WORLD NEWS
North Korea: We’re Prepared to Nuke America if It Makes a ‘Wrong Decision’
Communist dictator of North Korea Kim Jong-un declared through state media on Wednesday that the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was necessary to “clearly show what action the DPRK [North Korea] has been prepared and what option the DPRK would take when Washington makes a wrong decision against it.”
Kim’s remarks were paraphrased in an article by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the flagship propaganda outlet of the North Korean regime. News outlets and media not controlled by the state are illegal in North Korea.
Kamala Descends Into a Festival of Word Salads, Throws Israel Under the Bus
Joe Biden is 81 years old. But his problems extend well beyond age and include bad policy, incoherence, and making up all kinds of fantasy.
The House also has now voted to open an impeachment inquiry into his involvement in the questionable financial dealings of his family.
She is also hitting some of the lowest approval numbers ever in polling.
But one of the big problems that people have with the idea of him being impeached or stepping aside is the backup: Kamala Harris. She’s not 81, but she has her own set of issues, including questions about coherence.
Harris just did an interview with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell. I don’t know what was going on with her during this interview, but something was quite off. She’s always word salad-y, but she was extra incoherent in this interview, saying a lot of things while saying nothing throughout the interview.
Let’s hear about how this is “the most election of our lifetime.”
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Jack Smith Requests Written Jury Questionnaire in Trump Classified Documents Case
Prosecutors are seeking a Feb. 2 deadline to jointly submit a written jury questionnaire ahead of in-person jury selection.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors asked the Florida judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial to approve a written jury questionnaire ahead of an in-person selection process, given the high profile of the case.
In a Dec. 19 motion to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, special prosecutor Jack Smith’s office said, “Because the pre-trial publicity surrounding this case is substantial, the Government recommends a thorough jury selection process, including a written questionnaire completed by potential jurors before in-person voir dire.”
The jury questionnaire would form part of a comprehensive jury selection process that prosecutors seek to expedite the selection process by identifying uncontested strikes for cause and hardship before in-person voir dire, a process in which potential jurors are screened to determine their impartiality.
Jack Smith’s appointment as special counsel is unconstitutional and so the Supreme Court must reject his petition against Donald Trump, lawyers representing former Attorney General Ed Meese and two top constitutional scholars in the country argued in a brief filed on Wednesday.
Their amicus (or “friend of the court”) brief argues that Smith lacks authority to represent the United States by asking the Supreme Court to weigh in (called a petition for certiorari) because the office he holds has not been created by Congress and his appointment violates the “Appointments Clause” of the Constitution.
The left-wing legal organization behind Colorado’s decision to remove former President Donald Trump from its Republican primary ballot has a direct link to the Biden administration.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) President and CEO Noah Bookbinder is a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) tasked with giving real-time advice to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS website says.
CREW brought the Colorado case against Trump and celebrated the Colorado Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling to keep Trump off the state’s GOP primary ballot.
“Our Constitution clearly states that those who violate their oath by attacking our democracy are barred from serving in government. It has been an honor to represent the petitioners, and we look forward to ensuring that this vitally important ruling stands,” Bookbinder said in a press release.
California, Maine Exploring Options to Keep Trump Off Ballot Following Colorado Ruling
The states of California and Maine are now exploring options to keep former President Trump off their respective state ballots in the wake of Colorado’s ruling.
As Breitbart News reported on Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled “in a 4-3 opinion that the Constitution’s ‘Insurrection Clause’ prohibits former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot for the presidency in 2024.”
“The court found by clear and convincing evidence that President Trump engaged in insurrection as those terms are used in Section Three” of the Fourteenth Amendment, the ruling read.
The ruling will partially reverse a previous ruling from Colorado District Court Judge Sarah Wallace, who ruled in November that the Fourteenth Amendment would not apply in the case of former President Trump, being that he is not an officer of the United States as was defined at the time of the amendment’s ratification following the Civil War.
Colorado GOP to Change to Caucus System, Ditch Primary If Trump Kept Off Ballot
The Colorado Republican Party indicated that it would switch from a primary ballot system to a caucus system if former President Donald Trump is kept off state ballots.
On Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court barred President Trump from appearing on state ballots in a 4–3 decision. On Dec. 20, GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the court decision, threatening to withdraw from the Colorado GOP primary until President Trump is also allowed on the ballot. In response, the Colorado Republican Party wrote in a Dec. 20 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, “You won’t have to because we will withdraw from the Primary as a Party and convert to a pure caucus system if this is allowed to stand.”
A primary is a state-level election in which party members choose a candidate who will run in the general election. A caucus system is basically a local meeting during which a party’s registered members from a city, town, or county vote for their preferred candidate.
Political Consultant Says Colorado Supreme Court Ruling Will Make Trump’s ‘Numbers Rise’
A longtime pollster claimed that the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot will backfire on Democrats.
“Colorado has just proven Trump’s theory true that he’s the victim of political persecution[.] His poll numbers won’t drop. On the contrary, they will rise,” posted Frank Luntz, who worked as a Republican pollster and consultant. He added that the former president “is now even more likely to win next November” after the ruling.
Mr. Luntz—who has been criticized in the past for his 2016 prediction that Hillary Clinton would win—noted that the former president’s poll numbers have only gone up after he was indicted four separate times this year. The RealClearPolitics national average of polls shows he has 63 percent support, outpacing the No. 2 candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley by more than 50 percentage points each.
8-1 … Don’t forget Biden’s latest appointee who didn’t know the definition of a woman! Supreme Court Would Rule 9-0 in Favor of Trump in Colorado Case: Former White House Lawyer
The U.S. Supreme Court would swiftly review and rule in favor of former President Donald Trump for his appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that would disqualify him from the state’s 2024 primary ballot, according to his former lawyer Ty Cobb.
“I think this case will be handled quickly,” Mr. Cobb said during an interview on CNN’s “Out Front.” “I think it could be 9-0 in the Supreme Court for Trump.”
On Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that President Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 incident.
Ramaswamy Pledges to Withdraw From Colorado GOP Primary Ballot After Trump Is Disqualified
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to withdraw from the GOP primary ballot in Colorado after the state’s Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 19 that former President Donald Trump is not eligible to run for president.
The 38-year-old tech entrepreneur took to X to condemn the court’s 4-3 ruling, which makes President Trump the first candidate in U.S. history to be deemed ineligible to make a White House bid.
Mr. Ramaswamy called the ruling an “attack on democracy” and urged other Republican candidates to remove their names from the Colorado primary ballot if the court fails to reinstate President Trump.
Trump: Colorado Supreme Court Decision ‘Shame for Our Country’
‘Every case I am fighting is the work of the DOJ and White House. No such thing has ever happened in our country before. Banana republic???’
When the Colorado Supreme Court issued its order to disqualify former President Donald Trump from its primary ballot in 2024, the GOP frontrunner was giving a speech at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa.
Notably missing from the remarks was any response to the unusual Colorado ruling, passed by a narrow vote with three out of seven judges dissenting. It made Colorado the first in the nation to bar President Trump from the ballot.
The Colorado high court, composed entirely of Democrat appointees, said President Trump had engaged in “insurrection” during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Mark Meadows Loses Appeal to Move Georgia Indictment to Federal Court
A federal appeals court Monday denied Mark Meadows’ appeal to move his election interference case in Georgia to the federal court, a decision with significant implications for Donald Trump’s own Fulton County court fight.
The former chief of staff to Trump sought to move the Fulton County, Georgia, indictment against him to federal court, citing a federal law known as a removal statute that allows an “officer of the United States” facing charges in state court to transfer the proceedings to federal court if the alleged behavior falls under their governmental duties.
In an opinion written by Judge Bill Pryor — a conservative former Alabama Attorney General and George W. Bush appointee — the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that the law only applied to current government officials. That ruling, while not surprising, is a blow not just to Meadows but Trump, former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark, and other defendants separately seeking to move their charges to federal court.
The panel’s ruling that the law does not apply to former officials was driven by circuit precedent, which a three-judge panel has no power to overrule in this instance.
But perhaps more significantly, all three judges concurred that they did not regard Meadows’ actions as relating to his official duties.
“Meadows cannot point to any authority for influencing state officials with allegations of election fraud,” Pryor wrote. “At bottom, whatever the chief of staff’s role with respect to state election administration, that role does not include altering valid election results in favor of a particular candidate.”
Opinion for The Rutherford Institute – Weighing in on a case with far-reaching implications across the political spectrum for the future of free speech and the right to protest, The Rutherford Institute is asking the Supreme Court to ensure that protest organizers who peacefully lead First Amendment protests without intending to incite any violence are not held liable for the actions of others who engage in criminal activities at the protests.
In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in Mckesson v. Doe, The Rutherford Institute argues that allowing protest organizers to be held liable for the independent actions of other protestors violates First Amendment protections and could chill First Amendment activities by discouraging future protests. Moreover, Institute attorneys warn that the outcome of Mckesson v. Doe could affect any protest, such as those related to abortion, gun rights, and pandemic mandates, as well as former President Trump’s liability for the events that occurred on January 6, 2021.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Lawmakers launch attack on Chick-fil-A’s right to heed famous Bible commandment
The New York legislature has launched a bill aimed at forcing Chick-fil-A outlets at the state’s rest stops to cancel the company’s longtime practice of closing on Sundays.
The state awarded spots to the popular fast food outlet to open counter outlets at some of the rest stops on the New York Thruway, knowing full well ahead of time that the counters would be closed on Sundays in accordance with the eatery’s policy. The policy has been in place since its founding in Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946, according to New York’s Spectrum News 1.
Chick-fil-A’s policy states that the company is closed on Sundays “to allow Operators and their team members to enjoy a day of rest, be with their families and loved ones, and worship if they choose.”
Self-Checkout Kiosks At 4,500 Walmarts Now Offer Buy Now, Pay Later” Loans For Basic Items
“Buy now, pay later” (BNPL) loans surged in popularity during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November. As Christmas is less than a week away, Walmart shoppers have been greeted with a new BNPL payment at the checkout line. The increased use of BNPL is incredibly problematic for consumers with insurmountable credit card debt and depleted savings.
Affirm Holdings announced Tuesday that its BNPL service has been expanded to self-checkout kiosks at 4,500 Walmart stores nationwide. Customers can purchase electronics, apparel, toys, and many more items (except groceries) by spreading payments out from three months to 24 months.
“Recent Affirm research revealed that more than half of Americans (54%) are looking for retailers to offer a buy now, pay later option at checkout. Moreover, we’ve found that 76% of consumers would either delay or not make a purchase without Affirm,” said Pat Suh, Affirm’s SVP of Revenue.
Biden Vetoes Repeal of ‘Woke’ Lending Rule
A controversial Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) small-business lending rule will remain in effect after President Joe Biden vetoed a joint resolution of disapproval that would have repealed the measure.
The rule in question requires lenders to annually collect and report to the CFPB certain credit application data from the small-business owners they lend to, including personal demographics such as race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The rule, which took effect in August, also enables the creation of a publicly accessible database of small-business credit applications.
Republicans have criticized the rule as a move to make the lending process more “woke.”
IRS Waives Failure-to-Pay Penalties for Nearly 5 Million Taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Tuesday that it is providing failure-to-pay penalty relief for roughly 4.7 million taxpayers who didn’t receive automated collection reminder notices from the tax agency.
The IRS said in a Dec. 19 announcement that the $1 billion or so in total penalty relief will be granted to certain individual taxpayers, businesses, and tax-exempt organizations, for the taxable years 2020 and 2021.
The taxpayers eligible for the relief are those who did not receive automated reminders from the IRS to pay overdue tax bills when the agency temporarily suspended the mailing of such notices in February 2022 “due to the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
A Tesla owner received a $14,000 repair bill for a day-one issue with his Model Y, Reuters reported.
He said the Model Y’s suspension broke with only 115 miles on the odometer.
Reuters found that Tesla had faced thousands of complaints over suspension and steering issues.
Comcast Admits Data Breach Impacting 36 Million Xfinity Customers
Comcast confirmed that a data breach has affected close to 36 million Xfinity customers. Based on the company’s reported number of subscribers, this means practically all Xfinity customers have been placed at risk.
TechCrunch reports that Comcast, the U.S. telecom giant, has recently disclosed a massive data breach impacting its Xfinity division. Nearly 36 million customers have had their sensitive information compromised due to hackers exploiting a critical-rated security vulnerability, known as “CitrixBleed,” in Citrix networking devices. This vulnerability is prevalent in systems used by large corporations and has been a target for hackers since late August.
Report: Wealthy Taxpayers Are Fleeing California
Wealthy taxpayers are fleeing California, hurting the economy and the budgets of the governments that have raised the cost of living in the Golden State.
That’s according to the Los Angeles Times, which reported Tuesday that while wealthy and talented people used to move into California, that trend has recently been reversed:
The reversal, largely in response to the state’s high taxes and soaring cost of living, has begun to damage California’s overall economy. And, by cutting into tax revenues, has delivered punishing blows to state and local governments.
State budget analysts recently projected a record $68-billion deficit in the next fiscal year because of a 25% drop in personal income tax collection in 2023. Some city, county and other local taxing authorities, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, have also recorded revenue declines
The accelerating exodus from California in recent years, of both companies and people, has been well documented. The pandemic-induced rise in remote work, inflated housing prices and changing social conditions have spurred more Californians to pull up stakes.
California largely avoided a flight of wealthy taxpayers after Gov. Jerry Brown (D) raised taxes nearly a decade-and-a-half ago. Proposition 30, which made his “temporary” tax cuts permanent, also passed without causing an exodus — though middle-class families continued to leave.
Half of Buick Dealers Take Buyouts to Avoid Having to Sell GM’s Electric Cars
Almost half of Buick dealers across the United States have opted to take buyouts from General Motors (GM) to avoid having to sell Electric Vehicles (EVs) at a time when consumer reports show Americans are increasingly turned off by the cars.
According to GM, almost 1,000 of its nearly 2,000 Buick dealerships across the U.S. chose to take buyouts from the parent company rather than investing potentially millions into retooling and prepping dealers to service and sell EVs.
The buyouts mean that GM will now have just about 1,000 Buick dealerships across the nation as the automaker moves forward with adhering to President Joe Biden’s green energy agenda.
Harvard Early Admission Applications Drop 17% Amid Antisemitism Scandal
Harvard’s early admission applications have dropped to a four-year low as the Ivy League university faces heavy scrutiny over antisemitism scandals that have dominated the school’s news cycle for the past several months.
Harvard has suffered a 17 percent drop in early admission applications, with just 7,921 high school seniors vying to secure their spot at the university, compared to the 9,553 that applied early last year, according to figures released by the school.
Bird electric scooter company caps turbulent year by filing for bankruptcy
Bird electric scooter company caps turbulent year by filing for bankruptcy
Chapter 11 protection for US firm, once the fastest ‘unicorn’ startup to be valued at $1bn, does not affect Canadian and European arms
The US electric scooter company Bird, once the fastest startup to clinch a “unicorn” valuation of more than $1bn, has filed for bankruptcy.
Bird, which helped introduce scooter and bike rentals in cities across the world, went public just two years ago via a deal which valued it at about $2.3bn.
The Miami, Florida-based business announced its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the early hours of Wednesday morning, capping a turbulent year which already included its delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.
The group’s Canadian and European arms are not part of the process. Bird said they would continue to operate “as normal”.
Coming face to face with Rite Aid’s allegedly unfair use of facial recognition technology
Rite Aid has “used facial recognition technology in its retail stores without taking reasonable steps to address the risks that its deployment of such technology was likely to result in harm to consumers as a result of false-positive facial recognition match alerts.” That’s the lawyerly language of the FTC’s just-filed action against drug store chain Rite Aid and a subsidiary. Put in more common parlance, the FTC alleges that Rite Aid launched an inadequately tested and operationally deficient covert surveillance program against its customers without considering the impact that its inaccurate facial recognition technology would have on people wrongly identified as “matching” someone on the company’s watchlist database. Among other things, a proposed settlement in the case would ban Rite Aid from using any facial recognition system for security or surveillance purposes for five years.
Toyota recalls 1m cars over defect that could cause airbags not to deploy
Toyota Motor Co said Wednesday it is recalling 1m vehicles over a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The recall covers a range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US with model years from 2020 to 2022. Included in the recall are Toyota Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas and Corollas, plus some hybrids of those models.
The Lexus models in the recall include the ES250 sedan and the RX350 SUV, among others.
The vehicles being recalled have sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been manufactured improperly. Those sensors could potentially short circuit, causing the airbag system to not determine the occupant’s correct weight and potentially not deploy in certain kinds of crashes.
HEALTH
Heart Attacks Spike Over Christmas and New Year, and It’s Not Just the Cold Weather
Cardiologists weigh in on why and provide life-saving tips for a heart-healthy holiday.
The holiday season presents an increased risk that many people may not expect. Research reveals you’re more likely to suffer a life-threatening cardiac emergency over this festive period than at any other time of the year. The culprits behind the surge include increased stress, disrupted routines, and maybe even too much holiday cheer.
In 2004, a study in the American Heart Association’s Circulation journal found that more cardiac deaths occur on Dec. 25 than on any other day. The next highest numbers are on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
Some cardiac emergencies may result from severe winter conditions and freezing temperatures, as the cold may shrink blood vessels. However, a 2016 study—in New Zealand, where December and January are warm—saw a similar trend, linking cardiac events to holidays.
Major Shift About Whole Milk — Now a Health Food?
It’s been vilified for clogging arteries, yet studies have now found it lowers your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes – and slashes your odds of dying from any cause.
For decades, Americans have been told to avoid whole milk due to its saturated fat content, which has been falsely accused of clogging arteries and causing heart disease. This guidance goes back to the first edition of the dietary guidelines, issued in 1980, and most studies performed since then have exonerated full-fat whole milk
Most studies have found that dairy products are associated with lower risks of high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, regardless of fat content. And even though full-fat dairy products have higher calorie content, they don’t appear to contribute to weight gain either
A 2018 Lancet study found that, compared to those who did not consume dairy (milk, yogurt and cheese), those who consumed two or more servings per day were 17% less likely to die from any cause, 23% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 34% less likely to die from a stroke
Another large-scale trial found those with the highest levels of milk fats in their diet had a 29% lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes
The most ideal choices are products made from raw, unpasteurized milk, as the pasteurization process destroys many valuable nutrients. Pasteurization also destroys lactase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of lactose. Many people with lactose intolerance have no problem drinking raw milk, because it has lactase in it
An Herbal Guide to Natural Pain Relief
Seeking natural pain relief is important to maintaining your health and wellness. As the number of people with chronic pain grows, so does the potential for adverse events.
Chronic pain is debilitating, affects millions of people each year, and is a growing public health problem. In 2010, it was costing the nation up to $635 billion each year. The number of people suffering has grown and the economic cost is likely much higher
The pharmaceutical industry is pouring money into a growing population of people who need pain relief, despite available natural options without the list of side effects and adverse events associated with pain medication
Herbal options for pain are typically the most effective for chronic pain after several weeks. Because they can interact with other herbs and drugs, it’s important to consult with a provider familiar with natural options
Consider investigating the use of willow bark, ginger, turmeric, rosehips, Boswellia and feverfew to name a few. The risk-benefit ratio in some herbs is too high, making them a poor choice, such as thunder god vine
Other strategies can help support pain management, such as supplementing with choline and orange essential oil, and choosing the right foods
Power Mall Recommended Product: CurcuminX4000 With Fenugreek
Curcumin seems to target specific molecules or pathways that control the cell cycle. It also blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the target of the pain reliever celecoxib (Celebrex). That’s why studies have shown that it can be helpful for people with osteoarthritis (OA).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Sam Altman: Death Is Just A Disease To Be Conquered
Joe Betts-LaCroix didn’t have time to wait for architects, construction workers or really any of the normal things that go into building a new office, let alone a new laboratory. It was May 2021, and he wanted to do experiments … lots of them … right away. And so he and a small team of people took over an abandoned retail building in Redwood City, California, and filled it with shipping containers, which they’d soon fill with mice. They built the heating and air conditioning system for their lab pods by hand and did the same with the air-filtration system and their precisely tuned mouse vivarium. At the end of two months, Betts-LaCroix’s team had its first experiments up and running.
“I was told by a nearby developer that’s been building a similar-sized lab for more than a year that they’re going to spend $15 million on it,” Betts-LaCroix says. “I probably spent, I don’t know, $200,000. I’d just rather figure out how to do it and do it in a way that works.”
The company Betts-LaCroix started, alongside the scientists Matt Buckley and Sheng Ding, is called Retro Biosciences Inc. and has a pitch that’s as ambitious as Silicon Valley gets. It wants to give every human 10 additional years of healthy, vigorous life. To pull this off, and pull it off quickly, Retro has eschewed a number of biotechnology startup traditions. Most notably, instead of chasing a single super-promising compound or treatment, it’s decided to pursue five tracks of research at the same time. It’s a high-risk, costly strategy made possible only by the company’s unusual backing. Retro has raised $180 million from one investor—Sam Altman, OpenAI Inc.’s co-founder and recently ousted and de-ousted chief executive officer.
Fire Shuts Down GM’s Electric Car Plant, Executives Blame ‘Battery Materials’
General Motors’ (GM) “Factory Zero” plant was temporarily shut down after a fire broke out. The plant produces Electric Vehicles (EVs), which have a history of catching fire, though GM executives said “battery materials” were the cause.
Factory Zero, also known as Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, has been celebrated by President Joe Biden’s administration for its all-electric production. On Tuesday, the plant closed after a fire filled the plant with heavy smoke.
By Wednesday, GM executives blamed the fire on a forklift accident and said the plant was up and running, though portions remained closed, according to the Detroit Free Press
SURVEILLANCE STATE
19 Recent Deep State Surveillance Abuse Revelations
As privacy-oriented lawmakers continue waging their war to rein in government surveillance abuse, there have been several startling revelations about the government’s abuse of surveillance laws.
Social Media Giants File Lawsuit to Stop Utah from Protecting Kids Online
A landmark law in Utah, designed to limit social media use by children, faces a lawsuit from a major trade group representing social media giants. Companies including Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta and China’s TikTok are putting their resources into achieving unfettered access to young Americans.
9to5Mac reports that Utah has taken a bold step in regulating social media use among children by passing a law that requires parental consent for children using social media after 10:30 pm. This law, set to be enacted in March, has sparked a significant legal battle. The NetChoice trade group, representing prominent social media platforms like TikTok, Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), and Snap, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Utah legislation.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Gas pipeline expansion could fuel Pacific north-west climate emergencies
Washington, Oregon and California have stringent laws to combat fossil fuel, but the approval of GTN Xpress could upend that
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
Winter solstice 2023 is here, bringing the longest night of the year to Northern Hemisphere
Winter in the Northern Hemisphere will officially arrive tonight with the rays of the sun shining directly down on the Tropic of Capricorn — latitude 23.43-degrees south — at 10:27 p.m. Eastern Time. At that moment, if you were located in Western Australia at a point near Lake MacKay, the sun will be shining directly overhead and its six-month southward migration will come to an end, marking the beginning of summer for the Southern Hemisphere.
Indeed, the word “solstice” is derived from sol, the Latin word for “sun.” The ancients added sol to sistere, which means “to stand still” and came up with solstitium. Middle English speakers shortened solstitium to solstice in the 14th century. The effect is an artifact brought about by the change of the seasons, which can be readily explained today by astronomers.
Our planet is tilted on axis by 23.4-degrees. So, as Earth moves around the sun once each year, there comes a time when the sun shines more on the Northern Hemisphere — summer for us; sometimes more on the Southern Hemisphere — that’s winter for us. And between each of these two extremes, there comes a time when the sun shines in equal amounts for a whole day on all parts of the planet — the equinoxes.
Winter Solstice Gardening: How Gardeners Spend The First Day Of Winter
Winter solstice is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. It refers to the exact time that the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin “solstitium,” which means a moment when the sun stands still.
The winter solstice is also the origin of many Christmas traditions, including the plants we associate with the holidays, like mistletoe or the Christmas tree. That means that there is a special meaning to winter solstice for gardeners. If you are hoping to celebrate the winter solstice in the garden and are looking for ideas, read on.
The 2023 winter solstice is here: What to know about the official first day of winter
Get ready for the cold − and the dark.
The winter solstice – marking the longest night and fewest hours of daylight of the year – occurs this Thursday, Dec. 21. Up here in the Northern Hemisphere, it also marks the beginning of astronomical winter.
South of the equator, in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the summer solstice, which means summer is starting.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, people often think the winter solstice is an event that spans an entire calendar day, but the solstice actually lasts only a moment. “Specifically, it’s the exact moment when a hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as possible,” the Almanac said.
2ND AMENDMENT
SWAT Team Causes $16,000 In Damages Raiding Wrong Home, Lawsuit Alleges
An Indiana woman is suing the city and other officials alleging that a SWAT team had wrongly raided her home causing $16,000 in damages.
Homeowner Amy Hadley filed a lawsuit Dec. 15 against the city of South Bend, Indiana along with other authority departments, seeking compensation for the “destruction of her private property for public use,” according to the lawsuit. Hadley’s attorney, Marie Miller stated in a recent press release that the homeowner had not only done “nothing wrong,” but claimed that the “public as a whole” must pay the cost for law enforcement’s alleged actions.
‘Y’all gonna die tonight’: Dunkin’ workers used guns to threaten customers in drive-thru, police say
Dunkin’ Donuts workers in El Paso, Texas, used guns to threaten customers in the store’s drive-thru earlier this month, police said.
The city of El Paso said police got a call about a subject with a weapon around 8:30 p.m. Dec 9 at the store located in the 9000 block of Dyer.
When officers arrived, they were told a 41-year-old man had gone through the drive-thru with his girlfriend, police said. While at the drive-thru, the girlfriend tried to order donuts, police said. The girlfriend added to police that the employee was rude, and when she asked to speak to the manager, the employee on the other end of the intercom stated he was the manager and used explicit language.
The woman drove toward the window when one employee walked out of the back of the store, followed by two other employees, police said, adding that all three employees were brandishing handguns.
What’s more, police said one of the employees chambered a round in the pistol, pointed the gun at the 41-year-old customer, and verbally threatened him, saying, “Y’all gonna die tonight.”
Police said they recovered three guns while arresting the three employees, all of whom were charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and given bonds of $100,000 each
CANCEL CULTURE
Netflix’s ‘CoComelon Lane’ Features Crossdressing Boy Dancing for His Dads
The popular Netflix children’s cartoon CoComelon Lane features an episode in which a little boy dressed as a girl dances for his dads, as seen in a clip of the scene going viral on social media.
CoComelon Lane is one of Netflix’ most popular children’s shows and is a top series in the U.S., U.K., Philippines, Canada, and South Africa, according to Fox News.
The series is aimed at preschool children.
Gen Z girl MELTS DOWN over 9-5 job, but does she have a point?
A 20-something Gen Z girl broke out in tears on TikTok after learning that the nine to five grind isn’t all fun and games.
“This is my first job, like my first nine to five job after college, and I’m in person, and I’m commuting in the city, and it takes me forever to get there. There’s no way I’m going to be able to afford living in the city,” she told the camera.
The girl also claimed she has no energy to cook or workout and no time for friends or dating.
“I’m like so stressed out,” she sobbed.
PET NEWS
Five ways to protect pets in winter
Follow these tips to keep animals safe and comfortable in the cold
In many areas, winter is a season of bitter cold and numbing wetness. Make sure your four-footed family members stay safe and warm by following these simple guidelines.
Keep pets sheltered
Keep your pets inside with you and your family. Under no circumstances should pet cats be left outdoors, even if they roam outside during other seasons. Dogs are happiest when taken out frequently for walks and exercise, but kept inside the rest of the time. Don’t leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops.
If your dog is outdoors much of the day for any reason, they must be protected by a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough to allow them to move comfortably, but small enough to hold in body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches from the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.
Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.
Bundle up, wipe down
No matter what the temperature is, windchill can threaten a pet’s life. Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold snaps. For this reason, short-haired dogs often feel more comfortable wearing a sweater—even during short walks.
Rock salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.
Remove common poisons
Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up any antifreeze spills immediately and keep it, like all household chemicals, out of reach. Coolants and antifreeze made with propylene glycol are less toxic to pets, wildlife and family.
Dogs are at particular risk of salt poisoning in winter due to the rock salt used in many areas—often when licking it from their paws after a walk. Store de-icing salt in a safe place and wipe your dog’s paws, even after short walks. If your dog ingests rock salt, call a veterinarian immediately.
Protect outdoor animals
If there are outdoor cats, either owned pets or community cats in your area, remember that they need protection from the elements as well as food and water. It’s easy to give them a hand.
You can make your own cat shelter quickly and easily with a plastic tub.
Cars are one of many hazards to small animals—warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
You can also help make your property safe for deer in the wintertime by waiting until after the first week of December to string lights, and after then, only on trees over six inches in diameter. Before the first snow, you should also store summer recreational materials, like hammocks and swings.
GOOD NEWS
Successful Shoe Salesman Builds Giant Shoe House, Now an Airbnb—Here’s How It Looks Inside
Shoe salesman Mahlon Haines apparently owes his success in the footwear business to a series of shrewd marketing moves.
One, his shameless, self-promoting tenacity led to his running in an election for congress. Though he lost the election, he admitted it was great publicity for his business.
Two, he drove his shoe store to customers who couldn’t drive to him.
Man Writes ‘Hi Kevin’ in Christmas Lights Every Year to Honor Neighbor Who Died of Cancer
A Maryland man is keeping the memory of his young neighbor—who lost his life to cancer—alive by incorporating his name into his Christmas light display. And he’s done it every year for over two decades.
Father of two Mike Witmer, 57, was born and raised in Maryland and works in land surveying. He is also a Christmas light fanatic who builds a big and bold display at his home every holiday season.
The story of how he came to include “Hi Kevin” in his Christmas lights goes back to the fall of 2002, when Mr. Witmer’s then-11-year-old neighbor, Kevin Mullen, was diagnosed with cancer.
“My kids were on the same swim team with him and his sister, and we basically just became friends with him and his family,” Mr. Witmer told The Epoch Times. “He was always kind of a jokester, seemed like he always wanted to make kids or people smile and laugh, even … when he got sick. He was just a good spirit.”
When the holidays rolled out that year, Kevin was undergoing treatment at the Children’s Hospital. Mr. Witmer decided to add an encouraging message to his Christmas display for Kevin’s homecoming.
“The doctors told him he’d be well enough to spend that Christmas at home,” Mr. Witmer said. “I just had this … idea to write, ‘Get well, Kevin,’ in my Christmas light display. … Kevin saw his name in lights and actually asked his Mom, ‘Do you think Mr. Witmer will put my name in lights every year?'”
Hearing this, Mr. Witmer felt so warm that he agreed, adding, “Cancer stinks.”
“Nobody wants to have to deal with that, but to me, it’s even more heart-wrenching when a kid is diagnosed with it,” he said. “He was just such a cool kid that I couldn’t not continue that tradition.”
Kevin went into remission, but every year from that moment on, Mr. Witmer added “Hi Kevin” to his Christmas display by painting two pieces of wood and placing them in different locations among the lights. “It was almost like my own little ‘Where’s Waldo?’ game with Kevin,” Mr. Witmer said.
One year, Mr. Witmer placed Kevin’s message on the moving seats of a Ferris wheel, leading to one of his favorite stories from Kevin’s mom.
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