WORLD NEWS
Russian spymaster says US and UK behind the ISIS-K claimed Moscow massacre!
The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed on Tuesday that America, Britain, and Ukraine conspired to execute the slaughter of nearly 140 people at a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow on Friday.
Alexander Bortnikov told reporters, according to the Russian news agency Tass, that it was “true” that the three countries orchestrated the attack based on “factual information we have.”
“This is general information, but they have a long record of this sort,” Tass quoted Bortnikov as saying.
“What is it expected to do to demonstrate its capability? It is expected to carry out sabotage and terrorist acts in the rear. This is what both the chiefs of Ukraine’s special services and the British special services are aiming at. US special services have repeatedly mentioned this, too,” the FSB leader added.
The Russian government has not publicly identified ISIS as the organization responsible. In an address to the nation on Saturday, strongman Vladimir Putin appeared to blame the government of Ukraine for the attack, stating, “They tried to escape and were traveling towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border.”
Had any unusual phone calls lately of what appears to be a scammer?
One of Mexico’s most violent cartels is running a series of call centers that target U.S. citizens in order to scam them out of millions. The scam points to the ongoing diversification by criminal organizations, which have been moving into more traditional schemes, including racketeering and fraud. In at least one case, this scam is linked to the murder of a U.S. citizen from Arizona.
Estimates by U.S. authorities point to U.S. citizens being scammed out of nearly $300 million in a five- year span. The scam deals with call centers set up by Mexico’s Cartel Jalisco New Generation, where they have their employees call individuals who own timeshares and offer to buy them out, only to fool the victims into paying unending fees.
A report by the New York Times points to FBI stats claiming that in five years, U.S. victims wire as much as $288 million to cartel scammers. However, this type of crime usually goes unpunished because the FBI relies on Mexican authorities to go after scammers in Mexico.
In Mexico, phone scams are commonplace since authorities rarely investigate or prosecute them. The methods used in those scams vary, but the ultimate goal is to have the victims wire or deposit money.
British judges have delayed the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the US
A British court says Julian Assange can’t immediately be extradited to the United States on espionage charges, in a partial victory for the WikiLeaks founder. Two High Court judges said they would grant Assange a new appeal unless U.S. authorities give further assurances about what will happen to him. The ruling means the legal saga, which has dragged on for more than a decade, will continue. The case has been adjourned until May 20.
Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson said that if no assurances are filed by the U.S., they will grant Assange permission to appeal extradition on grounds including breach of freedom of expression, and because he might receive the death penalty.
During a two-day hearing in the High Court in February, Assange’s lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said American authorities were seeking to punish him for WikiLeaks’ “exposure of criminality on the part of the U.S. government on an unprecedented scale,” including torture and killings.
Assange’s supporters have argued he is a journalist protected by the First Amendment who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan that was in the public interest. They have argued his prosecution is politically motivated and he can’t get a fair trial in the U.S.
The U.S. government said Assange’s actions went beyond journalism by soliciting, stealing and indiscriminately publishing classified government documents that endangered innocent lives.
Now the City of Toronto wants to tax the rain? Seriously?
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
State of emergency in Maryland as Coast Guard looks for survivors in bridge collapse
In response to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency.
“I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” the Democrat governor said in a press release. “We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety.”
The move was announced following an incident where a cargo ship departing from the Port of Baltimore struck the bridge around 1:30 a.m., which authorities at first said led to its partial collapse and later characterized as a full collapse.
As investigations continue, the Coast Guard and the FBI are looking into all aspects of the incident, including the possibility of a power outage on the cargo ship before the collision.
However, Mr. Wiedefeld said it is still too early in the investigation to determine the exact cause or to speculate on the duration of the bridge and port closures as the focus remains on the search and rescue operations and ensuring the well-being of the affected families and individuals. One body of a construction crew member has been recovered thus far. There were construction crews working on the bridge when the pylon was struck and there are still several vehicles still under water. (How about deliberate sabotage? Has that been ruled out?)
The ship that demolished the Key Bridge was involved in a previous collision
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is apparently not the first structure that the Dali has left its mark on in recent years. The Singapore-flagged container ship that obliterated the bridge and effectively closed the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic Tuesday morning previously had an incident in a Belgian port.
The Dali, a 984-foot vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by the DEI-captive Synergy Marine Group, collided with the stone pier in the Port of Antwerp during unmooring maneuvers on July 11, 2016.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on a clear day with good weather, resulted in significant damages to the stern and transom of the ship.
VesselFinder noted at the time that the ship remained afloat but suffered breaches near the waterline as well as serious damage to its berth requiring repairs. The ship was detained and closed for cargo.
“As a general rule, these accidents are investigated, and ships are only allowed to leave after experts have determined it is safe for them to do so,” a spokesman for the Port of Antwerp told Reuters. The incident was reportedly the result of mistakes made by the master and pilot on board.
The same ship attempted to leave the Baltimore Harbor just after 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. However, while traveling at what Maryland Gov. Wes Moore indicated was a “very rapid speed,” the ship allegedly lost power. The pilots alerted authorities but were evidently unable to arrest the ship’s progress.
Safety investigators to probe whether dirty fuel contributed to Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
The lights on the Dali began to flicker about an hour into the ship’s trip early Tuesday
A safety investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, will include whether contaminated fuel was a factor in a cargo ship losing power and crashing into the bridge.
Investigators had not boarded the ship, a 948-foot-long container ship called the Dali, as of late Tuesday while it remained stuck on a pillar of the collapsed bridge, and the vessel could stay there for weeks. Rescue crews spent much of Tuesday searching for potential survivors, but officials announced that the search and rescue had been turned into a recovery operation.
The lights on the Dali began to flicker about an hour into the ship’s trip early Tuesday. A harbor pilot and assistant reported power issues and a loss of propulsion prior to the collision, according to a Coast Guard briefing report.
“The vessel went dead, no steering power and no electronics,” an officer aboard the ship said Tuesday. “One of the engines coughed and then stopped. The smell of burned fuel was everywhere in the engine room and it was pitch black.”
The ship did not have enough time to drop anchors to stop drifting, according to the officer, and crew members issued a mayday call before the crash happened.
Blackouts at sea are uncommon, but they do happen and have long been viewed as a major accident risk for ships on the water.
One cause of ship blackouts is contaminated fuel that can create problems with its main power generators, said Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect. He said a complete blackout could result in a ship losing propulsion and that smaller generators can kick in, but they are unable to carry all the functions of the main ones and take time to start.
National Transportation Safety Board chief Jennifer Homendy said during a press conference that the investigation will include reviews of the operations and safety record of the ship and its owner and operator.
Crews will look at securing recorders from the vessel to try and learn what happened leading up to the crash.
Trump says Biden behind every single lawfare attack against him; it will backfire
Former President Donald Trump alleged on Monday that President Joe Biden is behind every single one of the “lawfare” attacks against him and that all the cases he’s embroiled in amount to “election interference” that will ultimately have the “reverse effect.”
President Trump made the remarks during a press conference at the Trump Building in New York on March 25, after a court agreed to pause collection of the $464 million judgment against him if he puts up a $175 million within 10 days.
The former president hailed the ruling, saying at the presser that he would “very quickly” post a bond, securities, or cash to cover the $175 million. If he does put up the money, it will prevent the state from seizing his assets while he appeals the judgment.
Judge issues Trump gag order ahead of hush money trial
A day after New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan held a hearing regarding former President Donald Trump’s bid to delay or dismiss the “hush money” case against him, the judge issued a gag order on the candidate.
“The uncontested record reflecting the Defendant’s prior extrajudicial statements establishes a sufficient risk to the administration of justice,” the order reads, “and there exists no less restrictive means to prevent such risk.”
“Given that the eve of the trial is upon us, it is without question that the imminency of the risk of harm is now paramount,” the judge wrote.
Judge Merchan had said in a hearing last year that he would not be entering a gag order at the time, but the order comes after two other courts have issued gag orders on President Trump that have been upheld by appeals panels.
Specifically, President Trump will be prohibited from making statements or directing others to make public statements about known or likely witnesses in relation to the case, jurors or prospective jurors, members of court and district attorney staff, and family members of counsel or staff “if those statements are made with the intent to materially interfere with … counsel’s or staff’s work in this criminal case, or with the knowledge that such interference is likely to result.”
The order is modeled after another gag order on President Trump, though the prohibition on statements about “prospective jurors” appears to be broader than previous orders.
Chicago Board of Elections mistakenly left out over 9,000 mail-in ballots in primary election
A Chicago Board of Elections official said Sunday that he had “mistakenly” left out over 9,000 mail-in ballots from one of the races in last week’s Illinois state primary election, sparking renewed scrutiny around voting by mail in the run-up to the November presidential election.
“In adding up the total number of Vote By Mail ballots the Board had received back so far, I mistakenly left out additional ballots” that came in by mail on the evening of March 18, a day prior to Election Day, according to a March 23 statement by Max Bever, Director of Public Information at the Chicago Board of Elections.
The race in which the apparent tabulation error took place is between two Democrat candidates for state’s attorney in Chicago’s Cook County, Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III.
Ms. O’Neill Burke, a former appellate judge who trails by roughly 14,000 votes, is widely seen as the more tough-on-crime candidate of the two.
“We should be booming, and we’re not because of crime,” Ms. O’Neill Burke told The Associated Press. “This is something we can fix.”
Mr. Harris, a professor and former prosecutor who’s the more progressive candidate of the two, has said punishments should consider racial disparities.
RFK, Jr. picks Nicole Shanahan as his running mate VP!
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rumored choice for a running mate is a leftist “criminal justice”
advocate who has given thousands to President Joe Biden and Democrats.
RFK Jr. has tried to position himself as a truly independent candidate after switching from running as a Democrat in October 2023. At the time, he said, “I must declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party. … And from all other political parties.”
But it is clear his vice president choice, Nicole Shanahan, does not exactly sit in the middle, having a history of supporting Democrats — including Biden, giving thousands to his campaign.
More specifically, it appears Shanahan gave $30,000 to the Biden campaign in 2020, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. She also has made several donations to ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising arm, as well as one to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Further, Shanahan has a history of supporting far-left “criminal justice” initiatives. In 2021, she revealed in San Francisco Magazine that she is a “major donor for Measure J in Los Angeles County.” Measure J “amends the County charter, requiring at least 10% of locally generated, unrestricted revenue be reinvested into community development and alternatives to incarceration,” according to a summary. It also “prohibits using funds for carceral systems and law enforcement agencies.”
Further, Shanahan, in that same interview, stated that she believes a mental health professional on scene of George Floyd’s arrest could have possibly changed the outcome of the situation.
The fact that Prince Harry’s name appears on the lawsuit at all is disturbing!
Prince Harry has been named in court documents in the sex trafficking lawsuit lodged
against Bad Boy Records founder and media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The royal’s name appeared in the $30 million lawsuit filed by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones who alleges that the music mogul participated in sexual misconduct, grooming, and sex trafficking. According to the New York Post, the Duke of Sussex, 39, who most loyal to the Crown don’t even consider as a royal any longer, was one of several “A-List” celebrities whose names appear in the court documents.
The music mogul’s Los Angeles home was raided on Monday by federal agents in connection to the sex trafficking investigation.
“Investigators said across the coast, the music mogul’s Miami home was also raided Monday,” Fox News reported.
“SkyFOX flew over Combs’ home Monday afternoon and showed federal agents conducting their investigation at his home.,” it added. “FOX 11’s ground crew at the scene said the home was registered to Bad Boys Films, which is a division of Bad Boy Entertainment, along with one of Combs’ daughters.”
Combs forcefully denied the allegations, calling them “sickening” claims made by people “looking for a quick payday.”
“Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth,” Combs said.
A male music producer also accused Combs of sexually assaulting him and forcing him to have sex with prostitutes. Diddy has denied those claims, as well.
The court papers featuring the Prince’s name do not allege that Harry did anything wrong. His name reportedly only appears once in the documents.
Michigan Offering Citizens $500 Per Month To House Illegal Immigrants
The state of Michigan is offering $500 per month to residents who agree to house illegal immigrants in their homes.
The so-called ‘Newcomer Rental Subsidy‘ would provide the payment for up to a year for any homeowner willing to take part, equating to a total of $6000.
The state those says those eligible for the program include refugees, asylees, special immigration visa holders, victims of human trafficking, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Afghan nationals, and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees.
The program also states that illegals who have been processed as part of the ‘Family Reunification Parole Process’ from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia, individuals with a pending asylum application, and other immigrant individuals on a case-by-case basis are also eligible.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
US supply chains disrupted by Baltimore bridge collapse
The collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which has cut off ocean routes to the city’s major port, is expected to cause severe disruptions to local transport and logistics, producing ripple effects on global supply chains.
The four-lane bridge collapsed on Tuesday after being hit by the Singapore-registered container ship Dali, operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk. As a result of the accident, a large section of the 1.6-mile (2.6km) bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, with multiple vehicles falling nearly 55 meters into the water.
Built in the 1970s, the Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Patapsco River, and is the only passage connecting the US’ ninth-biggest foreign trading port to the ocean. The Port of Baltimore is the country’s busiest maritime terminal for exports of vehicles.
According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, no other port in the country brings in more vehicles than Baltimore, with up to 850,000 cars and light trucks going in and out of its terminals annually. Parts used in vehicle assembly also pass through the port or across the bridge.
The major hub for East Coast shipping also handles significant volumes of coal. During the second quarter of 2023, the port’s facilities had the second-highest coal export capacities, data tracked by S&P Global shows.
Ten ships are reportedly stuck inside the port, unable to leave as the collapsed bridge spanned the only way in and out of the harbor. Another 30 small cargo vessels, tug boats, and other craft are also trapped in the port. Nearly 40 ships heading for Baltimore were forced to divert.
Commenting on the tragedy, US President Joe Biden said the bridge is vital to the economy, citing concerns about traffic and jobs connected to the port. He noted that the port supports around 15,000 jobs and that over 30,000 vehicles used the bridge each day.
Trump Media stock jumps as much as 50%; stock gets halted in trading
Shares of former President Donald Trump’s social media and technology company jumped about 50 percent on Tuesday in its first day of trading on the Nasdaq before it was briefly halted for volatility.
After making its debut, shares for the Trump Media & Technology Group stock, called “DJT,” spiked 50 percent. But it was briefly halted because of the sharp rise before it had resumed trading at around 9:40 a.m. ET.
It’s not uncommon for the trading of highly-watched stocks to be suspended when the price increases or plunges too quickly.
Reports indicated that more than 6.5 million shares of the Trump stock were bought and sold by around 9:50 a.m. ET. And a report from Reuters found that the company is now worth about $10 billion after the surge on the Nasdaq.
At over $70 on Monday, the company’s market capitalization was $9.84 billion on an undiluted basis. The former president’s majority stake in TMTG was last valued at $5.72 billion, although lock-up restrictions for six months could prevent him from selling or borrowing against his shareholding. As of 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, DJT was up about 38 percentage points.
Donald Trump’s net worth hits $6.5-billion; Trump enters 500 richest people list
Former President Donald Trump has entered Bloomberg’s list of top 500 global billionaires after his stake in Truth Social was valued at nearly $4 billion.
Truth Social parent company Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) went public following its merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC). It will trade under the ticker symbol DJT on NASDAQ starting Tuesday. President Trump holds 78.75 million shares in the entity. DWAC closed Monday at $49.95, which makes the former president’s stake in the merged company worth $3.9 billion. According to Bloomberg, the deal pushes President Trump’s net worth to $6.5 billion, enabling him to join the list of wealthiest 500 people in the world on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
President Trump’s assets are spread across a wide variety of liquid and illiquid instruments. In a March 22 Truth Social post, the former president said he currently has almost $500 million in cash.
Delta Airlines plane loses engine pylon panel and does a U-turn back to Salt Lake City
A Netherlands-bound Delta Air Lines airplane returned to Utah after losing an engine pylon panel during takeoff Sunday, according to reports.
The Airbus A330neo carrying 260 passengers and 13 crew members departed Salt Lake City for Amsterdam and had reached the Montana-North Dakota boundary before safely returning to Salt Lake City as one of the engine pylon panels had fallen off on takeoff, the Associated Press (AP) reported. It was not immediately clear how the pilots learned of the missing part, but Delta acknowledged there was “a reported mechanical issue” with the two-aisle Airbus jet, according to the report.
Delta reportedly apologized to the passengers for the delay caused by the incident.
The airplane had gained a cruising altitude of 35,000 ft (10,668 m) and had been in the air for just over an hour when it aborted its flight to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, according to Simple Flying. The flight crew reportedly did not alert the passengers of the incident as the airplane turned around and made its way back to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
The widebody jet reportedly has not flown since returning to SLC nearly three hours after takeoff. A similar Delta Air Lines Airbus jet replaced the affected jet and completed the flight to Amsterdam, according to Simple Flying. The substitute airplane was also scheduled to fly passengers from Schiphol Airport to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, again replacing the affected airplane.
It may not be a financially sound decision to patronize strip clubs in this day and age!
A lawsuit filed against three Arizona strip clubs by nearly 20 of its patrons has surfaced into the news cycle. The individuals involved have come forward, claiming in the suit that the Dream Palace in Tempe and the Skin Cabaret and Bones Cabaret in Scottsdale, orchestrated a sophisticated scam, allegedly drugging them and using their credit cards, Fox 10 reported.
The lawsuit charges club owners with racketeering and conspiracy, and the plaintiffs seek a jury trial. The plaintiffs, who all chose to remain anonymous, recount stories of disorientation and helplessness, followed by the discovery of unauthorized credit card charges amounting to tens of thousands of dollars the next day, the outlet reported. charging exorbitant amounts to their credit cards without consent.
“I remember walking through what I thought was a cloud of perfume or makeup or something like dusty from one of the kind of cracks of light that was coming through and that’s when I ended up in the VIP room and started to get these symptoms not alcohol-related, something else that made me acquiesce and go along to what they seemed to be pushing,” one victim said, the outlet reported. The first victim allegedly discovered several charges on his credit card amounting to $72,000.
Similarly, another plaintiff describes feeling lost and out of sorts after only consenting to a few transactions, only to find his credit card billed for $181,000. “Couldn’t have an appetite to eat for days after this had occurred … strain on not only myself, a family, wife, had to get my parents involved. We had little children as well so just the impact emotionally was pretty difficult to bear,” the second plaintiff said, Fox 10 reported.
HEALTH
Supreme Court Seems Skeptical of Challenge to Abortion Pill Access
The Supreme Court appeared skeptical that the doctors group who challenged the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) loosening of regulations of the abortion pill mifepristone had the right to bring the case.
Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out that the universal injunction the group was requesting is a relatively new form of court order that the high court itself has “never adopted.” He said this case was a prime example of a small case turning into a “nationwide legislative assembly.”
The pro-life doctors argued that they’ve suffered harm from having to conduct emergency procedures for women who’ve taken the abortion pill and experience complications.
The government counters this by contending that complications from the abortion pill are rare, and the objecting doctors can themselves opt out of the procedure under federal conscience laws.
Turmeric – The Liver-Loving Spice
So, what can turmeric do for you and your liver? Here are the top 5 benefits of turmeric:
- Reduced inflammation – Turmeric has been extensively studied for its anti-inflammatory properties. Multiple research papers suggest that turmeric can be as effective and in some cases, even more effective than regular anti-inflammatory medication. Curcumin blocks the COX-2 enzymes- the inflammatory pathway in the body, that the anti-inflammatory drugs target. Anyone with an inflammatory disorder will benefit from using turmeric, and it’s a great alternative to taking regular anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs put additional strain on the organs that need to process it, and come with a whole range of negative side effects.
- Cholesterol lowering and heart health – Studies suggest that turmeric can help to naturally lower cholesterol in the body, and can help to prevent the build-up of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Turmeric is also a natural blood thinner, which helps to prevent blood clots and support healthy blood pressure. Due to the fact that inflammation is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease- turmeric’s ability to reduce inflammation in the body may also help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Prevention is better than cure!
- Reduced joint pain – Turmeric can be beneficial to those with arthritis to help relieve joint swelling, joint pain and improve joint mobility. Studies have shown that turmeric can help to reduce inflammation in the joints and is beneficial to those with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Turmeric can also be used to reduce overall pain symptoms, and could be used in replacement of regular pain medication. Paracetamol for example, is toxic to the liver and places a lot of additional strain on it. People take this on a regular basis and don’t realize that they are harming their livers. Try taking the natural route where possible.
- Improved mood – It has become more apparent that inflammation in the brain can contribute to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are all too common in today’s society. Studies have shown that turmeric extract (curcumin) was more effective than a placebo at improving overall mood. This could be due to turmeric’s ability to reduce inflammation and oxidation in the body. Start using turmeric and spice up your life.
- Strengthens liver health – Turmeric helps to protect the liver against damage caused by free radicals, toxins, alcohol and waste products and supports healthy liver detoxification. By clearing out excess cholesterol, turmeric may help to reduce fatty deposits in the liver and can help to reduce liver inflammation. As turmeric will help you to reduce your use of anti-inflammatory and pain medication, you will be reducing the stress on your liver, and further improving your liver health. Your liver will love you for it! When choosing a liver tonic, ensure it contains turmeric (or curcumin) to give your liver the best possible support.
Power Mall Product of Recommendation: CurcuminX4000 With Fenugreek (180 CT)
EPA’s efforts to ban chlorpyrifos on food crops stalled despite brain damage risks to kids
It would seem that the almighty dollar is more important than the health and well-being of our children. At least, that is what seems to be the case according to a merry-go-round of legal action regarding the pesticide chlorpyrifos. In the interesting twist, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is fighting to maintain a ban that the agency placed on the chemical, forbidding its use on food crops and crops used for animal feed.
However, several grower groups and a chlorpyrifos registrant challenged the rule in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. On November 2, 2023, the court ruled to vacate the EPA’s ban, putting the issue back in the EPA’s hands.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Scientists Close to Controlling all genetic material on earth
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine have developed a new method to create human artificial chromosomes (HACs) that could revolutionize gene therapy and other biotechnology applications. The study, published in Science, describes an approach that efficiently forms single-copy HACs, bypassing a common hurdle that has hindered progress in this field for decades.
Artificial chromosomes are lab-made structures designed to mimic the function of natural chromosomes, the packaged bundles of DNA found in the cells of humans and other organisms. These synthetic constructs have the potential to serve as vehicles for delivering therapeutic genes or as tools for studying chromosome biology. However, previous attempts to create HACs have been plagued by a major issue: the DNA segments used to build them often link together in unpredictable ways, forming long, tangled chains with rearranged sequences.
To test their idea, the scientists turned to a tried-and-true workhorse of molecular biology: yeast. They used a technique called transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning to assemble a whopping 750 kilobase DNA construct in yeast cells. For context, that’s about 25 times larger than the constructs used in previous HAC studies. The construct contained DNA from both human and bacterial sources, as well as sequences to help seed the formation of the centromere.
The next challenge was to deliver this hefty payload into human cells. The team accomplished this by fusing the engineered yeast cells with a human cell line, a process that had been optimized in previous studies. Remarkably, this fusion approach proved to be much more efficient than the traditional method of directly transferring naked DNA into cells.
The results were stunning. Not only did the engineered HACs form successfully, but they did so with much higher efficiency compared to standard methods. Furthermore, these designer chromosomes were able to replicate and segregate properly during cell division, a key requirement for their long-term stability and functionality.
Florida Governor DeSantis signs legislation to protect minors from danger on social media
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday signed legislation aimed at addressing
mounting concerns over minors and the addictive influence social media has on them.
The legislation, H.B. 3, outlines online protection for minors on social media platforms, requiring some to “prohibit certain minors from creating new accounts” and “requiring social media platforms to terminate certain accounts and provide additional options for termination of such accounts,” according to a summary of the bill.
The bill also provides “conditions under which social media platforms are required to prohibit certain minors from entering into contracts to become account holders.” In other words, minors 14 and 15 will not be able to create accounts on the apps without parental consent.
According to Florida’s Voice, “the bill requires adequate age verification measures for internet sites that contains [sic] obscene or ‘harmful’ content, unsuitable for minors.”
Briefly speaking, DeSantis said there is a real “danger” on social media for children, pointing to the danger of predators, who can easily target children online.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
Why is the national guard being deployed during the April 8th eclipse?
The National Guard is only supposed to be deployed in emergency situations. But these days the National Guard is being used for all sorts of things. For example, hundreds of National Guard soldiers are being used to check the bags of those riding the subway system in New York City. That sets a very alarming precedent, and I don’t understand why more people aren’t upset about this. And now we have learned that National Guard troops will be deployed during the Great American Eclipse on April 8th. What in the world do they expect to happen during this eclipse?
Without a doubt, it will certainly be not only an historic event, it will probably be the most viewed in American history.
On April 8th, millions of Americans will be traveling to locations where they will be in the path of the total solar eclipse. Oklahoma is being touted as one of the best states for that, and it is being reported that the Oklahoma National Guard “will provide first responders as well as units with hazmat response capabilities”…
Oklahoma’s National Guard is set to be deployed for the upcoming total solar eclipse, when as many as 100,000 people are expected to visit one county.
In a statement on Tuesday, the guard said it would assist emergency management to cope with “an unprecedented number of tourists” on April 8 in McCurtain County, in the southeast of the state.
The guard will provide first responders as well as units with hazmat response capabilities in case of an incident like an industrial fire.
But bringing in the National Guard is overkill, don’t you think?
Residents of Oklahoma are being urged to “stock up on gas and groceries” prior to the eclipse, and they are also being instructed to have “multiple forms of communication besides cellular”…
To prepare for the eclipse, the state laid out some tips to plan ahead.
Oklahomans should schedule errands and appointments a few days in advance before the eclipse as well as stock up on gas and groceries. The state also recommends having multiple forms of communication besides cellular, being careful on the road and staying updated on weather conditions.
Seriously?
They want people to do all this for an eclipse that is only going to last for a few minutes?
Actually, Oklahoma is not the only state that is issuing such warnings. According to a Newsweek article entitled “Map Shows Warnings for People to Stock Up on Food Ahead of Solar Eclipse”, at least four states have now warned their citizens to stock up on food…
At least four states within the path of totality have urged residents to stock up on groceries before the eclipse. Some officials have already issued disaster declarations ahead of the event, and some schools have decided to close, citing student safety.
Texas officials have issued a slew of warnings, including that people living within the path of totality should stock up on groceries and gas and run any errands—such as filling prescriptions—in the days before the eclipse. One official also urged pet owners to stock up on supplies for their animals.
Just look at what officials in Hays County, Texas are telling their residents to do…
- Parking issues – lack of parking, fees for parking, having to park and walk to your destination (Please park only in designated areas and not on private property or in areas that cause safety issues)
- Traffic delays and road closures
- Longer wait times for restaurants (consider cooking at “home” instead or bring a small cooler with ready-to-eat food)
- More congestion (pedestrian and vehicles)
- Delayed emergency/911 response
- Cell service interruptions/lack of service
- Higher than normal stress levels and/or heated tempers
- Credit card machines not working (bring cash)
Why would credit card machines not work?
And why would phone service be interrupted?
In Arkansas, they actually held a “live training exercise” that simulated emergencies that might happen during the eclipse…
With less than a month remaining before the Great American Solar Eclipse, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) took a significant step by conducting a live training exercise. This exercise was designed to test ADEM’s response to issues that may arise as visitors flock to Arkansas to witness the event. ADEM responders and other state agencies looked at possible scenarios, such as severe weather, traffic, medical emergencies, and communication challenges.
Taking part in the exercise were county emergency managers and representatives of the National Weather Service, Arkansas National Guard, Corps of Engineers, Arkansas Hospital Association, Arkansas Wireless Information Network, and Arkansas Departments of Health, Transportation, Energy and Environment and Human Services.
Personally, I am not expecting a major disaster or emergency on the day of the eclipse.
But you never know, I could be wrong.
And it is certainly inevitable that there will be a lot more “surprises” as this year rolls along.
In fact, during his recent interview with Tucker Carlson, former U.S. Representative Ron Paul specifically warned about the potential for a black swan event…
Ron Paul, recognized for his consistent principles and foresight into economic and foreign policy, used the platform to express his concerns about unexpected, significant events that could catch the world by surprise.
“I think we’re reaching this point where some sudden thing is going to happen. I believe in that theory of the black swan. Yes, it’s going to pop up, and it’s not going to be controllable,” Paul said.
The giant “X” over America that the Great American Eclipse of 2017 started will be completed by the Great American Eclipse of 2024.
And as the Great American Eclipse of 2024 moves across our nation, the sun, the moon and the other seven planets in our solar system will all be lined up in the sky.
Our entire solar system is literally screaming that this day is important, and you would think that more people would be talking about the giant “X” that is about to be completed directly over the New Madrid fault zone in Little Egypt, Illinois. Sadly, most of the population will quickly forget about this eclipse once it has passed, and that is extremely unfortunate.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
A thrifty way of handling your homestead’s waste products is composting without a bin, just like Mother Nature does it. By using a method outlined below, you can speed up the natural decomposition process. Not only does that mean you will have nutrient-rich material to enrich your soil faster, more importantly for those of you with livestock, it decreases the volume of animal waste.
Options for Composting Without a Bin
What options are available for composting without a bin depends a lot on your climate and how much you have to compost. In general, if you have over a cubic yard of compostable material that starts out moist but not soggy, it will heat up and break down on its own.
I live in an arid environment, where we go nine months a year without a drop of rain. Here, a compost pile left to its own devices will get to temperature if the original mix is right, and the center will break down, but the heat dries out the edges, and they won’t decompose.
If you are in an area that gets a lot of rain, a pile of organic material that gets super saturated would get smelly as the water fills the air holes in the pile, and it starts anaerobic decomposition. There’s also the chance of the pile washing away.
Of course, there are also goldilocks zones that get just enough rain to keep the pile at the right moisture level.
Regardless of your climate, there are methods of composting without a bin that will work for you.
13 Democrat state AG’s target Glock; decry machine gun Glocks (fools!)
Thirteen Democrat Attorneys General wrote a letter to renowned gun maker Glock, noting Chicago’s lawsuit against the company and expressing concern over “machine-gun Glocks.”
The AGs represent Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.
The letter, dated March 26, 2024, references a Chicago lawsuit against Glock.
Breitbart News reported the suit on March 19, 2024, noting the Windy City claimed Glock is liable for
the ease with which a “Glock switch” can be used to convert the semiautomatic handguns into full-auto. Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) commented on the suit:
The City of Chicago is encountering a deadly new frontier in the gun violence plaguing our communities because of the increase of fully automatic Glocks on our streets. Selling firearms that can so easily be converted into automatic weapons makes heinous acts even more deadly, so we are doing everything we can in collaboration with others committed to ending gun violence to hold Glock accountable for putting profits over public safety.
The suit points to China as one of the sources for “auto sears” — the central component of a “Glock switch” — but they do not explain the degree to which China is allegedly committed to saturating the United States with such switches.
Now, the 13 Democrat AGS are demanding Glock preserve all documents related to, “The conversion of Glock semiautomatic handguns into automatic weapons,” “The design and development of Glock pistols with respect to their semiautomatic function,” “[Glock’s] knowledge about all state and federal laws relating to Glock switches and converted Glock machine guns,” “Financial information relating to Glock pistols, including profit,” and “Any public-facing marketing or advertising related to Glock pistols,” among other things.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoes Virginia Dems assault weapons ban!
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed Democrat lawmakers’ “assault weapons” ban yesterday, along with a number of other Democrat-backed gun controls.
On February 9, 2024, Breitbart News pointed out that the Virginia House Democrats “assault firearm” ban targeted semiautomatic centerfire pistols — like the 9mm or 45 ACP — if said pistols take a detachable magazine and have a threaded barrel.
Semiautomatic centerfire pistols are wildly popular among concealed carriers and target shooters. Some of the most popular semiautomatic centerfire pistols include the 9mm, 45 ACP, and 10mm, and a pistol chambered in any of those three rounds could have been banned in Virginia over a threaded barrel if Democrats got their way.
But Youngkin vetoed the “assault weapons” ban and Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted him saying in a statement, “The Constitution precludes the Commonwealth from prohibiting a broad category of firearms widely embraced for lawful purposes, such as self-defense. Despite this, certain members of the General Assembly have pursued legislation banning most contemporary semiautomatic firearms and specific ammunition-feeding devices.”
CANCEL CULTURE
NBC News ousts Ronna McDaniel after network’s anchors launch unprecedented on-air rebellion
NBC News on Tuesday ousted former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, just days after her hiring as a paid political analyst sparked intense backlash from the network’s top television anchors over McDaniel’s role in subverting the 2020 election and attacks on the press.
Ahead of the network’s decision, McDaniel spent the day Tuesday interviewing attorneys in preparation for a potential legal battle with NBC, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Creative Artists Agency, the talent agency that brokered McDaniel’s deal with NBC, also parted ways with her, the person said.
The reversal comes after journalists and anchors at both NBC and its cable news sibling MSNBC publicly denounced the decision to hire McDaniel as a paid analyst in a stunning and unprecedented on-air rebuke of network brass that has embarrassed the Peacock Network.
ICYMI
Millions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot – US
Millions of Americans’ online accounts have been caught up in a “sinister” Chinese hacking plot that targeted US officials, the justice department and FBI said on Monday.
Seven Chinese nationals have been charged with enacting a widespread cyber-attack campaign.
They are accused of ties to a hacking operation that ran for 14 years.
The US state department announced a reward of up to $10m (£8m) for information on the seven men.
The justice department said hackers had targeted US and foreign critics of China, businesses, and politicians.
The seven men allegedly sent over 10,000 “malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents”, in what the justice department called a “prolific global hacking operation” backed by China’s government.
“Today’s announcement exposes China’s continuous and brash efforts to undermine our nation’s cybersecurity and target Americans and our innovation,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said.
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