All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Ohio judge blocks laws that instituted 24-hour waiting period for abortion | Ohio | The Guardian (Me: GOP attempt to deny voter’s blocked)

David C Young, the Franklin county common pleas judge, said the language of last year’s Issue 1 was “clear and unambiguous”. He found that attorneys for Preterm Cleveland and the other abortion clinics and physicians who had sued had clearly shown “that the challenged statutes burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, and discriminate against patients in exercising their right to an abortion and providers for assisting them in exercising that right”.

The challenged rules included a 24-hour waiting period requirement, the requirement for an in-person visit and several state mandates requiring those seeking abortions to receive certain information. Young said the provisions don’t advance patient health.

Source: Ohio judge blocks laws that instituted 24-hour waiting period for abortion | Ohio | The Guardian

Friedrichstadt / … same in English – Stella, oh, Stella

Anfang August waren wir wieder einmal, nach längerer Zeit, auf einem Ausflug. Ein Nachbar hatte uns eine Reisebusfirma empfohlen, mit der er auf Rügen war, und die nur einige Kilometer von uns entfernt ist. Dort bot man eine Tour nach Friedrichstadt in Norddeutschland an. Sie liegt in der Nähe der Norseeküste, etwas südlich von Husum. Obwohl ich mit meinen Eltern oft dort an der Küste an Wochenenden und in den Sommerferien gezeltet habe, habe ich noch nie etwas von dieser Stadt gehört.

… At the beginning of August, we have been on an excursion again, after a long break. A neighbour recommended a travel bus company, with which he was on Rügen, and which is not far from our home. They offered a tour to Friedrichstadt in the north of Germany. It is situated near the North Atlantic coast, a bit south of the town Husum. Although I had been at the coast there camping with my parents on weekends and during summer holidays, I had never heard of that town.

”Friedrichstadt wurde 1621 durch den gottorfschen Herzog Friedrich III. gegründet und ist heute ein hochrangiges Kulturdenkmal. Herzog Friedrich III. zielte auf die Errichtung einer Handelsmetropole und holte dazu niederländische Bürger, besonders die verfolgten Remonstranten, an den Ort und gewährte ihnen Religionsfreiheit. Infolge dieser Maßnahme siedelten sich auch Mitglieder vieler anderer Religionsgemeinschaften in Friedrichstadt an, so dass der Ort als „Stadt der Toleranz“ galt. Heute sind noch fünf Religionsgemeinschaften aktiv.

Die Bauten der niederländischen Backsteinrenaissance und Grachten prägen das Stadtbild des heute vor allem vom Tourismus lebenden „Holländerstädtchens“ mit knapp 2700 Einwohnern.”
(Quelle: Wikipedia)

„Friedrichstadt was founded in 1621 by Duke Friedrich III of Gottorf-Schleswig-Holstein, and is now a highranking cultural monument. Duke Friedrich III wished to create a trade metropolis and invited to that aim citizens from the Netherlands, especially the prosecuted Remonstants (Arminians) and granted them religious freedom. As a consequence, members of many other religious groups settled in Friedrichstadt, so that it was considered a „place of tolerance“. Today, five religious groups are still active.

The Dutch brick renaissance and the town canals are shaping the townscape of the „Dutch town“ with nearly 2700 inhabitants, which nowadays is living mainly of tourism.“
(Source: Wikipedia)

Der dänische Reisebegleiter nannte während der Grachtenrundfahrt „Kong Frederik“, daher dachte ich, dass er vielleicht Kaiser Friedrich II meinte, weil der auch tolerant gegenüber anderen Glaubensrichtungen war, aber das war ja erst 100 Jahre später.

… The Danish guide was talking about „Kong Frederik“ (King Friedrich), so that I thought he might mean Emperor Friedrich II, who also was tolerant towards different religious groups, but that was about 100 years later.

Die Stadt ist wunderschön mit seinen holländischen Häusern und den vielen Grachten, in der 5-6 verschiedene Religionen/Glaubensrichtungen nunmehr wieder friedlich zusammenleben. Wir haben natürlich eine Bootrundfahrt gemacht. Die Brücken sind an einigen Stellen so schmal, dass wir nur wenige Zentimeter auf beiden Seiten vom Boot zur Verfügung hatten. Die meisten Fotos habe ich auf dieser Rundfahrt gemacht. Wer sich für mehr Fotos interessiert, kann sie sich HIER ansehen.

… The town is beautiful with its Dutch houses and the many town canals, in which 5-6 different religions/religous groups are now again living together in peace. We took, of course, a round trip by boat. The bridges are so narrow in some places that there were only a few centimetres (2 inches maybe) were at the skippers disposal. I have taken most of the photos during the boat trip. Those who are interested in more photos, may take a look HERE.

Hier war der Platz knapp. … Not much space available here.
Kapitän Haddock aus dem belgischen Comic „Tim und Struppi“.
Captain Haddock from the Belgian comic „TinTin“.
Wieder an Land. … Back on dry land.

Es gibt viele Liegeplätze für Boote entlang einiger Grachten, dort wo keine Häuser direkt am Wasser stehen. Auch hier richten sich viele gemütlich ein.

… There are many mooring places along some of the canals, where there aren’t any houses directly at the water front. Also here, people create cosy corners for themselves.

Wir schliessen mit zwei kleinen Kuriositäten ab.

… We close with two small curios.

Näheres über die Geschichte der Stadt könnt ihr HIER nachlesen. Wenn ihr an der Nordseeküste nach Dänemark hochfahrt, kommt ihr an Friedrichstadt vorbei.

… There is more information on the history of the town HERE, but, unfortunately, only in German. If you drive along the North Atlantic coast to Denmark, you will pass Friedrichstadt.

Source: Friedrichstadt / … same in English – Stella, oh, Stella

A Long Island County Banned Masks, and Disabled People Are Suing – Mother Jones

The county’s move has prompted the first class-action lawsuit against a mask ban, filed Thursday in federal district court by Disability Rights New York against Nassau County and county executive Bruce Blakeman on behalf of two anonymous residents.

“This mask ban poses a direct threat to public health and discriminates against people with disabilities,” said Timothy A. Clune, the group’s executive director, in a press release.

Source: A Long Island County Banned Masks, and Disabled People Are Suing – Mother Jones

‘Trump is unfit’: Fox News publishes mass-GOP endorsement for Kamala Harris – Raw Story

Twelve White House lawyers who represented former presidents Ronald Reagan’s, George H.W. Bush’s and George W. Bush’s administrations endorsed Harris over former President Donald Trump, whom they dubbed a danger to the nation.

“We endorse Kamala Harris and support her election as President because we believe that returning former President Trump to office would threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law in our country,” the lawyers wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News.

“We urge all patriotic Republicans, former Republicans, conservative and center-right citizens, and independent voters to place love of country above party and ideology and join us in supporting Kamala Harris.”

Among the signatories is Michael Luttig, the conservative judge who made headlines earlier this week with his historic decision to back a democrat over Trump.

Source: ‘Trump is unfit’: Fox News publishes mass-GOP endorsement for Kamala Harris – Raw Story

Investigation Uncovers Trump’s Scheme That Has Funneled Millions in Campaign Donations to His Businesses

Since late last year, Trump’s influence has seen a surge in campaign spending at his properties. For instance, after endorsing Bernie Moreno for Ohio’s Senate seat, Moreno’s campaign rapidly spent $17,000 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, followed by an additional $79,000 the next month. This trend highlights a broader pattern of Trump leveraging his political endorsements to benefit his personal financial interests…In the first half of 2024 alone, nearly $3.2 million in campaign funds have been spent at Trump’s properties. Of this amount, more than 80% came from Trump’s own campaign and related groups, including $1.9 million spent on his private jet service and over $1 million at Mar-a-Lago. Additional spending includes around $200,000 at Trump’s other hotels and resorts.

The pattern of candidates investing heavily in Trump’s properties to secure his endorsement underscores his significant control over the Republican Party. Daniel Weiner, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, commented that this dynamic reflects Trump’s dominance, with spending at his businesses becoming a common means for candidates to demonstrate loyalty.

“They want to help his ticket win, and they want to express their support,” Weiner said. “To the extent that a campaign is used in part to prop up his businesses – that’s a concern.”

Federal Election Commission data shows that since Trump’s 2015 presidential campaign launch, Republican candidates have consistently spent campaign funds at his properties. The recent surge in expenditures at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump-affiliated venues illustrates the ongoing financial impact of Trump’s political endorsements.

This development raises ethical concerns, as some experts worry about the potential for conflicts of interest. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert, noted the troubling implications of Trump’s financial gains from campaign spending, though Trump’s spokesperson has dismissed such concerns as politically motivated.

Source: Investigation Uncovers Trump’s Scheme That Has Funneled Millions in Campaign Donations to His Businesses

Suecia: 152 osos muertos a dos días del inicio de caza anual – Stigmatis News (Me: Horrible – anti-sustainabilitty an human elitism)

Más de 150 osos pardos (Ursus arctos) han sido asesinados en Suecia a dos días de haber comenzado la caza anual, un evento que enfrenta grandes críticas por parte de defensores del bienestar animal.

Un máximo de 486 osos pardos podrán ser cazados en las siete regiones administrativas del país, anunció el miércoles (21.08.2024) la agencia de protección del medio ambiente sueca.

Source: Suecia: 152 osos muertos a dos días del inicio de caza anual – Stigmatis News