September 5, 2023

Violent protests after Quran burning in Sweden

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66706937



Three men have been arrested in connection with a violent riot following a Quran burning in Sweden. Unrest erupted after an Iraqi anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika set fire to a copy of the Islamic holy book on Sunday. Police said they detained 10 people for disturbing public order in the city of Malmo. Several vehicles were set on fire after about hundred people gathered in response to the burning. Mr Momika set fire to a Quran in Varnhemstorget, a main square in the city on Sunday afternoon. He has previously desecrated the Quran, in a series of anti-Islam protests, and his actions have caused diplomatic outrage across the Middle East.



A group of angry protesters tried to stop the burning, which resulted in a showdown between them and police. Officers said they were pelted with stones, while some demonstrators threw electric scooters at police vehicles. Several police cars were set on fire in Malmo's Rosengard neighbourhood, which has a a large immigrant population, and has experienced other violent protests in the past.

"I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violence like the ones we saw on Sunday afternoon," Malmo police area commander Petra Stenkula told local media. "It is extremely regrettable to once again see violence and vandalism at Rosengard." Scandinavia has witnessed a spate of Quran burnings this year. In June, Mr Momika set fire to a copy outside Stockholm's central mosque, as Muslims celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha - one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.



Swedish police had given Mr Momika a permit for the protest, in accordance with their staunch free-speech laws. It later emerged the incident was being investigated for incitement of hatred. In January, Rasmus Paludan, a politician from the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, burnt a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. Last month, neighbouring Denmark, which has also seen a several public burnings of the Quran, said it planned to ban public desecration of holy books. Sweden has pledged to explore legal means of abolishing protests that involve burning texts in certain circumstances.

snip

September 5, 2023

Chanel to outfit Brooklyn diner in pastels for perfume pop-up

https://www.dezeen.com/2023/08/30/chanel-brooklyn-diner-chance-perfume-pop-up/



Fashion house Chanel has announced plans to cover an iconic Brooklyn diner in retro pinks and greens to celebrate the launch of a new perfume. Exterior renderings depict the chrome diner wrapped in bands of mint green and light pink inspired by the pastel bottles of the CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE Eau de Parfum (CHANCE). Called Lucky Chance Diner, the overhaul is part of a pop-up event for the new fragrance.



Retro-inspired signage and branding of the temporary Lucky Chance Diner name will be placed on the sides and windows of the building while a glowing, circular neon sign will sit on top. The same palette will carried inside, with a central countertop and bar stocked with perfume bottles and branded white and pink coffee mugs. The bar will be similarly clad in mint green with a speckled countertop. Guests will be ushered to the countertop or a booth in order to "delight in a special and personalized scent discovery", and then move to the back room, where a life-sized perfume bottle will be poised for a picture moment among other interactive features.



An outdoor garden will host games, diner-inspired snacks, and a pick-up window where guests can purchase a bottle of CHANCE. The fragrance is described as "a luminous expression that intertwines zesty citron, a jasmine heart and the ambery presence of a teak wood note to create an energizing trail". Located in Williamsburg at 225 Wythe Avenue, the space formally hosted the Wythe Diner for twenty years along with several other restaurants, including La Esquina, and Blank Street Coffee recently hosted a food truck at the space before closing earlier in 2023.



Reports have circulated previously of a new apartment building planned for the site. Chanel recently established its first brick-and-mortar store in Brooklyn, just around the corner from the diner. The brand also recently celebrated 100 years of Chanel No. 5 with an Es Devlin-designed installation and hosted Karl Lagerfeld's final show in an Alpine village set. The renderings are courtesy of Chanel. The Chanel Lucky Chance Diner pop-up will take place from 8 September to 10 September 2023.

snip

September 5, 2023

If I were a Floridian I would be furious about this

https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1698666707638755592





https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article278782484.html

Homeowners, which of these consumes more energy in your house: space heating or water heating? Either way, Uncle Sam is ready to help you pay for some energy-efficient upgrades. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden a year ago, created two energy-efficiency rebate programs that could pay some, or even all, of the costs of buying Energy Star-rated appliances, adding insulation or otherwise making your home more efficient.

The rub: States will administer the programs, and each one must apply for its share of the $8.8 billion in federal funds earmarked for the rebates. And some states may opt out. The states’ application window opened this summer, when the Department of Energy issued the program’s guidelines, and will close on Jan. 31, 2025.

DoE expects the majority of states will have their programs up and running by early 2024. The rebates will be available to homeowners until Sept. 30, 2031, or until their respective state depletes its grants. Declined funds will be redistributed to other states. One state has already indicated it probably won’t participate.

Lawmakers in Tallahassee voted to apply for Florida’s allocation — which, at roughly $346 million, is the third-largest in the country, behind California and Texas. But Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the measure as “woke.” The DoE has not been officially notified, so DeSantis could still change his mind.

snip

September 4, 2023

In China's shadow, U.S. rushes back to neglected Seychelles

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/01/seychelles-china-us-diplomatic-relations/

https://archive.ph/DnXI1



MAHE ISLAND, Seychelles — At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force tracking station that monitored Soviet satellites from this island’s soaring tropical forests was a focus of Seychelles life. The American servicemen and technicians living nearby hosted barbecues and bar nights to which all Seychellois were invited, distributed cookies and milk to local children and taught them basketball. Then, the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union collapsed and in 1996 the Americans left, dismantling the tracking station and shutting down their embassy — citing budgetary reasons for abandoning what had seemingly become an irrelevant corner of the world.

Today, the compound where Americans and Seychellois partied is home to the Seychelles Tourism Academy, where young islanders training to be tour guides, hoteliers and masseuses take classes, among other subjects, in Chinese — just one small manifestation of a new geopolitical rivalry that has now lured the Americans back. In June, Seychelles became the latest in a string of small nations around the world in which the United States has established, restored or is planning to open an embassy as part of a broad pushback against the influence China has acquired during more than two decades of neglect or disinterest on the part of the United States.



All are in small islands that had been judged insufficiently strategic by Washington to merit the cost of maintaining a diplomatic presence, including Seychelles, Tonga and the Solomon Islands, where embassies have been opened this year, and Maldives, Vanuatu and Kiribati, where embassies are planned, according to the State Department. Seychelles offers an example of the ways America’s absence opened the door to Chinese influence. In the 27 years since the United States pulled out, China has built schools, hospitals, houses for low-income families and public amenities, winning sympathy among Seychellois who felt abandoned by the U.S. departure.

“They do the little things that America doesn’t do. This is where the Americans are weak. There is nothing we can say America built,” said Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan in an interview. “This is why countries like China have come in, because there was a vacuum.” Seychelles officials say they are delighted to have the Americans back but also recognize that China is likely the main reason for the return, potentially pulling Seychelles into the big power rivalry. “We cannot say we are naive. We do understand the competition going on. In the Cold War we had the United States and the Soviet Union and now it is the United States and China,” Seychelles Foreign Minister Sylvestre Radegonde said in an interview. “Someone woke up and realized how important it is to counter the Chinese influence.”

snip

September 4, 2023

Olaf Scholz, the improbable role model

A state that protects—and a bulwark for democracy and modernity. Is this, Robert Misik asks, the new paradigm of the democratic left?

https://www.socialeurope.eu/olaf-scholz-the-improbable-role-model



Foreign Policy, the American magazine with focus on international affairs, surprised me ten days ago with a headline: ‘Welcome to the West’s Olaf Scholz Era’. The German chancellor, said the standfirst, ‘represents the future of progressive politics’. The (British) author of the piece, John Kampfner, recognised that in his personal style Scholz has ‘few characteristics of a potential savior’. But in a quiet, unexcited way his coalition is radically modernising the German economy for the first time, while his foreign-policy orientation has undergone a complete change—which usually happens at most once in a generation. The successes are impressive.

Yet Scholz’s style consists of not talking too much, explaining little and giving the impression that everything is taking its necessary course, trusting that the reasonableness of this policy will be obvious to everyone in the end. It is an ‘incremental revolution’, according to Kampfner. Scholz is also symptomatic of contemporary progressivism in a second respect. Governing in shaky alliances, which only allow the smallest compromises with a more and more fragmented electorate—making the leader more of a conductor—will be the reality everywhere in the future. The Foreign Policy piece is smart but a bit pretentious. For a new ‘era’ one would hope something like a paradigm would be outlined. Yet the analysis does go against the current: leading articles celebrating the Scholz government as a success story are thin on the ground.

Bickering partners

The Ampelkoalition (traffic-light coalition) in Berlin is squabbling. Even the most basic projects lead to bickering within the government: the partners strangely believe it would be a clever tactic to distinguish themselves from each other while giving the impression of a dysfunctional administration. The German economy has been virtually stagnant for three quarters; in two there was even a minimal contraction. Somewhat hysterically, commentators are already asking whether Germany will soon be ‘the sick man’ of Europe again.

The Schuldenbremse (debt brake) is now forcing some moderate fiscal consolidation and could even bring about a recession. With the centre-right Free Democrats in a rather centre-left government, any departure from ideological ‘fiscal discipline’ requires painstaking work. In opinion polls, approval of the government is deep in the basement. Scholz’s social-democratic SPD ranks at about 18 per cent, more or less. Even well-meaning supporters are somewhat puzzled by the government’s peculiar performance: they rather wish Scholz could act a bit more like a traditional boss, offering visible leadership while keeping things under control.

Radiating relaxation............

snip

September 3, 2023

Classic Aston Martin V8 Vantage with 7.0 litre conversion review. Britain's best supercar of the 80s

The classic Aston Martin V8 Vantage first appeared in 1977 and was powered by a 395bhp 5.3litre V8. Later, specialists then started increasing the engine size, first to 6.3litres and then 7.0litres, which was the ultimate version and the one reviewed here.

For more details on this car, please visit The Hairpin Company's website: https://www.thehairpincompany.co.uk/for-sale/cars/1985-aston-martin-v8-vantage-7-litre-rsw

1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 7 Litre RSW



Finished to originally factory specification in Royal Cherry Red with a cream leather interior piped in dark red. The Aston has always been looked after extremely well, it has covered 45,000 miles and comes with a complete Aston Martin history from new. The two substantial history files and original handbooks and service books document the car from new to date with all records from the original bill of sale and guarantee through service invoices, all MOT certificates and ownership changes. The car was awarded several AMOC concours prizes in previous years as documented on file and by the badges mounted on the reverse of the glovebox lid.



The car presents in concours condition, probably better than new following a comprehensive restoration carried out in 2016, less than 1,500 miles ago by acknowledged Aston specialists R S Williams at a cost of £155,000. The schedule of work is fully documented in correspondence, invoicing and photographs on file, suffice it to say every area of the car was minutely examined and the following works completed:



Complete body restoration involving strip, inspection, removal of any corrosion or faults in the metal followed by complete repaint in original colour. The original leather interior in great order was retained but expertly restored, the wood refinished, carpets replaced throughout and all trim treated or renewed. The instruments were rebuilt and upgraded with the RSW LED dash illumination conversion.



Full mechanical refurbishment of all components including engine rebuild to RSW 7.0 litre specification with RSW performance exhaust, RSW Brembo brake conversion, RSW handling kit, RSW gearbox selector upgrade and short throw option, differential rebuild to 3.06:1 ratio and RSW three spoke wood steering wheel and boss (the original wheel is with the car). All other aspects of the car and components were inspected and either overhauled or replaced. Finished to the ultimate specification in a great colour combination and with low mileage and a complete history from new this must be one of the finest examples of its type in existence.

September 3, 2023

Crystal Castles (I) Full Album (2008) 💙🍁

Label: Different – DIFB 1200 DLP, Different – 451.1200.012
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 2008
Genre: Electronic
Style: Glitch, Electro, Chiptune, Synth-pop

September 3, 2023

Squeeze - Cool For Cats (Official Music Video) 1979

Label: A&M Records – AMSP-7426, A&M Records – AMSP 7426
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Pink
Country: UK
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, New Wave

September 2, 2023

Biden's NLRB Brings Workers' Rights Back From the Dead

A decision last Friday makes union organizing possible again.

https://prospect.org/labor/2023-08-28-bidens-nlrb-brings-workers-rights-back/



Hot Labor Summer just became a scorcher. Last Friday, the National Labor Relations Board released its most important ruling in many decades. In a party-line decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, the Board ruled that when a majority of a company’s employees file union affiliation cards, the employer can either voluntarily recognize their union or, if not, ask the Board to run a union recognition election. If, in the run-up to or during that election, the employer commits an unfair labor practice, such as illegally firing pro-union workers (which has become routine in nearly every such election over the past 40 years, as the penalties have been negligible), the Board will order the employer to recognize the union and enter forthwith into bargaining.

The Cemex decision was preceded by another, one day earlier, in which the Board, also along party lines, set out rules for representation elections which required them to be held promptly after the Board had been asked to conduct them, curtailing employers’ ability to delay them, often indefinitely. Taken together, this one-two punch effectively makes union organizing possible again, after decades in which unpunished employer illegality was the most decisive factor in reducing the nation’s rate of private-sector unionization from roughly 35 percent to the bare 6 percent at which it stands today. In the Board’s press release outlining its 121-page decision in Cemex, it explained:



“This is a sea change, a home run for workers,” said Brian Petruska, an attorney for the Laborers Union who authored a 2017 law review article on how to effectively restore to workers their right to collective bargaining enshrined in the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, which was all but nullified by the act’s weakening over the past half-century. Taken together, Petruska added, last week’s decisions recreate “a system with no tolerance for employers’ coercion of their employees” when their employees seek their legal right to collective bargaining.

Petruska’s 2017 article explained how an attorney’s misstatement in a 1969 case before the Supreme Court (NLRB v. Gissel Packing Co.) led to the abandonment of a previous Board ruling in the case of Joy Silk Mills, which had required employers to recognize their workers’ union and enter into bargaining if they’d refused to recognize the union after a majority of workers had voted for affiliation. The article didn’t draw wide notice; at least, until President Biden’s appointee as the NLRB’s general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, sent out her initial memo to the 500 NLRB attorneys across the country whom she supervised. In the memo, Abruzzo laid out the kind of cases those attorneys could pursue, and suggested that they consider cases based on the long-forgotten Joy Silk standard, which she viewed as erroneously discarded, with demonstrably catastrophic consequences for workers’ right to unionize and bargain.

snip

September 2, 2023

The U.S. and Europe Are Splitting Over Ukraine

The GOP’s populist wing would abandon Kyiv—and endanger the world’s most successful military alliance.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/europe-united-states-international-relations-decoupling/675211/

https://archive.ph/qlKTZ



Europe and the United States are on the verge of the most momentous conscious uncoupling in international relations in decades. Since 1949, NATO has been the one constant in world security. Initially an alliance among the United States, Canada, and 10 countries in Western Europe, NATO won the Cold War and has since expanded to include almost all of Europe. It has been the single most successful security grouping in modern global history. It also might collapse by 2025.

The cause of this collapse would be the profound difference in outlook between the Republican Party’s populist wing—which is led by Donald Trump but now clearly makes up the majority of the GOP—and the existential security concerns of much of Europe. The immediate catalyst for the collapse would be the war in Ukraine. When the dominant faction within one of the two major American political parties can’t see the point in helping a democracy-minded country fight off Russian invaders, that suggests that the center of the political spectrum has shifted in ways that will render the U.S. a less reliable ally to Europe. The latter should prepare accordingly.

Read: What America’s great unwinding would mean for the world

The past few weeks have revealed that Trump’s pro-Russian, anti-NATO outlook isn’t just a brief interlude in Republican politics; suspicion of American involvement in supporting Ukraine is now the consensus of the party’s populist heart. During last week’s GOP presidential debate, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy—the two candidates most intent on appealing to the party’s new Trumpist base—both argued against more aid for Ukraine. DeSantis did so softly, by vowing to make any more aid conditional on greater European assistance and saying he’d rather send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Ramaswamy was more strident: He described the current situation as “disastrous” and called for a complete and immediate cessation of U.S. support for Ukraine. Ramaswamy later went even further, basically saying that Ukraine should be cut up; Vladimir Putin would get to keep a large part of the country. Trump did not take part in the debate, but he has previously downplayed America’s interest in an Ukrainian victory and has seemed to favor territorial concessions by Ukraine to Russia. He, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy are all playing to the same voters—who, polls suggest, make up about three-quarters of the Republican electorate.

Another bellwether is the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank that has played an outsize role in GOP policy circles since the Reagan years. Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion, in February 2022, Heritage had been on the hawkish wing of the Republican Party, even publishing a call for Ukraine to be accepted into NATO. More recently, Heritage officials have called for halting aid until the Biden administration produces a plan to end the war—which is an impossible goal unless Russia agrees. Demagogues on the right are taking Putin’s side even more overtly. The talk-show host Tucker Carlson, for instance, in a August address in Budapest, maintained that anti-Christian bias motivated American opposition to Russia.

https://twitter.com/Heritage/status/1694110211131515110
snip