SACRATOMATOVILLE POST

Buttondown Brits and Modest Americans beware: Naked Germans are wet and friendly

cityfella — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:17:33 +0000

It’s enough to make some choke on their choc ice – a new survey shows that not only are plenty of Germans happy to go naked on the beach, a worryingly high proportion may even try to strike up conversation with other holidaymakers.

State-siders, 98 percent of whom have never stripped off on the sand, reported Die Welton Friday.Just two percent of Brits and Americans have ever been in the buff on the beach according to the poll, for travel website Expedia.It suggested the common stereotype of stiff and reserved Germans was no more substantial than a sandcastle at high tide.
A bulging 15 percent of Bundesbürgers were happy to forgo their bathing suits, more than any other nation, with the Spaniards a distant second on 8 percent.

The survey included respondents from 21 countries. Germans were most likely of all to take a beach holiday in the first place, with 49 percent preferring it to any other type of vacation.

And once they get there, Germans are determined to make the most of the experience.

While relaxing and sunbathing are the most popular beach activities worldwide, Germans prefer to swim, with a world-beating 82 percent prepared to dip at least a toe in the water. The country also scores highly for snorkelling and diving.

Naked and wet, the Germans then go in search of company, with 23 percent saying they like to make friends on the beach, way more than supposedly more outgoing nations like Brazil and Italy.

Once they get their trousers back on, Germans are prepared to reach deep into their pockets to finance these all-action getaways. Their average budget of €150 per day of holiday is €20 more than the international average.

With so much to pack in, it’s no wonder the average German beach break is relatively long, with their average duration of 9.7 days topped only by the Italians.

Inhibited Britons beware: friendly naked Germans may soon be coming to a beach near you, with 56 percent planning a beach holiday this year. Better put that windbreak up and pretend to be doing the crossword, then.

The Local/jpg

When a baby boomer with a gun wants to cut in line… Let him!

cityfella — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:34:37 +0000

And that’s exactly what Anika Hannah did……..

She backed her car out of the line of a West Palm Beach Florida McDonald’s. 58 year old James Lee Cruz may have been hungry. or it could have been his overwhelming desire to sink his teeth into a Filet O’ Fish or those crispy Chicken Nuggets.

What ever the craving, he didn’t want to wait.

There they were ,in the drive through about 130am on Sunday May 13 , WHEN a man in a silver Buick flashed a silver revolver as he attempted to cut in line. The front seat passenger, Rasheda Young yelled “GUN” well that was enough for Anika(the driver), to throw her car in reverse (as to say-NO! after you sir!!!) and let the hungry baby boomer through.

Everyone including passenger, Jennifer Cole (who wasn’t sure if she should supersize her order* or get a double cheese) copied Mr Cruz’s licence number down.

Mr Cruz, was booked into the Palm Beach County jail Tuesday on three felony aggravated assault charges. He was released from custody last night after posting $7500 bond. Wonder if he’s tried their Angus Burger? Pretty Good

Cityfella

(* completely made up for your entertainment)

Rich French head for the exits

cityfella — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:58:50 +0000

On the day Socialist president Francois Hollande takes power, there are signs that wealthy French citizens are thinking about moving abroad to escape tough new tax rules.

A survey by London-based real estate agent Knight Frank recently reported it saw inquiries about expensive London properties from French residents spike by 20 percent.

That was at the same time that inquiries from other European countries in general fell by 10 percent.

Francois Hollande has pledged to introduce a 75 percent tax on earnings about €1 million ($1.3 million).

“Seen from abroad, France is the last country where an entrepreneur wants to go,” said Marc Simoncini, founder of French dating site Meetic.com, on BFM TV.

“I don’t know any British person who’s come to set up a business in France. But I know plenty of young French people who’ve gone to London to do that.”

A property lawyer in the Belgian capital of Brussels confirmed the trend.

“Since Monday it’s been a rush,” he told Le Parisien newspaper.

“In two and a half days I’ve received fifteen new applications. I have a huge number of meetings.”

A Swiss lawyer has a similar story, claiming to have dealt with as many serious inquiries in the last three months as he usually would in a year.

In England, Alexander Kraft, president of Sotheby’s International Realty France told the newspaper there had been “several” wealthy French people who had shown an interest in moving to London since the first round of the presidential elections.

By: Matthew Warren/The Local France

Summer Wedding Crisis: What To Do When Your Ex Attends

cityfella — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:19:35 +0000

Therapist Rachel Sussman has 8 tips on how to handle the situation at a wedding.

Wedding season is coming up. If you and your ex were very good friends with any of the brides in your life, there’s a chance that you’ll bump into him.

Here are some of Rachel’s expert tips for avoiding a painful run-in with your ex at a wedding include:

1. Discuss the tricky situation with the bride. Tell her that you do want to attend and request that you not be seated anywhere near your ex.

2. If you have been invited with a plus one, and you’re not dating anyone, consider bringing a friend (male or female, gay or straight) to the wedding to provide support.

3. If you are attending alone, find out in advance who else will be attending that you may know. Contact a few of those people, explain the situation to them, and then ask them to provide support.

4. Prepare yourself. Think through the event and what could possibly go wrong.

5. Always take the high road and behave with class.

6. Be careful with alcohol.

7. Don’t go out of your way to say hello, but if he seeks you out to greet you, respond gracefully. Keep it light and polite.

8. Make sure you look fabulous. Looking great is the very best revenge.

To learn more about Rachel, please visit her site.

Tell us: do you think you might bump into your ex at a wedding or an event this summer?

Rachel Sussman, LSCW, is the founder of Sussman Counseling, which specializes in marriage and family counseling. You’ve probably seen her on The Today Show or The Early Show. Maybe you’ve read her advice in Cosmopolitan and The New York Times.

Rachel has recently written The Breakup Up Bible:A Smart Women’s Guide to Healing from a Breakup or Divorce. As a licensed psychotherapist, she’s devised plans on how to handle yourself in any situation with your ex.

How Feminine Politics Has Found Success in Germany

cityfella — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:04:11 +0000

Social Democrat Hannelore Kraft is the big winner in the last crucial state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. And she triumphed by taking a page from Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s playbook, German commentators say. The infusion of feminine politics could mark the country’s political scene for years to come.

Europe calls her Madame Non, a moniker which is usually paired with a comparison with the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher. But back home in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has an altogether different nickname: “Mutti.” Or, simply, Mummy. In her own party, she can be a tough disciplinarian, but most Germans, particularly during the last few years of the euro and debt crises, see Merkel as a comforting presence intent on protecting their prosperity.

But can such a model be emulated? The crucial state election in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday suggests that the answer might be yes. Social Democrat Hannelore Krafttrounced Norbert Röttgen, of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, in the vote by a score of 39.1 percent to 26.3 percent. It was the worst-ever CDU performance in the state and resulted in Röttgen’s immediate resignation as state party chair.

More to the point, however, Kraft has clearly won over the hearts of her home state and exuded the kind of confidence-inspiring rationality that had been Merkel’s exclusive trademark. Röttgen was, to be sure, a clumsy campaigner. But Kraft, governor of North Rhine-Westphalia for the last two years, has become the state’s “Mutti.”

Equally important, the clear victory for the SPD propelled the party back to the position that it had become accustomed to in the working-class state — the top. While Kraft led the state in coalition with Green Party state leader Sylvia Löhrmann since elections in 2010, their pairing was an experimental minority government that ended earlier this year when Kraft proved unable to push through her budget.

But now the voters have given her a powerful vote of confidence and Kraft will form the kind of stable, center-left governing coalition that has been a rarity in Germany in recent years. With just one year to go before general elections, Kraft’s success promises to boost both her party’s confidence and hopes for an SPD-Green governing coalition at the national level.

German commentators on Tuesday, however, believe that the SPD has a long way to go before reaching that goal. Kraft, after all, was quick to reject the notion that she might become the SPD’s chancellor candidate in next year’s clash with Merkel. That means the party will be forced to choose among its trio of leading personalities: party head Sigmar Gabriel, parliamentary floor leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück. None of them, editorialists believe, will be able to exude either Kraft’s brand of warmth or the comforting presence that has become Merkel’s trademark.

Left-leaning daily Die Tageszeitung writes:

“How can one win an election in Germany? Hannelore Kraft’s strategy has proven successful: mother-figure to the state, care-giver, believer in youth investment and a preventive welfare state. These are buzz words which one immediately associates with women, because for centuries it has been women who have cared for others. Up until recently, these were not the kind of words with which one could win an election. They would have sounded fussy. And now two women have gone and won an election in the biggest German state using ‘female’ political principles. How did that happen?”

“The simplest fact first: The success of women often follows the failure of men. … And Kraft’s brilliant success had a lot to do with Röttgen’s total collapse. … On the other hand, the ‘female policy’ of preventative social services represents a smarter approach to the welfare state — better than the oft-emphasized dialectic pitting dismantlement and expansion against one another.”

“In other words, that which was formerly labeled as ‘feminine’ is now gaining value and losing some of the stigma which it has been subjected to in the past. We will have arrived in a ‘post-gender’ era when this kind of politics is also successfully pursued by men.”

Center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:

“Hannelore Kraft very clearly emulated some of of Angela Merkel’s characteristics. Since almost losing the 2005 election, Merkel knows what voters want: to be governed by people and parties who offer (or at least promise) the most security during difficult times in life, from the smallest hurdle to the largest. They need comfort. It’s not for nothing that the leading figures in all parties, including the business-friendly Free Democrats, are all care-giver types. And the care-giver-in-chief, the mother of all Germans, is the chancellor — and voters pay her back with consistently high popularity ratings. Germans give her great credit for steering the country through the crisis and protecting their prosperity.”

“When it comes to next year’s campaign, the conservatives will have an easier time of it. They can, and will, continue to base their appeal on the chancellor. Paradoxically, the CDU debacle in North Rhine-Westphalia has strengthened Merkel’s position within her own party. On the list of potential successors … only one name remains: Ursula von der Leyen. But Angela Merkel, despite a long power struggle within her party’s leadership and an impressive series of poor CDU showings in state elections, has become the matriarch of the party. … When one of the three potential SPD challengers finally does lead the charge against Merkel, they will probably do no better than Röttgen did against Kraft.”

Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:

“There has been occassional speculation regarding just how much Angela Merkel was in Hannelore Kraft. Both women are individually much more popular than their parties. Both are the personification of the political center, flexible, reassuring, offering a bit of everything and never polarizing. Kraft followed Merkel’s recipe to victory. The fact that one can win elections in such a manner is an encouraging signal for Merkel amid all of the current difficulties.”

“That leads to the question as to how much Kraft is in Merkel. The largest accordance is their handling of money. Merkel is frequently referred to as the savings chancellor. But she is mostly interested in seeing Europe save — not Germany. Her rejection of tax cuts is, at the end of the day, hardly comparable to an austerity plan involving deep pay cuts or steep pension reductions. And both women espouse noble motives: Kraft refers to her spending as preventative politics. Merkel claims to be spending so as not to idle the economic motor in the only large European economy that is still growing.”

“Angela Merkel and Hannelore Kraft are indistinguishable in their gentle treatment of voters. As such, when the general elections roll around next year, the SPD will find no success in attacking Merkel head on, just as Röttgen failed with his attacks on Kraft. In France, François Hollande had an opponent – Nicolas Sarkozy — who he could easily demonize, and could even openly show his disgust and hate for the incumbent. Hollande could run a typically leftist campaign. It seems unlikely, however, that such a strategy would lead the SPD to success.”

Conservative daily Die Welt writes:

“In Hannelore Kraft, Röttgen had a challenger who possesses in copious supply all the qualities he himself lacks: she knows how to portray herself as an ordinary person and how to appear to care personally about the smallest of problems. She approaches people…. And she does it all with surprising freshness. In hindsight, Röttgen pulled the short straw with such an opponent.”

“The fact that the CDU, under Röttgen’s leadership, failed so dramatically has deeper, more unnerving causes. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a dream has overridden reality. One year ago, the constitutional court ruled that the 2010 supplementary budget put forward by the SPD and the Green Party was unconstitutional: a singular occurrence in the history of postwar Germany. But that didn’t slow down the ‘queen of debt.’ As if she had never heard of the dilemmas facing the welfare state, she stuck undaunted to the Social Democratic philosophical principles of the past. And she really believed in her ability to market renewed borrowing as start-up funding for future growth and development. It is worrying that Röttgen could not even challenge her on that front.”

Left-leaning daily Berliner Zeitungwrites:

“One thing is clear: The campaign for the 2013 national election effectively began on Sunday. From now on, parties will only use a single criterion when making decisions: what will it mean for their prospects next year. The considerable difference between Merkel’s governing coalition and the opposition is that as of Sunday, the former is on the defensive role while the latter can attack.”

“Angela Merkel’s as yet unbroken popularity has a lot to do with her role in the euro crisis. Germans see her as an engaged crisis manager without having to feel the consequences of her policies in their own lives. On top of that one must consider the healthy economy and decreasing unemployment. So far, there is no great cry for a new chancellor. Merkel, in her seventh year in office, is showing no signs of withdrawing from the people but is remaining rooted instead.”

By: Charles Hawley and Kate Ferguson/Speigel International

Despite Very low Poll Ratings a confident Mayor Kevin Johnson refuses to debate or attend voters forums

cityfella — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:04:06 +0000

He has the cash, the celebrity. So despite record low poll ratings Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson blew off Sacramento League of Women Voters North Laguna Creek Neighborhood Association, River Park Neighborhood Association as well as other groups…..

Johnson’s campaign manager told media in numerous interviews leading up to the forum that Johnson would not attend because the mayor faces “no viable candidates” in the race.

Results Sacramento Bee Poll (Friday, May 18,2012)

What kind of job has Kevin Johnson done as Sacramento mayor?

Excellent

195

32%

Fair

Poor

372

62%

Total Votes: 601

Four years ago, the Mayor of Sacramento, HeatherFargo, appeared at every forum side by side with a whole pack of candidates viable and otherwise. It was probably pretty grueling, you know, because of the multiple sclerosis. She needed help getting around, but she showed up to defend her record in public. Meanwhile, Johnson ran around and called Fargo weak and ineffectual, promising a “city that works for everyone.”

Today, Sacramento really doesn’t work for anyone. It’s the city itself that seems exhausted. And the mayor doesn’t show up to debate it. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/let-k-j-debate/content?oid=6025402

Yesterday former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo endorsed mayoral candidate Jonathan Rewers. Mayor Johnson told reporters “That’s one Vote’ ” Congratulations to him:

Cityfella

Sources: Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Press, ransacmedia, Sacramento News and Review

How bad was the Celebrity Apprentice Finale? NBC should Dump Donald and bring back “My Mother The Car”

cityfella — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:49:04 +0000

First thing first, a friend called from the east coast warned me….. So I watched it on Hulu instead. I want my 27 minutes back. For those who suffered through the two hours… I will light a candle for you at the Cathedral of the watchers of the Paint Dry.

If I give you a full recap, I might slash my wrists and I have learned blood makes the keys stick.

This is gonna be short, even though he raised nearly twice the money of his opponent , Clay Aiken came in second to another brotha…Arsenio Hall. Which was messed up, but this is the Trumpster’s circus.

It was absurd from,beginning to end.. However, the high low point of the evening was a duet. Clayand Arsenio sang “Lean on Me“ (no I am not kidding-in glorious NBC color) one was a bit flat and the other pitchy.

Its time to pull the plug on the Apprentice, after 8 years it has run its course. The format ,tasks have grown stale. Last year was a fluke, he can no longer afford( the much in demand) Nene Leakes .

I will miss the board room, there is nothing like it on television and I will miss the very lovely and intelligent Ivanka Trump. Sunday’s night show reached low and missed.

The show came in second in ratings after Fox‘s Family Guy. CA was up four-tenths, drawing a 2.2 compared to last week’s 1.8 among adults 18-49. However, this was the lowest-rated finale episode of the series to date.

Cityfella

OUT in Africa

cityfella — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:15:07 +0000

From one African to others:

“To discriminate against our sisters and brothers who are lesbian or gay on grounds of their sexual orientation for me is as totally unacceptable and unjust as apartheid ever was” - Bishop Desmond Tutu

Unfortunately, many in Africa do not share Desmond Tutu’s position. In Africa homosexuality is illegal for men in 29 countries and for women it is illegal in 20 countries. Whilst this is the case in many African countries, it is not the case in South Africa where homosexuality is legal and visible and there is even a natural legislation which bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. There are however a lot of peer led organisations in most of the African countries that are working tirelessly to address this anomaly.

It has been found that in the traditional perception of African society, heterosexual marriage is desired and childbearing is glorified, whilst being gay or lesbian is seen as deviant and alien to the social fabric of Africa. Gay or lesbian relationships in some African countries are described as a foreign concept and a practice that is against the cultural values, norms and dignity of Africa. Some hold the opinion that it is against the creation of man and woman as God designed them to be. In countries like Malawi, most ethnic groups recognise the arrangement of a man marrying a woman as natural and the basis of a healthy family. Legalising gay and lesbian relationships are seen to defy God’s arrangement that humanity should procreate, as it is argued that people in a same-sex relationship cannot bear children. Other debates in Africa have suggested that homosexuality is a psychological and social problem affecting western countries and should not be normalised in Africa in the name of human rights.

The impact of these cultural constraints for gay and lesbian teens cannot be underestimated in the African society. Teens find themselves with everything to lose if they come out. Homophobic environments exist everywhere including within families, churches and schools. Teens grow up in a culture and environment where being gay or lesbian is seen as wrong, with role models openly condemning these “lifestyles”. Those who have been bold enough to come out risk losing everything, as they are normally dependant on their family. They experience isolation, humiliation and rejection.

Tackling homophobia in the African context is challenging though, as there are prejudicial attitudes and discrimination in all areas of society. Its effects are far reaching, with recent studies showing that homophobia is a major barrier to ending the HIV epidemic as it is preventing gay men’s access to prevention programs and treatment. There are now many calls to consider holistic approaches in addressing this issue. Community based organisations are being challenged to provide support to LGBT people who feel marginalised and isolated, which in turn may influence the attitudes of the communities themselves. Public campaigns with messages that challenge homophobia are seen as one avenue where awareness issues can be addressed. Above all, governments need to repeal the laws that ban homosexuality, as this can effectively reduce discrimination against LGBT, promote fundamental human rights and prevent the spread of HIV.

AT A GLANCE: LGBT RIGHTS IN AFRICA

Imprisonment is the most common punishment in African countries where homosexuality is illegal. The countries’ constitutions often include clauses protecting human rights which the anti-gay laws contradict. The laws can also vary within a nation depending on the religious laws of an area. The types of punishments in the African nations also varies depending on the severity of the act such as whether or not it was in private and whether there was actual intercourse or a only an ‘indecent’ act.

Countries where homosexuality is a crime:

1.   Algeria
2.   Angola
3.   Benin
4.   Botswana
5.   Burundi
6.   Cameroon
7.   Cape Verde
8.   Djibouti
9.   Ethiopia
10.   Ghana
11.   Gambia
12.   Guinea
13.   Kenya
14.   Liberia
15.   Libya
16.   Malawi
17.   Mauritius
18.   Morocco
19.   Mozambique
20.   Namibia
21.   Senegal
22.   Somalia
23.   Swaziland
24.   Tanzania
25.   Togo
26.   Tunisia
27.   Uganda
28.   Zambia
29.   Zimbabwe

Countries which have the death penalty for homosexuality:
1.    Sudan
2.   Nigeria (according to Sharia law. Federal laws punish through imprisonment)
3.   Mauritania
In 2005 South Africa became the first nation in Africa to allow same-sex marriage following a court ruling which found the previous marriage laws violated the country’s Bill of Rights. South Africa was only the second nation outside of Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.

By: Siza Sibanda / Gay News Network Australia

Siza Sibanda is a Health Promotion Officer for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds with the AIDS Council of South Australia

Donna Summer laid to rest today.

cityfella — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:45:58 +0000

Donna Summer‘s was a private person. Her name wasn’t a fixture in america’s tabloids, in fact, few of her fans were aware she moved from Hollywood to Nashville nearly 18 years ago. Mr’s Sudano ( married her husband Bruce more than 30 years ago) was diagnosed with lung cancer 10 months ago( Donna did not smoke) only the immediate family knew of her illness,. the family was with her at her time of death.

In addition to her husband, she leaves two daughters and four grandchildren. The Nashville funeral is limited to family and close friends.

Cityfella

IKEA SPYING SCANDAL: Four bosses fired

cityfella — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:36:28 +0000

Swedish furniture giant IKEA said Friday it was fireing four current and former managers at its French subsidiary over allegations they used illegal police files to spy on staff and customers.

French prosecutors in April launched a criminal probe following allegations that IKEA paid for illegal access to secret police files to gain information about employees, clients and even people who came near its property.

In a statement, IKEA said it was firing a former managing director, a former human resources director, a former financial director and the current risk management director. The IKEA France workers were not named.

The firings are because of “practices against values and ethical standards that have unfortunately been noted within IKEA France,” the statement added.

IKEA said it “continues to provide its complete support to the judiciary” and has taken measures to prevent a repeat of the alleged crimes.

For more background see:http://sacratomatovillepost.com/2012/04/15/ikea-scandal-spying-on-angry-customers-and-workers/

When the scandal first came to light, IKEA France suspended three managers: former managing director Jean-Louis Baillot, risk management head Jean-Francois Paris and former human resources manager Claire Hery.

In interviews with online newspaper La Tribune, Baillot and Hery both denied any knowledge of spying at IKEA.

Satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine broke the story in February by publishing what it said were emails between Paris and Yann Messian of security company Sûreté International about getting access to police STIC files.

The controversial STIC file system has been criticised for being an unreliable database of millions of names and personal information about crime perpetrators, victims and even witnesses.

The newspaper said that Sûreté International offered access to the files for 80 euros (about $100) a time, as well as to a database of vehicle owners.

The report quoted emails requesting information on employees, including union members, the owners of certain car registrations and the names associated with a list of mobile phone numbers.

IKEA France allegedly asked for police files on a customer who was suing the company for 4,000 euros and for the name of the owner of a car that approached the site of a planned shop.

Former management at Sûreté International, which was wound up in 2011, have denied responsibility, instead blaming a disgruntled former employee.

The Local France