal guardian – they are not counted as a family and they will be separated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mothers and children may be considered "together" if they're held in the same gigantic facility, even if they're locked in separate cages with no access to one another. (In the world of CBP and ICE, that's how the 10-year-old girls locked in a giant cage are "not separated" from their mothers who are in cages elsewhere in the facility.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the process of "reunifying" families, the government may possibly count a family as reunited by sending the child to a distant relative they've never met – not their parents. Some relatives may be unwilling to claim these children because it would be inviting ICE to investigate their own families.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Parents are so desperate to be reunited with their children that they may be trading in their legal right to asylum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The system for tracking separated families is virtually unknown, if one exists at all. One expert worries that for some families, just a simple photo may be all the documentation that the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services have to reunite them. (I sincerely hope that's not true.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The longer the day went on, the more questions I had about how the Trump administration plans to fix the crisis they've created at the border. So my last stop of the day was at the Port Isabel Detention Center, about an hour east of McAllen. It's one of the largest detention facilities in Texas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Department of Homeland Security had released some details on its plan to reunify families. The release noted that Port Isabel will be the "primary family reunification and removal center for adults in their custody."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's be clear: Port Isabel isn't a reunification center. It's a detention center. A prison.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's no ambiguity on this point. I met with the head of the facility. He said several times that they had no space for children, no way to care for them, and no plans to bring any children to his locked-down complex. When I pressed on what was the plan for reunification of children with their parents, he speculated that HHS (the Department of Health and Human Services) would take the children somewhere, but it certainly wasn't going to be to his facility. When I asked how long HHS would take, he speculated that it would be weeks, but he said that was up to them. He had his job to do: He would hold these mothers and fathers until he received orders to send them somewhere else. Period.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So let me say it again. This is a prison – not a reunification center.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We toured the center. It is huge – multiple buildings isolated on a sun-baked expanse of land far from any town. We didn't go to the men's area, but the women are held in a large bunk-bed facility with a concrete outdoor exercise area. It's locked, double-locked, and triple locked. Tall fences topped with razor wire are everywhere, each backed up by a second row of fences also topped with razor wire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An ICE official brought in a group of nine detained mothers who had volunteered to speak to us. I don't believe that ICE cherry-picked these women for the meeting, because everything they told me was horrifying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each mother told us her own story about crossing the border, being taken to a processing center, and the point that they were separated from their child or children. In every case, the government had lied to them about where their children were being taken. In every case, save one, no mother had spoken to her child in the days since the separation. And in every case, no mother knew where her child was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the time of separation, most of the mothers were told their children would be back. One woman had been held at "the icebox," a center that has earned its nickname for being extremely cold. When the agent came to take her child, she was told that it was just too cold for the child in the center, and that they were just going to keep the child warm until she was transferred. That was mid-June. She hasn't seen her child since.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One mother had been detained with her child. They were sleeping together on the floor of one of the cages, when, at 3:00am, the guards took her away. She last saw her 7-year-old son sleeping on the floor. She cried over and over, "I never got to say goodbye. I never got to say goodbye." That was early-June, and she hasn't seen him since.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though the CBP officials at the processing center told me that mothers with children that have special needs would be released, one of the mothers I spoke with had been separated from her special needs child. She talked about her child who doesn't have properly formed legs and feet and walks with great difficulty. One of the mothers spoke of another mother in the facility who is very worried because her separated child is deaf and doesn't speak at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The women I met were traumatized, weeping, and begging for help. They don't understand what is happening to them – and they're begging to be reunited with their kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Detainees can pay to make phone calls, but all of their possessions are taken from them at the processing center. The only way they can get money for a call is for someone to put money on their accounts. I asked if people or charities could donate money so that they'd be able to make phone calls to their family or lawyers, but they said no – a donor would need the individual ID number for every person detained at the center, and ICE obviously isn't going to release that information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three young lawyers were at Port Isabel at the same time we were. The lawyers told us that their clients – the people they've spoken to in the detention center – have strong and credible cases for asylum. But the entire process for being granted asylum depends on one phone call with an immigration official where they make the case for why they should be allowed to stay. One of the first questions a mother will be asked is, "Have you been separated from a child?" For some of the women, just asking that question makes them fall apart and weep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The lawyers are worried that these women are in such a fragile and fractured state, they're in no shape to make the kind of detailed, credible case needed for themselves or their children. They had no chance in our system because they've lost their children and desperately want them back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We stayed inside at Port Isabel for more than two hours – much longer than the 45 minutes we had been promised. When I finally went to bed that night, I thought about something the mothers had told me – something that will likely haunt me for a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The mothers say that they can hear babies cry at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This isn't about politics. This isn't about Democrats or Republicans. This is about human beings. Children held in cages today. Babies scattered all over this country. And mamas who, in the dark of night, hear them cry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm still working through everything I saw, but I wanted you to know the full story. The fight for these children and families isn't over – not by a long shot.</span><br />
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[End cite]<br />
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SOURCE: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/posts/10155822214623687">https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/posts/10155822214623687</a><br />
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<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-89549540644819314332018-05-02T13:53:00.005-07:002018-05-02T13:54:47.930-07:00WHY MCCLELLAND CLOSEDHere, lifted from <a href="http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/about-us/">Tobacconist</a>, (the official publication of the IPCPR since 1990), is an article explaining what happened to McClelland Tobacco Company earlier this year, and why they no longer exist.<br />
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<b>Begin cite:</b>
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<a href="http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/end-of-an-era-mcclelland-tobacco-closes-its-doors/"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">END OF AN ERA: MCCLELLAND TOBACCO CLOSES ITS DOORS</span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By Larry Wagner</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">May 1, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pipe smokers around the world are in mourning after McClelland Tobacco announced in February that it would cease production of its world-class Virginia and Oriental pipe tobacco blends, effectively ending 40 years of creating some of the finest smoking tobaccos ever produced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">McClelland was founded in 1977 by Carl and Mary Ehwa and their partner Bob Benish. At the time, Carl and Bob had been working for Diebel’s, a well-known tobacconist in Kansas City, Missouri. “Carl had developed blends for Diebel, and Fred Diebel had purchased factory equipment,” recalls Mary. “I think that was in 1969. By 1977, Carl wanted to create more blends than Diebel was interested in. So there was a friendly parting, and McClelland began.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The new brand was initially introduced in 10 blends: five Oriental mixtures and five matured Virginias. The concept was very much in the style of the vaunted Scottish brand Rattray’s, which utilized matured Virginia, as opposed to the bright Virginia typically used in English mixtures. For many American pipe smokers, McClelland picked up the mantle of Scottish-style tobaccos when Rattray’s was purchased and moved to Germany. While following in the footsteps of Rattray’s may not have been the impetus for launching the McClelland brand, Mary recalls, “We thought the blends had changed. The Rattray’s blends were very popular at Diebel’s because Carl and Bob liked them so much. I’m not sure we realized Rattray’s had been moved to Germany at that time.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The McClelland brand was immediately recognized for its distinctive embossed labeling—brown for Virginias and green for Orientals—as well as for its painstakingly crafted aged tobaccos. McClelland quickly set a new standard for rich, complex tobacco blends, which imparted the unique tang and natural sweetness only matured Virginia can offer. Pipe smokers noticed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within a few years, McClelland Tobacco could be found on the shelves of most serious tobacconists nationwide. Mike McNiel, who had also worked for Diebel’s, joined the team in 1980, when Bob left to pursue other options. The three partners worked side by side, perfecting the art of blending and aging fine tobaccos. Then, tragically, in 1982, Carl suffered an aneurysm and did not return to the business. He later passed away at age 50.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout that difficult period, the company continued to grow at a gradual, methodical pace. Eventually, Mary and longtime colleague Mike were married, creating a personal and professional partnership that was able to move forward the vision of the boutique manufacturer and to expand on the initial offerings. Owing to their devotion to quality and quest for perfection, the company was in no hurry to bring new blends to the market. As Mary stated emphatically, “It has to be excellent.” They began to produce a full line of bulk tobaccos, initially Virginias and Oriental mixtures, then adding premium-grade aromatics, allowing tobacconists to offer McClelland-quality private-label tobaccos to their customers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In time, as the right tobaccos were presented to them, the McNiels introduced a new series. In 1992, McClelland brought out its first new tinned blends: Dominican Glory, a matured Virginia incorporating aged cigar leaf, and Christmas Cheer, a perennial favorite that changed each season. The early 1990s also saw private-label tinning, initially for Nat Sherman and Barry Levin. Levin Pipes closed after Levin’s passing in 1994, and a year later McClelland released the Personal Reserve series, making widely available the blends that had been created exclusively for Levin Pipes International.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">“<i>My husband Mike is the heart of McClelland. And he goes to such extreme lengths to make sure that everything is just right. And we’re a small company. There’s no way a larger company would go to the same lengths to do this, to produce this type of product. They wouldn’t have our level of obsession</i>.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">McClelland then launched an ambitious project to produce innovative proprietary blends with its Craftsbury series. Most notable among them was Frog Morton, a moist, soft-smoking Latakia mixture that managed to combine its subtle smokiness with an alluring fragrant quality. Frog Morton became the go-to mixture for introducing smokers of aromatic tobacco to the more sophisticated Latakia mixtures. Later releases would include Blakeney’s Best, Grand Orientals, Syrian Latakia blends, Master Penman and others too numerous to list here. In all, by the end of its tenure, McClelland’s tobacco blends included more than
240 varieties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With such a long history of excellence and universal acclaim, one might wonder what could have persuaded the McNiels to discontinue the brand and cease production.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>In our view, it’s kind of a perfect storm, what happened in the tobacco business,</i>” says Mary. “<i>The FDA </i>[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]<i> is always in the background. Even now, the effects of the FDA are considerable. They don’t want you to make any new products. If you do make a new product, it has to go through the premarket authorization, which I do not believe anyone has passed. And it’s considerably expensive. We’re told the cost is $2,000 to $2,300 per test. If you’re a small company with 240 products, say at $2,000 per test for each, that’s $480,000 a year. That’s a lot of money! They also said they don’t want anymore seasonal or limited-edition products [because] it encourages people to smoke, and they don’t like that. And there’s the great unknown of how are they going to test pipe tobacco? They only know how to test cigarettes. They want the industry to develop the tests, and then they want us to pay for the tests they’re going to use to put us out of business!</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Simultaneous with the FDA’s regulatory oversight came the government’s decision to no longer support the cultivation of tobacco as an agricultural product.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>For 40 years we had the benefit of government and the support of the Department of Agriculture </i>[USDA]<i>,</i>” says Mary. “<i>They ran the auctions. They established the grading system. They supported us just like any other agricultural product. We had what they called ‘the government pool.’</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Let’s say the season was a bad one and crops weren’t bringing the best price because the quality wasn’t high. The government would buy up what wasn’t being sold, and that money was put into the government pool. And that gave the farmers enough money so they could plant again. The land that produced tobacco was considered an asset. The government would take care of the farmers with regard to whether or not they could plant. About 12 years ago, the government voted to buy them out </i>[and]<i> buy up those assets so that they wouldn’t have to be supportive of tobacco anymore. They had what they called ‘the farmer buyout,’ and the industry had to pay for it. For 10 years we paid the USDA so that the farmers would be paid off. As a result, about 68 percent of the farmers retired about 2016, and that ended about the same time the FDA came in and wanted to charge us user fees. After the farmer buyout, the USDA said, ‘That’s it for us. We’re not running auctions anymore. We’re not involved with tobacco anymore.’</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The McNiels have always been adamant in their insistence of using only the finest-quality leaf for their blends. Their agents who represented them at tobacco auctions were instructed only to bid on the very best lots of tobacco available. As Mary tells it, the government’s exit from subsidizing and partnering in the cultivation of tobacco, in addition to its obvious agenda to discourage smoking, led to such a reduction of quality leaf tobacco they simply could no longer produce the level of product they would put their name on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i></i>[My leaf buyers said that<i>] the way things are handled today, the way it’s processed today is 180 degrees from what McClelland needs,” she says. “The leaf we’ve always depended on has to be picked when it’s ripe. The whole process was very labor-intensive. They used to go through the fields to pick leaves five different times, progressively going up the plant. Now what they’re doing is mechanical harvesting, and that pulls the green along with the ripe. Then when that leaf is put through the flue-curing process, which is intended to seal in the sugars; that unripe leaf has no sugar to seal in!</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A manufacturer like McClelland, which uses only high-grade leaf, simply cannot produce the same level of quality tobaccos from the caliber of Virginia tobacco now available to them. “We can still get Perique, we can still get Latakia, we can still get burley. But we never based our business on burley, so when you add up all the products that we have had, if you take away all the ones that require matured Virginia, it’s down to so few that we can’t make a living from it.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So why not sell the McClelland brand to an existing tobacco manufacturer? The response: “<i>We’re a company that is obsessed,</i>” says Mary. “<i>My husband Mike is the heart of McClelland. And he goes to such extreme lengths to make sure that everything is just right. And we’re a small company. There’s no way a larger company would go to the same lengths to do this, to produce this type of product. They wouldn’t have our level of obsession.</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the potential for remaining in the industry remote, Mary reflected on the couple’s tenure in this amiable business, as well as her feelings about leaving it. “<i>You know, it’s kind of bittersweet,</i>” she says. “<i>The parts that have been difficult to deal with, the negative things, we’re happy to leave those. But having the pr">oducts that we’ve had, it’s been great fun. It’s been a joy developing new products and having people like them as much as we like them.</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The McNiels’ commitment to excellence and their determination to create and produce only the finest of products was perfectly summed up in a 2000 interview with Tobacconist’s sister publication Pipes and tobaccos, in which Mike gave this eerily prescient quote: “<i>If the quality of available leaf ever went down to the point where we didn’t like our own product, we would shut the doors. We would shut the doors immediately and end it all because our name is on that can, and I’d rather find something else to do than put out something that isn’t right. I would rather go out of business. That way we could say, ‘Well, at least we went out with a great name.’ So McClelland will always be high-quality. We’ll never change.</i>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the closure of McClelland Tobacco, the industry has lost not only one of its great manufacturers but also people of the highest caliber, the type of people who make the tobacco business such a wonderful community. We wish them the best.</span><br />
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<b>[End cite.]</b><br />
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SOURCE: <a href="http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/end-of-an-era-mcclelland-tobacco-closes-its-doors/">http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/end-of-an-era-mcclelland-tobacco-closes-its-doors/</a>
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This article placed here for reference purposes, in case <a href="http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/">Tobacconist magazine</a> ever shuts down.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tobacconistmagazine.com/about-us/">The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is the oldest, largest and most active trade association representing and assisting retail tobacconists. IPCPR members include retail stores throughout the world selling tobacco products and accessories (premium cigars, tobacco pipes, loose tobacco, cigar and pipe accessories and gift items) as well as manufacturers, distributors and service providers of high quality merchandise.</a><br />
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Please enjoy your smokes.<br />
<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-30439407822950998482017-06-21T23:28:00.003-07:002017-06-21T23:28:42.700-07:00DISAPPEARING CHINATOWN<b>DISAPPEARING CHINATOWN</b><br />
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[Addendum in this post: <a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-fading-fragrance.html"> A Fading fragrance</a>
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<b>Uncle's</b> on Waverly and Clay, in their final iteration closed three years ago. For a long time it had been a lunch counter and bakery with good pies, and endless coffee. It's now a Szechuan something-or-other.<br />
<b>Sun Wah Kue</b> Restaurant, on the corner of Washington Street and Ross Alley, had an orange chiffon pie which no one else does and many people fondly remember, as well as chops, ox tail, and the best waffles. Many old timers fondly remember the waffles. Booth seating, and a side door. Baked goods, daily lunch specials. A great place to dawdle over coffee and pastry on a rainy afternoon. The interior was formica, and plain white paint over wood, yellowed a bit and softened by the years.<br />
<b>New King Tin</b> further down closed after a run of half a century, the restaurant that went in was a chachanteng which is now also gone.<br />
<b>Golden Dragon Barbecue</b> on the upper corner of Washington Street and Waverly became a shop selling tacky souvenirs, and is now a discounter of large porcelain whatchamacallits.<br />
<b>Sun Hung Heung</b> below Grant Avenue became a restaurant which in big bold characters (川味) tells the local people that they should not go there, Szechuan Taste! It caters entirely to gullible tourists and visiting provincials, and from what I hear the food and service are frighteningly awful.<br />
Once upon a time there was delicious suckling pig.<br />
<b>Silver Restaurant</b> changed hands and name, the food is decent, nice people work there, and they are open till ten.<br />
<b>Nam Yuen</b> has been an empty building for over two decades.<br />
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<b>Tao Tao Restaurant (陶陶茶樓)</b>, named after a famous dining spot in Hangchow (杭州), had existed since the very early thirties; the exterior recalled an elegant multistoried mansion in the Chinese style. It shut down a generation ago, and the paint-peeling building housed a bookstore and pop-music emporium for a while. It is now a general services centre, offering translation, tax prep, marriage introduction, job placement, immigration help, official forms, etcetera, while <b>Woey Loy Goey</b> (會來居) next door in the basement changed ownership and Chinese name, and hasn't served prime rib or beefsteak for an exceedingly long time.<br />
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<b>New Moon Restaurant: </b>changed hands at the beginning of the year, the Chinese name is different now, the roast ducks, barbecued pork, and hanging chickens are a glorious memory. The duck was that good.<br />
It was delicious. I should have gone more often.<br />
I wonder what happened to the people.<br />
<b><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/New-owner-could-return-a-restaurant-to-Empress-of-10967558.php">Empress of China Restaurant</a></b>: closed in 2014.<br />
<b>New Lotus Garden</b>: long time gone.<br />
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That place where I got a monumental MSG headache is also past tense.<br />
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<b>Ping Yuen Bakery</b> on Jackson closed very many years ago, and is sorely missed. Endless coffee, open til nine, a very long counter at which a single man could sit after work doing crossword puzzles before going to the Great Star Theater a few doors down for a gangster movie. The Shanghainese noodle place is gone. The <b>DPD</b> is gone. You can't get those lovely pastries and dumplings at <b>Yong Kee Rice Noodle Co.</b> up the street anymore, they finally quit after three generations. Preserved egg in a flaky puff-crust, chicken buns, and Toishan daai bau.<br />
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Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the place which served 'rice paddy chicken'. They brought them out for us to choose, and one them hopped out of the basket, then sat staring at us with big placid eyes. <br />
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Ribbit.<br />
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All of the movie theatres are gone, of course.<br />
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<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-22454991587287412722013-05-10T09:21:00.004-07:002013-05-10T09:21:29.954-07:00HALAL SLAUGHTERFor references purposes, the following text is lifted entire from the <a href="http://www.halalfoodauthority.com/slaughter-procedure/">internet page</a> of the Halal Food Authority (<a href="http://www.halalfoodauthority.com/">HFA</a>) in Great Britain. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Slaughter Procedures</span> <br />
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The slaughterer must be an adult Muslim, and holder of a current slaughtering license accorded by Meat Hygiene Service.
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Zibah is the method or the act of slaughter also known as zibah-al-Ikhtiyaariy by which an animal or a bird is slaughtered by a Muslim by saying shahada or tasmiya, Bismillah Allahu Akbar. If the slaughter is not done by zibah method, any meat or derivatives from such carcasses cannot be deemed to be halal or permissible for Muslims to consume. <br />
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Requirements for zibah are:<br />
<strong>1.</strong>The knife to be used must be razor sharp; the blade must be straight and smooth, and free from any serration, pits, notches or damage. The length of the blade must be at least four times the width of the neck of the animal to be slaughtered. The blade must not flex noticeably whence in use.<br />
<strong>2.</strong>The animal must not be anaesthetised, stunned to be killed or otherwise rendered wholly insensible prior to slaughter. It must be conscious and alive when it is slaughtered.<br />
<strong>3.</strong>Poultry and other birds must be restrained either in an upright or prone position for slaughter.<br />
<strong>4.</strong>Lamb, sheep, goats, calves (of less than 60kg dead weight) and other similar sized animals must be placed on a cradle for slaughter and if hung on shackles all efforts are made that they do not injure or bruise themselves.<br />
<strong>5.</strong>Larger bovines, equines, deer and similar sized animals must be restrained in a standing position for slaughter.<br />
<strong>6.</strong>The act of slaughter (Zibah-al-Ikhtiyaariy) must be done with a simple swipe across the neck. The cut should not be any deeper than necessary to sever the carotid artery, jugular vein and windpipe and must not sever the spinal cord. The slaughterer must pronounce aloud or under lip the Arabic words, Bismillah, AllahuAkbar (in the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest) in a reverential tone (if possible), when slaughtering. The Jugular vein, windpipe and carotid artery should be cut by a single swipe of a sharp knife, without damage to the spinal cord.<br />
<strong>7.</strong>After being slaughtered, lambs, sheep, goats and other similar sized animals must be restrained in situ for at least 20 seconds. Bovine and other similarly sized animals must be restrained in situ for 60 seconds. Poultry and other birds must not be subjected to any further processing for at least 20 seconds. During the aforementioned period they must not be further injured, nor subjected to unnecessary stress or pain. Indeed it is desirable that efforts are made to calm them during this period.<br />
<strong>8.</strong>The slaughterer must clean the knife after slaughter of every animal or bird and must check that the knife still conforms to above rules. If damaged, the knife must be replaced. If it is no longer razor sharp, it must be sharpened, say, on a flat stone and approved by an HFA inspector before further use. Note that the knife must not be sharpened in sight of animals awaiting slaughter.
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<strong>9.</strong>The slaughterer or supervisor must ensure that all the flowing blood has been drained from the chicken or ovine or bovine carcass.
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<strong>10.</strong>The water used during the poultry de-feathering process must be at the lowest practical temperature in vogue.<br />
<strong>11.</strong>No dorsal cut is allowed, since this method would slice or sever the spinal cord and the bird or the animal is rendered incapacitated to convulse to drain the flowing blood out of the carcass.<br />
<strong>12.</strong>At the abattoir, slaughterhouse, distribution centre and retail outlets, DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Meat Hygiene Services (MHS), European Union (EU) and local hygiene laws and regulations should always be adhered to, and strictly followed at every stage of the process.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Halal Food Authority (HFA) is an independent, voluntary, non-profit, organisation operating as a commercial wing of a registered charity. The objective of the HFA is to facilitate the Muslim Ummah to be partial to genuinely manufactured halal food in compliance of the HFA Halal Standards, Islamic Jurisprudence and relevant EU regulations in vogue. Simultaneously, the HFA creates awareness of halal principles and axioms for halal production within food industry, consumers and various national and international forums. ]</span><br />
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Readers will kindly note the similarity with elements of kashrus, though the rules set above are not as strict or as detailed. In recent years fanatics in Europe and elsewhere have called for a ban on both Halal and Kashrus, in an attempt to undermine the stability of the polyfaceted societies of the modern world. Neither Halal nor Kashrus can be construed as unusual traditions or cruelty to the animals meant for food, and scandals in England and on the continent within the past few months prove that the meat industries that sell to the general public have, in the main, engaged in questionable practises and contaminated their product with substances that were not divulged on the label, including diseased flesh and animals that are neither kosher nor halal.<br />
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This blogger believes that food standards and methods of slaughter should be left to the relevant communities provided there are no health or hygiene issues, and that authorities should enforce proper adherence to the regulations concerning health, hygiene, and content.<br />
<br />
In short, it would be well if the non-kosher and non-halal concerned 'majority' got its own house in order before it casts a jaundiced eye at traditions which have ever stressed cleanliness and honesty.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>NOTE:</strong> in posting this, I have no particular axe to grind, other than an abiding dislike of people such as Geert Wilders, Pamela Geller, Debbie Schlussel, and many other throwbacks to a more vile era.<br />
I am not a Muslim, nor a Christian. My personal hashkofo veers rather strongely to the Talmudic spectrum, though my ancestry is in the main Dutch Calvinist and Anglican. This is mentioned only in the interests of establishing clarity regarding my angle of view.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================== </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">==========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-59942486526821907502013-05-02T08:35:00.001-07:002013-05-02T08:37:36.269-07:00BERKELEYITE DEFINEDReaders of some of the other blogs associated with my profile have noticed a term of opprobrium used not infrequently to appell a repulsive and typically Californian type of pustule.<br />
Others have wondered at the venom with which I regard the type.<br />
They have failed to understand the association.<br />
<br />
It is for their benefit that I post the definition below.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;"><strong>Berkeleyite:</strong> a clench-jawed intolerant ideologue, in whose priggish presence all thought and creativity become nearly impossible. Most Berkeleyites are so utterly convinced of their own rightness and worth that their mere presence guarantees a lack of anything and everything good in the universe. Vegans, anti-Semites and Israel-haters, pot activists, puritans, and the frigidly uber-bourgeois. All in all quite horrid, quite ignorant, and quite terrifyingly narrow-minded. But the epitome of politically correct smarm. Often, but not always, products of a once top notch but now mediocre educational institution centred there. Berkeley is Tehran with wasps.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 120%;">Berkeleyites are the ring-leaders and trend-setters of darkness. The term 'Berkelyite' on this blog stands in for all that is repellent.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Berkeley, you will readily understand, is the most pretentious and self-satisfied place on the planet. It is home to Humpty Dumpty as well as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.<br />
<br />
I used to live in Berkeley. It was a more rational place at the time. Since then it has become worse. Far worse. <br />
I no longer set foot in the place if I can help it.<br />
<br />The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-13784779504174665212012-12-20T09:50:00.000-08:002012-12-20T09:58:11.968-08:00DUTCH SCUM REVISITED, AND DUTCH SEXUAL PREDATORS<span style="font-size: x-small;">The post below is part of a long screed written three years ago, posted originally on November 30, 2009. It is place here for reference purposes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please note that I no longer patronize the bar in question, as I've had enough exposure to bad karaoke and worse social norms to last me a lifetime.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I used to live in Holland, now I live in San Francisco.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Exposure. Boy howdy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">---ATBOTH</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">DUTCH SCUM</span></strong><br />
<br />
The Dutch combine the worst of both English and German characteristics, being simultaneously phenomenal alcoholics and completely amoral sexually.<br />
<br />
Last week two lads from Drenthe spent three hours at one of the local bars trying to get into the panties of one of the other people there, who was drinking by herself. The process was quite 'interesting' - their remarks to each other in Dutch were so vile and repulsive that I regretted ever having learned their language. American women, in their world, were nothing more than creatures to be exploited and discarded. Their sole disappointment was that this was hard to do - they had expected American girls to be looser than Dutch teenagers, and it had been a difficult three weeks for them.<br />
<br />
They were not unusual.<br />
This past year Dutch tourists have been in the bar several times.<br />
Tim, who takes keen delight in my discomfiture around my distant kin, makes sure to let them know that I speak Dutch. Then walks away smiling in anticipation of my ranting furiously after the poxy bastards finally leave.<br />
<br />
Once the Dutch tourists tell me that they cannot understand how I can stand to live in this horrible place - implying that I am a liar and that I must be severely defective or a wanted criminal for not returning to civilization - conversations invariably revolve around the same rhetorical points: terrible coffee, bad beer, stupid American sports, and women who won't jump at the opportunity to get banged by a European why not how are the girls in San Francisco they're effing desperate and do I know any sluts?<br />
<br />
Well now.<br />
The coffee suits the locals fine, most Americans like mild beer, if you don't know how football or baseball are played you really should shut your trap about those games, and seeing as you lot are arrogant, crude, uncircumcised, and don't wash nearly often enough, why would the women get anywhere near you?<br />
<br />
Yes, we know about your coffee and beer - you just won't shut up about them.<br />
As for soccer, we realize that you are incredibly proud of the game and the attendant violence, we've seen videos of the riots.<br />
Regarding your animalistic urges, it's a pity that you are such sexual predators that you can't keep your gropy hands to yourselves, you swine.<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, I never say any of this - unlike Europeans, we do not consider it polite to rile-up people we don't know. Especially if they are visiting.<br />
We aren't like them, thank God.<br />
<br />
<br />
One the whole, it would be a good thing if we let far fewer Europeans into our country. I won't miss them. Neither will you.<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">AFTERWORD: DUTCH SEX PREDATORS</span></strong><br />
<br />
Not a week goes by without a news report of a Dutch childmolester or drug-rapist being arrested overseas, scarcely a month in which several suspects aren't apprehended for producing and distributing child-pornography or snuff films.<br />
As is well-known, Rotterdam is the epicenter of human-trafficking, and many Dutch youth are accustomed to cap off their weekend of binge-drinking by sexually brutalizing the young foreign women who have been sold into Dutch brothels.<br />
<br />
Lest you think, however, that the Dutch are bigots who regard foreign females as throw-away objects, I hasten to add that this is not so.<br />
<br />
As another article in DeTelegraaf makes clear:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraaf.nl/vrouw/psyche_relatie/5455682/__Kwart_jonge_vrouwen_slachtoffer_seksueel_geweld__.html?p=23,2">http://www.telegraaf.nl/vrouw/psyche_relatie/5455682/__Kwart_jonge_vrouwen_slachtoffer_seksueel_geweld__.html?p=23,2</a><br />
Kwart jonge vrouwen slachtoffer seksueel geweld - Bijna een kwart van de meisjes en vrouwen tussen de 15 en 25 jaar heeft ooit te maken gehad met seksueel geweld.<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">[Translation: Quarter of young women victim of sexual violence - nearly a quarter of the girls and women between fifteen and twenty five years of age has been subjected to sexual violence.]</span><br />
The Dutch sexual violence detailed in the article, which quotes a government report, includes rape, forced disrobing, groping, and forcible oral sex.<br />
<br />
The Dutch do not regard foreign women as throw-away objects, they regard ALL women as such. It's normal over there.<br />
<br />
Drugs, rape, and bestiality are almost national passions.<br />
<br />
<br />
Banning the Dutch permanently from entering the United States would be of great benefit to the United States.<br />
I for one would wholeheartedly support such an idea.<br />
<br />
<br />
==============================================<br />
==============================================<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">UPDATE</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 85%;">GRATUITOUS LAGNIAPPE: EVEN MORE DUTCH DEGENERACY</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 85%;">12/03/2009</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">This article (in Dutch) casts light on the unpleasant sexual subculture in Den Helder:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5477856/__Meisjes_laten_zich_aftuigen__.html?p=38,1"><span style="font-size: 85%;">http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5477856/__Meisjes_laten_zich_aftuigen__.html?p=38,1</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">In short: fourteen and fifteen year-old Dutch girls enthusiastically seek out abusive ethnic boyfriends, and consider being beaten up, raped, and getting pregnant at a young age, absolutely normal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Which, in Den Helder, it probably is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />Here's a news item about a Dutch pervert who photographed thousands of little girls while employed as a swimming instructor in Den Bosch:</span><a href="http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5480882/__60_slachtoffertjes_Benno_L._bekend__.html?p=33,1"><span style="font-size: 85%;">http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5480882/__60_slachtoffertjes_Benno_L._bekend__.html?p=33,1</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">He is suspected of having committed indecent acts with a few dozen victims, but as yet there is no conclusive proof, according to his lawyer.<br />The case came to light last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">This piece discusses a dangerous Dutch 'pedosexual' whom the city of Utrecht wishes to keep out:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5484191/__Stadsverbod_pedo_ongeldig__.html?p=24,1"><span style="font-size: 85%;">http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5484191/__Stadsverbod_pedo_ongeldig__.html?p=24,1</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Sytze van der Velde was convicted three times of unlawful sex with young boys. He is well-known to authorities and among fellow-paedophiles in the Netherlands, and has been active in his chosen perversion for well over three decades.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><strong>NOTE:</strong> All three articles cited are from today's edition of '<strong>De Telegraaf</strong>'. It seems like every day there are juicy bits about rapists, pedophiles, and practitioners of bestiality in the Netherlands. Either they're very bored over there, or the heat and humidity are getting to them. It has a bad effect on the temperament.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-9378119635581328762012-06-22T17:24:00.001-07:002012-06-22T17:30:25.586-07:00ARAB SPRING VIDEOThis video shows what happens when Europeans support any regime as long as it's anti-American for several decades.<br />
<br />
Piles of corpses.<br />
In Syria.<br />
Which is loved by Anja Meulenbelt, the poisonous widow Duisenberg, Dries van Agt, and the Dutch 'socialistische Partij' (rebranded Stalinists).<br />
Among many others.<br />
As well as the French, Italian, and English far left.<br />
<br />
<strong>TWENTY FIVE DEAD SHABIHA TERRORISTS</strong><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0tE4ax3NTPs" width="350"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCE <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tE4ax3NTPs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tE4ax3NTPs</a>.</span><br />
<br />
Just a drop in the bucket, compared to the victims of the Assad regime.<br />
Which for years enjoyed the support of many "reasonable" Europeans.<br />
Because it was anti-American. <br />
<br />
The Shabiha are mostly Alawites employed by the Assad regime as murderers, rapists, extortionists, kidnappers, and political operatives.<br />
I would suggest that once this is all over, they should demand asylum in Europe. Where they will be welcome.<br />
And where they have friends.<br />
Very many friends.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">All correspondence will be kept in confidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">========================================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-29175882106261396212011-07-02T20:34:00.000-07:002011-07-03T09:00:44.167-07:00AMI ISSEROFFEulogy for Ami Isseroff written by his brother Hadar and read aloud by his son at the levaya:<br /><a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2011/07/eulogy-for-ami-isseroff.html">http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2011/07/eulogy-for-ami-isseroff.html</a><br /><br />Obituary, quoting largely from someone else's kind words about Ami:<br /><a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2011/06/ami-isseroff-requiescat-in-pace.html">http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2011/06/ami-isseroff-requiescat-in-pace.html</a><br /><br />Snoopy the Goon's rememberance (from which the kind words mentioned above were quoted):<br /><a href="http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/2011/06/ami-isseroff-rip-heart-of-real-zionist.html">http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/2011/06/ami-isseroff-rip-heart-of-real-zionist.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Ami Isseroff was one of the few writers whose passion and eloquence precisely matched his meaning. Frequently he would bring reason and common-sense back into the discourse, making his points rationally and without inflammatory verbosity. <br />As such, on too many comment-strings and mailinglists to mention, he kept the discussion on track, and prevented it from degenerating into a free-for-all of accusations and <i>"you're-anothers"</i> so common when people with convictions voice deeply-held opinions.<br /><br />My first discussion with him was on a local list.<br />I didn't know who he was at the time, or where he lived. Had, in fact, no clue what I was dealing with.<br />A statement of mine raised his ire and he sharply called me to task.<br />I wasn't pleased at the reprimand and resolved never to discuss anything with him ever again. Subsequent reactions and missives on that list, however, convinced me that those people with whom I initially had agreed were tightly wedged between stark-raving batshit and utter idiocy, and that in fact Ami was the only intelligent person in that conversation. The only sane one too.<br />He made his points with brevity, and with scant regard for the emotional investment of others in their own rhetoric. <br />A remarkable talent, which reflected a remarkable mind.<br /><br />For the next few years we were often a tag-team on that list. And frequently corresponded outside the channel, in order to keep the morons which must infest any acivist coterie from sabotaging the work or hijacking the discourse.<br /><br />Other than that he was one of most remarkable minds I have ever encountered, I do not know much about the man.<br />College level scholar. Zionist. Computer geek.<br />Political thinker. Historian. Rationalist.<br />A liberal with very solid foundations.<br />Husband, father, brother.<br />Renaissance man.<br /><br /><br />Intellectually stimulating, with few if any equals.<br /><br /><br />Damn I'm going to miss him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">============================================================== <br /><strong>NOTE: </strong>Readers may contact me directly: <br /></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17704096&postID=5476343882879727858&page=1&token=1288572377437_AIe9_BHRmnmLyGkbCUVgpGGpUvrByZi3oAwDjl5kiHoEac9NvRXGfG7dALZOmKdmvXQP5fxIjkdLcFzhnlm_SGTcmL2R6YnnwrqVPL2jiE5rqfBsx2kNVsINjF7R9lUCTXHk3vRTlcD2QArm-tDsNLn1qhehVRlfMywlurxzzN9254xGe4J7hKlk4uq9wrjqgVjJusLSSLUl6jD5_TWnUzO6LcGz50HP14ZQJO6y1EgcZuYDf5vLlmnmulhEnLEGS7aQHgjrvNH4J_k2S3GXxxpWbdss4TTlqi3AG2FJLbQFf3iJdBBhQk5uB3hCwRA9ctCl5Kdsf3fR6EBjAxe5Zi0D_On5ERO-aedi_OCHaiY8N71COdCGjPway1sq-xG1Krn1jF5lZX0PJOBpkCEi8fvni0CgC8_Is3WihP1hpZzLxUjLJo8xVAfKO5SBR6jYwoRBNbKb1qEkFdC_gsPrrMibbIcLHLBNF9Ci56zGKJjg_VpFaMUitDABAvmwLTilnjG_W8MMiROhiX_tCQV7GWnPLn5Ky1ghzHfBZt9SV5hK8QqwLcifQL3b4oZgqRlf7VnBLZfqBDreyQDIisZ1qrSfkhE34WMN14XEy6vzCV3gqhC1JM53ZYxJQiy_U10xaFH7teqO2s8QK_otLkBpUXCPOEgEVruP-wU_zZ_L5FfV1j58zXr4edsgA2bArKknqqNK-8Z3AMfsO8TMlsMTWrEMO64U4qBxySi69WTjLQuUfr3AKhsrvDTHjkIT5Fz3sL4pysvf8pgMny8pK-0dOhHWwpcIffFOEt1EtAH1CTtqSG0AT-u_qXk&isPopup=true"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">LETTER BOX</span></strong></a><span style="font-size:78%;">. <br />All correspondence will be kept in confidence.<br /> ==============================================================</span>The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-29404147491318390602011-05-31T14:06:00.000-07:002011-05-31T14:07:36.202-07:00WEST DUNBARTON BOYCOTTGUEST POST BY <a href="http://muqata.blogspot.com/">JAMEEL</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">[<strong>SOURCE:</strong> <a href="http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/05/official-scotch-whisky-counter-boycott.html">http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/05/official-scotch-whisky-counter-boycott.html</a>.]</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Please help pass this on to Kiddush Clubs everywhere!</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/05/official-scotch-whisky-counter-boycott.html">This</a> is the official <a href="http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/05/official-scotch-whisky-counter-boycott.html">pro-Israel, counter-boycott</a> page against Scotch Whisky, distilled in the anti-Israel region of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. (letter to the distillers, appears below)<br /><br />My good friend and fellow blogger, Aussie Dave from <a href="http://www.israellycool.com/">Israellycool</a> has been following this story since it's inception.<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.israellycool.com/2011/05/23/scottish-council-launches-ban-on-israeli-books/">Scottish Council Launches Ban On Israeli Books</a><br />- <a href="http://www.israellycool.com/2011/05/26/follow-up-on-the-dumbies-of-dunbartonshire-council/">Follow Up On The Dumbies of Dunbartonshire Council</a><br />- <a href="http://www.israellycool.com/2011/05/31/is-jim-mcelhill-of-west-dunbartonshire-council-leaving-nasty-comments-here/">Jim McElhill of West Dunbartonshire Council Leaving Nasty Comments</a><br /><br />The story also appeared on my blog, and in other news sources as well.<br /><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/247880/Fury-as-council-launches-boycott-on-Israeli-books"><br />- FURY AS COUNCIL LAUNCHES BOYCOTT ON ISRAELI BOOKS</a><br /><br /><a href="http://gamutnews.com/20110524/7441/scottish-areas-ban-israeli-products.html">- Scottish areas ban Israeli products</a><br /><br />I believe its best to contact the whisky distillers directly, since the West Dunbartonshire Council of Wise Men couldn't care less what a pro-Israel, pro-liberty, person might think...but they might listen to voices of their constituents; specifically the Scotch whisky distilleries in their council's region.<br /><br />You can contact them directly at:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd.</span></a> <a href="mailto:info@morrisonbowmore.co.uk">info@morrisonbowmore.co.uk</a><br />Distillers of: Auchintoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, McClelland’s<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lochlomonddistillery.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd</span></a> <a href="mailto:mail@lochlomonddistillery.com">mail@lochlomonddistillery.com</a><br />Distillers of Loch Lomond, Scots Earl, Distillery Select, Glen Scotia, Littlemill, Croftengea, Craigslodge, Inchmurrin, Glen Douglas, Inchfad<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chivas.com/en/INT/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chivas Brothers</span></a> <a href="mailto:media.relations@pernod-ricard.com">media.relations@pernod-ricard.com</a><br />Distillers of Ballantine’s, Chivas, Royal Salute, Clan Campbell, Something Special, Passport, 100 Pipers, Imperial, Long John Aberlour, The Glenlivet, Glendronach, Strathisla, Longmorn, Scapa, Tormore, Jameson, Paddy, Powers, Walker Special Old, Wisers<br /><br />This is the most current and accurate list I could procure based on the addresses of distiller's in the West Dunbartonshire Council region. Please <a href="mailto:muqata@gmail.com">contact me</a> if I have omitted any whisky from this region, and I will gladly update the list.<br /><br />I urge you to write to these fine distillers of whisky, and express your outrage and support of the counter-boycott. Pass this list on to your friends and neighbors. It is simply immoral for the West Dunbartonshire Council to boycott Israel.<br /><br />Following is the letter I sent them today...feel free to use it in expressing your sentiments to these distillers.<br /><br />Regards from Israel,<br /><br />Jameel Rashid<br /><br />The Muqata Blog<br /><a href="http://www.muqata.com/">www.muqata.com</a><br /><br />Letter to the Fine Whisky Distillers of West Dunbartonshire<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tuesday, 31rst May, 2011</span><br /><br />To The Fine Whisky Distillers of West Dunbartonshire;<br /><br /><a href="http://www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd. </span></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">Auchentoshan Distillery, Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire G81 4SJ </span><br />Distillers of Auchintoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, McClelland’s<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lochlomonddistillery.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">Lomond Industrial Estate, Alexandria, Dunbartonshire G83 0TL</span><br />Distillers of Loch Lomond, Scots Earl, Distillery Select, Glen Scotia,<br />Littlemill, Croftengea, Craigslodge, Inchmurrin, Glen Douglas, Inchfad<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chivas.com/en/INT/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chivas Brothers</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">Kilmalid, Stirling Road, Dumbarton, Lanarkshire, G82 2SS</span><br />Distillers of Ballantine’s, Chivas, Royal Salute, Clan Campbell,<br />Something Special, Passport, 100 Pipers, Imperial, Long John<br />Aberlour, The Glenlivet, Glendronach, Strathisla, Longmorn, Scapa<br />Tormore, Jameson, Paddy, Powers<br />Walker Special Old, Wisers<br /><br />Gentlemen,<br /><br />I would like to preface this letter, in that I have enjoyed your fine whisky products for many years, and believe they are truly world-class. Unfortunately, due to the actions of your esteemed West Dunbartonshire council members, I will not be able to enjoy your whisky in the foreseeable future.<br /><br />It has come to my attention that the West Dunbartonshire Council claims to have voted unanimously to boycott Israeli products.<br /><br />The West Dunbartonshire Council clearly states their point on their website, updated on the 30th of May, 2011.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/news/corporate-statement-on-the-boycott-of-israeli-goods/">http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/news/corporate-statement-on-the-boycott-of-israeli-goods/</a><br /><br />The actual boycott resolution is as follows:<br /><blockquote><br />‘This Council deplores the loss of life in Palestine which now numbers well over 1,000. This Council also recognises the disproportionate force used by the IDF in Palestine and agrees to boycott all Israeli goods as a consequence. Officers should immediately cease the purchase of any goods we currently source, which were made or grown in Israel. Officers should also ensure we procure no new goods or produce from Israel until this boycott is formally lifted by WDC.’</blockquote><br /><br />I find it disturbing that the esteemed council found no reason to mention the reason for the IDF’s operation in Gaza. There was no mention of the intentional targeting of civilian infants, children, women and men by Gaza’s Hamas government, the thousands of rockets they launched at Israel’s civilian population, and the restraint that Israel employed over the previous years when attacked on a daily basis. <br /><br />The IDF does not target civilians. The vast majority of Palestinians that Israel killed have been terrorists. Go check the facts. I have. Palestinians terrorists routinely use hospitals, mosques, and schools to launch their rocket attacks on Israel. Try defending your population from terrorists and see if you can guarantee zero collateral damage. Does your council not condemn the barbarism of the Arab terrorist because in the back of their minds they are concerned terrorists might hunt them down and terrorize THEIR families? <br /><br />Why was there an IDF operation in Gaza in the first place? To oppress poor Palestinian Arabs? How would you deal with Gazas’ Arabs’ targeting Scotland’s babies, other children, and other civilians? Have you not seen the pictures of atrocities the Arabs have visited on innocent children, or does your council not care? We are not talking about isolated attacks on Israel, but about thousands of rockets they have launched at Israel’s civilian population. <br /><br />The restraint of Israel under attack is astounding. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kemp">Colonel Richard Kemp</a>, previous Commander of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan said when presenting his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2009: “During its operation in Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.” (<a href="http://youtu.be/fko9F1EAU2g">source</a>)<br /><br />Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to the US Congress last week: "Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel's Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights. I want you to stop for a second and think about that. Of those 300 million Arabs, less than one half of 1% are truly free, and they're all citizens of Israel! This startling fact reveals a basic truth: Israel is not what is wrong about the Middle East; Israel is what is right about the Middle East!" (<a href="http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2011/Speech_PM_Netanyahu_US_Congress_24-May-2011">source</a>)<br /><br />Lastly, the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas stated this past Saturday that the future state of Palestine will be “free of Jews.” (<a href="http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=222771">source</a>) <br /><br />The State of Israel offers equal freedom for all its citizens, Jew, Arab, and Christian alike, including full parliamentary and judiciary representation. The State of Israel is the unchallenged leader of democracy in the Middle East, and the West Dunbartonshire Council boycott unfortunately attempts to undermine the very success of Israel as a democracy.<br /><br />Therefore, it saddens me to have to inform you that the global counter-boycott of Scottish whisky products, distilled in the West Durbanshire Council region, is beginning. I don’t know anyone who bears malice toward these fine distilleries. When, however, your local council representatives boycott my country, under the most unethical and immoral of pretext, you cannot expect your market to sit idly and pretend your are not perverting justice.<br /><br />• The counter-boycott is on the purchase of Scottish Whisky, distilled in the West Durbanshire council region.<br />• The counter-boycott is not retroactive and applies only to purchases made from June 2011 onwards.<br />• The counter-boycott will not prevented global residents from purchasing whisky products, distilled outside of West Dunbartonshire.<br />• Attempts to depict this counter-boycott as racist are also entirely inaccurate. The counter-boycott is instigated in response to conduct and boycott initiated by the West Durbanshire Council and applies to no specific ethnic or religious group. This is in direct opposition to the West Durbanshire Council which refuses to condemn the actions of Palestinian terrorists targeting Israeli civilians and the anti-Semitic, racist declarations of the Palestinian Authority, which calls for a “Jew-free” apartheid, State of Palestine.<br /><br />The counter-boycott is publicizing the list of West Durbanshire distilled whisky by internet and distributing press releases to news agencies and others around the globe.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Jameel Rashid<br />The Muqata Blog<br /><a href="http://www.muqata.com/">www.muqata.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/muqata">Follow the Muqata on Twitter.</a><br /><br /><i>Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael </i><br /><br />=====================================================<br /><br /><strong>AFTER WORD</strong><br /><br />I myself intend to boycott pretty much everything Scottish henceforward. <br />And I dare anyone to accuse me of racism - there are kilted heathen in my family background, and one of the things my mother happily told me about when I was young, was how her ancestors had slaughtered some other bunch of hairy Scots gits back in the twelfth or thirteenth century. <br />Besides, I know how <a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2007/11/haggis-again.html">haggis</a> is made - that foul product qualifies as a crime against humanity on par with buggery Bobby Burns horrid doggerel. <br />No surprise that they are often paired.<br />Thank heavens the best marmalade comes from England.<br /><br />------ATBOTHThe back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-17637271536803913252011-05-30T18:00:00.000-07:002012-01-01T10:16:53.322-08:00THREE CHANCE-DISCOVERED CANTONESE SONGSSpent some time after lunch browsing youtube. Herewith a haphazard sampling of Cantonese lyric.<br /><br /><br /><strong>相思淚 SEUNG SI LEUI</strong><br />TEARS OF LOVE<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a54Z9D6YDJ8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a54Z9D6YDJ8&feature=related ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a54Z9D6YDJ8&feature=related</a><br />A pleasantly sorrowful old-fashioned tune.<br /><br /><br /><strong>香夭及升天 HEUNG YIU KAP SING TIEN</strong><br />INCENSE SPIRALLING UPWARDS<br />Sung by Yam Kiem-fai (任劍輝) and White Snow Immortal(白雪仙).<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DaLWlOJyRaw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaLWlOJyRaw&feature=related "> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaLWlOJyRaw&feature=related</a ><br />A lovely duet from the opera 帝女花 (Tai neui fa: 'emperor-daughter-flower') about princess Cheung-Peng, daughter of the last Ming emperor. The invasion of the Manchu forces prevented her marriage, and as the capital fell to the rebels, the emperor killed several members of his own family and committed suicide. <br />Though her arm was severed by her father, she survived. Her request that she be permitted to become a nun was denied by the emperor of the new dynasty, who arranged for her and her fiancé to be reunited and wed. By all accounts their marriage was a happy one, but, alas, short. She died of illness a year afterwards, aged seventeen.<br /><br />For the benefit of those who wish to follow the text, I have copy-pasted it below.<br /><br />【旦】落花滿天蔽月光,借一杯附薦鳳台上。 <br />【旦】帝女花帶淚上香,願喪生回謝爹娘。 <br />【旦】我偷偷看、偷偷望,佢帶淚帶淚暗悲傷。 <br />【旦】我半帶驚惶,怕駙馬惜鸞鳳配,不甘殉愛伴我臨泉壤。 <br />【生】寸心盼望能同合葬;鴛鴦侶,相偎傍。 <br />【生】泉台上再設新房,地府陰司裡再覓那平陽門巷。 <br />【旦】唉,惜花者甘殉葬。花燭夜,難為駙馬飲砒霜。 <br />【生】江山悲災劫。感先帝,恩千丈;與妻雙雙叩問帝安。 <br />【旦】唉,昐得花燭共諧白髮,誰個願看花燭翻血浪。 <br />【旦】唉,我誤君累你同埋孽網,好應盡禮揖花燭深深拜。 <br />【旦】再合巹交杯,墓穴作新房,待千秋歌讚註駙馬在靈牌上 <br />【生】將柳陰當做芙蓉帳,明朝駙馬看新娘,夜半挑燈有心作窺妝。 <br />【旦】地老天荒,情鳳永配痴凰,願與夫婿共拜相交杯舉案。 <br />【生】遞過金杯慢咽輕嘗,將砒霜帶淚放落葡萄上。 <br />唱詞: <br />【旦】合歡與君醉夢鄉, <br />【生】碰杯夢到夜台上。 <br />【旦】百花冠替代殮妝, <br />【生】駙馬珈墳墓收藏。 <br />【旦】相擁抱 、 <br />【生】相偎傍, <br />【合】雙枝有樹透露帝女香。 <br />【生】帝女花, <br />【旦】長伴有心郎; <br />【合】夫妻死去樹也同模樣。<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">雙仙拜月亭 SEUNG SIEN BAAI YUET TING</span></strong><br /><br />And now, just because I've always like it, a piece from 'Two Immortals Worship at the Moon Pavilion', one of the classics of the Cantonese opera repertoire.<br /><br /><br /><strong>粧樓拜月 JONG LAU BAAI YUET</strong><br />ADORNING THE BUILDING (FOR) REVERENCING THE MOON<br />Sorry, no idea who the performers are.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9_DVRxa3fzM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_DVRxa3fzM"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_DVRxa3fzM</a><br />There are several movie versions of this opera. <br /><br />--- ---- ---- ---<br /><br />Next up, at some future point, the stellar 芳豔芬 (Fong Yim-fan), famous for a mellifluous voice and expressivity in her opera roles. She performed at times with Yam Kiem-fai, mentioned above. <br />Still among the living, last I heard, but in her eighties and retired.The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-53383061873900974342011-05-06T19:07:00.000-07:002011-05-07T19:13:09.293-07:00HONG KONG MOVIE CLIPSThe following are clips from various Hong Kong movies, selected nearly entirely at random. If YOU can discover a common theme, or even a logical sequence, please let me know. <br />I simply spent an afternoon rediscovering the period when there were still movie theatres in Chinatown.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">倩女幽魂—张国荣</span></strong><br />Theme song for Chinese Ghost Story - various scenes from the movie - with Leslie Cheung (張國榮)<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cBlolVb2E5M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlolVb2E5M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlolVb2E5M</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">古惑仔 - 陳浩南</span></strong><br />Kinda pointless and lecturesome scene from a movie about a substitute teacher and juvenile delinquents. But it has some splendid foul language.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oc_xrwbYfcA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc_xrwbYfcA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc_xrwbYfcA&feature=related</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">我叫你做食屎狗~食屎狗 監獄風雲</span></strong><br />Scene from Prison on Fire in which Chou Yun Fat(周潤發) calls the sadistic guard 'sek si kau'.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BiYrcOv98Co" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiYrcOv98Co&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiYrcOv98Co&feature=related</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">天若有情</span></strong><br />Fat ex-pretty boy, now a truck driver, gets lecture from a leng-tsai. Later there's a scene where a bride is carrying her groom on her back.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aApccHpvQsE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aApccHpvQsE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aApccHpvQsE</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">英雄本色</span></strong><br />Scene where Chou Yun Fat kills several Hokkien speaking gangsters and their leader 小馬哥 in Taiwan, from the movie A Better Tomorrow.<br />Classic.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UcJb6vtHWV4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcJb6vtHWV4&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcJb6vtHWV4&feature=related</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">賭神</span></strong><br />Part near end of God of Gamblers. Chou Yun Fat proves that he wears a tuxedo very well. Confrontation.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2puaI9V8Osc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2puaI9V8Osc&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2puaI9V8Osc&feature=related</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">賭神</span></strong><br />The end of the movie. The bad guy lost all bets. <br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xbDVGOSeSn4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbDVGOSeSn4&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbDVGOSeSn4&feature=related</a> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">秋天的童話</span></strong><br />Chou Yun Fat picks up Jennifer (played by 鍾楚紅) at the airport, then frightens the crap out of her with his car and his driving.<br /><iframe width="430" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4i6lzX5wjb4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i6lzX5wjb4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i6lzX5wjb4</a> <br /><br /><br />From the mid eighties till around 1988, the Great Star theatre on Jackson street held the franchise for the Golden Harvest films, then lost it to the Pagoda Palace, which showed them for at least the next three years. By 1995 all theatres in C'town were closed.The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-25747946331640052092010-11-17T12:09:00.000-08:002010-11-17T12:12:25.617-08:00JVP ATTACKS MIDDLE AGED DISABLED WOMAN<strong>Jewish Voice for Peace attack news<br /></strong><a href="http://grantpatel.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-attack-news.html">http://grantpatel.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-attack-news.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"Fellow bloggerstress Balabusta in Blue Jeans also weighs in on the cruel assault on a pro-Israel activist by the ever-venomous and vile Jewish Voice for Peace soldiers. She says: "The Balabusta will add that she has met this lady many times, and that she has also seen JVP's choice of 'nonviolent' friends at a number of demonstrations. Given JVP's inability to notice threatening and violent behavior carried out by those they choose to like, I'm not surprised they also fantasize violence by those they attack." "<br /></em><br /><br /><strong>Jewish Voice for Peace and bully tactics<br /></strong><a href="http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-and-bully.html">http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-and-bully.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"Yesterday evening there was a fracas at a Jewish Voice for Peace event, in which a middle-aged woman was victimized by several people. Jewish Voice for Peace has already come out with a press-release in which they desperately seek to put their spin on matters.<br />Truth, as is so often the case when JVP and similar groupings are involved, is not part of their narrative."<br /><br /></em><strong>Jewish Voice for Peace and bully tactics<br /></strong><a href="http://grantpatel.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-and-bully.html">http://grantpatel.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-and-bully.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:<br /></strong><em>"Here’s the victim’s account:<br /></em><br /><em>"Jewish Voice for Peace" has issued a press release that I attacked several people attending one of their events with pepper spray. They also go on to make absurd allegations regarding my politics and intentions at the meeting.<br /><br />This is completely bizarre. I am a DISABLED WOMAN (see the legal notice on my car). I carry pepper spray as my only means to defend myself. It IS true that on the evening of November 14, at a JVP meeting, I needed to defend myself. I was physically attacked.<br /><br />The JVP meeting at Berkeley Senior Center was advertised to the public. I attended this meeting as an individual and not as a member of any organization, in order to deepen my understanding of their perspective on the Middle East conflict.<br /><br />Ironically, a stated goal of the meeting was to HONOR activists that had recently PHYSICALLY DISRUPTED a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Perhaps I should have understood that as a warning.<br /><br />THE ATTACK: Around 20 minutes into the meeting, I tried to photograph a woman speaking in support of Israel. Almost immediately, several JVP members surrounded me and tried to take my camera from me. Then they attacked me. They took hold of my arms and would not let me go. They also pushed their chests into me many times and knocked me against a wall. I yelled at them 20 to 30 times to let go of me. They refused to let go of my wrists and forearms and continued to bang their chests into me. They banged me into the wall over a dozen times. Their faces were red from hatred and exertion. As a result of their violence, my wrists and arms are bruised and I am currently suffering serious pain in my lower back. I am unable to work this afternoon and I must take medication for pain relief.<br /><br />I am a large woman but I am physically frail. As I said, I am disabled.<br />- I see a pain management physician regularly for chronic back pain. I am unable to move without severe back pain. I have had major surgery on my back. I am unable to stand for more than a couple of minutes without unrelenting back pain and sciatica pain.<br />- I also have had nine surgeries on my knees which are another main source of pain.<br />- I have asthma, and I use inhaled steroids daily; the anti-Israel activists’ attack on me exacerbated my asthma and I had to take medicine while at the senior center.<br />- I also have a serious blood disorder that weakens me. I am currently under treatment by a hematologist/oncologist, and I am on daily chemotherapy.<br /><br />I am 58 years old. I have a Disabled Person’s license plate for my car. I am physically incapable of overpowering or attacking anybody! The people who attacked me were physically fit and at least 20 years younger than I;<br /><br />While pleading with the attackers to let me go, I tried to get away but they followed me and kept grabbing my arms. At one point they knocked my camera out of my hand. I bent down to pick it up and tried to walk away. They followed me and continued to grab my arms and shove me into the wall. They isolated me from the rest of the crowd. Because they were beating me up and because I am disabled and could not defend myself otherwise, I sprayed pepper spray into one woman’s face. As soon as I did that, they all backed off from me and let me go.<br /><br />I resorted to the pepper spray because I feared for my safety and my life!!! I believe that had I not used pepper spray, I would be in the hospital today suffering far more serious injuries. Pepper spray causes extreme discomfort but is unlikely to cause permanent injury. The purpose of pepper spray is to temporarily disable an attacker, to allow time for escape. It worked.<br /><br />The JVP press release is an outright lie. I cannot and did not attack anyone. I was attacked!<br /></em><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[END CITE]<br /></span><br /><strong>Jewish Voice for Whaaaa? Again?<br /></strong><a href="http://balabustabluejeans.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-whaaaa-again.html">http://balabustabluejeans.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-whaaaa-again.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"Over at Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers, the irrepressible Grant Patel writes up a recent encounter between the poorly named Jewish Voice for Peace and a local pro-Israel activist who was physically attacked and continues to be attacked in words by JVP."<br /></em><br /><br /><strong>Self-Loathing Jews & Leftists Assault Jewish Woman at JVP Meeting</strong><br /><a href="http://brandishingbeets.blogspot.com/2010/11/self-loathing-jews-leftists-assault.html">http://brandishingbeets.blogspot.com/2010/11/self-loathing-jews-leftists-assault.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"This is a repost from my fellow San Franciscan's blog, Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers:<br />Monday, November 15, 2010<br />Jewish Voice for Peace and bully tactics ... "</em><br /><br /><br /><strong>JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE VIOLENCE</strong><br /><a href="http://deathbynoodles.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-violence.html">http://deathbynoodles.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-violence.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"On Sunday night in Berkeley, members of Jewish Voice for Peace displayed all their worst character flaws, and ganged up on a middle-aged handicapped woman."<br /></em><br /><br /><strong>Jewish Voice for Peace - lies, distortion, and spin<br /></strong><a href="http://infectiousasian.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-lies-distortion.html">http://infectiousasian.blogspot.com/2010/11/jewish-voice-for-peace-lies-distortion.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> <em>"The following is an example of the lies told by Jewish Voice for Peace, which once again shows that ethical considerations and truth are not any part of their agenda."<br /></em><br /><br /><strong>JVP ASSAULT WITNESSED<br /></strong><a href="http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2010/11/jvp-assault-winessed.html">http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/2010/11/jvp-assault-winessed.html</a><br /><strong>Excerpt:</strong> "One of the people who was there witnessed the assault on Robin by the JVP’ers Sunday evening in Berkeley very clearly. This is what he wrote:<br /><em>"I witnessed the assault on Robin Dubner on 11-14-10. I heard a fracas to my left and behind me. I turned and saw a blonde woman with short hair and a man with glasses pushing Robin backwards, toward a wall of windows and a plaster wall-- a corner, essentially. Robin had both hands above her head and the two JVPers were shoving her backward and grabbing at Robin's hands. Another two persons were behind the two assailants, all moving forward on Robin, who was retreating backward from them. Robin was screaming words to the effect of: "Don't touch me; let go of me." I didn't catch the JVPers' words, but several people were yelling at Robin at once.<br /><br />I saw Robin's camera fly out of her hands and the attack on her let up for a moment. When Robin picked up her camera from the floor, the attack started again, with more pushing, grabbing and screaming at Robin by multiple people. Robin took out her pepper spray and sprayed the blonde woman; I didn't notice her spray the man but I understand he was also sprayed. At that time, Robin was able to move away.<br /><br />I can testify in court that this was a brutal attack by multiple cowards on a disabled person (Robin) and that Robin was justified in protecting herself with pepper spray. The spray was used solely in self-defence. Even I feared for Robin's safety at the hands of these thugs who unjustifiably, physically attacked Robin."</em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[END CITE]</span><br /><br /><br /><strong>Another witness writes:<br /></strong><br /><em>The chairs in the room were arranged in a big circle. We began by introducing ourselves and discussing our plans for Thanksgiving. Lots of JVP'ers are spending Thanksgiving day on Alcatraz. It was oh so very very Berkeley.<br /><br />Someone (a pro-Israel person?) began taping. They actively tried to stop her. A spirited discussion ensued about if it was legal or not to tape in a public venue. Were they planning to engage in any illegal activity? Was that why they objected to taping?<br /><br />Then JVP introduced the students who interrupted Netanyahu. Rae Abileah from Code Pink, Matthew Taylor, 3 others. Oh, they were so proud of their brave, brave, young people!<br /><br />They set up the video from their disruption. And that is when a pro-Israel person started reading from Chaim Herzog's 1975 speech to the UN on Zionism. Someone else asked Matthew Taylor about the psycho-sexual nature of his (Matthew Taylor's) foreskin restoration crusade. Had he tried any of the do it yourself procedures?<br /><br />Two loudly angry JVP'ers attempted to prevent someone else taping. I think they were waving their fists at her and trying to push her. It looked very threatening. The victim of the JVP bullying was shoved into a corner, a wiry blonde thing grabbed her wrist, and the camera fell to the group.<br />And at that point, the shit hit the fan. Chaos and screaming.<br /><br />Cecilie Shuransky had brought her little boy to the meeting . The turmoil just fascinated him - I suspect he said to his mom on the way home "It wasn't as boring as it usually is".<br /><br />Rae whined "it's not the same. We interrupted the head of a state. You are interupting...us...powerless young people."<br /><br />I really hate sinking to their depths.<br /></em><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">[END CITE]</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><br />PLEASE ALSO NOTE MENTIONS ELSEWHERE OF JVP'S TENDENCY TO BEND THE TRUTH BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION, HERE AS WELL AS ON OTHER BLOGS.The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6323906791000123685.post-67361547743503457542010-07-23T13:36:00.001-07:002010-07-23T13:43:04.710-07:00STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON THE PLACE OF JEWS WITH A HOMOSEXUAL ORIENTATION IN OUR COMMUNITYFollows the full text plus signatories of the statement, which was originally posted here: <a href="http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/">SOPOTPOJWAHOIOC!</a><br /><br /><a href="http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/">http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />---------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a<br />Homosexual Orientation in Our Community<br /></strong><br />We, the undersigned Orthodox rabbis, rashei yeshiva, ramim, Jewish educators and communal leaders affirm the following principles with regard to the place of Jews with a homosexual orientation in our community:<br /><br /><strong>1.</strong> All human beings are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (kevod haberiyot). Every Jew is obligated to fulfill the entire range of mitzvot between person and person in relation to persons who are homosexual or have feelings of same sex attraction. Embarrassing, harassing or demeaning someone with a homosexual orientation or same-sex attraction is a violation of Torah prohibitions that embody the deepest values of Judaism.<br /><br /><strong>2.</strong> The question of whether sexual orientation is primarily genetic, or rather environmentally generated, is irrelevant to our obligation to treat human beings with same-sex attractions and orientations with dignity and respect.<br /><br /><strong>3.</strong> Halakhah sees heterosexual marriage as the ideal model and sole legitimate outlet for human sexual expression. The sensitivity and understanding we properly express for human beings with other sexual orientations does not diminish our commitment to that principle.<br /><br /><strong>4.</strong> Halakhic Judaism views all male and female same-sex sexual interactions as prohibited. The question of whether sexual orientation is primarily genetic, or rather environmentally generated, is irrelevant to this prohibition. While halakha categorizes various homosexual acts with different degrees of severity and opprobrium, including toeivah, this does not in any way imply that lesser acts are permitted. But it is critical to emphasize that halakha only prohibits homosexual acts; it does not prohibit orientation or feelings of same-sex attraction, and nothing in the Torah devalues the human beings who struggle with them. (We do not here address the issue of hirhurei aveirah, a halakhic category that goes beyond mere feelings and applies to all forms of sexuality and requires precise halakhic definition.)<br /><br /><strong>5.</strong> Whatever the origin or cause of homosexual orientation, many individuals believe that for most people this orientation cannot be changed. Others believe that for most people it is a matter of free will. Similarly, while some mental health professionals and rabbis in the community strongly believe in the efficacy of “change therapies”, most of the mental health community, many rabbis, and most people with a homosexual orientation feel that some of these therapies are either ineffective or potentially damaging psychologically for many patients.<br /><br />We affirm the religious right of those with a homosexual orientation to reject<br />therapeutic approaches they reasonably see as useless or dangerous.<br /><br /><strong>6.</strong> Jews with a homosexual orientation who live in the Orthodox community confront serious emotional, communal and psychological challenges that cause them and their families great pain and suffering. For example, homosexual orientation may greatly increase the risk of suicide among teenagers in our community. Rabbis and communities need to be sensitive and empathetic to that reality. Rabbis and mental health professionals must provide responsible and ethical assistance to congregants and clients dealing with those human challenges.<br /><br /><strong>7.</strong> Jews struggling to live their lives in accordance with halakhic values need and deserve our support. Accordingly, we believe that the decision as to whether to be open about one's sexual orientation should be left to such individuals, who should consider their own needs and those of the community. We are opposed on ethical and moral grounds to both the “outing” of individuals who want to remain private and to coercing those who desire to be open about their orientation to keep it hidden.<br /><br /><strong>8.</strong> Accordingly, Jews with homosexual orientations or same sex-attractions should be welcomed as full members of the synagogue and school community. As appropriate with regard to gender and lineage, they should participate and count ritually, be eligible for ritual synagogue honors, and generally be treated in the same fashion and under the same halakhic and hashkafic framework as any other member of the synagogue they join. Conversely, they must accept and fulfill all the responsibilities of such membership, including those generated by communal norms or broad Jewish principles that go beyond formal halakhah.<br /><br />We do not here address what synagogues should do about accepting members<br />who are openly practicing homosexuals and/or living with a same-sex partner.<br />Each synagogue together with its rabbi must establish its own standard with<br />regard to membership for open violators of halakha.<br />Those standards should be applied fairly and objectively.<br /><br /><br /><strong>9.</strong> Halakha articulates very exacting criteria and standards of eligibility for particular religious offices, such as officially appointed cantor during the year or baal tefillah on the High Holidays. Among the most important of those criteria is that the entire congregation must be fully comfortable with having that person serve as its representative. This legitimately prevents even the most admirable individuals, who are otherwise perfectly fit halakhically, from serving in those roles. It is the responsibility of the lay and rabbinic leadership in each individual community to determine eligibility for those offices in line with those principles, the importance of maintaining communal harmony, and the unique context of its community culture.<br /><br /><strong>10.</strong> Jews with a homosexual orientation or same sex attraction, even if they engage in same sex interactions, should be encouraged to fulfill mitzvot to the best of their ability. All Jews are challenged to fulfill mitzvot to the best of their ability, and the attitude of “all or nothing” was not the traditional approach adopted by the majority of halakhic thinkers and poskim throughout the ages.<br /><br /><strong>11.</strong> Halakhic Judaism cannot give its blessing and imprimatur to Jewish religious<br />same-sex commitment ceremonies and weddings, and halakhic values proscribe individuals and communities from encouraging practices that grant religious legitimacy to gay marriage and couplehood. But communities should display sensitivity, acceptance and full embrace of the adopted or biological children of homosexually active Jews in the synagogue and school setting, and we encourage parents and family of homosexually partnered Jews to make every effort to maintain harmonious family relations and connections.<br /><br /><strong>12.</strong> Jews who have an exclusively homosexual orientation should, under most circumstances, not be encouraged to marry someone of the other gender, as<br />this can lead to great tragedy, unrequited love, shame, dishonesty and ruined<br />lives. They should be directed to contribute to Jewish and general society in<br />other meaningful ways. Any such person who is planning to marry someone of<br />the opposite gender is halakhically and ethically required to fully inform their<br />potential spouse of their sexual orientation.<br /><br /><br />We hope and pray that by sharing these thoughts we will help the Orthodox<br />community to fully live out its commitment to the principles and values of<br />Torah and Halakha as practiced and cherished by the children of Abraham, who<br />our sages teach us are recognized by the qualities of being rahamanim<br />(merciful), bayshanim (modest), and gomelei hasadim<br />engaging in acts of loving-kindness).<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><strong>(as of 7/23/10)</strong><br />Rabbi Yosef Adler<br />Rabbi Elisha Anscelovits<br />Rabbi Hayyim Angel<br />Rabbi Marc Angel<br />Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum<br />Mrs. Nechama Goldman Barash<br />Rabbi Avi Baumol<br />Rabbi Benjamin Berger<br />Rabbi Dr. Shalom Berger<br />Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman<br />Rabbi Todd Berman<br />Rabbi Yonah Berman<br />Dr. David Bernstein<br />Rabbi David Bigman<br />Rabbi Yitzchak Blau<br />Rabbi Nasanayl Braun<br />Dr. Erica Brown<br />Rabbi Yuval Cherlow<br />Ms. Yael Diamond<br />Rabbi Mark Dratch<br />Rabbi Ira Ebbin<br />Rabbi Rafi Eis<br />Mrs. Atara Eis<br />Rabbi Yitzhak Etshalom<br />Rabbi Dr. Shaul (Seth) Farber<br />Ms. Rachel Feingold<br />Rabbi Jeffrey Fox<br />Rabbi Aaron Frank<br />Rabbi Aharon Frazier<br />Rabbi Avidan Freedman<br />Rabbi Shmuel Goldin<br />Rabbi Mark Gottlieb<br />Rabbi Barry Gelman<br />Rabbi Uri Goldstein<br />Rabbi Benjamin Greenberg<br />Rabbi Zvi Grumet<br />Rabbi Alan Haber<br />Dr. Aviad Hacohen<br />Rabbi Tully Harcsztark<br />Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot<br />Rabbi Josh Hess<br />Dr. Daniel Kahn<br />Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky<br />Rabbi Jay Kellman<br />Rabbi Aryeh Klapper<br />Mrs. Judy Klitsner<br />Rabbi Shmuel Klitsner<br />Rabbi Jeff Kobrin<br />Dr. Aaron Koller<br />Rabbi Barry Kornblau<br />Dr. Meesh Hammer Kossoy<br />Rabbi Binny Krauss<br />Mrs. Esther Krauss<br />Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau<br />Rabbi Zvi Leshem<br />Rabbi Daniel Levitt<br />Rabbi Dr. Martin Lockshin<br />Rabbi Dr. Haskel Lookstein<br />Rabbi Asher Lopatin<br />Rabbi Chaim Marder<br />Rabbi Joshua Maroof<br />Rabbi Dr. Adam Mintz<br />Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern<br />Rabbi Dr. Yaacov Nagen (Genack)<br />Mrs. C.B. Neugroschl<br />Rabbi Yossi Pollak<br />Dr. Caroline Pyser<br />Rabbi Daniel Reifman<br />Rabbi Avi Robinson<br />Rabbi Chaim Sacknovitz<br />Rabbi Noam Shapiro<br />Rabbi Yehuda Seif<br />Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger<br />Rabbi Adam Schier<br />Ms. Lisa Schlaff<br />Rabbi Yehuda Septimus<br />Rabbi Yair Silverman<br />Rabbi Jeremy Stavitsky<br />Rabbi Adam Starr<br />Rabbi Chaim Strauchler<br />Rabbi Yehuda Sussman<br />Rabbi Joel Tessler<br />Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner<br />Rabbi Jacob Traub<br />Rabbi Zach Truboff<br />Mrs. Dara Unterberg<br />Rabbi Michael Unterberg<br />Rabbi Dr. Avie Walfish<br />Dr. Dina Weiner<br />Ms. Sara Weinerman<br />Rabbi David Wolkenfeld<br />Rabbi Elie Weinstock<br />Rabbi Alan Yuter<br />Rabbi Josh Yuter<br />Dr. Yael Ziegler<br />Rabbi Dr. Stuart Zweiter<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong>SOURCE LINKS:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/">http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html">http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/2010/07/for-last-six-months-number-of-orthodox.html">http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/2010/07/for-last-six-months-number-of-orthodox.html</a> <br /><br />---------------------------------------------------The back of the hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05564245223453467132noreply@blogger.com8