@jmaxmann You can’t beat somebody with no body. This unfortunately is the case not just in Maine, but throughout the country. I agree, things that would have cancelled this guy before are now shrugged off. Susan Collins knows Maine and knows how to win there.
Jersey City’s version of Waffle house, was the old VIP Dinner and Al’s diner on Communipaw. What Anthony says here, applied to these JC diners 10 fold. These old places where the original “placemaking”! Like most of old JC, I miss it!
Anthony Bourdain died on this day eight years ago and him describing Waffle House is still the single-most important description of America that has ever been articulated.
@BillMatsikoudis@HCIAonline Agreed Bill, wonderful day and ribbon cutting. Very happy Frank at 101 is still with us to see the dedication! Frank’s generosity to the city’s institutions has been second to none!
Albania has officially drawn the
line, Sazan 'lsland is being cleared. In an stunning turn of events, Albanian authorities have
launched an active enforcement operation to kick
out foreign developers and private security
personnel occupying Sazan Island. The decisive
action marks a total collapse of the controversial €1.4 billion luxury real estate deal that aimed to turn the protected national marine reserve and
former military base into an exclusive private playground for global elites,
The eviction comes after four consecutive weeks of historic
hundred-thousand-strong protests that completely
shut down the capital city of Tirana, refusing to allow their native coastlines and ecologically sensitive wetlands to be privatized by foreign
investors, the Albanian public unified under a
single, unyielding demand: "Albania is not for sale, the courts faced with a historic political crisis, mounting
domestic fury, and a widening anti-corruption
investigation by special prosecutors (SPAK), the
government was forced to pivot, by deploying state forces to reclaim Sazan lsland, Albania has
sent a clear message to international billionaires
and foreign developers trying to bypass environmental protection laws, This historic victory for citizen-led activism proves that the collective voice of a nation can successfully overpower backroom corporate deals and protect sovereign land.
The people spoke, and the
government had to listen.
A 24-year-old Polish tennis player arrived in Paris last week ranked 114th in the world, with no sponsors, no guaranteed income, and no certainty she could even pay for her hotel room.
She had to win three qualifying matches just to enter the French Open main draw. Prize money is only paid at the end of the tournament, so a Polish sports drink brand quietly stepped in and covered her hotel bill.
Her name is Maja Chwalinska. And today, she plays in the French Open final.
Before this tournament, she had won exactly one Grand Slam main draw match in her entire career. She had battled depression so severe that in 2021 she couldn't get out of bed. She underwent knee surgery in 2022. She spent years grinding through small tournaments across Europe just to stay afloat.
Then she arrived in Paris, won three qualifiers, and kept winning. Zheng Qinwen. Elise Mertens. Maria Sakkari. Diana Shnaider. Nine straight matches. One set dropped.
She is now the first qualifier in French Open history to reach the final. The last time a qualifier reached a Grand Slam final, it was Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open. Raducanu won.
By simply making the final, Chwalinska has earned more prize money than her entire career combined. The runner-up cheque alone is $1.6 million. If she wins today, she takes home $3.25 million.
One week ago she couldn't pay for her hotel room.
Imagine being so talented you could make marble appear soft to the touch. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was only 23 years old when he created this breathtaking masterpiece in the 1600s.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was just 23 years old when he finished The Abduction of Proserpina in 1622. Widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of the Baroque era, the sculpture is celebrated for making solid Carrara marble appear remarkably soft and lifelike. Its most famous detail depicts Pluto’s fingers sinking into Proserpina’s thigh, creating the astonishing illusion of flesh yielding under pressure.
Through dramatic movement, deep shadows, and exquisitely polished surfaces, Bernini transformed rigid stone into what seems like flowing fabric, delicate skin, and even tears. Today, this extraordinary display of artistry and emotion can be seen at the Galleria Borghese in Rome.