Thousands of people prepared to descend on Paris on Sunday (Oct 6) to protest a government plan to let single women and lesbians become pregnant with fertility treatments, the first major social reform since France legalised gay marriage in 2013. IVF treatment is currently only available to heterosexual couples in France. (Photo: AFP/Josep Lago) Organisers say they are hoping 100,000 will turn out against a law heading to the Senate this month, after it was approved by the lower house of parliament in September. President Emmanuel Macron pledged during his 2017 election campaign to push the law despite deep resistance among right-wing opponents as well as conservative Roman Catholics and other religious groups. They had mobilised massively in 2012 and 2013 against a move by Macron's Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande to legalise marriage for homosexual couples, with one Paris protest attracting 340,000 people according to police. But that law did not allow lesbian … [Read more...] about French to protest pro IVF law for single women, lesbians
Single payer healthcare system pros and cons
Here’s why Dan Koh is thinking about another run for Congress
Could the 3rd District see a primary rematch next year? Dan Koh says it’s up to Rep. Lori Trahan, even though he’s the one mulling a primary challenge. Koh, an Andover native and former chief of staff for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, has been pressuring the freshman congresswoman to release bank statements to prove she didn’t break campaign finance laws during her narrow 2018 win in the Democratic primary race for the Massachusetts congressional seat. If she doesn’t, Koh says he’s seriously considering another run — even if it rankles fellow Democrats — and has positioned himself as a more forceful, progressive advocate in the era of President Donald Trump. But before he jumps in, the 34-year-old is testing how the issue of Trahan’s campaign funding plays with voters. “The residents of the 3rd Congressional District deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, especially at a time when trust in government is … [Read more...] about Here’s why Dan Koh is thinking about another run for Congress
Review of Six Senses Bhutan – Thimphu Lodge
Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review. I recently traveled to India & Bhutan. You can read my trip reports here Review: Swiss Airbus A330 First Class from Zürich to Delhi Review: India Aman Tour – The Lodhi New Delhi Review: India Aman Tour – Aman-i-Khas, Ranthambore National Park Review: India Aman Tour – Amanbagh, Rajasthan Review: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra Review: The Oberoi New Delhi Review: Six Senses Thimphu, Bhutan (today) Review: Six Senses Punakha, Bhutan Review: Six Senses Paro, Bhutan Review: Bhutan Airlines A320 Business Class from Paro to Delhi Review: The Leela Palace Delhi Review: Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur) Review: The Oberoi Udaivilas (Udaipur) Review: Lufthansa A380 First Class Delhi to Frankfurt Today (October 9, 2019): Review of Six Senses Bhutan, Thimphu Lodge. Location: Google maps Hotel website: Six Senses Bhutan, Thimphu Lodge Tip: get complimentary VIP perks … [Read more...] about Review of Six Senses Bhutan – Thimphu Lodge
Vietnam beach town encroaches sea for $50 mln tourism complex
Over the past few days, the Vung Tau Cable Car Tourism JSC has created thousands of square meters of land on Bai Truoc (Front Beach) beach area to construct a resort complex that includes a cable car and an aquarium. The seven-hectare Hong Nguu complex, which plans to receive 3,000 - 5,000 visitors a day, will encroach 200 meters into the sea. It will consist of two areas. In Zone A, a 22-storey five-star hotel will be built, along with restaurants and sea sports facilities. In Zone B, there will be an aquarium, a beach area and a manmade swimming pool. The $50 million project is scheduled to be completed by 2023. The history of the project goes way back to 1998 when the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province approved an urban plan for 22 hectares in the Bai Truoc area, of which 10 hectares were reserved for a tourist complex, including an aquarium. In 2003, the province gave the Vung Tau Cable Car Tourism JSC the rights to use more than 67,000 square meters of what is a special-use … [Read more...] about Vietnam beach town encroaches sea for $50 mln tourism complex
Why the Red Sox felt their pitching infrastructure needed change
Dana LeVangie – who’s been a member of the Red Sox organization for 29 years, including the last seven on the coaching staff – was reassigned from pitching coach to a role in the pro scouting department. Steve Langone, the advance scouting manager, likewise will move to pro scouting. Brian Bannister, who’d served an in-uniform role as assistant pitching coach on top of his duties as VP of pitching development, will no longer be part of the big league coaching staff. Instead, he’ll focus on pitcher development programs, particularly in the minors. Change felt inevitable as the year progressed not necessarily because of the results but perhaps more because of the tension that existed between LeVangie’s traditional approach to game-planning – he drew upon his advance scouting background by consuming video tirelessly in search of holes in opposing hitters’ swings – and the team’s desire to embrace the data-driven model used by … [Read more...] about Why the Red Sox felt their pitching infrastructure needed change