Special Counsel Robert Mueller is beginning to clear the swamp, with the the first charges against Paul Manafort and an associate made. They are accused for money laundering, among other things, but before Mr Manafort became campaign manager for President Trump. Sordid details of tens of millions of then Pro Russian Ukrainian Government's money flowing through dubious channels to Manafort.
The main focus is however on smaller fry turned witness, George Papadopoulos. He lied to the FBI during earlier interviews but now reveals details of contacts with Russian officials, who offered 'dirt' on Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaigns. There has been talk that he has been more than cooperative and may be actively assisting the FBI with their inquiry.
Mysogeny and sexual misdemeanors are in the news on both sides of the Pond, with both US actors and UK politicians coming under the spotlight for inappropriate behavior and worse. The issuing of charges against the fired Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont for rebellion, has led to him quietly slipping away to Belgium, where he might be seeking asylum. The Central Spanish government is increasing its control in Catalonia.
This has somewhat obscured Brexit news. For example, due to the now urgent nature of the negotiations, you will be relieved to hear that talks are ongoing about when to table the next set of talks. Brexiteers and Nigel Farage are up in arms because three senior UK Remainers, Kenneth Clarke, Nick Clegg and Lord Adonis visited EU Negotiator Michel Barnier. Apparently when asked by the BBC whether he had travelled to Brussels to stop Brexit, Nick Clegg replied, "If only it were that easy! We're here just to get a better understanding of what's going on in the talks."
Sadly, today is also the day that it was announced that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere had risen to an all time high, the highest level for 800,000 years.
Spent the day catching up with emails and designing a calendar. In the evening, prepared two pumpkins for tomorrow and baked biscuits. I'd hoped for eyeballs, but they look more like fatty mini steaks, so I'll brand them as snake or rat cutlets.
Halloween is really a strange beast when you think about it. It originates from All Hallows' Eve, the evening before a christian celebration of All Saints' Day. By the 19th century in Ireland and Scotland, the celebration of Halloween was widely distributed as a celebration more linked to an older celtic one, Samhain, with the carving of lanterns from beets, turnips and latterly pumpkins. It spread through the UK and then over to the US. Then it found resonance back in Europe, especially where there were pumpkin growers! Commercialisation has had it's own impact, in promoting ever more elaborate costumes, masks and theatrical makeup, as well as sweets especially for the event.
However, there is something endearing about the fact that there is a day in the year where more and more children will dress up, knock on the doors of strangers and freely accept sweets, even if their parents are standing in the background, just in case.
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