Take it home: Watch “SIMON AND GARFUNKEL : Overs 1964-1970 (Bootleg CD – A Bunch of Relics)” on YouTube

Brilliant: Watch “Total Eclipse of the Heart” on YouTube

Watch “Time After Time” on YouTube

Today’s Holiday: Days of ’76

Today’s Holiday:
Days of ’76

This celebration held each year in Deadwood, South Dakota, is an attempt to revive the spirit of the gold rush days. The festivities begin with a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo. Then there is a three-mile-long historical parade that includes floats portraying the various stages of, and characters in, Deadwood’s history—from the earliest settlers to the coming of industry and tourism. A kids’ carnival is in town during the festival, and street dances featuring country music take place Thursday through Saturday night. More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Today’s Birthday: Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko (1853)

Today’s Birthday:
Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko (1853)

Korolenko was a Ukrainian-Russian writer. Arrested for revolutionary activities in 1879, he was sent to various places of exile where he wrote many of his lyrical short stories, notable for their descriptions of desolate nature and the lives of the poor. After 1895, he devoted himself to liberal journalism. Greatly honored in Russia, he reservedly welcomed the 1917 revolution but later opposed the Bolsheviks. His most famous story, “Makar’s Dream,” describes a dying peasant’s dream—of what? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

This Day in History: Bugs Bunny Makes His Debut (1940)

This Day in History:
Bugs Bunny Makes His Debut (1940)

Though an unnamed bunny appeared in Merrie Melodies cartoons in the 1930s, the true Bugs Bunny was born with the 1940 release of “A Wild Hare,” in which a clever, mischievous Bugs plays pranks on his hapless nemesis, a hunter named Elmer Fudd. Bugs went on to become one of the most well-known and beloved cartoon characters of all time, perhaps second only to Mickey Mouse. “A Wild Hare” was nominated for an Oscar the same year that another cartoon introduced what pair of cartoon rivals? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Quote of the Day: Ambrose Bierce

Quote of the Day:
Ambrose Bierce

Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic. More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Article of the Day: Headhunting

Article of the Day:
Headhunting

Headhunting, the act of removing, displaying, and, in some cases, preserving human heads, has been practiced worldwide and may date to Paleolithic times. Though the practice was sometimes linked to certain forms of cannibalism and human sacrifice, its primary function was often ceremonial and was part of the process of reinforcing hierarchical relationships between communities and individuals. Which troops were said to regularly collect the skulls of enemy soldiers during World War II? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Idiom of the Day: jump in (one’s) skin

Idiom of the Day:
jump in (one’s) skin

To start or recoil, as from shock, surprise, or fear. Watch the video…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Word of the Day: admixture

Word of the Day:
admixture

Definition: (noun) An additional ingredient that is added by mixing with the base.
Synonyms: intermixture
Usage: The flowers flourished in the new growing medium, a nutrient-rich soil comprised of equal parts sand and loam with an admixture of peat moss and cow manure.: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

From Wikipedia: The Roosevelt Dyme

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page?wprov=sfla1

Today’s featured article 2017-D Roosevelt dime The Roosevelt dime is the current ten-cent piece of the United States, displaying President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the obverse. Authorized soon after his death in 1945, it has been produced by the Mint continuously since 1946 in large numbers. Roosevelt had been stricken with polio, and was one of the moving forces of the March of Dimes. The ten-cent coin could legally be changed by the Mint without the need for congressional action, and officials moved quickly to replace the Mercury dime. Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock prepared models, but faced repeated criticism from the Commission of Fine Arts. He modified his design in response, and the coin went into circulation in January 1946. The Mint transitioned from striking the coin in silver to base metal in 1965, and the design remains essentially unaltered from when Sinnock created it. Without rare dates or silver content, the dime is less widely sought by coin collectors than other modern American coins. (Full article…)(Full article…)

Georg Janny (1864-1935) – Summer night (1926)

“Virgin of the cherries” Annibale Carracci-1593 oil on canvas

“Virgin of the cherries” Annibale Carracci-1593 oil on canvas” width=”433″ height=”540″ alt=””Virgin of the cherries”
Annibale Carracci-1593
oil on canvas
Size 120 x 98 cm.
Louvre Museum, Paris”/>

France 24 : Trump says transgender people barred from US military

Trump says transgender people barred from US military

http://www.france24.com/en/20170726-trump-says-transgender-people-barred-us-military

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that transgender people may not serve “in any capacity” in the US military, citing the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” their presence would cause. In late June, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis delayed for six months a plan put in place under Barack Obama’s administration to start accepting transgender recruits. An estimated 2,500 to 7,000 transgender people are among the 1.3 million active duty service members. “After consultation with my generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military,” Trump tweeted. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.” The issue of transgender rights in America has been increasingly in the spotlight in recent months, especially over how states regulate the use of public restrooms. The Trump administration faced protests earlier this year after it reversed Obama-era federal protections that urged schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity, not the gender on their birth certificate. Last month, the Pentagon said the five armed service branches could delay accepting transgender recruits until January 1 as they “review their accession plans and provide input on the impact to the readiness and lethality of our forces,” spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement. Last week, White explained that the different services were not in agreement on when to accept transgender recruits. “The service chiefs all had to give their what needed-to-be-done timeframes” for integrating transgender troops, she told reporters. “Different services had different takes. Some asked for time… there were all kinds of different recommendations.” Perhaps the most famous transgender US soldier is former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who served seven years in prison for one of the largest dumps of classified documents in US history. Manning, who served as Bradley Manning, was initially sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks three years earlier. She twice tried to take her own life last year alone, before then-president Obama commuted her sentence just days before he left office in January. Manning walked free in May. During her incarceration at the Fort Leavenworth military prison, Manning battled for — and won — the right to begin hormone treatment to begin transitioning toward her female identity. Manning, who is still employed by the army and retains its insurance coverage, has become an icon for transgender activists.

France 24 : ‘Anti-migrant’ wall that divided French town comes tumbling down

The wall – nicknamed “the wall of shame” by some residents

http://observers.france24.com/en/20170726-anti-migrant-wall-scandalises-french-village

FRANCE / DISCRIMINATION – 07/26/2017 ‘Anti-migrant’ wall that divided French town comes tumbling dow!

In the middle of the night from Sunday 23 to Monday 24, a group of locals in the southern town of Séméac quietly constructed a concrete wall around the entrance of a disused hotel in protest against plans to turn it into a shelter for migrants. The wall – nicknamed “the wall of shame” by some residents – became a symbol of anti-migrant rhetoric, and divided opinions in the small town, before it was eventually demolished on Wednesday morning. About 30 protesters in the “Collectif Séméac” (the Séméac Collective) built the wall, which measured 1.8 metres high and was about 20 metres long, across the entrance to the Formule 1 hotel in the dead of night. When locals discovered the wall in the morning, it generated quite a buzz in the Pyrenean town and across France, and shed a light on how smaller, more rural French towns are dealing with the arrival of migrants. A photo published on Facebook by an inhabitant of the town. They captioned it, ‘However they justify their act, these “builders” in the shadows are insulting this country of human rights.’ Posted with permission. The caption reads: “Thank you to the “Séménac [sic] Collective” for giving such a disastrous image of their region and their country across the whole world. A reminder: the Formule 1 Hotel is supposed to urgently welcome 80 people, including 40 children, who asked the French state to protect them and want to request asylum as they are allowed to do by law.” The protesters say that they are not against migrants per se, but against the opaque way in which local authorities have gone about setting up the migrant centre. The hotel previously belonged to the AccorHotels group and was sold to Adoma, a company that manages social housing. The town says that 85 migrants are expected to arrive in August – around 40 of which will be children – and locals are worried about how the town is going to cope with the added strain on infrastructure. One member of the collective, who preferred to remain anonymous so we have given him a pseudonym, firmly rejected insinuations that members of the Collectif Séméac are racist. ‘The wall was symbolic – not anti-migrant’ Loïs H. See profile The wall was symbolic. It wasn’t against migrants. It was a symbol for the state, to tell them that you can’t just sell off a building like that without talking about it first, without reassuring locals and telling them what’s going to happen to it. There was a huge lack of information, and that’s what we’re protesting against. This is not xenophobia. We’re not scared of foreigners, we’re just scared of what’s going to happen. People are writing on Facebook that we’re racists, and it’s not true. Politically, this is a left-leaning town [Editor’s note: In the 2017 presidential and legislative elections, Séméac came out with strong support for far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon and for centrist, now-president, Emmanuel Macron]. I don’t think people are scared of migrants, but it’s not the same culture – it’s more a worry about cohabitation. The collective was careful to stay entirely within the law when building the wall – even going to the length of renting the parcel of land in front of the hotel and sending off a request for planning permission, which was granted within 24 hours. But other locals expressed their disgust on social media at what they perceived as a racist provocation, drawing comparisons between the West Bank barrier in Israel, the Berlin Wall and even US President Trump’s proposed border wall between Mexico and the United States. Catherine, a resident of the town who lives near the Formule 1 hotel, said that there has been a lot of discussion in the town about the wall. “It’s going to shake up the town, that’s for sure, but I’m not against that”

France 24 : US House votes for tough new sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea

US House votes for tough new sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea

The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to impose tough new sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia, a move that will antagonize the Kremlin as well as European nations fearing economic ramifications.

http://www.france24.com/en/20170726-usa-house-votes-tough-new-sanctions-russia-iran-north-korea-trump

The measure notably constrains President Donald Trump’s ability to waive the penalties. The sanctions package, which passed 419 to three after weeks of negotiations, “tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said after the vote. The measure now heads to the Senate, where there is support for sanctions but debate about whether to include penalties on North Korea. The legislation is the result of a congressional compromise reached last weekend and is aimed at punishing the Kremlin for meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. “Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has invaded its neighbor Ukraine, seizing its territory and destabilizing its government,” House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce said in applauding passage. “Left unchecked, Russia is sure to continue its aggression.” But the bill could end up penalizing European firms that contribute to the development of Russia’s energy sector. New sanctions against Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which stands accused of supporting terrorism, and North Korea, for its missile tests, are also included in the bill. Key among the provisions is one that handcuffs the US president by complicating any of the leader’s unilateral efforts to ease penalties against Moscow in the future — effectively placing him under Congress’s watch. Trump has faced accusations that his administration had sought to reassure Moscow that sanctions imposed near the end of the Obama administration could be lifted under a President Trump. Initially, Trump resisted the legislation. But faced with near-total consensus among Republican and Democratic lawmakers, the White House blinked, but did not say directly that the billionaire president would sign it into law. “While the President supports tough sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia, the White House is reviewing the House legislation and awaits a final legislative package for the president’s desk,” spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. Veto likely not effective In mid-June, the Senate voted 98-2 in favor of tough sanctions on Moscow and Tehran, but the text stalled in the House. With the North Korea sanctions now included, the new measure would need to be passed by the Senate before heading to the president’s desk, likely before summer break begins in mid-August. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he wants the new measure passed and sent to Trump’s desk “without delay.” US lawmakers, including Republican leaders, have remained wary of the intentions of the billionaire businessman-turned-president — who has called for better relations with Moscow — regarding a relaxation of pressure on Putin. But even if Trump were to veto the legislation, Congress would likely be able to overcome such a blockage with a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Russia calls sanctions ‘counterproductive’ The Kremlin warned that fresh sanctions on Russia would adversely affect both sides. “We consider such a continuation of the rhetoric of sanctions counter-productive and harmful to the interests of both countries,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. From Paris to Berlin, the sanctions bill was seen as a unilateral action by Washington that disrupts a carefully crafted order. To date, sanctions against Moscow have been coordinated on both sides of the Atlantic, to maintain a united front. European Union member states were due to meet Wednesday and discuss the issue — and a possible response. Several European nations, including Germany, are livid because the new law would allow punishing companies working on pipelines from Russia, for example by limiting their access to US banks. The provision could theoretically pave the way for sanctions against European partners in Nord Stream 2, a project to build a pipeline carrying Russian gas across the Baltic that could boost supplies to Germany from 2019. To date, Washington and Brussels had agreed that sanctions would not affect Europe’s gas supply. In an apparent concession, the House modified a provision so the bill only targets pipelines originating in Russia, sparing those that merely pass through, such as the Caspian pipeline that carries oil from Kazakhstan to Europe. (AFP)

France 24 : Senate Republicans to open debate on Obamacare repeal after 51-50 vote

Senate Republicans to open debate on Obamacare repeal after 51-50 vote

The US Senate voted 51-50 Tuesday to proceed with a debate on Republican plans to repeal Barack Obama’s health care reforms.

http://www.france24.com/en/20170725-republicans-trump-debate-obamacare-repeal-usa-heathcare

“This was a big step,” Trump said shortly after the vote at a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, calling Obamacare a “disaster for the American people.” Senator John McCain, who announced last week he is suffering from brain cancer, cast a vote for the measure, leaving the total at 50-50. All 48 Democratic and left-leaning senators voted against, along with Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie, as the US Constitution calls on him to do in such a case. McCain received a standing ovation from his colleagues as he entered the chamber, having made the trip from his home state of Arizona, where he was convalescing. He called for more bipartisan cooperation in the days ahead, saying: “Why don’t we try the old way of legislating in the Senate, the way our rules and customs encourage us to act?” Shortly before the vote, about 20 protesters burst into the Senate’s public gallery in a bid to interrupt the proceedings, shouting “Shame!” before being removed by Capitol police. Tuesday’s vote was only a first step. Senators will now launch into long hours of debate, with Republican conservatives and moderates divided over how to proceed. ‘Big day’ The latest Republican plan would dismantle Obamacare but delay actual implementation of the repeal to allow time for a viable replacement to be crafted. That bill is unlikely to ultimately pass in its current form, but the Senate leadership insisted on the importance of at least voting on it in order for changes to then be introduced. “We can do better than Obamacare,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who highlighted McCain’s return as he urged fellow Republicans to close ranks. “Today’s vote to begin debate is the first step, and we should take it.” On Monday, in a stark warning to fellow Republicans, the president bluntly declared “Obamacare is death” and that the Senate must act. “Any senator that votes against starting debate is telling America that you are fine with the Obamacare nightmare,” he added. ‘Hard, calculated rhetoric’ Trump has repeatedly grilled fellow Republicans for not following through on their — and his — campaign pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare. As some Republicans expressed frustration with the process, and skepticism about what the Senate might pass, others were eager to see where colleagues stood. “Now is the time to prove that our rhetoric of the past seven years regarding the repeal and replacement of this disastrous bill will lead to substantive action,” Senator Ted Cruz said in a statement. On the Democratic side, senators urged cooperation — and restraint. “I can’t believe this process and the hard and calculated rhetoric we see,” Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Tuesday. “The Affordable Care Act is not a perfect piece of legislation. It needs repair. We both agree to that. Then we need to fix it.” Secretive process Forecasts by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office on various health reform bills have predicted that millions of Americans would lose health care if the measures become law. In the case of a bill that repeals Obamacare and provides no replacement, 32 million more people would be uninsured by 2026 as compared to current law, CBO forecast. Some Republicans have expressed concern with how legislation would impact Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor and the disabled. The latest repeal-and-replace bill would roll back an expansion of Medicaid and slash its federal funding. It would also end the mandate that most individuals have health insurance, and allow states to let insurance companies offer bare-bones plans not allowed under current law. Democrats have blasted the secretive process, accusing Republican leaders of rushing a mammoth bill to the floor without sufficient discussion or debate. Several outside health groups have criticized the various iterations of the repeal-and-replace effort. One of the most emphatic rejections came from a group of some 7,000 Catholic nuns, who wrote Senate leaders on Monday to say the bill “would be the most harmful legislation for American families in our lifetimes.” (AFP)

BBC News: Russia sanctions: EU vows to retaliate over US measures

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Russia sanctions: EU vows to retaliate over US measures – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40727044

BBC News: Trump: Transgender people ‘can’t serve’ in US military

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Trump: Transgender people ‘can’t serve’ in US military – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40729996

Today’s Holiday: Teej

Today’s Holiday:
Teej

Teej is a way to welcome the monsoon, the season when the wind from the Indian Ocean brings heavy rainfall. This is also a celebration for women and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva and patron goddess of women. On Teej, specially decorated swings are hung from trees in every village, and women swing on them and sing songs in praise of Parvati. Married women go to their parents’ home and receive gifts of clothes and jewelry. There are also local fairs and processions carrying the image of the goddess. On this day, she is supposed to have been reunited with Shiva. More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Today’s Birthday: Aldous Huxley (1894)

Today’s Birthday:
Aldous Huxley (1894)

Huxley was a British writer known for his works of witty and pessimistic satire, like Antic Hay (1923), which established his reputation as a novelist. In his acclaimed Brave New World, he envisions a nightmarish, scientifically controlled future society that underscores the dehumanizing aspects of technological progress. His later works reveal an interest in philosophy and mysticism. Though he spent much of his life in the US, he was repeatedly denied citizenship for what reason? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

This Day in History: US President Truman Signs Executive Order Desegregating Military (1948)

This Day in History:
US President Truman Signs Executive Order Desegregating Military (1948)

Expanding on 1941’s Executive Order 8802, which prohibited discrimination in the defense industry, Order 9981 required that all persons in the armed forces be treated equally without regard to race or other factors. It also called for the establishment of an advisory committee to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The order eliminated segregation in the armed forces within years, though racism was another matter entirely. What historically black boot camp was eliminated by Order 9981? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Quote of the Day: Jonathan Swift

Quote of the Day:
Jonathan Swift

Positiveness is a good quality for preachers and orators, because he that would obtrude his thoughts and reasons upon a multitude, will convince others the more as he appears convinced himself. More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Article of the Day: The Principality of Sealand

Article of the Day:
The Principality of Sealand

The Principality of Sealand is a purported micronation located on HM Fort Roughs, a former World War II sea fort located in the North Sea six miles (10 km) off the coast of Suffolk, England. Since 1967, the installation has been occupied by the associates and family of Paddy Roy Bates, a former British Army Major and pirate radio broadcaster who claims it is a sovereign and independent state. What court rulings have involved Sealand and its status as a sovereign nation? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Idiom of the Day: jump at the chance (to do something)

Idiom of the Day:
jump at the chance (to do something)

To accept or seize with alacrity an opportunity (to do something). Watch the video…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Word of the Day: disjunct

Word of the Day:
disjunct

Definition: (adjective) Marked by separation of or from usually contiguous elements.
Synonyms: isolated
Usage: The islands were like little isolated worlds, as abruptly disjunct and unexpected as a palm-shaded well in the Sahara.: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch