#i might soam post :)

[gxldensxldiers]

ROLEPLAY HISTORY!

The rules are simple! Post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. Then tag ten people to do the same (if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people). Please repost, don’t reblog!

CURRENT MUSE/S :

Mostly Call of Duty based at the moment with a few Valorant characters sprinkled in. My current 'mains' are probably Arthur, Io, Deadlock and Warden

WANT TO WRITE :

Deacon (FO4). Recently started playing the Railroad missions and holyyyy shit this man. I love him already

Omen and Fade. (Valorant). I say this as if I don't have them on the blog roster already. To be honest it was a severe drop in muse, why I haven't been using either of them but god I *want* to. Maybe soon once shit quiets down I love them so much

Reyna (Valorant). Look. She's just got such a cool concept for a backstory and powerset I love it.

Torque / Dudley Soames (DC Comics / 90s Nightwing run). Probably a bit of a niche interest here character wise but leave me alone about it. I just love antagonists and that run has a special place in my heart. Just don't know if I could get his personality down (the real issue with most of the characters on this list LMFAO)

Dragonborn (Skyrim). Another brain rot-inspired potential muse to be honest w/ a very loose backstory.

My Sole Survivor (FO4). She's just my little freeze dried wreck leave me alone abt her /lh

HAVE WRITTEN :

Honestly? Nobody I don't currently write tbh. None that I can think of anyways. I've only recently started seriously writing canon characters (like, within the past year)

WOULD WRITE AGAIN :

See the above lmfao.

tagged by: @arcanumsolitude! Ty so much for the tag!! tagging: you reading this! i am very much sleepy and can't think of folks to tag my apologies

#ooc: going offline #dash games

[chibifatou]

she in fact hasn’t fallen asleep🧍‍♀️

#might shit post about robbe abd reblog more gifsets if ir turns into soam scream at me wah #the amount of typos i just made plska anyway

[plusorminuscongress]

New story in Politics from Time: Boris Johnson Denies Playing Any Role in Departure of U.K. Ambassador

(LONDON) — Boris Johnson, the man likely to become U.K. prime minister within weeks, on Thursday denied playing any role in the departure of Britain’s ambassador to Washington, who quit after coming under attack from President Donald Trump.

British politicians from both government and opposition parties have accused Johnson of spinelessness for failing to defend envoy Kim Darroch, and said the removal of a British ambassador because of pressure from a foreign leader was a severe blow to British diplomacy and power.

“This is a direct challenge to a sovereign nation,” said Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative lawmaker who heads Parliament’s foreign affairs committee. He added that Britain “shouldn’t be bullied.”

Johnson told The Sun newspaper it was “bizarre” people were blaming him for the departure of Darroch, who resigned following a furor over leaked diplomatic cables which labeled Trump’s White House dysfunctional, clumsy and inept.

Trump responded by branding Darroch a “pompous fool” and cut off the administration’s contact with him.

Darroch announced his resignation Wednesday, saying it had become “impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.”

Politicians including Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson’s rival for the prime minister’s job, criticized Trump’s tirades and defended Darroch.

But Johnson merely stressed his good relations with the White House and the importance of the trans-Atlantic relationship. Darroch resigned hours after Johnson made those comments.

“I can’t believe they’re trying to blame me for this,” Johnson told The Sun. “I’m a great supporter of Kim’s. I worked very well with him for years.”

Conservative lawmaker Nicholas Soames, however, said Johnson had “hung Kim Darroch out to dry … and I was ashamed to see it.”

Opposition Labour Party legislator Liz McInnes called Johnson’s behavior “the most craven and despicable act of cowardice I have seen from any candidate for public office, let alone someone running to be prime minister.”

Labour called for Prime Minister Theresa May to appoint Darroch’s successor before she leaves office later this month, to prevent Johnson from putting his own appointee in the post.

Johnson is the strong favorite to win a Conservative leadership contest and succeed May as party leader and prime minister. He is widely expected to defeat Hunt in a ballot of about 160,000 party members. The winner will be announced July 23.

May could try to replace Darroch in the two weeks she has left, but she is unlikely to have enough time.

British ambassadors are almost always professional diplomats rather than political appointees. Filling overseas posts involves a formal civil service process with advertisements, applications and interviews.

It’s unusual, but not unknown, for non-diplomats to become ambassadors, and some have suggested Johnson as prime minister might appoint someone seen as strongly pro-Brexit and friendly to Trump. The president has previously said Brexit champion Nigel Farage would be a good choice, though Farage this week ruled himself out.

May’s spokesman, James Slack, would not comment on the timetable, saying only that “in terms of this particular replacement, that will take place in due course.”

Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan said Darroch’s replacement would be appointed in the “proper way.”

“The next ambassador will be appointed in the usual way by the prime minister on the foreign secretary’s recommendation with the approval of Her Majesty The Queen,” he told lawmakers.

British officials are hunting for the culprits behind the leak of Darroch’s confidential memos, intended to be seen by a small group of senior politicians and officials. The cables published by the Mail on Sunday newspaper covered the period between 2017 and recent weeks.

Officials have said they think it’s 50-50 whether the mole is found.

Duncan said Thursday that the investigation had so far found no evidence that the security breach was a hack, rather than a leak.

“Our focus is on finding someone within the system who has released illicitly these communications,” he told lawmakers.

By JILL LAWLESS / AP on July 11, 2019 at 12:38PM

#Time #politics #PlusOrMinusCongress #±Congress #Indega± #IndegaPlusOrMinus #TimeMag #TimeMagazine

[lostgypsygurl-blog]

KPop-ing In Seoul

Hello everyone! If you are reading this right now it only means that you have read the Part 1 of my blog all about my trip to Seoul last year. I originally planned for it to have two parts which is the pre-planning and another one for the trip itself. But alas! Sloth that I am, I keep pushing back the days for writing the part 2 and so here we are, 4 months after the trip and I haven’t finished writing the rest of part 2. Although, I did start on writing about the Day 1 of that trip which is mainly about visiting Kpop entertainment company buildings and just Kpop-ing all day. So instead of writing all of my 9-day trip (which can be suuuuppper long) in one entry, I’ll upload them one at a time. I originally planned for this to be super detailed however aside from I think you guys wouldn’t want to read all of my blabber it’ll also take me longer to finish a detailed one. So, I decided to just talk about all the places we went to with a bit of instructions on how to get there, where to find places and tips and maybe trivia as well about these places. I will also be adding links of the blogs and sites that we used as guide especially for directions in going to places. Our itinerary was planned “thematically” which means that in each day we went to places which seemed similar or close to each other. I’m not saying you follow the same thing. You can plan your trip however you want.  I will be including links of other blogs that we referred to for this trip so go and check them out and I hope you find it as helpful as much as I did.

Kpop Entertainment Companies Day

The day after we arrived in Korea, visiting entertainment companies was the first thing we did. We decided to do this first because we the week that we went to Korea was the Chuseok season. Chuseok is usually celebrated for 3 days; pre-chuseok, chuseok day, post chuseok. During these days most establishments will be closed and for those that are open regular working hours does not apply. And we thought that maybe idols and artist would go to their hometowns with these 3 days and we might not catch a glimpse of them if we go on those days. We went to 6 company buildings that day; JYP, Cube (old building), FNC, SM, J.Tune Camp (old building) and Jellyfish Entertainment. All of these places are in Gangnam area so you can just walk around or take the bus to find them. Links of addresses and directions are below:

JYP, Cube (old building), FNC, SM Training center https://kpoptourguide.wordpress.com/k-pop-entertainment-company-headquarters/

Jellyfish Entertainment  http://managerhyung.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-to-get-to-jellyfish entertainment.html

SM Town at COEX Artium https://koreancodex.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/how-to-get-to-sm-town-artiumwhere-is-the-sm-town-artium

Experience:

JYP & Encounter with Day6 

This is the first place we went to. We got a bit lost along the way cause we got confused of the landmarks but with the help of a few locals we we’re able to get there before lunch time. The building was smaller than I thought it would be although it’s very easy to spot because of the huge ass JYP sign and all the faces of JYP artists on it. There was a construction going on in front of the building, apparently it was the popular Dunkin Donuts store that Cube and JYP artists like to go to. After taking pictures in front of the building my friend and I decided to stay there for about 15 minutes just to see if we’ll spot any idol. We sat outside this clothing store right in front of the building and not more than about 5 minutes I noticed this guy wearing a black cap and black mask. He looked suspicious because duh, why would you wear a cap and a mask unless you are someone who wants to conceal your identity right? The guy turned his head in our direction right before entering the building and then it hit me, it was Day6’s drummer Dowoon. I totally freaked out as I am a fan of Day6. Since we didn’t actually see Dowoon’s face I asked my friend to stay a little longer on where we we’re because I wanted to make sure that it was Dowoon and maybe we’d have a chance to see the rest of Day6. After about 10 minutes the guy who I thought was Dowoon came back out carrying a pair of drumsticks but still wearing the same mask and cap. It confirmed my suspicion that it was him because as far as I know JYP only has 2 bands right now, Wonder Girls and Day6, unless that guy was a trainee. We followed where he went to and tried to low-key spazz and we saw him enter this basement room on the same building. There was a glass door and it has words JYP Entertainment written on it so it’s probably a practice room for their artists. My friend and I didn’t get to take photos of Dowoon cause everything happened too fast. After that my friend and I got hungry so we ate lunch at this salad bar just right in front of JYP building. Their salads are good! We recommend it. While we we’re eating we spotted another member of Day6! It was my bias, YoungK. He had red hair that time and he went to the same basement room Dowoon went too. After we finished eating we spotted a van stop in front of the basement room and viola came out 3/5 Day6 members and got into the car. We saw Dowoon, YoungK and Jae. Before getting on the van, YoungK suddenly came half-running into our direction and for a second there I seriously thought he was heading to the same salad bar  and I was just sitting there looking at him panicked, not knowing what to do LOL. Apparently he was heading to the convenience store right beside the salad bar. We waited for him to come out and had our camera phones ready when he came out I called his name and he turned to me, smiled and bowed a bit. We also made a friend while hanging around JYP. She’s Chinese and she doesn’t know how or where to go to find other Kpop company buildings so she tagged along with us.

CUBE Entertainment 

Unfortunately, it seems like CUBE moved to a different building which we didn’t know the address off. The old building they used to occupy is just really close to JYP’s they are practically neighbors. Since my friend and I don’t really stan anyone from CUBE we didn’t bother to look up their new address.

FNC Entertainment 

FNC’s building is just a matter of a walking distance from where JYP and CUBE is. They have two buildings in between a tiny road. It’s easy to spot but we didn’t hang around too long because like what I said the road’s pretty tiny so it can feel make you feel a little claustrophobic to be there. Although there’s a convenience store in front of their main building and if you wanna hang around to spot an artist from FNC you can stay there.

SM Training Center– SM’s building is very close to where FNC is. Unfortunately, that day the building was closed. That’s what it said when we looked up their address on Google maps that day. I guess it meant that there will be no office for staffs and management? I’m not really sure. We just got our pictures taken outside the building and decided to leave cause it didn’t seem like anyone was inside the building. However if you do decide to hang around the area to wait for your fave SM artist there’s a park right in front of the building. You can find a good spot there and wait.

Actually, SM has two buildings. This is the old one (I guess) and there’s another one which bigger and has a coffee shop at the ground floor. We we’re quite confused about this one and wondered if this is the building that their artists regularly visit. Although, when I watched that episode of My SM TV with NCT Dream as guests and this building as shown for a bit. For this building it is difficult to spot the artists though because they have an underground parking area and I think they have an entrance/exit there too so I bet that’s how the artists enter the building.

SM Town at COEX Artium

The SM Town is part of the COEX Mall located at Gangnam-gu area. It’s easy to find because it’s a huge establishment. We took a cab going there cause our Chinese friend got tired of walking and she offered to pay for the cab fee which was just 3,000 Won. You can use your T-Card to pay for it. If you are an SM stan then this is THE place to be aside from the SME company buildings. The atrium has 6 floors. Check out the photo below for what each floor has to offer.

Let me just warn you ahead of time that this place will have you throwing your money all over the place cause it practically has all the merch of your fave SM artist, from albums, clothes, posters and even cosmetics. They also got a coffee shop that offers treats and drinks so you can lounge there and rest a bit. By the way, their baristas and staff have on point visuals so yeah, you might want to feast over that too. LOL. I got a crush on one of their staff who wasn’t just good-looking but super sweet too. He helped us by giving us directions for our next destination. That was a K-Drama moment for me right there. Hahaha.

JTune Camp 

 My friend is a huge MBLAQ fan so she wanted to visit Jtune camp. At this point there’s just the two of us cause our Chinese friend decided to go back to her hotel. When you look up Jtune’s office online the result would be the address Seoul Metropolis Gangnam-gu Samseong-dong Office 44-10 Soam Building #501. This building was very difficult to find and we spent a long time trying to figure out where it is. When we got to Samseong-dong we had to depend on Google Maps to get us to this building but we didn’t find any building with a Jtune Camp sign on it. We ended up asking the locals around and the building ended up to be this ordinary looking building. My friend and I we’re really doubtful it if was the right building at first but we decided to enter the building and find out for ourselves. The main door was closed cause it was already around 7 pm when we got there. We saw that there was a back door which was open and we decided to enter through that and got on the elevator. I WOULDN’T SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME IF YOU’RE GOING TO LOOK FOR YOUR FAVE IDOLS CAUSE THIS CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS. Remember that you’re in a foreign land so always think of your safety and I have to admit our action can come off a bit of sasaeng-ish. However, my friend was desperate cause we spent so much time looking for it. So we went to the 5th floor of the building cause online that’s what says where Jtune is but there was no one there and it looked creepy af. We decided to just give up and went back down. When we left the building there was this ahjussi that greeted us, it seemed like he worked at the building and he then asked us “MBLAQ?” he figured we we’re there for them. He didn’t speak English so I had to use up all of the Korean I know to talk to him LOL. Anyway, according to him, Jtune isn’t in that building anymore for a long time. It seems like there are still fans that go there though so he wasn’t surprised about us being there. The problem is that he also doesn’t know where their new building is and we told him that the only address found online for Jtune is that building’s address. So if you are a fan of MBLAQ and Madtown, you have to look up their new address.

Jellyfish Entertainment & Encounter with VIXX’s Ravi – Our last stop was Jellyfish Entertainment. From Samseong-dong we followed the address and directions from the blog I found online. Since it was already late in the evening and Jellyfish’s building is a bit difficult to find. When we got there the area was really quite. The building’s main door was made of glass so we can see from outside that the light was one but it didn’t seem like anyone was inside. We just took photos and sat in front of the building to catch our breath before leaving. Our bodies we’re tired from all the walking that day and we haven’t eaten anything since lunch so we sat there talking about where to eat dinner. Every now and then and employee would enter or exit the building. Suddenly I noticed that there was a tall guy inside the building heading for the door. I can’t see his face cause the glass door was a bit tinted so I can only make out his silhouette. I can make out that he’s tall and he’s wearing baggy clothes. My fangirl instincts kicked in and as he got closer to the door I saw that it was VIXX’s Ravi. I shook my friend’s arm and told her that it’s Ravi. When the door finally opened it was indeed Ravi. Once again I was too stunned to do anything so I just sat there calling his name while my friend grabbed her phone and tried to take a photo of him. Ravi was about to go to the parking area when he spotted my friend taking a photo he immediately turned around and went back inside the building. I think we caught him off guard or something and he was probably as surprised as we we’re thus his reaction. A few minutes after that a staff came out of the building and got into this jeep type car. He parked the car right in front of the building and went back inside the building without turning the car off. My friend and I figured out that Ravi doesn’t want to be bothered so we decided so walk away from the building so that he won’t feel uncomfortable. We then saw Ravi come out of the building together with the same staff and got on the car.

Whew! That’s 5 pages of Microsoft word right there. Hahaha. Anyway, there you go. That’s Day 1 of our 9-day trip. I guess this one will be the most helpful (?) too and what most KPop fans will be needing when Kpop-ing in Seoul. I hope I can write about the rest of our trip soon. Once they’re done I’ll just update them and hope it helps you on your own trip! Thanks for reading.

#kpop #Korea #south korea #korean #koreanpop #jyp #jyp entertainment #day6 #youngk #day6 young k #sm entertainment #jellyfish entertainment #vixx #ravi #vixx ravi #seoul #wheninseoul

[velmaemyers88]

Brexit Clashes Begin as U.K.’s Boris Johnson Pushes a Hard Line

LONDON — The bombastic new British prime minister, Boris Johnson, was never likely to offer an olive branch to the European Union that he promises to leave in less than 100 days — without any deal if necessary and whatever the cost.

But any faint hope that Mr. Johnson would adopt a conciliatory stance once installed in Downing Street was dispelled Wednesday night when he axed around half of the cabinet of his predecessor, Theresa May, in a cull that shocked many with its scope and blunt messaging.

In his first statement to Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Johnson doubled down on his hard line, fueling speculation that he was prepared to go to a general election if he is blocked by lawmakers from leaving the European Union without any agreement.

With staunch supporters of Brexit installed in key cabinet positions, Mr. Johnson outlined tough demands on Brexit that Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, immediately described as “unacceptable.”

Those included the “abolition” of one central element of the withdrawal agreement — the so-called “backstop” plan to keep goods flowing freely across the Irish border — using language that leaves Mr. Johnson little room to maneuver. Preparations would be stepped up for a “no deal” exit, though Mr. Johnson promised that the rights of European Union citizens living in Britain would be protected.

All of that suggested that a new settlement was far off over the withdrawal plan — which has been rejected three times by the British Parliament, though lawmakers also oppose leaving without a deal.

After three years of flat parliamentary performances from Mrs. May, Mr. Johnson’s overblown oratory cheered his supporters, including his grandiose promises to usher in a “new golden age,” and to make the country the “greatest and most prosperous economy in Europe” by 2050.

But Brexit is his overriding task and he inherits a tiny working majority in Parliament. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new leader of the House of Commons, told ITV that he did not see a general election as a government objective but that it was “impossible to rule out looking at the parliamentary arithmetic.”

Earlier, Mr. Johnson told the new cabinet that its task was momentous and came ‘‘at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.”

“We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on Oct. 31 or indeed earlier — no ifs, no buts,” he said.

Mr. Johnson made the same promise outside Downing Street on Wednesday, and he has insisted that all members of his cabinet are signed up to that objective, whether or not it means a no-deal exit that many see as damaging and potentially chaotic.

But the purge of the cabinet seemed to go further, dispensing even with some longtime supporters of Brexit in one of the most brutal reshuffles in recent memory.

Those sent packing included Penny Mordaunt, who lost her role as defense secretary; and Liam Fox, who had supported Mr. Johnson’s leadership rival, Jeremy Hunt, and was ditched as trade secretary.

Mr. Hunt, who had been foreign secretary, also left, after refusing a demotion. He was replaced by Dominic Raab, a hard-line former Brexit secretary who resigned in November in protest at Mrs. May’s proposed withdrawal agreement.

“The hard right has taken over the Conservative Party. Thatcherites, libertarians and No Deal Brexiters control it top to bottom,” wrote Nick Boles, a lawmaker who recently left the Conservative Party, on Twitter.

Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle seemed intended to send a clear message to the European Union that his government meant what it said when it insisted that it would quit without any agreement if necessary. Optimists hope that this show of resolve might persuade the European side to offer the sort of concessions it has so far refused to contemplate.

Those hopes depend on the European Union agreeing to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement worked out with Mrs. May — which contains the Irish “backstop” — and there has been no sign of that so far.

On Thursday, a spokesman for the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said, “We will not reopen the withdrawal agreement.”

That suggests that a rocky few months are looming. The makeup of Mr. Johnson’s new cabinet suggests a team battle-ready for a general election if the prime minister is blocked by Parliament from leaving the European Union without a deal.

The new cabinet also looked to be assembled to combat an electoral threat from Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, which advocates a total break from the European Union.

Sajid Javid was among the big winners in Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle. Mr. Javid, whose father, a bus driver, was an immigrant from Pakistan, took charge of the country’s finances as chancellor of the Exchequer. Though a skeptic about the European Union he campaigned against Brexit in the 2016 referendum but is now a convert.

Mr. Javid’s old job as home secretary was taken by the Brexit supporter Priti Patel, who resigned as international development secretary in Mrs. May’s government in November 2017 because she had held meetings with officials in Israel without informing cabinet colleagues.

Some lawmakers who have been less enthusiastic about Brexit survived, including Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary. And there was a reprieve for Gavin Williamson, who was blamed for leaking information while secretary of state for defense (a charge he denied) and was subsequently fired by Mrs. May. He returned as education secretary.

But Brexit supporters are in the driver’s seat. Michael Gove, who, together with Mr. Johnson, led the pro-Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, will be in charge of preparations for a no-deal exit.

In addition to the promotion for Mr. Rees-Mogg, who led the most hard-line group of Conservative lawmakers pushing for the European Union withdrawal, Stephen Barclay remained as Brexit secretary.

Perhaps nothing illustrated Mr. Johnson’s desire to shake up the system as much as his decision to bring Dominic Cummings into Downing Street as an adviser. Mr. Cummings is the divisive strategist who helped plan the official Leave campaign’s tactics in the 2016 referendum.

Famously sharp-tongued, Mr. Cummings has described Mrs. May’s pursuit of Brexit as a “train wreck,” and called a former Brexit secretary, David Davis, “thick as mince and lazy as a toad.”

After three years during which Mrs. May tried to balance the diversity of opinion on Brexit among Conservatives, juggling hard-liners and those determined to stop a “no deal” withdrawal, Mr. Johnson’s change in tack horrified some in the party.

By ejecting so many of Mrs. May’s team, Mr. Johnson has freed many to oppose a no-deal exit.

That has increased speculation about a general election, possibly as soon as the fall. There is also growing talk of a second referendum, fueled in part by statements from Mr. Cummings that the outcome of any repeat would mirror the first vote and reinforce the decision to leave.

Asked on Sky News what he thought about the new government, Nicholas Soames, a veteran Conservative lawmaker and grandson of one of Mr. Johnson’s heroes, Winston Churchill, replied, “Not a lot.”

“I won’t support a no-deal Brexit and nor will a very large number of people on my side in the House of Commons,” Mr. Soames said. “By firing a lot of very good senior cabinet ministers yesterday, he has created a whole wall of opposition.”

Credit: Source link

The post Brexit Clashes Begin as U.K.’s Boris Johnson Pushes a Hard Line appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/brexit-clashes-begin-as-u-k-s-boris-johnson-pushes-a-hard-line/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brexit-clashes-begin-as-u-k-s-boris-johnson-pushes-a-hard-line from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186544688132

[reneeacaseyfl]

Brexit Clashes Begin as U.K.’s Boris Johnson Pushes a Hard Line

LONDON — The bombastic new British prime minister, Boris Johnson, was never likely to offer an olive branch to the European Union that he promises to leave in less than 100 days — without any deal if necessary and whatever the cost.

But any faint hope that Mr. Johnson would adopt a conciliatory stance once installed in Downing Street was dispelled Wednesday night when he axed around half of the cabinet of his predecessor, Theresa May, in a cull that shocked many with its scope and blunt messaging.

In his first statement to Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Johnson doubled down on his hard line, fueling speculation that he was prepared to go to a general election if he is blocked by lawmakers from leaving the European Union without any agreement.

With staunch supporters of Brexit installed in key cabinet positions, Mr. Johnson outlined tough demands on Brexit that Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, immediately described as “unacceptable.”

Those included the “abolition” of one central element of the withdrawal agreement — the so-called “backstop” plan to keep goods flowing freely across the Irish border — using language that leaves Mr. Johnson little room to maneuver. Preparations would be stepped up for a “no deal” exit, though Mr. Johnson promised that the rights of European Union citizens living in Britain would be protected.

All of that suggested that a new settlement was far off over the withdrawal plan — which has been rejected three times by the British Parliament, though lawmakers also oppose leaving without a deal.

After three years of flat parliamentary performances from Mrs. May, Mr. Johnson’s overblown oratory cheered his supporters, including his grandiose promises to usher in a “new golden age,” and to make the country the “greatest and most prosperous economy in Europe” by 2050.

But Brexit is his overriding task and he inherits a tiny working majority in Parliament. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new leader of the House of Commons, told ITV that he did not see a general election as a government objective but that it was “impossible to rule out looking at the parliamentary arithmetic.”

Earlier, Mr. Johnson told the new cabinet that its task was momentous and came ‘‘at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.”

“We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on Oct. 31 or indeed earlier — no ifs, no buts,” he said.

Mr. Johnson made the same promise outside Downing Street on Wednesday, and he has insisted that all members of his cabinet are signed up to that objective, whether or not it means a no-deal exit that many see as damaging and potentially chaotic.

But the purge of the cabinet seemed to go further, dispensing even with some longtime supporters of Brexit in one of the most brutal reshuffles in recent memory.

Those sent packing included Penny Mordaunt, who lost her role as defense secretary; and Liam Fox, who had supported Mr. Johnson’s leadership rival, Jeremy Hunt, and was ditched as trade secretary.

Mr. Hunt, who had been foreign secretary, also left, after refusing a demotion. He was replaced by Dominic Raab, a hard-line former Brexit secretary who resigned in November in protest at Mrs. May’s proposed withdrawal agreement.

“The hard right has taken over the Conservative Party. Thatcherites, libertarians and No Deal Brexiters control it top to bottom,” wrote Nick Boles, a lawmaker who recently left the Conservative Party, on Twitter.

Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle seemed intended to send a clear message to the European Union that his government meant what it said when it insisted that it would quit without any agreement if necessary. Optimists hope that this show of resolve might persuade the European side to offer the sort of concessions it has so far refused to contemplate.

Those hopes depend on the European Union agreeing to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement worked out with Mrs. May — which contains the Irish “backstop” — and there has been no sign of that so far.

On Thursday, a spokesman for the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said, “We will not reopen the withdrawal agreement.”

That suggests that a rocky few months are looming. The makeup of Mr. Johnson’s new cabinet suggests a team battle-ready for a general election if the prime minister is blocked by Parliament from leaving the European Union without a deal.

The new cabinet also looked to be assembled to combat an electoral threat from Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, which advocates a total break from the European Union.

Sajid Javid was among the big winners in Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle. Mr. Javid, whose father, a bus driver, was an immigrant from Pakistan, took charge of the country’s finances as chancellor of the Exchequer. Though a skeptic about the European Union he campaigned against Brexit in the 2016 referendum but is now a convert.

Mr. Javid’s old job as home secretary was taken by the Brexit supporter Priti Patel, who resigned as international development secretary in Mrs. May’s government in November 2017 because she had held meetings with officials in Israel without informing cabinet colleagues.

Some lawmakers who have been less enthusiastic about Brexit survived, including Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary. And there was a reprieve for Gavin Williamson, who was blamed for leaking information while secretary of state for defense (a charge he denied) and was subsequently fired by Mrs. May. He returned as education secretary.

But Brexit supporters are in the driver’s seat. Michael Gove, who, together with Mr. Johnson, led the pro-Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, will be in charge of preparations for a no-deal exit.

In addition to the promotion for Mr. Rees-Mogg, who led the most hard-line group of Conservative lawmakers pushing for the European Union withdrawal, Stephen Barclay remained as Brexit secretary.

Perhaps nothing illustrated Mr. Johnson’s desire to shake up the system as much as his decision to bring Dominic Cummings into Downing Street as an adviser. Mr. Cummings is the divisive strategist who helped plan the official Leave campaign’s tactics in the 2016 referendum.

Famously sharp-tongued, Mr. Cummings has described Mrs. May’s pursuit of Brexit as a “train wreck,” and called a former Brexit secretary, David Davis, “thick as mince and lazy as a toad.”

After three years during which Mrs. May tried to balance the diversity of opinion on Brexit among Conservatives, juggling hard-liners and those determined to stop a “no deal” withdrawal, Mr. Johnson’s change in tack horrified some in the party.

By ejecting so many of Mrs. May’s team, Mr. Johnson has freed many to oppose a no-deal exit.

That has increased speculation about a general election, possibly as soon as the fall. There is also growing talk of a second referendum, fueled in part by statements from Mr. Cummings that the outcome of any repeat would mirror the first vote and reinforce the decision to leave.

Asked on Sky News what he thought about the new government, Nicholas Soames, a veteran Conservative lawmaker and grandson of one of Mr. Johnson’s heroes, Winston Churchill, replied, “Not a lot.”

“I won’t support a no-deal Brexit and nor will a very large number of people on my side in the House of Commons,” Mr. Soames said. “By firing a lot of very good senior cabinet ministers yesterday, he has created a whole wall of opposition.”

Credit: Source link

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[weeklyreviewer]

Brexit Clashes Begin as U.K.’s Boris Johnson Pushes a Hard Line

LONDON — The bombastic new British prime minister, Boris Johnson, was never likely to offer an olive branch to the European Union that he promises to leave in less than 100 days — without any deal if necessary and whatever the cost.

But any faint hope that Mr. Johnson would adopt a conciliatory stance once installed in Downing Street was dispelled Wednesday night when he axed around half of the cabinet of his predecessor, Theresa May, in a cull that shocked many with its scope and blunt messaging.

In his first statement to Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Johnson doubled down on his hard line, fueling speculation that he was prepared to go to a general election if he is blocked by lawmakers from leaving the European Union without any agreement.

With staunch supporters of Brexit installed in key cabinet positions, Mr. Johnson outlined tough demands on Brexit that Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, immediately described as “unacceptable.”

Those included the “abolition” of one central element of the withdrawal agreement — the so-called “backstop” plan to keep goods flowing freely across the Irish border — using language that leaves Mr. Johnson little room to maneuver. Preparations would be stepped up for a “no deal” exit, though Mr. Johnson promised that the rights of European Union citizens living in Britain would be protected.

All of that suggested that a new settlement was far off over the withdrawal plan — which has been rejected three times by the British Parliament, though lawmakers also oppose leaving without a deal.

After three years of flat parliamentary performances from Mrs. May, Mr. Johnson’s overblown oratory cheered his supporters, including his grandiose promises to usher in a “new golden age,” and to make the country the “greatest and most prosperous economy in Europe” by 2050.

But Brexit is his overriding task and he inherits a tiny working majority in Parliament. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new leader of the House of Commons, told ITV that he did not see a general election as a government objective but that it was “impossible to rule out looking at the parliamentary arithmetic.”

Earlier, Mr. Johnson told the new cabinet that its task was momentous and came ‘‘at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.”

“We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on Oct. 31 or indeed earlier — no ifs, no buts,” he said.

Mr. Johnson made the same promise outside Downing Street on Wednesday, and he has insisted that all members of his cabinet are signed up to that objective, whether or not it means a no-deal exit that many see as damaging and potentially chaotic.

But the purge of the cabinet seemed to go further, dispensing even with some longtime supporters of Brexit in one of the most brutal reshuffles in recent memory.

Those sent packing included Penny Mordaunt, who lost her role as defense secretary; and Liam Fox, who had supported Mr. Johnson’s leadership rival, Jeremy Hunt, and was ditched as trade secretary.

Mr. Hunt, who had been foreign secretary, also left, after refusing a demotion. He was replaced by Dominic Raab, a hard-line former Brexit secretary who resigned in November in protest at Mrs. May’s proposed withdrawal agreement.

“The hard right has taken over the Conservative Party. Thatcherites, libertarians and No Deal Brexiters control it top to bottom,” wrote Nick Boles, a lawmaker who recently left the Conservative Party, on Twitter.

Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle seemed intended to send a clear message to the European Union that his government meant what it said when it insisted that it would quit without any agreement if necessary. Optimists hope that this show of resolve might persuade the European side to offer the sort of concessions it has so far refused to contemplate.

Those hopes depend on the European Union agreeing to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement worked out with Mrs. May — which contains the Irish “backstop” — and there has been no sign of that so far.

On Thursday, a spokesman for the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said, “We will not reopen the withdrawal agreement.”

That suggests that a rocky few months are looming. The makeup of Mr. Johnson’s new cabinet suggests a team battle-ready for a general election if the prime minister is blocked by Parliament from leaving the European Union without a deal.

The new cabinet also looked to be assembled to combat an electoral threat from Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, which advocates a total break from the European Union.

Sajid Javid was among the big winners in Mr. Johnson’s reshuffle. Mr. Javid, whose father, a bus driver, was an immigrant from Pakistan, took charge of the country’s finances as chancellor of the Exchequer. Though a skeptic about the European Union he campaigned against Brexit in the 2016 referendum but is now a convert.

Mr. Javid’s old job as home secretary was taken by the Brexit supporter Priti Patel, who resigned as international development secretary in Mrs. May’s government in November 2017 because she had held meetings with officials in Israel without informing cabinet colleagues.

Some lawmakers who have been less enthusiastic about Brexit survived, including Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary. And there was a reprieve for Gavin Williamson, who was blamed for leaking information while secretary of state for defense (a charge he denied) and was subsequently fired by Mrs. May. He returned as education secretary.

But Brexit supporters are in the driver’s seat. Michael Gove, who, together with Mr. Johnson, led the pro-Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, will be in charge of preparations for a no-deal exit.

In addition to the promotion for Mr. Rees-Mogg, who led the most hard-line group of Conservative lawmakers pushing for the European Union withdrawal, Stephen Barclay remained as Brexit secretary.

Perhaps nothing illustrated Mr. Johnson’s desire to shake up the system as much as his decision to bring Dominic Cummings into Downing Street as an adviser. Mr. Cummings is the divisive strategist who helped plan the official Leave campaign’s tactics in the 2016 referendum.

Famously sharp-tongued, Mr. Cummings has described Mrs. May’s pursuit of Brexit as a “train wreck,” and called a former Brexit secretary, David Davis, “thick as mince and lazy as a toad.”

After three years during which Mrs. May tried to balance the diversity of opinion on Brexit among Conservatives, juggling hard-liners and those determined to stop a “no deal” withdrawal, Mr. Johnson’s change in tack horrified some in the party.

By ejecting so many of Mrs. May’s team, Mr. Johnson has freed many to oppose a no-deal exit.

That has increased speculation about a general election, possibly as soon as the fall. There is also growing talk of a second referendum, fueled in part by statements from Mr. Cummings that the outcome of any repeat would mirror the first vote and reinforce the decision to leave.

Asked on Sky News what he thought about the new government, Nicholas Soames, a veteran Conservative lawmaker and grandson of one of Mr. Johnson’s heroes, Winston Churchill, replied, “Not a lot.”

“I won’t support a no-deal Brexit and nor will a very large number of people on my side in the House of Commons,” Mr. Soames said. “By firing a lot of very good senior cabinet ministers yesterday, he has created a whole wall of opposition.”

Credit: Source link

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[gyrlversion]

HENRY DEEDES on Mrs Mays Brussels warm-up at PMQs

Theresa May was forced to steady herself at the dispatch box yesterday. Something from behind had disrupted her fragile equilibrium, much the same way as a mosquito bite to the neck disturbs the harmony of a peaceful sundowner.

It occurred right at the start of PMQs when a critical question was raised about her request for another Brexit extension. The query came not from the opposing side of the chamber but from the PM’s own benches.

Henry Smith (Con, Crawley), a Eurosceptic once said to have had Ukip leanings, pointed out that a year-long extension would cost Britain an extra £1billion in EU subscriptions. Dosh, he added helpfully, which might be better spent on schools, policing and tax cuts.

Mrs May turned to her interlocutor, her eyes narrowed like arrowslits, and hissed: ‘We could actually have been outside the European Union by now, if we had managed to get the deal through.’

Prime Minister Theresa May listens to a question at PMQs on Wednesday afternoon at Westminster

Henry Smith MP – an intense Eurosceptic – told Mrs May a year-long extensions could set the country back one billion pounds

It was not so much a response as it was an acid-tinged message to her whole party: I wouldn’t even be travelling to Brussels today if it wasn’t for you lot. Ironically, there was no such trouble from Labour’s benches. The opposition has called pax on Brexit while cross-party talks continue. Down tools for now. Ceasefire.

Mr Smith’s intervention aside, the rest of the session was a bit of a washout. A soggy detente. Like watching one of those Tom & Jerry episodes when the warring pair put away their mallets to take a breather.

The Government benches were sparsely attended. Three-quarters full at best. With this week supposed to be recess, it’s likely some were monitoring events from some Alpine schloss. Or perhaps they’ve simply given up.

In which case it should alarm them that Jeremy Corbyn has a spring in his sandals. Perhaps it’s because Labour’s humdrum legal eagle Sir Keir Starmer is now dealing with all that complicated Brexit stuff Jezza doesn’t understand.

Labour’s great leader entered the chamber with the bumptiousness of a Saturday night gameshow host. He flashed colleagues a chewy grin, allowing boyish squit Dan Carden (Lab, Liverpool Walton) to straighten his tie.

There was even a bit of good will toward the Prime Minister during opening exchanges, the two of them swapping tributes to the House’s first female clerk, Sarah Davies. Mr Corbyn claimed he remembered the day Davies had started in the Commons and knew she’d do well. ‘Unlike you!’ screamed a heckler. Uncalled for.

Mr Corbyn focused his attacks on council funding. Authorities were hard-up, he complained. He quoted one council leader who said he was ‘really short of money’. Not to be flippant, but in the entire history of local government, has there ever been one who has said otherwise?

Theresa May speaking from the dispatch box in the House of Commons on Wednesday flanked by her front bench

Newly appointed Brexit minister James Cleverly challenged Mr Corbyn’s figures from afar but made the mistake of distracting Sir Nicholas Soames from his midday reading matter. ‘Do shut up, James!’ bellowed Soames. Well, that’s the polite version of what he said.

Mr Corbyn continued ploughing his pet subjects. Child poverty, food banks, government austerity. Worthy stuffy but the House appeared to miss the raw meat of Brexit. Behind him, Yvette Cooper (Lab, Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) was rendered uncharacteristically mute. A toddler without its toys.

Over in the ERG corner, there was no sign of Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, North East Somerset), nor Boris. Sir William Cash (Con, Stone) and John Baron (Con, Basildon and Billericay) sat with the distasteful air of two club bores who’ve been informed the grilled sprats have been removed from the evening menu.

Mrs May gestures towards her own ranks as she said she could have avoided difficulty if MPs had backed her deal

Elsewhere, cheesed off Remainers Sam Gyimah (Con, East Surrey) and Justine Greening (Con, Putney) ignored proceedings and huddled around an iPad sharing a packet of jelly babies.

There was an entertaining ding-dong with the SNP, when their Westminster leader Ian Blackford once again demanded a second referendum. Mrs May pondered why the SNP were so keen to stay in the EU when Scottish independence would mean them having to leave anyway. The ensuing melee resembled Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street at chucking out time.

At a quarter to one, Mrs May departed for Brussels, barely offering her benches a second glance as she exited the chamber. She wouldn’t even have been going if it wasn’t for that lot.

The post HENRY DEEDES on Mrs Mays Brussels warm-up at PMQs appeared first on Gyrlversion.

from WordPress https://www.gyrlversion.net/henry-deedes-on-mrs-mays-brussels-warm-up-at-pmqs/

#Entertainment News

[nebris]

Trump Is Starting to Panic

Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today, Trump’s tantrums, the Times’ revelations about Facebook, and the First Lady’s campaign to get a West Wing staffer fired.

Since the Democrats made gains in last week’s election — and, in some places, may continue to make more still — Donald Trump has retreated into what the Los Angeles Times calls “a cocoon of bitterness and resentment,” canceling travel plans, lashing out at allies and adversaries, meddling in the remaining undecided races and, apparently, sitting for hours of meetings with his personal lawyers. Should we take his tantrums as an early indicator of additional bad news?

I will make the reckless prediction that “Donald Trump” and “good news” are not fated to appear in the same sentence unless the good news happens to be that his presidency is ending. Everything about his behavior since the midterms suggests that even he has figured this out. It has belatedly dawned on him that (a) he lost the election he thought he won; (b) the Robert Mueller investigation has moved faster than his efforts to thwart it; (c) any of his legislative fantasies, notably the funding of his border wall, are doomed; and (d) and his pouting in Paris elevated his international image as a buffoon to a whole new level of notoriety. Remember when Republicans attacked Barack Obama (falsely) for allegedly barring Winston Churchill’s bust from the White House? Now the GOP’s hero is a president whom Churchill’s own grandson, the Conservative member of Parliament Nicholas Soames, has labeled “pathetic,” “inadequate,” and “not fit to represent this great country” after Trump failed to show up at the French cemetery rites honoring the fallen of World War I.

That all this makes Trump panic at some gut level is visible not merely in his widely reported spells of rage and bitterness and in his increasingly empty official schedule. He is also stepping up his already impressive efforts to discredit and destroy those democratic institutions that might prevent him from escaping criminal jeopardy. And so he has returned to ridiculing the very lifeblood of America, the electoral process, by declaring elections that don’t go his way a fraud; he has escalated his assault on a free press by barring a CNN reporter and trying to frame him as a fellow misogynistic bully with a deceptively edited video; and, last but not least, he has appointed an acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, who has ridiculed the judicial system, been on the board of a fly-by-night company that practiced Trump University–style consumer frauds, and publicly attacked the Mueller probe in Trump’s own language.

This is bunker behavior. Only a desperate man would try to derail Mueller by installing this transparent reprobate at the Department of Justice. Even more revealing is how Trump has become more and more unhinged since making his Whitaker move. The growing fury, most manifest in his latest anti-Mueller tweetstorm this week, suggests that he already realizes that the ploy has backfired. It seems to be finally sinking in, perhaps under the frantic tutelage of his lawyers, that his fate and the fates of his son and son-in-law, among others in his immediate orbit, are tied to the fates of Roger Stone, Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, and all the other president’s men whose comprehensive narrative Mueller is bound to tell America no matter what Trump and his stooge at Justice do to try to foil or decapitate him.

According to the New York Times, Facebook knew about Russian election interference earlier (and in more detail) than Mark Zuckerberg has let on, but rather than sound an alarm the company went as far as enlisting a Republican opposition-research firm to cast protesters as puppets of George Soros. The revelations come among growing calls to regulate the social-media giant — is this the end of Facebook as we know it?

Facebook has managed to infuriate both Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Employee morale is crumbling along with its stock price. The company is now likely to be reshaped by both market forces and government regulation. But that’s not what interests me most about this extraordinary piece of Times investigative reporting. Equally important is the story the paper tells of how powerful liberal Democrats, one at the pinnacle of Facebook (Sheryl Sandberg) and another at the pinnacle of the Senate (Chuck Schumer), shielded the company from critics to preserve its fat bottom line. And in the process proved to be useful idiots for the Russians. Had Sandberg and Schumer not protected Facebook, it would have been harder for Russians to manipulate the 2016 election with impunity on its platform, and the presidential candidate Sandberg and Schumer supported, Hillary Clinton, conceivably might have averted narrow defeat.

It was Sandberg, who served under the Treasury Secretary Larry Summers in Bill Clinton’s administration and was a strong Hillary supporter, who hired the Republican lobbyist Joel Kaplan, the key figure in covering up the extent of Russian meddling at Facebook for a full year. (Kaplan is most recently notorious for being caught on camera lending prominent support to Brett Kavanaugh as he denied Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee.) And it was Sandberg who looked the other way as other Republican operatives hired by Facebook targeted Soros, falsely portraying him as a prime mover in an anti-Facebook cabal. This Facebook-generated libel inexorably contributed to the proliferation of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Soros that would boil over in the final weeks of the 2018 campaign and arguably cost Democrats some votes in this year’s election as well. Sadly, it turns out that powerful Jewish executives like Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg offer no more protection against dark anti-Semitic corporate tactics at Facebook than Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump do against anti-Semitic political tactics at the White House.

As for Schumer, his water-carrying for Facebook, as documented by the Times, is mortifying: He even tried to shut down a fellow Democratic senator, Mark Warner, who dared question the company. (It will surprise no one that Facebook’s employees contribute more to Schumer, the Democrats’ Senate leader, than any other member of Congress.) It’s a cruel irony, I guess, that prominent Clinton supporters like Sandberg and Schumer in the end contributed to Trump’s victory by allowing Russian interference to play out unchecked at Facebook for much of 2016. But it is not a fresh irony. As I wrote in my New York piece on Trump and Roy Cohn this spring, “From the mid-1970s to the turn of the century, well before Trump debuted on The Apprentice or flirted more than glancingly with politics, he gained power and consolidated it with the help of allies among the elites of New York’s often nominally Democratic and liberal Establishment — some of them literally the same allies who boosted Cohn.” Those powerful Democrats’ priority, I posited, “was raw personal power that could be leveraged for their own enrichment, privilege, and celebrity.” And so the story of Sandberg, Schumer, Facebook, and Trump’s 2016 victory, as told by the Times, is yet another chapter in that same sordid narrative.

After Melania Trump publicly called for the ouster of Mira Ricardel, John Bolton’s deputy, earlier this week, Ricardel is gone from the White House. Was Melania justified in taking her case public?

It’s really hard to know whom to root for in this rollicking tale. For starters, it is utterly preposterous that a First Lady would have her press secretary release a statement announcing that a high national security official “no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.” When Nancy Reagan put the shiv in Donald Regan, at least she had the good political sense to do so in the East Wing shadows rather than appear to wield power over a part of the government in which she has no official role or expertise. To quote David Rothkopf’s must-read tweet thread on this incident, Melania Trump is by contrast “just another member of the thug mob that has corrupted our White House.”

But this farce doesn’t end there. We’ve since learned that Melania Trump has never met the woman she banished. In the Washington Post’s account, Ricardel angered the First Lady with a bureaucratic gambit: She threatened to pull National Security Council policy advisers from the First Lady’s trip to Africa in retaliation for being denied a seat on her plane and having to travel on another flight instead. This much is clear: The last thing anyone involved in this episode was thinking about was Africa, the ostensible point of Trump’s trip.

The Post also reported that Ricardel is so widely despised that the White House couldn’t even find her a soft landing in the Commerce Department, presided over by Wilbur Ross, a world-class grifter even by the standards of a Trump Cabinet that now includes Whitaker. If there’s one bit of good news in this whole saga, it’s that John Bolton tried strenuously to save Ricardel’s job and failed. We can only hope that the First Lady will soon declare the malevolent Bolton unworthy of the “honor” of serving in her husband’s crime syndicate and send him back to Fox News.

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/frank-rich-trump-is-starting-to-panic.html

[bountyofbeads]

Bonhomie? C’est Fini as Trump and Macron Seek to Defuse Tension https://nyti.ms/2z0Uzt6

Bonhomie? C’est Fini as Trump and Macron Seek to Defuse Tension

By Peter Baker and Adam Nossiter/Nov. 10, 2018/New York Times /Posted November 11, 2018

PARIS — They shook hands politely and patted each other on the arm stiffly. Their tight-lipped smiles appeared strained and forced. No cheeks were kissed, no friendly rubs were given, none of the bonhomie of their earlier meetings was on display.

So much for the bromance.

After a promising start, the relationship between President Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France has soured. By the time they met in Paris on Saturday, the trans-Atlantic alliance that was to be showcased by this weekend’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I appeared to be fraying instead.

“The honeymoon is well and truly over,” said Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Trump’s visible contempt for allies over trade and the Iran nuclear deal are humiliating for Macron. There were high hopes of Macron’s charm offensive, but Trump’s actions have shown that it had no policy impact and that it is dangerous for any political leader to tie his reputation to the mercurial mood swings of the American president.”

It did not help on Saturday that Mr. Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery at the foot of the hill where the Battle of Belleau Wood was fought. Aides cited the rain; the Marines who pilot presidential helicopters often recommend against flying in bad weather. But that did not convince many in Europe who saw it as an excuse and another sign of disrespect.They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen,” Nicholas Soames, a Conservative member of the British Parliament and grandson of Winston Churchill, wrote on Twitter. He added the hashtag: #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry.

Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, dismissed the explanation. “I helped plan all of President Obama’s trips for 8 years,” he tweeted. “There is always a rain option. Always.”

Mr. Trump will have another chance to pay respects to the war dead on Sunday with a scheduled visit to the Suresnes American Cemetery outside Paris following the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe marking the anniversary of the armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. But he will not stay for a Paris peace forum that Mr. Macron is sponsoring to bring together world leaders to discuss ways to avoid conflict.

“Trump’s absence from the Peace forum tomorrow, apparently alone among the 72 heads of state and government, will have a negative impact — the man who did not even pretend to work for peace, as it were,” said François Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a research organization.

They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen,” Nicholas Soames, a Conservative member of the British Parliament and grandson of Winston Churchill, wrote on Twitter. He added the hashtag: #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry.

Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, dismissed the explanation. “I helped plan all of President Obama’s trips for 8 years,” he tweeted. “There is always a rain option. Always.”

Mr. Trump will have another chance to pay respects to the war dead on Sunday with a scheduled visit to the Suresnes American Cemetery outside Paris following the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe marking the anniversary of the armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. But he will not stay for a Paris peace forum that Mr. Macron is sponsoring to bring together world leaders to discuss ways to avoid conflict.

“Trump’s absence from the Peace forum tomorrow, apparently alone among the 72 heads of state and government, will have a negative impact — the man who did not even pretend to work for peace, as it were,” said François Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a research organization.

In a five-minute session with reporters before their meeting on Saturday, Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron sought to defuse simmering tension over security and trade. Mr. Macron reassured his visitor that his proposal to create a “true European army” was in harmony with Mr. Trump’s repeated insistence that Europe stop relying so much on the United States for its defense.

The meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron earlier in the day seemed decidedly chillier than their warm session in Washington in April when they smiled broadly, hugged, kissed each other on the cheeks and lavished praise on each other. During their short appearance before reporters, Mr. Trump remained formal and distant. When he avoided sharp language in front of the cameras, Mr. Macron appeared relieved and patted Mr. Trump’s leg appreciatively.

“We have become very good friends over the last couple of years,” Mr. Trump said, with none of the enthusiasm of last spring. “We have much in common in many ways — perhaps more ways than people would understand. But we are — we’re very much similar in our views.”

Mr. Macron referred to Mr. Trump as “my good friend” and said they had “worked very closely together” in countering Syria’s use of chemical weapons. “Our people are very proud to have you here,’’ he said.

A major point of contention is Mr. Trump’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran following his withdrawal from the multinational accord intended to curb the country’s nuclear program. The French want to continue doing business with Iran and resent pressure by the Americans.

The Trump administration waived the sanctions for eight countries, but France was not among them. One of Mr. Macron’s senior advisers complained about bullying by Washington earlier this week. “Europe refuses to allow the U.S. to be the trade policeman of the world,” Bruno Le Maire, the economy minister, told The Financial Times.

The two sides remain at odds over broader trade issues as well. Mr. Trump has slapped steel and aluminum tariffs on Europe and other trading partners, and has threatened tariffs on cars manufactured in Europe.

Mr. Trump said negotiations to ease the tariff war have been promising. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” he said. “We’ll see if we can get it over the line, as they say.”

Mr. Trump remains deeply unpopular in Europe, especially in France, where just 9 percent think he will do the right thing in international relations, according to the Pew Research Center. The president’s seeming indifference to European sensibilities was reinforced by a report in Le Monde, the French newspaper, that in a meeting with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania earlier this year, Mr. Trump confused the Baltic states for Balkan states and blamed them for the war in Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Mr. Macron understands the importance of maintaining the relationship, said Karen Donfried, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. But “domestically,” she said, “it may be better for him if the bromance has cooled visibly.”

Charles A. Kupchan, a former Europe adviser to Mr. Obama, said that Europe has all but given up on Mr. Trump and is focused instead on developing its own “strategic autonomy” to make it less dependent on the United States.

“Trump might be able to retain decent working relationships with populist governments in Italy, Poland, and Hungary,” he said. “But the rest of Europe is resigned to running out the clock, hoping and praying that Trump is a one-term president.”

[itswomanswork]

How the World Is Changing for Marketers Under GDPR

Editor’s Note: GDPR is a policy that currently applies to businesses within the U.K, and to businesses with customers within the U.K. It went into effect on the 25th of May.

As a Data Protection Officer, one of the most common questions I am asked by our customers and at networking events is, what are the impacts of GDPR on Marketing?

Historically, the way we have obtained consent to personal information within digital and direct marketing has often been a grey area. The Data Protection Act 1998 was predicated around the Data Protection Directive (DPD), established well over 21 years ago.  It could not have possibly predicted, or have catered for, the digital age where big data has become big business.

How has data been collected in the past?

The premise of organisations getting as much data as they can, then figuring out how to process, profile and analyse that data in order to get as much value out of it has been marketing best practice for some time.  Marketers have also invented clever ways to obtain personal information, such as trade-shows where badges are scanned and information stored. They might tempt prospects with a competition to win the latest gadget and all that is required is a business card. One often sees companies posting interesting white papers online, but requiring details to obtain a copy. These techniques have been around for years and all help marketers analyse and profile information so that they can identify you or your organisation’s interests, so that they can target you for future products and services or campaigns.

This is not to say it has been open season for marketers under the DPD. Recently, there have been a number of cases where Marketing companies have fallen foul of the legislation and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have imposed fines. For instance, one organisation in the U.K was fined £140,000 ($186,255) for sending 4.4 million spam texts. Another organisation making nuisance phone calls was fined £80,000 ($106,431).  However, fines under the DPA are not effective or dissuasive as the ICO can only fine up to £500,000 ($665,200) as a maximum. This is now all about to change under the GDPR.

What changes does the GDPR impose?

GDPR sets out six principles in the regulation. These form the rules on how data is to be treated (Article 5).  These principles ensure that the processing of data is done lawfully and fairly, is collected for explicit legitimate purposes whilst making sure the data is adequate, accurate, and retained for only as long as necessary. The data must also be processed in a manner that maintains the integrity and confidentiality of the personal data.

The Information Commissioner (ICO) is currently defining guidance for organisations on how to apply with GDPR – see the current guidance for marketers on GDPR.

What does the GDPR mean for marketers?

Where marketing is concerned, this completely changes the way we think about handling data. Direct marketers will need to demonstrate how their organisation meets the lawful conditions. If an organization cannot prove how they have obtained consent, the likelihood is that they will be fined. Marketers must align themselves with the GDPR principles.

The collection of data needs to be relevant for the purpose. This means if you run a campaign or competition, you can only use the information for that purpose. Creating another purpose to use that information will need further consent from the data subject.  This is, in some ways, bad news for marketing; a common practice has been to grow databases using these methods. In terms of marketing databases these will need to be cleansed and reviewed to ensure your organisation can identify if consent has been granted lawfully and fairly, whether it is being used for explicit and legitimate purposes, what data has been collected, and the accuracy of that information.

Consent must be given and not assumed

Consent plays a very big part in digital and direct marketing as the Data Controller and processor has to adhere to a clear set of boundaries which are demonstrated in the following text taken from the regulation

“Consent” of the data subject means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her” (the General Data Protection Regulation).

If we analyze the regulation with reference to consent there are definitely some clear guidelines that outline the dos and don’ts of gaining consent.

Dos and Dont’s of Consent

You must be able to demonstrate how the data subject has consented to the processing which means marketing must record how and who gave consent.

The data subject must be able to withdraw consent at any time (the right to object) and it shall be as easy to withdraw consent as to give it. This must be demonstrated by policy and process how to withdraw consent.

Consent should cover all processing activities carried out for the same purposes.

If processing for multiple purposes consent should be given for all of those purposes.

Consent should not be considered freely given if the data subject has no genuine or free choice.

Silent consent, pre-ticked boxes or inactivity should not constitute consent.

The rule of thumb is that consent must be given and not assumed. Already I am seeing corporations update their websites and changing the language they use to clarify the purpose of collecting the data and what it is going to be used for. Then there is a physical action such as having an opt-in box so they can record how the data subject gave consent.  In the past the purposes of using personal data would have been written in lengthy legal and corporate jargon. However, in GDPR the purpose has to be unambiguous, clear and simple. If it is not then it will not be accepted.

I have used the term “personal data” a lot within my blog. To clarify, “personal data” is name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person. If we focus on online identifiers, we can see that IP addresses, cookies, mobile IPs and even search engines will fall into scope of GDPR.

GDPR is a big shake-up in data protection

A lot of companies are terming GDPR as the biggest shake up in data protection in 20 years. The very nature of digital marketing is monitoring behavior by tracking individuals online to create profiles, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning the natural persons personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.  Territorial scope (article 3) specifically applies to the monitoring of behavior.

For a lot of Marketers there is a significant possibility that they will need to reassess all of their databases and best practices to ensure they meet with the regulation.  My advice to customers and marketers is to follow the principles outlined in GDPR and ensure you can prove how you have gained consent to the information you hold.  Have a corporate fairness processing notice in place that the data subject can review to ensure there is no doubt as to how data is processed.  These steps will help align your business to GDPR. I appreciate this is a simple statement but I assume for some organisations there is a lot of work to do.  However, the regulation has ensured its sanctions are now effective or dissuasive and failure to comply can result in fines of 20 million euros or 4% of your global turnover whichever is higher.

The deadline for compliance with GDPR is the 25 May 2018.  Marketing is only one area of your business that needs aligned to the regulation. The extent of work required to develop policy and process as well as to ensure you have the right I.T infrastructure in place to protect data flows throughout your organisation needs careful consideration.  My advice is to start the process as soon as possible to avoid being caught out.

Chris Soames is a blogger and consultant for Smart Insights, where a version of this article first appeared. He has worked in digital marketing for over 6 years with the last few years managing international web strategies for a leading travel brand.

The post How the World Is Changing for Marketers Under GDPR appeared first on Online Marketing Institute.

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[corneliussteinbeck]

GGS Spotlight: Tina Tang

Name:  Tina Tang Age: 46 Location: Jersey City, NJ

What does being a Girl Gone Strong mean to you? When I think of Girls Gone Strong, I imagine a world of women flying in capes, saving lives with their strength, and embracing the strength of other women. It represents rebellion and support. Girls Gone Strong means permission granted to be as we wish, and not as we are expected to be.

How long have you been strength training, and how did you get started? As Louis CK said, “Divorce has been the best part of my life.. Divorce led me to strength training! (Love Tina’s shirt? She made it!)

As I was going through a bitter divorce, my jewelry stores were taking a hit from the 2008 financial crisis. I needed to find other ways to make a living. Inspired by my love of fitness and questions I had for myself in the gym, I took a course on personal training. From there, I started as a trainer at Equinox where I still felt insecure about my knowledge of strength training. Lifting heavy things was new to me.

Unlike many men who have been lifting since they were teens, I was 42 and just learning.

I wanted to learn how to lift barbells and teach that to my clients. I hired one of my colleagues to train me in powerlifting. Since 2013, barbells have been an essential part of my week.

What does your typical workout look like? For my starter lifting years, I stuck to Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength program. Right now, I am sympatico with all of Jill Coleman’s programs. Jill’s programs are condensed and intense. My current workouts follow her most recent Fast Physique program.

Favorite Lift: Like so many in the GGS community, the deadlift is my favorite! Picking up heavy sh*t makes a gal feel like a badass queen.

Most memorable PR: Eight months of training to pass the StrongFirst instructor test. When I started as a personal trainer, my first certification was with StrongFirst. I had never swung a kettlebell, let alone snatched one before that preparation. Training three times a week for eight months was the first time in my life that I had devoted myself to training for a physical exam.

Top 5 songs on your training playlist: I don’t have top songs, I have top genres; ACDC radio and 80’s Rap. A child of “tiger” parents, I played classical piano and was ignorant of most pop and rock music. I only discovered ACDC in college! Strangely, rap was a huge part of suburban teen life in the 80’s. That’s why it’s ACDC and 80’s rap radio when I lift!

Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag: Wireless earphones, my laminated program for the day, my old-school paper weekly planner – I never go anywhere without it. It’s my security blanket.

Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why? Alone, but near people. I’m a loner who likes people.

Most embarrassing gym moment: Running on the treadmill, tripping and falling off onto my ass. Oh, how it must have been hard for those around not to laugh.

Most memorable compliment you’ve received lately: “What are you doing? Your arms look great!” (Thank you, Jill Coleman!)

Most recent compliment you gave someone else: “I love you and appreciate you. I always notice that you try to show me you care and make me feel loved.”

Favorite meal: Braised short ribs. Followed by an extra large chunky cookie that has nuts and chips. It is easier to find good short ribs than it is to find a good homemade chunky cookie!

Favorite way to treat yourself: Brazilian wax. I was full bush until I got divorced. I didn’t even know people shaved or waxed their pubic hair until I hit the dating world. I was in a time bubble for 10 years of marriage. A Brazilian wax makes me feel like I did something secret and special for myself.

Favorite quote: “There are no short cuts; its reps, reps, reps.” – Arnold Schwarzenneger

Favorite book: Clementine Churchill: The Biography of a Marriage by Mary Soames. Little do people know that she was Churchill’s rock. Without her, he would not have been the fearless leader we know. She was his closest political confidant and often massaged relationships with diplomats on his behalf. He had a reputation for being brusque. Clementine is the untold foundation of the Churchill political legacy.

What inspires and motivates you? People who inspire me: Girls Gone Strong (Molly), Neghar Fonooni, Jen Sinkler, Jill Coleman.

In each woman’s unique writing style and perspective, I am reminded and encouraged to be a better woman and coach. They each remind me how to love myself.

What do you do? I find happiness in my mission to empower and celebrate strong women! I manifest my mission in my dual careers as a jewelry designer and personal trainer. I founded IronStrongJewelry.com and Iron Strong Fitness to pursue this heartfelt mission.

After hours… after 10 years as a child being forced to play piano by my loving tiger mom, I am back at piano! I recently purchased a keyboard and have started playing again. The last time I touched keys was at age 16. It took me 30 years to get back to the piano. Mom does know best. I am grateful to have the skills to read music and understand how to play. God, I hated practicing as a kid. Now that childhood practice has brought joy later in life!

Describe a typical day in your life:

Early morning: Train 1-3 clients Mid morning: Work out myself. I love a mid-morning lift session! Midday – Afternoon: Go home or to the jewelry district to work on my jewelry business Early evening: Train 1-2 clients

Your next training goal: I have yet to devote myself to my new training goal. I want to take dance classes! Strength training makes me harness tension and feel strong. I want to start dancing again to move differently. I need a kick in the ass to get started.

For what are you most grateful?

Having a best friend to whom I can text a vagina picture to ask, “is this a pimple or herpes?”

Having two loving parents who sacrificed much so that I could have a life to follow my passions.

Having the chance to restart my life again and again.

Of what life accomplishment do you feel most proud?

Having had three of my own jewelry stores in NYC for 10 years.

Winning second place in the Rising Tide Capital business pitch contest

Which three words best describe you? Animated, introverted, and straight-laced.

Tell us about a time when you overcame fear or self-doubt. I was not excited to win $10,000. Last summer, I was hesitant — actually, resistant — to entering a small business pitch contest. For the winners, first place $10,000, second place $7,500 and third $5,000.

I told myself that I was too busy focusing on my business to enter a contest where I would have to spend time getting people to vote for me for the two levels of the competition. This would be a waste of my time, I told myself.

My business coach asked me to answer three questions. I had to answer with “Excited or Not excited.”

Are you excited about winning $10,000. Answer: Not excited.

How do you feel about telling your friends and family about your business? Not excited.

How do you feel about promoting yourself? Not excited.

My answers illuminated to me, that I was simply scared!

I realized what I thought was a practical answer of “I don’t have time,” was actually a mask for fear.

I knew that I had to enter if it was only fear that made me resist.

So I did — and won second place!

What’s the coolest “side effect” you’ve experienced from strength training? Being able to say, “I got this. No need for you to help me carry that box.”

How has lifting weights changed your life? Today, while I was lifting, I looked at my arm muscles in the mirror. How can I ever go back to being weak and “scrawny?” Lifting makes me feel like a strong, capable woman. I do like my muscles.

What do you want to say to other women who might be nervous or hesitant about strength training? Do you want to be able to open your own jar tops? Isn’t it amazing to put your own suitcase in the overhead bin? Do you like thinking, “Gee, I am a strong woman!” All of that, and the awesome feelings of badassery come as a result of strength training.

Connect with Tina on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube!

The post GGS Spotlight: Tina Tang appeared first on Girls Gone Strong.

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[gyrlversion]

Veteran ex-Labour MP will fight the next election as an Independent

Frank Field, 76, will — after much agonising — run as an Independent in the next election

He is one of the Commons’ most venerable and venerated figures, and today I can reveal that Frank Field will — after much agonising — run as an Independent in the next election.

Field, 76, who is acknowledged on both sides of the House as a fair-minded and dogged campaigner on social issues such as low pay, tells me: ‘I have decided to fight the seat at the next election against the Labour candidate. I’m sorry it’s come to this.’

Left-wing agitators in his Birkenhead constituency last year passed a vote of no confidence in him for siding with the Government in key Brexit votes. After he resigned the whip, Labour’s National Executive Committee rescinded his party membership.

It was shabby treatment for a man who had served as an MP with distinction for nearly 40 years — from long before many of his Corbynista critics were born. Meanwhile, attempts to find his replacement have descended into farce. A recent meeting at Birkenhead Town Hall to select a candidate had to be abandoned after a council employee forgot the keys.

An alternative venue was swiftly arranged — but on arrival the organisers realised that the ‘mission statements’ from their aspiring candidates were still locked in the town hall.

Field, who commands a majority of 26,000, says: ‘It seems chaos isn’t confined to Brexit.’

 At least one Tory MP can testify to the positive benefits of Brexit. Huw Merriman, Chancellor Philip Hammond’s parliamentary bag carrier, says the stress has seen his weight plummet. ‘I’ve gone from over a 34in to almost under 30in waist now,’ he says smugly. Who knew haranguing from the backbenches could burn so many calories?

When Sir Nicholas Soames speaks, the nation should listen

Is Soames going on a Tiger Roll? 

When Sir Nicholas Soames speaks, the nation should listen — just as we did to his grandfather Sir Winston Churchill. 

Last week, Sir Nicholas shared his tip for the Grand National with fellow MPs. ‘In the spirit of bringing the whole House together, I thought it would be helpful if I let the House know that the [race] will be won by a horse called Tiger Roll,’ he predicted — accurately. 

Has he got a date for our departure from the EU? 

Asked how he switches off from Brexit, the Lib Dem Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael says: ‘I have a bottle of Highland Park that should help to numb the pain [but] I fear that one bottle may not be enough . . .’ 

What to make of Green Party co-leader Sian Berry getting a mention on the BBC’s Pointless gameshow last week? 

Asked to ‘name famous Berrys’ and shown a picture of Ms Berry, not a single contestant had a clue to who she might be. One might ask the Greens, what then is the point of her?

When New Labour’s spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, interviewed Countdown presenter Rachel Riley for GQ magazine, he asked her to make the longest word she could with the letters ‘Jeremy Corbyn’. 

Riley, targeted by Corbynistas after she criticised Labour anti-Semitism, said: ceremony and cremorne. 

When Campbell pointed out ‘cremorne’ is 19th-century slang for the male appendage, Riley replied: ‘Perfect.’ 

Overheard in a Commons bar: ‘For the first time, we’ll probably see the end of May before the end of April.’

Top Tory boosts his war chest 

When, in 2014, long-standing Tory donor Lubov Chernukhin, whose husband was once Vladimir Putin’s deputy finance minister, paid £160,000 at a fundraising auction just to play tennis with Boris Johnson, questions were raised over the Kremlin’s links to the Conservative Party.

So I bring news that, with a possible early election on the cards, Chernukhin has now donated £9,500 to the war chest of Tory chairman Brandon Lewis.

He needs the cash. Insurance tycoon Arron Banks, the founder of Leave.EU, is standing against Lewis at the next election. He’s targeting Lewis because the latter supported Remain while his Great Yarmouth constituents voted by 71.5 per cent to Leave.

The post Veteran ex-Labour MP will fight the next election as an Independent appeared first on Gyrlversion.

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