Latest news with #MichaelCorleone
Wall Street Journal
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Corleone Option for SALT Republicans
In a famous scene from 'The Godfather Part II,' a corrupt Senator tries to extort Michael Corleone for $250,000 in return for not interfering with gaming licenses. Michael replies 'my offer is this: nothing,' and he tells the Senator to pay the $20,000 license fee. The scene is good advice for House Speaker Mike Johnson if Members from high-tax states keep trying to extort the House for a higher state-and-local tax deduction as part of a tax bill.
Wall Street Journal
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Remembering the ‘Olden Days' Before Trump
Peggy Noonan frequently reminds us that Donald Trump, like the rest of us, has faults ('When Establishments Fail: Trump's 100 Days,' Declarations, May 3). Fine. But when she writes that his supporters look at his foes and say, 'They had it coming,' it suggests she needs to get out more, as southerners like to say. Borrowing a phrase from Michael Corleone: 'It's not personal, Peggy, it's strictly business.' That business would be cleaning up the mess from Joe Biden, wokeness, cancel culture, open borders, pronouns and so on. The list of bad stuff was long. Some of us say chaos is a small price to pay to eliminate what we suffered for four years.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Explore Cuba!
Cuba is one of the most spellbinding places in the world. And we should know: The New Republic has been reporting on Cuba's fascinating history and personalities since 1917. Now we're inviting you to take advantage of our expertise and join a special group of readers and supporters on a lovingly designed, all-inclusive tour of the island. Drawing on our special contacts among local historians, artists. and chefs, we've created a first-class experience that will immerse you in the nation's colorful and unique history, politics, and culture. You'll hear about the island's absorbing history from renowned political scientists. You'll visit the private studios of famous Cuban artists. You'll hear stories of struggle and triumph from activists in the Afro-Cuban and LGBTQ communities. But no tour of Cuba is complete without the island's iconic food and music. You'll dine at the best paladars (private restaurants) in Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad. You'll attend exclusive performances at the country's famed ballet and flamenco studios. You'll drink where Hemingway drank and see where Michael Corleone kissed his brother Fredo on New Year's Eve in The Godfather Part II. DAY 1 Includes: Dinner Our charter flight (not included) is scheduled to arrive at Havana's José Martí International Airport at 1:30 p.m. Bus transfer to accommodations. Check into our four-star accommodations in Vedado, Havana, followed by a welcome party with traditional Cuban quartet Wena Vivre at Skyline. Dinner will be at Café Laurent, a private restaurant known for its eclectic menu. DAY 2 Includes: Lunch and dinner Discussion with Miguel Coyula, professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Havana. Professor Coyula will talk about housing, infrastructure, investment, and restoration programs, at Altamira Gallery. Afterward, we'll take a behind-the-scenes walking tour of Old Havana. We'll explore the city center, a Unesco world heritage site since 1982, and learn about its history and architectural importance. Stops along the way at various new, private businesses, including fashion and lifestyle brands Dador and Clandestina, where we will meet with the owners to discuss the triumphs and challenges of cuentapropistas (entrepreneurs) in Cuba. We'll lunch at La Moneda Cubana. Famous for its lobster, ropa vieja, and frozen mojitos, this cozy paladar has a rooftop deck with a wonderful view of Morro Castle. Followed by a driving tour of Central Havana, with stops at the Paseo del Prado, the Capitolio, Central Park, and the Grand Theatre of Havana. In the evening, we'll enjoy a discussion and private performance by Yasek Manzano, the most exciting young trumpet player to come out of Cuba in the last decade, at Mamy's Restaurant. Manzano is also a composer and has performed with major figures like Celia Cruz and the British band Simply Red. Dinner will follow at San Cristóbal Paladar. Located in the heart of Central Havana, this celebrated paladar offers delicious local cuisine and drinks. The staff are particularly proud of their photos with President Obama, who ate here (and left a very good tip) during his historic visit. DAY 3 Includes: Lunch and dinner We'll start our day with a talk by Marta Núnẽz Sarmiento, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Havana whose work focuses on race and gender, followed by a private performance by the celebrated dance troupe at Habana Compàs Dance. This remarkable company has performed all over the world. Its style reflects the rich history, diversity, rhythm, and flow of the island. We'll enjoy a classic Cuban lunch at MAREA, located on the beach at Marina Hemingway. In the afternoon, we'll visit the home of Afro-Cuban activists La Reina y la Real, a prominent female hip hop–jazz duo. The group's music and community activism focuses on breaking down gender and racial stereotypes in Cuban society. They will welcome us to their modest home in Luyano, share their music, and discuss the challenges young Afro-Cuban women currently face. Late afternoon, we'll visit the home and studio of a family of artists and art professors from the most renowned art institutes in Cuba. Sculptor Yamile Pardo, painter Edel Bordón, and photographer Pablo Bordón-Pardo will discuss art education in Cuba. The evening includes dinner at Rio Mar. This private restaurant, located in the luxurious Miramar neighborhood of Havana, is known for its locally sourced seafood and offers outdoor dining on the terrace, which overlooks the Almendares River. DAY 4 Includes: Lunch and dinner Depart for Cienfuegos, one of the country's oldest and most beautiful cities, approximately three hours from Havana (we will travel in a modern, air-conditioned bus). Cienfuegos, known as the 'Pearl of the South' is one of Cuba's only cities that boasts both French and Spanish architecture. Located on one of the country's largest bays, the city offers beautiful oceanfront landscapes and is rich in culture. We'll lunch at El Lagarto, a picturesque outdoor restaurant with views and breezes from the Bay of Cienfuegos, which specializes in fresh local seafood. Afterward, we'll enjoy a music performance at one of the many historic churches on the square, followed by an interactive discussion with Cuban musicians and singers. Late afternoon, we'll tour the private local art galleries that surround José Martí Park in downtown Cienfuegos. We'll then continue to Trinidad, a Unesco world heritage site known for its history, cobblestone streets, pastel-colored homes, art, and music. That evening we'll check in at bed and breakfasts, known as casas particulares, or 'private homes.' Since the 1990s, Cuban families have been permitted to rent rooms in their family homes to foreigners. The rooms are all air-conditioned with modern amenities. We'll eat dinner at San Jose Paladar, a charming, modern private restaurant with a diverse menu featuring everything from lobster to pizza. DAY 5 Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner This day will begin with a discussion with Nancy Benitez, local architect, historian, and restoration specialist, who will provide an overview of the city's history from an architectural, economic, and infrastructural point of view. A local guide will then lead us on a walking tour of Trinidad's Historic Center. Lunch will be at Adita Café, a quaint restaurant with a diverse seafood menu. The afternoon is free for exploring Trinidad or the nearby Playa Ancon. In the evening, Carlos Mata, Trinidad's award-winning 'Painter of the Night,' and his talented daughter, Amaya, will host us for a discussion of the city's historic art scene. Carlos and Amaya meticulously restored their eighteenth-century home, which now houses a gallery and studio. Enjoy local music, appetizers, and beverages—try a canchanchara, Trinidad's storied local cocktail—at a private party in the courtyard of their beautiful home. In the evening, we'll enjoy a Trinidad farewell dinner at El Secreto, located in the historic Plaza Mayor. This private restaurant is housed in a wonderful eighteenth-century home filled with antiques and even a Wurlitzer jukebox from the 1950s. Chef Alejandro specializes in locally sourced seafood, fruits, and vegetables. We'll end the night with dancing and live salsa music at the popular Casa de la Música. DAY 6 Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Breakfast, check out of casas, and return to Havana. We'll eat lunch at Le Petit, a private restaurant in the heart of Old Havana and then check in at our accommodations. In the afternoon, Camilo Garcia López-Trigo, an economist and former U.N. ambassador, will engage us with a discussion on Cuba's economic welfare. We'll end the day with a private musical performance by renowned activist, singer, and songwriter Frank Delgado at Café La Bombilla Verde, a bohemian gathering spot for art and music, followed by dinner at a private restaurant. DAY 7 Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner After breakfast we'll visit the Museo de Bellas Artes, Cuba's fine arts museum, accompanied by Cuban art historian Claudia Laguna. Lunch will be at El del Frente, a hip private restaurant with rooftop dining, and then we'll visit the studio of Acosta Danza. This privately owned modern dance company was founded by legendary Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, currently director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. We'll enjoy a late-afternoon private performance and discussion with the classical musicians of the Orquesta del Lyceum de La Habana at Seminario San Carlos. These 24 young musicians have performed internationally, including in Paris, Berlin, and San Francisco. Dinner at Al Carbone, a beautiful private restaurant in Old Havana created by the owners of the immensely popular Iván Chef Justo, with an optional evening of jazz at La Zorra y El Quervo, a live music venue located just a block from the hotel. DAY 8 Includes: Breakfast Breakfast, followed by free time until flight departures. DETAILS TRIP PRICE PER PERSON Double-occupancy room: $3,985 Single-occupancy room: $4,485 INCLUDED Five nights' accommodation in Havana Two nights' accommodation in Trinidad (Cuba) Daily breakfast Lunches and dinners as listed on the itinerary All local ground transportation Speaker fees Admission to all museums and public buildings listed in itinerary Coordination of all listed activities Pre-trip departure information All other activities and events listed on the itinerary NOT INCLUDED Airline baggage fees Airfare to/from Havana. (We will offer a group charter flight, round trip from Miami to Havana, for an additional fee.) Cuba tourist visa (available at airline ticket counter or included if you choose to take the charter flight) Hotel expenses (mini bar, room service, laundry fees, etc.) Meals other than those listed on itinerary Trip cancellation insurance Any deviation from the itinerary Gratuities to the Cuban tour guide and driver See all destinations
Daily News Egypt
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily News Egypt
Michael Corleone's Warning About Religious Extremism
In The Godfather Part II, Michael Corleone (portrayed masterfully by Al Pacino) witnesses a crucial moment during the Cuban revolution: a captured rebel, instead of surrendering, detonates a grenade, sacrificing himself along with a high-ranking Cuban officer. That single scene was enough for Michael to realize that the rebels might ultimately prevail because they were fighting for an idea, without personal gain, unlike government employees who received salaries. A simple observation led to a profound and complex conclusion. Recently, a similar kind of revelation unfolded on Facebook. A viral incident involved a woman who had ordered clothes through an online store. However, the delivery agent took it upon himself to investigate whether the woman intended to wear the clothes inside her home or in public. Claiming that he does not deliver 'illegitimate' items, he consulted both the customer and his employer to determine the morality of the purchase. The woman, instead of condemning this intrusion, proudly shared the story online as if recounting an act of heroism. According to her social media profile, she is an Egyptian specialist in Arabic language instruction for foreigners and a graduate of Dar Al-Uloom, a religiously oriented faculty in Egypt. This young man, assuming the role of a religious enforcer, arbitrarily classified what is 'legitimate' and 'illegitimate' and found thousands of supporters for his actions on social media. The radical religious right maintains significant control over Egypt's cultural landscape. These performative, hyper-moralistic behaviours reflect extremist patterns that have emerged due to the absence of a modern Egyptian cultural project, one that could replace the ideological sediment that has accumulated over decades, largely due to deliberate efforts by powerful external forces to undermine Egypt's historical moderation. For years, extremist right-wing groups have infiltrated labour unions and small mosques while expanding religious education, all while leftist forces faced increasing suppression. This allowed the Muslim Brotherhood to present itself as a form of 'social left' advocating wealth redistribution and social justice. This became an unspoken social contract between the Brotherhood and certain sectors of Egyptian society, one that ultimately collapsed when those same sectors realized they had placed their faith in a group lacking administrative competence, creative vision, and even basic political intelligence. The Muslim Brotherhood's obsessive, desperate attempts to seize total control exposed their sheer incompetence. They filled a vacuum that the state left behind, and now it is time for us to reclaim what was taken before they find another way to sneak back through the side doors. The prevailing cultural paradigm determines attitudes toward national identity, the arts, tourism, foreigners, scientific research, creativity, and women's rights. It dictates the extent to which religion is woven into everyday life—from language and fashion to education curricula. Presently, a radicalized cultural model dominates Egyptian society, manifesting in frequent intrusions on personal freedoms under religious pretexts. Neither the state nor civil society has exerted enough effort to introduce a moderate Egyptian alternative. A cultural model is not merely an ideology, it is a way of life, shaped over years through legal frameworks, policies, and institutional practices that normalize and reinforce a particular worldview until it becomes the default. The question is not 'when' the religious right will reclaim Egypt's cultural sphere as if such a return were inevitable. The real, urgent question is: 'What are we doing to prevent it?' Security measures are crucial, but they are not enough to fight ideas. The dominant cultural model in Egypt today is an extremist religious framework, performative, radical, and imposed upon society since the 1970s under the 'Science and Faith' regime. There is no comprehensive alternative to counter it, and this poses a serious existential threat to a nation of Egypt's immense cultural stature. Dr. Ramy Galal is a Columnist, Senator, and academic specializing in cultural affairs, particularly in areas such as national identity, soft power, and combating hostile cultural invasion. In the Senate, he has introduced numerous proposals aimed at reforming cultural policies and fostering cultural dialogue. He has also authored several studies on topics such as the 'Cultural Economy,' 'Cultural Diplomacy,' and 'Restructuring the Ministry of Culture.' Throughout his career, Galal has held key positions both inside and outside government, in opposition and ruling circles, in the private and public sectors, and in both legislative and executive capacities. He holds a PhD from Alexandria University, a Master's degree from the University of London, and a diploma from the University of Chile. He has also completed advanced governance and leadership programs in the UK, Germany, and the US. Galal has represented Egypt in numerous international forums, including the High-Level Political Forum at the United Nations in New York and the World Government Summit in Dubai.
