An image shared on X claims to show the alleged CEO shooter on YouTube. Luigi Mangione gives ominous message via pre-recorded YouTube video, “All is scheduled, be patient. Bye for now.” Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/oNMvvV4Uvj — AF Post (@AFpost) December 9, 2024 Verdict: False The YouTube account is tied to a different person, not to the […]

'There will be a response'

A viral image shared on X claims Amazon has sold over 100,000 Super Mario Brothers Luigi beanies following the arrest of Luigi Mangione. y’all are so unserious? pic.twitter.com/AFxV5d5nSn — Deep Singh Badhesha (@DeepNotShallow) December 10, 2024 Verdict: False The Amazon listing is fake. According to an archived version of the listing, over 100 of the beanies […]

'An exemplary candidate for this vital position'

Needless to say, Caitlin Clark has lost conservatives

'You're setting folks up for shame'

Books Poetry 12 Poems That Break the Silence on Disability and Illness Exploring the complexities of living with chronic illness and disability. By Holly Kybett Smith | Published on December 12, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share November 14th through December 2oth marks Disability History Month in the UK, where I’m writing from. As a chronically ill writer myself, I thought this would make a fine opportunity to share and celebrate poems that centre disability and illness in their themes. These poems are earnest, brutal, and sometimes hard to read. But they’re incredibly important, communicating experiences that are often talked-over and ignored. If you’re disabled or chronically ill yourself, you may resonate with what they have to say. (Or you may not—everyone experiences illness differently.) If you aren’t, I hope that these grant you insight into our lives. Frequently, it isn’t pity we are looking for: it’s empathy, and the right to take up space. “I’m rewatching the She-Ra episode where Glimmer gets sick for the first time” by Arianna Monet and I keep mistaking the screen for a mirror. By which I mean, I too was onceadolescent and unconquerable:purple hair; a body unmarked by pain.Then, the bright unholiness of onset… I haven’t watched She-Ra (yet), but the experience at the crux of this poem is one I can relate to intimately, as a young person whose health unexpectedly started to decline. There’s a kicking-and-screaming sort of defiance to the narrator’s words, a refusal to be happy about the situation, which simultaneously makes me feel heard and optimistic about carrying on. “It’s going to hurt” by Sandra Simons “Brave soul,” says the radio“Beauty,” says the radio“It had to be like this,” says the radio… A more melancholy poem than the first, Simons’ verse follows its narrator in second-person through an unspecified and vaguely-alluded-to illness. Despair approaches, and is held at arm’s length with dark and speculative imagery. “ANAMNESIS” by Leslie McIntosh Hidden chambers in the blood.The staircase haunted by my own ghoststhat treat me lovingly, like a guest,a family member from far away… There’s a certain sense of reification—unfamiliarity with and estrangement from one’s own body, despite being unable to escape it—that McIntosh evokes beautifully in this poem. Anamnesis—the process of recollection—becomes an experience on a cellular level for the poem’s narrator. “The Moon and the Yew Tree” by Tory Dent This is the light of the mind, cold and planetary.The trees of the mind are black. Their irregular branches,like broken arms backlit from MRI dye, offset by yearning… Written in dialogue with the poem of the same name by Sylvia Plath—utilising excerpts and replying to them—Dent’s poem narrates in haunting verse the anxiety of a fatal illness. Diagnosed with HIV at 30, Dent knew this experience intimately and wrote of it extensively. Her second poetry collection, HIV, Mon Amour, pays it particular focus. “Self-Portrait as Self-Care Mantra” by Elizabeth Theriot Head tilted back, eyes to the light, I squeeze single tears of moisturizer from the glass jar: forehead, cheek, cheek, a cross, martyr mystic blessing that promises to unblemish me… We’re often told to take care of ourselves when we’re sick. But when you’re always sick, the tenets of self-care grow blurry and complex, identity-forming and identity-robbing. Theriot—who has an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome—explores the nuance of these feelings in this poem. In her essay “Common Surfaces,” published in the Crab Orchard Review, she says, “I want to keep up. I want to indulge in the full experiences of my life without injury or embarrassment. I don’t want to miss out, though I feel that I often have—that a sort of gilded normalcy exists right beyond the reach of my fingertips.” This is a sentiment I—and I’m sure many others with chronic health conditions—can relate to. “The Man with Night Sweats” by Thom Gunn I wake up cold, I whoProspered through dreams of heat  Wake to their residue,  Sweat, and a clinging sheet… In simple, spare verse, Gunn evokes a uniquely isolating experience that comes with being ill: waking up alone and in pain. The title places distance between the narrator and his identity—“The Man with Night Sweats” sounds as though it refers to someone else—but that distance shrinks with every line. “Emerald Spider Between Rose Thorns” by Dean Young How absurdto still have a body in this rainbow-gored,crickety world and how ridiculous to be given onein the first place, to be an objectlike an orchid is an object, or a stone,so bruisable and plummeting… In contrast with “The Man with Night Sweats,” “Emerald Spider with Rose Thorns” is baroque and maximalist in its use of language. Published in 2013, two years after its author received a heart transplant, there’s an air of disbelief and celebration in each word. But at the same time, a sharpened sense of vulnerability. “bad road” by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Some times everything    everythingeverything    every thinghurtslike a church belllike a call to prayerand it calls me to praythis painbreathing into any place that doesn’t hurt… There’s a particular anguish that comes when a loved one wants to help you with your chronic pain, only to realise that they can’t make it magically go away. Unlike an acute injury, there’s no remedy that will cause the symptoms to vanish; only methods of mediation and compromise that make getting through the day a little easier. On the loved one’s end, there can be denial. A desire to research, to say “well, maybe if you tried this…?”—because it’s hard to accept that sometimes things are just the way they are. And on the chronic person’s end, there’s almost a feeling of guilt: of failure, because these things haven’t worked and now their loved ones feel bad. It’s a complex situation, and Piepzna-Samarasinha captures that complexity beautifully. “Monster” by Jason Irwin Priestsand soothsayers were summonedwith their incantations and blessings.But the monster lived, consumed our lives,and became something other —a manifestation of our fears. This striking poem makes use of Gothic imagery to explore the fear that comes with being seriously ill. The titular monster is a shifting thing, appearing wherever the narrator looks as the locus of his anxieties. “blood·sugar·canto” by ire’ne lara silva this is what they will not tell youand this is what you must knowif you hear nothing else i sayhear thisyou cannot live in fearyou cannot heal in fearfear will never make you stronger Diabetes—according to these 2021 stats from the CDC—affects an estimated 11.6% of the U.S. population. Despite that, it’s a topic rarely explored in poetry. In bleak yet defiant verse, silva discusses the harsh financial realities that come with chronic illness—finding a hopeful note to end on. “Earth, You Have Returned to Me” by Elaine Equi Can you imagine waking upevery morning on a different planet,each with its own gravity? Sometimes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A new medication proves effective after years of fruitless trial and error; symptoms go into remission; an accessibility measure is granted that immediately improves your quality of life. “Earth, You Have Returned to Me” captures that feeling in exquisite fashion. “A Body’s Universe of Big Bangs” by Leslie Contreras Schwartz Even while the body sleeps, a jaw slackenedinto an open dream, inside is the dramaof the body’s own substances meeting Examining the body on a cellular level, Contreras Schwartz meditates on the million complexities that allow us to exist, however imperfectly, as humans in the world. This poem is a reminder that the body is a miraculous thing. [end-mark] The post 12 Poems That Break the Silence on Disability and Illness appeared first on Reactor.

“I love the fashion sense of Melania Trump. I love the fashion sense of Michelle Obama. I love the idea that these iconic women did something for America, whether good or bad or influential.  I love all of them.”  That’s what self-described gay Asian American celebrity fashion designer Andre Soriano told The Daily Signal about his new designs more than a month after the tiny town of Occoquan, Virginia, forced him to take down Trump-for-president signs from his storefront, Fox Business reported.  Soriano is the designer of the iconic “Make America Great Again” gown that singer-songwriter Joy Villa wore at the 2017 Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, drawing considerable national attention, along with controversy and death threats, according to Fox Business.   Conservative pro-Trump singer Joy Villa models an updated version of Soriano’s MAGA dress on the steps of the CrystalView Weddings & Events venue at Glitz and Glamour: A Charity Gala in Fairfax, Virginia, on Nov. 22. (Binh Le/BK Photography) “As an American designer, you know, I designed for all people of humanity,” Soriano told The Daily Signal. “When I made a Trump dress, I felt like I was kind of, just like … pushed aside by half of Americans because of my support for President Trump.” “And essentially, this is how I can weave the country together,” he continued. “I designed for Democrats, Republicans, pink, red, blue, and all feminists, and all women of this great nation and the world.” Soriano says he doesn’t like being treated as an outcast by some due to his personal political beliefs.  “I think, in the land of the free, we are allowed for freedom of artistic expression, regardless,” he said. “You know, that’s why we’re here in America … I believe in our Constitution … . That’s how I feel about it as an Asian American.” Soriano starred in Hollywood’s fashion reality show “Style to Rock,” executive produced by singer Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty. His work has also been featured in renowned fashion magazines, such as Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle, and his designs have drawn praise from prominent celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Courtney Love, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Macy Gray, according to GlitzandGlamour.org. Soriano designed a collection called “FLOTUS,” honoring 25 of the first ladies of the United States. The collection includes the wives of presidents on both sides of the political aisle, not just Republicans or conservatives. Sydney Walters models a dress inspired by former first lady Michelle Obama and designed by Soriano at the Nov. 22 gala in Fairfax, Virginia. (Afshin Amir/Afshin Photos)  That collection was featured at Glitz and Glamour charity gala’s most recent event, partnering with beneficiaries We Will Survive Cancer and Children’s National Hospital.  Join us at The Glitz & Glamour Charity Gala, to celebrate the life of Papa Tom, who we lost to cancer, #CharityGala #WeWillSurviveCancer #andresoriano #fashion #FLOTUSCollection ????Glitz & Glamour: A Charity Gala | Where Elegance Meets Purposehttps://t.co/3POH0MJWpT pic.twitter.com/1khV88foI9— Andre Soriano (@andresoriano) October 13, 2024 Glitz and Glamour is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference and bringing hope to the less fortunate, according to one of its founders, Michelle Nguyen. The three founders of Glitz and Glamour, from left: Mrs. DC America 2022 Gift Thongpia Hughes, Andre Soriano, and Michelle Nguyen pose at the gala. (Binh Le/BK Photography) “We host events that bring people together to have fun, celebrate, and embrace glamour,” Nguyen told The Daily Signal. “But our true focus is supporting nonprofit organizations in maximizing their impact. It’s all about helping those in need.” The first ladies featured in Soriano’s “FLOTUS” collection are Mary Lincoln, Francis Cleveland, Nancy Reagan, Lou Hoover, Edith Wilson, Pat Nixon, Michelle Obama, Lucretia Garfield, Florence Harding, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Bess Truman, Grace Coolidge, Jackie Kennedy, Betty Ford, Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Helen Taft, Edith Roosevelt, Lucy Hayes, Dolley Madison, Eliza Johnson, and Melania Trump. A spokeswoman for Soriano explained that the absence of current first lady Jill Biden there was not intended as a slight. “The event was put together so quickly, and the document that Andre was working off had only the first ladies up till Melania 2020, so it wasn’t showing Jill.  The document had pictures of all the previous first ladies in their iconic dresses so Andre could create a modern version of the dresses,” the spokeswoman told The Daily Signal. “Jill also has great fashion. It wasn’t left out intentionally, actually.”  Lucy Denkes models a dress inspired by former first lady Mary Lincoln at the charity gala. (Afshin Amir/Afshin Photos)  Emily Abrom models a dress inspired by former first lady Nancy Reagan at the Nov. 22 event. (Sarosh Mir/Sarosh Photography)   Alexandra Shaye models a dress inspired by former first lady Frances Cleveland at the Glitz and Glamour event. (Sarosh Mir/Sarosh Photography)   “Each first lady represents a cause and a purpose, and all of them did something great in our great nation,” Soriano said. “For instance, … Dolley Madison brought glamour to the White House. All of these women are very important. That’s why I use this as a platform, because they’re very iconic.” Kanruthai “Muk” Thasabu of Thailand, a Miss Universe third runner-up, models a dress inspired by former—and soon to be again—first lady Melania Trump at the gala. (Sarosh Mir/Sarosh Photography)   Soriano said that his next collection will be for men and will be called “The American Dream.” He says it was inspired by, among others, tech giants Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, and President-elect Donald Trump.?  The post MAGA Fashion Designer Aims to ‘Weave the Country Together’ With First Ladies Dress Collection  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Over the course of two presidential campaigns, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, seemed to sell out to the Democratic Party to capture the party’s nomination. In 2024, however, Sanders might be returning to his heterodox ways by signaling his approval of some of President-elect Donald Trump’s plans.  The independent socialist senator became a household name when he sought the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in 2016. Although he lost to Hillary Clinton, he won the progressive wing of the Democratic Party a seat at the table. To forward his progressive causes as a Democratic candidate, however, he had to change some of his once-nonnegotiable positions.  For example, prior to running for president in 2016, Sanders called open borders a “Koch brothers proposal,” referring to the wealthy Koch brothers, David and Charles, who funded a number of conservative and libertarian causes.   “That’s a right-wing proposal [open borders] which says essentially there is no United States … It would make everybody in America poorer, then you’re doing away with the concept of a nation state, and I don’t think there’s any country in the world which believes in that,” Sanders said in 2015.   “If you believe in a nation state or in a country called the United States or U.K. or Denmark or any other country, you have an obligation in my view to do everything we can to help poor people,” he continued.  Nevertheless, Sanders’ immigration policy as a presidential candidate proposed ending deportations of illegal immigrants and “raids” of places where illegal immigrants lived and worked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.  Furthermore, in 2006, Sanders had a “C-” rating from the National Rifle Association, which is on the higher side for someone who caucuses as a Democrat, after he voted in favor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act the previous year. Sanders was one of the 60 caucused Democrats who voted in favor of the bill, while 140 Democrats opposed it. Under this law, firearms manufacturers and dealers are not held responsible when crimes are committed with their products.  As a presidential candidate, however, Sanders went all-in on gun control and called for a ban on “assault weapons.”  But maybe the old Bernie is back. Ever since the American people presented Trump with their “mandate,” Sanders has signaled some support for Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency.  In a turn of events that drew the attention of Democrats and Republicans alike, Sanders tweeted: “Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military-Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.”  Elon Musk is right.The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions.Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud.That must change.— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 1, 2024 In a statement after the 2024 presidential election, Sanders said, “First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”  The Democratic Party lost this year’s elections because it neglected to acknowledge the struggles faced by America’s working class, according to Sanders.  This is where the Department of Government Efficiency comes in. Tech mogul Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead this nongovernmental organization to make recommendations on where to cut government spending and address economic issues of the working class.  Sanders’ support doesn’t end at the Department of Government Efficiency, however. He also defended Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, amid a slew of criticism directed at her.  Even Bernie Sanders doesn’t believe the BS lies about Tulsi Gabbard. pic.twitter.com/Cu1clKoti0— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) November 17, 2024 Maybe this is political bluster on Sanders’ part. But it could well be that Sanders is firing a warning shot to the Democratic establishment: Progressives are prepared to be a thorn in the side of the Democratic Party if their causes are sidelined.   The post Is ‘Crazy’ Bernie Sanders Not So Crazy Anymore? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Goats on the homestead may be the perfect livestock regardless of the size of the parcel you own or are leasing to create a sustainable farm. If living in a “right to farm” state, you may even be able to keep a pygmy or dwarf goat in a suburban backyard. Goats On The Homestead: The Perfect Livestock For Your Farm Even though Nigerian dwarf goat and pygmy goats are small in size, they are still enormous weed eaters. Any chore you can take off the daily “to do” list on the homestead is a time, energy, and money saver! Whether you decide to pen or free-range you goats, pygmy and dwarfs should be easier to keep contained than their standard-size peers because they cannot jump as high and would have to be able to climb up and out of their enclosure. Goats can share the same living space as miniature donkeys and ponies when a patient and calm introduction occurs between the various breeds of livestock. Introduce the animals at a graduated pace over the course of several days if planning to free-range them together or if they will share space in a single barn. Both breeds are known to be so docile they are rarely ever de-budded (horn removed) when place in petting zoos. Children of lower elementary school age often keep goats for their 4-H projects. Teaching children homesteading skills should begin at a young age, another reason small stature goats can be of value on the sustainable farm. Weaver Leather Livestock Brahma Webb Goat Halter, Brown Stylish show halter blends well with the color of the goatSolid chain lead with snap allows for quick and easy... Buy Now At least 4-H programs now allow several classes other than market for goats – meaning the animals do not have to be slaughtered and are returned to their youthful owners. In some areas “Kids Raising Kids” allow for an early introduction to learning goat care through 4-H programs. Specialized partnership projects between older 4-H and FFA members with children with disabilities also now exist and permit goats as project animals. More than 200 different breeds of goats are currently in existence. Although some are bred solely for meat or milk production due to their natural attributes for either, female goats from all breeds can be milked and meat can be harvested from each breed as well. Goat milk is far sweeter than cow's milk and is often regarded as being more acceptable to folks who suffer from lactose intolerance problems. Nigerian Dwarf Goats These small dairy goats on the homestead are capable of producing up to one-half gallon of deliciously sweet milk in a single day. You won't be able to get as much milk from a dwarf as is possible with a standard-size goat, but the investment in a dwarf goat both from a purchase and maintenance standpoint. Both Nigerian dwarf goats and pygmy goats originated in Africa and can live for up to 15 years, on average. They also typically weigh between 50 and 100 pounds once they reach maturity around two years old. Wethers, or castrated male goats, and billy goats – intact males tend to weigh slightly more than doelings (young female) or nanny goats – mature female. No products found. Pygmy Goats This breed of meat goat is often praised for its docile personality and sturdy body that basically resembles a barrel. The small stature meat goats will not produce as much protein as a standard-size goat, but again, the space a pygmy goat will require to roam, be housed, and the amount of feed required during the winter are substantially less than larger goats. Basically, you get a good bang for your buck while raising your beef and dairy products. Pygmy goats can earn their keep in weed-eating and breeding sale even if you never plan to butcher the cute little things. The price for Nigerian dwarf and goats and pygmy goats varies depending upon location and time of year, but they each typically sell for between $85 and $125 each. Goats on the homestead usually give birth to a single kid in their first litter, but in all subsequent litters twins (sometimes triplets) are typically born. They are known to be a very fertile breed. 320w Sheep / Goats Shearing Clipper Shears Buy Now Free-Ranging Goats Our first goat was trained to free-range after just a few days tied out on a chain and being taken on leashed walks around the homestead to learn her boundaries. The small goats on the homestead require significant less housing and grazing space – and cost a whole lot less to winter over than standard-size goats. Many a farmer over the centuries has lamented over goat housing woes. The medium-sized livestock is notoriously difficult to keep inside a fence…any fence. 320w Sheep / Goats Shearing Clipper Shears Buy Now In a concerted effort to maximize the benefits of having goats on our large homestead and to curtail the common frustrations so often associated with keeping goats, I decided to free-range our herd. Fellow homesteading and rural friends that have also raised goats thought I was completely nuts – at first. Train just one goat at a time to free-range to avoid the herd running off for greener pastures the first chance they get. The process seems to work more smoothly when the first two goats taught to free-range will be a breeding pair. Shockingly, the process of teaching goats to free range went both quickly and quite easily. I started with just one goat, a 3-year-old female. We kept her on a long chain for just two days to allow her to get acclimated to her new home, before putting her on a lead strap and going for walks to learn her territory. Pearl, a pygmy goat, bonded with my female blue heeler almost immediately – another thing seasoned goat keepers said would never happen. On day three I let Pearl off the lead strap and allowed her to roam about supervised, with Jovie. The goat and dog played and romped and ran along behind me during 4-wheeler rides. Although Pearl still has not become taken with Jovie's brother, Ruger, the dogs and the free-range herd of goats get along just fine. Initially, the horses and mini donkeys did not know what to make of Pearl and refused to intermingle in the barn – but that too soon subsided after the massive horses realized the tiny goat was not a threat. Even though I care for the most bull-headed mare on the planet, no kicking, biting, or any other bad behavior ever occurred between her herd and the pygmy goat. Once the first goat was comfortably free-ranging, we purchased her a mate and embarked upon the process all over again. The second time was even simpler. “Not Negan,” a dwarf billy goat, was only kept on a chain for 24 hours – it was abundantly clear Pearl was in charge and he was going to follow her everywhere and never leave her side. Be prepared for the pungent “Billy Goat Musk” smell, apparently, the mating prowess scent emitted by billy goats is not at all diminished due to size! Set of 9 Hoof Knife Knives Farrier Equine Horse Sheep Stainless Steel Blade Polished Wooden Handle + Fold Up Case Stainless Steel bladesWooden handles $29.99 Buy Now Goat Care Tips Goats are ruminant livestock – like cows. Contrary to common belief, cows do not have four stomachs but four chambers in their stomach – like goats, sheep, deer, and elk – among a handful of other animals but wild and domestic. The ruminant is one of the stomach chambers and when it gets out of whack, bloat occurs and must be treated quickly or a painful death could result. Drenching small goats with a 1 to 1 ratio of a mineral oil and baking soda – with a few drops of peppermint essential oil thrown in should break up the thick gas bubble rather quickly. Standing the goat up on its hind legs and gently rubbing the sides of its stomach should help produce the needed belching or flatulence. Dwarf and pygmy goats should eat up to 2 and a half pounds of hay or forage materials per day to get the nutrients they need and keep their stomach balance in check. Goats should be wormed about four times per year. Goat hooves must be trimmed regularly to prevent a painful and potentially debilitating deformation and rot from occurring. A farrier can perform the service for a nominal fee or you could quite easily learn how to properly trim and buy the needed file from a local agricultural supply store for around $25. Goat fencing could be comprised of upturned pallets with either barbed-wire or high-tensile wire woven in between the slats – or just the wire firmly mounted to T-posts. Electric fencing is another option but is not always durable enough to deter a goat from running through it or hooking it with horns to pull it down. Living Traditions Homestead shows a video of the best dairy goats for homesteading: What do you think about having goats on the homestead? Let us know in the comments section below. No products found. Up Next: Why Are Goats The Best Animal To Have On Your Farm