March 29, 2024

The Power Hour

Knowledge is Power

Today’s News: November 11, 2022

WORLD NEWS

UK: Six Local Governments Take Central Govt to Court to Stop Hotels Being Rammed Full of Migrants

Six local governments are now fighting Britain’s central government in court after having hotels in their area flooded with migrants with minimal or even zero prior consultation.

With thousands of migrants, many of whom have reached the United Kingdom by paying criminal people-smugglers to bring them across the English Channel in small boats or by stowing away in heavy good vehicles, now accommodated in often luxurious hotels at the taxpayers’ expense, some councils are attempting to stop the influx in court, complaining they are not being sufficiently consulted and that the needs of their local authority areas have not been adequately accounted for by the central government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

War in Ukraine is ‘Not in the Interests of European Countries’ – French General

The ongoing war in Ukraine is “not in the interest” of Europe, a French General has claimed, saying that the continent has aligned itself too much with American interests on the issue.

General Pierre de Villiers, who formerly served as the Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, argued on Wednesday that European nations should be pushing for a de-escalation of the war in Ukraine, saying that the continued conflict is not in the interests of Europe.

Report: Oil and Gas Companies Ignoring Climate Extremist Threats, Planning to Grow

A German non-governmental organization (NGO) called Urgewald, which monitors carbon emissions, presented a report at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt that said nearly all of the oil and gas companies in the world are planning significant expansions over the next few years, in a dramatic rebuttal of the climate change movement’s demand for zero emissions.

“The outcome of our calculations is truly frightening: oil and gas companies’ short-term expansion plans are not in line with the net zero emissions course put forward by the IEA (International Energy Agency),” said Urgenwald’s Fiona Hauke.

Scott Adams: China-controlled TikTok Helped Democrats Win on Abortion with Women

Scott Adams, the Dilbert cartoonist also known for his second career as a political pundit, argued Wednesday that a big factor in Democrats’ strong performance in the midterm election was the TikTok platform — which is owned by China.

Adams first noted that while Republicans won among men, and also among married women, Democrats won by a massive margin among unmarried women. He retweeted Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project

U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Veterans Day is a good time to remember that our freedom isn’t guaranteed. It’s protected by the men and women in our Armed Services. To those who secure our way of life… Thank you!

2022 Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals and Discounts

8 Ways to Say ‘Thank You Veterans’ on Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an important day to “thank you veterans” as we show appreciation to members of our military, past and present.

If you’re looking for an appropriate way to honor a veteran in your life, or would like to contribute in a way that’s meaningful for veterans everywhere, here’s a list of suggestions to start you off.

1. Say “Thank You Veterans” by Showing Up

Attend a Veterans Day event in your area — not just a picnic with friends but an honest-to-goodness parade or service for veterans. Roy Rogers said, “We can’t all be heroes; someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” Veterans Day is a great opportunity to do just that.

2. Donate to Veteran-Focused Charities

There are a plethora of wonderful organizations that offer all manner of support, services and appreciation for our service members. To get a few ideas for veteran donations, check out these wounded veteran charities that have been impact.

3. Fly a Flag – Correctly

Veterans Day is a great opportunity to fly the flag. Just make sure you’re observing the proper rules for display.  Here are a few of those important tips:

  • Never drag a U.S. flag on the ground or let it touch the ground.
  • Don’t drape it over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle.
  • Don’t display the U.S. flag above any other flag, and keep it at the center when it’s surrounded by other flags. 
  • Don’t display a tattered or torn flag. Flags that are tattered and torn should be disposed of in a respectful way, preferrably by burning. 
  • Never use the flag as apparel, bedding or drapery.

4. Ask Someone About Their Service

It seems like we all know someone who has served, and Veterans Day is a great time to ask them about their service. Learning more about their service can help you appropriately say “thank you.”

Quetions to ask a veteran

Here are some questions to get you started:

  • What did you do in the military?
  • How long did you serve?
  • What was your favorite moment in all your time in the service?
  • Did anyone else in your family serve?
  • Why did you go into the service branch you did?

Do not ask whether they’ve killed anyone, and should your veteran be a combat vet who is either unwilling to share or plainly states what they went through, be supportive without being intrusive. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything; just listen and give them your full attention.

5. Write a letter to say “thank you veterans”

If you know a veteran, write a simple letter, postcard or email that recognizes them on Veterans Day. If you don’t know a veteran, look up the closest military installation and send one there. Small acts of recognizing someone’s service, even anonymously, are appreciated.

The military-focused nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels organizes volunteers to write letters to deployed troops, veterans and their caregivers through their Letter Writing Virtual Team. Learn how to join that group on the Soldiers’ Angels website.

6. Don’t Confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day

Veterans Day is a time to thank those who are serving or have served and are still with us. Memorial Day is to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in service to their country. Confusing the two or combining the two diminishes the importance of both. 

Learn more about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day.

7. Visit a VA Hospital

Find out what the policies are at your nearest VA hospital for interacting with patients or volunteering, and spend the day with a veteran. Many VA facilities will have events on Veterans Day or a special lunch you can help prepare. Even if you never interact with a veteran, helping at a facility is a way to give back and saying “thank you veterans.”

8. Get Outdoors with a Veteran

Invite a veteran or a military family to explore a national park; admission is free for all visitors on Veterans Day. Being outside helps improve physical and mental health, boosts emotional well-being and is a great way to celebrate the day with a veteran.

Mississippi Officials Confirm Cyber Attack on State Election Websites on Election Day

Mississippi officials confirmed that it was hit with a cyber-attack on state election websites on Tuesday.

“Yesterday, our offices confirmed an abnormally large increase in traffic volume due to DDoS activity, which caused the public-facing side of our websites to be periodically inaccessible,” Secretary of State Michael Watson said in a press release on Wednesday. “At this time, we do not have confirmation as to where the DDoS activity originated, and more evidence would be required to attribute to any person or group.”

Watson added that his office can “confidently say our election system was not compromised.”

According to Cloudflare, DDoS, an acronym for distributed denial-of-services, is a cyber-attack in which hackers attempt to disrupt the traffic of a server, service, or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of internet traffic.

Fate of Congress Uncertain as Georgia Prepares for Senate Race Runoff

Election workers in Arizona and Nevada began the third day of counting votes on Nov. 10 to ascertain the outcomes of two U.S. Senate races, as Georgia prepared for a runoff election that could determine which party controls the chamber next year.

Republicans, in the meantime, continued to gain ground toward a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, with just eight seats left to claim control of the chamber.

The answer regarding who controls what chamber could take days or even weeks to determine if recounts take place.

Blue Pennsylvania: Undecided State House Races May Cause Party Power Shift

The balance of political power in Pennsylvania has taken a left turn as the Republican-controlled state House lost at least 12 Republican seats in the Nov. 8 election and could lose more. Control of the chamber will remain undecided until at least next week because results in two races are too close to call.

Democrat Mark Moffa, with 15,095 votes, has two votes more than Republican Joe Hogan’s 15,093 in District 142, Bucks County. Neither candidate is an incumbent; this is a new district due to redistricting.

Those totals are not expected to change for days, Jim O’Malley, deputy director of communications for Bucks County told The Epoch Times. Currently, Bucks County election workers are inspecting provisional and segregated ballots and determining which ones can be counted. They will make a report about those ballots to the Bucks County Board of Elections on Tuesday

Exit Polls Reveal Which Key Group Propelled Democrats During 2022 Midterms

Sixty-eight percent of unmarried women voted for Democrats in House midterm elections compared to 31 percent who favored Republicans, according to exit polls.

About 52 percent of unmarried men favored Republicans as compared with 45 percent who favored Democrats, exit polls published by CNN show.

For married men, 59 percent supported Republicans compared to the 39 percent who supported a Democrat. And 56 percent of married women supported a GOP candidate, compared with 42 percent who supported Democrats.

In all, 59 percent of unmarried voters supported Democrats as compared with the 39 percent who supported Republicans, the data shows. About 58 percent of married voters backed Republicans, compared to 41 percent for Democrats.

The national exit poll was conducted by Edison Research in conjunction with broadcasters across the United States. Those who were surveyed included 18,571 respondents who voted for U.S. House candidates, with 8,688 being men and 9,797 being women.

Arizona Vote Counting Slows Down, ‘Lion’s Share’ Expected Done by Next Week

he Senate and gubernatorial races in Arizona still await conclusive results as hundreds of thousands of ballots await processing and tabulation. The process, which is notoriously slow, is made all the more frustrating by a lack of updates. Officials blame time-consuming ballot processing requirements.

“I think we’ll see the lion’s share here wrap up by early next week,” Bill Gates, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said in a CNN interview on Nov. 10.

Maricopa County is by far the most populous county in the state and the one with most of the yet-to-be-counted ballots—more than 400,000.

By noon after Election Day, Arizona managed to count more than 1.8 million ballots, showing Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly ahead by about 5 percentage points of Republican Blake Masters, and Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs about half a percent ahead of Republican Kari Lake in the gubernatorial race.

The Government Is Still Waging War on America’s Military Veterans

The U.S. government is still waging war on America’s military veterans.

Especially veterans who exercise their First Amendment right to speak out against government wrongdoing.

Consider: we raise our young people on a steady diet of militarism and war, sell them on the idea that defending freedom abroad by serving in the military is their patriotic duty, then when they return home, bruised and battle-scarred and committed to defending their freedoms at home, we often treat them like criminals merely for exercising those rights they risked their lives to defend.

As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the government even has a name for its war on America’s veterans: Operation Vigilant Eagle.

This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program tracks military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and characterizes them as extremists and potential domestic terrorist threats because they may be “disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war.”

Coupled with the DHS’ dual reports on Rightwing and Leftwing “Extremism,” which broadly define extremists as individuals, military veterans and groups “that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely,” these tactics bode ill for anyone seen as opposing the government.

Paul Pelosi Attack Suspect Indicted by Federal Grand Jury: DOJ

The Canadian national who allegedly attacked the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer in the Pelosis’ home was indicted (pdf) on Nov. 9 by a federal grand jury, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

David DePape, 42, was “charged with one count of assault upon an immediate family member of a U.S. official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties,” the DOJ said in a statement. “He is also charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official on account of the performance of official duties.”

Federal officials last week confirmed to The Epoch Times that DePape was in the United States illegally, having overstayed his visa after he initially entered the country in 2000. The DOJ statement didn’t mention DePape’s immigration status and referred to him as a “California man.”

Voters in these states added abortion rights to their constitutions Tuesday

Voters in Michigan, California and Vermont approved state constitutional amendments Tuesday that protect abortion rights.

Voters in Kentucky also voted in favor of abortion rights when they rejected an anti-abortion constitutional amendment.

In August, voters in Kansas also voted to preserve the right to abortion in the state constitution, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, Reuters and the Associated Press are among the publications with coverage of the ballot measures on abortion.

According to the New York Times, the abortion-rights amendment will have an immediate effect in Michigan, where an old state law banning abortion remains on the books. Laws in California and Vermont already protect the right to abortion.

Abortion is also illegal under Kentucky law, and abortion-rights supporters need a court victory to overturn the ban. The state supreme court is scheduled to hear a challenge to the law Nov. 15.

“The fight is not over,” said Amber Duke, the interim executive director of the ACLU of Kentucky, in a Nov. 8 press release. “We will now continue our fight in state court to restore abortion access in the commonwealth.”

According to the Washington Post, Tamarra Wieder, state director for Kentucky Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said the midterm elections have resulted in a unifying message:“Abortion transcends party lines.”

Murder conviction upheld for man who rigged shotgun booby trap to guard his shed

A state appeals court has upheld the murder conviction for a Southwestern Illinois man who was convicted for killing a trespasser with a shotgun booby trap set up inside his shed.

The Appellate Court of Illinois’ Fifth District upheld the conviction of William P. Wasmund of Chester, Illinois, in a Nov. 9 opinion.

Wasmund was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December 2019, according to previous news coverage by the Telegraph. The shotgun blast killed Jeffery Spicer in September 2018.

The appeals court said Wasmund’s use of force was not justified under Illinois law because he could have used nonlethal means to protect his shed.

The shotgun was placed in a vise on a table in the shed, so that it pointed directly toward the door. The rope was attached to the gun’s trigger, so that it would fire toward the door if it was opened.

A warning on the shed door had indicated that no one should enter. Wasmund said he had also placed a table in his driveway and set up no-trespassing signs to keep people off his property.

He was no longer living on his property at the time of the shooting because of a fire at his home.

Months before Spicer was killed, Wasmund told an acquaintance that he had set up the shotgun to scare a previous burglar, according to trial testimony. Wasmund said the gun wasn’t loaded, however, when the acquaintance expressed concern.

Wasmund denied setting up the shotgun in interviews with detectives.

On appeal, Wasmund’s lawyer argued that Wasmund’s use of force was justified.

Stefanik Endorses Trump Ahead of Expected 2024 Presidential Run

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has endorsed former President Donald Trump ahead of his widely anticipated 2024 presidential run.

In a statement to The New York Times, Stefanik said she was “proud” to endorse Trump for president in 2024, adding that it is “time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America who has a proven track record of conservative governance.”

Analysts Explain Why GOP Underperformed in Virginia

Instead of a “red wave,” the midterm election results look more like “a red ripple” scenario, with Republicans appearing to be headed to a narrow majority in the House.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS 

Federal court strikes down Biden’s student loan forgiveness program

Student loan borrowers are now waiting indefinitely to see if they’ll receive debt relief under President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program after a federal judge in Texas struck down the program Thursday, declaring it illegal.

Spending Your Money: It’s ‘Finance Day’ At COP27

The first of the ‘thematic’ days kicked off on Wednesday at COP27, focused on finance, and activists made it clear right from the start that there must be a global push to re-direct the hundreds of billions of dollars invested annually in fossil fuels to help fund community-led renewable energy initiatives.

Over 50 activists of all ages and backgrounds took over the so-called ‘Blue Zone’ – the main area of the conference centre in Sharm el-Sheikh overseen by the UN – to chant “Stop funding fossil fuels! Stop funding death!”

Susan Huang, representing the NGO Oil Change International, was among the participants aiming to shed light on the fact that wealthy countries, as noted by the UN Secretary-General earlier this week, are still pouring money into fossil fuels at a time when we need an urgent transition to renewable energy.

“At the G7 summit last year, there was an agreement to end public finance for fossil fuels by the end of this year. But the International Energy Agency has come out and said that actually the slow transition to renewables is what is exacerbating the climate crisis and the energy crisis. So, we’re urging world leaders to fulfil their commitment and stop public finance for fossil fuels,” she told UN News.

Ms. Huang said that these investments are also causing incredible damage, destroying biodiversity and devastating livelihoods across the world, and she was not alone: Dipti Bhatnagar, from Friends of the Earth International in Mozambique, delivered an impassioned speech that, if the nodding heads and enthusiastic murmurs of agreement were any indication, clearly resonated among all those entering the main square of the conference centre.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

EU Parliament: Member States Not Doing Enough To Investigate Spying on Politicians and Journalists

Members of the European Parliament have slammed both the European Commission and EU member states for not doing enough to investigate the use of spyware to surveil politicians and journalists.

The European parliamentary committee for the investigation of the use of the Pegasus spyware programme, which had been found on the phones of politicians and journalists across Europe, said in a report published this week, that both the European Commission and the governments of the member states had been largely silent and reluctant to cooperate on the issue.

SURVEILLANCE STATE 

Apple Restricts AirDrop in China After Dissidents Use It to Evade Censors

Apple seemingly bowed to Communist China’s “sharp power” economic leverage again on Thursday by restricting the use of its AirDrop file-sharing service on Chinese iPhones.

Dissidents were taking advantage of AirDrop to distribute messages and images blocked by Communist censors for criticizing the regime, including the striking image of a protester who hung banners from a bridge criticizing dictator Xi Jinping on the eve of his ascension to a third term in power.

HEALTH

Another Good Reason to Eat Leafy Greens, Avocados and Eggs

Lutein is well-known for its vision-enhancing properties. Research also suggests it has neuroprotective qualities, improving memory and boosting intelligence

There’s an inverse association between lutein levels in the eyes and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the primary cause of blindness in the elderly, as well as cataracts

Lutein has also been shown to prevent cell death caused by retinal detachment when administered in a timely manner, and can help improve night vision

Lutein may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases by preventing DNA damage, the depletion of BDNF and the degradation of a synaptic vesicle protein involved in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It’s also been shown to help maintain the integrity of your brain’s white matter

Your body cannot manufacture lutein, so you need to get it from your diet. Lutein is a carotenoid found in egg yolks, avocados, cruciferous vegetables and dark, leafy greens, especially kale and spinach

Eye Complex CS is rich in Lutein

What Are the Correct Positions for Sleeping?

What Are the Correct Positions for Sleeping?

No matter who you are, where you sleep, or how often you move around at night, there’s a right way and a wrong way to sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation has outlined the best sleeping positions for various types of people to get the most beneficial sleep possible. Whether you’re trying to prevent back pain or lessen the chances of snoring, these tips can help.

Most people sleep on their side, which is actually a good thing. Those who sleep on their back are more likely to get poorer sleep or have breathing difficulties. When you sleep on your back, your head is more likely to fall forward, and your airway can be obstructed. This can lead to snoring or sleep apnea.

Sleeping on your side helps to keep your airway clear and prevents you from snoring. It also helps to reduce acid reflux. If you’re pregnant, sleeping on your left side is the best position to sleep because it improves circulation and decreases the risk of stillbirth.

Sleeping on your stomach is actually the worst position for sleep because it can cause neck and back pain, and it’s difficult to breathe in this position. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try changing positions and see if that helps. You may find that you sleep better in certain positions than others.

One recent study found that most people tend to move around a lot during the night. When analyzing 664 participants, researchers found that people spent about 54 percent of their time in bed sleeping on their side, about 37 percent on their back, and about 7 percent on their front.

Males younger than age 35 tended to be the most restless and had more position shifts during the night. But researchers say this isn’t a bad thing. Allowing the body to move during the night is a good idea. During sleep, the body will account for any pain or discomfort and adjust its position accordingly. That’s how the body generally avoids developing bedsores in everyday life.

So, if your sheets are too tightly tucked in, or if your partner or dog is taking up too much of the bed, making it difficult to move during the night, it may affect your sleep.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Global Stink: UN COP27 Attendees In Egypt Greeted With Sewage

Attendees of this year’s U.N. climate conference in Egypt found themselves stepping over streams of foul-smelling fluid Wednesday after a pipe or tank holding liquid waste appeared to have burst near one of the venue’s main thoroughfares.

First there was no water. Then there was too much of the wrong kind.

Attendees of this year’s U.N. climate conference in Egypt found themselves stepping over streams of foul-smelling fluid Wednesday after a pipe or tank holding liquid waste appeared to have burst near one of the venue’s main thoroughfares.

The incident was the latest of several infrastructure and planning problems that have emerged this week during the conference, which runs through Nov. 18. Participants have complained that basic necessities such as drinking water and food are not available or require lengthy queuing under the simmering Sinai sun. Floors sometimes buckle and toilet paper in the various venues has frequently run out.

The problems raise broader issues about planning for an event meant to help solve climate change and promote green living.

GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING

UN Seeks Control Over Agriculture, Blames For Global Warming

The U.N. food agency aims to launch a plan within the year to make the world’s food system more sustainable, a senior executive told Reuters on the sidelines of the COP27 climate talks in Egypt.

The plan would show how the food industry and farming can align with the world’s goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, Food and Agriculture Organization Deputy Director Zitouni Ould-Dada said.

The hope is that such a plan would act in a similar way to the release of a report for the energy sector by the International Energy Agency, which spurred investment into companies, projects and technologies aligned with the plan.

“It’s much needed because for the energy sector there are clear roadmaps which really attracted a lot of investors… but for agriculture we don’t have such a map,” Ould-Dada said.

More than forty investors managing a combined $18 trillion urged the FAO in June to create a plan to curb emissions in the sector, often overlooked in global warming debates yet one of the biggest sources of climate-damaging emissions. read more

COVID RELATED NEWS

COVID Vaccine Shedding—Canaries in the Mine

Spike protein shedding. The media ignored it, people found out the hard way, and most no longer discuss it. But some symptoms remain.

How the FDA and CDC Are Hiding COVID Jab Dangers

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has publicly warned that COVID is one of the Top 10 causes of death in children aged 5 to 11, yet when asked to produce the data, they admitted they never conducted an analysis for that age group

The CDC has also lied about Pfizer’s study results. While claiming the Pfizer jab was 92% effective for those with previous COVID infection, the actual trial data found NO evidence of efficacy in those with previous infection

In July 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration quietly disclosed finding an increase in four types of serious adverse events in elderly people who received Pfizer’s COVID jab: acute myocardial infarction, disseminated intravascular coagulation, immune thrombocytopenia, and pulmonary embolism. However, more than a year later, that study still has not been published

The FDA is also hiding other studies. Buried inside a study protocol, the FDA discusses findings from an unpublished “cohort study of the third dose safety in the Medicare population where historical controls were used.” In that Medicare study the FDA found a significant risk for immune thrombocytopenia and acute myocardial infarction among those with prior COVID-19 diagnosis, as well as an increased risk of Bell’s palsy and pulmonary embolism in general

Analysis of the CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Reports (MMWR) reveals the CDC is systematically (and automatically) hiding jab-related deaths, particularly in categories like cancer, cardiac deaths and strokes, to make the shots appear unrelated to excess deaths

Where Spike Protein Deposits in the Body After COVID or Vaccine (Full Chart)

CANCEL CULTURE

Censor-Happy Leftist Yoel Roth Leaves Elon Musk’s Twitter

Yoel Roth, who briefly assumed fired exec Vijaya Gadde’s role as head of Trust & Safety, has left Elon Musk’s company, along with other key executives including the chief compliance officer, chief privacy officer, and head of sales.

Roth became a focus of attention after Elon Musk’s takeover as the most prominent leftist remaining at the company, having previously described Donald Trump as a “racist tangerine” and his administration as “actual Nazis.”

GOOD NEWS

Mom Homeschools Son After Public School Brands Him ‘Handicapped’; Now She Runs Her Own School

A mother whose son was deemed “mentally handicapped” for not thriving under a rigid public school curriculum took matters into her own hands. She decided to homeschool him, and after finding a method that helped her son become his best self, she opened her own school to help others.

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