Tuesday, August 31, 2021

THE GRANDSTAND SALUTES OUR FALLEN HEROES

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON

THANK YOU GRANDSTAND! CLICK ON THE PHOTO...... August 26, 2021.

13 brave US heroes gave up their lives in Afghanistan. Rest Peacefully. 
 
Here at The Grandstand, we salute you. 
 
We are saddened by the tremendous loss, and honored how they fought for America. 
 
May we never forget that Freedom is not Free.
 
God Bless our Troops and God Bless America.
 
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EDITOR'S NOTE: GO FUND ME PAGES FOR THE THIRTEEN SOLDIERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN---MORE INFO HERE

AS WE AWAIT NEWS OF THOSE LEFT BEHIND.....IMAGES OF BIDEN'S WAR WILL NEVER FADE

You are encouraged to watch the video in its entirety. In the meantime: IMAGES OF BIDEN'S WAR WILL NEVER FADE

Rarely has one image more perfectly captured the moment — and totality — of a man’s presidency.

Befuddled by time, disoriented by a riot of terrible decisions, and confused by the demand for answers, President Joe Biden stood in the East Room of the White House, clutched his binder to his chest, and folded before the American people. Almost weeping, he pressed his face into his hands and closed his eyes.  MORE AT https://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/biden_37683jpg-e9a80jpg/

AND NOW: THE FDA SAYS STOP USING THESE N-95 CHINESE MASKS, SHANGHAI DASHENG

A Chinese N95 manufacturer is making faulty masks the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has "serious concerns" about for healthcare workers.

"Stop using N95 respirators manufactured by Shanghai Dasheng and intended for emergency use [including those bearing other brand names]," the FDA wrote in a warning to healthcare providers.

"The FDA is alerting healthcare facility risk managers, procurement staff, and healthcare personnel about serious concerns with the quality of certain N95 respirators manufactured by Shanghai Dasheng---MORE AT NEWSMAX HEALTH HERE.

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AND REPORTED EARLIER IN THE SUMMER: Exclusive: Chemical cocktail found in face masks; MORE AT https://www.ecotextile.com/2021040127603/dyes-chemicals-news/exclusive-chemical-cocktail-found-in-face-masks.html

UPDATED: HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS LEFT BEHIND

By Isabel van Brugen August 30, 2021 Updated: August 31, 2021--The Pentagon has admitted that “hundreds” of Americans seeking evacuation have been left in Afghanistan, after the last U.S. military plane departed Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai International Airport a few hours before dawn.

In announcing that the United States has officially ended its military presence in Afghanistan, hours before President Joe Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Gen. Frank McKenzie said that there are still Americans who remain in Afghanistan “in the low hundreds.”

He made the remarks during a televised address in response to a reporter’s question, adding that the military and State Department will work to evacuate those individuals.

“There’s a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure. We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out,” said McKenzie, adding that it is a “tough situation.” READ MORE HERE

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DISHONOR  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/08/americans-abandoned-as-last-plane.html

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OUR NATION'S SHAME:

Last U.S. Military Rescue Plane Leaves Afghanistan, American Citizens Left Behind
By Ryan Saavedra

Aug 30, 2021 DailyWire.com

MORE HERE

PRAYERS FOR THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND

CLICK ON THE PHOTO.

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UPDATED 9/5; PLANES NOT BEING ALLOWED TO LEAVE  https://nypost.com/2021/09/05/taliban-holding-6-us-flights-hostage-in-afghanistan-rep-mccaul/

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UPDATED 9/14 SEVERAL THOUSAND LEFT BEHIND  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/09/afghanistan-update-blinken-now-says.html

BY SPECIAL REQUEST, A LITTLE SEPTEMBER 1965 IN CROTON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

BY SPECIAL REQUEST, A LITTLE SEPTEMBER 1965 IN CROTON ON HUDSON. CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW...COURTESY OF THE OUTSTANDING ARCHIVES MAINTAINED BY THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY MORE SEPTEMBER 1965 IN CROTON HERE https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-look-back-at-september-1965-in-croton.html


REMEMBERING THE LATE RICHARD ANDERSON

WHO DIED THIS DATE IN 2017.....Richard Anderson, the tall, handsome actor best known for costarring simultaneously in the popular 1970s television shows "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," died at age 91. 

READ MORE AT http://fxn.ws/2xBxnzm

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE AN OUTSTANDING STARLOG MAGAZINE TRADING CARD, 1983, COURTESY OF FLICKR FRIEND JIMMY TYLER. 

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: TURN ON THE T.V. 1970-1979; CLICK HERE

AMERICANS ABANDONED AS LAST PLANE LEAVES KABUL

Prayers for those left behind. No word on the Americans from the University of Kabul, local servicepeople, etc. Will keep you posted if and when info becomes available.

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The picture of President Joe Biden stealing a glance at his watch Sunday during a solemn ceremony for the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan says it all: Biden can’t deal with the reality of what he’s wrought; he’s desperate to move on.

What a dishonorable end to America’s longest war.

The last service member left Afghanistan late last night local time, and the Taliban took over the airport. But Biden already has his mind on other issues and is ignoring the damage he’s caused: the deaths of those 13 heroes and nearly 200 Afghans. The untold number of Americans and allies who have been left behind. The fact that his withdrawal puts Afghanistan in the hands of Taliban terrorists who protected al Qaeda after 9/11. The likelihood of new terrorists emerging there.

And, of course, the monumental humiliation and loss of trust he’s caused for America across the globe. More at https://nypost.com/2021/08/30/joe-biden-brings-a-dishonorable-end-to-americas-longest-war/

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AND REGARDING THE ORDER OF NUNS WHO ARE STAYING BEHIND; MORE HERE 

UDATED 9/5, PLANES NOT BEING ALLOWED TO LEAVE https://nypost.com/2021/09/05/taliban-holding-6-us-flights-hostage-in-afghanistan-rep-mccaul/

AND FYI:

Here is a thread of verified GoFundMes to support the families of the 13 US service members killed in the Kabul Airport attack. https://twitter.com/gofundme/status/1431409577082253312

Monday, August 30, 2021

R.I.P. HELEN M. MEGLEY

Condolences to the family; notice at the Edward F. Carter website: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/croton-on-hudson-ny/helen-megley-10327431

MORE FROM THE PATCH:  https://patch.com/new-york/ossining/obituary-helen-marie-anderson-megley-croton-hudson

A lover of literature (including Mr. Yeats) and opera (Saturday mornings listening to the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts; influenced by her father's singing in Verdi's Anvil Chorus). Active with Holy Name parish and the Village library.

Helen was a gifted artist, exhibiting portraiture, watercolor and pastel paintings in shows in the Hudson Valley, winning first prize in the Ossining Women's Club show. Her artwork has been lovingly shared with family and friends across the country and overseas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Croton Caring Committee. A memorial service will be announced when the COVID virus has significantly diminished.

WHAT THE POLIO VACCINES CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE COVID ONES, THE CUTTER INCIDENT AND MUCH MORE

Fascinating article. What the polio vaccines can teach us about the COVID ones
By Peter Skurkiss

Prior to the 1950s, paralytic polio was a scourge. FDR was crippled from it while in his 30s, the March of Dimes was started to combat it, and photos of rows and rows of children in iron lungs were common in the media. From this situation, vaccines were developed to combat the disease.

Polio is caused by one of three types of poliovirus that can cause paralysis and death. In the 1950s, two vaccines were independently developed to combat it, one by Jonas Salk and the other by Albert Sabin. Polio was eradicated, and today those vaccines are thought of as miracle drugs. But were they?

In the early 1950s, Salk was the first to come out with a vaccine. His was designed to treat all three polio viruses at once. His approach seemed basic enough. It was to grow polioviruses in the lab, kill them, and then inject healthy children with the dead viruses. The idea was that the dead viruses could not reproduce, so they could not harm the children. The children's immune system, however, would detect the injected viruses and produce effective antibodies against them, thus creating immunity against polio.

Just prior to beginning mass inoculations, samples of the Salk vaccine were sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for safety testing.

There, when bacteriologist Dr. Bernice Eddy injected the vaccine into her monkeys, some of them fell down paralyzed. She concluded that the virus was not entirely dead as promised. Instead, the virus was active and could reproduce in its host. Eddy sounded the alarm and presented her findings. A debate ensued in the corridors of power. Advocates for caution were overruled, and the mass inoculation proceeded on schedule. The inoculation of children began in 1955. Within days, some injected children were coming down with polio. Some were even spreading the disease to family members.

READ MORE AT https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/08/what_the_polio_vaccines_can_teach_us_about_the_covid_ones.html

REMEMBERING CHARLES BRONSON, 1921-2003

Who died this date in 2003. Here's a great post from our friends European Film Star postcards:  American actor Charles Bronson (1921-2003) was the archetypal screen tough guy with weather beaten features, often cast in the role of police officer, gunfighter, or convict. He was a man of few words but much action in hits like Machine-Gun Kelly (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Dirty Dozen (1967). But our favorite is the iconic Spaghetti Western C'era una volta il West/Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). (Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Henry Fonda)--READ AND SEE MORE HERE.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THE EFSP post on Claudia Cardinale here

AND IF YOU LOVE SPAGHETTI WESTERNS, WESTERNS ALL'ITALIANA HAS A GREAT POST ON BRONSON AT https://westernsallitaliana.blogspot.com/2018/12/his-name-was-bronson.html

TOP 10 CROTON HARMON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POSTS @ EVERYTHING CROTON -- UPDATED

CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR 1945 FOOTBALL

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST---THE TOP 10 CROTON HARMON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POSTS @ EVERYTHING CROTON -- UPDATED

THE SMITH YEARS DVD TRAILER -- 1975 was a year to remember for the Croton-Harmon Tigers. A Perfect storm of raw talent and innovative leadership transformed a failing football program into a championship caliber team and resulted in a high school football program that paved the way for future generations. Click on the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y4t5AfjG3w&feature=youtu.be

2011, CROTON BEATS LOURDES, PHOTOS, RECEPTION COMMITTEE, SECTION 1 CHAMPS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/11/photos-croton-beats-lourdes-reception.html

1930-1931, CROTON FOOTBALL http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/croton-football-1930-31.html

2012 BATTLE ON THE HUDSON, CROTON HARMON V. HEN HUD + SOUVENIR PROGRAM  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2012/09/as-promised-more-on-battle-on-hudson.html

1940'S CROTON HARMON FOOTBALL http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/09/croton-football-memories-1940s.html

1970'S AND MUCH MORE http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/06/croton-football-1970s-more.html 

MORE 1970'S FOOTBALL, COACH SMITH TOO http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/10/more-1970s-football-coach-smith-too.html 

SOUVENIR PROGRAM 1973, 1974 CROTON V. TUCKAHOE  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/10/1973-74-croton-v-tuckahoe-football.html

MORE 1973 FOOTBALL  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/02/more-1973-croton-football.html

1972 CROTON FOOTBALL + 1974 START http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/11/more-croton-football-1972-victory-over.html

AND HONORABLE MENTION: PANDEMIC FOOTBALL AND MORE 2021  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/03/croton-harmon-hs-varsity-football.html

MORE FROM THE "IT'S ALL RACIST CHRONICLES": AND NOW THE WORD CURRY IS... RACIST.....

The collective madness continues.....And now...curry is racist....more at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9874633/Now-word-CURRY-racist-Food-blogger-says-time-cancel-British-colonial-term.html

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, BLACK HOLES ARE...WAIT FOR IT....RACIST! PROPER GRAMMAR IS....RACIST..AND MORE

This post is closed to all comments. Comments and questions must be referred to the media source(s) cited.

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Physicists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and SUNY Stony Brook recently concluded that two black holes maintained their total surface area after merging. While this research was a welcome confirmation of the theory of general relativity, it failed to address a crucial matter: What were its racial implications? That’s a lacuna that an astronomy course at Cornell University aims to prevent. “Black Holes: Race and the Cosmos” poses the question, “Is there a connection between the cosmos and the idea of racial blackness?”

Anyone familiar with academia’s racial monomania knows the answer: Of course, there is. MORE AT  https://nypost.com/2021/06/23/are-cosmic-black-holes-racist-take-this-cornell-course-to-find-out/

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AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

APPLE PIE IS RACIST, MATH IS RACIST, AND MORE https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/06/and-nowaple-pie-is-racist.html

MIRANDA DEVINE: 13 US SERVICE MEMBERS DIED IN AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE TERRIBLE LEADERSHP LET THEM DOWN

Our 13 young military fallen deserved better, but they died with honor and give us faith in their noble generation, which has had to shoulder the burden of its feckless elders. A war that began when most of them were babies ended in disgrace when they were killed along with nearly 200 Afghans in last week’s suicide attack at Kabul airport during a withdrawal that could not have been more botched.

As President Biden attended Dover Air Force Base Sunday for the “dignified transfer” of the remains of these first US troops killed in Afghanistan in 18 months, thankfully, there were no words.

We didn’t have to hear him say “the buck stops with me” and then blame everyone else for his mistakes or listen to the formulaic words of compassion that always end up being about him, as if losing a son to cancer, tragic as that was, gives him proprietorial empathy over the families of the fallen.

The words that cut through were not from the president but from two freshly minted Gold Star parents. Their grief was so raw that they gave in, at times, to the impolite rage that many Americans feel and yet the White House refuses to acknowledge.

The chaos in Kabul is not business as usual. It is not the inevitable result of ending a 20-year-war. It is not the price you pay for evacuating refugees. There is nothing to boast about. Heads should be rolling. Generals should be falling on their swords. Yet all we get is smirks and sly spin from a White House consumed by optics. MORE FROM THE AMAZING MIRANDA DEVINE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/29/13-us-service-members-dead-in-kabul-due-to-bad-leaders-devine/

Sunday, August 29, 2021

COMPAGNIE PARENTO'S D.E.A. PICCIANO LECTURES AT OSSINING ROTARY CLUB, 1933

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.  

COMPAGNIE PARENTO'S D.E.A. PICCIANO LECTURES AT ROTARY CLUB.

1933

CLICK ON THE IMAGE. 

FOR MORE ABOUT COMPAGNIE PARENTO A.K.A. THE PERFUME FACTORY, CLICK HERE.

PART 26: AT THE REQUEST OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS & JOURNALISTS, ROMEO & JULIET NOW COMES WITH A TRIGGER ALERT, CDC ISSUES NEWS LANGUAGE GUIDELINES, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY TOO & MUCH MORE

One of our most popular series here at the blog.  The metaphysical---and not so metaphysical---book burning continues...

#1 ROMEO AND JULIET---Luvvies were branded "barmy", "woke" and "ridiculous" yesterday after adding trigger warnings about "upsetting" themes to performances of Romeo and Juliet. Visitors to the playwright's Elizabethan theatre, built in 1599, were given numbers for the Samaritans and for mental health charity Listening Place ‑ as suicide, drug use and fake blood feature in the show. MORE AT https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1479937/Globe-Theatre-Shakespeare-trigger-warning-Romeo-and-Juliet

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#2 CDC NOW ISSUING LANGUAGE GUIDELINES; politically correct--and incorrect--terms https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/Preferred_Terms.html

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#3 BRANDEIS EXPANDS LIST OF WORDS, PHRASES TO AVOID USING

A newly expanded list of language to avoid using at one ultra-woke college now warns against joking about obsessive-compulsive disorder — unless you’ve actually been diagnosed with it.  More than a dozen words and phrases have been added to Brandeis University’s widely mocked compendium of “violent” and “identity-based” terminology ahead of the start of its fall semester on Thursday.  But the elite Massachusetts institution’s Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center, which compiled the list, also notes that what “may be offensive for an outsider to say might be acceptably used by a member of that group.” The additions include, “‘I’m so OCD’ (outside of actually having OCD).”  The PARC’s “suggested alternative” — for those who don’t “actually” have OCD — is “I’m very organized, detailed oriented.” MORE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/brandeis-university-expands-list-of-words-phrases-to-avoid-using/

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#4, FOR THOSE FOLLOWING ABIGAIL SHRIER'S BOOK "IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE" https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/28/americas-book-burning-the-time-for-silence-about-f/

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SEE THE LAST EDITION OF THIS SERIES: 

PART 25: AT THE REQUEST OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS & JOURNALISTS, JK ROWLING DEATH THREAT https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/07/part-25-at-request-of-our-local-authors.html

OBITUARY & SERVICE INFO FOR IRVING R. FISCHER

Croton/Bedford Hills - Irving R. Fischer a long time resident of Croton-on Hudson and Bedford Hills, New York lived most recently in Wellington, Florida has passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on August 27, 2021 surrounded by his family. Preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Muriel. He is survived by his Son, Michael Fischer (Cheryl), Daughter, Lori Dean, (William), Daughter Merrill Spector (Randy) and his beloved grandchildren, Michael, Lauren, Robert, Ashley, Jenna, Jessica and Jamie.

Mr. Fischer graduated Perdue University in 1954, and went on to served as lieutenant and Platoon Leader in the US Army during the Korean War. After, he worked for HRH Construction Corporation serving as its President and later Chairman of the Board until it was sold in 1998. In 1977, Irving partnered with Richard Ravitch in the development of Manhattan Plaza. Called "The Hell's Kitchen Miracle on 42nd Street", Irving created a program which would provide 1689 affordable Section 8 housing units to Performing Artists and Community residents of the Chelsea-Clinton area of Manhattan. Irving developed Waterside Plaza in Manhattan as well as Stevenson Commons in The Bronx, New York, to name a few of the projects he was involved in building. Irv built many buildings for the Trump Organization, Sheldon Solow, Larry Silverstein and Steve Ross of Related Partners.

Mr. Fischer served on the Board of Directors of Paramount Communications as well as Vice Chairman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He also served as Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, in the Masters Degree in Real Estate Development Program. (MS-REDP) He co-taught with Joel Silverman a required course entitled Construction Management & Technology from 1987 until 2003.

Graveside Services will be held at Sharon Gardens Cemetery, Valhalla, N.Y. on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers donations to the Irving and Muriel Fischer Foundation are preferred please mail to 171 Succabone Road Bedford Hills, N.Y. 10507, would be appreciated.

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME  21 West Stevens Ave. - Hawthorne, New York 10532  914-769-4404

THE AFGHANISTAN DEBACLE CONTINUES, OUTRAGE BUILDS, ANOTHER ATTACK IMMINENT

There's so much bad press both here and abroad as this ongoing debacle unfolds.  You can read much of it at https://nypost.com/

Also:

FROM TOM FARANDA; HEARTBREAKING INTERVIEW, FATHER OF MARINE KILLED IN KABUL; MORE HERE

US SPECIAL FORCES VETERANS/VOLUNTEERS GETTING PEOPLE OUT; MORE HERE 

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says US troops will need to go back into combat in Afghanistan — as the region remains on high alert for more suicide attacks, with the death toll from Thursday’s atrocity soaring over 180, including 13 US service members.  MORE HERE

GOODWIN ON BIDEN'S SHAMEFUL DECISIONS LED TO CARNAGE  https://nypost.com/2021/08/26/sorry-bidens-decisions-led-to-kabul-carnage-goodwin/

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PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY, those we are leaving behind, our troops etal. as our country continues to flounder, our allies are increasingly alienated, and much more.

BRITAIN PULLS PLUG ON AIRLIFT; HOSTAGE FEARS GROW  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9934589/Britain-pulls-plug-Kabul-airlift-UK-start-getting-soldiers-Airport.html

AFGHANISTAN NIGHTMARE, DISHONOR, JUST GETS WORSE  https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/08/afghanistan-nightmare-gets-worse/

HOSTAGE TIME? TALIBAN SEALS OFF AIRPORT, AMERICANS WARNED TO AVOID THE AIRPORT, AND TOLD THOSE DESPERATELY WAITING AT THE GATES TO LEAVE...The Taliban deployed extra forces around Kabul’s airport Saturday in a bid to prevent large crowds as the US-led effort to evacuate people from Afghanistan races toward an Aug. 31 deadline.The move to seal off the airport comes two days after a deadly attack which killed nearly 200, including 13 US service members. Officials warned Americans to avoid the airport because of security threats, and told those desperately waiting at the gates to leave, Reuters reported. Taliban forces on Saturday fired warning shots and deployed some kind of colored smoke on a road leading to the airport, sending dozens of people scattering, The Associated Press reported.New checkpoints sprang up on roads leading to the airport, some manned by uniformed Taliban fighters with US-supplied Humvees and night-vision goggles captured from Afghan security forces. MORE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/28/taliban-seals-off-kabul-airport-stops-crowds-as-airlift-winds-down/

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BIZARRE STATEMENT: BIDENS SAYS....INSTRUCTED BY WHO?   https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/26/joe-biden-first-person-i-was-instructed-call-was-k/

AND 9/5 UPDATE TALIBAN NOT ALLOWING PLANES TO LEAVE https://nypost.com/2021/09/05/taliban-holding-6-us-flights-hostage-in-afghanistan-rep-mccaul/ 

and

TWO articles.  As always, please do your own due diligence. Prayers for the Americans, staff, and others left behind., the men, women and children now under the control of the Taliban.

#1----Final stretch: Westerners being blocked, beaten by Taliban amid last-ditch evacuation efforts--Taliban fighters beat an Australian man bloody and fired gunshots at a checkpoint near Kabul’s airport in a new video that gives a dramatic glimpse into the desperate struggle to pass militant roadblocks.  The footage was published just a week before President Biden’s Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw US troops, which has triggered a mad dash to the airport by Western citizens and Afghans who aided them.

“I’m an Australian citizen. They hit me,” said the man with blood streaming down his face. Bearded fighters menacingly brandished semiautomatic rifles nearby and one appeared to object to being filmed.  Five of the man’s Afghan-citizen family members were with him, but a member of the group said the relatives were split up, with some feared abducted, according to the Daily Mail. MORE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/westerners-being-blocked-beaten-by-taliban-amid-evacuation-efforts/

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#2---Still stranded Blinken says up to 1,500 US citizens stuck in Kabul as Biden laughs off question; MORE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/blinken-says-up-to-1500-us-citizens-still-stranded-in-kabul/

AND

FROM TUESDAY

JOE'S ABOUT FACE---STUNNING REVERSAL IN AFGHANISTAN, FOR THOSE OF US WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY SERVING OVERSEAS

Biden asks for 'contingency plans' to extend Afghanistan withdrawal in stunning reversal

The president has asked defense officials to put together plans for keeping American forces on the ground in Afghanistan beyond the end of this month — despite claiming earlier Tuesday that the White House would abide by the Taliban’s “red line” of a full withdrawal by Aug. 31. MORE AT https://nypost.com/2021/08/24/biden-to-speak-about-afghanistan-evacuation-amid-criticism/

WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATED: A RESCUER'S REPORT  https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/rescuer-describes-what-kabul-airport-is-like-now/

NO AMERICANS RESCUED OUTSIDE OF KABUL; MORE HERE

CLEMENCY FOR COP KILLERS, A LETTER FROM THE GAZETTE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

THE FOLLOWING LETTER APPEARS IN THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE:

To the editor:

This is a somewhat controversial position to take in New York nowadays, but may I humbly suggest that it is not OK to kill someone in cold blood just because they are a police officer?

Governor Cuomo has been lionized as a courageous leader of the progressive movement, full of compassion and a fighter for justice. He began his career in 1977 managing his father’s mayoral campaign against Ed Koch. That race is famous for the Democratic Party primary campaign posters put up in conservative sections of Queens with the slogan “Vote for Cuomo, not the homo.” But hey…it was a Dem primary in Queens in the ‘70s, and that’s just how it was. (To her credit, Cynthia Nixon didn’t let Cuomo forget: in her 2018 primary she trolled him with her quip “Vote for the homo, not the Cuomo.”)

Andrew Cuomo’s career went on to greater things, culminating in stuffing highly contagious patients into nursing homes, thereby resulting in the deaths of over a thousand helpless elderly. What finally sent Mr. Cuomo into taxpayer-funded retirement was not his harassment and fondling of women, but that times have changed—it is no longer acceptable to run your finger along a female employee’s body and force a quick slobbery kiss on her.

On his way out, Mr. Cuomo reminded us once again how much the definition of “progressive” has changed in New York. Adulation for cop-killers is not an entirely new theme with our elected officials. In April 1900, Westchester County Deputy Sheriff Robert Douglass was called into National Guard service to stand watch at the Croton Dam. He was shot and killed by someone hiding in the bushes in the dark of night. To mark the 119th anniversary of the event, Croton Mayor Brian Pugh put up a Facebook post praising revolutionaries (see my letter, The Gazette week of April 25/May 1, 2019).

As Governor, Andrew Cuomo has long had a soft spot for the criminals who perpetrated the October 1981 Brink’s robbery in Nanuet. Security guard Peter Paige was murdered, along with Nyack police officers Edward O’Grady and Waverly Brown. Nine children lost their father on that day.

But times change, and neither Croton mayors nor New York State governors care much about such things anymore. They care about “progressive” values, and few politicians are more progressive than San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, whose parents committed the 1981 robbery in Nanuet.

Mr. Boudin’s mother (Kathy Boudin) and father (David Gilbert) were put in prison. Chesa Boudin said: “I’m sad that my parents have to suffer what they have to suffer on a daily basis, that millions of other people have to suffer as well.”

Kathy Boudin was paroled in 2003. Her life achievement may have left nine children fatherless, but her impressive slaughter of police officers garnered her a professorship at Columbia University and a position as “Scholar in Residence” at NYU law school.

David Gilbert was just granted clemency by Governor Cuomo. The widows and orphans will never have clemency, but nobody cares about them anymore.

Perhaps this October 20, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Pugh can do a joint Facebook post on the anniversary of the Nanuet murders, praising David Gilbert and his contribution to the Revolution; after all the Croton Dam strikers only murdered one cop, Chesa’s parents murdered two cops and a security guard.

Times have changed in New York.

--Paul Steinberg