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Remco Yizhak Cooremans wrote that he came out at the age of sixteen to his best friends, who he said were all boys and liked girls. One of them reacted, according to Cooremans, that he then had less competition. Cooremans wished everyone sober friends. #ComingOut #Vriendschap #Concurrentie (translated)

The author reported that today during an exercise in the Pyrenees, an experienced paratrooper from Schaffen had passed away. He left behind a wife and daughter. The author and Chief of Defense, Air General Frederik Vansina, expressed their condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. #defensie #militair #rouw #BE (translated)

The negotiations on the new EU budget for 2028 remain stalled due to conflicting interests between net contributors and the 'Friends of Cohesion', who cling to old subsidies and few are willing to make concessions. #EUbegroting #Brusselseonderhandelingen #Cohesievrienden (translated)

CreatorSMP announced that the finale of CreatorSMP Hardcore 4 was shown in theaters on October 25 and invited people to go watch it with friends or family. The creator warned that the tickets were limited and referred to the ticket page in the bio. https://t.co/caEikowCDg #CreatorSMP #film #bioscoop (translated)

Maurits Vande Reyde called it incomprehensible that left-wing parties, including Anders chairman Frederic De Gucht, were advocating for the abolition of the headscarf ban in schools. He referred to the struggle for the separation of church and state and asked whether proponents would also allow a teacher to wear a T-shirt of Schild en Vrienden in front of the class. According to him, the argument that everyone should be able to be themselves seemed to apply less in that case. #onderwijs #vrijheid #sociaaldebatt (translated)

Symphony wrote that he was 63 on paper, but depending on the situation, sometimes felt 37, 25, or even 104. He also claimed that he could suddenly take on the age of 14 again out of anger. According to Symphony, someone carries all previous versions of themselves: from the amazed child and the love-struck boy to the older person who knew how precious time was. A song from the 80s could bring that person back to the summer when they were 17, with friends in a field and the feeling that the future was still endlessly far away. Symphony wrote that the boy had never completely disappeared and that getting older might mean carrying more and more lives with you. An old song could make that person feel 17 again, if only for three minutes — but now with the realization of how special that time was. #ouderworden #herinneringen #tijd (translated)

A rapper has been charged with glorifying the Holocaust through an AI video clip that contains images of Hitler and Auschwitz, while he claims that the term 'being gassed' in street language simply means that he and his friends are 'on a roll.' #Holocaust #kunst #streetart (translated)

Boukje wrote that she had spent a quiet day in the city and the harbor. Her dog Chippy had made new friends, and a 29-year-old marine had proposed to her. She added that she was now wearing a wedding ring that she could shrug and point to. https://t.co/Rl9mYwgb81 #slenterdagje #stad #vriendschap (translated)

Frank Peeters wrote that in the 1980s he was friends with a Hungarian and a Portuguese student at his school, who, according to him, spoke Dutch fluently after a few months. He also talked about an Iranian medical student who immediately took Dutch lessons and learned the language by translating texts from Persian via English. As a general practitioner with a diverse patient base, Peeters claimed to ask everyone to speak Dutch. He said he had no objection to diversity, but he did object to people who, in his opinion, did not speak Dutch after years in Belgium and mainly interacted with people from their country of origin. Peeters wrote that some called him extreme right because of his remarks on mass immigration, which he believed was made possible by the government. He said he sometimes felt like a stranger in his own country and felt that newcomers should adapt or leave. Finally, he asked if others shared that opinion. #Integratie #Diversiteit #Massaimmigratie (translated)

Sander Sassen wrote to Minister Sophie that the long waiting times in mental health care, in his opinion, did not stem from a lack of care budget, but because part of the money did not reach patients. He stated that fraud with personal budgets constituted a structural leakage of about 10-15 billion, and claimed that a large part of this was related to people with a migration background. As examples, he mentioned non-delivered care, paper care agencies, and claims for unprovided assistance. According to Sassen, people in the sector, the inspection, and municipalities were aware of this. He urged the minister to tackle fraud, care providers whom he claimed were abusing the system, and arrangements with family members before allocating additional money to mental health care. He also inquired whether the issue was politically too sensitive. #Zorgfraude #GGZ #Volksgezondheid (translated)

Geert Noels regretted that De Tijd had again reported unilaterally on management companies during a crucial moment in the budget discussions. According to him, a management company was not a legal form, the number of them was unclear, and estimates were often exaggerated. He also wrote that people working through a company had less protection and accrued rights, such as no unemployment benefits or dismissal protection and a lower pension. Noels asserted that measures had already been taken to make this working method less attractive, including a higher minimum wage and an increase to 18% for VVPRbis and the liquidation reserve. According to him, some professions and responsibilities often made a company necessary. He further wrote that the tax burden was among the three highest in the EU, as were government expenditures, which he claimed amounted to 54% of GDP. The mentioned rate of 35% for management companies, according to Noels, applied as a marginal burden on profits above the minimum wage; with that wage included, the average burden according to him was rather around 37–39%. For employees, he stated that a tax burden of more than 50% applied for most only as a marginal rate. https://t.co/zDUhGzIC0w #BegripBegroting #Managementvennootschappen #Belastingen (translated)

The death of writer, cabaret performer, and language virtuoso Paulien Cornelisse at the age of 50 due to cancer has caused deep sadness among readers, colleagues, and friends, who describe her as a lovely, funny, and stylish person who has had an undeniable impact on Dutch culture. #PaulienCornelisse #verdriet #cultuur (translated)

More than ever, I have the feeling that a huge gap has arisen between the reality as it is presented to us daily and what you hear when you talk directly to people. That the media - and by extension its celebrities - try to convince us that "the majority of the population" agrees with a certain narrative. That the population collectively believes in climate madness. That toy drones pose a real threat to Europe. That everyone is for more weapons, more escalation, and an expansion of the war. And so on. But… when you talk to people themselves… on the street, in a café, at work, among friends. Just, outside the media and social media bubble, I find something completely different. Of the people I speak to, the vast majority does not agree with that madness at all. On the contrary. And then I begin to wonder: Is this really "public opinion"? Or are we mainly hearing what public opinion is supposed to be? Or do people no longer dare to speak out of fear, thinking that their opinion is that of a small minority? #PubliekeOpinie #Media #Klimaatdebat (translated)

Even we, as distant people, as readers, listeners, viewers, still hadn't had enough of Paulien. Not by a long shot. And then to think about how it is for her husband, her child, her friends, loved ones. A sad reality that she is no longer here 🖤 #rouw #verlies #herinnering (translated)

What incredibly sad news. During The Smartest Person, I got to know Paulien both on and off stage as sharp, funny, and incredibly sweet. I cherish the beautiful memories of our conversations and her wonderful sense of language and humor. She was not able to win the battle against cancer, but the impact she has made with her words, stories, and performances lives on. Much strength and love to her family, friends, and everyone who loved her. How she will be missed. #herinneringen #sterkte #kanker (translated)