Lynn Petrak is senior editor at Progressive Grocer and a veteran of the food retailing industry with nearly 30 years of experience Lynn is well-versed in all aspects of the industry and has also contributed to brands including Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Retailer and Store Brands Lynn held key communications roles with dairy and beef trade associations She has also taught journalism classes and earned a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University in 1991 Follow Lynn on LinkedIn.  After earning an undergraduate degree from Yale and an MBA from Harvard the younger Krasne returned to the family business and built it from a local wholesaler and distributor to a fully-integrated grocery supplier He unveiled the C-Town and Bravo banners and launched the retail marketing side of the organization that provides a host of services to independent grocers the company supplies more than 7,000 products to retailers and offers a range of private label products [RELATED: Onetime Stop & Shop President Dies] Krasne is credited with leading Krasdale to become the largest voluntary supermarket group in the New York metro market through the C-Town as well as thousands of bodegas and specialty stores He expanded the company’s footprint to include the Northeast and Florida Community outreach was important to this legacy grocery professional Krasne developed partnerships with organizations such as the Yankees Foundation and DreamYard to support residents in underserved areas.  “Many leaders take a family business and grow it into a broader company but my father achieved this by investing in the company’s most powerful asset: people,” said Thatcher Krasne Charles Krasne’s son and a member of the Krasdale Foods’ board of directors My dad took personal pride in the fact that he brought to life the entrepreneurial dreams of so many people most of which were first-generation Americans in communities that were ignored or second-guessed by other grocery brands He instilled in all of us that that our role was to help transform the neighborhoods in which we operated." President and COO Gus Lebiak and others on the leadership team will carry on Krasdale operations.  “We were fortunate that my father also had the vision to ensure that the management and governance of Krasdale Foods did not sit on his shoulders alone My family and our board have worked collaboratively to support Gus and the executive team in carrying out the company’s strategic plan and vision fueled by my father’s spirit,” remarked Thatcher Krasne Charles Krasne is survived by three other children « Back only the second CEO in the company’s history Charles A Krasne, Krasdale Foods’ CEO of over 50 years, died on Friday, the company said in a press release on Monday Krasne, whose father founded the company, was the second CEO in the grocery distributor’s 117-year history. Along with its distribution business, Krasdale Foods also runs several banners including CTown, Aim and Bravo. For the last several years, a team of executives led by President and Chief Operating Officer Gus Lebiak has managed the company’s strategy and day-to-day leadership and will continue to do so going forward, a company spokesperson wrote in an email.  During his time at the company, Krasne “transformed Krasdale Foods from a local wholesaler and distributor into a fully integrated grocery servicer and supplier,” the announcement said. He expanded the company’s footprint beyond New York City to the Northeast and Florida and also formed the company’s retail arm to offer advertising, marketing, merchandising and business services support to independents. Krasne was born in 1930, attended Yale and earned his master’s degree from Harvard. He worked briefly with his father at Krasdale Foods before heading to IBM. In the 1960s, Krasne returned to the grocery distributor and set up an operational data processing and inventory management system that improved inventory turnover while maintaining a 97% fill rate, the announcement noted. When large supermarket chains started to leave New York in the late 1970s, Krasne saw a chance to help the small bodegas and grocers by providing merchandising, marketing and business support in addition to wholesaling and distribution, the press release noted. To give back to the communities where Krasdale operates, Krasne hosted local events and partnered with organizations such as the Yankees Foundation, Food Bank for New York City and DreamYard to support underserved communities, according to the announcement. Krasne also mentored people in the industry. Krasne’s survivors include his companion, his sister, four children and seven grandchildren.  Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The city council approved the ordinance, which is reportedly the first in the country, to give consumers equal access to supermarket savings. One expert described the grocer as “ruddlerless,” noting that its core grocery business has suffered as the company has pursued alternative profits and pricey e-commerce investments. Subscribe to Grocery Dive for top news, trends & analysis The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines direct contact with a film’s director is rare; usually they’re brought in by a stunt coördinator For “Nightbitch,” the new movie in which a depressive mother escapes her ennui by nocturnally transforming into a red husky A movie in which Amy Adams becomes a dog has to nail the part where Amy Adams becomes a dog “Marielle wanted me to do this stuff”—Krasne mimed a dog pawing its ear—“and make noises.” She got the job “It was my favorite hiring process,” she said spending a morning at the Bull Moose Dog Run beside the American Museum of Natural History before leaving to study at the National Institute of Circus Arts Quadrupedal movement has become one of Krasne’s specialties: she’s played canines A “crab-alien thing” she portrayed in motion capture as part of a sci-fi project “You always have one shoulder leading”—she stood and hunched to demonstrate—“and pretend like there’s a string here,” from the non-lead arm to the opposite back foot which was my biggest mistake for the first year.” A Yorkie-bichon in a coral cardigan trotted over and sniffed Krasne’s boots “I like your sweater!” She explained that she had stumbled into the world of quadrupedality after a chance meeting with the brother of Terry Notary a stuntman and movement coach who has worked on the rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise not-quite-knuckling—the participants use handheld arm extensions—breathlessly across dunes Dogs are more straightforward: back foot on one side Human impersonators struggle more with the psychophysiology “The difference between us and dogs is they are one hundred per cent in the moment,” she said and pointed at a sandy Malinois mix pressing its front paws against a tree trunk “That dog is not worrying about anything other than what’s in front of them,” Krasne said “That’s something I try to remember and take with me everywhere.” A scruffy terrier presented itself for petting A middle-aged woman in a fleece approached and asked Krasne which dog was hers Krasne’s biggest “Nightbitch” scene was not as Adams’s character but as another human woman—minor spoiler alert—who is shown dropping to all fours and bounding into a field “They were looking out for rattlesnakes and I was I’m not wearing shoes or gloves,’ ” Krasne said of the shoot “But they took care of me.” She filmed around seven takes—snake-free “Part of the job is to get scratched up and bleed a little bit,” she said In preparing for the film’s pivotal transition sequence who worked on the Oscar-winning movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” focussed on honing the shoulder movements “really wanted me to figure out this very specific intricate movement of whether it was one at a time or both in which direction Krasne did a run-through for camera blocking Adams gave it a go herself—and proved a natural “She had her own little flair to it,” Krasne said “I was basically like a crash-test dummy,” Krasne said of her “Nightbitch” experience pulled off most of the action takes herself But Krasne did man the prosthetic paws shown digging in the transition scene when Adams’s character slips and pratfalls across kitchen tiles A long-ago crime, suddenly remembered A limousine driver watches her passengers transform The day Muhammad Ali punched me What is it like to be keenly intelligent but deeply alienated from simple emotions? Temple Grandin knows The harsh realm of “gentle parenting.”  Retirement the Margaritaville way Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Thank You for the Light.”  Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker. This year the Susan and Gerald Eckert Philanthropic Service Endowment Award went to Dr The annual presentation of the Susan and Gerald Eckert Philanthropic Service Endowment Award was held on Oct The endowment award is selected based on exemplary service and philanthropy in advancing the mission of public higher education Innovative ideas or practices assisting public higher education are considered part of the selection criteria “Our objectives were to appropriately recognize the impact of those giving of their time and treasure that improves the human condition and our community,” says Gerald Eckert the Lombardos will choose a University program to receive the annual spendable income from the endowment The Lombardos join the small group of previous recipients who have achieved this award The Lombardos are members of MU’s Fiat Lux Society a giving society at Millersville University that recognizes generous donors who have contributed to the institution Each member of the society gained their status by pledging $1 million or more to the University The Lombardos have played a significant role in some of the University’s facilities including the zero-energy Lombardo Welcome Center and for helping fund the upcoming transformation of Brooks Hall into the Lombardo College of Business former CEO and chairman emeritus of The Benecon Group founder of ConnectCare3 and is the owner of Lombardo’s Restaurant his Italian American family restaurant in Lancaster 2023 – Karen Ashkar Murley ‘63 2022 – Lois Todd Morgan ‘54, M. Diane Koken ‘72, ‘08LHD, John K. Herr III 2019 – Robert M. Krasne, Hale A. Krasne 2017 – James D. Hagelgans, Esq., Gale Zorian-Hagelgans 2016 – Rick Rodgers, Jessica L. Rodgers More about the Lombardos and the Fiat Lux Society can be found here. You must be logged in to post a comment PA 17551-0302© 2022 Millerville University father of four sons and grandfather of four beautiful grandchildren passed away at age 69 due to unexpected heart complications prior to beginning cancer treatment He graduated from Marshfield High School in 1971 He worked for Wick Building Systems for thirty-three years before joining the team at Wheelers of Marshfield for thirteen years Joe was also proud of his nine years of service as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the community of Marshfield Joe’s love of the Green Bay Packers was legendary He enjoyed attending many games with his sons Joe also loved spending time at his cabin on Butternut Lake and was an avid deer hunter He was a devoted hockey dad when his boys were younger Joe also had a passion for music and playing his guitar Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Laura (Loiselle) Krasne and Sue (Ardy) Weiland; and many other cherished family and friends 1010 East Veterans Parkway in Marshfield at 12:00 p.m Pastor Heather Brown of Faith Lutheran Church will officiate Visitation with the family will be held from 10 a.m Online condolences may be made at www.hansenschillingfuneralhome.com Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Ellie Krasne-Cohen is the founder of Krasne Strategies a boutique policy consultancy specializing in research and strategy religion (particularly Judaism and antisemitism) She started her career in tech, and since moving to policy created programming strategies for influential conservative institutions She is a Senior Fellow with Parents Defending Education Action a 2023 American Enterprise Institute Civic Renewal Fellow a Common Sense Caledonia Fellowship alumnus and a member of the National Association of Scholars She regularly writes for outlets including The Washington Examiner She holds an MA from The University of Chicago and a BA from The University of Kansas She grew up on an organic farm in Iowa and now lives in Paris ©2025 Independent Women's Forum is an educational 501(c)(3) dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren't just well intended IWF is the sister organization of Independent Women's Voice The similarities between baking a cake and remodeling a home might be slim in the minds of most. But to renowned pastry chef and owner of Extraordinary Desserts Karen Krasne paying attention to detail when decorating anything—be it a gorgeous wedding cake or her 2,200-square-foot house in Mission Hills—is the recipe for a tasteful design Krasne began remodeling her 1970s craftsman into the dynamic, contemporary space it is today with the help of local architect Aaron Anderson nearly 15 years ago suspended steel-and-glass opening at the entrance of the Krasne residence Past the gate, guests step into the front courtyard that serves as an outdoor dining room. Beneath a custom steel canopy filtering sunlight into the space—an effect inspired by the oak trees of San Diego County—sits a grand stainless-steel communal table topped with zebra quartzite stone. Along the north wall, a smoky gray mirror magnifies the space The intimate courtyard brings the outdoors in, while the architecture and design of the house spill outwards “Both Karen and I grew up in San Diego so the house is heavily influenced by that sort of outdoor living,” Anderson says “But the interesting thing about Karen is her travels is heavily influenced by her international travel so we also brought all that influence into the house but it has all kinds of international flourishes.” The south wall of the courtyard is a striking cement fiberboard privacy screen that’s been pierced with an intricate design she brought these Moroccan lanterns she bought on a trip to Marrakech into my office and she said she wanted the front part of the house to be about these,” Anderson remembers and we just thought about unrolling them and cutting out the design onto a piece of slim fiberboard this side glows just like a lantern does.” international influences don’t stop in the courtyard Krasne’s love of traveling is reflected in every room A hand-carved wooden Moroccan cabinet has been repurposed into a bathroom door Ornate candle holders from Bali adorn the master bathroom countertop And in the living room—which expands into a second bamboo-flanked courtyard through massive stacking glass doors—a feature wall was inspired by traditional azulejos tile Krasne once saw in Spain so I think one thing we all did well was elevating it without overtaking it.” where Krasne spends most of her time while she’s at home A large island topped with a Japanese-inspired lithograph on natural quartz sits in the middle of the sunlit room nearly always covered in a food spread for Krasne’s family and friends built-in cabinetry is coated with a self-healing gray Fenix laminate “Those,” Kranse says, gesturing to ornate, art-deco chandeliers hanging over the kitchen table, “are from an old opera house in Austria. I had them sprayed silver to match the sconces, which all came from the same opera house. I also wanted to bring in French Champagne buckets—I really wanted the space to be about us drinking wine and entertaining.” The Champagne buckets line a shelf hung above built-in lounge seating Next to the lounge is an in-wall desk with a stack of her favorite cookbooks on display Krasne researches and experiments with new recipes but I can’t think straight there,” Krasne says you hear the tamping of the espresso machine and the phones ringing.” It’s here creative space (and in her personal gym downstairs) As we exit Krasne’s kitchen and step back out into the front courtyard she jokes with Anderson that she recently came up with a landscaping idea for the front entrance while on a trip to Puerto Vallarta with her husband there’s actually a good chance that it’ll happen,” Anderson laughs “Karen knows more about construction and putting a house together than any other client I’ve ever worked with We actually get to a detailed level of thought and design By clicking subscribe you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] By clicking Subscribe you’re confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] © Copyright 2023 San Diego Magazine 1230 Columbia Street His focus is on covering news and politics in Texas as well as other general news across the United States James joined Newsweek in July 2022 from LBC and previously worked for the Daily Express You can get in touch with James by emailing j.bickerton@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Russian troops made "tactically significant gains" when they launched an offensive targeting Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast on Friday according to the Institute for the Study of War the ISW said: "Russian forces began an offensive operation along the Russian-Ukrainian border in northern Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of May 10 and made tactically significant gains." "Russian forces are likely conducting the initial phase of an offensive operation north of Kharkiv City that has limited operational objectives but is meant to achieve the strategic effect of drawing Ukrainian manpower and material from other critical sectors of the front in eastern Ukraine." The ISW map showed Russian troops making two thrusts into Kharkiv Oblast "one north of Kharkiv City in the direction of Lyptsi and one northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk." According to the ISW, Russian military sources also claimed to have seized the settlements of Zelene but this has not been independently verified The think tank wrote: "ISW assesses that Russian forces have advanced in the direction of Vovchansk but has not observed enough evidence to assess an approximate frontline trace in the immediate area Ukrainian sources reported that fighting continued near Krasne the Russian Ministry of Defense said it had "liberated" the settlements of Borisovka Pylnaya and Strelechya on Friday in the Kharkiv region Russia claimed Ukraine suffered 300 casualties though this has not been independently verified Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian ministries of defense for comment by email The ISW argued the new Russian operation aimed to push Ukrainian forces away from the border and to bring Kharkiv within artillery range It said: "Russian forces will likely leverage their tactical foothold in northern Kharkiv Oblast in the coming days to intensify offensive operations and pursue the initial phase of an offensive effort likely intended to push back Ukrainian forces from the border with Belgorod Oblast and advance to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian forces have started 'a new wave of offensive actions' in the Kharkiv direction and Ukrainian officials have been warning about a Russian offensive effort in the direction of Kharkiv City in recent months." In March, troops from a number of anti-Putin Russian paramilitary groups fighting on the side of Ukraine carried out a series of cross-border raids into Russia's Belgorod Oblast in an embarrassment for the Kremlin Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women's Forum She has a master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School InternationalCommentary An oft-repeated phrase among those favoring taxpayer-funded health care, day care, and pensions is that such programs are “free.” However, I recently moved to France,… Read More Woke capitalism has gained popularity in the past several years. Unlike traditional free-market capitalism that says companies exist to create shareholder value, woke capitalism posits… Read More SocietyCommentary Critical race theory is a popular left-wing ideology that purports to explain the societal inequalities that prevent racial and ethnic minority groups from achieving social… Read More Most American Jews celebrate Hanukkah, at least with a family dinner or the lighting of a menorah, and in America, most non-Jews have heard of… Read More The year 1985 was, for many, an unremarkable year, except perhaps for President Ronald Reagan being sworn in to his second term, and U2’s outstanding… Read More I recently revived my Instagram account in an attempt to kill time during the COVID-19 lockdown. Until three weeks ago, my Instagram feed was filled… Read More Margo T Krasne had been invited by a friend to see the new Elaine May and Mike Nichols Broadway show Nichols seemed to notice their raucous laughs during the performance and at the curtain motioned them to come backstage they were pinching themselves as they sat at a table at Sardi’s with the famed director Then what happened defies logic – and explanation. As Krasne describes it in her memoir, I Was There All Along (Simply Good Press): “Then You’re nothing but some rich Jewish kid who thinks she can make it in the theater Bet you can’t act at all.’ Nichols kept going at me until his venom was used up.” Could this all be from a simple decision to wear a mink coat to the performance Anecdotes like these make I Was There All Along so heartfelt and so fun at the same time These moments would tear the guts out of anyone But how many people can so deftly put them into the words force themselves to relive the experiences and make them seem as much entertaining as downcast Krasne even makes her lifelong obsession with therapy a reader’s pleasure from her drag-out quest to find the perfect therapist to the back-and-forth dialogue in the sessions themselves Her goal is to understand why she constantly finds herself: struggling to settle on a career in the arts and doing all she can to merely to survive the last 50 years navigating life in New York The night before the wedding of a high school friend Janey she sits on her bed making a list of all the men she has slept with This is a Sex in the City moment that could depress but works to amuse This particular listicle reaches 27 over a period of six years What steals the scene is when she gets a call for Janey and coerces the soon-to-be bride to make her own count Janey’s number also hits 27…until Krasne reminds her of one she has forgotten “But that was a one-night stand,” insists Janey “And what the hell do you think most of mine were?” the author slams back Krasne begins her story in the fall of 1986 with a great opening diatribe:  “I was turning 49 I’d graduated from one of the best professional schools in the city—if not country I’d run a department at a major advertising agency Two of my sculptures were in a museum for Christ’s sake And there I was—curled up in a chair staring out my window contemplating a leap.” her cat has died and she sees herself as “a sculptor who no longer sculpts,” Krasne begins the process of finding a therapist She has a strict set of requirements (for which she has another list) Although she can try out several (one day she actually books sessions with two different ones) and switch any time the search is reminiscent of visiting prospective colleges with high school upperclassmen Readers learn about Krasne initially through the dialogue at her therapy appointments She’ll discuss strained relationships with family members her friends who come into and out of favor paint and perhaps live the Marjorie Morningstar life described in Herman Wouk’s classic novel and is the subject of much exchange and reflection throughout the memoir Krasne frequently punctuates Susanne’s comments with exclamation points a different tone and persona from the calm often associated with the profession Krasne will come into contact with personalities such as Martha Graham to name a few – all in totally different contexts but the author manages to draw in three locations – Riverdale MA; and Syracuse University – that all have special meaning in my own life Krasne describes her first interaction with therapists while she is still living with her parents “The thought of having someone’s ear who would listen maybe even convince my parents I wasn’t nuts “I need to pay $25 for her to go complain about us?” she regains her desire and drive to sculpt ‘if the clay was a means of artistic self-expression or if I couldn’t get arrested as an actress.” Krasne’s career takes a turn when she builds a successful practice as a communications consultant In the process of being interviewed for an apartment she freezes when asked a simple question by the co-op board – to the point where the head of the board asks “You’re a communications coach and you can’t answer a question?” You get the idea. Margo Krasne certainly has had her ups and downs. And she has a very intellectual yet playful way of writing about them. She has turned serious life issues into a therapeutic and envious romp through the city that never sleeps. Follow her world and life in this fascinating memoir, I Was There All Along Read our interview with Margo to learn more about the book, and visit her Author Profile page Jim Alkon is Editorial Director of BookTrib.com Jim is a veteran of the business-to-business media and marketing worlds with extensive experience in business development and content Jim is a writer at heart – whether a book review it really doesn’t matter as long as he is having fun and someone is benefitting from it all the more compelling for the truthfulness of the telling and the passion that informs it I am fortunate to have actually met (and dined) with Margo You must be logged in to post a comment © 2025 BookTrib.. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Accessibility StatementThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Enter your information to download the chapter now The Fourth Annual Susan and Gerald Eckert Service and Philanthropy Award Recognition ceremony held earlier this month in the Eckert Art Gallery on campus The couple’s names were added to the award plaque at the entrance of the gallery during the ceremony The award was established in 2015 and recipients are selected based on exemplary service and philanthropy in advancing the mission of public higher education Innovative ideas or practices assisting public higher education may also be taken into consideration in the selection process The annual spendable income from the endowment is directed to a University program in honor of and as directed by the award recipient Hale Krasne is a retired lawyer living in Lancaster Pennsylvania and serves on the Boards of Steinman Communications and The Steinman Foundation She also serves on the Boards of Franklin & Marshall College and the Lancaster County Community Foundation and is a member of the BB&T Economic Growth Fund Committee She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California Berkeley and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center Hale previously worked as an attorney at McKenna Conner & Cuneo in Washington D.C and has served on the Boards of LancasterHistory and the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster is Chairman and Publisher of LNP Media Group and the Chairman and CEO of its parent company an innovative multi-channel communications company Bob serves as co-chair of The Steinman Foundation a local private philanthropic organization established by the former publishers and owners of Lancaster Newspapers that has given more than $90 million to groups seeking to improve the quality of life in Lancaster County Bob is a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center Treasury Department at the Comptroller for the Currency and the U.S Justice Department as a Special Assistant United States Attorney Bob also taught at McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and founded the strategic business and corporate governance consulting firm The Krasnes have supported many local non-profits including; Millersville University The Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and LancasterHistory Bob founded and serves as Chairman of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance The awards plaque is located to the left of the entrance to the Susan and Gerald Eckert Art Gallery and will be updated annually with future award recipients You must be logged in to post a comment Ellie Krasne-Cohen joins She Thinks podcast to talk about this month’s policy focus: Remote Work We consider the COVID-19 pandemic which brought about many poorly conceived top-down government policies but it also brought about at least one clear positive—remote work We discuss the benefits as well as the drawbacks and what state governments and the federal government can do to help remote workers and independent contractors.  Ellie Krasne-Cohen is a visiting fellow at Independent Women’s Forum. She is the founder of Krasne Strategies Health CareNews PoliticsAnalysis PoliticsNews  SecurityNews  InternationalNews  SocietyCommentary  EducationCommentary   SecurityAnalysis  EconomyCommentary  InternationalCommentary  PoliticsNews  LawNews  LawCommentary  International News International News International Commentary Education Analysis  SecurityAnalysis  PoliticsAnalysis  Economy Commentary French President Emmanuel Macron laughs it up with President Joe Biden during the Group of Seven Summit on Saturday in Hiroshima costly social welfare state that Biden and his fellow Democrats would replicate and impose here if they could (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/WPA Pool/Getty Images) An oft-repeated phrase among those favoring taxpayer-funded health care, day care, and pensions is that such programs are “free.” However and paying my social charges and taxes proves these services are anything but but I was unprepared for the limitations that France’s system places on individual choice.  France’s “free” social programs cost more than higher taxes There’s a non-financial cost when it comes to access and control Health care and child care are extremely personal choices and Americans may not realize the degree to which Europeans sacrifice control to government bureaucrats Let’s begin with the financial cost of France’s “free” health care These programs are funded by France’s “social charges” taken from everyone’s paychecks Keep in mind that the French pay taxes in addition to social charges I pay roughly 1,300 euros (nearly $1,500) per month in mandatory social charges (which does not include my husband’s social charges) France’s taxpayer-funded health care system indeed covers wellness checkups and serious medical issues like chronic illness almost in full One may not receive a large bill after these services but calling it “free” ignores the facts and insults the millions of French residents paying social charges France’s social charges also fund day care or “creche,” and each neighborhood has a day care center and few enriching children’s activities your child is not guaranteed a spot in the day care for which you pay social charges as day care spots are largely income-based.  your child may not get into the day care center because low-income families get priority you must find another day care center or pay out of pocket for child care the government takes 20% or more of your monthly paycheck and then determines if you are worthy of receiving the services it forces you to pay for.  It bears mentioning that some wealthy neighborhoods pay a fine instead of creating social housing thereby reducing the number of needy families in their communities and allowing their children to go to the best day care centers The closest comparison in America is the wealthy who oppose school choice while sending their own children to expensive private schools There are better ways to give families access to child care than government-mandated programs that create financial and social burdens that brings us to France’s pension system each with different retirement ages and requirements and freelancers pay into their respective categories the investment scam that landed Bernard Madoff in prison.  Government officials determine when and how much money you receive upon retirement Imagine paying into a system your entire life only to have French President Emmanuel Macron issue the French equivalent of an executive order and delay your retirement age—which happened recently with France’s pension reforms why don’t the French invest in private retirement accounts but with half your income and double your taxes; that’s France Americans also idealize European labor protections Most French workers are entitled to generous benefits France seeks to achieve that through government-mandated worker benefits and strict government control that negatively impacts the most vulnerable and creates a thriving black market France’s onerous labor laws and employment taxes push workers into “off the books” employment and consumers tend to gravitate toward cheap labor That’s especially common in industries where people pay other people directly Imagine Marianne, a housekeeper. If Marianne does so as a “full employee,” the family employing her pays 28-40 euros ($30-$43) per hour, of which she keeps roughly 12-15 euros. ($13-$16). If Marianne is “off the books,” however she charges what she wants and keeps every cent it’s difficult to know exactly how many workers are paid off the books in any country the higher the tax and regulatory burdens of employment the greater the incentive to evade them.  especially those who are vulnerable or economically disadvantaged ought keep as much of their paychecks as possible But France’s bloated government is more interested in protecting people from themselves and limits flexibility and freedom for those who need it most There’s no simple answer to providing the best services to the greatest number of people But France shows that government one-size-fits-all policies are not the answer From across the Atlantic, I see America moving toward a European model, in which services are government-controlled. But for America to live up to its promise of being conceived in liberty we must put responsibility in the hands of individuals and families The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation Have an opinion about this article? To sound off, please email [email protected] and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state “Showing students the importance of always acting with integrity and honesty and reminding them that the honor code exists Sophomore Seth Krasne believes the key to academic success is integrity a lesson he learned firsthand as a high school student in El Paso The superintendent of his school district was the first in history to be indicted for fraud Fast forward to 2017: Krasne is working to ensure the university continues to focus on academic integrity through his role as the co-chair of the Academic Integrity Committee Major: Public Health and Health & Society “Just doing your job well really does impact people Do your part and be on top of your stuff—it matters.” When the Alcalde caught up with Amber Magee she is passionate about the law and hopes to attend law school this fall She also helped freshmen feel better prepared for college as an orientation advisor and worked in admissions in the College of Natural Sciences we help students deal with failure and rejection like a bad grade or not getting into an organization but you have to learn to practice self-care—resilience is a muscle and takes work.” Junior Mayra Sharma’s fascination with the human brain led her to a major in neuroscience with an emphasis on emotional intelligence Her particular focus: the neurons behind emotions and how it relays to building relationships Sharma helps other students learn about their emotions through the Counseling and Mental Health Center’s peer educators’ series of student-led workshops that focus on mental health topics we go to the band hall in our uniforms and sing the ‘The Eyes of Texas.’ It is so cool that there are 400 people on this campus who come together to do the same thing each week.” senior Garrett Maples couldn’t wait to become part of the “Show Band of the Southwest” ever since he joined band in fifth grade Maples also gives back through his efforts with Texas Blazers He helped raise nearly $15,000 for a disc golf tournament called Frisbee Fling that awards scholarships to future Longhorns who graduate from East Austin high schools and was one of six sophomores let in; I guess Texas was just trying to tell me I have a place at this university.” junior Sofia Aranha hopes to find a way to combine her passion for dance with her desire to serve her community after graduation Aranha is a member of the Texas Orange Jackets an experience she called her most transformative during college She helped raise money for students who could not afford campus dining by working with Student Emergency Services Aranha is also the chair of the Week of Women conference which will be held this spring “It was important to me to create a legacy for black students on campus You can do something that changes the school for the better.” Senior Jade Jackson has committed her time on campus to creating a bigger network for black women in sciences and engineering through her role as president of the UT chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and director of operations for the UT branch of Black Women in Science & Engineering (BWISE) she also worked as a project manager to help install a bathroom for a local community Jackson plans to work in business consulting after graduation a field that will combine her engineering background with an affinity for problem solving IWF is excited to welcome Ellie Krasne as a visiting fellow Ellie’s work centers around parental rights and aligns with IWF’s mission to support policies that reduce government red tape and return resources and control to people so that we have healthy communities and people can pursue their own visions of happiness and senior fellow with Parents Defending Education Action where she researches and creates strategies that advance parental rights Her areas of expertise are: education and parental rights Her work has received scholarly mentions and has been cited by the Family Research Council and the National Center for Policy Research It has also been featured in a variety of publications including the Washington Examiner IN 1951 Lee Krasner hosted a show of her large brightly coloured geometric paintings at a gallery in New York Krasner began working on a series of even bigger pieces—black-and-white drawings that spanned from floor to ceiling—but she decided she hated them When she returned to the studio a few weeks later she saw “a lot of things there that began to interest me” Her wit and style, brought to life by these directors, make for a most enjoyable evening in Ryan Coogler’s hit film is a riff on the uses and abuses of genre Two books trace the extraordinary rise and rapid fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin Robert Macfarlane and James Scott seek to understand the ways of water The greatest civilisations of the past 3,000 years were the opposite of MAGA Registered in England and Wales. No. 236383 | Registered office: The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6HT | VAT Reg No: GB 340 436 876 Today’s Paper#masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }Russia-Ukraine War By Marco Hernandez Russian forces are making progress in many directions at once Russian troops have surged across the border from the north and opened a new line of attack near Kharkiv capturing settlements and villages and forcing thousands of civilians to flee Russia launched one line of attack near Ohirtseve Both sides reported fighting near Hlyboke on Sunday Sources: Institute for the Study of War with American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project The real goal may be to divert already-weakened Ukrainian forces from critical battles elsewhere But one thing is clear: The map of battle in Ukraine looks a lot different today than it did only a week ago Ukraine is more vulnerable than at any time since the harrowing first weeks of the 2022 invasion a range of soldiers and commanders have said in interviews It is too soon to know if the war in Ukraine has hit a turning point But Russia’s progress isn’t just in the northeast Russia has been making small but geographically broad gains across the eastern front. And what started as a modest Russian advance near Avdiivka has grown in recent weeks into a roughly 15-square-mile bulge that is complicating the defense of the Donetsk region Months of delays in American assistance, a spiraling number of casualties and severe shortages of ammunition have taken a deep toll evident in the exhausted expressions and weary voices of soldiers engaged in daily combat Whether Russia will succeed in weakening Ukraine’s defenses in other parts of the front line remains to be seen appears to be to draw Ukrainian forces away from Chasiv Yar a town on strategic high ground where Ukrainians have fought for weeks to stave off an attack Russia’s broad range of attacks appears to be stretching Ukrainian forces thin. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, said in an interview from a bunker in Kharkiv this week that it has been difficult to find the personnel to shore up defenses in the northeast “All of our forces are either here or in Chasiv Yar,” he said we don’t have anyone else in the reserves.” Dec 22, 2023 | , | 2 Would it be possible to publish the BOE statement Perhaps an assessment of bullying issues in general is in order I assume that Westport has had these problems just as everywhere else and by the way in the not too distant past as described by my own child In those cases have the schools responded adequately Many kids do not want parental intervention and don’t even share these incidents with parents I could see unusual signs of stress and had to pry the information out of my child who did not want me to handle it I told her how to handle it herself which worked very well Let’s say psychological warfare was employed the teachers also must be very observant so it doesn’t appear that the victim is “snitching” Kids do not want to look like whiners so they frequently suffer in silence In the Goldberg situation it sounds like the measures taken compounded the problem by making the child even more of a target Why is he being moved to a different part of the cafeteria preferably not in the school at all if their actions were observed and provable Let their parents find a suitable place for their errant children In short antisemitism is not the only cause of bullying and none of it should be tolerated etcetera need to be more proactive it seems You must be logged in to post a comment I agree with the Comment Policy All rights reserved.Reproduction of material from westportjournal.com without written permission is strictly prohibited All of the money donated here is added to Westport Journal’s editorial budget Please make your donation recurring if you can You and all of our readers will benefit from your generosity The UN chief on Wednesday described progress between Russia and Ukraine on allowing the resumption of grain exports during UN-brokered talks in Türkiye as a “ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world.” Secretary-General António Guterres said that a “critical step forward” had been taken to allow the “safe and secure export” of millions of tonnes of grain via the Black Sea but emphasized that no formal agreement has yet been signed between Russia and Ukraine The Government of Türkiye has been working with the UN to broker a deal for weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February together with major supply chain issues across the world Much of the grain imported by developing countries comes from Ukraine the country’s Black Sea ports have been blockaded by Russia briefing correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York “A ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world A ray of hope to support developing countries and the most vulnerable people A ray of hope to bring a measure of much-needed stability to the global food system.” The UN chief said that the UN had been represented at the negotiations in Istanbul, by Humanitarian Affairs chief, Martin Griffiths, and Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN Trade and Development agency, UNCTAD I have been underlining the importance of having Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizer fully available in world markets” the aim of all parties is not just an agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine He thanked Türkiye for it’s “outstanding efforts” convening the talks and saluted all participants for their work “to secure an agreement for our common humanity.” “Today is an important and substantive step. A step on the way to a comprehensive agreement We must also do more for struggling people and developing countries getting pummeled by a food energy and financial crises not of their making.” He reminded that the war in Ukraine rages on but the “hopeful news” from the Istanbul talks the Secretary-General said that he hoped the first meeting in Istanbul would lead to another Asked about the wider possibility of a peace deal being reached between Russia and Ukraine to end the fighting Guterres said there was still a “long way to go” although Wednesday’s developments were an extremely encouraging sign The UN health agency (WHO) issued an urgent appeal on Friday for access to sick and injured people caught up in the war in Ukraine While the Russian military advance in eastern Ukraine continues to escalate on Thursday warned that the winter months are very likely to be extremely harsh on millions of people affected by the war The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the “main contributing factor” to the potentially devastating one per cent drop in projected global economic growth this year, UN development economists UNCTAD said on Thursday, in the body’s latest global economic update “The main headline is a downgrading of the projection for global growth this year,” said Richard Kozul-Wright, Director, UNCTAD Division on Globalization and Development Strategies “We anticipated back in September of last year that the global economy would grow by around 3.6 per cent We expect it to grow by 2.6 per cent this year and of course With inflation on the rise and developing countries already weighed down by a $1 trillion debt burden to pay back to creditors the UN body decried the inadequate financial measures already taken to help them withstand exchange rate instability rising interest rates and soaring food and fuel prices Wholesale multilateral fiscal reform - possibly on the scale and ambition of the US Marshall Plan that shouldered Western Europe following the Second World War - is urgently needed to improve the financial liquidity of developing countries to prevent them - and even middle-income countries - from potentially going under, UNCTAD insisted, as it appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank “There is a rapidly worsening outlook for the world’s economy and to think that this year, the year after two years of crisis with COVID-19 the average rate of growth of the world economy will be 2.6 per cent and down from the projections that were made in the last quarter of 2021,” said Rebeca Grynspan Grynspan called for “emergency measures from the IMF and World Bank” namely the activation of rapid funding instruments which IMF can provide to help countries with looming balance of payments problems “Conditions are worsening for everybody,” continued the UNCTAD chief noting how the climate crisis has played its part along with successive droughts in the Horn of Africa the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine Even relatively wealthy countries that are struggling with multiple cost-of-living pressures have already sought help from the international system to keep them afloat “Pakistan went back (to the IMF) at the end of last year,” said Mr “Sri Lanka has now gone to the IMF to organise a programme And these are countries – these are not least developed countries these are middle-income countries that are under very serious economic and in some cases political pressure as a consequence of the shocks that they now face.” import-dependent countries that will be worst-hit by the global economic downturn “The brunt is being carried by the developing countries because of the rise in prices of food of energy and fertilisers that is very steep and also the financial stretch under which the developing countries are already under,” said Ms Although “all regions of the global economy will be adversely affected by this crisis” suggested that “high commodity exporters” were likely to do well from a rise in prices “But the European Union will see a fairly significant downgrade in its growth performance this year…so will parts of central and southern Asia as well,” he said UNCTAD’s policy recommendations include the need for global financial reform to allow developing countries the economic space for “reasonable growth” so that they can service potentially crippling debt levels “Debt servicing in 2020 for developing countries excluding China was already $1 trillion that was the kind of financial pressure that developing countries are in,” Mr “We know and we have argued in the past that the initiatives from the G20 the Debt Service Suspension Initiative is welcome it provided something of the order of $11 billion for the countries that were eligible.” Global trade reached a record high in 2021, but it is expected to slow this year for many reasons including continuing delays in global supply chains, UN economists said on Thursday the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement could reduce poverty and inequality while spurring sustainable and inclusive growth according to a report launched on Wednesday by the UN trade and development body When Alan Krasne thinks of his friend and spiritual mentor Rabbi Larry Bach the Hebrew phrase "tikkun olam" comes to his mind 'tikkun olam,' which means 'repairing the world.' And it's been an important part of our faith and of the rabbi while he has been in El Paso," Krasne said "He has really brought that to our community — not just our congregation Bach has been a rabbi at only one congregation — Temple Mount Sinai in El Paso — since he was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 1998 So it was a bit of a surprise to his congregation when Bach announced he was leaving El Paso after 17 years to move his family back to the East Coast He will be the rabbi at a Reform temple in Durham will lead the El Paso congregation in July "We've been very fortunate for 17 years," said Krasne who is happy for his friend and optimistic about the temple's future "One of the things I appreciate about him as my rabbi is that he walks the walk He lives in a way that is very consistent with what he preaches It's been a wonderful thing to grow with him over the last 17 years Bach remembers arriving in El Paso as an excited 29-year-old rabbi with his wife until Rabbi Kenneth Weiss retired and he was named rabbi of the congregation "I loved the bicultural nature of El Paso and the people and found it a very exciting place to live and work I remember being very eager to jump in and begin doing exciting things with the congregation," Bach said and those skills have grown and developed over the years But he's had those characteristics since day one and he is incredibly smart and knowledgable on a broad range of things — and an incredible musician," Krasne said An accomplished guitarist who has recorded albums Bach enhanced services by making music more central to the worship experience "I've been able to see the congregation embrace an energetic and musical style of worship with a lot of help from wonderful partners in the congregation and community and some really talented musicians that emphasize worship that is thoughtful and joyful and participatory," Bach said the temple has partnered with another Jewish synagogue for some holiday services and also has hosted other congregations who do not have a place of worship Part of the role of rabbi is to be an ambassador for Judaism," Bach said Friends of Bach sing his praises for what he has brought to the congregation and for the work on issues of interfaith understanding and social justice He is one of the founders of Border Interfaith a broad-based community organization in which people gather to talk about community issues and develop leadership through education and interfaith relationships He also has served on the boards of Project Arriba and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center a nonprofit provider of low-cost legal aid for immigrants he was named "racial justice ambassador" by the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region in recognition of his work in these areas Bach said he got involved because he wanted to help El Paso families and help the city move forward Krasne said Bach is a leader who doesn't want the Jewish community to be insular and who is not afraid to speak up when issues are important to him "He is very comfortable leading dialogue in the community for things that can improve it," Krasne said He added that Bach brings a number of things to everything he does and sense of what he can do and what can be done He has this ability to see the good and the opportunity in every situation." executive director of the Jewish Federation — the umbrella organization for all Jewish organizations in El Paso — said Bach is certainly leaving his mark in El Paso "He is one of those rare people who are very community-minded It's very important for the different religious and ethnic groups in anyplace to be able to work together and he has created that forum," Chejfec said the El Paso-Las Cruces representative for the Raindrop Turkish House and Dialogue Institute of El Paso also worked with Bach last year on a series of interfaith lectures and dinners at the Raindrop Turkish House Pius X Catholic Church and Temple Mount Sinai "He was a great contributor to the El Paso community for his openness Jewish and Christians at each table discussing different topics." Bach also taught religion classes with other religious leaders such as Monsignor Arturo Bañuelas and the recent ordained Bishop John Stowe in Lexington at the Tepeyac Institute and at the University of Texas at El Paso I think it's important for us to be visible and open and both teach and learn with our neighbors," Bach said he has found "lots of curiosity and just a real interest in opening up to learning." with a profound knowledge of his Jewish tradition and is someone Stowe counts among his teachers "He also had a desire for the Jewish community to exercise their faith and tradition in a way that improved their own lives and the lives of the larger community That shared passion and a commitment to mutual respect of each other's faith traditions led to friendship and a fruitful teaching relationship," Stowe said "I enjoyed both worshipping and speaking at Temple Mount Sinai and enjoyed bringing Rabbi Bach to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and to the Tepeyac Institute experience and share in each other's worship and work for justice through community organizing." María Cortés González may be reached at 546-6150 I offer my best wishes to our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Churches and various Eastern Catholic Churches who celebrate the Holy Pasch today in accordance with the Julian calendar,” Pope Francis said on Sunday including Eastern Rite Catholic and Orthodox believers in Europe and the Middle East are celebrating Easter today according to a calculation based on the Julian “Julian” Easter (sometimes referred to as “Orthodox Easter”) therefore normally falls later than “Gregorian” Easter although the dates will occasionally coincide Speaking at the Regina Coeli in St Peter’s Square the Holy Father prayed “may the Risen Lord fill all the communities with joy and peace and comfort those who are facing adversity.” to ask for continued prayers for “tormented” Ukraine and for Palestine and Israel – and specifically that “dialogue may be strengthened and bear good fruit.” an important part of Easter celebrations in the Holy Land the “Holy Fire” appeared in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Orthodox Christians believe that the “Holy Fire” appears at Easter in the church as a result of a Divine intervention Given the delicate security situation in region and following meetings with Israeli police clergy in charge of the 2024 event ruled that no more than 4200 people could attend the event at the church bonfires were lit on Saturday evening after midnight services said Easter sent a unique message to the whole world: “The triumph of Life over Death The Resurrection expresses the defeat of darkness the opening of the heart to our fellow man” Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law Iowa’s school choice bill 24 and expanded school choice for all of Iowa’s children and families As someone who grew up in rural Iowa and attended public elementary school I was thrilled to see my home state make the right choice for Iowa’s students but many of my friends and my extended family live in Iowa Now that the bill passed and was signed into law I want to debunk three harmful myths about Iowa’s Students First Act the Students First Act gives rural families more education freedom and ensures that rural schools will continue to receive taxpayer-funded financial support Similar programs have worked well in other parts of the country. In Florida the average household income of families using the state’s largest private school choice program is $37,730 per year Iowans should applaud a program that expands opportunity for all Iowa’s kids irrespective of their ZIP code or parents’ income which leads to the last and ugliest myth: that school choice foments discrimination and nefariously uses public money for religious activities federal law forbids private schools from engaging in racial discrimination a Google search of Iowa private schools reveals that one of Iowa’s largest private schools has a population of 25% minority students and has generous scholarship programs and tuition discounts This is hardly an example of a racially and ethnically monolith The Students First Act supports educational freedom for families of all ethnic groups and skin colors my Iowa public elementary school had no racial it bears mentioning that I’m an adopted Jew and would never support a piece of legislation that didn’t help children from all walks of life This brings me to part two of the school choice discrimination myth: that school choice conflicts with the principle of separation of church and state the court held that a Maine voucher program which prohibited religious schools from accessing state funds discriminated against religion in violation of the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause the Court has been clear that under the First Amendment states are not only permitted to include religious schools in their voucher programs constitutionally required to allow parents the choice of a religious school The bottom line: School choice does not violate the separation of church and state Iowa’s school choice bill lets parents use their hard-earned tax dollars to fund education that works best for their children and I heard the good news that the bill was quickly signed into law I couldn’t be prouder to see my home state ensuring that all children — black and rural — have access to the best education possible Ellie Krasne is a visiting fellow at Independent Women’s Forum Karen Krasne has built a wildly successful dessert empire around ornate cakes topped with flower petals and gold leaf but step into the Mission Hills home she shares with her husband and the aesthetic is decidedly less frilly The Balinese-style abode is decked out in a neutral palate of black “I need my space to be calm and monochromatic,” says Krasne one of the home’s major drawbacks was a  lack of connection between the interior and exterior so Krasne worked with architect Aaron Anderson to meld the two spaces and turn it into a contemporary zen palace “I like the mix of modern and the old,” she says Mixing warms it up.” Much of that softness comes from antique pieces Krasne has collected during travels through India including a candle holder from Kyoto and bean bag from South Africa With seven years of renovations under the family’s belt but I’ll find something else because I can’t stop,” she says [email protected] visitors can relax in the open and airy living room which includes a jewelry chest designed in Santa Fe and three pieces by the famous glass sculptor Dale Chihuly The chef is partial to neutral color schemes but knew the room needed a pop ‘I need to step out and get some color,’” she says [email protected] “I have a door fetish,” Krasne admits Inside is an intricate  Moroccan mirror and dresser which Krasne and her husband previously used as a changing table for Sahara before turning it into a sink a Brad Durham oil painting hangs above an antique  Chinese trunk topped with a piece of Berber pottery from North Africa [email protected] “The kitchen is more technical,” says Krasne who worked on her first cookbook during the space’s renovation The cabinets are made of an eco-friendly farmed teak while the countertops are sustainable quartz A built-in sofa in the dining room (above) gives the family a place to lounge and a custom bookshelf next to the dining table keeps Krasne’s reference books handy Her father found the chandelier at an auction in Austria and Chula Vista-based Gibson & Gibson Antique Lighting turned the piece which was originally used in an opera house [email protected] “Once a week she probably creates something new,” Jamie says of his wife’s culinary prowess [email protected] A liquor cabinet is neatly tucked away in the living room and incorporates the same farmed teak used in the kitchen To keep with the home’s Far East aesthetic they added Asian-style handles from L.A.’s Berbere World Imports to the cabinet doors [email protected] Krasne pulled inspiration from a past vacation at an Aman Resort the luxury hotel chain known for its minimalist design “I love to stay at too-expensive hotels,” she says [email protected] The newly completed master bedroom patio is outfitted in highly durable Pieces from Bali and the Philippines along with a bean bag from Restoration Hardware give the space warmth—as does the patio’s west-facing direction “It’s going to be a good spot for tanning!” Krasne says [email protected] [email protected] The entry patio was one of the first areas Krasne and Anderson tackled Moroccan lamps purchased during her travels served as inspiration which led to the cement panel with perforations similar to the lanterns as well as a custom Starphire glass fire pit and handmade metal furniture by local artist Brian Linn “We use this as an extended kitchen,” Krasne says An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Little Italy’s Extraordinary Desserts was designed by Aaron Anderson [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Following the October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas college campuses and streets of major US cities have been filled with rioters chanting anti-Israel slogans and often explicitly demonstrating their fealty to Hamas most of these protestors conceal their faces This is true even of less violent protests. One example is the 100-plus congressional staffers who staged a walkout on Capitol Hill Photos show that nearly all the staffers were wearing medical face masks And the cowardice extends beyond Capitol Hill but the fact remains that pro-Palestine protesters hide behind masks This gathering took place less than 1 mile from the White House. Thanks to @MaryMargOlohan and @christianlasval for documenting for the world to see. https://t.co/JRmrWjFXTM — Rob Bluey (@RobertBluey) October 11, 2023 But when looking at the history of mask bans and even France’s so-called “burqa ban,” it begins to make sense it helps to look at the history of masking and its connection to crime typically banning mask wearing that intimidates others.” The key is that these bans were enacted to deter criminal activity and stop giving criminals the legal right to hide their identity when terrorizing blacks and Catholics asserts that the actual reason for mask bans was that political leaders “felt that violent racist terrorism was making them look bad.” The report goes on to say that mask bans are an invasion of privacy especially in our modern era of facial-recognition software and smartphones before the COVID lockdowns and mask mandates the ACLU had an ax to grind against mask bans because mask bans help police catch criminals But anti-mask-ban rhetoric goes beyond the complaints that people might get caught committing crimes. Some alleged that mask bans, much like math and sandwich bread this is a strange way to characterize the ski mask The article ignores the fact that the original purpose of mask bans was to ensure that Klan members could not hide from the law But the point stands that wearing a mask while protesting in support of vile ideas or while committing a crime serves no purpose other than hiding one’s identity to avoid accountability Israel should not exist) and physically assaulting Jews Thanks to COVID-19 popularizing face masks thereby making it difficult to identify and prosecute them as they scream antisemitic slurs that would make a Grand Wizard blush (if you could see his face) And that is the point: pro-Hamas protestors wear masks to avoid accountability Not only is hiding one’s face bad for identifying criminals France banned face-coverings because lawmakers believed that they impeded “vivre ensemble,” or citizens’ ability to peacefully coexist and participate fully in French society And the notion that face covering impedes a healthy society is grounded in solid research “Even newborns show clear evidence of organized facial expressions defining distinct communicative states that respond to maternal care.”  Facial coverings stymie communication and interpreting emotions—two things that drive human interaction Emmanuel Levinas, a French philosopher, once wrote “The face speaks to me and thereby invites me to a relation; … the face opens the primordial discourse whose first word is obligation.” To put this in context much of Levinas’s philosophy is rooted in what it means to encounter Seeing another person’s face calls upon us to be responsible to one another as human beings It stands to reason that hiding one’s face is an attempt to abdicate one’s responsibility to others and to society The Klan used masks to terrorize innocent people in the 1920s as pro-Palestinian and BLM activists do today people should be allowed to demonstrate in favor of unpopular or even contemptible ideas without fear of reprisal But they shouldn’t be allowed to engage in criminal behavior—or to mask themselves to get away with it It shouldn’t be too much to ask that they have the courage to stand up they must face responsibility for their actions Continue reading this exclusive article and join the conversation Your information could be the missing piece to an important story Submit your tip today and make a difference Middle-earth has seen more than its share of trials and challenges, but perhaps none more pressing today than a lack of mechanical keyboards that any of its various peoples can actually read everyone from elves to dwarves had to make do with keyboards carrying legends of unknown languages keyboard and audio brand Drop released two prebuilt mechanical keyboards to rule them all—or at least speakers of Elvish and Dwarvish Drop's new prebuilt keyboards target people who want a keyboard J.R.R Tolkien would be proud of but don't necessarily want to go on a Tolkien-style epic journey to build their own Drop's Elvish keyboard has legends written in actual translations of the Tolkien-created languages of Sindarin Elvish and the form of Elvish found in that oh-so-special ring while the modifiers are inspired by the Erebor language Shift on the Elvish keyboard is "ortho," the word for "raise," and Shift lock on the Dwarvish keyboard is "ahdun ashfât," which apparently means "contain mover." All of the keycaps are PBT plastic, so we expect them to have better quality and texture than the typical ABS keycap. The keycaps also use the MT3 profile, a taller, thicker, vintage-style form factor with deep curves that hug the fingertips. The profile is also used in Drop's Islay Night keyboard Dye-sublimated legends should also help ensure the legends won't fade The technique also tends to yield an inky appearance but the keyboards seem to come with mundane rubber USB-C to USB-A cables in case you want to change them for something more interesting or durable Holy Panda X switches are supposed to have less stem wobble and a more consistent feel than the original Holy Panda Frankenswitch that combined the Drop Halo tactile and Invyr Panda linear mechanical switches You can see the Holy Panda X's force curve below: Holy Panda switches are known for being extremely tactile, and Drop's product page for the Holy Panda X claims they feel "incredibly similar" to their predecessor When we tried Holy Pandas on the Islay night they had strong tactility and a bold and memorable pop upon releasing a key Drop is only selling the keyboard numpad-free so getting a Lord of the Rings keyboard in any other form factor will require you to build your own Building your own keyboard would also give those fluent in Elvish or Dwarvish (or confident touch typists) the option to get keycaps that skip the English legends completely Drop said the keyboards will start shipping to elves and dwarves alike "by early October." 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