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Celerity
Celerity's Journal
Celerity's Journal
June 4, 2019
One of the "Trump Baby" blimps flown at today’s protests in London against the US president’s visit was attacked by a pro-Trump supporter carrying a sharp object.
A woman approached a group of activists outside the House of Commons and stabbed the mini blimp in the back, according to the team of “babysitters” looking after the balloon.
“A woman … punctured the mini Trump baby replica with a sharp object,” said a spokesman for the group. “It’s not surprising that the far right would want to meet freedom of expression with violence.”
The Donald Trump supporter was led away from the crowd by police officers. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard told The Independent that “one female has been arrested for being in possession of a pointed or bladed article”.
Elsewhere in Parliament Square, one of the president’s supporters was hit on the head by a milkshake. Video footage showed a crowd of demonstrators chanting “Nazi scum” at the man, before he was struck by a drink container and with left milkshake dripping down his forehead.
snip
Trump baby blimp 'stabbed with sharp object' by pro-Trump activist in London (not the main one)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trump-baby-blimp-stabbed-london-protest-parliament-square-a8943976.htmlOne of the "Trump Baby" blimps flown at today’s protests in London against the US president’s visit was attacked by a pro-Trump supporter carrying a sharp object.
A woman approached a group of activists outside the House of Commons and stabbed the mini blimp in the back, according to the team of “babysitters” looking after the balloon.
“A woman … punctured the mini Trump baby replica with a sharp object,” said a spokesman for the group. “It’s not surprising that the far right would want to meet freedom of expression with violence.”
The Donald Trump supporter was led away from the crowd by police officers. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard told The Independent that “one female has been arrested for being in possession of a pointed or bladed article”.
Elsewhere in Parliament Square, one of the president’s supporters was hit on the head by a milkshake. Video footage showed a crowd of demonstrators chanting “Nazi scum” at the man, before he was struck by a drink container and with left milkshake dripping down his forehead.
snip
June 4, 2019
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-ann-widdecombe-brexit-party-mep-homosexuality-beliefs/
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has failed to condemn comments made by Anne Widdecombe, who prompted outcry after claiming that “science may yet find an answer” for homosexuality.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Mr Farage defended the comments made by Ms Widdecombe, who left the Conservative party to stand as a Brexit Party MEP in last month’s European elections.
Mr Farage tried to argue that the issue was a “matter of conscience”, referring to Ms Widdecombe’s religious beliefs.
“There are millions of people out there who are practising Roman Catholics in this country,” he said.
But host Piers Morgan hit back, replying: “I’m a Roman Catholic. I don’t agree with bigotry against gay people.”
The former Ukip leader said: “In a free society, tolerance needs to be a two-way street, and I do think, I really do think that devout Christians should be allowed to have their opinion.”
The presenter told him: “You can have opinions Nigel, but it should not be allowed to say something as inflammatory as, ‘you’re not just wrong, but hopefully science will be able to cure you.’
“Because if I was a gay person, I would find that incredibly insensitive, well, and indeed offensive, and I would want you as the leader of the Brexit Party, to take a pretty firm stand and say, ‘you can have your religious views. But actually, I don’t believe’ I mean, do you personally believe on gay conversion therapy?”
snip
video at the link above
Ann Widdecombe: Fury as MEP says 'science may produce an answer' to being gay
Nigel Farage defends BP MEP Ann Widdecombe's comments that science will find answer to homosexuality
'I really do think that devout Christians should be allowed to have their opinion', the former Ukip leader saidhttps://inews.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-ann-widdecombe-brexit-party-mep-homosexuality-beliefs/
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has failed to condemn comments made by Anne Widdecombe, who prompted outcry after claiming that “science may yet find an answer” for homosexuality.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, Mr Farage defended the comments made by Ms Widdecombe, who left the Conservative party to stand as a Brexit Party MEP in last month’s European elections.
Mr Farage tried to argue that the issue was a “matter of conscience”, referring to Ms Widdecombe’s religious beliefs.
“There are millions of people out there who are practising Roman Catholics in this country,” he said.
But host Piers Morgan hit back, replying: “I’m a Roman Catholic. I don’t agree with bigotry against gay people.”
The former Ukip leader said: “In a free society, tolerance needs to be a two-way street, and I do think, I really do think that devout Christians should be allowed to have their opinion.”
The presenter told him: “You can have opinions Nigel, but it should not be allowed to say something as inflammatory as, ‘you’re not just wrong, but hopefully science will be able to cure you.’
“Because if I was a gay person, I would find that incredibly insensitive, well, and indeed offensive, and I would want you as the leader of the Brexit Party, to take a pretty firm stand and say, ‘you can have your religious views. But actually, I don’t believe’ I mean, do you personally believe on gay conversion therapy?”
snip
video at the link above
Ann Widdecombe: Fury as MEP says 'science may produce an answer' to being gay
June 4, 2019
Donald Trump has confirmed the US wants a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal to include the NHS.
Mr Trump told a joint press conference with Theresa May: “I think everything with a trade deal is on the table.
“When you’re dealing in trade, everything is on the table, so NHS or anything else, a lot more than that, but everything will be on the table, absolutely.”
The comments echoed that of Woody Johnson, a close ally of President Trump and his ambassador in London, who said on Sunday that healthcare should be part of deal.
However Mrs May played down the claims, telling reporters: “But the point in making trade deals is of course that both sides negotiate and come to an agreement about what should or should not be in that trade deal for the future.”
snip
fuck off Trump, you fucking orange git
Donald Trump says the 'NHS and anything else' is on the table in post-Brexit trade deal negotiations
https://inews.co.uk/news/brexit/donald-trump-nhs-brexit-trade-deal-us-uk/Donald Trump has confirmed the US wants a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal to include the NHS.
Mr Trump told a joint press conference with Theresa May: “I think everything with a trade deal is on the table.
“When you’re dealing in trade, everything is on the table, so NHS or anything else, a lot more than that, but everything will be on the table, absolutely.”
The comments echoed that of Woody Johnson, a close ally of President Trump and his ambassador in London, who said on Sunday that healthcare should be part of deal.
However Mrs May played down the claims, telling reporters: “But the point in making trade deals is of course that both sides negotiate and come to an agreement about what should or should not be in that trade deal for the future.”
snip
fuck off Trump, you fucking orange git
June 4, 2019
Zubair Zakir
?
@zubairzakir
Follow Follow @zubairzakir
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No red carpet = most subtle #British burn ever. #TrumpUKVisit
https://twitter.com/damocrat/status/1135542801234628613
49 replies 57 retweets 304 likes
Reply 49 Retweet 57 Like 304 Direct message
Damon Evans
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@damocrat
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Me: “Is Trump coming down this way?”
Police officer: “I believe so, sir.”
“Not a great turnout, is it?”
“I couldn’t possibly say, sir... [grins]”
“I was just remembering Obama’s visit...”
“[chuckles]”
edited to included text and pic for non Twitter users
No red carpet most subtle #British burn ever.
https://twitter.com/zubairzakir/status/1135484328002183168Zubair Zakir
?
@zubairzakir
Follow Follow @zubairzakir
More
No red carpet = most subtle #British burn ever. #TrumpUKVisit
https://twitter.com/damocrat/status/1135542801234628613
49 replies 57 retweets 304 likes
Reply 49 Retweet 57 Like 304 Direct message
Damon Evans
?
@damocrat
Follow Follow @damocrat
More
Me: “Is Trump coming down this way?”
Police officer: “I believe so, sir.”
“Not a great turnout, is it?”
“I couldn’t possibly say, sir... [grins]”
“I was just remembering Obama’s visit...”
“[chuckles]”
edited to included text and pic for non Twitter users
June 3, 2019
Jonathan Pie: Trump Visits The Queen
June 2, 2019
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/how-a-dark-money-scam-created-alabamas-hard-right-legislature-and-the-abortion-ban/
As the 2010 elections neared, Mike Hubbard had a huge dream and an even bigger dilemma. The chairman of Alabama’s Republican Party wanted to end the Democrats’ 136-year hammerlock over the state legislature. If Hubbard could surf an anti-Barack Obama wave and capture control of Montgomery, he thought, it would be the most “monumental public achievement” in Alabama’s modern political history.
But erasing a 60-43 Democratic edge in Alabama’s House of Representatives and a 20-15 advantage in the state Senate would cost millions. All that cash would not be easy to raise in a poor state, let alone one that wasn’t high on the national party’s list of midterm elections priorities. Unless, that is, he found some way to evade Alabama’s campaign finance laws. Not unexpectedly, Hubbard found his loophole.
When Alabama joined Ohio, Georgia and other states this month in enacting the most restrictive new abortion bans in decades, many political observers mentioned the crucial role that partisan gerrymandering played in creating legislatures — and entrenching legislators — that are much more conservative than the state’s citizens. And like so much in our politics, Alabama’s abortion law does have its roots in redistricting.
Alabama’s story, however, might be more sordid and corrupt than any other state. That fall, Alabama Republicans captured those historic supermajorities in the state legislature, thanks to ads that proclaimed: “After 136 years, the Democrats have brought us Obama, Pelosi, government health care, liberal policies, higher taxes, and wasteful spending.” Hubbard became speaker of the house and immediately pushed the state’s politics hard right.
Much of the necessary funding, however — more than $1 million — arrived through an unconventional arrangement of questionable legality with the Republican State Leadership Committee. The RSLC was home to the GOP’s national redistricting strategy. These were the operatives behind a plan called REDMAP — short for the Redistricting Majority Project — that dropped $30 million into a handful of state legislative races that fall, seeking to ensure GOP control of the 2011 redistricting cycle in as many states as possible.
snip
How a dark-money scam created Alabama's hard-right legislature -- and the abortion ban
Mike Hubbard’s money-laundering scheme turned Alabama deep red in 2010. He may go to prison, but the damage is donehttps://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/how-a-dark-money-scam-created-alabamas-hard-right-legislature-and-the-abortion-ban/
As the 2010 elections neared, Mike Hubbard had a huge dream and an even bigger dilemma. The chairman of Alabama’s Republican Party wanted to end the Democrats’ 136-year hammerlock over the state legislature. If Hubbard could surf an anti-Barack Obama wave and capture control of Montgomery, he thought, it would be the most “monumental public achievement” in Alabama’s modern political history.
But erasing a 60-43 Democratic edge in Alabama’s House of Representatives and a 20-15 advantage in the state Senate would cost millions. All that cash would not be easy to raise in a poor state, let alone one that wasn’t high on the national party’s list of midterm elections priorities. Unless, that is, he found some way to evade Alabama’s campaign finance laws. Not unexpectedly, Hubbard found his loophole.
When Alabama joined Ohio, Georgia and other states this month in enacting the most restrictive new abortion bans in decades, many political observers mentioned the crucial role that partisan gerrymandering played in creating legislatures — and entrenching legislators — that are much more conservative than the state’s citizens. And like so much in our politics, Alabama’s abortion law does have its roots in redistricting.
Alabama’s story, however, might be more sordid and corrupt than any other state. That fall, Alabama Republicans captured those historic supermajorities in the state legislature, thanks to ads that proclaimed: “After 136 years, the Democrats have brought us Obama, Pelosi, government health care, liberal policies, higher taxes, and wasteful spending.” Hubbard became speaker of the house and immediately pushed the state’s politics hard right.
Much of the necessary funding, however — more than $1 million — arrived through an unconventional arrangement of questionable legality with the Republican State Leadership Committee. The RSLC was home to the GOP’s national redistricting strategy. These were the operatives behind a plan called REDMAP — short for the Redistricting Majority Project — that dropped $30 million into a handful of state legislative races that fall, seeking to ensure GOP control of the 2011 redistricting cycle in as many states as possible.
snip
June 2, 2019
One of the big fundamental problems with Airbnb (alongside its catastrophic tendency to inflate housing prices) is that a lot of people who open their home to travelers don’t actually want their home open to all of them.
The site is well-known for it’s rampant discrimination problem -- people with traditionally black names are disproportionately rejected when trying to book; queer couples have been kicked out by hosts who were expecting a straight couple -- and while the company has updated its anti-discrimination policies over the years, it’s remained difficult for people of marginalized identities to feel confident they’ll be safe, welcome, or wanted in Airbnb-listed homes. For LGBTQ travelers, there’s an alternative: misterb&b.
Having grown into the largest gay hospitality service in the world since being founded in 2013, the website lists exclusively gay-friendly hosts, numbering at more than 300,000, spread across 100-plus countries. Though Airbnb is expanding its own business model to also include hotels, misterb&b has always included gay-owned (or gay-friendly) hotels in its listings, along with LGBTQ-friendly city guides, and a blog highlighting gay travel news.
Robert Veith, a 29-year-old graphic designer in Philadelphia who identifies as a gay man, was planning a trip to San Francisco and browsing Airbnbs when he started getting targeted Facebook ads for misterb&b. “It was my first time traveling alone, and I wanted to make sure I was in a place that was comfortable with LGBTQ people,” Veith said. “I wanted to be in a safe environment, and y’know, San Francisco is known for its gay culture. I was hoping I could meet some people who would maybe show me the ropes, show me around, and give me a better look at the city.”
snip
This LGBTQ-Friendly Alternative to Airbnb Helps Gay Travelers Feel Safe
https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/misterbnb-gay-friendly-travel-accommodations/travelOne of the big fundamental problems with Airbnb (alongside its catastrophic tendency to inflate housing prices) is that a lot of people who open their home to travelers don’t actually want their home open to all of them.
The site is well-known for it’s rampant discrimination problem -- people with traditionally black names are disproportionately rejected when trying to book; queer couples have been kicked out by hosts who were expecting a straight couple -- and while the company has updated its anti-discrimination policies over the years, it’s remained difficult for people of marginalized identities to feel confident they’ll be safe, welcome, or wanted in Airbnb-listed homes. For LGBTQ travelers, there’s an alternative: misterb&b.
Having grown into the largest gay hospitality service in the world since being founded in 2013, the website lists exclusively gay-friendly hosts, numbering at more than 300,000, spread across 100-plus countries. Though Airbnb is expanding its own business model to also include hotels, misterb&b has always included gay-owned (or gay-friendly) hotels in its listings, along with LGBTQ-friendly city guides, and a blog highlighting gay travel news.
Robert Veith, a 29-year-old graphic designer in Philadelphia who identifies as a gay man, was planning a trip to San Francisco and browsing Airbnbs when he started getting targeted Facebook ads for misterb&b. “It was my first time traveling alone, and I wanted to make sure I was in a place that was comfortable with LGBTQ people,” Veith said. “I wanted to be in a safe environment, and y’know, San Francisco is known for its gay culture. I was hoping I could meet some people who would maybe show me the ropes, show me around, and give me a better look at the city.”
snip
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: London
Home country: US/UK/Sweden
Current location: Stockholm, Sweden
Member since: Sun Jul 1, 2018, 07:25 PM
Number of posts: 43,286
