
Deezer just sent me a summary of the Top songs I listened to in 2023.
Quite interesting
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Made it to Marseille, as planned, in time for lunch in a typical restaurant at the “vieux port”.

It was a pleasure to drive further along, without the traffic one usually encounters, along the coast to Cavalaire.
Even with clouds, the view from the apartment is still great.



Pleasant diner at the “Rotisseurs de la Côte” which happens to be more or less the only restaurant open at this time of year.

Having spent very recently a few days in Portugal’s Algarve region surrounded by brilliant golf courses, I am seriously thinking of taking the sport up again.
I cancelled memberships to our local course at Covid time and gave it all up.
I feel like a New Year resolution might be on the way.
⛳️🏌️♂️⛳️

So, I have managed to purchase a couple of entrance and tribune tickets for the race in June 2024. I am extremely pleased about that after last year’s fiasco.
I really need to start looking at the logistics of it all. Travelling there, accommodation etc etc.
I’ll put my thinking cap on
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Must work on my Xmas list today and it is not as easy as I had wished.
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Had a very pleasant Thanksgiving with our friends C&L.
Far too much to eat and far too much to drink. Everything was of high quality.
We even watched the football games (the summaries) after lunch,



Looking forward to next year which I am given to understand we shall host
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Quite a typical autumn day here, not necessarily cold but fairly windy. Of course as a result leaves are blowing away from the trees and settle all over the ground and in the pool. A daily sweep is certainly not enough to clear it all. I fear it will take weeks before we are rid of them.
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I have read a number of articles on the subject and “copied & pasted” them and fed the results to ChatGPT to make a summary for a blog post. I tend to agree with the analysis.
▫️Introduction:
In the wake of recent attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, it is crucial to analyze the underlying factors that led to these acts of violence. Contrary to popular belief, these attacks were not driven by religious animosity but rather by the ongoing occupation and settler colonialism in Israel/Palestine. By examining the power dynamics and historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the situation and work towards a just and lasting resolution.
▫️The Fallacy of Religious Motivation:
It is important to dispel the misconception that Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians were rooted in antisemitism. While these attacks were undeniably wrong and violated international law, they were not driven by hatred towards Jews. Instead, they were a response to the oppressive conditions imposed by the Israeli occupation and settler colonialism.
▫️Power Dynamics and Occupation:
In Israel/Palestine, Jewish people, particularly white Ashkenazi Jews, hold the majority of power. Jewish Israelis are the occupiers, while Palestinians are the occupied. The Israeli government exerts control over every aspect of Palestinian life, including restricting access to education and healthcare, demolishing homes, and imposing collective punishment on Gaza. These oppressive measures have fueled resistance from Palestinians, who seek to challenge their occupiers, regardless of their religion.
▫️Hamas’ Stance on Jews and Zionism:
Contrary to popular belief, Hamas has explicitly stated that their conflict is not with Jews as a religious group but with the Zionist project and the occupation of Palestine. They reject the persecution of any individual based on religious or sectarian grounds. It is crucial to understand that the conflation of Judaism and Zionism is a deliberate tactic employed by the Zionist movement, not by Hamas or the Palestinian people.
▫️The Danger of Misrepresentation:
The misrepresentation of antisemitism and the portrayal of the attacks as an assault on all Jews serve a specific political agenda. These distortions not only distract from the fight against real antisemitism but also hinder efforts to address the urgent need to stop genocide and resist U.S. imperialism. It is essential to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli state violence and instances of antisemitism to prevent the silencing of voices advocating for Palestinian freedom.
▫️The Urgency of the Situation:
Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the targeting of entire families, are part of a long-standing campaign to remove Palestinians from their land. These policies are not driven by a concern for Jewish safety but rather by a desire to secure maximum land with minimum Palestinians. It is crucial to recognize that supporting Israel’s actions does not make the world safer for Jews; instead, it perpetuates the cycle of violence and oppression.
▫️Conclusion:
Understanding the motivations behind Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians requires a nuanced analysis of power dynamics and historical context. By recognizing that these attacks were not driven by religious animosity but by occupation and settler colonialism, we can work towards a just and lasting resolution in Israel/Palestine. It is essential to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and instances of antisemitism to ensure that the voices of those advocating for Palestinian freedom are not silenced.
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