July 2020 Chit Chat

Independence Day...  

Happy Fourth Everyone.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/americans-denied-entry-sardinia-italy/index.html

[size=60]Americans on private jet denied entry to Sardinia
Valentina Di Donato and Sharon Braithwaite, CNN • Updated 3rd July 2020
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[size=15](CNN) — Five Americans who flew by private jet to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia were refused entry to Italy on Wednesday due to new EU travel restrictions on countries with high coronavirus infection rates, police told CNN.
The private jet -- which took off from Colorado with 11 would-be holidaymakers on board -- arrived in Cagliari airport on Wednesday morning, according to the Cagliari Police spokesperson.
Earlier this week, the European Union formally agreed a set of recommendations that allows travelers from outside the bloc to visit EU countries. But the list of 14 countries did not include the United States, whose current Covid-19 infection rate does not meet the criteria set by the EU for it to be considered a "safe country."
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The five US citizens were traveling with friends from New Zealand, the UK, Germany and Italy. There were also three children on board.
Italian authorities tried to "find a solution" to the problem of the American travelers, the police spokesperson said, but there was no way around the new decree that came into effect Tuesday.
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England unlocks travel with 59 countries -- but not the US
After around 14 hours on the ground, the whole group decided to leave Cagliari on their jet the same day and headed towards Birmingham, England, the police said.
It was unclear if the travelers planned to disembark in the United Kingdom. The UK requires US travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days.[/size][/size]

I guess George and the family are in Italy by now.

PAN - I hope Birmingham strictly enforces the quarantine. The people on that plane had to know about the EU ruling before they took off. Why would they think they'd be exempt? The fact that they could afford a private jet? Sorry. The virus doesn't care.

Annemarie - If they are there I guess they got there before the EU blocked travel from the US - or maybe they're considered Brits and not Americans. Either way, "quarantining" for 2 weeks in their Como home is really no hardship. I'd do it in a heartbeat!

Well now apparently, Kanye West will run for President he needs to go take his medicine and have two seats.

Mm, if he so admires Trump, why would he want to compete with him - or is that too simple?


Yes, I posted the Sardinia story because I wondered how that ruling would impact on George

and family and friends

party animal - not! wrote:
Mm, if he so admires Trump, why would he want to compete with him - or is that too simple?

PAN,

in November 2016, the black community didn't vote for Hillary Clinton. She lost vs Trump, and we all know how perfect that worked.

So, to avoid a second term for Trump, lots of members of the black community might think about voting for Biden, but if a black candidate appeared, it could change their minds. Devoted Trump voters wouldn't suggest about voting for West instead, but black Americans might.

Just my 2 cents, of course...

I think he would simply be a distraction that we don't need. I wouldn't vote for him he is a Trump lover.

I wouldn't vote for him under any circumstances,- he's too unstable and we already have a president who's mentally incompetent. It is possible he could pull some younger voters away from both drumpf and Biden. I think the majority of the African American community is still going to vote Democratic but West could make the election even closer than it already will be.

The African American Community do not have the numbers to impact a national election. It's the media that wants to blame Poseidon Biden push on the African American Community. We simply don't have the numbers to influence a national election.

https://www.celebitchy.com/670458/kanye_west_thinks_hes_running_for_president_this_year_and_who_really_cares/




Or. How to sell a few more copies of his new album.........

Note to Kanye:

Interesting detail: write-in votes don't count unless you write in the name of a registered candidate. In US Presidential elections, there are usually hundreds of registered candidates that didn't make it onto the ballot in any given state.

Most of those candidates haven't got a prayer of winning the state. If they think they've got a genuine chance, they can register their choices for electors with the state.

But what if a registeted candidate who is not on the ballot manages to get enough write-in votes to win? Well, state and federal election officials have contact information for every registered candidate. This is speculative, but I imagine that state election officials would call the campaign and remind them to pick some electors within a few weeks, before the state's deadline to convene its electoral college.

heartlove wrote:The African American Community do not have the numbers to impact a national election.  It's the media that wants to blame Poseidon Biden push on the African American Community.  We simply don't have the numbers to influence a national election.

You are mistaken. The African American community in this country has more than enough numbers to be a swing vote in any national election. They also have a substantial influence on policy and choice of candidates.

LizzyNY wrote:

heartlove wrote:The African American Community do not have the numbers to impact a national election.  It's the media that wants to blame Poseidon Biden push on the African American Community.  We simply don't have the numbers to influence a national election.

You are mistaken. The African American community in this country has more than enough numbers to be a swing vote in any national election. They also have a substantial influence on policy and choice of candidates.

Absolutely not. The media is the only entity that wants you to believe that.

LIzzY your right we do have enough people to impact a election , we simply all need to come out and vote.

Many don't think their vote matters so they don't vote. I hope that this year we all come out and vote Trump has to go.

Dear Kanye:

Maybe Bernie Sanders could be your running mate.

Finding someone you want to spend your time with and share your life with is an AMAZING journey. What happens when you take two people and lock them into one heart. One an abstract thinker the other seeks to dissolve all the variables. One who seeks God the other who fears God. One with immovable faith the other unwavering understanding. One kind beyond description the other unyielding care. One wealthy the other meager means. One White the other Black. You find an amazing Heaven-sent journey.

Ennio Morricone passed away, he was 91.

Mary K letourneau has died of cancer she was 58. She was the teacher who had an affair with a student at 12.

With so much fake news, amazing this a true story, the two eventually really got married.

Yeah they got married and broke  up last year.

Interesting...

Hi folks, in case you're wondering where the posts about Kelly Preston are, I've moved them to her own thread, here: https://www.clooneysopenhouse.com/t1414-kelly-preston

Are we there yet?

C.T. Vivian dies at 95; John Lewis, dies at 80.  Children of the Almighty God, may the God of Heaven rest your Souls.  We thank you!

Hi! The incompetent techie strikes again. YouTube just recommended a great video of an interview that George did with Prof. Richard Brown of NYU in 2005. They talk for 45 minutes about his life and career, as well as his work process. It reminded me a lot of the interview he did for the Actors' Studio, only more focused.

 I checked to see if we already had it, but I don't think we do. I have no clue how to post it here. The only info I have is what  was given with the video:  @Prof. Richard Brown #movies 101 #NYU #AMC.

If anyone can find it and post it here I'd really appreciate it. It's a great interview.

Hi folks, a favour to ask: when you start new threads, could you please try to name the thread with what it's about? It helps everyone else to know what a thread is about by having a title that tells them.

I've been really puzzled today by threads called 'The Mill House Sonning' which had nothing to do with them but was about George and Amal's house. And then the even more mystifying video interview with professor Rich Brown which had an even more random name.

Thanks!

Also: have banned Heartlove from the site. I think we've all had enough of her mindgames. I'm sure she'll be back soon with a new account name.

Hi, Katie! Thanks for sorting out the interview video and for the vacation from "heartlove". Of course she'll be back, but maybe we'll get a few days peace.

How's the house coming? Are the floors done? Is all the painting finished? There's nothing like getting to the point where all the big work is done and you can relax because all that's left is the little things that can wait until later. I hope you're enjoying cooking in your own kitchen and sleeping in your own bed. Just keep visiting your mum from time to time. She'll miss you.

The kitchen is finallydone (including the painting - hooray!), and of course I've got a functional bathroom. None of the other rooms in my house (nor the hallway and stairs) are done yet, so still a way to go, but heading in the right direction. I've stalled on the flooring. Not sure if I want what I thought I wanted if that makes sense?

But yes, soooo good to have a kitchen again.

So happy you're making progress and, yes, I totally get what you said about the floors. Take your time deciding, because whatever you choose you'll have to live with  - at least for a while.  As long as you have a working kitchen and bathroom the rest can wait. It may not be pretty, but it will be livable and you can do a little at a time until it's done.

I'm curious. Are you still under any kind of lockdown rules? Has that impacted you getting the work done on your house?

Lockdown, schmockdown!  At least, that's how it seems at the moment.  Technically we're still in some kind of lockdown, but government messaging has been so vague that to be honest, I've no idea what we can or can't do anymore.  All I know is we've got to wear masks in some public spaces but not all public spaces unless for some reason we're not able to [the police have said they won't be responding to any reports of people not wearing masks because they've got better things to do. Can't say I blame them].

Regis Philbin has passed away he was 88.

Katie - It sounds like you're in pretty much the same situation we are. NY is a bit better about knowing what's expected, but there are still a lot of people who aren't following guidelines. It's frustrating. I just play it safe and wear a mask whenever I go out. From what I see, most of the people in my neighborhood do, too. Oh, well, it has to end sometime.

I was wondering, are you back to work yet? I can't imagine job hunting at a time like this. If you're not working at least you have the time to get the house together. Small blessings.

TO EVERYONE: Has anyone heard from Joanna?

Olivia de Haviland has passed away she was 104.

Gosh. Thought she was dead years ago! Terrible, aren't I?

Katie - Her sister, Joan Fontaine, passed away a few years ago. Maybe that's who you were thinking of. 104! Wow, that's a long time.

Loving this idea in NYC, Lizzy!

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/nyc-adds-172-miles-new-open-streets-removes-277-miles-previous-open-streets


Come in Joanna!! Hope you're okay!

PAN - Sounds good, but it really isn't a new idea. There have always been streets closed off in summer as "play streets". Usually they featured activities run by the Police Athletic League. Honestly, if it was really about giving kids a place to play they would open up the schoolyards. There are several schools in every neighborhood. The schoolyards are large and fenced in for safety, and no streets would have to be closed to traffic. When I was in high school  (a gazillion years ago) I spent one summer volunteering for the Red Cross in a summer center run in my neighborhood schoolyard.

As far as enabling bike traffic, I'd be a lot more sympathetic if bicyclists didn't so often act as if they own the streets. I live on a wide, tree-lined street that has a large designated bicycle lane that runs for miles. That rarely stops cyclists from riding on the pavement or in traffic, where they endanger pedestrians and drivers alike.

The streets that were re-opened, at least in my neighborhood, were opened to facilitate traffic flow. We may not like it, but for many in this city cars are a necessary means of transportation. I don't have an answer to the problem, but it seems nobody else does either.

Well, I get the impression this time tha it's also about more open-air eating and restaurants.

Makes sense.

I also understand that on both sides of the pond whatever is arranged/happens the insurers

also get involved. So it's long old process whatever you want to try and do. The High Line

must be interesting at the mo............social distancing and all that

The streets that are open for restaurants to have outdoor seating seem to be primarily in Manhattan. I haven't seen anything about the insurance aspect of things but I'm sure it's a big part of the picture. Actually, that may be a factor in why they're not using school property for summer programs.

The High Line reopened recently but I'm not sure how they're handling things. I haven't been in Manhattan for months and probably won't be going any time soon.

Open air eating is fine , but if people aren't gong to wear masks it shouldn't be allowed. My daughter was out this weekend
we live on the lower east side the streets with the restaurants were crowded and not many were wearing masks. This is not good looking at other states we could rise in cases if people don't follow the rules.

Where I live people are pretty conscientious about wearing masks.  Required in all public establishments now.  Virginia, DC and Maryland are watching the COVID case increase very closely. The crowds at Maryland and Virginia beaches are definitely a contributor to the recent rise in cases.  Outdoor dining is fairly safe as long as tables are safely distanced and the restaurants are following the proper protocol.  But Virginia bars are not opened except for outside seating.  Think the same is the case for Maryland and DC.  Bars have got to be one of the worst places to be during this pandemic.

The bars seem to be the biggest problem here. I don't know if drinking makes people stupid or if they start out that way, but social distancing and masks seem to be ignored more than observed. Quite a few places have had their liquor licenses suspended for not following guidelines. The last thing we need is for the virus to surge again.

(Donnamarie, it's good to have you back.  )

I was talking to my doctor and she there was going to have to be a shut down again not as harsh as the first but bars are going to have to close since people aren't heeding the warnings.

Drinking definitely makes me stupid!!

Speaking of drinking, saw this on line:

     A pervert, a con man and a fascist walked into a bar.
     Barman: What'll it be, Mr. President?