Month: August 2024

VISITORS TO CHINGUETTI HAVE THE chance to see new Chinguetti, where most accommodations are located, and old Chinguetti, the semi-abandoned, half-buried city where ancient libraries can be found. There is, however, a third Chinguetti, which has almost entirely been reclaimed by the desert. A little over one mile (two kilometers) northeast of modern Chinguetti, on the way to the village of Entkemkemt, the desert track runs through a set of unimpressive sand dunes. Buried under these sand dunes are the remains of the older Chinguetti.  Chinguetti was founded in the year 777 CE and became a major trading, cultural, and religious hub in the region by the 11th-century. It was around this time that Chinguetti reached its apogee and started declining. After two centuries of steady decline, the settlement was eventually abandoned and a new Chinguetti was re-established as a fortified trading center. It is undetermined whether remains from the original Chinguetti can be found among the ruins under these dunes. The terrain is harsh, interspersed with thorny bushes, scrawny goats, and ramshackle huts. There is, however, one imposing, isolated building that stands out. It is the only building from older Chinguetti that has been kept clear of the sand: the… CONTINUE READING…

In another rare public appearance for former First Lady Melania Trump, who appears to have been staying at the family’s New York City residence in Trump Tower in the weeks following the former president’s shocking conviction on all 34 felony counts brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, stunned with her tasteful and beautiful outfit. As background, Melania has not been very present during this election cycle, with Trump saying that she is more of a private person but will do what she can to help the country success. Talking about her private nature and willingness to eschew it for the good of the country, he said,  “It’s funny, she was a very successful model, very, very successful, and yet she was a private person. She’s going to be out a lot. Not because she likes doing it, but she likes the results.” Continuing, he added, “She wants to see this country really succeed. She loves the country.” Continuing, Trump re-emphasized Melania’s essentially private nature compared to other First Ladies. He said, “You know, a lot of first ladies would go out — they want to be everywhere. They get angry at their husband because he’s not introducing them.” He then continued, “If I… CONTINUE READING…

A luxury Parisian hotel was forced to apologize to Serena Williams and her family after the retired American tennis player was reportedly denied entry to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams wrote on X Monday. Williams, 42, has been in Paris with her husband Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters Olympia, 6, and Adira, 10 months, since the start of the 2024 Olympics. The four-time Olympic gold medalist was involved in this year’s Olympic torch relay as the torch made its way from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron. During her segment, she was joined by Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci. Following more than a week of games, Williams attempted to dine at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel whose restaurant offers a view of the Eiffel Tower. However, when she arrived, Williams claimed she and her family were denied entry despite what she called an “empty restaurant.” As many fans reached out to show their support, so did the Peninsula Paris. “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you… CONTINUE READING…

Congresswoman and “Squad” member Cori Bush lost big in her primary race on the evening of Tuesday, August 6. Polling from the eve of the election and well before was correct in showing that St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, a marginally more moderate candidate who had the backing of pro-Israel groups, would blow her out of the water. So, voters in the far-left 1st Congressional District of Missouri voted to unseat her in what appears to be a rebuke of the Squad’s farthest left stances, particularly on Israel. In that respect, it is similar to Rep. Jamal Bowman’s brutal loss in New York, a loss that saw the American Israeli political action committee pour money into his opponent’s race. Victor Wesley Bell released a statement after his victory had been called. In the version of it posted to X (formerly Twitter), the statement began by saying, “Tonight, Wesley Bell defeated incumbent Rep. Cori Bush to win the Democratic primary for Congress for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.” The statement then quoted Bell as thanking all those who voted and volunteered for him, saying, “I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of this district have placed in me. This victory belongs to every… CONTINUE READING…

On a day that was supposed to be filled with joy and celebration, we found ourselves in an unexpected and profound loneliness. Our birthday, a day meant for laughter, presents, and the warmth of loved ones, became a stark reminder of solitude. It started like any other birthday with hopeful anticipation. The morning sun cast a golden hue over our home, and the scent of cake and fresh flowers filled the air. But as the hours ticked by, something unusual began to unravel. Calls went unanswered, messages remained unread, and the once-promised company turned into a silence so loud it was deafening. The joyful noise we had imagined was replaced by the eerie quiet of abandonment. It wasn’t just the absence of people that stung; it was the absence of the familiar comforts that usually accompanied such a special day. We wandered through the day with a sense of surreal detachment, as if we were spectators in our own lives. The cake, once a symbol of celebration, sat untouched. The decorations, meant to bring cheer, seemed to mock us with their brightness. We felt like castaways stranded on a deserted island of our own making, surrounded by the remnants of… CONTINUE READING…

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Monday blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for the stock market’s dramatic plunge, months after claiming he deserved credit for the market’s then-record upswing. “Of course there is a massive market downturn. Kamala is even worse than Crooked Joe,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social about Harris, the de facto Democratic presidential nominee. The night before, as Asian markets fell dramatically, the former president wrote, “STOCK MARKETS CRASHING. I TOLD YOU SO!!! KAMALA DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE. BIDEN IS SOUND ASLEEP. ALL CAUSED BY INEPT U.S. LEADERSHIP!” U.S. stocks dropped sharply Monday, apparently in reaction to fears of a recession that were sparked in part because of Friday’s weaker-than-expected jobs report. But in January, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reached record highs, Trump said the surge was because investors thought he would beat President Joe Biden. “THIS IS THE TRUMP STOCK MARKET BECAUSE MY POLLS AGAINST BIDEN ARE SO GOOD THAT INVESTORS ARE PROJECTING THAT I WILL WIN,” he wrote on Truth Social that month. The Harris campaign pushed back on Monday with its own attack against Trump’s economic record. “Donald Trump had the worst jobs record of any modern president, and oversaw some of the worst days in the stock… CONTINUE READING…

Dolly Parton, recognized within the sphere of country music and among the glittering elite, has achieved vast and comprehensive recognition through decades of dedication to performance and song. This cherished native of Tennessee has grown to legendary status, consistently relishing the opportunity to amaze and captivate her vast array of supporters. While her commitment to creating new tunes remains, the septuagenarian legend, who has already reached the age of 76, has lately announced her intention to end her touring career. During an exclusive interview with Pollystar, Dolly Parton revealed the reasons for her retirement from the hectic touring circuit. She elaborated: “There may be times when I put on a show that is out of the ordinary. These could take the form of occasional appearances, such as gracing the stage at a lively festival or participating in a series of events spread over a relaxing extended weekend. “ Nonetheless, the enthusiasm for embarking on a complete and all-encompassing tour has gradually faded. Instead, the stalwart of country music, now in her 76th year, plans to devote herself to songwriting and enjoy an extended period of cherished times with her beloved life companion, Carl Thomas Dean. Dolly and Carl’s paths crossed… CONTINUE READING…

The ruined abbey includes a rare surviving example of a monastic latrine.  Muchelney Abbey is set in beautiful surroundings off the beaten track in the Somerset Levels. It’s a fascinating place to visit. The buildings were constructed between the seventh and 16th centuries. The site is made up of the abbott’s house, the monastic ruins, and a communal latrine called a reredorter. This medieval bathroom is a curious sight to see, as it’s a rare surviving example of such a structure. You can enter the two-story building, and even go upstairs to see the layout of the former toilets and glimpse down at the sewer system lying below. The abbott’s house has quite a few rooms to be explored, as well. There’s the Cloister Walk, with its display of stonework; the kitchen, with its pitched roof; and the cheese room, with its beautiful fireplace. You can even venture up the great staircase—if you can negotiate your way up the very worn and uneven structure. The foundations of the abbey are all that are left after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the abbeys in 1538. It is easy to make out the different rooms and shape of the rooms and plan of the abbey, and there… CONTINUE READING…