#HeadlineTherapy Fire at the Jungle Box soft play centre and mini zoo in Buntingford kills “all animals” inside

Thanks to ITVX News online for the Headline

Ten fire engines and an aerial ladder were sent to a fire on the Watermill Industrial Estate, the building housed a soft play area and a mini zoo.

All the animals died inside the building, including meercats, owls , giant tortoises , iguanas, genets and a 16 foot snake.

I wonder how long it will take them to replace their display animals or if they will be so upset that they don’t want to feature animals anymore. Time will tell.

Meerkats, owls, mongooses, tortoises, a python, and iguanas around a watering hole in the savannah
Rest in Peace animals

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Hero teacher knifed in triple stabbing at Manchester high school named as counter terror cops take lead on investigation

Thanks to Greta Simpson and the Manchester Evening News for the Headline.

The wife of the teacher who saved two 14 year olds from being stabbed within a school in Blackley , in the City of Manchester,modestly agreed to provide a photo of her husband who could have been so easily killed in the frenzied attack by another child on the two 14 year olds.

It’s a beautiful photograph, he is in traditional dress of some kind, maybe at his wedding or perhaps a family wedding.

Thankfully, although he was stabbed in the neck, and the wound required hospital treatment, he was able to return home. The two children who were attacked also required hospital treatment but were able to return home. The child responsible for the attack was assessed by Mental Health Experts and is now in Police Custody.

The man’s wife explained that it was a phone call that she never wanted to recieve ” that her husband had been stabbed and was in hospital”. Thankfully he was OK. As well as the photo that she gave to the press, she asked that her best wishes be passed onto the two children who her husband had saved from more serious injury and perhaps death.

There is a lot of tragedy in this story, and there will be a moratorium as to the why and wherefore of what happened , what caused it and how are knives so easily accessed by children who think they are a solution to whatever they feel they have to face.

However, the photo of the teacher sticks in my mind, he did what all of us hope we would do in a similar situation. He acted heroically , his name is Maysum Aabdullah and he is 27.

Sunlight shining through rain onto a large tree and greenery in a forest
Strength, Resilience and Hope

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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Siesta

Daily writing prompt
What’s a cultural tradition from another country that you wish existed in yours?

Siesta a tradition in rural Spain and other warm Mediterranean Countries, I mean why not. Does it matter if it’s cold outside , surely some warm soup and a sleep in the middle of the afternoon or indeed the morning would do us all good. We could stagger our work day so that there is no such thing as the five O’clock rush. It would be more natural and perhaps work sharing would become an attractive prospect.

Apply it to schools too, if AI is going to take over, then at least make everyone’s life enjoyable.

Woman resting in a recharge pod in a busy office environment
A woman rests inside a recharge pod while colleagues work and chat in a modern office

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy The myth of white Argentina still shapes the nation

Thanks to Fredrico Pita and Aljazeera Online for the Headline.

I’ve got to admit that reading this headline really was very scary for me. I’m aware that South America was the chosen destination for many high profile and probably not so high profile Nazi war criminals at the end of World War Two. Along with the activities and history of the conquistadors in the then Americas in the 16th century where slavery and land acquisition was taken as a right by adventurers and explorers.

And here we are in Modern Day Argentina with a Country whose political structure is now geared to promoting itself as a “white European Country”.

Apparently in 1853, with the formation of the Argentinian State Juan Bautista Alberdi, who was the main architect of the Constitution incorporated into article 25 with his proviso “that to govern is to populate” and to encourage the State to promote European Immigration.

So no wonder the Argentinian Government aligned itself with the United States, Israel and voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparations. Argentina certainly aligned itself with some strange bedfellows.

The implications now are that various Institutions within Argentina which were promoting indigenous people’s rights have been eroded and no longer exist having lost Government funding. The new President Javier Milei is promoting the libetarian defence of historical hierarchies and is determined to encourage the “Whiteness and Westness” of Argentinia.

It’s a lesson to me that if you don’t pay attention to what is happening, that the rug can so easily be taken out from under your feet.

I think Argentina needs to review it’s constitution urgently.

People in traditional attire gathered on rocky hilltop watching colorful sunset over mountains

AI Generated Image

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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I wouldn’t have the heart.πŸ’“

Daily writing prompt
What are the biggest mistakes people make when visiting your country?

I wouldn’t have the heart to tell a tourist that they have made a mistake in their choice of itinerary when visiting my Country ( or any other for that matter). Surely it is up to them and after all they are on holiday.

All the other possible visitors well there are just too many comobulations to make this a serious prompt. Too many variables.

The businessman on a “presentation” tour who doesn’t understand that everyone is tired of listening to “pep” talks from senior executives who don’t know how anything works. To rock bands who expect people to pay Β£300 a head to see them play , even though they long ago gave their best and finally people who visit Parliament for the day to learn how “democracy ” works and if they are lucky get to see Black Rod banging on the door of some building which is long past it’s best and needs a multi million pound budget just to keep it from falling apart on a daily basis.

I could go on but I won’t…..

Businessman holding briefcase and umbrella speaking to tourist with backpack and map on London street
AI Generated Image

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy What is “Kushner Island” and why are Albanians protesting about it?

I don’t think it’s been renamed “Kushner Island” yet , it’s actually Sazan Island and the Albanians who care about the environment of the Mediterranean’s most important and remote biodiverse hotspots are not happy with their Government selling it to the Retail Development Group headed by Jared Kushner the husband of Ivanka Trump.

Apparently , while cruising the Med, while they had nothing better to do as President Trump had not started his second term. Jared and Ivanka stopped off on Sazan Island and “fell in love with it”. Falling in love in Trumpish terms means turning the Island into a “resort” with ten thousand hotel rooms and the opportunities to scuba dive and traipse through the undergrowth safely and return to air conditioned rooms and a acreage of swimming pools with bars beside them. Stuff the wildlife, oh yes , why not have a ” shooting itinerary” with taxidermy thrown in.

The investment amounts to $1.4 billion dollars and the Albanian Government sees it as a development worth pursuing that will bring valuable revenue to Albania. I would agree with the protesters, the plan is not suitable for the Island and with all that is going on could easily be a project that is started and not finished. Leaving the Island in a hell of a state.

Two scuba divers underwater near colorful coral reef and tropical island
AI generated image

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy East Afric’a second-largest economy turns to Russia for $2 billion in investment deals after fallout with the US and EU

Thanks to Olamilekan Okebiorun and Business Insider Africa for the Headline.

Seems Tanzania, the second biggest economy in East Africa has fallen out with the EU and the United States over the results of a disputed election.

They have turned to Russia for investment having attended for the first time the St Petersburg International Economic Forum where the discussions started. Tanzanian officials insist they do not want to break ties with the West, however in the real World why should they not talk to the Russians, isn’t there money as good as anyone else’s?

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. πŸ™

Nighttime globe view showing illuminated cities and interconnected transport lines across Europe, Africa, and Asia
A digital globe showing illuminated transport and communication networks across Europe, Africa, and Asia.(AI Generated Image)

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Echo Beach by Martha and The Muffins

Daily writing prompt
What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood?

It’s got to be” Echo Beach” , because it’s about thinking about the beach.

Concert poster for Martha and the Muffins live at The Ritz New York City on Saturday, Oct. 18, 1980 with special guests The Spoons
Vintage poster announcing Martha and the Muffins’ live concert at The Ritz in New York City.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Popular fishing lake forced to close after all its fish die

Thanks to Isabel Keane and the Independent Online for the Headline.

Rest easy Feargal Sharkey this lake is in America, in Arizona to be exact, but it caught my eye as to why all the fish had died.

Sad to say the fish died from extended drought conditions and the release of water from the Coolidge Dam which during its construction, formed the San Carlos Lake which has a 158 mile shoreline and has turned into a haven for fish and wildlife.

The lake is located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. “Reservation” seems a very archaic term and I do wonder if this fishing lake is used by the locals to feed themselves. Somehow I don’t think the local Indians will be in the upper quartile of income earners so may rely on access to the lake.

Sad to say all the fish are dead, these include brown and rainbow trout , catfish and largemouth bass. All very edible culinary treats. However, the lake is now an environmental hazard due to the decomposing dead carcasses of the fish.

The local officialdom do not know when the lake will reopen. Perhaps there is more to this story than meets the eye.

Sunset over a mountain lake with colorful sky and a person sitting near water
San Carlos Lake in happier times

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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How did I ever get by?

Daily writing prompt
What’s a fear you’ve overcome β€” and how did you do it?

I used to be terminally shy,

Infact I wonder how I ever got by,

At a friends house I’d hide away,

Thinking I have nothing to say,

People would try to winkle me out,

My friends knew better and would shout,

” Leave her be, she’ll be alright”,

“She prefers it when she’s out of sight”,

They knew me well which was really lucky,

It took me a while to discover my “plucky”,

But why I did I suppose I know,

My bravery was put on show,

When you are loved and appreciated,

You can face the World and not feel defeated,

Those brave steps were made by me,

Because those around me let me be.

Teen girl looking shy and unsure at a busy house party with friends encouraging her to join.

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