Well, with the hostages safely returned, dead and alive, Israel can proceed with what was probably the plan all along: stand back and let the people self-destruct

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“We like things just the way they are, so we’ll take it from here, thank you” ”

Hamas won’t give up arms or Gaza control — despite agreeing to Trump deal, spokesman says

Spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed Monday that Hamas has no need to abide by every word of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including calls for the terror group to lay down its arms.

“We do not need to limit ourselves to the Israeli terms and definitions related to weapons,” Qassem told the Al-Arabiya news channel.

And:

Hamas deploys 7,000 troops to ‘cleanse Gaza’ as Palestinians scramble to fill power vacuum: ‘Perfect recipe for civil war’

Here's a daring approach: house won't sell after 18 months? RAISE the price $4,000.

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3 Finney Knoll, originally listed at $3.999 million March 1, 2024, had dropped to $3.295 this summer before it took a break. It’s back today at $3.299.

I’ve written about this property several times during its stay on the market, including this post from last year:

New broker, new price: all is proceeding as foretold

August 21, 2024 Chris Fountain

3 Finney Knoll Lane, Riverside NoPo, has now dropped from $3,999,000 to $3.397 million. I’ll stand by my prediction made back in May, “somewhere in the $3.2 range”. Of course, it’s now been hanging around on the market so long that it may have to drop even lower than that, if it’s to overcome the stench of staleness.

As abandoned by its original builder, 2023

After hanging tough all this time, they acknowledged what the market was shouting and dropped the price just short of a full year — why not wait two more days, if only for symmetry?

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Shore Road

201 Shore Road (the Greenwich Shore Road) was listed at $2.499 million on October 16, 2024, and has stayed there all this time until finally, with the spring, summer and fall markets come and gone, the owners have dropped the price 6% to $2.350 million. It’s their business how and whether they want to sell their house, but I would have advised a deeper price “adjustment”, and sooner. And for that matter, more of them.

12 Stallion Trail’s price has also stayed firm since first hitting the market, but that debut was more recent: May 26, 2025. Now that they’ve assured themselves that they’ve made it through the active buying market and can relax through the coming dormant winter season, the owners have taken a first price cut, from $3.995 million to $3.795.

STALLION TRAIL

Of course, price cuts alone won’t sell a house if the price still remains too high. 2 Winding Lane started off at $7.495 million June 2023 and is still with us despite numerous cuts; today it’s taken another one, to $5.950.

WINDING LANE

Tell it like it is, Max

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Realtor Max Wiesen started off his description of his new listing, a seemingly over-priced: $2.8 million, 1966 house at 6 Fox Hollow Lane, with this: “Unique opportunity in a price range with little inventory”. Pending after 31 days, which probably means there was an accepted offer with a mortgage contingency the first day or so after it hit the market.

Max has never been one to sugarcoat things: “Sure, you’re being screwed, but ya wanna buy a house, or not?”

Well sure, but are heterosexual MAGAs acceptable?

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If wishing to put “two bullets in the head” of a Republican opponent and wishing that the man’s wife would suffer the pain of watching her children murdered earns merely a scolding, but not a demand that Virginia Lt. Governor candidate Jay Jones withdraw from the race, then surely New Mexican Democrats will forgive aand forget this little peccadillo, if they notice it at all.

It was — is — all about the eradication of Israel, and peaceful coexistence is not part of the plan

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Hamas is never going to disarm, because its billionaire leaders won’t voluntarily relinquish their power and the opportunity to amass still more wealth, their subjects won’t demand it, and their useful idiots around the world don’t want them to; their existence is entirely dependent on there being war. Oh — they also hate the Jews.

Zohran Mamdani-linked Democratic Socialists of America denounces ‘conditional’ Israel-Gaza cease-fire deal, demands ‘Palestinian liberation’

The Democratic Socialists of America — the organization backing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani — denounced the “conditional” cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas and called for continued resistance against the Jewish state in a statement released Monday.

The 85,000-member socialist organization said it supports “the end of Israel’s colonization and occupation of all Arab lands,” “equality,” and “the right of all refugees to return to their homes and properties.”

It pledged to “break the gears of the US imperial war machine that enables Israel” and to intensify boycott and divestment campaigns against the Jewish state.

…. Mamdani had called for an end to “occupation and apartheid” in a tardy statement Monday as the living Israeli hostages were returned after two years in Hamas’ captivity. 

“Today’s scenes of Israelis and Palestinians are profoundly moving: Israeli hostages being freed and families reunited after years of fear, uncertainty, and torture; the first days in Gaza without relentless Israeli bombardment of Palestinians as families return to rubble and loved ones freed from detention,” he said. 

… The DSA’s national leadership has also drawn attention for its internal policies on Israel.

At its August convention, the group adopted a resolution threatening to expel members who reject the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign or cooperate with pro-Israel organizations.

The measure reaffirmed the 1977 Palestinian National Council principles known as “al-Thawabit,” which endorse “resistance by any means necessary.”

The DSA said in its statement on Monday that “stability in the region is dependent on Israel and its allies finally being held accountable for their decades-long list of war crimes and imperial aggression.”

It concluded: “Until justice is rendered for all Palestinians, the struggle for liberation continues.”

'Ceasefire Now' People Are Angry at...Ceasefire

David Strom: “There is no angrier group of people in the West right now than the people who have been screaming about Israel committing a "genocide" and about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”

“,…. The "ceasefire now" crowd never wanted a ceasefire to help Gazans; they wanted it because Israel was winning the war, and they wanted that to stop immediately. They are unhappy because it looks like Israel has won the war for all intents and purposes, and without the fake "genocide narrative," they will lose their leverage. 

With Muslim countries backing the Trump deal, chances are that Hamas is permanently weakened. At least that is their fear. 

Israel will survive, Hamas may not. And that angers them terribly.”

The overnight poll results must have come in — Schumer praises Trump

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Schumer praises Trump, hostage families for 'wonderful day

Unlike Obama and CNN stooges, Schumer has to run for reelection

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised the Trump administration on Monday for helping secure a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally, finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, an immense and overwhelming sigh of relief," said Schumer. “I commend the enormous advocacy of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration, and all who helped make this moment happen"

Schumer added that he still "solemnly reaffirm[s]" his commitment to bringing his deceased constituents Omer Neutra and Itay Chen home, who died in captivity.

"There is an enormous opportunity ahead for a long term and lasting peace," the Democrat added. "It is with utmost importance that every party involved pursue the opportunity to finally build a lasting peace ultimately through a realized two-state solution that ensures security, prosperity, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

This is CNN

Disgusting: CNN’s Amanpour Suggests Israeli Hostages Were Better Off Than Most Gazans

Israeli hostage evyatar David marking days whike a gust of Hamas freedom fighters

Agreed, for once: the last thing I want to hear while captive at an airport is a political message from anyone (and I felt the same way when CNN was played in every terminal)

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s video message for travelers about the government shutdown is not being aired in at least five airports because it blames Democrats for the lapse in federal funding.

Oregon’s Portland International Airport, Washington’s Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three airports in New York – Niagara Falls International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Westchester County Airport – are not broadcasting Noem’s message because it is “political” and “inappropriate,” according to multiple reports.

“It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government,” Noem says in the video, meant to play at TSA checkpoints in every public airport in the US amid the government shutdown. 

“And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the DHS secretary adds. 

Beside, the entire TSA force would be an excellent place to start on the program to permanently fire non-essentil worker.