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And some other photos from the same day |
Alcohol is poison for the body, poison for the mind, and poison for the soul.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm0rk0EeXthVRlyBjss3Q4SAiBoVHM1kr8PVHcCL_UwsecH7JI7x4LfLcLtWPAKw5_aFb0u9rGqEptrOZQTv-_IPC04xfXdg6woF32X6rUNe_3XQ38kwcVzieOCRomcjAy-xr1nTftio/s1600/NAOTMAA.jpg)
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Monday, November 1, 2021
Restore the Monarchy Part 1: Montenegro
In 2011, Montenegro recognized an official role for the Royal House of Petrović-Njegoš in Montenegro: to promote Montenegrin identity, culture and traditions through cultural, humanitarian and other non-political activities, which has been interpreted as a "creeping restoration" of the monarchy.
Further down the page it states:
On the 12 July 2011 the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on the Status of the Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty.
The law "regulates the important issues regarding the status of the descendants of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty, for the historical and moral rehabilitation of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty for whom their dethroning was contrary to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Montenegro, a violent act of annexation in the year 1918." (Article 1).
The law recognises the descendants of King Nikola I in the male line and their wives as the descendants of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty (Article 2), and appoints the eldest male heir, namely Prince Nikola II, as the representative of the dynasty (Article 5). It also affirms the House law of the dynasty by defining the succession to the headship of the dynasty as being passed down through the "male heir of the oldest male heir" (Article 5).
The law protects the use of the heraldic symbols of the dynasty by the representative of the dynasty, Prince Nikola II (Article 6).
Article 8 allows for members of the dynasty to obtain Montenegrin citizenship and also to be dual-nationals of other nations without losing their Montenegrin citizenship. This is of particular relevance today as all of the members of the dynasty also hold French citizenship.
The law also creates the non-political (Article 10) Petrović-Njegoš Foundation (Article 9), an organisation chaired by Prince Nikola II (Article 10), with its aim to "affirm the Montenegrin culture and participation in humanitarian and development activities in the interest of Montenegro and its traditions" (Article 9).
From Montenegro's exchequer, the law allocates 4.3 million euros over a seven-year period to the Petrović-Njegoš Foundation (Article 11). In addition, Prince Nikola II is entitled to a monthly income equivalent to the gross monthly earnings of the President of Montenegro (Article 16).
The Petrovic-Njegoš Foundation has its seat in Montenegro. "The Descendants of the dynasty are given the continuous use of the house of King Nikola I of Montenegro in Njeguši...its gardens...and meadow-land."
"Descendants of the dynasty will have built for them a family home in Cetinje...and be given an apartment in Podgorica" (Article 12).
To carry out their official functions Prince Nikola II has the right to use State objects and resources and "the exclusive right of use of the first storey" of the Petrović Palace (Dvorac Petrovića) in Podgorica, "and when protocol requires, use of the ground floor with priority over other users" (Article 13).
The law allows for Prince Nikola II to act as a representative of the Government of Montenegro and perform other protocol and non-political functions (Article 7). The first such undertaking was made by the Prince in July 2011 when he represented the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Igor Lukšić, at the requiem of Otto von Habsburg, former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary.
When performing functions on behalf of the Government, Prince Nikola II and the other members of the dynasty are afforded full State protocol (Article 15).
To me this reads as Montenegro being a constitutional monarchy in everything but name. If only they would go one step further and make it official.
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Firestorm
Day and night had long since blurred together. At this point we were only delaying the inevitable and conceded our house to the flames. We tried to leave town on the main road going east but abandoned vehicles blocked the way. Upon returning to town we went to the visitor’s center where emergency services were shuttling people out on buses. Seating was limited and most of the buses had already left. Instead we joined a convoy of private vehicles heading out on the bus route. Our car had to be abandoned when a tree fell in front of us. Just as well for once we stepped out the tires erupted into flames. It was misery.
We pulled our jackets up to shield our heads from the flames that licked at us from both sides of the road. As we walked I noticed an ember alight on my finger, yet I couldn’t feel it burn. I couldn’t even feel my sweat. Was I sweating? The soot coating my skin felt dry. I tried rubbing some off between my fingers and with it came the outer layer of skin. I felt no pain. I looked beyond my hands and saw that the bottom of my shoes had melted away. I had been walking barefoot on the asphalt for some time. Feeling nauseous from heat stroke, I vomited. Now my stomach rumbled with hunger.
After walking for what felt like an eternity our group emerged from the blaze into a clear blue sky, as far as I could tell. With my eyes cloudy as egg whites I could only see silhouettes against a nondescript background. I raised my hands in a vain attempt to wipe my eyes clear and felt the skin on my arms split open. I held them straight out to avoid any more damage.
Eventually I could hear people talking in the distance. I couldn't understand what they were saying. I called out to them but with all of the smoke I had inhaled I could only get out a hoarse groan. I reached out for help and shambled over to them.
Finally I was close enough to hear what the voices were saying. “There’s nothin' we can do for 'em, boys, 'cept send 'em back to God", said a voice in a country drawl, "Make it quick for 'em and aim for the head.”
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Security Theater
I'll cut to the chase; on Friday, October 22nd we were notified at work that we would have to get fully vaccinated for Covid by February 15, 2022 or be put on unpaid leave until March 17, 2022 at which point we would be fired. We are allowed to seek medical or religious exemptions but there is no chance of that happening in a Godless country like the United States. Frankly I think the entire thing is horseshit.
Iowa never locked down. In the event it did my employer got themselves labeled as an "essential" company. Did I get hazard pay? No. Did I get additional sick leave? No. What I got instead was news in January that my department was being relocated to another state. This, obviously, pissed a bunch of people off and they all quit. When that finally caught up to us by mid-April we were put on permanent overtime varying between 48 and 57 hours per week. We've also been masked since May 11, 2020. I have not worn a mask anywhere outside of work since at least June of this year. And now they're telling us that if we are not fully vaccinated after two goddamned years of this shit we'll be fired.
It's not all bad though. I've been thinking about looking for a new job recently, preferably one with minimal overtime or least a job I enjoy so the OT is bearable. I guess what they say is true, "When God closes a door, He opens a window".
Monday, October 25, 2021
BlogSpot Graveyard: Bird Hybrids
- 17 October 2017 at 22:04
- 23 November 2018 at 16:08
- 17 August 2019 at 21:08
- 26 July 2017 at 22:59
- 5 August 2017 at 16:39
- 15 September 2018 at 15:05
- 31 March 2019 at 22:17
- 3 June 2017 at 21:00
- 17 August 2019 at 21:11
- 18 November 2019 at 21:37
- 25 November 2019 at 11:08
- 15 August 2017 at 22:10
- 11 December 2017 at 12:26
- 11 December 2017 at 12:25
- 27 January 2018 at 12:39
- 19 February 2018 at 22:06
- 23 January 2019 at 22:18
- 23 May 2017 at 23:04
- 17 August 2019 at 20:58
- 18 November 2018 at 07:30
- 24 March 2018 at 22:18
- 5 June 2017 at 21:48
- 5 June 2017 at 21:51
- 19 June 2017 at 22:39
- 10 January 2020 at 10:36
- 17 August 2019 at 20:51
- 18 February 2018 at 09:36
- 18 February 2018 at 14:16
- 14 December 2017 at 23:45
- 12 June 2017 at 23:43
- 7 September 2017 at 14:51
- 7 September 2017 at 15:44
- 13 November 2018 at 17:47
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Photo of the Week: Romanov's Tower
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Tsar Nicholas II chats with other adults while one of his daughters, likely Grand Duchess Olga or Grand Duchess Tatiana, climbs to the top of a small tower. |
Source: Yale University Library