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Beauty Newk!

That is the statement made today in an article in The Guardian newspaper. The full detailed quote is -  Some of us have always been Instagram and Facebook refuseniks, and never publicly posted pictures of our lives or families or any of it. But it’s not the norm, and billions of people have entirely forgivably got sucked into a world where they are the product, where they work for free for the tech lords, who successfully devalued the idea of privacy at the altar of their big lie: that “being connected” via their networks is far more important than privacy; that it is a win for humanity; that it is social. But it isn’t. Societies are in a mess. Literacy’s in a mess. Young people’s mental health is in a mess. The world’s in far more of a mess than it was when the techlords found it. The quote comes at the end of an article which illustrates the fate of one prominent British family who sold out to the tech world from the start and have lived their lives in the full glare of the world's gaze - deliberately. Now their 26 year old eldest son has virtually excoriated them and said he will never have anything to do with them ever again. His parents engagement was 'sold' to the media. Their marriage photos exclusively 'sold' to one magazine. Their first son's emergence as a foetus was 'sold'. They 'sold' photos of their home, and of their young son's nursery. Everything in their lives became a commodity. As did the brand they were creating as the perfect family. That family is named Beckham. Specifically Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham. 30 years ago he was a prodigiously talented soccer player who would go on to become one of the best ever produced by England. Everyone in the country was soon talking about him. He then became engaged to a young aspiring fashion designer who had been a member of the hugely popular group, The Spice Glrls. . After their glitzy royal-style wedding, they went on honeymoon to New York where their first son was conceived. They told the world they'd name him Brooklyn. Odd name, you'd think, but they added "because he was conceived there." Just what the world wanted to know, I don't think! When social media came along, they embraced it in every possible way. In particular at ever turn they preached family love. Their staff ensured that photos were placed here, there and everywhere with that love abundantly clear. They were paid fees for as many photos as possible. Their brand was love and family.  After soccer, David developed this brand in various ways. One was to assist now King Charles with his charity, The Prince's Trust. Around the time of the Olympics in London in 2012, he seemed to be everywhere. Meanwhile, thanks perhaps - just maybe! - his wife's fashion business was taking off. The couple is now estimated to be worth £500 million. But as the article writer points out, while "alchemically lucrative", their life was an "accident waiting to happen." Recently it did. Brooklyn went ballistic in a series of instagram posts accusing his parents of treating him like a commodity all his life and doing everything they could to prevent his marriage. In 2022 he had married a rich aspiring American actress whose father is a billionaire, Nicola Peltz. He and her brothers are devout Jews but her mother is not. Beckham Junior accused his parents of doing their best to derail his wedding - his mother of cancelling his future wife's wedding dress at the last minute, and then of insisting at the reception that he dance the first dance with her and  not as is customary with his new bride. He added his parents pressured him into signing away the rights to his name, something he adamantly refused to do. His father also refused to see him on a visit to Los Angeles. He now goes by the name Brooklyn Peltz Beckham. The author believes the Beckhams have become so lost in the world of social media they do not know how else to live their lives -  the only truly credible explanation for why they continue to live their life so remorselessly out loud is because they still crave the attention. And, realistically, because they have forgotten how else to live. And where is Sir David now? Where else but at the World Economic Forum in Davos mingling with world leaders, yesterday lecturing how children are "allowed to make mistakes." Naturally the brand must be repaired and continue. He was well aware his speech had been circulated and would again appear on social media. Forget the wayward son was the unwritten message. The tech lords must ensure the Beckhams' brand remains important.  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/20/brooklyn-peltz-beckham-inc-disaster-david-victoria https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3ekq4z5dyo

As many Colombians, until they get deported.

Floridarob makes some good points. Unlike Kobenhavn where police patrolled the parks at night to keep them safe for gays and drug users eons ago, I know of no other place where this degree of safety might exist today. Mind you, I would guess that parks in Germany or the UK should still be safe at night but this would require confirmation from someone with current knowledge. Athens has a park just north of the famous national archeological museum which is safe during the day and the boys will know where to play. Others play at night elsewhere, but I have never done so, especially as I like to play before sunset. I would never ever play in a park in Istanbul - too many stories of robbery at knifepoint. My guess is that this happened to 2 folks 30 years ago and the stories never stopped, but still..... I know of no such places to play in South America. Via the hook up aps I have met folks in public late at night. Seemed safe for all concerned. In Brazil you can go to a love motel, like Alameda across from 117 to play. Again, as safe for all as is  possible.

Yes, it does not look like any easy application.  Any idea how much money he would need in the bank?