A post shared on Facebook claims podcaster Joe Rogan is purportedly replacing Rachel Maddow as prime-time host at MSNBC. Verdict: False The claim is false and originally stems from a Nov. 23 post made by the satirical Facebook page “SpaceX Fanclub.” Fact Check: Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” was the number one most-listened-to podcast […]

A post shared on social media purportedly shows a video of a riot during a Black Friday sale. Verdict: False The video is from a riot after the death of George Floyd. Fact Check: Sales over the holiday weekend saw almost 200,000,000 shoppers, The National Retail Federation reported. Black Friday was the most popular day of shopping in both […]

From Texas comes a bio-technology interface nearly impossible to believe: tattoos that double as brain sensors. The engineers of this technology explain how for almost 100 years, the electroencephalogram (EEG) has been the standard method for monitoring brain activity, but along with being prohibitive to long or dense hair, it loses efficacy after about 6 […] The post Spray-on ‘e-Tattoos’ Are Easily Attached for Making Brain Scans, Replacing Outdated EEGs appeared first on Good News Network.

Books Backlist Bonanza Backlist Bonanza: 5 Underrated Books That Take You Down The Witches Road Something something maiden mother crone… By Alex Brown | Published on December 5, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share Will you join me on a journey down, down, down the road, down the Witches’ Road? Where all that’s wrong is right and all that’s bad is good? I’m sure you can tell, but I’m a wee bit obsessed with wicked witches as of late. I wandered high and low to find these five witchy titles—sorry not sorry about all the Agatha All Along references, you’re just gonna have to deal with it. These books don’t feature any actual circles sewn with fate or unlocked hidden gates, but there will be blood and tears and bone… and a little romance to balance out the darkness. Something something maiden mother crone. The Lost Coast by A. R. Capetta A. R. Capetta always manages to write queer young adult fantasy so lovely yet so devastating that I can’t help but be impressed. Their novel The Lost Coast feels as haunted and atmospheric as its Northern California setting. That part of my home state, on the northern coast and nestled in the towering redwoods, is a place where fog is more common than not and it’s easy to feel isolated and lost. Danny moves there from Michigan, not entirely by chance—the coven cast a spell that pulled her and her family west. She ends up in a queer coven, the Greys, and discovers her power as a dowser. They enlist Danny’s help searching for their missing leader, Imogen, but instead she finds the corpse of a local boy, murdered with a tree branch. Something terrible haunts the woods, and it has its sights set on the coven. (Candlewick Press, 2019) The Factory Witches of Lowell by C. S. Malerich Witches go on strike! I’m into it. Unions forever. This historical fantasy is set in Lowell, Massachusetts in the mid-19th century. It is loosely inspired by the real textile mills there and the “mill girls” who went on strike for better working conditions. In the novella, the real history gets a witchcraft twist. Hannah is a secret witch, and Judith, who is a strike veteran, knows a good opportunity when she sees one. Hannah casts a spell to unite the striking women, but her magic is put to the test when Mr. Booty, the agent overseeing the mill, brings in scabs and threatens their lives. Magic and class solidarity aren’t the only things keeping Hannah and Judith in each other’s orbits; a romance blooms between the two women and they strive for something better. (Tordotcom, 2020) How to Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy How about a young adult contemporary fantasy with Pride & Prejudice vibes? Shay Johnson is a junior at T.K. Anderson Magical Magnet School and doing everything she can to prove herself worthy of a full-ride scholarship to a magical university. Getting a degree from one of those elite schools opens a whole new world of professional and economic opportunities to her as a witch, and not getting in means being relegated to “lesser” jobs. The only person standing in her way is Ana Alvarez, her (very cute) competition. To impress the head of the scholarship committee, Mr. B, she agrees to perform in his school play. She doesn’t agree to put up with his increasingly creepy behavior. Shay and Ana put their rivalry aside and decide to take down their teacher, no matter what the cost to their futures. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2022) The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna Cozy fantasy is all the rage right now, and for good reason. Sometimes you want to read a book that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and sipping on a cup of hot chocolate on a rainy day. Mika Moon is a loner. She’s an orphan and a witch who, by necessity, keeps away from other British witches. When she gets an invite to a secret house to teach secret magical children how to control their witchcraft, she jumps at the chance. There she meets a host of strange and kooky characters, but it’s Jamie, the attractive librarian, who she can’t stop thinking about. Sangu Mandanna’s book is as charming as it is romantic. (Berkley, 2022) VenCo by Cherie Dimaline Lucky St. James, a Métis woman living in Toronto and taking care of her grandmother Stella, discovers a magical spoon. The spoon is one of seven needed for a prophecy about a coven of witches regaining their lost power. Myrna is one of those witches. She has been looking for Lucky for a while now. Lucky and Stella are sent to New Orleans to locate the final spoon, and they better do it before Jay Christos, notorious witch-hunter and general asshole, gets it. Both Christos and VenCo try to use Lucky as a means to their own ends, but she has her own plans. Cherie Dimaline is one of those authors who should always be on your TBR. Her books center Métis characters and culture in a way that feels both bracing and revelatory. (William Morrow, 2023) [end-mark] The post Backlist Bonanza: 5 Underrated Books That Take You Down The Witches Road appeared first on Reactor.

This week, I visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, to speak about free markets and socialism at the Conservative Political Action Conference. It was a fitting location: Argentina is now ground zero for the revitalization of capitalism in the West. In a time when the Right often laments “late-stage capitalism” in terms reminiscent of Noam Chomsky, while the Left laments the very existence of billionaires in the manner of Stalin targeting the kulaks, Argentina’s experiment in liberty represents an audacious foray into the world of economic dynamism and innovation. Argentina has been, for decades, a basket case. In the early 20th century, thanks to a plethora of natural resources and a burgeoning Western constitutional structure, Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries on earth on a per capita basis. But from the 1940s on, Argentina began to pursue a policy of nationalist socialism—interior redistributionism and external protectionism, along with corrupt expropriation of property. The result was decades of stagnation. Dictator Juan Peron declared himself in favor of a “social market, putting capital to the service of the economy and the well-being of the people”—pretty words that should sound familiar to economic populists of the Left and Right, and that should scare the hell out of everyone, given that Peronism led to the complete economic meltdown of the country. In fact, between 1980 and 2023, Argentina was one of the few countries in the West that saw a relative decrease in living standard. The time it takes to work to buy basic goods actually increased during that period. Finally, the Argentine people had enough. They elected as their president Javier Milei, an audacious and magnetic Austrian school economist dedicated to free markets. “Viva la libertad, carajo!” he shouted while wielding a chainsaw—signifying proposed cuts to government spending—on the campaign trail. As Milei told the arrogant interventionists at Davos, Switzerland, “Economic freedom, limited government, and unlimited respect for private property are essential elements for economic growth. The impoverishment produced by collectivism is not a fantasy, nor is it an inescapable fate. It’s a reality that we Argentines know very well.” Milei has pursued his vision with alacrity. And the results are nothing short of astonishing. While shouting “afuera!” he has cut the number of ministries from 18 to eight, fired members of the bloated public sector en masse and dumped the corrupt intermediaries in the welfare system. He has slashed the budget by 32%, brought a fiscal surplus for the first time in years, and brought inflation down from a month-on-month rate of 25% to 2%. The stock market has skyrocketed. Investors are once again looking at Argentina as a target for their money. That’s because Milei understands the power of liberty. Now the rest of the West must follow. For too long, the West has followed the fallacy-ridden economic philosophy of John Maynard Keynes, who preached government interventionism and redistributionism as a corrective to the animal forces of free markets. And the result has been stagnation, unsustainable debt and, finally, radical inflation. Milei shows it doesn’t have to be this way. So do Argentines. Perhaps the most astonishing element of Milei’s presidency is his continuing popularity. Tough economic measures often deliver short-term pain in favor of long-term health, and that’s what makes them so difficult to sustain in a democracy. But Argentines are clearly willing to take their medicine in order to ensure the possibility of a brighter future. Now it’s time for the rest of the West to follow suit. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post How Milei’s Free-Market Revolution Is Transforming Argentina appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Brazil’s top court, the Supreme Federal Court (STF), continues to “dabble” in censorship, on issues big and small. A site set up by journalist, biologist, and free speech advocate Eli Vieira to satirize, criticize, and document what opponents see as controversial activities of one of STF members, Dias Toffol, has been blocked. The fate of the site seems to have been determined “only” by its name – “Death to Democracy” (“Morte à Democracia” in Portuguese). Still, the whole debacle is taken by opponents of President Lula as yet more proof that democracy in Brazil is indeed, to put it mildly, struggling. In a post on X, Vieira confirmed that the domain  http://morteademocracia.com.br was frozen. He advised others not to buy .br domains because his “experiment” just showed that the authorities can shut those down arbitrarily. Vieira only registered the site under this particular domain after Toffol, a Lula nominee, used an STF hearing to ask a lawyer if someone would be allowed to do that. The lawyer replied that it was possible if the domain was available. But the real answer arrived after Vieira tried doing it – only to get the site blocked in less than a day. During the hearing, which was dedicated to “regulating” (that is, censoring) social media, Toffol had commented that if such a domain can be registered, it could also be removed in a judicial process – “based” on Article 19. But when Vieira tried to find out why and how his short-lived site was “frozen,” what he discovered didn’t seem to indicate that (due and democratic) judicial process was involved. Vieira says his conclusion about the ability of the authorities to arbitrarily block sites was only cemented by a note he received from the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, CGI.br. The government agency titled its communication, “Clarification Note” – namely, regarding the domain freezing – but Vieira does not think that it actually clarified anything, notably, what law he supposedly violated by registering the domain, which would have prompted the censorship. The note does claim that neither CGI.br nor NIC.br makes decisions because of a site’s content (but then – who does?). Instead, apparently, that’s just based on the domain name. “This position is confirmed by the fact that the same content from the frozen domain is available on the web under other .br domains,” the note attempts to “clarify” the situation. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Website Mocking Brazilian Supreme Court Minister Dias Toffoli Blocked appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. India’s Signzy, a platform for online ID verification and digital onboarding that lists the countries four biggest, and more than 600 financial institutions around the world among its clients – has confirmed “a security incident.” The know-your-customer (KYC) verification company, which has been operating since 2015, reacted in this way to reports that customer data had allegedly appeared on a cybercrime forum, for a short amount of time. Related: Rise in Stolen Singaporean ID Data Shows The Dangers of Digital ID The event provides a good example of the dangers and pitfalls that accompany digital ID schemes, from the security point of view alone. This fintech company counts Mastercard and a number of large venture capital firms among its investors, while its monthly onboarding figure for individuals and businesses amounts to 10 million. The attack – which involved an information stealer malware, according to one of Signzy’s clients, the Netherlands-based PayU, took place last week. This payment service also said the data of its customers was not compromised. TechCrunch is reporting this, based on claims of having seen a post on the cybercrime forum – because of which sources concerned about customer data contacted the outlet. India’s ICICI Bank, another Signzy client, said that it suffered no negative consequences from the attack. Now, Signzy confirmed the attack but was unwilling to provide any details, including whether data had been extracted from their devices. Another confirmation of the incident itself came from India’s CERT-In, the government’s Computer Emergency Response Team. The Indian central bank, meanwhile, was not willing to comment on the situation. Both Signzy and CERT-In are now “taking action” and “investigating” what happened – with a Signzy spokesman saying a third party, a “professional security service,” has been hired to find out what exactly happened. Although Signzy would not say if data had been taken from its systems, PayU mentioning the type of malware involved suggests that this risk is realistic. “Infostealer” software’s “specialty” targets are financial and business data as well as that belonging to individuals – and that includes credit card numbers, passwords, etc. If successful, these attacks allow people behind them to carry out a range of criminal activities, including those tied to identity theft. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post India’s Digital Identity Titan Faces Cybersecurity Scare, Highlighting Concerns With Digital ID appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Today, let’s talk about scars and stretch marks. They both can affect your appearance and can leave you feeling self-conscious. So today, I’m here to share with you home remedies to reduce the appearance of both. Scars | Home Remedies To Reduce Its Appearance Let’s talk briefly about scars. Scars are marks left behind on your skin where burns, sores, or other wounds have not healed completely, therefore, fibrous connective tissue has developed. While there are no treatments available to make a scar disappear completely, there are remedies you can do in the comfort of your own home to help greatly reduce their appearance, such as: Tea Tree Essential Oil Vitamin E Oil Aloe Vera Apple Cider Vinegar Coconut Oil Now, let’s talk briefly about stretch marks. Stretch marks are marks on the skin that have formed due to the skin being stretched during pregnancy when your body experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, hereditary factors, and sometimes physical stress. Today, I will share with you home remedies that can greatly reduce their appearance, such as: Olive Oil Castor Oil Potato Juice Cocoa Butter Lemon Juice Let’s get started! Home Remedies To Reduce The Appearance Of Scars Tea Tree Essential Oil Due to its skin healing and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree essential oil is used to help manage skin conditions, including scarring. Remedy: Combine 4 drops of tea tree essential oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Wash the scar with this solution 2-3 times a day to help reduce the scar’s appearance. Note: Do not use tea tree essential undiluted. Also, if you are using this oil for the first time, test a small area of your skin with this remedy to check for a possible reaction. No products found. Vitamin E Oil Due to the antioxidant properties of vitamin E oil, it is commonly used to reduce the appearance of scars by repairing damaged skin tissue. Remedy: Break open a vitamin E capsule to extract the oil. Massage the oil on the scar for 10 minutes. Next, leave the oil on the scar for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This remedy can be done 3-4 times a day. Organic Vitamin E Oil for Skin & Scars |100% Pure Natural Serum Hand Made in South Carolina | 15000 IU Vitamin E for... HANDCRAFTED WITH CARE AND VERSATILITY: Handmade in small...NATURAL BEAUTY FOR ALL SKIN TYPES: Health Priority’s... $11.99 Buy Now Aloe Vera Due to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera, it is a popular and effective way to reduce the appearance of scars. Remedy: Remove the outer layer of an aloe vera leaf and remove the gel like substance underneath. Using circular motions, massage the gel onto the scar. Leave on the scar for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Note: Never apply aloe vera gel on an open wound. Sale Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel - 6 oz Moisturizing Therapy for DryIrritated Skin $5.42 Buy Now Apple Cider Vinegar The acidic properties of apple cider vinegar help reduce the appearance of scars by removing dead skin cells which, in turn, promotes healthy skin cell growth. Remedy: Combine equal parts of water and organic apple cider vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and apply the cotton ball to the scar. Leave on the scar for 5 minutes. Rinse the area with warm water. This remedy should be done only once a day. Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Honey Cayenne Wellness Cleanse with the Mother - 32 fl oz - Raw and Unfiltered BRAGG ACV BLENDS: A spicy twist on the raw, unfiltered,...ACV WITH MOTHER: Naturally fermented by the 'Mother';... $14.98 Buy Now Coconut Oil The vitamin E content within coconut oil is the main ingredient which helps to reduce the appearance of scars. Remedy: Heat the coconut oil until it is in liquid form. Massage the liquified coconut oil onto the scar for 7-10 minutes. Next, leave the coconut oil on the scar until it becomes absorbed into the skin. This remedy can be done 2-4 times a day. Coconut Country Living's Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - Cold Pressed, Unrefined organic Superfood for Hair, Skin, Beauty,... Suffering from dry skin or dull hair? Coconut Country...Cold pressed, Unrefined, No Hexane - This pure coconut oil... $13.97 Buy Now Home Remedies To Reduce The Appearance Of Stretch Marks Olive Oil Olive oil is packed with antioxidants which makes it an effective remedy for various skin conditions, including stretch marks. Remedy: Massage slightly warm olive oil onto the stretch mark. Leave the olive oil on the skin until it is absorbed (about 30 minutes). Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for this remedy. Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil, First Cold Pressed, Full-Bodied Flavor, Perfect for Salad Dressings & Marinades,... ROBUST EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: Expertly crafted by The Olive...FULL-BODIED, ROBUST TASTE: Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oils... $10.94 Buy Now Castor Oil Castor oil has been used as a home remedy for skin conditions such as age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, and stretch marks. Remedy: Massage castor oil onto the stretch mark for 5-10 minutes. Next, wrap the affected area with a cotton cloth. Apply heat to the area for at least 30 minutes. You can use a heating pad or a hot water bottle. This remedy should be done once a day for one month, at which point you should notice a difference in their appearance. Potato Juice Potato juice is packed with vitamins and minerals which is great for skin cell restoration. Remedy: Slice a potato into thick slices. Rub one slice of the potato onto the stretch mark until the starch (juice) of the potato slice covers the stretch mark completely. Let the potato juice dry completely. Wash the area with warm water. Cocoa Butter Cocoa butter is an excellent skin moisturizer which greatly nourishes your skin which, in turn, greatly reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Remedy: Apply cocoa butter over the stretch marks at least a few times a day for a few months to see results. No products found. Lemon Juice The acidic properties of lemon juice is an effective remedy in reducing the appearance of not only stretch marks but, scars and acne as well. Remedy: (stretch marks) Using circular motions, massage fresh lemon juice onto the stretch mark. Let the fresh lemon juice soak into your skin for 10-15 minutes. Next, rinse area with warm water. This remedy can be done once a day. Here's a video by Freeze Frame Films on the top 5 home remedies for scars: Do you have a home remedy for scarring and stretch marks that you would like to share? Share with us in the comments section below. Up Next: 147 Natural Remedies For Homesteading To Make Life Easier Mother Nature’s Best Home Remedies 12 Amazing Things To Do With Lemons | Home Remedies The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.

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Dolphins and other marine mammals have been used by the military for various porpoises over the decades.